Crypt Keepers [Kouri, Mirage]

[Annalisa Marin]

The powerful madness welled up inside of her and Anna felt invincible, untouchable. This was her natural state all things considered, unchained and free from concerns with only her primal impulses as her master. It felt much like she normally did in the heat of casting, only stronger and so much more sweet. She'd fallen fully into the darkness, but she couldn't honestly bring herself to care. What had sanity ever done for her? It had only brought her sorrow and regret, longing and pain. Madness promised to take all of that away and it was so petching wonderful.

Kouri appeared to have been effected by the wave of insanity that had washed over her mind, excellent, the girl needed to stop pretending to be something she wasn't anyway. Idly she wondered if one could kill a voice by frying the head it was in, oh, but they were in her head. No, that wouldn't do at all. Death would be inconvenient at this point when she could actually see the world freely.

She simply laughed as the voices protested, weaklings the lot of them if they were not able to handle the glory of chaos. Let them scream and vanish into the darkness where they belonged, they didn't belong in her mind anyway. She'd been marked by a god, compared to that what were the threats of mere shadows? She had raised through the heights of the Arcane, becoming more than a mere mortal woman.

The ceaseless questions about who she was were mere chatter in the back of her mind, they were not important compared to what she was. A Sorceress, one whose power could shake the world if she so desired. She was unbound, free from bonds and slavery. She had no master in this world or any other but herself, if she wanted to kill someone that was her choice. If she wanted to love someone that was her choice. If she wanted to take pleasure in destruction then that was her freedom to do so, oh, and how she wanted to destroy.

When they were gone from her mind the thoughts of what she could do were endless, the insanity didn't fade in fact it pushed aside any attempts from her rational side to reassert dominance. She didn't want to lose this feeling, not now or ever. It felt too good to just drop, insanity was far better than the constraints of reality or morality.

Something cut through the madness though, perhaps that was her saving gracing from surrendering every single shred of what she was to the flames. The voice returned, reverberating in her mind and the fear that was born in her heart was real and genuine. It wasn't enough to recover everything or pull her back from the abyss but it was enough for her to thing half rationally again. She felt shaken to her core, which cleared even more of mist from her mind.

It threatened her, threatened Kouri, then just like that it vanished once more and simply withdrew. Anna still didn't control her body but she could see the darkness leave her completely, slithering away like a snake. She didn't have full control of her mind either though, it was still a whirlwind of chaotic emotions and feelings. The chaos still wasn't gone and a large part of her that had been dominant for so long wanted it to remain, to rule her mind which clashed with the now smaller logical side creating friction that threatened to tear both sides apart. Madness was certainly an unpleasant and conflictive thing.

She felt the pain from the marks running up and down her body, places were the presences had no doubt harmed her. They weren't in her though, for what little good that did her in her deranged state. There was something else that was a back drop for the conflict. The nagging feeling of loss, but it was pushed aside in favor of more immediate concerns. Kouri was still there, though her own stability was suspect.

She felt like there was something she had asked the child to do, but couldn't quite remember what it was. Was it even really important though? The chaos was so much more pleasant than sanity had ever been, what was the point in living in the world of sanity?

Heh, heh, aww... it looks like they left. Heh, heh, oh well I guess they weren't so fond of their playmates trying to reciprocate. She projected towards the ghostly child, feeling more at ease by the minute though no less injured.

Yes... this was her natural state indeed. She was supposed to be like this, not pretending.

[Fubuki Kouri]

"Ha... hahahahaha!" The ghost girl laughed with all her might even as her hold on Anna's astral shaken by the chaotic vortex within the sorceress' mind. She didn't worry about that, knowing Annalisa was not the enemy here. This chaotic wave would target the monsters instead. The little girl grinned as wide as she could be, her reptilian large crimson eyes opened wide as she relished in the agonized screams of the monsters. "Hehehehehahahaha~ Just die already!" These spectres were spouting empty threats, what could they do against a sorceress and her ghostly companion? Nothing! "Hehehe... hehe~ They are gone~" Kouri twirled happily inside Anna's mind, her very long hair flowing through the void of space. The following silence absolutely contrasted with the chaos transpired just ticks ago. At least... until the enemy returned, more powerful than ever. "!?" Kouri suddenly stopped her spinning and froze in the air, her gut instinct told her something really bad was going to happen. Her first reflex was to release her hold on Anna's astral, to run away as far as possible with Mia to Mistress Wanda. However, she found her small body being grabbed by phantom claws, gripping like vices to her limbs. Her arms and legs were spread apart, frozen.. "A... aaaaaaaaah!!" The ghost girls screamed in pain, the claws digging into her ethereal flesh, causing noticeable deep wounds on her powder-white skin. "N-no!!! No!! STAY AWAY!! MAMAAAAAAAAAAA!!" Her mind returned to the scared Vantha little girl, pure look of terror marred her child-like face. Her eyes were opened wide in terror. Even though the monster was talking to Annalisa, Kouri could feel its vile voice sinking deep into her soul. The sheer force of the voice would kick her out with no chance to hold, but due to the grip on her body, the ghost girl was forced to stay put. "..." Her eyes lost their focus and her small lips went slightly ajar when the creature devoured a large portion of her soulmist, tearing off her body until the whole vertical left half of the little girl's body was literally gone, she now looked like a grotesque mutilated person. The pain was so great, Kouri's mind actually shut down. She didn't show any visible reaction to the monster's threat, but it permanently branded itself. Then like the true phantom it was, the monster disappeared. "...." Kouri was completely still for a full chime before her only remaining right arm twitched, her mind was in an awful state. Her senses distorted and everything she saw was coated in red hue, every voice she heard would be heavy and slow, and every needless breath she took would smell like death itself. Ma... dame... Anna... She managed to mentally whisper a barely audible call to Anna's name. Her body forced itself out of the sorceress' mind. The mutilated girl floated out of the sorceress' body. She turned around, gazing at Annalisa with only one eye as the other one was non-existent. With only half of her lips, she managed to force a smile though her eyes projected her true state. A broken little girl in the face of terror she had never seen before. With a long tired sigh, the ghost girl floated to the quivering Mia. With her right arm, she hugged the smaller girl. "I'm here..." It was only a whisper as even speaking caused unbearable amounts of pain, a pain unnoticed by her numb senses. Still hugging Mia, she glanced back to Anna, giving a look that basically told her 'what now?'. She let the sorceress take the lead, currently, she couldn't think of anything else. Her mental faculty dropped to the point where she was but a mere ethereal living doll, just barely sentient.

[Mirage]

Mia practically ran into Fubuki's back, wrapping her ghostly arms around the half of the girl that remained. She squeezed, hugging tightly crying softly, "Big sister, big sister..." She held on for a moment longer, and then back away, her expression suddenly turning to a big smile as she hugged her doll, "Their gone, their gone! Meanie things always ruin the fun. I wish they would all just die..." She blinked and floated around to look at Fubuki ripped asunder, and she giggled, raising her doll and pulling on its left arm, "Big sister is missing herself! It's OK, Wanda can fix it, Wanda can fix anything!"

She flew over to tug on Kouri's good arm, looking up at the ghosts eyes with her own white points, Anna completely forgotten for the time being, "Let's go! When Wanda fixes your boo boo we can go play some more in my play room! It will be so fun, so fun!" She giggled and bounced up and down, the situation earlier completely forgotten, not a trace of it seemed to remain in the girls mind at all.

The path to the Element's Sanctum was now clear, the lights returned once more. Mia pulled on Fubuki, urging her to see Wanda so they could go and play. A path that threatens to split, yet a mystery that grew with each passing tick. What would the brave adventurers decide to do?

OOCI kinda feel like I gave the end credits of one of those old power ranger episodes lol. "what will our brave hero's due! Tune in next week for the next exciting episode!" So you guys can decide. Stay together, or split up. I have a plan for both, so do whatever is right for your characters ^.^

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna felt when Kouri left her body, the soreness that had once been present from such a thing being non-existent. Then again, considering the weeping injuries that worked their way in a morbid and gruesome map across her body soreness was the least of her problems. Likely they were something Amaryllis could fix after this whole thing was dealt with, the wound Mia had given her on her arm was especially warranting of attention. Losing her arm would be highly unfortunate as a successful Glypher likely needed both to make the process less awkward.

Seeing Kouri's condition caused a pang of sympathy to cut through the haze of her own encroaching madness. The once powerful spirit was truly a pitiful sight to lay eyes upon, the Voices had certainly done quite a number on her as well. The sympathy, while not completely dragging her mind out from the heat of madness, served to induce a bit of rational thought back into her head. The feeling was still far too good to simply throw aside. Still she allowed herself a moment to look at the situation from the perspective of an outsider looking in.

Both her and Kouri had sustained significant damage from those... voices. Her mental stability had been severely compromised and Kouri resembled a living doll more than anything else, likely unable to resist any command. They needed to recover and regroup, so Mia's tugging of Kouri to go to Wanda seemed like the best bet here. Anna lacked the needed material to create soulmist at the moment, not only that but the woman doubted her own subpar product would be able to reverse the damage here.

Walking into the Element Sanctum alone and in her state looked rather hazardous, but Anna was banking on Master Maelstrom not trying to kill her this time. The last two visits there had been... difficult to say the least. The first had pitted her reimancy against him, the second against his apprentices, both times she felt that she was both more confused and more informed for the experience. However this time Amaryllis had indicated that he expected her.

Besides, Kouri's broken now. Not much use she'll be now... though fire fuel seems like a good role for her after the way she dared to threat- No!

No. She is an ally and a friend. She didn't abandon me even when she could very well have, it would be wasteful and illogical to turn on her now.

Pfft! Fine, doesn't even look like she'd prove to be much fun now anyway. Its no fun when they can't fight back. Mia, on the other hand...

No. I won't turn my back on either of them. Go away. Go the petch away!

Oh no. I'm not going back. That bitch of a Morpher turned you away from me before, but I'm not letting go this time. Looks like the fun is over though... at least for now. So I'll leave you to your thoughts, but this isn't over.

The sorceress was once again clashing with her own insanity, the feeling was indeed too good to give it up but letting it rule her entirely was going to cause more problems that not. The feeling dissipated to the back of her mind, still very clearly there and still very clearly waiting. This experience had fractured her rational mind, splitting it into two camps. The logical and relatively cold part, and the chaotically conflict prone part. Neither side wanted to give ground, but if there wasn't some kind of compromise reached then she knew that her mind would tear itself apart.

The mere fact that she was in a conflict not only with these voices and Daren, but herself as well seemed indicative of her questionable stability. It was only going to get worse, that was the price she paid for turning to chaos to save her from this mess. However, as the haze cleared it allowed her a better chance to assess what needed to be done.

The only clear choice was to split up. It meant that she'd be vulnerable if Daren was to strike, however if Kouri didn't get fixed up she wouldn't be useful at all. Maelstrom was something she could handle on her own, the mad man was less likely to kill her than most of her enemies. Besides, she thought with a creeping grin that was half mad, another fight with him would be very fun. Very fun indeed.

"Kouri... you aren't in any condition to be continuing onwards at the moment. You were very brave, my friend, but you need to get yourself healed up, I'll continue on alone and speak with Maelstrom. I'll try to meet up with you at the Courtyard when my business here is done." Anna stated, staring long and hard at Kouri.

Another injured companion that was harmed due to her own inadequacy, this was her fault. She should have just told Kouri to run and never accepted the possession, now the child was hurt quite gravely. It should never have come to that, hadn't she promised herself that it would never happen again to another under her protection?

She was weak. It was her own fault this happened to her, she deserves to suffer for it.

The Sorceress gritted her teeth, knowing that it was something similar to what she would have thoughts before that day in the Dungeons. It was impossible to deny its allure, her old way of thinking had made everything so clear and easy to understand. Part of her wanted to simply slip back into it. It would be so easy...

Anna turned on her heel, facing away from the ghosts and towards the Element Sanctum. The tall woman called whatever res remaining in the air back towards her, willing it to phase change to liquid and sheath her hands. She wasn't going to be unprepared like she had been before. The injuries on her would make quick movements more difficult, likely distracting from her casting as well.

Knowing she would regret it but also that being prepared had more benefits than not she allowed the darker parts of her mind prominence, washing away rationality for the love of conflict. Another half mad grin creased her lips as the pain became less, more res being pushed outwards from her hands. The insanity was only magnified by the action, the act of res generation only adding fuels to the flames.

When she reached the door she pushed hard against it, knowing full well how effortlessly it would open. Boldly she stepped inside, her grey eyes fully alight and flickering.

"Master Maelstrom! I've returned for whatever my petching stupid past self sent me here for!" She called out into the Sanctum.

OOCHeroes? I'm not sure we apply in the conventional sense. Maybe Anti-Heroes.

[Fubuki Kouri]

OOCKouri the ethereal ranger and Annalisa the chaos ranger with their adorable mascot, Mia! "Mia... ehehehe~" Kouri smiled as she hugged Mia tight, her giggles were empty, like she was but a mere animated doll. Her butchered state couldn't afford on trivial things such as emotions or proper expressions, she could still respond at the very least. She watched the cheerful ghost girl with placid eyes, her head turned to keep her vision on Mia, but her body didn't turn with her so her head spun on its own, making her similar to an owl. "Oh, okay... Mistress Wanda." Her survival instinct kicked in when Mia mentioned about the master spiritist. Yes, Wanda could completely. restore her body. Her remaining eye slightly widened in enthusiasm as she let herself be pulled by Mia. "Okay, Mia, take me to Mistress Wanda and..." Should she accept the offer? "Then we can play." Of course she would, she needed a break after all this 'voice' business. Anna could take care of things from now on, she would assist should the sorceress need her help in the future, but for now, she wanted to rest and have some fun. She should have never came to this cursed island in the first place. The little girl didn't deserve all this, she was just a child lost in the world. What possible interest these beings had over her? She had no vast knowledge like Anna, she wasn't rich and powerful like Cyrus, she was not a warrior on a mission across the world like Razkar. She really was just a little Vantha girl trying to do good and replace her lost family. Was that too much to ask? These horrible events she experienced only strengthen her will to borrow more time in the world. Now that she knew this world was even more petched up than she thought, she would do all in her power to eliminate every evil in the world even if she had to slaughter more and more humans. Evil people deserved to die, they were like pests plaguing the land. Her tendrils and daggers would have more evil blood. Besides, who said she couldn't have fun while vanquishing evil? She examined Anna, the sorceress was wounded as well but not as grave as herself. Her eyes slightly narrowed at this display of injustice. Why did those monster seek to harm her more than the human? As far as she knew, they were more interested in her, the ghost was just an obstacle in their goal. Then she remembered the whispers she heard from Anna's room bells ago... the voices that only she could hear. They said for her to run... so they could chase her. "Kih..." She knew it, they saw her as a hunting animal, they sought to play with her like a pack of wolves toying with their prey before pouncing in and devoured her. No, she would defy them, she would be the hunter instead. In the end, she would be the one facing those monsters as her tendrils loomed over their eyes, then she would utterly ravage their foul eye-sockets, laughing in satisfaction all the while. All of these were for later, she got more pressing issues for now and that was to restore her sorry state. Her destroyed mind couldn't agree nor disagree on whether to split up or not, she just let herself be taken by the flow. Both Mia and Anna agreed for her to get herself patched up so that would be her next actions. "...mhm" She gave a small nod and let herself be taken away by Mia. As the floated, Kouri was completely silent in the journey, only replying in short answers should Mia ask her something.

[Mirage]

Mia giggled and grabbed Kouri's only hand, pulling at her to come in the opposite direction, floating up toward the ceiling as she did. Looking back over her shoulder the little girl waved to the Apprentice, "Don't let unkle Roknus kill you before we get back!" Before she and Fubuki disappeared through the stones.

The sanctum was dark when Anna walked in, only a few sparese torches lit the entire space, and not a sound was heard. No magical battles too place today, no displace of reimantic might, no shouting voices and curses. It was all quite, dead as the grave. At the center of the room sat none other than Roknus Maelstrom, slumped in the chair with his head rolled back, eyes closed. He was the picture of a corpse, lifeless and still, but when Anna called out he raised his head and smiled, "Well well, come back to play have we? Goood. It's so boring here now that everyone is dead. Silly little creatures, couldn't take a simple firestorm. Turned to ash and blown away...A well." He stood and stalked toward Anna, but he paused half way. Squinting his eyes and leaning forward he stared deeply into Anna's gaze, searching, peering, wondering until...

"HA!" He barked a laugh, clutching his sides as he succumbed to mirth that rocked his body. When finally he calmed he raised his head, smiling big and bright, though the look in his eyes was anything but sane, "So ya did it, did you? You let them in, the voices. Stupid girl, foolish girl, oh you beautiful girl!" He stumbled forward, grasping Anna's shoulders to beam down at her, "You're just like me now, just like me. Teatering on the edge, swaying too and fro. Mad as a hatter you are, I smell it on you! Oh how beautiful you are now. I admit I thought you rather boarish when we first met, but now your much more pretty."

He patted her shoulders and cackled, releasing her and walking back to his chair. With a swift kick he sent it tumbling, and with a quick motion an earthen spike appeared to float at his side. Flicking his wrist the spike was sent flying at the chair, shattering the wood to pieces. Strolling forward the Master picked through the remains, finally picking up one of the chairs broken legs and returned to Anna. He grinned large in amusement as he extended this bit of wood to Anna, "Here you go girl. I think this belongs to you."

The chair leg was hallow, and inside it was a small rolled up bit of parchment with Anna's name scribbled hurriedly across its surface. When opened it would read:

To myself, I pray to Rhysol that I am not too late.

I discovered something about Darren, or actually I figured something out. We have gone out many times now. Dinner in the Common Labs, Dancing in the Prairie. He even showed me a secret know by very few in Sahova... But I will have to write that down later. He and I have grown close, well as close as a Murder and Victim can. When I am with him I can hear them, the voices. I know it is not my madness creeping, because when he is gone I cannot hear the whispers. He talks to them sometimes, when he thinks I am not paying attention.

No matter where we go in the Citadel, he does not set foot in the Courtyard. Never in all our time together have I seen him even come close to that place. He almost seems afraid to go there, but I was never sure why. Then one day I found something on his desk, a small key. I stole it from its resting place and quickly excused myself, but I think he suspects what I have done. So I am doing this now, writing this and other letters while I still can and hiding them away. I know that I will be able to find them, I am me after all I think the same way no matter what memories I have.

I know he will come for me soon. He knows I took the key, and I think his patience is wearing thin. Darren will try to kill me, and unless I do something to stop him he will surely succeed. The Courtyard. That is where I must go. That place holds some secret, the key to stopping this man Darren. The voices are getting louder, he is coming. I hate that one that laughs, over and over again. Hopefully if it comes down to it he will kill me quickly, because I cannot stand that excessive cackling any longer...

Good luck,
Annalisa Marin

*****

The two ghosts soared through rock and stone, swimming through it like a living man might through water. Mia's grip on Kouri was strong, steady as she pulled her straight up until the broke the surface, finding themselves near the entrance to the Courtyard, though this time they were within the Citade. Humming happily under her breath Mia pulled Kouri just to the edge of the Courtyard, no closer than that just in case the other girl was accidentally pulled into the barriers and trapped forever. Cupping her small hands over her mouth she called out loud, the voice coming from her whole body, "Waaaaaanddaaaaaa! Miaaaa and bit Siisssster are here to seeee youuuuu!"

Smiling the girl fell back, grabbing Fubuiki's hand and swinging it back and forth as they waited. A chime past, and then two, and then a swirl of mist began to billow over the Courtyard, masking the view of the pace completely. A dark shadow appeared in the midst of this, growing bigger until the Master Spiritist's body came into view. Shuffling forward like a tired old woman, the look on her face was a mask, permanently set in a grouchy expression. The woman's eyes immediately fell on Kouri and her condition and she suffled forward to examine her closer, "What has happened, what has done this to you...?" Her tone was almost indifferent, if a bit curious.

"The mean people did it. They didn't want us playing in the Cavern's so they did awful things to big sister, and to her meat puppet." Mia said simply, thumb now in her mouth as she hugged her doll close to her chest.

Wanda's eyes widened slightly and she looked at Kouri intently, "What does she mean? Tell me everything, leave no details out. Who did this to you, and why?"

[Annalisa Marin]

The Sanctum was noticeably quite, barren even to her eyes except for the man sitting in the middle of the room. Roknus Maelstrom sat with his head lolled back, looking almost as dead as dead could get. At the sound of her voice the man seemed to awaken from whatever stupor he had been in, noticing her and regarding her with that smile of his. She regarded him with a grin of her own, this one almost courteous.

The word 'play' set her mind ablaze with the memory of that wonderful fight in this very place, sure she had lost but it had been rather fun. Except for the nearly dying bit, but it was a minor detractor from the main event. The Sorceress, even bleeding and cut as she was, felt rather thrilled at the prospect of another round against the Master of Reimancy. His apprentices had been rather weak and poor substitutes for the real thing, weaklings one and all.

"How disappointing, though that's what happens when you have a gaggle of weaklings as apprentices. I've noticed they expire far too easily." She commented as Maelstrom looked closer at her.

He broke into fits of laughter a few ticks later, which actually invoked a slight hardening of her grey eyes. She hated that laugh, it sounded too much like the one that laughed too much and she wanted to blast that one to oblivion with lightning. Or curse it until it wasn't laughing anymore, yes, that would be a pleasant distraction. Could a voice even be cursed? Of course it could, anything could. Rhysol was all powerful after all.

Her grin of false pleasantness didn't diminish at Maelstrom's comparison. Mad? No, she was just finally looking at the world as only a disciple of evil and chaos could. Oh, she wasn't mad, she was more clear minded than she had ever been. Honor and truth were tools of the weak, lies and betrayal made one stronger.

"It is quite a liberating experience really, though I know what you mean about that laughing one. I'd kill it if I could as well." She replied as he shattered the chair.

Anna read her own name on the scroll and opened it, gazing over the lines and regarding it with interest. Daren was truly a piece of work, oh, but she had plans for him now that her mind was much better. His end was not going to be swift, not if she had any say in the matter. If she had her way she'd be picking bits of Hypnotist from under her nails, dancing in a pool of his blood.

The Courtyard... it all revolved around there it seemed. The answer to the questions that weighed heaviest on her mind. Likely they were only going to lead to more questions, no answers were ever final on Sahova it seemed. Ah, well, it gave her more time to think of methods to have him begging for Rhysol's mercy.

The woman looked over the paper once more, noticing the mention to the key she still held. What was the purpose of this key and why was Daren so set on keeping it from her? At least her past self hated the laughing one as much as she did, it really needed to take a trip to the bottom of the Ocean with a couple of stone shoes to send it on its way. Stone shoes... she was going to have to test that out on someone who wasn't here, seemed like a good way to dispose of unnecessary evidence.

Anna willed some of the res coating her palms to move outwards, a tiny ball and allowed it to coat a corner of the paper. A flick of her finger triggered the transmutation from purple liquid to a small purple flame, which slowly started burning the document. No evidence could remain, a Chaon needed to cover their tracks well.

She regarded Maelstrom once more, raising an eyebrow at the Mad Master of Reimancy. He probably had some information she could take in parting, the Courtyard already slated as her next destination. A Chaon needed to examine ever angle, get a better picture of the forces at play on the board. Only then could the twisted game be made to benefit Rhysol.

"Interesting. Seems like I'm living on borrowed time at the moment. Though what else is new? Anyway, what do you make of this? Apparently I thought it was important. Possibly connected to our dear friend's aversion to the Courtyard." The woman asked, holding out the small key for the Master's examination.

"Amaryllis also suggested I visit someone, one Trellaway Witsle. Do you know anything about him?" Anna asked almost as an after thought, eager to leave and head to the Courtyard quickly.

If the place was a sanctuary then she'd certainly have cause to go there, if it gave her the key to horribly murdering Daren then it was even better. A genuine grin actually crossed her face as she remembered something, a chuckle escaping her lips.

"Also, 'Uncle Roknus'?" She inquired with far too much mirth.

[Fubuki Kouri]

As she only got one hand at the moment, she could only give Anna a weak smile before she was pulled by Mia, their ethereal forms phasing through the stones. The flying journey was like a blur to the half-ravaged ghost girl, her crimson eyes was opened but it didn't focus on anything, glossed over with an ethereal veil. Being a full-blooded Vantha in life, Kouri had the beautiful aurora eyes unique to her people, but when she died... it was lost to her. She could still change her eye colors, but she had to do so consciously.

She felt like a fake to manipulate them so Kouri opted to just let it go, her subconsciousness represented her color-changing eyes in death by various other phenomenons instead, all connecting to her in some way. Her crimson eyes represented the sight of her parents' blood pouring from their torn body branded on her mind, her powder-white skin and hair represented the immense amount of fear she felt, so great was her fear, her soul lost the ability to represent skin and hair color properly, making them bleached white. Kouri could turn into her human Vantha form, but that was after she mastered the art of materialization. Her default appearance was still the crimson-eyed white-haired ghost girl. A ghost girl who still had to face dangers, suffering, and hardships even in her death. In this island, various monsters, spirits, and failbeasts saw her powerful soulmist presence like ants to sugar... and she was the sugar.

They almost arrived at the Courtyard, but Mia stopped both of them just at the edge. Kouri kept silent as Mia cheerfully called for the Master Spiritist. She couldn't even feel intimidated by the prospect of Wanda being annoyed... she had seen worse. Those voices... those monsters with glowing eyes, they were definitely the spirits Wanda talked about. The ones where even she couldn't contain. Kouri absent-mindedly shifted into a sitting position on a non-existent chair. She let Mia played around with her only remaining hand. How could this small girl be so cheerful despite all this? Perhaps... being like her wasn't bad at all, no worries, no problems. A flash of Rena's image entered her mind, the older-looking ghost shook her head. If it wasn't for her little sister, she would fall down to Mia's level by now.

The esteemed Master Spiritist finally showed her old face. Wanda looked as indifferent as ever, maybe even if Kouri brought a horde of spirits chasing after her, she wouldn't even bat a rotting eyelash. Of course she would ask on what happened, everyone would be curious. Kouri strangely found herself annoyed... she was figuratively dying in pain, she wanted some soulmist. "S... kah..." For the first time after a long silence, Kouri finally spoke, her half-lips trembling as she whispered the one thing she needed most. "Soul.. mist, g-give me... give me soulmist... p-please..." She was practically begging. If Wanda gave her some, she would very grateful, but... if Wanda didn't well then she didn't have much choice but to suffer more as her own body regenerated. No matter which happened, she would tell the story, there was no use in hiding it. She needed Wanda's help to take care of those monsters.

"Those... voices inside Madame Annalisa's head, Mistress Wanda," Kouri's large crimson eyes were bubbling with fear, she instinctively hugged Mia to comfort herself, half-burying the smaller ghost in her half-skirts. "M-monsters... with glowing eyes a-and... s-sharp... s-scary teeh." Wanda wanted a reason, fine, the whole story it was. "Well, I... was just visiting Madame Anna w-when... I found her angry and then... and then a voice whispered from her room... telling me to 'run' so they can 'c-chase'," She was stuttering, Wanda would just have swallow it and listen. "W-we think it m-might be... Darren, a b-bad man, Madame Anna and Madame Amaryllis' enemy... M-madame Ama asked me to help them k-kill Daren so I accepted. He's a bad man. Also, when in M-madame Ama's office, t-the voice came back! It tapped the door and scratched it! B-but when I got outside to kill it, it was g-gone! Goooooone! A-a-a-and... only I c-can hear it! W-why?!" Her story was incomplete, her fear-ridden mind couldn't recollect all of the stories perfectly. Kouri also didn't know about a Spiritist's ability to read a ghost's memories during possession so she didn't ask for Wanda's permission for possession. If she knew though... this would be much easier.

"Then, we met Mia..." She hugged the girl tighter. "Mia helped us, b-but then... when we almost arrived at uhm... Roknus' place... t-they came, the voices! They were inside Madame Anna's head! S-so I decided to help her by p-possessing her, i-it seemed to work... I felt good, really good inside her mind. They were afraid and left..." What she meant by 'good' was the power Chaos flooding to her. "B-but it wasn't good enough! They came back! O-one of them... s-said i-it would d-d-d-... d.. devour me! A-and... h-he... did... this... to... me.... W-waaaaaaaaaaah! W-what should I do?! I don't want to be eaten! I don't I don't I dooooon't!!!" She exploded, mixing her words with Vani, her already fragile mental faculty dropping dangerously fast. Kouri needed some form of help, with the way she was, even a light tap on her shoulder would send her cowering in extreme fear.

[Mirage]

Annalisa

Maelstrom was quickly losing interest, picking his ear even as Anna returned her attention to him. Rubbing the soiled finger on his own robes he shrugged, "The petch if I know. Never heard of him. He's no friend of mine, so fuck him. Probably a boring man anyway." He cackled, picking at a bit of rotting flesh on his neck, tearing it off before tossing it aside, "You want to know about him go ask him your own damn self."

Rolling his eyes at the ghost girl's nickname the man turned and folded his hands behind his back, "One time I let the girl play with my meat bags, ONE TIME and she starts this 'uncle' nonsense. I'd kill her if I could, but she's to damn cute when she's covered in blood. I just don't have the heart for it. I'm an old softy it seems, must be the centuries making me merciful." He seemed to completely ignore the fact that she was a ghost. Then again he probably forgot completely. His mind was a disorganized mess after all.

Suddenly he plopped down on his arse, laying spread eagle on the ground and looking back and up at Annalisa, "What the petch are you still doing here bitch? Don't you got a place to go? Someone to fuck? Go talk to your own voices and leave me to mine!" he laughed, clutching his head and pulling at his hair. He would become unresponsive after that, and the laughter would follow after Annalisa as she left the lab.

As she walked through the corridors a feeling of being watched would follow her, creeping closer and closer until...

"Hello Annalisa dear. Have you missed me?"

Around the next bend stepped a man in long flowing robes, his hair long and pushed back from his face. Green eyes and handsome features, the silver ring on his finger in the form of a half closed eye clearly seen on the hand that carefully ran along the wall. He smiled a smooth, confident smile, and offered the woman a slight bow, "I hope you haven't missed me since our last meeting. I know how you cannot stand to be separated."

A burning desire ignited in Annalisa's chest, a longing deep and almost unbearably strong. She wanted him. Wanted his arms around her, his kiss upon her lips. She could almost feel his body against her's, she could almost just feel the sensations that would come. Old visions of their bodies twisted in the throws of passion flashed across her mind, perhaps memories or maybe hallucinations. It was hard to tell, though her heart would begin to speed up no matter what the true case was.

*****

Wanda's eyes widened further as shock filled her expression. Her eyes grew distant as she began to look past Fubuki, mumbling something softly under her breath. Turning she left Kouri where she stood, wandering into the Courtyard. Mia drifted closer, for once her eyes showed concern as she tugged on Fubuki's remaining arm, "Is big sister alright? Does she need to break a finger to feel better?"

Wanda's voice rose over the courtyard, a howl of sorts, though more of frustration than anything else. Mia flinched and pulled back, tugging on Fubuki as well as Wanda came storming closer, "Where!? Where were the spirits?"

Mia's trembling voice came in reply, so that Kouri did not have to, "T-they were outside Uncle Roknus' lab... In the caverns."

Wanda snapped her fingers, "Dasshna, Zale, come!" on either side of Wanda two figures shimmered into existence. One was the Dhani woman, low flowing cloak and all. The other was a male, short with a strange colored arm. He was shirtless, eyes steely gray and a large hammer was strapped to his back.

Wanda looked to both of them, "The key is gone, and there are Spirits walking free in the Caverns outside of Maelstrom's lab. Go there now, find them and drive them out. They are after a Pulsar by the name of Annalisa. Find her, and you will most likely find them."

Both ghosts bowed, and disappeared without a word from sight.
The Spiritsts' eyes came to rest on Kouri once more, and from the folds of her robe she produced a small jar of highly concentrated soulmist. This she unscrewed and handed to Kouri, turning then to walk back into the Courtyard.

Mia looked between the two of them, and after a moment's hesitation followed quickly after Wanda. Kouri would find them both in the Courtyard, off to the side near a very small tomb. Wanda crouched before it, looking at the closed door there, and across it was bound a fine silver chain and a small lock also made of silver. They seemed to shimmer slightly, as if catching the reflection of light though none shown at this time.

[Annalisa Marin]

Well that was a waste of air, but really Maelstrom had helped her enough anyway so she could forgive his lack of use. The Courtyard, yes that was where she needed to go and it would have all the answers she needed. Then she could murder Daren and everything would be fine and she would be safe. Well, at least relatively safe as far as things could be on Sahova. The point was that a hypnotist wouldn't be stalking her steps everywhere she went.

Noting that Maelstrom was unresponsive Anna left the lab in a hurry, his mad laughter following her down the halls. It reminded her too much of that laughing voice, she hated that voice and really wanted to kill that petching thing. Maelstrom had said that one couldn't kill a voice but Anna disagreed, you could kill anything with just the proper application of force. And curses, lots and lots of curses because they made Rhysol happy and if he was happy so was she.

As the woman made her way she got the oddest feeling that she was being watched, raising the hair on her neck. Anna continued to walk but felt more uneasy as the ticks went by, she wanted to feel that good feeling once again. The madness had felt good, sanity was frightening at the moment though perhaps this was just a fragment of insanity. Nothing to get worked up over most likely.

Those thoughts died in her mind as he rounded the next bend, halting the deranged Chaon in her tracks. The way he spoke her name made her wish to curse him until he didn't have a tongue left to speak with. Or to steal his eyes, those petching green eyes that haunted her waking nightmares and delusions. Or just to make him wracked with pain every time he tried to move.

His next words though lit a passion in her chest, a need or urge that just needed to be fulfilled. She wanted him, though her madness was twisting things into more perverse and horrific needs and desires. The Sorceress wondered if filling his body to the brim with her res would help him experience intimacy beyond intimacy. Would she feel the same urges fulfilled? A manic grin spread across her face as she opened her arms wide, grey eyes gleaming in the mage light with that chaotic flicker.

"Daren, my love, so nice to see you around these parts! I was afraid I might miss you today, I have been pinning to see you. You should be careful though, I hear that monster prowl around these parts." She said, giggling uneasily at the end.

She drew no res and took no hostile actions, but oh how she wanted to smear his remains all over the walls. However she did focused Djed beneath her palms, ready to generate purple liquid. After she satisfied her urges of course, he could still serve some purpose to her perhaps. Idly she looked like she heard something from an unseen source, and then returned her full attention to the Hypnotist before her.

"I don't know how you can stand that laughing one, Daren dearest, its so very grating on the nerves. Maelstrom sounds too much like it in my opinion. He doesn't like you very much." Anna said, her grey eyes flashing dangerously and unsteadily.

Wait... there was a reason she couldn't kill him just yet... what was it? Oh right, Councilor Qiao. He liked Daren so she couldn't murder him just yet. No, not yet. Unless... maybe.