Scribe Taliandriah Flamesurge

Red Gift

Her hand disappeared under the bed skirt, swatting as she let her fingers move over the various wrapped boxes underneath. The redhead turned her head, resting her cheek on the cool wooden floor as she tried to catch a glimpse under the skirt herself. “Ah, fuck'all…come'on.” There was a crinkle of paper heard, and the woman’s eyes lit up as she leaned back onto the wood floor.

The red wrapped box was pulled from it’s hiding place, set up to rest on the edge of the bed. In the same movement, the woman used the bed to lean herself up; sitting on the edge casually. Her expression was one of relief, plucking a dust bunny from one of the carefully pleated corners. It wasn’t like she’d thought he’d care if she actually got him a gift- but it was worth a try, and she still had to make up for missing the holiday the year before.

Those paint chipped fingernails scratched the edge of the ribbon. Was it too much? Honestly- he wasn’t expecting anything from her. Let alone anything that was wrapped. Or expensive. The sound of the glass pieces inside the box shifted with a soft clink. Her finger stopped at the edge of the golden ribbon- stiffening at the feel of the fabric.

The memory of cinder smoke hit her nostrils as if she was back in that night; standing in Silvermoon, murmuring behind barrels and shadowed corners. She stared at the ribbon under her fingertip, the color seems to lift and glow as it had that evening when she’d ruined everything. What was she even thinking…commitment hadn’t worked with Castien, why would she try it twice?

The flashback hit her like a ton of bricks, that familiar pit forming in her stomach as she felt the weight of the words Abraaxas and she had said that night. She looked at the floor around her, trying to catch her bearings before she was pulled too deeply into a memory that could only get worse.

The fugue states were starting to become an issue. The wash of memories, the slow stares between conversations. Whether that was the hormones or the guilt…it was distracting. She could afford to be a great many things in this life, but recently distracted was not one of them.

The kid in her womb was in a carefully placed ward, stopped in time - there was no heartbeat, no flutters. It was temporary, but it still felt like she was empty again. Luminash had been wonderful, Sylrissa had been great. It was Tali that was struggling with the whole thing. There was a rune that needed broken, and she didn’t know if she could be the one to do it.

She pressed her fingers to the wood behind her as the actual flame in her lap came into clear focus. “O'shit-” The burning ribbon was quickly batted away from the gift to the far side of the room. Somehow in her moments away, she’d nearly set the gift aflame. The ribbon curled and circled into itself as it was burnt to the last standing ember.

At no point had being monogamous worked for Tali. She stared at the pile of soot where the ribbon had once been. Why would she think it would? She’d spent YEARS in love with Kade. Years where they would fuck, date around but never commit to anyone; even each other. They never wanted to be tied down. It was perfect. He loved her, and she loved him- but they didn’t need to be primarily one another’s.

It wouldn’t be until she’d found herself spending night after night pining after a sailor, that Tali slipped off the edge of everything she’d ever known. She tried to explain it to Kade, explain that it was different. She’d given everything to her relationship with Castien. Everything. She’d been so monogamous that it ended up killing her.

It is no secret that the runes on her skin are primarily powered by mana. But, it is not often that she shared the reasoning for that. The most important note regarding them is that they require mana to stay charged. Castien wasn’t a magic user, and equally as unfortunate, when she’d been with him- she was nothing but loyal. 

That meant no sex drains with the Magisters, no trouncing around the clubs and bars for foolish apprentices, no extra points in class from horny teachers. Ultimately, it was the loyalty that killed her. Slowly, but surely- the lack of mana had become a real problem for Malicious. The demon had chosen to kill her – rather than let her live in such a weakened state.

Eight months, they said. Eight months. That’s how long she’d been dead.

They found her a new body, a fresh start. A clean slate, if you will. It was done in the dark of night, and in a manner not unlike the forsaken- she was brought back. The body breathed, it felt, it didn’t peel or break… it wasn’t dead. But, that didn’t necessarily mean that she wasn’t. She came back wanting everything that she’d had before- but did that necessarily mean monogamy? Castien had moved on, so had she…but why did it feel so familiar…

The smell of the cinders filled her nose once more, pulling her back to the present- on the floor of the clinic. She stared at the ashes, a frown pulling at the corner of her lip. She looked back at the gift in her hands, taking a deep breath. He’d like them, she was sure of it. The thought of Abraaxas laying ass up in her bed at the inn crossed her mind, just before her expression soured further. “Aw'fuck… am I Castien this go around?”

Honestly- this year, she may have a better gift in mind.