sentence-transformers How to use ashercn97/av-v1 with sentence-transformers:
from sentence_transformers import SentenceTransformer
model = SentenceTransformer("ashercn97/av-v1")
sentences = [
"Jack crossed his arms, \"Why would I do that?\" \"Because it\"s over, Jack.\" Declan ran a hand through his hair, \"She made her choice and she happened to choose the guy who owns our bar, not to mention our home. From the first day, he\"s always done right by us. Let it go, Emily isn\"t the only girl in the world.\" Declan checked his watch, \"Look, I need to go. I\"ll catch you later Jack.\" Jack waved as his brother stepped out of the bar, and thought on his words. Unaware of the turmoil over at the Stowaway, Emily followed the sounds of rattling metal and ripping cardboard coming from the guestrroom. She knocked on the door and peeked inside to find Nolan kneeling on the floor, surrounded by connecting pieces and small tools. \"What\"re you doing?\" He looked up at her and smiled, \"This was supposed to be a surprise. Baby will need a crib, I figured mine is still good. I sent an assistant to get this bad boy out of storage.\" Emily stepped into the room for a closer look at the plain wood rails that would come together to make a baby crib. \"This was yours?\" \"Yep.\" Emily ran her hands over the nearest wood frame, \"It\"s hard to picture you as a baby, Nolan.\" \"We were all kids once, Ems. What, you think I hatched from an egg fully grown?\" \"Sometimes I can\"t help but wonder.\" Emily eyed the small pile of screws and bolts he\"d laid out on the floor at his side according to size, from smallest to largest. \"Do you need any help?\" The man shook his head, always teasing her. \"Don\"t let my geek chicness fool you, I\"m a born builder. Even blindfolded, I can put together anything from Ikea.\" \"Impressive.\" \"Thanks.\" Nolan stood and guided her from the room, \"Have a rest and I\"ll show you when it\"s ready.\" \"You\"re always telling me to rest, I feel fine.\" Emily groused. \"The books say you need to rest.\" \"And I say I feel fine. I\"m not going on bed-rest any time soon.\" \"All right, all right. Do your yoga or have a swim.\" Nolan lead her out of the room and promised her, \"Let me put this together, you\"ll see, it\"ll be great.\" After taking Nolan\"s advice and having a lazy swim in the pool, Emily removed her bathing suit and took a shower. The hot water enveloped her, the suds of shampoo tingled over her scalp. She felt great, she felt secure and happy. Nolan was still in the guest room when she\"d come in from the pool, and she decided to leave him to his project. Nolan loved a project; she was not even three months into her pregnancy but the man had made plans to remake his house into a home for the three of them, he\"d already read several books regarding pregnancy and child health and now he was assembling his own crib for the guest room that he had already decided to remake into a nursery. They were going to make a family. Emily warmed every time she saw Nolan, the friend who had become a lover and who would soon become the father to her child. Emily wanted to get through her pregnancy and skip to the end, to where the three of them would share the house and their lives. She combed out her hair and put on a chemise for the night, and over that she put on another of the man\"s t-shirts. \"Emily, are you up there?\" She stepped out of his room and looked down from the upstairs landing. Nolan was down in the living room, \"Come on down here, I want to show off my handiwork.\" \"That crib better not have wi-fi, GPS or a touch-screen,\" Emily teased him as she moved down the stairs. \"Excuse me, it\"s a Nolcorp crib - it has a built-in hologram mobile, high-def surveillance monitors and an incubation system.\" Nolan fired back at her as he opened the door to the guestrroom. He stood aside and let her into the room first. Tears rose in Emily\"s eyes at the sight of it, the polished wood crib. It was old. It was plain. It had been built for Nolan, and he had rebuilt it for the child they would share. Moving forward, she gripped the rail, the soft scent of old wood holding in the air. \"Nolan, it looks great.\" She breathed. He knew she was happy, but all the same he didn\"t like to see her crying and tried to make her laugh instead. \"You sound so surprised, everyone underestimates me!\" Emily swiped away her tears with the back of her hand, \"So sensitive, you know I didn\"t mean it like that.\" He shook his head and then lightly shook the crib\"s railing, \"Feel free to test it, I can guarantee that it\"s structurally sound.\" \"Nolan, this is wonderful. I love it.\" \"Let\"s hope the kid loves it enough to sleep through the night.\" The man had read through a library\"s worth of books on infant and toddler care already - the one thing he wasn\"t looking forward to was a greater lack of sleep. Emily turned to hug him, \"You\"re really getting ahead of yourself with this.\" She could feel the low rumble of his laugh through her chest as he hugged her to him, tightly. \"Says the girl who spent the last decade in vengeance school. I thought you\"d appreciate all this prep.\" \"You know I do, super-dad.\" Emily kissed him. \"I like the sound of that, say it again.\" He gently commanded as he backed her up to the guest bed. Emily moved to lay on her back as Nolan moved to lay beside her, propped on an elbow. \"Nolan Ross, the super-dad.\" \"As you say, so shall it be.\" He bowed his head while intoning the words. \"Is that from a movie?\" \"Of course.\" \"Why am I not surprised?\" They went on, teasing, taunting each other for the rest of the night. Nolan kissed her belly and Emily ran her fingers through his hair, the two of them eventually settling down to sleep. Emily had another charity meeting to host and Nolan had to put in an appearance at the unveiling of Nolcorp\"s latest and greatest gadget. It would be a busy day for them both, it would be the day that broke them. Before the fire, before Nolan, Emily had not allowed herself to dream of a new life for herself. Vengeance did not allow fantasies of lovers and children - not when she had spent a decade planning the downfall of so many people, saving the Graysons for last. After seeing that twisted family ripped apart, as her own family had been, Emily had allowed herself to feel secure with Nolan. She had trusted him in the beginning, but after the fire, in living with the man, her trust and affection had grown deeper, simmering until lust flashed between them, changing everything that they could ever be to each other going forward. It was late. Past midnight, and though the room was dark, light from the city just beyond the glass had managed to slip in between the curtains. Emily rolled over in bed, unable to sleep and unable to focus. She laid a hand over her belly, flattening her palm and spreading her fingers. Tired eyes wandered over the room, settling on the window. The view was different than what she had grown used to: Manhattan greeted her every morning now rather than a view of the Hamptons shore, the noise of a city screamed over gently rolling waves. Emily rolled onto her back, wondering what Nolan was doing in that moment. She hoped he was asleep, or, if his insomnia was keeping him up as hers was, then she hoped he was playing a game or working on his latest invention. That familiar ache pierced her chest and she hoped that, whatever he was doing, Nolan didn\"t hate her. I deserve to be alone. I can\"t face him, not after... Sleep would not be coming to her that night, Emily knew it. With great effort, she pulled her thoughts away from her friend. Perhaps she was meant to be alone, a fitting punishment for the innocents who had suffered for her vendetta. The woman threw back the covers and went to the living room, crossing onto her balcony to feel the early morning chill over her skin as autumn rolled over the city. The hard ache pulsed through her chest as her mind conjured some clever thing Nolan would say if only he was there with her. But Nolan was not, and Emily had to remember what it was to be alone in the world again. It was the dream again, that horrible day when it had all come falling down on them. The man had been tortured for days, powerless to free himself. Powerless to do anything, which tore at him, clawing into his mind with constant recriminations of I could have...I should have...It\"s my fault...Why didn\"t I...? Stripping a man of choice and ability, leaving him powerless but to stand and witness horror is nothing short of living torture. Any man who has had to endure the pain of a loved one can attest: there is no punishment worse than being rendered helpless to stop the pain of another. Nearly every night for the past several weeks, Nolan\"s guilt had forced him to relive the pain of that horrible day. The confusion, the shock, the panic and fear, and finally, the pain of loss, of shattered happiness, of being helpless to stop yet another tragedy from happening to his Emily. Emily, are you all right? No. What are-? My God, is that blood? Emily, don\"t move, I\"ll call Dr. Thorton and an ambulance- Don\"t, Nolan. It\"s gone. It took effort to break himself from the nightmare, but Nolan had managed to do so the last few nights. Yes, he can wake himself, but even in his waking life he is not free of the memories that clawed through his mind, forcing him to see the proof and hear the words that their child would never be. The man snapped awake, his long form spread across the living room sofa, every last inch of him aching, a mind split by the pain of a torn heart and a body flooded by alcohol. \"God, just make it stop,\" he muttered the infantile plea as he moved to stand, begging for a moment free of pain. Despite the cool air flowing in from the back door he\"d left open, Nolan was sweating. He was sick, he knew, but he didn\"t care. He wanted alcohol poisoning, he wanted some horrible disease - hell, if Tyler were to show up with a machete, Nolan would offer his neck. The man staggered to the guest bathroom, vomiting into the toilet, cradling his head on the cold bathroom tiles, haunted now not by the dream but by his memory of what horror took place that day. She thinks it\"s her fault. I know. She said as much to me. Why did this happen? We did everything right... The body has a better knowledge of these things than our medical knowledge ever will. I\"m sorry, Mr. Ross. So am I. \"Stop it!\" Nolan pulled at his hair, pounding his temples to rid himself of the memories. Their life together had ended that day, everything Nolan had never admitted to wanting had been taken from him. And Emily, she... Grunting, Nolan pulled himself up off the floor and he crossed to the wet bar, no longer locked against the child who would never be. It was nearly empty now thanks to Nolan\"s glorious binge. Emily, it\"s me. How do you feel? God, the way she\"d looked at him... Empty. Nolan threw a bottle against the wall, a scream of anger unleashed from his raw throat. After everything, it wasn\"t supposed to be this way - it was our turn to be happy! \"It wasn\"t supposed to be this way,\" Nolan sobbed out to the empty house. It had been empty for days and he hated every inch of the echoing glass building. He stood and staggered out to the backyard, hating Emily, hating his house, the beach, the sun, the Graysons, David and the whole world. Compared to most, Nolan\"s life had seemed charmed by the grace of his genius and the wealth that had been born of it, but his genius had flourished as a direct result of his constant loneliness. For so long, all he\"d wanted was a friend, so desperate for someone who understood and cared for him that he\"d taken Emily\"s every insult like a loving martyr. But that time had passed, everything had changed between them...and yet Emily was gone and he was alone again, friendless and a father to no one. \"You\"re a coward, Emily.\" Nolan said to the empty air. He sank to his knees on the shore as memories rose in his mind to torture him. After the...what had happened, time had stretched on in the house for days. Emily had faded in a way that Nolan had never seen before. She had shut down, crushed under the weight of her own sorrow. Thinking back, Nolan had hated the ghost that haunted his home, the wraith of misery that Emily had become. They had not shared their pain, they had grieved separately, which might have hurt Nolan most of all, that Emily had turned away from him as she so often had in the past. He missed her happy, golden and bright. He wasn\"t used to seeing her in such a state of defeat and he didn\"t know what to do with her. It seemed that the loss had eaten its way down to her very spirit. Nolan had done what he could. He\"d discreetly removed the crib from the room as she slept, silent tears slipping down his face as he went to task with a screwdriver, taking the hated thing apart and calling his assistant to take it back to storage. He made her favorite meals, only to have Emily refuse to join him for dinner. He\"d had flowers delivered, bright bouquets that wilted in the darkness of her room. Then, one day, Nolan had finally had enough of Emily\"s mourning. He couldn\"t take another day of her staying in bed in the dark guest room, he took it upon himself to break the hold that depression had over her. Finding his courage, the man had thrown open her door, ripped down the dark curtains to flood the room with light, and before Emily could demand just what the hell he was doing, Nolan pulled Emily over his shoulder and strode straight outside, jumping into the pool, clothes and all, bringing Emily into the water with him. When they surfaced, Emily had lashed out at him, screeching nonsense, punching and clawing at him like an animal. Nolan took it, absorbing her rage and despair, allowing himself to become the target of her violence. It took several minutes, but Emily\"s fury began to ebb away as fresh despair took its place. Nolan watched as her face crumbled into sobs. \"Oh God, Nolan...Nolan, my baby...\" He brought her into his hold, cradling her head against his chest. There were no words that would comfort her, he knew, and so the man said nothing. It was some time later that found both Nolan and Emily in dry clothes. They\"d showered together, Nolan reassuming his role as caretaker, scrubbing away her sorrow, holding her as she sobbed against him, accepting her kisses of gratitude but not pushing her for more. He set a plate of hearty lasagna before her on the table. He wanted to see her smile, but more than anything, he needed to see her eat. Three silent bites into the meal, Nolan had to ask her, \"How do you feel?\" \"Better.\" He knew she was lying, but he pressed on. \"Emily, I\"m sorry for being rough. I just couldn\"t take seeing you like that anymore.\" She shook her head. \"It\"s all right. You didn\"t hurt me, Nolan. We all need a good kick in the ass sometimes, and you gave me mine.\" He gave her a small smile, \"Interesting twist, huh? Seriously though, are you all right?\" Emily went quiet for several long moments, searching for an answer. \"No. But maybe I will be. Nolan?\" \"Hmm?\" Emily finally raised her eyes to his. \"I\"m sorry too. For hurting you.\" The knot of dread in his stomach had him worried that Emily wasn\"t just talking about what she\"d done to him in the pool. The next morning, Nolan knew Emily was gone before he found her note on the kitchen counter downstairs. He\"d woken up without her beside him and felt it: there was a stillness to his home that he once constantly craved as a haven from the ignorance he faced in the outside world. Now, though... Nolan had taken her letter outside to the backyard, needing the cool fresh air to combat his rising anger. Cold eyes had skimmed the words but it didn\"t matter what she\"d written, that she claimed she\"d come back soon or that she\"d signed it \"I love you, Emily\". All the man could feel was the weight of his failure. He knew exactly where Emily was, but it didn\"t change anything. She was gone. She was gone because he couldn\"t offer her enough to stay. He\"d crumpled her note and tossed it in the pool. Returning upstairs, the man laid his palm on the blanket they\"d shared the night before. The man was tired, a soul-deep weariness that he\"d been carrying since that horrible day of loss. He had worked to pull Emily from her despair, ignoring his own in the process, but without another to focus his energies on, without a project of a sort, Nolan was lost in the tragedy. He made the effort to climb into the bed and sleep, alone as he had for years. Jack raised his brows, so surprised to see Nolan stagger through the door that he forgot his anger with the other man. \"What are you doing here, Nolan?\" Nolan slid onto a barstool and tilted his head, \"I\"m collecting on my investment, Porter. Now, I\"ll have a big bottle of vodka...and a straw. I drank the bar at my house.\" Jack looked at this man, his friend, and he saw ruin. Nolan\"s face was thin to start with, but the dark shadows circling his bloodshot eyes and grim expression made him look positively ghoulish. Jack had seen his share of depressed drinkers, but he knew this was different. It was clear Nolan hadn\"t seen the sun in days, his hair had fallen forward, clinging to the clammy skin of his forehead. There was a yellowing bruise on his jaw and a scratch on his right temple and the edge of his eyebrow. Gone was the sly smile and bright clothes, Nolan was wearing all black, the long sleeves of his wrinkled Oxford were pushed up past his elbows. He couldn\"t help himself, Jack looked his fill of the scars that ate away Nolan\"s left forearm. The comparison of the skin to melted wax was not flattering, but it was accurate. He recalled from when he\"d visited earlier in the summer that Nolan had called the burn the price he had paid to help a friend; Jack had only thought the burn to be on the back of his hand, he\"d never expected an injury so severe. He looked up to see Nolan glaring at him, \"See something interesting?\" Nolan took a $100 bill and laid it on the bar. \"I\"ll have that bottle now, and here, I\"ll pay for it up front. Don\"t want to be accused of taking advantage of you.\" Jack took the money and ignored Nolan\"s reference to their fight. \"You want a whole bottle? Come on, what\"s eating you, Nolan?\" Taking the bottle, Nolan poured himself a shot, and gulped it down. Then another, and one more after that. Finally, taking a deep breath, Nolan was ready to talk. \"Emily took off last night...no, it was three nights ago, I think...I don\"t know, but I\"ve been drinking since then.\" Jack furrowed his brow, \"I get it.\" Nolan blinked tiredly, wondering if Jack actually did, somehow, understand what had happened. \"Do you?\" \"You two got into a fight, right?\" God, Jack, what is it like in your stupid, simple world? Nolan did not voice this thought, of course. He wasn\"t looking for another black eye. \"I wish it was that simple, but no, we didn\"t fight.\" It was there, hovering just out of his grasp, everything Nolan wanted to share with Jack - with someone. But he did as he always did, and kept quiet to protect their secrets. \"We just...we have a whole world of problems.\" Jack leaned in, concern on his face. \"You have any idea where she might\"ve gone?\" Nolan blinked at Jack; it took a second, but then he remembered that most men didn\"t have his tech resources, or if they did, they had no reason to keep multiple locations under surveillance. Again, Jack\"s world was simple. \"Oh, that\"s not the problem, I know exactly where she is. 122 east 27th street, the Big Apple. I have the place wired.\" Nolan pulled out his cell and squinted at the screen rather than zooming in on the figure sitting alone at the kitchen island. He didn\"t want to see her face, he didn\"t trust himself not to throw the phone against the wall. \"She\"s there right now, looks like she\"s eating a...what is that, maybe a bagel? It\"s good that she\"s eating again.\" Jack checked the phone screen for himself and rolled his eyes. \"What the hell, Nolan. You know where she is, so why not go after her?\" Nolan shook his head and gulped down a hard shot, groaning as it burned its way down his throat. \"No. I\"m not chasing her. I\"m going to wait until she\"s finally had enough of running away from her problems. I\"ll be here for her when she comes back...if she comes back.\" Jack frowned, any lingering anger he\"d carried for the man finally slipping away. He had carried a torch for Emily for too long and let his jealousy get the best of him, but in seeing Nolan this miserable, he was able to let it go. The man had seen men drink themselves half to death over a woman, and from what he could see, Nolan was already there. \"I\"m sorry Nolan.\" \"So am I.\" Nolan sighed and bowed his head. \"We both lost our Amandas, Jack.\" Nolan refused to leave Emily\"s side as she was brought into the hospital, save for the treatment given to his arm. Even now, over five hours later, he would not budge from her bedside. He sat in a chair, his long fingers laced with her own, his voice silent even as his mind raced - replaying the nights\" events and making plans for their future. Everything was in the air now, but the moment was upon him: with Emily out of commission, Nolan was in charge. For months he\"d longed for this control, but not like this. Not with the beach house destroyed and Emily injured. He squeezed her hand. No, not like this.",
"\"Than why, if you have no hope left, did you save me? What would it be of your concern what happens to me?\" \"Someone told me to find a reason to life. And I thought I could find it with you.\" \"You could not have been more wrong about this.\" \"Maybe. But we are here.\" Claire paused. \"You know... You are actually one of the first who believed me, that I am no heretic. Even most from the Great Swamps believe, that everyone from the Great Swamp is a heretic.\" \"Is that so?\" There was silence for a while. While they have talked, it started to rain. Large drops hit the ground, making it difficult to see anything. Lightning flashed shortly, illuminating the church and the thunder shock the ground. \"I wonder what happened to Petrus.\" Rhea suddenly asked. \"I broke his nose, last time I saw him. I figured that breaking his nose after he essentially told me to do anything I want with you was a fitting retribution.\" \"Perhaps he realized my weakness all along. Maybe that is the reason, he left me behind. After all, it was my frailty and my ignorance that sealed Vince and Nico\"s fate to end as Hollows.\" \"That is not an excuse. He was supposed to take care for you. He should have done it right.\" \"I can hardly blame him.\" Claire stood up, taking a few steps away. \"He was tasked to care for you and he failed. He made a run back to the Shrine and left you rot for good. How can you be so forgiving?\" At the same moment, something hit her from behind. A morning star, by the feeling of it. Claire staggered, hitting the bench beside Rhea, before she fell to the ground. She hissed in pain, before turning around. Petrus stood behind her, his broken nose swollen and red. \"Oh, it\"s you?\" he asked. \"You saved Milady, did you not?\" \"Seems like it, coward.\" Claire hissed, clenching her teeth. She had broken her ribs yet again, the third time, if she was right. \"Too bad, that you will not save her another time.\" He gave Rhea a short glance. She sat there, unafraid and dignified. \"It will amount to nothing. Without her family\"s name she is worth nothing.\" \"Is that so, Petrus? I wonder what has gotten into you.\" \"Oh, humanity does come in handy in Lordran. You two will die because of this.\" \"Oh, shut up.\" Claire snapped, reaching for her sword. \"In my eyes, you are just a traitor who is escaping his duties as a guard.\" \"And you are a heretic from the Swamps, no matter what you claim to be.\" Claire drew her sword, standing up on shaking legs. Taking her shield would cost to much time and she had to defend Rhea as well. She took it into both hands, before looking at Petrus. She was faster than him, but his armour would be difficult to pierce. Claire stepped aside, before attacking him. Her sword was blocked by his shield and he countered with his morning star. Claire avoided it by a hair\"s breath, but stumbled across a fragment of a statue. Her fall reminded her of her broken ribs and she gave a small cry of pain. Petrus lifted his morning star - probably to crush her skull and end her (Undead) life - but he stopped. His eyes widened, he let his morning star fall on the ground and he looked down on his chest. \"Why... How could I... What the... What did I wrong...\" An ominous, but yet cheerfull voice answered him. \"Thou hast sinned. Fear thine indelible wrongdoings. I shall accept thy next confession, in the hereafter!\" Petrus slumped and fell to the ground, hitting it with a heavy thud. \"You shalt burn his body so he does not rise as a Hollow again.\" The man advised her. Claire could only nod, to stunned to say anything else. Rhea was crying, she could see it from her place. Surely Petrus had meant some sort of comfort to her in Lordran, even after his betrayal. Claire stood up, before she lit a flame. Petrus body was soon enveloped by her flames and as she watched them burn, she almost regretted not to burn him as he stilled lived. He would have deserved it. \"May I ask your name, dear sir?\" Rhea asked. \"My name is Oswald of Carim the Pardoner. You are friends. Sin is my dominion, so do one of you feel the need to confess?\" \"Thank you for saving us.\" Claire said, before turning around. \"Hmm... Thou with the silver hair... Thou art carrying heavy sin as well. Like Petrus thou art drenched in sin.\" \"Yes I do. And I am willing to atone for it.\" \"Thou art? This is rare. Most deny this very fact.\" \"Does it matter? I am willing to atone. My goal is to ring the Bells of Awakening. I need to find a way to Blighttown.\" \"Blighttown! A swamp filled with sin and chaos!\" Oswald exclaimed. \"I think I should get going. I did lose too much time. Farewell.\"Claire turned around. For some reason she was sure that Oswald would not harm Rhea - he killed Petrus so she should be safe. Her sins may have tainted her but she wished to atone for them - alone. It was her objective from the beginning and staying here would not bring her any further. \"Thou art welcome anytime. It is only human to sin and to confess.\"Oswald said in a disturbingly cheerful voice. \"I will remember this.\" Claire said, suppressing a shudder. \"Vereor Nox.\" Rhea quietly said. The street of the Lower Undead Burg was quiet. The only noise was the screaming of someone, who fell prey to the Capra Demon. Next chapter, sorry it took so long (again). I was in Italy for the two last weeks without internet. In the next few days, I will reupload the first few chapters that are better readable and with lesser errors. So far, I\"ve done the story roughly a third. Chapter 9 and 10 are almost finished, still in need of spell checking though, And I would like to thank who recommended my story on TvTropes! Seriously, saved my day, as I waited (and still waiting) for the Skyrim DLC. This chapter is for you! Chapter 8: Maw in the sewer Claire carefully observed the demon before her. It patrolled the streets but had not taken any interest in her - yet. From her hiding place she could see him killing another one of the thieves that lured in the dark. The Capra Demon hold two broadswords in his hands and had the shape of a goat walking on two legs with a skull as its helmet. Even from distance Claire could smell it - blood, gore, dirt and possibly more - but the dogs around it and feeding on everything that the demon left over did not seemed to care. Claire carefully loaded her crossbow, aiming at the first dog, nearer to her. A bolt ended its life and Claire quickly reload. The second one missed - the dog howled in anger and jumped at her. A quick thrust with her sword ended its life but the Capra Demon closed in, quicker than she thought it could even move. Claire stumbled back, trying to get distance between it and her so she could use her flame. It was quick and its swords hit the ground only inches before her feet. Strong and heavy attacks and yet fast enough to make it difficult to gain ground - Claire cursed her rotten luck. But maybe she did deserve it. Finally she was able to create a flame without tripping over her feet and threw it. The stench of burning fur reached her nose and she quickly moved around the goat demon, to stab it from behind and to cut its tensions. Lucky enough, the Capra Demon was distracted by her fire ball and did not realize until it was to late. It fell to his knees and she cut its neck. Blood soaked the partly burned fur as it fell to the ground, limp and hopefully dead. Claire sheathed her sword and started to search for the key to the sewers, looking first at the other end of the small room the demon was in. Finally, she found it: Laying on the ground at the top of a staircase leading to nowhere. She took it before turning around and leaving the small room. Only then she heard the noise of something stepping behind her. Claire turned around, ready for the worst. The Capra Demon, with its sliced neck, stood again, shakingly, but it stood. Claire turned around and run. The Demon screamed in fury and charged after her, while Claire was running as fast as she could towards the door to the sewers. Thugs, dogs and Hollows alike jumped out of the way of the furious Capra Demon while it chased Claire to the door. Upon reaching the door, Claire slammed the key into the lock and turned it around. The key fell from her shaking hands and she turned around ready to face the furious demon. Instead she saw a man clad in golden armour strolling towards her. \"Lautrec?\" she asked weakly. \"You know that there is a Capra Demon after me?\" \"I disposed of it.\" he answered and shrugged. \"While you was busy running away from it.\" \"Thank you then.\" Claire picked the key off the ground and unlocked the door. Cold air touched her face as she took a few steps down the dark staircase. Lautrec followed her down, until she turned around. \"You do not need to follow me around.\" \"You have been running from such a lowly demon like the Capra Demon. How do someone like you know what is waiting in the sewers?\" \"It is not your concern what I do.\" \"My honour as a knight demands, however, that I repay your favour.\" \"The favour is repaid by you slaying the Capra Demon, is it not?\" \"Oh it is. But I took interest in the one who managed to kill the gargoyles so she could ring the bells.\" \"I was not alone.\" \"Oh, that is the reason? A companion, brave enough to do the killing for you?\" \"He only helped me. He did not do the killing by himself.\" \"Help can often lead to reliance. What happens if you rely on the wrong person?\" \"I doubt that he would betray me. He is not the man for this.\" \"Is he? Or is this faith ill-placed?\" \"It is not.\" \"But you need to rely on no one but yourself. Or else someone might think it would be fine to kill someone with humanity in order to survive. Take this little maiden at Firelink Shrine for example... she is easy prey.\" \"She is not easy prey. She is not an animal to be hunted down.\" \"Is she?\" Claire turned around and lead the way to the sewer. She could hear the noise of Hollows. Lautrec continued to follow her. \"It would be an easy kill. So much humanity, so few uses for her.\" \"Please stop it.\" Both of them fought against countless Undead on their way down. Lautrec continued to try to convince Claire of the possibilities that would be open if she would kill people for their humanity but she did not paid to him much heed. In the sewers there were Undead, giant rats, dogs and butchers. Claire was partly glad that Lautrec was with her - without him it would be much more complicated to reach the ground. After Lautrec took down a butcher, Claire heard a quiet cry for help. Curiously she followed the noise to a room full of barrows. A man with a tattered robe gave a bashful smile as she looked at him. \"You! You must help me! Or else she will have me for lunch! So please!\" Lautrec huffed and crossed his arms. \"What a fool. To be caught by such a lowlifes like them. And caught into a barrel! What a joke!\" Claire gave him a sour look. By the accent she could imagine that the man was from the Great Swamps and that he maybe would be a fellow pyromancer. It would feel reassuring having another pyromancer around - a keepsake of her lost home. She lifter her sword, sticking it between the loose planks and broke the barrel. The poor man fell against her, knocking her from her legs. \"Thank you. Without your aid I would be her supper. Being eaten alive! I shudder to think...\" \"You are a pyromancer of the Great Swamp, are you not?\" \"Y-Yes, I am Laurentius of the Great Swamps.\" \"I am Claire, as well from the Swamps. Glad to meet a fellow pyromancer in Lordran.\" \"Yes, yes, fine that you like each other. But this fellow should head up to Firelink Shrine. Not to imagine, what would happen next to him.\" Lautrec huffed again. \"Will you be fine, girl?\" Laurentius asked worried. \"I will be fine. Do not worry.\" \"Sure?\" \"Yes. I will.\" \"Good, then I will take my leave. We will meet again.\" \"Yes, we will.\" \"Don\"t dare to go hollow.\" \"Neither should you.\" Lautrec was silent after that - an ominous silence. Claire did her best to ignore the knight in golden armour, taking out her enemies before they would take her out. Water dripped from the low ceiling, run down the wall and gathering on the floor. Occasionally, a slime dropped down in their way but it was easily killed by Claire\"s pyromancy. Suddenly, Lautrec stood still. \"Someone is following us.\" \"Who?\" \"I do not know. But he is close.\" Claire lifted her own sword. From the darkness of a shadow a knight stepped forward. Claire sighed in relief as she recognized Solaire\"s steel armour. \"Solaire.\" she stepped between Lautrec\"s blade and the sun knight. \"Claire. Good to see you in one piece.\" Claire felt his soft surcoat at her face, as he hugged her, short, but affectionately. \"And this fellow is...?\" asked Lautrec warily. \"Knight Solaire of Astora. A comrade. And you are are by chance the rude knight who departed with Claire?\" \"I might be. The name is Knight Lautrec of Carim.\" \"An honour to meet you and thank you for taking care of Claire.\" Solaire sounded matter-of-factly, but he seemed to be on edge. \"May I take over? I am used to fight alongside Claire. And you seem to be... slightly tiered.\" \"And I still have to repay my debt to her.\" Lautrec retorted. \"Is that so? I think your help until now is enough repayment.\" \"But I am dying to see the one who rang the First Bell of Awakening fighting a real foe.\" \"You saw her fighting long enough. Claire let us go forward - the faster we get out of the sewers, the more lucky we both will be.\" Without waiting for an answer he grabbed her arm softly and forced her going with him. She took a few steps, before trying to free herself. \"Solaire, what has gotten into you?\" \"Later.\" \"No, now!\" \"Later.\" Claire\"s heart seemed to stop - what would happen, if Lautrec was right after all? Suddenly she felt afraid of him. Solaire suddenly stopped and looked around. \"Serious, Claire, you should stop being so trustful. Not everyone is a knight in shining armour.\" \"And what about you, Solaire?\" Claire asked. \"What did he told you?\" \"And what are you doing?\" \"What did he told you?\" \"That it might not be right to trust you.\" Claire turned around. \"And maybe he was right.\" Claire suddenly felt cold steel at her neck. Solaire\"s sword lingered there for a moment, before he withdraw it. \"It may be wrong to trust me, yes. I might cause more trouble for than I am worth. But I had more chances to kill you than I could even count. So, do not trust me if you wish - but be aware that I will not kill you. I could have done it. But I did not.\" \"But you...\" \"I had a reason. And excuse me my worries, but there is something off with this man - Lautrec of Carim I mean.\" \"What should be off with him?\" \"I followed you quite a while. He seems to be... dangerous. Claire, stay away from him at any cost. I do not know what he is up to - yet - but it is definitely nothing good.\" \"I do not think that.\" Solaire sighed. \"Better safe than sorry. I cannot force you - but I will not be always near you to save you.\" \"I can take care of myself.\" \"I know. But I just want to make sure that you reach your goal.\" \"By the way... How did you knew that I am here?\" \"I met Rhea and Oswald. They told me you left for the sewers. Shortly after I went after you I met this pyromancer - Laurentius, was it? - and he showed me which direction you have taken. It was easy to find you.\" \"Why did you came after me in the first place?\" \"I was worried.\" \"That does not seem like a sufficient reason to follow me.\" \"Claire, we are Undead, I actually have a certain interest in you not dying on me and you are a suicidal young girl, who wants to atone by ringing the Bells of Awakening guarded by monsters. I think I have the right to be worried. And you are a still inexperienced. I, too, wish not to see someone turn Hollow.\" Claire was silent. Solaire continued. \"You are a fearful opponent. But Lordran is dangerous.\" \"Solaire? But could you please stop aiding me so much? I know, you want to make sure I am safe but I wish to learn to do things on my own. You said it yourself: You will not be always near me.\" \"Fine. But be careful. No rushing into battles like before.\" \"Fine, fine.\" Claire gave a small smile. After hours of wading trough cold water, fighting of monsters and Undead, a court filled with light came in sight. Light-filled was an exaggeration but in contrast to the dark sewers it was a welcome change. Claire was glad to breath - almost - fresh air and she quickly moved down the stairs followed by Solaire. At the ground level of the court they stood still for a second. The walls were marked by claws and Claire spotted at least four corpses laying at the ground. Additionally, a pool of water had gathered in the other half of the court leaving no other way out. \"Seems like a dead end.\" Solaire said. \"We should head back and find an other way down.\" \"If there is one.\" \"There should be one. I know about a difficult detour via New Londo and the Valley of the Drakes. But it would take a long time and I do not know if we can reach it.\" \"We do not know until we tried, don\"t we?\" Claire sighed and forced herself to smile. \"Yes, right.\" Both Undead turned around and walked back to the door, as they heard small waves breaking at the stones of broken pillars. As Claire turned around, she could see a small head - almost like the head of a crocodile - looking around, fixating then both Undead before rising. Solaire nudged her in the side. \"I guess, we have a problem.\" he muttered. A giant maw opened up. Half of the body of the dragon seemed to be maw - the rest stomach. Claire lit a fire ball in her hand, while Solaire readied a lightning bolt. \"Any ideas?\" she asked. \"Not dying?\" he suggested. \"Besides that?\" The dragon crashed into the ground. Claire\"s fireball crushed against scales, Solaire\"s lightning bolt hit the creature in the maw. A scream echoed from the walls. Claire created another fire ball. Solaire, on the other side of the dragon, lured it to himself. Claire run closer to it, smelling the stench of its maw, the scales and the rotten flesh between the teeth. A fireball hit the maw, teeth blackened with soot. The dragon turned its attention to the woman, while Solaire staggered fell to one knee. He seemed to be exhausted, but got up quickly. Black, quick eyes fixated Claire and she moved back. With surprising speed the dragon crawled towards her and her back hit the wall. The dragon did not stop - and she clenched her teeth, before drawing her sword and took it in both hands. In the last second before the impact she rolled aside and dragon crashed into the wall, falling to the ground. As it tried to regain balance Claire quickly jumped on it - careful to not fall into the maw of the abomination. She reached the head, took her sword in both hands and lifted it. A quick swing was all she needed to behead the beast - it slumped immediately. Claire jumped down, wiping her sword clean of the blood. Solaire approached her, reaching out to her. He affectionately gave a pat on her shoulder, before he examined the right claw of the dragon. \"I think, this is the solution to one of our problems.\" he said, holding up a key. \"With this you should be able to continue towards Blighttown.\" \"What about you?\" Solaire sighed. \"I have my own quest. And you did have proven that you are ready to fight your own battles. You have become strong.\" \"You won\"t come with me?\" \"You asked me to let you go alone, did you not? I think you can do it. Alone. Some say that the fate of the Chosen Undead is one of solitude and I simply know, that you will come back to Firelink Shrine alone. I know that we will meet again. And never forget, there will always be somebody to help you.\" \"And still you distrust Lautrec.\" \"Do not trust everyone. Choose your comrades wisely and you will reach your goal with your friends alive. But now I must bid you farewell - I guess Blighttown is not a place to look for my own sun.\" \"You and your sun. Is there something I should know about Blighttown?\" \"Some say that a powerful Pyromancer is located there. No one I know does know more about this person, so be careful and do not hunt ghosts.\" \"Pyromancers usually get along just fine. We are outcasts of society after all.\" \"It is a shame, really. You magic might be unrefined, but it is everything that is left from the ancient fire sorcery of the Witch of Izalith.\" \"It is?\" \"A pyromancer does not know the story behind his own magic? How sad.\" \"Do you know the history behind every of your miracles?\" \"Oh, no I don\"t. But I would like to.\" \"I would like a lot of things. Knowing more about Pyromancy is one of them.\" Solaire laughed. \"I think I know where the gate fitting to the key is located. You should go - maybe you will find out more about pyromancy than you like.\" \"Do you want to get rid of me?\" \"No, I just want to see you again soon.\" \"Fool.\" \"Likewise.\" Claire laughed. \"Show me your gate, or else we both won\"t fulfil our goals.\" The gate lead down to the darkness. Wooden planks were everything that separated a by-passer from the depths. Claire looked down, before she turned around a last time. Solaire gave her an encouraging nod, before lifting his hand to bid her a silent farewell. Claire nodded back and returned the gesture, before both Undead departed to their respective destinations.",
"\"No. Not unless you go first~\" She growled, now glaring in my direction again. I felt the icy-cold feeling wash over me again. I really wish she would stop with that by the way. \"...Piss off.\" \"Oh, someone\"s getting testy - \" \"Poison!\" Note to self: Try to take Solanaceae wand before insulting her when there is no Professor present. .... ...... \"I leave for less than ten minutes, and in that time -\" \"She raised her wand at me first. I\"d just like to point out.\" Solanaceae whipped her head in my direction, one hand over her left eye, which is probably a black eye by now, \"You\"re pinning this on me? Really, Vita?\" She hissed. I glared harshly in her direction, not regretting what I had done to her one bit. \"You tried to strangle me Solanaceae. Again!\" The purple haired girl turned back to Professor Wu, who has now it seemed was waiting patiently for the two of us to stop bickering back and forth, and snarled, \"Well, Vita invaded my personal bubble!\" \"I did what?\" \"You bloody well heard me - Or should I say it a little slower for you?\" \"You are the scum of the earth Solanaceae.\" \"Hell beast.\" \"Coming from a Necromancer, that\"s almost a compliment.\" \"You\"re a right git Vita you know that?\" \"Hey did you know your accent gets heavier when you\"re mad?\" \"I - What? What the bleeding hell are you on about? It most certainly does not!\" \"It does,\" I said in a sing-song voice, grinning when I noticed her twitch with irritation slightly. I still can\"t figure out after all these years why her voice is a sensitive subject, but hey, I\"ll take what I can get. And abuse the power it gives me. Professor Wu was clearly a woman with ample amounts of patience - Well, I suppose anyone who puts up with the two of us has to. But the Life Professor was watching the exchange with one brow raised. She\"s probably used to it after five whole years of it. If she was annoyed, her voice gave no sign of it. \"Miss Vita, Miss Solanaceae, if you are just about finished?\" I glanced up, licking my lips and tasting the metallic taste of my own blood, but my gold eyes were still fiery. \"Ah, yeah we\"re done here. So can I leave?\" Solanaceae \"tch\"ed, and I tried to ignore her presence altogether. Even though, I let my eyes fall, looking at the Necromancer briefly, I can admire my work, can\"t I? She definitely had a black eye, thanks to my good aim, I also managed to knock her pretty hard in the jaw. Sadly it didn\"t break. I don\"t think. I\"m not sure. I hope so. She\"d have lots of bruises, though, that\"s for sure. Not to mention the blood on her hands from when I had tried to copy her tactics and dug my nails into her skin as hard as I possibly could. Bad day to decide to not wear gloves Solanaceae. That was a terrible idea. Since...well...today apparently was a very stressful day for her. I learned that whenever she gets tired of using her nails, she uses her teeth. Solanaceae actually bit me. Although she would no doubt deny that she ever had, but the mark on my hand was proof enough for me. That bitch. Since I can\"t use magic to try and kill her, I just have to attack her the old fashioned way most of the time. Not that I mind. I\"d say it\"s fun...but then I think that would make me a sadist...if I said that I enjoy hurting others. Fairly sure that\"s a bad thing. Heh. \"No Miss Vita, you cannot leave. When are the two of you going to grow up? You have been at this childish charade for years now.\" I sank lower into my chair and glared. Solanaceae folded her hands in her lap. My Professor sighed. I don\"t know why she lets us off the hook so often. I think If I had any other Professor in charge of me, I\"d have been expelled by now. \"...I now see, at least, that you two should be left unsupervised. The consequences will be higher, however, if it continues at this rate.\" I noticed that her pale green eyes were trained on Solanaceae as she said that. Not me. \"Fine then,\" Solanaceae smirked. \"Understood.\" I felt like I was missing something. But I didn\"t dwell on it for long. I had a book to inspect as soon as I got to my dorm. And Things to practice. Things that definitely didn\"t involve trying to cast Death Spells. Because that\"d be crazy, right? Warning(s): (Realized I should probably have one of these for...erm...future...activities) Warnings for now? Mild language, most likely. Note:As always reviews are appreciated! And I thank those who reviewed last chapter (Virtual cookies for you all) Chapter Three: Two too many The next day, Lilith had learned to never try and get any work done with any member of the Senith family lurking around. Hawk and Fox Senith, were absolutely the worst people in this world. The worst. \"Well,' Lilith thought irritatedly \"Solanaceae is most likely above them on my list of people I need to push off the edge of the world.' But that still didn\"t make her feel better. In her current situation, what would make her feel better was a quick beheading of two certain Balance Mages. The two had a notorious reputation for mischief, they were always getting into something, sticking their pointy little noses places they did not belong, and overall annoying the general population. When they weren\"t too busy annoying each other, that is. \"So...watcha reading?\" \"Snow - don\"t ignore us! That never works!\" \"Yeah, that only works on ghosts.\" \"I don\"t think it even works on ghosts, though.\" \"So, what, even if you ignore a ghost it will continue to haunt you?\" \"Yeah.\" \"Weird -\" Lilith was this close to stabbing her quill into one (Or both) of their necks. She scowled, leaning over her book more and effectively causing her bangs to get in the way of her line of sight. Blocking off the view of the two nightmares perched on either side of her. She was sitting under a tree in the Commons, book perched on her lap and various supplies surrounding her. Luckily there weren\"t many students out today, so she could work in almost peace. Well, you know that was the plan anyways. But oh well. \"Snowbell~ You act as if you don\"t like us!\" Lilith finally snapped her book shut and glared over at the two of them and oh if looks could kill. \"I\"m sorry, didn\"t you two get expelled?\" Hawk, the female twin nodded excitedly, \"Oh yeah we did -\" Fox picked up her sentence halfway through. \" - But we quit when we thought about what the student body of Ravenwood would possibly do without us!\" Lilith blinked, \"You - you quit being expelled?\" \"Yeah -\" \"Why doesn\"t everyone?\" Hawk scoffed, running a hand through her short blonde hair which was dyed a bright (And annoying) pink towards the top. Her green eyes shone - they always seemed to. Even if there was no reason, and Lilith found that annoying all in itself. The two had the exact same eyes, and their faces were similar too, but that\"s the similarities stopped mainly. Fox\"s hair was long, left to it\"s natural color, which was red, and almost always tied back. She sort of found it ironic. \"But anyways, how could we possibly leave our poor defenseless little Snow behind?\" Lilith was very tempted to say that she was six feet tall and could pick both of the siblings up and throw them over a cliff with ease, but she didn\"t get the chance since Fox interrupted. \"You are one of our favorite people, after all!\" And then simultaneously the two leaned over, getting way to far into Lilith\"s personal space for her comfort and wrapped her in what could be described as a half-hug on each side. \"Haha! Get off me you abominations -\" \"Oh hey, I wanted to ask you anyways, what were you doing at the Library at 2 A.M?\" Fox asked suddenly, releasing her and having his sister soon follow suit. Thank the Gods. Lilith paled slightly upon realizing what he had actually just said, though, \"...What?\" \"Yeah, Solanaceae was talking about with some of her Death-buddies earlier. Not like we eavesdrop or anything. Nah, we totally do who am I kidding?\" Solanaceae? But - how? Both of their faces were filled with interest - rather than suspicion. She wondered how naive a person could possibly get. \"Oh, that -? That\"s not - We all know Solanaceae\"s a liar, don\"t we?\" \"Um, well, not really actually that\"s mainly you -\" \"Yeah, so anyways it\"s not true. It\"s not. Don\"t ask around about it just take my word.\" Fox raised a brow, not even remotely serious. \"You sure it\"s not true?\" \"Yeah, we won\"t tell anyone, we\"ve done way worse stuff than that!\" \"Oh haven\"t we? Sister, we are underappreciated in our time!\" \"Clearly! You remember that one time -?\" Lilith stopped listening at the words \"Way worse stuff\". She could only imagine. She suppressed a shudder. Then out of the corner of my eye her she saw her way out. A flash of purple passing in front of her. Aha, perfect. Solanaceae was making her way across the Commons, almost sluggishly. The same black leather-bound book in her hands from the day before in detention, Lilith noticed. She had it in a death grip and looked exhausted. Her dark eyes held less hatred today; that\"s how she could tell she was tired. Perfect. ..... ...... L I knew an escape when I saw one. And well, this just might work for now. \"Hey,\" I cut in on their conversation suddenly, not feeling even slightly sorry for interrupting. \"You know, if you don\"t believe me...why don\"t you go ask someone else about it? My personal life seems very interesting to you two anyways...for some weird reason...\" I added the last part in a lower tone, which seemed to be out of their earshot. \"In fact, Solanaceae - She\"s the one you heard talking about it, right? Go and ask her about it.\" Their emerald eyes lit up excitedly at the idea. They really are morons. \"That\"s a great idea!\" Fox exclaimed. \"Yeah - Oi! Solanaceae!\" The Necromancer stiffened. I felt so satisfied with the world right now. The two were in front of her almost instantly, Solanaceae stiffened. I felt satisfied with life. In no time, Fox and Hawk had surrounded the purple-haired girl. She looked like she wanted to kill them, slowly and painfully. I know that feeling. I could hear them from here, the twins shouting questions, a low growl emitting from the Death student, and then Fox did something that surely only a man with a death-wish would do. Snatched the small leather book right out of Solanaceae\"s hands. Hawk even with all of her stupidity, realized that was a bad move, and her eyes widened. Fox took no notice. A group of students, presumably Death, who Solanaceae was probably walking towards, noticed this as well. One of them looked about ready to burst into fits of laughter, another looked petrified, and one even was getting ready to take a picture. I recognized the three of them. The one who was obviously about to take pleasure in Fox\"s pain was October Felidae. The shorter girls green eyes were lit excitedly. The one looking afraid on the other boy\"s behalf was Cerberus Delta. Not a Death student, strangely. Just a Myth boy who tended to hang around that group often. I didn\"t know, nor did I CARE why. The third one, savoring the moment was Salem Grayson. But all three looked as if this was a common practice. And it most likely was. The expression on Solanaceae\"s face changed from annoyance to homicidal rage pretty damn quickly. Foxs screams filled the commons until Hawk tried to pry Solanaceae on \"Kill Mode\" off of her brother. The reason he screamed? Well, if that satisfying cracking sound had anything to do with it, I\"d say she just broke his nose. I feel good about how today went. Even if I got almost no work done... Salem Grayson knew that when Persephone Solanaceae walked into Nightside later that day, that he should leave her alone. That everyone should leave her alone. Her temper had been off the charts lately. It was almost worrying. So when she hurried past him, he went against his better judgment and spoke to her. \"Hey, Sol. You alright? I think you broke that kids nose earlier.\" She stopped, but only for a moment. Only to glare back half-heartedly, due to her lack of sleep. \"Grayson. Go bother someone else.\" Grayson just looked down at her strangely. \"I would, but October and Cerberus are out in Grizzleheim tonight...you know, mission and all that.\" \"I don\"t care.\" \"I know. Just saying. You don\"t...you don\"t look so well.\" \"Well,\" Solanaceae spat \"Thank you, Grayson, because I so clearly desired your useless opinion!\" The Marleybonian spun on her heel and was stalking towards the graves to the right of the Death School. Solanaceae was aware of him watching, but honestly? She couldn;t bring herself to care when she stepped onto the sigil behind the one of the stones. How pointless it all seemed. I could practically see the blood on my hands. Everywhere. Blood. I hated this. This feeling, I can feel my control slipping. How much longer can I go on? Goddammit. I\"m a puppet now. No. Not if I can help it. I need help. I need a way out. Note: I\"ll continue to switch from first person to third person as needed, it all depends on how important the current thoughts of Lilith are. I also decided that sometime after chapter five or six is when the chapters are going to be completely rewritten because I have a very specific way I want this to go. Chapter Four: Blood Blast and Fire \"I have had enough of this behavior!\" It was just another normal day. The sun shining, the Firebirds singing and me and Solanaceae being dragged off by another teacher. Joy. Of course, me being, well me, I just had to confront the Necromancer. I could have just left her alone, but no. That would have been no fun right? With Solanaceae confrontation equals strangling me. Her hold is getting better though so, good for her. Before we could bloody ourselves up too much, (pity) Professor Drake just had to catch us. Cyrus was in a particularly crabby mood today as well, so before we knew it he was dragging us away into the Myth classroom. Solanaceae muttering most likely very offensive things under her breath as we went. Professor Drake practically threw open the doors to his classroom, and then roughly yanked the two of us inside. After settling down behind his desk, he scowled at us like we were the filth that was polluting WizardCity. I returned the look to my best capabilities. \"I assume, Miss Vita, Miss Solanaceae, you know why your here?\" He said disdainfully. \"Because I was assaulted?\" He focused his hard gaze on Solanaceae, who looked back defiantly, raising and elegant eyebrow she added \"I suspect you have gotten used to this Cyrus? Why bother? Just expel the Filth over there and all of this will subside.\" She said snarkily. \"Filth? I\"ll give you filth you stuck-up arrogant little Pureblood -\" \"Silence Vita! Solanaceae you will address me by Professor Drake at all times -\" \"Cyrus.\" I could practically feel the waves of irritation roll off of the Myth teacher, and even though I despised the Death student\"s very existence, I had to admit. Well done with that... Drake was absolutely fuming at her, though, which hopefully would make him put most of the blame on her... \"Detention. Both of you.\" Drake hissed. \"And if you misbehave while in detention, you will do it again. And again. And again. I don\"t care how long it takes you, you will learn to tolerate each other!\" My eyes widened. I just stared up at him with as much hatred as I possibly could. Detention with Solanaceae was one thing, I could handle it probably, after last time. But- but every day...EVERYDAY? I could not possibly - I glanced over at said girl, who right now (If possible) was even paler than usual, and looked horrified. \"Are you telling me, I am stuck in detention with THAT until - until what we graduate?!\" \"That\"s just cruel,\" I added. Drake sighed deeply, \"Not until you graduate Miss Solanaceae, just until you learn to get along.\" \"Oh so forever then? Bloody fantastic! I can\"t believe this! This - this is - you can\"t do that! I have a life you know! I have things to do you, prat -! \" I snickered. Just a little. I couldn\"t help it. Hearing her voice so hopeless; it was hilarious. Even if I was in the same boat. And besides... \"What the hell are you laughing at?\" She snapped, eyes narrowed. \"I\"m sorry - but that accent when you get mad...\" \"You are obsessed with my voice, you realize? It always sounds like this anyways If you\"d just listen -\" \"Yeah I usually tune out what you\"re saying so...\" \"Oh, you wretched-!\" \"Enough!\" Professor Drake was now looking as though he had a headache coming on, and was trying to keep himself calm. After all murdering students would surely get him fired... \"I,\" He drawled out icily \"Am going to ignore everything you just said Solanaceae. I am being merciful today...Your first detention I\"m sure of MANY starts today after classes. Do not be late either of you. And don\"t give me more reasons to punish you.\" Drake sighed again. \"I tried so very hard to get both of you expelled too...\" I was hoping that, without any issues, of course, I could try and put some of my...ideas to work tonight. Ideas that, of course, involve the place where the old Death School once stood. I don\"t know why, maybe it was the sheer curiosity, maybe it was the strange feeling of a dark thrill whenever I glanced down into the darkness, maybe it was how panic lit Solanaceae\"s features when I mentioned it. Who knows? It was happening, though. I was sure of it. So long that said Death nuisance doesn\"t kill me in detention I should be fine. Speaking of the devil... Just a few yards from the Myth classroom, I ran into Solanaceae. She looked irritated beyond all belief and sent a nasty look my way when she noticed me. \"You just HAD to go and get us detention for life didn\"t you?\" She muttered coldly. I just glared at her. Like it was my fault she tried to strangle me (AGAIN). And so yes maybe I started it, but it was...It...She had it coming. \"It was your fault. Don\"t be modest now.\" \"Bugger off.\" \"Don\"t try anything. We\"re in deep enough as it is.\" \"And who\"s fault is that?\" \"Yours! You bitch!\" Solanaceae then made a very rude and unladylike gesture to me. \"Oh real mature.\" I hiss. Golden eyes narrowed all the while, I couldn\"t help but feel that her energy was strangely off today. Suddenly I wondered if starting something at this particular moment had been such a great idea. I got my answer when she reached for her wand, pulling it out to aim right between my eyes in one quick fluid motion. So this was how it was going to go? I had practice in this certain situation, and I mirrored her movement exactly. There was a tense crackling silence. I was ready, I had a spell on the tip of my tongue. I was almost hoping Professor Drake would show up; last time this happened she hit me full on with a hex that made me grow large bat ears that stayed put for forty-eight hours. \"Mobiarmus Demoenum!\" \"Lumindo Horrendenta !\" We said the spells at the exact same moment, and simultaneously two streaks of light shot out from our wands and clashed violently together in a flurry of green and black sparks. This was not supposed to happen. I know I had just taken a huge risk. That spell; Is the one I learned just in case. I couldn\"t - I couldn\"t help myself. It was in a forbidden spell book. That\"s not all. A forbidden DEATH spell book. One I had gotten from the library. Dammit... Why did I do that? On school grounds - I felt suddenly very lightheaded. I world around me swam. Everything turned to black. All around me, there was nothing but darkness. A color darker than black. Complete void. Until the surroundings formed into place around me. A large elegant room, with marble floor and high ceiling that had deep red tapestries on the walls. I saw a woman walking out, a woman with long dark black hair, and equally as dark eyes, shining strangly. I had never seen her before I was sure of it. But she was so familiar. Alongside her fell a child. A little girl, with equally as dark hair and eyes. They were in a sort of conversation - but it was all muffled to me. I only understood parts \"Do you understand why...\" The woman was saying softly, but I could hear an edge to it that shouldn\"t have been there. \"...No...I dont...Should I?\" The voice was familiar. The scenec dissolved around me once more. I only heard voices this time. No images. \"I will.\" \"You dont undertsand this could cost you your life!\" \"I know.\" \"You can\"t -!\" \"I\"m protecting her! I can and I will.\" Then after that, I saw a scene playing out in front of me very, very clearly.' I could feel this person\"s emotions like I was watching this happen from their eyes... Bright moonlight glistened off of the pale skin of the figure walking stealthily through the corridor. A dark claret hood pulled tightly around their head, and the rest cloaked their body. Dark eyes, the color of amythest, a deep royal purple stared out into the darkness, darting around. Checking for any signs of a guard. A small thin strand of almost black hair escaped the hood, hanging loosly in the way. Just barely. A women, a girl of no more than 14 years of age tip-toed quietly through the corridoor. Stealth was all that mattered. All that mattered was not getting caught. For if she was caught, she would be killed without mercy. But some things, she believed were just worth the risk. Soft black leather boot padded across the marble floors with extreme caution, and the cloak swished silently around her ankles. The risk was all too real for her, but she must do as she was told.",
"Leonidas turned to Gorgo. She had been standing on the balcony, and must have heard him enter their room and begin to approach her. She had not turned to address him. He put his hands over her shoulders. \"Gorgo-\" \"I know it is your duty. As king, you are the first warrior into battle.\" He brought his hands around her waist. \"No, my queen...these are raiders we are facing, not a true army. I go only to ensure that every last one of them is made to pay for the Spartan blood they have spilled.\" At last, she turned to him. He glanced down to the small, rounded mound that was her womb. It had not been long since she had told him of the child that shared her body, but Leonidas was already so eager for his heir. He settled one of his large hands upon her flesh, hoping again to feel his child move. Gorgo held his hand more firmly to her body. \"No, Leonidas. It is too soon for the babe to kick.\" He nodded, slightly disappointed. \"I will not be gone long, Gorgo. Weeks, at most. I will return to you the same man I have always been.\" She rounded on him, \"But I will not be the same woman! I will be bigger, as round as a sphere and as swollen as a melon! You won\"t want what I have become, you\"ll take a slave as your whore, you\"ll take my babe away from me and-\" Leonidas gripped her shoulders and forced her to look at him. \"Gorgo! What is this madness you speak of?! Have you lost your mind? You must have forgotten that I chose you as my wife,\" he bit out. Gorgo had been behaving strangely for the past few weeks, ever since her body began to grow fuller from the child. She avoided him during the day and slept further to her side of their bed at night. When she allowed him to touch her belly so that he might feel for his child, she often insisted that he was not doing it right and would leave in frustration. The midwife brought into the palace had assured them that it was safe for the babe if Leonidas were to take his wife again, so long as he was very gentle. Gorgo had seemed repulsed at the idea one moment and then eager for it the next; as of yet, Leonidas had stopped approaching her all together. His wife began to cry, and Leonidas hated himself for becoming upset with her. He brought her closer into his arms and allowed her tears to fall upon the linen of his robe. Careful not to upset her further, he reached up and stroked her hair. He could not understand why she thought he would be so eager to take another woman; in fact, he could not understand why Gorgo had been so withdrawn and angry with him at all. It seemed every step he took would irritate her to no end, every breath he took lead her into further annoyance. \"Gorgo, Gorgo, you are my queen, my only love...\" He crooned to her. Carefully, Leonidas backed her up to their bed and he had her lay back on the blankets there. Her face glistened with tears, her breasts and belly heaved slightly as she cried. Leonidas moved to lay on his side beside her, propping himself up on one elbow and looked down at her. \"I want no other woman, and I would never dishonor you by taking another. There will only be one queen of Sparta. You and no other.\" He rested his hand over the gentle bump of her belly, then slowly stroking up her body towards her face. Gorgo shivered and gasped when his hand passed over her breast. To Leonidas, the sound was akin to a call from one mate to another. He cupped her face and leaned down to kiss her. To his relief and satisfaction, Gorgo responded to him. They simply kissed for a time, reacquainting themselves to each other. It had been a long time since Gorgo had allowed Leonidas to touch her as a husband, and he had been beginning to feel almosr desperate for the return of his wife. He would take what she would give, and not press her for more. He cared too much for Gorgo and for their child to risk upsetting her. The heir she carried was the future of all Sparta. They parted, and Gorgo moved to present her back to him. Leonidas moved his body to mold her shape against his, and he reached around her waist to lay his hand over her belly. \"I\"m sorry, Leonidas. The midwife warned me months ago that I would become upset at the rustling of a feather, but I hadn\"t believed her- I laughed and told her that I was not the same as the other women she had seen to in the past. This is punishment for my arrogance! I\"ve driven you to chasing raiders across Greece just so that you may find a bit of peace...\" Leonidas laughed softly against her hair. \"No, no, Gorgo. I go because of my duty as king. I go to discourage any others from even thinking of attacking Spartan villages or farms again, to protect the people. I will think of you every day, Gorgo, and beg the gods to deliver me back home swiftly so that I may see you with our babe.\" His woman was silent for a short time. \"Leonidas, do you truly still want me?\" \"Yes. You are...too close to see yourself clearly. You cannot see what I can. I see you, healthy and strong, growing ripe with my seed. You have the mother\"s glow about your face, your hair shines and your breasts have become even fuller. I would have to be a eunuch not to desire you.\" He laughed. Despite herself, Gorgo laughed too. \"Thank you, Leonidas. I think I only wished to hear you say that.\" He drew her closer. \"Then I will tell you every day.\" They slept, yet somewhere in the night, Leonidas woke at the faint, tiny fluttering of the child beneath his palm. Over fifty days had passed since Leonidas and his small band had departed from the city, intent on eradicating the rebels and raiders that had already killed hundreds of innocent Spartans. The days were blistering hot, the nights only slightly cooler. Leonidas and his fellow warriors hardly noticed the weather; they had edured all forms of hardships in their agoge, this was nothing in comparison. As of yet they had found but traces of the raiders. A few footprints, an abandoned campsite, broken spears and arrowheads. In the king\"s estimation, they were perhaps three days from their quarry. Once word had spread that true warroriors, led by the king himself, had come to defend the citizens, the rebels had wisely run off. Their trail was erratic in an effort to confuse the Spartans chasing them, but it would do them no good. The only thing that they had accomplished by prolonging the chase was to enrage the Spartans further. Leonidas was not the only man whose wife was with child. Dilios, the captain, and five of the other warriors were impatient to return back to their women and hopeful sons. Leonidas sat on a smooth boulder, taking his turn on the perimeter watch as the man he\"d replaced went off to sleep. The moon was full and bright in the night sky, it\"s perfect round shape reminding him of Gorgo\"s growing belly. \"My wife waits with child as well,\" Dilios had told him earlier that day. \"Halcyone has born me two sons, and hopes this time for a girl. I think she is lonely for a daughter in the house.\" Leonidas had smiled at his friend. \"This will be my first. I hope for many children; sons, of course, but Gorgo once told me that she would someday want a daughter. I think women are like us- they want a child to take after them.\" Dilios agreed. \"You are correct, sire. Halcyone has told me that if Aphrodite answers her prayers and she is given a daughter, she will teach her all the secrets that she has learned in the kitchen. I hope only for another son.\" Leonidas had raised his brows. \"Why another son, Dilios? I have met your boys. They are large, fast and strong. The agoge will be child\"s play to them, they will be prize additions to my armies. Why not allow Halcyone a girl to share her cooking skill?\" Dilios had laughed then. \"Because, if she should have a daughter, the girl will know the secret of attracting many suitors- Halcyone seduced me with her wonderful food. Once I had a meal with her family and learned that had cooked it all herself, I asked her father to give her to me that very night. If she passed on her secrets to a girl, all of Sparta\"s young men would be begging at my door!\" The men had laughed then, but Leonidas no longer felt so humorous. Gorgo was with child; he wanted to be by her side, not rummaging around abandoned campsites searching for murdering scum. Suppose something happened while he was away? His child could be lost, his wife injured or worse! He had to stop the grim thoughts, he had only to complete the task of tracking the raiders, and then he would return. His eyes burned out into the distance, his anger growing within, urging him to chase the rebels, faster and farther, all the way to the sea if it would only bring him back to Sparta. Gorgo rested her arms on the balcony of the royal bedchambers; the grand rooms where she had slept alone for many nights. She stared at the moon, hoping that somehow Leonidas was watching it as well. It would connect them, in a way, even if neither of them were aware of it. She glanced down and pressed a hand to her bulging womb. The child was within, moving inside of her. It had began shortly after Leonidas had left the city to hunt down the raiders that were slaughtering Sparta\"s innocent people. Gorgo hoped it was a good omen that their child was so restless. It meant that the little boy or girl would be restless in life, always striving for greatness and earning pride. She had once dreamed that Leonidas would return, and kiss her belly just in time to feel their child kick. It would be a great thing if he would return to her that very night, as their babe seemed more restless than usual. Ten more days had passed, and Leonidas had still not returned to Sparta. Gorgo knew that he was Sparta- the world\"s- finest warrior, but how could she not worry? The raider killings might have been a diversion, a way of baiting him to leave the city, taking only a handful of his fellow soldiers. Could they all have walked into a trap? To be ambushed by hundreds? She shuddered at the thought as images of bloodshed flashed through her mind. \"You must think only happy thoughts- otherwise, the poisonous worries of your mind may harm the child.\" The words of the palace midwife were not so comforting. Gorgo knew that worrying over her husband for days on end was not healthy. She had gone about her queen\"s duties the same as she had before, and tried to keep herself as useful as she was able. As she began to swell, it was not so easy as it once was. Still, there was time. Leonidas would return to Sparta in time to see the birth of his child, the future heir to all of Sparta. He had to. \"These were the last of them, sire. Their leader has been captured for interrogation, the rest have been driven to the sea.\" Leonidas turned to face the captain, his expression grim with purpose. \"Good. Then we can begin the return journey to Sparta at once.\" It had been many days, over a hundred, since he had first left his city and his wife. The rebels had been clever in evading them, but no chase lasted forever. They had been caught when Dilios noticed their pattern of hiding during the day and moving along the foothills at night. All of the men had been eager to get back to Sparta, and so they had been eager to cut through the raiders all the more quickly. Leonidas had led the attacks, each strike of his sword leading them closer to home and closer to their wives\" embrace. The raiders had been a strange assembled group of insurgents, all of them hailing from different nations. Obviously, the legends of Sparta\"s warriors had somehow escaped them and they had had no idea what they had been facing. They stood on this plain and taunted us. I\"ve never before seen such fools, Leonidas thought as he wiped the blade of his sword free of blood. Smiling slightly beneath his beard, he glanced around and saw that taking ten other warriors had indeed been unnecessary. One lone Spartan would have been enough to rid the countryside of these raiders. As it happened, Leonidas and each of his warriors had made a few kills, but the battle (such as it was) had been over in a matter of minutes. The raiders were young, poorly trained and despite having robbed so many families, they had been far too ill-equipt to even hope facing off with true warriors. They had been lambs sent to the slaughter, a clear warning to any others that might think to attack Sparta\"s country farms. No matter now, Leonidas thought. The raiders have been taken care of. No warriors of mine have been lost. It is time to return to our city. The journey back to Sparta was not no long. Indeed, most of their time had been spent in pursuit of the rebels but now that the warriors were headed back home, the days passed with ease. The warriors even marched late into the night, greatly aided by the pale silver light of the full moon that hung above them in the midnight sky. He thought of Gorgo again at seeing the moon\"s perfect round shape. He knew that by the time he returned to Sparta and was presented to her, she would have grown much larger than the last time he had seen her. Their last night together, he had felt their child move beneath his hand. Surely by now their babe was moving constantly, eager to be born and claim its birthright as the future king or queen of Sparta. Leonidas smiled softly at the thought, hoping that their child born would be a son. He anticipated fighting with this future king, sparring, teaching the boy how best to hold a spear and how to hunt for deer in the wilds. All would be useful for when the time came for the boy to take to his agoge trials. Yes, Leonidas hoped for a son; he wouldn\"t know what to do with a daughter. What could he possibly do? He could not fight with a girl, he might injure her upon sparring. He knew nothing of female customs and had no true interest in such things. All a princess would be required to learn was how to present herself correctly to courts and then take in lessons of Spartan law and philosophy when she came of age. Until then, all a princess did was play with her precious pet animals and toys. Sparta would fall if its king began to play with weaved silk dolls! Please, Zeus, a beg you for a son...I would be lost with a daughter! Days passed and finally the men came over a hill and saw Sparta. Leonidas allowed them to cheer as they moved down the road leading to the city, their horses\" hooves beating the earth like thunder. Dilios followed Leonidas to the palace once the other soliders were dismissed to their homes. The rebel leader was taken away to be questioned and then killed; there was no room for mercy in Sparta. \"Why do you not return to your wife, Dilios? I\"m sure you must miss Halcyone\"s cooking,\" Leonidas had joked to him as they\"d made their way up the palace steps. Dilios nodded. \"I admit that I do, sire. Halcyone has been staying close to the midwife who resides within your palace; I wish to see if she is here before checking our house.\" Leonidas nodded. \"No bother. Perhaps you might wish to bathe before seeing her?\" The king suggested, gesturing to the both of them. The battle and the journey had made them filthy- dust and dirt clung to their exposed, sweaty skin. Their hair had grown as matted as their beards, the dried blood of their enemy clung both to their clothes and to their skin. Dilios glanced down at himself as if noticing his appearance for the first time. \"Perhaps you are right, sire.\" Servants had been called forward to bathe the king; they washed his body, oiled his skin and attended to his hair and beard. Gorgo had been told of his return, and despite his eagerness to see her, Leonidas was reluctant to allow her to see him as filthy as a common dog. He wished to embrace and kiss her, but no woman would have allowed him to touch her as filthy as he had been! Once he had dismissed the attending servants, Leonidas had felt refreshed and more than ready to see his queen. He went directly to their chambers, but she was not within, wiating for him as he had expected. He stood in their rooms for a moment, absorbing her delicate female scent. Gorgo, Gorgo, my wife and queen... He left their chambers to go down into the gardens; that was a place that had held private meaning to them for years, even before they were married, back when they had had their first meeting. Leonidas ran a hand through his newly cut hair and headed through the courtyard, instinct carrying him toward her. As Leonidas moved, he tilted his head. He had thought he had heard...no, he had heard something. He paused to listen. It was a sweet sound, taking on form and lyrics. A woman was singing. Smiling, Leonidas followed the sound, not at all surprised to find Gorgo sitting on the stone bench before the fountain; this was the place where he had told her of his intention to take her as his wife. Her back was facing him, and Leonidas almost felt content to listen to her for a while more, but could not stand aside from her much longer. \"I have never heard you sing,\" Gorgo turned to face him, her face lighting up as he had never seen before. \"Husband!\" Leonidas moved to her side and embraced her tightly, surprised and somehow pleased to see how large her womb had grown in the time he was away chasing the rebels. Gorgo smiled at him and rested a hand over the large bump of her body. \"Yes, didn\"t I tell you? As round as a sphere and as swollen as a melon!\" He laughed and carefully touched her, hoping to feel the babe move within. He felt nothing, but did not show disappointment. How could he, now that he was back in Sparta? \"I thought of you and our child every night that I could see the moon,\" he told her. \"Its shape made me think of you, being so round and perfect.\" Gorgo laughed, kissing him. \"I am glad that you have come back, for I have been told that it is only a few days more before our child will come forth. I am ready, but also afraid.\" She confessed, holding him as close to her as she was able. He held her. \"You need not be afraid, wife. This child will come, and will be my heir to the throne.\" She nodded. \"Yes, I know. It is only that...while it lives within me, we share the same life. I can protect it. When she-\" \"Or he!\" \"Or he, is born, we will be separate. Anything could go wrong.\" Leonidas shook his head. \"Nothing will.\" \"That is not a promise you can make, my love.\" Leonidas nodded. \"I know it is not. Gorgo, this child will have everything, I promise you. I will lay down my life to protect you and all the rest of Sparta.\" \"And if you die? What will become of us then?\" Leonidas thought for a moment. \"Then I will rage through Hades to come back to you both.\" No more than ten days had passed since Leonidas\"s return to Sparta when he was roused from his sleep by his queen\"s cry of pain. He was awake in an instant, alert to any threat, ready to kill for her. Gorgo had been sleeping beside him, but she had moved to sit up and placed her hands over her bulging womb. She turned to him, her eyes large, glowing with fear and happiness. \"Leonidas, it\"s time. Help me, you must bring me to the midwife.\" Leonidas moved quickly to do what he knew needed to be done. Carefully, he moved off the bed and eased her onto her feet. He was alarmed to see that her thighs were smeared with a strange fluid, but he said nothing for fear of upsetting her further. The king guided her out of their bedchamber and down a short corridor to find the old, experienced midwife that would safely deliver his heir. And she will deliver our child safely, or I will end her myself! He felt his heart pounding, but he indicated no fear or excitement. He was king, and had to keep his composure before all, even with the servants. He called for the widwife, who answered them within minutes with several other servants following suit. Around them, Leonidas could sense the entire palace coming awake. \"Oh, Gorgo, I had expected you at about any time, come on, come into the chamber here.\" The midwife ushered the queen into her chambers, and then ordered her servants to fetch linens, a blade and hot water. Leonidas began to follow the women inside, but the midwife moved to block his entrance. \"No, my lord, you cannot be here for the birth.\" At once, he felt ready to strike her for her insolence. \"What foolishness do you speak? Gorgo is my wife, it is my child to be born this night!\" The midwife stood her ground. \"I am no fool, sire, but I say again: no man will enter.\" \"I am not just a man, I am your king.\" \"You are a man all the same. Your father was just as arrogant and stubborn when I delivered you and your brothers! Sire, you must wait outside this chamber-\" A pained cry from inside drew both their attention away. Leonidas stepped forward to go to Gorgo, but the midwife moved to block his path to her. \"Sire, you must not-\" \"Leonidas, stop,\" He turned to find his father, bleary-eyed from interrupted sleep. Androcles moved forward, flanked by servants and advisors- Cadmus, Gorgo\"s father, was among them. \"You cannot be with her now,\" The midwife took advantage of Leonidas\"s attention being on his father, and slipped into the chamber, locking the heavy door behind her. Leonidas realized that he\"d been locked out and he beat his fist against the door. Androcles moved forward. \"Leonidas, you must stop. Birth is a woman\"s realm where men have no place. Gorgo must do this alone.\""
]
embeddings = model.encode(sentences)
similarities = model.similarity(embeddings, embeddings)
print(similarities.shape)
# [4, 4] 
