Topic: The Feeding

Dark Mass

Date: 2007-10-22 01:08 EST
The Dark Mass moved silently through the darkened streets of Rhy?din.

It craved the energy of this place.
It had found a new killing field.
It had been taken from its previous place.
It knew not why.
It did not care.
It liked this place.

So many sources of lifeforce to draw on?.to absorb.

It moved down a side alley.
It found a person in the alley.
It took the person?s lifeforce.
It killed the person easily.
It disposed of the shell.
It moved on.

Too easy?no resistance?must find more suitable prey.

It felt a sound.
It felt the vibration.
It felt the footsteps.
It saw the two people.
It saw the one carrying the other in its arms.
It saw the embrace, the affection.
It trembled with excitement.

So much emotion there? So much potential.

It moved closer.
It saw the man.
It dismissed the man as worthless.
It saw the aura of magic.
It saw the aura around the one being carried.
It saw the aura around the woman.
It liked the aura of magic.
It absorbed magic.
It wanted the woman?s magic.
It wanted the woman?s lifeforce.


Much better! Lots of emotion there! She would be absorbed!

It moved silently.
It approached from behind.
It moved in close.
It saw the two vanish.
It reached the door.
It could not open doors.
It hissed in frustration.

Thwarted! But they could not stay in forever.

It would bide it?s time.
It would wait for the woman to emerge
It would take the woman..
It would then feed on her magic.
It would feed on her lifeforce.
It would be filled.
It would discard the empty shell of the woman.
It would then find new prey.
It waited all night.

The sun began to rise as the morning began anew.

It hissed with pain!
It hated the light.
It needed the dark to survive.
It knew not that this place had a bright time, unlike his dark world.
It fled!
It would return when the darkness returned.
It would not be thwarted again!
It would have the woman?s energy.
It would have the woman?s lifeforce.
It would have its meal.


The black mass vanished into the shadows and disappeared as the sun rose higher.
Something new was now in Rhy?Din, and it was hungry.

Phillipe Gaston

Date: 2007-10-22 01:36 EST
Phillipe carried AJ up the stairs and into their apartment. She was still kissing his neck and laughing softly. He chuckled and carried her into the bedroom, setting her down and sliding in next to her. They kissed and caressed each other for several minutes, until finally AJ pushed him back. ?What?? he asked. She responded by grabbing his shirt and pulling it open, exposing his bare chest. He grinned. ?All you had to do was ask.? She shook her head, placing a finger to his lips. He smiled and bent down to kiss her.
That was when he smelled it. He sat up. It was a faint acrid smell, like charred sugar. It stung his nose. He turned to Aj and asked, ?Do you smell anything??
He was answered by a playful slap to his mouth and fingers reaching up to pull him down again. He bent and kissed her again. She pushed him over and rolled to his side, leaning over to place delicate kisses on the bare skin of his chest. He stroked her hair and lay back, enjoying the sensation.
Suddenly the kisses stopped. He looked down at her. She was starring off at the wall, concentrating. ?I smell it.? She said softly.
?What is it?? he asked. She shrugged, ?I suppose we should go check the kitchen.?
They checked the entire apartment, with nothing found to account for the strange smell.
Phillipe shrugged. ?It could be coming from outside, although the windows are closed. Or maybe old man Tennibrus may have been burning something.? He looked at her. Her hair was still touseled from their time in the bedroom and he couldn?t help but smile at her.
?What?? she said, then saw the look in his eyes and grinned. He reached for her, but she spun away and ran into the bedroom laughing. He followed her, shutting the door behind him.

Dark Mass

Date: 2007-10-23 00:22 EST
The darkness had returned. The Black Mass moved through the streets once more.

It was hungry.
It wanted to feed.
It needed more energy.
It needed that woman.
It had focused on Her.
It would survive on others.
It would take Her as its prize for survival.

She would be the reward. She would be?satisfying.

It moved on through the streets.
It heard noises up ahead.
It sensed the crowd in the inn.
It sensed lots of energy!
It saw the light inside.
It knew it could not enter.
It waited.

A woman in a sunflower yellow gown, emerging. Not Her, but still suitable prey.

It followed the woman.
It approached from behind.
It sensed when she saw it.
It saw the woman flee.
It pursued.

Hunting the woman. Enjoying the chase.

It caught up with her.
It sensed her turn and prepare to do battle.
It sensed the magic leave the woman.
It sensed the magic touch it.
It absorbed the magic.
It tasted the magic.
It loved the magic.
It caught the woman.
It enveloped her.
It sensed her intake of breath to scream.
It forced it?s way into her.
It filled her throat and lungs with itself.
It choked off her air.

She was in its clutches. She was now it?s prey. She was now food.

It lifted her high from the ground.
It held her tightly.
It siphoned off her magic.
It absorbed every spell and incantation.
It reveled in the magic as the woman fought in vain.
It began taking her lifeforce, draining it quickly.
It sucked in her life and ate hungrily.
It tasted her essence and consumed her.

Her eyes turned black. She was drained. Her head flopped. She was dead.

It dropped the shell.
It watched as the husk fell.
It saw the shell smash against the pavement below.
It felt better.
It had fed well.

She had been better, but not satisfying. She had not been Her.

It could now hunt for Her again.
It moved to the marketplace.

The Black Mass waited for the woman with the aura of magic. She would be its reward.

It felt a sound.
It felt vibration.
It felt the footsteps.
It saw the two people.
It saw Her.
It saw Her running from the man.
It saw that they were laughing.
It saw that she was not paying attention.
It quickly moved in front of the woman.
It took Her.
It caught Her as she ran into it.
It lifted Her quickly and wrapped itself about Her.
It felt Her struggles and bound Her tightly.
It forced itself into her.
It filled Her lungs and cut off Her air.
It felt Her gather Herself.
It felt Her magic burst forth from Her.

So much! Lots of Magic! Emotion filled Magic!

It siphoned away at Her fountain of Magic.
It gloried in the massive supply.
It sucked at Her lifeforce as well.
It ate ravenously.
It fed without ceasing.
It was filling with Her essence.

So much Magic! So much Life! - Suddenly too much?

It couldn?t draw anymore!
It couldn?t hold it all!
It was too full from the other woman.
Its hold was faltering.
It was losing its grip on Her!

The woman drew her hands together, and from them burst a ball of fire.

It was Pain!
It was Bright!
It was Torture!
It was Light!
It dropped Her and fled.
It disappeared into the shadows and was gone.

Phillipe Gaston

Date: 2007-10-23 01:04 EST
Phillipe saw the attack as it occured.
"NO!"
He screamed as Aj was surrounded by a dark massive swirl that enveloped her and lifted her from the ground. He ran to reach for her, but they were now far above his reach. He saw Aj's face appearing and disappearing in the dark mass, revolving in and out of sight, and he saw the look of terror and fear in her eyes. The dark wispy material seemed to cover her mouth and nose and she appeared to be choking.
"AJ!"
His screams of her name continued to rent the air as he reached for her, but she continued to rotate out of his reach in the blackness that had taken her.
Suddenly they stopped turning and the blackness became nearly transparent. Phillipe saw Aj struggling weakly, but she was near to unconciousness. "FIGHT IT AJ! FIGHT IT NOW!" he screamed.
He saw her hands come together feebly. Then a burst of fire appeared from them and she dropped from the sky.
Phillipe tried to catch her, but she more or less fell onto him and he struggled to cushion her impact as they both went to the ground. "AJ!" he screamed. He cradled her and pulled her face up to look into her eyes. They were black. Jet black. No pupil. No iris. No white. Just black. Her mouth hung open and she was not responding. "Oh god oh god of god..." He sobbed and pulled her to him. "No...please.....!" He rocked back and forth. Then he heard a weak cough and looked back to her quickly.
Aj blinked several times, coughing and gasping hoarsely. Each time she blinked, more color began to return to her eyes until after thirty seconds or so, they seemed almost back to normal. "Oh god, Aj! Are you okay?" he whispered, hardly daring to breath. She coughed again, then nodded weakly, her eyes beginning to tear. And now Phillipe suddenly became aware of the smell. Like scorched or burnt sugar. An acrid smell, like smoke from a pan of burned syrup. And then he remembered it from last night. "Oh saints...that thing was near the apartment last night Aj!" He seemed terrified. "I think it's been after you! We've got to get you out of here! But where can we go?" He seemed lost. Her soft hand came up and weakly touched his face and he looked into her tear stained face. "The Inn" she spoke, and her voice sounded centuries old, her throat burning and sore from the invasion of the entity. "Take me to the Inn.....We ...stay there." Her hand fell limply as she lapsed into unconciousness. Phillipe whimpered. "Hang on Baby. I'll get you there."
Climbing carefully to his feet with Aj in his arms, Phillipe moved quickly back towards the Red Dragon Inn.

Adrianna

Date: 2007-10-23 05:39 EST
It was like being emerged into water
So calm and so serene
She sunk deeper into the abyss
Phillipe's voice fading

The light was dimming

Falling away from the surface
She fought to come back up
Eyes opening fully
She was still fighting it

She began to sink once more
Heard him cry out to her
She was brought back a second time
How much longer could she fight?


Upon reaching the inn Phillipe pushed the doors open with Aj in his arms half conscious. "Someone help me! Please!" He begged to the patrons inside before a man came to help him carry her to a couch and laid her down.

The man nodded to Phillipe and patted his shoulder before walking away, walking outside. He knew how close to death she was, he sensed it. He fled.

"Aj... please..." Phillipe begged to her, stroking her cheek with his fingertips. No one else in the inn seemed to notice. "Don't go... don't leave me." Tears welled in his eyes as she kept fading into the darkness... the abyss.

Her eyes closed and her body fell limp once more, but only for a few moments as she jolted awake. She was still fighting to stay there. "It... drained so much..." She noted, coughing madly. Talking seemed to keep her awake. She was avoiding sleep and needed to talk. "It was feeding on me. I could... I could... sm-" She was cut off by a coughing fit, still trying to get that feeling out of her lungs. Phillipe's eyes were still full of worry, and fear. "I could smell it.." She noted.

"I did too... Now come on. I'm taking you to the room where you can relax." He whispered to her before picking her up once more. Another patron was kind enough to fetch Phillipe a key. He thanked him before carrying her up the stairs and to the room where he would walk in and place her on the bed.

Grabbing a chair he pulled up beside her and sat. He wasn't going to fall asleep that night. Neither was she...

Phillipe Gaston

Date: 2007-10-23 19:43 EST
Phillipe stayed up all night with AJ. He tried keeping her awake, but he was torn by it, knowing that she needed rest, and reluctantly allowed her to sleep. Even then, her sleep was broken by periods of extreme coughing, where Phillipe held her gently until she quieted. It wasn?t until near morning before she finally seemed to settle down enough to get some real rest.
But Phillipe was wide awake. That?.thing, had attacked AJ! She had nearly died! He looked at her again and decided right then that he needed to fetch a doctor and have her looked over. He leaned in and whispered to her, ?I?ll be right back AJ, I?m going to go get a doctor.? She came awake with amazing suddenness and cried out. ?No! Don?t go out there!? He hushed her softly. ?It?s okay. It?s daylight outside now. I don?t think that it can come out in daylight.?
?How do you know?? she asked, near panic.
?I don?t, but I have a hunch?Besides, the streets are busy now. I?ll just stay with the crowds.?
Aj didn?t want him to go, but he insisted on getting her a doctor. ?If Savannah is still staying here, I?ll try to find her and send her in to stay with you, alright??
She reluctantly agreed, and Phillipe kissed her before walking from the room.

Soerl Lute

Date: 2007-10-24 03:08 EST
That afternoon he had stumbled into the Inn. Absorbed in his thoughts for the most part, actually. AJ had come from the rooms above, looking rather bad. He was fairly concerned. It turned out there was a good reason for that.

AJ and Phillipe had both informed he and Van of what had taken place the previous evening. Everyone was affected in their own way. From what he could tell, AJ was reluctant to involve anyone else, Phillipe just wanted AJ safe, and Van was concerned for them as well as the minstrel.

He offered to help. He'd grown rather fond of all of them, Savannah in a much different way, and saw no reason for him not put his skills to use. They all had continued to talk at the tea shop, then to the Inn. Van and he had talked for awhile, among other things. When she went to bed, he spoke with Phillipe briefly.

When he exited the Inn, he immediately made his way onto the roof. The moon was approaching its full phase, but wasn't quite there yet. It would work for his purposes. He could shift as he pleased now, but the moon would give him just a touch more power. One could never tell exactly what would tip the scale between life and death in a situation. Claws were visible on his hands and his canines had grown a good bit. His emerald eyes glowed brightly. He felt...awakened in this form.

A toothy grin, then he was off. He was normally very fast. This was much faster, leaping gaps between buildings with little effort and plenty of landing space. His nose was his main tracking tool. Sniffing at the air every now and then would lead him in another direction. He tried not to stray very far from the Inn. He had promised Van. The smell didn't come to him at all. Glowing emeralds would peer in a direction at the sign of movement, but it would end up being an animal or a drunk.

His movements were predatory, stalking about as he sought the creature that had caused so much harm and distress. Any object examined from afar, more interesting ones searched from the ground. The scent was not there.

A few hours had passed. He didn't think anything would happen at this point. He would remain out until daybreak, ever vigilant in his watch.

Adrianna

Date: 2007-10-24 05:43 EST
Aj laid there for quite some time before she could even think about drifting off to sleep. Her body felt drained... not as drained as when she started slipping into that vast darkness everyone likes to know as drained. But she was low on energy.

Phillipe was asleep already, his arms wrapped around her protectivly almost. He felt warm against her. He soothed her, calmed her, and gave her the reason to fall asleep.

The dreams however, were more or less replays of what happened. The darkness, the fire, the abyss. It all came into play as Aj had, for the first time in a long time, a horrible nightmare. She writhed a little in her sleep, but for the most part stayed in her quiet slumber.

A few hours later she woke up. The sun... was she ever so happy to see the sun rise and pour light into her window? Never. She was never that happy. Phillipe still had his arms around her protectivly, only this time he was awake. "You had bad dreams Aj.. I could tell." Was noted to her from him. She nodded and embraced him, sniffling a little. He just ran his fingers through her hair. He kissed her forhead. "I'll protect you Aj... I'll protect you." Was what he whispered to her as she fell back asleep, the next time she would wake up...

It would be late morning. Phillipe... was still there holding her.

Black Velvet

Date: 2007-10-24 19:01 EST
After a very busy day at the office, she was glad to be on her way home. She even took off her slingbacks and carried them in her fingers as she made her way through the market. Spotting the little tea shop, she decides to stop in and investigate. The shoes go back on and into the store she went.

Seeing her friends there was a very pleasant suprise. Soerl leaning against the wall made her smile with a soft blush. AJ and Phillipe were sitting at the table and if Savannah had the ability to sense anything was wrong, she wouldn't have been smiling and nearly laughing at them. After a quick kiss from Soerl, she found that she wasn't wanting to smile much anymore.

Finding out that her best friend in the realm was attacked made Savannah feel even more vulnerable. Soerl had promised to protect her, but she never thought that he'd actually have to.

They spent the better part of the night talking about what to do and how to do it. A long discussion on whether to share Savannah's room at the Inn or get adjoining rooms was decided when Savannah let slip a very personal tidbit.

She and Soerl settled onto the couch, sipping water and snuggling for some very nice intimate time. She was worried sick about him and he finally relented and said he'd try to get some rest. But on the way to the room, Phillipe showed back up and looked very worse for the wear.

With a soft kiss goodnight, she pushed Soerl away and told him to be with Phillipe. Then she disappeared into the room for the night. But sleep, it did not come to her. She tossed and turned all night, waiting for the door to creak open and to hear him settling into the empty bed across the room. But no sound came from the door, no footsteps on the floor.

When she did finally sleep, she fell into one night mare after the other. So when the sun came up, she got up as well. Getting ready for work, Savannah leaned on the sink in her own bathroom and sighed heavily. It was going to be a long day.

Dark Mass

Date: 2007-10-25 01:33 EST
Brooding deep underground, the Black Mass pulsed gently, slowly healing itself.

It had taken Her.
It had almost finished Her.
It was going to empty Her shell.
It had been wrong.

Hissing filled the chamber. The Dark Mass was fully healed.

It had heard Her name called, the one called AYEJAYE.
It had underestimated Her.
It had never tried to absorb so much before.
It had never before reached its limit.
It had allowed her a chance to fight back.
It had been injured.
It had been afraid for the first time.
It was angry now.

AYEJAYE will pay for what she has done. AYEJAYE will be sorry.

It moved slowly through the dark cave.
It had found the cave after fleeing the city.
It had claimed the cave.
It now called the cave home.
It had found a small pool in the cave.
It touched the still water of the pool.
It watched as the water became like stone.
It watched as the water became black.
It touched the solid water.
It saw the water become normal again.

This will do.... This will hold... AYEJAYE will be sorry....

It left the cave.
It entered the city.
It began to search.
It would find a man.
It would find the man.

The contact had allowed some memories to be seen. Remembering...

It would find the one she loved, called Mouse.

Phillipe Gaston

Date: 2007-10-25 23:06 EST
Phillipe folded he fabric in half, tucking the ends in securely. He picked up the bolt of material and, walking to the rear of the shop, placed it back with the dozens of others.
?If that?s all you need today, I?ll be heading out Mr. Tennibrus.?
?Da? the frail old man replied. ?Yu geet goink! Go take care uf dat lady ?o yors.?
?Thanks.? Phillipe replied. ?I will. Have a good night sir, and stay inside tonight like I said!?
?I vill!?
He slipped out the door and began moving towards the Inn. He glanced at the sun. It was low, but he still had time. He was glad Mr. Tennibrus had been so nice about he and Aj not staying in the apartment. At least it was only until the current crisis was over. He wondered when that would be.
Thinking about the apartment got him thinking about Aj, which always made him smile. Since they had gotten back together, he was happier than ever. He just hoped that this new problem didn?t take too much out of her. He hated it when she got all moody and depressed. She had been getting better lately too. Not at all like when she used to think about Antonio?.
He froze.
Aj?s picture of Antonio was still in the apartment! And his silver frame! He had to go get it! He looked at the sun again. If he ran, he could get it from the apartment and get back to the Inn before dark, but he?d better hurry. He spun around and bolted.
When he reached the apartment, he quickly unlocked the door and took the stairs two at a time. Moving to the corner, he slipped the framed photo down from the wall and smiled at it. He had to admit, he liked this picture of Aj, even though she was standing with someone else and not him.
Suddenly Phillipe froze. He stood frozen in fear as the distinct scent of burning sweetness began to fill the room. Turning slowly, he watched in horror as the strange, inky looking fog moved into the room from the bedroom. From his vantage point, he could see the point of entry the creature had used. The bedroom window was open just an inch or so, but it been enough for it to get in the night before, and it had waited all day in the dark of the bedroom for somebody to return.
Phillipe stood motionless, facing the strange presence. It floated above the floor, rising and falling slightly, almost as if breathing. His mind raced. This was the thing that had attacked Aj?.
Slowly, ever so slowly?. he moved towards the stairs. The fog-like being moved with him. He stopped. It stopped. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
Suddenly he bolted. In a blind panic he flew to the stairs and leaped down, three steps at a time. He felt the creature closing in on him from behind and, scrambling to hurry, he stumbled.
His mind switched over to slow motion as he fell, turning in mid-air to see the horrid blackness descending on him like a cloud. His mouth opened to scream, and the black filth rushed in. At the same moment, his body hit the ground at the base of the stairs with a dull thwack, and Phillipe felt his right leg snap above the knee.
He would have screamed in pain, had he been able to breathe. But the black fog was encircling him, and he could not get any air.
He tried to struggle, but felt the creature tightening around him, drawing his arms against his sides. And then he was lifted back up into the apartment?.
Phillipe was become dizzy, the suffocating lack of air having it?s effect on him as he began to lose consciousness. He was falling into a peace?falling?falling?



Later in the night, a dark shape left the apartment and flew away over the city. The apartment was left empty, its door smashed open, but nothing out of place inside except a silver picture frame. The frame, having held together for so many years, had finally succumbed during the battle on the stairs. Broken apart in two of its corners, the glass had fallen out and was shattered, the photo now torn across one corner.

Adrianna

Date: 2007-10-26 05:16 EST
She was just getting to the apartment darkness was filling the city. Her feet carried her quickly home with bags in her arms. She went to open the door when she realized that it was smashed open... strange as can be. This simple factor filled her mind with fear, and panic.

Racing into the front room she wouldn't even begin to call his name... She needed to focus, and for that reason, she ignored the situation for the moment. This could mean her life... Phillipe, Soso, and Van's lives as well.

Opening the first bag she pulled out a thick spell book and after pushing several items off of the coffee table she set the book down. Clapping her hands together, the book opened and the pages began to flutter to the side, flipping through the pages until landing on one spell in the back of the book.

Secondly she opened up the second bag and pulled out four necklaces. All of them had a diamond pendent. These were the key ingrediants to the spell... these would the be necklaces to hopefully keep them out of harms way...

She laid them down on the table before reading the spell over once. There was no chanting for this... pure meditation was what was needed. So, she closed her eyes and flexed her hands a little. In the palms of her hands a small white light began to glow.

The elderly woman who owned the magic shop she went to had given her the necklaces and book after Aj described what was happening. "Take no chances..." She told Aj. "You need protection... this spell will help. Pure light... the purest light held near your hearts at all time is your only hope until you figure out how to beat this thing." Aj simply stared at her like she was mad, but the woman simply smiled at her. "Take the book and use the spell in the back... it's marked. Use the necklaces... they will help you my dear. Put the necklaces on you and your friends... if the darkness comes near them, the light will protect them." A pause before Aj greedily grabbed the items. "Merci!!" She called to her before running out of the shop and back home...

So here she was... trying to listen to what the spellbook had said. The calmness of the meditation washed over her. Senses were hightened, her energy was building... it was time.

Her eyes opened, and they glowed the purest white color you could ever imagine. It made the bride dressed in white shamed of that color compared to her gown. No iris, no pupil, just light.

She waved her hand once and the necklaces lifted from the table. "Concentrate..." She thought before reaching out to touch the first necklace.

Some of that pure energy was ripped from her quickly and sharply... and it made her head spin a little. "Easy.." She thought before that necklace began to glow and then lay back on the table.

She did the same to the other three necklaces, putting some of that pure energy into the diamonds. When she was finished she felt light headed and closed her eyes a moment, and then opened them once more. The light was gone. Only dark almond eyes gazed into the apartment.

Those four necklaces glowed in the faint light. Her eyes studied them closely. "This might actually work..." She thought. The necklace was good for three encounters before she needed to 'recharge' them. Three times, and three times alone.

Picking up the necklaces she put all four on. When she saw the others she would hand them out accordingly, but for now. No use in losing them.

As she gazed around once more she saw the picture and the silver frame. "Oh no..." She whispered before crawling over to it and picking it up, running her fingers over the picture. For the first time... when she looked at that picture she didn't think of Antonio... she thought of Phillipe. Now this time her hands found the frame and she stared at it. The broken glass shining on the floor. "Phillipe?!" She shouted, her voice echoing throughout the apartment. "Where are you?" She asked, her voice meek and full of fear... but she had no reply.

It was dark out... and Phillipe had already told her. "Aj... if it's dark outside don't leave the apartment... no matter what." She nodded as the thought played in her mind, but she still sat in that corner, placing the picture back on the floor. The necklaces still glowing...