The Devil's Ball

[Piper Wren]

Elric's words had left Piper more than a little shocked, never before had he been so frank about his past to her. It explained a lot about things that hadn’t really come to light fully…it silenced her and she didn’t try to stop him as he left. Piper turned to lean on the edge of the balcony, biting her still crimson stained lips. How was she going to talk to him about that, could she talk to him about it? The young woman sighed, perhaps secrets should have just stayed secrets between them after all. Perhaps it would be best to stay away from the crowds and most pointedly certain boogies for a while. The fresh air would give her a clear head before going back into the heady heat of the ballroom, it also made her very aware of footsteps coming up nearby. Out of habit she turned around, not wanting her back to anyone who might be coming close. At least it was no one threatening, only Zarek but her spine stiffened none the less.

"It seems like you two are getting along. You do look rather lovely this evening, you should wear dresses more often…Red does suit you."

Piper glanced down at the floor of the balcony, self consciously rubbing her exposed, porcelain arms and shoulders, not liking feeling so exposed even though she was growing used to the chill out here. She hadn’t picked this dress, if it had been up to her she wouldn’t be wearing it at all. Hell, Piper wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for the rebels needing her. Zarek’s nerves were very obviously coming through his body language, shifting from foot to foot and the lack of eye contact.

“Then I guess you couldn’t hear us if you think that…” Piper sighed deeply despite Zarek’s well meaning compliment it only made her feel even more self conscious. “I don’t think so…sorry but no, on the dresses part anyway.” Her grip on her own arms tightened slightly as she spoke. It had been a couple of weeks since she had last seen Zarek and she felt bad about it, although she didn’t have the guts to approach him about it. He seemed to want to help and Piper thought it best to accept it, it was preferable to being in Naelona’s clutches anyway.

“I’m sorry, about before I mean…”

[zarek]

Zarek nodded softly, "I figured as much. Though, I still wanted to tell you even if you didn't want to hear how nice you looked." He shrugged his shoulders for a moment and watched his human carefully for a long moment. He had not been able to hear what she and Elric had been saying to one another, but seeing as neither ran away from each other or shyed away, he thought it was good.

A small smile touched his lips beneath the broken skull, "It's fine. You don't have to apologize about anything." He should of known what her original action should of been, but still he had trusted the fact he would make her feel more at ease, but it didn't happen like he had planned. Now, he had other issues on his hands.

Such as the main event that he was sure was coming up soon. He could tell she was tense, but he was uncertain if it was because of him or the current atmsophere. He let out a small sigh and took a step towards her, "I just wanted to make sure you where alright for now, seeing as too many others are in this room and the other human had left you alone."

A pause.

"Once the humans are picked, you don't have to stay here any longer, you are free to go back to your room. There isn't any reason for you to stay and see what happens to the others." He spoke softly and slow, picking out his words carefully. He didn't want to offend her but he didn't want her to see the carnage that took place here. He knew what was going to happen, just not to who at this point. Piper was a gentle girl, and violence was something her eyes didn't need to see, even though she had seen and been through enough of it her life.

[Kazn Ezel]

It was time. Instinctively his hand went for a watch that neither functioning, nor in his coat. He paused for a moment longer before reaching into his pants and pulling another watch to check the time. This device actually kept time and did so accurately. Judging from the position of the hands and the pleasant sound of the ticking Kazn would need to find himself on the floor. Kazn abandoned the orchestra to their own devices and movements. There was no longer any call for his skills as a musician. Now his skills as an orator were necessary.

The aureate saint moved onto the floor. Stepping up from his stool he had grabbed his sword and fastened it to his belt. It was largely a ceremonial object, but it suffered very little in regards to utility. Kazn reached the center of the etched medallion and he raised his hands up to the sky. That was the sign.

The orchestra's music took on a much different tone. First it seemed dark and serious, and then it eventually moved on to a softer tone. This music was intended to symbolize that the time for dancing had passed. It was hard to not have a flair for dramatics, but the Boogies who did come always expected a show.

"Your attention please!" His hands were still raised to the sky and then Kazn focused. There was something beneath the medallion, and it had taken a lot of work to set this up. There was suddenly the sound of metal and stone creaking and grinding as the medallion shifted beneath Kazn's feet. Slowly and impossibly the large disk of metal seemed to rise into the air. Holding it up was the metal bars of a cage intertwined with green and thorny rose plants. How the disk and cage were lifted up in such a way was a mystery best left to the simple explanation of stage magic.

"The main event is about to begin. Keep yourselves in an orderly manner while your very own Naelona Ezel will announce this year's participants." The medallion Kazn stood upon was about 8 feet off of the floor and the floor within the cage was about another 8 feet down. The only entrance or exit was currently blocked off by his rosebushes and would move aside when the slaves arrived. The arena was not very large, but it was large enough to allow some modest movement. It was also clean. After all, bones and old bloodstains were bad for the morale of the potential sacrifices.

Kazn only hoped that Luther remembered to give Naelona the damn envelope earlier.

[Piper Wren]

"I figured as much. Though, I still wanted to tell you even if you didn't want to hear how nice you looked."

It still made Piper uncomfortable, her clothing wasn’t designed to show off her body or to attract. Most of the time she worked on being as inconspicuous as possible. A weird thing to do for someone who wanted to sing professionally, well…performing was slightly different. Piper didn’t feel like herself while she was doing that, it was preferable not to be her most of the time. And about Elric...well, Zarek seemed to have grasped the wrong end of the stick. Since he hadn’t heard their exchange he wouldn’t know how rocky and unstable things were between them right now, losing something that had been stable amongst everything was hard to deal with. Things with Elric, losing Tristan as her guardian. Piper’s world had been tipped upside down and here she was to pick up the pieces as best she could. She noticed Zarek took a step closer to her but Piper stayed where she was, flicking her gaze from the boogie to the floor.

"I just wanted to make sure you where alright for now, seeing as too many others are in this room and the other human had left you alone…Once the humans are picked, you don't have to stay here any longer, you are free to go back to your room. There isn't any reason for you to stay and see what happens to the others."

Piper shook her head, she wasn’t alright, she was far from ‘alright’ but right now she was holding it together and that was what mattered. She forced herself to make eye contact with Zarek through the cow skull. She had already seen carnage and violence, although she was not desensitised to it the young woman was not going to run away from it despite the gut urge to.

“I’m not going to run away from this and hide, I can’t. If people I care about get hurt and I do nothing about it…I’m not much use, I’m fully aware of that. But doing nothing? I’m not sure I could forgive myself for it. Thank you for the offer…but I’m staying even if it is going to be bloody.”

[zarek]

He nodded softly, as much as he wanted Piper to be somewhere else, he knew it was her decision to do what she wanted. If was going to respect that wish even if he didn't agree with it. Afterall, he merely wanted to protect the smaller human. "Very well, I won't stop you from doing what you want. But please, be careful and I wish you the best of luck." In the terms of not being picked to have to fight to the death. It would sadden Zarek if his new human had to go in the cage.

He reached out to touch her, as in place a hand upon her shoulder or fix her hair but he soon thought better of it and rested his hand at his side. "I need to go, Piper." For a moment, the green haired boogie looked torn between leaving her, but he knew he had too, he had other things that needed his full attention.

Zarek reached into his thick coat and withdrew a kris still within its shealth. He handed the snake like blade to her, "Keep it, just incase something takes a wrong turn." The boogie frowned with deep concern and worry. Then with a small sigh he turned his back to her and began to leave, "Remember to keep that on your person and to be careful. I'll see you later, Piper dear."

With that, Zarek disappeared back into the crowd to either join the other boogies or leave the Ball.

[Zeke Suzushima]

Zeke was still keeping up the perfect act, being the silent, calm, well-trained slave that Naelona owned for so long. He'd pretty much fallen right into character with hardly any effort. He was, after all, Kris' twin, so as long as he just pushed back his wild streak the two were in every sense the same. The older blond was still spacing out little when Naelona's twin, as Kris had described him, sat down at the table. And proceeded to probe him near his ass.

A flinch, a step away, and a mental swear later, Zeke narrowed his false eyes. How the hell did he put up with this? I thought I was rape bait.

Then the man at the orchestra spoke out, and Zeke turned his gaze to pay attention to what he was saying...but seemed much more distracted by the way the large, deadly cage began to rise out of the ground. The pale boy paled even worse, realizing what this meant...the evening climax was about to begin. Tearing his gaze away from the metal trap, "Kris" looked about the room, appearing calm but feeling frantic. Where was Kris?

His eyes ended up on Kyle, not so far off, and his weary expression caught his "brother's" eyes. Things were about to get messy.

What's going to happen now?

[Naelona Ezel]

Naelona should've known to expect it, but the screeching chair grated at her ears, if at to be least soothed after by a welcoming voice. "Good Evening, Brother." Naelona returned quietly, along with the faint smile. "You only missed a.. peculiar.. entrance," One that was probably best he didn't see in the first place "..a few greetings, but nothing much thus far. It's good to see you have arrived, I was beginning to wonder where you were." Despite the years, she'd re-accustomed to having her twin around. At times now it seemed odd if he wasn't. Especially to such an event as this.

"Silver? I thought you liked blond.." she frowned to her sibling. "I sent the boy on an errand, he should be returning shortly." With company, if all went well enough. Looking over her shoulder at her brother's cane prodding poor Kristopher's side, she batted it away from the slave with her pipe. "Quit that." she added, with a meaningful look to her twin. Off all the slaves, they shared ownership of Elric, but Kristopher was hers. If only her brother kept it that way.

Just as if on queue Elric showed up. Glancing to the boy, then to Luther off to the side she mentally compared them, concluding they were rather much the same build-wise.. for their respective species at least. At second consideration, she wasn't sure she liked that conclusion or not. Tapping El's arm with her pipe Nae sat up a little straighter in her chair to ask a question, undoubtedly to be better heard by him. "Did you find her?" Something seemed off with the boy, but slaves were finicky creatures in some respects.

"Your attention please!" Naelona suddenly tensed, looking over the balcony railing to the floor below, the change in music only confirmed it as dancing couples vacated the floor, and the 6-part medallion began to rise. "Anolean." Naelona hissed to her brother, setting the remains of her drink upon the table and rising to her feet, turning to the white-haired boy. "Tell me later." There was only one issue with this, Naelona didn't have the results to read, nor did she know who had them until one set of sealed results was suddenly offered to her by someone's hand.

Luther's.

The boogie paused a moment, almost sizing him up (never mind that he dwarfed her) before taking the envelope from him. Taking her brother's arm, she turned to the rest as a form of swirling shade rose from the stage below. "If you'll excuse us." she said to the gathered group. Sending a soften look to Kris that only he'd be able to see, Naelona patted his arm before a similar shade suddenly swallowed up the twins and as it dissipated, they were gone.

Upon the floor the shade swirled and reached up like arms to brush the ceiling, and the ever-weak lights as the room became dimmer, save for where light was directly wanted - in the very heart of things. As it swirled and vanished Naelona walked out from it's midst and into view with her brother, looking fullfaced upon the gathered crowd, standing proudly before them as any Ezel should. "Good evening, everyone." she started, voice carrying easily throughout the room. There was something distinctly.. boogie to her tone, in a 'cat that's just about to eat the canary' sort of way. Long slivers of shadow slinked across the ballroom floor in twisted and unusual ways, always drawing the eyes to either her, or the cage.

"Do mind your possessions, your weapons, and your luck.." she seemed to muse coyly after her typical banter, moving from the stage towards Kazn in slow, measured steps. "Tonight! Here, two slaves shall duel to the death." Pause for dramatics, and a coy tone. Give a few moments for the worry and fear to arise in the slaves. "So mind your wits.. and your bets." Turning the envelope over within her hands, her nimble fingers pried it open with ease, pausing when they brushed the paper that would hold two names.

"For our duel shall be between.." Unfolding the paper, Naelona's proud face glanced over the paper. A pause. Holding her head a bit higher, she brushed off the paper as a 'puff' of shade floated off it like a small cloud of dust. "Kristopher Roberts, and Elric Vlarintos." The edge of her lips curled ever so slightly, making a sweeping motion with her arm. "Do send these two to the floor.. and let our event, begin!" Small arcs of shade like shooting stars zipped through the crowd, as though searching for the aforementioned names, while the same shade briefly hid the twins from sight until they could arrive closer to the center. Naelona took the brief opportunity to shoot her brother a look he should understand. The Ezel didn't like this set up, she didn't like it one bit.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher moved through the crowds as they moved about to listen to Kazn better. The stage itself sent shivers down the slaves spine and so he did not look at it. He would flip a lid if he saw the roses that he knew where there. Right now, dressed as Zeke, he had to find the twin. They needed to change back quickly before the names got announced and then the two could leave this place and quickly.

His steps had meaning as he quickened them, trying to cover the area quickly, his now blue eyes (the joy of contacts) searched for the face of his non-blood brother. Where was he? Surely he hadn't gone to far and stayed with Naelona.

Tonight! Here, two slaves shall duel to the death. So mind your wits.. and your bets. For our duel shall be between.."

Good, so Naelona was calling out the names. That would make it so much easier to get to Zeke, change and get out of here. He didn't want to see the bloodshed and he was sure Zeke wouldn't care too either! Finally, the blond spotted Zeke, he hadn't moved far, great. Quickly moving up the stairs he took two at a time.

"Kristopher Roberts, and Elric Vlarintos."

His body froze so suddenly it took even him by surprise. God, Elric, who ever fought him as fucked up the ass without the lube! That poor sou----oh god it was him! It had taken a moment to click and when it did "Zeke" went pure white out of fear and concern, for himself and Zeke.

"Oh fuck..."

His blue eyes went to his twin that was no more then fifty feet away from him. Their eyes meet almost instantly and Kristopher looked panic, as if he was either about to faint or run to Zeke and shake him like a baby. He had to reach Zeke before any boogies came to fetch him, or before the shadows found him for Anolean could easily get to him far quicker then him.

"Zeke" went up the stairs, quickly, but not too quickly to draw attention to himself. Oh fucking God! What was he going to do?! "Kris!" He called out to his twin, he didn't know this was going to happen.

[Anolean Ezel]

Anolean stood with his sister with full understanding of what she was needing of him. Giving a quick bow to the others and one last poke of "Kris" he took to the shadows with his sister, disappearing almost instantly and traveling through them as they used too.

It took only moments to reappear near their father and he released his sister to do as she must. He stood back and leaned on his cane, pondering how this shall go, though looking as proud as the other two Ezel's. However, as soon as the two names where called out, Anolean raised a brow and chuckled under his breath. How amusing his half slave and his sisters must cross swords.

Waiting until she turned towards him, he shrugged his shoulders helplessly, "I can do nothing about it. Though I wonder sister, who will win this battle and who will get a sword or arrow through their heart." He gave her a small smile then, tipped his head towards her and disappeared into the shadows. His cane as left behind for Naelona to hold, it was to be the weapon of Elric Vlarintos. It was only fitting he received a cane sword rather then a silly tonto his sister carried.

Anolean disappeared with a purpose, gone to fetch the blond slave that was going to be fighting the silvered haired one who he was certain would find his way to the arena by himself. The blond though, seemed more like the type to run.

Unknowing to the boogies was a switch up of the said person and so when he went to acquire the slave, he would be taking the wrong one through a shadow that was currently forming out of Zeke Suzushima's shadow. Dressed as Kristopher, he had doomed his own fate into going into the cage as the sickly, traumatized blond. AS soon as he found Zeke, his pale hand would grasp his ankle and pull him down into the shadows and into the cage where his worse nightmare would take place.

Being surrounded by the roses Kristopher Roberts was traumatized from and fighting a man who was a gorilla that wore a monkey suit.

[Luther Verhulst]

Luther had long grown accustomed to the looks and glares of others, but it did not make their staring any more tolerable. Usually he could ignore them if they did not try and maintain eye contact with him. To do so was a challenge, and to break eye contact after issuing the challenge was to admit defeat. Admitting defeat was something fatal in the right circumstances.

There was a consideration for only the briefest of moments when Luther wondered if Gwyllgi or he instilled more fear into those looking at him now. His familiar had quickly snatched up the small tidbit of meat. Luther was jealous, since that was the only decent food for the two of them that he had been carrying around all night. Maybe there would be something decent after the dancing was done.

"What a surprise to see you Mr. Verhulst."

Luther did not flinch, but he hardly liked the tone in her voice or the words she chose to speak. Mr. Verhulst had been his father; a superstitious man who had nearly suffered a heart attack when the birth of his only son brought forth so much blood. The man should have gone with instinct and smothered the beast on the spot. Instead, his father had delusions of repentance and saving the child.

"It's just Luther."

Patting Gwyllgi on the head Luther seemed to recall something at the last moment. He had something he had been asked to give to Naelona. A nice change of pace that their paths would cross without him having to seek her out. He pulled the envelope from his coat and offered it to Naelona.

His ears perked at the announcement and the envelope was quickly gone from his fingers. He had to get into position and there was little waiting. He leaped off of the balcony and fell through the air. Hitting the ground with a grunt and a roll he stood back up and walked into position where he could get a vantage point on both the cage and the area around it. Gwyllgi knew his place and so did Luther.

[Zeke Suzushima]

Watching Naelona walking away gave Zeke a moment of confusion. What was that look? She hadn't given him so much of a glance since he'd given her the drink...oh. Something clicked in his mind as she finally walked away. This is why he cares so much. Despite the horrible circumstances of what was about to occur, "Kris" let a small smile spread across his face, hidden out of sight from Kyle and the others. Naelona wasn't what he'd assumed.

"Tonight! Here, two slaves shall duel to the death. So mind your wits...and your bets. For our duel shall be between...Kristopher Roberts, and Elric Vlarintos."

...fuck fate and the horse it rides on.

Bright mismatched eyes glowed with a sort of panic and terror that normally would never show in the fear-loving youth's eyes. He backed up a step, shuddering, trying to assure himself he'd heard wrong. No way. Nothing in the universe could be so cruel. Kami-sama...I know you don't listen...but...Zeke did the stupidest thing he could think of in that second...you're horrible...he ran for the stairs as fast as he could.

There was Kris. Perfect timing. Or terrible, really.

Because right as Zeke turned to run to his twin, the feeling of hands on his ankles dragged him down through his own dark shadow, only managing to shout out one last thing before he was swallowed.

"K-Kri---!!!"

[Elric Vlarintos]

"I found her, but-" Elric found himself cut off by the announcement of the main event. Surely that much time had not passed yet? It seemed that the details of the match would unfold. Perhaps he would leave as soon as the names were announced, but only so much that he could make certain that Kristopher had gotten out beforehand. Kris did not seem the type who would like to stay for the event. At the very least Elric would be able to make Piper happy with that one piece of compliance.

The names were called and Elric felt the color drain from his already pale face. There was very little that could warrant a response from him, but he had been called into the cage. After all of his years here in Wonderland this was the first time it had ever happened. He knew what had been coming the entire evening, but it just never seemed like it could have happened to him. It didn't even register in his mind who he was fighting as he started walking down the stairs towards the arena.

"Looks like I won't be getting out of here before the trouble starts," he mumbled under his breath. "Sorry, Piper."

What wonderful parting words he had with her. To think that could be the last thing anyone ever remembered him saying while he was alive stung. He really deserved this and had it coming.

It wasn't until he accepted the fact at about halfway to the stage that he realized he was going to be fighting Kris and a whole new wave of questions flooded into his head. That should not be, since Kristopher and he were both Naelona's slaves. Unless he counted as enough of Anolean's slave for the arrangement to be acceptable? A miserable sounding loophole if he ever heard one. Would Naelona really let something like that pass? No matter who won she'd lose.

When had he gotten here? Elric did not know. Regardless, he stood in the center of the room for everyone to see. One could hope it would be over quickly. He had given up hope that anyone would even rescue him. It felt far more likely that both he and Kristopher would die as soon as the Boogies saw trouble.

[Kazn Ezel]

It was an Ezel family affair. This was the way things should be. Then again, Kazn could have hardly expected anyone else to have done this correctly. The people wanted a show, and a show was what they got. As he recalled, Naelona was never much of one for superfluous showmanship, but she pulled it off well. Likely if they spoke about it later that she would find reason to complain about it. It was just as likely that when Kazn presented her with the explanation she would simply devalue his words and leave it.

The selection of slaves did bring a frown to Kazn's face. It was impossible to see under his mask, but it was there. In the interests of fair play the rules kept two slaves that were owned by the same master from fighting. After all, no one enjoyed the knowledge that they were going to lose a slave no matter what they did.

This just seemed all the more proof of why he should have taken care of the drawing instead of authorizing someone else to do it. Everyone else managed to mess up. Suddenly, it occurred to him what the 'problem' had been the first time the drawing had been done. The individual, a pathetic wretch without a hint of common sense, had mentioned that the same slave's name had come up twice and he had to do the drawing a second time. The slave must have been the one he gave Naelona and Anolean to share. His name went into the drawing once for each of them.

The urge to strike his hand against the face of his mask was rising. It was out of his hands now, and was still technically a legal match up. Naelona would just have to deal while Kazn debated ways to torture the man who drew the names.

Moving off of his high perch Kazn sought to remove himself from the site of potential conflict while still being close enough to work his talent on the cage.

[Kyle Roberts]

As he'd expected, it was only a small matter of time before the giant of a boogie lumbered up the stairs. And just as predicted his course brought him straight to Naelona's table and all those gathered about it. ...That was about as much as he noticed of the man. He'd glanced back at Jasmine; perhaps not wanting to look at the giant any more, perhaps worried for her safety. What ever the reason was, he turned just in time for her to mouth the words 'Nice leather, boy.'. Instantly his face had turned blood red, the embarrassment burning away even his prior nervousness over the boogie and the night's events. He forgot about the fight, forgot about the rebels, forgot that there was every chance he could die here tonight. All he could think of was that look on her face.

He hardly noticed anything else that went on after that, his gaze had shifted to the floor and his mind had gone a bit hazy. Naelona and Shaehern speaking to the man, the massive Black Dog that suddenly materialized from the shadows, even Anolean's sudden appearance. He did notice, however, when the cane began jabbing at his brother. Nervousness suddenly shifted to irritation, and if he had less willpower and less obedience he would have smacked it away instantly. As it was all he could do was content himself with an irritable glance at the boogie before returning his gaze to the floor.

Soon enough his mistress' other slave, Elric, returned. Kyle listened attentively for the expected report from the young man; he didn't know what task Naelona had set for him and as such was rather curious to hear what he had to say. But he'd barely opened his mouth when a voice boomed out from below, filling the ballroom and setting hairs on end. Glancing down off the balcony, he was just in time to spot the eldest Ezel when the mechanism started up.

The grinding and screeching of gears lanced through Kyle's head, causing him to grit his teeth against the cacophony of metallic noise. So loud was it that he barely took note of the large cage rising up beneath where the medallion had previously rested. When he did his eyes immediately narrowed, knowing all too well what the arena meant. Death.

Scant moments later, his keen eyes caught sight of the envelope as it was thrust into Naelona's hand, and his gaze traveled up to meet her face as she took her brother's arm in her own. In less than the blink of an eye both had disappeared, reappearing on the floor below amidst a swirl of shadowy theatrics that Kyle never once would have thought his mistress capable of. The flashy speech was another unexpected occurrence, and he found himself staring at her as though he'd never seen her before. Then she opened the envelope and prepared to announce the duelists.

"Kristopher Roberts, and Elric Vlarintos."

After that everything seemed to happen at once.

Kyle's skin visibly paled as soon as the words were out. He knew what it meant. Kris, his brother, his family, was going to die. He couldn't let that happen. Immediately turned to grab him, to pull him to safety. But he'd already gone, panicked and fled. Kyle whipped around in terror, feet already moving to chase the boy down before he could be intercepted by one of the boogies.

But he was too late.

Right before his eyes the blond disappeared, ripped through the floor and his own shadow. Fear turned to rage turned to fear which generated more of both. His eyes were wild as he shoved past Elric and ran for the staircase, hurrying past the other blond so fast that he clipped him and knocked him further back into the shadows.

Unfortunately he was going so fast that his side slammed into the wall as he tried to turn into the staircase, slowing him and knocking some sense back into him. Again he was rushing down the staircase, but this time at a slower pace; and this time he was thinking. What his plan had been before he didn't know, in all likelihood there had been no plan; he'd simply been panicked and blinded by his need to save Kristopher. Now he could see clearly enough to know that something like that wouldn't work. He needed some sort of plan, something that wouldn't get him killed before he had the chance to save Kris. His options were painfully small, and not a one of them he liked; not a one of them had much chance for success either. By the time he'd pushed his way to the edge of the crowd he'd slowed to a walk; and he knew what he'd have to do.

Slowly he strode straight through the front ranks of boogies and into the clear span of floor that had been emptied around the cage. His eyes were locked on the shadows before him, hard and determined. But with every step he took he could feel himself breaking down. What was required of himself in this instance was something that under any other circumstance he could not permit. It required the destruction and breaking down of everything he'd ever built of himself, his pride and all his morals that he'd ever held. By the time he'd reached the cage and the woman standing before it, there was very little left of who he'd been moments before.

Without stopping he moved up to her, directly before her when he suddenly stopped, eyes locked to the floor. A moments pause only before he slowly and purposefully lowered himself to one knee, even now straining against what he was forcing himself to do. Once on the floor he lowered his head, fully submissive to the will of the being before him. When he spoke his voice was quiet, just loud enough for her to hear him over the ominous music that filled the ballroom. "Madame. I beg of you. Allow me to take Kristopher's place. He is weak, he cannot provide the guests with the spectacle they seek. And he is the more valuable. My loss will be as nothing to his." Once more he paused, eyes clenched shut as he knelt before her. Again he spoke, but this time his voice had dropped lower still; and try as he might to hide it, the desperation was wholly evident. "Please...."

[Naelona Ezel]

The solid, loud thud of Luther landing upon the main floor was unmistakable, but Naelona didn't look. Standing there, a pipe now drifting blue smoke in one hand, her brother's cane in the other as he fetched the two slaves. From the sounds of the balcony, not all was going entirely well. With a forced breath, Naelona ignored her personal thoughts upon the matter, or her disappointment in Kristopher's personal conduct. She had more bothersome reactions to deal with and keep under tight control. Mainly her own.

This was a fight between one.. no two.. or was it only one.. of her own. It was confusing, conflicting, and irritating. There were rules set in place to prevent this, to prevent two slaves belonging to the same boogie from dueling, to prevent one from garnering a loss regardless of the results. It was poor sport, and made for even poorer betting. But Elric didn't belong to just her at all, did he? No, he belonged to Anolean too. Even so it was now a debate - would she recieve half a loss, or a whole? There wouldn't be a 'half-loss' in this sort of situation. Her brother had a 50/50 odds of loss, but for Naelona - even half was still a whole.

Swirling shades indicated where each slave was to stand before they entered the small arena, a luminous circle at either side of Naelona awaited their footsteps. Even as Elric arrived, Naelona was unusually stern, her countenance cold and hard when she looked to the approaching boy. Gone was the feigned coy.. even bemused nature she'd thrown to the audience moments before. "But.. what? Was she the girl in the red?" Naelona murmured hushly, annoyed and not caring much for business, save the announcement had interrupted Elric - and it was possible this would be the last living chance he would have to relay the information. An exhaled breath hissed between her teeth.

"Once Anolean and Kris arrive, you will each be given a weapon, and if you're fortunate - a word of advice." She murmured lowly, minding the deep shadows to twist and play artfully with the feeble lighting for best effect. A facetious thing, but it was all a part of the 'show'. Movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention, and a scowl from behind her dark mask. Another boy was approaching, and it wasn't Kristopher. "What are you doing here?" Confused as he knelt, the boogie waved her hand dismissively as a wall of shade sprung up to shroud her and Kyle from sight. This wasn't to plan at all.

Reaching for the slave Naelona grabbed him by the chin, pressing her hand tight into the skin of his jaw, forcing him to look up at her, her skin crawling at the contact. "Mind your tongue." Naelona snapped lowly, incensed that Kyle would act so brazenly, even if the two were brothers. "You are in no position to deem your own value. The names have already been called." Pulling him forcefully to his feet, and looking the Roberts square in the eye. "Kristopher has always survived, Kyle Eugene." Letting go, her pipe poked his chest pointedly, directing that he should go towards the side of the room near the wall. The shroud of shade about them dissipating. "You should have more faith in him."

If Kyle was as observant as she trusted, he should be able to tell it conflicted his Mistress as well. She understood what it meant to care for a sibling, she would do anything for her own brother, but Kyle was a slave and so was Kris and this was hardly the time or place for any family attachments. "Go to the side, be silent and wait." She commanded the boy, looking eye to eye. "They will intervene if you do not." Kyle was more impetuous than Kristopher was, but hopefully his mind kept ahead of his actions. Briefly Naelona thought of Kazn, and especially of Luther. They were near the arena for a very clear reason.