The Tainted Shall Never Be Free [P]

[Blink]

Almost a week had passed since Nevayah's fateful meeting with Lanister. Although it did not seem possible they had grown even closer day by day, understanding one another more and more. By now Nevayah knew what upset Lanister, what made Lanister happy and most of all what made Lanister.. well Lanister. Apart from them growing closer Nevayah's body was recovering at an alarming rate. Without being bled several times a day she actually had a chance to see how quickly she healed. Obviously there were still many scars covering her body, but they were less noticeable each day.

Today she felt as though she would sneak out of their hole in the ground and go about the market looking for goods. Today she wanted to surprise him by making something sweet, or better yet finding something sweet already made. Never did she have the chance to learn to cook until recently with her beloved. But even so her skill level was below satisfactory and she wanted to find him something delectable to make up for it. He was napping when she left, so she found the perfect opportunity to surprise him.

Even now as she walked further away from their home she could feel the pull on her heart. As if the more distance she placed between them the more she wanted to turn around and go back. This bond that they shared was more than love, it was a bond of the tainted. They were learning every day how much they were connected by their blood bond. If Nevayah felt panic, Lanister would feel a tug. If Lanister felt sad, Nevayah would feel a tug. It was as if there hearts were connected by invisible strings.

Turning a corner towards the market Nevayah dug her buckle covered boots into the sand. She still wore her boots, scarf, stockings, bag, shorts and top outside. However, in their little cellar clothing seemed to be optional most of the time. By now she had grown so comfortable with Lanister that even her scars did not bother her. She knew he saw each one as a beautiful part of her.

Nevayah turned one last corner to reach the marketplace, which happened to be buzzing with life. She didn't dare turn her attention towards the center, she knew that is where the slave trade was alive and well. Not long ago was she one of those poor souls chained and sold like cattle, except her price was much higher than most. She never learned who bought them that day and assumed that he had given up searching for his valuable properties that had gone missing days ago.

Boy was she wrong... As if on cue a shout came from the crowd standing in the slave corner. "The red scarf! Get her!" it didn't register that they were yelling in her direction until it was too late. Men from all directions swarmed her grabbing her arms, hair and scarf. These men stood there until a tall man made his way through the crowd that had begun to gather. He was dressed in ornate clothing, no doubt very well off financially. "So this is my missing pet?" he spoke before grabbing one of her arms. "Where is my other prized purchase huh? I paid a hefty price for you two, you didn't think I would really give up on you that easily?" the man laughed maniacally, his voice so full of pride and happiness.

Immediately Nevayah turned her gaze from him, he was not worthy of looking into her eyes. "He is dead... his wounds led to his untimely end." she lied. Never would she give him up, never would she tell them about their special home below ground. "So just take me and lets go on with this... no need to linger here." This was a sacrifice she was willing to make for him.

One of the men that had originally grabbed her then spoke up, his words disgustingly all too familiar to her. "Other than the scarf and the scars... how do we know its really her?" The man who had purchased the two last week took the mans words into consideration. "Good point. I have waited all too long to find out what she is really worth anyways.." Nevayah was all too familiar with the way they talked about her, as if she were not even there. But unlike many times before she would not be taken advantage of so easily, she wouldn't fade away that easily...

Just as her new owner went to stick an instrument into her arm she jerked as hard as she could flailing her legs and kicking at whoever she could. "My blood is not for your consumption! I am not just a pig you can bleed!" Her actions only led to more men grabbing at her holding her still. And so... the instrument was stuck into her inner arm and her blood began to spill out. Nevayah screamed as loudly as she could, causing the crowd to stir only slightly. The master then took his finger and wiped it through the trail of blood before sticking his finger into his mouth. Nevayah wanted to vomit at the sight of him consuming her blood... but instead she knew by now Lanister was most likely near.

He would feel her unease, her frantic heart beat.. he would feel it all. The owner that had consumed her blood smiled as his pupils dilated, no doubt from the feeling of her blood in his system. "This is most definitely my lost pet. Please take her to my tent and put her with my other purchases. She will be leaving with me tonight..."

Another man pulled the instrument from her arm and began to suck on it like a candy, his pupils dilating as her blood sunk in as well. She should not have been surprised that they did not bandage her up, instead they just let the blood drip out in a trail as they drug her, but still she fought. "So how stupid are you?" one of the men asked as they escorted her to the tent. "Did you really think you could just waltz into the market and not be recognized?" Nevayah answered his question with silence. He was not worthy of an explanation.. none of them were.

[Salzem]

Lanister awoke that morning to find that Nevayah was not beside him in bed. He wasn't worried however, assuming she just went out to go fetch some water or something. This kind of thing was going on for almost a week since their first meeting. Sometimes he wouldn't be there when she woke up, already preparing breakfast, sometimes she wouldn't be there only to come home carrying some "groceries" or just getting some fresh air... In that time they spent together, Lanister and Nevayah had grown far closer than any normal man could; They grew a bond beyond mind, body, and soul. They had a bond of blood, a much more intimate connection than any other creature could ever know. They began to feel each-others emotions, anticipate each-other responses... They were becoming far closer than any other mortal couple could be. Beyond this, he was starting know know Nevayah better as a person as well, learning her secrets one by one, what she loved, what vexed her... What made her who she was... It seemed as if all their past problems had gone away...

Oh, how wrong he was... As he was getting dressed, he felt a familiar haunting tug in his gut, one that indicated an extreme amount of stress and anxiety. Tossing his coat over his shoulders, Lanister grabbed his kitchen-knife off a nearby barrel where he had left it last night, shoving it into his front Jacket pocket before rushing out into the city. He followed the tug to his lover's location, his hood flipped over his head so no one would recognize his face. It turned out, the tug was not his only guide as several people were walking to the same location, an apparent curiosity taking place there as well. And then Lanister saw what he feared more than anything else in the world: His Nevayah being accosted by several men with one standing by, pleased, well dressed and fat on his copious amounts of apparent wealth. Hiding in plain sight among the people who came to watch, The helpless Lanister watched as his love was carried away by the goons, while the rich man declared her "his lost pet" and for her to be taken "to his tent." Seeing as the show was just about over, the crowd dispersed and the former slave along with it, a bloody darkness filling his head.

"Never again..." He rumbled quietly. "Never again..." He weaved through various alleys and splits in buildings, going across routes only a veteran of the city would know how to navigate until he came to a worn wooden door. Without even needing to knock, a muffled voice from the other side rang out, cautious but forceful.

Well... if it isn't the runaway slave... The voice mocked. Lanister said nothing. He didn't have time for this. What could I, a humble merchant, do for such a celebrity?

"I need a weapon." His voice was cold, blank, hard like the eyes resting in his skull. Silence from the door for a moment or two, leaving Lanister alone with the torturous tugs of his distressed lover.

.....What could you possibly have that could interest me...? The voice demanded, clearly caught offguard by his request. He had never received such a request from this customer before. He was here for food every other time he stopped by! Barrels of the stuff for a mug's worth of his blood! What could he need with a weapon? Lanister didn't bat an eye as he reached into his front pocket and pulled out a small glass vial tightly corked filled with a thick sanguine fluid...

"A weapon."

Lanister followed the tugging in his stomach, following in the direction it tore the strongest with his hands firmly nestled in his pockets. In one of those hands, he held the kitchen-knife he had brought with him, its brutal cutting edge making it a wicked blade. In the other, he held a small 3 barrel flint-lock revolver, each barrel capable of rotation instead of the bullet chamber and each chamber loaded and powdered, ready to fire. There were too many men and far too many civilians around for him to be a hero. Now he wasn't going to be a hero, but he was going to rescue his damsel.

[Blink]

She fell silent for only a moment as they dragged her. It wasn't that she didn't have anything to day, but more so she was trying to feel for Lanister in her heart. And sure enough he was there, she could feel him drawing closer, she could feel his adrenaline spiking. This lit a fire within her as she began kicking once more. She had managed to catch one of the men with her boots, the buckle on one of them cutting his arm. Nevayah smiled at the thought, she knew she liked the buckles for a reason.

The man was clearly thrown off by her assault as he grabbed his arm for a brief moment before grasping her arm even tighter. "So you want to do this the hard way then?" he snarled at her before motioning for others to come an assist. Nevayah was now being dragged by four men. One on each arm and one on each leg as they tried to subdue her. Nonetheless she did not give up as she attempted to rip her limbs from their grasps. "I will not go back.. I won't be someones 'pet' again!" she screamed drawing a few more onlookers attention.

As the struggle continued the men wrestled her into the tent which was lined with cages, all of them empty. The buyer must have already shipped out his last bit of inventory. If she had just waited one more day... then perhaps he would have been gone. The men released her legs setting her on the ground as the continued to hold her arms. "Let me go! I demand it!" she screamed as one of them began to step towards her. "You sure are a mouthy one... not at all the girl you were last week." it was then she recognized this mans face. He was the one who escorted her to the cage her first time around.

Looking at him with disgust she spit at him before turning her head. "Thats it..." the man stated before grabbing her scarf from around her neck. At first he wound it up in his hand before straightening it out. "This will have to do for now." he continued as he brought the scarf and placed it between her mouth and tied it behind her head. A muffled 'ow' could be heard as he tightly bound the scarf beyond what it needed to be pulled. The man then grabbed a rope from his belt and bound her hands behind her back, he had also pulled it tighter than it needed to be.

The man took a step back to admire his work. "There we go... no more fuss from you" he laughed before opening one of the cages and shoving her in. Not able to brace herself her head smacked the back of the cage before the man slammed the door shut. Even so Nevayah would not give up... so she did all she could to kick at the cage pressing her back against the bars for counter support. The men simply laughed at her attempt before exiting the tent. She could still see their boots just beyond the door.

It was at this time she could break down. Tears filled her eyes as she thought she would never escape, and by tomorrow she would be god knows where on a boat far away. All she could do was hope and prey for a miracle. She went on with the sadness for a few more moments before finding her resolve once more. "I will kick and scream until the moment I am loaded on that boat... until then it is not over." she reassured herself in thought.

So once again she began kicking at the cage hoping she could cause it to give. She could feel the rope burning her skin from behind, tearing into her flesh as she attempted to wiggle her hands free. "Well this isnt working" she thought as she paused for a moment to think. So instead of kicking she was now thrashing her entire body into the cage causing it to rock back and forth. She did not care about the damage she was causing to herself, all she wanted was to be free. So she continued slamming herself into the cage until it finally tipped. Unfortunately, all this did was cause the cage to tip and not open. With her hands bound behind her back she flew forwards with the cage busting her head on one of the bars during impact.

The commotion caused two of the men to enter the tent once more. "My god.. just give it up" one of them said as they both lifted the cage to its original position. The two men then turned to each other and began to brainstorm on a better way of confining her. At the same time they both got a devilish grin on their faces as one began to rummage through his pockets. "I was saving this for the tigers on the boat, but I think it may be better for you." he said as he lifted a vial from his pocket. The other man nodded before walking towards the cage and opening the door. Nevayah fell out of the cage onto the ground before the men grabbed her bound hands and lifted her up forcing her to stand.

"Open up little pet.." one of the men stated as he untied the scarf from around her head and pulled it from her mouth. Immediately she slammed her mouth shut in protest. "Stop being so difficult!" one screamed as he punched her in the stomach. It hurt so bad that she gasped for air opening her mouth. The man holding the vial then popped the cork off and poured the liquid down her throat. "See that wasn't so bad".

It tasted vile and bitter, but even so she was forced to swallow. "Nighty night" one of the men said as her eyes began to slowly close. The other tied the scarf over her eyes this time blocking out any light. It took only moments for her body to go limp before they tossed her back into the cage. Her body immediately slumped down as she fell deeper and deeper into a fog. "That is much better..." the men agreed as they stepped out of the tent once more. "If we had left her alone she would have ended up killing herself before the boss got any use out of her." they continued to chatter and joke around as they stood their post outside of the tent. All the while on the inside Nevayah was in a fog, not asleep but hazy, drugged by god knows what.

[Salzem]

It didn't take long for Lanister to find the entrance to the camp just outside of town, but as he reached the edge, the tugging in his stomach suddenly stopped dead, leaving a hollow feeling where it once rested. He felt his heart shatter in his chest as he feared the worst: That these men had killed her.... Killed Nevayah... his Nevayah... Lanister's lips curled back into a snarl as he walked into the camp, head tilted down to hide his expression. There were 5 men in this relatively large camp that he could count: 1 guarding a large tent no doubt was where they stored there slaves. Then, there were two more just coming out of that area, laughing their heads off like they had just seen the funniest stuff in the world. Finally, he saw the two men he recognized, walking near the opposite end of the camp, the rich fat man and the one that had captured both him and Nevayah the first day they met a week ago. His rage spiked seeing those two discussing their business like nothing was coming for them... Righteous fury filled the young boy stepped within the camp's boundries, almost immediately being detected by the guard outside the tent. Immediately he marched over to the strange boy standing in their camp, hands tucked into his front jacket pocket.

"Hey kid." The man growled, thumbing his sword angrily. "You're not supposed...." Before he could finish his sentence, a sliver flash followed by a sanguine surge splashed across the man's throat, sending him gurgling to the ground, flailing for only a moment before falling still. Blood had splattered across the boy's face, seeming to emphasize the cold rage surging behind his face. Lanister picked up the man's sword from his body, a curved scimatar, before tucking the knife back into his pocket. None of the other guards seemed to have noticed his intrusion as they were far enough away to not hear the blood-curdling gurgles of a slit throat. His next targets, The two men in the center of camp, a smaller tent with barrels of alcohol nestled on it's stands outside. The men inside... already drunk half-dead, barely able to hold up their heads as they rambled on about how they "handled that girl." Lanister didn't bother with the sword as be swept in like death, whipping out the pistol he had bought, aiming it at one of the men and pulling the trigger. It seemed the former-slave had an uncanny accuracy with the weapon fore the lead-ball inside ripped through the man's center of mass, blowing out most of his insides out the back, killing him with a resounding boom. The other man cried out in horror and outrage and tried to draw his blade, but his alcohol-drenched system made it far too difficult to make a clean draw. As he fumbled with his gun, the second barrel clicked into place as Lanister sent the scimitar cutting right into the base of his neck, severing arteries, bones and flesh to such a degree, the sword remained stuck there. He heard the rustling of sand and the shouting of the remaining soldier as both the noble and his servant rushed over to see what was going on.

When they pushed aside the entrance flap, they saw their men massacred with no assassin in sight. The noble appeared scared, worried, but confident in the man he had on the job. Best Money could buy around these parts.

"Sir..." Nevayah's captor said, gesturing in the direction of the city. "You should go back to town an..." A spurt of blood erupted from his mouth as the cruel steel point of the knife drove its way out the man's stomach, as he fell to the ground, screaming in pain, a blood-splattered kid with a gun and knife stared down at his fallen body before aiming the gun at the man's head and firing. The Noble ran out of the tent screaming, begging for help from anyone who could hear him: the gods, the guard, but all were too far away to hear his pleas. Lanister, being far faster than a fat rich guy, easily caught up with the man who took his love and slammed his fist into the back of his head. He fell, sprawled out a wimpering in pain as the boy rammed his foot into the man's bulbous gut, flipping him on his back and causing him to dry-heave.

"......Where's my Nevayah....?" Lanister demanded, raising his gun-barrel to be aimed at the man's head. "WHERE IS MY NEVAYAH!?"

[Blink]

As the lifeless body of Nevayah slumbered in the tent inside of the cage bound by rope and her scarf a chaos ensued outside. "Lanister" escaped her lips from a dream she was having. The two were in the cellar sharing stories about their pasts as they always did. They were talking about their futures and what they hoped for.

Outside of the tent it seemed as though Lanister was ripping through the guards one by one before finally narrowing it down to the owner of the encampment. The large man lay gurgling on the ground as Lanister pointed his gun at him shouting about the girl. The fat man didn't have to ask who he was asking for, he knew her real name. She wasn't just slave #542 she was a precious tainted, they were worthy of names. Just as so he knew the name of Lanister, the boy he had bought alongside the girl, the weapon he desired more than anything.

"Your Nevayah?" the man laughed even with a gun pointed to his face. "You mean MY Nevayah." the way the man said her name sounded disgusting, as if he were talking about his favorite flavor of cake. "Regardless of who she belongs to she is alive and well.... for now." It was as if the man had forgotten there was a gun pointed in his face at all at this point. "I'll make you a deal boy... I will tell you where she is and you can take her. In return I ask for my life. I promise I won't pursue either of you anymore. I will leave that to whomever learns that you are both free." the fat man chuckled thinking he had something over Lanister. "See even if you kill me others will come. The Tainted are not easily found, you are all rare gems for collecting."

But didn't the man have a point? Was this not what Nevayah had tried to tell Lanister in the beginning? That they would always be hunted... that the tainted could never be truly free?

Back in the tent the concoction Nevayah had been forced to drink was beginning to wear off, To be expected from her blood. Groggy and in a daze she slowly sat up in her cage although she couldn't see anything with the blindfold covering her eyes. She could however feel the blood trickling down her forehead from slamming her head into the cage. Sitting in silence she took a moment to feel the extent of the damage she had done to herself. Blood trickled down the back of her neck from the gash on the back of her head, that wound from being thrown into the cage.

Her hands were wet as well, no doubt from the ropes burning her skin at the struggle. All in all though she was fine. All were merely flesh wounds that would heal with time. No broken bones, no dislocated joints..... nothing fatal, only a headache.

It was while she was feeling her wounds that she realized the encampment had grown fairly silent. Where were the laughing guards? Where was the fat bastard that kept calling her his pet? There was one thing she knew though, and that was that Lanister was near. She could feel him near, but what scared her was how she felt he was feeling. She could feel the loss in his heart, did he think she was dead? Immediately she began screaming for him blindly hoping he would hear. "Lanister! I am in here! Lanister!" her voice was loud and urgent as she continued blindly screaming. "Lanister! Lanister! Lanister!" her screams broken with sobs as tears soaked her scarf. Nevayah had sent herself into a full on hysterical fit as she called for him hoping he would come.

She couldn't take it anymore, it hurt to much. This feeling in her heart as if she had lost something. She pulled at her already tattered hands as she tried to get free once more. Everything was still a little fuzzy but she did not care. She kicked and thrashed as best she could trying to get out of the damned cage. "Lanister!" her cries continued to grow louder and more panic stricken. She wanted nothing more than for this to be over. "Lanister please..." his name broken by her uncontrollable sobbing.

[Salzem]

Lanister gritted his teeth as the disgusting rich bastard attempted to bargain for his life and, in the process, trying to cram down his throat what Nevayah once told him that very first day they met: That the tainted bloods may never be free. Despite himself, the boy smirked and leveled his gun right below the man's fat belly at place lead is surely not invited into. They could never be free, huh? Lanister felt pretty free right now, holding this scum at gunpoint. He had the firepower, he had the weapons, he had the freedom to do what he wanted with this man. He was just about to pull the trigger too when a voice he never thought he'd hear again rang out through the air. The sobbing voice of Nevayah calling his name from the big tent. Lanister's breath became heavy and his eyes glowed with hope before pistol-whipping the fat man in the temple with the butt of his gun, knocking him unconscious and leaving him out here to burn in the sun's heat. He ran like he never ran before into the big tent, seeing his lover tied up there inside a locked cage.

"Oh my gods..." Lanister mumbled as he ran straight at the steel confinement, biting his finger hard enough to draw blood. He quickly pressed his bleeding finger to the steel of the cage, melting the lock off in seconds before Lanister tore the cage open and extracted Nevahya from her confinement. He cut the rope that bound her before pulling her into a hug, his frame shivering and quaking, tears flooding down his face... "Oh my gods... oh my gods..." the blood-splattered boy kept saying over and over again as he held her so. He'd pull away only to kiss her on the lips heavily, an expression of his joy that she still lived, the bloody connection between them growing ever stronger by the second.

"I was so scared they killed you...." He sobbed, staring at her with endless relief and love. "I thought..... I... Oh my gods, Nevayah.... I love you.... I love you so, so much....." He placed another kiss on her, a longer one this time, one showing more love passion and care than any that have come before it. Nevayah was safe... she was safe and they could go home.....  Despite his tears, they boy was smiling. He was so happy to see her alive.... He just wanted to stand there and hold her for eternity....

[Blink]

Her sobbing cries were disrupted by Lanister's voice breaking through the tent. Immediately she fell silent as she listened to him making his way with the lock. A remarkable sense of relief flooded her as she heard the cage door open followed by being pulled out and untied. The moment her hands were free she wrapped them around his neck pulling herself to him and hugging him as tightly as she could. Even though her scarf was still tied around her eyes she knew it was him, she could feel it was him.

Listening as he spoke she kept her face buried in his chest, even between the kisses he had planted on her. Eventually she pulled herself back just enough to pull the scarf from her eyes. She flung the scarf over head before taking it and shoving it in her bag, which miraculously was never taken throughout the entire process. "I knew you would come for me" she whispered with her head now once again buried into his chest. "I knew you would not let me go so easily..."

She held him as tightly as she could wanting nothing more than to be at home at this very moment. "Can we go home now?" she asked as she finally pulled her head back looking into his eyes. A bit of blood dripped from her forehead and down her cheek at that moment. But she did not care, because as she sat back and looked at him she saw that he was also covered in blood. Immediately she pulled herself away from him pulling at his jacket and pushing at his hair examining him. "Where are you hurt?" her question was frantic as she looked him over, not able to tell if he had any injuries.

She restated her question, but more as a demand now. "We need to go home.." With that Nevayah went to stand only to realize the drug had not completely left her system, or perhaps it was a concussion from bashing her head on those bars so many times? Ultimately her knees became wobbly as she searched for something to support her. Grabbing at one of the cages she used it as a brace as she tried to get her wits about her.

Incoherently she mumbled as the world around her began to spin. "M..My" she brought one of her hands up to point at her head as she struggled to get the words out. "Everything is fuzzy..." she managed to mumble out in the confusion. She turned her attention to him once more her face in a confused state. "I don't feel so good..." She could feel the words at the tip of her tongue but just couldn't get them out in the right order. "Home... Ouch... Fuzzy...." It was as if when she stood that her entire equilibrium was thrown off. Then if not to add to the confusion even more she looked to Lanister again with worry in her eyes. "The most thing is that important your okay."

She knew that her words didn't make sense. She knew that something was seriously wrong with her head at the moment but in the end all she cared about was if Lanister was okay.

[Salzem]

"Of course I came for you...." He said, holding her as tight as he could. "We will never be slaves again..." As he spoke, a personal goal began to take shape in the back of his mind, one that compelled him to take out any slaver that would ever get close to them, that would ever even attempt to take them away from each-other and try to snatch their freedom. No one would EVER do what they did here today. No one would treat them like a rare item anymore. They were NOT objects to be collected. They were Tainted-blooded humans and they will forever remain that way.  When Nevayah asked if they could go home, Lanister smiled despite everything that had happened today. Home sounded like a great place to be... Anywhere other than here...

"Yes... lets go home..." He agreed and began walking out of the tent when Nevayah stopped him, whirled him around and began to tear at his jacket. His eyes widened in surprise, thinking that this was the absolute LAST place on earth he wanted to start getting unclothed. Before he could ask her to wait until they got home, his lover demanded to know where he was hurt. He stared at her silently, still just as confused. It was when her voice became forceful and hard did he glance down at his torso to see his brown coat was practically dripping with the blood of those that would steal away their freedom. She must have mistaken it for his... He reached down and grabbed Nevayah's wrists, gently pulling them away from his coat. "Its not my blood." He explained, glancing back outside where the owners lay dead. "Its okay... its not mine..."

Nevayah reiterated her desire to go home and with the same goal clearly in mind, he couldn't disagree. But before they could even take a step, Nevayah slumped over one of the cages, claiming that everything was starting to feel fuzzy, that she didn't feel good... That was when he saw the blood dripping down the side of her head... Lanister's heart began to beat faster and faster as a deep, agonizing fear set in. He immediately rushed on over to where she was struggling to stand. Standing beside her, he wrapped one arm around his neck and place the other on her side, acting as a crutch for her, a way to help her stand. Even though the words that came out of her mouth were jumbled (further concerning Lanister), he could make out exactly what she was trying to say... and it made him even more terrified.

"I won't be if you die on me." He said, looking into her tired blue eyes. "J-just stay with me okay...? We're going to get you home, and you're going to get some rest, okay...?" And with those words said, he began the slow, awkward march back home, arriving at their shack as the sun was up in the center of the sky. After an especially difficult job of getting his discombobulated lover down the ladder, He'd walk her over to the bed, lay her down in it gently, tempted to crawl in himself if he knew it would help... Lanister wasn't a doctor... he didn't know what was going on with her or what was making her feel this way... All he knew is that she was bleeding from her head, and it wasn't stopping... He rushed around the cellar, picking up bandages, tea leaves, anything that was vaguely medicinal, keeping it all in a place within arm's reach of the room. He took the bandages that were once for his hands and wrapped them around her bleeding skull. One layer, two, three before cutting the wrappings and tying it around her head. He stared at Nevayah as he knelt by her side, never before seeing her so fragile... so weak... He was terrified that if he left the room, her condition might suddenly worsen beyond his limited medical knowledge. So he knelt there beside their bed, praying to whatever passed as gods up there that she would come out of all this okay...

[Blink]

Willingly she leaned against him as a crutch as he helped her walk. The more she moved the more it seemed the world around her was spinning, so to help she closed her eyes as he led her back home, trusting he was walking her to safety. Taking his request into account she did her best to remain conscious the entire walk home. How easy it would have been to fall asleep now that adrenaline and fear were not coursing through her. In fact, knowing that Lanister was the person helping her made her feel even more comfortable... and tired.

So they walked... or well stumbled home. It wasn't until Lanister was trying to lead her down the ladder that she opened her eyes again in an effort to see what was happening. Even that seemed to make things worse, the ringing in her ears growing louder each second. Painfully she grabbed at her ears trying to control the retched ringing. To no avail it seemed the longer she stood the more pained and incoherent she became. But then, silence... It was the moment Lanister helped lower her to the bed that the ringing seemed to dim.

It amazed her how quickly laying down seemed to help with the pain. Silently she laid there as she listened to Lanister panic and search for supplies. She knew what was wrong, she knew that this was her own fault. Of course the drugs they had given her caused a slight case of disorientation, her body had managed to filter the majority of it out of her system.

Before long Lanister had managed to wrap her head in an attempt to stop the bleeding. It seemed the longer she lay there the better she felt, the less her head hurt. Even now after he had wrapped her head and put pressure on where she was bleeding from her body was finally able to began repairing itself. Lifting her hand she tried to get Lanister to see what she was trying to do. She was aware enough to know that there was still blood on her hands, there had to be. From the ropes cutting into her skin, or the drainage from the hole they had put in her arm she knew there would be blood.

So there she was trying to get him to understand what she wanted... she wanted him to grab her hand. If he figured out what she was trying to do and grabbed her hand he would see a blur of images, fogged at the edges but nonetheless the point would be made clear. She tried to show him the blood in her body, and how it truly worked. She tried to show him that her blood had already filtered most of the drug from her body. She tried to show him what she did in the cage and how she thrashed about.

He would see how the guards threw her into the cage and how her head cracked against the bars, not able to brace herself due to her hands being bound. He would see how she broke down for only a moment and then decided not to give up. He would see how she rocked the cage and it fell, where she once again hit her head. Lanister would see that she was suffering from a concussion. But most of all he would see that her body was trying to repair it, and now that he had stopped the blood it would do just that.

Nevayah knew that you should not fall asleep when you suspect a concussion. She had forgotten she was still holding his hand (if he chose to hold it to begin with) and images of previous injuries such as these came into play. Several times in her life she had been thrown, tossed and shoved in a manner that caused her to hurt her head. This was not the first time she had been through this, this is how she knew what was wrong... this is how she knew it was her fault.

In an instant she realized she was thinking of her horrible past that she had been trying to forget and jerked her hand from Lanister. She didn't want him to see that, she didn't want him to feel pity for her any longer.

[Salzem]

Nevayah looked and him and raised her hand, blood seeping from it, a fresh wound. Upon seeing this gesture, Lanister understood what she wanted him to do. The boy withdrew the knife he had been keeping in his pockets, cutting his own hand a little, allowing the blood to seep out a little bit before he pressed his hand to hers, finger to finger, palm to palm. As their blood traded, the boy saw everything that had transpired after he saw her taken from the market.

Nevayah struggled hard against the men who took her, kicking and screaming all the way to the camp they had just came from. Despite her efforts, she was beaten down, tied up and taunted while Lanister was still trying to find her. Her constant struggling eventually caught the attention of one of the guards, who forced a concoction down her throat, an anesthetic so powerful, it knocked her out right there, severing their connection and leading to the slaughter of everyone in that camp. The scene shifted to when she woke up from her drugging, she thrashed about, yelling his name before smashing her head on one of the bars of the cage, drawing blood. It was upon seeing this image flash behind his eyes did Lanister understand what was wrong: Nevayah had a concussion... a brutal, nasty head injury but as he stared at her, he could see the life slowly start to ebb back into her features... Before he could feel any sense of relief, darker images began to pass through his head, scenes of where Nevayah learned her knowledge of injury the hard way, suffering brutal bludgeoning, cuts, anything that would cause and injury like this.

It seemed she realized what was going on and pulled her hand away, appearing to regret what she'd shown him. It was nothing worse that what she had seen herself: The slaughter of the camp. It started where he felt the connection between them end, the idea of her apparent death sinking in... Each brutal death played through her mind, each and every detail as obvious and present right down to the every last drop of blood. Everyone there was dead... Everyone but the rich man who was smashed in the head with his pistol.

Lanister didn't pity Nevayah... He loved her and hated to see her in pain like this. Slowly, he lowered his face to hers, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead just between her eyes. He looked pained, guilty almost for all this happening to her... She would have felt the guilt and the self-blame of the slavers ever finding her. Lanister obviously held himself fully responsible for the events that happened today... It was his fault for her getting hurt... for her being found... If only he had woken up earlier... If only he were faster....

[Blink]

Nevayah watched as Lanister's day was played before her. She almost wanted to die seeing how he felt when he thought she was gone. The rest... well.. she could not say she would not have done the same. Even the disgusting man who called her his pet, she probably would not have shown him mercy if it had been her with the gun.

Realizing how Lanister was blaming himself for the day she shot up from the bed, sitting up despite the pain she was fighting. Immediately she felt light headed from the fast motion, but she pushed through. "This is not your fault!" her voice sharp. "I am the one who went out alone. Even if you had been awake I would not have let you come. I was trying to surprise you..." as her sentence went on her voice grew less agitated. She had reminded herself of why she wanted to go out to begin with. She wanted to get Lanister a treat... she wanted to see him smile.

Lifting a hand to her temple she tried to block out the pain. She was feeling better, her body obviously working to heal itself. Her speech was normal again, the ringing all but gone.. all that lingered was the faint pain. Nevayah began to show Lanister a side of herself he had not seen yet. It was the side of her that she did not even know existed within herself, it was anger. Not like the hatred she had displayed towards the slavers hours ago, but just anger. "If I could I would get up and slap you right now!"

Sitting up more in the bed she continued, feeling a bit... empowered. "I went out.. I got caught... I slammed my head into the cage... I did this! So don't you for a second think any of this is your fault!" not being able to stay angry with him she averted her eyes looking at the wall. "I can't stand to see you like this... so stop looking all sad and adorable."

[Salzem]

Lanister jerked back in surprise as Nevayah sat up quickly, telling him that this was not his fault at all, that even if he had been awake when she was getting ready to leave, she wouldn't have let him come with because she wanted to.... surprise him...? Surprise him with what and was it worth the risk just to see him smile? Apparently, in her mind, he really was worth all that to her... He knew he should be regretting his regret, but more or less, he was at a loss for words, flattered beyond them. Even though he could see the obvious anger behind each of her words as she threatened to slap him, he couldn't help but smile weakly. She had done all of this so he could smile a little more... What a crazy girl... Putting herself in danger for the sake of making him happy.... When she said she couldn't stand seeing him so sad and adorable, Lanister's smile grew a bit as he leaned in closer, their lips only a few inches apart.

"I'll make you a deal..." He pecked her lips softly before continuing. "I'll stop being sad and stay just as adorable so long as I get to stay with you for the rest of the day.... No more going out so early... no more slavers... or surprise gifts gone wrong..." He winked, clearly joking. "Just you... me... doing whatever we want to do... We'll have the entire day to ourselves..."

It was no surprise that Lanister just wanted to forget this whole day and pretend none of it ever happened. He wanted to make up for all the death, brutality and sorrow experienced with love, warmth and togetherness, all the things they were denied this morning due to some unholy intervention. He stared at Nevayah lovingly, running a finger along her jawline like many other times he had in the week they had been together. Today had been the first real dysfunction they had since their getting together and somehow, it all turned out for the better. Lanister was starting to know his lover better, to know how much he actually loved her. He had killed 4 men and knocked out a 5th to get to the girl he loved and it all felt justified... No one would touch her ever again... not while he lived and breathed.

Lanister pressed his lips to Nevayah's again if she'd allow it, gently placing and arm on her shoulder as he drew closer. He knew she was still recovering from her wounds, but he needed this... He needed to show her how much he cared and loved her after all that had transpired today... Nothing was ever enough to display he affection for her, but he craved the challenge of trying regardless.

[Blink]

Nevayah smiled as Lanister became even more so adorable, just as he had promised. Thinking of having a day just the two of them doing nothing seemed like the perfect fix for their current situation. "I would love that" she responded just before he planted his lips on her again.

Oh how she loved it when he kissed her, how no matter her current state he saw her as beautiful. Allowing him to draw closer to her she pulled him further into the bed next to her. Oh he had started something she simply could not refuse. Nevayah would never pass up a chance to be close with him, even if the timing to everyone else would seem off.

Grabbing at the lining of his pants around his waste she pulled him as close as she could. All the while her lips remained locked with his as she kissed him back just as passionately as he did her. Before she would have been bothered by the fact they were both covered in blood, but now she did not care. Releasing her grasp from his pants she brought one of her hands to his back slithering it behind his jacket while the other entangled itself in his hair. Pulling back for a breath she whispered "I love you" to him as she had done many times before.

"I love you more than anything in this sad world of ours."

From there she began to kiss his neck up to his earlobes before going back down his neck again and to his collarbone. She didn't care that she was injured, nor did she really even feel it anymore. It seemed that the closer she became with Lanister the quicker everything else just faded away. She was sure she looked silly with a bandage wrapped around her head and the dirt and grime from the stirred sand stuck to her skin but she did not care.

Lanister and Nevayah had not shared a bonded blood moment since their first night together in the cellar, where they both touched hands to learn more about the other. Other than only a few moments ago they had communicated purely on instinct. This caused a question to rise in her mind as her lips trailed Lanister's collarbone and chin. What if she grabbed his hand at this precise moment? What emotions would be transmitted between the two?

Wanting to know the answer to her own lingering question she reached for his hand after removing hers from his back. Without words she attempted to intertwine her fingers with his so that they may be bonded once more by more than just their bodies, but their blood as well.

If Lanister allowed for their hands to touch during this passionate moment he would feel the hunger building within the girl he loved. He would feel how much she craved his touch everywhere and how her heart was about to explode from her chest with excitement. It would work as if adrenaline was rushing through both of their bodies, craving for more... so much more.

[Salzem]

As their lips made contact, Nevayah kissed him back with equal passion and love, tugging him onto their bed by the waist of his pants. While one of her hands snaked into his hair and the other when behind his back, Lanister's wounded, bleeding hand was kept far away from her lest his acidic blood touch her while his other one ran through her hair, her cheeks, her hips... He wanted to feel her so bad... His clothes were very quickly starting to feel restraining... They broke contact only for a moment as Nevayah pronounced her love for him, claiming she loved him more than all in this sad world of theirs. Lanister grinned lovingly at her words, kissing her again before returning with his own declaration."I love you too..." He said to her more times then either of them could count.

"I love you more than anything in this world... or any other..."

Nevahyah began to kiss up his neck, reaching the base of his ear before going back down, tracing his collar bones with his lips. The boy gasped at the sensation running across his skin, almost like electricity flowing through his nerves. As she kissed him in such places, he tried desperately to discard his jacket, meanwhile locking lips with her on the occasions she went higher, kissing her jawline and upper neck every time her lips separated from his skin. By some work of magic in between their love, Lanister managed to take off his jacket, the bloodied article of clothing falling in a heap at the base of their bed. Almost immediately after he managed to take his off, he attempted to do the same with her, freeing her from the clothes that restrained them from going to all the places they so desperately hungered for.

As if reading his mind, Nevayah's cut hand intertwined with his, their blood mixing once again, this time filling him with all the love, adrenaline, hungers and desires she felt for him. He felt the cravings to go so much farther than before, to experiment well beyond what they had been doing together for the past week and Lanister smiled suggestively fore he felt these things too... A his emotions flowed into his lover with his blood, mirroring hers, Lanister's other hand began to wonder down lower, near her legs, rubbing the interior of such glorious limbs while he kissed her passionately, deeply, experimenting with how far they truely were willing to go. He found himself kissing her everywhere with exposed skin, even lowering himself to kiss the love-handles of her waist. His breath would tickle the flesh of her stomach as he rose back to face her again, planting another deep, experimental kiss on her lips while his free hand wandered further.

The shared passions between them only seemed to grow and grow as their moment went on and on, a vicious cycle that both of them had craved for as long as they had known eachother, even if they couldn't have put the desire into words.

[Blink]

It was first she kicked off her boots pushing them off of the bed with her feet as they clunked to the floor. Then her stockings, with Lanister's help those and the other articles of her clothing began to pile up beside the bed among his. As his hand wandered she released hers from his hair and followed suit, exploring his body with her fingertips.

The hunger building within her took shape as she more feverishly than ever kissed his neck. It was when his hand traveled lower that she shivered as he touched her inner thighs. Despite earlier events this day was actually turning out to be quite splendid.

Taking one of her legs she wrapped it around Lanister, pulling herself closer and closer to him. Between heavy breaths Nevayah managed to get out a few words. "I want you..." she pressed her lips to his once more kissing him with everything she had. Pulling from the kiss she spoke again, her voice breathy and full of desire. "I need you."

She didn't bother to look in his eyes, she knew what he was feeling. She could feel every bit of his emotion pulsating through their connected palms. The desire she felt for him was greater than ever before. There were no reservations, no concerns, nothing else on her mind but him and her intertwined.

It was funny as her personality had developed into this kind and sweet softspoken girl. But when Lanister was involved... all bets were off. Everything with him was heightened. Every touch, every glance, every breath made her yearn with him.

By this point everywhere he touched her sent a tingle throughout her body. As if his fingertips were setting off an electric charge when they touched her skin. And then his lips... as they kissed the bare parts of her skin she exhaled heavily every time.

As the minutes passed and the two grew closer Nevayah was nothing more than in pure bliss. She never wanted this to end... she never wanted to spend a moment without Lanister touching her again.

[Salzem]

Between the two of them, it wasn't long before they were both exposed to each-other fully once again as many times before, but this time was also extremely different. Neither of them seemed even close to tiring out or showing any sign of fatigue throughout the entire experience, likely due to the bloodbond between them revitalizing their adrenaline and desires far faster than they could ever run out. Like Lanister had noted early in their relationship, a blood-bond was something no one but another Tainted would ever understand...

Only a few minutes into their love and they were already beyond the points they usually refrain from crossing, their darkest, intimate and secret thoughts about one another being brought into reality with absolutely no resistance, fluid, powerful, emotional. They kissed each-other like it would save their lives, desperate, clinging, passion no longer a suitable word for what they displayed there on their bed. They switched positions constantly, rolling atop one another in some primal attempt to gain an advantage, to lead the dance that brought them within one another in both mind, body and spirit. Nevayah wrapped a leg around his waist, Lanister wrapped an arm around her lower back. She kissed him feverishly, he returned the favor. Between their gasps for air and their expressions of their pure, raw desire for one another, Nevayah managed to get out a word or two, expressing that she wanted him... needed him... Lanister kissed her with the full weight of his need and passion before pulling away, the expression on his face being nothing but pure bliss.

"I can't live without you..." He mumbled before getting right back to it, their love resuming as if no words were spoken. He couldn't even imagine a world without Nevayah next to him, without her presence... her voice... her lips and touch... Without her, the world around him didn't seem real... all sensations would feel like ghosts of what they once were... Now that they were together like this, he experienced the world beyond anything he ever had alone and he never wanted to go back... He would love her for eternity... He never wanted their contact to cease...

:X:

The act was far longer and more complicated than the dances they shared in the past, but it was over now as all dances eventually were, Lanister's and Nevayah's hands still intertwined with one another as they stared into each-other's faces. He smiled wider than he ever had before, so many different meanings shaded behind every last detail of his lips, as they curled upwards in greeting.

"You're magic..." he murmered, pulling Nevayah in so that their lips connected once more. "Is there anything you can't do, my beautiful Nevayah....?"

[Blink]

She giggled as they lay there after their 'escapade'. Bringing a finger to her chin she thought for a moment before answering his question. "I can't get sweets apparently..." She knew it was too early to joke about, but couldn't resist either way. Nevayah was so full of positive energy that she could have broken an arm and thought it lovely at this moment.

Finally releasing her hand from his she climbed over him to attempt to stand once more. If they were going to spend the entire day in the bunker she couldn't just lay still and do nothing. It was amazing how quickly her body repaired itself when it came to internal injuries. Although the gash on her head would surely be visible for a few days at least the damage beneath had almost healed itself.

As she placed her feet on the floor she shifted her weight upwards in an attempt to stand. "I feel so much better already" she notioned towards Lanister, sure he was watching her diligently. She began to unravel the blood soaked bandage from around her head before letting it fall to the floor. It seemed his medical work made the healing process faster as she noted her wound was no longer bleeding.

"It's funny how my body can repair internal injuries just fine, but scrapes, cuts, and scars take so much longer. Perhaps because they are external?" she had always wondered how her tainted blood worked on herself. She supposed it was the same as Lanister, how his blood did not burn right through him, or how if he got it on his skin it didn't corrupt.

Although she knew Lanister would protest it Nevayah didn't much feel like waltzing around nude the rest of the day. She knew if she did that other things would happen. What they had just done was so amazing she wanted to at least give it a little while to remember. Reaching down she grabbed her stockings slipping them on one foot at a time. She then grabbed her shorts and slid them up her legs pulling them to her waist. Looking around a bit more she found her shirt at the top of the bed. Reaching over Lanister she grabbed it and then slid it over her head.

It was then that her bag caught her eye, thrown on the floor the flap hanging open. Inside was her scarf... the one thing she held onto for so long. Turning her head from it she sat at the edge of the bed in thought, clearly bothered by something. "Perhaps I shouldn't wear it for a while... so I am not recognized so easily." The very notion of abandoning her precious scarf caused her stomach to churn slightly. For so long it had been her security net, the one thing she had to remember the person who left it for her.

Looking over her shoulder she noted that Lanister still had some blood splatter on him. Her eyes then dropped to her arms and saw the blood that had begun to dry. "Stay here..." she said as she sat back up from the bed walking into the other room of the cellar. After digging through a few barrels she found some old scrap material. Grabbing it and a wooden bowl she walked over to the pot of water they always kept where they made their food.

Silently she ladled water into the wooden bowl before it was full. She then walked back to the room where they just connected more than they ever had before she set the bowl of water and fabric on the barrel next to the bed. "Since we can't leave that means no bath house..." she was slightly disappointed at the thought of not enjoying the warm milky water. How much she loved to just soak in the water and forget about everything.

She dipped the fabric into the water before leaning in towards Lanister and placing the cloth on his forehead should he allow it. "I will do you.. then you can do me?" Alright... so perhaps she was a bit more mischievous than she let on. Of course she would look for any excuse to touch him again. Realizing where her thoughts were leading she added to her statement. "But... I think we should hold off on anything else for a little bit... I want to remember how magnificent that was for a bit longer."

(Too tired to boldface the speech. lol)

[Salzem]

Lanister snickered at Nevayah's little joke, practically glowing after the things they did. No, apparently she couldn't go out to get sweets, but they would have a long time together to figure that out, wouldn't they? Only a week together and Lanister was already fantasizing about the future with this girl... He imagined that several years from now they would no longer worry about slavers, that they would be free to start a family of their own and live a life that wasn't always under direct threat. Perhaps it was just a fantasy, one dreamed up by a young slave with a childish mind but is was something for him to strive for. As much as he had grown attached to this old cellar and all that came with it, there had to be something more, something better than this and Lanister was going to find it for them both.

Nevayah climbed over him before standing solidly on the tile floor of the cellar, seemingly completely healed from her concussion. As if to prove his suspicion, Nevayah began to undo her bandages and although a good bit of blood was lost, no more seemed to be coming from her wound. She was talking right, standing right and, as evidenced earlier, acting right so her wonderful blood must have done it's job during their little exploration. Lanister watched as she started to get dressed, looking at herself, than at him, appearing to observe the dirt and grim they neglected to wash off themselves before beginning their dance. It wasn't like this mattered to the boy. He had been living on the streets most of his life and knew how to cope with being a little dirty (in more ways than one). Still, he didn't protest when Nevayah asked for him to wait right there, throwing his legs over the side of the bed but leaving his clothes there on the ground.  He ran his fingers through his hair as he recounted the last hour's events, laughing at some of the things done he didn't even think possible. He had never thought Nevayah to have such a... colorful mind, even if they were "connecting" once, or sometimes twice, a day now. Some of the images that flowed into his mind were so scandalous, so outright impressive in both detail and scale, Lanister couldn't help but blush. But he enjoyed looking into her thoughts, feeling her pleasure and love as a mirror to his own. Even now, just after finishing their dance-of-the-day, Lanister craved a new one with her and it seemed he was about to get what he'd wished for.

Nevayah returned with a large wooden bowl filled with water and a cloth, soaked with said water. He raised an eyebrow curiously at his lover before a smile of realization crept across his face. She was going to bathe him, wasn't she....? As she slapped the wet towel on his forehead, blocking his vision, it seemed his suspicions were correct. She offered to do him first and then he her, Lanister's smile widened as he stood from the bed, pulling Nevayah by the hand so that they were at least a few feet from the furniture. Somehow, he assumed this was going to get a little messy.

"Who am I to argue with you...?" Lanister smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "In a whole week, you never gave me a reason to say no..."

[Blink]

Nodding she began wiping at his face, slowly following his jawline with the wet cloth. "I mean it Lanister... no funny business..." It was hard for her to keep from throwing the rag and having at him again, but she remained strong and tried to think of other things. In order to distract them furher she opted to start a conversation instead.

"So.... I saw something when we shared our thoughts..." she brought the rag to his neck now, wiping it and his collarbone with great care. "You are still selling your blood? I saw the door... and I saw what you gave whoever was behind it." she dipped the fabric in the bowl again, wringing it out before going back to wiping down his exposed skin. "I don't want you to think I am mad about it, its actually quite genius."

Her hands now traveled to his back where she followed the curves of his bones and muscles with the rag. "We could probably do a lot with a little more money..." she was leading up to something. Perhaps it would have been better to ask during a more intimate moment between them when she had the upperhand. Shaking the thought from her mind she continued, not wanting to think of taking advantage of their love like that. "So I was thinking..." she dipped the rag once more clearly trying to procrastinate at asking the question.

Wringing out the rag once more she brought it to his shoulder and began to trail down with it on his arm. "... and don't forget you did just say I have never given you a reason to say no...." she brought the rag to his other shoulder and repeated the process. "Do you think that maybe... just possibly...we could sell my blood too?"

[Salzem]

"Okay, Okay..." He laughed at her insistence for no "Funny business". Really, what could he do on his own that could top their funniest of businesses displayed in bed only a few minutes ago? He meant what he said when he'd stop and even if he wanted to start it up all over again, he would respect Nevayah's wishes.

Why was it that he felt a strange eeriness when she said she saw something while they were connected? It was more than likely she only saw a fantasy of his, but his instincts were telling him something else, something far more sinister... Something he didn't want her to see. It seemed that his anxieties were well-founded as Nevayah said she saw him selling his blood, that she wasn't angry over it and, in fact, thought it was genius. Lanister's face immediately dropped to an expression of horror even despite the fact of her approval. This wasn't something she was supposed to know... She wasn't supposed to see this yet... She wasn't ready to know about this deal he had going... All the good he had experienced throughout this week had to be counter-balanced with something and it seemed it was time for that debt to be payed. He held his head in his hands, clearly distraught upon hearing this news. He knew that he couldn't have kept this a secret forever... but he had hoped that he could have kept the veil up a little while longer... He was a fool to think he could maintain the illusion for any longer than he had... Nevayah was smart and she was his lover... Nothing like this would have slipped by her... When she thought that they should sell her blood as well, Lanister looked at her his eyes wide. For the first time, he looked at her and his gaze seemed... almost angry.

"What...?" He asked, his voice a whisper. His muscles seemed to tense under his skin, but he didn't move or lash out at the girl he loved. No, he remained silent for a good long minute before continuing. "S-sell your blood...? Nevayah, I can't ask you to do that to yourself... I can't re-institute you back into slavery!" His eyes were firm, but soft, the tensions in his muscles receding just a bit but only a bit. His attempts to look forceful, strong and defiant eventually crumbled, appearing more wasted and distraught more than angry. "I love you, Nevayah... I hated what those men did to you... how they drained you and drank your life-blood down like it were water... I hated them and all they were... You're wanting to do the same thing to yourself to make our lives just a little easier..." He sighed, shook his head, then clasped Nevayah's hands in his, looking at her with an unreadable gaze, too many emotions present to make a clear reading. "B-but if this is what you want... and you are willing to do this... Then I'll support you... I'll help you..." And he would... Like he noted before, Nevayah was as smart as she was beautiful. She knew a good deal when she saw one and her intellect was one of the many reasons he found her so attractive. "Just... never leave the cellar without me again..." His eyes glanced off towards the ground. "I... I can't lose you..."