(oh, my mistake. btw, it wasn't Ink Stain making the noise, it was the first of his army 3:) Also, dudes and dudettes, I wrote a back story thing that Esmme put on the front page! )

At Calla's entrance Hero turned to her and smiled, bowing low and saying, "Greetings milady Calla! You've, uh, gotten much taller since I left. I'll have you know I was victorious over the mess in the attic!" Turning back to Namine he looked at the picture she drew and smiled, saying, "Why, I must say I am flattered Namine."

Hero was about to say something else when what sounded like a mix of a squeal of pain and a distorted roar sounded throughout the room as the creature from beneath the cabinet emerged into the light. There wasn't much in it's appearance left to identify it as a mouse, just enough to make what it had become horrific. It was now the size of a large rat, almost the size of a lion when compared to the dolls, it's body seemingly ripped in half then connected by wooden splinters and various bits of metal, all held together by a black, ink like substance in order to lengthen it's body. The creature crept forward, it's one glowing red eye shifting focus between Calla and Namine, the other socket empty. It continued to look from Namine to Calla before focusing on Namine and letting out another distorted scream and rushing forward on sharp, metal claws.

((Awesome back story! I loved it!!))

Cala smiled at the blonde doll and waved slightly. "Good morning Namine. Your pancakes were delicious. As always." she said happily, bringing the plate over to the sink. She would wash it in a few minutes, once she had greeted the other dolls.

Calla turned when Hero spoke to her and grinned, laughing softly. "Good day Sir. It's good to see you again. I'm glad you made it back from that overly crowded attic unharmed." Calla curtsied in return, humoring the male doll who seemed to have chivalry on his mind all the time. Not that it was a bad thing at all.

A sickening sound made Calla's expression turn to one of confusion and slight fear. Goosebumps popped up all over her arms, almost positive that her hair would be standing on end if she had been a character on a tv show. Calla turned toward the sound and gasped, taking a step away from the creature that had come out of the cupboard. What in the world was it and who had let it into the house? That was what she wanted to know.

The teeth gritting cry sounded around the room once again as the thing started to charge for Namine. Calla did the only thing she could think of at the time. She moved quickly and scooped up the three dolls, two familiar faces and one who seemed new. She stood in the rodent creature's way, feeling sharp metal claws tear into the skin of her leg. Gritting her teeth, she kicked the creature off of herself and hoped that she hadn't squished the three dolls in her hands. "W-What in the world is that thing?"

((:D I really liked the back story as well. It helps add dimension to the thread!! :eager:

:sweat: Ah, sorry about that Grax. *coughs*))

Namine watched Hero and Calla greet one another with a smile, and then was about to point something out in her picture when a sound made her drop the sketchpad. Her blue eyes widened as she slid from her chair, standing her ground with a frightened expression. The large (to the dolls, anyway) creature regarded them with a single glowing eye, and finally seemed to choose its prey. Namine gasped quietly, stepping backward as she prepared to run.

When Calla scooped her up with the others, Namine immediately clung to the woman's arm. The monstrous mouse made another sound that brought shudders down the doll's spine. Covering her ears, Namine let out a small cry of fear. It was a relief when the creature was kicked back, though the girl left her eyes on the dripping being.
"I-it's a mouse!" The tail snaked over the ground like one, and though it was altered Namine could see one of its ragged ears. The way it dripped with ink-like liquid made her shudder. She'd seen that before. It had been many years, nearly 20, since she'd last encountered anything like it. The thought of it origination made Namine more frightened than the mouse itself.

"There's a bowl there!" She pointed to the counter where a large bowl was resting next to the sink. Perhaps Calla could trap it. "P-put us on the counter!" Namine squirmed against Calla's tight hold, her breath coming in quick gasps.

Calla moved away, stepping toward the counter. She set the three dolls down, apologizing quickly at the same time. "That thing is a mouse?" she asked, not sure she could believe Namine. That...thing didn't look anything like a mouse, but Namine wasn't one to lie. Calla looked around for anything to squish the mouse creature, but there was nothing she could find other than the bowl.

Grabbing the rather large bowl, Calla came around the counter, ignoring the pain in her leg near her ankle. "You really think this will work?" she asked, waiting for the creature to come to her. She was limping slightly now, the feeling of something warm, sticky and wet running down her foot made her feel extremely uncomfortable. "Come on you ugly rodent. Give it your best shot."

The creature seemed to glare as it let out another scream as it got back up from getting kicked. It clawed at the ground like a bull getting ready to charge, it's claws gouging into the wood before rushing forward again, ducking and weaving around Calla and towards the counter before it began to scurry up, digging into the wall as it ran straight up. It cleared the ledge and moved to stand between Calla and the dolls, and the bowl, it's one eye twinkling with a malevolent intellect as it focused, again on Namine.

When the creature appeared Hero felt elated! Finally, a monster for him to defeat! His bubble was rapidly popped when Calla swept them up, Hero about to yell for her to put him down so he could defeat the beast when she did just that. While the others were yelling about capturing it, Hero ran to the wood block where the knives were kept and pulled out one of the steak knives, hefting it before tossing it aside and grabbing the butcher knife (http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-...fe-800x800.jpg) and grinning. When the creature got onto the counter top Hero moved in between the creature and Namine, saying, "Stand back ladies, I can handle this beast!"

"Oh Mother!" Echoing through Mother's room came Ink Stain's voice, no longer wispy and ghost like, but full of malicious glee as he stepped out from behind the mirror on her dresser (just assuming there's one there) with a dark grin. In the short amount of time since he was last here he already looked different, stronger, his features less fluid and more defined. A dark grin spread across his face as he said in a glee filled tone, "I'm baaaack, and this time I've got a little show for you!" He reached out and touched the mirror causing darkness to spread across the glass as he said, "Just a bit ago I found one of those nifty mouse traps that had just been activated! Seriously, all these years and you still have a pest problem? But I digress, I decided 'why let the body go to waste?' and sent it out to say hi to everyone! Would you like to watch as your precious creations are torn apart?" Once the blackness spread all over the mirror it showed what the mouse could see, allowing the two to see it confront the dolls, how Calla kicked it but was clawed in the process, and how it now stood against the armed Hero and the others. All the while, as soon as the dolls came into view Ink Stain's mad humor was gone replaced by... what was it, fear?

"Hero!" Namine cried his name out uncertainly, not sure if this was his best idea. Though . . . the creature seemed to be focusing solely on her. Trembling, she took a step back. She took Mouse with her, making sure to keep her hand on the other doll's arm. When Hero snagged the knife and stood between the mouse and the girls, Namine's blue eyes widened. She moved farther from the monstrous creation and let out a choked cry. Please, let no one get hurt!
Already Calla was limping. The mouse was too fast; there was no way for Calla to capture it. Sadly, there were only bowls and plates sitting around. Where was the baseball bat when you needed it? "Calla! You're bleeding!" Worry filled Namine's eyes, and she stepped forward . . . only to suddenly be shocked back into reality by the sight of the mouse between them. Cringing back, the blonde shivered again. "Be careful, Hero!"
-

Hearing the voice sent chills up Mother's spine. She had just laid down to rest when Ink Stain entered the room. The dresser was only a few feet from the bed, and the mirror's picture was clear. "Stain!" Mother's brown eyes were wide as she saw the creation that had been formed from the mouse's corpse.
She pushed herself out of bed, moving faster than she had in months. For the briefest of seconds, she was young again . . . or so it seemed. "How dare you act like this!" The woman reached for the nearest book and swung at Ink Stain, hating that he'd already gained strength. "These dolls are not your playthings!" Again, she swung the book, attempting to crush Stain beneath it.

"You will not harm my children, creature."

((Oooooh, man. Stain has got to be the creepiest character this thread has seen thus far. :sweat: Creeeeeepy, for sure!))

((I have to agree with you on that note. Actually, on another site I'm on there's this one character in a thread I'm in..ugh, he's pretty creepy too. But by far, Inky is pretty creepy too!))

Calla watched as Hero brandished a sharp kitchen knife and turned to face the mouse. Hero was, if she recalled, a very 'knight in shining armor' kind of doll. He was always trying to save the damsel and slay the evil beasts. Not that it wasn't nice, since chivalry was pretty much dead these days, Hero could very well meet his match this time. He was a doll, and the way the mouse creature was moving so quickly, Calla hoped the doll would be able to hold his own against the red eyed creature.

Hearing Namine's concerned cry, Calla turned and smiled slightly in hopes of reassuring the doll that she was okay. The open wounds were burning now, no doubt infected by some kind of bacteria from the creature. There was no telling where it had been to begin with. As soon as she could, she would definitely seek out the first aid kit and disinfect the gashes properly. Looking around the kitchen, Calla tried to find something more useful than just a few plates and bowls. A rolling pin could work, if she could get it without the vile rodent coming after her as well.

At the moment the creature seemed distracted enough, so Calla took a chance and searched the drawers and the other side of the kitchen for said rolling pin. It took a longer than she had wanted, but eventually she found the heavy wooden instrument. Having never played sports as a human, Calla only wished that if she needed to use the thing as a bat, she would be able to hit her mark dead on.

Before the book could make contact, a black tendril snapped out from Ink Stain's shadow, grabbing it and stopping it cold as he quietly muttered, "That man..."

Hero grinned as he squared off against the Mouse Trapper, smiling as he said, "Oh, how I've waited for a day like this, to finally face a monster!" The creature screamed and bolted forward, clawing at Hero, only to have him deflect the blow with the blade, sending sparks flying from the clash of metal on metal.

For a brief second, the darkness seemed to seep away from Ink Stain's eyes, revealing eyes of leafy green as he whispered, "He reminds me of someone..."

The Mouse Trapper tried clawing at Hero twice more, but despite the size of the knife and the awkward grip, he deflected both strikes with almost arrogant ease, a grin across his face as he struck back, slashing the creature, piercing rotted, inky flesh, causing blood and ink to pour out and fill the room with the smell of rot. The creature let out a pained howl and took a step back from Hero.

The darkness gathered again, seemingly deeper than before as Ink Stain shook with rage, a low growl coming from deep within.

Hero let out a cry of elation as he closed on the creature, saying, "No escape for you, monster! Not after attacking Lady Calla!" The creature snapped out, trying to bite Hero who jumped up and on top of the Mouse Trapper's back. The beast let out a cry and reared onto its hind legs, attempting to buck the warrior off of it. With an excited shout, Hero used the creature's movement to jump straight up and, as the Mouse Trapper regained it's feet, Hero came down with the blade, cutting the monster's head clean off. The head went flying as the body rose onto it's hind legs, slashing wildly with it's front claws. Wanting to ensure the kill, Hero charged in, impaling the creature along the entire blade's length, letting out a pained cry as one of the claws sunk into his shoulder before it went completely still.

The dark tentacle withdrew into Ink Stain's shadow while the mirror went dark, ink beginning to seep off of it and onto the dresser before flowing into his feet. Ink Stain rounded on Mother, seething with rage as he said in a low voice, "I hope you're proud of your children, Mother mine, but in the end, it will matter not! You won't stop me, Namine won't stop me... not even this new hero of yours will stop me! He will meet the same fate that I suffered!" Ink Stain stopped before blinking in confusion, murmuring, "Wait... no, I... I've always been... No matter. Till we meet again Mother, though, if you keep as vulnerably alone as you have been, this war will be over before it truly begins." He turned and walked towards a shadow, chuckling as he said, "Ink Heart, must be a good book, though it wasn't too effective a weapon, was it?" His mocking laughter echoed through the room as he disappeared.

Hero stepped away, pulling the claw from his body with a hiss of pain as the ink covering the body seeped away, revealing a Frankenstein-esque vison and leaving the stench of rot. Hero dropped his improvised claymore and put pressure on the wound in his shoulder, a triumphant grin on his face as he walked back to the others, asking, "Are you all alright?"

Calla stood by, watching as Hero defeated the monstrous creature. She dropped the rolling pin on the counter and stepped back from the dead carcass. She slid slightly, glancing down to see large enough spots of red liquid on the floor. Calla hoped that it only looked worse than it actually was. She knew that in a little while, after the adrenaline stopped pumping through her body, she would feel the pain more than she did at that moment. "Is everyone okay?" She asked, looking over each of the dolls. Especially Hero. He had been hit by the headless rodent creature's claws.

She rummaged around soon after and found a garbage bag. Using the knife Hero had let go of, Calla scraped the disgusting rotted body into the bag and hurried to toss it out with the trash. She shivered lightly, wishing more than anything that whatever it was that had just happened was nothing more than a dream. Of course, they would never be so lucky. Pulling up a chair, Calla sat and pulled her leg up grimacing at all the blood. As far as she knew, the first aid kit was in the bathroom, so that's where she would be going as soon as she knew if the dolls were fine. "How is your shoulder Hero?"

"Hero!" Namine moved to the doll, ignoring his question about their well-being. She swiftly looked at the wound on her friend's shoulder, sucking in a worried breath as she did. "That was dangerous! You're hurt!" Her blue eyes filled with worry as she pressed her own hand to the wound as well. "Calla! You're hurt, too!"
-

Mother looked at the book she'd grabbed in disgust, leaving it where it was. Ink Heart was indeed a book worth reading . . . and many dolls had enjoyed it. Sadly, now it seemed tainted by Ink Stain's touch. "Why must others suffer because of your bitterness?" Stain had already disappeared, but the woman went on in anger. "Why must another feel your pain?"

With a sigh, the elder moved toward the door. Her steps quickened as she neared the kitchen, finally seeing the others. "Calla! Are you alright?" Her brown eyes moved to Hero and the other dolls on the counter. "Hero! You've done well, my dear." Reaching out, the woman took Hero into her arms and held him for a moment. She swiftly headed for a drawer near the sink. Taking out a few rags, she used one to press against Hero and the other she gave to Calla.
"Namine, I would like you to go find the first aid kit." The blonde girl nodded and scrambled to the chair in order to slide down to the floor. It wasn't long before she was out of the room, running as fast as her shaking legs would carry her.

Calla shook her head lightly and smiled. "I'm fine...I think." she said just as mother came into the room. Calla looked up in surprise. She smiled at the older woman and nodded. "I'm okay." It really burned, and she was sure some sink had gotten mixed into it from the mutated rodent attack. SHe would definitely have to get disinfect the wounds once she got rid of all the blood.

She took the cloth and winces as the clean water hit the open flesh. Hissing softly under her breath, Calla glanced over at Hero. "Are you alright Gallant knight?" she asked softly, playing along with Hero's hero complex of his. The doll was nice though, so she didn't mind going along with it all. "Where in the world did that thing come from? And why was it here."

Hero blushed slightly as Namine began helping with his wound before smiling, saying, "I thank you for the help, and your concern, dear princess." At Mother's entrance and upon hearing her compliment, Hero beamed, bowing low as he said, "I thank you, dear Mother, for such praise." When Mother gave him the cloth, he quickly tied it around the wound, tying the knot tight to keep steady pressure on the wound. Hero smiled at Calla's calling him a gallant knight, bowing in her direction as well.

"I'm afraid . . . that the cause of this comes from a doll." Mother watched Namine leave the room, a worried look on her face. "My mother knew how to make dolls. She was the one who taught me." Mother moved a kitchen chair over near Calla as she sighed, her elderly features looking sad. "She made a doll that . . . reminds me of you, Hero." It was a compliment, at first.
"But then he changed. My mother left to start a family, and when she returned she found that the doll had grown bitter. Her knight had become a stain on the world. He was so furious, that he changed and became something else." Mother swallowed, shuddering lightly. "Ink Stain, she called him. That . . . ink . . . is his mark. It's his corruption."
The woman shook her head. "He came to me when I first started making dolls almost twenty years ago. Still bitter that my mother had abandoned him, Stain wanted to taint me . . . so I would taint the dolls. I can remember his arms, always outstretched."

Namine rushed through the house and found the bathroom. It wasn't long before she had yanked the cupboard open and was digging through various bottles. It took her a while, but the blonde eventually found the first aid kit. It was heavy for her slight frame, and awkward to carry, but Namine was persistant. She wanted to help Calla and Hero.
By the time she reached the kitchen again, Mother was almost finished telling her story. Fear lit in her blue eyes as she dragged the kit to Mother's chair. "He didn't get you, Mother." Namine was relieved when Mother took the kit from her and lifted the doll up onto the counter nearby once more.

"No, he didn't touch me. Namine was the one who stopped him." Mother sent a smile in the girl's direction, but she didn't seem to notice the praise. She was too intent on getting the gauze she'd carried to Hero. "He's returned. Somehow Ink Stain has broken free from the fountain and is trying to corrupt us again."

Namine shuddered, and set the gauze on the countertop. "Hero, we need to disinfect the wound. Here." With a gentle smile, she offered him some sort of wipe. "It will hurt." But, afterwards they could bandage it. Well, after it stopped bleeding anyway.

Mother carefully took Calla's ankle into her lap, frowning at the blood. It wasn't long before she had the kit open and was dabbing the gashes with a disinfecting wipe. "I'm sorry, my dears. I didn't know Ink Stain would be causing trouble again."

Calla's eyes widened when mother explained. "That thing was created by a doll?" Calla found it hard to believe that a doll could create such awful creatures, but then she remembered what she had done. It wasn't so far off, in a way. "Mother...that could have been me!" she whispered so the other dolls wouldn't hear her. She knew that the others had heard of the poisoning and all the things that had happened to Isis and her friends, but she only hoped that they didn't know she was the cause of it all.

Calla was pulled from her thoughts when mother started dabbing at the gashes on her ankle, causing a shot of white hot pain to shoot up her leg. It took everything she had not to hurt mother by pulling her foot away. She whined softly under her breath and started to count to ten in the hopes of taking her mind from the new burning feeling. "I know I was bad Mother, but...how can a doll keep so much bitterness and anger inside of themselves?"

The red head was quiet for a moment longer, looking over at Namine. The doll had been there the last time this had happened? "Mother, how was he stopped the first time? And...is it possible to do it again?" Calla didn't want to run into this Ink Stain. Not if he was anything like that monstrous creature he had created. She shuddered at the thought, a cold chill moved along her spine. "Does Seth know anything about Ink Stain?"

"That was why I was so worried, Calla." Her brown eyes met the other woman's as her voice dropped. "I didn't want you to become like him." She then smiled sadly when she saw the pain in Calla's eyes. "Almost done, dear. Just a moment longer." She continued to dab at the gashes until they were all clean, and then took a cloth to press against them until they stopped bleeding.
Mother's expression darkened. "No. Seth doesn't know about him." That made the woman frown. "He should be told as soon as we're finished here. I don't want anything happening to either him, nor John." Both boys were in the room, and they had no idea what was going on. With Snow in such a state of weakness and confusion, he would easily be overwhelmed by Ink Stain's attempt to gain allies.

"The reason Ink Stain was stopped last time," Mother glanced to Namine as she helped Hero with his wound, "was because Namine surprised him. I have a feeling it won't happen again." Pulling the cloth from Calla's ankle, Mother then grabbed some gauze and carefully started wrapping it. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you, my dears."

Calla looked at mother, seeing the sad smile on the woman's face. She flinched as mother continued to dab at her wounds, though she had to admit that they already felt much better now. She nodded, not able to get anything else out of her mouth at the moment. The thought of the possibility that she could have turned into something so evil made her sick to her stomach. Hearing mother confirm what Calla had been thinking, the red head nodded. "I wanted to go and check on him as soon as we're done in here. He said he was feeling better, but for some reason I don't feel right leaving him and John all alone together."

Calla told mother of the tension that seemed to rise between the doll and her son. She was worried. Mother hadn't meant to she was sure, but the way she spoke it sounded as if she implied that both Seth and John were in danger of being controlled by this evil doll. Ink Stain. Just the name sounded dark and foreboding. "Thank you Mother." she finally said once gauze was wrapped around her ankle. She put her foot down and stood, limping over to the counter where she looked at Hero. "Are you sure you're okay Hero?"

Hero smiled, saying, "Pain? This? Ha, this is nothing! When I was cleaning, a big box of these old diaries fell on top of me, now that hurt. This is just a paper cut really. That was an unusual box, there were a mix of normal sized diaries, and diaries that were our sized, the smaller ones belonging to someone named, Valiant? He must have been a warrior who battled Ink Stain the last time, right Mother?" At Calla's question, Hero smiled and nodded.

Ink Stain stood in shadow, Mother's parting words echoing through his head. He chuckled, saying, "Bitterness? Pain? Ha, she still doesn't understand. I'm trying to spare them from pain and bitterness by drowning them in hatred! They'll learn... in time... for now, though, I think it is time to visit the rest of the family."

Within the room where Snow slept and Seth read, the lights seemed to dim and the shadow lengthened as a dark voice whispered, "Greetings... brothers." Ink Stain stepped from out of the shadows, looking from Seth to Snow with a dark grin upon his face.

Namine laughed quietly, her smile growing. "Oh, that's terrible!" She then finished cleaning the wound with the medicine pad before reaching for the gauze. Without a thought to privacy, Namine pulled Hero's shirt over one shoulder so she could wrap it with bandages. "Oh, Hero."
Her voice was full of sorrow as she heard Valiant's name, and the blonde doll swiftly finished wrapping the wound as Mother began to speak.

"I'm sure Seth would love to see you again, Calla. Thank you." It was good to hear that someone was willing to check on the boys . . . especially a girl so capable. Calla was wonderful young woman, even when she was a doll. As the red-head left the room, Mother looked to Hero as he spoke of the journals. "Oh, thank you for cleaning the attic, Hero." Her smile dimmed when she heard Valiant's name.
"Valiant was a wonderful doll. But," the elder woman leaned back in her chair and frowned, "his fight against Ink Stain was in vain. For, you see . . . Valiant is Ink Stain."
-

Snow tried to fall asleep quickly, but after Calla had left it was increasingly difficult. Seth was quiet, so it wasn't like the human was bothering him. As the pale doll fought to sleep, his dreams seemed . . . tainted. Darkness filled his mind in place of memory, and when his eyes jerked open, Snow slowly sat up. Forcing himself to lean against the side of the box, his colorless gaze lingered on the shadows. What's going on?
The way the darkness seemed to stretch and move wasn't natural. He didn't need memories to tell him that. Snow heard the whispered voice, but instead of fear his expression showed curiosity. "What are you?" he asked in a rasping voice, eying the dark creature for many moments. From his box on the chair beside Seth's bed, he could see Ink Stain quite clearly (if that's the right word). He was the size of a doll, yet wasn't like anything that John expected other dolls to look like.

Seth's gaze moved to Ink Stain in surprise, and he nearly dropped his book upon seeing the black creature before him. "What the hell?" he slowly started to get out of bed, his eyes on Stain constantly. I've never seen a doll like that. Instantly his thoughts moved to Mother. What if she was hurt? Would all dolls become like this one? Was this his fault for not taking over when he could?

Calla smiled and nodded back in response to Hero before leaving the kitchen. SHe limped her way up the stairs, trying to go as fast as she could with the pain in her ankle. She rounded the corner and stopped just outside of the room when she heard a voice that made her shiver. Calla had never heard this new voice before and it scared her to think that..."Ink Stain." she whispered, her eyes widening in fear for a moment. She poked her head around the corner, seeing the back end of a dark doll figure. She tried to catch Seth's eyes, hoping he would understand the look she was giving him. Get out of there. Get out now! Stepped quietly into the room, Calla stood in the doorway and loomed over the other doll. "Get out. Now. "

Calla was sure this doll was Ink Stain. He had to be. She ignored the other two in the room, focusing her attention on the dark doll before her. She wanted nothing more than to kick him, just like she had done to the mouse creature he had sent after them.

With a sickening crack Ink Stain's head turned 180 degrees to look directly at Calla, a low laugh emanating through the room as he said, "And here is my dear sister! Do you have a hug for your brother?" His booming laugh suddenly seemed to come from every shadowy corner of the room all at once as Calla's shadow seeped away from her, gathering around Ink Stain's feet before forming a platform and raising him up until he stood upon a dark pillar at eye level with Calla, his body reforming with sound of cracking bones until his body and head were the way they should be. So, I'm guessing Mother's told you of me by now? Told you who I am? Did she tell you that I am what I am because of her?" As he said this, a small voice spoke within Snow and Seth's minds, saying to Snow, "You and I should talk, young one, before your mind if further corrupted by their lies," while to Seth it said, "I remember you, your mind, your soul... I know you, though you do not know me... come to the fountain, and all will be revealed." Ink Stain sighed before saying out loud, "I don't have time to play now, dear sister, no time to add fuel to the flames of your fear... till we meet again... I'm keeping your shadow though, don't let it bother you too much." With that, the pillar of solid shadow flowed up and around Ink Stain, seemingly turning him into a crow of solid shadow, flying up into the shadows near the ceiling and disappearing.

Hero blushed slightly when Namine lifted his shirt off and was about to try and protest, but at Mother's words he found himself in a stunned silence for a few moments before asking, "But... but how can a doll like us create such creatures?"

(sorry for the delay everyone, forgive me!)

Calla nearly scoffed at the evil doll. There was no way she would ever offer to give him a hug. He really did give her the creeps. She felt as if her skin was crawling with disgusting bugs or something. It took a whole lot of will power for her not to shudder at the cracking sounds coming from the tainted doll. Calla watched, her green eyes wide as her shadow slowly left her to form beneath Ink Stain. "Yes she did. And you're wrong. Mother is not to blame, she couldn't be!" Calla had left the kitchen before hearing about Ink Stain and how he had come to be. Mother couldn't be to blame for this. Of course, she had once thought that Mother was to blame for not showing her Isis soon enough. A little part of her seemed to hold Mother in contempt for that, but Calla didn't like dwelling on that part of her past. She inhaled sharply as her shadow surrounded the doll, only to vanish into the ceiling. Could he know of the hatred she had once held onto? No, it wasn't possible. Ink Stain couldn't know of the things she had done to her own sister. Calla sagged against the door frame, putting most of her weight on her uninjured foot. "I-If you ever see him again, run away. Don't let him get anywhere near you."

Seth sucked in a breath when Calla entered, extending a hand as though to keep her back. "Don't let him touch you!" That was when he heard Stain's voice in his head. Seth was distracted from the "shadow stealing" by the voice in his mind . . . and despite the disgust he felt for the doll, curiosity gnawed at his thoughts. The . . . fountain? His blue eyes narrowed, and he slowly started to step toward Calla. Perhaps he would go just to hear what the creature had to say. How could Ink Stain know him if he'd never met him before?

Snow had quite the different reaction. "You and I should talk, young one, before your mind if further corrupted by their lies."

His pale eyes widened at the words. The doll watched silently as Ink Stain spoke with Calla, taking the words in and frowning a bit. When the black creature had flown to the shadows, Snow couldn't help but shift uncomfortably. There was no denying that he was curious. There was also no denying that he was uncertain of everything. It wasn't that he didn't trust Calla or Mother, but he wanted to hear what Ink Stain had to say.

When Calla spoke to them, Seth nodded. "That was . . . creepy." He reached for the redhead, frowning when he saw her bandaged ankle. "What happened? Is something going on?"
-

Mother shrugged. "I . . . don't rightly know. I didn't create him, and he's been sealed away most of my life. The last thirty (I'm sorry, but the math with Seth's age and Mother's isn't adding up. It would make more sense if it was 30 instead of 20) years Ink Stain has been kept beneath the fountain."
She watched as Namine fixed the other doll up, finishing the bandages. "He wants to corrupt everyone and make them as he is. He wants control." The elder leaned against the table with her elbows, sighing. "I don't have the energy to deal with this."

((:D The delay is fine! ANd . . . sorry for not posting in the other rp yet! Life has been freakishly busy. >_<))

Calla smiled a little and shook her head. "It's...it's just a scratch." That was a lie. It was much worse than just a scratch. Just a scratch wouldn't have needed her entire ankle to be bandaged up, but Seth didn't need to know that, even though she was sure he would call her out on her lie. "That thing. Ink Stain...he's bad news. Really bad. He...sent this things after us in the kitchen. It was...well Namine said it was a mouse but..."

Calla shuddered, remembering the hideous creature and the teeth grinding sounds it had made. "That doll is corrupted, evil to the core. Please, whatever you do...don't go anywhere near him. Please!" Calla took Seth's hand for a moment, leaning in to hug him tight for a moment before letting go. She limped over to the bed and sagged down on the corner, wincing as she rotated her foot a little. "That creature he created was frightening. It was a mouse, or it had been...he does things, terrible things and he should be stopped."

"You're right," Seth said, though he didn't sound as convinced as he should have. "He should be stopped." He swallowed quietly, moving to sit on the chair near the bed. Looking at the bandage on Calla's ankle, he slowly frowned. "That is not just a scratch." He met her eyes for a moment before shaking his head. "You shouldn't lie to me. I'm only trying to help you, Calla." For a while he looked disappointed . . . and then he seemed to remember what she'd said.
"So that thing created a mouse . . . thing?"

From where he was resting, Snow frowned and looked down at his motionless hands. Interesting. It wasn't repulsive to him, but . . . curious. Keeping the expression off of his face, the doll closed his eyes and leaned back against the box's rim again.

Seeing the disappointment on his face was enough for Calla to regret the lie, as small as it had been. What a wonderful way to try and work at their friendship! If anything, lying to Seth would only make things worse. And like she had thought, he had called her out on it. "I'm sorry, Seth." she whispered softly, only nodding when he asked about the mouse. "Yes. It was...gross. Much larger than a normal mouse, almost like a rat really. It had one glowing red eye and it had metal claws that were so sharp. The sounds that it made were frightening really." She paused for a moment and sighed. "Hero was hurt a little too. His shoulder. He and the other two dolls are fine though. Mother came in just after the attack. She seems so tired...." Calla wondered if she should have said anything at all about mother in the end. It was a touchy subject with Seth and all. Still, she wanted to be as honest with him as possible. So that meant saying everything she needed to. Looking at the doll in the box, Calla smiled a little. "How are you feeling John? Did you sleep at all?"