Eliza wiped ash from her hands, sheathed Amore and said "Everyone take 5, then beat feet to the Queen." she let Rowan heal her and gently stroke her belly murmuring sweet things in her ears. He picked her up and carried her through the thick forest with the rest of the group. Alix had John up and walking, though his rib was cracked.

John coughed feebly, his hand pressed to his side. "Wow, trees are really solid. Imagine that." He said. "I wouldn't mind too much if someone were to heal me. Just a little heads-up."

Eliza looked over and said feebly "Builds character to heal naturally. Or are you a wussyfoot?"

"I've had over three hundred years of building character. I should have enough by now. I also like breathing normally." John said between coughs.

"He's probably right, we can't have our lil' heir die. Those faeries would be pissed," Rowan said as he passed a hand over John's ribs.

They arrived in the Fae City again and entered the throne room. Rowan placed Eliza down and she walked proudly up to the Queen and her courters who stood with golden samite covered pillows and platters. "Queen Titania the Coven is dead, and the last living Dryad is dead. You are free." Queen Titania smiled form ear to ear and said "A great boon you have done, Miss Gray. Henceforth all Guardians may travel to my woods now that I may groom it to health once more."

Eliza bowed and turned but the Queen clucked with her tongue and said "I have gifts for all of you, your bravery knows no bounds." and she picked up a roll of cloth and said "John Smith, you r Fae-Given name is Jaraniseris Primorus or Janus. I give you a tapestry woven of our finest wool. It is our great coat of arms, so you may forever be reminded of your new dual-loyalty and when I die you will ride here showing that flag. And you shall sit upon this throne. You also have access to the eligible daughters of all Faerie nobles. Princesses with substantial dowry all chomp at the bit for a chance to be your Queen. Choose wisely, John." and she handed him the Tapestry. He bowed low and took her hand and kissed it gently. He stepped back and Titania called Eliza forward. "This has been in our keeping for a long time. A fragment of the Mantle of Avalon." and handed her another hoop like piece. The emerald 13 pointed star pattern was a mirror of the other they had. "And this." said Titania letting a courtier expose something from a pillow. It was a 6 inch stick, carved with a wolf's head in its handle and a scene of stag running over a field on its grip. It tapered to a point. "This is Merlin's wand. I trust you will keep it well." and when Eliza touched it she felt empowered by ancient magics long left untested. "I cannot accept this" said Eliza to Titania "It was meant for you, dear." and she waved her away and called Jericho. "This is the most precious of all of our gems, a fire opal. Worked delicately with our finest craftsmanship. That ring can focus your fire and send out shooting stars of your heart's inner fire." and she handed him a small blue box with a gold ring it it set with a large blood red gem. Next, she called Cedric "This is a precious gift, do not squander it." and a silver platter was brought forth on it lay a shining blade, set with gold and gems. "This is Excalibur. Treat it well, Cedric." and he bowed, thanking her and looked at the sword in awe. She called Rowan up and another pillow was brought. "This is the Eye of Abaddon. Your Mother would have wanted you to have it. An Archdemon's scepter. Abaddon wooed his Vampire Queen with it and ruled the Legions before his.....removal." finished Titania. The scepter was 8 inches long and looked like a severed, desiccated draconian limb ending with a four fingered clawed hand held a burning ball of hellfire when he focused on it. He stepped back and Kane stepped forward "This is the Assassin's Cloak." and she handed him a black cloak that when he donned it he vanished from sight "Use it to stalk your enemies relentlessly." next came Ewan "This is a Vial of Saelite. It's light is the bane of all evil and reveals things for what they truly are. Do not fear, young one. You will find your courage." and turned to face Alix "I have something that even you may flinch at, o warrior of great renown. For it exceeds your renown by far." and a platter was brought forth "Behold!" she said taking the cloth off. There, before Eliza's own eyes, was a light blue glass trident. It gleamed and glimmered in the evening torchlight. "This, Alixandyr is the Trident of the Oceans. The Great Guardian Pisces's own artifact hidden for a hundred years from Kushiel's greedy eyes. It is your to keep, with it you may command the seas and the storms." and he took it in his hand, caressed it and murmured loudly enough to hear "I will treasure this." before returning. "Dekres" said Titania, holding the last gift. "I give you the richest and humblest gift of all." and handed him a white platinum goblet. "Whatever money, food, or water you require shall spring forth from this cup for you." Dekres bowed and took her hand to kiss it awkwardly Titania cupped hi chin it her hand and placed a kiss on his forehead. He blushed a deep shade of crimson as he stepped back. Damien stepped forward, blushing she had a courtier bring one last pillow forward and she announced "This is a book, young Damien, of mystical power. In its pages is stored a wellspring of knowledge on everything you will need to become the strongest mage ever seen." and handed him a blue leather bound grimoire covered in silver and lapis lazuli. She announced to Eliza "Though he is not present, I feel obligated to gift one of your trusted warriors. Zeke, who is cursed now with lycanthropy though now at this very moment shares passion far into the evening with another lycanthrope. This is the pendant of purity." and handed Eliza a necklace with a sapphire heart. Eliza wondered who is Zeke making love with. The girl we saved? The poor thing can't reign in her own emotions I don't doubt she doesn't stink of sex pheromones. Last of all, Karina stepped forward. Titania handed her a crimson box that she opened and lifted out a perfect, single golden rose with a closed ruby flower. "This is the Flower of your True Love. It will bloom when your true love kisses you. And don't go around kissing everyone...you have to mean it too." she chided and said to all assembled, "You have all proved yourselves worthy of our blessings a thousand ties over. Stay a while and rest. Your gifts are yours to treasure forever." and she sat back down and they all filed off to go to the sleeping quarters assigned them.

Eliza turned to see Dekres walk back, and he look apologetic and Queen Titania stood and walked with him in another direction. Rowan behind her said "Either she's telling him a little story about not feeling shame or she's going to rock his little world." Eliza smiled and followed Rowan up stairs to bed.

That night, Ewan sat awake in his room. The vial of Saelite which the Fae queen had given him was an amazing gift. Not only did it grant light in the darkness, it even worked as a counter to Kane's Assassin's Cloak, revealing where he was. Ewan assumed it would work with anything else unseen.

This is a wonderful artifact... I wish to analyze it, but I know I must not. Ewan closed his hand around it, and then opened it. He had been doing this for an hour. He found that he could focus the light in several ways, ranging from a direct beam, to an omni-directional glow. He yawned audibly, and placed the vial in a black wool bag which the Fae had given to him for it. He tied the bag to his sword, and climbed into his bed for some much-needed sleep.

John sat staring at the magnificent tapestry on his bed. "that it might remind you of your dual-loyalty." Queen Titania, his Aunt, had said. She had also said that Fae princesses would come seeking his hand in marriage. Sounds fun, he thought. But still he though, Everyone else gets some kind of dangerous weapon or magical artifact and I get a Tapestry? It didn't seem quite fair, but John was alright with that. He had found his family, and he would be King Janus when his Aunt's time came. That was gift enough.

Jericho decided to sleep in one of the trees, with his new ring he burnt a large 'J' into the bark.

Kane laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind abuzz with possibilities. he activated his communicator and sent a message to Ewan "Hey, Ewan, you awake?" He waited a few minutes for a reply before mumbling "Guess not.." And rolling out of bed, exiting his room and wandering the halls, being sure to stay close to their quarters in hopes of avoiding problems with the Fae

Eliza sat with Rowan, who toyed with his the Eye of Abaddon. "Mother told me about Abaddon...." he began looking at it. "How he was corrupt, how he didn't follow orders." he shook his head and said "Now it falls to my hands..." Eliza held the wand of Merlin in her hand and flicked it sending a tray of tea things hovering their way. Eliza sipped some tea from the floating tray and looked at Rowan. "It is a kingly gift, Rowan." and she cupped a hand on her belly. Wondering if the child growing within her would be pleased they had all been victorious again. She felt a little flutter inside her belly and she gasped, Rowan looked over worried and she said happily "It kicked!" "Really?" said Rowan happily and placed his hand on her stomach to feel "Ha, little bugger must be saying 'you go, mom' " and laughed. She laughed too and let him crawl up on top of her to kiss her lips gently. "Rowan" said Eliza as Rowan laid a few succulent kisses on her neck "When will you ask em to marry you?" he stopped and got up to look at her "I....don't..." she placed a hand on his should "Its alright., love. When the time comes, I know it will happen." and she kissed his neck and held him from behind. "I'm really horny right now, dearheart...." began Eliza....but she didn't need to finish. Sexual intercourse in a foreign kingdom in a foreign bed? Rowan lived for these kinds of adventures.

Eliza wondered, after they had finished, and after everyone had gone to bed What will John choose for his wife? So many princesses will be vying for his attention. I know of only 16. 16 of age that is. Princess Millia, the charmer and dainty virgin who taunted men...making them run after her begging for her flower of youth. There was Princess Esmeralda, the cunning stateswoman, intelligence honed to a fine edge. She was beautiful beyond compare, no longer a virgin but not a whore either. She would be willing to dedicate her talents to John. And what of the most influential, Princess Maria of Seville? Her musical talents were well know, she had tamed even the worst of creatures to her sonorous voice. And these were just the ones that sprang to mind. Who would he choose to marry? but in the end she knew it was John's decision. He would study them in detail, taking time with each before his choice is made. She reigned herself to having to put up with John chasing after women in the most likely future. But that Tapestry had magic in it, true Fae magic. The kind that wove with Fae blood to call out the powers of illusion, trickery, deception and cunning in all who possessed that power. It was the power to rule, for all Kings of Britain had once had Fae blood. She laid her head down and slept soundly.

Cedric had walked out of the dark forest, and was now sat down by the edge of the tree's, admiring his new sword with awe. For some reason he was unable to sleep.
"Ah well, they won't notice I'm gone." He said, as he rubbed his forehead.
Damn migraine, go away.

Zeke woke up as he felt shuffling on the bed, he opened his eyes groggily to see the woman sitting up on the bed, the sheet wrapped around her body. He reached forward and put his hand on her shoulder, seeing if she would do anything. She did, but it wasn't the reaction that he expected. When she turned around her eyes were red with tears, her face practically stained with the salty water.

"Why am I here?" She wailed, looking at Zeke. He had no answer, until he remembered the night before.
"You're here because you've got a monster inside of you. Like me. I'm the one who's supposed to teach you how to control it." Her face suddenly gained a relieved expression.
"But first. Let's get some breakfast."

All through the day Zeke spent time with Aimee, helping her and dealing with her vicious mood swings. She'd suddenly turn from a hyperactive happy woman to an emotional depressive. It took him a while to get used to it, but when he realised that the key to getting her out of her depression was a good cup of cocoa, it became much easier. Towards the end of the day Zeke started trying to teach her the dissonant meditation that he had been taught by Karina when he had first been turned. It took many hours and many semi-emotional breakdowns, but as evening broke the 2 were face to face with each other, both in lupine form.

" How does it feel? " Zeke asked, knowing the answer
" Amazing. She replied, her tail wagged showing her contentment.
" Good, at least I know you have control now. Change back into human form and we'll grab some dinner. "

As soon as they'd transformed back she screamed with glee and leapt on his back, forcing him to piggy back her to the kitchen. It took all Zeke's self control to make himself forget that they were both naked. He distracted her asking her to cook and then got changed. She didn't seem to care that she was naked.

Better than the damn depression Zeke thought, remembering her screaming and throwing things at him.

Damien stared at the grimore. "Wow. I really owe the Fae Queen. I can't believe she actually gave me this. this is every apprentice's dream." Damien opened the book and started to read.

Rowan sat awake at the edge of the bed, thinking about what Eliza said. Marriage? Marriage? Being married meant being tied down, being responsible. No more late nights, no more 5 day parties, no other women. Not that he had been thinking about cheating, but the lack of options disturbed him. He held the Eye infront of him, staring into the fire and thinking of his future.

*Lets do the time warp again!!*

Eliza led the group back from the train station to the Sanctuary. The subsequent walk and train ride was tiring. They arrived inside and all went to their separate rooms. Eliza went to her door but walked tot he side and booted the door in Aimee's room open. Zeke and Aimee were tangled together on the bed in the sheet so she pulled it closed. She knew they needed privacy, and but for the fine little line of apprentice and master he was within Guardian rules. She was a student, and needed to be taught. Eliza was not tired but her feet hurt so she changed her boots to soft shoes and went downstairs to eat something. Nibbling on a sandwich she contemplated John's new role and scheduling conflicts that would arise. Thats when there was a knock on the trapdoor. No one ever *knocked* on the trapdoor before.

Outside was standing a small cadre of Cult of the Moon types. "We need to speak to Zeke and the bitch he is holding."

Damien perked up his ears as he heard a low, gravelly voice. We need to speak to Zeke and the bitch he is holding A blade on Damien's right forearm flipped into place. He appeared behind Eliza, ready to back her up if necessary. He whispered to Eliza. "Why would they want the new girl?"

Zeke heard the door close with a soft 'click', snapping him out of the frenzy that he and Aimee had been engaged in. He didn't even know how it happened. One minute they'd been fine eating dinner, the next minute they...hadn't.

He mentally slapped himself, the werewolf instincts were proving much harder to control than he thought. When he had finished he left the sleeping Aimee there and dressed. He walked, yawning as he did so, to where he heard Damien's voice. He approached him and looked over his and Eliza's shoulder.

The 'men' all had cult of the Moon symbols on them. The same cult that he'd killed 3 members of only a few days ago.

"Oh."

John sat on his bed in a meditative pose, staring at the tapestry he had hung on his wall. He could sense it now, the connection it provided between himself and his latent Fae powers. He understood some of them, others he didn't. Perhaps he would have to write to his Aunt. Then, he heard a knock on the trapdoor echo down his corridor. He walked to it, and saw the Cult of the Moon members standing, staring and staring at Eliza.

"Begone from this place, foul lycans." John said, lacing his voice slightly with the Fae magic that had awoken within him so recently. However, the lycans just looked at him strangely. John pushed harder with the magic. "Leave NOW." he said. One of the lycans twitched and turned towards the door before slumping slightly. The others managed to hold on by virtue of their telepathic bond. John had pushed just a little too hard this time.

Eliza stepped between Zeke and the men and raised Marlin's wand to face them. "You may not enter this Sanctuary. You will leave at once, and never return." one of the men sniggeered and the other said "Think your tough, girlie? Your pregnant to. You aren't much of a fight." Eliza flicked the wand and transformed his bones into solid silver. He didn't even squeal as he exploded into a small pile of burning ashes. "As I said. You will leave." the men turned to look and the lump of ashes that was their companion and turned and said "Nice." at the same time. Eliza stepped aside and said to Zeke "If you want to have a little fun do so. Before I evict these cretins." and let him choose whether to attack or not.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Zeke smirked as he allowed the transformation to take over him. His bones and muscles cracking, snapping and reforming. Within 30 seconds he was in his lycan body. With a snarl he leapt at one of the men before they could change, he ripped out the man's throat with his teeth and then leapt onto the other one, clawing his chest and causing him to practically bleed to death. Only one remained. The ferocity of Zeke's attack had him frozen with fear.

Zeke leapt onto the man who merely whimpered, afraid of the black werewolf that they'd so readily sought moments ago.

" Don't fuck with The Guardians!" He bellowed telepathically, causing the man to wince. He punched him in the head, doing his best not to break anything whilst still knocking him out. He then placed the unconscious man in front of Eliza.

" I'll leave you to find out what they want. I'm knackered." Zeke 'muttered' as he began the transformation back to human form. When he was back he hurriedly walked away, covering his manhood with his hands.

"I've really gotta start getting naked before I transform..." He sighed, entering his room.

Damien dragged the Loup-Garou for Eliza to the interrogation room. he slung the lycan down in the chair, spun a second chair around, sat in it cowboy-style, then motioned for Eliza to sit down, across from the Lycan. He summoned some water and splashed it over the lycan's face. he also used magic to tie down the Lycan's hands and feet and bind him to the chair. He waited for the Lycan to wake up.

Most used word:Lycan. Used: 5 times.

countdown:72

Eliza tapped the Lycans head with the wand and said "Wake." and its eyes opened and it drooled "Tell me your purpose." it babbled a few words and Eliza said "Louder." "WE THE CULT OF THE MOON NEED MEMBERS." Eliza nodded and said "Tel your masters this one is ours." and tapped him again teleporting him. "Thats an interrogation?" asked Damien "No, thats mind control. I'm tired now, excuse me. and Eliza excused herself to her room.

Ewan was a bit concerned. The Cult of the Moon seemed to be getting more persistent in recruiting Zeke and the new girl, Aimee. Twice they had come directly to the Sanctuary of the Guardians, something very few of ill-intent would even think about doing. Ewan was struck with the feeling that these things would become all the more common in the coming days. Out of nerve... He clutched the Vial of Saelite that the Fae had given him. It had grown to become a charm for him, a symbol that would hopefully bolster his courage.

Rowan walked out of Eliza's room yawning and said "What's all the ruckus?" to Ewan.
"Werewolf," Ewan said lazily.
"Interesting," Rowan said. "What's that?" he said pointing at the silver on the ground.
"Solid silver werewolf skeleton."
"Seriously?! That is awesome! Help me lug this into the lab."
"Umm... why?"
"Few werewolf skeletons can actually be preserved, due to the fact that they burst into ash. This is sort of unprecedented."

After hauling the skeleton into the lab, Rowan stretched and said, "Alright, training exercise number two. Meet me in the practice room. We're sparring."

Eliza cornered Zeke in the Kitchen and handed the necklace to him and said "As long as you wear that, you may never be poisoned. Or struck with disease." he put it around neck and looking at it said "Looks gaudy." "You will become accustomed to it." said Eliza, walking back upstairs to check on the girl. She was sitting on her bed reading from one of the books the Dweller had probably assigned. The Dweller aught most of the newest recruits, since the old ways of Guardians teaching students was beginning to fade since the Dweller had arrived. She still remembered those days. He had walked into the Sanctuary and requested asylum he had "fallen from the sky" and he was being punished for a wrong. The Dweller became a teacher and historian for them. It was a book of the Guardians pre-history, before the Guardians were the Guardians. Back when they were druids tending groves and communing with ancestral spirits via mass orgies. Now with the Betrayal of Kushiel and the Communion of the Great Guardians the Guardians now understood their place in a society threatened by destruction at all turns. Aimee looked up, put her bok down and smiled widely, "Hello, can I help you?" she asked. "I am Eliza Gray, High Master here. I am assigning Zeke, the other werewolf, to start teaching you some basics before we formally name you as a student. Do you think you would be willing to stay with us?" she nodded vigorously and said "I'm having troubles with my feelings, is there anyone to talk to aobut these things?" Elzia shook her head and said "Zeke can help, and so can the Dweller the ocotpus prson." she nodded and got up with walked away down the hall with ehr book under her arm. Her dress swished the ground and Elzia wondered if the girl would ever truly be able to recover. Being so young and being a lycan, would her emotions ever be in check?

sky14kemea:

ooc

Zeke fiddled with the pendant. It was rather flashy.
"Ah well." He sighed, walking through the building to find Eliza again. He had stuff he needed to talk to the High Master about. He walked through the hallway, and passed Aimee as she walked through, book under arm. The mere sight of her made him almost go crazy, but he resisted. He had a specific focus.

As he entered the room where he knew the High Master was, he was practically hit by the smell of his and Aimee's "hijinks", causing him to blush a little.

"Eliza." He said, avoiding her gaze. "As you've probably guessed something happened between Aimee and I whilst you were all gone. I don't know what it is. Something Just happens, I don't think either of us can control it." He paused briefly, looking her in the eye. "Are you sure you want me to apprentice Aimee?"