Holy 4 - Shooting at Nephele (very short)

It was enough.

Lies, lies, lies- she knew how to lie, but telling the truth was harder. How often had she found herself biting back venomous words and repressing her true feelings. After a certain point, it’d become an indistinguishable muddle. A blurry, black blob in her chest that often choked her and made it hard to think.

However, once she started speaking from her heart, her words flowed surprisingly naturally.

"Honestly, humans are so…"

She was hopelessly disgusted with how things had progressed. Though words had ever been her strong point, there didn’t seem to be any way out of this one. For one reason or another they were completely confident that Nephele, in spite of her contributions to Nysea’s growth, was irrefutably a witch. That there was no way she couldn’t be one.

So why not cause a bit of chaos? Why not prove them right?

"The truth, yes? That’s what you’re all dying to hear…?" It didn't matter. At this point, they were getting it.

"My name was formerly Nephele Edwards, granddaughter of the powerful witch Sibylle Edwards and a spider demon named Douma who stood to protect the wolf demons faithfully. ‘Nephalem’ is what they call half demons like my mother, making me one-fourth spider demon myself. Let’s be honest- there’s no way in Hel I’d survive an exorcism." A light shrug follows her heavy words.

"From the very moment of my birth, I was condemned. Neither fully human nor sufficiently demon, I didn’t expect anyone to understand or accept me. Sad, isn’t it? Not that I’d expect any of you self-righteous bastards to give a damn. Fortunately pity is something that’s always repulsed me." A hand is dismissively waved at the notion.

"I won't make this a sob story about me, though. Since Hades Task is keen on betraying me, I'll say this now- the Task family has been providing the Twilight Coven with alchemical supplies, gear, and anything else they so desire. They can say it was all to destroy us, though... that won't bring back the men, women, and children of Esshar who have been harmed due to their contribution to the growth of them now will it? Make of the information what you will."

She wasn't afraid to drag them down to Hel with her. Not when they were keen on destroying everything she'd built up all at once. Without restraint, the truth would continue to spill freely.

"When I took my grandmother’s head, I told her I’d become a greater witch than she ever was! I’ve helped Nysea more than most, however, and I’ve done nothing whatsoever to harm it or any of its people yet. What kind of witch helps people, right? But…" Her voice trails off and her lips curve to a frown.

"It’s partly because I’ve told so many lies that I don’t know where my true feelings lie anymore. My feelings towards Aeolus wereonce fake, yet somewhere along the line they became genuine. Something that I’d never accounted for in my plans." Her gaze turns to the blue man in question. The one who'd shed tears for someone like her.

She could've continued as things were in a desperate effort to protect herself, yet she wouldn't allow the man she loved to share her fate. It simply couldn't be so. Nysea didn't need to go to war over her when they were finally recovering so well either- what'd begun as a little project had come along nicely.

Nephele wished to see the flower she'd diligently helped tend to blossom.

"Go easy on him, hm? I never told him a thing to protect him. I didn’t want him to see how ugly I really am," Nephele somberly confesses. It was the one secret she'd never dared shared with her partner, tempted as she'd been upon several occasions. The most important one of all.

"I used to think ill of King Alexander as well though somehow he became like a father to me. Now? Of course he'll resent me and rightfully so. I'll have to run, struggle, and attempt to preserve my life for all that I'm worth. Both the demon and witch in me are screaming even now for me to survive and I... can't believe I'm resisting my instincts to even speak here."

If only she hadn't loved. Her human emotions had made her weak and had poked holes in her perfect logic and self-preservation. It was so pathetic that she felt compelled to laugh.

Yet laugh she wouldn't.

Pain melds with anger in her gaze as she turns on her heel, readying herself to try and flee for all she was worth. It seemed unlikely Nephele would get away, but now at the very least she wouldn't have to lie anymore.

Not to herself nor those around her who'd genuinely believed in her.

"Truth be told, I'm no monster. But at this point I may as well become what you see me to be. Perhaps then your justice will hold some meaning!"

It was the only strategy she'd ever had fail on her entirely. Regretfully it'd been the most important one of all.
(Nephele Xenos)

When the woman reveals herself-- exposing her secrets, it causes Renly's lips to curl upward.. He had bet a lot on this, perhaps even making himself sound completely stupid when he'd chosen to speak up. His voice had to be big. He had to let everyone hear his voice..

He takes his own bow from his back, pointing it at the woman...

"The Task family should be dealt with later. It is time to strike down Esshar's most ancient foe .. She who swears herself to the Dark Lord..

He reaches into his back pocket, taking his next holy seal given to him by an eastern Stellus, and wrapping it around the handle.

He no longer needed to focus. His conviction, his will, it meant everything. He draws back the bowstring, and instead of crystal, what forms between his fingers and the handle of the bow is an arrow of pure light. Holy magic.

...The only issue is that his hands are shaking with fear. It's unlikely that he'd ever hit his mark.
(Renly)

What if I fire the arrow backwards?
(Renly)