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]

"Once we have what we want."

[piwakawaka]

"Won't get it. Told you I was small, too small to be worth so much. Cause a fuss and I'll be gone but you won't get it."

She won't cry, won't give that up so keeps her eyes on the her peeling gold and red nail polish.

[piwakawaka]

He's not going to push her right now, he doesn't need to stress her more than necessary and it's obvious that she's already upset. He doesn't want to break her.

Yet.

"We'll see."

[piwakawaka]

That sparks a touch of anger and she looks up at him, her eyes almost as old as his if not older,

"Death before dishonor."

[piwakawaka]

He throws his head back and laughs.

"Thankfully, my dear, I don't have to worry about that!"

[piwakawaka]

"Forgotten all about life, not even mortal just a shell, worth nothing."

The anger helps as she focuses on magic being worked by the Mage, she can feel it in the air, a tinge, something she can grasp.

[piwakawaka]

"I am not stuck in a cage of iron."

[piwakawaka]

"Oh bugger off."

She starts to lean back and stops herself before hitting the iron.

[piwakawaka]

He just chuckles underneath his breath and then stands, and moves away.

[piwakawaka]

There truly is no truly comfortable way to be in the cage so she ends up sitting and curled as she watches them through her hair. The iron is a constant, dull pain with stronger twinges where the cage hit her.

Unluckily for her making an iron knife is much simpler than making one of steel and the Mage is working quickly and with a pleased smile.

[piwakawaka]

The blood - her blood - is still running through his veins.

He can't keep still.

He doesn't want to keep still.

So he paces, instead, watching the Mage as he moves through the shadows, footsteps light and quiet and occasionally he laughs at nothing at all.

[piwakawaka]

"I think this will do."

The knife is a simple thing but with a true edge and he watches the pacing with interest,

"What do you see of the Umbra that slips through?"

[piwakawaka]

His hands are fisted in his hair and he's still pacing.

"Is this what you always see?"

[piwakawaka]

"At times but then the few times I let myself be Enchanted, it was still slightly different. It makes it easier to see power and how to harness."

He weighs the knife in his hands, a thing of darkness, magic and light move around it .

[piwakawaka]

"It's like solving the puzzle without having to look at the pieces, but you still have to put them together."

He's not making much sense but it's just so much at once.

Yet he still wants more. He eyes the knife with interest.

[piwakawaka]

"Yes, another way to see. Shall we?"

He moves towards the cage, the knife easy in his hands.

They've been too far away for Tiwa to hear them speak but she can feel and see their approach and tries to move as far back in the cage as possible. She's discovered that her pockets are still there and her poi is held tight and behind her back.

[piwakawaka]

"Yes."

He will let the Mage have his fun this time, as he's already has his turn. His arms arm folded behind his back neatly as they move closer.

[piwakawaka]

Only when they are quite close to the cage does he open a circle just large enough allow him to reach through,

"Come here, bird."

Tiwa's response is simple, she uses the poi to strike at his hand. The Mage curses and draws the cage tight around her so that there's no space to move and her arm is pulled out with the use of the poi,

"Did you really think such a toy would make a difference?"

Its hard to talk with the iron so close and tight but she manages,

"Will leave a mark."

"As will my knife and it will last longer."

[piwakawaka]

He's really hoping for more blood to be drawn, but he'll wait and watch quietly from the shadow.

[piwakawaka]

First he lays the knife sideways across her forearm and Tiwa bites down on her lip, drawing blood as she tries not to faint from the pain,

"First pressure and then the cutting edge. I wonder if there is any different when drawn with an iron blade."

Then with the precision of a surgeon, he slices slantwise on her arm and now a whimper escapes as the mark is strange a cut yet almost a burn, something strange in between,

"I do believe the pain is worse with the cut."

[piwakawaka]

"Good to know."

He tilts his head.

"Can they sense her pain, I wonder."

[piwakawaka]

Tiwa is barely holding onto consciousness and sends a small prayer to whoever is listening that no one can. The Mage considers the knife again as her blood starts to drip,

"I think she can spare a few more drops though we must remember to feed her."

She tries to pull back when he says that and a scream is caught in her throat as her back hits the cage.

[piwakawaka]

He laughs.

"We'll feed her."

And feed from her, but that's not important right now.

[piwakawaka]

"I have some more apprentices who can be sent out. Shall I cut deeper?"

Its instinct now for Tiwa, she keeps trying to free her arm though she can't get nay leverage in the cage.

[piwakawaka]

"Do you have a vial to contain the blood, it can be useful in ways other than decorating the floors," he sneers.