[RE] Choices

The door that led up to the alleyway behind the tavern had been barricaded and locked with several locks. The herd of luxere would be good protection they had been told, but the things that roamed the week-long darkness were not above testing the boundaries where and when they could. And so extra locks had been installed, and all within the tavern were told not to open the doors or windows for any reason. They thought it would be easy to abide by this request. Until the banging started. "PLEASE! HELP!" The tavern grew silent. "PLEASE! I...I did not mean to be so.. so late. But they are EVERYWHERE. PLEASE." It was the panicked voice of a young woman. Within you can practically hear the way the palms of her hands become bloody as her fists pound with terrified blows against the door. Celosia The former duchess stood from her place at the bar. She may be new to this world, but that didn't mean she'd left her common sense and decency behind. "We can't just let her die out there. Just because she is late doesn't mean she deserves a death sentence." Cel announced, her voice ringing clear, her command of the room sudden and complete thanks to her years of working in and with politicians. But no one moved, disagreement and ascent were just whispers among those watching the young duchess. Cel's auburn gaze looked around and it was clear to her immediately that all before her were too cowardly to act. Too afraid of the responsibility that came with decision making. But no stranger to hard choices was she, and without a moment's hesitation, Celosia walked to the door. "Keep your voice down so they don't hear you." She said consolingly as her fingers worked at the various locks. "Oh thank you!" The voice outside wept, her gratitude sounding palpable. As the final bolt was undone, before the duchess could even reach for the latch to pull the door, the weeping stopped. The wind howled. The door was flung open and a black shadow reached in, grasping at Celosia's cloak as if she were naught more than a ragdoll. The duchess hardly had time to scream as life was sucked in a bloody slurp from her body. The door slammed shut. LONGNIGHT