Rain beats down heavy. As heavy as that fateful day, so many years ago. How young I was then. How foolish I was. Yet no amount of knowledge can change my choice for it has been done, no matter how hard we try, no matter how much power we hold over Time and Space, we cannot change what has passed, for it would destroy us.
How poetic it looks, them all lying in the sorrowful tears of the sky as I did. I am soaked with my consquences. Yet no guilt drips off my face even as I stare at the light helplessly attempting to break through. How sad. How painful it must be to be locked within an endless struggle between yourself and your Destiny, especially when you have so little time. It is better to embrace that Destiny, it is the one thing they cannot take from you.
I stood and stared. My head against a pillar, blood seeping from my forehead and hands and neck. I didn't blink in case something would happen, something thrilling and exciting that would occur and vanish the moment I close and reopen my eyes. My eyes have been open for years. Open and aware. Never has anyone been so aware.
"To be... or not to be..." I found myself muttering for them. My mouth twitched into a smirk as I pressed my back against the stone. "That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by oppsing end them?" Soon I was laughing at myself, covering my face with my hands, wiping the rain off and laughing harder. "How foolish we've become!"
In my pocket lay something that Lilith lost after the crash in Paris. A wooden Fleur-de-lis she dropped. It seemed significant, as most trinkets are. She has yet to mention it, possibly because of other issues plauging her. Still it is always nice to have something precious to calm the spirit.
The rain was not letting up and my companions had yet to rise. I walked over to Ms. Clark, my cane hitting off the stone. She moaned in pain as I held her wrist, which was broken curteousy of Willow Ann Rosebelle. Her beautiful eyes of emerald opened and she tried to get up, crying out in pain as she placed pressure on her broken wrist.
"Hey nonny nonny," I said, wrapping an arm around her and helping her stand. "You all took a considerably hard beating. You're wrist is broken, I'd heal it with Magic but that means your wrist will heal in a bizzare way, the bone needs to me the correct way first." I took out a plether of bandages and did my best to be gentle, cleaning the wound with rain water, hearing her hiss as I clikced her wrist back into the socket and wrapped bandages around the joint, noticing bone poking out. It really was horrifically damaged.
"Why aren't you hurt?" She asked me, before looking shocked as I bled. Still? Hm it's still bleeding? Quite frequently today.
"We've been through this Lilith, it doesn't harm me," I reassured her. "It has been happening for years... longer than you can fathom."
"How old are you?" I laughed at her question, finishing with my handiwork. Her wrist would heal up nicely now.
"Never ask a man his age, Lily," I chuckled. "Now, as for you, you will need a bodyguard until your wrist heals. It's never good to perform Magic when injured so," I took the mirror I gave her from her bag and opened it. "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam," The mirror ripplied and we got a lovely view of the Beyond Realm. A man wth greyish hair and pupiless eyes stared back at us and Liltih stood aghast. "Lilith, meet Malakai, he shall act as co-advisor alongside yours truly."
"Honoured as always, Lucifer. Lady Lilith it is a pleasure to meet you," Malakai smiled faintly. Lilith still looked outstanded and in shock.
"Oh don't worry, Malakai won't bite, he's very friendly," I reassured her. "The mirror will act as conduit for Malakai's power to pass through, creating a holograph of him so he can attack for you. Should have introduced this to you in Lindblum but I had hoped your Magic would be strong by then. Unfortunately not."
"Wait I'm not being a vessel for some supernatural... thing!" Lilith exclaimed, shaking her head. "Um no offence Malakai."
"I am a Saint and none taken," Malakai replied. "Regardless of your disposition the procedure is necessary. I can augment your powers, be a guide. I can help you become a powerful Mage able to defend yourself, and Lucifer may not be there to help you. It's always nice to have a companion."
"I'm still not comfortable with this," The blonde frowned. I frowned also at her response. I knew it'd be difficult for her to accept Malakai as she has no past ties to him.
"Did anyone ever tell you two that you look similar?" Malakai suddenly stated. Lilith raised her eyebrow and I smiled. He was right, we did have the same hair and eye colour after all. Maybe we had other facial similarities but I couldn't guess at the moment.
"Malakai, I'll talk to her, you be good there."
"Can't do anything else," Malakai commented a little darkly. The image of him rippled and he vanished, the mirror no longer a means of communication. Lilith snatched the mirror from my hands with her left one, obviously finding it strange to do it.
"What the Hell are you planning!" She yelled, her voice bouncing off the palace walls. "Who is this Malakai? Why did you say I'd be his link to this world?"
"Calm yourself," I said smoothly. "Malakai and I have been friends for a long time. He wants to help. I told him you were the Sorceress Messiah and he was more than happy to help you become stronger. He needs help, as do we all."
"I may have agreed to help you with this Sorceress Messiah thing but being his... gateway to this world I draw the line there and now." Sighing I walked around the Burmecian palace.
"Deny it all you want. You need his help... you need mine... you need Ghost's... you need theirs... and I need yours," I told her grimly. "No one likes going through ordeals alone so I suggest you think on this before saying no."
"Lucifer I am not comfortable with this," She tried to affirm. I could tell part of her was fascinated by this, wanted to try it. Everyone has a small piece of them that wishes to try the outrageous and unethical. From where she comes from it was heavily emphasised in the Victorian Era.
"This entire situation isn't comfortable," I countered. "Learn to take advantage." She didn't know how to take my words, she wasn't alone there, but I was doing this solely for her benefit.
She walked around in the rain slowly, taking in the scenery. Tragic scenery at that. Perhaps I should tell her what Willow really is? Hm... she's already having a difficult time digesting the presence of Malakai. I opened my own mirror and flipped it open.
"Aut viam inveniam aut faciam," I said calmly as Malakai manifested within the mirror's reflection. "She may just accept the offer."
"Your powers of persuasion?" He asked monotonously. I gave a faint and weak smile, feeling a heavy burden on myself.
"I know the precise psychological moment when to say nothing," I told him. "Lilith is clever, this is merely a stepping stone in her journey to rediscovering her power. Our goal to stopping those bastards."
"And if she refuses?" Oh Malakai, so silly when you have no clue.
"We have others. Others who will be more welcoming and accepting of your presence," I answered. "Whatever happens, do not tell them of our plight until we need to. Such things can only be told when they have matured."
"... Very well, Lucifer..." Malakai's image vanished and I closed my mirror, putting it away. I appraoched Lilith who still looked inturmoil. Indeed it was a difficult choice. I had the choice of not trusting Malakai but it was easy to accept him as I had nothing to lose. I have lost everything because of... it matters not.
"Malakai has used me as a conduit into this world, we both grew stronger because of it," I told her. "He is trustworthy. Like I, he has been judged wrongly and unfairly."
"It's the power that I fear," She answered strongly. "If it makes us both stronger, what stops him from trying to take over my body?" I quirked a smile at her curiosity. I, myself, had the same inquiries.
"The limitations," I explained briefly. "The Realm he resides in, the Beyond, will snatch at his growing strength should he become too powerful and leave him on the verge of death. However sometimes he can steal the Beyond's power and pass it on to his conduits. Raw Magic, to put it shortly. As you are essentially a being of Magical origins you could contain more of the Beyond's power than I was able to contain. Regardless I hold enough power." She stared at me, unsurely. Of she was. She was terrified. She didn't the consquences of her actions but these lessons would make her more aware. More intelligent in the ways of Magic.
"... I believe you."