Friday, August 18, 2017

Desert Nostalgia

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[111] Nymaya: Desert Nostalgia
Sat Apr 15 12:04:41 2017
To: New_Thalos Reklah Ashtiel Dar'shin ( Uvall ) All
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She wandered the white marble halls of the arena, gazing with a certain sense of nostalgia and emptiness over Dar'shin's beautiful, cold, creation.

She had missed the desert.  The scent of spice and sand, the bright colors, the sense of solitude and dry warmth.  Nothing could compare to the memories she had made in New Thalos and only one experience in her long life could overcome the nightmares. 

She moved at a slow, methodical pace through the hallways and the rooms of Hydra's Lair, observing the hollowness as she sipped thoughtfully at her Thalosian coffee, savoring the hint of cardamom.  The off season gave the construction crews time to fix whatever needed fixing and though it saw little enough business now, the shops were still manned briefly throughout the day and janitors still swept through the halls at night. 

She had had many years to observe this place, aware of its significance, but she never would have guessed its current impact in her own life. 

Her expression lost its wistfulness and she made her way purposely to the owner's room.  If there was anyone inside, it was not readily apparent and the door remained firmly locked - not that her intent was to go in.  Rather, she stared at the wooden door for a time and then slowly, purposefully, set her empty coffee cup before it. 

Devoid of purpose now, she meandered out of the Hydra arena and back into the streets, the sun glinting on her silvered hair.  It was the height of day and the passages she tread were abandoned by much of the populace, who had sought the shelter of homes or indoor businesses to escape the heat.  She was watched from the shadows as she passed alleyways, perhaps remembered by some, but no one accosted her and on a whim she angled south and let the path take her to the baths. 

Her cares slid to the side as the humid warmth enveloped her and a cocoon of static emptiness took it's place.  This allowed her to sense without feeling, to enjoy without worry or concern and she embraced it as she made her way to the back, shed her armor and slid into the waiting waters. 

You should have taken the deal

A cold breath whispered across the back of her neck and the impression of soft, malicious laughter, settled around her. 

All of this -it breathed, fading- could have been yours

Her inhale was sharp at the caress along her neck, whisper-soft perhaps but her eyes snapped open - only to find an empty pool and wisps of steam.  The murmur of patrons returned, distant as it was and though the moment passed, a chill had taken root in her that the warm water could not banish.

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