A Castle's Thorns - Accepting/Finally Open

[M3Gnificent]

"Yes, and it's a terribly long story that I'd rather not tell." Luckette answered Thomas, right before patiently listening to the man's tale. It was a disturbing story, to say the least, and the thought of such horrors in her current state of mind - that glorious high from knowing she'd survived now gone - frightened her considerably. The sight of blood was quite unwelcome, which was made painfully clear by the look on her face. Still, she couldn't leave. What was out there, what was lurking in the shadows, blades sharpened as it waited for her, searched for her body amongst the fallen twigs and leaves, was a more frightening thought. "That...that sounds terrible. But, assuming you aren't making tales, I'm still safer amongst a murderous ghost than I am out there." Such a sweet yet terribly, terribly naive girl.

 

[Mad Haru]

Thomas was almost speechless.
"Wait. You're telling me that this castle actually is haunted?"  

[Grey Moonfang IV]

"So you knew...and yet still you came?...many have lost their lives due to such foolishness" Alister responded bluntly to the man, perhaps a bit tart "When one says the halls are home to spirits most dark, is it not wiser to believe it so? For what do you think is the price for being wrong when you think it otherwise..." So many had perished for that train of thought. They hadn't believed the place was home to ghosts, and so fell prey so easily to those that dwelled here...worse yet, on occasion someone came because there were ghosts, to prove it false, only to be proven horribly incorrect in their judgement.

Alister then paused for a moment, he was avoiding Luckette's gaze now, trying to force down his other-self...along with the horrible shudder creeping along her spine. Oh how horribly wrong she was. "A mortal torturer, be they man or beast, must eventually stop to rest or eat...the Prince suffers from neither, he will never stop for even a moment" The 'Brother Brackengard", as some had dubbed him, spoke darkly. He didn't like it, but he needed to frighten this girl...to horrify her till every sensible instinct told her to run from this place. "A living man has only had a few decades at best to practice the crueler arts....the Prince has had centuries, and he can commit acts no mortal man is capable of I'm certain."

"Please...for your own sake, please leave" Alister warned again, looking to the both of them for a moment "If it's the forest you fear, then leave together. Surely two can accomplish what one cannot and make it through to town...this man seems to have made it here in a single piece at least" He gestured to the male guest, still unaware of his name.  

[greendragonfly52]

Abigail stood behind Alister, a haunting look coming to her expression as she listened to the warning. She knew all too well of the dangers that lurked within these castle walls. Though she had been putting off telling Luckette. "Miss Luckette, Sir Thomas...please...listen to him. He speaks the truth." Abigail said softly, in nearly a whisper. Though she knew she was at no danger now, just the memory of what Fredrick could do made a cold shiver run down her spine.
"Please...they aren't just stories. Luckette...what ever horrors you met before you came hear will seem like a fairy tale in comparison. You truly don't know what you risk by staying." Abigail's eyes fell to the floor, now wishing that she had said something earlier. "Miss Luckette I....I wanted to say something earlier but I...I selfishly wanted to keep you here a little longer. It's just so rare we get visitors."

Abigail stepped forward a little, and looked to her side to Alister. Her eyes held a silent apology for not trying to send Luckette away sooner as he would have wanted. She wondered if perhaps she should take on spectral form there and then and just scare them away. Though...last time one of them did something like that, they were soon greeted by a priest trying to rid the castle of "demons".  

[Mad Haru]

Thomas looked from Alister to Abigail.
"Somehow I am filled to the brim with skepticism. Prove it."  

[M3Gnificent]

"It's a chore for me to walk as it is. You've seen my wounds. You and miss Arisa helped bandage them." Luckette pointed out with a soft sigh. "I don't know my way around the forest. I don't live near it. I never did. I'd get lost, exert myself, and would bleed to death from my wounds opening up at the worst possible time. I can promise you that would've been my fate earlier today, had the gracious Mister Valren never found me and brought me here." The rest of the story, however, she would not say. No matter how much she was asked, it was just too much of an unpleasant topic. Already she was looking rather down. "I understand if you would rather I not burden you, but please let me stay for a little longer. At least until I am in good enough condition to leave on my own."

 

[Grey Moonfang IV]

All hope fell from Alister's face, his expression growing exceedingly grim. One was skeptical, and the other was...why would she...why would they not see reason? Could he not somehow convince them?? Were they doomed like so many others not realize the error in their choice until it was too late?

Too late...yes...if they new what awaited them...saw first hand what would happen if they remained much longer...

Alister's hand crept toward an old, somewhat rusty knife he kept beneath his cloak. An item he'd taken from one of Fredrick's former victims. The poor souls belongings didn't simply disappear after all. Yes...he didn't have to kill them...just a little blood, and then they'd see...they'd see that...

What was he thinking!? Alister's hand stopped before it ever reached the blade. No, it was still early...Fredrick had met neither personally...he could still convince them to leave. The man turned to leave. He needed to come up with a better plan...and to live this place before his other half surfaced; but before parting he looked over one shoulder and spoke "You'll soon find Lucien's kindness comes with a heavy toll."

With that, he left. No doubt the aforementioned Lucien was already on his way to intercept him. He'd likely be all too pleased to see that Alister had failed.  

[greendragonfly52]

Abigail quickly shook her head. "No...Luckette. You are no burden to us. Did you not hear me...I want you to be able to stay longer. Please try to understand." Abigail begged, her face filled with anguish.But she had a point. She would meet her death out there as well with her wounds. Even with Thomas's help, it was unlikely that Luckette would make it to the nearest village alive. "Though....tis likely better to die peacefully among the trees and the earth, with the stars over head. Then to die in screams and terror, your last senses of darkness, and your own blood echoing as it drips to the cold stone..." Abigail whispered, as if she forgot they were even there. Her eyes seeming as though she was somewhere else with her thoughts, a haunting memory that tormented her still after hundreds of years.

Abigail ignored Thomas's question for a moment, she she turned to run after Alister before he disappeared, as she didn't know when she would get to speak with him again. "Master." Abigail whispered, once the others were out of earshot. "Master...shall I...shall I give them proof of the castle's haunting? I know it has never worked well in the past...but perhaps this time..." Abigail trailed off, doubting that Alister would be fond of that idea. "Is there anything else you would have me do Master Alister?"  

[Grey Moonfang IV]

"I never have been, nor never shall I be your Master, Abigail" Alister spoke rather calmly "Just an alternate persona of the man who is. Never forget, Fredrick was here first" The man, still young at least in appearance took a few steps farther away "I'm just his failed attempt at doing anything decent in life... and in death" He said the words with a grim humor, though his face showed nothing bit pain; not that he let her see his face in that moment.

At last, he shook his head "There is no need to prove anything yet. The girl has not met Master Brackengard, nor has the boy considering the fact he still breaths..." Alister pulled the cloak tighter around his body and began to move forward down the hall "...and so, it is once again time for the Brother to simply fade back into the shadows..."  

[greendragonfly52]

"You're more my Master then he ever was." Abigail said, the hatred for her true master clear in her voice. "I refuse to call the man who ended my life my Master. Even if I do still serve in his castle." How many times had she called him Master Alister only for him to refuse the title that should have been his? A saddened expression crossed her features for a moment hearing Alister's words, though she made no comment. Of all those trapped in his palace, his anguish was likely one of the more strong and constant. After all...the source of his pain could return time and time again, it just needed a beautiful woman.

At his command Abigail nodded, "Understood. I will keep the boy away from Fredrick if I can. As for the girl...let us prey that we can convince her to escape before she becomes the next to break Fredrick's black heart." Abigail took a breath, while listening to Alister's final words. "Goodbye Alister. I'll prey that you are able to return to us soon." She said in the softest of whispers, before turning and walking back into the library.  

[Grey Moonfang IV]

"Such a sweet girl..." Alister muttered beneath his breath as he continued down the hall, lifting one hand close to his face "...and yet, with these hands she..." His heart skipped a beat. This was not a sign of affection for the maid from whom he'd just parted, but rather the first sign of something he constantly dreaded. Another beat failed to come from his undying heart, his steps faltering only briefly before everything went....black.

Fredrick looked at his surroundings curiously. Hadn't he been in another part of the castle entirely? Well, perhaps he'd gotten lost in his musings of what to do with this new woman. Lucien had assured him she was a beauty after all; but then why was he wearing this tattered old rag of a cloak? He was a noble, royalty no less, his body should never be draped in anything less then the finest.

Well, save for when he chose to sneak into town to woe some young bar maid. Though such attempts hadn't met with much success as of late. It seemed like every-time he drew too far from the Castle he began feeling lightheaded.

Why would he go hunting when he had something already within his grasp though? The Prince mulled over the thought a moment...well, at times he did enjoy partaking of dessert before the main dish. A wolfish, predatory grin spread across the man's features.

"LUCIEN!" He bellowed. The butler was rarely far from earshot, and he'd best be near. There was work to be done.  

[Zelly-fangirl]

Lucien stopped in his tracks as his master's call echoed down the halls and finally reached his ears, a cold grin spreading across the butler's lips. 'Good, good...It seems the master's absence was a brief one this time...Hopefully that pest Alister hasn't caused too much damage while I wasn't looking.' he thought as he swiftly returned to Frederick's side, his shadow calm and stable once more as he made his way through the castle. "You called, My Lord?" he said with a bow and a small smile as he finally stepped through one final wall to appear at his master's side.  

[Mad Haru]

"Well." Thomas sighed.  

[Grey Moonfang IV]

"Timely as always Lucien" Fredrick sounded pleased as he spoke. In fact, the Butler had just received one of the closest things to a compliment anyone male every received from the Prince. "Escort our guest to the dinning hall, I wish to...share a pleasant conversation with her before the evening meal is served" He said with a smile which never quite reached his eyes; this expression quickly soured "Oh yes, and I suppose you should throw the mongrel a bone or some scraps...or....something" Fredrick said, clearly thinking of their male guest as an afterthought "We don't want him to starve before he's completed the chores after all." The man gestured dismissively at the continued thought of the young male, at least he assumed he was young. Doubtful he'd have made it this far had he been aged.  

[Zelly-fangirl]

"As you wish, My Lord." Lucian said as he gave a parting bow before walking off. He always felt so relieved whenever Alister left. He eventually found everyone mingling in the library and bowed politely to their female guest upon entry. "Miss Luckette, the master is ready to see you now. I've come to escort you to the dining hall, if you don't mind." he said, unaware of just how much Alister had said before.