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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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"Ravel..." Grace replied s<strong>of</strong>tly, almost cautiously. "I have come <strong>to</strong> terms with<br />

m-"<br />

"You LIE, succubus!" Ravel's lips peel back in a snarl. "You LIE! Do <strong>not</strong> DARE<br />

lie <strong>to</strong> me, when your heart is a BOOK <strong>to</strong> me! Every word you SPIT screams <strong>of</strong><br />

your <strong>to</strong>rment!"<br />

"Have a care with your words, Ravel! Enough <strong>of</strong> this!"<br />

"Ah..." Ravel gestured at Annah, as if she was for sale upon on auction block.<br />

"Look upon the feisty tiefling... such fiery hair and voice..." Ravel smiled,<br />

baring her rows <strong>of</strong> yellowed teeth. "Shall I speak <strong>of</strong> your <strong>to</strong>rment, tiefling?"<br />

Annah seemed paralyzed, her eyes wide as Ravel turned her black-veined<br />

gaze <strong>to</strong> her. I could see her trembling, her heart <strong>be</strong>ating fast.<br />

"No... no, I shall <strong>not</strong> speak <strong>of</strong> it." Ravel's voice dropped, almost in<br />

exhaustion, and the smile faded from her face. "Grown tired <strong>of</strong> cruelties and<br />

<strong>to</strong>rments, Ravel has... the world is a-jagged enough place..." She turned<br />

again <strong>to</strong> me, her bloody eyes dimmed, and she sighed. I looked back <strong>to</strong> my<br />

companions, their old wounds opened, laid out for all <strong>to</strong> see. They looked at<br />

each other nervously, as if something pr<strong>of</strong>ane had <strong>be</strong>en revealed <strong>be</strong>tween<br />

them.<br />

"And my precious, precious half-man... for you, the greatest <strong>to</strong>rment <strong>of</strong> all...<br />

life forever-more. Can it <strong>be</strong> life a-cares for you as Ravel <strong>do</strong>es?" She gnashed<br />

her yellowed tusks with a horrid clacking noise. "One so brave, so<br />

passionate, so terribly lost, sad, sad."<br />

"Ravel, why did you make me immortal? I must kn-"<br />

"A puzzle <strong>of</strong> bone and skin were you, always, intriguing, and the most<br />

<strong>be</strong>loved <strong>of</strong> all who came <strong>to</strong> me, petitioning, requesting, pleading... pleasing?<br />

Pleading for help." Ravel stared hard at me, her black-veined em<strong>be</strong>r eyes<br />

narrowing. "So hard <strong>to</strong> see a-past the scars, <strong>to</strong> dig up the<br />

man-who-once-was underneath..."<br />

"Ravel, can you tell me anything about who I once was?"<br />

"A sha<strong>do</strong>w with substance, a-seeking that which casts the light. I know you<br />

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