NationStates Jolt Archive

Selene did not answer the doctor but turns then heads into the castle. Persephone looks at the doctor, “Well…tell us when she can see him.” she said before heading after her Mistress.

"We've never had this case before, so we don't know how long it would take us to reverse the damage." The doctor said, before quickly moving onto Ali's injured leg. "My dear Enkur, man. What happened to you?"

Before Ali would reply, he snapped up once more immediately. "Never mind, let us get you to a surgery room." He said, yelling to a pair of nurses and another docter loitering around.

“He went through hell, doc. And lived to see another day.” said Remy. “See you around, Ali.” Then Remy disappear from the hanger, he need a new set of clothes.

"See ya," he replied to Remy as the man left.

He turned to the doctor to protest, "No, no... don't trouble yourselves with surgery. It is nothing... really... nothing. All I need is to pull it out and get some new clothes and I will be as good as new..."

AS the doctor carried Ali off, Viraranaar once again gave way his talk. "Brain modifications, huh? I wonder if Gelectriax had anything to do with it."

Kane walks up next to Vira. “Gelectriax had everything to do about it.” he said. “He turned Saerus into his own private killing machine.”

"Then why would he be so willing to let him go?" Viraranaar asked carefully.

“I have no idea about that.” said Kane. He starting thinking about why he let Saerus go like he did. This Gelectriax is strange man. said Kane to himself. “Maybe he used Saerus as test subject.”

"Perhaps. Or maybe Saerus can't be 'fixed'. Maybe he's a spy now."

“Don’t say that around Selene.” said Kane. He looked back at Edward. He could see that he was mad as hell. “Maybe after Edward cools down a little bit, he can have the best head doctors from the Dominion fly in and take a look at Saerus.”

"I'm not sure about that. Our healthcare is astoundingly apt. To live in a country that is ridden with chemical weaponry has its benefits when you have experienced and intelligent doctors."

“We will see then.” said Kane. He started to lose trust with the Jenrakian. Hell…Eln turn out to be a damn minion of Gelectriax. But Vira was not loyal to Eln. So..can I trust him? he asked himself.

Similiar thoughts raced through Viraranaar's mind. This man was 'blessed' by the Judge, and now he walks about in our Gods' glory and gift, squandering it. I cannot trust a man who does not honor his gifts.

After a short period of surgery, which the doctor had insisted on despite Ali's protests, the shrapnel had been removed from his leg. The surgery had gone well and the flying metal hadn't caused too much damage, though whether it would be long term or not was still up in the air.

Without any support, Ali was able to walk out of the surgery room, though with the slightest of limps. He looked down and noticed that his clothes had become even more ripped when they performed surgery on him and so he decided it was time to get some new threads. Wandering away from the doctor who had told him to be careful, Ali spotted Viraranaar. "Hey..." he called out as he slowly made his way over. "Do you think I can get some clothes..." he said as he looked down at his ripped and bloodied suit which he had worn to the ball. "I guess they don't make these things as durable as they used to..." he joked.

Ali's head jerked up to the sky as the sound of a high speed jet was heard overhead. "What the hell...?" he proclaimed slightly confused. Is that a man jumping out? he asked himself as he strained his eyes to look up at a tiny speck.

The figure continued to grow in size as it rocketed down like a bullet. Soon Ali was positive it was a man as he had reached a relatively low altitude. The figure, which had been in a downard rocket position, adjusted himself so that he was catching as much air as possible. He continued to slow down and eventually landed heavily on the ground, though remaining on his feet.

"You have got to be kidding me..." Ali said quietly as the figure had landed no more than two hundred feet away. He watched as the man brushed his sharp, black suit off with his tight black gloves. After readjusting his black shades, he ran his hand over his head as if he was adjusting his hair... though he was bald. After finishing up his appearance the figure turned towards where Ali stood and began walking.

"How's it going, boss." he greeted Ali as he approached them.

"What are you doing here... you are suppose to be on vacation," Ali replied, clearly knowing who the man was.

"Yeh... I was up north, free falling. But... well, you know how your mother is. She heard about what happened... next thing you know, I am on a flight here..." he said. "I decided to get one last jump in before my vacation was over..."

Ali smiled. Some described the man as crazy and insane, but Ali knew he was just a confident, live on the edge, kind of guy. Reliable to the bone and unparalleled in skill. "Where are my manners," Ali said realizing he had left Viraranaar out of the conversation. "Spike, Viraranaar. Viraranaar, Spike."

Spike
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/Spike.jpg

Viraranaar was not as surprised, and he was an cynical as ever. "I hope you're not doing that again, or we're going to have to shoot you down." He said.

Ashili was in a conversation with Denise, and Saerus was still under medical modification.

"Doubtful, boss. Haven't got a plane to jump out of anymore..." he commented brushing Viraranaar's warning aside.

"Right then..." Ali said, "So... about those clothes... got any?" he asked Viraranaar as he stood in his still bloodied and ripped suit.

“He would have been shot down.” said Kane as he looked at Spike. “Maybe the AA towers are down or they did not thing you as threat.”

Edward had it enough of this Mr. Teach man. If he can’t get him out of Jenrak, he will get him the hell out of his castle. And maybe wanna-be male model, too. But he has not pissed him off. Walking so-what calmly over to Eddie, he looked like he was going to have friendly talk with him. But the look across his face told another story.

“How can you be so stupid?” started Edward with an anger tone. “Trying look at Alley back there. Yeah right, you idiot. How the hell do you think you are? The bloody king of fucking Teachland. You are nobody.”

“Did you think that you could have ‘study’ her?” asked Edward. “You need to think before you act. Did you not think that the sicko would let you ‘look’ at her? You, me and everybody there could see that you were trying to get her.”

At that moment, six men in black and white Transylvanian body armor with a FN P90 and a Mateba Model 6 Unica revolver on their hip. In white lettering across the black part of the chest was ‘Death Dealers’. This were the Dominion’s version of a meaner and smart L.A. SWAT team. Being the Secretary of Law and Order, Edward can order them around.

“That was why I had Kane there, you idiot.” yelled Edward. “You have fifteen minutes to get out of this hanger and off of the castle’s ground. “ He turned his back to look at the Death Dealers. “If he is still here, shot to kill.” The Death Dealers pointed their P90s at Eddie as the Prince of Ice left the hanger and heads into the castle.

"Clothes are located in the castle. Just ask a nurse or a maid for a pair." Viraranaar replied, turning around, his long black coat drifting and glazing through the heaty sunlight, his black mask simmering in the steamy arid atmosphere. It was a miracle that he wasn't thirsty or dehydrated, but still, his chains wrapped around his arms, his large sword hung at their side, he walked on.

"Is the operation finished?" Denise and Ashili asked the doctor, who recently emerged from the freezing clean room, the pale body of Saerus lying flat on the medical bed. "Is he going to be alright?' She asked.

"He's going to be fine. His memory will be coming back, and he's already remembering things, but it will take a while for him to remember more." The doctor replied, taking his gloves off.

"Like what?"

"He can remember basic things right now." The doctor said, walking away, before stopped by the two once more.

"Can we go in to see him?" Ashili asked, Denise nodding.

"Of course. Just wear the suits given when you enter." The doctor replied.

In cloud of black smoke, Kane disappeared from the hanger. But he did not reappear like he did early at a different location. The demon would hide until he was need. All he leave was the heavy scent of brimstone in the air.

Ashili and Denise stood at the foot of Saerus' bed, looking into the dreary former ally with worrying eyes. "Do you think he'll be alright?" Ashili asked Denise, who shrugged.

"If he survives, he won't remember us." Denise quoted, but the small churgling came from Saerus' mouth, his gargling of mouth out of his mouth going into a slight drain. His voice was deeper, darker, seemingly more cruel and demonic than before, but something was wrong about him. Something seemed odd about him.

No matter, he woke up, and he laid there, breathing softly on the bed. "A-Ash-sh..." He to string the words together, but Ashili placed her finger on his mouth motherly, and replaced the breathing mask.

"Don't push yourself." She said, walking out, but Denise stayed.

Selene looked into long mirror in one of the quest room, her swords on the bed. What funny is that is she saw everything behind her. “P, do I look good?” she asked.

“Yes, you do.” said Persephone. They waited for the doctor to tell them something. But Selene could not wait so both of them heads back to the hanger.

"Clothes are located in the castle. Just ask a nurse or a maid for a pair."

"Thanks," Ali nodded as he walked off toward the castle.

The mysterious Spike followed right behind him, shooting Viraranaar a brief one fingered salute as he did; it was a common motion Spike did, briefly touching his gloved index finger to the area right above his eye and to the side of his temple, and then pointing at the figure he was "saluting."

With the seemingly lackadaisical Spike in tail, Ali made his way into the castle. After only a moment of looking around, he found a nurse. "Excuse me, miss," he called. "Sorry to bother you... but could you by chance see if there is an extra set of clothes for me."

The nurse smiled as she looked at his current set and said, "I will see what I can find." She turned and walked away to get Ali some clothes...

Doctor Hierminass was a shrewd man, a smart, talented, certainly kind and warm hearted, but a very lonely man and he certainly loved his solitude. When he found out his patient was the infamous Saerus Annirak, the Golden General of the North, he was ecstatic, excited, to be part of Jenrak's confiding histories. Now, he was excited once more, and after his surgery, to restore Saerus' brains, he went on looking for Selene, the familiar pink-haired lady he saw earlier when passing by briefly.

He never met her, but he saw he in a hallway, and running full length, he sprinted, pencil and bulletin in hand. "Excuse me!" He said, quickly.

In Saerus' clean room, Denise only sat theresitting down beside Saerus as he laid motionless, only breathing out words in his curiosity. He was tired, but he was alive, all this time. "I'm sorry for what happened, Sir Annirak." She said, her head slumped.

“Yes.” said Selene as she stopped to face the doctor. Her long pink hair over her left eye. She looked hot but she was spoken for. Plus…with the brown haired hottie next to her, no man would touch her mistress. “What news of my husband?”

"Lord Annirak is alright. He is recovering, and he can talk. If you wish to meet him, you may." He said, shaking in excitement.

"I've failed you, Sir Annirak." Denise said, leaning back in the chair. "I've failed everybody - a fucking failure." She said coarsely.

"Don't use that language around me, Denise." Saerus spoke strongly, his voice nearly as strong as it was, but still a faint whisper. "I don't want that smut in my ears." He commanded.

Denise got off her chair, and bowed lowly, on her knees. "Yes, Lord. I will do what you ask. Please..." she offered, "...guide me once more, as before. I am lost in the sea of politics." She replied.

Saerus didn't reply, he only laid there still, before a single word came out; "Later. I can hear something. A Man - talking." He said, going quiet. Denise didn't hear anything but the beeping of the machines.

“Thank you, doctor.” said Selene. With that she heads towards Saerus’ clean room. A little faster then she was walking.

After putting on the suit, she enters the room. Persephone stayed outside.

He heard a heart pumping, faster, faster, faster. Footsteps tapping on the floor, vibrations shoking his bed as he uncomfortably slept in the bed, feeling every single string, every single bump in the soft pillow. Breathing unevenly, he heard 'Thank you, doctor.', and more footsteps clanging through the hallway.

"Somebody's coming." Saerus said, as Denise got up, and left.

Selene heard Saerus voice as she slowly enters the room. She passes Denise on the way out. “It is nobody but your dear wife.” she said. She walked over to the side of her bed and took his right hand with both of her hands. “How you're feeling, hon?”

"Thank you very much," Ali nodded to the nurse as she presented him with a full set of clothes. He slipped into an empty room and quickly changed out of his bloody suit and into the leisurely warm clothes he had been provided. "Ah... much better," Ali said as he re-emerged into the hallway next to Spike.

"Let's go see what's up..." Ali commented as they proceeded down the hallway and to the area which had been set up to accomodate Saerus. "I wonder if he is okay," Ali said as they stood outside of the tent.

"Your breath is warm - your hands are soft, but I feel blood rushing through the veins." He said, shivering. "You moved your hands too quickly. Please speak quieter. My ears hurt. Can someone turn the beeping off?" He asked, as he heard the thumping of the heartbeat.

Breathing uneasily, Saerus calmed down slowly, but shivered slightly at the slightly air conditioned room.

Selene looked into his eyes. Speaking in lower voice, not a whisper but a little louder. “Your senses are not in your control, are they? I think that beeping is from one of machine in here.” she said. “Look into my eyes and see if you can control your senses.”

Saerus heeded the advice, and opened his eyes, but his eyes began to bleed from the searing light, as he breathed erratically in the pain, before closing them again. "I can't." Saerus said, wiping the blood from his eyes, but his arm slipped nastily onto the metal, where he growled in pain.

Far off, outside the clean room, a telephone rung. "There's a telephone." Saerus said, hearing it loud and clear, despite it being on the other side of a thick glass wall.

“I hear it, too.” she said. Selene took her hands off of Saerus’ hand. Moving slowly that it did not mess with her dear husband’s senses. She dims the lights in the room and makes it a little better in the room by messing with the A/C. Then moves back to her husband’s side. “The lights are dim, now. See if you can see now.” she said.

Saerus opened his eyes, and he looked around. The blood wasn't freshly flowing out, but his eyes were a bit red. "It will take a while for me to understand what has happened to me." He said, looking at Selene. For a little second, he smiled at her, and he immediately frowned, seeing a slight twitch in the shadow behind her.

"Somebody's here." He said, breathing heavily once more, as the lights turned back on. "Somebody's...in..." he tried to cough out the words, but he began to surge out blood, as he looked around, watching for the figure. "Somebody's in here!" He panicked, trying to get a hold of a weapon, before cutting himself.

“We will talk about that later.” she said. “When you are better.” Then Saerus started panicking about a figure. She spun around and look from this figure her husband was talking about. Even without a weapon, Selene was deadly fighter.

The figure began to emit a loud screeching pattern, emerging from the shadows, crawling on the ceiling with steel claws as fingers, spider-like and creeping. It never really made an attack against Selene, but merely emmited a loud screech, bursting blood from Saerus' ears, before it left through the window.

Selene dropped to the ground, holding her ears. The screeching was hurting her ears, so she knew it was hurting her husbands too. Blood start coming out of her ears. Selene pushes herself back to get to the nurse call button. As the figure escape, she starts pushing the call button. Over and over.

The doctors and nurses and ran over, prying the doors open, as they looked around, one of them on the floor with bloody ears, the other with eyes barely open, but ears bright red and bursting with blood. The screeching had dissipated, but they had brought both to the different room.

On her knees, Selene took her hands from her ears. “I’m fine.” she said as she looked at the blood on her hands. Her head started to clear up a little. “Go to my husband.” she said to the people looking at her. “And keep the lights like this because his eyes need to get use to bright light.” She stay on the floor looking at the window. Maybe one of cameras got a picture of that thing. she said to herself.

Saerus' eyes kept bleeding, his growling of pain continuing, a viscious circle neverending. Eventually, he finally got used to it, after 45 minutes of pain and torture, his body began to get compelled to embrace it. "Thank you, Ashili." He said to Selene.

Selene held Saerus hand through the 45 minutes of pain and torture he went through. “Ashili is not in here.” she said with quizzed look on her face. “I’m Selene not Ash.”

"Selene?" Saerus asked, quizzically. "Who did you marry? I would like to meet your new husband. I heard he was a dashing young man." Saerus replied, tired.

“Nobody, dear husband.” said Selene. “You are the only one that I love. Who told you this?” She did not want to say anything about his son, the one he never knew he had.

"wh-What? Gelectriax told me. Surely you have met someone." Saerus said, in disbelief.

“Gelectriax is an idiot.” said Selene, who still held Saerus’ hand. “I thought you were dead and I loved nobody but you. All I have benn doing has been working the family business and raising the children.” Then it hit here. Oh…shit, I didn’t say what I just said. Did I?

"Children?" Saerus said, shaking in concern. "What children?" He asked, uneasy.

"Our daughter and what I thought was the last gift to me, a baby boy." said Selene. "Saerus, you have a son. And he is yours."

"A s-s-son. He said, shaking. A s-s-son." He said, still in disbelief. Miles away, in a hidden palace Gelectriax heard the crackling of Saerus' voice through the speakers, from the camera in the hospital.

"He found out. Now let's see what he does next." Gelectriax said musely.

“Yes, a son.” said Selene. “Three weeks after your death, I found out I was pregnant. You are the man I was with, so I knew who the father was.” A tear slowly went down her left eye.

“So…I named him to honor you. Saerus Annirak the second.” she added.

"How unoriginal." Gelectriax murmured. "This is starting to sound like a soap opera. How droll and unwanted." He cackled, sipping a tea through a small straw.

"The second. But I am the fifth." Saerus said, thinking. "My grandfather - he's the fourth, a-and..." his mind began to blend over, his thoughts being glazed - he had spoken too much, and his body starting freezing over. It was enough for today.

“So…he is the sixth then. Well...it is all right.” said Selene. Then she saw that husband had tried himself out and said “Get you rest, now.” She got up and looked at the camera in the room. “Never like those things.” she said as ripped it out of the wall and threw it in the trash can. She made sure the window was locked and cover before sitting down in the chair next to the bed.

"Bitch." Gelectriax said, as a tall shadowy figure came out, screeching in a bellowing fury, as Gelectriax grabbed it by the jaw. "Shut up, Tezekilth. I'm tired of that noise." He said, as the being bowed lowly.

"I couldn't kill them." It replied sadly.

"I never told you to." Gelectriax said, getting up, and leaving to go train his newest addition. Gelectriax stood there, his steel hands crackling on Alledrias’ thin fingers, she stood there, trying to hold out the heavy sword squarely on her shoulders. “Keep your stance straight. Do not move.” He said, as she slipped. “Get back up!” He yelled, and Alledrias only groaned.

“It’s too heavy.” She complained, by a jet of electricity flowed through her, sending her back onto the wall.

“No excuses. I want you to be strong. You are my child now, and I will do what I believe to be fit.” Gelectriax said, putting her in the stance once more.

It was already night time in Jenrak, the sands unseeable in the cold but beautiful windy air, the night a beautiful sight as the sky was as clear as the cleanest creek of fish and fauna. Sitting down on one of the crates outside, while everybody slept, Ashili looked up complacently at the stars, gazing dazily into their whim.

"Saerus, is alive." She said in a gleam of hopefulness.

“What mother?” came a voice behind her. It came from eight year old brown hair boy named Farkas Darkholme, her son. He wearing his marital arts training suit, a dark blue suit.

Ashili only smiled. "Nothing, Farkas." She said, her left arm outstretched to her son. "Come and sit down. I have a story for you, hope you don't think you're too old for me to tell you stories." She said. Despite that fact that Ashili did not age due her encounters with the Unions Lord, she still considered herself getting older and older, and she never knew why.

“Oh…” said Farkas. “I’m never to old to be told stories from my mother. I love Grandfather’s stories of his life.” He sit next to her mother, looking at the sky.

In the shadow near them, sat a little girl in black ninja suit. She was Akila Darkholme, Farkas’s twin. A blonde hair, blue eyed girl. Did she say Uncle Saerus is alive? she asked herself.

Ashili made herself comfortable, and grinned slightly. "There once, in a land lost, a long time ago, a man by the name of Eros grew up, and he was starving, desperate, raised in crime. He stole, he killed, and nobody could catch." Ashili continued, looking at stars glittering in the light.

"Eros grew up to be hunted down, but nobody could catch him. Nobody would be able to catch this man, until he hid in a church, where he began to become a priest, at first in fear."

"But then he learned faith and dignity, and he became a great member of society, helping others out of the goodness of his new heartfelt compassion and loyalty. But people still remembered him as a killer."

"They found Eros, they captured him, and executed him - by the execution of all killers - dropping them off tied to a pair of cinder blocks on a cliff." Ashili told him. "Do you know the moral of that story? What Eros represented?"

Ali had fallen asleep for only a brief period before waking up again. He knew the familiar feeling that despite his efforts he would not be able to fall back to sleep. Getting out of bed with naught but his pants on, he exited his room in the castle and wandered down its long corridors.

Reaching an exit, he stepped outside and felt the cool wind blow against his hard body. He strolled across the grass alone with nothing but his wandering thoughts to keep him company...

“That you can’t hide from your past.” said Farkas with a quizzed look on his face. But he continued looking at the sky. “Mother, is Alledrias safe again?” he asked out of the blue. The boy is eight but he does watch the news.

"Correct. Whatever you do now, becomes the past, and it always comes back to you. Therefore you should never try to do bad in the present, otherwise it will haunt you as the past."

"Alledrias is on a trip. She's with - Uncle Gelectriax." Ashili said at the last minute, trying to sound calm and careful. "She'll be back safely."

A dark figure flew above both of them. The figure’s blue eyes looked at them both. The figure lands on all fours like a wild cat. “Who is Uncle Gelectriax?” asked Akila. “I never heard of him, mother.”

“Same here.” said Farkas.

"Uncle Gelectriax is a man who has taken Alledrias for a little trip somewhere secret, after he saved her. We didn't tell the news because he didn't like the publicity." Actually, she didn't want the publicity, as well as the entire government for having their single heir captured single-handedly.

“Okay.” said Farkas. He showed his fangs at his sister then she show him her fangs. She turned her head away from them looking near the courtyard, where the grass was at. “Somebody I don’t know is over there.” she said before taking off.

Farkas laughs. “Father, said she will be a good spy one day.” he said.

At the courtyard, Akila jumps from the shadows and lands in front of Ali. She hissed at him with her fangs showing.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping? It's fairly late." Ashili urged.

Ali smiled ever so slightly as the girl appeared in front of him. "And what is your name?" he asked her, ignoring her obvious attempt to scare him. He merely stood there with his hands in his pocket and looking down at the smaller figure.

“I can sleep during the day, if I want.” said Farkas. “Grandfather said I was child of the night like you and father. And he said I was special. Don’t know what he means by that.”

"So…I like the night, it is cooler then the daytime.” he adds.

Ali smiled ever so slightly as the girl appeared in front of him. "And what is your name?" he asked her, ignoring her obvious attempt to scare him. He merely stood there with his hands in his pocket and looking down at the smaller figure.

“Akila Darkholme.” she said. She looked him up and down. “I don’t know you. Where did you come from?” She took her mask off, to show off her long blonde hair.

"Ali," he said, introducing himself to the young girl. "Where I came from? Well, I don't know the castle very well... I suppose it was down that hall and to the right," he said pointing back at the entrance from where he had exited the castle.

"What are you doing up at this time of night?"

“Not where in the castle you came from, Mr. Ali.” she said. “Where is your home at?” She hopped onto a near by large rock, “I’m playing and training. I’m a child of the night, if you can’t tell.”

"I certainly could tell..." Ali commented. "Quite talented, too, I might add."

"Me... I am from a small island far away, called Eborall. And you?" he asked inquisitively.

“From here. Me and my twin brother were born in Jenrak.” she said. “This my home, you are in. My father is Prince Edward. My mother is Princess Ashili.”

"Ohhh..." Ali said with understanding. "Well your parents are very nice people," he commented to the girl.

The Secret Palace
Stone walls smeared with blood was the single most frightening thing, if not the horrid paintings of skeletons, they eyes seeming to follow Alledrias as she walked around, the patterns of demons and angels battling the endless war in the telltale story, etched forever through the chaos and turmoil the lands have been swept with. Never-ending stories echoed with the faint, fresh smell of power, of violence, of control. All of this, was in her hands, used to be hers, but now she was nothing but a pawn – a pawn she so dearly did not want to be. Walking down the hallway, the lights on the ceiling never seemed to stay still, always blinking, enveloping her pale blood-stained hair in the darkness, her thin bony arms in the thick of her robes, the cut and smelly dress that she was used to now. Every day, every second, she felt the pain she was to endure, she knew what she had to go through, and every day, she began to view it as the normality, no more chocolate, no more servants, no more pampering she previously lived. “If you speak out against me, I will cut your tongue out, and you will speak in sign language.” Gelectriax would tell her so frequently, and never wanted to test his patience. She would always shut up, always keep quiet and safe, never try to go against him anymore.

Walking along the brilliant and bloodied hallways, she only heard a screeching scream of pain, as if someone was being tortured to the brink of death, only to be brought back to feel its icy touch once more. She had felt that all too often now, and she did not go against him, for death would finally be more than a brink and return to her if she did not listen. “What is going on?” She asked, as she slid the bloodied, red smudged door ajar, the creaking of the wooden plates dangling about in the soft daft light. Inside, she gasped at the horrific, and if she could, but couldn’t, closed and ran. Yet she stayed rooted to the spot, as if a mysterious force wanted her to see the gruesome scene, and she only knew whom it was too well to realise. Breathing unevenly, Alledrias cried in pain and sadness, grief overwhelming when Gelectriax emerged from the balcony, to show her of the dark underground that laid within.

Stone row upon stone row, there coffins, all bloodied and body parts, pickled and jarred, eyes floating buoyantly in green glistening glass gars, fingers, teeth and tongue in another. From rotting feet that no longer looked like them, to white shining Adam’s apples, Alledrias began to sob in fear, in sorrow, crying as a man tied to a table, devoid of clothing but a simple loincloth, cried out in pain, his stomach ripped out and hung fresh like the meat of a cow at the butcher’s, his leg halfway through hacked off crudely with the stone axe still on his leg, blood surmised from his mouth. Foaming at his eyes of pain, his hair torn off his head his scalp bled nastily with maggots and flies drifting mindlessly out of his mouth. “What has happened?” She asked herself, when the familiar cold presence appeared behind her, like a wavering shadow in the nihilistic darkness.

“I asked him to do something, and he failed me.” Gelectriax spoke, his voice different, his slithering sneaky tone replaced by a strong aura of power and control. Indeed he did not cackle nor reprise in amusement, but he was serious – he was by all means intent on his words, and he was not joking, not at all. Walking towards the corpses, he untied it, and took the bloody body, the staining essence, the dark red blood rusting on his gauntlets, thrown into the fiery abyss of the cave. “Here you are safe. In the room of my birth, you are safe.” Gelectriax replied, sitting down, his clawed gauntlets cutting the table into pieces, splinters crackling along.

“Your home? Where you were?” Alledrias asked in the shock of the revelation. “You live here? Amongst the bodies?” She asked again, even more frightened and pitiful amongst Gelectriax. Despite his power, despite his great strength and ability, she knew why Gelectriax became what he is now; because he grew up, in this. In a mound of carcasses and coffins fit for a genocide of a great degree. And who knows? Perhaps this man did live through a harsh period of life. Alledrias knew why he tortured her so now – she was never prone to violence, never born in its destructive hearth. She was spoiled and pampered by the best, and she never felt the suffering, she never felt desperation or pain as he did, and she knew why he hated her so.

“Is this why you have feelings of hate towards me?” Alledrias asked Gelectriax, who stared coldly at her through his helmet. “I have never seen suffering, never felt it to the way you do, and yet I will become one who will represent the people.” She said, sitting down on the hard, slippery, bloody floor, the maggots still crawling around blindly on the floor near her, yet she did not care anymore – too long has she now been used to the other sides of the world.

“Correct, Alledrias.” Gelectriax said sincerely, but his voice never softened. “Not everybody is born into riches, into greatness. Some of us have to earn it, and when I see you, a spoiled child grown in gold and cash, ready to become the ruler of us all, I feel hate.” He said, as the air began to charge up in anticipation. “I feel that you will never know the suffering, never know the pain that the people go through, the horrors of the dead.” Gelectriax grumbled, his voice still cruel and heartless, turning around to the blue-lighted coffins, the light shining on the corpses in the drifting rays. “I taught you to fight, to control yourself. I will now show you how to think.” Gelectriax said, as Alledrias stood up, breathing heavily.

“Are you familiar with your father’s style?” He asked.

Courtyard

“Well…I need to get back to my training.” said Akila. “See you later, Mr. Ali” With that, she hopped back into the shadows.

Edward’s War Room

The room was full of maps of Jenrak, on every wall and on the every table. One good thing, their was not cameras in the room. Seen or hidden ones. Edward looked at the maps, “Where are you hiding, Gelectriax?” he asked out loud.

Training room/gym

A shirtless Remy was taking sometime with a punching bag. His muscled body had sweat running down it. A white tiger tattoo which was on his right arm, like almost real as he punched the bag. He had been down in the gym for hours, he lose track of time. Denise was the only thing in his head, now.

The Funeral
A blazing lit pyre of flame, the scorching blaze illuminating the night yard, Viraranaar stood there alit the flaming stone, watching as he only shook his head. "Good-bye, Illuminaatrix." Viraranaar said. Wherever the Watcher was, he would be with Arcarum for a while.

Denise walked up to him, and put her arms around his waist from behind, her head tilted slightly. "I love you Vira." She said affectionately.

"You love alchohol. I can smell it over the fire." Viraranaar said, prying her arms off his waist. "Get some rest."

"H-Hey." Denise said, trying to get a good look at Viraranaar's mask. "Y-You can't boss me around." She said, pointing at him, as she tried to stand up.

"Watch me." He said, picking her up easily, carrying her back to her room, amidst her fumbled slaps and yells at him.

"Sorry Denise, but you're too intoxicated to fight back." He said, dropping her onto the bed, and then leaving the room, locking the door with a metal bar.

The brown beauty walked up behind Vira. “I’ll keep an eye on her for you. Selene is watching over her husband, so I can't be with her. I‘m bored.” said Persephone. “And Edward is looking for you. He said to tell you to meet him in his war room.” She pulled chair next to Denise’s door and relaxed.

"Alright. I'll be there soon." Viraranaar replied, turning around towards the War Room.

Edward’s War Room

Edward hears footsteps walking down the hallway outside the room. He is looking at one of the maps on the wall, which faces the door. So…his back is to the door.

Viraranaar knocked on the door, slightly, waiting for a reply. "Open up, Edward. You wanted to see me."

“Come in.” came Edward’s voice. “It is unlocked.”

snip, post 267
Eddie saw Edward coming over, with a face that held a look that could kill, if looks could kill of course.
Listening to him rant, Teach chuckled at the idea of 'Teachland', as well as the fact that he was making a few erroneous assumptions.

"If I had known what you intended, then I would have acted different. The fact that you'd kept you're companion's abilities a secret made it impossible to guess what you'd been planning." He replied, "If you wish me gone from your domicile, then as a good guest I shall depart."

With a sardonic salute to Edward, he headed off the grounds of the castle.

Ricardo was unsure where to go, so he decided to remain near the hanger and work out.

Courtyard

“Well…I need to get back to my training.” said Akila. “See you later, Mr. Ali” With that, she hopped back into the shadows.

"See ya..." Ali said in response, though Akila had already disappeared into the shadows. Cute kid, he thought, Quite talented too...

Ali continued walking through the grass, feeling it against his bare feet as he went. The cool breeze felt refreshing against his body as the night was quiet. He found a spot on the side of a small grassy hill and laid down on his back, staring up into the star filled sky...

“Come in.” came Edward’s voice. “It is unlocked.”

Viraranaar entered the room, amused slightly by the large maps and the atlases of the world, pinned pictures of Jenrak and the laying flyers everwhere. "The source computer would serve a better place. It's much more neat." Viraranaar replied, thinking of the familiar, black large screened computer he and Ali loiterd around before.

“I’m old fashion.” said Edward. “Hell…that is why I have no cameras in this room.” He turned to face Vira. “I need your help, Vira. Gelectriax needs to be found. I hear you have info on him or somebody will the same name. You used the library, I think.”

“I need to know where a sicko like him would hide.” he added.

"I don't know too much of the landscape, and he could be anywhere. The amount of activity coming around the nation is unsurmountable. I guess you could ask your wife for a location in that diary of hers, the one owned by Karbulia. Perhaps it has information on Gelectriax."

“Okay, I will ask her then.” said Edward. “Now to something serious. Do you think she is alive?”

"That, is a question that is very difficult to answer. The question would be what would he want with Alledrias? It cannot be money - there was no ransom." Viraranaar reasoned.

“He wants power then.” said Edward. “She is the heir and if he brain washes her, he has control. That can’t be allowed. I need everybody to have clear heads, if we can find him.”

“Denise is not taking it well, is she?” he asked.

"Gelectriax already controls more than Alledrias ever would. My guess would be the break. Arcarum worked under Gelectriax's influence, Illuminaatrix was a pawn. If Alledrias was the first to have never grown up in control out of Gelectriax's reach, then she coudl certainly lessen his power. But now she's in his hands."

"I'm not sure whether she's taking Alledrias' condition to heart, or Illuminaatrix's unmarked death." Viraranaar replied.

“Well…thanks for the info.” said Edward, he turned back to the map. “You know something, none of this is surprising me. You can leave, if you want. I will talk to my wife in a little bit.” He took one last look at the map before heading out of the door. To find his wife.

Spike was sleeping soundly as normal. However, when Ali woke up and left the room past him, he woke up and silently followed him out. He stood in the shadows of the castle, unbeknownst to all, watching Ali and making sure he was safe.

As Eddie had been told in no uncertain terms to leave the castle belonging to Edward, he decided to persue Gelectriax in his own manner. Heading to the nearest internet cafe*, he approached the person at the counter and asked what the cost would be to use a computer for about an hour.

ooc: * or library or whatever other source public internet access there is in Jenrak.

As Eddie had been told in no uncertain terms to leave the castle belonging to Edward, he decided to persue Gelectriax in his own manner. Heading to the nearest internet cafe*, he approached the person at the counter and asked what the cost would be to use a computer for about an hour.

ooc: * or library or whatever other source public internet access there is in Jenrak.

OOC: Yes, there is an internet cafe.

IC:

Ashili was as usual, bored to her wits. Despite it being late at night, she decided to try and have some interesting sight-seeing in her own borne country. She had been grown up too much in war to appreciate her nation, and she is now going to benefit the reapings of the tourism - at the worst possible moments, no doubt.

Getting down to her large concrete driveway, she turned on her car, and as the engined idled, Ashili read the guide she had stashed since she ever recieved the car on the sites.

Once he'd gotten the price and payment settled out, he took a seat and with a mental thanks to his uncle Morgan, set to work. Henry, Morgan's first name, happened to be an excellent programmer and hacker, and had passed some measure of that skill onto his nephew.

Eddie wrote a program that would 'hack' the most popular search engine in Jenrak, by adding a pop-up to the page's opening sequence. The message read:
Gel, wherefore art thou Gel. I wish to speak with you and meet you.
Blackbeard

Not many people took it too well, as they complained of the seemingly pointless pop-up ruining their ultimately pointless surfing experiences. Cursing and swearing was heard, and accusations flew abound until it stopped.

Onto Edward's computer, a small message popped up onto his computer, as if it were a computer message stating an error. But it was no error, only an instance. It read simply:

Sorry, but keep your hacking to closed servers, or you will never reach him.
Tezekilth

Armed with the name and message, Eddie set to work trying to find out what he could on the name Tezekilth as well as attempting to trace the message.

After laying in the grass and staring into the stars for nearly an hour, Ali got up and wiped his back off. He proceeded to re-entered the castle and wandered the halls in search of Denise.

Spike followed shortly behind in the shadows.

"I feel like sleeping." Ashili replied, getting up to go to bed.

Viraranaar seemed to barely sleep, for some reason. He always trudged on, walking about, roaming in a fleetless manner, looking and observing how things seem to play out. To the normal person, obviously it would seem as if this man required little sleep, being used to his harsh discipline as a former Temsplace.

However, there might be something else behind his condition, something possibly much more malicious.

OOC: Phone line at home is messing up, guys. Only time I could post is at 10:00-11:00 on M-W-F at school. I will try and get the phone line. So...don't know when it will start working again. Later.

OOC: Phone line at home is messing up, guys. Only time I could post is at 10:00-11:00 on M-W-F at school. I will try and get the phone line. So...don't know when it will start working again. Later.

OOC: Okay.

OOC: It is fixed but don’t know how long it will stay that way.

IC: Persephone saw Ali walking down the hallway. “You’re up late, Mr. Ali.” she said at her post in front of Denise’s door.

Edward was reading book in his relaxing chair in the master bedroom as Ashili enters the room. The book he was reading was the Sun Tzu's "Art of War" book. “Hey Ash.” he said.

Ashili, as usual, was captivated by the weather-worn book perched in her silky soft hands, her eyes squinting slightly at the tin scribble of writing, her expression in curiosity. Her eyes poking above the thick book, she had a gaze of wonder about her. "Yeah?" She replied casually.

Meanwhile, in Eddie's search, the name Tezekilth came up fairly often, popping up everywhere. However, despite all these queries, they were all related to one thing: murder. Everywhere, the name involved the slaughter of innocent persons, or the finding of a corpse drifting across an icy neva in the creepy desert climate.

“Got anything on our new friend in your dairies?” he asked. It was something he needs to ask. Hell…if Gel's name was not in those dairies, he can’t say he did not try.

OOC: It is fixed but don’t know how long it will stay that way.

IC: Persephone saw Ali walking down the hallway. “You’re up late, Mr. Ali.” she said at her post in front of Denise’s door.

Edward was reading book in his relaxing chair in the master bedroom as Ashili enters the room. The book he was reading was the Sun Tzu's "Art of War" book. “Hey Ash.” he said.

"Yeh..." Ali responded, startled as he had been looking at the ground and had not noticed Persephone. "Couldn't sleep... got a lot on mind, ya know."

"What new friend?" Ashili asked, clearly not understanding.

"Wonder if he's one of the hired thugs of Gel." Eddie commented to himself as he looked throught the various reports. Copying down the most important points of the man, he decided to see if those staying at Edward's castle would find the info interesting or helpful. Heading to a phone booth, he began looking for the phone number to Edward's home.

"Yeh..." Ali responded, startled as he had been looking at the ground and had not noticed Persephone. "Couldn't sleep... got a lot on mind, ya know."

“Well…don’t get lost.” she said. Ali would have to get pass her to get into Denise. “If you are looking for Denise, she’s a little under the weather.”

"What new friend?" Ashili asked, clearly not understanding.

“Gelectriax ” said Edward.

"Wonder if he's one of the hired thugs of Gel." Eddie commented to himself as he looked throught the various reports. Copying down the most important points of the man, he decided to see if those staying at Edward's castle would find the info interesting or helpful. Heading to a phone booth, he began looking for the phone number to Edward's home.

Poor Mr. Teach would find that Edward’s phone numbers were unlisted. None of them were listed, the home phone numbers or cell phone numbers.

"Rats." He commented, as he dialed the operator. Once he got throught, he asked for the phone number of (Insert address of castle)

“Well…don’t get lost.” she said. Ali would have to get pass her to get into Denise. “If you are looking for Denise, she’s a little out of the weather."

"You mean she is feeling sick?" Ali asked as he stopped his walk down the hall and turned towards Persephone. "Is there anything I can do... or get for her?"


OOC: I assume you meant under the weather.

"Well, I'll see what I can find." Ashili said, flipping through the harsh crackling pages, as she finally reached to a certain point, her eyes scanning about, her finger runnign down the page. "Gelectriax the Wicked." She said, her face in an expression of frightened knowledge. "That's odd." She said, her face frowning.

"You mean she is feeling sick?" Ali asked as he stopped his walk down the hall and turned towards Persephone. "Is there anything I can do... or get for her?"

OOC: I assume you meant under the weather.

OOC: That is what I meant to say.

“Nope. I’m watching over her for Lord Vira.” she said.

"Rats." He commented, as he dialed the operator. Once he got throught, he asked for the phone number of (Insert address of castle)

The operator was cut off after Eddie said the address. The number was never given to Eddie. “If you have something important to say. Say it after the beep.” came a robotic sounding voice. Then strange beep could be heard.

"Gelectriax the Wicked." She said, her face in an expression of frightened knowledge. "That's odd." She said, her face frowning.


“What does it say?” asked Edward.

OOC: That is what I meant to say.

“Nope. I’m watching over her for Lord Vira.” she said.

"You mean you have been up this whole time?" He asked. "Not one wink of a sleep... you must be tired."

"I may have some information concerning Gelectriax. Oh, and my number is (Insert phone number)." After finishing the message, he hung up and decided to go see if the city had a kebab restaurant.

"Eicktra Ordus, Karbulazk North 21st of September, Fourth Empire Age Year sixty-two..." Ashili began to read out, deep into the text.

"My legions and I trailed across vast deserts, and mountaineous forests, but the Argusk could not be found. That blinded Elekizt kept trying to mislead me, but at least Kelirius is at my side. Always, a dreary swooping is at my side, glancing into my every shoulder. I never knew I was being spied on until I saw him myself, with my own flesh and blood eyes that my mother gave me. Standing in the middle of the road, this average height of a man, not even menacing enough to even shake the horses, stood there.

He did move, he didn't whistle a single sound. He had a long daft red bloodied robe on, cut at his waist to make a crude woven coat, whilst I saw the sliver of a silver gleam broad alit his chest - a breatplate of blood and bone. His fingers were covered up by a pair of metal clawed gauntlets, and his face was hidden by the metal shadows of a helmet that was as cold as ice. I asked him what his name was, but he didn't answer.

This odd person never spoke a single word until I commanded him to speak aloud. I couldn't get him to speak his tongue with mine, so I thought a sword would force his mouth open. Sure enough, it did, but it also frightened my men, when this odd man lifted his fingers, unarmed, and lightning as bright as the sun shoen from his fingers! I felt the rush of electricity sparkle through my body, his thoughts connecting to mine, and I felt stabbed all over. Were it not for the bravery of my men to stop him, I would have never been able to break free. He glided off, like a ghost in the foggy atmosphere. I didn't know who he was, but except for the note he left behind.

In dark blood red ink he wrote Gelectriax the Wicked.

@DMG: “Not when you live with Selene. She keeps me up during the night, sweetie.” she said.

@Theao: The message was in the databases but it is one of the thousands in that database. Damn, everybody likes the handsome Prince Edward in Jenrak. Edward’s men would scans the messages. It will take a long time to get to Eddie’s message.

@Jenrak: “Think it is the same one?” asked Edward.

After finding the restaurant, having four kebabs dripping with sauce, and still not getting a response, Eddie decided to try a more direct method. He set out to find a courier service.

"I'm not sure. Listen to this..." Ashili continued,

"Eicktra Ordus, Karbulazk North 9th of November, Fourth Empire Age Year sixty-two..."

"I have a dream about my son being killed, and his hands being cut off. I could not bear it, but when I got up to look at my child, my little prince, he was sleeping soundly in his bed. I was worried, but what could trigger it? Perhaps the nightmares are coming into full circle. I still couldn't forget that man. Who was he? Who was this Gelectriax? I could not find him. Nobody could find him. Not even a bounty of eighty-thousand silver skelletz could turn him up, although I did see quite a number of false victims. Perhaps it's nothing."

"Eicktra Ordus, Karbulazk North 18th of May, Fourth Empire Age Year sixty-three..."

"I had that dream again, but this time I'm worried. Kelirius is searching the castle, and my men are scouring the lands as I write into this letter. My son is missing, and I have no remains of evidence on to find the person save for the note. I could only read it barely to the soft light, but if I am right, I can decipher the message. It seems to say:

Guess where I am. I am in a chapel. Guess where I am.
~Gelectriax the Wicked

I have not the slightest notion of that meaning, and I do not know where to find this man. Perhaps I can find him later, but for now I must look for my sun."

@DMG: “Not when you live with Selene. She keeps me up during the night, sweetie.” she said.

"That sounds harsh..." Ali replied, "So when do you sleep? You have been awake the whole time since I met you..."

“Maybe he is copy cat then.” said Edward. “Or he is an immortal being.”

"I'm inclined to think a bloodline. Perhaps this Gelectriax is doing a pattern. Let's see what happens next..." Ashili said, reading on aloud.

"I found my boy, I found him, but I can not think strongly. I can't think. Think. I can't think. He's gone. Gone. Found his body" I can read these scribbles, "his arms severed from hands. Corpse rotting. Exethuri Gragaus!"

"And apparently a couple stabs into the paper. Seems like Herrissian lost his son." Ashili replied. "From what I see hear, he looks like he found his child's corpse with the hands severed and the body possibly skeletal." She said, squinting to read the harsh scribbles.

Teach found a courier service and attempted to hire them to take a message, which said much the same thing as the phone message, to Edward's castle. He hoped they'd be willing to do it as he was running out of ideas on getting a message into the building.

“Well…I will go with he is in the same bloodline then.” said Edward. “I hope we find Alley alive with her hands. Does it say anything about Herrissian finding that Gelectriax‘s hideout?”

@Theao: The courier service would not need to take a message to the castle. The scent of brimstone filled the air behind Eddie. “Mr. Teach.” said the demonic voice of Kane. “Who are you sending a message to?”

"Edward, or whoever in the castle might make best use of it." Eddie replied, "Thought since any tidbit might trigger a memory, that could be anyone."

"Apparently Karbulia was killed when he went on a hunting trip for skriemmen. But skriemmen are bred in captivity. He was in Eithurk. That's present day Archios." Ashili replied.

@Theao: “So, you found something important then.” said Kane. “How do you know it is something that could be used. And not a wild goose chase.”

“Give me whatever you got and I will take to Edward.”

@Jenrak: “So, should we start looking in Archios?” said Edward.

"That sounds harsh..." Ali replied, "So when do you sleep? You have been awake the whole time since I met you..."

eh, hem.

OOC: Who is Persephone married to? (if anyone)

"Would you mind coming out of whatever limbo you're staying in as it may take a while and I'd prefere not talking to a disembodied voice." Eddie replied

"You can, but I'm going to sleep first." Ashili said, shutting the diary tight as the dust bursted out, Ashili falling onto the bed on her back.

"That sounds harsh..." Ali replied, "So when do you sleep? You have been awake the whole time since I met you..."

OOC: Who is Persephone married to? (if anyone)

OOC: Nobody. She is Selene’s female lover. And she is a lesbian not bi-sexual like Selene. And sorry for not see that post early.

IC: “When I know that nobody is going to mess with the drunk woman in the room behind me.” she said. “And I getting a couple of Edward’s Death Dealers to be stationed at this door. Nobody is going to do anything to Denise on my watch.

@Theao: “If you look up and to your right, you will see me.” said Kane. He was where he said he was at, holding onto the ceiling with his claws.

@Jenrak: “That is where we will start in morning then.” said Edward as he put his book down. He hopped in the bed with his lovely wife.

Viraranaar walked up the winding stairs, past the large smoldering doors, once more to find out Denise's condition. "Let's see how the little girl is doing with her hangover." He said, getting up.

"Drunk?" Ali said, startled by the revelation. "I thought you meant she was sick..."

Interesting Ali thought. "Why did she drink herself into a stupor?"

OOC: Ah... and no problem.

"Mind coming down then, and want to get a bite to eat?" He asked as he looked up at Kane.

@DMG: “Yes, she is drunk. I would be drinking too, if I saw my princess took away and the person I saw a father or brother killed.” she said.

@Theao: “Nope, I like being up here.” said Kane. “Just give me what info you have because a little girl’s life is on the line.”

OOC: Sorry guys, but I got to go to bed - bad timing considering we are all on at the moment, but I have a BIG test in the morning and I can't afford to lose any more sleep.

Feel free to use Ali as you need.

"Alright then." Eddie replied, as he proceeded to explain all he'd found out about Tezekilth and how he'd discovered the name. Once finished he asked if Kane needed him to repeat anything.

Viraranaar rose up the stairs, in his long black robes and his soot armour as usual, donned complacently as he always was. Walking over to the seemingly insinuating conversation between the woman named Persephone and Ali, Viraranaar only waited until their conversation finished, or at least, had a stopping point.

Chiming up, he asked, "Is she still incapacitated?"

“She was about an hour ago.” said Persephone to Vira. “She was passed out on the bed.”

@Theao: “Yes, I got everything.” said Kane. “I’m a Shadow Fox, Mr. Teach. We always have tape recorder on us. Anything else?”

"Well, we'll need to see about it." Viraranaar said, walking up to the door, banging loudly. "Get up!" He yelled, as a disturbed moan came from the other end.

"Enjoying your hangover?" He asked loudly, yelling and banging.

Persephone laughed. “Viraranaar, that’s not right. She can’t open the door, if she wanted to.” she said. “You have to take the metal bar away from the front of the door.” She was talking about the bar that Vira put in front of the door.

"Not at present, but unless you're following me, how do I get further messages to you?" He asked

"Go away!" A distressed voice came from the other end of the door, from inside the room. Viraranaar only grunted.

"Seems like she's awake alright. Now get up!" He yelled again, banging even harder.

@Theao: “Edward has eyes all over Jenrak. Some of those eyes have been watching you. That is how I knew you were here.” said Kane.

“Well…have fun on your search.” said Kane. “Plus…try and stay away from Edward for a long time.” With that he disappeared, leaving only a black cloud on the ceiling. He would start looking through the Jenrak databases for the name ‘Tezekilth’.

OOC: The eyes are people in the Crimson Fist, the Dominion version of the CIA. Plus...Selene’s men are Edward’s eyes, too.

@Jenrak: “Stop being an asshole, Vira.” said Persephone. “Leave the girl alone.”

Eddie gave Kane a sardonic salute and decided to see if he could find a university. Hopefully there would be one and he could track down a professor that would be helpful.

"It's who I am, and I'm not changing my demeanor." He said, lifting the bar, trying to open the door, but the wooden door was frankly still locked. "Ah, crap." He murmured, raising his fist, punching a clean hole right through the door, swinging the knob open.

Entering into hazy room, he saw Denise frowning at him whilst she sat there, in normal clothes frowning at him. She murmured soemthing, a soft whisper, but he didn't seem to notice. Shivering, Viraranaar picked her up, carrying her out of the room.

"You need some breakfast." Viraranaar said, carrying her through the hallway. "I'll make you some scrambled eggs, you like those." He said softly.

Meanwhile, Saerus laid in the bed, muttering in his sleep, as the cameras throughout the hospital end of the castle began to short circuit. From the creeping of the door, came Rashkta, and her brilliant long white hair, her jacket and her t-shirt precariously perched, as she wore jeans that matched her emerald green eyes. She looked like a normal woman, which heavenly white hair.

Saerus, by this moment, had awoken, and had fully recovered from his condition. Whispering to not wake anybody up, he only squinted in wonder. "Rashkta?" He asked quietly.

"I've come on behalf of my Master." Rashkta replied. "He wants me to tell you that you've been accepted."

"Who?" He asked.

"Lord Gelectriax. You are now to take Illuminaatrix's position on the council, and you will not be the gold Patriarch anymore. That title will be stripped, as of sunrise from you and your wife. You will be Saerus Annirak, the Jack of Spades." Rashkta replied.

"Jack of Spades? What difference is there?" He asked.

"Wait until the full moon, and you will find out." Rashkta replied, leaving swiftly, leaving Saerus to wonder on what that would be.

Seeing that Denise was be cared for, Persephone began to walk away. Vira is an asshole but I don’t think he would do anything to Denise. she said to herself as she walked away.

Selene acted like she was asleep in Saerus’s room. She heard everything that Rashkta said to her husband. After Rashkta leave, she opened her eyes and look at Saerus. “What was that about?” she asked. “Should we tell Edward about this?”

Finding a university, he proceeded to seek out the religious department secretary.

"No. I trust Rashkta. She wouldn't put the country into jeopardy. Besides, if I'm accepted, perhaps I could use this newly appointed position on the council to find more on Gelectriax. If we try to change things, perhaps we could lose a chance at getting closer to him." Saerus replied. "But what is the Jack of Spades?"

“Oh…well that does sound like a good plan.” said Selene. “The Jack of Spades is playing card. That is all know about.”

“Think you are well enough to leave this room and the castle. I would like to be home.” she added.

"Home? As in the Dominion?" He asked, getting up. "I can give you a drive to the airport." He replied, pulling the sheets off.

As Viraranaar laid Denise down, she merely sat there, mindless, devoid, her stare blank and unwitting. Firing up the stove, Viraranaar began to break open the cold hard shells, and he began to make her breakfast. "Where did you get the alchohol?" He asked, cooking.

Denise only grumbled, but Viraranaar asked again more loudly. "Where did you get the alchohol?" Whilst Denise grumbled again.

"This is going to be a long day." He replied.

Professor Meck was getting ready to go home, since he nearly finished his rounds in his night classes, and he was tired. He only worked at night, after all, and he slept during the day. As hectic and unnatural his schedule was, he was paid a surprising amount of money, henceforth it was of no consequence. When he was given the tiring message of somebody wanting to meet him, he only yawned in complaint.

"Fine." Was his only words.

The bitch had the kidnapping coming to her.

“No, Annirak castle. Where the children are.” said Selene. She start looking for some fresh clothes for Saerus to wear.

OOC: @ 511 LaFarge: How amusing.

"Ah. Well I'm sure I should have my old ar - " He said, as a nurse walked in, holding a large parcel in her hands, her face strained as if she was carrying an immensely heavy package.

"Came in the mail, Sir. From a man named Tezekilth, maybe a friend of yours." She said, leaving him no chance to reply, as she walked out.

"Do you think it's something dangerous?" He asked.

Hearing that he would get a chance to speak with Professor Meck, Eddie thanked the man. "Would you mind if I asked you a few questions in regard to Jenrakian religious icongraphy?"

“I got my helicopter in the hanger.” said Selene when the nurse what in. Before Selene could say anything, Kane appeared in room. “Tezekilth is name I got from that Mr. Teach man. The one your brother jumped down his throat.” said Kane. “He said that hacked into one of Jenrak favorite search website and send a message to Gelectriax using that site as a host.”

“And the name Tezekilth sent him back a message.” added Kane.

"Tezekilth? I've never heard that name before. I only wonder who is that?" Saerus asked, finally deciding to open the parcel, to reveal a clean, fresh new set of clothes and armour, a small red glass dagger encrusted in beautiful emeralds and diamonds glittering with a faint sparkle.

"From Tezekilth, to the Jack of Spades. Do not lose the dagger, otherwise you cannot prove that you are one of us." Saerus replied. "Doesn't seem dangerous, but this does look expensive."

“Kane, leave us.” said Selene. Kane did so and disappeared from the room. The heavy scent brimstone filled the room. “Looks like you are in new group, dear husband.” she said.

"Certainly, dear sir." Professor Meck. "What do you want to know about?" He asked more specifically.

"A new crowd? A certainly most dangerous one, I can put into perspective." Saerus said, standing up. Taking off his shirt, he seemed to have more scars and bodily injuries than ever before, long black tattoos embraced down his back ever since the times he met with Ciraranaar. His voice still a slight cold breeze of icy wind, he shook his head.

"I'm wondering on what this will be like." He said, putting the first layer on.

"Do you know if there are any religious tales or references which include either of these names Tezekilth, or Gelectriax?" He asked

"That's a long explanation, and I'm not sure if you want to hear the stories of Tezekilth and Gelectriax." Professor Meck said.

Selene saw the new scars and bodily injuries. Oh Saerus, you have been through a lot of things during those last seven years. she said to herself. “Yes, it will be a dangerous one.” she said to Saerus.

"Yes, I would like to hear the tales of both of them, if you wouldn't mind telling it of course." Eddie replied

"Are you really sure?" Professor Meck asked again. It was apparent he was trying to get out of the conversation so he could get home.

"Yes, certainly." Saerus replied, putting on the soft but strong fiber undergarments, before latching on the chain-mail, long and brilliant and light still. Placing his plates on, he finally put the hood of his armour on, his face still showing.

"Now for the final touch." He said, putting hte mask on, as it latched on his face, pulling recklessly trying to take it off, but to no avail. It has already latched onto his face, the pressure from the air bering sucked out keeping it tight to his face. His newly found armour locking together, his fingers moving on their own, Saerus looked at his hands, but they felt slightly clunky and slow.

"Hmm." He said, standing up to get a better feel. With his armour on, his new plates, he looked entirely different from before. Placed in black soot armour, red markings splashed onto its helm, his robes were swift and symmetrical, his fingers cackling in their steel gauntlets, his face covered by a skin tight mask, white and soulless, leaving only room for his nostrils and his eyes. Painted intricately everywhere on his suit, symbols of ancient Jenrakian icons were placed, his form different; tall, lanky, swift.

His voice went perfectly with his armour. He truly did look like a demon, in soot black steel. A note laid tied to his left arm, he picked it up and read it aloud.

"There is one last piece of the set, but you have to wait until the full moon for that. You'll know what to do." Saerus read from the note.

"Yes I would." Eddie replied as he looked at the professor and realized he tooked tired, "Thought I'd be willing to return tomorrow if that would be better."

"That would be a better alternative. I'm a nights class teacher, so tommorrow night at 8 would suffice." Professor Meck replied.

“Okay.” said Selene as she looked at her husband. This armor was way different from his old armor. It was a little creepy to Selene. “You look like one of the bad guys.” said Selene. “I hope that mask come off, so I can kiss your lips and not the mask.”

At that time, Persephone walked into the room. “Wow.” she said. “Is that you under there, Saerus?”

"Thank you, I shall be here then. I do have one other question, do you think that I might find additional information in the mythology, political or historical departments?" He asked

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Saerus asked, his memory not being as strong as it used to be.

"Thank you, I shall be here then. I do have one other question, do you think that I might find additional information in the mythology, political or historical departments?" He asked

"I'm in historical. If you can't find me, talk to the history department head. Her name's Ave." Professor Meck replied.

"Thank you. Have a good night sir." He replied

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Saerus asked, his memory not being as strong as it used to be.

“Persephone Choiseul.” said Persephone. Selene looked at Saerus. “My second-in-command.” adds Selene. “You only met her once about seven years ago.”

"Ah. Seven years, I really need to catch up. What else has been going on in Seven years?" He asked.

“Our crime empire has changed big time.” said Selene. “All crime is under the control of the Annirak Mafia in Jenrak. All loyal to the Crime Mistress, me.”

"Ah, the Egotrak. What about Desdomahk? I do wish to speak to him."

“Desdomahk is not with the living anymore.” said Selene. “Last we heard was he was tied to a stake and thrown off a cliff.”

"He's dead? That can't be right. Under what charges?"

“Eln did it for not telling him the location of Vira.” said Selene. “I think.”

"Eln? Where is he? That bastard." Saerus asked.

“Dead.” said Selene. “Edward put a bullet through the back of his head.”

"Enkur curse this world! Nobody is left alive now! What bleak and sad vestiges this comes out to be. My only thing left to do is to go home. I need to see my child." Saerus remarked.

"Eat up." Viraranaar told Denise, as she slowly ate the sparkling eggs on her glass plate. "You're tired, try not ot drink so much next time." He said, his hand reaching over to slide the bangs off her forehead.. "What am I to do with all that alchohol? Where did you find it?" He asked softly.

It seemed Denise's hangover had already passed, and she replied with a sore throat, "Ashili's Living Room."

"I'm going to have to talk with that woman." Viraranaar said. "Well the day is free for you today, so don't mess things up."

“Yes, to the house.” said Selene. She and Persephone began walking towards the hanger.

Saerus, without anything to do followed.

It would only be a few more minutes until daylight hits the desert, but Denise still decided to sit down, and look out the window through the looking tower, as she saw the tall glimpse of Zarazego floating in the distance. Sighing lowly, she felt fairly lonely, but seemed inept to do anything about it.

After making it to the hanger, Persephone started up Selene’s Black Hawk. Selene hopped into the back and shut the left side door. “Get in.” she said to Saerus.

The Cajun playboy slowly walked into the looking tower behind Denise. “You feeling alright?” asked Remy. He was wearing black pants, a white tank top, and had taped hands. It was not because he was hurt, he was going back to the training room to hit the punching bags a couple more times.

It was fairly hard for Saerus to move in his new armor, but he would have to adust. Peeling his mask off slowly, his sweating face breathed quickly in relief. "It's hard to breathe in there." He said, taking his gauntlets off, but they stuck to his wrist bands. Giving up, he merely crawled onto the helicopter.

Turning around, Denise nodded. "Hi, Remy. Nothing's wrong." She replied. "My head just hurts a bit." She said.

The helicopter lifts in the air. “You look better without the mask.” said Selene. Exiting the hanger, the copter turns towards Annirak Castle.

“Oh…” said Remy. He wants to wrap his arms around her. But something was stopping him for doing it.

Turning around, Denise nodded. "Hi, Remy. Nothing's wrong." She replied. "My head just hurts a bit." She said.

"Probably all that drinking you were doing..." came Ali's voice from behind. "Really not healthy for you..."

"What's wrong?" She asked him.

"What's wrong?" She asked him.

“I want to do something but my body is not working with me.” said Remy. “I look at you and see something that I can’t have.”

"Probably all that drinking you were doing..." came Ali's voice from behind. "Really not healthy for you..."

“Oh…Mr. Ali, you’re still here I see.” said Remy as he looked back at him. “I would have thought you would have left already.”

"How poetic." She merely replied.

"Hi Ali. How're you?" Denise asked. She seemed different in T-Shirt and jeans, perhaps because of the lack of blades carried by her side, her tilting officer's hat, or perhaps because she seemed to be a more casual person than she definitely was before.

“Oh…Mr. Ali, you’re still here I see.” said Remy as he looked back at him. “I would have thought you would have left already.”

"If I stayed before, why would I have left now?" Ali replied, a bit annoyed at the implication.

"Hi Ali. How're you?" Denise asked. She seemed different in T-Shirt and jeans, perhaps because of the lack of blades carried by her side, her tilting officer's hat, or perhaps because she seemed to be a more casual person than she definitely was before.

"No worse for wear," he replied, "Certainly better than you were doing before."

"If I stayed before, why would I have left now?" Ali replied, a bit annoyed at the implication.

“Because Jenrak is a scary place.” joked Remy.

Remy smiled at what Denise said. Should I move on or try and get Denise? he asked himself. All to hell with it. With his right hand, he turned her head towards him. He kissed her across the lips, a kiss that was strong and had love backing it. He pulled back and look down at the ground. “Sorry.”

Ali didn't seem to pay much attention to Remy's blunt move; either that or he didn't care much, because as Remy kissed her, Ali simply walked by and sat down at the table.

Denise was a state of surprise. "What?" She asked, in shock, but smiling. "Okay, Remy, have you been drinking alot? More than me?" She asked, motioning to drink a bottle. Obviously Denise was extremely taken aback by the move. Leaning back on the balcony, her fingers locked together, she only looked at them both.

"Okay, how about we, uh." She thought carefully, trying to figure out what to do. Chuckling slightly, she couldn't find a single thought of acitvity coming to her mind.

"I'm blank." She said, smiling. "Anybody have any ideas?" She asked them both.

“Nope, I have not drank anything.” said Remy, still looking at the ground. “I have been wanting to kiss you for a long time. Back to went I first met you. I‘m sorry about that.” He looked at her. “How about we do something that will get your head cleared?” he said. “Like take one of Uncle Edward’s sport cars for a drive. One of the two-seaters, the fast ones.”

Shaking her head, she blinked in surprise. "No thanks, I don't a fast car will help."

"Hehe," Ali chuckled. "You are a clever one, Remy..."

"Well, we could go to a fair or an amusement park. I have to go somewhere tonight, so I'm not sure about fast cars and lust." She said.

“I was just trying to get you out of the castle and away from Vira and everybody. Away from everything.” said Remy. That was what he really trying to do. Remy ignored Ali’s comment. If he was not a prince, Remy would have put a charged card in his chest.

"Well, we could go to a fair or an amusement park. I have to go somewhere tonight, so I'm not sure about fast cars and lust." She said.

"That seems like a great idea," Ali agreed. As long as they are like the ones back home... who knows what they are like here, he realized as he thought about it. "That is, if you, and your head, are up to it..." he said with a slight smile.

Denise laughed. "I think I'll pull through." She said. "I could borrow one of Ashili's cars. Are you coming Remy?" She asked him.

“Fairs and amusement parks are not things like to do.” said Remy. Damn it. he said to himself. They will be watched. “Well...” he started as he walked over to the railing of the balcony. “Have fun, Denise.” With that, he leaped over the railing. By the time anybody could look for him, he was gone. Not falling through the air or a big spat on the ground. He was just gone.

"I guess it is just you and me then," Ali said. What a curious man... he thought of Remy, One moment he is trying to woo Denise by kissing her and then the next he is denying to escort her to have some fun.

"Shall we?" he said after he cleared his mind.

"Very interesting man, he is." Denise said, walking out of the balcony sunlight. "I guess it's just you and me, then. Guess it's a date." She said to Ali.

"Heh..." Ali laughed nervousely, "I guess so..."

"After you..." he said holding the door open and allowing Denise to walk through. When they reached the hallway, Ali stopped abruptly, "If you will excuse me for one moment..."

He turned to go back into the room and shut the door behind him. "Spike!" he said.

The muscular and suited figure of Spike appeared from the shadows, "Heh... can't slip anything past you," he grinned.

"I don't know about that," Ali replied. "Anyway. I wan't you to stay here at the castle; if anything happens, link me up."

Spike saluted his understanding and then disappeared again into the shadows. Ali turned and reappeared through the door and next to Denise. "Sorry about that. Shall we..." he said, moving his hand in a forward motion.

“A date?” said Edward as he looked at video screen. He looked at another screen as he saw something run through the castle’s huge garage. “Good job, Remy.” Remy took the fast way to the garage. Using his vampirism speed, Remy started making all of Ashili’s car useless. Taking parts out here and there. They could be fixed but it would take a little longer then a couple of hours. Meaning that only leave Edward’s cars that be used.

By that time, Selene’s Black Hawk was near her home. Annirak Castle.

"Old school. Nice, but there's not much at stake by acting proper." Denise said, walking down the marble hallyways, her cold right hand gripping the railing, as she walked to the garage. "So, how is it in Eborall?" Denise asked, trying to start a conversation.

Saerus felt a small sense of thought, of uneasiness, wondering on what his children would be like. Would they powerful, dashing? Was it a daughter? A son? What traits would they, or he or she have? Those thoughts raced through his mind as he sat in wonder. For he had been claimed dead for seven years, and in seven eyars of pain and torture, a man could lose sight of many things.

"Old school. Nice, but there's not much at stake by acting proper." Denise said, walking down the marble hallyways, her cold right hand gripping the railing, as she walked to the garage. "So, how is it in Eborall?" Denise asked, trying to start a conversation.

"My apologies," Ali replied. "It is just my natural instincts now... how I was brought up, that is."

"Eborall?" he repeated. "It's not bad," he answered simply before going into more detail. "Certainly not like this place. It is a small island without many worries; hasn't had a war ever - though it is still young. Nice weather and very beautiful," he added, as they were the main things people commented about the colony. "Warm and sunny all year round. Nice open grasslands with lots of animals and the beaches are to die for."

"Be careful on what you say, you know. If they're to die for, some tinpot invader will make sure it literally will be to die for." She said amused.

After Remy finished with Ashili’s cars and hiding the parts, Remy leaves the garage.

The copter lands in the castle’s hanger. Selene get out of the left side as the huge hanger doors were closing. A brown hair girl with pink at the end of her hair ran up to Selene. She look seven years and was wearing a blue dress. “Mother, it good to see you.” said Cassandra. “We missed you last night.” A seven boy walked out of the shadow. He had black hair and was wearing black pant and a white tank top. “You missed her.” said the boy. “I knew mother was safe.” It was young Saerus.

"Be careful on what you say, you know. If they're to die for, some tinpot invader will make sure it literally will be to die for." She said amused.

"I would have no qualms dying to protect the place I love..." he replied in all seriousness. "Death is just another path; one that we must all take," he said as the quote came flurrying into his mind.

He looked at her and smiled briefly. Perhaps he should change the subject away from death... "So... where am I taking you?" he asked. Or rather you taking me... he realized in his mind.

"Ashili's public garage. As long as there's a car here, I ca nget you there. My car is at home, and I can't go that far." Denise said jokingly.

Walking up to a long sleek red porsche, Denise opened the door, but the handle simply fell apart, and she was in a state of wonder, as the steering wheel seemed to missing a few things. Ignoring it, she entered into the car, but still she could not start it up.

"I'm not sure what's going with that, but let's try another car. I'll let Ashili about that car." She said, moving onto another. Everyone of Ashili's public cars were seemingly unable to budge, the engine won't turn on, or it was just plain unco-operative. "This is odd. None of these cars won't work. There's Vira's car, but he won't let me even get within ten feet of it. I guess I'll have to ask Ashili to persuade Edward to lend me one of his." She said, pulling out her cell phone.

Saerus was nervous, not himself in a long time. Hiding in the back of the helicopter, he was wary, listening to their conversation, worried to show himself.

"Strange indeed..." Ali commented without letting on what he was thinking. For one car to not be working is a simple unfortunate happening, but for all of the cars to be uncooperative... Ali suspected foul play, but did not want to alarm anyone by saying so, especially if it was merely a coincidence.

"Take your time, no rush here," he assured Denise.

Ashili was still asleep, sound and deep, but when her piercing cell phone ran on her dresser, she quickly woke up and reached for it, placing it to her ear without even checking on whom phoned. "Hello?" She said groggily, as Denise seemed to be on the other end.

"Ashili? Your cars aren't working. I'll need to borrow one from your husband." Denise said.

"Okay." Ashili said. Without taking the phone from her ear, Ashili yelled out, "Edward! Denise wants to borrow one of your cars!"

Annirak Castle
“Where is Miss Choiseul?” asked Cassandra as she hugged her mother. “Right here, dear Cassandra.” Cassandra turned and hugged her, too.

“So how are your studies going.” asked Selene, trying to get them to talk more before Saerus get out of the helicopter.

“Fine, mother.” said both of them.

Ashili's public garage
Remy walked into the garage and over to the Edward’s dirt bikes. He had leather jacket in over his shoulder.

Master Bedroom
Edward looked over at Ashili. “Nope.” he said with a smile.

Saerus, still creeping once more, felt a small wonder. "Full Moon?" He thought aloud. "What does that mean?"

Denise saw Remy, but didn't recognise him. She still waited for a reply from Ashili.

The children talked with their mother about the day and night. Saerus, what are you doing? Selene asked herself.

Remy starts cleaning one of the bikes, somewhat looking over Denise and Ali.

"Nope." Ashili said, hanging then going back to sleep.

Denise had much of a fondness for cars, but nothing else it seemed. "Come on, let's see if we can find Viraranaar." Denise said to Ali, walking out of the garage.

"Alright..." Ali said, slightly disappointed at the hold up. "I though you said he wouldn't let you go anywhere near his car?"

Remy looked at Vira’s car. Nope he said to himself. He would kill me. He continued cleaning the bike. Can't say I didn't try.

"I'll convince him somehow." She replied, going up the twisting stairs to where Viraranaar sat, outside Ashili's courtyard, scratching his head.

"Hey Vira." She sat down beside him, leaning on his arm, "Nice day, huh? Nice day for a ride." She said, trying to sound sad and weary.

"No." Was his answer, simple and absolute.

"If you let me borrow your car, I'll give you my dad's grandfather clock." Denise replied. "The one you always wanted?" She said seductively.

"...Fine." Viraranaar said, giving her his keys. "Don't scratch it." He said, quiet and still. "Oh, and I don't want any crumbs in my car, understood?" He asked, as Denise nodded, kissing him on the forehead.

"Have fun." He said, softly, as Denise jingled the keys at Ali.

"I told you." Denise said, in joy, as she walked into Ashili's garage once more, over ot Viraranaar's car, a sleek black 16.4 Veyron, glistening with a glance in the soft underground light. How a priest could afford a car like that, Denise would never figure out.

Nevertheless, she got into the vehicle, without difficulties, and urged Ali to get in the passenger seat, the engine rumbling in joy.

OOC: If you don't know what a 16.4 Veryon is, here:
http://images.forbes.com/images/2003/09/02/vow1_420x300.jpg
Viraranaar's is black.

"You are one clever girl," he noted with a slight smile appearing on his face.

Though why she would give something up like that for a simple ride is beyond me... he thought as they walked towards the car. Ah... he realized. That explains a lot. "Heh, quite a nice car."

He took his time walking around the car, examining its beautiful design, before finally getting into the passenger seat. "You be easy with her," he warned.

Damn, Vira let her have the keys. said Remy to himself. What the hell did she do to him? Or give him? Remy put his leather jacket on and a black helmet. He fired up the blue and black 500cc dirt bike. He took out of the garage on the bike.

"I'm easy with alot of things." Denise joked, feeling the purring engine as she roared the car in reverse, and then forwarded it through the winding sections, shooting the vehicle out of the driveway onto the road as the dust began to settle down behind.

Viraranaar only sat there, shaking his head. "My precious little girl isn't going to survive past this day." He said sadly. Ironically, he was referring to the car.

Saerus, still perched quietly in the helicopter, stayed there, glued to the spot. He couldn't, and wouldn't get out of his stasis.

"Oh yeh?" Ali said as he raised an eyebrow.

Oh shit! Ali had been busy admiring the car and forgot to put a seatbelt on... He was reminded by the sharp tugging of the car and intense acceleration. Quickly, he locked his legs in place so that he wouldn't shift around and began fumbling with the buckle to lock it in place.

Phew... he breathed a sigh of relief as he finally heard the click of the buckle.

"You know," Ali began before deciding whether or not he should finish the sentence. Might as well. "You remind me a lot of my little sister."

Remy shot the bike up a sand dune and used it as a ramp. He lends back and starts a back flip. He is half way through it as the bikes disappears behind the sand dune. He lands on both wheels and slides next to a dark blue Lamborghini Diablo VT Alpine Limited Edition, that was sitting on a near by road. One of Edward’s men took the dirt bike as Remy took off after Denise in Vira’s car.

Selene was waiting for Saerus to get out of the back of the helicopter.

OOC: http://www.lambocars.com/dia/diaalpine.htm Use that to see the car.

"Then do you feel okay going on a date with someone like your sister?" Denise chuckled, racing along the highway, passing other cars. Look behind her, she noticed the familiar sleek black mechanics she always was used to. "Why does Vira have a gun behind the seats?" She asked Ali, but curious.

"Okay, never mind that. Let's just have some fun." She said, pulling the vehicle into a turn, shooting through the roads. "It's fun to be a cop." She said, as the nearby police car pulled her over, and the cop walked confidently to her window.

"It's a nice vehicle, missy, but you can't go around doing that." He replied with a confient tone, before Denise flashed up the Sword Bearer's badge. "Oh, you're an SBP? My apologies, madam. Sorry for interrupting your day." He said in a hurry, turning around and driving off.

Putting her badge back in her back pocket. "I'm not too fond of a purse." She said mockingly to Ali, putting the car back into full power once more.

"Heh, I can think of many worse things than being on a date with someone like her," he said as he looked at Denise briefly.

He hadn't even noticed the gun until she mentioned it as his mind was preoccupied thinking about how familiar Denise seemed. Definately like Elisa... he thought as she was pulled over for speeding. And just as Elisa would have done, Denise 'informed' the officer of who she was and they were let off without so much as another word. "Quite handy," he said referring to the badge she had slipped into her pocket.

"Oh, no?" he teased Denise. "I would have thought that someone like you and a purse would go hand in hand like the sands and waters," he joked. "Really, I can just picture you fighting someone with a purse..." That last visual made him laugh quite a bit.

"Yep, that must be it." She said, laughing. "Well, there's a nice amusement park on the beach in the Arguns. That's where we're headed." She replied, speeding forwards.

Nice... Ali thought. Less of a chance to be killed there, he chuckled to himself as he refocused on Denise's driving.

"You like the beach?" Ali asked curiously.

"Love it." She replied joyously.

"Well you will have to make it a point to visit Eborall then," Ali commented. "Its beaches have been rated as some of the world's best by numerous critics and surveyors. They are one of the island's main attractions and bring in much of the tourism each year..."

"Charming." She said, completely out of sync to what he just said.

Hmm... that is odd, Ali noticed, She doesn't seem to be paying attention.

"Denise," Ali said trying to get her attention by using her name. "You seem distracted. Is something the matter?"

"That bastard tried to cut me off." She said, speeding up past a large pickup truck. "What did you say?"

Sigh.

"Nothing..." Ali said feeling slightly rejected. "Doesn't matter..."

"Let's see how strong a pickup truck is." She said, speeding up to be at level with it, before twisting the turn, sending the truck off the lane, a large thump felt on the back of the car.

Speeding up, she avoided the retaliation quickly. "I forgot whose car this was." She said, her face in delightful fear. "Vira's going to kill me." She said, worried, heading to the amusement park.

"Oh, no," Ali said as he realized what Denise was about to do. "Denise, don't do it... this is a really expensive car," he protested but it was too late as she rammed the pickup truck.

He sighed, "I guess there is no point in worrying about it now. What's done is done..."

"Yes, that's true." Denise said in sombre. "We're almost there anyways, no point in worrying until we actually have to go back." She said.

Ali smiled comfortingly, "Yeh... might as well just forget about it and enjoy the rest of our time."

Hopefully she would forget about it for the time being and possibly even until Vir noticed it.

Rearing into the parking lot for the massive amusement park, large twisting coasters dabbing up past the watery slides, merry-go-rounds and swings, yellow and red and place ajar in open fields, it was indeed a large place to be, as people walked around, the raucous laughter and the joyous snicker of children and their parents as they rode about the slides and coasters. Screaming of excitement, the heartfelt thumping of steel racing alongside magnetic bridges and large towers suspended by enormous engines. It was a theme park, alright, bridge upon a massive pier.

Far off, children yelled in delight as they pranced along the water, giant water slides slipping through the cold breezy water amongst the neverending golden sand. "Do you want ot go swimming?" She asked, before chuckling slightly. "That's right, you don't anything to swim with. The roller coasters look fun, though so it's no big deal." She said.

His eyes darted from one end to the other as he examined the amusement park that they had just arrived at. Not bad considering it is on a pier, he decided. Wish we had one like this at home... he thought. I guess I will have to comission one when I get back, he realized as Denise parked the car and got out.

"No, we can go swimming," Ali insisted as he wanted to make her feel better at the moment. "Really... I don't mind."

"Well, the beach is about a kilometre walk, so it's not far. You want to go?" She asked.

"Course I do," Ali replied as he took a few steps in the indicated direction to show his sincerity. "Come on..."

Chuckling, Denise nodded. "Okay, let's get there." She said, trekking from the amusement park to the beach. It would certainly take a little longer, no doubt, but at least some conversation could be sparked.

Damn she’s a nut. said Remy to himself as he watched her drive like mad woman. Vira, is going to kill her. As Denise pulled into the parking lot, Remy shot behind her. But drove for about a mile then turn back around and heads to the parking lot. He pulls into empty parking space next to Vira’s car. “Oh…shit…” he said aloud as he looked at the damage on the car.

His cell-phone rang in his jacket. He pull it and answered it. “What?” he asked.

“Denise and Ali are heading towards the beach.” came the male voice on the other end of the phone. One of the Crimson Fists that use to watch Eln for Edward.

“Well…keep an eye on them.” said Remy.

“Will do.” said the man.

"Did you feel like someone was tailing us on the way here?" Ali asked as they headed towards the beach. "You know... that wierd feeling like someone is watching you."

"I have it all the time, and more or less, my feeling is usually right." She said, without looking back. "If you ignore it, it can kill you. But if you don't, you can go crazy." She said, smiling in the bright sunlight, her white teeth a beautiful glittering array, to shine amongst the glass smooth water, devoid of silky whitecaps.

"So, Ali. Have you ever been with a woman from another place before? Conflicting cultures, different political ideals?" She asked, throwing ideas out.

Meanwhile, at the Annirak castle, looming still with a vast vestige and darkening, brooding demeanour, towers and battlements lunging out of the stone base, seeming to stab into the sky in defiance as did Zarazego in the gem of Haasdra. A large metal gate for a door stood aloft, as Selene still talked to her children, his children, but still he never felt he courage to bring his face to children who have never seen it.

Seven long years, he was claimed to be dead for, and seven long just years he served his repentance, for he believe he served his war crimes in those seven years, to live as harshly as his victims did before him. But this was different. This was a personal issue, and he had to face it head on. Standing up in the helicopter, he tried to steady, stroing, with a commanding presence emanating from his thickening aura, his conviction shielded by a blindingly wide array of faith.

"I can do this." Saerus said to himself, emerging from Selene's helicopter, his stance strong and tall.

"Hmm..." Ali said as he thought about the question. "Can't say that I have; not formally at least. I never really thought about it - you - like that. Probably would have made sense to mull it over before I met, but it never really crossed my mind."

He walked in silence for a minute as he thought. "I guess I never thought it was really important. I mean, if you like somebody and enjoy their company, why should political differences keep you apart."

"People have split up over political and civil differences before. More often than not. We have it fairly common here, so I'm used to things like this." She discussed.

Cassandra looked around her mother at the man who exited her mother’s helicopter. This man was in armor she had never seen. But she knew this man, the man was in her dream or his face was. Still staying back near Selene, she looked at the man’s face and it triggered. “Father?” came out of her lips.

Young Saerus looked at his sister. “What?” he asked. Then he looked where she was looking. He looked at the man’s face.

“You’re the gold man in our courtyard.” he said. He was talking about the golden statue in the courtyard that Selene had made to honor her dear husband.

"Love means more than that to me... the just being together, married if you will," Ali explained. "To me, true love means that there is nothing in the world more important than that special someone; that you would march into hell to get him or her back and not stop until you did so..."

"If I was in love..." Ali paused momentarily, "I wouldn't care what the politicians said or what my advisors pressured me to do... that special someone would be by my side no matter what."

He sighed, "Maybe I am just a hopeless romantic, dreamer of years past..."

"I like hopeless romantics. They play hard to get when they have a chance, but they don't when they're without. It confuses me." Denise said, as a cackling crab crawled around her left foot, as she kicked it off into the glassy ocean. "True love, huh? Well true love certainly can't fight off against reality. If you're marching into hell, chances are you won't be coming back."

"The golden man in the courtyard?" Saerus asked, amused. "I'm not golden, if that's what you're implying." He said amused. Turning to the girl, Saerus only nodded slightly. "Of course. Who else would I be?" He asked her playfully.