There was one however that felt this shockwave of negative energy who was not so much drawn to it as being controlled, but he came to the fortress black, out of curosity. Khest was out riding his Nightmare mount, Infernus, when he saw this Citadel. The structure struck him as being in some ways as being similiar to his own grim abode.

The Dark Lord rode along, at a slow cantering pace with Infernus's eyes burning with their Hell red fire. The flaming hooves leaving their burnmarks in the ground. Khest saw the devastation this Fortress left in its wake. He already liked whoever caused this ruin with the arrival of the black fortress. Hmm, prehaps an ally or a challenge. Either way it was a sign to be sure from his Deity, the Elder Elemental Eye.

Upon arriving in front of the main gates, Khest pounded his Iron-clad right fist on the great, grim doors. Awaiting whomever would awnser the doors.

The nexus pulled Kuchiki into the alley, invisible hands having closed over her mouth and eyes to pull her into a world of blindness as well as cutting off her speech. Wind pipes felt as though they were being crushed and when the abysmal force relinquished she found herself away from the see and in a dark alley.

The cold, dank, musty smell of the alley would be an unpleasant odor to most, would have common folk quickly leaving for more pleasant areas. But not the Raith. He was fine with any smell, rotting corpses, burning flesh, dirt, grime, anything and everything. Why? He didn't need to breath, didn't have to smell. The other present, might feel the rippling of the air. The subtle roll of air currents as the gateway opened, the small dimensional rift allowing Raithmoore to come to Rhy'Din, from subterranean lair of tunnels and catacombs. He appeared very suddenly, wearing his dark armor, his whirling and writhing cloak, with a sword at his side, the hilt wicked, the blade jagged, the enchantments devious.

At the sight of another, the unpleasant appearance, something within her began to stir uneasily. Arms raised, hands lifted and moved to cover those horns shaped in a manner that might resemble a cat's ear. She pulled her hands flat against the thing that marked her for what she was. Eyes remained open for fear of being caught off guard and the hair itself remained uncovered as well.

His cool, calculating, green gaze shifted about the alley, swept up and down, then landed on the other one. The face was devoid of emotion at the moment, blank, a stoic and empty canvas.

Kuchiki rose to her feet, the nexus having left her in a sitting position and she folded her arms across her chest as though she had no worries about being ostracized for the time being. She had been reassured by others appearances that no one would attack her for what she was. Invisible arms, six of them hovered in the air behind her with their ability to maneuver around things with a length of up to nine meters in distance. She was sure she would be safe regardless of the reaction this man seemed to cause within her. She saw him as an imminent threat.

Raithmoore and Kuchiki appeared in the large antechamber of the citadel an instant later. Behind them was a monstrously large set of double doors, made of polished obsidian stone and wood. The towering fortress was rather dark, color scheme, not lighting. Surprisingly enough, Raithmoore?s home was well lit. A great and large chandelier hovered overhead. Green flames, blue flames, red flames, and white flames, a myriad of colors illuminated the large chamber, bathing it an odd and soft glow. Near the ground, there was light, but the light had no apparent source, just seemed to be there.

?Welcome,? he said as he gestured around the large chamber, ?to Citadel Raithmoore.? Raithmoore finished as his hand lowered back to his side. The antechamber was relatively empty, circular in foundation, with the center of it cut out and replaced by a large stone tablet. The tablet was surrounded in Celtic knots, with weeping willow tree set in the center. Windows dotted the walls, all around them, evenly spaced, going all the way up to the top of the tall chamber?s high roof. Some were stained glass, others were clear, some covered with shutters. The ones of stained glass had depictions of battles, mages, dragons, and one large one, circular, just above the doors, depicted an undead army.

?This is my home, and place of study, there are many interesting things and artifacts within these walls, I?m sure you?ll find some of the things I have to offer intriguing.? He nodded once again, and then turned to face Kuchiki, his hands hidden away in the folds of his dark and billowy robe. Cool green eyes watched her, waited for a reaction, judged and gauged.

?Any questions before we begin the tour?? He asked with a slight tilt of his head, the corners of his lips twitching up ever so slightly, in the makings of a grin.

"No, some are more white, some red, depends on the purpose, they vary, just like a person's home." They went upstairs by that point, and into a second hallway. Oddly enough, this hall was almost the exact opposite as the lowest level. The hall was white, the art was divine, depicting angels and gods striking down demons and other such foes of the righteous.

The hallway caused a look of enigma to creep on that carefully guarded visage of her's. This was something she hadn't expected at all. The decor completely contradicted the impression he had on her. "Intriguing," she mused though didn't sound too enthralled as the paintings and such caught her eye. She shook herself out of the surprised gawking she had become victim to and shifted her full attention back to the Raith should he take advantage of the situation. She was a very precarious one.

He chuckled quietly as he led her through the hall. Halfway down the white fell away once again to dark, a midnight hue, with dots of silver that resembled stars, a hall of perpetual twilight. "We're almost there." He commented with a small nod as the conversation had lapsed.

The hallway seemed endless at first and she had begun to wonder if that itself was somehow a void of space. She really hoped this wasn't some trap, and that somehow if she tried to turn back the way she had come that she wouldn't be able to reach the other end of the hallway. She was probably making too much out of it though, in her mind it was probably at least ten times as long as what it really was. "This is quite a big place," she murmured before allowing her voice to rise so that he might hear a little better. "Do you live here?"

"No, I don't live here. My home is much smaller, and far more humble. This is my place of study. Where I research and learn. There was a time when its halls were inhabited by many scholars and wizards, spellcasters, psions, apprentices, and things of that nature, but they all just left one day."

"Why is that?" The question couldn't be helped; she didn't think it was just a mere coincidence that they had all left on their own. For them to leave the very same day, all of them even? That was a little suspicious.

"I have no idea." He admitted with what seemed to be perfectly honest, not missing a beat. "They never said anything, just left, one after the other, until the citadel was empty, save for myself and my experiments."

"Experiments?" The word had struck something within her, offended her even at the very mention of said word. She was afraid to ask what type of experiments they were, but the word had already come out in an inquiry. She was bound to receive an answer on the matter now.

He smirked at the one who had revealed himself. "You reek of spending time with fools." He commented offhandedly. "What, pray tell, are you doing in my citadel?" He asked as a stark white brow arched up.

"I spend quite a few hours of my day with one, so that's expected." A hand went up to let his digits dance about the chain that was wrapped around his torso to help some of the nerves he was feeling escape. One glance towards the citadel's self-proclaimed owner put Darcel's teacher to shame. "I was curious."

?I see." He nodded. The Raith studied him for a moment, openly, curiously, without restraint, then nodded once more. "What is your name?" Usually he'd give his first, but given the circumstances, manners and etiquette mattered little.

With the darkness and shadows manipulated to her will Mad Madeline appeared there. Hood pushed back to reveal that beautiful youthful face that many have wept and cowered in fear upon seeing. Black raven tendrils the darkest of night. Pitiless onyx hues glancing about and sucking in whatever light that hit them. Full lush ruby red lips curled into a mad little grin.

She watched intently, silently daring the Raith to do what she expected. That vibe he had first given her, the feelings that had stirred within her and caused unease... Would he out himself now?

"Darcel." He responded, pausing a bit to ponder. "My surname eludes me." Was added after the pause. He would've inquired the other's name, but he thought better of it and bit his tongue.

"Darcel. So you're curious then Darcel? What is it that interests you, my citadel has many useful facilities, many different things of interest and curiosity than the simple library." He nodded slightly, lips twitching as he felt the presence of Madeline.

Crimson optics fixated on the Raith, watching him with a careful eye and a surreptious glance was cast to the only other known presence. Darcel, of course. She was oblivious to Madeline's arrival, however.

Her smile widened just a bit. It amused her how they were oblivious to her. It was then that she stepped out of the shadows. Like the boogeyman coming out from under the bed.

As was he. "Necromancy interests me. I'm rather inexperienced on the subject, and although I've invested in a mentor, he hasn't been much help." The digits at Darcel's side curled inwards to brush against the book held up by the cryptic chain his other hand was fiddling with. He sent a glance towards the woman who let her presence be known, and once again forced himself silent.

"Welcome Madeline, I wondered when you'd show yourself to us." Then a nod to Darcel. "Necromancy you say? And a mentor? Invested...define invested, did you pay this man to teach you? If so, forgive me, but I must commend his scheming ways and the lack of thought on your part. If he was truly powerful in the art of necromancy, he wouldn't be requesting coin in return for knowledge."

She bowed her head slightly, "Thank you for the upmost warm welcome." She said in that soft voice of hers holding a strange accent that was implacable her voice breathing with power. She set that piercing dark gaze to the other two to study them silently.

A brow quirked at the pair, the Raith still managed to dodge every sharp corner. No matter what happened she found no reason to be dissuaded of the deal she had struck with him. Not yet, at least. Perhaps a couple of days and she would drop her futile mental search for something off.

"I meant invested by the fact that it's a purely practical arrangement. I'm not paying him. On the contrary, he's already lent me a bag of coins and a very useful map. And due to the fact that it seems to be a good move for my future. That's all I meant."

"I see. Forgive my lack of deduction then." A small bow of his head. "Where is this teacher of yours? I'd like to meet him." Curious now, necromancers were always an interesting lot, especially once they found out just what the Raith was.

A slight raise in his shoulders. "I haven't seen him for the last few days, so I couldn't help you there. He has a fortress of sorts, but he's only taken me there and back through the use of portals."

"Excuse me," the female interrupted after moments of silence and listening to the two converse. While she would have liked to listen more intently to the conversation around her, sleep hung on her lids with a hefty weight that threatened to pull them down. "Darcel, my name is Kuchiki." This was a little forward and direct, but she figured she would be seeing the man again. "Anatar," her attention shifted to the man at the mention of his name. "I assume our deal is set in stone for now and I'm terribly tired. Would you mind showing me where I might go to turn in for the night?" A brow lifted. "You can continue your conversation as you see fit, but I really do need my rest." A purse of the lips as she waited, "And if you wish to see that demonstration tomorrow then I would offer it as a fair exchange for somewhere to sleep."

From underneath the cloaked she crossed her arms. Tilting her head to the side slightly as if listening to voices or music only she could hear. However the conversation had her rapt attention. That mad grin fading into a smirk as she continued to observe all that was going on around her. She would watch. And wait. Two things she was a master at.

"Ah..." He scoffed. "One of those types, secretive and refusing to allow those who seek knowledge free access to facilities that can offer it? Shame really." He blinked, then bowed a low sweeping bow to Darcel, flourishing his cloak a bit in a theatrical manner. "I am Anatar Raithmoore, you stand in the Archives of Citadel Raithmoore, my place of learning and knowledge." He then turned to Kuchiki and offered a smile that was far too kind to belong to him. "Of course. I'll have you escorted there now." He waved his hand in an idle gesture, and a painting on the wall seemed to spring to life. It was a knight by the looks of it, a templar maybe, who hopped right out of the canvas, bowed to Kuchiki and Raithmoore, then started off down the hall. "He'll lead you to your room."

Kuchiki nodded to the Raith, "Very well then. Thank you and goodnight." She offered a faint smile, a falter and twitch of lips for the two men before she turned after the painting curiously. Quick footfalls moved so that she wouldn't be left behind by the templar. What an escort?

He looked to Kuchiki, the only indication that he had received her message. His gaze returned to Anatar with the bow. "A pleasure." He uttered politely.

"Good night Kuchiki, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." He nodded to the woman before turning first to Madeline. "Come now, speak up you wanted to see the citadel, you're here, what interests you?" Juggling conversations like a pro now. He turned to Darcel. "Yes, a pleasure. You said it was necromancy that interests you? I have a bit of knowledge on the subject." An understatement, Raithmoore was a walking after effect of the magic.

It was then that she finally spoke, "Anything and everything. To learn something new would be quite refreshing." She said as she looked from one to the other.

"My dear Madeline, there's far too much here to do all that at once on so vague a wish. Come, what interests you most of all?" He asked with a tilt of his head, Kuchiki having left, he was now falling into his usual self. Cold, dark, callous, his smooth voice lost its fine and warm tone, replaced by an empty and hollow sound.

Only now did Darcel take the time to fully comprehend the female's presence. He stared, perhaps a bit too long, his visage a perfect mask, as it typically is, before responding to Anatar. "It would be appreciated." And finally returned his gaze to the drow.

"Tell me Darcel." His voice cold, his gaze suddenly icy, free of the need to put up the facade for Kuchiki. "What is it about necromancy that interests you so? What draws you to that most controversial of magics?"

A dark smirk appeared on her face, "Most of all? Why besides that young girl it would have to be you, my good sir." She said with a slight bow of her head. She wasn't complimenting. No. Just simply stating fact. Those abysmal dark depths then locked onto the other male present, "Hello." She said with a slight bow of the head once more.

A chuckle escaped his lips. "Me? Why me? I'm just a humble old wizard." Lies, full of them he was.

He responded to the woman. "Hello." The sudden change in Anatar's presence put him on a slight edge. He responded with the truth. "I haven't quite figured that out yet. I'm assuming the most probable explanation is that I had some sort of traumatic experience with death and I'm trying to find a way out, but that's just my guess."

She gave a small shake of her head, "Coyness does not become one such as you, Raithmoore."

He smirked at Madeline. "How very perceptive of you." Then to Darcel. "Traumatic experience with death?" Oh the irony. "Interesting."

It was then that she pulled up a chair and sat down. Back and posture very straight. One ankle crossing over the other. Hands clasping and resting on her lap. Perfectly ladylike and holding the air of innocence. A pleasant and pretty good illusion if any.

"That's just my guess." He was once again at ease, after getting relatively used to the new Anatar. With a glance towards the female, "And who are you?"

Madeline smirked then. Letting out a girlish giggle. Amusing indeed.

He didn't have enough knowledge to draw any conclusions about Anatar just yet. Darcel would just have to be patient and search for the answers in books, instead of from the man's mouth.

"What's so funny?" The giggle brought his attention back to Madeline.

"Nothing." She replied as she looked him over.

"Necromancy will never give you the answers you seek outright. The art requires you to seek the answers yourself." He nodded a touch to Darcel, and turned toward Madeline with a smirk. "Pray tell what has you so amused dear Madeline."

She unclasped her hands and spread her arms wide, the cloak pulling back to reveal her form curves being the right places pleasant to look upon she wore a long-sleeved form fitting black velvet dress tight in the chest area the skirt flaring out slightly, "Life." She simply said.

He made note of Anatar's words of wisdom, but kept his gaze on Madeline. Not because he was entranced with her beauty or any of the sort, but because he found her to be so bizarre. She just kept saying and doing the oddest things, not to mention anything about what she was wearing.

Dainty pale ivory hands reached to untie the clasp from her cloak as she shrugged out of it to let it drape across the back of the chair. The dress was a bit low-cut but not overly so to draw too much attention.

"How long have you been...?" He paused to find the right terminology, failing to find an appropriate adjective, he settled for the obvious noun, "a vampire?"

She gave Darcel a pleasant smile then, "It has been so long that I honestly do not know anymore. I just know that I was the seventh one made." She said falling silent once more.

"Seventh out of every vampire created or by whoever created you?"

"Seventh out of every vampire created." She said.

He fell into silence himself, his fingers brushing against the dark book hanging at his side, his eyes scanning the large library. His other set of digits was still wrapped around the gothic chain that held the book up, and his boots were still emitting an annoying squeak every time he shifted weight.

A smile slowly appeared on her face, "Silence is golden." She whispered as her gaze finally took in the place she was in.

"If you say so." Darcel replied, shoulders lifting slightly in an unenthusiastic shrug.

Her gaze lingered on every detail of the place committing it to memory before her gaze fell on him once more, "Take time to listen to the world and hold your breath. It can reveal many secrets that even the wisest of men cannot tell."

"I'll pass out if I hold my breath too long."

She smiled then and shook her head. Humans were so amusing. Especially when they failed to read between the lines.

?I suppose I was never very good at deciphering metaphors." He added, almost defensively.

He grinned, chuckled, and shook his head silently. "Do you have any questions aside from ones pertaining to what I am?"

"This place peeks my curiosity slightly." She said as her gaze fell on Raith.

"Ask and I'll answer." He nodded.

"Did you build this place?" His gaze returned to Anatar.

"On my own? No, when it was filled with other such scholars and wizards, we slowly constructed it. It started off as a small priory house, but as more came, spellcasters put their magic to use and we all expanded on it."

She stood up and stretched her arms above her head, making such a normal human gesture look strangely graceful, ?What is in the highest level?" She asked. Some started with the bottom but she started with the top.

"Off limits." He replied to Madeline. "For the moment." Then to Darcel. "I was one of the first to take up residence here. And the only to not leave."

Raithmoore walked silently through the catacombs beneath Citadel Raithmoore, the one's he had shown Madeline. His steps were carrying him toward the staircase that would have him standing back in the citadel's antechamber.

Darcel had taken Anatar's advice. He had the same piece of parchment he'd had the first day out, refolded in that awkward way. He had headed to the northern wall - or was it northwest? His memory never ceased to fail him. He took a leisurely pace finding the section he needed.

Shadows and darkness manipulated once more as she appeared well beside Raith. This time she was clad in a black formfitting low cut corset along with formfitting hip hugging black leather pants and black leather knee high boots to complete the outfit. Her cloak draped over her shoulders. She mostly dressed in dresses but this was a nice change. Or at least she thought so. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun.

Raithmoore continued up the steps that led out of the catacombs, the ceiling opening up above him. Then he was in the antechamber, with the ground closing back up and hiding the secret underground section of his citadel home.

Darkness and shadows manipulated to her will and she appeared there. A slight change in her appearance. Raven tendrils pulled up into a messy bun. She wore a rather form fitting black lacy corset, a pair of form fitting hip hugging black leather pants, and to complete the outfit a pair of black leather knee high boots. While she was used to wearing dresses she decided a change would be good. However the cloak was draped over her shoulders like usual. That was the only thing she did not change.

"Good evening Madeline." He greeted as he started for the double doors that would take him up the stairs, and into the archives where he knew Darcel was. "How do you like your quarters?" Her's was different after all, she had the catacombs, much more suited for her kind and needs.

"Quite enjoyable thank you, darling." She said with that mad little grin of hers as she fell into stride beside him. Her steps still silent as death as she walked.

He found the section Anatar had told him about. The first book he felt particularly drawn to - he'd felt drawn to all of them, but this one spiked his curiosity - called Liches: A History. He figured it would help him learn a bit more about his teacher, seeing as he claimed to be some sort of king among them. The map he had out was quickly folded back into its original position and slid back underneath his jacket. He then flipped open the book a few pages, and began to read.

Kuchiki was seated in the corner of the library, upon the floor located against one of the tall structures containing shelves upon shelves of books. A couple books were curiously arranged in a pile next to her and one was opened in her lap while crimson optics stared intently at the page. She had taken to the Archives upon waking that morning as it was the only place she really knew how to reach. Waking in the Citadel was something else though, something different than what she was accustomed to.

The double doors were thrown wide open as he reached them, and he immediately started up the stairs. A few moments later he was walking down the hall that led to the archives and was throwing their doors open just a few minutes after that. He thought for a moment, over which of the two he'd go to, Kuchiki, or Darcel. He then aimed his steps toward Kuchiki.

"You promised to show me your... experiments," she told him with a firm nod to assist that. The things he had told her about intrigued her, but the hesitant pause was so that she might think of something else to call these things. But for lack of a better word, she used the one that she had easily taken offense to in their previous conversation.

"That I did. Are you interested in seeing them now?" He asked with an arched brow as he slowly put his feet under him, then lifted up from his seat to stand. "Darcel." He called off to the boy. "You can accompany us if you'd like."

The book he had attempted to read was shut and returned to its spot on the bookshelf. He'd make a point of getting back to it some time when the other two weren't around to eavesdrop on. Squeaky boots brought him over to the pair.

She nodded her head vigorously, eager to move for the door though she resisted the urge to rush forward and move ahead of the Raith. She had yet to learn her way around the large Citadel and she wouldn't want to run across something she didn't want to see. Or worse, something Anatar would like to keep hidden. She imagined that even though the man held an amiable demeanor with her for now that his temperament was not to be disturbed.

He nodded a greeting to Darcel. "Good evening Darcel." Then he turned and stepped ahead of Kuchiki, and started for the doors of the archives. "So which of my experiments would you like to see first? The floral one?"
He said nothing in return for the greeting, and he kept silent to allow Kuchiki her say in the matter.

"Yes, please." Such manners she actually had when she wanted something. Normally, she would be forward and direct with people she barely knew for lack of knowing how to properly behave with others.

He nodded as he continued toward the doors then out of them. "Then follow me, they're one floor up." He replied while he started down the hallway of perpetual twilight, headed toward the staircase.

He simply followed the two, letting Kuchiki walk in front of him.

So many hallways, you would think that the man would get tired of them eventually. "I hope you didn't come up with the structure for this building." She couldn't help her incoherent and unappreciative grumbling.

"I designed the lowest levels, and the top chambers. The rest were added on by other mages." He shrugged as he walked down the narrow passageway, lined with torches for light, and several stone doors on either side, it looked an awful lot like a prison or asylum.

Darcel didn't mind. For some reason, he felt used to long indoor treks. "How many levels are there again?"

"Twenty levels above ground, and six below."

"How many floors are there?" She seemed to repeat Darcel's question incredulously. She couldn't say she liked the building because if for some reason Anatar tried to slaughter her for some reason or another, she would never find her way out if she had to run. All of this magic stuff made her wonder if there weren't some spell he might learn just for the sake of somehow disabling her vectors. The possibilities weren?t too far off.

"A total of twenty six." He clarified as he turned down a branching hall that led into a much wider passage.

For some reason he felt disappointed in the number, that somehow it should've been bigger. But he swallowed the feeling, and walked behind the two in silence.

Twenty six seemed like an infinite number and had she not looked forward to the floral experiment thing she probably would have sunk to the ground and collapsed. Probably to insist on resting, not that they had walked very far. Just the thought of how many flights of stairs... It took the energy right out of her.

"Of course, the twenty six levels are all vast, there are areas that one can only access through a certain location, its very maze-like in structure." He shrugged once more as he stopped before a set if large iron doors. "Here we are."

"Do you carry around a master map?" A foolish question, but a curious one at that. She wondered how long it had taken Anatar himself to figure his way around.

He paused in turn. "How many experiments are behind those doors?" He let himself wonder aloud. A glance to Kuchiki. "I have a map that covers this place."

"Where's my map then?" For being so precarious about the Raith, she could really be pretty demanding.

"No, but the archives has a map of the general layout and floors." He nodded. "The more secret areas are of course, not marked, because that'd be no fun. There's plenty of experiments, behind all the doors. Not all are for your eyes yet."

Once their eyes adjusted they'd see the walls were lined with thick green and black vines. Leaves and buds of oddly colored flowers sprouted from the vines, some emitting faint pulsing lights from time to time. In the center of the wall opposite them, some good few hundred feet away, was a large red flower of sorts that pulsated and moved as if breathing.

Darkness and her went together like yin and yang. The room appeared bright as day to her. She moved to casually lean against a wall crossing her arms over that ample bust of hers. Eyeing the flower and smiling madly, "Beautiful." She breathed.

His eyes took the longest to adjust, he assumed, being the fragile human that he was. Iced azures took a long look at the flower when finally adjusted. "Is it... breathing?" He breathed.

"I thought you might like it." He said to Madeline before turning to Darcel and nodding. "Yes, it is breathing."

"How?" Kuchiki's query was soft and coated in enigmatic frosting as she gawked at the center piece of the room. The main attraction captivated her attention, she had never really seen anything of the sort.

"How did you manage that?" He ventured a few steps closer to the plant, but not close enough that it might reach out and grab him as he might suspect of mutant plants.

She smiled at their cautiousness. Pushing away from the wall to walk over towards the red flower. Pitless orbs closely studying it.

"In due time Darcel, you'll learn that, you as well Kuchiki, if you still wish to receive lessons." He walked along with Madeline toward the plant, vines came off the walls to hover around him, almost as if shielding him from the others.

She stopped right beside Raith and tilted her head to the side. Tempted to touch it but refraining from doing so, "What happens when it blooms?" She asked glancing at him then.

"Does it have any human characteristics such as skills or behavioral tendencies?" She turned towards Raith, enthralled by this floral plant. The object of her fascination managed to keep her gaze transfixed on it.

He was a little put off by "due time", seeing as he had considerably less time than Anatar the way things were going. But he'd be patient for now.

"I don't know what happens when it blooms Its my newest experiment." Then to answer Kuchiki. "Its developed a motherly sense of purpose toward me and Ishtar." He said with a small nod.

"Ishtar?"

"Hm...Well that would be something interesting to see. Quite a sight indeed." With that she moved to lean against the wall once more. Falling silent once more as she observed the other two.

"Ah, none of you have met Ishtar have you? Ishtar is my servant, she serves and helps me conduct my experiments, as well as deal in political, social, and business matters." Then to Madeline. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it."

"How long do you think it would be before we met her?" A brow quirked as she glanced over the room, half expecting someone to jump around the corner. Not that she was jumpy, just that she assumed servants were to always be around.

She only smiled and bowed her head slightly as she crossed her arms under her ample bust to cradle it.

"You'll meet her if you need to I suppose." He said with a shrug.

Darcel nodded softly, simply accepting the fact of Ishtar and noting that if he met a random female in his time here, then it probably would be her. "Do you always have her help with your experiments?"

"For the most part. She's been with me for some time now, and is very reliable."

"How do you come up with ideas for your experiments?" He wondered aloud, daring to take another step towards the plant.

She let out a small giggle at Darcel's cautiousness. Shaking her head slightly. Oh but he amused her. And she hadn't been amused in such a long time.

He shrugged slightly. "They just come to me."

Hanging out with creatures ten times more powerful than you tends to make a person a bit cautious. He didn't give any indication that he heard Anatar, and let his inquiry die down.

"Step closer, rest assured, she'll not harm you so long as you make no attempt to harm me."

"Ishtar or the plant?" She was confused as to whom he was referring to at the moment. Not too many people spoke of their plants that way. Then again, not too many people's plants were breathing.

"Both." He nodded slightly.

She let out that girlish giggle once more as she pushed herself away from the wall. Shaking her head a bit as she then began to explore the rest of the room. Seeing what there was to see. Amusing indeed.

He wouldn't mention that he felt he wouldn't survive attempting to harm Anatar without the plant there to be reinforcement. He took a few more steps, closing the distance between himself and the flower. "Is it a she? Or does it have the same reproductive system as other flowers?"

"Throughout the duration of the experiment, the plant has taken on characteristics of a mother, I call it a she, but its still just an it."

"Do you plan to continue experiments on this particular plant or shift similar tests to another one perhaps?" This plant thing fascinated her. However, if actual people were being tested upon then she would have felt entirely different on the subject.

Upon passing Darcel she caressed his face gently in a rather absent manner. One wouldn't want to be around when she started concentrating. Upon passing the girl she gave her a look that was quite indiscernible. She merely nodded her head at Raith as she continued her exploration of the room.

"This plant for now, depending on what happens; I may or may not move on to different breeds."

"Different breeds react differently?" This was something Kukichi had never really thought of to be honest.

"Yes. They're made up differently, thus react differently."

"Darcel. Remember what I told you about liches earlier?" He asked as he neared another testing chamber, and opened the large stone door.

She stopped then behind Raith before moving to stand beside him. Peering into the room then looking questioningly at him as to whether or not it would be alright for her to just waltz in.

"Yes." He paused behind the two.

"Let Darcel take the lead on this one Madeline." He said as he stepped away from the door, and motioned for Darcel to enter.

"Very well." She said as she stepped away as well putting her closer to Raith as she waited for Darcel to walk into the room.

That made him a bit hesitant, but he took a few steps and ventured into the room.

"Besides." He said as he turned to Madeline, her closeness allowing him to speak almost against her ear, his voice breathy, cold air spilling out over her neck. "The things I wish to show you, wait in the lower levels. I'm sure you'll find them much more interesting than this." As Darcel entered the room, he'd find it was well lit. In the center of it was what appeared to be a dead wizard, long dead at that, his corpse rotted and decayed, robes tattered and frayed. He stood there, in the center of the room in what looked like a summoning circle of some sorts. Off to the left, was a stone table, with an obsidian skull. That skull had a bright silver light glowing from the eye sockets, nose, and mouth.

She turned her head then. Either forcing him to move his head back or for his lips to grace her face. Her gaze flicked to the room before to Raith once more. Smiling that mad little grin of hers at him, "If you say so." Was all she said before gazing at the room once more.

He smirked, and hadn't yet pulled back. "I do." Then Raithmoore pulled away, and turned to watch Darcel, waiting to judge his reaction.

Her gaze ate in the entire room. A smirk forming on her lips as she moved slightly in front of Raith to casually lean her body in the door frame. She too waited for Darcel's reaction.

His eyelids went back a hair, and he took a few moments to stare at the lich - in wonder, in curiosity, in a meddly of emotions. He definitely hadn't expected there to be a lich in one of the rooms of this place. Most of what got him from this display was what it meant about Anatar's power. To be able to create a lich and contain it, but then again he'd been alive long enough to lose track of time. Darcel told himself that he shouldn't be so impressed with it, and his usual manner returned. He took a few moments to scan the room, noting where the skull was in relation to the lich. Were liches more powerful the closer they were to their soul's container? It seemed he'd forgotten the name. He knew he should've written it down.

Darcel swallowed, coming to the conclusion that if Anatar lost interest in him, he may very well end up like the lich, or worse. He just shrugged it off, though. If that was the price to pay, he'd pay it. He might not go down without a fight, but he wouldn't let it bother him if this ended up being his fate. "Hello?" He tried to communicate with the lich once again.

Raithmoore turned to the lich then, and spoke in an odd tongue, it was a flowing and smooth language that poured easily from his lips. The lich nodded, the sound was accompanied by cracks and pops, then it started murmuring to itself under its breath. "Give him the remainder of the night, and he'll be ready to chat once again."

She shook her head at Darcel then pushed herself away from the wall. Without a word she then casually leaned against Raith. While most of the time she stood up straight it was a nice change to just be casual every once in a while.

Darcel nodded, and turned back to join the other two, figuring that marked the end of their time with the lich.

He glanced down at Madeline, and smirked, before turning back to Darcel and the lich.

The door shut as Darcel left. "You are free to visit him whenever you like."

She stood up straight and once more stretched her arms above her head. Making such a human gesture seem graceful and slightly hypnotizing. She let her arms drop as she looked at Raith, "Is is my turn finally, darling?" She asked canting her head to the side a bit.

"I'll make sure to take advantage of that."

"First I must ask you something Madeline." He said after nodding to Darcel. "What is it you're so interested in, when it comes to death."

"Anything and everything. The many methods in which all manner of beings might die and what happens after one dies." She said as she looked from him to Darcel before her gaze returned to Raith once more.

"Ah, such an interesting subject...how very curious of you." Then he nodded and turned. "Come." Raithmoore bade her as he started back down the hallway that led to the staircase.

Darcel followed obediently.

Without a word she turned on her heel and followed him. Her cloak billowing out behind her as she walked.

He soon reached the staircase, and started back down them. After a few moments of walking he reached the bottom floor, and started back toward the antechamber. Once in there, he went toward the middle as he had the previous night with Madeline.

Some where along the way she had shrugged out of the cloak and draped it across a chair or table in passing. Assuming some one would be by to take it to her room. She did not stop to make sure if it stayed on the chair or table. She really did not care.

He murmured the command word once again, and the floor fell away to reveal a staircase that led down into a pitch black nothingness. Raithmoore started down this staircase silently.

Without a word she followed him. Silent as death as she kept close behind him. The darkness holding no sway over her as her eyes adjusted perfectly.

followed along silently, behind the both of them, nothing about the journey surprised him anymore.