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A dull rain drizzled out side the barely open windows filling the modest home with the smell of the wet streets and the steady lulling drum of the rain. But this gentle sound brought no comfort to the master of the home as he tossed his bed that night. His face was ashen and a cold sweat had claimed his body, gripping the bed linen in one hand he sat up with a jerk and a gasp. Trembling in the dark a moment the young man pushed back the loose strands of his hair from his face, his palm covering his eyes for a time as he caught his breath and steadied himself.
“A nightmare…” He mutter to him self thickly, his voice horse. “Just…a nightmare.” Though he already knew it was more then that, it hadn’t been a bad dream but rather a bad memory. Wiping the what remained of tears in his eyes and the sweat from his face away he sat perched in his bed, knees pulled up to rest his arms on them. How many nights now had he had that same dream? How long was he going to be punished like this? “Damn it all!” He cursed suddenly to the dark shadows if the room. If his life was going to be like this why didn’t he just kill himself and get it over with! Damn himself to what he really deserved and not this nightly ache that he was forced to suffer.
Burying his face into his hands again he sighed aloud and listened to the rain. In the distance thunder rumbled, signaling a coming storm. But among that rumble was another sound, the creek of a floor board. 'She must have heard me…' He thought to himself as he listened again to hear the movement of another in the house.
Rising from his bed he stopped in front of a vanity mirror to see the state of himself. There he was Lycus Eden, Lawyer and monster all in one, and at the moment he was quite the sight. His normally groomed hair was a muss and most of it had pulled free from its binding ribbon. Shaking his head he re-gathered his hair knowing it wouldn’t stay till morning should he dream like that again. Straightening the bed shirt he wore and tugging on the loose pants that stuck with sweat to his hips he opened his bedroom door.
The hall was even darker then his room with no windows to offer some kind of light but he could just make out a small form in the hall.

”Mariel my dear why are you out of bed at this hour? You should be asleep not roaming the halls.” He offered a hand out to her. “Did you have a bad dream again?”

The small pale girl looked up at Lycus with a curious expression on her face. After a moment of staring at something over his shoulder, she finally met her surrogate father's eyes, giving him a tiny smile.
"I can't sleep tonight..." she said softly, clinging tightly to the worn stuffed rabbit in her arms. "I heard you calling out again." she added, her green eyes studying his face intently. Her eyes flicked to the spot above his left shoulder again, and he knew she was looking at something he couldn't see. He had often heard people whispering about his ward and the uncanny way she watched 'things.' Some people even claimed the little girl could see angels, but most merely said she was a witch in training, staring at invisible things no one else could see. All the same, it was unnerving when she did that, staring over a person's shoulder in a way that let you know something was there, but every time he looked, there was nothing but air.
Mariel returned her gaze to the lawyer's face, staring quietly up at him. She had a habit of that, just staring at people. Her quiet steady gaze on people was almost as unnerving as the times she stared at things no one else saw.

Lycus had grown up very much like Mariel was with the ability to see things no one else could, however she couldn’t see what he saw and he could not see what only she did. It was a little unsetteling but Lyucs was more then used to being watched by things.

“Alright then.” With his still stretched out arm Lycus scooped the light weight girl against him, a simple task even for him. “You can stay in here with me tonight.”

It happened pretty often when Mariel couldn’t sleep, though there were a variety of reasons. Sometimes she had nightmares, sometimes it was the things she saw, and some times the girl just seemed to have forgotten how to sleep. Really though on nights like this he was grateful to have her around, he’d be a wreck by daylight if he was left alone with his own thoughts. Carrying her to the wide double bed Lycus laid her down in the spot he had been laying in. “You don’t have to sleep but I don’t want you wandering the house in the dark.” He said gently as he raised the covers around her. For a long moment he stared down at her face as she looked back at him. They looked so much alike….Like his beloved Delilah. God was taunting him with what they were never allowed to have, what God himself had kept from them, a beautiful baby girl.
A pang of pain resonated for Lycus’s heart as he brushed back her bangs from her face. If only things had been different…Delilah would have loved Mariel as her own. With his mouth twitching Lycus quickly turned away to close the bedroom door, he wasn’t about to cry in front of a child. With the door closed he turned to return to the bed before he stopped, a dark Shadow looming at the foot of the bed watching the child that lay there. For a moment his heart stopped as he strode to the bed, no demon had permission to enter his home; he had seen to that personally, no demon but one.
Lying down beside Mariel Lycus rested a arm around her, his eyes closed as he sought not the vision of his eyes to see the looming monster but the sight that he could draw on from his soul. He knew who it was already; he just didn’t know why he was there. Nestling the girl against him he breathed out softly.

‘Why are you here Sanquinis? I fed you last night and nore did I call for you.’ His voice had no form as the words passed effortlessly from his mind to the being at the foot of his bed.

‘You know as well as I that I am always with you Master, just not in a way you can always perceive’ The words resonated in Lycus’s veins and heart more then in his mind, a unsettling feeling that had taken him years to get used to. ‘I was merely worried for you.’ The demon added more softly as Lycus lay in bed. ‘I could hear your heart pounding.’

Lycus’s mouth twitched. He had know Sanquinis since childhood and he did feel some form of twisted affection for the monster but he never once dare let himself believe the same of the demon, no matter what it seemed like.
‘…thank you, but I’m fine. It was just a nightmare.’ Lycus raised his eyes to see the dull light from outside Frame the large length of his Guardians form. He was well over eight feet tall, as a child Lycus had always thought him a giant, even know he towered over the young lawyer. He watched as Sanguinis praying mantis like head throbbed in time with a silent heartbeat. And for a moment there was an odd pause in the air.

‘No my dear master, your nightmares have not even begun yet.’

Lyra Thompson sometimes wondered why exactly she didn't just deny that spirits were somewhat tangible to her. This was because she was up late at night with a headache. Why did she have a headache? Earlier in the day she had been bothered to bits by a spirit, flying around her and rather loudly. That continued until she had come home, and yet she still had a headache. She stood up, getting off of her bed and going out of her room. She had a few herbal remedies bought from local shops that she was glad she still had. She arrived at her medicine cabinet, taking out one of the colorful bottles before closing it again.

"Bottoms up." She uncorked the bottle and down half of it, almost gagging at the sickly sweet taste. It was sweeter than sweet, yet was still slightly spicy. Was there cinnamon? She shrugged, corking the bottle again as she took it to bed with her. her house was small, only having the bare minimum. On the other hand it was all that she needed since she was living alone. She arrived at her room, putting the bottle on the table next to her bed. She laid on her back, staring at the ceiling.

How long had it been, one maybe two years? She wasn't sure, but she knew that her family might not even make an effort to find her. "So, God, got any proof yet?" Silence. She expected that reply, though noting that the only proof she had found so far was that spirit bothering her. Or maybe it was karma. She shrugged, yawning. She needed to get back to sleep. She rolled over in bed, taking off her glasses and setting them on the table.

Mariel nestled down against Lycus, still hugging her patchwork rabbit. When she had nightmares as a small child, her parents had always allowed her to sleep with them, and she had missed that at the hospital when she stayed with her Uncle. She was glad Lycus treated her more like a daughter than a ward. In fact, the girl was starting to regard him as a father and was considering asking if the young lawyer would mind her calling him 'father'. However, this arrangement was only temporary, so perhaps she should not ask.

Glancing over at Lycus, Mariel saw that his eyes were shut, and his breathing was slow and even. It appeared that he had gone back to sleep. She was not surprised, since he was a busy man and his daily schedule was demanding. Many sleepless nights she had wandered by his office to find the light still on past midnight. She turned her gaze then to the pale woman who stood watching the two of them on the bed. The beautiful woman looked sad, as she always did. A painfully sad smile briefly ghosted across the woman's face as she lightly touched Mariel's forehead. The little girl closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Lycus. Somehow the woman reminded her of her mother, and the comforting presence of that feeling allowed her to finally slip into the world of dreams.

Rising before the sun as he always did Lycus dressed, brushed his hair and locked himself in his study as he always did. A few hours later once Mariel was up and had prepared breakfast with the proper housekeeper Lycus had he’d appear again and eat with Mariel. This was how it went every morning since the young girl had come to live with him.
After they ate she’d clean the dishes while he went back to his study or stepped out to continue his work else where. And today was a day he was going to have to leave.
He had a message of death to deliver as well as to read a will right to the surviving family. Not pleasant business but he’d rather deal with grieving family then someone finding out they were being sued.
Looking at the notice for his firm for the address again he sighed. “Well Miss Lyra Thompson I’ll be the bearer of bad new for you today…” Though at least the girl was inheriting actually possession and just not debt. That always seemed to make people grieve more.

Tucking his paper work into his satchel Lycus slipped a long wooden rosary around his neck before coming down stars to eat. While he knew he held no favor with god he knew full well that other may, or even worse, expect him to. It was a simple facade though it was not without reason. While he had no faith many creatures did and could still be repelled by a cross.

Sitting at the dinging table he found his morning paper waiting for him, opening and starting to read it without really regarding his food yet he picked up a piece of toast and bit into it. It startled him to find he had also just taken a large bite of a egg as well. Mariel must have been making her ‘toadies in a hole’ again…and had managed to burn them this time. Laughing a little under his breath he chewed and reached for his tea.

”Morning Sir.” The house keeper Mrs. Penny greeted as she carried a bowl of porridge in with some fruit of Mariels own breakfast. “How’s the news for this morning?”
Lycus laughed low again. “Seems the pope sickbed is turning into his death bed.”
”Oh sweet lord!” The house keeper gasped and crossed herself over her chest. “I will have to pray for him!”
”Mrs. Penny, if anyone in this world does not need to be prayed for, short of the Virgin mother herself, I think the Pope will be fine.”
Tutting like a mother hen the house keeper returned to shoo Mariel from the kitchen into the dinning table. As the girl came out to the table still wearing her too large apron Lycus looked her over out of the corner of his eye. Pushing the sugar bowl towards her he went back to his paper.

”Mariel I want you to come out with me today. After I finish my work I’m taking you to the tailors to get you a new dress. I’ll be having some important clients over at the end of the week and I can’t have them thinking that some beggar child has broken into my home now can I?” Though her current dress was far from rags all her clothing had come with her from the hospital and was rather drab. She didn’t have anything that was particularly nice and she prized that ratty old patch work rabbit more then anything. He wanted her to have something nice that was hers and hers only, though he was hesitant to buy her things, he wasn’t sure just what was going to happen with Mariel and didn’t want to promise her something he didn’t follow up on.

The sun was barely up as Lyra found herself groggy and awake. She rubbed her eyes, brushing blond hair out of her eyes. Another almost sleepless night. She yawned, sitting up right before crawling over to open the curtains, seeing the skies. It wasn't too bright, seeming almost foreboding in her opinion. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, getting up and straightening her blanket over her bed.

What time was it? She wondered this as she put on her glasses, seeing everything more clearly now. She saw the potion left on the table, picking it up to put back into the medicine cabinet. They were expensive, but worked fast enough to be worth it. She walked back, wanting to get into bed, but knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep again. She didn't have much to do other than helping with various odd jobs and honing her skills as an elementalist. She was pretty good with her powers, though still needing to iron out her occasional spasm when using them.

She opened her dresser, taking out a few pieces of clothing and a hair bow. She dressed herself, making sure to look halfway decent before going out in public. She took a brush, getting out all of the knots in her hair before tying up her hair. She adjusted her glasses, seeing them a bit loose before going into the kitchen. Lyra chose a simple breakfast today, only eating toast with some butter and a glass of milk. She wondered how her family was doing. Maybe she should send out a letter. She shrugged, biting into her piece of toast.

Mariel's eyes brightened at the thought of a new dress. She couldn't remember the last time she had been shopping for clothing or even the last time she had received a new dress. At Saint Mary's she had always been given hand me down clothing, and she had long since outgrown anything her mother and father had bought for her. In fact, the newest item of clothing that she owned was the over-sized apron she was still wearing over her hand me down dress from Saint Mary's. The apron had been a gift from Mrs. Penny, one of her older handmade aprons that she no longer wore herself. She had given it to Mariel after the little girl had ruined one of her few dressed helping cook. Being so small was not an advantage in the kitchen, when large pots were often heavy and had a tendency to spill their contents down the front of small people carrying them.

"I would very much like to go with you," she happily told Lycus, eagerly finishing the last bits of her breakfast. "I'll go get cleaned up to go right now!" She stood up, her small hands tugging at the knot on her stomach where the apron strings were knotted. They were so long that they wrapped around her slender frame twice. Mrs. Penny gently moved the girl's hands aside and untied the apron, folding it and placing it over her arm before steering Mariel toward the kitchen to clean up her breakfast dishes.

A small smile had formed as Lycus had heard the excite in Mariels voice, the girl almost never expressed herself that much. It did him good to hear that joy, though he kept his face hidden behind his news paper. She was a good girl, and he found he only wanted good things for her though somewhere back in his mind he had that nagging feeling he was getting himself set up for pain down the road. This child wasn't his, god had seen to that.
Folding the paper down lycus rose from his chair, finishing off the rest of his toad that had fallen from the toast. He could almost here Mariels little heart pounding from here.
He'd buy her something nice, maybe in blue...Delilah had always liked that color. As he started to finish folding his paper down he thought he felt the slightest blow of a breeze on the back of his neck, looking over his shoulder he saw nothing and for some reason his heart ached.

'Master.' A voice purred through his body. 'Be careful today...there are things afoot in my realm and yours. Take heed of those around you, I will guard you as per our agreement, but no more.'

Lycus frowned as he touched the paper again, eying the headline of the sickly pope and the strange disease that had been sweeping through the Vatican and across both parts of America and Eroupe. Slowly he raised his eyes to the kitchen door way as a stormy thoughts set in.

'Can you really protect her?' Came a painfully familiar question.

"...leave me." Lycus said softly as he lowered his head, finger nails biting into the pulp of the news paper. And though he never saw him Lycus felt Sanguinis presence fade away from the room. 'How dare he...' Lycus mind muttered to himself. 'How dare he remind me of my Delilah.'

Mariel quietly followed Lycus through the crowded business section of Winchester. There were dozens of dress shops here and Lycus seemed at a loss for which one to choose. He glanced back at his young ward, wondering if perhaps Mrs Penny should have accompanied the two of them. Clothing was not really his forte. Mariel was looking up at a blue dress in one of the shop windows. Figuring one shop was as good as another to start in, Lycus took Mariel's hand and the two went inside.

Mariel went immediately to a book of dress designs and began to look through it, leaving the lawyer standing by the door. She eventually paused at a page, studying the design intently. Looking up, her eyes met Lycus' for a moment, then looked past him, over his shoulder at nothing. Invisible to Lycus, the pale woman came over to Mariel, looking down at the dress design. She frowned. "That dress is nearly fifty years out of date child..." the woman said, her voice a faint whisper. Mariel sighed and went back to looking at the book. Lycus came over to look at the second book of designs and began showing ones he thought were nice to Mariel. She stopped flipping through her own book and pointed at one of the designs he had chosen.

"This one" she said, tracing the design with one small finger. Lycus showed the design to the shopkeeper, who came over to take Mariel's measurements. After a few minutes, the shopkeeper told Lycus the dress would be ready for pick up the next day. Mariel slipped her hand into Lycus' as the two went back out into the street.

With one job done for the day Lycus was left with his own official work now. Riding in a carriage with Mariel sitting happily beside him he still felt puzzled over something he had heard in the store but had written it off that he had just over heard a female shop keep speaking with Mariel, though he hadn't seen any present.

"When we get there Mariel I want you to stay in the carriage, understand?" He didn't need her to see a grown woman become hysterical at his news, or worse turn violent. Patting her head as the carriage stopped he swept out in front of a small modest home. Taking a moment to breath Lycus re-tucked his bag under his arm and knocked on the wood door.

"Excuse me Miss Lyra Thompson?" He called, hope the woman was at home and that he wouldn't have to check in at a later date, when these things took longer to get signed it always meant more paper work for him. "I'm from the Bryens And Eden law firm. I need to speak to you regarding your family's estate."

Lyra cracked her neck, feeling a kink inside. She needed more sleep. Unfortunately she was out of anything to make her fall asleep and wasn't old enough to drink yet. She wouldn't have to work for another hour so then she just felt like resting at the moment. She walked over to a chair that was pretty soft, sitting down and relaxing on it.She contemplated on how she would practice her witchcraft today rather than just shooting randomly at pedestrians.

She snapped her fingers, making a small flame appear in her hand before closing it up again. Out of all of the elements she tended to shift towards practicing fire more than any other element. Why? She didn't know, but most likely because of fear that she would burn down her house. She heard a knock on the door, getting up and walking to the door.

Who was it? She looked through the peephole, seeing a man outside with a carriage behind him. Family estate? What did he mean by that? Usually when someone has to talk to you about that, it means either death or debt, though she found both to be bad options. She sighed, opening the door.

The woman before him in the open doorway was a pretty sort and seemed to be well into marrying age, that made it all the more surprising that she was a Miss and not Mrs. Bowing shortly to her Lycus kept his face blank of emotion when really he felt surprised, she was not what he had expected.

"Good day madam I'm afraid I come bearing some heavy news." Opening his satchel he pulled out a stack of parchment that had been tied together with some strings. "Perhapses we should step inside to talk..." But when the woman made no move to allow him in he conceded.

"Miss Thompson I'm sorry to tell you this but there was a accident at your family's church in Burmingham....A fire to be precise. While I do not know all the details I do know that the roof caved in...killing everyone inside." Wearing a mask of sympathy He offered out the parchment to her. "I was told the death was swift...they did not suffer." Which was a lie, they people that had died that die had died slowly and filled with terror. That fire hadn't been naturally started of course but rather was lit ablaze by a arsons hands.

"Their entire estate was left to you as there next of kin as requested in your fathers will. If I could get you to sign these papers I will leave you to mourn..." And Lycus braced, it was normally at this point the crying and wailing would start or the cursing. People tended to shoot messenger he'd come to find after all these years.

Mariel had originally intended to just stay in the carriage as Lycus had instructed her, watching the world go by outside the small window. She had to sit on her knees to see out the small pane of glass, and hold the little curtain back. Lycus was talking to a young woman at the door of the small house they had stopped in front of, and as usual his pale companion hovered just over his shoulder. Mariel watched her current guardian for a moment before being distracted by a small white shape wandering across the yard. Realizing with delight that it was a young dog, Mariel struggled to open the carriage door a bit. Peering out the small gap, she called softly to the small dog. The puppy looked at her for a moment, then went back to sniffing the grass.

Wanting to pet the cute little dog, Mariel pushed the door open a tiny bit more and slipped out of the carriage, dragging her patchwork rabbit with her. She extended her free hand to the dog, calling softly again. This time the little dog looked slightly more interested in her, but once again it went back to sniffing the ground. It disappeared around the corner, and Mariel followed it. If she turned around she could still see the carriage with the door ajar, although she couldn't see Lycus anymore. Returning her attention to the white dog, she whistled quietly. This time the dog's ears perked up and it looked at her again, cocking an ear. After a moment, the small creature hesitantly trotted over to Mariel, sniffing at her extended fingers.

Mariel realized that the dog was in fact a ghost, not merely a white dog. It was very solid looking, so it must have died recently. Like many newly dead, the dog looked as it had in life. Only ghosts that dwelt on their method of death became disfigured with horrible gaping wounds or other such frightening visages. Mariel petted the little dog carefully, not wanting her hand to accidentally slide off the ghostly fur and into the body. The problem with interacting with ghosts is that she could only touch them if she concentrated really hard, and even then the ghost had to be ok with it. The little dog seemed quite content to have attention though. Mariel wondered if Lycus would mind if she took it home with her.

The man was tall, much taller than she was and also seemed handsome at the same time. Lyra wondered what he had to say as he was wearing a blank expression. A messenger? She nodded at his bow. At least he was polite. She cringed at the first thing he said, though still nodding. "Alright, go on." She wanted him to just deliver the news rather than have an in-depth discussion since it was better, quick and easy. After all, who wants to stretch out whatever pain it might be?

"F...fire?" Lyra felt something tighten in her chest, biting her lip to prevent herself from exploding. She wanted to laugh sadly in case it was a joke, but she doubted that it would be fake. "I guess that it's the one good thing that they died painlessly." Her voice cracked as if it was choice between that and crying.

She nodded, listening. She wiped her eyes, feeling tears drop from her eyes. She didn't even care about the estate, rather that it was a sign of death. She doubted that she would even step on that estate, it reminding her of both her leave and their death. She sniffed, trying to get back her composure. "Right, right. I'll get to it."

Lycus paused for a moment regarding the woman before offering her his handkerchief.
"There is no one here to judge you should you cry madam. You have just suffered a great lose, so please, take all the time you need."

Again he paused to let the woman either collect herself or fall apart. "If...it would be easier you could sign the estate over to the us if you prefer, you'd be compensated of course. I know many people do not want the memories that many inheritance have."
He shifted the papers in his hand to split into two piles, one to except the estate and one to sign it away.
"All I need is you signature on either one ma'am."

Lyra nodded, thanking him for the handkerchief as she wiped her eyes. She knew that it would be okay to cry, but part of her told her to keep some composure. She took a minute to recollect herself before looking up again. She looked at the paper that would sign away her estate to the company and then at the one which would allow her to keep it. On one hand it could mean all those memories biting at her whenever she visited, yet on the other it seemed like she would be able to hold onto those memories. Either way she found herself shifting towards the paper that would let her keep the estate. "Okay, I'm keeping the estate." She signed her name on the papers, wondering how wise of a decision it was.

The land hadn't been worth much so Lycus didn't really feel any pressure to acquire the rights to it, if she wanted that tiny plot she was welcome to its up keep.
"Should at anytime you feel you can not keep with its upkeep please contact my firm and we will discuss freeing you from the rights."

Signing his own name on another piece of paper he offered it to her. "This is the address of my firm. Should you need anything you can contact us and ask for assistance. There is also a minor inventory of your estate on that piece for you to over look. The land plot and such, none of your family's personal effects."

A soft noise behind him caught Lycuses attention just long enough for him to glance back over his shoulder to see the carriage door had been caught by the wind and opened. His sighed as he saw it was lacking a certain little girl in it.
"Mariel!" he called. Turning back to Lyra he bowed again. "Please excuse me a moment, it seems I lost something from my carriage."

Lyra mentally sighed, feeling like something was both lifted and placed over he shoulder. She nodded to the man as she took the paper. She wondered how she would get into moving in and out of that estate, though it would be a great place for storage or renting. She looked at the paper before folding it and pocking that in her dress. She looked outside at the carriage wondering what it could be. "Go ahead." She heard him say "Mariel", wondering if it was a daughter or maybe a child. It didn't seem like a dog or another pet for that matter.

Mariel did not hear Lycus call her name, preoccupied as she was with watching the small ghost puppy. The little white dog seemed to be looking for something. It was sniffing the ground intently, walking in an odd zig-zag pattern. She drifted after it, curious to see what the dog was trying to find. The two were in a small alleyway beside the house Lycus had come to visit. The building on the other side of the alley from the house was rather tall, blocking a good deal of light and causing the alley to be eerily dim even in the middle of the day. The fact that it was a cloudy day did not help matters. Mariel wrinkled her nose in disgust as she stepped on something squishy and looked down to find that it was a half eaten mouse. Apparently some alley cat had been disturbed in the middle of its meal.

"Ew..." Mariel said, wiping her shoe on a relatively clean cobblestone in an attempt to get all the mouse residue off of it. She was distracted by the little ghost dog, which suddenly barked sharply. Looking up, Mariel saw a black cat striding toward her, apparently unaware of the ghost dog. The cat stopped when it saw Mariel though, eying her warily, then jumped in surprise as the little ghost dog went right through it. Although it did not know the dog was there, it could certainly feel the unnatural cold of a ghost walking through it. The dog was confused as to why it could not interact with the cat, but eventually lost interest and went back to sniffing about on the ground. Mariel took a step closer to the cat, wanting to possibly pet it as well, but it hissed at her and darted off the direction it had come. It was probably for the best though. Black cats were bad luck, even if they were kind of cute.

The little ghost dog began barking again and started running down the alley. At first Mariel thought it was chasing the cat, but when it turned a corner and the dog did not, she began to follow the dog. Perhaps it had found what it was looking for. Her curiosity overtook her common sense and she picked up her pace a little bit, following the pale dog further into the alley. There were tall buildings on either side now, casting an even darker shadow over the little alley, but Mariel's attention was focused on the small creature ahead of her and she didn't notice.

"Mariel!?" Lycus called more loudly. Slipping down a ally way his stomach started to knot as he touched some fine grooves in the stone wall. They were claw marks. "MARIEL!" he yelled once again as panic started to set in. Sanguinis had warned him something was wrong he hadn't taken it into account at all. What if something had taken her?

'Find her.' Lycus ordered through a determined mind as he hurried himself down another ally way. He would never forgive himself if she had been harmed so easily like this. The further in he went the worse the visions were becoming. A nest, there was a bloody nest near here! It was almost as though he could smell the past death and vile thoughts that lingered near here. He had to find her, she would be helpless to defend herself, even from such lowly demons.
"MARIEL!" He yelled for her, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.

The small ghost dog turned down another alley, but as Mariel started to follow, she found her way suddenly impeded by a tall, pale figure. It was the woman who followed Lycus around, and she did not have her usual sad expression on. Instead she looked frightened and almost angry. Stopping dead in her tracks, Mariel stared up at the woman in surprise.

"Go!" the woman commanded. "You mustn't stay here! Go Now!" Her voice was not nearly as whisper soft as usual. Frightened by the change in this familiar figure, Mariel backed up a few steps, clinging tightly to her patchwork rabbit. She suddenly found herself wishing she had listened to Lycus and stayed in the carriage. The ghostly woman stepped towards her and Mariel turned to run, forgetting the little ghost dog. She rounded a corner and heard Lycus yelling her name.

"I'm here!" she called, running toward his voice. She felt tears of relief well up in her eyes. Lycus would keep her safe, even if the strange woman who always followed him was not acting normal.

In the alley Mariel had left, the ghost woman gave the bloody walls a quick glance, shuddering at the sight of the brutally mangled body of a small dog. The little ghost dog whimpered once and fled. The pale woman hurried after it, leaving the cruel imp to its feast. At least the child had not come to harm. She couldn't bear to allow one so young to suffer a similar fate.

Dropping to his knees Lycus gripped her tightly to him. "I told you to stay put!" His voice was stern but easily gave away his relief at finding her unharmed. Pushing her back from his chest he gripped her shoulders and looked at her crossly. "Don't you ever wander away from me like that again! What if you had gotten hurt?" Shaking his head again he held the crying girl to him.
"...there there, its alright. I'm not really mad. But you can't scare me like that, there are bad people in this world and they like to hide in alleyways." Lifting her up he carried her against his chest as he started back the way he came. With Mariels chin on his shoulder she could just make out the form of the ghost returning to her typical haunting spot, just behind Lycus.

Rounding up to the front of the house Lycus set Mariel down to the ground but kept her small hand firmly in his.
"Forgive me Miss Thompson, but I don't like Mariel wandering the city alone."

Lyra watched Lycus try and catch that girl outside. A daughter? It seemed more likely now. He didn't seem married either, so adoption was it? She shrugged, waiting for him to come back. At the same time, she turned around to see a water spirit in her house. She sighed, looking at its fluid, wispy, blue form. So free, yet it decided to enter her house without notice. Was it trying to be invisible, or more invisible for that matter? She turned again, seeing Lycus back at the front door. "Uhm, it's no problem."

Mariel stood quietly next to Lycus, clinging to his hand with one hand and her rabbit with the other. Looking past the young woman Lycas had come to see, she peered around the interior of the house, or what she could see of it. She saw some sort of wispy, watery shape there, which somewhat surprised her. She had only ever seen one water spirit before and it had told her that most elemental spirits preferred open places. Of course, it could have been lying. Aside from that spirit and the one she could see now in Lyra's house, Mariel had only ever seen one other spirit. It had been a small flame spirit, dancing gaily in the flames of a burning house near the town she had lived in with her parents. Mariel had only gotten a brief glimpse of it though, because her mother had pressed the young girl against herself, averting her eyes from the tragedy.

Turning her head slightly, Mariel could see that Lycus' ghost follower was behind him and acting as though nothing had even happened. The woman didn't even glance at Mariel as the young girl frowned in confusion. What had that all been about, back in that alley?