Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 8
Memory 1: Frozen Memory
13 Febuary 2052
Arendelle
Dawn
Castle Distrct
Just before breakfast
"There is no emotion, there is peace"
- The Jedi Code
Sometimes dreams were an interesting thing to look forwards to. Other times they werent, nightmares were the worst, depending on the type of nightmare of course meant everything. But seeing yourself freeze the one you love. On complete accident. That was scary enough to wake someone up now wasnt it ? At the blast of snow and ice Elsa sat bolt upright in bed, the last thing she remembered seeing from the dream was her sister, and Kristoff helping her to her feet inside her ice palace. Elsa looked around her room, she was in her bedroom, it was just a dream, just a bad dream.
She got up from her bed and went to the bathroom, then got dressed. Leaving her hair out of her normal braid for the moment she wandered into the hall and pretty much walked into somebody, but because of her half awake state she couldnt tell who it was until the person started speaking, which was a good thing because had Mark seen her like this, it wouldnt have ended good. She'd never hear the last of it.
She wasnt drunk, hadnt touched a drop since; well... since she could remember. As she leaned on what she first thought a suit of armor, until it moved, wait Armor didnt move unless someone was wearing it. A soft "good morning your highness" Was heard under her arm as the young Assassin Recruit spoke in greeting, it was somewhat muffled as it was both under her arm, and cape.
"What ?" Elsa turned to look the other way, almost nailing herself with her bedroom door before the Recruit kept her on her feet, Seeing who it was she nodded "oh! Good morning Lilah" Elsa leaned heavily on the Recruit, well, this was an interesting morning to be sure. Where was Mark ? "Where are the birds ? Again no birds outside my window!" that and by her apparent drunken behaviour ment something else too, lack of sleep. She turned to Lilah "Why where there no birds outside my window ? there's always birds outside my window, Where's Mark ? he's feeding them by now, Sure he said he had something to atten to last night around midnight when we were watching the Northern Lights together."
Wait was that out loud ?
Elsa and Mark were watcing the Northern Lights, because Mark had asked if Elsa would like to see them with him, for his birthday that day. He'd been so busy with things that he'd all but forgotten his own birthday, but then Mark had left shortly before the Northern Lights were to end just after midnight, saying something in his gut told him he had to tend to something at the Mausoleum. He never said what, Elsa had no idea what Mark was going to do or get him self into, nor did she think twice of it when he wasnt in his bedroom she'd given him in the castle
"Care to talk about it ? The dream I mean" Came the question, Elsa nodded, and as the two walked to the dining room for breakfast she explained her dream.
"I woke up in a storm unlike anything I had ever witnessed..."
Surrounded by torrental snow and thick fog
In times unknown or remembered
A shriek from above, a shriek only a dragon could make, was heard. Among those shrieks a calm voice spoke "Finally come to pay your respects, or your dues ?" The first voice said, calm, tranquil, deadly. This had to be a bad dream. "You! You are not to be here! You remember our agreement! We were not to meet here to comhence battle!" Ice filled the room as something in anger made the massive silver dragon, Xeir Zith, spit icefire at her enemy.
A snarl and a resounding smack was heard then, along with the rumble of something huge smashing into the cave wall. "You dare threaten an Elder? Impudent Child you will be taught a lesson you will never forget!" The second voice roared, its voice pure malice and malevolence, and echoed by a sense of darkness so dark that not even the Sun could pierce it.
"And perhaps the lesson should be taught with the very thing you sought to hide from me." the second voice growled out. The sound of some sort of sludge being flung at something echoed in the cavern.
"NEVER!" Screamed the beautiful Silver Dragon. "You will not touch her!" It was then to be seen what was heard. Two truly massive dragons fighting each other. One silver, the other... darkness. Darker then any black she had seen in her life.
This was her realm. Xeir Zith flared up again and once more spit ice cold icefire at the dark dragon. slowly but surely pushing the darker dragon backwards from the strange glittery rock. The sludge, had stopped only inches from it, repelled away by eithert the sheer cold of the rock, Or something else within it, something pure, something innocent.
Something powerful.
The Ice Fire began to take affect on the Darker Dragon's scales, locking them so he could not move of his own free will. He then snarled and seemed to melt, leaving a shell of ice where his body used to be before he appeared on the other side of the cavern; his maw opened wide as he charged up his own breath weapon. Pure Darkness escaped his maw, swirling like a mix of Fire and Lightning towards Xeir Zith before he slammed his front left claw upon the ground and roared ferociously.
"The Lesson has only just begun, Child." A single word came to Xeir Zith's mind; a name, really. Draco.
With that, Draco's massive wings Spread out, and from the shadows of the Cave, a small platoon of Demons made from pure Shadow lurched forward towards the Silver. The twenty ofthem slipped through each other and around the rocks of the floor, heading for their target with demonic smiles and with laughter that would make a Hyena's laugh seem like that of a Baby's.
Getting tackled by the much older dark dragon was not exactly Xeir Ziths plan; but getting hit by his shadowfire was far worse, Rolling out of the shadowfires path. Xeir Zith shot back with her own icefire.
Moving backwards, protecting her only offspring. the silver dragon seemed to look for a moment, as if time stopped,. Her tail coiled tightly around the strange glittery rock, Xeir Zith stepped forwards, bringing her head up against the ceiling of the cavern, it began to shake. She had to bury her egg. A forlorn look was cast to the egg, befiore she nuzzled it, and for a brief second, something was inside that egg. Something... someone... important. The cavern began to collapse all around the Silver Dragon as she uncurled from the egg and made a dash for Draco, to tackle the elder evil dragon out of the cavern and into the valley beyond as the ceiling broke apart around them and caved the cavern in
Draco's Wing came around and blocked the Ice-fire, moving to slam back and open, shattering the frozen shell as he snarled. He then began to charge up his Shadow breath once more before that blasted Silver began to make the damn cavern collapse! "You imbecile! You will never live to see your hatchling if you destroy your egg!" Draco snarled before being tackled out of the cavern into the valley, where he moved his powerful legs and pushed off of Xeir Zith, his wings spread out as he straightened himself out quickly. He may have been evil, but he still understood the desire to mate; to have offspring, to see them. He'd seen the heartbreak before; and convinsed himself that it was something he never wanted to see again, let alone feel.
That then became a new source of rage towards the Silver; she'd made him see something similar to what he witnessed when his Little siblings were to hatch, and never did, again. And She'd done it to herself. With a raging roar, he turned and flew off to gather his thoughts.
As the cavern collapsed Xeir Zith shrieked again, once more firing her breath weapon at Draco. "You were not to be here to begin with!" She screamed, Elsa felt herself somehow be in two places at once as the Silver Dragon collapsed the cavern, she could only hear the two, not able to see the two dragons as she was more concerned with the roof crushing her. Within minutes it became an avalanche of snow, ice and rock. Burying Elsa within the remains of the cavern, her and the strange glittery rock. As she gazed on the strange rock she found herself moving towards it. She wanted to touch it. but as she reached for it, reality seemed to wake her up
Lilah nodded as Elsa explained the dream, the cavern collapsing around her woke her up. "That is what I call a nightmare." The Assassin said simply
Elsa nodded "I agree. But... why was I a dragon in it ?"
"Not a clue, shall we eat breakfast ?" Came the reply, a simple nod was given and the two headed for the dining room
Arendelle
Marketplace Assassin Den
Before Dawn
When her brother didnt return home as he said he would, it was later told past midnight that he went for a walk and couldnt shake the feeling of something at the Wolfe Mausoleum he had to check on, Serenity decided to go search for her brother and make sure he wasnt dead. So, the Bengal Tiger watched as men and women filed in and out of the refuge space before sneaking in, using her natural abilites at hiding and getting about unseen to pick up her brothers trail and wander into the massive tombs and many mazes of vaults.
The massive feline wandered the many vaults until she came upon a open stone door, an open heavy as fuck stone door. Shifting form as she stepped forwards Serentiy stepped into the tomb of Yaeko Wolfe, and saw her brother sound asleep on the floor before the alter where Yaeko laid in peaceful rest. there was no dust in the room and Serenity saw her brother had lost grip on his sword, had he fought someone ? She went to his side and rolled him onto his back. he was breathing, showed no signs of injury, just dead to the world from sleep
But there was a problem she had to get him back home. And the only way she could really do that quickly was by being in her natural form. Shifting into her Bengal Tiger form the four hundred pound cat then managed, somehow, to get Mark onto her back, then picked up her sword in her teeth, she then darted out of the tomb of Yaeko Wolfe after giving a brief bow to the laid to rest woman. It was time to take her brother home before their mother or aunt freaked out
Sadly that happened exactly as Serenity walked into the Den by taking the rooftops skillfully unseen into the home's courtyard. Now was the time for work to be done. Mark was out of it, and the twins were needed to take his place at the normal posts. But with Mark out of it, it meant no bird feeding that morning. Serentiy carried Mark on her back right to the den courtyard where her aunt was waiting. 'Aunt Blackie' stood there clearly confused as to why, Mark, of all people, was dead to the world on his sisters back
Seeing Blackmane there the younger tiger went right to a nearby bench and pretty much sat her butt down, Mark sliding off her back onto the bench as she shifted form and took the blade from her mouth; sheathing the thing as it then disappeared. Blackmane spoke "Where'd you find him ?"
"Passed out in Yaeko's own tomb" Came the reply, Serenity looked after her brother more than Serena did at times, it got to the point where only Serentiy knew what Mark did when he went out on his own, but because both girls were identical twins as humans, Mark couldnt tell that it was Serena that ratted on him to Snowfeather about the girl he was seeing briefly back in Egypt
"Why was he passed out in Yaeko Wolfe's tomb ?" Blackmane asked
"No idea, why not ask him ?" Senereity said snarkliy before wishing she hadnt spoken those words as she was suddenly on the frozen ground in a heap, her left cheek and chin were stinging from the sudden noiseless and without warning slap from her aunt
"Do inot/i take that tone with me young lady." Blackmane hissed as Serenity laid on the ground in a heap, tempted for a brief heartbeat to transform and attack her aunt, she simply nodded without a word however, she knew better than to get snarky with her aunt or even her mother unless the time called for it. For long moments nothing was said as Serenity laid on the ground a few meters from where she laid her brother on the bench, her hand to her face, Blackmane could move without getting seen as doing just that.
Blackmane stood stock still as it began to snow lightly. Finally she spoke. "I am sorry, Serenity, but even as an adult you must remember your manners and who you are with," She said softly coming to her nieces side and briefly the young woman didnt want to show the bruise that formed on her face as Blackmane brought a gentle healing magic to heal the briefly given injury. "Please, tell me what happened as best you can figure"
Serenity nodded and recounted her story, how she had found Mark and where, there were no signs of injury on her brother from what she could tell. "His sword was on the floor, he was at the foot of Yaeko's altar, but there wasnt any dust in the tomb so I couldnt really track anything or find enough clues to form a proper Vision of what happened, so I got him on my back, took his sword in my mouth, and came back here"
Blackmane was quiet a moment or two berfore nodding, she patted her niece on the shoulder and stood up. "Alright, I want you to cover for him then, go see what Elsa wants him for, normally by now he is feeding ther birds or something similar for her. Do what he does, within limits, after all, he is male, you are not"
"Thankgoodness for small favors" Both women smirked at the remark before Blackmane continued
"If she asks you why he isnt there, he is asleep, was up too late most likely. Her information might be able to piece together the Vision for you" Blackmane said
"Maybe." Serenity replied thoughtfully, "What about that Elisar girl, you know, the one from the brothel ?"
"There is a thought, Alright, I want you to go see to Elsa, do what she wants or asks, but be decreet, its bad enough you came in here as a tiger, I'm glad nobody noticed" Blackmane said
"I took rooftops" Serenity replied
"Good" Blackmane said, with a nod she then said "Get your brother in his room and put him in bed, dont worry of undressing him or anything, just get him into bed and throw the covers on him; When he wakes up he'll wonder briefly where he is, but we'll worry about that later. Once you do that find your sister, I want her to investigate the Brothel. Find out what she can of the Elisar girl there." It was strange, there were more Elisars around ? Not really possible, Serenity remembered something and she activated her left wristphone, Slicer had found a brief moment to get a good angle on Diana as she piloted the massive ship that docked the day before.
"What is it ?" Blackmane asked seeing how her neice was acting as the younger woman stood up and held out her wrist
"A shot from Slicer's camera from the ship, this woman" Serenity highlighted Diana as her aunt watched the video "Took over piloting the ship from Mark, the ship seemed to buck against him, but not her. I think it bears looking into, but I'm not sure why. her name apparently is Elisar, but that's impossible isint it ?"
"There are many families of the same name across the world, dont get too up in arms about it, have your sister Serena, go to the Brothel, find this woman, and chat with her, maybe she can shed some light into why your brother was asleep in the tomb" Blackmane said
Serenity nodded and once she had pretty much dumped her brother in his bed and threw the blanket over him she went to find her sister, then from there went to find the Queen as her sister had a job to do as well.
Arendelle
Talz District
Brothel
Just after breakfast
Serena arrived at the brothel as instructed, the large building had a gated courtyard, and yet Serena knew better than to sneak in, according to her aunt and sister, a woman named Elisar ran the place with a tight grip, yet the girls seemed well off. Taking a brief look about the elder Tiger stepped to the door and went inside. the first thing she saw were girls, many girls, and men, many of them Templars, typical, the girls got info, and money. Perfect. She spotted the desk and went towards it, ignoring many of the other girls until she stood at the desk. Serena wasnt there for pleasure, only business. with one girl inparticular.
Serena never saw a parrot watching from a nearby rooftop, a smile on the mans wicked face, his eyes aglow with darkness. Soon...
The girl at the desk looked up, This was one of the few places Marion would let her hood down, but still kept her scarf, especially now that Diamond had decided to make her residence in the center of her otherwise exposed sternum. Darned Arendellian Dresses, the clothing in England was better for covering depending on the season. Everything here was heavy, stiff, and showed off her chest as if it were the only thing good about her. She sighed and then smiled behind her scarf.
"Welcome to the Elisar Brothel." She greeted Serena with a warm voice, though her eyes were piercing and searching for info or weaknesses. "How may we be of service?"
Serena seemed slightly put out at the look of the place; Courtesans were normally young women, ready to please a man somehow. But here she was, armored up in her normal gear. the brown and silver leather armor glittered in the lights within the brothel as she half smiled. "Information" Came the reply, Serenas calm voice and piecing orange eyes made things slightly tense but not too tense like it was back at her home at that moment. "About last night. its said that your girls can get information about anything or anyone within moments of being told of an event or person. Last night my brother didnt come home until my sister found him in his ancestors tomb..."
Marion tilted her head slightly, the guise of Diana becoming more apparent with each passing second. "Very well...I'm sure we can give you the information you desire." She was about to go on when Serena mentioned her brother. A raise of the brow, a tilt of the head, and a repeat of the word "Tomb?" helped give the confused look its perfection.
Diamond stirred in the back of Marion's mind, and she quelled the Dragon for the moment.
"Who might your brother be, if you don't mind my asking?" She asked politely. Please don't be Mark ran through her head at least a thousand times.
Sadly it ended up being just that, "His name is Mark" Serena said, leaving out the last name, after all he did grow up with them, best to keep exactly who he was partly a secret, then again it was quite possible that Marion already knew exactly which Mark that Serena meant directly. "My sister didnt find him until nearly sunrise and bring him home." Serena set her hands upon the desk. With Diamond stirring Marion could easily see something more akin to a Bengal Tigers massive paws on her desk at that moment inplace of Serenas slender hands
"I was sent to find out why my brother was in that tomb." In truth she was sent to try and figure out why her sister was up in arms of their last name being used by a Brothel owner. But then she was also to find out what her brother was doing in the tomb anyhow; Orange eyes looked catlike and clear blue of a tiger as she took in Marion carefully, having never been given the womans name Serena had no idea who she was, but she was outlined in blue, an ally, so that was good.
Marion gulped at the name, but disguised it as clearing her throat. "I...can certainly have that looked in to. We document every piece of info that comes through here." she said, her choice of words a bit...well, y'know. She rang a bell and one of the younger girls too young to be a courtesan came up, she wore a similar outfit, but unlike the working girls, she lacked a collar around her neck.
"Go and see if there is any information on a man named Mark within the past...oh let's say week. And make it speedy! Our guest here seems to be...in a hurry." Marion ordered. The girl bowed and scampered off to where they kept all the info. Neatly stacked, alphabetized, time-stamped, everything. They were anally thorough. If they ran a Library, Mark would go bonkers with how easy it was to find information.
"Now then...while that's being taken care of, is there anything else you would like? Some tea, perhaps? Or a quick session with one of the girls?" never hurt to try and russle up business; besides, Serena's never seen her, so she was safe to ask. At least in her mind. The kitchen door was opened as another one of the younger girls whizzed by with a cart full of wines and other drinks; the smell of fresh meat being smoked wafting through the place.
"Or pehaps some meat?" She asked.
The smell of meat smoking and cooking made her nose wrinkle slightly, from what Marion could see; the tiger before her looked either hungry or recently fed. "Tea will do fine" She said simply in reply. The thought of meat briefly made her mouth water, but she ignored it, focus on the mission, get info of where her brother was; Then another thought hit her. Since Serena had never met Diana before, she was reminded of something and reached into her armor of her left side, and withdrew a image. "There is one more thing. Mostly out of simple curiosity" she said she handed Marion image taken from Slicers cameras, of Marion herself steering the Whitesparrow into its berth in the harbor the day before. "Merely curious, but do you know of the whereabouts of this woman ? My brother and mother are curious and want to know more about her, we know only she's with us in the Brotherhood... somewhere"
'Diana' looked at the picture of herself; it was a pretty good one; one she'd not mind hanging up on her wall one day, but then tilted her head in thought. "I've seen her come in here a few times to talk with the Mistress. Never much past that though." she said. 'Sorry mom...' she thought, seeing as now Serena would be looking to get in touch with Charity or Tiri. She called another young girl who then escorted Serena to a sitting room where she would be served Tea. Diana followed, and sat across from her, serving her the tea personally.
"It should only be a few more minutes before any info we have on this Mark of yours from the past week is pulled up. In the meantime, is there anything else you would like to discuss?" She asked.
Serena stepped into the sitting room and took a seat. She noticed a bird cage hanging near the large window to the south as sunlight streamed in. It was filled with birds, she was half tempted to try and bat at a few before quelling her inner cat from causing unwanted trouble. There was something though that Serenity had noticed on how the woman she spoke with at that moment was dressed, turning from the birds she spoke "Yes actually." She pointed at the pair of swords on one wall. Then to another next to them. almost as if they were memorials to someone. "It is repoted that this woman" she still held the picture of Marion in her hands, "uses two swords; swords like those..." But who would use four swords ? Well in this case soon Marion was going to be using six...
Serena put the picture away "Those dont matter. However..." She looked directly at 'Diana' Taking in the young womans clothing preference slightly confused. The scarf... "It is quite warm within this building. Why wear a scarf ?" Either this woman was the woman in the picture, or something else was up.
"Ah, I was afraid you'd ask that..." she said. "I'm...afraid that I've terrible scarring all up and down my neck and chest. Y'see, the Mistress took me in at her old brothel as her daughter after witnessing the house 'cross the street catch fire. I was the only one to survive." she said, gesturing that she was only about three at the time. Well, aside from the scarring, she wasn't wrong. "The mistress says that my voice will attract more customers, and that hiding my face will keep them guessing as to which girl I might be..." she added, a faint blush splashing across what was visible of her cheeks.
She'd rehearsed this. She glanced to the swords. "Those are the Mistress's, from an old life, she tells me." she said calmly before smiling under her scarf.
In the back of the young womans mind Serena's feline gut sensed deception, but she ignored it; for the most part it was the smart thing to do, she sat down as the girl requested to bring their drinks arrived. She had apparently accepted Marions story. "The swords look new, yet if they are from a past way of living, the owner keeps them well kept." Most swords needed repair or replacement after extended use. But the four swords that Serena could see, whivh were all Marions swords, two of them were originially Yaeko's own swords, the purple hilts and even brighter purple blades glittered like glass as a few sticks of incense burned by each giving the room a hookah like scent. Similar to how the Dens were smokey with incense at all times
"I am sorry for your loss" She meant it in a way. The loss of ones family was never easy. Her mother had told her how Mark came to them, sure they adopted him as their brother on paper. Snowfeather saw to that. But. "My brother once had a past, and a path laid for him to travel. But when it was young, the path changed... dirastically. He came to us. My sister and I welcomed him into our home. He was eight at the time... He liked my twin's training sessions more. the stuff we used he took great interest in."
She went thoughtfully quiet then. "I fear for my brother. Serenity found him in his ancestors tomb, asleep, his sword on the floor near him. No harm was to him in any manner, just sheer lack of sleep knocked him out... But the question is, why was he sleeping in his ancestors tomb ? His sword even drawn ?" Serenity had reported there was no dust in the tomb whatsoever. "What was my brother doing there ?" A few more minutes of chitchat while she waited for the info on Mark from the last week... yes that was good.
Then she spung the next question. "You mentioned the name Elisar, is that who runs this place ? The woman in the picture, it was said her name was Elisar ?" If this Elisar spoke with the mistress here at times, then Serena was in luck "When does she normally come in to see the Mistress ?"
Oh boy, more questions. She smiled and prepared herself. Might as well start with the swords. "Ah, yes. She takes great care of them, even taught me to do the same, for when she is ill or not around for the task. The Mistress is very busy." She was completely bull-shitting now, but members of the Wolfe Clan had been lying to people for generations; if anyone could lie, it was a Wolfe. And Diana, was one. She cleared her throat before continuing, on to her family. "I'm...it's fine; I've long moved on from my loss, I hope your brother has done the same, or is trying to do so.
As for the question as to why he was in the tomb, and for the Elisar questions, she had no real answer. Luckily enough though, there was a knock on the door as the girl came in with a few files in her hands. "As requested, Madame, everything on any man named Mark within the past week. I hope these will be of use to you." She said, bowing before leaving the room after refilling Serena's tea cup.
"Ah, thank you...here you are. I do hope you find what you're looking for in here. Do take a moment to peruse these, I'm afraid that I must excuse myself for a moment." she made a head nod that implied that nature called, hoping the Tigris before her would understand. She stood and left the room in a relaxed, albeit quick manner; just to catch her breath.
She gritted her teeth; dealing with Serena was harder than she thought; she could only divert attention now, and didn't want to cause anything unpleasant to occur and ruin the reputation of the brothel.
The good news was, it wasnt Serenity who Marion was dealing with; the young twin would have ripped the place apart looking for informatioin. Thankfully Serena was more level headed and calmer. Not as wild as her twin and though Serentiy liked to be in her Tiger form more often than not, Serena being there was also a good thing. They didnt want the kingdom to freak out... yet. When Marion mentioned the need to step out for a moment as Serena was given the files she sought for the moment the young Tigris nodded and opened the first, going by date she found the day before, last night actually. And focused on that one.
She found that her brother had gone to see Elsa, the two had dinner, a really nice affair with Diana present, and also Anna and Kristoff, then the five went to see the Northern Lights for Marks birthday. Wait it was her brothers birthday ? Will shit she missed it... again! She could still make up for it, he wasnt one to hold a grudge against family after all. After the Northern Lights Mark was spotted arriving at Blackrock Haven. The Wolfe Mausoleum.
Serenas brow furrowed slightly at mention of the tombs. What was her brother doing there ? there was report only of one person coming out, and it wasnt Mark, but a woman dressed in bright white and lime green. She went through the report again, the only mention of the woman in white and green was when she left the tomb, not when she entered. This raised more questions than answered. Very briefly a vision formed, but it lasted a few seconds from Mark's perspective, Mark speaking to the woman, whose back was to her, then nothing. No fighting, no information, just two people talking and the woman leaving ?
Diana returned after about five minutes, looking a bit refreshed based on her posture. She smiled and sat down across from Serena again. "I do hope you found what you were looking for? Any other questions would have to be directed towards your brother yourself, I'm afraid, in terms of what he was doing.." She said. She then cleared her throat.
"As for why we claim the name Elisar, I would suggest asking the Mistress; it is one of the few things she hasnt told me yet." she smiled, having thought up that lie on the way back to the room.
"Yes" Serena said "Mostly at least. However it raises further questions. There is no report of my brother leaving the tome, however, someone else was sighted leaving it, by the report, a woman. in white and light green. I cannot find anything further." And Lights magic prevented even Serena from trying to decern who Diana really was, but then again she really only saw a blue outline around her so she could trust her. her feline side sensed no further deception
She finished her tea and set the cup on the table. Then set the papers back down on the table as well. Her gaze went from the paper, the time of the woman in white and lime green leaving the door of the Mausoleum clearly visible to even Marion. "If my brother is awake, I am not sure he will want to speak of his experiences. Whenever the past is brought up, he changes the subject; it is a skill Mother wants him to break" Well, that wasnt good.
Mark never did like the past; always looking forward or in the now; especially when it came to anything having to do with the Wolfe Clan. Diana smiled and bowed her head. "We'll look into this woman in lime green and white for you, if we get any additional info, we'll send a girl out for you to the Palace." She said. "I do hope your brother learns to break his habit, it's quite the bad one." She added with an innocent tone.
Serena smiled and stood, "Indeed it is, Mother will break it, if not her than Aunt Blackie will. Either way, thank you, If I am not at the Palace I am at the Marketplace district Den, or Roughwater Den." She said. "Though I may return tonight after dinner for further info on someone mentioned in this report. And maybe speak with the Mistress" Well that would prove both useful and possibly insane. If Charity was revealed to be in Arendelle to Mark, trouble was to be had by the shitload. Infact if Mark were to hear his mother was in Arendelle shit would hit the fan, literally
Serena stepped to the door then, turning as she opened it. "If you can do me a favor by tonight, and get the last day of information on a woman named Elisar, she is mentioned in the report there. Would be nice to go over." Perhaps it could shed some light on what happened at the tomb. With that she took her leave of the Brothel as Marion saw her to the door.
Unknown Location
Africa
Light Dragon Graveyard
Midmorning
Kanwar stood amid the many pillars and gravemarkers. She knew many of these same names upon them, possibly all of them, ever since each type of dragon began warring with each other the Light Dragons had fallen one by one, Light's Court wasnt as big as it used to be, it used to dominate Africa and almost all of Asia before transfrerring by Lights magic to the Mythic realm, a realm outside of the mortal world she now stood in. Kanwar stood before one gravemarker, a light Dragon she knew dearly. One she saw slain by Draco himself, before he was met by the Wolf Queen. Before the Wolf Queen gave him his shadow magic, Draco was a basic Black Dragon and already very evil,. naturally so.
Kanwar stood for long moments in the snowfall staring at the tombstone and briefly seeing her dear friends smiling face before she heard footsteps of a dragon she had hoped would never find that graveyard. Speaking without turning around she said simply "I know why you are here, and it is not to pay your respects. I never thought a Black Dragon like yourself would seek out soliace in a place of burial" Kanwar was livid, but she kept herself calm, she knew things about Draco, for one, he did not have his body, she was present when Light seperated his soul from his body and sealed away his body in her vault under her palace in the Mythic Realm. "Why are you here... child ?" She asked him
Compared to her, Draco wasnt exactly a powerful dragon, he could wound her, but his magic was no match for hers, second only to Light herself, Kanwar was skilled with both blades and breathwapon. Even her wits were sharp. but if it was anything like some had feared; Like those who came before.
It was in cunning and wits that Draco maintained his advantage over most he quarreled with now despite his lack of a physical form. The distorted and older features of his human form stared sternly at Kanwar with a military-like preciscion, knowing her weaknesses were the same as any other Light Dragon, knowing how to exploit them if needed; with her in a bad mood as it was, she was easy to push over the edge letting him wound her if need be.
But he wasn't here for that, and for a moment, he made that clear by saying nothing as he walked right up next to her and stared at the grave marker. Evil he may be, but he did respect a good fighter; and this Dragon was one of them. His grim expression softened a tad before he spoke, his corrupted voice echoed by the screams of those whose souls he'd absorbed with his Shadow Magic.
"We are all but children, when one thinks about how old this planet is, really. Even Mother herself." he said calmly. Coal-red eyes turned to look at Kanwar while a Shadow Dagger appeared in his hands as they folded behind his back in his sleeves, hiding said hands from view for now.
Kanwar never looked his way, but she seemed nonchalant about him being there, she simply stared at who had once been for a brief time, her beloved, but was slain. Tersi was a good fighter, possibly one of the best, before Kalda became Lights champion, Tersi was the First Champion of Light, expertly trained and even very experienced yet slain by Draco she had made his . Finally she spoke, her voice stern. And full of apparently love for who she was speaking about. "His name was Tersi. You fought him, for a hundred days he dogged you, and you him. Until you were the victor. Even Mother had to commend your victory, as much as I dispised her doing so, she was right."
A boquet of lillies appeared in her hand as she steped to the tombstone and laid them against it. "Tersi and I were to be married by Mothers blessing. He joked of inviting you. Said it would be in good fun, two good fighters, celebrating together." She sighed then, her back again clearly visible to the Shadowdragon, giving the perfect opening to Draco. "We were to be married after he returned from battle with you and yours, he never came home."
Her eyes went gold as the pain set in, a single tear slid from her eyes as she turned, her hand out. pure energy flowing free from her hands. "Tell me, Draco scion of Noune, son of Tethir the Blackheart" She said, her magic grabbing at him and lifting him off the ground in rings of pure holy energy, "Why... are you... here ?"
Ah the holy grasp; it burned as it lifted him from the ground, and still he showed no sign of pain nor did he speak or make a single noise for the longest time. A low rumble emanated from his throat gently as his body turned to sludge and plopped to the ground only to reform in its own sickening way. He held a hand out towards the tombstone, and from it a small Demon of Shadow appeared, carrying a black rose. The demon walked up to the stone and placed the single black rose there leaning against the white.
"We all have our tendencies and rituals. I was here to perform miine. Don't tell me you haven't noticed the black rose I leave on every tombstone of each Dragon I kill?' he asked, not expecting an answer as he turned towards her; eyes solid red as they glared at her. Tendrils burst forth from the shadow of the tombstones around her and lifted her off the ground while he floated up and held his dagger to her breast.
"But if you mention my mother again; ithis/i will be joining her body in the place where I left her to rot." he said, harshly pressing the blade against her breast for a moment before he backed off and let her drop to the ground. "I may not be able to kill you out right; but give me a thousand years in this state and I can hack off enough peices so that it wont matter."
With that, his shadow began to bubble while he sank into it, preparing to leave. "Any other questions you might want to ask before I rid myself of your obnoxious presence?"
She simply stared at him with level golden bright eyes as his shadows held her in place before letting her free. When he started to leave she simply said "You saw her... didnt you ?" Her meaning the child of Xeir Zith, a child so pure not even the darkest magic in the known universe could touch her. "You know where the child is, dont you ?" Sure this was out of the blue, but Kanwar noticed a odd scent when Draco was face to face with her so close.
She could see he was also slightly unnerved by such a child so pure. His bodiless form wavered briefly "You fear what she could become ?" It was a simple question really, no gloating or anything of the sort, truly Kanwar was curious of what Draco was thinking. If this evil dragon got along so well with Jarius, why not her ? Then again Jarius was a chatty fellow for a Brass Dragon and loved to chat. Chatting with ones most hated enemy was possibly the dumbest thing to do or attempt but Jarius did it pretty much once a week
Draco was silent. He glared at the light dragon before him with her words, and his lip twitched. He vanished into the shadow, a dagger of corrupting darkness flying towards Kanwar. If it hit her it'd slowly corrupt her and turn her into a shadow demon under his control. Whether or not the dagger hit her was none of Draco's concern any more, and he was gone. His actions answered her question though; he's seen the child, and as of late, she was un corruptible.
Kanwar reacted simply by lifting a hand, catching the dagger between two fingers and flicking it away where it fell harmlessly to the frozen ground before fading into harmless smoke. She nodded. "He's seen the child... He fears her" She brushed a gentle hand on her lovers tombstone and then disappeared in a flash of golden light. There was someone she had to see.
Arendelle
Marketplace Assassin Den
Noon
Sunlight filtered through the window, the glass was frosted over slightly, only so far in order to get things a gentle almost underwater feel. the den was devided into five parts, the main living area sepreate from the main missions and recruits access areas. With the bedroom dedicated to the kids, in this case mark and his adoptive sisters, the twins 'beds' were actually mostly pillows still kinda intact. In fact when the girls went crazy with bad dreams or pillow fights, which happened pretty muce at least once a week. the'd go buy new pillows. Then again the girls, Serenity mostly, slept in their tiger forms at night, normal beds couldnt hold their weight if they were lucky. On the normal bed, which was Marks own bed, laid Mark
Another room was dedicated to Snowfeather and her belongings the girls werent allowed to touch; a few pieces of Eden were in there; most of them dead or inert. A third room belonged to Blackmane, but nobody knew if she ever used it, it was always locked tight. Another room was dedicated simply to the RC rigs the girls used, well Slicer normally was in Serenity's bed with her when she slept most nights rather then on its assigned workspace. But it didnt matter as Slicer was with Serenity at that moment, with Elsa keeping the Queen safe while Mark slept like a dead Egyptian king.
The main living area, or Commons Room, consisted of a massive kitchen, dining area and main family room or gathering space area. In all about three thousand square meters of living space. It was in the main eating area two people sat
The tension was thick, too thick. Thick unough to cut with a knife. Two sisters were locked in mental combat, a game of Chinese Chess. A game of extremely hard logic in the sense that Blackmane always hit hard with certain angles and unique questions that Snowfeather was almost constantly cluless on until it turned into triple jepardy, yet also lots of fun once one knew how to play it well enough with Blackmane.
A faint shuffling broke the silence for only a second before it returned, and for a while, it remained. Mark had woken up and was sitting on his bed; wondering just where in Arendelle he was before his vision cleared and he realized where he was. He stretched out and stood up. Someone had taken the liberty of removing his cloak and pants he saw, as well as his shirt; leaving him in a tanktop and his boxers. He blinked and looked down at himself, shaking his head. He went to his dresser and pulled out a fresh tanktop and pair of boxers, changing into them before putting on a pair of pants as well. The tanktop didn't do much to hide his scarred, muscular frame, but he didn't care.
The tension in the Commons room only heightened. One wrong move and either of the sisters could lose. Currently it was Blackmane's turn. Mark entered the room and made his way to the kitchen. Making sure his sister's weren't home, he reached the stash of Oreo cookies and snatched them without a sound. He took a few out, replaced the stash and then poured himself a hearty glass of milk. Mark looked over the chess board and his eyes became ringed with Silver; it seemed that it was his new norm as Kalda was constantly awake now.
"You're both thinking too hard." was all he said before he downed the rest of what one could hardly call a breakfast.
"Are we ?" Came the seemingly overjous reply, from Blackmane. The two had been playing what could have been Chinese Chess, if it werent for the massive gameboard that included apparently half of Aerendelle and most of London and all of Cairo, it was international chess at this point, the board was holographic and included many features found in chess, yet it also had many map of the world features, Cairo, London, Arendelle, what looked like the set from an old movie down in New Zeland.
How Blackmane made that place up, nobody knew. Ity was in fact the Courts of Light, a massive white crystal tower in the middle of beautiful mountains somewhere in the world... but where was a different question entirely. Blackmane was a thinker, and doer, she did stuff that people refused to do, most of the time as a up and coming Assassin new to the order she went on the truly suicidal missions, and her uncanny luck, feline grace, and somewhat unwanted presence made the missions she went on easier. If someone wanted the enemy dead and make it look like antoherp arty did it, but the location of the dead to be found extremely secured at the time back in the late 1960s this wasnt easy, most stuff back then was high tech, but not as hightech as it is now.
Snowfeather made a move, amazingly it was a overlooked pawn that Blackmane somehow or intentionally missed. "Promotion Queen" She said simply. Blackmane did just that, the peioieces were thrown together mostly out of their mystical magics and whatnot, a bit of yarn and bam you got a chess piece that looked like it somehow went unscathed during the Hiroshima bombing
Mark nodded to Blackmane's question and then moved to the kitchen again to make more food for himself; ever hungry. "So...why didn't anyone wake me up for the bird feeding?" he asked, noting the time, about ten after noon. "And if no one woke me, who fed them?" Those birds tended to go a little nuts if no one was there to feed them their breakfast. Cleaning a massive variety of bird shit from the courtyard of the Castle wasn't exactly the best thing to be doing, but one wouldn't have to if the birds were fed on time.
"Thank your sister, Serenity's intuition sent her looking for you well past midnight" Snowfeather said, as to who unclothed mark down to his boxers and tanktop at the time, well, only Ulnaus knew that. "She brought you home from what I understand, before dawn" Snowfeather then waited for her sister to make the next move on the hologprahic chessboard.
"I sent Serenity to aid Elsa in whatever she needed this morning. There are many questions raised of where you went off to last night and it made your sister worried so she went looking for you, thankfully she found you before you froze solid in the snow" Blackmane said moving a fith or sixth queen of her own pieces to a place on the board. "Of course she... was in her tiger form why she went in that form when two feet would have done the job nicely I have no idea."
Letting out a sigh he turned on the stove and cracked few eggs into a bowl to scramble them while a skillet with butter on it began to heat up. He let the butter melt and slide around the pan before he put the eggs in, adding flavor and also helping the eggs not to stick to the metal as he cooked, finding a spatula and a spare plate and everything else he needed while he cooked, yawning a bit.
"Well since Ulnaus isn't breaking down a door right now I'm assuming the birds have been fed by Serenity." he said calmly. Upon hearing that she was in her tiger form when she found him he paused, the smell of freshly cooked eggs wafting through the home for a moment before he sighed, shaking his head. Serenity does as she pleases most of the time, one day it'd get her in trouble.
Plopping the eggs on the plate and replacing them with bread, he quickly toasted the bread and then plopped it onto the plate as well before turning off the stove and setting the pan in the sink to be washed later. He poured himself more milk, and sat back down at the table. He left for a moment to get a fork and then sat down again. He stared at the board and raised an eyebrow.
"Why such a big board? You both know the game would be more intense with a smaller one, yes?" he asked.
In a game of chess it was always true, the smaller the board the better the score and the tighter the strategy. Yet with larger boards there were more playing pieces and in many cases larger 'armies' But there were also stacks of contracts, both for Assassin recruits and Mentor level Assassins or even Den Master level assassins witrhin the Brotherhood. Each part of the game board apparently represented a branch of the Brotherhood, and they were playing Chess, or at least a variation of it, uising those three regions.
"That could be true" Blackmane said as Snowfeather glanced towards what had to be a realtime satalite map of a traffic accident in progress before moving a piece to float ontop of it. holographic board or not, Snowfeather just took out one of Blackmanes nine different rooks. "But with smaller boards leave out infrormation that could be gained from larger startical angles" Basically she was saying 'you try playing chess on a 6x6 board and figure out how to put the possing king into checkmate before getting locked movement wise and get back to me quick as you can'
"But smaller boards also give grater satisfaction and greater scores, the pieces may be larger or smaller to scale with the board size, and if wanted, could mirror or multilevel the board" Snowfeather mused, that said Mark then noticed the levls of the chessboard were three, like floors of the den, only inthis case each level was holographic and the pieces were scattered on each level, and the rook that Snowfeather just moved was originally on the middle level, now on the bottom, in London board apparently
The car wreck in question on the holographic gameboard concerned a certain theif a dozen years before whose job was to steal the car, cause a wreck, and get away scot free, the thief had indeed done that, by stealing a cops radio, jamming their signal and then going for a brief swim. Marion was that good
"And yes, Serenity fed the birds in your place. Some of them freaked her out, but not so badly with Elsa there and Ulnaus keeping things civil. How you can do it she'll never know" Blackmane said simply. Staring at the board, it was her turn. All that was left was where Serena was.
"In the meantime, with Serenity with Elsa at this moment, I want you to go find Serena, I've a mission for you both and I think its time for you and Serena to have a contract within the kingdom together. You may be renovating the Wolfe Manor; but Serena and Serenity are your sisters. You need to spend time with them too. Not always in the manor or with the Queen. Understand ?" At his nod Snowfeather too nodded "Good, finish your breakfast, get dressed, and go find Serena. Try to not get eaten alive."
Location unknown
Aaetherspace Monument
The tomb had been long since cleansed, which meant that she had to make a new space to call home for tempoary means until she could take what was hers by right. So she had taken a monument and transfered it through her power into the Aaetherspace, a Monument, a castle of a sort. And because of their duty, there was only so much they could do. The ancient deathless woman sat upon her rotting throne with a bemused look upon her face as she saw Draco pacing clearly unnerved by his brief encounter with a much older dragon in the Light Dragon Graveyard. "I warned you she would ask." The Wolf Queen said simply; there was no mirth, no gloating, only dead in her tone. After all, she should have been long dead. "Visiting the Dragon Graveyard the same time she visited upon the death of her beloved that you slew in battle. You were planning to see her were you not ? But not expecting her question ?"
Draco snarled at that. "I had no intention of seeing her nor hearing her question." he turned to face her, glaring up at her with his coal red eyes. His military over-coat flared out as his power flared within him and he let out another snarl.
"The sooner we kill that child the better. No...the sooner iI/i kill that child, the better." he growled, turning his back as he began to go through the various ways he could kill her, slowly and painfully.
"When you saw the child your own magic could not touch her. How can you be sure that you have the strength to slay the one who fought you for a thousand years, let alone her child ?" The Wolf Queen thought aloud. "A child, so weak, yet, so pure, Her taint is in your magic" She rased a rotted hand, her own necromatic magic drawing from his, a shard of bright light. No larger then a shard of glass or blade of grass. "A child so pure, you worry about her now ?" her fingers seemed to light on fire when she touched the shard of light before snuffing it out. "The child is in the... care... of our friends and allies right now is she not ?"
Ingrid sat back in her chair, a thoughtful look on her face as she watched Draco some more thoughtfully before speaking anew "The child will grow in strength, with the right teacher that strength could be useful..." She mused then. A smuile playing upon her rotted face, she leaned forwards as a necromatic wolf wandered in and sat beside her. "The child we will worry of later... Or have you forgotten what it was like when you lost... to her mother ?"
Draco ignored the question of losing. It was not to her that he lost, but to the other one. He let out a roar and within a flash was mere inches away from swiping the Wolf Queen's head off of her shoulders, a more demonic, wretched side of his face showing, distorted and scaled and horned while oozing black liquid.
"What makes you think you can corruput something so pure? So innocent!? No, this must be done my way! Skin her alive, starve her, give her to my kobolds during the Late Winter I don't care! She must die!" he all but screamed at her, rising above her body like a thunder cloud, loud and powerful.
"And what makes you think that you can do it when your own power could not so much as touch her and your own skin to burn at her own touching of you ?!" The Wolf Queen stood from her thrown, her magic was older than his, and she could best him herself if she had to. But no, Draco was her creation, if worst came to worst, she could destroy him, But no, not yet. No, somehow she knew she wasnt going to be the one to end his life, If anyone did. She had no idea who.
"You are without what makes you a Dragon, Draco son of Tethir, Without your body you have no hope of even touching the child a second time without enduring severe pain." The Wolf Queen said, her steel blue eyes full fo life which contrasted her rotted flesh and ancient body. As she spoke she brought up a hand. In a shot of necramatic smoke the world changed around them
1 million years ago
Courts of Light
Dawn
New Years day
Energy slashed through the air as twin swords clashed with dark shadow magic, defending, attacking, breaking away, Strikes, parrioes, thrusts, and blocks were employed in random order to the point where the strikes were completely unothodox and randomised to the point of no form whatsoever. Yet the fighters held an energy unlike any other. Both Dragons had been going at the seemingly endless fight for a thousand years before the Shadowblack, Draco, struck, Xeir Zith brought her blades up to block, but he did not strike with his magic this time, no, he used his claws. Shadow magic laced claws ripped into her hands, destroying her swords and sending her flying backwards with a crash
Draco had turned the landscape into a twisted battleground of death and torment, black flames flickering to and fro and barely living beings being dragged into the dark abysss to join his legions. He wasn't even breathing hard, and had a look of extreme delight on his face, givin to him only due to the resiliance of this young Silver before him, giving him a great fight; one that he'd longed for for quite some time.
Without missing a beat the Silver Dragon shot to her feet and ran headlong at Draco, sliver trails of bright light followed her bright claws as she struck fast and furious, she needed to end this fight and soon! In a desperate attempt to end it quickly, she made a simple mistake: allowing the older, much more experienced Dragon to block her strikes with his own, their fingers entwined as they pushed and shoved in an arm lock to the death before they broke off again, each Dragon moving with such ferocity that mountains shattered underneath the strength of their blows. Their hands and arms locked defending themselves with their magic full force. The two stared at each other as the shockwave of their collisions resounded for miles around them.
The two closed together once more and again locked hands and arms, the elder Shadowblack pushing the Silver backwards, his face becoming more and more distorted as he aimed for a killing blow by biting out her throat.
Finally, the Silver smiled, a smile so impish it seemed that she was treating the fight as a joke. She spat in his face, and it wasnt even her icefire either, just plain old spit. And it was all the distraction she needed. Draco, briefly startled, had not expected such a move from a Silver Dragon. Silvers did not stoop that low, ever. But Xeir Zith had! She broke away from him, backtracking five paces.
Her spit burned in his eyes and he snarled in pain, that pain turning into a chuckle as a tendril-covered aura of shadow surrounded his body to protect him while he cleared his eyes. And when Draco had his vision back, he couldnt see her, instead she saw iHer/i. His eyes widened as they became red as coals, and he widened his stance before his magic faded and he snarled into a huff, drawing in a deep breath. This was unexpected. He didn't plan to fight iHer/i...not for another three million years. This was too early.
Light's armor formed around her body as her golden magic swirled around her body, the Elvish-looking armor glittering with purity, preciscion, and power. She looked down on the Fallen Dragon and snapped her fingers, shifting the entire battlefield to something else. Something...different. Somewhere Draco had been unable to get any of his corruption to in order to fuel himself. He was alone now, his power gone as the Mythic Realm swirled around them, degenerating into Light's beautiful crystaline Courtroom itself. Draco's armor fell away from his body and evaporated into mist as he took a few hesitant steps back, letting out a rather scared, defensive roar towards the All-Mother, who merely blinked.
Off in the distance, Xeir Zith laid against what was once a boulder decimated by the battle, Kanwar helping to nurse her wounds; the young Silver didn't have much in her, and now, neither did the old Shadowblack. The two watched the All-Mother and the Fallen Dragon as they stared each other down. Draco moved to let out another defensive roar just as some of his magical energy returned to him, his Shadow forming under his body once again, and it was then that Light, Mother of all Dragon-kind, moved. Moving with a speed that only she could attain and track, she was mere inches from Draco in less than an atto-second.
A single palm slammed into Draco's chest with such an explosion of powerful light that everyone turned aside or shieled their eyes except Kanwar and twisted, going straight through his body and coming out the other side, pushing out a much more ethereal version of the Shadowblack's physical body. The ethereal body looked on in horror as his physical body slumped and toppled over, the wound beginning to heal itself in its own shadow.
"Jaka wux geou qe lokria. Qe gethrisja!" Light's words formed a magic circle underneath Draco's body, forcing it to shift into its natural, mountain-dwarfing size before sealing it in ice, and then piling even more ice on top of it to form what would become the Northern Mountain Range of Arendelle.
Before she could seal away the soul, however, it vanished in to none-other but her own shadow while she was distracted with the body. Light cursed under her breath and raised her staff in her free hand, restoring life and prosperity to the land as if the battle of one thousand years had never taken place. The only thing unable to be replaced, were the souls Draco had taken away. Those would be lost forever.
The world began to drop away as the words echoed once more in Draco's mind: "Now you will be banished. Be gone!"
Present
Location Unknown
Aaetherspace Monument
Draco dropped to his knees before the Wolf Queen and panted harshly, cold sweat dripping down his face as his body whithered away until it was mostly mist, reminding him in yet another way that he was insignificant compared to the power he was so used to having, the power that could overthrow the Wolf Queen if he wanted to, the power to bring a five thousand year darkness upon the entire planet if he so desired.
All of it. Gone.
The Wolf Queen smirked, the rare sign of an expression on her face not unwelcome, but all the more unnerving as she sat back down upon her throne, not bothering to look at the snivelling Draconian Soul at her feet while she crossed her legs at the knees. "Or worse, death. We both know you seek someone important to yourself and your children, would your death prove to your beloved wife how much you love and miss her ?" Ingrid finished
Draco finally caught his breath and swallowed hard, standing before the woman who made him into what he once was, and he narrowed his eyes. "Fine...you can have the girl; but I watch her die. You can at least grant me that." He said, his voice shaking, but otherwise, the same, demonic, scream-echoed voice.
Ingrid smirked and nodded "You will have your chance at the girl. But until then, remember this. Death is not as forgiving as I, do not let me send you to its doorstep. Though he is inviting, you are too valued by your children, and your wife... and to me to lose you." the Wolf Queen said. She herself had wrestled Death for her very life. Which she partly had; though her body had rotted. her minions and magic kept her alive this long. She smiled then, "Besides. Who better to bring the girl to me than yourself or your children ? Or do you not trust your offspring to do their tasks as directed ?" At least the twins were still in bed, and Jr and Taris were still doing their job, Brutus... ehh. he made good beer so it didnt really matter there.