The Ritual
The night set on the day that the slavers were captured, thirty or so men and women of varied races being carted up the mountain to face judgement, which in Dead Sun was a harsh one. Perhaps more cruel, however, would be the fate of the twelve that Le'Rassa had hand selected.
No'Vi stood on the overlook, awaiting the couple whom she had planned to assist. She was dressed casually, but carrying a buttload of bags, filled with everything she thought she'd need. Meanwhile, from the docks, Justice's crew was bringing a series of twelve slavers- mostly human men, a few women and other races. Le'Rassa was at the front of the party, doing her best to move the party… relatively... subtly through town.
Dev walked alongside Le'Rassa, something like a solemn expression on his face. He didn't say much, mentally preparing for the ritual that lay before them. As they walked the slavers threw out sneers and jeering comments about elves and their home, to which Devastelin resisted the urge to backhand bitch slap them. Their fate would be sealed soon enough. Le'Rassa was incredibly neutral about the entire thing- it was almost as though she was moving cattle, not lives of people. She did not acknowledge them, nor so much as flinch when they prodded at at the 'knife-ears'. As they made it out of the city and approached the overlook, Devastelin halted the guards that came with them, taking time to chain down each of the twelve slavers they intended to use. Impatiently, No'Vi watched as they came up. Dismissing the crew once complete, he turned to No'Vi and pulled out the tome. Flipping it open to the pages with the ritual, he pointed to the demonic circle that had to be etched into the ground before they could begin. "First, this has to be made on the ground. The ritual takes place over it. Each rune carved and activated within it's confines." He pointed to a rune on the page. "This... Must be carved into the flute before the runes in the horn are carved." When she was handed off the book, she squinted at it, her eyes thrumming a little, like she was using her magic to memorize the circle. "Get me the flute, and we'll go out back of my lab." Wandering off, she was at least out of sight. In a sea of a private collection of plants, No'Vi's tattoos bled off her skin and onto the ground. Slithering, it made the mark on the pages, a perfect copy in the ground. A bright flash of moonlight seared the thing into the ground, she was ready. Le'Rassa reached on her person, pulling out the delicate flute before she looked to Dev. "Let's go," she said, leading the slavers to the location and passing off the flute to be carved up.
Dev followed along with Rassa, keeping the prisoners in line. Once the arrived at the circle, he kicked their knees out, one by one, sending them to tumble to the ground. He took off his face plate, latching it to his belt before walking to the the circle. He stood in the center, taking a breath. He knelt down, resting on his knees after, motioning to the book. "The runes are on the left side. They go on the horns as shown on the page. After each rune... You know what must be done."
Le'Rassa aided in kicking down the slavers- her eyes were cold and the gem on her neck was a steady pulse, if not a bit slower than her resting. Meanwhile, No'Vi carved the runes into the flute one after the other. Each one was an exact match to the book, no mistakes. As she carved the runes into the flute, it glowed just faintly before glowing brightly when Dev stepped into the circle.
"Alright, here goes nothing," No'Vi said, putting the flute on her belt. "Rassy, you ready?" A nod came from Rassa, before No'Vi pushed to the edge of the demonic seal. With one hand she held the tome, her other hand commanding her sludge to climb up Dev's body. Dev rolled his neck as he readied himself, eyes closed while he continued to breathe deeply and slowly. As No'Vi came close he tensed, feeling the sludge climb his body.
With the sludge, the strange priestess formed a copy of the first sigil then seared it into his horn.
"I love you, surfal" Rassa said, right before she drove a knife straight through the first victim's eye socket.
When Rassa spoke, his eyes went wide, head turning to look at her. "I lo-..." Just then the first sigil was seared into his horn and he roared with what might seem like pain and anger. His eyes flared up with Fel flame and his tattoos began to glow brighter,
From there it was systematic. Sigil. Kill. Sigil. Kill. Dev’s form trembled with each searing formation of runes, Shrieks like two voices sounding out. Le'Rassa was a systematic killer- there wasn't a single hint of emotion the entire twelve souls. As the last life was taken, Rassa grit her teeth, like fear almost that he might not survive this.
As the last rune was carved and sealed, he fell to all fours, chest heaving as he gasped for breath. "What... Have you done darlinggggg? You cannot do this to ME! I am the Matron of the Jade Conclaveeee! The Architect of Vithrian Deep! NOOO!" His fists pounded into the ground savagely, his whole body shaking and straining as if the two were fighting a battle. His voice came out desperate but calm. "Le'Rassa... Surfal... The flute!" Just like that the trembling war of minds at each other's throats within his body resumed, his entire being now licking with scorching Fel flame as his tattoos glowed so bright they might sear the eye.
No'Vindere's eyes flickered from dual-colors to the purple that was typically housed in her right eye. The purple seals ignited, like she was trying to hold together the magic of the ritual. "Ras, catch!" No'Vindere shouted, flinging the flute through the air. When she did, Rassa caught it putting it to her lips. The tune was not complex, but it was pretty enough. Most of all, she played with purpose and intent.
When the notes of the song Rassa played from the flute rang out, the sigils etched on it blazed brightly, igniting the runes on Dev's horns with flames of pure Fel. The reaction was immediate and obvious. Dev's trembling stopped, he collapsed onto his back as he sucked in breath. When the final tones flitted out from the flute, his runes extinguished with a faint 'whop' like the air around them had stolen their life. He lay for a long few moments, breathing heavily before his eyes flickered open. A hand wandered to his horns, feeling the runes now etched there. A tear of Fel flame trickled down his face as he sat up. His gaze panned from No'Vi to Rassa, words not yet quite forming. Pushing himself to his feet, he let out a laugh.
"YES! Finally!"
Rassa jolted at his yell, like he'd startled her with the shout. He moved to her, leaning down to press his forehead to hers. When he came at her, she lunged at him- jumping up and wrapping her arms and legs around him. The words that came were like a whisper. "I... I'm finally... It's just me now. Le'Rassa,we fucking did it! I... thank you... For all of this. Did you... Mean it? What you said? Surfal?" Forehead to forehead, she hugged him tightly. "I did. Of course I did, Devastelin. I've felt it since that first night together-- in the cave."
No'Vi staggered backwards and she then let out a 'wooo' which was either because of all the magic she just put out at once or because she was more psychotic than anyone gave her credit for. She inhaled and exhaled in and out, pacing around the gardens. She was distracted.
Even with No'Vi right there, Dev couldn't help but press a passion filled kiss to Rassa's lips. Le'Rassa was more than happy to answer him with a kiss just as passion. Covered in blood- she was almost lustful in the way she entangle with him. His arms wrapped about her tightly, squeezing hard, as if he never wanted to let her go. Eventually he broke the kiss, turning around while still holding Rassa tight against him. "No'Vi... Thank you. I owe you a debt." When he turned, Rassa laid her head on his shoulder, eyeing the priestess.
"Somebody get these FUCKING bodies off my lawn!" No'Vi barked to some of the Enforcers that were near-ish by. Snorting, she finger gunned at Dev, "Not debt if it is family- soooooo, go on. Shoo. Get outta here you crazy kids."
Dev gave No'Vi a smile before looking down to Rassa. "You ready to go? I had a place in mind... For after this was all said and done." Her bloody hands wrapped up into his black hair, she planted another kiss down on his lips. Dev hungrily mashed his lips to hers, heat flowing through his body as he felt her desire. "Anywhere-- just.. somewhere private." Wings burst from his back, allowing him to carry them both high into the air and off to commemorate the night.
(Tagging @theshalthera and @cleansedbymoonlight for mentions! )