Caryn Smoke walked down the narrow hallways of Single Earth. Her flowing white robes slid along the marbled floors, creating a soft swishing sound that scattered all around the quiet area. She gently slips through a set of large double doors reminiscent of padlocked school doors. She slowly lifts her head towards the night sky and stares into oblivion. As the doors close behind her a murder of Ravens burst from the trees surrounding the compound and fly into the dark carpet of the sky. Tonight there are no lights in the sky, nothing to illuminate the dark. For tonight, no stars dare let their lights fall onto this world. Caryn thinks gently to herself, " That really isn't a good sign, no moon, no stars, no lights left to guide me... Macht, what would you have me do in these conditions, when I have nothing left..." Behind her a shadow flickers ,and a pale-white hand appears behind Caryn and very delicately caresses her neck. A delightfully mischievous voice whispers into Caryn's ear, " Now, now pumpkin, stop being so morose, and paranoid. She could little afford to attack you tonight." After a very brief moment of shock, Caryn immediately smacked away the hand with a bone-crunching snap. As she landed the hit, she bent down and twisted towards the shadowy figure. At this same moment she swings her left leg in for an effective kick. All of this occurs in lightning quick speed. Her stalker falls to the pavement and laughingly says, " Well done my dear. I have indeed forgotten how dangerous your magic becomes when you turn it on yourself. It really is too bad though... I like seeing the marks but yours heal far too quickly, and no scars either..." Caryn speaks with a resigned tone, " I told you a million times to stay out of my head." She absent-mindedly rubs a red patch of skin on her neck. " And what are you talking about? Tonight's as good as any other night for her." The shadowy figure stares at Caryn, and though his face is hidden by the moon-less night, he radiated confidence and a warm smile. " Not the way I heard it. You know officially the Tristes' are against you, but you make the mistake of assuming all witches and magical beings follow some hierarchy as you and your sisters once did, and still do in some form. I have it form a reliable source that you've caught the attention of some pretty ancient powers, not to mention people are beginning to see you as some sort of freedom fighter. A large batch of Tristes and witches, among other things, have gathered and are heading here for you, to help you." "What! But Stephen hasn't seen anything about this!" The shadowy figure replies, " Because you ask so much of the poor bird-shifter his visions are now limited to things that will happen in or around Single-Earth. He doesn't see anything because they aren't going to make it here. Adianna and her ilk are already waiting in ambush for them." Caryn alarmingly runs into the building and rings the silent alarm. The Shadow runs after her. She yells, " Why didn't you say anything earlier?" He stops her and finally his face is revealed under the flashing lights. In his eyes she sees the ancients attraction to her, whether for her blood or for something more, she wished she knew. he spoke, " I didn't want you to die."
Christopher looked out at the passing trees and hill-sides. It had been a very long time indeed since he traveled about in the human way. It was no longer safe his brother told him. There are too many people waiting for the magic resonance of teleportation, in other words, too easily traceable. Nikolas appeared with Ariel and Marguerite. He had taken the girls to the food cart on the train. They didn't say anything to Christopher; he hadn't spoken since that day. In his hand Christopher lovingly clutches the letter Sarah dropped before she disappeared. His dried tears still stained the paper. He opened it up, as he did every few minutes and read:
Dear Christopher,
I wanted to let you know that there wasn't a single day you didn't cross my mind. I wanted to come back to you so much but I just couldn't. I can't hurt people anymore Christopher. I don't want to hurt vampires, witches, or anyone else. I am not very good at these sort of things, but I wanted to ask if you still want me to stay with you and your brother. I have something really important to tell you I am just so, never mind. I'll tell you in person. I know it seems weird giving you a letter and standing right in front of you as you read it but I thought it might be better to tell you things this way in case I started rambling or backed out. I want you to know.
your Sarah,
Sarah Tigress Vida