NationStates Jolt Archive

http://publish.hometown.aol.com/genesisversai/images/enamarcia.jpg

Enamarcia…
I breathed in deeply, the crisp air entering my lungs for the first time. I have no idea what she must have felt. I could only imagine. What I do not understand, though, is how she retains her position even though she has gone through a transformation. She is an anomaly, as far as any of us could figure out. I always know she would be the first to break her chains, as none of us ever went against what we were told. But that’s what was required of us. I haven’t realized this until now.

We haven’t forgotten about her at all. How could we? She is causing quite a stir, and somehow remains sane and holder of her rank. Out of the four of us, she is the highest ranking. Out of all of us, she has challenged the most aspects of life and death. I don’t really get it, but that’s the way it always was with her. Seems she’s taken up a school.
What is this…this new alias she goes by? Ravelyn... It was them who had given her this name, why did she keep it? I heard Azrael whispered among the eldest in hushed tones. I needed to speak with her, to see if she really still held her title true.

I saw what she went though, unable to help. We all did. I wonder why now I am here, what affect this will have on me. It is lucky for me that I am on different terms in coming here. I can not picture being torn with knifes and observed, locked in chains, nor studied inch by inch. I could not fathom wings ripping from the skin of my back and leaving me in searing pain. I don’t know how she survived it.

It is true I had fought alongside her. She saved me as I saved her. Both of us took blows for each other, fighting to the bitter end. And in the end, feathers and scales alike had fallen to the ground and lay stained with the crimson blood of both angels and devils.

I haven’t seen her other than from a distant view in millennia…and I wonder how my sister is doing.

A lone woman leans on the railing overlooking a moonlight night sky. The air is clear and cool, and it blows her dark auburn tresses back in soft wave. Her crimson eyes look out into the sky, outlined in long black lashes. Her alabaster hands grip the intricately woven metal bar of the railing of the balcony of her study. There is a small scar, hardly noticeable, running under her right eye. She looked around twenty three, but you could tell that there was an eon of knowledge behind her scarlet eyes. She had a slender yet toned figure, and was around five feet ten inches. There were gloves that cut off at the knuckles on both of her hands, an aspect of a fighter. They were black and had a symbol bearing what appeared to be a sun on each. A black halter donned her figure, cutting off to reveal her toned abdomen. There was a thick metal belt settled around her hips laced in a pair of black combat pants. They were standard issue for the military. She did not plan on fighting; she just planned on being comfortable. Black boots laced up underneath the cuff of the pants up to the top of her calf.

She remained silent as she listened to the sounds of the night. It was cold out, but that never bothered her. She fumbled with her lighter to light a cigarette, but it had run out of fuel. She tossed it down and looked at her cigarette. Her eyes glimpsed temporarily as a small fire, which she blew out with an icy breath. She inhaled deeply, letting a wave of calmness sweep over her.

It had become too much for her, loosing Michael, along with the rest. The restoration, though it was planned, had not gone according to plan. She did not want to admit that she may have to “go to sleep” as Gene had put it. She was never one for hibernation, and saw no point to it. She carried on as best she could; teaching her students, raising her clan, getting along with the constant pain, and keeping the war at bay inside of her.

Fangs rested gently against the inside of her lower lip as the ancient assessed the stars. She closed her eyes, and for a minute, everything seemed alight. However, the dream could not last forever, and she found herself opening her eyes. It wasn’t at her command, but at sheer instinct as she heard the knob of the door to her study turn.

The door was pushed open without a noise as Rave turned around to see who had entered. A figure stood there, clothed in black, nothing revealed but a pair of ice blue cerulean eyes and a stray strand of pale hair, tinted a robin shell hue. Ravelyn cast her gaze upon her intruder, their size matching up quite well. Rave raised her eyebrow, as she was accustomed to do.

The stranger advanced towards her at a slow pace observing her. Rave took another breath in upon her cigarette, and paid no panic to the midnight intruder. It was like a silent conversation written within their body language. The black ninjitsa’s engulfing eyes were set upon the one before her. Rave stepped towards her, her defenses up completely.

Immediately they were engaged with a battle, exchanging blow for blow. The intruder brought a leg up to strike Rave in the face, bending back then grabbing the thrown leg; she twists it, causing the stranger to spiral towards the ground. She, however, landed upon her feet and both stared the other down. “Who are you?” the voice of the ancient said softly as her sanguine-colored eyes focused on the figure before her. There was no response, only a slight twinge from her light blue eyes.

Ravelyn threw a quick punch which was avoided as the character swerved to the side and delivered a kick hard into her ribs. Rave bent forward slightly, and received a knee to the face. She fell backwards across the room, hitting her desk. Her cigarette nearly dropped, but she grabbed it in time and inhaled once more as she got up. “You know, you are lucky I didn’t drop this…” Ravelyn said to her as she summoned the strength to stand. The assailant tilted her head, surprised at the reaction received.

Her attacker charged again, knocking Rave back to the ground. The figure picked her up from the ground by the throat and held her against the wall, to which Rave laughed. Frustrated with her lack of reaction to the cuts and bruises (which were now apparent), she tightened her grip upon her neck. “Why aren’t you fighting back?” she demanded to know. It wasn’t a harsh voice, but a soft one. Her eyes begged for Rave to defend herself.

“You call this a fight?” she chuckled lightly, though the grasping of her thought inhibited it a little. She still held the cigarette in her hand. “I’m just getting warmed up love.” She smiled and brought her elbow harshly down upon the arm grasping her throat. This broke the hold, and Ravelyn capitalized with a swift boot to the stomach, and then a spinning back kick to the head. She threw a punch, but it was caught within her attacker’s hands.

“Why aren’t you trying, Azrael?!” she said in frustration. Rave arched her eyebrow once again, and titled her head.

“What did you call me?” she asked, now intrigued with her visitor. They must know who I am… Rave thought to herself, and then realized that if they knew who she was, they knew what she was capable of. She let out a muffled swear, and looked toward her opponent, who did not respond.

Rave’s eyes began to turn a white color, and she looked toward her assailant, who shifted back slightly because of it. “You want a fight…let’s fight then.” Rave rushed with speed, and flipped forward as she reached her assailant, hitting them in the face with the back of her heel connecting. The attacker stumbled back as Rave she flipped forward again, grasping the assailant’s neck with force with her ankles and tearing them to the ground. The attacker fell, a death grip upon her.

How perfect it seemed, Rave felt a pain on her leg, she released her hold immediately. A dagger had been driven into her calf, which she pulled out quickly. This, however, gave her attacker time to get up. Both then locked onto each other in a battle of strength and speed. Rave dominated this time, pushing the ninjitsa back into the wall, the heel of her shoe pressing her neck and pinning her there. Her eyes deepened back to a scarlet color, and she released her grip, and picked up her cigarette from the floor, and inhaled once again.

The assailant stepped towards her. “You know, I never thought I’d see you as a hellspawn, seraphim at that.” She passed her blue eyes upon Rave, who turned around.

“How the hell do you know who I am? Let alone what I am?” The ancient said softly, as she sat down, not concerned with any trouble from her assailant. She pushed back the hair from her face, then and poured a glass of red wine from her desk. She took a sip and closed her eyes.

“You wouldn’t know another kindred soul?” She slowly removed the black cloth from her face, revealing her identity. She had pale skin and brilliant blue eyes. Her hair was a light blue with some deeper tones within it. Her soft pale lips smiled.

“Enamarcia?!”

“Glad to see me, Azrael?” she asked with a smile, as Rave immediately got out of her chair and embraced her.

“Glad doesn’t encompass it,” she said softly. “Enamarcia, I haven’t seen you in…I had forgotten your voice…you’re image….everything. I’ve…been through…a lot…since…” she struggled with an explanation. There was so much to say.

“Nothing needs to be said, my sister.” She replied, the two separating. “I’ve seen everything you’ve gone through…”

Rave smiled softly. “So what brings you to my realm?” She asked with a smile, regaining an upbeat tone and posture as she lit another cigarette.

“You know those are harmful,” Enamarcia said. Rave looked to her with a you’ve-got-to-be-joking-me expression.

“What is it going to do, kill me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. Enamarcia rolled her eyes, and smiled. The two had been inseparable before. It was strange; they acted as if they had kept in contact this entire time. Rave closed her eyes and thought momentarily.

“Still torn over his death, aren’t you?” She said, leaning against the edge of Rave’s desk, the seraphim, recognizing her sister’s familiar attitude right away.

“No, I’ve learned that there was nothing I could do. It wasn’t my fault, and it isn’t right to put the blame on me,” Rave replied instantly. Enamarcia smiled softly, a full blooded seraphim still, though while she had the body and blood of a seraphim, Rave had the heart and soul.

“You still blame yourself, don’t you?”

“Mmmmhmmm...”Rave nodded softly. She took a moment to compose herself. “Everything was perfect, you know?”

“I know more than you think I do…I saw it unfold, at least before his death. I saw that every moment you looked at him and he looked at you there was a bond that could never be severed, and it grew closer with every passing day. The love exchanged between you was incomparable to almost everything I’ve ever seen before, it…” She noticed a tear roll down Rave’s cheek, and her expression softened in realization that she had brought back memories.

“Oh God, I’m sorry,” she said softly, and placed an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “I wish it could be different…I really do.” She never really understood how her sister felt. She had only watched from afar at a fixed position, only making guesses on what emotions she could possibly be feeling. Now she knew…and it was indescribable what pain lay within her sister.

http://w1.402.telia.com/~u40228043/gifts/rannon_shirtless01_2.jpg
Memories of his past floated lazily through his mind, reminding Maximus of his age, and all that he had done.

The last time he saw the sun set upon the horizon...the pair of black eyes intently watching him...the Kiss given by Skadi...his first war in the streets of Emerald City...his first meeting with Kain Irenicus...his arrival at the Shentavo Academy.

The Academy...he had only arrived a few months ago, months that seemed like years. He had studied much under the guidance of the masters here, and had learned his share of knowledge and wisdom of the world.

If anything I've learned, nothing is as it seems...

Now, on Gene's request, he was visiting Rave's mansion. He had accepted the request from Gene, his mentor, of whom he was an apprentice.

Suddenly his thoughts were interuppted by quiet footsteps moving past his closed doorway. His sixth sense began to warn him of something afoot, and so, he slipped silently onto his feet, picked up Glamdring, his sword, and silently opened the door. Peeking through the crack he saw the shadow slip around the corner, and opened the door the rest of the way. He crawled onto the wall, and eventually made his way to the shadows of the ceiling, silently following the intruder. Soon he found her within a room, and in a moment he heard fighting occur. Rave's voice was heard, as well as the stranger's. It was a woman, that he could tell. The fighting was soon seen to be in Rave's favor. Maximus decided to stay put, but he would be watching this stranger, this woman.

“Why aren’t you trying, Azrael?!”

Maximus was confused, Azrael? Her name is Raveyln...this woman must be confused...

The woman continued to speak to Rave:

“You know, I never thought I’d see you as a hellspawn, seraphim at that.”

Maximus's mind was now really confused. What is she talking about??!!

Rave's confirmational response chilled Maximus the next moment. So...it is true...

He listened as the woman revealed her identity to be that of Ravelyn's sister. Now his mind was in shock. This was almost too much to take...

He was so stunned by the infomation he had heard that he forgot that he was on the ceiling. He let go, and regretted it instantly as he crashed into the floor below, his body all twisted about, as he moaned in pain:

"oooooooohhhhh" came the quiet moan, as he realized that the other two had probably noticed his presence.

"It's alirght," Rave says softly in reply. "I'm alright, really Enamarcia." She sighed heavily, knowing her kin's concern for her. "But you haven't answered my question, why are you here?" She raised an eyebrow and leaned back into the leather chair as Enamarcia remained standing.

"One of the reasons I am here is to see if you were alive, tell you the truth." she replies. "I'm not quite sure if I am here temporarily, or if I'm here for a long time as yourself. How did you manage it Rave?"

"Manage what?" she asked, closing her eyes slightly.

"You've died twice and both times been ressurected. How can you call youself to rise? I mean, I could do the same, but not from the lengths you were coming from. We lost track of you after the first death, and we never knew if you were still alive."

"To tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure it was I that had done it. You think I would wanted to be ripped back from death? No, it was not my doing." she cast her gaze down. "I never had a choice. Apparently there is some use for me that I'm not getting at the moment."

Enamarcia chuckled slightly. "Well Azrael," she smiled. "You've turned into one hell of a fighter, I..." Her eyes expressed shock, as she was a bit taken back. She looked at Ravelyn's lips and notice a glint of fang behind them. She looked up in question.

Rave waved her hand, dismissing her thoughts. "As you said, I am a hellspawn, to those who don't see my soul at least. Yes, yes...my soul remains in my true form. That can not change. I am afraid my restoration had cost me my physical wings. It was no matter, in being of vampiric blood, you gain much advantage over an opponent. You fought me Seraphim to Seraphic Vampire. They dont' realize it. My students don't, and my kin don't."

"How can you maintain the balance? How do you still hold your title and rank after everything that's happened?"

"I'm not sure, maybe my rank likes me. I have thought of that before, but if you need to see proof, look at my soul." Ravelyn challenged. Her sister nodded, and paused momentarily.

"It's true then isn't it?" she said softly.

"It is." she replied, indifferent to the question. "...devil of an angel, right?" she asked jokingly.

"I suppose the quote fits," she agreed. "Now I must say what I've come to tell you, for there is a message to you..."

"Couldn't they just send it to me?"

"As far as we can tell, you are no where on the earth right now...we can't track you."

"...really?" she thought for a moment. "Well, what is it?"

"You..." Both look toward the door as they here a large crash.

The women's voices ceased upon Maximus's crash to the floor. And Maximus knew that they knew he was there.

Damn it!

Maximus picked himself up off the floor, sheathed Glamdring, and stood before the door with an embarrased look upon his face. Suddenly, he feared the wrath that Rave might bestow upon him.

He would not run, but rather admit his snooping...

OOC: Rave, turn on IM please, need to talk to you.

OOC: Rave, turn on IM please, need to talk to you.

(don't pre-empt please)

Ravelyn approaches the door carefully, throwing it open in a sweep to see Maximus standing there. She raised his eyebrow, knowing many things could be in jeapardy had he heard part of that conversation.

Enamarcia turned toward him, and stepped foward to get a better look at him. More capable than you could ever imagine... she whispered softly to herself, not meant to be heard by Maximus.

"Exactly how long have you been standing there...how much have you heard?" she said softly. It was not a demanding tone, rather a calming one. Everything could be dealt with. Had he heard her name? She could simply deny it all. She could make him pass out, thinking it was all but a dream in the morning.

Enamarcia knew that he was a vampire as well. It seemed she was the only one with a lack of fangs in that mansion, and it is doubtful she would have taken up the offer if it was given.

Maximus looked up at her slowly. For some reason, fear taunted his mind of her. And now...with what he had just learned...

He remained silent for a few minutes, as he struggled to find words. Rave still looked at him kindly, but her demeanor revealed the urgency of her questioning.

"Your name is Azreal...you're not just any vampire, but a seraphim-vampire...and she *points to Enamarcia* is your sister, another seraphim, if I am correct..."

He fell silent again, as he stood there, embarrassed. He wondered what Rave would say or do to him, now that he had told her the truth......

"There are only four seraphim, Maximus. One had fallen, and two stand before you at this very moment. " Enamarcia said rectifying his assesment. "and your dear Ravelyn is none other than the "war" angel as she likes to put it, named Azrael. A seraphim at rank, and maintaining it...." she paused slightly, noticing Rave's reaction, she stopped speaking, and looked down momentarily.

"Forgive me, Maximus." Rave said softly, almost inaudibly as she unexpectadly struck both hands upon his temples, a surge of unseen pressure in between the two in an attempt to make him unconscious. It was the quickest and least painful she could offer him.

Powerful hands pounded into his temples, causing Maximus to fall to the ground.

A moan uttered from his lips, his fangs slipping out and resting just outside his lips. His eyes closed as the world around him slipped slowly out of focus. His last view was that of Rave's feet moving closer to him slowly.

Darkness clouded his mind as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Rave lifted Maximus from the ground into her arms, her crimson eyes flickering over him.

"That wasn't necessary," Enamarcia said in reaction to Rave's approach. She stepped towards her, and observed the vampire for herself.

"It was completely necessary," she said softly. "No one must know of you Enamarcia...do you realize how many demons wish to slit my throat? I do not want that knife to yours."

"Very well," she replied to Rave as both slipped out amongst the halls, back to Maximus' room where he was staying. she laid him upon the bed and lifted covers over him. It was just a dream... Enamarcia said in realization of Rave's tactic.

"That it was...now, you must leave sight when he arises, I do not wish you to be in anymore danger than you already are."

"I can handle myself, you should know that."

"That I do, but that's what I'm concerned about."

A few hours later, Maximus slowly came back into consciousness. His head throbbed lightly around his temples.

Must be a headache...

He sat up, and held his head as he listened for any sounds. None was heard, except for the sounds of the nightlife outside the mansion.

His mind flashed blurred gray images into his awareness. Two shadows, their words incoherent as they conversed...

Dreams annoy me so...

Getting up, he walked out the door, shuffling along until he came to the kitchen. He pulled open the fridge, and grabbed one of the blood-packs that sat chilled upon the shelf. He pulled a glass from out of the cupboard, and poured the blood into cup. A moment later it was in the microwave, quickly heating up to be of similar temperature of fresh blood. Once done, he leaned back against the counter as he stared out the window of the kitchen, into the extensive yard. He felt peace inside as he thought of his life, of Rave's affiliation with him.

Two things were for sure; one, he was glad Rave had invited him to relax at his mansion, it was much better than returning home for the vacation, and two, his leg hurt rather painfully, yet he did not know why. He attributed it to sleeping in an awkward position while he had slept.

The sun rose over the horizon, casting brilliant hues upon the grey sea. The air was clean and crisp, the land showing the first signs of spring from the relentless bite of winter. Rave leaned back in her chair, across from someone. She thought about Enamarcia last night, and when she would return. She was best kept secret for now.

A man sat across from her with white hair and a crimson glare. It seemed like hell was bound within his fiery eyes as he looked toward Rave who sat before him. His skin was awefully pale, but his build was strong. None other than her son sat before her. He had recently taken on an apprentice, Katarina. She was more than an apprentice, however. She was his fledgling as well...and maybe more than that to him.

"So," he said with a smirk upon his face. "Who was she Rave?" Rave raised her eyebrow in question. "That woman last night...she was beautiful..." He took a sip from a crystal glass filled with a red liquid.

"My sister," Rave replied as Qui spit out his drink, and set down the glass, catching Rave's amused expression with a light glare. "Enamarcia."

"Thanks for telling me..." he said shaking his head lightly. "I knew she was a seraphim, but not that you were related." He thought for a moment, and noticed Rave's expression. "Oh...yeah." he assessed.

"You have a brilliant mind Qui, maybe you should start using it." she replied with a laugh to which Qui challenged with a glare, but a smile crossed his face.

"So then, when will she return?"

"Red moon, exact hour and tradition."

After staring thoughtfully out the window, Maximus washed his glass, put it away, and made his way to the workout room where several training equipment sat. First off he stretched his muscles, warming them up for what was to come. He racked a bench bar with 600 pounds of weight, then lay down and began to bench press it quickly. His vampiric abilities had long since enchanced his strength capabilities, and he used it to his advantage.

Puffs of air fogged from his mouth in the air before quickly disappaitng, as he lay there, concentrating on his movements. After some time, Maximus racked the weights and moved on to the spar dummy that stood in the center of the room. Noticing a panel on the wall, he made his way over to it and looked at it momentarily before pressing a button. Behind him, several more dummies slid upwards from hidden compartments of the floor. He made his way back to the dummies, flexed his muscles before launching into a complicated mult-target attack pattern, his hands and feet pounding heavily into the dummies in strategic areas upon the body.

He continued his personal training and began to lose track of time as he diligently moved about sparring amongst the multiple dummies.

The night came quickly it seemed. Both Rave and Qui slipped out of the mansion and jumped off the cliff to land in the soft sand below. They looked over the wide stretch of beach, seeing one figure in the sanguine moonlight. The two approached the being, and conversed.

"He's returned?" A flash of fear within Rave's eyes was apparent. Not much scared her, so this was startling.

"Yes," Enamarcia replied. "Very able to take you out, in short."

"Impossible," Qui replied. "If he has returned then I will rip his heart from his chest, and that will be the end of that."

"It's not that easy Qui." Enamarcia replied. "He's taken a position in hell's ranks, giving him power; something that was only seen when Mephistop walked the earth."

"Yea," Rave said softly. "But I killed him."

"I know," she said to Rave. "But you died yourself against him. Do not forget that."

"Yes, but I have never died against him. I am stronger than I was when he had met that broken angel at the beach. Millenia have passed between then and now. I am much stronger and able to kill him should he return."

"I agree," Qui continued. "I honestly do not think that my father would pose such a great threat to me as I do to him."

"Then you are much decieved child," Enamarcia replied. Qui was an ancient, yes...but he was the youngest of the three.

"Maybe so," Rave said softly. "But what does he want?"

"You."

Rave was taken back slightly. "Of all the things in the world he could get why the hell do you want me?!"

"Because Rave," Enamarcia continued. "You're the one thing he didn't have. Since the times did change, your heart belonged to another, if you don't recall so." she looked at the angel's expression. "And I know you do...Michael Vaughn. You killed him because his envy had driven him to such proportions that if he could not have you, he would rather kill you than see you in your fiancè's arms."

"Well he has to worry about that no longer," Rave replied roughly in hurt.

"Zacharian isn't dead, Azrael." Enamarcia said, and a quiet rushed over the group.

Rave was shocked, she looked down momentarily, then up to her sister. She had looked many years for Vaughn, and now she had found the information she had been searching for. He was alive. "Where?"

"No place you can reach. You can't break through the barrier...he needs to save himself. I have already said too much, and I have no more knowledge to give you." She walked away.

Rave, stunned, looked to the seraphim whom had turned from her. "Wait...get back here Ena! Tell me where he is!" She broke into a run, and dove for her sister to tackle her to the ground. Her body hit the sand. She had gone right through her sister, and looked up to see Ena vanish before her eyes. She staid there...laying down on the beach.

Qui offered her a hand, however she did not move. A tear fell from her eye, and Qui thought it best to leave her alone.

The fresh taste of blood sat warmly within Maximus's stomach as he opened the front door. He walked to the kitchen, and began to wash the dirt that had collected on his arms from the rather fidgety mortal he had fed upon tonight.

Always the fussy ones that make the most mess...

He finished, turned off the water and dried his arms with a dishtowel that hung on a rack on the inside of a cabinet door below the sink.

I wonder what Rave's up to...haven't seen her all day...

He made his way down the hallway as he called out,

"Rave! Where are you?"

The mansion lay completely silent. The silence was only broken by the wind's force against the window panes.

Must be hunting...

Maximus started to make his way toward his room when his eye caught attention of a small light coming from one of the rooms. Pushing the door open, he found himself looking into an office of sorts.

Haven't seen this room before...

He walked further into the room, his curiosity overriding his caution. A desk off to the side slightly. He moved towards it. On the desk sat a statue of a nude kneeling woman with her arms curled inward and the hands stretching toward each other slightly, her head facing down. It was almost as if she were meditating.

Maximus picked up the statue, closely observing it. As he turned it over to look at it from a different angle, the statue slipped from his grip and fell heavily to the floor, but did not break.

That's when he finally saw it. The beautiful rose engraving on the floor.

Intrigued, he knelt down, totally forgetting about the statue which lay next to him.

Fingers reached out and traced along the outline of the rose. He almost did not detect it, but his fingers felt the slight bump in the center of the rose. He stopped, and felt it again. Yes...there was something here...

He gave a little push into the rose. At first nothing happened. Then, he heard it, a faintly audible scraping sound, as if something were sliding open...

As he pushed the rose in, a portion of the wall rotated as if i were a clock. The shelves rotated to a set of another shelves which locked into place. There were three rows each in a purple velvet. Among these rows was around forty small spheres, amber and swirling inside. The outside, however, reamained cold and hard as if it were a galaxy trapped within a marble. It was about the size of a fist, and rather dense.

What were these things? What significance had they or the rose? How could you tell what was inside?

There was a computer on Rave's desk with a tray attatched to it for scanning purposes as well as other functions.

Maximus tilted his head sideways slightly, squinting his eyes, making sure that what he was seeing wasn't an illusion. Getting up he walked slowly to the shelves with the orbs upon delicate pillows.

What are these?

Maximus reached out and gingerly picked up the first one to the left on the highest shelf. He stared into the orb, but it looked like minature galaxies spun within its confines. He was rather intrigued.He pulled off two more orbs and made his way to the desk.

He sat down in the chair, and spied the scanner which had a circular port, strangely the size of the orbs...

He placed the first one into the scanner and turned it on...

The screen turned on, but went black for a few minutes. When one would think it was broken, a picture appeared. It was hauntingly clear, despite the occasional glitches and static.

The vision seemed to be through a liquid. A hand was seen as it was placed up to the glass. Maximus then realized that he was seeing this through someone's perspective. A man approached the glass.

What's wrong? She looks alright to me, a man in a trench coat said.

She has a soul, Kiro. Another replied. "Her DNA is changing rapidly, and her heartbeat is far past the speed of light. She should be dead right now.

All three walked closer to the glass...then...it shattered.

The screen blanked out for a moment, and it returned. The peron whose point of view it was was apparently bound as they looked at their hands and saw shakles to a table. A knife was only a centimeter away from her lower ribs, and it could been that many had already been made. There were so many IVs and tubes hooked up to her.

Then...the scene faded into static.

Maximus stared at the static filled screen, a look of shock upon his face. He had recognized the hands...

They belonged to none other than Rave.

These...are her memories...

He gingerly pulled the first orb off the scanner, a rather warm feeling enveloping the sphere. He replaced it with the second orb collected from the shelves and sat back.

What would he see this time? What secrets...what unspoken things about Rave would he find?

The screen flickered as the orb began transmitting...

There was a face that Maximus had never seen before. It was a dark face, very pale with sharp features and black hair. The perspective was one as if she were on the ground. She looked up to the man as he offered her his hand.

The screen flashed once again. The same man could be seen with bared fangs, and Rave had broken into a run. All that was seen was the falling of the view, and blackening of the screen.

The end of the transmission.

Maximus sat there for a few minutes, pondering what he had seen.

Who was he?

He reached out and pulled out the orb. It had become quite warm in its transmission of its contents as well.

The third orb was set into place...

"NO!!!" she yelled as she watched the same man in the previous orb walk away toward the water of a beach. Maximus then realized that it was the same beach that lay outside that very mansion. It was mid night it seemed.

She ran after the man and grabbed onto his sleave. "Don't leave me Daja!" a tear fell from her eye. "Please..." He cast her aside, and walked off into the night.

Her hands grasped the sand as her fangs bared. "Damn you to hell for what you have done to me..."

Maximus sat, quite intrigued, but confused still.

What other things is she hiding from others??

He glanced back to the wall filled with the orbs. A moment later, he had replaced the orbs taken, and pulled off several more off their pillows, all from the middle of the line and reaching to the last one on the line. He held six in total...

Back at the desk, he popped in the earliest one, and sat back and watched the screen bring the orbs into action...

They were in some type of cafe. Maximus recognized Genesis sitting down with someone. There was a man as well in the shadows with them. Ravelyn had entered the room and Gene smiled.

"Witz," she said in introduction. "This is Ravelyn, and this is Witz." After greeting her attention turned toward the one in the shadows as he revealed himself.

"And who are you?" Rave inquired, seemingly not at all interested.

"Michael Vaughn," he said, holding out his hand in offering which she took in hers.

The screen faded, but Gene's voice could be heard."I swear to God they'll end up killing eachother...."


Maximus knew the setting that flashed before him. It was at the Shentavo academy. He could tell. However, the grounds were different. Everything was light. Kenja passed by seemingly younger in spirit and could be seen beside Joshua as Rave ascended the stairs toward the staff rooms. Hers had been the only one on the top floor; one that Maximus had never seen.

She opened the door to the room, and peered in. Light diffused through the sheer crimson curtains. It was a magnificant room. There was a mirror on the ceiling, and she looked up. Whoa! She looked so different. Her alabastor skin was much in contract to her jet black hair that fell in waves to her waist. her eyes were a brilliant crimson, though deeper then they had been.

The scene flickered off again to outside the academy. "Don't go..." she said as a command, frustration within her eyes. She held someone's arm. It was a man taller than her with blond hair and beautiful eyes.

"I don't want to hurt you, Ravelyn." he said, in fear of hurting her. Maximus recognized it to be the man from the cafe; Vaughn.

"Please don't... stay," she persisted. "I don't care how much a danger you are to me, I can't let you leave..."

The man changed, his hair darkening and his eyes a pure black. Her arm snapped quickly and she knelt on the ground as he released it.

"STOP IT!" A harsh voice commanded. Her view turned towards a man he recognized from on the beach. "I will not let you hurt her..."

"I had no intentions to," the other said...but the screen faded before he could finish.

Maximus sat back for a few moments, his fingers stroking his chin as he thoughtfully tried to figure out the ending of that memory...

After a little bit, he put in the next orb and sat back watching the screen.

Rave has some explaining to do...but should I confront her about these? he wondered to himself as he awaited the projection to begin.

This was of a place Maximus recognized very much so. It was by the pool, seemingly midnight. Everything was illuminated in a blue glow. He knew the man that stood before her, it was the one from before; Vaughn. Was it not?

"I don't care," Rave said softly, in almost a whisper. She shook her head. "I'd risk it all in a second..."

The man was but inches from her, "I can't let you put yourself in danger. You don't understand...listen, I don't want to hurt you. I---"

His speech was stopped immediately as she kissed him. The screen faded to black.

:shock: Didn't Gene say they'd end up killing each other? Was the only thought that could pass through your mind before another seen continued.

She stood infront of the mirror, getting ready for some type of ceremony rather hurridly. She had on a stunning silk black dress that tapered off behind. In the reflection, Vaughn sat on the side of the bed, and stood up.

"How do I look?" She said, turning around.

"If we only had time, I would take that dress off of you..." He grinned, and she couldn't help to.

"Com'mon...I'm going to be late for the awards ceremony. I can't keep the students waiting. I'm already five minutes---" She never did finish that sentence. She never made it to that awards ceremony on time, though she had eventually gotten there.

Maximus watched the mirror reflection of Rave, and the man behind her.

She's rather hot... he thought to himself.

He felt a pang of guilt as he thought of Skadi. If she had heard his thoughts, she'd have beat him to some degree...

Women... he thought humorously to himself, as he popped in the last orb.

Rave had secrets he knew, secrets that she probably didn't want anyone to know. He would have to do one of two things: Never tell her of his own knowledge, and keep it all secret, or tell her, and hopefully she'd understand his curiosity and pledge to keep her secrets safe.

Curiosity killed the cat...but has it ever killed a vampire? he thought, as he chuckled.

The screen begin to flicker it's clip of the next memory...

The screen flickered once again. There was Rave and Vaughn standing in what appeared to be a cave. She had her arms around him with tears in her eyes. "Damn it Vaughn...I'm not going to leave you here! I'm going with you!"

It flickered once again. There was a woman before the two. Shadows crept in from all sides. It was a hopeless battle.

"Damn you Cecelia!" Vaughn barked at her as he protected Rave. Both fought on, but it was a futile attempt to lessen the attack.

Vaughn took a defying shot at Cecelia and the vision was shifted. it could not be seen of what happened to her. She looked toward Vaughn who lay upon the ground with a dagger through his heart. She pulled it out. His heart...had stopped beating.

"No!" She yelled in defiance and shook her head. Then Maximus saw something no one would have thought to have ever seen. Azrael was there in her true form. It was no longer in Rave's line of vision. It was in a type of third person. The seraphim was stunning. She had long brown hair that twisted in light curls. Her eyes were a piercing amber. Rave...Azrael stood there, looking at her beloved. She raised her sword.

You know the price? A voice was heard.

Yes... Rave replied. In a blinding white light, the blade tore through her heart, gripped in her own hands. She bared the pain well, cringing momentarily, and everything went black.

Maximus sat there stunned, both in shock over her true beauty and the obvious suicide.

"What the hell??......If she killed herself...how in God's name is she STILL alive???"

He rubbed his cheeks, as he sat puzzled...he was really confused now...

Rave...was much more than he had realized...

White light surrounded them, as both looked at eachother. "I can not let you stay here. Vaughn...carry on. Live you're life. I...I can't live without you..."

"I can not let you leave the world so quickly...the switch has already been made. You can't stay here long..." there was sadness in his eyes.

"I will. I'll stay here forever with you..." She looked up towards him. "What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine..." She hugged him immediately. So tight, that it was doubtful she would ever let go.

But his substance faded, and she had fallen through him, cast down back to earth. Everything went black.

White light surrounded them, as both looked at eachother. "I can not let you stay here. Vaughn...carry on. Live you're life. I...I can't live without you..."

"I can not let you leave the world so quickly...the switch has already been made. You can't stay here long..." there was sadness in his eyes.

"I will. I'll stay here forever with you..." She looked up towards him. "What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine..." She hugged him immediately. So tight, that it was doubtful she would ever let go.

But his substance faded, and she had fallen through him, cast down back to earth. Everything went black.

White light surrounded them, as both looked at eachother. "I can not let you stay here. Vaughn...carry on. Live you're life. I...I can't live without you..."

"I can not let you leave the world so quickly...the switch has already been made. You can't stay here long..." there was sadness in his eyes.

"I will. I'll stay here forever with you..." She looked up towards him. "What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine..." She hugged him immediately. So tight, that it was doubtful she would ever let go.

But his substance faded, and she had fallen through him, cast down back to earth. Everything went black.

Maximus now had his hands on his head, nervously brushing his hair aside. His mind raced to find an explaination to Rave's apparent true form.

"Why is she here?" he asked aloud to the house. No response came.

There was still something unknown, Maximus could tell. It was the last piece of the puzzle, to understanding Rave. What would a six winged angel be doing on this forsaken Earth??

He picked up the orb out of the scanner, and eyed it warily. The orb merely radiated heat in response. He carried the three orbs to the wall again, and placed them back on their respective pillows. Stepping backwards he ran his eyes over all the orbs.

"So...many..." he whispered to himself.

He stood there, continuing to try to make sense of what he had seen...

OOC: If you want, you can have Rave appear in the doorway...

Rave looked out upon the ocean as the sun began to rise. With a sigh, she sat down and looked out over the sparkling ocean. She leaned back on the sand and closed her eyes.

"Should we--" Qui began to say.

"No..." Gene said softly, cutting him off. "Let her be."

The two headed back to the mansion.

Maximus checked all the orbs and the pillows they sat upon, making sure all were perfectly as he had found them. Walking back to the intricate rose, he knelt down and pressed the button in the center again, and the panel closed up again, hiding the secrets within.

Standing up, he glanced about quickly and made his way to the door, turning off the lights he had turned on earlier, leaving the room as he had found it. He replaced the statue that had fallen.

He did not see the monitor still glowing slightly in its gray pallor.

He closed the door to Rave's office.

I've got to think about this...

He returned to his room, and pulled on his bathing trunks and grabbed a towel. He made his way to the back of the mansion and out to the expansive pool. Dropping his towel to the nearest lounge chair he dove into the water, and began to swim slowly, slowly moving through different styles of swimming, from the strokes to underwater swims as long as he could hold his breath.

All the while, his mind carefully worked to understand completely all he had seen in Rave's office.

Originally some sort of angel...

Then...that strange fellow...what was his name again?....Daja, that's what she had said... I saw the fangs...which leaves only one possibility...he was Rave's sire.

Strong strokes propelled him underwater as he dove deeper and deeper until he was skimming the bottom.

And what the hell happened with the suicide? Where is that guy she loved?

Maximus flipped over onto his back, moving his arms to act like a pillow for his head. A few bubbles escaped his mouth as he exhaled a small amount of air. He still had plenty of air within his lungs. Besides, he couldn't die from drowning...

Why is she still here on Earth?

He remained underwater, staring upwards through the shimmering water, trying to figure answers to the questions that plagued his mind.

We don't know, Maximus, a strong voice said, unmistakably belonging to Qui. Apparently he had been listening to Maximus' thoughts. I'm sorry, I couldn't help over hearing. Having this ability does well to confuse me when you think you are hearing voices.

He sat in a chair, clothed in black in the middle of the day. He didnt' seem to care. He was sitting in a shaded area. He didn't care much for sunlight. He was usually nocturnal anyway.

Despite being underwater, Maximus's body went cold. Qui had answered his questions he had not realized to shield his thoughts. And now they had exposed for all the world.

He cursed himself, releasing bubbles of air in the process. So much for keeping it to himself...

Maximus pushed upwards off the floor of the pool, his head breaking the surface of the water. Water ran down his soaked hair which partially covered his face. His turned about quickly, searching for Qui.

There he was. Sitting in the shadows, of course.

Maximus swam to the edge and dove underwater briefly, propelling his body quickly, using his vampiric speed. He shot out of the water, and landed at the edge of the pool on both feet. His hand held out for the towel, which immediately leviated itself and flew to his grasp. He wrapped the towel about his waist and sat down next to Qui in another chair.

Qui simply watched him. Maximus took it as a yes. He took a deep breath before speaking. He hoped Qui wouldn't become enraged at his snooping.

Curiosity killed the cat... he thought darkly to himself.

"How long have you known about her?"

A thought passed through his mind.

"We?"

“How long have I known of her true being?” Qui chuckled to himself. “I am her son, Maximus.” He said, playing with the words thoughtfully. He had always known. “As much as I hate to admit it…I was born an angelic vampire. And as much as I despise my angelic side, it’s there. However, it’s greatly overshadowed by a dark presence given to me by my father…” he added quickly. No one was to think of him as being an angel…ever. He was not fluffy and heavenly in the least bit.

“Azrael, as that is her real name,” Qui continued, “Doesn’t like things being known. She keeps many secrets within I haven’t even begun to imagine. I do not know where she came from, but know that she was indeed created in a lab. I have entered her thoughts many times with permission, and only found unanswered questions and doors leading me in circles. To tell you the truth, she is not supposed to be alive at this very moment; an anomaly as far as anyone can tell.”

He sighed softly. “Having a child out of pure love and nothing more…no physical contact…which I still can’t get over,” he wasn’t referring to himself in the slightest bit. “Says something about the bond between the two people. Ravelyn and Michael had an incredible bond inseverable by anyone’s terms. Their love was so great, that when Vaughn died, their love gave birth to a daughter.” He paused slightly. “She’s still searching for him as well…but she knows that he is not in this world anymore. She refuses to give up. She says that she can still feel him alive…I don’t know how so don’t look at me. I know of her study, Maximus…but she knows of no one who has seen it except for me. It is best to keep quiet. It’s not good to rouse memories with her…”

He looked toward Maximus. Qui was actually being pleasant. This was a first. “Tell me what concerns you have of her…and I will tell you what I know. And I say we in reference to myself and Genesis…”

Maximus was surprised. He had expected Qui to not say as much as he had, which only meant one thing. Qui was entrusting him with sensitive information. What surprised him even more was how willing Qui was to answer further questions. A feeling of gratitude for this trust rose within Maximus.

"How can pure love create a child? Where does the physical aspects of the child come from if the two did not engage in sexual conduct?"

Maximus couldn't quite understand how this was possible, but somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice spoke, You ask this, yet you live your own immortal life in a body that should have died long ago... The argument made sense, but it still did not answer how it was possible...

Maybe he would just have to leave it up to become an unsolved mystery...

"And the child. You said they had a child, a daughter. Where is she? Is Genesis whom you speak of?"

OOC: Is Genesis anywhere nearby?

Ooc: not at the moment.

“Genesis?” Qui chuckled to himself, “No…no, not Gene. She is Ravelyn’s protégée.” He paused momentarily, not wishing to speak of Genesis. There were some secrets better left unsaid, and for what Gene had to do, it was better kept secret. He mentioned nothing more of it. Ravelyn had her secrets as well; however, Qui knew none of them that she wished him not to.

He laughed once again inwardly. “Believe me…they were…” he tried to search for the words. “They could have had a child that way. Believe me…they had been inseparable and certainly done…enough for the likes to occur. You would have seen my reasoning had you come the first year of the academy. He had come on business I suppose. Perhaps he had used that as an excuse… I don’t know. The two hated each other at first. Gene was convinced that they would end up killing each other. They ended up becoming engaged at the beginning of the second year…then,” he paused slightly. “Then things happened, and do not need to be said here, and you do not need to know them.”

Qui regained a bit of his flare back in that statement, and continued. “Don’t ask me how it is possible. Even she doesn’t know. But it happened…” he looked out onto the sparkling water. “Her name is Sarah...”

Maximus sat and thought for a moment. This was news indeed. He wondered if Rave had any of those strange 'memory orbs' with anything indicating to Sarah. Strange...what seemed impossible, had happened.

"I think, for now, my questions are answered. Unless you would care to offer information..."

Maximus let that trail off into silence, before speaking again:

"I understand you have entrusted me with this information. For that, I'm grateful and honored at the same time. Obviously, I will keep it confidential, and tell no one, unless one of you tell me to. But I still wonder one thing. Why did you choose to divulge such information to me? If your entire clan harbors such secrets, why would you risk sharing the information with others not of your clan?"

Maximus put the tips of his fingers together and pointed them upwards, almost in prayer-like fashion but held slightly apart. His coal black eyes watch Qui's own as he waited for a response.

Qui turned his scarlet eye toward Maximus, his ice blue one being covered by a strand of his short, white hair. He inhaled an unneeded breath and let out a soft sigh. “Perhaps I tell you because of memories. They are no good if the ones they belong to are dead.” He stood up, leaving an uneven mood about Maximus. He never interpreted what he meant by that…but he walked away slowly.

Maximus watched Qui walk away. He was puzzled...

"Wait...what should I do now?" he asked.

Maximus didn't want to be caught doing something he wasn't supposed to...

Ravelyn rose from the sand, looking out over the sparkling ocean. She drew in a breath, and stood. Her crimson eyes shifted toward the ground as she began to walk solemnly back toward the mansion.

Hiding it won't help... a voice said to her. Her expression conveyed that she was not very pleased in hearing this assesment.

You prefer I mourn openly for every waking moment of my existance? she retorted back, to which there was no reply.

Ravelyn brough her hands together in a clasp and walked along the stone path leading up frmo the beach.

Maximus found himself in the entertainment room of the mansion. In the center stood an elegant pool table, the balls already racked and set. Walking over to the wall, he chose his cue stick from the number of sticks available, checked it inspectingly before aiming to shoot and break.

He didn't know what to do now. He felt almost lost. Maximus played quickly, expertly as he sank the balls in, before finally getting the 8 ball sunk. He started a second game, this time playing 9-ball.

A silk black dress was displayed upon her figure. It tapered off to the back where it gathered slightly. "All a game of luck, you know?" she said with a smile upon her face. She was lucky, so this was her game. "It's for the high rollers...thoughs really to risk it all on a single...flick, of the wrist.

The 9 ball quickly sunk in after being richochetted of the 1. It was a clean cut shot and fully forced. Ravelyn lifted her fiery crimson eyes up. She leaned over on the edge of the table, still holding the cue stick in a set position after she had hit it. Her auburn hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders in sway with gravity. She straightened her back. "Lucky for me," she continued. "I'm a high roller." She set her cue stick against the table, and looked at Maximus.

A silk black dress was displayed upon her figure. It tapered off to the back where it gathered slightly. "All a game of luck, you know?" she said with a smile upon her face. She was lucky, so this was her game. "It's for the high rollers...thoughs really to risk it all on a single...flick, of the wrist.

The 9 ball quickly sunk in after being richochetted of the 1. It was a clean cut shot and fully forced. Ravelyn lifted her fiery crimson eyes up. She leaned over on the edge of the table, still holding the cue stick in a set position after she had hit it. Her auburn hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders in sway with gravity. She straightened her back. "Lucky for me," she continued. "I'm a high roller." She set her cue stick against the table, and looked at Maximus.

Maximus was startled by Rave's sudden appearance. He clearly noticed the dress she wore, but made no indication as to doing so.

Damn...she's good at this sneaking up thing...

Maximus quickly recovered himself and smiled at Rave kindly.

"A game of luck? Hardly, my friend...Poker is a game of luck, pool is not. Pool is a game of mathematical calculations, of geometry. Here, let me show you what I mean."

Maximus pulled out several balls out of the pockets and set them on the table all in seemingly random positions. Once set, he picked up his cue stick again, and set the cue ball down just in front of a corner pocket. He proceeded to begin his explanations of his actions,

"You see that 3 ball and the 7 ball down at the end? Do you see how they are both tight on the bank? Now watch as I use this to my advantage and make use of the right angle that I have set up here."

Maximus powered the cue ball forward, rocketing toward the edge of the 3 ball, connecting as expected. He watched as the 3 ball rolled along the bank and combo'd the 7 ball into the corner pocket and rolled to a stop in front of the hole, a few inches from it, and now directly in center view of the hole.

"Now, look over here, at the 5 ball, and look where my cue ball is now sitting. You can see that the cue ball is closer to the 3 ball, and could easily sink the ball in, but that wouldn't be the challenging part now would it? Thus, I am going to hit that 5 ball into the bank over there, causing a 90 degree turn to follow up with a 90 degree turn back this way, to this wall, where it will go into yet anther 90 degree turn and head directly for the 3 ball to sink it into the hole. If I apply enough force to my shot, the 5 ball will follow shortly after the 3 ball and sink itself into the same hole. It is merely a pattern that resembles a fish, but with a square body, so-to-speak. Here, I will show you on paper what I am about to do."

Maximus picked up a sheet of paper from a nearby table and a pen. He drew out a picture of the pool table, and the locations of all three balls remaining on the table:

(Imagine this as a perfectly done pool table....NS is screwing up the picture...you might be able to see a better view of it if you click the "quote" button and look at it)
________________---______________
/ \
l (3) (5) l
l l
l l
l l
l l
l l
l l
l (c) l
\________________ ______________/
---

(Imagine that the paths of the balls sort of goes like this, but a little more stretched out....like a fish):

\ / \
\/ \
/\ /
/ \ /

Maximus pointed out the paths that would be taken and then proceeded to follow exactly what he had taught, sinking both balls in and leaving the cue ball last on the table. Maximus set the cue stick down on top of the table and turned to Rave with a smug look upon his face.

"So you see, mellon (Elvish[Sindarin] for friend), there is very little luck in this game, unless you are a beginner and do not know how to play the game."

Maximus leaned against the table and crossed his arms as he finished talking.

“Mellon?” she said with a smile and a light hearted laugh. “Friend, you mean?” she chuckled. She was definitely not elven. She sighed softly to herself. “Apparently I’ve spent too much time with Vaughn; I had started to pick up his words.” The last was but a side note, merely audible. It was unclear if this was said in good spirits or otherwise.

“No, no…” she said softly. “It is a game of luck…” She caught his glance for but a moment, and as it settled back on the pool table, it was set up perfectly, as if it hadn’t been touched. She waved her hand in front of him, revealing the cue ball that she had in her hand. Apparently she was extremely good at deception and slip of the hand. She placed it on the table and sat on the edge. She picked up the cue stick. She leaned on the table, and made a shot backwards, each ricocheting off the next to sink every one in except for the cue ball and 8 ball. She grinned, and hopped off the side, turning around to take the last shot. “Eight ball, corner pocket,” she said melodically. She hit it perfectly, sinking the last one in. “Effortless…” She turned around and faced Maximus with a smile upon her face.

“You see…” a glint of fangs were revealed to him, though he had never noticed them before. “Everything is a game of luck.” She chuckled to herself as Qui had, Maximus now realizing where Qui had gotten that trait from. She let the cue stick go and motioned strongly as it shot back to its place on the wall, latching securely. “Either that Max…” she smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder, “Or you can be a telekinetic.” She pushed him slightly, trying to make him laugh. She walked out toward the balcony a few yards from the pool table and leaned on the railing, the sun glistening down upon the patio, revealing the deep red highlights within her hair. A spring breeze swept by as her scarlet eyes looked out over the shimmering waters.

Maximus smiled as Rave made her joke. Hell, it felt good to laugh, especially after all he had only experienced such a short time ago. Maximus watched as Rave sauntered over to the railing, admiring how she walked with such grace, and a great looking body to go with it. He scolded himself...he had Skadi...and she'd have been a little unhappy at this...

He followed Rave out to the balcony and leaned against the railing as well. A few moments of silence passed, only broken by the soft wind blowing past them. Maximus glanced over at Rave, and noted the strange look upon her face.

"What? What's on your mind?" he asked gently.

"Ah..." she said with a wave of the hand to dismiss the thought. "It's nothing. Just...memories can still take their toll even after many years. It's always the little things that brings to the surface the comfort and the pain..." The fear behind the smile... she recalled silently in her mind. She looked at Maximus, and shifted the subject immediately.

"You remind me of Gene when she first became my protègè." she said melodically.

Maximus smiled kindly while looking at Rave.

"Really? How so?" he asked with a glint of intrigue in his eyes.

Maximus turned to watch the water once again, watching the nearly hypnotizing flow of the waves. He could hear the waves crashing upon the shore in its melodic deep song.

"So eager to learn things," she said, leaning on the railing. "So ready to take on the world blindly. You'd be happy with that. I know you would. But there are some things that are better kept secret, somethings better off not knowing. You think that the ocean is beautiful, the sunset, the stars. And then you learn. You learn the truth behind the world and everything loses the luster it once possessed. That's what happened to Genesis..."

She seemed to dose off slightly into her own silent reverie. She then continued. "She was so eager to take all the information I could give her. After I bent to her will, and did...she never regained that spark within her eyes. Not after taking up the journey that was suposed to be mine; as a psion."

Maximus narrowed his eyes slightly. He tilted head slightly as he thought about Rave's words. He thought guardedly to himself:

She's let something slip...either intentionally or not...

"Journey? To where? Why?" he asked, quite intrigued. It was a chance for him to learn of Genesis's life, something he knew very little about. And indirectly, it would tell him some more about Rave.

Maximus couldn't help but remember Rave's words only spoken moments before:

"She was so eager to take all the information I could give her..."

Yes, he was like Genesis in this sense. But what of the mysterious information that supposedly took away the spark of life in her eyes? Was it of Rave's life he had seen in the orbs? Once again, the ultimate question came to mind, seeming to slice through the swirl of thoughts like knife through butter:

Why was Rave here on Earth?

"It's not important," she said, pushing herself away from the railing. She obviously was not going to get into it. In truth, she didn't feel it was necessary for him. The spark in her eyes was still there, though masked by a dark sanguine veil. There was one reason that spark remained there.

For a moment, Rave actually seemed old. Not physically; she never changed physically. Rather, in demeanor. She looked out over the ocean as the waves seemed to grow more violent and higher; as if they were controlled so simply. The sun shown brightly, and it couldn't possibly be a storm

Maximus watched the waves growing more violent and tilted his head as he fell into deep thought.

She's on edge. Something's not right...

"Rave, if you ever want to just chat or whatever, just let me know and I'll be there for you. I never disclose anything to anyone what my friends tell me that is confidential."

If she only knew...

Maximus watched a particular seagull float lazily over the ocean waters, occassionally swooping downward then reappearing coasting high back into the sky.

"Mmmm..." Rave said in reply, seemingly in her own world. She raised her hands as streams of water seemed to swirl up from a vortex, forming a beautiful display as the light reflected off of it. She dropped her hand to her side, and the waves crashed back down.

"I created this land, Maximus." She said softly. "That's why it bends to my will. It was barren when I came to it. I gave it life."

"Mmmm..." Rave said in reply, seemingly in her own world. She raised her hands as streams of water seemed to swirl up from a vortex, forming a beautiful display as the light reflected off of it. She dropped her hand to her side, and the waves crashed back down.

"I created this land, Maximus." She said softly. "That's why it bends to my will. It was barren when I came to it. I gave it life."

Maximus appeared surprised. So Rave had revealed a little more about her past...

"If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been here?"

Maximus turned to face Rave again, keeping an ignorant look upon his face. After all, he wasn't supposed to know much about Rave...but even then, he still had questions...

"Have I been alive? Or how long i've been here?" Ravelyn asks, with a smlie on her face. She then shakes her head.

"I have been on this earth for over ten millenia..." she continued, leaning on the railing. "Despite a few...interludes, I've spent my entire life here."

"How long I have been alive depends on what you consider "alive". I..wasn't exactly alive. I just...was." Azrael leaned on the railing some more, and looked back at Maximus. She looked only 25...it was hard to believe that one had seen so much retained such youth. Angels are ageless...as are vampires; though in different sense.

Maximus whistled slightly as he heard of Rave's age. He looked back at her with a look of intrigue in his eyes.

"Ten millenia? That's a long time my friend...and that means one other thing...you're not a regular angel are you?"

Maximus gasped quietly. He had done it, and he hadn't meant to. He had let slip knowledge of Rave's past. He stared somewhat fearfully at Rave...Azrael, as the orbs had told him. He backed away slightly, feeling his pulse pound aggressively against his rib cage.

This isn't good...and I had promised Qui!

Rave was slightly taken back by the question. As she turned around away from the railing and toward Maximus, she watched him step back. She raised her eyebrow in inquizition, tilting her head down slightly, and looking toward him out of the top of her eyes.

"Well," she said. "No angel is regular, are they?" She avoided the question completely, not answering his questions. She turned back toward the railing, and seemed to daze out for a few moments.

A few soft, chilling words escaped her lips. "I know, Maximus."

Maximus didn't move from where he was. Fear of Rave's reaction, known to explode from a seemingly calm despondence kept him where he was. Carefully, he asked,

"You know what?"

What does she know? Does she know about my knowledge of the orbs or something else?

Maximus almost didn't want to hear a response from her. He didn't know if he'd be able to realize that he was in deep trouble possibly...and at the same time, he would know already...

Rave waited for a while before speaking again. It was a deadly silence at that. "Everytime they are played, i am forced to re-live the memories..." She said after a few moments had passed.

"The ones you have seen through my eyes, after they die, they will return to my memories eternally. That is how I know if they are alive or not." she turned towards maximus, looking him directly in the eyes. "If they aren't alive, the memory will change, and I can speak with them..."She closed her eyes momentarily.

That is how I retain my hope that he may still be alive....

somewhere...

sometime...

"You've seen too much," she said softly. "You should go."

Maximus finally let out a slight sigh, relieved on one hand that Rave hadn't ripped into him, yet now on the other hand, he was beginning to worry for Rave. Out of his respect for Rave, and her superiority over him, he nodded, and turned to leave. Just before disappearing inside once more, he turned to look at Rave turned head.

"Rave, I want you to know that I would give my life for you if it helped to save the world, and you..."

He turned away and walked back inside, and slowly walked with his hands in his pockets, and his head cast downward as he thought over all he had learned recently. It was a lot of new information, but Maximus felt he had understood them all now.

And when he had told Rave of his loyalty to her, he was dead serious. The Shentavo's were his friends, yet he regarded them almost like family. And those he treasured, he protected and stood by. Always.

The silent form of Maximus wandering down the hallway was all that could be seen in that part of the house...