Aretha Tesla/Death Rose: The Longest Chapter Ever Part 3

Dreams meant nightmares. Death was racing through every horrid memory she had, being forced to watch what had happened to her friends and herself. Every new relived memory made her want to scream. She needed to.

Ian being tortured, Ren being murdered, her mother's screams, all of her friend's deaths. The sight was excruciating. Her breathing speed up and became shallow. "Kill me!" She screamed but her Serpine, who had been torturing her friend just grinned at her. "Get me out of here!" She begged.

"Death!" I yelled for the umpteenth time, shaking my friend awake. "Sorry," I muttered when her eyes snapped open, "You were screaming..." I took a sharp breath, and kept talking. She still wouldn't be able to move, but she could hear me and respond, and that was all I needed. "Death... You're one of the most amazing people I've ever met. Don't argue," I added quickly, knowing she'd want to, "Just listen and try to accept it. You are straight-up amazing, and nothing you say or do can convince me otherwise. And there is a way out. It will get better, I promise." Silent tears streaked down my face. "Niccolò and I- we'll make it better. Ok? Just don't-" My voice broke. I took a deep breath, wiped the tears away, and kept going. "Don't do this to yourself. Niccolò went to get Ian- you probably know what that means better than I do- and we'll take things from there. We can help you. But you have to help yourself, too. Give yourself a chance.

Her jaw felt like dropping. The little amount of movement Death could do would allow it. "Ian? Why would he? He's dead..." Tears flooded her eyes again. "There's no point. He's as dead as I want to be. Dead. Dead. Dead." She looked up at Ari. "I won't argue but I don't agree. I'm my worst enemy and enemies want to kill each other." She looked away and avoided her gaze. "What's Bob's real name?"

For a moment I looked at her quizzically. "Bob...? Oh, you mean Niccolò, don't you? That guy who helped break you out of your cell? Yeah, his name is Niccolò Croatoan. He's, um... Well, he can be cruel, but he's not really like that- it's- complicated..." I let out a sigh, and took a seat on the bed next to Death. "Anyway, even if Ian is dead, Niccolò never does anything without a reason- I'm sure he has a plan." Then, after a moment of hesitation, I added, "Why'd you think his name was Bob?"

Death pursed her lips. Where had she heard that name before? It rang with something too dark to be good. "I called him that because Bob Hitler was the name I used to see him in the medical place when Ren and I saved him." She bit her lip and laughed quietly. "Did you know I had to pretend Ren was my boyfriend for that? He is so gross!" She was trying to get Aretha off the topic of her suicide and bad memories.

I laughed weakly- it was forced. Death was obviously trying to change the subject, and as much as I wanted to talk everything out with her, it was not in my nature to push her past her comfort zone. "Really? I thought you guys were all friends and everything."

Death smiled and tried to move her fingers. "We kinda are but we had to hold hands! And then he was being gross!" She tried to shudder but was unable. She screwed her lips up. "Ren came to save me after I committed suicide. I jumped off a cliff and then was captured by a Necromancer who was in Ian's body, named Diablo." She sighed. "Hell I miss that sun of a God."

And in just fewer than ten seconds, I was rendered completely speechless again. However, I was spared from any form of conversation- or thoughts at all, really- by the sudden arrival of Ian and Niccolò. The latter looked weaker than I had ever seen him- a sheen of sweat covered his face, and from the way he stumbled forward the moment he showed up in the room it was obvious that he could barely stand upright.

He had one hand against a chair and it was painfully obvious that that was the only thing separating him from the ground. But none of that was as bad as when he looked up at me, his eyes gleaming with a cold glee even stronger than Mevolent's when he had been torturing me. "Hello, love," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, and then his eyes closed and he fell to the floor, unconscious.

I ran over to his side, not really caring that he wasn't himself- he was unconscious, anyway. Quickly, though, I realized there was nothing for me to do but wait for him to wake up, so I looked back to where Ian stood- the real Ian, very much alive. No wonder Niccolò was so exhausted. How on Earth had he managed that? Then I realized- now that he's out, Death should be able to move again. "Death..." I murmured, not sure whether or not that was even loud enough for her to hear, "He did it..."

Death was frozen. Ian... He was alive... He was in the room with her. She glanced at Niccolo ready to say a thank you but he fell to the floor. "Aretha, thank you for killing me." She said and sat up add Niccolo dropped to the floor.

She bolted across the room and looked at him. Her hands hovered over him until she decided to roll him into his side. She'd done that a few times when Rohan had an epileptic seizure.

She ripped off her larger coat and placed it under his head. Death placed her hand in his forehead and looked at Ian. "You don't know me but trust me. Get into his head. Now!"

He nodded. "Okay." His voice made her shiver. "I'm in." Ian stumbled but regained his footing.

Death looked at Ari. "Do you have any idea what just happened?"

My initial concern at her 'thank you for killing me' was quickly wiped away by concern for Niccolo. "I think he's just exhausted. I've never seen him bring someone back who had been dead for so long..." I bit my lip. "But that's just what I think. I mean, it would explain the collapsing and the way he lost control of himself- it's hard for him to fight all of his names at once. Really hard. And he's strong- the strongest I've ever seen- but one time he brought me back from the edge of death, and he was just a little tired. Just a little, but even a little is a lot for him. So something like this was probably just too much." My voice had been quickening involuntarily as I spoke. "It could be just that. But... It also might be something worse... I just don't know..." I trailed off, then realized that Ian was inside his head. "Um, Ian, as long as he's not going to die, I recommend you don't stay in his head- it's probably very bad for you..."

Ian did as the girl instructed. Niccolo was twisted and exhausted and going to be fine. for the first time in a while, he contemplated becoming a doctor. He could tell when someone was lying, what their problem was and more. It would be so easily simple. He looked to where the other girl was, kneeling next to Niccolo and his brows pulled together. He dipped into her mind.

Agony, heartbreak, regret and anger greeted him. So he's here. He doesn't know me. I want it to be like it was, before Valentine's Day. Is it ever going to be there? Nic, right. He is the current situation. So, Rohan never swallowed his tongue like that. Ian took a mental step backwards. God.

Death looked up as she felt something leave her mind. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Ian. He looked back at her with a casual expression. She got up slowly and stared at Niccolo. Are you okay? She thought and didn't expect an answer. No answer was given. She turned to Ari. "Okay. So... I am no doctor. Only doctor I know is Nye and i don't like him. So, unless you want to call someone, we leave him and keep him hydrated. Food is not as important as water. Water is good, water is great, now lets all dehydrate!" She looked around and saw Ian still had his backpack on under his grey suit jacket. She ratted through it until she found a drink bottle.

"What are you doing?" Ian asked wearily.

Death smirked. "Saving him from  the opposite of my name!"

I stood and moved to take the bottle from Death, just a little closer to her than I needed to be. "It's ok, I can handle this," I said aloud, sounding more confident than I felt. Then, too softly for Ian to hear, I added, "I think you two have some catching up to do. I've got this."

Death bit her lip and shot a glance at Ian over her shoulder. "I wish it was that simple." She whispered. "We have to start all over again..." She took a step back and sat on the bed. Hiding behind her hair, she looked at Ian. Come for a walk with me, she thought and turned to walk out the door. "Be back soon Ari!"

Death Rose/Niccolo Croatoan: The Longest Chapter Ever Part 2

Aretha left and as she closed the door, Death's legs gave out from under her. "I know I shouldn't trust you, hell, I shouldn't trust anyone..." Her voice caught and the tears started to flow. "No one can help me. No one!" She didn't know why she had started yelling, she wasn't angry, she was scared. "Why do you think I trust you? I'm hoping that you'll kill me or use it against my will! I'm hoping that I bloody die!" She banged her head into the ground. "Ian isn't Ian, Ren is me, my little brother is being held as ransom, my foster father is going to kill me! There is nothing left for this damn misfit!" She flung herself onto her back but there wasn't pain. "I didn't tell Ari that I punched Mevolent in the face because I wanted to be tortured because she'd get sad or flip. I need to bloody feel again..." She started sobbing with her hands on her face.

Niccolò didn't know what he had been expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. He quickly knelt beside her on the ground. "Ok, ok.Take a deep breath, if you can manage it. Try to calm down," he coaxed, "Just breathe." It made him feel guilty as Hell, but he figured it was better than making her relive everything as she explained, so he leafed through her foremost memories for the details. "Don't be so sure that noone can help you." He paused for a minute, searching for the right words,then continued.

"If you'll let me, I might be able to do something.I'll get your brother for you if you can tell me where he is, for one thing,and I can put you and Ren back into your proper bodies, for another. I'll need a bit of time but I could manage it, easily. Would you like that?" And maybe I can bring Ian back, too, he thought to himself, but didn't say it out loud.That was a long shot, and the last thing she needed was false hope, so for the moment he'd stick to things he knew he could deliver on.

Death rolled away from Bob. She tried to breathe but her lungs were to constricted and she was breathing into the carpet. "Just...Don't. I don't know where he is, even if you did," she hiccupped,"Diablo's there and Rohan knows about magic. Ren has ran off. Do you have a knife by any chance?" She hoped he didn't see her plan of dying again.She really wanted to stop her life, be eradicated from everyones' minds."Just kill me. Please." She rolled back over, suffocation failed, and looked him right in his eyes. "Please."

He felt tears beginning to pool in his eyes. Actual tears.Sharp, stinging pains shot up his neck, but he was used to them by now. Anytimehe felt things, it hurt. But his concern was Death. Niccolò had wanted to diebefore. Hell, he wanted to die right then. The only reason he was still aroundwas because all the names he had stolen always took over before he could die.Eventually he'd stopped trying.

But Death was different. She had a whole life ahead if her.And seeing her so willing, so desperate to throw it away? "No." Hisvoice was still soft, but left no room for argument. "You're not dying onmy watch." He stared right back into her eyes and after a moment, her bodywent limp, though she was still perfectly conscious. He lifted her easily andlaid her on the bed, then took a few steps backwards and leaned against thewall across from her. "I know how it is to want to give up," he toldher, his eyes dark and intense- for half a second all 564 years of his lifewere clearly visible in his face- "But you don't have to."

Death tried to move, to get up and pull her shoelaces out tomake a noose; she'd done it before. "I do. I honestly do. I'm trapped inthis dark void that- it's more like quicksand actually. The more I struggle,the further I sink. When I met you in the darkness the first time, I had noidea what was happening. If I was there now, if cross over to the otherside." She started to hold her breath. Soon enough, the dark spots dancedacross her vision. She felt lightheaded and happy. Maybe this would work, maybeshe'd not pull through this time. She hoped that she wouldn't.

Quickly he realized whet she was doing and stopped her thefastest way he knew how- she was asleep in seconds. Breathing, after all, isinvoluntary, and if she's not conscious to control it her body will breathe onits own. Knowing her sleep would last for a while, he let himself sink to thefloor and focused on reinforcing the mental barriers he'd placed in himself,trying very, very hard to not think about the pain.

I walked through the door to find Death asleep on the bed,and Niccolò in a crumpled heap on the floor, breathing hard. I ran to theground beside him and rubbed his shoulder until his breaths had slowed again.'I'm going out to find Ian' he spoke in my mind, still lacking enough breathfor speech. 'Watch her- don't let her kill herself.' "Ok," I answeredsimply, pushing back my shock at the fact that was serious. "Make sure youcome back." And then he disappeared.

Aretha Tesla/Death Rose: The Longest Chapter Ever Part 1

For a while I poked at random places along the wall- then I realized that Niccolo could probably figure it out better than I could even if he didn't remember, so I decided to check out the cells that lined the walls instead. Clearly, Mevolent hadn't had any trouble filling his castle with prisoners. I felt an overwhelming need to save everyone- they were all so terrified, and I'd been though it too- but I had to admit that it would be impossible, and if they were caught escaping they would be tortured even more. If I saw someone I recognized, though... I knew it wasn't fair, but one person would be manageable, so I skimmed through the faces of those suffering and dying- and in some cases, already dead- for someone I might know.

Death heard someone coming towards her cell she had returned to. She had come to see if her father was alright after his attack and had found it empty. The shoe she had used to prop the door open had been ineffective and the door had closed. She found it as a suitable punishment for what she'd done.

She raced to the door, tripping over his discarded shoe -she hadn't been bothered enough to put it back on - and looked out. A girl was walking down the corridor. A girl who's face showed compassion above what was necessary. Aretha Tesla. But, two things stood in her way from her joy. Number One, Aretha was being controlled by Mevolent, Number Two, she wouldn't recognize Death in the body she was currently wearing. "Ari! Aretha Tesla! Come here now!" She shouted with a wicked grin.

At the sound of my  name I gasped and took a few quick steps backwards, staring into the cell at a face I couldn't recognize. "Um... Hi?" I replied hesitantly, but didn't approach. "Sorry, do I know you?"

Death grinned at sighed. "You know me, well. We're friends. I'm a daughter of a psychopath with a red hand!" She looked at Ari and noticed how dishevelled she looked. "What happend?" Something looked off about her... Something that wasn't there the last time they'd met; that day she died. She looked like her normal self. Her passion was back and her voice was full of feeling. "You're not under Mev's control anymore!" She geeky like hugging her old friend but the bar prohibited it.

My eyes flashed with recognition, and then I was racing towards the bars. "Death!" I exclaimed in delight. "Yeah, I broke the binding spell. So, that was exciting. Just recently, though, I was attacked by a vampire- but it's somewhere else now, so that's fine. What about you? How did you end up in there?" I meant to ask about the new body and the cell, but it kind of morphed into one.

Death grinned as Ari recognized her. "That is epic, Ari. And the vampire bit... Yeah, I have a feeling that was because of me. I told someone to get Dusk." She huffed a little in embarrassment. "You won't believe this but, I died twice, got a new father and found out that Ian was a Necromancer!" That was all over the course of a month, she had to admit that was pretty cool. "And I kinda punched a certain evil torturer in the face..." She laughed happily. "Ah, my life is fun!" She looked at her shoe and picked it up. "This is what they call a doorstop. A very faulty door stop. Serpine came in here and then I kinda, uh, knocked him out and broke his knee and escaped, talked to Mara for a bit and then came back into here to check on foster-daddy!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her synopsis. I would definitely have task some questions later, but for now, they could wait. "It's great to see you again, and I can't tell you how happy I am that you're not dead." I admitted, just as Niccolò appeared behind me again.

"Right, so when were you going to tell me about the detective on our tail?" Surprisingly, there was only the slightest hint of irritation in his voice- he sounded more amused than anything else. I opened my mouth to explain, but he stole the words before I had a chance. "Yes, I know, you were getting to that. And this is..." He trailed off, staring at Pure with a certain curiosity, "Death Rose. Pleasure to see you in one piece."

Then he shifted his weight slightly, and the floor opened up just in front of him, revealing some sort of secret compartment. "So that's where it is," he mused, lifting something out of the floor and fitting it into his coat. "Time to go?" He said it as a question, directed towards me. He was actually asking whether or not I was ready, instead of just running off with me. Niccolò was polite when he wasn't a sadistic murderer. I looked to Death, passing the question off to her with my eyes. I wouldn't leave without her.

Death couldn't help herself, she laughed. It was Bob Hitler, leather coat and all. She hadn't seen him since before the breakup with Diablo! "Hi! It is nice to be in one piece, better if I was in my old self though..." Bob said a few things that she didn't catch and then Aretha looked at with a question in her eyes.

"Time to go?"

Death blinked a few times then shrugged. "Both dads are going to kill me anyway so... Prolong my much awaited third death or go with my friend and my friend's crazy associate?" She pretended to ponder the question for a while, just to annoy them and then shrugged. "Either one seems fine!"

I shot a sidelong glance at Niccolò, and he got to work picking the lock on the cell. 30 seconds later, the bars swung open. "Alright," he said, "If we're going to leave, it has to be now." He added in my head, 'I don't know how much longer I can last.'

I nodded. "Did you get the sensitive?" A curt nod served as his response- I could tell he was trying to hide pain. "Then let's get out of here. Death?" I linked my left arm through his, and extended my right to Death.

Death nodded wearily at Bob as a 'thank you' and grabbed Aretha's hand. Bob looked... Strange so she tried not to think, just in case he was a Sensitive. He probably wasn't but he could've been. The Sensitives that she'd known were Ian and Ren. Ian... She sighed in her mind. Why? Why did you have to be him. Why did you turn into him. Why couldn't you be you...? Her free hand pushed into her right eye to stop the tear that threatened to escape. "No crying now," she breathed and gripped Ari's hand tighter.

I felt Death squeeze my hand, and gave a light squeeze back. I got the impression that she was really sad, but couldn't pinpoint why. But I didn't like pushing people- I decided if she wanted to tell me, she would, and I would just make sure to be there.

I blinked, and then we were standing in the rickety little hotel room I'd called home for the past few days. I gave Death's hand one more squeeze, then stepped away from the both of the, and took a deep breath. My heart rate was still above normal. "Ok, I'm going to take a walk- get some air, maybe pick up a few things." Niccolò's eyes were pleading, but I had somewhere to go and couldn't let him come with me. "I'll be back soon," I said to appease him, "And you'll be ok."

After I had left, Niccolò turned to Death. He wasn't sure how much longer he could last as himself, but he would take advantage of what time he had. "Are you all right?" He asked her gently, his voice soft and genuine. "You have no reason to trust me or speak to me, I know, but if you want to talk about... Something," he resisted the urge to say 'Ian'- she had been thinking a little too loudly- "I'll listen. Maybe there's something I can do to help."

Zafira Kerias: Alexis

( okay before I even write let me explain this to you. The 9 months of pregnancy was sped up by one of the Sanctuary doctors because for me it helps a lot for plans. I'm currently in the same time as everyone else but I decided to leave details of the speeding up process and birth out because it wasn't natural birth. So yeah. Just so we all now understand. And the baby doesnt have a surname because Javier and Zaf are
sorcerers. )

Zafira held her child close to her. It felt strange to know the little one who was in her is here. The doctors were afraid that Mevolent would attack her and she'd lose the child so after a full blown argument and a lot of Javier pleading with her she had agreed to allow the 9 month process to be sped up. She was in the Medical Bay recovering from the birth. But her little one was happy. Javier stood close to Zafira keeping watch.
"Oh have you thought of a name for her yet?" Javier asked. Zafira nodded.
"Alexis." Zafira told him. Javier smiled and looked at his two girls,
"Alexis. I like it. She won't have a surname correct?"
"She'll have a taken one when she is old enough to take a name." Zafira smiled. She would be allowed to go soon. Throughout the day mages had come to visit the newborn. Half the time Alexis slept with her head resting above Zafira's heart. Nobody really minded that she slept. Zafira was to go home for a few weeks to watch Alexis but she was still working from home. She refused to stop. In war a lot was possible. Alexis woke up again and started to cry. After a few minutes of rocking she calmed down and went back to looking at Javier. Javier smiled and tickled her chin,
"Someone likes looking at her daddy." He teased her. Zafira laughed and Alexis was still looking at him. Zafra felt the little head on her chest again and soon Alexis slept. Javier took her and placed their little one in her crib thing. Zafira smirked and Javier sat at Zafira's feet. One of the doctors came in,
"If the stitches on your stomach aren't infected you can go home." She said and checked the stitches. After a minute the doctor gave the okay and Zafira gently picked up Alexis. Javier held Zafira's arm and she shadow walked home. Alexis had her own room but for now they set her up in their own room until she slept most of the night. Javier was quiet and once they sat down he held Zafira in his arms.
"I'm proud to have two lovely ladies." He murmured. Zafira smiled
"Oh as am I Javier."

Mevolent looked closely at Serephia.
"She had the baby. Excellent. Now we can take the child and raise it against the parents. Better then killing Zafira in my opinion." He sounded pleased. Anything to make the Necromancer fall. He wouldn't eat the child. If he didn't get the child then he'd eat it. Well when he got near it.

Jayla sat in the cell waiting mad. She was in a cell and apparently to be questioned when the Grand Mage returned. Jayla didn't like the cell. But she had a secret nobody else knew. Carved on the base of her spine was a dainty little symbol. Very old one. In the cell a mage would have their magic bound but not Jayla. She figured Sanguine was smart to not have his magic bound. When the guy came with food Jayla overtook him and ran. Easily escaping the building. Now where was Kerias' home?

Dinner was a lovely affair. Javier made steak and Alexis was awake through it all as Zafira ate holding the baby. Alexis was quiet amazingly and pretty well behaved. Then as Javier held her she started crying. Zafira smiled,
"Change her diaper." She told Javier. Looking horrified at the thought he took his daughter and attempted to change the diaper. Zafira timed it. A half hour. And he came out holding Alexis with a clean diaper. Zafira took her daughter.
"Javier how did it go?" She asked.
"Alexis peed on me." He mumbled. He went and scrubbed his hands. Zafira burst out laughing. Little Alexis closed her eyes and soon fell fast asleep. Zafira put her upstairs and came down. Javier looked horrified. Smiling Zafira sat by him.

Jayla called the Baron. She knew he was in New York.
"Look I'm literally outside her house." After a brief conversation he agreed to join her in the attack. Jayla waited in a tree patiently. The Baron had twenty men with him. Jayla knew Zafira wouldn't have anyone besides Javier. That would be the fun part. After a while the Baron came and they broke into the house. Oh the joys.

Zafira heard the crash. She ran from her seat beside Javier and came to see Jayla. Jayla punched but Zafira dodged and ran. Javier tackles Jayla and a lot of screaming was heard. Zafira called in for back up. In the community mages always helped one another. In a matter of minutes there were fourteen helping them. The battle was outside at least. Zafira went into her room to grab a sword. Baron Vengeous was trying to get Alexis.
"NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU B***!!!!!!!" She screamed and her instincts kicked in. She ran at him with her sword and sent shadows flinging at him. Two of Zafira's friends heard her scream and ran up to help Zafira. She was on fire. The Baron easily dodged the shadows and grabbed Zafira by the throat cutlass cutting into her. He slammed her into the wall where she crumpled. The twins who came up to help summoned fire and threw at him. One grazed him but he ignored it. His eyes flashed yellow. Taking the idea the twins led him from the room. Zafra shakily stood and looked at Alexis. Asleep. She ran after the twins into the backyard. The twins kept sending as much fire as they could at the Baron. He dodged most of it and his eyes flashed yellow and bits of one twin flew everywhere. The surviving twin charged and ran at him engaging him in a sword battle. Zafira climbed her tree and sent shadows at him slicing his hand. The twin kept attacking and the Baron kept it up. Suddenly white hot pain shot through Zafira's mind and she fell from her tree. Jayla grinned and pushed Zafira onto her back with her foot. The battle was raging but Jayla smiled wickedly.
"Grand Mage." She laughed. Pain shot through Zafira's mind again. Zafira fought against it but it didn't work. She heard a scream and saw brains fly past. The other twin ruptured. The Baron came over.
"Go Jayla I can take care of the Grand Mage." He said. Jayla left and Zafira managed to stand up. There was obvious signs Vengeous had been injured. He took out his cutlass again.
"I promised Mevolent if I got you I'd kill you and let it last. Maybe if you survive we'll give you to Niccolo." He said. Zafira summoned a fist full of shadows that sent him flying. She picked up her sword and ran after him slicing at him and actually making contact. Furious he cut her leg with his cutlass but she sent more shadows after him. He picked up a knife from one of the twins and sent it into her non-sword hand. Zafira screamed in pain and ripped it from her hand. The Baron laughed and soon found himself with a knife lodged in his own hand.
"Just because I'm Grand Mage does not mean i won't kill you." She told him. She used the shadows to pin him to a tree. She moved forward shadows flowing around her. The Baron knew what she could do as she knew her true name. This was magic he couldn't fight. Even if he tried. As she moved closer he stabbed her in the stomach with his cutlass. She fell to her knees. She looked up at him.
"Revenge..." She gasped. The shadows were weakening that pinned him. If he held her off-
Zafira sent shadows knives inside him. Killing him instantly. She fell onto her back panting. She was losing way too much blood. Jayla came back and screamed. Soon everyone friend and enemy had gathered around.
"Oh my god....General Vengeous is dead!" Someone shouted. Javier knelt beside his wife. Zafira looked at him.
"Take your dead." Javier snapped at Jayla. Not needing to be told twice they took Vengeous. Someone muttered
"How do we tell Mevolent and Death?" The group left for Ireland. Javier nodded to a Teleporter.
"Get her to the Sanctuary." He ordered.

Jayla stood before Mevolent.
"Master....before you kill me. Uhm Baron Vengeous is dead." She said. Mevolent looked stunned.
"Who...killed him?" He asked. He sounded stunned too.
"Zafira Kerias. It looked like he nearly killed her. She was laying in a pool of blood. His cutlass pierced her." She explained. Mevolent sighed.
"Now we get to tell Death...I can only hope we survive that."

Zafira woke in the Sanctuary. She sat up and then it hit her.
"Oh my god....I killed Baron Vengeous." She said aloud. Javier nodded.
"Yes you did. If we all survive this war that battle will be talked about. He got you good though. If you hadn't gone all Justaria on him he would have killed you. And Alexis is fine. We can go home." He promised her. Taking her in his arms she focused and shadow walked them home. A nice pile of work was ready for Zafira to sort through. Javier went upstairs to get Alexis. Something stuck out from the pile. Zafira took it and examined it.
"I can cure the nightmares." It read with a phones number. Zafira pocketed it. She'd e calling the person. And fast.

Harrison: To Those Who Bleed

The Australian Mage awoke with a groan. Someone was beside him, stroking his hair. It was rather comforting, he had to admit. Kat was there and he was alive and it was all going to be okay. He tried to sit up and an intense pain shot through his abdomen. He fell back with a cry and heard a chorus of mechanical beeps. He cracked one eye open. "Am I in a hospital?"
"Ah, Tony. You're awake." There was a doctor, or maybe a nurse, standing over him. Ekaterina was sat beside the bed, smiling softly. Harrison mouthed 'Tony?' to her, frowning. She gave an apologetic smile. He ignored everything the doctor said and said he understood at the right time, then asked what was going on to Kat.
"Well, that ginger nutter stabbed you and we didn't have a healer, so we brought you to a hospital and now you're vaguely better."
"Vaguely?"
"It wouldn't be a good idea to leave here for you right now." She admitted, eyes downcast.
"We had a job to do! I'm the only one Fred trusts, I have to do it!"
"Trusted, and no, Harrison, you don't."
"I'm the only one who can-"
"It doesn't matter."
"It's important, Kat."
She shook her head. "The doctor said that if you leave you'd die. You can't."
"Bring in Wylie. I have research that really needs to be done."
"Can't you take it easy just this once?"
"Only if you want Mevolent to win."
"We'll help you-"
"No!...Uh, no...it's sort of personal..." She looked a little hurt but didn't press any further. He rushed her to leave him to it once she'd brought Wylie over as discreetly as he could. Again he managed to offend her, but again she made no comment.

-----

Arduous glared at the two men digging the hole at the cemetery. "Hurry up." He snapped, rubbing his arms for warmth. The grave they'd targeted was that of a man named Lorcan Mulrennan, although the given surname was inaccurate. He had been buried with something in his pocket. Something a man in the Czech Republic needed. Bonifac Vada-Kaz was the Grand Mage there now and he needed his power, but it was found firstly that Rasputin was still alive and secondly that the ring was in possession of a dead member of what used to be Mevolent's lower generals, only one of the originals of which still remained.
"Okay, done!" one of the men called. Arduous moved over and repressed a shudder at the sight of the corpse. He was the doctor after all. "Serpine said to bring the body back and all. He's been looking at his notes on resurrection. He wants to run a few experiments, see if they can do things the way his son did with that Baron Vengeous. They heaved the body out of the grave and went hunting in the pockets. One man gave a triumphant yell and held Bonifac's ring aloft. Arduous grinned and gave a sharp nod, helping to guide the men carrying the body into the truck. They sped off into the night, leaving the grave defiled.

Mr Twist walked to the grave the next day. When he saw the state of it, he frowned, deeply troubled, and returned home. Niamh began nattering away instantly.
"Well welcome home. Nice to see you and all. God, that vampire girl we have here is a right madame. Where've you been anyway? You were going to give that bandaged thingy to that Absurd guy, so wh-"
"Absurd is dead!"
She froze. "Wasn't...wasn't he Darren's brother?" Twist nodded. "Oh...I really liked him...he was nice...and a lot more confident than Mr Shadow..."
"I'm going back to Mevolent's castle."
She looked dismayed. "No, Addie! Please no!"
"I have my reasons. Important ones. Niamh, I'm sorry...I'll take the vampire with me if you want. I have to do something...they have Esra's sister again, they've killed each and every one of my friends and now? Now they've dug up my best friend's grave and..." He paused a moment to compose himself. His wife was not talking, a miracle in itself. He didn't doubt the next step would be to physically stop him leaving. He opened his mouth to speak again, but she cut him off.
"My brother's in there somewhere. I liked some of your friends. Mr Shadow, Mr Motionless, Mr Sunshine...they were nice. Charming blokes, treated others with respect...didn't like Motionless' unfortunate choice to join the Church of the Faceless, of course, but they were the best. I miss your friends a lot. I don't want them to be dead. I want whoever killed them to pay. But I don't want you to join that number as well."
"I won't, I promise."
"They might kill you on sight!"
"The way they know it, I was sort of kidnapped as a half-blind guide out of the castle by a massive number of prisoners I had no hope of beating. I left against my will and my return should be welcomed. I'll be fine, I promise."
She enveloped him in a tight hug. "Okay. For Esra, Erin and Darren."
"And Jerry, Abla and Midnight."
"Them too...take the vampire."

------

Daemon stretched with a yawn as Sierra, Robyn and Andeep argued quietly in the corner. They had been in the old Necromancer temple again when she had come to them. She interrupted lazily with a "You girls done yet? Like I said, I'm looking for someone. I need to find him urgently."
Sierra fixed a glare onto her face. "You have some nerve, Scaroe."
"Uh huh. Anyway, Austin's a friend of mine, he's got that nasty charm thingy, you wanted to destroy it. You help me, you get something out of it."
Sierra frowned. "Where do you think he's gone?"
"There were a couple of other Necromancers. English. We think he was taken by them. I think they were from the same temple as him."
Andeep frowned. "The blonde guy with the magic coat?"
Daemon smirked at the description and nodded. "Yeah, growing a beard as well. Smells really bad. Seen him recently?"
The redhead shook her head. "Uh, no...not since he and his friends attacked me and Rob..."
Sierra sighed. "Okay...so...Robyn, you're a Necromancer. What do you know about those in the English temple?"
She shrugged. "A Crystalline Noon is High Priestess. Utter cow. Hate her. I know where to find her right now."
"Excellent. Daemon, it certainly looks like we can help you."

-----

Hibernia, Scaramouch and Ekaterina returned to the hospital to visit Harrison, have a conversation with him. They stepped through the front doors and it seemed oddly deserted and there was an unpleasant smell hanging in the air. Hibernia mumbled something about feeling sick and she and her sister went to find the loos. Scaramouch ambled up to the front desk, leaned over and saw the bodies. His eyes widened as he stumbled back. He opened his mouth to call to the girls but thought better of it. If the killer was still there, they would find him and know the girls were both there. Instead he backed away from the corpses and went in the direction he thought the girls had gone. He reached an intersection and wasn't sure which way to go, so went to see if Harrison was still in his bed.

Hibernia and Ekaterina had found some more bodies anyway. It seemed every patient, visitor and worker there that day had been brutally murdered. They were moving quietly and cautiously.

Harrison wasn't in his bed and Scaramouch was able to recognise some of the corpses marks. Harrison had killed some of these men. It was the same smooth yet brutal method Fred had used.

None of the bodies was Harrison. He had disappeared. He was gone when he was still seriously injured, risking his life for an unknown reason.The girls joined him, noticed Harrison wasn't in his bed and stated they hadn't seen him among the bodies. "This is not good." Ekaterina mumbled, "Not good at all." She could feel the power in the room. They all could. Massive levels of power remained here. Massive levels of power and lots of blood.

((Nemone was looking at the members of 1D and realised she would never ever be able to choose between them if she ever had to. Also Harrison mystery. I bring him back in and instantly get an idea for an epic storyline.))

Zafira Kerias: Mind Tricks

Zafira glanced at the boy in the interview room. His name was David. The boy was supposed to experience the Surge soon. She was prepared for that.
"David you are in a serious amount of trouble. None of your interviewers got anything out of you. They send me to ask you stuff. It is NOT my job. Do you even know who I am?" She asked. David shrugged,
"Another idiot detective." He told her. He looked unaware of how stupid he was acting. Zafira glared at him,
"Grand Mage Zafira Kerias." Recognition registered in his face. She pressed on,
"You realize now don't you. You attacked me last night. Surely you know the laws. Assault on a Sanctuary agent. An Elder. Yeah you messed up there. So now cooperate with interviewers and I won't come into your life." She said. The kid nodded and she left the room allowing the interviewers to go in. That will end well she hoped. She only hoped he wasnt a nut. Well she knew the kid had to work for Mevolent. Not a good thing at all. Javier stepped beside her.
"Grand Mage." He said looking calm. She turned to him looking confused. Javier rarely goes to the Sanctuary because of his fear of arrest. Even though the laws keep him safe as his victims killed themselves.
"Javier whats up? You dont come here often." Javier smiled shyly and led her to her office.
"Zaf you are going to probably have a melt down. I figured out the whole thing about the boys. Jayla she's a girl who is a Sense Warden. She works under Mevolent." He told her. Zafira nodded.
"Sense Wardens are bad news." She muttered. Javier nodded and left.

The night came and then Zafira went to Javier. He was now home and hugged her. The two just barely managed to break apart when a girl dressed in white broke in. She smiled.
"Javier Zafira what a lovely couple!" She laughed. Javier's hand twitched. Zafira got her knife,
"Who are you?" Zafira demanded. The girl smiled wider,
"Jayla." She told her. Jayla looked at Zafira and suddenly Zafira felt as if someone was in her head like burning it. Javier growled soemthing and Jayla retreated from Zafira's mind. Jayla held back Javier's attacks on her mind. She focused on Zafira. The little voice of Justaria broke out in Zafira's mind,
"I DONT SHARE!!!" Justaria roared at Jayla mentally. Jayla retreated again in shock. Javier took the oppurtunity and handcuffed her. Jayla struggled and Zafira ran into the kitchen and hit Jayla with a frying pan. She was out. Zafira smiled,
"Frying pans are weapons!" She defended. Javier laughed and kissed her cheek. The Cleavers came 10 minutes later and took the unconscious Jayla to the Sanctuary. Zafira was calm again.
"Least mental attacks won't hurt the baby." She muttered. Javier put his hand to her stomach.
"Good or Jayla would be dead."

Aretha Tesla: Old Friend

I sprinted down the stone gray hallways, my heart pounding. There was no pretending to be fearless. Too much could go wrong. What if- I shuddered involuntarily at the thought- Mevolent found me again? Or worse, what if Niccolo wasn't himself when I found him? What if I had detained the wrong Sensitive? I pushed the thoughts out of my mind. The 'what if's don't matter. What's happening right now does. 

Niccolo! I took a huge risk by projecting my thoughts- anyone could've heard that. Still, I thanked God that Niccolo had taught me how in case of emergencies, because by now it was looking like the only way I'd be able to contact him. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks. Pounding footsteps, sounding more like frantic gallops, were clearly audible now, and the sound grew louder and louder... And then I was sure someone heard me, because a full-fledged vampire was racing down the hall towards me.

My first instinct was to take a deep breath- the attempt to calm my flying heartbeat was in vain, but that didn't matter- and sink into a fighting stance. Vampires are fast, but that one will have a lot of momentum in this direction, and if I time it right I think I can sidestep it and jump on its back. But just as I darted off to the side the creature leaped into the air, taking me by surprise, and landed with its claws pressing down hard onto my chest. The knife I had been holding flew out of my hands and across the floor. Fat lot of good that did me- not that I was counting on it, anyway. 

In mere seconds, my situation had gone from bad, to really, really bad, to not-even-worthy-of-the-word-bad. The breath rushed out of my lungs when I hit the ground- that was a sure sign of likely defeat. I kicked upwards into the vampire's midsection- it didn't help much, but it didn't have to. I just needed it to not realize that its claws were inches away from my heart. Niccolo! I screamed again, not really caring anymore whether or not the eavesdropper was still listening. Maybe I could get out of this on my own, and maybe I would have to, but it wasn't looking too good.

Then the vampire was gone- simply vanished, right before my eyes- and in the next second Niccolo was standing in front of me, panting just as heavily as I was. I knew I shouldn't have, and I knew it wasn't anything close to safe, but I couldn't help running to close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug. And I was more than a little surprised when he returned it. "I missed you..." I whispered in between breaths, "And we need to talk."

"I know," he replied, his dark voice painfully soft, "But not here. There's something I need you to find." I felt the slightly dizzying sensation of teleportation, one I had grown quite used to over the years, and then we were at a dead end next to a row of cells. "I left something hidden for you here, but I can't tell you what it is- I blocked it from my memory. But it's important." I felt his arms around me loosen and I hugged him harder as he tried to pull away, unwilling to let him slip though my fingers again. "Don't worry," he assured me, knowing exactly what I was afraid of, "I'm just going to pick up the sensitive. I'll come back for you."

At that, I decided to let him go, and he took a couple steps away from me before looking back and adding, "But if I'm not here in 10 minutes, leave without me. Run." And then he was gone, and yet again I had to wonder if I'd ever see the real Niccolo for more than a few seconds. Still, I reminded myself, that's longer than anyone else has. And I started looking for whatever it was he had hidden for me.

Author's Note: Make note of the title- it will make sense later on. *evil laugh*