Rem
•
Hollowbreeds
Posts: 37
Likes: 27
Gender: Other / Decline to State
|
Post by Rem on Aug 17, 2021 14:29:21 GMT -8
It watched her impassively. The creature was known as Lyra. It stored the information away, a quiet irrelevance but as yet the name would forever colour the interaction. Lyra, the mortal could witness Hollow. Lyra, the one who knew the name of Rem's kind, who knew the name Rem. The only mortal who knew the name. Rem found that interesting for reasons it could not explain, that as pointless and futile as all these transient things were, in the space of time did not threaten their existence there was a power in their uniqueness. Lyra was the only Lyra. Rem was the only Rem.
It had thought that Lyra would do the deed herself, but she had decided otherwise. Disappointing but all the same, it couldn't bring itself to mind. A meal was a meal, and perhaps there was a pattern to establish here. And by the end of it, Rem suspected, she might regret not dealing the sentence with her own hand. Her reasoning was even further curious. It wouldn't be a waste? How could one waste something as valueless as a mortal life?
"Very well. Bring them and it will be done."
It would wait for a time, curious about the possibility of deception. It appraised her closely, wondering, but then so be it. If she did then that too would be its own little lesson. For both of them. It let her go freely.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra d'Aiglemort on Aug 17, 2021 15:18:09 GMT -8
She studied the monster’s features. The slope that might have been shoulders, the fist-sized hole in its flesh, perfectly carved and then healed over. Its mask was unreadable to her.
Lyra had forgotten what it was like not to have some understanding of another person’s mood when she interacted with them. There was tone, of course, but the monster’s voice rose and fell without any inflection she could pinpoint. It was neither disappointed or pleased.
But it had given her its name – Rem. Names were precious things, or so Lyra chose to believe. They were what separated reality from delusion. With a name you existed.
Maybe that was why, subconsciously, Lyra shied away from thinking about the other woman in such personal terms. If Lyra didn’t name her then she took on a generic role. She could be anyone. Except she wasn’t. And it was terribly callous to murder someone without recognizing that they were real.
As much as Lyra hated her it felt wrong to hide from this.
“Okay. I have to go, it will take me 15 minutes to get home, so I will be back in 45 minutes at the most. I’ll bring you Abigail by then.”
Lyra waited only a moment before she turned and walked off. This time she took the direct route, unafraid of Rem following her – should it decide to eat her after all it would make everything much simpler. And if it ate the household, well… it could try but it wasn’t likely to succeed, and at that point, Father might be upset enough to get rid of her anyway.
She sped up, numb to the cold air and the bruised ache in her hands. This would be tricky.
|
|
|
Rem
•
Hollowbreeds
Posts: 37
Likes: 27
Gender: Other / Decline to State
|
Post by Rem on Aug 17, 2021 16:57:02 GMT -8
Then it was alone. Forty-five minutes, the creature had said. Rem knew the words but it had no way of measuring the time, it might have well have said some length of time between now and forever. It was fairly certain it would not see the rise of the sun before her return. It waited silently, crouched in its normal position and stared out. It perceived the world around it for nothing in particular.
The less motion the less energy it would exhaust by merely existing. Amusingly that it might drag out this tortured thing longer but it had long since given up any hope of freely embracing the void. So, given that it would exist, it would do as with as much grace and dignity to the task as could be managed.
But those to whom existence could end?
A recollection struck it and it recalled the purpose which brought it here initially. Lyra had proven such a sight that it had forgotten about the harvest. It turned its attention towards the point of planting.
It wasn't surprising that Lyra had not seemed to notice it. Though auspicious, breaking through the concrete just so in the midst of the playground, the void flower did not strike a particularly noticeable figure. It lingered but was small, insignificant. You'd see it if you thought to look but, Lyra seemed like she had her own set of preoccupations.
Or maybe she did spy it, and thought nothing of it? Perhaps Rem would ask...
Did it imagine long conversations with this mortal? Frequent visits? Was this a ploy to draw upon a second easy meal? It watched the flower a moment longer and made a decision.
The crop could wait. It could be trusted to grow bigger, until it was full, until it was right.
And then Rem would reap.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra d'Aiglemort on Aug 17, 2021 18:08:34 GMT -8
In the end it was easy.
Lyra wondered, later, whether that was a sign. Had Father predicted this in his impossible manner and allowed her to continue?
For now, though, Lyra led Abigail through the streets. The other girl wasn’t inclined to moving quickly though the knife at her back induced a satisfactory pace. Violence, or the threat of violence, was an inelegant tactic. Father always said that – and yet it proved effective in most instances.
People were afraid of Lyra’s knife in a way they never were of her words or her presence.
Abigail had gone silent, trudging along with her head held high in her sleep clothes. She was planning something. It wouldn’t be physical. Lyra was faster and properly trained where all Abigail had was a greater reach and the indignation of being forced from her bed.
She wouldn’t have realized yet that there was a threat. How could she? Lyra had allowed Abigail to get away with all her petty games and had never complained or fought back. To Abigail, she was no doubt some domesticated pet.
Counting down seconds which turned into minutes, Lyra focused on the actions of herding her target, of watching for any sign the girl might bolt.
Abigail huffed as Lyra guided her towards the playground, her eyeroll so vehement Lyra felt it while standing behind her. They stepped within the chain-link fence that separated the park from the road before Abigail dug in her heels and balked. Lyra couldn’t decide whether that was incredibly smart or dumb of her.
“Well?” Abigail snapped. A midnight march having done nothing for her imperious attitude. “I imagine you have something important to show for this whole procession.”
The girl didn’t respond to the tip of Lyra’s knife as she jabbed her so Lyra sighed and lowered the blade.
At the shift, Abigail spun to glare at Lyra coolly. “It’s practically 2 am, Lyra. Did you think no one noticed when you ran off? If you’re trying to piss me off more, you’re doing a great job.”
That was Lyra’s cue to back down – to apologize and flatter and hope Abigail wouldn’t hold it against her. Abigail knew it too, had come to rely on the tempo of this routine, and she skipped ahead as if Lyra’s part was no longer necessary. Her glare became a sneer. “Unless you thought I could help you with d’Aiglemort. We may be close, but I don’t think even I could convince him to let tonight go.”
Lyra winced and allowed Abigail to see it. She ducked her head to avoid Abigail’s triumphant smile. The other girl was far too satisfied by petty slights, but Lyra had never seen the need to bring that up.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s really late – I just – I need to show you something.” She kept her voice small and her shoulders curved. That was all that it took for Abigail to follow her towards the jungle gym. There was no trust between them, just patterns, habits, and Abigail’s belief that she knew who Lyra was.
Scanning the darkness, Lyra felt the skitter of spiders crawling up her spine. Rem was close by.
|
|
|
Rem
•
Hollowbreeds
Posts: 37
Likes: 27
Gender: Other / Decline to State
|
Post by Rem on Aug 18, 2021 8:29:16 GMT -8
Rem could have made it easy. It had been aware of their return, could hear their chatter as they made their way. It could have glided its massive frame into the shadows of their passing and dealt a swift and fatal blow. It would be over, cleanly, its service fulfilled.
But it wasn't here to serve Lyra, it was here to help her, to guide her. The complication was the point. She had to face the decision and make it in the moment, aware fully of the decision she was choosing to make. Of course, it had already been decided. Rem had called for two to arrive, and both would not depart unchanged.
They emerged into Rem's sight, the duo of mortals. Rem appraised the prey Lyra had chosen for it. Impertinent. Rem found no appetite rise within it at the figure. Perhaps it would be more filling but it could tell with absolute certainty that there would be no joy in the meal but perhaps in service to a greater meal it would make do.
Rem emerged from the shadows, at its full impressive height, uncertain if it could even be perceived by its new quarry. It made no drastic moves, no lunges, no fatal and final swings of its mighty fist. Not yet. It didn't really matter if they could see Rem.
"Is this the one I am to devour, Lyra?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra d'Aiglemort on Aug 18, 2021 9:03:00 GMT -8
Lyra spotted the monster first. She spent so much time in the dark it was impossible not to catch its smooth approach, the very air parting before it until Rem was as solid as the slide or the swing set to her left.
She shivered. Fear mixing with excitement. Her mind skirted away from the thought of what Father would do. He wasn’t here right now. And Lyra… Lyra wanted to win just once. Even if it was her only success.
The other girl halted, swinging her head towards the tree line, eyes narrowed. “What was that?”
Envy was like swallowing fire. Abigail’s power was so useful, so fascinating, so strong. It wasn’t violent like Lyra’s, or so very limited in its use. Shadows curled tight around Lyra’s throat, the Darkness kissing her chin. For a moment the night air turned frigid.
Abigail couldn’t see Rem. She wasn’t strong enough. In the one thing that truly mattered. Abigail would have failed Father – no matter her ability.
Dismissing the Shadows took time, time in which Abigail turned back on her.
“Lyra! What’s going on?” The whites of her eyes were showing. Fear dashing that poised composure and revealing the child beneath it all.
There were many things Lyra could have done here. All dramatic in their own way. A fitting cinematic conclusion to this little interlude. She didn’t care about any of that though. The only one watching was Rem and Lyra hardly cared about it.
So she smiled. “You were always going to die, Abigail. But this time I decided – I wanted – it. I want you to die.”
Abigail did not appear to understand the momentous implications of Lyra’s words. Her face went dark as she took a step closer to Lyra. “You can’t do anything! You can’t touch me or I’ll tell everyone.”
“Not if you’re dead,” Lyra posited calmly. It was child’s play to catch the hands coming for her face, and Lyra did what she had wanted to do for so long now, in tugging Abigail off balance and twisting her into a shoulder lock.
The other girl screamed. Probably more from anger than pain. That was all right.
Lyra raised her head, tilting it back until she could look directly at Rem’s mask. “Yes. This is her. If you still want to eat her.”
Energy sizzled beneath the skin Lyra was gripping so tightly and she jerked upward, hard, in a motion that threatened to dislocate Abigail’s shoulder. The energy fizzled out. Abigail wasn’t used to pain. Her little gasps should have brought about pity, but Lyra found she felt nothing at all.
|
|
|
Rem
•
Hollowbreeds
Posts: 37
Likes: 27
Gender: Other / Decline to State
|
Post by Rem on Aug 18, 2021 9:30:07 GMT -8
Unnoticed. Unobserved. Rem was a tool in this exchange. It was comfortable with that, of course. It waited before crouching in front of the pair while their drama played out. Lyra was delightful, a star. This indifference was unlike much it had seen before from other mortals. There was a true wickedness in her heart, and the circumstances that created it, Rem was curious to learn. What had driven her to hate this individual so? What would have driven her to kill? It seemed so unlike her nature, but perhaps that was the effect of dwelling in the place as fuel for the seed Rem had planted.
But then, something drew her to seek out that self-destruction. If it wanted to duplicate this success it would need to find a way to replicate the conditions in others. And to do that it would have to understand.
It watched as uncertainty gave way to fear and felt its hunger grow. It had hoped to have Lyra take an active role and it succeeded in all of that and more. Rem was the trump card, but it wondered if Lyra would have done this without it?
Then, before long, it was done. Lyra had her, had offered her up not in some passive way, but actively presenting a sacrifice to Rem.
I could take them both. An effortless bite for Rem. It hesitated only a moment on that decision.
"Very good, Lyra," Rem hissed, their voice a little quieter than its normal boom.
It leaned forward, white mask and dark eyes peering into Abigail's unrecognizing stare, then through her to Lyra behind. This was witnessed, little one, do not forget that this was done and observed. I will always remember.
It happened quickly. Rem's maw widened, opening to a black cavernous void behind the rows of perfectly white aligned teeth. It lunged forward and in a single snap of its jaw which closed inches from Lyra's face. The headless body that once belonged to Abigail slacked and ceased any conflict against Lyra's grasp. Was there a moment of recognition from her at the very end? One clean bite was all it took to end the entirety of a human existence.
Rem leaned back, clean save the droplets of blood which stood bolding against the pure whiteness of its mask and teeth. It regarded Lyra impassively as it ever did.
It did not savour the taste or sensation of flesh, but the spirit was drawn clean. A meagre meal, filling but far from satisfying. As for Lyra, it would marshal its patience and wait for the day it was ready.
It remained there a moment longer in complete silence.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra d'Aiglemort on Aug 18, 2021 9:43:39 GMT -8
She perked up at the praise. A thrill running from her toes to her ears in an electric crackle. It was hard not to react -- the pleasure automatic. This was Lyra's decision but Rem was satisfied with her. It thought she had done well.
Contentment swelled, filling her to the brim, and Lyra watched the ensuing massacre from behind a wall of pride. She didn't flinch as Rem's teeth passed mere inches away from her. Nor did she balk at the blood, hot and slick where it had splashed over her arm. She dropped the body only to observe the strange progression to the ground, as if lacking a head truly changed the aerodynamics of descent.
Her heart pulsed. Lyra caught herself breathing too quickly and made an effort to resume control.
She stared at her hand and the blood dripping across the crease in her palm.
This was the first time Lyra had killed someone without actually doing the act herself. There was an exhilaration to the crime she had never felt before. It tasted like freedom.
Slowly Lyra faced Rem. "What now?" She wondered passively whether the monster would eat her. Lyra was more concerned with moving the body before daylight.
|
|
|
Rem
•
Hollowbreeds
Posts: 37
Likes: 27
Gender: Other / Decline to State
|
Post by Rem on Aug 18, 2021 10:06:10 GMT -8
"I will depart," it said at last. Rising just so from its crouched position. The body would be a problem if it was discovered, it would lessen the traffic to its seed it realized, but then, it trusted Lyra to deal with it. Or not. Either way, the seed it was truly interested in wasn't bound here anymore.
"I do not linger much in this realm. If you wish to meet me again I will return once more to this spot. Perhaps a year hence but no promise can be made." Time, mortal time, was imperceptible to Rem. It could make no promises on when they could next meet.
"But regardless, we shall meet again," it promised, though perhaps that was a threat? It lingered for a moment longer.
"I promised not to devour you this night, but know I promised for no others. Stay vigilant, Lyra. And take care of yourself." I'd hate for someone to get to you before me.
"...I am interested in your potential."
With that, having said more to Lyra than it had in its entire existence, it turned, rose up to its full height. With its arms, it reached out and gripped the air. There was a soft hiss, a rush of air and the faintest of wails as Rem took hold of the seams which bound the two realities together and tore fiercely, tearing them open. At the other end was a twisted and blackened maw.
Rem did not look back as it passed through and vanished. The maw closed behind it moments later.
And Lyra was alone.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra d'Aiglemort on Aug 18, 2021 10:26:13 GMT -8
Lyra nodded. She could do little else. This was as much her act as Rem’s so she wouldn’t thank it for its efforts. She sensed the monster would not appreciate that.
If they met again, it would be interesting. Perhaps Lyra would thank it then.
She blinked and the tear in space had already sealed itself. Abigail’s body rest at her feet while the faint tinge of pink crested the horizon. Lyra had work to do.
Blood had splattered across the mulch and while Lyra could leave it here (perhaps providing some solace in that missing person case), it was more thorough to erase any signs of her presence. She studied the angles and trajectories and held her hands out towards the soil.
The Abyss answered coyly, wrapping itself around her wrists and licking the blood from her palms before it dripped from her fingertips. Darkness blacker than night pooled around the body, enveloping Abigail like a funeral shroud. The only one she would receive.
Lyra turned and the Shadows followed, cheerfully compressing to her silhouette as if eager to play a new game.
It was time to go home.
|
|
|