[Center][b][color=ec008c]Shelby Jackson – Mary’s House - Morning[/color][/b][/center]




"Don't play the innocent with me...", Mary said with a predatory smile as she held up the jar for Shelby to see, "...You know what you saw. The questions you should be asking are why I did it, and by what means did I achieve it."

Shelby swallowed the lump in her throat, “Witchcraft?” she said very quietly.

"So tell me, was it everything you thought it would be?", Mary chuckled and continued, "Somehow I doubt it. No one who plays this game for Fame and glory will last for very long....certainly not the six hundred years I have been walking this Earth. In my world, power comes from knowledge, and bargains in which unspeakable acts...like what you watched him do to me...and even immortal souls are used as currency."

Shelby's jaw dropped, [i]600 years? No fuckin’ way. [/i] she tilted her head checking Mary out, failing to understand, or eve believe her 600 year comment.

"I'm going home and taking a good hot bath", Mary announced, "I'm absolutely filthy." She then pointed at the ceiling and continued. "feel free to stop by once my houseguest leaves....poor lad has no idea what I am and I intend to keep it that way. I won't be coming back here again, so feel free to take what you want. Whatever you do, though...don't go upstairs, a Deathclaw has it's nest up there." she then climbed up and opened the door, moonlight flooding down from the open doorway, Mary's head silhouetted in the frame. "One last thing", Mary whispered, though Shelby could hear it clearly, "I'm going to trust you with my little secret...consider it a test of character." Mary then placed the key to the cellar on the top step and closed the cellar door behind her.

Her mind was absolutely reeling, she had witnessed an act unlike anything she had ever seen before. She looked up at th3 ceiling, it was then she could hear what sounded like claws tapping on the floor walking around, Mary's words of warning flew through her mind. She followed suit and hurried outside i to the morning light. Taking a seat on a piece of broken concrete she could not stop thinking.

[I]I sacrificed a lot with Calypso, some twisted shit, some gruesome. If I could handle that...if Mary would teach me I could destroy Calypso. [/i] Shelby jumped up and ran towards town when a vertibird flew overhead. She paused, looking for The Jaded Empire dragon on the side, but it was just the Brotherhood insignia. They didn't bother her too much, especially here. Sure, they were assholes, but the Brotherhood around here had no idea of her slaving dealings. A man rushing from Mary's house snapped her back, she bit her lip and marched over to the front door. It was left half open, she pushed it and walked in, “Mary?” Her voice somewhat quiet, she heard the sound of a bath faucet being turned off and the sound of moving water. She crept towards the sound and knocked lightly on the bathroom door, “Mary?”

She took a deep breath, “Teach me. Tell me what type of shit I have to do to learn. I still am in disbelief, but I can't unsee what I witnessed so I know it's real.”