Curse of the Fallen Quest: Ring Bearer's Trilogy

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"Okay, Aria," Christian said, his voice even and calm. "Tell me who dies." I grabbed both hands into my own and stood in his way, "None Christian, not if we can help it!" I turned my head, watching Joseph and Lance wrestle on the ground. "If we kill him, it will take us longer to wait for him to return...." Kat's voice cut me off midsentence. She obviously had won over whatever it was inside her. For that I was thankful, relieved beyond words that she made it alive. Now to cure Anna..
"Lance is mortal."
Staring at Kat, the words sank into my brain slowly.
"M-mortal?" No, he was vampire, even I could see his fangs!
"Oh shit!" Moving, I grabbed for Joseph and missed. "Get off!"
"Aria," It was Lance, calling out to me.
"Please, help," he sounded bad off.
I grabbed Joseph this time and yanked him backwards away from Lance.
"HE CAN NOT DIE!" I glared at Joseph and the others. "If he died, we'll be fucked!" The smell hit me first, "Oh my god! What is that?" I backed away a second, my eyes scanning him until I found the open wound. It was as sickening to see as it was to smell.
Gulping down some air, I moved forward cautiously and knelt down beside Lance. "I..." I had no idea what to do for him?
"Kat?" I waved at her, hoping she'd come closer and have a look for herself.
"I can't help stop this, Lance. You're going to have to go to Mongrel!" I whispered almost, afraid to even think what this was going to do to set us back? That and a dear friend lay in pain, dying slowly it appeared, and I couldn't help him.
"Feed? Blood would help wouldn't it, Kat?" I gazed at Kat, hoping for some sign it would do something? I could see Anna backing up a little, her face twisting again, this time pain was eating at her some how.
Was she linked to Lance now? God, why did he do this?! "Damn you Mongrel.." I muttered under my breath.
"Listen guys, Lance has had something done to him. This mark wasn't here before." I pointed at the odd looking symbol on Lance. "Mongrel has done something to him, to control him. I don't think we could break it before this spell kills him. His only chance is to get to Mongrel himself for healing..." It meant that Lance would still be Mongrel's puppet, but at least he would be alive. Maybe then we'd have a way of countering this.. whatever it was?
"Kat? Can you get a sample or something perhaps? Figure out a way to counter this later?" I had no idea of magic and how it was used, I only knew Lance lay dying, Kat had knowledge of some of this stuff and Mongrel was beyond my power to stop. I eyed Lance, worried that any second he would attack me.
"Christian, if he flinches wrong, shoot him some where non-vital!" Friend or not, he was being controlled by Mongrel.

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

He was torn away from Lance, but only glared blankly ahead. "Oh, like I'd want to kill him even if he wasn't mortal? He'd come back if I did."

He moved back to Lance, and took a deep breath. He shook his head, and turned towards Aria's voice. He wondered what was wrong. He wished he could see. "Isn't the wound healing? What's going on?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"No Joseph. The wound is not healing, it's festering or something." I watched Lance a moment, he looked the same, which meant only one conclusion. He could die.
"Mortal ..." Sitting back a little, I tried to think of something, anything to help this situation a little but came up short.
"He isn't human, he is mortal in the sense we know it.. I am guessing he'll die and not return this time.." I knew Mongrel would do something horrible, something to thwart our mission. He definately found something low enough to be worthy of his name, the bastard!
"We're going to have to leave him here, he's too dangerous to help.. And I don't think any of us can break what ever Mongrel did to him.." I fell silent, wishing again I had never found these rings.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

We needed Lance to destroy the book. I'd picked that much up somehow. I wasn't sure how, but somehow I had. I'd also picked up that he wasn't able to die, or at least stay dead.
But now, he lay on the ground, mortal, not going to return according to what Aria was saying, dieing as we might, not on our side at all, but allied with the enemy. We needed him, to be alive and on our side, all the things he wasn't and might not ever be again. And she wanted us to leave him here? Just leave him to die?
"Aria," I said, finally lowering the weapons she stood in front of. "If we need him, we can't just let him die."
I glanced to Annabelle, unsure what to make of her. If she died, the ring I now saw on her finger would be transferred to someone else, so if needs be...
It wasn't Annabelle though, it seemed, that I was looking at, but someone else, almost an evil twin. I didn't tuck the weapons away for that exact reason. If she needed to die, as much as it would pain me to do so (I felt a sting just looking at the poor girl just then; the opposite of who I had come so easily to trust) then I could do what I didn't want to.
"Besides, Kat is more of an issue for us right now, she looks on the edge of something we don't want to see the rest of." I kept with my strengths, not thinking as had slowed me down so much lately, but merely stepping out in front of Kat, trying to draw her attention away from Lance.
"Calm, Kat," I said, my voice managing to hold its calm, while doubts raced through my mind. I didn't want violence, wouldn't attack the girl, but wasn't certain if she felt the same need for restraint I did. "If he's going to die, it'll happen without us helping it any further. If not, then we need him breathing, lest all could be lost."
If only the numbers weren't against us. Lance apparently not an ally just then, and Joseph and Kat acting with pure bloodlust and anger, hatred even perhaps. And AB...
It was 4 on two by the looks, and the loss of Ray was already taking its toll, showing its unbalance. Oddly, surprisingly, I was beginning to wonder when the human might arrive.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I am about to lose all control when Christian comes into my line of sight blocking Lance from my vision.....

"Calm, Kat

he says. I look into his eyes the bloodlust receding until it was within my control. I recind the power I had called on keeping my shield but allowing the rest to clam. I touch Christian on the shoulder a slight smile of thanks on my lips and turn to Aria. "I don't know if I can help him......"I look around christian to Lance watching him twist. "I will have to research this but I know I can help keep him alive......for now." I look to Christian, "But he cannot be a threat...i must be able to touch him." The look I give Christian speaks volumes as I wait to see what their decision is.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I turned my back to Lance and glanced at both Christian and Kat.

"No, we can't just let him die, but he is a danger to all of us while Mongrel has control over him." It saddened me, yes, but what else could we possibly do? I had nothing to bind him, no silver of any kind. It was dangerous to us as it was to him. How else do you contain a vampire?

"If we let him go, he can get to Mongrel..." The name was spit from my lips, hating it more and more with each passing day. "If he can get there, he can be healed, right? Or killed. Shit!" I hated making choices, they always seemed to back lash no matter which I chose to do?

Anna sat on the ground, more importantly, she looked lost as she sat on the ground. Was the effects going away? Was she in pain? She said nothing, nor moved, merely sat there.

"Joseph, can you give Anna your trench coat? We can not have her wandering around naked..." Lord, just give me a wee bit of a break here? Could ya? My mind was jumbled up and I knew I had to take a step back and really just see the situation, not the people. A decision had to be made and a wise one to bennefit us all, not just one.

"Christian, please lower the guns." I got up from the ground and stepped away from lance. Where was Keith with the truck? We needed to get out of here, a.s.a.p.

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

Joseph pulled off his cloak, folding it over his forearm. He took it in his hand, and offered it to Aria to give to the girl, as he was in no position to find out where she was.

Underneath, he wore a loose shirt. It had short sleeves, and the burn damage along his arms was visible now. "Sure, she can have it if she wants. Here, Aria, I'm not sure if I could find her front to offer it to her."

 

[poohlive]

Something black and green bubbled up from him. Lance lay there, on the ground, beginning to shake. He called for Aria, over and over again. A single moan that he wanted to reach out to her with. She could save him.
If she wanted.
They were all fooled. As he lay there, the sickness passing through his body, all they saw was him growing weaker and more vulnerable. That's what he wanted them to see. A dying man, a man who needed help as something far deeper attacked him.
"He's coming... He's coming. don't let him hurt me. Help, please."


Keith screamed again, although at this point he knew it would do no good. He had been screaming for the last ten minutes, and no one had come to his aid. No one could hear him, and he was damned if he could see of hear them.
The forest had tangled itself around him, and now, he stood on the threshold that they had all crossed. A black sort of field, something that looked darker than night itself. He stood next to it, trying to see inside, knowing his friends were there, but also knowing that he couldn't get in.
Only those who were supposed to get in, got in. He wasn't, so he stayed out here.
Why keep him out? The vampires were more powerful, they were more selective. They had strength, speed, cunning. All he had was...
His sword.
It glowed as he held it now, looking at the field. He thrust his blade into it, cutting through the magic like a cheap tarp. As he pushed up, the magic continued to divide, but the parts where his sword left sealed themselves up.
"FUCK!!! He yelled at the barrier, not knowing what to do. He sat there, with the truck, waiting and not wanting to wait.
Fuck.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

I thanked Joseph quietly and took his cloak, my hand lingering on his for a moment, caressing him. I smiled a little at him, but I knew he could not see me.

Walking to Anna, I tossed the cloak over her bare shoulders. She made no movement, no notion at all that she was even aware I was there or the cloak. She looked frightened, still as death. Whenever Lance groaned, she flinched.

"He's coming... He's coming. don't let him hurt me. Help, please."Lance, again was calling for me.

I hated that whine, that fearful whine of his. It made my skin crawl, my head hurt and fear climb into my throat. Each time he warned us, something bad happened..

"Lance, shhhh. Listen to me!" I sank to my knees beside him, not wanting to touch the wound instead I gripped his hand tightly. "Stop!" I was trying in vain to stop his chattering but there was little I could think of to apease him.

"Who is coming, Lance? Tell me how to help you?" He stared at me oddly for the longest moment. "I can't help you if you don't tell me how, Lance. Kat can help too, she knows those powers. Just tell me what you know." I was pleading softly with him for some kind of insight.


meanwhile...

Anna sat huddled up as tightly as she could, cold made her teeth chatter. Inside she groaned and pled for freedom, fighting hard against whatever it was inside her. She convulsed a little and puked on the ground beside her. Shaking, unconsciously her hands gripped to the cloak. A link to reality, a faint smell of something new, something she could focus on and use to fight.
You won't take me! She battled harder and flew backwards into a tree only a foot behind her, hitting her head against the bark. Some unseen hand had hit into her, the tree ripping open her head enough to bleed.
Inside her head laughter sounded, tears streamed down her face, she could not unlock her jaws to scream, yell, whatever she could do to fight was all mental.
LET ME GO! Again she convulsed, sitting upright and vomitting out the black sludge out. Her hand tightened into a fist, something was trying to pry the ring from her finger, laughing in her ear, laughing all around her.
She curled up tighter against the tree, turning her back towards the group who did not know she was even there. Blood ran down her neck and along her spine, but not enough to cause too much damage to her. She fought harder, her fist connecting with the tree. I am strength, I can beat you! The knowledge of the ring and Ray came back to her little by little, she clung to any thread she could gain, searching inside for any kind of warmth to stop it.
KAT! The memory of her kindness came back, how she had healed Anna. How she cared for her, tried to fight off what Lance did. She clung to it, again she puked on the ground, and it kept coming up until she felt she was dying. She never caught her breath, she couldn't move, it just kept coming up.
She stumbled/scooted backwards from the sickening stench and sight until she found cooler ground. Laying down on her side, she placed her hot face to the cool ground and lay panting softly.
"You can't have me." She sobbed between her mumbled words. All else around her faded into blackness where lights and sounds did not penetrate her mind, she was passing out and thankful for it.
"You CAN'T HAVE ME!" Curled up, she wept, her ring glowing, her body fighting to heal. The laughter returned as did the sharp stabbing pains in her body, forcing her into submission once more. Against her will whispered words came to her, more commands she was helpless to disobey.

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

He stopped, moving back, trying to keep from touching people as he moved from where they were crowded around Lance. He followed the smell of fresh blood to where in mingled with his own scent. He knelt down, reaching out, touching his own cloak. He could feel her breathing, it seemed steady.

Everyone else was worried about Lance. He wondered how she was doing? Lance had been with her, too? What had he done to her? What was going on around here? He felt so very old, and so very tired. Well, he thought to himself, at least you don't look like you're barely twenty anymore. No one can even begin to guess an age...

He smiled a little to himself before sighing. He sat down, waiting for the other to decide what to do. Life was so,....long...

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Lance gave no responce and I was truely fed up with waiting. He raped Anna, that was very clear.. He was marked by Mongrel, he stabbed Kat.. Surely he didn't give a shit about me or anyone else here.

If it weren't for the fuckin' book, I'd kill him and end his misery and everyone else's as well! Brushing my hands on my pants, I stood back up and approached Christian.

"We leave him here and that's an order." My eyes went to Kat and Christian, my meaning and orders were clear.

"We've wasted enough time, and I am pretty sure that poor girl over there is a wasted mental case inside right now... Kat's been injured, and I am not in the mood for this. He is a trick waiting to happen, we all know it! Now we can't kill him for reasons we're all aware of.. So I suggest we get the hell out of here and count ourselves lucky."

I turned to the huddled and whimpering Anna, unsure what to do with her? I really did not know how to cure her anymore than I knew how to help Lance.

"Her ring has to go elsewhere... She has to die." I gulped down past the pain in my heart and throat, watching her shiver and groan. "She's as dangerous as Lance is... We can't let a ring bearer live like this, what use is she now to us?" I hated to say it, and hated even more do it, but I would.

Stiffening up my spine a little more, I turned off that 'caring' emotion and cranked up 'survival' more. My eyes met Kat's and held a moment, "I am sorry Kat, I don't think any of us can heal her.. And to risk it, we could die while sleeping..." I fell silent again, I knew no one would volunteer for this horrible act, It would be me again...

"Joseph, your sword please..?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

Joseph looked up towards Aria's voice, and motioned around them all in a wide sweep. His hand fell, and he pulled himself to his feet, stretching a little.

"I'm not sure, Aria. Didn't keep track. If you could help me find it I'd appreciate it. But if you reallt think she has to die,....I'll do it. I've got a lot of blood on my hands, a little more won't hurt anything..."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

My looked over Anna one more time, something inside me balking at the idea of killing her. I did not want to do it, I hated all dealings with death, I felt a little torn on what to do now?

Turning, I searched the grassy area for Joseph's sword, my mind whirling around and around over all of this. It was almost like a viscious repeating circle that never seemed to change.

Spotting the sword I walked slowly to it and lifted it easily enough. Could I do it? Could I really kill Anna? Could I ever order it? I had, but something was wrong in choosing for her in life and death. I did not know her well enough to know if she'd welcome death or not verses this sick diseased state Lance had put her in.

The decision was made as I turned back to speak I noticed Anna was gone.
"Wh-What? Where the hell did she go?" I glanced around turning in a slow circle but could not see the girl anywhere. She had vanished yet again. "Damn she has to stop doing that.." I muttered under my breath. I felt older than my few years, I suddenly felt much much older.

"Let's get the fuck out of here.. Lance can fend for himself." I knew enough to get this quest done, Lance could go to Mongrel, we're finished with these mind games.

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

He moved closer to Aria, using the sound of her voice to find her. He was afraid of becoming lost in the woods. There were so many trees around, he could get confused if he wandered into too many of them.

He diced to stay close and follow along behind her. It would be easiest. He muttered a curse at his current condition. He felt so,...vulnerable.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

Things were just getting worse, but we had to roll with it, right? That was how it went in situations like these. You can't run away, and hide anywhere. You had to make the best of whatever hell you were in and hope for more luck in the future. The near future would be an appreciated convenience.
I watched as Aria found the sword and turned to find Annabelle gone, knowing all the while that I should have just ended it, pointed one handgun and ended the entire thing.
Now, she was out there, hiding somewhere, or running around. Capable of finding us and doing whatever harm she wished.
But then, it made little sense to think she intended harm, didn't it? If that had been the case, the ring would have left her, wouldn't it have?
Enough thought. I tucked one of my handguns away, then lay the other one on Kat's lap and lifted her up to carry her. Aria was right about one thing. We did need to get out of here, and quickly.
My eyes open for any disturbance, I wondered where Daius had gone, and if he could have been of any use here.

 

[Firegirl976]

Kat

I groan softly biting my lip as Christian picks me up in strong arms. I wrap my arms around his neck to help relieve some of the weight and look up at him murmering a quiet thank you my right hand gently caressing the back of his neck. I lay my head on his shoulder for once allowing someone to take over. I can hear Aria's thoughts like a scream in my head and long to be able to help her but the pain is too much and I know that I nee to feed in order to complete my own healing first. I close my eyes and simply allow myself to feel what is going on and listen, paying attention even though they do not notice.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

Stalking off through the trees, I headed back towards the direction Keith had been coming in. Where he was, or why he wasn't here didn't add up, but I knew he was out there waiting for us. Some kind of sixth sense told me this.

Anna had fled, more than likely to hide, we'd have to find her but not until Kat was healed. We were losing people left and right! Nothing was going right, things were getting worse and worse, I needed something good to happen for FUCKS SAKE!

"Keith has a vehicle near by, let's look for him and it.. How is she Christian?" I glanced over to eye Kat's bent head, she looked to be resting against Christian but I could not see her eyes to know for sure.

"Joseph, you alright?" I was walking slow enough he could keep up with me, but I wasn't sure if I was moving too slow for him? What did it matter? Why did that stupid thought even enter my mind? We still needed the 5th ring bearer and one exorcised from it's new demons. Jesus! Just give me a break here..

Shaking my head, I spotted movement to my right and stopped. Joseph bumped into me but stopped as well. "Keith?" I called out, waiting for a second before turning in that direction. It wasn't Anna, it was male.. had to be Keith.

"Let's go this way, its the right directions.." Within a few minutes the truck was spotted but no Keith. "Alright, shit.. Ok. Joseph help Christian make Kat comfortable, I am going to go look for Keith." I had Joseph's sword for protection, if all else failed I could defend with my daggers. "I won't take too long to find him. If I am not back in five minutes, Christian come looking for me please." I gripped Joseph's hand a moment for reassurance and moved back the way I had come.

"KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEITH!!!!?" I called out, listening for any movements within the forest.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Anna

Her eyes were wide with fright and pain, her hair tangled and matted in area from falling. Clumps of mud hung from the damp tendrils, smearing against her face now and then as she franticly glanced behind her to see if she was followed.

Stumbling yet again, she landed hard on the ground. Whining loudly she rolled to her back and scooted upright.
"DON'T!" She felt as if Aria was behind her, ready to kill, but when she glanced around, no one was there. She got up yet again and continued to run, arcing a little and circling the meadow.

She ran a short distance, away from everyone, away from the voices and the pain. Danger.. So much danger around her, she could sense it all swelling up and pushing at her.

"leave me alone..." she whimpered softly, her back against a giant oak tree.

"Stop it!" something was stabbing at her, like a hot iron poker would. She huddled into a cranney in the tree, sinking down into a squatting ball.

She could hear his voice in her head, calling to her. The one.. The one who stabbed her innards until she vommitted all over herself and the ground. That one who poisoned her with his sickness, his twisted mind games. The same things that haunted her from lance's mind was tormenting her...... visions from Ray as well. The two were colliding inside her head, so many memories, visions, painful encounters..

"LEAVE ME BE!" She shouted out, her eyes landing on the ring on her finger. Her tongue lapped at her parched filthy lips, eyes widened as she stared at it. "Fix me.. You got to fix me!" Her features twisted into a mask of fear, hope and loss. All warred inside her as she gripped that ring with her fingers. Rubbing hard and then harder, her hands shaking, trying to make it work. It was boiling up inside her again, she felt ill as her nostrils flared out suddenly. "work damn you!" she muttered this over and over as she sat rubbing.

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

"I'm fine." He said softly, following along. Following. Oh gods, what good was he? He couldn't even pretend to be protecting them anymore. He was far from fine.

He moved over to where Christian and Kat were, and blinked sightless eyes as he stood, wondering he could do to be of help. He felt so very useless, like he'd finally outlived his usefulness, and yet,...it seemed death rejected him, too. And here was was, neither fully alive or dead, unable to help the only people he knew anymore.

He sighed.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

I moved behind Aria, wondering why she was moving so slowly but too concerned over what had just happened to bother asking. It seemed the woman's mind was always somewhere, but where was still a mystery to me.
"I can't tell for sure. Hell, I don't even know what happened to her. But she seems fairly sedate, if she isn't merely too weak to move. We need to get her somewhere safe."
And we need to find AB, I didn't add. IF she was even still Anna. But she was a Ringbearer...
That was the key. What my mind kept shifting back to, not seeing her holding the knife and threatening us, not her protecting Lance or the dark look in her eyes. The ring on her finger.
The ring that had remained on her finger the whole while.
Killing her would have been the wrong move, or else the Ring would have been gone, right? Gone to find a more worthy bearer?
I didn't bother to ask Aria, who seemed hell-bent on getting out of here. I glanced up at the blind man, looking more down on himself now than he'd looked since I'd met him a few hours ago.
"Joseph," I began. "I have a question..."
I reiterated my thoughts on the ring and Anna and listened fo rhis response.

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

He considered what the man had said, and nodded. He thought for a moment, and then turned to face in the direction he'd heard his voice come from.

"It's possible. Of course, how can we be sure exactly how the rings work? I wore one once, but,...as you can see, I am a ringbearer no more. After all, if the rings base if the bearer is worthy or not by intent, it could be she's doing these things against her will, and the ring still reads what she wants to do as true. Or perhaps it is trying to reverse her condition."

He shrugged. "Or perhaps it judges in some other way, I don't know. I don't have the knowledge of Lance or the passion of Aria. I have nothing anymore..."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Christian

Listening to the man's response, I realized that we truly were in this with our blinders on. It was no wonder Mongrel had the advantage.
I held Kat carefully, looking down at her, wondering if she was even aware we were here.
"You take things too seriously, Joseph," I said, feeling like a true hypocrit given how taken I'd been with Kayla's death. Had it been my idea to go into the sewers? I wondered for a moment, then shook the thought away. "There's no life in such an existence."
I knelt, letting Kat's weight rest more on my legs than in my arms and balanced her there with one arm. With my free hand, I touched her cheek gently and asked, "Kat, can you hear me?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Joseph

He sighed, and sat down, lettings his head rop forward. He gave a small laugh. "I know. But my life is gone, I'm allowed to act this way. All of my life, as long as it's been, I've focused myself. For a while, I did what I did, and I was good at it. Then, it wasn't needed anymore. I was restless, always searching for something to do with myself. And now,...now I could use what I had then. But look at me,...I'm not even half of what I once was."

He sighed. "I've lived such a long time. I've seen the world change so much,... It seems I've outlived my usefulness..."

 

[Firegirl976]

KAt

I could hear the conversation going on around me, I could feel Christian's touch and gently turned my head into the caress. I spoke to him in his mind gently, "I am too weak to be of much help.........I need to feed and finish healing myself." I paused a moment thinking, "Then I can fix the rest........" I flowed warmth and comfort into the words allowing empathy of feeling to strengthen the mental tie.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Aria

"I can not find Keith anywhere, guess we go back alone.." I paused inside the clearing and eyed everyone.

"If you and I give her enough blood she can heal herself.." I eyed Christian. "None of us have been hurt and are strong enough.. Joseph how about you?" It would do since there was nothing remotely fitting near by to kill and feed Kat.

And she was one of us, I wouldn't let her die nor slowly heal in pain. Fix her quick and easy like she would do for us..

"Let's feed her as much as we can, and head back on foot, maybe Keith will catch up?" I hadn't seen Anna nor Keith anywhere, I steered clear of Lance's location but worried he watched us even now?

"Ok, who goes first? Kat?" I asked her what she wanted.