World of Warcraft®

Rumors had spread quickly in the last few days around Booty Bay... a number of bruisers had been disappearing without a trace. Most were still missing; it had only been a few days, after all. But one or two had turned up, found just outside the town, unresponsive, but physically unharmed.

The bruiser Chip Blastfuse had been stationed just outside the tunnel leading into Booty Bay tonight. As usual, he kept to his post, leaving only to deal out a bruising to any Bloodsail scum that got too close.

Nothing out of the ordinary. He got so bored on this gig sometimes, but hey; the gold was good. Some movement nearby caught his attention. He gave a quick nod to his partner for the night, and moved to investigate. The moment he rounded the corner, however, everything went black.

***

The world gradually faded back in around him. He didn't recognise his surroundings, but he could tell he was indoors, and that there was a single figure in the room with him.

"Awake, I see. I was beginning to wonder how hard I actually hit you."

The deep, harsh growl in the voice alerted him that the speaker was a Worgen. He moved to get up, but discovered he had been tied up, and tied well. Chip considered himself something of an escape artist, but he was having no luck in slipping them.

"Don't bother. A Tauren wouldn't be able to snap those ropes - and the slimiest of murlocs wouldn't be able to slip 'em off."

Chip was starting to worry. "Where am I? Who are you?!" He demanded. A harsh laugh sounded behind him.

"A Goblin's worst nightmare... one who's about to learn what makes up yours."

The tinkle of shattering glass sounded, and an odd scent entered the goblin's nose...

***

Jonathan circled around in front of the captive Goblin, only the newest of many test subjects. He had protected himself from the toxin in the gas, of course. He watched with satisfaction as the goblin's eyes began to widen, its face twisting in horror.

"Soon..."

(( <.< Uh - oh. ))

Whether it was day or evening, Thelinna really could not tell by simply looking, though she could usual gather some from the meager meals that were given to Aethelgyth. It was hard to tell the time otherwise, as she had been paralyzed in place for well over a week at this point. She had been meditating silently, as Aethelgyth was sleeping, when she heard footsteps approaching the outside of her cell. She imagined it was likely one of the guards. She was almost surprised when she recognized the voice that greeted her.

“Good evening,” spoke the gruff voice of the worgen, Jonathan Harmarth.

Thelinna's eyes fluttered open, looking up to the man. “Good evening, pup.” She murmured softly, her eyes shifting slightly, searching. “Where is that darling Arlston?”

“Busy,” he responded quickly, keeping his eyes focused on the woman before him. “I will be your host for this evening. Been enjoying the hospitality so far?”

“Busy, is he?” She asked with a smirk, which grew with the next question. Her living conditions were hardly up to par with what she was accustomed to, but she was doing her best to make do in the unpleasant situation. “I will say, I could do with a different location, and I would greatly appreciate a cup of tea.”

Jonathan feigned disappointment as he spoke. “Unfortunately, I won't quite be able to accommodate that. But I tell you what,” he murmured, pausing before continuing. “I have special plans in mind for you.”

“Special plans, hmh?” The red headed woman's mind began to wander at the possibility of what these plans could be. Would someone finally give her a proper interrogation, with questions and torture? Was he going to torture her for revenge? Perhaps something even more nefarious. She kept her eyes on him as she continued her thoughts. “Oh, are you finally going to show me that lovely scar of yours?” She purred, her eyes shifting to his chest as if undressing his upper body with her eyes, imagining what the scar that Vectus had left for him looked like now. Thelinna's attention was turned once again as he spoke up, continuing on about his plans.

“All this time as Aziel's favorite, your 'pets', your 'collections'. You ego's grown out of control. And I've been thinking on how to knock it down a peg or two.”

“Oh, have you, now?” Thelinna purred, rather intrigued by the way this conversation was going.

“I've got just the thing. I've put a lot of effort into this the past little while.”

“Mmmmm. That sounds delightful,” she continued, listening as he spoke.

"You won't think so in a few moments,” he said, his voice trailing off. “I know you wouldn't react to normal torture. You'd enjoy that. I had to come up with something special. Something that would break even your twisted mind."

Thelinna paused, mulling over his words for a moment. Her eyes shifted, seeming rather intrigued by what he was saying. “Oh? I will say, you have my curiosity.”

Jonathan continued on. “And so, I came up with the perfect solution. I do not have to break you. You will break yourself.”

"Oh, can you cause this? Curious. What exactly have you done?"

“Everyone has their deepest fear,” Jonathan began once again. “That one hidden terror in the back, deepest corner of the mind. Everyone has their own nightmares, somewhere. I'm curious to see what yours are like. I'd ask if you were ready, but the truth is, I don't care if you are or not.” In his hand, was a vial. His claws grasped to a close, breaking the glass and throwing it against the ground as he pulled a cloth to his mouth. He knelt beside her as the noxious fume was released. “Tell me, what is it you fear?”

Thelinna's lips were sealed for a moment, as she prepared herself for whatever it was that this toxin would do. She looked up to him, her lips neutral as she muttered. “You are more like us than you know, pup,”.

The gas began to invade her senses. Her eyes began to glaze over as the cave like dungeon she was in began to fade, morphing into her childhood home in Quel'thalas. It was their summer home, a large house with a decent amount of land. Flags were hung out proudly, both of Silvermoon and of House Que'sheth's sigil, a golden bird perched on a branch on a white background. Everyone was there- her mother, her father, and even her young sister, Sunah. But she did not see herself- nor any of her possessions in their home. Her father, with his dark red hair and stern gaze, was almost smiling as he returned. Sunah ran to him, jumping up into his arms. Her mother moved to his side, delicately planting a kiss on his cheek.

“D-daddy. Not her.” She murmured in the midst of the hallucination, protesting the attention her sister was receiving. Every memory she held, the man held nothing but scorn for her younger sister. But the love and affection he was showing to her in this was horrifying.

The visions flashed forward. Every major life event she hit, it was not her. It was as if she was no longer even in existence. The red headed girl, with short straight hair, rather than Thelinna's long curls, was getting all of the attention that was meant for Thelinna.

“No!” She protested. Had she the ability to move, she would writhe in anguish. “No, I exist! You cannot favor her, Father. You hate her. I know you hate her, Daddy. It's me that you love! I have always been your favorite.” She pleaded with the hallucinations, a panic in her tone.

The visions continued to flash forward, moving to her time with Modas. She witnessed Aziel beginning to take notice of Sunah, intrigued by her naïve and sweet, yet somehow vicious nature. He began to woo her, offering her gifts, servants, clothing, and anything he could to get her attention. Thelinna's chest stopped for a moment, before she let out an ear piercing scream. “Aziel! My love, please, no.” She pleaded. “No, not Sunah. Remember, Aziel? We killed her together. That was how I showed you how much I loved you! It was me, Aziel! Not her. Oh please, no!” Thelinna gasped, sobbing as she struggled against the ward that was in place for her.

In this, she witnessed a future that she would never have. Aziel was convinced that Sunah was worthy of marriage, something that was never good enough for Thelinna, despite the dedication ceremony that was supposed to be happening. Sunah became his only lover, something that she knew could never happen in her own reality. A fit of jealousy overcame her as she wept out of her fear. Not existing always seemed to be a fate worse than death – because she knew what death was like. The woman went silent, enduring the rest of her visions with mere whimpers.

"You are more like us than you know, pup." Jon scowled beneath the damp cloth that protected him from his own toxin. His methods were getting darker, and he knew it. But he still had his morals. His own set of rules. He acted in defense of him home, and to eliminate those that would see it destroyed... they simply acted to destroy.

As her eyes glazed over, he watched intently. They always spoke while living out their fears... and what they said gave away what it was they were seeing.

"D-daddy. Not her." Jon tilted his head in slight confusion. The mighty, egotistical Thellina had daddy issues? He laughed mentally at the thought.

The muttering continued... and understanding clicked. She was seeing someone else getting all her attention... all the adoration that she got, that she felt she deserved, was going to someone else.

Jonathan stood. "Even in the depths of your darkest nightmares... your ego still shines through as inflated as ever. Enjoy the rest of it, witch." Without another word, he turned to leave.

Very cool.

((Dang, Harmarth is eeeevil. Let's just hope Lahkin never finds out about this ;) ))

((Bump for great justice and wishing for more))