A Conflict of Interest. | B i r c h & L i l i t h

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

Tahoma Doe.

Her current case, quite the troublemaker. A case specifically requested by Winston, ideal really. If she was going to garner the Magic Council Member's trust, sex alone would not accomplish this. She needed to prove that he could trust her to complete certain tasks, and fortunately for her, this one wasn't morally questionable. Rather, it was actually very much in her jurisdiction. Tahoma, last name unknown, was a recognised criminal although a curious one at that. The suspicious behaviours of governing officials had led to an investigation, weeks of result has shown no signs of magical manipulation or possession. The officials very much of sound mind. However, there were some inconsistencies that remained unexplained, ones that finally were explained by a discreet security camera hidden behind the rails of a fire escape.

As apparent governer, Matthew Lagneir stepped into the shadowy confines of the alleyway, he would undergo a transformation. Into the body of 'Tahoma', this had led to significant research on the individual impersonating government officials. Albeit data was sparse, aside from his name and recent whereabouts there wasn't much else to work with. But that was fine, because that's all Lilith needed.

Her contacts had told her that Tahoma was last spotted on Shadow Island, which she had soon found her way to. Narrowing his local to the village of 'Vlakomir', she wanders the streets idly. It was dark and gloomy here, not the kind of place she would usually haunt, but work was work. Her emerald gaze scanning the buildings, one by one, looking for the location her intelligence had suggested he might be staying in. After several minutes of walking, she would spot the decrepit place; 'Hecate's Helm.'

She adjusted her path, moving toward the inn, as she reached the doors she pushed them open without hesitation. Pulling her dark cloak around her, she scanned the damp hotel, it was worn down, that was for sure. It had hints of history, signs of a one plush carpet, trodden with soil. Maybe it had been a nice location, once upon a time, but this was no longer the case. Lili made her way to the bar, casually glancing around the room in an attempt to see if her target was here. She could see figures, but none she recognised from the reports, there were also a few hooded individuals whose face she couldn't see. As the bartender approached her, he grunted in such a way as to offer his service. "Can I get a gin and tonic, and a room, if there's one available."

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

Tahoma of Jirichy Lake.

As someone trying to take over Fiore and Ishgar in general, Birch always had his ear to the ground for ways to dismantle the system for his own gain. It was a tougher job to do than he thought, what with his entire guild also trying to dismantle the governing systems because "screw rules, make chaos!", but he still puttered along as best he could in his disadvantaged state. While there was little he could do about his guild's doings other than keeping an eye on them and use it the best he could, it vexed him when outside forces started meddling. He hated it even more when they were meddlers from his old home, the place his eyes were set on for the endgame.

Much to his dismay, it seemed the curse was beginning to lift. His Kingdom was beginning to stir. Tahoma was here on orders from the Queen to begin espionage on Fiore. She knew where he was. She was coming. She aimed to conquer. She aimed to take everything from him again.

Over his dead body.

This was just the beginning, but he planned to send a clear message. He'd kill every agent she sent and send them back to her in pieces, starting with Tahoma. He'd tracked the water elemental to an old haunt of his ages ago on Shadow Island, Hecate's Helm. Though he was cloaked and no one could see his face, Birch still scowled. What a state it was in. It was hard to believe it used to be a place royals visited on their vacations abroad beyond the boarders of Giltena. Now it smelled like mold, dust, and the sour memories of what was once a naive prince.

Birch had no clue that someone else was hunting his prey this evening. As he sat at once of the worn tables, nursing watered-down whiskey from a smudged glass, his stormy eyes roved. Figuring out which patron was Tahoma was his top priority, but he had to be careful not to tip him off. The man was slippery and could obviously blend into a crowd if spooked. He was certain he was somewhere in the inn's tavern. He could smell Jirichy's algae.

---

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

The Gin was unpleasant. A low-quality brand, watered down for an extended shelf life. Exactly the sort of thing she expected from this sort of establishment. The barkeep would follow his delivery of the unpleasant drink with a bronze room key, it's edges frayed with nicks and coated in light rusting. She paid the man, before turning to the inn, eying the individuals in the room with an inspective gaze, she made her way into the centre of the room. There were three individuals in the room wearing hoods, she needed to get a look at their faces and there was only one way she knew how to lure out a predator - To be the bait.

She made her way to a table, noisily dragging the wooden chair across the stone floor. Unable to ignore the sounds, eyes would glance up at her, watching the woman's actions. Lilith would lift her arms, bringing her fingers to her neck, she slowly began untwisting the knot of the cloaks ties. Feeling its cord loosening at her teasing, she peeled it away allowing the dark cloak to fall off of her, the fabric slinking over the chair and exposing her to the room. Her attire was simple; a maroon dress, with lacey hemming and a layered skirt that fell short of her knees. Her hair was pulled up into a layered bun, with tassels of curled locks dangling around her face, framing her pretty features. She lowered herself into her seat and sipped her drink casually. As much as it displeased her, she was able to feign satisfaction from the beverage. A tired lonely, female traveller in need of a soft bed and a stiff drink - that's all she was.

It took less than a minute for one of them to approach her, not one of the hooded figures but another rube. Lilith pulled out her iLac, playing with its features idly. "No thank you." She commented bluntly not even raising her eyes to meet him. He wasn't the target, so she wasn't interested. He grumbled a little before wandering off once more, she glanced up briefly, her eyes looking towards the closest figure. The first hooded man would look up to meet her gaze, giving her enough of a view of his face to show that he wasn't Tahoma. Or at least not the Tahoma she knew of. It was possible that he could be using a disguise but Lilith was betting on the hunch that he wouldn't. Not in a place like this, why would he need to, as far as he knew - no one was looking for him.

At least that was what she hoped.

She played with her phone casually some more, browsing through LacBook as she did so. She would hear a shuffle once more, the sound of steps. She glanced up to see another hooded figure, the one that had been closest to her right. Her eyes would find his face, instantly recognising him from the security footage. "Sorry to interrupt, I'm terribly bored on my own, would you like some company?" Not missing a step she slipped into the role smoothly, feigning deliberation. As though she really wasn't sure whether she was interested or not, before sighing and putting her phone away.

"Sure, why not."


It couldn't have gone better really.

Lilith sat on the edge of the bed of the room she had been assigned, Tahoma Doe was currently tied to the bedposts, his eyes covered by some scraps of fabric she had put together. His face wore a stupid grin, excited for the prospect of bedding the mysterious Ravenette he'd stumbled across. It had been easy, pretending to be wooed by him, performing the act of a lonely traveller in need of excitement. And once she'd gotten him to her room, she subtly suggested a little rigging for sport. Keen for consummation, he had agreed, allowing her to bind him with torn up bedsheets.  And now that he was blindfolded, her chains were carefully working their way around his wrists and legs holding him in place. "Marisol?" He would purr inquisitively, using the fake alias she had given him during their earlier exchange. She shushed him softly, she had no intentions of bedding this criminal, but she needed him to think otherwise.

"I'm here handsome, are you excited? It's gonna feel so good." She remarked, despite the fact she was currently tapping away at her iLac, texting her team instructions on where to come to collect the target. Once she was done, of course, she still needed to get some information first. As soon as the messages were sent, she would stand up, striding across the room. Where she would quickly set up a video recorder on a chest of drawers, adjusting the position of the lends so Tahoma would be clearly visible and in the shot. Once ready she pressed the 'on'  button, a little red light flickering on to indicate that she was recording.

"Now then handsome," She began, and with that the chains would suddenly tighten around him. Locking him in place, they bound him in place and stopping him from shifting or resisting. "Let's talk."

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

Birch wasn't falling for it. He'd been around a long time, and while he could be a little dense to or even resistant to the idea of attraction and romance, especially following his ex-lover's betrayal, he knew a trap when he saw one. Initially, he wasn't sure who the trap was for. Certainly, it couldn't be for him. To his knowledge, he was not yet directly hunted by anyone in Fiore nor anyone from his kingdom...yet. His secrecy had served him well thus far. So if it was not to draw him out, that meant she was after someone else in this seedy establishment. He was starting to get the idea that they might be after the same target.

Sure enough, her ruse paid off and Tahoma took the bait. Imagine being so desperate for a moment of pleasure that salivating over and bedding a random woman in a dingy tavern seems like a good idea. He couldn't relate, but this would make it easier for him. She'd drawn him out and was now separating him from the pack. All he had to do was give them a few moments to get distracted, then he'd swoop in and complete his personal mission.

Raising from his chair and leaving the sad-excuse for a drink behind, Birch made his way up the stairs. Even though he had no key, no one truly seemed to have any care who roamed in and out. All the better for him. The tall man skulked down the hall, lips pursed in distaste. It was even more run down up here. Once there had been golden sconces dripping in crystals and warming the halls with mood lighting. His memories overlayed over the ratty interior as if to really drive the conclusion home. Betrayed by his own mind, he had no choice but to suffer the vision of his pale-haired fiance, giggling and walking backward, pulling his hand playfully toward their room for the evening. They were both pleasantly drunk and disgustingly in love, or so he'd thought at the time. It repulsed him that he could still feel the pleasant flutter in his chest associated with the memory and was quickly followed by the searing pain and reminder than he hated her guts and she'd taken everything from him. It put him in an even more foul mood than usual, laced with buried frustrations.

Of course, as fate would have it, he heard their voices from behind the very door his memory led him. Birch wanted nothing more than to get this over with as quickly as possible. Kill Tahoma and get out of his cesspool of an inn and island. The locks on these old door were just as frail as everything else, so even when he turned the knob and met resistance, just a firm push with his shoulder popped it open. He rushed in and closed the door, taking in the scene. Alright, it was partly what he expected, except they weren't in the middle of anything. That gave credence to the trap he'd assumed, but being tied up with sheets and chains was a twist. Being captured or murdered was one thing, but interrogated?

The shadowy man beneath the cloak made his pause a quick one, deciding none of it mattered. Tahoma still needed to die and he didn't care what this woman was up to. Perhaps Tahoma didn't yet realize he'd been duped, but as soon as he did he'd likely slip right out of those restraints. He was a water elemental. They made perfect spies due to their shapeshifting and ability to escape nearly any type of prison. They were hard to kill as well, but Birch had plenty of experience in that regard. Elementals were the exact reason he preferred to directly suck the life force out of his victims because it didn't matter what species they were. Energy was energy. He reached his target within one large step or two, reaching out to grab one of his restrained arms.

---

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

As far as Lilith knew, based on the information she had, the capture and impending interrogation was going well. Tahoma wasn't giving anything away just yet, but she was certain that with a little painfully inclined nudging he would start talking soon enough. And once she had the information she wanted, she could call in her back up and have them take him away. Filing under her belt another successful report, and a win for the Kadokawa girl. Another achievement to take her closer to the rising of ranks amongst the Rune Knights, and another screw you to all the people who doubted her. It was thrilling really, she never imagined she would like it this much, her job. But there was something uniquely satisfying about arresting criminals and solving cases. They were like constant little victories that she got to add to her repertoire, each one proving it's own euphoric gratification. At the very least, she thought it was going swimmingly, until the interruption.

The interruption, as it were, coming in the form of a suited male almost a foot taller than her in height. The man had long blonde locks that trailed over his broad masculine shoulders, his eyes looking upon them with steely grey hues. He was beautiful, menacing and not to mention; uninvited. "Okay you may be incredibly hot, but I didn't come here for a ménage a trois, so can you leave sir? This a rather private matter you're interrupting." She told him irritably, annoyed that some civilian was walking in on her work. He did not leave either, instead in a few quick strides the handsome stranger had closed in her on target and grabbed him by the wrist.

Lilith stepped forward, hex magic already spilling from her finger tips, she raised her hands and release burst magic at the man. Not intending to hit him but a warning shot that would fly past his head, in the form of a black sphere, "Sir, this is your last warning. I am Private Kadokawa of the Rune Knights and that man you're attempting to free is a criminal that I have been sent to apprehend. So I suggest you let him go, otherwise I will have no choice but to arrest you too for obstruction of justice." She ordered firmly, tightening her chains slightly on Tahoma. There were only two options here, either the man had misread the situation and decided to liberate the man from Lilith's binds. Or, he knew Tahoma, and was perhaps an ally trying to liberate him from his binds. Either way, Lilith couldn't allow that to happen. Dark flames of energy licked her palms, threatening to unleash themselves on the man should he make a move.

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

At first, Birch entirely ignored the drivel spewing from the brunette's mouth-- something about a ménage a trois-- and continued to sap away some of the energy from the elemental. Magical water was great fuel for his celestial ice, but, of course, he'd be interrupted. He felt a spike in magical power from the girl and leaned back, making sure he dodged her attack, but it would have missed anyway. She was pulling punches. Unwise.

"You should have taken your shot properly. I'm not here to play," scowled the tall, suited man. His features were as sharp as his gaze, which was trained on her for a few long moments before they once more darted to the man she had 'tied down'. "And while he is here to play, he won't be for long." People in this country thought they knew everything, but that was far from the case. Tahoma was about as restrained as the draft seeping in from the dilapidated window beyond the trio. No, the water elemental was just biding his time, making sure he wasn't going to get any action or catch the attention of his new attacker before he literally dripped off the bed and slipped through the cracks in the worn wooden floor. No doubt he'd use any distraction to escape the two crazy people after him.

"Free?!" he asked, one pale brow lifting in moody confusion. "I'm not trying to free him, you inane woman. I'm going to kill him and you are in my way!" he corrected her with his bass voice rising in irritation. As if to illustrate his point, just as Tahoma's arm started to slip out of its bindings, Birch snatched it. Before she could fire her weird magic at him again, he jammed two fingers into the wrist of her captive. Instead of meeting the resistance of skin or drawing blood, the watery limb rippled and his fingers passed right through and lingered within. There was some sort of small orb floating in the translucent wrist, which Birch jammed his fingers into. It popped like a bubble and suddenly the arm was human again. As his fingers pulled from the wound, water poured out like blood and Tahoma stopped moving entirely. "You know nothing of his species, Rune Knight, so why don't you leave this matter to me and get out before I have to get rough with you? Your justice has no place here."

---

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

Something that Lilith had felt she had gotten control over recently was her temper, since joining the Rune Knights she had been slightly concerned that her temper might be an issue. But somehow, she had managed to progress quite far without any incidents, many because the things that perhaps should have made her angry did not. She wasn't angered by the injustice in the world; by the murderers, the rapists, and the scum. They didn't anger her because, well frankly she just didn't care, they were just ants for her to crush under her boot. However they got there, just didn't matter, all the mattered was the wins, for each one of them she brought in.

But still, it concerned her, that temper, it was no light matter either. When she lost it, she lost it big. It had been a bane on the lives of those around her because they weren't just tantrums. When Lilith snapped, she didn't just 'snap', she exploded. And everyone who stood in her way during these times would often find themselves on the receiving end of some volatile repercussions. And she HAD been fine, perfectly fine even. Tahoma was in her custody and her interrogation was underway. This should have been a win for her, and yet here she was.

Glaring down upon a man who threatened her success and not in a minor way. The stranger scolded her assumption that he was freeing Tahoma. Coupled with a patronizing insult, he would declare his true intention. To kill Tahoma. But what was worse than that really, wasn't the intention for murder. Oh no, it was the fact that this lump had the audacity to accuse her of being in his way. The same man that had barged in on her and her capture for his little murder spree.

The absolute hypocrisy.

Lilith's expressed darkened, her emerald irises would begin to shift, like paint being spilt across a green canvas, they would shift into a red ominous glare. Her expression a picture of fury, in one swift move, the blonde would immobilise Tahoma, who had began to transform into... water. A water mage?  No, something else. At least that what she interpreted from the man's words, her face would contort into a sneer, "That's cute, you think I'm concerned about being roughed up by the likes of you." She scoffed as she began to stride across the room towards the door. "I should thank you though, now that I know how to deal with him. I'll be sure to bear that in mind as we take him in." She reached the door, void particles manifesting at her fingertips. They would begin to fill the cracks in the door, spilling into the keyhole and every other crevice. Spreading across the only exit, sealing it shut so no one else would walk in on them.

"But you made a mistake, you admitted that you're here to commit murder . And I can't let that slide, not without good reason at last." She turned away from the door, "So let's get rough big boy, cause that man is my prey. And you won't be taking him from me." She would spit this venomously in his direction, before taking a single step the woman would sink down suddenly. Disappearing into the floor where her shadow had been moments ago. She would vanish entirely, re-emerging a second later from the shadow made by the bed. She reached down, grabbing Tahoma's other arm. Before throwing her free hand out and releasing an orb of hex magic; a swirling vortex of light, shadow and void that would fly towards the man's chest - this time moving with the intention of hitting her target.

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

Her own anger seemed to stoke his own. His mouth widened into a lopsided grin, though it wasn't in joy. Birch had a tendency to grin when his temper threatened to run away with him. However, he wouldn't lose himself so quickly, as he had back in Hostia. No, though for a moment the eyes that countered her glare lost their irises and pupils and turned an eerie, glowing white, he brought his stormy blue hues back and instead allowed the dark aura to float ominously but ultimately harmlessly around him. His goal wasn't to waste time with this girl. It was to kill the water elemental. Taking quick stock of the situation, he deduced he shouldn't use much of his magic here. Most of what he had in his arsenal was large scale and devastating. The ratty room might be of decent size, but it would not withstand blasts of fire, ice, darkness, or light. Changes in mass could destroy the fragile floor and walls, which was a pity. His aura was heavy and he very much wanted to crush her. In short, if he wanted this to remain undetected and uninterrupted other than for this feisty woman, he'd have to rely on close-quarters combat and snuff this out quickly.

She patronized him, predictably trying to downplay the danger she was in. This girl had no shortage of confidence, but neither did the well-dressed man. Birch simply watched as she locked them in the room, or at least she thought she did. He recognized the void particles, for a moment longing to touch them, take them in and feast on the familiar element often found in the cosmos. As a catalyst for energy that produced and maintained the other elements in a state of balance or imbalance depending on use, Birch was drawn to it. He had many of his original abilities back, albeit in a weaker magnitude. She might be stupid, but now she had two things he very much wanted.

The brunette sunk into a shadow in the ground, but Birch remained unimpressed. Yes, he could do that too. If she'd taken any time to try and ascertain his level of skill or what magical abilities he might have, maybe she'd have more a more successful outcome. She reemerged beside Tahoma, guarding him like a dog with a freshly slain rabbit. Prey indeed. Side-stepping the hex orb she fired with more violent intent this time, he was unsure if he'd be able to absorb it in that form so he didn't try. He opted to immediately retaliate by coming at her with the fighting abilities he'd learned in his time in the military. In swift, long strides, the blond man was towering over her and, in one fluid motion, he grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm in a way that, if she didn't want it broken, would spin her frontside away from him and leave her arm pinned against the low of her back. She'd also be forced to release Tahoma, so the other arm soon joined her other one and he then kicked her legs out from under her. It was a simple restraining move, but a highly effective one for those unable to react quickly enough. Once she was down on her knees he leaned down, bringing her face down to the level he viewed her worth-- the floor. Birch crouched behind her, still holding her down by the wrists behind her back. He could taste the magic laying under her skin, though he didn't yet siphon it from her. Birch wanted to see the moment defeat dawned on her previously smug face. How 'cute' was he now?

Of course, if he was able to do this maneuver so quickly, he most likely could have killed her just as easily, yet he didn't. Why? Even Birch wasn't sure. It was unclear when his mind had snapped from efficient murder and escape to a sadistic cat with his mouse, but it was a switch easily flipped. Normally he'd take the shot offered to him to make things easier, but honestly, he was a cruel man these days. Just as his power had been stripped from him and he was tormented and humiliated, he craved causing those same feelings in his own victims. Especially right now, when his brutal betrayer of a past lover had been on his mind mere minutes ago in the hallway, in this place where they had once been intimate. Perhaps he was projecting all of that on this woman, using her as a surrogate to punish Carmina. She looked nothing like the cursed Queen, but it didn't matter, his intense hatred didn't care. It'd do for now, since he had no way to enact his vengeance on Carmina herself at this time. Much needed to be done before that could happen.

---

     
     

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

After firing the shot at him, the move he made was so swift that she hadn't been able to move quickly enough to avoid him. Particularly because she didn't want to move too far away from Tahoma and give the blonde stranger the opportunity to kill him. Her body was forced to spin against her will so that she was no longer facing him. Losing her grip on Tahoma, she would collapse to the floor after the force of his legs swift kick took her off her feet completely. She grunted as her knees hit the floor, and the man forced her face-first into the dusty wood floor of the hotel room. How fucking dare he. This absolute lowlife pushed her! Lilith Kadokawa of the Rune Knights, against this filthy floor.

Oh, now she had to punish him.

Eyes alight with anger, chains burst from the shadows of the room, darting across the room, they would wrap themself around him, yanking him down so that he was pulled down on top of her. Thick shadowy chains would curl around the hand on her head, binding themselves around his wrist. Tightening more and more threatening to crush his bones if he didn't at the very least release her head. Another chain snaked around his throat, tightening enough to secure him in place. Still, even if she had him, he also had her. She took a second to calm herself down, she couldn't let anger get the best of her, that wasn't wise here. He was quick and that would likely work against her. No, if she was going to figure out a way out of this situation, she needed to calculate every move. One of them had to give to ease this little grapple they had themselves in, and Lilith wasn't sure how to do that.

"Looks like a stalemate huh." She uttered breathily, her voice irritated albeit mildly impressed. "I'm surprised, no ones ever managed to pin me before. You have military training?" She asked, despite the fact she had a pretty good hunch. "So do I, although perhaps a little less than you else I might seen that move coming and been quick enough to counter it. No, you see I tend to rely on my magic more than hand to hand combat, because as you might have noticed. It's pretty intense." She allowed more energy to flow into her chains, if he had any magical sense then he would notice this. The impending flow of power seeping in the shadowy links charged to lethal amounts.

"Surely you're smart enough to realise how much power I have at my fingertips, otherwise why would the Rune Knights send me after Tahoma alone." Her voice wasn't threatening, but rather matter of fact. "So the way I see it, we have two options, we could fight it out and in which case one of us will likely die. But if I don't give my officers regular status reports, they'll be swarming this place pretty quickly. And then you'll have that headache to deal with. Or, we could have a little discussion about our... agendas and we can see if we can find a situation that benefits us both." Shifting her weight, she pressed back into him. The movement was direct, less sensual and more about shifting the power dynamic between them. A gesture to show that even though she was beneath him, he was by no means in control of the situation. And that regardless of his attempt to pin her, she would not buckle like the pathetic little girl he so clearly saw her as.

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

 Admittedly, Birch hadn't anticipated the chains whipping out from the shadows after he had her pinned. He growled in surprise as his body was pulled down on top of her and secured, squeezing him painfully. He could easily get out of this, but that would involve releasing the feisty law woman. He was a proud, stubborn man, so despite the threat of harm, especially to his wrist, he decided to try and stick it out.

She began to talk, asking if he'd had military training, though he didn't dignify it with an answer. He was a secretive man, plus it was pretty obvious that he had. Birch didn't like it, but he knew personal information like that was impossible to cover up. It didn't reveal too much in the long run, and even if it did, cutting himself off from his magic and skills would be stupid if he was to ever accomplish his goals. As he simply listened and considered his options, he felt magic being pumped into the chains. So she was gearing up to force him to either let go or die. While death didn't scare him, since he could quite literally be reborn, getting turned into an egg right now would cost him everything he hoped to gain from this situation.

As Birch searched for any other way to get what he wanted without having to release or otherwise deal with her, she asked a question that caused a snide snort. Why had they sent her after Tahoma? Even if it was because they thought she was strong enough to handle him, they were tragically uninformed. Regardless of her strength, neither she nor the Rune Knights had known what they were dealing with, thus it was all invalid. Knowledge was everything and no amount of power could overcome that deficit. Her second point about a fight to the death was also humorous, since, just as she was uninformed about Tahoma, she was also uninformed about him and his species as well. His own hubris had him convinced he'd win if it came down to it, but he wasn't so cocky that he didn't take into account that he wasn't as strong or skilled as he once was. He still didn't have access to all he'd once had, so that was worth erring on the side of caution. Not only did he not want to lose to her, but he didn't want to let her have Tahoma. She pressed him with both her body and her reasoning, making it clear the time to decide was upon them.

Always looking for a way to make a situation work in his favor, he sighed and finally released his grip on her. Their willpower was in a stalemate and he wasn't absolutely positive he could win against her in his current condition. With so many variables, the best way forward was to take her option concerning a scenario that would benefit the both of them. He had to admit, if they could come to some sort of agreement, having a link to someone in Fiore's largest and most influential government institutions might serve him even more than trying to ride Saraphina's skirttails to the top. This shrewd woman seemed way more mentally capable. He didn't yet know if she could be swayed or would just do some tit for tat.  For her sake, this had better not be a trap.

Birch released his more uncomfortable holds on her though he would not relinquish his position of power no matter how...compromising. He was still on the defensive but seeming much more willing to communicate than before. Clearly she had offered him something just a tad more interesting than his original motive for barging in on them, though he still had plans to kill the elemental. Birch just wanted to see all the cards in play right now before he made his final decision. "Alright, ladies first," he prompted with his low voice, a bit of his foreign accent slipping in. "What is your agenda with Tahoma?"

     

---

     
     

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

Alright, this was better, not perfect but better. At the very least, there was room for movement, not so much literally but in terms of the task at hand. Lilith would need to think her way out of this scenario, a way to win without the worse possible outcome. It wasn't so bad, she had been in worse positions then bent over and pressed against the front of a delicious specimen that was the man pinning her. She leaned her head to the right, arching her neck so that she could get a view of his face. Negotiating, at the very least would have been easier sitting across from each other, but it seemed that neither of them was ready to move yet. So instead, she would settle with looking back at him from this rather provocative position. As long as she could somewhat get a read on his expression as they spoke.

"Well, as you might expect, the Rune Knights agenda is to arrest him. Tahoma's shapeshifting has been quite problematic for certain members of public authority. They want us to stop his manipulation of governing affairs and to get information from him. As in who he works for and what his motive is etcetera." She explained, she wouldn't give away any specific details, but these were all things that wouldn't be hard to speculate from an outsiders perspective.

"Now, MY agenda is to simply to use him for a win, I honestly don't care what happens to Tahoma as long as I end up with a good report and another star on my wrap sheet." She would lean forward slightly, her back arching as she visibly relaxed, a genuine smirk creeping on her lips. "There's just something so utterly satisfying about accumulating power, don't you think?" She purred softly, thinking just about how much fun she had endured so far in her rise amongst the ranks of the Rune Knights. Getting to explore her previous ignored magic, the power came in so many delicious forms and it was so enjoyable to obtain. After enjoying a moment on the thought, she returned her attention to Birch, smiling back at him playfully. "So you want him dead huh? I'm sure you understand that I can't just let you murder him. Does it have to be you who kills him?"

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

They were very close. A weaker man may have become flustered as she pressed and shifted against some of the more erogenous areas, or as her head tilted back to steal a peek of his intimately placed face. Indeed, this was not what he'd had in mind when he initiated the pinning maneuver, and he felt no small amount of his dignity awkwardly shuffling away from him the longer they stayed in this compromising position. As a man overtly concerned with regality in his common dealings, this was some sort of failure he'd yet to come to terms with because his enormous pride was overriding it. As much as he'd challenged and infuriated her, she did the same to him, forcing him into the position of being unable to relent no matter how unflattering and stupid this was. Two criminally stubborn souls at opposite ends of the moral spectrum. At least no one was there to witness it. That didn't mean he had to look happy about it...not that he ever really did appear to be happy in the first place.

What a bothersome situation this had turned out to be.

He wouldn't convey any weakness, though, so his piercing, stormy blues peered into hers as she tried to get a read on him. Birch wasn't one to give anything about himself away, and that was most easily done by being varying degrees of annoyed all the time. It served him well here since he doubted she'd notice the tightening of his eyes when she explained that they wanted not only to arrest him (which he didn't care about) but to get him to talk about who he was working for and why. He knew the answers to those already. He very much did not want her or any governing body in Fiore to become privy to that information. It might not immediately directly link to him, but it was still very personal and inevitably would both implicate him and his kingdom in addition to making his own goals that much harder. Curse that Tahoma. And curse the hellspawn queen and her committee of worshippers that carried out her will as she slept.

But, of course, there was another angle, one that was surprisingly self-serving for someone he'd pegged as a goody-goody, lawbook thumping dog of Fiore's peacekeepers. If he didn't mess this up, he could use this.

A blond brow arched in mild surprise and a modicum of admiration. "You're rather conniving for a Rune Knight," he commented, considering her as well as his options. Yes, accumulating power was what he lived for these days, and it was intoxicating. It was all that mattered. The weak could accomplish nothing, be nothing more than a dirty rag to shine a stronger man's boot. He'd been on both extremes of the spectrum and wanted nothing more than to reclaim what he'd lost.

After some consideration, he sighed. Maybe if he made it seem like he gave in just a little, he'd get what he wanted in the end. "No, I suppose it doesn't have to be me that kills him. He just needs to die for his failure," Birch said, measuring his words as his mind quickly laid a plot in place. "You can't expect me to betray all my own interests, but I can assure you he doesn't know anything of use to you," Birch responded, his expression deceptively contemplative. He had no intention of giving up anything that had to do with him. If he could control the narrative with a clever lie or two, this could work out even better than he'd hoped. His charm could serve him here. As of right now, he suspected he was correct to think that they could come to some sort of unholy deal that would benefit them both.

Now it was his turn to press into her as if to let her in on some sort of secret, trying to subtly entice her into taking his bait. "If we could silence this small, watery gnat to keep me in good standing with my...superiors... maybe I could offer you some information on a pressing threat to Fiore and all its positions of power? Though I can't give away too much, I'd wager that what I could give you is a much brighter star for your wrap sheet than the confused babblings of a hired hand," Birch suggested. Yes, he'd make it sound like Tahoma was working for the Queen of Errings Rising and not Queen Carmina of Aphalia. He could sort out all potential Aphalian infiltration with this false information.

---

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

Regardless of the intention, she would only take the conniving comment as a compliment. Smirking up at the blonde man, eyes glinting with excitement at the prospect of what she could get out of this. As he confirmed that he didn't have to kill Tahoma, Lilith found herself slightly eased by the middle ground that they were teetering towards. Of course, she didn't intend to just kill Tahoma herself, that would reflect poorly on her, plus that would mean getting her hands unneccessarily dirty. His crimes were of such peak criminality that she knew just how she would do it, and all records would essentially remain spotless. It would as such be a justice of the highest order - the eradication of a dangerous vessel. As long as his death resulted in important enough intelligence to be considered a gain for herself and her faction, well that was better than nothing. As a special ops agent, she knew she would eventually be required to occasionally make decisions in regards to the lives of the targets. It was just sooner than she had expected.

She would listen to the man, watching his expression, hanging on his words. Despite the fact he didn't outwardly appear to be decieving her, she still knew better than to trust him just yet. She tilted her head, considering what he'd said to her in these moments, "Interesting offer. I have to wonder, for someone who doesn't know anything useful to me, why is it so important that he be silenced." She remarked thoughtfully, following with a soft chuckle. "I'm assuming this is a personal connection. I could be playing right into a dodgy hand here, depending on the value of the information I'm being given in exchange."She would push back into him once more teasingly this time, before flattening against the floor, "Mind giving me a little wiggle room here big boy, I promise not to bite as long as you don't." Tentatively, she would turn her body beneath him, lifting her legs up as she turned before carefully arching them so that her knees would hug either side of his waist. She was essentially still pinned beneath him, but at least now she was facing him, a position she could better control.

"Mmm, much better." She purred softly, "Alright, how about this. I have a little spell that will help us both come out of this little endeavour satisfied with the result, consider it a magical contract. I'll orchestrate Tahoma's death and in exchange, you have to give me information of greater worth to me than his life." Her emerald eyes held onto his, her gaze unwavering as she continued. "Until we both complete our end of the bargain, the spell will bind us to each other, which doesn't sound too bad really, however, the longer we go without completing our end of the bargain..." She would push herself off the ground so that her face was closer to his, her lips gliding past his cheek as she proceeded to whisper in his ear. "The more invasive the link will become."

She eased back down against the floor, her hair splaying around her as she did so. Despite being in the middle of a life or death negotiate, the Rune Knight appeared completely at ease. "So what say you handsome, do we have a deal?"

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

As she wiggled around to put herself in a more conversational but more suggestive position, Birch's eyes tightened just a bit. This was the longest contact he'd had with a woman in quite a long time, and he wasn't as resistant to it as he thought and the stray thoughts that came with it as he would like. If he thought for one second he could keep her from slinking away with Tahoma he'd suggest they negotiate in more civilized seating arrangements, but he didn't trust her to play fair. He wouldn't if he was in her situation. He wouldn't be right now if she hadn't presented such a large threat. So poised over her with his hips locked between her legs was where Birch would have little choice but to stay.

Birch kept up his unruffled and stern facade, but it was starting to show hairline cracks. This inn, Tahoma's Aphalia connection, this room, it all brought back too many old memories. He'd already been off-balance since arriving here, but those unfortunate memories combined with a beautiful and devious woman laying under him were hard to ignore. As much as he tried to ignore it, he was still a man. A more inexperienced man than one would ever guess. A man who hadn't been in a precarious situation like this in a very long time.

And so she presented her terms. Birch's already grumpy mouth pulled down even more at the mention of a contract spell. That was a big ask. It would require either trust or desperation on his part, so that meant she was already aware that it was the latter. He had no knowledge of how the spell would work, or if she was even telling the truth. He'd been about to ask more about it when she leaned up to whisper in his ear, which effectively short-circuited his brain for a fleeting moment. By the time she leaned back down, there was just the slightest tinge of heat on his ears and cheeks. Clearing his throat, he made another attempt to get some clarification, not that it mattered. Being between a rock and a hard place about all his precious secrets and agendas, he knew this was the only way to go unless he wanted to leave Tahoma to say god knows what to the Rune Knights. The spell was a risk he'd have to take.

He didn't have to make it seem he had no choice though. He wasn't eager to be linked to this woman until some ambiguous debt had been repaid. There was a long pause as he made sure there was no other way out of this where he could kill Tahoma and escape, leaving this sensual she-devil behind. Birch was coming up empty. "It seems to be the only deal that will satisfy both our goals," he admitted in a low grumble. "How do I know it's not a trick?" he asked, brows lowered in suspicion. "And this invasive link. Invasive how?"

---

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

He was wise to be cautious, Lilith could appreciate that, even if it was prolonging their negotiations -  she knew she had to be patient. "Unfortunately it is someting that requires a level of trust to perform, but I can assure you if It fails... I will die." She admitted, the fleeting expression of displeasure coming across her face. "And I have no intention of dying yet, this is a big risk for me. But..." It was almost a slimy sensation, writhin within her, the process of opening up and exposing her own weakness in this scenario. But if profit from it was worth it, or at least she hoped it was. If she did this and pulled it off, it could lead to great prestige. She might even recieve a promotion, but to do so she needed this to be a success. The take down of a government shape-shifting terrorist as well as information that could put the Rune Knights ahead -  it was worth the risk.

"I have a certain path I aspire to take, and in order to take that path I need wins. In my line of work, informants are always neccessary and if we could build a relationship of ... beneficial trust. Then you'll end up worth more to me alive than dead..." She squirmed beneath him slightly, the position they were in, coupled with his own attractiveness was getting her hot. Negotiating in this way, the prospect of life or death on the line, it was both thrilling and immensely arousing. A fact that was starting to show in Lilith's demeanour. She would return to his second question, a smirk falling across her face. "Our's souls will be linked to one another, it'll be light at first. As though sharing subtle sensations, but as it deepens..." She would lift her legs off the ground,wrapping them around his hips, and using them to pull him toward her - their bodies pressed most intimately. "It'll be like we're merging, our bodies, our emotions,  our minds. My pain will be your pain, as will my pleasure. They will begin to overlap, and the longer we go without completing the contract, the worse it'll become. I've heard that this particular type of magic... if left unfulfilled, can drive those linked utterly insane... until we are unable to function and eventually die."

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

She could die? Such a hefty risk for a normal human. Birch inwardly grinned. Whether it turned out to be true or not would lie in the future, but he was certain that he had a way out if whatever this spell was went sideways. The threat of death might seem dire for her, but for him, it was nothing. He'd died a thousand times. To say he was immortal wasn't quite right, since he could certainly die, it was just, as a Celestial Phoenix, he could return from the ashes and be born anew. An egg would form, and before long he'd be back where he was, or close to it, depending on the rebirth trial. The process he had to go through wasn't pleasant exactly, but he'd done it so many times by now that it was nothing more than an annoyance, like a trip to a government office to renew some sort of paperwork every so many years. Perhaps it made him complacent, but it would make him feel more secure in the deal. Why trust when you had an emergency backdoor?

While he had the option (as far as he knew) to break the deal and cause her death, Birch was a user and manipulator these days. Dealing with the Fioran government would be much easier than dealing with Carmina and her regime. As long as he could keep the cursed Queen's roots out of this land, it would be infinitely easier to take it for himself. Gaining all the resources already here and building them would give him a fighting chance at not only keeping her at bay forever, but maybe he'd even be able to use the military and mages to take his kingdom back. Potentially gaining the trust or at least confidence of a Rune Knight could serve him here, even if it seemed like such a small, insignificant seed at first. If he was smart, he could grow this seed a hundred times over. If he continued to twist the narrative and have her do the work for him so she could reach her aspirations, that would be ideal. Nothing was more useful than someone with ambitions. This girl was certainly tenacious. Even if she did find out about his country, that wouldn't be an impossible angle to work, though he'd certainly do his best to keep it from happening if he could. All his personal information needed to stay a secret for as long as it could...for his own good. The curse on him wasn't just for the Queen's use. The more that was learned about him, the more under that person's command he became, and there was nothing Birch hated more than being controlled.

Speaking of being controlled, her squirming was making it more difficult to ignore their precarious position. Birch's stormy hues watched as her mouth moved, hanging on her word choices. Merging bodies, pain and pleasure. Was she doing this on purpose? His reactions were starting to slip past his ability to control them, a fact she might just now be noticing. This Rune Knight was alluring, and he was sure she knew it. Still, his hips pressed into hers instead of away as he'd planned. He'd fully intended to resist her legs drawing him in, yet now he was even closer than before. Birch's mouth pulled into a deeper frown as his throat rumbled a short, husky sigh. Frustration was setting in, and not just from the long negotiations.

"Our souls will be linked," he repeated quietly, not really liking the idea. That was a level of personal far surpassing any other information he could give about himself. Wasn't that worse than her having his name or where he was from? His blond hair framed his uncomfortable face as we weighed the deal more completely. It didn't sound like telepathy, so she wouldn't be able to feel his thoughts or see his memories. It was a sharing of feelings, which he felt like might afflict him more than her. So he might be able to escape the death by madness by resurrecting, but this was a level of intimacy that frightened him. Was this game worth it? He hardly had a choice now. Perhaps she was craftier than he'd given her credit for, and he'd thought was already being generous. "It appears this is how it has to be," he said, almost to himself.

At some point, their faces had become quite close, though he wasn't sure when. It was as if this brunette had her own gravity. As if she was a black hole, and before he knew it, he had a hand resting on one of the thighs coiled around him. Primal heat was starting to pool in his chest. "How do we make this link, exactly?" he asked in a low-pitched and slightly hoarse voice. He hated that he could feel himself giving in to her attraction. He hadn't felt anything remotely sexual for anyone other than the woman responsible for destroying his entire life. It'd been so long, and honestly, he was a little of a prude. Birch was the type to court a woman, fall in love, and then get to this point, which he'd only ever done with one person. Yet here he was, feeling intense arousal for this strong, sassy woman of the law squirming beneath him.

---

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

Lilith didn't need the contract to pick up on his reaction to her, despite his sour expression, there were still some small signs that he too was feeling the sexual tension that had accumulated between them. The soft pressing of his hips weighing down on her, causing her to bite her lip, her own hips rolling firmly against him in response. Her body's ache growing more intense at the feel of him, hinting at what it would be like to explore this further. Greedy as ever, she could feel herself wanting more, but there was a matter to be handled first- the contract.

And so he agreed to her deal, and that was it. There was nothing left to do but cast the spell, she relaxed back against the floor. The warmth of his hand on her thigh tantalizing her more, she took a moment to steel herself. She was going to be exposed to him, not physically but emotionally. It was a big risk but in exchange for the power it could bring her, well a few unveiled secrets would surely be worth it. It meant that she wouldn't be able to hide from him either, but at the very least it went both ways. And frankly, he didn't seem to be the type to care about what kind of dark emotions that lingered in the Ravenette's heart. He wasn't a besotted soft boy keen on changing her for the better, and that at the very least reassured her. The chains that had been holding Birch would disappear into smoke, relieving her of his grasp on him. For this to work, she needed to show a sense of trust, and trust in that he wouldn't try to kill her whilst she was casting the spell would suffice.

Lilith allowed more of her magic to pool inside of her, feeling it well up as a convoluted mixture of darkness and light. Lili didn't actually fully understand the nature of her own magic, it was like having two sides of the same coin, constantly waging war against one another, balancing each other out. This spell, in particular, came from the darkness and so she needed to restrain the light to get to it - easier said than done. After a moment black threads of magic would begin to manifest from her hands, stretching out toward him, the threads would begin to weave around the pair. As Lilith looked at Birch, her emerald irises would begin to change, like a green canvas upon which red paint was been poured. The red would spread out from her pupil until it filled the plate of the iris completely, leaving her to look up at him with a now ruby gaze. Energy would vibrate for her, thick and heavy it would weigh down on them, pulling them closer and allowing the threads to continue to snake around them - slowly cocooning the pair.

"Repeat after me," She whispered softly, her breathing slightly heavier than before, "I, Lilith, take your desire and make it mine, and with strings of fate, we shall entwine. Our souls from hence are one until the day our deed is done." She arched slightly, hissing in pain as blood began to crawl up the threads protruding from her body, inching towards Birch in an attempt to link with him. Should he say the words, then the threads would take his blood too, in order to give it to her. Such was the way of a blood pact. "My desire is for information that will benefit the Rune Knights in our fight against crime, information equal only to that of Tahoma's life... State your desire..." She instructed him, adrenaline was coursing through her, the magic was pulling them closer to one another, pushing her body against his, allowing her to feel the hard curve of his muscles, so close that her nose brushed against his. Despite the pain the contract brought, it also felt incredible, the power that surrounded them right now. It was so incredibly stimulating and slowly as the blood merged, they would begin to feel the spell's potential. He would feel the sexual desire that burned within her, wanting so hungrily to have him for herself.

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

The tension was really getting to him. She rolled her hips, and all he could do was huff a breath out of his nose. The process of what he'd agreed to began. It was strange not to immediately fight her threads or absorb the dark tendrils that came for him and pulled him toward her, but he kept to his word. Just as he'd left the now-gone chains alone, he'd leave whatever this was alone. He'd let the two of them be knitted together while his oceanic eyes beheld the change in her formerly emerald ones with intrigue. This woman was full of surprises. All of this was far from his intentions to come in and kill Tahoma and anyone who got in his way, but it would hopefully yield more opportunity. Otherwise, this contract would end up being shackles.

Once the first act was done, words were spoken for him to recite. It reminded him of the witch enchantments from his homeland. Was this blood magic? He could see the red liquid creeping up the threads toward him, but it would take a little more than a bloody cocoon to truly worry an immortal like him. He was far more worried about the intensity of the moment here, one he was falling into no matter how hard he tried not to. His heart was pounding in his ears. The closer their bodies were pressed, the more difficult it was to keep his mind focused. "I, Birch, take your desire and make it mine, and with strings of fate, we shall entwine. Our souls from hence are one until the day our deed is done," Birch repeated, voice more overtly husky, especially since his lips were very nearly brushing hers from their forced proximity. His own magic was a mix of light and dark, of fire and ice and the mysteries of space, so her magic didn't set off any alarms for him. If anything it drew him in like a familiar grasp. He wanted to taste this darkness she called upon, but he still would not betray the trust she'd placed in him not to attack her. The only taste he'd get were the tendrils piercing his flesh and drawing out some of his blood to return and mix with hers, and maybe the taste of her skin if their contact wasn't broken soon.

Or maybe it was already too late? He wanted to make a mess of her, right here on the floor. How crude. "My desire is..." he trailed, as if a different, more carnal set of words were ready to jump out, but he wrangled them back in with some effort. "For Tahoma's life to be taken legally as an equal exchange for information regarding the plans and intentions of my colleagues against the Rune Knights and the leadership of Fiore," he finished, then made a sound somewhere between a gasp and a hiss. As if the seductive wiles of this woman hadn't been making this hard enough, once their blood was exchanged and their words were bound, he felt something similar to what simmered within him, yet he knew it wasn't his. It was hers. All the same, the two couldn't be separated, and apparently, neither could their lips. As much as Birch had intended to only flirt with the idea of indulging in her before abruptly ending his struggle and leaving, the crushing weight of desire broke his will and he sank into her. His last strand of restraint lingered in the hesitant press of his mouth to hers.

---

I can be your sugar when you're fiendin' for that sweet spot
Put me in your mouth, baby, and eat it 'til your teeth rot
Lilith Kadokawa

Pain and Euphoria.

She was lost, her composure gone completely. The primal hunger that she had to claim the beautiful specimen of the man pressed firmly against her seem to consume her. The union of their blood, of their souls, was perhaps the most exhilarating things she had ever felt. Her eyes pulled shut as his mouth claimed her, her legs wrapping around him more firmly, whilst her fingers travelled through his hair.

Lilith knew that the magic would alter her experiences but she never expected to feel so exhilarating. Her arousal had peaked and all she could think about now was about allowing herself to be taken by him. Her lips moved expertly against his, her hands moving down from his head to his front, fingers finding the shirt's neckline. With a first tug, she tore it open, exploring his front with her hands. His physique was, as expected, pristine. He might as well have been carved by the gods, skin as smooth as marble and also as firm.

The further they went the more he would feel her appreciation, coupled with her intense desire and the darkness that inspired it. Exposed to him would be the heat of lust, coupled with a sinister void within, one that desperately sought satiation. Sex, violence, pain, chaos - capable of quenching the thirst that resided within the Rune Knight.

---

Kiss the Ground, Bow Down

Birch

Just like that, the last thread of restraint snapped along with her composure. The hesitant kiss turned into a much stronger one as if the beginning had been the tide pulling back only to come crashing back upon the shore as a newborn wave. He could tell she had much more experience than he had-- he had only ever been with one woman, after all-- but he didn't care. Birch had some skill of his own, fueled purely by his desire to consume her as if she was fuel for his fire.

Finding so much darkness in a woman supposedly enforcing the law of the land was unexpected, but inviting. Everything was inviting. Enticing. Whether it was the memories of this place, simply being a man untouched for so long, or her magic at work, Birch was powerless for a change. Powerless to roll with the lustful impulses, even though he was normally so good at restraint in all things but combat. Birch craved more of her touches, even as she invaded his usually stubborn modesty. Her hands on his chest felt white-hot on the touch-starved man. He'd return the favor, longing for more skin contact, to get closer until they were an indistinguishable tangle on the floor.

Another change, which he felt more tied to the blood pact they'd just made, was his impatience. Normally he was a very attentive and patient lover despite his prickly exterior, but he felt an impatience throbbing in his veins. This wasn't love, so he couldn't treat it with such tenderness and consideration. Would he make sure she enjoyed it? Absolutely, since her enjoyment would reward him in the best ways, but his urgency was selfish, greedy, as if delaying a single moment would spoil the delicious dish beneath him. It had to be consumed while it still possessed the ability to burn him. It had his hands gobbling her up. Anything between them was an obstacle to be removed and then his hands were back on where his favor focused, those thighs of hers. So supple and soft to his calloused hands. He pressed his fingertips into them, dragging them downward toward her backside. It was going to be rough and loud, but he'd make sure to swallow every scream if she let him.



Poor Tahoma. What he must have heard while he laid there paralyzed.

     

---