Themerlinhawk

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

Hey guys, im going to be in Turkey until the 18th. If you have something I need to write or a collab you want one of my characters in please let me know via PM either here or on skype (I prefer Skype). I will have time to work on my writing in the evenings while I'm away so hopefully it wont disrupt things too much. As always if no one can get a hold of me Sam is more than capable of making decisions on my behalf.

Men vs. Women Race to 1000

-226

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

Stuff got posted. Go wild.

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

Walk In Darkness

Academy, Loom

Evening

@Themerlinhawk@yoshua171@Wind Wild

Lazarus swore as he stormed down the hallway outside his office. Students scattered like leaves in a winter squall. What the hell was wrong with Hazumi? The world needed her outside of her damn office, and out in the world doing something.

He didn’t bother with the door.

Lazarus’s eyes flared with a grey light and the structure of the wall simply rearranged itself to give him access to his office. Foolish woman. Dracul leapt from his side and onto the hooks on the wall where it rested normally. With a flick of his wrist Lazarus sent the folder flying through the air. Instead of scattering everywhere it was suspended in mid toss. The photos and reports in a mid flight. Kicking off his shoes Lazarus slid over his desk and into his chair, propping his feet up on the desk and giving the file a sour look as it rearranged itself for him to look at it.

Power and emotions rolled off him in waves causing the objects in his office to twitch or shake. The pictures began to smoke. What the hell was wrong with him? So she wasn’t what you thought. Why are you so damn bent? He considered thumbing Esperacchius and then dismissed it. As the pictures began to slowly burn with black fire he kicked at his desk in annoyance. It’s not that big of a deal.

With that he picked up the phone on his desk and called to cancel his classes for tomorrow and begin the process of filing a mission plan with the academy’s bureaucracy. With an aggressive growl Lazarus slammed the phone back onto the desk as the ash from the photo’s hung in the air. Not like you need her you fool. With that he stood from the desk and Dracul leapt to his side again. He wanted to go hunting NOW. With that he started towards the door with a mantle of ash around him.

The door slammed open and sent a group of female students squealing and running for cover. Lazarus grumbled something about women as he stormed past. The ash trailing in the air behind him he all but stomped down the hallway and out the front of the academy. The ash dispersed in an agitated puff as Lazarus turned out onto the street headed for the bar where he planned on being until later this evening at which point he’d move onto finding the people in the file. Lazarus was fairly certain he could find them simply by reversing timeline for one of their kidnapping sites.

By the time he’d made it to the bar a fair bit of his anger was spent but it still seethed beneath the surface. What was the point of all that power if you were just going to lock yourself away from the world and not actually make a difference. Maybe he’d been wrong about her. The bar keeper nodded to him and gave the sword on his hip a look. Instead of Lazarus normal beer the barkeeper produced a bottle of Irish whiskey and asked a few of the other patrons to move so Lazarus could sit by himself at the bar.

As he approached a tumbler grew from the wood of the bar and became glass as he sat down. It was a similar trick he’d used with Hazumi and for some reason it pissed him off more, it was one of his favorite uses for alchemy. Now it had been ruined by his irritation at her. He sat and he drank.

She was haunting him. And the drinks didn't make things any better. In fact, they made them worse as a vision of Hazumi literally manifested on the seat next to him. Her walk was graceful and nonchalant as usual, her dress slightly less formal than usual but still slightly out of place for a pub. The bartender gave her a look, warning her about Lazarus' mood but she disregarded him and ordered a drink instead. Receiving a glass of white wine she took a sip and glanced at Lazarus with the corner of her eye, not saying anything the entire time.

He wrinkled his nose at the glass in front of him “Can I help you? Since I’m clearly not hallucinating you, as he...” Pointing at the barkeep “...can see you.”

Hazumi looked at him and lowered her glass. “Question is, can I help you. You seem to be in a bad mood?”

Lazarus gave her a long look. “You know, just because you fucked up two hundred years ago doesn’t mean you get to hide from the world and pretend it didn’t happen.” It was clearly at least some of the alcohol talking as his accent was showing through. It was a strange blend to have his typically accent devoid english with an irish slant to it. “The world needs you, even if people like Lily have their heads buried so far in the sand they can’t see a damn thing” He took another drink.

He carefully set the glass down and turned to face her “You’re being a coward and you know it. Just because we’ve made mistakes doesn’t mean we get to bury our heads in the sand like the rest of the world. We have power and we’re obligated to use it for better things than we started out using it for.” He pointed a finger at her “You have a choice Hazumi, hide and let others die doing the things you won’t do. Or stand up for something and take responsibility.” Grumbling he turned back to the glass. Which was empty. He scowled at that.

Meanwhile Hazumi was scowling at him. She was the reason he was in that mood right now? Ridiculous. She disagreed with him on the matter of Lily, who, in her opinion, was a very wise woman showing a lot of self-restraint while focusing on educating young people over trying to fix the whole world's problems, but she didn't think it would get her anywhere to argue with him. There was hardly any point in arguing on whether she should be proactive or not, as her presence here was sign enough.

“It's impossible for me to track them down.” She cut to the chase after taking a sip of her wine. “Too much time has passed for me to collect essence samples and the people who escaped were only able to provide physical descriptions of the culprits. As I can only see the essence from afar and that has no physical characteristics, I can't link the essence with the face. They must know my weakness as they didn't actually kill anyone – if they had, I would have remembered their essence and submitted it to the hunting squad. It's possible that they obtained such information from one of our pupils they captured. Alternatively, we might be dealing with someone from the Academy turned dark.” She took another sip. “We have been trying to catch them, I'm just pointing out why it's been fruitless so far.”

Lazarus looked at her “Don’t be obtuse.” He waved his hand and a web of essence extended from it. It wove through the air, and to those who could see it, reconstructed the movements of the people in the room from the last hour. With a flick he began rolling back the movements. “I can do it for up to 48 hours and the last kidnapping was 20 hours ago”

He went back to the drink

Hazumi’s eyebrows rose at the spectacle, her jaw almost dropping. She’d never seen such abilities before and the lax manner in which he demonstrated them bugged her ever so slightly.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” She asked, getting to her feet and grabbing his arm. “Let’s go.”

“We’re waiting on my buzz to..” he trailed off. “oh hold on” With an effort of will he forced alcohol out of his system. He blinked as it rolled down his face via his tear ducts. “Damn that stings really badly. Hate doing that. Wastes a perfectly good buzz.” Lazarus forced his liver into overdrive and directed a higher blood flow to it as well as bolstering it with essence. “Okay, that should do it” Lazarus stood. “Okay lets go.”

***

Hazumi's nerves were on end. They had successfully managed to get the essence samples and tracked down two of the culprits – an angel and a human. The bad news was, they were currently on the 20th floor of an apartment building.

“We shouldn't kill them. No matter who they are, they deserve a fair trial.” She quoted Lily's words as if they were her own conviction. She'd told herself that time and time again for decades – much like an enchantment that could extinguish the thrill of a hunt. Still, butterflies were dancing in her stomach as the elevator counted down the floors.

Lazarus drew Dracul calmly. “Of course.” He didn’t sound convinced but he’d follow her lead regardless. It felt strange. Flicking his hand again he checked the web making note of the form and direction of the two individuals. “Pity it seems they don’t have anyone with them that they’ve taken”.

“But you can make them talk, right?” She looked at him without turning her head, unease obvious right beside the hope for a positive answer.

“I don’t need to” His eyes flashed with the silver light for a moment. “I can take the answers directly from their mind.”

“True.” A small sigh of relief escaped her. “I always forget that.”

The elevator reached its destination and the doors slid open. Hazumi licked her lips nervously as they stepped out and threw a look around for anyone spying on them. As if it was even necessary. She could sense at least 10 people around, all going about their lives, living peaceful lives right next to the sick bastards who had kidnapped children and tortured them for ransom. And surely for some fun too. She looked at Lazarus again, her steps slowing to let him lead.

Lazarus checked his web again and lead them down the hallway. Lazarus pulled on the energy in Dracul and wrapped both of them in an entropy shield in preparation. “Last door on the left. How do you want to play this?” He gave her a look from the corner of his eye.

“Just try to overwhelm them as quick as possible. And try not to get the neighbours involved.”

“Sounds good to me” He readied Dracul.

With a quick twist of the sword he leveled a burst of x-rays at the wall rendering it transparent to his vision for a split second. “Just the two of them, shall I do the honors?”

Hazumi nodded, squeezing her dress. "Please."

Lazarus was not in a mood to use doors. He just molecularized the wall and leveled a wave of force at the individuals in the room. It was way more showy than he would have prefered, but it was dead silent.

The angel and the human were hurled to the floor and most of the furniture was slammed against the far wall. “You have been found to have committed high crimes against the people of Loom and the students of the Academy. Come quietly and you will not be harmed.”

Needless to say that wasn’t taken nicely. The two of them were surprised but they weren’t unprepared for such an eventuality. The human who had ended up behind a couch used it as a cover and made a run for the other room. Meanwhile the angel pulled out a gun and shot. Hazumi cried out and, probably in vain, shoved Lazarus from behind. Unfortunately this gave the angel opportunity for a cleaner aim. Another shot rang out.

Lazarus cursed as the first shot was deflected by one of his spectres with a ghost copy of Dracul. Slapping the bullet out of the air with the flat of the blade. Hazumi’s shove put him right in the line of the second bullet which caught him in the stomach. Gaelic expletive exploded from his mouth as he dropped to his knee. With a roar of pain and rage Lazarus leveled a cone of necrotic energy at the angel. It clipped it causing the angel’s shoulder to go gangrenous in a matter of seconds. Its second effect was to cause the far wall to collapse in a mass of dust, splinters and rot as the necrotic energy ate it away.

“Well fuck…” Lazarus looked at the roof waiting to see if it would collapse. In preparation he started to draw essence from Dracul fueling an entropy shield. Hopefully the roof didn’t come down on his head. He’d only survived the one building falling on him.

Hazumi herself cursed at the damage her shove had done but then her words dried out as Lazarus used his hand to literally pulverise the angel’s shoulder and the wall behind it. The angel then jumped to the side and ran after his accomplice. Hazumi made a step over Lazarus to chase after them but then froze, hesitating as she turned to the teacher. “Are you okay?” She asked, torn between the urge to chase after the targets and stay behind to help. Too impatient to wait for an answer she made a circling motion with her hands and then placed them on his stomach. To Lazarus it felt like a bus slammed against his stomach.. and penetrate it. A bizarre warmth began spreading out from the thing and his tissues started itching as they bound again over the bullet. “Angel essence, it’ll only take a minute. Wait a minute.” She instructed, then got up and ran after the culprits, grabbing a kitchen knife on the go.

Lazarus ignored her, he wrapped death energy around the anchor points, and began to force his flesh to knit. Standing he grabbed Dracul and moved like a wraith after her, running with its power flowing through his veins. Forcing his legs to move faster than any humans’, his form blurred as though he was moving faster than his spectres who trailed just behind them. A thought crossed his mind and he dove through a window and ran along the edges of the window sills paralleling the way they were fleeing. Leading Hazumi by just a few feet. The wound throbbed but he didn’t care. Opening his essence sight he tagged the angel’s essence, it was still being attacked by the necrosis. With a hiss he sent more power to the disease causing the shoulder to swell painfully.

The angel cried out and then did something drastic. He dug into his own flesh and with a burst of inhuman strength ripped his arm out. The decaying flesh was strategically calculated and not all of it could be removed so easily but the angel has a trick up his sleeve. He was a Battle angel and every moment his heart pumped blood up his arm, new cells grew in place of the damaged ones, not entirely negating it, but stopping it in its track. As Lazarus and Hazumi reached the next room what they saw was gut-wrenching.

The angel was standing in front of her, his wings flaring protectively, gun in one hand, but it was obvious to both of them. The human was holding a hostage, a young girl, no older than 10, beaten beyond recognition, her arm twisted at an abnormal angle. She wasn't squirming to get free even though a knife was at her throat, she didn't whimper, even though the woman was holding her by the hair. Her essence itself was so weak that they hadn't even realised she was there at the start.

“Let us go and you can have her back.” The angel mocked, a twisted smirk tainting his features.

Hazumi frowned but the next second she was running towards the angel, knife firmly gripped in her hand. The angel was faster, rushing at her... twisting his body in the last second to surpass her, and slam straight into Lazarus.

Chaos ensued, glass breaking, knives slicing throats open, Hazumi gasping, Lazarus falling...

Lazarus grappled for the knife in mid fall. This was going hurt. He poured on the necrotic grip wasting the angel’s muscles to nothing, decaying flesh flaking away in the seconds of the fall towards the hard pavement. Lazarus’s face had been slashed open so his teeth were showing on the right side of his mouth. The Angel tried to bring the gun to bear but Lazarus snapped it’s fingers like dry kindling as the bone was beginning to deteriorate from his plague. Grabbing the knife by the blade and forcing it back Lazarus twisted and rode the angel into the unforgiving pavement. It’s ribs shattering like glass.

The Necromancer rolled off of the Angel, he coughed up blood. Chest heaving as he lay in the street, the angel twitched and then lay still. Hopefully Hazumi had saved the girl. Lazarus had his own battle to fight. Dracul lay a few feet away but he didn’t need contact with the sword. With an effort of will he drew the essence from it. Using it to hold his soul in place within his body. This battle wasn’t over yet and Hazumi had need of him yet. Lazarus’s hands were slick with his own blood as he crawled to his knees. With a heave he stood. Holding his side as blood seeped from it. With more will he drew an entropy shield around himself, snapping his fingers a staff of pure black obsidian grew from the ground. He leaned heavily on it, Dracul hanging loosely from his right hand.

Where the hell was Hazumi.

Dracul greedily ate the Angel’s soul as Lazarus swayed on his feet. Note to self. Avoid falls.

Back in the apartment Hazumi's eyes widened as she realised Lazarus had just been pushed out of the window. He wasn't the Academy's only teacher, of course, but he was a talented one and this was a fate he did not deserve. A sudden anger crashed into her as if it was a wave washing over a rock, as if it was something foreign that came out of nowhere but left itself embedded in her pores.

Her head snapped back to face the human who was now holding an absolutely lifeless body instead of a dying one. Blood was slowly trickling down her knife and Hazumi saw with painful clarity how it was pooling under the woman's hand, thick and wasted.

Hazumi bared her teeth, suddenly sharp and animalistic and snarled her frustration out. The woman dropped the body and lunged at Hazumi, her knife bared – her only weapon. Even though the space between them was only a few meters, Hazumi didn't wait for the woman to reach her. The impact was inevitable and instant. The knife ran smoothly into Hazumi's shoulder, her bones welcoming it and locking it in place, her other hand slamming into the side of the woman's head and crush it hard against the wall. The human whimpered painfully as Hazumi's face hovered close over hers. Her teeth were sharp enough to cut the air and steam was coming out of her mouth, hot enough to cause skin to itch painfully before melting. It was no longer blood that cruised Hazumi's veins, it was magma and liquid rage and her eyes were a merciless reflection of it.

“You were smart to cut the vein, creates much less of a mess. Murderers care a lot about their liars, do we not? Some like it clean, and some....” A rumble rose from her throat, a sharp chuckle. Her lips curled back in a grin that promised to be the last thing anyone would see. The human thrashed instinctively but Hazumi held her firmly as her nose caressed the other woman's neck.

Jaws clenched.

Flavours exploded in her mouth, salty and bitter, unpleasant yet so thrilling, as the blood gushed out of the artery. The pressure was so high that blood splashed all over Hazumi's face and halfway across the room. It was flowing too fast, drenching her clothes and the carpet underneath. And it was too much to drink. Hazumi's voice roared out halfway between choking and.. laughing. As the human started drowning in her own blood, her legs slowly buckling the laugh rose even higher.

It took a few long minutes before she felt sated - not because there was no blood left, but because she simply didn’t feel like taking any more in. She hadn’t even consumed the human’s essence - she didn’t want that bitch to be a part of the legacy her body and soul were. She didn’t even need the blood, though her demonic part appreciated it. Like a petulant child she had ruined the human’s integrity for the sake of it, on a whim driven in equal measures by amusement and fury. Hazumi stood and wiped her lips with the back of her arm.

Then she threw a look down at her clothes and popped in the shower. Only after she was finished did she scout the place for a clean set of clothes, threw on an oversized t-shirt and some leggings and jumped out of the window, the wind curling around her to lower her gently to the ground far below.

Lazarus had slid down the wall of the alleyway, he’d found the knife buried in his side. Blood continued to seep onto the ground. His breathing was shallow, but pain didn’t register on his face. Perhaps it was time to make sure he could still do it. After all, this body was beginning to wear a bit. Fucking angel, how in the world had he managed to land just so on the knife.

With a heave he slid the blade out of his side and let it fall to the ground. His left hand pressed to the wound as blood flowed from between his fingers. It had gone much deeper than he’d thought. It certainly explained why he’d been coughing up blood. Twitching his fingers he stimulated the growth of skin cells to close the wound a bit. He didn’t want to start bleeding internally so he left the wound open enough to keep blood from pooling inside.

At a sound Lazarus looked up to see Hazumi descending from the window. What great timing. Annoyance flashed across his thoughts but he pushed it away. There was no point now.

Hazumi was surprised at what she found at the foot of the building. There was a blood-splatter but there were no bodies, and once she scanned the perimeter she realised Lazarus is very much alive and pretty well. Bad news was that the blood was his own.

“You handle the other one?” His voice was breathy but it didn’t sound like he was in pain from the wound as he reclined against the wall of the building. Blood still seeping from the wound. Dracul’s amber glow gave his face a haunted deathly pallor. The loss of blood was also probably not helping. His breathing was shallow but his eyes were alert and took her in. “The leggings suit you, but I don’t think the T-shirt befits your status. He cracked a wry grin, it was clearly to hide the beginning of pain.

Hazumi blinked at him, perplexed of how he started with the actual problem to then question her looks. “I got her. My clothes were ruined in the process.” She ran her tongue along her gums. She could still taste the blood. “What happened to you? Are you okay?” She asked with an eerie calm. There was something different in the person who was now standing in front of him.

Lazarus laughed and blood flecked his lips. “Fine for now. I can’t decide If I want to ditch this shell and start over or see if it’s worth salvaging.” He tested the depth of the wound with his finger “It’s sort of right on the edge. It might be worth the effort to salvage it or it might be a waste of my time.” He sighed in exasperation. “We’re still missing number three, and we have no leads on the whereabouts of the missing students.” He grimaced as he withdrew his finger from the wound. It was read to just about the second knuckle.

“You mean your body?” She asked, eyebrows rising. She hadn’t realised he’s so bad. He didn’t show it much anyway. “Why would you ditch it? You’ve had it for so long. If you do, won’t you become a baby again?” She questioned, uncertain about the specifics of his rebirths.

Lazarus cackled a little at that “Hardly, it isn’t exactly a rebirth. It’s more of a...transference.” He looked at her for a long moment. “While I do become rather attached to them, I was hoping this one would last a bit longer than 60 years…” He frowned “Why am I telling you this? Its way too dangerous for people to know how this works, in any way shape or form.” He scowled. “You want to know how it works don’t you?”

She smiled. “I am rather curious. However it hardly seems like the right place or time to discuss a thing such as this. An angel is fast approaching, possibly the last one.” She glanced him over quickly and stepped in without hesitation. Her lips met with his in a far-from-gentle, almost forceful manner. She didn’t seem to recognize the gesture as a sign of affection and it hardly constituted a kiss as what it did to his body was light it on fire.. quite literally.

As some of her essence poured into him it jolted his body into healing at a rate that shouldn’t have been possible, forcing cells to divide and tissues to form. The feeling was almost excruciating as it incinerated everything in its wake, yet at the same time it was also peculiarly… intoxicating. As the sudden rush of pain receded what was left in its wake was the feeling of insane power cruising his veins and the confidence, the knowledge of being invincible.

Hazumi pulled away and ran a hand through her ruffled hair. “Sorry for getting you hurt. Hope this makes up for it.”

Lazarus sat stunned at what had just happened, the magic was incredible but the kiss...It lingered. And she didn’t seem to have even noticed what she’d done. The hardness of his heart began to crack. What was going on? With that he heaved himself to his feet seizing Dracul and removing the layer of dried blood on his skin with an exertion of will.

“Shall we show this angel a good time?”

Having been on her way back to their current place, Mattea witnessed her comrade fall with enemy in tow. She was airborne after all, affording her a bird’s eye view. A certain hatred was in her heart as she landed a block or so away from where her friend’s killed had stumbled. She even saw Hazumi enter the alley, informing her that she was outnumbered, but she didn’t care. Having thought it out a little more, she sprinted and then leapt up and into the air once more. She cast her essence about, and surrounded herself with illusions before swooping down, folding her wings against her back and flinging essence towards the duo.

Looking through the screen would cause hallucinations in addition to distortions in whatever was on the other side. This would make it difficult to immediately pinpoint her location in the alley. She had drawn her gun even before hitting the ground, where she rolled back to her feet and fired at the downed man, and curled her wings about herself somewhat. She was a miracle angel, rather ironic considering her criminal nature, but there was something else to her essence as well.

Hazumi felt the angel approaching. In fact, there was hardly a way for her not to feel it, given how much her essence expanded all of a sudden. Instinctively, Hazumi looked in her direction and the sight blinded her momentarily. That was a clever approach, she thought as she brought her arm up at the angel, slowly sapping the essence away from her. She still couldn’t look at her but she could resolve that problem quite effortlessly. Problem was when she realised the angel had a gun, which made Hazumi drop her hand and dive for cover in one of the narrow alleys nearby.

Lazarus watched as Hazumi dived out of the way. “Oh crap” His spectres slapped away several of the bullets as he opened a hole in the wall of the building next to him and wrenched his body into it as the fusillade of bullets bit into the sides of the walls and the street. “I absolutely hate guns” Lazarus swore as he began to wrap an Entropy Shield around him. A ripple like heat began to appear around Dracul.

Lazarus was officially. Done. With. This. Shit. He made sure he was preparing Low wave radiation so that the buildings should shield civilians from the directed blast. Unfortunately for the angel it should cook her quite nicely. “Last chance to surrender before I turn you into goo like your partner in crime!”Lazarus yelled from his position behind cover.

Having no way of knowing what was coming for her the angel first noted that she was fighting what appeared to be at least one experienced mage. Following this she shrouded her wings in a light coating of essence and then leapt into the air, landing on the building opposite of Lazarus’ location. Her feet silent, something she’d learned to do with much practice, Mattea sprinted away, across the roof, and then turned towards the side-alley that Hazumi had dodged into. Her wings swept down, pushing her into the air with a small flap, allowing her to suddenly appear several feet above Hazumi and fire down at her, before disappearing onto another roof. This put her further from the mage, which she thought was good.

There was no way of telling what he might be preparing after all.

Since retreating, Hazumi had tried to recreate the scales she had used as armour once but whatever demon was providing her with that opportunity seemed to be gone. At least the alley was a good protection from bullets. Unfortunately, it also made moving that much harder. Luckily, she could still sense the angel approaching and prepare for it. She slammed her hand against the wall and the bricks erupted forwards just as the gun was shot. Some of the bricks broke upon contact with the bullets and shrapnel scattered over Hazumi.. and the child sat on the other side.

The angel disappeared as the bricks crumbled and Hazumi let out a breath, looking over to the shocked child. A piece of tortilla was dripping guacamole down its trousers.

“Sorry babe.” Hazumi apologized, turning back and returning to Lazarus' side briefly. “Should I go after it or have you got this?” She asked, making sure whatever those vibrations were that were coming off him were not going to harm her.

Lazarus frowned as his eyes clouded with quicksilver. “Um…” He was clearly not focused on her as he scanned for the Angel’s essence. Taking care not to look straight at her. “I think…” Lazarus ran essence down Dracul and pointed it up through the building at the angel.

Skeletal hands erupted from the roof where the angel had landed clawing at her legs and feet trying to grab her and hold her in place.

“Assuming that worked she should be stuck to the roof long enough for us to get up there” With that Lazarus shifted the Golem bracers to his arms and increased the muscle mass of his legs and the grasping strength of his hands. With a tremendous leap Lazarus jumped five stories and grabbed a window sill and began to use his spectres to vault from one building across the alley to the other and back across. Rising swiftly with each leap.

Hazumi looked around hesitant between pursuing the angel or dealing with the demolished wall and the traumatized child. She decided that Lazarus seemed to have the situation under control and so she returned to the alley. The child was long gone, probably trying to get a hold of his parents and so she started knitting the rubble of bricks back together and seal them in a reasonable improvised wall.

Lazarus sprung onto the roof and rolled popping up onto his feet prepared for a fight as he was sure the Angel would be extricating herself from the grasping hands, if she hadn’t already.

Her ankles suddenly apprehended by a set of skeletal hands, Mattea glared down at them, and with great swiftness, channeled trace amounts of essence between the joints. The essence quickly disrupted the mage’s control and she managed to jump away from the hands. Her wings slapped the air as she heard movement. A burst of wind would hit Lazarus just as he came over the roof, and if that didn’t knock him off there were several bullets already flying in his direction.

With his sight he’d note that the bullets were coated in a thin layer of essence.

Her wings had served a dual purpose in this case, first to attack, and second to blast her off the other edge of the roof and out of sight where she began quickly sprinting down the alleyway.

The gust caught him and forced him back but one of his spectre’s braced him from behind while the other two slapped the bullets out of the air with their copies of Dracul. While Lazarus drew on the well in Dracul to project an Entropy shield to render the others to dust.

“I don’t think so” Lazarus opened his essence sight and seized the well in Dracul fully. His eyes lit with silver light that illuminated the roof top. Flicking his hand out he snatched the angel in mid run with his will given form by essence. “You coward. Snatching children and endangering innocents. You have been found guilty and you will not escape justice for your crimes.” Lazarus voice boomed as he walked to the edge of the roof to get a clearer visual on the angel. “I will tear the secrets from your mind if I have to but you will be brought to heel.”

As the specters made contact with the bullets the projectiles sheared right through them, repelling the essence that made the creatures up in a circle around them and continuing at the same speed to Lazarus, moving fast enough that he had not yet created his entropy shield. If he had still managed to snatch her from the air as she hurtled backwards, then her wings would quickly streamline, essence naturally flowing through them, as she hardened them and slashed with them, using them like blades to shear the specters apart.

However, an illusion would project over her the entire time, one of several layers, each depicting her caught by his servants and each more realistic than the last. It would take several precious seconds for him to break through, and in that time she would escape off the roof and run further away, attempting to take wing once she’d exited the alley, though she remained low as she flew, staying only a couple feet from the ground.

Lazarus sighed as the bullets contacted him. On the way up the building he’d increased the muscle mass of his upper body and laced it with the depleted uranium. The bullets struck him but didn’t go any further than a quarter of an inch into his body. It was a hell of a trick using that much essence but it had turned out to be quite a good call. His Specters returned to him and he ignored the illusions. The second she’d damaged the specters he’d known they weren’t real.

With his left hand he wove essence to track her path, the gold strands showed him where she’d gone, but in the throes of Dracul he ran an insane amount of essence through the spell combining it with his precognition and it offered about a dozen probable trajectories. With another heavy sigh Lazarus opted for something incredible subtle but truly fantastic. At the termination of each of the possible trajectories he simply forced the air out of each area. Rendering flight and breathing impossible in the areas. The angel would simply drop like a rock when her wings no longer contacted air to keep her aloft.

“You can not escape your fate why do you flee? You endanger more and more innocents. Why can you not see.” Lazarus pumped more energy into Dracul’s blade, it shimmered and rippled with the radiation contained around it. It was enough to totally deteriorate the cell integrity of any living being. Effectively turning their insides to liquid. Their outside would be turned to a fine crisp. It wasn’t quite the same as being hit by a nuclear bomb since it was a different form of radiation, but it was nasty. All he needed was a general idea of where she was. It would pass right through the surrounding buildings. Hopefully it wouldn’t harm any innocents but this was getting out of hand.

Her wings hit...nothing, and she thus hit the ground, realizing in the same instant that there was no air to breath. She cast about, suffocating a bit, and got to her feet--barely--so as to run towards a source of ai,- though she had no idea where the lack of such began and ended respectively.

Lazarus impacted the ground behind the floundering angel and walked forward. Weaving essence he thrust his hands forward weaving a Void Sphere into existence. Suspending Gravity and forcing all matter save the Angel floating in the center of it. He fed a thin amount of oxygen into the sphere so she could breath. “This is going to go two ways. Option one. You tell me what I want to know and I turn you over to the authorities alive. Option two. I tear the information out of your mind. Then I liquify your insides with high wave radiation and leave you a baked corpse in the street. Your choice.”

She gasped, pulling the air into her lungs. She did not respond immediately, though she managed to register what the mage had said. It was basically give in or die, and she didn’t like that, but sadly she didn’t have much of a choice. She gritted her teeth for a long moment, and then turned her head towards the man. If she mustered enough essence she might be able to conjure something to get her out of this, but he was giving her air, and without that she couldn’t do anything.

So she gave up. “Fine,” she snapped, her eyes still defiant despite her situation, “...ask away mage”.

“Where are the other students.” Lazarus eyes were cold as he said it maintaining the Void sphere. It was dangerous to be feeding oxygen into it since it certainly was a structural flaw in the magic but he needed to at least give the angel a chance.

She sneered, “In several locations around the city, rotting, or starving, most of ‘em.” She sounded bored as she said it, no empathy in her actions whatsoever. She couldn’t forgive them after all….

“Locations. Now.” Lazarus was tempted to simply cut off the air and tear the information out of the angel’s mind but that was something he simply couldn’t do now. At least so long as the angel was cooperating he couldn’t. “I am willing to show mercy and turn you over to the peace keepers if you tell me the locations. Otherwise I will be forced to take other measures.” Lazarus’s eyes blazed like cold dying stars from the essence he was holding within him.

“Like that’s much solace,” she mumbled, after which point she glanced down at a pocket in her pants. “I wrote down the locations. Couldn’t be bothered to remember,” her eyes turned back to the mage’s, there was a deep contempt in them as she stared at him. She could tell that he hated her right now, but he had no idea how much more she hated him, even if this was the first time they’d met.

The Academy, the Peacekeepers, and the Musicians were entities in her mind, things to hate. She knew the Peacekeepers’ judgement would be little better. She would likely be killed for her transgressions, perhaps three times over due to the death of her comrades. Still, the more time she had to live, the more likely she was to escape.

She’d done it before, not that anyone remembered. She’d changed her face...her identity. She wasn’t who she had been.

Lazarus looked at the pocket she had indicated but he’d caught the wave of pure hatred that had rolled off of her. His eyes searched her face as he continued to sift through the emotions rolling off of her.

“Your hatred for me is tangible. Yet I do not know you.” Lazarus walked forward until he was right outside of the sphere. “Why do you hate me so much? What drives you to kidnap students and harm others?” Lazarus gestured “Can you not see the damage it does? And don’t give me some crap about me not being able to understand. I’ve wiped whole towns from the face of the planet for my hate so yours is nothing. But I wish to understand. Why?”

Her eyes turned away, something her head would’ve done could she have moved. For a long moment she was silent before she finally chimed up, her tone a venomous one, “It’s more what you represent, than who you are, but really the question is this...” she smiled, a look of sickly sweetness, “...why would I tell someone I hate, why I hate them?” She wished she could spit in front of his feet, or even better, in his despicable face. “I gain nothing from your knowing, ‘cept perhaps pity, which I don’t want and don’t need.” She glanced at the pocket she had nodded towards earlier, “You going to get the list or not. While I might as well be on death row, I would prefer to spend the rest of my life alone and away from you and yours. Even if it means sitting in a prison cell, bound and gagged.” The hatred and disdain in her tone was palpable, especially to one such as he, who could literally feel and take in emotions. It would be like an acidic smog: weighing down, polluting, and stinging the both body and mind.

Lazarus stared at the Angel for a long moment before using enforce will to remove the list from her pocket and pinching off a piece of the void sphere and dispersing it so the list landed in his hand. “I already pity those who see death as a means of forwarding an agenda. It is why I do what I do. I was in your place once, only I had to make the choice to see that my actions were destructive and dangerous myself.” He sighed at the Angel “This is not a perfect world, killing and harming others doesn’t make it better. It makes it worse. People like you and I don’t belong in it. The only difference between you and I is that I know we don’t belong here and I’m willing to remove others who are like me.”

She’d met at least two people like him before, or at least it felt that way. Maybe they were nothing alike, this mage and that seraph she’d met so many years ago. It didn’t really matter. “If there’s no place in this world for all manner of people, then I don’t much care for it anyways,” she had a different smile on her face now, one that was always knowing. “Oh, and you’ve got your facts all tied up, like you know what you’re talking about. Don’t act like you know me, mage,” she said, her eyes glaring even as her smile remained, though it was less apparent now.

She exhaled sharply, if there was anything she hated more than traitors and the Academy, it was people who acted like they knew shit, when they didn’t know anything at all. Maybe she’d be better off getting herself killed now, rather than face the Peacekeepers….

Then again, maybe suicide was below her. Yeah, it was. She didn’t want that, even if it would be a final act of defiance. The longer she stayed alive, the more likely she was to live even longer--if just another day. “Funny…” she mumbled to herself, “...don’t realize how much life matters till it’s about to be snatched from you.” She shook her head and sighed, a smile on her lips. It was ironic.

“Try remembering every single one of your deaths. That will rain on your parade.” Lazarus tilted his head as he stared at the Angel. Was it really as simple as ending another meaningless life? Because that was what the peacekeepers would do to her. Am I really considering letting her go? “What would you do if I let you go?” the question was genuine and his curiosity was real.

She sneered as he mentioned her other lives. It’s not like he could understand what it was like. Even if he were a mage, he was human and as long as he was human he would never understand both what it felt like to die so many times and what it meant to lose everything you were each time. However, when he asked her a question, her eyes snapped to him, and her mind snapped to attention.

He could read her, this she knew. She was a miracle angel and thus could detect interaction with her own essence, even if only vaguely. So if she lied, he’d know. Even if he didn’t know, he could find out because clearly he was capable of ‘ravaging her mind,’ as he had put it. Should she say nothing? Should she just reply with the truth...or just part of it?

After at least ten seconds of silence where she stared at the man, trying to measure him up...trying to figure out why he had asked her, and what she ought to say, she finally spoke. “I don’t see why it matters…but maybe I’d start a new life. I know I’ll never forgive the Academy,” she said the name with noticeable vitriol, then continued, having to exhale and take in another breath as if getting rid of the filth that the word represented to her. “Maybe I’d leave this city...maybe not. Maybe I’d try and disappear only to come back and take that horrid place down in some way.” She looked at the man.

He was odd. He was dirt, no, less than dirt. He was shit in a gutter just like all the Academy’s puppets, just like any traitor. It was only worse that he had, as he put it, ’been like her’. Still, he was odd, worth at least the smallest amount of observation. “Hard to say what I might do…” she said, sounding unsure as she looked away from him and at the ground. That was hardly what he wanted to hear. She was going to die, but at least when she came back this time...she wouldn’t remember what had happened, wouldn’t have to deal with having lost things dear to her.

No, there’d be a new set of troubles instead. It never ended.

Never.

Lazarus looked at her with dead eyes. “I shall grant you a final chance. You deserve that much. I know your anger.” Lazarus let the radiation fade from Dracul as he leveled it. “When you wake, you will be made new. Are you ready?”

At first her eyes lit up, but then he continued and they filled with fear. What did he mean by that? “Wha…” she started, then stopped, swallowing hard. It was either whatever this mage planned...or incarceration and death. “Yeah,” she steeled herself, but in her eyes the fear remained.

“You shall not taste the void, but you will be given another chance. I’m sorry.” A tear dripped from Lazarus’s eye “You will get another chance.” Dracul glowed with a fel green light. And then he plunged it into the Angel’s chest. Dracul erupted from between her shoulder blades and part of Lazarus died as the light in her eyes went out. Pulling the soul cleanly from her body and storing it carefully and undamaged in the core of pure diamond that ran through Dracul for such things. As he released the void sphere he caught the Angel as she fell. Flopping into his arms he stemmed the blood and began wrapping essence around the body to repair damage and completely halt decay. “I’m so sorry.”

Lazarus turned and began to walk, the Angel’s body in his arms and the soul stored in Dracul. His eyes were cold and lifeless.

Hazumi soon rejoined him and gave him a long serious look. Her face was much calmer than before. “You can leave the body to the police. Would you like me to make you a lift?”

Lazarus looked up sharply. “Step away from her.” His eyes blazed with the fire of dying stars. Still cradling the angel in his left arm with his right arm he shoved a crumpled paper into Hazumi’s hand. It was the note with the locations of the students. “I think there has been enough anger death and hatred for today don’t you?” He gave the police officer a look “Thank you for your help.” He shouldered past them carrying the angel.

Hazumi frowned at his remark, the suspicion that he could have a way of knowing what she'd done in the apartment creeping in. It wasn't something she was proud of and not something she'd appreciate anyone knowing. Clicking her tongue in annoyance she gave the note to the man beside her and asked him to organize the retrieval of the children. With that the case was mostly closed and with a sigh, Hazumi weaved a simple horse out of the essence around and headed back to the Academy.

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

Loom

Night

Themerlinhawk & Grin

Ian took a sip from the beer sitting on the piano next to him as he changed sets. The night had been a great change of pace since he’d spent so much time at the academy lately. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and winced it strung still. While he didn’t have black eye his left cheek still bore a mark. He switched over to more of the classic Irish tunes as most of the band had dipped so he lacked the backing for more of the Irish rock.

“Um...Excuse me?” The familiar sweet voice bore recognition in Ian. “I’m looking for Ian..Snyder?” Someone pointed to the direction of the boy, a familiar lass in a simple ivory crop top and skinny jeans beaming when she achieved of his location. “I found you--” Iris paused when she heard him playing a nice tune, and, out of the dearest respect she took a nearby seat next to a rather grumpy man who isn’t holding his whiskey well. Her wide-eyed expression remained locked on Ian. She then squirmed around in her seat, trying to get comfortable with the unusual formalities of the bar.

Ian almost lost the tune as he recognized Iris entering the bar. What the hell was she doing here? why was he looking for him? His fingers flashed along the flute as he continued through Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Maybe she would leave if he ignored her. He kept going and then switched into step it out Mary without stopping. The bartender gave him a weird look. Normally he stopped and took requests. His arms and knuckles sported new bruises. Not from the fight. He’d destroyed another wooden dummy recently.

Iris just waited patiently, her eyes not leaving him. Aww the bar works him so hard!! it must be tough being in a band! She rested her chin against the table, getting sleepier and sleepier. Suddenly a waitress came to her table, causing Iris to jolt upright again.
“Good evening! what’d you like?” The waitress looked down at Iris with a practiced smile and cheery tone. “..um..OH! water please!” Iris gave the waitress a simple grin, then it was back to her staring habit. The tunes that escaped Ian’s instrument sent Iris to a blissful trance, for she appreciated the way the notes danced all around the scale. I’ll stay all night if I have to, to make sure that he hears me out.

Ian narrowed his eyes, there was no way he was going to make it out of the star of the county down without a break. He finished it out quickly and snatched a shot glass off the piano downing the contents. He licked his split lip which had been a real bitch to play flute with. Flexing his hands and sheathing Fidrieon he stood up off the barstool and stepped off the stage walking to one of the corners of the room where his backpack was sitting on a table. He sat down and watched Iris to see what she’d do.

Iris’s eyes grew really wide and she stood up, wiggling through the tables and chairs to get to him. during her efforts she hummed a few notes, the vibrations in the air transmitting a message to Ian’s ear. “Stay right there, don’t move please! I’ll be there in a second--” “Hey! watch it!” a low voice sneered as Iris bumped into a teenage boy twice her size. Her eyes traveled up to the man’s face, which was marred by an ugly diagonal scar down the majority of it. “I’m sorry--” The boy shoved her back, causing her bruised hip to hit a nearby table. She winced in pain. “ow..”
The boy grinned at his roughhousing, glancing around to make sure his scandalous deeds were noticed and praised properly.

Ian frowned and rolled his eyes. “Hey, the fuck is wrong with you?” The boy turned and Ian used a tricked he’d learned from Lazarus. Turning his will into a physical force, he slammed it into the boys solar plexus doubling him over. Gripping Fidrieon he went from sitting at the table to slamming his fist into the back of the boys head. Flooring him. He sniffed. Wrinkling his nose. Using Fidrieon to do that was probably a bad idea given his current condition. Looking up at Iris “Are you alright?”

Iris paused, then smiled weakly, her hand leaving her bruise. “That should be my line.” She gestured Ian to follow her back to the table he was at before. Her crystal green eyes shone in the dim lighting as they looked at the floor, then up at Ian. “I’m truly sorry for the arena yesterday,” She exhaled, nervous about his response. “I didn’t mean any harm towards you, no, towards anyone. I need to learn to control my abilities more, which is why I came to the academy in the first place.” Her worried look turned to one of intensity. “your cheek--” without thinking her hand lifted to the mark, then drew back, as if she accidentally broke a wanted barrier. A smile played at Iris’s lips. “I can fix that.” Before Ian could complain Iris’s voice entered the air around them, the notes long and strong, the vibrations reaching his mark, and sealing it shut, dissolving any trace of pain and replacing it with a warm, comforting sensation, similar to drinking something hot after being nipped by the cold.

Ian opened his mouth to protest but she didn’t let him speak. Great, another injury to his pride, not only had she kicked his ass but now she was fixing him up like a child who’d fallen and scraped his knee. Part of him wanted to thank her while the rest of him told him to rabbit. *Run little coward* Koshmar’s whispers resounded in his head. A look half way between rage and pain crossed his face. Koshmar hadn’t said a word in the last twenty four hours and now he was speaking up. Suddenly Ian realized he hadn’t responded and the only thing she’d seen was the look he’d gotten at Koshmar’s reappearance.

Iris’s smile dropped completely to one of shock and she cupped her hand over her mouth, her voice muffled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do something you wouldn’t like,” she bit her lip, attempting her boundaries. “unless...something’s on your mind?” She stared at him intensely still.

Ian half looked at the door still processing what she’d said and still trying to deal with the fact that Koshmar was back and at the worst time ever. Finally he made a decisions after long seconds ticked by. Seizing Koshmar he crammed him back into Hazumi’s cage for him in the depths of his conscious. It was only a stopgap but he doubted Iris would appreciate him using Namshiel to contain Koshmar. “No it’s fine, I’m sorry that had nothing to do with you” It was mostly true. ‘why am I being nice to her?’ The thought forced its way to the front of his mind. He took in her look for a moment “Would you like to sit? or are you planning on giving me that look for the rest of the night?” his lip twitched towards a smile and he winced as the cut on it twinged.

A frown found Iris, then again a low hum left her lips, the warm sensation filling up more contours in his face. Iris planted in the seat next to him, grinning. “Now that time I healed you for myself, so I can see that smile of yours at its best.” She paused. “Sorry, that sounded a bit like a creepy dentist, huh?”

A chuckle warred with the sudden urge to smack her with his ASP. After he pictured the second option he snorted and then broke into a laugh. “You know, you wouldn’t have to be doing that if you hadn’t hit me to begin with” His laughter pulled at the edges of his eyes. “What the hell do you want Iris? I thought you made it pretty clear how you felt about me yesterday.” His smile fell away but it haunted the corners of his eyes and the edges of his mouth. He took a sip from a glass of water sitting on the table.

“Well first I wanted to apologize, then I saw you had cuts on your face and wanted to heal them.” Iris didn’t feel convincing enough. “Besides, if I was the cause of your pain I’d want to fix it.”
the two of them fell quiet before she spoke again with a hollow tone.
“I want to be friends with you.”

Ian blinked and opened his mouth to respond *Kick this bitch to the curb Ian, Sam is way more fun* Ian’s eyes bulged and he clamped his mouth closed. Seizing a hold of Koshmar once more he hurled him back into his cell again. He caught Iris’ look “Sorry, its…” He trailed off “Okay, but you certainly have a funny way of making friends” the smile played at the edges of his mouth again.

Iris curled her lip in a pout. “is that such a bad thing? I got my point across…” Her eyes found the glass of water and stayed there. She just realized how long she stared at Ian this whole time and it brought red to her peachy cheeks. “I’ll admit I’m not very good at being...convincing. So..what can I do to convince you I’m not trying to cut you up like a carrot for soup?”

Ian shook his head in laughter “Look, I haven’t had my ass kicked in a long time. And you did a fairly thorough job of it too. And now you’re here asking me if I’d like to be friends? Can you understand why I might be a little wary of your intentions?” Ian reached out and pushed the glass of water with his finger to break her gaze on it, he’d seen the red creep into her cheeks. “There isn’t a darn thing you can do other than not as you put it ‘cut me up’. Course” Ian chuckled again “You’re already a little behind aren’t you?” He realized he was still talking in circles a bit “If you want to be friends we can if you’d like. I have no objections, I’m just a little surprised is all.”

Iris looked up at him. “are you sure?”

Ian grinned at her “Not at all, but I seriously doubt our relationship could get any worse at this point.” He hoped she took the comment as a joke the way it was meant. He hesitated for a moment he didn’t want to send the wrong message even though he might have some reservations about this whole thing “Yes. Iris I’m sure, I’m just being a bit of a brat. You’ll have to give me that much”

As soon as the words left Ian’s lips Iris beamed an 1000-watt smile. “Next time if I kick your butt I’ll just use my healing powers to make it all better.” Iris narrowed her eyes, her smile still present. “besides it feels good after being healed, huh? all tingly and warm. I heal myself quite a bit for practice.” She frowned. “By the way, I’ve read of alcohol in books and know it makes someone all tingly as well...how?”

Ian gave her a bemused look and considered addressing her statement of the possibility that she could repeat her earlier “success”. “It does feel good, although to be honest I’ve always been partial to letting things heal on their own.” To illustrate his point Ian extended his hands, palms down. Scars and calluses criss crossed his hands. He turned them over so she could see the swordsman calluses on the inside of the hands. His knuckles had bruises on them which he’d given himself earlier in the day taking apart another of the wooden dummies.

“As for the alcohol its more of an experience thing. I’m sure Lazarus could tell you the science behind it but the feelings is certainly an interesting experience” Ian folded his hands on the table in front of him.

“Oooh! battle scars so you can show off!!” Iris stared at him with amazement. “wait, those bruises on your hands look new..I don’t recall you using your fists against me that much during the fight,” She gave Ian a somewhat gloomy look.

Ian took his hands off the table and didn’t respond to the comment. The fight had been a little one sided for that but he didn’t bother to say anything.

Iris didn’t seem to care so much, for she was already onto the next topic. That, or she didn’t want to pry for information not wanting to be shared. “I like your flute by the way, it has a very crisp sound. The music you play with it goes together fairly well. It almost lulled me to sleep," Iris stopped and clenched her teeth in panic. “OH! not like, it was bad kind of sleep!! but like, the music was soothing and really calming and stuff!! I really appreciated it!!” Ian’s lack of response made Iris plant her face on the table, her scarlet hair sprawled all across the dark furniture. “Srrny..” (sorry..)

Ian stuck his tongue out at her while she had her head down. And grinned a little. ‘Okay maybe you should stop being a brat’ Ian thought to himself. “Hey” He gently put his hand on her back “Why are you sorry? You already apologized for beating me up” Ian stuck his tongue out at her again. “It’s one of the only beautiful things Fidrieon does, so I appreciate that.” Ian shook her gently “Hey as much as I might like the color of your hair you have a halfway decent smile too”

Iris slowly lifted her head up at him, her eyes searching his for some kind of hint of a joke. She cocked up an eyebrow.

Ian grinned at her “Okay maybe a little better than halfway decent” He raised an eyebrow back at her continuing to smile.

Iris grinned and her eyes lit up. “Oh, by the way, I have a gift for you. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

Ian looked at her warily. “You aren’t going to punch me again are you?” with a sarcastic grin he closed his eyes and extended his hands. He mumbled under his breath “Seriously don’t punch me”

With the speed of the wind she grabbed his wrists and hummed a series of staccato beats, the notes quickly finding his bruises on his knuckles, causing the purple on them to vanish. She let go of her grip and stood up from her chair, taking a giant swig of the glass of water, finishing it’s contents. “There. Now I hope you don’t take offense to me getting rid of a few of your prized possessions, I just don't want people to think you got into a fight with a sack of blueberries." she gave him a quick wink, spinning on her heel in the direction of the door. “See you later, Ian.” The warm intimate voice reached his ears as her body glided towards the doorway.

Ian opened his eyes to see her leaving, to his surprise he felt a twinge at her leaving. ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ He pushed the thought aside “I look forward to it” he said as he sat back enjoying the last tingles of her magic.

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

The Miserable Loves Company

Characters: Olivia & Mary & Lazarus

Location: Academy
Time: Midday

Contributors:@Rtron, @Themerlinhawk, and @Fallenreaper

Olivia had managed to excuse herself from Professor Saerne and Aluvia, her body clipping quickly down the hallway and fighting every step not to just break out into a full out run. Most of all what she wanted to do was to scream all her pain, misery and sorrow for the world to hear... but she couldn't. She made a promise and despite her frustration, she had little choice other than to trust Zi, a woman she had only sparsely met through Emmet. It was the hardest thing she had every had to swallow before.

Her shoes clipped harder, seeming to believe she could make her getaway faster, while she booked it to the only place she knew could help her to escape these dark feelings: the library. It had always been her comfort zone since her youth as Darius made sure her room was filled with various reading material, from the ancient tales of Moby Dick, A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, and more to the more modern fiction and facts of the age. It was the first place that came to mind when she started to walk and let her feet lead the way.

Her hand reached up to wipe away the salty tears stinging her vision and making it blurry, further increasing her redness. Only able to partly see, she nearly collided into another person, a woman, causing Olivia's attention jerk to the present. Side tracked from her destination, she managed to clear her vision enough to study the woman before her. She looked like a student or possibly a teacher aid, at least she was too young to be a teacher in Olivia's mind, while she blurted out her miserable apology.

“I-I’m s-sorry. I didn’t mean… I… My name’s Olivia Matthews.” It ended in a tragic way, her mind painfully aware of the fact when her voice trailed off softly.

Mary was heading back to the library. It was one of the few places she felt a little less lost and confused in this new world. In her customary black long sleeved shirt and blue jeans, she headed towards one of the last familiar places. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t notice the other person in the hallway until they had nearly rammed into by a small girl. Stopping suddenly, she looked down at the red eyed child, whispering her name and felt sorry for her. Something was clearly wrong, and this was something she could perhaps help with. Smiling in a friendly manner, Mary knelt down to Olivia’s eye level. “Don’t worry about it, Olivia. I’m Mary” She took in the hastily wiped away remnants of tears, and then wiped the rest away with her sleeve. “Now, why don’t we go into the library, away from prying eyes, and you tell me what’s wrong.”

Despite Olivia's thoughts being fixed on Emmet, her head tilted at hearing Mary's name. Her eyes blinked a bit when the woman wiped away her tears, helping a bit in clearing her sight until the image came into focus. She forced herself to smile some though her mood didn't full fill the energy behind it. “A bad day really and now I learned my brother's missing. Even worse, I can't do anything to help him because I promised to stay put.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Mary said earnestly, remembering how she felt before she found out both her parents were dead. In a way, the not knowing was even more terrible than the actual finding out that Henry and James had killed her parents. She thought for a moment. “Have you tried asking Hazumi for help? The headmistress of this college. From what I’ve heard, she’s ‘the Essence of the World’ something extremely powerful, I guess.” Mary shrugged. “I haven’t been in this world long enough to know what that means. Or at least, what the title means in comparison to everything else. But, from what I’ve heard, she cares about her students. Asking her to help might just get your brother back in no átime. Now, rather than focus on your problems, let’s see if we can find something to take your mind off of it. It’s why I came here myself.” Mary stood and gestured towards the library a few feet away. “Unless, of course, you’d rather we find Hazumi right away?”

“I’m only a temporary student here, at least until or if Uncle Darius registers me. Though I’m not sure I really belong here as I don't have any magical abilities,” Olivia uttered the words through her teeth while she slowly realized how easily lying came to her lips. It took great strength not to flinch, her face easily clouded over the reaction, while she listened to the woman. She couldn't help but wonder if this was very woman who was targeted by this ‘Sir’, the one who unknowingly ruining her very life and tossed it into chaos.

Olivia’s heart squeezed in on itself at the venomous thoughts. She barely stop herself from wrapping her arms about her torso while she pushed at her hatred, driving it down, before she spoke again. “I don't know. I've already contacted a friend of my brother, someone named Zi, to find him. She just told me to be careful and stay put. After what happened... I'm not sure about a lot of things anymore. Right now I just need something normal to keep me from going insane and books always helped me forget.”

Her feet naturally edged toward the library's entrance as she added, her head turned to the student's direction. “What's it like here? I've never been to a place which teaches magic, though I thought it might've looked much. It seems similar to my old school save for the boys because my last school was an all girls’ one.”

Mary nodded. “Well, if you don’t have any magical abilities, they’ll give you an instrument on admission. That will give you magical abilities. I don’t have any natural magic, but my Instrument,” Mary turned her ring back into a string of light, intertwining it through her fingers, “Gives me the abilities. As long as you have no problems with other voices in your head, as each Instrument has its own soul, you should adapt quickly. Unless they’re particularly annoying, like mine can be.” Mary smiled a bit at the immediate protestations by Mercy and Vengeance, turning her string into a ring once more. She took the lead towards the library. “Honestly, from what I can tell, it’s no different from the school I’m used to. You go to class, you hope the Professor goes easy on you, and you learn to the best of your ability. Switch Veterinarian classes with magic and combat classes, and that’s the only difference. For me at least. “ Mary gestured towards the interior of the library as they stepped in.

“I really don’t see the appeal in magic really so I don’t think so. My life is bad enough without driving myself insane after all.” Olivia admitted, earnestly, her eyes noting the ring on Mary’s finger twitch into a string and back again while the woman spoke. Her vision settled on it with an apprehensive expression for a few seconds then swallowed it down. Upon stepping into the library, her brown eyes flickered across the vast arrangement and seemed to smile on seeing vast rows on rows of old fashion book spines, a rarity with everything going to downloads, though unlike other girls she had perks. Darius had bought her a old fashion paperback every year since her tenth birthday. Her memories dimmed when she noticed something.

“Where’s the librarian?” Olivia asked curiously, casting her head about to search for what was missing.

“As far as I can tell, no librarians are here. The books are all organized and everything is clean whenever I leave and come back, so I can only assume it’s magic. Haven’t yet caught the magic at work. Books are a great distraction, I agree.” She smiled sadly. “My father taught me my love of reading. Granted he only read gun books and how to operate them. I just expanded by interests.” Shaking off the grief that was always waiting on the edge of her consciousness, Mary clapped her hands together.

It made Olivia smile a bit to find a common interest with someone, especially a place she was bound to be stuck inside for at least a day or two, worse more if Sir wasn’t imprisoned soon for his attempted kidnapping. She hated to think he would’ve tried again...Olivia felt sick just thinking of it. Mary’s mentioning book titles gave her a reason to push the ill thought aside, her twirling head paused for the moment to listen closer.

“So! Where shall we begin? Centuries old classics like ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, more recent ones like ‘Divergent’, or something in this world that I’ve never heard of?” She spread her arms wide and slightly up, the sleeve falling back to reveal not only an old, barely holding together, bracelet with what appeared to be a small bullet on it, but some of the scars from Sir’s experiments.

Olivia stood very, very still when her sight fixed on Mary’s arm. All color drained from her face, leaving it pale and white, while she found herself locked in place. Those scars… she had seen some like them before. Her mind filled by pain and her body trembling, feeling her anxiety build in her core where it pushed at her steadiness like a flood against a weak dam. In that moment Olivia felt she was the biggest damn fool within the world. There was too many disturbing things in common with this woman and Sir’s Mary that was impossible to ignore, hateful for her blindness. She would’ve noticed it earlier if she had paid attention. Again, she put on her fake smile and stepped to the nearest book shelf to graze a few fingers over the spines.

“I like fantasy and sci-fi genres. Also historic novels as well. Like ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ though it wasn’t accurate to history which made it a bit hard to fully get into. I’ve read ‘Huckleberry Finn’ and ‘Oliver Twist’.” Olivia idly plucked off a single, old novel from the shelf while she skimmed the label: The Clocktower - By Gabriel Ronson. It seemed interesting enough as she took it into her arm, mainly to read when she felt ready. “Where did that bracelet come from? It’s rather interesting as I’ve never seen girls flashing ammo.”

“I can' see why it would have no appeal. Magic, to me right now at least, is more of a pain than it is a useful tool.” Mary replied, as Olivia gazed about the library. Mary smiled as Olivia listed off her genre’s missing the intense stare fixed on her bracelet, and the sudden paleness seeing her scars had given Olivia. While the girl searched for a book, Mary herself browsed the shelves. “I used to read fantasy all the time. Now it seems like I’m living in the books I used to read. So I tend towards the more relatively normal ones, well, old world normal at least. Still, there is much to go for a good fantasy book.” Before she could continue, Olivia asked Mary a question. “Oh, this old thing?” She held it up for better inspection, shaking her wrist gently and making the worn chain and bullet clink lightly.

Olivia, on hearing Mary’s comment on living in a book, scoffed inside at the words. Though it wasn’t directed at the woman’s view life but rather the bitterness she was sharing the same fate, her own life turning into a mystery and horror rolled into one. Not if only she could skip this chapter in the novel instead then she could get on with her life. Her body had pushed in beside to Mary while the bracelet was held out, giving her better view of it then before. It didn’t look like anything special at first though, her eyes following the bobbing trinket for a moment and nodded her answer. Mary seemed to have taken that as a signal to continue.
“I got it from my father, after I killed my first deer. He was majorly into guns and insisted I know how to use one.” Mary mock frowned and imitated her father’s gruff voice. “‘Every girl should know how to defend herself. And since I can’t afford to have you taught all those fancy kung fu moves, firing bullets into your assailant until they stop moving will have to do.’ The .22 round, he claims, is from the gun I fired. The only one I didn’t fire, missing most of the time, he also claims. Despite the fact I only fired once and we both know it. A reminder he said, that I should always have one in the chamber. Just in case.”

Olivia smirked at how overprotective her brother and Darius had been, knowing fully well they would’ve never her near a gun, let alone, learn how to work one. Sadly they didn’t have to because all she would’ve had to do was touch a targeting range tool and she would’ve learned too rapidly for her own liking. She shuddered, quickly realizing how easily it would’ve attracted Mary’s attention only to become relieved. It seemed her action didn’t attract Mary’s attention, the older student lost in her own world and still went on about her life.

Mary smiled at the memory, sighing a little sadly at the thought of happier times. Times before her world went up in flames. “Most girls where I came from didn’t flash ammo either. But I didn’t care. It was a gift from my father. What girl says no to that?” She spotted Olivia’s book, tucked under her arm. “Find all you’re looking for, or do you plan on more than one?”

“I can relate to that feeling though I never got the chance to experience it much. Both my parents were killed when I was young and I can’t remember it fully. I do know father’s death had brought Darius to our small apartment, breaking the news to all three of us, my mother, Emmet my step brother, and me. I was only four. A misunderstanding happened and one of the demons went to reach for me, something Darius didn’t agree with. Before he could order a counter command, my mother got in the way and he reacted violently. My brother over reacted and held a blade at Darius’ throat, which he waved for his other men to take me away. He didn’t want to scare me anymore then I already was or risk involving me in a fight. I was crying and bawling in the car before his men got me to settle down. Lineage, a vampire, had me sitting in her lap during the whole ride.”

Mary paused, deciding to choose her words carefully. To her, this Darius sounded more like a murderer than a protector. But it wouldn’t do any good to upset Olivia any further. “I’m sorry to hear about your parent’s deaths. It’s hard. I know.” Mary changed the subject before Olivia could press her own questions. “So Darius and Lineage raised you? That must have been interesting, to say the least.” She was curious as to where Olivia’s brother was in all this, but realized that asking about her brother was a bad way to go. “I take it Darius was the one who got you into reading, or was that Lineage?” Mary shifted her sleeve down once more, covering both the bracelet and the scars.

“No, actually Darius tried to raise me alone but… well, he admitted he didn’t know the first thing about raising a girl. The demon he said that killed my mother was dealt with and released from his service.” Olivia said, assuming the demon had been fired. However, deep inside, she had a distinct, unpleasant feeling the truth was far from it. She hoped it wasn’t as she thought highly of her Uncle. “He brought in Ris, better known as Aeris Kasio, to help. She’s a lot like a sister and mother all rolled up into one to me. Lineage was Darius’ second to help him run his business in Kenan and help keep order, mainly because he knows if he doesn’t… people will get hurt. Namely those he loves the most. It’s why he’s my guardian instead of EZ since the bad guys would use me to hurt both him and my brother. And I think part of him wanted to make up for the mistake that took my mother’s life.”

Lazarus rounded the corner of one of the bookshelves staring down at a copy of an archeological text. Catching the end of the conversation he looked up and took in the two girls and smiled. Mary, it had been a day or two since they’d had a chance to talk. “Hello there Mary, how have you been holding up? I’m so sorry I haven’t seen you today. Did the roomate work out?” He eyed Olivia with curiosity. He didn’t recognize her and he hadn’t seen a name on the student lists that correlated to her face. “And who is your friend?” He let the last question hang scrutinizing the girl before pulling his essence sight over his eyes and checking her over in curiosity. No instrument. Curious.

Mary was saved from having to respond to Olivia’s explanation of how she was raised by Lazarus’s sudden arrival. Mary immediately smiled at the mage who had taken her in. “It is fine Lazarus. I’m here now. You don’t have to watch over me like a mother hen. The roommate was....interesting, but I like her. As for how I’m holding up, so far so good. The...Abyss,” she pronounced the name with as much hatred and disgust she could put into one word, “has been mostly keeping to himself. He hasn’t even irritated the spirits in my instrument, which is progress.” You actually said my name. This is progress! The Abyss quipped, causing Mary to frown, before brightening again. “This is Olivia Matthews she’s here under the protection of Aeris Kasio, I presume, while her brother is found.” Mary looked to Olivia. “Oh! Olivia, this is Lazarus. He’s, from what I can gather, a rather brilliant history teacher and mage, if slightly insane.” The last three words were said teasingly, before she looked curiously at him. “But what are you doing here? As far as I knew, this was one of the lesser known libraries in the College.

Olivia had just finished her reply when a man appeared from almost nowhere. Immediately she jumped, the energy rippled through her body and traveled upward as she jerked her head to the side, her eyes locking with him. He was in his late twenties, with a short, curly cut and taller than either of them. Those were the clear and immediate features Olivia had noticed, but when she met his eyes she felt like they passed right through her. At first it was unsettling at how he studied her, making her aware how a bug under glass might’ve felt like.

She inhaled softly while he addressed Mary, apologizing for his absence then inquired about a roommate, trying to sooth over her discomfort. After all, the man hadn’t done anything to her and while she was in the Academy, she doubted he would have. At being introduced, Olivia’s hand rose to shake Lazarus’ as she was taught by Darius to be polite. The name Abyss hissed over and over in her mind back, her mind calling up the memory to the surface, while she immediately slammed it down. It made her heart sink at learning more about this woman and knowing, without a doubt, this Mary was the very one her kidnapper had wanted.

“Nice to meet you, Lazarus.” She said timidly.

“Good I’m glad you’re settling in.” He smiled at his ward “And I’m glad to hear that IT is leaving you alone more or less. Let me know if it ever gets to be too much again and I’ll see what I can do.” He squeezed her shoulder lovingly before turning his attention back to Olivia.

Lazarus took Olivia’s hand and shook it while smiling. “That is a lovely name you have Olivia. I’m sorry to hear about your brother. Is there anything I can do to help?” He held off on answering Mary’s question for a moment about what exactly he was doing in this particular library. The girl had a talent. He’d seen the ripple, but he wasn’t sure what exactly it was. “I am quite good at finding lost and missing things.” He smiled softly before he gave Mary her answer by handing her the book he was holding “Demonic Archeology. A little more off the beaten track than usual. Then again Mistress Kasio is teaching a comprehensive class on the Western Realms.” Lazarus kept his attention on Olivia looking for a reaction.

Olivia's eyes turned to Mary, noting the man give the woman a gentle squeeze on her shoulder, her face a bit confused by the words. It wasn't that she didn't understand English, but way they were talking about the Abyss. She could hear the venom and spite in each reference, like it was something living. Vaguely she could easily remember how Sir's tone seemed to indicate the very same thing now that she studied the memory absent the fear. Mentally, her mind shudder at the thought, and she pushed it aside when Lazarus made the same offer to help.

“Thank you. Darius thought it was better I took his last name, but I rather keep my parents’. As for my brother....” Olivia bit her lip, wondering if it was right of her to enlist more help when Zi asked for her trust. When she felt him release, she let her hand fall back to her side before she replied. “I could give you Emmet's emergency number, if you think you could help Zi. And I didn't know Aeris know something over one of the Regions of Hell.”

Though Darius had kept her isolated from much interaction with demons and angels, it didn't mean she was completely ignorant about the world as she tried to recall what information she had locked away about it. Sadly that wasn't much.

Lazarus gave her a smile. “If you have other people on the hunt I hardly need to intrude. How long has he been missing out of curiosity?” Timing was everything. If the man had only been missing the last 48 hours then he could find him. Something longer….that was more than a bit harder but still doable. Why did the name Darius sound familiar. Lazarus turned the name over in his mind as he studied Olivia. This young woman was certainly interesting. Largely because she was a mystery, and mysteries needed unraveling when they landed in his lap.


Olivia quieted, her mind turned inward to recall the details of Zi’s and her conversation. It wasn’t easy since her high emotion, panic, and more had clouded her recollection. “I talked with him yesterday evening but I don’t know for sure when he vanished. It would be easy to find out.”

She managed not to choke on the last words spoken, knowing how truthful those words were. For her magic it wasn’t hard to get a full play out on the whole scene of her brother’s circumstances. Merely she just needed to touch something Emmet wore that day or from where he was taken and then she would’ve had gotten everything needed to find him. However, it was easier said than done really. Mostly because she lacked key facts like where he was taken and that was the most important detail to help her learn the truth. Her fingers tightened into a small, kneading fist that seemed to clench in on itself to ease her worry. “I now wished I had asked for more details but I wasn’t really having a good day. Someone came to my school and attempted to snatch me. Ended up killing my Uncle’s protection detail and Mr. Findl-”

Her throat constricted on the name, again. It was like bitterness filling her throat back and preparing to launch halfway across the room, a fact she wasn’t happy with. Instinctively her arms began to fold and rub the upper part, trying to chase away the guilt. “Because I didn’t come quietly, the groundskeeper died.”

Mary, for the most part, stayed out of the conversation between Olivia and Lazarus. She had no idea what either of them were talking about and aside from a smile acknowledging Lazarus's offer, she could only watch, disinterestedly reading some bits and pieces of the book Lazarus had handed to her. However, when Olivia spoke of her attempted snatching, Mary put the book down. At the guilt and bitterness in her voice, Mary's face softened with empathy. She knew what it was like, to blame yourself for other's deaths. Without a word she crouched down and hugged Olivia. "It's not your fault. You can't think like that. You are not to blame for anyone's death. Only the monster who tried to steal you is to blame."

Lazarus nodded “Well. I can find him.” He dropped the phrase calmly like a sword severing a limb. It was swift and deadly. Parting the air. “If the trail is only a day old I can still track him. I just need to know someplace he’s been within the last two days.” He stood calmly before her before he finally smiled at Mary. “My ward is correct. It is not your fault.” With warmth he put his hand on Mary’s shoulder again for a moment. The gesture was full of the protection and care he felt for Mary. “Should you wish my help I would gladly find your brother for you.” He clasped his hands behind his back calmly.

Olivia felt Mary’s arms wrap about her shoulder, her body tensed then relaxed into the hug. She leaned into it as she did with Aeris, though part of her was wary and cautious since it was a complete stranger hugging her. Overlooking that fact, the girl was surprised to discover it was what she usually needed. She didn’t push or shove Mary away, ignoring the fact it was the woman’s fault in some ill twisted fated way, her eyes looking at Lazarus’ offer with hope. Gingerly she nodded and spoke, quietly. “Thank you. If you have something, I can write his number down for you. Then you can call Zi. I don’t have my cellphone on me currently else I would’ve handed it to you. I don’t want to trouble anyone but Emmet’s all I got and Uncle Darius isn’t likely to worry too much as he thinks my brother can handle himself. It also doesn’t help Darius has a lot of responsibly on his shoulders helping to run Kenan.”

Lazarus nodded and smiled as Mary hugged Olivia. “I just need to know where he was within the last 48 hours. And I can find him” Lazarus put his hands in his pockets and sighed. Another errand another lost soul, another piece of a never ending puzzle. A pattern that had stretched on since time immemorial. He turned the names over in his head as she spoke them. Darius, Emmet, Olivia, Kenan. So many moving pieces. So many things to scrutinize.

“I don’t know, though Zi said she was with him last night before he got the call about him. I assume it was his apartment and he knew he was going to pick me up, so it’s logical he would’ve gotten sleep before he did. Or least returned there within the last two days. No one’s telling me much save for the minor things. Zi’s looking in the hospitals and everywhere else. I just hate waiting and wondering… especially if something happens to him.”

She felt her heart tighten at the thought, thinking how pissed Zi was likely to be at her and shoved it away. After all, wasn’t Emmet more important? Her eyes looked down as she leaned harder into Mary, considering one last thing. “I could ask Aeris if we could call Uncle Darius to see if he was the one that called EZ.”

Mary continued to hold Olivia, gently stroking her hair. She listened to Lazarus talk about how he could find Olivia's brother, smiling slightly. If Hazumi couldn't be found to help, Lazarus certainly could. It almost surprised Mary how much faith she put in her protector, given the short time they knew each other. She considered something for a moment. Wouldn't it be better to know what he's goin into? Mary pulled back enough to look into Olivia's face. "Olivia?" Mary began gently. "Do you know who tried to kidnap you? A name or a description that Lazarus might recognize? He's been around quite a while."

Olivia couldn’t stop her face from draining of all color when Mary’s words spilled out. It tossed and rolled in her red head as her eyes widened, vomit rushing into her throat. A disgusting, spoil carrot taste rose into her mouth causing her choke and cough suddenly. Her body rattled with each hack, her hand pressed against her sealed lips trying to prevent from throwing up on Mary’s clothes. With watering eyes, her vision blurred when her knees crumbled underneath her immediately. She took several moments to stop the foul stuff dead in its tracks before she swallowed it down, nearly feeling it push back, when she shook her head hard and repeatedly.

“I.. I don’t.” Olivia lied instinctively, trying to stop her shaking, her reaction clearly over the top. “This shouldn’t be happening at all! Why? Why does it have to happen?

Mary didn't need both Mercy and Vengeance to tell her Olivia was lying and trying to avoid the question. They did so anyway. Why would she lie? Who is she protecting? Mary woundered, watching as Olivia shook and stayed pale. The older woman looked at the young girl in concern for a few moments before speaking. "Olivia. You don't have to lie, we just want to help. Who tried to kidnap you? Can you describe them?"

“I don’t want to think about it... I don’t want someone else to die because of me.” Olivia said, her voice shaking. Her hands pulled closer to her mouth and her body felt like it was about to curl into a ball, her mind conflicting against what was right and what she wanted most. To make this nightmare end and go back to her normal, boring life. Most would’ve found it easy to just blame the woman beside her, curse her out and utter everything but she couldn’t bring herself to. One thing Darius had done was raise her right, a matter that made telling her everything more difficult. She wiped her eyes and nose on her hand back, clearing it away to breath better. Her lips forced herself to smile, that same fake one she had mastered, then added with some regret. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked… I just… I just want my brother safe.”

She's still lying. Press. It's a matter of safety for Lazarus. You can apologize later. Mercy advised. Besides. She's lying to us. She doesn't deserve a respite. Vengeance added. Mary couldn't shake the image of him sharpening a blade while he spoke. Still, they were both right. Lazarus couldn't go into this blind. "Olivia, I'm sorry if this upsets you. But we need to know. The more Lazarus knows, the easier he can prepare and find your brother. Please? If not for our sake, for your brother's?" Mary hated using Olivia's brother against her like this, but it was necessary.

“No. I can’t and I don’t know.” Olivia’s voice resist, her body pulling away. Her foot took a step, slowly, away from the woman while she looked at Lazarus. “I’m sorry bothered you, both. I don’t even know if the two things are connected and…”

I should’ve just trusted Zi… Olivia’s mind whispered at her. The tone was accusing and spiteful, hating her own weakness and stupidity for not keeping her mind focus. She was already edging into retreat mode which meant one least nudge and the girl was going to run away like a scared rabbit.

“Mary. Enough.” He placed his hand on his ward’s shoulder gently. He took Olivia’s hands “It’s okay. I want you to stop thinking about the kidnapping okay? He ran essence through her hands, it was warmth and protection. Lazarus seemed to take up the whole room filling Mary’s vision. “Don’t think about it anymore, you’re safe now and your brother is going to be just fine.”

While everything he said was true, his intentions were twofold as always. Telling someone not to think about something was a sure fire way to get them to initially think about it. He was waiting, he didn’t need her to say a word, he just needed her to think about it for a moment and he’d know everything he needed to know about the kidnapper.

“You’re safe here. I’m sure Zi is fine and will find Emmet. Don’t worry. Come on, I don’t know about you but I think it’s time for some food or at least some fresh air.” He gave Mary a meaningful look and gently brushed his consciousness against hers like he’d done in Finch’s Loft [i]I’ll be fine, she’s been traumatized and needs comfort right now. Thank you for looking out for me[i] he favored her with a rare smile.

I just hope Sir hasn’t taken my brother like he tried with me. I can’t tell Mary, it’s not her fault he wants her and I can’t explain how I know. I should’ve been more careful when grabbed her necklace. Why did I panic like an idiot? Olivia nodded, her hands shaking and body feeling on the verge of crumbling. The only reason it was still standing was because Lazarus’ warmth filled her, causing her to relax, while she let words settle her rattled nerves. “I’m sure if I can eat but could we pick up Aeris on the way? Please?”

“Of course.” He offered Olivia his arm, he legs still looked shaky. With that he lead her from the library.

Men vs. Women Race to 1000

108

Essence of the World: The Mending

I'm not bringing anyone to the party, but You'll all be happy to know I'm about to kick this party off in terms of plot and a bad guy for this season.

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

Masks

Loom Afternoon

WindWild & Themerlinhawk

Sound bounced back to him off the closed space. Fidrieon didn’t quite sound right as Ian played. His fingers flew over the keys and blood dripped down over the lip of the flute. This wasn’t working. He had to play tonight at the bar and he couldn’t. With a snarl he sucked the blood off his lips and spat it onto the floor of the practice room and stormed out of it. The cuts on his knuckles had also split open the blood slid across Fidrieon as he walked towards the infirmary.

The duty nurse was insistent that she help. Ian had given her one look and she’d left the antibiotics, cotton swabs and alcohol on the cot while he cleaned the cuts on his hands. Stopping from time to time to spit the blood from his cut lip into the sink. Anytime the nurse came back he growled and she went scurrying.

She soon got another patient who needed her attention. Ian couldn’t exactly see her from where he stood, nor did he really care, but he did hear the conversation between the women.

“Hello, Mrs Carla~! Sorry to bother you again, I think my shoulder’s broken.”

“Your shoulder?! How the hell did you manage that?!”

“Oh this time I’m innocent, I swear. I was a ghost who caused this.”

“A ghost?”

“A living legend!” Laugh followed on the visitor’s part and a grumble on the nurse’s. “Come here, you’ll need a x-ray if you think it’s broken. You have to deem yourself lucky that this place is so well-equipt.”

“Haaaai~”

Ian more or less ignored the exchange as he held gauze to the cut on his lip in annoyance.

A couple of minutes later the patient re-emerged and shamelessly started poking her head in between the screens, looking at the other patients.

“Ah! Ian, what’s happened to you?” She asked, perplexed at his beaten up state. She had rarely talked to him personally but she’d never seen him lose a match.

“Fidrieon opted to not be helpful in the middle of a fight. Turns out Iris isn’t a pushover. Of course I probably should have been paying attention.” He didn’t bother to turn towards her as he wrapped his knuckles up. “However, these are the result of ruining a perfectly good wooden dummy. Unfortunately its not going to be repairable. Too many pieces.”

Sam grinned and waved her newly immobilised shoulder. “Bad day for both of us then. And even worse for the dummy. Don’t hold it against Iris though, she has a lot to prove, being new and all. Heck, I’d be pissing myself if they made me fight you first thing after joining.”

Ian gave her a flat look “That would be because I’m not supposed to be in Lazarus’s class. At least not that one. I shouldn’t have been fighting her to begin with.” He made no comment about his intention either way in terms of holding a grudge. He gave no further indication that he planned on interacting with her.

“I say it’s fate.” Sam grinned, well aware that she was getting on his nerves. “Just like it’s fate that I found you here just when I was looking for someone to hang out with today. I’m off shopping for some very powerful and mysterious artefacts that are bond to make you either much stronger, or much weaker. Think about it.” She whispered and disappeared into the infirmary’s hallway.

Ian pursed his lips as he debated following after Sam. Finally he made up his mind and took off down the hall after her. “Fine you have my attention what exactly did you have in mind?”

Sam spun around, a bit overly theatrical, and spread one arm out, as two was an impossible number at the moment. “As I said, a mystical artifact awaits your attention, Mr Snyder~ It’s bond to give you happiness, and maybe even fame. I shall be your guide on this quest for glory, my amazing navigation skills surely bringing us to the shore of Fortune~!”

Ian sniffed a little in bland acceptance of her foolishness. “What the hell do you need me for? Clearly I can’t even beat a freshman in a fight.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You just want my money don’t you?” His eyes twinkled just a little bit at that.

“Oh, you have money? That’s even better~” Sam chirped, unbothered. “There are two roles in this game - a subdued one and a subduer. I don’t mind which I play, all I need is for someone else to play the other.” She turned around and winked at him. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing kinky. But it should be fun nonetheless.”

~ ~ ~

Samantha's walk always resembled a march rather than a simple way of getting somewhere. Her shoulders were hunched and her stride was long but her head was held high and her expression - nonchalant. Her steps were heavy and produced rhythmic thuds as her boots beat the ground beneath her feet. She didn't speak much and evaded every question with a grin, obviously thinking that would only make the game more interesting. It wasn't long before they reached what seemed to be their destination – the Church Hill Market.

This was a market specifically dedicated to the long-gone ages, playing on Loom's nostalgia on items no one really needed anymore – cassette players, tapestry, lacy tablecloths or clay pottery – all could be found here. It was teaming with people, mostly old, as to be expected based on the goods offered. Yet there was also the odd young person walking about, probably doing errands for their grandparents.

Sam overtook a few dozen elderly people shuffling their feet with the speed of a race-car and dived straight into a record shop. Inside the few well-groomed people in suits that were browsing the old entertainment paid neither her, nor Ian any heed. Nobody objected as she shamelessly strode past the staff door either.

Ian followed Sam having fallen silent as she refused to tell him quite what was happening. He’d never been to the Church Hill Market but it was his kind of place, his family had been the kind of people to engage in bringing home antique. Ian followed Sam, this show been rather intersting at least.

Inside the staff entrance awaited a surprise. It wasn't the typical narrow and sterile-looking white corridor that usually let the staff of a business pass through in a hurry. No, instead it seemed like the hallway of somebody's office or home. Solid oak coated the floor, a myriad of tiny halogen lights creating pools of light on its polished surface. The walls were a neutral magnolia colour but the ceiling immediately caught the attention – it was a huge canvas. Two beautiful figures, one with horns and one without, were floating in the sky, their outreached fingers touching. Behind them an angel's arms were open, reaching out for both but not quite touching. There was something familiar about the painting, as if Ian had seen it somewhere else before, if slightly different.

What was even more bizarre was the room the hallway was leading up to. It was a big round space with no clear edges and hidden lights illuminating the ceiling. Along the walls were a few dozen pillars, each a stand for a single mask.

Ian narrowed his eyes as he approached the room “Sam...are those what I think they are?....” His sentence trained off as the continued down the hall. He could hear Koshmar laughing inside his cage. The hallway was strange to say the least but the least of his worries. “I certainly hope that you know what you’re doing”. This was certainly a new experience for him.

Sam just grinned, obviously enjoying his reaction to the peculiar gallery.

“We're going Angel today, Ian.” She chirped, stopping her boots in front of a mask that seemed to have caught her attention. They were near all the same, barely any features on them, all porcelain and cold-looking. If Ian didn't know what he did, he might just presume they were ordinary masks. But of course, they weren't. And the reason why Koshmar resonated with them so well was because they were more similar than one might assume.

Sam outstreched her fingers and stroked the cool surface of her chosen mask with surprising gentleness.

“This one is a Miracle angel.” She explained, turning to him with a weird smile on her face, eyes alight. “You wouldn't be able to tell but if you use your instrument they can identify them. Just the same way they can see people in the dark when we can't.”

The Guardian, Put on the Guardian mask Ian got an image of Koshmar clawing through the bars of a cage made of nightmares and obsidian. Ian scowled. “Isn’t this more than a little bit dangerous?” Ian gave Sam a concerned look “For us in particular” God she was attractive. It was certainly his libido talking but it had been years. Courtesy of Koshmar. He had the strangest urge to do it though. Maybe it was a need to continue impressing her but Ian didn’t care this was the most human interaction he’d had in too long. Stepping over to the mask Koshmar had indicated he scooped it up.

Time slowed and Ian turned his head to the left and caught a flicker of Koshmar’s form behind him. “Scared?” Ian snorted. “Not really” Koshmar chuckled at that “You’d be smart to be fearful”. Ian shook his head at that “Fear leads to indecision” Ian turned to Sam. “So how does this work? You show me yours I show you mine?” Ian smiled sarcastically.

“They are sealed, I'm afraid.” A woman's voice interjected, proving that the room wasn't empty after all. Or maybe it had been until just then. “For security reasons.” she added. “However you are welcome to meet our customer advisor in the next room if you'd like any further information or a trial of our products.” She gestured at the door behind herself and stepped away from it as Sam sped up towards it.

The door didn't lead straight to a room – instead it lead to another hallway hosting a number of doors, this time with signs hung over them. The teenagers looked around curiously to spot signs such as “Laboratory”, “Isolator”, “Infirmary” and “Treatment” among others. All of them had a set of signs next to them indicating whether they're taken or vacant. And sure enough, one of the doors read “Cursomer Service” though their attention was drawn to it thanks to a man appearing at the doorframe than through anything else.

The hairs on Ian’s neck stood up, this was a very strange place indeed. He checked the small of his back for the Springfield. He’d loaded it with RIP rounds, they were a vicious invention from the start of the twenty first century, and were quite effective against demons and angels as well as humans. The rounds tore apart like nothing else he’d ever seen inside the target. They were even effective against most types of armor and walls. They were the equivalent of firing a hole saw at someone.

“Welcome, my dear guests.” The man said with a smile even more brilliant than his polished black dress-shoes. His expensive suit was a testament of his status even more than his badge. “The name is Azoth, and I'm happy to have you. Please come join me in my office.”

That room was as homey and cosy as any business office could ever dream to be. Simple and functional furniture, more comfortable than it actually looked, a few rows of catalogues on a shelf next to the desk, some plants and prospects laying around in strategic places. What set it apart was the colour of the walls – a peculiar mixture of blue and grey with a silver gleam to it, and the big painting on the wall behind the desk – the same as the one on the ceiling in the hallway.

As everyone took their seats – the man behind the desk and Ian and Sam next to each other on the other side of it, the man noticed Ian's stare fall on the painting and smiled, half-turning towards it.

“It's very old-fashioned, I agree, so I couldn't help commissioning a little upgrade from the original. Consider it a little inside joke.” He grinned, not specifying what the pun even was and turned towards his visitors again. He put his elbows on the desk and narrowed his red eyes at them, looking suddenly smug. The man was a demon and he wasn't hiding it.“So you have an interest in purchasing some of our products?”

“Product is a rather interesting term for it.” Ian was scrutinizing the painting still but he turned back to Azoth. “that being said I believe you know the answer.” Koshmar’s Nightmare fire flickered over Ian’s eyes momentarily. This is such a bad idea Ian thought to himself but Koshmar was slavering at the bit for this, which was why the Nightmare fire was starting to bleed through into his eyes. Even though he had a leash on Koshmar, it was still like holding the leash of a rabid dog.

The man opposite levelled a bemused stare at Ian but before he could say anything, Sam interrupted him.

“Rent.” She said impatiently, a grin ever-present on her face. She didn't seem to be nervous at the situation though Ian doubted she knew exactly what she was doing. “We want to rent them for a little while and then we'll give them back.”

Azoth laughed, but not too loud, careful not to offend.

“I'm afraid that would be impossible. There are creatures walking this earth capable of making out the specific signatures of the masks and I can't risk getting on their bad side.”

Sam displayed her displeasure by crossing her arms and slamming her back against that of the chair.

“If you are still interested, you can find the list of our models and the respective prices here.” The man continued unfazed, producing two catalogues from the shelf next to him and handing them to Sam and Ian. Inside, as promised, were pictures of the masks (peculiarly enough, they had names), their nature and abilities and the prices. They were organized by prices and started from the most expensive ones. The one Sam had looked one was right there.

“Five million?!” She shouted, with disbelief.

The man smiled apologetically but it was obvious he didn’t quite mean it. “All our Miracle angels are expensive.” There are some creatures that are better liked than others and the career paths for Miracles are layered with silver and gold.”

Sam puffed out some air and went quiet, looking over the rest of the catalogue.

Ian snorted. “Really? You’re asking five mil for your top of the line? Maybe we’d be better off somewhere else Sam.” Ian smirked. His parents had left him a fortune with a lot of zeros. although he rarely used it. “Seems like you’re pawning cheap knock offs” Koshmar even seemed stunned by that but then he realized what Ian was up to and snickered. “How do we know you’re legit? Five million seems really low for a Miracle Angel mask. Which makes me wonder if you’re trying to sell us smoke by low balling a fake.”

Standing he stretched languidly, it had been a very long time since he’d played the spoiled rich brat but he could still do it. “So lets be real Az…” He shortened the Demons name on purpose “I need to see the goods before I’m buying. 5 mil is chump change so I wanna know I’m actually getting a good deal as opposed to being screwed out my spending money for this month.” He hoped Sam didn’t think he was actually a rich brat but this guy needed to be shown that they weren’t just kids looking for a high.
Ian I didn’t know you had it in you Koshmar’s approval was like a slick of oil coating his psyche.

“So, what’s it gonna be Az?” Ian lounged against the wall next to the door “You got a display model or are we headed to someone who’s the real deal?”

Sam was staring at him open-mouthed. Azoth didn't give him that pleasure, but he was obviously amused when he got to his feet as well.

“But of course, my lord.” He joked as he saw the kid could take a jest. “I take my business very seriously so we do everything we can to ensure the mask and the wearer are compatible. If you'd like to follow me to the Laboratory we can start with the first stage of the testing.”

Ian winked at Sam and offered a hand out of the chair.

Azoth lead the two of them out of the room and back down to a door marked Laboratory. Keying a pad by the door he pushed the door open and held it to allow Sam and Ian entry. It was an observation room overlooking a sterile white room with a stark white table in the middle of it. A man was sitting on it while a nurse prepared an injection at a counter next to him.

“We start the process by injecting you with a sample of the Angel or Demon Essence. And before you become concerned its a negligible amount. The idea is to make sure the mask you want isn’t going to be hostile towards you when you fuse with it. After we determine if the bonding will be safe, you’re allowed to bond with the Mask in order to determine if it’s the right fit for you. It’s a half an hour in the Isolation unit for you to make sure everything is in order and to your liking.”

Ian stepped up to the window folding his hands behind his back. They were just below the pistol in the small of his back “How often do you have issues with the procedures?” He was all business now. If he was going to purchase one of these things he wanted to know how much of a risk he was running. He suspected it was a sharp one.

Azoth shrugged, Ian caught the motion in the window as it reflected well enough for him to see Sam and Azoth. “We have an 87 percent success rate which is far higher than any other establishment than you will be able to find.” Ian nodded. No use antagonizing him at this point by claiming that there was somewhere else Sam and he could go that would be better. “I assume the injection process is safe?”

Joining Ian at the window he gestured down as the nurse injected the man sitting on the table. “See for yourself. We’ve made remarkable advances in medical tech, the needles don’t even prick anymore. The worst you can expect from a bad injection is a headache and a night or two of moderate nightmares. Koshmar chuckled and Ian smirked. “Well Azoth I’d say you’ve succeeded in impressing me and assuring me that you’re not going to try and rip us off. Lets talk product.”

The man seemed pleased.

“Have you decided on the masks you're interested in in particular? We like to test specific samples of the masks at the top of your list. Our researchers have established that it would be safe for you to try up to three samples with five minute intervals in-between. You're welcome to try more, of course, but we don't recommend it.”

“We want a Miracle and a demon. He's paying for it.” Sam grinned, nodding at Ian, just in case. “Do you have a favourite?” She asked with restrained excitement.

Ian pondered for a minute. “Something with some magical might, preferably in the enhancement department.” Ian had some untested magic powers he knew but it was almost negligible. He stood for a second listening to Koshmar “And The Nightmare says it better argument my magical reservoir so I don’t keel over when I use Nightmare fire.” Ian raised an eyebrow. “Got something in mind?”

“Of course.” Azoth smiled, opening the catalogue on the exact page. “Ishrael is the demonic equivalent of a weather angel. He's good at water and wind manipulation. Vaamrael” he flicked on another page to show another mask to Ian. “Is an enchanter. He also has some abilities in essence manipulation, but you'd have to work on that to perfect it. Esifur is a blacksmith who is capable of directly crafting artefacts through alchemy and craftsmanship. And if you're looking for more utilitarian magic, Landris is great at levitation magic and cleaning.” He smirked. “As for your energy you shouldn't worry about that. All of them are experienced in magic usage and in replenishing their energy. All you have to worry about is nutrition. Obviously, the longer you remain a demon the more detached you'll feel from human food. As soon as you take the mask off you might feel more hungry than you did while you wore it, or more tired, but that's a natural process of your body readjusting itself.”

Ian gave him a condescending look. “Koshmar seems to think you’re holding out on me, cleaning and levitation are all good but endurance and coordination are better.” He pointed at Vaamrael’s mask. “This is close to what I’m looking for but more in the physical department. Koshmar seems to think that I require enhancements to my musculature in order to make merging with him a more viable option.” Ian crossed his arms. “Come on now Azoth, don’t you hold out on me, I am picking up the Tab after all”

“Ah, I see what you mean.” Azoth's smile stretched, his eyes flashing. “What would you say about a griffin then? They are well renowned for their endurance and agility, you should know, as well as some aerial magic. Of course, in order to turn into a beast you'd have to bond quite throughly with the mask, but unless you use it regularly, the physical alterations should be minimal. Claws, feathers, wings, possibly. Another option is a minotaur or a draconic creature. I wouldn't recommend the latter, however, not because I doubt you can afford it, but because I doubt its use will stay unnoticed. Definitely not in your institution.” A smirk twitched on his lips and disappeared just as quick. “The reason I'm suggesting beastly creatures is because they are best when it comes to endurance. If you want a humanoid warrior, I have a few other suggestions, just let me know. And, I need to warn you that we are talking about a different price-range as well.” Azoth smiled, pulling out a much smaller but relatively thick catalogue from his inner pocket and handed it to Ian.

Ian tapped his lip, the Griffin sounded fine or even a dragon but Koshmar seemed annoyed by the suggestion. “I think that at the very least I’d like to hear more against the more humanoid. If i’m going to put this to work regularly I suspect that I will need to be relatively inconspicuous.” Ian took the catalogue to and began paging through it. He stopped and grinned. “I think I’ve found what I’m looking for.” He turned the Catalogue so Azoth could see. “I assume the reason there is no price listed is because this is one of those things that if you have to ask you don’t have enough?”

Azoth laughed “Correct.” Ian grinned at Sam “Then I’ll take The Thorned One. Shall we get started?”

“Finally!” Sam exclaimed with a grin.

Azoth lead Sam and Ian out of the room and to another doorway which took them into another room which was almost identical to the room that they had seen the injection occur in. “You’ll have to wait here while I have them prepare the injection, We need to make sure that the masks will except you” With that Azoth closed the door behind him and left Ian and Sam in the stark white room.

Sam’s feet were impatiently beating the floor again. She seemed really excited.

“I’m surprised you actually followed through. I like you.” Sam grinned at Ian. “Ever done this before or is it your first time as well?”

Ian looked from her tapping feet to her excited face. “Not exactly. I’ve experimented with fusing with Koshmar…” He rubbed his head sheepishly. “Probably not the best idea but I wanted to know what exactly it was, you can only read so much before you have to try something”

“Naughty!” Sam shouted and laughed. “And who is Koshmar exactly? Been talking about him a lot.”

“Talking to him is more like it” Ian rolled his eyes “Koshmar is the name Fidrieon’s personality has adopted, Its Russian for nightmare. He thinks it’s appropriate. Which I guess it is. He’s just kind of a jack ass. Well now he is…” Ian trailed off into thought. “He used to be what I thought was some sort of cosmic punishment. Dunno what the hell for. Hazumi finally reined him in.” Ian hopped up on the table to sit in sullen silence. It stung admitting he’d needed help especially since it had been so recently and especially to Sam who didn’t seem to be phased by all that much. “I guess its better now, better being a relative term”.

Sam stared at him with wide eyes full of curiosity and attempt to comprehend.

“So you’re one of those guys. The ones who have trouble with their Instruments. See, me and Sameda, we don’t have that problem at all, but it doesn’t really speak to me either and I wish it did. It must be nice to bond with them, though I guess not so much in your case. You should just quit, then, if you hate it. You know you can, right? I wouldn’t put up with it if anyone was poking in my head and giving me nightmares - he needs to learn to respect you or you need to make him. Give him nightmares!” She giggled.

“It’s not quite that simple” Ian avoided eye contact. “This is alI I have now, so quitting isn’t an option and as for giving him nightmares. Well I don’t know about that. Maybe the mask will help” You know Ian for such a great combatant you really are no good at taking what you want Ian flared his nostrils in annoyance. Hazumi had gotten Koshmar out of his dreams. Too bad she hadn’t shut him up. Quit bitching Ian sighed.

“Koshmar would have you believe he’s doing me a big favor or something, the reason he wants me to take up a mask is so that I’m less ‘fragile’ “ He framed the word with his fingers. “He’s convinced he’s going to get me to completely bond with him” I am. Ian stopped talking and just sat staring at the white tiled floor.

“Hey, I’m not talking to that Koshmar demon, am I, I’m talking about you.” Sam snapped at him. “Who cares what he wants if he can’t get it - it’s still your body, even if you have him whispering in your ear all the time. Be a proper teenager and stop listening to adults so much.” She waved dismissing the problem like it was an annoying fly.As if to demonstrate her point she jumped off the table, pulled Fidrieon out with a shamelessly percise movement and tossed him across the room to the far end of it.

Hey, What the fuck was that? Ian ignored him. “A proper teenager? My parents would have had you believe that a proper teenager listens to adults.” Ian hopped from the table and strode over to pick up Fidrieon. He snatched up the flute and spun it on the palm of his left hand before passing it to the palm of his right hand. Turning his hand side ways he spun it twice around his middle finger and slid it back into it’s sheath with a fluid motion. “However, lets stop listening to adults and do something dumb for fun” He grinned at her. “And careful where you fling Fidrieon. It’s a decent instrument even if it has a demon in it.” He laughed.

“Don’t worry, they don’t break that easily.” Sam grinned, approving of his eagerness for adventure. As if on queue, a man and a woman entered the room, They were carrying white medical coats, and, as expected, two injections. They rolled up the youth’s sleeves and instructed them to relax and clear their minds, as if meditating. A painless stab after, they were asked to keep quiet and concentrate on figuring out the intentions of the essence they were injected with.

“If you are unsure we can give you another dose but keep in mind there’s no way to extract it, so only ask us to if you feel safe.” The man explained.

Ian felt it, a presence unlike Koshmar, it was clean like a blade. It moved through his psyche instead of over it gently parting the storm of his mind instead of tainting it. It wasn’t malevolent, it was dark that was certain but it didn’t seem to bear him ill will. You have promise child. It has been a long time since I found someone with promise this is good

Shivering Ian looked at the man in the lab coat. “I think it likes me” The man seemed almost startled at that. “I’m ready, give me the mask” The man nodded “Follow me” Ian stood and before he left he squeezed Sam’s shoulder “Good luck, I’ll see you on the otherside”.

Sam giggled at the theatrical phrase and closed her eyes in an attempt to concentrate on the inner-workings of her body. She couldn't feel anything but a slight tingling and it didn't matter how hard she listened. Her foot dangled off the side of the bed while she was waiting for sudden enlightenment but eventually her eyes opened and she frowned at the nurse.

“Next please, nothing's happening.”

The nurse seemed slightly perplexed but still gave Sam another dose of the same essence. This time the girl felt it. It started off as the tingles but with another heartbeat it grew into the fizzy warming feeling you got from drinking alcohol. Yet this time she knew it was because of the close proximity of another human being.

She opened her eyes and, still frowning, looked at the nurse's face. It was shimmering and more beautiful than Sam remembered.

Hell no! she thought to herself and laughed, hopping off the table.

“Mask please!” She chirped as she hopped to catch up with Ian.

----

The Isolator was a fairly large glass room behind the solid walls of another room but they were not allowed to go in together. Insisting that she wasn't any threat to anyone, Sam impatiently asked if it isn't possible to try her mask on there. Luckily, the door to the Isolator itself was armoured so they allowed her to. She was presented with the mask she'd liked and the staff monitoring them was changed to two angels. Sam didn't know why at first but figured it out as soon as the cold porcelain touched her cheeks and the mask melted away on her face. Miracle angels could only do harm to demons. Something she couldn't care less about.

With a sudden gasp Samantha spread out her arms and with them she also spread her newly-grown wings. A small breeze passed through the room and ruffled the hairs of the two dispassionate angel nurses.

As Sam suspected , something about Ian had changed and his face was suddenly even more attractive than the nurse's. Ironically enough, so was everyone else's. The girl just giggled at the observation.

With a whimsical flick of the wrist she stole some light from the lamps above and splashed it around in a generous gesture that scattered a million little light-bunnies around the room. As it landed on the floor she swirled her finger and, even at a distance, the light danced and twirled as if it was a lake she was stirring with her finger.

Someone asked if everything was alright. Everything was alright, the sun was shining (probably), the birds were chirping (probably) and demons and angels were holding hands all over the city (probably).

With a loud laugh Sam took the mask off and laid it back on the satin purple cushion.

“He'll take it.” She grinned at the nurses, gesturing at Ian and moving to the glass window to observe his progress.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They handed Ian a grey mask. It was a nondescript humanoid face with part of it that appeared to have been burned. However when Ian picked it up it felt like it was part of the mask;s design. I don’t know about this Ian Koshmar sounded...concerned?

Ian snarled in surprise victory, he’d thrown Koshmar off balance. Koshmar had felt the beings presence and wasn’t sure he could bully it. With that he fitted the mask to his face. It was like diving into the depths of an endlessly dark ocean. A soothing cold pushed away any pain or fatigue he felt and there was silence. Blessed silence from Koshmar. He opened his eyes and a grin curved across his face. His frame had changed, his limbs were longer but thinner. His face was drawn and pale compared to his normal features and his skin was grey. His hair had also grown to frame his face and it was the color of oil.

Flexing spidery dexterous hands he marveled at the power he felt in them. Observing his reflection he was shocked. Spurs had sprouted from his knees and elbows as well as smaller ones at his other joints and his forehead now sported two small horns concealed by his longer black hair. Ian realized there were other adjustments as well. His muscle density had increased significantly and he was fairly certain his essence control had grown exponentially.

As though by reflex he lifted his right hand and conjured a sickly green energy. He knew it would pass directly through the wall and strike at the other individuals in the building if he wanted it to but he had the strangest urge to not bother. Almost as though they weren’t worth it. Much the way a human feels about a single ant. Not worth the bother to squash. Letting go of the energy he tested his legs. They were powerful, he turned so he had the whole length of the room, and launched himself across it. It was a wonderful feeling. Koshmar’s voice interrupted his ruminations Are you quite finished playing with your new toy? Ian was suddenly done taking Koshmar’s smart ass remarks. He stuffed the psychic equivalent of a gag in Koshmar’s mouth and hurled him back into his cell in the depths of Ian consciousness.

Much better, no more annoyances to disturb him. ‘How the hell did I do that?’ Ian suddenly thought. That was when he realized the presence. It was certainly a being and he was certain it could communicate directly with him but it had refrained from doing so, it had simply helped him to do the things he wanted to do. Much in the way a word processor corrected misspelled words. It had made the necessary adjustments for Ian’s conjuration, psychic gag order and even corrected for the leap he had made not being aware of the full power of his muscles.

Ian wasn’t even sure if it was evil. In fact he had the strangest sense that it was certainly a dark presence but not in the malevolent sense. More in the way that a predator radiates a tangible aura. Ian whispered “Namshiel” and the presence seemed to quiver in acknowledgement. This was a being of power and dark knowledge, a supernatural predator from the days when humans had only dreamed of what lay beyond heaven and hell’s gates. It was not evil so much as savage and cunning beyond anything Ian had encountered. Bellow it’s surface Ian could feel the weight of millennia of knowledge. Namshiel was old, very old.

Reaching up he removed the mask and turned. “We’ll take them both. Where’s the bill?”

----

“That will be 35 million altogether, please.” Azoth announced with a smile. Behind him the two angels were carefully wrapping the masks in a peculiar type of fabric that seemed equal amounts rubbery and silky and putting them in intricately ornate square boxes. Sam was looking at hers with a bemused approval. ”The saleth that they’re wrapped in will protect them from being sensed by anyone as you leave the establishment. Please burn the fabric afterwards - it’s highly flammable and produces hardly any smoke, so it should be no problem to dispose of it discreetly.” Sam raised an eyebrow at that but didn’t say anything.

Ian nodded. “So Azoth, you seem to like to deal, so I thought perhaps you’d appreciate this. I can pay you the 35 million right here and now. Or. I give you 25 million now. And in the future you get a marker you’re free to call in. I do a job for you and we call it even. Are you interested?” Ian didn’t smirk or give any kind of indication of his feelings. He simply stated the offer and crossed his arms.

Azoth’s eyes twinkled as he crossed his fingers and observed the young man with a smirk. The boy certainly had potential but he also had limitations. The question was, was it worth the investment.

Making up his mind, the man clapped once and reached out to squeeze Ian’s hand.

“Deal.”

Ian let Koshmar out of his cage. He didn’t trust Azoth at all. Nightmare fire burned in Ian’s eyes. “Deal” Ian’s voice had the double tone of partially bonding with Koshmar. This should be interesting “and for the record. If it’s an assassination.” He pointed at Sam “You even consider asking me to kill her, I’ll kill you instead” Nightmare fire flickered in his eyes. “Just for the record” He grinned “Otherwise I suspect you know where to find me”.

The man laughed. ”Don’t worry, nothing that grim, I would hope. Assassination is not my style. Now, for the legal matters. While my business might look shady to you, it is actually an official one.“

“‘s that why you hide it?” Sam spoke up with a scoff.

“That’s just good measure for keeping some unsightly incidents from the faint-hearted. Besides, not everyone is as forward-thinking as you young people.”

“I suddenly lost my respect for you.” Sam commented, turning her head to explore the room instead. Azoth cleared his throat and looked back at Ian who seemed a much more attentive customer.

“Those masks will now be officially registered under your names. As such, and because I want to minimise the risk of any confrontation with the government or Master Melody’s, I’d like you to both sign those contracts here and offer a droplet of your blood as a stamp. Or a tear, that suits some clients better.” He joked. “Of course, that information will be strictly confidential and will only be disclosed to the highest authorities in the case of a severe crime committed while wearing the mask. I’d like to think that it wouldn’t come to that. Additionally, if you ever feel as though the mask doesn’t suit your taste anymore or are having any other kind of trouble, please bring it in for recycling. As another security measure, please refrain from putting it in your will or selling it on as it would be dangerous for anyone to put it on without undergoing our tests first.”

“Understood.” Ian produced a butterfly knife and flipped it open. “Where do I sign” Ian laughed as he rifled through his bag and produced a pen to sign the contract. After a quick flourish he pricked himself with the blade and stamped his thumb on the contract. “Sam?” Ian held out the butterfly knife. “Oh and as soon as you’re done with the contracts, I can give you the account number you’ll need.”

Sam hurried to sign her own contract and grinned at Ian, hugging him suddenly.

“Thank you~” She chirped.

Ian caught her; it was the first time in a Very long time that he’d had the pleasure of true human contact “Oh yes for getting us into an absurd amount of trouble” He gently let her go, loathed to do so. “Is that all you needed from us?” He directed it at Azoth.

“Yes, that is everything.” The man stood and reached out to squeeze Ian’s hand again. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

-----

Men vs. Women Race to 1000

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