The Black Rose

"What exactly did you buy for me?" Alistair's interest was peaked as he guessed what was in the sack. "I hope it's food!" Alistair's stomach grumbled at the thought of food.

The burlap sack fell limply to the floor as Suna pulled out a smooth white rock about the size of his fist. Alistair did his best to look surprised "So what is it?" he was having trouble keeping an intrigued tone.

"It's the Aura stone of a royal wyvern." Suna could hardly contain her excitement. "After a creature dies, its Aura accumulates into a solid mass and can be taken from their body." She handed Alistair the stone. "If the stone is absorbed it can be manifested into anything the user can think of, like armor or a weapon. But after it takes its form it can't change into anything else."

Alistair rubbed the stone and felt that it was warm to the touch, "So do I eat this or something?" Alistair brought it to his mouth.

"Nope, you have to focus your Aura on trying to absorb it." Suna slapped her palm on her forehead.

Alistair squeezed the stone in both hands and closed his eyes.

"Focus on the Aura that's inside the stone, and try to overpower it with yours." Suna stared intensly at him.

His mind was calm as he took heavy deep breaths. He allowed his Aura to flood to his hands as he caressed the stone. A sudden vibrating feeling coursed through his body as the stone seemed to shrink in size. He felt the warmth travel to his heart before dispersing out to the rest of his limbs. He opened his eyes and found Suna inches from his face.

"Its an amazing feeling right?" She asked half excitedly. "I didnt expect you to be able to absorb that whole thing so fast. Your Aura seems immeasurable!"

"It was definitely an experience, sorta felt like when your arm or leg falls asleep, that pins and needles feeling." Alistair tried his best to explain what he felt.

"What're you going to have it manifest." Suna seemed more excited then Alistair was.

"I was thinking armor maybe." At the thought of armor he felt his Aura coat his body and toke the form of wyvern scale mail. "Ok, that was fucking cool."

Suna could hear the man smiling through his helmet and couldnt help but feel happy. "Was the gift suitable enough?"

"Hell yea!" Alistair was testing the flexibility as he responded. He looked at the white gauntlets that protected his hands and clenched a tight fist. The scales seemed to tighten in certain spots when he flexed. "It's reacting to how I move, thats incredible." Alistair was lost in the extravagant armor. "How do i get it off though?" With that, his armor fadded back into his Aura.

Alistair was smiling like a kid who got a new toy. He hugged Suna tightly. "That has been the best gift I've ever received, thank you." Alistair released her but held onto her shoulders, "Where did you steal it from? There's no way we could've afforded that with copper."

"Dont be mad, I scrounged up a few things at your house and simply traded for it." Suna tried to look as innocent as possible.

"What exactly did you grab?" Alistair was confused as to what could've been of value to trade for something like the Aura stone.

"Just a bunch of coins that had pictures on them, you had them sitting on a shelf." Suna smiled sweetly.

Alistair just sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "I recieved those coins for doing honorable things." he could only smile. He wasnt mad, he just thought it was funny she had grabbed them and thought they were simply coins.

Suna saw Alistair smile and felt bad for some reason. "Im sorry, I just figured they were normal coins. Are you mad at what I did?" she was concerned she had messed up.

"No, those were from a long time ago. They mean nothing now." Alistair continued smiling. "So i got some info from Mia."

"You guys are on a first name basis huh?" Suna frowned at the thought of Alistair getting along with the elf.

He ignored her and continued, "The main family of the Anubis clan resides in the city center, im assuming they took Elena there."

"And do you have a plan for getting remotely close? The Anubis clan is powerful and has many allies, they're one of the top 4 families in Kilroc" Suna crossed her arms at the lack of an answer to her question.

"We simply walk in, they told us they want a meeting anyways." Alistair gave her the most simplest of answers.

"Im hoping you are really not that dense! it'll obviously be a trap!" Suna got mad at his lack of strategy. "You would get yourself captured or worse yet, killed."

"Chill out." Alistair swore he could see steam rising from Suna's ears. "They don't know about my trump card. Plus I'm going with a gift."

"We dont know the extent of power behind your unholy fire, and what gift could you possibly be giving them." Suna was tapping her foot in impatience.

"I like the sound of unholy fire, im gonna steal that." he made a mental note of the name. "A black rose will be my gift to them, I was told a black rose would suffice as a gift."

Suna shook her head in disapproval, "The black rose is a symbol of death."

"Exactly." Alistair was pointing his finger at Suna in excitement. "From my knowledge, Anubis is the Egyptian God of death. It would be a fitting gift!"

"You have got a mighty pair of stones to give the God of deaths family a black rose." Suna wasnt impressed.

"Shall we find out then?" Alistair stood up and made his way to the door without an answer from Suna.

Alistair was able to buy some more appropriate clothing before he made his way to the center of the city. He had bought a cloak as well to keep his identity hidden. The walk to the center was a tedious venture. Crowds of people were in the street meandering about. They finally arrived at a stall called the 'Blooming Bud'. He bought a single black rose and went on his way.

The Anubis clan hall stood drastically above the other nearby buildings. Armed guards roamed the grounds while solid stone gargoyles stood above the walls keeping an ever watchful eye for intruders. The front gate had a striped pattern of turquoise and gold that extended to the roof of the barricade. Two guards with helms that resembled jackals were standing fast.

"Move along you two, the Anubis clan doesnt deal with stragglers lightly." The two guards laughed at the two approaching.

With a swift movement the taller figure crouched down and launched himself at the unsuspecting guards. He landed a solid punch into the guards stomach. The guard keeled over before he was dispatched with a follow up punch to the back of the head. The remaining guard tried to draw his scimitar but was quickly choked slammed before the curved sword was unsheathed.

Alistair got up and dusted himself off before heading to the beautiful gate. With a light touch from him, the gate swung open. "Easier then I expected!" he knew it was never that easy.

As the pair approached the sandstone colored steps of the towering palace, a steady stream of guards moved in to surround them. The guards were armed with sharp spears that had serrated teeth and short black scimitars. A guard with gold trimmed black armor spoke from the steps above, "It was foolish of you to fight your way in here." his voice thundered across the courtyard. His Aura was significantly stronger then those around him.

"Hey whats up, Is Lyvia here by chance. I was told to meet her here." Alistair wasn't phased by the spears threatening his life.

The armor clad man was not impressed. "What clan do you hail from? Your Aura isn't impressive and I'm embarrassed I showed up with this much force. Why the lady has so much interest in you is absurd."

Alistair gave the man an appalled look, "You mean you have never heard of the clan of Unholy Fire?" he spun around in disbelief.

Suna was trying to keep from shaking her head. She was hiding her embarrassment rather well.

At that moment a rather beautiful woman stepped out with a long flowing black dress. She wore a black pearl necklace that only added to her beauty. She looked at the gaggle in front of her, "Ali, im glad you made it!" Lyvia's voice carried a hint of enthusiasm. "Let them through, they are guests."

The guard nodded at his subordinates to lower their weapons. His anger was rising as the mere commoners walked the steps of the palace.

Alistair removed the hood from his cloak and looked around the palace in all its majesty. They followed Lyvia for a awhile through the grand hall, their foot steps echoed off the walls.

"Since you aren't saying anything I'll go first. Where's Elena?" Alistair kept his voice polite for now.

Lyvia sighed before responding, "You three are being punished. Elena is chained up in the room i am taking you to, you have to answer for your transgressions." Lyvia paused before continuing "You embarrassed me in front of my subordinates several times, my family didn't take to kindly to that."

"I'm gonna assume we have a trial right? So some people can hear my side of the story?" Alistair tried to sound worried.

"You're plea hearing is later this afternoon, you'll be found guilty either way." Lyvia sounded pleased.

"Is anyone of importance gonna be there?" Alistair laid on another thick layer of fear in his voice.

"Anubis might attend." Lyvia was falling for his act.

"Oh no, not Anubis!" Alistair was just being sarcastic at this point.

Lyvia turned around and spoke with venom on her tongue, "I hope you have a slow death."

They had arrived at the room Elena was in, there were several guards posted inside and outside. Lyvia flicked the back of Alistairs head as he walked passed her.

"Ill make you pay for that one later." Alistair gave Lyvia the finger as she shut the door.

Elena was chained down in the center of the room, her body was full of deep gashes. There were chips of her horns scattered on the floor and her small wings had several cuts on them. Her breathing was raspy and sporadic. She was in bad shape and wouldn't be able to fight if need be.

Alistair kneeled by her side and placed his hand on her back, "Hey, we came to save you." He sent a trickle of his Aura to jump start her healing, he couldnt give her to much while they were being watched so carefully.

Elena wheezed and spit out a mouthful of blood, "You didn't have to, im dead anyway." She was refusing to look up.

"That's what I tried telling Suna but she made me come here to get you." Alistair joked as he sent more of his Aura to her.

"You're an asshole." she managed to say over several bloody coughs. "Thank you."

"Anything for my girls. I'll take care of these mean people for you." Alistair felt terrible for not being able to do more. He sat there with her and comforted her while sending as much of his Aura to her as possible. "We'll get out of here soon."

A few hours passed as the three huddled together, Elena was starting to feel a bit better, most of her internal injuries had started to heal. Her breathing became more steady and she no longer coughed up blood.

The door swung open as two guards in black armor stepped in. "We are here to collect you, carry your friend to the trial." Both guards stepped back into the hallway while keeping an eye on the three misfits.

"Im gonna pick you up now, bear with me please." Alistair positioned himself under Elena and lifted gently.

Elena's body was screaming, she wanted nothing more then to roll over and die. She cried in Alistair's arms before passing out.

Alistair gently carried her to the clan's courtroom, it was a massive room shaped like a stadium. The defendants made their way to the center as hordes of people sat in the stands muttering.

"Apparently people love a good court hearing." Alistair said this under his breath as he rolled his eyes.

The steps to the podium in the center made alistair take longer strides as he carried Elena. He eventually reached the top with Elena still in his arms and Suna just behind him. He scanned the crowd as if to look for someone. His eyes met those of a jackals and he immediately realized who he was looking at.

Anubis stared at the young man in the center of the courtroom. "Weird, his Aura is almost non existent." Anubis spoke aloud.

"You're highness, this is the man that embarrassed our blood in the mortal realm." A servant had spoken so as to bring the situation to light.

"I see." Anubis leaned on his elbow as he took a second look at the man staring back at him.

"Alright everyone, settle down." a booming voice echoed through the chamber that silenced everyone. "We are hear to listen to this young man's testimony and decide whether he lives or dies." The rather plump judge finally revealed himself from behind the throne that sat at the top of the stadium. "Please young man, speak." the judge ushered Alistair on.

"First, I bring a gift for Anubis." Alistair handed Elena to Suna. He reached to the back of his cloak and withdrew a single black rose.

Anubis slowly stood up, "And who told you bringing a symbol of death as a gift was a great idea?" he said with an amused tone of voice.

"I cant tell you who, but he was persistent with me bring one." Alistair directly responded to Anubis.

"Boy, put your full Aura into the rose." Anubis was curious as to who told him about the rose.

"You know, he calls me boy alot as well and it pisses me off!" Alistair said with anger. He held the rose in front of him and let out a deep breath. His mind became clear as his Aura exploded from its confinement. His body was engulfed in the unholy flames.

Anubis leapt down from where he was seated and approached the hungry flame. The heat intensified as he got closer. He was 10 yards away before he stopped, he didnt dare get closer. He saw the two girls within the radius of the fire and was struck with confusion. "How are they Alive?" was all he could muster before he was struck in the face.