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Namini scrounged her room for the booklet that came with Prajna's original suitcase. The Frei was still in its makeshift bed within the living room, but at least, unlike the night previous, it was awake. It was conscious. The teen burst into a brilliant smile as she waved the flimsy phone book in the air, "Got it!"

Namini ran, nearly leaping with glee, back into the dining room, Prajna's expression showing nothing more than indifference. Its cerulean eyes flickered sideways to greet its guardian just once before returning back to their blank focus on the television. Pictures flashed rapidly by, left to right, right to left, up, down, and though the Frei's eyes did not flutter from the screen, it was obvious it did not care what was going on, despite all the movement. The brunette ignored its silence and reached for her cell phone. She quickly flipped the book open, spreading it out at the spot in the bed where Prajna's feet would have been, if it had feet. The first number was the Lab's but it was a weekend so..she didn't suspect it to be open. The next few numbers belonged to people she didn't recognize, by their picture or by their name. It wasn't until the D's did the smile return to Namini's features.

Someone there would have to know what's going on with Prajna's condition! Namini dialed with lightning speed and waited, listening to each ring with a maternal attentiveness, "Please..Isi..Aphismet..Someone. Please pick up."

Aphismet? The gears in Prajna's mind began to move. Where had it heard that name before? A suspicious air loomed overhead with this uncertainty in place. The same sounded somewhat important.

Namini's eye twinkled to light at the sound of the older man's voice, "Hello! Hello..Hello, um..Is this Mr. Aphismet? Hi..My name is Namini. Do you remember me?"

The brunette tried to keep the urgency and panic out of her voice. If she kept things simple, casual, perhaps the man would be even more willing to help.

"I was calling about...my Raevan. I know I should have called the Lab first but seeing as it's a weekend, I wasn't sure it anyone would respond.. I was..looking for some advice you see. Or assistance perhaps. Medical assistance," Namini gulped. Prajna turned the television off, but kept its gaze on the sizzling, black screen. All of its attention was on its guardian now, though its eyes were not. Medical assistance? Prajna thought. Now it knew the man on the other end was important.

Thank goodness. Namini seemed to be oozing gratitude, much to Prajna's newly expressed distaste. She always wore such a weird smile when she was thankful, and it always seemed to crawl directly under the Star's flesh.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Aphismet, for even of considering such a burden. I just..didn't know who else to turn to. Prajna's had--" Namini tried to consider the most appropriate and still tender word for the situation, knowing that Prajna's attention was absorbed in her telephone call. "--a few encounters with other Freis and, though us guardians all get along..things have not seemed to fare too well among our 'children.'"

She took a moment to consider the choices of location before returning back to the man and his offer, "Would it be alright if Prajna and I just came over to your home? I wouldn't want you to have to travel too far or be uncomfortable elsewhere, seeing as you're doing us such a big favor. It is up to you, though."

A sudden thought crossed the teen's mind. Her sapphire eyes widened and turned to look at Prajna. How was she going to ask if Rivener was there without saying his name? Ironically enough, Prajna also seemed to be thinking the same thing. The way she was talking, Namini was hiding something. She had not been with Prajna when it met Cordelia or Varun and the girl would not be stupid enough to let it re-encounter Lulu. There was only one other person who would make her tip-toe like this: Rivener.

"NO! N-no, no, that's not- erm, we're so very far out in the middle of nowhere, you see, it would be much better if I met you at maybe your place, or-" Aphismet's voice cut off and Namini felt her own hopefulness waver. Was this really such a good idea? Prajna was now staring at her, dead on, with those sharp blues of theirs. Just like Aphismet, Namini felt cornered. She couldn't back out now; Something about the intense way Prajna stared at her made things clear: It knew exactly who she was talking to.

"Ah yes, the address" Namini squealed, her attention brought back to the man at the other end. She searched frantically for a pen, leaving the living room. Prajna loved to intimidate the girl, but no other time had seemed as eerie as this. On both ends it seemed: there was trouble afoot. As the brunette scribbled down the address and then proceeded to find a map, she felt her heart stop as Aphismet began and ended his goodbye.

"C-come as soon as you can! Be careful!"

-Click!-

"Rivener will medic Prajna? or for Namini is all?" came a tired voice. Namini turned around, surprised by Prajna's sudden appearance. Its face was mere inches away from hers. She tried to ease the air between them, but something about the way Prajna was staring, something about the way it was beginning to smirk, sent shivers up and down her spine. There was definitely going to be trouble.
- - - - -

A little while later, perhaps an hour roughly, Namini and Prajna exited the taxi to find themselves facing a beautiful if not haunting mansion. Namini reached for Prajna's hand, oddly needing reassurance from the charge, but like always, Prajna ignored her attempt at intimacy. And like always, Namini ignored the rejection and proceeded to the home's entrance. Prajna was faster. It rapped three hard times on the sturdy door, ignoring Namini's mumbled scolding. All it could think of was Rivener. Rivener and his beautiful things.

Namini tried to force a smile, a poor facade. She had been regretting calling the Delaran household the closer and closer they had gotten to it within the taxi ride. Something about the way Aphismet sounded left the teen nothing but nerves. From that point, it had become a clash between Prajna's needs mixed with Namini's maternal responsibilities versus fear. Absolute fear. As the door opened, one of Namini's questions was quickly answered:

Was Rivener acting up?

Yes.

The brunette let out a small gasp she witnessed the Sigel rudely shove its own guardian aside. Namini extended a delicate hand in search for one of Prajna's but the Scorpion was faster. Prajna winced, just barely, at the older Raevan's sudden touch and unexpected forcefulness, though it followed it willingly up the majestic staircase. Whatever Rivener wanted, he could have, just as long as Prajna got something in return. The redhead smirked, nodding in its conclusion. Yes. He could have anything of Prajna's, just as long as Prajna also got anything it wanted. If not...

Prajna tightened its grip around Rivener's own sturdy fingers, uncertain about the dangers lying ahead. Its features darkened. If Rivener refused to take responsibility of his actions, Prajna would make sure there was Hell to pay. They entered a room and the Star's attention was brought back to the situation at hand, " Room for medic-ing? Rivener. Hand of Prajna. Why so rough?"

There was a small wave of irritation in its voice.

Namini watched her charge get dragged away helplessly. Again. She had brought danger upon her charge. AGAIN. The brunette pushed back Aphismet, though spat out a soft apology, as she bolted after the Raevan duo, "I'msorryMr.Aphismet! This is all my fault, I shouldn't -I called and- Prajna?!"

What little courage Namini had tried to contain for only the most dangerous of moments crumbled as Aphismet knocked roughly on the door. This was it. This was it! Everything she had been trying to avoid! Prajna was alone! Without even her as a pitiful little shield! It was alone and being held hostage! Namini ignored the older Delaran's questions as something inside her snapped, her face distorted in some mixture of utter anger and concern. This time, she pushed Aphismet without an apology and then walked a few steps away from the door. The brunette then proceeded to run and throw her entire body against the door, tears welling up in her eyes. She was never going to let Prajna be hurt! Not while her clumsy body was still breathing!

"Rivener! YOU GETS YOUR HANDS OFF OF MY PRAJNA. If you hurt my baby, I swear, you won't be growing to your next stage. I'll either KILL you, or make sure David gets his stupid little hands around your fat neck!" the teen cried, the tears overwhelming. A few more thrusts, though, against the door and Namini was panting heavily. The anger, the fear, the physical exertion, they were already beginning to show in the frail girl's body.

Prajna, on the other hand, wasn't in the least bit tired. A small part of it was actually drowning in adrenaline. The heavy beating on the door, Rivener's unpredictability, this position. Everything was screaming danger and yet, somehow, Prajna felt perfectly fine. It was still sweating uncomfortably, a reaction to its unknown illness that truly got on the Frei's nerves, and its face was still burning as if it were blushing, but besides those traits, nothing felt damaged or even in mild pain. Starlit eyes wandered around the room as the screaming continued, its mind bouncing off the walls also. Namini's voice took an interesting shrill when she screamed and Rivener's...something about hearing his silky voice roar was exhilarating.

Plus he had let go of the redhead's wrist, so it was all good.

Prajna came back to reality when it saw Rivener's hungry lips approaching slowly once again, perhaps strategically building up a mouthwatering tension in hopes of producing a better "flavor". All these things remained unknown to Prajna, but as Rivener's lips just barely brushed against its own, creating that odd stinging sensation, suddenly, the redhead felt bashful. It turned its face at the last minute, forcing Rivener's lips to play along its jawline, a shock coursing through its body at the contact. It shuddered but endured the pain. Momentarily.

"Ri..Rivener," came the stern voice. Prajna's eyes were turned sideways, glaring up at the Sigel. The Star pressed its hands firmly against the Scorpion's hard chest, the soft vibrations caused by the kissing coursing through its hands. "Remember. Prajna will get what Prajna wants when Rivener finish. Understand? If not, then no more. No. More."

Namini beat on the door again, "RIVENER."

As the white haired man led the brunette to another mysterious part of the mansion, she rubbed her tender shoulder. This was probably going to bruise tomorrow but no matter. For a split second, Namini glanced around Eiry's room curiously. There was just so much ...stuff. If this was any other time, the girl would have asked about the boxes and boxes, mountains of random objects, but there was a crisis at hand. Crawling over this and that, trying to keep up with the man, she came to a pause in thought, "Break a glass panel? With..what? Should we.. get something to break it with?"

She glanced around the room. These were someone else's belongings though! But..her Prajna was in danger! Torn, Namini waited for guidance.

Prajna quivered again, biting back a whimper as Rivener proceeded with his series of playful nips and pecks. Uncertainty washed over the Frei, a foreign emotion in itself. It wasn't until the Flame felt Rivener pressing his lips a little too heavily, a little too tightly against its neck, did it regain consciousness. And his tone of voice- Prajna disapproved of it.

"Rivener. Shut up," Prajna growled pitifully back at the Sigel. The stinging sensation was becoming harder and harder to ignore and now that Rivener had admitted that there would be no compensation for the pain, Prajna was becoming less tolerant.

Yes, in one small, small sense, the kisses felt nice. Yes, in one sense, Prajna wished they didn't sting so that Rivener could give it more and more of those nice little kisses. But. The fact was: The kisses DID sting and the more warmth and kisses Rivener gave it, the greater the stinging sensation became. As the Scorpion continued to eat away at the redhead's soul, Prajna soon found the pain becoming unbearable, its rune flickering sporatically.

"Rivener, get. OFF. Hurt Prajna. Get. OFF."

This time Prajna pushed at the Scorpion with a little more force, partially digging its nails into the Sigel's bare chest.