Maralie Lily Charm/Harry Styles ~ Teenage Dirtbag

Dedicated to Luci(:
Also to my best irl friends. *giggles* Teenage douchebag! XD
(it's an inside joke XD)
~ Mara xx

Harry sighed as he sat down on the couch. Maralie was upset and wouldn't talk to him or go near him. It was starting to annoy him. Harry wasn't one to get annoyed, but it was one of the most annoyingist annoying things that had ever annoyed him in the history of annoying things that had ever annoyed him. Ever.

"ELEANOR!" he yelled.

Footsteps echoed around the room. "Coming!" a loud voice shouted, thumping down the stairs. The door creaked open and Eleanna walked into the sitting room. "Hey, Harry."

"Anything from Mara?"

"No," Eleanna mumbled. "She's not coming out of her room."

"Damn," Harry muttered, rubbing his face with his hands and propping his elbows on his knees. "El, what'll we do?"

Eleanna chewed her lip. "I have an idea.."

Harry looked up straight away. "You do? What is it?!"

"-but it involves getting Gemma here." Eleanna winced.

Gemma was Harry and Eleanna's sister, 24 years old and, in Eleanna's words, awesome. Harry had a different opinion althoughter most times, though...

"But she doesn't know about this" Harry inserted air quotes to state his point, "magic, does she?"

"No," Eleanna sighed. "Which means we have to fly back to Cheshire just to have a bloody girls' talk."

"Language," Harry warned.

"I can say what I like, I'm 8. Where's Lib, anyway?"

As soon as the words escaped her mouth, a crash and a yelp came from upstairs. Eleanna sighed and trudged upstairs. Harry smiled slightly and heard rustling about in the kitchen. He frowned and stood up. Walking slowly, he opened the kitchen door and Maralie screamed, grabbed some fairy cakes that were on the table, and was just about to teleport, when -

"Dammit, Mara!" Harry yelled, slamming his fist on the table. Maralie jumped and stared at him with huge eyes. "What did I do? You've been avoiding me!"

Maralie swallowed and her eyes flickered to the door. She couldn't teleport right now. She was scared of what Harry would do.

"Don't you dare," Harry warned, sliding over to the door. Maralie bolted and Harry leaped after her.

"Maralie!" he yelled.

"Leave me alone!" Maralie cried, yanking the door open. Arms reached around her waist and she screamed, kicking her legs. Harry closed the door with his foot and dragged Maralie into the sitting room. She started cursing at him and he raised an eyebrow, not impressed. Obviously Maralie wasn't that innocent as she seemed.

Harry dropped her onto the couch and she scrambled upright, breathing heavily. Harry looked closer and saw tears running down her cheeks.

"Mara...?" he asked, worried. "What... did I hurt you?"

Maralie looked at him, her eyes glassy with tears. "Yes," she spat, "but not the way you think."

She disappeared and Harry cursed, running his hand through his hair.

Meow.
KAY GUISE. I THINK I HAVE THE PERFECT ACTRESS FOR MARA.
SAOIRSE RONAN.
She's Irish, blonde and oh so innocent ;)
FOR NARNIA!
~ Mara xx

Garnet Dorado and Jasmin Orage: To Reconcile

The two children sat waiting by the reception desk. Clarice was on Lydie's lap and they had both been crying. Jasmin had decided to put on a brave front before his daughters, but he almost broke down himself when Clarice turned, ran over to him and asked where her mother was. "They explained it to us, they did as gently as they could, but she won't believe it." Lydie cried.
Orage guided his daughter back to Lydie and sat beside the older girl. He pulled little Clarice onto his owm lap and pulled them both into a tight hug. "Your mother's gone to a better place, Clarice. A nice place for people who have done good things with themselves. She's gone to look after Alice."
"When are they coming back?" Clarice asked as Lydie began to sob.
"They're not."
"But-!"
"They can't come back. They're not allowed. Some day you'll see them again, but not today."
There was a little squeak of words from Lydie through her own tears. He asked her to repeat herself and wished he hadn't. "It's all your fault, I said!" She pulled away and was glaring at him now. Jasmin heaved a deep sigh and fixed her with as stern a look as he could muster at the moment.
"Lydie, please. I send myself on enough guilt trips, and yes, I'll blame myself for the deaths of the British Mages who followed me in, I'll blame myself for the death of Alice, I'll blame myself for Surgele or Felin now I'm in the position I'm in, I'll blame myself for the deaths of ten of my closest friends a month before you were even born. I don't need any more blame, whether I deserve it or not..." He stopped, thought about it, wondered if things would ever get so bad in his head that the girls would lose him as well. Not to Mevolent or his forces or to any stupid criminals or damage to the Sanctuary. He wondered if it would ever come to the point where they would lose him to himself. "Lydie, now is not the time to play the blame game." He reached for her but she moved away.
"It's your fault for going off with that English girl, running into fights, just being you in general! Why the hell do I even have to be related to you?!"
He had no response to this. He simply turned away, bringing the arm that had previously been cuddling her round to cuddle Clarice instead. Was it sad he couldn't speak to his eldest without almost having a panic attack? He wouldn't have a panic attack, right? No, he was definitely going to have a panic attack. Clarice looked terrified as he began to hyperventilate and Lydie looked shocked. "Keep a civil tongue!" He managed to gasp out. "For once in your life stop blaming others or making them feel like crap and just behave like a normal, decent human being." The younger child was wailing now, clinging onto her father like there was no tomorrow.
"You're freaking her out, dad!"
He tried to calm down and she looked at the burns on his hands and sighed. She gave up and clambered onto the seats, cuddling him, apologising.

-----

Garnet was tired. Mortis had noticed it. He used to be brilliant, so much stamina, practically limitless, but not any more. He was sick. He had collapsed once, back when his stamina was still so high. The doctors had said it was something bad. He couldn't remember what. Heart failure or conditions or a tumour in his lungs. If it was a tumour it was currently inactive, but it still took up enough room in there to screw the poor guy up. He was tired after that last journey, breathing hard, a little red-faced. Mortis watched him trudge along. The stupid man was pretending he had planned to surface this far away, but he had been moving a lot recently, the Necromancer assumed, and he had had to come up or risk exhaustion. The three killers were walking the rest of the way to the castle. Garnet said the people there had measures put up against his powers, but Mortis could easily see through that lie.

Further proof came when he had to take a deep breath and ready himself to step through the front door. There was the longest pause once he had disappeared through. Jayden frowned. "You think he's in trouble in there?"
Mortis shook his head softly. "He's fine. He always knows what he's doing." The door unlocked and swung open, and Garnet stood on the other side, grinning. Breath back completely. He gestured for his friends to follow him to Maleficent's room.

B-J was curled up next to the ex Czech Elder. "I think I understand." He said.
"You do?" She asked, frowning.
"I understand the feelings. I've had something similar. Against my wishes, these hands have drawn lifeblood before. Your friend running off like that can't have helped."
"No...no, it didn't..."
He rested a hand on her leg and offered a reassuring smile. "I don't judge people, I promise. You can trust me...I've been through a lot, I'll be able to understand everything except child molesting."
She nodded, smiling with an almost silent laugh. "Good thing I don't do any of that then, huh?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. You feel better?"
"Much. Feels good to just get it all off my chest." There was a knock at the door and she jumped. Frowning, she got up and opened the door, expecting Twist. Instead, she saw Garnet and immediately lashed out with a slap. He yelped and fell back, and she caught sight of his friends. "I needed you as a friend and you just disappeared! You always disappear when I need you most and suddenly come back as soon as I'm happy without you there!" He didn't reply and she went on. "And you have the balls to bring those two back? Those two who murdered a good man? Back here with me?!"
Mortis put up his hands in a sign for surrender. "Investigative purposes. I'm good at investigating. Is that the necklace, Gar? The one she's wearing now?"
Garnet nodded and reached out to touch it.
"It doesn't say 'friends', Gar."
"Like me or her could tell the difference. Reading is for chumps."
"You were right about it not being big enough for a single item curse rune. Don't touch it."
Garnet nodded, fingers closing around the necklace, before hissing in pain and snatching his hand back as though burnt.
"I said don't touch it! What is it with you two?! Why don't you ever listen?!"
"Shut up, Mort!"
He reluctantly obliged and grabbed his friend's burnt hand. "Lucky you, it's a one person only curse, just hurt you rather than passing on to you. I think. I'm not an expert at these things, but you sure as hell don't need any more bad luck."
"I don't know what you mean by that."
Mortis gave up and turned to B-J. "We have reason to believe your necklace has been cursed."
The elemental girl smirked. "Oh yeah? Who by?"
He shrugged. "Perhaps someone working for or with Mevolent who knew you weren't really dead or someone hoping to curse those around you during the funeral service."
Now she frowned and leant against the doorframe as Rasputin came to stand beside her. "Why in blue blazes should I trust you?"
Again, he shrugged. "I thought you'd say something like that."
Garnet spoke up. "I needed to get away because I couldn't deal with what had happened. I came back so soon because I seriously felt you were in danger. I consider you a friend. Not the kind of friend I would share things like what happened with whether you were there or not. Face it, we're not close. I don't share my feelings with you, I don't share illnesses with you, I don't share my troubles with you. While I met you long before I met Mort or Jay, I've been in contact with them way more than you have. I'd therefore say I know them longer, better, etcetera. If I need to talk to someone or if I get traumatised or in trouble, I will automatically go to them, okay? Not you, them!" She shied away a little. "Don't act so spoilt because I have closer friends than you. Yeah, I have a crush on you, no you're not my best friend. Secondly, I dragged these two along for a reason. Mortis knows more about motive or symbols than you or I ever will. Thirdly I returned because I had reason to believe you or the others in this place were in serious danger. There are innocents in this house who have nothing to do with Mevolent. Children. I couldn't let you and your curse hurt them, and now I know you're definitely cursed!"
She hesitated before responding. "I don't make many friends. There's you, Arachne and Esra. One's in Mevolent's castle, one's dead and before that, insane, which leaves you."
"B-J, find yourself some proper friends. Like him." he gestured loosely to Rasputin. "You just sounded like a friendless freak...the crazy cat lady variety."
She went to slap him again, but he caught her wrist. "Garnet, are you going to say anything constructive?"
He looked to Mortis. "Okay, B-J, with a little help I might be able to undo the curse, but we either need to get you or your necklace away from here and the innocents...or both. Take the necklace off."
Suspicious, she turned the necklace so she could see what she was doing with the clasp. It looked kind of like it had melted together. "Level four." Mortis mumbled as B-J gave him a 'what the hell?' look. "Try and pull it apart..."
She tried, but couldn't. The problem there was that Mortis, Jayden and Rasputin were all no doubt stronger than her, but they would be unable to touch the necklace safely. The Necromancer hesitated and tried to think. "I think I know someone who isn't dead who can help. D'you have a car?"
Her eyes flickered to Garnet, but he saw and shook his head, looking pained.
"I can't, B-J. I'm exhausted. Take a car, please."
She hesitated. "Advantageous Twist has a pretty big car...but he was going to use it to transport the Grotesquery...hide it..."
Rasputin nodded. "He could use the extra security."

Niccolo Croatoan/ Zafria Kerias: Far, Far Away

Head down to the cells, the sensitive says in my mind, there are some people Mevolent wants you to see. You should recognize them. Your orders are to do whatever you wish, as long as they are still in fair condition for questioning. Keep in mind that they are heathens- treat them accordingly. A low laugh builds in my throat as I head towards the cells. Life has never been more exhilarating. 

Zafira was quiet. The shackles dug into her skin. She hated them and she was angered. Javier stayed close to her. Both heard the footsteps. Zafira started hyperventilating. Javier glared out the bars

"Who's there?" He growled.

"Grand Mage," I said with mock awe, "And I'm sure know who I am. I daresay I made an impression. Fancy seeing you here. I would say I'm surprised, only, you're a heathen. This is what you deserve. And Javier! How convenient. I heard you were looking to kill me." My smile faded. I fought back a wince, and took one small step backward, refusing to let the pain show. My eyes grew heavy for just a moment, and I told the pair, with sincerity, "I really wish you hadn't come here. If you make it out alive, and no, I won't kill you- not now, anyway, don't come back. Survive. Your job is to lead, inspire- not fight on the front lines. And make sure you look out for each other." 

Then the sensitive was back in my head, dropping my true name so casually, as if it wasn't about to destroy us all. Don't falter, the nameless voice commanded, you know what they are. Make them fear you. Make them rue the day they turned their back on the gods. A broad, malicious grin spread itself across my face. "On the other hand, I don't think you'll be fit to lead by the time you leave here. I think you'll either join us and live, or die. And in the meantime I'll give you something to think about, shall I?"

Zafira glanced up at Niccolo the fear in her eyes. Javier wrapped an arm around her and looked Niccolo in the eyes. As Niccolo spoke Javier felt some type of pity. Then he spoke,

"Niccolo don't hurt us then. We want to help you." Zafira nodded giving Niccolo a pleading look,

"Niccolo." She said, "What is the point in hurting me? You did damage far worse then ever. But if you have to then do what you want." She bowed her head. Javier kissed her cheek and then looked back at Niccolo

"Do what my wife wants then. It must make you proud to have Grand Mage Kerias at your mercy. An honor I daresay." He said sarcastically. 

I smirked at their offer of 'help'. As if I was the one who needed help. "Oh, I would be proud, if she wasn't so pathetically weak. I do hope she isn't the only one shackled because she's more dangerous than you are, because that would mean there aren't even words for how weak you are. And the way you agree with whatever she says? What, you let your own wife control you? That's low, even for a nonbeliever." With a gust of air I pushed the two away from each other and kept them pinned against opposite walls. Sure, the cells were anit-magic, but I could deal all the damage I needed without ever venturing in. I smiled even wider, knowing I was taking exactly the right course of action. "Now you get to watch each others' pain."

Zafira screamed a curse at Niccolo.

"What the hell?!" She screeched. Javier stared at her from his wall.

"Hurt me not her." Javier told him. He looked determined to not have her suffer the most. If he wore Niccolo down he wouldnt hurt Zaf as much. Zafira kept glaring at Niccolo.

"Don't worry, I won't get worn out," I assured the two, reading Javier's thoughts, "But if you're so insistent, I think I'll start with her." I tossed a knife into the cell and elevated it with air, leaving it suspended in the air in the center of the cell. Then I moved it, slowly, right up to Zafria's face, and made three long scratches ever-so-gently in her right cheek. They were superficial wounds, mainly meant to strike fear in the pair and gauge their reactions.

Javier screamed seeing his wife hurt. Zafira's cry was high pitched. She tried to flinch but the air forced her to stay put. Zafira smiled sadistically

"Niccolo so scared he won't come near me!" She laughed. She lost it.

My grin spread even wider. "Is that what you call logic?" I laughed even louder. "Trust me, if I was afraid of you, you would be dead. And if three little scratches like that hurt you..." I let my voice trail off, trusting that the knife could speak for itself. I let the tip linger, just barely touching Zafria's shoulder, and then slowly let it sink in, deeper and deeper, until only the handle was visible. Then I twisted it in one swift movement, and then twisted it the other way before pulling it out and wiping it on her hair.

Zafira screamed as it entered and she closed her eyes. I survived him once I can do it again. She thought. She stuck her tongue out at him laughing even though pain was in her voice,

"Come and have a go-oh right baby Niccolo wont even dare come near me!" She laughed more. Javier stared at his wife. She was mental but this was funny. He smiled and felt content she would survive. 

"And now you don't care about pain? Hm. As long as you both survive, is that right? Fine. And no, I'm not coming near you. Obviously, it's just what you want me to do, and there's no reason for me to. Make fun of me all you want." Then I raised the knife higher so only Javier could see, pointed it down, and drove it down into her skull, my eyes gleaming more and more as the light left hers. 

Zafira screamed until she didn't see anything else. Javier watched in horror. He stared speechless as he saw the light dim from Zafira's eyes. He screamed a half fright half grief cry and was crying. He couldn't believe his eyes

"What did you do to her?!" He screeched. Javier looked desperate to see some form of life in his wife.

"I've killed her. Simple as that. She's gone. Doesn't that just tear you to pieces?" I taunted, a tremor of excitement rippling through my voice. "Now, watch this," I continued, and forced Zafria's soul back into her body. But I hadn't healed her, so she just died again. And again. And again. And I just couldn't stop laughing.

Javier just kept screaming staring at the whole thing as if he was in a nightmare.

"Let Zaf live!" He pleaded fear evident. He looked ready to flip if he could. He couldn't take it seeing her die. He just wanted to see her smiling face again holding her in his arms, alive.

Javier screamed and begged to no end, but I just couldn't stop laughing. It's so pathetic. All of this, and he just wants her alive... Wow. I just can't even believe that he.... I... 

Niccolo! A familiar somehow reaches my mind, and the illusion shatters like a broken mirror, each piece falling away one by one, revealing a jagged but ever-present image of the truth. 

Aretha. But how on Earth had she...? Javier's scream sliced the air, distracting me. And all of a sudden I realized what I had been doing. Oh God... What the Hell is wrong with me? And then I was picking the lock on the cell, dragging Zafria out, and healing her as quickly as I could, rushing to beat that fanatical haze, terrified that it might catch up with me. 

Once all her wounds had sealed up and her brain cells had fully regenerated, I brought her back into her body, and for once she actually stayed breathing. I released Javier from his invisible prison and Zafria from her handcuffs. "Run," I told them both, my voice dark and serious. "Run far, far away, and if you care for each other at all, don't come back."

Javier stared at Niccolo in shock. He watched him take Zafira and when she was awake he breathed a sigh of relief. As Niccolo freed him Javier knelt by Zafira. 

"I will run. I swear Niccolo I...I can see what happened." Javier helped Zafira up.

"Shadow walk." He told her. She nodded but turned to Niccolo first.

"If I ever find your true name out I swear I'll help you, Niccolo. I promise." She closed her eyes and focused on somewhere in Ireland. Roarhaven. She shadow-walked to Roarhaven and then Javier and Zafira kissed. Passionate. 

The moment they left I began searching for Aretha's mind. I would not allow myself to contemplate what I had done. I would not allow myself to recall that even after that, they had offered to help me. I would not allow myself to dwell on the fact that I was far beyond helping. I found Aretha- God knows how she got to Ireland- and teleported.

Fabi: Say It Once, and Disappear~Part 1

      Fabi shook her head in disbelief. Or, she would have shook her head if she hadn't been unconscious and her head hadn't been on fire. Not literally on fire, but it felt like it.
     "See, you already look dead," Eff explained. "Of course, that's because you essentially are dead if you don't get medical attention soon, but still, Silver hasn't eaten your soul. She's still trying to help Liberty, she doesn't completely understand the paralysis potion, it had just about worn off you when she dealt with it before, at least I think so, but anyway, that really won't take much longer, then she'll make sure you're dead. The Princess either doesn't know about the substitute or doesn't care. So all you have to do is let me borrow your body for a minute or two, and I can explain everything, and it'll all be cool."
"Can't you go back in your own body?"
"Uh...no. See, I bribed one of the Princess' lackeys with an awful lot of illusioned gold coins...he agreed that a soul goes in, a soul goes out. Also, he thinks your name is Bert, just so you know."
"Can't you still use your own--"
"My body is currently in Mevolent's castle. Some recently appointed official-type person there seemed to think I had this object... Which even if I did have, I obviously wouldn't carry it around places, but anyway. I can't do that, sorry."
Fabi was about to agree, but then it occurred to her. Eff hadn't mentioned reversing the process, and she had no real reason to help, anyway.
"No." Fabi said. "Sorry."
Effie switched the illusion on her face, but not before Fabi saw her eyes and mouth tighten, an almost pained expression on her face. Fabi mentally blinked. Pink hair, seriously?
"Fabigail, you don't trust me, do you?" Effie's voice was strangely soft.
"Eff, you've been constantly insisting ever since I met you that you're not someone who can be trusted," Fabi pointed out. "Also, I killed you. Why are you trying to help me?"
"Well, all those other times it wasn't a good idea to trust me, but like, you can now, okay? And I don't want Mevolent to destroy the world, that enough for you?"
Fabi winced, or her subconscious winced, anyway. "Sorry..."
"Fabigail, why are you apologizing??? Stop the bad guy, okay? Give Mevo what he doesn't expect! And don't give up and die, that's just stupid! Sure, you've got life-threatening injures, but--" Effie gasped.
"What is it?" Fabi asked, concerned.
"He still has some control, Fab. He's trying to use my 022230300450 ghost, and then use me lock you out of your own body! I take that entire speech earlier back, do not trust anything I say or said. Not a word, you hear?" She turned and ran away from the loophole in reality and Fabi's mind shifted into a nightmare.
****
To be continued.

Jasmin Orage and Erskine Ravel: Appointing Elders.

"You must be mad!" The man yelled incredulously.
Jasmin frowned. "Lionel Ame-"
"Is a sadistic killer!"
"Now that Charles is no longer with us, Lionel is my most trusted acquaintance. And believe me, I do not trust him."
"It's a stupid idea!"
"He needs to reform. Some responsibility would be a good idea for that. We'll get him a puppy too. Puppies are good."
"Grand Mage, all due respect, but-"
"I don't want to hear it...what did you say your name was?"
"Montagneux." The man responded grudgingly. "I'm your advisor. I was Surgele's."
"Right. Montagneux. The only person I trust is English and can't speak any French, so she wouldn't be much good, eh? So I propose Lionel Ame as my first Elder...what's your full name?"
"Ashley Montagneux." He was getting annoyed now. He was quite young. Dark-skinned and tall. Too tall for Jasmin to feel comfortable around. His hair was straight and flopped down to his chin, glossy and healthy and looked like he used straighteners on it. He was in a grey suit and ugly floral tie.
"In that case, my second Elder is Ashley Montagneux." Jasmin replied airily.
"Pardon?"
"I have spoken. You're an Elder now. You're the sensible one who tries to keep the stupid ones in check."
"I'm not working with Lionel Ame, I can tell you that now."
Jasmin shrugged. "It's Lionel or Pons Excitacion."
Montagneux pressed his fingers to his forehead, exasperated. "You know what? I don't care. Put whoever the hell you want on your council!"
"Excellent. I have children to comfort now, so if you would be a dear and tell Lionel my decision?" He got up and left, leaving the newly appointed Elder to grumble to himself.

-----

Katharine stormed off down the street. "Gale, leave me alone!"
"Hey, you came on to me, not the other way round!" He walked after her, very annoyed. Katharine paused.
"Okay, that's true...but I have a boyfriend, Gale, I can't just..."
"You don't have to, I promise. Just listen to your heart." Gale turned his head slightly and caught the eye of someone sitting at an outdoor seat at a cafe nearby. There were two people seated and a third just joining them. One of the first two men, both of whom were blonde, was yammering away. The other, the one Gale recognised, was watching him suspiciously with his thin blue-grey eyes. Reluctantly, Gale turned his attentions back to Katharine. She stepped closer to him. "My heart's a mute, I swear to God!"
"Well who's more fun?"
She hesitated. "Austin has too many downsides."
"Most men do. Everyone has their downsides."
"Like you being a slut, you mean?"
"...yeah...exactly..."
She sighed. "I'll decide when I see him next."
"Until then...?"
"Until then, can't we stay together?"
"Uh..." He was worried the blonde man was watching him. The man he recognised all too well. Katharine gave a pleading face and suddenly Gale didn't feel so slutty anymore. What he had heard was that Austin was giving Katharine a third chance, that he was in love with the personality and the body, but the girl cheated on him, twice caught, lord knows how many other times. Gale never went for more than one girl at once, but he never had a lasting relationship. He would have liked to have had one, but it just never happened and he moved on very quickly. He glanced across the road to make sure the three men weren't looking and kissed her softly. "Tell nobody."
"Of course."

Only while the blonde men across the road hadn't been watching when the kiss began, the brunette man with the limp, the late joiner, had. He tapped the first blonde man and pointed. "That's Katharine and Artemis' brother, right?"
Austin stared silently. Box raised a finger. "Sam?"
"Yeah?" Awesome Dude had been a contact of Box's for about a week now. It was surprising how quickly they had come to trust one another, especially with the whole Awesome being a vampire thing.
"I asked you a question."
"Was that the one about Snooke and McMooney and their standing against Mevolent and stuff?"
"That one was half an hour ago. Keep up."
Awesome just looked confused. "The rocket fuel then?"
"The rocket fuel and the killers' 'holy healer'."
"Oh, right. Yeah, he's got it and them."
Austin looked a little confused. He didn't know who the 'Holy Healer' was and he quickly excused himself to go confront Burn and Blaze.

-----

The new Irish Elder stood in the robes in Erskine's office. He was an old friend of his, another old confident of Corrival's. He was staring at a desk ornament as though he had never seen one before. He had been standing like that for a while now. He'd nodded occasionally to show he was listening to what Ravel and Mist were saying to him and he understood, but he offered no response. Actually, he hadn't spoken once since Ravel had first contacted him. He had accepted the position silently and now Erskine was sure he could see a wide scar over the man's throat. "Justice?"
The man smiled, turning his full attention to the Grand Mage.
"I never noticed that scar before. Was that there the last time we met?" Justice Popularity shook his head quickly, bringing a hand up to hide it. Ravel frowned. "Can you talk to me? Just say one word? Any word? Elephant, banana, anything!"
Justice raised and lowered his arms in a 'this is hopeless' gesture.
"Oh perfect, he can't talk..."
The new Elder crossed his arms and looked a mix of apologetic and downright miserable. Normally he had his brown hair gelled up in spikes, but today he looked like he had just rolled out of bed. He tried to ignore Ravel and Mist as they began to talk in hushed voices.
"This is the most trustworthy person who you could find?"
"The most trustworthy who didn't threaten me when I turned to them for this."
"They weren't all friends with Corrival, were they? Didn't you tell me that lot were best known for alcoholism?"
"Okay, maybe they were, but that doesn't make them unreliable."
"In this line of work, yes it does."
"Just used to be an accountant, he did all our accounts and stuff, he's trustworthy and reliable and stuff...mostly...as long as he doesn't use sign language around me. I can't make any sense of that stuff, I'd just end up punching him out."
"So now you're intolerant of people who have to use sign language?"
"No, it just annoys me, all the stupid gestures. Why can't they just write things down on some paper?"
Mist nudged her husband with a look. "Sorry." He mumbled before turning to Popularity. "Anyway, welcome to the team, I guess."

-----

Richard Ricky Sloth frowned, watching the castle through a pair of binoculars. Normally he didn't spy; he had fallen out of that habit years ago. He had seen something that bugged him over there though. Ricky was a neighbour of Advantageous Twist. Not next door, he lived up the road. Anyway, he had met Garnet Dorado before. He used to be friends with the guy. He had just gotten home from a holiday in Japan. He had seen Dorado appear at the house with the black-haired girl and the tanned man in the elder robes just as he set off for the airport. There was no movement and he just had to accept Dorado was probably gone.

Ricky was an interesting man with hair just long enough to pull into a tiny ponytail. It was a soft brown. He was thin and had blue eyes that drank in any and every piece of information. He had gotten on well with one of Dorado's killer friends once.

The inside of his house was cushy and just a little over-furnished. Hiro Phantasmagoria stood to one side of the sofa on which an injured man lay. Ricky had met this man before and had been healing him over the past few days. He had woken up a couple of times, been given a bit of food and water and fallen unconscious again. Now he was awake and in unfamiliar surroundings. "What the...?"
"You're okay. My name is Ricky, I'm a doctor, I was in Japan when you got in trouble for killing that Hato witch. Got you out of there with my friend here, brought you back here, healed up any damage the Japanese caused and now here you are!"
"Oh God...Ricky Sloth..." The man was Australian, with wild red hair. He seemed terrified. "Where are the others?"
Ricky looked confused for a moment, then realisation washed over his face. "Ah. You were on Garnet's kill list. The weird ginger guy who stole his first girlfriend. Borealis. Finally caught up to you after Mortis and Jayden moved in, right?"
"Please don't kill me!"
"I'm not a killer, I'm a healer...Hiro, on the other hand..." The man beside the sofa cracked his knuckles. Borealis whimpered. "I saved your life, but I might be meeting my old friends soon...so behave, do as I say, work for me for a few days. I promise you amnesty from the nasty Irish slaughter people."
"O-okay..." He looked pretty startled. Ricky appreciated that.

((Despite it being the only preplanned bit, Blaze and Burn's scene was so difficult to write...Hey look, Ursa! He's back! Hey look, Justice Popularity is a recycled name from a previous chapter! He's a target of Mortis' already because of that! Damn my need to recycle an old name because I didn't want to create anyone new but ending up doing both at the same time anywayness. Not going to go down well. Not intentional. I wonder how long before I kill Lionel or Pons or Ashley...hey look, Awesome Dude! He's back too! Bet you all thought he was never returning!))

Madame Mist, Mystery Prisoner X and Acacia Adonia: Doppelgänger

((italics are mystery captured person X during present time))

What was the best way to keep a convincing mimic, Acacia sometimes asked herself. You had to know who you were mimicking. You needed a good idea of it. Their personality, their height, weight, looks and facial features, how they might act towards a certain person and how they might treat that one person differently from others. She was a bit of an expert when it came to pretending to be others. It was also a very fun hobby to her. She put on a bit of make-up and grinned. Oh, this would be too easy. She opened the door and swept out into a busy hallway and, holding her head up high, mimicked the target exactly. She already knew exactly how to hold herself around these others. This would be very fun.

She woke up, her head bleeding, a low moan escaping her lips. Her wrists were shackled to the wall above her. She tugged the shackles experimentally but they barely budged. There was a slight rattle, though, not that that was much. As far as she knew, she had been captured by Mevolent. Which was just wonderful in itself, she thought as she stared around the cell. There were a few others in the other cells, some watching her, some going about their own business. She could see a guard. As memories returned to her, she worried about how long it would take for them to realise where she was and what they would decide to do. She hoped they wouldn't do anything stupid. The more she thought about what had happened, the more off it had seemed. It wasn't just an ordinary capture, there was something else going on. There had been a fair few people involved in her fight, but just her on her own side. Outnumbered, she had been. Outnumbered and outclassed, as embarrassing as it was. And there had been someone standing in that group who had looked like her, who had let herself get hit. The suspicious one. The faker. Something was very very wrong and there was nothing she could do about it.

It was a nice car with nice seats, Erskine's car. Mist stood at the side of the road as he examined the seat she had been sitting on. "Is there much point still going to the scan then?" He asked quietly, stepping away. The seat was covered in blood.
"Call them. Ask."
"Are you okay?"
She shrugged.
"Because some people deal really badly with...with miscarriage..."
Yeah, and you sound pretty matter-of-fact about it. You hardly care. She spat these thoughts in her head but only shrugged on the outside. He came over and hugged her and she let him. After a few minutes he called up the clinic they had been heading to about the problem they'd encountered. They'd made the appointment under the names Angela and Niall O'Rourke. They walked the rest of the way to the clinic, apparently still needing the scan to make sure it was a miscarriage and everything was gone.

The girl chained to the wall glared as Mevolent himself approached. "You've been here before, haven't you?"
"I don't know what you mean. It would be nice if you could let me go, though. I have a medical appointment to make."
"Looks like you'll have to reschedule. We'd like to talk to you."
"About my new doppelgänger?"
"Quite. You've figured that out already then?"
"Everyone will be able to tell the difference."
"Acacia is a very good mimic. One of our best. She's the height of professionalism, and no-one will ever be any the wiser."
"There are some things she'll have trouble mimicking."
"Yes, and she'll find them out and deal with them herself. As I said, she's very good. No-one will come to rescue you. Friends, family, colleagues, they'll all be convinced you're right there. But we have more pressing matters to discuss."
"I guess I'm not in any position to refuse."

~*~*~*~

((...Several times I wanted to cancel this chapter and compress all the vital bits into other chapters, but something always stopped me...plus this chapter has vital stuff...and I told you I'd use the alias Niall O'Rourke again! Boom!...God, I regret killing all those French people...and non-French people I killed in France...and Fred Mould...I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! I MISS THEM!!! *Le sob*...randomness there...))

Zafira Kerias: Traitors and Traitors Alike

The day was cold. Zafira felt her insides chill. The detectives had come and investigated the footprints. Apparently footprints in front of the Grand Mage's house isn't the best. Detective Allure came over to her. Allure was pretty with blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. She was an Elemental and one of Zafira's best detectives since Vinette Riddle. Allure spoke,
"Grand Mage, we believe the footprints belong to Niccolo Croatoan. " Zafira nearly screamed,
"What?! Why why why...." She stammered. Then closed her eyes counting to ten to calm herself. She opened them,
"Okay thank you so much." She smiled and Allure left. Javier looked up from his iPod
"Well that sucks." He told her and walked over hugging her.
"Niccolo won't hurt you Zaf. Mevolent controls the man if he wanted you dead you'd be..." He trailed off unsure what to say. Zafira nodded. She needed a plan. First she needed to kill Serephia. And then get into Dublin and kick the crap out of Mevolent.
"Okay I need to kick the crap out of Mevolent." She decided. Javier smiled,
"I thought you would. Wouldn't you like to find Niccolo first?" He asked. She nodded but didn't reply much.
"Then we find him on our way we kill him?" Zafira nodded
"Lets." And the two sat down and planned.

A while later they found themselves in Ireland. They snuck through Dublin trying to find the place where they were looking for. Baron Vengeous appeared.
"Well well well look who I found. Zafira Kerias and Javier Fyreheart." The Redhoods with him grabbed the two. Zafira struggled until they handcuffed her. It took three Redhoods to subdue her. Javier was quiet and furious. He didn't speak. Vengeous grinned and led them to Mevolent. They walked through the castle into the throne room. Upon entering Vengeous grabbed Zafira and put a knife to her neck forcing her to kneel before Mevolent. Every instinct in her told her to flip. But her magic was bound and the Baron would easily kill her. Mevolent looked at them shock shown in his expression.
"You found them." He said simply. He looked at Zafira then Javier. After a while he spoke.
"Put them with the other prisoners. Make sure the Grand Mage doesn't escape." Vemgeous nodded and took Zafira and forced her up and to the dungeons. Javier behind her. They passed Serephia Jackson and Zafira fought against the Redhoods and tried to lunge for Serephia. Vengeous cut her across the cheek and Zafira cried out feeling the wet sticky blood on her cheek. Vengeous grabbed her again and kept the knife to her neck until he put her and Javier in a cell. He left them there. Javier knelt beside his wife.
"Zaf hush we can handle this." The shackles on Javier were off as the cell was bound. But Zafira's weren't taken off at all. Javier pulled her close. She looked up and didn't speak. Fear evident.