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birthright_rpg2013-11-15 11:24 pm
st_clare) wrote in birthright_rpg2013-11-15 11:24 pm
Entry tags:
Suspicions Confirmed
Her diplomas had been re-arranged.
She knew it because she'd hung them on the wall in the order of their importance to her, and now they'd been switched about. And she'd found the paperweights she usually kept on her desk in the file cabinet. She'd almost chalked that up to the cleaning staff, but that would have meant that they'd also shifted her diplomas around, which made no sense. The conclusion she'd come to was uncomfortable for her, but it was also the most logical one.
Elfleda.
Julianna had found the name in a book, basing it off of Valerie's physical description and the way the girl had spoken of the entity's manner. She not only went by 'Beth' but also by 'Pythia', for reasons unknown. According to the lore, she'd been given as a sacrifice to something called Leviathan, to serve in perpetuity as its 'bride'. She represented corruption and spiritual decay. Moral rot.
It was ten o clock at night and everyone had gone home, even housekeeping. The Watcher had unlocked the door to her office and turned on a single lamp, casting a pool of light on the dark surface of her desk. She was not a skilled practitioner of magic, but she knew some simple spells and basic rituals. The stone had been hidden in the bottom drawer of her desk, and she extracted it and set it on the blotter, then arranged the rest of her supplies.
The test took less than ten minutes, but when it was over a cold sweat had broken out on Julianna's brow and she felt vaguely nauseated. She'd been right. Too right. She breathed through her nose, trying to gather her wits. The stone sat on her desk blotter, looking innocuous and harmless. She was exceedingly reluctant to touch it.
The results of her research left her torn. If she returned Elfleda's token to Valerie, whatever bond had formed between the Slayer and the Corruptress would not only remain, it would likely grow. There were vaguely-recalled stories of Slayers who'd turned to a dark path, been swallowed by their demonic essence. If she gave tacit approval by giving back the stone, what would she be consigning the girl to?
On the other hand, if she disposed of it or even tried to destroy it, that would mean she'd broken her word, which was a direct violation of her ethics and a breach of the trust she was trying to establish between herself and the blonde. She could attempt a spiritual cleansing and then give it back, but that would take time and effort and Valerie might wonder what she was up to. Julianna ran her fingers through her hair, looked at the stone broodingly.
She needed to trust the girl. Valerie had done nothing to make her appear suspicious, and if they were to work together, a certain amount of blind faith was necessary. The Watcher swept her crystals and other supplies back into their carry case, then tucked it out of sight.
At least she hadn't brought the filthy thing home with her. That was a small consolation.
She picked up the stone between two fingers, as if it were slimy, then dropped it back into its hiding spot. Out of sight, out of mind. She felt less queasy now that she didn't have to look at it. She turned out the light, casting the room back into darkness. Her chair creaked as she got up. The door snicked shut, and then there was the sound of the lock engaging.
She would go home and try to sleep. She must learn to trust.
She knew it because she'd hung them on the wall in the order of their importance to her, and now they'd been switched about. And she'd found the paperweights she usually kept on her desk in the file cabinet. She'd almost chalked that up to the cleaning staff, but that would have meant that they'd also shifted her diplomas around, which made no sense. The conclusion she'd come to was uncomfortable for her, but it was also the most logical one.
Elfleda.
Julianna had found the name in a book, basing it off of Valerie's physical description and the way the girl had spoken of the entity's manner. She not only went by 'Beth' but also by 'Pythia', for reasons unknown. According to the lore, she'd been given as a sacrifice to something called Leviathan, to serve in perpetuity as its 'bride'. She represented corruption and spiritual decay. Moral rot.
It was ten o clock at night and everyone had gone home, even housekeeping. The Watcher had unlocked the door to her office and turned on a single lamp, casting a pool of light on the dark surface of her desk. She was not a skilled practitioner of magic, but she knew some simple spells and basic rituals. The stone had been hidden in the bottom drawer of her desk, and she extracted it and set it on the blotter, then arranged the rest of her supplies.
The test took less than ten minutes, but when it was over a cold sweat had broken out on Julianna's brow and she felt vaguely nauseated. She'd been right. Too right. She breathed through her nose, trying to gather her wits. The stone sat on her desk blotter, looking innocuous and harmless. She was exceedingly reluctant to touch it.
The results of her research left her torn. If she returned Elfleda's token to Valerie, whatever bond had formed between the Slayer and the Corruptress would not only remain, it would likely grow. There were vaguely-recalled stories of Slayers who'd turned to a dark path, been swallowed by their demonic essence. If she gave tacit approval by giving back the stone, what would she be consigning the girl to?
On the other hand, if she disposed of it or even tried to destroy it, that would mean she'd broken her word, which was a direct violation of her ethics and a breach of the trust she was trying to establish between herself and the blonde. She could attempt a spiritual cleansing and then give it back, but that would take time and effort and Valerie might wonder what she was up to. Julianna ran her fingers through her hair, looked at the stone broodingly.
She needed to trust the girl. Valerie had done nothing to make her appear suspicious, and if they were to work together, a certain amount of blind faith was necessary. The Watcher swept her crystals and other supplies back into their carry case, then tucked it out of sight.
At least she hadn't brought the filthy thing home with her. That was a small consolation.
She picked up the stone between two fingers, as if it were slimy, then dropped it back into its hiding spot. Out of sight, out of mind. She felt less queasy now that she didn't have to look at it. She turned out the light, casting the room back into darkness. Her chair creaked as she got up. The door snicked shut, and then there was the sound of the lock engaging.
She would go home and try to sleep. She must learn to trust.