Part 1: The arrival.

Our Journy begins upon a boat.

Aboard the large vessel, the Paragon, an old yet remarkably sea worthy ship that Fae had aquired many years back, they were. Fae moved about, gathering herself and preparing. It was likely it was more nerves that kept her moving than duty, as she scuffled along, emerging onto the deck where Cameron waited for her. She'd re-dressed herself, and outfitted her tiny, lithe body with a very precious armor she'd not put to good use in an age or two. The scale mail has something of a slink to it, carefully adorning her, fitted to be just right, and ending in a short, practical skirt, for the needs. That was contained by her customary leather belt, keeping the armored dress fit to form, and keeping her items on her person. Each side, she kept one of her two crystalline daggers, pressed just so to feel them placed just so to give pressure to her hip bone, if no other reason than to know they were truly there. Behind one dagger on her left hip, sat her infamous magic satchel, carrying all they would need — and many things they wouldn't — for this quest.

Cameron was familiar with the daggers. One recently had been used on him in the incident that set this all in motion. However, he either wasn't concerned, or it didn't show on his face at all. There could be a number of reasons, the most prominent being that he was well known for keeping his calm, and maintaining himself well, even when it would be a flaw to do so. Most found, even when Cameron acted out and it appeared otherwise, it was almost universally revealed Cameron's actions, were weighed and done in the best interest of something or another. It's also possible, that when Cameron crafted new flesh for the imp to inhabit, the sliver of Fae that invaded him, influenced him greatly, including a new level of mirth in the man. Then again, it made him equally as impulsive in ways he'd not been.

That sliver of shadow that made up Fae, and what she physically was, had still transformed him, even if only a little. His already inhuman red iris had changed, and those eyes were now coal black, similar to the imps, but lined with the red color or another influence already within the core of his being. The black of his new eyes swallowed light rather effectively, which would spill back out in the red that entrapped them, giving those rings an unearthly crimson glow.

As Fae arrived on the deck, Cameron spoke, there was no sign of unease in his voice, but a little might have shown in context. "Are we ready, finally," he inquired upon her arrival. He was adorned mostly in his usual attire, though a recent change resulted in his coat now being grey. It traveled down just below his knees. His right arm — his main hand, if you will — was armored. A large heavy pauldron rested atop his shoulder, and later, articulated plate ran down to near his elbow. His forearm bore a gauntlet, his hand encased in leather and metal. The metal was a dull black. His legs were equally armored, tapered plates running up his shins and encircling his lower legs, each armored boot ending a bulb to protect his knees. It was odd to see the man in any kind of armor, those who knew him were well versed in how inhumanly durable he was.

"Yes. We're finally ready," answered the Imp. Fae was moving in a circle upon the deck, for reasons not immediately clear. It was almost a stalk, the way she moved, further convincing could be made because of the sleek armor she bore.

"So, how are we going to do this?" The question was posed to Fae as she moved, Cameron watching as the circle she made moved out and around him. As she passed behind him, finger touching his back to scribble, she then completed her tast, and straightened to answer. "Your gonna be my bait," spoken on a smile that did wonders to tell that she offered the man a familiar tease. Anyone who knew Fae however, should be highly skeptical.

She drew on of the daggers from her hip, and moved before Cameron, reaching out toward him, with her other, open hand. "Do you trust me," as asked on a soft whisper.

Many should hesitate to answer, however, the air and aura around Fae made few ever voice suspicions and give her trust that may not always have been deserved, but surprisingly, when this happened, she often lived on well past her mischievous reputation. Cameron was ready to answer, just the same, if the effects of Fae's charisma were in play, it wouldn't matter, the pair shared far too much history. "Only with my life. I mean, what could possible go wrong?" He was grinning, and offering his head, well read into her intention.

Fae smiled as well, taking the hand he offered, and moving to slice the blade across it. One of her own hands was already leaking blood of their newly shared flesh, though it wasn't entirely clear when she'd done it. She held her hand up, for him, palm out, to take. "It's not like I've gotten you horribly murdered before. I just need your blood, it won't be like the time." the joke, a sign of years of healing, was not lost on Cameron.

Cameron took her hand, the wounds pressing together and blood mixing. The air around them was beginning to spin and swirl, accelerating into a quick movement, as Fae moved closer, and lifted her chin. Cameron always hunched, if ever so slowly, the close the gap in their higher. The imp brought her nose near his, they heat of each could be felt to the other, before a feathered touch. "Before we leave," she whispered, the rush of air was making a mess of their white tresses of hair, allowing it to whip and float, and mingle in a nature that was too fitting, as if each one's hair played with the other. "I just want to thank you."

Cameron would be given no chance to answer, at least not in the world of voices and tongues. The pair had a connection, and she'd know his reply. Energy, and dark flamed whipped around with the air in the circle they were contained within, rising and lifting, rife will all nature of phenomenon. Electric arcs, smoke, fire, all black and shadowed by the corruption of the world they were approaching in a way not visible to the eye. Finally, it swallowed them, engrossing and taking the form of a half-sphere around them....then it released with a shock-wave, cast out into the water around the Paragon. And they were gone.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/p480x480/1004023_10200138789654361_1662974221_n.jpg

End Chapter 1