Trenchcoat and Spellbook?

[dryfter]

She watched from the shadows. The darkness wrapped about her like a second cloak, tighter than the wings kept comfortingly around her. Annalise had tensed the moment the door had opened. There were plenty in this city who would take advantage of her master's momentary weakness. It was her job now to make sure that didn't happen.

The stress fled her as quickly as it had come as the demoness instantly recognized who the unannounced visitor was, keeping quiet as the human girl slowly approached the bed. There was nothing threatening about this one, unless she were to count the unbearable stench of human love. It was somewhat amusing to watch the gypsy shopkeeper drop her nightgown before crawling into bed with him. Yet the sight of another woman's nudity did nothing for Annalise.

She didn't worry about discovery. Human eyes were weak against darkness, and in her corner of the room it was especially thick, enhanced by her own dark powers. Even if Mirela were to suspect, then what? She had every right to be here, to be as worry about Lucas as she herself was.

One thing was certain, she was more content to watch than to attract undue and unwanted attention. This could be a good thing after all. With Mirela here, she could watch them both. Surely that would make Master happy? Knowing that his precious human girl was safe and snugged up to him upon his waking? The fact that she was naked as a jaybird now should help, though the succubus knew better than to give his body another uncouth prompting as she had before. Let things happen in their own time. It seemed less painful that way. For her at least.

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

"I wouldn't go in there."

It was morning, finally. A starless night filled with blissful silence. Dramman had been sent on his way hours ago, the witch doctor choosing to depart while the sun was bleeding its light upon the horizon. Thrusk was almost saddened to see the aged human go. He had made for entertaining conversation if nothing else, and the little man's thick accent had carried no end of amusement. How he could still be good to travel however...the orc had no idea.

Whereas Thrusk was rightfully exhausted, not having slept a wink all night while engaging their guest......Dramman had cheerfully ambled out the door, leaving behind a contact place should things not go as he had promised. Not a sign of fatigue upon him.

And as soon as one guest departed, another arrived, finding the butler in none the best of moods. It seemed, that sleep was going to be an elusive creature.

"Bah, the fool less himself go and waste away in my absence. I'm just gonna check on 'im."

"Annalise won't see it that way. You'd best to come back at a later time, Michael."

"That's Father Michael ta ye, orc. And dunnae be thinkin I'm a feared o' that demon wench."

"You should be. You walk in there, and she's going to give you all you can handle. And if that happens, I think you'll find Miss Mirela less than appreciative as well."

A bushy blonde eyebrow raised slightly.

"Miss Mirela's in there as well then? Wha's this? Lucas runnin a regular brothel here, ta have two women in his chambers at the same time?"

The priest grinned at the suddenly bristling butler, a hand dropping slowly to the silvered cudgel at his waist.

"I'm going to pretend that you didn't just insinuate that Mirela is a whore of some kind."

"Nae lad, nae indeed. A whore she's certainly not. Though evil has a way o' subverting the innocent."

"We're not going to get into this again, Michael. Master Lucas is not evil."

The stout priest nodded fervently, almost taking Thrusk by surprise with how readily the militant clergyman agreed.

"Agreed, agreed. But he trucks with the daemons o' hell themselves. How long 'fore such dark magics corrupt even him?"

"Master Lucas specializes in Demonology, but he rarely uses it. He's not summoned a single entity since bringing Annalise into this world. I'd take it very kindly if you remembered that.....Father."

A thoughtful stroke of his chin was the immediate response, as if he was learning something new for a change.

"Hmmm....tha's very interesting ta hear. Abstinence from the dark arts would explain a whole lot. Fer now however, I'd like ta speak with him. Seems a whole lot's been goin on, and could use his hand at a few things I got comin up."

A few things? The orc's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, though his stance didn't back down at all.

"As I stated, Father.....Master Lucas can't be woken up at the moment. I'm under the impression that he will be fully recovered by the morrow. I would ask that you return then."

"A day's time then. Tha's nae too much ta ask. Do give the daemon my regards then, and let 'er know we'll play later."

"I'm sure she'll be thrilled."

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

Breakfast came in the form of a silvered tray. Eggs, a small ham steak, and a mound of diced potatoes, fried in butter and seasoned with garlic and chives. The stoic face of the succubus watched his every move as he moved towards the bed with the gift of food.

"She's naked under there, you know."

The butler almost stumbled, glaring at Annalise, who in return simply smiled sweetly. Thrusk swallowed hard as Annalise simply nodded her head in the direction of the discarded robe.

Dammit. She hadn't been bluffing. He had gotten far to used to her usual teasing.

"Breakfast, Miss Mirela."

The butler retreated as fast as he had come as the covers around Lucas began to stir. An angry glare in Annalise's direction was shrugged off. She had watched the human girl drop her clothes, she wouldn't move an inch as she no doubt sought to recover herself. Now that it was light out, the succubus' presence was bound to be discovered.

"Corcoran was here, wasn't he? I can smell his stench from here. What did he want?"

"He wanted to see the Master. He says he'd like some...help with a few things. He wasn't specific. Then again, I'm only a manservant."

That brought about a very unladylike snort from the demoness, "Like I would have allowed that. You did well in turning him away."

"Its unlike you to praise me."

The cold eyes of Annalise fixed harshly upon the orc, "Rarely do you do anything I feel is deserving of praise. This however, was more than simply serving tea."

"I get the feeling that our dear Michael Corcoran would love a shot at you, Annalise."

A wicked smile spread across her lovely blonde face, all evidence of her demonic nature having long been concealed by illusion once more.

"And you think my feelings on the matter are?"

The orc simply nodded, "I told him you'd tear him apart."

A sultry sweet chuckle, "I sincerely doubt it would be that easy, my dear little orc. But it would be fun. Blissfully fun. Its a shame Master Lucas won't let me play with the little priest. But should he ever attempt to take advantage of Master while he's ill......"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Breakfast, Miss Mirela."

The barely heard words only made the dark headed gypsy burrow further under the covers, nudging the pillow upwards with her nose as her head tunneled under it. Sleep had not been restful, between checking on Lucas to see if he was awake yet and the smell that still emanated from his chest. Mirela merely grumbled at the sound of voices she vaguely heard talking as if she wasn’t there.

Wait. Voices? Huh?

One hand came out from under the covers and pushed aside the corner of the pillow. Brown wary eyes peered out from between strands of hair.

“Thrusk? Annalise?”

Mirela’s sleepy voice held disbelief as she popped up from under the covers the pillow. It was only as the sheet started to sleep from her chest that she remembered she was naked and hastily yanked the material up to cover her ample bosom, while brushing her wayward hair out of her eyes and pushing herself back against the headboard of the bed.

“What’s going on? Why are you two here?”

She suddenly looked over at Lucas.

“Lucas. Is he…. Is everything okay?”

Mirela leaned slightly in the direction of the prone warlock. Her eyes lifting from Lucas’ form and locking on the other two in the room.

“And did I hear something about Father Corcoran? Was he here?”

Satisfied that nothing was amiss with Lucas, Mirela eased back against the headboard once more, her eyes falling on the breakfast tray Thrusk had thoughtfully brought in.

“Thrusk. You darling. I’m feeling starved this morning.”

The smells from the tray were heavenly and made her stomach growl. With the sheet securely tucked under her arms, the gypsy reached over to shift the tray to her lap. She sniffed appreciatively. Without further ado, she started to dig into her breakfast with enthusiasm. There was a brief pause as she glanced once again toward the other two, her brow arching slightly.

“Well? What happened since I stumbled off to sleep last night? I take it the witch doctor got on his way?”

As Mirela dug into the mound of potatoes, fried in butter and garlic, she thought it was a good thing she didn’t live here. Thrusk’s cooking was going to make her fat. He had made her favorite breakfast foods and she wasn’t going to insult him by not eating. While she waited for one or the other to answer her questions, the small mound of potatoes were being devoured and relished. Mirela wasn’t sure where her appetite had come from. Maybe it was because she was alive and safe or maybe it was because Lucas was going to be okay. Maybe, it was both. Her fork pushed around the ham steak, cooked to perfection, when it hit her like a tidal wave. She was alive. Thanks to Annalise. Her eyes raised from her plate and went straight to the succubus. Tears filling her eyes and to her horror, spilling over. The fork in her hand hit the plate with a gentle sound as Mirela released it. Fingers covered her lips to still the trembling but nothing stilled the tears that continued to flow in a steady stream from her eyes.

“Annalise? Thank …..you.”

And even though she choked on the words through her tears, she managed to get them out with a tone of gratitude. Both hands slid up her face to cover it as the sobs were given free reign.

 

[dryfter]

“What’s going on? Why are you two here?”

While the butler hurried to avert his gaze to someplace else while Mirela moved the thin sheets to preserve her modesty, Annalise answered well enough for both of them, and in her current stoic manner no less.

"I belong here."

She wasn't about to go into it with the gypsy. How she had always been here at her Master's side. It wasn't her fault that Mirela couldn't detect her with her weak human eyesight. It had probably been for the best. The poor little shopkeeper probably would have been half startled to death if she had been found out, willing or not, considering the state of mind and body Mirela had been saddled with at the time.

Fortunately, it seemed she didn't need to expound any. Instead, the succubus watched curiously, noting the sense of satisfaction and pride on Thrusk's face, his tusks jutting more pronounced than usual.....as Mirela dove into her breakfast with gusto. Through it all, the currently blonde demoness remained as silent as she had all evening, not even deigning to speak when Thrusk hurried to assure her that Lucas was stable enough for now. The Master would recover. Already, she could feel the ties between them strengthening once more. It would be time to leave soon. It wouldn't be good to let Lucas see just how worried she actually was.....it was completely out of character for her. And Annalise had spent centuries building that character.....

Perhaps she had looked away at the wrong time? Too caught up in her own thoughts to see how one person's gaze had fallen upon her.

“Annalise? Thank …..you.”

It was the frailty in Mirela's voice that caught at her, made her turn almost instantly to visually inquire as to what was going on now. Still she remained silent as the gypsy wept before her, doing her best to hide her misery from them both, yet failing beneath the glistening expanse of her hands.

"Show a face like that one, and you'll never get married."

Perhaps it was meant to be a barb. A half hearted reminder of who she was thanking. A demoness. A creature from hell. A twisted cruel seductress who lived to feed off of foolish men. One that tortured without a second thought. One who had known the tortures of her betters.

Perhaps there was intent, but that intent fell flat beneath the soft tones in which it was delivered. An insult in a different scene was now a reminder to be strong and defiant.....

Annalise did indeed know how difficult that could be. She had become strong. Strong enough to not forget all that she had lost along the way.

"At least she ate it all before deciding to add extra salt, Thrusk. I can't imagine tears would do anything for her diet, and I'm just going to point out right now before either of you make a comment....that they don't do anything for mine either. I'm not that kind of demon."

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

She hovered like a shadow, making good on her promise. No matter how much Mirela badgered or pleaded, the succubus was not moving. She had seen the gypsy naked once before after all. Human modesty could be so annoying, and this was no exception. Still....the demoness' mind kept replaying back to earlier that day.

Had anyone ever really thanked her before? Outside of her Master? And with Lucas, she had always just regarded the words as a formality. But Mirela had no contract with her, there was nothing to gain by thanking her. So why then? Why did a part of her feel so....unclean....just by receiving thanks from a human woman? Why did the other part feel like she'd just done something important?

Whatever the case, Lucas had begun to stir. A good sign if he were indeed to wake come morning as Dramman had predicted. For now, she simply continued to monitor. More than once she tensed as the door opened, but every time Annalise found herself watching either Thrusk or Mirela, the two of them equally worried.

"He's getting better. He actually moaned your name in his sleep a little bit ago. It was tinged with fear. He's probably still stuck mentally in the time before his spell ended."

It had been the first time she had spoken in hours. It was difficult to convey. Not because she was unfamiliar with fear. It was because she had so rarely felt it herself.

"You should go to his side like you did last night. Speak to him. He might hear you. It would do his soul good to know you fare well."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She gave up and came to the realization that nothing that could be said or had been was going to sway Annalise from her vigil. Well, there was one thing that would, but he was not awake yet. Mirela supposed she couldn’t blame the demoness and it also told the gypsy something more, that the succubus cared for Lucas. Granted, their lives were entwined by this pact of theirs, but Mirela was beginning to realize that the succubus cared more for her master than she let on.

"He's getting better. He actually moaned your name in his sleep a little bit ago. It was tinged with fear. He's probably still stuck mentally in the time before his spell ended. You should go to his side like you did last night. Speak to him. He might hear you. It would do his soul good to know you fare well."

The seductive tone of Annalise broke into the soft conversation the Orc and Mirela were having as they entered the room together. Mirela turned her head to regard the blonde bombshell who was lounging in a corner of Lucas' bedroom. Brown gypsy eyes were hopeful. Mirela gave Thrusk’s hand a light squeeze.

“I’ll do that, Annalise. Thank you.”

Moving silently across the room and on impulse, stopped briefly shoulder to shoulder with Annalise, lifting hand to gently squeeze the demoness’ shoulder before gliding to Lucas' side. Slipping to her knees beside the bed, Mirela lifted a hand to brush a few strand was errant hair off his forehead. Leaning over, she kissed his forehead before lying her head beside his, her lips close to his ear.

“Lucas? It’s Mirela. I’m here. I’m fine. What have you done to yourself? You need to come back to us. Please. We’ve all been so worried about you and frankly, I don’t think I can withstand another night of whatever that god awful smelly stuff Dramman put on your chest.”

Getting to her feet, Mirela moved to a nearby window and peered out. The view was of a neglected garden. Flowering plants struggling to breathe through a web of weeds. There was a fountain in the middle of this garden. It wasn’t working and was covered in moss and algae. The whole thing was surrounded by a high fence. The garden wasn’t very large. There seemed to be a stone path that led from the house to the fountain and from the fountain to….. Mirela squinted. Was that a gated doorway covered by vines and weeds? She very much wanted to restore this garden; to watch and hear the fountain flow again; to walk amongst the flowers, watching the hummingbirds move from one open bloom to another; to delight in something so seemingly fragile, yet was anything but. She glanced over her shoulder at the sleeping man. When had he crept into her heart? Where did he fit into her life? There was so much she was just now learning about herself. However, this path of discovery would not have been found if it weren’t for Lucas. There were things, people, beyond her perceptions that were as real as she was. A world she was determined to accept and understand.

“Wake up, Lucas,” she whispered, “wake up. You’ve slept long enough. You have a debt to pay off. Annalise requires souls.”

Then. More to herself than to him.

“If that bloody witch doctor was wrong, I swear, I will hunt him down myself and curse him.”

An idle threat she knew. What did she know of cursing anyone? What did she know of curses, period?

She could learn, couldn’t she? She was a true gypsy after all.

 

[dryfter]

“Wake up, Lucas, wake up. You’ve slept long enough. You have a debt to pay off. Annalise requires souls.”

The succubus snorted softly from her lonely little corner of the room. It wasn't as if Lucas cared anything about that. All in good time is what he would have said, or so she thought.

“If that bloody witch doctor was wrong, I swear, I will hunt him down myself and curse him.”

Now that was interesting. For a moment a lone blonde eyebrow arched. Though it wasn't until moments later that her curiosity finally got the better of her.

"Can you actually do that?"

Cursing wasn't outside of her own abilities. After all, it was a demon's top priority to damn other souls to hell. Annalise had come to find that aspect of her powers to be very.....narrow and focused, however. To think that a mortal like Mirela might possess such an ability. She would have to be examined under a new light......

But that was for another time. For now, she was to stay here and protect the one thing that still meant anything to her. Even if it meant protecting him from her, though Annalise doubted it would ever come to that.

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

"Is mornin. Wake yer lock. I've business with 'im."

Thrusk bristled slightly, unused to having such a tone taken with him by anyone other than the master of the house. Certainly not from a man they had partnered with less than a month ago. But here he was, the burly priest carefully eyeing up the butler's every move.

"Are ye ta be fightin me after all then? If'n ye'd like, I'll let ye go ta get yer sword. Anythin less would nae be sportin."

Yellow eyes narrowed even as the bald green head shook vigorously. Was that a look of disappointment he saw in Father Corcoran's eyes? Instead, Thrusk did his best to drive the sleep from his fogged mind. Not an easy task. The priest had come calling at the wee hours of the morning......

"I beg just an hour or two from you Father Michael. You'd not want to disturb Lucas right now. Not with his......lover.....wrapped about him as she is."

That brought about a sudden stammering and a rather bright colored blush from the Irishman's cheeks. Both of which were quelled quickly enough as the two burly men sized each other up for a long moment. The orc was simply heartened by the fact the man hadn't called his bluff. He had no idea what their lady guest's state of dress or intimacy was. Only that the priest walking through the door unbidden and encountering Annalise would be nothing short of cataclysmic.

"Tea then?"

"Master Lucas means to make sure all his guests are properly seen to while they wait. Please allow me to make your tea. I might not be what you seek for conversation, but I'll do my best. Two hours is all I ask, Father. You did come calling rather......early. Perhaps you can tell me what has gotten you so agitated?"

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

"Ugh"

For having been comatose for nearly three days, it was about all he could muster. Even considering that the smell about him had begun to fade to a tolerable level.

And then there was the matter of this warm arm draped about him.....and the semi naked gypsy it was attached too.....

"About time you woke up.....Master....."

He was practically enfolded by the pretty shopkeeper, who only marginally stirred at the sound of the succubus' silken voice. Lucas only shot her a wan smile and a soft shushing noise as he reached to drape an arm over Mirela, pulling her closer to him even as he felt her stir.

"You don't have the luxury of cuddling, Master. We have guests.....again."

"Again?"

Lucas frowned, not at the thought of someone having come to visit, but at the knowledge that further conversation would almost surely wake the lovely woman at his side.

"Corcoran. He was most insistent to see you yesterday. The orc turned him away, but it seems he's back again. I'm not surprised. Though I admit I am surprised that there's been no sounds of combat as of yet. Your butler is a late sleeper when he thinks he can get away with it. Whereas, we both know that I rarely need sleep."

As one they both moved to gaze upon the softly stirring gypsy woman, silently awaiting the moment when she rubbed her blurry eyes and welcomed in the earliest rays of the dawn seeping through the room's lone window......

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Can you actually do that?"

Annalise’s words wove themselves into her dream. It was an odd dream to be sure. The witch doctor was there, dancing around the room in some sort of manic chicken dance as he waved about a jar with eyeballs in it. Mirela was blowing across her palm as she brushed a feather across it.

Well, Dramman thought it was possible. She was Romi after all. She just never believed in such things or that those things were even possible. There had been a lot of things she hadn’t believed in, now, she knew otherwise and new there was a whole lot of possibilities. Mirela snuggled her head into the pillow and curled closer to Lucas for warmth.

~~ ~~​

"Ugh"

Her consciousness stirred but she batted it away unwilling to wake up just yet. Mirela felt warm and snug. She snuzzled her face against something. A shoulder? The tension of everything happening as it had. The stress and the strain. Her injuries had initially kept her from getting much sleep and then there had been that god awful goo Dramman had put on Lucas’ chest that made sleep elusive but while that smell had lingered, she had either gotten use to it or it had faded enough to let her sleep peacefully.

There was a murmur of voices. Mirela stirred.

“Lucas?” She sleepily murmured, then blinked, sitting up suddenly, feeling Lucas’ arm around her.

“You’re awake. Lucas.”

She threw herself against his chest, sliding her arms around him and burying her face in his neck. Mirela kissed the side of his neck, sprinkling little kisses upward and across his jaw before she rose up over him and peered down into his eyes, her own narrowing before she smacked his arm. Hard.

“What did you do to yourself?! You are never to expend yourself like that again, do you hear me? When I found out what happened to you…. “

She smacked him again.

“Just don’t do that again.”

Mirela’s voice faded away even as she continued to lean over and glare at him. Her naked breasts dangled over his chest, jiggling as she smacked him. Her nipples tightened as they brushed against his chest. The sheet that had been covering her back slid down to the swell of her hips and threatened to slide lower. Something made Mirela glance up and over toward a corner of the room. The sight of Annalise made her become very still and tug the sheet up over her breasts as she slid off of Lucas and back to his side. She had completely forgotten the succubus. Mirela glanced from Annalise and back to Lucas. How long had Lucas been awake before she herself had? Propping herself up on an elbow, her eyes came back to Lucas. Something, a conversation, she supposed, had been taking place before she had awoke. Mirela tucked the sheet snugly over her breasts, lodging it tightly under her arm.

“I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?”

 

[dryfter]

Lucas grimaced slightly at the sharp, stinging, and thankfully brief pain from where Mirela struck him....twice. With a soft sigh, and a quirky smile he prepared to expound....but not before he took a moment to admit just how good it was to have back so soon after their last disastrous tryst.

"It's a simple concept really. No magic lasts forever, no matter how strong the caster of the dweomer might be. Even abilities have durations, though they can be extended....at a cost."

"A dangerous one."

The succubus chimed in at exactly the point he suspected she might. A simple nod was the only answer she received from him however.

"After your dream episode, I thought someone might be watching you. So I kept watch over you too."

For a second, the warlock looked uneasy, as if he realized how that could be taken.....

"Your premises......I didn't watch you undress, or shower, or anything."

"Liar."

The succubus' grin was wicked and fanged, though no malice shown through her otherwise lovely countenance. Fortunately for Lucas, the demoness left it at that. Mirela could choose for herself who to believe.

"At ANY rate," the warlock cleared his throat, bringing them both to the conversation at hand. "I happened to be alerted the moment your little friend broke in to your shop, and subsequently, your home."

A shaky hand ran nervously through his ginger hair as his look grew a little sheepish.

"Unfortunately, I'd been watching almost constantly since you left. That particular spell wasn't meant to be held that long. But I felt it was essential. I managed to relay instructions to Annalise via our...bond. And the rest you should already know."

A thin finger lowered to slightly trace along a still healing ridge of flesh, not daring to apply any pressure for fear of the pain it might cause. He was noticing her future scars, the damage that hadn't quite been stopped, for the first time.

"I'm so sorry, Mirela. This should have never happened to you. I should have never let you go."

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

"E's awake now. Ye can go get 'im."

The butler glanced up from across the room's lone table. Part of him was surprised by just how calm and collected the good Father was considering how he had almost kicked in their door this morning in his demand to see Lucas.

"How can you tell?"

That brought about a mischievous flash of pearly whites as a white gloved hand tapped upon an all too human ear.

"Think I can be huntin the things that go bump in th'night if I cannae hear better'n most? The warlock's awake and chattin away with his lady fair. Seems ye weren't kiddin when ye spoke o' the two of em bein together. Best let him know he has company, aye?"

Slowly, the orc rose from the stiff backed chair he himself had claimed for the last hour. The green, shaggy haired head nodded slowly as Thrusk turned to leave their newest guest behind.

"I've no doubt he already knows you're here. Annalise is in there with him too, remember?"

The priest's only response was to spew a stream of spittle upon the orc's clean kitchen floor.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Your premises......I didn't watch you undress, or shower, or anything."

"Liar."

Mirela looked from one to the other, from warlock to succubus and back to warlock again. Neither had any reason to lie but Annalise was one hell of a wicked tease. She scooted up higher against the headboard of the bed, checking to insure the sheet was still firmly tucked around her… assets.

"I'm so sorry, Mirela. This should have never happened to you. I should have never let you go."

There was a slight shake of the brunette’s head as she offered him a soft smile. His touch was light and gentle. She was thankful to even be here to feel it or for him to be able to deliver it for that matter. Her own fingers came up, lightly touching his wrist.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Lucas. No, this shouldn’t have happened to me, but then, it shouldn’t have happened to those other women as well. I was lucky to have a demoness intervene on my behalf.”

Mirela’s brown eyes rose and met Annalise’s across the room where the demoness was still standing, in the very same place she had always been through this ordeal of watching over Lucas. The look in the gypsy’s eyes altered slightly to reflect gratitude.

“If it hadn’t been for Annalise, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Mirela flinched slightly as Lucas’ fingertip slipped over one of the more bruised and still healing wounds. She shifted uneasily under his touch and scrutiny, more aware than ever that under the sheet were more of the same. It was going to take some time for those wounds to completely heal and even longer for that trauma to become just a distant memory. Her eyes moved back to Lucas’ face and she wished she knew what he was thinking. She felt awkward and something else she couldn’t quite define. Tainted, perhaps. That mad man had tied her to a stone slab and was carving on her flesh before the succubus’ arrival. She could still hear the screams bouncing off the small cell she had been in before realizing that those screams were her own. Mirela felt violated in the most private of ways. The fiend hadn’t only used her body as a whittling stick, but he had probed her body with his free hand, whispering filthy things in her ear. She had been unable to move or retreat from his hands. His fingers closing over her tits, squeezing mercilessly…. The tip of his knife sliding up the inside of her thigh as he leaned over her…. His lips sliding along her jaw until they found her ear, delighting in how she couldn’t escape him. Fear rose up inside her like bile, threatening to spew forth. As the foul creature, who thought himself a servant of God, set his plans to "baptize" her, to cleanse her spirit with his hands and body, into motion, she had escaped the only way she could, by passing out.

Breathe, Mirela. Breathe.

Her mind released her from that nightmare and she offered Lucas a weak smile.

“You couldn’t have stopped me from leaving here, Lucas. That was my choice. I couldn’t deal with….”

Her eyes flew across the room without thought, to Annalise. Her mind tapped the memory of why she had fled in the first place. It hadn’t been the succubus’ fault. Oh, the mischief had been and Lucas had every right to punish her for it but his method could have been a better choice, for all of them. However, what was done, was done. There would be a discussion on the matter at some point, just not now.

As if on cue, there was a knock on the bedroom door just before Thrusk pushed it open.

Now what?

"The good Father is here to see you, Lucas. I don't think he wants to be waiting much longer to see you. From his demeanor, I do believe it must be extremely important. I did tell him that Miss Mirela was here so he opted to stay where I left him. For the moment."

Mirela simply slunk down in the bed, almost pulling the sheet entirely over her head and wishing the bed would open up and swallow her. The grin on the Orc's face as he glanced her way didn't help either.

 

[dryfter]

“You couldn’t have stopped me from leaving here, Lucas. That was my choice. I couldn’t deal with….”

Lucas followed Mirela's glance to the figure still somewhat cloaked in the artificial shadows she created from seemingly nowhere. Lucas knew better. Annalise was gathering shadows into that corner of the room. He was just as certain that Mirela hadn't noticed yet....that though the sun shone now through the room's lone window, neither her, nor himself, nor any part of their bedroom furniture cast a shadow.

But that didn't matter. The thought alone was a distraction from what had leapt to the fore of his mind almost immediately. The completion of her sentence in all its damnation.

Annalise. Mirela couldn't deal with the fact that he was soul bound to a monster. One that sated itself, its needs, from him. Like a leech, a valuable parasite that needed to be fed if it was to be useful. A lone blonde eyebrow cocked silently as their eyes met, his contempt clearly mixed with his need for power, mixed with the never ending lust she stirred in him even now.

He had no doubts she could feel it all. Just as clearly as she had heard his summons, his fear, his alarm when he had seen that human assault Mirela through his clairvoyance spell. No words needed to be issued. The command was felt, and delivered with such force as to be undeniable.

But it didn't change the fact that Annalise wasn't going anywhere. Not while Lucas was still bound to her. Not while his soul was still forfeit.

There was a knock on the door. The warlock might have frowned, to have his ruminations so rudely interrupted.....if not for just how cute Mirela looked all huddled up against him in his sheets. The warmth of her bare skin as she brushed against him would have distracted him even if the sound hadn't. And so he wasn't cross at all when Thrusk entered a split second later.

"The good Father is here to see you, Lucas. I don't think he wants to be waiting much longer to see you. From his demeanor, I do believe it must be extremely important. I did tell him that Miss Mirela was here so he opted to stay where I left him. For the moment."

"Good Father", was all it took to make the succubus snort in sudden derisive amusement. She kept her tongue for a rare change of pace though, as Lucas made a note to voice his curiosity about her new and more subdued side when chance allowed.

"Tell him I'm getting dressed and will be with him shortly."

"Are you sure you're well enough, sir?"

Lucas peeled back the covers enough to slip past, keeping in mind Mirela's own modesty and choosing to preserve it. Annalise simply grinned quietly as the butler turned away, blushing a very odd shade at the sight of his gangly master's naked form.

"Actually, no. I rather stink. Change that. I'm showering, then I'm getting dressed. Please thank Michael for the patience so far, and ensure him that I'm not delaying meeting him in any means. If it comes to it, tell him I smell much like he does after he's dealt with a few zombies."

The orc shot him a quizzical look, making sure not to glance down, even accidentally...a second time.

"You do know that priests can turn the undead by calling upon their faith, yes?"

The orc nodded softly, keeping his eyes glued to Lucas own, shifting only long enough to check on their lovely guest while pointedly ignoring the thoroughly amused succubus.

"Well I've seen this particular ritual before, performed by Michael of course. Let's just say he's quite powerful....or perhaps he'd prefer to be called favored by his god? Either way, he's quite a force against greater undead, while lesser undead....well....they just....."

He could feel the eyes upon them. Annalise's grin only widened as she finished Lucas' sentence for him.

"They explode. Some collapse to dust, but zombies in particular like to explode. Now just imagine that lovely scent...."

"Exactly. Now you see why Michael should graciously give me another half hour or so to get freshened up. That image alone should be enough to get some reaction out of him."

Thrusk departed minutes later, pausing only to check on Mirela's needs and if breakfast was to her liking before departing and leaving the three of them......two now that Lucas had disappeared to the nearby bathroom and the shower it contained.

A reaction was heard minutes later......

The stout priest's booming laughter could be heard as clear as day by his neighbors. Lucas had no chance of missing it.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Okay, now this was awkward.

Lucas had stridden off to the shower, for which Mirela was thankful for. The rub the witch doctor had smeared all over the warlock’s chest had been…… aromatic, to say the least and though the smell had eased considerably over the last couple of days, Lucas was still, at least according to her sense of smell, quite pungent.

Thrusk, bless him, had inquired about her breakfast, which she had only nibbled on. Mirela’s appetite was sadly lacking, all things considered. Still, she forced herself to nibble, not wishing to make Thrusk feel bad after having gone through so much trouble to anticipate her needs. Now, the butler returned downstairs and was speaking with Father Michael. Mirela didn’t hear what was said exactly. All she could barely hear was the murmur of voices then the priest’s booming laughter floated up to her ears. Her lips twitched at the sound of it. Father Michael was here to see Lucas about something. Another problem more than likely or a potential one. Well, it had nothing to do with her. She should get back to her shop. Every day she was feeling stronger, still tender with a twitch of pain here and there but nothing she couldn’t handle. She would be eternally grateful to Annalise for her prompt arrival and deliverance. Balancing the breakfast tray on the empty bedside table at her elbow, Mirela carefully swung her legs over the side of the bed tugging the sheet tighter, pushing hair out of her face.

Awkward. Indeed. The gypsy realized that Annalise had saved her life because of Lucas. Lucas would have been extremely upset with his minion if anything that happened to her. They were bound, one to the other and that bond did not include Mirela, except that Lucas cared and therefore, in order to restore herself into her master’s good graces, looking after Mirela even saving the flimsy mortal’s life, would quite possibly do that. Mirela was under no illusion where the succubus was concerned but she did hold a trump card. It wasn’t one she was willing to use however. What affected the succubus, affected Lucas and that was clearly Mirela’s weak point. Lucas.

“Annalise, your master seems to be recovered sufficiently. I think you can come out of the shadows now and afford me a bit of privacy while I dress, if you would.”

Mirela sat on the edge of the bed, her back to the demon as she spoke. One might think such a request would seem silly since the succubus had no designs on her mortal body and had seen her splayed out on a stone slab. While it was truth, Mirela still craved the privacy to dress. She’d like to go down and greet Father Michael before she took off for her shop and even steal away to her apartment and curl up in a ball on her couch and finally absorb everything that had happened so quickly over the past few days. The Irish Catholic priest had a way about him. He was charming and made her smile. He was like a breath of fresh air Mirela could use right about now and she needed to thank Thrusk for looking after her and being her confidant. Something, Mirela would have never seen coming in a thousand years. Oh bloody hell, there was a great deal she wouldn’t even have expected of coming along. The world truly was a strange and wondrous place after all.

The shower water stopped and after a few minutes, the bathroom door opened. Tugging the sheet around her body, Mirela started to look for her clothes. There. Across the room, folded neatly on a chair. Thank God for small mercies. Striding across the room, resisting the urge to glance over her shoulder to the corner she thought the succubus to be hiding in, Mirela tugged the sheet tighter around her body before reaching for her clothes. Her fingers closed over the material and suddenly froze. Images of the mad man she was held prisoner by flashed through her head. The feel of the dagger cutting into her naked flesh, the warmth of blood as it slid across her cold skin, made her shiver. Fingers tightened on the material, crumpling it in her hand.

Breathe, Mirela. Breathe. It’s over. The monster is dead, thanks to Annalise.

But there are other monsters in this world.

How could she be sure they wouldn’t come after her? She had opened a gateway. Broadened her awareness. Accepted what others couldn’t. Believed now, what others refused to. Mirela closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Lucas. Thrusk. Father Michael. Yes, even Annalise. They would look after her until she could build her own defenses. Until she could learn what she needed to. She needed to be pro-active in her own life. She had abilities to hone. No monster, alive or dead, was going to hold her back. Not now. Not ever.

 

[dryfter]

“Annalise, your master seems to be recovered sufficiently. I think you can come out of the shadows now and afford me a bit of privacy while I dress, if you would.”

The human woman couldn't see her, of that there was no doubt. But the inky blackness had yet to be dispelled from her corner of the room, leaving less doubt that she still remained behind. From behind the fragile veil, full lips turned upward in a quirky smile.

"You humans and your need for modesty. I doubt I'll ever understand it. You have a body the Master desires more than my own. Or perhaps its your innocence that draws him in. You should flaunt it more rather than simply try to hide it away all the time."

In all truth, the demoness wasn't relishing leaving the privacy of the bedroom in favor of the conflict she knew would occur the moment she joined Lucas' side with Father Corcoran. Though for a moment, a steamy bit of fun with him in the shower came wickedly to mind.....

The succubus was just about to plant just a suggestion in the mind of the suddenly bashful shopkeeper when the girl wavered slightly. It only took a split second for the daemon to realize the woman's breathing had stopped. Less time still for her to emerge from her dark cocoon and slide warm, soft hands over her nude frame to steady her, not caring how the sheet protecting Mirela's foolish modesty dipped lower than she would normally allow for just a moment.

"It's over. He's gone."

Annalise was no mind reader. But as she had confessed to her human counterpart once before.....she was no stranger to torture. The succubus knew all too well that the worst injuries might not be done to the body, but to the mind itself......

There was no lust, no desire in the blonde, none of the wickedness she did her best to exude at all times. Just a soft, full pair of breasts which Mirela found herself pressed back against, strong hands holding her in place as comforting whispers tried their best to drive the images burned into her memory now away......

"He got what he deserved. He is gone. You remain. You need to make the best of your mortal life now."

She was gone as quickly as she had come, fleeing the moment Mirela's breathing stabilized, her eyes opening slowly once more. The shopkeeper was human after all.....there was no telling how she'd react to what Annalise had just done. Still, the succubus didn't flee back to her corner of the room, the web of shadows she had woven already beginning to unravel and come undone in her absence. Instead she made her way to the room's only door, hesitating only long enough to make sure her Master's love didn't suffer another sudden anxiety attack.

"I didn't do it for him."

She could see Mirela stiffen from where she sat, the flimsy bed sheet clutched tightly to her once more.

"Sure he commanded me. And no, I couldn't have refused him. But I didn't do it for him."

Their eyes met and it was all Annalise could do to not laugh at the confusion she saw in Mirela's dark eyes. How openly these humans wore their emotions on their faces! Her master was very much the same way....it had amused her for years now.

"As you know, I share many things with my Master. I share his sense of victory, I know more than anyone when he is in pain and what caused that pain. The feeling....the emotion he gets from being with you is one I'm not familiar with....I'm not....quite sure....what it is....."

For the first time, the demoness looked troubled, her own voice fading away to barely a whisper.

"But I'll be damned back to the nine hells if I let you die before I find out."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

For a moment, Mirela felt overwhelmingly comforted and the only place that could come from was Annalise. She stood in stunned silence. The demon further confounded Mirela with her words. The dark haired gypsy simply stood there, clutching her clothes, even as Annalise moved away from behind her and stood in the open bedroom doorway.

"Sure he commanded me. And no, I couldn't have refused him. But I didn't do it for him."

Dark brown eyes, that openly sported mass confusion, met Annalise’s. The question was on Mirela’s lips but never fell. The demoness had more to say.

"As you know, I share many things with my Master. I share his sense of victory, I know more than anyone when he is in pain and what caused that pain. The feeling....the emotion he gets from being with you is one I'm not familiar with....I'm not....quite sure....what it is..... but I'll be damned back to the nine hells if I let you die before I find out.”

Annalise’s words left Mirela stunned, to say the least. Had the demoness ever cared for anyone in her existence that didn’t require a contract? Beyond the standard portrayals she had read about demons, Mirela had to admit she knew next to nothing about them. Come to think of it, was Annalise able to get into her head or did she, as mortal, simply wear her thoughts openly in her eyes? She hoped not. Mirela liked to think she was a bit more stoic than that.

“I know you’re not looking forward to going downstairs without Lucas, Annalise especially with the priest in the house, but you two seem to be able to hold your own. Actually, I think of it as a mutual stand-off. I promise, Lucas and I will be down very shortly. Just try not to prod the good father too much, please? I really do not want to come down to find holy water flying or you with your talons heading for his throat.”

The last was said with a smile. It was, after all, a teasing remark. Kind of. Annalise was spawned from the Darkness and men like Father Michael Corcoran didn’t abide such abominations easily. It stood to reason that there wasn't any love between the two. Tolerance, yes. Love? No. Still clutching her clothes to her chest, she glanced in Annalise’s direction. Not surprisingly, the succubus had departed. Mirela’s lips turned up slightly. Lucas would be returning any minute and she should get dressed but it was the thought of Annalise that forestalled her. Walking to the only window in the room, Mirela peered out, lost in thought. Apparently, at least for the time being, the gypsy was going to have a demonic guardian. Mirela wasn’t sure how she felt about being studied, but having the succubus in her corner kind of felt, well, reassuring. Annalise was right. The ordeal was over. The monster was gone. He wouldn’t hurt anyone ever again. Mirela leaned her forehead against the glass window. Unfortunately, forgetting her own ordeal wasn’t going to be so easily dismissed apparently but she didn’t have to dwell on it. For now, she best get dressed and run downstairs to say hello to Father Michael. Mirela turned, moving to the bed and setting her clothes upon it before she unwound herself from the sheet that hid her recovering wounds from the others.

 

[dryfter]

The good father rose from his chair, teacup still in hand, the moment Mirela moved from the hallway into view. A thick hand ruffled the shock of blonde hair atop his head, a nervous habit no doubt.

"We meet again, lass. Though I must say I'm rather surprised at the circumstances this time."

For a moment Thrusk's eyes met Mirela's.....the orc's baleful yellow orbs narrowing almost imperceptibly. He had not spoken a word regarding the gypsy's latest tribulations.

Fortunately, before such a topic could be brought up needlessly, Lucas himself sauntered into the room......still dripping.....Annalise a silken shadow, paces behind him.

"So Michael. I think we both figured it would be much, much longer before we saw you again. What can I do for you?"

The Catholic padre reached into the voluminous folds of his clerical robes, producing a thin dossier and handing it without further ado, to Lucas. Silently, the warlock thumbed open the missive, not caring in the least that more than one set of eyes strained to see the photos that now came into full view. It only took him a moment to realize what it they were looking at, shadowy as they were, heavily cloaked......and yet those very cloaks were what had blurred the photos.....as if they were in constant motion. Worse still was the appearance that these strange figures depicted in the photographs....had hardly swaddled themselves in simple cloth......nothing could be seen of their actual bodies at all save for photo after photo of blood red eyes......

"Kytons."

The succubus' snort was swift and derisive

Lucas, for his part, didn't seem to be ashamed at all by appearing before the good Father dressed in nothing more than a tightly wound bath towel. Then again, the warlock had made it a point to stay as far away from his demonic servant as humanly possible.

"Chainers. That's what most paranormal inclined humans call them."

Father Corcoran simply nodded, looking none too pleased at the demoness finding the bravado to speak, and yet letting it pass unnoticed.....the explanation needed for those of them who were not as educated in demonology.....the Father included.

"Aye. Sounds bout right, lass. Not only could they soften blows visited upon em with the masses o' chains they've coiled about themselves.....but they seem to be able to control any nearby chains as well. I was hopin ta get some information, a more....expert....opinion, 'fore I try and rid the creatures."

For his part, Corcoran was doing an admirable job ignoring the half naked warlock as he worked his hair with a comb while listening intently to the stockier man speak his tale.

"Kytons are ugly as fuck once you get them out of their chains. Holy water works best of course if you're a priest. Though it won't have any effect on the chains themselves, the liquid can penetrate the iron defense the create with them. Kinda fun to hear them scream, its been a while."

"Low born trash. Another easy way to rid yourself of chainers is to bring a real demon around. Then watch them run."

The priest gave the buxom demoness a scathing look, matched only by his retort.

"And I suppose ye consider yerself a real daemon then?"

Annalise simply flashed the clergyman a cute smile filled with wickedly sharp teeth.

"I'm faster. I'm stronger. I'm sexier. 'Nuff said."

"That or you're into bondage too."

A blonde eyebrow rose quizzically as the succubus turned slightly to her right to regard her Master.

"Not likely. Kytons consume the flesh of any they confine within their chains. You're the only one who's managed to bind me in any manner. I think I can safely say I despise that about you. Its not something I'd like to repeat."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Still baffled by Annalise, Mirela hurriedly dressed and vacated the bedroom. There was the briefest of pauses in the hallway to insure her composure was firmly in place. A quick pat on her hair before Mirela’s heels tapped, tapped their way down the hall toward the sound of voices, which seemingly were coming from Lucas’s study.

"We meet again, lass. Though I must say I'm rather surprised at the circumstances this time."

Momentarily startled, the gypsy came to an abrupt halt just inside the study doorway. Her eyes had widened with shock. Her startled, questioning brown eyes went straight to Lucas’ butler. Father Corcoran couldn’t know what happened to her, could he? Thrusk’s eyes reassured her that he hadn’t said a thing. Her eyes slid to the priest as she softly cleared her throat and wondering how to answer him. Before she could, Lucas arrived to save the slightly awkward moment.

Oh dear.

Mirela shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she stared at Lucas. Her eyes following a lone droplet of water as it coursed across his collarbone and slid slowly down his body to disappear into the towel tucked at his waist. In that moment all she could think about was tracing the path of that lone rivet of water until she caught it with the tip of her tongue.

She hurriedly tossed Thrusk a silent plea for help and quickly smiled at Father Michael before slipping into a chair and found herself staring at the warlock’s desk with a concentrated look, wishing she had a cup of tea in her hands.

"So Michael. I think we both figured it would be much, much longer before we saw you again. What can I do for you?"

As the priest passed Lucas a folder, the silence that fell amongst them made Mirela glance up from studying a scratch on the desk and turned her attention to Lucas, something she wished she hadn’t done because all she could think of was that Lucas only wore a towel and all her mind could focus on was what lie under that towel. She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks and make her fidget in her chair.

”Kytons.”

Curiosity getting the better of her, Mirela slipped from the safety of her chair and moved to Lucas’ side, peering over his arm at the photos in the open folder. She had no idea what a Kyton was but listened avidly as the priest, the succubus and the warlock spoke around her.

"Not likely. Kytons consume the flesh of any they confine within their chains. You're the only one who's managed to bind me in any manner. I think I can safely say I despise that about you. It’s not something I'd like to repeat."

Chains? Consume flesh? Oh, dear lord. From a deluded sick murderer to cloaked figures with blood red eyes that were wrapped in chains and devoured flesh. Mirela shuddered and wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. She was about to ask a question and found another one leaving her lips instead.

“How are these things finding their way into our plane of existence? Did someone create a portal for them or were they summoned?”

 

[dryfter]

The next half hour was spent practically under a microscope as the warlock endured the priest's inquisition. Father Michael Corcoran was a zealous hunter, and if there were anything to be learned about a particular prey....in the extremely unlikely event he hadn't encountered it before.....

It was question after question as Lucas was grilled relentlessly about the potential quarry's abilities, weakness, and likely methods of attack.

"Really, it's fairly simple. Annalise is quite correct in stating that Kytons are one of the lesser daemons. They use an advanced form of telekinesis to control any length of chain they have formed an affinity with. These chains can be outfitted any way the kyton pleases, and most designated for offense are tipped sharply with bladed objects or sharpened to a point. Those chains designated for defense take on an abnormal hardness that's deucedly frustrating to try and penetrate."

"However, I should note that a kyton's abilities seem to only extend to chains, hence why they're termed chainers. Without the chains they're attached to....a piton or a kunai that might be attached as a weapon would be otherwise unwieldable. I'm sure you've noticed from these photos that there are no discernable arms. If they have appendages of that sort, they're swaddled deep within the chains protecting the rest of the main body. The chains are the kyton's arms. Don't underestimate the speed in which they can be used. Their strike can be as fast as a rattlesnake's if you have an experienced kyton as your opponent."

For the most part, Father Corcoran was abnormally silent. The Catholic priest simply nodded and frowned, soaking in all the information he was being handed. There was no doubt in Lucas mind why the zealous priest suffered him to live. First there were moments just like the one that day in Mirela's shop. The warlock would never forget the look on the Irishman's face when it became evident that Lucas needed him for the hunting of supposed evil.....

And then there were moments like these, where the warlock's knowledge on a single subject deemed suddenly important dwarfed his own. Corcoran wasn't stupid. Knowledge was what had kept him alive this long. When in doubt....go looking for someone who has what you need.

“How are these things finding their way into our plane of existence? Did someone create a portal for them or were they summoned?”

Lucas frowned, not his desired reaction, and for a moment he hoped Mirela would understand that it was the question itself that bothered him....and not that she herself had spoken up. Indeed, her voice had been a welcoming interruption to his own lectured response to an otherwise rapid fire questioning.

Turning to her, his bare chest swelled for a moment as he took a deep breath. The warlock's bright eyes twinkled mischievously as he caught Mirela's gaze moving downward towards his towel. When they returned to his face once more, a quirky grin let her know she'd just been caught.

"Annalise? Care to answer our inquisitive gypsy?"

"Gypsy? What just a minute, Lucas. Who's a gypsy?!"

Finally. Something that could stop even Corcoran in his tracks. And the rosy blush on Mirela's cheeks only served to confuse the staunch clergyman further as his gaze tracked back and forth between them both.

"Mirela is descended from a long line of gypsies. It seems she spilled the information to Master Lucas at a rather.....delicate.....moment."

The gentle dig only served to deepen the lovely shopkeeper's blush as Corcoran scowled, running an anxious hand through his short cropped blonde hair.

"Lucas! How many times have I told ye ta silence that wench?!"

"Silence me? But I moan so delightfully...."

But if the demoness had been planning to get a lustful reaction from the Father as she bent low enough to display ample cleavage, she seemed equally as entertained by the anger fueled rush of blood to the man's face instead.

"Annalise. Stop teasing and answer the question."

"Of course, Master Lucas."

The succubus tossed Mirela a shared look and a naughty smile before returning her stare to the delicious looking men in the room.....

"Kytons are trash. But like any daemon, myself included....if strong enough, they can open portals themselves to allow others of their kind to pass through. This however takes a great amount of the daemon's personal energy reserve, so is rarely done. What can I say? We're a selfish lot."

Lucas chimed in before his demonic pet could cause more trouble, "Its likely that a fledgling warlock, or some schmuck with a spellbook he could only half comprehend did an initial summoning. If that's the case, we're lucky a kyton is the only thing that answered the call. It's also extremely likely that if that's the case, the initial caster failed to properly follow the Rites of Binding, became lunch for the demon summoned, and won't be taken into custody any time soon."

The priest growled low, still eying up Annalise dangerously. It was a gaze returned just as intensely.....

"So yer sayin that we got daemons just runnin about on their own?"

"That's most likely the case."

"How many do ye think?"

"Well if one of them is strong enough to open a gate on his own, I'd say anywhere from a half dozen to a full dozen. I'd think they'd feel pretty confident and secure with those numbers. Maybe a few underlings to serve them and abuse. Those would be even weaker of course."

For the second time that night, the priest gave them a brilliant flash of near perfect teeth.

"Cannae believe I'm sayin this.....but I owe ye a hunt. Ye game?"

"Two days."

Father Michael's face fell. Swiftly replaced by a visage that could almost scold by itself.

"These things be eatin human's day and night and ye want ta wait three days?"

"Two."

The gentle correction did nothing for the holy man's humor. Instead it seemed more likely that the Father was going to blow his top.

"I kowtow ta ye and yer demonic ways by askin ye ta my side for a battle and ye tell me ta wait?!"

"You and I can handle ourselves. Annalise certainly, and I'd trust Thrusk with my back any day. But what about Mirela."

The priest simply humphed, turning to the woman now seated at Lucas' desk.

"Leave yer woman behind, warlock. She'll be o' no use ta us as she is."

"Or she could be of great use to us. And considering recent events that you've not been informed of, Michael.....I'll not be leaving Mirela alone again."

The half clad warlock strode to his own desk. It wouldn't be good to let the zealot's words rankle in the ears of his beloved. No....but there was perhaps a way around this.....

"Thrusk....bring us tea.....I do believe that our Miss Mirela is about to tell the good Father his fortune."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

She was getting her education in the world of the paranormal today. Kytons. Forms of beings she hadn’t known existed. Of course, there were a lot of things she hadn’t suspected existed, that is, until she had made Lucas’ acquaintance. Mirela listened attentively. Never could tell when such information would come in handy, though she sincerely hoped that she never ran into these kytons herself. The thought alone made her shiver.

Her curiosity had gotten the better of her and while it made her ignorance a glaring thing, she couldn’t help herself. Lucas frowned and Mirela found herself mentally shrinking back. He turned in her direction, his chest expanding with the deep breath he took.

Oh mercy. Did he even realize how damn sexy he looked draped from the waist down in nothing more than a towel? Was he even aware of how clean he smelled, fresh from his shower? And furthermore, how much he was making her evermore aware of him?

Mirela’s eyes lifted to his face and found him watching her. The sudden rise of heat to her face informed her that she was blushing and hastily glanced away before he could guess her thoughts, but she had a feeling he already knew them anyway. That grin of his more or less confirming it.

"Annalise? Care to answer our inquisitive gypsy?"

Oh yes, please do, Annalise. Anything to draw my attention away from our sexy warlock.

"Gypsy? What just a minute, Lucas. Who's a gypsy?!"

Oh crap! Father Corcoran didn’t know her lineage. Mirela winced. Thankfully, the succubus had found an opening to poke at the good father and being Annalise, she poked. Mirela was thankful that the attention was drawn away from her. Again, thankfully, she turned her attention to the demoness and listened. Conversation rapidly ensued between the other three once more. Maybe she was getting paranoid or become a conspiracy theorist, but what if it was all part of a bigger plan? What if someone was just trying to blow smoke up their behinds with these kytons? Mirela wisely kept her thoughts to herself.

"You and I can handle ourselves. Annalise certainly, and I'd trust Thrusk with my back any day. But what about Mirela."

That brought her head up from the swirls her fingertip was making on the desktop. Her finger froze as she looked from Lucas to Father Michael.

"Leave yer woman behind, warlock. She'll be o' no use ta us as she is."

Mirela was about to pipe up and agree with the good father……

"Or she could be of great use to us. And considering recent events that you've not been informed of, Michael.....I'll not be leaving Mirela alone again."

Despite wearing just a towel, Lucas seemed rather at home amongst everyone as he strode over to where she sat at his desk. Coming to stand behind her and a moment later, his hands descended warmly to the tops of her shoulders, giving a gentle squeeze.

"Thrusk....bring us tea.....I do believe that our Miss Mirela is about to tell the good Father his fortune."

Oh crap on a cracker, here we go again!

~~ ~~​

The silence in the room was stifling to Mirela. Her brown eyes were riveted on Father Michael’s teacup sitting in front of her. Thrusk had brewed and returned with a tray, laden with a tea pot and cups. There was something refined about Thrusk that Mirela admired. He was a brute of a being yet, he handled fine china with an air of elegance and grace. Each in the room had been offered a teacup with a saucer. The rich aromatic brew in the cups had filled the air with a refreshing, embracing scent. Mirela had pushed aside her own cup to accept the reluctant Father’s. Father Corcoran had pushed been eyeballing Mirela over the rim of his cup this whole time. There was nothing like being stared at like a bug under a microscope unless, it was being on the wrong the side of a firing squad and that’s what this felt like. Mirela fingers closed around the cup as she tipped it over, setting rim to saucer and she turned the cup clockwise three times before lifting it from the saucer. The bulk of the tea leaves were spread upon the saucer’s surface in some random pattern. Mirela set aside the teacup, right side up, on the desk and focused her attention on the leaves before her.

At first, they were simply tea leaves sitting in a small puddle of tea that the priest had left in his cup. Then before Mirela’s eyes they began to swirl…….

Mirela fell into a trance-like state.

“Kytons. A massive concrete building, unfinished. Impaled bodies on rebar. Blood dripping. They after something specific. Looking for something. Someone…… “

Her eyes lifted from the leaves on the saucer and met the priest’s.

“They want you, Father Corcoran. They’ve been sent for you. Be careful. All is not what it seems….”

Her eyes went back to the tea leaves. Mirela jerked back against the chair with a sharp, swift, indrawn breath. Her face drained of all color. With a shaky hand, she pushed the saucer away from her, her brown eyes seeking the priest’s face once more.

“Like a sleight of hand trick Father Corcoran, this is not what it seems to be…. It is not a simple matter…..something is stalking you from Hell itself.”

Her eyes slid from Father Michael to Annalise.

“And it means to have you back….”

 

[dryfter]

"Though I walk through the valley o' the shadow o' death, I shall fear nae evil, for thou art with me."

Whatever the girl had seen had been potent, of that Corcoran was sure. Just as sure as he became almost the instant Mirela's dark eyes glazed over and she had begun to speak her prophecy. His gaze only left her own for an instant, as the Catholic Father sought out Lucas' own stony gaze.....as if to ensure himself that this was real and not an act.....

Mirela's recoil from his saucer answered that question far better than Lucas could have. And yet, when clarity returned to the gypsy shopkeeper's eyes, it was his countenance she sought, not that of the warlock who had by now draped his bare arms about her protectively. The priest smiled, running a hand through his greying blonde hair.

"Amen."

It didn't take much more than that and the wide, feral grin....the downright predatory look in his eyes as he met Mirela's worried stare, to let her know.....

The challenge had been gleefully accepted.

Slowly, the huge man raised himself from the chair he had been seated at to hover above them both, a glint of zealous madness burning deep within his dark eyes, the toothy smile never wavering.

"Now ta find where they're hiding. Ye've three days, Lucas. I'll need that time ta make sure I dunnae forget nothin. This promises ta be fun, and I've rather taken a shine now ta yer woman. If shit hits the fan, I'll be sure ta give her the sweetest o' sanctuaries."

"I'm pretty sure Mirela's prophecy means that its we that should be looking out for you."

"Nae true, warlock. She dinnae prophesy my death. Only that somethin be huntin me. I'm o' half a mind ta let it have a piece. But I've been around too long ta be takin chances like that. 'Sides....this time I'll have ye at my side. Tis hardly comfortin, godforsaken wretch that ye are.....but yer still a good man somewhere in that craterous shell. Just need ta get yer soul back now so that woman that loves ye so has a future of her own, one that does nae end in heartbreak."

Lucas frowned, feeling Mirela's eyes upon him. In turn, Annalise bristled....feeling her Master's growing sense of irritation and discomfort.

"You've said enough, leave now priest."

"Go lay by yer dish, wench. I don't be needin the likes of you ta show me the door."

"Will the likes of me do?"

Thrusk had appeared at the doorway to the kitchen, and it didn't take long for Corcoran's eyes to slide downward to the length of heavy steel the orc held.

"Dinnae mean to offend...."

The priest's words were sheepish for a change. Not because he was in the least bit intimidated, of that they could be sure. Because he had clearly found a way to offend the ones who were supposed to be allying with him in the coming days. Fortunately, the orc's voice softened as he let his grip slip from the hilt of his weapon, leaving the serrated blade resting against the wall he himself had been leaning on just seconds ago.

"Then no offense will be taken. Provided you choose this moment to graciously depart. The Master's relationship with Miss Mirela is a new and fledgling thing, not something to be made light of, or snuffed out by your inadvertent doomsaying."

For long moments the two of them stood eyeing each other up. Yet there was none of the hostility that was so openly displayed upon the Father's prior visit. Finally, Corcoran nodded softly....turning slowly, and shuffling towards the door as if even now he was reluctant to leave. Still....the door closed upon his retreat two long minutes later.....none of them surprised in the least to hear the soft patter of raindrops.....again.

"My apologies, Miss Mirela....Master....I fear I have said too much. It was not my intent to cause embarrassment."

Lucas looked to Mirela first, not knowing just how much the confrontation had affected her. Thankfully however, Annalise took it all in good stride.....

"Thrusk.....Master's dressed in nothing but a towel, intent on making poor little Mirela die of blood loss as it all rushes to her face. I doubt very much that your little show of bravado there possibly embarrassed him."

That coaxed a soft chuckle out of him, and yet his embrace only tightened around her....not willing to let Mirela go just yet.....

"Are you alright?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Thrusk.....Master's dressed in nothing but a towel, intent on making poor little Mirela die of blood loss as it all rushes to her face. I doubt very much that your little show of bravado there possibly embarrassed him."

Mirela’s cheeks fired again, making her drop her eyes from Lucas. After a brief moment, she glanced slightly upward toward Annalise and stuck her tongue out at the demon and followed it with a self-conscious grin. The moment had been lightened and Lucas’ arms, tightening around her, were comforting but all too soon she was drawn back to her vision as he asked her a question in concern.

"Are you alright?"

Her own hands came up, fingertips touching his arms and lingering as she wet her lips and spoke truthfully. Her eyes sought his again.

“Not really. Lucas, now that Father Corcoran has left, I need to tell you something. I need to tell you all something.”

Her look scanned all of them, Lucas, Thrusk, Annalise.

“The thing stalking Father Corcoran. It’s a demon. I don’t know what else to call it. I don’t understand much of such things, having little knowledge or experience, but it smelled awful. Decay. Death. Horror and it looked directly at me in the end as if it knew I was there and I don’t know if it had anything to do with it, but I noticed that my wounds began to burn when that… that… thing stared at me directly. Lucas…. it had blood red eyes.”

Mirela was thankful for Lucas’ arms. He gave her strength and comfort. She was out of her depth here. First it had been a ghost in her shop then the insanity of a man who thought he was God’s avenging hand and had been twisted up with his own freakish nature. A shudder ran through her body. Now, she had touched upon something truly evil. Father Corcoran might be…. eccentric to say the least, maybe even fanatical, but he was good man, a man guided by a love for God. This… this… thing, she was almost certain, had manipulated some poor, fledging warlock to bring the kytons into this plane to wreak havoc all the while knowing the kytons would turn on their summoner. Convenient, wasn’t that? There was no one to tell the tale. Delicate fingertips rubbed at her temples. Her head was starting to ache. She just didn’t know enough about anything to make wise assessments.

“He’s right you know. Father Corcoran.”

Mirela glanced up at Lucas and gave him a weak smile.

“I’ll just be a liability. You have to leave me behind this time, Lucas. You and Annalise need to focus helping Father Michael. You can’t do that if you are trying to protect me. The beast knows the kytons will draw out Father Corcoran, like offering candy to a child. What child can resist an offer of candy? It has no reason to come after me. I should be safe enough but something else occurred to me. What if Father Corcoran isn’t its only target? What if you are, Lucas? It said it wanted Annalise. The name it used, I can’t begin to sound out, but the image I saw was Annalise. If the beast knows that Annalise is on this plane, bound to you, then in order to get her back, you both would have to die.”

Mirela drew in a shaky breath. She gave Thrusk a pleading look.

“Thrusk? Do you think I could have another cup of tea, please? My head is pounding.”

 

[dryfter]

“Not really. Lucas, now that Father Corcoran has left, I need to tell you something. I need to tell you all something.”

That got their attention. Much better than her speaking had in the past. All by now knew what she had gone through, all perhaps Lucas who had yet to see the full extent of the damage Mirela's last tormentor had inflicted upon her.

“The thing stalking Father Corcoran. It’s a demon. I don’t know what else to call it. I don’t understand much of such things, having little knowledge or experience, but it smelled awful. Decay. Death. Horror and it looked directly at me in the end as if it knew I was there and I don’t know if it had anything to do with it, but I noticed that my wounds began to burn when that… that… thing stared at me directly. Lucas…. it had blood red eyes.”

The warlock dismissed her worry with a wave.

"Common. Demons with red eyes are a dime a dozen in the Seven Pits of Hell."

"Demons that can instantly detect a scrying prophecy aren't."

Annalise interjected quietly, a direct contrast to her usual confident, often scandalous approach to things.

"I don't have that power, Master. At least....I don't yet."

Lucas frowned, more at the information and the oversight it presented than the fact that Annalise had spoken. The fact that the succubus was bothered by her own statement seemed to elevate the tension in the air as well. Lucas could practically hear Thrusk's grip tightening across the hilt of his blade as flesh ground against leather wrap.

“He’s right you know. Father Corcoran.”

Again, all three of them returned their attention to the disheveled looking gypsy storekeeper. None of which, liked seeing the sad smile on her face one bit.....though perhaps Annalise would be the least likely to admit it.

“I’ll just be a liability. You have to leave me behind this time, Lucas. You and Annalise need to focus helping Father Michael. You can’t do that if you are trying to protect me. The beast knows the kytons will draw out Father Corcoran, like offering candy to a child. What child can resist an offer of candy? It has no reason to come after me. I should be safe enough but something else occurred to me. What if Father Corcoran isn’t its only target? What if you are, Lucas? It said it wanted Annalise. The name it used, I can’t begin to sound out, but the image I saw was Annalise. If the beast knows that Annalise is on this plane, bound to you, then in order to get her back, you both would have to die.”

"Wait a second. You didn't mention any of that before. It knows me? It wants me?!"

The succubus eyes narrowed to slits as they danced between Lucas and Mirela. This was a whole new level of threat.

"Master. Let the priest die. This is an obvious trap for you. I agree with Mirela. Corcoran can go to his death with all the bravado and spiritual bullshit he can muster. It won't change anything. He'll still die. There's no reason to follow him down that path."

"It's not after me."

The sound of silence in the room as almost deafening. Even Thrusk's eyes were half bugging out of his head, wondering if the warlock had finally reached his limit considering all he'd been through lately, and had lost his fucking mind.

"The name it used."

The air in the room was heavy, stagnant. Yet while Thrusk didn't get the brief hint Lucas dropped.....the orc certainly caught that he was repeating a very important part of something Mirela said.

Annalise was no such fool. For a second the succubus actually sighed, just a little.

"A demon wouldn't dare speak his true name to a warlock. Or to anyone whom he thought might be involved with a warlock. That's the height of carelessness and stupidity. Doesn't matter how powerful he is.....if Lucas has his true name, he can bind the stupid bastard. Then there won't be any fight at all. Master can let Father Corcoran kick the charlatan's ass and we all go home, hopefully a few souls richer."

Annalise caught the questioning look in Mirela's eyes and almost instantly the succubus' tone went frigid.

"Yes. I can't read minds, but I can tell what you're thinking, mortal girl. That's why I call this mortal whelp "Master". He forced my true name from me. Though I'll be damned to the lowest of the pits if I ever tell a shivering tomboy like you!"

"That's enough Annalise. There is no need to be hostile here."

The succubus quivered visibly, though only Lucas....through their bond.....could tell if it was due to rage.......or fear.

"We have three days."

The words had a galvanizing effect. For the first time in minutes, attention slid to him and not Mirela.

"You're not strong enough, Mirela. So let's spend this time we've demanded to find out just what you can do."

The silence was rapidly reaching the unbearable. It was clear that not a single one of them other than him had any idea how to proceed to their next step.

"Thrusk."

The butler stiffened suddenly, standing at attention as if struck by a cattle prod.

"Bring me the hyacinth you have planted in the kitchen."

Yellowish eyes blinked slowly in confusion. Yet the orc sauntered slowly away, no doubt pondering the odd request. Minutes later, he returned......a delicate flower cradled lovingly within the green skinned arms.

"Put it on the desk."

A moment later, and another simple command was heeded.

"Now Mirela....."

Lucas held the gypsy's eyes when they raised to inquire upon his own. Sternness of countenance and seriousness of visage were all it took to let her know that this was no joke.

"Let's start seeing just where your skills lie. I want you to start by pointing a finger right at this plant......and I want you to command it to die. Curse it for even living at all."

He wasn't expecting anything to happen. Not yet at any rate. A death curse would take an extreme amount of hate. Mirela hardly seemed the kind of person to harbor so much strong emotion. There was a good chance she couldn't do it at all. But just to be sure......

"Picture.....him...."

He could feel her stiffen, his touch upon her shoulder, his words winding nefariously into her ear.

"The one who tormented you while I lay unable to protect you. The one you wish you could have protected yourself against. Curse this plant like you would curse him. His very existance. His very soul."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Wait a second. You didn't mention any of that before. It knows me? It wants me?!"

“No,.” Mirela was quick to answer, “I get the impression it’s Annalise. Even as it spoke a name, it was her image I saw in my mind, but you both are bound together, yes? If he gets one, he gets the other or am I assuming something here?”

She looked between the two of them, Lucas and Annalise. The conversation continued to rage between the two of them as they tried to sort this out. Then it took a vital turn. Lucas addressed Thrusk, who left the room to do his bidding then returned with the hyacinth, setting it on the desk. Mirela looked up at the warlock with confused and questioning eyes.

"Let's start seeing just where your skills lie. I want you to start by pointing a finger right at this plant......and I want you to command it to die. Curse it for even living at all."

“You want me to what?”

Now she looked at him like he had lost his ever loving mind.

"Picture.....him...."

Her mind went blank. Who the bloody hell was he talking about?

"The one who tormented you while I lay unable to protect you. The one you wish you could have protected yourself against. Curse this plant like you would curse him. His very existance. His very soul."

Her mind suddenly filled with alternating images of him. Mirlea knew exactly who Lucas was referring to. Fear gripped her stomach and tightened it. Unconsciously, her fingers curled into her palms. She could feel the edge of her nails dig into her own flesh but the pain it roused didn’t even make her flinch. Her heart was beating so fiercely in her chest and along with her breathing coming in short and shallow pants, Mirela wondered if she was going to have a heart attack. Fear gave way to queasiness, making the urge to vomit rise up rather forcefully and quickly.

Curse? Mirela stared at the plant and blinked. She could feel the dagger’s tip sink into her skin, the sharp edge parting it, pain she had never experienced before, undulating through her body. The helplessness of tugging at the ropes that bound her wrists and legs while her body tried uselessly and desperately to twist away from the knife. Remembering the feel of his foul mouth on her skin tightened her jaw muscles and made her teeth ache. Bile rose up in a throat that rapidly swallowing to keep it down, making it burn. Acid. Stomach acid. It was a horrid, awful tasting thing. Anger roiled up from her lower abdomen. Caught up in emotions, her chest rose and fell rapidly. Eyes narrowed on the plant but she didn’t see it, instead, his face was the focus of her vision. In that moment the wish for the ability to kill, to rip his dark heart from his body was tantamount. For doing this to her and for what had been done to his other victims who had done nothing to deserve what had befallen them. Anger and contempt flared, rushing through mortal veins. Words eluded. She wouldn’t have known what to say, even if there were some to utter. Instead the fingers on one hand unfurled. Her index finger rose from the desktop and pointed directly at the hyacinth, imaging every ounce of that anger and contempt flowing out of it. Wishing that his soul would blacken and rot away.

Something had to be said for the power of emotions. For even though Mirela had no formal training where her abilities were concerned. By the stars, she didn’t even know if she had any to train. Yet, before her very eyes and the eyes of Annalise, Thrusk and Lucas, the hyacinth began to blacken. All of them watched as the plant started to get darker and wilt, crumbling as it slowly sank onto the soil surrounding it.

Mirela’s finger fell back onto the desktop. She blinked disbelievingly and inhaled deeply, shocked. Had she… did she… do that? She couldn’t look away from the blackened remains of the plant. Bewildered eyes sought those of her warlock lover.

 

[dryfter]

Lucas eyes lit up even as everyone else recoiled as his prized hyacinth promptly, and rather violently......died.

"What....the fuck.....was that?"

Again, that annoying habit of running his fingers through his ginger hair. This time at least, Lucas caught himself doing it, the appendage freezing mid motion having had nothing to do with his butler's outburst.

"It's simple. Gypsies were experts at manipulation of emotions. Some gypsy elders were able to craft love philters much akin to what magi create. Such gypsies were master potion crafters, their potions often having an improved effect when compared to those crafted by their peers when the altering of human emotion was the goal."

At least, for their part, Annalise and Thrusk remained quiet....while Mirela continued to look unnerved.

"When they felt comfortable enough with working with the emotions of other people, many gypsies turned their talent on themselves. That was the era that found the more powerful of them able to cast their emotions....usually horribly negatively ones.....on to another living creature or object."

Lucas gave a wan smile as he regarded Mirela from where she gazed up at him.....looking for support.

"Hasn't your grandmother ever told you that its unwise to anger a gypsy?"

That got a reaction. It was a well enough saying that he supposed even if she hadn't heard it from her ancient relatives, she would have heard it somewhere by now.

"Divination is old hat for a gypsy, many a nomad's bread and butter. As we've all seen, Mirela has that gift as well. Though no doubt it manifests in different ways.....our lovely shopkeeper prefers reading tea leavings, seeing far more with her sight than any of our eyes could ever hope to."

For the first time since he started speaking, Lucas stepped towards Mirela, swaddling her up in his arms and staying close as his voice lowered just a little.

"What you felt was an extension of rage, despair, or hatred, yes? All negative emotions....all very powerful when projected properly. Over the next few days we'll try a few other charms, a few other practical curses.....though you'll forgive me if I'm not master at the subject. In fact, this is far outside my expertise."

"I can visit the Library for you, Master. Archimedes may not like me, but he's not about to turn away a lovely young human girl with an honest search for knowledge."

"Then take her with you, Annalise. I'll stay here and begin re-memorizing my spells. I'm afraid I'm going to need a whole different skill set where we're going.....not to mention the whole lot of them were wiped when I mana burnt myself."

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

"We're here to see, Archimedes."

The building was squat, hardly more than two stories.....and ugly in a gothic sort of way. Very little could be said for its its rather non descript architecture save for the multitude of stone figures and statues that lined the edge of the roof.....the walkway itself lined with similar things, lifelike enough to be.....creepy even to the demoness.

"Yeah.....Mirela.....I know I've been rather.....quiet up to this point. But trust me.....if you see a huge....bull....looking things.....just run. Don't try that new curse shit you don't understand. Just run. Sometimes Archimedes lets Tauron out to play, and forgets he's out here.....and that's how statues are made."

The succubus swiftly advanced, leaving Mirela behind to address a handleless stone door, framed on either side by the spread wings of intrinsically carved archangels. At least not ALL of the building was drab and dreary looking.....both figures were easily worth a fortune were they to ever be sold at auction.....that was.....until one of them turned to face the unlikely duo, its empty stone eyes suddenly alight with a bluish silver flame.....

"We wish to see Archimedes."

"You are not among those he welcomes, demoness. Where is your Master. He is more favored in this place, though he oft times uses knowledge in a twisted way."

"He is not here."

"Then you must be gone."

"He asks the great sage to welcome Mirela in his place."

"And what is a Mirela?"

The stone voices rang hollow, and yet there was no mistaking a subtle note of curiosity. Silently.....Annalise shuffled a few steps backward to where Mirela stood....nudging her forward to where the magical constructs could see her better.

"Why have you come here, human girl? There is power in your blood, but is a power unknown to us......or perhaps just forgotten. Speak and we will determine if you are to gain entry........"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Hasn't your grandmother ever told you that it’s unwise to anger a gypsy?"

Mirela’s head canted slightly to one side, her eyes thoughtful. Well, not her grandmother. Mirela couldn’t recall a time she had ever heard her grandmother say something like that but..... she frowned in thought, Uncle Tobias had, plenty of times. Usually with his seventh beer in hand. Uncle Tobias was always grumbling about something when he was drinking. The world owed him everything at such times. If Mirela recalled right, her uncle was always threatening someone with the evil eye.

While Lucas continued to talk, she felt his arms encompass her. His bodily warmth seeped into her skin, giving her comfort.

"What you felt was an extension of rage, despair, or hatred, yes? All negative emotions....all very powerful when projected properly. Over the next few days we'll try a few other charms, a few other practical curses.....though you'll forgive me if I'm not master at the subject. In fact, this is far outside my expertise."

Of course! That made sense. But just the idea that she was capable of generating such power as it took to kill off the plant, well, it just baffled her. If someone had simply told her she could do that sort of thing, she would have thought they were crazier than a loon. She still didn’t believe it, even though she had seen it with her own eyes. Felt the emotions roil inside her.

"I can visit the Library for you, Master. Archimedes may not like me, but he's not about to turn away a lovely young human girl with an honest search for knowledge."

“Archimedes? What the hell is an Archimedes?”


Crap! Weren’t they going to answer her question? That usually meant she was in for some sort of surprise. Great. Just great. Just what she needed. Another surprise. This did not spell anything good in her book. Not by a long shot. Mirela’s eyes kept darting between the three of them. Thrusk would barely meet her eyes and look away again. Inwardly, she sighed and simply decided to wait, knowing that soon enough, she’d find out what or who an Archimedes was. There was no way of knowing at the moment, especially since no one was being forthcoming.

"Then take her with you, Annalise. I'll stay here and begin re-memorizing my spells. I'm afraid I'm going to need a whole different skill set where we're going.....not to mention the whole lot of them were wiped when I mana burnt myself."

~~ ~~​

"We're here to see, Archimedes."

Mirela was feeling much better. Coming to terms with the fact that she was a plant killer and not in the ordinary sense, was still a bit unnerving, but she was starting to take things in stride. Even the old building they were standing at didn’t faze her. Until.

It moved. At first, Mirela chalked it up to her imagination that one of the archangels decorating the handless doorway turned to face them. Mirela’s mouth fell open and remained slack jawed through the following verbal exchange.

"We wish to see Archimedes."

"You are not among those he welcomes, demoness. Where is your Master? He is more favored in this place, though he oft times uses knowledge in a twisted way."

"He is not here."

"Then you must be gone."

"He asks the great sage to welcome Mirela in his place."

"And what is a Mirela?"

That snapped her jaw closed. The tip of Mirela’s tongue brushed nervously across her lips. She cleared her throat quietly.

“I am Mirela.”

The little shove Annalise gave her jolted Mirela forward. It was just a small stumble but the archangels were impressive and the fact they could talk was intimidating. Still, she lifted her chin and looked directly at the one that spoke.

"Why have you come here, human girl? There is power in your blood, but is a power unknown to us......or perhaps just forgotten. Speak and we will determine if you are to gain entry........"

“I come seeking knowledge. Learning. There is much to my gift that I do not either know or understand. Lucas sent me to seek out Master Archimedes. A gift in the hands of the unknowing is a dangerous thing.”

Power in the hands of even the knowing could be an even more dangerous thing, at least in her mind. If she had power, than she had the ability to control it. Mirela would need to learn. A lot. Hopefully this Archimedes could be helpful. Something else surfaced in her mind. Annalise mentioned someone named Tauron. What in heaven’s name was this Tauron? She had gone on to mention that Archimedes let this Tauron out to play….. Mirela shifted her weight from one foot to the other than realized she was fidgeting and stopped.

There were too many questions and not enough answers.

But first, they had to get past these archangels. Mirela drew herself erect and looked at the guardians of the stone door, waiting to see if they would be allowed to pass into the inner sanctum.

 

[dryfter]

“I come seeking knowledge. Learning. There is much to my gift that I do not either know or understand. Lucas sent me to seek out Master Archimedes. A gift in the hands of the unknowing is a dangerous thing.”

The engraved eyes of the twin angels flashed a brilliant bluish silver as silence reigned supreme for a long moment. Though lips never moved, the twin voices could be clearly heard by them both when the ultimatum was finally reached.

"Knowledge is a double edged sword that oft times cuts at the very one who seeks to wield it. If you do not fear what it is that you seek, you are bidden to enter."

The flaring light died down almost immediately to a soft glimmer as a shimmering crack appeared between the etchings of the twin winged warriors. A crack that became more pronounced, albeit slowly, as the ponderous weight of the massive stone slabs before Mirela swung outward upon unseen hinges. The first thing to great her was ponderous wafting of dust, carried upon a breeze reeking of mildew and age.....a foul cloud that sought her lungs.

Annalise, for her part, was unfazed. She had smelled much worse in her youth. The scent of age had nothing on the scent of death and decay, the aroma of sulfur, brimstone, and singed, blackened flesh.

"You received permission. You'd best not keep Archimedes waiting. Though all he does is putter about his fragile little books, he likes to pretend he's a busy man. I'll wait here. You might not be able to see it, but there's still a barrier in place. Seems the old bastard is quite insistent in keeping me out."

Somewhat sullen, the succubus still had a sharp look in her eyes when she found herself transfixed by the gypsy's own stare.

"Good luck. You might need it."

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

The inside of the shrine was much larger than it had seemed possible from the outside. And yet most of what could be seen, could also be used to hold books. Or if not hold them....set them upon. Even then, there were stacks of random titles stacked neatly upon the floor. Every where a person could look there were shelves upon shelves of books, impossibly far even for the stout looking building she had seen before entering.....

And there were workers. Each on a ladder, constantly sorting, cataloging, indexing....strange creatures, as stout as they were pudgy, evidence that they were at least being fed well for their work. Yet not a single one would stand tall enough to even reach Mirela's shoulder.

"Halflings."

For a moment, this newcomer smiled patiently, doing her best to not giggle at the sudden startle her very feminine voice had caused. It wouldn't compare to what she expected for a response when the human woman spun and saw who had spoken.

It would take her eyes a moment to adjust no doubt. Not that the lighting was poor, but that it made her harder to see....translucent as she was. Still....she waited patiently, knowing if she were to only stay still.....

"Greetings Mirela."

The ghostly woman bowed softly, her equally ethereal dress seeming to swish soundlessly with the motion. When she spoke it was with a soft, almost lilting quality.

"I am Catherine. Librarian to Master Archimedes and a past gift to him from Master Bertram for services rendered."

Again she waited a moment, allowing the human girl proper time to absorb what she was seeing. She was much more than a simple ghost, but there was no need in telling this one that. Doing so would no doubt alarm her even more.

"The Master is quite busy with his research at the moment, though he remembers Master Lucas quite well. How is our resident warlock? Have you seen him as of late? And what manner of research could I and my friends assist you with today? I will do whatever I can to help you."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Knowledge is a double edged sword that oft times cuts at the very one who seeks to wield it. If you do not fear what it is that you seek, you are bidden to enter."

Okay. That gave her a moment’s pause. Did she really want to open this can of worms? Wasn’t it a little too late for that anyway? It seemed like to her that she was already knee deep in the can by now anyway. While that could be true, Mirela still wasn’t all that sure she wanted to get deeper into the can. But then, if she didn’t delve, she would be more of a hindrance to Lucas then an asset.

Decisions. Decisions.

She turned toward Annalise but before she could say anything, Annalise was already speaking.

"You received permission. You'd best not keep Archimedes waiting. Though all he does is putter about his fragile little books, he likes to pretend he's a busy man. I'll wait here. You might not be able to see it, but there's still a barrier in place. Seems the old bastard is quite insistent in keeping me out."

What? Mirela glanced back at the guardians then back at the succubus. No. No. No. She had been counting on having Annalise with her. Who knew what was beyond those doors at the very least the demoness could have stood between herself and whatever awaited her inside.

"Good luck. You might need it."

Well….well…… fuck.

Mirela wasn’t one to swear like that, even silently but stressful times seemed to bring it out in her. She unconsciously wrinkled her nose, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, gave a brief nod while squaring her shoulders and stepped toward the open entrance. The smells that greeted her made her wrinkle her nose further. Good heavens, when was the last time the interior of this place got any fresh air? The foul scent that assaulted her nostrils made the gypsy cringe and sent a shivering tingle down her spine.

Mirela’s footsteps were hesitant but they never faltered. The sight that greeted her eyes, drew a glimmer of wonder. Books. Tons of them. As far as her eyes could see. Mirela’s eyes flinted around the great room, seemingly not able to settle in any one place for very long. But it wasn’t only the books that held her attention. Aside from the wonder of the books themselves, there was a glow of curiosity in her eyes as they watched the little people in the room. They were too big to be dwarves. So, what were they? They were undaunted by Mirela’s presence. Only the Cosmos seemed to know if they noticed her at all so intense on their work were they.

"Halflings."

The unexpected feminine voice startled her. Mirela spun about abruptly. Whatever it was that the brunette thought she might encounter, it was clearly written on her face that the woman who had spoken was not what she had expected at all. Mirela’s complexion paled a little.

"Greetings Mirela."

Mirela’s eyes widened. Was she… she wasn’t dreaming, right? She was about to engage in conversation with a…a….ghost? Apparently so.

"I am Catherine. Librarian to Master Archimedes and a past gift to him from Master Bertram for services rendered."

Ghosts can be a gift to someone? For real? What kind of whacked world was she living in anyway? Mirela knew she shouldn’t be surprised, all things considered. She knew a warlock, an Orc and a succubus. She had met an necromancer and seen his ”playthings” first hand. Why should this take her by surprise?

"The Master is quite busy with his research at the moment, though he remembers Master Lucas quite well. How is our resident warlock? Have you seen him as of late? And what manner of research could I and my friends assist you with today? I will do whatever I can to help you."

Up to this point, Mirela had been speechless. Somehow she had to find her tongue. She opted for clearing her throat and shifted from one foot to the other.

“Master Luc—er—Lucas is doing much better. I’ve spent the last few days with him, Annalise and Thrusk actually. We had….. a bit of a situation and that is partly why I am here. You see, I’m a gypsy and up until recently I just considered myself to be an everyday, normal shopkeeper but it’s become obvious that I have some hidden talents and Lucas thought that maybe your Master Archimedes could help me discover just what I am talented about and hopefully help me to understand these talents more thoroughly. ….”

Her nervousness was showing in the way she was speaking. She took a breath and forged onward.

“We’re pretty sure I have The Sight and that I can curse things like plants, but I know nothing about how to summon them and Lucas thinks I have other latent talents. He was hoping that Archimedes could help. He sent Annalise along with me but apparently she isn’t welcome in here?”

The last was voiced as a question.

“So, do you think you can help me, Catherine? Because frankly? I’m a lost soul here. All this is new to me. By the way, you have a beautiful name. It’s almost as lovely as you are.”

Mirela’s head twisted in one direction then another as she watched the halfings, fascinated.

“And if it isn’t rude, may I ask you what exactly is a Halfling? I’ve never met anyone like them before.”

All of a sudden, the world was truly shaping up to be an interesting place. Then she remembered Father Michael and his newest mission and the fascination transformed into the sober. What she and Lucas had both been through recently had been too real. Mirela was determined not to be a liability to Lucas. She didn’t want him to go through what he had just come through ever again.

 

[dryfter]

Much better?"

The spectral librarian frowned softly.....

"A bit of a situation?"

The frowned deepened. It wouldn't take much for the dark haired human girl before her to notice that her conversation, answers and all, were being dissected. And such dissection would require further answers.

Still, the girl was a whirlwind of emotion, something Catherine herself had come to lack being now dead as she was. Intelligent? Very much so. Easily swayed by emotion was a whole other story.

Still, the librarian hesitated to question her further upon the few prickles of information Mirela had offered when seconds later she showed her blatant mortality almost insultingly....all the while completely unwitting.

"No, no, I'd be the lost soul here, not you, Miss Mirela. As for your escort, it is true that the succubus is not welcome here, though I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm sure the demoness thinks its her evil nature that keeps her from this place, yet this is far from the case."

Catherine could hardly contain a mischievous smile as she waited for the human girl's brain to catch up with her soft spoken words.

"Knowledge is knowledge, be it used for good or evil, Master Archimedes cares not. It is important that knowledge be given to any who seek of their own accord. No....it is Annalise's punishment for even threatening the use of fire in this place that has her exiled. Surely you could imagine how much damage a single flame could do here?"

Of course she could. Even now, Catherine watched her newest human charge contemplate her words, no doubt coming to the conclusion that perhaps Annalise had even deserved the barrier that kept her from this hallowed Library.

"As for help, I would be honored to aid you in your search, gentle Mirela. Your aura is pleasing to me. Your soul speaks little of hostility, and much of your inquisitive nature. I only pray I can aid in the finding of answers to your many questions, young gypsy."

A soft, disembodied, musical laughter filled the enormous chamber.

"Halflings? Why they are halflings of course. A race in and of themselves, a creation of a long dead god who once crafted them in his image no doubt. Now left, like many of the elder races, to conceal themselves as best as they can amongst the human who rule Mother Earth currently."

"We have many treatises on curses, blessings, foresight, prophecy, fortunetelling.....am I missing anything? Either way, there is plenty of information to be had here, Lady Mirela. I'm heartened by the thought that Lucas would send you our way. He must think highly of you."

The specter who ever more seemed more than just a simple specter, cocked her head slightly, as if listening to a voice that she could only here. This image only deepened minutes later as she seemed to nod to herself.....

"Master Archimedes will see you, Miss Mirela. He says you are important enough of a visitor, and that he has much to discuss with you. Will you follow me please?"

The latter question was spoken in the middle of a courtly bow, undead eyes never wavering upon living ones......