The days passed into one and then another, slowly trickling away with the tide rising and returning from where ever it came from.
One passed after the other. Karl's involvement was little more than a whisper upon the winds; not that it was greatly missed.
Diabolique slowly began to settle in as she was introduced to Toban and Mia, two humans who, although they did not come from the child's timeline, they did have experience with children. So it was secretly agreed between the three of them that the couple would help to raise young Diabolique to the best of their ability.
Days passed as the child began to learn of Haven: how the system seemed to work, who to stay away from, whom to befriend, the many languages of Haven and its species. Though, through it all, one was watching from afar. Karl.
He studied the young child - her movements, her actions - as he plotted and planned, for there was a set timeline he was to follow. The only problem seemed to be the child's attitude, yet somehow he knew breaking her spirit would spell disaster from the beginning. No, he would have to persuade her, or place the fear of the gods into her. The latter sounded better.
Tolan found himself wincing at the as the suns glared down upon his unprotected eyes. Blinking, he allowed himself to adjust to the bright light. He could hear the splashes of the red sea as it greeted the golden sand. Flexing his toes he met the sand that had pooled upon the small step before stepping out onto the beach.
Glancing around at the view of the forever subtle purple sky and twin suns he found himself smiling slightly - the view always brought him peace.
Setting off towards the rocks that would soon greet the forest he went in search of a young child, the youngest on Tullan and residing in Haven.
It didn't take long at all, for recently it seemed Diabolique had found this little thinking spot. Just where the sea met the sand there stood three boulders, each one varying size. Sat upon the tallest, some mere five foot in height, sat Diabolique with her knees pulled up to her chest, bare feet resting against the dark brown rock as she looked out to the sea and she looked as though she was contemplating the world.
"Child?"
Hazel eyes turned to meet Tolan's own with unshed tears that were quickly blinked away.
"Yes sir?"
"Now none of that child, my name is Tolan, we've been over this," Tolan huffed as he sat upon the lowest rock.
"It's informal," Diabolique finally voiced. Tolan smiled though not the kind that Diabolique could see; it was just what he was waiting for. It seemed the child was painfully polite.
"Then perhaps Uncle Tolan? Or grandfather?"
Diabolique looked down at the older male in slight shock. This was not something she was expecting at all.
"Grandfather Tolan? Seems strange," she shrugged.
"Well you don't like informal so this is a much easier step, don't you think?" Secretly, Tolan had decided that giving the child a family base was the best way to go, for she was too young to latch onto another by being in love, unlike the others. So it seemed a family was the next best thing - why not start at a grandfather or uncle?
"As you wish sir... grandfather," Diabolique muttered as she looked out towards the sea, thinking silently how much things were changing so fast here.
Yet unbeknown to the two they were being watched, for in the highest tower of Haven stood Karl in the shadows of the window.
"This was not planned," came a silkily sickly voice from the corner of the room.
"I know, she's gaining support around her," Karl replied to the shadowy form of a large seven foot male.
"Deal with it, she is not to be side-tracked Karl, she is to gain support, be taught the ways, and have the planets run in fear of her." He decided not to say that she was to bow to him. Karl winced at the cold voice of the 'group's' leader as he unconsciously stiffened.
"As you wish. I shall forward the teachings for the child, though it will take time. She will learn."
The shadow studied Karl with sharpened, cold, black eyes as he huffed. It seemed Karl would have to be watched more closely in the future. He was going soft, and that was not something they could, nor would, allow at this most important time. If it came to it, Karl would have to be eliminated. Surely another would be willing to gain what Karl had.
"See that you do, Karl."
With a freezing rush of air, the shadow was gone leaving a shivering fearful Karl. It seemed immortality was not all it was cracked up to be if you still feared your own leaders.