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When An’Thaya discovers that Fionna has been taken by Haldanuru in Shattered Web, the Amazon journeys to his lair in the Nine Hells, offering herself up in trade for her step-niece.
She had always hated this place. Not out of any disrespect to the Gods themselves, but in the treatment she received here. Another may have reveled in being elevated to Goddess like status, exhilarated in being worshipped as Arminiea’s chosen Child of Light.
To An’Thaya, it was yet another burden she felt forced to bear.
“Don’t touch me,” she growled at a white robed neonate, “I don’t like to be touched… Arminiea’s Vessel or not, I’ll not be mishandled.” The words were followed up with a sharp slap to a male who attempted to touch the golden tear on the Amazon’s breast. “I don’t care who you are… if you try that again, I’ll cut your hand off.”
A pale thin hand was hastily pulled back into the folds of his robes and the fellow bowed respectfully.
“What can we do for you, Chosen one?” His tone was chastised, yet filled with adoration.
It was enough to make An’Thaya feel ill. Her gaze left Arminiea’s followers to drift across the entranceway, following the intertwined paths of white marble and onyx… the way of the Light, and the way of Darkness.
“You may take me to Haldanuru’s followers,” she said firmly, ignoring the look of horror that crossed the face of one female. “No questions,” Tay added, “Just lead the way.” Tapping the male on the arm she gestured towards the paths, “You, you will lead the way, and you will take possession of my weapons. They are to be given to my daughters.” As she spoke the redhead unlaced her boots and set them beside the door, following tradition and entering the house of worship with nothing between her and the energy of the building.
“Aye… Milady. Your will shall be done.”
Both marble and onyx were cool to the touch as she traversed them, noting that her guide was careful to only step upon the pale stone, never touching black. The Amazon wasn’t quite paying attention when the reached the archway where the path melted away to solid ebony, and for a moment, she was blissfully unaware of the dark robed figure standing beneath it.
“Light’s Hope seeks an audience with your Lord,” she heard her guide intone. Emerald eyes swept around the study the guard who stepped lightly to one side.
“He has been expecting you Milady. Please… leave your vestments in the light.”
Already in the process of removing her weaponry Tay nodded almost imperceptivity as she passed the cold blades to the one she had given the charge of delivering them. Her breastplate came next, followed by the soft cut off black shirt beneath. The thought of facing Haldanuru unarmed and unclothed was distasteful, but it was also Fionna’s only hope of rescue.
Flinty green eyes met the gaze of Haldanuru’s follower, unflinching as his gaze roamed unabashed over her form. She may have been unarmed, but An’Thaya was still dangerous, and the expression in her eyes told him he would do well to remember it.
“Lead the way,” Tay ordered in a cool tone, making him take the lead as they entered the passageway, leaving the Light behind.
Guttering torches lit the halls and chambers here, the low light shimmering off the naked forms of the Followers. It seemed the God had indeed been expecting her, and the state she would arrive in. It took every ounce of will she had to endure being sluiced down with cold water and scrubbed clean of blood and dirt and at least one of Haldanuru’s servants endured a broken jaw before she calmed down enough to let them anoint her body with oil and clad her in the see through veils their god had such a liking for.
“If we are finished playing dress up,” she hissed at one finally, “I believe I have an appointment with his ugliness.”
“Very well,” the speaker was a woman, a Priestess among her kind and entirely unused to the verbal abuse An’Thaya had been dolling out before her arrival. “We shall see how much of that spirit is left after Haldanuru is finished with you.” Stiff backed she put her back to the Amazon and gestured for her to follow, leading the way into the inner chamber where a massive ring of fire seared the room with its heat. “If you are so eager to meet with him,” the woman’s lips curled in an oily smile, “you must walk through the fire to reach him.”
“If I’m lucky I’ll die in the attempt,” Tay muttered, preferring the touch of flame to the sight of the Demon God’s face.
Hardly likely. The voice of the Crimson Dragon rumbled from the back of her mind. Just give me the reins… I’ll get us through untouched.
I knew you would come in useful one of these days, Tay said dryly, though she retreated and let Agaru come to the fore.
Faceted eyes blinked open and winked at the Priestess as Agaru moved foreword, a wave of glittering scales washing over An’Thaya’s skin, forming a hybrid between Elf and Dragon that would resist the flesh eating flames.
Here goes nothing…
The Dragon paused just outside the ring of flames, reaching out a small hand to play with the dancing fire.
You do realize… that our collective mates are going to be displeased. To say the least.
Do you think I’m stupid?
I do not think answering that question is entirely wise given the current situation.
Agaru … just walk through the damn flames.
The Crimson’s laughter echoed through their shared mind and the world went red with flame. Then there was only the heat and a blinding light.
Within Haldanuru’s realms, a week had passed since Fionna had been thrust into the cage. She had been lowered occasionally, fed, then strung back up again, occasionally forced to dance for the Demon God and his followers. He was getting bored with the entire display, which did not bode well for the half-elf’s life expectancy.
Lounging on his throne he idly struck the cage with bolts of power, sending it swinging wildly and humming to himself whilst Fionna screamed, until something beyond his realm caught the God’s attention.
She was coming, of her own volition, and he knew just what she was after.
“Bring the cage a little closer," he ordered his servants as the circle of flames danced into life, silhouetting a figure within their depths. To the rattle of chains An’Thaya stepped out of the fire, a trail of flame herself; all brilliant crimson locks and sparkling scale as she let Agaru recede back into the depths of her mind and emerald green jewels focused on the red skinned God.
“Well," she said calmly, “I’m here, as you wanted. Now let Fionna go."
Golden lashes lifted over dazed azure eyes at the sound of the familiar voice. For a second hope rose within Fionna's breast. An'Thaya was here. Someone had come for her. Then reality came crashing back down. "No, no! Don't!" the half-elf exclaimed. The amazon was by herself. This was no attack, but a trade and one that sickened the young woman. "I'm not worth it. An'Thaya, please don't."
Rising from his throne the God made his way down the stairs on heavy cloven hooves and extended a sharp-clawed hand out palm up towards the Amazon.
“Welcome, my dear. I have been waiting for you. Fionna here has been providing a great amount of entertainment for us, would you care to see her dance?"
“Hardly," An’Thaya said dryly as she crossed her arms, refusing to take the offered hand. “Let her go. You have what you want."
“Come now Light’s Hope. If you do not accept my hospitality, I cannot be sure of you intentions. You have come willingly to me, have you not?"
The redhead closed her eyes, biting back bile and raging fear, an expression she refused to let appear on her face. Despite Fionna’s protestations, Tay felt she was worth it. For Fionna, life was just beginning. There were so many opportunities ahead of her, she wasn’t bound to a love that would never return how much she poured into it. There was hope, there was light, and there was someone waiting for her that had no other obligations.
An’Thaya would not damn someone else to a dark existence when there was something she could do about it. She belonged here now, in the time she had left.
One small hand settled into Haldanuru’s massive red paw, the touch of his flesh making Tay’s stomach lurch.
“Aye, I have come here of my own free will. If you do not let her go, our bargain is forfeit. Set her free, and I am yours."
A pleased smile framed Haldanuru’s nightmarish features and he gestured to the slaves to bring the cage down.
“There now, that wasn’t so difficult. Was it? Fionna goes free then, and you are mine to do with as I wish."
The rattle of chain registered on An’Thaya’s delicate pointed ears and she opened her eyes, watching as the gold gilded cage was lowered and the door opened. It was oddly surreal, that an opening cage, effectively sealed hers shut.
The half-elf's fingers wrapped around the bars of the cage, instinctive stubborn resistance in her rich blue eyes as she clung on despite the best efforts of the Horned God's disciple who hauled at her. "I won't let you do this," she managed to say in a voice still hoarse from screaming. "An'Thaya..."
Fionna looked at her pleadingly. "I couldn't live with myself."
“You are not meant to be here Fionna," Tay said mildly, “it is as simple as that." Her eyes broke away from Haldanuru’s for a moment to meet the other woman’s blue gaze, and she smiled. “Tell Galain I love him. Tell them all that I love them," the Amazon said quietly, “will you do that for me? I didn’t quite get the chance." A self-amused look flickered through the depths of her eyes for a fleeting second, “She would never ask it, but you may want to pass the same message along to Callan for Agaru."
The snap of a collar around the Amazon’s neck ended the conversation and she stumbled backwards as Haldanuru yanked on the length of chain. It was a struggle to maintain a calm outward appearance as the Demon God’s henchman manhandled Fionna out of the cage and dragged her forward into his master’s reach. There was always the fear that he would change his mind, go back on their deal.
“Touching. Now let us get on with it," Haldanuru intoned, beckoning to Fionna with one clawed finger, “it is time for you to go my Sweet, though I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together."
For all the burns and bruises that marred her creamy skin, there was an innate grace as the half-elf faced the God, her chin raised slightly in defiance despite the fact that the henchman's support was all that was keeping her on her feet. Biting her lip to stifle the sound of pain that threatened to escape as her scorched soles touched the ground, azure eyes blazed with contempt.
"Unfortunately I can't say the same. Your hospitality leaves a lot to be desired," she managed to say. Almost dismissively Fionna turned away from Haldanuru to meet eyes of emerald green. "I will tell them. I promise," she said to the Amazon Queen.
Harsh laughter, the gesture of one heavy hand and Fionna was gone, sent to the temple An’Thaya had come in from. Leaving the Amazon alone with the God of Darkness who seemed all to pleased with himself. Exhausted, Tay fell to her knees beside the throne and leaned her head against its bone-sculpted edge. The fight had gone out of her for the moment… perhaps, she thought, it was gone forever.
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