Wasabi #7, Ivory #27, Iceberg #6

[shadowsong26]

Name: shadowsong26
Story: The Fire
'Verse: Lux
Colors: Wasabi #7. What medicines do not heal, the lance will; what the lance does not heal, fire will. ("They will all burn."), Ivory #27. We didn't start the fire. It was always burning since the world's been turning., Iceberg #6. the longest night
Supplies and Materials: paint-by-numbers (from kat), acrylic, oils, feathers, fabric, charcoal, chalk (warning for violence), novelty beads (Someone is literally flaming mad), glitter (flame)
Word Count: 375
Rating: R
Characters: Lux, Mariko
Warnings: Murder, violence, fire
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always.


Mariko was carrying a message to Ambassador Ashrvn when she heard the screaming, coming from down a different hallway. She froze for half a second--she wasn't a guard, or a soldier; didn't have any type of combat training, and that screaming sounded...terrified, and in pain. On the other hand, she couldn't just ignore it, either. She listened closely to the screaming, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

Down the left-hand passageway, she determined. There's a panic button down there. I can push it, and then maybe...maybe I can do something. Without dying. Not dying would be nice.

The decision being made, she turned left and started pelting down the passage. She smashed the alarm button down as she passed it, and found the source of the screaming.

Ambassador K'Lendimaric, with his mate and spawn, was lying dead on the floor. Lux was standing over them, eerily calm, holding a knife soaked in ichor. The back of her dress was torn, showing the six angry scars there, the ones Lux had begged Mariko not to touch or talk about.

Mariko's mouth worked for a minute, trying to make sense of the scene. "Lux...?" she whispered.

The tall being turned to her, still very calm. "Dr. Anders."

"What...what happened?"

"There was a need for them to die," she replied carefully, then wiped the knife off on a cloth she pulled from her sleeve.

"Even the little ones?"

Lux shrugged fluidly. "They saw what had happened."

Mariko choked a little, not wanting to believe it. "Lux, why...?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mariko. I can't say."

"You--"

People were coming. Lots of people. Lux looked up and frowned. "You set off the alarm?"

Mariko nodded dumbly. "I heard the screaming."

Lux bowed her head. "I'm sorry."

She stumbled back a little, her knees going weak. "Lux what--why--"

"I'm sorry." Lux gave her a faint, weary smile. "But I cannot leave their advance unchecked, Mariko. I cannot help being who and what I am." She swooped down and kissed Mariko's forehead.

The room erupted in flames. Mariko screamed and fell back, but she was already burning. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a lopsided flickering, fluttering motion.

Then nothing.

Comments

[bookblather]

...jesus, Lux. What the fuck is wrong with you? Poor Mariko.

[shadowsong26]

Thank you.

Yyyyyyyyeah. Lux...kind of has a justification for killing K'Lendimaric--if she didn't stop him, some things he was doing on the side would lead to death or worse for her. It's when she killed his mate and offspring that her justification falls flat, since they weren't involved in what he was doing.

And there's absolutely nothing to justify setting Mariko on fire.

[kay_brooke]

Oh, poor Mariko. Whether Lux was justified in the murders of the ambassador and his family or not, setting Mariko on fire was probably not a good way to handle things.

[shadowsong26]

Thank you.

No. Definitely not, no.

[clare_dragonfly]

Well. That's terrifying! At least Lux didn't kill Mariko?

[shadowsong26]

Thank you.