The Forbidden Forest

Appearing right after Pitch, I go to the side of my new master as though to ask what he needs most.

The Nightmare King put a hand to his head, growling.

Cynder looked to Topher, as if utterly confused.
"Topher...? How did you..? Do you know this man? Did you apparate? What just happened....?"

OOC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg7MAacSPNM

IC

"Topher? I don't use my slave name anymore." I glare at Cynder with a disdain I've not even shown Joachim when he put me in Azkaban.

(( jfc ))


Cynder looked shocked. She gazed at the boy she had known so well and trusted, and gave a hurt look.
Never, not once, had he ever been so horrible to her.

"What do you-"

Pitch cut her off.
"Now, now, boy. Be a gentleman. This kind girl has showed us hospitality. But you know her, do you not? Tell me her name."

"She is Cynder Dustypaws, one of the better ones here."

The girl opened her mouth to speak, but again was cut off by the Nightmare King.

"Explain."

"She is of strong heart, great power too."

A raised brow, a weak grin.
Pitch looked to Cynder.

The girl did not back down, though fear prickled over her skin.

"I see....."


"What are you planning on-"

"Christopher, boy... hold her here, will you?"

"you got it." I start waking toward her, but feel a twinge of guilt but this is cast aside fairly quickly.

Cynder stumbled back as she saw Topher obeying.

"Top-" She begged, eyes wide, "Top, you don't have to do this... come on, I'm your friend..."


Pitch, meanwhile, slowly pushed himself to his feet. He stumbled and caught himself on a tree, back arching as he retched and thre up the contents of what little was in his stomach.
"-Damn..."
He was in worse shape than he thought.

"I DO have to. The Nightmare Pitch told me so."

There was a whimper, and Cynder shied away from Topher- though she did not show any signs of running away. She would be brave, in this situation.


The Nightmare King watched silently. She looked exactly like her sister. Perhaps more charming.
But more submissive, as well.
Perfect

I move to grab her again, but I stop midstep. A hinderance for a couple seconds but nothing to stop the overall course.

Pitch was leaning heavily against the trees as he walked toward Cynder, who winced away horridly.


"Such a charming dove, is she not, Christopher? So much sweeter... kinder than her sibling... such an exquisite young woman.."

Images of joking with Cynder go through my head, enough to slow me down, "Yeah..."

"You hesitate, my boy..!"

Pitch gave a small frown, limping closer. He grabbed Cynder's face in his long-fingered hand, forcing her to look at him.

"... she is sublime.."
A cruel, seductive smile played across his face, and he looked to Topher.
"She will be mine, boy. But we will find you your own princess soon enough. You've done well."

"My own..."

Potion...

Cynder collectively whined again in frustration and worry and pain.

"Pretty little wench indeed. I'll wait to turn you... I want your thoughts and little human fight when we're together..."
A deep-throated chuckle, he looked to Topher.

"You may find your dam and bring her to me. I will happily change her.... a perfect choice... for a very good lad.."

"Yes... I shall.. stay and look."

The Nightmare King paused, looked to Topher searchingly, then nodded.

He returned his gaze to Cynder and pressed his face into her neck, a sound much like a purr escaping him as he bit into her neck, leaving the same jagged marks in her flesh as that that had appeared on Daisy.
He bit deep enough that the girl gave a cry of protest and pain, and he tasted the bittersweet taste of iron on his tongue and lips.

Pulling away, the man nodded and ran his tongue over his lips in an animalistic manner, grinning. He knew she would scar. She was marked.

"I'll take the little slave off your hands.."

"Hey... don't.." Topher looked back at Pitch, humanity seeming to fight through the new barricade around it.

Pitch froze as he held Cynder's shoulders tightly in his fingers, ready to pull her away from the boy.
His golden eyes flashed a dangerous yellow.

"Pardon?"

"Cynder..." My eyes were locked in a struggle for my new master or the soul of goodness that lay asleep.

"Foolish boy, hand her over..."

Pitch's voice was growing firm and angry, a snarl. His fingers dug into Cynder's shoulders, and she gave another squeak of pain.
He bared his jagged teeth.

This wasn't right... Topher shouldn't be hesitating..

I shake my head and humanity loses it's valiant struggle.

"As you wish..."