The Beast Comes Out at Night

[Valgærd]

Home.

Just as a well-worn cloak enjoys being back on its rack, I always enjoyed coming home to my Master. This place was familiar, it was where I belonged. I was my Master’s punishing arm, his most vicious weapon. I was his most prized possession.

No wonder I felt so much more comfortable back at his side.

Around the estate, the wilderness smelled fresh as the thick vegetation rested still in the cool night. It was dark by the time I’d returned, which suited me just fine. I preferred not be noticed. The path wound through the foliage and up towards the estate. I was already visualising what I’d see inside: my Master sitting in his throne in the main hall, slouched with one leg up over the armrest. The lights would be dimmed. I would go up to him, lay my bloodied knife at his feet, and with his permission, go to the kitchen to prepare his meal. Luckily, I’d come home in time to take that task back from his other servants.

But as I approached the main building… something felt off. I was… tingly all over, like the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I quickened my steps, my heart hammering in my chest. I had to hurry. Why, I didn’t know. But there was something here, something whose presence rivalled even my Master’s.

Breaking into a sprint, I raced for the front doors, pushing them open and bursting into the main hall. Calling upon the force, I began to gather the energy to construct a barrier. It wouldn’t go around me, of course, but as soon as my Master came into view, my intention would be to manifest it around him.

As long as I wasn’t too late.

[member="Kanezka"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

"Nu valia zinot ji."

The man I had against the wall was fearful of me. My massive frame standing in the same place as I had when I first talked to him. Yet his own movements held him back against the wall. He likely had never seen one of my species, let alone my altered self. The man was still trying to deny me this girl. A girl that was currently his slave. While she had been on some kind of errand at the moment, I had need of a Slave. One that could potentially work as something more.

He was sensitive in the force as well. However, barely knowing of anything. He had moved to be on the defensive. While I did speak to him, in a language he did understand, but barely. Yet, as I spoke this, I could feel the presence of another coming closer. My maw opened up and seemed to be growling. However, it was more of a smile. One that could be easily thought of as anger.

Bursting through the door, was the girl herself. Her frame coming into view. Shrugging her off, my frame turned back to her master.

"Rai nun nuyak valia, ir Nu valia qorit j'us arsiau iv tave berniuk!"

[member="Khaori"],

 

[Valgærd]

I will have her.

My heart stopped as my eyes fell upon the scene before me. There was my Master; tall, athletic, pale skin clad in black robes as ever, pinned against a wall by some… creature. It was almost wolflike, speaking in Sith with a deep growl that sent violent chills racing down my spine. Were it anyone else in the monster’s grip, I’d have been frozen in fear; I could feel the power of the force within this beast, he was powerful, more powerful than even my master.

But I existed for one single purpose: to serve my Master.

My fear was secondary to the singular purpose that had been drilled into my mind over and over. I outstretched my hand, racing for the two as I attempted to conjure a shield around my Master as I closed the distance between us.

MY heart was hammering so hard against my ribs that my chest hurt, my mind was whirling. I could smell the faintly canine scent of the monster, and see the saliva glistening on his sharp fangs as he spoke.

I will have change me my will, and I will end you in front of the child!

“J'us valia zinot niekas, zveris!”

My intention was to get in between the beast and my Master. While normally approaching so closly the Sith who owned me was quite the punishable offense, I was operating on instinct now. If the beast didn’t kill me, I would accept whatever reprimand he would see fit later. The Sith himself scowled at the monster from behind me,

“You get nothing, dog! Girl, kill him.”

Concentrating on the shield I’d placed around my Master, I had precious little power I could spare to defend us against this monster. At the command, however, I just narrowed my eyes at the intruder,

“Zhol ai nuyak Meistras ai valia anas j'us mrias” I snarled, “so die!”

My hands moved in front of me, focusing on focussing the force in an attempt to shove the monster backwards. I was strong in the force, my Master had made sure this raw potential had been realised. But with my shield on him and the fear running rampant in my veins... I couldn't summon as much raw power as normally I would.

[member="Kanezka"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

Have you ever had the feeling like just inciting such words of a challenge, only brought them forth? I just sighed as the child began to shield her master. She wanted to protect him from me. While I had no intention of killing him, unless he prevented me to take her, as such now, The child was also told and commanded to do so. To defend him. A shield had formed around the man. While made of the force, and not visible in any aura, I could feel the force and its flow shift around the man. I knew this power. Shaking my head as I simply stood there. Not even looking at the child as the force blow that could have sent anyone flying, barely made me take a step closer to the "master."

Telekinesis is a skill that can be used in many ways. Sure, the force was fairly potent within the child that was Khaori. I was much more so. Planting myself to the ground with my own prowess. My head turned and I slowly twisted around to face the small being. Twisting my head ever so much with force, audible popping of bones in my neck seemed to echo in the room.

I did feel a sense of respect towards the child. Performing her job while knowing her place. However, part of that was right. She was a slave, but not a slave to me. I will claim her as my own. Even she could not stop me from that. With lightning fast speed, I closed the distance between myself and the raven haired girl. The first steps I took allowed me to bend down to claw my way to her with all fours. Pouncing through the air at her. I would aim myself to hit her to the ground. To suppress her movements with my own large frame.

"Nu zinot niekas. Nu zinot viskas kia gauti!"

[member="Khaori"],

 

[Valgærd]

The beast barely even flinched at my attempt to shove him away. My heart stopped. The mounting fear had flooded my veins. This being was a monster, the power I wielded paled in comparison to his. The terrible thought crossed my mind to remove my shield and regain a little of my power. It wasn’t my true master beneath it, but a mouthpiece; a slave, like me.

But I squandered that thought. He was there to be the figurehead, to convince others that he was our Master. He was here to take attacks just like this one. I would fail in my purpose if I did anything that would hint to the intruder that he wasn’t the Sith he thought he was.

So the barrier stayed.

But I gasped as the beast turned to me. Barrelling towards me on all fours, I didn’t even have time to move he was upon me.

I yelped as he pounced, my back and head slamming into the ground as he landed on top of me. The wind was knocked out of me. Everything went black for a split second as my head smacked into the cool stone of the floor. My whole world was thrown flipped upside down, the throbbing in my mind too loud to make sense of anything. I was disoriented, pain jolting through me. It took several moments before I actually felt the weight of the beast over me.

He spoke, even as I squirmed and struggled beneath his massive, bestial frame. But even as I fruitlessly writhed, the dread crept up into my throat. Ignoring it, I glanced at the man who was for all intents and purposes my Master, before looking up into the beast’s eye,

“You’ll die with nothing, intruder!” I cried, trying desperately to ignore the pain throbbing in my head and back.


[member="Kanezka"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

My frame holding the girl down. I had noticed she hit the ground hard. Yet did not let up on the Shield upon the man. I just shook my head. She was trying so hard to fight me. So hard to deny me what I desired. You see, I am Wrath. I am a feral creature that was the Apex of all. My might was law. She denied it by her will alone. While this did only inspire me to want her more, She was right. I would leave here with nothing if she kept going on like this. I was likely to kill her if she kept defying me. I decided to change just a bit.

"J'us zinot nie savoka kam Nu gal dary nuo j'us."

Reaching down, I grabbed the girl by the throat. Picking her up as I stood up. My other hand covering the entirety of her head. Pressing hard into her head and mind. I snarled just a bit as I drew upon the force. I could feel the power flowing through me as I gave her a gift. One of great power and potential. She would begin to feel rage within her heart. Anger in her mind, and the power flowing through her veins like hot magma that threatened to burn through her.

"Sis buti tezn zo skonis berniuk."

Just to make sure that she knew who was still the Master, who had control on her, I then slammed her into the ground. Pounding home that everything she could now gain, everything she could now become, was because of the gift I had given her. I had awakened her potential. And for that, I desired much from her.

"Vi Nu zinot parod murpita, j'us jonji nun tu'iea natura."

[member="Khaori"],

 

[Valgærd]

You have no idea what I can do for you

I barely had the chance to translate the beast’s words as he reached down and wrapped his massive hand around my throat. I tried to cry out, but the sound was choked off as his massive fingers closed around my neck, lifting me off the ground. My hands instantly went to his forearm, clawing wildly as the panic set in. My stomach churned as I began to feel the lack of oxygen driving me into pure terror.

But just as he picked up my writhing form, he placed his other hand on my head. He snarled, drawing a muffled sound from me that would have been a gasp if I could get it out. Suddenly I felt myself being flooded with power. It was as if he’d concentrated the burning, violent, torrential rage and fury of the force and channelled it directly into me. Squirming and clawing at him still, I cried out as the magma-hot power flowed through me, burning me alive from the inside.

I didn’t want this. This power felt wild, untamed, it tore me from the bond with my master, demanding to be used and channelled.

This is just a taste child

But as I tried to gather this power and begin to concentrate on it, the beast suddenly slammed me back into the ground. Once again, violent pain shot through me, my mind stunned and the wind knocked from my lungs. My whole body, first burned by the power he’d forced into me then stunned by the floor, throbbed and ached. My world had been thrown upside down. I didn’t even know what had happened to the man against the wall, but I could feel that at some point my shield had dropped.

Through the confused haze of pain and disorientation, I heard the creature’s next words,

As I have shown benevolence, you owe me your life.

“Nu… avitsasi… kia nuyak… Meistras” I snarled weakly.

But it was little use. My will was fading. The bond between us had been tainted by the overload of hot, violent rage from the beast. I only barely believed those words as they came from my mouth. That… that terrified me. I tried to stare up into the creature’s eyes, to prove to him that I wasn’t his… but the pain coursing through me had weakened my body and mind, and panting heavily, I could only squeeze my eyes shut and wait for whatever came next.


[member="Kanezka"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

The child was writing on the ground. I could feel her pain. She suffered greatly from what I had done to her. While she would get over it soon, My face turned into a smile that broke through my lips. The man in the corner was still there. However, with how beaten this girl was, she knew that she could do nothing more to prevent what I was going to do to her, and her so-called master. If she really was a slave to someone, then they wouldn't have given up so easily to me. Anyone could see the potential in her. Anyone could see the power that she possessed. For that, I had to have her. One way, or another.

While she sputtered out words in my own tongue, I simply shook my head. Kneeling down next to her body. She could attempt to strike me, i was so close. Yet, I knew and she knew I was in control here.

"Xaz j'us dary."

My hand reached out. Pulling the man all the way across the room to hover just above the girl. He squirmed against the invisible hands that were holding onto him. My hands dropped to my side. Looking at the girl to see that I was serious. To see how far I would go to show her, that she was now mine. My frame stood up. Moving to push the man down with my foot upon his back. I could hear his screams break out as I pushed all of my weight on his lower back. Reaching forward, I gripped his head with both hands. Talons cutting into his face ever so slightly as his head was just over the girls chest.

"ZIURETI NUN!"

My voice echoed in the room. I had released the force from the man, upon the girl. Holding her own head in place, and her eyes open. I then began to pull on the man's head. His own screams echoed in the room after my roaring at the child. His skin was flaying underneath my claws as I changed position to hold his head, and rip it from his body. His neck bursting with his life force. Skin, and muscles were tearing and snapping apart as I ripped his head from the shoulders. One the two parts were finally apart, I placed the head ever so gingerly upon the woman's chest. Letting the blood soak into her clothes as his face just stared blankly at her.

"Dabar, tym buti nenx tu'iea meistras."

[member="Khaori"]

 

[Valgærd]

I was panting, my chest rising and falling rapidly in my peripheral vision as I opened my eyes and the beast kneeled beside me. The fire was still coursing through my veins. I wanted to reach out and strike him, to make my Master proud by defending him to my dying breath, but I was so weak. I was still winded, my limbs throbbing from the stun of being slammed into the ground. Leaning down close, I could see that he knew he was in striking range. He knew I couldn’t strike him, that I wouldn’t. My cheeks burned as I stared up at him, my chest heaving. He spoke again, telling me that I indeed belonged to my Master

My eyes narrowed. Why did he agree? Much as I wanted to strike him, I was trapped beneath him, a prisoner in my own body. Helplessly, I watched as his gaze burned into me. He pushed the man that was my Master’s stand in down onto the ground, placing a foot on his back. My heart raced in my chest.

“N-no!” I cried, my voice strained and weak.

But there was nothing I could do. His screams sent chills down my spine, his eyes staring into me desperately as that awful sound pierced my ears. Unable to do anything, I shrieked as the beast cried out, demanding I watch him. His voice boomed into my very soul. The man’s screams grew louder and more desperate as the monster’s claws took hold. I knew what was coming a split second before it happened. Time seemed to slow down as all at once the man’s neck exploded. Skin tore, muscles and tissue ruptured. Blood spewed forth and bone splintered. All at once I was showered in hot, visceral gore of the man at whose feet I was meant to be kneeling.

The monster placed the head on my chest as I tasted the salty, metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

For several moments I lay there, not moving, not speaking, panting and trying to comprehend what had just happened. The monster spoke, but I could barely register the words. My mind had all but abandoned me as the terrifying image of the still-screaming head was burned into my memory. My chest grew warm as my clothes were soaked in blood.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, I tilted my head from the thing on my chest up to the beast, the only other living thing in the room.

“W-what do I do now?”


[member="Kanezka"]

 

[Delsin Shaw]

The girl was dumbfounded. Unable to do much with the blood that was covering her body. The head as I placed it on her and the almost confused look upon the man's face as it stared without a single blink at her. The child didn't know what to do. I knew it from her expressions and how she just didn't seem to respond in any shape or form. She didn't scream out, nor fight back. She didn't deny what was happening. Just sat there. Thinking everything through. As she then looked over, and in basic asked what should she do, now that her master was dead, I reached over and grabbed the head from the chest. Flinging it out of our way before picking up the leaking body.

Hefting it onto my shoulder, I reached down and picked the girl up with a hand latching onto her arm. I then placed the body onto her own shoulders.

"J'us satyi ki. Aij j'us kiha ri snaâ muri ki. Oir na, j'us waria dzisad diâ isatru tuti dzu ki waria."

Turning around, I began to walk out. Indicating for her to follow with the bleeding body. Not only would I get a slave, but I would also get a meal from this. I knew all too well that this man was not her master, or was somehow posing as such. Unsure if this was true or not, I cared little. I cared not at all for whatever consequence of her previous master may bring. I was more than willing to keep this girl. If not, then I would make sure that no one could take her from me.

"Nu natiti zo wadinti iw j'us."

[member="Khaori"],

 

[Valgærd]

My world was in freefall.

The still warm blood leaked onto my chest. I could see that as my heart pounded in my chest, the head wobbled slightly, an echo of each beat of the tortured muscle. I’d seen death and carnage before, of course, I was master’s weapon, his right hand. I’d bled his enemies in his name. But to lose the man to whom I bowed, to be ripped from the safety of his service… I suddenly felt sick.

The beast grabbed the head, flinging it across the room before I could process what was going on and react. His massive, clawed hand reached down and gripped my arm in his vicelike grasp. No sooner had my feet begun to support my weight than a hefty burden was placed on my shoulders. The accompanying words felt like chains draped over me. Instinctively I moved my hands up to support the body that bled onto my clothes.

He turned from me, indicating that I follow. What… what do I do? He hadn’t killed my Master… the man still owned me. But he’d also taught me that when his puppet was out, I was to behave as if it were him. Did I deny this creature, and let on that it wasn’t my Master he’d killed? Or yield, and walk out of my Master’s house?

After a moment’s hesitation, I took a step. Then another. The blood dripped onto the floor, tiny splotches staining the tile. As I walked, hurrying my steps just enough to walk in the beast’s shadow, he demanded a name from me.

“Khaori.”

Something seemed to shift as I spoke, as if… by giving this creature my name, I was in some way handing to him my leash. It was a leash he’d already taken for himself, so the sentiment was irrelevant. However, it remained with me as I followed him. Dare I ask his name? I’d asked for my Master’s when I’d met him, he’d freely given it as well… although that had been all part of the pretence.

“… Who are you?”

The words almost didn’t come. When they finally tumbled from my lips they were quiet and trembling, soft and subdued. In truth, I don’t think I wanted to know. Right now, the beast was a terrifying invader, a mysterious tormenter and bane of Dromund Kaas. If it went beyond that, however, I would be forced to confront the other thing he was:

My new master.


[member="Kanezka"]