Worlds Apart

[Sebastiana]

The small minion bobbled the three gathered objects in his talons as he ran through the forest to the barren, dark, dank cave. With a cackle and a hiss his words echoed in the semi-stillness.

"My Mistressssssssss, my Maker I have begun to gather." He hissed. "Your return to true form will not be long awaited at thisssss pace."

Uncorking a vile he spilled onto the damp ground a vile of blood and dirt. "An archersssss blood."

Strands of silky hair upon the sticky grit. "The hair of a theif."

With a filth crusted nail of length and jagged edges from his claw like hands the minion stirred the gray ashes from a velvet bag. "My lordessssss, the ashes of a wizzzzardssssss fire."

With that the creature cackled, it's sinister laughter resounding along the curves of the caves walls, wafting out of the mouth into the light of a red blood sky.

A glimmer of green haze began to emerge from the cracked ground benath the concotion. A voice thin and frail rose from the haze.

"You have served me well before and in my endless time of imprisionment, go then and bring forth the last of the spell. Free me before dawn's new birth and you....you my pet shall walk beside me upon this our new home. Go!"

The minion ceasing his laughter only could nod, his eyes orbs of rotgut color reflected back the shapeless mist as he backed from the cave into the forest to search for the last two ingriedients.

 

[intriguess]

Micki

I repacked my bag and tucked it safely away. I blink a few times as I pull out a water flask. "I haven't seen anyone else, Kelly here said someone was chasing her." I pop my neck and glance around noticing how very different things look now. "Perhaps we should try and find the main building again, talk to the owner of this place. Find out what the hell is going on."

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

hearing what happened i sat down, "I suggest we place guards,and seeing how i dont sleep much ill volunteer for first watch" i said as i took off my pack.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack sighed. Jasamine's movements were nothing but spasms. She was still out of it. He used the edge of his cloak to wipe some of the vomit from the corner of her mouth. Poor girl...

He sat down slowly, still holding Jasamine in his hands. Loki walked over to him. He introduced Jack to the new man. Jack frowned. Did he trust the newcomer? Did he trust anyone anymore?

"Let's rest here and let the girl rest. We can come up with a plan." Loki said.

"I'll take first watch." The new guy said. Jack gave him a weary look, but nodded his consent. He laid Jasamine down on the ground, propping her head up on his lap. She was hardly breathing.

Loki sat down by Jack. "How's she doing?"

"I don't know...She really doesn't look too good. She's very pale." Jack sighed again, but keeping his voice steady and cool. "We can't rest for long, I don't think it would be wise. If she doesn't come to soon, we will need to carry her." Loki nodded and sat down a little ways away, leaning against a tree.

Jack ran his hand through the girl's hair. Please be alright...I don't want to lose another one...

 

[Sebastiana]

The leaves and sod noiseless beneath it's clawed toes the minion dashed from tree to tree, knowing it must return to the travelers. Risk being seen to collect the last items to bring her back fully. Her whispered words still ringing in his head.

"You shall walk beside me." Oh how he desired it, even as a creture of the low darkness. Created to serve and be nothing more than that.

As he hid behind an ash tree, those orbs constantly upon the travelers, his thoughts went to her, his Mistress, His evil demoness, Luchina. Long ago she had pulled him from the filth of her world to do her bidding. She a demon child, born of a goddess raped by a vicious entity.

Luchina had taken this minion and with his aide destroyed not only innocent but even those of her own kind. Devouring their essences until even she could not control the evil within.

The innocent coughed and gagged. Gorleb looked on from the tree. He dared not go any closer. His jagged nails picked the scabbed skin that oozed along his arm, a twisted tongue licked his slash of a mouth. If only he had a tenth of Luchina's skill he might waltz up to the pack and take what he desired and they never be the wiser for it, but he did not, so wait he must. Or his bald spotted head would meet the fate of the hammer swung upon the hunters before him.

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

Even though I was in a coma, or whatever he hell this was, I could feel the presence of people around me. For some reason I had a sense of well-being ~ for a little while. I almost believed I was being cradled and protected until I felt that chill once more, the one I had experenced at the banquet. There it was, that putrid smell again. It reminded me of something from my past, my childhood perhaps,but I couldn't quite place it. I didn't even seem as though the people around me noticed. They seemed to be staying put.
DAMNIT! I wish I could just say anything, tell them SOMETHING...
I knew we were( or at least I was) in danger. We needed to get out of there NOW! I could feel my lips beging to tremble as I attempted once more to give a warning or make any sort of sound at all. I heard the voices over me louder now. Yes, I could do it, " can't... please....evil...ru-uhn!" I labored so hard that although the sounds were breathless, I felt myself drained of all energy, drifting again, but now I was being lifted.
Thank God.
We were moving.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack cradled the girl in his arms as he ran across the twigs and leaves scattered on the forest path. Loki covered his back and Sorian led the group.

"So she just said something to you?" Loki asked.

"She said evil was about and that we should run." Jack said.

"How do you know we're running in the right direction?" Sorian asked.

"We don't." Jack shrugged. "Just keep running." The trio dashed along the path as fast as they could until they reached a large hill. Jack stopped for a breath of air. Loki and Sorian reached the top of the hill and looked over. Jack caught his breath before responding.

"Hey guys." He panted. "What do you see?"

 

[kamalw1]

I reached the top of the hill and saw a big fortress loming in the distance. I told Jack about it and we decided to go there. We ran across the clearing and reaced the front of the fortress. Hesitatingly, we knocked on the door, hoping that help and sancuary were on the other side.

 

[SecretDesires]

Kelly nodded at her two companions. "So, all we know is the obvious--that we are here in what seems to be the island but it's not. I can tell you something else..." She reached up and picked a leaf from a tree,"It's not computer generated. Everything around us is all too real."

Looking around she added,"I think we need to keep moving. Maybe if we find the place that is...was the control center for this amusment park we can do something. I don't know what and I don't know if the idea will work but it's better than standing around waiting for whoever or whatever engineered this to find us. Those men that were chasing me were not the welcome commity here to show me a good time. That I can guarntee."

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

Now all the sounds were like voices in a long tunnel again. I knew now that I was with men, no female voices were heard. It reminded me of my chidhood and I slipped into a memory of another time.
I remembered one night my father had too much to drink and spoke of my mother dying while giving birth to a sister... where was she now? He changed the subject abruptly, to never talk about it again. I remember being very young and Da carrying me, running in the woods near our home... it all seems so so vague. I hadn't thought about it til just now. Now that I was ~
back being carried, rushed away.
I felt us come to a halt and the voices were in and out somewhat distorted, slowing and speeding up. I thought I heard a familiar voice. JACK!!! I felt relief, but still the smell, the paralysis.
I suddenly became aware of the pouch around my neck. I had never taken it off as it was the only thing my mother had left to me. I hadn't thought about it til now and it seemed almost heavy against my chest. How strange.
Then our movement resumed, but somewhat more frantically and I could hear loud whispering. It was getting clearer!
I could hear Jack's voice and two other men speaking in hushed but harried voices.
For the first time in what seemed an eternity my body completely relaxed and I gasped a large breath and began to cough.

 

[Sebastiana]

Gorleb watched as the weary confused group shot up and past his hiding place. They headed through the open glade to the cresting hills. The vikings hammer swinging from a leathered support loop, the innnocent craddled in the archers arms.

He spat upon the ground. "Cursed fledglings!"

He tilted his off shaped head and perked his pointed ears. She had warned them. Yes, yes she had the "awarness" like those before, those who had imprisioned Luchina. He knew now the last of the two ingridients layed with her.

Cursing the shadows once more he dashed to and fro making his way to the other gathering groups. He would hesitate to sniff the air, leaning on a tree or crouching behind a rock, even sinking into the depth of a mud hole to spy on the various travlers. A yellow spotted toad crossed his path and he snatched it up, it's head quickly removed by tearing teeth and swallowed, legs plucked free and eaten and it's belly tossed to the road side.

Voices drifted on the air. Yes, just over the crest. Into the marshy rushes he darted, nostrils flaring as he caught their scent. A drop of greasy slime dripped from the corner of his mouth as he waited.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack waited by the fortress door for someone to answer it. All of a sudden, the girl in his arms began to cough and sputter.

"Loki! Sorian! Jasamine's awakening!" Jack said. He knelt to the ground as she writhed in his arms, trying to get as much breath as possible. "C'mon, Jasamine." Jack encouraged her.

Unfortunatly, she didn't seem to be able to get enough air. And her breathing was becoming shallow again. Jack quickly pressed his mouth to hers and exhaled into her lungs. He pulled away, inhaled, and breathed into her mouth again. He repeated the action until she began to cough normally again. She watched her eyes open slowly and her voice start to make out the first words.

"J-Jack...?"

Jack didn't have time to respond as the fortress doors began to open.

 

[intriguess]

Micki

I lifted one finger feeling the direction of the wind, "I think the center of the island is that way." I point and say, "unless the laws od nature have changed the wind is coming in off the water." I secure the cape around me feeling it surround me in tingly comfort. "Shall we jog?"

 

[Sebastiana]

The green mist swirled about the floor of the cave, if it could be said of the vaporous being, it moved almost impaitiently. If one listened close enough they would hear the foul curses that eminated from the ground.

************

Gorleb watched the trio begin a hastened step, in moments they will have crossed his path. He eyed the discarded toad belly, if anything he would get a quick cackle at the misfortune of a leather clad foot slipping on the innards of his quick and sparse meal, and perhaps...perhaps one might venture near enough. He shivered in excitment.

The sun lay mid way between it's rising and resting points. Time was not on his side. He would have to make this work to his and his Mistress' advantage.

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

having ran all the way to a fortress looking thing i decided to pull my hood up. 'i know the books i read wizards were supposed to be regarded quite well so i may aswell appear to be one.' i thought as the doors opened.waiting to see the person's behind the door i lean on the staff concealing my broadsword.

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

I couldn't seem to get enough air into my lungs to begin breathing, things momentarily faded until I was aware of amouth pressed against mine, sharing his breath, his arms shaking around me.
"J-Jack?" I stammered looking up into his eyes. They seemed so much greener, deeper than they were before ~ and he was obviously relieved to have me back.
Then I heard the sound of the doors opening. The fortress was there in front of us and these men were going to go inside.
I felt ill at the thought.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to go in there?" I managed to get the words out although still weak.
I saw them look to each other. I wasn't sure what it was they were thinking, they seemed so weary ~ and leary.
" Well, I don't feel right about it. You can leave me if you want to but I am not going in there. I can't explain it, it's kind of like all my senses have increased or something, and this place isn't giving me a warm fuzzy feeling. "
I tried to stand up to move away from the gates, but I got dizzy again & my knees buckled. I grabbed Jack's cape catching myself as I fell.
The taller of the men, dressed as a wizard then said something about my being delirious and straightened his stance.
Then sounds were almost deafening in my head. Footsteps were coming closer, scurrying then stomping. The smell was coming back...
"Jack, believe me. We have to keep going til we get to the center of the Island. This place is dangerous and we won't make it out alive"

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

hearing her say this place mite be dangerous i got skeptical."maybe shes delerious" i suggested after the doors opened a little bit more i got that same irritation that i had had when that guy was arround."on second thought maybe shes right"i said pulling the hood farther around my head."we should stay in the forest. well be safer away from ppla for now." i said as i motioned for us to leave.

 

[kamalw1]

When Loki heard jasamine say that the fortress might be dangerous, fo some reason he felt like he should blieve her and trust her. The wizard said that they would be better off under the cover of the forest, and Loki agreed. he volunteered to take the front as they started off again. Loki wondered if they would meet any other people during the trek to the middle of the island.

 

[SecretDesires]

Kelly nodded and began jogging alongside the others. Suddenly she stopped and put a hand up in the air. For some reason her senses seemed more honed than they used to be as if she had a sixth sense about things happening around her. It was as if her eyesight was sharper now too as well as her hearing. She had heard that theives who had been in their professions a long time had honed their senses to warn them of someone around them but she wasn't a real thief, she was only playing a part. Wasn't she?

Still, it had seemed as if her ears had caught a sound. A sound that made her skin crawl and the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. Laughter? But not laughter from any normal being. Something inside told her that this was something evil. As if the idea of evil had become an intity. Her 21st century mind balked at such an idea but every sense she had had alarm bells going off in a clanging symphony.

"I don't think we are alone," She whispered harshly and pointed along a separate trail that led to the right,"Let's go that way. Away from this main path. Don't ask me why but I get the feeling that danger lies the way we are going now."

Heading off in the other direction, Kelly glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of a movement. Could it be a slight wind catching the underbrush or something more deadly? She wasn't about to ask, she just sped up and headed away from it as fast as she could without tiring herself out too quickly.

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

Running into the forest we get under cover of the trees.Watching from a distance we see to ppl the dont look very nice at all come out and look aroung.Watching them turn around and go back in the walls i give a sigh of relief."welp i hope she gets better soon she seems to be keeping us out of trouble" i said as i sat down and rested my staff across my lap.

 

[Sebastiana]

Gorleb, spat into the marshy waters. Why was it he always had more trouble than he expected. He remembered the days when he followed behind Luchina, the innocent falling under her powerful glare. Freed of their own wills they would fall at her feet and eat filth and grime if she so wished it, or even kiss her finger tips. Gorleb shudder at the thought. He much prefered the filth.

The thief had changed directions. His duty would not be completed easily. He cursed the innocent's new honed senses. Looking to the left, back the way he had come, he decided he would cross the murky waters and emerge behind the thief and her small band of companions. He had no more time to waste in waiting for a second group to come into view, besides the direction they had taken would lead them closer to the others. Perhaps then he could collect the items in one fell swoop.

His staunchy legs trailed him through the bog, here and there a forked, blackened tongue would enjoy a lick of the foul slime that floated by. He would not fail his evil empowered one. His naturally offensive skin glistened with the slick residue as he pulled himself to the bank. The travlers just beyond him. If the winds did not shift he could get closer, learn of their plans, a bonus he was sure would be reward greatly by Luchina.

Slime dripped from his fingertips, leaving a trail in the dust. The gas of the half eaten frog, bubbled in his belly, mixing with the bog filth. He belched. Jamming his small rounded form between to thorn bushes he leared at the pack, wondering if he would now be discovered and his plans set to ruin.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack followed the others further into the forest. Jasamine was riding on his back, arms draped around his neck, feet around his torso and head resting on the back of his. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing easier.

Jack heard Loki and Sorian talking, but he didn't pay any attention to it. He listened to any other noises that may be about. He heard birds and wind, but nothing else.

Then there was a belch. Jack stopped short. "Did either of you guys hear that?"

"Huh?" Loki turned around.

"I heard a noise from the bushes. It sounded like a burp."

"A burp?" Sorian asked.

"Yeah." Jack slowly put down Jasamine, leaning her against a tree. She groaned slightly, but continued to rest. Jack slowly drew his sword and advanced to the bushes. Sorian and Loki joined his side.

With a swift movement, Jack grabbed into the bushes. His hand curled around a thin and slimy surface, possibly something's leg. There was a shout and sudden thrashing, and Jack quickly recoiled in pain. He stared at the back of his left hand, which had three long slash marks in it.

"What the hell?!" Jack exclaimed.

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

thrusting the end of my staff forward i i barley hit something, no telling what.Unsheathing my broadsword i jumped through the bushes looking for any sign of what might have been there.

 

[kamalw1]

Loki was in the middle of discussing plans with Sorian when Jack mentioned that he heard a noise that sounded like a burp. Loki pulled out his warhammer and sood fast, alert for anyting out of the ordinary. He joined Jack and Sorian as the three of them advanced on the bushes. Loki was surprised when Jack pulled his hand back and it had scratches on it.

Loki followed Sorian through the bushes. Loki smelled a peculiar stench as they looked around for any sign of what was there. That was when he looked down and saw a trail leading off through the forest. He called Sorian over to take a look.

 

[Sebastiana]

The minion's eyes were trained upon the prospective prize he would gather from the thief and her tribe, unaware that the archer and his found pack were breaking through the woods on the otherside.

A sudden crunch of underbrush alerted him and as he turned to see a hand reached forth. Gorleb lept but was not as fast as needed. The blasted archer had seized his leg in mid air. Slime oozed off his skin covering the swift hand. Instinct took over as Gorleb's teeth bared and sunk well into the soft tissue of his captors hand. It recoiled and gave the little demon his chance to dart forward out of the bushes.

Short stature did not hinder his movements, and he sped forward. His mind raced along with his legs. He needed these fledglings and now was the time to gain what he desired. His mind spun and worked up a plan but not soon enough. In his haste to move from the grip of his demise he had run head, body, and legs first right into the back of a cape. He struggled within it's folds, the material sticking to his slick skin. Curse words flowed freely, teeth knawed at the fabric and names of age old demons were envoked to no avail.