Syn Awakened (Salem)

[Razielle Shadana]

When one has been deprived of all senses, one begins to have a great deal of time to reflect upon matters. Things that have happened. Things that are occurring presently. Things to come, or not to come. At first there is the initial struggle to break free. A sense of overwhelming panic to preserve one's own existence at all costs. Eventually a kind of deathlike stupor takes hold. Then the most pinnacle reaching clarity. It is as if a veil separating known and unknown, mortal and divine is lifted and omnipotence is attained.

Reflections of the past begin to come more swiftly and painfully. She was here because she had neither the desire to end her existence, nor the will to maintain eternity with the burdens that had befallen her. Having been betrayed time and again, the same old song lost its catchy melody and undeath became too redundant. She had but two regrets. One was her little sister, Jez. She wouldn't understand the motivations that prompted this desperate act. Her sister would learn, as Razielle had learned though, nothing lasts. Nothing. The other was her one and only child in Darkness, Salem. It hadn't been that long ago that she had fed to him her own Blood and in so doing she had cursed him too.

Her world was changing in ways she could not accept. So in an effort to calm the chaos churning inside her veins she created a chamber to seal herself away from the world. Oh yes, in time it would eventually kill her, but her corporeal body wouldn't go for some time and Razielle planned to have succumbed to the cold embrace of mental death before then. It was the only way. She wouldn't let herself go if her mind was intact. The "Device" was a sensory deprivation chamber. Sealed within on a time release locking mechanism, she would be unable to let herself out once activated. If she couldn't escape, she couldn't feed and in time... Oblivion. When she lay within, she set the timer with a smile.

What she hadn't counted on was the pain. It began as the Hunger always did. Her veins,cold as ice began to constrict. Needing the sweet and sustaining warmth of life's Blood to ease them and revitalize her. When none was forthcoming it was more insistent, clawing at her from within as if some primal beast would ravage its way out of her body. But it only grew worse with time. Razielle, once beautiful and eloquent was reduced to a monster. Teeth tearing at her own skin. Violet eyes sunken, filled with Hunger and terror.. Skin once smooth as porcelain was flaking off against her clothes in painful tears.

Almost suddenly it stopped. The situation suddenly became funny. Hilarious in fact. Her throat, gone hoarse long ago from her screams erupted with insane laughter. She needed to get out of the machine, but she herself had insured this would be impossible. What she wanted now was not Blood. Something more sweet tempted her palate. She had found the perfect reason to thrive.

Revenge..

Buried beneath layers of earth in the bowels of a long abandoned keep, hidden within a labyrinth of corridors, stairways and lifts, she used what little remained of her strength and called out to the one person who could help her. He was the only other person that had access to this place. She could only hope that he could hear her silent plea.

"Salem...I need...you.."

In the silence she waited... She survived. She planned.

[Salem Ave]

Over time all things are forgotten - quite understandably so. It is senseless to dwell on that which cannot be changed, much less be found. Fierce hope dwindles into a faint longing and finally into nothing more than a fleck of a notion, a vague recollection of some face. For Salem amongst these thoughts, pushed out of all conscious concern, were the memories of his maker. Not his parents or the Gods above, but the one who had made him what he was today. Like so many she had vanished without leaving so much as a trace with which to be remembered by.

For the longest time he’d wandered about the old retreat, in the study and the laboratory, trying to derive some summary or solution. The weakness didn’t linger in him long, however. Soon after, Cloak would find him. Blind to the truth he would be lead astray by two Sith Masters with hopeless dreams – who, like his maker, would vanish and leave the burden of their legacy on his incapable shoulders. Not long would pass before he gave up on them, damning the weak brood to rot forever on Koros Major as he took back towards Corellia and the impending ridicule which he would face at the hands of the Sith Council.

All his past transgressions were not forgotten, but put aside in the belief that something could still be made of him yet. Still, without the trust of the Council he was not permitted to stay within their halls and held in guests’ quarters outside of the Sith Orders main compound … where he lay now.

Salem had all but given up on sleeping. He lay motionless on a bed, though, watching the little shadowy patterns the rainfall made when reflected in onto the ceiling. Occasionally he would shift out of discomfort, before slipping back into what looked almost like petrifaction. In his mind he recounted what he had achieved and-

“Salem...I need...you..”

Sat bolt up right. The voice had been so loud and startled him so that he had put a gash into the windowsill from grasping at it. One quick glance around the room and no presence was to be found. He had heard it, he was sure of that much. Not one to usually hear voices he knew something must have been amiss. If Razielle was trying to contact him he could think of only one place where he might find her…

The huge door groaned as the boy drove his whole weight against it, scrambling and scratching against the floor as he desperately tried to push it open. An opening barely big enough for him to squeeze through was made and he slipped in. The study was as he remembered it – nothing had faded as no light had touched it. All the journey here and through the building itself he had felt her and as he wrenched open the door to the left, which trembled and groaned as he stepped in as slid the shutter closed once more.

The laboratory opened out before him. Now he could feel Razielle keenly. She was somewhere nearby he was sure of it. Eyes adjusting to the gloom, Salem began the search, knocking aside equipment and furniture as he upturned half of the room before he stumbled across it – a worn box and, he wagered, the tomb in which she was held.

“Rrr-azielle?”

No answer. No matter. Closer inspection paid and Salem found an access panel of some kind, self explanatory. Anticipation overtook him and he frantically punched at the commands, favoring then to aid the process by tearing at the lid, his feet against the box for leverage, snarling with effort as it hissed and began to open…

[Razielle Shadana]

The humor of the situation had passed. She doubted that Salem would hear her anyways. And if he did, why should he care after her careless abandonment. It would be too much to hope for a tad of understanding. Resigned to her fate her thoughts once again roamed.

How long had she lay here interred within the bowels of this damned keep. After clawing a few hundred scratches into the lid of the Device she had lost the will to keep track. Perhaps when the Eternal Darkness claimed her she would turn into some whispy spectral version of herself and float about haunting her ancestral home. That would no doubt be vexing to..... her sister!

"Jezebella!"

One word-screamed with the very last of her reserves of strength. It also reverberated through her head. Please, she thought let the girl hear me for once..

Surely her brains were being gnawed upon by some parasite, for surely she didn't hear and feel footsteps resounding in the lab. The very thought that her imprisonment was at an end reminded her body that it was in fact...Hungry. She could hear equipment being overturned, the sounds were drawing ever closer to the Device. Knowing she would soon be free, Razielle lost the very fragile hold she had on the Creature that she was.

She could feel him now. He had found her and was in the process of activating the release mechanism from the outside. It hissed as the hydraulic lid released. It would have been charming to see the look on dear, sweet Salem's face as the mist cleared revealing the empty chamber. But it was to late, she was already on him. From behind him, one arm snaked around his middle hauling him against her and the other hand grasped his head yanking it to the side just as distended teeth sank into the tender flesh of his throat, ripping open a vein with great efficiency

[Salem Ave]

At first it appeared he’d been tricked – or had opened the wrong seal. Nothing within the box; it didn’t add up, not after he’d felt her so acutely. Realization soon dawned on him however. His body torn backwards and wretched at an odd angle, he hissed loudly and thrashed an arm at the air as his neck was pierced by two fangs as sharp as daggers. Despite knowing that it was only Razielle, and that this should have been expected – after all he had no idea how long she’d spent trapped her, haps all the time he’d thought she’d vanished she had simply been entombed – he was still shocked.

Whatever the explanation for this was, it would have to wait. His mind was snared by both his confusion and another feeling also. It had been so long since he’d been bitten that he’d forgotten what it was like – debilitating. To begin with, at least. His knees grew weak at the sensation, sinking him down to a level that, lowering his height, only allowed Razielle to feed from him at an even more feverish rate.

Resigned to the notion that she would not, still being attached to him in some fashion, drain him entirely, he relaxed – eyes easing closed.

[Razielle Shadana]

It was like being reborn, such was the Divine feel of drinking after being so long denied. The Blood flowing into her was more than mere nourishment though. It meant more to her than that, someone had cared enough to bother with her. She would not take it lightly. The taste of Salem was more than just being fed, it was being served prime cusine, the very finest vintage of rare wine. His Blood, like him, was most definately one of a kind.

Her hold on him became less frantic and more relaxed. With him still gathered close to her she backed up into an old examining table. Not wanting to further deplete her rescuer's strength she withdrew her fangs and pressed her face into the side of his neck, almost in a silent apology for her ruthlessness. She was afraid to let go of him, for fear that he would vanish and she would still be trapped and this just another delusion of her tortured mind. Regretfully, she did finally release him though.

"Thank you...for finding me. I could kiss you, but I am afraid I am still quite monstrous to behold."

How long it would take to fully restore her was anyone's guess. But already she was feeling much revived. She had Salem to thank for that. Also she knew she had a lot of explaining to do. Many questions, mostly reguarding the amount of time she had missed and what was going on currently, were warring for the right to be asked first. But none of them passed from her lips. She glanced down at herself and spied her tattered clothing and skin. Though no longer flaking off, it was still a sickly shade of grey. Her hair hung in limp stands about her waist and she sighed.

"Oh... Now this is attractive."

[Salem Ave]

If he’d needed to breath he would have been panting at that point, but his fatigue was shown only through a fleeting lull in his concentration; a lapse in focus as he held one hand against his neck for a moment. The heady feeling dissipated momentarily, he looked back over his shoulder, almost cautiously.

He’d heard stories of vampires after a long time deprived of blood, of what the hunger did to them. The withdrawal turned them from the haunting beautiful to the grotesque phantasmal. When Salem laid his dark eyes on Razielle he was reminded of this phrase.

“What werrre you doing herrre?”

The feeling of betrayal kicked in, as he fixed an accusing stare on his sire, and his tone rose from the breathy mutter to a demanding snap.

“Why didn’t you tell me you werrre doing this?”

[Razielle Shadana]

Eyes lowered Razielle grimaced, she knew that her untimely disappearance was a harsh lesson. She had devoted herself to changing Salem's life forever and then selfishly left him to his own devices as she wallowed in her own misery. It was one of the more regretful decisons of her life, or undeath.. But right now she was still in pain from the Hunger and not in anymood to apologize or explain. She would, but later...

A Vampyre in pain is a dangerous thing to anger. Looking up very slowly her sunken violet eyes slid to his and held in a stare that would freeze Hell itself. Her nails dugs grooves into to cold shiny metal of the exam table with a hideous scraping as she leaned forward, hair sliding into her face.

"Can we play Inquisition later Salem? I am Hungry. Or shall I finish my meal now....?"

She gave a snarl and started off in the direction of the lift. She paused and hung her head for a moment. She turned and met his eyes again, her depraved Hunger under control for the time.

"I'm..sorry.. I'll explain as soon as I get something substantial to eat. Like a small community okay?"

[Salem Ave]

A little anger in him wanted to snap back, but he had the feeling that he wouldn’t be getting any answers for a little while. What was making him a little eager was a niggling feeling that Razielle would, again, vanish, and so he felt the need to learn anything and everything he could as quickly as possible.

Stepping into the lift, with Razielle following, he pushed the mechanism which would take the rusty old contraption upwards and pulled the door closed – taking one last look at the laboratory, unsure if he’d ever see it again. Folding his arms behind his back and looking down at the toes of his boots, he frowned slightly. There was an awkward silence between the two of them now and Salem didn’t know quite how to break it.

[Razielle Shadana]

The lift door opened into what was once an elegantly furnished study. Dust and cobwebs now covered the ancient tomes and gilded sconces. As she made her way through the dishevled room, Razielle's torn dress caught on an intricately carved chair, jerking her to a stop. With a curse she knocked it out of her path and continued on her way muttering under her breath.

"Obviously new furniture is a priority."

Shoving open the study doors she made her way across the foyer to her office. In there she had kept a small closet containing items she was often too lazy to trek upstairs to her wardrobe to get. After yanking out a pale silk dress, she glanced over her shoulder at Salem and without another word shut herself in the small closet for modesty's sake. Emerging she flung her tattered ensemble to the floor to be dealt with later. She sat at her desk and tugged on a pair of boots.

"Further down from the Castle there is a town. Actually its more like a small village. They frequently argue that this place is haunted by a Demon Witch. Shall we go give them cause to gossip for a while?"

Smiling like a depraved lunatic, she rose and headed for the door.

[Salem Ave]

Salem followed in tow, allowing himself the liberty of a small smile while Razielle’s back was turned. It had been what seemed like forever since he’d gone out for the sole purpose of causing a bit of havoc amongst the proles, so this visit to the village would be a welcome change from the usual dreary days on Koros Major.

Emerging out into the relative calm of the night, the young vampire flexed his claws and rolled his shoulders. His head bobbed low, neck bent, as he lurched on after his sire with long gaping strides. The door clicked closed behind them with a clap of wood against wood, and Salem glanced back at the great building for a moment before looking out over the planet before him.

[Razielle Shadana]

The night wind blew, like a lover's gentle touch, through the raven strands of her hair. She stood on the edge of a precipice, looking down into the darkened valley below. The villager's were awake, even at this darkened hour. That was to be expected she supposed, it was actually closer to late afternoon than the dead of night. The planet was far enough removed from the closest sun that the days were hazardously short and the nights joyously long. - Convinient when one was a Vampyre.

She looked askance at Salem, who trailed behind her. Razielle couldn't remember having ever had the pleasure of a hunt with her only fledgling before. More regrets... But she would make them up, and with interest.

"Shall we take the scenic route? But no, the road is too long and I am far too impatient for the taste. We'll drop."

She leapt to the railing of the immense bridge overhanging the valley and lifted her slender arms to the Darkness. The light from the two moons cast enough of a glow on her for Salem to see her apparent excitement. Without another word she descended into the misty depths.

After a moment she laughed remembering that Salem wouldn't have come this way before. The sound drew him to the edge to look over and find her clinging to the stonework with fingertips like talons. Hopefully she had passed this Gift onto him, or it would prove to be a lengthy and tedious piggy-back.

She grinned and climbed straight down the vertical side of the bridge.

[Salem Ave]

For a moment Salem ground at the end of the drop, craning to see down below. It was nothing more than a moment; however, as the sound of the wind whipping into his cloak was soon heard as he planted one hand against the dirty and sprung over the edge. A shriek of a scrape echoed through the valley for a moment, as his claws grated down the rock surface before eventually getting a good hold. Luckily, this was something he had practiced and had no difficulty with.

Instead of merely scaling the wall, Salem moved down in leaps and bounds, tearing his hands free for a moment and allowing himself to drop before hurling his claws back into the stone work. Admittedly it hurt to do it as such, but it was a larger more concentrated burst of pain than the slow burn of Razielle’s method.

In no time they dropping village, two silhouettes briefly against the moon before they disappeared under the cover of night. Salem wagered he was a far more cautious and quiet hunter than Razielle, just from her general personality – his stance showed this, as he was crouched low to the ground, and would lop about like some great arachnid.

[Razielle Shadana]

Nearing the bottom of the bridge she grinned as Salem was already well ahead of her. She tore free a creeping twist of ivy and swung away from the wall with it, flipping in the air to land with the grace of a jungle cat on all fours a few feet away from him. She snickered under her breath at him.

"What? You didn't think I would let you outdo me with your arial prowess did you?"

Although the village did have some small amount of technology, for the most part they were behind on the times. They were timid and afraid of their own shadows, a rather superstitous lot. The children were only allowed out in the morning when the sunlight, though dull, did shine. The adults were pale from so little exposure to the sun. For the most part they farmed the crops that grew from lunarsynthesis, and kept to themselves.

It was a farmer such as this, that would be her first victim. He was tearing up clumps of dirt, looking for the roots of weeds choking the life from his small field. Razielle didn't even grace him with a glance of her. Taking him from behind, she snapped his neck and sank her teeth into his throat, drinking with much gusto, and no small amount of slurping. Manners be damned, She was half starved.

[Salem Ave]

While Razielle moved on the ground, Salem took to the roofs. With the Force lifting him upwards he landed soundlessly on one of the villages small buildings. Others were out in the night, tending to small jobs before they were to return to their homes. One such person was outside of their house, finishing chopping wood for a fire. The Knight crawled his way across the skyline, stopping short of the edge by a foot as he watched the man below.

The axe with which he had been chopping the rather large log in front of him was torn out of his hand, and in the blink of an eye Salem had landed behind him and swung the blade right at the man’s neck – Salem was far less in need of the blood and far more in need of the thrill. The decapitated head rolled to the ground, eyes and mouth a gape, while blood pumped feverishly out of the now open neck. Salem took a single long bite of the stale blood before moving on after Razielle.

[Razielle Shadana]

When he caught up with her, Razielle had already claimed a fair share of randomly selected samples from the meager buffet. She was still bent over her latest course when he approached. Her head was bent over the arm of a young man, leaning against the wall with a rapturous look upon his face. She let his arm drop lifeless to his side, turning she lifted her eyes to Salem. He could clearly see she was now almost fully restored, thanks to her binge. Smiling she ran her tongue across pearly white teeth stained with the Blood of her prey.

"At least he died happy."

The Vampyre gave a careless shove to the boy's shoulder and his corpse dropped to the street with a thud, followed by Razielle's musical laughter. She tossed her once again glossy hair out of her face and went to stand beside Salem, brushing a speck of dust off his shoulder.

"I can't remember the last time that depraved Hunger brought me this much fun.

She paused a moment and listened to the sound of the Blood pumping through her body. Fainter than her own heartbeat she could feel the beat of her Kind in unison. The Vampyre's... She blinked in confusion. Surely she was still a little off, because she could hear and feel the beats of many more than when she put herself into the Device. They were weaker beats than the welcome rhythmic pulse of the Vampyre's she was used to hearing.

"Salem...What is going on..? What has happened?"

[Salem Ave]

Salem, pausing a moment from the hunt, looked to Razielle, perplexed. She was looking around as though she’d seen a ghost – no, multiple ghosts, all right there, right then. Not having the clairvoyance or power enough to sense or see anything out of the ordinary. Still, however, he scanned the area with narrowing eyes.

“What do you mean? I can’t feel anything,” he hissed, growing a little frustrated.

[Razielle Shadana]

In her mind Razielle focused on trying to locate any other members of their Race that she was acquainted with, but it was too much of a jumble of beats. In the time she had been imprisoned, many new Fiends had been created. Either someone was amassing an army of the Undead, or someone was very careless indeed with the Dark Gift.

Out of the cacophony of the newly made came one familiar beating. Mortaniuss She didn't know exactly where he was, but he was still around. Perhaps she could locate him and he could answer her questions.

Razielle took note of Salem's distress. She didn't know why he couldn't sense the change, but she knew how she could make him. Drinking the Blood of another Vampyre would bring their consciousness together. Salem would feel what Razielle felt as keenly as she herself did. She lifted her pale wrist to him in silent offering, waiting...