The Story of Bane

[Aphroditie]

The voices rose through the open windows of the balcony waking her from her nap. The night before had been a long one, the talk before bed and her request for him to take a day or so off, then the persuasion with what was to come later and a day of just staying in bed with each other. Seems that deal had been broken, she could not hear the conversation but she knew Eban’s voice and she knew he was angry, she could guess why. There was no time to throw on her armor, she quickly grabbed her discarded night dress and tied her dagger to her thigh running down stairs.

Opening the door to the outside there was Thom standing at the top of the stairs, Eban advancing with his shield knocking Thom down. Instinct kicked in she removed the dagger from her thigh getting between Eban and Thom. She growled at Eban telling him to leave. Thom was to his feet pushing her behind him, she watched as Eban and Thom spoke, it was more Eban then Thom. She knew what this was about; it was about her ex-husbands curse… Bane.

With that Eban left, and she went to Thom and checked on him he winced in pain as he sat on the step, she knew he had been hurt. Taking him to the healing room she got his shirt off pulling out cream and a new bandage. She could see the bruise forming on his ribs, this violence from Eban had to be stopped before he killed someone, but how does she tell this to Thom with out causing problems?

The look in Thoms’ eyes had her worried, the pull of Bane now had him and he wanted to go check on it. She didn’t want him to go, she told him he had five minutes, he asked for ten she agreed she was going to go get them food and wine. It took longer then ten minutes, the worry was knotting her stomach. Finally he arrived and they spoke briefly she then brought it up to him that Eban was a danger and needed to be locked away for his own safety and that of the others. He had thrown one girl from the window of the tavern and now he showed up at Aph's home all because of Bane. Thom agreed and soon after Kelfer showed up, as did Calli. Calli had walked in as Thom was telling Kelfer to arrest Eban, Kelfer being the man he was started questioning Thom as did Calli.

Things from there on went down hill quickly, Calli grabbing Aph, Thom growling at Calli to let Aph go, Kelfer and Thom going to talk. Ebans arrest, Thom ordering the squires to hit each other, Then for one squire to get him wine as he watch two of the others to fight. Calli and Piper watching in disbelief, Thom then speaking to Calli in private and Piper going to try and help. Calli returning to yell at Aph, and then Aph chasing Calli down to yell at her, Thom then going into the tavern briefly.

The whirlwind finally was stopping as they were going home, just not completely. They went to the garden to speak, things had to be said even if she had to beg, and begging she did. She begged him for Bane, she had to do something to get it away from them. He would not agree to give it to her. He refused he knew it would make her ill, and he feared it would harm her. So there was another thought, her niece Saqira she knew of the sacred grove where things could be hidden and she could be trusted and not be tempted to keep Bane herself. If Aph could get Thom to agree to this it would be perfect. It would be taken away from them all and no one truly knew how to find Saqira. She was like her mother and hid well within the shadows. He had indeed agreed to this plan. A weight had been lifted and something took over instead.

A deep seeded need and want to be with Thom took over. Leaving the garden they made their way back to the room that their day had started out in.

[Aphroditie]

‘How fecking stupid can someone be?’ Crash! The small table splintered into a thousand pieces.

‘Piper had said she was going to tell all key carriers!’ Smash! The chair smashed against the wall.

‘I only left to take a quick bath, he was locked away in there safely’ Thud …crash.! Bookshelf lay on the floor broken.

She didn’t hear her niece come up the stairs. Saqira stood there watching her aunt destroying her library.

‘He was safe, secure and some arsehole let him go’ Turning to throw the bench that is when she saw Saqira.

“What are you doing here? You need to go you are in danger being here.” Her eyes narrowed at her niece throwing the bench against another wall as it splintered.

“Aunt Aphroditie we need to get you out of here ma’am. You are not safe.” Saqira lowered her hood.

“Thom won’t hurt me Saqira. He may be a might pissed off, and want Bane, but he won’t hurt me.” She pushed over another bookcase.

“Auntie, trust me after what I found out we need to get you out of here ma’am and get you somewhere where you will be safe. Please ma’am trust me.” Saqira looked around at the mess and held out her hand to Aph.


Aph looked at her hand taking it they stepped over the debris making their way downstairs. Saqira held up her hand to Aph at the top of the stairs, the young rogue folded into the shadows and surveyed the bottom floor. Quietly staying in the shadows she went to the stairs where Aph waited and reappearing she startled Aph.

“Sorry Aunt Aph. It is clear downstairs ma’am. It is time to go and get out of here.” She said turning and walking down the stairs laying a recall rune on the floor.

“Please Auntie you go first they are expecting you and I will be right behind you.” She told her without looking to her.

Aph using the small amount of magic she had she summoned the power she needed to recall off the rune “Kal Ort Por” and then she was gone.

Saqira attached a note to the front door for Thom, closed the door and picked up the rune recalling to it herself.

Aph groaned to herself ‘Not here again’ It had been years since she stayed here, and it was far too soon since she had to be back. The monks stood there blinking looking at her they remembered her and she was welcomed. Saqira was quickly by her side and nodding to the monks.

“Your room will be back here Aunt Aph. I will be here with you as well ma’am. As you sleep I shall watch over you and when you are awake I shall be following you in the shadows.” Saqira unlocked her door letting Aph into her room.

The weariness was evident on her face. At least here she would be somewhat safe.

“We will discuss the arrangements in the morning niece, but yes for now I will sleep. Thank you.” Aph walked into her room a fresh night gown laid across her bed, but there would be no sleeping out of her armor her sword would be tucked close to her body.

Saqira sat outside, a false chair set near the door as she hid in the shadows leaning against the wall. Her aunt would be safe for now, until Baelual came up with a way to set all free and destroy the evil kyrss known as Bane. At least that was the hope and plan, things were not going to plan as of late.

[Aphroditie]

She sat on the small cot in which she had slept fitfully, the dreams of him being so close yet so far. Tears slowly streamed down her face at the thought he was so lost and haunted by the one thing she could not give him. Burying her head into her knees, she wept silently. She would not fight him if he came looking for her but on her life she would not tell him where Bane was. That kryss was driving them all to madness, even she was affected by it. It was driving her to lose her temper, her stomach turned as she thought at what she had seen and done. Leaning over her cot she grabbed the bucket that had been brought to her. Once again her stomach lurched as the bread she had just tried to eat found its’ way back up.

In the dream he was reaching for her asking her to help him then his eyes had become wild as he grabbed her by her throat choking her wanting that damned kryss, she refused to tell him where it was. He squeezed harder and her world was slowly going black, maybe she would have passed in her sleep if it had not been for the rays of morning light gently caressing her face waking her from a nightmarish sleep. When she had opened her eyes it was if some brilliant light had been there in her room. Her room glowed with the light of a thousand candles, and then faded.

She was alone and afraid. Afraid that everyone she cared for and loved was in danger. This way all her fault, her stomach knotted again, but how could she fix it being locked away in this place? Something had to be done, but it was now out of her hands. She set the bucket by the door returning to her cot, the once sunny morning was now dark and overcast. Drawing the blanket up around her self she stared out the window her head resting gently on her knees. Her thoughts turning to Thom wondering if he was thinking of her, if they were good thoughts. A cold rain started to fall and a cold breeze blew through her window. Closing her eyes she listened to the pitter patter of the drops against the stone frame.

The door creaked open as a short, pudgy in brown robes came it to close the shutters of her window. Aph watched his silently hugging herself, as he made his out he grabbed the used bucket placing a clean one in its place. She hummed to herself a gentle song one she used to sing to the children when they were ill. She never felt so alone as she did right now and one of her closest friends, Calli, was mad at her.

She leaned against the wall thinking, thinking of better days of sitting on her roof talking to Thom as they did every night before bed. She missed his hand in hers, his arm wrapped around her holding her close keeping her warm. Her eyes slowly closed with the sound of natures lullaby singing her to sleep. Just a little more sleep and her mind would clear and she would be able to think of something, and someway to get Thom back to safety, then she would find out who set him free. With luck perhaps someone else will find him and bring him back. If they did she would no longer be the enemy.

[Aphroditie]

Like an animal trapped in a cage she could feel it trying to get to her to set it free. She grasped the ankh tighter in her hand leaving her room she sprinted down the hall to the prayer room there she kneeled in front of the ankh and prayed. She prayed to her goddess Aceso, the healing goddess to heal her of the tendrils of the daemon in Bane reaching for her inner desires. She would be strong and not allow this daemon to reach her. Laying her head on the cold floor she prayed over and over until she fell asleep. She never felt the strong arms which picked her up carrying her to the cot that had been brought into the sanctuary for her, or the warm blanket which had been pulled over her.

Her mind swirled with the faces of those she had loved and cared for over the years. The cold touch of death chilling her to the bones as many passed in front of her dreaming eyes. Vlad the look upon his face as her turned to her and spoke of the children before Eban had run him through. The betrayal on Thoms’ face as she walked away from his cell that afternoon to go take her shower only to return and find him freed. Solvars’ hatred of her for not saving Vlad, she knew deep down she had tried but still blamed her self. Calli's rage after Thom had called her into office. Her handsome son Trystan dead before his time, his death before she could stop it.

She in perhaps a wild hope stayed in the garden earlier thinking that maybe just maybe Thom would return there searching for her, or more likely Bane. Instead Saqira showed up stating that Eban was very hurt and was in need of her aid and where to find him. She gathered what little of her healing items remained, leaving she went to Eban. She had been angered at Eban for drugging himself to deal with the affects of losing Bane. She had thought they connected in the past few days of really talking but all he wanted from her was the damn kryss, not her friendship. It was all about Bane! She was not weak when she said no to giving it to him. He had been weak to be pulled in by its promises and dark whispers.

Before that Laurana had told her Kelfer had demanded that Laurana find out from Aph where she had buried it. Aph refused to tell her, and refused to tell anyone when they asked. She had a plan set up should she just disappear but she would not tell anyone where she had buried it or dig it up until it was time to destroy it.

She had healed Eban and he had kicked her and Calli from his new cell, she went back to her hiding place and sat upon her cot wondering what would happen if she herself sought out Baelual to give him Bane to have him destroy it. He owed her that much, he had taken Vlad from her without word as to where he went and why…. Yes he owed her for this. He was the one to set Eban free and return Thom to her.

Gentle strong hands brushed Aph’s hair from her face as she slept a soft humming could be heard as gold eyes watched over her. A soft blue glow surrounding the blue haired figure and Aph in this room of prayer and peace, healing to the healer was what was needed. As she slept and dreamt the tendrils weakened, the pleas quieted, and her mind cleared. In the morning she would order the clean up of her home and the repair that would be needed to her items.

[Aphroditie]

Her throat burned and ached from where he grabbed it, her head throbbed from hitting the wall, her cheek bruised and red from where he had smacked it and her side bruised, bloodied from where Caedmon had either bit or kicked her, she wasn’t sure how it happened. Rolling over she winced she had forgotten about the bruise on her arm from where he had grabbed her, and the bedroll and blankets were not as soft and cushioning as her over stuffed bed had been. After speaking to Calli last night she had sent one of the messengers to find her niece giving her orders to have her home cleaned and repairs made so that when Thom was well they could go home and rest and recover.

She had never seen him so mad but deep down she knew it wasn’t truly him. The daemon had latched onto him trying to take Thom over. It was a parasite living off a warm bodied host and Aph was not going to let it happen and neither was Calli. In their own ways they both loved Thom very much. He was family to Calli and to Aph he was the man she wanted to spend her life with. It was not until that very night had she realized the true extent of her love for him.

The words had rolled out of her mouth before she even realized it; she wanted to start a family with Thom. Marriage did not matter; they had both been down that road and three failed marriages for her and she wasn’t sure how he felt considering Piper. But she knew she wanted a family with the man she loved. Even Calli seemed slightly excited, the thought sent ripples of joy throughout her.

She rolled over and watched as he slept on the cot, she longed to reach out and touch him. She just realized his hair had grown in soon she would be held within his arms again. They would then discuss their plans for the future and she would ask what he wanted. For now she would await Calli’s return when she found Baelual and this would all get fixed.

She exhaled slowly trying to be quiet and but he had heard her. His eyes opening he rolled over they were looking at each other. For a few moments his eyes were clear and she could see the love shining in his eyes. She knew that they would be ok, but the vacant look soon returned to his eyes. Quietly she whispered ‘Fight it love I know you can.’ Closing her eyes she slowly drifted to sleep, thoughts drifted into her mind as dreams swirled.

[Aphroditie]

Sleep ticked lightly at the back of her mind. She could feel his warm breath against her neck, a steady rhythm of a deep undisturbed sleep. She had put a little sleeping herb in his wine when he left for a short time. He needed a night of restful sleep. They had stayed up the night before talking into all hours of the morning light and just holding each other. He mother always told her the best healing came from being with the one who loved you the most. That had been the plan since the night Thom was freed. Take him home and let him rest and recover. She had tried to ease his mind but it was hard when her mind was not at easy.

She had been plagued by nightmares of her former husbands’ dead corpse rising to life, cackling and running away. She knew Vlad was not truly Vlad but the soul of Bane in the shell of Vlad. Her mind going to the conversation she had with Thom, what was it Bane had tormented with that involved her? She had asked and he refused to tell her. Was the thought’s he used against Thom still there? Was she a next target for Bane? What did Bane know of her?

She could feel her stomach turn slightly. Maybe Tath had been right in protecting her that night. She had said she was only a healer and did not need protection but she may have been wrong. She was the healer and the girlfriend to the Emperor, ex wife to Vlad and possibly the cause to this whole hellish nightmare. Her head now ached, she needed to start practicing her sword work, she would never be better then Vlad but maybe she could get help from Laurana, Calli, or maybe even Eban, if he was not still mad at her.

She had always admired Eban's blade work and skill, she dreaded to the day she would ever have to stand against him. She just needed to learn enough to get away safely should Bane come for her.

Thom’s arms tightened against her pulling her closer he buried his face into her neck as he slept. She would worry about what to do in the morning for now she would just sleep in the arms of the man who loved her.

Bane would not take this happy moment from her. Not this night.