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]

"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.

[piwakawaka]

"Ah yes, over on my workbench."

Then he jerks hard on her arm, pulling her against the cage,

"Its simpler if you don't struggle."

[piwakawaka]

The vampire moves away, not making a sound as he quickly goes to fetch the vial.

[piwakawaka]

Her wrist is starting to bruise under his hand but Tiwa won't let herself give in to unconsciousness yet and mutters curses as the Mage just keeps smiling.

[piwakawaka]

He's not gone long at all, just a blink of an eye before he's back with the vial of blood.

"Not too much."

The scent's still driving him mad.

[piwakawaka]

Using the knife blade, he pushes enough blood to just fill the bottom of the vial as Tiwa bites her lip. If she can distract herself with that pain, it makes it almost easier as the Mage grins,

"There, this will be interesting. I leave her to you. When she faints again, I will have to loosen the cage but not yet."

[piwakawaka]

He takes her by the arm, not looking crazy but just very, very serious.

He could kill her, drain her blood and life from her body and even the Mage couldn't stop him.

It's a nice thought, really.

[piwakawaka]

She hasn't stopped struggling but its easier as the Mage moves back to his bench with a smile taking the knife with him.

Though she can feel the cold and banality of him and that compounds all the other pains as she takes courage in a curse in Maori.

[piwakawaka]

"Shh...it will be over soon."

That's a promise.

[piwakawaka]

"Won't forget."

Its a few words but all she can manage as fear, exhaustion and the iron compound upon her.

[piwakawaka]

"Counting on it."

He presses his lips to her forearm - not to drink, just to taste and lick the leftover blood clean - it takes all he has in his control not to sink his teeth into her flesh.

When he's finished, he tosses her arm away and turns to leave.

[piwakawaka]

The Mage looks over and the cage is loosened slightly so she can curl up once again. She pulls her arm back in and finds the place where the iron won't touch her again.

If she stays tightly curled, its even possible to lay down and she is horizontal once more, she closes her eyes and somewhere in the midst of her thoughts and quiet tears, the world fades to darkness once more.