SianSepta Kait, Mauve
Kaitlyn held the shields around the woman-who-was-not-Mayadi as Rebecca helped Patty, with the aid of the wolf who'd brought them here. She was concentrating so hard on the shield that she failed to notice the others enter until she jerked her head up at Rebecca's tight, "Ayenda Kaitlyn!"
Several women were gliding in, and that was all Kait saw before she was shielded and thrown against the wall, held by flows of Air. Patty and Rebecca were similarly bound; the wolf was nowhere to be seen. Kaitlyn hoped that she had gotten away and was getting help. The woman she had been holding had embraced saidar once more, and again taken on the likeness of Mayadi. She stood in front of the three prisoners, smiling triumphantly.
"Well, now, how splendid. We now hold three of their number; I can't wait to see who falls into our trap next."
Anima Patty
Patty could feel her emotions boiling inside her and fought with all her might not to let them show. The hope and elation she'd felt as Moonlight Dancing had led Kait and Rebecca to her grew with each step they took closer. When she saw those friendly faces she thought she'd burst with joy. To be released from the flows of Air holding her was heaven. But almost instantly that joy was crushed.
Kait and Rebecca were caught just as neatly as she. Shielded. But not stilled, thank the Light! The disappointment, anger, and fear might have crushed what was left of Patty's will if not for the comfort of Moonlight Dancing. She'd made it out before these women had caught her friends, her sisters.
"Well, now, how splendid. We now hold three of their number; I can't wait to see who falls into our trap next." The malice in the woman's voice sent chills down Patty's spine. Who was this evil creature and why was she wearing the face of Mayadi?
The woman glided to stand in front of Patty. "We'll have fun playing with our new toys, won't we, pet?" Patty stared resolutely at the floor. She knew the woman expected her to respond immediately. She'd been "trained" to. Although they were all helpless, the presence of her friends gave Patty strength she no longer knew she had. There has to be a way out of this! There has to! I can't let her hurt them the way she hurt me. I won't let her.
Patty could sense this Mayadi's anger growing as she waited for a response to her question. She wouldn't repeat herself; Patty had learned that too. The course of action was quickly decided in Patty's mind. If two of her Sisters were able to find her, others would follow. They needed a distraction, and they needed these other Black Sisters out of the room. Patty's first instinct was to respond to her "training" and play the submissive victim just to please this woman. But a deeper part of her knew that once Mayadi was bored with her, the "training" of her Sisters would begin and she couldn't let that happen.
:::Tell my sisters to make no response. No reaction.::: Patty fervently wished that Moonlight Dancing would be able to mindspeak both women and warn them before she had to begin.
From hard earned experience, Light, how long have I been here?! Patty knew that this Mayadi preferred to do her "training" in private. She never played her cruel games in front of witnesses. Patty was praying that she'd follow true to form and send these others away.
All of this flashed through her head in an endless minute. Then she raised her head and spit in Mayadi's face.
Patty couldn't see Rebecca without turning her head, but the only reaction from a horrified Kaitlyn was a slight widening of her eyes. :::Thank you sister!!:::
Without turning to look at the other Black sisters in the room, the false Mayadi commanded in a dead voice, "Leave us." She locked eyes with Patty as she released the Air holding her. "You have forgotten respect, pet."
Patty hoped she could hold out long enough for help to arrive, or for Rebecca and Kait to manage to free themselves before she had to retreat to the now well-known recesses of her own mind.
The-woman-who-was-not-Mayadi began the lessons again.
Cuebiyar Jen
Jen looked around the meeting room at the Grey delegation. She stared at each woman individually, as though scrutinizing her for further reference. And then she panicked.
For unknown reasons, her heart seemed to leap into her throat and beat relentlessly, her pulse quickening by the second. Her breath came short and audibly, and she could feel the sweat beginning to form in beads on her forehead. The sick feeling did not vanish when she closed her eyes. Nerves? It wasn't just nerves, it couldn't be, even though the White Tower was something she'd vowed to leave behind forever. Not nerves.
"I'm sorry," was all she said before veritably flying out of the meeting room through the heavy walnut doors.
They led out to the lobby, where Lia was asleep ... Light, Jen thought ... She can't be in Tel'aran'rhiod! She doesn't know how! The panic increasing, this sick feeling of knowing, of wanting ... of something beyond her reach ... it only intensified the more she lingered. She had to get out of there. The walls were closing in on her. She had to ... she had to ... all is black
SianSepta Lia, Plum
Lia sat in her hotel room.... Jen had been working with her, so Dreamwalking was easier, but still a struggle... She lay carefully, the sun bright.. and concentrated on the love in her heart while Illyena sung her to sleep.... She appeared in a dimly lit cavern yet again.... but no one else was around.. well.. except one....
Mayadi stared down at this pitiful excuse for an Aes Sedai.... Oh.. that's right.. Ayende Vera.... That sat bound before her.... and her two pitiful Dreamwalking Sisters... Biting back a laugh that threatened to give away her feeling.. Great Lord forbid... Leaning down she stared deep into Patty's eyes... Patty spit in her face.... Mayadi was taken aback.. and almost let it show... Biting emotion back, she carefully chose words.... "Leave us." It was not a request...
The other women left reluctantly.. obediently, fearfully, lest Mayadi's wrath be taken out on them as well...
Mayadi looked towards the door, and slapped Patty across her face, her barbed wire ring leaving a slight gash across it.. raising her voice deliberately she spoke harshly "You dare to Disobey your Amyrlin...?!"
Patty glared defiance upon Mayadi's form. Mayadi leaned closely again, turning her face away from the open doorway. Biting her lips carefully, she brushed a hand across Patty's face, healing the gash... From where Rebecca and Kaitlyn sat, they could catch a faint silver shimmer in her eyes, that immediately covered itself... The lips covered over in a blood red color.. showed silver through as her teeth grazed it.... mouthing I'm sorry as her back was turned... Stepping carefully to the door.. she checked to be sure no one was there...
The hall was empty.. Thank the Light... "Mayadi" fell into a chair, ebony hair with silver streaks pouring over her shoulders as she fell... "Tell you a story.... Why didn't anyone tell me Saidar was so damn hard to control....?"
Patty's eyes widened as she breathed... "Lia...?"
Suddenly the room was filled with questions.... "I thought you couldn't Dreamwalk.... How did you play Mayadi... What if Mayadi comes back..?"
Lia laughed her evil silver bells laugh... "We'll talk later...."
"Well.. could you untie us then..? " Kaitlyn asked...
"Oh.. Right.... Duh... " Lia cut the strands holding Rebecca and let her take care of the rest.... while she seemingly talked to herself, and raised a hand to her forehead.
When they all were free... Lia gasped... "Oh.. Patty... I've got something for ya...."
Lia snapped her fingers and a Myrdraal entered the room, with Mayadi in his arms... The Sisters Gasped "It's a.. a.."
"Oh I know.. I'm bonded to him... This is Pertho.... " noticing the looks that shocked the faces of her friends... she laughed. "I'll explain later.. " Motioning to the now terrified Mayadi.. she laughed yet again.... Twisting one of her silver bracelets off her wrist she handed it to Patty.. and touched a matching necklace on Mayadi... " This is a gift from Pertho and I..... You have a choice.... One.. you can torment her until you grow bored when which I will personally Still her lying Black butt myself.... or you can have her stilled now.... either way.... You know I'm all for it.".. :: she channeled a whip of Air and Smacked Mayadi's back with it.... The woman whimpered but didn't cry... "Your call Sister.... But I'd say we wake up and get the hell out of here before I lose my mind.... No Illyena.. Yes we're leaving.. Or she drives me out of it...."
Lia moved for the door.... "Oh.. One more thing...." Wrenching the twisted ring from her finger.. she threw it on the ground.. stepping on it and spitting on it... "I think I'm done with this.... " Replacing it with her Purple Ring, rose engraved, and inlaid in silver and plum. "Ayende Vera Ayende Vera... Rah Rah Rah!!!...."
So Patty-love.... Like the gift..? I love being so evil..... Talk to you upon waking...
Anima Patty
Patty stood dumbfounded as Lia handed her the silver bracelet. Her hand shook as she accepted the gift. She felt like her mind was working in slow motion again. This was all happening so fast and she couldn't keep up with it. She felt like she had the night she'd been stilled and couldn't follow what Jen was saying to her.
Lia was Mayadi, but not. Lia's Fade...a FADE for Light's sake, was holding Mayadi...they were free...they could go home...Mayadi was at her disposal. Slowly, this last piece of information began to sink in. Patty could feel her perceptions beginning to shift, as they had so often done in her time trapped here.
Patty fingered the silver bracelet, but didn't put it on as she approached Mayadi. She let all the feelings that she'd worked so hard to keep hidden make their way to the surface; it wasn't a pretty sight. The light in her eyes had gone quite mad again.
Mayadi seemed to sense that this monster she'd created was intending some serious payback. She attempted to shrink back, but Pertho was firmly in her way. Mayadi flinched when Patty reached out to touch her cheek. Patty didn't speak, but chuckled that mad chuckle that had been Mayadi's gift to her. She whispered a word... "pet."
A movement caught Patty's eye and claimed her attention. Kait had moved closer and was watching her with a very concerned expression. She looks so sad. I wonder why? A part of Patty's mind knew it was very important to determine the reason behind Kait's sadness before she did anything else.
Patty turned to face her Sister; she looked deep into Kait's face but was finding it very hard to reconcile what she read there with what she wanted to do. Kait seemed to realize that nothing she said at this point would make a difference. This was a choice Patty needed to make on her own.
The love and worry on Kait's face was clear; it somehow seemed more important than seeing the fear on Mayadi's face. This bracelet in her hand could create madness and fear, but the thought behind the gift was one of love. Patty turned to look at Lia, then Rebecca. These women had risked their very souls out of friendship and love, and she couldn't pay them back with a gift of madness and hate. Her thoughts were coming faster and clearer now.
The choice had been made.
Patty turned back to Mayadi, feeling strangely empty, but right. It would take a long time to heal the wounds Mayadi had caused her, and she was sure she'd regret not taking this opportunity to rid the world of this woman. But she would not become no better than the creature who had sold her soul to the Dark One standing before her.
"Do with her what you want, Lia. I want nothing more to do with her. Leave her here to rot for all I care. Maybe Jen would like a chance to deal with her. Can we keep her somewhere until then?"
The choice having been made, the decision reached, it was getting hard to focus again. Patty held out her hand to Kait who took it with a loving smile. "Let's just go home. Home. Take me home." Patty held out her other hand to Rebecca. Rebecca joined them giving Mayadi and Pertho a wide berth. The three women winked out of Tel'aran'rhiod.
Patty struggled to open her eyes. They felt very heavy. Her senses were coming back to her slowly. She could hear her own even breathing. She could hear the movement of people around her. She could feel a warm hand take hers. "Patty?"
She squeezed the hand to show she'd heard. She still wasn't able to open her eyes, they were just too heavy.
The hand holding hers squeezed back. "Patty, wake up hon. Come on." The voice was gentle but insistent. I know that voice.
Patty tried again to open her eyes. She managed a hair's breath of an opening before they were to heavy to keep up. She gave a sigh.
A new voice. "Give her a few minutes. She's been out of her body for days!"
I know that voice too. That's...umm...that's Meranda.
More sensations were coming back to Patty. She could feel she was lying down in a comfortable place. In a bed. She could feel the empty hole where her stomach used to be. She knew she was safe, and that was the best feeling of all.
Patty opened her eyes and managed to keep them open this time. She had to blink a few times to clear her vision. She managed a weak smile up at Kait who was holding her hand. The words wouldn't come yet, but tears of gratitude filled her eyes. Kait's eyes glistened just a quickly as she called to the others, "She's awake!"
Cuebiyar Jen
The blackness surrounded her, it was all in this world. She opened her eyes and the blackness filled her head. She was without form in this empty, cold nothing; she was mere consciousness, only a speck in an endless night. No ... night at least had some light. There was vision in night ... there was no vision here, there was no hearing, there was no smell, there was only nothing.
She was suddenly aware of another consciousness, someone somewhere else, lingering on the fringe of the void. She couldn't call out; she had no voice. She wished for light.
Blinding white seared her vision, she couldn't shield her eyes from it; the True Source called to her and warmed her freezing soul. The cold inside her head turned, became fire, so hot it melted her very mind. She channeled it, the intense power that she could not control; total capitulation to a higher power. She channeled more than she ever thought she could--out and away from nothing.
Waking, Jen found herself in the unfamiliar room. Had to get out of here! She didn't belong here. Had to go home. Woman ... friend ... black and silver cascading around her shoulders ... on the other bed ... couldn't leave her here, but oh, she knew--she could take care of herself. Had to get out of here! This ... was ... not ... right ....
She remembered the gateway. She knew how yet. Home. She stepped through the shining circle. It ... was ... not ....
home .....
The woman standing before her grinned maniacally, laughing some sickening, disheartening evil laughter. So malicious. Jen couldn't see her face. She knew, though, she knew who it was. She was not Mayadi.
"Who are you?" Jen called. Her voice echoed far beyond, ringing off invisible walls. That laugh answered, so unholy.
"Why did you bring me here?" Jen knew she had been forced here, on this battlefield; that which did not exist. She didn't come here of her own volition.
Again, the only response was that maligned cackle.
A figure came from the shadows, in such a manner that the darkness yet overpowered the light; the hood of the cloak she wore masked her features cleverly. The woman raised her hand, a tiny ball of sparkling light dancing above her cupped palm. Her lantern now illuminated her face ... Mayadi's face.
"So they say they have trapped me. So they say they have overpowered me." As she spoke, she walked in deliberate, slow circles around Jen, trailing a finger here as one would a favored pet. "They are wrong!" On this final word, she closed her hand over her shining light, crushing it inside her fist. "They will still her, you know," she added, like an afterthought. "They will torture her, that precious silver girl will. She harbors such a hate. Such a hate in her precious mind. As does your Keeper. Oh--" she covered her mouth in mock surprise. "I meant, Anima. You prize your titles so highly, don't you ... Cuebiyar?"
Jen said nothing.
"Don't you?"
Still nothing.
"Ah, I suppose it isn't so important. They think she's me! They think she's Black Ajah!" She laughed then, a higher, silvery tinkle, like bells ... "Isn't that ... amusing?" She paused then, as though to give Jen room for something to say.
Jen was quiet until the last moment. "Why are you telling me this? Who are you?"
The woman turned her back to Jen, dismissing her. She tried to leave then, and found she couldn't. She was trapped, defenseless. She couldn't ... couldn't ... So much time passed, it must have been hours. Days...!
And then the woman-who-was-not-Mayadi, her back still to Jen, began singing a tune, something out of childhood. Something so many children sang ... "The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout ..."
Jen was flung, so far back and forward at the same time, into dizzying circles and spirals she could not control. She was spaghettied, stretched and stretched like one could not be stretched. She was bent, inside that nothing, into the most awkward positions, and was put into so much pain and torture as one could not even begin to imagine. She tried to scream, but having no voice in that terrible nothing, could not. She could do nothing--she was powerless. Until she was allowed to open her eyes.
She was back in the room at the Purple Tower, in that room where Patty was now crying tears of joy, where her Anima embraced friends--Rebecca and Kait and Meranda ...
Jen stood bolt upright, shaking her head, trembling, crying. It wasn't over. They had no right to be rejoicing so. There was so much more, a terrible power that even they would have trouble overcoming if they could overcome it at all. They noticed her then, one asked--in her daze Jen did not know; she was still numb from her tortuous torture--one asked what had happened, what was wrong, how she got here. Jen had so much trouble finding her voice; she thought it had been lost in all her ... in all of it ... shaking and crying, so scared, her heart beating, pounding so hard--too hard ... until one word, whispered, came out through her shaking lips .... "Moghedien."
SianSepta Lia, Plum
Lia stood in TAR, and snapped the bracelet back on her wrist.... Turning to Mayadi, she smiled, a sweetly sincere smile promising pain and torment... She waved Pertho out the doorway... "Here's the deal.. pet.... " Prepared to describe all the backwards emotions Patty had been sending, the Hatred Jen felt, the Hatred Lia felt to all Aes Sedai, let alone those of the Black Ajah... Prepared to tell Mayadi in full detail exactly what would happen to her in the waking world..... "You know when I wake, you come with me.... You know you will be hidden amongst the Ayende Vera..... and you know We will hurt you very badly for what you have done to our Sister.... " Lia could feel the terror Mayadi felt... she also knew that Mayadi could feel her anger.... The a'dam was a simple enough thing to make here.... but could it be created outside of TAR... This one would follow.... but could Lia make others.... and if she kept her.. whats to say that she wouldn't be freed by another Black sometime later.. as the legends say Moghedien was freed from Nyneave....
The very fact that Patty had chosen not to hurt Mayadi was a new concept to Lia's dark mind.... Wasn't revenge sweet..? Wasn't she supposed to take what was taken away..? Lia was so confused... so very confused.... Pertho dropped Mayadi and placed his arms on Lia's shoulders, his clammy white skin trying to be comforting, as he had taught himself.... She looked up at him.. The thing about Myrdraals, she mused.. Once they feel emotion through a bond.. they can't get enough of it.... She laughed...
Turning to Mayadi.... She smiled again.... making her own choice.... "Mayadi.... I do not like you... I'm sure that is obvious.... and I know you know who I am don't you..?"
Mayadi nodded hesitantly, " Lia.... Liandrin's Niece"
Lia nodded.." And I'm sure you know what I'm capable of doing to you.." "Yes Mistress."
"Well.... This is what's going to happen.... You are going to make a public announcement to all of Tar Valon, as Amyrlin Seat.... You will publicly name all members of the Black Ajah currently residing in Tar Valon and have them stilled... or killed.. I don't care.... Then... You will remove yourself from office, and I will decide what to do with you afterwards.... Perhaps I will give you to Jen...."
Mayadi only nodded.. "And, Sweetie.. Don't play games with me.... I'm not in the mood to fuck around with your evil spawn.... so Let's not lie okay.. `cause I'll know...."
Mayadi nodded again.... in a blink... Lia awoke, and Pertho and Mayadi appeared in the hotel room beside her..... Jen stood over her like a MoN on Crystal...
"Lia you know better than to go there by yourself.. What were you thinking..?" Lia adjusted her bracelet and let Mayadi huddle closer into herself.... she pointed to the wriggling Mass on the floor.... "Mom..?"
"Not now Lia... " She saw Mayadi.... then Pertho, then Mayadi....
Lia just smiled, and adjusted her dress...
SianSepta Kait, Mauve
Kaitlyn couldn't hold back her tears as Patty struggled to sit up. She's alright, she's really alright! She knew better than to try to make her friend lie down any longer, so she helped her to a semi-upright position and fixed the pillows so she could lean back against them.
She turned to hug Rebecca as Meranda moved in to check on Patty and work her magic. When she turned back, Patty looked a good deal steadier. "You need to eat," Mera told the Anima. "And you'll have to take it easy for awhile, but you'll be fine."
Kait took Patty's hand again, half-afraid that if she was away for too long, her friend would be taken again. Patty smiled at her, and reached out. With a sudden, choked sob, Kaitlyn threw her arms around her friend, and they both cried. Kait felt other arms around her, and drew Rebecca into a three-way embrace. Their tears were a release, washing away the horror of their experiences.
Meranda had sent a couple of Studè to get bowls of hearty soup for the three women. Kait was suddenly aware of how ravenous she was when the soup arrived, and wolfed it down greedily. Patty was so hungry that she probably could have eaten it in three seconds flat, but Mera made her take her time. When the soup was gone and the bowls taken away, Kaitlyn hugged Meranda, too, gratefully aware of how this caring friend had watched over their bodies while they were in Tel'aran'rhiod.
Despite being spent from crying, and pleasantly full from the soup, none of the women felt like sleeping again so soon. They talked for awhile, avoiding any mention of the recent business. Then Kait noticed Patty's eyes take on a faraway look, her hands trembling a little.
"Patty?" she asked her friend softly. "What is it?"
Meranda
Meranda watched the three after they had eaten and smiled though they paid no attention save to make sure their friend was alright. Which was as it should be. The elders had told her to find hope among the humans. Those who hadn't given up the dreaming. She may have found them here. She spoke up.
"She needs rest now. All of dos get get. Dos rest now real rest with nau Shadow walking." That still amazed her humans could do that. She watched the women go and made sure she was comfortable and then left herself. There where plans to make.
