Mornings in the Ramirez household were always filled with chatter, stomps of feet and the smell of bacon exploring every room to wake the hungry minds that were at ease for so long. Those mornings were what Athea called home. Her eyes fluttered open when the sound of an old door creaked open and Amelia made her way to Atheas’ bed, struggling to climb onto the tall bed that Athea called her kingdom. “Psst. Athea. Mom said to come downstairs and help with breakfast.” Athea rolled over, her eyes now closed once more so she could pull off a passed out version of herself. A small snoring sound came from her and she could tell Amelia wasn’t having it, hearing an impatient sigh come from her youngest sister who decided then to grab onto Atheas’ curls and tug as hard as she could. “Hey! You little shit! The hell was that for?”
“Mom said to come help with breakfast. What are you deaf or something?”
With that, the little one stomped her way out of Atheas’ room, slamming the door in the process like she was the one that was having the bad morning. Please. Children nowadays were like little demons, plotting, waiting, then attacking when you least expected them to. The majority of her siblings most likely had a layout of some sort on how to kill Athea. Athea could have put money down for how many times they’ve most likely attempted as well. Lucky her. It didn’t take long for Athea to make herself get up and out of bed, her eyes slightly squinted since the sun seemed to be beaming through her curtains like it was some Raisin Bran commercial. Her feet shuffled over to her bathroom, grabbing her toothbrush and finding the button for the radio in the bathroom, static being heard for the first few seconds until an overly enthusiastic male's voice cut in. “And todays weather is looking pretty exceptional today. Slightly sunny with a high of 94 degrees and a low of 90 degrees! Probably going to need a hat and some water bottles to carry around all day today, Folks! It’s gonna be a hot one!” With a small roll of her eyes she bent over, spitting into the sink once she was done, putting her toothbrush up which reverberated with a small sound of clattering before making her way out. As she walked she slipped a hair tie off of her wrist, pulling her hair back into a bun before plopping back down onto her bed.
“Athea! Breakfast! Come on down while it’s still hot, hon!”
Her mothers words bounced off the walls, a wince coming from Athea as she looked at her door. Her voice was so loud the water on her dresser even shook as her mother yelled for her. Scary. But why would water shutter as though a T-Rex were approaching the premises. Well it wouldn’t. Atheas’ eyes watched the water and that’s when a small stream of water came out and shot her in the face like a small water gun. “What does he need now? More sweet tea? More sugar?” Athea muttered, changing into shorts and a t-shirt before disappearing into a small portal. She moved swiftly, making her way into Naiicks small palace, her eyes scanning all the rooms she passed until she found the room he was in, her eyes narrowing.
“Finally you arrive. I thought you would’ve been able to read my mind.”
“I’m here now, Naiick. What do you want? I’m kind of busy.”
“I wouldn’t say you were busy per say. I’d say you have gotten bombarded by a seven year old who seems to have a lot of sass. Amelia is her name, you said?”
“Naiick, what do you want?”
From his spot on the floor, he rose, turning to face her as he made his way towards her. “I have news. Not bad news. Not good either in some cases. But since you are done with training and I believe you are ready to go out there and strut your stuff, I am giving you a task.” Now that had Atheas’ attention. She had been training for years and now he has an assignment for her. She knows she’s ready. No doubt. “What is it? Something dangerous? Mind blowing? Something that no one wants to do?”
“Actually you won’t be alone. You’ll have a few others by your side. One I believe goes by the name Haden and the other is Shinzo. Both very interesting Gentlemen. One carries around a sword on the daily and the other is a Scottish drunk. Anyways you’ll be teamed up with them as far as I know. You're going to be searching and finding Xainayne's chalice.” Athea's eyebrow lifted at that. What good was that going to do for her than probably have two lame brains who probably want to kill her just for being a girl? Is this some kind of joke? “Are there any other assignments you have besides dealing with two most likely ignorant assholes in town? Or am I stuck with this?”
“Oh..you’re stuck with it alright. In fact, they’re all meeting up somewhere tonight. And you’re invited.”
And that’s how Athea found herself in this tub of a bar with drunks surrounding the place. What a way to end a night. Of fucking course Naiick would send her on this fucking sad excuse of a first mission. Retrieve something that has been stolen and bring it back. What does this have to do with her? Her eyes settled on Haden and Shinzo, watching as the loud, scottish one seem to walk out and walk back in with a more dramatic entrance. With a small roll of her eyes she looked at Shinzo, standing and making her way over to the pair. “Sorry to interrupt you guys in your little..argument or whatever the fuck you may call it. But are you Haden? And are you Shinzo?” Her eyes looked between the two, nibbling on her bottom lip nervously. Now she had met people in other houses before but with these two she could feel their power just casually rolling off of them like some kind of aura. Now she wasn’t calling herself weak but she wasn’t calling herself powerful either. But this was going to be an interesting experience for all of them...
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Bloodstain Chalice 19 posts · started by AbonnobA
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AbonnobA
played by AbonnobA
· Apr 29, 2026
AbonnobA
played by AbonnobA
· Apr 29, 2026
Zyphinex POV
“I don’t have it. Please! Spare me!”
She lopped his head off with his own sword, tossing the blade aside and sighing. That brought the count to ninety-three Claimants and fourteen Mortals who had gotten in the way. By now she was sure that if they weren’t all looking, they would be trying to find out who was responsible for the sudden cutting down of their kin. She cleaned herself the blood and gore and decided, maybe she wasn’t looking in the right places. As she left the premises, she dared not look back or smell the scent of death. Novevu would not be pleased tonight with all of the innocent, were they innocent? Souls? damnations? Pre-fuckable agents? What time was it anyway?
She strolled into the bar, it was quiet except for the trio up the front, two of them were ready to launch into outright open combat and one was just trying to defuse? Or was she bothering them. Zyphinex paid them no mind and instead moved directly towards the bar. Placing wads of bloodied cash on the counter — most of it collected from the piles of dead people she had left all across the streets of dear old New York.
“What will this get me? Make it heavy and strong.”
Her mind and its many cogs started to spin as she tapped the bar with her fingers, her whip by her hip and a look of utter insanity in her eyes. She then turned at the mention of a chalice and smiled. Maybe this group knew where the fucking cup was. Thanking the bartend who seemed to have a suspicious air about her. Zyphinex chugged it down before smashing the glass in her clenched hand, this caught the attention of the group.
“Sorry to interrupt your merriness. But I hear you’re looking for the cup. The Chalice. Whatever my mother is calling it these days. If any of you know where it is. I’ll be glad to take it off your hands. Or maybe I’ll just.”
She flicked her whip and sent the glass which she had just shattered at them, she wanted to gauge their reaction, to taste their blood to smell their fear. She wanted everyone to fucking who she was and just how far she was willing to go to announce her arrival. There was a scream as one of the shards hit an innocent mortal bystander.
“My name.”
Her whip wrapped around the neck of the offending, now crying mortal, she yanked it hard causing the poor woman’s head to come clean off. There were gasps and even shouts of others leaving the bar.
“Is Zyphinex. Treasure of Darkness. Nice to meet folk like me. Or not. I can never really tell who’s a friend, a foe or otherwise. They all deserve a gravestone for trying though.”
She waited until there was nothing but silence, the unsheathing of a sword and the loading of a firearm to tell her they wanted a fight. They were brave, but brave meant foolish and Zyphinex hated fools most of all.
“Mortals. They’re so utterly weak. But you lot seem like the children of my… how should I say aunties. Uncles. Fucking who knows the insolent lot. Now tell me, what I need to know. Before your fates and guts are hung up on the wall for all to see.”
Phita POV
“Mistress!”
Phita shot up from where she had been sleeping, Daenu who was also dead asleep moved to pull her back under the covers but, when another claimant burst through the doors, holding an arm that… seemed to have been removed? Or at least they were trying to hold their arm. Daenu rose up and gave them a glare worthy of a blizzard.
“What in blizzards is going on?”
“Some rogue claimant killed a huge number of us. She’s at the bar. Fighting Shinzo”
“Haden too!”
“Some random water chick too.” A third seemed to pipe in.
Phita and Daenu looked at each other and then at the claimants. Who left once they had announced the news. Daenu who was reluctant to get in-between the business of an unknown claimant pulled Phita back down.
“We should go see what it’s about.”
"Or we could not go and see and let the children duke it out”
Before Phita could protest, Daenu was atop, Phita could only half pray that Shinzo was capable of cleaning up whatever mess he had gotten into now. Daenu scowled, Phita smiled. How Daenu hated when she was thinking about anyone but him.
Evyette POV
“Motherfucker. The place was only just renovated.”
Her night had been ruined by her mother. Who had sent a silent message to deal with whatever mess Shinzo and Haden… and some unidentified water claimant and some other force to be reckon to be with. Had gotten into, she could still hear people fighting inside — which could only mean that the fight was not still over, so maybe she’d get some action in after all. Licking her lips, she stepped into Novevu’s usually safe haven of a bar. Pinned by his own sword… which was just out of reach, Shinzo was sending flames towards a dark-haired female who was wrestling Haden. The water Claimant seemed to be discussing something with the bar tend… Amarjeet. Evyette clapped her hands.
“My what a mess. I’ll pay for the damage once this is sorted Amarjeet.”
“Fuck.”
The dark-haired woman, who Evyette still hadn’t seen the face of flew against the opposite wall, stepping over the torn down tables, chairs and light fixtures she freed Shinzo, making sure that he was still in one piece. His mother had emphasised his safety over the rest, Daenu had piped in and said the same about her own claimant. Except Evyette only cared about her own kin and not the likes of the opposite house.
She then turned to meet whoever was causing a fucking mess. Moving past Haden and straight at Zyphinex. Grasping Zyphinex by the collar, she remained semi up in the air as a result of the flames she was using to propel herself up into the air. Zyphinex attempted to call for her whip — which only caused Evyette to duck out one of the shattered glass windows and out onto the street, which was noticeably cleared. Tossing Zyphinex down and onto the ground, the other female barely had a chance to recollect herself before her throat was being crushed underfoot by Evyette, who had decided fuck looking normal she was outright in her pure state of flame.
“I didn’t expect to see you here Zyphinex.”
“I am here on a mission.” Zyphinex choked out
“I presume it is the same on that the other claimants are on. Unfortunately. There was no part in the mission statement that stated you were to go on a damage or killing spree. Novevu might have let you out but you must remember that apart from our parents who are keeping an eye out on most things. There are enforcers like me to ensure no wars break out.” To place emphasis she pressed down harder on Zyphinex’s throat.
Zyphinex was nearly purple by the time Evyette decided that she had learnt her lesson. As Zyphinex sputtered and coughed, trying to relieve the damage Evyette had caused on her throat. Evyette and now even Misnia who had arrived during her solo confrontation with Zyphinex to clean up the bar and discuss the bill with Amarjeet.
Evyette watched as Zyphinex left like a wounded puppy, her tail tucked between her feet. She sighed and then finally went to make sure neither Shinzo or Haden… or the unnamed water claimant who Misnia had introduced as Athea went after Zyphinex. Not on her watch at least.
Levei POV
“You want my help?”
“Yes.”
Zyphinex rubbed her throat still, the mark of Evyette’s heel was still there, though it had now bruised making it a hideous shade of purple and yellow, Levei hissed under her breath, she was in an ice tub to recover from her own endeavours to cut down Claimants left and right. So, it was by no means a total surprise that her favourite psychopath of a cousin would be coming to find her.
“Lick your wounds, take the couch. We can talk about it tomorrow. If you want the Chalice you’ll have to play smart rather than rampage around the city. Keep that up and no one will divulge anything.”
Levei had found it most exciting that one of the Artefacts had gone missing, she had instrumented it of course, he had been so utterly pissed off. He had wanted power and to become something more and she of course had helped. Now it was on him to do it on his own and to not get caught in the process. She dunked her head under the chilled water before lifting it back up as Zyphinex stood in front of the mirror, still rubbing the area, as though her touch would erase the mark Evyette had left.
“No point doing that. It’ll remain for some time. You can wear something over it if you like.”
“I will kill her.”
“We are of the same vein my love.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Then what are you if not my love?”
“Your worst fucking nightmare.”
“I don’t have it. Please! Spare me!”
She lopped his head off with his own sword, tossing the blade aside and sighing. That brought the count to ninety-three Claimants and fourteen Mortals who had gotten in the way. By now she was sure that if they weren’t all looking, they would be trying to find out who was responsible for the sudden cutting down of their kin. She cleaned herself the blood and gore and decided, maybe she wasn’t looking in the right places. As she left the premises, she dared not look back or smell the scent of death. Novevu would not be pleased tonight with all of the innocent, were they innocent? Souls? damnations? Pre-fuckable agents? What time was it anyway?
She strolled into the bar, it was quiet except for the trio up the front, two of them were ready to launch into outright open combat and one was just trying to defuse? Or was she bothering them. Zyphinex paid them no mind and instead moved directly towards the bar. Placing wads of bloodied cash on the counter — most of it collected from the piles of dead people she had left all across the streets of dear old New York.
“What will this get me? Make it heavy and strong.”
Her mind and its many cogs started to spin as she tapped the bar with her fingers, her whip by her hip and a look of utter insanity in her eyes. She then turned at the mention of a chalice and smiled. Maybe this group knew where the fucking cup was. Thanking the bartend who seemed to have a suspicious air about her. Zyphinex chugged it down before smashing the glass in her clenched hand, this caught the attention of the group.
“Sorry to interrupt your merriness. But I hear you’re looking for the cup. The Chalice. Whatever my mother is calling it these days. If any of you know where it is. I’ll be glad to take it off your hands. Or maybe I’ll just.”
She flicked her whip and sent the glass which she had just shattered at them, she wanted to gauge their reaction, to taste their blood to smell their fear. She wanted everyone to fucking who she was and just how far she was willing to go to announce her arrival. There was a scream as one of the shards hit an innocent mortal bystander.
“My name.”
Her whip wrapped around the neck of the offending, now crying mortal, she yanked it hard causing the poor woman’s head to come clean off. There were gasps and even shouts of others leaving the bar.
“Is Zyphinex. Treasure of Darkness. Nice to meet folk like me. Or not. I can never really tell who’s a friend, a foe or otherwise. They all deserve a gravestone for trying though.”
She waited until there was nothing but silence, the unsheathing of a sword and the loading of a firearm to tell her they wanted a fight. They were brave, but brave meant foolish and Zyphinex hated fools most of all.
“Mortals. They’re so utterly weak. But you lot seem like the children of my… how should I say aunties. Uncles. Fucking who knows the insolent lot. Now tell me, what I need to know. Before your fates and guts are hung up on the wall for all to see.”
Phita POV
“Mistress!”
Phita shot up from where she had been sleeping, Daenu who was also dead asleep moved to pull her back under the covers but, when another claimant burst through the doors, holding an arm that… seemed to have been removed? Or at least they were trying to hold their arm. Daenu rose up and gave them a glare worthy of a blizzard.
“What in blizzards is going on?”
“Some rogue claimant killed a huge number of us. She’s at the bar. Fighting Shinzo”
“Haden too!”
“Some random water chick too.” A third seemed to pipe in.
Phita and Daenu looked at each other and then at the claimants. Who left once they had announced the news. Daenu who was reluctant to get in-between the business of an unknown claimant pulled Phita back down.
“We should go see what it’s about.”
"Or we could not go and see and let the children duke it out”
Before Phita could protest, Daenu was atop, Phita could only half pray that Shinzo was capable of cleaning up whatever mess he had gotten into now. Daenu scowled, Phita smiled. How Daenu hated when she was thinking about anyone but him.
Evyette POV
“Motherfucker. The place was only just renovated.”
Her night had been ruined by her mother. Who had sent a silent message to deal with whatever mess Shinzo and Haden… and some unidentified water claimant and some other force to be reckon to be with. Had gotten into, she could still hear people fighting inside — which could only mean that the fight was not still over, so maybe she’d get some action in after all. Licking her lips, she stepped into Novevu’s usually safe haven of a bar. Pinned by his own sword… which was just out of reach, Shinzo was sending flames towards a dark-haired female who was wrestling Haden. The water Claimant seemed to be discussing something with the bar tend… Amarjeet. Evyette clapped her hands.
“My what a mess. I’ll pay for the damage once this is sorted Amarjeet.”
“Fuck.”
The dark-haired woman, who Evyette still hadn’t seen the face of flew against the opposite wall, stepping over the torn down tables, chairs and light fixtures she freed Shinzo, making sure that he was still in one piece. His mother had emphasised his safety over the rest, Daenu had piped in and said the same about her own claimant. Except Evyette only cared about her own kin and not the likes of the opposite house.
She then turned to meet whoever was causing a fucking mess. Moving past Haden and straight at Zyphinex. Grasping Zyphinex by the collar, she remained semi up in the air as a result of the flames she was using to propel herself up into the air. Zyphinex attempted to call for her whip — which only caused Evyette to duck out one of the shattered glass windows and out onto the street, which was noticeably cleared. Tossing Zyphinex down and onto the ground, the other female barely had a chance to recollect herself before her throat was being crushed underfoot by Evyette, who had decided fuck looking normal she was outright in her pure state of flame.
“I didn’t expect to see you here Zyphinex.”
“I am here on a mission.” Zyphinex choked out
“I presume it is the same on that the other claimants are on. Unfortunately. There was no part in the mission statement that stated you were to go on a damage or killing spree. Novevu might have let you out but you must remember that apart from our parents who are keeping an eye out on most things. There are enforcers like me to ensure no wars break out.” To place emphasis she pressed down harder on Zyphinex’s throat.
Zyphinex was nearly purple by the time Evyette decided that she had learnt her lesson. As Zyphinex sputtered and coughed, trying to relieve the damage Evyette had caused on her throat. Evyette and now even Misnia who had arrived during her solo confrontation with Zyphinex to clean up the bar and discuss the bill with Amarjeet.
Evyette watched as Zyphinex left like a wounded puppy, her tail tucked between her feet. She sighed and then finally went to make sure neither Shinzo or Haden… or the unnamed water claimant who Misnia had introduced as Athea went after Zyphinex. Not on her watch at least.
Levei POV
“You want my help?”
“Yes.”
Zyphinex rubbed her throat still, the mark of Evyette’s heel was still there, though it had now bruised making it a hideous shade of purple and yellow, Levei hissed under her breath, she was in an ice tub to recover from her own endeavours to cut down Claimants left and right. So, it was by no means a total surprise that her favourite psychopath of a cousin would be coming to find her.
“Lick your wounds, take the couch. We can talk about it tomorrow. If you want the Chalice you’ll have to play smart rather than rampage around the city. Keep that up and no one will divulge anything.”
Levei had found it most exciting that one of the Artefacts had gone missing, she had instrumented it of course, he had been so utterly pissed off. He had wanted power and to become something more and she of course had helped. Now it was on him to do it on his own and to not get caught in the process. She dunked her head under the chilled water before lifting it back up as Zyphinex stood in front of the mirror, still rubbing the area, as though her touch would erase the mark Evyette had left.
“No point doing that. It’ll remain for some time. You can wear something over it if you like.”
“I will kill her.”
“We are of the same vein my love.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Then what are you if not my love?”
“Your worst fucking nightmare.”
AbonnobA
played by AbonnobA
· Apr 29, 2026
Evyette POV
She wiped her hands, over and over on the dish cloth now that the battle was done and she was no longer in a state of utter disgusted fury; though the demanding looks she was given by Shinzo, Haden and dear Amarjeet — oh and some water claimant who she believed her name started with A? Told her that her duty was not nearly done. Evyette sighed, she hated the sight of blood on her hands — especially Zyphinex’s blood, it never seemed to come out and swamped the fire treasure like no tomorrow when she did have to come into physical contact with it.
“Well out with it. You all seem to be looking at me like I’ve grown six eyes, three lips and have a penis protruding out of my neck.” She had to remember that the claimants were children, she lessened the harshness of her tone and waited for one of them; any of them to just spit it out. In the meanwhile, other claimants were returning to the bar which was admittedly worse for wear than even Misnia would have liked, she hadn’t really been noticed by anyone but Evyette knew her icy cousin was looking about anxiously, her glances touching everyone like first snow. She waved her cousin over whose eyes then settled on Haden. Compared to many other treasures and even claimants, Misnia looked out of place primarily because she was so frail. A wave of coughs ripped through Misnia who trembled like a leaf otherwise, Evyette sighed and stepped away and closer towards Amarjeet.
“The chick who just caused this establishment a large amount of damage was our dear darkness cousin Zyphinex. If she’s been let out then the bosses up top have given her the same impossible task to discover the location of the chalice.” She held her hand up as Haden’s mouth opened to protest, she looked towards the ceiling and wished she wasn’t there before continuing – this time in a softer tone; as to not spook anyone else who had just entered the bar.
“Which means, everyone in this city is now at risk of losing a limb or otherwise. Misnia and I… as well as some others have been tasked with keeping Zyphinex on a leash whilst the rest of you concentrate on the task.” Misnia nodded in agreement before coughing even more, perpetual cold. Did Daenu not care for the safety and health of his treasure? A handkerchief was offered and the small one, the girl who started with A? Seemed to be murmuring something, as though to aid the ice treasure. Evyette wished she could boil the claimant. “Oi. Water girl. Misnia is none of your concern. You are not an ice claimant. Piss off.” She then looked at Shinzo, he looked better now that he didn’t have his own katana in his shoulder. She smiled deviously. “As for you. Well. Mother has a message for you. Come. Time, we honed that flame a bit more. Leave the children to be children.” Before jumping over the counter — but not before depositing a sizable envelope in Amarjeet’s hands “To cover the damage and a bit more. Novevu can direct his fury at me for once...” Before dragging Shinzo out by the elbow.
Misnia POV
With Evyette’s exit, as well as the fire claimant in tow. Misnia fumbled with her words, a slurry of Dutch, Japanese, German and somehow Finnish slipped out of her lips. She blushed and resumed picking at her fingers before another wave of coughs racked her body and she double over from the effort it took to breathe properly. Some of the others in the bar gave her concerned looks which made her feel even worse. She looked up at Haden — the height difference was uncomfortable, and though she was technically in a position of superiority, Haden definitely suited the title of treasure more than she…. She sighed. “Dad’s glad you’re safe. Sorry I couldn’t do much…” she pressed her nails into the palms of her wrist and continued “Dad says you should take some time to scope the city out… and find out who’s on whose side before you blow any heads off… not that he’s protesting your style of work… he’d just rather not upset… the fire ancient.” With that, Misnia prepared herself to return to the Poles, before halting.
Misnia would have said more, perhaps offered more encouragement and to be grateful for the water claimant who had offered her a handkerchief for her nose but she was worried about the potential scorn that would come with it. Looking at the smaller girl, much smaller than Misnia herself. She smiled “You ought to stay here with Amarjeet. Whilst you did not have to fight tonight, you might eventually and there’s no need for more loss of life than necessary. Stay here. Let the boys have their fun and if they need help. They’ll let you know.” She made sure she had said everything that needed to be said before finally departing, as though she was never there.
Jack POV
He rubbed his jaw, his usually gloved fingers running across the thin area of stubble as he determined what he was going to do with the chalice that now sat on his desk, he had been attracted to it and for no particular reason other than he thought it’d catch a fair price. He was a collector of things, and when he didn’t get what he wanted legally his slippery fingers were sure to secure his prizes; so, it was nothing short of a surprise to see a man with black and white hair, as though peppered sitting across from him, a holster against his hip and a look of utter hunger in his eyes. Jack stood up and stretched, this man who had introduced himself as Phillip had spoken of things like Claimants and Ancients, none of which really concerned Jack. What did concern Jack was the amount of money this Phillip man was offering for the Chalice that sat between them — speaking of some form of impossible power. He scoffed at the idea, it was just a Chalice.
“Your name was Phillip Pickering yes?”
“Yes.”
“Well. Pickering. I’m afraid that even for the small fortune of ten million, the Chalice is not for sale.”
“Then allow me to borrow it. For one night. I’ll show you what it is capable of.”
Jack wanted to laugh at the man, what kind of fool did this Pickering person think he was, he opened his mouth to object again when the door to his office, normally guarded by two men was broken down by a woman? Man? With white hair in full militia kit. Reaching for his own pistol, he was against the wall before he could so much as shout for assistance. Another individual with black hair, and eyes that seemed more alien than real also stepped in and seemed to congratulate the young man, he had to remind himself. Pickering. Once Jack was thoroughly disarmed and tied to his desk chair did the woman? Man? Individual with white hair speak.
“Even for ten million. You said no. It seems we have a purpose for you human.”
“My name is Jack Sinclair! I am not a man to be trifled with.”
“You’re a human. We’re not the same thing. Besides. Now that we have the Chalice. We should have some fun. Dear Zyphinex has been locked up too long.”
He was now definitely sure that it, well they were female. The white hair woman sat down on the desk and picked up the Chalice, Jack felt his body jerk in protest, that was his property he had stolen it and thus it belonged to him and this bitch whoever she was just had her hands over it like she owned the damn thing! He opened his mouth to speak, however her right index finger rested on his lips and she tsked. “Don’t want me to remove your tongue. Now. From the conversation you’ve had for the past three hours. You do not believe Phillip. That’s alright. Let me show you what it does by using it on you. Yes? Then you will know what it is to truly be something other than a pathetic human.”
He watched in silent horror as this woman, cut her wrist open like it was nothing and spilt her blood into the bowl of the large gothic cup; surely, she did not mean he had to drink it? Surely not even now in their modern civilisation was he going to have to drink out of some strange cup? What had she meant that he would be something other than human once he drank from the cup? He had no time to protest, to beg for his meagre life; not that his life had meant much in the grand scheme of things, no one would mourn his death nor would anyone even notice he was gone — if anything they would profit off his of his death, another competitor gone? What criminal wouldn’t want that? So, it must have come as a surprise to his impromptu captors when he took large gulps of the yellowish-green, with the slightest tint of grey-blue liquid which one could easily mistake for liquid chlorine and lead otherwise it tasted sweet and salty and all kinds of other things that he could no longer place, not that he really cared much — and then he screamed; for he was both convulsing, screaming, drowning and imploding all at once. This woman, whoever or whatever she was smiled as he fell to the floor and fought for his life.
“Well, well. I expected him to die.”
“My love, he is far too useful to die just yet. It might have given his system a nasty shock but in no way does my blood want to kill him.” Levei retorted with a malicious grin.
“He’s waking up.”
Evyette POV
Now that they were back in her basement apartment, not the best place but still a place nonetheless, Evyette slipped from her female form into that of her male. As such she, became a him. He looked at Shinzo critically before approaching the cabinet of assorted flames that Evyette enjoyed bringing along for the ride regardless of whether or not those flames were to be used. Rummaging through them, Evyette asked Shinzo.
"What colour is your true flame?"
It seemed like a simple enough question but the amount of times, his fellow fire claimants had failed to know their true flame bothered Evyette to no end. Waiting for a response. Evyette picked up their artefact, a crystalline almost iridescent ring, that looked almost like thorns but not quite, it shone with a brilliant white light, true flame. Evyette gestured Shinzo over and looked him over. Normally Evyette would have argued against what was about to happen however Phita had made it adamantly clear that if Zyphinex was to be involved in this situation than the claimant representing their house would be given a slight if not utterly unfair disadvantage over the other claimants, Phita had explained if they managed to find the chalice first than by all means they would have a hold over Xainayne. Which in turn would be good for the criminal actions of the houses. Evyette slipped the ringlet upon his right hand just as an identical ringlet formed on the same matching finger of Shinzo. "I'm going to give you a boost. I am aware you have Phita's Rage under your belt but mother seems to think that with Zyphinex on the loose... that you'll need a bit more help just in case you stumble across other... less favourable situations. Now hold still. I'm aware you've never been exposed to white flame. You are about to be. Try not to die." Though Evyette was sure to high forge that Shinzo would take the bullet and be fine, it was better to say it just in case. "This is my artefact. Called the Ember Thorn Ringlet. To put it simply. It allows Phita or myself to transfer part of our white flame to a claimant for a short period of time to be used under extreme duress. If you ever find yourself in a losing fight against a greater enemy this is your last trump card. It will also summon my mother to your side." Evyette relaxed into his natural state and smiled at Shinzo encouragingly as the white hot flame shot straight into Shinzo's veins.
She wiped her hands, over and over on the dish cloth now that the battle was done and she was no longer in a state of utter disgusted fury; though the demanding looks she was given by Shinzo, Haden and dear Amarjeet — oh and some water claimant who she believed her name started with A? Told her that her duty was not nearly done. Evyette sighed, she hated the sight of blood on her hands — especially Zyphinex’s blood, it never seemed to come out and swamped the fire treasure like no tomorrow when she did have to come into physical contact with it.
“Well out with it. You all seem to be looking at me like I’ve grown six eyes, three lips and have a penis protruding out of my neck.” She had to remember that the claimants were children, she lessened the harshness of her tone and waited for one of them; any of them to just spit it out. In the meanwhile, other claimants were returning to the bar which was admittedly worse for wear than even Misnia would have liked, she hadn’t really been noticed by anyone but Evyette knew her icy cousin was looking about anxiously, her glances touching everyone like first snow. She waved her cousin over whose eyes then settled on Haden. Compared to many other treasures and even claimants, Misnia looked out of place primarily because she was so frail. A wave of coughs ripped through Misnia who trembled like a leaf otherwise, Evyette sighed and stepped away and closer towards Amarjeet.
“The chick who just caused this establishment a large amount of damage was our dear darkness cousin Zyphinex. If she’s been let out then the bosses up top have given her the same impossible task to discover the location of the chalice.” She held her hand up as Haden’s mouth opened to protest, she looked towards the ceiling and wished she wasn’t there before continuing – this time in a softer tone; as to not spook anyone else who had just entered the bar.
“Which means, everyone in this city is now at risk of losing a limb or otherwise. Misnia and I… as well as some others have been tasked with keeping Zyphinex on a leash whilst the rest of you concentrate on the task.” Misnia nodded in agreement before coughing even more, perpetual cold. Did Daenu not care for the safety and health of his treasure? A handkerchief was offered and the small one, the girl who started with A? Seemed to be murmuring something, as though to aid the ice treasure. Evyette wished she could boil the claimant. “Oi. Water girl. Misnia is none of your concern. You are not an ice claimant. Piss off.” She then looked at Shinzo, he looked better now that he didn’t have his own katana in his shoulder. She smiled deviously. “As for you. Well. Mother has a message for you. Come. Time, we honed that flame a bit more. Leave the children to be children.” Before jumping over the counter — but not before depositing a sizable envelope in Amarjeet’s hands “To cover the damage and a bit more. Novevu can direct his fury at me for once...” Before dragging Shinzo out by the elbow.
Misnia POV
With Evyette’s exit, as well as the fire claimant in tow. Misnia fumbled with her words, a slurry of Dutch, Japanese, German and somehow Finnish slipped out of her lips. She blushed and resumed picking at her fingers before another wave of coughs racked her body and she double over from the effort it took to breathe properly. Some of the others in the bar gave her concerned looks which made her feel even worse. She looked up at Haden — the height difference was uncomfortable, and though she was technically in a position of superiority, Haden definitely suited the title of treasure more than she…. She sighed. “Dad’s glad you’re safe. Sorry I couldn’t do much…” she pressed her nails into the palms of her wrist and continued “Dad says you should take some time to scope the city out… and find out who’s on whose side before you blow any heads off… not that he’s protesting your style of work… he’d just rather not upset… the fire ancient.” With that, Misnia prepared herself to return to the Poles, before halting.
Misnia would have said more, perhaps offered more encouragement and to be grateful for the water claimant who had offered her a handkerchief for her nose but she was worried about the potential scorn that would come with it. Looking at the smaller girl, much smaller than Misnia herself. She smiled “You ought to stay here with Amarjeet. Whilst you did not have to fight tonight, you might eventually and there’s no need for more loss of life than necessary. Stay here. Let the boys have their fun and if they need help. They’ll let you know.” She made sure she had said everything that needed to be said before finally departing, as though she was never there.
Jack POV
He rubbed his jaw, his usually gloved fingers running across the thin area of stubble as he determined what he was going to do with the chalice that now sat on his desk, he had been attracted to it and for no particular reason other than he thought it’d catch a fair price. He was a collector of things, and when he didn’t get what he wanted legally his slippery fingers were sure to secure his prizes; so, it was nothing short of a surprise to see a man with black and white hair, as though peppered sitting across from him, a holster against his hip and a look of utter hunger in his eyes. Jack stood up and stretched, this man who had introduced himself as Phillip had spoken of things like Claimants and Ancients, none of which really concerned Jack. What did concern Jack was the amount of money this Phillip man was offering for the Chalice that sat between them — speaking of some form of impossible power. He scoffed at the idea, it was just a Chalice.
“Your name was Phillip Pickering yes?”
“Yes.”
“Well. Pickering. I’m afraid that even for the small fortune of ten million, the Chalice is not for sale.”
“Then allow me to borrow it. For one night. I’ll show you what it is capable of.”
Jack wanted to laugh at the man, what kind of fool did this Pickering person think he was, he opened his mouth to object again when the door to his office, normally guarded by two men was broken down by a woman? Man? With white hair in full militia kit. Reaching for his own pistol, he was against the wall before he could so much as shout for assistance. Another individual with black hair, and eyes that seemed more alien than real also stepped in and seemed to congratulate the young man, he had to remind himself. Pickering. Once Jack was thoroughly disarmed and tied to his desk chair did the woman? Man? Individual with white hair speak.
“Even for ten million. You said no. It seems we have a purpose for you human.”
“My name is Jack Sinclair! I am not a man to be trifled with.”
“You’re a human. We’re not the same thing. Besides. Now that we have the Chalice. We should have some fun. Dear Zyphinex has been locked up too long.”
He was now definitely sure that it, well they were female. The white hair woman sat down on the desk and picked up the Chalice, Jack felt his body jerk in protest, that was his property he had stolen it and thus it belonged to him and this bitch whoever she was just had her hands over it like she owned the damn thing! He opened his mouth to speak, however her right index finger rested on his lips and she tsked. “Don’t want me to remove your tongue. Now. From the conversation you’ve had for the past three hours. You do not believe Phillip. That’s alright. Let me show you what it does by using it on you. Yes? Then you will know what it is to truly be something other than a pathetic human.”
He watched in silent horror as this woman, cut her wrist open like it was nothing and spilt her blood into the bowl of the large gothic cup; surely, she did not mean he had to drink it? Surely not even now in their modern civilisation was he going to have to drink out of some strange cup? What had she meant that he would be something other than human once he drank from the cup? He had no time to protest, to beg for his meagre life; not that his life had meant much in the grand scheme of things, no one would mourn his death nor would anyone even notice he was gone — if anything they would profit off his of his death, another competitor gone? What criminal wouldn’t want that? So, it must have come as a surprise to his impromptu captors when he took large gulps of the yellowish-green, with the slightest tint of grey-blue liquid which one could easily mistake for liquid chlorine and lead otherwise it tasted sweet and salty and all kinds of other things that he could no longer place, not that he really cared much — and then he screamed; for he was both convulsing, screaming, drowning and imploding all at once. This woman, whoever or whatever she was smiled as he fell to the floor and fought for his life.
“Well, well. I expected him to die.”
“My love, he is far too useful to die just yet. It might have given his system a nasty shock but in no way does my blood want to kill him.” Levei retorted with a malicious grin.
“He’s waking up.”
Evyette POV
Now that they were back in her basement apartment, not the best place but still a place nonetheless, Evyette slipped from her female form into that of her male. As such she, became a him. He looked at Shinzo critically before approaching the cabinet of assorted flames that Evyette enjoyed bringing along for the ride regardless of whether or not those flames were to be used. Rummaging through them, Evyette asked Shinzo.
"What colour is your true flame?"
It seemed like a simple enough question but the amount of times, his fellow fire claimants had failed to know their true flame bothered Evyette to no end. Waiting for a response. Evyette picked up their artefact, a crystalline almost iridescent ring, that looked almost like thorns but not quite, it shone with a brilliant white light, true flame. Evyette gestured Shinzo over and looked him over. Normally Evyette would have argued against what was about to happen however Phita had made it adamantly clear that if Zyphinex was to be involved in this situation than the claimant representing their house would be given a slight if not utterly unfair disadvantage over the other claimants, Phita had explained if they managed to find the chalice first than by all means they would have a hold over Xainayne. Which in turn would be good for the criminal actions of the houses. Evyette slipped the ringlet upon his right hand just as an identical ringlet formed on the same matching finger of Shinzo. "I'm going to give you a boost. I am aware you have Phita's Rage under your belt but mother seems to think that with Zyphinex on the loose... that you'll need a bit more help just in case you stumble across other... less favourable situations. Now hold still. I'm aware you've never been exposed to white flame. You are about to be. Try not to die." Though Evyette was sure to high forge that Shinzo would take the bullet and be fine, it was better to say it just in case. "This is my artefact. Called the Ember Thorn Ringlet. To put it simply. It allows Phita or myself to transfer part of our white flame to a claimant for a short period of time to be used under extreme duress. If you ever find yourself in a losing fight against a greater enemy this is your last trump card. It will also summon my mother to your side." Evyette relaxed into his natural state and smiled at Shinzo encouragingly as the white hot flame shot straight into Shinzo's veins.
AbonnobA
played by AbonnobA
· Apr 29, 2026
Lucas POV
I think thoughts.
I think thoughts.
These thoughts are not my own.
Are they ever my own?
Will they ever be my own?
I steal thoughts.
Thoughts. What a strange word.
Thoughts.
Thoughts.
"LOOK OUT." He held his arm out in front of a pair of lovers who were, as always. Human. Of course, when faced with the sight of two treasures ripping into each other; humans are bound to notice and they are bound to scream. So easy to frighten yet so easy to yearn for violence, Lucas nearly blanched, it seemed his finger had for the briefest moment interacted with that of the male in the pair... Sex. Why are you thinking about Sex when two beings greater than you are fighting to the death... well human death? Lord you must have your priorities straight as a bee collecting pollen for the hive. He waited and watched, just like the rest of them to assess the damage, when the battle was indeed concluded and Evyette stood triumphant, Lucas couldn't help but wonder if the other who had slipped nearly perfectly into the shadows was indeed Zyphinex. As for Lucas? Well, he was in dear old New York to see one special lady — well technically he had been provided a chance for a two day break, what better way than to spend it with the love of his life and frankly the only person whose thoughts weren't invasive, pervasive or otherwise.
Why dear old Lucas had no idea how to be anyone but himself around Amarjeet, then again she had demanded that much of him; even though he felt like he could never be himself because of his occupation. Opening the door to the bar, a smile cracked up — though she had her back turned to him, ducking past a pair of fire claimants who were chattering on and on about their treasure being the most superior; something that Lucas did not agree with in the slightest, he made sure his voice was loud, clear and hopefully authentic I am always carrying the voices of others. Perhaps it is not even my own voice... how does she know what my true voice is? Can a man like me have one? Or is it as slippery as thoughts can be? he waited till she had turned at just the right angle to finally actually speak. "She cook, she cleans, she makes drinks. How are you not someone's beloved wife yet?"
In a trade like his, touch was a tricky invasive topic. He did not like the most dominant of his senses more than he liked walking through mud in a pair of white shoes. Everyone who was anyone who touched him made him feel ill. It was not that he minded, he had stopped caring long enough to do the job and be paid; but that didn't mean he was free of standing under freezing cold water, iron wire and electrical equipment trying to scrub himself clean of the filthy obsessive thoughts of all of his unsuspecting victims. Well not victims? Perhaps... sources of information was a better term? So swept up in his own thoughts he nearly toppled over when she enveloped him.
मुझे ताकत दो। {Give me strength}
मैं उसके लायक नहीं हूं {I am not worthy of her}
मैं पिछले पर घर हूं {I am home at last}
"Oh, you know I can't resist you," He swung her around, he was finally at peace. All of the dirty work was gone and forgotten about... the secrets he had stored up to be dissected and analysed by his ancient left his conscious mind and the feeling of not having to trudge through Amarjeet's mind was like an eagle coming home from a long day of looking for field mice in barren winter. When she criticised him for his lack thereof appearance — he was glad she hadn't noticed the bleeding yet. "You know I'm working, woman." a look of hurt crossed her face and he wondered if his game had been blown, Amarjeet had always been unusually perceptive of his tries to diminish his injuries — she rarely let him down for it, in fact he felt she was about to be very. Very angry. Not that he looked hurt outwardly... but his spleen was ruptured and his ribs technically just the ones on his right... broken. "I am fine. Nothing major." he murmured under his breath as bar patrons started to stop and stare at their reunion. She decided to play him off, there would be hell to pay for it later when she could have a closer look at him. "I'm always working, beautiful. You know that." He would drop the 'here for two days bomb' when she wasn't about to go off on a void murder spree.
Three Days Ago
I knew she was devious. Up to something however? On this large a scale? No. Surely not. Once he would have said no to spying on an ancient, because usually they were the ones who employed him but Novevu had insisted that he had to be sure that Phita wasn't fucking him over. Using information against the fire claimants had been too easy, now that Lucas was inside Phita's office though, the blueprints and other documents were a clear worry. None of it made sense and he was running out of time to absorb and remember as much as he could. It had only been by chance that the office was empty — a meeting that Novevu had conveniently planned just so that Lucas would have this chance.
"Well look here." Lucas looked up and felt his whole world began to crumble. Thankfully, fortunately it was not Evyette or Phita but rather one of their claimants. Vincent. He had no other name. He needed no other name but amongst Akiekunai like Lucas, he was not one to be trifled with. "Seems Chaemai got sloppy. Who sent you thought stealer." "I'm surprised you haven't thrown a flame at me yet." "I'd rather bring my mistress. Your head." Now. Lucas was not much a fan of physical confrontations; and definitely not ones against physical powerhouses like Vincent — who admittedly, Lucas should have foreseen would be a problem.
Removing his ornate scissors from in-between his coat, he changed his stance so that Vincent would know Lucas was not here to lose his life. "Normally you really would be dead Lucas. Alas, now that Phita knows you're here. She's tasked me with doing as much damage as I dare try. Though not enough for that other girl. The death one you so dearly love: what was her name? To know who did you pain." "She'll be able to tell." "Not if the people doing the harm are humans." That took Lucas back a bit as the first blue ball of fire shot towards him. This was a live or die situation and Lucas was not in the business of abandoning Amarjeet without at least saying goodbye.
Jack POV
Offical police report as follows
Time: 0600 hours
Place: Grand Central Station.
Creatures present: Two Police Officers, A station conductor, Three Homeless and a stray tabby cat.
Event description: Officer Bill Olivera located corpse on track seven. Called for backup. Officer Olivera found deceased later. 0545 hours. 'Reported Body' missing. Olivera was struck to the head, his heart removed with surgical precision. Words etched onto station. WE ARE COMING. FEAR US. signature unknown.
"That worked."
He never thought he'd relish the power that now ran through his veins but he did. He was no longer pretty and he must have smelt a corpse but knowing now that he could turn those he touched into the same monsters as he was satisfying. His orders were clear, cause enough a stir that no one would be paying attention when Levei cut down the ancients, easy enough but he supposed he'd need to ramp up the violence if he wanted the claimants to know just how much shit they were in. He licked his lips and patted the head of the aptly named female corpse — He did not care for names, she was just a tool within means to an end. He continued along the path of the station touching each and every thing that had a pulse. The screams would last for only a moment before they would follow silently, moaning and drooling in their wake. "Levei wants hell. We'll give the city of New York Hell. The Ancients won't know what hit them."
Eviax POV
She swallowed another bite of hot chicken and leek pie, she really did love pie. As she cut herself another slice. Florita hummed in the background — making a dish called gumbo. It didn't sound particularly appetising but Florita had promised it was delicious. There was a harsh knock "Let us in." "Who could that be?" Florita murmured under her breath. She did not particularly agree with the drug dealing and mob goings nor the rest of her family being involved... but she wasn't in a place to disagree anyway.
Eviax stood up plate in hand and walked towards the door, letting Evyette and whichever person who needed saving now into the medium three room sized flat. Shinzo looked a right mess. Eviax barely recognised the guy... though his sword was a clear giveaway. Evyette placed the Japanese national down before heading directly towards the kitchen to eat, thus leaving Eviax in charge of seeing to the wounds clearly inflicted upon him by Phita.
"You ought not to treat him so... harshly." To which Evyette ignored, Eviax bit her lip and pulled her sleeves up, pie clearly forgotten as she placed her hands upon his chest or at least where she hoped he was not in pain. "Tell me where it hurts. Let me try and help. Deep breath in. I can get some morphine." Keeping her voice low and soothing, Shinzo was going to be out of action until Eviax could be sure that his body would not be in anyway permanently damaged from the events this morning.
I think thoughts.
I think thoughts.
These thoughts are not my own.
Are they ever my own?
Will they ever be my own?
I steal thoughts.
Thoughts. What a strange word.
Thoughts.
Thoughts.
"LOOK OUT." He held his arm out in front of a pair of lovers who were, as always. Human. Of course, when faced with the sight of two treasures ripping into each other; humans are bound to notice and they are bound to scream. So easy to frighten yet so easy to yearn for violence, Lucas nearly blanched, it seemed his finger had for the briefest moment interacted with that of the male in the pair... Sex. Why are you thinking about Sex when two beings greater than you are fighting to the death... well human death? Lord you must have your priorities straight as a bee collecting pollen for the hive. He waited and watched, just like the rest of them to assess the damage, when the battle was indeed concluded and Evyette stood triumphant, Lucas couldn't help but wonder if the other who had slipped nearly perfectly into the shadows was indeed Zyphinex. As for Lucas? Well, he was in dear old New York to see one special lady — well technically he had been provided a chance for a two day break, what better way than to spend it with the love of his life and frankly the only person whose thoughts weren't invasive, pervasive or otherwise.
Why dear old Lucas had no idea how to be anyone but himself around Amarjeet, then again she had demanded that much of him; even though he felt like he could never be himself because of his occupation. Opening the door to the bar, a smile cracked up — though she had her back turned to him, ducking past a pair of fire claimants who were chattering on and on about their treasure being the most superior; something that Lucas did not agree with in the slightest, he made sure his voice was loud, clear and hopefully authentic I am always carrying the voices of others. Perhaps it is not even my own voice... how does she know what my true voice is? Can a man like me have one? Or is it as slippery as thoughts can be? he waited till she had turned at just the right angle to finally actually speak. "She cook, she cleans, she makes drinks. How are you not someone's beloved wife yet?"
In a trade like his, touch was a tricky invasive topic. He did not like the most dominant of his senses more than he liked walking through mud in a pair of white shoes. Everyone who was anyone who touched him made him feel ill. It was not that he minded, he had stopped caring long enough to do the job and be paid; but that didn't mean he was free of standing under freezing cold water, iron wire and electrical equipment trying to scrub himself clean of the filthy obsessive thoughts of all of his unsuspecting victims. Well not victims? Perhaps... sources of information was a better term? So swept up in his own thoughts he nearly toppled over when she enveloped him.
मुझे ताकत दो। {Give me strength}
मैं उसके लायक नहीं हूं {I am not worthy of her}
मैं पिछले पर घर हूं {I am home at last}
"Oh, you know I can't resist you," He swung her around, he was finally at peace. All of the dirty work was gone and forgotten about... the secrets he had stored up to be dissected and analysed by his ancient left his conscious mind and the feeling of not having to trudge through Amarjeet's mind was like an eagle coming home from a long day of looking for field mice in barren winter. When she criticised him for his lack thereof appearance — he was glad she hadn't noticed the bleeding yet. "You know I'm working, woman." a look of hurt crossed her face and he wondered if his game had been blown, Amarjeet had always been unusually perceptive of his tries to diminish his injuries — she rarely let him down for it, in fact he felt she was about to be very. Very angry. Not that he looked hurt outwardly... but his spleen was ruptured and his ribs technically just the ones on his right... broken. "I am fine. Nothing major." he murmured under his breath as bar patrons started to stop and stare at their reunion. She decided to play him off, there would be hell to pay for it later when she could have a closer look at him. "I'm always working, beautiful. You know that." He would drop the 'here for two days bomb' when she wasn't about to go off on a void murder spree.
Three Days Ago
I knew she was devious. Up to something however? On this large a scale? No. Surely not. Once he would have said no to spying on an ancient, because usually they were the ones who employed him but Novevu had insisted that he had to be sure that Phita wasn't fucking him over. Using information against the fire claimants had been too easy, now that Lucas was inside Phita's office though, the blueprints and other documents were a clear worry. None of it made sense and he was running out of time to absorb and remember as much as he could. It had only been by chance that the office was empty — a meeting that Novevu had conveniently planned just so that Lucas would have this chance.
"Well look here." Lucas looked up and felt his whole world began to crumble. Thankfully, fortunately it was not Evyette or Phita but rather one of their claimants. Vincent. He had no other name. He needed no other name but amongst Akiekunai like Lucas, he was not one to be trifled with. "Seems Chaemai got sloppy. Who sent you thought stealer." "I'm surprised you haven't thrown a flame at me yet." "I'd rather bring my mistress. Your head." Now. Lucas was not much a fan of physical confrontations; and definitely not ones against physical powerhouses like Vincent — who admittedly, Lucas should have foreseen would be a problem.
Removing his ornate scissors from in-between his coat, he changed his stance so that Vincent would know Lucas was not here to lose his life. "Normally you really would be dead Lucas. Alas, now that Phita knows you're here. She's tasked me with doing as much damage as I dare try. Though not enough for that other girl. The death one you so dearly love: what was her name? To know who did you pain." "She'll be able to tell." "Not if the people doing the harm are humans." That took Lucas back a bit as the first blue ball of fire shot towards him. This was a live or die situation and Lucas was not in the business of abandoning Amarjeet without at least saying goodbye.
Jack POV
Offical police report as follows
Time: 0600 hours
Place: Grand Central Station.
Creatures present: Two Police Officers, A station conductor, Three Homeless and a stray tabby cat.
Event description: Officer Bill Olivera located corpse on track seven. Called for backup. Officer Olivera found deceased later. 0545 hours. 'Reported Body' missing. Olivera was struck to the head, his heart removed with surgical precision. Words etched onto station. WE ARE COMING. FEAR US. signature unknown.
"That worked."
He never thought he'd relish the power that now ran through his veins but he did. He was no longer pretty and he must have smelt a corpse but knowing now that he could turn those he touched into the same monsters as he was satisfying. His orders were clear, cause enough a stir that no one would be paying attention when Levei cut down the ancients, easy enough but he supposed he'd need to ramp up the violence if he wanted the claimants to know just how much shit they were in. He licked his lips and patted the head of the aptly named female corpse — He did not care for names, she was just a tool within means to an end. He continued along the path of the station touching each and every thing that had a pulse. The screams would last for only a moment before they would follow silently, moaning and drooling in their wake. "Levei wants hell. We'll give the city of New York Hell. The Ancients won't know what hit them."
Eviax POV
She swallowed another bite of hot chicken and leek pie, she really did love pie. As she cut herself another slice. Florita hummed in the background — making a dish called gumbo. It didn't sound particularly appetising but Florita had promised it was delicious. There was a harsh knock "Let us in." "Who could that be?" Florita murmured under her breath. She did not particularly agree with the drug dealing and mob goings nor the rest of her family being involved... but she wasn't in a place to disagree anyway.
Eviax stood up plate in hand and walked towards the door, letting Evyette and whichever person who needed saving now into the medium three room sized flat. Shinzo looked a right mess. Eviax barely recognised the guy... though his sword was a clear giveaway. Evyette placed the Japanese national down before heading directly towards the kitchen to eat, thus leaving Eviax in charge of seeing to the wounds clearly inflicted upon him by Phita.
"You ought not to treat him so... harshly." To which Evyette ignored, Eviax bit her lip and pulled her sleeves up, pie clearly forgotten as she placed her hands upon his chest or at least where she hoped he was not in pain. "Tell me where it hurts. Let me try and help. Deep breath in. I can get some morphine." Keeping her voice low and soothing, Shinzo was going to be out of action until Eviax could be sure that his body would not be in anyway permanently damaged from the events this morning.
AbonnobA
played by AbonnobA
· Apr 29, 2026
Eviax POV
She waited, keeping an ear out for the action outside. Not that she was useless in a fight it was more of a problem that she didn't need to fight. So she waited, patiently listening to the noise outside; she really was glad they were in a neighbourhood full of claimants rather than humans, the mess that would have made. Though she had protested Shinzo's departure — he was outside fighting with Haden and Evyette, she wondered. What it was going to take to understand this new circumstance they had found themselves in.
Taking several steps forward, she approached the window and watched the action, it seemed no matter how many ways they cut down the creatures; they seemed to get back on their feet. At first she wondered if it was Novevu's fault, perhaps he had gotten lazy and the void had opened up accidentally. That couldn't be right, Novevu never got that lazy and even when he did, his work was not sloppy he would clean up incidents like this without a second thought. She doesn't know if she's thinking these thoughts in order to calm herself down, she honestly doesn't know. She shakes her head, continuing to watch the action outside.
"Aim for their chests, they won't die otherwise. Don't bother with their fucking legs or arms, they reattach like something straight out of Novevu's imagination." She can hear her cousin, she's trying not to sound impatient, but knowing Evyette, she was about to lose her cool and cause a deep hole in the middle of the suburbs. "Watch out!" At least Eviax herself could be reassured in the knowledge that the claimants were safe with Evyette by their side. She wondered what Florita and Novevu thought — the nature ancient seemingly disappearing into thin air, she supposed the nature ancient had gone to wake Novevu up, not that anyone she knew could wake Novevu up when he chose to truly slumber. "This cannot be good"
It's only seconds later that Evyette in all of her might, having reverted from her male form hauled in a screaming blabbering creature, it could be easily mistaken for something undead, it was a man — but that was really the only distinguishing feature that Eviax could determine as Evyette tossed the creature into her arms and went back out to fight. Hell bent on violence, this creature tried to get a bite out of Eviax. Which was halted by her forcing it to sleep; that was the thing about the element of life, as long as something had a slither of it inside them she could reasonable knock it out and not have any of the nasty consequences, it was very much a useful tool when trying to operate on bodies to save lives and what have you.
Evyette was the one to announce the battle was over, but it was the smell that told her the battle was over... and the bodies, so many bodies. It seemed once the heart was removed, these creatures went back to being nothing but fragile human bodies, whoever had done this was a sick motherfucker. It was only now that the battle was over that she realized what it was Shinzo was wearing, stifling a laugh she looked to Haden who also seemed to be entirely aware of the fire claimant's current predicament. "I believe you're better off naked, in comparison to whatever it is you're wearing. I didn't know you stole clothes Shinzo. It's not a good look." the jab was light; in truth Evyette knew that it was because she had left Shinzo's belongings at her place that he was dressed as he was for battle.
Returning inside, the only thing left on her mind was getting answers, Eviax was standing over the now... rather unconscious zombie thing that she had earlier brought in. "SO what is it cousin? Cause when they die they become human again. You know like die properly and all." "I'm not too sure.... it's gonna take me some time to figure it out, but I think it has something to do with the chalice on the loose..." "No kidding. What do you need us to do?" "Find the Chalice, and maybe see if you can find any witnesses to these people being transformed... Shinzo should stay for a little longer, I don't want him getting injured again." "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a crush." Evyette winked, causing Eviax to turn beet red.
Lucas POV
He knew Amarjeet was pissed. God why couldn't he just come out with it instead of having to hide behind some kind of lie? But really, he was ok. He would be ok, and he would get all of the medical help now that he was here. He opened his mouth to insist when the stoic, humored voice of Gahbreal broke his concentration. He liked the idea of kissing her, embracing her, under the night stars... his mind trailed off concentrate Lucas. He cleared his throat when she once again demanded to know who had done this to him, there was no point in lying... his cover had been blown — but then he had to weigh the risks, if he told her who had done this to him, then what would stop his beloved from going after Vincent and causing a literal war between the house of Desdon and the house of Rhihon. Why it would mean war between Shinzo and AJ.
He shuttered at the thought; granted if he did tell her it was Vincent then maybe for once the fire claimant in question would learn his place and finally be taught a proper lesson. As he continued to toss his options up, AJ seemed to become a little less patient and a lot more annoyed. He was going to have to say something, anything... so long as it was an acceptable answer by AJ's standards. Then there was the matter of telling her how long he'd be in the city for, by the grace of Chaemai this was a nightmare. "Vincent did this."
Grasping Amarjeet around the waist and pulling her in, he stared directly into her eyes. "But you are not to go after him. He caught me in a sticky situation and so I had to pay a small price." The void was going to misbehave he just knew it. "I. Well. I'm not here for long, two days at most." It seemed tonight would be a night of answers for Amarjeet rather than him hiding under the shroud of lies he tended to build up around himself; hopefully his being truthful would mean less retaliation later on — then again, with Amarjeet he could never actually tell what was on her mind, or what kind of revenge she was thinking of enacting on those who had wronged her loved ones.
Now all Lucas wanted was to forget about the events of the past few weeks, months... why he was starting to feel like he didn't know himself. Of course he knew himself, did he though? No. No. No. No. No. All of the other voices seemed to shout. I am truly done for aren't I. I don't even now my own limits. I'm going to end up dead. Aren't I? This will be the last time I see my piece of paradise and she'll not even know. What will the ancients do, what will they decide to do... what will I become. Will I die and never come back.
He was again struck back into reality by Amarjeet telling everyone the establishment was closed and for him to take his shirt off so she could see how much damage had been caused. He was used to nudeness, so taking his shirt off and even his pants; he waited for her to inspect him. "I'm not too badly hurt." he continued to suggest, though his body was already turning all kinds of ugly shades of purple, black, blue, yellow — that was new. "So what happened, seems like a fight broke out?" When he was given no answer, he knew he had royally fucked up.
Levei POV
"Well would you look at that. What a success."
"It is really too bad that the chest is a weakness."
"Yes but at least now we have their undivided attention elsewhere worrying about these creatures of yours. Whilst they're all running around thinking they are doing a good deed, we will continue with our mission."
"Why don't you do anything for once?"
Levei hated being questioned, she glared at Jack who glared back just as defiantly, she would let him keep his defiance she supposed, for now. Deciding not to answer she picked the chalice up and sighed, why she had all of the power in the world now that she had her hands on one artefact, but she wanted more... she always craved more. Anything to get rid of the ancients and to raise her father. As for Zyphinex well, she was off being manic, trying to root out any source of information as to where they were keeping her dear papa. Extius. She shook her head, she was not to get distracted, she had a new army, which she had to command and ensure did not turn against her. Further she needed to figure out if there were any other artefacts within the city, and if so. How to attain them. Dismissing Jack with a wave of her hand, she took a sip out of the chalice, no longer filled with blood; more so wine and sighed. She had to admit, it was a decent holder of liquid, no wonder Xainayne was infamous for drinking out of it every night.
"Hurry up and make your next moves family members. I don't like waiting. I do hope you like my new toys. I hope they give you hell and I hope all of your children die."
She waited, keeping an ear out for the action outside. Not that she was useless in a fight it was more of a problem that she didn't need to fight. So she waited, patiently listening to the noise outside; she really was glad they were in a neighbourhood full of claimants rather than humans, the mess that would have made. Though she had protested Shinzo's departure — he was outside fighting with Haden and Evyette, she wondered. What it was going to take to understand this new circumstance they had found themselves in.
Taking several steps forward, she approached the window and watched the action, it seemed no matter how many ways they cut down the creatures; they seemed to get back on their feet. At first she wondered if it was Novevu's fault, perhaps he had gotten lazy and the void had opened up accidentally. That couldn't be right, Novevu never got that lazy and even when he did, his work was not sloppy he would clean up incidents like this without a second thought. She doesn't know if she's thinking these thoughts in order to calm herself down, she honestly doesn't know. She shakes her head, continuing to watch the action outside.
"Aim for their chests, they won't die otherwise. Don't bother with their fucking legs or arms, they reattach like something straight out of Novevu's imagination." She can hear her cousin, she's trying not to sound impatient, but knowing Evyette, she was about to lose her cool and cause a deep hole in the middle of the suburbs. "Watch out!" At least Eviax herself could be reassured in the knowledge that the claimants were safe with Evyette by their side. She wondered what Florita and Novevu thought — the nature ancient seemingly disappearing into thin air, she supposed the nature ancient had gone to wake Novevu up, not that anyone she knew could wake Novevu up when he chose to truly slumber. "This cannot be good"
It's only seconds later that Evyette in all of her might, having reverted from her male form hauled in a screaming blabbering creature, it could be easily mistaken for something undead, it was a man — but that was really the only distinguishing feature that Eviax could determine as Evyette tossed the creature into her arms and went back out to fight. Hell bent on violence, this creature tried to get a bite out of Eviax. Which was halted by her forcing it to sleep; that was the thing about the element of life, as long as something had a slither of it inside them she could reasonable knock it out and not have any of the nasty consequences, it was very much a useful tool when trying to operate on bodies to save lives and what have you.
Evyette was the one to announce the battle was over, but it was the smell that told her the battle was over... and the bodies, so many bodies. It seemed once the heart was removed, these creatures went back to being nothing but fragile human bodies, whoever had done this was a sick motherfucker. It was only now that the battle was over that she realized what it was Shinzo was wearing, stifling a laugh she looked to Haden who also seemed to be entirely aware of the fire claimant's current predicament. "I believe you're better off naked, in comparison to whatever it is you're wearing. I didn't know you stole clothes Shinzo. It's not a good look." the jab was light; in truth Evyette knew that it was because she had left Shinzo's belongings at her place that he was dressed as he was for battle.
Returning inside, the only thing left on her mind was getting answers, Eviax was standing over the now... rather unconscious zombie thing that she had earlier brought in. "SO what is it cousin? Cause when they die they become human again. You know like die properly and all." "I'm not too sure.... it's gonna take me some time to figure it out, but I think it has something to do with the chalice on the loose..." "No kidding. What do you need us to do?" "Find the Chalice, and maybe see if you can find any witnesses to these people being transformed... Shinzo should stay for a little longer, I don't want him getting injured again." "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a crush." Evyette winked, causing Eviax to turn beet red.
Lucas POV
He knew Amarjeet was pissed. God why couldn't he just come out with it instead of having to hide behind some kind of lie? But really, he was ok. He would be ok, and he would get all of the medical help now that he was here. He opened his mouth to insist when the stoic, humored voice of Gahbreal broke his concentration. He liked the idea of kissing her, embracing her, under the night stars... his mind trailed off concentrate Lucas. He cleared his throat when she once again demanded to know who had done this to him, there was no point in lying... his cover had been blown — but then he had to weigh the risks, if he told her who had done this to him, then what would stop his beloved from going after Vincent and causing a literal war between the house of Desdon and the house of Rhihon. Why it would mean war between Shinzo and AJ.
He shuttered at the thought; granted if he did tell her it was Vincent then maybe for once the fire claimant in question would learn his place and finally be taught a proper lesson. As he continued to toss his options up, AJ seemed to become a little less patient and a lot more annoyed. He was going to have to say something, anything... so long as it was an acceptable answer by AJ's standards. Then there was the matter of telling her how long he'd be in the city for, by the grace of Chaemai this was a nightmare. "Vincent did this."
Grasping Amarjeet around the waist and pulling her in, he stared directly into her eyes. "But you are not to go after him. He caught me in a sticky situation and so I had to pay a small price." The void was going to misbehave he just knew it. "I. Well. I'm not here for long, two days at most." It seemed tonight would be a night of answers for Amarjeet rather than him hiding under the shroud of lies he tended to build up around himself; hopefully his being truthful would mean less retaliation later on — then again, with Amarjeet he could never actually tell what was on her mind, or what kind of revenge she was thinking of enacting on those who had wronged her loved ones.
Now all Lucas wanted was to forget about the events of the past few weeks, months... why he was starting to feel like he didn't know himself. Of course he knew himself, did he though? No. No. No. No. No. All of the other voices seemed to shout. I am truly done for aren't I. I don't even now my own limits. I'm going to end up dead. Aren't I? This will be the last time I see my piece of paradise and she'll not even know. What will the ancients do, what will they decide to do... what will I become. Will I die and never come back.
He was again struck back into reality by Amarjeet telling everyone the establishment was closed and for him to take his shirt off so she could see how much damage had been caused. He was used to nudeness, so taking his shirt off and even his pants; he waited for her to inspect him. "I'm not too badly hurt." he continued to suggest, though his body was already turning all kinds of ugly shades of purple, black, blue, yellow — that was new. "So what happened, seems like a fight broke out?" When he was given no answer, he knew he had royally fucked up.
Levei POV
"Well would you look at that. What a success."
"It is really too bad that the chest is a weakness."
"Yes but at least now we have their undivided attention elsewhere worrying about these creatures of yours. Whilst they're all running around thinking they are doing a good deed, we will continue with our mission."
"Why don't you do anything for once?"
Levei hated being questioned, she glared at Jack who glared back just as defiantly, she would let him keep his defiance she supposed, for now. Deciding not to answer she picked the chalice up and sighed, why she had all of the power in the world now that she had her hands on one artefact, but she wanted more... she always craved more. Anything to get rid of the ancients and to raise her father. As for Zyphinex well, she was off being manic, trying to root out any source of information as to where they were keeping her dear papa. Extius. She shook her head, she was not to get distracted, she had a new army, which she had to command and ensure did not turn against her. Further she needed to figure out if there were any other artefacts within the city, and if so. How to attain them. Dismissing Jack with a wave of her hand, she took a sip out of the chalice, no longer filled with blood; more so wine and sighed. She had to admit, it was a decent holder of liquid, no wonder Xainayne was infamous for drinking out of it every night.
"Hurry up and make your next moves family members. I don't like waiting. I do hope you like my new toys. I hope they give you hell and I hope all of your children die."
kaiju
played by kaiju
· Jul 11, 2026
Evyette was as frightening as ever when she fought. His flames far more intense than Shinzo’s and yet he wasn’t far behind with his own aggression. It was when the treasure was once again in her more common form or at least more common for him, that he knew she was getting more serious. Shinzo was fast as always, skilled as always with a sense of control on the battlefield. His sword was accurate and even in his current condition it didn’t slow him down in the slightest. It made the ice claimant feel slightly useless in comparison to the two, but it didn’t stop him from fulfilling his purpose.
He continued on doing what he could to watch Shinzo’s and Evyette’s backs as well as he could. Displacing enemies who wandered to close, blocking off blind spots and forming pillars or walls of ice where needed to severe the enemies paths. This was tedious. These enemies were all just as much of a nuisance as the other one he fought and it wasn’t like he could just freeze the area over and shatter them all.
He didn’t even bother to draw his gun, not in this situation. There was far too much to manage and he was more concerned with keeping the enemies away from himself! He hated these things, they were just plain creepy! Killing this should be easy. This was everything but that! Along with the way they moved and the sounds they made he just wanted to seal himself up and hide away.
"Aim for their chests, they won't die otherwise. Don't bother with their fucking legs or arms, they reattach like something straight out of Novevu's imagination." Finally, but who would have guessed these things would have a weakness as simple as the heart? "Watch out!"
Haden nearly jumped out of his skin as one of the enemies approached him from behind, so focused on helping Shinzo move more freely that he wasn’t paying attention to his own defenses. “Christ almighty!” He shouted as he moved back, a wave of the hand encapsulating the enemy in a block of ice. A panicked reaction to say the very least but effective in stopping its movements. Shinzo, as fast as ever, moved in quickly with a slice straight through the ice as well as the enemy’s chest.
“You could at least try to act competent. I can’t watch after you and myself at the same time.”
“Oh so that’s how it’s gonna be is it? Okay then. You can fight on yer own and I’ll take care of me own feckin’ business!”
How angry could one small ball of ice get? He knew their weaknesses, he knew how to kill them, that was all he needed. He lifted his hand above his head with a pout. How dare Shinzo talk to him like that? As if he weren’t just helping him no more than a few moments prior? Well then if that were the case he’d just get this fight over with as soon as possible so he could rid himself of the situation entirely, of the odd feeling of embarrassment that flushed his cheeks.
Above his head multiple spears of clear white ice formed from the moisture around them, symmetrical and taking aim at the enemies he specifically chose. One by one each projectile pierced through the chest of their enemies and furthermore pinned the bodies in place. He wasn’t going to take any risks of them getting back up and this was the perfect way to do so. He had noticed Evyette hauling off one of them skill kicking, no doubt for Eviax, but that wasn’t his concern. His objective now was simply to put down as many of these things as possible without a second thought. If it were going to be this simple then a flash freeze and shatter would have been easy enough, but not when it felt like hell on earth fighting alongside Evyette and Shinzo, it was difficult enough keeping the ice under his control frozen.
In no time at all and with Evyette’s return the enemies were swiftly put down and at closer examination they were just, humans? Clearly out of control but humans nonetheless. This wasn’t too shocking for him and he didn’t very much care for the fragility of human life, but it did bring many things to question with the discovery. How did they end up like this? Why were they acting this way? Were they dead beforehand or did they give the finishing blows? If they were dead was this Novevu’s doing? Maybe one of his claimants? Or did this have to do with their objective with finding the chalice and a form of its power? It was much to vague to glean an answer from with just this attack alone and hopefully Eviax would find answers with the one Evyette had brought to her, but for now they had to figure out what their next more should be.
Even with the multitude of questions in need of answering there was a far more “pressing” matter to attend to. Haden’s eyes were steadily locked onto Shinzo still dressed in his rather beautiful garb. He would not allow him to get away with his previous statement so easily and it seemed that Evyette was also in the proper state of mind to capitalize on this situation.
"I believe you're better off naked, in comparison to whatever it is you're wearing. I didn't know you stole clothes Shinzo. It's not a good look."
“Aye, it looks like he spent too much time in Eviax’s care and thought he might try to become the lass! Maybe we should see if she’s got a purse for ya next and you’d be nice and ready for your next date.”
Oh how it pleased him to say such things. To never pass up a chance to belittle his rival no matter how many times he got the chance, but that was simply par for the course. He wasn’t going to kill up to the man no matter how close they had gotten and if he was going to so plainly insult him then he’d best be prepared for retaliation. Even so Evyette’s words would probably hurt him far more than his own and that was a victory of its own. However he couldn’t relish the moment any further as Evyette made her way back to Eviax and the two claimants followed steadily behind.
The human, or at least that’s what Haden would stick to calling them now, was unconscious and Eviax seemed as if there wasn’t an ounce of current progress to be made.
"SO what is it cousin? Cause when they die they become human again. You know like die properly and all."
"I'm not too sure... it's gonna take me some time to figure it out, but I think it has something to do with the chalice on the loose..."
"No kidding. What do you need us to do?"
"Find the Chalice, and maybe see if you can find any witnesses to these people being transformed... Shinzo should stay for a little longer, I don't want him getting injured again."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a crush."
Seeing Eviax’s reaction to Evyette’s words was like flame being set to ignition. Haden could feel his own face heating up again at the thought of it all. The feeling was awkward to say the very least but now he did have something to preoccupy his mind. The next task at had would be to find answers as well as the chalice if he could do so on his own. It would have been smart to ask for Evyette’s company but he didn’t want to be around anyone for the time being, the reason was something he couldn’t understand.
“If that’s it then I’m gonna head out and start askin’ around for some answers. Someone had to have seen somethin’ so I’ll look for either a person with a brain or the source of this feckin’ nonsense entirely. I’ll check in if I find somethin’.” Thank Daenu that was done.
He couldn’t get the thought out of his mind as he began making his way to the area he had spotted the first one of those humans, he was angry with Eviax as if she had done him some form of wrong and yet that clearly was not the case. Something in the back of his mind wanted to say that ‘Shinzo was his and his alone’, but that itself was quite the disturbing thought. Maybe he was getting too soft or maybe too comfortable with the fire claimant, but either way he couldn’t deny that the actions prior to his departure caused a bit of displeasure and by a bit he meant quite a lot. How that dick with a sword managed to get him like this was displeasing to say the least and at times he was far too warm to be around.
The heat was stuffy… but it always did relax him.
“Sorry but I’m gonna have to deny your offer Amarjeet. Xainayne is callin me for somethin and the Void forbid I keep her waitin. Try not to go too hard on him sweetheart, Lucas is pretty fragile after all and we both know he ain’t gonna worry you with his own problems if he can avoid it. The same type of thing I’d do, granted only one of us could survive being hit by a truck.” A quick wave and he was off, the clutches of the Void attempting to lull him into slumber and yet he had to refuse.
“What do you want?” His question was abrupt as always and withholding any signs of real care. If he had a job to do he would want to get it over with as quickly as possible.
“I see you took your sweet time getting here Gahbreal. Any longer and I might have assumed you were ignoring me.”
“That took me all of five seconds and I ain’t got the time to waste with idle banter. If there’s a job I would like to get it over with quickly.”
“Can’t I just call my favorite claimant here for a conversation? To see how you’re doing and if you’re feeling okay?”
“Well I feel like shit, not that it really matters to anyone and I was about to get some rest for the first time in days and now I’m here to see what you want from me instead. Overall I guess I’m doin fine and fuckin dandy! Claimants killin each other left and right over stupid shit so I guess I ain’t gonna be relaxin for anytime soon, so with that out of the way what is my next job?”
“I see you’re not in the mood for conversation… very well then. I just need you to keep an eye out. You’re officially on break for the time being.”
“Wait, what? What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you will be on vacation. Your job is to relax, take some time off and get some rest. You’re technically still on standby so I may call you at a moment’s notice, but for now you will simply be taking this time to rest. Do I make myself clear?”
“What are you plannin? I’ve been doin this same job for centuries and you have never once told me to take a break.”
“No plan, just stay in a hotel near Amarjeet’s bar and get as much rest as you can. I will have someone else take care of work for you so it won’t be anything you have to worry about.”
“Oh? And who is this mystery person that can handle my job for me? I don’t know of many other claimants that are at my level of capability or raw power. They most certainly won’t be in the same house. One of Phita’s assassins maybe?”
“It’s none of your business. I just have someone else fit for the job and you will leave them to take care of it. This is an order, so just relax.”
Gahbreal eyed his ancient for a moment, the red swirling about like a whirlwind of blood in his eyes before he gave a defeated sigh and relaxed himself. This was clearly some kind of bullshit his ancient was planning out, putting him on the backburner and keeping him waiting in reserve for something they was either expected to happen or maybe just planned out for the future and yet there wasn’t much he could do about it for now. He’d just have to take this time for what it is and prepare for whatever this was supposed to be.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll be ready if you need me. I suppose I’ll spend some time in the Carnival to recharge before I find a motel or somethin to wait this out.”
“Can I come with you?”
“What?”
“Are you going home to rest? Will I get to see you sleeping like when you were so little again?”
“Ugh, no. I’m just goin there to be in the dark for a bit and nothin more. May go check and see how Zyphinex is doin afterwards to see if she wants to talk—”
“You will do no such thing!”
“…and why is that?”
“Well… that’s because she is in a rather foul mood as of late and no one is allowed to visit her right now.”
“Ain’t she always in a foul mood? Literally all the damn time? What you’re sayin doesn’t make an ounce of sense but if you’re going to lie about it then I guess I won’t go. I’ll be on my way then.”
In a matter of moments the claimant was swept away by the void and gone, taking care of his own business as he was told. It was one of his most alluring traits in the eyes of Xainayne, his attentiveness to follow his orders and not step out of line. He was a model claimant when it came to doing what he was told but with the drawback of possible fits of madness it was a decent trade off.
Letting him know the chalice was missing would serve twofold: having him find it with great speed as well as the slaying of whoever was dumb enough to take it. The problem however would be the person who possessed the chalice. If they were too dangerous or simply someone they weren’t expecting then he would rush forward into possibly any form of great danger and Gahbreal isn’t invincible. That and with Zyphinex out and about it couldn’t be trusted to have them working side by side. The boy wouldn’t dare deny his treasure’s orders as much as he wouldn’t deny his ancient’s and that could quickly lead to a dire situation if allowed to take place. Keeping him out of the fray would have to be a priority for now, at least until he was specifically needed.
"I suppose I'll have Hellfire run around for a bit."
ooc
Originally posted by: Dobu
kaiju
played by kaiju
· Jul 11, 2026
In, out.
In, out...
He blinked hard, straining against his body as it tried to give out. Sweat poured down from his forehead in floods but he didn't have a spare hand to wipe it away. It felt like hell outside. For what was probably the first time in the entirety of him knowing the Scottish prick, he was thankful for the cold air that surrounded him. Shinzo's breathing faltered in its usual rhythm until he circled closer to Haden to cool down. The swordsman was thankful for the help Evyette and Haden provided because he was almost positive he would've gotten overwhelmed.
Shinzo took in a gasping breath as he finished dispatching an enemy per Evyette's new instructions to go for the heart. His eyes tracked an undead man ambling towards Haden, who wasn't paying attention because he was taking on a more supportive role, but the fire claimant couldn't muster the wherewithal to verbally warn him. At least the Scot still had some of his wits about him; he turned on his heel and took care of the threat half a second before Shinzo arrived to do it himself. The black-haired male hadn't felt any modicum of worry or empathy for Haden before the moment he almost watched him get killed.
“You could at least try to act competent. I can’t watch after you and myself at the same time.” He was quick on the draw this time; mostly because he could not wrap his mind around why his stomach sank when he thought Haden was vulnerable.
“Oh so that’s how it’s gonna be is it? Okay then. You can fight on yer own and I’ll take care of me own feckin’ business!”
He turned so the ice claimant wouldn't see his smirk. At least Haden was consistent.
Finishing off the rest of the walkers once Evyette returned was much easier because now it felt like the fire treasure was pissed. She changed her body back to her female form and for a moment Shinzo wanted to smack her--she could've done that inside and given him her clothes. Asshole.
In the aftermath of the carnage everyone took a moment to assess the situation. When both Evyette and Haden turned and looked him pointedly up and down, Shinzo rolled his eyes because he already knew what was coming.
"I believe you're better off naked, in comparison to whatever it is you're wearing. I didn't know you stole clothes Shinzo. It's not a good look," the fire treasure giggled.
“Aye, it looks like he spent too much time in Eviax’s care and thought he might try to become the lass! Maybe we should see if she’s got a purse for ya next and you’d be nice and ready for your next date.”
“So funny,” the swordsman deadpanned as he wiped sweat from his brow. “Both of you can suck my dick.”
Shinzo stripped of the tiny T-shirt he'd forced himself into as he reentered the townhouse. The pants could only fit if they remained unbuttoned but he didn't feel like peeling them off. One of his arms was slung across his chest as if it would push his cracked ribs back into place as he used the last of his strength to hobble over to the an empty couch and unceremoniously fall into it.
"SO what is it cousin? Cause when they die they become human again. You know like die properly and all."
"I'm not too sure... it's gonna take me some time to figure it out, but I think it has something to do with the chalice on the loose..."
"No kidding. What do you need us to do?"
"Find the Chalice, and maybe see if you can find any witnesses to these people being transformed... Shinzo should stay for a little longer, I don't want him getting injured again."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have a crush."
The fire claimant's brows rose in surprise as the statement registered in his mind. Red eyes glanced from Evyette to Eviax curiously as he considered the implication. Evyette was smug with her accusation while Eviax was embarrassed.
Being with Eviax didn't seem like such a bad situation. She was kind, beautiful, capable--perhaps too good for him if he was being honest. She had an infectious positivity and benevolent way of going about her life. She was perfect. It was for that reason that he knew he would never deserve her--then again, he could try. It was a nice thought to busy himself with.
His lids drew low with tiredness as Haden began explaining where he was headed. He wanted to get up and accompany him to prove that he was fine, but feeding his own ego wouldn't help his injuries. He rationalized to himself that Haden could get a head start and he would join as soon as he could--besides, staying meant he could spend more time with Eviax.
“Don't die,” he called after the retreating ice claimant. “Your funeral will be sparsely attended.”
Amarjeet knew Lucas was good at his job. Above all, she knew that he was bound by his obligation to his Ancient. But that did nothing to quell her undying hate for it. Well, to be completely transparent, she didn't hate the job so much as she hated what it did to her love. She went months at a time without seeing him--often, not talking to him either. Despite that, it never crossed her mind that he would not return to her.
Though looking at him now, it looked like he almost didn't.
Gahbreal's presence didn't serve as a buffer between Lucas and Amarjeet's wrath for long. He tried to help his friend out before departing, but even he had to know there wasn't a bunch he could do. He would do well to remember Cyva's wrath if he ever returned to her in such condition. Still, she had words for him when she saw him next.
Lucas recaptured her attention by pulling her close to him, finally revealing who had hurt him so badly: Vincent. The fire claimant. The British woman's mood immediately soured, her expression turning stormy as she recalled Vincent's face.
"But you are not to go after him. He caught me in a sticky situation and so I had to pay a small price... I. Well. I'm not here for long, two days at most."
She took a long, dramatic breath in through her nose. She knew she wanted to scream at him. She wanted to scream at him so bad it made her want to cry her eyes out. But the bar was still technically open. She didn't say anything to him for an extremely long minute. It was like she drifted away in her mind... She focused on nothing in particular except the sinking feeling that started in the pits of her stomach. For the first time since she had started this relationship with Lucas, she wanted to punch him in the face because she didn't know what else to do.
When she could finally gather herself enough to speak, Amarjeet announced to the few stragglers that were left that the bar was closed. She could feel the monkey on her back that was the Void feeding on her misery; could feel herself losing the battle of willpower that separated Amarjeet from it. She had to calm down but didn't know how and every time Lucas spoke it simply got worse.
The blonde continued to insist he wasn't hurt too badly even though now she could see with her own eyes just how bad it was. Again, the urge to slap the shit out of him for lying so egregiously crossed her mind. Instead, her eyes welled up until she couldn't hold it anymore and tears began rolling down her cheeks.
Lucas was quick to catch on, reaching up to brush her tears away, but she moved out of his reach. The rejection deflated him. He preferred she be angry at him than cry. The fury, he could handle; the tears, he could try to; the rejection made him want to disappear inside himself.
Her hands softly explored his body, tentatively pressing on the disparately colored bruises to assess how bad the internal damage could be. She knew Lucas was capable of handling himself, so why was he hurt so badly? And Vincent was still alive at the end of it all? She knew the world of Ancient politics was difficult to breach, but it boiled down very simply in her mind: she was going to kill Vincent once and for all, and she was going to make it as painful as possible. Novevu himself could not change her mind from this course of action. Any potential repercussions were trivial compared to her fear of losing Lucas.
The Void whispered sweet nothings in the back of her mind, promises of how she could avenge Lucas. She knew the ravenous monster didn't care about her as much as it knew if she lost her temper, there would be enough death to be had to appease its appetite. It would be able to run rampant without her conscience holding it back.
"I'm scared," she finally revealed as she sniffled. "I want to believe you when you say you'll be okay, but how can I when you always lie? Why is it so hard for you tell me the truth?"
She tried to remind herself not to be too hard on him whenever he came into town, though this time she couldn't hold herself to that standard. Something about this time, this set of injuries, was different than all the other times. He was barely standing and she should've known he didn't have that much time in the city if his first stop was to see her in his current shape.
"Lucas, why can't you just learn how to ask for help?!" Her hand hovered over his chest, pausing at a particularly dark mark before breaking down all over again.
ooc
Originally posted by: kaiju
kaiju
played by kaiju
· Jul 11, 2026
He felt like a fish out of water, that was the only way to describe how he reacted to Amarjeet and her questions, why did he have to lie? His toes curled and he swallowed down bitter bile when her hands touched a particularly tender spot. He hated this, hated hurting her, lying and all the bullshit that came with his job; but someone had to do it. When his questions were left unanswered, he found himself idly touching the wooden tabletop of the bar, there he glimpsed just barely the fight that had turned the once thriving bar into a scene slightly out of WWII. Haden, Shinzo, Evyette were here… there was another one with them, a water claimant? He was rushed back into reality once more by the pain; in his haste to be free of Vincent and to make his way back to the bar, to Amarjeet… Lucas had stupidly forgotten to check his appearance – therefore he was not aware at all of the fact that two of his ribs were sticking out of his back. Blood suffused there and as soon as Amarjeet’s fingers came into contact with the torn muscle and broken bone, he could do nothing but pull her into a fierce hug for he saw only for a moment the briefest flicker of the void taking over.
Now her final words made sense, this time he had to ask for help.
“I know right now you want to lose control and to hunt Vincent down, but I need you to stay here and help me.”
He had to hope his words were enough, he had to hope that him being here if only for two days was enough. It’s not enough, it’ll never be enough. I can’t tell her. I can’t tell her. Tell her. She can help. No the void is too close to the surface. It can wait. She’ll figure it out. Novevu will tell her. What do I do?
Once he was sure that she wasn’t going to bolt out the door and into the night, he stepped back again and tried to locate a chair with his hand, sitting down and resting would be a nice start. Perhaps there was still time in the night for a drink, a kiss maybe… he partially wondered why he was not healing, perhaps it was the bone sticking out of his back? Maybe he should put it back? Sober? Who was he kidding, he’d need to be out cold before anyone could put it back into place and start the slow painful progress of healing.
“How have you been otherwise my love?”
He was still trying to lighten the mood, to make her laugh – he’d do anything to see her smile. Sometimes he wondered if she’d ever get so sick of him and just leave him in the dirt, locating the chair he sat down gingerly on the edge and ran his hand tiredly over his face, the voices, his voices, past lives… whatever started to talk and shout in union. Blaming him for his recklessness, asking him to atone, to confess, to bare his soul, to calm, to reassure, to flirt…sitting down had been the wrong move, but it was too late now as he fell to the floor, his eyes wide open as he fell into unconsciousness.
Sigmutt had been sleeping on the couch when her mother had without due prompt, stormed into the room, a look of pure fury on her face. Her mother, Chaemai had a terrible habit of bursting into rooms without ceremony or permission and Sigmutt was getting heartily sick of it.
“You are to go to New York this instance!”
“Why?” She asked sleepily
“For the life of me Sigmutt do you never keep track of your responsibilities?”
“Why should I? You’re here for me.” She teased.
“Go. Now. Before I erase you.”
“Whatever. Whose in trouble now?”
“Lucas.”
“…. Mother he switched houses remember? The trade? He was returned to Mucmoi…”
“I DO NOT CARE.”
“What did Nammay do? Fuck him?”
“No. Nothing of the sort.” Her mother blushed.
Lord, her mother was always too quick to defend her predecessor, stretching out like a feline would in the sun, Sigmutt swung her feet onto the floor and stood up. Her mother gave her look of utter annoyance, Sigmutt could be quick, as quick as any light claimant travelling during the day; but the treasure was not only lazy but utterly annoyed that her long overdue nap had been interrupted by her overly nosy mother.
Eviax has been rolling up another pile of bandages, happy now that the chaos of the night was finally over, she looked up when the light bulbs seemed to quake and flicker before Sigmutt appeared before her very eyes.
“Sigmutt?”
“Hey. Know where Lucas is?”
“Lucas? Isn’t he out of your territory now?”
“Yes, but mother says he’s in danger or whatever.”
“I don’t know where he is, I haven’t seen him. Perhaps try the bar.”
“The bar?”
“Novevu’s one. It’s near central.”
“Thanks.”
“Perhaps go tomorrow when it is lighter? I know the bar is closed by now. No one will be there.”
“Duly noted.”
Eviax was glad to see Sigmutt disappear just as quickly as she came, she was doubly glad that Sigmutt hadn’t woken Shinzo up from his sleep. After the battle she had insisted he drink some of her herbal tea to quicken his recovery, and also so then he’d not move from her couch until she was sure he was in perfect health.
Sigmutt never listened to anyone’s advice, Eviax included. Travelling through the many street lamps and electrical wiring, she found herself in front of Novevu’s establishment. Eviax was right, the lights weren’t on at all, Sigmutt narrowed her eyes and approached the door. She didn’t mind breaking and entering but she also knew that if she was not careful, Novevu would have a pack of hungry void hounds on her within seconds. She decided to walk around and investigate, listening for any signs of life, how she wished she was Eviax right about now.
Inside, on the upper apartment level of the bar, the living room had been turned upside down and Lucas still unconscious had been placed on the dining table on his stomach, his head turned towards the bedroom. His eyes were still open and occasionally his body jerked left and right like a puppet on strings being thrown about in a cardboard box on moving day. Occasionally his rib cage rose, indicating that he was still alive. He could not see anything, and his eyes were somewhat glassy; a tear or two fell and turned into pure silver nuggets, clinking gently against the wooden floorboards.
“You called?”
Xainayne’s voice purred, he sat atop the balcony’s railing, his back towards the street and his eyes on Amarjeet. He so rarely ventured into these parts of the city, and especially here at Novevu’s favourite child’s abode. He noticed Lucas immediately and frowned.
“My, what’s happened to your French pumpkin?”
He had only hours ago been in his female form, but Xainayne preferred to revert when around any of Novevu’s children, in case they chose to pester him over his rather naive and innocent natured look. Stepping into the apartment, he made sure no one from the outside could see in with a quick flick of his wrist and a gesture to the walls. He circled the table and came to a stop in front of Luca’s head. As to not cause Amarjeet any more torment, he murmured a word and without touching Lucas lifted him into a seated position.
“Open his mouth for me. I know you won’t abide me touching him in your current state. I must see the underside of his tongue. Can you do that?”
Xainayne had to glare at the Void’s tendrils in order for the void to understand that at this moment he needed, rather Lucas, needed AJ to be in full control of herself. Once Luca’s mouth was opened, Xainayne whispered another word and saw exactly what he had hoped not to see.
“Who has he been with?”
Gently, as though exhaling after surfacing from water, Xainayne extracted what appeared to be a jewel from underneath Luca’s tongue, it glinted in the yellow light of the apartment.
“This is from my chalice.” Xainayne paused before adding.
“Thank Lucas for me. If he makes it.”
He stepped back and pocketed the jewel, Lucas fell slack and the dark ancient winced when Lucas hit the table with a decided smack. He turned to leave.
“You should take him to Novevu. Wherever that son of a bitch is. He’ll know what to do. I cannot help him much now.”
Florita and Novevu were wrapped up in each other’s embrace, the personification of nature ran her hands over her beloved chest and smiled when he gave her an affectionate peck on the forehead. Their dark, one light, the other dark tangled between them as they spoke softly to one another.
There was a pounding on the front door of Florita’s apartment, immediately aware of the danger, it was Novevu and not his wife who got up from the bed, slipping on a silk robe – curtesy of Xainayne. Novevu slithered out of the room and through the hall, summoning his sword to his side and one of the many and varied void pups that seemed to accompany Novevu no matter where he went. He flipped the switch and peeked through the eyehole, he had expected to see a thug or a human who was lost… instead he saw the void, Amarjeet and Lucas.
Opening the door without hesitation, Novevu stepped aside and gestured to the kitchen.
“In the kitchen now. Tell me what happened whilst I see to him.”
"Whose that?” Florita asked from the bedroom.
“Just Amarjeet and Lucas.” The front door clicked shut behind him.
Florita emerged from the bedroom soon after and approached her husband, his Aikekunai and Lucas, she wasn’t pleased that their night had been interrupted but it had to be urgent for Amarjeet not to wait. She barely even listened when the Void through Amarjeet began to speak. She placed her hands gently on the unconscious metal Aikekunai and allowed living foliage, snake out of her skin and onto the wounds that were most obvious, hissing and shuttering as she examined his broken body.
“This one has been tortured. Fire.”
“By one of Phita’s children.”
“You are not just here to seek help. You are here to ask permission.” Novevu divined.
“I will call for Eviax. You both can go. He will be safe in my care.”
A horrendous mix of woman and void screeched an unintelligible answer that gave Florita a headache. She tried another option.
“Or perhaps, the void can stay here and Amarjeet can go hunt.”
The sword vanished, Novevu’s eyes roamed over Lucas and then looked at Amarjeet, her eyes were not her own.
“Qrow. How nice for you to join us. I can assure you. Godfrey, is safe. Lucas will be too. Florita and Eviax as well as I will see to it.”
He knew none of the words would penetrate the furious Aikekunai standing in front of him, it was his turn to place his hands upon Lucas, humming an ancient lullaby that came with no words, the bruises, the marks, the burns, the broken bones, muscles and what not glowed bright red in his eyes. He sighed and turned to his wife.
“Go run the bath. He needs to be cleaned first.”
“The exposed bone… the muscle.”
“Can wait, right now he stinks of death. The void and Amarjeet won’t leave until they’re assured by me that his soul has not flown to Elysian.”
Florita obeyed immediately as Novevu tapped Lucas head. The metal Aikekunai blinked.
“Lucas is out cold. But I believe Godfrey is not.”
The shared eyes of Lucas and Godfrey swivelled in their sockets, immediately settling on Amarjeet, though almost minute, the muscles in their least injured of the two arms, twitched and reached somewhat for their significant other’s hand.
“This is going to be a long, long morning. You may as well get comfortable…”
Evyette had hoped that the earlier events of the night would be the only thing she’d have to worry about, course it was no surprise to her that the Chalice was the reason for all of this chaos. She sighed and wished she could ask her mother… father… Phita what to do.
“What the fuck!”
Down below on the city streets, Evyette could have sworn she was seeing things… in reality she was not and the Fire treasure found herself leaping at great heights down to the street where somehow a void of chalice-drunk humans seemed to be walking. All of them moaning and cursing. She swore and snapped her fingers, preparing for a fight… what she had also not anticipated was the sudden and rather violent crash of Sigmutt’s body flying into her own – the electricity treasure had too been set upon by what Evyette now considered a living fucking nightmare.
“Shit!”
“Shit indeed.” Sigmutt apologised with a glance as they regained their footing and turned to face the mob.
“Why the fuck does this keep happening.”
“What the fuck are they?” Sigmutt reached for her whip which was resting at her hip.
“Does it matter? Just help me put them down.”
“Can’t we call for help.”
“Not unless that help comes in the form of a tiny drunk irishman, Gahbreal or Shinzo.”
Evyette commented as she once again, flames the ready began the next round of clearing the streets of the creatures.
ooc
Originally posted by: Spira
kaiju
played by kaiju
· Jul 11, 2026
“What does that rat think he’s talking about? My Funeral? Sparsely attended?! The nerve.”
Every step was a means to clear his mind, every drink from his flask a moment to reflect and focus... or possibly the opposite. However, there was very little in the form of relaxation or drink that could be gained as the streets had more or less become even more infested with whatever these things were. Knowing that it would simply be easier to destroy them entirely Haden had adapted the strategy of freezing them and shattering them as he came across them. At this rate he wouldn’t find anyone not in the exact same condition. It could be easily summarized that this had something to do with Xainayne’s recently missing chalice, but that just made it all the more confusing. Gahbreal didn’t seem to care about it at all when he had run into him before. Yet if this were somehow connected then wouldn’t it be best to assume he were somewhere handling this?
Wandering around searching for answers was certainly getting him nowhere, that was clear upon his next kill. He had gone about no longer counting them as he continued on his path. One would step out from around a corner or simply rush him down the roads or alleyways only to be met with a flash freeze and several bullets to crumble them to a pile of ice and frozen bits on the concrete. It was starting to become annoying. By now he had become more or less used to their appearance, less spooked by the entire thing, and chose to do the best he could do in order to gain some answers. The next one to show itself leading to his gun being holstered and his hands raised to a ready position.
“Yeah, that’s right. Come here ya dumbarse,” he spoke with his eyes trained on the approaching target. The moment it came within a decent proximity he twisted his hands around accurately and skillfully, briars of ice sprouting from the ground and entangling them in place before tightening and rending the flesh. Captured, yet alive. “Since I can’t find anyone else, yer gonna give the answers I want! Where are ya comin from and who’s makin all of ye?”
He was met with nothing more than incoherent mumbling and nonsensical ramblings. Of course, he didn’t know what he had expected to gain from a conversation with one of these things, but at least it was worth a try... a try that had only managed to piss him off even more. He clasped his fist tightly, the briars squeezing in until severing his prey into pieces before his eyes surveyed the area. There already wasn’t much to go off of, but at least he could ascertain the direction from which the majority of these enemies were approaching. If he couldn't find any proper clues here then hopefully, he would find something at whatever the source was. Whether it be the cause or a clue.
It was always a pleasant experience to be home. Not his home in the human realm, but rather in the Vortex which felt like a close part of himself. It wasn’t that he enjoyed the overall atmosphere or anything so kind. It was simply the closure which its darkness brought him. There were few places which made him feel whole, as one being, but if there were any place which did accomplish this it would be this place.
He closed his eyes, thoughts crossing his mind which put him at ease. A reflection on the past, present, and of the future. His previous lives before himself were pathetic in a sense when he thought about it, and none of them were pleased with that thought. Of all his lives he was confident that with this one he was the most capable and proven, aside from the first of course, but that did not keep him from holding onto his connections with them. Something all the others neglected. While all but one of them shared the same name and looks, even their principles remaining the same, none of them had a common personality and went about things in their own way. He personally was the only one of the current seven who even cared to hear out the previous lives. Although they did nothing more than encourage him to rest, a request which he always refused.
He stood to his feet, doing almost what seemed like wandering about and yet he knew exactly where he was going. The moment he reached his destination approaching the first claimant he spotted and grabbing their attention the only way he knew how.
“You!”
“What? Oh shit, I didn’t do anything?”
“What?” he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just listen. I’m headin out. Whenever Xainayne returns, let him know I’ll be stayin in a motel around Novevu’s bar like we spoke of.”
“Well, actually Gahbreal, I was just about to leave. I have some errands to run, so-”
“And I didn’t ask. Just get it done.”
With the exchange complete he didn’t waste any time opening up his path out to the... less than busy roads. He looked about, almost confused yet caring little about the situation itself. With a bit of rest and meditation his thoughts were clear enough to go about making a judgement call as easy as ignoring the affairs of whatever humans had been doing to get the streets clear, so he just chose to go directly to his destination. It was a motel he had been to multiple times. Nothing too grand, nothing that draws a lot of attention, a rather normal and comfortable place he had become a regular of. With its decent proximity to Novevu’s bar it was an ideal place to take breaks every once in a blue moon.
The door creaked open with the normal jingle of the bell, the male behind the desk ahead of him offering a decent smile. Neither of them offered any extravagant greeting, although he did give Gahbreal a simple wave which was acknowledged by a nod in return.
“Same room as always? Top floor?” he spoke as he reached for one of the keys which rested on the wall behind him.
“Yeah. I’ll be here for a few days this time, so make sure no one uses any of the rooms around mine.”
“I assume you’ll be paying extra for the service as always?”
“Of course.”
“Very well,” he spoke as he handed the key over to the aikekunai. “Oh, but I should warn you?” those words caused his brow to raise. They had never had a conversation outside of business, yet now he chose to speak of a warning?
“Is something going on in the building?”
“Of course not, but I’ve been hearing talk about the streets being a bit dangerous. An influx of crime, primarily muggings or street fights. Apparently, a few people have gotten killed. They’ve been saying to stay off the streets. I doubt it’s as serious as they’re making it sound, but I’d still be careful. Just in case.”
“Interesting... actually, hold onto this for me.” He handed the key back before making his way towards the exit. “I won’t be gone for long. Just gonna pick up a few things.”
“Of course. Be careful.”
“Sigmutt?”
“Hey. Know where Lucas is?”
“Lucas? Isn’t he out of your territory now?”
“Yes, but mother says he’s in danger or whatever.”
“I don’t know where he is, I haven’t seen him. Perhaps try the bar.”
“The bar?”
“Novevu’s one. It’s near central.”
“Thanks.”
“Perhaps go tomorrow when it is lighter? I know the bar is closed by now. No one will be there.”
“Duly noted.”
Several minutes had managed to pass by, Shinzo still asleep as Eviax went about her business. A momentary peace as all the familiar shadows darkened and, from the darkest shadow, Gahbreal emerged with a broken and battered corpse slung over his shoulder. He didn’t speak, instead looking at Eviax before his attention shifted over to the sleeping Shinzo. Injured, and by a unique weapon at that. It was troubling to think about, but clearly there was no purpose in him being there. Although, he was in the presence of a treasure now. He couldn’t just ignore her entirely.
“Hey,” he spoke in a low voice as to not disturb the resting Shinzo.
“Hi?”
“I’m assumin there’s some shit... I mean, there is something happening that I don't know about.”
“You don’t know what’s going on?”
And she does?!
And she does?!
It was a quick exchange of words, but as quickly as he came, he was gone with the corpse he had brought in tow. If there was some problem, he could not understand why Xainayne wouldn’t tell him about it. What he did know however was that he wasn’t going to get an answer out of him regardless. Bothering Eviax was going to be a waste of her time, especially when she was busy dealing with someone else.
“I hear Shinzo is in pretty bad shape. That’s pretty damn shameful. I wonder if Phita is going to find out.”
“Are you stupid? Phita probably already knows,” Harvel spoke as he looked down on the street below. “The kid is going to be punished for his failure no doubt.”
“You’re just being hard on him. Who was the spark fighting? Zyphinex? I’d say he survived long enough to be praised at least a little.”
“Oda, when was the last time Phita praised you for anything?”
“Well, that was... or rather... do you remember when... huh. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been praised for anything I’ve done for Phita.”
“Exactly. Now stop talking and pay attention.”
The two fire claimants watched on as their treasure continued fighting alongside Sigmutt. Harvel personally wondered why she was even present, but Oda was mainly just excited to see any form of combat by any measure. The treasures weren’t struggling by any means, but at the same time it didn’t seem as if things were easy for them either. It was almost certain that neither of them would lose in a situation like this, or rather the chances were low. But low chances were still admitting there was a chance.
“Shouldn’t we help?” Oda questioned Harvel.
“No. Don’t you remember Phita saying not to do anything unless absolutely necessary?”
“Yeah, but-”
“But nothing! Can’t you just sit still for a little bit? Holy shit, come on!”
“Don’t tell me you don’t feel it either, the urge to fight. Sitting around like this, just looking at a battle? It’s not only boring but pretty agitating. I know you can hear the flames whispering to you as well, telling you to get in the fight.”
“Sorry, but no. Unlike you I don’t have the same urges. You, on the other hand, should learn to keep that under control like your mother did.”
“You’re no fun. It’s no wonder Ellisha says you’re too uptight.”
“What?” Harvel spoke as if insulted. “When has she ever said that?”
“What are we lookin at?” his voice caused Oda to jump back a little, meanwhile Harvel didn’t move at all. Oda let out a long sigh before moving back to his position and planting his attention back onto the two treasures.
“Fuck you Gahbreal! You could have said something at least.”
“I did.”
“We’re keeping an eye on Evyette, Phita’s orders. These things have been moving through the city for quite some time now, but the source is not yet discovered. I’m honestly surprised you haven’t found out who’s behind this already. With the chalice missing, I thought you would have flipped this city on its head by now.”
“The chalice?”
“We still don’t know who took Xainayne’s artifect, but it’s clear this has something to do with it.”
“Took Xainayne’s what?” both Oda and Harvel looked at him as if he were overreacting, but it was Oda who was the first to realize what had taken place.
“Oh shit, Xainayne didn’t tell you about this.”
“Well, I suppose that would explain his reaction and why he’s here to begin with. If Xainayne didn’t tell you I doubt anyone else would once they figure that out. I’m sure he has a reason, son. Probably because he wanted to leave this to Zyphinex.”
“Leave it to who?”
“This is hilarious! Xainayne makes some of the most convoluted moves I’ve ever seen!” Oda spoke as he fell back onto the roof and laughed at the entire situation. “If I had to guess, he probably thought you’d go directly for the source without any help or telling anyone anything. I mean, you hunt people for a living, but for something like this there may be an unexpected piece at play on the board.”
“Oda is right. You never ask for help and you always do your work while giving others as little information as possible. If you ended up running into the wrong person there’s a chance you’d be killed and no one would gain anything from it. You can't say that wouldn't be the case.”
“So it’s best that I do nothing? For fuck’s sake! At this point too much time has passed. I wouldn’t even know where to start looking! These things are probably all over the damn place and finding the source, which is my house’s fucking artifect, would take more time than is necessary. These shambling mother fuckers have no proper direction and are just roaming everywhere they can get! Bakage teru!”
The two watched as the aikekunai stepped onto the edge of the roof, his eyes glued onto the two treasures below. Harvel reached forward and grabbed his son’s arm quickly to keep him from going down, almost as if he knew exactly what was running through his mind, but as he pulled his limb away it was clear that nothing was going to stop him at this point. Oda, as calm as ever, simply tapped him on the shoulder with a now more serious look.
“I’ll have to request you don’t interfere. I don’t think Phita would be pleased if you get in Evyette’s way.”
“Boku no mondai janai. I’ll get my answers my own way.”
Things did not change for the two as they watched Gahbreal descend to the treasures. It wasn’t like he’d cause any major problems outside of being difficult to deal with. The only solace the two had in this situation was knowing he would at least be somewhat respectful and nonhostile to them. There was no question about that, although he might outright ignore their orders since neither of them were ancients. If there were one exceedingly good thing about all of this it would be that an aikekunai was now on the hunt as well. His father, however, couldn't help but feel that Gahbreal had grown too trusting of what the ancients and treasures had to say. One of the first things she taught him was to only trust himself after all. Perhaps he was getting a bit too attached to the people around him.
Meanwhile, in some random location on the city streets, the air was thick with chilling wind. Haden’s breaths were heavy yet not with exhaustion. Instead, there was a thick layer of frost with every breath he took. He shivered slightly as he looked around, a confused look on his face as he took in the surroundings and found himself wondering if he were just seeing things or if he had managed to do something wrong. He had been keeping track of the path he had taken so it would be easy enough to go back where he came, but there was a glaring problem which could not be avoided...
He was entirely lost.
His plan of just following his enemies to their source only came to have him wandering the streets in no real pattern. What he had come to believe was a direction which would lead him where he needed to go only managed to make him roam off into the night until he no longer recognized anything around him. Had he even been to this part of the city? Some of the buildings he passed by were in terrible shape while others were abandoned entirely, the look of your average slums and yet that didn’t make any sense. He had been fighting the entire way, following the trail of enemies until he reached this location. Then again, they had never stopped coming and he was steadily growing more sluggish with time.
With few options outside of roaming about more he made the choice to enter one of the abandoned buildings, a place where he wouldn’t have to worry about fighting for at least a moment and instead expel the cold from his system. It felt like a bad joke honestly, taking into consideration how he had become a claimant. Losing everything to the cold, then becoming someone who can control that cold, only to end up still feeling the cold. Sure, it didn’t have any meaningful effect on him and he couldn’t freeze to death or that would defy his nature entirely, but learning that he was the only claimant of his house who still feels cold felt like more of a middle finger from Daenu than anything else, but he couldn’t blame the ancient. Instead he would focus on deep breaths, letting out the cold air which covered the walls in a layer of ice as he took in the warmth from the outside. He’d figure out where to go next after giving it more thought.
ooc
Originally posted by: Dobu
Thread OOC
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