It was a lot to take in, and Gretchen was certain the information she'd just been given barely scratched the surface. Enough to give the sliver of an explanation while raising more questions. So many more. The girl paused on the dark stone stairs, glancing back over her shoulder at the silhouette of Rep still looming above her. There were questions resting on the tip of her tongue, important things she felt she needed to ask him, but before she could give any of them voice the shadow was gone and Gretchen was more or less on her own.

(It'sssss about time.)

Gretchen jumped, she couldn't help it. Both hands went out to press into the stone walls to either side of the stairs she was currently lingering on and her head whipped around, looking for a source to the voice--despite it sounding as though it was coming from everywhere and nowhere...

"Hello?" Brows creased, she turned back to stare down into the darkness, taking a couple more steps down. All she could see was an eerie glow, nothing was moving. "Is someone down there?"

Her partner, maybe? Rep had said she'd find them down here, but hadn't exactly explained how. Something about voices...

"Are you my partner?" Because now that she thought about it, the voice she'd heard could very well have been in her own head. Which was sort of alarming, actually.

(Very good. I am Devika, and you belong to me now.)

Melodic laughter followed, and the hairs on the back of Gretchen's neck stood on end, goosebumps racing across her arms. She didn't really like the sound of that. "Um. I don't belong to anyone. Sorry to disappoint?" Another few steps down into the darkness, and now she could see the cove for what it was. Row after row of stone tablets, each and every one glowing with colored runes.

(On the contrary, you are my partner.)

Another laugh, low and purring, and something else entirely that made Gretchen's skin crawl. Snake like came to mind, but that was absolutely ridiculous, right?

(Wrong. Ssssnake like is most accurate.)

Well then. "I don't like snakes." She was in the room now, walking slowly across the stone floor towards one of the walls. Something drew her, though she couldn't have said what. Some unseen force, compelling her forward. "Never did."

(It doessss not matter. You are still mine. The bond issss there, it cannot be broken. Hurry now.)

"I'm not sure..." Even as the words left her lips, she was edging closer, hand raising up as if of it's own accord.

(Touch it.)

She did, the tips of thin fingers brushing against the cool stone of one of the tablets, and in a flash it disappeared. In it's place, barely caught, a long staff with twisting coils at either end, purple runes glowing across the dull shine of coiling metal. Pretty, in a way, though Gretchen had no idea how to wield any sort of weapon, let alone something like this.

(You will learn, I will pusssh you.) It sounded like a threat.

(What issss your name, girl?)

Gretchen blinked. The bo staff vanished, but a new weight settled on the curve of her ear, and when the girl lifted a hand to it she felt the intricate swirl of a serpent shaped ear cuff.

Lips parted to answer, but she paused, frowning, before trying it silently, mentally.

Gretchen.

(Gretchen. You are mine, and we will do great thingssss together.)