Shadows Lie in the Heart (Open)

[DarkAssassin]

James sat in the corner of the tavern by himself, leaning back in his chair. There, he was kept partially in shadow. It stretched along his face and down part of his chest. His emerald eyes appeared to glow in the musky air, giving every inch of space around him an eerie feel. His feet were propped up on the table, a mug of some sort of alcohol a quarter full sitting untouched.

James listened to the noise around him. Zantaric was an interesting place, and so was the tavern. He knew there would be something here to interest him, whether it be a woman, someone vulnerable or another dark mind. But there would be time for that soon. He hadn't even finished his drink yet, what was the rush?

James blinked once, allowing the sound to filter through his mind as he reached for his mug.

[Ferr Windston]

After days of traveling, the bare foot Botag walked up to the tavern with his cloak around him. Just like the number of others in the area, he kept his own business to himself and kept it moving. As he walking in through the doorway a small group by the door glanced at him, sizing him up. With his crimson eyes, he sent a glare their way. The gathering of men quickly turned away and lowered their heads. Botag flashed a fanged smirk before venturing inside. His eyes shifting back and forth, he was definitely looking for someone.

Towards the back, a gentleman and woman sat around a tightly packed bundle. Tied up with rope, an assortment of boxes were displayed. One of them had the words "Fell" written on it, possible an item for the ruins of the kingdom. Taking a seat behind the two, Botag tapped his hands on the table. Already there, some 'professional' women sat in discussion about something, gossip maybe.

When Botag took his seat, he muttered something to them and out from his sleeve, a sack of coin slipped out. With that one action, they ignored him, took the sack and continued to talk.

[DarkAssassin]

James had just put down his mug, now empty, as the new man had entered. His eyes flitted to him for a mere second, not interested in the slightest, until a group of people scattered away from him sheerly due to a glance.

James' eyes followed the man to the back of the tavern, watching him closely, now interested by his presence. He watched the sack appear from the man's sleeve, hearing the soft sound of coins clink on the table as the ladies took it. Narrowing his unearthly gaze, James took in the ladies' expressions, which seemed to be apart from the man's.

As people continued to pass by, James kept his focus on the man. There would be time, he supposed, to take a gander at this fellow. Perhaps find out why he had slipped the women money? Certainly, he was something. People didn't fear nothing. That smell had been grand. Fear. A cold smile touched James' lips in the shadows.

Slowly, he took his feet off of the table before him, sitting in an upright position, watching the man's actions more intently than ever.

[Ferr Windston]

Botag sat their with the women for a quarter of an hour before he smiled. The man and woman that were with the crates had ordered a few drinks. They seemed to be celebrating something, but what that was is irrelevant. The moment the man took his first sip of the wine, Botag rose his hand and the air in the room began to grow heavier. The doors opened, thrown to the side by a gale of tainted wind. It came in the color of night, making it harder to see what was happening in the tavern. People shielded their eyes, and shut them tight.

In the confusion, Botag turned around quickly and punched the man. Aiming for the side of the throat, the halfling knocked him out, cutting of his breathing. Next the woman caught a glance of Botag's menacing glee before falling to the same fate as her companion. Once the two were on the floor, passed out and unmoving, Botag broke each create within their bundle. Making it look like the wind tore them apart.

However, when it came to the create from Fell, he took something out of it. Once he had taken it, he ran out of the tavern, letting the black wind die out after he left. 

[DarkAssassin]

Fascinating. That was all James could think as the fog rolled into the tavern. Fog? Directly after a new being had entered the building? James sniffed and got to his feet steadily, stretching one of his arms. He could have been a little less obvious about it.

James' eyes seemed to glow even brighter in the muggy air, cutting through the dense fog like a lighthouse beam. He listened hard for a moment. A smack. Skin on skin. He stood there for a moment, weighing his options and calculating. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he moved through the tavern like a shadow directly towards the exit.

Stepping outside of the building, James moved about a hundred feet away, under the shade of a large oak. He watched the entrance of the tavern, waiting for the inevitable outcome. Someone was going to leave.

[Ferr Windston]

Springing out of the tavern and standing before it, Botag smirked and looked over the sheathed sword in his hands. The black sheath held old runes along it's sides and a gold tipped end. He began walking away from the tavern, unsheathing the blade with a wicked smile. "It's be so damn long!" His voice willed with pleasure, it was almost erotic for the man. He gazed at the dark steel blade. It's white edge and black dull side, sung with a hum before he placed it back in it's sheath.

He removed his cloak, satisfied with what he got. "Now just one more thing on my list."  Botag spun around before walking down the path before him. His red eyes scanning the area, feeling like he was being watched. 

[DarkAssassin]

After watching the man take out the blade and stare at it, James seemed to vanish from his spot under the tree. As the man began walking down the path, he melded out of the shadows in front of him, cloak swaying slightly in the breeze.

"Hello there," James' icy voice reverberated throughout the air, sending a chill cracking into the air. The voice seemed to be coming from everywhere, even though he stood directly in front of the man. His gleaming eyes surveyed him carefully, face emotionless.

[Ferr Windston]

Botag looked at the man with his eyes narrowed and brow twitching. He looked him over for a moment before looking around. Seeing he was the only one around, he was not going to make the first move. "Oi." The demonling said back. "You looking from something?" The former demon of slaughter tied his old sword to his hip.

[DarkAssassin]

James smiled at the twitch of the man's brow, but the expression was without feeling. He shrugged slightly, eyes unblinking and locked on the man, aware of the movement of the sword.

"I am always looking for something," he responded metallically. "That sword is clearly worth something. You knew it would be here. You know where it came from. Likely, there are other treasures such as that one of much worth from wherever it came. And," he paused, "you know how to get them."

James' emerald eyes glowed brighter, narrowing slightly as he spoke. "If you wish not to draw attention to yourself, perhaps drawing in a large cloud of fog isn't the best idea." He fell silent.

[Ferr Windston]

Botag listened to the man with an amused face. As he finished, the half demon laughed and covered him mouth. "You insult me Sir!" He said with a smile. "I care not if someone with your intellect could figure it out, but those morons in there were too busy keeping the wind out of their eyes."

He shrugged and tapped the blade. "And another thing is this weapon. It's not just some relic I wanted to take. It was originally mine to begin with. Forced the Master Smith of the time to craft it before I ate his soul." His eyes locked on to his. "So I searched for it for a while, and took it back. I am no thief, just a half-breed wanting to reintegrate into this world."

[DarkAssassin]

"Terrifying the general public with an abnormal fog is a perfect way to reintegrate oneself," James said, without the slightest hint of sarcasm, or anything rather, in his voice. He stared at the man for a long few moments in utter silence, boring into his skull.

"What is so special about your weapon that you simply had to recover it? I would very much like to know." James tilted his head ever so slightly, in a sort of detached motion. 

[Ferr Windston]

"The metal it is made from no longer exists. It was dug up by dwarfs and needed dragon's breath on the hottest days to forge it." Botag stated, gripping the hilt tight. "But that is just a materialistic view of thins. This blade was with me for a long time, and took a month to forge. I have many memories with it in my hands." The pale demon said, face vacant of expression.

He soon rose his eye brow. "Why ask so many questions about a blade bound to me?"

[DarkAssassin]

"Dragon's breath," James' scoffed vaguely. "It is perhaps a coincidence that your blade has something to do with dragons. So does mine." He had never taken his eyes off the man, and never yet blinked; disturbingly still.

"Because," he said bluntly, "your so-called treasure is special and rare to you. I have use for such things. I am just deciding, at the moment, which path to take." He fell silent again, as if possessed to talk every couple moments before returning to his statuesque form.

[Ferr Windston]

"Well let me save you the trouble my friend." Botag put on a fake smile and leaned in. "I'm Botag of the Dei Cut. I used to kill armies for fun." He then frowned. "Don't touch my sword and we will be fine and dandy. Hell, I'll by you some wine." The demon stepped back and crossed his arms.

[DarkAssassin]

"Lean any closer ever again, and you will wish you had died by those armies. I wouldn't be so kind." James watched the man's fake smile with a tinge of annoyance, wondering if he was expected to fall for such a cheap copy of an emotion.

"Wine is good," James answered after a moment, emerald eyes glowing noticeably brighter. "A good place to start."

[Ferr Windston]

"It was never a matter of kindness." Botag replied before shrugging. He was walking away from the tavern a little further. "Fine, but not at that damn place." He pointed behind them. "Besides I'm going south sooner than later."

[DarkAssassin]

That's not what I meant, James thought dryly. He followed the man in silence, flowing like a shadow across the ground. He didn't respond to the decision to change places to drink. Any place that had alcohol was a fine place for James, if indeed the purpose was to drink.

[Ferr Windston]

As the walked in silence, Botag readjusted his cloak and lifted his hood back up. He them cleared his throat and asked, "So do you always confront people that retake their property or was I just a special case?" The demonling began to turn down a side path.

[DarkAssassin]

"If ever I confront someone, it is usually due to their own folly. But for you, yes, I made a special case." James left it at that, staring directly ahead down the path even as they turned, his cold voice tingling the air.

[Ferr Windston]

"I see. I will make sure to get you the good stuff. You sound like you need it. Would you also like an escort as well?" The demonling snickered to himself as they walked down the path. The nearest tavern being about another mile down this path. He felt the vibes James was giving and Botag didn't like it. He knew this guy was planning something, but he didn't care. He could get out of any situation this era had to give him.