.::Tender Sugar::.

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Naum Kisin

It had taken long enough, but finally the Leader of the Church of Spinalogy had arrived in the last city on the map. Giza, it was dubbed. Not the worst of the names given to the new settlements... But names could be easily rectified once he had officially taken over the province formerly known as the United States of America.

The caravan of sleek black vehicles rode into town unhindered, among fanfare and surrounded by many admirers. The Leader, Naum Kisin himself, stayed in his car all the way to the Temple, where he planned to meet the leader of the local Spinatologists; some woman named Luna Lee Black, if he remembered correctly from her eager correspondences.

He stepped out of the car, flanked by his guards and wearing a bulletproof vest. It wasn't that Naum didn't trust the Great Earth Mother to protect him, but even she did not guarantee his safety and urged him to take whatever precautions were necessary. He observed the Temple critically. It was beautiful, and amazingly clean for such a dusty and godforsaken landscape, but small compared to his own back in what had formerly been Washington DC. He began the ascent of the many steps, ready to meet this... Luna.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Naum Kisin

Naum fixed a smile on his face when the rather short girl came into sight. It was hard to keep the smile there when he saw her clothing, but he managed it. He took her hand and lowered his mask to kiss it lightly. "Miss Black. A pleasure to meet you at last."

'It's her,' he realized as he looked down into the gray eyes he knew so well. 'Odd, though... It would seem she doesn't remember me or herself... I shall test her, see how much she really remembers before revealing all... Perhaps if Alena refuses her duties, this new version of Aluna will accept them in her place...'

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Naum Kisin

Naum chuckled and smiled graciously at the girl. "Actually, my dear, I find Giza very... refreshing. You have no idea how uncivilized some of the other Western settlements are. I am quite eager to discuss Church matters... But tomorrow will provide ample time for that. Come, let us retire."

As if it was his Temple and not hers, Naum guided Luna to a nearby lounge (since the Temples were all built in the same general manner, he knew where things were without asking) and sat beside her. He signaled to a few of his personal serving girls to bring wine, offering Luna a glass and taking a sip of his own before speaking.

"Actually, Miss Black, I am quite interested in learning about you... How did you come to lead this great city known as Giza? Surely, you must have powerful family here to have risen to such a high position at such a young age?"

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Naum Kisin

Naum didn't have to work at keeping his smile on his face anymore. 'Excellent, just excellent! She doesn't remember a thing... Manipulating Aluna will be all too easy. I may well have both my daughters back in my grasp before the sun sets... Not bad for a day's work, I would think.'

"Fascinating, so it was all through natural talent, then," he said aloud in a smooth tone. "I wish all my precious leaders were as gifted... I could use a thousand or so just like you, Miss Black." He frowned theatrically before delivering his next lines.

"Unfortunately, there is one lost from my flock that I have come to find, specifically... My daughter, Alena Kisin. I have been... informed... by certain parties that she may be going by the alias Lena Ryder. Have you heard anything of her whereabouts, my dear? Anything at all? Even though she is my beloved child... I'm afraid the Church is clear on matters of discipline..."

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Naum Kisin

Naum actually had to stop himself from giggling with excitement when he heard Luna's news. "I should have expected as much from such a clever girl... You've managed to capture my most wanted fugitive. You shall be rewarded immensely, my dear Miss Black, I can assure you of that. The Church of Spinalogy is eternally in your debt." He kissed his daughter's hand again before standing. "Yes, please have her brought here at once... We must carry out her execution swiftly, so that the festivities tomorrow may commence without interruption."

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Lena Ryder

Sekhmet wasn't nearly as bad as Luna had made it sound; Lena and Isis were running the place within the first hour. That was mostly thanks to Isis' strength; nobody wanted to ******** with her after seeing her break out of her chains and strangle an unlucky guard with them.

Water and food were very scarce, but the underground prison was big enough that there were a few streams to drink from and tubers to eat if you knew where to look. Lena chose to see the bright side of things as much as possible. 'Sol is safe, and Isis is alive, those are the important things... Also, I've lost those few pesky pounds I'd been worrying about...'

The truth was, Lena was about to go crazy from boredom, and she missed Sol so much that the mere thought of the woman made her want to cry. She was even glad to see Luna when she showed up a couple of weeks later, just because it provided a distraction from her depressing situation.

Lena positioned herself between Luna and her little prison gang, providing them with whatever pathetic protection her body could give. "What the ******** do you want, b***h?" barked Lena in a cracked voice.

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Lena Ryder

Lena hissed and began beating at any guards that came within arm's length of her. She didn't even bother trying to reserve her strength now; the event she'd dreaded for four years was at hand. Her father was going to kill ********>" she screamed as she was finally captured. "Luna, listen to me, god damn it!! You don't know him like I do! He might make you pretty promises now, but the man is a ******** leech! The b*****d is going to suck you and Giza dry until there's nothing left... Please, come to your ******** senses, if you have any!! We can kill him, we can stop his tyranny!"

 

[Dreaming_Drifter]

Naum Kisin

Naum smirked viciously when both girls returned to the temple. Alena looked horrible, which gratified him greatly. "Hello, my darling daughter... Luna, you've done well." He turned to his small army of guards and nodded. "Take them both. Kill Miss Black's guards. Expel the rabbit creature into the streets; I have no use for her." He watched, face twisted in a sick smile, as they carried out his orders.