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Reyna Crelos
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Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:49 pm

Metaplot: Miss A Day of Work And...
Kova learns of the situation from Mystic.

If Kova were anyone other than herself, she would have been sighing as she carried the unhappily thrumming White Opal in the velvet pouch at her right hip and dragging her unwilling older daughter safely on the other side with her left hip. However, the rain always came with rainbows in Kova's world view and the recent power struggles between her wards were only a bump in the road. She had high hopes that Miss Reyna would be able to help.

Worse came to worse, she was well aware of how well Delilah thought of Mystic and maybe the Fiend could be coerced into telling the girl how important it was to Get Along With Little Sisters.

Delilah, for her part, sulked delicately as she followed in obedience. When they finally reached the door of Twilight Designs, she waited patiently as her mother opened the door, setting off the bells. Then she straightened, smoothed her dress and hair, and immediately erased all traces of displeasure from her pretty little face.

"Miss Reyna? Mr. Athan?" Kova stepped into the shop with her baggage and looked around. An immediate look of puzzlement crossed her features and she stared with tilted head at the life-sized statues blocking her way.

Mystic sat behind the front desk, his head bowed to hide his pain. His misfortune. His mourning that his guardian had somehow been stolen from him. That no matter how hard he tried or pushed or shoved, he could not reach her mind. There was nothing but stone. No reassuring tug that she was there. Nothing.

He glanced up and for a moment he felt a brief pang of relief as a familiar figure entered the shop. 'Kova!' He breathed her name in his soft telepathic speech as though it were a prayer as he stood.

"Mystic!" Kova immediately walked across the shop, skirting around the counter to peer at Mystic's face. Despite the lack of a mouth, it was easy for her to read his distress. "Oh, Mystic, what's wrong?"

Delilah appeared on his other side, moving silently, and she reached out to shyly touch one of his wrists. "Mr. Mystic?" she asked, adding her own worry to her mother's.

The elder Shadow peered at both of the women, bright eyes full of despair as he motioned with one hand towards Reyna and Athan. '... there was an accident, of sorts.. A spell. Accompanied by a note. Like... like with the nightmare beast..?'

Kova had been there. She would understand. That in itself was a huge relief. 'It had no effect until Athan began reading aloud. It wouldn't allow him to stop and it turned both him to stone along with ..' Oh that hurt to say. To say it out loud confirmed it. Made it more real. More painful. '... Reyna.'

"Oh." Kova's dark eyes welled up with the sheen of tears and she immediately returned across the shop to stand with the statues. Looking at them now, more closely, she bit her lip and resisted the shiver they produced. Gently, she touched stone cheeks and mouths.

"You'll be able to fix them, Mr. Mystic," Delilah reassured him in a quiet voice, her hand still at his. "I know you can."

Mystic paused before tentatively squeezing Delilah's hand and whispering a nearly silent 'thank you' that would only reach her mind. 'I'm trying, but.. the spell to release them from their trapped state is complicated. I've already cast it once today on another guardian, though it only effected her arm. It's .. gathering everything in time before this becomes permanent and guarding them that is the difficult part.'

His shoulders rose and fell heavily with another would-be sigh. Such a daunting task. For the briefest moment, he wondered if that is how Athan felt when he attempted to release forgotten souls from stones.

Mystic paused before tentatively squeezing Delilah's hand and whispering a nearly silent 'thank you' that would only reach her mind. 'I'm trying, but.. the spell to release them from their trapped state is complicated. I've already cast it once today on another guardian, though it only effected her arm. It's .. gathering everything in time before this becomes permanent and guarding them that is the difficult part.'

His shoulders rose and fell heavily with another would-be sigh. Such a daunting task. For the briefest moment, he wondered if that is how Athan felt when he attempted to release forgotten souls from stones.

Kova looked over, hand still resting at Reyna's cheek. "What do you need?" she asked immediately. "Do you have a list?" She ignored the sudden pulse of heat in the pouch at her waist; apparantly, White Opal was agreeing and eager to work.

"We can help," Delilah reassured Mystic, shockingly in agreement with her sister.

He nodded at Kova's words and for the briefest of moments a twinge of hope began to build within him. Already Red and Dio both were searching for items. If both Kova and Delilah helped it would speed things up even more.

The quicker items were retrieved, the sooner he could be with his Reyna. He beamed quietly at that thought and quickly scribbled down a list of items and their descriptions and general whereabouts before handing it over to Kova.

'Thank you.'

"Of course. I'll do anything to help. Miss Reyna and Mr. Athan are my friends. They're wonderful people and I can't bear to see them like this." Kova looked at Mystic again, head tilted. Her gaze drifted down to where Delilah stood beside him and she sighed. "And I don't wanna see you hurting like this either. Fiends need their bonds, right? We can't have you getting sick or something." She paused and considered her daughter again. "Delilah?"

"Yes, Mama?"

"Will you stay here with Mystic and help him with the shop? You can keep him company while he guards them."

Delilah's face lit up brightly. "Yes, Mama. I can do that." She turned bright eyes on Mystic. "I won't get in the way. I promise."

'I appreciate it. A great deal.' He ducked his head slightly and gave a quiet sigh. 'I am well so far, though it is ... strange to be without her. I imagine it is my age that has allowed me a certain strength thus far.'

Fading, however, was something he feared a great deal. And being without Reyna... being without her comfort, made the paranoia worse.

"You're strong." Delilah smiled again. "You'll be fine. Mama will find the things you need and I'll be here to make sure you're okay."

Kova's own smile was about twenty times brighter than her daughter's. "We'll fix it. Don't you worry, Mystic. We'll have 'em back in no time." She suddenly put her hand to the pouch at her waist and laughed. "Opal agrees. She's tickling."

Mystic chuckled quietly. He had forgotten how Kova's cheerfulness was nearly impenetrable, not to mention infectious. It helped to spur on that little bit of hope. He stood from where he sat and turned his attention to Delilah.

'I actually already have some of the materials in the back room. Would you mind helping me sort through them..?'

Delilah blushed as if this offer were a rare treat and nodded, tangling her hands in front of herself. "Yes, please. I'd love to."

"Well, then..." Kova skimmed the list one more time and then started heading back towards the door. "I'll leave you two to that. I'll be back with more for you to sort out. Trust me on that. We'll have 'em fixed before you even know it."

He beamed quietly over at Kova and Delilah both. 'Thank you both again.' The worried lines on his brow smoothed somewhat and his eyes sparkled with what very well could have been a smile. He had a suspicious feeling that he would be saying that a lot. And often. And to any people. Perhaps even long after everything was returned to normal.

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:53 pm

Metaplot: A Little Help, Please?
Mystic enlists the help of any and all willing to aid him to save Reyna and Athan. Massive RP with lots and lots of lovelies!

Mystic paced through the front end of the shop. It was terribly difficult to sit by and wait, but he had no choice. He had left Reyna and Athan unprotected far longer than he should have. Dashing off in retrospect hadn't been the greatest of ideas, but Zero and Red's distress had caused him to not think his plan through entirely.

He shuddered as he moved to stand near the statue that Reyna had become, gingerly tracing her features with his dark hands. If anything had happened to her, he never would have forgiven himself. Hell. If anything had happened, there was a distinct chance that he would have died -- quite painfully at that
Esfandiar winced at the familiar pins-and-needles feeling that always came with him when he stepped through a Gate, but this time he had something more to worry about. He turned immediately upon exciting the Gate and waited, antsy. Would Pyrite transition properly? She had as a stone, but...

A moment later, though, his fears were put to rest as Pyrite's cracked form diffused through the swirl of the Gate. She paused once fully free of the Gate's power and held perfectly still for a moment, then slowly moved to smooth down her robe.

"Are you well?"

She turned to look at him, then nodded, slowly. Strange; Impact: Negligible. The thoughts trickled quickly into the forefront of his mind.

He nodded back, relieved. "Very good. Let's see if your appearance is... expected." He held out one hand; she wrapped her long, thin fingers with his.

The shop was as he had remembered. The shadhavar glanced over at Pyrite to see if the creature showed any sign of recognition, but she was terribly hard to read. Esfandiar had learned to interpret the body language common to most humans and humanoids fairly early on, but removing the mouth from the equation changed everything. Her dark eyes did not divulge anything easily.

Still, he felt the slight pressure as she hung back, just for a moment - just barely long enough for him to realize it wasn't his imagination. It was enough to make him ask. "Do you remember this place? It is where your stone came from."

Pyrite tilted her face up to look at the shopfront, her ringlets falling dark around her face. Then she shook her head. Negative.

"Hm. I was wondering... well. It doesn't matter." He reached for the doorknob and stepped inside, holding it open for Pyrite to follow after.

The shop held an unfamiliar silence. There currently were no customers present. Athan was not bustling about with his robes swirling about his feet, and there was no mumbling or grumbling from the demoness. Both shopkeepers were frozen mid movement from when they had both turned to stone. Their skin, hair, and clothes had turned a pristine alabaster color.

Mystic all but radiated despair. At least prior to his leaving them there was still a bit of color to their cheeks, and Athan's dark clothing shone through.

He glanced up, eyes narrowed in suspicion at the hulking figure of the shadhavar as he entered the shop. His tension bled away at least somewhat when he realized that the beast of a man before him obviously meant no harm as he sensed that familiar, looming darkness that always accompanied one of his own brethren.

Esfandiar smiled for a moment - and then, suddenly, realized that something, everything, was terribly wrong. The sage that had given him both the Seastone and Pyrite's stone was silent, quite clearly frozen in place, transmuted... as was another by him, and-

Pyrite breezed past him and phased right through the counter, holding one hand out to Mystic - but she was reaching towards his face, not his hands as if to shake.

Mystic recoiled away from Pyrite but not soon enough. He expected to feel nothing and that her hands would phase mostly through before he pulled away entirely. Instead he found himself in his solid form and cool, slender fingers pressed to his face.

The room for a moment spun at a dizzying angle and then --

Quote:

He heard a man laugh as he watched another take his last breath. Laughter. Deafening laughter. Then nothing at all. An abyss of darkness. A void.

Then it seemed he was back in the shop but only from hours prior.

Quote:

"What in hell, Athan?" Reyna murmured, visible eye wide with confusion and the tiniest bit of fear that she had not managed to hide. She strode over towards him and placed a hand upon his shoulder only to find that she could not move it.

She opened her mouth to speak in warning to the others, but no sound came forth.

"B-be not.. made of... stone. It is your c-creator, your f-father, your maker who m-must atone."

Athan fell silent. Neither he nor the demon frozen at his side moved.

Mystic stared, wide-eyed with a look of sheer, utter panic.

Then he pulled away from her, bright eyes glowing with a sort of barely contained ferocity as he stumbled back to lean heavily against the wall. His chest rose and fell rapidly as though he truly were merely human with lungs that ached and burned along with his agony. 'Child,' he hissed as he struggled to cool his temper, '... you will NOT do that again without my permission.'

Pyrite's tail lashed once, twice, as her hands touched Mystic's cheeks, her fingers laying cool and smooth against his skin - and then it came, a delicious outpouring the like of which she'd only ever tasted from Esfandiar himself. A delighted mental sound echoed down the link she shared with Esfandiar, along with dim and disjointed sensory input gleaned from the memory she had just called to the surface. Her eyes brightened as she absorbed it into herself. Another drop to fill the void.

Then the contact was broken, and she pulled back, disappointed. Greeting Offered; Incorrect? Confusion. She shoved the concepts at him, the whole bound up in a mash of bewilderment. She kept the current of odd delight at his discomfiture buried deep, where he could not possibly see it.

Behind her, Esfandiar shook his head, hard. What had been that sound that echoed in his ears, crackling and distant as though it sounded from an ancient tomb?

The elder shadow struggled as he tried to wade through both the confusion of what she had just done and the remnants that still lingered. Her vague way of speaking seemed to only hamper him further. His eyes narrowed as he studied her carefully before hesitantly creeping forward.

'Not entirely correct, dear. One does not..' What had that been exactly? Thoughts? Memories. Part of it was for sure, but the other. He shuddered. A void. '.. greet their kin in such a manner. A simple hello will suffice next time.'

His gaze settled heavily upon her fragmented form. So different she seemed from the other children. She lacked their innocence, though he knew that was hardly the proper term to use in reference to his brethren. 'I am Mystic,' he offered to both the child and her bond before he shot a forlorn glance towards his own guardian, '... I.. regret that our first meeting is under such circumstances.'

Pyrite froze still for a moment, except for the soft and constant hiss of dust sliding around her form. Stone; Pyrite. Stone... Being? She reached out one hand towards Athan's face, then stopped and glanced back at Esfandiar, then Mystic, as if for permission.

The new words in his mind brought Esfandiar's focus back. "Ah - my apologies," he said, quickly, offering the new shadow-being a quick half-bow. "I am Esfandiar... I was seeking the sage, Athan, to tell him that the stone he entrusted to me has... developed." He gestured quickly at Pyrite. "But I see he is..." The shadhavar paused, then let the sentence trail off. He wasn't really sure what the man was, at the moment, other than made of stone. That certainly hadn't been the case last time.

'Indisposed,' he volunteered. Any other time he perhaps would have been amused in a sick sort of way at Athan's misfortune, but how could he when his own beloved Reyna was trapped in stone as well?

'And developed she has, along with peculiar talents that steal her speech and the thoughts of others,' Mystic replied a bit dryly before sighing. 'Definitely peculiar. Athan no doubt could give name to whatever it is, but.. as I said. He is indisposed as is my own guardian. And all thanks to a seemingly benign note.'

He motioned towards the scrap of paper that sat innocently upon the desk a few inches from where Athan's hands were held out. It had indeed simply fallen from his grasp once he had turned to stone.

Mystic's head tilted to the side as he regarded the two that stood before him. Red and Dio were helping. Perhaps they would also be willing to do so. '... I don't suppose you be inclined to help restore both Athan and Reyna, would you? I am currently here only to guard them. Others of our kind are searching for items for the spell which will release them.' He paused before adding quickly, 'I am also certain Athan would be generous enough to reward any who would offer help.'

Pyrite slowly reached out to run one finger along the line of Athan's cheek, but only very lightly; she made no such move towards the other statue. Strange she might have been, but she could read the possession there quite clearly. Making the elder shadow truly angry at this juncture would not be prudent in the least.

Esfandiar looked surprised, then nodded, firmly. "He provided me with assistance when he had no reason to do so." True, the Seastone had yet to prove itself, but the gesture alone... "It would be my honor."

It would also keep himself and Pyrite out of Asterion's way for a while, while the minotaur adjusted. There was a little nibble of guilt in Esfandiar's gut, but he shoved it away and tried to ignore it. It was hardly his fault that his lover had reacted badly... right?

A look of relief washed across Mystic's features. 'Thank you. Thank you very much,' he replied as he fumbled through one of the drawers at the desk to withdraw paper and pencil. He needed his own list, but quickly he scribbled down a description of one of the items.

Alistair's Stone ~ This stone has the appearence and forms in the same manner that crystal quartz does. The primary difference appearence-wise would be the red rutiles and black spots contained within the stone itself. A natural wand of the stone will be needed to stir the antidote. Once used, unfortunately, all the color drains from the stone and it is rendered useless and eventually takes on the appearence of an average, every day rock.

'It's... not an entirely uncommon thing, but it's not the sort of stone that would be kept here. A place that deals specifically with spell casting supplies would be best, I think,' Mystic went on as he handed the slip of paper over to Esfandiar. 'If you could please bring the stone back to me, I would appreciate it.'

Esfandiar nodded, then looked over the note. "Hmm. It is not something I have heard of, but the markets of my city are vast and stocked with the trade of many lands. Surely I will be able to bring this back to you."

Pyrite, peeved that the stone-that-had-once-been-man was not giving up any form of memory in the least, drifted away from Athan. She took a deliberately circuitous route to get around Mystic before floating back to Esfandiar. Cold; Rock-Living Negative, she broadcast to both the shadhavar and the elder Fiend.

Esfandiar took a moment to decipher the thought, then glanced soberly at the two statues. "I fear we have not properly met. I am Esfandiar Kian, of the city of Tesfaldir in the world Elohir." The same sort of feel surrounded this being as well. "And you are the same as Pyrite, are you not? What manner of creature are you? I mean no disrespect, I simply do not know," he asked, levelly.

'I am the same manner of creature as your Pyrite is, and eldest of all our brethren,' Mystic told him. He did at least feel somewhat obligated to explain. Esfandiar had agreed to help, and somehow he doubted Pyrite's ability to explain in a manner easily understood. Then again, he had no way of knowing that her soul bond didn't permit her to speak more freely with her guardian. Each of them seemed to have their quirks.

'We have been dubbed Shadow Fiends by Athan. He is the reason we are here. He is.. as I have come to understand it, on a quest to right wrongs done by a former comrade, though if you have met him prior and he entrusted a stone to you, you may have heard some of this already. Essentially, we are the remnants of souls that were trapped in stones.'

Remnants. Memories. A chill went down his spine. Was that all they were? All shadow and fragments and pieces of people who once lived. It was a concept that often worried and plagued his mind, but the situation at hand amplified it. As did Pyrite's elegant, fractured hands.

"Shadow Fiends." Esfandiar tried the words on his tongue, then nodded. They seemed to fit quite well; he had a feeling Asterion would agree, at least when it came to the Fiend part. The rest... much of it was new. "I had not heard it in quite those words," he said, carefully, glancing back at Pyrite. Born from the stone, but a remnant of something trapped within rather than an entirely new creature... "I will have to speak to you - or Athan - about this in more detail, at a more opportune time."

Pyrite herself merely looked intently at Mystic, rolling the memories around in her own mind. What an odd burst of laughter. So vibrant. So... vividly remembered. The sound twisted and flared like white fire.

Shiniesshiniesshinies was an ongoing litany in her head as she walked, the odd not-charm necklace she wore squirming slightly when in too-bright sunlight. Of course, the 'charm' was actually Will, not a piece of black tin. The streaks of color in her teal hair shifted as she moved, making the longish braid ripple as if alive even as it bounced about. The silver-furred animal ears and full, fluffy tail were the only indications besides the odd hair that she was anything but human. But that is neither here nor there.

For she was on a mission.

She'd gotten some money into her grubby little hands and wanted some pretties. Now. So she was headed to the shop she'd gotten Will from (remembering how she'd drooled over some of the lovely work while at it!) as well as the base of operations for the mage who'd shown up at her 'house' to deal with the nightmare creature that now lived in the basement. All the better to deal with annoying people... Will was...odd, and small, so she hadn't hesitated to bring him with her. The rest of the household...didn't know. A smirk twisted her lips and widened into a pleased smile. Yes! The shop was in sight.

With a smile on her face, Karly pushed open the door and called out, "He-llo! Anybody home!" in a teasing manner.

'Athan would likely be able to explain it better than I, though I certainly would not refuse you information should you require it,' Mystic stated quietly before his gaze settled upon the door as it chimed loudly, breaking the heavy stillness of the air around them with it's miniature cacophony of noise.

'More or less.' was his cryptic reply to the woman that entered the shop.

Aki caught the door, slipping in behind Karly. Her face was set into the cool, unreadable mask that marked her as elven, but her eyes told a different story. The golden luminescence of her gaze had faded, replaced by a deep and troubling red. It was not only her eyes that spoke of a difference...something drastic within Aki had changed, and to any that knew her, it was painfully obvious.

Silently, Coral manifested behind Aki, draping her skinny arms loosely around her guardian's neck. Aki lifted one hand, settling her fingers over Coral's, and glanced once around the shop.

"I wish to speak with Reyna." Her other hand tightened at the pouch she wore on her belt, crimson skirt riding low on her slender hips. She gave Karly a flat look before turning her attention to Mystic. "Now."

Mystic phased through the desk, past Esfandiar and his fractured child Fiend, past Karly so that he was faced to face with Aki. He knew her -- but only because his Reyna knew her and felt strongly enough about her that her control had slipped and images of her had been brought to his own mind at a previous time.

'Apologies, but..' He paused for a moment as his gaze shifted from the beautiful elf to the equally enchanting creature behind her. He shifted slightly as he motioned towards the two still forms that hovered, trapped mid-movement in solid stone. '... there's been a bit of a.. mishap. With a spell. Otherwise, I know she'd want to speak with you. If she could.'

Aki stared, lips parted, and looked from the frozen forms to Esfandiar, back to Mystic. Her mask began to crack, bit by bit, as her brows furrowed. "I don't believe it." It wasn't Mystic she was doubting, not exactly, but Aki pushed forward and swept across the room. She got as close as she dared, just a few paces away, and looked. Really looked.

Coral vanished, wide eyed, as Aki's hands balled into fists. Her crimson garments settled, drifting back into place, as she stared. Frozen. Just like she was. Only...trapped in stone, and not a moment. "Why....why are you standing here?!" Her voice was low, rising only at the end as she turned towards Mystic. "I need her to...I...we need her!" The words burned, more than she cared to admit, and Aki yanked the pouch from her belt and dropped it carelessly upon the counter. Something metal gave a muffled clank as it hit.

"Fix her? Please?" She knew she was being foolish, but the world suddenly felt much smaller to Aki.

Esfandiar jumped as the door chimed, his ears canting back a little bit. He was no stranger to crowds, but as the door's bell chimed yet again, admitting more bodies to the shop, he found himself feeling vaguely overcrowded just the same. The sensation only increased when one of the new arrivals froze almost as much as a statue. It was clear she knew them... and the pain was just as clear.

He was out of place here, in a way he never had been in Tesfaldir. Save for that one moment. "Pyrite?" he said, softly. But the Fiend was ignoring him, staring silently at the newcomers. Her hands twitched at her sides.

Mystic's eyes fluttered closed for a moment before he strode towards Aki and pressed one hand gingerly to her cheek. His temper flared briefly at her tone and her words, but he shoved it aside quickly. Reyna would be displeased if he angered her. Aki was special. Reyna made her beautiful things. She bothered to care, though the demoness was loathe to admit it

He peered down into her eyes and faltered for a moment as he noticed they were as red as Reyna's. The very same vibrant, blood red. He had expected another color entirely. 'I am not standing here idly, please know that. I need her as you do.' Mentally he added, I need her more than you, but did not voice it or allow the thought to surface. 'I am only here to make certain she and Athan remain safe while supplies are gathered to reverse the spell. I have already cast it once today on another. As soon as the items arrive, they will be cured.'

Aki would have forgiven the temper. She was angry herself, and after centuries of delicate placidity, it was near to the surface. She wasn't too angry, or too scared, to listen though...she met Mystic's eyes with sullen determination.

"Then...tell me what you need. Anything." Aki's eyes narrowed, but she was fighting tears, not temper. Coral. As though Aki had snapped, Coral appeared again, rising from behind her guardian. The Fiend wrung her hands lightly, obviously worried as well. Aki extended one arm, and Coral wrapped her tail around it obligingly, sliding upward until her face was next to Aki's. "If there's a cure, we will help you."

Aki broke gaze first, her eyes flicking for a moment to Esfandiar and the strange Fiend by his side. She wondered, distantly, if this was the person Mystic had already freed...or if it was an ally, also looking to help. Coral's eyes slid to the side along with Aki's, and they regarded him for a long moment together. If he had been stone, as Reyna was, surely he'd been through enough. If not...

"We will all help, I'm sure."

Letting the other slip by didn't bother Karly any; the aura coming off her was desperate about something. The mood in the shop was somber, with their entrance having broken the stillness. Her ears flattening to her head she shuffled till she was near the kirin-like creature, careful not to invade his space too much, nor that of the one floating near him.

Her ears perked forward thou, listening intently and grimacing slightly at being able to kind of take in the fact that there seemed to be two 'living' statues posed in plain sight. Taking the bull by the horns (metaphorically speaking, anyways), Karly flicked a hand up into the air, waving it about a bit as if in school. "Umm...whole story please? I don't particularly like people in distress," she gave a small, hopefully non-too-cheerful smile to the elf, " but I'd like to hear how this came about and then maybe lend a hand?" She'd been helpful to so many, it was hard to say something like that, but she'd learned the hard way about finding out -everything- before committing.

Pyrite squirmed, eager to partake of the rich memories that had to dwell in these new living ones - to say nothing of the pointy-eared one, which seemed to her like a veritable feast - but Mystic's presence kept her in check. Still, her tail lashed back and forth and she drifted a little bit closer to Aki.

Esfandiar didn't quite notice. "Naturally," he murmured, in response to the woman in red's impassioned statement. It was something to say, maybe some small way into the private world that seemed to have formed around Mystic, the statue, and the elven woman as soon as she entered the shop. The other newcomer seemed just as clueless as he was.

Before anyone else could say another word, a new face appeared from between the curtains which lead to the back room. Despite the sweetness of the features, the expression was clearly Not Pleased and Delilah looked to Mystic for explanations. "Mystic?" she asked in a soft, slightly musical voice, "why is everyone shouting out here?"

Mystic's brow furrowed as he glanced around at all the eyes that bore into him now that he had the entire room focused intently on him. He looked as though he wanted to speak as he waved one hand over towards where his guardian and maker were to begin his explanation, but stopped.

His hand was almost entirely transparent, barely even there at all, though he could still flex and feel his fingertips. He was.. he.. he made a sort of panicked noise as his gaze settled upon Delilah. He had mentioned it in passing to both her and her mother earlier. They had each reassured him just as he had them. He held a great deal of strength. He was the eldest.

He could not fade away, and yet..

'Del.. perhaps.. you could explain.. I.. there isn't time for this. We need to hurry.' His eyes fluttered closed and he bowed his head slightly. 'Before I fade... entirely.'

Delilah gasped and pushed her way through the curtains to reveal that, despite her tone and diction, she was apparantly only ten years old. Within seconds, she was at Mystic's side and trying to clutch his hand. When that proved harder than it had mere hours ago, she hissed, upset, and turned stormy turquoise eyes on the gathered people. "He's sick!" she explained with a rare burst of anger. "Miss Reyna being sick makes him sick, too. Mama's out looking for the things that will make them all well again." She narrowed her eyes. "Maybe you guys can help with that."

Unseen by them, one of Kova's potted geraniums in the back room started to twist and turn.

Esfandiar shook his head, snapping out of the (quite possibly Pyrite-induced) reverie. Why was he standing here like a lump when there was work to do? "I will take my leave, then. We will take our leaves, rather," he murmured in Mystic's direction, though he was not entirely sure the beleaguered Fiend would even hear him.

He headed for the door; Pyrite braced herself, but after a moment (far too soon) she felt the painful tug begin, and the Fiend quickly fled to her bonded's side, though she gave him an irritated look.

Raisa had been curious as to why there was shouting in a jewelry shop. Why would someone shout in a store surrounded by pretties? She stuck her head in the shop to see what was going on. She looked a bit at Esfandiar. They were all upset, and in a shop full of shinies no less!

That was almost level in a list of taboos to taking the last cookie from a child in Raisa's mind!

"Um... Hello...? Is there a problem here..? I heard shouting. Well, it seemed like shouting to me. I'm sorry if this isn't any of my business, but maybe I can help with whatever the problem is? That is if there is a problem, anyway!" That last bit came out in a rush as she was nervous being around so many people...and ghosts?

She peered at Mystic, then at the other Shadow Fiends with a bewildered but childishly amused expression. She looked out of place with her teen-like appearance as her cat-like, blue ears folded flat against her head as she anxiously looked around after studying Mystic and his brethren.

Karly's eyes widened by a bit when Mystic seemed to fade about the edges, somehow looking worn and worried and a few other things. Her ears were practically flat, tail swishing in aggitation behind her. Being fairly aware of others, she moved so that the kirin-person could go past her with no trouble, then half knelt so she didn't tower over the child. "Alright." She held up a hand and started ticking off things she'd noted, making sure she got each 'point' right with the girl before moving on. "They're sick or something, right? And you have people out helping to find all the things to make them better, yes? And you'd like us to help too, right? So...is there a list or something? I don't think we can help look for things without knowing what to look for, yes?" She certainly wasn't talking down to the child...she just wanted to be certain that she'd be -able- to help, and not a hindrance. After all, she'd had to comfort plenty of panicked and/or upset people, so drew on that experience to try and keep things going forward. If it was important...failure would -not- be much of an option.

Her nose caught another scent, only partially paying attention to the words spoken, before kind of waving them in. It wouldn't do to leave the door hanging open, now would it?

Aki leaned back as Mystic revealed his fade, pulling Coral protectively closer against her. Just as shocked, she listened to the girl's speech, and shook her head. "I don't know what to look for."

She realized Esfandiar was heading for the door too late. "Where are you going? If you've something to fetch...can we help?" The fiend followed a moment after, and Aki sighed. They had to be the ones that Mystic had freed, earlier. The Fiend still bore traces of the stone prison!

Raisa walked completely in after being waved at and listened to Karly's list of what was going on. And was still confused after apparently having come right smack dab into the middle of whatever is happening and not understanding who is sick or how.

"Um....am I interrupting something? I can leave if I am. After all, I just wanted a new, shiny necklace. I was recommended here by a friend. At least I think this is where-- Oh, but that can wait. It's not as important as a sick person. Well, I've gathered that someone is sick. Oh.. I'm rambling." She fell silent when she came to that realization and patiently waited for someone else to start talking again while looking rather embarrassed.

'It's... okay, Del. They have already offered to help. I will be well,' he insisted quietly.

Mystic reached for Aki before she could follow after Esfandiar. One hand lightly grasped her arm and he projected faintly what very well could have been a reassuring smile. 'I do have lists of items that need to be gathered. Red and Dio have already begun their search, as has Kova.'

He motioned towards the desk and for all those present to follow suit. He reached for a piece of paper and wrote down various names, descriptions, and locations before tearing the paper into smaller pieces. He handed one to each present save for Delilah.

'If you could please find these things.. and bring them back to me so I can cast the spell.'

Karly's ears had perked forward again, knowing that the fiend was trying to reassure the young girl as well as the elf. She watched as items were written down on paper and then doled out to those there that weren't staying here to watch the shop. She glanced down at the piece of paper in her hand and raised an eyebrow. "I'm assuming spell-casting quality, ne? Huh...I-uh...know a better place to get this from than the one you have written down here." Her eye twitched at the thought, but the person she'd be going to was worth the aggravation if one wanted quality. Will had been content to play 'charm' up until now; he released his hold on the chain and curled on top of Karly's hand to read the paper as well.

Her lips twitched and she raised her eyes to Mystic's. "Hai, taichou!" She couldn't help adding a salute to the end of it, using her free left hand. "Any other instructions before I head out for this?" Her right hand fingers wiggled the paper, causing Will to poke her with the little pitchfork he carried in annoyance.

Angel stared at the shop in front of her. It looked like most other shops, yet it had an air of the old fashioned things. It had always intrigued her, but she had never really given herself the opportunity to look around. Stepping to the doorway, she smiled curiously at all the items that hung everywhere. It was a lovely sort of thing, almost like shimmery water. Even the people seemed to have a slight glimmer to them. She smiled silently, approaching the group, hoping to ask about this strange shop, and why everyone seemed so...uneasy. "Excuse me." she said in her quiet voice, trying not to intrude on another's conversation. That usually wouldn't mark well upon her.

Mystic's eyes glittered with vague amusement at Karly's salute. Further instructions? None immediately came to mind. 'Hurry?' he offered before his gaze drifted over towards the newcomer. He inclined his head in greeting, but otherwise remained silent as he drifted back towards the desk to settle in the chair so that he might reserve his strength.

'Del,' he sighed, 'You... may have to help me cast the spell.' He glanced down at his hands, brow furrowed into what could only be a deep set frown. '... just in case.'

Delilah nodded firmly as she moved to stand at Mystic's side once more. "Of course," she murmured, anger gone like ice in the sun and her voice back to the musical breathiness of before. "I'll do anything you need me to do."

Aki paused for a moment longer, committing her assignment to memory as she stared at Reyna's frozen form. Nodding silently, she flashed Mystic a tight smile, and retreated towards the door.

She didn't need to be told to hurry.

Karly's lips twitched upward, glad to have at least brightened the mood, if only for a bit. "Got it. I'll be on my way." She gave a fanged smile to the newest addition to those still in the shop, gently putting Will and the paper into a pocket, and headed toward the door, stopping briefly as she went by the newcomer to whisper, "Don't be shy dear...it's hitsuzen." With a smile still scrawled on her face, she was gone, only to be seen at some later date along with the others.

Angel blinked and watched the person go, before she slowly approached the group more closely. "May I ask what is going on?" She said quietly. She was curious why people came and went so quickly, like they were on an errand of some sort. This was not surprising to her, because she was always curious about things. "May I help?" She asked, still keeping to being polite.

Mystic gave a nod and handed a note to the girl. 'It's... a rather complicated story, and I lack the time to explain it properly. Though should you choose to help, it would be appreciated.' He sighed heavily and his eyes slid shot. It was becoming rather difficult for him to focus. It had been many hours now that he'd been separated from his bond now.

Echo locked the door on her house. She was on another mission - this time it was for a necklace for her aunt's anniversary. It was difficult to find something that an experienced kulkanese women would find special and unique...and she knew right where to go.

Pez followed closely...okay, quite close. A couple time, Echo could hear him literally bumping into her helmet. Granted, it was probably because while she rode her bike it was nearly impossible to hear him - so he usually didn't like that.

As expected, when Echo took off her helmet she could hear Pez making his typical 'rattle clang boom creak' that meant he was not pleased she got away from his annoying prattle for awhile and now had to pay. He must not have 'seen' where they were. They hadn't been there together since well, they were together.

Stashing the helmet in the bag and walked to the door. Echo let herself in since the shop was closed and walked to the display cases, looking for the most perfect necklace.

Pez went silent as they looked around Twilight Designs.

Time had passed since the last customer and group of guardians had fled in a hurry to aid him. Minutes felt like hours, and hours eternity, each second more painful than the last. His gaze flicked up and locked with Echo's.

He had drawn his cloak completely about himself in such a way that for a moment, he very easily could have been mistaken for Athan. However, his complexion in addition to the statue of near his side gave him away entirely.

Echo's gaze was captured. She looked carefully and then blinked. A slight smile of formal welcome lit up her face as she walked over. "I remember you.... there was another around, too, wasn't there?"

Pez also remembered, and zoomed forward. He was making the sounds of birds singing welcome to the morning, with the hint of a squeaky door.

The woman twitched a bit, that was a little painful to her ears.

'Truly..?' he spoke up softly, 'Forgive me. My memory escapes me.' His brow furrowed into a deep set frown. That... was troubling. He could not afford to simply forget.

Echo swatted at Pez, trying to convince him to be quiet for a little moment. "Pez, hush... for one moment!" she tried to speak above him instead as he actually got louder.

Turning back to the purple....shadow again, Echo sighed. "I don't think I introduced myself before. I'm Echo." She looked around a little, positive she remembered the.... putting her hand in her pocket, Echo pulled out the business card from before. Yes, this was all right. She returned the card to it's place.

"The annoying one is Pez. I am afraid I don't remember your name either."

Mystic's eyes twinkled faintly with amusement. 'I am Mystic. Pleasure to meet you.' He paused for a moment and glanced longingly towards the statue of Reyna. Why couldn't he be little like Pez? Why couldn't she just save him as she used to?

Because he was grown. He was eldest. Thus, he was responsible.

'I'd offer to shake your hand but..' he trailed off as he held his left hand up. It was nearly completely translucent though a faint, ghostly outline seemed to remain as he wiggled his fingers to see if he could still feel them.

Echo smiled and nodded acceptingly. She opened her mouth to say something, but instead followed Mystic's gaze.

There were two statues... a woman and.... no, that couldn't be! Echo's jaw dropped, and Pez went quiet as well.

"That cannot be.... is that Athan?"

"It is Mr. Athan." A soft, little voice answered the woman, sparing Mystic the chore. Delilah appeared at the curtained doorway again and her heart-shaped face was sad and solemn. She moved to stand at her post beside Mystic again and it was only through folding her hands in front of her, properly ladylike, that she avoided reaching for him again. "They're stuck in a curse and everyone is trying to help Mystic free them," she explained.

Echo continued to stare in utter disbelief. Finally, Pez buzzed in her ear softly, breaking her out of her thoughts. She had heard the new arrival, and tore her eyes from the statues. The woman looked at the new arrival without a word, soaking in the words.

Then, she shifted, and took a stance of determination and met the girl's eyes. "How can I help?"

Pez cheaped and gurgled in annoyance.

"I'm sorry," Echo gave the pink floating -rock- a sideways glance. "How can we help?"

That earned them both a bright smile from the young girl and she neatly snatched a piece of paper from atop the nearest cabinet. She held it out for Mystic to see then, head tilting, and asked, "Which of these don't we have people looking for?"

Mystic paused for a moment as he looked the list over before he indicated with a soft, barely there whisper that only Del could here which would be best for Echo to search for.

Quote:

It is not a true void, as it is simply an impossibly black, sticky substance. Its uses are for the unmaking of things. It absorbs light and unravels any and all fabric, including that of the magical sort which composes a spell.

Echo walked forward but maintained a respectful distance away from the two. Pez was buzzing around the statues, trying to worry at them with his sounds - nothing phased them.

It became obvious to her what she was being asked to find, so she took out a small notebook and wrote the information down. As she was walking out the door, Echo whistled impatiently, telling Pez it was time to go. The shadowed gem followed as the woman walked out of the shop - the mission of the necklace replaced by another, more imperative one. She knew where she might begin...

Reyna Crelos
Captain

Shameless Ladykiller

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Reyna Crelos
Captain

Shameless Ladykiller

Offline

Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:49 pm

Somebody's Eden: The Help Arrives!
Mystic enlists the help of any and all willing to aid him to save Reyna and Athan. Massive RP with lots and lots of lovelies!

Angel entered the shop once more, in her arms cradled the item she had been asked to find. Strangely enough, she had had a fun time coming into possession of it. She walked toward Mystic and set the item in front of him. "This is what you asked me for, right?" She asked quietly, a smile on her face at being able to be helpful.

Delilah sat beside Mystic, quiet and lady-like, her hands folded in her lap. She had stopped trying to touch him hours ago after her hesitant little fingers went right through his hand. She looked tired and stretched thin, something unheard of for the strange little flower-girl. Her big eyes focused on the door of the shop as they waited.

She had stopped talking thirty minutes ago. Mystic simply seemed too tired to answer and she knew that bothered him.

The bell tinkled suddenly and Delilah looked up to see her mother and White Opal return. She offered a small smile, hopeful. Kova returned the smile and held up a little blue velvet pouch. A golden tassel held it closed and it appeared to contain something heavy. The tall space pirate brought the bag immediately across the shop and laid it in front of Mystic. "Phoenix talon," she announced. Then, glancing at Delilah, she stepped back again and waited. Her look of hope was the exact same endearing expression as her daughter's.

Amon entered the shop, hands dug deep into the pockets of his coat, his expression dark and foreboding, promising nothing good to whoever might try and attempt to speak to him. The events of the past weeks, ever since he'd purchased that cursed jade pendant, had led him to be incredibly cranky and irritated. The trouble he'd had to go through to get his hands on the item Merci had requested hadn't helped much either, on the contrary. Why was he doing this again..? Oh, right, to get rid of 'it'.

"Here," he said gruffly, handing Mystic a small envelope of silk paper, a certain nephrite pendant dangling from a leather string wrapped around his wrist. "The dragonfyre. I hope just the petals will be enough, they cost me a small fortune." His mouth snapped shut, and he moved aside to make way for the next person. He didn't really care about the money, he could earn that sum again easily enough. But if, instead.. He glanced down at the intricate pendant dangling from his wrist. According to Merci he was stuck with that cursed thing, but he wasn't quite willing to accept that. Surely there was a way to get rid of it.

But for that, he'd have to speak to this.. Athan.

Esfandiar was too distracted to really think about what was going on around him - the shadhavar trailed back from Sepehr's shuttered shop directly to the Gate again, and then to Twilight Designs without taking much note of his surroundings. He kept seeing the sorcerer's pale, pinched face, first blank with fear, then taut with anger. A memory that had never belonged to him was rattling around in his mind now. A violation of trust.

There seemed to be a small collection of spell ingredients forming on the counter; Esfiandiar put his in the pile with the identifying note on top of it, then retreated. But not too far - regardless of his own mood, he did still owe Athan a debt. He stationed himself in a corner, leaning against the wall and folding his arms in front of him.

Pyrite slid in and out of the shadows, distraught by her bonded's anger. Esfandiar felt a questioning breath of thought from the Fiend but did not move. I did not care to see such things, know such things. Sepehr did not want that, either. What gives you the right? he thought, ferociously.

The soft mental touch withdrew at once. She must have heard. Esfandiar shook his head and remained where he was, brooding.

The door opened once more, revealing a blue-haired woman and the red shadow trailing her. The bag containing the lezuralis was hooked to the chains that trailed her sides, and glowing blue eyes widened once she finally got a good look inside. "Mystic !"

Zero's face went pale. He was.... He was....

Red's reaction was similar, but at the same time pretty different. He all but rushed for the other fiend, regardless of who or what might be in between the two of them.

Damnit, this was all his fault !

Echo was only too pleased to be rid of the void. It was not something she cared to have - and now she had it in her possession not for hours, but while longer. She was pleased to have been given it, but until she had set the vial elsewhere and it was not in the capable hands of those that actually knew what was going on, the woman could not breathe easily.

But she could not just leave, that would feel simply wrong. Instead, Echo found an empty wall and leaned against it. Pez had been quite thankfully quiet since re-entering the shop. Who knew, maybe the audible floating rock had a sense of understanding after all.

Echo could not stay still, she was too agitated, and even more so because she could not figure out where the emotion was coming from. Sure, she wouldn't wish being turned into a statue on anyone, but she hardly knew the people she went on the hunt to help.

To pass the time, Echo had taken out a copper penny. She would drop it on the group, and Pez would fetch it - which meant covering it in shadow until it could not be seen. But it always fell at her feet, and all the small woman had to do was lean down and pick it up, only to continue it again. It was pointless, but it kept her mind elsewhere.

She glanced at her watch, was it time yet?

Dio popped through the storefront and paused just inside getting his bearings. His eye widened at the fact there were so many people, and he immediately started to feel panic. One or two he could handle, a crowd like this scared him. The flash of blue caught his eye and he focused in on Zero, if she was here then Red would be too. Red would protect him from the scary. The unhidden eye scanned the room, that’s when he saw Mystic, and next to him Red. He made a beeline for his Red and caught him by the back of his vest, hiding behind him, body curled as closely into Red's back as he could get. Terror was to tame a word for how he felt now, he recognized what was happening to Mystic, and he knew what it felt like.

Merci was not far behind Dio, shoving through the door with little preamble. Her tail drooped with obvious exhaustion. She worked hard to get what she had, and was actually quite proud of having found it. Who would have known that finding it would have been such a pain in the a**?

Her green eyes looked over the room when the feeling of terror hit her from Dio. The passive look turned into a solid frown when she managed to spot him, and next to him, Mystic. He looked horrible. She made her way over and set the box down, opening the top to reveal the colorful liquid swirling inside. "I hope this helps Mystic..." She didn't want to say anything else, because it seemed to be an awkward situation. Instead she just backed up and shot pensive looks toward her ward.

Mystic remained as still and silent as the two statues near his side as he watched as guardians and those that simply had aided him out of kindness filed in one by one. Steadily they had been arriving for what seemed an eternity, but in truth it could have only been an hour or two. He blinked groggily as he tried to force himself to focus on his task at hand. They had gone so far out of their way for him. For them.

He could not fail them. Especially not... her.

Faded hands reached to gather the ingredients together, to sort them, to count, and to take note. Having something else to focus upon lent him a strange sort of strength which he clung to desperately. All his remaining energies were focused upon this moment. Not even his cloak remained substantial. He had nothing to spare to maintain the guise.

It wasn't important. His task was all that mattered. She was all that mattered. Above all else it was alwaysalwaysalways her.

He flipped the pages of the heavy spellbook that sat atop the desk before stopping upon the page that listed all the ingredients of the antidote. Mentally he checked them off one by one.

One by one. One by one. By one by... one.. was missing.

His eyes widened and a thrill of panic shot through him. No. No. No. Not ... possible. Not..

He counted again. And again. Still missing. Still gone.

Gone as he soon would be.

Echo was one of the last to arrive, but she was still anxious. When the dark and fading Mystic moved, however, she stopped playing around. Intently, she watched as he sorted through the items... and it looked like everything was going to be okay.

But then there was a pause. The woman didn't know quite what was happening now, but Pez had a feeling. The shadowed gem was nestled near her ear and was twinkling and babbling incomprehensibly - and through him... Echo frowned and watched Mystic.

What was going on? What did this mean? Curses her reluctance to not learn this magic stuff! Echo's hands were clenched at her side. She wanted to help, but didn't have the knowledge to understand how she could.

Angel watched the fading ghost-like creature before her go from confident to dismayed, to perhaps frightened. Something wasn't right. She wasn't sure how to react, but she knew that this was not a good situation for this Mystic to be in.

Dio shifted and ducked his head around Red, his burgundy eye moving to watch Mystic as he moved. Something was wrong, and he knew it. His fingers tightened on Red's vest momentarily before he shoved his panic aside. Right now, he couldn't deal with his fears. His friend was in trouble and it should be all that mattered. He drifted slowly a little closer to Mystic, 'Whats wrong? Is something wrong?' His voice was quiet, he didn't want to talk in front of all these people. He wanted to curl up and hide in Red's arms, but he kept his eyes focused on Mystic.

Merci quirked a brow and pulled out a folded and refolded piece of paper. Everything that had been on it was marked off. She was sure she had gotten the right thing.

Red took a sharp "step" backwards when Dio all but clung to his vest, as he wasn't expecting something like this to happen. He almost panicked for the split second it took him to recognize who it was, and then his turn took a sharp, protective turn. One arm moved to hold Dio, bringing some of the fabric of his coat along to try to envelop him - almost as if trying to hide the little panicked fiend from the word.

However, some of his panic returned once he clearly saw that something wasn't right. "...Mystic ?"

s**t. This had to work. He couldn't die. He couldn't...

He was so going to kill whatever b*****d thought up all this with his bare hands.

Something wasn't right. Something DEFINITIVELY wasn't right. Red's worry only made her own skyrocket. Damnit ! "Mystic, what's wrong ?!"

Esfandiar observed, using his anger with Pyrite as a shield - he was here to see his debt repaid, nothing more - but as those around him began to panic, his arms slowly lowered to his side. This 'Mystic' that had spoken with him, that Pyrite had drawn memory and void out of... so pale, barely-there...

Ending; Bonded; Negative, Pyrite ventured, a curl of shadow emerging from Esfandiar's own and wrapping tentatively around his ankle.

What do you mean? The thought was, again, directionless, but as before Pyrite picked up on it easily.

Bonded; Required. Bonded; Lack: Existence; Lack.

Esfandiar let out one long, slow breath. So... the transparent Fiend was... dying, then? And what of Athan? Someone had not kept their part of the bargain, that much was clear, and the shadhavar's face took on an expression of anger once again, but for a very different reason.

"Is there time? The markets of Tesfaldir..." he offered, speaking into the chaos in general.

Delilah chewed her lower lip as she edged closer to Mystic and peered at the items spread in front of him. Her eyes flicked from them to his face and back. She set her hands on the counter, not quite touching the items. "Mystic?" she asked softly. "Do you need me to do anything?"

Kova, on the hand, was now trying to keep her hands around White Opal who pulsed and vibrated almost violently. Nearly coherent waves of feeling swept over her, coming from the stone. Worry, fear, nervousness.

Mystic shook his head, though the movement left him feeling somewhat dizzy. 'There are items missing. I am...' he trailed off as he came to realization that even his voice was leaving him. He ducked his head and swallowed thickly. He didn't know what else to do. '... fading.'

Outside the shop it took Trivii several conflicted moments to push the door open and walk in, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, the girl removed her sunglasses and golden eyes sparked in the dim area searching though the gathering of fiends she had never before seen.

Skimming over Zero and Red, Kova and Opal, finally finding the elder fiend. "Mystic." She spoke softly enough as not to be heard, pushing forward from the fringes and extending a small corked jar with the scales inside.

"Mystic, I hope these can help... Medusa Scales." Backing up half a step, she smiled faintly at her friend, at a complete loss for more to say.

Vibrating excitedly the little stone clung to Trivii's shoulder, extending anxious tendrils to examine the other fiends and hosts.

"What can we do to help you, Mystic?" Angel called, her eyes filled with worry. Something had truly gone awry. "There must be something...Anything." She said, stepping forward to stand more with the others who had come. "What can we all do to help you?" She asked, hopeful.

The elder shadow's eyes widened, a look of surprise (perhaps even excitement?) thrilled through him. They were still a few items short, but if others came. If others came while he started the spell! If there was enough left from what he had brought from Reyna's study it could buy them some time.

He stood again with a certain desperate determination as he began drawing runes atop the wood of the table. This was going to get messy and quickly. 'Stay back,' was the best warning he could manage to give the rapidly growing crowd of anxious guardians and onlookers.

Esfandiar's eyes narrowed, and he stayed where he was. Whatever was going on - he was going to listen to the barely-there words that the fading Fiend projected, even as Pyrite all but cut off the circulation to his feet in her clutching worry. There's a plan, he has a plan, now let go of my ankles, he informed the shadows at his hooves.

The tendrils withdrew immediately, and Pyrite herself pooled out of the shadow, but hung close by her bonded. Her fingers did not so much as twitch in the direction of the others gathered there. Many, she offered, phasing partway through the wall.

Yup. Not good. He seemed to be fading, and quickly. Even with some of his voice gone, she understood enough for her to react and pry the two boys away from him, worry in her eyes.

s**t, this had to work. If it didn't... Well, not only she probably wouldn't get Ajit here in time, but that somehow seemed even more suicidal then letting Mystic do a spell with incomplete ingredients.

Merci stayed where she was and tucked the note back into her pocket. She moved over to stand next to Zero. "Things will be alright, we've done what we can at this point. Though I think that fellow over there had the right idea." She gestured at Esfandiar. Thats when her eyes narrowed and she looked at the bottle, "Those look like snake scales.. and if you needed medusa scales I have three of the whiny brats at home."

Dio clung to Red and pressed as close as he could. He wanted to help, and he knew that he could do that best by backing off. 'Lets give him room Red. He knows what he is doing, and if he needs help he knows he can ask us.' Dio's voice was still very quiet. His head tilted up and he offered him as much of a smile as Fiends are capable of, hoping to help alleviate his friends fears.

"Del, come back here. Don't stand so close to Mystic." Kova took a reluctant step backwards herself even as the stone in her hands tried to push forward instead. The flower-girl shook her head and sank to sit just behind Mystic on the floor. She brought her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, chin resting atop. Her wide blue eyes stared up at the Fiend.

The spell didn't take the same way as it did before. It didn't form the gelatinous ooze that had cured Zero's arm. It was only half formed and melded strangely. It took on a strange glow and he half feared that he had endangered them all by being so bold as to think he could control and sustain it without all the proper ingredients.

He dared to look away for a solitary moment as his gaze settled upon Delilah. 'Back room. There may be other items left from before.' It would also keep her busy and out of harm's way.

Excited and fearless the floating cabochon of Carnelian moved so close as to almost touch Mystic.

"Get out of Mystic's way, Carnelian." Scooping a hand to cup the wisp she pulled it into her own auric field.

"Is there anything else I can do to help?" The quiet purr of words was spoken in sincerity as she stepped back into the room at large. Full of guilt that she had been so tardy.

Mystic shook his head once. No. This was something he must do. He alone must cast the spell. Involving more people could cause more trouble. His form was at least mostly transparent and intangible save for when he called on what precious little energy he had left to move an object or stir the spell ingredients. The only thing he truly needed at that moment was time and the final items to complete his work, but he seemed to be swiftly running out of time and the items.... still missing.

There was nothing he could do, and that was frustrating him to no end. Zero was also doing a very good job at blocking his pathway to the elder shadow, too. Damnit, she knew him much too well already. There had to be some way, something to at least keep him from fading even further, because.... how much would be too much ? Was that already done ?

And if only they had been more careful with that stupid piece of paper.... !!!!!!!

He held Dio closer, but his eyes where almost alit with anger and worry.

Dio floundered in his mind before a memory caught him, it was faint. It was something he didn't WANT to remember and it made him hold to Red more tightly. He shut his eye and tried to clear his thoughts. He had been as close to death as Mystic was now, and when he was, Red had saved him. Red saved him, even if he hadn't known it by giving him a piece of his own strength to feed on. The little black fiend tried, he tried to reach out and bolster Mystic.

He wasn't strong enough. He opened his eyes and looked up at Red. 'Red, save him. Like me, remember. Save him, you are so strong, you can give him some if you try. Make him strong too, strong enough.' He didn't know how else to word it. His hand squeezed Red's arm, and it was obvious he wasn't going to let go while the other Fiend was attempting it.

Merci frowned a little bit, because she had no idea what Dio was talking about. "Dio what are you saying?"

Dio made a frustrated sound, 'Red can share! Please share with him!'

There was pure confusion emanating from the red shadow, at first. What the heck was Dio talking ab-

Silence.

He remembered panic. Instinct. Not rational thought, simple, pure reaction.

Maybe that was what he was doing wrong. He was thinking entirely too much, about s**t that couldn't be changed.

Time to react.

Red stilled completely, eyes fluttering closed as he reached out for Mystic with all that he had.

He had done this once, and damned if he couldn't do it again !

Zero quite honestly had no damn idea what was going on anymore. "Red, what the hell...."

Trivii drew further away from the group watching in stunned silence and sheltering her own little wisp against her body.

Struggling against her guardians hold, frustration radiated from Carnelian as she was unable to dive into the fray.

Eyes narrowing the cat girl watched the duo of Black Star and Red. Frozen where she stood.

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Another figure entered the shop, though not by conventional means. He floated through the door and past those that stood in his way, drifting easily between and around lolling figures despite his blindness. It was merely a hindrance. His true Sight aided him far more than any that he could have been born with.

'Save your strength, Alisari. Your attempt to share your energy, while a sweet notion, is for naught. He is too far gone,' he said aloud. His voice was deceptively sweet, yet clearly still masculine. 'Thankfully, you're not dead. That would have thrown a kink in things entirely.'

He drifted directly over towards Mystic who was now glaring daggers at him, eyes burning bright with anger, and oh what was that? Could that be shock? It had been quite some time since they had last merry met. The Seer radiated a sort of smug smirk before settling directly in front of the desk. 'At least not yet, that is..'

Mystic snarled, face twisting into a mask of rage, all-too reminiscent of his bonded when her temper flared beyond her control. It was in that moment that he faltered. Just slightly. It was just enough to cause some of the bright, glowing fluid within the copper basin to slip over the edge, hit the desk, and then drip like liquid mercury onto the child that sat stubbornly next to him.

He gasped and Hawk swore. That he had not foreseen. She was meant to be in the backroom. Hadn't that fool warned her? No, no. He had. Stubborn child!

Hawk interrupted both the elder Shadow's thoughts and cut him off before he could make another feeble attempt at his now garbled speech. 'Clearly, we haven't the time for this. Hurry. You need my help to finish the spell. Before anyone else ends up hurt.' He at least Saw that she would indeed be fine. Resilient, but still foolish.

Delilah gasped, a tiny surprised squeak, and tilted backwards where she sat to lean against the wall. Her hand clamped over where the potion had hit on her forearm and she squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to not cry out loud. She knew her mother and had already heard the faint sound of the tall space pirate shifting. "Mama, no," she ordered in a deceptively strong voice. The potion started to burn. "You're going to mess up Mystic's spell. I'm okay."

She lifted her hand to peer at the skin and paled beneath her golden tan. Those close enough could just about see the sudden lines of angry black pulsing along the area, moving as if following veins. She pursed her lips and put her attention back on Mystic and the stranger more firmly.

"Del..."

The anguish in Kova's voice forced her to edge her seat away slightly until she was about two feet further away.

It wasn't working, it wasn't working, it wasn't <********> working and now there was this random fruitcake coming out of nowhere trying to tell him what he should or shouldn't do. Ohhh, that did -not- sit well with him, at all.

After all, if there was one thing the child hated more than being ordered around, it was failure, especially with himself. The two things that saved Hawk from Red making his way to him and giving him a rather volatile (and probably amusing) piece of his mind was the fact that he was pissed beyond words, and that, well, Dio clinging to him like a lifesaver actually provided a damn good anchor at keeping him rooted down in place.

Dio's worry and desperate need to do something was derailed at the entrance of Hawk. He had no idea who he was and the natural curiosity bubbled to the surface. Who was this? Why did Mystic not like him? Wait did he say Alisari? Where did he know that word from?

It was about then that he registered the anger rolling off Red. His train of thought throughly derailed he patted his friends arm soothingly. 'He's one of us Red, he'll help. He has to help.' He was feeling a little disoriented, and he had to remind himself that all that truly mattered right now was fixing Auntie Reyna, saving Mystic, oh, saving the Athan man, and keeping Red calm. Not necessarily in that order but pretty close.

He was patting Red on the arm, when he noticed the fact there were a number of little wisps in the room. 'Red don't do something violent in front of the wisps.'

Mystic tried to contain his rage. It was dampened only slightly by his anguish for Del, but it allowed him enough clarity to focus. He projected his emotions and disjointed thoughts upon Hawk to interpret. Speaking was in fact useless to him. He could no longer find his voice.

'I can charge the spell. It will be enough to return one of them to normal.'

Bright, violet eyes narrowed. Only one? Only ONE of them??

'And it must be Athan.' Hawk held up a hand to placate the other. He already knew what his argument would be and while it was valid, it was the only true solution. 'You will have to trust me. Athan's true element is earth not darkness and shadow. He will respond better to it than Reyna will, and he can save her.'

He did not want to believe. He flexed his fingers as he resisted the urge to clench his fists as currently both his hands were suspended on either side of the basin to hold the spell. 'No..'

Hawk scowled as he was branded with a particularly harsh vision of what the future very well could be if he did not comply. 'I've no desire to become eldest, Mystic.'

The surprise of the new comers entrance, and the spill onto the child, the rushed exchange didn't quite register with Triv.

Everything was moving so fast and the smell from the simmering potion was turning her stomach. Side stepping closer to Red and his friend, she felt drained as Carnelian again slipped her grasp to hover closer to the pair.

Little tendrils caressing the pair Carnelian exuded confidence and bravery at the pair, blindly mixed affection and, oddly enough, concern and a questioning thought.

Her eyes narrowed at the potion brewing fiends. They were going to succeed... was that a good thing? Did she want them to succeed? Gold mingled oddly with opal, a light of conflict in the recesses of her eyes the cat girl focused on anything but the scent as what was transpiring finally connected with the facts she had.

And her stomach churned.

Pyrite slid in and out of the shadows. So many thoughts, memories sleeting through the air, close enough to reach out and grab; but then the one that was nearly melted away to nothing would vanish entirely.

She wanted to find out more about that void. And she could not do so if he melted.

Watch; Urgent, she told Esfandiar, firmly.

He looked down at her, where her dark eyes blinked out of darker shadow, where his body leaned against the wall. I can't do anything-

She flicked a tendril of shadow at him, annoyed. Watch, she repeated.

Bemused, Esfandiar turned his attention back to the tableau unfolding before him, the words of the other Fiends dropping neatly into his mind even as they ignored him entirely. Such a strange community he seemed to have fallen into.

Oh, he better had to help, or else things would get very ugly, very quickly. He would make sure of it. He watched the situation unfold, tail trashing wildly back and forth, glowing eyes narrow. He wasn't sure if he liked this turn of events, but, what could he do about it ?

Nothing. And that's what he did. Thankfully, there was enough restrain in him to keep him from acting impulsively and screw up the spell.

Dio watched and then spoke up, directing his voice towards the two of them. 'You said there is only enough to charge for one. Red and I can go look in the back for more ingredients, in case the Athan man will need them to fix Auntie Reyna. I know you don't like it Mystic but it's the most logical choice. He is the magic man after all and taught you right? If he could teach you he can fix Auntie Reyna!' He fell silent again and took heart from the little wisp that had made it's way over to them.

Dio turned his burgundy eye down to Carnelian and reached out with his sleeved hand, something he didn't do often, to touch the reaching tendrils. It amazed him sometimes how tiny wisps were before they found enough power to grow.

Quietly uncertain Trivii mutely lifted her hand like a student in class. "Mystic, my friend... please think about what he is telling you. Athan can save Reyna."

Again reaching out and recapturing her wisp, Trivii closed her eyes. "And if he needs help, he will get it. Please, use your head before you use your heart."

Watching the Fiends argue, the spell hang in the balance and (more importantly) her daughter curled up and looking decidedly strained spurred Kova to take a few steps forward. The stone in her hands flickered and White Opal's tendrils reached out to the other nearby Fiends. She recognized a few and sought instinctive comfort. Kova was too busy to provide it at the moment.

"Mystic?" There was a quaver in Kova's voice that no one had ever heard before. "Please let him do the spell. Before anyone else gets hurt. Mr. Athan can save Miss Reyna and..." Her voice caught and she swallowed as a few more steps showed the darkening marks on Delilah's arm. "He can help Delly. Look at her, Mystic. She's hurt now, too."

"Mama..."

"Mystic, please. We've got to do something now before things get worse."

A look of guilt washed over his face at Kova's mention of Delilah's injury. That was his fault. She was right, and so was Dio. He nodded to Hawk but the other Shadow had already Seen his answer and was beginning to take over part of the spell.

Hawk outstretched his own hands to mirror Mystic's and a sort of strange, bright static charge ignited between them and made the spell glow even further. The light was abrasive to their senses, being made of darkness, but they had no choice but to endure.

The Seer hefted the basin up with a surprising show of strength and dumped over onto Athan. It wasn't the most practical means of coming across the cure, but it would work. It damn well better work. The amount of energy he had expended simply getting there would soon enough be taking its toll, never mind the feat he had just performed. He now needed Athan in the sense Mystic needed Reyna. Wren, quite clearly, was no where to be found.

The stone that seemed to cover Athan cracked with fissure lines, his hands that were still held outright as though he were still reading that infernal note flexed and then quite suddenly, he broke free with a groan of pain as stiff joints that had been locked in place protested fiercely enough to send him to his knees.

He coughed as he knelt on his knees, for the moment unable to move as he tried to catch his breath. His lungs burned. It felt as though he had been held underwater and finally let up for hair two seconds too late.

"Ohh by the gods," he groaned before he made an attempt to stand. It was only then that he took notice to the great number of people gathered and to the familiar Shadow that stood before him, fox-like tail swishing side to side. "Hawk!"

The Seer beamed a sort of contentment as he moved to help Athan stand with one arm wrapped firmly about his shoulders. His brief moment was ruined however when Mystic stood and drifted through the table and towards both of them, anger still evident in his features.

'FIX HER,' he demanded with what little strength he still possessed. He was beginning to fade faster. His cloak had deteriorated almost entirely, his skin and hair nearly colorless.

Still frozen where she stood, Aki stared...for several long moments unable to comprehend what was unfolding before her. Curls of white blond hair stuck against the perspiration beaded on her forehead, glittering as faintly as the outstretched vial in her hand. Struggling to catch her breath, one hand still on the gaping door, her face crumpled slowly in understanding. But was she too late?

"Fix her." Old pain twisted tears into Aki's voice as she echoed the last spoken sentiment. Coral lifted slowly behind her, like a bloody sunrise over one shaking shoulder, and gazed at those assembled with uncertain ocean blue eyes.

Selfish as it was, Coral was glad she had no voice with which to make such a cruel decision.

Athan stilled as he tried to comprehend the situation he had more or less awoken to as he backtracked in his mind. Zero came in angry with a note that had been attached to her door. The spell was hidden -- hidden well enough that even he had not seen or sensed it. Then... then they had turned to stone. He was now returned to normal, but...

He turned and he drew in a shaky breath as he realized with a sudden clarity what it was both Aki and Mystic were demanding. He was so faint he could hardly sense him. He attempted to extend some of his own energy to the Shadow but he had twined himself so close to Reyna and closed himself off to him long ago. It would be enough to sustain him, but not for long.

"I.. I'm not sure how," he answered before he moved over towards the spell book. Before he could turn the pages he was hit with a vision that quite clearly was not his own, but he was not allowed time to protest.

He stood in front of Reyna, the desk had been moved so that it was no longer an obstacle in his way. Behind her was Hawk, his arms wrapped firmly around her form in an embrace to charge the spell he was about to cast. Mystic was no where to be seen, but faintly he could still sense him there, a brooding, heavy weight on the room.

Green runes appeared on her alabaster skin as he called them forth one by one, he unclasped a vial that was in his left hand and poured it upon chalked lines that had been etched onto the tile floor. The lines flared to life and the mermaid tears sped along the chalk like quicksilver before climbing it's way up along the statue of the demoness.

The silver absorbed into the stone and disappeared entirely. The lines dimmed. He could feel Mystic panic, but he remained steady and calm to hold the spell. If he let go, it would backfire onto Hawk.

Fissure lines appeared and the stone began to break away, shattering in a near violent manner as the demon awakened.

Athan reeled for a moment, swaying until he gripped the side of the desk to steady himself. What felt like minutes, perhaps even an hour, was in truth only a few seconds. As if being turned to stone hadn't been disorienting. He shot Hawk a pointed look before his gaze settled upon the group of guardians and other such familiar faces.

"Help me move this desk."

Now that, finally, felt like something Esfandiar could do... curious as he was about the proceedings, he felt like a stranger hovering at the edges, unaware of the shared history of those assembled. He had never enjoyed social awkwardness.

The shadhavar strode over to the desk and grabbed the corners, then nodded at Athan. "It is good to see you again, Sage. Where would you like it?" He could probably manage the weight alone, though the movement wouldn't be graceful or precise. Best to have more hands.

Pyrite, startled by her bonded's sudden movement, remained blinking in his shadow, though she sidled as far away as she could get from Mystic. All of him was melting, even the memories, even the laughter and the void. She wanted no part of that.

"And you as well, friend," Athan replied, "Though I regret it is under such circumstances. Once this mess is settled I believe perhaps a more simple afternoon of tea and conversation of our travels may be in order." He chuckled quietly to himself before also taking hold of the desk. "If you could help me shift it away from Miss Crelos, please. Towards the door to the back room would be ideal."

Just as Pyrite kept her distance from Mystic, Hawk made it a point to maintain a proper distance from her. He could not read her, and he did not like it.

Esfandiar nodded and lifted, then took a few steps backwards, trying to take as much of the weight as he could. Tell me if I'm going to walk into something, he thought, quickly. He was starting to kind of get the hang of this mind-speaking business.

Affirmative, Pyrite replied, and he felt her cool touch on his legs as she peeked out of the shadow.

"There," he spoke up, "That should do it just fine. Thank you very much."

Before he could try to figure out what to do next, Hawk was at his side and was pressing both chalk and the vial Aki had brought into his hands. Wordlessly he accepted both. He knew what to do from there. He moved towards Reyna's still form and drew a circle around her and quickly drew in the necessary symbols with practiced ease.

Mystic. Where was Mystic? He glanced to the side where he believed him to be. He had curled down next to Delilah, but was hardly visible at all, only his stone remained entirely visible.

Esfandiar nodded and stepped back, automatically reaching out to right a pencil cup that had fallen over in transit. Pyrite peered at Athan from behind the desk, her dark eyes blinking slowly.

Desire; Memory, she whispered, but did not move, merely watched.

Don't you dare, Esfandiar shot back.

Movement-Self; Negative. Desire-Memory; Affirmative. Obedience-Bonded; Affirmative. One of her hands solidified enough to creak around the desk with cracked fingers as she observed.

Red would have helped with moving the desk, but hadn't quite cooled his temper down enough so that he wasn't more likely to snap and hiss than be helpful. He drifted around the room, in a way that looked oddly like a nervous man pacing back and forth. At least, he settled, warping himself loosely around Mystic's shoulders, as if somehow trying to protect him from something he could never even dream of possibly preventing. His long tail went on to curl around Dio's waist, giving a nervous twitch every now and then. There was still anger simmering right below the surface, that he couldn't quite let go of. Anger and worry.

Mystic hadn't even the energy to sigh. He was simply there, but for how much longer it was somewhat difficult to tell. Red's presence was at least comforting. Little brother. Little serpent. Idly he lost himself to memories, what few he clung to. He wanted to sleep.

Athan, on the other hand, worked quickly as he completed his circles and runes and designs all around the statue before he stood. Then, just as in the vision, Hawk was draped across her back and the actual spell began. He thought for a moment to warn those present, but it was too late to do so and he could not afford for his concentration to be broken. Exhausted as he was, it took every fiber of his being to remain calm and in control of the situation.

He held his breath as he opened the vial and the first drops of the mermaid's tears splattered against his linework. It flared to life as it was meant to and he exhaled in relief.

Aki folded her hands, pressing them against her stomach as she watched. Silently, Coral floated a bit higher and reached forward to smooth Aki's hair back off of her forehead, seemingly more concerned with her guardian than the events at hand. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, Aki gave a silent prayer to the Goddess that no longer heard her...praying that the tears of a fallen mer were just as potent as those of the true sea folk.

It hadn't occurred to her until now that the difference might mean Reyna's life.

Attention; Occurrence, Pyrite projected, her grip on the desk tightening a bit. Shadow flowed out through the cracks in her skin, snatching at dust. The faded one was hardly anything but memory now. If she came to him, she would eat him whole, hold his entire being in her mind.

She stayed where she was. Emphatically.

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Reyna's escape from her stone prison was entirely different from Athan's. Where his began with fissure lines and cracks that peeled away and faded, hers began like rapid burning wildfire. It was to be expected in a way, given her true nature. Before the statue even began to show the first signs of color and semblance of normalcy, a low grating, animalistic growl could be heard.

The statue cracked and then it erupted, shattering and flinging stone as she burst free in a fit of rage. She lurched forward in a swift movement and seized Athan by his neck in a chokehold, taking him entirely off guard. "YOU," she managed in a ragged, low voice, "Do not pay me enough for this s**t!"

Athan wanted to laugh at that, but he had no desire to provoke an already.... disagreeable berserker. He instead remained as still and neutral as possible until she relinquished her grip when her attention was drawn away when a sudden jolt hit her, sharp and painful like a shock of electricity. She doubled over and growled until she realized what exactly it was when she felt her energy begin to pull away from her in a familiar drain.

"Mystic," she managed before she reached out towards him with one outstretched arm. If she had been more the emotional sort, she likely would have burst into tears at the sight of her Shadow looking so ragged, worn, and barely-there. Instead she grabbed at him as best she could and drew him close.

Red slid away from Mystic as Reyna went for him, sliding to the Dio's left while his tail never left it's curl around the other child's waist.

Hopefully, it meant all that bullshit was over now... hopefully.

Zero let out a sigh of relief as things finally seemed to work out in the end. Still, she felt horribly guily - like this was all her fault, like she should have thought this out in more depth before crashing down into the shop like a madwoman. Her emotions where easily readable from her, just like an open book.

Dio clung to Red and shut his eye leaning against him fully. The relief was tangible, despite Reyna's outburst. 'Oh thank goodness.' He felt wonderful to be so near Red, safe, and truly happy. Everything was right with his world.

Merci just smiled, glad that what little she was able to do actually did help. Athan and Reyna were good... well sorta people. Reyna was a demon, but all in all it worked out for the best. Her eyes moved over to Dio and she smiled slightly. "Glad your both alright.." She offered before falling silent.

Though her shoulder's sagged in relief, Aki's eyes still held the haunted pain that had so twisted her voice. Reyna was alive...and while once, that would have been all that mattered, something dire still weighed upon her.

Someone had done this to them. To her, to Coral. Someone had done this to Reyna, "Someone..." Aki's shoulders did not square. Instead, they curved farther in, as though the space around her was distasteful. "...is going to pay."

Coral paid little mind to Aki's soft spoken promise of revenge. Floating forward, twining like a lazy kite, she tried to get a better look at Mystic and Reyna where they had collapsed together. Without a word, she turned to glance back to her guardian...studying Aki for a long moment. Despite all their trials, she'd never known it could come to this...and the thought frightened as much as it morbidly fascinated. Lifting one slender arm, the siren Shadow pointed unerringly at what was left of Mystic's visible form, blue eyes still locked on Aki.

-Now fix him?-

Aki's brows furrowed, narrowed gaze flicking for the first time to the beaten and tattered shadow that Reyna pulled close. It was a hard thing to realize, but until now...she hadn't cared whether or not the Fiend fared well. Her only thought, from the start, had been the demoness...and the shadow of guilt made her delicate ears droop.

"I don't know what to do for him, Coral..." Lifting her eyes, she took a long look around the room...studying Hawk's pale form, Pyrite's cloaked face, and the relieved silhouettes of the others. "Does anyone...?"

"I think they just need some time together. Time and... Cookies." Smiling with relief and her mind immediately moving back into the usual train of her thoughts, Kova slipped behind the others and through the curtains. Moments later, she reappeared with two cups of tea and a first aid kit. She set one cup on the table close to Athan's hand. "Miss Reyna?" she murmured as she crouched carefully beside the other woman and her Fiend. She offered the other cup but almost immediately set it on the floor. Then she slid over to pull Delilah into her arms, cuddling her tightly.

Delilah shifted sluggishly, barely looking at her mother and (even more rarely) not even taking the chance to push White Opal out of her mother's other hand so that she did not have to touch the shivering stone. Her half-closed eyes watched Mystic and Reyna closely, brows pulled together with worry. The black lines remained on her arm but had stopped moving.

White Opal pulsed once, twice. Then she reached out a wavering, unsure tendril towards the demoness and her Fiend. A wave of concern swept out from her, more seemingly aware than any other emotion displayed before. Another tendril even reached back and out towards her reluctant "sister."

Angel wasn't sure how to act. Everyone here had a true inkling of what was going on.Everyone but her, that is. These shadows seemed very important, for everyone around he had some sort of ghostly thing with him.

"A good thing has happened, with them being awakened, right?" She murmured, mostly to herself. Considering the fact she knew no one, she was still rather pleased with the fact that she had helped in reviving these important people. Of course, she was confused.

Reyna snarled at any and all that came near to her. There were too many people. It was suffocating and it just added to the anger that threatened to eat her alive. It burned and twisted her insides. She had been pushed too far this time, and the rage was hard to control. The only thing that helped were Mystic's cool, barely their hands pressed against her face as he tried to coax her into a more calmed state.

She sucked in her breath and held it as she shut her eyes. If she could just drown it out, maybe it would stop. Mystic whispered something to her and her visible eye snapped open before settling upon an all too familiar figure -- one that she had not seen in... how long?

Too long.

"Where's Wren?" she managed to grate out.

Hawk shook his head. The briefest flicker of remorse (perhaps even longing) flashed across his features, then it was gone and he had hid himself in Athan's shadow.

Athan frowned. If Hawk was there, Wren should be close by, but when he reached out towards the Shadow with his own bond that linked him to nearly all of the creatures, he found a thin, barely there line to the demon. Instead, there was a rapidly forming bond to himself. He sighed heavily. Something had to have happened.

His gaze settled upon the demon and his frown darkened further. This... should not have happened.

"And what in hell are we going to do about this?" Reyna demanded, "This cannot continue to happen. This is serious." She growled quietly like a predator that wanted loose from its cage to hunt. Oh. There would be blood. Lots of it, if she had her way.

She took notice of the tea Kova had sat down next to her and snatched it up with a grumbled thank you as she sipped at it. Eyes downcast until she glanced up and took notice of Aki. Sweet, sweet Aki... who looked strangely ... changed in a subtle manner she couldn't quite place.

Mystic followed her train of thought and glanced towards the elf as well, bright eyes twinkling faintly with merriment at the graceful creature that haunted her shadow. Then he found his voice again to say, 'I will be well.'

Merci shifted where she stood and folded her arms, now that they were safe and not in the brink of destruction, thoughts of what lead to this trickled into her mind. She had no idea what was really going on, wished she knew more of the situation but she didn't. Right now however was not the time to grill anyone. Athan and Reyna likely needed space and air, Mystic for sure needed time to be with his guardian. Her eyes moved toward Dio, who was obviously fretful. He was wringing his hands, something odd for him to do as he barely ever moved the fully sleeved arm.

Dio couldn't stand seeing Mystic like this, it was bringing back memories that he didn't like. Memories of swamps, and stifling amounts of darkness. He twisted his hands and fussed with the hem on his sleeve. 'Why?' Was all he could say out loud before he clung again to Red's arm. He didn't like the feelings here.

Red tilted his head to look at Dio, worry being fully betrayed in his glowing, snake-like eyes. There was something here, and in despite the little flash of something that had occurred, he couldn't remember a damn thing about it. He didn't like it.

"We should probably get going." He said, his voice unusually low and downright gentle... But even then there was a hint of anger and frustration. All this bullshit would not go unpunished, no.

He led the smaller shadow toward where their respective guardians where standing. "Mystic needs time to recover, Reyna and Athan too.... We can check on things later." Even he could tell they needed space, and the respect he held for them made him willing to grant it.

Zero sighed, and shook her head. There was the overwhelming urge to apologize, to do something, but.... Red had a point. She glanced at Merci, trying her best to convey her feelings in a simple glance.

Delilah managed to lift her head above her mother's nearly suffocating grip and offered Mystic a lopsided smile. "Of course," she agreed. "Just rest with Miss Reyna now." She glanced at Red and Dio and Zero and Merci, sharing the smile with them. "He'll be okay," she announced. "Miss Reyna's tough."

In another moment of strange warmth, White Opal pulsed with agreement. She pulled her tendrils away from Mystic and Reyna, noticing their withdrawl into each other, and instead stretched them out in greeting to the other Fiends. She remembered Red but not so angry. Red's friend, however, might as well be hers, too.

Shock at the events unfolding before her, limited Trivii's response. Everything was back to normal, that was a good thing right?

Relief, the single emotion that she should be feeling was a far cry from the dread that filled the cat girl in those moments following the crack of stone and acrid stench of magic. The sharply curving clawed fingers that held the warmly glowing Carnelian, had gone all but numb, and inside her chest, somewhere in the vicinity of her heart, was a void.

A golden mist warred with the rainbow sheen of opals in her eyes, and life she knew, would never be the same. Forcing a smile on reflex alone Trivii moved further away from the irate Reyna and closer still to the wall nearest the door.

Jubilant and not afraid to show it the little wisp slid free of her Guardians hands to... dance? Just out of her reach, ready for anything, touching everything, writhing tentacles of darkness happily coiling around Trivii's arm in an effort to get her to be happy too.

Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:54 pm

Metaplot: Conclusion to Words & Stone
...

Reserved

Reyna Crelos
Captain

Shameless Ladykiller

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Reyna Crelos
Captain

Shameless Ladykiller

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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:56 pm

Introducing the Space Pirate
Merci introduces her Cinder to the shop.

Merci turned the key over in the ignition and pulled it out after parking across the street from Twilight Designs. She really hadn't been back since the statue incident and she was a bit nervous that Dio would smother poor Reyna in snuggles. She glanced over at her other half and smirked a bit, "This is the place. Just a quick warning, the girl that usually runs the register is a demon, and Dio adores her. The owner is snarky, and there is another older shadow named Mystic in there. You might meet others, they are in and out of there all the time." Merci popped the door and slid out of the big black SUV.

Dio rolled his visible eye, 'Auntie Reyna, the Athan man and Mystic are all very nice. In fact Mystic is my best friend, next to Red.' He didn't bother explaining who any of the names belonged to, and swooped through the door of the car. It was easier for him to remain non corporeal and so he did, floating in air.

Merci waited for Cinder and crossed the street, opening the door to the shop to let her in first. "After you my dear."

Dio didn't wait, he flew right through the storefront giddily. He was always thrilled to go to the store. It seemed to him that it was never boring here like it could be at home.

Cinder eyed the car as they drove, there was something about being in a vehicle she wasn't driving that put the pilot a bit on edge. It didn't mean she didn't trust Merci`, she wouldn't have let the kitsune drive at all if she hadn't trusted her. Pulling up across from the shop Cinder leaned slighlty to get a look at the place. Nodding slightly to Merci she crawled out of the car after the strange child like shadow thing swooped away.

"Demon huh, as long as she doesn't bite without permission I don't think I'll have a problem."

Peeps who had been attempting to hide along the floorboard during the entire ride decided to use that moment to pop out of the car and add a bit of wisdom as only a Piman could, "Bitings are bad. Unless during mating." Peeps small feline shaped head bobbed slightly before dashing off after Dio. Cinder was pretty sure the strange creature was fond of Dio at least to some degree.

Cinder chuckled and glanced to Merci` holding her arm out to hook the other girl's she headed into the shop. With a grin she murmered, "Remember no biting except for mating."

"Heyhey... easy with that. If it breaks I'll be damned if it comes out of my paycheck, mister."

The demoness stood with her hands on her hips as she peered up at Mystic who was gingerly installing a crystal chandelier to replace the old light fixture. 'I fully trust in your ability to make Athan pay for things even when you should,' he answered teasingly as he finished hanging the last part of the crystals.

He still appeared mostly transparent, tired, and more than a little cranky. The fact that he had even bothered coming to the shop said something in itself. He had long since taken to staying at home to avoid Athan, but the strain of being without Reyna pained him. He sighed and drifted back down to hide in her shadow, emerging only partially when Dio skittered inside to wave in greeting.

"Well look what the cat drug in. How are you, sugar?" Reyna all but purred when she caught sight of the child. Her visible eye widened slightly, clearly bemused when a cat-like creature did in fact follow him in. Go figure.

Dio lunged at Reyna and gave her a nice solid snuggle, 'You look like your doing so well. I am happy. Oh,' He cocked his head back to look over his shoulder at Peeps and the two women as they entered. 'Thats Peeps, he came with the tall woman.' It was a small rebellion, but it was what it was. He didn't really use Cinder's name if he could help it, mostly because it annoyed Merci to no end.

Merci grinned at Reyna, "You look amazing as usual Reyna. When you want me to pry the little beast loose you let me know. I just came by to introduce my other half, Cinderfae. She just got back from...." He paused and her brow furrowed, "Well, whatever it is she does." Honestly Merci had no idea what it was Cinder had been up to, but it didn't matter. All that really mattered is she was back now.

Dio rolled his eye and looked back at Reyna, 'They sleep in the same room together. Vance says it means that their bumping uglies, but I don't even know what that means. What's an ugly?'

Merci coughed and turned a shade closer to her hair color.

Cinder let a throaty chuckle loose listening to the Dio's description, well at least the other inhabitants of Merci`s house were giving him an education. Cinder flickered her eyes over at the demoness, she really hadn't had much experiance with demons. Aliens, parasites, cyborgs sure but not demons; usually seemed too religious based for her tastes anyways. Cinder decided to leave the bit about what she was up to for so out until she had time to settle and speak with Merci` truthfully between the entourage that seemed to fill up the house that Merci` owned there hadn't been much time.

Cinder stepped forward and inclined her head slightly to Reyna, "Hello there, heard a bit about you. And seems your probably going ot hear about me." Smirking slightly Cinder glances to Dio, "mostly about glueing my hair together I'm guessing. As Merci said, I'm Cinder. Not really much more to go to that. Hope you don't mind the visit, interesting little shop you have here." Cinder wasn't sure what sorts of pleasentries one was suppose to give but she tried her best, her hand flexing slightly as she wished she could have one of her cheroots.

While Cinder, Merci, and the interesting shadow thing were pre-occupied Peeps slinked around the shop. Even though he was actually rather sizable he was doing a fairly passable job at slinking along the bottom of display cases and attempting to peer into and on top of them. Eyeing a particularly shiney bauble Peeps moved up along a case and started standing slowly along the shelf it was on, his eyes occasionally darting around as he does.

Reyna snickered outright which was accompanied by Mystic's somewhat musical laughter. He slinked out of her shadow just enough to wrap his arms about her shoulders, chin resting atop her shoulder as he peered over at the group with his bright eyes.

"Means their lovers, kiddo. I'm sure you'll have that figured out when you're older," the demon replied in a matter-of-fact manner, seemingly unphased save for her obvious amusement.

"Nice to meet you, Cinder," Reyna replied with a polite nod before idly pointing to the shadow that was clinging to her back. "The pretty behind me is Mystic." She smirked and ruffled Dio's hair. If it weren't for the fact that they were mostly insubstantial, having him cling to the front of her and Mystic draped across her back would be rather stifling.

Dio's eye scrunched up as he analyzed that. What the heck did that mean! Did it mean they loved each other? Well then that mean he had a lot of lovers. That would mean Mystic and him were lovers, and Red, and Reyna, Merci, in an odd way the Athan man. 'Ooooo, where is the Athan man! I wanna look at his big star thingy!'

Merci heaved a rather relieved sigh. Sometimes the fact he popped from one subject to another was a bit annoying. For the first time ever, she was relieved at his insatiable curiosity. Some rather inappropriate questions could have come up, "Yeah I haven't really explained Dio very well yet." her voice was a bit embarrassed, "There were other things we were, uh, preoccupied with."

Dio grumbled, 'I don't need explaining. Your my bonded!'

Merci glanced at Dio and sighed a bit, nothing she had said lately seemed to come out right. Her boy was sulky and nitpicked almost anything she said. At least the overt attacks seemed to be over, Cinder wasn't going anywhere and the kitsune was relieved that Dio seemed to at least start understanding that. "Alright, I will let you and Cinder talk about that then. You are rather unique my Little Star."

Dio perked a little bit at the use of his pet name, though he didn't reply or launch into any type of explanation. He just clung to Reyna.

Cinder glanced over to Mystic and smiled slightly, "nice to meet you as well." She'd gotten pretty use to the strange creatures that seemed to show up over time the shadow ones were just new to get use to; and if one had bonded to her Merci` she'd learn to live with it. Cinder's eyes scanned the shop slightly, hearing Dio she inquired,

"Athan? Friend of yours as well, Dio?" Cinder paused her gaze locking on the ginger haired Peeps.

Peeps while the others had been conversing had snuck up on the display and a bracelet upon it. Reaching up carefully he started to pull the bracelet from it's stand. Cinder stepped across the room in a few quick strides and reached out plucking the bauble from the Priman's hands. Peeps let out a pitiful whining sound as she did. With a rather well trained movement she laid the bracelet back in the case. "No stealing, go apologize. See if Dio will introduce you to the guy with the big star thingy."

Cinder rolled her shoulders and glanced over, "sorry about that, he's harmless enough he just likes to walk off with the silver and shiney things. Luckily he isn't too good at it."

Peeps sulked slightly moving up to rest along the bottom of the front counter.

Mystic's brow lifted in mild confusion. 'Star... thingy?' he queried, 'Do you mean the ceiling in the back room?'

Reyna offered Cinder a fanged grin. "Athan owns the place and uh... is largely responsible for these guys," she motioned to Dio and Mystic both with a wave of her hand. She snickered faintly at the cat-creature's antics. "Careful there, honey. I don't exactly take well to people skittering off with my work without paying first. If ya asked nicely I could maybe strike you a deal, though."

Deals with demons, while typically a dangerous thing, was at least (some what) safer a thing to do within Twilight Designs. Just so long as it was Reyna doing the deal-making and no bargaining of souls were involved.

TBC.

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:50 am

Where's My Brother?
Merci temporarily invades Red's dreams.

Zero Dream

It was a good thing that all the crap had finally come to an end. For now, anyway. Red knew better than to think it would last for any great span of time - Zero was just as skilled as he was in getting in trouble, and no amount of arguing would convince him otherwise.

And together, they were like... some kind of super-charged trouble magnet that probably pulled s**t from worlds away. It wouldn't surprise him.

This was not one of such times, however - now all was calm, Zero was sleeping deeply, and the snake-like fiend wasn't lagging very far behind her, curled up in his usual spot - it was actually hard to resist not at least napping at night, in spite of being his prime area of activity - Zero was so peaceful when she slept, a single wave often uninterrupted by dreams, that was actually very hard to resist.

Now that Zero's problems were, for the most part, solved, he could spare greater thought on his own - mostly, all the others he'd missed in the span of time where he had never left his guardian. Thankfully he had seen Dio, and he knew there had to be new fiends bonded in his absence, as Tek had proved.

Still... what of everyone else ? Especially, what of Mystic ? He hadn't seen the older shadow at all ever since Athan and Reyna had been freed from the spell he'd indirectly placed onto them - and definitively hadn't seen him since growing, and he couldn't help but imagine all the kinds of trouble he could now get in with his self-titled big brother in tow.

Had Red been able to physically fall asleep smirking, he just might have, but now he was in this odd span where he was awake and yet not - drifting back and forth to the whims of his thoughts.

Reyna Crelos

Mystic had spent most of his time asleep. He woke on occasion, but being awake felt so exhausting. The dream realm felt more like the waking world and vice versa. He had not missed anyone while he was "away." All the people whom were important to him he could sense whenever they closed their eyes and drifted off to sleep.

He did not typically pry directly into the dreams of his friends and family, but he felt the need to make an exception for one Shadow in particular. It was his own fault. Red kept thinking of him, and it was very much interrupting Mystic's typical routine for when he was busy dreaming.

It was decidedly quite easy to slip into a person's dreams when they were thinking of him in particular. He thought it would've been harder to sneak his way into Red's portion of the dream realm. His was a blank slate. Blank and dark. He found that to be curious. Most people's minds created all sorts of wild imagery.

He figured that his little brother, whom he noted was not quite so little anymore, did not dream often.

"Fancy meeting you here," he replied in a decidedly familiar, though distincly lower voice that carried a slight, indistinguishable accent. In the dream realm, Mystic was also decidedly more real, though his appearance shifted constantly depending upon whom was looking at him. He appeared differently to everyone.

To Reyna he was a monster to be slain. To Holicinesh he had been a dark, strange guardian angel. To little Sam he was simply a playful spirit.

What would he be in his brother's eyes?

Zero Dream

It was indeed true that Red, much like his guardian, did not dream. At least, not normally - it happened, every now and then, but it hadn't happened recently at all. And so, indeed, there was only blank darkness around them. Though, there was something comfortable about such a thing.

Red did not dream. And Red definitively did not hear voices in his head that wasn't his guardian's. Until now, it seemed, and it left the fiend very confused indeed, as he seemed to be quite unaware if he was asleep, awake, or even just where the hell it was. Normally a foreign voice would have put him on edge, but not this one - there was familiarity in it is spite of being different.

Red did finally turn to face Mystic - though what he saw was not Mystic, per-se. To Red he was a shifting shadows among others, nothing more - fitting with their location, perhaps ?

'Mystic ? The Hell ?'

This was Red-talk for "Hi there, I certainly missed you."

Reyna Crelos

Mystic laughed outright. "Well," he replied smoothly, "We can't all have super strength and tote badass weaponry everywhere we go, now can we?" He willed his form into something more familiar to Red since it seemed his appearence would not settle on one thing based upon the other Shadow's influence or lack thereof. Idly he wondered if the snakes never dreamnt at all.

"What a boring blank space. Are your dreams always so bland?" he teased, "Perhaps I ought to liven things up a bit."

The blank slate seemed to fall away and was replaced with a meadow filled with delicate, night-blooming flowers and a full moon. Nearby the sounds of a babbling creek could be heard.

"There," Mystic said with a look of smug satisfaction as he settled to sit cross legged next to a large rock formation that overlooked the very edge of the creek, "That's better."

Zero Dream

This would have normally made Red even more nervous - if he hadn't been able to tell it was truly Mystic, that is, in spite of all the differences and weirdness. His instinct said that was right, and he trusted it.

'I don't dream.' Red shrugged. 'Well, sometimes I do. But usually I don't dream.'

Maybe this was just that - some wierd as hell dream. "Suit yourself." Red didn't seem too bothered by the chance of environmental, settling against a rock.

For a while, both were silent.

'...Im glad to see you're okay, though.' Red didn't usually talk about... feelings. That fact that he was doing exactly that said much about how he felt toward his big brother. 'Dio's worried, you know.'

But he hadn't been, of course not.

...Maybe a little.

Reyna Crelos

"Isn't he always?" Mystic replied, though he was somewhat apalled that Red did not dream. "I'll have to send some fun dreams your way. This not-dreaming is not good. How's a dreamwalker supposed to stalk his little brother if there are no dreams to be had?"

He chuckled quietly under his breath and eyed Red with a look of curiosity. The Fiend had grown, and interestingly enough, his dream visage seemed to be the same as he waking self. Or at least as much as Mystic could tell without having actually seen him in person since he had grown. He made a mental note to remedy that soon.

"So is that it then?" he asked with a hint of teasing laughter still in his voice, "You were fretting like Little Star and couldn't help but think of me as you fell asleep, thus beckoning me into your dreams."

Zero Dream

'When he isn't screaming like a little girl.' Oh, he was unable to resist. But yet, it was said with absolute fondness, the tone not mocking in the least. That fondness was a little alien with Red's voice.

'Well, someone needs to make things a little difficult for you, doesn't it ? Fittingly it has to be me. Im always trouble, you know.' His tail tapped against the rock he was laying on. He couldn't make things easy now, couldn't he ?

Red hmphed at that last sentence. 'I do not fret.' Denial - not a river in Egypt. 'It's been too long since I've seen anyone beside Dio.'

Reyna Crelos

"Oh no? You don't worry?" Mystic teased as he wiggled his fingers at Red and laughed quietly with a low, almost musical sound, "You're not a very good liar, friend. You should work on that."

He stretched out his legs where he sat and adjusted the cloak of darkness that seemed to swathe him in some sort of strange inky, black robe. "Screaming like a girl, eh? I can certainly not ever accuse you of that. Your voice is much too low for one. What happened to cause our little friend to scream, hm?"

He leaned back against the boulder behind him and laughed. He lifted one hand a bit of darkness seemed to ebb and flow in and between his fingertips. "Do I need to send a nightmare to plague someone in particular?"

Zero Dream

'Hmph. So what ? Apparently this was what Red had to tell about that. Who needed to be good at lying if you could just beat up the opposition, anyway ?

But then he was amused again. 'I sneaked up on him. I've never gotten even Zero to scream that high.' Oh, he was proud of himself, of course he was. How couldn't he be ? It had be the single most priceless thing he'd even witnessed in his life, hands down. 'We grew... roughtly at the same time, apparently, but I didn't know until a few days ago.' He had been doing nothing but tending to his guardian, before that.

'If I knew exactly who the ******** was that tried to kill Zero' He all but hissed, tail lashing and splitting the rock that it hit in two with the force of impact. 'I would so take you onto that. Though there would be no guarantee I wouldn't have killed the b*****d first. It took her months to recover from it. Coward struck from... who even the ******** knows where ? She didn't even have a chance to defend herself. I didn't even get the chance to rend it in pieces.' His voice was low, deadly, hissing each of those words in a tone more animal than sentient. Red apparently did have some sort of honor code, ******** up as it might be, and that hadn't felt into it at all.

Reyna Crelos

Mystic laughed outright at Red's description of Dio's high pitched screaming. He could only imagine the boy's reaction, and the mental image was priceless. "I am so calling him out on that one next I see him," he declared with a bemused smirk, "There shall be no living that down."

His expression darkened considerably as Red spoke of the terrible things that had befallen his guardian. His eyes seemed to take on an unearthly glow and the shadows that surrounded him seemed to twist and pull tighter in around him in reflection of his mood. "That is not good," Mystic replied in a low, dark voice, "If per chance you do find out whom or what did that...... do let me know. I've a gift for them."

Zero Dream

'That would be if I was inclined to let them live long enough.' Red wasn't kidding about that at all. Technically, he knew what had done this, but not where the hell it was. No one did, and it was frustrating to a very high degree indeed. And it frustrated him to an high degree indeed.

'Through I might. Just because it's you. Just long enough.' Kicking a** with Mystic was always fun, after all. Whatever this Chaos was, it certainly deserved the pain. 'Things have been better on your end, I hope ? Or do I need to beat something up ?

Reyna Crelos

The elder Shadow fell silent for a time, eyes downcast as the subject turned to his "end" of things. He glanced up and met Red's gaze and shrugged. "Eh.. I'm okay. I have a hard time staying awake now, but it doesn't really bother me. The dream realm seems more familiar to me than the waking world anyhow," he told him simply. "It's an interesting place."

He sighed and reached out idly patted at the waves of grass and flowers that surrounded them. "I know myself better here than I do when I am awake. I'm more... me."

Zero Dream

...Hmm ?

'More... you ?'[/i] Red was clueless - this much was evident, really. His tail slittered idely into the grass as if it had been a snake of its own. 'What do you mean ?'

Reyna Crelos

Red's confusion caused Mystic to laugh again despite himself. "Don't you ever wonder about what you are? Probably not since Hawk outright told you, I suppose. You do realize we are more than simply Shadows, yes?"

He sighed heavily and pressed a hand to his face. "We are not simply some strange race that Athan has concocted. We are not simply an experiment in magic.. we were once beings that were something so much more than this."

He paused for a brief moment before lifting his gaze to once more meet Red's. "So, yes. Here, I feel I am much closer to being whatever it is that I truly am. What I am meant to be."

Zero Dream

"I know that." Red answered. "Dio had... a dream, too. About who he used to be."

And then it had been the beast-thing that had attacked Merci... Good thing that he'd been there for this one. Even if he didn't remember it.

"I never gave it much thought." Red shrugged. "I mean, it's the past, right ? It's not like I can do anything to change it now. The present's more important."

Reyna Crelos

"I think you misunderstand, little brother," Mystic told him with a look of consternation as he struggled to better explain himself. "The past remains the past, that is true. The present is indeed more important, but have you given thought to what it is you're turning into?"

Mystic's eyes closed and for a moment he seemed to blend entirely into the night. Inky black markings crept along his skin until there was hardly anything to see but swirling darkness. "Perhaps we should meet in person next you wake," he told him, "So you can see the beginnings of what I shall become."

The elder Shadow stood from where he had been sitting and moved towards Red. He extended a hand to him to help him up as well and embraced him briefly in a brotherly hug. "Until then, brother," he told him, "For now you should rest."

Mystic left him there, but soon after leaving the moonlit scenery he had built seemed to fade away, leaving Red to his restful gray slate.

Zero Dream

Well, had he ? No... not really. Thinking much about the future also wasn't his forte at all, beside of keeping a tally of who needed to be beaten up. In fact, it hadn't really occurred to him that he wouldn't stay the way he was now forever. He'd certainly never seen anything that hinted otherwise.

Well, until now. "Maybe I should." And that was all he said about that. Maybe he would. Maybe he wouldn't. Though, knowing Dio, he probably had already done so for him.

"Until then." He repeated, after they'd let go of each other. "Just let me know when. Ill be there."

And with that, he let the world drift away, and he drifted off to true sleep.

Reyna Crelos
Captain

Shameless Ladykiller

Offline

Reyna Crelos
Captain

Shameless Ladykiller

Offline

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:44 am

Dream Guidance
Mystic comes across Dio's dream realm.

Merci`

Dio yawned and stretched his arms over his head. For some reason tonight he was feeling a bit tired, though it was probably no help that he'd stayed up half the day. The teenager and decided to start trying to write down the things he heard at night. He hadn't really taken Merci's advice about a journal seriously until today. He didn't feel he had anything really important to write about himself. His past was still convoluted and confusing. Writing it down wasn't going to help. He had been with the Alisari, but was not one of them. He probably helped hasten the death of a wonderful race of people, he still had no idea what the hell the Crux was. No matter how much he read he never seemed to come across anything about them. That only really lead him to believe they were some sort of crazy secret society. All in all, he was stumped and didn't feel like he had any direction to continue his investigations.

That left him with one thing to do. Listen. He wasn't super good at it, as friends would say. Dio tended to talk way to much, but listening was his gift, his curse, what made him what he was today. It was his ability to listen in a completely unique way that caused his soul to be caught in the stone that was still embedded in his chest. So last evening he had sat quietly, with his eyes closed, doing just that, listening. Since Christmas things had been getting easier, he assumed that maybe the stars themselves started to understand that he was one creature, and couldn't hear them all at the same time. With the rising of the sun he'd begun scribbling out everything he'd managed to grasp. It was all so incredibly disjointed, but he had faith that perhaps these were his first steps.

The teenager passed on sleeping up on the widows walk today. He was just to tired, so instead he was perched on the edge of the bed in his bedroom. They skylight was closed, so it was nice and dark. Dio flopped onto his side and pulled the blanket up over himself. In the background he had some quiet music playing, the smooth jazz station always seemed to make relaxing into sleep easier. It was with the soft tones of acoustic guitar and piano that he finally felt himself drift off to sleep.

*****

Dio licked his lips and smiled at himself. Yes, he actually smiled. Where his face was usually as featureless as any other fiend, here in his dreams he was a person again. His skin was still the midnight black of the stone he was named for, but there were many things that were entirely different. His hair was still the magnificently hued colors of nebulous clouds, but it was much longer. Instead of one small braid next to his face it was pulled back in a thick french braid that swung down his back. His skin sparkled, though not like it was covered in glitter, instead it was as if he was the embodiment of night itself. The stars he was so infatuated with were there to see under his skin, not just on his arm and back. Both of his eyes were visible, a touch more purple here then they were in reality. His face was actually quite beautiful, and extremely androgynous. Despite his guardian's ribbing he wasn't in the least bit embarrassed by his petite size, his arms and legs were slender and he didn't try at all to be more masculine. His silver piercings it seemed multiplied here. His nose had a small silver stud, and his lips had two small star shaped studs shining from beneath them.

The teenager walked over to a blood red and golden fainting couch, draping himself over it. It matched the room perfectly. Curtains and gauzy drapes hung from the vaulted ceilings. To say that this dream was opulent was probably understating things slightly. The walls had intricate murals painted on them, obviously inspired by renaissance artists. Ornate molding lined the walls and floors, which themselves were white and gold marble. Dio was dressed to match the room in loose harem pants and an open silk robe in golds and reds. Surprisingly enough it didn't clash with his hair. He reached a hand up and touched his lips, he was somewhat obsessed with them, since it was an odd sensation for him.

He moved his hand away from his lips and snapped his fingers, from behind the drapes attendants came at his call. They were all male, and all quite scantily clad. If one was to look at them closely, they might see features they recognized from certain men in the fiends life. Each one carried a golden serving tray, filled with a variety of things, plates of fruit and cheeses, wines and other finger foods. The men arranged themselves in a way that made it easy for Dio to reach out and pluck anything he could want from their offerings. Two of them moved to the head and foot of of his seat so they could fan him with overly large palm fronds. His comfort was complete.

Reyna Crelos

Mystic took little heed to Dio's protests that he didn't want or need him to visit his dreams. Dealing with nightmare creatures was very serious. He knew that well enough from experience, and if these creatures were coming out of his guardian's head and into the Waking World there was a very serious problem at hand.

Upon first entering Dio's portion of the dream realm, the elder Shadow couldn't help but chuckle lowly under his breath. His dreams were certainly far more vivid that Red's had been. Opulence at its finest was what best described it, and he blended right in.

The elder Shadow had not lied to his other "little brother" when stating he was more himself in the Dream Realm. He looked very different. He looked almost like his Reyna but distinctly male. Where as she was pale and had silver hair, his skin was dark and his hair jet black. The only thing that seemed to truly identify him as being a Shadow within the dream realm now was the stone set in the middle of his chest, his bright violet eyes, and the dark, smokey markings that remained on his hands and feet.

He couldn't help but wonder if Dio would see his truer self, or if his mind's eye would supply him with a more familiar visage cloaked in shadows and darkness. He smirked broadly with sharp, fanged teeth and calmly strode his way into the ornate hall that Dio had created within his mind.

"I must say, little brother," Mystic teased with a grin, "You have impeccable taste."

Merci`

The wine probably didn't really taste like wine, because Dio really didn't know what wine tasted like. Regardless of the flavor as soon as Dio heard Mystic it sputtered out of his mouth and onto the face and chest of the attendant who had given it to him. His eyes got wide and he waved a hand irritably for them to go. "Mystic?" It was the voice rather then the appearance that tipped him off. He sat up on his lounge and pulled the robe that he was wearing a little more tightly around himself. "Stars above, I thought I told you that I was okay?" With another wave of his hand and the remaining men backed off to the edges of the room until they were summoned again.

Mystic didn't look exactly like Mystic. It was some strange mixture of what he was in the waking world, and something different. His stone was there, his eyes were the same. For a moment he wasn't sure if he conjured an image of what Reyna and Mystics lovechild would look like or if this was actually his friend. All he really knew was that somehow, whatever he was, he was an intruder.

That was about when the embarrassment kicked in. It wasn't a feeling that Dio was used to and it made him shift so he could pull the robe around him like a security blanket. This was one of the only places he could get away with doing pretty much whatever he wanted, because no one could see him. Of course it wasn't like he controlled his dreams really, but he did usually really really enjoy them. He rarely had nightmares, and when he did it was always the same one.

Reyna Crelos

The elder Shadow held the same languid, cat-like grace that his guardian had as he moved. He stalked his way towards Dio and couldn't help but laugh at the look of sheer horror that passed over his face. The look was rapidly replaced by embarrassment which served to amuse him even more.

"What you think is fine might not be fine or okay at all. I had to check for myself to make sure nothing is lurking where it shouldn't be. I wouldn't want something terrible to befall my beloved little brother now would I," he insisted before moving to settle upon the lounge curled up next to him. "Why so embarrassed, hm?"

The look upon his face very much spoke of mischief as he squirmed a bit to make himself comfortable despite the look of dismay that remained upon his friend's face. "Delightfully decadent as your mind is," he began with a purr as he nosed over against Dio's hair in such a way that he seemed very much like an intrusive feline that was demanding attention. "I've seen so much worse. Maybe I ought to invite you into my dreams sometime, eh? Fair is fair."

Merci`

Dio sat for a moment completely stock still. A wild thought that perhaps this is how other people felt when he was snuggling them ran through his mind for a moment. He doubted it though, there was definitely an intent here that he'd never felt before. Then it dawned on him, this couldn't be real. This was a dream right? None of this was real, there is just no way it could be. He relaxed considerably at that thought, if this wasn't real then it didn't matter what happened here. "Actually," he paused and moved an arm to wrap around Mystic's shoulder's, "You showed up early. Or things would probably have been a bit more, uncomfortable." There was still a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that perhaps he was wrong.

Oh well, maybe if he pretended he couldn't remember he could get away with dodging the ribbing that he was sure to receive. He reached his hand up and twirled Mystic's hair between his fingers. "I think I would like to see your dreams. After all you crashed mine." His voice carried some amusement. "And also as you can see they are free of any malevolent influences. It's my guardian you should be concerned about." The timber of his voice here was similar to his normal voice, though it was just slightly deeper. "Wine?" He gestured with his free hand and two of the man servants moved forward to offer Mystic the treats that adorned their trays.

Reyna Crelos

Mystic looked delightfully smug. There was not a chance in the world that Dio was going to live this down. Ever. "You don't know that there's not something malevolent here," he insisted, "Nightmares, particularly the clever ones, can be sneaky. Sometimes they start off as good dreams. I will have to check up on Merci, however."

He laughed quietly as he eyed the servants. One looked strangely..... like himself. Dark violet skin, jet black hair, and bright eyes. "No, thank you," he said in decline to the offer of wine. A broad smirk plastered across his face. "Is he supposed to be me? Oh, I am flattered.."

Merci`

The teenager cleared his throat and glanced toward the other man servants that hadn't moved from their posts along the wall. He hadn't really noticed before but they did look like people he knew. His eyes got a little wide when he recognized Hawk, Mystic, Red, Tariq, and Rhys. This had, in Dio's opinion, turned into a nightmare. He moved a hand up to the bridge of his nose and he pinched it between his fingers, maybe if he tried hard enough he could wake up and hide under a rock for the rest of his existence. The older shadow would probably use every possible moment to tease him about this. "You know it's common to dream about people you know. Just because you substitute a face that's familiar for one that isn't doesn't mean anything."

Yeah right. That excuse sounded lame even to him. "Anyway, what do you have to do to check things out? Just sit around here and drink my wine, eyeball my men, and tease me about it?" His voice was cross. Dio was slightly peeved that what should be an awesome dream was turning into something that was going to have ramifications in his real life. The things happening to him behind his eyelids at night was something he wasn't comfortable with and didn't really understand fully.

Reyna Crelos

"Awww," Mystic feigned a pout as he suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around Dio. He snickered quietly and nipped at his ear playfully. "Don't be too terribly mad at me?" he begged forgiveness as his fingers sifted back through his hair in a comforting manner. "I want only your safety and happiness, you know."

He remained there despite the look of utter discomfort and irritation on Dio's face. He was not happy with him, but the demonic part of him was thoroughly enjoying pushing his buttons. He was quite certain such an oppurtunity to otherwise harrass his friend would not arise in the future, and if it did it wouldn't quite be the same.

"To make absolutely certain that there are no bad, bad things that should not be here aren't lurking about," he began with a smirk as he stroked Dio's cheek affectionately, "I must cast a spell." He pulled away slightly, smirk still firmly in place. "With your permission, of course."

Merci`

The teenager canted his head to the side and regarded Mystic for a moment. It was obvious he was enjoying himself, and Dio knew it was his own discomfort that was likely the cause. However that didn't change the fact that Mystic was still Mystic. Someone that the younger fiend had looked up to and cared for most of his new life. With a resigned sigh Dio nodded a bit, "Of course, whatever you need. I want you to be reassured that I am in no danger after all." His words and tone were cordial. For a few moments he sat with an irritated look on his face while his friend reveled in his misery. Then it dawned on him.

If you can't beat um, join um right? He'd heard that saying somewhere before, probably from his guardian. The situation was out of his control, and he had to admit to himself that if he was in Mystic's place he would probably be doing something similar. So Dio forced himself to relax into Mystic's touch, and in fact he returned it. His left hand moved up to brush along the older shadow's jawline before he moved his index finger to trace his lips. "Then if you would be so kind as to check on my guardian I would appreciate it. Though if you cuddled up to her I'm sure she wouldn't be as welcoming." A slight smirk curled the corner of Dio's lips as he spoke. "You won't be needing my help for this spell will you?"

Reyna Crelos

"Nope~!" Mystic announced as he bounced up and away from Dio and skittered towards the middle of the room, utterly unfazed by Dio's attentions or the familiar looking … servants. That part still amused him to no end and likely would for quite some time. "I got this."

He found a suitable spot there in the middle of the room and held out one hand before him with is palm up. He closed his eyes and called forth a bright, shining rune. He tossed it with one hand towards the ground and it burst like a fire cracker. It crackled along the floor as it burst again and again into smaller, more detailed runes which traveled along the floor and ceiling at lightening speed.

"Aha!" he shouted as the sparkling runes traveled again and again to one of the man servants. "Oh, and it would be the one that looks like me," he laughed. He produced with his left hand a silver coin. The being that once was his look-alike was now a creature made entirely of darkness. It lashed out at him with a spiny, whip-like tail before dissipating into the coin.

He turned back towards Dio as he playfully turned the coin over and over in one hand. "Just a lesser beastie, though. Nothing out of the usual," he told him, "Though it could be a minion or left over remnant from whatever possibly plagues your guardian."

He paused mid step and tilted his head to the side with a curious look on his face. "Do you hear that?" he asked Dio with a mischievous look upon his face.

Merci`

Horror slowly settled over his face as he watched Mystic. He pulled his feet up on the fainting couch and resolved himself to not panic. What would have happened to him if Mystic hadn't been there? Would it have been benign until he woke? Or would it have waited until he'd been lulled into the dream and then done something much much worse when serve wine? When it looked like all was clear he launched himself from the comfort of his couch and threw himself on the older shadow. Dio wrapped his arms around him and curled up as close as he could to Mystic. Nightmares did truly scare him, because they saw into your soul and pulled out your worst fears. He didn't even know everything that lurked in the darkest recesses of his past.

The teenager was plastered against the other fiend, when he finally realized that Mystic had said something to him that required an answer. He blinked his strange wine colored eyes up at him. "Huh? Did I hear what?" He was slightly confused, and more then a little nervous. Maybe the older fiend was just playing a trick on him again, teasing him like he had until now. Maybe he was alluding to the fact that something much more sinister was lurking and couldn't be seen. These thoughts only made Dio tighten the hug to near a near stranglehold. "Is it another one of those monsters?" His voice was breathless and he turned his head to try and look over his shoulder, obviously completely paranoid.

Reyna Crelos

Mystic obligingly wrapped his arms about Dio in what was certainly a much more familiar and certainly more comforting fashion. "Easy there, Little Brother," he told him as he petted at his hair, "It was only a common nightmare. They lurk in everyone's dreams and feed upon your stress and worries of the waking world. This one was quite minor, I promise you."

"Shhh," he told him with a bemused look upon his face when he voiced his worry of possible other monsters on the loose. "No," he whispered, "This is something far more serene. Listen. Can't you hear her? She has been calling for you. That is the other reason why I came to visit you." He smiled down at Dio and idly brushed his hair away from his face. "I have heard her sing since I saw you last."

Merci`

Dio seemed to forget Mystic's previous teasing as he cuddled his friend. He was soothed, and slowly he felt the tension ebb away from him. His shoulders relaxed and the teenager's grip slowly loosened just a bit. He blinked his wide eyes and said in a near whisper, "Would it have hurt me? That thing? You don't think it was really associated with that thing that hurt Merci do you?" There it was, the fear laid bare. Whatever it was that crawled out of Merci's dreams wasn't really after her. It had wanted to kill him, he could still feel the greasy cold of it wrapped around him sometimes when he was letting his mind play tricks on him. Though as soon as he gave voice to his worries they seemed to disappear. He would never be safer then when he was with Red or Mystic. Not to mention that this place was to the older shadow, what a night sky was to him.

Dio shut his eyes and moved to bury his face in Mystic's chest. That was really when he heard it. Faint, it really was faint but there it was. He parted his lips and drew in a shallow breath. Part of him was afraid to say something, because he was nervous that he would lose the sound. How could that voice be here? How could Mystic hear it? It was familiar, and it served to only further soothe away his unwarranted fears. He simply removed an arm from around his friend and turned away from the embrace. His eyes opening to search for the source of the whispered song.

Reyna Crelos

"She sounds so, so sad," Mystic lamented, "And has been haunting me since I saw you last." He frowned and wrapped one arm around Dio's waist and playfully perched his chin atop his head. "Stars do not sleep," he declared matter-of-factly, "Not in the sense that a human does. There is no dream realm for them."

He looked a bit sad for a moment as he glanced down at Dio. "It means that she is fallen," he said simply, "Or worse." He pulled away slightly and walked back over to the couch and curled up on it with a drowsy look upon his face. He propped his chin up in one hand and gazed over at his friend through half-lidded eyes. "I had a dream once before that reminded me of a similar presence. I think perhaps she is trapped like us. Maybe your friends who still remain in the sky can aid you better than I," he mused, "I only hear the whispers and remnants of her mind."

Merci`

His eyes moved across the opulent room and he shifted to sit up straighter. The whisper of sound was so faint that it was easy to trick yourself into thinking you imagined it. Dio however was familiar with the cadence of the sound, because it was something he heard often. It was definitely a star, but what did Mystic mean. "Fell?" He voiced it as he thought it. "You mean, fell from the sky? Like a shooting star?" Now that he thought about it, why not? Hadn't he recently figured out he was thinking about things far to literally and scientifically? Giant burning balls of gas didn't feel, didn't sing, and couldn't talk to him. So that meant that the romantic tales of wishing on falling stars probably came from something much different then pieces of rock burning up in the atmosphere.

He moved a hand up and covered his face with one of his hands. "You know, for all I want to think I've got everything about myself figured out. I'm a real idiot sometimes aren't I?" The fiend ran his hand back over the top of his head and let it finally drop to his side. "I'm afraid that I don't know how to..." Dio paused and gathered his thoughts before he continued, "I don't know how to talk to them really yet. I mean in conversations. I can listen, and I'm getting a bit better at sorting through the voices to understand snippets of what one might be saying. But being able to ask questions and get answers at the this point is still beyond me." It was obvious by the tone in his voice that he didn't like admitting that he'd made so little progress. Without him gesturing, one of the men along the walls moved forward and offered him a glass of wine. Mystic might not be aware of the resemblance, but it looked remarkably like his new friend Tariq. The fiend accepted it and gracefully sunk to the floor, seating himself comfortably on one of the many cushions that seemed to be scattered about. "Of course none of this is your problem really is it. I'll figure it out."

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:47 am

'Cause the Seer Said So
Reyna trudges into work at the Seer's behest.

Reyna Crelos

Reyna muttered and grumbled to herself irritably. It was supposed to be her day off, but Athan had called her in. She didn't especially mind, really. It was more of an issue of whom she was instructed to bring with her. He had not returned back to the shop with her since both she and Athan had been turned into statues. Admittedly, there had been something a bit "off" about her Shadow since then. She had protested that it was probably best he stayed at home, but Hawk apparently had insisted that it was imperative that both she and Mystic be present in the shop today.

She was loathe to admit it, but she was not one to argue with an oracle.

So despite her trepidation at dragging Mystic along with her, not to mention the fight it took to lure him out of his room, she found herself trudging inside to the familiar surroundings of Twilight Designs. She eyed Athan who stood there waiting, clearly agitated. The source of his irritation phased into view and wrapped his arms around the man's shoulders in a manner that could only be described as lovingly.

'Time to go,' Hawk quipped with a swish of his tail.

Athan sighed heavily and shook his head. His gaze settled briefly upon Reyna as he too trudged his way through the front door of the shop, but in a clearly opposite direction. "The good news is nothing bad is supposed to happen. You just need to be here," he told her with a wave of one hand before leaving with a dark look as he pulled his robes tighter about him. Fall was making itself apparent, and he did not like the cold.

The demoness settled herself behind the main desk and withdrew one of her sketchbooks. Might as well work if she was stuck at work. She glanced to her side as Mystic phased into view. His eyes were half lidded, and he just barely looked awake. Perhaps the most startling difference between him now and from before the little incident involving Athan and herself was his appearence.

Behavior, yes. He was erractic, which had her on edge, but it was the sudden changes in his looks that made her... hesitant. His last growth spurt was to blame for her currently being stuck in-between forms, but if Hawk had seen nothing bad so far she decided to not worry too terribly much.

She couldn't help but find it interesting how the sclera of his left eye had filled in with a deep, inky black. Around his eye were strange markings, and the markings on his hands changed. There was also the part where his hair was growing in an equally dark black. It was like he was turning into an odd negative image of herself.

'Can't help but admire me, eh?' Mystic teased in a voice that was a bit lower than it used to be. He sounded more real.

Reyna rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair. "You wish, buddy."

Mystic made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a low purr or growl and wrapped his arms around her, face buried over against her hair. He said nothing, but Reyna got the point. He did wish that.

Merci`

Merci shoved the door open on her SUV and slid down to the ground. For once she was feeling smug about dragging Dio along to Twilight Designs, usually it was quite the other way around. "Oh come on Dio, don't be such a stick in the mud. After all you might get a chance to see Reeeeeed!" The last was said in a sing song way that she knew would irritate her partner in crime. Her tail was swishing back and forth merrily as she shut the door and pressed the button that locked all the doors. She started humming the most irritatingly cheerful song she knew, "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" as she looked both ways before crossing the street.

She idly wondered if she could hang a sign on her parking space that said "Mine!" After all she seemed to get it every time she drove down here. Merci turned around before she walked backward into the shop, using her hip to push the door open while she teased Dio. "You're not usually such a homebody."

Dio grumbled and mocked Merci's cheerful tone of voice, 'You had to pick today to leave the house didn't you? I have to trust that stupid machine to tape the special that I've been waiting for! You know I wanted to be home today, they might have found water on other planets. You don't even grasp how amazing that is, and now I have to miss the whole thing. They were going to do a freaking marathon of some of the best documentaries I've ever seen.' His burgundy eye was half lidded in his ire.

If Dio ever got angry this was probably the closest he'd ever been. Evil woman! He'd have to do something especially vindictive to her later. She would pay, oh yes, she would pay.

Merci cackled and turned around to see Reyna and she stopped dead right inside the door. "Reyna!" Her green eyes got huge and her face broke into an honestly happy smile. "My goodness I thought you'd been eaten by something. I was actually just about ready to drive out to your place in not to awful long and see if you were still breathing!" She approached the counter and shot Dio a look that was obviously a 'Haha I was right to drag you out of the house' look. She looked away from her own charge to look at Mystic and she gave him the same smile she gave Reyna, "Hey good lookin, haven't seen you in awhile."

Dio has phased through the door right behind his guardian and his burgundy eye locked on Reyna. He let Merci finish talking before he started. 'Auntie Reyna! Mystic!' Whatever he was upset about before seemed to go way when he saw his old friends. 'I've been asking around all over about you. I'm glad you both seem to be okay, I missed you sooooo much.' Dio was fidgeting with his hands, trying to contain himself and not immediately accost the two of them with snuggles.

Reyna Crelos

The demoness laughed outright. "Please, sugar, it takes quite a bit to get rid of me," she replied with a brash, fanged grin. Besides, if there was going to be eating of people or things, it was much more likely that she would be the monster wreaking havoc rather than the hapless victim. She didn't mention that part but she did say, "Yup. Still breathing."

Mystic seemed to exude contentment and pleasure at having his looks complimented. 'Mmmhmm,' was his only reply as he drowsily clung to his guardian.

"I've been about more often than not, but we do seem to have differing shifts," Reyna spoke up. "Though this guy here," she motioned to Mystic with the wave of one hand, "Is usually parading about in dream land or whatever it is that he does."

'Dream realm,' he corrected, 'And I don't like parades.'

Merci`

Merci shrugged a shoulder, "It's probably an evil plan of Athan's, keeping us apart. Giving me shifts here that differ so vastly from yours." She was kidding, mostly. Athan was one of the very few things in the world that gave her pause. "Actually I'm probably going to get much less time out and about. My Cinder and I are going to be opening a bar out here pretty soon. So when I'm not slaving away here, I'll be slaving away there." Seeing her friend had obviously put her in an even better mood then she was in before, if it were even possible.

Her ears perked up and she gestured at Dio, "Not to change the subject but, look my boy's grown up, a little. Though his mind has a long way to go." She teased her charge. "I'm thinking that he's going to be a midget forever." Poking fun at Dio's size was something that usually got a little bit of a rise, especially since he'd seen how much larger Red had gotten.

Dio's brows furrowed in and he shot Merci a crabby look, 'I'm not a midget. I'm just short, there isn't anything wrong with being short. Actually I have even less problems being short then most people cause I can float. So the next time you want something off the top shelf don't look at me.' He couldn't really contain himself long, his self control was better but not by much. He moved around the counter and without asking for permission gave the two of them hugs, at the same time. 'Can I trade her in for a new guardian? She's getting out of hand and I'd like a new model.'

Reyna Crelos

"Hah. Athan and evil in the same sentence," Reyna laughed, "You crack me up, girl." Athan was so utterly petrified of his own darkness it cracked her up. It also made him a bit violitile where that subject was concerned so she typically left that particular topic well enough alone. "Oooohhh.... new bar, eh? I'll have to swing by. I haven't been out drinking in ages."

Really, it was best she didn't drink at all, but the thought was tempting. Mystic oozing encouragement at her to cause mischief and mayhem certainly didn't help matters any. That subtle change to his personality she certainly appreciated, though.

"He certainly has," the demoness remarked as she admired the little Shadow as he came and hugged both Mystic and herself. "Love the hair, kiddo."

'Still all rainbows and sunshine, I see,' Mystic replied with a bemused look.

Merci`

Merci just snorted and reached into her jacket. "Actually I'm here to give you guys some money. I came in awhile ago to ask about it and Hawk said he was pretty sure you could." She pulled out the rutilated quartz that had been a gift to Dio what seemed like eons ago. "He says he needs it with him all the time, it helps him when he's trying to talk to the stars or whatever it is he does. So I was trying to see if there was some way to make it into a pendant or something that could be attached to him. We also thought it would be nifty if it could be fitted to his telescope, but not sure if that's possible either." The woman put it on the counter and looked at Dio, "You need to let them go so they can breathe, or at least so Reyna can breathe."

Dio let them go and perched on the edge of the counter. His tail danged down and the piercing made a very soft tinking sound when it knocked against his seat. He reached his left hand up and tugged on his bang, 'I like my hair. There isn't anything wrong with being bright and colorful is there? I got my eyebrow done too' He tilted his head and wagged his eyebrows, showing off his new jewelry. 'Ooo I need to talk to you too Mystic. When you have time anyway, about something that's been nagging at me.' Dio had almost forgotten about his questions, but if he was good at something it was questions.

Reyna Crelos

"Oh yeah?" the demon replied as she took the piece of quartz, "Ahh... I remember this. Mystic and I gave it to him ages ago. Sure, I can wire wrap it into a pendant. Not sure about fitting it on his telescope, but I bet we can make it work." She paused for a moment as she turned the stone over in one hand as she contemplated the best way to go about turning the small quartz wand into a suitable pendant without covering up too much of the stone itself.

She glanced up at Merci and smirked a bit. "And seeing as this was a present originally, I suggest you keep your money to yourself, lady."

'There is nothing wrong with color, Little Star,' Mystic replied as he watched his guardian work as she pulled various sets of pliers and a two coils of wire, one silver and one gold, out of one of her desk drawers.

"What do you think, kid? Silver or gold?" Reyna asked Dio directly. It would look good in either color, but she decided she'd rather let the owner of the stone decide.

The elder Shadow seemed to lazily smirk. When was there a time that Dio didn't have questions? 'Oh... need to talk to me about things, eh? I don't see why we can't talk right now. What's on your mind?'

Merci`

Merci had honestly missed Reyna, and she was more then a little relieved to hear her tell her to keep her money. They were running a tight ship with the opening of the bar and every spare cent getting sunk into it. However Merci had squirreled away a small savings to get this done for her boy. After all She had promised and promises were contracts to be kept. "You sure? I bet you weren't planning on him being so demanding with a gift." Her green eyes shifted over to Dio. She just couldn't help poking fun at him when the opportunity arose.

The small fiend glowered back at Merci and he held out his arms and wiggled them so his silver bangles clanked together. 'Silver please? Will go with the rest of my jewelry.' He shot his guardian a warning glare when she opened her mouth. 'Don't poke fun. Even boys like to accessorize. There isn't anything wrong with it.' When it looked like she was going to behave he turned back to Mystic.

He sad quietly for another moment and floated away from his seat on the counter. Dio reached out and took a hold of the other fiend's arm, 'Can we talk in the back room for a minute?' He tugged lightly before he released his grip and moved off in that direction.

Merci narrowed her eyes, "that just means whatever he wants to say he doesn't want me to hear. Secret's aren't healthy you know." She looked back at Reyna "Should be against the rules. They shouldn't be able to keep secrets." She made no move to follow however, and seemed perfectly content to just watch Reyna work.

Reyna Crelos

"Pfft. He can be as demanding as he pleases in this shop as far as I am concerned," Reyna replied. After all, she truly wasn't simply an employee of the shop. She was quite invested. Technically, she and Athan were partners, though each were loathe to admit they were some how, some way, equals in even that small way. They very much had a hate-dislike relationship. There was no love there, but somehow they managed to get along in the moments that really counted.

She cut off a long piece of silver wire after putting the spool of gold wire away. "In general," she went on, "If ya'll want or need anything, just let me or Athan know. You're kind of doing him a favor by taking care of Dio. He is indebted to you. Keep that in mind, eh?"

Mystic lazily floated after Dio and simply allowed himself to be dragged along into the back room. He phased through the wall and drifted over to settle himself upon the couch. He formed more human-like feet and crossed his legs. 'Spill it, kid,' he said in a voice and tone that was strangely reminiscent to how his guardian spoke.

Reyna smirked as she gazed over at Merci as she deftly wrapped the stone in swirls of delicate silver. "I dunno 'bout that. Everyone has secrets," she spoke up with a sly look.

Merci`

Merci leaned on the counter and glanced toward the back room, where the two fiends had disappeared. "You sure I can't pay you for your trouble? He's been complaining awfully loud about not having that thing with him all the time. So I appreciate you taking the time now to fix it up." She paused for a second and got a sly grin on her face. "You know I could just treat you to a girls night out when the bar opens. Would be a lot of fun. Cinder worked pretty hard on the VIP areas of the place. Since we're going to be practically living there part time." They were used to a certain standard of living. One that they weren't willing to give up without a fight. The parts of the bar that the normal clientele wouldn't see were going to be a reflection of the opulence they preferred.

She was trying to distract herself from sneaking over and trying to spy on the conversation the two of them were having. Sometimes Merci felt like she was digressing in age as Dio got older. It was very frustrating at times.

The shadow moved over and perched on the couch, his tail materializing into legs as he got comfortable. When he wasn't around Merci he liked having legs. For some reason the fact that his feet were multicolored amused her to no end. 'Sorry to bother you when I haven't seen you in so long. I've missed you, and I wanted to ask how you've been doing. Something is bothering me though and your the only one I think would have a good answer for me. Mystic.. um, are your dreams supposed to come out of your mind? Like if you have a nightmare about something, it's supposed to stay inside your head right? Because, Merci had a nightmare, and it tried to kill me.' He was probably overreacting, it had happened about a year ago. But that tentacled monster had grabbed him around the middle. Sometimes he could still feel the greasy feel of that horrible thing when he thought about it hard enough.

Reyna Crelos

"Nope," Reyna answered swiftly as she finished wrapping the stone with a small curled flourish, "You sure can't." She grinned and delved back into another drawer in her desk and retrieved a delicate silver chain and slid the newly finished pendant onto it. "All done," she announced. By no means was the task of wire-wrapping the stone difficult. She did it all day long with much more intricate and delicate stones. This, in comparison, was a piece of cake.

"I will certainly take you up on the girls night out, though. Maybe bring along a lovely lady friend I know." Actually, that sounded like a brilliant idea. She chuckled quietly under her breath and the wave of disapproval she felt from Mystic. She wasn't planning on getting into too much trouble.

Mystic's concern over Reyna's plans disappeared as he listened to what Dio told him and was quickly replaced with a deep, dark, worry for the little Shadow that sat next to him. 'The nightmare came out of her head?' he asked, eyes wide. A good dozen questions sprang to mind, but he wasn't so certain the boy before him could answer them properly. He didn't voice them aloud as inside his own head they hardly seemed coherent. 'That's not supposed to happen. It really, really isn't supposed to happen. Nightmares are supposed to stay in the dream realm as they are not meant for the waking world. For one to manifest itself in such a way...'

He trailed off in uneasy silence as he contemplated the possibilities. None of them were good. Each scenario in his mind was worse than the last. Finally, he spoke up again, 'For that to occur, someone must have tampered with her dreams or has placed a curse or spell upon her.'

The elder Shadow knew that to be true with the utmost certainty. How he knew that, he couldn't quit explain. It was more like a memory that he had forgotten that had just resurfaced. His remembering small, yet significant things seemed to be happening at an increasingly rapid pace, but the things he recalled or simply came to realize no longer disturbed him as they once had.

At least this time it seemed to be at least somewhat useful as far as his abilities went.

Merci`

Merci was honestly thrilled. It seemed like every time she saw Reyna it was business. She couldn't help but be excited to actually have an honest to goodness night out without having to worry about Dio or anything else. "Wonderful maybe you can help us christen the place properly then! Should everything be on schedule it shouldn't be to horribly long till it opens." Her tone lightened and got a sly edge, "And of course you can bring a date." Cinder and Clotho would probably really have a great time too. She'd call her other half when they were on the way home and tell her about the offer.

Unfortunately whatever she was going to continue saying at that moment was derailed by a wave of worry that seemed to come up the bond she shared with Dio. She arched a brow at Reyna and glanced toward the back room. "I don't think they are talking about harmless secrets back there anymore. He seems worried." At this rate, she was going to wrinkles. She was far to young to have worry lines around her eyes and between her brows. She looked back at the demoness, "He's getting older, I don't know half the time if I should coddle him and protect him or let him spread his wings a little bit." At the moment she was torn between going back there and trying to figure out what was wrong with him, and letting him figure it out and deal with it on his own. "I forgot what a pain in the a** teenagers are."

Dio felt the tinge of panic. Curses were bad, so were all the other things Mystic had said. 'It happened a year ago. Remember when I told you that she wasn't sleeping well, and I was worried. That time I came over to read the scrolls with you? It was related to that. It stopped right after the thing came out of her head. She didn't sleep again for a long while, but then she was okay. I've just been noticing that she's starting to pace like she did before.' He was fidgeting with his bracelets while he talked.

The younger fiend sighed a little bit and put a hand to his forehead. 'So i have a reason to worry about her? That's all I wanted to know. Thank you Mystic.' He couldn't ask him for more then information. This was his and Merci's problem to deal with, after all Mystic probably still had his own issues to deal with.

Dio would just have to find out who was trying to hurt his guardian and stop them. How hard could that be? Right?

Reyna Crelos

Reyna cleaned up the stray pieces of wire on her desk and tossed the remaining mess that couldn't be re-used or made into something else into the trash. She listened as Merci spoke and packaged up the pendant just for the heck of it in a neat, tidy black box tied with small silver piece of ribbon. "Eh," she spoke up, "Don't let it get to you. Shadows are hardier than they appear. Even a uh.. delicate boy like Dio." She laughed a bit at that last part, and was quite obviously unconcerned about the mounting worry and tension she felt through her bond to Mystic.

Mystic on the other hand was trying hard not to succumb to panic. His chest rose and fell as though he had taken a deep, calming breath. With a bit more of his composure regained he eyed Dio with a serious look. 'You will tell me if this happens again,' he stated. It wasn't a question, but a demand. He waved one hand and a glowing rune was called forth. Mystic opened a small portal big enough to fit his hand through and withdrew a silver coin that had a somewhat ethereal appearance to it. He waved his hand again and the portal was gone.

'Take this,' he instructed as he pressed the coin into Dio's hand. 'Should you be attacked by a nightmare again, this will trap it. I'll send you another gift in a few days to ... help with things.'

Merci`

The fox woman just snorted her laughter quietly. "Delicate is such a nice way to say that. I'm honestly worried that he's um. Well, he's awfully clingy with Red." She didn't exactly say it outright, but she hinted. Who was she supposed to talk to about this stuff anyway? Right? Maybe Reyna would have some sort of advice anyway. She opened her mouth and then shut it when she started thinking about what she would ask. She was a guardian, she was supposed to facilitate his growth right? Merci's brows furrowed and she looked at Reyna, "You think he's gay? I kinda do. I think he is, and he's got the hots for Red. I also don't think he knows what the hots are. Is it bad that I am slightly amused and dismayed by the whole thing and not sure what the hell I should do?" Okay, so she needed more friends, but who would understand the story? She had a soul in a ring that one day turned into a child, who was now a horny teenager in the span of a few years? Right, cause that was plausible to your random acquaintance. Not to mention she herself was interested in her own sex. "Aaaaand sorry to unload like that. You can completely ignore me."

Dio took the coin and turned it over in his hands. He furrows his brows and pushes his unibang out of his way, tucking it momentarily behind his ear. He wanted to be able to have an unobstructed view of the piece of metal. 'Thank you Mystic. I should watch her then shouldn't I?' The reaction was a little more severe then he had been hoping for. He'd hoped that his friend would just shrug it all off and tell him that he was overreacting again. 'So, if it jumps out of her head again, how do I even use this?' Dio held it up and looked back at the older fiend curiously.

Reyna Crelos

Reyna laughed outright. "By delicate I meant he was petite and rather short," she managed in between her giggling, "But uh.. I'd be more shocked if Rainbow Brite back there was straight. I wouldn't worry about that either, missy. It's not like they can do anything about it with the anatomy of a Ken doll." And for that she was thankful. Not so much because she was appalled by the idea of Fiends getting it on, but because Mystic had the hots for her. He was clingy enough as is, and she not so secretly hoped that he remained sexually ambiguous.

Mystic blatantly ignored Reyna's commentary, but made a mental note to dredge it up later. 'Just hold it up towards the monster. The coin is spelled and it will absorb the nightmare. Or at least it should,' he told Dio. 'I'll... check in on her dreams, and yours, every now and then just to make sure everything is okay.'

Merci`

Merci blinked and heaved a relieved sigh. "Oh thank the gods. I was freaking out trying to figure out how to be a responsible adult." She felt much better now that she knew when Dio sneaked out of the house at night and went about his life, he wasn't going to be doing something naughty. Well, sexually naughty anyway, who knew what other horrible things he was going to get himself into. "Now I don't have to try and figure out a way to stop him from phasing through the walls or just cruising off the Widows Walk."

She picked up the box and ran her fingers over the silver ribbon tied around it, "Thanks a bunch for this. He claims it helps him focus his powers somehow. I've never had any crazy whacked out powers, so I have no idea how a rock actually helps with it." Merci didn't like to admit it, but for the most part she was a metaphysical dunce. None of this magic and mayhem that went along with it made much sense to her. It was however, easy to just go with the flow.

The younger fiend nodded and tucked the coin in his sash. 'You don't have to worry about my dreams. They haven't been particularly bad lately. I keep having the dream about Doran, but I don't think it's going to go away any time soon. Merci is the one that worries me.' Dio trusted Mystic implicitly, but he was a little leery of him seeing his dreams. Some of them were very very private and he didn't fully understand them yet.

Oh that's right! 'I didn't get a chance to talk to you about how you've been before I started laying worries on you. I've missed you a lot. Have you been doing anything much lately?' Changing the subject was probably good, he was a little worried that Mystic would wander in on a dream he would probably rather keep private.

Reyna Crelos

"Good luck with the phasing thing. And no need to thank me for wrapping the stone," Reyna replied as she pulled her sketch book back out and idly scribbled little designs all over the page in an absent minded manner. "The stone is supposedly meant to filter negative energy and focus positive energy. Or... something like that. I dunno. I'm not big on metaphysical properties of rocks and dirt and... yeah. Demonic magic and cursest, okay sure. Fancy rocks? Eh. Fine, but it's not my cup of tea despite my working here."

Mystic sensed the younger Fiend's tension about his dreams and let it slide for the time being. He'd check up on him whether he liked it or not, but would at least be kind enough to check with Hawk first. No need to fill his dreams with his presence unless necessary since the thought seemed to unnerve him. 'Eh.. I've been alright,' he replied as he once again relaxed where he sat, 'Been asleep most of the time. I prefer to dream.'

Merci`

Merci's ears flattened out and she grumbled "It's practically impossible to punish them when they do something horrible. I had to try and hide all of Dio's books from him after he and Rhys stole the Warhammer. That, by the way, I never thought he would do something like that. I know that people have been warned that some of them can be troublesome and downright wicked but Dio hasn't ever been like that." She had no idea how lucky she'd been with Dio. Not until Tek grew up. That little thing still creeped her out sometimes. "Eh, to be honest I'll be happy when the bar is open. Dio can have all the books he wants and I can get out of the house."

Her eyes turned back to the back room and she sighed. She didn't want to break them up, but she hadn't really been planning on staying that long. Really she hadn't expected Reyna to be in the shop, let alone to have fixed it up so quickly. No she'd wait till Dio was done talking and came out on his own. He hadn't seen Mystic in a long time and she knew how fond of him she was.

The fiend leaned closer to Mystic and he furrowed his brows. 'You've been sleeping? This whole time? Wow, that's a lot of sleep! I guess though I understand. I'm on the roof as much as I can be. Trying to figure myself out. Is that what it's like for you Mystic?' His head canted to the side as he talked. 'I was asking all over about you guys. You should probably let Red know you're around. I asked him about you and he didn't have any answers for me.'

What he really wanted to do was ask what it was that his friend was going to be sending him. He liked presents and surprises, but he liked them better when he didn't have to wait to find out what it was. Dio figured that if Mystic had wanted him to know what he was talking about, he would have told him outright.

Reyna Crelos

"Stealing strangely named vehicles sounds like quite the past time. Sounds like little Dio is turning into my kind'a guy." She smirked a bit and couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. "I'll certainly drop by the bar when it's open, eh? Sounds like there's fun to be had by all."

'Oh. I've spoken with Red, alright. He knows where I'm at,' he told Dio with a sly look upon his face, 'He had interesting things to say about you, little brother. Who knew you were a screamer?' he laughed with a sort of musical sound that almost sounded real. He couldn't help but wonder if the boy would catch onto the double-entendre. Probably not, but he was amused nonetheless.

'Figuring myself out.. you could certainly say that,' he answered after his laughter died down, 'I'm beginning to understand a great many things about my abilities, that is for certain.'

Merci`

Dio gasped, and gave the distinct impression of blushing. Not that it was easy to tell on his black skin. 'He told you about that? He scared the hell out of me. He's huge and he sneaked up on me. Not to mention I almost didn't recognize him at the time, he looked way different then the last time I'd seen him.' The younger fiend folded his arms and pouted. 'Anyway I don't scream like a girl.' He sounded like he was trying to convince himself of that as much as he was telling Mystic.

Merci straightened up and nodded, "Yeah, and it looks like the place is going to be open by Halloween. Pretty psyched about that, thought about doing something special that night. Chances are I'll be stuck there anyway. I should get the runt home. He was pretty pissed I made him come down here anyway. I'm making him miss some crazy marathon of documentaries about the known universe." It was obvious by the look on her face it tickled her senseless that she could irritate Dio. Her tail flicked behind her as she walked over to the doorway that separated the private sanctum of the shop from the storefront. She peeked her head in to look at the two shadows and cleared her throat.

Dio glanced up toward Merci and he arched his brows. 'Are we going now? Aww but I haven't seen Mystic in so long.' He turned his burgundy eye back on his friend and tilted his head slightly to the side. 'I'm going to see you again soon right? you aren't going to keep hiding out?'

The fox woman rolled her eyes and straightened back up, glancing at Reyna. "I can't win for losing with this kid. First he doesn't wanna come, now he doesn't wanna leave."

Reyna Crelos

'Uh huh. He told me alright. He is much bigger, isn't he? He seems to be the same height as me now, though I've not seen him in person. Only in dreams.' He idly patted the boy atop his head and seemed to exude a sort of bemused smugness.

'Mmmm. Halloween,' Mystic laughed again. That was his favorite time of year. He blatantly ignored the rising irritation from his guardian as she sensed his desire to stir up trouble. How hypocritical! She could cause trouble in a bar, but he couldn't get into any mischief of his own? That was hardly fair at all.

"We'll see ya'll again soon," Reyna told Merci with a charming, fanged grin.

Mystic phased through the wall back into the front shop and dragged Dio along with him despite his protests. 'We will see you again, soon. At very least, you,' he pointed at Dio specificaly, 'Will be seeing me, whether in this realm or in dreams.'

Merci`

Merci was just screwing with him today. First she dragged him out, and now that he was happy to be out she was going to drag him home. Dio pinned the woman with a dour look, 'You know, there are times I just really really don't like you.' He tuned his gaze on Mystic and sighed quietly. He wanted to spend more time! He hadn't even gotten to snuggle on his Auntie Reyna yet! He followed his friend without giving him a hard time, and then phased through the counter to give Reyna another hug. Dio didn't get to see either of them enough so he had to get his quota of snugs in now. 'I missed you very much. I'll have to come back and see you when your here again.'

Merci rolled her eyes and held up the black jewelry box, all prettily tied with the silver ribbon. "Come on honey, you wanna open it?" She wiggled it at him tauntingly. "I'll let you have it when we're in the car." She took a step back with it, holding the box out like one would hold out a carrot for a horse.

Dio's eye fixed on the box and he blinked. Oooo it was pretty! He gave Reyna one more squeeze before he detached himself and moved off after his Guardian. When he reached for it though she drew it away again and he furrowed his brows. She was just dead set and determined to make him grumpy today. 'I want it now....'

The guardian grinned and pushed the door to the shop open. Her attention moved from Dio over to the pair of Mystic and Reyna. "Thanks again hon. I'll call you to set up a time and place okay? Should be a lot of fun." And with a final wave she disappeared from the shop. Dio following the jewelry box, obviously completely disgruntled by Merci's behavior.

Reyna Crelos
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:50 am

Growing Into a Monster
Tek grows quite suddenly and in a startling way.

Cinderfae

His head felt fuzzy and unfocused, looking over Rhys room Tektite realized things seemed smaller or perhaps he was bigger. Blinking slightly in confusion he shifted his arm ... he had an arm he realized. Closing his fingers one at a time he watched as one of each of his six fingers flexed and moved.

Within the darkness of the sleeping house Tek's markings glowed softly. Turning he moved over toward Rhys, watching the boy a moment he glanced from his guardian and then toward Sarraqa. Rhys didn't often sleep fitfully so the fiend wasn't overly inclined to bother him even for something such as this.

He felt energized, bigger, stronger, more...more of everything he decided and not ready to curl up for the rest of the night. While considering all this the sound of others in the house caught his attention, drifting along the floor he peered around the door frame and looked down the hall. Soft light came from the bathroom, candles he realized and he could hear the shower going. Who he wondered was up so late...curiosity peaked Tek forgot for a moment that he was larger and slinked down the hall toward the door. Upon reaching the door he only paused a moment before pushing the door open to peek inside.

Merci`

Merci'd had a looong day. She'd been helping to coordinate the contractors for most of the day, and most of them were as meaty between the ears as they were in body. When she'd gotten home that night she was content to go take a steamy hot shower and collapse into bed.

So she'd found the bathroom when she got home. Lit some gorgeously scented aromatherapy candles and turned off the lights. Now that she was happily letting the hot water beat down on her, she was starting to feel relaxed. Her long red hair was undone and lathered up with a shampoo that smelled of White Jasmine and Orchids. It was an appropriately girly smelling soap, and one of the few really feminine things she indulged in. She was lathering up her tail when she caught a gust of cool air from around the shower curtain.

Merci scowled and she called over the sound of the water. "There are about three other bathrooms in this house you can use." It was either Rhys or Cinder, there wasn't really anyone else in the house. "I'll be out in a few if you just have to have this one."

Normally she would have gone right into the master bath attached to her bedroom. But this one had the really strong shower head. It had a pulsating massage setting that did wonders for her tight shoulders.

Cinderfae

Tek slunk down to the floor looking curiously over the bathroom, the little fiend was only half listening to Merci` as she spoke. He'd followed Rhys plenty of times into the bathroom, but now that he was bigger he wanted to see and experience everything again...it was almost as if he was seeing everything for the first time again. Realizing that Merci` was talking to him he finally spoke up he hadn't spoken before so it actually took him some concentration to process his thoughts into words.

We don't require the bathroom.

That Merci` would want to be alone for her shower never crossed his mind. He didn't really have any concept of clothing or took into consideration that they were separate from the person they were on. The flicker from one of the candles drew Tek's attention at that moment and he moved over to the counter and started to levitate up to investigate it more for the moment forgetting about the fox woman in the room.

Merci`

Despite the hot water, Merci felt her blood run cold. She didn't recognize that voice. Not to mention it wasn't really a voice, it was a thought. It was in her head. She reached a hand out and turned the water off, so she could more clearly hear what was happening on the other side of the curtain.

When she didn't hear any movements immediately she reached out and took the curtain gently in her fingers, pulling it aside and up so she could cover her body with it and still see what was in the room with her.

It was black, it had tentacles. That was about all her brain could process. Merci took a deep breath and let out a blood curdling scream. Her other hand was reaching behind her to grab the bottle of shower gel so she could wing it at whatever the hell that was. She wasn't going for accuracy, she wanted to distract it, stun it, or surprise it long enough for her to get around it. Because her guns were in her bedroom.

Cinderfae

Tek didn't even pay attention to the water being turned off, or that Merci` was moving the curtain instead he was intent on the candle. The scream however drew his attention and frightened him probably as much as Merci` was frightened. Startled the little shadow turned and knocked the candle down his green glowing eyes wide in terror and then the soap bottle came flying through the air and passed through him.

Once the bottle passed through and hit the floor Tek let out a scream of his own.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiii! A mental shriek of pure terror and startlement went through the house.

In his room Rhys woke at the sounds of screams, bolting up in his bed the boy stumbled out of bed and fought to right himself. Sarraqa awoke as well the Medusa had a bit more luck with awakening with grace then his young master, reaching out Sarra gently balanced Rhys before turning his attention to the hall. Tensing up Sarra's tail rattled threateningly and he pushed Rhys back ever so slightly in a protective manner.

The door then burst open! And the dark tentacled creature mixed with soft green glow met their eyes - for a moment the three in the room all froze and just stared.

Merci`

Merci ripped the shower curtain off the rod and wrapped it around herself as she bolted out of the bathroom. She watched where the little creature went, but she was intent on arming herself and shooting the damned thing till it stopped moving. She slid into the bedroom and jerked the box that housed her two most prized possessions, Wahrheit and Ruhe, from under the bed where she stored them. She pulled Ruhe out of the box and turned toward the door.

It had gone into Rhys room, and she was terrified it was going to hurt the boy, or Sarra and Tek. It had to be one of those nightmare creatures, like the one that came from her mind. All Merci had really seen was a black shape with tentacles. She'd thought she'd gotten rid of whatever had caused it to happen but obviously she was wrong.

So, armed, with a shower curtain wrapped around her to preserve her modesty, she legged it to Rhys room. She did however send a stray thought to Dio, telling him through their bond to stay the hell wherever he was.

TBC

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:51 am

The Dream Realm
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Reyna Crelos
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Reyna Crelos
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:52 am

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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:53 am

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Reyna Crelos
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Reyna Crelos
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:54 am

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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:57 am

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Reyna Crelos
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Reyna Crelos
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:58 am

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