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]

"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."

[piwakawaka]

An image of James cold and dead stops her steps as she tries to find something. She saved Ben, she's faced iron and guns, he's just a dead thing,

"I've walked dreams, all you can do is taste week old leftovers."

[piwakawaka]

It's when she stops walking that he makes his move and finishes the circle, grabbing her chin in one hand and standing behind her, tipping her head back as he draws her into a deeper shadow.

"Calling yourself a leftover, dear?"

He lowers his voice to a whisper.

"I promise, this won't hurt a bit."

[piwakawaka]

The squeak escapes before she can think and she has to think, has to run, but his grip's too tight and she's run out of words,

"May madness find you."

[piwakawaka]

"That's the point I'm looking forward to."

The world around them blurs as he draws his teeth and sinks them into her throat, but it's not all pain as he works his magic for pleasure, knowing it will mess with her more than just hurt would.

He won't drink much, he can't --

[piwakawaka]

Should hurt and does at first and then..now Tiwa screams, a strange thing full of birds, old pain and a young girl.

It fades into the air still echoing as she finally loses consciousness, slumping in his arms.

[piwakawaka]

He places her on the floor once she passes out, then throws his head back and laughs, sound echoing off the walls and the roof, he can't think straight and nothing makes sense but he doesn't care.

[piwakawaka]

The Mage walks forward and gives a nod and a bow as he places a bit of cotton on the wound,

"What do you see?"

[piwakawaka]

He can't quite talk just yet, shaking his head and moving away and pacing in a bit of a circle.

"All of her."

[piwakawaka]

"They're so bright. I've always wondered how they can hide."

Once the bandage is secure enough to keep her alive for now, he strokes her wing feathers.

[piwakawaka]

"She's hiding in plain sight!"

This is amusing, he's not sure why it's so amusing but it allows him to see them for what they are. Very, very useful.

"Little bird is more useful than she thinks, we'll have to feed her and keep her alive so that we can use her to trap them."

[piwakawaka]

His laugh is cruel and direct as she's picked up,

"Her cage is ready. When will she wake after such a feeding?"

The cage has no door, the iron is simply moved and Tiwa placed in the center. If she keeps herself in the exact center, no iron will touch her but only then.

[piwakawaka]

"I didn't have very much," he says.

He was good and didn't drink as much as he'd like to have had, he wanted to drain her for daring to speak back to him but now is not the time, later and soon he'll have his fill.

"It will not be long."

[piwakawaka]

The iron shifts back into place as the cage is secure,

"Good."

Inside the cage, she dims slightly as the iron meets her Glamour,

"Weakened, she will be of more use."

[piwakawaka]

"We will get more information out of her later, I've found it frightened her most when I threatened that lion she mentioned, it will be good to remember that. Perhaps find him or her and use them if one little bird is not enough bait."

It was not part of the plan but he doesn't care much for the plan at the moment, circling around the cage.

[piwakawaka]

"She did fight so, but oh they're always so loyal. I've one of their texts for training knights somewhere, they actually have written Love Conquers all. Perhaps the lion is her love, girls are always such foolish things, risking all for love."

[piwakawaka]

"Strong. Little bird like her would need protection."

The idea of a 'lion's' blood makes him hungry again, but he can't touch her because he'll hurt her and he can't touch the Mage because he's not that foolish.

[piwakawaka]

"Yes, they'll come for her."

No, he has his own protections woven into the air around him and he smiles to tighten the cage so iron strikes her arm. She whimpers but doesn't wake yet simply curling up as the skin is first an angry red then almost grey above her elbow.

[piwakawaka]

This is interesting.

"It seems to burn, not cut."

The pain in the air makes him interested.

[piwakawaka]

"Yes, but that wasn't a sharp edge simply pressure and look at the damage it did."

She can't make herself any smaller and where the iron touched her feathers, her glow has noticeably dimmed.

[piwakawaka]

"I can see it."

He can see it.

[piwakawaka]

Now the Mage is good but he cannot create a sharp iron knife in a moment so considers,

"I will make us a blade. Though I do think the pain woke her slightly, perhaps you can inquire about the lion."

Her eyes are starting to flutter as she tries to pull strength from somewhere so around her swelling lip tries to chant.

[piwakawaka]

She can chant all she wants, the floors and walls are warded with strange and dark magic that even her best efforts won't be able to break down.

He crouches on the ground near the cage's edge and watches her.

"Will your lion come for you, little bird?"

[piwakawaka]

Perhaps it will make her light last a little longer and she doesn't want to open her eyes, the iron weighs down on her as she tries to shift,

"Lions don't have wings."

[piwakawaka]

"But they will not leave you alone."