Colin's posts

Ash paused for a moment.

"...right." he said.

"No response yet." he mumbled.

"Guess I'll have to try and call her." he sighed, picking up his phone again.

He then hit the call button on Ashleigh's contact, and put the phone to his ear.

"...I don't like that." Lindsay growled.

"But she has a point." Ash sighed.

"Casey, you may need to keep a glamour or two on hand." he then told her.

"And wear mana blockers or something. You'll need to do ALL you can to blend in with... wherever you are." he continued.

"And what should WE do?" Lindsay asked.

"...fight for survival." Ash responded darkly.

"She has a point." Ash replied.

"...but where?" Lindsay asked. "Where will you go?" he asked her.

"Where CAN you go?" he then inquired.

"..." Ash was silent, before sighing.

"He has valid questions. You have any ideas where someone like you can lay low?" he agreed.

"And if so, you feel like sharing?"

"Sadly, at the moment, it IS all we can do." Ash responded.

"Would any of them come after us?" Lindsay asked.

"Both myself and Casey are potential targets." Ash said. "Myself because I fought a Fallen earlier and defeated him, and Casey because she's the strongest necromancer in the friggin' WORLD." he explained.

"Plus. phoenixes may be troublesome for them." he added.

"Wouldn't Sammy going to the vampires just put THEM in danger?" Lindsay then countered.

"A valid argument, but portal mana can get them away from danger VERY efficiently." Ash replied. "Plus, it's less of a beacon for either of you, as 2 phoenixes shine brighter than one." he reasoned.

"...I cannot argue that." Lindsay admitted.

"Ah-!" Ash started to say, but she was gone.

"...well, Casey WAS going to suggest she have an extended visit with the vampires, so... that works..." he mumbled.

"How bad ARE things, Ash?" Lindsay asked seriously.

"This is the path to Ragnarok. And I'm not even exaggerating." Ash responded.

"...I never thought something like this could happen..." Lindsay admitted quietly.

"I never thought Michael would be so damn STUPID." Ash hissed, venom in his tone.

Lindsay was feeling the twinges of panic as well, and he was hoping Ash had misspoke. He was wished as hard as he could that Ash's next words would be something along the lines of 'no, no, no' or anything along those lines.

But his wishes were for naught.

"Essentially." Ash responded.

"That being said, we don't know how long. Or... how it happened. Or anything." he told them.

"But all the realms are working as hard as they can to try and find out, and fix this."

"...ah." Ash said.

"See... I know you're going to wind down, but... I'm sorry, but I have to probably wind you UP now." he mumbled.

"...what do you mean, Ash...?" Lindsay asked hesitantly.

"Well... here's a very truncated version of it." Ash then said, taking a breath, holding it, and exhaling slowly.

"Emelie is missing. This does not seem to be a case of her just taking an impromptu vacation." he told them. "One of the archangels is missing, took a sword with him, and a Fallen was in possession of it." he went on.

"...it's entirely possible a coup of heaven is underfoot, and those connected to archangels, or those with prominent afterlife connections... could very well be in danger." he finished.

"Then make the shower quick!" Ash called to her.

"Where's Casey?" Lindsay asked.

"She went out to get dessert." Ash told him.

"Why didn't she just order it with the food?" Lindsay inquired.

"Didn't ask." Ash shrugged. "Not gonna question." he said further.

"Fair." was all Lindsay said. "Anyway, I'm going to clean myself up as well." he added, getting up and leaving the room as well.

"..." Ash was then silent, not looking forward to what he had to tell them.

Ash paused when he heard that.

"Oh, damn it all." he cursed.

"Those things are destructive pests." he muttered. "They'll need to be taken care of." he said further.

"Don't we keep those woods for wildlife specifically?" Lindsay asked.

"Endangered or displaced ones." Ash clarified. "Acid hornets are considered terminateable pests." he added darkly.

"Stop calling me that." Ash heard his brother respond, as he entered the house as well.

He then smirked.

"For a sack of dust, you sure got attitude!" Ash called to him.

"Stuff it, Ash!" Lindsay called back, causing Ash to laugh out loud.

"Oh man, a new button to press." he mumbled.

"How was the run!?" he then called out.

"Refreshing!" Lindsay answered sincerely.

"SEE YA!" Ash called back, hearing her get ready, grab everything, and head out the door. He listened for the vehicle, and smirked to himself as he heard it pull away, before looking to his phone.

He counted a minute and a half, before sending Casey a little repayment for the meal, and chuckled.

"I'll hear about THAT when she gets back." he said to himself.

He then just sighed and laid his head back.

"...now to wait for whomever to return home first."

Ash shook his head.

"Naw. I'm good." he told her.

"Go on and go." he said.

"The sooner the better, as your teleporting is... ah, well, not there." he mumbled.

"A shame you don't really have proficiency for that." he said further.

Ash narrowed his eyes a little as she said that it ran her more than expected. He was already planning on wiring her some money while she was out getting ice cream. He didn't want he running so close to her credit limit or budget limit, just because this was going to be a huge meal. But he then sighed and nodded his head slightly.

"Yeah, sure." he said.

"A tub of choco-peanut-butter." he told her. "I can demolish that stuff." he chuckled.

"If they get back before you, I'll tell them you're out getting dessert." he then told her as he took out his phone.

He then went into the cash transfer app that they all liked, and started to send her what he figured would be enough to cover about half of what he predicted the price of the meal would be.

Ash groaned when she said that.

"Yeah, that's true." he said.

"Should let the vampires know that they should have some in stock for her as well." he said further. "Because she'll internalise it while there as well." he reasoned, shaking his head.

"Regardless, I'll drop it after we've eaten." he continued.

"No need to bring a meal down with... uh... the truth." he muttered.

"Hopefully she understands where we're coming from on this."