Keep Your Eyes Wide Open

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Revenge, such a delicate, yet powerful word. Revenge often had to be treated with the utmost precision, carefulness and even a little bit of diplomacy if you didn’t want to get caught in one of your schemes. It was something that she lived with for the past couple of years… Well, since forever really. She had killed quite good few of vampires, while staying under the radar all the while. It seemed to chase away every other good thought and feeling she might have, leaving only the darkest parts of her. Lyanna had long ago come to terms with the fact that there were two versions of her inside of her. She had long ago accepted that there were a Jekyll and a Hyde fighting for dominance. Sometimes she let it take control… Her darker side, but more often than not, she had tried to deal with these sides as best as she could, trying to keep her darker side at bay. More often than not, she had been successful, though there were times she didn’t fight it, that her defenses weakened and that was exactly what this dark side of her had been waiting for, for so long. Then, there were times where Lyanna simply let her dark side take over, simply let her defenses fall and simply let her other side take over.

Today, it was one of those instances, where she couldn’t sit still and do nothing, knowing that there was a side of her that would gladly do something. Today was a day outside of her job that she would be able to let both sides breathe. Just this once. She still had to be careful, though. Oh yes, freaking careful, or else she would be in big trouble. Not that she wasn't already on a regular base with her job as a spy and a dragon... But she also knew that for some apparent reason, the vampires had taken over. And she hated vampires with every fiber of her being, she wanted to rip their throats out and watch them bleed. That want, that desire, wasn't just that of her 'evil' side anymore. It was both sides now, both sides that were so often fighting for dominance could agree on something. And that something being... Ripping someone's throat out. Lyanna knew that she wasn't supposed to be thinking this and often enough pretended not to act on her feelings, on her thoughts. But she had all this time, just been waiting, anticipating. She was a hunter and they were her prey. It may seem like a silly and elaborate feeling, but it had been hers since the beginning of her time. In order to try and distract herself, Lyanna had gone shopping... And window shopping was always fun, except for the fact that she wouldn't buy ANYTHING. She was broke. Being a spy didn't exactly solidly pay her bills. Besides the fact that there were other ways to get money, though. Ways like hunting for money… Quite literally. She wasn’t there yet, however. She still had some of her pride left and as long as she had that, she would hide her hatred well beneath a layer of smiles and politeness.

[Corvin]

Corvin went to the market district for a stroll. The shopping district was bountiful on people with wants, and was even the perfect breeding ground for people trying to get their heart’s desire, no matter how big or small the desire. Corvin walked the streets of the market district, greeting the different people that he passed, and speaking to a few magistrates on small business details. Some of these details pertaining to the passing of a few laws. Laws that would give Corvin a massive advantage in smuggling, and arming the enemies of Mythregal. A few vampires once approached an associate of Corvin’s, looking for access into Mythregal, so that they may feast on human blood, and recruit more soldiers for the vampire army. Corvin agreed to grant them access, but in exchange for the elimination of certain public rivals that would try to do away with these laws on moral grounds. Luring these enemies outside of the grounds, they were the first to be turned, and their turning proved significant for Corvin to prevent their return, and deem them missing. When the vampires arrived in Mythregal, he would simply set Brigade members upon them. Corvin would be deemed a hero, and more political rivals would be removed from office.

Win-win.

But then, his attention was caught away from his plan that was already set in motion. The scent of revenge was thick like stagnant air. It tickled to Corvin’s senses, but it was also a means to an array of deals that he could have in store for this person seeking revenge. Corvin could also turn that revenge up, make it go from simple revenge to hellfire burning in the person’s heart. He followed it until he found a young woman, or what appeared to be a young woman. Corvin could see the massive aura around her with his eyes, and could tell what she was right away. To be safe though, Corvin pulled out a rune stone from his pocket, and held it to his eye as if examining it. The stone began to glow with a soft, cloudy white, indicating that she was a dragon, and an Air Dragon at that. Dragons were usually very skilled at hiding themselves from the public. Most detection spells were useless against tracking them, as dragons were capable of using power older than most magics, but for Corvin, these secrets were privy to him long ago, and through many hidden artifacts that he had discovered, he was able to see the truth in things.

Corvin approached the young woman, who was looking longingly into the shops, as if she were broke and a smile crossed Corvin’s face. “Excuse me, Miss,” he spoke with a Scottish accent, “I apologize for bothering you, and for making assumptions, but you look as if you could use some money. Perhaps, I can help?” He was silent for a moment, but as soon as he knew that she was looking at him, he continued by saying, “Forgive me if I’m intruding, my name is Lord Corvin of this beautiful city. You look new to the area, and thought I would extend my welcome to you to Mythregal.”

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Lyanna wasn't even sure how much of what she was seeing in the windows, she would actually need. But, in all honesty, she just wanted to feel like a girl for once. At least this once. She wanted to be able to buy something nice and pretty for herself and wear it, to just FEEL pretty for once. Her usual clothes for her job were pretty much all black and she hadn't had some form of color on her in ages. It was time that changed, even if she had to steal the clothes in this store.

She felt that she was being approached by someone, before he even did so and put her guard up, ready to do... Well, anything when she needed to. Not that she expected that she would need it, but she preferred to be careful. She stood up from where she was leaning forward, trying to at least get some... Grace, back and looked at the man that spoke to her in his Scottish accent, the question had been thick with that very accent. She listened to him telling her he was sorry for bothering her and for making assumptions, causing her to raise an eyebrow at him. She though that if he really was so sorry for doing this, why was he doing it, then? But she kept that question to herself and merely smiled at him. "Help me how?" She asked him, as she crossed her arms over her chest and kept looking at him.

She listened to him introducing himself to her and smiled. "New-ish." She said, as she wasn't really THAT new to the city. She had just merely lived outside of it for the most part. "I am Lyanna." She then spoke softly, trying her best to keep her voice pleasant. She didn't want to send him against her when he seemed to just want to be nice to her. Seemed, as in, she knew people always wanted something in return. It seemed to be in their very nature and nothing seemed to be able to change that outlook. "For this gift, I presume you would want something in return?"

[Corvin]

Corvin smiled politely as she asked how he could help her, “Oh, nothing brutish of course,” he said, reassuring her that he was not looking for a sexual trade of any kind, “simple generosity is all. I make it my mission to help others in need. Sometimes, I ask for something in return, but normally it is just one,” Corvin then held up his right index finger, “small, but life changing event. Something I do to raise the spirits of the good people of Mythregal, in the hopes that many will simply pay it forward. He smiled, escorting her into the shop to allow her to buy whatever she wished.

They said that flattery got nobody anywhere, but that was only true when the person doing the flattering knew nothing of the art of charming others. It wasn’t just something that one could do outright and expect immediate results. One had to be a master of patience, practicality and sometimes, just sometimes, a little selfless generosity. Through a little goodness, a door can be opened for the things of the dark to sneak in. It was why so many people in Mythregal have found their way into Corvin’s employ. Some willing, unaware that they were fronts to horrendous crimes being committed behind the scenes. Corvin could always find a way to make those of righteous and ill intent find a way to work together. It was his power, his will, and no amount of goodness could outweigh the power of will, if it was strong enough.

“Please consider this as Mythregal’s way of welcoming you into open arms.” he said with a smile on his face. He looked at her momentarily, and for a moment, as he gazed deep into the girl’s eyes, he could see something else with her aura. There was darkness in her. Darkness waiting to release itself. A faint smile tried to creep across Corvin’s face, but it was quickly concealed before it was noticed.

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Lyanna looked at him, as she heard what he said and smiled. "Of course." She said, as she looked at him, still happy that he said this. Even though she had no conception that this was in his mind. She was still a little cautious of him, wondering if his 'simple generosity' wasn't just too kind of him. She liked it though, someone like him, that had the means and simply decided to help people, whether there was something behind it or not. "Things like what?" She asked him, curious to his answer. When he said that he simply wanted people to pay it forward, she smiled and nodded. That would be a good thing, even though she might not have the means for it.

Her mind made up stories about who this man before her could be, not knowing which way to go with it. It ended one story in her mind abruptly, before starting another, in exactly an abrupt way as the first one had ended. She wanted to know who he was, why he did what he did and what was behind his good deeds and his good words. Though, she didn't want to jump to conclusions too quickly, maybe he really was just a kind man... Wanting to do something good. The world needed more people like that, but that was just one part of her mind talking. The other part of her told her to stop believing in fairytales and that they were never going to happen anyway. Her mind told her that people always wanted something in return, but she shut it down abruptly. She didn't need these kind of thoughts in her head.

A smile appeared on Lyanna's face when she heard his words and let them register in her mind. That would be a first, that Mythregal welcomed someone, something like her with open arms. Not that she was complaining of course, it just seemed... Curious that this town suddenly did such a thing. When he looked deep into her eyes, she tried her best not to feel too uncomfortable, but she couldn't help it. She soon looked away and back at the clothes in the store. Because she was looking away, she totally missed the faint smile on his face and instead picked out something that wasn't overly expensive. She didn't want to overdo his gift to her and her taste wasn't really expensive to begin with... Though maybe she just hadn't had the experience yet. Or maybe she just didn't want to. She thought that when she would get used to expensive things, it would spoil her and make her unhappy with less and that didn't seem like her. At all, frankly enough. It seemed like someone she would rather avoid.

[Corvin]

It was thickly veiled beneath her aura, but it was there, like a faint blue flame underneath a monstrous red flame. The darkness may have been faint, but it was also powerful. If given the chance, it could spread throughout her body like a cancer, until it was all that there was. However, it would need help, because this was no task that it could simply do on its own...yet. “You know, Miss, I have a confession to make,” Corvin said softly as he walked with her, holding her gift, “I do offer welcoming gifts to newcomers of the town when I see them, but I have been a little extra nice to you. You see, this is going to sound a little cliched, but you remind me a lot of my mother.” The truth was Corvin never met his mother. She died violently giving birth to him in a demonic ritual. However, Lyanna need not know that, just what Corvin would say.

“She died when I was young, but I remember what she looked like,” he continued after a long silence, his eyes locked on hers, with sorrow in them, and an attempt at a smile, “she dressed eerily a lot like you’re dressed, and she had this sort of smile that I used to think was a symbol of safety.” His breathing became a little difficult, but he continued again, “It’s just when I noticed you, I thought I was looking at a ghost. However, I see now that you’re not her, but I just had to introduce myself. I apologize if the kindness has been a little too good to be true, but I just could not help it. I hope you understand, and will still accept the dress, and just one other thing.”

Corvin reached into his pocket, and pulled out an amulet and held it out for Lyanna to take. “I was visited by an old family friend, a Seer of sorts, who told me that today, I would need to take this into town,” He explained, “she said that I would give it to someone special, and that when I finally parted with it, that I would be finding peace while passing a message of peace to someone else. You see, the amulet that I’ve owned for most of my life originally belonged to my mother. I believe it was fate that we met, and I believe that you deserve this.” Corvin handed the amulet over to Lyanna, waiting for her to try it on.

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Lyanna's curiosity got piqued immediately when he said that he had a confession to make, wondering what it could possibly be. He was holding her gift, though he really didn't need to. She could do it herself, even though he seemed to actually want to. She listened to what he said, her gaze showing that it made her think. "What could possibly be so special about me that you have yet another gift for me... That you want to give me something?" She asked him, curious to his answer. She stopped walking when he told her she reminded him of his mother, surprised by this.

She listened to what he told her about his mother, unsure of what to think of this. She looked back at him and their eyes locked for a moment, so that she could see the sorrow in them. She wasn't one to think that his sorrow wasn't genuine and honestly, though a little strange, it was... An oddly nice compliment. She looked down at her clothes when she heard what he said about the way she dressed and looked back at him, with a slight frown. She didn't smile often and when she did, she knew she could turn faces. She knew that when she did smile, it lit up her whole face and made her seem a lot more young an innocent than she really was. She didn't dare interrupt him when his breathing got difficult and he went on again. "I can assure you, I am not a ghost." She said eventually, as she looked at him. She wasn't sure for a moment if she should just thank him for his gift and his kindness and move on... Or if she should stay and allow him to remember his mother a little longer. She decided on the first one, though her mind told her to just go.

Lyanna watched as he reached into his pocket, both curious and slightly cautious, which confused her. When he pulled out an amulet, she looked at it, before she slowly, gingerly took it from him. She looked at it, turning it over, curious by it and enjoying the way it shimmered in the light. She listened to his words in the meantime, knowing that Seers were indeed real, though not often in the way people wanted them to be. "It's beautiful." She said, before she took it on and breathed in a little sharply. "It's cold."

[Corvin]

Corvin was a master at acquiring rare artifacts, trinkets, even spells that have been lost for centuries. His particular interest were in dark artifacts and cursed objects, and the necklace itself was cursed. It had a particular story throughout Yalanze history for being able to bring out the darkest most emotions and thoughts from a person, and manifest them into a personality, unless a dark personality already exists underneath, then the amulet brings it to the surface without the person’s knowing. The necklace itself is soon rendered unseeable to the wearer, and unnoticeable to the wearer’s flesh. It’s name was the Janus amulet, said to have been hand crafted by a dark witch and forged in process of a dark ritual.

When he acquired it, the artifact had been lost in an old temple, where cult members used to come to pray to demons. Now, it was just another ruin where plants have taken back the temple. Corvin watched as Lyanna placed the amulet on her bare neck, and watched as it began to irradiate dark energy into her body, hitting her like an x-ray and polluting her aura with darkness. Feeding the already present darkness with more power. The entity within her would only truly take control, when Corvin said the phrase bound to the amulet that activated it, “Mahorela obza torvz!”

Snapping his fingers, Corvin and Lyanna disappeared from where they stood, unnoticed by bystanders as they reappeared in a dark realm.

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Lyanna was no stranger to weird artifacts, as she had gathered a lot over the years. Though, she didn't begin to imagine that what he had given her could be cursed. She trusted him to a certain extent and wasn't entirely sure why. She assumed that it was his face that seemed trustworthy, but it could be a million things. The idea of looking a gift horse in the mouth, made her seem ungrateful, which was why she didn't bother overthinking this. There was always the possibility that she wasn't thinking straight. People seemed to know exactly how to take advantage of her weaknesses and she was always the last to know. She had tried for so long to strengthen her defenses, but it was to no avail.

This necklace seemed innocent enough in appearance and that was all there was to it. No one before had given her a gift like this out of the kindness of their hearts and that meant quite a lot to her. So, she didn't need to know whether or not there was more to it. She didn't need to know whether his intentions were pure or not. She was curious to its origin though, but wasn't going to ask him. Not right away anyway. The necklace was cold to the touch and right as it was around her neck and had made contact to her skin and he had said the incantation... The good side of her fell unconscious and the evil side took over, without the other side noticing. It went organic, like going to sleep.

When he snapped his fingers and they disappeared, she rolled her eyes, feeling annoyed already by him taking control like this. What made him have that right anyway? He was just a man, a very cunning and most likely evil man, but a man nevertheless. She didn't have the faintest clue to what species he was though, what race. But she imagined that in not that long a time, she would figure it out. That was the big difference between her and her goody-two-shoes alter-ego, she didn't care what people thought of her. She knew how to ask questions and didn't mind stepping on toes to get an answer. When they appeared in the Dark Realm, she looked around and frowned. She then let her eyes rest on his face again. "Why do people always think that darkness takes place in the dark? That is such an old notion, it's time people take on the new. It's much more effective if you let the darkness shifting the light, taking place in the light. There isn't one without the other after all."

[Corvin]

“Did you know, that before the universe existed, there was nothing but Light and Darkness?” Corvin asked before continuing without an answer, “It existed indivisibly in perfect harmony. Their union, however, created Chaos, which began to taint the Light and the Darkness. Their union was disrupted by the Chaos, which resulted in the so-called Big Bang, and the creation of the Universe. However, this also meant that Light and Darkness were separated, along with the Chaos that was created from their union. There’s a legend that says that’s how the first gods of light and darkness came to be. They say good and evil exist because of the Chaos that now taints small pieces of Light and Darkness. So, you’re right. There is no longer such a thing as true darkness, because this realm is, in a way, really a realm of Chaos, which is really a far more infectious disease than darkness.” A lot of what Corvin said to the dark entity within Lyanna pertained to this dark realm that they found themselves in. They were still on Yalanze, however there were ways to channel the wavelengths of supernatural energy that flowed through the planet. One such ring that Corvin wore on his finger was attuned to such wavelengths. With it, he attune their focal points to another point of reality that existed on the planet’s plain of existence.

They were perfectly alone within the realm, and safe. The shadowy outlines of Mythregal were still present, and so were the people, albeit, frozen in place in the form of smoky black outlines. “This should last us long enough for me to tell you why you’re here,” Corvin explained, looking at the pendant on her neck, which she probably could no longer see, he wasn’t sure, “I saw you, and I knew there was real evil in you. Someone willing to kill, and grab at power. Lyanna, I want you to work for me. I can promise you real power if you only serve under my own.” She did not know what other power the amulet held over her. Now that she wore it, only Corvin could remove it. There were spells that could remove it, but Corvin could safely bet that she knew none of them. But he alone could revert her back and forth. Neither would have knowledge of what went on when their other half was dominant. Only that it would feel like they lost track of time. An insurance policy incase her evil half decided to betray him. A single word, or gesture, and her evil half would be banished back to the void of the darkness from whence it came.

“I can promise you dominance over this body, so as long as you work for me,” he continued, “to have a dragon as my right hand would ensure a great deal of terror in my enemies, and a lot of tasty meals for you, if you’re the humanoid devouring type.” Corvin stuck out his hand for her to shake. “Do we have a deal?” He smiled darkly.

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Lyanna crossed her arms in front of her chest and listened to what he asked her. "I've heard as such." She said, with a slight smile. She did know however that it had been entirely rhetorical as he continued without waiting for an answer. It was fine by her, as, while he was talking, she had plenty of time to look around this new and mysterious planet. She allowed her eyes to take their time adjusting to the new form of light around her in the darkness. She scoffed because of the way he talked about this legend and looked at him, with a slight sense of humor in her eyes. She knew that there was always a sense of truth to a legend, it had to have come from somewhere after all.

She soon noticed that they were somewhere else altogether. He hadn't taken them to another planet, they were still on Yalanze, with the people and the buildings still there. She saw them. When she heard what he said to her, her eyes flitted to his face and she looked at him, with slightly narrowed eyes. "You want me to work for you? And I get real power? I don't know if you've noticed, but I already have power. My goody-two-shoes alter-ego is slowly fading as it is, slowly agreeing more and more to my cause. This necklace is just a nice, added bonus." She said, with a smirk on her face. She looked at the frozen outlines of people and buildings and back at him, wondering what else he could offer.

Lyanna wasn't someone that needed power, that craved it, no, not at all. She was someone that liked it because it got things done. She liked her power in the face of things and she liked it even more when others stayed out of her way altogether. She listened to what he said he could promise her, not entirely sure how much of it she believed. She knew that her other side, her good side, would believe every single bit of it. She also liked that after whatever he did, that side seemed to have disappeared. She liked being in control like this, she knew that as long as she was in control, she could get things done. So, when she heard what he offered her, she was far more tempted just to say yes. "I like my enemies terrified and it's been a long time since I last had a good meal. You have yourself a deal, for now." She said, before shaking his hand, with a small smile on her face. She would have to just see how far things were going. There was no way that she would be on his side forever, it wasn't like her, to simply be loyal to one person, no matter how powerful they were. Maybe this was exactly what had gotten her into trouble in the first place. Maybe because of this view and because of her pride, she had gotten in trouble to begin with... Probably.

[Corvin]

Corvin enjoyed the confident types. They always seemed as if they had all of their plans figured out, and yet three quarters of the time, they rarely even had a trump card in their hand. In the game that Corvin played with others, he never struck unless he knew that he could win, and right now was no different. He considered telling her about the amulet. About how all Corvin had to do was say a few enochian words, and she would instantly revert back to her good self, with no memory of her time under her evil persona.

Telling her would remind her of who it was that held the leash. To ensure that she would never try to double cross him. Yet, he knew that it could also motivate her to try and find a way out of her cursed trinket. When presented with subjugation, many would instantly prefer oblivion over servitude. Corvin thought it through some more before he decided that he was better off not telling her just yet. Only until she has been found to be untrustworthy. Often, they attempted to prove themselves as such, but every now and then, things go smoothly.

As Corvin shook her hand, a grin formed upon his face. “I need someone that is not afraid to kill for me,” Corvin explained, “someone to mediate between myself and others when I cannot be present. My voice, my will. Perhaps it isn’t power you seek, but everyone has something that they most desire. See it made reality in return of servitude.” Corvin released her hand, a smile across his face as he thought of all that a dragon was capable of.

[Deleted]

Lyanna wasn't entirely sure if this man here was serious in the way he stood and talked. She was confident, she knew who she was and what she could do and she wasn't sure if she needed anyone to tell her what to do or who to be. Her good and evil side fought hard enough every day to need someone else to tell them who they were supposed to be. She had no idea how he was able to do what he had just done, but it made her feel powerful, in control and she liked that. She just wondered if this gave him any form of control over her, even though she already knew the answer to that... He probably did. And yet, she didn't want to believe it, she didn't want to know if he got this kind of control over her. She was fine with not knowing for the time being, even if that would make her a coward.

She looked down as he shook her hand, then up again, smiling a little at him as she noticed the grin that formed on his face. "I am not afraid to kill... With the right motivation." She said, as she kept her eyes on him. She listened to what else he said about needing someone that could mediate between himself and others when he couldn't be present. She narrowed her eyes a little, as she kept her posture calm and the smile on her face non-assuming. She wasn't going to put all of her cards on the table right away, she wasn't stupid. "That sounds more like you need a puppet on a string." She said. She smiled a little, as she looked at him, thinking how he needed exactly that, a puppet. She was a dragon of two elements, of two heritages, she was so much more than a puppet and she would make sure he too would realize this sooner or later. Though she preferred sooner... She preferred that he found out in due time.

[Corvin]

A light hearted chuckle came out of Corvin when she mentioned not being afraid to kill with the right motivation. “Motivation, that is a good one,” Corvin said, “don’t tell me that you believe that motivation is needed to kill.” He was known to drop people off in bottomless pits, or leave people in hellish mirror worlds for all of eternity. If someone was innocent enough, he held deep joy in corrupting them and turning them evil. Much like Lyanna. She was someone with a pure soul, but even the purest of souls were riddled in dark residue. Corvin wanted her to truly embrace the evil within her. It was only through this, that she could truly achieve greatness.

“A puppet would mean inquire that the person I am controlling would not get any power in return,” Corvin replied, “but I want you to become strong. I want you to be powerful. Through me, I can promise you the throne to all of Dragon-kind. You could command legions of armies with the mere twitch of your finger. Your lands, your people, everything will be yours, if only you answer to me.”

Corvin never liked the idea of called them puppets. More like pawns at best, as even pawns can bring a person a checkmate in a situation. With her power, she could very well bring Corvin what he needed, and right now, he would need her talents, and her abilities. Pulling out a parchment Corvin handed it over to her. On the parchment was a drawing of Samael, and his people. “In order to claim your Kingdom, it will require his defeat. Do not take him lightly though, as even the gods fear this particular Dragon, but if you were to infiltrate and learn his ways, you could become an equal match for him.” Corvin doubted that though. Samael, as the legends said, was known for killing his own assassins. Eons before he was imprisoned, dragons that were unimpressed with his rule would send out deadly assassins against him, in a bid to stop him, and each one fell by his blade. If she was to survive, she would have to learn from him, or find a way to infiltrate his circle.