Leprechauns, Trolls, and Banshees, Oh My!

[Sushi]

"Oh, just keep complaining. See if it bothers me." Lucian rolled his eyes, looking down, helping to keep her from falling over. The man's eerie red eyes examined hers carefully.



"I mean, what am I going to do to you? You haven't done anything to me yet. It seems petty to pick a fight with a stranger." At this point he was occasionally making a brushing motion from her left eye. Each time he did so, it seemed that the light shining down on her face seemed to divert and spill off in a little stream of sparkles.



"There it is." Lucian looked like he was pulling out an eyelash, though he wasn't actually. He set her straight up, holding what appeared to be a solid thread of blue-white light between his index finger and thumb.



"So how is it that you can stand in the sun?"

[Tree]

" I was turned at twilight. If I'm in full sun, I break out into this horrid sunburn rash thing. It's annoying."



she replied, staring at him oddly.



" Now... where is he... he's not exactly the safest person.... so danger prone."

[Sushi]

"Really, that's cool." About the sun thing, concerning the question, however, Lucian paused.



"You know, that's all sorts of ironic. A psychic that is danger prone. Oh wait, or is he the kind that can only see ghosts?" Catching her look, he remembered his task.



"Oh yeah..." He flicked the little wiggly thread as though it a tiny whip. The thing with straight as a stick and he tapped it against his palm. Nothing happened at first. "Huh. That's weird." He shook his head and hit it against his palm a couple more times.



"There." Finally, the thin little stick had a faint sort of... well... it was like the dust particles in the air lit up and sparkled in a faint random path before them. Lucian began to walk off after the path, humming 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road'.

[Tree]

Doubting his ability, she followed hi warily, not replying to his question, refraining from 'rushing' him.. but just barely...



" He's not my boyfriend."



Ajora mentioned finally.

[Sushi]

"I just assumed." Lucian shrugged slightly, frowning as he held the thing, walking all the way out of town.



"Interesting. How did you say that you lost him again?" As he walked along the wide and deserted section of sandy beach, he couldn't help but smile. He knew this place. What the man did next, he did without even bothering to ask permission. After all, why would Ajora care? It wasn't like he had bad tastes.



The man waved his hand in her direction, a little wave of sparkle dust drifting from the gesture. Then suddenly, Ajora was dressed differently. She was wearing a dress and her tousled hair was down and streaked with colored glitter. But, to be fair, he mimicked the motion to himself.



Lucian was suddenly wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and a black button-down unbuttoned halfway down. All over, he had been splattered with paint in bright colors: lemon yellow, lime, cyan, and construction orange.



Why? Well, as he walked into the rave on the open shore and under the black lights, he didn't want to stick out. Then again... have you ever seen an albino under UV light?



((This is what Ajora is wearing.

Clarification: This is not a see-through dress. What looks suspiciously like a thong is actually a belt. The main fabric part of her dress and neck is hot pink, and the trim/accents are lime green.

<a href='http://clubbingdresses.asonda.co.uk/ima ... resses.jpg' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>http://clubbingdresses.asonda.co.uk/ima ... ses.jpg</a> ))

[Tree]

He was lucky he was bring Kai back to her...er, or her to kai, if not, he'd be a dead three dollar bill right now. How dare he put her in something like this????!!!? She'd NEVER wear something like this!!!! She looked like a tramp!!!





Glowering at him, she followed on, wanting to kill him. this wasn't cool. He was gonna die now if Kai wasn't alive... like he had control over him.

[Sushi]

Lucian caught the death glare and his brows raised.



"What's wrong? You look hot... and it's not like I made you wear something like that." He pointed to two females that were obviously souped up on acid. They looked like they were wearing bikini tops and underwear with lacing down their legs.

[Tree]

Ajora nearly smacked him, and stared at him, all at the same time. he'd not only called her hot, but then had the nerve to act as if he'd still be alive if she were dressed like those other women right now.



" Be glad your valued."



Yep, she really was putting her words politely for how she felt at the moment.

[Sushi]

Lucian held up his hands, the thin stick still in his left.



"Alright, alright. Geez. You don't have to threaten me. I was just trying to be helpful." As the strobes passed over them, he waved his hand away at her again. (He didn't care if anyone noticed. After all, with all the drugs most of these people were one, it wouldn't be the strangest thing they saw.) He sighed and shook his head, wrinkling his nose as a girl that had decided to walk up and suction cup herself to him.



((Peace-offering change:

<a href='http://www.rarebutterfly.com.au/assets/pics/crop19.jpg' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>http://www.rarebutterfly.com.au/assets/ ... p19.jpg</a> ))

[Tree]

Ajora seemed to relax slightly as she looked over the man with her now, looking about. These people were not innocent at all, and she was starving... perhaps a few moments for abreak?

[Sushi]

After being ganged up on by two additional girls, Lucian forgot what he was supposed to be doing. yeah, short attention span. He found himself laughing.



"Girl, that it SO not how you do it." Fun times, fun times.

[Tree]

Ajora glared, and glared, and yanked on the man in question hard enough she probably bruised him.



" FOCUS!"



She chastised, she was restraining herself..... If barely.

[Sushi]

Lucian's eyes widened and he pulled his arm free of her grasp.



"Good grief." He rubbed the spot before reaching into his pocket.



"Don't blow a gasket." He pulled out the thing and snapped it back into rigidity.



"Your... uh... dude. This way." He began to make his way past the throbbing mass of people. Eventually they were once again on empty beach. He was frowning, unhappy with how much of a downer this girl was. He walked along for well over two hours before stopping and yawning.



"Break time." It was well past his bed time, for starters. It was well past any reasonable hour, actually, being the wee hours of the morning. Lucian was dragging.

[Tree]

Ajora looked the man over, wanting to protest, but she let it go, nodding slowly, watching him carefully before going to take a dip in the ocean waters. might as well cool off and enjoy herself before she suffered a nice sunburn, huh?

[Sushi]

Lucian yawned as he walked over to the craggy cliffside that lined the entire beach. The man lay down under a shaded lip. He pulled his arm over and sand rose up, like a blanket in his fist, and as it covered him, it really was a blanket - cotton polyester blend by the looks of it. Out like a light.

[Tree]

ajora actually remained in the water as much as possible, as it tended to keep the sunburn from getting tooooo bad, however, once the sun was setting, she was pestering Lucian without guilt.



" Go. Now."



yep, lots of words as she pulled the man to his feet, her clothes still dripping.

[Sushi]

Lucian sighed, but that was all he did as he caught his balance once more. He pulled out the little light thing and flicked it, watching as the shimmer dust once more began to indicate their direction.



"Good morning to you too." From that point they walked on along the shore, probably for another three hours this time. And then they found it.



The earth seemed to be made of dark sand sprinkled with diamond slivers, the way that it glittered eerily in the moonlight as the waves splashed nearby against the craggy rock. The cliff side was everywhere around them, casting strange shadows. There was an odd, asymmetrical Plexiglas structure built into it. There was a door, though it was obviously blocked shut by a crossbar on the outside. There was a tiny slit all the way around the top under the lip of the roof, presumably for airflow.



Kai was sitting in the main compartment in the shadowy corner. He was barefoot and his clothes were burlap. A swirling smoky mist lay low and thick, only coming up about his knees. Perhaps something was burning. The air was thick with the smell of sandalwood.



In a small container was neatly folded his clothes and his shoes, but he seemed completely distant from any desire for it. The man looked sallow, sickly in a way. Disturbing slightly was the fact that he was writing on his pantleg and most of his clothes were already covered with paths of that wild scrawl that seemed to overlap itself so much that it wasn't understandable even the flow. The man was scribbling furiously, seeming oddly bothered. Most disturbing? His eyes were covered with a white film.



Lucian released the thread, the thing dissolving into sparkles that faded into the air.



"Dude, what the hell happened to him? He has no resonance of his own." Lucian turned his eyes to Ajora.



"Take the word of a manipulator of essence. This guy is freaky. I think you should just steer clear of him. He fades into the world around him."

[Tree]

Ajora sighed as she looked about the odd place they were heading towards, swallowing slowly. Great. Now she had to get in, and get Kai out. All this because of a pair of shoes. this was mellow dramatic if she ever knew it. However, she pushed those thoughts away as she turned her attentions to Lucian.



" I can't. I dunno how to explain to you how I work, but I simply can't. Hence why i had to find him... and now I have to figure out how to get him out of there..."



Letting an after-thought-like growl roll from her lips, she looked to Lucian.



" And don't tell me he's not worth the trouble, because I'm sure I more then certainly agree with you."

[Sushi]

"Fine, fine..." Lucian shrugged slightly and walked over to the plexiglas thing. He tapped on it lightly. See, he wasn't so much concerned about the whole Kai thing or even the Ajora thing. He was concerned about what could have bested both a vampire AND a psychic. However, he didn't see anyone.



"In which case... might I point out the door?" He gestured to the metal crossbar.



Kai didn't look up at the tapping, he just continued to sit there, scribbling on his burlap pant leg.

[Tree]

Ajora sighed, looking the glass like box over, reaching and lifting the bar off with ease, gingerly opening it upon it's hings, looking over the man on the floor, not sure what to make of him.



" Kai?"

[Sushi]

"I saw you coming." That was all the Kai said before he moved to stand in front of Ajora. He sighed and lowered his foggy eyes.



"I cannot see you right now... They wanted my words, though. I saved them for you. I see for you two futures." He gently reached out, placing his hand on her shoulder, almost missing her. His words held a low ringing.



"Young and restless creature, there are many suns left to set upon your back. You have yet to see half the things hidden in this world, and you will meet them all with the unwavering strength within. There will be nothing that can defeat you as you grow more powerful by the day. Be wary of those you considered once friends, for there will come a time when they seek you out for darker reasons. Listen to those you know to have wisdom and you will find that innocence you fear you lack, that innocence which will save not only others but yourself." He just then blinked for what seemed to be the first time.



"Young and restless creature, there are few suns left to set upon your back. You have yet to see half the things hidden in this world, and you will never chance upon the opportunity. There will be nothing that can defeat you as you grow more powerful by the day, save for yourself. Be wary your own hubris, that deep hatred you have. It will crush your ability to trust, and you will find that there is no hand to save you from the fire. No wisdom can save you from this fate if you cannot hear the voice that speaks it. The innocent are not always spared."



---



"So that is what you were hiding from us. I was afraid of as much." Malykai was shoved so hard that he crashed against the craggy rock like a ragdoll. After a moment, he stood up, sucking in air. He got up after a minute, gripping at his side. That had really hurt his back. The tall woman now speaking looked at Ajora contemptuously.



"That will never do. Having a child take the world by storm? Ha! That is a cliche that must be squashed!" Lucian was watching, not sure what to do about this. After all, he seemed to be a foreigner in what was shaping up to be a stranger's fight. As the woman moved, Kai reached out and grabbed Ajora, yanking her into his chest. No, this was not some weird advance. That was obvious as suddenly arterial spurt splashed across the both of them. His face scrunched up and it seemed like he might have cried out... were it not for the fact that he wilted to the sand.



As his blood gushed out over the dirt, Kai's green eyes opened, now unclouded. He found himself staring at those accursed green shoes before he closed them again. He would pass out in a matter of moments, would die in a matter of minutes. The woman licked her lips, seeming rather unbothered about the man now laying between Ajora and herself.



"Well, I didn't mean to get him, stupid oracle. Such a waste." The bite mark was exactly where the bruise had been before, it had severed that artery near the back of the throat. But this woman was not a vampire. Both her canines and the teeth in front of them were elongated and all of the others were sharpened to a point if though regular sized.

[Tree]

Although not always saved, as kai had pointed out, ajora had come to far to acquire Kai, living, to let something of this variety happen as she scooped up the bleeding man, lightly lapping at the wound upon him, watching the skin starting to knit. Certainly it'd be very painful and exhausting, as the human body wasn't meant to handle vampire-like levels of healing... however, it had to be better then dying, no?



Handing Kai to Lucian, and giving them one of those clear ' get out of here' looks, she glanced back to the woman in question, having never let her guard down, eyes flashing faintly. Why was she so upset about kai being hurt? .... she hadn't pinned that one down yet, she just knew she was mad.

[Sushi]

Lucian took into his arms the man that was unconscious. He didn't really know what to do with him. It wasn't like he was a featherweight, besides. So, the man draped him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, shaking his head as he started to back away. He didn't like the look of this.



The woman was too short to really be average height, but 'short' didn't seem to fit either. She wasn't particularly pretty, but she wasn't ugly either. Everything, all the way to her hair that was somewhere between blonde and brown, seemed to be a halfway not-quite.



"How precious! Sacrifice and savior! Too bad it means nothing. He is of no consequence to me." The woman grinned evilly, stretching out a hand as though to take something. Tiny little black flakes somewhat like ashes shot through the air in the a thick and twisting stream, being drawn from the faces of both Lucian and Ajora.



Lucian felt like the breath was being sucked out of his lungs though he was still breathing. After a sluggish moment, he jerked his head to the side. Yeah, until this point it had been the quarrel of strangers. Frowning darkly, he gestured with his free arm as though scooping up water.



No sooner had the woman flicked the whip that the black stream had formed than she rocked violently. The sand beneath her feet had been turned to the grainy mud of a sinkhole. Lucian turned now, walking off with Kai... ignoring the whispers of his darkest wishes that floated along the air with someone else's.

[Tree]

Ajora blinked as this took place, glancing back over her shoulder as Lucian left with Kai, her eyes raking over this stranger, even as the voices settled in. It was something disturbing, to say the least, and probably should more accurately be worded as maddening. Listening to your sole fears repeat over and over in a torturous and even vindictive way was not exactly beneficial to one's mental sanity.



This did not stop the slowly retreating vampire though as she watched this stranger sinking in the quicksand like substance. Perhaps she'd die. She'd be okay with this being dying.

[Sushi]

The woman was struggling, and it soon became apparent that the 'us' she had spoken of was at least still partially there. A man slipped out of the shadows and rushed to aid her, and they were working together to get her out. For the moment, Ajora and the others had been forgotten. However, this would only last a matter of minutes. What it came down to was whether they could hide. If not, they would have to fight.



Lucien was trucking it, actually. The man was darting down the beach with an unconscious Kai (who seemed to gain a pound with every step). Then, the guy ducked into a cave in the cliff face that he eventually found. He put the psychic down, trying to catch his breath.

[Tree]

Ajora watched this action, noted how she became forgotten. She was torn between the urge of wanting to kill this woman, and wanting to run. ... The reason she chose running? Because she needed to be sure Kai was alright. Pure soul and all this jazz. Hence why she was soon lifting up Kai to look him over, ignoring the way that Lucien was panting.

[Sushi]

Lucien glanced up at her.



"Okay, more power to superwoman, but..."



He gestured towards Kai.



"He doesn't look so hot."



Man, if that wasn't pointing out the obvious... Kai was completely unconscious, blood still wet across his burlap shirt and the scent of sandalwood clinging to him just as surely as the psychotic interweaving scrawl.

[Tree]

Ajora nodded slightly.



" I can see this..."



she purred gently, lightly brushing her fingers over his face. he'd make it right now. but he really needed a doctor. She could help, but she would really feel weird about it right now... Hence the way she carefully lifted him into her arms and spared the smallest of glances out of the cave.



" We need to hide further..."



She didn't know the terrain. she could run like no tomorrow, but if you don't know where your running to...



it should be noted she was still looking over Kai, having stopped the bleeding now, if nothing else.

[Sushi]

Lucien shrugged slightly, standing a little straighter as he had now caught his breath.



"I'm not entirely sure where we are. I know we're way out of city limits."



Judging by the rave place... and the beach...



"I think up is our best bet."



He moved to glance out of the mouth of the cave and to the sharp face that led to something else high above.

[Tree]

Now a rather sad question, but...



" How well could you handle that, had how quickly?"



She knew she could do it in two jumps, at the most.... And the second was only because she held Kai.

[Sushi]

Lucien rubbed the back of his head. Well, the guy was in shape. Come on - fat and gay just generally didn't go together. The man considered it.



"Seven minutes?"



What? It was REALLY high.

[Tree]

Thinking for about five seconds, she sighed.



" Get on my back."



No, she would not ever say this again, so you'd best just do as told. They needed speed for this one. One thing the woman could help with right now.

[Sushi]

Lucian paused for a moment. Then, with a soft sigh, he walked over to her.



"You know, when I first saw you, I just imagined we'd have a cup of coffee, a chat, and that would be that."



However, he climbed on.

[Tree]

" And your interest in me has never been firmly established."



She pointed out, looking at the wall and lunging, using her hand to propel her about half way up, sort of just shooting the rest of the distance, soon taking him off her back, looking over the still passed out cradled Kai.

[Sushi]

Lucian was smoothing out his clothes. Now he was just wearing jeans and a t-shirt.



"I assure you, it's a harmless curiosity. Like I said, you resonate strongly. It was striking."



He looked between the two of them, puzzling a little over Kai.



"And a general good-will, first-impression of a species that I helped you." He looked around. Oh. From here he could figure out where they were. Man, how did they get all the way out here?



"Where are you headed from here? Back to the city?"

[Tree]

" I likely should, there is a little boy there..."



She wasn't sure if she should pick him back up, or leave him there....

[Sushi]

Lucian gestured absently.



"You can tag along with me, then."



He began to walk the direction of back. They were in the woods up here. Literally.



"Why does he have my name on his knee?"



Yeah, he had been looking over Kai and that caught his eye. The handwriting was too hard for him to follow, but Lucian could pick out his own name.

[Tree]

" Your guess is as good as mine, though given what he does, it might have been an effort to remember...."



she trailed off, shrugging as she did pause for two minutes to clean Kai up some by the river they passed over, continuing on. If they walked into town with someone unconscious people would wonder, a severely wounded, unconscious not going to the hospital? Their would be HUGE issues. Hence the clean up and hide maneuver.

[Sushi]

"What's your schtick?"



Lucian was studying the two of them. Odd pair.

[Tree]

Ajora glanced to him.



" Come again?"



She asked curiously. her's, or her's and Kai's, or what?