Private Eyes in the Dark [Romi]

[Darth Carnifex]

Lightning scythed through the cloudy sky, the light reflecting off the millions of droplets as they pelted the briefly illuminated rainforest canopy. A storm cluster had descended upon Lemmi VI's jungles, sending both man and beast scurrying for shelter as the sea-born winds tore at the towering trees and violently ruffled the foliage between them. Further inland was safe from the tempestuous gales, the thick rainforest buffering them from the worst of the storm. Rain cascaded down the slanted rooftops of the lavish estate, dripping off the precipice like a sheet of shimmering glass.

The windows had been shut and latched prior to the storm, the entire house shuttered against the turmoil just outside. Imperceivably, one of the latches on the upper floor windows began to move of its own accord. It flipped over with an audible click, and the two shuttered panes swept open as a gust of wind burst forth into the room. A shadow slowly crept through the open window, the silhouette so resembling that of an outstretched hand began to cover the room.

It gently receded as the door to the chamber burst open, an attendant entering cautiously as they held up one arm against the roaring wind. They reached for the switch that would illuminate the room in soft artificial light, but they found that the activator was unresponsive. Periodic flashes of lightning outside bathed the room in light as the attendant moved towards the open window, quickly grabbing both panes and bringing them together to close. With a sigh of relief, they latched the window shut and tested that it would hold.

"Strange," they mumbled, looking down at the window latch. There were markings on the metal, like someone had drawn streaks of black with charcoal. It almost looked like the claws of an animal raking through fabric, and the metal was painfully cold to the touch. Their fixation on the window prevented them from noticing the door slowly closing behind them, and only when the light from the outside hall had firmly departed did they wheel around suddenly. They expected only darkness to greet them, that which had existed in the room since they arrived.

But staring back at them, half-hidden in the gloom, were a set of piercing red eyes.

They thought to scream, but the effort died in their throat. So paralyzed they were with fear, fear so tight it was like a hand had wrapped around their body and squeezed, that they could only murmur a faint plea as a hand reached out from the darkness. Clawed digits neared, blackened by what appeared to be soot, before its shadow fell across their face.

And they knew no more.

Romi Jade ​

 

[Romi Jade]

Lemmi Vi, Hapes Cluster

Darth Carnifex​

Several thousand storms it seemed like, and yet this one had her feeling anxious -- it could have been because she had a child occupying this space now too. For whatever it was, Jade found herself in and out of a mild stasis...getting lost in her thoughts and staring off into space; her mind was in overdrive ever since her daughter had come home.

Zzz-crackk!

There was a flash, and when the sound barrier broke she was spooked. Breaking her trance, she surmised that she had been away long enough. Much of these first couple of weeks was forcing herself not guard the space of her child -- having lost one before, those same fears often manifested. She was adjusting to them feeling safe at home.

Though was there ever going to be a place of true safety for either of them?

She glided through the halls of their summer chateau, humid breezes crawling in, scurrying from the storm. Just at this angle the moon hit the long and narrow hall, washing it in a blue-ish white that muted all warmer tones.

Even now she had established a bond, motherly, with her child...they could sense when the other was close. Jade closed in, stepping into the room and moving to coddle the babe.

But much as she feared, this had done nearly nothing in eliminating the ominous air that crept the length of her back.

Something dark stirred...or rather thats where her mind went.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

There was a darkness haunting the manor.

It crept along the floors, slid up the walls, coaxed itself in the nooks and crannies of the great estate. With it came the chill of doom, a creeping trepidation of utter obliteration crawling up the spine of all those it preyed upon. Their ends came upon them swiftly and without a sound, save for a the faintest whisper of a scream caught in their throat before they were dragged into the shadowed corners. All that remained was a black stain, like smudged ink, dragged across the walls and floors like the trail of an enormous slug.

Not only did the house grow quiet, but the sounds of the storm outside became muffled and distant regardless of the unwavering intensity of the rain and wind. All light seemed to dim, fluctuating in strength. The clattering of metal on stone emanated up through the house, followed by the faint thuds of footsteps moving up the stairs; growing closer and louder to the child's room with every passing second.

A shadow fell across the door, a shadow that vaguely resembled a man. It lingered there, just out of view, before seeming to fade away. The yawn of uncomfortable silence filled the air.

Just as a black gloved hand reached out from behind Romi, fingers splayed, edging closer towards her shoulder.

Romi Jade ​