Murder: Victim #8

[Matalina]

The shadow was getting careless, they were nearly caught the last time it had made its way out into the streets of Tar Valon.  Aren't you going to do anything? -Yeah, stop sitting there.-  Cari did nothing, she didn't answer she was absorbed in the shadows feelings.  She was growing stronger from the fire that fueled shadow.  Marosa tried to shake Cari but she never budged, the shadow cackled in their mind and they heard it softly in the darkness outside. 

 

The shadow crept into the Yards.  It was getting increasingly harder to get into there, but it was possible, but it limited its fun to just one.  It took too long now.  There was no time for more, no room for mistakes now. 

 

Men, women it didn't matter who was the victim, it just needed to be someone who was alone in the dark.  Someone uncaring of their own safety.  Someone who...

 

And it was then that Cari saw the young boy walk through the yard towards the offices.  He was alone, the shadow followed and Cari and the others grimaced.  It was not after a man or a woman this time, but a boy, a trainee. He was young, probably barely old enough to be in the yards.  His baby smooth face raidiated innocence and Cari tried not to think about it.  The shadow laughed and it knew this time it would be fun.  It wasn't about the kill this time, it as about torturing the souls it shared the body with.  Their pain would feed it's lust this time.  It relished the thought and stalked the boy.

 

He went into the Mistress of Trainees office.  It wasn't long before he came out abashed and long faced.  The shadow watched as he sulked down the hall way.  Cari moved behind him.  He glanced back behind him and he nearly yelped as Cari put her arm around him and covered his mouth. 

 

The door behind them opened and Cari knew it was over, the shadow drew the dagger and sliced the boys throat while staring the woman in the face. It was a horrified look.  The shadow dropped the boy and took off at a run through the halls of the offices.  The thoughts running through the shadows mind were incoherent, it had been caught it didn't know what to do.  It was relying on Cari's memories her thoughts guided them to their escape, or so it hoped.  Hope was not something it was good at but it was hoping.

 

Cari

[Eqwina]

A steady routine of sleepless nights and endless days had filled Thera’s life since the murders had begun. Every night Jasine had to force her into bed and still she was awake hours before the sun. She took the continued freedom of this murderer as a personal failure even though there was others more capable searching as well. She’d tried to focus on maintaining and outward calm and a feeling of normalcy with her trainees, not wanting to send any of them into a panic.

 

Every day she worked them as hard as she always had, still spouting venomous corrections at their every misstep, hoping that her lack of mention of the murders would

keep their young minds from dwelling too long. A few Aes Sedai and even other Tower Guards had made visits to her office in the last several days suggesting and often times demanding that she set a curfew on the trainees, perhaps in hopes that others would follow. Thera held her ground knowing that news of a curfew or any sort of ban would only “put a weasel in the hen yard” as they said, and would perhaps embolden the murder.

 

Pounding her fist against her hand Thera paced the length and breadth of her office, trying to make sense of all the events. A murder in Tar Valon was unheard of, but a Murder in the Tower seemed like the end of an Age. Who would dare trespass and plunder where even kings stepped quietly?

 

A sharp knock sounded at her door and a knife slide down Thera’s sleeve and into her hand. With her arm tucked firmly to her side she beckoned them in. Seeing one of her young students was a relief, but she did not slip her knife fully back up her sleeve until the boy had lain out that he came for his punishment. Angry with the current circumstances more than him, she still released a tongue lashing that the boy would not soon forget. She even used the thin board that hung beside her desk, making sure that at least he wouldn’t bother her with petty punishments for some time.

 

Sending him on his way with a flee in his ear, Thera slammed the door behind him returning to her pacing. The only sounds in the room the steady stamping of her boots on the wood. A small noise, so tiny it almost went unheard sounded in Thera’s ears and she paused for a moment before returning to her door to look out the way the boy had left. Perhaps she had been rougher than she’d intended with the paddle.

 

What she saw made her breath catch in her throat and for a moment she was frozen where she stood. All of the searching and the fool murderer brought them selves to her door. Her second of hesitation was all that the murderer need to slide the knife cleaning across the trainee’s throat and take off at a dead sprint. A small growl escaped Thera’s lips and she bolted from her office door leaping over the spreading pool of her student blood. She would mourn later; right now the only thing on her mind was catching the vile beast who had been handing out death like candies. Trusting instinct to guide her feet she never to her eyes from the killers back, not even for a moment.

 

Out of the halls and out into the night they ran, with Thera always a few steps behind. Blinking furiously trying to adjust to the sudden darkness she stumbled allowing the fool to gain a few more steps. Pulling deep on her anger she bolted forward and around the corner of the building after the shadow swathed form.

 

Thera Trakelyn

In pursuit

[Matalina]

The shadow ran as fast as it could keeping to the darkest of shadows.  It was not going to be seen running through the yards with the Mistress of Trainees running after her.  No it would not get caught.  The others urged the shadow on, only Cari sat and watched. Fear permiated the mind and there was nothing but fear, the void would be helpful but the shadow did not know how to obtain it so fear ran through the body fueling it and hindering it at the same time.  Cari kept her thoughts clear and maps of her time in the yards in her mind.  The shadow needed her knowledge, or they would all be dead by morning. 

 

The shadow ran towards the gate, only hoping to get a few more steps a head of her.  It needed to get out of sight and out of the yards.  It was trapped in here.  It needed a way out.  Away back into the city.

 

The bell chimed.  It chimed again.  It was a change of guard, now was the only time it would get out.  Cari lead the shadow through her mind through the least accessible of the yards.  The shadows were still dark but it was getting lighter and lighter as time wore on.  It would soon be dawn and the shadows it needed would be gone.  Must get to the city.

 

The gates were clear, it was only a matter of luck, the guards were changing and whoever was suppose to stand there was not.  It was now or never. 

 

The shadow took a quick glance back and saw that the woman was close, there was no room for error, no mistakes.  The shadow ran out of the gates as fast as it could into the city outside.  If it had any hope of getting away it was only in the city that it could.

[Eqwina]

Having spent the better part of 15 years in the yards Thera had no issues navigating even in the darkness. Her only focus was the dark mass in front of her. It was her anger at the killer and her frustration that fueled her feet, making her run faster than she had in years. She dodged around the practice racks and the wooden fences her feet finding equal footing on gravel or grass.

 

She managed to gain ground as their path led them nearer to the walls. The ground was flat and by cutting out and around she was able to decrease the space between them by hands, but it was still not enough.

 

She knew that if she lost them out into the city the chase could end horribly for her or anyone else fool enough to be out at this hour. The bells singling the change in guard sounded and Thera suddenly knew that this was her moment. Now would be the killers only chance at escape and if she allowed it, she would be a failure. To have them so close and hand and to lose them was almost too much to bear. Picking her legs up higher Thera gained a little more ground and as she leaped forward trying grasp on to any part of her murderer they slipped out of the gate and out into the night.

 

Cursing her mistake and the ground it had cost her Thera took of after her, wishing that it had not been the change in the guard. Or she would not be alone in her chase. She could have a whole band of Tower Guards running at her sides, instead of running alone through the dark streets. With the high walls of the Tower growing more distant she was suddenly very aware of her lack of sword. She could still see it leaning casually against her door frame, where it always rested when she was in her office.

 

Seeing the shadowed shape duck into a alley Thera picked up her pace and let two knives slide down her sleeves and into her hands.

 

[Matalina]

Cari ran through the shadows of the alleyways, and streets of Tar Valon.  It would be light soon, but probably not soon enough.  Cari put up her hood and lost a step in the process, her persuer was now one step closer to catching her.  The shadow could almost feel her breathing down its neck.  It was not going to get caught.  Twists and turns through the alleys and streets and still she could not get away.

 

What now?  Marosa and the others were frantic.  The shadows fear had dimmed due to pure exhaustion, but there was still strength left in its mind.  Cari pushed once, but it did not give way.  She sat back down and waited more, the streets would soon be filled with people, getting away in a throng of people would be far easier. Are you insane, it will slow us down too! Cari didn't answer there was no point in it.  They would see soon enough that the hindrance would be well worth the pain.

 

So the shadow ran as fast as it could, dodging barrels of gunk and the occasional box of refuse.  It prayed daylight would soon come and that people would emerge from there homes.  But must of all it hoped that Cari was right, that they could lose the Mistress of Trainees in the throng of people.

 

Cari

[Eqwina]

As she chased the killer her slim bladed knives twirled in her hands. She was accounted a fair shot and if she could just get within range her own forward momentum should be more than enough. It was hard enough to hit a moving target when you were standing still, it was even harder when you were moving yourself. Biding her time Thera ran, her well muscled legs not yet feeling much strain.

 

Dodging past the barrel that her killer had set wobbling she seized the moment. With them both still dodging through the maze of crates Thera had a good line of sight and she let her first knife fly. Another stack of crates came into view and her knife landed in the side of one of those instead of in the murderer’s back. Growling with frustration she didn’t wait to attempt it again. This time she was sure the knife had to have struck home, but she could find not evidence of the knife or blood. Not wanting to stop even for a moment she pressed on dodging through the alley and back out into the night.

 

There was not yet any hint of first morning light, but Thera knew it was fast approaching. Soon their would be people in the streets..more victims if she hadn’t hit her mark. Cursing her hesitation she continued to press forward. All to soon trickles of people began to appear as candles were lit in the upper windows of shops and the smells of breakfast began to permeate from Inn’s. Rounding a corner onto one of Tar Valon’s main streets Thera cursed loud enough that the few people already on the street edged to the sides to give her more room.

 

This should not be enough crowd to hide her prey, but they’d arrived just long enough before she to have run in..Thera’s eyes scanned the connecting streets and alleys…at least 5 directions. At the mouth of one alley her eyes noticed a silvery glint and recognized it right away as her knife. Bending to pick it up she noticed a single red streak and cursed again. A knick and nothing more! Peering down into the alley she saw a slight movement, but didn’t move quickly. Instead she walked slowly into the alley cursing to herself and turning the knife over in her hands. When she was fully submerged in shadow she dove at the shadowed form with a growl. Tumbling to the pavement onto of her prey she fought the squirming and tried to pin them to the ground, but the person fought like a cornered bear. Twice she was hit so hard the air flew from her lungs and she just barely had time to recover to deflect another blow.

 

[Matalina]

Searing pain radiated up Cari's arm, the shadow didn't shreek out in pain but the others almost howled in its head, nearly toppling it over.  It grouped for the blade to find it lodge just above the elbow of her left arm.  With a swift tug and a clean whip against it's pant leg the shadow let the knife fall to the ground. 

 

Daylight was coming and there were people around, it would easier now, it longed for the heat of the morning to press down upon them.  Down an alleyway they ran, passing a person on the shadows.  It wasn't her presurer thankfuly.  The shadow rounded the corner and then heard a crash, and a muffled yell. 

 

Cari didn't glance back but kept running through the streets, the Mistress of Trainees had caught her victim.  The shadow nearly laughed.  It would have to be more careful.  Next time it may not be so easy to get away.

 

OOC:  I chose to do it this way because if Eqwina really did catch her, there would be lots of blood and maiming on both parts and not sure how you feel about that. 

 

Cari

[Eqwina]

 

It was not an easy fought thing, but finally Thera was able to slip another knife from her boot tops and land in home in the killers arm. With the struggle at an end she bound his hand and feet and then ripped off the hood of the cloak.

 

“Blood and Bloody Ashes, Mother Milk in a Cup..Light!! Oh Light!!” She was cursing because the man she’d tackled and stabbed was not the one she’d seen in hall. Somehow she’d managed to capture the wrong man. Beating her fist against the wall she all but ignored the groaning man lying tied and trussed on the ground.

 

It was too late now; too much time had passed to have any real hope of catching up. Glancing out into the streets she could see them slowly filling with people. Walking out into the street, ignoring the bleeding man’s cries she grabbed the first young boy she saw and sent him running to the Tower gates to inform the Guards. Kicking at up turned crates Thera sat down next to the man she had captured and laid her head in her hands. She’d failed…utterly and completely. The killer had been with in reach and she’d let them get away.

 

Thera was still sitting on the damp ground in the alley when guards from the Tower came and gathered up to man, for healing and questioning as to why he was lurking in the alley.