The Dark Castle

[KatjaJean]

The Dark Castle is a spacious building with an entire floor dedicated to the current leader herself. Throughout the building are rooms for the council members, meeting rooms, torture chambers, rooms dedicated entirely to the study of black magic, and so much more. It is quite the place to explore, if you so dare.  

[Jyccly]

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Lucian Lyse walked down the long halls of the castle, his footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness.
He narrowed his eyes.
It won't work. He thought to himself, as he went over his earlier strategy of eliminating the rebel forces within the kingdom, I need to come up with a plan that can be carried out right away.
He entered the main chamber of the castle, walking right up to his throne before sitting down in it, waiting for the report from one of his scouts whom he had sent earlier to gather information about the rebel forces.




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OCC: Edited. smile

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KatjaJean

 

[RedWix]

Jyccly

ʑoë Ѵaʅe

As they approached the castle, she felt her breath escape.
I'm finally home... She was overjoyed to be back here.
Maybe, it was good luck coming across King Lucian.
She could only catch glimpses of him in his other form as he led the way to the entrance. She lowered her cloak hood,deactivating the disguise place as Lucian changed into his human form. They entered the old castle, guards and servants bowing to Lucian as he passed and some acknowledging her return as well.  

[Jyccly]

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"Is the Queen not back yet?" Lucian asked one of the guards at the door of the grand chamber.
"Not yet, your majesty." the guard replied, his head down in respect, giving the King a deep bow.
Lucian nodded at him, as he entered the empty chamber.
His female attendants appeared in front of him, ready to help him change into his formal gown in the back room.
Lucian turned his gaze toward Zoe before he went with them.
"I'm sure the Queen will be back soon." he said, as he walked away from her, "You must have lots to report to her."
That you can't tell me.
He threw her one last amused look before leaving momentarily.




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OCC:

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RedWix

 

[RedWix]

Jyccly

ʑoë Ѵaʅe

She sighed disappointedly to hear that the Queen was not back, yet from wherever she had disappeared too. She continued to follow after Lucian till they stopped in front of his quarters.
"Not really, my lord, just the success of my quest and my findings."
She watched him leave and took that as her dismissal.
Even if it's not...I'm too tired to care. She turned on her heel the cloak swirling around her as she headed back to her old room near the Queen's room.

She went to the end of the King's wing and travelled to the west wing where the Queen resided. Entering the room across from the Queen's quarters, she was pleasantly surprised to find nothing had been changed. She kicked off her boots and let the cloak fall by the door not caring about tidying up. Walking over to the queen-sized bed, she flopped down and instantly fell asleep.  

[Jyccly]

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Lucian Lyse returned from his room, having just changed into his imperial gown.
...
He surveyed the empty chamber in front of him, noticing that Zoe was no longer there.
Well, that's fine. He thought to himself, as he calmly sat down on his throne, waiting for Queen Alyssia to appear.
When the Queen didn't appear, he slowly began to drift off, having not had much sleep the previous few nights.




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OCC:

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RedWix

 

[RedWix]

Jyccly

ʑoë Ѵaʅe

After sleeping for who knows how long, Zoe woke up completely rested. She sat up in bed stretching her arms letting out a loud yawn. Lowering her arms, she rubbed the sand out and stood up searching for any note of summons by the Queen. She was slightly disappointed in finding breakfast with no summons note from the Queen. She ate quickly and decided to change into clean formal clothes then go search for her. Before she left her room, she grabbed her lyre and strapped on some throwing knives dipped in sleeping poison. She left her room and headed towards the first location she would search, the throne room.
Entering quietly, in case court was in session, she walked closer to the dais.
As she walked closer she realized the figure that she had seen in a throne was actually, King Lucian and not Queen Alyssia.
She stopped in front of him frowning,
Why is it that I always bump into him when he's sleeping...
She sat down on the first step resting her chin on her arm as support.
I might as well wait for her here...She's bound to show up eventually... Bored, she decided to practice some basic charm spells for good dreams and warding off evil. She quickly tuned the lyre and began playing.  

[Jyccly]

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That melody again...
Lucian's eyes slowly fluttered open, pools of melted gold reflecting the dim lights of the main chamber.
He gazed down at the person playing the tune, half-awake.
He closed his eyes once again, letting himself get lost in the music.
Then, his mind cleared.
Lucian's eyes flashed red with anger.
"What are you doing." he said, his voice dripping with venom, eyes now bloody red and blazing with fury.




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OCC:

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RedWix

 

[RedWix]

Jyccly

ʑoë Ѵaʅe

She strummed softly not wanting to disturb the resting king behind her. Unfortunately, it seemed that even the slightest sound of music would wake him up. She grimaced hearing his demanding tone as she continued to strum the melody. She looked over here shoulder up at him noticing his dark red eyes.
"I'm waiting for the Queen to appear, my lord." Her fingers glided across the strings smoothly; the sound rippling in the air and filling the room.
She faced forward as a difficult part of the melody came.
"You were sleeping so I was playing a charm for good dreams."
Since it seems you have much fear... She rolled her eyes at her own thought.
"Besides, yesterday you seemed to enjoy my singing. So I figured, you would enjoy my playing."  

[Jyccly]

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Lucian grimaced when he heard what she was doing.
So that melody from yesterday too. Her.
He walked down the steps, grabbing her hand to stop her from playing.
"Do don't anything unnecessary." he warned in an icy cold voice, his eyes peering right into hers, as if he could see her soul.
Know your place, little girl. He finished in his mind, sending the words telepathically to her.




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OCC:

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RedWix

 

[RedWix]

Jyccly

ʑoë Ѵaʅe

She ignored the pounding footsteps of Lucian walking towards her and continued playing unfazed. At his icy cold touch and voice, she shivered and stopped playing. Her eyes were completely focused on his as they seemed to pulse red with anger. She felt frozen, and her heart quake instinctually at the glare of a death god. She felt raw and bare as he ripped open her mind to threaten her. The room was completely still and silent as they continued their staring contest. Frightened and offered, she ripped her hand out of his grip and stared defiantly up at him.
"Of course, my lord, because we are all just puppets to your whim..."
She gripped her lyre tightly angered,
"You are King after all. Why should you care about anything other than what pleases you? But you have forgotten something, my lord."
She smirked pleased with herself,
"My oath is to Queen Alyssia. I must do whatever it takes to help her, and that requires me practicing charm magic not listening to you."  

[Jyccly]

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...Insolent little...
Lucian's glared at her, and turned his face away, fuming inside.
"Do whatever you please." he hissed, stalking away to his throne, sitting down roughly.
He shut his eyes, turning off the influx of the music as he concentrated on sensing the various presences in the castle, observing the moments of the castle staff from his current location.
It is time to look for a few "rats" around here. He thought to himself, as he focused on pinpointing any suspicious activity taking place.
After all, his earlier exchange with the bartender proved that there were some rather...nasty traitors lurking around.

Trash waiting to be disposed of.




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OCC:

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RedWix

 

[RedWix]

Jyccly

ʑoë Ѵaʅe

As he turned away Zoe felt a glimmer of pride and irking him from her comment. She smirked truimphantly at her lyre in front of her pleased by the turn of events.
"Then I will..." she mumbled under her breath.
She decided to play a dark, melody that was written about a legend of a terrible storm that shook the world to its core. She felt it suited Lucian anger. The beginning started out softly the sound dripping off her strings like rain hitting the ground. Soon it crescendoed to rumble and thrum of thunder and wind destroying everything. She closed her eyes absorbing the music letting her fingers be the guide. Near the end, the song softened to once again the sound of rain. Using this change, Zoe shifted to a sadder song of lamenting lover mourning their loss, echoing the sorrow felt by Alyssia and others around her. Slowly, the song and key changed to major as a peaceful melody of flowed out. In remembrance of the peace, one feels at the end of change and finding their place in everything.  

[Jyccly]

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Lucian found himself unable to stay focused.
He tightened his grip on the armrest of his throne, frowning slightly as he tried to concentrate once again, without success.
The melody reminded him of a past that he tried so hard to forget, and his anger and frustration seemed to grow slowly as the music continued.
Sing, Lucian. Sing for me.
A gentle voice called out to him from deep within his memories.
He was suddenly overcome with a strange wave of sadness.
Without thinking, he closed his eyes, and began to sing something that he used to know very well:

"...Turn your face away from the garish light of day...Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light..."
He sang the lyrics softly, with a gentleness that seemed almost uncharacteristic of him.




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OCC:

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RedWix

 

[RedWix]

Jyccly

ʑoë Ѵaʅe

As she played, she smiled in approval at hearing Lucian quietly singing to himself. She remembered he would often 'secretly' sit in on her music lessons, making sure no one would notice him. If you ever brought it up, he would react similarly to how he did earlier. The last few chords faded softly reverberating through the air as they wanted to linger if just a moment longer clinging to life. She sat there silent waiting for the moment to take her again into song.