Hidden World (darkangel76 & Neophyte)

[Neophyteinarms]

The vision haunted his nightmares, and it haunted his vision when his eyes closed. He felt the burning of the rooms, the eves falling and rocking the foundation of the home of his mentor, Master Karhara. The vision plagued him every which way he turned, and his vengence was known to all that hid in the darkness. As he sat on the roof and overlooked the park below the tall skyscraper, he licked his lips and narrowed his eyes. He knew something was there, waiting and stalking for the pray it so seeked. He jumped from the roof, the wind whistling past his ear as he flew. His eyes closed and the vision filled his mind once more.

"No master! Don't take them alone!"

"Go Ajax, you must leave me and continue our work. You must protect mankind from the Darkness!"

Screams echoed in his ear, explosions rang out and a searing blast of fire rocketed past his face. Ajax looked on as his Master threw magic spell after magic spell, the Inquisitors standing stark still as they took the magical blasts and assilimated them into energy they could use. The swords raised and blue lighting arced from the tip, spearing through his master as he looked on. Ajax opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came, his vision blurred.

Ajax opened his eyes and the ground came up dangerously fast. He opened his arms and his jacket opened like wings, catching the wind and allowing him to glide down and land at the entrance to the park. His dark sapphire eyes scanned the treeline, his senses searching for something out of the ordinary. He could smell something...he knew it was there. "Come out you demon...I know your here" he muttered.

His hands glowed with supernatural energy, his right hand flaring with fire, and wind swirling around his other. He closed one eye and brought his hands together, the wind taking the fire and surrounding it as he flung his right hand out. The fireball shot toward the treeline and hit a large object that had been invisible before, igniting it. A large troll screamed in agony, his cries filling the crisp night air with the stench and piercing screams of the troll. The monster then focused its gaze at Ajax and jumped. Ajax sneered and disappered, moving faster then the troll could follow.

The troll drop to the ground, a cloud of dust and dirt shooting up and filling the area around the troll. Blinded and burning, he sniffed the air, then stiffened as he felt something slice through his leg. He turned and there was Ajax, a sword made of swirling water and lighting had cut stright through his kneecap. The troll screamed again, but it was cut short as Ajax stabbed the sword through its head, impaling it with the lighting sword.

The beast fell and shuddered as his body hit the ground, dead from the wounds inflicted by Ajax. The man stood above the beast, and as the dust settled the hero came into view. He wore a rather long black trenchcoat, his hair brown and shaggyly cut so it was mostly out of his eyes...he was due for another cut. He wore a button up shirt that was open, a short sleeved black shirt under that. Blue jeans covered his legs and a belt held those around his slim waist, adorned with pouches for reagents and components for his differnet spells. Large brown hunting boots sat on his feet, and his eyes looked down at the Troll. "Stupid beast..." he muttered and jumped up, disappering into the air in a cloud of dust.

Across town he reappered, on the rooftop of a cafe, overlooking a long street lined with shops and people walking to and from different shopping areas. He sighed and sat against a billboard, watching the trees sway in the wind as he smiled, one of the rare times he did so. He looked up at the sky and blinked a few times, pondering what his next move was. New York was a large city, and the monsters were encroching quite a bit, setting up territorys and gangs all across the city. He didn't even know where to start...and then there was the call.

His phone chirped quietly and it was out of its pouch, put to his ear and he smiled. "Ajax Cleaning Company, you pay, we play. How can I help you?" he said in a smooth, yet rugged voice, a voice that showed that he was professional and hardened to his line of work. The voice on the other line was less so, a bit squeeky and high pitched as it asked him if he would be willing to take on employment for a longer period of time. "Whats the job?" he growled, not enjoying being on a payroll.

He heard what the man said and closed the phone, looking at the number. "Fine...Mission accepted" he muttered and disappered, reappering across town at the address that had shown up on his phone. He walked into the large mansion like building, and guns were drawn on him. "Lower them men, before I'm forced to kill you where you stand." he muttered softly, his eyes glancing up at one of the snipers and narrowing his eyes. The gun shot out of his hand and onto the ground, melting to the floor. The red beams were moved from his body and he strode forward as he licked his lips.

He moved into the boardroom and his eyes fell on Don Pablo, the resident mafia boss of the New York arm of Italina Mobs this side of Stanton Island. "You called me Don?" he said.

The Don rested his chin on his hands and looked at Ajax. "Ajax Miller, famed defender of man. I have heard of your work but your methods are a mystery to me...and a mystery they shall stay. I didn't call you here to talk trade secrets...I called you to offer you a job. My men are getting killed by something, something that we can't see or locate with any of our devices. But I was told by an informant that you might be able to help my men. I want you to determine the source of the issue and nutralized it" he said and stood up, snapping. Two large suitcases filled with stacks of hundred doller bills. "Thats your first down payment...do what you will. Keep me posted and I will continue to pay you." he said and nodded. Ajax nodded, took the suitcases and walked out of the boardroom, looking up at the balcony as he walked out, and saw a vision of beauty.

 

[darkangel76]

Cara Maria Anderlini knew something was going on with her father and the men he worked with every day. Men he seemed to treasure in some ways or so it appeared. Though the man had tried to hide his agendas from his only daughter, she wasn’t so naïve as to not understand what he was. He was mob. A Don. Coming to understand what that meant, she noticed the toll such a life took on her father, wearing him thin, aging him beyond his years. Of course, all of that became more apparent after her mother had died…

Cara’s mother had been a rare beauty, a woman of the northern Italian countryside. Her fair features were considered exotic, a most coveted find for a mate given that her father had come from the south. The girl had inherited her mother’s blue eyes, eyes that seemed to pierce the soul so most had claimed, as well as her angelically shaped cheekbones and pale skin. But her hair, it showed of her father - long, dark, wavy tresses that were wild and free as they cascaded over her shoulders and down her back.

Worried about her father, Cara paced along the upper corridors of the mansion. Her mind filled with morbid thoughts on just what it could be that was troubling him. She’d heard one of his men breathe words of ‘death’ and ‘blood’. But they always seemed to notice that she was close by and would immediately hush their conversations. Determined to find out the truth of what was going on, she set her jaw and quietly stalked her way toward the balcony overlooking her father’s ‘study’. His boardroom. She knew that was where he conducted most of his business, though he had no idea of her knowledge of such things.

As Cara began to make her way toward the upper levels of the study, she stopped short and quickly hid behind the velvety drapes of the nearest window. Loud, hard footsteps had suddenly echoed along the hallway, making her heart pause before pounding beneath her breasts. Hidden and out of sight, she heard a squeaky voice frantically speaking, the conversation one sided indicating that the person was talking over a phone.

Cara bit down on her lower lip. The frightened man spoke again of death and unexplainable injuries befalling the men who worked for her father. ‘Just what is going on?’ she wondered to herself, her curiosity more than piqued now, her worry nearly consuming her whole.

The moment the man raced down the hall and past her hiding place, Cara peeked her head out from behind the lushly falling curtain. She was a stark contrast in her filmy white dress next to the deep crimson of the material of the drapes that served as her hiding place. Tucking a wild dark strand behind an ear, she stepped back out into the open and began making her way towards the balcony once more. Much to her luck, the rest of her journey went uninterrupted. Slowly, cautiously, she pushed open the large wooden door that would lead her to the balcony overlooking the study. Opening that door just a crack, she slipped on through.

Cara made sure to stay quiet, to keep to the shadows as she entered the balcony high above her father and his men. Her father looked worried, it was plain as day. But she had little time to dwell on such things. Just then, a strange, dark man entered the room. His presence… Immediately, Cara felt her breath catch. There was something about this mysterious stranger that she couldn’t explain. Maybe it was the danger that seemed to emanate off his person, the manner in which he walked, the confidence that dripped from his voice. That voice…

Licking her lips, Cara felt the adrenaline within her body coursing throughout her veins, making her entire body tremble. As she listened in to what this strange man and her father discussed, their words vague, she couldn’t help but move closer to get a better look. The allure was too great that she was helpless to resist it. Resting her hands on the balcony’s edge, she watched him with great intrigue and interest. Her heart continued to pound as her pale eyes remained fixed on his figure. When the deal between him and her father had been made, she leaned over the edge ever so slightly, her hair gently brushing her face as it fell forward over her shoulders. Just then, the mysterious man glanced upwards.

Cara’s heart stopped instantly, her eyes locked on the man’s below. That brief moment seemed an eternity and she could swear he somehow saw into her soul. The sensation was so odd, yet so exciting, but still nothing she’d ever experienced before. Overwhelmed and a bit terrified that she’d been caught snooping, she let out a tiny gasp. Her cheeks flushed red, her skin going pink along her neck and chest, even along the swells of her breasts that peeked above the neckline of the filmy white dress she wore. Placing a hand against her heaving breasts, her breaths coming short with the fear of being caught, she backed into the shadows once more and turned to make for the doorway leading back out into the corridor.

‘Who is that man…?’ Cara wondered to herself. ‘Who is he…?’

 

[Neophyteinarms]

Ajax looked at the woman, his eyes looking at her as if he was examining a fine painting, one of beauty and finesse. He watched her, heard that gasp and saw her flee. His hands tightened on the suitcases as he nodded to the large men who stood at the door, the gun at their hips quite obvious. "Gentlemen" he said in a low voice, dripping with venom...Ajax didn't like to get guns pointed on him, espically in a place of business. He walked out and disappered as he shot out toward his home base.

It was slow going as he made his way through the city, the extra heft of the suitcases causing him to stop and launch off rooftops. He made his way, examining the city for flaws, ripples in the air that caused him to stop every few jumps. He would look at the ripple, see what it was caused by and make a mental note of it and continue on. It was the middle of the night, so this was the time things came out...but he didn't have time for that. He made his way north, toward Central Park and the inner city. Continuing his examine of the city his mind wandered to the woman he saw at the Don's dwellings.

"That was the daughter..." he said, his mind making a picture of the boardroom, and the pictures that hung on the wall. In his line of business he needed to be sharp and have keen senses, and he tended to remember alot of things, trivial and important. One would never know when a detail would matter, his late master would tell him. The pictures were mostly of her, then there was one large one with the girl he saw, must have been about age 8, with a beautiful woman and an imposing man, obviously the Don. His eyes refocused as he kicked off the wall of a skyscraper and continued to fly through the air. Flying for him was easy, because it was less flying and more forward momentum at the point he was currently at.

His thoughts of the daughter faded as he finally arrived at his base of operations. He wasn't the kind of man to live in poverty because of his powers. Using his powers as a way to become a sort of mercenary for the mentally aware humans in the city had netted him a tidy profit. He lived in a penthouse suit on the 80th floor of some swanky unnamed apartment complex up town. He landed through an open window, silently walking toward his bedroom. He unloaded and counted the suitcases, then whistled as the money counded up to 500,000$. An impressive amount he had to admit.

He set the suitcases in the closet, a collection of them building up as he grinned. He walked to his bathroom, drew a shower for himself and removed his clothing, folding them so he could reuse them after the bathing. He stepped into the lavish shower, the walls made out of gleaming mirrors, showing off every facet of his body to himself. He scanned his skin, the slim, skinny body riddled with scars and wounds from past fights. He was well built, muscles rippling through his skin as he moved. He stood under the stream of water and sighed, the warmth filling him with joy...and his mind moved back to the Don's daughter.

Her lucious hair, her full red lips, the way her breasts peaked out over her hemline...he shook his head and pressed a hand to the mirror in front of him, staring at his reflection. "No more of that Ajax...we made a promise not to get involved with a woman again. Not after Jessica..." he muttered and shook his head, the memories flooding his vision once more.

Jessica was another student of Master Karhara, a practitoner of spectral magics. She delt with the spirits of the other world, the art of taming and manipulation of the mind of the very things we were sworn to fight. She was powerful and kind, the kind of woman who a man like him could see himself with...but that fateful day continued to loom like a black specter, never letting him rest on the subject. His mind wrentched from the image of Jessica to another horrible vision that plagued him...

"Jessica! Don't go back, we can't help him!"

"I have to Ajax...he is our Master and like a father to us both! We must fight!"

He watched her run forward, back into the burning room as her Masters cries filled his ears. There were crashes as he ran back to try and help, to do the right thing...but all of a sudden, as he entered the room his vision was filled with a massive figure...the red eyes burned into his soul as he screamed. The thing laughed and pointed at Ajax, blasting him with a wave of heat that sent him through a wall and knocked out.

Ajax opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead, shutting the water off and toweling himself dry. He grabbed his clothes and sat down on his bed, rubbing his temples as the vision left its mark on his psyche. Then his phone chirped, and he answered it instantly. "Yes..." he said and listened, the man with the high pitch voice informed Ajax that a shipment of goods was coming in on the docks, and only a few men were sent out, the rest afriad of the killings. They needed him to go there and provide protection so the shipment could come through. "Understood" he said and shut the phone. He stood up and doned his outfit, dusting himself off as he nodded. His pouchs were almost empty, so he groaned and walked toward the window.

After a step off the ledge he fell toward the pavement, the wind whistling past him once more. The feeling of the fall taking him as he rushed toward the earth. He turned in mid air, his hands swirling with that energy of wind like before. Shooting it below him, he slowed his fall and landed on the pavement, in stride toward a small shop near his complex, a store called Dragon's Herbireium. The misspelling was on purpose, so the owner said, but Ajax kept his own counsil on that one.

He stepped in and smiled "Hey Drake, how goes!" Ajax called out as the bell on the door clinked. The man named Drake laughed and waved at Ajax "How goes Jax? Got a good job lined up?" he asked, using his hand to wave objects into different shelves.

"Yeah...actually I'm here to restock. Can I get the normal stuff?" he asked.

Drake nodded "Of course man! For you anything!" he said and disappered into the backroom, and reappered with a large pack of things, tied with a hemp rope to keep them secure.

"Thanks Drake...your a good man" he muttered as he opened the package and started to place the reagents into his pouches.

"Oh Ajax...I just got a new shipment in. Its some good stuff, and something I think you might like...would go with the whole trenchcoat look." he said and went into the back room again and came out with a hat. Not just any hat, but like the kind of hat that you would expect a vampire hunter to wear. It had an oval brim, with the ends of the brim tapering into a point in front and back. The top was like a cowboy hat, slightly raised toward the top, with a divet in the middle. along the hat at the brim was a black satin strip of cloth with red symbols running over them, greek by the appearence. "Suppose to be Van Helsings hat, but I got it appraised. Its still nice though...those red symbols are a spell, one that lets you touch the brim of your hat and channel elemental magics into the brim, giving it a sharp edge with the power of the chosen spell....turning it into a whirling blade of danger" Drake said.

Ajax nodded and took it in his hands, looking it over as he smiled. "I'll take it Drake, how much?" he asked

Drake shook his head "Nothing, for you man its on the house. Looks better on you anyway!" he said jovially. Ajax nodded and put it on, pulling it down so he could look out from under it, the shadow still covering his deep blue eyes. "Its perfect Drake...thanks alot" he said.

Drake nodded and laughed "Keep up the good work man, and stay alive for god sakes" he said grinning.

Ajax tipped his new hat to the owner and walked out of the store, stocked and ready to go, heading towards the docks. The cool night air shot against his face as he headed toward the long piers that made up the Stanton Docks. His eyes focused on details again, the ripples and the distortions in reality as he flew past warehouses that dotted the areas near the docks. He landed on a warehouse right near Pier 7, the pier that the shipment was due into. He glanced over the scene, the many streetlamps and other lights letting him see just about everything that was going on. His mind whirled as he took in details, movements and positions of the men he was employed to protect. His eyes narrowed as he licked his lips and nodded, taking a feather out of his pocket, and breaking it up into small pieces. His hands glowed with fresh, natural green tendrils of energy that infused the feathers and turned them into birds. Bird golems created for one purpose, to be a look out.

"Fly my children, show me the areas" he said and they flew away. One landed on a warehouse a few yards down, another landed on the pier the men were working on, and the last landed on a bouy out in the bay. He shut his eyes and his mind cycled from one bird to the next, surveying the area. He sighed and waited, watching the goings on.

An hour passed by, and there was movement. Ajax stood up and looked at the bird on the pier, the ripples appearing in quick succession, and from the ripples came large men in armor, swords in their hands. Ajax quaked as he looked at the scene. He jumped from the roof and launched himself toward the men in suits. The things made loud screeching noises as they sliced the large swords in his direction. His hands both glowed blue, one a navy blue and the other a sea blue. He slammed them against the chest of the first man in armor and sliced through his armor, sending it clattering to the deck in defeat. The second sliced and hit his arm, the blade passing through his cloak and slicing into his arm as he jumped backward, grimacing in pain as the elemental swords in his hands pulsed with energy. He shoot forward, twisted in the air and like a corkscrew, shot through the armored men, sending them to the ground as well.

The men stared at what was going on, guns out and pointed towards Ajax. He glistened with blood from his arm, the energy crackling out as he growled at the men. "Back to work before I fucking kill all of you!" he growled and jumped, running towards the Don's dwelling, anger lodged in his throat. His trip was slowing, because his arm surged with pain as he moved. He landed at the door of the Don's dwelling and growled as he shot his hand through the door, the wood blasting out into the foyer. He stalked toward the dining room, where the Don sat eating with his daughter.

"Pablo!" he screamed, his guards moving to grab at their guns. Ajax shot a glanced toward the men and knocked them out with a glance, and looked at the suprised Don. "What are you fighting!" he growled, and the Don stood up, his calm demeanor coming back as he looked at Ajax. "Come...let us speak" he said. The men retired into the other room, leaving his daughter in the dining room.

The Don looked at Ajax and sighed "Its...a sensitive matter. My late wife was like you, she could see things and wanted to make the world a better place. She...made a deal with these things that you can see and she gained abilitys that I couldn't explain" he muttered, his hand on his face, flushed with embaressment it looked like. Ajax just glared, taking in the details of the story. "She...was taken one night. There was a struggle, a fight, but...she was gone. I had no clue what had happened to her, but the police claimed it was murder and her case is still open...but I know it was those things...they took her. And they killed her" he growled, the Don showing anger that he would have never let another human see. Ajax ground his teeth and nodded "I understand...the Templars are nasty. They are a part of the Demonic Inquisiton...a legion of demons that are planning on taking the world. I don't expect you to believe a word of this, but I thought you should know." he said and grabbed his arm, groaning.

The Don saw that movement and winced, "Your injured...I offer you my abode to get better. You are safe here...my wife made sure of that." He clapped his hands and a few men came in and looked at Ajax, who just nodded and went with the men to a guest room, located on the second floor near his daughters room. The men took his clothing and had a trained doctor come in and dress his wound, a faint blue pulse to it. He nodded after the man had tended to his wounds and laid on the bed, groaning a bit in pain.

 

[darkangel76]

Cara ran along the corridor, her footsteps light as she made her way towards the end of the hall opposite her father’s study. When she finally reached the end, she leaned against the wall and placed a hand against her chest as she found herself gasping for air. Trying to calm down and catch her breath, she realized that her entire body was shaking, trembling for reasons that seemed so muddled in her mind. She’d only caught a glimpse of that man, that mysterious stranger her father had hired, but that moment had lasted a lifetime. It perplexed her, made her start to question the simplest of things.

Why had her father called him? What was he hired for?

Cara knew there had to be a reason. And from the looks of the man that had captured her interest, she knew the reason had to be far from simple. If she’d had to guess, she’d swear he’d been involved in the occult or some sort of dark ritualistic magics that one read about in legends and stories passed down from generation to generation.

As Cara’s mind started to clear a little, her thoughts drifted to such stories. Ones her mother had told her when she was a child, before her untimely and unexplainable death. Looking down at her still shaking hands, she clasped them together and began to wring them a bit. She knew the attempt was in somewhat in vain, but in the end, she did manage to relax herself a little bit. When her breathing finally returned to normal, she stood upright and smoothed out her dress, the fabric so light and airy as her delicate fingers caressed soft material. Setting her jaw, she headed toward the main staircase and slowly descended them knowing that soon she’d be meeting up with her father.

At the base of the stairs, Cara’s father, Don Pablo Anderlini, was there to meet her. He smiled at his daughter and kissed her squarely on both cheeks before pulling her into a tight hug. It was clear that the man loved his daughter very much, that he wanted to protect her from all the cruelties of the world if it was within his power. It was this that made her love him even more, though she knew one day he’d have to eventually let go, let her live her life and follow her own path. Whatever that might be.

Cara and her father headed into the dining room, the large mahogany table decorated with a white lace table cloth and gorgeous red candlesticks set perfectly in ornate brass holders. The ambiance was soothing, making all the agitations from her earlier experience as she tried to spy on the goings on between her father and that strange man.

That man.

He haunted Cara’s thoughts now, filled her mind. As her father spoke to her while they’d walked, she’d hardly heard a word the man had said. All she could think about was that stranger that had stood there before her father, those eyes as they’d locked with her own. As she went to sit down in the high-back chair, a shiver ran along her spine causing her skin to tingle as if slightly electrified. Unsettled by the rush of sensation, she brought her arms up about her middle and gave herself a squeeze as if she’d gotten a sudden chill. Clearing her mind she then gave her father a nod and a smile before letting out a long exhaling breath and then settling deeply into her chair.

“I am famished,” Cara spoke. Her father only nodded, giving her a knowing look, the look of a father who was in constant worry for his daughter. She knew he had a sense that her thoughts were elsewhere. Though she wondered if he could guess as to where they were lingering.

Cara didn’t have time to say much more since the servants began to bring the food out for them to sample. Everything looked and smelled wonderful and it wasn’t long before she was piercing the food with her fork. She and her father ate in silence and it made her wonder even more if he knew that she’d been snooping. It didn’t seem like he’d noticed her, but his silence was more than enough to set her ill at ease.

“Father,” Cara began as she sunk her fork into her dessert, readying herself to ask him a question she was sure would come off as bold. But she didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence. Just then, that man… that man… flew into the room, interrupting their meal.

“Pablo!” the man shouted, his voice laced with an anger unlike anything Cara had ever heard before.

Cara’s pale eyes went wide and she felt herself shrink back a bit in her chair. The strange man and her father conversed about her late mother, her death. Her death? Swallowing, she looked over at her father and then back at the man who’d invaded her thoughts since she’d laid eyes on him earlier that evening. Her mother had made a deal? What? It was unnerving the way the two men spoke of such things, her completely clueless as to what everything they said meant and why it even mattered. It was more than overwhelming and she suddenly felt her hands begin to shake once more. Speechless and dumbfounded, she watched the man finally get escorted out of the dining room and away to a room that would be his own for the night. Biting down on her lip, she excused herself from the table and headed to her own room. She needed to be alone, to think.

It was apparent that Cara’s father hadn’t wanted her to hear the things that he and that man had discussed. But given the way the man had entered and disrupted things, there wasn’t much he could’ve done in that regard. She knew what she knew now. And she needed to learn more. There was no way she was going to approach her father about anything. He’d shut her out, tell her it was for her own good if she didn’t broach the subject ever again. But that would be impossible for her to do. No. She had to do something. She needed to speak to that man.

When the moon was high in the sky and the city outside Cara’s window had gone silent, she gently pushed on the door to her bedroom and snuck out into the eerily quiet corridor that led to their guest’s room. He was only a couple doors down from her. Not far. On bare feet and wearing nothing but a shimmery silk nightdress, she tip-toed along the carpeted hallway and stopped when she stood in front of the door she so desperately wanted to open.

Cara hesitated a moment, wondering whether she should knock or just open the door unannounced. Deciding on the latter, she placed a trembling hand on the crystal door handle and twisted it. The moment she hear the latch open, she pushed on the door and entered the room. The very room that man was staying in.

 

[Neophyteinarms]

The room was still, except for the curtains covering the window, the wind rustling those as it whispered across the floor, chilling the girls feet. The window had been left wide open, for no reason it would appear, for there were sounds coming from the bathroom. Ajax was in the shower, staring at the floor as he ignored the world for the first time in a long time...letting his mind purely wander to memories of times past.

"Ajax! Concentrate or else you will never master the element of fire!"

"Of course master!"

Ajax was 7, a young boy under the study and tutelage of Master Karhara. His eyes were still a deep, sapphire blue, but they no longer had the wear and tear of an unlucky life to weigh them down. He was young, happy, and enjoyed his studies in the magical arts immensely at this point. His hands waved in front of his as he closed his eyes, concentration obvious on his face as he tried his hardest to summon a fireball...but all he got was a wisp of smoke that billowed into the air. He stared at his hands and pondered what it was he was doing wrong.

"Ajax, the power of fire is hidden inside your anger. When you wish to summon fire, you must remember a time when you were so angry you felt like you were about to explode" he said and nodded. "Try once more, and then we shall break for lunch" said the Japanese/Hispanic man that stood over him. Ajax swallowed hard and nodded, staring at his hands once more. His eyes closed, and flashs of his parents death at the hands of the Templars filled his vision. His hands moved on their own, in the motion of fire creation, and as if by magic his hand burst into flames...but his eyes didn't open. He strained against the flow of the magic, fighting what his body wanted to do. The energies struggled against his mind, forcing their way through his lack of self control.

Ajax screamed as his hands turned from a small blaze to a full on inferno, surrounding his body in burning hot rage. His scream echoed along the grounds of his Master's home, his home, the place he lived and learned. Karhara gasped and dropped his walking stick, waving his hands in the gestures that summoned water. He was fast, but not fast enought it would seem. Ajax screamed again and the fire flared, sending a shockwave of unbearable heat out in all directions from his body. Karhara held his hand out, the water in his hands sliding out and creating a shield in front of him. The force of the blast hit the shield, evaporating the water and sending the Master flying backwards. Ajax dropped to his knees, the fire going out as he slumped against the ground. Karhara sighed as he stood up, dusted himself off and walked over to the boy.

"So undisceplined...how will you ever learn to defend yourself in a world full of evil" he whispered and hoisted the boy up, carrying him into the house.

Ajax opened his eyes and felt the hot water pounding against his skin, his eyes glazed over as the memories filled his vision once more...

Now at the age of 17, Ajax was an accomplished apprentice to Master Karhara, choosing to dabble in all 4 major elements, instead of specializing in just one. He stood in the back yard of the house that he shared with his master, his hands held out in front of him. His eyes were closed as his arms moved up towards the sky, his hands fists as he brought them to the ground once more. Sliding from move to move, the tai chi movements calming his mind and letting him clear himself of stress and worry. His hands then started to glow, first a deep mohagony, then on to a blazing ruby, then to a calming navy blue, and finally to a pulsing grey. He brought his hands together and then bowed to nothing, smiling as he finished his excersizes. He turned and there was his Master, watching him from the back porch.

"You have improved quite a bit from when I first brought you here Ajax...you have made me more proud then if you had been my own seed" he muttered, now a rather older man of 76. His body was still spry, his mind trained just as Ajax was, so the energy that coursed through his Master's veins was keeping him younger, filling him with power and grace. The Master walked to Ajax as Ajax bowed low, and Karhara laughed. "No...stand up Ajax...you mustn't bow before me for this instance...I wish to introduce you to a new student...her name is Jessica" he said and a beautiful girl around his age stepped out from behind Karhara.

She had long blonde hair, tied up in a ponytail to keep the hair from obscuring her vision, deep hazel eyes that stared at him, a slim face with high cheek bones and a rosy flush to the skin. She wore a simple tank top, green in color with short jean shorts adorning her legs. In a soft voice she said "Its a pleasure to meet you Master Ajax...Master Karhara says many things in praise of your abilities" She said smiling widely. Ajax just stared at her, his skin burning up as a blush covered his face and neck in a very embaressing way. Karhara bellowed out a laugh and patted Ajax on the shoulder "Silly boy...go clean up. Dinner will be soon and we will be having someone else at the table for once" he said.

Ajax opened his eyes again and sighed deeply, even the water numb against his body now...he knew if he closed his eyes again he would see that vision...her death...but he needed to close his eyes. If not just for one more glance at her, but for the need to continue his mission. He shut his eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks as he did.

"Go Ajax, you must leave me and continue our work...you must protect mankind from the darkness!"

Screams echoed in his ear, explosions rang out and a searing blast of fire rocketed past his face. Ajax looked on as his Master threw magic spell after magic spell, the Inquisitors standing stark still as they took the magical blasts and assilimated them into energy they could use. The swords raised and blue lighting arced from the tip, spearing through his Master as he looked on. Ajax opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came. Something slammed into his stomach and forced him out of the room, another body slamming into his. He coughed, the air knocked from his lungs as he realized it was Jessica. "Jess...Jess!" he cried, pulling her into his lap.

Jessica's eyes fluttered and opened, looking up at him. "Thanks Jax...it only hurt a bit." she said and sat up, looking at the scene happening before them, the large demons clad in armor surrounded by a massive fire that had been caused by their master. "Oh lord...please Master...please hold on!" She cried as she shot up and toward the entrance to the room.

"Jessica! Don't go back, we can't help him!"

"I have to Ajax...he is our Master and like a father to us both! We must fight!"

He watched her run forward, back into the burning room as her Masters cries filled his ears. There were crashes as he ran back to try and help, to do the right thing...but all of a sudden, as he entered the room his vision was filled with a massive figure...the red eyes burned into his soul as he screamed. The thing laughed and pointed at Ajax, blasting him with a wave of heat that sent him through a wall, jarring his head as it slammed against the tile. He looked up, his vision blurring, as he watched Jessica summon a large spirit from the neather, the spirit colliding with the Templars and the large form with burning red eyes. "Jessica!" he screamed.

His eyes shot opened as he slammed his fist into the wall, a jarring hit, leaving a few tiles in the shower broken and cracking off the mortor that held them in place. The door opened as he turned, and saw Jessica standing there...she was a vision of poise and grace as she smiled. "Hey Jax...long time no see" she said in that soft voice. His mind was clouded, not realizing this was the Don's Daughter, the apple of the Don's eye. He stepped out of the shower, not caring that he was nude...he just wanted to touch her, to feel that she was real. His hand went to her face, feeling the warm flesh under his fingers as he smiled. "Jessica..." he whimpered, and kissed her, a full passionate kiss that had the feeling of sparks in it. Then his hand fell to her arm, gripping it as he eyes closed, pain wracking his body from the wound on his shoulder.

He fell, the vision of Jessica filling his view as he slowly fell toward the floor. It took an eternity to fall, Jessica's smiling face haunting his vision as he fell. "Please...forgive me..." he groaned, slamming into the floor in front of the girl, no doubt scaring the crap out of her as his body fell limp on the tile.

 

[darkangel76]

Cara pushed open the door and quietly stepped inside the room. Much to her surprise it seemed empty. Quirking a brow, she glanced about the place, her blue eyes darting from left to right as they checked for signs of the mysterious man’s presence. Just then, a cold breeze blew through the room making her shiver. She saw the drapes at the far window billow and ripple as the air from outside struck against them, filling the air with its briskness.

Wrapping her arms about herself to stave off the chill, Cara turned to close the door behind her first. Looking back into the room once more, she dared to take a few steps toward its center. The man was nowhere to be found. Biting down on her lower lip, she wondered if he’d become restless and gotten up for a stroll about the mansion. Though given the fact that he’d been injured, she didn’t think that idea likely. Still, he wasn’t in his bed nor sitting on one of the chairs.

Cara took a few more steps into the room, her body shaking both from the cold and the anticipation of the unknown. As she continued her slow entrance into the man’s temporary living space, she suddenly heard the sound of running water.

“He’s showering,” Cara whispered out loud to no one. Her lips turned up into a smile and she quietly stalked over toward the door leading to the bathroom.

Cara swallowed as she stood before the door, which was cracked open ever so slightly. She could feel the heated, steamy blast of air seeping through the sliver of an opening, making her curiosity pique to exponential levels. Licking her lips, she allowed herself a tiny glance, pressing her slim body against the door while her eyes peered beyond the crack of space. Across the way, she could see the outline of the man in the shower. He was even more breathtaking like this than he had been before when she’d seen him earlier in her father’s study and then once more in the dining room when he’d interrupted their meal.

Trembling, breath catching, Cara took a hold of the door’s handle in one of her hands. Ever so quietly, she pushed open the door. Though she paused a moment, her heart stopping when she heard the man suddenly pound a fist against the tiled wall adjacent to him in the shower. Her instincts were a flutter. A part of her wanted to run, to go back to her room. But another part, the stronger part, wouldn’t let her move. Instead, she stayed rooted to the floor, her bare feet unmoving as she continued to watch this man who intrigued her so as he showered.

Just then, the man turned and looked directly into Cara’s eyes. The look he gave her was dark and beckoning, making her heart pound and her mind go blank. “I… I…” she stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as her eyes took in the sight of his naked body. It was hard not to stare, to admire his body. He was beyond beautiful.

“Jessica…” the man mumbled as he moved toward Cara, his hand reaching up to gently caress her face.

“Jessica?” Cara whispered as she felt herself lean into his touch. “What?” But she didn’t have a chance to ask anything further. At that, the man grabbed a firm hold of her body, pulling her close, his lips meeting hers.

Cara thought she would melt, her knees threatening to buckle as the man’s lips moved and worked hers with a dark, fiery passion that seemed to emanate off his person. Her body was going limp, surrendering to the sensations that suddenly began to flood her body, her skin on fire, her heart racing. Then, without warning, he pulled away, his face changing, faltering. Was something wrong? Had she offended him? Who was Jessica?

“Please… forgive me…” the man grunted as he fell onto the floor at Cara’s feet.

Cara let out an audible gasp, immediately kneeling on the floor beside the man who’d just left her breathless with his kiss. Placing a gentle hand against his injured shoulder, her eyes went wide with fear. She wondered if he’d been hallucinating, if his wound was far worse than he’d let on to her father’s people who’d tended to him. As she looked at it, the sight of it made her wince. It looked painful. Terrified, worried, she dared to touch the man’s face.

“Are you all right? Sir? Sir?” Cara gently brushed the hair out of the man’s face. She gave him a once over when she suddenly realized that he was still naked before her. Biting down on her lip, though allowing her eyes to linger for a few extra moments, she quickly got up to retrieve a towel. She placed over top his body and knelt down next to him once more. “Sir? Are you all right? Please. Say something. Please.”

Cara couldn’t help but plead. She was afraid he was ill, but was too terrified to leave him alone. Afraid that he’d get worse, afraid to face her father and have to explain why she was in the man’s room. Alone. In her nightdress. No. She couldn’t leave him. Not like this.

“Please, sir. Please. Wake up,” Cara begged. She moved closer to the man, lifting his head and placing it in her lap as she gently tried to rouse him from whatever spell he’d fallen under.

 

[Neophyteinarms]

Laying on the floor, Ajax looked like a being in pain, his arm was throbbing with blue energy that no one else but himself and other people like him could see, and the world was swimming through his mind. His mind was filled with the visions on Jessica and his Master, the demons that he fought eariler, the Templars that killed his family and loved ones...the things he wanted to do but couldn't because of his weakness. He lay there, knocked out and feverish as he shuddered.

As Cara sat over his body, a door in the other room slammed opened, and the Don charged in with his bodyguards. "Cara! Where are you!" he cried out, worried for his daughters sake at the hand of the mercenary. Don Pablo barged into the bathroom and gasped, seeing her in just her nightwear, over the nude body of Ajax. "What the hell is going on in here!" he growled, certain the cad had taken his daughter without his blessing. Don Pablo picked her up by the arm and growled again, his eyes flaming with rage as he looked into her eyes. "What are you doing in here...how dare you come in here. This is his room, and you coming in distracts him from his job...and while he is nude your here in nothing but a filmy nightgown! You have disgraced me, daughter of mine, and I will not stand by whilest you act like a downright whore." he said and dragged her off as the other men frowned and picked Ajax up.

Calling in the doctor once more, he redressed the wound and applyed a salve on it, the blue aura pulsing slowly then gently fading. The doctor smiled, a blue pulse fading from his hand as well. The doctor nodded and moved away from AJax after reapply the bandages to his arm. That blue pulse had moved to the doctors hand, and was no spreading as he left the room, humming to himself the opening of "Three's Company".

Ajax awoke and saw two armed bodyguards at his door, staring at him. "The Don has requested you stay in here until he gets issues with his daughter strightened out."

Ajax blinked and rubbed his forehead, yawning slightly as he shook his head of the sleepy feeling. "What the hell...why would the Don force me to stay in here...I thought I was a guest."

The bodyguard nodded once, being polite to the extreme, so as not to piss Ajax off, the broken door in the foyer and the guard he had accidently killed with a few wood shards enough evidence that he could easily kill any and all of them if he wanted to. Being a protector of mankind though, the guards knew he wouldn't kill them on purpose...or so they hoped. "The Don found his daughter Cara in your bathroom, with you passed out on the floor. He believes she came in and seduced you, and you took advantage of her without his blessing. He is sorting the information now."

Ajax looked at him, his eyebrow raised a bit as he got out of bed and nodded. So Jessica was actually Cara...how had he made that mistake. The visions were getting more powerful, harder to control and something that now seemed to dominate his mind. Something wasn't right about them and he would talk to Drake about it later...the man worked wonders with the mind, his telekenesis able to cure almost all brain maladys that was in the known world. Ajax looked at the guards and bit his bottom lip, hating to be confined anywhere. He grabbed his belt, opened his pouches and started to examine his reagents, making sure nothing was destroyed or wet, and making sure they were top quality. He didn't think Drake would have given him a crappy stock, but he had to make sure on principal.

In the other room, the Don has his daughter on the bed, and he was pacing. The Don paced whenever he was angry, or something was wrong and he didn't know how to set it stright. "Cara...I can't have you near that man. He is a powerful and dangerous man who has no clue what the hell you mean to me" he said "And then you just go in there...not even caring for what could happen to you and just throw yourself at him!" He said, not allowing her to get a word in edgewise. "Your a tawdry slut, and your confined to your room when strangers are in the house. I will not have you just giving your precious body away to anyone!" he growled, the anger overtaking him as he reached out and struck her, a slap to the side of her face as he seethed. "You brought this on yourself Cara...I do this for your own good" he said and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Rounding the hall, the Don walked to Ajax's room. He knew the man by talk of him, and knew his temper was very volatile, and looking at the door from the second balcony made him reaffirm his belief that this man had to be out of his employ as soon as he could get him out. But he did need that protection...curses. Why the hell did this world of inseen murder and power had to exist. He had no idea, but he wasn't planning on blowing up on Ajax...now more then ever he had to step lightly. Nothing could anger the only man that they had to preserve the business. Stepping up to the door, the Dobyguards on the oppisite side of the door opened it, the bodyguards on the inside going to attention as Pablo walked in.

Ajax was fully dressed, standing by the open window. Ajax didn't move, but his voice could be heard next to the wild blowing of the wind in the curtains. "So...have you come to question your daughters virtue?" he asked, that hat that Drake had given him hiding his face in shadow, his deep blue eyes gleaming in the psudo-darkness. The Don just swallowed hard, this man now seeming more like an agent of demons then of angels.

"Forgive me Ajax...I punished my daughter because you were passed out. The doctor informed me that no man touched my daughter after a screening...I do apologize for what happened" he said and smiled weakly "Its just...my daughter is all I have. I do not wish to see her hurt" he said and nodded, looking around. Fully clothed, Ajax seemed ready to go...strange. Had his wound healed fully? "Are you leaving us so soon, Sir?" he asked.

Ajax readjusted the brim on his hat and nodded. "I have to go talk to a man about some visions, and I need to do some research. I will keep in contact with you and let you know how things are going. Your men will continue to be safe...just call me when you need me to help out again" he said in a low voice, his feet glowing with grey energy as he jumped out of the window and seemingly flew away from the mansion into the night sky. He looked down at the large house, that house of secrets and scoundrals and saw the girl, that vision of beauty he had seen before, watching him from her window. He shook his head, turned and blasted off toward his base of operations.

As he flew his mind whirled and thought of the things that had happened today. He realized the Templars were behind the destruction of the men and stock that the Don was bringing in...his wife was like him, Special...and his daughter seemed for someone attracted to him against the Don's wishes. He already wasn't that big of a fan of what was happening here, but it was something that he would have to deal with in time. He landed on a large building, about 20 stories, and caught his breath...casting wind magic wasn't as hard as the others, seeing as wind and air was always around them. All he had to do was manipulate the air and turn it into wind...but it still took alot more out of him then just running the rooftops. So he jumped, moving from building to building and jumping forward after every landing.

He moved through the city and looked around, always on guard. Now that he wasn't in the safe confines of a protected mansion, he would be back on his game, searching high and low for sign of trouble...and low and behold already there was. A ripple appeared before him, and he stopped in his tracks as a Templar appeared in front of him...but it wasn't just any Templar...this one wore special armor with spiked adornments and different coloring. The Templar stood there, sword on hand...and that sword was something else! It had a hand and a half blade, with a handle that was large enough for two hands but could be held with only one. The designs on the blade were etched, intracate and inlayed with the metal, the lettering and dragons that intertwined along the blade glowing with that same supernatural blue aura that surrounded his wound before.

It hadn't attacked, and most Templars will attack on command if they cross from their realm to this one...so he had to ask. "What do you want?"

The Templar's eyes glowed crimson, looking at him as the sword was raised. Ajax braced for another attack, his mind reciting spells of protection even as the Templar slammed the blade of the sword into the ground and turned away from him. The ripple reappeared and the Templar stepped into it, disappearing through the distortion once again. Ajax stared at the blade, the hilt and metal of the sword smoking, as if it had just come out of a furnace. Ajax grabbed the blade and picked it up. It was light, easy enough to wild one handed, with the ability to wield it two handed if he wished. Why did the Templar leave it? Why did it have these designs...what the hell was that Templar, and why didn't it attack him at all? Now he was confused on this entired situation and decided to head to Drake's...he would have answers.

He took the sword and cut a strip of leather off the bottom of his trenchcoat, setting the sword down in it. He muttered a spell and the leather wrapped around the sword in a tight binding, keeping it save from both the elements, and protecting him from it incase it was a trap. He set it to his back and the leather lashed out, creating a lenght of leather that bound the sword to his back and he jumped, heading toward Drake's. "I need answers...and Drake can help" he muttered.

After a few minutes, Ajax landed in front of Drake's store, the Dragon's Herbireium, and stepped inside. Drake was behind the counter, looking bored until he saw Ajax. The jovial greeting Ajax was met with before didn't happen this time. Drake looked up and saw Ajax's face and blinked a few times. "Whats up Jax? You got issues?" he asked. Ajax just nodded and went past Drake, into the back room. "Thats never a good sign" Drake muttered and followed his old friend into the stockrooms.

Ajax took the sword off his back and set it on the table, then looked at Drake. "One...I need you to readjust my memories...they are coming back, and I almost molested a young woman because I thought it was Jessica" he said, his face dead serious on this.

Drake just shrugged and nodded "Alright, but you know the drill. I can't destroy the memories, but I can move them so they are more hidden to your brain. Hopefully you will be able to sleep at night" he said and pressed his fingers to Ajax temple, closing his eyes as he unleashed his power on the waiting mind of Ajax. Ajax gasped as he felt those fingers, and the power moving things in his brain, resetting and cleaning up the jumbled up mess that was his mind. Ajax gasped and slammed his fist into the nearest wall, growling as pain seared through his head. Soon though, Drake moved his hands away and Ajax smiled. "Thanks pal" he muttered, rubbing his temples where Drake's burning fingertips had been just a moment before.

Drake shook his head "And whats this?" he asked, pointing to the sword.

Ajax looked at him as he rubbed his forehead, a bit groggy from the movements of his older memories and shook his head. "wait...what?" he asked softly, then looked down at the sword and his eyes widened. "Oh...that was a gift...from a Templar" he muttered.

The look of shock on Drake's face was priceless...the idea that a Templar would give anyone anything was outragous, let alone the one man that was always on the top of their kill lists. "What do you mean?" Drake asked, his hand picking the sword up by the hilt, not daring to touch the blade lest it lash out and attack him.

Ajax just sat down and looked at the sword himself "The Templar came out of a distortion right in front of me, threw the sword into the building I was standing on and left...just like that. This didn't look like an ordinary Templar though...it looked different...something about the armor was off. It wore golden trim blue metal armor, with spike adornments along the edges. Nothing I have ever seen before" he said. Drake dropped the sword, his eyes so wide Ajax could have sworn they were about to pop out. "What Drake...what is it?" he asked, picking the sword back up and setting it on the table.

Drake swallowed a bit and turned, grabbing a book from his shelf. "That...was one of the High Inquisitors...the higher ups of the Inquisition. Leaders and generals of the Inquisition, they almost never leave the Demon Realm, seeing as they would rather stay behind and control their armys from afar, keeping save at home. You have only ever seen a High Inquisitor once...and they gave you that sword" he said. Ajax looked at it, blinked and picked it up.

"Why...me of all people. Why would they give me this sword?" he asked.

Drake just shook his head and grabbed the sword from his hand "Don't touch it...just touching it could activate the magics that are in the sword. I have no idea what the hell it is...but it feels wierd. Let me get it appraised and I'll let you know what it does. Come back in a few hours and I'll let ya know why that Templar gave it to you, and which demon of the Inquisition let you have this little trinket" Drake muttered.

Ajax nodded "Thanks Drake...don't get killed over this ok? I will be back in a few hours" he said and left the store, shook up and worried about what that sword could do, or if maybe it was a trap set for him that Drake is about to walk into. He jumped and flew towards the open window in his suite, landing on his feet inside the house. He walked to the kitchen, tossed his trenchcoat onto a rack and opened his fridge. He grabbed a slab of ham off the bone, some bread and cheese and mayo. Making a sandwich he tapped an electronic screen in front of him, connected to a large screen TV and a computer/enterainment system. The computer booted on, welcoming him and starting to play some smooth jazz. A notice popped up, an email from a friend of him, Moakai, a demon from the other realm that he had helped once. The demon kept him posted on movements, changes in leadership and large battles that took place in the demon realm, things that would change the way the demons moved on earth.

Ajax finished making the sandwich and looked at the title of the Email. "Urgent"...and that was it. Ajax blinked a few times, tapped his touch screen panal and opened the email. Inside was a 4 letter message, stateing "Discovered, Relocating, No contact". Ajax bit into his sandwich and blinked some more, closing the message. "Moakai...what the hell did you get into now" he said and shook his head, turning the TV on, local news the station it was always on as he watched the stories. Looking for murders and accidently deaths, or homicides that were different or seemingly done by a "madman". Those were usually demons in human form.

 

[darkangel76]

Cara just glared at her father as he left her in her room. She heard the click of the lock and immediately ran to the door and pounded her fists against the unforgiving wood. When she felt the bruises starting to form, she knew it was no use. The man wasn’t willing to listen to reason. Turning her back to the door, she leaned against it and slowly slid down to the floor. She brought a tiny hand up to her cheek and gently touched it. Her skin still stung from the slap she’d received and she found ironic that he’d struck her against the very cheek that mysterious man he’d hired had touched not all that long ago. Before that… that kiss.

Try as she might, Cara couldn’t shake the memory of that kiss. As she let the kiss he’d given her permeate her memory, she knew it hadn’t lasted more than a few moments. Still and all, the affects of it had been profound, stirring things inside of her she hadn’t even begun to touch upon. Not until now.

Sitting there on the cold floor, Cara could feel her eyes slowly filling with tears. Her father had been more than harsh, his words so very cruel. He was hardly the man she’d known as a child. It was as if he didn’t want to face the fact that she was an adult now, fully capable of making her own decisions, living her own life. Why he wanted to keep her away from the realities of the world, stifled in a place devoid of feeling and emotion, seemed so very unfair. She had to do something. She had to stand up to him, make a change.

Cara knew there was no way she’d be able to approach her father. He’d never listen to her. After all, he thought her a whore, a child unable to make judgments of any kind. As she continued to dwell on what had happened between her and that man, she wondered what her father would’ve done had more actually happened.

At that, Cara blushed. Her skin turned a deep shade of red, her cheeks glowing brightly as the heat made its way down from her face and along her neck and chest. The thing was, despite everything, a part of her wouldn’t have minded. In fact, if she was honest with herself, that part of her would’ve welcomed the experience. Burying her face in her hands, she let herself cry. The tears were warm as she felt them roll along her cheeks, streaking her pale skin as they fell. She felt trapped, in a situation where she wasn’t allowed to live and be the woman she now was.

“Why, father…” Cara sobbed. “Why?”

Cara felt so much hurt for what her father had done, for what he had said. Those words would stay with her for a long time. More than likely forever given that it was him who’d uttered them. Just then, she felt her tummy lurch. She felt ill and knew she had to calm herself down. Just then, there was a knock on her door. Startled by the sound, she let out a gasp and a hand immediately went to her chest.

Sniffling and wiping furiously at her eyes, she called out, “Yes?”

“It’s Doctor DiRosilia,” came a voice.

DiRosilia. The family’s personal physician. Immediately, Cara closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Her father truly did not trust her. Her word meant nothing to him at all. He needed proof from a doctor that she’d been untouched.

Saddened, Cara stood up and reluctantly opened the door. The exam had been quick and to the point. Doctor DiRosilia never once uttered word. He hadn’t needed to. She already knew what he’d found. Embarrassed, she sat on the bed, her knees hugged to her chest as she watched him finally leave. Her father had truly gone too far now. Their relationship would never be the same again.

Letting out a soft sigh, Cara ran a hand through her dark tresses and swung her legs around so that she could stand up. She walked across her room and stood in the window. Outside, the city looked beautiful, so unaware of all the things going on behind closed doors. She knew she was still very much in the dark about things. The earlier bits of conversation between her father and the mercenary had been proof of that. Just then, she saw movement in the distance, a dark shape making its way through the air.

Cara quirked a brow as she tried to make out what it was she was seeing, but she couldn’t. It was too dark. “That’s it,” she then said aloud to no one but herself. Her mind had been made up. She needed to find that mercenary, needed to be with him, to ask him questions. There was nothing for her now where she stayed. Her father didn’t understand her any longer nor did he seem to care about her own needs and wants.

Setting her jaw, Cara went to her closet and opened it, starting her search for something to wear. She needed to leave. She needed to run away. She packed a bag for herself, throwing into it some clothes and underthings and even the nightdress she’d been wearing. She’d changed into something more appropriate for the task she’d set for herself. And that meant black slacks and a white blousy top to go along with it. For some reason, the first bra she’d grabbed was black like her pants, but she hardly cared. So what if it showed through the semi-shear material of her top. It didn’t matter, she was running away.

As ready as she could get herself, Cara knew that the only way out was through her window. Her door was still locked and no doubt guarded on the other side anyway. Knowing that, she knew the only option was to climb out her window and scale the ledge leading from her room to the second floor library a few doors down in the opposite direction that the man’s room had been in proximity to her own. Slowly, she walked over to it and climbed outside into the chilly night air. The ledge was steep and oh god it was a long way down. Whimpering, she held onto whatever she could as she slowly scaled the ledge leading to the library.

The ‘trek’ seemed to take forever, the pathway endless as Cara slowly made her way to the window that was her destination. She pressed her body firmly against the stone of the building, her hands clutching at whatever she could while her feet moved unsteadily beneath her. Finally, she made it to the window. Taking a deep breath, she hoped that it would actually be unlocked and thus able to be opened from the outside. Much to her luck, when she squatted down to push it up, it gave way easily.

“Oh thank god,” Cara mumbled, nearly breathless as her adrenaline began to surge.

Without further delay, Cara entered the library and sneaked through the mansion, her goal – the front door. She knew that before she left the place, she’d have to find Peter Morone. He was her father’s public voice, the one who knew the ins and outs of his contacts and hires. Of everyone who worked for her father, he was the one who’d know how she could find the man who’d kissed her, who’d changed her view life forever. As she stalked through the mansion, dodging the guards and most of her father’s men, she eventually found Peter pacing in a hallway. Alone.

Perfect!

Cara sneaked up behind him and gently tapped his shoulder. Peter turned around, phone still glued to his ear. His face turned white when he saw her standing there before him. She was supposed to be locked in her room. Guarded heavily by the Don’s strongest and burliest of men. But there she was anyway.

“Miss Anderlini,” Peter whispered, his one hand covering the receiver of his cell phone.

Cara gave Peter a nod and held up a finger indicating that he stay quiet. The man just nodded and quickly ended his phone conversation so that he could place his attention on the girl standing before him.

“Miss Anderlini, how…” Peter began. But he was cut off before he could take his thought any further.

“Mr. Morone, you will not tell my father you saw me. And you will tell me how to find that mercenary he hired,” Cara stated, trying her best to sound authoritative. Of course, she hardly did. But given her relations to the Don, the man nodded and complied. He gave her the address and told her the best and safest route to take.

“Thank you,” Cara answered after Peter had given her the information she’d needed. The man just grinned sheepishly, unsure of whether to be happy or worried or, hell, afraid of what would happen when the girl was learned to be missing.

But Cara didn’t stay to find out exactly what Peter was thinking. She had a goal now, a destination she needed to find. Turning on her heels, she made for the front door and left. Holding her bag tightly, she shivered a little as the cold air consumed her once more. Looking up at the moon shining down overhead, she let out a breath.

“Right…” Cara whispered and began to run to the place the mercenary called ‘home’.

 

[Neophyteinarms]

Ajax finished his sandwich and flipped the TV off...nothing good was happening in the city. Using the remote he transfered the input for the TV to the computer, the screen flashing with a desktop. He had a mouse on the table and used it to navigate along the internet, looking for occult happenings or things that might show up in tabloids. Yeah...tabloids were actually good for something. All of those stupid stories about kids born looking like bats and celebritys gaining weight...in those cover stories there were actual stories of demons and underground dealings. Ajax himself had actually been in a few of those tabloids, but always in pictures, never mentioned.

His line of work lead him to know many people, and have many contacts in both this world and the other world. The world of his people, "Specials" and they all liked to be called, was a seedy, underground establishment, one that few knew of and even less like to be a part of. There were evil Specials too, ones he had fought, and had to kill. Ajax just shook his head as he saw one such article, of a human bursting into flames in the back alleys of Manhatten. Ajax cracked his neck a bit and went back to searching, hopeing that the Inquisition didn't send any Specials after him...that would make his job a living hell.

Standing up Ajax went to his bathroom and took his hat off, inspecting it closer now that he had a chance to breathe. He smiled a bit and nodded, looking at the craftmenship of the fabric and the pieces of the hat itself. The long black ribbon with the red Greek lettering around it was suburb, and had to have taken years to work on, each letter infused with a large amount of energy. This hat was made as a tool of destruction, and it was built to stand up to a beating. He ran his fingers over the brim...he could feel that the brim was made of a single sheet of Elementium, an element that made itself known amongst Specials that adapted well to power manipulation. It could take a spell and hold it for years, allowing for the usage of that spell until it faded. This one sheet of Elementium was specially designed to take one spell, change it into a spell that turned the brim more solid and sharp around the edges and fly...just some of the spells weaved into those blood red letters. He set the hat down and took his trenchcoat off the hanger before walking back to the bathroom.

His trenchcoat was long, black and had a part on the back that was layered over the bottom half, giving him a nice look when the wind blew. He opened a reagent pouch and produced 2 small pebbles that were dark blue in color, and then opened another pouch and produced an emerald green leaf that smelled of mint and coriander. He took those three items and used the two pebbles to crush the leaf, his eyes closing as he recited a rather powerful spell. This spell needed to be reapplyed every few weeks, but it made his trenchcoat impossible to pierce, burn or freeze. It also allowed the trenchcoat to weight almost nothing but provide those protections just the same. He finished the spell, and the deep blue and emerald colors of the reagents were gone, leaving behind dull brown rocks and a bruise colored leaf. He tossed those things into the trash and hung his trenchcoat back up.

Moving from the bathroom, tossing his hat onto the same rack at his trenchcoat he went to the couch and removed his large black combat boots. He removed 2 reagents from his pouches, a ruby red crystal and a black piece of obsidien. He put the boots on the table in front of him and placed the crystal in one hand, and the obsidien in the other. He shut his eyes and crushed both of the pieces in his hands, a swirl of crimsion red and deep black energy swirling around him, forming into a sheet of mesh energy. His hand glowing red and black, he picked up the mesh energy and draped it over the boots, the energy clinging to the leather and Elementium that were in the boot, sinking in and hold inside. These boots were lined with Elementium on the sides and in the bottom, making it so he felt no impact when he moved from the shoes, and protecting the shoes from any outside elements that could damage them. He put his boots back on and smiled. "Inspection complete" he muttered as he got up and walked to the kitchen.

He felt something as he poured himself a glass of wine...faint smells of perfume and makeup. He felt the footsteps...slow and scared if he had to guess...like someone was coming up to something rather scary. He closed his eyes and felt her breath, the heaving of her chest as she inhaled sharply, her shoes scrapping the carpet. His eyes shot opened as he heard a tiny knock on the door...

He moved forward and opened it, his eyes focusing on that vision of beauty once more. Cara Anderlini, daughter of Don Pablo Anderlini was standing outside his door, wearing a sexy little number and panting for breath. "What are you doing here?" he asked, suprised at this intrusion. He was last told she would be locked in her room, and he wouldn't have to worry about seeing her again...but something about her made him think of Jessica...made him wish she were still here. He just stared at her, a moment of thought dawning on him as he licked his lips. "Why aren't you locked in your room?" he asked.

 

[darkangel76]

Cara clutched her bag tightly against her body as she began to run along the path leading away from her house. She’d managed to take what money she could that had been stashed in her bedroom, though she wondered if it would be enough. More than likely it would be fine for the night, but for long term? She had her doubts and she had no idea what the mysterious mercenary man would expect of her. The urge to turn around was strong. But there was no way she could now. She was past the point of no return. She had to keep going.

Running, breath coming in hard rasps, Cara felt as if her lungs were on fire. The burn from the exertion from running was taking its toll on her small, slim body and she knew she had no choice but to slow down. Slowing her pace, her lungs happy for the rest, she went over the directions in her head that Peter had given her. As much as she didn’t like the guy, she hoped her father wasn’t too hard on him for divulging the information he had. Though given the way he’d treated her earlier that evening, she had no doubt that the man would suffer a relatively harsh punishment. Looking down at her feet as she continued to press on, she felt a feeling of guilt wash over her body.

Frowning just then, Cara reached a hand up to her cheek. It still stung from the earlier slap her father had administered. When she’d inspected her face as she’d changed clothes, she’d noticed that she’d been bruised ever so slightly. A reminder of her supposed defiance to her father. A reminder that he distrusted her and wouldn’t forever keep her free from living the way she chose to do so. Dropping her hand, she let out a sigh. Such was the way of things. She could only hope that when she found the man who intrigued her so, that he’d at least let her stay for a little while, long enough to figure out her next move. And hopefully long enough so that she could find out exactly what it was he knew about her mother and family.

The words uttered between that man and her father as he’d interrupted their dinner that evening were burned into her mind. What were the Templars? What did that have to do with her mother, her family? Why after all this time would they come back? So many questions filled her mind and needed to be answered. She knew this man would have them or at the very least have a clue and be able to give her names of people to contact. She was sure of it.

As the night wore on and Cara continued to forge on ahead to what she hoped would be her final destination for the evening, the air began to get colder and colder. Something was off, she could feel it, sense it. Deciding to pick up the pace a little, though not quite to a jog, she wrapped her arms about her body to stave off the chill. The moon was bright and silvery as its rays shone down upon her and the street glistening with oil slick and water. Shivering, she began to move even faster though she cursed herself for not wearing better shoes.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Cara could see the building Peter had mentioned in the distance. Its silhouette was ominous in the darkness and quiet of what was usually a bustling city. It was odd, almost disturbing, how the place seemed nearly devoid of its typical nightlife. It made her wonder if others had that same sense of foreboding she did and felt it safer to stay home and inside the confines of the houses or apartments. Trying not to dwell on that too much, she let her pale eyes fix on the place that was her goal.

The building was tucked away in a rather eccentric corner of town, an odd looking shop across the way that made her arch a brow in wonder. Biting down on her lip and running a shaky hand through her thick, dark hair, she let out a quick breath and pushed open the main door. The sound of her shoes clicked against the stone until she finally made it to the carpeted area. At the end of the hall was a staircase and despite her nerves and fear, she reached for the railing and began to climb. The trek up seemed endless, nearly agonizing as she knew the door to his place was getting closer and closer.

As Cara made it to the floor on which the man resided, she turned to the left and walked up a short, four-step staircase that led to the landing. Swallowing, her body began to tremble and she felt the adrenaline coursing throughout her veins.

“Calm down, Cara. It’ll be all right. He’ll have the answers,” Cara whispered to herself, her voice almost inaudible.

Slowly, terrified, Cara walked along the carpeted hallway toward the man’s door. When she finally reached it, she sucked in a breath before knocking. A part of her had hoped no one would answer, but almost immediately the door swung open and she found herself face to face with the man who’d kissed her. At that, she felt her knees weaken, her resolved faltering. No. She had to keep it together. Fear and intrigue needed to be pushed aside.

“What are you doing here? Why aren’t you locked in your room?” the man asked, his face quizzical and almost surprised.

“I…” Cara stammered. “I… uh… ran away.” She averted her eyes from his gaze. For some reason she couldn’t look at him, so she turned her head slightly and stared at the floor instead. The slight bruise on her cheek was visible and she felt its sting as her mind drifted for a moment to what her father had done, to what he’d said, what he’d called her. “I couldn’t stay there,” she then added. “But, I… what are the Templars?” she asked and finding some small semblance of courage, she returned her eyes to his gaze once more, her fear apparent, but her strength holding on. “And what do they have to do with my mother?”

 

[Neophyteinarms]

Ajax stared at her as what seemed to him like a wall of words sprung from her mouth. When he heard the questions his mouth got extremely dry and he turned from the door and walked toward the kitchen, but he didn't close the door. He poured himself a shot of irish whiskey, downed it and poured another. He waved her in and waiting until she had come in and closed the door before he started to speak. He steeled himself, because alot of explination was about to come in droves, and he needed to keep himself steady...no visions or anything to side track him. The Don would have his head if he knew his only daughter had run away from her locked bedroom only to find him...it would be hell.

He downed the second shot of whiskey and stared at the ceiling, his throat burning from the alcohol and the thoughs of what this would do to her poor mind. Most Specials were created as young children, and are raised understanding what these things are...but this woman was Human, almost his age and wanting to find out, wanting to have her eyes opened to the world of darkness. He reoriented his gaze on her as she found a spot to be in. "Get comfortable...this will take awhile" he said and ran his hands over his arms. He took a deep breath and began.

"The Templars are a sect of demons living in a realm parallel to our own. We call it the Demon Realm, and we are called Specials. From a young age, Specials can see the things that come from the Demon Realm to our realm. We can fight them, or aid them. Most choose to fight, and alot of us die. But some survive, and hide, and become one with the rats in the gutters to survive the attacks. But me...as you can see have chosen the path of the mercenary. Hired out to large companys or indivuals with large amounts of money, and I do for them what any merc would do...I kill" he said and took another shot before moving on, nerves needing to be steeled.

"Anyway, Templars are just one of many sects. The Tribes are a race of troll like demons, and all they want to do it kill and eat humans as a source of food. The Aerie is a sect of winged demons, ones who plague the skys and the grounds alike. The Forest is a group of demons who are generally neutral to the situations shared by the other sects, and don't care for humans. You almost never see that kind here in the human realm. They would just rather hang out at home and not bother us..." he said, that image bringing up Moakai. He shook his head and took another shot, shaking his head as the aftertaste and burn started to catch up with him.

"Templars are the worst, large demons covered in armor and wielding huge greatswords like they are toothpicks. They killed my parents, and laters everyone I loved" he muttered and looked at her and shook his head "Aparently your mother, who was like Us, made a deal with these demons for power, wealth and the ability to fight demons just like us. But I'm pretty sure your mom just got on the wrong side of them, couldn't fight so many I assume" he said and felt his phone buzz. He flipped it open and saw that the sword had been appraised and was good to go it seemed.

Ajax swallowed and shook his head "She disappered and its no doubt it was the Templars...so its my duty to stop them from killing you fathers men. Now...I answered your questions, you answer mine. Why did you try and find me, and what the hell were you doing in my bathroom while I was showering?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he took another shot, staring at her as he waited for his own answers.

 

[darkangel76]

Cara wanted to shrink back and hide the moment the words of her question spilled out of her mouth. They seemed to affect the mercenary, letting her know that he definitely had a clue about things. But at the same time, the expression that washed over his face as he processed what she was asking made her wonder if she’d stepped over a line. Fearful she did, she bit down on her lower lip, her bag held tightly against her chest as she felt herself growing smaller and smaller in the man’s presence.

Just then, before Cara could even look away, she watched the man turn on his heels and head toward another room of his place. Quirking a brow, she tried to peer in a little. He hadn’t invited her in, but he hadn’t turned her away either. She was confused, not sure what to do. As a result, she just stood there feeling helpless and hopeless and more than worried she’d done something terribly wrong. Luckily, the man returned and gestured she come inside and get comfortable. As it would seem, it appeared as if he was willing to talk, to tell her what she both wanted and needed to know about what was going on about her. She’d been so clueless about everything and it was this man who would open her eyes to reality. She just knew it.

Still a trying to shake the nervous feeling she had while she’d been making her way to this man’s place, Cara tried her best to stay calm. She took a deep breath and let out the air slowly. As she focused on her breathing, she entered his place and sat herself down so that she could give him her full attention. Something told her his story would be a lot to absorb and more than likely come off as outlandish. Bracing herself for the explanation to come, she put her bag down on the floor at her feet and adjusted her body so that she was comfortable. Looking into his eyes, she listened intently as he began to speak.

The mercenary told Cara of the Templars. Of demons and parallel universes. Everything he said was making her head spin, her eyes lose focus. It was harder than she’d thought it would be to process everything he was telling her. But, without a doubt, she believed him. There was something about him, about the way he carried himself, how he looked at everything. At her. It was clear that he’d seen more than most, things she couldn’t comprehend. At least, not until now, unless he’d help her. Teach her. She wondered if he’d dare. After all, she had her mother’s blood running through her veins. Blood of a Special. Could this man awaken that part of her? Was such a thing possible?

As Cara’s mind began to drift slightly, her focus suddenly snapped back.

“… why did you try to find me? And what the hell were you doing in my bathroom while I was showering?” the man asked, his eyes narrowed a bit as he waited for her to answer.

Cara felt her blood run cold in that instant and again she felt her body begin to shake. “I…” she stammered and then shifted about in her seat nervously. “I’m sorry about that.” Pausing, she looked down at the floor. She just couldn’t look in his eyes. “I needed to talk to you and since you were staying with us… Well, I figured I may as well pay you a visit.” Just then, she found a tiny bit of courage and looked back into his eyes once more. “It wasn’t my fault you were showering when I entered. I… Well, I did knock.”

Cara’s cheeks turned red. The mercenary had indeed been showering and she hadn’t missed any of the angles of his body either. He was beautiful, most pleasing to her eye. And though she hadn’t expected to see him naked, a part of her hadn’t regretted that. Nor did it regret that brief moment when his lips had touched hers… Closing her eyes for a moment, she felt her breath catch. Silently, she scolded herself.

“I swear I knocked,” Cara whispered.

Cara wanted to ask him about Jessica, but she stopped herself. Obviously he hadn’t been aware of the mistake when it had happened. His passing out had been more than proof of that. Besides, she barely knew him. To pry into such things wasn’t her place, wasn’t her right. If he wanted her to know, he’d tell her. And he would do so when he deemed it appropriate and not a moment sooner.

Trying to distract herself from her curiosities, Cara moved on to the other part of the mercenary’s questions. “And since I hadn’t been given the chance to speak with you, I had to find another way. So…” her voice trailed just then. There was no way she could sugar coat what she’d done and the potential obstacles it could cause them both. “So, I ran away. I found out your address from Peter. He won’t tell though.” And he wouldn’t. Though she knew that her father would eventually figure out that it was he who divulged the information to her. It wouldn’t take long before it was realized she was gone and when that happened… “Is it all right if I stay the night here?” she then asked. “I brought my bag. I won’t be any trouble. But please,” she begged, her pale eyes pleading with him. “Please can I stay here at least tonight? I’ll figure out what to do tomorrow.”

Despite her words, Cara honestly had no idea what she’d do the following day. She had money, but not enough to last more than a few days. After that, she’d be on her own and out of luck. She’d never been out on her own before, had no idea what was needed to be done. But she couldn’t let this man know that. Not yet, if she could help it. More than likely he probably already thought her silly and thoughtless, but then she could hardly blame him of that. She did act rather impulsively. But still, there was no way she could stay there. Not after the things her father had called her, after striking her the way he had.

Just then, Cara’s hand went up to her slightly bruised cheek. She winced a little both at the pain and the memory of what had happened. She never thought her father capable of such things, to turn on her the way he had. Sure, she understood that he might have had her best interests at heart, but what parent would strike their daughter in such a way? And then… she felt her eyes prickle with tears… call her a whore when she hadn’t even done anything.

‘But I would have…’ came Cara’s thoughts. She didn’t know the why of it, but the intrigue and connection she’d felt, hell still felt, was more than enough for her. She knew it shouldn’t be that way, but she couldn’t ignore how her body responded. All she could do was keep herself in check. After all, what would a man like him see in her anyway? Especially one he didn’t really know.

“Please? May I?” Cara asked, her hands shaking as she awaited the mercenaries answer.

 

[Neophyteinarms]

Ajax looked at her and licked his lips, tasting the whiskey on his mouth as he pondered that question a bit. His eyes looked up at the ceiling as his mind whirled through the options...I need to go find out about that sword from Drake, but if she isn't a Special then she can't even see the store...plus if she has no powers its dangerous for her to be around me, espically if someone is after her family. Something about this doesn't feel right, but its the middle of the night and there is no way I can send her back home alone...fuck!. He looked out the window and sighed "Fine...you can take the couch. Try not to destroy it because it is a nice couch" he muttered and walked to the living room, turning the news on and showing her the remote.

"For TV, if you wanna use the computer hit the Aux 2 button, and please try hard not to look at porn on it. I use it for business" he said and set the remote down. "Now...I don't want to leave you here alone, because your no longer in the protective bubble that surrounded your house. Your coming with me...and if you know where we are going then when we get back I have something to show you" he said and grabbed his hat and his trenchcoat, donning them and putting his belt pouches on. "Lets go" he said and walked out the front door, not waiting for her.

As he walked he removed a small brown stone from his pouches, and a seed that looked like it was taken from a pine tree. He pressed them into his hand, a bit ahead of her and uttered a spell ending in her name. The seed glowed dark red and disappered, the warm sensation covering her body as he moved. Now he could track her well being by this spell he had given to her.

They walked to the bottom floor, he signed them out and he walked down the street to Drake's shop. "Here we are...If you see it then come in, and touch nothing" he said and entered the store. Drake smiled weakly and nodded, waving a bit as his eyes went wide at the sight of Cara. "Who?" he asked

Ajax just shook his head "Leave it alone...she is under my care. Now tell me what you got from the sword" he said.

"Well, that sword is of demon make, but something about it feels angelic. My appraiser couldn't find anything wrong with it, and he even gave it a rather high price, seeing as its made with Elementium. It has a wierd aura, and my powers don't work on it...maybe your spells will" he said and handed him the leather wrapped sword.

Ajax nodded and slid it against his back "Thanks Drake...and I need something special. Can I get 3 tarantula legs, and 5 large Lavender candles" he said. Drake blinked at him a bit and shook his head "I hope you know what the fuck your doing Jax...she looks barely older then 18, and acts like she is 13...I can hear her thoughts and they are lost" he muttered, but handed him a bag with the items in them. "Don't awaken her until your sure she is ready...you know what it is like to be thrust into this life...don't force that on her."

Ajax shook his head and ran his hand over the brim of his hat. "Her mother was involved with the Inquisition...her father is being stalked by that same demonic sect. I need to figure out what is the reason behind this, and to have her awaken then we might be able to understand a bit of whats going on. Plus...I feel her Drake..." he said in a whisper, getting closer to Drake. "Her power is amazing, something is magical about her...something I can't put a finger on. If she saw this place she had something good, a power that allows her access to this plane" he said, not letting Cara realize they were in the demonic plane at this moment.

Drake nodded "Just remember...and I hate to bring this up...but she won't be another Jessica" he muttered.

Jax bit his lip and nodded "I got it...I know" he whispered and leaned back "But if I can awaken her, then maybe...just maybe I can have a partner that will actually help me and not be a drag on me. She is new, fresh...trainble. I can give her all she needs to fight by my side. You retired Drake, but if I could have you again I would." he said and shook his head, shrugging.

Drake snickered and shook his head "Yeah well...my calling is in the herb business man! I am doing what I love to do, with 10 times less death chances" he said and laughed.

Ajax just nodded "Thanks Drake..." he said and turned to her. "Lets go...I have something to show you" he said, heading back to the apartment.

 

[darkangel76]

Cara felt a sense of relief wash over her the moment the man told her she could stay. She looked over at the couch and smiled, her body ever so slowly relaxing. That would be her ‘bed’ for the night and for that she was so very relieved. As she entered the apartment, she suddenly felt her muscles releasing the tensions that had consumed them. They were strangely sore and stiff, though now being with this mercenary, waiting for his answers to her questions that would seal her fate, she felt much better. Safer. Looking over at him, she couldn’t help but notice that he seemed to be pondering something. No doubt he was deciding what information he could divulge or what to divulge first. She had to wonder.

Just as Cara’s mind began to swim with thoughts of what would come, the mercenary looked at her and interrupted them. His words were short and he wasted no time. He had business to tend to before he could chat with her and that meant she had to go along for the ride. Swallowing, she just nodded, trying to understand what he meant about being in a protection bubble while residing in her father’s mansion. Surely, that had something to do with her mother and the people who’d murdered her. This only brought more questions to her already muddled mind. Yes, her life had turned upside down the moment she laid eyes on this man.

It didn’t take long before Cara was being escorted out of the apartment and down the stairs. Once outside, she looked across the way and was able to perfectly see their destination. Her pale eyes fixed on the sign labeling the place - Dragon’s Herbireium. Blinking rapidly, she watched the mercenary enter. Biting down on her lip, she followed him, opening the door and moving to walk beside him. The place was unlike anything she’d ever seen. If she didn’t know better she’d go so far as to say that the place came off as otherworldly.

Pale eyes wide, Cara hung back a little as the mercenary made his way over to the man who seemed to run the place. She only barely caught the man’s name. Drake. She mouthed it to herself and then suddenly wondered what the mercenary’s name was. No doubt he knew hers, daughter of Don Pablo Anderlini, but she’d never been formally introduced. And her father never let her know anything about those that were hired. Setting her jaw, she decided she’d ask his name when they left the strange shop they found themselves in. After all, she’d already seen him naked.

Cara barely made out the words exchanged between the mercenary and Drake. She knew they were talking about her and her family somewhat. And she saw them pouring over a sword of some kind. It was all so very strange and she wondered what it had to do with anything. Somewhere deep inside she knew it had to something to do with the strange conversation he’d had with her father. Oh, she hoped he’d explain more to her once they got back to his place.

Trying not to be a bother or come off as too overly nosey, Cara began to glance about the shop. She got a weird vibe from the place, one she couldn’t quite explain. It made her skin break out into goose bumps as her tummy began to flip with odd sensations. Rubbing her arms, she tried to shake the feeling. As she looked around, she noticed that the items strewn about were a rather eclectic mish mash of things one didn’t normally see in a typical store. Then, again, with a name like Dragon’s Herbireium, she supposed she shouldn’t be all that surprised.

When the mercenary and Drake appeared to have finished their conversation, the man turned to face Cara. Try as she might, she couldn’t read his expression. Though somehow he seemed at bit more at ease than earlier. Maybe it had to do with that sword of his. She could only wonder.

“Let’s go,” he suddenly stated. “I have something to show you.” The man didn’t even give Cara a chance to respond. He immediately turned on his heels and headed out the door.

“Wait,” Cara mumbled as the man briskly began to walk away. “Wait!”

Cara quickly ran to catch up to the mercenary. His stride was fast paced as he walked out into the night and made to cross the street. As she followed him, she felt an odd weight lift from her body. Quirking a brow, she glanced back at the shop.

“Odd,” Cara whispered half to herself and half to no one. There was definitely something strange, something off, about that place. She decided she’d ask about that later as well.

Turning back around, Cara could see that the man was nearly at the front entrance of his apartment building. Running to catch up, she followed him inside. The two walked in silence as they made their way back up to his place. Once back inside what she felt was the safety of the walls of his place, she let out a tiny sigh and all but flopped onto the couch. She was exhausted and still somewhat frightened. And then there were the questions swimming in her head.

Looking at the man, her pale yes inquisitive, searching for answers, Cara said, “Before you show me anything, may I ask just what I should call you? I know you know who I am, but…” her voice trailed a bit. “But, I’m Cara.” She wanted to offer her hand out for a shake, but she was hesitant to do so. Despite that all too brief, yet very intense moment they shared back at the mansion, he seemed rather distant now. At that, she averted her eyes and held out her hand anyway. She didn’t expect him to take it, but that was all right. She’d feel better making the gesture. Waiting for the man to do something, she cleared her head and braced herself for what he wanted to show her.

 

[Neophyteinarms]

Ajax took her hand and shook it "You can call me Ajax...most people call me Jax or X, but most of the time I just go by Ajax...now. What it was that I wanted to show you is a ritual that a sect of druids figured out in the late 1800's. It was a way that the druids could speak to the spirits of the dead, but they ended up seeing the mystical world that is parallel to ours. The same druids ended up being the first 'speisialta' in the world, which is what they called it. Its Gaelic for Special, which is what we call ourselves" he said as he looked at her. "From what I have heard, and what I have experienced, the opening of your mind can be very hard to deal with...luckily your not getting your mind opened by a tramatic experience. If your being tracked or targeted for whatever reason by these demons, then I need your mind to be opened so that you can atleast see your attackers." he said.

He moved to the table in the living room and opened the pack that Drake had given him and set the candles in the pack on the table in a 5 star pattern. He lit the candles and beckoned to the couch. "Please...have a seat" he said and sat down oppisite of the couch and licked his lips. As soon as he sat down he nodded and lit the candles. He withdrew from the pack a large wing from what looked like a condor, because the wing was nearly 15 feet across. He set it in the middle of the circle and pulled the ruby and sapphire from the bag, the last parts of the ritual. "Alright...so what were doing here is the original ritual that opened up those druid's minds all those years ago. I already see the world for what it is, so this should have no adverse effect on me...but I haven't ever done these rituals before so it is still to be seen that it won't effect me" he said.

He put the ruby in his left hand and the sapphire in the right hand. "These stones represent the left and the right sides of the human brain. Crushing the stones and sprinkling the dust over the condor wing represents sending you mind into the world, on the wings of change. Once I do this, I will speak a spell, and after that you may feel a tugging in the back of your head, almost like when you believe someone is talking about you. You may also start to hear the whisperings of demons...you must fight that. If you believe what those demons have to say then you may become lost to the evil ways of the underworld. Now you have to promise me that you won't succumb, cause if you do I have to kill you here and now. The best way to fight the influence of these demons is to hold in your mind an image, one that fills you with joy and love, one that the demons can corrupt." he said and looked at her. "Are you ready?" he asked. Before she could truely say yes, his eyes closed and he muttered a word, crushing the stones in his hand. He then started to pour the dust over the condor wing and said what sounded like a poem out loud.

"Lords of the Air, Sea and Fire...
Heed the words, for it is dire.
Men loved, men lost,
The elements of deathly cost,
Please listen to my cry,
Release this human from closed eyes!"

After he had recited this, the wing started to glow and hover, the candles flames roaring to life. As the fire roared, the wing started to float higher, and spin above the flames of the candles. Wind started to blow from nowhere, and the sounds of water rushing forward could be heard in their ears. The room started to spin and turn, and from Ajax's chest shot a string of light that zoomed into Cara's chest. They were connected now, and as her mind started to open Ajax's also heard the demons that whispered to her, the thinks in the darkness that wished to obtain her soul. Ajax's shut his eyes, growling a bit as he grabbed at the glowing string. "Fuck..." he groaned, trying to pull away but to no avail.

What Drake hadn't told Ajax was when someone who was Special did the ritual, they became a kind of protector, linked with the person that they unlocked. Ajax was now teathered to this girl, weither he wanted to be or now. As Ajax listened he heard a woman's voice, soft and melodic as it spoke to Cara. "Cara...my daughter...please be strong...fight through this and we shall see each other again." Ajax gasped, but it wasn't heard over the funnel of air that surrounded them. "CARA!" he cried out, reaching to her. But as the ritual came to a close he felt his conciousness failing him, his eyes shutting of their own volition. "Cara" he whimpered, feeling closer to this girl now that he could feel her without touching her. He slumped backwards, his body hitting the floor with a thud as the ritual continued...he could sense and hear nothing that happened to her from here on.