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Post by Admin on Jan 22, 2008 18:11:56 GMT -6
It's 1:47 AM
The quarter moon shines bright in the clear, crisp, navy sky.
The ground of the city is white with fresh snow.
The stray pedestrians and odd policemen bundled up to fight the cold do not take a second glance at the lone figure, not bundled up in spite of the frigid cold, trudging through the slushy streets.
His handsome face hidden by dark sunglasses, his fair uneven locks flow in the sharp breeze, and his walk -determined- as he makes his way to the discreet little 24 hour coffee shop.
A well used piece of paper in his fingers as his guide, he is grasping it as though his life depended upon it... Little does he know that his look is matched by the fine young woman anxiously waiting for him just a short block away.
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Post by Lysandor on Jan 22, 2008 18:50:31 GMT -6
Lysandor pauses just a block away from the coffee shop, his every sense on the alert. He doesn't have a watch, but he knows that he has just barely thirteen minutes to go. Having to double back a few times, both in Hell and in the city, cost him in time, though not in security. Despite feeling the minutes slowly tick by, the Fallen stays back, watching.
He glances down at the paper in his hands. He's read it so often that the words are etched into his heart. Lysandor has been waiting for this letter, for that matter, any proof, ever since that one, rainy night. Now that it has come, he's torn between overwhelming joy and dampening suspicioun.
He finally starts walking again, almost silent despite the snowy fall. As Lysandor walks inside, he prepares himself for ambush, and something far more crippling than any attack . . . for the letter to be true.
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Post by Ereshkigal on Jan 22, 2008 19:19:30 GMT -6
Ereshkigal has a bagel with exactly one bite out of it front of her and a plastic cup of watery tea. When Lysandor walks in she jerks around to look at him and upsets the cup of tea all over the floor.
She isn't sure if he'll recognize her looking like she is- her hair is black and in two long braids down her back, her clothes plain and practical for the cold weather. Still her the necklace with her crest is framed by the neckline of her black sweater- that should be enough.
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Post by Lysandor on Jan 22, 2008 19:32:23 GMT -6
Lysandor scans the cafe, discarding the unlikely candidates. Admittedly, there are very few. Then his eyes fall on the dark-haired woman.
Her clothes are more plain and practical than he's ever seen them, and her hair is bound behind her without her usual flair, but there is no mistaken the shape of her face, or those big, green eyes. He makes his way toward her, and as he walks closer, he can see the necklace around her neck. The crest of deLucifer.
Lysandor stops at the table, staring down at the Queen of Hell. If an ambush were to come, he wouldn't be ready. There is nothing that could have prepared him for the shock of seeing his Queen - whom all had been looking for - alive and well, sitting before him in a coffee shop in the human realm.
The Fallen bows his head to the Queen, mindful of where they are and who might be watching. It wouldn't do to announce the authority of the person before him in so contested a territory.
It takes Lysandor a couple of tries to speak around the lump in his throat, but he manages to croak out, "You summoned me, my Queen?"
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Post by Ereshkigal on Jan 22, 2008 20:01:46 GMT -6
Ereshkigal looks just about as stunned as Lysandor does- seeing one of her court standing in front of her. Her eyes are huge taking up most of a pale, tired face. It's clear that she wasn't expecting him to show up. Then she gives him a wry smile.
"Hello Lysandor. I couldn't think of anyone else who would actually obey me when I said to come alone and not tell anyone, and I still wasn't sure if you'd come. Thank you." She motions to sit across the small table from her, as a cranky looking employee comes out with a mop to clean up the spilled tea.
"Do you want anything?" she sounds nervous and is clearly waiting for the worker to finish cleaning up before she says anything of importance. She takes an automatic bite of a bagel- makes a face and sets it back on the plate.
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Post by Lysandor on Jan 22, 2008 20:39:14 GMT -6
Lysandor takes a seat in front of Ereshkigal, and shakes his head at her request. "Just water. Most things served here aren't good for me."
He sits waits as the disgruntled employee cleans the tea mess. Outside, he is as calm and collected as ever, but inside he is a burning mass of questions that wear at his patience. He glances at the employee out of the corner of his eye, wondering if she is being intentionally slow.
Lysandor turns his attention to the Queen. He notices the tired look in her eyes and face, the signs of not only physical weariness but mental and emotional as well. Her separation from Hell has obviously been as trying on her as it has been on her people.
"You have not been sleeping well?" Lysandor asks politely, taking Ereshkigal's lead in being discreet.
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Post by Ereshkigal on Jan 22, 2008 20:57:33 GMT -6
"Most things here aren't good for anyone." She quips with a grin- much like her old self for an instant. She regards the bagel with an annoyed look.
"What I wouldn't give for some of cook's finger sandwiches... you know the ones." She leans over and asks the human for a glass of water, cup of coffee, and something sweet to eat.
The wry smile returns at the question about her sleep- or lack there of. She hooks a stray hair over her ear before answering.
"No- it's very quiet here. The silence... bothers me. I keep having dreams about that night, and about all of you." She takes a breath and shoots a look at the employee's retreating back.
"Which is why I wrote those letters- where should I start?"
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Post by Ciel on Jan 22, 2008 23:11:24 GMT -6
Ciel's steps were halting as she followed Lysandor to the little coffee shop. She was clutching a letter and had even changed for the trip. Apparently in the mortal realm, it was more cold than she thought. Her leather pants and boots were black, her green top was spandex and her hair was tied in a ponytail. She was still freezing, but she had taken every precaution as to hide everything about her that said Devilcat.
She wanted to know where he was going. She had read her letter over and over, and she wanted to know if it were possible that her Queen was actually here...
When she finally saw him walk in to the coffee shop, she spotted the little woman with the black hair. She would recognize that face anywhere. She looked around, and shadowed up to the door and pushed it open.
She tried to look nonchalant as she made her way to the table where they sat, but Ciel was never one for subtlety. She rushed to the table, and sat beside the Queen, enveloping her in a huge hug. She was mewling softly, "Missed you so much....so much...."
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Post by Ereshkigal on Jan 22, 2008 23:32:54 GMT -6
Ereshkigal's eyes get very wide and worried. She glances at Lysandor over Ciel's head.
"Oh no, Ciel! What are you doing here?" her hands hover over the Devilcat for a moment before she gives in and embraces her.
Shh. shh.... dearest. Listen to me, Ciel. I asked you to stay in Hell because it wasn't safe for you to be around me. I needed you safe and you aren't safe with me. Oh, kitten why didn't you listen?" She's getting a little frantic and looks around glancing out the wide glass windows as if expecting them to crash in. Still, she's clutching Ciel like a life line and her eyes are swimming with tears.
"You've got to go back right away. We'll take you to the gate. I'll explain everything to Lysandor on the way." Ereshkigal pauses.
"Please tell me that Thane isn't with you.... please, please tell me that you didn't give him his letter yet or that you know where he is and he's not about to burst in on us. Please tell me that."
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Post by Ciel on Jan 23, 2008 0:59:52 GMT -6
Ciel looked up at her, eyes swimming. "I followed Master Lysandor...he never just up and leaves unless there is a reason...and then I saw you....and...and no, Thane is not with me..."
She hugged to Erishkegal and rubbed her face in her shoulder. "I do not care. I wish to stay with you....I have missed you. If it is not safe for me, then how much more safe is it for you?" She shook her head and hugged Erishkegal to her again. "Why can I not stay with you?
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Post by Ereshkigal on Jan 23, 2008 19:31:59 GMT -6
"You've grown too perceptive by half, kitten." Ereshkigal looks rueful and slightly pleased.
"I'm so proud of you. Now apply your fine mind to this, Ciel. Lysandor, this is the reason for my exile. My power is to reshape the materials of hell- my basic nature affects this- warping what I change to fit my personality. Like my roses or my butterflies. When Zarek died I tried to use my powers to revive him. They warped him- but I could not hold his spirit to his flesh... and the attempt snapped the little control I had over a very dangerous power. Now, hell whispers to me how easily I could remake the whole realm to suit my whims." She leans back a faint smile on her lips and there is a deep emptiness in her eyes before she closes them.
"I can see you both... how it would twist you- make you beautiful, ravening, mindless beasts- trapped forever in between life and death, decaying and never dieing. To prey upon mortals and angels alike with no thought but destruction and pleasing your queen. The whole realm of hell loyally mindless and endlessly hungry for corruption and destruction." She leans forward and opens her eyes again bright and serious.
"But- that is not the Hell that I love... That is a dream of mad power and would destroy me as surely I would destroy all that I love." She looks over at Ciel- worn out again but unable to help smiling at the Devilcat.
"My clever one, now do you see the true danger? Well that and the fact that Angels keep trying to kill me. Which is why I told Lysandor to come armed and why we should be hurrying you two back to the portal."
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Post by Lysandor on Jan 23, 2008 21:44:48 GMT -6
Before Lysandor can say anything in reply to Ereshkigal, he is surprised by the sudden appearance of Ciel. The Fallen makes a move as though to stand, but thinks better of it. Courtly manners tend to stand out outside of Hell. He watches the reunion between Queen and pet, and listens quietly as the former explains her reasoning behind her exile.
"I can see your point," Lysandor replies. "But there is more behind this than just trying to preserve Hell as it is. Otherwise, you would not have instructed me to come alone and tell no one of either letter or meeting." The Fallen Elite stands, and looks out the window as though expecting an attack to come. "I agree to escorting Lady Ciel back to the portal, but wouldn't you benefit from added protection here on Earth, my Queen? I may not be your match in power, but help is always welcome."
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Post by Ciel on Jan 24, 2008 1:50:40 GMT -6
Ciel's face is still pressed into Erishkegal's shoulder as she sighed and spoke. " Does that mean that you have given up thus far, Majesty? I have complete and total faith in that you will triumph in this..." She began to purr in frustration as Erishkegal continued. " I have told you that I will follow you anywhere, to any depth, to any length....does that not also include standing up for you against any odds? Including any Angel that dare try to touch you?"
She looked squarely at Lysandor and then looked a kittenishly pouty look at her Queen as she spoke again. "Why can I not be here to help you? Is it because I am weak to you? Is it because I love you, Majesty, that my head would be gone in a situation in which I had to fight - or perhaps even die - to keep you safe at all costs?"
She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and looked down at the table. "Does it mean that just because I have not fought as the Elite have all of my life that I am not worthy enough to lay what life I have left down for you?"
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Post by Ereshkigal on Jan 24, 2008 2:17:19 GMT -6
Ereshkigal looks at the two of them like they've started speaking gibberish- her eyes are wide and astonished. She shakes her head in disbelief and mutters
"When did I begin inspiring insanity." The she looks up narrow-eyed at them her mouth pursed.
"So, neither of you is the slightest bit concerned about being turned into a mindless zombie- because I can't turn you back. If I loose control, I cannot fix it. If you even live you'll never have free will again. Do you want that?" She looks into Ciel's eyes and her face softens.
"You've gained so much, Ciel... I don't want to take it away from you because I'm not as strong as you are. And I just wanted you safe- because I love you." She lays her head on Ciel's shoulder and looks back at Lysandor.
"You're right, there's more. I don't know what is going on at home. I need to- I've heard rumors of course. Since I was able to reach you at the palace I suppose that this Regent is more or less trustworthy- or I'm sure that you all would have come hunting for me on your own."
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Post by Lysandor on Jan 24, 2008 21:35:07 GMT -6
Lysandor's voice is as soft and gentle as his stoic nature will allow as he speaks to Ciel. "It is not because of your devotion or dedication, or that you have not lived the life of an Elite. Your absence would be noted almost immediately. I can disappear for even weeks on end and have my absence excused and attributed to my eccentricies."
He turns to Ereshkigal. "I believe that insanity is a trait among my people. I understand that I don't face danger from just our enemies, but also your unstable power. While being a mindless zombie with no free will of my own anymore is not something I have ever wanted, I am, and have always been, willing to risk myself in order to protect you." Lysandor stops and his gaze falls to the floor for a brief instant before going back on hyper-alert. "I have failed both you and General Zarek already. I cannot allow myself to fail you again."
Lysandor stops again, swallowing down the emotion welling up in his throat. He forces himself to focus his mind on the present and on his task at hand. He takes a deep breath to help.
"I believe the High Chancellor is a trustworthy being," he tells the Queen. "I have not met him personally, but I believe Lady Ciel has had that pleasure."
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Post by Ciel on Jan 25, 2008 10:28:23 GMT -6
Ciel was still leaning against her and rubbed her face on her shoulder. " I feel as a mindless zombie when I am not around you, Majesty. I feel as though my moves have no purpose, my dance lacks heart, my ambition lacks true drive... and all that I have gained has come from the fight with myself. The fight in which I have resolved to find you again...I made myself learn all of these things. I made myself think past my former stature and become whatever I am at the moment so that you would be proud of me when we did find you."
She looked up at Ghostie again and nodded. "And I love you as well. That is why I came here. It was breaking what heart I had to be away from you...I only felt truly safe with you at the castle - no offense to you, Elite. I merely wanted you back and I admit to not truly thinking of how you would take seeing me..."
She petted Ghostie's hair and waited for the Elite to finish, her own voice softer now, a rolling purr. "I will admit to forgetting that now that I am to become a true Lady, that I cannot slip off as I had before. I just could not take the chance that I would not be able to see my love for an even longer period that previously without even trying to see her."
Putting her cheek on top of Erishkegal's head, she purred. "Yes, I have met the Chancellor. Thane and I were the first to see him. I will admit that we did not fully trust him at first, but he has gotten to proving himself more lately..."
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Post by Ereshkigal on Jan 26, 2008 1:03:31 GMT -6
Ereshkigal stares out the window for long moment and then looks at Lysandor her gaze piercing. She sighs and gives Ciel's shoulders a squeeze before pulling away. She sets her hands on the devilcat's shoulders, giving her a serious look.
"Ciel, I need you to go back- please. I really mean it- I'll force you if I have to. It's not safe for you, love and I need you to be safe. Promise me that you'll go back and stay there. I will see you soon. I swear it by this." She touches her necklace with one hand.
"And I'll write. Everyday if I'm able- no less than once in a seven day span. That way you'll always know where I am and that I'm alright." Then she drops her hands to the table and looks at Lysandor again- and though her face is serious there's a ghost of smile in her eyes.
"And Lysandor, I refuse to risk your skills and intelligence on my uncertain control. As your queen- I charge you with Lady Ciel's protection- I do not want to see you again unless you are with her. I will escort the two of you to the gate. We should hurry." she moves to rise.
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Post by Ciel on Jan 26, 2008 21:08:35 GMT -6
Ciel's face fell as her Queen pulled away from her and said her piece. She knew it wasn't safe and she was silly to even think for a second that her Majesty would allow Ciel to put herself in any immediate danger (minus the danger she put herself in just following them, of course) just to hold her and kiss her.
She nods. "Yes Majesty. By your pendant..." She looked at her forlornly, her arms yearning to just grab her up and hold her tight and refuse to let her go. Her hands itched to run themselves through her hair and her lips tingled to kiss her as though she would never lay eyes on her Queen again. She could not control her bottom lip's trembling as she held herself just so away from her love so as not to do anything suspicious or stupid.
Her voice began and then faltered as she looked down to her boots. "And I shall write you back. Whether or not they are sent, or whether you read them quickly or when you do return, they will be there. I will make it my duty to compose you epistles of love that would overshadow any human's writing by far...I...I swear it..."
As Erishkegal moved to rise, Ciel shakingly stood herself. She looked around the little coffee shop slowly and hid her face to anyone that saw. Turning back to the other two, she sighed and a lone tear rolled down her face as she looked up at Lysandor. "P-please. T-to the gate, M-master Lysandor."
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Post by Lysandor on Jan 27, 2008 11:04:09 GMT -6
Lysandor nods at Ereshkigal's orders. "I will keep her safe, Majesty, you have my word on it."
He looks down at Ciel and is at a loss for what to do with the Queen and her pet. He is a bodyguard and a warrior, and there is only so much one can do for the ones they are sworn to protect. Physical pain he can prevent, but it is the emotional that pains the two under his protection.
So Lysandor does the only thing he can think of to do, and puts a comforting hand on Ciel and Ereshkigal's shoulders for a brief moment.
"This pain will not be forever. I have faith that our beloved Queen will learn to control her power, and both of you will be reunited for more than the few minutes that the necessity of safety now dictates."
Lysandor glances around the coffee shop and what he can see of outside. "It is the time of night where all such as us are in control. Our adversaries are sure to be on the prowl, and be especially vigilent for a lovely Queen, a runaway Devilcat, and a Fallen. We should make haste in order to evade them."
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Post by Ciel on Jan 27, 2008 13:35:50 GMT -6
Ciel's eyes watered again as he lay his hand on her shoulder. As they all made ready to leave, the shaken Devilcat watched her Queen and the Elite very closely.
She was scared. She was tired. She wanted to bring her Queen home. And to top it all off, she had duties when she returned. Lysandor's words took some of the sting out of having to leave her in that nasty realm,but not much.
She looked down at her boots again and fidgeted. When she could stand it no longer, she slipped a hand into her Queen's and a hand into Lysandor's. That helped her a bit more. Personal contact had always calmed her so much... She would try not to cling, but there was no promising.
"S-shall we go? I-it is getting c-colder..."
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