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Unread 06-02-2013, 07:08 PM   #11
Teal Mage
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Slept on it and a few other concerns, and yeah, Krogoth, if I don't get any more sign-ups, you can join up again (I've already been notified by two other people who've expressed interest; so any more sign-ups on top of them). If I do, you'll have to compete with any other interested parties. But I have a sample of your writing, so that's a point in your favor.

...uh, just checking, but you won't be dropping suddenly again, right? Because if that's in the cards, then the answer becomes a definite no. Sorry.

Anyway, if you wanna pick up as Dean, you should be aware that he's made the odd NPC appearance since you dropped. Was a bit of jerk! Also, due to events that are not worth expanding on (because they did not happen as far as everyone else is concerned! ), he was never in Landry's class to begin with. Was in Shuyin's!...which is now Professor Silverstein's. I haven't updated his powers canonically at least, so that works in your favor. Less favorable is the amount of work you'll need to do where updating is concerned, but I guess any character you make has that issue. He's had two months to develop from his initial iteration!...while going to school. I'll try to help as much as I can, and the players on the pad might be able to offer some advice. Joining this game is usually something of a trial - but I suppose a simplified system might make it easier. Maybe. You'll find out!

...that is, if you still want in.

Sean and Kohana are both fine. I've rethought the secondary taint I added to Jo and Shin's characters and removed references to that effect. Shin just can't use Without a Shadow. Chou may struggle with the Demonic Lightning magic too, since it draws more from Shin than her. But otherwise, only Cassie was significantly changed. If Love > Lust is a serious change, anyway.
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Unread 06-18-2013, 08:47 PM   #12
Krylo
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Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat]. Krylo is [censored for Unusual use of a goat].
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I guess I'll stop being lazy for a few minutes and take care of my obligations here, as you guys can't just not have Dalbhach.

But still mostly lazy. Copy paste of the one we did on the pad:

Race: Fae
Class: Faerie Trickster
Gender: Male
Age: Old as shit.
Aura: Gold
Appearance: Beautiful. More specifically, he's got pale skin with black hair and green eyes. He's thin, and a bit wiry. Generally dresses pretty well.

Ability List:
Glamour - Dal is Glamorous! Also, this is the name for FAERIE ILLUSIONS, which Dalbhach Nuada is quite the skilled practicioner of, though, due to his shitty seal, these powers are difficult to use away from his actual personage, and only truly easy for him when used on himself. Fear his illusory ways.
  • Human Form - An illusion which allows Dal to appear as a pretty-looking, normal, human. Completely hides his supernatural characteristics. He has a great deal of control over his appearance, thanks to this illusion. Little to no strain.
  • Camouflage - Dal makes himself invisible with ILLUSIONS leaving only a faint, and subtle, outline of his aura. Moderate strain, makes it more difficult to cast other spells.
  • De-Synch - Dal creates an illusory version of himself, which generally simply moves slightly faster or slower than the real Dalbhach, making it harder for an opponent to predict, or react to, his movements. However, with some concentration, Dal can control his illusory double, allowing it to move up to a few feet away from him. Optionally, Dal may also use Camouflage to vanish while his double is out. Minor strain normally, increases slightly while Dal is invisible and increases greatly while controlling the illusionary double. Increases the difficulty of casting other spells.

Dream Weaving - The faerie courts practice this ancient and respected art of pulling dreams and emotions into physical reality and then forging them into items of power. Such items are general ephemeral unless somehow given permanence through ritual or other magic, and Dal isn't particularly skilled at it, but he has learned a trick or two.
  • Form Rapier - Dal crafts a pretty silver sword outta dreams and emotions and stuff. May summon or dismiss reflexively.

Faerie - Dal is a sidhe fae, a member of a proud and noble race renown for their magical abilities and incredible egos. As a result of his lineage he's more lithe and agile than a normal human being with finer, generally considered 'more beautiful' features, at the cost of being physically weaker and more fragile, however, this lighter profile also allows flight with his wings. The fae are a noble and powerful race, but have a harshe weakness to cold (pure) iron, which burns even at a touch; sometimes a necessary precaution for mortals around this trickster race, as they feed upon powerful human emotions and are known to incite them for the rush of a good feeding.
  • Dream Eater - Dal can convert the emotions he devours into a secondary pool of magical energy to be used at his discretion. He continues to be affected by any fed upon emotional energy, however, until he expends the energy it provides him (empties his secondary pool). Makes his aura flare brighter than usual.
  • Speed Burst - With a flare of magic, Dal can strengthen his wings to launch himself in a powerful explosion of speed. He tends to stab people when he does this. Moderate strain.

Trickster - Dal is practiced in the art of deception, and flows through conflicts, social and otherwise, with no small amount of tricks, lies, distractions and just plain flat out cheating--and he's good at it. People believe him when he pretends he's acting in their best interests. He (almost) never fails to take advantage of an opponent's--or friend's--weakness. And when he does, it's usually merely because he has something even bigger planned.
  • Unbound Gaze - When Dal's eyes meet yours, you find it hard to keep yourself from being overcome by emotion. Literally. This spell makes it much more difficult to subdue your emotions, and much easier to drive you to emotional extremes. Most victims aren't aware of the effect. Minor strain.

Swordplay - Dal is an expert in the art of swordery. Not quite a true MASTER in all caps and all that, but still exceptionally skilled. Dal prefers not to augment this ability with magic, specifically, however, and his skill is au naturale.

Bio: Sentenced to high school, for a crime he. . . okay he did commit it. And many others. Blah blah past less masquerade blah blah fuck the masquerade, blah blah no fuck you, blah blah prison for a bajillion years, blah blah Amaranth as parole.

Clubs: Fencing, Writing, and Anime. He also drops by other club meetings when he has time and as amuses him. Drama and music clubs more often than others, but he's not really a member.
  • Love and Fightiology (B+)
  • Anime (-) Not graded!
  • Fencing (B+)
  • Writing (C-)

Relationships:
  • Robin Goodfellow - He's goddamn Puck. Lets not even bother pretending otherwise.
  • Morgan Ig Nuada - She's probably a corpse. Rest in pieces, dear cousin. DM controlled.
  • Mandy R. Quinn - Dal built her out of Shuyin's magic, tainted by Landry's field. She is something like the daughter of Dalbhach Nuada, Professor Landry, and Professor Shuyin. That poor girl. DM Controlled.
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Unread 08-17-2013, 06:31 PM   #13
Teal Mage
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Between waiting for some contact with the other three apparently interested newbies (Krogoth was one), working on my summer-classes and just, generally, sitting on the fence as to whether or not I wanted to restart the game, I appear to have let more than two-months pass without much in the way of comment. That's not a good sign, in my mind!

While I can't say I've completely lost interest in this project, I think DMing something of this scope is a bit beyond me still. So, I'm gonna formally abort the restart (such a surprise, amirite?) and take a long break from RPing (at least, as a DM). I'm sorry about making you all re-write your bios for a 3.0 that didn't actually happen. Hope everyone had fun! I know I did. Might even revisit this game at some point, but I doubt that'll be soon.

Anyway, I know some of you really wanted me to make an Omake thread (bit late, obviously), but if you want to, feel free to leave some completed ones here. Also, if you have any lingering questions, you can ask me them here.

...not that I'll promise to answer them honestly. That would be completely out of the spirit of the game. In conclusion!

"Students!"

"...you performed acceptably. Yes, even you Jack."
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Unread 08-19-2013, 07:46 PM   #14
Girasol of Chaos
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Amaranth Campus West Dorm - Shin's Room

Evening had settled on the grounds of the Amaranth Institute for the Gifted. In a stark constrast to its usually immaculate and well groomed state, with the Halloween Festival fast approaching, the grassy meadow which surrounded the educational complex was littered with the signs of construction. Wooden beams, brightly coloured bolts of cloth and flimsy paper decorations were arranged throughout the grounds, in varying states of completion and order. It would certainly be something when everything was said and done.

But, in the meantime, life remained relatively unchanged for the students who lived in the Institute. In one particular Dorm, life was the picture of normal. The common room was filled with the scent of cooking food, and heat wafting from the stove in its north-east corner - currently unattended. At the south-end of the chamber, the Teanne lounged on one of the room's sofas, wrapped in a white bathrobe. Her long dark hair still damp from her recent shower, and bound carelessly back into a ponytail. In one hand, she held a delicate cup of green tea, and the other, a textbook on Arabian culture. As usual, the TV was on - but Teanne was ignoring it.

Door creaking open, the residential oni emerged from her dimly lit room. It was late enough that she had changed into a black T-shirt, adorned with a stylized nue, and her hair was down for the night. It seems she didn't change her pants, though. Shin was taking it easy, attempting to mentally prepare herself for tomorrow. Course, her mind was occupied with the aromas from the kitchen, stomache growling in response.

Glancing around, she did not spot her lovely cook. "Hey naked, seen the fox around?" With a stretch she approached the couch and inspected the TV, boring as usual. Her gaze moved to Teanne's sketchbook-also boring.

"He's finishing your costume." Teanne replied, in her usual distracted and disinterested tone. A sip of tea later, she added, "In his room."

"Oh, right." She had entirely forgot about the whole costume today, even though Kit had been working with her for a while. Oops. "Thanks Teacup." Turning Shin approached Kit's door, offering three strong knocks before opening it, not waiting for a response. "Hey Kit, how's it comin along?"

A moment later, Kit's usually cheerful voice replied, "Almost done!" From the sounds of it, he'd turned into a girl tonight.

Poking her head in, Shin grinned, "So does that mean we get dinner soon, too?" She did take the time to inspect whatever part of the costume he was working on at the moment. She wasn't entirely convinced that wearing a skirt was going to be fun.

Surprisingly, Kit was not at his - her - sewing machine at the moment. The kitsune knelt in the middle of his room, before a series of white-chalk lines arrayed in a seven-pointed star and filled with japanese script. Candles of seven colours burned brightly around the chamber, pale blue flames crowning each of their wicks dancing wildly, as if blown about by a strong wind. Orange-tinted supernatural power filled the chamber in clouds - eminating from the kitsune in the chamber's center. Spread neatly at the center of the chalk array, was a school-girl's outfit. The magical power appeared to be pouring into the outfit.

With so much power swirling around the small chamber, it might have taken Shin a moment to realize Kit was naked.

Having expected him making the elaborate wig or something, the tall youth stood in the door for a moment to analyze the situation. Stepping into the room she closed the door with a quiet click. Spinning on her heel she took a couple of steps into the orange clouds, enjoying the simple pleasure of them enveloping her. Her eyes focused on the ritual symbols, the candles, and finally her roommate.

Upon noticing Kit in his birthday suit, Shin snorted, "Oh, so you and Tea lady having a naked party and didn't invite me?" Careful not to interfere with the spell, Shin slowly circled the scene with curiosity. "Well, can I at least watch?" At what was deemed a 'safe' distance the ogre crouched onto her haunches, eyes filled with mild awe. It had been a long while since she'd seen a demon casting a non-combat related spell.

The shifting clouds in the room seemed to halt, as Kit cracked a brilliant blue eye to stare at the Oni. Her illusion had fallen away when she'd entered the clouds of sacred magic. "I would," Kit stated, tensely, "prefer you not." Her aura was now clearly visible among the magic of the ritual - it seemed to be straining.

Waving a hand she stood up again, "Alright." Circling again she made her way towards the door, trying to give him as much distance as the room allowed. "Just lemme know when you've got some pants on at least." Opening the door, she quickly disappeared, sealing the room with a click agai -

A loud explosion, like hundreds of glasses shattering, sounded from the room behind her. There was a muffled cry, then a dull impact beyond the door a moment later.

Eyes wide in shock, Shin immediately snapped her attention towards the robed figure on the couch, throwing her arms up in the air. "I didn't do it!"

Aside from the sounds rising from the TV - Teanne had changed the channel to a cartoon when Shin wasn't looking - there was no reply. Teanne merely sipped from her mug of tea, and calmly continued reading her Cultural club homework. It appeared that whatever Shin did or did not do was irrelevant to the girl.

Not bothering to cast her illusion again, Shin rested the back of her hand on the center of the door. Cool. Slipping away from Kit's area the nervous oni joined Teanne in watching cartoons, sitting in another couch and keeping an ear out for her probably now-unhappy friend.

In truth, it didn't really matter what was on the screen, she was just trying to cover her own ass while remaining concerned. At least she wasn't so hungry at the moment.

About a tense minute passed, before the knob on Kit's bedroom door opened. The kitsune stepped out of - limping noticeably, as she shot a glare toward Shin. She'd thrown on a loose white kimino - unnervingly similar to her outfit when Shin had sparred so many weeks ago in the Mixed Martial Art's club dream room. Countless small lines of red showed through the kimino, and the backs of Kit's hands were dripping blood from gashes that covered them. The Kitsune's orange hair looked hacked, and more of the same cuts littered his cheeks, forehead and feet, leaving small spots of blood on the carpet in his wake. Miraculously, the space around his eyes was untouched.

"Thanks for keeping her out Teanne." Kit called, voice sharp.

Teanne waved blandly from her book, as the Kitsune limped over to the stove, grumbling something softly that very likely was not complimentary in the least.

Hearing the door open the oni glanced over her shoulder-and the couch, to view what disaster she had wrought. Teanne probably wasn't paying attention to the cursing that was uttered under her breath.

Face contorting in mental pain, Shin enveloped her eyes with a single hand and turned away. Why did she pick that of all outfits? Stewing in her self hate for a moment her ears picked up on the sickening, limping thump as Kit made her way towards the kitchen. Dammit.

DAMMIT.

She knew she was a fuckup, but she wasn't going to stand for letting Kit-who had shown her immense tolerance, at the very least - deal with this shit. The regret returned in full force, and this time, with a bit of anger. Activating her human disguise, Shin stood up with a stomp.

"Nuh-uh, get outta the kitchen." Working her way around the couch and across the room, Shin opened the door leading out of their dorm room. "We are going to the Nurse." Whatever calm the oni had attempted to exert she had failed, her voice deepening with anger. Standing between the exit to the kitchen and the main room, she blocked the area to ensure the only easy path was out. "Now."

"No." Kit replied, flatly. He was stirring something on the stove, briefly. "I'm fine. The cuts aren't deep. Once I eat, I'll just repair my body with a shapeshifting spell." With a sigh, the kitsune returned the lid to the pot, then slid down onto the floor, resting her back against the unused oven. "The protection spells kept the damage to a minimum. If it wasn't for your damned Oni magic getting mixed in, it would have been illusory glass, not real shards anyway." She yawned, "Nothing to worry about. I hate coming up with excuses for Dr. Lane."

Narrowing her eyes Shin inspected Kit closely, not fully buying the explanation. "Yeah, okay. So am I gonna hafta carry your bleedin' ass over there or should I have her share dinner with us?" The living wall wasn't budging either.

"Ugh." Kit sighed. "Shin, don't make me use magic to shut you up, please." She sighed again, before reaching behind her head. Her aura flickered faintly, and a trickle of blood flowed down from her fingers, as a small hairband shimmered into existence, bringing her dishelved hair into a loose ponytail. "Because I will turn into a limping fox and run away if you try that." She added, deadpan.

Teanne chuckled softly from her place on the couch. She was sitting on her knees now, peaking over the couch's back and watching the scene unfold with a smile. This was far more interesting than Arabian culture.

With a frustrated exhale Shin rubbed her eyes with one hand, pinching towards the bridge of her nose in thought. After a long moment, she regained her composure long enough to yell over her shoulder. "Teacup!" Her glare returned to Kit as she addressed the observer, "Make sure Kitten doesn't do anything stupid. I'll be right back."

Ignoring the fact that she was barefoot and wasn't prepared to appear in public in general, she checked her keys in her pocket and shut the door behind her, breaking into a full run down the dorm hall.

She wasn't going to risk Kit fleeing, so she'd have to ask the Nurse or Sao to come back to the room.

Shin's bare feet pounded the light brown hardwood flooring that ran down the arrow-straight, door-lined, hallway of the Amaranth West dorm. White lights shone down from the ceiling above her, giving the corridor a bright and cheerful feel - a sharp contrast to the East dorm, the few times Shin had visited it. Decorative plants and smooth brown stone walls blurred past her, as she hurried toward the elevators - the quickest way to the mainfloor from her dorm room. As she might have expected, the hallways were deserted at this time in the evening. Not entirely surprising, since even Shin knew that most of the dorms were unoccupied in the West and East dorms.

Shin found herself standing in front of the mirror-like double doors of the elevators before she knew it. There were three, set into a small recess in the dark-coloured hallway. A pair of bright red tiles on the walls, stylized in the lightness of 2-D paper lanterns proclaimed the floor number: 5-W. Two identical panels with up and down buttons were set on either side of the elevator doors. A causal glance at the reflective doors revealed that she appeared flushed from the short run - perhaps she shouldn't have skipped supper after all.

Five floors, the elevators were slower than she'd like. After glancing at her winded form in the reflection, Shin turned away from the metallic doors and forced herself to jog to the stairs. It'd be faster and she could catch her breath a little on a landing, if she needed to.

The door to the stairs was only a short distance away. Shin arrived in moments, and moving nearly on instinct, the Oni's hand closed around the door-knob. Her bright red hand -

...

Her hand was bright red.

A brief moment of panic swept through her mind. Concentrating, she backed up a step and attempted to put her illusion back up. She didn't need to get in any more trouble. Shin's aura flared a dusty yellow around her body, and her skin-tone began to pale. Then, dull yellow smoke began to rise from her skin and fill the air around her - the illusion wasn't working.

The alarm intensified. "Fuck." Something was terribly wrong here and she didn't know what, and there was absolutely zero chance of her being able to get help here. Steeling her nerves, Shin let loose a roar, pouring more energy into it (the spell fizzled instants after her panicked casting, echoing loudly in her ears, but little else), attempting to try a new illusion with the aura - a monstrous one (the illusion met a similar fate - shattering instants after forming and falling to the ground in a tickling of glass). With the battlecry she grabbed the knob and turned, slamming her body against the door and immediately turning to bound down the stairs.

((Shin Will: 40/50))

Her mind was now in full panic mode, and she couldn't afford to stand still.

The door swung open on silent hinges, and Shin found herself standing in the landing of the stairs. The ambient lighting was dimmer here than in the hallway she'd just left, but the floors were the same light gold-brown hued varnished wood, and the walls the same dark brown stone. The area was empty - the only sound, the pounding of her heart.

Growling, the ogre shook her head with the noise, but the unsettling fact that her illusion didn't work remained. With a leap she began to jump down the stairs a few steps at a time, arm hovering over the center bar in case she began to fall. A mantra formed in her head, attempting to reign in her wild emotional state, clearly she was just upset at Kit still. Gotta get Sao.

Gotta get Sao.

Gotta get Sao. With a thump she arrived on the fourth floor landing, turned, and continued at that speed.

Heart thundering in her ears, Shin flew down the stairs. The world seemed to have shrunk before the Oni's eyes, as she fled from whatever nameless terror was behind her. Had she heard a door swing open above her? The pounding in her ears seemed too loud to be her heart. Was someone here? With a gasp, Shin heaved herself down to the main floor, landing with - what felt like - a bone shattering crash.

The white painted wooden door was in front of her.

Shin hesitated at the door, the sinking feeling hadn't gone away, but the frustration turned into anger. Whatever the hell was bothering her needed to leave her the fuck alone.

Determined, turned her head and bellowed up the stairs, "Stop following me you dumb fuck." The ogre's aura attempted to re-activate at this time. Shooting a glare up the dim stairwell she turned her attention to the white portal before her.

With a determined slam she swung the door open, ready to run down the hallway and try to shake whatever visitor she had acquired.

Glaring whiteness met Shin's eyes, as she flew through the portal. A shock of frigid cold shot through her bare feet as they landed on snow. Behind her, distant mocking laughter floated from the door - the instant before it slammed shut with a click of finality. The noon sun filled the clear sky - it took Shin a moment to adjust to the new light. A pine forest rose on all sides.

With a chill, she realized she knew where she was.

The barrier field in the Mixed Martial Arts club.

She tasted blood in her mouth.

Laughter echoed in her mind, mocking her. A little too late she realized that it was a trap. The taste of her roommate's blood in her mouth pleased and sickened her simultaneously. Snarling, she inspected herself, trying to ignore the growl her stomache let loose. Although she appeared normal, there was one significant change.

Blood, everywhere, it stunk of the poor Kitsune. Guilt-ridden and enraged, Shin proceeded a few steps in the snow, towards where the center of the barrier field would be.

Yelling to the sky, the oni summoned her Kanabo,"What the fuck do you want from me?"

In a blink, the sky was obscured by dark grey rolling storm clouds. The forest fell into a shadowy gloom. Darker patches of inky blackness appeared at the edge of the Oni's vision, only to vanish when she turned to look at them. An icy wind swept up, whistling through her ears. A whispered voice, vicious with glee, filled her mind.

"Gotta find Sao."

Glaring upward, Shinobu shouldered the club, battle-ready but puzzled by the events going on around her. A shiver-not from the wind, though-rattled through her body for a brief instant, as it seemed to whisper in her ear. Her pupils pinned at this in anger, was that a threat?

"Yeah, well I was gonna go get her to help Kit, dammit." Continuing the gaze she proceeded to the top and center of the clearing, scanning her surroundings for whoever, whatever was doing this to her. "Who the hell are you?"

A rattling behind her caught her attention. The door knob was...shaking.

Her face contorted, fangs bared and head tilted so her horns gleamed in the little light that remained. "Is that a threat, you fuckhead? Are you after Sao?"

Stomping towards the door she approached it, too furious to understand that she was out of her league at this point. Voice deepening she raised the decibles as she continued, "Because if you are, I'm gonna fucking eviscerate you, crush your skull and eat your fuckin bones."

Her bare feet had carried her through the snow, much closer to the door now. Bringing her club down and tensing her muscles, she prepared herself. "Bitch, no one touches my pals without getting through me." Crimson eyes glowing with absolute fury stayed fixed on the door, prepared to swing at whatever emerged.

"You're so stupid." The voice whispered, a presence suddenly close behind her. It felt as if someone was leaning over her shoulder, then -

- a sharp stabbing pain shot through her club wielding shoulder. Blood blossomed into the air, painting the door before her in red splotches.

With a blood curdling roar Shin poured her strength into a surge, blinded by pain. Channeling her energy she tore her injured shoulder in front of her and pivoted, slamming her back into the door with all of her might. The weight upon her would now-if still solid-be pinned between her surge and the door.

Had it shuffled off of her, she would now be facing it. Her back needed to be against the only wall. Due to sheer determination or her death grip, the oni still held the Kanabo, but could not immediately swing it. The door needed to stay shut, and she needed to face her opponent.

Wood cracked. The white face of the door buckled inward, against the force of her slam. Shin thought she heard a gasp over the howl of the blizzard-like wind that now filled the shadow filled pineforest around her. Blood leaked perfusely from her wounded shoulder, she was losing feeling in her fingers.

And a pair of white, glowing, eyes watched her.

A vortex of swirling darkness filled the clearing. Shapes - she thought she could make out shapes in that mass - flickered, slashes of white against the black background. The voice filled her ears again. The laughter was almost maddening now and trimuphant. Pressure seemed to be pushing her back into the door - it was getting hard to breathe.

"Gonna get Sao!"

Blood leaked profusely out of her wound, causing her voice to pitch in a non-threatening, teenage boy-like manner, "Not while I'm still here you aren't, douchebag." The shapes filled the clearing, taunting her as they approached. What sort of nightmare had she walked into, she wondered, glaring at the shapes and the eyes before her. Gasping for air through her clenched teeth, she fought to grin. "Did that hurt, you little bucket of dicks?" Voice cracking, she steadied herself, " Is this door a trick too?"

Pouring another strength surge-this one almost impossibly strong- she slammed her working left elbow against the center of the door. "C'mere and face me, you weak-minded coward!" The last of her words fought in vain against the wind, but she knew it had heard her.

"Yes!"

The door shattered behind her, and Shin fell backwards suddenly. Her head struck wood - and something white flashed before her face. A maddened howl erupted before her, as hands closed on her shoulders, hauling her backward - through the door.

Stars burst into Shin's vision, as one of the hands closed on her wounded shoulder. Pain exploded and, out of instinct, the Oni bit into the arm holding it - tusked fangs digging deep into soft flesh. A torrent of blood filled her mouth, and there was a pained cry behind her. The hand on her injured shoulder released her, as a mad cackling floated out of the winterscape beyond.

"Damnit Shin!"

Morgan.

She'd just dug her teeth into the arm of a dark haired Fae girl in a summer dress. After a moment, Shin realized she wasn't sure who the girl was - just that her face and dress looked like those of her classmate's. "Morgan" was bent over her, a pale aura flared around her body and a face a mask of pain, still trying, unsuccessfully now, to pull the Oni back into the stairwell of the Dorms. A gasp of shocked pain erupted from the Mixed Martial Arts field in front of her, just before a bestial bellow of triumph. A sickening series of crunches followed.

"If you don't wanna die, help me you idiot!"

Instantly recognizing Morgan from class, the oni's crimson eyes widened. Spitting the Fae's bloody hand out from her maw, red dripped out from between her tusks. Almost breathless now, she yelped her quick apology, feeling light-headed. Using what was left of her strength she rolled over her injured shoulder, wincing and shamelessly letting out a pained cry.

Right arm numb, she planted the kanabo with an unheard thump and pulled herself up, no longer feeling pain in that area. More blood gushed from her wound, but slower now. A whisper in the back of her mind told her she wouldn't be able to use her arm much longer. Pulling her legs underneath her to propel her as well, left arm reached to grab Morgan's uninjured one, or even her side. Time seemed to slow for the oni.

Her ears could pick up nothing but the crunches, she was so damn close. Morgan's face was beginning to blur - she lost a lot of blood.

A litany of curses escaped Morgan's lips as she pulled the Oni away from the door with a heave. "Don't pass out, don't pass out, don't pass out." She hissed, as she finally got Shin clear. On the otherside of the broken portal, the crunches suddenly stopped - with what sounded like a gulp.

There was a flash of light, and the white door was suddenly whole.

An echoing scream of rage exploded throughout the stairwell, as the door began to bulge inward. Whatever was on the other side was trying to get in still. "Hurry." Morgan hissed, leaning down to try and hook Shin's uninjured arm over her shoulder, and haul the Oni to her feet.

Breath wheezing through her teeth she accepted Morgan as a crutch and stood. With each exhale a little more of the blood sprinkled out of her jaw. Numb, and no longer usable, her right hand relinquished the grasp of her club, it landed on the floor with a heavy thump, but vanished immediately afterwards. She didn't need it right now.

With her heartbeat rattling her brain, Shin concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, left arm clinging to the girl who was a stranger to her. Bare feet hit the wooden floor, the shockwaves reminding her to stay awake, to stay alive. Her pupils fought to stay focused as she did so, her mantra returning, weak compared to the cacophony in her mind.

Gotta get Sao...


"J-just try to stay awake." Morgan whispered. This close, Shin could tell the girl was trembling. She set her foot on the first of the flights of the stairs. "...fuck it's far away." She whispered, looking up. A small flicker came from the girl's aura, and a feather - white and fluffy - fell from the girl's wrist. A small winged bunny appeared behind the two.

The door was splintering.

Nodding, Shin concentrated-she was holding the poor girl back. Between steps, she exhaled strongly, "Thanks, but run." Loosening her grip with her left arm, Morgan would be able to duck out from under her and flee at any time.

Gotta get Sao.

Focusing on the steps before her Shin channeled a weak amount of energy into her legs-a weak surge, to try to boost her up the stairs. Each step felt as if someone cast cement shoes on her.

Gotta get Sao.

The first story was clear, but they weren't going nearly fast enough. A dull sense of dread began to overcome the oni again, she fought hard to shake it off. Her footsteps echoed in her mind.

Gotta get-


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Unread 08-19-2013, 07:47 PM   #15
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Default Second Half

Somewhere on Campus

Thick textbooks were piled atop one side of the many delicate, white-painted, decorative benches scattered around the Amaranth campus. A slim figure sat opposite the stack, light aqua-blue hair hidden beneath a blue bandana, as was now her custom. Another large textbook lay spread open before her crystalline hazel eyes – she was reading it. A medium sized dog, covered in fluffy white fur, lay curled around her feet. Warm golden hued light flowed from a lamppost of beaten and delicate silver, placed nearby.

Above, the sky was colored a deep blue-purple – a bright three-quarters full moon shone down in from the clear starry sky.

Marking her place with a stamped leather bookmark, Sao set aside her current text and reached for another. She hesitated mid-reach, pausing to surreptitiously glance over her shoulder. Hermes didn’t alert her to anyone nearby, but she felt something. It wasn’t the familiar sensation of a passing ghost or enchantment, so what was causing this feeling?

Everything was silent.

The air was heavy, tense with anticipation. The quiet companionship of chirruping birds and the wind in the grass was absent – everything was deathly still. Sao stood, extricating her feet from beneath the Pyrenean’s comforting weight. Her arm unconsciously covering her heart, the healer concentrated on the rogue sensation. Motioning for Hermes to remain where he was, Sao walked forward a few steps. Was it stronger in this direction?

Sao.

The very air around the Undine seemed to tremble. At her side, the light from the street-lamp grew pale and cold. The sky and grass seemed washed out, as if some measure of their life had been drained away. At the edges of Sao's vision, spots of pitch blackness formed - only to vanish if she tried to focus her eyes on them. A new sound rose in her ears - a racing heart that was not her own - it was frightened.

Sao.

Shin?

Thoroughly confused, Sao turned, trying to assess where the heartbeat was coming from. The sound seemed overly loud in the otherwise silent park. She didn’t expect an answer, but... “Shin?” She called out, voice wavering with uncertainty. Whoever’s heart this was, it was beating much too fast for the healer’s liking.

Her eyes fell on a door, in the middle of the greyed out white stone path which she now stood on. A gold doorknob glinted in the cold and washed out light of the streetlight at her shoulder. It was painted white.

...Sao! The voice was clearer, louder in her ears and desperate. With a chilling jolt, she realized Shin was beyond the door - and...terrified.

Fear for her friend coursed through her. Sao took off for the white door, compelled to act despite the strangeness that surrounded these events. She had no time to rationally judge the facts – Shin needed her. Stumbling to a halt, she grasped and turned the golden handle in one motion, pulling it open with a jerk.

Darkness surged out from the door, enveloping her in the blink of an eye. The silence was shattered by a cacophony of sounds - wood splintering, great bellowing roars, gasped breaths, a door clicking shut, then locking at her back, and, finally, as color returned to the world - "Sao!?" a shocked cry in a familar voice - she was in a stairwell on the campus.

Green eyes wide, Morgan stood one flight of stairs above the Undine. As usual, she was clad in a sleeveless white summer-dress, which extended to her knees. Her features were narrower and more aqualine than before - and four flimsy dragonfly-like wings extended out of her back. Pointed ears peaked out from her long black hair - she was a Fae, like her cousin. By her stance, she was planning to bolt.

On her right, Shin staggered to the landing the Undine now stood on. The girl was wobbling and clutching at the railing - one of her arms hung limply at her side. Blood - so much blood - covered her, from a deep and narrow cut in the shoulder of her limp arm. Even under her bright crimson skin, the Oni looked pale. Her aura flickered fitfully, filled with wisps of darkness. Crismon eyes widened as they fell on the Undine.

At the bottom of the stairs - two flights down - the center of a white door exploded. White painted wood sprayed outward, as a long clawed talon of blackness grasped through. A shriek dripping hatred and outrage assualted their ears, shaking the very stairs. The sounds from the base of the stairs grew more frenzied, as the door bulged inward - blackness seeping through the edges.

"Run!" Morgan shouted, throwing herself at the railing opposite them. Her arm was bleeding.

"Sao..?" The wheeze was barely audible, her crimson eyes wide with horror as the undine seemed to step from nowhere. Her mind screamed in frustration and rage. No, it's after you! Run! Gritting her teeth, what was left of Shin drew upon the strength that remained and lifted her feet faster, staggering up the steps towards the third floor.

An explosion down below announced her pursuer was now upon them, roars shaking the chamber as it clawed its way into the stairwell. Hissing, misted blood spraying from her maw, Shin lurched upward, now trying to use her still-active arm to pull herself up with the rail.

"Run, dammit!" Voice hoarse, Shin's bellow tailed at the end into a loud whine.

Dizzy trying to process the sudden influx of stimuli, Sao wavered on her feet. Snapping to, she dove around to the oni’s less injured side, ducking to hoist the meaty, red arm over her shoulder. “Lean on me!” Command infused her voice, leaving no room for Shin to argue with her.

Brilliant yellow light poured off the healer as she moved, her pastel green blouse sporting large, darkening patches. It stuck to her skin as a thick, clear liquid soaked through it – her Healing Gift. As much as she wanted to properly assess Shin’s wounds, the terror in the voices of her friends told her she simply didn’t have the time.

As soon as Shin’s weight settled on her shoulders, Sao started pulling them both up the stairs. She didn’t bother looking behind her - the roars and dry snap of splintering wood told her that it was already much too close.

Leaning on her smaller friend, the oni continued clenching her jaw, forcing her legs to move even though she shouldn't even be conscious. Although Shin couldn't feel the healing efforts at this point, her feet, her body felt lighter, a glimmer of hope? The air that hissed through her teeth barely formed audible words in the pandemonium. "Fifth.....floor."

The pattering of feet on the stairs met their ears. Morgan was back suddenly, and taking Shin's other side - injured or no, Sao wouldn't be able to hold the Oni up when she lost consciousness. "Seventh floor." Morgan corrected, pale aura flowing out of her's to mingle with Sao's. "They're all white until then."

...the bottom of the stairs had gone eerily silent.

"Hurry." Morgan added, as they started to move drag the semi-conscious Oni up the stairs.

She nodded in response to Morgan, not knowing or caring if she could see. “Thank you.”

Absently, Sao could feel Shin’s shoulder wound resist her will. The spirit shuddered involuntarily – she knew that oily, bruised feeling all too well. Her legs, Diana’s back, and now Shin. Angry and scared, Sao redoubled her efforts to haul her friend away from this place. “Stay with us, Shin. We’ll get you out of here, just st -”

The door on the may level exploded inward with a massive blast of concussive force. An uproar of laughter filled the three girl's minds - as they staggered up the stairs.

"Sao!" The voice crowed, as streams of darkness flowed into the main level. Mad laughter echoed endlessly from the darkness beyond the now shattered door.

The lower edges of their ears were wet.

Now supported by Sao and some sort of fairy woman, Shin couldn't help but smile weakly, despite the blinding pain and her light head. "Fucking snow-shadow," a mutter is all she could manage at this point. "We can...outrun it..." Was she delirious at this point? After a breath, a deeper, quiet growl, filled with whatever hate the brute could muster, escaped from a sickly grin. "Eat..this..motherfucker..."

Knowing she was no longer useful to her companions her now slacked left hand tilted as attempted to summon her club a small distance behind the trio. Her aura flared - the colour washed out and diffuse. Shin's magic slipped through her fingers like water; the spell failed. The trio had staggered to the third-floor landing - as Morgan said, there was another White Door there.

At the bottom of the well, the darkness had built to fill the entire space. The cackling in their minds had softened to a distant chuckle - puntucated by an almost baby-like coo. "Sao...Sao!" A giggle followed, as wisps of whiteness began to spread outward - narrow tendrils extending from the swirling darkness filled with flickers of white slits and jagged shapes.

“C’mon Shin, don’t tire yourself out more.” Sao’s voice was firm. “It’s good that you’re still here and fighting, just concentrate on moving.” She didn’t know if Shin could even hear her – she hoped the message came through regardless.

A chill ran down her spine as the… thing called her name. Panting with the effort of climbing and helping carry Shin, she wished she had her counterpart’s strength. Carrying a bodybag full of rocks night after night didn’t seem to have cut it.

From below, a high pitched squeal exploded into the hot and choked air of the hallway. The giggle in their minds grew louder - and it felt as though something hot had splashed their fronts. They'd reached the fourth floor. "...fuck." Morgan murmured, as her aura flared again - and a new feather fell from her hand.

A tabby cat appeared on this stair.

"...that's my last summon." She whispered.

Of course, when she needed it most, it didn't come. A weak laugh shook through Shin's prone form. Even if she didn't hear Sao, even her thick skull understood there was nothing more she could do. Her whisper likely wasn't audible, her speech broken, "Sao... if we make it, remind me to tear Kit a new one."

A damn skirt wasn't worth this.

Unfortunately, Sao couldn’t hear what might be her friend’s last words. Below their feet, she could feel something forming – it felt close, and gained speed rapidly. A spell, laced with hatred and malevolence, was gunning for her.

“Jump!” She cried, slipping out from underneath Shin’s arm to leap desperately onto the next landing. She turned in midair, keeping her grip on the Oni’s wrist, jerking her away from where she thought that spell would land.

"Wai -" Morgan cried, arm reaching after Sao, but too late to stop her. The Undine's dive brought her to the landing half-way between the fourth and fifth floor - and dislodged her bandana in the process. The blue cloth square flew from her head, revealing her aqua-blue hair to the stairwell, even as her hand found Shin's. Sao jerked her forward -

- a black blur exploded from the center of the stairwell. Air pressure slammed into them, as boards and stone sprayed wildly outward. Morgan cried out as the two of her wings tips shredded into coloured ash and she staggered into Shin's side. Weakened still, the Oni toppled to the wooden stairs - jerking Sao's arm painfully in the process. The dark haired Fae girl narrowly managed to avoid falling on top of the crimson skinned demon - she struck the stairs beside her instead.

For a few moments, everything was quiet.

Click...

Then, the footsteps started.

...clack.

They echoed wildly around the wooden interior of the stairwell. Seemingly from all directions at once.

Click...

"Sao..." The name whispered into their minds like a caress. An impression of brilliant white smile blossoming between a pair of perfect pale lips followed. "I'm coming for you..." A pair of white, hollow, circles appeared in their minds - surrounded on both sides by pools of inky blackness. Eyes. A bright red tongue slipped past the pale lips, gliding lazily over a mouth - suddenly filled with jagged white teeth.

...clack.

"...and then..."

Click...

"...you'll scream."

...clack.


Morgan was sobbing.

Calmly, Sao popped her dislocated shoulder back into its socket. That, at least, was a familiar motion. No point in wasting energy healing it off – the soreness would fade on its own when they got out of there.

Click...

She didn’t let herself think it was an ‘if they got out of there’.

...clack.

A slow calm had spread over her, an icy sheen on the lake of terror and rage that was her emotions. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, threatening to push her into either extreme. She kept her head, as much as she wanted to give in to that voice, to scream until nothing of her remained. At the very least, she could keep the illusion that they still had a chance.

Click...

Picking herself off the landing, Sao moved with a confidence she didn’t quite feel. Bending at the waist, she hoisted the featherlight Morgan off the stairs and set her on her feet. “It’s not time to cry yet, come on.” Her voice was gentle, cajoling. “Help me with Shin, we’ve got to keep moving.”

...clack.

Muscles straining, Sao hauled the injured Oni upright with a grunt of effort. She stood under that red tower of flesh, taking most of the weight and - started walking. She acted like there was no question that Morgan would take the other side and help the duo resume their flight.

Click...

Sao's determination allowed the oni to steel her own emotions. Inspired, Shin helped push herself forward, feeling a little stronger than a moment ago. Unfortunately, pain shot through her form with each step. Wincing she continued up the staircase, supported by her best friend and a kind stranger. Now was not the time to worry about pain.

...clack.

Amid the crazily echoing din of footsteps in the stairwell, Sao shouldered the weight of Shin and forced her own aching body to resume her slow plodding escape. “Sao…” Morgan whispered, seemingly awed, between hiccupped sobs as she rubbed viciously at her luminous green eyes. She’d taken a step forward from where she’d collapsed – but didn’t seem to be able to keep going.

With effort, the aqua-haired woman turned to smile at the flagging fae. Internally, she fumed at the delay. They needed to go. She kept the irritation out of her voice. "Let's go!"

"I..." The Fae girl began, wincing at the words. Her lips thinned to a white line, before she jerked a quick nod. "Tabby!" She twisted her head to the side, snapping out a command. A meow answered, and a second set of - faster and clearer - footsteps hastened up after them. Morgan quickly moved forward, slipping under Shin's other side. "...sorry." She muttered - Shin could feel her trembling still.

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.

The three girls, numbers bolstered by a tabby cat, reached the landing between the fourth and fifth floors. A chuckle filled their minds – amused by their struggle, perhaps. Morgan bit her lip and glared at the floor. “Shut up…” She muttered. Together, the girls began to ascend the next flight of stairs – as Morgan had said, the door Shin had come through had been replaced with another white painted one, identical to all the others.

By now, the silence in the stairwell hung almost oppressively thick. Each breath they took seemed impossibly loud – as did the thumping of their hearts. They pressed on, ascending another flight of stairs, passing the white door and turning their gazes to the next unoccupied landing.

"The little dove..." The voice began, speaking in a slow lazy whisper.

Steps. One, two...

"...was right to weep." The cruel white smile was back, spreading wide in their minds.

The steps were from above.

A faint outline waited on the sixth floor. An aura - easy to miss. The shade was pale and sickly. Slowly, a figure shimmered into existence before the white door on that platform. White high-heeled boots, extending to calf-height. A patch of alabaster pale skin. White loose robes, over an equally pale pleated skirt, hung low from delicate pale arms. Overlong fingers, shaped in the likeness of cruel, jagged, crystaline talons - covered and dripping black viscera - extended out from the sleeves. Stands of raven hair framed a hooded and shrouded face. Only the lips, set into an alabaster face, were visible - a pale, purple-white set of lines.

Which split into a perfect smile of greeting.

"Hello," the voice whispered, "...Sao."

A drop of viscera touched the wood below. A small swirling vortex of black ash rose from the point of contact.

Sao froze, her foot on the next step upward. Having passed the landing between the fifth and sixth floors, she had a clear view of the horror before them. The young woman fought the instinct to take a step back – she would not so easily surrender the ground they had covered.

Sao tried to fix it with an unconcerned stare, but petered off as she failed to find eyes under the hood. Her heart quailed, and the urge to run screaming back the way they came welled up, sudden in its urgency.

Inhaling, she took another step upward, toward that grim figure. She swallowed, throat suddenly dry. Her flinch as it said her name was genuine. Another dogged step. On the verge of hysterics, she opened her mouth to return its greeting.

“Hello, Spectre.” Sao’s voice wavered. But there was no call to be rude, now was there.

"So..." The voice whispered, tone chime-like in its amusement, "...polite!" The smile spread as the being tilted its head back, ringing laughter filling their minds.

Shinobu used the pause to catch her breath, each inhale stinging of needles along with the rest of her muscles. They were so close, they had to make it past this thing. Sao's steps were shaky, but continued at this point. Shin gave a gentle squeeze to both of her companions, to reassure both they and herself.

"Snow-shadow." The growl was quiet, but audible. Scanning over her foe, now that it had a tangible form, she shivered. Something about it drew her attention to the dripping claw, causing a weak shudder. Continuing, the oni's gaze wandered until it settled in the abyss where the eyes should be. Under the hood and above the sickly lips she kept the glare steady, despite her mind screaming to run. Another deep breath, and she continued, "Nice trick."

That only made the being laugh in earnest.

Gripping Morgan with her hand the red-skinned demon offered the little reassurance she could to the fae. Her muscles trembled, fighting to withstand the agony. Shin leaned forward and began to take another step, indicating that she wanted to close the distance. Her face stayed in a flinching glare, refusing to make her pain audible. Crimson eyes remained fixed on the void, even as her blood ran cold.

Morgan's hand shot forward, to grip the Oni's injured - ow - arm in a vice. "What are you doing!?" She hissed, tugging the staggering demon back with a sharp jerk - she was stronger than she looked. Unsurprising for a Goddess of War, really.

A hiss leaked through Shin's fangs at Morgan's tug, trying desperately to keep what little composure she had. That fucking hurt, pixie. Her thoughts were interrupted by the figure before her.

"Such hate!" The creature crowed. Her grin remained wide and mad. "Yes little dove, prolong her terror!" Lazily, the creature reached to its side and flicked a jagged nail over the surface of the door, to its right. In its wake, a thin line of white paint exploded into black ash. "It..." A bright red tongue slid lazily out over its lips. "...pleases me." A pair of hollow white circles - where the eyes should be - shimmered to light within its hood.

Morgan's jaw tightened. Though she paled visibly at the words, she did not let go.

"Sao..." The voice's gaze fell upon the Undine again, the darkness within its hood absolute again. Feelings of tenderness and love saturated the words - sending a shiver down Morgan's spine. "...how would you like," a chuckle rolled in their minds, as the smile spread once more, "to make a deal?"

"No!" With a sudden lurch, Shin attempted to pull away from Morgan. Unfortunately, the fae was even stronger than she had anticipated, causing the Oni to yelp, and instead, only stumble forward another step. Footing regained, Shin seethed in the creature's direction. "You're not gonna use Sao as your toy, fiend." Her snarl intensified, spitting in disgust.

Despite her bravado, the wall of red muscle was shaking visibly. It was hard to tell what amount of it was caused by rage, not fear. Her working hand clenched tightly in a fist. Had she more strength left, her own claws would be digging into her palm, oozing blood. Pupils searching for the irises she caught a glipse of, Shin tilted her head down slightly in a silent, and likely pathetic-looking, threat.

Shin’s anger was another familiar sense in this barren, hostile tower. Reflexively, as she had for the past few weeks, Sao patted the oni’s uninjured arm with her free hand and murmured, “Calm, Shin.”

“Morgan,” she hurriedly sought her classmate’s attention, “can you carry Shin past it by yourself?”

Sao raised her voice, trying to play for time. Revulsion simmered below her confident tone. “What kind of deal, Spectre?”

"..." Morgan didn't reply. Her grip on Shin's arm had loosened, somewhat.

The mocking smile of the white garbed being had not slipped during Shin's outburst. If anything it had grown wider. The creature fluttered its talon-like fingers before its hooded face, in a gesture of dismissal. "Wisdom. Sao does not disappoint." It stated, tone between gleeful and business-like. A slow and lazy gesture toward Shinubo followed. "Our deal, little sprite, shall be thus."

The grin grew huge.

Leave the big one for me, and you and the dove may fly away.

Sao smiled – a tight, self-mocking grin. “I’m hurt.” She took a step forward, placing her foot on the first stair past the landing, still gamely carrying her half of Shin. Her voice had a hard, bitter cast to it. “Here I thought it was me you wanted.”

Another step, forcing Morgan to either let go of Shin or step up with them. She squeezed Shin’s wrist warningly – the oni was not going to ruin all of Sao’s hard work like this.

The sickening voice had wanted her the whole time. Shin's mind went numb with simultaneous horror and relief. Her brain could barely process what was happening, except that she wanted Sao safe. Sao took advantage of the oni's silence and reached her decision.

Whatever eruption that was prepared to leap from Shin's maw was swallowed with Sao's small comfort. Although the squeeze hurt a bit, it served as a reminder-they were still alive. They-the others- could make it. Rising out of despair, she concentrated on picking up her feet as fast as her aching body let her. She wasn't sure if she was going to make it, but her breathing, and heartbeat, began to slow from the breakneck speeds they were at. Sao was going to be okay. She would make sure of it.

Everything hurt. For now, she kept climbing, hoping the more intelligent individuals of the group had a plan. As she began to slip from the fae's grasp, Shin's hand offered a tug around the wrist, and would release if Morgan didn't keep up the pace.

Morgan's hand fell limply from Shin's arm. Crestfallen, the Fae followed slowly after the two girls. She looked perfectly miserable - even her wings were dragging in her wake. By contrast, the shadowy creature at the top of the stairs took a step to the left – placing itself in the center of the platform. The characteristically cruel smile remained in place on its hooded face, as it stared unflinchingly into Sao’s eyes. Confused imagines and sounds filled the Undine’s mind – black claws scything into flesh, screams and panicked cries for help, mercy, death. A bestial maw chewing, accompanied by sickening crunches, sprays of liquids and shrieks of pain. A gulp – ending in a bloody smile.

Before starting over again.

"Ah, the cries of your prey..."Shin began, a weak smile forming on her face. "Is that why you want me, Snow-Shadow? Because I might scream the most?" The wails that were meant to have chilled her were none she recognized, but they blended in with her own memories. To her, pleasant ones. Her steps were more solid now, her hand trailing on the side Morgan had abandoned, waiting to be taken up again should the Fae wish to. Shin hopes that she will.

Soft laughter rolled into their minds.

"You don't want the meal...you want the chase." Shin regained more composure, the tears and cries that repeated in her mind were not as threatening as they should be-they were a part of her own existence. "You want their flesh in your throat, hot as hell and still crying." She just hadn't had the chance to frenzy in a long, long while...Her heart ached guiltily for a moment at that.

Louder now, accompanying the images of carnage and pain.

Holding her head a little higher, Shin's face relaxed from a glare, regarding the beast above them now with fear-laced respect and curiosity. "Or am I just competition you seek to eliminate, so you can have the tasty snacks to yourself?"

The smile that bloomed on the creature's face was impossibly wide - and wild. The girls would soon arrive in arm's reach of the being. “You?” The voice whispered, amidst the mental carnage. “You are a fool.” The images slowed and changed – white snow, covered in red blood. Deep red fluid covered the lower half of a face. Orange hair lay strewn on the snow below, attached to a pretty and aquiline face – from which two brilliant blue eyes stared sightlessly.

"...ah." Suddenly, the being raised one of her hands, in a gesture for them to stop. The girls were mere inches out of the hooded figure's reach. "...a thought occurs." She fluttered her talons in a gesture of dismissal. "Sao...I will give you one gift." Another short chuckle. "...your heart burns for power." The voice in her mind dropped to a whisper, as a glow suddenly came to its irises. "Your wish..." She grinned widely. "...I will grant."

“A gift?” Sao cleared the grisly images from her head with a shake. She had seen worse in Veterinary Club. The screams… those would be harder to leave behind.

A laugh burst from Shin, protective anger sparking with confidence in her friend. The red demoness shook her head, onyx strands dampened by sweat and oil. "If you can catch the bastard."

Her voice vibrated with resolution, the pain no longer mattered, her nerves hardened. "You're right, I'm a dumbass." They were on the landing at this point, there was no going back. There really never was.

Sao glanced up at her, and caught her eye. Shin was grinning now, mirroring the malicious smile of the monster. The girls nodded at each other, trust written in their every move. "But my friends make me stronger."

In a practiced motion, Sao ducked from beneath the Oni’s arm and dashed off to the side – seemingly toward the stairs up, and freedom. “Morgan! Run!” Her voice carried in the otherwise empty tower.

The being's hooded face bowed, features vanishing completely into shadow.

Using the reserves of her energy, Shin lept at the fine figure, lashing out her left claws towards the porcelain face. If she was fast enough, she'd gouge his eyes with a thumb and her four fingers on either side of whatever nose it might have. She wanted to tear its pretty mask of flesh for threatening her friends. She wanted that gaze to haunt them, to haunt Sao, no more.

An aura flared, and Shin's hand slammed into an unyielding wall of air. The being's head raised a fraction, its wild smile suddenly all the wider - and raven hair changed to a bright orange-red. The shadows in the hood disappitated, revealing blue eyes. White tendrils lanced into the air from behind the creature's back -

Spinning on her heel, Sao threw her momentum forward, arm set before her. She aimed at its side, just below the spectre’s upraised arm, intending to force it into the wall. Just as they had prepared these weeks before Hallow’s Eve, they would strike in tandem. The girls never imagined that they would have to use the techniques they had practiced with the other members of the team so soon – Sao was grateful to Dalbhach for the suggestion. It looked like it was about to save their lives.

As Sao's arm slammed into its side. The being gasped and staggered back a pace - then twisted, turning the unbalanced stagger into a spin and throwing the hood off. An off-white aura coiled around its being, as magical power surged to Diana's legs.

A small feline roar of rage intercepted it, as a grey streak launched itself at the girl's face. The power dissipated in a flash, as the white garbed figure leg out a shriek, clawed hands snapping up to its face. Blood blossomed, as black claws tore into Morgan's summoned cat, and, with and inhuman roar, the young camera-girl tore the cat away, hurling it into the wall with a magically borne burst of strength.

Pale cream coloured flames licked around Shin's body - a massive pyre, compared to what had been there a moment ago. Her pain and exhaustion drained away. "Shin, now!" Morgan cried, surrounded by a similar maelstrom a few paces back. A healing spell?

“Shin!” Sao’s voice echoed Morgan’s, her tone all command. “Run! Now.” She would brook no insubordination on this point. She started to leave herself, when a whisper trickled through her mind. The voice sounded so familiar… Skoteinos Okeanos, what was that?

The cat slammed into the stairwell wall with a sickening crack. Blood spurted, painting a dark splotch on the plaster surface, as Diana, irises suddenly white in an ocean of black, spun toward Sao. A spell circle now surrounded her - four arrows, one to each cardinal direction overlaying a perfect circle of magical light.

Invigorated, Shin picked herself up, holding head high. Sao shouted, no, ordered her to flee. It will be done. Immediately after the command, Shin bolted for the stairs, powering her legs as fast as they would carry her. Mind focused she concentrated on the steps before her, the pounding of her feet on the wooden steps quickened, faster than she's ever ran in her life.

Behind her Sao began chanting, an eerily comforting sound. You can do it. Beads of sweat formed on her renewed muscles. Kick its ass, Sao. She had full trust in the Undine.

With a roar, Diana launched herself toward the Undine. Tendrils of white energy swirled around her body - tips all directed at a point in front of the girl, where Sao's heart would be.

It was all coming back to her now! "Skoteinos Okeanos," Sao repeated, turning back toward the white figure, arms upraised.

There was a great crash in the stairwell, as a comet of whiteness slammed into the demonic redhead, throwing her into the wall adjacent to the White Door. Morgan, surrounded by an even brighter pyre of white energy, had intercepted the attack. Diana screamed with rage.

She spoke along with the whispers, instinctively knowing the right words. The cadence came to her as naturally as her own breath. "Sygkrafeas ek zoi, pairno oi dynami pou therapeia,"

"You!" Blackness surged from within Diana's robe, carrying over Morgan's pinning arms and her front. The Fae let out a pained cry, but only redoubled her efforts to hold the girl down. "You will die for this!" The voice shrieked, as the front of her body erupted in a mass of jagged black spears.

“Mou symmacho. Kalo Tethys, oi nero ek kolasi katecho flebas mas. Erebos -"

Morgan gasped, as the weapons slammed through her chest.

"- kai Hyperion enonomai. Genno oi -"

"P-payback." The Fae girl whispered, nails digging into Diana's arms, even as coloured ashes began to raise from her body in a massive swirl. The white light around the pair had, if anything, intensified. Shafts of energy began to erupt from her back and arms. "Th-this spell c-can h-hurt you."

The voice shrieked with rage.

"- bledygmia pou epidiorthosi oi sarka gia na therapeia,” She remembered (or was it just the vision?) it being painful, the last time she spoke these words. This time, they flowed off her tongue with ease, letting her speak the last two words in full confidence.

”Basanismenos Sotiria!"

Thunder without sound exploded into the stairwell.

And blood blossomed from Sao's skin.
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