"It is just us now." He said this as he looked down at her. "Tell me what is going on and how I can help you in this time of obvious crisis."

::Sensitive? It was an understatement. The moment she opened her eyes after they arrived, she looked distraught, perhaps shocked still... sad and confused... and then more confused as her pretty blues kept looking up at him, as if he were the only one who could help her get answers. To her, he was once again a hero. No wonder she didn't want him to set her down and she even clung to him at first. He was strong, though, and she was very weak so she realized it would hurt her to cling too stubbornly. She let go during that first attempt, willingly bending to his will of setting her down::

::She kept that gaze as he set her down and moved to the chair. A moment passed before she slowly began to feal at ease, taking a chance to glance around the place. Then the memory of seeing her reflection in the window ran through her mind::

::She was different. She had never noticed the magical force that had been around her for so long, hiding what she really was. She had never felt it, never noticed it, so well hidden by such power that even those that rivaled gods were hard pressed to just simply notice it or what it covered, unless they really looked hard. No one had.... Yet it was in the gods themselves that such a thing had been undone revealing her as she was, is. She still didn't understand why this had happened. Why now and why was she hidden in the first place? Why to a million and one questions::

I don't know ...

::She still wouldn't recognize herself with the long silvery hair, gossamer wings turned dark and feathery, and those eyes... the red pigmentation in the skin formed a sort of starburst design around those pretty blues. She touched the circlet of purple wild roses round her head and those entwined in her hair. Yes, they were really there. She was shorter, too, by about a foot making her just under four feet tall. This was Cadence now::

"Will you join me, please?" He asked an a reassuring, but firm voice.

::It wasn't the firmness that drew her attention to him, it was the care and reassurance.. something she needed to cling to right now. So she did as he bid her without question. She moved to the chair, sat down slowly, gazed down to the top of the table in thought::

He was angry...

::She kept thinking about how the Headmaster had been yelling at her as if she'd done something wrong with someone or something. He seemed so desperate or angry, or both. Maybe it just seemed so at the time. She looked like someone who had been berated, mentally beaten, subdued... confused::

I don't know what happened, Bob. It's very weird and strange.. all messed up... I don't get it... I'm n..not me anymore. Well, just look at me! I don't look like me! I just no understand why that is, cept something happened when SHe came back... something weird. She was hurt too... I saw the wounds. I no no why they were there. Then the Headmaster .. he just acting all weird.. not sure what was going on so I stayed out of the room but still... strange portals opened and I swears the gods were in the room ... I felt the fire of their holy presence and I got all blinded. I don't gets it.... just because Lyndra's back...?

::she lifted her lost gaze, one crimson tear rolled down over the starburst and along her cheek, over her trembling lips and threatening to drip off her chin::

I guess I'm not a fae elf .... I don't know... wh...what am I?

::That was the brunt of her dilemma. Who was she? where did she come from? What was she... pretty blues clearly looked to him with hope for help with those answers::

::The tear clung to her chin as she kept her gaze intently on him while he thought about his answer. She decided she loved the color of his unnatural hues, never really taking so long to look at them before. They seemed soothing to her as he reassured her that she was who she always had been. It helped her draw strength in herself, in her spirit::

"Cadence. This is a gift, you know."

::He was saying. She hadn't thought of it that way. But he was right. It was a gift. She could start researching what her race was, maybe even find out where she was from...Then she remember the book, the one Nana told her she couldn't open until she was ready.... It was at the school::

"It is true you do not know where you came from, right?"

::she gave an honest nodnod of her head, the teardrop falling from her chin. It was true. She didn't know. Though as the teardrop left her chin, it crystallized into a tiny ruby colored gem. It dropped into the folds of her dress, unnoticed by her::

" I could try to scan your memories, or I could create something that would allow you to venture into your forgotten past. But I can not warn you enough that somethings are forgotten for a reason and sometimes the truth is a bit too much to handle, it is up to you after all."

::Hope filled her pretty blues as a smile replaced the lost forlorn look::

Really?

::then her smile kinda faded::

Oh.. well, I dunno how much that'll help. All I ever remembers was knowing Nana. Ever since I could walk I think. I dont' remembers my parents. If I got any memory, it's very vague and buried. There's a book, though. But I couldn't open it. Nana said it would open when I was strong enough. I got it open once but that was before.. just after yous gave me that amulet and yous were gone.. and.. well.. I got scared of it. Theys was all kinds of strange and wierd spells ... so I shut it. It wouldn't open again. I been too unsure to try again since then. Mary offered to look at it or have someone look at it but I thought it best to wait like Nana told me to. It's at the school though. Sure hope I can get it back.

::an odd look crossed her features, even dumbfounded as the realization hit her::

That could be a problem. What if Headmaster don't let me back in? He probably thinks I quit my job... maybe I should. I did drop the pin and he was angry and.. well.. I don't think it would be good to go back just yet. Hey,

::she grinned as a thought formed::

I could be a self proclaimed village idiot! I bet I gets some good handouts that way! Nana says I got that smile....yous know.. The sMile!

::and she smiled all pretty strange like showing off her best wierdest smile, the kind that would have people paying her to go away sort of smile because she kinda looked mentally unstable, as in lunatic. While she was standing up in the chair to pose... the gem fell out of her lap, bounced on the table several times on its way towards Bob.. bounce, bounce, bounce. Her smile faded. She just stared at it, clueless where it came from. Her brows lifted in question as she looked from it to him::

then he saw the gem as it bounced across the table as she finished speaking, he reached over and picked it up and looked at it.

::Something spurred her to move and crawl across the table top. She moved slowly as Bob spoke and then sat down in front of him, crossed legged indian style. She had a soft grin for what he was saying but her gaze was on that gem. She was right on the other side of it from him as he peered at it. She watched it and him with growing interest, and a growing smile. No, not the demented one, but a genuine sweet smile::

::The gem was magical, there was no doubt about it. Yet the magics were still forming right there in his grasp. She could feel it but she didn't understand what it was doing. She could feel it in his hand::

::She looked to the door as he told her of it. What she'd felt before of the school led her to think that maybe using it to get to the street in front of the school would be best. She could run in and grab her stuff while invisible and then come back here. If that didn't work, she would just go see Sha'uri. Maybe take Bob with her. She nodded to him. She thought she said she'd be back soon, but the words didn't come out of her mouth::

"I like the new look too, personally."

::Her heart warmed. She put her hand on his::

I felt that...yous holding that in yous hand. Yous should keep that close.

::And then turned to leave.::

"Good luck."

::she was moving down off the table when she paused to send a quick wink over her shoulder::

Thanks, Bob. I won't be gone long.

::She thought about the directions he gave, how she was supposed to think about where she wanted to go. She did that on her way over to the door, but by the time she got there her thoughts had gone over that whole episode with the Headmaster again in her mind. Her steps had slowed the closer she came to it and she was really slow about putting her hand on the knob. She thought about Bob's words. He seemed concerned for the depression thing. Fear was more the issue right now. She was afraid to see the Headmaster again. Right, go and get it over with Cadence, just hope the headmaster don't see..... Her thoughts were cut off and her jaw dropped as she opened the door to see a room with Bob at the table and she on the other side in front of another open door. She was looking at her back::

Well. That answers that.

::There was a sort of finality about that statement as she let the door swing wide open so Bob was sure to see. She was staring out the opened door and back into the room at the same time because an opening seemed to form on the other side of the room with her there. She suddenly giggled as she looked at Bob in the next room and waved, shut the door, turned around and giggled some more as she waved at him again. then she shrugged sheepishly but it wasn't as innocent as all that. There wasn't anything she could say in her defense. Apparently, she really didn't want to go anywhere but where she was right now::

So! Uh.. Still think I shouldn't do village idiot?

::She wondered, though, just where she was going to sleep at. The room looked kinda small. She always thought Bob would've had a bigger place. She didn't know where they really were::

"So you just want to be here, I take it. Well you can stay here as long as you like, this place is and was made for you anyway. Just think of something and it will show up just for you."

That is really cool!

::She had not expected this was her room. She thought it was some room in his place, or maybe some place in Bonny Corp. She was really excited!::

::The first thing she thought of was a bigger room or another area room attached with a big four poster canopy bed and lots of stuffed animals like monkeys, bears and frogs.. oh and kitties too, lots of kitties. Then a built in Jacuzzi near the window filled with bubbly warm pretty smelling bath water. Then a table full of food and drinks, a variety fit for kings. And for desert? ....::

::She hesitated in thought trying to figure out something for desert. One had to have desert with a grand meal, right? Yet... Nothing seemed to be happening about these appearing. Maybe it was the unfinished thought it waited on. The thought wasn't finished becuase her attention was diverted as he continued to speak::

" And no. The village idiot spot is still filled with people like Kalis-nar and Gabe, and this new ravager guy. Not a single one of them has any kind of class what so ever.

::She giggled::

I can't argue that.

::Kalis did look weird to her. She even told the school teacher that once, which was kinda rude but he was just so.. strange. Gabe was... well, she hadn't seen Gabe in a while::

Except I don't know the Ravager guy, but I keep an eye out for someone named ravager. Who would name themselves, or their children, a name like that? That's like.. cruel or something.

"You do have more personality than all of them put together. If you become the Village Idiot, I will have to take matters in my to my own hands and show off some of my electric sparking powers, or something." He said that to her with a smile and a glint in his eyes."

::She blushed from the compliment.... and something about the glint in his eyes made her smile right back with no less of a gleam in hers. She had to be nuts, right? She wondered what it would be like to be zapped by one of his electric sparking things. Would she get fried? Die? Sizzled like bacon? Split in two? Would it even hurt? Would it tingle? Or maybe just tickle... personally, she was hoping for that last one or the one before it::

::She flew back to the table and sat on top of it, legs dropped over the side and facing him... looking at him. She wondered if that was a challenge... which was no challenge. She'd easily lose! That thought made her laugh::

You're so playing with me, Bob! Maybe I get a doll that looks like you and play with yous.... you know, that voodoo stuff witches do... yeah, that. And move you to my whim and stuff, make you pick yous nose and all kinds of wierd things. Or make you pose all wierd with your arms up and hands all claw like and use yous as a back scratcher.

::she tried to lift her hand to cover her mouth but a burst of giggles bubbled out. It was no real threat. She was just playing, teasing him. There was no way she could do that, even if she could she wouldn't. Still it was funny to think about.. the great Bob taken over and controlled by a little winged thing playing with dolls. It was just too funny! Cadence wasn't that far gone to even think it could be possible::

"Would you like me to go so you can think about what you plan to do in the future, and what an exciting future it can be."

::her smile settled and faded as she became thoughtful, sad again... even apologetic. She looked down for a few moments, hands going into her lap while fingers figited. Her legs dangled from the table where she sat right by the corner so her feet weren't plopped in his lap but swinging ever so slightly free, one foot twirled round in little circles::

I'm sorry. I am being selfish... aren't I. I'm sure yous have other places to go and other people to be with. I hope I didn't call you away from someone. Did I? I just... Well, I just really needed your help and then.. I just... I wanted to be with yous. I really like being with you."

::She glanced up, looking to lock her gaze with his. It was true, It wasn't the place that brought her back so much as it was him. She'd really just liked talking to him and she had missed that so much. It wasn't like they'd ever really had so much time together, but when they did she really enjoyed it.::

Thank yous for bringing me here, Bob ... where ever here is. Where is here? Will this be my new room from now on?

::she kinda glanced around hoping he'd explain just where this room was located, and ... she was just slightly changing the subject too. She felt a little exposed, vulnerable::

Bob just smiled at her, then as she moved to the table and asked him where they were, he was behind her. Did he even move, if he did nobody saw him do it.

::Him suddenly behind her.... That made a tingle go up and down her little spine and a shiver ran to chase it as she visibly shook. She laughed at his humor and made a mental note to get him a doll that looked like him sometime soon, just to continue the joke.... and maybe even a backscratcher. She liked his sense of humor::

::She listened intently while he explained the pocket dimension. She understood. She had even studied about pocket dimension in class. There were different spells to create them and all were varied in size, shape and duration. So she understood the concept. She just didn't know how this one worked. So she listened, gathering that it was a permanent pocket.::

I can make a pocket dimension. It's small and cramped and yous have to climb a rope to get in it... and it don't last long, just spits you out when it's over. This one is a little bigger. I can make due. It's ... cozy.

::She liked cozy. She smiled and moved to hover next to him, keeping an eye on him this time. She could still feel that shiver wanting to run down her spine.::

I would never deny yous. Yous made the place. You gots the right to come in whenever yous want to. Just knock first, cause if I'm taking a bath yous'll get a face full of bubbles for sure just barging in.

::she giggled. She could just picture that. Then she sighed gently and her smile was warm::

Thank yous again for coming. I really appreciate it. I think I will stay here. It's nice. Just needs a woman's touch.... I know you probably don't really need me, but if yous ever need me... Just call me. I will be there for yous too.

::she looked at him with such sincerity::

Even if all yous need is someone to talk to. I love talking to yous!

::nod::

And maybe waiting does wonders for tension, but too much is too much. Don't keep them waiting too long.

::Her moves were slow as she came closer to hug him, wrapping her little arms around his neck. She hugged him close. Then pulled back, grinning with such amusement. The connection to the gem was feeling... strange::

By the way, where did yous put that gem?

::she hadn't really said Heart, but was kinda thinking of something more like - in his pocket or as a ring, some piercing somehwere, or other jewelry. The fact that he chose it to be in a secret place near his heart told her something. He either saw way past those thoughts or they were an expression of his own. He told her something he hadn't told anyone else. This alone told her even more. The smile never left her eyes. Her expression became more pleasantly surprised, even reverent expression when she realized.

"This place is for you, all it needs is your talented designing...er..talents to make it yours, offically."

::She grinned. Did he just stutter? She would never do anything intentionally to hurt him or betray his trust. She put her hand on his cheek and caressed it gently, even lovingly. Love? Her eyes and her touch wasn't hiding that sense of love she felt for him anymore. Perhaps it was just a friendship, perhaps a deep friendship.. perhaps it was more. But it was a love nonetheless. She cared for him now all that much more.::

I won't tells no one, Bob. Yous secret is safe with me.

::of course, she was kinda dense sometimes. She thought he meant the decor in the room. She really wanted to make the room grow bigger, add a few rooms or at least partitioned off areas. She wanted it to be something beautiful and cozy.. a little heaven in the middle of what some people called hell, like a devil's food pudding bundt cake with almond peanutbutter icing drenched over it, chopped nuts sprinkled atop and covered with dark chocolate shavings. She could taste it, feel it melting in her mouth just thinking about it. She'd just made her choice and the room began to comply with it... even as she continued to design it in her head::

I don't know what I gonna do with the design here but maybe I make it so yous don't have to knock.. put the tub over there in the other corner and partition it off or something.

::she suddenly envisioned the jacuzzi again and then it was shifting into a corner and through it... a partition formed over the opening it left, semi covering a short tunnel that led into a cavernous room, a cool waterfall descending down on the opposite end into a hot spring pool sending light whispers of fog into the air. A gentle breeze came from out of no where.... making the temperature in the place and in the water just right and a mud bath area off to the one side where you could sit in the mud if you wanted. Little glow worms with their iridescent purplish black light dotting the ceiling to illuminate the water below like stars in the sky....and with other glowing plants like mushrooms to line the paths around it along with softly glowing blue orbs that floated around the room, on the water and down into it moving randomly. She would want to share this with others::

::Her vision rushed back to what she was originally talking about, picturing a permanent spot somewhere on the outside of the place that when knocked on, sounded in here.. the spot would be like a door.. no it would be like a door knocker on her office door; it would be a chime on a tree outside; and other key points in other places so that she could tell people how to get a hold of her should she be in here. It wouldn't give them directed entry, but it would give them a way to contact her....::

....maybe make a doorbell of some kind, a knocker on my office or something similar and keeps them someplace where people I know can finds it so theys can contact me if theys knock on it or ring it. I mean, hows you gonna find where this place is from the other side? Well that's dumb..

::she knew it was dumb to say because HE made the place::

I mean, of course yous could find it and get in whenever yous wanted... But.. How's other people supposed to find it? I get that it opens to wherever I want to go and maybe the door stays there until I come back in. But... if theys wanna come see me on theys own and I'm in my room, how's they gonna find me from out there? Cause, unless theys knock on it, how else am I gonna know... and do yous smell some kind of cinnamon honey glazed ham, stuffing, and chocolate peanut butter nirvana cake? Maybe a smoked or grilled chicken or turkey and corn on the cobb too?

::sniffsniff. She had an odd expression because she didn't see the table full of food behind her, the cozy couch to the side in front of a cozy fire, the bed partitioned off in one of the far corners by sheer drapes or the other corner that had a tunnel leading into that bathing place. She didn't realize she'd made a decision that shaped the form of the room inside::

"You should look around for a second. See what the power of your mind has accomplished. It will explain everything I promise. And thanks for keeping my secret I appreciate it alot."

Anything for yous, Bob.

::her eyes grew big and she realized he was right even as he said it. She'd done something and spin around to see it. She sucked in her breath and then sighed out an Ooohh! while covering her mouth to keep from screaming with joy. She was awestruck by what she saw.::

I did that!? Wow, that is exactly like I was thinking! Oh gosh that looks so good. I just got really hungry. I don't knows about yous but I'm grabbing some food. Yous can too.

::She immediately moved to the table and started to pile food on a plate, taking an occassional bite of something. She glanced up as Bob started to speak again::

"I trust you are in a much better state of mind now than you were when we first arrived? I hope so. You should not be so shaken up. It is not good for you, you know."

I knows I shouldn't get that way, and really I don't much, but it was freaky what happened. I can't thank yous enough. I do feel much better. I think that I'll stay in here for a while and relax a bit, spend some time to just... well... rediscover who I am.

::She was about to say something about the mudbath, but he got that look on his face, his gaze was distant::

"Do you know when you have that really bad feeling that somebody did something they really should not have done, but did it anyways? I just got that feeling. I believe somebody decided to have a fight, and did not invite us. So un-nice of them, do you not agree?"

::forlorn, he actually looked that way. Her heart went out to him and yet she got a grin too with mild sarcastic humor::

Yeah, those so un-nice peoples, who ever theys is.... How dare theys! They need to be flogged! Hmmph! Eh well, no chocolate peanut butter nirvana cake for them. That'll teach 'em. Right?

::nod. She smiled and picked up a piece of that cake and plopped it on her plate, removing the remnants of it off her fingers one at a time plopped into her mouth::

I know, bad manners an all. I'm guessing yous going now. You can take a piece with yous. I don't gaurantee it's here later on. I might eat it. But I save yous a spot in the mudbath later if you want. They say the warm ones are soothing. I never got a warm one, always the cold ones.. cold muddy and icky. I think it's about time I tried the warm, soothing one. So that's what I plan to do.

::The gem had her interest as it formed. She managed to hover closer to Bob as she watched it. She could actually feel its pulsing energy. Oddly, It was very soothing and energetic at the same time like backward yet light zaps of electricity. She watched it form and then place itself on a stand..::

Awwww, Bob... yous so sweet!

::she was still holding the plate as she blew a kiss to him::

Bob, I don't care what other people say about you... I don't care if you is the Abyss... or if you'd eat me like Theron said yous would.. which I'm sure yous wouldn't do that but still.... Yous 'll always be a Hero to me.

::blink::

I really like the red color, too. And I'll try to stay safe. Yous too, Bob. Stay safe.

::she nodded and then turned away, expecting he would leave, though always hoping he'd stay. She would always want it to be his choice. She moved to take a closer look at that gem while picking up that cake and nibbling on its melt in your mouth goodness... it was almost sinful it was so good::

::Cadence didn't think twice about it. She stared down into the facets of the gem and watched the light pulse feeling its vibrations of energy phase into her body. It was warm at first, then tingling, then stronger still and finally.... It felt intoxicating... like a steady flow of shots filled with an exceptional bourbon. Cadence was getting drunk from the negative energies::

::A large chunk of the cake fell out of her hand and hit her foot on the way down to the floor. She looked at it, then looked at her hand, then down to the floor again. Finally she looked at the plate of food in her other hand and then to the table where all the food was still piled up on. She caught a glimpse of the bed and the tunnel and decided that dinner while sitting in a mud bath was a good idea before she got too intoxicated. She was soon flying that direction....::

::She gave a glance back to Bob as he smiled and waved. She smiled and blew him another kiss::

I hope so, Bob. Miss yous already.

::She watched him disappear then flew into the tunnel. She stopped when she got to the edge of the mud bath. A petite leg was extended dipping a bare toe into the gently bubbling mudbath. It was very warm but not hot. Little wisps of steam rose from the surface as the mud bath area melded into the pond. There was a definite separation between the two areas, though how that kept one from mixing too much with the other was hard to give reason, except that she didn't want them to::

::Cadence glanced around for something to put her plate down on. There were a few boulders along the edge. One seemed flat enough to put a plate on. She flew to it and set the plate down. It teetered and she managed to catch it before it fell. She laughed at herself and shifted the plate, making sure that it would stay this time..::

::It was another brief glance around. Of course no one was around. Bob had left. So off went her clothes! she set them on the dry ground along the shore.::

"Unless I get really, really hungry for some reason or another."

::Blink!::

Bob?

::she spun around, covering herself with her arms. Of course, no one was there. She had just remembered his words and the memory was so clear it almost seemed as if the voice was in the room. A deep shiver ran through her entire little body self and made her giggle. It was only in her head. She relaxed and giggled at herself, even blushing. The blush almost made the starburst disappear. Almost.::

Cadence yous so stupid! Bob's not here.

::Taking up her plate, she moved to the mud and slowly lowered herself in. Her feet tested the waters while searching for something to sit on. She felt a flat surface, another boulder and it was just right for her size. She sat down and the mud was just enough cover her breasts. She ate in silence::

::The food was delicious and helped to clear her mind. She wasn't as intoxicated and her thoughts became clearer. She thought back on what happened at the school and came to realize the Headmaster hadn't been angry at her, he was just confused and Cadence was even more so then. She felt it would be all right. She decided to wait a few days and then go back and see what would happen. Even so, she decided she would live here instead, regardless if she decided to take her old job back.::

::The plate was put on the ground at the edge of the mud. She leaned back against the edge, which was like sitting in a pool. Then she rubbed the mud into her skin. It was gritting yet soothing and felt good to her. She starting with her feet, rubbing the mud into her skin. She worked it up her legs and kept going way up, spreading the mud over her skin, her stomach and along her arms, her neck and onto her face while being careful not to get any in her eyes. then she leaned back and sunk down until the mud was up to her neck. Then she closed those pretty blues and relaxed, falling asleep in the warm soothing mineral rich mud bath::

::Dreams were strange in this place. Everything seemed so real and yet surrealistic and disconnected. Things touched her in not so innocent ways. She felt the snakes all around her, squirming inside her clothes, touching her skin. It made her giggle. The headmaster's azure gaze, the long black hair.... she blinked and Bob was there::

Bob?

::He was doing unspeakable, vial things yet she didn't comprehend what they were exactly, only that they were naughty. He came towards her swiftly and she woke up from the dream dripping with sweat, yet shivering. It wasn't because she was cold. A few moments passed while she caught her breath and sat up, pushing the covers off of herself. Her gaze shifted to her feet, which were hanging over the edge of the bed. Something was different. She quickly moved to the mirror on the wall and looked at herself. The mirror seemed shorter. That's when she knew she'd gotten taller::

What's up with that?

::she gazed at herself a while, hands moving over her anatomy. She guessed she was over four feet, maybe closer to five. It was as if she'd grown over night or something. Taller was the only difference she could see, and a little curvier, too. Her gaze shifted to the bookshelf she kept some books on, one was the book Nana told her was hers::

Maybe it's time I look at it..

::and she turned away from the mirror and headed towards the book::

::The book opened easily, willingly to her prompt, not like it had done before. She gazed over the writing and became absorbed into its magical and personal auras. Personal? Yes... she sensed the auras of those that had held the book from long before. She felt their souls...Evil, Good and everything in between. She felt her mother, and the power of those combined within. The power inside was phenomenal. The spells were just as unique and varied as their creators, luring her gaze to their tomes until nothing else mattered. Time didn't matter.. she became lost in it, finding new heights of energy with each spell she read::

::That's why she didn't notice the negative energy as it suddenly burst in. She thought it was from reading another spell. Yet as the Negative power flooded the place and everything in it, into her and she suddenly realized it was flooding into the book....::

Bob?!

::the chill of fear almost held her voice still, yet she was screaming inside for him. Yes, something was wrong... But was it Bob or was it the book more then anything. She thought it was the book. She tried to close the book, but it resisted her at first. She suddenly heard herself laughing hysterically, even maniacally as some of the power from the book flowed out.... dark and light and everything in between... the energy flowed out and into everything in the room, including her and the orb::

Bob!!! What are yous doing?

::She put her whole force into shutting the book and this time it did shut, cutting off the flow of energy both into and out of the book. But she could feel it trying to open again. She literally got on top of the thing and sat on it. The first attempt to wizard lock the thing failed and the book threw her off of it as it opened up and absorbed in the negative energy flowing into it, as much as the power flowing out of it. She laughed even more, though she was certainly starting to sound insane and maybe even angry.::

What's going on? Yous better not be taking it out on me! I don't care if yous mother didn't love yous..... I'm not her!

::she pounced back onto the book, wrestling with it to close it again. This time, the magical lock was put in place and the negative energy stopped flowing into it, as did the power flowing out. She could still feel the energy from the orb, its chilling touch flowed into her and her demeanor touched a coldness she hadn't known before. It was a harsh gaze she sent to the orb as she moved to it and laid a hand on it. The thrill of a shiver, or three, ran up and down her spine and goose bumps raised all over her body::

Out with it, Bob! Show yous self. And yous timing sucks!!! Ha!

::Nope, that didn't sound like Cadence at all. The thought occurred to her that he and Theron had another fight and once again Bob had been defeated. She remembered how that had changed her amulet the last time it happened. This time it was the orb in this realm... perhaps more. That didn't matter to her. She sensed something wrong and maybe he was trying to get to this haven.... or was he trying to destroy it? Either way, she would try to bring him here to either help him out or deal with him otherwise::

Bob had lost his mind over what he did, sure. But he could not ignore this. Nope, could not do it. distance was required between him and almost everybody else. He had tried to keep away from everybody he knew personally, to protect them from him. But Cadence was in pain, hurt, it was his fault.

He had appeared there in her room and saw her on the floor. Yeah. Bob was a monster, a true full fledged monster. The negative energy that filled the room was instantly absorbed by him and the source, that orb went back to normal.

He knelt over that body of hers and placed his hands by her head. Bob was not a healer by nature, but he could do it. A golden light came from his hands and illuminated, what seemed to be the source of the injury, blood from the ears was never good on a living thing and he had tried everything he could to save her from him, and he failed, miserably at that.

"Come on Cadence...wake up, or at least grunt or moan or show some kind of life..."

His healing magics were powerful, but he had to know he was not too late.

Bob stood up and took a step back, there was no smile there, just that look of consern more than anything.

"Cadence, what happened here? Who or what did this to you? And, angry about what did I do something to make you mad?"

He had no idea what was going on but thought it was best not to get too close at this present time, he was mystified on how this could happen to her, here of all places.

Well, wasnt this interesting. Bob was the attacker, and the savior all in the same timespan. This was new, even for him.

"You know. I have done, many...many bad and horrible things in my time. I know this is something you wish not to believe. I have even recorded some of my thoughts and yes, left them for the world to see at their leisure"

He began to pace alittle bit.

"I have made friends. Innocence and pure creatures are hard to come by in this realm. I know this for a fact. I never wanted to see you be, corrupted by things like me. I am the farthest thing from noble there is but I never really lie about anything, ever."


"You saw that whole ordeal, the one with the kid, and the angel. What you may not have known is...well..."He looked away for a moment. "That kid is Darius, and he is actually my son. I wanted him to not grow up here, in this place. It would have not been right for him no matter what she thought of it, too many heroic types would have been more than willing to target him. I have many enemies, I had to make that hard choice alone."


He stopped.


"I dont know what else you saw, things not connected to me could be anything I had nothing to do with, if they were not connected to me. Somebody could have done it and blamed me for it, that is easily done here in this town. What ever it is you saw, may or may never come to pass. Lets hope they dont come to pass, hmm?"


"You are no deal or project or anything else like that to me. I consider you a friend, nothing more. Unless of course, you would like to be. I leave that choice up to you."

He said with weak smile. After all this one was one of the few he never asked anything of, or even offered any kind of a deal or some kind of special advantage. There was indeed something deep down inside of the one known as Bob that used to be something people could admire and be proud of. A hero nolonger however. This one had turned to the darkness within long ago.

Bob was hugged, then alittle confused. Just a second ago he was the source of all her fears, and terror and almost killed her, now she was smiling and happy, how odd.

"Well then its official. No deals or anything like that between us. Just a friendship, a normal one sounds good to me. But I hope the things of the future dont disturb you that much, this is Rhydin, anything can happen here and you must remember that."

He looked her over. "You just have to not worry so much. The next time I may not arrive here intime to save you, you did not look like you were in good shape when I found you, and I wish not to see you like this again, ok?"


Bob took a step back. "Will you be alright?"

"I Know you dont blame me. Things have been rather strange lately. But they will get better, I think."

He looked at her and knew she would be just fine.

"I know where you came from. I remember alot about that place where you lived. You have come along ways since there. You have done well for yourself and I am sure those are memories you would like to forget. We dont need to talk about them. You will be fine!" He said with a smile.

Then the surprise question he knew was coming.


"You can come visit anytime you like Cadence. When ever you are ready for it"

He blinked.

"Ladies man, me? I..well...I guess you could say that..or something." Bob had never considered himself a ladies man, but more of a thief of the heart, maybe it was the same thing he had to look it up later.

He studied her as she spoke and he could hear the tone change alittle as she was finishing.

"You can come over anytime you like. and....wait. Children being abducted. By, well..who would have done that?" Bob thought about this and that tip he told Rose, and wondered if there was a connection to it. It had to be stopped soon, if Rose would not do it soon. He would have no choice. He would look into the possible connection to this and the cult spreading in the west end. " I will do the best I can to entertain them, but it is more like work. Who knows when I will say the wrong thing, then they will come after me like a crazy woman with a red string of doom" He blinked and it had occured to him he never had ever seemed to say the wrong thing and that bothered him alittle bit.

"Cadence. Good luck in solving your mystery at the Academy. But don't get in over your head, be careful I mean. Shall I let you get to work now?" He said with a solemn nod of consern, he hoped there really was no connection to it.

"Yes, I will have to watch out for the crazy women in the future, and their red strings of doom."

He listened to her words, then the advice question.

"The only thing I can tell you is to look for the one who has the most to gain from this enslavement. You see Cadence. Somebody is always gaining something from the things they do. Things are not always what they seem. Such an academy as that place has barriers and security in place to stop this from happening. When I took you from there, the headmaster made the place inaccessible, remember? If he did not do that immediately at the first sign of trouble. I would ask your self the simple question of why not?" He sighed. "You may want to be careful who you trust if you go back there. I assume that the place is not closed off because you are planning to return, of course this little place here can get around that."

" A slaver who would go after children must be either desperate, or somebody who really has something twisted planned. I would suggest not confronting one like this. And it will most likely be a man too, because oddly enough around Rhydin. The women slavers really do not have an interest in children. Sounds to me like somebody either wants to make some quick money, or to build an army for some reason or another. It really could be anything at all. Keep on your toes and let nothing that seems unimportant escape your attention. Evil things can lurk anywhere."

He hoped that most of that made sense to her...then he handed her a small bracelet, it was gold with odd rubies in the chain. "Here take this. It will protect your mind from any more of those visions and wont let anybody else in side your head."

Bob slipped that bracelet over her hand slid it on to her wrist. " I am glad you like it so much, nobody will beable to influence your mind, or trick you into seeing what isnt there." He smiled at her words then as she asked the question. "I really don't need to inside of your mind to know what you are thinking. As friends go, some things should be kept to your self, right?"

"Yeah, I can't stress enough on how much you should keep all your options open, and most of all watch your own back you never know who is more than willing to betray you when you need them the most, I know from experience how that works out."

He looked her over to make sure she was ok one last time "You are welcome for that. Just don't tell anybody what it does. Or they might try to steal it. Any magic will won't tell them anything about it, and they can't read your mind either, so be well and solve the mystery...and don't get killed either." He laughed as he said that.

"I will let you get back to what ever it was you were doing. But remember to not over work yourself."

Not wanting to bother her and take time away from her book any longer, Bob silently nodded a goodbye, then he faded away completely to be gone once again.

::Cadence woke up on the couch in her special room. She was still dressed in the gown from when Club Babylon opened. What a strange night it was for her and now she felt like a herd of Water Buffalo just trampled over her. Funny thing about that, she had bruises all up and down her legs and arms. She couldn't remember how it happened but she was sure it didn't while she was in the club::

No mores drinking....

::Every muscle in her body ached as she got up from the couch and moved to the mirror hanging over the sink. She splashed cool clean water on her face and then took a drink. Pretty blooshot blues looked back at her as she rubbed the grime off her face. She remembered now...::

And no mores drinking and trying to flys...

::In her haste to be out of the Club, she had tried to fly herself home even though her wings were numb. Bad combination. She couldn't feel which way her wings moved and so she weaved and wobbled inbetween and into the trees along the way. She was halfway back to the corp when she realized all she needed to do was open a door. Finally she did and then stumbled to the couch, practically falling down into the cushions::

Bob..?

::Now she remembered why he was gone.... and felt a pang of guilt that Bob had left. She wanted to appologize. She hadn't meant what she said and was convinced it was why he left... Fear was back within her again::

Oh I screwed up.

::taking out the crystal ball of hers, she moved to the door of her special room. She stepped out into the forests north of RhyDin, sat down on a fallen log and began to scry..... That's when she noticed him walking towards the mountains moving away from RhyDin. She wanted desperately to step out to him and apologize but fear kept her from doing so. Instead, she kept to scrying him every day, several times a day following as he neared a place and set up a home::

::There was something different about the place, just beyond where he set up his new walls. The absence was thick and complete, a barrier of magicless void::

::She watched him rocking on the chair. Casting a very minor spell, she sent him a short message, her voice whispered into his ear, though the magic didn't allow a response::

"I'm sorry, Bob. I didn't mean what I said.... I'll leaves yous alone. I miss yous. Glad yous have a nice cozy place. Be well."

::putting away the crystal ball, she stepped back into her room and closed the door::