((Played in IM))

A familiar noise - the rumble of Alain's Vincent Black Shadow - approaches the Forgotten Layers. Once he pulls up out front, he cuts the engine off, tossing his helmet carelessly over the handlebar. "Izi?" he calls as he hurries up to the door, and pushes it open.

The interior of the inn was something of a mess. Tables and chairs in chaos and some on their sides. The great silver cage had crash landed, it seemed, the door open and neither raven to be seen. The only one there was Silas. The orange tabby sat on the bar, his tail curled at his side as he watched Alain with deep green eyes. It would be silly to think that I cat was waiting for you, wouldn't it?

It wouldn't be the weirdest thing that's happened to him. He looks around the common room, and starts in the direction of her study, calling out again. "Izira?"

The feline hopped from the bar, going on ahead of the man. The study didn't look much better?in fact the desk had gone over on the side... the books Alain had given her on the floor beneath it. The translation sat near the music box he had given. The feline wandered that way, perching amongst the scattered items and meowed at Alain. Nothing was heard from Izira.

"Izi?" He picks up the music box carefully, examining it... and then the translation. He looks left and right... and reads it.

Would he skim or truly read? The book covered the history of the people, their beliefs, and major celebrations throughout the seasons, rituals for courtship, marriage and death. And, of course, the binding?that which would spare the gift from causing madness in its vessel. There was also a goodly chapter on the dangers of half-breeds who could not control their power.

He skims the boring stuff... but whenever something looks interesting, he reads it in detail. He looks at the cat... but figures, Hey, it's just a cat, and sets the translation back down as if he'd never picked it up in the first place. And he resumes his search, moving on to the bedroom and the bathroom, in turn.

Her bedroom was dark wood and deep cool colors. A bed large enough for four, draped off for privacy - though everything in the room looked a little mussed it hadn't suffered the fate of the rest of the inn. The bathroom, her sanctuary was empty - though moisture clung to the walls and mirrors. The cat appeared again. A low meow called to Alain. Another if he did not turn to him. Once gaining his attention the cat moved back into the study... walking along until it sat before a door that led out to the back gardens.

Too much stress over the last few days. He lights a cigarette while he looks around, and then... blinks at the cat. It meows again, and so he follows it. Is it... waiting by the door? No, maybe it just wants to go out... or it wants him to go out? "I've done stupider things..." he mutters, and opens the door to let the cat out, and steps out himself, looking around.

The cat slipped outside, then vanishing in some direction near the Inn. Now, Izira could be spotted. Or it could be assumed it was her. The woman sat with her back to the door, on a stone bench in a little clearing. The two ravens sat in a nearby tree looking down at her. She wore a white dress, the fabric crisscrossing in front to make a v-line neck. A black belt cinched her narrow waist. The materials were light, better for a spring day. She sat with a black rabbit in her lap, a small orange mark upon its forehead. Hair was down, framing her face. Clean, but still covered all over in small healing scratches.

He draws closer slowly... and pauses, maybe several feet away from her. "...Izira... what happened?"

Her eyes were far away, she didn't think to wonder why Alain was there, merely answered the question he gave, "Don't know. Badness." Her lips twitched, almost a smile but not quite. "Hope and Light are mad, Pascal doesn't understand. I'm glad they're alive, though. So long as they?re alive." She turned towards him, "Alain, would you kill me?" It was said in an easy manner, as though she was asking him to please get her down a mug.

He looks at her a long moment. It's as if she's shoved him back several feet, though he barely rocks back a fraction of an inch, if at all. "...Don't ask that of me again," he says simply, coolly. He is silent a while longer... and then he moves to kneel beside her. "There's a way you can... make this better?"

"No." She shook her head, "No, no. No." Still shaking it, she closed her eyes. "I'm dangerous. I only bring death. I've tried to be good, but I can't. My nature is wrong. I'm wrong. I'm death." Her voice was emotional but clear, her words declared an understanding she had come to long ago.

"...You can mitigate it. You know this... don't you?" He certainly knows about being death... His hand moves to her shoulder.

Her eyes snapped to him, almost accusing, "What do you know?"

His eyes fall from hers, fingers sliding away from her shoulder. "That you can share it."

She muttered a curse in another language. Standing up with the rabbit in hand, "How - no never mind. It was Silas. You needn't tell me. I should have burned the books."

He taps the cigarette, holding it between his fingers. Straightening. "You can find someone to share it with - to make it better." Frowning. "Why don't you?"

"I have a limited supply of people I can trust." A glance at him, you can imagine why - going through my books and all - her expression seemed to say.

He grimaces. "...I didn't mean to pry. I just..." Smoky sigh. "Want to help."

?Then what do you suggest Detective? As you don't seem to care to the solution I have arrived at."

"Find someone to share it with. I'd offer myself, but I've no familiarity with magic - and four souls in one body leaves me a little too crowded for it."

A soft sad smile, she didn't reply - there was only defeat in her eyes. She turned a little away from him, "After the... events of my childhood... I was alone. I ran and traveled where I could. A girl child alone, I shouldn't have to tell you the details. Sad to say I got used to it, being used. But you don't have any care for me in those regards. It scares me and I don't know what do about it." Another shake of her head, she inhaled... exhaled slowly. "I would not do it with anyone else. I do not know or trust anyone else enough, Alain. And you cannot. It's been three days since I consciously knew what I was doing... it's not going to get better from here." She spoke as a woman who already accepted her fate.

"I'd do it if I weren't so sure it would unravel me... and put you back at square one, or worse." Pausing again; frowning. "What does the sharing do?"

"Splits the power, makes it manageable. Keeps it from being able to take over, weakens it." Izira moved over to a little patch of clovers, setting the rabbit amongst them. Flowers bloomed year round at Layers. There was a muted half smile. "Wouldn't exactly know, haven't done it. Never seen it done. And the people who have are more likely to kill me than tell me."

"...I may be the only one you trust..." Watching the bunny quietly. Hands in his pockets. "...but there are more people that I trust. And maybe some of them would share this with you - and maybe you could trust them, too." Cigarette bobbing between his lips as he speaks. "I'm sorry, Izira - I shouldn't have snooped."

A glance back at him, "Alain, it is hard enough to bring myself to trust you. I just cannot stretch myself that far." A glance back at him, and here was Izira beneath everything... the woman with the broken heart, the girl passed around for fun, a momentary slave until fire bought her freedom, orphaned child... someone who just wanted something safe and always got hurt in the end. Another weak smile. "I'm sorry for failing you." You and everyone, she turned her eyes away again as they slowly started to fill.

He spits the cigarette out, crushing it under his heel. He takes a step forward, hand going to her shoulder, to maybe turn her into his chest. "Izira..."

Izira did not resist Alain turning her into his chest, though her eyes were cast downwards and away from him. Though she could not find her voice to respond and so remained silent with her internal struggle.

He holds her. It's all he can do. He saw the tears brimming in her eyes, and so if she needs to cry, he'll let her.

The weakness in her lingered for a few moments. She wanted to be held, to cry, to be comforted and safe. But that really wasn't an option here at this time. Collecting herself, she gently eased away from him. And with that step away, her walls were up again. Izira looked to him, amber eyes reddened but dry. She cleared her throat and attempted to speak to him casually. "I'm sorry Alain... was there a reason you came here?"

He too takes a step back, his frown subtle, gentle, until she speaks, and it deepens. "Because you sent a letter to me, Izira. Asking for my help." But you can't save her, can you? How many women have crumpled and died in front of you... He pushes that nasty little voice aside - steels himself as best he can.

A bit of surprise registers to her expression, mixed with confusion. She looked to the side, since it was hard to keep up a strong appearance when you're wondering if you've already gone crazy again. Softly, "I'm sorry... I can't remember..."

He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out several small papers, shuffling through them for a moment. A pair of surveillance photos, a contract... her letter. He hands it over to her. "I came as quickly as I could."

Taking the offered item delicately, she looked it over... seeing her own hand writing. Trying to remember when she would have scrawled it out, but there was nothing but darkness in her memory for the last few days. The last thing she did recall was sitting at her desk, speaking to Silas. Her heart sank, as she thought it might already be too late for her. Izira offered the paper back to him. "I... appreciate your... caring." Not sure what else to say, he had come at her behest it seemed and here she was pulling away from the help he offered out of fear.

You couldn't save Leslie. He watches her eyes, her face, carefully, while she considers the letter. And she wasn't in love with you... and Chastity and Tulip, they died because they love you. He takes the letter back, replaces it in his pocket. Isn't this woman in love with you, too? You've said your piece, Kael. Now be silent. "Please, Izira... don't give up. I'll look into this - I'll figure something out... and if there is no other option..." He pauses. "I'll share the burden."

Hope kindled, but she covered it quickly. Turning to look at him again, her eyes were questioning. Wondering what game he played at, for surely it must be a game now. "You said it would unravel you." Izira recalled the Wizard man, master of her for a time before the fire came and took all he had created as well as him. His mind games like chess?there was never a move that didn't land her in a trap. Her heart leapt at the imagined hand reaching out for her again. No, no... this was someone different. Alain was different, she told herself.

"Maybe... if I can steel myself... find a way to be strong..." He watches her closely. "I don't know what subtleties you've noticed - that my eyes are too bright to be human... or my canines, just a shade too long... There are burdens I carry, bound to me, burdens I did not ask for. And I need to consider one more would unravel me - but I should also consider, all this may have been preparing me, to take on a burden I do ask for. And actually help someone by doing it."

Izira listened to his words, taking them in fully as they weighed heavy on her mind and heart. "It was cruel of Silas to show you. It was never my intention to ask you, Alain. But... if you would do that for me then I will accept the sacrifice you make. And I... will be willing to wait to know your choice before... " She stopped mid-sentence, not wanting to continue - not wishing to burden him with what she would do. A swallow. "I do not know how much of a burden it would be to you. I only know that the power is greatly lessened through a bond. It should not trouble..." us? "...two as it troubles me."

"Does the fire - the power - does it speak to you?" What - you don't like our company?

It seemed her tongue went dry, but she found her voice. "No, it doesn't speak to me. But the power is more than I can withstand... I cannot always control it. Anger is dangerous for one such as me." Did she need to tell him of everyone she'd killed or hurt whether intentional or not? Part of her knew she was a monster, the thing the man that was forced to play father to her saw every time his eyes settled upon her. "And... I fear that when it has hold of me I am not always myself." Eyes flickered away and back to him. "But that is an unnatural state for those bonded?it is something the not bonded suffer."

"Unnatural... or impossible? There are a lot of people in this world who anger me on some level - and a number who actively seek my ire."

"Depending on the element, there might be a trace of the power in their heated emotions... seen in the eyes. But they don't... burst into flames and destroy everything within a thirty feet radius. Or burn down homes without active thought and effort to do so..." As I have... destroyed again and again.

He pauses, gently worrying his lower lip. "...There's an additional burden. One that will go away, hopefully in several months... but understand I can't speak of it." He rubs at the back of his neck, slowly. "Several months may be too long for you, so the first thing I'm going to look into is people that... because I trust them, maybe you can find you can trust them. Someone with magical experience already, but without any of the... complications that seem to plague me."

"If that is what you wish." But the idea seemed to put steel in her eyes, as those with magical experience in her past always brought out the worst in her.

He sees the change, subtle as it is. "Talk to me. What's your opinion on it?"

"Honestly? I'm not comfortable with the idea, Alain. As I said, I wasn't even going to ask you... but now you know. You know a lot more about me than anyone does... and sometimes... I almost see a reflection of my experiences in you. It pulls me to trust you, but someone else?" There was almost a visible shudder at the thought of making herself vulnerable to someone, a magical someone again.

He rubs at the back of his neck. "Maybe... maybe I can do it, once that temporary... burden, is gone..." He looks her in the eye. "If we do that now, as it is, and the two of us are openly bonded... I can't explain why... but I'd end up dead or worse, and you'd be in great danger of a similar fate. You're in enough danger as it is - I can't drag you into even more of it."

She couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head. "The danger I put myself in could hardly be comparable. I woke up naked in a clearing in the woods- the clearing being the remains of a fire. I don't even remember leaving the inn!" She ran a hand through her hair, pulling it from her face where the breeze blew it. Quiet a moment as she thought, "You said that if there was a bond that could be seen it would put you in danger... what if the bond was hidden?"

"Believe me, the danger is greater." And then he falls silent. He worries his lip... and shakes his head, slowly. "I'm going to have to think... very hard, about this. If it's not done correctly, it could kill me, kill you, and put a lot more people in jeopardy. It would have to be hidden very well, from very skilled eyes."

"Within the mind? Or within an object?" Izira seemed to forget herself, functioning in her mind as she often did when tending to business. Someone had a problem, if she could conceive of an answer and help- she would.

He pauses. "It could be separated from my mind?"

She paused, somehow stuck that he didn't know that. But then again, it perhaps wasn't that common of an occurrence. Nodding her head, "Yes, yes of course. I worked one once, for these twins. They feared that someone would hurt the other if it was widely known that they were... within each other's mind. It was placed into the bracelet that either of them wore, like a shield? Someone would have to know what they were looking for and where to find it... even then it would not be the easiest of tasks to understand it. Mazed it." Her mood brightening. True she might be an elemental?s get but she was proud of what magic she had been able to learn over the years.

Again, thoughtful silence. "Why don't you take a week to do some research, figure out what all this would likely do to me, how we might get it done... and I'll mull the whole thing over."

A nod, "I will do as you ask." A gentle smile, her emotions lingered somewhere between hopefulness and being wary.

Yeah, Cassie's not going to like this... but she'll put up with it, probably. He drifts a few slow steps away, to see whether he can just let himself out, or if she'll walk him to the door.

"You can go through the gardens if you would like. I know fresh air helps my decisions at times." Moving to collect the black rabbit up again and leaving the birds perching in their trees.

He nods. Maybe she'd rather he not go back through her room again, since he did snoop. Well, he's a detective - it's what he does. "Thanks. Send me a letter once you think you've done all the research you can." Pausing to watch her, the wall coming up behind his eyes. "...Take care."

"You as well, Alain." Izira left him to make the walk alone, carrying the rabbit back inside the inn.