Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Sitting Room

Glancing from one to the next, Nisha's brows furrowed yet again. Witch? Lady? Glass? "Whatever. Oooh, this is nice!" Perking up at the sight of the pendant, Nisha reached for it...turning it over in her hands if Dimitri allowed. Upon opening it, however, she snorted. "No picture? Eh, that's okay. Let's see what's next!"

She handed the locket back, and took a look at the stamping seal. It was heavy, and no doubt valuable...but it was in the shape of a P! "Well, my name doesn't start with P, so I'm not too sure about this. Seems antique, though...and what's it made of? Hmm. I wanna see that jewelry box, too!"

She tucked the box with the seal under one arm, and reached for Sera's finds. Taking the box eagerly from Sera, Nisha pried it open...eyes going wide. Pearls, bracelets, and brooches! Earrings and necklaces! "Oooh, nice! I think this counts for more than one thing, but I don't care. Rules are meant to be stretched, right?"

Dismissing the comb with a wave of her hand, still holding the jewelry box, Nisha pointed to Thanes. "You brought nothing. You so lose. Sorry kid, but you may well be stuck in this house forever!" She said it with a smile, totally unaware of how right she might have been.

"You two, however....well. I like the jewelry more than the seal, but I think a whole box of stuff is kinda like...cheating. So, I'll keep them BOTH, and declare it a tie! Congrats!" Obviously not letting go of her prizes, unless someone wanted to raise a fuss about it, Nisha fished around with her free hand and withdrew the old key on a green ribbon.

"You guys get to work it out between the two of you. In, or out? Hmm? Ready to leave?" The storm was finally settling down, it had been quiet for some time, and the rain was only a gentle patter. Shrugging, as though she didn't truly care, Nisha let the key swing in the space between them.

"Your choice." She spoke to both Sera and Dimitri. Shifting her gaze to Thanes for a moment, still a bit unsettled, Nisha offered him a half a smile. "Too bad you're such a slacker, or you could have had a shot too!"

Dimitri let go of the locket when Nisha took it from him and listened as the older girl excitedly grabbed at everything. When she decided both him and Sera were the winners, he was fine with that. He snapped the box close, now weighing less without the stamp, and pocketed it. He rather liked the thing. Besides, he couldn't come back with nothing or Zachariah would haul his behind back up and throw him back in! His guardian would damn well make sure he'd come back with something and would go past his pet peeve of being touched to do so.

Remember snickered at that thought and also from Seduire's comment. Dimitri didn't know that but he didn't ask what.

He also took the key, giving a look to Sera that said 'We can decide later'. He pocketed the thing that was so important to this hunt and picked up Remember. But he blinked when Sera said something, "What do you mean, we can't all leave?" His tone was entirely curious and he felt his daemon having the same curiousity. She asked the other daemons, -Wait-- Why can't we all go?- After all, Nisha and Desperate were hurting from being so far apart and, well, the hunt was over. There was nothing left to do except leave. Wasn't there?

So it was like a skeleton key? It'd open any door they wanted? Sera had just assumed that they all wanted to get out. Why would anyone want to stay in this place longer than they had to? Rubbing at her arms a little and pushing blonde hair out of her face, Sera looked back to Thanes with a frown. "That's not fair..." She murmured, looking at Dimitri soon after.

"I say out. I don't want to be in here anymore...but Thanes at least tried, won't the House consider that?" What a freaky place. How could that woman live here? Ha! She probably was a ghost or something! Sera wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Sera began to follow after Nisha only to bump into her back when the older girl stopped, stepping back and leaning over to see past her. "What about the door we came in from..?" She asked as she looked back to see if that was still normal.

The Sitting Room

"Okay then! We have a path, a plan, and a shitload of jewelry. Let's get the hell out of here." Heading across the room, toward the door Sera so kindly pointed out. Unfortunately, the floor wouldn't quite hold still for Nisha...the world around her rippling as another wave of fatigue washed over her.

Features contorting in anger, Nisha grabbed the back of the nearest chair...pausing for a moment to regain her balance. It wasn't too bad, but it was sure as hell uncomfortable. Damn that pachyderm, and his huge a**!

As soon as she pulled herself straight, Thanes' soft voice echoed across the chamber. "Well, then. I have business here. Sera..." the young wizard in training paused, nodding once to the vivacious girl in pink. His eyes echoed the same shade, twice as vibrant. "Dimitri." His voice was curt and civil as he offered the boy most of the same nod. "Farewell."

Nisha watched, eyes a bit wide, as Thanes took three steps back. The doors behind him opened silently, revealing the master bedroom. The silhouette of a woman loomed behind him, the clock whole and undamaged across the room. One pale hand curled gently around the lad's wrist, and she drew him wordlessly across the chamber...out of view as the door swung slowly shut.

The last glimpse of the room was a photograph, upon the mantle...faded with age in pale sepia. A portrait of Thanes, with a hint of a smile, and then the doors were shut.

"F...farewell." Nisha watched for several moments longer, staring at the closed and silent door. It wasn't until the croon of muffled music echoed from the room beyond, sweet and pure, that she finally lowered her eyes.

"It's time to go." Without another word, Nisha turned and walked slowly for the stairs.

~

The Main Hall

She never turned to see if the others had followed...assuming they would find their way safely. By the time they arrived, Nisha was in better spirits...one arm draped over the Daemon's neck. His flanks were a bit pink, and oil stained the wood in the doorway, but at least he was free.

"Well, are you ready?" She tried to sound imperious, but in truth the young woman was a bit worn out. Being close to Desperate helped, but what she wanted more than anything was a simple ******** nap.

Sighing in surrender, Nisha scratched the back of her neck with one hand...a habit she learned from her older brother. "You, ah...did pretty well. Thanks...for the gifts." Lifting the ley, Nisha glanced to the door, and slowly began to smile. "You're lucky, you know? It's not always so easy."

Stepping up to the lock, obscuring it for a moment as she rattled the key, Nisha finally stepped back. One hand on the handle, she gave it a turn...bracing and slamming her shoulder against it at the same moment. With a shark creak and a snap, the door flew open...and the light of the first few emerging stars shined brightly overhead.

"Have a safe walk, kids." Still smiling a tired smile, Nisha held the door open and motioned the pair out. The key she stuffed back into her pocket. After all...

...Elle would be mad if she lost the key to her cellar!

Distantly, the sound of rustling crows drifted on the wind. The balcony light shined brightly from above, lighting the street below. The wind stilled, and along the lane, streetlights flickered silently on.

It was time to go.

[-In Memory.- Feel free to respond if you'd like, and thanks for the lovely RP! Best of luck to everyone. heart ]