Memphis Heatwave and friends: Dreamscape Warnings

Faine had been left behind again. Justice swept her off the floor and brought her into his office as she began to cry and motioned for her to stay there while he went to get a Sanctuary operative who could actually talk to her. He left and she stopped crying, sliding herself off the desk. She took a few papers down with her, accidentally of course, and then went to explore. She pulled a few drawers out of place, squealing with delight when she found a ring of keys in one. She marched around the room jangling them and singing. "Dingle-lingle-lingle-lingle!" She hollered as she marched, eyes closed. Justice walked back in and wrenched the keys from her hands, making her go back to screaming. The Sanctuary operative sighed quietly and smiled, crouching down in front of the small child, soothing her. "Are you lost?"
She nodded. "There's a Spanish guy who looks after me. I haven't seen him in ages. I saw my mum, and then there was this guy called Anton who owned a hotel, and then a guy killed him so I went with him and his friends, then they said I was going to be put in the care of someone else, but we never reached him because I followed the killer people in here."
The man nodded. "Okay...come with me, we'll find someone to look after you, then we'll see if we can track down this Spanish man or your mother, okay?" She nodded and took the man's hand as Justice angrily set about cleaning his office up.

-----

Jasmin wasn't the only one with nightmares of the dead. It was different tonight though. It wasn't a proper nightmare for Memphis. There was even someone he didn't recognise.

Seeing he was scared, Amadeus gave a soft smile. "Hey Mem. Long time no see...for me at least. You look like you've seen a ghost." His eyebrows screwed up as though trying to frown while the rest of him smiled. Bernard shook his head.
"To him we are ghosts, Amadeus."
"Oh yeah...Mem, we're not ghosts. We're not dreams either, but we didn't know how else to reach you. We found a dead man who meddles with dreams. He can't link to just anyone...it takes something strong...did you know, dying with something belonging to someone else on your body or with something given by someone else as a gift works?" He tugged up his translucent sleeve to show a translucent arm with a translucent friendship bracelet on it. "The Aussie dude was able to link us to your dreams. Apparently the only thing we'd be interrupting would be a dream about some race cars and killer bees."
"That's what that buzzing sound was..." Memphis mumbled, realising that, though it was impossibly bright, his naked eyes didn't hurt.
"Yeah." He nodded, dark eyes shimmering. "We have something to tell you-"
"And a warning." The stranger snapped. He was Scottish.
Memphis nodded. "Okay. I doubt many people would listen to me though."
"The elders trust you implicitly." Isaac stated gently, smiling beneath his beard. "They would at least investigate any concern you have, surely. You're you, not quite the best, but certainly one of the best detectives they have."
He smiled. "You never lie, do you?"
He put a hand over his heart. "Never...well, almost never..."
The Scot looked annoyed. "There is a man heading this way. He should be in Ireland, but he's strayed from the plan. The man knows his true name. He's exploring what he now knows. He's dangerous but mustn't be hurt. He is our golden card against Mevolent."
Memphis nodded, uncertain. Bernard smiled. "Mem, Edsel's home has been destroyed, as I'm sure you're aware. Some guy called Niccolo or whatever made it...disappear...where's he been staying?"
Memphis shrugged. "Haven't seen him for a few weeks now."
"He's still alive, I know that much."
Amadeus had been staring at the floor, unsure of how to put what he had to say. Finally, he spoke. "Run."
"Pardon?" The elemental arched an eyebrow.
"Run. Take Jaime and River and run for your life. For all your lives. In less than a week, this house will be gone. Lord Vile is coming to finish what he started. Not just with you, with the whole of Boston. Get the Hell out of there. If you're not in Boston when he comes, you'll be fine. He doesn't want you specifically, he just wants to watch Boston burn...please, please get out of here! Go anywhere, just get out of Boston!"
Memphis shook his head. "This is a dream. I forget pretty much all the details of my dreams in seconds once I wake up. How do I know this is even true? How do I remember it?"
Bernard and Isaac looked solemn. Amadeus looked like he was going to start crying. Isaac stepped forward. "You have to. We'll make sure you do. We'll drum it into your head somehow. We just need to make sure you leave."
"I understand."
"It's for your own safety, and River's and Jaime's. You need to remember it."
Bernard spoke next. "Mem? Make sure Mel's okay, yeah?"
"Yeah. Bernie, don't worry. She freaked at first, but she's recovering. She's okay."
He nodded, tempted to mention his mistress. he suddenly felt like he had to come clean about everything. He stopped himself before he could blurt it all out and felt tears of what he hoped or would at least pretend was frustration build up in his eyes. He tilted his head back so not even his ghost could spill tears. "Mem, go on a holiday. You look like you could use one." He came over and gave the startled detective a hug.
"O-okay..." He looked to his other two friends and the skinny Scot. "You three aren't going to hug me as well, right?"
Amadeus glanced over his shoulder. "I've met your mother. She's actually hot."
"Stay the hell away from her, Ghost-Darkside!"
He laughed and pushed Bernard out the way, giving his friend a hug. "We have to wrap this up. Jaime's crying. Can you hear him?"
He hesitated, listening. "Yeah..."
"We have until that actually wakes you up before...before we're gone..." He tugged down Memphis' sleeves. "You're not wearing the friendship bracelet..."
"It's in my drawer. It broke."
"Tape it. Wear it."
"If you insist...dick ghost..."
They all laughed and they began to drift away. Amadeus tugged his own bracelet off and threw it at his friend.

When Memphis awoke, it was on his stomach. River was comforting the baby beside him. She gave him a smile as he rubbed his eyes and looked at the bracelet, confused. "No nightmare this time?" He shook his head, smiling back.
"Need a hand?"
"I've got it, Mem."
He stretched. "I feel like a holiday...and I need to go in to work tomorrow..."
"You haven't got work tomorrow."
"I feel like I have to warn them about something..."
"About what?"
"I...I can't remember..."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled soothingly. "It'll come to you. It always does."

-----

Perseus floated back into conciousness, seeing two people standing by his bedside, arguing in whispers in French. They were both in Elder robes. One was picking at his in disgust. "Jasmin." The Cuban Mage moaned at the other one. "Why am I still here?"
"You were injured." he answered instantly.
"Where's Charles? I want to talk to him."
Jasmin hesitated, whispered something to the man beside him and sighed as the blonde man shook his head. "He...he died, Perseus...in that last fight...I'm sorry..."
He frowned as he took it in. "No.." he muttered with a slight laugh. "He can't be..." any trace of a smile disappeared. "He...we just started...he kissed me...we were going to...I..."
"I'm really truly sorry..."
Lionel shuffled his feet awkwardly.
Perseus was twisting the bedsheet in his hands. "We were going to have lunch once we got to France..."
Jasmin sighed. "Again, I'm sorry...you won't believe how many people I've had to tell a loved one has died...and I'm so sorry..."
"Leave me..."
"Pers-"
"Leave me!"
He obeyed reluctantly, dragging Lionel behind him.

-----

Indishan Anonymous sat at a cafe by an airport, waiting for some men to meet with him. he was expecting four of them. A long, sleek, black car stopped beside him and the four men stepped out. Richard, Hiro, Ursa and Mortis. "You summoned me." Richard stated, clearly not happy. "Why?"
Indishan smiled as calmly as he could under the knowledge that three of these four men were known to murder for fun. "Richard. I believe we can help one another."
"You need a doctor?"
"I need information. I'm a detective." Mortis reached for a knife in his belt. It was in a scabbard-type-thing with Craig scratched onto it in block capitals. Indishan tensed up. "I'm looking to...help skilled fighters who could be on the side against Mevolent...answer honestly: would any of you want the Faceless Ones to return?"
They all slowly shook their heads. The detective smiled and nodded. Ricky spoke again. "Okay, what do you propose we do, and what exactly is in it for us?"
His smile widened into a grin. "Let me spin you a story you might find mighty interesting, boys."

((Hellooooo hanger. I had absolutely no ideas so I went and took a look at who I hadn't used in a while, came up with Anonymous, Frivolidad and Mem, and also realised around the same time I had left Faine in a spot without carers AGAIN! She is so tricky. But Mem's friends! I missed those guys! And I just HAD to use Fred again :3 Freddy :') My psychopathic, completely screwed up baby! I'm sorry I killed you!))

Zafira Kerias: Nightmares

Niccolo knelt beside Zafira cutting open her and sealing veins as he went. She felt every part of it and screamed. Then she woke up. Terrified. Very used to this Javier felt her next to him. 

"Hush he isn't here." Javier reassured. After a few minutes she calmed down. 3am the clock showed. Alexis woke up crying. Slightly shaken Zafira got up and picked up a crying Alexis. The baby cried but Zafira sat rocking her. Alexis calmed down enough and fell back asleep. Zafira sighed watching her daughter sleep. She could hardly remember what it was like to actually have a good night's sleep. Not since Niccolo ensured the nightmares. If only he was available the day she called the number. It isn't pleasant having a newborn and nightmares. The amount of sleep Zafira got was small and Javier didn't blame her. Nobody could stop whatever Niccolo did to her. She knew she was lucky to ever have had her leg turn back and everything else he did. Then again apparently as Grand Mage she was a prime target. Sure that Alexis wouldn't wake up she placed the baby back in the crib. Alexis slept on. Zafira went back to bed but didn't fall asleep. She never could until the next night. 

Javier walked into the living room that afternoon holding a box. Zafira was sitting with Alexis who was in a swinging chair thing. The lovely pile of papers that were sent daily was small. Without meetings and stuff all the paperwork got done faster. Of course she decided to go in when she needed to. That was typical. Javier stuck the box on the floor.

"I got something awesome. I got Alexis this awesome looking teddy bear." Javier grinned. Laughing Zafira smiled at Alexis

"Look Alexis Daddy got you a teddy bear." She smiled. She doubted the baby understood but if she did that was good. Javier opened the box and showed Alexis. Zafira laughed. The teddy bear was big and light brown. Zafira felt like a child again. Except she remembered her daughter. The whole thought of being a mother was shocking still. If mages could some visited them. Alexis was happy in her chair. Things were nice and peaceful. Alexis eventually fell asleep and Zafira took Javier's hand.

"I don't know what to think. I'm scared because I killed Baron Vengeous and....I killed a general." Javier nodded.

"You did Zaf. I'm proud of you." Zafira smiled and curled up on him. Javier held her close

"You need help. The sleepless nights are hurting you my love." He murmured. Zafira nodded and bit her lip

"I know. I can barely handle it. Alexis keeps me up once the dreams pass. I dont know what to do anymore!" She exclaimed. Javier played with her hair. 

"You are too stressed honestly. I wish I could help. Are you feeling guilt?" He asked curiously. She shook her head,

"He tried to take Alexis I have no guilt for self defense." She told him. Javier seemed satisfied. Not much could happen with such a nice day. 

Jayla was furious. She wanted to kill Kerias so badly and she swore if she did she'd laugh. After Vengeous was murdered Jayla wanted to avenge his death yet she had a feeling if left to Death Rose it'd be avenged. The Faceless Ones would punish Kerias in the after life. Necromancers were heathens. Did not believe. Non-believers. They were the kind Jayla hated. She needed a plan. A nice violent one. Maybe recreate what Niccolo did then again the guy gave her the creeps.

Garnet Dorado: The Stranger In The Cell III

A man struggled as he was pulled along by the scruff of his neck. He was shouting in a language Garnet did not recognise and couldn't be bothered to listen to. He had heard about half of what the woman had told him. Upon realising he didn't recognise her, she used a false name. He could tell it was a false name. Anemone had been his sister's name. That was the false name the woman chained in the corner was using. She was a Sanctuary operative with a family and she...nope, that was where he had stopped listening. Nemone was okay though. Nice girl. The man speaking the foreign language was thrown in and the cell was locked behind him. He stood and went to the bars, still yelling indignantly.
"Please." Nemone moaned. "They won't understand you and even if they do, they won't give in to anything you say. You're in Mevolent's dungeon now. You're basically his plaything."
The newcomer paled considerably and slowly turned to face them. "Firstly," he began in a heavily accented voice, his English poor, "that sounded pervert. Secondary, they have my sister and I don't know why."
Garnet forced himself to sit up. He plastered a weak smile on his face. "You'll be okay. I'm Gar, that's Nemone. What brings you here? Where you from?"
He frowned. "I am Erik. I am from Norway. Son of an Elder."
Gar looked like he pitied him at that point. "Rough, man. Rough. Son of an Elder? You are so screwed."
"Garnet!" Nemone scolded. He jumped and apologised softly.
"Really everyone here is screwed, once we enter these cells, once Mevo's lot gets their grubby little mitts on us...he'll want information about your Elder parent, don't give it! No matter what they do, if you know anything that can help you, say nothing! You could be the difference between Norway as it is now and a Mevolent-run Norway."
Erik nodded shakily. "I understanding." he mumbled, going white. Garnet smiled.
"They've found a rather unique way of getting to me, I must say..." He then seemed to lie down and drift off to sleep. Erik stared at him for a few minutes and shrugged.

-----

B-J Maleficent sat on her father's bed, waiting. She wasn't sure what for. Maybe he was going to come back and lecture her soon, or hug her, or lecture her then hug her...she wondered how Garnet was doing and about Rasputin. What about Advantageous? Where any others of Esra's friends still out there?

The answer was yes. There was a mess of vampires locked below that Tewdews was forced to join. it was dark and smelled. In the corner was a man, shivering with nerves, fiddling with something in his lap. His hair was shockingly blonde. It shone even in the darkness. He was so pale and ridiculously skinny. She picked her way across and sat beside him. He was muttering to himself. "Hi, I'm Tewdews."
He looked up at her with wide hazel eyes. "Erin. Erin Hades Motionless. The man who turned me...we brought me here, made me fight, I was supposed to fight and kill Mevolent's men, maybe even get killed myself, but here I am...I was defeated...I'm a failure..."
She rested a hand on his back. "Nah, the ones above us are the failures. Still, that Twist guy has a plan, so I have faith."
"Twist?"
"Twist, yeah. Short bloke, specky, brown hair, has a ginger wife who never shuts her mouth."
"Advantageous Twist? He's here? He's here now?" Suddenly, Erin grinned. "He's my best friend, besides Esra. Or Jerry...or Darren...but Mr Twist likes me more than them, so he's my favourite. Oh God, i can't believe he's here!  He...he's here to fight Mevolent...right?" Tewdews nodded. "Oh...oh dear...why? What could possess him to...? Well, I support the Faceless but not Mevolent...Mevolent's insane...he's wrong...he doesn't do it right. He'll just anger them, and he'll never succeed in...in bringing them through...but why is Twist returning? Why now?"
"Something to do with Mevolent killing all his friends and kidnapping one of his friends' sisters. I don't know."
"All his friends? So...so Esra's...and Abla? All...Oh..."
"You're a vampire, you shouldn't have the liberty of friends."
He glared at her and she took her hand away, shuffling back a little. "I would once have agreed with you, but Twist and Sunshine and Vehemence and Hazardous...them and more, they probably saw me as a really annoying tool for their crimes, but they were still certainly my friends."
She shook her head. "You're an idiot."
"I think you'd need more evidence to back that up, Tewdews." That was the point where she realised she had already forgotten his name.

-----

Arachne and Arduous were looking over the gloves. "B-J's made a mistake." Arachne conceded. Arduous turned the gloves over in his hands.
"Maybe there is someone we can get God Killers off of...but I doubt we can do it under the radar. I doubt putting our faith in B-J for that is a good idea..."
"I trust her explicitly, Arduous."
"I don't."
"You don't trust anyone except Prosperity, who may I remind you is a strong Faceless supporter?"
"I have my reasons, Arachne. Prosperity will do as he's told when it comes round to it. Will B-J?"
"And who would you trust to retrieve God Killers?"
"Two people who already have them." He flipped his phone open. "Billy-Ray? It's Arduous. Shut up and listen, I don't care how much you hate me. I need a favour." Arachne listened to him badger the Texan on the other end of the line and realised that he knew exactly how to persuade different people.

-----

Esra's body lay limp on the table, already looking too far gone to be brought back. Then again, how far gone was Baron Vengeous' body before the son of Serpine had brought him back? There were five people looking over the boy's notes, trying to figure out what he had done. They had a necromancer and a science-magic user and they went to combine the two in as a good a mimic of the way described in the notes as they could, but such notes mentioned Sunshine and his friend Darren Shadow specifically as the men who had given the factors. A specific mention of uncertainty of how different power levels would effect or the relationship between the users or even confidence or personality of the magic users. Without Shadow and Sunshine, the affect would be very different.

Esra stayed dead. A dead maggot on his arm began moving again, but otherwise nothing happened. Serpine was standing by and hid his disappointment. Even if he hadn't, he would have made an excuse. Esra Sunshine would later be reburied between Carmichael Hauter and Jerry Vehemence.

Serpine took the revived maggot. It was placed in a matchbox which was then placed beside the cage of Esra's spider, Lily, which had been at the castle ever since the vampire incident. The maggot was nicknamed Mitchell.

((uh...nyeh...nyeh...hey look, dead people and random sentimental stuff and I don't even know anymore.))

Aretha Tesla: Letters

When I looked out the window and saw a man in a crisp black suit approaching the sketchy motel, I did not expect him to enter my room and hand me a letter. Yet hand me a letter he did. And not just any letter- this was old. Over 100 years at least, but very well preserved for its age. I ran my fingers across the single page, savoring the soft crinkling sound it produced. And the smell... Oh, it was heaven!

I spent several minutes simply admiring the beauty of the paper- the texture and composition, that sweet, musky aroma so characteristic of old pages, the soft, faded edges, and the three lines that formed scars where the page had been folded. There was just so much to love about such a sheet of paper.

Finally I began to examine the actual words- the penmanship was flawless. Of course, that made whoever had written it that much more attractive. And such eloquence- I could just die! I had always wanted to be able to write with someone like this. Already feeling like I would melt any second now, I began to read.

Aretha Tesla,
I have gone to great lengths to ensure that this letter is presented to you at precisely this moment- it is of the utmost importance. I would imagine that quite recently- within the past few minutes, I should hope- Ian Heartbreak appeared in your time, very much alive, and I would imagine also that Niccolò stared at you with naught but contempt in his gaze before suddenly falling unconscious. I dread to consider the things he may have said to you. However, comfort though it may be to contact you, I have not written this letter to quell my fears, but to pass on information. I am the consciousness of Niccolò Croatoan- the consciousness only you have come to know. It was I whom you met one fateful night in a dark alleyway, where you provided me with comfort and I, in turn, scorned and attacked you. You used the name of my dear late sister, Mercy, to return to my mind enough sanity to leave you. And despite all I have done, to you and to others, you have yet to give up on me. As I am completely myself for once, I suppose now is as good a time as any to inform you that your undying faith in the people you care for is one of many things that made me fall hopelessly in love with you. My other names would see it as weakness, but I see it as extraordinary compassion. You deserve to know that you are the single most admirable person I have ever known, and although I know you would never return the feeling I assure you it is my honor to have been given the chance to fall in love with you. And yet now I must ask of you to defy your own nature- you must kill me, in your time, before I wake. I understand that you will not want to- that you will wish to keep this part of me alive- but I no longer reside in that body. Healing Ian and slipping through the strands of time made me just weak enough for my other names to cast me aside, and when my body journeyed back into your time I remained trapped here. I have no physical form of my own- in fact, I had to... Possess someone, if you will, to write this and arrange its passage by hand through the ages to its final destination. I have no way of returning to you without harming others, which I simply will not do, and you've no way of ever reaching me. The one thing I ask of you now is that you kill my body before my other names do you harm, because they are sick and twisted and will do things to you that I have not dared to imagine. They will tear this world apart, and though it pains me greatly to say so, it falls upon you to make sure they do not gain the chance. Would that I had more time to write- there is so much I would say to you- but if you recall, my own name is infected with love for the Faceless Ones, and I feel it coming over me again. May you travel far under fair skies, and never forget your own beauty.
Niccolò Croatoan

If the letter was any younger, my tears would have made the ink bleed. My knees gave out from under me and I had to wonder if it was more than a lucky coincidence that I had been standing in front of a chair.

"No," I said aloud, although I knew no one could hear me. "No, that's not fair, you can't-" My voice broke, and a quiet sob escaped my mouth. "You can't do this to me... Not now, after you just said...!

"Why would you do this to me?!" I continued, tears streaming down my face. "Why couldn't you just be an axe murderer? Why couldn't you just be sadistic, insane? Why on Earth did you have to be so..." My voice gave way to sobs.

After a few minutes I dried the tears and crawled over to where Niccolò slept. My hand lingered over his forehead for a moment- definitely too hot- and I pulled off his long coat, tossing it aside. I figured the floor probably wasn't all too comfortable, so I lifted him onto the couch. I had plenty of time before he woke up, and I intended to use it.

If I do ever try to kill you... I want you to kill me first. I had been so confused when he first told me that. Why did it take me so long? Why did it always take me so long to understand? I had always been the least socially aware person I'd ever met. But this... Why am I never good enough when it really counts? I almost lost Death, and now Niccolò? I thought about everyone I knew who had died. My whole family, and then Marina... Niccolò was all I had left, and that was even before I saw beneath all of the cruelty. And now he expects me to just let him go...? Could that really be the right thing to do?

I fell asleep sitting with my back against the couch, knowing the answer was no and praying that my dreams would come up with some miracle solution my consciousness couldn't fathom.

Zafria Kerias/Aretha Tesla: The Note

Zafira looked across the house. Javier had gone baby shopping. Alexis was asleep in the play pen. Zafira took out the paper. That number. Slightly nervous she took her phone and dialed it. Who could this be?

Aretha was terribly surprised to hear her phone ringing- the only people in the world who had her cell phone number were dead, with the exception of the one asleep on the floor. "Hello?" She answered tentatively. "May I ask who is speaking?"

Zafira heard the voice. Familiar. Almost.

"This is Zafira Kerias. This number was left on my desk at my work." She explained to the person who had answered. She figured this was going to be a prank. Not fun at all.

Aretha tried very hard not to gasp into the phone. "Grand Mage? This is Aretha Tesla. My apologies- I don't know how this number... Oh..." I trailed off, realizing just a bit late that this probably had something to do with Niccolo. "I'm sorry, but was it just the number, or was there something else along with it?"

Zafira gasped when she said who she was.

"Yes this is the Grand Mage. And there was a note reading, 'I can cure the nightmares'." Zafira told Aretha. This was good. Someone sane answered and not Mevolent.

"Oh. Of course." That made perfect sense, but Niccolo didn't look like he was waking up anytime soon. "My friend probably left that for you, but he's... Um, not available at the moment... I'm very sorry. I can have him call you as soon as he can." I added under my breath, "If he ever can..."

"Alright then. I guess that's all I can do. I wondered why I got this note." Zafira shrugged. Guess this is all she could hope for. The nightmares didn't help having Alexis around but what could she do?

"If I told you that Niccolo Croatoan had written that note, and that I knew where he was... How would you react?" I immediately regretted having said that. I hadn't even thought- it just slipped out. I suppose I just wanted to know whether or not deciding not to kill him was the right choice. And then I remembered his eyes that night in the alleyway, terrified and pleading- and beneath it all, so warm... You're not second-guessing your decision, you just want someone to agree with you. You need to know you're not insane, and he's not around to prove it to you. But it was true- I wanted someone who I knew was not insane, and who had seen Niccolo at his best and his worst, so say he shouldn't die for his crimes.

Zafira took a moment to consider this. The Grand Mage side of her said kill him but the practical side said don't.

"I should order his immediate arrest. But you see I don't think that's the answer. Death or imprisonment isn'f the answer. Niccolo is not as bad as I thought. He isn't always in control of himself. So as I'm assuming what you said is true I would only ask that maybe could I speak to him. I owe him for not killing Javier and I when we were captured. And I truly believe he wrote that note to help me. I'm willing to let him. He doesn't deserve death or arrest." Zafira felt strange. The man had nearly killed her twice but she felt like maybe he didn't do it purposely.

Aretha breathed a sigh of relief. "I appreciate that more than I can say- and I know he genuinely wants to help you. Actually... He ended up overexhausting himself helping a friend of mine. He sort of just... Collapsed... I'm not sure if-when he'll wake up," I corrected myself- I couldn't figure out why I was so concerned- after all, Ren had said he was fine, right? "But I'll make sure he calls you when he comes around."

"Well alright. If you want maybe Javier or I could get him awake. Or my daughter Alexis. One wail in the ear she'd wake the dead." Zafira laughed. As she said that little Alexis let out a faint cry in her sleep.

"Oh, congratulations! I hadn't known she was already born! Well, thank you, and I wish all three of you the best." She took a quick glance out the window- she always looked outside when she was happy- but what she saw only made her that much more paranoid. "I'm so sorry, I really, really am, but I'm going to need to call you back."

"Thank you." Zafira said smiling. Then Aretha spoke,

"Oh right okay. Bye then." She said hanging up. Zafira went over to Alexis and picked up the half awake baby. Smiling she sat on the couch. She felt exhausted between sleepless nights and Alexis Zafira was low on energy.

Maralie Lily Charm - The Premier Rap

This chapter is... weird. It's Mara and her feelings. She's slowly turning crazy, so...
~ Mara xx

Maralie was bored.

She lay back on her bed, sighing. She was going crazy. She knew it. Watching Youtube videos on her phone got very boring.

Maralie moaned and continued to bounce a rubber ball at the wall. It flew back and she caught it, then threw it again. She had gotten her skill of catching from her family. They had been very sporty, with hurling and Gaelic football. Hell, Maralie's cousin played on the Tipperary team. Brendan Cummins was his name. Maralie stared at the one hurling poster on her wall. It had all the Tipperary team's signatures on it. She squinted and laughed. She was going crazy.

"From Cahir to Nenagh they’ll agree, It’s time we took back Liam McCarthy.
For the blue the gold and the dream,
This is for the boys on Hill 16, c'mon!"

She had no clue why she was singing the Premier Rap. Oh God, she was going nuts. It was so boring up here.

"Brendan Cummins
From Ballybacon-Grange,
NASA are studying his puck out range.
You put your hand up once,
You won’t do it again,
When you’ve been marking Paddy Stapleton.
Paul Curran he’s like a mini digger, He's Mullinahone’s own Swarzanigger.
Michael Cahills' our number four, Eircom phone watch ain’t this secure.
Declan Fanning from Killenaule, Sticks like glue to each highball.
Bustin' out of defence
He's gonna flatten ye,
He’s from Newport
He’s Connor O’ Mahoney.
Like a wall P. Maher stops each attack,
You need planning permission to put him wing back.
For the blue, the gold
And the dream,
This is for the boys on Hill 16!"

"Mara?" Harry's voice from outside the door sounded surprised. She ignored him.

"Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp,Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp!
We’re throwing a party for Liam McCarthy!
Shane McGraths got electric pace, Brendan Maher will invade your space.
Darragh O Brien will pull you out
By the side line,
Catchin’ it,
Whippin’ it,
Doubling on it first time.
I’d prefer to get hit by a car,
Than get hit a shoulder
From the Bonner Maher.
Waterford,
Wexford,
Offaly,
Galway,
Knocking over points like he’s on holiday.
For John O’Brien
I nearly blew me load,
When I saw him do the biz
On Jones’ road."

"Mara..." he started to laugh. "What on earth are you singing?"

"Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp,Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp, Tipp.
We’re throwing a party for Liam McCarthy! And I have no clue what the rest is," she finished.

Clapping erupted from outside. Maralie expected it was Liberty, Eleanna and Harry. She scowled. "Stop mocking me."

"We're not," Liberty laughed, obviously mocking her.

Maralie sulked until she heard footsteps go downstairs a few minutes later. Then she sighed again and picked up her phone. Just as she picked it up, it started to buzz.

Some timing, Maralie raised an eyebrow. She answered without looking and held it up to her ear.

"Hey Mara," Molliana Dust's voice came through the speaker.

"Mollie, hey!" Maralie smiled. "Vas happenin'?"

"I just wanted to say, I'm coming back to yours tomorrow. Is that okay?"

"Yeah." Maralie murmured, messing with her hair.

"'Kay, see you Mara," Molliana replied, then hung up.

Maralie sighed once more and pouted. Molliana would have to get involved in the whole Harry issue. And no. That was not going to happen.

She would think of something later.

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!"