elizabeth_hefty: *She turned just as the lights came on. He was angry with her, and he had every right. Few had seen him without his mask; she should not have asked. Ril watched as he pulled the mask off. The marks were not as horrid as he had made it out to be. Certainly they looked painful and if she had not seen so much violence in her life she would have averted her eyes. Ril walked towards him and ran her fingers over the right side of his face.* "I see no demon Erik." *She smiled and continued to lay her hand against his face.* "Those who do are foolish."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He twisted his mouth into a rough semblance of a smile, and slipped the mask back over his horribly twisted and misshapen features* "Oh, the demon's not the face... it's the killer I've become because of it. I look back on the vampire I slew, and now there seems no difference between him and me. But I've accepted that; it's who I am." *He pushed her hand away* "And I AM a mortal, after all, so it's not like it matters, anyway." *He turned back out to face the night, relishing the cold, clean feel of it.* "Tell me your story, Ril. Tell me the life of an immortal, one whose memories will not fade and die. Teach me to hate this Mathias, or Red, as you seem to prefer to call him. Show me what life is like without the lens of mortal trappings."

elizabeth_hefty: *She pulled her gloves on, hiding her dark skin from view once more.* "I grew up in Fey. If you were to go to the land it would be somewhere in Africa or Egypt. I'm not sure which really." *Ril ran a hand through her hair and studied him. He had trusted her with his story. It was time to return the favor.* "Mati and Fara were my parents, and I have never met two people who were more in love before or since then. And they showered that same love on my sister and I. Ixion... We were total opposites. Where I am dark as the night she was fair and very beautiful. The boys all loved her, made her laugh. I doted on her because she was the only sibling I had. Many Fey have several children but it was just the two of us. As we grew older it was discovered that I had a gift for magick.

elizabeth_hefty: "I began to learn from one of the Wise Women in the village. She taught me some of the healing arts and how to see into others minds, sense auras that type of thing. It was through her that I met Red." *She leaned on the stone wall and looked down at the humans milling below them.* "He was someone she had met through her travels and she introduced us. At that time he was an ordinary human like any of them. And I fell in love. It didn't take long. He had the charm of one who had traveled the world and met many people. He wasn't like anyone I had ever known. He was the first person I was ever intimate with and the only one that it meant anything." *She stopped her voice shaky.* "We went on in this way for a year or longer. There was talk of a marriage. I was happy.

elizabeth_hefty: "One night when we met in the forest that bordered the village he seemed... changed somehow. Even his aura was different. It was darker and hazy. I couldn't sense his feelings as I could before. Red told me that he had become a vampire." *She paused and looked over at Erik.* "My people and the leeches have been at war since before memory. To me it was a betrayal. Mathias died that day in my eyes. When he spoke to me he was harsh and cold. I refused to join him in this.... abomination he had become. He hit me then. I-I had never been struck before." *She hung her head as if feeling the blow once more.* "He left me lying at the base of a tree, bleeding and crying. I was too ashamed to go home so I stayed there for the night." *She couldn't go on but forced herself to.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He reached out a hand to steady her.* "Pain never goes away. But it can be survived. You can survive this." *His voice was as gentle and soothing as he could make it.*

elizabeth_hefty: "When I went back to the village the next morning, it was burning. Very few homes still stood. One was the cottage I had grown up in. I entered only to find the bodies of my parents. They died in each others arms." *Tears filled her eyes and she swallowed hard, knowing that this was the most difficult part of the tale.* "But I couldn't find Ixion. The sister that I had spent so many carefree days with. I searched what was left of the village, calling her name until my voice was hoarse from yelling. The searching was nothing compared to actually finding her. Her body was at the edge of the forest, stripped of all clothing. She was innocent, Erik, before he touched her. There were two small holes at her neck. Red had taken all but a little of her blood. She fell into darkness as I held her."

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril smiled as best she could at Erik and straightened, pulling herself together.* "I buried the bodies and went after Red. I found him easily, it was almost as if he was waiting for me. He threw my family's death into my face and I--I attacked him. By the law he was allowed to kill me, but he sold me instead." *Her voice was hard and void of emotion now.* "I was sold so many times to so many different men I don't even remember them all. They used me for their pleasure and then threw me away like a piece of old bread." *She drew a deep breath.*

elizabeth_hefty: "My last master was by far one of the worst. He constantly beat me and forced me to his will. One night after he had broken his stick beating me, I snuck into his room and drove a dagger through his throat. I took what money I could and this sword." *She touched the weapon at her side.* "And I ran. I've been running ever since, constantly searching for Red. I will kill him for all the centuries of pain and suffering I've endured. I want to hear him beg for death." *Her eyes were cold with hate.* "That is what has made me who I am Erik. My life such as it was."

phantomwolfwhisper: *His face was hard as stone, but his eyes were ablaze. Her tale dredged up so many of the emotions he tried to hide from himself, things of his history he would not even allow himself to remember. But he had worked hard for control, and it did not escape him now.* "We're survivors, Ril. That's all we can do, is keep surviving. And kill those who hurt us."

elizabeth_hefty: *She looked at him then, searching his eyes.* "If you are a demon then so am I. I kill to stay alive. People pay me to get rid of others. How is that any better than what the humans do?" *She put one hand on his arm taking comfort in touch.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He glanced at her hand on his arm, not knowing quite what to make of it or how to respond, so he decided to ignore it.* "The humans... I can use that term since they refuse to accept me as one of their own... are despicable creatures, but I see now that race is no barrier to the mobs in that respect. I learned much of vampires under my old master's tutelage. Say the word, and I will cause Red pain such as he never before believed could exist in all creation."

elizabeth_hefty: "I want him to know that I'm the one hurting him. Let me help you Erik. I..." *Ril trailed off, not sure what she was trying to say.* "I hate him more than I ever knew was possible." *She looked down at her gloved hand on his arm.* "I'm afraid though that I can't leave you in solitude tonight. The hovel that I was staying in was raided by your police. If they had found me..." *She shuddered violently at the thought.* "Is it remotely possible that you know somewhere I can sleep?"

phantomwolfwhisper: *He briefly considered. He could not stand such an intrusion on his home, and had the police raided it, he would be outraged. But he was hesitant to offer his sanctuary as a place for her to flee to. He had been generous in that way once, and his heart was still bleeding from it. But that was not the only option. He glanced at the trapdoor leading back into the opera house.* "There is a woman who works here as the ballet mistress, a Madame Giry. She is a friend of mine, and she knows a great many more things about the spare rooms of the opera than I. Come, we should speak with her. The performance should be over by now."

elizabeth_hefty: "No!!" *She backed away, hitting the stone wall within a few steps.* "I mean... I can't talk with a human. What would she think of me? Look at me, Erik, please, really look at me." *She tore her gloves off her dark skin once more visible the tattoos on her face were visible in the artificial lighting on the roof.* "Do you think this good Christian woman would take a creature like me in? If your answer is yes then I will follow you. But.... If there is any doubt in your mind, please tell me." *She was pleading with him, and it sounded so childish, but Ril was afraid of being turned over to the humans. There was no telling what they might do to her.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He suppressed the urge to laugh* "If Annalisse Giry is a good Christian woman, I'd like to know the priest. She's been a Ardient Walker since... since she was a teenager, I believe, and she's utterly convinced that at least ten different races walk the earth. You should listen to her theories sometime, they're astounding, amusing, and thought-provoking. She'll be delighted to meet you, believe me. And no one hates the mortal government system more than she, so be at ease about that."

elizabeth_hefty: *She nodded, reassured now. Traces of a real smile lingered on his lips, not a smirk but a real one. Ril sighed and slowly pulled her gloves on and covered her face with the hood.* "Ten sounds about right actually. But then many of the races have been driven to extinction or ostracized since humans took the world. I would be pleased to meet your Madame Giry." *She walked beside him back into the opera.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He led her through the passageways inside and through walls, twisting through a mind-numbing maze of ups and downs, trapdoors and pivoting walls. Finally, they came out in a hallway that was carpeted with rich burgundy and gilded with gold. He turned to Ril and shrugged.* "I never thought, when I helped to build this place, that I'd be on speaking terms with the ballet mistress, so we'll have to enter by the front door." A few more steps, and a plain door of unfinished oak presented itself. He gave a polite knock.* "Madame Giry? It's Erik. I have a guest for you."

phantomwolfwhisper: *The door opened slowly, and a stately, simplistically elegant woman with a few flecks of grey in her precisely braided hair peered out* "Monsieur! It has been so long since you called! I was beginning to worry that - ... Oh, but never mind. What an enchanting visitor you have brought me! You never bring me visitors! Come, come in, before the little rats I teach catch a glimpse of you and squeal about it for a month of Sundays. Come in, come in."

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril hurried into the apartment and slowly took her hood off. She kept her eyes away from the woman, afraid still.* "It is a pleasure to meet you Madame. Erik has spoken of you quite kindly. I am Ril of Fey, in Paris for only a short season."

phantomwolfwhisper: "Ril of Fey..." *The woman repeated softly, her brows knitting slightly as she focused on something beyond sight or time* "I know of the Fey.. they - and you! Well, it certainly is an honor, Madame! Or pardon, is it Mademoiselle? I have never met one of the Fey before! Oh, but I forget my manners! I am Annalisse Giry, ballet mistress here... But you probably already know that. Erik, what a lovely young lady you've found! Where are you staying, dear?"

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril had paled considerably when asked about her marital status.* "It is Mademoiselle. As for where I am staying.... That is why Erik has brought me to meet you, Madame. The place where I was staying is no longer safe for one such as me. I need somewhere to reside for at least a month." *She smiled, her pointed teeth visible for the first time.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik hastily broke in.* "I don't mean to intrude on you, Madame Giry, but even if you just know... A hotel, perhaps, where no one will see, or ask questions?" *Annalisse made a dismissive gesture.* "Oh, posh! I won't hear of it! I've a spare bedroom right behind this very one here... I think I saw one of your trapdoors there, Erik? Anyway, You shouldn't have to worry about the girls. I'm sure everything will work out fine. We simply MUST speak sometime, Mademoiselle Ril, and you can tell me of your people. As for food... I can bring you your meals, if that would be alright with you. I'm afraid the main kitchen is always crawling with the brats." *she sighed* "But girls will be girls."

elizabeth_hefty: "My people... Yes it would be good to speak of my culture." *She nodded at Anneliese.* "I appreciate your assistance Madame." *Ril turned towards Erik and touched his shoulder lightly.* "Thank you, Erik. I will visit you tomorrow night to discuss plans." *She didn't think it was wise to speak of Red in front of the ballerina. Even if she was a friend.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He nodded and bowed to each of them, then turned and headed out the door, leaving them alone. Annalisse smiled and opened an almost invisible door that led to a short hallway, an extra bedroom, a washroom, and a small sitting room.* "If it is acceptable to you, Mademoiselle..?"

elizabeth_hefty: "It is wonderful, Madame. Please call me Ril, I am unused to titles." *She drew her cloak off and laid it over a chair. Her arms were bare and she smiled slightly.* "I'm afraid I must dress out of necessity instead of fashion." *She settled on the edge of the bed.* "I am a night dweller by habit. I hope I won't disturb you too much." *She looked around at the luxury that surrounded her. It made her slightly uneasy. All her memories of places like this ended badly.*

phantomwolfwhisper: "If you are to be Ril, then you MUST call me Annalisse, I insist. Nocturnal habits are fine, dear, just fine, You wouldn't believe the hours Erik keeps sometimes. Don't you worry about me, I sleep like a rock. I'll go fetch dinner, alright? Take all the time you need." *she whisked off, hardly pausing for breath between sentences, hardly through speaking before she was out the door. Soft candlelight gave the rooms a low-key, warm and cozy feeling, the modest amenities almost as fitting in this setting as high polish would be just outside, in the opera house.*

phantomwolfwhisper: ((*racks brains for what to do/say next*))

elizabeth_hefty: ((We can just skip ahead until Ril goes to see Erik or vice versa))

phantomwolfwhisper: *When Erik woke, it was late afternoon. He had fallen asleep in the middle of the floor (again..), a few empty bottles scattered across the floor. He knew the stuff was bad for him, but it seemed to be the only thing able to chase the nightmares away... And sometimes, even that didn't work. He picked himself up, disgusted with himself. His clothes were wrinkled and filthy, his home looked like a slum. He should know better than to act like this. He DID know better... he simply didn't care. The music held no appeal for him at all now, and probably never would again. He shook his head and changed into fresh clothing, his resolve firm. He had to find someone else to be the guardian of this dream-world. And he had to do it soon.*

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril slept through the day content and feeling safe. Madame Giry had come in at one point and looked at her drawing of Erik but hadn't said anything. Whatever the woman thought, she was keeping it to herself. As dusk fell, Ril felt the change in the air. It was time to do something. She closed the book and, tucking it under her arm, descended through the trap door she had found without much trouble.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik devoted much of the time between his waking and evening to tidying up. It was disgraceful, having such filth and junk in one's own sanctuary, especially when there was a guest. He had just finished wiping down and tuning the pipe organ when he heard a sound.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She had tripped over something on the stairs.* "Mother of Night!" *Ril touched her knee; it was hurt and possibly bruised. She'd be all right, but the fall had startled her. The book lay open on the floor.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He rose and slipped though a various network of rafter-beams and ceiling tiles, dropping down beside Ril on the stairs. Concern touched his features as he examined her knee.* "You're hurt! No, hold still, I just want to see... Good, nothing's broken. You should be more careful, Ril. You can really get hurt down here if you don't pay close attention to where you're going." *His gaze fell on the drawing, and almost by impulse, he picked it up, studying it carefully.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She resisted the urge to snatch it out of his hands and instead stood up slowly. Her knee didn't collapse from under her but it did burn. More from Erik’s touch than the pain.* "I had some time yesterday, and I wanted to try my hand. Its a fair likeness." *She bit her lip and rubbed her left shoulder.* "I should have asked you first, I apologize."

phantomwolfwhisper: "No, no..." *He sounded slightly distracted, absorbed in the drawing. Is that really what I look like? he wondered to himself. He shook his head to stir himself back to reality, and handed the book back to Ril.* "I wouldn't know if it's a good likeness or not, but I must say you have a great deal of skill. You don't need my permission to draw me. Just..." *he hesitated, an odd expression on his face.* "Don't show anyone else? Please?"

elizabeth_hefty: "I won't, you have my word on that." *She took the book and closed it. It was actually an incredible likeness. Ril had drawn the side of his face that was unmarked and the eye that you could see was filled with pain and longing. What for she didn't know but she felt compelled to draw it that way.* "I brought this to show you something. Shall we continue on?"

phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik took her arm, just in case she needed any help, and guided her through the intricate labyrinthine passageway back to his lair. He was glad, now, that he had thought to clean it.*

elizabeth_hefty: *She wasn't used to being touched, and Erik continually seemed to do so. It wasn't wrong but..... It brought back so many memories - the good along with the bad. Ril let her gaze roam over the rooms. He had straightened up and made neat. She laid the book on a table and opened it to the beginning, where the pages where brown with age. "There’s a spell here I thought you might find interesting."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He leaned over her shoulder to look, his interest piqued. A spell? He had often pretended to be a magician, fooling the weak-minded and weak-willed with his deft illusion in return for their coin, but he had often wondered of the true arcane. If it existed anywhere, it stood to reason that this aged book, borne by this mysterious person, would be the place where it might be found.* "A spell?"

elizabeth_hefty: "Yes. I did tell you that I know some magick. Not much, but a little." *She glanced at him with a small smile.* "Now, this will cause pain for a temporary time, and also blindness. Its not anything unusual, but I would like to try it on Red. Would you be interested in learning how to do it?"

phantomwolfwhisper: *He nodded, looking at the symbols on the page with a childlike eagerness. He had always been a quick learner, a fast student, and his thirst for knowledge had never abated.* "Yes... Please..."

elizabeth_hefty: *She pulled her gloves off and motioned for him to do the same. Ril took the book and knelt on the floor, lying it in front of her.* "Now, before I do a spell, I usually pray. Just so the Mother is listening, and knows that I desire her attention." She felt a little odd explaining this to him but closed her eyes and lifted her hands to the ceiling, lips moving in silent supplication.

phantomwolfwhisper: *He nodded, understanding. He had often made such prayers when the dark muses were working within him... And the desire for Mother night to bless what works stormed from his mind and fingers... He removed his gloves, and prayed in his own fashion.*

elizabeth_hefty: *Ril tried not to rush her prayer, though she was quite eager to get on with the teaching. She finished quicker than usual and dropped her hands to her lap.* "Now, the trick is to mean the words of the spell. Those who simply recite them like a rote memorization will never get anywhere. You have to really want it." *She turned the book towards Erik so that he could read the page.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *He finished his prayer, turning his eyes up to watch her.* " Ril..." *his gaze flashed from the book to her face.* "I can't read this."

elizabeth_hefty: "You've never learned?" *She sighed.* "I'll speak the words and I want you to repeat them. Then we'll say them together. Take my hands." *She held her hands out toward him .* "I won't bite you." *Ril smiled slightly.*

phantomwolfwhisper: *Erik reached out his hands obediently, slightly miffed, but struggling to conceal the frown. He had learned much in his years, more than most humans could lay claim to, but could he be blamed for not knowing every language in existence? He pushed the thought away and tilted his head, concentrating on the words she was saying, weighing them in his mind to see exactly how much he could mean them.*

elizabeth_hefty: "Goddess of stars and moon, look on your child below. Heal the hurts and close the wounds. Transfer to another and shut their eyes. Grant my wish." *She reread the spell to make sure that she hadn't missed anything and raised her eyes to his face. * "Are you ready?"

phantomwolfwhisper: *He considered the words, considered the meaning, and a small smile danced on his lips.* "I am ready."

elizabeth_hefty: *She nodded and spoke the spell once more, his voice mixing with hers. "Grant my wish..." Ril lingered on the words hoping it would happen. She had never worked this particular spell before. It was truly a gamble

phantomwolfwhisper: *He cleared his throat and closed his eyes, letting the feeling of shadows within pull every bit of tension out of his body, making his mind clear and agile.* "Goddess of stars and moon, look down on your child below," *he whispered.* "Heal the hurts, and close the wounds! Transfer to another, and shut their eyes! Grant.. my.. wish..."

elizabeth_hefty: *She opened her eyes and forced her breathing to slow. Ril swallowed and looked at him.* "Whether it worked, he now knows that I'm here and that I'm aware of him. Thank you, Erik." *She let go of his hands and laid the book on her lap.* "I could teach you to read this if you want."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He smiled a little, exhilarated from the pull of the magick. It must have worked, he could feel it in his bones. His eyes followed the book with a touch of longing.* "I would like that very much."

elizabeth_hefty: *She grinned at the smile on his face.* "It's simple really. The letters are similar to the English ones just backwards." *Ril pointed to the page they had just read and turned to towards him.* "This word is moon. See how the m appears to be an English n?"

phantomwolfwhisper: *He nodded, close to understanding the basic concept, but not quite there yet*

elizabeth_hefty: "Here I'll write your name." *She took the pencil from her pack and carefully formed the runes to spell out his name, then hers and after a moments hesitation, the word Ixion.* "Now, let’s see if you can read these to me."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He twisted his head, pressing his lips together as he focused intently.* "F..p..l..c.. hmm.... Erik?"

elizabeth_hefty: "Yes that’s right!" *She clapped in delight.* "Now the other two."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He knuckled his forehead slightly, as was his habit when occupied by a puzzle.* "P...L...i... " *having already figured out two of the letters, he made a wild guess.* "Ril?"

elizabeth_hefty: "Yes. This is my name." *She pointed to the second string of words and then the first.* "This is yours. The last one is longer. Do you want to try?"

phantomwolfwhisper: *He nodded, leaning foreword* "L...z...L..q...m..." *he blinked, then furrowed his brow* "Ix... hmm... I...x.. I…something.." *he glanced up quickly* "Ixion?"

elizabeth_hefty: *She nodded.* "My sister." *Ril flipped through the pages until she came to a drawing of a pretty young girl.* "This is her. I miss her today. It would have been her Celebration Day." *Her fingers traced the lines of the portrait.*

phantomwolfwhisper: "Celebration Day?" *He asked quietly.*

elizabeth_hefty: "Its the day a Fey is born. We lose count rather quickly so we don't track the years. Just celebrate the passing of time." *She sighed and closed the book.* "Enough reminiscing. It's not good to dwell on the past."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He glanced at his feet, at the wall, the ceiling, not really knowing how to respond, or how to comfort her if that's what he was supposed to do. His social education had been sorely neglected, though truth be told he had never made any real effort in that direction. But he did feel bad, feel sorry for causing her to remember pain, so he tried to make up for it.* "Celebrating the passing of time, eh? well, Perhaps we should do the same. You know, about two hours have already passed since we began my lessons today?"

elizabeth_hefty: "Well that is a good thing. It has passed quickly." *She studied him. His eyes were red rimmed and had shadows under them. He had drank himself to sleep the night before, she could tell. Ril ran a hand through her hair.* "You are doing well, Erik."

phantomwolfwhisper: *He attempted a smile.* "Thanks."

elizabeth_hefty: "I mean that Erik. You are a fast learner." *She held the book to her chest and looked at it. *