The city of Lomedor was busy, filled with people from all races and religion. Quinn had traveled through here many times before, with so many people it was an ample source of information to aid him on his hunts. He already had a list of names of his regulars that he would “bump” into to find where this kid was. But unlike other cases, where his mind was focused on only one objective, this time he didn’t enter Lomedor alone. Beside him walked a young girl, who looked no older then 10. But she had explained to him, or at least tried to explain that she was far older then that. At first Quinn was skeptical but by the way the girl spoke he couldn’t deny she knew more things then she ought. While on this hunt to find Gurr Laga, he seemed to have stumbled into something with far more significance, finding himself the protector of this little girl. With that now on his mind, he had to look things over double time before traveling, she was being hunted herself, and he knew the lengths some Bounty hunters go to get their reward, especially demons.

The sun was out, giving everything a warm feeling to it. He hoped that stuck with this crowd, he could gather his information from the kid and not worry too much about the girl. Either way, he knew they couldn’t stay here for more then a couple of days. He didn’t like the time crunch, but his mind was still confused over his situation. He didn’t want to give up on the bounty on Laga, the money was real good. But he was still stuck on his behaviour the last time they met. He wanted more information on his crime, the mass murders he committed. The village where it happened, wasn’t willing to share that information outright. The information he had received before tracking Laga was sketchy at best, just his crime and his bounty, nothing much else. He hoped that this kid would hold the key as to what happened that day. Yet with the girl, he couldn’t take the same amount of risks he was used to.

“So, Salega, you hungry? The district up a head is a pretty safe one, and has some of the best food.” Quinn said, cheerfully. He didn’t want to have Salega worrying constantly over her safety, after all Quinn was there for her, but that sad look on her face, that he remembered the first time they meet in that forest, didn’t look good on her. So lately he had been trying to lift her spirits, keep her from thinking too heavily on the “what ifs”.

“Say…how would you like to help me on this search?” He had kept most of the reasoning why they were visiting this town to himself, only telling her that there was this kid who knew this secret that could lead to the capture of a criminal or his innocence. He had first thought of leaving her in their Inn, but he didn’t feel comfortable leaving her there by herself for so long. Even in the good part of the city, there were still those who could know of her bounty. “We’ll grab something to eat first, then start the hunt…I mean we’ll start the search.” Quinn stumbled, unsure if he was now going to provoke a sad face on Salega.

It'd been such a long time since the warmth of the sun had beat down against her skin. Salega welcomed and embraced the warmth with open arms; after so many years of living in darkness, on the brink of certain death, even the smallest amount of light or hope was enough to plaster a smile on one's face. Her pallid features glowed beneath the rays of enriched sunlight, her figure illumenated by the vitimns within those rays. The long black dress had been fully restored- patched and repaired and stain free- completely brand new. It swayed and glided with her every stride- it was as if she were a phantom levitating over the ground. Majority of her wounds had been closed to the best of their ability, but even Salega knew that these wounds would never heal completely. There would always be something there to remind her of her era of isolation and shadow and agony.

All of her bone-deep wounds had been stiched and bandaged, but even through all of such damage, the people of this world thought of her as a porsaline doll, only more... life-like. She had Quinn, the elf who had saved her from not only death but a wraith as well, to thank for her promising recovery. And even when his duty was done and all of her wounds where patched, Quinn would not leave her side. He was like the father she never had. The Hand of Sorrow closed her eyes and smiled to herself.

But even through all of the good things, Salega couldn't stop thinking about his safety. As long as he was in her presence, the elf was in constant danger. He had jested and laughed to try to perk up her spirits, and even though she deeply appreciated the efforts, not even Quinn could cheer her up. There was just too much to think about. Lego, the goddess she had sworn to protect, was in danger. The Mother of Darkness was no doubt plotting revenge, sending her minions out to ensare the 'archangel' once more. Salega knew she couldn't hide forever- The Dark Messiah would find her, one way or another. Her presence was within every shadow, every dark corner, every malice-filled glare... What could Salega do to save Quinn should SHE decide to take the child back herself?

Hell, she hadn't even explained everything to him yet! But how was she supposed to tell him that she was just the heart and soul of someone else? And that someone wanted her dead. How was she sopposed to say... anything about her life?!

Quinn had brung her into the town square of Lomedor, searching for a... "kid". He hadn't told her much, though. She knew he was hiding something from her. He asked if she was hungry, but Salega just shook her head and said 'okay'. She would do whatever he wanted.

Quinn smiled back and lead Salega to a nice looking inn called the Red Eagle,. Stepping into the entrance hall of the inn Quinn took a quick but casual look around. He had stayed here many times before and have built some friendly connections with the owner, he knew this place to be safe from the more shadowing characters. The owner, Tryatt was standing behind the desk his grey hair tied tightly back, his face widening in an all knowing smile as he caught Quinn’s approaching.

“Ah, back so soon?” He asked Quinn with a sarcastic tone. “I heard you had wondered into the desert, honestly didn’t think I’d see you again. You here on another bounty?” It wasn’t until after he said that did he notice that Quinn wasn’t alone. “What’s this? You never thought to see you with a traveling partner? You looking after her or something?” Quinn’s face on the other hand had gone almost white at the mention of his occupation, he hadn’t told the girl yet, he didn’t know how she would take it after all she had been through already. It wasn’t Tryatt’s fault, though at the moment he felt like punching him for letting out something he didn’t want let out. The moment passed, and Quinn forced his lips to smile.

“Something like that, but for now how about some of your wife’s good cooking?”

“Of course! Take a seat and I’ll have one the maids see to you. At the same time I’ll make up a room for you and the girly.” With that Traytt gestured Quinn to the front room where the tavern was as he moved away from the desk and disappeared in one of the back rooms. Quinn entered the room and found a table for him and Salega away from the windows near one of the far corners. There were only a few others in the room, mostly other guests with a few local patrons who crowded one table closest to the bar they seemed deep in their own conversation to notice anyone new entering.

Once settled Quinn looked over the table a the girl. “I hope you don’t take me the wrong way now that you know my occupation.” He wondered what she was thinking now. It was just what he minded needed, another bounty hunter in her life. He hoped that she wouldn’t think of him as an enemy now, since he wasn’t, though he could just imagine the questions she had for him now. Though to be fair he had his own, maybe now they can discus everything that needed to be discussed.

With the flash of a smile, the elf lead her into an inn entitled "Red Eagle". From the way his expression was so at ease and relaxed, Salega could gather that he was quite familiar with this place and it's people. And though she knew very little of him and his world, she knew he wouldn't take her anywhere that could pose a potential threat to her health, or even worse, his. That knowledge gave her some hint of comfert. "Back so soon?" A voice called out to them, mostly directly towards her companion she guessed. Another man, the inn keeper, stood behind a desk with his pale gray hair tied rather tightly behind his head. From the angle at which Salega could see, the tightness of it seemed uncomfertable. But coming from a tender head like herself didn't mean much.

Quin and the inn keeper exchanged a few words; Salega looked from one to the other as they spoke. Once the word 'bounty' fell from the inn keeper's lips, Salega's dark orbs froze upon his face as her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. No, she though silently, Tell me it's not true. Her head craned back, her black eyes searching the paleing face of the elf for some hint of truth, some kind of comprehension. Tell me it's not true! Her mouth gapped slightly, unable to believe that he, too, was a bounty hunter- the very type of people she had to aviod at all costs.

However, he had saved her life, and she knew from personal experiance that not all mercenaries where cold-hearted. Most of them where, but not all. Besides, she would be able to sense it if he had any type of foul insentions, which, at the current moment, he didn't. Salega had put her trust in him, and she would not allow anything, even his job, distort the reputation she had made for him. She followed him, almost pensively, to a table. Even the slightly annoying bickering of the nearby citizens didn't pierce her thoughts when she took her seat. “I hope you don’t take me the wrong way now that you know my occupation.” Salega sighed and closed her eyes, her small hands entwined in a professional manor on the table's sleek surface. "Quinlan, it doesn't matter much what the predicument is with your bounty, my perspeption of you will not be destroyed." She found her words to be filled with profound truth, and for a moment, she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.

"After all," she leaned back in her chair, opening her eyes slightly as she spoke. Her light sopano tone carried ever so lightly through the air, teeming with honey and filled with intelligence. "Not all mercenaries are bad."

A smile curled on his lips at the tone and words Salega used. To see a child utter such words didn’t seem right. Every time he had tried to start a conversation he would expect her to answer in simple child like words but instead he would get some sort of educated noble speech. But she had tried to explain to him that her age didn’t correspond to her appearance, and Quinn had accepted that answer at face value but it still felt weird. He wouldn’t expect the kid he was looking for to answer him in the same manner, of if he did then it would prove to himself that he was way out of touch with the younger generations.

“Thank you for your acceptance of my profession.” Quinn replied, mimicking her tone as he placed his hands on the table like hers. He let a held up breath out when he said it, he was glade that she wasn’t going to run from him, make him chase her and explain everything. He only kept his position a few moments until a waitress came with some food for them. Placing the plates and drinks down she gave Salega a kind smile and Quinn a wink.

“I think, it’s time that we start learning more about each other.” He added as he began to eat away at his food. “Perhaps I should start, seeing that I had hid my occupation as a Bounty hunter from you. I do apologies for that, but I wasn’t sure what you would do if I told you. Your right of course, not all Bounty Hunters are bad, though they would stop at just about nothing to get their money, it’s pretty cut throat for some. I’ve kept to the criminals for local authorities, though I’ve done my share of private clients and their bounties. But I’ve always pick my bounties, don’t go after anyone who doesn’t deserve the punishment waiting for them. Same goes with my clients, I usually check them out before accepting one of their jobs, though I’ve seemed to have made some sort of reputation for myself. Many of my clients now a days are seeking me down instead of me begging them for a job.” Quinn said between bites. “I am loyal to my clients until the job is done and I’m paid. I hope you understand that, I’m treating you as a client, I will escort you to your destination and never betray you on the way. Though I’m still not clear where your final destination is exactly.”

“Thank you for your acceptance of my profession.” Quinn replied, mimicking her tone as he placed his hands on the table like hers. Salega blinked only once, arching a solitary black brow. Was he mocking her voice? The Hand of Sorrow watched as he held up his hand, letting a spew of air out of his mouth when he spoke. A waitress came to the table a few seconds later, but Salega just smiled at her and focused on her friend. She couldn't look away from his eyes. Something about them held her there, unable to break away.

It wasn't attraction nor any kind of affection, that she knew, but it was... something else. She just couldn't place her finger on it. Her murky orbs searched his, looking for some understanding, and answer at least. Did he comprehend what little she had told him before she had passed out? What was he really looking for? Why did he really help her? Why?

As the waitress walked away, she smiled at the girl and cast a wink towards Quin, and was gone. “I think it’s time that we start learning more about each other.” He announced as he dug into his plate of food. Salega simply picked up her glass of water and took a few sips before putting it back down. She didn't dare touch the food that was placed in front of her- she knew better. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate it or didn't like it, it was just the fact that she couldn't eat it. Her body didn't digust cooked food, it only seemed to hold uncooked meat. Of course, Salega knew why, but that didn't mean he had to know.

He begun first, explaining his occupation at an admiring level tranquility. The Hand of Sorrow couldn't help but smile. She didn't interupt nor speak until she was sure he was done. "I praise you for your choices, Quinlan of the Elves. However, I'm afraid my tale isn't so... light hearted..." She sighed, leaving the end of that final sentence to hang.

"I'm headed towards the Tower of Light to consult with the goddess, Keiraline. There's something she and the other god's must know, and now I'm being hunted because I'm free of that god-forsaken place." She closed her eyes and tilted her head downwards as a sudden pain coiled in her chest. "I don't want to go back... I can't go back. Not now, not ever." Salega's small hands balled into fists, her expression contorting with an unknown agony. When she spoke, her light, honey-sweet, soprano tone was a tearish murmur. "All of those aweful things they made me do... all of dreadful things that happen when I... ohhh!" Exhaling, the Hand of Sorrow cast her face to the side, opening her eyes ever so slowly as she spoke.

"But that doesn't matter. I know I won't be free for long... but right now, I want to enjoy what little freedom I have. I have to speak with Keiraline. I have to." She looked at him then, her dark orbs gazing deep into his own. Her eyes portrayed pools of agony, oceans made of black tears, scars that ran deeper than any blade could hack, wails of unheard pleas for salvation and companionship.

How could she possibly make him understand? "You wouldn't understand even if I told you anything. And I don't want to sh-" she paused and decided to change the subject. She was dropping too many hints. "We're having seperate rooms, right? I told you- we can't be together at night."

Quinn watched Salega as she tried to tell him little more of herself. She was a mystery, but as Quinn had already discovered, many women are. Yet looking back into those dark eyes, he could somehow feel the pain this child looking soul has gone through. It pained him to see her so upset as she recalled dark memories and her expression about not to go back to that place she had escaped from. It was deep and her voice haunted Quinn’s mind. So far from what he had gathered, Salega was something special that both the dark and light side of the God’s are wanting. If he had met Salega under different circumstances, he most likely wouldn’t have joined her on her mission, as soon as the names of the God’s were voiced her knew it was something he didn’t want to be in the middle of. But as things were, he was already knee deep, and sinking. But as he had already told her, he was treating this mission as any other, meaning his loyalties would remain with Salega until it’s over or his death…which as Quinn thought more on it, very well could happen. His main worry was hoping not to bump into her again, something like this always seemed to attract her like a moth to a flame.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to let you go back.” Quinn said with sincerity to Salega, another warm smile on his lips. It wasn’t much what he said, but he hoped it would lift Salega’s spirits. He then looked down at her plate, he had forgotten about her diet. “Oh, sorry I forgot.” He said gesturing to her plate. “I’ll have a word with Tryatt’s wife and send something up to your room for tonight. And yes, we have separate rooms, but I made sure that are rooms are beside each other with an adjoining door. I’m your protector now and I will need to make sure I can reach you quickly if anything should happen.”

Now it was time to get to the bottom of things. This place she needed to go to wasn’t familiar to him and since there seemed to be a great urge coming for Salega to reach there as soon as possible they will have to plot some sort of route. Over the years Quinn had supplied himself with many maps of Arda, now that his meal was finished, he pushed the plates over to the end for the waitress to pick them up later and brought out the few maps he was carrying on him at the moment. If he realizes they need one of his others, he would have to go collect them from his safe spot.

“Alright, let’s get down to business. The Tower of Light, I’m not that familiar with that area, I’m hoping that you may shed some light on the matter. We are going to need this time here in Lomedor to really prepare for the journey a head of us.” He placed the maps down in front of them. Finding a world map he opened it up. “Here we are in Lomedor….and the Tower of Light is…” He trailed off as he searched the names of the towns and terrain on the map.

The moment he confirmed that they did, in fact, have different rooms prepared, Salega sighed with honest relief. When ever she was in the darkness... she dared not to think of the nightmare she was. As far as he knew, she was just some kind of archangel, but that was most certainly not true. She was not an archangel. Others just assumed and Salega let it pass. She had kept her true identity a secret thus far, and she intended to continue to do so in the future.

But as he continued on... Salega stifled the words in her mouth by cupping her small hand over her lips. He could not come in once she was alone in her room. Regardless of the fact that he was her protector or not, she had to protect him from the truth. Quinlan wouldn't comprehend the tale.

She observed him closely, watching as he fished out a map of the Realm of Arda. Never before had she seen such a completed map of the realm; she was impressed to find the craftmenship to be professional and thorough. Salega lifted her gaze, listening to his words closely, thinking of her responce carefully and pensively. Quinlan didnt' deserve to be dragged into her star-crossed tale. She didn't deserve to know him, to have his company, to have his kindness.

The ink-like orbs blinked once, searching the features of the map to banish her forsaken thoughts and fears. Over the many years that she had lived, Salega had seen and drawn many, many maps of various realms, most of them the forgotten realms which where sacred to the universe. She alone had once braved many storms and dangerous terrain to complete a thorough map of each realm she knew of in existance.

But that was many, many moons ago. Those days where gone right when the darkness chose to make its (or, her) pressence known. Even the slightest thought of the first time she had experienced such a horror, the words of the genderless entity of Darkness echoed venomously in the blackness of her mind. Each word inky, rasp, contorted like a demon's voice, yet as dark as the twilight that fell around them. No mere words could ever describe the instant fear that crept into one's heart the moment that voice lanced the air, no words to describe how eerie it was as the hair's stood out from every inch of one's body.

"THROUGH YOU, I AM BORN." Salega shuddered as she breifly relived that moment. The very moment that forever changed the rest of her life as dark energy materalized as tendrils crawling from her backside, the jaws of the serpentish darklings closing 'round the throat of an enemy. “Alright, let’s get down to business." Salega shook her head, clearing her thoughts once more to the best of her ability. Though one part of her brain didn't exactly stop thinking about the past, the other portions focused on other, more important matters. The main portion listened to what the elf had to say while another dug through various memory banks to direct the location of Kieraline's sacred temple.

"It's here." she said at last, raising herself to her knees in her chair so that she could touch the location of the Temple of Light with a single ebony claw. She tapped the razor sharp tip of her black claw atop a sloping hill at the northernmost point of Calaring the Everlight. "That's the location of the Temple." Salega sat back in her chair, easing her thin legs out of it to take on a more lady-like position. The Hand of Sorrow met the elf's eyes directly as she spoke, deciding to share a small fraction of what she knew with him.

"The temple itself looks like it houses the sun, moon and stars. During the day, its walls shine a brilliant gold, flames of orange light dancing across its surface. During the sunrise and set, the very colors of the sky are reflected on the temple's walls." she explained, raising a balled fist to represent the sun and moon. Her other hand formed a small square to the best of her ability to stand for the temple. "At night the temple shines in the essence of the moonlight, bright specks of stars on its surface. There are two small clearings to either side of the double doors leading to altars that look out over the skies."

She reached out and tapped the area where the Temple was located. His eyes immediately left Salega’s face and focused on the map. While she was explaining the appearance of the Temple, Quinn was quickly searching around the spot she had pointed at to see where they would have to travel to get there. His mouth began to frown, the terrain would be difficult, if there weren’t going to take the roads. With this girl having some sort of bounty on her head, they may have to avoid any small villages and major roads to avoid sticking out. He wasn’t sure if that last guy didn’t have some connection with the one who put out the bounty, if he did, then the fact that he was escorting this kid would be known by other bounty hunters…that’s just what they needed, a description like theirs would have them stick out almost anywhere, but especially in small tight knit communities.

They may have to completely avoid any built up areas unless absolutely necessary to avoid being seen, thus nobody would be left behind to tell anyone they had passed through. This wasn’t going to be a piece of cake. The only thing Quinn was hoping for was that once they got close to the Temple, someone from there may help them if they needed it.

“Listen, I’m just warning you that we may have to stick to traveling off roads, and avoid any small towns or villages if we can. Bounty Hunters get their information from innkeepers and villagers after the bounty has left. Us being together will stick out in those small places, making it easier for anybody trying to find us to track us down. The less people see us the better.” Quinn said, looking straight into the dark eyes of the girl. That being said, he knew there were other ways to track a bounty, he can only do so much.

“Do they know where you are going?” Quinn asked suddenly, the thought just appearing in his head. If they did, then they would anticipate them coming, if there was a large enough group they could set a trap for them. He had to look at every possibility, even the most unlikely he was going to fulfill his end on this mission.

As she explained, the elf's eyes searched around the area about the place where the tip of her claw was. Her own dark orbs searched with his, observing what he was gathering, comprehending his thoughts. Quinlan was taking the terrain into consideration, like any normal mercenary normally would, looking for ways to pass through unseen. Salega already knew it would not be an easy journey to make, but the results would give her peace at mind for once. He explained what she had already known: They would have to aviod towns and their people. The enemy could be anywhere, so it was better to be safe than sorry.

An elf traveling with a young girl clad in midnight was bound to stick out anywhere. How often did others see a usual looking elven man travel with anyone who looked as gloomish, yet otherworldly beautiful, as Salega? The pairing itself was odd, now that she thought about it. Unfortunately, black was the only actual color she could wear. Clothes had a tendency to "change" whenever she put them on regardless of how they originally appeared. Lucky Quinlan. He could wear whatever he wanted and not stick out in public where as she stook out like a soar thumb. Salega sighed. A part of her wanted to tell him who placed the bounty on her head, but the answer in itself would trigger thousands of questions. The common one being, 'Why would someone like her want someone like you? No offence.' Or something like it. The elf gazed down at her, locking eye contact with the Hand of Sorrow. Salega's eyes darted away, avioding his. He'd almost caught her off guard. One true look into her eyes would tell him everything, and she couldn't have that happen. There would be questions and she would have to provide answers, and then there would be even more questions. Urg... What a mess.

Do they know...? Salega froze for a moment, thinking of the possibility. Of course, she already knew she had Knights in Arda, and by now, all of them were aware that Salega had escaped, but not even her other half could know where she was going. Not so early on, at least. "No." she shook her head honestly, "They don't. They can't. It's impossible."

Quinn had tried to lock Salega’s eye with his, but she was pretty good at avoiding that sort of contact, but still there was that split second before she darted away. He had heard a saying that eyes were like a gateway into the person’s soul, and in his past, he had to admit there could be merit there, but with such dark eyes as the girl sitting across from him, did he really want to test that theory? The information she held, her past seemed to be a large burden for her to carry, even Quinn had a past he wasn’t that proud of, but he knew that her burden was hers, he would help her reach her destination but would much rather not know the details unless it was necessary.

“Good, we’ll have that going for us.” Quinn said with a chipper tone, though he was still deep in thought about their route. But for how long…the question crept up in Quinn, eventually whoever was after Salege would figure out where they were going, they would have to stay hidden as much as possible and try to get as close to the temple as they can before being discovered. He didn’t want to think like that, but he knew that if this bounty was open to Raku’s and other evil aligned races, staying hidden from view would be hard no matter what route they took.

“I guess it know looks like we’ve got some shopping to do before we leave Lomedor. We’ll have to travel light, I don’t have a horse on hand, so we’ll have to walk until I get enough gold, or a good enough deal on one if you want it.” Quinn said, voicing his plans. “If not we’ve got a long walk a head of us.” He gave her a smile, he walked just about everywhere, except when he could get a ride on the back of a wagon or something. But still, they would have to travel light, with limited provisions. He would have to rely on his Elven training to get them food. Though with her appetite for raw meet, things shouldn’t be that bad.

Quinlan had something about him as he spoke; it was as if all of his thoughts gentlely brushed the surface of her own, making each and every word more profound, more comprehendable. She could feel her heart wanting the urge to confind in someone, get close to someone even. Unfortunately, she couldn't afford to have that kind of relationship with anyone except for Lego or, hopefully, Keiraline. Opening oneself to another was a dangerous desire, and even more dangerous an act. It made that individual vulnerable to emotional harm. And that was a risk Salega couldn't afford to make. Her mind was a vast place- wondering out of the main room in which she consealed herself would have catestrophic consequences. She could find her without an effort then, should that happen. And that, Salega had already decided, could not happen.

Salega herself was quite easy to please, mainly when it came to food. Little did the elf know, she could only eat at night, when her "curse" was at its maximum. Unfortunately, she couldn't detect evil at the time, being as her senses where all running amuck, and as such, the only one she coudl rely on was Quinlan. He'd gotten himself into a rather sticky situation no doubt, taking her in the way he had. His actions wouldn't go without consequence, sadly.

At the mention of a horse, Salega nearly cringed. She loved everything that breathed, that much was true, but not everything liked nor loved her in return. Animals, especially, hated her. Now that she thought about it, she dreaded the thought of traveling through the forests... forests filled with thousands of unknown, furry terror just waiting to tare her fragile body to shreads. The first time she'd come in contact with an animal other than Selongo, it attacked her without reason and tried to claw her face off. Gotta love those sinister little squirrels...

"Umm... I hate to brust your bubble, but I don't think that would be," she paused, trying to think of a nicer way to say the truth. "A waste of your money. Animals don't particularly like me, for some reason." And that was a lie. Animal's hated her guts, regardless of what she did. They thought her to be a disease that had to be disposed off quickly. It wasn't Salega's fault... she did not chose to be...
She shook her head, trying to reason with herself. And then it hit her. There was one option... but it included revealing the fact that she wasn't what everyone thought she was. In addition to that, she barely had control then, for that particular form was... well, she'd rather not think about it. Scrach that idea. It was foolish to even consider such a thing.

“If not we’ve got a long walk a head of us.”
"Walking would be appropriate." she replied, collecting the glass of water from the table to take a sip of its cool contents. Even if it is more dangerous. Way to go, Salega-darling, you've gotten yourself into a pickle without any affort. A sigh whistled from her lips, blowing up her bangs. The effort was without reward; her long bangs fell over her face the instant the air was gone and she brushed them away the best she could. Joy.

Animals didn’t like her? That was a bizarre thing to say, Quinn thought to himself. Sure there were some people that animals seemed to pick up on their true intentions better then other people sometimes, but by the way Salega spoke, it was more a depressing fact. Was there something wrong within her that made animals dislike her? Overall it was a statement Quinn was finding hard to believe, but if she was willing to walk then that seemed to be the only mode of transportation that would keep them well hidden for now.

“Well, now that we’ve agreed on the transportation, time to figure out the right route and prepare ourselves for anything. You ready to go back outside, or would you like to stay here for now? Like I’ve said I’ve got some other business to take care of while we’re here, it’s up to you if you want to tag along or not.” Quinn added making sure his tone was friendly and upbeat, he didn’t want her to think he didn’t want her along, but he needed to get some information first and it may be easier by himself.

But would she be safe here along for the rest of the afternoon? He didn’t want anything to happen to her, while he was away. Wow, am I really getting that attached to her? Quinn suddenly thought to himself, he’d never been this worried about someone since….well the past was the past. A brief shadow clouded his eyes as his mind traveled to an old memory, a painful one.

Her "guardain" seemed to be having a bit of trouble comprehending what she'd told him about the non-existant relationship she had with animals. Normal animals, anyways. Evil aliened creatures seemed to actually enjoy her. That fact in itself was a horror that would forever be installed somewhere within her brain. “Well, now that we’ve agreed on the transportation, time to figure out the right route and prepare ourselves for anything. You ready to go back outside, or would you like to stay here for now? Like I’ve said I’ve got some other business to take care of while we’re here, it’s up to you if you want to tag along or not.” Salega gazed up at him, almost taken by surprise at how light-hearted and true is words where. This man actually cared about her. Salega bit her lower lip; that was bad.

In the midst of her own pensive thoughts, her dark orbs darted up to meet his own for a few breif seconds. Pain replaced the light of happiness in his dark brown orbs and lines of agony shaped his features. The Hand of Sorrow blinked once and her lashes swooped over her eyes as she recognized the expression. That face is of one who is suffering from the past...

Her eyes opened once more and Salega uncupped her own hands and reached for his in an attempt to console him. But she hesitated. Getting too close to him would mean trouble, but Salega couldn't just ignore his suffering. Having finally made her decision, her small, ice-cold palm closed over his in an almost loving gesture.

She wanted to smooth out his pain and bring the light of happiness back into his eyes. And so she said what she thought. "It's going to be all right." she cooed gentlely to him, "I'm not rather fond of seeing my friends in turmoil. But I'd rather tag along with you, just in case. We have to be back before sunset, though. Alright?"

A cold touch on Quinn’s hand shot him back into the present, he looked a bit bewildered by being pulled out of his little daydream, but with the look on Salega’s face he quickly changed his demeanor, pulling his hand back to rub his head he gave her a apologetic smile.

“Sorry, about that, must of drifted off there.” A light laugh trickled out, but then his eyebrow raised as if he had just heard some juice bit of gossip. “So, you consider me more then just a guardian?” He meant this as a tease to her line about seeing her friends in turmoil. She was so quiet and proper, it was hard for him to really get to know her, but she seemed to open up to him just now, if only just a glimpse.

“Anyways, let get going. Don’t worry the person I’m looking for won’t be out after dark so we’ll make it back in time.” He added before she could act embarrass over what she had just told him, like she always does when she was decided weather or not to tell him something about her or her situation. Standing up Quinn stretched his arms, it was a good feeling to have a nice cooked meal in his belly. He won’t be having many more like that for a while.

So where to go first? The kid must be in an orphanage, but there were a few of them around, there was no quick way of going around this, they would have to go to each of them, matter as well start with the closest.

“Sorry, about that, must of drifted off there.” A light laugh trickled out, but then his eyebrow raised as if he had just heard some juicey bit of gossip. “So, you consider me more then just a guardian?” Salega's cheeks puffed out as she trapt the air in her mouth, turning her death pale cheeks a light hue of pink as her brows arched to crease her forehead. Letting out the air in a yew, the black-clad girl shook her head with a smirk marring her features as the color disappeared from her face. "Very funny." Quinlan was such a light-hearted tease, always saying and doing things to make her laugh to lighten the mood between them. He reminded her of someone she once knew, someone that, once upon a time, was the only thing in the world she had. But just like everyone and everything else in her life, they where gone now. The Hand of Sorrow snickered, brushing the memory away with the exhale that followed.

Salega glanced over his shoulder at a mirror hanging up on the wall, blinking once. The moment she opened her eyes, her heart sank as she saw the reflection of herself. The dark, blurry depths of the endless black hue of her eyes had become the flames of a funeral pyre, highlighted by her sins with no pupil nor white to mar their color. Her once rounded face, innocent with youth, had aged out of that cold age of bliss and ignorance. Now, her face was as cold as the vast frozen wastelands to the south of her homeland, where a man freezes to death in seconds, his breath turning to ice in his lungs. The once silk-like locks of midnight were now the long and ragged of the undead corpse, her full lips darked into a shade of prepetual darkness.

The dark moon upon her forehead glinted with the same lighting as Salega's, without the silver crown around her head. Bold black lines trailed from both lashes, down her cheeks, and another from the corner of her eyes, which tied around her head. The shadow marks out of the inner corners of her eyes made her milk white skin glow like freshly fallen snow. Salega could only see her face; Her emotionless gaze locked with the horrified depths of the child's as the dark lips pursed to reveal a mouthful of gleaming, coal-black sabers.

Tendrils of shadow crawled out from behind her, bending and swirling, crawling outwards like the legs of a spider. Gleaming red eyes pierced through Salega's own as two serpent-like creatures materialized behind the reflection of the Mother of Darkness. Their jaws streched to fit sabers that exceeded ten inches in length, omens of doom to those who met the eyes of the creeping dark. While Salega became immobolized by fear, the elf turned to speak with her. “Anyways, let get going. Don’t worry the person I’m looking for won’t be out after dark so we’ll make it back in time.” The little color that she had drained away, her head throbbing with the various voices that spoke in murmurs around her.

Watch the sky Salega-
-Darkness will fall.
You are nothing-
I am born-
but my puppet.
Through you

Her lips rose with which to speak, the dark, omnious tone a contorted hiss between her dark fangs. The inflection of her pitch deepened to match that of a male, but the eerie, venomous tone of it with the whispers of the darkness echoing her words, made the fine line between male and female completely non-existant.



A scream slithered up her throat, threatening to seep out in a cacphony of high-pitched terror; Salega's fear shrunken orbs left the Mother of Darkness's as the girl half slipped, half fell off her seat and onto the floor. She collected herself swiftly, scurring away from the mirror, from her past and her future, away from the security of Quinlan's presense. Nothing mattered more to her now than getting the heck out of that building before it caused her to become more delarious. The inn keeper's head rose from the counter as he saw Salega buck out of the enterance doors like a frightened bull, her long, flowing dress wisping like midnight mist behind her. Once she was outside, Salega fell to her knees, gasping for breath as her body shook with a few rounds of convolsion. As the twitching of her limbs weakened, Salega felt the erge to glance back towards the inn to see if her guardain had bolted after her, but she didn't dare turn her head to find out.

In the mirror, her jet-black lips slithered into a malevolent, crooked smile that made the demple on her cold face darken.

Suddenly Quinn noticed Salega looking different, but before he could ask her what was the matter, she just about fell off her chair, then bolted out of the inn like a raging bull. What had gotten into her? He turned his head around to see a mirror behind him, did she see something? Could she see the future? He had heard of those fortune tellers who could use their powers by looking though any reflective surface, is that what happened? Either way, she had just ran from him, and it was his job to keep her safe. In this state of hers she could run right into trouble, or cause it.

“Hey, don’t look at me, I didn’t to do anything!” Quinn shouted back at his friend who had given Quinn an accusing look as he ran past him and out onto the streets. Where did she go?! Quinn swore out loud as he looked down to see Salega, in the middle of the street, crouched on hands and knees, her body seemed to be twitching. Onlookers began to point and gossip, while the main hustle and bustle did their best to avoid the girl. Darting around people, Quinn made his way quickly to Salega, and picked her up a bit roughly, and carried her back to the edge of the street before setting her down again. Quinn’s face wasn’t a happy one, it was a hard and angry mixed with confusion.

“What the hell were you thinking! You could have gotten yourself run over by a horse and cart!” Quinn yelled, it was so random of her that he didn’t know what to do but yell his frustration. But he felt remorse immediately after his harsh words came out, remorse but still angry.

“Come one, lets keep walking, people are taking notice of us.” He said in a much lower tone, but still had that edge on it. He didn’t expect her to tell him what happened, it was going to be one of her mysteries, but even if she did, he didn’t want her telling him out in the open like this.

Her breaths came in small, short bursts as she fought to calm herself. Murmurs of gossip echoed 'round her in waves; the girl lifted her dark gaze to what she knew to be townspeople whispering to one another, moving away as her gaze swurved their way. This, however, wasn't a rare sight in her eyes. Sadly, it was rather common. Figures it would only be a matter of time before she'd given them something to laugh at her about. If the people remembered her face... oh snapple. Before Salega could curse herself, firm hands hoisted her from the ground and she watched as her feet dangled below her as the ground moved and shifted before her vision. Was she flying? No, her wings were broken. So then who was... oh boy.

As she winced, his body darted through the crowd and towards an empty spot in the street. She felt herself being lifted and placed back upon the ground. And just as she suspected, Quinlan's face met her's, twisted with anger, irratation, and a dash of bewilderment. She somewhat expected him to say, "For a wise young angel, that was a pretty stupid move." However, the elf yelled at her like a father would his own child. Salega winced and grimanced at his words, finding it a bit odd that he would treat her as if he was his own child. Well, this isn't good. He's getting attached.
“Come one, lets keep walking, people are taking notice of us.” The girl didn't heistate to walk with him as he moved. She stayed close to his side as her orbs observed and absorbed the world around her. It was all so new and undiscovered. Of course she had been to the realm once before, but it had been much to long to remember. From what she did recall, however, Arda had changed. Change, however, was as envitable as the passing of time. 'Twas a lesson she had learned from Ashuga Menro, the Messiah of Time.

How in the world could she tell him what she had just seen? He wouldn't believe her, just like he wouldn't believe that she was... 'two of a kind', so to speak. It would be something he would have to see for himself. A sight, Salega prayed, he would never have to see. Shaking her head with a final shudder, Salega decided to leave it at that, looking for anything to change the subject. Like... the kid? "So... do you know who this kid is?" she asked, hopping he'd take the bait.

The pair walked along the streets in quiet, eventually the darting looks and whispers died away the further they got from the inn, Quinn thanked the Goddess for that, something he rarely did. As they walked, Quinn’s anger melted away, something had spooked the girl, but what was it? If it was something that would cause her to act that bizarre, Quinn wasn’t sure if he wanted to know, she wouldn’t tell him if he did ask, so they would have to leave the incident behind them for now, act like it didn’t happen. But know Quinn would have to watch her more intently and try to anticipate when she’d do something like that again. Next time could be even more dangerous.

They rounded a corner to appear in front of an Orphanage hosted by priestesses of the Goddess of Life. Kids could be heard from behind the walls, laughing and playing, it gave Quinn a upbeat feeling. Then after all their silence, Salega voiced a question.

“Sort of.” Quinn said his tone back to normal. “I know where he came from, that he was the only survivor of his village. Something like that would trail him around for the rest of his life.” He was putting way too much trust in his information, he had no name, or appearance, just the kids age and where he came from. He hopped it would be enough.

Entering the Orphanage property through their opened gate, Quinn made his way to the building where he planned to talk to a couple of the priestess. They would know of the boy if he was here. The kids he had heard before were playing off to his right in some sort of organized game. A thought came to his mind as well as a smile.

“You know, you need to be kept hidden of your true identity, so perhaps you should act the way you look and go play with the kids for a while as I get the information I need.” She may be some spirit that has been living for eons, but her appearance was that of a child, and no matter how much Quinn tries to wrap his mind around it, she will probably appear to him as a child. But he knew this when he asked her to go play with the other children, he wanted to see how she would react.

The elf responded to her question, but by the way his words formed on his lips, he seemed unsure of how true they actually were. She kept her gaze level with her height, pensive words running through the darkness of her still calming mind. The Hand of Sorrow knew just a little bit more about the Realm of Arda than those around them, even Quinlan himself knew little compared to her. Age and years of "getting around" as some would say, had contributed to what bits and pieces she knew. Arda was one of the forgotten realms, so she had read in the liberary of The Mother of Time upon venturing inside Ashuga's ancient tower as a young adult. So much had changed since those times, though. Times she wished she could forget. Unfortunately for her, she had to know everything she did now in order to be successful as... Salega shuddered at the thought.

As they entered the orphanage that Quinlan's information provider was believed to be present, Salega craned her head towards the direction of two chattering preistesses. "Did you see what was in the town square a few days ago?" one murmured to the other, far away from the children so as not to frighten them. At first, Salega thought that they where discussing the latest festival or something of that nature. However, when the other woman replied, the girl turned her full attention to their conversation. "I didn't see it personally, but my boyfriend did. When he came back home, the poor dear was horrfied and didn't speak for days. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with him." The first preistess, dressed in tones of gold, shook her head. "It's so sad," her gaze became downcast, "That man was one of our greatest paladins, and to see him torn apart like that... it was aweful."
"Well, what exactly did it look like? MY boyfriend, nor anyone else for that matter, won't discuss it."
Salega blinked. Was it some kind of random murder?
"Urg, I cringe at the mere thought of it. The site was completely morbid. Who ever did it is sincerely demented." Oh no.
She continued. "He was strapped down to an obisidan altar whose color was as dark as midnight. There was an emblem drawen on it in his blood... something like a skull with a snake that had wings."[/b] The girl froze in her tracks, her fists trembling in a mixture of outrage and horror. Not good! she thought to herself, resisting the panic that built inside her gut, One of the Knights is nearby. Ohh, we need to get out of here. And fast!

"There was a pentacle drawen in his blood also on the ground, and behind him, also written in crimson fluid, was the words that spelled out, Welcome to Hell." The other preistess cupped her hands over her mouth, her orbs small dots in her eyes. "Th-that's horrible!" She murmured loudly. Her friend nodded. "And Marcus... oh, the poor dear. I can't even bring myself to describe what had been done to him! Most of his finger had been mwaled to the bone, and what fingers were left had appearently been stabbed beneath the nail."
"Gross!!"

Salega had heard enough. The Hand of Sorrow sprinted after her guardain, who looked as if he had a plan. “You know," Salega glanced up at him. "You need to be kept hidden of your true identity, so perhaps you should act the way you look and go play with the kids for a while as I get the information I need.” That was the exact moment she gave him the 'you've got to be kidding me' look. "Not a chance." she replied, "I'll just try to pass off as a hob or a really, really tall little person. Don't forget, there are questions I need to ask the preistesses too, you know."

The door of the building came open then as the children, dressed in formal clothes, came out of the orphanage in mob-like formation, with preistesses hot on their heels like wolves stalking their prey. A small group of children, misfits by the looks of it, turned their heads towards Salega and grined. The girl's face formed a look of panic. Oh no! Her left eye twitched, Children!! The small group ran towards her; Salega waved her palms in front of her, chanting the word 'no' repeatedly, her eyes small circles of murk. The younger children crowded her, pulling her by the arms towards the playground as if she was one of them. Salega clawed at the ground, trying (and failing) to escape them. "Attack of the munchkin!!!!" she cried, trying to weasel her way out of it. As the group of girls dragged her away, small boys trailed after them as the group flocked about in a circle. Must... find... way... Her hand broke through an opening of the mob of excited children tugging at her, attempting to pull herself out of the pandemonium. A boy saw her hand out stretched and intercepted her attempt at escape. Nooo! her thoughts scrammbled once engulfed. "Hey, what's your name?" asked one of the boys once they had let her settle in the middle of their crowd. "Uhhh... who, me?" Salega blinked, her face slightly pink from her previous struggle. "My name is... uh... Lucia."
"Your name is so pwetty!" a girl exclaimed, "I wish my parents gave me a name like that."
"Wow, Lucia, you're realllly pretty." another boy added. The other children agreed. Salega's cheeks turned dark, rose red. "Uhhh... thank you?" The other children laughed. The Hand of Sorrow felt completely embarrased then, standing alone, surrounding my other children. It made her feel as if she was getting way too much attention, something she didn't want nor need too much of. "Are you a princess?"

"..."
Another girl giggled with delight, looking upon the silver of Salega's crown. "You have to be a princess!" she chaimed, "You have a crown."
"I guess so." the black-clad girl responded. "But I thought royality wore bright, pretty colors, like yellow and... what's the other one? White?" another girl pointed out.
"Yeah!" A boy emerged from their cluttered ranks, standing before her with his hands on his hips. He must be the ring leader,[i] the fake archangel thought to herself, observing him closely. His movements where that of an angel, and his appearence was flawless in both color and texture. His hair was as white and lush as freshly fallen snow, his eyes a dark hue of radiant sapphire which complimented his nearly flawless face. Like Salega, the boy had high cheek bones and a nearly smothering complextion, but unlike her, his skin was a darker shade of white compared to her inhumanly perfect milk white flesh, and his face was not a perfect oval like her was, either. "You seem a bit suspicious to me." And his voice, which sounded like bird song, was not as high nor divine as hers was. It wasn't until he shifted his weight that her dark orbs spied the fluffy, azure feathers of his wings folded behind him. This boy was an angel. If it was anything she feared most, it was coming face to face with an actual angel. For the truly divine creatures could reveal her for what she really was and that was a hazard she could not face.

"You're dressed in all black and you have the appearence of dull skin like a vampire. " he folded his arms. "But 'Lucia' means 'light', doesn't it?" Salega nodded. [i]My real name means the complete opposite. she thought sadly, preparing herself to speak lies. Although she didn't like lying to others, she really didn't have a choice in the matter. "Where are you from?"
Crap.
"I was born in the Ancient Tower." Salega hid her grimace behind her long bangs as she lied to them. "Well, you're not human. I know that by looking at you. So, what are you?"
"I... I'm an archangel." Another grimace. "Really? You don't look like one."
"I guess not."
"Where are your parents?" He asked, his syrene blue eyes trying to lock with her own. She kept her gaze elusive, avoiding eye contact. "My parents are dead." That time she didnt' grimace. That time, she had told the truth. "So... who do you live with?"
"NO one, I soppose. At the moment, I'm traveling with my guardain, Quinlan."

Catching Salega’s facial remark to his suggestion made him second guess his words. Though as the kids came spewing out of the Orphanage doors, he couldn’t help but grin as a group of girls caught sight of Salega and began pulling her away. For a second there, he felt sorry for the being he was to protect, for surly looking into her dark terrified eyes as they pulled her away from him, he could almost feel the pain she was in. Almost though, but as much as she liked seeing her like this, embarrassed, lost for words as the kids began asking their questions, he just couldn’t bring himself to leave her out there, defenseless.

Coming up behind her, he clasped his hands on her shoulders. “That’s right, I’m her guardian. And right now, we have a meeting with the head Priestess here. Come on Lucia, you can join your new friends after.” Quinn said with a friendly smile on his lips, as he struggled to suppress the laughter from coming out of his gut.

With a nod to the two Pristesses who’s conversation Quinn had heard, but ignored, he lead Salega out of the mob of kids and into the now quiet and almost deserted Orphanage. Another Priestess was waiting for inside had showed both Quinn and Salega up to the head Priestess’s office. There sitting behind a large desk, wearing her formal robes sat the person whom Quinn hoped would have an answer for him.

“Ah, welcome to Greakhill Orphanage, I was told we had a couple of visitors. My name is Helga Witherview, How can I be of assistance with you?” The women said, politely but with a cold tone. Quinn fought the urge to shiver, she had reminded him of an old Teacher he had as a child back home with the other Elves. Fortunately, her attention seemed to be on Salega, but Quinn then realized that wouldn’t be good either.

“Yes, Ms. Witherview, I’ve been looking for a young boy who I’ve been told had moved to an Orphanage here in Lomeder, he was a lone survivor of his village after it was brutally murdered by a single man. I wish to speak to him if possible.” Quinn said outright, not wanting to play small chat with this women. She didn’t seem to be the one who liked small chat anyway. As he spoke his purpose for being here, he watched her face as her eyebrows lifted as well as her eyes widening, allowing Quinn to relax, she did know who he was talking about, meaning he had come to the right place.

“You’ll have no luck talking to him. What business is it anyway? The boy has been through enough, I doubt he would talk to you even if he did. I will not have some…guardian” She had hesitated on the word before speaking it, her gaze falling on Salega again. “…or whoever you are distress him any more then he already is.” Her face was fierce, making Quinn lean back. Not talk to him? He couldn’t talk? Was all this for nothing then? Well, he may have been afriend of his teacher as a child, but now he wasn’t going to let this old hag scare him away.

“I’m a bou…I’m a detective and had recently picked up the trail of the one responsible for making the boy a orphan in the first place, it would help me in my mission to bring this man to justice if I could just see the boy. I do have a way with children, perhaps he would open up for me.” Quinn replied, smoothly, watching the Priestess’s face carefully. She still seemed to have doubts about him, and her attention kept going back to Salega.

“Very well, you may see him. Grettia, please escort Judiac here.” She said rather tartly to a Priestess outside the door, who scampered away to retrieve the child. “Whatever you have to ask him, you will have to do it in front of me.”

Great, Quinn thought to himself as he smiled to the Priestess. “Of course, that wouldn’t be a problem.”

The angel arched his brows at the word "Lucia" had used. She wasn't sure if he believed her or not, but it wouldn't matter either way. He was just a child, no older than what she appeared to be, no doubt. She had age on her side. Salega didn't even notice Quinlan looking at her. She felt hands as firm as iron clasp her shoulders as his voice rang from behind her. By the faint pitch of his tone, the girl knew he found her predicament somewhat entertaining, but all in all, he had come to her rescue and she was more than grateful. “That’s right, I’m her guardian. And right now, we have a meeting with the head Priestess here. Come on Lucia, you can join your new friends after.” Children where such a pain. For a moment, she briefly remembered the red-eyed girl she had brought into the world by mistake as an adult. The poor child didn't get much of a chance at a real childhood before...
Quinlan lead Salega out of the mob of now protesting kids and into the peaceful, welcomed quiet of the almost deserted Orphanage. Another Priestess was waiting for inside had showed both Quinn and Salega up to the head Priestess’s office. The Hand of Sorrow half expected the building to be posh, since it was run by priestesses of the church or shrine, but nothing was actually... special. A mournful frown found her features then. The orphanage was poor. As they entered the main office, she saw sitting behind a large desk, the Head Priestess, wearing her formal robes. “Ah, welcome to Greakhill Orphanage, I was told we had a couple of visitors. My name is Helga Witherview, how can I be of assistance with you?” The woman asked, politely but with a cold tone. Her attention seemed to be on Salega, and her gaze made the girl a bit uneasy. As he spoke his purpose for being here, her face as her eyebrows lifted as well as her eyes widening. She did know who he was talking about, meaning he had come to the right place but even Salega could tell that she didn't trust him.

“You’ll have no luck talking to him. What business is it anyway? The boy has been through enough, I doubt he would talk to you even if he did. I will not have some…guardian” She had hesitated on the word before speaking it, her gaze falling on Salega again. “…or whoever you are distress him any more then he already is.” Her face was fierce, making Quinn lean back. Hmmm… The Hand of Sorrow cast her gaze to the side, contemplating possibilities. With the appearance of a child, she could do the talking for him, but he would have to tell her what to ask.

Quinn replied, and what a sly elf he was, watching the Priestess’s face carefully. His choice of words cast Salega’s idea out the window. The Priestess still seemed to have doubts about him, and her attention kept going back to Salega, who fiddled with her thumbs to take her mind off of the task at hand. Why was that woman constantly looking at her? Talk about creepy. It wasn’t until a few seconds later when she realized the Priestess was making direct contact with her, and Salega didn’t look away. Yogh-oh. Her orbs darted away at the moment of convergence, peeking here and there, upon random items and relics located in the woman’s quarters so as not to make eye contact with her.

“Very well, you may see him. Grettia, please escort Judiac here.” She said rather tartly to a Priestess outside the door, who scampered away to retrieve the child. “Whatever you have to ask him, you will have to do it in front of me.” Oh wonderful. The girl cast her dark gaze upon Quinlan then, frowning. He was a bounty hunter, a mercenary. The elf couldn’t ask the boy such questions in the presence of the Head Priestess. I wonder if I can create a diversion of some sort… she thought to herself, rummaging through ideas once more. What would cause this woman to leave the moment the child is brought in? Well, she would have to—that’s it!
Gazing back towards her Guardian, Salega’s orbs smiled, as if telling him she had a plan. As it was, she had many ways to lure or distract the staff members of the orphanage if she needed to. Quinlan had done so much for her and she had given him nothing but fake smiles and words of wisdom since. Now was the time to repay him for everything thus far. ”Quin,” she said curtly, trying to make herself as childlike as possible. ”This is boring! Can I go back down stairs to play?” Her eyes swelled and her brows curved to form something known as a ‘puppy dog pout’. ”Pleeeease? Can I, Quin? Huh, huh, can I, please?!”

As Quinn sat waiting for the kid, he was trying to sort out his questions, he had to reframe them now that this head priestess was going to sit in on him during this…interview. But what she said about him not speaking concerned him more, he had heard about young kids who had witnessed extreme horror to be traumatized to a degree, becoming mute was one symptom. But he had no other way of getting the information he needed, that new village certainly wasn’t going to spill their secrets, and if this boy can’t talk then any truth to what really happened would be lost and he would have to once again trust the authorities with the account of the murder. But there was still something that prevented him from accepting those events as truth. Gurr Laga didn’t seem to be the blood murderous type, so why was he the one blamed for it? Maybe he did do it, possessed by some evil spirit, that wasn’t as far fetched as some may think… or split personality….

He then felt a tug at his shoulder, and turned to see Salega. He let out a sigh, no matter what he did find or didn’t find today with the kid it wouldn’t matter until he kept his promise to Salega. Dwelling on two things at once never helped him, his mind would be torn, making him susceptible to miss other key point of information. Then the words that Salega was asking him sunk in, and he looked at her with puzzling eyes. Didn’t she hate being around those kids? He had almost lost his composure to tell her that he had just rescued her from that torment and now she wanted to go back? But as he took in her composure and looks, he could tell that there was something else going on in her mind. Helga began to look back and forth between them, obviously waiting for him to respond.

“Ah…sure….of course you can go back outside to play. If that would be alright with you Priestess Witherview.” He asked with a smile. “I should have left her out there, I knew this would be boring for a little girl, but I was put in charge of looking out for her until her parents got back from their journey. Their my neighbours, and well, they had nobody else to watch her while they were gone. I wasn’t sure how to really handle work and her, thought I could do both.”

“Ah, I see.” Helga said her demeanor changing slightly, her attention on Salega changed as a new realization entered her mind. “Yes, she is more then welcome to play with the children. Can you find your way back downstairs?” She asked kindly to Salega.

Quinn then looked back over to Salega and nodded with a smile. “It’s alright, she can make her way out by herself. She’s very cleaver, like her mother.” He then let out a soft laugh. But before Salega stood up, Quinn grabbed Salgea by the arm and brought his lips down to her ear. “I’m not sure what your doing, but be careful.” With a louder whisper so that Helga could hear, he added, “Be nice, and stay out of trouble.” He then watch her leave the room.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were brining the child here for another purpose.” Helga then apologized to Quinn, Quinn finally understanding why she had been interested in Salega. “I got the impression you were a traveler, and we get many travelers dropping off children they come across on the side of the road, after their village were destroyed by some sort of catastrophe or Demons. I’ve just assumed that’s why you were here. Then you asked about Judiac, and I wasn’t sure what to think. But I see know I was wrong to jump to conclusions. I do hope you find the monster who did this to Judiac, it’s such a shame to see a child like him….” She trailed off, leaving Quinn to wonder what was wrong with the kid.

Quinlan was puzzled, obviously questioning why she would want to return to the tormenting mob of children that he had so kindly rescued her for. He needed to speak with the kid alone, without the Head Priestess listening and watching and she would provide a distraction for him to do so. But the more the elf searched her composer, he began to realize she had something more important in mind.

Salega wouldn't tell him exactly what it was that she was plotting, not in front of the woman at the desk, but hopefully, Quin would understand once it all fell into place. When he answered her, she pretended to be ecstatic, jumping out of her seat with a semi-loud 'yes!'. Pausing once he addressed the woman, Salega awaited her permission. Once it was granted, the black-clad girl curtseyed and agreed that she could find her way and turned to depart.

Her guardain begun to lie to the Priestess, trying to give her a reasonable explaination. At the mention of her own parents, Salega's orbs became downcast. Both of her parents where dead... and even worse, her own mother called her a 'monster'. She was right, to some degree, but it still hurt more than it should. The hand of Sorrow turned her head to hide her gaze as she felt his breath on her hair next to her ear. “I’m not sure what your doing, but be careful.” he said. A smile cracked her lips then. "I owe you this much," she murmured softly, her face hidden by her dark hair. You'll understand.

With that, she sprinted down stairs. As she bounded out of the room and shut the door, she paused, her gaze sweeping about her surroundings, looking for something that could pose as a serious threat. There was a long staff leaning against the wall in the distance, but a meer piece of carved wood wouldn't do much. However, the slight curve of the tip made her curious when it glittered a faint hue of azure.

Thud... thud...
Salega froze in mid-step, craning her head in all directions to make sure there weren't any priestesses about that would stop her in the act. With no priestesses in sight, she could be certain that no one would interfer. She took another step on the first stair and exhaled deeply. When she had the breath, the girl paced herself on the single step loudly at first. As the time drew on, she made her footfalls seem to be growing fainter to give those who were within ear shot the impression that she had gone down stairs.

Once more, Salega took another discreetful glance around her. The halls and rooms where empty; the other members of the staff must've been outside watching the children. Excellent. The Hand of Sorrow approached the staff, vigilant and stealth-like. The moment she came within reach of it, she grabbed it and tip-toed into the nearest vacant room. Sighing softly as to not make a sound, the frail child observed the staff carefully before reaching a conclusion.

The darkness of the room made her extremely uneasy; every moment she stepped into the blackness of the unknown, she was another moment closer to being discovered by those she wanted to remain clueless. She had to act quickly. A small tap to the curved tip of the wooden staff emitted a dull, florescent sappire glow bright enough to illumentate the room but nothing else. Good, she smiled, It is magical.

Salega arched it in her hand, closing her eyes softly. It been almost a millienia since she had last used magic, and though her mana was never truly depleted, the years it had gone unused had most likely dulled her skill. This had to be against the odds, though. It had to work. Okay, Sale, think. she thought to herself. Legazu always taught me that white magic is the product of sheer, selfless thoughts. Selfless... thoughts... The girl cast her thoughts upon her guardain at that moment. She had to do this for him. Quinlan needed the information the boy could provide and she would help him in any way possible to obtain it.

While she focused her thoughts and energy, Salega took her time, trying to leave enough time for the other women to bring in the boy her guardain needed to speak to. After waiting a good six minutes, she allowed her mind to merge with the pools of her locked away mana. The dull blue glow became ethereal; but as a reacant to her, the aura of its color shifted to become an eerie dark gray hue. Its magic corused through her like fire to her veins; a roar echoed in the silence of her mind. This is... a summening staff! No wonder it was cast aside...

Shifting her thoughts from selfless to malevolent, the girl grimaced upon the pure hostility of her thoughts, attempting to make them as grutesec as she could. The distraction called for something that posed a threat. Since she alone could not summon a beast she could control, she would use this staff for the time being to control and wheild its might to do her bidding. A strident howl pierced the still air as the ethereal light branched off to become physical matter, extending like the legs of a spider.

Forgive me! A final burst of malice brought the beast trapped within the staff to stand before her. It was cloaked in a pelt of gunmetal fur, the limbs long and gnarled, like that of a lycan unsuccessfully mingled with a dragonkin. Along the brute's chest and under belly, violet scales took the place of hair and soft, unguarded flesh. Of the gamut that was its long, dragon-like tail, the tip emerged from the coils, revealing a vicious mane of spikes. Low growls echoed from deep in it's chest, it's canine shaped head raising while the eyelids revealed pupil-less orbs of maroon. Salega observed the brute's hooked talons and the hooked claw on both hind legs.

A bit more than I wanted, but it will do. She raised the staff; the brute lowered its figure as it's eyes followed the dull gray lighting. "Demon of the night, I have called upon you for asisstance." she said, low enough for the beast to hear. "You will cause chaos down stairs. Toss a few chairs, break a few pieces of china, do what you must to attract the attention of the priestesses. Keep them busy and make them think you're going after the orphens. But, should you ever catch one, do not harm them." The creature responded by blinking, a human understanding showing in it's orbs of fire. She nodded and cast the end of the magical staff towards the window at the far end of the dusty old room. "Use the window to get out. The shattering of glass will be heard, and knowing the staff members of an orphanage, they will investigate. Once you've landed outside, come out to the front and charge the children."

Grunting, the creature turned adruptly and walked towards the door, smashing the glass with its skull before it jumped out and landed on the firm soil below. The black-clad girl wasted no time in going to where she was supposed to be: Down stairs. Her steps were hushed and calculative against the wood while she made her way down, just in time to see the creature standing before the play grounds snarling in the direction of the children. Normally, a beast such as that would devour tiny cretins such as them even when ordered not to, but, luckily for them, he was summoned by one who had the skill to keep him under control.

Just like she had planned, the sound of unholy growls drew out the attention of the priestesses. The children scurried while the furry brute swipped at them. It snarled, bending backwards on it's hind legs to prepare for a spring as saliva dribbled from its parting jaws full of jagged teeth. Salega copied the other children's panic by screaming at the top of her lungs and dashing behind the protection of a forming ring of women whose eyes filled with aghast. It's hooked claws smashed through a nearby door, causing a dent to form in the metal of an iron table.

With yet another strident howl, the beast charged, lowering its head like some sort of bull. Wings burst from it's backside when the preistesses took aim with their magic and it took to the air, heaving back it's head to gather something Salega couldn't quite see. The air around the beast's muzzle steamed and blurred--she drew close to the line of priestesses, reading herself for the blast. Liquid fire spewed from it's jaws, sending a flamethrower in the direction of the line of women. Most of them avoided the blast, but one of them was immobilized by her aghast and was frozen to the spot.

She was young and by the looks of it, inexperienced on the battle field. Get out of the way! No time to jump and dodge. Salega cupped her small hands 'round the young woman's waistline and pressed herself against her, her weight causing them both to drop to the ground. Thinking swiftly, Salega pushed against the woman's back, causing them to roll out of the line of fire and into safety. While the blast kicked up dust, she crawled into the priestesses arms as if the woman had saved her. "How did you-"
"Roll!"

Another blast of fire collided with the ground, spewing up dirt and grass to cloud and cloak the ground in a blank of dust...

It had only been a few moments between Salega's leaving and the arrival of the boy he had come to see but being alone in a room with the High Priestess, it felt more like hours. Quinn kept his composure, despite the powerful urge to sift in his seat. That gaze she had, no wonder she was looking after kids, any kid no matter what they did wouldn't be able to hold up under that sort of pressure. Finally a knock at the door and Judiac was escorted in by another Priestess. Right away, Quinn had an unsettling feeling, the way the kid looked, his eyes seemed to wonder around, focusing on things for only a few seconds before looking around the room again. For his age, it did seem highly unusual. Quinn lifted his eyes to that of the High Priestess, outwardly she seemed composed, but the bounty hunger had a suspicious feeling she was laughing at him from the inside. Now, how was he going to ask his questions......

Finally coming up with something generic he opened his mouth to speak but as he opened a scream filled the air. Puzzled, he shut his mouth and heard the first scream followed by several others. Helga and the other Priestess ran to the window before letting out screams of their own. In no time at all, they ran out of the office, leaving Judiac alone with Quinn. He had known Salega had planned something, but what if this is one of those things that were hunting her. Some protector he'd be if he focused on the boy here and not Salega. Curiosity finally got the better of him as she approached the window to see what was going on himself. The creature that terrorized the children was something he'd never seen, though parts of it reminded of creatures he'd had experience with. He saw Salega, screaming with the rest of the kids, that was when he knew this was her plan. Though he really didn't like it. Knowing now that time was of the essence he turned quickly to the kid, who didn't seem worried about the screams and noises from below as the Priestess began to fight back the creature.

"Okay kid, listen, i need to know what happened at your village. I know it's rough but i need to know who exactly it was that murdered everyone, your the only one alive, the only one who knows the truth. I can capture this guy if you tell me who it is!" He had grabbed the kind the shoulders, gotten down to eye level with him and spoke directly to his face. But the kid didn't seem to know he was there.

"Come on kid, what happened?!" He yelled at the kid, shacking him lightly. But nothing changed in his behaviour. Was this what Helga was telling him, that he wouldn't talk? That he had been so trumatized but the incident that he had become....like this?

Quinn lowered his head as his read hair fell over his face. He had risked Salega for this, he had caused her to use her magic to summon this beast, that would most likely get the attention of anyone in the vincinity that she was around. All this for what? A kid who didn't know where he was. This was he only lead, his only chance of finding out if Gurr was really responsible for those murders, he didn't seem like the type when he had finally met him, was this just a rouse of Gurr's to lead him off his trail, to go play detective when he should have tracked him down like any bounty hunter would. But that was the way he was, as much as he was a mercenary, he was always about the truth, and justice. He guess that no matter how far he traveled, he'd always be an elf.

"Stay here kid." He shouted back at the boy as he let go of him and raced out of the room and down the stairs. This was the last time he'd try to do two things at once, from now on, Salega would get his full attention, no bounties, just Salega and making sure she gets to that Temple alive.

The yard was in total choas, the kids it seemed were running everying, trying to get back into the building where it might be safe. By opening the doors, the kids ran past Quinn, their screams causing him to cover his ears. Finally when he could move again he ran to the front lines where the Priestess were doing the best they could in protecting the kids. But he wasn't interested in that, he was looking for Salega.

The dust begun to settle in a flicker of Mother Nature's unkind hand, sending the particles up into the air breifly. As Salega pushed herself out of the dirt, the young preistess that she had saved checked to see if the girl was alright before she took her by the hand and darted back to the front lines. Strident howls of years of anger lanced the air like an iced dagger while the creature, whom Salega suddenly realized was called a dracopyre, stampeded through the grounds of the orphanage.

"I thought we imprisioned that beast!" A priestess yelled over the screaming children, blasting the dracopyre with holy magic. "Who set it loose?!"
Uh oh. Salega broke away from the young woman's side the second she could feel Quinlan's spiritual energy near her. "Wait! Don't go back, it's too dangerous!" The priestess called, her voice full of panic and consern. Yelling the words, "I'm sorry" over the pandemonium of peoples, Salega squeezed her way through, frantically looking for the one who had vowed to protect her on her journey to Kieraline's temple.

The Hand of Sorrow finally spoted him through the settling dust and dashed towards him as a blast of energy collided with the ground. At least the dracopyre wasn't hurting anyone...
"QUIN!" Cried Salega as she jumped towards him, "The dracopyre..." She breathed, " We have to... return him... inside the staff..." All fighting ceased. The dark-clad girl lifted her carbon gaze to obsorb the scene around her. Posed on all fours, the dracopyre kept its fiery gaze low, muzzle paralell to the earth, spiked tail flickering like a flame behind its furry body.

It wasn't moving; the only sound that came from it was a slight gargling sound from its throat. The priestesses eyed it cautiously, but they had stopped attacked it the second it stopped attacking them. Tension filled the space between their horrified but determined eyes to its emotionless red ones; Salega blinked twice and inclined her head towards the town. The dracopyre's muscles tensed and it seemed to be nodding, its eyes filled with an almost human understanding as it turned sharply and sped away.

Bewildered women stared after it, lowering their weapons; Salega tugged the rim of Quin's sleeve to get his attention, asking him in a whisper if he had spoken with the child. "If you're done, we need to leave the orphanage. They may become suspicious." She added in a murmur.

A cloud of dust impaled his vision, preventing him from seeing much of the damage the beast had created, but as the air got clearer, the damage was far worse then he had expected, weren't the priestess prepared for things like these? He was somewhat surprised that they had not got the creature under control yet, but getting a better look at the thing, he could understand why. The beats seemed annoyed and angry, making it far more unpredictable. He still didn't know where it came from, but as he reached the front lines, he heard his name being yelled by Salega. He kept his eyes on the beast the entire time as he closed the distance between his charge and himself, his right hand was on his sword, but he doubted it would do anything to the monster unless he had some spells on it. He just barely caught what Salega was telling him, something about returning it somewhere.

"Where did that thing come from?!" He shouted, clearly worried about their lives now being in real danger. But before he could get the full story, a silence came upon them. Looking around he could see that the dracopyre stop his attack, the priestess were surprised by this so stopped their own attacks. All stood still and quiet, Quinn waited for something but he didn't know what. Then the dracopyre suddenly took off, towards the town. Leaving them all to stare in bewilderment over the events that had just happened. Again he heard Salega's voice, he only nodded slightly as he grabbed her arm and lead her quickly out of the orphanage's gates and into the city. He knew that the sight of this creature loose in the city would draw commotion and guards, as well as anybody else wanting the prize of slaying or capturing such a beast. At first he was upset about all this, that it would cause them to be discovered by the wrong people, but as he thought about it some more, it was the perfect getaway.

"I have no idea what you had done, but that was way, way out of bounds! That thing's going to tear about the city now! Who knows what's going to happen to it or who it's going to kill. God! I let you out of my sight for a minute and chaos erupts!" He was shouting, seeing that they were far enough away from the orphanage now for him to speak his mind. But it was also clear he wasn't all that upset with Salega, it was more on himself. He was right to think it was Salega doing that, so that he could talk to the kid, but it was a complete waste of time, that was what he most upset about. He put his hand through his red hair and let out a long deep sigh. She was such a handful, and he was stuck with her.

"We can't go back to the inn, were getting as much supplies as we can and heading out before sunset." He then said to Salega, much more calmly then before. He then lead her through allyways and different streets then before stopping here and there at very odd shops to pick up things they would later need.

The last shop they visited was pretty small looking, but a lot cozier and friendly then the others. Quinn walked in, took one look at the shopkeeper, who opened a back door allowing Quinn to continue walking with out slowing down. He trusted Salega was following him as he turned a cornner and walked down a flight of stairs to a bunker like room where scrolls, maps and other supplies were stored. Quinn went right to the maps and began opening them up, studding them for a moment before either tossing it aside or placing it in his bag.

"If you see anything you think will be helpful take it." He said to the girl.

While the priestesses of the Orphanage were still in utter shock, Salega a Quin made their get away before anyone had time to ask questions and point fingers. As he rushed her out of the city's boundaries, a pang of sheer malice shot through her, as if another life force had just attempted to reach out to her's...

Thee I invoke bornless one
All woman, purepredator
Where in conspiracy and impluse dwell
Like a seething fall from GRACE!

Boots of the darkest shade of ebony switched over the ground in a swift, well-calculated motion. Hair as dark as a ravens wing stirred ever so slightly while a figure, clad in twilight, solumnly approached the recovering women of the orphanage. The young priestess, whom Salega had saved from the dracopyre's blast, cast her gaze in the approaching woman's direction. Her body instantly tensed when she locked eye contact with the woman.

A dark moon cresent gleamed upon the center of her forehead against her inhuman flesh that was a death pale shade of white beneath the light of the sun. Whoever it was, she was wearing a black cloak with the hood covering her head, which cast shadows over her face. But not even the shadows could mask the deep seated hatred glowing in her malice-infected eyes. Tall and slight, she didn't look as if she could pose much of a threat, but when she moved, perfectly toned muscles rippled beneath her skin. This woman might look elegant, but she wasn't in any way frail.

The closer she came to them, the more the priestesses begun to tense from the intencity of her dark, demonic aura. Just by looking at her, they could tell that she wasn't human. Exhaling sharply, the black-clad woman closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. When she had vanished, teh women were mystified. It wasn't until the youngest priestess backed took a step back until they saw her again.

A smirk formed on the cloaked figures thin lips when the young lady gazed up at her. "Why don't you be a good girl and tell me where Lucia went?"
"How do you know--"
"The girl? We go way back." Her smile boldened. "the man she was with.What is his name?"
"Quinlan." The priestess replied, slightly trembling in the demoness's grasp. As the other women slowly presented their weapons and advanced upon her, the cloaked woman simply pointed the hilt of a short sword at them. She held it like a true swordsman, which ment she'd had plenty of experiance with the blade... something a magic wheilder couldn't cross.

"That man is a mercanary. Put put wanted posters of him... and that child."


"I have no idea what you had done, but that was way, way out of bounds! That thing's going to tear about the city now! Who knows what's going to happen to it or who it's going to kill. God! I let you out of my sight for a minute and chaos erupts!" the elf was shouting to the canopy of the woods. The black-clad girl sighed. Salega didn't get it. She had single handedly given him the chance and time to speak with the Kid and she had also provided a perfect getaway. But best of all, the dracopyre did exactly what it was told.

"I told it not to harm anyone." She said simply when ever he had finished. "It won't attack nor kill anyone. All it wanted was to return to its home." However, she could planely see that Quinlan was hardly upset with her, but upset with himself. Salega had wanted to help him... that was the only reason she even unleashed the beast in the first place. To help him.

When he told her that they couldn't go back, her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. They'd be outside, in the dark, vunerable to attack. Wonderful. The hand of Sorrow could not be engulfed by the blackness. Horrid things took place within the shadows. She opened her mouth, but her words came out in muffled words that didn't make sense.

She followed him as if she was blind. This was a disaster! Blackness... voices... memories... and probably even MORE bad things would come from her being in the dark! And it didn't help much that she felt as if she was being not only watched, but followed. Whenever she went into the shop, she took multiple lanterns off the shelf near by and gave a single coin, which she had found in the Mountain range, to who ever was in charge.

Exiting the shop, Salega paused, gazing into the crimson eyes of the dracopyre she had freed. Its muzzle parted, but no words wisped out. Thank you. The girl smiled and reached out for it; the dracopyre lowered its head to allow her to pet it. As long as she wasn't alone, she had nothing to worry about. Plus, a dracopyre was a hell of a foe.

As Quinn got his things together he looked over to Salega and saw her collecting some lanterns. She had been doing that at the other shops too, she had a thing for the dark, he knew that but still the darkness may be their ally sometimes. He had heard her when she said that the dracopyre wouldn’t kill anyone, that she told him not to, but he had remained silent at that. He didn’t know if he believed her or not, to him it looked like that beast would kill, her certainly destroying enough of the property. But he had to remember that nobody had been killed...yet.

He let out a sigh, he was not used to being around a kid this long, she was starting to do something to him. He wanted to make sure she was alright, that he was going to protect her no matter what, but at the moment the words weren’t there.

“Alright, we better get going, we need to get enough space between us and the city before nightfall.” Quinn said solemnly knowing that there were going to have it rough for the next couple of days before they reach the next village. They headed back up to the street, the red haired elf looking up at the sky to judge how much longer they had until night. But something was blocking them, Quinn stared opened mouth at the Dracopyre from earlier. His hand went directly to his sword as he tried to push Salega behind him, but she was already in front of him, petting the beast.

“Okay....I guess he doesn’t want to return home again.” Quinn said with a force grin. Salega said something about this before, how these different, darker creatures liked her better then the others. He wouldn’t have believed it unless he saw it, how the beast lowered his head to her. He removed his hand from his hilt and looked at the pair.

“Well I guess you were right, about it obeying your orders, can you order it to wait for us outside the gate? We need to leave now.” He said to the Salega.

Quinlan's voice broke the silence between them. Talons flew over her frail body as protection; the ears pressed back against the beast's skull, the dark lips lifting in a snarl which bared cruel canines designed for ripping and tearing. The dracopyre snarled at the elf when he reached for his weapon. Salega remained calm and simply rose a hand to stroke the wicked creature's scaled chest to calm him, scraping her dark claws over them. Murmuring to it in the language of dragons, Salega continued to stroke it, telling the dracopyre that Quinlan was friend, not foe. The beast snorted, but its eyes were filled with understanding. And though it still didn't trust him, the dracopyre lowered its defenses.

"You should be careful when approaching a dracopyre." The dark-clad girl turned slowly with which to face him, her expression blank and emotionless. She had everything to fear on this day, for it was today and every other day that followed that the creeping dark would be upon her. "They don't like surprises much. Those who have been trapt for years, like my friend here, often have trust issues when they're finally set free." Quin let his arm relax as his hand moved from the handle of his blade, looking at them. Salega continued to stroke the dracopyre, minding the jagged points of her claws when they ran over its fur. When the elf spoke again, the beast was calmed once more.

The Hand of Sorrow nodded once, turned to their new ally, and spoke to it once more. Grumbling in the same foreign language, the beast rose to its full height, gave one last look to Quinlan, and bounded off into the thickening wood. She giggled, finding the elf's expression somewhat amusing. It was obvious he hadn't took her seriously when she had told him about the cruel creatures and beasts of the dark and how they actually liked her, where as other creatures pretty much hated her guts.

As she made her way to his side, the cold sense of reality surged through her. It was as clear as the sky on a cloudless summer day that he was feeling more connected to her. Salega knew more than anyone that the closer others came to her, the harder they fell when the malice within made its presense known. Getting close to her was... not acceptable. Not now. There had to be something she could do to... no. It should be enjoyed while it lasted, for the most part. Salega bit her lower lip, millions of pensive thoughts running over each other in her head. Let's just hope it lasts long enough.

While the dracopyre bounded through the woods, Lady Darkness swooped in closer to her prey, sliding off of a branch in an oak tree at least a good four feet away. She was hidden by closely clustered oaks and pines; though her vision was limited between the vast expense of developing forest, the demoness could still feel the movements they made through the ground. And she could smell them as well. Being a full blooded demon had its props after all.

Smiling right from ear to ear, she slithered her way through the trees once more, edging closer and closer to the future Messiah, staying a decent distance away from the pair as to not blow her cover. Dark orbs cast to the heavens, searching the darkening hue of the clouds and the dim flicker of specks in the twilight beyond. It was still evening, but night fall would decend swiftly upon them in a matter of hours. Lady Darkness checked to make sure all of her weapons were in place, tested the razor points of her ebony claws by slashing through a small tree beside her. She caught it just before it fell so that it wouldn't make a sound, and set it aside before she ran into the shadow of yet another tree.

Stealth was an assassin's greatest asset. With it, the element of surprise was hers, and that could mean the differance between life and death. But even she knew she would not die here. The elf did not possess any magic and what magic Salega had hadn't been unlocked in Ea as of yet. However, the girl could still have the upper hand. On one hand, she was Lady Darkness's Queen as a young child, which meant that she could have thousands of tricks up her sleeves, and on the other hand, there was her new dracopyre ally.

Hissing to herself, Lady Darkness peeked over the trunk with which to observe her prey. Salega paused once more. There was no use in denying that the girl knew someone was watching her. She just didn't know who. Unforunately for her, Salega would know soon enough. Coming face to face with one of the millions that served her other half should prove a stunning reunion indeed...

Quinn watched as the dracopyre gave him a steady stare before lifting itself into the air and heading out towards the edge of the city, where they will be going. He didn’t need Salega to explain about surprises and trust issues, he knew those well enough. It seemed that the beast, even though it may not trust him would be with them for a while, and it may be better off, a large creature like that would be handy in a tight situation either to help him fight or help Salega flee.

“Come on, let’s get going.” Quinn said to Salega as he tossed his bag over his back and headed towards he gate. They needed to get as far from the city as they could, but it may be harder to lose any followers if that creature was going to be around them, he hoped Salega had the power to make it invisible or something that wouldn’t let others be drawn to them. But he didn’t voice his concerns to the girl now, darkness would be upon them in a few hours, and she had said enough about not liking the darkness.

Reaching the gate, the two didn’t seem to have any problems leaving, as much as people and he guards were talking about what happened at the orphanage earlier, they didn’t pay the two any attention as the left the city of Lomedor behind them and entered the thick forest, turning off the road as soon as they were out of the vision of the gates. The dracopyre was waiting for them and journeyed with them as Quinn pushed Salega as much as he could so they could get as much distance between as they could.

.::.Black goddess arise.::.

Sun down was coming with a quickness, which the demoness avoided its accursed golden glare as it set, and folded the realm of Arda in blankets of twilight, glittering with distant stars thousands of light-years away. Salega, that stupid little brat, followed behind her guardain like a long lost pup; Lady Darkness slipped deeper into the comferting shadows in which to follow with ease. The delightful scent of her blood grew stronger, driving Lady Darkness to the verge of insanity. She had to keep her distance, at least for now, in order to have the element of surprize. And DAMN that elf to Hell and back! He was pushing her onward, even though the girl's frame tensed and trembled as the night drew in deeper. When her body was trembling like a freezing kit, she finally pulled out one of the lanterns she had bought and turned it on.

The demoness surpressed a snarl, but she continued to follow them in silence under the cover of night, behind the trees and crowding bracken around the edges of the path. Seething with excitment, the demoness side-stepped around one of the trees--the heel of one of her boots caught a twig and snapped it in half, causing Salega to whirl around instantly, holding up the lantern-- which she progressed in making a natural, animal-like sound to throw them off her existence. It worked. The black-clad girl turned back around, but she went closer to Quinlan's side.

Stupid girl.
What this demoness would give to take her pretty little head in her hands and smash that perfect little fact into a wall composed of bricks until all of her pretty little black paint came gushing out of her skull!

Quivering in sheer anticipation, Lady Darkness followed them until they had to pause and make camp, which Salega took care of mostly by bounding leaves and fallen branches together with a flexible, natural vine. Where in the hell had she learned this stuff? Snickering and cursing the fact that this creature-- with the appearance of a child of all things-- had more experiance than she, Lady Darkness made careful observations, watching and learning from Salega's survival techniques. It looked extremely complicated to the demoness, considering how the girl had made a "tent" from simple leaves, wood, and vines.
Smartty pants.

When the false archangel picked a patch of berries, Lady Darkness somewhat hoped that they were poisonous to save her the trouble, but unfortunately, it looked like Salega knew her stuff. They were blackberries.
Beside her, the dracopyre shifted with unease at its place. The beast glared back into the dark woods; Lady Darkness ducked, making her body paraell to the ground, trying to be as flat as she could. Good thing there was a bush in front of her head to hide her chest. That would've been a problem. Dracopyre's had extraordinary senses of smell and they could see both in color and in infared vision. Their eye-sight was fabled to be even more in-depth than the elves.

The infared vision wasn't a problem, it was the brute's enriched visiary skills that were a possible threat to expose her pressense. However, demons were beings who had never lived, hence the fact that none of them had souls, and thus, the dracopyre couldn't pick up on a body temperature that didn't exist. Another plus for being a full-blooded demon. Wasn't it great to not be alive?

Sniffing deeply, the darcopyre snorted in distaste as its dragonic tail swished behind it. Lady Darkness remained perfectly still until she saw its massive head turn back to the fire Salega had made to warm them. When she was in the clear, she collected herself off the forest floor and dusted herself off, picked the leaves out of her evenly cut hair, and made sure all of her weapons were in place before she sprung. Everything was in tact. Now, all that was left to do was wait. Wait for Quinlan to dose off, wait for the fire to die, and then use her surroundings to her advantage.

Forests were nothing but trees, grass, and a few small, annoying animals here and there. Everything here, in a natural environment, was flamable. The trees themselves could crush pretty much anything it fell upon, or at least trapt it for awhile. Flaming grass could prevent escape and leaves of fire raining from a blazing tree would make a shower that her victims would just have to dance to avoid. This was perfect. They had given her everything she needed and more. If it weren't for the dracopyre, this would be far too easy.

Lady Darkness leaned back against the tree to think, her dark lips breaking into a crooked grin. All that was left to do... was wait.