[center]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [h2][u][b]Let The Game Begin[/b][/u][/h2] [b]Location: [i]Todder Manor, Dr. Jack Todder's Office[/i] Time: [i]5:45AM[/i][/b] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[/center] [h3][i][b]Ring...[/b][/i][/h3] [h3][i][b][center]Ring...[/center][/b][/i][/h3] [h3][i][b][right]Ring...[/right][/b][/i][/h3] "Hi you've called Evelyn Grimlock with Grimlock & Holdings, please state your name, time you've called, and a brief description of your need. I promise to get back with you as soon as I am able, if this needs immediate attention, please call the office at ###-###-####. Thank you and have a great day." [b][i]Beep[/i][/b] "Evelyn, this is Jack, it is about Vaega, this is going to sound strange, but your son, he moved! Get over here right away, bye." [b][i]Click[/i][/b] [center]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [h2][u][b]The Game[/b][/u][/h2] [b]Location: [i]Todder Manor, Room 13[/i] Time: [i]5:30AM[/i][/b] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[/center] "Bael, have you ever wondered how I've stayed here for so long?" Vaega spoke softly as he gazed at the pond across from him. The paint chipped bench still occupying his seat, "Have you ever thought that I've reconciled with the fact that we are deadlocked? That we are to remain here for as long as we do not see eye to eye?" Bael turned his eyes toward Vaega who sat at the other end, "He speaks! So you haven't lost your sanity quite yet? Ya' know, they always do, you've been a bit stubborn, but they always crack." A deep grin slid across the demon's face as his eyes widened at Vaega with promise. However, his curiosity did want to know what it was that kept Vaega together, maybe if Vaega was feeling vulnerable, this was the moment to seize in gathering information for his next psychological bout with him. "But, before you crack, I will admit, I have thought about what has kept you going in this state, do you dare share?" Bael was on the edge of his seat, maybe Vaega was about to spill beans by completely volunteering knowledge that Bael might be able to use. "It is this." Vaega held out his hand and in it materialized a necklace which wrapped around a stone, the stone emanated a glorious sandy white light and began to lift off from his hand. He then waved his hand over at Bael, instantaneously the necklace dematerialized from Vaega's hand, and materialized around the neck of Bael. "It is the stone of my people, a keep of all the knowledge my people possess and has been added to over many generations. In it contains the power of my ancestors, knowledge of my ancestors, and the key to our solution. Until now, I thought of it has merely a trinket of good fortune, a beacon from which the foundation I hold together pulls its essence from. However, I now believe we can come to compromise, I have a proposal if you will, one I think we can both agree on." This was the first time Vaega came at Bael with his own proposal. In over 6 years, Bael has intimidated Vaega, chased him, and negotiated with him inside his own head, but today, Vaega knew if he had waited for another proposal, it would be back to the original antics. The moment of brief peace, gave Vaega the clarity to come to terms with a plan that was more of a hail mary than a surgical offensive strike. "I am listening...little one." Bael hissed the last words out as if intrigued but annoyed, he scooped the stone in the palm of his hand to gain a better visual presentation. As he did so, the stone transformed into sand and slipped through the spaces of his fingers. A demon ward, trapped inside the head of a child, who is now trying to call the shots, he did not like it. But, 6 years, although time is quite an illusion in the demon realm, it was too long for Bael not to take this opportunity to move forward. He could not return to rule his realm if he remained in here, and it would not be possible to bring his armies to the world of the living, unless he found a way to take over Vaega or transfer to a more willing subject. If Vaega kept him here until death, who knew how much would change out there, and Bael did not want to continue sharing space with Vaega for any longer than he needed too. Why could he have not fallen into a much more easily persuaded subject? "If memory serves me correctly, the stone has 8 other pieces, all of which belong to a select few within my family's organization. I believe that if I can unite the stones, I can gain access to the knowledge of my ancestors, and we can find a way to separate ourselves but provide you a means to remain within the realm of the living. You may then do what you set out to do in the first place." Vaega was not sure if the stones could do anything of what he suggested, but it was the start of a possible bluff to get things moving. "Hmm, and what are your demands of me while you seek this solution to our lock?" Vaega for the first time in long time turned his head in the direction of Bael, "I want complete conscious control over my body, and my mind, you give me that, and I will solve this for us. Otherwise, we will remain here and although I may die one day, before you. There will be a lot of change out there when that day comes. It is up to you, as I have again reconciled with my fate, but offer an alternative." Bael locked eyes with Vaega, it had been quite a long time since a bit of fire burned in those once cold dead eyes of the child before him. Bael wasn't so much as stuck on the idea of "needing" to destroy Vaega, but he "needed" a body to remain in the realm of the living. How he obtained this goal was of no concern, and since all of his other methods of reform did not work, it seemed this would have to do. "I will allow for such a play to happen, but my teeth do not retract from your thoughts, I merely turn down the grip and soften my position. Do not think for one moment that I will not be watching, speaking, and if I must, fight for control. This deal is for you, but place yourself in a position of vulnerability, and know I will seize it. Keep this in the back of your mind, let it fester, let it remind you while you move forward." Vaega kept his attention on Bael, he dare not separate the locked gaze, and nodded. Bael nodded back, and like smoke, began breaking apart and drifting upward into the air. Vaega turned back to the pond, he leaned back in his seat with arms extended on the back of the bench. His eyes slowly closing, allowing his mind to clear the way of an emerging moment, preparing himself for the rocket launcher to send him flying into oblivion and back into a moment in time where he resided in the physical world. His eyes opened, a barred window fixed in front of him, a few blinks and a shuffle in his seated position on the concrete floor. Vaega turned his head to the left, and then to the right. Cold walls on either side, an undisturbed bed, and I.V.s in his arm. Vaega was home, but his body felt weak, his mind strained in a fog, and for the first time in long time, he collapsed on the floor to rest. [center]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [h2][u][b]Let The Game Begin[/b][/u][/h2] [b]Location: [i]Todder Manor, Dr. Jack Todder's Office[/i] Time: [i]6:30AM[/i][/b] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[/center] Evelyn burst through the doors, her high heels stabbing the floor with power in each step. Her body moved with intention and there was no one who would stand in her way. Her shoulder length dark hair, icy blue eyes, fair skin, and athletic build, had her setting a tone only a true artist in diplomacy could handle. Speeding by personnel with no regard to their existence, it was not that her personality was callous, but the reason for her being here, was an emergency. Her son, Vaega, for the first time, showed signs of life...it was now time to see whether or not it was her son who returned, or the thing that possessed him. Evelyn came across a sign reading, "Dr. Todder's Office, Lead Clinical Psychologist." She reached her arm down and wrapped her hand around the brass ball handle. Turning it clockwise the door pushed open to a desk occupied by a receptionist, "Good morning Ms. Grimlock, may I help you?" Evelyn approached the desk, "I need to speak with -" "Evelyn, come in!" Jack Todder's voice interrupted Evelyn from the room just beyond the receptionist's desk. He had been waiting for her arrival, both excited and nervous for the unfolding of events with Vaega. Evelyn slipped past the desk and through the door into the room of Dr. Jack Todder, "Where is my boy?"