With each careful step, Aurelia ventured deeper into the heart of the Moor, her feet sinking slightly into the damp earth as she navigated the twisting passages of the labyrinthine catacombs. The flickering torch held aloft in her grasp cast dancing shadows against the ancient stone walls, revealing intricate carvings and faded runes that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. The air was thick with the musty scent of centuries-old secrets and the faint echo of whispered voices. As she continued on, the darkness seemed to grow thicker and more oppressive, causing a shiver to run down Aurelia's spine. But she pressed on, determined to uncover the mysteries hidden within this underground maze. There was no telling how long it had been since these corridors were traveled by a living soul- the pull of times past drew her in.

The air grew increasingly oppressive, heavy with the scent of freshly turned soil and the earthy tang of decomposing matter. As Aurelia pushed forward, her heart pounded in her chest, each step taking her deeper into the unknown. The darkness consumed her, weighing on her like a suffocating shroud. Despite the rising unease in her gut, she couldn't resist the pull to continue, drawn by an unyielding thirst for discovery that drove her further into the depths than she had ever ventured before. She was determined to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the surface, no matter what dangers may lurk ahead.

As she rounded a corner, her torchlight cast a flickering glow on the damp stone walls. In the distance, water dripped rhythmically, creating an eerie soundtrack to her exploration. Suddenly, a glint of light caught her eye within the shadows. Her curiosity piqued, Aurelia inched closer, her body tensed and ready for danger. What she discovered sent a shiver down her spine—a shrouded skeleton, its bones bleached white by time and neglect, nestled within a dark alcove in the wall. The sight chilled her to the bone, reminding her that she was treading upon ground that had long been forgotten by the world above. This was no ordinary tomb; but a forgotten crypt among other things.

Undeterred by the eerie aura of the ancient remains, Aurelia forged ahead, her unquenchable thirst for knowledge propelling her deeper into the unknown. Each footfall echoed through the tight walls, as if the very stone itself was closing in around her. The winding passages seemed to mirror the labyrinthine pathways of her own thoughts, leading her further and further into the heart of the catacombs. With a determined resolve, she pressed on, driven by a burning desire to uncover the long-buried secrets hidden within these dark depths- only to come to a stop when she reached a seemingly dead end. Aurelia paused, her heart pounding in the pitch-black silence. The impenetrable wall that faced her was adorned with cryptic symbols of a language long lost to time. What a peculiar place.

"Aurelia Veratti"

With a jar of venom in his care, Rhazien was simply following Sephiran’s orders- store this down in the catacombs with the others, and organize it appropriately. The weaponizable substance was collected earlier that day by the Sultan’s viper, and he wanted to ensure it didn’t go to waste. And what better place to store it, than an underground labyrinth his enemies couldn’t reach? Simply genius. And so, while Sepiran departed from the Moor in search of his cousin Caedes, Rhazien moved on to complete his only task of the hour.

But Rhazien wasn’t just a task doer- he was curious of the labyrinth Sephiran had spent so much time in, fantasizing about the treasures within. This was his chance to explore it freely- he’d even instructed his serval to stand guard at the entrance, and warn him if Sephiran returned. With the cat on duty, he descended into the darkness- using a torchlight to guide his way until he found the existing collection of venom vials.

Adding his vial to the collection, he inspected it for several moments- organizing like Sephiran instructed, before sauntering down one of the corridors. The scent of wet earth and decomposing matter was strong- but beyond that, was something far more interesting. Aurelia. Her perfume was faint at first- but as he traversed deeper into the subterranean, it became stronger, more pungent- a clear indication that she was down here too. He couldn’t deny the electrifying wave of thrill that rolled down his spine. He always loved his encounters with the azure beauty. And what better time, than away from the peering eyes of their tyrannical leader.

Following her scent, Rhazien rounded corners, ducked beneath doorways, squeezed in tight places- until finally, he could see the glow of her torchlight up ahead. Setting his down, and wanting to use the darkness as his tactic of surprise. The older Saxe moved forward in the shadows, predatory and libidinous, like the depraved beast he really was. They’d meet at the dead end of the labyrinth, Rhazien materializing from the shadows like a phantom in the moor. “Lost?” He said, stopping to lean up against the stone that encompassed the walls around them. Down here, there was only pitch-black silence- which made the thumping of their hearts sound even louder in their ears.  

"Speech"

As Aurelia stood in the silent crypt, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn’t help but jump at the sound of Rhazien's voice as it reverberated off the ancient walls, breaking through the solitude she had grown accustomed to. Slowly turning to face him, she found herself drawn to his imposing figure which was partially cloaked in shadows. His piercing, darkened gaze met hers with an intensity that both fascinated and left her feeling uneasy. Her saphire eyes shimmered in the dim light of the torch, reflecting the energy that seemed to radiate from Rhazien. Every inch of him exuded a challenging allure- different than his normal one, that left Aurelia breathless. She couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise and curiosity as she stood before him, tinged with a trickling fear. But of course, perhaps that was just a product of the environment.

She let out a sharp breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. His predatory grin and the way his eyes glistened in the dim light did nothing to still her rapidly beating heart. "Rhazien," she breathed out, "You nearly gave me a heart attack." She answered sharply- shuffling back a step in reflex only to bump into the cool stone of the dead-end wall. When his question finally registered in her mind, she was quick to answer. "Not at all," she retorted, the faint tremor in her voice revealing her unease, "Just...exploring." She finished, hoping the explanation would satisfy his curiosity.

"Aurelia Veratti"

The way his voice echoed off the walls, made it sound rhythmical in a sense- deep baritones seeping into every corner of the catacomb, until it faded off into the eerie silence. The only sound other than their breathing was the light trickling of water somewhere in the distance, adding to the uncanny feel of the scene. She must have already been on edge- the way she turned to face him, slow and hesitant, as if she was expecting a ghoul to be standing in his place. When their eyes met, there was an undeniable tension that formed in the space between them- whether it be because of the small space, the unsettling atmosphere, or the fact that they were hidden from the rest of the word - he wasn’t sure. Perhaps, an even mix of it all.

She breathed out his name in a quick exhale, stunned by his sudden appearance in the most arbitrary of places. And as she took a step forward, he fought back the impulse to rush after her- the musculature beneath his pelt tensing, as he leaned harder into the stone wall. “Exploring?” He said, echoing her words, while maintaining their tense eye contact. “Well, it looks like you’ve seen it all.” He motions towards the wall at her back with a flick of his snout. "Anything of interest?” Part of him cared to know if there were treasures here- the other part, just wanted to keep her engaged. And after she replies, he follows up with, "Do you feel content with your... discoveries? Really, he was pointing out this unforeseeable circumstance- the two of them alone, without another soul in sight.

Aurelia could say or do whatever she wanted down here- vent about Sephiran, reveal suicidal ideations, hell, try to kill Rhazien where he stood. But what else formed in the dark corners of her mind, he wondered? What… fantasizes, hid behind locked doors?  

"Speech"

Feeling the heavy weight of his gaze on her, Aurelia's eyes darted around the room, looking for an answer to his question. "Well," she started, reaching back to touch the wall- tracing a cryptic symbol carved into the stone behind her nervously. She glanced at him again, "These symbols are like nothing I've seen before. I wish I knew what they meant." Her words were met with distinct echoes bouncing off the walls, hanging in the air between them.

"Yes...content..." she continued finally in a whisper, her voice seemingly hesitant. She couldn't help but wonder if he was referring to more than just her explorations. His commanding presence and the intensity in his eyes made her heartbeat quicken once again. "I suppose I am content," she added, swallowing hard. But was it the truth? Her gaze shifted from his and fell back on those mysterious symbols, as if seeking answers from them. After all, being alone with Rhazien in this eerie labyrinth was not something she had planned, nor was it something she was necessarily prepared for. Yet, here she was. Clearing her throat to speak once more, she took a glimpse down the dark corridor behind him before realigning her attention. “What are you doing down here?” She asked lightly. Rhazien didn’t seem to be the exploring type, nor did he strike her as having an interest in the arcane like herself.

"Aurelia Veratti"

The weight of his gaze was heavy, but not oppressive- more carnal than anything, as it dared to slip and trail across every curve of her body. Though, it appeared his gaze finally pierced through her skin- those azure eyes darting away from his and settling on the mysterious symbols carved into the stone. Studying them from a distance, he waits a few seconds before sauntering forward. Wanting to come up alongside her- his larger, muscular body threatening to swallow her whole. He kept his eyes forward, leaning in to study the cryptic symbols, trying to interpret their meaning. “A language as old as time.” He mused aloud. “They must tell stories, no?” His muzzle tipped so he could look down at her, his lips pulling back into his infamous, suave smirk. “Ones of shamanic beliefs. Wars. Rites and burials.”  His voice trailed off, and he ended with, “Lovers.” A chill rolled down his spine- raking metaphorical fingers through his pelt, almost making his fur stand on end.

Basking in her proximity, his body leans towards hers ever so slightly- starting subtle, as he wants to push her boundaries. “Content is… good.” He confirms with a nod, wondering if she’d picked up on the undercurrent of his words. “Sephiran told me to follow you,” A blatant lie, but she wouldn’t know that right away. “Said he needed to visit a neighboring territory for a bit.” He let silence build between them, wanting to ignite a wave of emotion inside of her, only to quell it moments later. “Kidding, kidding,”  His smile widened, revealing more of his obsidian-plated fangs- the metal shimmering in the low lighting. "I added a vial of venom to the collection. And while our dear Sultan is away, I figured I’d explore his domain.” That’s when Rhazien pushes further- taking a step towards her, trying to slowly herd her into the corner of the room. “And I must say,” His gaze is lingering on her now- first on her face, before crawling down the curvature of her neck, until it reaches her collar bone. “The Sultan keeps the finest treasures for himself.” He watches her chest rise and fall a few breaths before he seeks her gaze. “Wouldn’t you agree?”  His voice is light and airy, but the weight behind it is undeniable- he wanted Aurelia, badly.  

"Speech"

His nearness was dizzying, his musky scent filling the confined space around them. As he leaned in to examine the symbols, Aurelia could see his strong profile etched against the dim torchlight. The chiseled lines of his features, the predatory gleam in his eyes - it was all so overwhelmingly wild- he reminded her of Sephiran hidden in the shadows of the catacombs. It was chilling, yet oddly captivating. His voice, a deep rumble that bounced off the stone walls, stirred something deep within her overlaid with the fear that had come to grip her heart at the thought of the constant manipulations she underwent with the Sultan. "Lovers," she echoed softly. Her heart pounded at the thought. There was an electric charge in the air as she gazed back at him, her azure eyes wide and vulnerable under his heavy stare. The word hung in the air, echoing lightly off the stone walls. She swallowed hard, her pulse fluttering like a small bird trapped within her chest. Aurelia could feel the tension between them building - a charged silence broken only by their ragged breaths and distant drips of water. The labyrinth seemed to hum with the energy that flowed between them, its ancient stones echoing their every word, every breath as if locked into an eternal dance.

A jolt of surprise raced through Aurelia's veins as Rhazien mentioned Sephiran. But then his smile revealed the jest, and she couldn't help but let out a shaky breath-  part annoyance, part confusion, and even part relief. As he continued speaking, she could feel him edging towards her, backing her against the stone wall. His gaze was unnerving—intense, predatory—a silent declaration of his intentions. His comment about the treasures made Aurelia's throat tighten. He wasn't talking about the Sultan's material possessions; his eyes were focused on her, taking in every inch of her trembling body. A blush crept across her face, and she dropped her gaze to the cold stone floor, dread knotting in her stomach. Aurelia shot another nervous glance around him- into the black abyss of the underground tunnels. They were so far below the surface. So far away from anyone else. "I... I wouldn't know," she stammered finally. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it rang with a little more pushback of her usual defiance.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Her voice echoed his, focusing on the word lovers out of his depiction of the cryptic symbols. Perfect. He intended to have her fixate on that portion, because he knew his dear, sadistic nephew couldn’t offer her anything close to the concept of love. And my, did it stir up something. The way she looked back to him, azure eyes wide and vulnerable, feeding on the surge of emotion building in the space between them. Fuck, he loved this shit. It was all part of his passion for mind games and manipulation- he wanted her to keep mulling it over in her mind, to conceptualize the possibility of a relationship built on love and mutual affection. If only to make her attention shift towards him.  

And then, Rhazien initiated the dance- pressing forward with slow calculated steps, driving her into the corner of the room. Of course, it wasn’t meant to intimidate her- he didn’t operate the way their oppressive Sultan did. It was merely a test, as he sought to push her boundaries until they broke- but whether or not that would be in his favor, was yet to be told. But ah, she must have been bewitched by his comment in some way- the rosy hue that spread across her face, and the bashful expression that overtook her, a sentiment to the emotion whirling inside of her. “Oh, but I think you do.” He corrects her, ceasing in his advance. He’d pushed her back far enough- her back touching the stone wall, and she had nowhere to go but forward into his broad chest. “Sephiran may be a sadist, but he’s got a keen eye,” A short pause, as he stared down into her eyes- the name Sephiran, represented Rhazien, if she looked deep enough into the undercurrent of his tone. “An attraction to beauty, if you will- and its magnetism.” His neck cranes, his face tilting down, his snout moving slowly towards hers. “How cerulean cuts through an ashen palette- a cosmic, midnight sky.” Her pelt was ethereal, and certainly otherworldly in comparison to the amethyst hues he was familiar with. And her features, they were soft, feminine, youthful. He'd make sure to touch on that. “One that adorns slender cheekbones- accenting those sapphires - infinite in depth, like they’d swallow you whole if you let them.” His face was aligned with hers now- their noses only inches apart.

But it wasn't just her features that enthralled him- it was also her mind - that analytical and intelligent nature of hers, that coincided with his own. “And that inquisitive mind. It begs for release.... doesn’t it?” His pelt started to bristle, the warmth of his breath softly caressing the fur around her cheeks. The muscles beneath his pelt quivering, as the lustful ardor in his chest welled up into his throat- threatening to bubble out uncontrollably. Fantasies of lurching forward in a frenzy, intertwining their tongues, lifting her against the wall of the catacombs so he fuck the life out of her in the sanctuary of the abyss, clawing at every inch of his mind.

He leans in closer, like he will bring their lips together- but before he makes contact - before he enters a domain they will not be able to return from - he stops. Exhaling a shaky breath into the air between them, lips twitching as he fights the urge to sneer. “Which is why he considers you a treasure, no doubt- setting you off limits to the rest of the pack.” Savoring you like the greedy fucker he is. And then, he suddenly pulls away from her- forcing himself to retreat before he commits the most unforgivable sin. Because he can’t betray Sephiran. “Dacă ai fi al meu.” Foreign words are spoken, and hee flashes her that suave smile of his- barely collecting himself enough to saunter away into the abyss of the catacombs, mind buzzing from the high of their encounter. No doubt he'd be fucking a whore tonight, thinking of Aurelia.

-exit unless stopped?-

"Speech"

Aurelia could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage, as though a powerful thunderstorm had taken shape inside her, making her feel both exhilarated and terrified as she struggled to contain its force. His words were like drops of water in the desert, startling in their tantalizing insistence. The way he paused when uttering Sephiran's name, it was as though he was both taunting and challenging her at the same time. As his face inched closer, she could feel the warmth radiating off him — an intoxicating mixture of moss, earth and some other exotic scent she couldn’t place. His voice, a deep rumble that sent tingles down her spine and made every hair on her body stand on end.

His description of her was both flattering and unnerving; words delivered intimately, yet detached as if observing an exquisite piece of art. She could feel the delicate tremors along her skin--his words brushing against them like silk—detached, yet intimate. His fixation on Sephiran was maddening; it felt like an intricate puzzle she was being forced to solve against her will. Sephiran was a sadist, but Rhazien's words painted him as more of a connoisseur, discerning and admiring in his own twisted way. The notion sent shivers down Aurelia's spine, turning the blush on her cheeks into a flush of fear. And as Rhazien leaned in towards her, it felt like her world shrunk down to just them. His hot breath brushed against her lips, sending waves of trepidation coursing through her veins. But just as their lips were about to touch, he pulled away abruptly, his retreating figure swallowed up by the darkness. His parting words resounded in the air, foreign and mysterious. Aurelia was left breathless, her body leaning against the cold stone wall for support. The tension in the room had dissipated so suddenly, she felt as though she had been dropped from a great height. The room was cold again, and cruelly silent without his presence.

She shut her eyes tightly, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and fears, twisting together into an indistinguishable mess. What did he mean by those last words? And why did he retreat so abruptly? Was it a part of his mind games or was there something more? Most importantly, what trick had he played to leave her wanting so desperately?

-end thread-
"Aurelia Veratti"