Christiana took her hand and shook it briefly with a small smile.

"Christiana. Thank you. I really don't mean to intrude, but I will if you want me to." She put down her tea on the table and sank into the chair gratefully. Trying to find an intermediate subject she glanced out the window.

"Hum. Rain moving in fast. Personally I prefer the rain to sunlight, what about you two?" Christiana was a bit on edge, she had to admit. She was not sure how this was going to go, and there were too many unknown factors for her to be happy here. She decided to just sit back, metaphorically and literally, and let them take the lead.

"Well I find that I must agree with you. The rain is a much better than the companion. Darker emotions are much easier to feel and the rain is like a soft pillow to rest them against. However, discussing the weather is not why I asked you over."

His eyes narrowed slightly and a bit of an authoritative manner took over. He was very serious and obviously wanted something.

"Earlier today, Jessica and I were speaking in hushed tones at the library where you and I had met before. We were speaking about a rather private matter. You were listening in on our conversation. What did you hear and more importantly, why did you feel the need to listen?"

Despite his serious mannerism, he leaned in closer, and spoke more gently.

"Now I don't mean to frighten you, you really haven't done anything wrong. Simply rude. However,. the fact that you heard what we were speaking of and yet you speak with us now shows something. Maybe curiosity. Maybe more."

He leaned back once more and rose his steaming mug of coffee to his lips, sipping it thoughtfully. He then lowered it, frowned into the black liquid and grabbed a packet of sugar, stirring it in with a spoon and sipping once more. He was satisfied with the results.

Christiana's fingers twitched over her cup.

"Something. Something indeed." She trailed off. She honestly wasn't sure how she felt about the situation. Curious perhaps, but confused mostly. She skipped over Creed's comments about the behavior in the library. She simply didn't have the energy to contest it with him, and this was bigger then that.

"I didn't intend to listen. I came to ask you if you knew where your replacement was, but when I heard you, I paused. Your conversation was interesting to me I admit. The paranormal, supernatural..." Christiana's eyes closed and her body tightened, unconciously pulling in tighter to herself.

"Did you know that throughout history there are many unexplained events? Strange synchronity of myths, unexplained, but verified sightings, things that shouldn't have happened, but did? Do?" Her eyes opened again and flicked to the side.

"Most people don't like being told that they're wrong. Don't like being questioned. I've learned to not ask, but I still want to know. Something... There's something we don't know, a piece of the puzzle I'm missing. I was wondering, curious if... you could help to supply it."

Staring out the window, eyes glazed over, Audra swam in her own private world as the rude pseudo-graduate student in front of her continued his rant on the evils of Milton and his general poor opinion of the small bookshop.

"...And I do not see why the 'science fiction' section has to be two shelves more than the 'philosophy'! This is a college bookstore isn't it? Where is the academia?!" He slammed his hand onto the front counter, shaking Audra from her fantasies.

She hazily pushed her reading glasses back up her nose and, seeming to stare through him muttered, as though reciting from a book,
"We are not in any way associated with the university and thus are not held under any contracts to supply books pertaining to any undergraduate or graduate class listed within the university course catalog. If you have any requests for titles please speak with the manager or fill out a paper request, though our resident Salamander tends to eat those for fuel."

Audra paused a moment, removing her glasses and placing them carefully in their case before setting them in one of the desk's many drawers.

"Now, I am going to go get a scone from down the street, and have a chat with the church Gargoyle about his predictions for tomorrow night's baseball game. If you have any further questions, the manager is in the back room bartering with the Brownie to make sure he'll keep cleaning this next year. Have a good day."

She slipped from behind the desk, grabbing her jacket and purse, and slipping out the door leaving the now confused pseudo-graduate student behind in her wake.

"Of course I know that. I study the religions and Myths of the world. That's my major, it's what I plan on teaching at the college. Do you know that when I began school there seven years ago they had the bare minimum on the supernatural and obscure religions? I donated almost every book on the subject that was passed on to me to that library. You can consider me a walking talking encyclopedia."

At this his voice faltered, and he even blushed a little. The first sign of weakness that he had shown, next to his pride. He quickly composed his mannerisms once more, silently scolding himself for making such an obvious mistake.

"Except, of course, for the fact that I have not found proof yet."

He paused a moment, regrouping his thoughts after having to admit that, feeling that familiar rush of adrenaline when he brought up his career and obsession.

'Do not worry Creed, you have this completely under control. She is listening, and it's not like Jessica is hearing you say this. As long as Chris keeps her mouth shut. She sure would look pretty with her lips s- . . . no. Now is not the the time for those kind of thoughts. Remember, she doesn't know, no one does. Now focus!'

His deep blue eyes looked thoughtfully out the window at the dark clouds now hovering frantically above the city. His mug of coffee was at his lips and he blew gently across the dark surface before sipping a small amount into his mouth. Coffee had always calmed Creed down, while at the same time it woke him up. Dark liquid swirled around in his mouth, rolling over Creed's tongue while he dissected the flavor, then let it all run together. Fresh coffee is the best thing in the world to him. Next to his other pleasure.

"But that is of no matter anymore. As for supplying you the piece of puzzle, yes. I could teach you what I know of the supernatural. But if you're looking for proof . . . I am not sure if I can help you. What is it that has you so very curious?"

Jessica was waiting in line for a little while, quietly humming beneath her breath as the line of bodies moved at snail's pace. Ah, yes, this was one of the reasons the place's popularity was problem. The line lurched forward another person and she could almost see the cashier's head bobbing around the counter, busily ringing drinks up, fetching stirring sticks, passing out coffees. She could hear a low hum of conversation behind her and she tried to pick out Creed's voice among the buzz, but it was impossible. Sighing, she threw a glance over her shoulder at him.

She didn't feel at ease about the situation. Talking to people about these things always made her nervous, especially when talking to people she didn't know. She wasn't ready to go back to those places; she couldn't ever go back. She silently considered running for it; taking her things and moving. Most of her stuff was still packed...she could load it up and be gone before nightfall....Nobody need know she was here. She threw another glance towards the table she had just left.

'But...he understands. He believes me. Nobody has ever, ever believed me before. Could I really just leave him behind? He might be my only chance....'

The line had moved a bit while she was submerged in deep thoughts and already she was finding herself at the front of the line. There were some delicious baked good displayed in a glass case, and she eyed them a moment. Her stomach growled its displeasure and that sealed the deal. Pointing to a raspberry orange scone, she politely asked for a glass of water as well and paid for her purchases. After the girl handed her the pastry, she set about the almost daunting task of navigating the crowds back to the table, scone in hand.

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The girl had left the library, finally finding the quarry she had sought. As she moved down the steps of the great school, her eyes looked up sharply and focused on a young woman moving past her. Their gaze connected for a moment and broke, the young brunette looking away and picking up her pace. The blond lingered in place for a moment, considering the other's quick retreat before walking the last of the grand stone steps.

Her long strides served her better than any car would, since she rather enjoyed the sight of the city through clear eyes and not a dirtied windshield. She passed several shops along her way, and occasionally she would stop in one, browsing the goods offered for sale before slipping back out with a smile and a nod at any employees who interacted with her. Once in a while she would catch the wide-eyed gaze of someone before they scurried off, and she could not help but chuckle to herself. Her almost white hair did make her stand out just a little, and although San Fransisco was rather diverse, there were always conservative people lingering about for her to scandalize.

She passed a few cafes and coffee shops before she started to feel a little parched. This street was lined with book shops and cafes; the perfect place for a student to spend their time. Sipping a mocha latte while burying yourself in a book was one of her favorite pastimes, so she turned into the first book shop she crossed, hoping to find a good one that was unrelated to her studies.

Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Audra zipped up her jacket and started walking down the street towards her favorite cafe, the sounds of the angry customer quickly fading behind her. Maybe they'll have the apple strudel ones with the frosting on top today... she thought, her mind quickly turning to her current obsession, scones. Once she got a craving for the flaky pastries she couldn't be stopped.

Audra's pace was brisk, stopping only occasionally to look into the windows of a nearby bakery. However, no doughnut or cinnamon roll would fill the hole in her. She needed a scone no substitutes. Besides, if she showed up to the church empty handed the gargoyle would be very upset with her. I wonder if he would prefer a blueberry or raspberry one? She asked herself, feeling foolish for always forgetting to ask the gargoyle his personal favorites.

She reached her destination soon enough, as she opened the door the smell of coffee and baked goods enveloped her. Feeling as though she was afloat she walked into the building and straight to the pastry display. The barista on duty was well versed in this particular patrons taste and without a word quietly got out a paper bag and waxed paper.

“What will it be this time?” the barista asked.

“Apple and um…er…blueberry to go.” She pushed her finger against the glass and waited for them to be bagged and in her possession. As she stood waiting for the barista to ring up her order she stopped to ease drop on the nearby tables.

Jessica took only mild note of the girl, munching quietly on her scone while she weaved through the crowd back to their table. Upon arrival, she noticed a very distinct lack of a certain girl. Swallowing the bite of scone, she turned her gaze to Creed and eased herself into her chair.

"What happened to the girl?" she inquired, taking a sip of the cool water to wash down the remains of the flaky pastry in her mouth. Breaking off half of the uneaten portion of the scone, she offered it to Creed with a smile.

"It's raspberry orange."

A bell ringing at the front of the cafe drew her attention away and her eyes followed the girl who entered. She had pale blond hair, to the point of almost being white, that trailed behind her like a curtain in the breeze. As the moved from the front of the cafe to the back where they were sitting, their eyes connected and Jessica felt a shiver run down her spine. She held her gaze though, her brown eyes baring into the sharp green ones until at last, the blond broke contact and took a seat at a table in the other corner. Jessica sighed her quiet relief, her body relaxing slightly.

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Having found a book to catch her interest, the girl left the bookstore with a smile and a wave, making her way down the street in search of a suitable cafe. Spying one on the corner, she drew up from her memory several raving reviews about the place. It was a good place for students to study, a relatively quiet atmosphere. And their baked goods were supposed to be delicious as well.

Pushing open the front door, the bell announced her arrival to the slightly busy shop. The women working at the counter hardly looked up, being elbow deep in customers, so she just slipped to the back of the room with her book.

Her eyes passed over two people, a woman and a man, both nothing out of the ordinary. Her sharp green eyes hooked onto the gaze of the brunette, holding it for what seemed ages before the blond looked away and took a seat in the opposite corner, flipping her book open.

Creed watched Chris's retreating form move to the bathroom, curious if she actually had to go or if he had somehow offended her. He almost hoped it was the latter.

A moment later Jessica sat down across from him.

"Well . . . she said that she needed to use the bathroom. I think, I was mildly distracted, there had been a brilliant flash of lightning off in the distance and I was busy watching that. So I am pretty sure that she went to the bathroom. But maybe not. Ohh! Scone, well if you don't mind."

Creed's distracted demeanor immediately became focused when he accepted the warm half of scone Jess so generously offered. He let the scent of it wash over him, reminding him of the fruit farms that he used to pick at back home. Taking a tentative bite, hoping to savor it instead of devouring it, he let the delicious flavors wrap around his tongue, enjoying each one individually then all together, much in the same manner that he had with his coffee. The smile on his face didn't look like it was going to go away anytime soon.

It had been a while since he had thought about home, but something as simple as a scone induced memories. It has been proven that scent triggers more memories than any other sense. Home th Creed was in Whales. He missed the ocean off the cliff where his family still lived. He missed his old bedroom and pets, and story-books that he will never see again.

But these memories only strengthened his resolve, only reminded him of why he was here.

The ding of the door's bell signaled the entrance of two people, a girl and then The Girl. The first one caught his interest in a passing manner, but the second girl to enter was beautiful. Eerie, but beautiful. He altered his gaze in time to see Jess holding the blonds.

"What was that all about?" He asked Jess when she finally looked back.

Finding the conversations going on around her to be decidedly dull, Audra sighed, pulling her wallet from her purse and fiddling around looking for proper change. As badly as she hoped to discover unnatural happenings in everyday life, it was a rare day when any search would bear fruit. I mean it took me 6 months of daily walks and an accidental run-in to meet the Gargoyle... she thought sadly as she shuffled up to the cash register. Maybe these things just aren't common anymore.

"That'll be $2.80 please." The woman working the register barked out. Audra absently placed three dollars on the counter, having failed to scrounge up enough loose change. The pleasant dinging of the door's bell caused Audra to turn her head, more out of idle curiosity than anything.

The woman's hair was the color of vanilla frosting, and the manner she carried herself was regal. Audra was immediately engrossed, was this person really human? Her heart seemed to skip a beat, perhaps her searches weren't total failures!

"Here is your change, thank you very much." The cashier held out two dimes in her open palm, Audra took them, her gaze unmoving. The Gargoyle will understand if I'm a few minutes late...right? she thought, clutching the bag of scones to her chest and wading through the crowd to take a seat at a table near the fair haired newcomer.

The fuzzy warm feelings she had been feeling after watching Creed's scone-induced delight was ebbing and she felt his eyes on her after the hard gaze between the two women was broken. She looked down, taking a bite of her half of the delicious scone, which was not as warm as it had been, and therefore not quite as tasty. Or maybe it was the girl who had sucked all the flavor out, leaving it brittle and bland in her mouth. The flaky crust tasted like sharp bits of paper on her tongue and it was a trial to chew and swallow it down. She thought carefully, taking a drink of her water to wash down the brittle scone, her stomach still glad for the food offering.

"Dunno. I just got a feeling," she said with a shrug, managing to avoid glancing back at the woman. It had been very intense, this feeling, and Creed had no idea the full effect it was having on Jessica. She put on her poker face, however, and smiled calmly.

"So, you enjoyed your scone, I take it? I thought it might have been drugged for a moment. You looked almost euphoric," she commented with a broad grin, the tingle returning pleasantly.

((Jessica Roll Manipulation: 4 2 9 10
Reroll Tens: 9
Successes: 3

Creed Roll Perception: 9 7
Reroll Tens: None
Successes: 2

Result: Creed does not detect anything amiss.))

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The girl was enthralled by the contents of her book, her eyes dancing across the pages with a pleased gleam in them. A smile curled the edges of her lips upwards, and her gaze hardly ever broke from the passages. Occasionally she would glance up, the sound of a bell snatching her attention away, but she would eventually divert it back to the tome in her hands. The spine neatly read Nostradamus Quatrains in ancient script, fine gold letters adorning the cracked leather. It looked (and felt) rather ancient. But that didn't surprise her. The first bookstore she had walked into had turned out to be one specializing in ancient texts. It had cost her quite a pretty penny for this one, but she did not regret a bit of it.

A tingle up her spine alerted her to watchful eyes and she glanced about. The girl she had locked gazes with earlier seemed deep in conversation with the young man who accompanied her. Her gaze slid over the two and scanned the nearby tables. Bodies moved in and out of sight and she noticed a girl with hair the color of dark chocolate, the kind that was bittersweet on your tongue, but so rich you could not help yourself. Her eyes were a matching shade, although in this light they almost appeared charcoal, melting into her pupils. She lowered her book a little, tilting her head slightly, looking over the girl. She didn't look like one who saw much sunlight, or perhaps she was unfortunately afflicted with pale skin naturally.

'Of course,' she thought to herself with a giggle, 'I'm not exactly one to talk about being pale.'

She kept her eyes on the girl, keen to see if she was the one watching her a moment ago.

"I certainly do enjoy a good scone."

His smooth complection wavered in it's smile for a second.

'Something just happened. Something strange. But it is nothing I am sure. No i am simply imagining. They can't know each other, like she said, she simply felt something. Or thought that she did.'

His face echoed nothing but the smile he had for her, his eyes stayed steady upon hers, flicking down to his coffee momentarily. Creed had learned how to feign normal actions a while ago. This was another.

' "Never let the prey know that a predator walks among them". That was Fathers favorite quote. And his words have guided me well. They don't even know the danger they are in simply by being near me. That I may choose one. That I may choose Jessica . . . but could I?'

His eyes pierced into hers, and as if nature rebelled from his thoughts lightning struck near, the thunder nearly instantaneous. Immediately rain began pouring heavily from the sky, letting open mother natures torrent of tears.

'Maybe I can not. Maybe I can not take her, as I have others. She is my connection, and to sever that would be . . .'

His thoughts were interrupted by the movement of the others in the cafe. The people had jumped and startled at the sudden noise of thunder, and were now all talking excitedly. Many had pulled out cell-phones and were now making phone calls.

Creeds gaze swept over each of them, judging each with a flick of his eyes. His tongue wet his lips before casually taking a sip that hid his smirk. A teen-aged boy had just slipped his hand into a lady's purse and swiftly pulled out a wallet. Pocketing it, he made his way to the door.

'Now I am feeling nostalgic . . .'

Audra tried hard not to stare, it was rude, and she was sure if she hated being stared out, possibly magical beings hated it all the more. But, she couldn't help it, everything about the girl was just...otherworldly. She tried looking at the area directly around the girl, but to no avail. She was almost grateful when the fair-haired young woman pulled a book out and began to read.

Audra eyed the book's cover, admiring the gilded lettering and leather backing. Wait a minute... She thought squinting her eyes in an attempt to read the title, but alas was too far away. Her curiosity was reaching dangerous levels; on top of wanting to talk to the young woman she now wanted to know the title of her book!

Maybe that's a good enough excuse to go talk to her...oh but honestly who does that anymore? 'Hi, I'm a total stranger and I was just admiring your book, what's the title? I can't read it from my spying location' ugh this is ending poorly.

She barely caught the lowering of the girl’s book, panicked that she might be found out, Audra quickly became inhumanly absorbed in the scone she was eating, using both hands to shove it into her mouth. That...that was close Audra's heart pounded in her chest and she hoped the girl would look away. She tried in vain not to blush as crumbles of her scone fell on the table in front of her. I should just go...I'll go talk to the Gargoyle and maybe he'll have some suggestions on how to handle this.

She started to gather her things together when a bright flash of lightning illuminated the area and a loud peal of thunder rang through the cafe, causing Audra to cry out in surprise and literally jump out of her chair, dropping her bag on the floor and loudly hitting the table with her knee. "OW!" Blushing madly now, she carefully put things back in their previous location and looked out the window, rubbing her knee gingerly as the rain began to pour down.

Maybe I won't be going anywhere after all...

It was hard to conceal her good-humored smile as the young woman she had been watching ravished the scone in her hands. Apparently it was good enough to warrant two hands and an almost animalistic hunger. The blush that crept across the young woman's face as the blond watched was a brilliant red, contrasting against the milky skin it bloomed on. A soft giggle escaped the woman's pale rouged lips.

As the lightning lit up the room, now slightly dark from the clouds' thick veil over the sun, the blond slid easily from her chair, holding her book in one arm against her chest. She saw the girl practically leap out of her chair at the sound of the thunder clap, her knee connecting solidly with the table it had been residing beneath and she felt a twinge of sympathetic pain. As the contents of the jumpy brunette's bag and the table scattered everywhere, the blond stooped down to pick up the bag containing the uneaten scone. Most likely it had tumbled off the table when it had been jarred from the force of the girl's knee. Her long, black coat fanned out around her crouched figure like a dress of spilled oil against the mahogany boards of the cafe floor. Luckily the contents of the bag remained safely enclosed and untainted by the dirty floor. Holding it out to the girl, she smiled warmly, waiting for the brunette's gaze to pull away from the window.

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Jessica smiled, feeling his eyes on her as he fell into silence. Quietly, she ate the remainder of her scone, taking sips of water in between bites. She glanced up now and again to see him looking at her, and shivers ran the length of her spine, but she smiled nonetheless. After a time, thunder shook the air and pulled everyone's attention away to the storm outside. The rain was falling hard and fast, and she chuckled quietly to herself. So many people frantically texting or calling, people eyeing the pouring rain with discomfort at the idea of going outside and getting wet.

Jessica was not bothered by the rain, or the lightning, or the thunder. It was all nature to her, and she wasn't bothered by nature. She didn't need to live in these fancy, thick walled houses to protect her from the world and the natural order. She didn't need to take medication and do surgeries to extend her life to unnatural lengths. She didn't strive half so hard as they did to fight against what was intended by the Mother. She didn't fear Death, or sickness. She looked around at the crowd of people, and her eyes caught hold of the blond, moving easily through the crowd toward a young brunette woman who seemed to have made a mess of her things. Her eyes followed the woman's progress until she stopped in front of the girl, holding out something to her.

Jessica tore her eyes away to look back at Creed. Tilting her head a little, she offered a coy smile.

"Deep thoughts?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"Oh yes. You see, I'm coming up with a way to murder everyone in this room in as short a time as possible without having to exert too much energy."

The humor sparkled in his eyes, having pulled them from the young thief back to the woman in front of him. His fingers tapped out a steady beat onto the table-top with his foot briskly touched the floor to keep a steady rhythm.

'She seems calmer, more at ease since the rain started a moment ago. Either she enjoys the steady sound of it falling as I do, or she has an affinity with nature. I sure hope she isn't one of those new-age so-called Wicca. They couldn't cast a spell to save their damned lives.'

None of these thoughts changed the happy look on his face. But her reaction would show him what she truly felt about him.

If she thought him a predator . . .

Audra watched the rain a moment before gathering her thoughts. Almost everyone in the cafe must be staring at her! Her whole face glowed red as she slid her glance from the rain-drenched windowpane to the chair where the blond had been sitting...that was now empty.

Where did she...? Oh god... Audra slowly turned her head to look behind her; as she both hoped and feared, the mysterious blond was behind her, holding out her fallen belongings. What do I do? Almost in a trance, Audra's shaking hands reached out to grasp the recovered scone. Her brown eyes wide, she was tried to get words to form, but the going was rough.

"T...t...thanks for t…the help." She felt stupid; under normal conditions she was never this shy. But then again, it was rare a mystical creature bothered to help her pick up. She set the bag back on the table and gathered up the rest of her things. Ask about the book!!! If there was ever a time in your life to say something it's now!

"Um...I was watching you read...I mean I saw that you had been reading and I was wondering if you would tell me the title of the book? I work in a bookstore you see and um..." The words had left her tongue quicker than she had hoped, and she instantly lost any semblance of an excuse she could think of. As she trailed off her hair fell into her face, blocking her eyes from view.

His hands began to shake first. So he quickly moved them under the desk. At the word 'kill' his lip quivered, and something in his chest stirred. When she spoke of a strategy to complete the action a single bead of sweat dripped down his forehead.

'She knows? How does she know? How can she say it like it is a joke when I am sitting right in front of her, how can she torture me with this? No, pull yourself together . . . it is simply a joke. She is continuing yours.' He shook himself, wiped his forehead swiftly and took a deep breath. 'One way to find out . . .'

And then he let the breath out. Just as he had been about to ask her The Question, she began speaking. And he was captivated. The question . . . no, the longing in her eyes to know why. The need to know. To know why he had been searching. Why he had devoted his life to the study of such a subject. Why he believed, why he considered. Why why whyw whywhw whwywhwywhwhwywhwhywhywhywhywhywhy.

In a moment of crystal clarity he spoke a single sentence. And without meaning to, he poured every ounce of his soul into it.

"They took my father."

The girl chuckled, sliding an open chair over to the table and taking a seat in it, then gesturing for the other to sit once her things were gathered. Upon hearing her question, the blond's gaze traveled to the weathered item she had been reading earlier.

"My book?"

She slid the aforementioned tome out of her arms and held it up so the girl could see it clearly. It had genuine leather, old and cracked, worn thin with time and handling. The pages betrayed their use, torn at edges, folded, bent. But the fine gilded letters still distinctly picked out the name Nostradamus Quatrains quite clearly, even in the gathering dark.

"Something I picked up today...kind of an impulse buy. But it's fascinating! He has all these predictions, you see, and when you read them, you can really apply some to things that have happened. Of course, some are so vague they can apply to nearly anything, but look at this one here..." she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement and enthusiasm. She leaned forward so the girl could get a good look as she opened the book, flipping to a marked page. Her finger ran down the weathered pages until she found the passage she was seeking.

"Listen, '

Quote:

The young lion will overcome the older one, on the field of combat in a single battle; He will pierce his eyes through a golden cage, two wounds made one, then he dies a cruel death.

' 1559, in June, King Henry the Second of France participated in a jousting tournament, against Montgomery. Now here, it says about the lions, yes? They both used shields embossed with lions, so you see?"

She glanced up momentarily from the book to smile briefly at the girl, and to see if she was still following the conversation before she pressed on.

"Montgomery was six years younger than Henry, so that makes him the young lion in the first line. The next part refers to the jousting tournament, which is considered a field of ritual single combat. The next line refers to what happened there. Montgomery did not lower his lance fast enough in the last bout and it shattered. If you have ever seen jousting, that is typical, as they are made of wood. You are meant to hit them in the chest, or shoulder, to earn points."

She slid the book onto her knees to free up both hands and jabbed with her pointer and middle finger into the palm of her other hand to illustrate a lance striking a jouster's shoulder.

"Of course, the jousters, they wear armor and visors, you know, to protect themselves. But they have to have slits in the visors to see, and that's the catch. This line, see? About him piercing his eyes through a golden cage? That line refers to the splinters. They went through the gilded visor's slit, the 'golden cage', and pierced King Henry in the eye, and also in the temple, just behind the eye. Both slivers entered in different angles, but they both met at the same point, both piercing the brain. He suffered for ten days, still alive, before he died a cruel death."

She slid the book from her lap and closed it, setting it on the table. Taking her gaze away from it, she looked the brunette in the eyes with that piercing green gaze of hers; and were she Henry, that girl might have felt such a gaze to be splinters indeed. But the blond's smile softened the gaze and she held her hand out.

"I don't think I've properly introduced myself though. Sorry, I get so caught up in conversation, especially about old books like this. My name is Sanaii."


((Audra Roll Perception: 3 2 8 8
Reroll Tens: None
Successes: 2

Result: Audra takes notice of certain details.))

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Without even meaning to, without even thinking, she leaned forward, her voice hushed and almost trembling. But it was not fear that quaked her words. Something, something other. Her eyes bore hard into Creed's, the humor from their conversation lost.

"Are you sure?"

And there as well, a look her in the eyes said there was definitely something there, just as with her voice. It was hard to pin down. It was not anger, not skepticism, not fear. But something. Definitely something.

"If you're not...then you need to be. Did you see what took him? What they looked like? Anything unusual about the scene or the time when he was taken? Anything strange left behind? Smells, sounds?"

She paused, leaning back and little. Her face softened as she realized that this might be a touchy subject for him and perhaps this was not the best approach. She reached out to touch his shoulder lightly.

"I'm sorry. I may have been impersonal, asking so many questions. But Creed...if you really think something...other...took your father...well, we need to be certain. And we must know all the information we can. Because it's just very slightly possible...that he may still be alive. But I need you to tell me everything you know or remember about the incident."

((Creed Roll Perception: 6 8
Reroll Tens: None
Successes: 2

Result: Creed takes notice of certain details.))

The blond girl's chuckle eased Audra's anxiety a bit, and she was able to sit back down in her seat with no issue. The conversation then quickly turned her the book, which the girl proudly held up for Audra to inspect. It was, in the most basic sense, a work of art. While some would see merely a tattered tome, Audra saw supple leather embracing hand bound parchment, and the gilding! She read the title and for a short moment was confused. What would a magical being want with Nostradamus?

"Oh...yes I'm somewhat familiar with his predictions, we carry some of the newer volumes in the store." As the young woman opened the book, Audra learned over slightly to catch a glimpse of the text inside. She quickly lost interest in the words on the page, becoming absorbed in her companion's reading and explanation of the particular prediction. It was almost as if she could imagine being there, watching the match, seeing the accident occur. Audra looked up as the blond shifted the book.

Her eyes... Audra thought as she met the woman's glance [/i] they’re like jade...[/i] She felt for a moment, trapped; as if she would never escape those green orbs. She had been a fool to question the mystical qualities of her new acquaintance. The spell faded as the blond girl smiled and held out her hand to shake.

Audra slowly raised her own hand, taking hold of the blonds’ and shaking gently. "Nice to meet you Sanaii, I'm Audra."

"No I . . . I saw nothing. I just had this feeling in the pit of my stomach. My father has been researching the supernatural for a very long time. Most of the books that I donated to the Stanford University Library were from his own expansive collection. I know that he had been acting strangely, that his sleeping pattern was completely off. He kept insisting that he was working too hard: he did sleep studies at the Medical Research Institute in Wales."

Creed knew that he was trailing, that he was not answering her questions outright, that he was not purposefully avoiding them. but this was the first time that he had opened up and spoken to anyone about it. And he knew that if he stopped now he would not continue.

"But I did find something. It was left behind in his favorite rocker. A poppy flower. Now I am sure that you already know this but the poppy flower is symbolic for sleep and death. It is actually combined in the two words by Eternal Slumber. Now, a poppy has never set root in our home before, so I am sure that whatever stole him left it. And it was no accident."

The low timbre of his voice kept even the entire time he spoke, showing little emotion. His accent lilting the ends of his words, cutting consonants short. Conjunctions were very rarely used, and only when he is under extreme duress. But not one showed here. His jaw was set and he was determined.

"I am not sure what it could mean, why it was there. But I have learned as much as I can about them and anything else that is otherworldly. That is why I took the job here at Stanford. I may have owned more books on the subject than them, but they had the others that I needed. The only reason that I even got the job was because I donated those books and a large sum of money to the school. But that does not matter. I know he was taken by something else."

"Audra, what a lovely name," she said, withdrawing her hand from the other's after they shook. Her handshake had been firm, but gentle. It used to be believed that a person's handshake said more about them than most would think, and Sanaii liked to believe this as true.

"So...do you have an interest in books, Miss Audra?"

As she spoke to the girl, her eyes were flitting all around the room. Many people were still huddled together, talking quietly. Some were on phones, eying the storm warily. The group had swelled once the storm had started, from people dashing in from the rain, looking for shelter and a warm beverage to chase the cold from their bones. Some had already left, rushing through the rain to their cars. Occasionally the crack of thunder or a flash of lightning would jolt the collected mass of people, but most of them seemed to be getting use to the change in weather and were taking it in stride.

Sanaii wondered to herself if she should get a drink. She had come in to do just that, after all. It was only the crowd that had deterred her, driving her to the back of the store. Then that girl with her dark eyes. Now this one. She was easily distracted, it seemed. But she would wait for the girl's response before going to fetch a cup of coffee.

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

Jessica frowned as he began to speak, and dove immediately for her bag, pulling up the locked book and a pencil. With a key already in her hand, she jammed it into the lock, twisted it, and pulled the book open, quickly finding a blank page to write information down on. Down to the last little detail, she recorded all that came from his mouth. When he spoke of the poppy, she glanced up, slight concern on her features.

"A poppy? That is....hm...wait..."

She was back in the book, flipping back pages. Scrawled handwriting and drawings littered these pages, crude images of creatures from nightmares. When she finally found the page she sought, she sighed, her brow furrowed. Taped on the page, next to a very long entry, was a dried poppy. She pulled it off and held it up to Creed for his inspection.

"This? This is what you found, yes?"

((Creed Roll Perception: 1 9
Reroll Tens: None
Successes: None (1's cancel out Successes)

Result: Creed does not take notice of anything.))

Audra's cheeks flushed crimson again at the compliment, the more she spoke to the young woman, the more at ease she felt, her anxiety falling away like melting ice in spring. It was as if she was talking to an old friend, or a regular customer rather than someone she had only met a few moments ago.

"An interest? Well...I suppose you could say that." How could she explain to someone the utter love and devotion she felt to the published tome? How books had been her Godsend as a child, taking her out of the backwards-rural town she grew up in, giving her something other than a future working at a gas station and being mother at twenty? Books also held information, information that had validated her grandmother’s stories and given rise to a thirst that couldn’t be quenched.

"I really do fancy them, nothing is better in the world than a good book...and well I work in a bookstore so I'm sort of around them all day." Audra laughed somewhat nervously, less at her company and more at the utterly uninteresting explanation she had just jumbled together.

She watched for a moment as Sanaii's eyes flitted over the room like a butterfly surveying a flower garden. Audra ran her eyes around the space for a moment, taking in the sudden influx of people and the overall mood of the café, the sounds of the storm fading into her periphery. Where there had been fear and chaos only moments before, there was once against a sense of comfort and warmth. Humans are certainly adaptable creatures... she mused to herself.