Post by Kokaine Dominor on Jun 22, 2011 21:53:12 GMT -5
[Name]
Kokaine DarkLove Night Dominor
[Mortal Age]
16 (though looks more like a modern 19-21)
[Actual Age]
3200+
[Sire]
Original: Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt
Current: Tatianna Darkshadow (Tatianna broke the bond between sire and fledgling by creating a stronger bond with Kokaine. While Kokaine does not need the power of a Sire, Tatianna is dear to her and she honors the older vampire with the title of Sire.)
[Bloodline]
Gangrel / Dominor
[Family]
Mortal Life:
*Mother- Sekhmet, Warrior Goddess (in mortal form)
*Father- Athenian General
After Embrace:
*Belongs to the House of Night
*Is tied to Dr. Zero Paradox (who first took her as his immortal daughter) and the rest of his children (Lady Zylaera, Shannah DeLaRosa, and Darzen Kostelai)
*Most recently has joined the ranks of the Dominors with Valterra as her mother, Azazeal and Ivy as her siblings, and Sinara as her neice.
*Is marred to Macabress (aka Ginger) who is an Aestus.
[Abilities]
Age: 850+ days old (85 proficiency points)
Stat total: 5,800+ (58 power points)
Rank: 100+ (10 powers)
strength....................................16
speed........................................18
senses.......................................19
Frenzy................................6(5)
Animalism...........................5(5)
Regeneration.....................4(2)
Apathy................................4(3)
Flawless Accuracy...............7(6)
Pyro-Kinesis........................10(5)
Photographic Reflexes.........5(5)
Soul Mask............................4(2)
Vitae Summon......................7(3)
Mastery of Corpus...............6(1)
[Haven]
Egypt - large underground complex that holds her most valuable treasures. The exact location is secret.
Manhattan - a room given to her by Sin.
Dominor Manor - the South wing
Arcana Manor - Shades Wing
[Coven]
Arcana Aequitas
[Feeding Habits]
In order to maintain control over certain aspects of her nature, Kokaine keeps herself in a perpetual state of hunger. She feeds every 3-4 weeks. The exception being if she is injured and needs to repair the damage, or the small sips she takes from her wife.
Kokaine does not feed on humans(except extreme emergencies), which is another reason why her feedings can last so long. She tends to feed on other supernatural beings, lycans being her favorite. She will feed on other vampires.
Feeding often happens during sex or after battle, but never does she allow herself to kill through feeding lest she lose control.
[Appearance]
Kokaine stands a statuesque 6`0" tall. Her very athletic build is padded with streamlined curves that have served her well through the ages and her skin is a deep, dusky gold that remains from her mortal life in Egypt, despite having spent ages without the sun. Thick midnight hair flows in waves tumbling down her back to her waist framing her dark skin and bright amber eyes well. Through Artemis’ tampering Kokaine’s eyes have been altered. No longer do they have the look of exotic human eyes. Instead her eyes are solid amber orbs with a jagged burst of black at their centers. When her darker nature takes control thin veins of crimson appear in her eyes, giving them a “shattered” look. Her lips are full and lush but generally remain unpainted as she is a fan of the "natural" look.
Kokaine also has an eyebrow piercing on the left side as well as a tongue piercing. She often wears sunglasses to hide her eyes in public, even at night. She is prone to wearing lots of black with bright or bold color accents and her preferred choice of attire is leather and denim. One can always find her in stiletto boots or bright colored Converse sneakers and she is never without weapons, no matter how revealing her clothing.
Her weapons of choice: 4 Satin Nickel Desert Eagle Magnums with custom leaping tiger grips, two of which are modified for .5 caliber rounds, and they can usually be found in shoulder rigs or a gun belt slung around her hips. She also carries a 6 foot claymore and 2 daggers. Kokaine is a fan of ranged weaponry but loves to fight hand to hand.
[Nature]
Kokaine is a watcher, always observing, always learning. Naturally wary, she is far more intelligent than she lets on. Knowledge and its pursuit is her main purpose in life. In addition to knowledge, her Maker filled her veins with the call of The Hunt—she is the physical embodiment of this vocation. It is what drives her and pushes her to maintain her search for knowledge and experience. Knowledge makes one a more dangerous hunter to her way of thinking.
She is naturally resistant to forming bonds despite the fact it is what she craves most. Her biggest fear is to be left alone in an eternity of solitude.
[Demeanor]
Kokaine’s demeanor greatly depends on who is around. Kokaine is generally mistrustful of people she hasn`t had the chance to subject to prior observation. As a result she initially has trouble connecting with those around her. However, once she gets past the first hurdles of social interaction, she is more at ease and is generally funny, warm and laid back.
Kokaine can be a major flirt and sometimes this can obscure her intelligence. She has grown to love attention and will flirt with just about anyone though it rarely goes beyond just that. She is a self-proclaimed tease and cares not who knows it.
Other times, she can also come off as intense to those who do not know her. Her temper is fairly hard to ignite, but once lit burns bright and long and she never forgets a wrong. She is a champion of the oppressed and misunderstood, and will often take up causes for those who are unjustly targeted and otherwise victimized.
[Flaws]
*Kokaine’s biggest flaw is her inability to deal with her emotions. Her recourse is either to wall them off entirely until she explodes, which usually leads to regrettable actions, or to deal with them in rather juvenile ways. Turned as a teenager who had experienced more hardship than love she was unprepared for how to deal with her feelings and spending 3 millennia attached to a deity such as Artemis did not help either.
*Kokaine is the very embodiment of the wild hunt. As a result she is constantly trying to maintain a tight control over the darker aspects of her nature. If she loses control she functions as nothing more than an enraged and hungry predator.
*Artemis’ control left Kokaine with a major disadvantage. While with the goddess she had access to unlimited power through their bond as Sire and fledgling but she was not aware that the goddess had stifled her own growth. Now that she is free of the goddess’ reins she is left with a large power deficit. She has the knowledge and skill that comes with age and practice but she does not yet have the raw power that she should. Thanks to her ties to Tatianna and Valterra, Kokaine is beginning to gain ground on erasing that deficit but it will be a long time yet before she is at the level she should be.
[History]
Kokaine began life as a servant of Artemis. She had been born Kassandra, to a Athenian Strategos (general) who had taken an Egyptian slave as a lover while conducting one of his scouting missions. The woman had been a pleasure slave of great worth and very beautiful, but she was imprisoned for daring to carry a child outside of a lawful union. Due to it being of an esteemed foreigner compounded this issue. Theirs had been a rare love story, and her father had greatly adored her beauty, hence her mother begged him to take their child to Athens, so that she might have the opportunity for a better life. Her father, feeling pity for the beauty that was trapped in Egypt, promised his love that he would care for their child. Deep in his heart though, he knew he could not. It would not be befitting of his station to return to Athens with a female child, whilst his wife there remained barren. Surely the child would take her mother`s dark, golden beauty?!
And so after she was born and her mother put to death, Kassandra was given to an Egyptian Lord and his wife. They had been befriended by her father due to their mutual interest of acquiring knowledge. Her father made sure they had all the funding they needed to give her the best in life, and even made several trips to see her during her early years. The visits of the kind, handsome man (as she knew him) stopped when she was 5 and she thought little of it. In this early period she was taught all manner of things, her adoptive father made sure she knew all she was able to absorb and Kassandra had been a bright child indeed. She learned the customs of her people, as well as those of the Greeks and even the Romans who often guests in her father`s home.
Everything was peaceful until she turned 12. Political uprising saw her adoptive parents labeled traitors by the Pharaoh, and executed before her very eyes. Using her training in combat (which as a female she shouldn`t have had!), she was able to catch her would be assassins off guard in order to escape. She ran to the only other place she knew may be safe, the home of an Egyptian noble that her father often visited. It was from him that she learned her parents were not her true parents after all. This noble was able to contact her real father in Greece and soon she found herself traveling to a foreign land.
In Athens she was taken discreetly to her father`s house and introduced as a slave. She had been aware of this front, so in keeping with her assigned station, she kept her eyes downcast and obeyed the wishes of her father`s wife. She did the best she could to remain unobtrusive and perform whatever services were demanded of her. Unfortunately in her second week she was cornered by the Mistress of the house. "I know who you are. I know you are the bastard of my husband and some whore. Do not get too comfortable here. Before long I will make sure you are settled in a place much more befitting your station," she spat at her. Grabbing Kassandra`s chin roughly she added, "Maybe I should take the time to fix your face. You wear the soothing facade of purity yet I know what lies beneath, maybe I should fix Zeus` error." Her father`s wife had the misfortune of falling on a carving knife one eve. No one could ever be sure if she had just tripped, or something more sinister had befallen her.
To protect her, her father had Kassandra sent to the temple of Artemis in Sparta to serve as a Priestess for one year. However, among the other initiates she was treated as second class and generally unworthy. Her darker skin and bright eyes set her apart from all others, and she was often tormented and abused by her peers. Having been trained in the art of combat she could have easily retaliated, but being the person she was, she simply endured her punishment in silence, never once letting them see her tears. Her loyalty remained to Artemis, her patron goddess, and she would do what was necessary to serve her to the utmost of her ability.
It was during her service that she learned she was truly favored by the goddess. One eve she met a Spartan soldier who was visiting the temple to pray for a healthy childbirth on behalf of his wife. As he lay out his offering, he caught sight of Kassandra and decided to ask her for assistance. Being good-natured and trusting that no one would ever defile the sanctity of Artemis` Temple, she went to his side to assist him in his moment of need. The soldier stood and Kassandra caught her breath. Being only 13 Kassandra was not yet to her full height but she was uncommonly tall for her time, and as such it was rare for her to feel dwarfed by anyone. The soldier however, had to be well over 6 feet and was built as a solid wall of muscle.
"Be a good girl and assist me in my time of need, Priestess," he rumbled.
"What need have you?" she responded warily.
"My wife is pregnant. She was pregnant many times before, but always the child was lost. This time around she remained bed-ridden and does nothing more than the most basic tasks in order to ensure the live-birth of our son." He paused and a gleam came into his eye. "I have need of you Priestess. Will you assuage that need?"
"Again I ask you good soldier, what need have you?" His hand flew up quickly and Kassandra found herself trapped in his vice-like grip. Suddenly he was everywhere, his hands roaming, gripping, bruising, and tearing. Her stomach rolled with nausea and fear, but her mind stayed true. "I beg you kind sir, do not do this. Artemis will be most displeased if you steal what she treasures most in her temple." she spoke valiantly in his ear. The soldier paused for the briefest of moments and Kassandra seized her opportunity. Using her knowledge of pressure points, 3 swift movements saw the soldier dead at her feet. In defending the honor of Artemis` Temple, she was given praise and was elevated to Apprentice of the High Priestess. But for committing murder inside the Temple walls, she was made to endure half a year of punishment.
Every night for half a year she was chained to a wall. Always facing the wall, never away. Then the pain would come. She never saw what instruments were being used, but the pain was always sharp and biting. She never saw who doled out the punishment but she knew it was a male, one who adored the power trip of inflicting pain, as his rancid evidence of that splattered the walls near her. Halfway through the night she was left to find what rest she could, and someone would always bathe and dress her wounds. Then with the rise of the dawn she would be expected to be up and attending to her duties. She knew some kind of magic or sorcery was involved because by the time night fell again her skin was smooth and flawless. She quickly learned to deal with the pain until it became a constant, almost a need, an addiction. By the time her sentence was up, her screams of pain had become hisses of pleasure.
When she turned 14 she was finally called by the Goddess to serve with an elite group of women. The Amazons reviled the Greeks, but because Artemis had sent her and because she possessed knowledge in combat, combined with her mixed roots she was welcomed into the fold. The days were filled with training and camaraderie and once she managed to overcome her initial shyness Kassandra thrived. Included in her training was an intense study of herself. She was taught how to use her very body as a weapon. And being both beautiful and exotic, almost an exact copy of her mother barring her father`s eyes and paler skin, the others attempted to train her as a secret weapon for employ against male armies. However, Kassandra was too self-conscious to fill such a role. Instead, she was able to further her sword fighting abilities as well as master archery and mounted warfare. She also learned to throw a javelin with great precision. She became a master strategist, both feared and loved within the Amazon tribe. Through her service she and Penthesilea grew closer and closer. She had become the Queen`s best friend and most trusted adviser and she was for once truly happy.
Kassandra`s life was changed irrevocably when at Artemis` beckoning she fought in the Trojan war, and was there to see her Queen and best friend be slain by Achilles. Cassandra of Troy had foreseen such a tragedy but had told no one: doing so had never worked in her favor. It was certainly one of the worst moments of her life. The Queen had attempted to be-spell Achilles with her beauty, and she had initially been successful, but with a snap he was back to his usual arrogant self. Glory was all he had lived for and this was proven by his running Penthesilea through with his spear. When the Queen fell Kassandra knew pure heartbreak. In an attempt to avenge her Queen, Kassandra charged Achilles, tears clouding her vision, all reason and logic fled in the tumultuous wake of her emotions. It was the first and last time she allowed emotion to get the best of her. As she charged the battle-drunk Achilles she was caught in the chest by a fluke spear, a random spear that had flown from the hands of an impotent Greek of little renown. Her body hit the ground with a resounding thud, the spear slicing into the dust. She lay there, a mere foot from the cooling body of her Queen, and felt nothing, only the thudding emptiness of her draining heart.
As her life slipped through her grasp she called out once to her Goddess "Artemis, hear my words. In the glory of thyne image I served, never wavering from your divine purpose, and now I dedicate the last of my life to that purpose. May it flourish and rise up to smite those who would risk your displeasure or desecrate thy virtue!" As the last warm breath left her lips, and her sorrowful amber eyes glazed over, a shadow came to her, lifting her from the dust. Darkness filled her heart, mind and spirit, and Kassandra was no more.
"Rise my love! Live again in death`s shadow!" a low, honeyed voice urged. Kassandra lay confused for a moment until the very atmosphere around her burned through her being. Her eyes flew open on a strangled gasp. "Relax my love. The pain will end. One must suffer in order to rise from the ashes. Hades has granted me a boon this day." A soft yet sure touch stroked her burning face as she continued to fight for breath. "You will return to me...my little addiction. Such strength, a sagacious mind locked inside a warrior’s body, and brought to life by a champions heart. You are MY addiction. How could I let you drown in that hopeless afterlife?" Kassandra fought to understand. Tears of blood stained her vision, it coated her tongue, and its scent lingered in her nostrils. Her body was wracked with seizures as it literally remade itself. And still, every bit of her attention was focused on the voice that soothed her mind like calming waters. "So fierce, so devout. Rest love, let order be restored within you before you seek it without. Everything will be explained in due time. Now sleep." Kassandra felt soft lips cover hers and a sigh escaped. She knew no more that night and fell into welcome unconsciousness.
It was later revealed to her that Artemis had gifted her with new life. Having proved her strength and worth a dozen different times, she was gifted with eternal youth and a body that would carry her forth on her quests for knowledge. "Upon you I have bestowed life eternal. Venture forth from this place, the site of your demise, and find what there is to find, see what there is to see, learn what there is to learn. I will be with you always as long as you serve me in good faith my love," Artemis told her. And then she was released upon the Earth as a servant of Artemis, to be Her eyes and ears. She once asked about her former love, the Amazon Queen Penthesilea and was told, "Everlasting life is not without its grievances. I chose you, my little addiction, to be faithful to me. The little Queen will have her due in the pages of history, but you my love, shall know more than one such as her could ever dream of. It is you I choose to be my vessel. Serve me well and you shall always know love."
But it was not to be so, for the love of a Goddess as honored as Artemis is fickle. Kassandra was favored for a time but after centuries had passed, Artemis looked elsewhere for a champion, leaving her alone in the world.
More to come…
Kokaine DarkLove Night Dominor
[Mortal Age]
16 (though looks more like a modern 19-21)
[Actual Age]
3200+
[Sire]
Original: Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt
Current: Tatianna Darkshadow (Tatianna broke the bond between sire and fledgling by creating a stronger bond with Kokaine. While Kokaine does not need the power of a Sire, Tatianna is dear to her and she honors the older vampire with the title of Sire.)
[Bloodline]
Gangrel / Dominor
[Family]
Mortal Life:
*Mother- Sekhmet, Warrior Goddess (in mortal form)
*Father- Athenian General
After Embrace:
*Belongs to the House of Night
*Is tied to Dr. Zero Paradox (who first took her as his immortal daughter) and the rest of his children (Lady Zylaera, Shannah DeLaRosa, and Darzen Kostelai)
*Most recently has joined the ranks of the Dominors with Valterra as her mother, Azazeal and Ivy as her siblings, and Sinara as her neice.
*Is marred to Macabress (aka Ginger) who is an Aestus.
[Abilities]
Age: 850+ days old (85 proficiency points)
Stat total: 5,800+ (58 power points)
Rank: 100+ (10 powers)
strength....................................16
speed........................................18
senses.......................................19
Frenzy................................6(5)
Animalism...........................5(5)
Regeneration.....................4(2)
Apathy................................4(3)
Flawless Accuracy...............7(6)
Pyro-Kinesis........................10(5)
Photographic Reflexes.........5(5)
Soul Mask............................4(2)
Vitae Summon......................7(3)
Mastery of Corpus...............6(1)
[Haven]
Egypt - large underground complex that holds her most valuable treasures. The exact location is secret.
Manhattan - a room given to her by Sin.
Dominor Manor - the South wing
Arcana Manor - Shades Wing
[Coven]
Arcana Aequitas
[Feeding Habits]
In order to maintain control over certain aspects of her nature, Kokaine keeps herself in a perpetual state of hunger. She feeds every 3-4 weeks. The exception being if she is injured and needs to repair the damage, or the small sips she takes from her wife.
Kokaine does not feed on humans(except extreme emergencies), which is another reason why her feedings can last so long. She tends to feed on other supernatural beings, lycans being her favorite. She will feed on other vampires.
Feeding often happens during sex or after battle, but never does she allow herself to kill through feeding lest she lose control.
[Appearance]
Kokaine stands a statuesque 6`0" tall. Her very athletic build is padded with streamlined curves that have served her well through the ages and her skin is a deep, dusky gold that remains from her mortal life in Egypt, despite having spent ages without the sun. Thick midnight hair flows in waves tumbling down her back to her waist framing her dark skin and bright amber eyes well. Through Artemis’ tampering Kokaine’s eyes have been altered. No longer do they have the look of exotic human eyes. Instead her eyes are solid amber orbs with a jagged burst of black at their centers. When her darker nature takes control thin veins of crimson appear in her eyes, giving them a “shattered” look. Her lips are full and lush but generally remain unpainted as she is a fan of the "natural" look.
Kokaine also has an eyebrow piercing on the left side as well as a tongue piercing. She often wears sunglasses to hide her eyes in public, even at night. She is prone to wearing lots of black with bright or bold color accents and her preferred choice of attire is leather and denim. One can always find her in stiletto boots or bright colored Converse sneakers and she is never without weapons, no matter how revealing her clothing.
Her weapons of choice: 4 Satin Nickel Desert Eagle Magnums with custom leaping tiger grips, two of which are modified for .5 caliber rounds, and they can usually be found in shoulder rigs or a gun belt slung around her hips. She also carries a 6 foot claymore and 2 daggers. Kokaine is a fan of ranged weaponry but loves to fight hand to hand.
[Nature]
Kokaine is a watcher, always observing, always learning. Naturally wary, she is far more intelligent than she lets on. Knowledge and its pursuit is her main purpose in life. In addition to knowledge, her Maker filled her veins with the call of The Hunt—she is the physical embodiment of this vocation. It is what drives her and pushes her to maintain her search for knowledge and experience. Knowledge makes one a more dangerous hunter to her way of thinking.
She is naturally resistant to forming bonds despite the fact it is what she craves most. Her biggest fear is to be left alone in an eternity of solitude.
[Demeanor]
Kokaine’s demeanor greatly depends on who is around. Kokaine is generally mistrustful of people she hasn`t had the chance to subject to prior observation. As a result she initially has trouble connecting with those around her. However, once she gets past the first hurdles of social interaction, she is more at ease and is generally funny, warm and laid back.
Kokaine can be a major flirt and sometimes this can obscure her intelligence. She has grown to love attention and will flirt with just about anyone though it rarely goes beyond just that. She is a self-proclaimed tease and cares not who knows it.
Other times, she can also come off as intense to those who do not know her. Her temper is fairly hard to ignite, but once lit burns bright and long and she never forgets a wrong. She is a champion of the oppressed and misunderstood, and will often take up causes for those who are unjustly targeted and otherwise victimized.
[Flaws]
*Kokaine’s biggest flaw is her inability to deal with her emotions. Her recourse is either to wall them off entirely until she explodes, which usually leads to regrettable actions, or to deal with them in rather juvenile ways. Turned as a teenager who had experienced more hardship than love she was unprepared for how to deal with her feelings and spending 3 millennia attached to a deity such as Artemis did not help either.
*Kokaine is the very embodiment of the wild hunt. As a result she is constantly trying to maintain a tight control over the darker aspects of her nature. If she loses control she functions as nothing more than an enraged and hungry predator.
*Artemis’ control left Kokaine with a major disadvantage. While with the goddess she had access to unlimited power through their bond as Sire and fledgling but she was not aware that the goddess had stifled her own growth. Now that she is free of the goddess’ reins she is left with a large power deficit. She has the knowledge and skill that comes with age and practice but she does not yet have the raw power that she should. Thanks to her ties to Tatianna and Valterra, Kokaine is beginning to gain ground on erasing that deficit but it will be a long time yet before she is at the level she should be.
[History]
Kokaine began life as a servant of Artemis. She had been born Kassandra, to a Athenian Strategos (general) who had taken an Egyptian slave as a lover while conducting one of his scouting missions. The woman had been a pleasure slave of great worth and very beautiful, but she was imprisoned for daring to carry a child outside of a lawful union. Due to it being of an esteemed foreigner compounded this issue. Theirs had been a rare love story, and her father had greatly adored her beauty, hence her mother begged him to take their child to Athens, so that she might have the opportunity for a better life. Her father, feeling pity for the beauty that was trapped in Egypt, promised his love that he would care for their child. Deep in his heart though, he knew he could not. It would not be befitting of his station to return to Athens with a female child, whilst his wife there remained barren. Surely the child would take her mother`s dark, golden beauty?!
And so after she was born and her mother put to death, Kassandra was given to an Egyptian Lord and his wife. They had been befriended by her father due to their mutual interest of acquiring knowledge. Her father made sure they had all the funding they needed to give her the best in life, and even made several trips to see her during her early years. The visits of the kind, handsome man (as she knew him) stopped when she was 5 and she thought little of it. In this early period she was taught all manner of things, her adoptive father made sure she knew all she was able to absorb and Kassandra had been a bright child indeed. She learned the customs of her people, as well as those of the Greeks and even the Romans who often guests in her father`s home.
Everything was peaceful until she turned 12. Political uprising saw her adoptive parents labeled traitors by the Pharaoh, and executed before her very eyes. Using her training in combat (which as a female she shouldn`t have had!), she was able to catch her would be assassins off guard in order to escape. She ran to the only other place she knew may be safe, the home of an Egyptian noble that her father often visited. It was from him that she learned her parents were not her true parents after all. This noble was able to contact her real father in Greece and soon she found herself traveling to a foreign land.
In Athens she was taken discreetly to her father`s house and introduced as a slave. She had been aware of this front, so in keeping with her assigned station, she kept her eyes downcast and obeyed the wishes of her father`s wife. She did the best she could to remain unobtrusive and perform whatever services were demanded of her. Unfortunately in her second week she was cornered by the Mistress of the house. "I know who you are. I know you are the bastard of my husband and some whore. Do not get too comfortable here. Before long I will make sure you are settled in a place much more befitting your station," she spat at her. Grabbing Kassandra`s chin roughly she added, "Maybe I should take the time to fix your face. You wear the soothing facade of purity yet I know what lies beneath, maybe I should fix Zeus` error." Her father`s wife had the misfortune of falling on a carving knife one eve. No one could ever be sure if she had just tripped, or something more sinister had befallen her.
To protect her, her father had Kassandra sent to the temple of Artemis in Sparta to serve as a Priestess for one year. However, among the other initiates she was treated as second class and generally unworthy. Her darker skin and bright eyes set her apart from all others, and she was often tormented and abused by her peers. Having been trained in the art of combat she could have easily retaliated, but being the person she was, she simply endured her punishment in silence, never once letting them see her tears. Her loyalty remained to Artemis, her patron goddess, and she would do what was necessary to serve her to the utmost of her ability.
It was during her service that she learned she was truly favored by the goddess. One eve she met a Spartan soldier who was visiting the temple to pray for a healthy childbirth on behalf of his wife. As he lay out his offering, he caught sight of Kassandra and decided to ask her for assistance. Being good-natured and trusting that no one would ever defile the sanctity of Artemis` Temple, she went to his side to assist him in his moment of need. The soldier stood and Kassandra caught her breath. Being only 13 Kassandra was not yet to her full height but she was uncommonly tall for her time, and as such it was rare for her to feel dwarfed by anyone. The soldier however, had to be well over 6 feet and was built as a solid wall of muscle.
"Be a good girl and assist me in my time of need, Priestess," he rumbled.
"What need have you?" she responded warily.
"My wife is pregnant. She was pregnant many times before, but always the child was lost. This time around she remained bed-ridden and does nothing more than the most basic tasks in order to ensure the live-birth of our son." He paused and a gleam came into his eye. "I have need of you Priestess. Will you assuage that need?"
"Again I ask you good soldier, what need have you?" His hand flew up quickly and Kassandra found herself trapped in his vice-like grip. Suddenly he was everywhere, his hands roaming, gripping, bruising, and tearing. Her stomach rolled with nausea and fear, but her mind stayed true. "I beg you kind sir, do not do this. Artemis will be most displeased if you steal what she treasures most in her temple." she spoke valiantly in his ear. The soldier paused for the briefest of moments and Kassandra seized her opportunity. Using her knowledge of pressure points, 3 swift movements saw the soldier dead at her feet. In defending the honor of Artemis` Temple, she was given praise and was elevated to Apprentice of the High Priestess. But for committing murder inside the Temple walls, she was made to endure half a year of punishment.
Every night for half a year she was chained to a wall. Always facing the wall, never away. Then the pain would come. She never saw what instruments were being used, but the pain was always sharp and biting. She never saw who doled out the punishment but she knew it was a male, one who adored the power trip of inflicting pain, as his rancid evidence of that splattered the walls near her. Halfway through the night she was left to find what rest she could, and someone would always bathe and dress her wounds. Then with the rise of the dawn she would be expected to be up and attending to her duties. She knew some kind of magic or sorcery was involved because by the time night fell again her skin was smooth and flawless. She quickly learned to deal with the pain until it became a constant, almost a need, an addiction. By the time her sentence was up, her screams of pain had become hisses of pleasure.
When she turned 14 she was finally called by the Goddess to serve with an elite group of women. The Amazons reviled the Greeks, but because Artemis had sent her and because she possessed knowledge in combat, combined with her mixed roots she was welcomed into the fold. The days were filled with training and camaraderie and once she managed to overcome her initial shyness Kassandra thrived. Included in her training was an intense study of herself. She was taught how to use her very body as a weapon. And being both beautiful and exotic, almost an exact copy of her mother barring her father`s eyes and paler skin, the others attempted to train her as a secret weapon for employ against male armies. However, Kassandra was too self-conscious to fill such a role. Instead, she was able to further her sword fighting abilities as well as master archery and mounted warfare. She also learned to throw a javelin with great precision. She became a master strategist, both feared and loved within the Amazon tribe. Through her service she and Penthesilea grew closer and closer. She had become the Queen`s best friend and most trusted adviser and she was for once truly happy.
Kassandra`s life was changed irrevocably when at Artemis` beckoning she fought in the Trojan war, and was there to see her Queen and best friend be slain by Achilles. Cassandra of Troy had foreseen such a tragedy but had told no one: doing so had never worked in her favor. It was certainly one of the worst moments of her life. The Queen had attempted to be-spell Achilles with her beauty, and she had initially been successful, but with a snap he was back to his usual arrogant self. Glory was all he had lived for and this was proven by his running Penthesilea through with his spear. When the Queen fell Kassandra knew pure heartbreak. In an attempt to avenge her Queen, Kassandra charged Achilles, tears clouding her vision, all reason and logic fled in the tumultuous wake of her emotions. It was the first and last time she allowed emotion to get the best of her. As she charged the battle-drunk Achilles she was caught in the chest by a fluke spear, a random spear that had flown from the hands of an impotent Greek of little renown. Her body hit the ground with a resounding thud, the spear slicing into the dust. She lay there, a mere foot from the cooling body of her Queen, and felt nothing, only the thudding emptiness of her draining heart.
As her life slipped through her grasp she called out once to her Goddess "Artemis, hear my words. In the glory of thyne image I served, never wavering from your divine purpose, and now I dedicate the last of my life to that purpose. May it flourish and rise up to smite those who would risk your displeasure or desecrate thy virtue!" As the last warm breath left her lips, and her sorrowful amber eyes glazed over, a shadow came to her, lifting her from the dust. Darkness filled her heart, mind and spirit, and Kassandra was no more.
"Rise my love! Live again in death`s shadow!" a low, honeyed voice urged. Kassandra lay confused for a moment until the very atmosphere around her burned through her being. Her eyes flew open on a strangled gasp. "Relax my love. The pain will end. One must suffer in order to rise from the ashes. Hades has granted me a boon this day." A soft yet sure touch stroked her burning face as she continued to fight for breath. "You will return to me...my little addiction. Such strength, a sagacious mind locked inside a warrior’s body, and brought to life by a champions heart. You are MY addiction. How could I let you drown in that hopeless afterlife?" Kassandra fought to understand. Tears of blood stained her vision, it coated her tongue, and its scent lingered in her nostrils. Her body was wracked with seizures as it literally remade itself. And still, every bit of her attention was focused on the voice that soothed her mind like calming waters. "So fierce, so devout. Rest love, let order be restored within you before you seek it without. Everything will be explained in due time. Now sleep." Kassandra felt soft lips cover hers and a sigh escaped. She knew no more that night and fell into welcome unconsciousness.
It was later revealed to her that Artemis had gifted her with new life. Having proved her strength and worth a dozen different times, she was gifted with eternal youth and a body that would carry her forth on her quests for knowledge. "Upon you I have bestowed life eternal. Venture forth from this place, the site of your demise, and find what there is to find, see what there is to see, learn what there is to learn. I will be with you always as long as you serve me in good faith my love," Artemis told her. And then she was released upon the Earth as a servant of Artemis, to be Her eyes and ears. She once asked about her former love, the Amazon Queen Penthesilea and was told, "Everlasting life is not without its grievances. I chose you, my little addiction, to be faithful to me. The little Queen will have her due in the pages of history, but you my love, shall know more than one such as her could ever dream of. It is you I choose to be my vessel. Serve me well and you shall always know love."
But it was not to be so, for the love of a Goddess as honored as Artemis is fickle. Kassandra was favored for a time but after centuries had passed, Artemis looked elsewhere for a champion, leaving her alone in the world.
More to come…
