Eliza rolled her eyes and said "If you can keep it in your pants long enough to teach her, she will be your student. I may think about apprenticing her to you. But I don't mind, look whose baby I'm carrying!" and she walked out of the room. "But whats happening between us?" "It's called a heightened sense of smell and a girl going through puberty. You do the math."

Eliza stepped down into the Library where the Dweller sat in the center of a circle of students. "And lo, Kushiel saw before him." the Dweller said, telling the story of Kushiel's betrayal. "In wonderment, he saw Set falling into a lake of fire. And from that lake he shouted up to Kushiel to take his followers, join with the Vampires and together destroy all humans. Kushiel knew his time had come so he pressed his advantage on the druids. Stealing the artifacts they had tended for so many years, and Kushiel himself poisoned the World Tree in front of the High Priestess. He broke the mantle of Avalon and fled. Now, in the dark places that Kushiel hid, evil things crawled forth. The Vampires broke their treaty with Kushiel's Covens of Witches and Warlocks. And now the Vampires and Covens hate each other with a terrible vengeance." the Dweller looked up and said "Ah, High Master Gray." he stood and said "Thats enough for today children." and the kids stood and left. "What is it Miss Gary?" Eliza shuffled ehr feet and said "I need to know. Is it a boy or a girl?" she asked, indicating her child. The Dweller made his chucking sound and said "I know hat it is, but I will leave you in suspense. But you will give birth to a beautiful and healthy child." he placed a hand on her shoulder and said "Come now Elzia, you dodn't come down here jsut to ask that." she shook her head and said "I need to know. What is this?" and she handed his the other piece of the Mantle. "It is the Mantle of Avalon. I know that one piece is in the Devil's keeping and one is missing. The Devil's corruption may or may not have seeped into it. It could cause any complications, but I know that it must be returned to Avalonian soil." Eliza ground her teeth in frustration. "You must go to Black Annis Bower Close and take the Key of Avalon." said the Dweller firmly. "We need the third piece before we do that." the Dweller nodded and said "Yes, you do. But where it is, I do not know."

John sat at the desk in his room, looking at three letters he'd received for Fae princesses. Their names were Millia, Esmeralda, and Maria. The first was filled with flowery language and praise, but John knew what would went on in that girl's head. She was too full of nonsense. This letter he put to his left. The second was carefully crafted, each word meticulously placed. A clear sign of an intelligent and cunning woman -- however, he disliked the politics of rule, and would seek to avoid them as possible. This letter he placed to his left as well. The third, however, rang true. It read like a song, and John could detect no subterfuge or lie. This letter, he put directly in front of him. He pulled out a piece of paper, and began to draft his reply to the Princess Maria.

"Ah. Okay." Zeke sighed. "Thanks for the opportunity though Eliza. I won't let you down." He smiled a large grin. He walked out and headed for where Aimee was, he could practically sniff his way too her. When he got there he sat down opposite her and spent the rest of the day talking to her about the lycanthropy and the changes that would subsequently occur.

After about the 20th emotional breakdown hot cocoa he walked in and sat down in the kitchen and held his head in his hands.

"This is going to be harder than I thought."

Ewan and Rowan walked to the the practice rooms for a sparring session. Ewan trusted his Master to help him become better, and hoped that Rowan knew how to handle him.

"Alright... We're here." Ewan said when they arrived. "Shall we get started, then?"

"Alright, I know very little about things like style or swordsmanship. But what I do know is that you can create your own style with enough practice. It's time for that practice!" Rowan yelled, charging with his scythe.

John was strolling towards the practice room when he say Ewan and Rowan walk in, presumably for sparring. This should be interesting. I think I'll watch. though John.

He walked in and sat on a chair by the door as Rowan charged at Ewan with a scythe. John decided to wait a few moments before interrupting.

Ewan ducked, avoiding the swing of the scythe.

"Why are we using real weapons, again?" Ewan asked, dodging another blow. Another swing came from Ewan's left, which he blocked with his sword and attempted to counter.

"Builds character," Rowan yelled. Ewan stabbed out toward Rowan's stoumach, Rowan spun his scythe, throwing Ewan's sword high.

I think I should stop this before either of them get killed. John decided.

"Hold up, guys. You're going to hurt somebody. Probably Ewan." John said. "It's a lot better to learn how to defend against a weapon similar to your own first. Maybe I should teach him the basics of swordsmanship first, Rowan. It might be better that way."

"Ewan's going to be fine," Rowan said. "Trust me. If you don't mind, you can teach him swordsmanship, frankly I know nothing about swords. I'm here to teach a more important lesson." Rowan stepped forward, running headlong into a verticle slice. Ewan sidestepped, and began to counter. Rowan couldn't possibly block, and Ewan was poised to strike.

Kane, in the meantime, was amusing himself greatly by putting on and removing his assassin's cloak, chanting "Now you see me, now you don't" over and over again

Cedric stumbled into the kitchen, his eyes tired. He hadn't slept since the dark forest and was begining to get clumsier.
"Hey Zeke, whats up with you?" He asked, as he searched for ice in the fridge.

"Eugh." Zeke sighed.
"Remember Aimee?" He paused, waiting for the nod from Cedric. "Eliza wants her to be my student, not apprentice, student. And what's worse is that she's an emotional disaster, she goes from 'kid-on-caffeine' happy to 'I am going to kill myself' depressed in half an hour. Oh, and did I mention she's currently on the dog equivalent of "on heat." So basically I have to resist the urge to hump her whenever I'm within 10 metres of her."

He took a swig of his hot chocolate, which he'd added a copious amount of whiskey to.
"So yeah, that's about it for me." He smiled, the situation was somewhat funny.

"Hey, at least you're getting some." Cedric joked, holding a bag of ice against his forehead. He sighed and sat down. He had already tried magic on his migraine but it kept coming back.
"So are you gonna take her on as a student then?" He asked Zeke.

Zeke looked up at Cedric. "Yeah...I think so. I mean it's hardly as if Karina is around anymore to help with the whole werewolf thing. Any tips?"
He pushed his drink in front of Cedric.
"Have some, it...helps." He smiled.

Cedric took a sip, then pushed it back towards him. "Jeez, how much did you put in there." He asked, laughing a little.
"Tips.. Uhh, I dunno, I'm not exactly a great teacher. My last apprentice before Damien was Dekres." He rolled his eyes. "And look how that turned out."

Zeke took a swig. "I put enough in." Smiling he pushed it back.
"Dekres seemed to turn out OK! You don't give him enough credit." He laughed, unable to take himself partially seriously.
"Meh, I'm sure it'll turn out okay. Maybe it'll be what I need to get that Master rank. I've been a Guardian now for nigh on 2 centuries." Zeke was still smiling, he had been cheered up now.

"Oh no, he's probably fine, I meant he's a git." Cedric said, a mischievous smile on his face. He wasn't sure when Dekres and himself had started hating each other, but he was too used to it by now.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get promoted soon." He said, standing up.
I wonder if the Dweller can get rid of this headache. He thought, hoping the Dweller was still in the library.

Ewan had an opening... Moving quickly, he evaded the slash of the scythe and placed the blade of his sword against Rowan's neck.

"Uh... It looks like I win this round." Ewan said with a smile on his face.

Eliza left the Dweller where he was and sauntered into the kitchen and said to no one in particular "I've got a raving craving for something pickled..." and reached deep into the pickle jar and crunched into a nice and juicy pickle. Zeke and Cedric looked at her and said "Cravings?" said Cedric. "Yes, very much." and she took another bite. "Zeke I know you have doubts. Aimee will turn out to be a good girl once she gets voer her puberty. But you need to keep her from dragging you around by your knob." Zeke blushed and said "I'm really trying. Not my fault she's so playful.......and flexible...." he said drooling a little "She's got you chasing her ass, and its pathetically funny. Look I have taught a student before, you just need to get her to be able to pass the test. That means our history, our customs, technology, mathematics and most definitely teach her to control her changes." Zeke nodded and said "It will be hard to keep teaching when all I want to do is furiously hump her..." Eliza facepalmed and said "I give you until tomorrow to decided, then she's taking the oath." Zeke nodded. At that point Aimee walked in, eyes were tear stained but she was smiling and said with a squeaking happy voice "Hello Cedric! Eliza!" and pulled a glass bottle of fruit juice out of the icebox and poured herself some. Eliza couldn't help but notice him staring intently at Aimee and she flounced out of the room and Zeke said "See what I mean.....she's intoxicating...." Cedric just blinked and nodded. "I would so do her right now if I wasn't so bloody tired...." said Cedric.

Zeke slammed his head off the table. "Okay. I'll do my best." He smiled as he pushed himself back up, the dizziness subsided somewhat quickly.
"I'll make a Guardian out of her." He looked at the others as he stood up to leave the room. Seeing the looks of the others in the kitchen he yelled "Not in THAT way!" Before leaving the kitchen and heading for his room.

Damien chuckled. "Oh man, he is gonna have one hell of a time. I'm suprised he can even concentrate long enough to get out a sentence with that girl around. She is fi-ine." He opened the grimore again and started to read. he had finally made it to enchanting weaponry.

Eliza rolled her eyes, she knew all the boys would be drooling over the pretty girl who smelled of "come hither". Eliza needed to figure a way to convince Rowan to marry her, she knew he wouldn't want to. He liked being able to party and drink like a demon. She needed to have a nice chat with his mommy. And that, in-and-of-itself was going to be difficult. 16 Moonlit was one place Eliza never went without a guard. So she went off into the Guardian's den and dragged Dekres out. hey teleported to the nightclub and bar, where Dekres stood distantly watching she slipped in to speak to Lucifer. She was sitting at the bar sipping a drink through a curly straw that twisted in some silly pattern. "Greetings of the afternoon, Lucy." said Eliza sidling up "You terribly busy?" she shook her head and said "Just marking my victims fr later. Make it quick." said the Devil.
"I want Rowan to marry me." said Eliza.
"Good for you. He wont though."
"I want you to convince him to do it."
"He wont listen to me."
"You have the ring he was going to sue to propose to whoever right?"
"Yes"
"Then give it to him and tell him to get down on one knee and ask em to marry me. It isn't that hard."
"My son is thick some times and he likes freedom. He would die for you and your child. Leave it."
"I want to be married, thats the one thing in the world I want. Now do I have to talk deal with you or will you just be nice."
"Me? Nice? You got the wrong Fallen Angel. Eliza, I'll talk to him but I can't promise anything."

Eliza walked over to Dekres who was checking out a blonde succubus in the corner who was looking coyly back at him. "Come on, lets go before your knob decides it knows better than your brain." "Don't you know they are the same thing, 'Liza?" he said crudely. Eliza rolled her eyes and they teleported back. "Dekres, what did Queen Titania do after we got our gifts?" he blushed a deep red and stuttered a bit. "She uh...took me someplace.....out of the way....it was really a pretty little garden...." Eliza nodded and crossed her arms, listening. "She uh.....said not to tell anyone because she would sound like a common whore. But uhh...uhmmmm" Eliza rolled her eyes and said "You made out?" "Nnnnnno" "You had sex?" "More than once.....she said I was handsome but not to worry we wren't 'genetically compatible' or something." Eliza facepalmed and walked off "AREN'T YOU GLAD FOR ME?! YOU WERE ALWAYS SAYING YOU NEEDED TO GET ME LAID!"

Chapter 3

Cedric was lying down on the grass in Regents Park, looking up at the sky as it faded to a deep orange. The park was always strangely empty in the evenings, so he went there whenever he needed time to think. His head was still buzzing from his migraine.
I could set a world record with this migraine. He thought, closing his eyes for a moment. He could hear a weird whistling noise, it was getting louder. Suddenly there was a huge crash which shook the ground, causing him to jump up.
"Holy shit!" He looked behind him and saw a crater in the ground. He cautiously edged closer. A beautiful woman climbed out of the crater, wearing a strange white robe. She had long blue hair and icy blue eyes. Cedric's feet seemed glued to the ground as her stared at her, until she stumbled and fell onto her knees. He walked over to her.
"Need some help?" He asked, holding out his hand. She smiled and held onto both his hands as he pulled her up.
"Thank you." Her voice was slightly echoing, but Cedric barely noticed. She looked him up and down.
"You are handsome. You will do." She starting pulling him along.
"Whoa, hey wait a minute, I dont even know your name." Cedric said, trying to get his hands free.
"Quiet human." A strange green vine appeared around his wrists, he tried to use magic to burn them off but it only caused them to tighten.
"Ouch, hey! Let me go damnit!" He struggled some more, but eventually gave up as he realised he couldn't break the vines.

The sky grew darker as they approached a strange building, it was like 3 large stone disks laid on top of each other, with a spire in the center that seemed to reach the heavens. The strange girl waved her hand over the door, causing the metal doors to creak open slowly.
This is creepy, where the hell am I? He thought to himself, as she led him down dark stone corridors. They walked into an empty room, with only a small window covered by metal bars.
He started to say something, but was interrupted as the girl kissed him. When she pulled away he felt a sharp pain on one of his hands, he looked down and saw she had taken some of his blood in a glass vial.
"I may have more use for you." She said, smiling and removing the vines around his wrists. He stood there dumbstruck as she closed the door, leaving him locked in the empty room.
"...What just happened?" He shook his head, trying to think, something else was bothering him too.
"Wait, my migraine is gone..."

Cedric teleported back outside the sanctuary, leaning against the tree and coughing slightly, although he was too shaken to throw up this time.
He ran down through the trapdoor, skidding on the stone floor as he passed the lounge, before heading back. In the lounge he saw Eliza and Rowan talking the corner, and Karina reading, as well as Zeke, Dekres and Damien sitting near the fire.
"Guys! Fuck! Strange girl! Kidnapped! Took my blood!" He panted for breath, leaning against the doorframe.
"I think I'm in trouble." He said to them, before sitting down on the floor by the doorway to stop his legs shaking.

Eliza stood, dumbfounded, and said "I will fetch the Dweller." "Why?" asked Cedric. "Because your babbling and if anyone will understand, he will." and left to find him, bringing the Dweller back promptly he stood with a book under his arm, the Voracious Grimoire, and his glasses over his eyes. "Tell me what happened. Nutshell it please, too."

"Fuck, why couldn't she have killed him?" Dekres mumbles under his breath.

He rolls his head over the bag of the chair, interested in what the Dweller makes of his situation, maybe I can offer her a deal to do it properly this time... he thinks feeling his vision blur slightly.

"Nutshell.. Urmm okay." Cedric took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
"Well, something crashed into Regents Park, and some weird girl appeared, she had like blue hair. Anyways she dragged me to some big building, kinda like 3 disks on top of each other and a big spire thingie in the middle. Then she took some of my blood and locked me in a room." He held up his hand, showing the wound where the girl had stabbed him.
"Then I teleported out and ran here..." He looked down at his feet, hoping he was making sense.

The Dweller nodded and began to speak. "A star fell, is that what happened? And you found a beautiful girl there who dragged you away to a structure that looked exactly like the Necropolis at Azor."

Cedric blinked and said "Whats that?"
"I will explain." said the Dweller

"I sense story time is upon us." said Dekres sarcastically, but Eliza backhanded him roughly.

Long ago, our race once lived in harmony upon a world far away. A war of succession tore us in two, the Servants of the Twelvefold Goddess and the Warriors of the Tewlvefold Goddess. The military banished us, and we went to Earth. Here on this little blue marble in space, we hid. We built a grand temple to our Goddess where we fell. Naming it like our capitol, Azor. Soon, though, our apathy led us to leave this planet and seek our fortunes among the stars. Our temple became abandoned. I returned to Earth, to correct the wrongs our race had done and save the Humans we had helped civilize. In the end though, I discovered while I had been gone the magic of your land had evolved into new forms. I joined the Guardians to help correct the balance and crush the evil. Another followed my example, coming towards the Earth. The Queen-of-the-Stars.

"You saw her, she's landed. And she is not like me. She wants dominion over this planet. And the Necropolis's power is the key to ruling this planet. From there she can drain the world's magic and topple civilization. She wants Humans under her heel not standing beside her. She's mad."

"Yeah, y'know I did get the whole 'mad' vibe from her." Cedric said, trying to understand. He healed his hand and stood back up.
"So do we know what she's going to do?" He asked the Dweller.

Damien interrupted. "Well, if you escaped, then the girl is probably still looking for you. I suggest we go to Regents park, meet the chick, then kick her butt back to mars. Or maybe hold her hostage, for negotiations for any other wannabe conquerers."

"Using your blood she has begun a process. She msut gather the souls of 12 humans and then the 12 Zodiac seal will be lifted and all the worlds magic shall fuel an all consuming storm of death and destruction. From the ashes of this initial storm, her army shall rise. The blackened skeletons of the death will be her soldiers. With all the worlds magic within her, she will crush the human race beneath her heel. It was her conspiracy that led to our banishment, trying to take our union into her grasp. The-Heir-Apparent is the only one who defeated her, but he is dead now. There is only me left, the Star Spawn have all died out. The-Queen-Of-The-Stars from today will kill again and again every day for 12 days. She will gather an army of the darkest creatures she can find to fight for her. I know but of one group who will oppose them. The Cult of the Moon." spake the Dweller