After an obnoxious amount of time filled with much finger tapping on his let, the boys came back. Sorphiem's face barely changed its bored expression. He took quick stock of their weapons, his own long thin sword hidden at his shoulders between his wings. A plainly seen weapon did not become an elegant man like him and he preferred not to get involved with close quarters combat.

"Then we are ready now." he said, walking out the door. He had no pack of his own because he took what he needed from the world around him or formed it out of energy. nothing else was necessary.

Fang walked out after the demon while Zeke took out a key and locked the door behind him. The boy tied the key to a chain and put it around his neck. He would be sure that this was the last thing he lost on this trip.

"So..." Said Fang trying to keep up with the demon. "Whats your name?"

Sorphiem slowed his walk only slightly, unused to having companions or having to give out his name. "I am Sorphiem." he said simply. Which one was talking to him? He had heard them say their names, but he lumped them together. Oh well, it didn't matter. He wasn't about to get friendly with them.

"My name is Fang and Im a dragon!" He smiled up at Sorphiem. Zeke was running to catch up with Fang. "Zeke here is a demon also, but he deals with darkness more than anything else."

Zeke was a little embarassed that Fang was talking about him. "What kind of magic do you do?" Asked Zeke shyly.

Sorphiem nodded, annoyed that he was being forced into conversation. "I seem to have kept some of my powers from my past life in that I can absorb energy from around me and use it, but it isn't as easy in this realm. Besides that, I have a sword that I can use quite well." He swept his cape aside to show the long blade.

He had fair amounts of power he could say, but it just wasn't what he had in his past life where he had lived millennia even after losing his right to immortality. That, of all powers was what he sought most. If he collected enough power to him, he could learn to live forever and heal his wounds. wold domination type plans could wait until after that.

C'mon, c'mon. Wake up, you've been sleeping for far too long.

The voice in the sleeping man's head was insistent, and soon he felt a tugging at his ankle as well. "A'right, m'comin," he gurgled, struggling to open his eyes. "Ugh."

The tugging continued, and finally he was awake. Clad only in tattered trousers, he lay in soft, swirling silt among murky green waving plants. In fact, everything was murky. And what was still pulling at his ankle, exactly? He sat up, rubbing his head, then gazed astonished at two webbed feet, and the gruff-looking catfish that hovered between them. About time, naiad. You're needed. The voice rang in his head, and now at least he knew where it was coming from.

"Needed? For what?" he replied aloud. The sound carried well, but it carried with it a large, curious stream of bubbles. Underwater. He was under the water! He had to get out of here! Almost as soon as he’d thought this, he shot up, webbed feet kicking, and surfaced, gasping for real air.

Hey, wait a minute said the fish, but he ignored it, instead opting to look around. There he was in a small, but pristine lake, its clear waters reflecting two moons and a multitude of unfamiliar stars. A lush meadow surrounded the depression, and a small stream gently fed the lake, keeping the water oxygenated and the system healthy. Wait just a minute, let's not be hasty.

He ducked back under the water, and found himself face to face with the fish. "Listen, it's been nice meeting you, but I really can't stay here. I'll come back, I promise."

Oh, fine, be that way. I at least have to warn you. Don’t be alone.

The young man frowned. "I’ll... try not to be. Thank you for the warning." With that, he swam to the bank -- it was surprisingly easy -- and scrabbled up the sandy shore to the meadow. It was time to find a path.

Fang and Zeke admired the sword the man had hidden. "nice." Said Zeke. "I wish I had one that big."

Fang shook his head. I think they're too heavy. When it all comes down to it you need something that will let you move more freeley. Swords only slow you down." Fang laughed a little to himself. He really thought he was the smartest person around.

"Yeah but you run out of throwing knives really fast." Countered Zeke. "And when your done with your battle you have to pick them all up or spend more money on buying new ones."

Fang ignored him. "I kept some of my powers to, but everything is really different here." Fang looked at his hands. "In my past life I had the ability to summon magic from within to turn myself into a dragon whenever i wanted, but now I think Im a dragon naturally." Fang was obviously still a little confused on everything about himself.

Sorphiem pursed his lips. Obviously, the weren't going to stop talking any time soon. "All weapons have advantages and disadvantages, including magic, so no weapon is perfect." He chuckled to himself. but one could always strive for as close to perfect as possible.

He turned to Fang. "You only 'think' you are a dragon naturally?"

"Yeah." Said Fang. "I'm pretty sure im a dragon." He held his hand up for Sorphirim to see as it started to grow into a huge scaly claw. Eventually horns started to pertrude out of his head and wings sprout out of his back. Before he could complete the transformation he turned back. "If i had completed that then i would be a huge scaley monster by now all I have to do is foget about what I'm doing. I have to concentrate in order to stay in this form. When Im a dragon I dont have to think as much" Fang was proud of himself.

"Mister." Said Zeke. "You should be careful around Fang... He doesnt think to much."

Fang shot him a glare. It would only be a little while before he ran back there and got in a fight with him.

Kara glared at the man she had addressed as Delanos as he glided up behind the two little dolls on the beach. Where he had come from exactly remained a mystery. Kara seemed to know him very well, but certainly not fondly. Her soft gray eyes were now ablaze with a deep violet shade that swirled undecidedly between opposing shades of black and crimson. Her wings flared with a strange aura and seemed to grow slightly larger. Even her hair was moving wildly at its ends, even though there was no breeze to be found for miles. She stood very very still... swords drawn. Except for the man's silky voice, the silence was choking.

The doll's looked uncertainly between the two, not really sure how to assess the situation.

"My you ARE rude aren't you? Is this how you greet an old friend? Why draw your swords when you're already throwing daggers from your eyes child?" Delanos addressed Kara casually and sarcastically.

Kara bore her fangs menacingly. She had no intention of carrying on ANY sort of conversation with this man. Delanos was ancient. His powers and his age rivaled that of many of the Greater Spirits even combined in large numbers. And he was deadly. Kara had only one encounter with him. Just one, and it was a very passive encounter. She and her allies had to deal with countless numbers of his armies in one of the ancient wars. She had never had the chance to assault him in person, and despite the desperate need to keep the peace, she lusted for this man's blood.

"I can see there will be no reasoning with you at the moment. No matter. I only came for them." He pointed to the dolls. Olivia looked at him with confusion and suspicion. Benvolio only continued sucking more sea water out of his foot, looking mildly entertained.

Kara gave a very quick passing glance at the dolls. "Why would you want them?" She hissed.

"It's only natural for me to want what is already mine. You see I have had my eye on them for some time now. I've only been waiting for their arrival. Now they are here, and I will be taking them. Oh don't look so upset. I only desire to train them properly. You will see them again in the future once I have completed their education." He said in an icy matter-of-fact tone.

Kara still did not respond, and only continued to glare hard at the man who had taken the lives of several friends and two of her children in the past.

"Until then." Delanos vanished without a sound or shimmer.

Kara hissed at the spot where he had been before whirling around to stomp back to the castle. Normally she would fly or teleport, but she needed to walk out some of this aggression before she took it out on her friends or her children.

Seeing Delanos face-to-face for the first time that close... was more than she was prepared to handle at the moment. She hoped that if she did see him again, it wouldn't be anytime soon.

Kara felt an incredible surge of spiritual pressure that could only mean her friend Sordina had come to see her. SHe cheered up considerably, wondering what her dear friend could be doing at her dwelling during this hour. She quickened her pace towards the castle. She did not want to keep her waiting.

The shadow stepped out from near the horse very slowly, careful to guard and watch for any hidden things Arianna might hurl in his direction. Not that it would matter... He just didn't want an excuse to attack the person of whom he desired to ask favors.

He stepped into the light of a lantern... and removed his hood.

The man was very tall, with deep raven hair that shone like ink. It must have hung all the way down to his ankles, because the ends could be seen brushing against his dark black boots just inches off the dusty road. His face was pale as death, and his eyes looked dark and cold as black ice. Despite all of that, he still maintained a somewhat charming air. A spindly looking hand reached up to hold the reins of the nearest horse that whinnied nervously in his presence. He gave Arianna a sharp undaunting stare.

"All that talent... and so little to show for it..." He looked at the wagon with distaste.

"I have been watching you for some time, Arianna, and I can tell you truly, you would do well in my services. There is so much more to be had than small trinkets of coin. Revenge for one... Wouldn't it feel so much better if you knew you were taking lives for more than just financial gain? Tell me, Arianna... are you a woman of justice?"

He gave her a terribly hard stare, and a small grin that hinted at the presence of two prominent fangs beneath his thin lips... It was a look that said, 'You will say yes no matter what you might wish to say instead.'

Thalian served the two girls his mountain of breakfast in the servant's quarters and they all sat there in awkward silence while they ate their food. He was prepared to wrestle food into Hollow's mouth if she even dared refuse to eat it. She was starving, and he cared too much to allow her to perish just because she was so damn stubborn. Although he kept trying to tell himself he really didn't care... but his conscience refused to drop the subject. Were he able to punch himself in the mind, he would probably have found a way to do so by now.

Aideen too, was quiet. It was obvious there was a great deal on both woman's mind. He tried hard not to pry... often having to mentally run himself into the 'do NOT cross this line' brick wall to keep himself from wandering into any of their personal thoughts. Especially Hollow's. He still had bruises from the last time that happened... But something was strange about the vibrations of Hollow's thoughts. It almost felt like there was another signal trying to intercept them somewhere. Someone that wasn't Hollow OR himself was seeking out the threads of her mind. This concerned him immensely. Somebody was coming. Somebody was looking for her. A couple of the intercepting trails felt weak enough... but there was a third one that really unnerved him. He finished his breakfast quickly.

"Today, we're going to head up to the castle beyond the forest that sits on the edge of the northern mountains. You both may have heard of the castle and its owners in passing. I'm going to inquire as to whether anyone there has come across any of the Valrae recently. In the very least, I want to find out if they know where any of them might have gone. There are MANY strange things at work in this region at the moment, all of which are terribly confusing, and none of which having any quick solution. I'm hoping the walk will make ALL of us feel better... No more fighting today, if we can help it.. alright?"

He gave Hollow a very specific knowing glare, but smiled warmly at her none the less, his black eyes sparkling in that weird way they always did. The curly end of his ponytail bounced and swung around to hit Hollow square in the forehead as he stood up to clear his plate. He noticed, and chuckled slightly. Hopefully they could all get to know each other a little better today, and maybe the movement would deter whoever was searching for Hollow...

He also prayed that Kara would have some answers all of them could use...

Hollow started to eat what was in front of her slowly. She didnt want to have to deal with the Valrae stuffing her face for her. She would like to avoid that at all cost.

She listened to him explain what she would be forced to do today. She tried to keep her anger in, but the ponytail in the face set her off. Instead of screaming and yelling she stabbed her fork into the table making a very large noise and regained her peace. It made her feel better to have stabbed something although she wished she had the bravery to stab someone else.

Hollow remained silent hoping that no one would speak to her so she didnt have to get upset at anyone. It was dangerous to her health anyway.

Gripping her knife tightly she levered herself out of the cart and grabbed the reins back from this stranger with her free hand. She’d seen the look on his face many a time from all of her previous clients, but somehow his offer sounded a bit more…tantalizing.

He stood about 6 inches taller than her 5 feet and 9 inches, but she tried to stare him down anyways. She didn’t like stalkers and she didn’t like people disturbing her sleep, he was lucky to be standing.

“What sort of pay do you have in mind? I’ll tell you I don’t care about your reasons for revenge.” Arianna was looking at this stranger in an uninterested sort of way, but still keeping up her guard. “Those reasons are your own, not mine! Though, if the situation shows wrong-doing it does bring some satisfaction to my job.”

Slowly she began petting the mare’s nose to calm her. Arianna was feeling a bit uneasy about this man’s presence, his energy seemed a bit wrong…but she didn’t know what it was. “You haven’t told me who the job is and why aaah…I’m sorry you never mentioned your name?” Tilting her head at the stranger, she never loosened the hold on her knife.

Aideen sat perched on the edge of the stool, and dug into the eggs and toast. Everything else she left alone. She was still naturally unsure of her body and its diet, and could not picture fresh fruit burning in any pleasant way. In any case, she was famished, and it was easy to focus on breakfast at the expense of other things.

It was easy to focus, that was, until Thalian mentioned the castle. That had been Aideen's destination since awakening in that crater of glass in the desert. But then she'd been guided here, and for a very short time, she'd felt safe. She did not feel safe now, of course, yet the idea of being out in the open bothered her even more. Perhaps the wardrobe held a garment that could help conceal what she was. It would be worth a look.

She did not reply to Thalian immediately. After clearing her own plate, she returned to the wardrobe, quietly so as not to wake Valerie and Rolgen if they were in fact still asleep. The armoire seemed particularly eager to help, offering up all manner of capes, shawls, veils and so on. It took several minutes to sort through it all before Aideen found a very long, hooded cloak, black and shimmering, of a similar fabric as her gown. The hood was very deep, but more importantly, no light would show through the cloak. It would not hide her wings, but that couldn't be helped as far as she knew.

The cloak, along with a pair of long black gloves, and some practical walking shoes, she carried back down to the others. "Will your parents be safe alone here?" was all she could think of to ask.

Sorphiem nodded with just a slight bit of approval at Fang. "Then indeed you seem to be a dragon." How interesting, especially since the boy seemed to prefer a human form.

His gaze flicked over to Zeke. "And I suppose you think yourself better because you imply you think more?"

Zeek gave Sophirim a weird look "yes." He said it like it should be obvious.

Fang couldnt take anymore. He got Zeke into a headlock and started messing with his hair roughly. He started mumbling something about being stronger and being more human like than he was under his gritted teeth.

"NO NO NO!" Shouted Zeke. "Let me go!"

Sorphiem stared at them, aghast. He had an urge to just leave them, but that wouldn't help him much. He grabbed the nearest boy, Fang, and dragged him from Zeke by the back of his shirt. He them deposited Fang on the ground, glaring at both of them before roaring, "You two are pathetic!! We have places to go, so get going NOW!!!!"

Fang was about to argue, but quickly shut his mouth. "Sorry." He said as he got back up. Zeke was to scared to stick his tongue out at Fang. He was definetly smarter than Fang.

"Where are we going first?" Asked Zeke in his small voice. He didnt want to anger the man any further, but something told him that Fang was going to get them both killed. No wonder Hollow left him at home.

Sorphiem froze, his face twitching. He didn't know exactly and only had a rough direction. He wasn't about to admit that, so he decided that roughly knowing where he was going was going to have to do. He was having problems with Hollow's mind that was shifty by nature as the form of a shadow child was.

"We are going this way!" he snapping, jerking his head in the direction of a path leading out of the town.

Fang looked a little worried. "Before we get any further I think I should tell you there are certain people that we dont talk to just in case you want to know. Valrae are number one. They have ways to get into your mind and learn all your secrets so we like to steer clear from them." Fang had to run to catch up to the demon.

"The second one is gods." Fang looked like he was contemplating something. "I dont really know why, but Hollow said not to so we obey."

"Alright...and you feel the need to tell me this, why?" Sorphiem said, annoyed and slightly confused. "I swear you two are very random!" But he wasn't going to snap at them for avoiding those certain types of people. Valrae did have an annoying way of prying into thoughts and of course, god weren't to messed with lightly.

Soridas gait faltered for a moment, her lightly pointed ears tenatively twitching as she did so.

"Well now, that is not quite right..." she muttered to herself.

Her chest had felt that oh-so-familiar daunting crush. The same one she felt when she was to take on a strong nightmare. She didn't like disturbances like these and she felt one amongst them at present time. Almost as quickly as it had arrived, it had gone.

Caught up in her thoughts, she had to shake herself, spying Kara coming forth from the beach, a slightly disgruntled look upon her lovely face.

"And neither is that." she spoke more firmly this time, not enjoying the fact that her friend was bothered by something. The thought was whisked away though as Kara seemed to recognize her presence, her face livening considerably. Her step resumed; if anything quickened, Sorida set after Kara, fully intent on making this woman smile before any matter of sordid business was dealt.

As a child who had just learned to do a new trick, she was giddy with excitement. For she had indeed, learned a new trick.

"Kara!"

Her voice rung out vibrant and clear, a laugh at the back of her throat.

"We are not random." Denied Zeke.

"Yeah!" Added Fang. "We're just telling you our policies and stuff so that you arent confused when you see us acting weird." Fang shifted his pack. "What kind of rules have you set for yourself? Everyone seems to have a code that they live by." Fang started to have a skip in his step "Do you have a motto?"

Hey everyone. I have moderators coming out of the woodwork bitching at me for my double posts despite how well they keep everyone organized. SO! I'm going to have to start responding to your stories in new ways. If you haven't color-coded your character by now, unfortunately I'm going to have to require that you do so. This way, when you all see my big combined posts, you'll know which one was directed at you based on what color it is. For example, when I reply to Hollow's stories, it will be bold black. Aideen will be dark red, etc etc.. So keep reviewing and reading the posts you can follow along. :D I'm sorry they won't accommodate a RP on this scale when it comes to double posting... -.-

Aideen and Hollow

The awkward silence was boring into Thalian's nerves to the point where he just couldn't stand it any longer. He had to know what they were thinking so he could assess the situation. He would save Hollow for last... just in case she pummeled him before he could get to Aideen.

He sat back down at the table with a huge sigh, looking from one woman to the other. Neither would look at him... This bothered him way more than he supposed it should, but he couldn't help that now. He stilled his mind, and slowly approached Aideen's thoughts...

There were beautiful things there. And terrifying things. He saw flashes of dancing and flashes of fire. It was all beautiful in a chaotic sort of way, just like she was. And then he found what he was looking for: fear. Her mind positively reeked of fear. She was afraid of being alone. She was afraid of traveling and people in general. She was afraid of being afraid. And she was afraid of him... Though he did not and could not blame her, it still stung him more than he expected it to, even though he had been anticipating that sentiment. His face grew more downfallen... If this is what AIDEEN was thinking, he wasn't sure he wanted to know what was going through Hollow's chaotic brain case. He would have to search none-the-less...

Hollow wasn't much better off. She was afraid, but it was more because her mind was occupied with aggravated uncertainty. About what though? He saw flashes of many people she had come across over the course of her life, which was a great deal indeed considering the nature of her living. He couldn't tell if any one person was calling her mind away in particular, except the thoughts that were firmly plastered with distasteful musings about himself...

He put his face into his hands as his elbows sunk onto the table with a very exasperated look in his eyes. He ran his fingers back through his hair, stretching his brow into a very strange position before releasing it again. He finally spoke while untangling his fingers from his now disheveled ponytail.

"Alright. I can see the whole picture here. Aideen, you're too afraid to leave or even really deal with anything or anyone right now, especially me. Your mind is too preoccupied with strange things that I cannot, nor do I wish to decipher. If we were attacked on the way to the castle, I'm afraid you would be no good to us in your present state of mind. I want you to stay by the hearth in the room with my parents until I return. Watch over them and alert them if there is any danger. I know you will be more suited to this task at the moment, and I would be honored to appoint you to it."

He looked at Hollow reproachfully, but then immediately corrected his countenance to a stern glare.

"Hollow, if you really don't wish to be here, and you truly wish to continue your life as a cut throat villain outside the reach of care and friendship, then by all means, that is your choice. It's obvious you hate my guts, and more obvious that you don't want to stay here for any reason. You're still welcome to stay if you wish, but I will not keep you here by force any longer. So, if you want to go back to wherever you came from and forsake everything I've done for you here, then go right ahead!"

This last statement came off far angrier than he wanted it to. He couldn't help it though. He really WAS angry, and he was getting more angry BECAUSE he was angry. He swore loudly into the air to keep the familiar conundrum from cycling through his mind again.

"I'm going to the castle." He announced. "Anyone who wishes to join me may join me. If you wish to leave, then so be it."

He looked directly and intentionally at Hollow.

"Just keep in mind, that those who wander alone are the first to die." Without another word, he whirled out of his chair, knocking it over, before stomping out the back door of the servants quarters and to the stables beyond them.

Kara was immensely relieved at the sight of her good friend, Sordina. She waved back as she quickened her pace even more, and her smile grew with every step. Delanos could be kicked to the back of her mind for now. She only wish she had kicked him earlier...

I wonder what Sordina has done this time? Kara mused with a grin. Sordina was always coming across new discoveries and new ways to work magic. It was one of their favorite topics to discuss over beverages.

Despite her grace, Kara lost her eloquence in her fast steps as she lost her foot in a large hole. She went down instantly in a shower of white hair, wings, and swords. Luckily none of the swords sliced her...

She looked up at her approaching friend with a very red face and started mumbling something about spirit bunnies and their stupid burrows and how it most definitely wasn't her fault for tripping.

"You may call me Knight." The dark figure replied in a tone that had a considerable bite to it no matter how charming he might have sounded. He eyed Arianna over again. Not at all with romantic interest. It was the sort of casual bored look a man might give when he was sorting through fruit trying to pick out the bruised pieces.

"And I speak truly when I tell you revenge and justice are worth their weight in gold... and power..." He said this last part with a sort of whispering hush. "Particularly for the task I will demand of you."

He interrupted her protests and hateful glares before she could even begin shaping them into words with a very swift and fierce handgesture indicating complete silence.

"You will require a bit of training." Knight said without even acknowledging Arianna's skepticism. "But I believe you will do nicely. Leave this cart behind. It will slow us down, and you will not think of it again once I have shown you what rewards lie in wait for you should you complete this task. But hush now. We musn't speak here. Her spies and allies are everywhere, and The Realm gossips enough of its own accord. Let us remove ourselves somewhere more... discrete."

Without a moment's hesitation or fear of her idle threats, Knight enveloped Arianna in his dark cloak, pressing her tight to his chest. He felt as cold as he looked, which was incredibly unnerving. What was more... he had no heartbeat. Their surroundings went dark, and before Arianna could even assess her situation, she had reappeared in a heap on a classy black marble floor in a large guest chamber.

Rowan and Nelo were relieved to see Kara would be alright and the potential problem had vanished... at least for now.

"Alright Kitara, everything is..." Rowan trailed off with her sentence when she realized Kitara was no longer standing where she had been.

"KITARA!" She cried out. Nelo looked up at Rowan worried, and then back to where Kitara had stood only minutes before. And where was Anthony? Rowan looked very angry for a moment, and then panicked.

"Kitara!" She cried out again. "It's safe to come out now! There's no need to hide!" Her voice could probably have been heard inside AND outside the castle she was yelling so loud. On top of being concerned for Kitara, she knew her mother would destroy her every fibre if she lost track of a newborn.

"Come on, Nelo." Rowan snapped down to the confused girl, who actually hadn't done anything wrong for once. "I'm not sure where Kitara wandered off to, but I have a feeling if we find Anthony, we'll find her..." Rowan said through gritted teeth as she sent pulsating magic out through the castle in search of her brother's aura. Nelo only squeaked a little as Rowan yanked her along in tow.

Hollow started up with her anger again. He was reading her mind! She would have stabbed him with her fork, but something he said before was far more important. She was allowed to leave. Hollow got up and walked towards the door. She decided to go outside for a minute or two and think about it.

She thought about what waited for her back home. They were becoming dirt poor really fast and she wouldnt be able to keep her and her apprentices alive for very long. Here with the Valrae she had what she had always wanted; hope. She figured that they might be able to help her get rid of her curse. She might be able to live her full life span.

She started thinking about Zeke and Fang. What was she going to do about them? Would the Valrae take them in too? Zeke and Fang were a hand full, but they werent nearly as stubborn as herself. Poor little Zeke. Hollow was starting to miss their random babblings about things she didnt really care to know about.

She didnt know what to do. She wanted to ask Thalian for help, but he had to be somewhere. Or did he? Hollow was now pacing back and forth outside the mansion contemplating her next move. The horse was still there outside watching her pace back and forth back and forth. Every once in a while it would give a little neigh.

Eventually Hollow decided to take a different approach to the subject. She needed: Zeke Fang and the cursed ring. In order to get that: Thalian needed to help her. What was in the way: The deathly dangerous forest and... Thalian himself.

Hollow let out an angry yell.

Thalian picked up on the sound of Hollow's typical angry voice. He also knew she could only be making such an outburst if she was frustrated. And if she was frustrated, that meant he had won, no matter what the outcome. He rode his father's horse out of the stable and trotted up to Hollow with a very smug grin on his face.

"So? Hollow? What seems to be pissing you off this morning?" He sneered down at her.