10-18-2014, 08:55 PM
Nikolai shoved the dropped paper aside with the toe of his shoe before he approached the deadpan Valdir. There was a dryness etched into his expression as he gazed upon that lax face. Hard to imagine such a figure seated upon the throne of a god. As Nikolai circled, judgment cemented itself in the recesses of his sympathy. Briefly, Nik's gaze flickered toward the silent audience seated so calmly around the living room. Valdir's violence was only a danger if he could not be controlled. It was with the same prudence that Nikolai gathered Alric and now Michael to his sides. Both wielded power with titanic might, and with webs of scorching Flame and silvered Essence encoiled their prisoner's body, he was all the more reminded of Michael's successful compliance.
Valdir roused and those very webs dug deeper into his flesh. His eyes flared open only to find himself suspended in midair. His writhing only exaggerated the pain, so he curled in upon himself, like a child in the fetal position, and buried his chin to his chest. To his credit, he neither cried nor begged, but he clearly did not understand what was happening. Nikolai waved a hand for Michael to decrease the intensity of the man's suffering while he spoke. They quite effectively had the man's attention, and Nikolai was not a sadist.
"Mister Schenzek," his tone swung sharper than the points of steel tapered near his eyes. "I am Nikolai Brandon, your Ascendancy."
He lifted the point of the man's chin. Pain-wrecked eyes locked upon his but there was little identifiable recognition. Nik couldn't tell if Valdir knew who he was or not. He continued. "You have an amazing gift. One that we can help you control. Yes, you know of what I speak."
Valdir licked his lips to cast a hungry gaze at the members of his family. Positioned like dolls, they watched on.
"Yes. Them. You did this to them? Why?"
Valdir must have a damn good reason to have done what he had. Whether or not it was justified, Nikolai cared less, but he needed to know the reasoning. Was there a shred of potential in Valdir? A glimpse of sanity?
Valdir roused and those very webs dug deeper into his flesh. His eyes flared open only to find himself suspended in midair. His writhing only exaggerated the pain, so he curled in upon himself, like a child in the fetal position, and buried his chin to his chest. To his credit, he neither cried nor begged, but he clearly did not understand what was happening. Nikolai waved a hand for Michael to decrease the intensity of the man's suffering while he spoke. They quite effectively had the man's attention, and Nikolai was not a sadist.
"Mister Schenzek," his tone swung sharper than the points of steel tapered near his eyes. "I am Nikolai Brandon, your Ascendancy."
He lifted the point of the man's chin. Pain-wrecked eyes locked upon his but there was little identifiable recognition. Nik couldn't tell if Valdir knew who he was or not. He continued. "You have an amazing gift. One that we can help you control. Yes, you know of what I speak."
Valdir licked his lips to cast a hungry gaze at the members of his family. Positioned like dolls, they watched on.
"Yes. Them. You did this to them? Why?"
Valdir must have a damn good reason to have done what he had. Whether or not it was justified, Nikolai cared less, but he needed to know the reasoning. Was there a shred of potential in Valdir? A glimpse of sanity?