Mayavati

Mayavati rolled over in the bed, stretching playfully. She watched as the warrior's eyes followed the curve of her body, and twisted so she was in easy reach of his hands. He chuckled as he dressed himself, dropping a few coins on the bed before leaving.1

She knew that her parents didn't approve of her manner of gathering information--but they also knew the work she did was vital to their cause. She sprang out of bed, pulling a robe around her body...more for decoration than modesty.2

She grabbed a piece of parchment, hastily scribbling her notes and sealing them securely. Mayavati didn't flinch as an unseen hand lifted the scroll, depositing another in her lap. She leaned back in her chair, grinning. "How long were you watching?" She slid her finger under the seal, breaking it neatly.3

A dark figure slid out of the shadows. "Long enough to admire your work." Mayavati had never been sure if her contact was male or female...or even human. No name, wrapped in thick robes that concealed everything but the green eyes--Maya had never had reason to call this one who was always there when needed.4

Her eyes scanned the contents of the new message: an order to confirm a spy in the forces near Lordaeron. She crumpled the note and tossed it into the fireplace, rising to gather her things. She didn't look up as the figure faded into the shadows once more.

5

Mayavati watched her 4 year old sister wobble about the room, shrieking as she played "tag" with their mother's faithful Imp. The little demon chattered at the toddler in Demonic as he dodged her easily. 6

"You'd better teach her not to speak in that tongue, Mother. It won't be long before she'll give away that you're not simple mages."7

Ravui looked up from her research and smiled fondly at both her daughters. "We'll be fine; your father is the only one with any contact with the others anymore." 8

"And that won't be for long. I'm being called to fight in the legion itself soon." Adoruin walked through the doorway, bending to kiss his wife on the cheek and hand her a scroll identical to the one Mayavati had recieved earlier.9

Mayavati rose partway to hug her father. "I'm being called to the northern regions as well. Something's coming up." She settled herself once more, grasping her mug tightly. "They want me to clear out another spy...when will these humans learn that their alleigance is obvious?" She rolled her eyes in a typical teenage fashion; her family had always been disconnected from other humans. 10

Her father left his feelings unspoken--no reason to remind her of what she knew. "And we'd better be going, we're supposed to be there before dark tonight." He rested his hand on Ravui's shoulder; she smiled up at him wearily. "Time to say goodbye to yet another home."11

Mayavati rose and grabbed her bags in one fluid motion. She kissed her family quickly, even the protesting Imp. "I'll find you tonight if I can...if it's safe." She grinned playfully as she slid into the shadows, an old habit and joke with her parents--she knew they hated to say goodbye, so she spared them what she could. She sneaked out of the house quickly, not thinking to check the foliage nearby for enemies.12

She was well on her way down the road before the attack started; her parents were not going to give her away by calling for help, even mentally. The only sound as the house burned was that of a shrieking toddler and screaming Imp.

13

She sniffed the air delicately--the tomb nearby exuded the stench of rotting flesh, and even the landscape reaked of the sickly-sweet scent of plague. She leaned against the tree in her carefree style, alert to any sound that would let her know her target was approaching. 14

Her orders were simple: find the man, find out how much he knew, then decide if he needed to die or not. A fairly easy job, but her training was not advanced enough for the more difficult assignments. She shrugged off the worry that her family had not reached the area; it was normal to be unable to contact them. 15

As the hours passed, her attention wandered. She was deeply engrossed in her thoughts when she felt the blade at her throat. 16

"You arrived earlier than I expected." The warrior grinned darkly and chuckled--the exact same sound he'd made when he'd left that morning. "I hope you forgive me for being late, Darling. I hate to have kept you waiting." The blade never wavered as he kissed her violently before another tied and gagged her quickly. "I'm sure you understand, it's nothing personal." His armoured fist smashed into the side of her skull; she lost consciousness even before the pain could register.

17

The stench of the grave filled her nostrils when she came to. Her first thought--past the blinding pain--was of the numbness in her hands and feet. She'd been bound in a backbend of sorts, still gagged. She lay still, trying to find out the specifics of her situation without panicking. It didn't take long to realize that she had not only been bound, but stuffed into a tomb. She screamed through the gag.18

Heavy footsteps sounded near her. "Awake now, pretty? It's been long enough--almost morning already, and no one's come for you. I guess you weren't as important as we'd hoped." He grabbed her hair roughly, twisting her head back. "Another hour before you die." He laughed. "I hope I get to do it, whore."19

He slammed her face into the stone wall of the tomb before striding back to his companions. Mayavati was vaguely aware of her nose breaking before the pain blinded her once more.20

Is wasn't long before he returned, muttering about her uselessness and downing the last of his alcohol. He didn't bother to taunt her, dragging her out and slicing her bonds to rape her one last time. Maya didn't make a sound as he did it, nor did she cry out when he stuck his poisoned blade into her heart. She whimpered a moment at her stupidity, then smiled with vengance as the warrior fell back from the shadowy blast that consumed him--the dark figure had arrived finally. 21

The shadow carried Maya's twitching body deeper into the crypt, silently petting her hair as she stiffened. The dark one had no more use for her, not in this form. 22

It would be years before she passed into undeath, but they would not need her for years. The shadows smiled over her corpse, waiting patiently.23