Leomi Lance is holding Elizabeth Vil in the darkness, inside her arms and legs. She kisses the pit of her partner's neck, her hand brushing the front of the mask to caress the silver tree.
She is tempted to take it off but knows that the sight of that face would damn her. It would reawaken feelings she can't afford to have because her the resolution to stay away and never again harm Jessica may waver.
Leomi wonders about how this woman relates to Jessica, how both ended up working for the Rykz, but restrains herself from asking directly because Elizabeth is unstable and has a propensity to lie. Even now after she got the sex she pressured her for all along.
She believes Elizabeth to be dangerous, to herself and to others, specifically towards her sweet Jessica. The Countess swallows her saliva, a coping mechanism to deal with the familiar self-loathing that emerges every time she thinks about all she's done.
She is well aware that her relationship with Elizabeth is extremely risky and complicated, yet that's what makes it so enthralling. Elizabeth fulfills Leomi's hidden desires, the violence, the fighting, the sexual tormenting they inflict on each other.
But her relationship with Elizabeth is also a way to protect Jessica from her jealousy and something she is using to punish herself. In Leomi's wildest dreams she sees Elizabeth as a weapon she could wield to tear her Jessica away from the manipulative Princess, if her tender peasant ever forgives and frees her from the oath she took.
Leomi feels absurd resentment for that Rykz. She enjoys Celyz' obvious jealousy and has a perverse curiosity about how the two of them could even... do it. Not to mention that asking could put Elizabeth off-balance, which is a good thing in this case since her lover feels guilty about it so she isn't likely to lash out.
“How did it work with Celyz?” Leomi asks.
The woman's body turns stiff in her hands. Awaiting an answer, the Lady gently runs her slender fingers over the portion of the sleeve glove covering half of the woman's left breast, the strap hiding her other nipple.
The item is covered in Rykz runes and glowing with their flow, it conceals Elizabeth's burnt limb. Leomi hadn't known, until this night, that the woman's left breast was also injured by fire, something she deducted from how different it feels compared to the other one.
She restrained herself from exploring the flesh under the leather as it would probably have triggered Elizabeth's trauma, the origin of her hatred towards Nobility. Leomi considers it too risky to carelessly breach the subject.
“I'll answer if you tell me why you're crying.” Elizabeth replies.
“I'm not.” Leomi says.
“I felt you wipe your own eye.” Elizabeth counters.
“It was just a drop.” Leomi admits with a sigh.
“Why.” Elizabeth utters.
“You first.” Leomi orders, digging into her partner's flesh with her nails, which makes the woman moan.
Elizabeth takes hold of Leomi's hand. She brings it to her mouth to tenderly suck and lick the fingers. A disturbing shiver courses through the Countess' bare back as she imagines the scene.
“Like that.” Elizabeth says.
“And you wanted it?” Leomi asks.
“I'm... I can't r, really explain.” Elizabeth stutters.
“She took advantage of your moment of weakness, but never again will you waver.” Leomi declares but her lover remains silent so she continues. “You're mine now, do you hear me?”
“I do and I am.” Elizabeth makes a mad giggle. “Now you. Are you upset about what we did?”
“Quite a bit.” Leomi admits softly. “It feels like there's a thorny bramble wrapped around my heart, squeezing.”
“I like that.” Elizabeth says, her heart beating faster. “I want you to suffer.”
“I kind of hate you.” Leomi says while stroking her lover's sparse pubic hair.
“Why?” Elizabeth asks, her breath caught in her throat.
“You keep using Jessica, leveraging what I did while pressuring me to be with you.” Leomi responds, suppressing the mounting desire she has to physically hurt the woman.
“You regret it.” Elizabeth realizes, trembling as anguish and viscous satisfaction do battle in her guts.
Leomi experiences a rush, a thrill, at hearing the pain contained within her lover's voice but controls the impulse that follows, the pull to dominate this brutal warrior. She tells herself that the woman almost killed herself to make a point, that this is going to take delicacy if she is to... fix her.
“Our relationship is give and take, isn't it?” Leomi asks rhetorically, but her lover interrupts her before she can continue.
“You slept with me just for the sight of her? Is this what we are?” Elizabeth roars, angry and horrified.
Elizabeth's intense and complicated feelings are directed towards herself, not Leomi. She thinks that what she did will push her Lady away at a time where she still doesn't know if the woman would get back to Jessica if Elizabeth Vil disappeared.
Yet, Leomi misunderstands the outburst, believing that Elizabeth blames Jessica for the state of their odd relationship. She swears within the confines of her mind about her failure to see that coming, that she's now forced to explain something she wanted to avoid.
The Red Dwarf rips herself out of the Countess' grip to stand. She then pushes Lance back against the mattress to pin her down, straddling her. Elizabeth's bare sex presses on Leomi's chiseled abdominal muscles.
“I do not regret us.” Leomi whispers. “I've told you before that we're alike. I can fully let go with you, take and inflict pain without fear. It isn't healthy, but we're not the kind of people who desire that, we're... twisted.”
Leomi makes her stomach writhe to toy with her lover, attempting to distract her by rekindling her lust. Elizabeth shivers as her most intimate place is teased but her self-control wins out.
She focuses on the confusing words, trying to discern if her Lady is correct, but unable to as she has no experience in relationships and as such is completely unaware of what normality would be, only a vague idea that this isn't it.
“What are we?” Elizabeth asks.
“Rivals, competitors, foes. Pick one, the fact is that we enjoy torturing each other. Lovers don't threaten and fight with weapons, even among Nobles.” Leomi smiles, amused. “I like you and I'm not blaming you for my first time, it was great.”
There is a something that Leomi doesn't share, that she wishes she kept her first time for her Jessica but she has known for a while that Elizabeth would never be satisfied unless she went all the way.
“You were hurt, but that's what you wanted?” Elizabeth questions, lost.
“I mostly want to harm you but it's a fair fight, the spoils go to the victor.” Leomi takes a deep breath to make a confession. “I want to do immoral things to you, with you.”
Elizabeth lets herself fall to the side, freeing Leomi. The two of them lay on their backs side by side, fatigued. Their hands find each other and they interlock their fingers.
“Is that why we can't last?” Elizabeth asks.
“We'll inevitably cross a line. It's best to have realistic expectations, don't you think?” Leomi says carefully. “The two of us aren't... relationship material.”
“You want to drop me so you can be with her.” Elizabeth concludes with insane laughter.
Elizabeth is full of hope, yet the specter of the broken vow remains and it prevents her from even hinting at a possible break-up. Leomi, on the other hand, cannot admit to her hidden wish, fearing Elizabeth's reaction.
“She hates me.” Leomi says with an unsteady voice.
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“That's not an answer, tell me.” Elizabeth demands.
Dying to know, Elizabeth wonders if now's the last chance she has to reveal herself, depending on the response. But she'll leave in the morning and if this goes wrong... she won't get a chance to make it right. As she ponders, she subconsciously reaches up to her mask.
Leomi reacts instantly, stopping Elizabeth. Leomi pauses, looking for a way out that doesn't involve lying. A sadistic idea comes to the Lady's mind, she took note of all the times the woman hid her body from her sight.
“I might tell you if you show yourself to me, naked in full light.” Leomi says.
Elizabeth's fingers clench around Leomi's, the fierce warrior faces a difficult choice. Revealing herself is not only scary but dangerous as it would make it impossible to lay with Leomi as Jessica.
She shakes her head, thinking that the arm and scars are enough obstacles. It won't be easy to get Celyz' help with that. No, Elizabeth Vil should fade or never come back. The Countess grins viciously, knowing herself victorious.
“Either way, I chose you Elizabeth.” Leomi continues. “Whatever happens in the future, you've had me and my resolve not to be with her is set. Let's stop talking about that, come here.”
Leomi pulls the other woman closer to shelter her inside her arms. The Red Dwarf buries her masked face in between the Countess' breasts, the cool wood and silver engravings make the strong woman shiver. The lovers fall asleep within minutes, exhausted but content.
--- --- ---
Elizabeth Vil awakens first, before the sun even shows on the horizon. Her slumber was light and agitated. She knows that she cannot stay here too long so she carefully slips out of Leomi's grasp. The illusion construct has almost completely faded away, its segments lost coherence.
Once out of bed, she picks up the clothes Leomi gave to her and dresses up. She then scrutinizes her lover's body with all her senses as her sight is impeded by the gray haze of night. Her legs are slightly split, her sharp traits are tight but more relaxed than usual.
The Lady's body is unmarred and lacks any marks of battle, even the skin of her recently injured shoulder is now smooth. Yet, above her perfect small round left breast, there is a tiny white line where Elizabeth pierced Leomi's flesh to touch her heart.
Seeing her so vulnerable in her sleep, Elizabeth feels a sweet desire to kiss her. But she doesn't, she head out of the bedroom knowing that she has little time ahead of her to take a bath, talk to Celyz, find a crew, and... figure out a way to keep her word.
--- --- ---
Leomi Lance awakens with the rising sun, peeking through her window's shutters. She blinks a few times, feeling like something is missing. She soon notices the absence of Elizabeth's warm body against hers and sits up, hazily searching.
She sighs in disappointment, she knows that the woman isn't one to stick around and cuddle but she looked forward to toying with her a little in the morning. Elizabeth's presence often brings her relief by driving away the shadow of her guilt.
Leomi directs a stream of unstructured flow towards the candles, linking to the fire constructs for a moment to activate them. Light fills the room and the first thing Leomi notices is that her fiery warrior took the clothes she gave her.
The realization brings a smile to her lips. Elizabeth didn't have them on for long, and it was in the dark, but she looked so gorgeous in that tight blue tunic and those black pants.
Leomi hopes that, eventually, she'll have the power to bestow a title on the woman and make that silver tree her crest. Whatever hopes Leomi has to change Caeviel, she knows that the kingdom cannot completely do away with Nobility until the rest of the Empire does too, and a title would do much to help Elizabeth.
Her organization is a step in that direction, one that will enrage powerful Nobles but she can mitigate the fallout with a powerful armed force and by forging diplomatic ties, them being stationed on the Izla is a boon since their avenues of attack will be very limited.
She rises to her feet, feeling rather enthusiastic about the day ahead. After all, she'll get to see Jessica today. The thought alone makes her heart beat faster with excitement and almost unbearable yearning.
Leomi walks into the bathroom and opens the tub's faucet, activating the pipe's construct. She steps in and grabs the soap, cleaning herself up as the water fills up. She wonders about the runes Elizabeth's sleeve glove and the tough protruding nerves she felt under her skin, possibly a sequela.
She thinks that the woman's mystery deepens the more she finds out. She has some suspicions about the hold Celyz has on her, the Rykz' ability to produce pheromones could be versatile enough to influence humans. Leomi most definitely wouldn't put that kind of thing past the calculating Princess.
The hot water reaches her breast and she lets herself sink down with a sigh of pleasure. Sadly, she doesn't really find relaxation, merely relief, as her mind turns to the Emperor and the fact that he sent flow here.
If he did that when it hasn't been done in seven centuries, then that means the phalanxes stationed in Telnur are very likely to march north towards Caeviel in a few months when winter arrives. Which makes it even more surprising that the King would be willing to negotiate.
Leomi suddenly perks up. Cenwalh wouldn't. The Emperor helped him acquire that Princess and that suggests that Rasaec has his own interest in this research or at least enough curiosity that he supported the project from a distance and resorted to redirecting His Due to Caeviel.
It's a trap and Mother is smack in the middle of it, she concludes. The Shade convinced Master Amand to arrest the Duke, that's no small intervention despite Meria's transgressions but it will go unchallenged as the man did cross enough lines to justify it. How are those two events tied together?
Shades are tasked to maintain unity within the Empire, they act with Nobility as often as against. It makes sense that they would preserve the Izla, but not if it hinders the Emperor's goals... Then, the point isn't to defeat the Rykz at all costs.
“I don't know enough.” Leomi groans.
The entire thing revolves around the captive Princess and the institute, that means that the Shade isn't going to stay on the Izla. She wishes she could demand of Elizabeth that she protects Jessica, but her oath prevents her from taking such direct action.
At least, Leomi thinks, there's no reason for her adorable peasant to go with Elizabeth so her Jessica should be safe from these hidden maneuvers. Leomi grabs a small bell and hits it before grabbing a towel to wipe the water off.
Someone knocks at the apartment's oak door barely a few seconds later, surprising Leomi. She quickly wraps the towel around her chest and makes her way to the lobby.
Leomi opens the door, finding Edusa in leather armor and Yvonne in a cute green dress, she is carrying a military uniform with Lance's family crest that she hands over. They walk in and follow the Countess to her bedroom where she steps behind the panels to get dressed.
“How are you doing?” Yvonne asks, a bit of worry in her tone.
“Great, you?” Leomi says, smiling in recollection.
“Annoyed. Your special night cost me a date with that cute one-eyed guy.” Yvonne grumbles.
“I did tell you not to stick around.” Leomi shrugs.
“What happened to that dress?” Edusa asks in a tight voice.
Leomi blushes behind the curtain and doesn't answer. She knows that she wasn't entirely honest when she told Elizabeth that she was pressured. The warrior's enthusiasm, her ardor when she tore her clothes off, did a lot to get her in the mood.
“It obviously got in the way.” Yvonne chuckles.
Leomi walks out while adjusting her collar, finding Edusa watching her with undisguised envy. The Countess made the point long ago that in another time and place, they would have been good together.
The young Noble accepted the response with grace, yet she couldn't help but measure herself up against Elizabeth. It seems to Leomi that the woman would have a better chance of 'beating' the Red Dwarf if she acted more and reacted less.
“I need to find Elizabeth, do you know where she is?” Leomi asks Yvonne.
“I'm not sure, she came by to take her gear back three or four hours ago.” The sword-sword replies.
“We need to talk first.” Edusa declares.
“Of course, I have time for you.” Leomi agrees with a kind smile.
“I want your permission to sneak aboard a trade ship bound to Telnur with a few others, Henry included. We'll use a rowboat to make it to Caeviel's coast.” Edusa says, fidgeting. “I'm not leaving you, my Lady Countess. But if we are to succeed, we need more than... this.”
“Go on.” Leomi says, repressing a frown. “What's your plan?”
“Mother is going to leverage the fact that Hetlan is at no risk of attack from the Rykz to gain concessions from the Court, possibly even approach the King to make a play on land.” Edusa explains with a determined expression. “That gives me an opening. I'll promise King Cenwalh more than she would at a fraction of the cost. That should be enough for him to turn a blind eye or even help me take Mother down.”
“I shouldn't have to tell you of the Duchess' reputation, Edusa.” Leomi says, concerned.
“I could use your advice on what tactical options are open to me if it comes to that but I was exiled because people actually like me, Nobles, bourgeois, peasants. Mother would have gotten rid of me long ago was I not her daughter.” Edusa says with a hard expression. “Either way, we have a few days before the first ship departs so we'll have the opportunity to discuss this further. I simply wanted your opinion and permission to prepare.”
“I think that whatever offer you make, the King is more likely to use that as a negotiation tool with the Duchess than to help you take the title.” Leomi makes a grimace.
“Then I'll go a different direction.” Edusa nods, completely unshaken. “As much as I hate to admit it, Elizabeth makes good points. There will never be any change if it is delayed until the situation allows.”
“You know I won't stop you, but come up with something that doesn't involve depending on the Court or King.” Leomi advises.
“I have. I'm going to hit where it hurts, the fact that my second-oldest brother is a lousy heir.” Edusa smirks. “But more realistically, I did have an idea in mind that would be a good place to start. Hetlan depends on its iron and gold mines to fill the coffers, those are too guarded to attack but not they also depend on peasantry to function. I can get them on my side by promising to abolish the free work days they owe their liege in exchange for their support. That won't fail to draw Mother out.” Edusa caresses her sword. “Except this time I'll make sure that I have enough flow to show her up.”
“I need to go, Edusa. We'll talk later, alright?” Leomi says carefully. The young woman shelves her disappointment and nods. “Your heart is in the right place but make sure that this is what you really want, fighting your family.”
“We need titles, my Lady Lance.” Edusa affirms.
“I really need to go.” Leomi groans. “Yvonne, perhaps you can sound out who among the faction has the skills and will to join her.”
“I will.” She nods.
Leomi hurries out, making her way through the keep's hallways towards the throne room, the Council's room now. She aims to talk to Cecil or Aisha, the two would likely know where to find Elizabeth, or could be holding a message from her.
She finds the Madame, sitting alone at the round table with two piles of parchments on either side of her, one small and another that reaches above her head. Cecil is taking notes and signing on orders.
“Countess.” She greets without even looking up.
“Councilwoman.” Leomi responds.
“Elizabeth left this for you.” The Madame says, pulling a tiny piece of paper out from a stack.
'Docks, we won't be waiting for you to show up.'