Sparkle Nightbringer

[fog]

Prologue


Somewhere in the past, another time, perhaps even in another life...

"Just leave me alone, Fauna! Don't touch me!"

"I'm sorry... I have to do this..."


Someone crashed into her. Arms like iron wrapped around her form, and she screamed as she tumbled backwards into a vast darkness, hurtling to an invisible floor. But the expected pain never came, or perhaps it all went so fast that she hadn't felt how her body crashed onto the rocks at the bottom of the cliff...
Instead she became disoriented as she fell through shadows, cold air buffeting her as the fall had her head spinning. And then there was light... dead after all?
She opened her eyes and widened them in terror. She screamed again, this time with her entire being. It was just wild panic, terrified as she fell through a godless sea of dancing flames that took over from the spinning darkness. Such... was the price for witchcraft.
Overwhelmed as she was by everything, she passed out...



Music... beautiful music... slow... and adding a sensual effect to the air, almost erotic.

The voice was... unexpected. It was low, snarling, and had snaked its way into her mind. There it was again, agitated now and passing into a sonorous growl, so low that it felt as if the earth under her tremored. Then, a scornful laugh, a cruel cold cackle causing every hair on her body to rise...

She was... alive?


Another voice, faltering," Mi.. mistress..."

Dark energy crackled and someone or something took a blow.

"Queen!" a thunderous female voice sounded, horribly annoyed.

"Please, please... I beg you my Queen. It was all meant well," a wailing, plaintive voice sounded not far from her. Familiar...


She coughed and gasped for air. Everything around her fell silent and even the music stopped for a moment.

She opened her eyes and saw how a tall figure approached her. A silhouette at first, but the contours and details got sharper as she blinked a few times. Then her eyes went wide in horror...

A... a woman, but...


Protruding from the crown of the person's head were a pair of thick, twisting horns, curving up to a wicked point. Two giant wings, their leathery maroon material supported by solid black ribbing much like a bat's, protuded from shoulder blades, and a tail ending in a curved spike swished nervously behind her rear.

Pale silky smooth skin shimmered in the lights of whatever torches were around while long raven black hair swayed until she stopped right in front of her. Her dress, or whatever could pass for it, barely covered her upper thighs, and also managed to show off the magnificent curves of her hips. Her legs, long and voluptuous found their way into soft, black thigh-high boots.

As she started to push herself backwards over the rather warm floor, away from this appearance, she could conclude only one thing after looking at those luscious red lips, sexy smile and dark pupils turning from bright ruby red to a lovely shade of dark violet.

Whoever this infernal female was... she was beauty -and- danger personified.

The appearance smiled upon her and said," Hello my dear girl,... such a lovely white hair you have..."

Sparkle Nightbringer (aka...?)

theme song

Race, human
Age, probably twenty seven
Hair, white as snow
Eye color, white with a bluish tint to them
Height, Five point five
Weight, 129 pounds
Body, fairly slender


... under construction ...

[Hitman Hard]

#mysparkle#mindflayervaliant#onlysparkleendures

[fog]

My life is slowly being erased...

Frustrating and at the least alarming, don’t you think? Major parts of my identity and experiences are missing. I wonder how one’s memories can move from vivid and rich with detail to a past life that seems so deprived of light and color as well as emotions.

I have this collection of short flashes of memory over a space of perhaps a month. Everything before that, well...

If I do recall something I notice I neither grow sad nor happy about what it is I remember. It’s as if there was never rage or bitterness in my past life. No joy or lust... or love. I just seem to have no clue how I felt about things back then. They say your first kiss would stay in your memory for life while you sometimes fail to remember what you ate for supper last night.
Well..., with me it’s just the other way around. I know I kissed but there is no name, nor a place to it… not even a face. But I do recall every single line of a spell I learned a few days ago, where I read it and what the weather was like.

Still, my observations make my case seem even more worse. For instance, when I plunge into what people label as ice-cold water, I fail to sense its frigid fingers wrapping around my form and turning my blood into icy sludge. And yet, my body then tries to generate more heat by shivering, which is a completely natural reaction. I assume a likewise thing would happen with fire, though I haven’t tried.
Hah, I guess that is at least something, no? Thus far I haven’t failed to remember what stupidity is. Realising the danger in all this, I now try and learn how to ward myself against climatic effects, toxic influences and... weight gain.

But yes… I have come to a point where it feels like I’m a soul carrying around a corpse that isn’t mine. I cannot but acknowledge I probably become virtually another person than whoever I was.

However. My journey through these regions seems to spark my memory. If it are not connections that are being made between my memories, then it may be signals to pay special attention to what is actually taking place, right? Sadly, at the moment I fail miserably at capturing either but I will stick around for a bit longer. Maybe there is a specific lesson to be learned, or a task that is in need of completion.

Perhaps I may even remember what my purpose was, as I also seem to have forgotten where I was going and what my life goals were.
Or, I must try and build a new life...

[fog]

My mind is like a rabbit burrow, deep and forking every step of the way. The further I go in, the darker it gets. An entry into the unknown if you will...


And yet, I tend to believe darkness is also information, but a deeper sort of knowledge… transcending what we think to know, deciphered only by those who either engage the darkness face to face… or embrace it.

Perhaps -he- was right, sort off. Perhaps the best way to retain and safeguard what is left of my memories is to sojourn in shadows… stay in that rather comforting shell of lightlessness that appears to be my biotope.

Boy..., that must have sounded as if my thoughts are only filled with obscure ideas. I can almost overhear what people would think about my musings and these writings in my diary. As if I care...

When one lights a torch, one should be aware he or she automatically also creates darkness… which is -as far as I’m concerned- an element like fire and water..., and should be regarded as such. True… it cannot be seen, cannot be grasped. You can’t hear it or smell it but it’s there, filling up all those irregularities which for instance empty holes and deep crevasses are.

Darkness being sinister, daunting, frightening? Think again.
An octopus living deep at the bottom of the ocean in total darkness makes no distinctions for meat when it captures a prey with its long undulating legs. Just like all the other elements darkness holds no prejudices. It does not care whether you are kid or have a family, whether you are nude or all fancied up for some party. Darkness does not judge and in its own holds no threat.

It really may prove an interesting case study. You seem blind once in it, and there are no maps to navigate through it. Darkness feels however a bit like the opposite of language. It seems to stand for the inability to fully express what is experienced. Or... maybe it -is- a language, one that has no been fully explored yet.
At least not by me...


Amnesia, reincarnation, or maybe I am a victim of my own mind. I have no idea what is going on with me, but I know where I could start looking for answers if I really want...

[fog]

Do I want to learn… do I want to know...?

At first I wasn’t certain. My past neither defined nor shaped me… I think whoever I was, whatever I was like and everything I may have done, I don’t think it affects the person I appear to be today. And since I don’t recall anything, I cannot continue to build further on it either. Not even unaware. Maybe it’s for the best. Memories merely would take me back to the past, where it are dreams that could push me forward towards a more productive future.

Only perhaps my physical instincts have been preserved.
Somehow for instance, I appear to be very good at dodging danger, as if my body’s desire to survive overrides my mind and ignores the strings. I can’t say I really disagree or mind when it happens. There just seems to be so much room in the shadows.
I admit feeling comfortable when this curtain of a deeper gray is closed behind me, and when I wade into this monochromatic world, its surface eclipsed by its curious atmosphere.

I compare these darklands with my amnesia problems. They seem familiar at first, perhaps with an echo left and right of what once was before becoming twisted and odd. Trying to scrutinize them proves a rather hopeless and impractical task.
And then..., after a while in, I start to feel more and more emotionless about all of it until I come to a point where I don’t care anymore. I then still wander about for a little while longer before I come out, often at a completely different location than where I got in.

If this has been happening all my life, my place of origin really could be located anywhere… no?

[fog]

Darkness… nothing but liquid darkness.

It was a darkness that could get so intense that it had the potential to force anyone who had been meandering endlessly in these darklands and whose sense of time got messed up, to withdraw from it into the only safe place they knew… themselves. Within this constantly changing environment where every object seemed to retain its shape for only a short while, there was this black spark of eternity… solid yet silent, moving freely and solely ambassadoring life. At least up to now.

Funnily enough this explorer felt related to this strange world. A world with no lack of spaciousness as well as a place which had this cocooning effect, its atmosphere on her like a heavy winter blanket and thus… very comforting. A half smirk crossed over the face framed in shadow. Internally we are related to everything, no matter what paladins and likewise extremists proclaim. At least that is what she once read or heard... somewhere.

Discerning a path based upon the many shades of black around here, the hooded woman searched a way through the strange landscape which already had started to change beyond all recognition until it was almost completely stripped of its identity. She stopped for a moment to overlook the hazy, dream-like terrain that once was Nashkel. Various forms of houses and trees had melted or dissolved, the inky plumes of darkness which replaced them slowly drifting away in the wind.


The woman looked up at the sky where a peculiar haze so dark rendered the sun too weak to be worth bothering with. It was as if she was entering a realm of eternal night where time disappeared almost completely, and where the soundless ‘soup’ encasing her form seemed to endlessly stretch on like forever. It had to be the air and ‘everything’ in it responsible for absorbing light, a little bit similar like being underwater. And although at times the air appeared very clear around her, there were moments even she could see no further than maybe 50-60 feet.

She glanced at the bare skin of her upper arm and saw the goosebumps rather than sensing the reason for their development. Really interesting though, cause this was another similarity with any subaquatic adventure. Just like water the 'substance' here seemed to transfer heat away from her body quicker than usually air did. Or was it simply the wind? She couldn’t tell.


Sparkle closed her eyes and lifted her face, letting the darkness and shadows dance across her skin, letting... the vast black mass entice her. Not much later her body started to tremble lightly, as if she was experiencing feelings of pleasure and excitement. A naughty thought crossed her mind. The things she could do out here, unseen....
Her eyes flew open in surprise! Where the hell did that came from? But it was too late. Like a universe that created itself out of nothing, various thoughts about topics which were ‘off limits’ were implanted in her mind, whether she liked this to happen or not.

In front of her the darkness swirled and changed, like a black vapour whipping around her. But the moment the dark-black blanket dissipated Sparkle looked more horrified than surprised when she discovered she wasn’t alone after all….
Another woman...?

"H... hello?" she gripped her staff more tightly.

[fog]

((warning : contains some violence))

A memory struck her as the female raising the halberd-like weapon turned to face her. In her mind’s eye Sparkle saw a deep non-reflective black humanoid silhouette with a pair of discernible glowing red eyes, very quick and disjointed in its movement, dancing from one place to another, all around her. There was… something familiar about it. Then the image disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, like chaff blown by the wind. Sparkle frowned and noticed the woman or whoever this was hadn’t approached her. Instead the dark figure motioned to follow her.

Hello? She blinked as her lips moved but could frame no sound. Beyond her will Sparkle noticed how she suddenly started to move, putting one foot after another as if dragged behind the woman. No!! St… Stop?! Stop!!! She didn’t sense anything that could give an indication of mind control as her thinking processes were completely her own. Just her body didn’t seem to listen or take any orders from her brain. The hells??

It just didn’t seem to matter which path her mind wished to take. There only seemed to be just one,... in the wake of this sinister female who ventured deeper into these darklands, shrouded in an enforced silence.
She trudged through something that reminded her of rain-sodden muddy tracks, but it was hard to say as the soil around here was pitch-black. She had no clue how long they walked, as it always had been in this realm. Turning back up to look at the woman, Sparkle noticed they had stopped, the woman pointing to their left.

Dark clouds swirled. She could feel a draft on her face and smell something that reminded her of… well… something familiar. A mixture of food, spices, woodfire, oil and metal, and a tannery perhaps. At first it had been silent, but then steadily the sound of voices grew. Her eyes caught glimpses of ghostly forms, hazy and wispy, seemingly born from the murky darkness itself. She stared as their outlines became more sharp, their forms more solid and coming to life along with the voices and… what… buildings? It seemed her feet were her own again as she found herself walking towards the town curiously. Buildings around a square materialized and then she recognised the place. This was beyond all doubt... Beregost.



“Get those prisoners in line!!” a male voice barked. “You idiots, don’t forget to put their shackles on!”

Sparkle turned a moment in the direction of the shouting and perceived a group of Amnian soldiers led by a single golden legionnaire officer escorting a bunch of what seemed riff-raffs and lowlifes towards the local jails. She wrinkled her nose as she watched them enter the building one by one. Briefly she peeked through its windows but was interrupted when suddenly a firm hand clamped on her shoulder. Startled she turned around as a booming voice sounded.

“And what do we have here!? What do you think you are doing there!?”

She sensed how more faces turned in her direction, rather hostile, and she tried to ‘fall back’ in the shadows. Which failed of course as she was -in- them already. Another strong hand grabbed her by her upper arm. Her attempt to escape had been noticed.

“I’d say she is a spy for those low-lives, sir de Coibra. Best we take her in and interrogate her… thoroughly…”

She didn’t like the sound of his voice, at all !!

The blonde officer grumbled,” State your name and business, scum! You better…”

Then a few things happened at the same time. Suddenly there was a lot of commotion at the other side of the square where it seemed like someone wanted to free the prisoners for real. At the same time Sparkle mumbled words of a spell she didn’t knew before in an attempt to disappear from sight. But she couldn’t get out since the officer held by her arm firmly.

“Probably her accomplice! Guards, get that…. “ he narrowed his eyes in the direction of the fight,” … red haired arcanist at once! Dead or alive!” He glanced at Sparkle and grumbled,” This is what happens with those who dare to cripple law enforcement around here!” He barked in the direction of two guards near the door,” Get this…” he made a face,” … filthy witch inside! The rest with me!”

Cold steel shackles were applied by her catchers before she was carried inside and tossed in the middle of a cell… where it was... how could it have been otherwise… dark.



Time passed, but how much was hard to say. A black mist swirled at the edges of her cell and although she could sense the adrenaline coursing through her body, she was not scared and still convinced there was a way out of all this… mess.

“And what do we have here…?” a female voice sounded.

Sparkle looked up and perceived on the other side of the bars a pompous lady standing with her back to her. She leaned a bit to the left and saw the lady was addressing some man on a pile of hay in the cell across hers.

The officer barked,” This man stole from his fellowman and…”

“Shhh…” the lady raised her hand and looked from the officer back to the prisoner,” You there… stand up and come closer so I can take a look at you.”

The prisoner obeyed and stopped two feet from the bars.

The lady shook her head,” I can already see it.” She turned to the officer,” This man is poor and probably stole to feed his family. Look at his clothes... and I bet he had no personal possessions.”

The officer grumbled something unintelligibly but then nodded.

The lady turned back to the man and Sparkle overheard her voice, now more friendly,” We will help you find work and the first month your wage will be used to repay your victims. After that I hope you will have learned your lesson.”

“Y… yes milady…” the man behind bars inclined his head respectfully.

“Very well,... sir Antonio, open his cell and let him go.”

“But…”

“Do it.”

The officer grumbled but nodded and opened the cell door and the shabby looking man was out in no time.


Then… the lady turned on her heels and looked straight at Sparkle as she inquired,” And who is this…?”

The officer shrugged,” Probably a spy. She was caught peeking inside and attempted to escape using witchcraft.”

The lady narrowed her eyes,” Witchcraft you say?”

Sparkle, meanwhile standing up and dusting off her butt, noticed she still couldn’t talk. Her lips didn’t even seem to part and she felt like a rabbit in a snare.

Her teeth chattered due to a quivering jaw when she overheard the Lady say with a voice that had become like ice, cold and hard,” Interrogate this devil worshipper scum by all means necessary,... and then make sure she never returns to Beregost.”

The officer rubbed his hands together,” With all my pleasure, Ma’am.”

He grinned at Sparkle who seemed overcome with dread, her face turning red as she took a step back.

No… no!! Don’t touch me!! Nooo!!!!

The words were no where to be heard, except in her own mind as she struggled and refused to be taken from the cell. A fist connecting with her cheek was her reward for resisting so much, and slender as she was she almost passed out.
Some people grabbed her limbs and attached her to some wooden construction, and her anger made way for something else… fear…

Get … get away from me!! Let me go!! Pl… please let me go!

It was to no avail as her words were confined in her head, her mind. She opened her eyes, her left eyelid swelling. Just in time to see the incoming fist which made contact with her nose with a deafening CRACK. Numbing pain shot through her entire face, black sparkles spotting her vision. Due the impact her head was knocked back and she could taste the blood in her mouth. Tears pooled in the corner of her eyes, yet she tried to blink them away.

“Who were you spying for?!!”

She opened her eyes and stared at the male with this emotionless expression frozen on his face, circling around the wooden cross against which she was chained.

Please… no…. I am not who….

The man produced a hammer and even before she could finish her thought, the steel connected with her chest. She coughed violently, sending a thin spray of crimson blood onto her torturer’s face.

He wiped his face with the back of his arm,” You filty demon licker, can’t you watch out!!”

But instead of anger the man seemed to let experience take over and placed the hammer away. “Right, not much of a talker heh. Then watch what you make me do to you…”

As air burned within her lungs with every breath, she watched -unable to stop him- how he reached out for her hand and forced it flat upon the wooden surface. A strange device seperated each of her fingers by wooden sticks attached to strings.

No… noo!! Listen to me! I didn’t do anything…

He grinned at her as the device was in place and slowly started to pull one of the strings,” Who was this red woman?”

I.. I don’t know her?? Please, you have to...

“Still nothing huh? No worries, I know how to make you scream at least.” He pulled the string further and Sparkle could sense now how her fingers between the sticks were slowly squeezed.

A long soundless scream erupted from her lips while her torturer with a satisfied grin overheard how the pressure of the sticks made her bones snap with a nauseating sound.
The pain was... unimaginable. Her eyes got watery with the sheer pain and her breathing came out in sharp, shallow rasps. The pain had her dazzling and if she hadn’t been chained to the woodwork, she definitely would have collapsed to the floor.

“Look at that!”

Catching her breath she dared a glance at her hand. The sight on its own was enough to turn her stomach. Her finger’s bones were damaged so badly that they protruded out of the skin from multiple crushings.
Then she saw how the man removed the device and slowly attached it to her other hand.

SOMEBODY HELP ME-EEE !!!!!!!!!!!

It was as if she was caught in a nightmare with dawn still many… many hours away.

((song : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot6gMQFpZME

And how painful and cruel this all was… it all seemed familiar. But she was unable to focus, unable to pay attention to many details with all this pain soaring through her head, chest and hand. She hung her head.

Someone slapped her cheek,” Ey, don’t you dare passing out on me!”

She did pass out after he broke the bones in her other hand. Time disappeared entirely. In her mind she sailed over a black, frozen ocean towards a light. It was... the face of a young handsome man with long white hair and such a warm smile that it seemed to penetrate her to the very core. She urged her being towards it but the image disappeared as she approached. Finally, she pushed ahead through the world of eternal darkness and back into a world she knew as the dark ice faded and those walls of black mist were left behind.



Sparkle shot up and gasped, her breath slowly reducing back to normal when she noticed the blue water and the green grass under the light of a midday sun. She quickly held up her hand against the sky, perceiving the perfect silhouette of her fingers.

“What the…”

She touched her cheek. No pain. Then she looked over her shoulder and a cold chill ran down her back when she saw Beregost in the distance.

Slowly she got up to her feet, but instead of heading towards the town she turned on her heels.
No way.

She had no idea what all had happened but she remembered a name.

Sabel ...