Welcome to Gaia! ::

Elliot pondered the information, trying to ignore his pounding headache. "What? Oh. I'm fine... I just have a wicked headache..." He rubbed at his head, then finished the glass of water he had gotten. He tried to face Yuan again, but the light was still there. He glared at the fire, muttered something, and it went out, darkened, weakened, and covered in ice. "That's better... he said, looking much happier. It didn't do a great deal to darken the room, but at least now he could see his companion, and was in slightly less pain. He smiled, then returned to his thoughts.

"You!" Hikari gasped as she saw Tamara appear out of thin air. Where had that girl been? Had she heard everything? "What are you doing here?" Hikari hadn't realized that she had stood up. Okami turned to face Tamara and started growling threateningly.

Oh, so that what happened, Hikari thought. Hikari folded her arm across her chest and sighed. "Okami you can stand down." Hikari said Okami emidently stopped growling and looked up at Hikari. "Are you sure?" He asked out loud for all to hear. "Yeah it's fine." Hikari said waving her hand indifferently. "Look Tamara, I don't hate you and I do accept you apology, but you need understand. This thing I have has caused me a lot problems I need to figure it out. If you try to help me like that again I can't garentee that it will go easy on you. Simply put I am surprised you made it out of that injured. A lot of adults in Salem went mad because of it. I don't want your help and I really don't need your sympathy." Hikari hoped that tact and blunt honesty would Keep Tamara way from her mind. Hikari's headache started to get worse. Maybe I should make that point clear? The voice chuckled softly.

"Hikari you were a bit harsh on her." Crahi cawed. Hikari sighed. She felt bad for Tamara, she had tried to Hikari and she seemed to really feel bad about everything. Hikari took a deep breath and took a step forward. "Thanks for understanding. I just don't want to see people get hurt because of me." In another time they might have been able to become friends but Hikari was scared for herself and for Tamara. Tamara didn't have enough control over her own powers and could get really hurt around Hikari. Hikari reached out and placed on Tamara's shoulder. Immediately she regretted it. Hikari's head exploded with pain again. She staggered backwards and almost fell onto the bench. Okami yelped frightened and ran over to Hikari placing both front paws on her lap.

"N-no stay back." Hikari commanded. Okami whimpered his tail between his legs. Crahi flew off of Hikari's shoulder and landed on Okami's head. "This is bad Okami, very bad."Crahi cawed quitely Okami nodded slightly still whimpering. "Hikari is about lose control." He said in a low growl. "No, no go away. Not here not now. Please go away." Hikari whispered, nearly begging. You were becoming too friendly Hikari dear. She wants to help you and you know well enough that her help is ill advised but you seem to in you heart still want help. You have explained me to too many my dear, now they must know who I am and I why I am called the Terror of Death. "NO!" Hikari cried. she tried to keep the voice away but she couldn't. She wasn't strong enough alone and she knew that Tamara would only get hurt if she tried. Hikari's eyes closed, as if she had been pulled into a trance. She tried to fight but she felt herself get pulled away from the power. She was already seated on the bench from nearly falling. Her eyes closed tighter and her face scrunched up as if she was deep in thought. Then her face relaxed. She crossed her legs and placed an elbow on her knee and the hand under her chin. Her lips curled into a seductive smile. Finally she opened her eyes. They were olive green.

Hikari seemed to floating in an abyss of darkness in her own mind. She felt cold and empty. She tried to move but couldn't. Help me... the echo of water hitting the top of pool of water and rippling away could be heard. Hikari imagined that tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Well, well, well. The teacher is trying to get in." The words that came out Hikari's mouth were cold and unforgiving. She had dealt with this sort some many times before that it made little difference to her. She let the teacher without a struggle. "Try as you might, Hikari is hidden away safely."

Zorok watched the scene with growing shock and wariness. He watched Hikari sit, completely confused by the change in her posture and personality. What was going on? What was the costume-teacher doing? He noticed the other student hiding in the bushes, and prowled over. It was bad enough that the annoying three were there, this stranger wouldn't be allowed to learn this--what ever it was.

But before he attacked the boy, an idea occured to him: one that wouldn't require him to reveal himself.

'Elliot?' he asked Elliot through their bond--the only way he could speak. Unlike Okami, Zorok could only talk to Elliot (and other familiars), and only through the bond that formed between familiar and witch.

Elliot blinked, then tilted his head, as if listening, though the panther's voice was only in his mind. 'Yes? What is it?'

'Do you mind helping me with something?' Zorok sent an image of what he needed, and turned to look at Danny.

Elliot closed his eyes, and began murmuring an incantation. Zorok slunk over, and touched the back of Danny's leg lightly, to conduct the magic better. Shadows would begin covering the boy's vision, growing to temporarily blind him if he didn't move.

((Do you mind if I do that, Danny? I'm giving you a chance to get away...))