I want to thank everyone that has been reading A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey, (I, II, III, and IV); and for the help you have given me to improve it, I could never thank you enough for that. For every one of you that has encouraged me or lit a fire under my tail to make me go back and fix things - You ROCK !!!!


* My inspiration for Maxical's Journey came from three special people.

Acadian, who I almost forced onto the FF forum with his "Buffy The Bowgirl" - for downright pushing me into writing and posting it.

Bobg and his "Angel" who brought to life a story that never existed before and set it in a world I knew - he showed me what could be, not what was. Bobg taught me more than I could say or he could ever realize, he is and always will be my Master Po.

Arwen, who wrote Arwen's Journal against all odds, inspiring so many with her sheer determination and awing us all with her personality.


*



I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have writing it!



*



Maxical's entire journey has been captured in the picture albums of her Myspace page, if you would like to visit it:

http://www.myspace.com/oblivion_khajiit




This thread is the continuation of A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey IV. For those who have not read the earlier chapters and would like to, I have the links posted below for your convenience:




For convenience the whole story is posted on FanFiction, here is a link to the story there:

http://www.fanfiction.net/~malx





If you prefer to stay on the forum, here are the links to all previous chapters:


Maxical's Journey - A New Sun Rises - (Chapters 1 - 23)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1038084-maxicals-journey/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey II - (Chapters 24 - 36)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1050778-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-ii/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey III - (Chapters 37 - 50)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1056626-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-iii/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey IV - (Chapters 51 - 65)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1065146-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-iv/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey V - (Chapters 66 - 85)

http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1071522-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-v/




A New Sun Rises - Maxical's Journey VI - (Chapters 86 - ??)


http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1080421-a-new-sun-rises-maxicals-journey-vi/








*


*** PS For everyone who wants some inside scoop on up-coming storyline - visit Maxical's Myspace, I just posted some very revealing clues !!!

* Also, just as a matter of interest - Chapter 65 just broke the record for the most read chapter in one day on the FanFiction.net Site !!!! The chapter that held the highest reads prior was the chapter just before "The Debriefing"



*

Aww. :wub: Thank you my friend. I am so very proud of the roaring success you have had with your delightful story.

A giant congratulations on starting yet another wonderful thread to fill with Maxical goodness! :celebration:

If you, SubRosa, Rachel, Rumple, and BSparrow on the female side, and Peleus and Acadian on the male side contirue with your epics, this forum will become the forum of the Seven!!!

Roll on number 5! Congrats mALX1 with your fifth oo: thread! :icecream:

Now that's out of the way.... get on with it

Add Remko and hautecole in there, and we will have the Nine Divines...

The 2-minute "A New Sun Rises" thread IV:

Giant vampire! Fleas! Fights! Flatulence! Unwashed Orcs! Eyja with a "J" (should be a "W" in there somewhere, too!)

Avaricious vacationing wandering warders! What next?

Vacuous Valtieri victimized by vixen- hustled by hussy! Lucien looms- Last Chance?

Brotherhood bothered by bites- Purification? or fumigation? Exterminators expunged?

Eyja's espionage exposed! Excitement ensues!

@ RemkoNL - Thank you so much! You are about to find out! * Thanks for the congrats!
***
@ Acadian - Thank you very much!!! I don't think you have ever said that before! * Thanks for the congrats!
***

@ Foxy - not sure what you meant by that, cryptic! Lol. - Here is what you have been waiting for! Thanks Foxy, you Rock the kingdom of Minxdom! * Er, Foxy - you forgot TREYDOG, Destri Melarg, Bobg, and that foxy guy D.Foxy! (Darkom, Half Tooth, etc.) * Here goes Nuffink !!!

***
@ SubRosa the Minxiest Minx of all - Thank you very much! (fixed) - keep guessing... You make Minxiness Awesome! * Doesn't work, we still need Treydog, Destri Melarg, Bobg, AND FOXY - who's fanfic (if he would ever finish it) was huge! - Darkom, etc.
***

@ Dragon Reaper - It means the world to me that you commented on the story! I know you have been reading it since the beginning of the first thread, (you are usually the first person on it whenever I post) - so I know I must have really rocked this chapter for you to post a comment! It means so much to me that you enjoy the story, your kind words on the End of Year Awards - you are Awesome, and so appreciated!

***
@ Rachel (the other Minx) Breton - Thank you Rachel! This twist comes directly from the comments on this thread, lol - so you all did it to yourselves (or at least one of you did, lol) - ROFL Thank you again!
***
@ Hauteecole (what did Acadian call you, some form of Vixen?) Rider - Thank you so much, I do believe Eyja will deserve it when you read this next chapter and see the whole truth!
***
@ Destri Melarg - He gave her the key to the tree entrance, he isn't safe there either now, lol. Thank you Destri, you ROCK !!!
***
@ Winter Wolf - I knew you would be on it, you read clues too well, lol. But I will not verify one way or another if Eyja is working with the freak in the lighthouse, ROFL !! Thank you so much Winter Wolf, and I can't wait to read your FanFic about your character!!!!
***
@ Leydenne - I thought it was cute! Thank you so much Leydenne, you are AWESOME !!
***

@ - Treydog - Yeah! You finally caught up! All you need at the top of your comment is "Black Horse Courier, Special Edition!" ROFL - I can't believe I missed the opportunity to use that "Exterminator" joke you just told !!!!!!! ARGH !!!!! How could I be so stupid as to not think of that? ARGH !!! Treydog, you are AWESOME!! Thank you so much!

***

@ EVERYONE - Each and every one of you inspire me in writing this story, you all ROCK !!!!!!!

PS - I have posted some new pics on Maxical's Myspace that give clues to some upcoming storylines, if anyone wants to jump ahead and see some upcoming events. - Plus there is a bunch of Lucien pics. I could not post the naked ones though. ROFL !!! Just kidding.




*** Here Goes Nuffink !! ***********




*** D. Foxy has graciously agreed to the use of his characters Damien "Foxy" Reynard and Sneakers in this episode.







Chapter 66: Who Is Eyja?



Lucien Lachance left Summitmist Manor feeling like he had stepped into a mystery. Every sense screamed that Eyja was not what she seemed, yet she gave every sign of total honesty. Her eyes never wavered from his, her body language showed no deception whatsoever?yet?his inner gut feeling was wreaking havoc with him.

That her intelligence was beyond what she portrayed it to be?had that been a slip? Or had she deliberately allowed him to see glimpses of it? Those plans?and breaking that code in seconds, as if it didn't exist?

Lucien had the sudden sensation of being a pawn in a game of subterfuge and stratagem; machinations that went beyond imagination?but for what purpose? He found himself intrigued as he had never been before; and at the same time wondered if he was the intended victim. Someone had been killing off the members, carving a path through the guild that could easily be leading to himself.

But Vicente's encounter with Eyja had been a chance one, bumping into her?then again, how often do you just 'bump' into someone that happens to know codes, and the castle layout, and doesn't mind killing if the job calls for it. Yet his visit to the Inn had been random, so how could it be anything but a chance encounter?

At the bottom of it all was a feeling that she had diddled all of them, including himself ?and yet he was drawn to her like no one he had ever met before. It was not her face or figure; she was not beautiful, nor could she be considered pretty really. Her body was average, slightly stocky; though not unpleasingly so. She was almost too average. She would never draw one's attention spontaneously, unless she happened to?bump into them. Could she be the assassin that had been killing off the members? And if so, why?

Making a quick decision, he darted down behind the buildings rather than continuing out the gate. Casting his chameleon spell, Lucien edged back up to the front of the manor in time to see the door open, then close with no one leaving. On a hunch, he cast 'detect life' and caught the pink cloud of a diminutive figure walking away from the manor. He began following. Was it Eyja? His senses told him no, it was a man. But who?

A soft noise behind him caught his attention and he turned in time to see the door of the manor closing again. Another pink cloud was moving away from the manor in a different direction. Which should he follow? The cloud darted across the street to the manor opposite and the door of it opened. What was going on? He looked back to see the first pink cloud was fading and already almost to the bend of the main street. It was out of range for his spell now. He could run and recast, or stay and see what this one was doing. This cloud was Eyja, he was sure of it. He would follow Eyja.

He watched the door of the other manor, re-casting the 'detect life' when it got low. The door opened again within a very short while, and the pink cloud emerged, this time showing the bulky shape of a pack. She stopped with the door gapped and fiddled with the lock.

Lucien crept in closer and saw the cylinder that contained the tumblers slide out and disappear. Then she took something from her mouth and pressed it on the door facing. Lucien crept up to the door as she was turning away and lifting her pack. She had pressed a chewed taffy candy onto the door and shut it so the candy would hold it in place as if it were locked. Who was she? He had never seen a trick like that before. What was she doing? Did she own this huge manor across the street?

Lucien was not taking any chances, he darted across the street to the Summitmist Manor and entered. She had already started heading back toward it. He was barely inside when she opened the door and began fiddling with the lock. His 'detect life' had run out, but if he re-cast it she may hear the sound of magicka in use. He did not want to chance her discovering his presence.

Lucien moved in close in time to see the cylinder of tumblers sliding out of the lock, then what must be the cylinder from the manor across the street was eased into the lock on this door. She had changed the locks on the door! Why was she doing that? What was she doing? She left the door unlocked and hurried to the pantry. While she was out of the room he cast 'detect life' again and followed, barely avoiding running into her as she barreled out of the pantry and upstairs.

She went straight to the master bedroom and laid down her pack, pulling out garlic, lots of it. Then she pulled out a mortar and pestle and began grinding the garlic down. Lucien watched, fascinated as she poured the fine powder off into a bowl and slid it under one of the beds. She carried the mortar downstairs. Casting the 'detect life' again, he followed. She was rubbing her hands in the garlic oil in the bottom of the mortar and then handling every piece of food in the pantry, even the fruit; coating each with a film of the garlic oil.

The mechanisms of Eyja's thinking were becoming clearer, and Lucien was becoming increasingly intrigued by Eyja and her plans. She could not have thought up all this on the spur of the moment, but how could she have known she would be asked to perform a purge of the members? If she had planned to kill them all along, why not do it before? And the pack full of equipment had to have been prepared in advance, she was not in the other manor long enough to pack a bag.

When Eyja finished coating every piece of food with the oil of the garlic, she returned to Vicente's bedroom and rubbed it on his quill and the handles to his desk, dresser drawers, and cupboards. Then she pulled the bowl of powdery garlic back out from under the bed.

She pulled a small satchel from her pack and emptied it into the mortar. Lucien crept closer. He could see bone meal and mort flesh; oh no, was she a necromancer?

She then added Morning Glory root pulp, Drough Wax, Daedra Venim and Silk; she was obviously making a very mild poison, but it was not strong enough to kill anyone, so why bother? She knew what she was doing?yet was making a poison that would only immobilize, not kill. Lucien was beginning to feel like he had stepped off into a warped plane, where nothing made sense.

Eyja locked the door to the bedroom and removed a calcinator from the pack and a metal plate. She cracked the window and then poured her mixture into the bowl of garlic. Using her hands she blended it through the bowl of garlic and poured it all into the calcinator and placed it atop the metal plate. Holding a fireball in her hand, she aimed it down onto the metal plate below the calcinator and Lucien could hear her whispering, she was counting! Was she a witch? And had he not just given her that fireball? How could she have planned to use something he had just given her on the spur of the moment? Lucien took advantage of the noise her fireball was making and cast his 'detect life' again.

Eyja stopped counting and put the fireball away. The ingredients in the calcinator had cooked down into the finest powder. She sifted her hand through it and then carried it to the bed she had placed the bowl under.

She poured some of the fine powder inside the pillow casing and shook it around, then carefully drew the sheet and blankets back on the bed and sifted some more between the sheets. She rubbed it down into the sheet itself; making a soft, talc-like coating on the sheets. She then re-made the bed and sprinkled more on top of the blanket and pillow.

Lucien suddenly realized what she was doing, and he was astounded by the deviousness of it. The workings of Eyja's mind were like nothing he had ever seen, nor thought of himself. Who was she?




******* Eyja

Eyja listened at the door as Lucien walked away. His last words were troubling, did he know, did he suspect? What had he meant by "Whether you ever avail yourself of the sanctuary or not?" She looked at the spells, noting he gave her a chameleon amongst them. Good.

When his footsteps faded she turned and hurried up the stairs to Vicente's bedroom. She pulled open the door of his cupboard.

"Come on out now, he is gone."

A small Bosmer climbed out, a toothy grin splitting his face. "Did it work?"

Eyja smiled, pointing to the blade belted at her side. "Just as he said it would."

"The Boss knows his stuff." He grinned, his eyes sliding over her comely figure.

"Yes he does." Eyja smiled warmly.

"What will you be doing when this mission is over?" He looked up at her with obvious admiration.

"I'll stay here in Skingrad till the Boss needs me next. I'll be just across the street. They found another buyer for that Rosethorn Manor. My friend at the castle always tells me when there is a new mark in there. I hire in as a maid and find out all their secrets. I get everything I can out of them, then I either kill them in their sleep, or sometimes slip some poison into the Shepherd's Pie or mead. Gunder and I pull all the possessions out and sell them back to the next owner. Shum's girlfriend Agnate gets the armor and weapons. We all split the take. Then Shum finds another svcker to buy the manor. He has sold that one manor twenty-three times in the last four years." Eyja laughed.

"What do you do with all the bodies?"

"What do you think I make my Shepherd's Pie with? That is what makes it so special." Eyja looked steadily into his eyes.

"Gaaah, I've been eating it!" The Bosmer grabbed his stomach.

Eyja gave a tinkle of laughter. "I'm kidding with you, Sneakers. Didn't Foxy ever warn you about my sense of humor?"

"Whew! No, and that was not funny!"

"I know. I thought Foxy would have warned you about what I find humorous. You must have done something to make him mad if he didn't."

"I?Yeah, a couple things." Sneakers admitted.

"I heard the little Khajiit took care of one of those things herself." Eyja raised her eyebrow at him.

"She did, I learned some respect for her that day. Boss, knew she would do that and didn't warn me. She knocked me to flinders."

"I'll bet she did." Eyja smiled.

"So, Eyja?are you and Gunder serious? I mean, you kind of?had a lot of fun on this mission. You sure you don't want to test me out?" He gave her a lopsided grin.

"Get real, shorty." Eyja laughed. She sat down at Vicente's desk and scribbled a note.

G, Chameleon, three tomorrow, E.

"I do need a favor. Can you deliver a message for me? Take this to Gunder at the Colovian Traders." She handed the note to Sneakers with a smile.

"Tell Foxy everything went as planned, Lucien asked me to do the purge. I will let Vicente escape just as he instructed. Tell him that Maxical escaped on her own. He will know what to do." Eyja sat at the desk and scribbled a note in code and handed it to Sneakers. Foxy taught each of his operatives a different code so none could read other's messages to him.

"Hurry with this, Sneakers. Once Vicente escapes he will go after Maxical. The boss must know she is out so he can protect her. And tell him if he needs use of Rosethorn Manor again to just send me a signal. He'll know what I mean."

Sneakers sighed, giving one last look at Eyja before giving her the code sign.

Eyja pointed at him and whispered, "Chameleon!" before returning the hand signal and smiling.

Sneakers donned his chameleon robe and hurried out.

Eyja cast the chameleon spell Lucien had given her and stretched her feet out in front of her, leaning back in the chair. It was very rare for her to think about being unfaithful to Gunder when the job didn't require it. Lucien was certainly one of these. How nice of an interlude they could have shared in a different time or place. Eyja let out a long sigh.

What a fun mission this had been; but for all the fun, she found herself thinking about the little Khajiit and worrying. From what she had learned the Khajiit may return to her captor. She decided to keep an eye on the castle while she awaited orders from Foxy.

***

Foxy looked down at the coded message, the muscle in his jaw rippling his displeasure at what Eyja had written.

Foxy . Count Skingrad is a very powerful Vampire . M may be returning . Awaiting further instructions .


***




http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/52/l_674236757eda4d85aece925bffdeeeab.jpg



http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/128/l_6721aaafcb2c492dbd737c4440618451.jpg




*

You have no idea how amazed I am that you're on your fifth thread. For this story, you've written roughly 180000 words total, and in a very short period of time all things considered. I think that's quite the accomplishment. You've written more in this one story than I've written in all of my fics combined (I think.) last year, and I'm still stunned at your continued improvement.

I actually found the start to be very dull, and didn't bother to read this until semi-recently, but you've developed a wonderful sense of humor and established characters that were for the most part simple and uninteresting in-game, and transformed them into real personalities, and for that I also applaud you. I'm not much one for commenting, but seeing how far this story has progressed, I felt it was necessary for me to leave at least one post.

Keep up the good work!

Before anyone asks, it was all MalxMinx's moxie that magically made this mystery where the malefactors will be murdered and sent to oblivion where they will be masticated by the marooned dragon...

... *alliteration disease given to self by Treydog*

...MalX, you have outdone yourself. I could NOT have planned it better myself!!!

..um...if you need a job...


...scratch that. I have visions of -

- best not to say.



:rofl:

:thumbsup:

:bowdown:

So Eyja (with a J) is Foxy's minx??? Who woulda thunk it?

Goes to show that appearances can be mighty deceiving, methinks.

I take it this is the NUFFINK Foxy keep talking about!

Wonderful!

I'm so sorry that I wasn't here for the kick-off party to celebrate the fifth incarnation of Maxical's Journey but let me offer my deepest felt congratulations. Your writing has not only become fascinating but prolific. While the rest of us offer up morsels of stories you put out a banquet.

Ahh-Hah! so Eyja is part of the Fox's great spy network then!

Now this is devious!



One Nitpick:

You got your quotation marks misplaced here:
So, Eyja?are you and Gunder serious? I mean, you kind of?had a lot of fun on this mission. You sure you don't want to test me out?" He gave her a lopsided grin."

:ninja: This was nicely done. Quite intricately woven.

I'm pleased that I correctly guessed who Eyja worked for.

There remain many questions of course, but it was nice to learn much more about Eyja.

Well done mALX! :goodjob:

Foxy's harem is much larger than I thought. Damn I am jealous. :ph34r:

How is Maxical going to make sense of all of the machinations that spin around her ?
Everybody will tell the cat-girl a different story.

Pleaseee come back Maxical and sort out all this madness!!

Thank the Nine she was only joking! (I think) :blink:

With Eyja, never take anything for granted.

Just think. Hannibal Lecter, Doctor, Professor, genius level intellectual, and sociopathic murderer and cannibal.

And Eyja...a mistress of deception and sixual exploiter, pretending to be a foolish six crazed [censored] while actually being...


...guess what?

Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Holy s... So she's a spy and a con(wo)man... my kinda girl

Very cool update. As for my "telegraphic" post earlier- I had gotten so far behind that I had to shorthand my comments, or I would still be writing. I figure that since TES has The Black Horse Courier (and The Garlic, thanks to Rachel the Breton), they should also have an entertainment trade magazine called Medley. It can be for news of the Arena and the other "Hollywood" celebrities of Cyrodiil- the thieves, assassins, etc.

Edited to fix typos caused by typing while dozing.

A very interesting turn!! Alas, but I had forgotten about Foxy and his vengeance on Vicente!

It was bad enough when I was going to be creeped out by Eyja every time I saw her...henceforth, I shall be terrified when staying at Rosethorn Hall, and spending a night under the same roof as that woman!


;)

@ Ambrose51 - I want to thank you so much for reading the story, especially knowing it is not in your style at all, that meant a lot. You are very appreciated, and I know several people on here are great fans of your FanFic "Noblesse Oblige" - myself included. Thank you very much!
***

@ Foxy - My mind is always moving, just sometimes in the wrong direction, lol. (or right one for those who are enjoying this latest jaunt in the story) Foxy, you ROCK, and thank you so much for everything you do - allowing me to use your characters, and co-writing chapters (more coming up) - you make the story - by the way, did you see that chapter 65 beat out the old record on the internet site? I about fainted! People must love Lucien !!! You are always appreciated Foxy!

***
@ Hauteecole Rider - Your story is great! I can't get over how you are able to give a whole different feeling to the Main Questline !!! Awesome job!! Thank you so much for continuing to read, I know you are hugely busy !!
***
@ Bobg (Master Po) - Ah, but Minx Rachel supplies the food and dining hall for all of our feasts, lol. Thank you very much Master Po, I actually have two reasons for this. (first) I am terribly anxious to get Maxical back on track, and (second) when a new bend in the story line comes up, it usually overwhelms me with ideas.

I was talking (via spamming her thread) to Minx Rachel, and she would discuss where she is taking the story, then in the middle of her comment response suddenly say "- Oh! I just had another inspiration!" and disappear for a while. She had just reached a turning point in her story too.

I think it is so odd how that works, maybe it rejuvenates the brain to travel down different paths every now and then, lol.

You are so appreciated Master Po, Thank You for everything you do, half of which you don't realize!
***
@ Subminx the RosaMinx of Minxdom - I was surprised only the two Minxes picked up on Eyja's evil money making scheme, ROFL !!!! Thank you for noticing, I worked hard on thinking up that evilness, lol !!!! You are always appreciated, oh Minx of Minxia !!!! Thank you very much !!!
***
@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian, I have registered your disproval and will very quickly bring the story back to Maxical, lol - You ROCK, Acadian, and you are greatly appreciated !!!!!!!
***
@ Winter Wolf - I already have the different story angle well in hand, (ar ar ar) I have plans to use that, lol. Winter Wolf, nothing gets by you, you are like a detective finding clues in the story, you are totally AWESOME !!!! (and I can't wait to read your character's story !!)
***
@ Destri Melarg - That may be a mystery that is never solved, lol. Thank you Destri, I know you must be busy as heck because YOU HAVE NOT UPDATED YOUR STORY !!!!! So I really appreciate you reading. Thank you VERY much !!!
***
@ RemkoNL - Eyja may be everybody's girl ... but then again, .... Thank you so much!!
***
@ Treydog - ROFL, having to edit your comments? ROFL - Thank you very much Treydog, you are Awesome for going through all the trouble to catch up !!! You ROCK !!
***
@ Rachel (the other Minx) Breton - I never liked her before, but I added her to my Stepford husbands and prettied her up some, she has a much better chance of me not killing her in her sleep now, lol. - oops, I mean I have a much better chance of Maxical not being killed by her in her sleep! However, she may be sleeping with Stoker, lol. Thank you Rachel !!



********************************








*** D. Foxy has graciously agreed to the use of his characters Damien "Foxy" Reynard and Cytherea in this episode. He has also Co-Written segments.





Chapter 67: The Purification


Eyja covered the food with garlic, just as she had been doing every day since she first arrived. The dossier Foxy provided her with had detailed Vicente's allergy to it, and exactly how it would effect him. He would become extremely weak, tired, be unable to defend himself against even a normal weapon. But most important for what she needed to do; he would become highly vulnerable to magic.

She had been sprinkling fine garlic powder in his bedding daily as well as coating the food. But today she had added a mild poison to the garlic in his bed, just enough that it would immobilize him once he lay down. He would feel weighed down and weak, extremely fatigued, and very mildly paralyzed once he touched that bed.

The members began drifting back from the Chapel. In complete chameleon Eyja waited by the door, mentally marking off each. Finally Ocheeva, Vicente, and Gogron arrived, their facial expressions somber and expectant. So were they expecting the purge then? Eyja held herself back from laughing.

When all the members were in the house and milling about, Eyja quietly pulled the key to Rosethorn Hall from her pocket and turned it in the lock. No one would be able to leave here until she unlocked it; their keys would no longer work in the lock.

Vicente sat at the dining room table, handling the fruit and sweet rolls to decide what he wanted to eat.

"Vicente, don't handle all the food, just what you plan to eat. You have been in that filthy jail, we don't want to eat things you have touched." Ocheeva snapped, her nerves obviously on edge. Her eyes were darting to the members that were in the household before she arrived, asking each had they spoken to Lucien before he left. She appeared to be drinking much more wine than was her usual practice.

*

Eyja moved upstairs to account for everyone's whereabouts. M'raaj-Dar was laying down in his bed, a look on his face as if he had eaten a bad piece of meat. M'raaj-Dar had been very sweet to her, and she had taken his virginity. It would be hard to kill him. Still, he was alone. Quietly she pushed the door shut and slid into the room.

She was mentally going over Foxy's instructions on how to do the kills so they would not be able to struggle or call for help, but live long enough to hear the messages. She crept up to the side of his bed that put his back to her. With one swift movement she plunged the sword through the neck till she felt the spinal cord was severed. It felt odd, just before the break the nerves twitched against her blade, sending the vibrations down the blade and into her hand.

Eyja leaned over and began to whisper. "Remember that knockout potion you sold to Vincente fifteen years ago?" She got no further before realizing M'raaj-Dar had died instantly.

Oh dear, she would have to do better if she was to send them to their graves with the messages intended for them. Eyja backed out and moved down to Antoinetta's room.

Antoinetta and Telaendril were in their room. As Eyja rounded the corner to peek in she overheard a fight brewing between them.

"Oh shut up, Antoinetta, everyone is sick of hearing it! He is over 300 years old and you think he is going to let a child like you control him? You don't own Vicente." Telaendril snapped.

"You'll be sorry you weren't nicer to me when I am running the Cheydinhal chapter." Antoinetta may as well have stuck her tongue out to emphasize it, the tone of her voice implied the gesture strongly.

"What makes you think you will be over any of us? Just because you are sleeping with all the bosses? That isn't what gets promotions in this place. It takes skill and hard work."

"Lucien knows real talent when he sees it. I will be running this place before much longer." Antoinetta bragged.

"Talented at what? Gossiping or bragging? You sure aren't talented at what you think you are, or all these men wouldn't be cheating on you. I recall you throwing these same fits every time Lucien talked to any other girls too. Now you are doing the same with Vicente. If you are trying to sleep your way to the top you are going the wrong direction, don't you think?" Telaendril laughed.

"How dare you! I am going to tell Ocheeva what you said!" Antoinetta was raising her voice.

"Maybe I'll tell her that you said you will be taking over her position soon. I'm sure she would be much more interested in that."

"Why do you think Lucien came here? To give me the job since Ocheeva is messing up so bad. He is going to purge her, and make me the head of the chapter."

"Did you talk to him? If he makes you head, I will move to a different chapter. I for one am sick of your whining and childishness. I am going to sleep in the basemant with Gogron tonight." Telaendril stormed out, and Antoinetta plopped down on her bed angrily.


It would not be hard to kill Antoinetta, even more so after what Eyja heard. So little Antoinetta had slept with Lucien? For some reason that knowledge had left a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Had Lucien promised her the running of the sanctuary too? Not that she planned to avail herself of it anyway. Still?

Telaendril stomped down the stairs. "Something has to be done about Antoinetta, she is driving everyone crazy with her temper tantrums. I am staying in the basemant with Gogron tonight." She grabbed several sweet rolls and caught Ocheeva's eye, jerking her head toward the basemant door.

*

Eyja had followed her as far as the bottom of the stairs and listened till she heard the cellar door close. Teinaava was off by himself reading in the library.

Drawing her sword, Eyja ran it through his neck quickly, severing the spine and vocal chords, but holding her blade still so he would not die instantly. Leaning in close to him, she whispered, "Cytherea is waiting to see you on the other side, I hope she has more compassion for you than you had for her. Oh, and by the way, Scar-Tail sends his greetings. He will enjoy a longer life than you."

With those words she twisted the blade and pulled it out. He was still sitting up with the book in his hands, only his head slumped forward now. Eyja turned him around so the blood could not be seen unless someone positioned themselves against the bookshelf. He just looked like he was engrossed in the book from all other angles. Good.

Ocheeva had come out of the basemant from talking to Telaendril looking pale and scared. The first thing she did was try to leave the house, and the door would not budge. She tried her key in the lock and it wouldn't work either. She conjured her armor and weapon.

So Telaendril had warned Ocheeva based on what Antoinetta had said. Antoinetta had only mentioned Ocheeva being purged.

Vicente was sitting at the table, his hand laying across the plate of sweet rolls and his head tilted to one side, passed out. Eyja wondered if someone else had poisoned him and crept in closer. His breathing was even and deep. The garlic had tipped his exhaustion over the edge and he had fallen asleep at the table.

*

Eyja followed Ocheeva, who was heading back down into the basemant. When she got down there, Gogron and Telaendril were having raucous six in the back room, and Ocheeva was standing with her back to the wall watching the stairs.

Eyja slid around the corner to the back bedroom. Telaendril's bow was leaned up against the wall along with a quiver full of arrows. Reaching in the pocket of her dress, Eyja pulled out the poison she intended for Vicente. Quickly she dipped an arrow into the paralyzing poison and carefully drew back on the bow, wedging the arrow against the taut string. She aimed at the large green buttocks of Gogron heaving in the air. The arrow found its intended target, the huge Orc was paralyzed instantly, the feathers of the arrow sticking out dead center.

"Bulls-eye." Eyja whispered.

Telaendril was pushing hard against Gogron, her voice muffled but it was clear he was crushing her and she wanted him off.

Eyja leaned in close so Telaendril could hear her. "How does it feel to lie screaming for help but no one hears a sound? Remember Cytherea and how she begged you for help fifteen years ago...and how you refused even to listen. Just as your cries now will go unheard, smothered before they even leave your lips."

"What about you, big green; you remember Cytherea from fifteen years ago too, don't you? How you used your powerful size to hold her down so Vicente could pour potions down her throat? Well now you get to use your great size and watch yourself crush the woman you love to death with it. Damien never forgets a debt, he owed you this one, as did I."

Eyja waited till Telaendril's struggles ceased, and then stabbed at her foot with the blade. There was no movement of the foot, so she ran the shortsword through Gogron's neck, twisting it.

*

When the sounds from the back room stopped Ocheeva had moved to the corridor leading to the back room and started calling their names. Eyja readied her blade, but when Ocheeva got no answer she went back around the corner and began creeping back up the stairs quietly. Eyja followed.

Ocheeva tried the door and her key again, then began trying windows. She kept her back to the walls and moved over to Teinaava, calling him. When he didn't respond she reached down and shook him. His head lolled to one side showing the gaping hole in his neck. Ocheeva screamed, and then began making a keening sound in her throat.

A sound brought both Ocheeva's and Eyja's heads up, Antoinetta was standing at the bottom of the steps in her crimson armor, her sword in the sheath at her side.

Ocheeva screamed and flew down into the basemant, locking the door behind her. Antoinetta shot back upstairs crying.

Eyja picked the lock to finish off Ocheeva, she wanted to do Antoinetta last. When she got down there she found Ocheeva collapsed against the wall clutching her heart. Eyja could see she had frightened herself into a heart attack. She quickly moved over to her side and whispered to her.

"You were the only one that came close to helping Cytherea. You promised to give Damien the message she smuggled out to you, why didn't you deliver on that promise? You would have been spared today if you had. She loved you like a mother, like the mother we lost. You didn't remember me, but I remembered you, and how you failed Cytherea. You knew what was going on, and kept the only one that could help her from knowing it. Now you can join your brothers and sisters in the darkness you have wrought on yourselves. Face the vengeance of Damien and myself, Ocheeva. For you were loved and trusted, and you betrayed those that gave it."

Ocheeva tried to cry out, but there were none to hear in that basemant. Eyja spoke aloud this time, her own voice echoing around her.

"Your mouth could have been used to save one, but you only use it to save yourself." With that she shoved her sword deeply into Ocheeva's mouth, seeing the blade exit the back of her skull.

*

Holy [censored], Malx (murderous) Minx .... :blink:

You scared EVEN ME!!!


*shivers...in both fear...and aniticipation**

I can't wait to see how diabolical you will be with the last two...


And my Dear Magical, Mysterious, Moxieful, Maddeninly Magisterial and also Murderous Minx, I have this to say: THIS Chapter will break the last Chapter's record. I, D.Foxy, thus so predict !!!

Ha, ha. Now this is what I call a chapter !!! :toughninja:

The deadly mALX and Foxy team have upped the ante to a new level.

And nothing was held back. The blade into the foot was as delicious as it was deadly. That was the action of a true assassin !!

The mention of Scar-Tail brought a tear to my heart. And Ocheeva's death- magnificent.

I only wish I could read this in the dead of winter (it is bloody summer here). Then I would be really scared....

Your versatility never ceases to amaze.

From irreverent farce to downright frightening in the same story arc.

Who else can do that? :bowdown:

Wow.

This is amazing - true diabolical writing. Very compelling, very human.

I agree, this might be the record-breaking chapter!

That was.... bonechillingly AWESOME!