Awakenings

[Anaie]

The wait seemed an eternity to the rogue.

It has had to have been hours... she thought to herself, sitting silent in the dark room. She continued to wait for more hours, slowly becoming accustomed to the stench and the overwhelming feeling of dread that permeated the place.

I will not falter. I have finally found you, and I will be there with you. As she thought the words the door to the room burst open. The gaunt cultist from before stood in the frame and gestured for Anaie to follow.

Anaie took a deep breath and rose slowly, before walking to the man. He smirked evilly as he took in her form in the black robe. "I see you are ready, good. Let us see the Master."

As they walked through the twisted corridors of the structure the man explained what her part was to be during the oathgiving. Again he stressed she would not speak unless directed. Anaie took in all of the information as best she could, it seemed the ritual was not purely ceremonial, but magic would be involved to ensure the oathgiving was complete. Anaie was so busy going over the process in her head, so as not to forget something, she did not hear the mans words as they stood before a large set of black stone doors. "Girl, do you understand?" he asked harshly.

Anaie nodded. Sighing the man turned to the doors, muttered an arcane word and they swung open in an eerie silence.

"By the Light..." the words escaped Anaie's mouth in a whisper.

The cultist chuckled slightly, sending a chill down Anaie's spine. "The Light has no power here girl. Step to the circle in the center of the room and gaze upon the Master."

Anaie stood perfectly still, even as the cultists stepped forward and disrobed her. As still as she could at least, her body trembled with nervousness and from the unnatural cold radiating from the Lich. It was so cold that she no longer noticed the smell of death in the air... all she could do was stand there naked, shivering and silent, before Lord Kel'Thuzad as the culists began the ritual.

Her breath forming wisps in the air in front of her, and she could barely hear the cultists in the back of her mind, chanting in some bizzare tongue. The Lich merely stood there on his dias, ten feet from her, his skeletal arms slightly outstretched to the side. Anaie felt the supreme cold of the shadow flow around her, numbing her remaining senses. Her vision was blurred as the tendrils snaked about her flesh, the Lich's form clouded and distorted.

She could hear the chants growing ever louder, faster. The shadow violating her, nothing untouched by its cold grip. She could barely see the Lich as a blueish-black glow engulfed his form, before bolts of frost shot forth around her. With each bolt claiming a victim prepared for the sacrifice, the shadow grew stronger around her. As sacrifice after sacrifice fell, the cultists chants grew frenzied. The tendrils of shadow seemed to respond as if alive and forced themselves fully into her body.

Pain. She had felt nothing until this second, her body was numb, but now she could feel the shadow consuming her. She could not move, she was bound to the circle by unseen chains. The shadow within her tore at her insides, and below her feet a fissure opened, engulfing the girl completely. As her body was devestated, she could feel herself growing stronger at the same time.

Then suddenly the chants ceased and the shadow receeded from her bare form.

Anaie stood for a moment, not noticing that her breath no longer flowed in front of her face, before collapsing to the floor. Parts of her flesh were completely burned away from the shadow magic, but she felt no pain. She felt him then in her mind, commanding her to sleep now, that she had done well.

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The next Anaie knew she was back in the chamber, her black robes covering her form as she knelt before Kel'Thuzad. His voice echoed throughout the chamber as he spoke and she nodded without knowing why.

"The final step is upon us my servant. Soon you will be united with what you seek again, forever." The Lich beckoned over a cultist who carried a black box, lined with red satin. He reached a clawed hand into the case and removed a black obsidian dagger from it. "This will be your implement of death. You will sow havoc amongst our foes in service to me in return for what I have promised to you." As he spoke the words the Lich waved a hand forcing one of the ghouls in the room to move to him.

Kel'Thuzad drew the blade across the throat of the creature, its green plagued blood seeping out over the blade and dripping to the floor in front of Anaie. "Rise and take the Plaguebringer as your own, complete the bond of blood and we are entwined forever, to serve our King's will."

Anaie felt an unseen presence force her to her feet, and she stepped forward, her hands outstretched to claim her new prize. As she grasped the weapon in her hands she could feel his presence invade her mind, compelling her. She drew the bloodied weapon across her palm, her blood mixing with the putrid fluids of the ghoul. She could hear her flesh sizzle as the fluid seared it, but she felt no pain.

As the bloodied mixture dripped to the floor, the girl looked up, fully under the control of her new master.

Anaie Breen was no more.

[Anaie]

Anaie blinked as the flood of the past rushed into her mind.

How long...? she wondered. Syreena... I cannot even recall how long it has been since I thought of you sistah. If you even still live.

She had been hiding in the hills overlooking Menthil Harbor for days, watching the town, trying to see any sign of Laurel. It was too far to see anything relevant, but she could not bring herself to take her eyes off the scene. The humans seemed like specs from this vantage point, going about thier business. The sounds carried further and she could hear the yells of the sailors and dockworkers as they went about thier days, and the gulls circling for discarded fish parts.

The sea birds cries... the calls of port. Anaie sighed softly and managed a smile, it made her think of her father. Of wanting to see him as well... but first she had to find Laurel. She did not know how she would communicate, but the girl had recognized her at least.

But can she forgive me for what I have become... for what I have done...

Anaie took a deep breath and finally crept into the town later that night, easily avoiding the guards and making her way to the Breen home. Finding a vantage point that allowed her to see the home clearly, she crept into a spot that would allow her to remain hidden and waited for morning.

Not long after the sun rose, the door to the home opened and Derrick Breen exited.

So ya survived that day... pity... the rogue thought to herself as she watched the man leave for what was hopefully work.

She watched the home for another hour or so before she heard activity behind it. Rising to investigate, and creeping from hiding place to hiding place, Anaie made her way around to the rear.

"Laurel..." The words escaped her lips unconsciously, and louder than she wished, causing the girl to turn toward the rogues direction. Anaie retreated back a step into deeper shadows, but she had been seen.

"Who's there?" the girl stated as she rose.

Anaie could not understand the words, but knew what was stated from the tone, she also knew that Laurel would not understand her either... "Laurel..." Anaie stated once again, hoping that the name would at least sound close enough that it could be understood.

The girl took a step forward and squinted, her quizzical look becoming one of shock as Anaie stepped from the shadows, still donning the armor from their encounter not many days ago. In her hand she held the pendant she took from Laurels neck, trying to convey her intentions as non-hostile.

Please understand sister.... was all the rogue could think as the two stared at each other for what seemed an eternity.

[Anaie]

Anaie could see the mixture of fear and concern in her youngest sisters eyes. She could see the girls muscles instinctively tensing as her mind decided on fight or flight. It was in these moments of indecision when Anaie would normally revel in her attack, feeding off of the terror and shock. Yes, her path often required silence and stealth, but when she reached her target she always did enjoy some fun...

Not now... control...

The rogue fought off her instincts and actually managed to lower her head in a gesture of apology to Laurel, her hands outstretched with the pendant dangling from her fingertips.

Understand...

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Laurel looked at the thing that was her sister standing before her in shock. She had thought about the incident repeatedly since the attack.

She was a scourge monster... she should have killed me...why didn't she?

She had rumors of a rebellion amongst the undead, but no one really believed these to be more than just that... or a clever decoy by Arthas to aid in his conquering of Azeroth.

Is it possible the rumors were true? That the will of these 'forsaken' allowed them to break free from the Scourge?

She took a deep breath and decided that she would be dead already if the Anaie wished it, and that if her sister was really free that she had to help her. There were no weapons on her sister, though Laurels eyes drifted to the long claws that were easily capable of tearing flesh.

Gesturing to be quiet and hurry, she turned her back to her forsaken sister, "Quickly... come with me."

[Anaie]

((Saving this spot to finish this out, with Syreena's assistance. Soon.. soon...))