The search

-The gray orbs flashed; and with out another word Echo had entered the room of the boats and slipped too the smaller bed. He didn't even bother too answer Blue in her questions; the youth was too lost in his own thoughts. Of course the room had two beds in it; he wouldn't share a bed or let her take the floor even if the room had only one bed in it.

-The sopping wet youth laid his body down on the bed; lost in the memories of the last time water had touched his skin that much had almost killed him; it made him slightly mad that the Leaders had given that information out; now this theory was coming too a conclusion. They where trying too kill the two of them and this was by all means the only way they knew how to kill Echo was too drown him; knowing it was the weakness that would over come any thing he tried too do.

"Looks like we are about there"

The soft monotone voice slid out of his lips filling the dark room; unless Blue had lit a lamp there was no reason too clear the darkness away from his eyes. They would arrive in Nede in only a matter of hours; they would seem slow; since Echo wasn't going too be able too sleep. There could have been more on the ship waiting for them too fall asleep before they made their strike. So Echo lay there; his mind filling with the anger that this was causing him; and how he was going to make sure the Leaders got what they had coming too them.

The Knock at the door a few hours later cause Echo's mind to snap back into reality. The captains voice sounded though the wood telling them they had arrived. Lifting his head; Echo slipped out of bed and began to walk too the door; no doubt Blue would have heard the knock and already been up. But by the time she was getting out of bed Echo was making his way up too the deck.

A soft smile rose too the youths lips; the sun kissed his body and sent warmth into him. At last; they had arrived. He would wait for Blue too join him on the deck before he went deeper into the port at the edge of Nede.

Blue would observe her partner, absorbing the information he unwittingly gave by both his posture and the silence that loomed over him. At first, she was uncertain of the cause for his sullen demeanor before it dawned on her. The water. He was drenched. Blue had yet to decipher the cause for his irrational fear of the liquid and logic told her that it would not be wise to try to uncover the truth behind his trepidation at the current moment while he appeared transfixed by the sensation of the liquid dripping down his form.

Blue would enter the quarters after him and would take notice of the two furnitures provided for them before she would witness Echo take the smallest of the two. Even if he could be an irritating brute at times, his altruistic nature expressed itself in small acts such as these. Logic told her he should be the one claiming the larger bed, considering he was larger in stature than she was. She didn't necessarily need the added space the large furniture provided.

But logic also told her that any protest would be futile while Echo withdrew into the recess of his own mind, so she would claim the bed allowed for her and would become comfortable. Sleep would elude her throughout the evening.

Then there was the raps at the door and her mind returned to the present reality as eyes rolled in their sockets, directed at the source of the sound. She then observed Echo rise and she would do the same. He had already existed by the time she had slipped on her boots and proceeded to pursue him. She was not as content to welcome the rays of the sun as he had, eyes narrowing as they began to adjust to the illumination before she would finally catch up to her partner and proceed further onto the port.

Blue would then observe her surroundings. This was not her first time in Nede. It was where the headquarters of The Leaders was located at, though inconspicuously hidden in a innocuous facade. There were a multitude of people on the port, fishermen and sailors alike. It was certainly a flourishing establishment, bustling with activity. She had to step aside when a couple of men passed by, carrying a large crate and shouting at people to make a path.

"Nice to be back, eh?"

She asked, though she didn't appear or sound enthusiastic about the notion. The Leaders were here and it would not take them long to discover that the men that they had sent after the duo had failed in their assignment, miserably. If it was indeed their intentions to eliminate them, The Leaders would attempt another assault. They would not cease until their goal was met.

But what were the two of them to do? She assumed that Echo desired to obliterate The Leaders before they could exterminate Blue and himself. Considering that now that The Leaders had forsakened her, she had no other motives. May as well aid Echo while he remained her companion.

But there was another important matter to attend to, which her stomach would announce in a subtle growl.

Blue would lower her eyes, as if she had failed to recall that her vessel needed sustenance for energy until it decided to protest her negligence.

"I am hungry."

She stated simply, raising her eyes to him. So with that announced, she proceeded to walk out from the port and into the main section of the town, where she knew she could find a restaurant or convenient stand that would provide her with the sustenance her physical form craved. If Echo desired to join her, he would pursue. If not, then he did not. Simple as that.

"Indeed"

-That smirk played upon the lips of the youth; indeed it was nice too be back. Dark orbs flashed brightly as the duo began to make their way from the port and further into the Nede city. He had his own objectives at the moment; while Blue was going too get food he was going to gather information.

And thus they split for the short time. Walking along the edge of the sidewalk Echo avoided the gaze of others; pulling the hood lower so his face couldn't be shown; it was after all common too see many hiding their faces so he didn't stick out like a sore thumb. Grinning; Echo entered a small home closing the door behind him

The place smelled of flowers; a mask casted by a mage so that no one could actually smell the sneering flesh. It's dark damp settings gave it almost a creepy feeling even for Echo. Of course he had been in this place many times; this is where they came for their missions.

"Mr.Kuro; it's no surprise you're not dead yet...Is Blue?"

The dark voice came from a small wooden rocking chair; the old man had sun kissed skin and dark gray hair. This was indeed a family member of Echos; thats why he came here first instead of the operations center.

"Heh; is the woman dead?"

"No."

The old man spun in his chair; eyes pretty much bulging out of there respective place. He stood with haste; and eyed the youth for only a moment.

"Then what have you come to me for?"

"Infomration; why are they trying too kill me."

Long moments passed; they stood in silence both of them eying the other for any sign of movement that would allow the other too kill. Echo was smarter then that; he knew the man even though he was old and shrewd he knew how too kill and was the only one who could kill Echo and Blue in that unit at the time. Then he smiled; a soft chuckle escaping the blistered lips.

"Don't you see; you and that woman are the strongest. The biggest threat was if you two teamed up you could kill the Leaders and take their positions. Thats why they sent Blue too take you out. With out you and her side by side you are no match for the army ready too attack at any given time. Thats all I know; not get out of here before the-"

-The man was cut short when the end of a blade came dashing into his throat; Echo didn't need him spouting off too the Leaders about him coming and talking; so he ended his grandfathers life with out another word. leaving the old man back in the chair Echo left the home and began too make his way too the operations center. They where going too pay.

~Finally it would end. For the past few weeks, Zelis had been shadowed by several members of this organization, yet another in a long line of power hungry fools, looking for a way to mimic his talents. He melded with the shadows inside the old man’s hovel, unseen and unnoticed.

The last assassin they had sent had told him of the old man, and of the organization which he served. He was strong though, only breaking after Zelis reaching into the shadows inside of him, slowly ripping pieces of flesh out of his innards and presenting them before the man’s eyes.

Zelis waited for a bit, watching as the old man went about his daily business, waiting to make sure the old man was alone and that there would be no interruptions. He sniffed lightly, smelling the stench of rancid flesh overlaid with a charm that smelled of flowers. Together they combined to create a scent that reminded Zelis of a graveyard. How fitting.

Throughout his life, thousands had approached him, hearing of the legend surrounding him, seeking to know the secrets of his art. Some came with money, some with women, but most came with swords, hoping to beat it out of him. All of them died, not understanding the simple fact that he just wanted to be left alone, left with his grief and pain.

The old man was good. Most would discount his size and age, but this man was an assassin of the highest order, and he knew it. He projected the aura of dominance, of pride, but most of all, of arrogance. He felt untouchable in his home, his one place of sanctuary. He was good, it must be said, but Zelis was better.

He focused on the darkness surround his right hand, molding it into a long, thin stiletto like dagger. He felt the darkness warp and become solid in his gloved hand. His left hand found Umbra and he felt the familiar texture of its grip. He closed his eyes, letting his other sense take over, telling him of his surroundings.

He set his feet, ready to spring, when the door to the hovel swung open, and a man stepped inside. This one was weaker than the old man, but only slightly. Yet as he waited and listened to their exchange, he knew how this would end. The young man was younger, less experienced, it was true, but he was also still learning, and still wary of everything and everyone.

He waited as the younger man, the “Mr. Kuro” as the old man referred to him, inserted a blade into the man’s neck. ”Not the fastest way to kill, but fast enough” he thought to himself. He dissipated the dagger in his right hand, letting it fade back into darkness, and faded his own body with it, shifting to the shadows in the small alley way across the road.

It was a dank place, almost crushed between the two crummy apartment buildings on either side. He watched the man, now several yards away from him close the door to the small hovel. He would follow the man, sticking unseen and unnoticed in the shadows as much as possible as the man headed to his destination. ~

Blue would take note of Echo's absence after she had found a small convenient stand where the proprietor sold fruit. Her intentions was of a small meal, enough to satisfy the hunger that clawed at her abdomen. She had no intentions of going into a restaurant and spending valuable time feasting on a banquet when there was the perpetual threat of The Leaders looming ominously above the two of them.

It was inconvenient to know that she would have to seek Echo out now, seeing as he had ventured to a different area of the town and had not been considerate enough to inform her of his destination. She did not think he would be foolish enough to take on The Leaders by himself. He was incompetent and unreliable but he was not an imbecile.

She rose the purchased pear to her lips, sinking canines into it, where the sweet fluids delighted her taste buds and brought color to her cheeks. She would lower eyes to the bitten apple as she chewed on the broken piece, silently relishing the flavor. It was one of the few things that made her feel any sensation, aside from the exhilaration of a slaughter.

Blue would explore Nede, though this was not to admire the sights and spectacles. She was in search of her only companion within this demented and desecrated realm, as feeble as he was. As surprising as it may sound, he aided in keeping what remained of her splintered sanity intact so that she didn't spiral uncontrollably within the degenerative state that it was in. He kept her stable. As stable as she could get.

Blue would pause as she caught sight of a snow-haired individual. Considering that the hair color itself was unusual, she made a good assumption that it was her partner so she would proceed to follow but at a distance, to observe her partner. Now what was he up to? She would approach him once she realized the direction he was heading in.

"And where do you think you are going alone?"

Blue would chime in, before her eyes would survey their vicinity, scrutinizing every small detail before her eyes would narrow. After a tense moment, her attention would return to Echo.

"I hope you are not going on a suicide mission. If you wish to die so badly, let me be the one to kill you at least."

She stated with that monotone voice, taking another bite of the juicy pair.

"It would be the most considerate thing. I think there was something romantic to it. What was it... women are happy when men give their lives up to them? Or was it for them?"

Her eyes would raise upward as she swallowed the chewed piece of pear.

"Either way, I think it would be a wonderful gift if you gave your life to me. So how about it?"

She retrieves a dagger from somewhere unseen from beneath her attire and twirls it within her deft fingers as she awaited his response.

-Those gray orbs flashed darkly; at images of killing his grand father. He knew that the Leaders would find out he did it if they already hadn't. That smile flashed once the door clicked behind him showing that there had been no traps that the old man had in store for him when he tried too leave the home.

"That was good enough."

-The snow haired youth let his eyes look around the area just before stepping down the steps and making his way back to where he was going. Then his partner showed up; of course his mind was on one track and that was killing any one who stood in his way of getting back and those he trusted. With slender fingers he gripped the Wind Song tightly and felt her hum roll around his hand. Sending another smile rising too his lips.

"Soon Wind Song you will have the blood you seek."

-Then Blue joined him; her quick questions caught Echo off guard. Why did she care weather he died by her hand or the Leaders? He knew just as well as she did Echo wasn't going to allow her of all people too kill him; And a laugh slipped from the soft lips.

"Blue; you've had your chances; yet you didn't perhaps you should put your toy away before one of us gets hurts."

-Casting a side glance the orbs narrowed slightly; the charm around his neck began to gleam and he smiled. "Looks like we have a tailer."Grinning the youths fingers entwined and pushed out so that loud pops where heard.

"Well stop being shy."

-He was speaking too Zelis directly; but indirectly as well; the optics scanning the area too catch any sign of the man who had be following him. That soft smile rising too his lips; he felt no threat from the other; or Echo would have been killed while his back was turned.

~Zelis watched as the man made his way back to his destination, keeping always hidden. He listened as the man spoke to his weapon, noting the name of which he called it. Wind Song… he thought. The name hinted at Echo’s affinity, but did not reveal it. The blade seemed large to Zelis’s eyes, too large for him to be carrying, but he used it with enough speed and precision to kill the old man deftly. He was skilled, that much was certain.

As he continued following the man, a lithe woman approached, her eyes roving over the man’s body, looking for a place to insert a blade, like one of the many she carried concealed on her person. This must be Blue… he said in his mind, eyeing the woman as she asked the man a series of rapid fire questions, ending in the request for his life. She was a damaged one, that much was certain, but in that oddity came a certain level of predictability.

Zelis paused as Echo spoke out to him, and for a split-second questioned how he had been seen, until he saw the slightly glowing charm around the man’s neck. Zelis was not an assassin by trade, and therefore carried none of the magical charms used to block other detection magics. Let us see where this goes. I need them alive, at least until I can find these “Leaders”, he thought as he reached inside one of the myriad pockets of his cape, pulling out two of the small smoke bombs he carried always on his person and clutched them lightly in his left hand. The fact that they had only realized he was there via magic told him they still did not know his exact location.

With his right hand, he formed 3 small throwing knives out of the darkness in the shadows of his cape, and carried one between the second knuckles of the fingers of his right hand. Should the woman decide to act upon her compulsion of death, he would be ready.

He walked out of the shadows that cloaked him and silently up to the pair, stopping a couple of yards from their position, keeping his hands inside the shadows of his cape.

“Who did the old man work for and where do they reside?” he said in a mellow voice while watching both of them signs that they would become violent. He did not believe in formalities, and as he already knew a name for each, he had no need for an introduction. His stance was loose, unthreatening, and confident, waiting for them to answer his questions.~

Blue would observe as her partner found humor in her request, while she twirled her weapon between her digits until they finally clasped the hilt as he responded to her and advised her to put her toy away.

"T'ch. You're no fun."

She replied with an exaggerated sighing, seeing as that how she thought she should respond to the denial of her request. In truth, the reply was expected and not disappointing. But she didn't sheathe her weapon upon her form and instead held it firmly within her grasp for she had the sensations that they were being watched. She would once more cast her eyes upon their vicinity, sharpening her senses as she tried to spot the source of the sensation.

But it appeared the charm hanging from Echo's neck identified the culprit before she could and it wasn't long before the individual revealed himself. Blue would observe as the man stepped forth from the shadows that appeared to have fabricated him, her eyes quickly scrutinizing his form but any essential information was concealed by the cape adorning him. Blue's grip on her dagger tightened before it became gentle, loose as she held the end of the hilt with the tips of her fingers.

The woman would cant her head as the man thought it proper to demand answers from them when he had been the one stalking them from the veil of the shadows. She would remain calm, for as Echo had, she sensed no immediate threat from this mysterious individual. An ambiance of confidence oozed from her, for her form had the capability to respond at a moment's notice if this stranger decided to act foolishly. If the way she was holding her dagger did not already speak of its possible transition to a projectile if provoked, for not many could detect such a inconspicuous gesture unless properly trained to read their opponent's body language.

But she could not answer this man's questions, seeing as she had no knowledge that Echo had decided to make a final visit to his grandfather. So she would cast a momentary side-ways glance to her partner with a questioning quirk of a brow, wondering if he knew what this stranger spoke of. For now, she would remain silent and would allow Echo to be their mediator. Eyes would divert themselves from the individual, for her interest in him was fleeting, and instead took to surveying her surroundings.

-Echos dark orbs watched Blue; and another chuckle slipped out before the other showed him self. There you are; like his partner he studied his body movements; waiting for any threat too show it's self. If indeed the man meant trouble Echo and Blue would have too take him out. Then Zelis spoke his words; asking who the old man was and who he worked for.

"That is none of your business."

The soft tone filled the air; of course Echo was already drawing his power around him. If the man had a magical ability too see the invisible aura producing around the two companions then he would more likely then not know Echo didn't trust the other. Why should he after all? Those he trusted always seemed too turn their backs on him and try too kill him. The closest thing he had too someone was Blue; and even then the two hated one another.

"Why do you want too know?"

Noticing Blue said nothing and began too look around he figured she had grown tired of the other and was looking for something else too do. Typical smiling once more; the youth kept his eyes locked with Zelis' form; never once taking the chance. Indeed he felt no threat of the other but that didn't mean that he wasn't going too try and kill him. It was time too wait for what the other side; mean while his fingers would clasp the hilt of the Wind Song; her form humming for hopes in the up coming battle.

~Zelis watched as the pair sized him up, waiting to see if he would strike the first blow. The woman seemed to be unaware of her partner’s actions in the hovel, yet the old man knew of her. She could possibly lead him to the masters of the assassins that hunted him, though the dagger in her hand seemed to yearn to be sheathed in someone’s flesh.

As the man spoke his retort, a mild sense of annoyance rose in Zelis’s mind, but it was erased by the almost inaudible whisper that sounded as Echo began to draw his power around himself. A scowl grew on his face as he saw the man grasp the hilt of his sword. He was either very brave or very stupid.

“Not a good idea.” He said, staring Echo directly in the eyes. He stare was cold, filled with a promise of death should the man attempt anything threatening. “If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it before you pulled your blade out of the old man’s throat. I seek these ‘Leaders’ for my own reasons, and shall be good enough for you. Give me what I seek or I can ask the lady after I’ve made a corpse of you.”

He turned his head toward Blue for a moment, shifting his stare to her eyes, inwardly recoiling at the sight of her face. How many times had he seen that face in his dreams? How many years had he been visited by that face, framed in scarlet instead of topped with pearl as it now was?

“You there. Blue, is it?” he asked, his mind racing, yet his body never loosing focus of the man in front of him. The woman’s aura reeked of death and malice, yet there was no anguish, no pain, no regret for the lives that she had taken. This may just be interesting…~

Blue appeared detached from the situation at hand as Echo interacted with the individual directly, eyes wandering about the vicinity. In reality, she was scrutinizing the area, taking note of all signs of life and registering and organizing them into slots in her cranium after extensive analysis on the possibility of these individuals being an ally to the man who had been stalking them from the veil of shadows.

Her eyes had turned a different shade of blue, for her perception of the world was different from the majority of the population. She could perceived auras: physical manifestations of ones energies, or aura as most would deem it. Any living entity produced this phenomenon and her vision was greeted with a wide range of brilliant and vibrant colors of those passing by at a distance or within edifices. These array of colors could unwittingly reveal more information than most would feel comfortable with disclosing.

She had taken note by now that her partner was conjuring up the powers of his affinity around their proximity, for he was also prepared to retaliate if the stranger provoked them. Her fingers continued to loosely hold the end of her dagger, her body relaxed but such a composed stance could speak of subtle dangers that rippled beneath the surface.

She would listen to their small interaction before she was directly addressed. Her gaze would cast upon the individual, gracing him with her attention as she gave a small cant of her head. The inclination of her cranium was not to the question, but to the colors that surrounded this individual when he had focused his gaze upon her visage. She was oblivious to the fact her appearance was conjuring painful memories from the caverns of the man's mind as the bright colors that painted her vision soon faded to their normal tones, auras vanishing from the background.

"Aye."

That was her only reply, for it was more than adequate to answer his simple question of confirming her identity. The fact that he knew it without her personally telling him did not bother her. She could care less if the whole population knew of her existence. At the moment, her physical form radiated of equanimity yet with a subtle signs of instability. Oh, she felt anguish, but in a different sense than most, and it was a notion that was frequently cast aside. It was unnerving, considering that she felt no physical pain.

"And you are?"

There, a flicker of mild interest with the consideration of a question mark at the end to give him the option to decline her request. She cared not if he relinquished his identity to her. He was but just another face among many. Insignificant, like Echo was. Like she was, compared to all the other creatures that roamed around them. They were all insignificant.

But this man and Echo appeared to have a common goal, which was to reach The Leaders. What was her part in all of this? A moment's purpose. She had nothing else to drive her, guide her, now that The Leaders had forsaken them. May as well just tag along with Echo.

Only a moment would be in wait before the man spoke; his words cold and dark much like those of Echo's. That brought a smile too his lips just before his words rose again Not a good idea. Echo didn't have an idea; he had a mission and if this man would keep provoking Echo in the way he was. Then too say Blue would kill him. Hardly; Echo knew already he could kill Blue at any moment he pleased...For some reason; he hadn't yet.

"I doubt that she could kill me; I know she would given the chance. As for ordering me; you'll highly regret that if you keep doing so."

Echo was ready too fight; the gathering affinity was now at his will too break it into action. She was humming for the fight; she wanted it more then ever. Not now wait for it Wind Song he shot the mental note too the blade; but even still her sheath hummed trying too release her self from the mental grasp. Echo had never seen his sword act this way; it confused him. She was gaining the control back; and it was going too be bad when she did so.

"Now; kindly leave us alone. If you seek the Leaders so much look your self. If you can't find them then you are not as good as you think."

With dark optics he showed that he was not in fear of the other; and if provoked any more then he had been he would act. That was the sad thing about Echo he had a low temper when someone stood in his way.

~Zelis continued watching blue as she replied to his inquiry, and was about to give his name when Echo spoke. The man, with his response, had reopened an old wound in Zelis’s mind, awakening a wrath that he did not deserve. The images of his love, the girl her killed, flooded his mind. Echo’s anger and Blue’s face combined in his mind to reawaken his bloodlust. Echo had acted as befit his youth and it would cost him dearly, perhaps the price of his life. Zelis fought against the flood of pain and anguish, of blood and death for but a moment before delving deep into it, letting it strengthen his body and focusing his thoughts on one simple word: Death.

He began by sending a thought to both Lumina and Umbra, awakening them. Unlike Wind Song, they did not possess sentience, but over the centuries, Zelis had established a link with the emotional residue that collected inside of them after being used as weapons of slaughter. Lumina would respond first, shrouding the silver-haired man in a veil of blinding white light, throwing the area from the lifting twilight of mid-morning to a place of illumination stronger than that of the midday sun on a cloudless day. As the veil blasted the area with it’s light, Zelis, whose eyes were tightly shout since the flood of emotion into his mind, would throw the smoke bombs at the midpoint between himself and Echo with his left hand and throw the knives clutched in his right a Echo’s throat.

The instant that the projectiles left his hands, Umbra would trigger, negating the veil of light created by Lumina and shrouding Zelis’ form in a visible aura of darkness, impermeable to normal and even magically enhanced sight. As the smoke bombs would hit, perhaps half a second after his release, Zelis would meld with the shadows surrounding him, reappearing in the darkness of Blue’s shadow, 3 small throwing knifes already formed in each hand. He would release them at Echo’s chest area. At this time the first knives would be about to hit Echo’s throat if he remained unmoved.

He would disappear back into the shadows surrounding him, reappearing in the darkness of Echo’s shadow, rising up like a blade being pushed up through soft flesh, crouching as soon as his head got to close to the height of Echo’s waist. Drawing both Lumina and Umbra, the veil of darkness still surrounding him, He would attempt to plunge them both into Echo’s torso before jumping up and over the man, dragging the blades with him, letting them rip out near his clavicles . As he would go over Echo’s head, his hands would dart out , bringing the tips of his daggers into the sides of his neck, inserting them to wear the tips would meet near the top of his trachea before being pulled up through his larynx, severing his vocal cords as well as the cord from while the charm around his neck hung.

As he would land, he would slide the blades out of the man’s neck, and plunge them back into the man’s back, a few inches above where his navel would be on the front, and into his abdominal aorta. Pulling the blades out, he would meld again with the veil of shadows that surrounds him, and would reappear in the shadows from which he originally appeared to speak to the pair. He had only wished to know the location of these ‘Leaders’, but fate, it seems, would not let him find peace. With another death to tarnish his soul, he would let the veil of darkness fall, and would turn his head to the woman, her face cutting through the haze of bloodlust that was his mind. ~

Blue would cast a sideways glance to her insolent partner who was appearing quite hostile to their stalker, even though the stalker had yet to pose a threat. Echo appeared to have a short-temper at times. And he called her unresponsible and unable to control herself as she gave a soft sigh, seeing the reaction that the stalker had to Echo's words. Men.

"Echo..."

She spoke his name solemnly, for he was taking a great risk by provoking a confrontation.

"I would like to kill him as much as you do but you do realize that if we make a show now, we will draw attention to ourselves. The Leaders will become aware that we are here if they already haven't. Don't you realize you are putting the mission in jeopardy."

She stated firmly, since she did not want Echo's temper to blind him from the possible dangers he would draw to them. There was no point coming here to eliminate The Leaders if they were to be killed before they even reached them. And even if they were to survive any onslaught The Leaders brought upon them, that would give The Leaders enough time to re-locate, which would make their mission in vain. Then their possibility of ever finding them would be cut severely.

Blue would watch the stranger intently before she had to squint when the man began to illuminate passed the ability for her optics to withstand as their proximity was lit. It took a moment for her pupils to adjust to the sudden illumination but just at the right time to watch as the stranger threw small orbs toward Echo. Their intent was obviously not to strike, since they had not been thrown with enough force to close the distance between them and Echo. So they obviously had a different purpose, which would be revealed when they would explode to release that acrid smoke.

She was not concerned, for she knew Echo was smart, and would use his affinity to prohibit the vile substance from reaching them. So her attention remained focused on the stranger who had initiated the attack, only to see that he had disappeared. Quick on his feet. Synapses would flare as she activated her Danger Sense, only to feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise just a moment after. Indeed, he was quick on his feet. But he was rash, and foolish too.

Fighting with Echo, especially with the aura he had encompassed them with, in such close proximity, could be catastrophic. She knew of Wind Song's sentience, and even if Echo's reflexes weren't quick enough to respond, the weapon could and would obliterate the stranger by turning the aura circulating around them into a vortex of wind scythes. Did the stranger had the speed to avoid such a slaughter?

Blue frowned and shot Echo a glare as if sarcastically saying 'good work.' Now that he had provoked the individual, who was to say this would not allow The Leaders to escape?

Blue closed her eyes, for it was obvious relying on her visual senses would not aid her in locating the attack, and instead resorted to her keen sense of hearing and psionics. Behind Echo. She heard the sound of a blade cutting through the air as they aimed for Echo's torso and Blue synapses flared to defend him. The blades would not reach their target, for each would be stopped in their path as they were grasped in mid-air and knocked off trajectory by telekinesis, and Lumina and Umbra would hum as they collided with an invisible solid structure instead of Echo's soft flesh both times as they attempted to plunge into her partner.

Now that he was out of immediate danger, Blue attempted again to talk some sense into him.

"Do you want to reach The Leaders or not, Echo? The longer we stay here and chit chat, the greater the risk they will find out about us and send forces to slow us down while they make their escape."

Sapphire optics would once more reveal themselves, sparkling despite the lack of illumination before the stranger decided to drop the veil of darkness. Her eyes would situate on him, seeing as he was still a threat. Would Echo insist on a quarrel or find logic in her words and cease this trifling nuisance? She would soon find out.

The dark gray orbs would slowly began too laugh at the other; how silly this was too actually think Echo was going too back down from him. He knew nothing of Echo besides what he had seen or heard. A soft smirk began too rise upon the youths lips.

"Shh"

He spoke this soft word too Blue; he was waiting. The other mans eyes hid no emotions; they hid nothing from the youth taking note of every muscle rippling into his body. It was sad too say the least; every man had his way of fighting. Zelis was foolish and the way of a student. The blinding light was the first sign of an attack; and Echo shot the mental note to his affinity; thus it would began.

The small smoke bombs would never reach Echo for the simple face the aura began too spin more; sending the smoke that was once coming at Echo back too it's user. That was only the first step taken; since Zelis had decided too lunge a dagger at the Wind Knight it would meet the same fate at the smoke bombs; not even coming close. But then; it happened. Zelis dared entered the melee range of Echo. Blue wouldn't have time too stop the blade; and Zelis wouldn't have had the time too even move from the oncoming onslaught of air around his body. Since Zelis would have been so close; six inches too close he would not have a choice but too be caught in the spinning air; but wait...Whats this? Echo only smirked once more; the mental note after the first dagger had been taken into effect

The air fortress had enough time too form from all the preps and gathering energy Echo had made sure of doing. Spinning quicker then it had been the aura now close to Echo would be like razor sharp blades; millions of them slicing into the body of Zelis; his swords would never lift; and the little reach for Echo's charm never happened. It was his mistake to dare enter melee rang against the youth while he controlled such a powerful tool in his hands.

Would Zelis even have enough time too move? Doubt it; he had come in such close proximity with Echo that he had one chance; and that was Blue; who while even trying too save Echo ensured that Zelis wasn't going too harm him. Zelis really didn't have a chance against him at the moment; but Echo wasn't aiming too kill the man. Just showing that he made the mistake of attacking and that was why.

~Far above, a cloud pasted over head, a signal of the coming storm, yet, far below, in the streets of Nede, a shadowdancer fought two battles, thought the one in the physical realm, the one of steel and blood, of air and pain was nothing compared to the storm that raged inside of his mind. How fitting that the sky would soon reflect the man’s tortured psyche.

Zelis would continue from his second jump, appearing at Echo’s feet, the veil of darkness still cloaking him and, due to his proximity, cloaking Echo as well. As he would spring up, attempting to bury the edges of his blades into the man’s torso, he would feel simultaneously the wall of invisible, yet tangible force that would block his thrusts, as well as the vortex of wind that the man had conjured. Immediately, the fierce torrent of wind would become akin to a blender, spinning so quickly that the individual streams of air became as razors that were being drawn against his skin.

Instinctively, with what remained of his sanity trying to push its way through the miasma of bloodlust that clouded his mind, he would set his will unto the darkness, and cloak himself in a protective shell, turning aside each blade of air, though the blows would cause him to shake as if stricken by a blast of the most frigid wind. He would meld back with the shadows, pulling himself out of the twister-like aura of blades that the man had wove around himself, and return to the area from which he first appeared, some ten feet away from the man.

He waited there a second, his mind clearing enough to register the damage the man had inflicted. No major damage had been done, for the protective shell of darkness had blocked most of the assault, yet his upper arms and his face had been bloodied by thousands of shallow cuts. The pain of each wound cut through the haze of his mind just as he had intended to cut through the man. I am a fool… he thought to himself, berating himself for the face that he had lashed out without thought, and in doing so, had almost gotten himself killed. He had acted as an animal and the small part of his mind that remained whole was filled with guilt, for that was how he had caused his fate.

Just as he was about to lower the veil of darkness that cloaked him, along with the facial covering of the cocoon of darkness he now wore, he heard it. It was a sound unlike anything he had ever heard, even in his immensely long life. It sounded as if the heavens themselves were being torn asunder, and as if all the gods had died. The shroud of blackest night dissipated, and dull grey eyes searched the heavens for the source of that unholy cacophony of destruction.

A twister, similar to the one the man before him had created save that it dwarfed his in size as a giant would dwarf an ant, had appeared less than a mile away, and was heading toward them. Zelis knew instantly that he had to get out of the way of his monstrous storm, yet he hesitated for a moment, two conflicting ideas battling in his mind before he sheathed Lumina and Umbra and reached out with both hands.

“Grab on,” he said. He disliked the man, but he needed them both alive, for the time being anyway, and still his mind whirled at the sight of the woman’s face. “ You don’t have time to argue, or you’ll both be dead.”~

((Sorry for the delay. Life kinda got in the way, and I wanted to get my profile redone before posting.))

Blue's attention was momentarily distracted from the stranger that had initiated an attack, and which the duo either countered or defended against. The strident sound that came from the heavens, drew her attention away from the possible threat, to the spectacular sight above her. Yes, spectacular, for it looked as if God himself was in anguish, writhing upon his throne for the atrocities that mankind and the creatures upon Aenied had committed. The cacophony of sound announced his agony and it was music to her ears. Beautiful.

Oh but of course, God was not merciful. He would not sit back idly and passively continue to watch at the heinous crimes that the sinful creatures of Aenied initiated upon not only mother earth, but to their own brethren. He would be quick to castigate, and so the storm commenced and struck the ground below. Blue would turn to witness the sight of a spiraling vortex tearing asunder the town of Nede, its form enormous, far beyond any normal tornado she had ever witnessed. It wasn't normal. This wasn't normal. She could see the mana fueling the passion of the storm. Could Echo put a rein on such a fierce and rampant wind?

Blue observed as the people of Nede began to pour from every crevice and alley, running passed them in the trepidation that consumed them, expressed in their screams and cries, in their fear-stricken visages. It was gorgeous, a symphony of death and destruction that she was honored to be an audience to. A dark grin curled her lips, watching as the twister caused its havoc upon the town, tearing buildings off their foundations and, hopefully, catching individuals that were unfortunate to get in its path and fling them across the town.

But then, she noticed, it was coming in their direction. It was quickly approaching them, the distance between them and the twister was quickly dissipating as the twister carved a path of destruction in its wake. Now, that couldn't be good. Was God trying to purge this world of the mistake he had done by taking the lives of innocence? That description suited him. Unfortunately, though, she was not ready to die. Who would be responsible to delivering carcasses to God's front door if he were to sweep her away now?

And yet, how were they to escape the monstrosity? It could outrun them and could Echo fight such a mana-empowered entity?

A possible answer was soon announced as the stranger offered his aid and demanded that they grasp at his hands. Blue looked to the stranger and did not immediately reach for his hand. Why should she? He had tried to attack Echo. He was a threat and he was not to be trusted.

"Dead? I would rather pick the storm than die by your hands."

She stated, announcing her distrust in him, and perhaps once more plucking at the painful memories in his mind. Would he once more be the cause for this face to be graced in scarlet? But as she was focusing her attention on the stranger, while the raging winds roared around them, she was oblivious to the debris that the twister had picked up, and which it had launched at her. The sharp, splintered projectile lunged at her, aimed to pierce her torso.

-Hues of gray and white began to spin as the man Zelis retreated back. Nodding slightly too his partner the sadistic smile became lost; the orbs now focused on the events that transpired before the young eyes. How? There was no warning; no sign of the on coming storm and all of a sudden it was here? A dance between humans and gods had come too this planet; this realm and the threat was going too be catastrophic. Looking around; any sign of safety from the howling winds. Not even the Wind Knight would be able too handle such amounts.

Being stripped from his affinity he tried too recall it; too calm the now harsh touch of his friend; but she would have no heed too what he spoke; screaming in his mind he winced from pain. Then she was quiet; with out warning the storm had come and silence the Wind Song. No his mind lashed out a command against the wind only for it too be thrown back in his face. It would have none of that; how could this happen?

Eying Blue the orbs began too darken; he didn't have time for games nor did he have the time to end another's life at the moment. Where though? How? What would they do with the oncoming twister that would send their bodies flying. Then he spoke once more; offering his hands too both of them, why was he helping them? Echo stood for a moment; his mind racing. A trick?

His lips began too move; but before any words could form a flash of lighting showed the debris sending waves at his partner. Lashing out; Echo's fingers gripped her arm he didn't have time too lose a partner not at the moment. Pulling her; and grabbing the hand of Zelis he nodded

"This isn't over."

Those where his last words; if Zelis couldn't get them out of there Echo sure as hell would.

~Watched impatiently as the massive twister began to draw nearer; his instinct of self-preservation was almost over-powering. He watched the dark glee that formed on the face of the woman before him, and then he heard her say the words that spiked the rage in his mind. She had refused to take his hand, perhaps hoping that her partner, with his control of the wind currents, would be able to shield them from the coming onslaught. He began to speak when a great bolt of lightning stabbed at them, colliding with the edge of the apartment building adjacent to them, blasting a part of the building off right above them.

As the lightning struck, Zelis’s eyes glanced at the man, fully expecting the resistance that the woman had given. After all, he had just attempted to murder the man, and were it not for the storm, he might have still been at it. Yet no resistance shown in the man’s eyes, only a dawning sense of horror as he reached out and grasped Zelis’s right arm, dragging the stubborn woman along with him. Zelis would grasp the man’s arm tightly, noticing the man’s nod of their unfinished conflict, and pulled them both close to him with a strength that belied his thin, wiry frame. He would take them both, hugging one in each arm into a tight embrace before whispering as he reached into the darkness.

“Hold on and don’t move.”

He was unused to transporting another person, much less two, but his will would not be denied. He sent his thoughts again to Umbra and the veil of shadow rose, encompassing them all. Just as the massive piece of debris was about to collide with them, he shifted into the darkness, bringing the pair of killers with him. The strain was more than he anticipated, and instead of crossing the lake the bordered Nede, he had only reached its shore. Damn! he thought to himself, and he knew what he would need to do. It was a choice he would rather not make, but he needed the two of them alive. So, he melded once more, this time, straight up, into the shadows created by the clouds above them, and melding again, shifting among the darkness that had become the heavens, narrowly missing a bolt of lightning before shifting again.

Each time he jumped, he had to shift to fit the contours of the shadow, and as such, many of the positions he brought the pair through would be vertigo inducing, to the point where Zelis would be surprised if either of them kept their sense or their stomachs about them. Almost. he thought, feeling the darkness far below him, feeling the shadows and hearing the screams of terror below him. Instead of shifting down, he simply let the three of them fall, almost to their dooms before shifting again, letting the residual momentum of their fall carry them over the town of Bella. He dropped the veil of darkness around them so as to get his bearings, probably giving the pair a frightening site. Until then, the view had simply been that of the blackest night, yet the trip itself was less that smooth.

Seeing it in the distance, he shrouded them in the veil of night once more, hoping that the pair would be smart enough to not move, not to break his concentration, as he shifted to the sky once more, and began to focus one his destination. It was far, much farther than he was used to jumping, and with the couple with him, he was unsure if he could make it, but he had to try, had to attempt this one possibly suicidal shift that could lead to his redemption. They fell, farther and farther down, picking up speed. His eyes, if they could be seen would be glowing with a shadowy illumination right now as she gathered the strength for these last couple shifts. A spectator would say that it looked like a giant ball of hardened pitch falling from the sky like some kind of celestial body that had lost its way and now sought a hope in the depths of Lake Everclear. Yet, there was no splash, for the sphere of dark simply vanished as it was about to strike the surface.

Zelis was nearly unconscious, the charm in his left ear burning his flesh, trying to keep him awake. They now soared over a large forest, the name unknown to the barely conscious shadowdancer as he jumped again, this time using the momentum to travel upwards, burning off the speed at which they now traveled, and another shift as they trio reached the peak of their ascent, moving into the darkness of the floor below. They were leagues away from Nede, leagues away from the “Leaders” that hunted them all, yet they were also away from that monstrous storm. As they landed on the forest floor with a soft thump, Zelis released them, letting the veil of darkness fall as he fell to the forest floor, breathing as though he had spent the past five minutes underwater.

When he looked up, still gasping for air, he noticed the area around him for the first time. The area glowed with an unnatural light, the ground all but glowing, each leaf like a tiny mirror bathed in color. He rose again, still breathing heavily, knowing what would come next. His hand delved into his cloak, forming small disk, imbuing it a small amount of permanency, so that it would last without his touch. He tossed the small disk at in echo’s general direction, not looking to see if the man stood or if he would still be vomiting from the ride.

“Hold on to that, and I can find you again,” he said with a resigned voice, as he veiled himself again and shifted into the shadow of a tree a few miles away.

He knew the man still felt threatened by him, and the woman held no better opinion, so it would be best that they not be around for what he was about to do. He sat against the base of the tree he had enter the area near, and reached up with his left hand, undoing the charm that was pierced through the lobe. As he pulled it away, the wave of exhaustion engulfed him, and he knew no more.~

Blue would have struck Echo for daring to grab her in such a way, if she wasn't once more tugged roughly and pulled into one of the arm's of the stranger. Her body tensed at the physical contact, as she was held firmly in the stranger's embrace as he advised them not to make any motion for their journey. She already knew she was not going to enjoy it as she would watch as the illumination around them dissipated when a sphere of ebony came to devour them.

Blue's hands dug into Zelis' arm, clinging to him as she felt the world shift, as if gravitation itself had failed. The reaction was more out of impulse than trepidation. The journey was indeed not smooth as she felt her body becoming physically ill from the different positions that the stranger brought them to as he transported them to safety. Though Blue thought that the ride itself was dangerous since at one point they were falling from the heavens.

Blue was uncertain of her course of action, especially as the ride itself disjointed her thoughts, made the processes in her mind dysfunctional from the sensation of being in a whirlpool. So all she did was hold on, and hope for Zelis' sake that they would arrive to his destination unharmed.

Once she felt the grip on her torso release, felt the ground below her feet, and gravitation once more function, she fell to her knees. Her mind attempted to get oriented as the world continued to spin and as she brought a hand to her mouth as she felt her stomach try to expel its contents. If she did not feel physically ill, she would have taken the time to admire the beauty of the forest in which Zelis had brought them to. Instead, she got up and ran to the nearest bush, just as her stomach succeeded to expel its contents with much needed effort.

Blue coughed and wiped her mouth, her body giving a small quiver of revulsion from the flavor that lingered in her mouth. It took her a moment to get her orientation before her eyes began to survey their vicinity, taking note that the stranger was no longer in their presence. Her next action was to confirm Echo's presence and that all of his limbs were intact before she walked over to him.

"You okay?"

Seeing that his head was still on his shoulder, she assumed he was and, therefore, proceeded to give him a sharp slap across the face.

"Since he isn't here, and since you touched me just the same."

She stated her reason for her assault, before she went to the nearest tree and sat at the bottom of it, resting against its structure. She did not enjoy other individuals making physical contact with her, unless it was a physical strike from combat. Unfortunately, the stranger had escaped before she could express her disapproval of his actions, and so therefore she placed it upon Echo, since he had also jerked her roughly earlier on when they had still been in Nede. His foolish actions could have gotten them killed as she recalled their journey to this forest.

How inconvenient, this storm was. It was a guarantee now that The Leaders would once more be out of reach, for they surely must be residing in a safe confinement of their quarters to wait the storm out. That or they were in the process of fleeing the town of Nede. So The Leaders were once more out of reach. No matter. They just needed to think of another course of action.

Echo would do as he was told; for once and not move as the man began to summon some sort of power. Even though he didn't trust the man what so ever; he still wanted to live. The gateway controls where going nuts at the moment and Echo didn't know where he would end up should he use his own means of escape. The youth felt his feet leave the windy city and soon land on soft ground.

"Hmm"

It would seem he was the only one not effected; Blue was throwing up and Zelis naturally was about half dead. Leaning his body down; he drew in no energy; pulled no weapon. If he wanted too kill Zelis he would have done it the second they landed. Fingers feathered over the small disk and he retrieved it slowly. A sudden nod happened just before Zelis' body was taken away by shadows. Slender digits grasped the small disk and stored it away in his pocket; it was odd but Echo didn't think to much upon it until Blues words broke the thoughts of the Wind knight. With a sharp pain coming across his face he glared.

"Excuse me for keeping you always you ungrateful brat."

The dark orbs glared; why was he angry with her? It wasn't her fault that the storm...The storm; looking up he began to feel the water drops; no..Not water. Wincing at each one that struck around them he shook his head. Why did they have to come to this part? He would have rather died by a twister then this. As the rain poured Echo felt his body began to tense; the Wind Song at his left was humming with violence to keep Echo in his hold. At last he was losing all his sanity; feeling the anger rise in him he sighed and looked down.

"It would be best if we got out of the rain and for you not to hit me again."

Blue's eyes would narrow slowly at Echo's retort for the castigation that, in truth, he may have not deserved, but it was a means of venting for her. Of course, it would be expected that he did not approve that he had to be her source of venting. At least, it was a better avenue she had taken. If Zelis had remained, she would not have merely given the man a slap for his intrusions on not only her personal proximity but the danger he had posed to her existence. She was not ready to pass onto the next realm. There were so many things that needed to be done, so many notions yet to be initiated and take fruit.

Blue would watch intently as the rain began to fall, tears from heaven that graced the earth. Was it God's tears? Was this the manifestation of his anguish that the insolent and reckless creatures inflicted upon him? It elicited a grin to curl her lips in a wicked fashion before she took note of the tension that began to ripple through Echo's physical form as he began to be touched by the first signs of the incoming down pour. It was as if with each plummet of the liquid, each tap, carved away at the remains of his sanity, the foundation that held it from crumbling into pieces. The rain was tearing it away at the seams.

Blue quickly rose as Wind Song's distress reinforced her suspicions and she approached Echo cautiously. With a tenderness that contrasted the hostility she had displayed only a moment before, her hand took his own and she began to guide him to a cluster of trees, where the foliage was thick enough to shield him from the rain who would show no mercy to an individual who despised it.

"Sit."

She coaxed, guiding him into the welcoming embrace of the trees' unified shadow, beneath the canopy that would shield him from that which elicited horrors unknown to her but real to him.

"Stay here until the rain stops. I'm going to go walk around, see where we are, so that we may leave as soon as possible. Okay?"

It was one of the few times where she asked for his opinion. She knew that in his condition, it was wise to tread lightly.

"If I take too long, you are welcomed to come after me when the rain stops. I'll be back."

She knew she did not need to announce her return but she had the consideration of offering him reassurance. Of course, with Blue, such words were no guarantee. She made no promises.

And so, with that said, she turned and walked into the down pour that had commenced, away from the welcoming shelter that the canopy of the trees provided.

Mod Note: This roleplay is continued here: Click.