Sky started to answer Carly but before she could her attention was drawn to the man who had started speaking. She felt her face starting to cool down as he introduced himself. She waited for the others to introduce themselves, not wanting to be put in the spotlight so soon. She grabbed a biscuit and started to crumble it on a plate in front of her, nodding her thanks to Carley.

Bending shadows? That could definitely come in very useful on the mission Death had handed them. She hadn't had a chance to see if her 'gift' worked yet. Maybe later when she was alone, although she wouldn't mind Aaron being around while she practiced. She wondered what gift Death had given him.

Aaron's attention was originally on Carley as well but then Kyle introduced himself and suggested that the rest do the same. Obvious surprise took Aaron's face in the form of a raised eyebrow and an inquisitive look after Kyle admitting that he was happier now that he was dead. After revealing that Kyle could command the shadows Aaron sort of wished he had asked for a more unique power such as that.

Once Kyle was finished with his introduction Aaron spoke, "My name is Aaron Shaw. I asked for master archery talents. I was actually quite happy when I was alive."

Aaron looked over to Kyle with a smirk before continuing, "It is good to have another sword enthusiast here. Swords is what my life revolved around, I have practiced many different styles but my favorite have to be modern bastard swords, great swords, and longsword with a shield. I simply decided for master archery because I am just obsessed with the old styles of combat, I always wanted to learn archery just all my time was consumed by swords. Unfortunately it seems competition days are over for me, but I plan to make the best of the situation we have all been thrown in."

He ended with a shrug and a sigh before his eyes scanned the room with his gaze stopped on Sky. The smirk on Aaron's face had turned into a smile by now, and a biscuit quickly disappeared after it entered his hands. Returning his gaze to those around the room he waited for the rest of the introductions.

Novalee woke up a matress that was laid on the floor. She looked around to find that not many people were there. Standing above her was a black robed figure who she recognized from the night before. She had met Death as she was walking home from a school event. They had a costume party. She had taken her keys out to unlock the front door when Death came up to her and proposed a favour to her. He granted her any skill in return for something from her.

"I want to fly and create energy balls," she had said to the creepy figure. Her reason was to secretly fight crime in her city. She lived in Philadelphia which was suffering from dog fights and murders. Death granted her wish, and she went to bed not knowing that she would never wake to see her family again.

When he told her that she had to die which was never mentioned before she made the deal, she freaked out. She couldn't be dead. There was so much in life that she wanted to do. Then he mentioned their first assignment. She agreed to a favour, not numerous ones. If they did these assignments, would he bring them back to life or are they his for all eternity. How could he let the biggest term of his deal from them until it was too late?

She stood up and stormed out of the room. She didn't have anything to say to him. He hoodwinked them for his own benefit.

Jayson woke up groaning. The night before, he had cut himself all over until he bleed to death, because he couldn't bring back the one he loved like Death told him he could. He tried to miss all main arteries and veins. He wanted a slow and painful death to remind him of all the pain he had to endure on this retched planet that plaqued his soul black.

He was lying on a plush, green couch on the far side of the room. Death had just finished talking to a girl when he sat up. He sighed as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He knew what had happened before Death even spoke. To gain his powers, he had to die and serve him.

He stood up and walked over to Death. "So, what is it that you want us to do for you?" He listened to Death as he spoke of a ghost town that was probably under control of a witch or warlock and that he should arm himself and get something to eat. "If we are dead, then why should we eat?" It was a valid question. If they could eat, they weren't truely dead.

"Carley Auberdene. A pleasure to meet all of you." Carley said softly. "I wouldn't have made the deal with Death if I had realized he would kill me for it." She blinked tears back as she thought about it. She had already made a scene in front of these people once. She didn't need to have a repeat performance.

"I'm afraid of small spaces. Claustrophobic. So I asked for the ability to create doors where there are none. This way I can always get out." She looked down and stared at nothing, her voice distant. "It was selfish of me really. Only thinking of myself when I could have asked for anything."

"I don't know why Death offered me the deal. I don't know how to fight like you two do. I never did anything out of the ordinary. How could I possibly help the people in that town? What do I have to offer? Nothing. Nothing but selfishness." By this time Carley had stopped caring that she was sharing with strangers. She was only talking out loud to herself. Looking up and blinking her glassy eyes, Carley smiled weakly at her new companions.

Wyvern woke slowly, feeling slightly strange. When she opened her eyes, she didn't recognise the room she was in at all. She sat up, looking around a bit, before remembering what she had agreed to. She wondered for a moment why it didn't much bother her that she now had to work for Death himself, but realised she didn't care. She was now free to do as she pleased, within reason.

Hearing the sound of voices coming from a different room, she stood and wandered over, peeking in through the open door. It looked to be a kitchen, with quite a few people. She could smell the food, but didn't really feel like getting involved at the moment. She more wanted to find out what was going on, so she turned to leave.

Syblle listened, now picking at a biscuit, to her new companions and sighed. “again with the weapons…” Carley’s introduction brought Syblle close to tearing up too. She dropped the biscuit and for a moment just looked at her, but eventually she gently placed her hand on Carley’s shoulder.

Smiling, Syblle said, “Maybe you could cook for them, this biscuit is delicious!! I think death had a reason for choosing each of us and that maybe we are all important. Besides, I can sew a mean dress, but that is all you are going to get from me. If they have any giant sewing needles in the horrible armory than I’m good to go. Otherwise we are in the same boat.”

“I’m Syblle Dean, and I wasn’t awared I’d be dying either but that is what I get I suppose for making a pact with death right. Anyways, I asked for…..a….super-speed.”

Novalee ended up walking to the kitchen. She didn't want to be bothered with anyone else right at the moment, but she was indeed hungry. Maybe she could grabb a little something and run, but to where? To one of the bedrooms Death at mentioned? She refused to. She hated Death for how he used them. They heard of the devil making deals in which the person is enslaved to him, not Death.

She didn't know what she was going to do. What was she supposed to do? Should she serve Death? She closed her eyes in hopes that everything wasn't real. She opened them to find that she was still in the same spot before she closed them. "Great. I'm dead, and now I'm a slave to Death. Just perfect."

Death had no answered the boy. He simply just walked away without a word. Jayson stood up and walked out of the room. This was getting irritating. He had questions, and he wanted them answered.

He heard people talking in a room not far from where he was. How many lives had Death taken? It sounded like quite a lot, but not enough to build his own army. He walked into the kitchen to find people eating and conversing. It was like they were okay with being dead and used. He walked to one of the empty, small, round tables and sat down. Everyone was different, but they all seemed young. Why had Death picked this age group? Did he want people who were ignorant? Why else had so many agreed to Death's deal without asking what this favour of his was?

Well that answered that question. I know what Aaron's gift is now She smiled back at Aaron as their eyes met again. Since a few more people had volunteered their stories she figured it was her turn. Fighting down the urge to just slip out of the room she took a deep breath. You can do this, just calm down She disliked speaking in front of a bunch of people and hated being the center of attention, especially if she started stuttering which could be a problem since there were other men in the room. Maybe I should have asked for more confidence...

Steadying herself inside she decided to go for it before she lost her nerve. She spoke softly but clearly so that everyone could hear her. "Hello. My Name is Sky Rushling. I asked Death for the ability to change into any animal at will. I haven't exactly tested it out yet to see if it works but I'm sure I'll have a good chance to practice with it later."

She felt her cheeks burning as she flushed. It was...unnerving to speak in front of all these people she didn't know. Being dead sure hadn't taken away any of her awkwardness or shyness at all. She hung her head down slightly and her long black hair fell in front of her face, hiding most of it. Speaking softly again, "I don't really know if I was happy when I was alive but I think, for me, that I'm going to treat it as a fresh start."

She looked up hesitantly as she finished speaking, her eyes scanning the room.

"Ok well that accounts for a samall number of us. How about the rest. What about you?" he said as he noticed teh too new people who had just entered. "Wha's your name power and somthing about you we should know."

Novalee looked up at the boy who was apparently asking for some information from her. "Novalee Feidt, I can create energy orbs, and I can fly if you haven't noticed my wings. Something you should know? Don't mess with me." She sat down at an empty table with her head in her arms.

She was still extremely peeved about the whole ordeal. How come they were all calm about this? Everyone of them was dead. They couldn't go back to their family, friends, and the ones they love. Everything was gone, and they seemed to be okay with it. It was not right.

Jay looked over at the boy who had spoken. "My name is Jayson Flamel, but please call me Jay. I can bring the dead back to life, but there's probably a catch with it. I do not know exactly." He looked around at the others. It seemed that they were coping well for those who had just learned they were dead and had to serve Death.

"I can also take a person's life with just a snap, but like I said before, there's probably a catch."

Aaron listened with much interest as the introductions and list of powers audibly circled the room. Once sky offered up her addition to the conversation he responded with a smile after her eyes came to his. Noting Sky's power to shift into different animals Aaron continued to listen quietly to the others.

Then Kyle addressed the two new people who had come into the room recently, Aaron thought back to when he woke and remembered that they had been no where in sight. So keeping that in mind he took particular interest in their names. After hearing the serious nature of Jay's powers Aaron became a little uneasy. That was quite a power, something that only death himself was capable of until now he guessed.

"I would be inclined to agree with you, both of those powers sound like a catch had to be attached to them.", Aaron took a moment to think of what those catches may be but not very many things came to mind.

He decided to change the topic since it seemed everyone in the room had said a little about themselves, "I think after we eat those who did not get to go to the armory yet should and after that we can find out exactly what was wrong with that town Death told us about."

With a sigh Carley stood and washed her plate in the industrial sized sink. "I guess you are right. Not that I know how to use a weapon, but I guess I'll find something."

Leaving the room and taking a deep breath once in the quiet of the hallway, Carley headed towards the armory. Inside were swords, daggers, guns, spears, bows, and just about every weapon known to man. She felt a little dazed by the possibilities. Trailing her fingers over the hilts of weapons, she wandered to the very back of the massive room. What could she really use from here?

Strapping a utility belt around her waist she hooked smoke grenades into their spaces. Looped an all purpose knife, about eight inches in length, onto the belt on her right side. She slipped a utility knife into her pocket just in case she needed it. That was all she took. It was about all she knew how to use.

Returning to the kitchen and feeling a bit stupid wearing the gear Carley said, "Ok. I'm ready to go."

Jayson sighed, "Well Death wouldn't want me to be as strong as him, now would he? But I do wonder what it could be. Do I my powers get weaker each time I use them, do I loss my powers after so many uses, or something else?" He looked over at the small buffet of food after the boy mentioned that people should go to the armory after eating.

"Why eat? If we're dead, we don't need the nutrition anymore." He stood up and walked out of the room. Death had said that the armory was on this floor, so it shouldn't be hard to find. He did find the kitchen afterall without any help. And he was correct. The armory wasn't far from the kitchen.

Sky narrowed her eyes slightly at the hostility that the other two that had joined them in the kitchen showed. It looked as though they were not very happy to have been put in the situation. Then again she could see why they would be angry. Death hadn't mentioned that they would have to die to get their ability. She was a little put out by it herself, but it's not like she could do anthing about it now so she was going to make the best out of it.

She decided to keep an eye on those two for the moment until she got to know them better. Those were some serious powers to have, catch or not. It was always better to be alert for possible enemies, even if they were supposed to be in this 'group' Death had assembled. After all, it's not like everyone was going to be friendly and want to be friends with everyone in the group.

She had finished eating her biscuit while the others had given their introductions and decided it was about time she figured out how to use her power. She would rather have some idea of what she could do before they headed out to the town Death had mentioned. This way she would be able to help more if something came up.

She looked over at Aaron and smiled softly at him. "I think it would be best if I practiced a bit with the 'gift' Death gave me. I think I'll go outside." She had kept herself calm as she spoke, even though she was growing nervous with the thought of trying out her ability. She started to flush as she looked down before speaking again. "I..umm...I was wondering if you would like to come with me?" She was blood red as she finished asking him.

She wouldn't have dared to ask any of the others. She didn't know any of them yet and Aaron-well she just felt that he wouldn't be one to laugh at her if she made a fool out of herself. Plus there was just something about him that set her at ease. She wouldn't have been comfortable like this with anyone else. It was-strange, but she found she liked it.

Aaron snapped his head in Jayson's direction, after looking away to grab some food, and watched him walk away with a face that reflected utter disbelief. 'Turning down food... and free food at that. Dead or not dead that is just weird.', Aaron thought to himself as the biscuit began to curve his 'hunger'.

Then Sky started talking about going outside to test her gift, which got Aaron thinking about his own 'power'. She seemed a bit shy when asking him to go with her and Aaron accepted as if he never noticed.

"I need to test out my own powers as well.", Aaron added as they began to walk out of the kitchen and then suggested, "When everyone is ready lets gather outside, we will be there."

Together they made their way through number of different rooms until finding an exit. The large door seemed to be the front entrance, and opened to reveal a elaborate stone path, surrounded by beautiful plants of different assortments, that leads to a large gate roughly fifty feet away.

((sorry I have not been posting, my finals are coming up soon so I have been studying and my mind has been elsewhere))

"Ok well I think we ought to be going. Nice to meet you all, given the circumstances. Would you like to come with me Yan?"

He noticed a guy staring at him with a very brotherly look directed at Yan. OH He must be her brother. He nodded politely "On second thought I think I'll GO to my room and change. MY clothges are all grimy."

He added quitely to Yan "You might want to go talk to him. "

((Reread the posts adn TItus was actually in the kitchen.))

Sky looked around as they made their way outside. A gate that she assumed led outside to...well wherever this place was caught her eye for a moment. She dismissed it quickly, anxiously wanting to find out if her 'powers' worked the way she thought they should. She spotted a open area a few feet from them that seemed to have a few trees and benches under them. She started to walk over to it, pleased that Aaron had decided to come with her.

She took a deep breath after moving in what seemed to be the center of the clearing. "I'm not sure how this is going to work but I'll never find out if I don't try. I think I'll start with something small, like a cat." She shot a nervous look at Aaron before she started to concentrate on the business at hand.

Ok, lets see. A cat. Maybe if I visualize a cat in my mind. Cat, cat. Black to blend in with the night. Small, not a big cat. She hesitantly opened her eyes and looked around, startled to find everything had gotten huge. Looking around she came across a pair of boots. She took a step forward and found instead of two legs she now had four. It was a bit unsettling at first but she found she had wonderful balance. She looked up and found Aaron staring down at her.

She looked behind her and found that she was a cat with glossy black fur and a tail that was whipping back and forth. Very pleased with herself she took a few steps and jumped up on the bench nearest to them. It was almost too easy. She was thrilled! Now to change back. Closing her eyes again she concentrated on just being her. She opened her eyes to find she was sitting on the bench she had been sitting on as a cat. She looked over to Aaron and grinned hugely. "It works!," she called out.

Kyle simply walked out and found the meeting room. It was lush with business chairs all around. A backpack rested on each chair fully packed and ready. Kyle decided to sit in the middle of the table. He looked at the backpack in front of him and found that it contained a plethora of survival gear. It had mountain climbing equipment and other interesting finds. Most of it was useless for him and especially for their current mission. Death said that they would be going to a place in Arizona or something. Kyle didn't know mush about Arizona except it was hot and dry. He had never been their and had never expected to go. Now he was but it was for "business" not pleasure. He saw Death enter a little while later and sit at the head of the table. Kyle did not want to speak to the hooded figure and so he didn't. He sat their and played with the shadows of his hands, forming them into two small warriors and facing them off against each other. He was ambidextrous so they seemed to follow those rules, neither actually won, they both tried out. He found it comical and continued to do it. He watches his shadow fighters then gets an idea. He takes the shadows of the things around him, the lamp, the centerpiece, and made a large creature, that actually was only a foot tall, it must've seemed like a Godzilla sized monster to the small men. He Watched as the men discovered a common enemy and fought it and destroyed it. They worked together to survive. When they did kill the beast Kyle felt a surge of energy rush toward. The energy used to form and maintain the magic came back to him. When he tried to move his hands he couldn't. The shadow men were part of his hands and made it impossible to move, because they were incomplete. When he used other things shadows it cost more energy but using his own made him immobile. So this is my catch! He released the magic and dozed off.

(anyone home?)

(*sigh* I've been wondering that same thing myself. Seems as if everybody got busy)

(anyone still interested in this rp or did it die off)

(I think it died which SUCKS. I was really enjoying this one...)