In which the Seekers get home...
Exiel turned his key in the lock, pushing the door open and holding it for the Seekers behind him. "Welcome to our humble abode." The apartment was simply furnished with three charcoal walls and a dark wooden floor. Directly in front of them as they entered was a fourth wall that was painted half in blood red and half in forest green with various amulets hanging from it and glinting in the sunlight that streamed through the window.
"Where shall I put Zhalia?" Alice asked turning slowly on the spot; Dante, Lok and Sophie had already taken the sofa and Exiel was occupying the larger of the two chairs.
"You could just put me down." The woman in her arms gave the reply and Alice grinned.
"You're awake. Good; we were missing you." Sophie bit back a snort of laughter and the spiky haired woman placed her charge in the remaining chair, balancing herself on the arm. "Congratulations by the way on getting to Pendragon, Dante."
"Thank you." The man's rich honey coloured eyes were focused on the dual coloured wall.
"I mean it couldn't have been easy to get past Rassimov's camp and past all of Old Arthur's traps." Sophie rolled emerald green eyes skyward.
"Sounds like a little hero worship over there." She sighed. "Is your friend always like this?" Exiel shook his head lightly watching the interaction.
"She's usually worse." The trio shared a laugh and with Dante and Alice deep in conversation Zhalia got to her feet and headed over to the two-tone wall.
"So how do you and Zhalia know each other?" Lok asked the larger man who grinned wolfishly.
"We used to work together." Dante frowned choosing that moment to join the conversation.
"For the Organisation?"
"Yeah. We were two of Klaus' favourites. Until I left that is; that guy was seriously creepy."
"What about you two?" Sophie chimed in looking pointedly at Dante and Alice.
"Metz was her mentor too." The man answered slowly watching his old friend. Sophie and Lok leaned forwards in interest.
"You never talk about her." The Casterwill stated and Alice chuckled to herself.
"Yeah well we weren't exactly good friends." She said still smiling. "I left him and Metz after a…disagreement with Dante. Met Ex and we set up Valkyrie." The room fell silent.
"What's Valkyrie?" Lok asked noting the tension that had just entered the room.
"Rogue Seekers. They're not Foundation or Organisation and tend to cause problems for both." Dante narrowed his eyes at the Valkyrie members accusingly.
"You have a lot of Titans." Zhalia finally turned back to the group effectively diffusing the situation. Exiel and Alice moved to stand on either side of her.
"Green side's mine. Red's Alice's." He told her watching amber eyes glide across the amulets. "You feeling ok? You took a few shots back there."
"I'm fine. You kept the Titans Klaus gave you." Her voice was almost sad as she traced the stone on a Redcap.
"So did you." Exiel replied slipping a hand in the pouch hanging from the woman's belt and drawing out Gareon. Behind them Sophie gasped. Alice half-turned her head to see the green eyes fixed on a Sabriel amulet.
"Bubblelift." The dark-haired woman muttered lifting the amulet to the girl. "Sabriel was calling to you Casterwill. I don't know why but she wants to be with you. Hold out your hand." Sophie complied as if in a daze and the amulet was released into her palm, bonding instantly with the girl.
"Thank you." Alice shrugged the Casterwill's watery smile away.
"You grew up a little after all." Dante smiled proudly, resting a hand on her shoulder. She sent a gap-toothed grin as her eyes roved across his form.
"Yeah. You grew up a lot." The sound of breaking glass cut off any further conversation and Exiel cursed loudly.
"You see Al? This is what happens when you feel the need to interfere." He raged in his partner's face. Dante pushed him away from the woman but Alice re-closed the gap, pushing her face close to his.
"Shut up and grab the amulets." She pulled one from under her shirt. "Willowisp!" A tiny orange flame with coal black eyes and a fanged grin flickered into existence at her shoulder. "Keep them busy." Willowisp nodded, flitting out through the keyhole. "So. Any bright ideas on how we're getting out?"
...And promptly get attacked.