Caging the Bird

[piwakawaka]

When she left the Bar, Tiwa didn't go bird just yet, she could feel a strange sort of Glamour about and being girl was easier. The trail was quiet, no bikers dashing headlong or lost hikers who couldn't find the nice big trail to the top when she found the ball of something.

Carefully she knelt down, it was almost too bright more like a neon light than the warm glow she was used to then someone laughed and the air was suddenly too dense,

"Hello, birdy. No more flying today."

She knows his face and laugh and tries to run and again the air feels solid, hemming her in,

"Oh no, can't have you leaving, much to do with you."

"I'll scream, can't hold me."

Somewhere in her pockets is her poi and she starts spinning and spinning it and starting to chant then she can't breathe, "No tricks though this will make it simpler."

Then the world fades to black as the air in her lungs is stolen.

* * *

The cage is set; beautiful iron full of magic as the floor has been traced with patterns and secrets. He's still laughing slightly when he enters, Tiwa still held in the bubble of air a step or two behind.

Comments

[piwakawaka]

He grins again.

"I have no problem with marks," he says. "And a bit of blood might help us if the other Fae need to be...persuaded that we're serious."

[piwakawaka]

"I have always wondered what it is about iron that hurts them."

The scar is traced thoughtfully,

"Does it burn or perhaps it cuts, really must find out."

[piwakawaka]

"We'll have to, it will come in use if the others try to get stupid and cocky."

Which they will.

He tilts his head to the side and studies the scar.

[piwakawaka]

"Its easy enough to find the iron that they fear, so malleable."

With a laugh and the tick, tick of his beads to focus the cage shrinks and grows again.

[piwakawaka]

At the sight of the magic and the swell of the iron cage he laughs, sound echoing about the cold room to break the silence.

"Iron is everywhere."

Even in blood.

[piwakawaka]

His laughter cuts through the air and now Tiwa wakes and her first movement is barely conscious just up and try to fly.

If she thinks about where she's going or is, it won't work so she goes from laying to perched on her toes within seconds as the cage is settled just right.

[piwakawaka]

There's no way she's escaping, the inside of the large building is dark except for a few stray beams of light filtering down from skylights high above, the glass covered by wide strips of metal to keep anyone from breaking in.

(Or breaking out, for that matter.)

"Don't get up too fast, you might get dizzy and have a fall," he says, oh so concerned for her safety of course.

[piwakawaka]

He hurts, nothing good or hopeful left and the Mage is turning to help as Tiwa starts moving backwards, nothing to go up to and can't change yet, but soon and be gone from here,

"Not going to fall."

[piwakawaka]

He doesn't laugh and doesn't even bother moving really, simply watching her. There's no place for her to run or hide in here, and nobody will hear her scream.

"Not going to fly," he corrects, voice still even in tone as he then moves through the shadows, footsteps barely echoing in the quiet.

She's so scared he can practically taste it and it makes him thirsty, but not yet.

[piwakawaka]

Just need one shadow, one something to get behind and fly as she moves ever back.

The Mage grins from near one shaft of light, always a pleasure to watch a master work,

"Sky's still there."

[piwakawaka]

The space is empty, except for the cage and the iron should keep her away from it.

"But you can't reach it from down here," he points out.

[piwakawaka]

She's not looking at the cage and he's making her head hurt, if she can just call enough Glamour, maybe she can shift even with him watching.

One hand goes into her pocket, searching and searching as she keeps moving on her toes, high strung and feathers fluffed.

[piwakawaka]

He's quick and then behind her before she realizes, hand gripped tight around her wrist and his mouth at her ear.

"I don't think so."

[piwakawaka]

Her breath is stolen by fear and all she can manage is a squeak that's almost a chirp before the words spill out, tumbling over each other,

"I'm not important, one little bird, not even a decent bite."

[piwakawaka]

"Lies."

The word is hissed out and he spins her around, hand still firm on her wrist and his eyes are cold and dark.

"You may be a little bird but there are others..."

His lips part to reveal the barest flash of teeth.

"...your family is very powerful, and would be useful to us."

[piwakawaka]

Another squeak at the spin and she shakes her head, still singing words as she tries to fight her own pain and fear,

"No, no, not us, nothing special bout us. Never had any power, common as dirt."

[piwakawaka]

He moves his hand to her throat then, gripping firm but not that tight, he wants her to be able to talk if she decides to stop spitting out nonsense and talk with him.

"We caught you," he says. "Do you think we could have done that without knowing what you really are?"

He may not be able to see the bird but he can see the magic around her.

[piwakawaka]

She has to breath, but its brought in quick, he feels cold and her head hurts and James will be disappointed and sad,

"How should I know? I'm just the little bird. Could be lucky or crazy, taking guesses."

[piwakawaka]

He smiles once more.

"We'll find out soon enough," he promises. "But don't worry, you won't miss out on any of the fun."

[piwakawaka]

The smile makes it worse and Tiwa closes her eyes for a moment, must be a way out and snap open again a bit brighter,

"Strange idea of fun, go back to your crypt."

[piwakawaka]

The Vampire doesn't dignify that with a verbal response, simply brings his hand up and backhands her across the mouth, hard.

[piwakawaka]

Its too hard for her to catch herself and hurts as she hits the floor, but at least he's not holding her anymore.

She's up on her toes as quick as she can, blessing Tane for teaching her how to fall and tasting blood in her mouth,

"Won't be able to slay the dragon just be eaten."

[piwakawaka]

He can taste the iron and salt in the air and it gives him a bit of a thrill.

"The only creature that will be eating anything, my dear," he corrects her. "Is myself."

He's still not holding her but he steps a bit closer, not even paying attention to the Mage in the room, all he can hear is her heartbeat pounding rapidly in her chest.

She's angry, too.

[piwakawaka]

This time her step is more of a bird's hop as she doesn't come down off her toes,

"Not yours and not for eating, I've got a lion."

[piwakawaka]

"And I've got creatures that you've never dreamed of in your worst nightmares," he counters, stepping forward again and bringing himself even closer.

He reins the urge to lash out again back and then circles a bit to the side.

"So let your lion come, they'll make a better meal than you will, bird."