Punishment

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene stood at the very top of the stairs to the basement of the chambers on Rattatak. Her face was a contortion of mirth and pure excitement. It had only been a day since she had regained herself fully, only a day since she had risen up against Evelynn and taken back what was hers, but it had been a good day, filled with joy and pure mirth.

She was happy for the first time in a year, happy for the first time in what seemed like and age. She was herself again, she was Nemene again.

Her heart beat fast as she descended the steps to the beast pits, beating hard in her chest over and over again as slowly she made her way down into the deepest bowels of the palace. Behind her, wandered her sister. Evelynn moved to follow Nemene, her bare feet brushing against the marble stone over and over again. Slowly they moved down, until they entered the beast pits.

Roaring and growling permeated the air, hisses and yelps of beasts echoed through the chambers all around them.

“Now Sister.” Nemene purred, her voice sultry and seductive. “I have a task for you.”

Oh this would be delicious to watch. Excitement reached throughout her, spreading throughout her as her anticipation peaked.

 

[Louise]

While one sister was having the time of her life, the other was quite possibly in hell.

The tables had turned, completely and utterly. If you check the definition for table turning you will find the faces of Nemene Talith and Evelynn. Well, if you had a picture dictionary at any rate. Actually, I don't know anybody with a dictionary with pictures. Tell me if you find one.

As she followed the woman down into her menagerie a lump of fear sat in her throat. Typically her sister avoided her beasts, after all it was Evelynn's element and not hers. Why concern herself with the silly creatures?

For the mute on the other hand those creatures were her children, each and every one she knew and cherished. That was the worry. They were going to the girl's sanctuary, and given the copious amount of revenge that the mute was expecting. This was ominous, she was fearful. If only you knew what had happened in these very beast pens. If only.

Following her sister down, Evelynn remained silent, obedient albeit with concern laced throughout her features.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

As soon as they reached the center of the pits Nemene stopped, her eyes drifting around the room to meet the gaze of a dozen beasts. Boma, Nexu, Verinth, and a dozen others. They all stared at her as if they knew what was about to come. Of course they were just stupid animals, they had no idea what Nemene wanted, what she was planning.

A smirk crossed her face.

“Do you know what is about to happen Sister?” The question was almost rhetorical, but not quite. She wanted Evelynn to realize her own punishment, she wanted the girl to know what she was doing before she actually had to do it. She wanted her to suffer, she wanted to take the only things that she truly cared for.

Nemene had already taken Evelynns pain, and now she would take her beasts. It was the only thing Evelynn really had left, there was nothing else that Nemene could take from her, she knew that very well. “Do you know what I want you to do?”

She stepped up to Evelynn, curling a finger beneath her chin, as though she were nothing but a beast herself.

 

[Louise]

She knew.

From the moment they started descending to the pits there was one of two possible outcomes. One was unspeakable, a horrifying abhorrent act that could only be described as just given their history. The other outcome however was worse, another robbery of self, another piece of the Silent Sister to be destroyed.

And she wasn't just down here to witness it.

With despair in those granite orbs, she looked to Nemene, refusing to answer her questions. Not that it mattered. It seemed that if the brunette commanded her to sing then she would do so like a bird, well, telepathically at least. The touch of the other woman sickened the blonde to the very core. It was so smug, so in control, it was so...so...Nemene.

The Silent Sister thought she had won, and she was wrong.

Tilting her head downwards Evelynn chose to stare at the floor, giving the ground a look so intense it might have set the menagerie ablaze.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“Look at me!” Her voice seemed to shatter any noise that was in the air.

Almost instantly every single beast, slave, and even fly went quiet. The Beast pits became completely and utterly devoid of all noise. Fear stank in the air, pure as the night. Beasts began to huddle in the corners of their pens, slaves slunk away into corridors, and insects seemed to simply disappear as Nemene's anger began to bubble once again.

“You know.” Nemene said as Evelynn unwillingly looked her in the eyes. “You know what I will have you do.”

Her voice was sultry, though thinly so. It hid anger, rage, she hated this place. “And you will enjoy it.”

She had no idea what that command would do to Evelynn. She knew physical acts were under her command, she knew that Evelynn had to follow her every word, but emotions? Could she control Evelynn's emotions? She had to know, and so she tested.

 

[Louise]

As if she were a machine that had been programmed, her head instantly snapped upwards, fearful gaze directed at Nemene. The animals, so in tune with their Master reflected that fear. Cowering away into the corners of the pen, there was a rare silence in the air. The calm before the storm, and there were some dark clouds upon Evelynn's horizon.

Don't....

Her telepathic tones were nothing but pathetic. Feeble and pitiful words that would surely do nothing but whet Nemene's current appetite.

Don't make me do this...

Worse still, the brunette commanded that she would avoid the grim deed. Would that work? Could Nemene control the very way she felt? No. No. No. Surely not. But what if she could? Then what? What kind of life was that to live? Evelynn the Puppet Queen, a woman who couldn't speak, couldn't hurt, a woman who didn't even have control over her own damned emotions.

Immediately she dropped to her knees, neck craned upwards as to not break gaze as she grasped at her sister's waist. Hands searching, pleading.

Don't take this...don't take this from me...

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene smiled, and petted Evelynn on the top of her head, like a good little pet. Her smile turned into a smirk as she listened to the silence in the air. The beasts were always loud, always angry, always rambunctious. Not now however, now they were silent, because of her.

Her smirk spread as Evelynn pleaded, thought she did not give in.

Slowly Nemene pulled up the hem of her dress, revealing a long slender curved knife. She pulled the blade from its sheath and held it by the blade. The knife gleamed with black and red lines running throughout the silver blade. She flipped it around a single time, and offered Evelynn the hilt, though she hardly had a choice in taking it.

“You will have what I say, and nothing more.” Nemene practically purred the words, then prompted her sister. “Stand.”

The command reigned supreme, and Evelynn stood, crawling her way up Nemene's body. “Slaughter them. All of them.”

 

[Louise]

Tears once more returned to the eyes of Evelynn, it was likely that the woman was going to spend the vast majority of her time in a state of watery eyes and her hand moved to take the hilt of the knife.

There was a grim task ahead of her, but what could she do? Try and stab Nemene? That was...

Wait. Couldn't she?

Legs moved by themselves as Evelynn went from grovelling to standing again. Her grip tightened around the hilt, arm shifting backwards slightly, almost ready to gut Nemene. After all, the mute could operate her own limbs granted that it didn't conflict her sister's orders. Unfortunately before the girl could do anything her grisly task had been set, and as if on auto-pilot her body began to move.

Not this. Not this. Sister! Not this!

The blonde approached a nexu, who did not shy away from the master of beasts. None of her creatures shied away from the mute, they were hers and she was theirs, and now...

Forgive me!

Without a shred of hesitation Evelynn tilted the feline's large head upwards and drew the blade across the creature's throat. The nexu released a dying screech, a twisted death rattle as the blood spewed forth onto the ground, splashing onto her feet as she stood.

Then it hit her.

Delight. Glee. Her head span with a giddy feeling that wasn't her own. A smile grew upon the mute's face, lips quivering slightly as if there was an eternal struggle taking place within. It dawned upon her, it dawned upon her with joy in her heart. Nemene Talith could control her emotions. If it weren't for the forced glee the Puppet Queen might have vomited right there.

She span upon her heel, moving towards the next creature. A kath hound. I'm so sorry! Her telepathic voice held mirth as she apologised to the unmoving hound. They trusted her. They wouldn't fight back. Another throat slit, another spike of joy.

Evelynn moved to slaughter the next creature...

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene watched with interest as her sister went to work butchering her own beasts. Her eyes shifted every time the blonde haired woman moved, a smile on her face as she cut the throat of each of her creatures one by one. She could feel the mirth through the bond, the pure joy that the woman felt as she killed the things she loved the most in this galaxy.

It made Nemene realize something, her control was absolute.

She could control Evelynn's emotions, she could control her actions, she could control her very thoughts. Goosebumps ran up her spine. This was better than anything she could ever have imagined. Nemene had complete and utter control.

She could not have thought of this on her own. She could not have dreamed of this ever happening, and yet, here she was.

As the heard the sinking sound of the knife plunging into another creatures throat a smile spread across her face. There was so many things she could do now, so many options that lay before her, so many choices. Her hands rose slightly, palms upward. Nemene stared at them, as if she carried the weight of the bond in them. They slowly closed into fists, and her smirk widened.

“Faster.” She said, making no effort to keep the joy from her tone.

 

[Louise]

Faster was what she wanted, faster was what she got.

So with zeal forced into her step, Evelynn upped the pace of her slaughter. None of the creatures fighting back as their beloved mother slit their throats one-by-one. It didn't take long for the blood spilt to overwhelm the floor, her bare feet soon splashing in puddles of crimson.

Some of the creatures of course were armoured, and the small blade in the hands of her meagre strength would prove to be futile. Beasts such as the zakkeg, they had to be slaughtered by different means, her considerable strength in the force proving no match for the predator's brains as she crushed organs through her mind's eye.

Asides from the dying roars and cries of the animals the air remained deathly silent. Every drop split upon the ground could be heard, accompanied by a chorus of Evelynn's rising breath.

Excitement shrouded her, enveloping the protesting and despair-ridden girl beneath. Joyously she would cry to her sister:

Please stop this, sister! Please, I beg of you!

Coming to a massive tank the mute sent a vicious force push that toppled the glass container over, sending shards of glass splintering out amongst the smaller creatures that lurked within. With her unarmed hard she caught and crushed flying insects, uncaring for stingers and to her dismay, not even feeling them. Thunderous ecstasy filled her heart as those bare feet came stomping down upon spiders and maggots, termites and ticks, the shards of glass piercing and lacerating those unfeeling feet as she did so.

STOP THIS, YOU MONSTER!

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene writhed in pleasure, standing still as pain peppered her flesh and skin. She ignored the feelings, far too overcome by the joy carrying through the bond. Silently, she began to waltz in place, spinning her dress and dancing about as Evelynn slaughtered her friends.

This was delightful!

“Kill them.” She practically sung the words in delight. There were dozens of creatures down here, perhaps even hundreds. Evelynn had to kill them all, slaughter them all. It was by Nemene's design that Evelynn would lose them all. Of course she would get more beasts, Evelynn was half useless without them. But those beasts would not be friends, they would not be allies, they would be tools. Nemene would teach her sister about lesser beings, and this time she would understand.

These beasts were not companions, they were tools to be used, nothing else. They were like slaves, like all lesser beings. Nemene would beat that lesson into Evelynn.

She twirled about, moving around the open space between kennel with a subtle dance. “Dance in their slaughter, Sister. Dance, and enjoy yourself.”

Nemene spun herself, grinning as she heard the droplets of blood fall to the floor.

 

[Louise]

Of course it gets worse.

Her malnourished body heeded the command, and Evelynn began to dance. It was a disconcerting sight. The ghastly girl stepping and spinning her way through the blood and the glass, feet giving no cause or concern for the corpses that lay around her feet. Her face twisted further, until she beamed from ear-to-ear, wretched rasping laughter escaping her damaged throat.

THIS IS ENOUGH! STOP THIS! PLEASE!

The Silent Sister found herself spinning towards a reek, that sat so well-behaved, so peaceful in the corner. Through that involuntary expression of glee upon her face tears did lurk and well, it was yet to be seen whether they were tears of joy, or if it was the misery trapped within her very core trying to escape.

Grabbing the reek by the main horn Evelynn frolicked close, jamming the knife into the creature's leathery throat and ripping it out with a graceful flourish. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!

Eventually through her dance of destruction all that remained was Hiss. After Merisi had perished in battle the corallus had taken the bird's place as her favourite beast, her new chosen companion and now, now he was to be put upon the chopping block.

Well, technically it wasn't to be the chopping block. Her hand reached out. Fingers dancing to a rhythm that wasn't even present. Who constricts the constrictors? The force wrapped itself around the cora snake's throat, tightening and tightening through increasingly manic hisses until a sickening squelch marked the end of the large serpent.

With her gory task done, Evelynn regained a shred of control. There was nothing else to slaughter, and thus the girl fell forward onto her hands and knees in front of the snake's large carcass. Body trembling, tears streaming down those cheeks as her face still expressed the enjoyment of the slaughter. Are you happy? Are you?! ARE YOU, NEMENE?! ARE YOU PLEASED?!

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene ignored her sister, frolicking through the beast pits in an elaborately choreographed dance. She slid through the kennels, dancing above the corpses and twirling through pools of blood until she reached her sister. For a moment she regarded the girl, still twirling her dress about and flinging it around slightly, splattering drop of red onto white walls that were somehow still unstained.

Then, she bent down and tapped Evelynn on the nose with the tip of her finger. “Yes.”

As soon as Nemene touched Evelynn's nose she gave a measure of control back to the blonde haired girl. Not releasing the new bond of course, but allowing Evelynn to feel a measure of pain. The cuts that had been acquired on her feet would sting, the fractured ribs in her side would burn, and the emotional holocaust of slaughtering her closest friends would spike through her in an instant.

Nemene rose to a straight back, purple dress fringed with blood, a smirk crossing her face.

This really was proving to be delightful.

 

[Louise]

Like flicking on a switch, pain suddenly flooded the girl's system. After being dead to such sensations the sudden influx overwhelmed her completely, the arms that had held her up upon all fours gave way, sending Evelynn face first into the blood of her friends.

For a moment she didn't care.

Because she could feel. Pain. Hurt. The shards of glass that had shredded and become embedded in her feet burned and she savoured it, cherished it. That sensation spread, she could feel where Nemene had broken her ribs, a dull throbbing that was only too sweet to hold, to embrace. Remember that sensation. Hold on to it.

Pain is pleasure.

Shuddering violently with the ecstasy of agony the horror of the situation was finally unleashed. She had slaughtered all of the creatures, her friends. Didn't even put up a fight. She went off, dancing off to the beat of Nemene's drum. Every single beast that had once resided here she had bonded with personally and to have killed them so easily, to have taken satisfaction from it.

Finally the blonde managed to push her face from off the ground, arms wavering, mouth salivating. The conflict was too much, the tears poured from her eyes, her heart pounded fed by the physical pain that she had been allowed to feel. Too much sensation.

And then Evelynn vomited.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Oh dear.

Nemene looked down at Evelynn and frowned, taking a step back to ensure that the pool of vomit did not spread to touch her feet. There was a slight hint of pity on her face as she looked down at her Sister, though whether it was real was up for debate. Quickly, as Evelynn lay hunched over and spewing bile Nemene's smile returned.

Her hand drifted over Evelynn's back, hovering only a few inches above her head. Fingers twitched, and she spoke.

“Follow.” She raised her hand as Evelynn returned to her feet, still clearly quite sick. Nemene however ignored this, holding her hand above Evelynn and twitching her fingers every so often as the smile spread across her face. She swept her hand to the side, as if pulling Evelynn along. The girl followed, tugged by invisible Strings.

Nemene danced the girl around, forcing her to step on broken glass, pools of blood, and already rotting corpses.

She moved her like a doll, tugging and pulling on invisible strings as though she were a marionette. Nemene twirled Evelynn until finally she stopped her at the entrance of the beast pits, pushing her to her knee's with but a flick of her fingers. “Do you not love me, Sister?”

Her words were almost biting.

 

[Louise]

The nausea didn't depart, even as her body shifted to Nemene's commands once more. Blood found itself smeared across her face, bile down her chin as she stood once more. Too many tears shed over such a short period of time left the skin around her eyes red and peeling, granite orbs bloodshot and tired.

Yet she had no choice.

Evelynn the Puppet Queen was whisked across the macabre debris. Savouring the sharp bite of the broken glass, yet torn at the disrespect that her feet gave to her slain departed friends. The woman was torn, mind tearing at the seam as Nemene forced her to endure such conflict of self.

Her limbs twisted awkwardly, jerking as she was manipulated across the beast pen. Gasps of gratification were unleashed as tears stung the girl's sallow cheeks. Remember the mantra.

Pain is pleasure. Pain is Pleasure. Pain ispleasure. Painisp leasure pain si pealssure painispleasure pain is pleasurepainis

She found herself kneeling, ribs aching, feet burning, ecstasy threatening to crown. No. Stop. Do something! Avenge your friends! Without a new command to render her body useless Evelynn took a chance, grabbing a shard of glass from the ground and lunged. Lunged for her sister's throat with venom in those tear-stained eyes.

I HATE YOU!

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“Stop.” One word rang out in the silent pits.

In an instant the Silent Sister stopped, as if she were frozen in the air. Nemene's marionette hand had dropped to her side, the smile on her face had disappeared, and her body language suggested twisted anger beyond all reason. Her body shifted slightly, posture moving forward towards Evelynn who was now kneeling on the ground before her, shattered glass still in her hand.

Her lips thinned, her face turned to stone, and the air about her seemed to shift and change.

Eyes shifted, glowing orange seemed to fade and die away. A purple glow over came them, lines crossing over white first, then consuming iris' and eventually pupils. All her eyes became purple, and as the lines filled her vision, a soft glow began to pulse from her eyes. She looked down at her sister, her face stern and unquestioning.

“If you do not love me.” Her voice seemed to resonate throughout the chamber. “Then you will worship me.”

The command rang out, stronger than any had before.

 

[Louise]

Not even close.

The girl's grip upon the glass was so fierce that the unforgiving edge sliced into her hands with ease. This, upon reflection had been a massive mistake, but she could not crumble. She could not just go limp and relent to the cruelty of her bond sister, no, no. Evelynn had to keep the remnants of herself together.

As if she would have a choice.

Because generally when Nemene Talith starts actively exuding power than you know there's going to be trouble. Like, too much trouble to even hold. You're going to need a lot of friends to handle this amount of trouble.

The moment, the moment that the wretched order was given the hatred in Evelynn's eyes softened, instantly melting from a gaze of spite and fury to one of adoration and awe. The mute dropped the glass with a quiet tinkle, instantly arching over to bow at her sister's feet. Her thoughts of violence and venom dissipated, her mind becoming foggy in a haze of grovelling.

There was nothing, nothing but Nemene Athaem Talith.

G-goddesss...

If one could see within the core of the puppet they might have caught glimpse of that ember of humiliation that remained. Aware of the violation that was taking place at that moment.

Her hands, trembling reached to grasp at her Goddess' feet. Adoration rising in her heart as she did so. A gasp. There was blood upon her hands! Evelynn had stained the feet of the deity with her unworthy crimson!

F-f-forgive me, G-goddess!

With eyes completely glazed over the bent woman began to lap up the red that she had so stupidly stained Talith's feet with.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

The Queen of Rattatak...the Goddess of Rattatak began to laugh. An evil cackle reigned supreme throughout her, shaking her form and moving her to an almost blissful feeling of ecstasy. The purple light in her eyes faded, returning to bright orange, her skin softened, and her entire being seemed to shake and shudder with pure glee.

A soft hand fell atop Evelynn's head, nails running across her scalp and scratching her slightly.

The delight around Nemene was almost palpable.

“You are forgiven.” The words flowed from her like a river, sheer joy intertwined throughout them. How far would this go? How powerful was this worship? The ideas rushed through Nemene, her stomach fluttering slightly at all the twisted thoughts spinning around in her mind. This was control, this was true power.

Finally, finally she had it.

She seemed to twitch slightly, her body finally reacting to the feeling of Evelynn's tongue licking away the blood. Her eyes flickered down towards the woman, then a smile spread across her face. “Come pet, we must continue your punishment.”

 

[Louise]

The hand upon her head felt as though the woman was being blessed, like a cat eager to be stroked the mute pushed slightly into her mistress' hand, elation spreading though her entire being. Nemene had been gratified and thus so was she.

Evelynn was the perfect thrall.

Being forgiven for her tiny transgression meant the world to the waif, she couldn't comprehend a world where she had slighted her Goddess and not been forgiven. So great was her fervour that life might not have even been worth living had Talith not granted her such a mercy.

Yes, G-goddess.

The woman, who proved to be no more than a pious zombie followed her Goddess out of the beast pits on her hands and knees. It was far from easy, the steps were unforgiving upon her sickly flesh as she tried to keep up but that was of no consequence. In her current state Evelynn would have crawled through fire if Nemene had asked it of her.

True devotion.