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Post by Circe on Dec 31, 2019 17:18:46 GMT -6
Tyrus was met with a wall and deafening silence in response to his request. Comfort was a thing that Catherine knew she couldn't be allowed, it would only show weakness and open her up to even more trouble. Partially she blamed herself for allowing herself to be so ignorant as for Brandon's complusions to continue to run roughshod through the court. She thought she had understood the court, weren't all of them similar in one way or another? But instead she saw that in truth she didn't at all. Despite the atrocities she had seen working for MCU and the Council, she still found herself ignorant of many things, this whole entire situation being one of them. Catherine knew after this she would be forced to withdraw and take stock of herself.
Reaching out a pale arm from beneath the sleeve of her dress, she allowed the magic to coalesce and condense in her hand before being directed towards the already burning coals. Weilding the entire weight of the magic of the veil was no easy task, and it was one that Catherine had not yet demonstrated to the court. "Acum și acum evoc focurile sacre! Chemate să ardă tot ce împiedică Bertrando, să purifice și să curețe!"* She spoke, this time in her native tongue. There would be no pretty, flowery fae words here, instead the words fell harshly with a hollow and penetrating tone from her dark ruby lacquered lips. There was no passion and emotion behind the words, but there was certainly power beyond many a being's wildest dreams. Catherine was gone for now and her her place was la principessa, a child of the first.
The magic was released and flames lept greedily across the coals, licking playfully at Brandon's bare feet. While his aunt may have long ago learned to bend the destructive magics of fire to her will, he might not yet have.
*here and now I evoke the sacred fires! called forth to burn away all that impedes Bertrando, to purify and to cleanse!
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Post by demikara on Dec 31, 2019 17:38:31 GMT -6
Brandon shuddered, but at Grigore's nod and expectant gaze took his first step forward. He was meant to walk through the coals, and take his time. He already knew that much. But the urge to run was certainly there. The coals were fire hot against his feet, and it was all he could do to not run across them. But his orders were to walk across the coals, through the flames. And his aunt wanted him to survive. It was a magical flame, he reminded himself. His aunt's magic was powerful, and he couldn't stop it, but he could move with it, or at least try.
He took each step carefully. The fire licked at him, played with him. His clothes were already burning and he could feel his hair catch. The acrid scent of burnt hair soon followed, though thankfully it didn't stay on fire. It felt like forever and it hurt. Every step was agony, but Aunt Catherine wanted him to survive. He was going to survive. God knew he felt remorse for his actions, for the killing he couldn't help. And right now, he was hoping that would save him, at least a little.
There was no fending it off though, and the best he could do was keep moving and try and keep the fire from burning him too badly. The vampire swallowed and stumbled out of the fire, collapsing to his knees the second he was free of the coals.
He had survived, but with heavy burns. And everything hurt. He couldn't stand, he realized blankly, overwhelmed by pain. Even kneeling here, on his hands and knees hurt.
'Il re, please, let me see to him.' Tyrus mental voice was begging and he knew it. Grigore waved him on and Tyrus was down to Brandon's side quickly, carefully checking over Brandon, keeping a hand from touching him and murmuring quietly to the other.
"You survived. Do not do this again. Eliodoro, he is not to be healed by magical means. Take him to his rooms and see to his injuries."
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Post by Circe on Dec 31, 2019 17:59:21 GMT -6
The fire had been a carefully calculated risk, and Catherine as always had choosen her words carefully. She knew that intent behind the magic was more important than the words, Tyrus hadn't ever needed to teach her that, and Brandon had already expressed his guilt and remorse. All she had hoped for was that the magic was able to recognize this and the small connection to the same primordial source as hers.
Instead the fire had toyed with him, partially minding its mistress's request. It was still a greedy thing though and the foolish vampires had seen fit to summon and feed it. After Brandon had exited, it leapt about playfully licking at other courtiers, daring them to try their luck. Perhaps they too would survive and be cleansed by the bright, hot, flames of la principessa's magic.
The flames meanwhile had burned Brandon throughly over, leaving his clothes little more than rags to protect his dignity. The wounds would heal without physical scars, but the mental and emotional damage was already done to at least one of the parties involved.
Catherine however simply prayed silently that this would be the end of whatever troubles were intent on plaguing her and this new court. But this didn't show at all on her face or in her thoughts, instead she had greeted the court with silence and left in silence, her features carefully schooled into neutrality.
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Post by demikara on Dec 31, 2019 18:52:57 GMT -6
Tyrus has seen to Brandon, helping the other to his suite and wrapping his burns, covering them gently with a burn cream. The worst of them he'd need to have a doctor come look at, but he didn't know if they were cleared for that yet, so all he could do was offer aspirin and a spell to put him to sleep while Tyrus arranged a doctor visit. It was best if this was handled discretely, after all, and by an unseen doctor. He'd have to track one down that wouldn't immediately go straight to magic. Brandon probably needed a specialist, but how would they explain the burns?
But with Brandon seen to, that left Catherine to be seen to. She had just had to set a fire for her nephew, who was very much like a son to her, to walk through. There was no way she was handling it well. A locator spell led the way and he caught up to her in the hallway. That was luck. Uncertain, he called out to her.
"Catherine?" Was she doing alright? That was a stupid question, of course she wasn't. He came up to her side and stuck his hands in his pockets, resisting the urge to hug her. Catherine didn't always do great with physical affection. Besides, that could lead to a break down, and they weren't in private.
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Post by Circe on Dec 31, 2019 19:08:23 GMT -6
Catherine paused and turned to see who had called out to her in the hallway, there were few at court who dared call her by anything other than la principessa. "Eliodoro, I thought you were attending Bertrando. What brings you to me?" She answered calmly enough. Still clothed in her gown and all the trapings of her title at court, it was almost a disconnect still to see her without a glamour and dressed so formally. Everything seemed fine on the surface, but beneath it all she was starting to crumble. The walk back to her own rooms had felt dishonest and shameful, given that she should have been the one to put a stop to everything before it had even come this far. No doubt the previous court had turned a blind eye to his predilictions and habits, which had ultimately led them there.
Breaking down and even allowing herself some modicum of comfort would wait until she was in private. Even then she would likely only allow herself a few moments before shoving it all aside and moving on the best she knew how. That's what she did best after all, try to recover from a series of misfortunes and ill fated luck.
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Post by demikara on Dec 31, 2019 19:15:49 GMT -6
Of course, they were still in public enough. "Bertrando sleeps. He's going to need a doctor." He admitted. "But will recover well, in time." He took the rebuke on her name easily enough. They weren't in the family wing, he should have stuck to her title. "I thought to see to you, as well, Caterina." She would need it as well. "Though perhaps in the family wing would be best." Given she had every right to be furious and upset and a whole host of other emotions. She wouldn't want anyone to see her upset here.
Some fool would try and take advantage of her in that state. The least he could do was serve as a guard to keep her safe on the way to her rooms. Or at least to keep her unbothered by others. She wouldn't want to break down in front of him either. "I've already texted my assistant to track one down who can come immediately and be discrete. I suspect I'll end up dealing with Baird." Which was not ideal, but the woman knew how to be discrete at least. Besides, Brandon would likely sleep through an exam, given half a chance.
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Post by Circe on Dec 31, 2019 19:56:26 GMT -6
"He will live then, that is good. It would be unfortunate for the court to loose such a valuable asset." Catherine replied flatly. Baird was not ideal, but was relatively knowledgeable on the physiology of the unseen. But Catherine however couldn't dare to begin to reveal how much of a risk she had taken with the magic or exactly what sort of cooperation she had had to ask of it to ensure her nephew's survival. Thankfully it had listened for once, understanding in it's own way the risk posed to both of them should the unthinkable happen.
"I appreciate your concern Eliodoro..." She said slowly considering his offer. Tilting her head slightly, she scrutinzed him. What did Tyrus think he could provide her with? Comfort? A shoulder to cry on? Catherine wasn't even sure she could trust her own fledgling after what had happened with Brandon. The court had already made quick work of her, forcing many compromises and cedes, molding her to it's desires and wills. To resist was suicide, both physically and politically.
"If you wish we will speak more about it in my rooms." Catherine added as she continued down the hall. That was the best she could do in such a public area of what amounted to a palace now. Grigore certainly had decorated it as such, with rich tapsetries and precious art.
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Post by demikara on Dec 31, 2019 20:00:51 GMT -6
"Of course." He followed her to her rooms and waited until they were inside to do anything else. She had excellent wards to prevent eavesdropping, he was sure of it. Still, he spoke softly. "Are you going to be alright? Brandon...I didn't know what he was doing, and for you to have to light the fire. Grigore shouldn't have done that." the king should have lit the fire himself, should have actually taken action himself to deal with the issue, and not made Catherine light a fire against Brandon at all.
He would have gladly done it to spare her, if he had been given a chance. He wasn't nearly as close to Brandon as she was, with a semi-civil relationship. They would have gotten along, maybe, if his parents hadn't turned the man. But there was still anger there, and resentment and Tyrus knew better than to push back on everything.
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Post by Circe on Dec 31, 2019 20:14:23 GMT -6
Catherine was silent as she took a seat at a nearby dressing table. Slowly she began to remove her jewelry starting with the ruby diadem, a mark of her status in the court. A rich gown and valuable jewels alone wouldn't have set her apart from the rest of the courtiers, but apparently this court was just as prone to formalities as the fae. "I'll survive.. I always do." She finally said with a sigh as she finished removing the jewels and started pulling the few pins holding her hair up.
"Grigore... father asks what he asks." Catherine wasn't excusing the other's behavior, but had never been certain on traditions and roles in this court. She followed along best she could, but there were times when she faltered. "It's my punishment for allowing this to continue as long as it has." At least that's what she assumed, but her sire's mind was unknowable and much of it was guesswork on her part.
Pulling the final pin from her hair, it was allowed to cascade free down well below her waist in glossy white waves. "Tyrus, how could you not know? I feel like everyone here treats me like some fool to be convinced their way is better."
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Post by demikara on Dec 31, 2019 20:20:07 GMT -6
"Brandon doesn't talk to me." Tyrus admitted. "Never has. I knew he did body disposal for the court, but I didn't ask how. The one before him cremated the remains, so I assumed he did something similar." He had never asked. Brandon tended to snub his existence, for the most part. Tyrus didn't blame him. He was a reminder of his parents, after all, and his parents had been cruel to turn Brandon against his will, and imprison him on top of that. "I didn't think he actually...I mean, accidents happen. But killing on purpose is..." It wasn't something he was comfortable with.
He hadn't been raised with the sanctity of life, but he had learned about it as an adult and supported it entirely. People shouldn't be just killed. There were other ways. "How could you have known? Brandon is a private person." Tyrus had only known him as such, though Catherine may have known him long before that. But Catherine couldn't know everything about Brandon. They didn't spend every waking moment together after all, and holding her responsible for Brandon's actions was cruel.
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Post by Circe on Dec 31, 2019 20:35:55 GMT -6
Catherine looked at Tyrus, daring him to tell her any different. It seemed that she would never escape whatever curse the previous Ra and Isis had laid on the court, poisoning it against any sucessors. But by the same token, she felt betrayed just as she had when she found out that they had turned Brandon against his will and subsequently imprisoned him after. "Accidents? Accidents Tyrus?" She asked her voice rising dangerously. Catherine was exhausted and wasn't about to reach for the magic, she knew better. Now was when controlling it was near impossible. But she was still angry, and hurt. "Killing someone for your own entertainment or just to scratch some itch is beyond reprehensible... just so we're clear on that." Catherine didn't mention that she knew full well why her sentence with Broadmoore had been what it had been, but unlike Brandon she hadn't done it for her own entertainment.
"Brandon is..." She faltered, unsure what he was. He was secretive, that was certain. Scottlyn had mentioned that there was a locked room down in the basement below the shop, but Catherine had just assumed it was either storage or the key had been lost before he had purchased the place. "I made a misstep, I allowed the court to be put in danger. It would have been the same anywhere else." Catherine shook her head.
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Post by demikara on Jan 1, 2020 9:02:47 GMT -6
"I meant accidentally draining someone because you were dumb enough to go too long without feeding. What he did was no accident." And there in laid the rub. He had killed on purpose. That was what was so horrible about it all. "Brandon is sick. Maybe the fire will have helped with that." He didn't know how it worked after all. "Something has to help with it." Killing on purpose, for no reason other than having the urge to was wrong on so many levels.
Still she hadn't made a misstep. "And I don't think you misstepped. How were you supposed to know?" It wasn't her fault that the court had been put in danger. It was entirely Brandon's fault. And the fact that he had actually killed outside of feeding. That was what turned his stomach. He probably killed innocents as well, people who wouldn't be missed.
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Post by Circe on Jan 1, 2020 18:15:16 GMT -6
Catherine rubbed her temples trying to make sense of the whole mess that had grown well beyond anyone's imagining. "I don't know exactly how half of what I do works anymore Tyrus..." It was only within the last year that anyone at all had been asking her to use her magic, and even then it wasn't normally a polite request and instead it was a demand. Even then it had been a quick ramp up in difficulty beyond much of what she was comfortable with. She barely had any knowledge of it outside the most basic fae defensive and offensive spells, but she did at least have control. What had any of them been expecting? "Trial by ordeals like fire have been around long since I was ever born. The mundanes came up with this one, we just borrowed it."
Grigore had been explicitly clear on what the ordeal would be when Catherine had spoken to him, and she knew that his mind was made up. From what she was able to tell, Brandon had somehow given even him trouble initially. What she hadn't been able to imagine, but whatever it was was enough for him to see this as almost the final straw with the young vampire.
"But seriously Tyrus.. why do you care? You yourself even told me that this was not my world."
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Post by demikara on Jan 1, 2020 18:24:55 GMT -6
"It's going to have to be." He said simply. "The king won't allow anything else." And Tyrus was man enough to admit the king terrified him. What Grigore wanted, he got. The man was one of the first vampires. He got his way and Tyrus knew it. He had no clue why he was playing at being king now, when he had been in some form of seclusion for so long, or at least under the radar. He had disturbed everything by coming out and Tyrus didn't like the man. But he had no choice but to give his 'grandsire' what he wanted when he wanted it. It was just another yoke that held him down. It was a familiar one at least. "And of course I care."
He'd get through to her eventually. "You're a friend. And friends are in short supply." He had a lot of people he was stuck interacting with, but very few friends. He lived a solitary existence. "I can help you figure out how it works. But that takes time. And that's something neither of has, ironically enough." They were both long-lived now, but neither had time regardless. They were too busy.
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Post by Circe on Jan 1, 2020 18:47:07 GMT -6
The fact that Grigore wouldn't allow anything else was what jolted Catherine to her core, she had never in all her years dealt with someone so authoritarian. It briefly made her wonder if she had ever treated her own officers even close to how her sire treated their court. It scared her to think that she might even been similarly close to the vampire who was her sire.
For the most part, the court largely ran itself and the only major gatherings were to celebrate events of the old Roman calendar. Many of them still held their old roots and it wasn't uncommon for Grigore to insist on both of his daughters, plus fledglings be present. This new royal family was more connected beyond his wildest dreams, and he had made it explicitly clear that their first loyalty was to the family, then the court, anything after that they could sort out themselves.
"Friends? A friend wouldn't have dragged you into... all of this. A friend wouldn't have turned you against your will." She found that he used the term too loosely and too lightly. "Wardens don't have friends, they're nothing but targets. I can't risk attachments here, they'll only be seen as a weakness to exploit." It was true that she didn't have many close contacts or associates outside of work, the risk had always been too great.
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