the venomless snake

At her comment, he couldn’t help but smile. Inky lips pulled back into a sly smirk, the steel coating on his teeth shimmering beneath the midday sun. Of course she wouldn’t consider herself a plaything- which was exactly why Rhazien was trying to inspire her. “You’ve said it yourself,” He continued, still standing at the cliffside, but keeping an ear turned in her direction. Needing to anticipate if she was going to act suddenly or brashly. “If you’re more than a plaything-“ His mind wandered to the Sidi back home. So many of them were docile, fragile creatures. Women and men they could properly toy with, mutilate, and terrorize. But every once in a while, someone would bring home someone electrifying. They would either be killed or worm their way into Saffron's ranks. And Aurelia, she was electrifying. “Start acting like it.” So why keep hiding in the shadows until Sephiran appeared?

He suddenly whirled around, facing her once more. Studying her expression, wanting it to morph with his next set of words. “Sidi can be more than a toy.” A short pause, to allow the gravity of his words to sink in. “It’s possible to relieve yourself of the title. Rare, but possible.” Another pause, as he recalled memories of his siblings and how they treated their Sidi. “Call it petty mind games.”  Referring to her words, wanting her to understand, this was not a game. She may have craved death- but he knew she didn't crave the torture that prelude it. “But if you can evoke affection from Sephiran. Hell, evoke anything but possession. If you can interact, instead of react- you may find a comfortable alternative.” His smile faded a bit, expression becoming more serious. “…why be the prey, when you can stand alongside the predator?”  Falling silent, giving her time to consider his words. Would she understand what he was trying to say?

"Speech"