|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:09 pm
[The Third Degree]
Chandra slipped into the house late and even though she was expecting it, she jumped when a shadow detached itself from the area near the stairs and spoke.
"Home late. Again. Where is it that you go?"
This time Mictecacihuatl stood between Chandra and the stairs. She wasn't going to get up the stairs until she satisfied Mic's curiousity. Chandra sighed and absently began to stroke the bracelet on her wrist.
"I go to the Legends headquarters. Sometimes other Legends are there to interact with."
Would that be enough? Chandra didn't want to say much more. She shifted and placed one hand on the book, stilling her nervous movements.
Mictecacihuatl made a face, but moved to allow Chandra to pass.
"I will accompany you the next time you go there," she hissed, one bony hand darting out of her robe to catch Chandra's arm. She turned the arm so she could inspect the bracelet there.
Clearly she could see in the dark just as well as Chandra. A fact worth remembering. Chndra looked down at the bracelet as well, feeling a bit odd as she remembered receiving it.
"This is new." Mictecacihuatl said neutrally. "Where did you get it?"
There was no point in lying. She was tired and sick of watching every word, every emotion.
"A friend gave it to me for Christmas."
"A friend?" Mictecacihuatl's hand tightened on Chandra's wrist. "I didn't know you had friends." She gave a cruel little snort of a laugh.
Angrily, Chandra yanked her arm out of Mic's grasp.
"I do. Dare has been my friend since we were both very little."
"I see." Mic crossed her arms over her chest with a little smirk. "I don't think I like this Dare. You will introduce me to him when we go to the HQ." And with that, Mic stepped back into the living room and vanished into the shadows.
Chandra hit the stair railing with a balled up fist while staring after Mic with narrowed eyes. After a minute she snorted in disgust and then started up the stairs to bed. On the upside this might be enough to think about to keep her from dreaming.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:10 pm
I went to the HQ the other day.
I spoke to a strange woman about "dust bunnies".
I spoke to Dare. He seemed not right. He said he was tired. I get tired but I do not think I am different when I am tired.
He also said he would help me. He has said that before. It makes me feel good to hear that. It means that I may find out the truth without asking Mictecacihuatl.
He also said he would take his sister April and go somewhere after he helps me. To hide from someone because otherwise he will hurt her and me. I think this is silly. Maybe these people he is afraid of will hurt him or April. They will not hurt me. I doubt they are worse than Death.
I told Dare that I was not afraid. I told him I had worked in Death. This is partly a lie. I have not walked in Death willingly for a while. Mictecacihuatl is always trying to make me. I know what waits there. I am not ready to face it. I keep looking in the Book for help but it gives me nothing. I do not know what this means.
I have been dreaming still. I do not know why or what the dreams mean. I should write them in here. I will try to remember the next time I dream.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:12 pm
[Pep Talk]
"You are so pathetic." Mictecacihuatl said idly as she lounged against Chandra's bedroom doorway.
Chandra looked up from where she was flipping quickly through the Book with a completely neutral expression. After a moment of cold silence she returned to her reading. Her posture made it clear she did not wish to speak with Mictecaihuatl.
The skeletal woman at the doorway either didn't take the hint or didn't notice. She pushed off the door frame and made her way over to sit on the edge of Chandra's bed. From there she had a view of Chandra at her table, who was studiously avoiding her, and Anil, who was rolling in a small bucket of water by the windows.
"You are a born necromancer who won't go into Death."
Mictecacihuatl crossed her arms.
"Not everyone has your abilities. Most are in fact insensitive to spirits and the links between Life and Death."
Chandra continued to ignore Mictecacihuatl, pretending to find something interesting in her book.
With a smirk, Mictecacihuatl stood and taking three impossibly long strides, was suddenly standing in front of Chandra. Her hood was currently down, but she reached back and pulled it up over the back of her head. Once in place it cast her face into shadows that made her look sinister.
"You can't ignore me."
Mictecacihuatl snapped the Book out of Chandra's hands and held it tightly despite the blood oozing from the cover and the sound of screaming that suddenly filled the room.
Chandra was forced to look up at Mictecacihuatl, but she remained silent. She had nothing to say to this woman. Now that she had set off the book, Kam would come running in seconds to resolve this conflict.
When after several long minutes Kam did not reappear, Chandra's wings ruffled in irritation. Perhaps she wasn't in the house?
Noticing Chandra's involuntary sign of distress, Mictecacihuatl placed the book back on the table where it ceased screaming and bleeding. Oddly the stain on the tall dark woman's cape shrank quickly, almost as if it were drinking in the blood.
"Kam will not bother us. I have... put her to sleep." Mictecacihuatl grinned, having chosen her wording to cause Chandra distress.
Chandra stood and stared at Mictecacihuatl while she slowly pulled her flute from her pocket.
"I can bring her back." She growled, determined.
"I am sure that if dreadful human were dead and not simply asleep, you could. It is terribly difficult to kill seers, so I didn't bother." Mictecacihuatl smiled, transforming her skull-like face into a gruesome sight.
Chandra slid her flute back into her pocket and sat. She blinked rapidly and then stared at Mictecacihuatl impassively, again mute.
"Why did you put her to sleep?" Mictecacihuatl mimed in a passable imitation of Chandra's voice. "Well, my dear disciple, I put her to sleep so she couldn't stop me or assist you. I'm sending you on a trip." Mictecacihuatl answered herself.
Chandra remained unimpressed, now studying the surface of her table.
Mictecacihuatl stopped smiling and grabbed Chandra by one pale arm, yanking the young girl to her feet. She hissed something unintelligible at the girl and then threw her across the room. Chandra hit her bed with a sickening thump and lurched over, a small trickle of blood running down the side of her head and staining her hair crimson.
Mictecacihuatl settled into the chair Chandra had previously occupied with a sigh. She would rather not harm the girl's weak physical form, but if she didn't give into the dreams more extreme measures had to be taken.
Chandra sunk into a field of white feathers with a vague feeling of terror. The feathers were soft and several of them danced on slight currents of air. As the light struck them (the sun?) little rainbows ran up the feathers, making Chandra feel calm. Her eyes stated to droop and she eventually gave into the drowsy air of her surroundings.
It seemed as if no time had passed before she opened her eyes again. That couldn't have been the case though as where there had previously been a field of feathers, there was now a large polluted lake. Bloated and half-decayed fish carcasses floated along the oily surface of the water which occasionally bubbled, sending terrible smells wafting in Chandra's direction.
Puzzled, but feeling removed from any stronger emotions like fear, Chandra stood and took stock of her situation. She appeared to be standing on a small piece of land (if it could be called that) in the middle of that ooze, which lapped regularly at the boundaries of her sanctuary. She could see the edge of the lake from her position, but had no way of getting there since she had to assume the lake was poisonous.
She sat back down and noticed with a start that she was wearing the torn-up, blood red dress from her encounter with ... her unpleasant encounter. With a sickening sense of fascination, Chandra ran her hands along the skirt which rustled satisfyingly. The color was so vibrant, the only real color in her current wasteland.
The dress shouldn't be on you, a voice nagged. You hid it in the bottom of your closet, it said, you weren't going to touch it again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:14 pm
[Encounters]
Chandra moved, standing again in irritation. This was a dream, she didn't need to worry about her clothes. She needed to worry about who else was here. She never dreamed about being alone.
As she stood and the dress fell, a piece of the hem fell into the filthy water surrounding her. Instead of the red fabric soaking up the dirty liquid, it started to bleed. The immediate area of the lake swirled with ruby red liquid - blood. Her dress was not only the color of blood, but soaked in it. Suddenly Chandra could feel it running down her arms, legs, and torso as the dress drained. Sickened by the feel and smell of warm blood, she doubled over, clutching her stomach.
"Not feeling well?" A deceptively kind voice asked from behind her.
Chandra didn't answer.
Large hands snarled themselves in Chandra's short hair, pulling her up and around to face their owner.
"I expect you to answer me." He hissed in her face. Studying her pained expression, Kiran laughed. It was a harsh and grating sound that made Chandra grind her teeth. "Don't like my gift? But I picked it out just for you my sweet."
Chandra struggled, trying to pull away from her captor. The smell of blood and the pain of having her hair pulled were too much. She could feel the sensations rising up to overwhelm her and her vision narrowed.
Except for tightening his grip, Kiran ignored Chandra's weak struggles. He bent in and nuzzled Chandra's neck before kissing her exposed collarbone.
Chandra took that moment to kick him, smashing her foot into his knee. As normal physics weren't involved, but rather strength of will, Kiran's knee bent backwards at the blow with a sickening pop.
"You b***h!" Kiran screamed, releasing his grip on Chandra's hair. He fell to the ground, grasping the injured knee and looking up at her. "You're only delaying the inevitable. You are mine." He hissed and then vanished, leaving Chandra alone on the island once again.
In shock, Chandra sunk to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest. What next?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:15 pm
[Friends and Enemies]
Chandra woke to the sound of ice crackling, her eyes binking open slowly. Her eyelashes were dusted with frost and she sat up slowly, brushing snow off her dress.
Bewildered, Chandra looked out onto the now frozen pond in surprise. She had been presented with an escape? She stood quickly, only to fall on her face when she was given a sharp shove from behind.
With a heavy sigh, Angerona revealed herself as the source of the ice.
"Can't have you escape. Might cut into Libitina's fun."
A high pitched giggle and a searing pain on Chandra's back heralded the arrival of Angerona's mistress.
"So deliciously human," Libitina purred, as she dripped fire into Chandra's hair. "You won't survive long here at this rate."
Chandra winced as her eyes teared up from the pain. She could smell her hair and flesh burning as Libitina leaned in closer.
"Leave me alone!" Chandra choked out.
Angerona's face swam into view as Libitina continued to hold Chandra down.
"You are going to fail us." She said calmly, a spot under her eye twitching sightly. "We cannot have you fail."
"At what?" Chandra asked, her curiousity taking over.
"Your task." Libitina interjected quickly. "Your feelings are too strong. You are too attached to the Living."
"We offer you our fealty," Libitina whispered smoothly. "You owe us your loyalty."
Chandra screamed as liquid fire streamed into one of her eyes, blinding her.
"Learn to control yourself." Angerona whispered into Chandra's ear. "Or we will find someone to control you. The opportunity we seek draws near."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:16 pm
[Something Lost]
"Back already?" Mictecacihuatl sneered, as she saw the ice on Chandra's body start to crack and thaw.
"Urrgh..." Chandra groaned, putting one hand up to touch her head. When she pulled it away it was covered in blood. In shock, the young girl looked to Mictecacihuatl in fear.
While Chandra's fear was invigorating to the strange older woman, it was also unpleasant.
"Enough." Mictecacihuatl snapped. "You have slipped farther and farther from your ideal as I have watched you."
With a quick step Mictecacihuatl was at Chandra's side and used one hand to force Chandra's head back down against the floor.
"If you cannot control your emotions properly, you don't deserve them."
Mictecacihuatl grabbed a fistful of feathers from Chandra's closest wing with her right hand and ripped, sending Chandra back into the blackness of unconsciousness.
When she finally awoke, Kam was crying and covering her in bandages. Chandra reached up and caught one of the following tears and brought it to her mouth. She felt removed from the pain and sadness she could recognize in Kam's eyes.
"Where is Mictecacihuatl?" She asked calmly. "I need to speak with her."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:17 pm
[Gift]
"A gift?" Chandra said, blinking a few times while she absorbed the information.
"Yep." Kam confirmed, placing the package on the bed near Chandra. She had hopes the gift might cheer up her young charge. Chandra seemed rather dour lately. "You want to open it?"
Chandra reached out and gingerly lifted the package onto her chest where she could study it in her prone position. With Mictecacihuatl missing, she was in need of a little direction. However, gifts from strangers were likely not to be trusted. Torn, Chandra turned wide eyes to Kam.
"Do you think I should?" She said calmly.
Taken aback by the question, Kam smiled sadly and nodded. Finding her voice, she spoke.
"It is from another Legend," she pointed out. "We haven't met him yet, but I'm sure his gift is nice."
"Very well." Chandra nodded, pushing the box back towards Kam. "Please open it for me."
Kam took the giftbox and smiling with the excitement of someone half her age, she tore it open and reached inside to pull out the contents with a flourish.
"Yellow crystals?" Kam said, slightly confused as she wrestled them free of the packaging.
"What do they do?" Chandra said calmly, reaching out for them. She didn't look particularly curious or confused.
"I do not know." Kam said, passing the crystals over to Chandra without much thought as to any possible consequences.
Chandra took the crystals gravely, while Kam stood to bunch up and throw out the wrappings. She held them up to about eye level and regarded them with her wide eyes. What use might they have, she wondered?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:18 pm
Chetana's Notebook [Case File 000.00]
As Kam made her way home after her weekend shopping, a small mechanical cog whirred along beside her. It was not whirring at her, of this Kam was quite sure, but studying the contents of the bags she was carrying. She knew it wasn't trying to communicate with her because it had already responded to her initial questions with a snippy remark about "an on-going investigation." (Kam wasn't really sure mechanical beings could be snippy, but that's how it seemed to her.)
"We're home." She said, rather unnecessarily, as she bent to put down a couple bags so she could get out her keys.
The cog, which had refused to specify a name, floated over to peer (if something without obvious eyes could be said to peer) in the living room window. It flew back when Kam got the door open and raced immediately up the stairs, as if in search of something.
Kam just shook her head as she closed the front door behind her and headed for the kitchen. She was beginning to get used to the odd people and things who seemed to pass in and out of her house. Chetana's Notebook [Case File 000.01]
The cog, which hadn't given a name because it didn't yet have one, halted in front of the door to Chandra's room. It spun quietly in the air for a couple minutes before dropping to the ground where it laid on its side and attempted to slide under the door.
The attempt was unsuccessful in getting the cog through the space between the floor and the door, but it was successful in getting Chandra's attention. She opened the door and looked down at the cog with wide unblinking eyes.
Unsure what exactly was going on, Chandra knelt and put out a hand to touch the surface of the cog. Cog, who we all remember still had no name, popped back up and away from the outstretched hand with an earsplitting squeaking noise.
"Please do not contaminate the evidence!"
Chandra blinked, more confused than before. This thing spoke? Evidence?
"Excuse me?" She said finally, reasoning that if it spoke English it should understand English.
The cog whirred a bit, spinning around as if to get a complete look at Chandra, and then spoke again.
"You pass inspection. Name."
"I am called Chandra." Chandra said as she stood again, seeing that the cog was capable of looking her in the eye.
The cog whirred more.
"Case file started. Name?"
"I just told you my name." Chandra said, her brows knitting slightly.
"I know! My name."
"Oh," Chandra said silently, letting a puff of air pass her lips. "Your name. How should I know? We have only just met."
"You passed inspection. You are my bond. I require a name." The cog spun a little, obviously determined to get a name.
"I see." Chandra thought for a moment, reflecting that she in fact did not see what the cog was talking about. "How about Chetana?"
The cog spun for a while longer, prompting Chandra to wonder if it disliked its new name, before halting abruptly.
"Very well. Case file closed. Chetana."
Chetana dropped back down to the floor and spun into Chandra's room by her legs. Chandra followed closely behind with an odd look on her face. Chetana's Notebook [Case File 000.02]
While Chetana rolled around the perimeter of her room, Chandra returned to her table and sat. She did her best to ignore the cog and went back to what she had been doing before she was interrupted by the odd noises at the door. On the surface of the table, The Book was sitting open to a picture of an odd looking key and its real life match was laid off to the side of the table on a scrap of crimson satin.
It took a couple minutes, but eventually Chetana made her way over to hover behind Chandra as she read. When Chandra started to turn the page, Chetana darted around to rest on top of the page Chandra was attempting to turn and made a large squeaking noise or alarm.
"What are you doing?" Chandra asked, slightly taken aback by the mechanical wheel's odd behavior.
"I did not finish absorbing the page. To assist you I must have all the information."
Chandra blinked, but removed her hand from the page.
"You can read The Book?"
If she could have felt such an emotion, Chandra would have been surprised. As it was, she felt vaguely puzzled. No one but her could read The Book. With the exception of Dare, who had been able to read it once as a child.
"Of course." Chetana said in her mechanical voice. "If I am to assist you, I must do as you do. I have finished the page." She rose above the surface of the book. "You may turn it."
Chandra breathed in deeply and then turned the page, unsure what to think about this new addition to her life.
"What else can you do?" She asked after finishing the next page.
Her mind really was on the key more than Chetana, but it seemed a legitimate question.
"I am here to help you."
Chandra blinked and closed The Book. Chetana set down on the table to study the key laid there.
"This is the key mentioned in that book?"
Chandra reached out and took the key in her pale fist, raising it up so she could study it in the dying light streaming through the window behind her.
"I believe so."
"Are we going to use it?"
Chandra sighed and made a fist before shoving the key back down into a pocket.
"I do not even know where to use it. The Book does not say."
"A mystery." Chetana mused. "I will find the answer."
Chandra didn't favor that with a response, finding the statement just a bit on the absurd side. If the problem was simple, she would have already solved it. She did move her head to the side as a thought struck her.
"Can you speak to the Dead as well as read from The Book?"
Chetana whirred a little and then halted, resting just above the surface of the table.
"I will require recharging."
That was an answer in it's own way so Chandra nodded.
"Good. We're going exploring. I need to find Mictecacihuatl," she paused, and then added reluctantly, "And gifts."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:21 pm
Chetana's Notebook [Case File 001.00]
Passing through the thin wall between Life and Death proved simpler than Chandra had anticipated. So far whether an object passed though with her or not seemed not to follow any sort of well-specified rules. The flute, the Book, and the key always passed, but her clothes were often altered and no other objects seemed to come through unharmed.
Chandra didn't feel there was any need to mention to Chetana that she wasn't sure if she would be able to accompany her. If the fandangle couldn't pass, Chandra would simply operate alone - as she was used to. Unexpectedly, as soon as Chandra played the first clear ringing note on her flute, Chetana imitated her, producing the same clear tones just a half second or so behind her. Apprently he could speak the same language she knew instinctually.
The two of them dropped into the Forest within view of the small pond Chandra had come to know well. Chandra was in human form still, but was clad in her crimson dress instead of the beige tunic she preferred. Chetana seemed to have passed through unaltered, a fact that gave Chandra pause even as she felt relief.
The surface of the pond was calm, reflecting light in a suspiciously normal way. Chandra decided to give it a wide berth, skirting the edge warily. She didn't bother to explain her experiences with the pond to Chetana, assuming the cog would know to do as she did here.
"Kam says gifts should remind the recipient of the giver." She said softly, listening carefully for the barking and horns she knew would eventually appear in the distance.
Chetana, busy spinning around the trunk of one of the massive trees that crowded around, didn't answer.
Chandra looked over at Chetana and then shrugged, continuing through the trees. She wasn't sure of her destination, but she was curious to explore more of the seemingly endless dark forest that made up the first stage of Death. Chetana's Notebook [Case File 001.01]
"I had no idea the Forest had different climates," Chandra said breathlessly, as she pushed a hanging vine out of her face. "I assumed it was all the same."
Sweaty from the humidity, Chandra grimaced and wished for some sort of knife like they used on TV. Travelling through the dense rainforest type area was proving more and more difficult with each step. Half the vines she pushed out of the way had tiny thorns that had, by now, completely ripped up her forearm. Blood trickled down slowly to soak spotlessly into the seemingly indestructible dress.
"What is that?"
Chetana buzzed up and about constantly asking about the different varieties of plant life that thrived here. Chandra didn't bother to reply, saving her air for breathing, and continued on.
Suddenly, as she pushed a particularly thick vine out of the way, she tripped over a twisted root that thrust itself out of the ground below her and fell into one of the many odd clearings that seemed to dot this stage.
As she slowly climbed back to her feet, her legs getting caught in her cumbersome skirt, Chandra wondered if she had somehow gone in a circle. The clearing, which was not very large, featured a small pond in the very center. It seemed to wink at Chandra, glinting softly in the false sunlight.
Chandra just blinked and brought a hand up to run through her lank hair.
"It can't be." She said softly, disbelieving.
Curious, she made her way over to the pond and knelt beside it, vowing not to be taken by surprise no matter what happened. And nothing did. Chandra knelt by the pond for long enough for Chetana to catch up with her and land by her side.
"What are you doing? Do you need help? What is this?"
Chandra turned an impassive face to Chetana and then whipped it back as she caught the glint of something out of the corner of her eye. There was something in the pond. Without thinking, Chandra bravely thrust a hand into the pond and closed her fist over the first thing she encountered.
She pulled it out carefully while Chetana buzzed excitedly beside her and slowly opened her fist, ready to clap the other hand over it. The tiny gem nestled in her palm didn't move however, merely glinted as she moved her hand to study it from all angles. It was a mottled light blue-ish color and it struck Chandra as pretty, so she slipped it into a pocket.
"What was that?" Chetana asked from a perch by Chandra's shoulder. She was obviously upset at not having received any answers before this.
"A gemstone." Chandra answered softly. "I wonder if there are more." Chetana's Notebook [Case File 001.02]
Chandra and Chetana gathered several more of the odd gemstones, before finally returning to Life. Chetana listlessly guarded the large pile of gemstones while Chandra tried to decide what to do with them. She could just give people loose stones. They would lose them.
As she thought, Chandra made a serious of faces which Chetana studied silently. Rather abruptly Chandra recalled something Chetana had said earlier.
"You need to be charged? Do you have batteries or a plug?"
Chetana stopped spinning and gave off a sound that seemed a bit rude.
"No. I have a controller and I require sprockets."
"Sprockets?" Chandra sounded the word out slowly. "Where do I get sprockets?"
Chetana dropped off the table and onto the floor, rolling out into the hall. Chandra sighed, but followed her down the stairs and into the kitchen where Kam was preparing dinner.
"Mom?" Chandra said, as Chetana came to a rolling stop by Kam's left ankle. "Chetana requires charging. And sprockets." she added.
"Spr- what?" Kam said, peering down at the cog on the floor. She had forgotten all about it, but apparently it had found her daughter.
"Sprockets." Chetana corrected, defying gravity by rolling up the side of the cabinets and up onto the bench. "What is this?"
Chandra blinked and Kam opened her mouth before closing it again.
"Dinner." She finally said. " Do you eat?" She gave the cog an odd look.
"No. I require sprockets."
"Where do I get sprockets?" Chandra asked.
Kam shook her head and walked over to the island where she pulled something that looked a lot like a video game controller out of her purse.
"I was shopping and I saw this Emporium..." She said helplessly. "You know how I am with names."
"Very well." Chandra sighed. "Tomorrow, Chetana and I will find sprockets."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:22 pm
Chetana's Notebook [Case File 002.00]
After a highly successful shopping trip, Chandra and Chetana returned to the house with a small group of sprockets in tow. They'd been strongly advised by Chandra to behave when they entered the house or she would be forced to shut them off, so they were mostly clustered around Chetana in agitation as they entered the house.
Once up the stairs and inside Chandra's room, however, they spread out to explore all corners of the room. After all, she had only said they had to behave when they first entered the house.
Chandra just sat on her bed and laid down to watch them. She was fascinated that they had believed her when she insisted that she could indeed shut them off. As far as she knew, she didn't have that power - and they should have been able to figure that out.
The trip had been successful though, as several new sprockets (or batteries as Chandra really still thought of them) had been ontained and Chandra had been able to read up on Chetana. She had decided to purchase a maintenance kit as well, in order to keep Chetana in the best shape possible. Having a companion who could travel into Death would be a powerful asset, even if that companion seemed to have the attention span of a house cat.
Chandra watched as Chetana went to each one of the sprockets in turn, giving them names (she had actually asked Chandra for ideas earlier) and linking with them. No doubt she was creating new "case files" for each of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:23 pm
[Down the Rabbit Hole]
Chandra, who took her responsibilities very seriously, was religious about making sure she and Chetana went to Death at least once a day. The signs in the store had made it very clear that not only was she to provide basic maintenance but that fandangles needed to be immersed in their element once a day. Since Chetana's elements were entropy and spirit, the best solution really was Death. This in addition to the rather powerful need Chandra felt to find Mictecacihuatl.
Most of Chandra and Chetana's forays into the realm of Death were short, more of a nature walk than anything else. Any denizens of the Land of the Dead in the immediate area of Chandra's usual entry point knew better than to interact with the pale girl and her cog, so there was little of note on the majority of trips.
Today, however, had started out differently. Angerona had been waiting for Chandra and her fandangle companion when they arrived. As was the norm, the immediate area around the cold spirit was covered in a light frost, tipping Chandra off to her presence rather quickly.
"What do you want?" She asked, the feathers on her newly healed wings ruffling up unconciously.
Chetana made an interesting noise before approaching Angerona and circling her.
"New file started. Name requested."
A look of surprise actually briefly rearranged Angerona's expression before she recovered enough to completely ignore Chetana.
"I was sent to meet you. You will follow me." Her voice was a chillingly calm as Chandra remembered it, lacking any human quality.
Chandra didn't budge, wondering what exactly Angerona wanted. She didn't have time to fight her and Libitina. Chetana continued to circle Angerona, spiralling closer as she repeated her query at regular intervals.
"She is not going to stop until you provide her with the information you require," Chandra explained as Angerona tried to side-step the curious cog. "And when you have answered her, I have several questions of my own."
[TBC]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:24 pm
[We're All Mad Here]
"Angerona," the shade said, crossing her thin arms across her chest.
The almost sheer white fabric of her sweater bunched up below her arms, making her appear a little less emaciated. Other than that motion, she showed no exterior signs of her irritation.
"Relation to Chandra, Case File f000, co-referenced with Case File m000?"
Angerona looked at Chandra, giving her an empty-eyed stare for a bit before responding.
"Temporary ally and guide."
Chandra snorted, but Chetana made a whirring noise and stopped circling the blue-haired woman.
"Case File u000 Closed."
Angerona, freed from her cog imposed spot, shifted her weight, but didn't attempt to speak or go anywhere. Chandra crossed her own arms over her chest, silently wishing to be taller. The height advantage that Angerona enjoyed put her at an immediate disadvantage.
"Where is Mictecacihuatl and what is your relation to her?" Chandra's voice remained level, but she could feel her stomach clenching. It was an odd feeling, almost as her body was no longer her own.
"I am, as always, right where you need me."
As Chandra turned in recognition of the familiar voice, Mictecacihuatl's shadow belatedly settled on the ground beside her and Angerona answered her question.
"Mictecacihuatl holds an important position, which gives her authority over Libitina and I."
Chandra blinked, trying to back up so she could keep her eyes on both of the women. Neither of them could be trusted at her back.
Chetana, understandably, was intrigued by the new arrival and dropped to the ground to roll about in her shadow, making clicking noises.
[TBC]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:24 pm
[Who Stole the Tarts?]
"Nice toy," Mictec sneered, guesturing at Chetana.
Outraged, the cog made an angry squealing noise and settled back over by Chandra before replying.
"Not a toy. Fandangle. Companion."
"I imagine it makes a good choice for a friend, Chandra." Mictecacihuatl continued staring at her as she spoke, lowering her voice to a point where Chandra had to lean forward slightly and concentrate to hear her. "Even when it understands your true nature, it will have to stand by you. I'm glad you've realized stupidity is probably a good trait to look for in companions."
As Mictecacihuatl gave a little grating chuckle that sounded as if it was clawing its way out of her throat, Chetana made an even angrier noise from behind Chandra's legs. As far as she was concerned, this new arrival was not only rude, but dangrous. If Chandra wasn't able to defend herself, it was Chetana's job to do so. Above all Chandra was her responsibility!
Kali! Gauri! Here!
It took a couple beats, but suddenly the pain and shadow sprockets appeared in the air beside Chetana. However Death and Life were divided it appeared to present no true barrier to the sprockets. Chandra just blinked, realizing she had not only no idea how Chetana had done that, but why.
That one. Chetana transmitted Mictecacihuatl's uncompleted Case File to the two dark sprockets as they hummed in the air. They weren't particularly bright, but danger and targets they understood.
Kali moved first, spinning through the air in a deadly trajectory towards Mictecacihuatl's neck. Chandra's eyes widened as she saw the sprocket attack and winced when Angerona stepped into the way and a sluggish spurt of blood splattered on the ground. Holding her now useless arm to her side, Angerona shuffled back over to her former position as Kali regrouped.
"That is all, Angerona." Mictecacihuatl said smoothly. "I will takecare of Miss Chandra from here."
Angerona simply nodded, her eyes a little more vacant than usual as she swiveled her head slowly to regard Chandra.
"We will meet again. The business between you, I, and Libitina is unfinished."
With her last word said , Chandra half thought Angerona might just vanish a la Hollywood villians, but instead she shuffled off, lurching oddly into the trees as her right arm swung by a scrap of skin. Even though Chandra knew Angerona would heal the wound quickly as soon as she was alone, it still made her feel nauseous to watch.
"Squeamish?" Mictecacihuatl asked perceptively, drawing Chandra's attention back to herself.
Chandra's eyebrows shot halfway to her hairline as she noted that Kali must have attacked again while Angerona was leaving. Mictecacihuatl held the spinning pain cog in one hand and even though he was currently sawing his way through her palm, there was no blood. Mictecacihuatl didn't even seem to notice the pain Kali had to be causing.
"Total mastery of one's physical form." She said by way of explanation. "And I would call of your shadow creature," she tilted her head to indicate Gauri, "I assure you my mastery of that element far exceeds his own and I would hate to break one of your toys."
In her position between Chandra's feet, Chetana grumbled in binary to the sprockets. They had failed to protect Chandra. The danger she faced was bigger than the two of them.
Chandra blinked and crossed her arms over her chest. She had come to get back what was her's and she had no reason to leave until she fulfilled that goal.
"Return what belongs to me." She said evenly, looking into Mictecacihuatl's sinken marble-like eyes.
"I cannot while we remain in this dominion," Mictecacihuatl said and then waved her free hand making everything go dark, but not before Chandra noted the tatoo of a key on her palm.
When Chandra opened her eyes (When had she closed them?) she, Chetana, the sprockets, and Mictecacihuatl were back in Life. She was standing in the center of her bedroom and Mictecacihuatl had collapsed into one of her chairs.
"I will need some time." Mictecacihuatl sighed, the air rushing past her lips as if she was mortally exhausted.
[TBC]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:25 pm
[Advice from a Catepillar]
"No." Chandra said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "I want what belongs to me and I believe I have waited long enough."
Mictecacihuatl nodded and tears slowly began to leak out of the corners of her eyes.
"I am just so tired." She said plaintively. "Carrying your emotions has worn me out. I see why it is so difficult for you."
As Chandra just looked on in disbelief, her own eyes began to tear. Reaching up to her face, she wiped the tears to the side as Mictecacihuatl buried her face in her ivory hands.
"You are leaking." Chandra said matter of factly, meaning more than just tears.
"I know." Mictecacihuatl stood and wiped her face with one sleeve of her robe. "I am returning your emotions," she paused, "They will be unsettled for some time."
"Unsettled?" Chandra snapped. "What have you done to them?"
She glowered in Mictecacihuatl's direction for a moment before looking at clenched fists in surprise. This must be what Mictecacihuatl means by unsettled. she thought, breathing slowly.
"I make an imperfect vessel," Mictecacihuatl admitted, watching Chandra with interest. "It was difficult to keep them seperate from my self."
Chandra nodded, only half listening. She had been so concerned with getting her emotions back, but now that she had them - she wasn't sure how wise that had been.
"I do not feel very good." She said carefully, monitoring the emotional content of her statement.
Mictecacihuatl flashed Chandra a familiar smirk and vanished, leaving a bit of advice hanging in the air after she was gone.
"Then I would advise you to wait until you feel better before facing Angerona again."
Chetana had watched the entire exchange with avid interest and now was regarding her mistress carefully.
"I'm hungry." Chandra said to no one in particular and then turned to leave her room.
As she made her way down the stairs to the bottom floor, Chandra though to herself, It had probably been time for lunch for ages. Why hadn't Kam called her? The nerve. Or maybe she didn't want to see Chandra? Maybe she had asked Mictecacihuatl to come in the first place, so she didn't have to watch Chandra anymore. Not that she did a very good job of watching her anyway.
Thoroughly irritated and hurt by Kam' s imagined motives, Chandra entered the kitchen ready for a fight, only to find Kam happily humming while she rolled sushi.
"That's my favorite." Chandra said wonderingly, as Chetana clicked and filed away that piece of knowledge for future use.
Kam turned and grinned.
"There you are! I called you like 10 minutes ago, but you didn't answer. I figured it was about time to have sushi again, expecially since you've seemed a little preoccupied lately."
Chandra just stared at Kam for a second before bursting into tears and holding out her arms like a toddler asking for a hug.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:26 pm
I delivered the gifts. The only one I gave personally was to Dare. The others I had Kam take care of delivering. I am not in a good condition to visit people.
I feel oddly ever since Mictec returned my emotions. I wonder sometimes what else she might have given me when she returned them, but then I think that paranoia must be a function of these emotions. They do not feel like me. They feel bigger and wilder than I remember them. I am tempted often to ask Mictec to take them back, but I felt incomplete without them.
They make me think of Dare and how warm he makes me feel. But not in an uncomfortable way. In an unexpected, but pleasant way. A nervously happy way he said once.
I have been dreaming again as well. Of Kiran. I wish I knew exactly what his relation to me was and is. I feel as if he will dog my steps until I either give in or kill him.
Prana left a frog here. He is cute, I suppose. Kam says that it was a very nice guesture, even if I do have trouble keeping pets alive. She is going to be in charge of remembering to feed the frog. I have named him Kiran, mostly because it was the first name I thought of. When I told Mictecacihuatl she grinned and said Kiran would be pleased to be so close to me, even if only as a frog. I did not understand, but she would not explain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
