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       "You're not getting any more money," Staahl manages through a coughing fit, spider-like fingers clawing at his chest in pain. "Do you hear me? You're not getting anything, you filthy half-bred beast. Not you, or your filthy half-bred children. You'll all starve to death before the church rewards mixed bloods like you."
       Again, he gives no warning for his actions. Thus far, Aramis has remained calm, collected, never raising his voice to anything above what could be considered a genial tone. But now, he kicks the chair out from under him, hops up onto Cardinal Staahl's desk, and closes his fist around the Cardinal's silken robes. He pulls the Staahl to his feet, yanking the aging man out of his chair and bringing him close enough to feel the lukewarm breath coming from the Cardinal's stunned, opened mouth.
       "You will give me my money," Aramis says softly, his voice barely above a whisper this time, but raw with a rage he is only barely able to contain. "I have killed many men before I joined the church. I have killed many men after I've joined the church. I will not hesitate in killing you. You will give me every damned coin I've earned or so help me, Cardinal Staahl, I will eat you."
       Aramis opens his mouth wide and snaps his jaw shut again, the clicking of his teeth acting as a very understandable period a the end of his sentence. Slowly, he releases the Cardinal and backs off if his desk, eyes burning with restrained blood lust. The Cardinal doesn't move. Aramis isn't sure whether or not the old man has died of fright or is simply in a state of shock. Either way, he decides, he will get his money.
       He doesn't set the overturned chair back in its place. Instead, he turns around and calmly walks out of the Cardinal's office, closing the door behind him and starting back down the stairs as if nothing out of the ordinary had even taken place. Patting down his pockets, he finds one of his beloved cigarettes and lights it on a prayer candle on his way out, blowing smoke in the face of one of the bishops as he exits the Temple. He feels good. Too good.
       This isn't the same Aramis who left for battle. This is the Aramis in the days before Gaia. This is Aramis of Teehs, the barfly, the chain smoker. This is Aramis the whiskey drinker, the murderer, the man with the dangerous smile and the killer kiss. This is the old Aramis.
       He's back, and he's here to stay.
 Bleeding Apocalypse · Thu Mar 08, 2007 @ 07:02pm · 1 Comments |
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