Spirit and Soul

Re-examine all that you have been told... dismiss that which insults your soul. - Walt Whitman

West Nitespring had changed in the months that it had been under the dark wings of the 12 Crows. The 12 Crows had prospered from the 'calamities' that had befallen the citizens of the city. Crime rates were up; Missing persons reports were at an all-time high especially children; Reports of demon attacks that had never been reported were now suddenly happening across the city. The now once thriving city on the southeastern port of the Sinese peninsula was no longer that shining haven for mages and non-mages alike. No one was out on the streets after dark. Fear gripped the citizens that they would be the next missing person.

Boots and heels hit the pavement in the summer heat of the evening. Three mages stood in the middle of a main street that was desolate. Storefronts boarded up for the night. It was barely six o'clock in the evening. "Well this isn't at all what Piper describe West Nitespring as being like. She said it was hustle and bustle 24/7. Now where am I supposed to shop at? It just now 6. Store should be at prime operating hours." Evergreen huffed with her fan out.

Freed looked around the downtown area. There were all kinds of stores that all three of the Thunder Legion would have enjoyed visiting but for some reason they were all locked up tight as the sun set. As if people were afraid of being out here at night. "Hmmm, you're right Ever this isn't right. This area of the city should be busy with people."

Bixlow floated down and hopped off his totems, "Literally guys there isn't a soul here in the down town area. It's a ghost town here. Piper said the down town area is the place to shop and get some good Sinese grub."

Shadows reared up and seized control of the Thunder Legion before they realized what was happening. "Well what do we have here? Lost little souls for us to tear from the living body?" A deep laugh rang out.

"No. They are rats for me to toy with for my demons, Martinez." A weird little laugh came from the opposite side.

"Shut up you idiots! The woman and the green haired man are too beautiful to mar. We'll sell them into slavery. As far as the knight, I'll have to see his face first. The master has an order for slaves for Pergrande." The third voice smoothly with a slithering his said.

Bixlow heard that third voice. The smoothness made his skin crawl but what really got him pissed was that they were wanting to send him and his friends to Pergrande. He'd rather die fighting that go there. He knew his brother Zen was a gladiator there for most of his life and he'd be damn if they were sending him there. He couldn't see any of the three mages he could only hear their voices. The shadows around them were too dark and constricting.

The three inside the shadows heard sounds of battle then the shadows receded. Leaving them with a clear view of what happened. Astrid stood there in her billowing cloak with her own shadows holding one figure. "I'm sorry I didn't get to you in time, but you can't stay here you must go back to Magnolia and tell Sam what is going on here. Tell him I'm ok, but he needs to get down here as soon as he recovers. I tried to contact the human shadowquip without success. I need him as well. My shadows are powerful, but he can reach deeper into the Voids. Strauss is killing the city. Taking the people as slaves, souls, blood sacrifices. Using the ports as ways to get things in and out of here. It is awful. They are smuggling out rare creatures or slaughtering them for their parts. They have control over the government. My shadows will get you to Bosco but you will have to get yourselves to Magnolia."

Without a rebuttal or a thank you, the Thunder Legion was pulled away into the shadows to Bosco and dropped them in the northern mountains of Bosco. "Well did anyone feel that that was a little cryptid?" Evergreen asked

"Definitely on the weird side." Bixlow agreed as he looked around the new surroundings.

Freed was deep in thought about what had happened, "While we were on that long mission, something dubious happened. Let's get this information to Laxus and this Sam person."

"Wait isn't Sam Piper's guild master? I remember her talking about him." Bixlow added.

"Could explain the creepiness factor in West Nitespring if something terrible has happened." Evergreen said.

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Lucy woke up with the sun streaming into her bedroom demanding that she wake up. She stretched and yawned, feeling a solid warm body next to her. She tried to detangle herself from the poison dragon slayer but was only pulled in tighter as he nuzzled into her hair while growling. Lucy giggled at the affection and possessiveness. "Sweetie I'll give you five more minutes then you HAVE to let me up, k." She told him as she settled back down into his long tone arms and body heat.

Erik didn't even open his eyes. He wanted his Tink next to him. She was comforting to him and warm. He growled back, "No I'm going to keep you here as long as I want you and I am staying in this bed until I finish claiming you."

Lucy laughed, "I'm all for staying bed with you, but I have to pee. So if you want me to pee in his bed, which is gross, you need to let me up." That confession got an immediate release.

"Fine. Bathroom privileges." He growled as he burrowed deeper into the blankets and pillows, making a cocoon.

Lucy knew he had more reptile characteristics than the rest of the dragon slayers. He got cold easier and enjoyed cuddles more because of the heat. She looked back at his 'nest' and shook her head as she went into bathroom that joined her master bedroom. She looked in the mirror before she left the bathroom. Her eyes went wide as she saw the faint outlines of a jade green dragon swirling at her shoulder with its head just about her heart and its tail wrapping around her arm to her elbow. She grinned from ear to ear. She was elated to know that she belonged to him and he belonged to her. She was glad he finally got it through his thick head she didn't care about his past or the fact the he could give her biological children. She wanted to share her life with him and children can be adopted. She brushed out her blonde hair, pulled it up in a high ponytail, and made her way to the kitchen. She needed coffee and food.

Erik grumbled when he realized his Tink did return to bed when coffee filled his nose and her happy tinkling of her soul entered his ears. He decided he better get up. He untangled from his blankets and pillows and pulled on her pink fuzzy sleep pants that were too short for him and just a bit tight in the waist. He walked out into her modern kitchen and took in the sight of his Tink buzzing around the kitchen making breakfast. He saw his mark peeking out from her left shoulder down her arm to her elbow under the oversized tee she was wearing. It made him feel an array of emotions one being lust and the other love. He looked around her kitchen and saw the small herb planters near the stove next to the fridge. It had thyme, rosemary, parsley and…belladonna, hemlock and devil's ivy. She took some of the poisonous plants and crushed them up in a mortar and pestle and added them to his coffee. Tink handed him his coffee, "Looks like someone decided to do the rise and shine thing today."

He gratefully took the coffee and grumbled back, "I will rise but I refuse to shine, even for you Tink."

She gave him a naughty look, "I'm sure I could do some things that would make you shine." She winked.

"Mm mm, Sunshine you aren't going anywhere for at least two weeks until that mark get set nice and deep and rich saying that you're all mine." He purred at her. He cursed in his mind at the damn fuzzy pink pants making him really uncomfortable.

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Sylvia walked out of her room to go down for breakfast. She stopped by Catrina's room first to check on her. She pushed the door open and found her room empty. She frowned. She knew it wasn't like her granddaughter to stray far from her since she freed her from the Blood Hunters. She went over to her other granddaughter's room because sometimes Catrina would sleep with her. Sylvia knocked and no answer. She opened the door to quite the site. Not a site that would shock any Boscan native. She cleared her throat, "Alexa! Is Catrina in there with you Nick and your pink haired friend?"

Sylvia seen some movement but then heard the muffled voice of her granddaughter, "No Grammie! Cat doesn't like sharing pleasure like this. Now if you don't mind we would like to finish what we are in the middle of doing."

Sylvia pulled the door shut and shook her head. She knew her granddaughter were the complete opposite. Catrina was the daughter of her first daughter Tess and that detestable man she married, Strauss Dresdan. The thought of that man hurt her heart knowing that he killed her oldest daughter and almost in a way killed her oldest granddaughter and her youngest daughter was the mother of Alexa who didn't inherit the seith magic but her mother was killed when their clan was destroyed when the girls were the age of six. Sylvia raised them like sisters. She watched as they got older that Catrina started getting dark streaks in her hair. When she was twelve, Sylvia figured out that Strauss implanted a shade inside of Catrina. It took all her power and Alexa's fire to rid her of it. Sylvia watched her do terrible things to souls and she even ate one. That is what tipped her off to the shade. When the shade was removed, her hair was a golden blonde again.

She then allowed the girls to strike out on their own and live at the White Sea guild. This allowed them to expand their magic. She remembers training one of Arman Pradesh's sons. She remembered how talented he was with his seith magic. He was very powerful at a young age. Sylvia hoped that he and Catrina would meet and become a couple and give her great grandbabies that had 100% seith magic. She even sent a letter to Arman about getting the two youths together, Arman never responded.

Sylvia remembered the day that had all her hopes dashed when she went to the White Sea guild to pick the girls up for Summer Solstice. She saw Catrina talking to a tall gangly green haired teen boy. She saw how taken her granddaughter was with the boy. Sylvia knew the boy wasn't a seith mage. He was from Clan Kitsune, a Grass Sea clan. She cursed internally when she seen a tiny green thread between them. Sylvia knew that that meant. It enraged her and it made her plans to have Catrina marry Arman son or at least be promised. She growled, "Catrina!"

Opal looked as her younger sister descended the stairs, "What has you deep in thought sister?" Sylvia has a scowl on her face. She knew she was thinking about Catrina. She knew that she frustrated her sister the most because she didn't follow any of her plans or schemes. Opal was the sister who saw the future and Sylvia helped souls with their pasts but that there was a reason why her youngest sister earn the moniker, Sylvia the Gray. It wasn't because of her hair color. Sylvia dabbled in dark side of the seith magic as well.

"She didn't come home last night Opal. That boy is in town as well helping that new Kitsune soul." Sylvia barked.

Opal smiled. She knew who 'that boy'. Catrina's one. Opal knew her niece had been looking for him for a few years now. Opal has always known who it was and she also knows how much Sylvia despises him. "Sister dear, you know what will happen if you interfere with those two…"

"Yes! The Lord and Lady will demand something from me." Sylvia grunted.

"So why are you still harboring ill will toward the Fashion boy. He's from a good thriving clan. He has a mastery over animals that no one can match. What is the problem with him?" Opal asked wanting to finally know what the issue was.

Sylvia narrowed a glare at her sister, "He's not a seith mage, Opal dear. How you like it if Nick brought home someone that wasn't up to your standards, hmm?" she ended with a raised eyebrow.

Opal snickered at her sister, "Really? That's why you don't like him? He isn't a 'seith mage'. I hate to tell you this, Syl, but big. Fucking. Deal. I don't care who Nick wants as long as he is happy. It could be a fucking mermaid with a tail and everything or a minotaur. Frank and I don't care. You're the one getting between Catrina and her happiness." Opal said with a smile and sipped on her tea.

"I had proposed a perfectly good seith mage for her to meet…" Sylvia started.

"Arman Pradesh's son. The one that you trained. Not a chance there sister. There is something else in the future for that soul…" Opal tapped next to her left eye, signifying that she seen something in the future regarding that man.

Sylvia crossed her arms over her chest and huffed, "Fine! I'll stay out of the children's business."

Opal retorted, "That's great, Syl. The other problem is that you still see them as little girls. They aren't. they are grown women. Let them find their own way like we did."

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Cat stirred on a hammock in a cabin that was messy. She snuck into the house and managed to get a key from the pink haired guy Lex and Nick were with so she could crash away from here. She noticed there was a blue cat on her. She poked the cat "Hey kitty, you're on my bladder and making it hard for me to not pee myself." The blue cat stirred and floated up on white wings. Cat tried to get out of the hammock but ended up face first on the floor. "Ok, note to self, don't sleep in a hammock. Hey cat, where is the bathroom in this pig sty?" She asked as she looked around the bachelor pad. It was messy. Pots and pans in the sink, dirty laundry all over the place."

The blue cat rubbed it eyes and looked at her, "Lushie, why are you here and where is Natsu?"

"I'm not whoever Lushie is. My name is Cat and Natsu stayed with my sister and my cousin last night. I crashed here to get away from my house because I wanted to be alone. Bathroom or I'm gonna pee in the sink." She leveled at the flying cat.

The blue cat floated over to a room off the main room and pointed, "In there, sheesh. My name is Happy by the way."

"Great thanks, Happy the flying cat." Cat called out as she shut the door. She looked down at her dress. It was a little wrinkled but it wasn't torn or stained. She'd return it to Lucy later today. She came out still in her dress. "Happy does your friend Natsu have any clothes that are clean I can wear?"

Happy flittered over to the pile of 'clean' clothes and brought Cat some baggy white pants and vest. She didn't have a bra. She looked around and found a tee shirt. "This will do for now. Thanks Happy. By the way how can we talk?"

Happy talked to her while she showered and explained what exceeds were and how they liked being around dragon slayers. "Hmm, sounds interesting." She braided her hair and pulled the tee shirt over her head. It didn't smell too bad and the baggy pants were too big but she tied them as tight as she could. She left after thanking Happy and heading to Lucy's.

Cobra smelled the sweat of flame fuck before she even knocked on the door? "Tink I'm not in the mood for bestie friend flame fuck and when did he start using the door?" He growled as he sipped on his coffee and finished his French toast.

Lucy came around the island and kissed Erik on the nose, "He probably wants some food. I'm sure of I tell him about what's going on he'll leave."

Erik was not in the mood for another male being near his mate even if the male was queerer than a three-jeweled bill. Tink was his and he wasn't in the mood to share right now. He got up and left his unfinished food on the bar and retreated to the bedroom. He brought his coffee with him. He ripped off the constricting pink fuzzy pants and crawled back in bed.

Lucy opened the door surprised to not find Natsu but Cat dressed in Natsu's clothes. "Uh…good morning Cat. Umm…is there a reason you're in Natsu's clothes?" She stood to the side and left the other blonde in.

Cat came in, "Uh…well…I slept as his place because he was at my place with my sister and cousin. I didn't want to go home and deal with that shit or Grammie. I came to return your dress. It's a little wrinkled, but otherwise its fine." Cat notice the green dragon going down her left arm. "Erik got his head out of his ass did he?" Cat said with a sly look.

Lucy giggled and Cat heard a very loud growl from the bedroom, "Calm down sugar tits! I'm about done and she can go back to taming her dragon." Cat looked back at Lucy, "So thanks for the dress, I'm gonna head to the guild, maybe see you in a couple weeks." Cat said and hugged the other blonde.

Cat left the condominium area of Magnolia started walking without a destination even though she told Lucy she was going to the guild. She walked until she reached a park with a large tree in the center. She decided to sit on a bench and people watch. It was one of her favorite past times even when she was a Blood Hunter. As she sat there, she drew back inside her memories of her past.

"Catrina!" Cat heard her Grammie screech out her name. She looked up at Beck and gave him a peck on the lips. She enjoyed being around him. He was soothing to be around. She didn't have to put up any fronts. She could just be herself. She hustled over to Grammie to save herself from a tongue-lashing. She wanted a happy Summer Solstice. "Catrina, why were you with that boy?" Grammie was giving her the third degree.

Blue eyes met the older gray ones, "Because I like him. He has a mountain lion from near where we are from. He lets me play with the lion."

"You stay away from him. He's not good enough for you, you hear me. He's not even a seith mage"

"Yes Grammie." Cat sulked.

Cat let a tear slip down her cheek at that memory. She loved her Grammie but in a way hated her. She kept her away from her one for all these years. She looked up at an older couple across the park. She could see the love they radiated. She wanted that. She's wanted that for years, but only realized that now because she had to hide her feelings for anyone or anything. If she showed any weakness Grendace would smother it, kill it, anything to keep her in line. Now she was free, free from the Steel Council and could love anyone Grammie approved. She frowned at that. She didn't want to fill some mold Grammie had in place for her. She found about a few marriage proposals her grandmother sent to the Ambassador of Bosco for one of his sons. Cat knew which one it was too even though they never met. She didn't want some man she never met. She didn't know why Grammie did that. She wasn't a princess or heiress. She was a weapon. Cat was trained for extracting things whether they were physical or those hidden in the souls of her targets. Weapons were made to kill until they were useless then they were either discarded or repurposed. That's where she was in her life. That's why she wanted to be a guild mage. She was repurposing herself from assassin to someone who could help people.

Cat had sat there to notice that the sun had gotten higher in the sky. She refocused on the people around her. She felt a fuzzy head nudge her arm. "Meow!" An orange tabby with golden eyes demanded to be pet sat beside her. "Well hello there. What brings you here? Are you here to commiserate with me?" She asked the tabby as the tabby rubbed into her hand and started purring. Cat noticed a golden color around the tabby's neck that had amber stones faceted in it. The Tabby got up abruptly and ran off but not far. It seemed to be beckoning Cat. The blonde got up and followed the tabby. It trotted off staying just ahead of cat. It led her across town then out of town to a clearing in the forest.

Two cats lounged in the clearing. They were massive. Coats so black they were blue. One opened its eye and looked at what had intruded upon its slumber and went back to sleep in true cat behavior. It didn't give a shit as long as it wasn't being bothered. Cat felt the magical energy. She recognized the large cats. The orange tabby was no longer in the clearing. She turned to find a tall beautiful woman in a long gauzy dress with a golden torc with amber set into it. She had golden concentric eyes that were kind yet held a deadly edge to them. Cat immediately fell to her knees and bowed her head. "Catrina my how you have grown since the last time I saw you. You wouldn't remember but I was there when your grandmother and sister removed that nasty little shade your sperm donor left you."

She placed a hand on Cat's head. "Stand up her Catrina. I brought you here to this place to tell you that your grandmother cannot dictate to you who you love. Just as she could not dictate how you used my gift of the seidr magic. All seith mages have the abilities to see souls, possess souls, and help the lost souls move on. However, you my dear Catrina are different. You have done something that hasn't been accomplished in centuries by a mortal. You have practiced battlefield seith magic where you give those who have fallen, the ability to take revenge on the one that has harmed them, Soulfire. You were able to taken hundreds of souls, place them in beads, bring them somewhere safe, and give them a funeral fit for one of the old kings. You need to be proud of yourself. You have matured into a lovely young woman who regards her comrades with respect. For this I want to grant you a boon." The wind picked up around the two feminine figures in the clearing. "I, Freya, Mistress of the Chosen, Possessor of the Slain, grant you Catrina Sinclair the powers as my champion, Maiden of the Chosen. Guard your powers well, child."

Cat didn't know what to say. She was dumbfounded that the Goddess had chosen her to be her champion. She fell to her knees again, "Thank you my Lady. I promise I won't fail you."

Two ravens flew into the clearing and landed in front of Cat. They bobbed their heads at her taking her in and squawked at her. She didn't know what to do about them. She saw Freya moving her feet to shoo them away, "Go away you two nosy bird brains. Tell my husband that he if he doesn't keep to himself I'll make sure I take his other eye and hide it somewhere he won't find it this time." Freya laughed. "Now stand my Maiden. You must find your Vitki. This will strengthen your magic and his. You already know who it is. Don't worry about Sylvia the Gray. Grammie and I go way back." Freya winked and faded into a golden shower as well as the two sleeping cats.

Cat stood in the clearing alone. She felt no different than she did before. She looked down on her right hand she noticed a black trisquel. Nothing fancy just simply sculptured lines. She realized that the sun was starting to set. She had been here for the entire afternoon. She tugged at her baggy pants that were sagging little. She didn't know where to look for him. He wasn't from Magnolia. A raven appeared again. He looked at her again with a bobbing head and cawed at her. It hopped away and looked back again like it wanting followed. Cat took the hint.

Beck was returning from dinner with Vander, Kaleb and Presca. He smiled to himself as he recalled the friendly amount of teasing that went around the table. There was still little bit of sunlight left of the day this late in the evening when he noticed an elderly man with a cane. He seemed lost. Beck walked over to him to offer assistance that's when the younger man noticed the older man was blind, "Good evening sir. Do you need some help?"

The older man startled a little and looked in the direction the voice came from, "Oh yes. Thank you young man. My wife seems to think it funny to hide it from me when she thinks I'm being a busy-body." The elderly man cryptically said.

Beck gave him a puzzled look, "Hide what sir?" he asked as he reached out and settled one of his large hands on a frail elbow.

The old man laughed a whimsical laugh. He turned at looked at the younger man as if he had two working eyes and studied the younger man. He reached up with a gnarled weathered hand and stroked his beard.

Beck should have felt uncomfortable but didn't. He was used to getting long looks from strangers because of his unique look. He had one blue eye and one yellow eye; his green hair accented them and his skin tone. His physical stature was impressive as well, but then again when you wrestle with bears and other larger creatures you need to have the brawn to do so, but he was a gentle giant when he cared for his sick and injured.

The older man finally spoke, "You remind me of me when I was young and full of vim and vigor. I bet you're a lady killer too, aren't you." He winked which was odd since there was no eyeball to fill out the socket. "Well son if you're going to escort an old man back home let me at least introduce myself. My name is Harbard."

Beck smiled at the blind man, "Beck, sir. Nice meeting you. As far as the ladies, I wouldn't turn any away, I mean I am from Bosco, but there is just one that my heart wants." He admitted to the stranger.

The old man mused as the continued walking, "Ah yes Bosco where pleasure is pleasure. Tell me son why are you here with this old man and not with the one your heart wants." He pushed.

Beck thought about why he wasn't with Cat. He never pushed the issue with her because if he did she would run further away. He knew she had no issues with him or his magic but her Grammie did for some reason she would never talk about. Then she disappeared. He found out through Kaleb that she was recruited as a Blood Hunter and he just let her go at that point. He didn't want to endanger her. He had heard what they did to Vander and Presca. Now he had a second chance with her but she was like a feral animal, he had to let her come to him. "Well Harbard, she's complicated woman and her family has an issue with my magic…"

The old man snorted, "Ha! Because you can't see human souls? My boy your magic is every bit the same as hers in fact it compliments it and will make you more powerful. Think about how your magic works son…" A raven appeared on the old man's shoulder. It squawked at Beck. He turned around to see Cat running towards him in clothes that obviously didn't belong to her.

"Beck!" He heard as she launched herself into his arms. He wrapped them around her and felt her arms go around his neck as she buried her face into his chest. He kissed the top of her head as he chuckled, "Hey you. You decide what you're doing yet?"

Crystal blue eyes looked up into his bi-colored ones with a blush in her cheeks, "Uh… yes, and I don't care what Grammie says. I want you. I always have, but we have to talk about some things first."

"I figured. You're like a wild animal sometimes with your emotions. Uh, I need to finish getting…Harbard…back…" he looked around and the old man was no longer with them. He disappeared as if he was there. He looked on around and saw a raven, which cawed and flew away.