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A damp, dark, and cold place. You can't see your hand infront of your face, and there is something lurking here...

Jack was squinting into the darkness, clutching the metal rod in his hand so tight his knuckles were white. It was then that he felt it; like silk brushing against his cheek, too cold to be a spider's web. He gasped, releasing Alex in surprise, and world around, bringing the rod before him like a baseball bat, ready to defend himself.

Then he felt the rod pulse in his hands. He cried out this time, dropping the rod to the floor with a clang.

Something giggled, a soft wispy sound that he knew wasn't coming from Alex. The hair on the back of Jack's neck stood on end.

It was then that a bluish light flickered, momentarily blinding Jack before it stabalized. The runes on the rod were now glowing, a strange blue fire flickering at one end. It was a torch?

The woman at first seemed incredibly tall. But no, she was floating. Her skin was so pale it was unreal, her eyes large and blue. She was draped in white fabrics that almost seemed to melt into her skin, her long white hair held out of her eyes by a pearl tiara. Her pale white feet, floating at least two feet off the ground, were bare.

Jack was momentarily too mesmerized by the appearance of the floating woman (another essence?!) to notice the pain shooting down his back. When he finally did it was enough to make him cry out and fall to his knees as the rune on his back exploded with pain. Whoever or whatever this spectre was, the Soran couldn't stand its presence.

The woman gave a soft, airy laugh in response to Alex's panic. "I know I'm impressive, but there's no need to bow to me." Her face was sweet and amused, yet somehow laced with venom, enough to make anyone with perception doubtful of her intentions.

Jack had finally managed to catch his breath. He stayed on his knees, though, waiting for the shock to wear off.

"I am Siderea." The woman spoke with a voice that swelled with pride, like a queen pronouncing her title. "And I did nothing to your partner. There are simply those who cannot stand my presence." Again, haughtiness. "And I should be asking you why you're here, seeing as you're the ones that don't belong."

Jack shuddered, by finally found the strength to climb to his feet. He was surprised to be met with a feeling of utter emptiness, like he'd never felt before. It was a sthough something he'd been accustomed to having with him at all times was suddenly gone.

Had the Soran abandoned them? Jack forced himself to swallow the rising panic, tightening his grip on the rod he now held in his hand, its light casting eerie shadows on the dark walls of what appeared, horrifyingly enough, to be dark, narrow hallways like those found in ancient tombs. It would do no good for Jack to panic. There was no need to send Alex into hysteria, so he acted as though nothing was wrong.

"I? A demon lowlife?" Siderea snapped with venom in her voice. "What kind of a lousy fool do you take me for, you insolent human! No. I am not a demon," Her words were practically on fire as she said the word 'demon' as though it were a dirty cussword. He pretty face was twisted into an expression of utter disgust. "Why would you think such a thing? And more importantly, how would you know about the demons?" She demanded.

"An Astra, hmm?" Siderea murmurred, unimpressed. She struck Jack as the kind of person who was never easy to impress.

"With Jammal?!" The woman laughed, a shreik of a laugh that didn't seem to match her beautiful appearance. A shiver ran down Jack's spine.

"The fiftieth, hmm? You as stupid as the others?" She asked, floating gracefully to the floor. With her bare feet touching the ground she wasn't quite so overwhelming. The fact that she was shorter than Jack reassured him for no good reason. She was a different kind of intimidating now that she was so close. She seemed too real now, like Jack couldn't have just imagined her. He didn't trust her, something about her -whatever she was- set him on edge.

Siderea frowned as Alex spoke, and Jack could sense a storm. It put his hand on Alex's shoulder in warning as he watched the woman's brows knit together.

"No heart?" She laughed coldly. "You attempt to insult me, girl. But I see you're no different from the rest. You're just as foolish as they, and headstrong to boot. You really see yourself so highly? You no doubt believe that this affair is all about you?" Her voice had taken on a nasty, mocking tone. "Everything that happens is a personal offense against you, am I right? Well then, I advise you to give up already. That's the same mistake every single Astra in the past has made. You're a doomed race. So really, you might as well just kill yourself like Ennial did." Her eyes were on fire.

Jack winced. Alex really needed to learn to hold her tongue around magical floaty people, no matter how strange or rude they came across.

"Well indifference is even worse!" the woman shrilled, raising back into the air. "You say you'd wish to kill yourself? What kind of a fool are you, girl?! Give yourself up to them! Hah! You might as well surrender now. You have no will. You might as well be dead already. I'll do you that favor." And with those words she began to glow, very, very brightly. Her rising temper and shrilled voice had risen a red flag in Jack, so by the time she made ready to end Alex's life, he had decided that she was, indeed, an enemy. "ALEX!" he cried in horror, pushing her against the wall, out of the way. The woman flew at him, eyes blazing and merciless.