Hero smiled before saying, "Excellent, let's get started then. We'll start with basic strokes, thrusts and blocks. I'll attack you and you block, then we switch with you immitating my attacks while I show you the proper blocks in case you got any wrong. Don't worry about being fast or powerful, we're going to go slowly, the speed and power will come after you have the movements memorized." With that, Hero lifted his sword to his chest in salute before stepping forward, and began to train Namine, giving her tips and pointers about how to hold the sword, how to block, to try and avoid backing up from your opponenet, and, most importantly, mind your surroundings.

Ink Stain laughed deeply, saying, "How indeed? It's almost as if I posess a power unknown to any of the others? That's because Mother is a selfish creature. I was the first doll, and she poured so much of herself into me that it gave me all this power! I was thankful to Mother for years, I welcomed the other dolls she later created with open arms, not questioning why she didn't give them the gifts she gave me, but one day, she left. For years, Mother was gone, abandoning us, and when she came back, it was with her child, and you know what? She had completely forgotten about us! Imagine, your mother leaving you and then forgetting about you? Can you imagine the rage and pain that could cause? So, yes, I started a war, and do you know why? ...Because it would force Mother to stay. Without me, Mother would just leave again, so I did what needed to be done to keep her here. Do you think I want to do this? That I want to be the bad guy? Who would want such a thing! ...So, tell me, John Snow... what will you do now? I could always use a helping hand, or you could just stay with Mother, help her take me down, and then watch as she leaves all of you... forever."

"Just a bit too big for the shoulder thing," Seth said, laughing as he took another bite. "That's alright." Though, honestly, he'd miss it. It was like walking around with an angel on his shoulder: comforting, and it gave him a sense of never being alone. As a child, he'd truly needed that. It wasn't until he'd gone off to college that things changed. When he'd heard of Calla's death, Seth had been heartbroken. He just hadn't quite shown it . . . for he wasn't able to return home. Mother told him that she brought Calla back to life, though now she was human. Seth hadn't known what to expect when he came for the wedding. He'd come a few days before in order to meet the redhead again, but it was slightly awkward. Now, though, he wanted to change that.

Seeing Calla's blush, Seth swallowed before smiling. He loved the way her face lit up like that. "Yeah. Sharing was better." He then laughed quietly. The way Calla was eating was so . . . funny. "I'm sure it tastes the same. The only difference now is the size." His eyes lit up with laughter. "Though, that makes a big difference, I'm sure." Still . . . he knew that the woman had never been able to stay mad at him. Sometimes Seth used that to his advantage . . . but he needed it for real more often than not. He was such a grumpy individual that if Calla wasn't so forgiving, she would have been chased off a long while back.

Seth fixed his attention on his sandwich . . . and finished a good two or three minutes before Calla. "Let's go check on Mother after this," he suggested, taking his plate to the sink. He seemed more worried for the elderly woman than he ever had been before. It was reasonable, with her current health and the appearance of Ink Stain.
-

John silently listened to Ink Stain, his colorless eyes unblinking. This . . . creature was once a doll like him. He'd been changed over time, but he was still a doll. The power he possessed was so intriguing that Snow couldn't ignore it. It was like smelling an appealing scent and knowing the source. He was drawn to it.
The pale youth tilted his head, regarding the other doll for a few moments before speaking. His voice was low and smooth, completely free of any rasping or weakness. "Mother wouldn't forget us." Then, something pulled at his thoughts. But she had forgotten me. Supposedly he'd been found in the fountain, or so Seth had told him. No one knew how long he'd been missing. Was that not proof that Mother had forgotten that he existed?

Snow shifted his feet uncomfortably. "Then . . . everyone here is at risk?" Equal risk, really. Harm from Ink Stain, or a forgotten existence when Mother left. "I don't want to be forgotten." Not again. John frowned, flexing his newly strengthened hands. He could always back out if he didn't like this later. Besides, all that Ink Stain had done was to help him. What if Mother and Calla were lying? Seth seemed to hate Snow, after all.
"I want Mother to stay."

((As for Hero and Namine, they are training. :lol: I'm not sure what else to say about it. :sweat:))

Ink Stain smiled and said, "Then we must ensure that this is a lasting war. Now, I'm not very good when it comes to self-restraint, a trait my 'pets' share, so what i need you to be, is a champion for Mother. You need to stand fast against my dark creatures as the great hero for Mother's forces. The first thing you need to do is rally provide morale to Mother and the others once her current Hero meets his end at my hand!"

The faintest hint of a shadow stirred in the attic rafters, unnoticed by the knight and princess training below as seven red, glowing eyes watched them.

Ink Stain chuckled, saying, "They'll be overcome by grief at losing their great hero so early in the battle, and you need to raise the standard, so to speak, use their grief to fuel the flames of anger, flames that shall power the great engine of war! As long as there is war, Mother shall remain... trust in me, my brother, and we shall never have to fear the loss of our Mother."

Sakura loved the shadows she currently hid in. For all that she hated the dark, shadows seemed to provide her the privacy she needed, especially when she was watching others. It had been a long time since she had watched the other dolls in the house, a long time since she had really left the cave she calls her room. Her dark maroon eyes watched the pair as Hero attempted to train Namine. A smirk appeared on the young-looking dolls face as she remembered Namine picking a fight with her when the blonde doll had first been given life (although Sakura would never admit she had instigated the confrontation). Needless to say, Sakura ended that quickly by trying to get the girl to fight her with a sword. Since then, Namine tended to avoid Sakura like most others ended up doing. Sakura was usually alone.
Thin black eyebrows raised themselves as the Japanese influenced doll saw something that should not be there. Now a real smile spread itself as her eyes tracked the attic rafters from where she hid. Her dark eyes studied the red ones above her. And she waited. How intriguing. It had been quite some time since she had had a real fight. And this was something she would not miss. She wondered just how handy the gentleman would be with his sword. He seemed adept enough but she wanted to test that. Her smile changed to a grin as she waited for the Things to attack. She couldn't wait to see this.

(I hope that was okay!!!! I wasn't sure how else to bring her into the story and it seemed like something she would do and see.... >.<)

((Welcome, Kiona!! *purrs* Good to see you again!))

"Alright," Snow said quietly, touching his chest once more. The crystal that had been shoved into him was strange, but worth investigating. This Ink Stain character was rather unique - and the pale youth was drawn to him. "I'll fight against your creations, just like everyone else. It will keep Mother from leaving." And from forgetting us.
-

Namine had once tried to argue with a doll who obviously had weapon expertise. There was some trivial matter that the blonde knew she was right about, and she wanted to prove to the other doll that she wasn't lying. Through a bit of rough communication, the girl found herself at the mercy of a challenge. Sakura had tried to get Namine to fight.

As Hero and Namine went through their slashes and blocks, slowly but surely gaining speed to a casual pace. The blonde's mind flashed back to how she'd shied away from a fight, turning her back on Sakura out of anger. Namine was one who was hard to rile up, and for the first time in years there had been a conflict between her and another doll.
Shaking her head, Namine focused on learning. If she could learn, then she could fight back. Perhaps she could break the strange stalemate between herself and Sakura by introducing her new skills.
-

((Oh, I forgot to mention to you! Sakura should know Snow as well. ;) Luckily, he can't remember anything from his past, so you have a bit of freedom there. :mrgreen: Snow has been lost for years in the well, and was just brought back to life by Seth. :yes: So he is just now beginning to move about a bit more ever since his energy was refinished by Ink Stain.

So, when they meet . . . I don't know if you want them to know one another or not, but that would be interesting. ;)))

Calla laughed and nodded. "Definitely way too big." She was glad that her memories hadn't left her when Mother had brought her back. It was a comfort to know that everything she and Seth had done before would never be forgotten to her. Still, there were some memories she wished to forget. "I'm done, so we can go whenever you feel like going." She finished up the last of her sandwich and grinned. "I'm still not used to the size differences between everything normal and doll sized. My eyes still see everything as normal, like they were when I was little. So some things look so big to me." It might not make sense to him, for it was a hard thing to explain.

She stood and limped over to the sink and rinsed her own plate, washing it quickly before putting it away. She paused at the counted and sighed softly. "Seth...did Mother ever tell you of how I...died? Did she tell you anything of the years between then and now?" Calla needed to know how much Seth knew. It was eating at her inside, keeping secret the reason she had died, as well as the things she had done in the past.

Would he understand? Would he be disgusted with what she had done? Would he be disappointed in her? Would this end any kind of relationship they had and were trying to get back? These questions made Calla sick to her stomach. At least the last three did. The thought of Seth being utterly disappointed and disapproving of her was something that made Calla's heart hurt. It was a fear she had, and held every time he had forced himself to smile or be polite to her since he had gotten back. Her spilling her deepest secret could very well ruin everything.

Ink Stain nodded as he seemed to fade from sight before Snow's eyes, saying, "Good... I shall see you upon the field of battle, brother mine... for now, I have a Hero to put an end to."

Hero stepped back from Namine, slightly sweating as he held his blade up in the same salute as when they started as he smiled, saying, "Excellent work Namine! What you lack in pure physical will be made up by your grace and speed, I'm sure of it." Hero was about to say more when he was cut off by scuttling sound from above. Coming from the shadows was a fat, inky, blob-like creature with numerous metallic legs and seven red eyes looked down upon them. It let out a gargling sound before it simply leapt off of the rafter only to plummet to the ground near them with a splat. For a second, nothing happened... until the black ichor moved and pooled together, rising into a human shape. It seemed to solidify and gain defined features, until it fully formed as Ink Stain.

The dark doll grinned as his shadow traveled up into his arm to take the form of a shadowy copy of Hero's own blade. He chuckled as he said, "Come forth, champion, for I challenge thee to single combat!"

Hero's face became serious, more so than Namine had seen before as he whispered, "I remember my nightmare now..." turning to Namine he tried to offer a reassuring smile as he said, "Stay here, my princess... this scoundrel doesn't stand a chance against me you know!" He stepped away from Namine, not looking back as he closed to just outside of the reach of Ink Stain's blade, saying, "I accept thy challenge." Simultaneously, the two swordsmen saluted the other before charging, the first clash of blade on blade sending forth showers of silver/gold and dark purple sparks.

Seth watched Calla wash her plate and put it away. He shrugged when she asked her question. "Mother didn't specify much. She said you fell into the fountain, like I did." His blue eyes narrowed, and he thought for a few moments. "That was the first I'd heard about you in months. She didn't elaborate."
Looking at the redhead curiously, he tilted his head. "Is there something else?" Seth had a feeling that Calla was getting antsy. She was nearly squirming, really. "Come on," he said, gently taking her arm. Leading Calla into the next room, he sat her down on the couch in the reading area. He chose to sit beside her, and was glad to see that there were no dolls loitering about in the room. Now they could talk in peace.
-

Namine's soft laugh followed Hero's compliments. She bowed slightly, her smile never leaving her lips. It was when the shadowy blob appeared that the blonde suddenly let a frown overcome her features. "Ink Stain," she murmured, watching the sword form in his hand.
The challenge that was issued made Namine take a few steps back, watching Hero anxiously. "Be careful, Hero." Dread filled her as she listened to the doll's reassuring voice. Just don't get hurt.

The first charge made Namine's blue eyes widen. Sparks sprayed, and both opponents wore masks of emotion. Ink Stain had a mocking smile while Hero held a quiet confidence. Namine took a deep breath, glancing to her own blade. Despite her speed and grace, she lacked skill. And . . . this wasn't her fight.
-

When Ink Stain faded, Snow looked down at his hands. "Incredible," he muttered, flexing his fingers once again. There was no way he was going to sit there and rest now that he was strengthened. The doll stepped to the edge of the chair and easily leaped to the bed. From there, he chose to test himself.
He dropped to the floor, coming up in a roll that broke his momentum. With a slight smile, the pale youth climbed up the dresser. By the time he made it to the door (and was finished experimenting), he was hardly out of breath. Slipping through the cracked door, John made his way to the stairs. He wanted to explore the house, for he had no memory of it. Now that he was healed, he could do anything.

Until Ink Stain brings forth more creatures to fight.

Watching the fight, it was like watching lightning dance. Neither swordsman took a step from the other, both simply circling one another, each attempting to gain a better position upon the other as their swords clashed time and time again, the sound of steel on steel an almost constant with how fast the two moved. It almost looked like it would never end, until Hero made a mistake so minor, it would take a trained eye to see it. A misstep so slight that it only threw his balance off by a fraction... but it was enough.

Ink Stain struck hard, Hero blocking it, but being forced a step back, and then another, and another as Ink Stain forced him back further and further, until Hero jumped back, giving himself enough distance to take a proper stance as Ink Stain closed the distance and they resumed their battle with Hero's back almost right against the window looking down upon the garden and the fountain. As they resumed circling each other, another mistake was made, this time by Ink Stain. The dark doll's misstep wasn't as great as Hero's own minor mistake, but it was still there. Hero's mind whirled as he tried to think of how to exploit it, but he wouldn't be able to bring his sword in fast enough after his last swing... so he did the only other thing he could think of. He rushed forward, and tackled Ink stain out of the window, going right with him and getting stabbed through the shoulder as Ink Stain tried to stop him. As they fell, Ink Stain pushed Hero away, and they resumed their clashing of swords as he shouted, "You think you can survive this?"

Hero smiled, saying, "I don't know, but I know you won't!" With that, Hero struck Ink Stain's guard wide open and came back with his blade, slashing Ink Stain's throat open and sending his black blood spraying from the wound, a surprised look upon his face as the two fell into the waters of the fountain.

Calla took in this information. It would seem that Mother had chosen not to tell Seth anything other. She wasn't sure if it was because she didn't wish to taint his memories of Calla or not, but whatever the reason, she needed to at least get it off her chest. She nodded both in answer to his last question as well as a response to his leading her into a different room.

There were no dolls and Calla was grateful for that. She didn't want them thinking any less and not trusting her. Once she was seated, Calla was surprised Seth had chosen to sit next to her. Looking down at her hands, which were clasped tightly together in her lap, Calla breathed in and let the air out slowly.

"I don't know what Mother told you in regards to the cause of my death, but I was just so angry with Mother. Though I knew she grieved for you, she just didn't make it appear so to everyone else. I guess I took it as hard as she did, though at the time it seemed like I had taken it so much harder with you gone. It just wasn't the same. At the time, Isis was just being brought to life, and Mother refused to let me see her until she was awake and that everything had gone correctly." Calla's cheeks turned pink as she remembered how guilty she had felt the day Mother had sat her down with Isis and the other three dolls.

"To feel closer to you, I had gone to the fountain even though she forbade it. No one was to go near the fountain. I was just so angry, about you as well as not being able to see Isis so I went to the fountain to think and try to cool down. Like how I used to, I started to walk along the edge, but I accidentally fell in. It was like something was pulling me down and I couldn't get back to the surface. It hadn't felt like I was truly gone though. After the pressure of having to take a breath, the feeling of my lungs filling with water and all was still, I didn't feel any different after that." She paused for a moment before continuing with a small sigh.

So far things didn't seem so bad, but nothing she could say could excuse how she had behaved. "It seemed like months had gone by, when one day I stepped out of the fountain and back into the house. I was...a ghost...a spirit of my former self if you will, but I was filled with so much anger and hatred. Not only for Mother, but for those around me, pretending like nothing had happened. I...I caused so much trouble, nearly killed Isis.....I was able to persuade one of the dolls, Life, to poison her tea one day...I nearly killed my own sister because I wanted no one else to have her to themselves. I had waited so long to find her, to finally have her back with me, but Mother had kept her from me! She was punishing me for something, at least that was how it felt so I tried to have Isis come with me. I almost cause Lost and Isis to sever their relationship all for my greedy, selfish wants and needs."

Calla stopped talking, tears falling down her cheeks as she continued, this time whispering. "If Mother hadn't of made me sit down and see what I had done wrong...I would have ended up like Ink Stain. A dark, miserable being. I fear him Seth, of what he knows of me, of the things I've done. I'm scared, most of all, of having you hate me for this...but I had to say something..."

Namine's heart raced as she watched the battle. They two were moving too quickly for the girl to see every movement, but their apparent skill was startling. Suddenly the tide shifted. Watching as Hero was pushed back, the blonde covered her mouth to keep herself from distracting him. What happens if he doesn't win?
The shattering of glass made her gasp audibly, and run toward the window. Frantic, she looked down into the garden.
"Hero!!!!"

She stayed at the ledge for a few moments, watching as the water in the still fountain rippled. With a distressed cry, she ran for the door. Namine had to get to them. She had to make sure Hero was alright!

It was many minutes later when her weary legs carried her to the fountain. Clambering up on the stone ledge, she eagerly searched for any sign of her friend. "Hero!" Her blue eyes darted about warily. Mother had always forbade the dolls from going near the fountain, and here she was standing on it's edge. Shuddering, the girl clasped her now sheathed blade tightly to her chest.
-

Seth listened to Calla's story with wide eyes. She'd gone to the fountain. It had been their place of solitude . . . until Seth himself had died there. After that everything related to the fountain seemed to be drawn to death. It was strange hearing about how the doll had passed away - she hadn't really felt all that different.
It was how tainted Calla had become that frightened him the most. Hearing of how she interrupted the lives of others and almost killed her own sister was . . . difficult to hear. Seth was silent, watching Calla's tightly clasped hands while she finished her story. She had come so close to the corruption that tainted Ink Stain. Seth shuddered at the thought of his closest friend turning into a monster like Stain.

When he finally forced his gaze up to Calla's face, he saw tears running over her cheeks. Despite the strange fear he felt for Calla, he felt no disappointment. If anything, he was scared for the girl. "Calla," Seth reached for her hand, wiping away a tear that had broken on her skin. "I don't hate you. Hating you would be like hating a piece of my own soul." It was true - he could try to dislike her, but that was the whole reason he was trying to be friends again in the first place. "I . . . am scared for you. I don't want him twisting you to his liking."

In a burst of motion, he pulled her toward him. Seth wrapped his arms about Calla as though trying to keep her from Ink Stain's corruption. "It isn't what you did, but what you will do that will change things. You're a good person, Calla. I know you are."

Calla held her breath once she was done her story. It was all up to Seth, whether or not he would still want to try and be friends again or not. She couldn't bring herself to look at him, in fear that the look on his face would tell her that everything was over between them.

The girl jumped for a moment, not expecting him to reach out and touch her. She looked up and blinked away the blurriness left behind by her tears. He didn't hate her? Relief crashed down on her, only disappear as he said he was truly scared for her. She was scared for herself as well. There was no telling what Ink Stain would try in order to gain her on his side.

Calla wrapped her arms around him as he suddenly pulled her against him. She cried on his shoulder silently, letting him comfort her. "I don't want to be like that again. I...I don't think I wanted to do it in the first place. I'm afraid of going back there again, to that terrible place. Please don't let him get to you either."

Sakura watched the fight, her face no longer having a grin. She missed the fighting, the grace, the talent it takes but she hates Ink Stain. Her smile was wiped clean upon his appearance. When they fell into the fountain and Namine ran out of the attic, the doll walked steadily to the broken window and looked down upon the scene. What a fascinating turn of events. Without any other thought, Sakura stepped up onto the sill, clearing the broken glass still stuck there and lept from the window, clothes and hair flying, landing with knees bent near the fountain. She stood, and blood eyes took in the scene again. It was a much faster way to arrive then Namine took.
Sakura strode forward and stopped just near the edge where the princess doll stood looking into the water. For the first time in a very very long time since she locked herself away in her room, she spoke, her voice raspy from unuse. "Namine, you shouldn't get too close." She raised a hand toward the girl. "Come down and we'll figure something out, okay?" Who said she had to be a mean one?

((Sorry peoples for not posting! My brain has been full of pony))

The water suddenly grew restless with movement before Hero's head emerged from the black depths, sputtering and coughing as he took in a lungful of air. He spun around in the water, looking shocked before spotting Namine and giving a relieved smile and shouted, "I... I'M ALIVE! HA, I can't bloody believe it!" Still laughing, Hero swum to the edge where Namine and Sakura stood and grasped the edges to pull himself out, saying, "See, I told you he couldn't stand against me! Can't believe he stabbed me in my already wounded shoulder though, how abou-"

The heroic doll was suddenly silenced, as a long, black blade pierced him from behind, the blade entering the center of his neck and emerging from his throat as he let out a small choke, the blade coming within a centimeter of piercing Namine as well. A black arm emerged from beneath the black waters and wrapped around Hero as Ink Stain's face came into view, the deep slash in his throat visibly bleeding his black blood. He gave a weak, triumphant smile to Namine, letting out a small, gasping laugh. Hero stared into Namine's eyes, a look of shock upon his face as the color drained from his face and the light of life began fade from his eyes, he mouthed to her a single word... run. With that, Ink Stain vanished into the fountain's waters, dragging a hero down with him as the sun began to set, throwing the gardens into a blood red light, accompanied by the sounds of... creature. Screeches and screams came from the deepening darkness as numerous sets of red, demonic eyes began to peer at the two girls from the shadows.

Glancing to Sakura, Namine nodded. She looked down at the water once more before spotting movement. "I see them!" she called, and knelt as she saw Hero surface. Relief was plain on her features as the doll swam to her, and she was about to reach in to help him out when his words were silenced. The sudden quiet made Namine's eyes widen. A weak cry of surprise left her mouth as she witnessed the blade stab through her friend.
"H-Hero!" the blonde took a step back, frightened as Ink Stain grabbed the dying male. Namine could hardly keep herself from holding her breath as she met Hero's eyes. This can't be happening! The look there made her heart freeze. Run. The setting sun made the perfect atmosphere for the moment . . . it made it all seem like some sort of dream.

Scrambling down from the fountain when she heard the sounds around them, Namine didn't fight the tears that streamed down her cheeks. Silently crying, she looked to Sakura. "The house," she managed to choke out, taking a few weak steps in that direction. It didn't feel right leaving without Hero. Her blue eyes unwillingly turned back to the fountain, and Namine froze once more. This just can't be happening!
-

((:sweat: Should I have Snow come in during this scene? I figured he was still getting used to everything . . . but they're making quite the bit of commotion. LOL!!))
-

"He won't get to me," Seth said quietly, his hold on Calla tightening slightly. "He won't get to you, either. I promise I won't let him take you." He wasn't about to let Ink Stain mess with her mind and body - she was far too precious to him for that. When he finally pulled her back to arm's length, Seth met Calla's watery gaze with his own steadily. "You're human now. It will be different." Or, so he hoped.
"Breathe easy, Calla. All will be well." All will be well. It was something that Grandmother had said to Mother, and what Mother had said to Seth and Calla throughout the boy's youth. It was a comforting thought. "Just . . . don't cry." His blue gaze traced her features sadly, knowing that thinking of the past was difficult for the redhead. He understood why.

((:XD I already don't know what to do with these two. . . LOL))

Calla wouldn't let Ink Stain take control of her, not if she could help it. She hugged him for a moment before pulling back. She didn't want to think about such things any more. They had planned on visiting mother, so they would do just that very thing and they would do it right away. Calla would have to seek out her sister at some point too to apologize once again for everything she had done and if Isis wanted nothing to do with her, then she would understand. She knew Lost and Life weren't exactly thrilled to have her around, or at least that was how it had looked, but she couldn't blame them at all.

"Let's go and see Mother now." she said softly, wiping her eyes and sniffling lightly. Hearing the words that Mother had used to tell them before made her smile a little more. It made her feel much better. Everything would definitely be better. They had to be.

((Normally I would post to help keep things moving but... well, if i had stuff happen so soon, it would be bad for pacing... SOMEONE POST! Also, sorry if this counts as spam))

((*laugh* Alright! *thinks* I know that Kiona has a busy schedule, so I'm just going to get Namine and Sakura moving. :sweat:

And no worries! The post doesn't count as spam. ;) Not to me, anyway. :ninja:))

Namine numbly stumbled beside Sakura. She saw the eyes in the darkness, but couldn't fathom any means of escape or confrontation. Instead, Hero's face kept appearing in her mind's eye. Run. As tears blurred her vision, the blonde stubbornly headed for the house. She had to get somewhere safe. Safe. That word didn't mean much at the moment. She'd been safe with Hero, but now he was gone.
They finally reached the house. Namine was silently sobbing by then, her vision too blurred to see properly. As she burst into the house, she ran straight for Mother's room. Of course, she ran into the most unlikely individual: Snow. With a quiet cry of surprise, Namine tried to wipe away some of her tears so she could see properly. "J-John!"

Snow gasped in surprise as the girl ran into him, his colorless eyes focusing on her tears. She looked desperate. "Did something happen?" A feeling in his gut told him that it had something to do with Ink Stain. Oh, how right that feeling was.

"I-it's Hero! H-he . . . the fountain!" Namine stuttered out a few words, and then took a deep breath. Closing her eyes and straightening, the doll regained some of her composure. "Ink Stain got Hero."

John's eyebrows lifted. That was quick. "Is that so?" He reached out to touch Namine's shoulder, knowing she was having a hard time dealing with it all. "You need to see Mother." The silver-haired male glanced at Sakura, a strange bit of memory tugging at the back of his mind. Sadly, he couldn't link the girl to anything in his past. "This way."
-

Seth took Calla's hand in his, leading her toward Mother's room. It would be nice to see her warm smile and hear her comforting words. They reached the room quickly, and when Seth knocked Mother called for them to enter.

"Just visiting?" the woman asked, setting aside a doll-sized of garment she was working on. It was something that Snow used to wear: a black coat with silver highlights, and a silver brand on the back that reminded Mother of a Medieval household marking. "I seem to have had a lot of visitors ever since this morning."

Seth sat down on the couch that was off to the side of the room, carefully pulling Calla with him. When they were both seated, Seth smiled. "Just wanted to see how you were doing."

As the two girls left, a multitude of dark creatures crept from the shadows, all abominations, all decayed, and all coated in Ink Stain's dark essence. The largest of them all, what was once a tabby cat, now changed into something the size of a medium to small sized dog and resembling the Manticore of myth walked to the edge of the fountain and peered within, waiting. At first, there was nothing, until with a slight stir of the water, a hand emerged and gripped the edge of the fountain... a hand clad, in a beautifully tailored, black glove with an embroidered 'H' on the back of the palm.

((I put a lot of thought into my characters, I even added to the back story of this thing... IT WILL NOT DIE!!! FREEEEEEDOOOOOOM!))

(I'm sorry for not posting!!!
I've been working non stop it seems. I'll be able to post sometime tomorrow though, I promise!!!)

(Sorry it's taking so long. I hope this is okay for now.)

Sakura went against her instincts to fight and followed Namine into the house. A hand stayed on the hilt of the sword at her side, ready for any opportunity to strike. But her first priority is to protect those of the house and right now that meant Namine. She bolted to a stop, her back going rigid and straight when they ran into Snow. She wanted more then anything to slam him into a wall, shrieking profanities at him but she refrained as he told them to follow. Instead, she had to be content with her maroon eyes glaring daggers into his back, her hand all but stroking the hilt of her katana as she tried to draw comfort from it. She wanted nothing more then to kill the creatures she knew were coming from the shadows or to hurt him. Either would be satisfactory. A scowl allowed itself to settle on her lips. She did not want to be around others anymore. She wanted to flee back to her hidden room and stay there for a few more years. The only thing keeping her rooted is the prospect of the fight, the honor-bound duty to protect, and the hatred for Snow.

((OH, it's fine Marquise! Honestly, I've been busier than all heck for the past week . . . so I apologize for the delays in all of my threads. :sweat: I'm trying to get back online, but it's just a "back burner" in comparison to homework and work.))

Snow caught the strange expression on Sakura's face as he turned his back to them, leading Namine and the other woman toward Mother's room. She knows me. The male's pale features darkened as they walked, though he kept it hidden from the others. Subconsciously fingering one of the gray marks on his colorless skin, John narrowed his eyes. It doesn't look like she was a friend.
Casting a glance over his shoulder at Sakura, the doll raised an eyebrow. She was glaring something fierce - if looks could kill, he would have been dead ten times over. His silver hair became a curtain as they continued onward down the hall and past the kitchen.

When the trio reached Mother's room, the door was left cracked. John carefully looked inside, fighting back an expression of irritation when he saw Seth and Calla inside. Keeping himself out of their line of sight, he frowned. The expression immediately changed when he looked back to Namine. "I'm sorry for your loss," Snow breathed as he stepped aside, motioning toward the rest of the room. "He must have been a close friend."
His colorless gaze moved back to Sakura for a moment, and his eyes flickered over her before pausing on her face. She wasn't familiar. Snow took a breath as though to speak, but then narrowed his eyes and looked down at the sword that the woman was fingering. With a look that could have been contempt, the pale doll stepped aside. "Go on."
-

Namine stepped past Snow with tears still sliding down her cheeks. She swiftly crossed the room, ignoring the looks she received from Seth and Calla. Climbing up to swiftly reach Mother's lap, the blonde burst into tears once more. "M-Mother! Hero is gone!"
Haltingly she told the story, starting with how they'd run off to find weapons. Now, they had lost their hero and friend. The doll was gone, and it was Ink Stain's fault.

Sakura watched as Namine ran into the room. She, herself, did not move. She didn't need to talk to Mother. What words were there for her anyway? Instead, she focused on John Snow. It was clear he had no idea who she was. Or he was pretending to not know her. She was more inclined to believe the latter. She waited until Namine was in full story mood, tears obviously making that job hard, before speaking, her voice a little better then before but still letting free a slight grating sound. "Insincerity is most unbecoming, Snow, even if it goes unnoticed by most." Her bloody eyes watched him as she waited for his reaction to her words, words used years ago, though in a very different situation. And it was her name, not Snow's, that had been used.

Snow's colorless eyes settled on Sakura as she spoke, and he frowned. Slowly shaking his head, the doll inclined his head. "I'm not sure what you mean," he said quietly, still keeping his voice from entering Mother's room. A memory tickled at the back of his mind, but nothing leaped out at him. John saw how closely Sakura was watching him, and he wasn't quite sure what she was looking for.
He had heard the grating to her voice: it sounded as though Sakura hadn't spoken in a very long while. "I don't know what you want from me," Snow said, his pale features darkening, "but I don't know you." His white eyes met her blood-red ones, and he held her gaze for many moments. Then, unbidden, a name floated into his mind.

"Sakura," he whispered, pulling back a step. Unsure if he truly wanted to remember, Snow felt strong feelings attached to her name. Unable to discern if they were good or bad, the silver-haired male narrowed his eyes and looked her over once more. Another thought followed, riding closely with the name.

"Insincerity is most unbecoming, Sakura, even if it goes unnoticed by most."

Snow hesitated, unable to picture anything. He merely heard the words, spoken in a voice he assumed was his own. Unable to turn away and ignore the woman, and unwilling to stand there and speak with her, Snow shook his head. "Leave me be." He didn't want to remember. Not if it brought back the past. "I don't want anything to do with you, woman."

((Yeah, seems like I haven't been getting online as much as I would like, but I should be back now!))

Calla squeezed Seth's hand for a moment as he led her toward Mother's room. She dried her eyes a little more, hoping she didn't look as if she had just bawled her eyes out. She had, but that wasn't the point. She didn't want Mother to worry about her any more than she already was. Calla had seen that when Mother had confirmed she was afraid of what Ink Stain could do to the red head.

Somehow, the dark, evil doll knew things about Calla that he shouldn't have known. And that scared her so much. As long as Seth and the other dolls were okay in the end, then Calla figured it didn't really matter what happened to her. She smiled a little when Seth pulled her down to sit next to him on the small couch.

"Yes, we were a little worried about you. I hope you'll be able to rest soon. We won't be long." she said softly, smiling at Mother. Simply being in the woman's presence had a soothing effect on her. She wondered if it was like that for anyone else? It was like that when she was around Seth. She supposed it had something to do with the the powers or whatever it was they had. Maybe it was just the fact that they were related and that it ran in their blood or something. Either way, Calla felt insanely better in both of their presences.