Chapter 11: The Shadow in Our Caves

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

"I am sorry that you were attacked. Everything is so chaotic and confusing...but, rest will do me good. When I wake we can talk some more.." Malak says. He just collapses on the couch, since he is too tired and overwhelmed to go to a room. He lays there like a corpse, pale and bruised in some places. But he is very content and falls asleep quickly. Part of his torture was sleep deprivation, so it has been a while since he has slept comfortably.

[Jack Kruschev]

Anthony walked down the hallway humming a small tune and glancing through his immense pile of papers he carried along with him. Times had been good. He'd cured his friend, Lonnrot, and even made several advancements in the process. The Manalists were happy with him for saving their best psycologist, allways a good sign.

Anthony got to his office and opened the door.

[John Duddy]

Duddy froze as he heard the women’s voice, he thought to himself, “Did I get caught already?” John turned to see a gorgeous women, and couldn’t believe his luck, two beautiful women in one day. Duddy realized he actually knew who this women was, she was Li Violette, the current leader of Red Infinity. Her beauty preceded her and they way she said special contacts gave it away. “What does any one know about a group called Red Infinity? Although I do know that you must be Li, right?”

[Kizu Sensou & Hex]

Hilja said

There is a pause in the conversation, so I start listening to the news on the small tv in the cafe. Some cafe staff are also watching. The television program talks about the annual banquet of the Blessed. I listen a little to the story and wonder if my brother will attend.

"Kizu...I suppose you will be going to that banquet they are talking about. The one for the Blessed. I imagine as a Genetech employee you get to go to those sorts of things." I state. I glance over at Hex, who seems quiet and stoic.

Kizu looked at Hex and then at her own hands. She had been asked to go before but then it had been retracted because they had her stay late to work on business. She had always wanted to go to functions such as those.

"Well yes I get invited to things like that. Usually I get asked to work late by my crea...bosses. But perhaps I will get to attend this particular event. I am beside myself with anticipation. However do you think it may be dull? How many people do you think will be there Hilja?"

Hex placed a hand on Kizus. He knew she was nervous about being at a big shindig.

[Lilith "Mistress" Antekkereh]

Mistress merely nods her head at Mollie's thanks, before her eyes lit up in joy.

"The piano! Oh my! You must play for me. There has to be a piano in this store... but then again only a well made grand piano can capture the true beauty of the instrument."

She turns, running her eyes over the toys in the toy store again. Perhaps she kept a piano somewhere in back so that she could practice during work hours. If she wasn't going anywhere in her music career as she suggest thought, she must not be that great...

Feeling as if she had just had a piece of treasure dangled in front of her and then snatched away, she turns back to the human, awaiting an answer.

[Lena Eva Aysel]

Lena, or rather Eva to these two, stepped into the apartment after Malak. She really should not risk being seen here, but she supposed she could cover it up easily enough. She watches their exchange in silence.

Once Malak falls asleep on the couch, she tilts her head. "Tuesday... can I talk to you?" She questions quietly, nodding her heard toward the bedroom.

It may not be the best idea, what she was planning to talk to Tuesday about. But she felt a sense of friendship toward this journalist that she had not felt for years. Besides, it was better than some cocky doctor attempting to analyze her problems.

[Li Violette]

"I simply wanted to welcome you into the organization. You won't see much of me because of my job as Speaker for the Manalists. Now, my allignment with the Manalists may look suspicious, but a person must do ..whatever they can...to preserve this movement and to position themselves in usefull places for the eventual bid for power." I state. The job as speaker requires me to give speeches on selfishness and virtues associated with capitalism, so it is possible that to some members of Red Infinity I seem two faced or untrustworthy.

"The main thing that you should remember is that no matter what comes out of my mouth publicly, I am certainly dedicated to a...significant change."

I fold my arms and look him over.

"Do you have any questions for me?"

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday looks at Malak on the couch for a moment. She flicked her eyes up to Eva.

"Oh, of course." She says, leading her into the bedroom. She wonders what Eva wants to talk about, perhaps there is something else that her and Malak need to worry about? Some kind of retaliation? She shook her head, not letting herself get ahead.

"And thank you again for helping me and Malak." She smiles. "I hope you're not going to get in any sort of trouble for being involved."

["Danny" Damascus]

The trucks were just pulling in and Danny watched Alexei step out of the plane. He lept out of the passenger's seat of the truck, swinging on the door and hitting the ground at a run, moving past the truck as it plodded along.

He waved to Alexei, pulling his teeth together in a friendly smile as he hurried toward the other drug dealer. His people knew the procedure, it wouldn't take long to load up everything, he just needed the money before the opium was loaded. Everyone was waiting for the two of them to make the deal and Danny was glad to see that Alexei had the money - he liked Alexei but he wasn't stupid; these Mafia folks would slit your throat in a thought you give them the chance.

"Looking good, Alexei! What's say we get everything under way?" He offered his hand for Alexei's case.

[Lena Eva Aysel]

"It was nothing, like I said before, a deal's a deal. 'Sides, he's a pretty nice guy. Don't worry about it." Lena replies, having her lies and excuses already planned out.

She enters the bedroom, taking a seat on the chair near the bed. Resting her elbows on her thighs, she folds her hands, her icy-blue eyes focused at the floor. Her expression becomes distant.

"Tuesday... it may seem weird I want to talk to you about this stuff, but I just... I have no other... friends." A soft smile touches her lips at the word. "I'm just really torn, and I'm not who I wanted to be once."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"My brother said there was at least 200 people there last year." I reply to Kizu. She seems a little anxious about the event, so I take it that she really doesn't like social things.

My mind wanders to something else...

"Hey, is Hex ALWAYS with you?"

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday raises an eyebrow, just slightly, and takes a seat on the bed, hugging her legs and resting her chin on her knees.

"It's alright." She said, with a comforting smile. She liked Eva well enough, she was a nice person, and after everything she'd done for Tuesday she trusted her.

"Whats going on?" She asks, urging her to proceed.

[Mollie Marionette]

Mollie grins, glad to see that Mistress enjoys the piano. "I have a piano in the storage room." She doesn't mention the papers that are strewn around messily, needing to be filed. "It's not as nice as the one in my apartment, though." She shrugs.

She looks around the store, it's not very busy today, and her managers and other employees can take care of check outs and such, Mollie usually doesn't handle such trivial matters, anyway.

"I could play something for you now, if you'd like."

[Lena Eva Aysel]

Lena smiles softly, before it fades.

"I'm not human, you know. I grew up in a very cold place, where humans and other things couldn't travel. I'm an Ice Maiden." She decides not to mention her angel half. To prove it, she brushes her icy hand against Tuesday's warm one.

"Anyway, I ran away with my sister from that village years ago. We found a group of religious pacifists. We both found love, though it was strange for us both. But..."

Pausing, she leans back, deciding how to word the next part. She was leaving out all the unnecessary details. She trusted Tuesday, but she didn't want Tuesday to know how much of a cold killer she really was. She may not have had a choice to kill for the Manalist, but she didn't have to kill all those men...

"Another group attacked us. My lover and friends were killed, and my sister was taken. I rescued her, but she died in my arms but a few miles from the place. My heart broke. I... went a little crazy." She bites her bottom lip.

Would Tuesday fear her? "I killed them all in a rage, with powers I still had not truly mastered. The Manalist found me then. I guess I impressed them, because they offered me a chance to join the Invisible Hand. It was join them, or death.

This is why I am who I am now. But a few years ago I was a kind, if naive, woman, and now I inject killing substances into people without a second thought. I thought there was nothing else to do. I tried to save those I could with excuses, and that was it."

[Lilith "Mistress" Antekkereh]

"Yes, I would. Please lead."

Mistress states simply, awaiting Mollie. She tried not to let her hope soar. She doubted there were humans around nowadays who knew how to play a true piece of music.

The necklace was a pleasant warmth against her chest, a weight that seemed to remind her of what she once was.