The siren had been quiet in much of her studies, prowling the halls at her leisure and occasionally tormenting Sartha with her innuendo and suggestions. Not that she would have minded had the bull taken her up on her taunts, the idea thrilled her. She had found it had taken surprisingly little effort to imbue the cloak, and obtain a suitable wand nor had the book been much challenge either. Her very nature demanded she be adaptable to any situation, for in the cold depths of her birth it was eat or be eaten. Only the strong would survive and so she saw it in this institute, merely another struggle to survive, rise above the weak and seize power.

Power, something her brethren often sought, had presented itself to her in merely another face, this offering of scholarship, another thing to master and take control over. She mused quietly over her meager possessions, the trinket acquired in the recent challenge that had apparently been the wrong item, however she had kept it. Her book she kept secret, adding spells as she found them to pique her interests, her cloak had of course been imbued with the basic protective enchantment, though she had of course added her own personal touch to that. She picked the cloak up, letting the smooth fabric slip through her fingers to settle in a heap in her lap.

Stoneskin had been a useful addition to the obligatory spell and charm resistance, also she had seen fit to add an extra protection against fire and electricity. A nasty little extra that had pleased her greatly was a particular charm that would cause any offender to suffer the sensation of drowning. It would be invoked by any arcane offense, instantly zeroing in on the attacking party and causing them to choke and feel as though their lungs were filled with water and their mouth filled with the taste of salt. the final effect was that they would be rendered unconscious for several hours.

The wand was largely unused, as her own natural ability to charm anyone she so desired rendered the tool almost useless. There was little need to enchant when the target was simpering and begging for sexual release from her. Male, female, it made no difference, the student body had failed to realize the power in her voice alone and this had given her an edge over them. A suggestive whisper and they would do her bidding, their minds clouded with overwhelming desire to please her. Even the vampire girl Jolie had succumbed to her wiles. She smiled grimly recalling how she had writhed before her, how easily she had conquered the girl.

It was a pity none had dared challenge her, or perhaps they did not see the threat, this shark swimming among guppies. Lips pulled back from eviscerating teeth in a wider smile. She would soon surprise them all, claiming her rightful place amongst the elite. Gorgonhorn would be immensely pleased they had chosen this seeming harmless beauty to join in the ranks of the old house. She sighed and tucked the cloak away and rose to her feet, feet that irritated her immensely. There was no good place here for one such as her to take decent repose. Despite the tank in her room it was not the same as open ocean.

The wand was eyed critically and she gave it a wave murmuring softly and the room converted. The walls vanished and were replaced by an expanse of sea, fish swam through the deep blue-green waters, seaweed waved gently in the current and high above the silhouettes of gulls bobbing on the waves could be seen faintly. Whale song echoed low and deep, reverberating through this tranquil oceanic scene. The feel of salt water on her skin was ecstasy, frigid and welcoming as it caressed her body intimately. The moment of solitude was shattered sharply as she heard voices outside her quarters screeching about some gods-awful itching. the scorched lice outbreak, no doubt.

The scene vanished leaving her alone in her room as it was before the jarring shouts outside brought her back to the here and now. With a sigh she moved for the door bored and fully intending to pester Sartha. Perhaps she could even push him past the point of restraint and goad him into relieving her tensions. Nothing sounded better at the moment than a bout of violent sex. She left her room and meandered through the corridors looking for the minotaur, fulling intending to push his tolerance to the brink, and then shove him over....

Her victory over Sartha had been immensely satisfying, and her mind continually flitted back to it even as she attempted to concentrate on her spell weaving. She was already easily mastering water related magic, but that wasn't enough. It had been expected, as if her mastery were nothing more than a parlor trick. She frowned, her brow furrowing as she brushed an oceanic hued lock of hair over her shoulder. She murmured softly. Primordia anima The beaker of vital fluids before her shivered, her gaze intent upon it. For a moment she thought perhaps the inflection had been wrong, before the liquid began to condense and form strings of tissue matter.

The slimy tendrils of tissue stretched and elongated, creeping slowly and steadily up the glass sides, pulsating and throbbing as they inched over the rim. Semblances of organs began forming, misshapen and ghastly, as veins and arteries spider-webbed across the slick surfaces. She watched in morbid fascination as outer tissue, thin and translucent stretched across the quivering mass, obscuring the beating heart that had formed mere moments before. It reminded her of a jellyfish, save for the fact jellyfish had no organs. nor did they have eyes, as this now did.

Great bulbous orbs with thick pulsating optic nerves and fibers running rope-like along the upper surface of the mass before disappearing into the depths of what might pass for a brain, though it was more of a nervous mass, incapable of higher thought. The eyes, still slick and oozing a thick yellowish liquid seemed to float, unblinking around the surface of what have been a mockery of a 'head' before seeming as though it was looking back at her. Tendrils still searched over the rim, questing for escape from the glass prison, but the obvious lack of intelligence provided no clear answer.

Almalthia plucked the beaker up, as the 'creature' was now swelling to the point of overflowing from it's prison, and dumped it into a glass tank. She securely fastened the lid and smiled, sharks teeth sharp and exposed in feral exuberance. "You will make an excellent presentation to Master Smout'n, my little lovely." Though lovely was a far cry from what this..... thing was. She'd created a monstrosity. Her eyes flicked to the corpse splayed at awkward angles on the table of the necromancy suite and her smile broadened. She had not even used the corpse itself, but drained the blood and other fluids from various vital organs and used that as her building block instead.

The body was left for the vaden, they tended to...do things with untended corpses, the sick little...anyhow. She gingerly lifted the tank and set off to her own dorm, trilling softly and cooing to the little abomination she'd created as though it were nothing more than the sweetest little kitten. Oh yes, this should get her some attention.

Dissection

The slain vampire's corpse was laid on a cold, heartless table in just as heartless a manner. Arms and legs restrained tightly. She knew better than to take a chance with the undead, they had a nasty habit of regenerating. Something she had counted on, and with good cause. She waited patiently for the male splayed like some horrible trophy to stir. His heart did not beat, but that had not stopped him from attempting to attack that woman, had it? She had been precise, had not pierced his heart not rent his head from his body, and thus should not have made a permanent kill.

She was right. The corpse that was not a corpse stirred and groaned agonizingly. It had taken the male longer to recover from his wounds thanks to the venom Almalthia had injected into him when she'd impaled him. Once would kill a human, easily, twice something larger. She had not been entirely sure what it would do to a bloodsucker so she'd played it safe and gone for just a little overkill. It had bought her enough time to secure him, cast charms to keep him restrained and set up the necessary precautions required of something ordinarily so formidable. He groaned again and attempted to move his hand for his head, to find it shackled and chained. The silver had been a nice touch.

"Where am I?!" Came the snarled demand. "Release me this instant or it will be your life! You have no right to treat me thus!" It would have made for a very dramatic display, had he not been sprawled like a virginal sacrifice. Almalthia circled the table, coming around near his head and leaned over him, letting him get a good look. Almost immediately his attitude changed. "I see, this is some depraved sexual fetish, isn't it? Why don't you let me loose and I'll show you how depraved I can be." His smirk confident and cocky. The woman looming over him was a stunning example of the human breed. If she let him loose he'd take his time exercising his twisted lusts on her. Maybe he wouldn't even kill her. The idea of this sensual creature as his thrall had merit.

Already his excitement was making itself apparent even as he was chained down, the bulge in his trousers unmistakable. Almalthia's eyes flicked to the juncture of his legs and then back to his face. His smirk soon melted away as she smiled, that macabre smile, every eviscerating tooth exposed to him in a feral grimace of anticipation. "What are you?" He demanded, though this time there was the slightest quaver in his voice. She knew he was immune to the spell in her voice and so spoke freely, something all too rarely done. "Could that be fear I detect?. Ah yes, I think so..." She spoke casually noting with relish his desires had been suddenly and completely quelled.

"What's wrong, don't find me attractive any more?" Her amusement obvious. "Let me go, you psychotic bitch!" He snapped, straining against his bonds without effect. "I'm afraid I can't do that, you see, I need you. Well, not you specifically, but a vampire. She trailed a clawed fingertip along his jaw slowly, sliding it down his throat, pausing at his jugular before tracing a line down his chest. "I'll kill you!" His voice was a mixture of panic and rage as he jerked violently again to free himself. He succeeded only in dislocating his right shoulder. "You had better stop before you hurt yourself." She laughed softly. "Not that I care terribly much, you see. I intend to hurt you too. Beyond any pain you have ever known, the excess of which will haunt you forever in the dark. That is, if you survive. You see I've a keen interest in just how much punishment one of your ilk can take before being forever snuffed out."

"You can't kill me! I've done nothing to you! I am not some animal to dissect. Release me at once!" His logic was flawed to her mind. Promises, perhaps a promise would deter her. "Let me go and I'll give you anything you want. Wealth, power, fame! I can do it, you know, I'm a very prominent man! Name your desire and I shall see it fulfilled!" He was desperate. "My desire? My desire is to quit wasting time. As far as having done nothing wrong I very much doubt that. Your kind do nothing but wrong. I kill for good cause, your kind do it for pleasure. That makes you an animal, claim as you might to the contrary."

Straining on the table, he thrashed as violently as his bonds allowed. "Oh do be quiet. You might wake the dead." Chuckling at her little joke. "Let me go you crazy bitch! I'll see you dead! I'll see you tormented and killed a thousand times over! you fucking whore! I'll-" His raving and swearing was cut short as a sharp pain shot through his side, burning and freezing simultaneously. "I hate it when a man can't follow direction." The bone blade retracting from the point of entry of the stab wound. She'd poisoned him. Again.

As the venom gripped his body he found himself unable to do little more than watch as she ripped away his shirt. Could not scream as she sliced open his chest and pulled apart his ribs with her bare hands. He felt every agonizing iota of pain and could not do a thing nor make a sound. He watched in horror as she brought a horrific gelatinous blob with eyeballs to him, oozing in it's tank. "I'd like you to meet Snookums, my precious project. I thought I should introduce you, for you see, the two of you are about to become very close." With that the tank was tilted to let 'Snookums' slide slowly from his tank into the vampire's waiting open chest cavity. The blob sloshed around for several moments, exploring around organs and half floating in vital fluids.

this went on for a few moments before Almalthia's rebuke. "Snookums, do stop playing in there and assimilate him, won't you?" It was horrible enough this beautiful yet demented female had sliced him stem to stern. The mass was sickening, even for his standards, but assimilate? What did she mean?!? There might have been a glimmer of panic in those cold eyes now then pain. More torturous than having his ribs split apart as the creature swimming inside of his chest cavity began to absorb the fluids from within him. It was like liquid fire being injected into every cell then having it twisted into knots and dipped in acid. The more Snookums absorbed, the larger he became. Less gelatinous, more substantial. Organs were drained, blood and ichor, all of it until the vampire laying there in horrific display was nothing more than a dried out corpse, devoid of innards. He would not be coming back.

Almalthia left Kael in her chamber after showing him how to draw a bath and what soap was for. He seemed delighted at the bubbles and made soft sounds of pleasure as he sank into the hot water and began to clean himself. While he was bathing, Almalthia was on a mission. She made her way to the common area, where the other students often gathered to socialize. As luck would have it, her quarry was there as she had hoped. Grant was reclined in a chair near a window reading a book and paying no mind to the other students milling around him, chattering and laughing. She approached him boldly, coming to stand before him.

He glanced up as his light was blocked with a slight frown. "Excuse me, but may I help you?" His tone not unpleasant but not pleased, either. He did not know who this exotic woman standing before him was. He'd seen her, but never heard her name nor heard her speak, and now she stood before him, looming like some apparition. "Apprentice Palamine." She greeted in that lulling whisper of hers. He nodded curtly. "Yes?" He had to shake himself mentally as her voice seemed to wrap itself around his mind, tugging at him enticingly. He squinted at her, looking more closely.

She was exquisite, long and lean. Not terribly uncommon in these lands, however. As he dragged his gaze over her he noted her eyes were strange. changing color every so often. There was something terribly familiar about her, something like a long ago memory. something he'd heard in a story once, perhaps, but could not put his finger on. Until the smooth flesh of her throat erupted along the sleek lines of each side and pulsed. Gills. He knew instantly then, what she was and found himself more than a little awed. However he kept his composure and did not show it. Her smile confirmed it further though, those teeth meant to rend flesh and bone exposed to him in a macabre smile.

He swallowed, choosing his words carefully now. "And your name, miss...?" She looked pleased. he was being civil, something she had hoped for. "Almalthia. Am pleased meet, person, Grant." It was soothing, that voice. The way she spoke, the lilting cadence, how she fairly purred his name. He found himself imagining what that voice would sound like calling his name in... "Need speak, help. Yours." Her words snapped him back enough to pay attention. "What is it? I would be glad to offer you any assistance I can, as long as it does not hinder my studies, of course. I'm sure you understand?"

She nodded, causing that long hair to ripple over creamy bare shoulders. She was, he noted, out of uniform. Though scales covered her torso she was largely exposed to his gaze. The skirt was a nice touch, he mused. It reminded him of flowing fins carried in a gentle current. She sighed and motioned with a hand, impatiently. "Strongly suggest, protect, ears. Can tell voice, problems, you." Though her words were disjointed her meaning was clear. He needed to use auditory protection or even that whisper of hers would drive him mad with lust. Obviously that was not what she wanted. He licked his lips and nodded. A simple charm and he looked back at her. "Forgive me, but you are right. Quite a compelling charm, that."

She shrugged to him. "Still not safe speak, others near. Private?" Hopefully, inviting him to come with her to her room. "Of course." The charm had done it's job and he no longer felt the desire to see her naked wrapped in his bedclothes and moaning when he heard her speaking. Although... "Of course, Almalthia. I would be honored. " He closed his book and stood, indicating she lead the way. She nodded, pleased the lustful look had gone from his eyes. She turned and moved away leading him back to her chamber. Grant could not help but notice even from behind she was quite pleasing to look at, and the way her hips swayed...

When they had reached the dorm and the door was securely closed Almalthia turned to him. "It should be safe for me to speak now. How are your ears?" The query was sincere, she didn't need him melting on her and trying to endear himself. That was just annoying. "Fine, thank you. The charm I used should protect me for a few hours yet." he replied. "What was it you needed my help with?" Just then Kael's voice floated in from the bathing chamber, just before he came through the door still wet and dripping bubbles. And nude. She sighed. "Him. Kael, you cannot walk around without covering your midsection. It's not polite." Grant felt his face heat up and knew he had to be flushed.

"Is he your uh..?" Grant stammered, trying not to look shocked. "My mate? No. he's my ascension project. Kael'naut'tess." Grant frowned trying to wrap his tongue around the alien syllables. "Kaelnutest?" The name was mangled badly. Almalthia shook her head. "Kael'naut'tess, Kael, for short." Grant shook his head. "And how is...Kael..your project? He's a person." "Not quite. He was created from a person, rather the fluids of a dead person. I then used a vampire to enhance him and the result is what you see before you." Grant's jaw fairly dropped. "W-what?! You made him?" She nodded. "Yes."

"If you can do that, what do you need me for? You don't intend to kill me do you? You'd be thrown out." She laughed softly. Kael stood looking between them, confused. Though he did have the sense to pick up a towel and wrap it around his waist. "Clothes. I do not sew, nor can I dress him in my own clothing. you are about his size and I wished to ask you if you would be willing to lend me a set. I wanted to bring you here to talk because I do not think you would have understood my intentions as well if I had walked up to you demanding your pants." She smirked in amusement. Grant had to laugh. "I see. So you don't need advice or anything? Just clothing?" Almalthia nodded. "That's right. I will be happy to trade for them, of course."

"I think I might have something laying around I can spare. Mind, it won't be fancy, but it should fit him he looks to be about my size..." Realization sparked to life. "That's why you asked me, isn't it?" "Yes. You look like you might be able to fit the same clothes." Grant chuckled." And here I thought I might have been picked for some special reason. You just wanted my pants! How practical!" He was laughing outright now. Kael listened to the exchange intently. "Mistress, why is it I must put these things on?" "Because," She explained, "It is not considered proper to walk around nude here. I do not mind when it is only myself, but you will have to cover yourself in polite company. I am surprised you do not have memories of this as your speech and basic functions seem to be well developed."

"No...." Kael said slowly. "I just remember you...and now him." Grant looked at Kael again, astounded that he looked like any other man, and yet was like a child. "You should thank Grant." She prompted. Kael nodded uttering a hasty "Thank you." "Of course." Grant replied smoothly. "It's only decent. As for trading me.." He glanced to the siren. "I know what I want." She frowned almost immediately. She thought she knew what was coming. "No sex." Firmly stated. Grant gaped, then laughed again. "No! that's not what I was going to ask for." Gasping for words as he laughed. "I want information. On you. Your kind. Very little is known and I would like to do a research paper. Is this acceptable?" His mirth subsiding.

Almalthia felt her own face heat. Well, this was a first. She nodded, surprised. "Yes, of course. Deal." She offered a clawed hand, which grant took and firmly shook. "Deal," He repeated. "Now let's see about those clothes. I'll be back shortly." With that he turned and hurried to his own dorm room, his mind abuzz with questions he wanted to ask her. There was so much to learn! Almalthia turned to Kael and looked at him appraisingly. "At least you smell better." Grant returned shortly with a pair of dark trousers, a pair of boots and a loose fitting white shirt. When Kael seemed at a loss as to how to don them, he helped. Once Kael was dressed they both looked at him, satisfied. "Excellent choice, Grant. He looks presentable now. But Your questions will have to wait for the morrow, I still have work to do with him and the hour is late."

Grant nodded. "But of course, I will leave you to it then." Though he wondered what it was she could need to work on with her creation. He still marveled that she had even pulled off such a feat. He turned and left, closing the door behind him, making his way back to his room to compile a list of questions before he forgot them all.

Interview - Part two

Grant settled himself in the chair at the siren's own desk. Idly he noted it was free of clutter, indeed he would say devoid. there were not even the writing supplies most students kept present. He licked his lips and turned his attention to her. Almalthia had moved to settle herself comfortably on her bed next to the sleeping Kael. Her eyes were trained on grant, occasionally shifting colors, slowly one melding into another. "Ahem, Right." Glancing to his parchment. "So I was wondering, siren culture. How do things get done? Is it a society or everyone for themselves?" Quill poised eagerly as he leaned forward a bit.

Her first response was a soft chuckle. "It is a society, but not like those of land-dwellers. It is harsh and cruel and the weak are often killed by the strong. I believe the popular phrasing here is 'culling the herd'? Rank is determined by three main factors. Scale color, fighting prowess, and the number of mates a female attains. Males are a rare commodity, being outnumbered by females nearly eight to one. while they have high rank simply because of gender, a female may use this to her own advantage." Grant was writing furiously as she spoke, glancing up occasionally, before down at the parchment and mumbling under his breath. "What does scale color have to do with rank?"

Almalthia shifted, stretching languidly half laying on Kael, who didn't move but rather continued sleeping. "Common color is lower ranking. Generally, this is green or any variation of green. More distinctive coloring like blue red or black is considered highly desirable. These colors blend more easily in dark recesses and make the siren a more effective hunter. The more desirable the color, the higher the rank. Of course, this can be raised by fighting or having more mates. Color does not apply to males in this fashion." Grant paused and looked up. "So it can be a very subjective thing, then?" She nodded. "Yes. The best way to ensure higher rank is to have several mates and be able to defend them as your own."

"Most creatures fight over females.." Came the surprised remark. "Most, but not my kind. with so many females and so few males, the females fight for mating rights." The scratching of the quill continued as he wrote. A pause before he looked up again. "Do the males have any say in this?" He was gifted a laugh that sounded like bubbles rising fast through a vortex. "Of course. But the males tend to desire females who are able to prove they are worth mating with. It keeps us strong. Most fights are to the death so it helps keep the female population in check. If a female loses and is not killed, she is exiled." Grant nodded, scribbling away again. "What about you? Have you ever fought for a mate?"

Almalthia frowned. "Lets not get too personal, Grant. I agreed to tell you about my kind, not my personal life." "I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you." He said hastily. "I'll move to the next question. What about the stories of sailors being killed?" "Ah," she purred. "Now some of those are half truths, some are true, and some are the vulgar stories of men gone mad at sea. We are proficient hunters, and do not need to lure sailors in to feed on. Some weaker females who have been exiled have even been known to lure sailors in and take them as mates. There have been a few rogues who kill for the pleasure of killing, also exiles for their erratic behavior. The rest are often shipwrecks the men don't wish to admit they caused through ineptitude."

"Fascinating!" He breathed. Grant slid the first parchment aside, pulling a fresh one closer to begin again. "What about preferred food?" Another bubbling laugh. "I would have thought it obvious. Generally fish and some seaweed, though mostly fish. some have more exotic tastes and prefer the giant squid in the deeper depths of the ocean." A gesture to an exposed thigh, and the faded scars from just such an encounter. "You hunt giant squid?? How do you kill them?" "Ahhhhh....." Smiling, she stood and turned so her back was exposed to him. The wet sound of flesh splitting was the only sound as he gaped at her backside. Those wicked bone blades slowly extended, rattling softly against one another.

Grant reached forward to inspect and found his hand being struck sharply away. "Unless you want to suffer a poisoning, I would advise against that." His hand jerked back and he rubbed it. "Poison? You're poisonous too? That would be useful hunting such large prey." Hastily scribbling once more. "How strong is it?" "A little can cause hallucinations, more than that paralysis and numbing. Too much - death by shock and organ failure." The blades slowly retracting until the flesh was smooth again. "Jeeze...." Grant shook his head. "It also causes memory loss if done correctly. I can control the dose by using the muscles at the base of the spine to deliver the amount of poison I need."


(To be continued)

Ulterior motives

Grant had retired to his own room and secluded himself. The paper had been an excellent cover, to get information on the siren. And while he was indeed writing said paper he found himself fascinated by her poison. A small sample could be extremely useful. He had asked her project, Kael if her spines ever extended while she slept, for the paper, he had explained. Kael had of course believed him, but gave an answer he did not want to hear. No, they did not. There had to be a way for him to get his hands on it, and with as dangerous as she was, he would have to proceed with extreme caution.

a sleeping draught was out of the question now, but perhaps something else... she had mentioned she used them when hunting and self defense. There was his answer. He needed a potion that would make her groggy but not knock her out. then of course was the problem of getting her to ingest it. but if that could be done he could use illusion to make her believe she was hunting or being attacked. The combination should make her susceptible to his will. There was the problem of collection of course. A slight mistake and he could be in a nasty situation. Even with her drugged, there was a chance she might get him while he attempted to collect it.

Perhaps restraints... He was quickly working things out. A mild hallucinogenic paired with a sedative could work. He would have to restrain her on her stomach so as to have access to those spines, and use illusion to prompt her to use them. A cruel smile touched his lips. With such a powerful toxin he could do a lot of damage. He knew it was untraceable. Almalthia had explained about how it metabolized and was broken down in less than an hour, even after the victim had died. He would be undetectable, as long as he did nothing to tip the siren off he was engaging in such activities. surely she would recognize the signs of her own deadly toxin.

He dismissed the thought and concentrated on gathering materials for the sedative. It would have to be administered quickly and without her suspecting anything. Perhaps he could have Kael deliver it to her. He was easily persuaded as long as he was under the impression he was pleasing Almalthia. Various bottles and powders were mixed and measured and he toiled several hours perfecting his creation. Chocolate, he thought would be perfect. He could inject the drug into it and when she consumed it..he would be ready. The deed was done and he was lucky enough to find Kael in the halls on an errand for his mistress. "Kael," Grant greeted smoothly. "I did not expect to see you out by yourself. "Almalthia wished me to fetch her something to eat. She thought it would be good for me to go out on my own on such a short errand."

"Of course, it is indeed." Grant agreed. "As a matter of fact, if you like I have some chocolates you could give her. They were a gift, but they do not suit my tastes. However it should not be wasted." Kael smiled and nodded. "That might be just the thing. I'll take these to her, thank you, Grant." Grant kept his smile benign. "Of course, anything for her. she has done me more of a service than she knows." Kael took the box and turned to return to his mistress' dorm room cheerily. Grant waited then followed him, wanting to be ready.