Colin's posts

As he walked, he found where all the others had died... their bodies had been tossed into a room unceremoniously, it seemed.

"...." he was silent, before sighing.

A bit later, Vanessa was still studying the room, when she heard faint footsteps.

And they were coming close.

When she decided to investigate, she found that Chris had come back, looking pathetic.

"...Vanessa?" he asked when he saw her.

"I'm... I'm back." he told her.

"I mean, what you did was just another test to determine my loyalty, right?" he asked.

Meanwhile, a figure trudged through the forest, towards where Vanessa was.

He had certainty and determination in his stride... and he knew where he was going.

"I'm sorry, Ashley." he said quietly.

"You were so genuine to me... you honestly saved me... you protected me... even though you don't like me." he went on, shaking his head.

"But I can't stand it." he went on.

"I have to go to her. I have to see her again." he mumbled.

"I need to do this." he finished, knowing that Ashley would NOT be pleased when she woke up.

Ryker shook his head.

"We all have our battles." he said.

"Perspective is a wonderful thing, but you need to know when to use it." he told him.

"My hardships do not belittle your hardships, because we're from very different situations, if that makes sense." he said further.

"If I had been in the same situation as you, I'd be feeling the same way. Your feelings are justified, your resentment is justified. You are justified in feeling like you've had it rough." he went on.

"Because you have. We BOTH have." he said further.

"Also, a fairy tail? Yeah, maybe one of those Grimm ones that are meant to scare children into behaving." he then muttered, in a half-attempt to garner some sort of a chuckle, or a reaction.

"...what's left of it." Ryker responded.

"See, that guy had me and a lotta other people digging for that large gem." he told him. "Whoever found it, and used it, was supposed to gain unlimited power." he said further.

"But one of the other slaves found it... accidentally. He struck it with a large drill, and it caused the thing to shatter and turn to little more than dust." he went on.

"However, one of the shards embedded itself in my chest, and I guess that stopped it from turning to worthless powder. Now it's directly connected to my heart, and it's like it fused with me." he sighed.

"It gave me the strength and power to escape slavery... but, drunk with rage and power, I brutally murdered the dictator, even though I didn't really want to." he lamented.

"This power, when it takes over, it's like someone else is in control of my body." he then told Eke. "And it's terrifying."

Vincent watched her go, and sighed.

"I'm such a fool." he said.

"So naive." he muttered.

"Well, I DO hope Vanessa is happy." he then growled.

"She has successfully defied the laws of the universe."

"....indeed." Vincent responded quietly.

"At any rate, I shall not keep you any longer." he said.

"If you need to leave, feel free to." he told her.

"Thank you again." he then said further.

"That would have been devastating, had you not interfered."

After a few minutes, the shower stopped, and Ryker stepped out from the bathroom. He was clad in nothing but his pNTS, and had a towel draped over his head, drying his head.

This showcased what looked to he a small crevasse in his chest... but it looked to be filled with a strange black solid-like substance.

He peeked through his towel, and saw that Eke was awake.

"Hey." he greeted him.

"I guess I wanted to believe that the drows would be content with just being alive again." Vincent replied.

"I wanted to believe that drows were good people." he said.

"I mean, in general." he then clarified.

"Individuals can be different. Like yourself and Ashley." he told her.

"I just hoped that drows would be different from humans, in general." he sighed.

He didn't see Ryker around, at all.

But he heard the shower running in the next room, which told him that he was there, just getting himself clean.

Eke then also noticed that there was a selection of food for him to choose from. Some breads, some fish, some chicken cutlets, and a small pizza, as well as a few bottles of soda.

And he also noticed a bag of candies on the endtable beside him, alongside a bowl of mixed berries and fruit.

Vincent nodded in response.

"All right." he replied.

"Good to know." he said.

"...ngh." he then groaned, as he buried his eyes in the palms of his hands.

"I'd really hoped that the drows would just live and let live." he told her.

"You'd think I wouldn't be so naive." he muttered.

Vincent sighed in response, relief in it.

"Good." he said.

"I'm glad it worked out." he said further.

"If you feel you need to clear out, then I won't stop you." he then told her, before pausing.

"Does Desiree have any recollection of what happened?" he suddenly asked. "Or is it all hazy, or a blank, or something akin to that?" he asked further.

"I know it can different, depending on what the drow wants... and I also don't know if new control messes with that or not." he admitted.

"If you're tired, then sleep." Ryker told him.

"When you wake up, there will be food here for you to eat." he told him.

"And if your mother happens to somehow show up, she'll know what it means to mess with me." he then assured him.

"I'll show her the power of the Infinite Onyx." he said further, before pausing suddenly.

"...I'll explain that later." the then sighed.

Vincent was as predictable as he was intelligent.

She found him there, of course.

He noticed she had come in, and sighed when he saw her.

"Welcome back." he said.

"My apologies for involving you like that, but it was the best way I could think of to deal with the situation." he explained.

"...how IS Desiree, anyway?" he then asked.

Jaden's change in attitude was sudden and jarring. He'd gone from sorrowful and despondent, to outright terrified, and frozen in fear... even though Syraene wasn't ordering him around, or yelling at him.

A few seconds later, Vincent appeared in the building, and cleared his throat.

"Mm, yes, of course." he said.

"Jaden... come on." he then said to the dhampir.

"Uh... uh... r-right..." Jaden stammered, shaking a little, as he and Vincent disappeared in a small whirlwind, returning to the manor.