Guilty x Creatures Ch. 10

The dark elves looked at each other again before shrugging in unison and turning back to Anton as they shook their heads.

"Hm, maybe its the magic then?" reasoned Anton as he began to rub his chin again "Maybe you'd be different if you could use magic? It might make you more inclined to fight with each other? Which might drive you apart?"

"We can use magic!" declared Fiona as she pointed her ears straight back "We just don't know how!"

"And you still don't want to talk about why your Mother won't teach you?" asked Anton "Or are you ready to talk about that now?"

"We already told you!" growled Fiona "She's a busy woman! She just doesn't have time!"

"Right" mumbled Anton as he nodded absently and continued to stare at her "...I wonder what you would be like if you learned though? I wonder if it would change you, make you more... normal? ...It would be pretty interesting, and kind of scary, if it didn't!"

"What do you mean!?" asked Fiona as she gave him a pointed look "Why would it be scary if it didn't!?"

"Because dark elves won't normally work together. When they do! Well, I've never seen it happen myself but I've always heard that it was a terrifying sight" explained Anton "It would normally take a pretty extreme situation to get them to that point though. But if didn't... if you had a pair that was willing to "team up" with each other... That might be a pretty interesting sight!"

"...I don't like the way you're looking at us!" muttered Fiona as she narrowed her eyes into a glare and eased herself back "...Quit it!"

"Why won't dark elves work together?" asked Kianna "If they're stronger as a team then wouldn't it make sense to always team up?"

"It would. But they're just naturally too independent, so it would take a pretty powerful threat to bring them together. And like I said earlier, there isn't too much that can even threaten them to begin with. So it really would have to be an extreme situation for it to happen" explained Anton "That's the easy explanation at least. Personally I'd say the fact that they're a "control race" is also a factor. It really wouldn't be surprising to find out that something was built into them that kept them from being too united. They might be unstoppable otherwise"

"A "control race"?" questioned Kianna as she tilted her head and cocked one of her ears in a curious manner "What does that mean?"

"It means we control other races!" exclaimed Fiona "Obviously!"

"Well, it's a little more complicated than that" said Anton "It's not an official term or anything so I'm not surprised you've never heard it before. It's also considered inappropriate to apply it as a label since it denotes a particular race as being superior to another. It's not necessarily meant to be derogative in that way but I can definitely see an argument there. In reality it's only meant to be a collective term for a group of otherwise unrelated races, and nothing more"

The two dark elves were completely still as they listened.

"...Anyways" continued Anton "The dark elves are one of the control races, along with the dullahan, the nurarihyon, the aos si and so on and so forth. These races were each brought into existence to help bring a balance to the world by controlling another race, or group of races in some way. You see, every now and then a race, or a whole group of them, would find a way to somehow tip things too far into their own favor. And when this would happen one of the "Gods" or whatever they were, would create a new race that could counter this threat and bring everything back to a balance. This was how they'd keep one race from taking over and wiping out all the other races. Each of the control races were created with the instincts and abilities to accomplish their given task without taking the place of their "counter race". In other words, they were built with a toolkit to get the job done, but not become a threat themselves. All of the control races are very powerful and each could potentially take over the world if they choose to. Fortunately, none of them, including the dark elves, seem to have any desire to do so. And it's believed that they were each designed with built-in behaviors to keep this very scenario from happening"

The dark elves had both gone silent and wide eyed as they sat motionless and listened intently.

"It's my opinion that this unwillingness to work together is actually one of these "check-and-balance" type of behaviors" continued Anton "But there's really no way of knowing for sure if that's true or not"

Fiona slowly raised her hand out of the water and held it up as a signal that she had a question.

"Yes?" said Anton as he nodded his head to her.

"So, you're saying that..." she mumbled as her face began to brighten with excitement "The dark elves are like heroes then! Because we stopped a threat, and saved the world!?"

Anton rolled his head back as he began to laugh loudly.

"In a way..., yes!" he answered as he wiped a tear away from his eye "Your ancestors did at least!"

"So, wait! What is our "counter race" then?" asked Kianna "The one that we're supposed to control?"

"Well, why don't you tell me?" grinned Anton as he looked down at her "What race hates your kind more than any other? ...And you can't help but to get excited whenever you see them?"

The dark elves looked to each other as thoughtful expressions marred their features. Their eyes went wide and they both gasped in unison as realization spread across their faces.

"Highlights!" they both exclaimed as they looked up at Anton.

"...What!?" asked Anton "Excuse me!?"

"Woodies!" exclaimed Fiona.

"Rockies!" cried Kianna.

Anton was completely still as he continued to stare at them.

"Elves!" they both exclaimed as a hungry looking red glow began to shine in their eyes.

Anton stared at them for another moment before nodding his head and grinning.

"...Yes!" he chuckled as he continued to nod his head "That's correct... Very good!"

Both of the dark elves were smiling wickedly as they stared at him with their still glowing eyes and waited for him to continue.

"...The dark elves were created to counter the other elven races when the high elves learned to utilize magic in a way that would allow the then three elven species to take over completely" explained Anton "This happened ages and ages ago. And at this point no one is exactly sure on the time-frame or the actual events that took place. What we can be sure of though, is that whatever happened it was significant enough that the slave-mongering dark elves were created and they brought a balance back to the world"

"...How does that work though?" asked Kianna " How do we bring a balance by enslaving people?"

"Well, to understand that you have to understand the nature of the other elven races" said Anton "Elves in general are all naturally racist, xenophobic beings who will generally stay among their own kind in their own cities, which are far and few between. They are all very long lived and don't produce a lot of children very quickly. Wood elves and rock elves both produce more children than high elves and dark elves do, but not by very much. So none of the elves have very high populations. Especially when compared to other races. And their populations are spread out in small pockets across the world. High elves in particular are even more prone to racism than the others and have the smallest population of any elven race. They're technically the dark elves counter race as well, and although no dark elf is likely to ever say no to playing with a wood elf or a rock elf, a high elf will always be their first choice. So now it's easier to understand that if the dark elves had the instincts to kill the other elves, with their small, spread out populations and low birthrates. It wouldn't be too difficult to wipe them out completely. Especially the high elves, who are the main targets to begin with"

Fiona and Kianna both nodded silently as they digested what they had just been told.

"Do either of you ever have the desire to kill a high elf?" asked Anton and the sisters immediately shook their heads "What do you want to do to them then?"

The dark elves were still for a moment before broad, wicked looking smiles spread across their faces.

"Find the ones that think they're strong!" whispered Kianna "And then tie them up! So tight that they can't even move!"

"Then punish them and make them crawl!" continued Fiona "Until they cry and hide their ears!"

Anton went still and stared at the vicious looking dark elves for a moment before nodding slowly.

"...Right!" he drawled as he warily cocked an eyebrow "...Your instincts are telling you to control them. And your nature and abilities are all based around this goal. In this way you countered their threat, not by killing them, but by forcing them into submission... literally!"

"So we beat them by turning them into our little pets!" exclaimed Fiona.

"...More or less?" shrugged Anton "That would be the footnote version of it I guess. Though I'm sure there was more of a skirmish involved... Well, probably... Then again, maybe not! Especially considering there really isn't too much a high elf can do against a dark elf. You guys beat them in pretty much every imaginable way"

"Smug little creamies were made to be beaten!" boasted Fiona.

"No, it was actually the other way around" mused Anton "They came first, and then you were "made" to beat them. And everything about you was literally designed with this in mind"

"What do you mean?" asked Kianna as she lifted her hands out of the water and watched herself open and close her own fists "How are we "designed" to beat them?"

"Well, to start off, you're technically modified high elves yourselves, or at least derived from them. So you have all of their same physical capabilities. You may not be quite as agile as they are, or as fast but you are bigger than them and physically stronger. And you have all the same keen senses, although you've got better night vision than they do. But the main creche of your secret weapons are your magical talents, and your immunities. You see, again, since you are in all actuality high elves yourselves, and since all of the high elves are so naturally proud and racist that they apparently could never even imagine a scenario where they would ever need to raise a hand against another of their own kind" explained Anton as he rolled his eyes "They can't hurt you, or each other, literally, even if they wanted to. And this is not merely a mental hangup either. It's literally a core element of their race. You see, the high elves have been designed in such a way that they are completely immune to their own mana signature. And what this means is that their combative abilities will target and harm other races but never themselves. This sounds like it's meant to be a sort of built-in safety measure and it is, but it's one that they can and do take advantage of, as it does allow them to attack at full power and not have to worry about any comrades that may be around them. This can actually be incredibly devastating on a battlefield in which they're fighting another race. Since this allows them to set loose massive, large scale destructive abilities and still have no need to be concerned for their teammates being harmed by them"

"Oh shit!" mumbled Fiona "That explains why they win so many battles! They can just blow everything away and not worry about it!"

"Yes, exactly. When it comes to any form of fighting they know exactly how to use their advantages to the fullest" said Anton as a thin grin spread across his face "Unfortunately for them though! These same advantages are exactly why they will forever lose to the dark elves. You see, you are again technically high elves yourselves and as such, you are also completely immune to all high elven based combat magic. While they on the other hand are not immune to your magic which is designed to effect literally every race and species. So in other words, magically speaking, they can not hurt you, but you can hurt them, very easily. So, with all of these factors combined, any fight that may take place between your two races, regardless of whether its magical or physical, is going to be so one-sided that it isn't even funny. The dark elves have, and will, always win. Without question, every, single, time"

Fiona nodded slowly as a broad, smug looking smile spread across her face.

"So, wait, if we always won... Then what happened next? What did we do with all the elves we beat?" asked Kianna as she stared down into the bathwater "...Did we enslaved them all? Like, all of them!?"

"Well, no, none of the elven races were ever completely enslaved as far as I know" mused Anton "And as for what you did with the ones you did enslave? Well, dark elves may be more or less sadistic depending on the individual, but I've never known of any that are actually bloodthirsty towards their slaves. And I doubt they were any different back then. So I'd say it's safe to assume that they didn't eventually kill any of the elves they enslaved. If I had to guess, I'd think the elves had more than likely seen a similar if not the same fate that most modern slaves do. I'm sure many were made useful by being trained as household servants and used for pleasure and entertainment. In the end though most were probably just kept for the novelty of having them. Fiona isn't really far off when she referred to them as "pets" that's pretty much what they were, and are, even now"

Kianna was silent for a moment as she nodded thoughtfully.

"So how did they enslave them?" she asked as she looked up at Anton "And how do we enslave people now?"

"Mm, well, the easiest and most common method is to use a binding curse that's been anchored to a piece of silver. This is usually crafted into the shape of an accessory that can't be easily removed. Normally it's a collar, but it can also be a bracelet, an anklet, a belt or even a piercing" explained Anton "This isn't always necessary for a dark elf though. Since they have a built-in dominant presence, they're naturally attractive to people with submissive tendencies, and if a person is submissive enough then just being exposed to the right dark elf could be all it takes for a natural binding to form between them"

"Seriously!?" exclaimed Fiona as her eyes flashed red in excitement "We can really just enslave people by walking up to them!? It just happens!? We don't even have to use a curse!?"

"No, no it's way more complicated than just walking up to someone. There is also magic involved so it's going to be something that you know is happening. It's not going to happen just by accident" explained Anton as he shook his head "This is why dark elves have such a stigma though. People think that they can just naturally enslave whoever they want but they can't. Like I said, it takes a very submissive person for this to happen, you can't just do it with anyone"

Fiona's shoulders slumped in disappointment as Kianna's eyes went wide in realization.

"This is something all dark elves can do though!?" cried Kianna as she leaned forward "All of them!? And people know about this!?"

"Well, yes!" answered Anton "As far as I know they all can? And again, yes, this is fairly common knowledge"

"This! This explains!" cried Kianna as she turned to her sister in a panic "...A lot!"

The two dark elves stared at each other in silence as Anton looked back and forth between them.

"You two really never knew any of this?" he questioned as he arched an eyebrow at them "Did you?"

The dark elves both turned to him before slowly shaking their heads.

"...You're Mother never explained any of this to you?" asked Anton "None of it?"

Fiona looked away as Kianna shook her head and let her eyes fall to the water.

"This doesn't make any sense! How could she just..." wondered Anton as he shook his head and rubbed his chin in confusion "So, have you two ever even been around any other dark elves? Other than each other?"

The faces of the dark elves tightened as obvious unpleasant thoughts began to dance behind their eyes.

"...There was one at Bridgemont. For a little while... She wasn't nice though!" answered Kianna as her voice began to become strained "She, was the reason that..."

The dark elf wrapped her arms around herself and went silent as her ears began to droop.

Anton watched her for a moment before letting his aura seep out and surround her.

Kianna stiffed as the calming warmth closed in and enveloped her in it's balm. As recognition took form in her eyes she relaxed and looked up at Anton.

"What is Bridgemont?" prompted Anton in a hushed tone.

"...It's a boarding school. ...On the East coast" explained Kianna as she looked back down at the bathwater "...It's where we went to school"

"I see" nodded Anton "And there was only one other dark elf there? And only for a short time?"

Kianna nodded.

"And you weren't friends with her?" asked Anton.

Kianna's face scrunched up in displeasure as she shook her head.

"I see" said Anton as he nodded again and looked ahead at nothing "...And your, "Nanny Ma" she wasn't a dark elf?"

Kianna shook her head as her ears drooped even lower and hung in sadness.

"No" she whispered "...She was a troll"

Anton stayed silent as he nodded.

"But she loved us anyway! Ever since we were little babies! She raised us, and loved us! She always told us to love each other and that we should protect each other! No matter what happens! And... she always said, that we were her little treasures! And that we would always be important to her! And that she would always be here for us!" exclaimed Kianna as her eyes began to well with tears and her voice began to crack "...But, she d-died! And now she's g-gone!"

Anton turned back to her as he increased the power flowing through his aura.

Kianna looked up at him as she let his soothing presence embrace her.

"...It was when we were 12" she continued as she looked into Anton's eyes "...We came home for our spring break. ...Our Mom was still here, and she, told us that... that, Nanny Ma was... she was gone!"

"I'm so sorry..." breathed Anton as he looked from her to Fiona and back "Truly, I am"

Kianna had a small smile on her forlorn face as she nodded in thanks. Her smile faded as she looked back down into the water.

"Things kept getting worse after that" she continued "When we came back for summer... Our Mom was gone too. That's when she left, and moved out"

"She left you when you were kids!? Right after you just lost...!?" exclaimed Anton "How could she!? Why would she do that!?"

"I don't know!?" cried Kianna as an angry scowl spread across Fiona's face "We were alone! We didn't know what to do! And, and it was dark in here..."

"Kianna" breathed Anton as he shook his head in sorrow "I'm so sorry..."

The dark elf started to tremble as she sobbed quietly. For some time they all stayed still until Kianna blinked up at Anton.

"...Thank you" she breathed before looking back at the water and continuing "...We just stayed at Bridgemont after that. We didn't come home on the holidays anymore... There was no one here, so there was no point..."

Anton nodded in understanding.

"And then! That new semester!" muttered Kianna as she glanced up at Anton and looked back down "That's when Sierra came!"

"Sierra?" questioned Anton "I'm guessing she was the dark elf?"

Both of the sisters nodded in silence.

"She was horrible!" growled Kianna through her clenched teeth "She was mean to everybody! For no reason! ...She was the one who told us our Mom doesn't love us because she won't teach us how to use magic! She laughed at us and said we were worthless! ...She kept doing mean things to us! And to everybody!"

"The school got rid of her after that semester!" declared Fiona as she continued to stare angrily at nothing "But it was already too late!"