Zion - LotNM Character Prologue (Ephram Zoari)
Zion - Path of the Moon Mother
Prologue, Ephram Zoari
The tavern was quiet considering the time of night. Usually just after dinner was the busiest time for most establishments. There were no singers or dancers; there were no rowdy patrons or busy tavern wenches. Ephram sat at his table, slowly nursing a warm mug of ale that had seen him through the first part of the night and he fully expected it to serve him through the rest of the hours between then and when he went to sleep.
The alligator kept his hood up despite the fact that he was inside. The fireplace, scarcely more than a stone's throw from his table was warm enough but Ephram did not wear his cloak for the heat. He kept the cowl in place, gazing down into his drink to avoid making eye contact with any of the few tavern-goers who, like him, apparently had nothing better to do while the rest of the town was riled into action at the upcoming dispatch of troops to Zion. Unlike those patrons, however, he DID have something better to do than drink... he simply lacked the plan.
Ephram was so caught up in his own thoughts that he scarcely heard the sound of the chair across from him slide back. Only when he finally caught the whiff of perfume did the alligator bother looking up, and by that time the doe had already taken a seat. "Evening." she said with a smile. He didn't have to look twice to identify the tell-tale signs of her profession; the open bodice, the heavily pigmented fur, the finely manicured, painted claws-- the doe was a prostitute.
"I'm not looking for company tonight." he responded flatly.
"Well..." she chuckled, apparently not the least bit dissuaded, "You sound like a man who knows what he wants."
The alligator finally raised his head to regard the doe. Many of those who laid eyes on him for the first time recoiled in surprise at the numerous dents and fissures in the scales on his face; war had not been kind to him, and the years since had been even worse. For the first time in many years, however, Ephram was truly caught off guard at how nonplussed the harlot was. They stared at one another for many long moments before he spoke up, "You do not shy away..." he mumbled.
"As I said..." she noted, reaching out to slide her fingers against his talon, pressing her palm against it even as his fingers were wrapped around his mug, "You sound like a man who knows what he wants... but you're also the kind who doesn't realize what he needs."
Ephram felt a shiver run down his spine from the base of his skull to the tip of his tail, "I know what I don't need." he replied, quickly drawing his talon away from her touch. Her scent was intoxicating and he thanked the Goddess that he hadn't partaken of more alcohol than he had, "You'll have to excuse me." he said, quickly standing.
The doe stood with him, "I didn't think that a big fellow like yourself would be so easily intimidated." she offered, "or do I offend you?" she inquired, resting a paw on her hip as she leaned it to one side provocatively.
"No..." he shook his head, "you certainly do not offend me." he answered, "but I think for your safety that you should seek another to partake of your wares tonight."
The doe laughed, "Oh," her face lit up with a smile, "and here I thought you weren't interested, and all this time you were just playing hard to get." she walked over to him, sliding a hand into his robe before he could react. He went to object but her fingers played across the divot in his scales between his legs; he felt the talons of his feet dig into the wooden floor as his voice was taken from him.
"Really, 'big boy'... I bet you're a lot to handle, but remember: I'm a professional." her fingers slid around his flesh as it began to emerge from his body, "Wow..." she breathed, "Now I see why you were worried." her fingers played across his rapidly hardening flesh, "but I know my limits so you don't have to worry THAT much about my safety."
The alligator closed his eyes, rapidly losing the battle with common sense. A thin line of saliva slid from his maw as he let the whore lead him up the stairs.
* * * * * *
Ephram groaned as daylight roused him. The flimsy shutters of the inn's windows managed to let through therays of the sun in just the right way to catch his face in their beams. Although he was bleary and slow to rouse at first, the moment he felt the sheets stick to him with a fine film his senses snapped immediately alert. He sat up, and let out a hoarse cry of pain as his whole body was wracked with agony. It was nothing new for him, however, and he pushed through it.
Peeling the bedding away the alligator froze, staring at the gore that covered the majority of the bed and all over his body. His mind began to function only once his eyes caught a glimpse of a discarded blouse on the floor beside his bed-- it was torn through by large talons. Feeling a moment of complete dread, Ephram was quickly overcome by a deep-seated nausea as it wracked his insides and made his stomach cramp up. Groaning as he got to his feet, the alligator stumbled into the adjacent bathing chamber and collapsed next to the bathing cistern.
Leaning over it, Ephram parted his maw and heaved, practically turning his stomach inside out as he began to vomit up chunks of partially unchewed meat... and more than one piece of jewelery. The alligator shook from the nausea, but also from the realization of what had transpired the night before. Though most of it was a blur and filled with blackness, little moments of clarity shined through in ways that he wished it wouldn't. Still leaning over the tub, waiting to see if any more flesh was going to leave his gut, the alligator winced as a sharp pain jabbed at his left shoulder.
Sitting back, Ephram took several seconds to slow his breathing, and then gingerly got to his feet. Moving to the wash basin, the alligator froze when his eyes met the mirror; the thin hilt of a stiletto was protruding from his shoulder right beneath the collar bone. The alligator stared at it for a moment, realizing that the whore apparently wasn't stupid... just poorly prepared for what she got herself into. Gritting his teeth, the alligator sneered at his own stupidity and gripped the handle. With one quick motion, Ephram had the blade free and dropped it into the wash basin.
He sighed, staring at the blood-shot eyes that gazed back at him in the mirror. Blood was caked all over his face, especially his muzzle. Though it was his face that stared out of the mirror it did not take much for the alligator to see the monster that lurked so very close to the surface. He knew he would have to clean up. He knew he would have to continue onward. He knew that he would have to make good on his promise to himself. Anything less would allow the monster to win... and its recent victory was already too much for him to bare.
Gathering up a bucket, Ephram washed the majority of his vomit from the cistern. For the many pieces of half-digested flesh, easily the size of his two fists put together, the alligator picked them up and dropped them into the refuse bin next to the wash basin. He quickly stepped into the bath and dumped a bucket of water over himself. He washed quickly, scrubbing himself with the remains of the doe's blouse before tossing it into the waste bin to join what remained of her.
It took over five buckets before he had himself mostly clean, and another two for the fine detail work-- he wouldn't be able to cope with the smell of blood staying on him any longer than necessary. Closing his eyes, the alligator made up his mind then and there. He went to the lamp where it sat on the night stand and pulled the glass off of the base. Tipping the oil onto the bed, Ephram prayed for forgiveness just as he had done a hundred times before. Once the linens were soaked, the alligator quickly tossed the lit lamp onto the bed and made his way out of the room.
Silently thankful that it had not been busy that night he closed the door in the hopes that it would confine the fire long enough for any innocents to escape the inn. It was not an easy task playing janitor to a monster but Ephram had always one to pick up after himself. He only hoped that he would be accepted on the pilgrimage to Zion, and prayed that salvation could be found in the holy city.