Re: Getting the job done

[Beastie]

He was a little shocked that no one seemed to really be aware of him. All hell must have broken loose here if his entrance was that unnoticeable. Oh well, his brother had called and he was here. That is what mattered the most to him at the moment.

Dre knew enough of Gawain's ways to know he was serious. Besides the furry butt just spoke Drow, that meant his arse was really pissed. He spoke slow, again his voice sounding like that of clashing swords. "You called First-Brother so I am here as is your way, as is the way of toh."

Dre saw his look and grinned a grin that nothing if not pure evil. He took Gawain's forearm in his and repeated what was said. "Till water is gone, till shade is gone. Into the Shadow with teeth bared, to spit in SightBlinder's eye on the Last Day."

He looked at him and then said. "Let's make someone have a really bad day."

[Guest]

Tasha was busy with Maddie, but she was not oblivious to anything. When Dre appeared she was shocked. He was even bigger than that day in the Battle Gym. She almost missed a breath when she saw him. He kept her thoughts to herself because this was not the time or the place for them. No, she had to draw her attention away from Dre and in turn the situation going on between the two men. Because if she didn't, she would vocalize her protest to their doing what they were talking about doing.

[Jonothan]

}{Preface}{This was discussed with Madeline's player before I ever set to writing, and she agreed. That takes care of player consent, if I understand the rules correctly.}{

Jono had been away. That was the only logical explanation for things. However, the away he had been was far greater a distance than he had anticipated. Therefore, he arrived in the wee hours of the morn, clad in a white, clingy t-shirt and jeans. He had been to the home of his parents, and their reception had been much less than warm. Therefore, he was looking forward to seeing Madeline again, if for nothing else, for a spot of conversation and a shoulder to lean on.

The trip to her room was quick, since his mastery of his magical nature was now mastered. His senses extended to take in everything around him as easily as one draws breath. Madeline wasn't in her room. At this hour. He sensed something: something BAD. Madeline! He concentrated on her image, her essence, and began to fade.

A few seconds later, he was in the midst of chaos. There was the famous, or infamous, Gawain, being bitten by a vampire, and shaking hands with a.....dragon? This place was just getting more and more interesting! Then, he saw the object of their frantic work....."Och, Madeline, for the love of Christ, what has befallen ye?!" A tear rolled down his cheek, his blue eyes darkening. "Sir Gawain, I dinnae know ye very well, but please, whoever did this, make sure it doesn't happen again. I fell for this beauteous lass the moment we met, and..." He stopped, stifling a sob.

"Just make sure she kens why I do what I do, Sir. I apologize for nae askin' ye permission to court her, as well as not gettin' the chance to ask for her hand. Please give me regards to yuir wife, Lady Airtia." He bowed deeply to Gawain, sniffling, and turned his attention back to Madeline. In a whisper, he spoke into her ear. "I love ye, Madeline. I always will, and I'll be lookin' down from Heaven, so have a happy life."

He rose, removed his Gloves, and sighed. "Iffen ye don't mind, I'd like ye to step away from me love. I have work tae do, and precious little time tae do it in." With that, he shouldered past them all, with the exception of Dreconis and Gawain, whom he stepped around quite respectfully, and kneeled beside Madeline. "Maddie, our time was short together, but sweet. Please remember why I do this, and seek help learning tae control yuir power." With that said, he motioned for everyone to back away, and laid his hands on her. Speaking slowly, in a language that was so old that it had been practically forgotten by the mortal folk, he began to speak. A bluish-tinged aura surrounded him, and he smiled as he saw color appearing in her cheeks. He began to grow sleepy, but knew his task wasn't over. Pressing on, he pushed every bit of his life-force into her, speaking only a few words before he finally slumped beside her.

"Live, me love....live and be happy."

}{Pleasure meetin' ye all, folks. I hope to be back in a month or so, but I'll have ta create a new character and such. Thanks for all the great play, and I'll be checking back from time to time when time permits to see what everyone's doing. Thanks for the fun, and I hope to be back soon!}{

~fin~

[Guest]

Tasha looked up again when the man appeared and moved as he asked. She wanted to move to Dre's side, something about feeling more secure. But she didn't, she just stepped back and closed her robe tighter around herself. What else could she do?

[Madeline Cauthon]

Maddie let out a huge gasp of air. And sat up. It took her a few minutes to realize where she was, and what had happened.The last thing she remembered was having her Dager in Benjamins back. She looked around to see where her sister was. She saw her father, Venis, Tasha, and Emilia, JonLouis, and a very huge Dre. She stood up and looked around for De'Ryanna and Benjamin. She was panacing because she didn't see them.

"De'Ryanna!!! Where is she? Guys you have to find her Benjamin has her. Why is everyone standing around like they just saw a ghost."

She then looked around to the ground beside her, and saw Jono's lifeless body beside her. She immedately knelt down over his body sobbing. "JONO WAKE UP!! PLEASE WAKE UP!! NOOOOOOOO!!! Who did this to you."
Feeling a mixture of anger and rage, she picked up her dagger and stood up. There were tears of saddness and a deadly look of rage in her eyes.

"Where the vithing hell did Benjamin go!!! I'm going to kill him myself."

[Guest]

Against Venis' better judgment she moved from her position and let the man do what he was going to do. "Guess not Emilia. Thank you though." She had been standing next to Gawain because he was right there when he had offered her his arm. As the man gave his life for Madeline, Venis grabbed her stomach and bent slightly. A lone blood tear fell from her eye as his lifeless body collapsed to the ground.

Madeline came to and got up off the ground. Venis reached for her as she began to panic. "Madeline, Madeline, calm down. Benjamin does not have De'Ryanna. Alright? Armandeus does." When Maddie saw the man she called Jono she was even more upset. "Madeline, listen. He said he loves you and wants you to have a happy life. He gave his life for you Madeline." But she grabbed up the dagger anyway.

Venis reached for the dagger to remove it from her grasp. "Madeline, let other deal with this. You need to rest and let your body adjust. Give me the dagger." She looked over at JonLouis and Emilia. "I want four men, armed, at De'Ryanna's room. I don't think he'll come after them again tonight, but it might make them feel safer. I want the other four armed men around my room. Put this brave man in my coffin and Madeline, go with them to my room and stay there. JonLouis, I am leaving you in charge of the security. You have Manny and Emilia, and you know where Seleen is, who could ask for more?"

Venis was not going to take no for an answer on this. Madeline was not going to be allowed to go with Gawain to go after Benjamin. She needed to relax and her body needed time to adjust. As JonLouis was picking up the man's body she turned and looked at Dre and Gawain. Dre was so massive, it was quite impressive the way he had managed to use his Godhood and his Dracon form together in such a way. She was so proud of him. The next words out of her mouth were sure to give at least one of them a heart attack. "Alright, Gawain, your daughters are safe and alive. What's next?" Yes, Venis was asking for instructions rather than barking them herself.

[JonLouis]

JonLouis listened to what Princesse had said. All the while, he was looking over at the enormous Dieu de dragon with awe. He walked over and scooped up the lifeless body of the fallen Hero and put the body gently over his shoulder. Ok, JonLouis wasn't exactly a body builder, but he was a vampire. Stronger than he looked for sure. "Come now Belle, Beauté innocente, let us go deal with this." He tuned to walk away and stopped. Partially because he was waiting for the ladies to accompany him.

The other reason he stopped was he had heard the words from Princesse's lips to Loup's ears and he was in shock. Did the Goddess just ask what she was needed to do? He had honestly never heard her refer to another for instruction before. He blinked a few times in amazement. "Come now ladies. We must do as we were asked." Then he headed towards the Inn. He would take Madeline and her hero to Venis' room and leave them with Emilia while he armed the men and gave them their assignments.


((Dieu de dragon = Dragon God))

[Emilia]

She looked to Dre with aww, he was huge, she knew he had not been that large when she met him.

She saw Jono pushing people out of the way to get to Maddie. She wasn’t sure what he thought he could do that was already being done. That was when he began speaking in the old tongue. It took her mind a moment to translate it, by the time she had and tried to stop him it was to late.

She shed a tear, that kind of love was rare. She gave a sigh of relief as Madeline drew breath. She let the others try to calm her down and listened to what was asked of her.

She watched as JonLouis picked up the body of the Jonothan. She would help Maddie prepare his body. She walked slightly behind JonLouis to the left and let Maddie walk to his right.

As they were going in to the Inn Emilia sent JonLouis a mental link.

~Love my daughter is in the room with the men; please ask Manny if she can stay with him; six is a bit to young to see death this close. ~

[Gawain]

Gawain had only met this young man a few times, but he liked him well enough. Now, he felt as if he had lost a son. He hung his head for a moment, then snatched his hand away from Venis. "Enough. Enough, I say. Enough murder, bloodshed, it ends tonight! Madeline, sweetheart, come here." He closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her, and caressed her hair gently. "I have never told you near enough how much I love you. You're my daughter, and.....and I mourn your loss. Jonothan will have a place"...a quick, glaring glance at Venis..."in my own family mausoleum, unless you wish for him to be cremated and to become one with nature. It's your choice, my dear. Just know that I love you. Tell your mother and sister that I will be returning as soon as possible. If possible. Now, take the dagger I gave you back from Venis, she'll give it up..." His eyes left no doubt as to his intentions, nor his expectations. "After that, I want you to head over to see if you can find Epiphany. Tell her that....tell her I love her as well, I have been a neglectful cad, and that I will make it up to her some day. Ask her if she would be so kind as to see to you and De'Ryanna until I return." He was thinking -if- everytime he said -when- or -until-. He didn't mind dying, just as long as he saw Benjamin's head on a spit first.

Matters were escalating, and soon, Airtia would sense what he was doing, as well as how, so some things needed to be changed. He looked to Dreconis, as regal as he was savage, and grinned. The grin grew, stretched, and became more and more lupine. In a gravelly voice, he spoke to those assembled. "All but Dre had better stand back NOW. I haven't done this in awhile, and it could get nasty for you.....humans." The word human, for the first time in Gawain's memory, tasted sour in his mouth. He had, though, warned them, and so he initiated his change. He had only twice before been pushed to such a level, the first time being from pure rage at finding the 'father' who allowed his true birth-mother to be murdered in the throes of passion with some wench behind a tavern. The other time, he had met his crazed brother and found that he had challenged his role as Alpha Male. That fight had ended badly......for Alexander. Yet, still, he was Gawain's brother, and in a gesture he hoped would atone for his brother's madness, he had named his son after him, and taken the name as his middle name. Such was the tradition of mortals, to have a middle name, he thought, so why not? After all, he had finally brought Alex back to his senses when he was near death, and they had reconciled...

...why were these thoughts coming NOW?! He roared, howled, and lashed about, growing in size and power. He had surpassed his usual size.....and had become something much more dangerous than a werewolf OR an Asha'man. He felt almost the same feeling that he had felt when he had held the access key for the Choden Kal for a moment. Intoxicating, invigorating, nigh-unlimited power. He grinned evilly, seizing the Source once more, and tore at the opening he had previously rent in the Pattern itself [See earlier post] to make it larger. He knew where Benjamin was.....the question was, did Benjamin know that death was on it's way? He hoped so. He grinned toothily at Dreconis and, drawing his sword, he growled. "Let's go make somebody really vithing dead, brother. None will stop us now, not this time. He gets what he has earned, and that strangeness I sensed about him......I think he's been stealing souls for awhile. Well, I have a helluva suprise for him." Gawain held out a large palm, and an ornate golden cage appeared. "Gee, lookit what one of the Forsaken slipped up and taught me.....ever heard of a cour'souvra? Yeah. I feigned surprise when Benjy showed me his....which was, of course, much smaller and even less impressive......but I know how to make and release them. I didn't, because it's wrong to hold a soul from it's final reward...." his gaze shot straight to Venis, and she knew damn well why....."but in this case, I shall make an exception. He will know what it means to be one of the Soulless, and he will feel the fate he had in store for BOTH of my daughters."

"I vithing PROMISE."

[Madeline Cauthon]

Instead of walking Madeline ran into her daddy's arms, and broke down.

"Daddy why is all of this happening. I was only trying to protect my sister. I never ment to get killied, or have the love of my life give his life for me."

She stayed in his arms and listened. She was going to argue the point of going with them, but she knew in his mood, it would result badly for her. She did as she was told. She took her dagger from Venis. She looked at both Dre and her Daddy.

"I'll go back to the Inn with them on two conditions. One, you two come back safe and unharmed, and no more talk about IF. Two both of you hold out your weapons and allow me to umm enhance them a bit."
She smiled at Gawain. "A little trick I learned on Avalon from Morgane herself.It saved King Arthur's arse on many of occasions."

She took the scabbard of Gawains sword, and Dre's blued bastard swords, and the huge golden battle axe. She placed her hands on them, and starting speaking very lowly in druid. Her hands started glowing slightly The purpose of this was to grant them protection from death. As long as they had them on them or in their possession they would be safe from serious or life threatening injury.

With that being done she kissed her Daddy on his cheek and gave Dre a grateful nod. Then turned to everyone else there.

"Thank you everyone for helping me. I'm ready to go now. But once back at the Inn, I must see my foster mother, and check on De'Ryanna."

With that she started walking back to the inn.

[Guest]

When had Venis grabbed Gawain's hand again? It had to have been either when she was standing up from her position of being on her knees next to Madeline or when the man, Jono, had given his life for her and it made her double over in pain. Either way, he was yanking his hand away from her now. She blinked as he seemed to be suddenly angry with her again.

As she stood there he glared at her for a moment. Ok, Gawain was getting angry at her? She rushed to save his daughter, put the man who gave his life for her into her personal coffin so his body was no longer just laying in the street in front of the Inn and he was getting mad at her? She was definitely getting confused. She knew he was angrier than she had seen him in several years. Benjamin seemed to have that effect on him. But to get mad at her? Blame it on his bad moon and move on, right?

Venis had been so distracted that she hadn't even seen Madeline place the blade in her hand, but now she had it and was now going to do what she had intended to do in the first place, even before Gawain said something. When she had reached out to take the dagger and had asked for it, she had no intentions off keeping it. Just holding it long enough for Venis to finish what she had said. So she willingly handed it back without a word. Gawain was in too bad a mood to even think about arguing with. So Venis remained quiet.

She couldn't remember the last time someone had called her human, she almost wanted to chuckle. But she stepped back a few steps anyway. And she stood there with her arms wrapped around her stomach while she watched. She did spare a glance to Tasha who was the only other person left out there with them except Madeline. Tasha was standing back away from the situation, and Leviathan was by her side.

He was shifted and now showing Dre a soul cage. But he gave her another on of those looks. With that look and the words that came before it, she wondered if maybe he was thinking about the half of a soul that she had in a ruby amulet back in her room. If he had something to say about that amulet, he could take it up with her later. If had had been talking about anything else she wouldn't know what it was. The 'strings' Benjamin had left on her heart had nothing to do with a soul as Venis had no soul. Oh, but there had been Benjamin's Christmas present. Gawain could take that up with her later too.

Venis was very happy with Madeline's druid blessing of the weapons. It was good to know that they would be protected from death. She was rather curious about something, but that was yet another thing for later. Madeline thanked them for the help and went back inside. She walked over to her son, and being careful of his talons and blades, raised up on her toes to give him a hug. No matter how big and powerful he was, he was still her son. "I love you, be safe." Then she turned to Gawain offering him a hug as well. "You be safe as well Furball. I am rather fond of having my best friend around, and in one piece."

After hugs and words to send them off with, Venis walked over and sat down upon the steps of the front of the Inn. She was in her robe so she extended her legs out before her and crossed her ankles. There she would sit. If she wanted to change cloths or anything she would take care of it. But she would remain there until they were both back and in one piece. After all, he best friend was taking her son into battle, she was going to wait. Even with the sun coming into the morning sky.

[Guest]

Tasha had been even more quiet than usual through this whole thing. But once the men were ready to go she walked over and reached up to hug Dre while Venis was hugging Gawain. She looked up at him and said nothing, her emerald eyes said it all. He knew what her look said and there was no need to vocalize it now.

Then she walked over to hug Gawain as well. These two normally made her look small. Right now she looked like a bug. They were both so ginormous that her little five foot three frame was lost in their shadow's as the sun was beginning to rise. Either way, she looked up to Gawain. The only person she had ever called Alpha after what Gabriel had done. "Be safe, I want you both back here in one piece, or I will find a way to find you myself." Then she went and joined Venis on the steps.

[Beastie]

He looked around waiting, seeming to be jumpy. Then he watched as one gentleman came up. He seemed to walk around him out of respect, so Dre would have nodded his head to show the same respect. He then watched what the lad did. Paying the ultimate price for one you care about.

He listened to all that was going on. His head cocking at his mother asking what is next. Yeah, there had to be more going on. He also knew at this moment it was time for them to fill their roles. She was the Goddess of protection. well there was an inn full at the moment. He was the God of War, so let them release the Beasts of War.

He watched Gawain, his head cocking to the other side. He definitely had to learn a few of his tricks. That was for sure. Then Maddie came up and took his weapons, he was not sure what she had done to them but he nodded a thank you. It was hard not to think of her as the little slip of a girl that use to chase his tail, or sit on it so he dragged her everywhere.

Then there was the hug from his mother and Tasha. "If it is in the Threads then I will return. But we both know that no one returns in one piece."

he looked to Gawain. "Ready to Dance yet Brother, or would you like to rattle your bone box more?" He gave a smirk and headed off. He gave a silent goodbye and I love you to Kyra as he went. He knew that she would get it. (Insert Bodies by Drowning Pool here)

(okay folks it is the weekend. Which means I will not be back til Monday. Gawain you my okay to NPC me for little things until that time. Have fun and good hunting all)

[Guest]

Kyra had gone into the forge to see Dre and found a note from him instead. Once she read what was going on she started to panic and things started going on in her head. Without even thinking she ran to where she felt him at which she was heading back toward the inn. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw everyone crowded around and stayed back at least 30 feet once she saw who all was there. Her eyes had gone wide with shock at seeing her father the way he is now. He didn't seem to be her father at all but something greater than everyone here. That was the other reason she did not move toward the crowd because truth be told she was rather scared of him at this moment. She thought it was best given her wishes not wanting to meet someone that was there. She just stood there watching her father and had a look of sadness on her face when she spoke in her head to his head and hoped he got it. She was sure he would hear the sadness mixed with the scared in her voice.

'You better come back to me...it wouldn't be fair to just find you and accept you and have you taken from me. I love you daddy and be safe.'

She stood there watching and weaving threads of protection as she was taught to do by her mother and her grandmother while they were away.

[Airtia S. Cauthon]

(So, for any who don't know, this warning's for you. Air may come off as mean.)


Madeline, worked up and full of worry, had stopped following Airtia and went to check on De'Ryanna's status. That was fine, she only hoped that the girl would listen to some sound advice and get rest. Only beginning to know the young girl, Airtia did not dismiss the fact that she may be stubborn and willful. She saw it in her eyes.

Once she had reached the main floor and opened the door she saw both Venis and Tasha sitting on the steps. If she wanted to maintain the small bit of composure she still had and not let it get out of hand, she would have to walk through them. "G'mornin' ladies." spoken as politely as she could, which for now had all the feel of a muted storm. "Excuse me, please." Airtia watched where she placed her feet so she wouldn't step on either of the two as she made the short descent.

The whole feel was that of battle and madness. Clearly all who were simply going to let this take place were not thinking clearly. As she grew closer she looked at the two men. Didn't they look massive. If the people of this town ever caught sight of the pair as they were now, it would be used as stories to frighten children.

Gawain was in rare form, he had the devil in his eyes and was looking to fit the part. She felt it in her head and he'd be able to feel the anger returned on her side. "Just where the hell do ye think ye are going?" There it was, that muted anger in her voice. There was no need to speak loudly, no need to shout, the cold tone of her voice could threaten the very fires of Hell. She was talking to Gawain. He'd know she was talking to him as she everyone else.

"Look at ye, all that time away must 'ave done something tae yer head. How dare ye go traipse off on a fools errand and pull Dre along fer the ride after what has just happened here. Ye 'ave one daughter who may 'ave long lasting effects from what went on in her head, and another who lost the one she loved along with her soul and all ye can think about is yer own ambitions." Airtia spoke every one of those words without flinch or look in any direction. Cold silver eyes were steady.

"Put away your toys and man up to your responsibility. Leave the fight for another day and go take care of your children."

Only now sis she look around to the others who were there: Venis, and Tasha. "Ye should know better. Tis nae a circus act and yer nae spectators. There tis work tae be done and ye best be about it."

She turned back to look at Gawain.

[Guest]

Venis looked up at Gawain and Dre. "Oh hey, Furball. You might want to hold on a second. He's not ..." She was about to say 'there'. Did she know where there was? No, not exactly. But you see, the wonderful thing about strings is that just like the person on one end can pull them, so can the person on the other end. If they knew what they were doing that is. And Venis did.

So what interrupted her train of thought? What kept her from saying she felt nothing at the other end of those strings? Well, two things happened. One right after the other and so close in proximity that the second even distracted her from the first. The first being she saw movement down the road a bit. It was a fairy. She was probably frightened by the site of those two men in the light of the rising sun.

The second thing, the one that distracted her from the fairy, was Airtia erupting from the Inn yelling at Gawain. Yes, that was going to have her attention for a moment. Airtia was yelling at him good too. But then she turned and yelled at her and Tasha. But ... But ... "Well, it wasn't, but it is now. And I was just about to throw in a reality check and tell him that Benjamin was not there." She still didn't know where there was, but there wasn't an answer at the other end of that string.

He could have been ignoring it, or he could honestly not be there. Either way, it was like Benjamin just simply didn't exist. He wasn't there. She couldn't feel him on any level. So what good would it have done for Gawain to go after him? It could have ended up being a wild goose chase. She was pretty sure after the dirty looks, and the comment about the souls, that Gawain would have probably not listened to her anyway.

[Guest]

Tasha wasn't paying attention to Venis when she started to speak to Gawain and Dre. She had smelt the fairy in the air before Venis even caught sight of her. After everything that had just unfolded she had her guard up. And she was just about to go talk to the fairy when Airtia came out the door. That stalled her movements, but didn't deter her from her mission.

So as soon as Airtia passed between them Tasha smiled to her and then darted off to go see to this fairy. It didn't take her long to close that thirty feet down to three. Barefoot and in her nightgown and robe she was soon standing with the fairy. "Hello, names Tasha. I've smelt your scent before. You're staying in the Inn, right?" She smelt the air some more.

Her catlike emerald orbs went huge for a moment. Her voice was so low when she spoke again that she was sure that the fairy herself probably couldn't even hear her. But she wanted to make sure that Venis didn't hear. "You're Dre's daughter." How did Tasha know? Faint traces of Dre's scent on her. She could have been anyone Dre had come into physical contact with, but she had a hunch she was right.

She spared a glance for what was going on behind her. Her voice was still so quiet that it was barely a voice at all. "That's your grandmother over there. The red-head. I have no idea if you want to meet her or not, but something tells me that you don't. I have no idea why, she's wonderful for the most part. But if you don't want to see her, I suggest you double back and go in through the kitchen or the garden." She looked over at Venis again.

She spoke one more time to the fairy, still quite silently. "You really should meet her. She's a very loving and generous woman. She just has a temper, like Dre does. But she loves her family and friends. Maybe you and I could talk sometime. I can give you some insight about her. But for now, unless you want to walk past her and her know who you are, you might want to head in another way. Don't worry about Dre. He'll be fine." She turned to leave then.

And it was just in time too. She had heard Airtia's words to her and Venis. Gawain had told her once, that even though she was a cat and not a wolf, that she was pack. That meant the world to her. He was her alpha and that was not going to change. So she chose to respond to Airtia as well. "Um, Airtia, you have the wrong cat for that one. I don't tell my alpha's what to do unless it's healers orders. And I know better than to back talk scaly butt there. I'm a little too mortal for all that." She sat back down with Venis on the steps. She had said alpha's, who was her alpha female? Same woman it was when Gabriel was her alpha male ... Venis.

[Guest]

Kyra listened to Tasha as she started talking and introducing herself. A low growl could be heard coming from deep in her throat as she started talking about Venis and the expression on her face would tell Tasha not to go down this road with her on that subject.

"I'm Kyra and yes I'm Dre's daughter. First off I do not want to meet that woman ever and I have my reasons for that. All of which has been discussed with my father and is none of your business. Second of all he is my father and I have every right to worry about him so do not tell me not to worry about him. As far as where I walk it will never be in her direction."

She didn't want to be mean to this woman but she tended to get that way when people started telling her that she needed to do something she was very much against. Her voice was not kept low as she did not care if Venis heard her or not. She stood there watching to see if the men were going to leave for a battle or what they were going to do. Her head started hurting from frustration, worry and now anger. She would only say one thing to where her father only could hear her or so she hoped.

'I'm sorry.'

[Guest]

Tasha had already walked away and spoke to Airtia, albeit a bit of a confusing comment no doubt. Tasha was dealing with her issues and not really in her right mind one hundred percent of the time. That was bad news for the fairy who smarted off. "Children." Tasha saw Venis' attention get turned by the fairy again. And Tasha was not happy about being mouthed off to. But, in all fairness to the fairy, she had no idea who she was mouthing off to. But she was about to find out.

She walked back over to Kyra and stood even closer than her previous three feet. "Look kid, I don't know what your hang up is, and personally I don't care. But if it were not for that woman over there you would not even exist. She gave birth to your father and your father loves her. I don't care if you want to know her or not, but I'll be damned if you are going to be disrespectful to her in my presence." Yes, there was definitely a growl in Tasha's voice.

She looked over at Dre and then looked back at Kyra. "I will tell you what. I think at this moment you should be very glad that you are a Darkmane, because if you were not I would tear you a new one. What ever your reasons are they are petty childish bull. Grow up. You wouldn't exist without her and neither would he. And the world would suck a hell of a lot more if that were the case. So even if she wasn't one of my best friends, and even if she wasn't my alpha female, I would still honor her for the fact that she brought Dre into this world." Oh crap, had she just said that out loud? Too late now.

Time to get her train of thought back on track. "Now, Take your childish crap and stow it, there are more important things going on around here than you being a brat because your Grandmother is around. Get off your high horse and get over it. Meet her or not, I don't give a crap. But leave the adults to deal with what is going on. And for the record, she has known about you for weeks, just not who you were, and you just gave yourself away. Your father asked a favor of her and she is honoring his wishes. Count yourself lucky that her word is her bond and she loves her son, child." She walked away again. One more word and she risked loosing her control and shifting.

[Guest]

Venis' attention had been turned by the fairy when she addressed Tasha. And then she saw Tasha get up to go deal with it. So she returned her attention to Airtia and the men for a moment. There was already aggravation and anger in the air, not to mention frustration. And that was just from the three to her left. Then the two to her right were adding to it. As Venis now brought both hands to her stomach she doubled over more.

She had to get some calm to something or she was going to be in too much pain to be any good to anyone. She saw Tasha walking back towards her and had heard what she had said. So she made her way to her feet and walked towards Tasha. She met her half way and stopped her bu grabbing her arm. There were too many emotions running too high around her on top of all the rest of the emotions she was feeling from everywhere else.

She looked over at the fairy child she now knew to be her Granddaughter Kyra. But she spoke to Tasha. "Enough. There was no need for you to even speak to her again. You should have just left it alone. You were right, there are bigger and more important things going on around here. And you are in no condition to deal with them. Go to your room Tasha. Get some rest. The four of us can deal with things." She did not include Kyra in her count as she had just heard with her own ears that she was not going to come near her.

She turned and looked at Tasha before turning to look at the others. She returned her attention to Tasha then. "This is not the time or place to air Darkmane and Jordianthan dirty laundry. So take Levi and go up to your room and someone will be up later to have a discussion with you about this. This is not a request Tasha Masterson." And with that she released her arm with a bit of a pull towards the Inn. Venis hoped Kyra realized what she had just done. It takes a lot to defend a child who has shunned you for no reason.

Venis did not close the remaining fifteen feet between her and her Granddaughter. Instead she turned and watched as Tasha walked back into the Inn with Leviathan at her side. Then Venis returned to the steps. She wasn't sure what all was wrong with Tasha, but she would get to the bottom of it. For now, Kyra was a closed subject and her attention was refocused on Dre, Gawain, and Airtia. Though, her stomach wasn't feeling any better.

[B.D. Adams]

The wonderful thing about the strings Benjamin put on people was the fact that no one, not even the Vampire in all her vanity, knew how it worked. Sure, she could try. People have tried before and none have worked. Benjamin always knew what was going on with the strings he had placed but, if he could be tracked then there would be no point. Would there?

No. Obviously this is why she felt nothing whatsoever. In fact, as she was dealing with other issues, anything she had felt of Benjamin vanished. It had never existed.

Ironically, Benjamin was keeping an account on what was happening, even if he wasn't there. He found everything that followed after he had touched De'Ryanna as funny. People at this Inn surely knew how to panic. One small incident and everyone was called to the forefront. It showed just how lacking in self-confidence they were. Everyone tried to show up another and many acted on emotions first, and later thought about reason.

They paid so much attention to the lion, that the posionous snake was forgotten.

[Guest]

Venis' mood shifted once again, this time to that of sadness. It wasn't an overwhelming feeling, just a whisper. Had those 'strings' Benjamin put on her heart just vanished? Perhaps he was watching over the situation after all. And if he had been, he had just called her bluff.

She couldn't help but wonder about something at this point. Had her family and friends not called her into that ambush of a family meeting, would this situation be going differently? They wanted her to depend on them more. But why? She could have ... No, she should have, just dealt with this herself. It was her job, not theirs. But it was too late now, wasn't it? Hopefully her bluff was enough to keep Gawain from going in search of Benjamin. But sadness was once again replaced by anger.

[Madeline Cauthon]

Meanwhile back at the Inn


Maddie needed t talk to someone, and someone she trusted. So she sent a mental link to the only person who she could talk to, Kyra.

~Kyra where are you, I need you, meet at our room~

[Guest]

Angry with herself for being there and angry at this woman for yelling at her and not sure how to feel about Venis stepping in made Kyra do the only thing she could think of at the given moment and that was work. So, Kyra started to head back to the forge when she heard someone call to her. She looked around swearing it was Maddie but she wasn't there. She had heard Dre in her head before but didn't know others could do it too. She tried to send back a message to Maddie. She concentrated as she collected her thoughts and sent them on to her.

'I will be right there.'

She turned around looked to her dad not sure what he was going to do or say about what she had said and then Tasha yelling at her and then Venis stepping in on the situation. She was sure she would get talked to later about it and didn't care to be around right now not that she was needed here any how. With that she took off running toward the inn and to her room.

[Gawain]

Gawain hadn't expected Airtia to react in such a manner, especially knowing what was at stake, but he took it in stride. His gaze met hers with equal fire. "Airtia, you know as well as I do that if a cutworm is crawling toward your vine, you squash it before it can cause any more damage. I learned things as an Asha'man, and more when I was undercover. Things that only the Forsaken can teach....or have you forgotten, as well, that the Dragon Reborn himself was tutored by Asmodean? Well, Ishamael, under some carefully-crafted Compulsion, divulged a few secrets of the Power on his own. To me." He nodded to the tear in the Pattern above them, and shrugged. "By taking a sample of the one to be tracked, one who knows how can rip the Pattern and follow them wherever they are, even into Shayol Ghul. Which is where I'm willing to go, if it means putting down that mad dog. Also, this may come in handy." He lifted his hand, displaying the gilded Cour'Souvra to her. "Simple to make, if you seize the right sort of Power." Only then did he allow her to see the change in his eyes, and the black flecks of [saa floating about within them. "Only used it a few times, and I can stop whenever I want. As I said, simple. I intend to cage him, then figure out what to do with him at my leisure. Maybe a little torture, followed by a slow and lingering death. Haven't decided yet, as I said."

He grinned evilly, first at her, then at the soul cage. "This will do nicely, yes. He values his souls, and I do so love to deprive my family's enemies of their valuables. What else would you have me do, Air? Just let him have his way with both of my daughters, and do nothing? I refuse." He crossed his arms, and seemed to swell a bit. He had seized Saidin again, and was busily weaving something else. "Give me the weapon I sent you, Air. I have already transmuted mine into Cuendillar, and can do the same for any who wish their weapon to be indestructible."

He paused then, regarding Airtia with a measure of surprise. "You were once of the dark persuasion. Did the Forsaken teach you nothing for your services? I found that, even as a supposed ally, they could be Persuaded to divulge a great deal....as for my daughters, a brave young man, one who has earned a place in our family mausoleum, gave his life and power to Madeline, and Armandeus is caring for De'Ryanna. I trust Ar with her...he really has her best interest at heart. I think there is something there, more than meets the eye, maybe even love. At any rate, Airtia, this must be done. I love you ma'shiara, and when I return, please, think better of me."

With a glance to Dreconis, he nodded. "Madeline did us a great service, enchanting our weapons as she did. We will be back alive, as if there were ever any doubt, and when we return, there's justice to be done." He waved a hand, and the rip in the fabric grew. "Last stop for second guesses....."

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