WhiteAngel25

The Dark Beyond

@Estylwen @Lexisheeps Thank you! It was either give it voice or have Stella go insane with housing the power. Both may still happen. Who knows? 😉😆

The Dark Beyond

Undisclosed Location

@Estylwen

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Stella stayed quiet as the paternal donor of her genetics led her out of her room into a hallway. The space was just wide enough that Von Galloes took the lead. The sounds of Stella’s bare feet plodding on the white tile with the weird yellow glaze most labs and testing facilities had. The walls were pristine white with the annoying hum of the fluorescent lights above. Stella felt an ache in her body as she was towed into a concrete-floored room.

This ache was an odd one. It wasn’t of the pain her biological father bestowed upon to ensure obedience. It wasn’t from the tugging and pulling of the stitches on her chest. The pain came from her plum-colored heart. Stella felt sorrow but it wasn’t coming from her own emotions. It was as if she were the host of another being catching a ride.

Stella’s dull icy orbs gazed up at Von Galloes as he touched the new growth of her hair. She wanted the pain to end, however, she’d be damned if she would let her psychopath of a sperm donor obtain it. He spoke of her performing a miracle, instructed her on what to do, and what they were going to experience.

“Yes, father.” Stella’s voice had a soft, complacent tone as she entered through the door of the testing chamber.

The lights of the chamber blinded her for a moment as she heard her father’s voice echo over the intercom. Stella raised her right hand and wiggled her fingers slightly feeling a tingling sensation before a full-on shock rocked through her limb and a blast of purplish black energy eliminated the test dummy.

Stella’s eyes were wide with shock and physical pain as she observed the half-gloopy mannequin. Dips of the faux leather coating the cushion fell onto the tile. She couldn’t believe that power came from her. She glanced down at her augmented arms which were no longer the same abilities that she had before. Stella winced feeling the shocks from the collar, her knees buckled with the electricity but even now, she still refused to kneel consciously.

’Okay, power-buddy, if you’re as real as I think you are. I need your help please’.

’Power-buddy? What is this you call ‘buddy’?’

Stella hid her shock from her father. It helped that she was getting shocked at the moment. She hoped that her theory had been wrong.

’Fuck me, I didn’t actually expect a response.’

’Why not? You asked a question. You should receive an answer. The voice was surprisingly male in tone despite it being within Stella’s head. The voice spoke in a regal intonation.

[b][i]’Look, I just need your help right now, okay? The power of you residing within me is unstable. And until we work as one, the shock and pain will continue. Please, I need your help. I’m sure you can feel it too.’[/b][/i] Stella was trying to stay calm and keep suspicion under wraps.

’Oh, yes. It is quite annoying, a damaged vessel isn’t ideal. Much better than the female dragon I had been residing in for the last few decades. Poor thing was finally exhausted from the torment.’

With that Stella panted softly as Von Galloes gave his explanation while the shock had finally ended as he commanded another demonstration. Stella sighed softly with her hands on her knees. She straightened herself up and raised her right arm again.

’Please, help me satisfy him for now.’ Stella begged in her mindscape. With the last plea, the tingling returned, followed by the electric blast that created the purple vortex. She heard Von Galloes’ praise.

’Thank you.’ Stella thought back as the presence of the other being inside her faded. Her gaze flicked to her father as he spoke of her reward while the original vortex faded away. It seemed that the portals had a time limit. Her eyes widened just a smidge as Von Galloes spoke of where he wanted her to go and what she would do.

---

The Louve, Gala

@Days@Estylwen@Lexisheeps

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After Sabrina had done her duty as the CEO of a company by greeting a few key individuals, she made herway through the gala crowd. Her sharp golden gaze caught the sight of the Voidlight VP and the head scientist and then her ex-husband and his husband. She smirked softly to herself as she spotted the panic in Nick’s eyes dancing in front of a crowd. Sabrina was glad that Thierry still managed to make the young man stutter, he deserved someone who could give him the love that he sought.

She smiled softly as she reached he girls standing with Aaron. Before the mother could even greet her children and thank one of the men that saved her said daughters. Rodrigo Vandelez walked up to her, handing a golden gift box, followed by handing the same to the girls. His words were like nails on a chalk board.

...letting bygones be bygones…

Was he serious? Her daughters had been subjected to cruel experimentation by a man insane enough to believe that he could fuse dark energy into augmentations. For what end, Sabrina didn’t know what Von Galloes was up to but she’d spend the rest of her days uncovering every double agent that bastard has under his control. Sabrina kept her expression calm during the duration of the gift exchange, but fire blazed in her honeyed orbs. She gritted her teeth and followed Vandelez’s retreating figure into the crowd.

Sabrina’s gentle smiled returned as Cosette was handed a cake by Aaron. “Darling, let’s put these away for now. No need to show off a gift,” she spoke with a gentle, caring tone. She glanced at Aurelie, hoping the look in her eyes would deter her eldest daughter from being entrance with the sparkly jewelry. She sighed in almost an exhausted manner. Auri and Cosette both deserved to know why she spoke the words she did.

“Girls, I don’t want you wandering too far from Aaron, Nick, your father, your brother, or me. Not everyone here is a friend of ours, especially those who are most likely on someone else’s payroll. You both are old enough to know that what your father and I have done for the Louvre wasn’t exactly hunting down skeletons preserved in the ground. We will explain more some day but tonight is about Theo. Leave the jewelry in the box and please, do not put it on until it is further examined.” She paused just enough to smile softly look at Aaron. [b] “Thank you, Aaron, for helping save Aurelie and Cosette. I hope you don’t mind my informality.”

It wasn’t too long after that the lights dimmed and Monsieus Dupont took his place on the stage. Sabrina felt her heart swelling with pride as her son was announce and strode out to the podium. Theo spoke so well and confidence radiated from him that tears began to well up in the mother’s eyes. In an instant, the little boy she had held in her arms at one point was now a man. A successful man.

Sabrina’s eyes widened in surprise at the announcement of the Scepter of Dagobert by her son, who uncovered it himself. Her shock slowly turned into a frown as the lights of the cameras bounced off of the jewels. She had been standing close enough to the stage that her gaze caught the sight of an unnatural glow. Sabrina grabbed Aurelie’s wrist and then Cosette’s and began to move them away from what she had seen a time before. Theo was too far away for her to try and snatch, she hoped her ex and his husband would quickly come to their senses and spot the same.

The dark violet light began to swell and engulf the scepter’s jewels and thanks to the spot light for the stage, it was just enough to provide a target for a landing on the wall next to Theo…

---

A young woman’s scream of pain echoed throughout the gala, shattering the blubs of the cameras and cracking any nearby glass or mirrors. Theo’s presenation flicked until it was a static screen. A large swirl of amethyst sand grew larger until what appeared to be a corpse with long white hair and a slight aubergine hue stumbled out of the vortex.

Only this was no corpse, it was Stella. A severly underfed Stella.

Her dull icy gaze cast around the room. This was defintely the Louvre. Was she in a dream or was there a party going on? No matter if she wasn’t back in time…

…another cry of pain left her lips as one hand grasped the collar around her neck but she still refused to drop to her knees. Stella was to retrieve and send a message.

“Father sends his regards.” Her tone void of life and meaning. With a raised hand, a beam of dark energy hit the joint holding the chandelier. The crystal light began to creak and groan onimously, a nice distraction for her hand to reach for the Sceptor as partygoers screamed and ran.

A strong grip wrapped around her wrist. Stella found herself locking gazes with deepest arrays of chestnut and sepia. She sucked in a breath, and then ripped her hand away.

“Don’t touch me, you’ll be cursed too,” Stella snapped before suckerpunching the young man in the jaw. The hit was hard enough that it would make linebackers stumble. She punched through the cracked glass case, palmed the Sceptor of Dagobert staff, and was quickly recalled back through the swirling purple sand that dissenergrated into thin air.

The Dark Beyond

I am going to post a Part 1. Just to give you all something to chew on. ;)

Part 2 is in the works and I will post that on Monday. I hope that's okay. :)

The Dark Beyond

@Estylwen 😅 I honestly forgot it was my turn. I’ll have one up tonight, I promise! I was in a wedding last week and this week was busy. I’m ready to write again. 😊

The Dark Beyond

Hi friends! It’s been a while and I’m alive. 🤣 Great posts all around everyone! I am on vacay for the next few days and I will get a post up when I get home. 😊

Tales From the Realm of Laelilon

@Aqutanama Single Malt’s character can sense auras of people, and come to conclusions of what they are, it’s apart of his abilities in being a hunter and who he is.

Furthermore, remember less Ironman, more Medieval. I appreciate the picture provided, perhaps if it was posted beforehand there would be less confusion. But the way your character’s armor is described, it reads as heavy armor especially when you have ‘mist’ hissing from the joints.

But thank you for the clarification! Glad that confusion has been settled. :)

The Dark Beyond

@Lexisheeps It’s all good. 😊 I just got overwhelmed with trying to keep up with RPs and real life. I’m self employed and work really picked up and I ended up needing a brief hiatus.

Your post was great! I read it last night but it was right before bed and my message was half way written when I woke up this morning. 🤣

Tales From the Realm of Laelilon

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In Lock & Key Tavern's Back Room...

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Dorian nodded in agreement to the Northern Orc as he would explain. He looked at Faline, who had been expressionless while Maltar expressed his questions and Amandine spoke of the dead not paying taxes asked. She gave a silent nod of acceptance of the position. "Maltar is correct, this is about Duskrot cases rising. Your mentors are out in search of a cure for the disease. Some may call the disease by different names, however, everyone agrees with how devastating its effects are," the host spoke as he circled a village nearby on the map that lay on the table before him.

"This current outbreak is traveling faster than previous times. Usually, the Emperor has been able to order guards to quarantine sick people. The spread has spread so rapidly that this village on the map has a border built around it. No one, except secret personnel, is allowed in. This is where your mentors will meet you all, hopefully with a cure. We've already received reports of outbreaks happening within cities, which means-," Dorian began to speak but was quickly interrupted by the redheaded half-Elvian.

"Someone is deliberating releasing diseased people within the city," Faline finished as she stood up from her chair and stretched, then crossed her arms as she looked at Dorian as if she already knew this information. Dorian raised an eyebrow at Faline.

"My uncle was receiving mysterious reports in a code from the city guard in Volenstul, asking what they should do in the meantime. Hopefully, some mages would have been smart enough to escape the Gallows. They removed the mages and relocated them to a makeshift camp near the Docks. Not by my uncle's recommendations, by the Emperor's," Faline explained.

"Thank you, Faline, for being brash as ever," Dorian said with an annoyed tone while Faline rolled her eyes. "To answer your question, Torsten, the group is being asked to travel to the woods to retrieve an artifact. Legends surrounding this piece have been rather intriguing. The Emperor believes that the artifact could help halt the Duskrot outbreak," he said as he laid a book with the legendary artifact on the table. "That artifact is The Amulet of Selene."

Faline peered at what this possible goose chase was supposed to lead them to. The artifact was the product of a war chief who had fought the First Emperor when the ruler was trying to unite the land under one power. Before the First Emperor, Vradia was divided among war tribes. Now, many of these customs and cultures of said tribes were left to myths and tales.

"The Amulet of Selene is just an old tale of the Hiemaquas Dragonian tribe. All that is in here is the general whereabouts of what could maybe be the general area of the battlefield where the First Emperor fought them," Faline said as she bit her lip in nervousness. This old tale wasn't a lot to go on, especially without talking to the mentors directly about what they thought of it.

Suddenly, a hissing sound like a bottle of wine slowly being corked open, a man stepped out of a heap of armor. Faline arched her eyebrows and didn't know what to say. The suit of armor began to move towards the table and sit amongst them. Was there someone inside there? Sure enough, such an inquiry was answered by the armor man reaching forward for food and drink.

"To answer your question, Torsten, the group is being asked to travel to the woods to retrieve an artifact. Legends surrounding this piece have been rather intriguing. The Emperor believes that the artifact could help halt the Duskrot outbreak. And Sir Anviltank, how kind of you to officially join us," he said as he laid a book with the legendary artifact on the table.

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Meanwhile in the woods with Pebble...

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The man who complied with Pebble's requests was not only embarrassed by his less-than-average 'stature' but was now lame and served up to the Rotted that began to creep and crawl through the spiked fences. The Rotted got a few bites into the man's flesh before Pebble's deft-tone voice froze them in stride. They followed her along the fencing until her voice was too far away to be heard.

Tales From the Realm of Laelilon

Sorry for the wait friends! Life hit like a road block but I should have a post up today.

The Dark Beyond

@Estylwen 😅 That’s been an understatement. Work picked up pace and of course, real life craziness. Sorry it’s taken so long.