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Xeion sensed the uneasiness in her voice and thought that it only wasn't her that shook at the thought of finding out the cause of all this. Although she herself said that it was okay to do so, Xeion wanted to be sure of her answer. For what they were going to do, Evie-chan needed all the heart and determination she could muster up if she wanted to come back to the world in one piece. "Are you sure?" he asked again, making sure to give Evie-chan a clear detail of what to expect from what they were going to do. "It's dangerous and it's unlike anything you have faced before. Survival in the Inner World is something that doesn't only require physical combat prowess, one must also have a strong heart and sound mind to combat the effects of whatever it is we may find in there."

Xeion was amazed at Evie-chan’s decision. Even though he didn't want her to suffer any more, he respected her decision and simply smiled at her. Forcing her to quit would be useless and would hurt her pride as a warrior. She may look frail, innocent, and weak, but Xeion knew Evie-chan better than most people in the Sereitei -- she was a strong one, possibly one of the strongest ever. Her will power alone would serve her well in future battles. In any case though, he had to be sure with one thing before everything started.

Xeion stood up and looked at his captain-commander’s eyes directly. "Evie-chan, please close your eyes for a moment," Xeion said with him, too, closing his eyes. As soon as he did, Xeion began chanting undecipherable words and Cosmic Energy seeping through his entire being. Xeion stopped chanting for a moment to reassure Evie-chan that everything was fine. "Don't be afraid, Evie-chan. Trust in me and trust in yourself," he said then continued with his chant.

Xeion finished his chanting and slowly opened his eyes to reveal his friend, Evie-chan. He smiled at this, knowing of her absolute trust in him and what he did. For it to get like this, who knew that things would progress so far? A captain-commander and a captain, acting all chummy, completely disregarding the hierarchy brought about by their difference in rank. It was like a complete breach in the traditional system for the two to get along, even form something of a bond as strong as a familial one. On the other hand, it served as a point -- an example -- that when two people really want to get along, things would work out, regardless of race, belief, status or philosophical view. In the end, it was all up to the heart.

"Initiating Soul Link, Evie-chan. Are you ready?" asked Xeion. He won't start without her full consent as a last security measure.

With a nod, Xeion extended his hands towards Evie-chan as the Raven's Mark, 'XIII', appeared on both their foreheads, signifying the start of the Soul Link process. Everything was going as it should be, however Xeion couldn't help feel that something was off. Of course, he was sure that there was nothing wrong, but something in head screamed out, constantly telling him to stop what he was doing or to simply watch out for anything that might happen.

Which it did...

All of a sudden, the Raven's Mark started to glow, disappear, then glow again on Evie-chan's forehead, just like a broken light bulb. Shortly after, the cosmic energy engulfed the two people, placing them in a world of darkness, all happening without Xeion's command. He was confused -- he didn't know what was happening. Just then, lines began etching themselves all throughout Evie-chan's body, converging into one point just above Evie-chan's left eye. Xeion didn't know what was going on, but he was sure that this process was of that during the Anima identification process. Knowing this, Xeion shrugged off his doubts and fears and went to Evie-chan to read the symbol that was on her left clavicle; the symbol which identifed her Anima type.

“L'Imperatrice (The Empress)…and La Lune (The Moon)!? Two card types in one person!?” Xeion gasped in surprise. It was the first time he had such a thing in his hands. It was already rare enough to find a Vessel of Anima and receive one card, but two? It was unthinkable.

Xeion's sudden shock was quickly overcome by his sense of duty when Evie-chan's simple question snapped him back to reality. It was just that he had never experienced something like this before so it was perfectly natural for him to be surprised. If he did not be surprised, then that would only mean that he was not human anymore since surprise is a human emotion. Then again, Xeion was never 'human' in the first place -- he was a Revenant, a being neither living nor dead who can walk through the fine lines of the living and spiritual world.

"No, it's nothing, Evie-chan," Xeion reassured and continued with the ritual for Evie-chan to get to the bottom of the problem that has plagued her ever since she had gotten it. A glowing blue orb appeared on Evie-chan's chest, seemingly made up of the words Xeion had just chanted a bit earlier. This was the representation of Evie-chan's spiritual core, or rather, her 'heart', so to say, as a person. They revolved around and around just like a tiny spinning globe before it stopped spinning. Sensing that this was the right time, Xeion stuck his hand into the orb, smiling a little because he had found the Anima Cards inside of Evie-chan's core. As he was about to pull it out though, something unexpected happened.

With one, swift strike, a giant hand swooped down from the darkness around them and hit Xeion like a speeding truck, sending the captain flying out into the darkness. The orb of glowing words disappeared from Evie-chan's chest, leaving her all alone for the time being with whatever it was that was skilled enough to catch Xeion off guard and cunning enough to land a hit on him without even noticing. Could this be the thing be the source of Evie-chan's problem? What about Xeion, what of his fate? Only time can answer these questions, but for now, Evie-chan was on her own and was about to face her inner demons.

A gunshot rang out in the darkness just as the abominable creature let out its last words to Evie-chan before it looked at Xeion again, but when he did, Xeion had already pulled out his Geist Meister -- his weapon as a Raven for the Organization -- that was in the form of a rifle that fired out Ataraxia bullets, ammunition made from the wielder's will. The gun Xeion was holding now was the Angelus and he had just used it to shoot the creature in the stomach which seemed to be the source of its urges. Ataraxia bullets weren't designed to kill, but rather, they act as a manifestation of the user's desires and what Xeion desired now was for the creature to severely weaken so that it and Evie-chan could talk on equal grounds without the need for unnecessary bloodshed. However, Xeion was still somehwhat weak when he fired that shot which meant that there was a small chance of it missing its mark, but Xeion had faith. He hoped it would hit, for Evie-chan's sake and for the creature's sake as well.

"I'll leave this to you, Evie-chan," he murmured, sinking down into the darkness via a dimensional gateway created from the Cosmic Energies around them. This time it was just Evie-chan and the creature, face-to-face, without anyone to bother them or intrude upon their private conversation. For all intents and purposes, this was their own, private little world where they could vent out their true feelings, whatever those feelings are.

A cold fear crept into Evil's heart, gripping it like a strong hand just might. She felt as if her whole life had been a lie, a cover up for this hideous thing which was her true self. She gasped, clutching at her chest once again and feeling like she couldn't breathe. The Wendigo watched this with a sort of lurid fascination, enjoying the strain this was putting on her mind, knocking down the barriers that had been so precariously set up to protect her. She was now faced, truly, with her inner demon, one which was more intensely focused and manifested than any other persons might. She briefly thought other people had these, but surely they couldn't be as bad as this horrendous thing before her.

She thought back to the first time she had devoured anyone; incidentally her husband Revlis. They had been training for his bankai, and he had foolishly placed himself right above her jaws. Without a second thought she had dislocated them and just...Swallowed him like he was a piece of meat. Then she had fallen asleep, content with her full and jiggling stomach. She shuddered violently, knowing it had worked out in the end but disgusted in her fondness yet sickness of the memory, how she had enjoyed it but hated it at the same time. Suddenly she gagged, her throat clenching. She spun in her crouched position away from the Wendigo and Hiokami, gagging as she vomited up thin bile onto the ground. She made muffled whimpers, her hand clamped over her mouth as tears stung into her eyes. She was in such a turmoil she couldn't think straight and her vision of the dark and lonely place seemed to be blurring.

Finally Hiokami could stand it no longer, and he stood, the flames attached to his paws and mane crackling with frustration. He glanced at the Wendigo, then away, taking a step towards Evil and looking down at her. While he wouldn't comfort her, he just wasn't that type, he would try to help her the best way he could. Despite his silent demeanor he loved Evil, since he was a small reincarnation of her first ever, but lost, companion and dog, Jack. She didn't look up at him at first, just kept her eyes closed, still shuddering. But then she could feel the weight of his stare, and she looked up, her eyes red and puffy. "Evil..." he growled softly, the satiny maroon fur along his back rippling beneath the flames. "You are strong, and I know you. While this thing may be a part of you it ISN'T you. It's just a piece, as much as I, Beast, Zaigou, or even your Hollow spirit are. You're your own person and only you can decide how you handle the truth, whether you break down and cry over the unfairness of it all or stand up and face this part of yourself; it is your choice. I'm only here to help guide and protect you, because that's what Jack would have wanted." He said, his normally rough voice becoming softer. Evil stared at him with wide eyes as he mentioned Jack, and she felt a faint longing in her heart to hug the lumbering but playful creature who had died by her own hand. She missed him intensely for a moment, and thought she saw a flicker of him in Hiokami's golden eyes, even though Jack's had been a deep ocean blue. Her own horror at herself was washed away in older feelings and memories, those she had kept and treasured long before she had met any of the people she knew today. before she met Daven, her teacher, Revlis, her husband and mate, Xeion, her cheerful and kind friend, or any of the other countless people she knew and loved. This death, jack's had struck a cord deeper in her than almost all of the others she had witnessed or caused. His death at been the start of her path as a Shinigami, which had gotten her noticed by Daven and eventually led her to become the Commander General of the Sereitei. She remembered running through the filthy streets of her District, with the huge canine at her heels, bumping into her and sending her tumbling to the ground, giving her slobbery wolf licks all over her face. Those had been simpler times, with only the bullies to worry about. She had been carefree, just living day to day with her friend. While she focused on these memories her heart lightened, not by much but a little. She felt encouraged, turning to look at the Wendigo once more, her hand lightly touching the flaming mane on her Zanpakto spirit's neck.

Now the Wendigo seemed like a pitiful creature, no longer terrifying, but something weak. It was so crippled by it's hunger that it's movements were jerky and it's eye, though a single point of red light in the socket, looked like it radiated the energy of that of a hunted animal. It twitched a little, it's grotesquely long and thing forelegs curling and uncurling as it waited for her to say something, to confirm what it knew about her. Evil stood now, facing her desires of lust, hunger, and need all rolled up into one. "You're right. I am as you said I am, but I won't let those things govern my life or how I live it. You need to stop your manipulation in your bankai. I recognize this swallowing ability as a weakness, but I can use it to my advantage. No one has to die in my belly, if it ever happens again, and you won't drain me of energy to make me devour people. If you do it again I will rip you from myself and discard you like a piece of trash, no matter what effects it has on me. Now leave me, and never surface again or try to alter how I do things." Evil said quietly, her voice radiating the command and authority she had mustered up over the years. The Wendigo cringed, slinking backwards and whining in a shrill voice. "You...Can't deny what you are! We are one!" it whimpered, pausing for a moment. Evil's eyes flared with hate, the hair along her arms and neck rising as she curled her lip in disgust. "I don't deny you, but I'm mastering you just like I did Beast. LEAVE!" She roared this final part, her voice booming across the dark chasm that was the place.

The Wendigo writhed, falling onto it;s back and curling up, gradually starting to grow smaller and smaller as her command forced it to do. It's voice became shriller and shriller as it shrunk, stopping finally as it was about the size of a small mouse. Evil looked at it coldly, then took a step forward, slamming her sandled foot down upon it, crushing it. It screamed, the sound tiny and wavering as it fell into dust and floated away as tiny particles into the air, gradually becoming indistinct and unimportant.

Evil shoulders slumped, her eyes growing blank and emotionless as Hiokami padded up to her and stood by her side. A crack rang across the place, one visibly etched above her at what would be the sky. Light streamed through it as if the world outside was bathed in a warm glow, waiting to break through. Within moments more cracks spider webbed across everything visible, bringing in more light and causing shards of the darkness to fall down and disappear, turning into a thin smoke and melding with the air. Evil squinted her eyes shut, watching as more and more of the cracks appeared, arching across everything before collapsing the darkness completely, revealing a new sparkling world of light. While it wasn't a pure white, like freshly fallen snow, it was white enough, blank and featureless like the dark one but happier somehow, despite the blotches of grey across it's surface. It was blinding or painful to the eyes, but simply there, and accepted almost instantly. She stared at this wordlessly, her mind as blank as the space as she stood quietly, her shoulders drooping a little as she leaned against Hiokami for support. She was tired now, and weary, but more alive somehow, like she had cleansed herself or made herself a little better. She looked down at him, managing a small smile before looking at the blankness once again, her heart starting to warm up.

Evil felt empty when she heard the clapping and the sound of shoes, her eyes darker than usual and her hair seeming to hang limp. She shook herself, bringing her mind and body back to the present as she turned towards Xeion, who seemed to be in good health. A tiny part of her prickled in fear whether he had heard all of what the Wendigo had said about her, and if he would be scared, but he seemed fine for the moment, continuing with the ceremony.

When he reached inside the orb the second time, she didn't feel the intrusion part of it again, just a warm, welcoming sort of feeling. When he pulled out two tarot cards, literally cards, one with her looking regal and the other in her wolf form, she felt the hairs along her neck prickle, and her eyes brigten as she became curious. "What do these do?" She asked, wanting to touch them and deciding it wasn't a very good idea.

((Okay. *goggles at new powers* biggrin *melts when she thinks of guardian* =w=))

Evil blinked when he handed her the original cards, turning them over and over in her hands, a little fascinated. She looked up distractedly when he jumped back and pulled his zanpakto out of his scabbard. Then she grinned, her lips curving into a toothy smile. She decided she'd test out the one of her human form first. She wasn't sure if she had to hold it up and do a pose, so she just merely flipped it in her hand, the picture facing outwards and she said, "All right then, we'll see. L'Imperatrice!" She felt a flash of warmth go through her, then disappear as a figure took form in front of her. Her heart seemed to stop beating for a moment as she took him in. She tried not to gape, but it was very hard to do.

He was much taller than her and fairly muscular. He turned a little, letting her get a look at his face as well. Her spluttering heart started up again as she recognized a hint of her father's face in her guardian's. He had noticeable cheekbones, and his hair was a raven black, with a single streak of white going down the middle to end in his bangs. His hair was medium length and looked soft, making anyone want to come up and touch it, be it man or woman. His eyes were kind as they looked at her, a cool bottomless grey that seemed to suck you in. His skin was light, not pale exactly but lighter than usual. Atop his head was a crown made of woven branches, a few flowering blossoms dotted her and there, oddly enough, of Tiger Lilies. His jaw was strong and his fingers long and dexterous looking. He carried a large battle axe and was clad in a gleaming armor. The armor seemed to shine with a variety of colors, ever changing as the light hit it. And incredibly, on his back were a pair of massive black wings with streaks of white through them, looking like they could easily lift him and his monstrous battle axe up. He focused on her and strolled over, going to one knee and taking her hand and giving it a light kiss, staring up at her. "Milady, what is it that you desire? Your will is my command." He said, his voice gentle but deep, the same as her father's had been. Evil looked flustered, staring at Xeion then back at him. "Uhm, I think Xeion would like to spar with you..." She managed, her cheeks bright red despite her tan skin. He nodded, bowing his head before standing and turning in a flurry to meet Xeion. His wings fluttered behind him, ready to snap open at a moment's notice. "Milday has called for us to duel! And duel we shall! En Garde!" he challenged, his eyes flaring brightly as leaped forward, wielding the axe as if it weighed nothing. His leather boots only made a faint scarping sound as he pounced forward, but other than that he was silent, not even a throaty roar of rage accompanying his attack. He flipped the axe so it wouldn't slice through Xeion if it connected, since this was a spar, and he swung it sideways, down towards Xeion waist.