I lost all track of time - my body floated somewhere, but I didn’t know exactly the point. Was I dead? I couldn’t have been… could I? I couldn’t feel anything… I couldn’t hear my voice when I screamed.. I didn’t know where I was. My blood… that’s all I could remember, that horrible red color running before everything turned to darkness.

I had been shot - my pride had gotten me shot. Not by bullets, but fucking arrows.

Shit… I was dead. I had to be or–

Heat washed over me. They always told me I was going to Hell but… come on! This wasn’t it was it?!

“Little one…”

Well that wasn’t a scary voice… actually… soothing…

“Wake up little one, you’re dreaming.”

It was a male voice. I forced myself to try and open what I thought was my eyes. A bright golden glow washed over my eyes, burning them for a moment as I focused, staring up at a being’s face - it was familiar but wasn’t… The man cracked a smile. “You gave us a scare.”

“She’s damn stupid coming here.”

“Give her some credit! She’s the first since we’ve been sealed up!”

A voice snickered, “It’s the first girl he’s seen in a long time.”

My head hurt listening to these voices. The male had long red hair, it was touching my nose causing me to sneeze as I sat up quick - yelping in pain as the wounds across my torso yelled at me in anger, pain jolting through my body all over again.

“Easy there child..” A pair of hands reached around my shoulders, gently laying me back down upon something soft…a pillow? His golden eyes flashed as he gave me a gentle smile, a fore finger tapping my nose before looking up to the left, “Will you guys quiet down? She’s waking up.”

Three other shadows started to gather round - my vision was shot, I could only see the one before me before I slumped my head back, my hands running over my stomach where I could feel the stitch marks - they had mended me.

“She’s damn lucky she landed on the right spot - her blood instantly broke the seal.”

“Hush Ro’, this isn’t the time.” The voice of the first male growled, leaning close again as he looked like he was scanning me with his eyes. “Where are you from young one? You’ve had to travel far for you to get here…”

The one called Ro coughed, “Sure she can speak Aridin?”

So that was his name…

Aridin whipped his head around, snarling like a beast at Ro, eyes sparking bright blue before quiet settled again and the tension lessened. He turned his gaze back to me, waiting.

“T…Toxia.”

The ancient blinked, a look of worry appearing, “You’re… from there?”

I nodded.

Ro began to laugh sharply in the background, throwing his hands up into the air, “No wonder! She’s going to have King Old Ass on our backs again!” He turned round, it was then I noticed his skin was dark red, eyes and hair sparking bright white - he was stuck in the pure form. “And who helped you get here?”

I didn’t want to give things away, so I muttered softly that I was told how to get here through a friend…

They were suspicious but they said nothing more about the subject. Hours wore on and I had received the chance to gain all the names of those that had found me: Aridin, Rolir (or Ro’), Nevet, Sade… But that was only four out of seven. Ro was the one that had emerged first, explaining that when my blood touched a seal, the wall I thought was a dead end, crumbled away, revealing the chambers they had been sealed in. It was Ro and Nevet that were right at the wall, the ones that fought off the soldiers who, at the time, were already backing off with fear. The king himself wouldn’t even face them.

“You were so close to death we had to get Aridan to heal you quick… you were out for about an hour before he was able to stabilize you.” Ro frowned darkly, looking over the careful stitches, “You’re damn lucky little girl.”

I didn’t need to be lectured. In classic form I let my head fall back, blinking a few times as if trying to focus before slowly letting them close - I was going to sleep, yet every time I pulled that, it certainly gave the appearance of passing out. Worked like a charm.

~

I don’t know how long I was asleep, nor for a while did I think I was asleep, but in the time, my mind was able to wander to the scrolls I knew I had safely stashed in a satchel at my hip–

Where was it?

My body tensed instantly, reacting in terror that I had lost my bag of plunder somewhere, but as I moved, my still new stitches screamed at me and I fell back over, giving a sharp cry of pain. Why was I so weak…?

“Even in your condition, you must find a way to make things worse upon yourself little one.”

My eyes flickered up and stared into a new face, an older face that sparked something in the back of my head that caused my emotions almost take the better of me. This being looked exactly as my father did, but with fading red hair. I dropped my head into the pillow they had provided me, getting hold of myself before something had reached round and touched my stomach.

I hissed, hand snapping to smack the hand away, and in the process I fell over, the stitches that had torn in my blind struggle to get up ripped farther. I screamed in pain again, laying on my back as my eyes gazed over the wounds that had reopened.

“I see the Crioa lack of respect of their own well being still continues on.” The old being laughed as his hands reached out again, resting against the flesh cautiously, “Don’t fear me - I’m trying to help you.”

This being would be known to me is Pelor, the leader of the small group of ancients that remained. He and I had talked after he mended my wounds for a second time, curious to my nature and why I was there. It was him that I divulged everything - who showed me the path to their realm, and the reason that I saught the truth of the reason why our kind were doomed…

Pelor had only listened to my requests of answers, giving a soft chuckle before whispering, “We never cursed our kind - only a spell that if they believed they would die young, they would… if they accepted the fate, then it was a ‘curse’.” He looked to me, smirking, “You, Miss Crioa,  accepted you would die young, and for that you were shot with arrows. Nearly taken by death but we couldn’t allow that now could we?” A soft smile appeared as he pushed himself up, “You are free from your ‘curse’ Calleigh - I would grant you the powers like us but…” He eyed me, “I don’t believe you wish for immortality.”

My eyes flickered down, it wasn’t that I didn’t want immortality, my heart wouldn’t be able to deal with watching those I cared and defended die away… I shook my head simply, my mind was turning to an old thought that I would not dare say aloud to Pelor.

He didn’t say anything after that, just gave a nod and turned on heel, leaving me be. It would be hours before one of the other ancients would speak to me - many figuring to leave me just be.

~

Time passed and my wounds healed - I had no contact with my home world, realm… what ever you wished to call it. In my solitude, my thoughts began to spin. Was it worth it being an Elemental? These beings… trapped by a demon so easily when they should’ve been able to over power them. Time slowly passed, I heard the distant laughter of the Ancients… but they never came to me. I had it.

Feeling though I could move, I pushed myself up. It hurt at first, but the pain numbed itself like the other hundred of battle scars I had received in the past. Leaving the chamber they sealed me away in, they looked rather surprised to see me moving.

Aridin and Ro were the most surprised, Ro almost looking like he had lost a very good bet with someone. As I approached they small circle the sat in, I struggled to keep myself standing tall, searching for my voice before speaking softly: “Stop hiding yourselves, cowards.”

“Cowards?!” Ro reared up first, “You call US cowards?”

My eyes burned a moment as the shift began, my deep red hair changing to white in a fury of white sparks, eyes following suit as my very skin turned into the bright red color of fire itself. I stepped forward, growling softly, “Yes. I was shot by arrows for you, yet you still hide away in this cell while the door is wide open. Restore your Mistress and take proper place or remain like broken dogs in this cell. Do as you please, I’m going home.”

I went to the corner I saw my bag sitting in, checking the contents as a few raised voices began behind me but were quickly silenced. I didn’t care. I was going home, going to where I belonged.

Then slow clapping started.

I stopped in my spot and turned my gaze behind me a moment, frowning as Pelor was the one that was clapping, just staring with a blank expression. I knew I was frowning, but the Ancient rose to his feet, starting for me.

“And why do you think we were waiting for you to wake up? We want you to be part of our revival.”

Fucker was asking me to lead.

I sighed, dropped the bag and looked at him directly, “No. You can go on your own. I fulfilled my end of what I wanted, and now I’m going home. You are Ancients, superior to me. Free your damn selves. ”

“You used us!” Ro yelled in the back, Aridin quickly slapping a hand over his mouth.

I looked to him a moment, took a deep breath and sighed, “Yes. I did.” My voice was gathering it’s own strength as I picked up the bag again, turning for the opened door way, “I’m a Crioa, we take what we want and need, then disposve of what we no longer want. I only came back for answers… not to lead you into victory.”

A hand rested on my shoulder, it was Pelor’s, and in an instantly it sparked, “If you wish to go home, you’re going to need an escort.” Ro’s voice began to raise again, but he looked back, making some kind of face that silenced the elemental. Pelor leaned down and whispered shortly: “In time, you will return… understand?”

I scoffed, shrugging his hand off and heading out, “Sure… but there are people that mean a hell of a lot more to me than you.”

~

Only Pelor walked with me into the darkness of the Shrak’lor night, both our eyes blazing in the moonless night, surrounded by strange things to both of us. This was the first time Pelor had been outside his cell, and my first time wandering on foot. Both of us agreed that in my current state, the wounds healing slowly, I was in no shape to break down into sparks - when I passed through the portal they would be completely healed so that no Covenite would grow fearful of what had happened to me.

We couldn’t take the city streets, knowing too well that soldiers would be waiting for us there, and it was not hard to pick out two red or white hair beings with bright eyes like ours. No, cover of darkness would be best. We turned ourselves South, heading into the forests that surrounded the walls of the citadel. I knew the portal was just outside the walls, but how long it would take to travel to it was unknown - it was easier walking through the city.

The forest itself, even in the lack of light already, seemed to have shadows that stretched in every direction. Darkness never bothered me, it was what was in that darkness that made me weary. As we traveled, we faught every urge of using our magic, only seeing a few feet in front of us and nearly tripping over every root and vine we came across. We walked for hours, in silence, but then Pelor spoke: “It has to be near by–”

He was cut short, the trees themselves went up in red light - we had been set up. We both stumbled due to the bright flash, neither expecting it as I heard the Ancient give a roar of annoyance. I couldn’t see or do anything but felt an hand grasp my arm.  My other arm dropped as I was suddenly being dragged, hearing the all familiar ‘fwip’ sound that followed arrows. My eyes adjusted and followed step behind Pelor, hearing the cries of the demon soldiers behind once again.

Then he stopped, abruptly turning, pushing me forward. I skid to a halt but he turned round on me, he had pulled a large blade from out of no where, sparking violently as he himself entered the pure stage of being. His hair sparked brilliantly as not only his apperance changed, but height and size. He roared something in a dialect that I did not recognize, but knew to be the word of fire itself. It was the obvious command: Run.

I disobeyed.

Despite my wounds, despite my already tired body not wishing to fight, I too drew my blades, the large blades that sparked with red and gold fire; I was going to get my revenge.

Pelor only stared at me a moment before nodding, charging into  the fray of soldiers that were closing in, their bows already drawn back, but they did not fire, something about the ancient charging them causing a wave of fear through the ranks. I stayed back, I knew better than to follow a berserking elemental - done that too many times before. I looked around us, instead I took to the sides, looking for possible ambushes upon the Ancient. Sure enough, my guess was correct, soldiers in hiding surrounded trees around, ready to fire, but as I broke myself down into sparks, appearing behind the soldiers, they drew breaths a moment before the blades either slit their throats, drove through their chests, or down right decapitated them. I did not care whether they died or not - they needed to be taken down.

Then there was a roar of anger. I stopped in my spot and watched in half horror as the Ancient that I had scorn earlier go down on a knee. Arrows had pierced through him and soldiers crowding around. I rushed to help but once again he yelled in words we both knew the soldiers would not understand; “Run! Run!”

I couldn’t do anything… I was already hidden amongst the trees that did not hold any light or life - as I watched on, soldiers piled upon the Ancient as he screamed in agony and hatred.

“Go home Crioa!”

My head whipped back and it was Ro, glaring at me with bright white eyes before shoving me backwards - all that time I had been standing before the portal without realizing it. As I began to fall through, I could see shadows rush from the trees, taking life and sparking and charging for the pile of soldiers upon Pelor.

The Ancients had risen to the call, and as the image faded, my wounds healing completely, I knew something was changing there…

I crashed hard into the couch, my body instantly taking the place where Pella had been resting. My breath was short and fortunately, no one is the shop as I gasped and groaned in surprise and pain. I was home… I was finally home.

Well this is certianly different.

I hadn’t expected to be pull through the gate way with such force, nor did I expect waking up at a bankside with a blade in my face. I knew Drake wasn’t welcomed into this place, but damn; what the fuck type of greeting was that?

“It isn’t him.”

My eyes flickered up, I felt that smart ass urge need to growl out a ‘Of course it isn’t him!’, but I some how found the strength to hold my tongue against it. There was a guard, looming over me with the nicely rusted blade nearly poking my nose. Was this a joke? I reached up my hand to knock it away but a Guard moved to slam is foot down upon it and –

“Back down!”

I had my fist already in a fist to perhaps weaken the impact that never came, slowly I unclenched my hand, looking upwards to see another looming figure - what looked like an old leeper. It looked about, murmuring something in a hissing tone that I couldn’t understand.

Dropping my head back down, I just let myself go back to sleep - I was too tired to fight. Arms picked me up as I drifted away… probably wasn’t wise to do that.

–

When I awoke, I definitely wasn’t at the gate way, instead, when I opened my eyes, all I could see was the fabric of a canopy surrounding me. Sitting up, I got a good look around and it appeared to be that I was in a suite of some sort. There was no bed, just the lounger which I found myself on. With care, I rose to my feet.

The room was dark, walls covered in some fabric which was dark red - as I took a step to open the curtain, taking the material into my hands, the silk flashed, changing bright white and gently fluttered through various colors. It was strange magic… or was it natural? I stopped for a moment, worried that this thing could actually be used for trying inprison me, but after five minutes, I pushed on, stepping past the curtian with no consequences following.

When I took a step out, the room’s candles had burst into flames on command, a golden light filled the room as my eyes adjusted to the dim light. There was bookcases along the sides, crammed with ancient books and scrolls. Tables low to the ground with plush cushions sat about, various papers with glyphs were strung about without care. I couldn’t help but feel at home in this mess of knowledge.

I turned and strode about the room, it was a perfect circle, so first assumption I was in a tower. Figures huh? A gentle breeze brushed through the room, it was warm and like that of the breeze that would run through my hair back home. I watched as deep crimson curtians billowed against the breeze, a belcony waiting beyond.

Naturally I wandered past the curtians, stepping into the night and looked about with awe.

The city seemed to glow, the palace mover over as the light from the moon shone through a few towers. Some of them were shrouded in complete darkness, some glowed faintly. My tower was one that was made of complete darkness.. Strangely, it was beautiful. My eyes scanned the citadel below, various whisps of smoke appeared before my eyes locked on one dark spot… an island with what looked like a fortress.

Was that the prision?

My eyes changed direction and looked upwards. I was not in the tallest complex, but another stood tallest in the center. As my eyes ran up the translucent surface of the spire, my eyes stopped at a crystal that hovered high above it. My face scrunched down as I tried to see what exactly the mass was, but nothing was picking up - it only flickered and glowed as it slowly spun on an axis. Was it a power source or –

The door at the entrance of the room flung open with a loud banging sound, my head whipping around as four guards charged through it. I turned fully around and leaned back agains the railing, already in a half growl before they all stopped before me - no weapons out this time.

They said nothing for a long time so I spoke first: “What do you want?”

An old voice chuckled in the back ground, “Getting to know you, child.”

It was the being that had ordered my release; the lord of these lands I stumbled into.

–

We talked. Not pleasant, but we talked. I had to use everything in my bone to keep myself polite - I knew who this was, and I had a heard a few stories. It wasn’t the fact that I couldn’t be polite, it was the fact I was very distracted with the being staring at me like I was a piece of meat. He asked me who I was, where I was from, and to those I gave answers, though his brow rose a bit when I said I was from Toxia. He and I both knew what was there, that was probably the one moment I thought he was going to order my head to be lobbed off…

But he didn’t.

Instead, he was very accommodating with me, almost to a point he was fascinated by me. God damn weirdo. He offered me to stay there, since apparently I had no where to go (or so he thought). I didn’t push the subject any longer, he did not ask me what I was doing there yet, so that would remain secret for now.

–

A few days past, then a week, and half way into the second week, things were rather comfortable. I would spend time in the library learning all I could, while I was offered access to every resource. Something with me and my craving for knowledge amused the old demon, but I took advantage of it. Every few nights I’d hear contact from Pela (of course, they were all on the same subject since my familiar was in a time frame far different from mine)

Then one night, I heard a cry in my mind - it was Pela, and through it, I could only hear the familiar’s fear. Jaco, the clever demon, had figured out my guise as using Pela as my double - suprised Pieter didn’t catch on earlier that day.

Things calmed and I pushed my voice through Pela to calm the demon down, assure him I was alright until the host came into the chambers I was assigned.

“So why are you here?”

It took him a week and a half to ask me. I answered back bluntly, “I’m here for my ancestors…” I paused, smirking slowly, “The Ancients.”

Never in my life had I seen a demon flare up so fast, before I could duck, a blade had flown past my head. I was lucky it missed. He snarled at me and my only choice was to run - problem was, he blocked the door way.  I looked back, the balcony was behind me and, in a leap of faith, and in the nick of time, my body broke itself down, turning to sparks as three guards had dived for me. 

I was lost to darkness, only willing myself to get away as the thousands of sparks that made me up darted out into the night.

–

There was cold damp floor benieth me as I woke again. Sunlight caught my eye, and though it was dim, it was enough to stir me. I rolled over and found myself on an edge, quickly rolling away, and waking up from a stinging sensation, I found I had dipped my fingertips into water- like an open wound dunking into chlorine. I bit my lip to stop from growling in annoyance as sounds of foot steps echoed. They were armored, and without a doubt, I knew it was soliders.

Thinking I had to escape quickly, I pushed myself up - body too tired to use magic again, I looked around. It was that fortress I had seen earlier, and, sure enough as I stepped closer into the arch way, shadows skittered away from me. Was that Drake’s coin doing that?

“Halt!”

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the tone, looking up as a figure dropped like ooze from the ceiling landing before me.

“What are you child?

I frowned, “It matters?”

The creature chuckled at me, “Oh yes it does… though I know you are by your looks, what are you…?” 

What the hell did it mean? I sighed heavily, moving forward to get past it, “I don’t have time for this.”

“Not to let your desire get past you, dear elemental. Your head is a very pricy thing. Do not think your will is enough… now what are you?” As it had spoken, a web of the black gooey substance had darted for me. I advoided, quickly understanding what it had wanted: the clan my mother was.

“Crioa!”

The darkness subsided, leaving the walls blank and stark with the glyphs across the walls. As I approached, it was the language of the elements - fire being the heavy overtone. As I read across the ancient carvings, some of the meaning was lost to me - I only had what my mother had in her journals to learn from, and even she shunned the old ways.

The entombment of these souls was visible - it was not just the king that sealed them away, but my own kind… only the image of one group marked with the symbol for Crioa was shown leaving the city. My stomach sunk - this was why the clans hated the Crioa line…

I turned, my hand reaching out as flames came forth to light my path into the abyss… I had no idea where I was going, but I would not stop…

This was a duty I had to serve out.

–

My pace picked up as I ran along the labrynth of tunnels. I hated mazes, and I hated being here. I wanted to go home, go back to the people that mattered to me… but my pride kept me going - if I left now, the Ancients would slumber forever and I wouldn’t get my answers, and I would be a coward.

I’m no coward.

My feet were growing sore, my body as well as I slowed to a jog, a walk, then finally just stopping and slumping against the wall.

Why the fuck did I do this? It was pointless… I tried to contact Pela but I was too far gone - too tired to open the connection to my reality. Could I be dreaming this? No… it was too real, the ache too real. I was awake and very much alive.

A cry echoed.

In the suprise the flame went out and I screamed myself - I hated being in the dark…

As I reached out my hand again to spark, my eye caught something and before the flame was fully up, a skeletal hand was clamed over my mouth and one about my throat. I couldn’t scream, fear was too paralyzing as I stared at the creature before me. There was no eyes… there was nothing, only the orb of nothing that stared into me it seemed. A voice whispers harshly into my ear, the sounds of women and men in the tone, all screaming, all dying… I can’t describe that sound to it’s full right… but as I listened I wanted nothing but to go deaf.

“What are you doing here, mortal?”

I couldn’t speak, and the thing tightened it’s grip, the bones digging into my flesh this time as I gave a little cry of pain.

“What are you doing here, mortal?”

“A…anwsers!”

The creature stopped gripping my neck, the bones had already dug into the flesh to the point it had broke flesh, the small trickles of blood running down over my neck and back… As it withdrew the bones, I couldn’t help the small sound that admited, echoing down the corridor as the thing began to laugh at me.

“Answers? You’re a greedy one aren’t you?”

I stopped, staring at it… I couldn’t lie, I was greedy. I wanted nothing but knowledge - the more I got the better…it would help me, help my family. I nodded slowly to it, “Y-yes… I want answers.. I came for answers…”

“Would you die for answers?”

My heart froze. That was the clincher - I would have to make a sacrifice… I swallowed hard, looking back at the thing before rising to my feet slowly, “My hunger is to help my family; that knowledge to use for their gain… not my own.”

“So you come in the name of your clan?”

Nodding, “To strengthen myself to guard them with my life.”

The corridor flashed suddenly, the creature’s laughter echoing as it barked out, “SHE’S HERE MY LORD!”

That little fucker…

When the light disappeared, I heard that clanking sound again - the soldiers were in the prision now. There was no time, as I pushed myself up, the first of the group appeared round the corner as I took off running. Angry cries of things I did not want to know what creature they were supposed to be roared behind me, but I kept running. Running and running till I hit a wall.

Dead end.

I turned, facing the wall of demons that closed in on me. I had no where to run, I was trapped! My heart pound against my chest, fear for my life finally caught up with me once again, and this time I was utterly alone…

“Elemental.”

My eyes turned up, and above the wall of soldiers was the king. He wasn’t too happy looking but there was a twisted look to him… not worry but something else…

“I’ll make a deal with you. You see these archers before you?”

I nodded.

“They are aching to kill you. Take your blood and use it upon their weapons while my scholars eagerly await to observe your dead body. You see, I can let them kill you, but I find that such a waste… live and stay here or die.”

“As in like a damn pet?”

The demon chuckled, “I don’t call it being a pet–”

I snarled at him, actually advancing on the soldiers, “I’d rather DIE then be a pet to you. You sicken me, what in your right mind would make you think I’d bow to you ?!”

He didn’t like that.

With the drop of a hand, I found myself suddenly facing a wall of arrows flying at me. Each one struck, piercing into my flesh faster than I could cry out with each impact. I dont know how many were left, but I could feel thousands of points of my body screaming with pain to the point I was not able to move. The world spun and my body crashed to the ground hard, driving a few arrows through the various limb to the outerside. I could see the sparking blood slowly run, seeping into the dirty stonework that had not seen a life form in years…

Everything turned black.

(more to come )

Elemental: adj / n.

1. Of or relating to atmospheric forces, esp wind, rain, and cold

2. Of, relating to, or denoting a chemical element

3. Rare a spirit or force that is said to appear in physical form

Lore:

Prominate Fire Clans: 

Staring at the book the elemental closed the dictionary shut with a sharp snap, putting it down on the table as she rose to her feet. Her mind was plauged - the outside word of events were crashing around her, but she had kept herself shut away for the most part - listening and talking when need be, but the last two nights, she was questioning something posed to her weeks before hand.

He had a pulse.

“They still live for what I know…”

 

“You shall meet enemies three, but none more dangerous then yourself in your full glory.

they are shades of evil,of good and of neutrality , given life and twisted by the laws of the planes.

You shall come to a prison built of regrets and sorrow, where the shadows themselfs have gone mad.”

 

*Credits to Vit*

I obliged. I summoned a fire for them to roast one - as Raleigh was dragged past me, I could not help but remember the faces of the EnyCo doctors, the humans that had tormented me once upon a time. Is it evil of me that I turned away? Is it evil that I summoned the flames? I know it was… but that’s Karma - Mainland should never be trusted. Never.

 

Events unfolded, Pieter opened a portal to Hell itself right there on the beach. I kept my distance, watching with an apathetic feeling lingering in me… And I returned to the Shop.

 

Nikki had broken both hir legs - the brave mutant had made a huge sacrifice for the Coven. I didn’t know what to do… I didn’t. I was not the super healer of the Coven but, I’d be damned if my Covenite suffered. I did all I could, and I promised, we’d find a way to fix it - we would, I knew we would… 

 

Night came and things settled, the hysteria of the day danced away (despite Pix and her making off with all the booze in the city, but hey, I’m not complaining - it’s ours now). A ship was shot down by one of the remaining Agents off shore… but tonight, I had no care, the adrenaline from earlier was washing away… I wandered the streets, had a few antics before returning home, giving Kitam a small lesson in Alchemy before taking a break for myself…

 

Something flickered in the back of my mind - it was Pela and she was horrified by something. What, it would not tell me… I decided I had to show my face before I left - Pela knew I was leaving, the clever creature that it is.

I stepped into the front room of the Shop after checking on Nikki, giving hir the message that I was going to be gone for the night, hoping that Drake’s information about Shrak’Lor was correct and time passed differently there than in Toxia… I set out, stopped as I gave a brief greeting to Quiet, Shay, and Drake.

I couldn’t look at him, or anyone directly, my mind was racing and my feet ready to run. I had to get out. Drake had told me exactly where to find the gate - a place that he could see from the Pit but never reach… I’d be going air born, but that wouldn’t be hard…

“Well, I’m going for a walk…”

My attention snapped to Drake’s words, and I hastily followed suit, giving my quick goodbyes before darting through the wards, not stopping for a moment as I ran upstairs. I gave a quick look around, unsure if I would ever come back here, come back to my family… My eyes lingered to the circle… so many memories….

I shook my head and tore for the door way, the book bag on my shoulder making itself known as I began to run down the walk way behind the Shop before I was stopped - it was Drake.

Unsure of what he wanted, all I could mutter was his name, but he knew exactly what I was up to.

Drake stared at me a moment, murmuring, ” ….you know the precise place of the path then ?”

I glanced away a moment and nodded slowly, “I scoped it earlier when I had a chance… I’ve got something that I crafted that will get me high enough to reach..”

” …Ok…just one last thing then…” He looked at me directly, I was unsure what he was about to say, but something kept me uneasy, clinging onto my backpack before he finally finished his words: “Cal…if you meet those ancients and they still are who i think they were…say that la’mashtu’imurgh commands them to let you speak and they must listen and obey; might work to not be killed instantly as you feared.”

I blinked and asked bluntly who this being was; wondering if I could ever pronounce it right.

“Never thought drake is a rather normal name for a incubus of my age?” He explained that it was his proper name, followed by his full rank (which I will not disclose here; I’m unsure of his stand on telling people)

It was a stupid mistake but my mind was still racing, I had to move quickly before the Coven had realized where I had gone to, or if Pela would spill the story to them. I looked to Drake directly, he was the only one that really knew where I was running away to, all I could do was ask him softly not to tell anyone where I had gone…

He agreed. “I will not speak a word.”

I smiled and nodded, quickly turning after giving my thanks to him. I ran, I could hear him following behind me for a moment till I jumped over the railing of the walk way to the beach below. I looked up and I could see the gate faintly in the fleeting twilight… 

With a sigh, my body broke down, an old trick that I had learned to master - willing myself to the entrance, I reformed, looking back for a moment to the city below me. 

Good bye Toxia - I pray I’ll see you in the morning light…

Turning, I stepped into the gate way…

Forgive me if I have made a mistake my family, but there’s no turning back now.

(to be continued)

 

An old nearly burned photo lays on the rug as the slumbering Storm Brigner held an old journal to her chest; a single red candle burning on a small makeshift alter.

It was her birthday - not the one sleeping, but the one of the photo, a being lost so long ago to the dust of time. A fellow elemental that meant more than others of their kind: her own mother.

So much time had been lost since then, a child that grew up without knowing her true mother, lost to the shadows before finding her home. She had done the math, if her mother had not died, she would be fourty one.

Twenty years of a void in a daughter’s heart.

Twenty years of questioning.

However, she knew barely anything about her mother; how she thought, how she carried herself - only the words of her late father… but his words always spoke highly of the woman that gave birth to her, what father wouldn’t? Had she been a saint? A hero? Or was she a villian? The scourge of the Earth?

So many words lost, so many times a memory of a mother and child burned in her mind that she would never have. Yet she did not weep, no longer did she cry out for the woman she had never met. How do you mourn the ones you never met? You never laughed with? Cried or even bled with?

The image was a haunting representation of the legacy left behind; Callas’s daughter was her mirror reflection, yet as Callas’s eyes stared out of the picture, there was something dead that lingered within, something that Calleigh had never seen or picked up on… or even appeared to have for a moment.

Every woman’s heart was a mystery, and elementals were never an exception to this rule. Would those secrets be revealed? Would the blood stained history of the Crioa line ever wash across the hands of her Constantine daughter? Time would only tell.

Time could only tell.

As the elemental slumbers, the past never slept. Seekers, the followers of her mother, her clan, those she had lead like her daughter now lead her own, watch over the daughter of their fallen patriarch. Out of hate that Callas had given her life to a bastard child and the solemn task to wait to befall her abomination? Or was it different? Protecting and warding the aging woman without her knowledge? Watching from darkness, guiding her with a very light hand?

‘Tis the way of the Seekers… their secrets, like the thoughts and words of the mother were lost to outsiders.

Their time had passed. Their chance of remerging into the day of light had faded. Many had accepted their fate; the days of Seeking were over - the blood of Crioa lingered in the Coven. The legacy had come full circle…

Except not as they would’ve hoped.

As the elemental grew, seasons changed, many knew the chance of their leader’s daughter returning to them was thinning; she was not going to turn back, a future of her own laid at her feet.

So they wait. Waiting in silence for the time the child would need them once again, no matter what the cost. Would she know it was them? Probably not. Care it was them? Doubtful.

Did it matter? No.

~

April (something something…too fucking early to know what day it is)

It’s been a long time since I’ve written, and to be honest, I’m horrid at it. I can’t focus, my mind is always wandering to other subjects. Supose I should speed things up a bit?

Coven news:

   We lost two elders. Two that I had cared for deeply but, I knew that they had to leave. Nerissa, leaving on maternal issues, was a sight that yes, I was saddened deeply by, but happy that she was getting the hell out of here. Her family and kin was first. Blood children are important, no matter what - I know how that is personally.

  Second we lost was Morgaine - though I thought of a sister that was very close to my personality (In the fact very brash and quick to pull a gun… faster than me most times) Pix and I could no longer not take notice of her absence. We asked her to step down, and she did… right out of the family.

So much for that.

 So here is the current rankings:

   Pix - Regnant (as always)

   Me - No where else to go

  Seven - Still the Light Binder (thank god…)

  Nikki - Fireweaver (Thank god for bringing back the old title!)

 For those that read this, and don’t know who this Nikki is, that would be an older member that had taken a leave from the family; Seto. Nikki was one of those Covenites that I could always trust, depend on… so seeing hir leave months ago was depressing –

 I get depressed too much, don’t I?

 Anyways… I was happy to see Nikki come back to us, rather suprised when I ran into hir on the street out of the blue, but greatly relieved to see the old member was still alive and kicking… just in a new form. No matter - we all under go changes, some for the good and some, well, for the worst.

 It’s been a few weeks since the upset, and now the Shop has been relativly quiet.

Relativly.

I say this because of events that have kept me on my feet, trying to scrable for information and keep everything balanced. While I perfer not to go into the details… not now anyways… the attack of Cthulhu has passed.  Hard to believe that was the second time round…

God, did the Coven wear ourselves out from that… I know I did anyways. What made me so involved with it? The fact my city, and ultimatly, my family was in danger? Or…

I’m not going to forget that day - it’ll be burned into my mind. A horrible prelude to the darkness that descended upon this city - I’m just happy to see my friends intact. I say this because, during the event, two people that actaully meaned something to me outside the Coven were taken - one of them caused me a great deal of worry.

Damn ass hole.

He had came into the Shop, not a huge suprise since he did constantly stop by to visit the Shop, but, something was wrong that day - I had mentioned I wanted to talk to him about these strange circles that had appeared about the city, but how he heard me say that, I’ll never know. He wanted to talk to me in private, and I obliged, despite the worry of my Covenites… When I had began to talk to him, the world seemed to want my attention - we couldn’t talk like that, not with the madness. I tried to get a word to him, but I couldn’t too much was going on and then, a muttered sentance: “Do you trust me?”

I gave a nod, and before I could yell to the Coven what was going on, I was gone, stepped into darkness and emerging atop of the Port Authority.

What followed I guess would be a lesson, information from the past of someone who had seen the coming of this ‘diety’. I had so many questions, but he didn’t know all of them, but what he gave me, I knew it would help… how I didn’t know then.

That was the last time I saw him as himself for a long time…

So call me stupid, I know, but can’t I worry about someone outside my ranks? Probably the key reason why I’m not putting down a name here - snooping Covenites might find this Journal. (Sorry by the way guys)

I need to shake my mind from that. All I can say for now, without killing myself on the details that in the weeks that followed, I never saw the city rile up against something such as these Priests and the Shadowmen… I made friends along the way, made connections and… learned.

I think that was the one time I really stepped out of the role of as “Hey, there’s that Coven girl” into something of “Hey, there’s Calleigh!”

Perhaps I’m actually respected as a leader now? Who knows… I know people come right up to me now with questions in magick - at least I’m well known now…

That could work against me.

Maybe I relied on being that ‘unknown’ factor of the Coven. Yes, they knew I did magic, yes they knew I was a fire elemental… but other then that, they didn’t see the mind behind the fire, only the laughing personality. Is it cruel of me to laugh at how easily I’m trusted? While, yes, I feel honored to know that people are willing to just stop and listen to what I say and help me, there is that temptation… that desire to use it for my benifit…

Has Toxia finally corrupted me? I don’t want to help anyone else now unless there is something to be gained… something that will benifit me in the end — Gods, have I turned into my Mother?

   “Well, I fucked up now.”

    Calleigh sat in the chair of the tarot table in the front of the shop, tapping her finger against the aged wood as she thought to herself quietly. A black satchel laid before her, in it she had created something that was, in her right mind, absolutly disturbing.

   “Why in the world did I agree to this mess?”

   In the last two nights, upon the rest of the trouble she somehow managed to bring down upon the Coven, Calleigh had put herself into quite a perdicament.

  First off, she had to make a note to herself: ask people a little more closely with what exactly they were going to do with a potion, especially those that dealed with changing a body part of a being when they made an animal sound.

  Second: after dealing with a potion like that, make sure to keep an eye out for the victim.

  Well, it wasn’t all that bad. Besides, despite how terrible it was, as she sat in the chair she couldn’t help but grin to herself. What had happened was that Picket of the Shadows had wanded into the shop inquiring about a potion that would do something rather bizarr… Changing the form of someone that made a barn yard sound.

  She complied, and after a few hours of work, she managed to produce such a potion. Placing it into a glass orb she gave it to Picket in exchange for a bag of soul stones. Done deal in the back of Calleigh’s mind, nothing to fret over because it was not the business of the Coven anymore.

  Not even an hour later, a figure in the form of various animals wandered up behind a tiger-headed Picket.

  ”Yup, I defintly fucked up.”

  A few hours later, after figuring out who the being was that was compiled of so many animals, Calleigh’s guilt and consious set in: the potion had effected Quiet, the main leader of the Prowlers. The elemental raced to create a potion to reverse the effects, and after a few tries, she was able to create a potion to effectivly get rid of the appendages… untill someone made another animal sound.

The whole ordeal seemed to sort itself out, with Quiet seeming to fall back to normal untill she came into the Shop that one afternoon, asking for something that, in the back of her mind, Calleigh knew she’d get into her own trouble. Quiet requested for a revenge potion, that in which would make the target turn and take on the aspects of a dog.

  She already knew whom it was for.

  But going along with it, striking a deal that, in return, Quiet would pay the Coven in the form of milk. Well, the poor kitty was in a problem of finding folks willing to be milked… This ordeal lead to possibly the oddest discussion how breasts could possibly be copied, put a spell upon, and lactate nonstop, or how to trick people into a spell that would do the same thing. After a rather uncomfortable discussion, the idea of a pill, a dried up potion in tablet form for easy oral intake, would be the wisest path to go.

  “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this, I CAN’T believe I’m actually doing this!”

 She went out to make the potion, going back to the main land where, in good grace of a good friend to let her wander about a city with his guard, she posed as a traveling gypsy with a pill that would bring women wonderous pleasure. Three hookers fell for it, and within minutes, they were all lactating. As disturbing the sight of watching three innocent women’s shirts become soaking wet at the chest, Calleigh couldn’t deny that, in this sick and twisted way, proud of her pill working. Before the three’s pimp could catch onto what she had done, Calleigh made a break back to Toxia, giving the pill to Quiet.

  ”That should do it, I believe… I tested it even on some main landers, with, uh… discusting sucess.”

  She quickly turned on heel and darted back to the Shop and waited. Milk came in, and as promised, Calleigh handed over the potion for the cat to envoke her revenge… 

  “Note to self: destroy those notes on that damn potion.”