Just outside of Wu Yuan, past a carefully kept entryway leading into the underground, a massive subterranean fortress can be found. Its owner is Korliss, a vampire elder and father of Amilei Lei, who also doubles as one of the 'behind the scenes' rulers of Wu Yuan. The keep itself is a squat but massive structure that looks, all told, like a prison facility from the outside. Inside is a bit different, as Korliss is a creature of elaborate tastes.

---

Wu Yuan
Yuan Orchards
Korliss's Keep
Other Side of the World
The Wretching Dragon

---

The near-white hands of Amilei trace a familiar pattern along the walls outside of the keep until that heavy stone separates to move to either side. The cavern beyond stands out with orange torchlight, and deep within the form of the keep itself can be distinguished from the shadows.

"Here we are," Amilei announces. "I have an odd feeling, Felina, that we aren't here to calm our mourning. Is it just me?"

"No, you're quite right. Kaishen wasn't talking to me about Kaies." Felina sighs, closing her eyes a moment, then going on. "Timing couldn't have been worse, really. But it can't be helped. I don't have terribly much information at this point, I'll let your father explain things for fear of having misinterpreted something."

"Oh," is all that Amilei can say to that, though Felina can probably sense the turmoil in her mind without a great deal of effort. "This way."

Her footsteps make no sound at all, but the way is short, and before long the keep itself stands before them in all its... creepiness. Mara sits upon all fours, atop one of the extravagent angel statues in front of the gate, while Korliss, Kaishen, and Thran stand at even intervals before the door itself.

Amilei's head tilts a bit. She smells something unsavory, here, and it's hardly a literal scent today.

"Hello, Felina, Amilei," Korliss greets them with a slight wave of his ancient hand, "I am glad that you were prompt. I would have you inside, but our dear Thran would have a time of it."

The behemoth nods, grinning in the way that only a gigantic, buffed out goat can.

"If you have questions, it is best that you ask them first. It will help us tell you what is important."

"I haven't told Amilei what little I know. Oh-so-paranoid of other telepaths and all." The mood serves to finally shift Felina's attention as fully as possible to this situation. "A basic introduction would be a good start."

Korliss glances at Kaishen, nods to him.

"Yesterday, a message came to each of us, the leaders of Wu Yuan, in the form of letters," the wraith explains, "demanding that our Mara-Kuru return to the defunct citadel and meet with Ahmin Rei-ono."

Mara peeps, not quite feeling up to a shriek today.

"B-b-but no! No no no! No no...!"

"Quiet Mara," Korliss interrupts the incoming fit, "please listen."

Mara lowers her head, looking put out.

"The story was that his power had been greatly expended in my creation," Kaishen continues, "but this is not the case. Or if it is the case, then he has allowed his strength to regenerate. Felina, you fought with 'him'. What do you think?"

"I don't think I've ever met the real one, if that's what you mean, even before the fight started. I'm certainly not ruling out him being able to completely hide the energy transfer for a spell or good illusion from me--I know my father could have--but that seems a lot of trouble for too little gain. I never really completely ruled out remote body possibilities and similar, even with Saea telling me the story related to Kaishen's power. The situation never made sense...what we fought was too weak for that explanation."

"And yet I'm still a gimp," Mara pouts in a quiet, sulking tone.

The others all but ignore her for the moment, knowing that saying anything will just make her feel worse.

Korliss is next to speak.
"Do you suppose that Saea might have lied to you? Perhaps she was not as free of his ideas as we suspected?"

"It's possible. But I don't tend to pick at fear elementals' minds if it can be avoided, and I don't know her history well enough to say for sure without that perception." Felina looks to the wraith. "What do you think?"

"It was difficult to read Saea. Like Mara, her upbringing under him has been..." Kaishen shrugs, "... tough. She knew only his desire for her to make havoc in the ether world, which, as you know, is where she had been for millenia. I cannot imagine why she would cover for him, though."

Felina nods, then looks back to Korliss. "Even if I have to admit not being surprised by a possible reemergence, I should ask if the source of the letters has been confirmed. It's always possible that someone is playing an elaborate prank."

"Actually..." Korliss reaches into his robe, producing a small piece of parchment, "... we were hoping that you might help with that. The letter still reeks of non-physical energy... his signature should be identical to your father's in almost every aspect. If you could examine this?"

The face of Tel-tiono's heir gains a shade of white...she looks distinctly like she's seen a ghost. Or is rather ill. Or both. She erases the expression and looks aside quickly, folding her arms and not taking a step closer to the elder vampire. "It's his."

Korliss nods. "Master Metsaf spoke of your honorable father before his passing. Your unease is well understood, young lady."

"I don't know what you think," Mara intercedes at this, hiding between the wings of the statue as she does, "but I'm not going. I'm not, I can't! No. Tell him no. I'm ill, I had some bad curry. Something."

Felina glances up to her double. "Mara, our signatures are identical, too. Except one thing I'm not so sure Ahmin Rei-ono would know about. And I dont' have a bum leg. You're not going even if it's unavoidable."

Mara's head peeks out again.

"But... he'd know. He'd kill you, I know he would." 

"You're getting ahead of things, Mara. This might not even be an issue. But calm down, you don't have to answer the summons if I can help it, okay?"

Mara just hides. She doesn't want to back down, and look like the coward that she is when it comes to her family, but at the same time she can't volunteer to go.

Thran speaks up at this point, his throaty bass rumbling the keep's walls.

"He has much to atone for, this man," the behemoth offers, "to be certain of his end would be a cause for rejoice."

Felina nods. "The first step to that, or anything that comes next, is information. We need to know more about what's going on. His location, power level, intentions. Why he just dropped off the map. Unless he felt like a vacation, he's either been implementing something--or letting it incubate--or felt threatened by something."

There's a moment of thought between them nether leaders. A silent, slightly awkward moment.

"We could create a body double for Mara. Send it in to gather intelligence, linked back here. If you went," Kaishen glances to Felina, "he would most certainly try to harm you."

"I don't doubt it." Felina looks to the wraith. "That might work. So who controls the body? It really has to be Mara or I...we're the psychics, and so the only two who could put up a notable defense against the kind of backlash that could be sent through that kind of mental link." She glances up to Mara for her reaction. "That would mean one of us controlling the body and one spotting, ready to jump to the other's defense in case of getting caught. I can't fairly ask that you go up and talk your father even through another body. But you do play a better Mara-kuru than I do."

All eyes are upon that angel statue, waiting for Mara's little head to reappear. For a long, long while, it doesn't, but at last her timid face emerges between the wings.

"I'll try," she mumbles, sorely wishing that Kaies was there to give her some nudge in the right direction. "He won't be happy when he figures it out. He might come after me. If he does," she breathes deeply, "I don't want anyone to try to stop him. That way he'll only kill me."

"Well, we'll just have to avoid that possibility." No promises made. Felina looks to Kaishen. "Who's best at the body creation thing? I can do it, my method requires a high energy expenditure. And I'd love to actually be of use to Mara if something goes awry."

"Ludolf could do it," Amilei offers, standing in a place where her worried features are hidden in shadow. "He is an idiot, in many ways, but his golems are the finest in Wu Yuan."

"Mm...can he be trusted not to deeply question why he's creating a second Mara-kuru?" Felina inquires of the vampiress.

Amilei shakes her head. "Not in the least. But he is something of a pervert, so the job will interest him."

Mara looks up again at this. "That doesn't sound like it will end well for me."

Amilei shrugs. "So bribe him. Threaten his life. Show him some skin. He is a base creature, completely unrefined. He'll bite at any bait you have."

"He may respond better to threats from Kaishen," Felina observes, "though I can do it if necessary, since I'm the one who doesnt' have to live here."

"You are still something of a legend here, Felina. I think that your words might speed him on to his task." Korliss glances at the wraith, who seems to be considering things. "Kaishen's form of convincing might cause Ludolf to flee the area."

Felina grins just the littlest bit at the second part. "fair enough."

"Then it is settled. Young lady, please, go and see Ludolf. Be as bare in your details as you can..." Korliss smiles a bit, revealing the perfect white of his fangs. "I am sure that I need not instruct you. Mara," he glances up at the trembling Sendiran, "go with Felina. Ludolf will need you there to copy you. Amilei... let Thran go with you to your Inn. Take a day off, let your feelings calm themselves."

Korliss sits then, looking slightly winded, and much older than even his years. "I would advise you all to keep your... eyes open. Ahmin Rei-ono will have spies about."

Felina nods. Objectively, Lord Ludolf would strike her as a good candidate for that...but she'll just have to trust the others' judgement. "I'll be sure of it." She looks up to her double. "Well, Mara? Ready?"

The redhead answers by disappearing behind the statue and climbing carefully down, taking up her cane at the bottom. 

"Yeah," she mumbles, "I might as well be." She hobbles along, putting as little of her weight as possible onto the cane, ready to follow Felina wherever.

Amilei reaches out to squeeze the Sendiran's shoulder, but says nothing to her. There's really nothing to say, right now.

Felina smiles a serious smile at Amilei, looks to Mara, and then heads back towards Wu Yuan, seeing no more reason to say anything and having no inclination to make small talk right now.

---

Mara appears just outside of Korliss's Keep, hobbling noticeably when her feet find the ground. Korliss stands upon the step, awaiting information on the situation as it stands. 

"Felina's coming," Mara observes.

"Yes, she is," the other serinian adds at about the same moment." Felina looks up at Korliss. "Ludolf is supposedly going to help us, after some 'persuasion' by our dear Mara. Will check that he's really good for it as soon as I get back...I came here for a will reading and didn't exactly come equipped for heavy combat or any tricky situation, so that's better rectified, just in case. There are a few things I'd like to grab from the ether plane."

Korliss gazes at her with a slightly bemused expression. "I am sure that would be just fine, young lady. If you can mask your signature, I would suggest it, though. Your activities here should be as close to incognito as possible."

Felina nods. "One of the things I'd like to retrieve will help that. I won't hide leaving, but I will mask returning."

"Mara," the elder vampire glances at the Sendiran, "would you leave us for a moment? I would like to speak to Felina in private."

Mara smiles at him, scrunching her nose just so.

"Sure. I'll go play by the water." She heads off, turning a corner around the keep, singing softly as she goes.

Korliss waits until he can hear the sound of splashing before addressing the Ether Guardian. 

"I didn't want to say this in front of everyone," the vampire begins, "but you were specifically mentioned in that letter, too. I think Ahmin Rei-ono sent it to coincide with master Metsaf's will reading."

Felina's quiet for a moment, letting herself digest that. "A fair point." She pauses briefly, then shakes her head. "But there are so many possible reasons he might want to kill, capture, disable, or manipulate me, it's still pretty broad. Even having me in sight instead of being a wildcard might be concidered incentive. Do you have any specific theories?"

Korliss holds out a hand, motioning for her to sit across from him.

"It might be something as small as morbid curiosity. He may desire to know how you are put together, and how you are different from Mara. He might want to kill you, but... I can't imagine why. After Mara stood up to him I am certain that he will try to harm her, though, so your involvement could provide rationale for that." The vampire's eyes fade a little, a tiredness within them displaying just how old he has become. "He was always difficult to read. When he smiled, it was just as likely that he wished to harm something as it was that he was happy. A scowl could mean any number of things."

Felina does sit, leaning her chin upon her hands with just the slightest hint of a frown. "It's truly amazing," she observes after a few moments, "how very different a creature Ahmin Rei-ono sounds than Tel-tiono. So opposite, in so many ways...and yet just similar enough that I can't discount the possibility of my freezing in a direct confrontation."

"If it came to a confrontation, you couldn't afford to freeze. It would mean the end of you, almost certainly." The vampire glances in the direction that Mara had gone. "Mara is still a child in so many ways. Her fear kept her from growing up or even noticing how powerful she really is. She believes that she is weak and stupid, which is not the case." He looks again to Felina. "She could help you defeat him if it came to that. But... more importantly, she needs you."

"I know." Felina closes her eyes. "No one respects my father's power more than me. And I'm not thrilled--or optimistic--about a confrontation with someone who may very well mirror that. But I can't leave Mara to do it alone." She opens her eyes to glance over to her double. "She's the one who beat the shit out of Ludolf, you know. Wouldn't stand for his harassment."

Korliss's eyes widen a bit at that. "She struck someone? That's... not characteristic of Mara-kuru at all. When and why, if I may ask?"

"Maybe ten minutes ago. He compared her intelligence to a boot's, if I recall, and something about not being useful out of a playpen. Called both of us nasty names, refused to help or listen to reason, shouting...I was just going to leave it primarily at threats, flashiness, and locking his book in a deep encryption, but she finally had enough of him."

Korliss's eyes take on a deeply ponderous light, a furrow creeping across his brow. 

"Do you know how it is that a golem is crafted in the form of another person, young lady?"

Felina takes a moment to think, then shakes her head a little. "Not entirely, no. I've never been involved with any sort of body construction where a version already exists."

Korliss nods, taking it in. "I ask, because... well... in order to properly copy her, Ludolf would have to take a runic cyclograph of her body. It is complicated, and I know nothing of the details, but the short explanation is that Mara would spend at least an hour lying naked upon a table. The rune takes an impression of the person within its circle, and that infomation can be channeled into a malleable golem body." A slow, considerate nod. "The point is that Ludolf seems to have vehemently opposed a chance to stare like a slack-jawed rube at Mara's... well, you know. It makes no sense to me."

Felina frowns just a little. "I don't know him well enough to make that call." She looks up at Korliss. "But with a safe place to leave my body, I can try to figure out what's going on in his head and check for anything dangerous. I really have to be up against a more powerful or much more experienced psychic or planeswalker to be noticed, or suspected."

Korliss closes his eyes for a second. "I'm almost positive that something is amiss. He really is a lecherous man, ugly though he is. Many has the time that he has been caught gazing at Mara's... curvature... that he would pass up a chance like that is almost beyond question. However, if you think it might help... I am certain that you are safe here, with Mara and myself about." 

Felina nods, glancing back to the sound of splashing and thinking. "I guess if there is something amiss, it's best caught as soon as possible. Heading back to the gardens will have to wait." She looks over to Korliss. "I'll need an inconspicuous place to lie down. Even if I am tougher than most on the astral plane, it's still a vulnerable state on a number of levels."

The vampire nods. "You may stay inside my keep, if you like. My altar chamber has gone unused since my days of feeding upon my enemies ended. It is inside, to the left, and down the red carpeted stairs."

Felina bows her head, then stands up. "Thank you. If you suspect anything wrong, Mara-kuru should be able to confirm or disown that notion pretty quickly."

The vampire stands as well, a bit more slowly than Felina, and bows his head. "I will inform Mara-kuru." He turns and shuffles off around the corner, towards the every present splashing sound.

The inside of the keep reeks of refinement, having been decorated in tasteful old museum fashion. The altar room lies in plain site, separated from the house by a heavy, circular gate. Inside lies a table, a pipe organ of great height, and various trimmings and trappings that give it the look of a church altar.

Felina doesn't feel like testing whether the gate is locked, and sighs not-quite-inwardly at her surroundings. Laying on an altar. Great. Not my idea of a good time. Creepy. Bad memories, too. Well, what would she expect from even a respected vampire's keep?

She tries not to let it get to her, unclipping her belt and sighing one last time as she jumps onto the altar. Part of the job, kid. She lies down, Culheru held loosely over her chest, and takes a meditative minute or so to clear her mind. Then her eyes close in smooth segway. A few long moments later, she stands up, body beneath her, steps off without a glance back, and is gone, destined for Wu Yuan.

---

Mara sits in the altar room, kicking her feet and singing a song about a turtle and his wife as if she has all the time in the world. She lifts her head, though, when Felina's astral projection returns.

"Good trip?" she inquires, her mood suggesting that nothing bad has happened at all today.

"Ugh..." Felina shivers as she transitions into her by now well-chilled body, pulling her cloak close. She sits up maybe a little quicker than is safe. "Where's Korliss?"

"Sleeping," Mara answers in a chipper tone. "He said he wasn't feeling well. What is wrong, my love?" She hops on the altar next to Felina and wraps her arms around her double's shoulders for warmth. "Cold?"

Felina smiles wanly, but that doesn't last but a moment. "Thanks. Do you know who Lashrael is?"

Mara cuddles up, pondering this name. "Mm... no, my love, I don't. Korliss would know... but he is asleep." Her ears twitch. "Oh! I am sure that Amilei knows. Working in a bar, you know?"

"Thanks...." Felina nods a little, closes her eyes. Tries to sort things out piece by piece. Ahmin Rei-ono is back, and probably interested in her somehow. Is certainly interested in Mara-kuru, possibly to kill her. Their plan against that is in serious, serious jeopardy, a true worst-case scenario. They have an unknown enemy on the board, who's stated willingness to resort to lethal force. She's sure that Korliss is far more than just ill. That's her fault, none-too-indirectly. She doesn't know when she can get back to the ether plane for things she needs, nor does she have nearly as much information as she'd like. Oh, yeah, and she'd attended the last testament of someone dear to her this morning.

Felina swallows hard and opens her eyes after a few moments. She stands, still a little shaky from the astral-physical transition. "Yes. Let's go see Amilei."

Mara doesn't let her go, though. "We cannot go yet, my love. Amilei is a very sensitive girl. She will be unhappy if your mind is so bothered, my love."

"Right." Felina nods a little, and closes her eyes, trying to settle herself. "Mara, I'm going to telepathically relate everything I saw and all my ideas about it back to you, okay? You go talk to Amilei and find out everything you can based on that. I need to go to the ether plane. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Mara sighs softly, her heart sinking a bit that she isn't going to get to see Saea after all.

"Go ahead, my love. I can handle that." She picks up where her song had left off, at a critical point where the turtle's wife kicked him out of his shell for a week.

Felina smiles the littlest bit. "I'll drag you over to see my brother when all this calms down. Promise." Smile fades. She closes her eyes and essentially relives everything she'd seen on the astral plane, perceptions and interpretations alike, for Mara, all in the span of a few moments.

Mara listens intently, understanding all of it as if she had seen it herself. 

"All right sweety, I will go now. But take back the promise, would you?" Mara glances at her, eyes a bit sad. "It only hurts when promises are broken. Suggestions don't hurt at all."

"Have I ever broken a promise to you, Mara?" Felina tilts her head just a little as she returns her sword to her side. "It will be fine. Just wait." She smiles a little, trying to be reassuring, and finishes tightening the straps. "I need to go now. Be safe."

Mara nods. She sniffles just once and vanishes, bound for Amilei's inn.

Felina closes her eyes again. Tries to keep her mind quiet. She vanishes more completely than usual, appearing on the ether plane before making a jump to Saea's Gardens.

---

Some forty-five minutes later, Felina reappears in the courtyard, making her way to the elder vampire's bedroom. Kind of hate to wake a guy, but she knows it's for the better in this case. Even if he won't immediately figure that out. She knocks upon his doorframe. "Master Korliss?" she inquires softly.

"Come in," the dusky voice of the ancient vampire hails her, "I am awake." Korliss lies reclined on a handsome couch of burgundy material, looking a bit better than he had outside. A decanter sits next to his arm, the green glass laced with a touch of red.

Felina smiles a little. "You're looking better than before." She walks over and, just a respectful distance away, sits on her knees, that she isnt' towering over him uncomfortably. Even if it is a rare opportunity to tower over anyone. "You were right. Lord Ludolf is working for Ahmin Rei-ono, more specifically, under a mer underling by the name of Lashrael."

Korliss smiles wryly at her. "There is no misjudging a pervert. Lashrael, you said?" The elder vampire blinks a few times, jaw set in deep thought. "The name brings back memories, young lady. If you care to sit with me for a while, I will tell you all about her."

Felina nods. "Anything will be helpful, thank you."

"Lashrael was a general under Sevet Kahr, who was a dictatorial monarch in a southeastern nation decades ago. She became famous as the first and last female to serve beneath Kahr, whose viciousness towards those he considered 'weak beings' knew little boundary. Lashrael's mouth landed her into a direct conflict with Kahr, and in the end she killed him and initiated a coup d'etat. The insurgence failed, though, when neighboring nations moved in to carve up what was left of Kahr's empire. Lashrael herself was exiled."

Korliss pauses, interrupted in his story by a slight, dry cough that is quickly soothed by a drink from the decanter. 

"My pardons, young lady. Anyway... rumors suggested that she had taken an active role in the very pedestrian bid to eliminate my race several years ago. She came into contact with some of the more powerful vampire patriarchs, and sent more than one on his way to the after life. Eventually she disappeared again." The elder vampire looks away, thinking hard up on the subject. "It was assumed that she had been killed."

Felina ponders that quietly for a few moments. "Do you have any idea why she might be allied with the wizard? What her goals may be?"

"It is hard to say for certain without knowing what his goals are. But I would imagine it has something to do with personal gain, either in material ways or otherwise." The vampire sighs softly. "I cannot foresee a happy ending to all this. Her involvement may not be a unique affair... if the wizard is gathering generals, then we may be seeing the beginnings of another revolution on this plane."

Felina closes her eyes for a few moments, brow creased. "Your Yeliuran Derrias has already been decimated, correct?" If he even knows what that is.

"In grandiose fashion, yes. It was perhaps the most fantastic idiocy anyone has ever seen. They came here in search of our dear Mara, for some reason, and took an entire city as their 'base'. Whatever magnificent ass commanded them had them fighting amongst themselves over heaven knows what reason, and our forces simply waited for them to destroy each other before going in and finishing off the weakened soldiers." Korliss throws up his hands in a strangely frustrated gesture. "It was positively moronic. But... that is the way it happened."

"They wanted her to join them. Or to dissect her. I've gotten both. But all that..." Felina blinks. "That doesn't sound right at all. Fingers between closed eyes. "Ugh...I wonder what could possibly have caused a meltdown like that. It doesn't sound natural. Well, nevermind. Hopefully it's not relevant." She looks back up to the vampire. "Are there any other potential 'generals' I might check the whereabouts of to help confirm or disallow that theory?"

Korliss frowns lightly, thinking. He coughs again, and again, stilling the fit with another drink. 

"Our universe is as vast as yours, I am certain. And yet, Ahmin Rei-ono has showed interest only for this world, and this nation in particular." The vampire shakes his head. "I wouldn't know. He is a very ritualistic man, the wizard. He will have his vanguard present when Mara goes to meet him."

"Do you know who that is yet?"

"Not a..." the vampire coughs again, but this time the fit continues. The drink doesn't stop it, either. "I'm getting too old for this... nonsense," he grumbles between breaths. "I don't... know."

Felina nods, then reaches into a belt pouch and pulls out the vial. "Here. I told my brother you were ill, he gave me this."

Korliss looks at the vial, but shakes his head. "I fear that booze isn't the cure, young lady."

"It's not alcohol, it's supposed to heal. I don't know all the ingredients, but my brother is a very intelligent man."

Korliss gazes at the vial. "Are you lying to me, young lady?" He smiles a little, but nods anyway. "I am old, but not quite blind yet. You have good intentions, I am sure." He takes the vial from Felina and upends it, smiling his patriarchal smile at her afterwards. "Ah... it tastes like medicine, too."

Felina chuckles a little, both from relief and at the quip, and stands up. "I should go find Mara-kuru and see if she's found anything interesting, if there's nothing else?"

Korliss shakes his head, lying back upon his couch. "Watch your back, young one. Lashrael may seek you out if only to fight you for the sport of it." He closes his eyes, and drifts almost immediately into sleep.

Mara's energy signature indicates that she has gone home.

Felina nods, though it doesn't amount to much, of course, and vanishes, bound for Mara-Kuru's Estate.

---

Mara trots around the keep as if she knows every corner by heart once she and Felina arrive there. Only a few minutes pass before she finally locates Korliss, who stands upon a balcony overlooking the underground lake.

"Hello again," the Sendiran calls to him, "you are looking much better!" Korliss turns to them, indeed looking a hundred years younger, a warm look in his cloudy eyes.

"Well, milady Deyono's medicine worked wonders it seems. Have you something to ask me?"

The littlest smile touches the edges of Felina's lips at his apparently improved health. Couldn't have been more worth it. She waits for Mara-kuru to speak. This is her bombshell to drop.

"Well, I want to see father's letter. I have decided to go and see him," Mara explains to a shocked and wholly disapproving look from Korliss.

"Mara-kuru, it is a fool's errand. You know well that he has no love for you or anyone else." The vampire shakes his head, but hands her the note as promised.  She looks at the single page and reads it out loud.

I have decided that my exile has gone on long enough. I have sent this letter to you, Korliss, as I can count on you and your precious child to deliver its contents as I have outlined. I have sent this specifically to coincide with the final testament of that ether medium, as all parties involved will thus be present.

First, know that to disobey or attempt to subvert my requests is to forfeit my mercy. I need not explain this point.

Second, you are to speak with my errant children, Saea and Mara-Kuru, and send them to my reclaimed citadel within three days. 

Third, you will locate the ether Guardian Felina Deyono, and send her along with Mara-kuru and Saea. Make certain that she is in good health.

Finally, you will not allow word of this to go farther than necessary. Know that I and my vanguard are watching.

                 ---- Ahmin Rei-ono

Felina folds her arms, listening. "You didn't say I was in the summons, too," she notes. The tone isn't really accusatory, just asking for an explantion. He'd given her a chance to look at the note when identifying the energy signature, so it hadn't truly been kept from her.

"I worried that you might decide to go by yourself, if you knew," Korliss answers Felina in quite the apologetic tone. "If it was for someone else, I knew that you would help to the ends of your abilities. Master Metsaf spoke often of you, Felina, and of your quirks."

Felina smiles wryly. "Yeah. He knew me pretty well." Korliss had called that right in any case, so she can't hold it against him. She looks to the other serinian. "Well, Mara? What do you think?"

"I," Mara proudly announces, "am not afraid to go. But Felina, I am afraid of what he might want you for. I can't even imagine!"

Felina's quiet a few moments, thinking. "The prospect of going isn't what bothers me," she notes after a few moments. "The possibility of both popping up at the same time in the same place does. It's making it far too easy for things to go wrong and stay that way."

"I am not sure I understand, my love." Mara glances at Korliss, who is busy rereading the note. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, we're pretty closely mentally linked by this point, since we know one another fairly well. If we're on the same plane and one of us is in trouble, the other will know it and can try to help. But if we both get into the same trouble at the same time, we lose that lifeline. Of course..." Felina shrugs. "If it were truly important for both of us to be present, they'd probably wait for the other to get there to do anything, anyway."

"Don't forget, though, that Saea is still missing," Korliss intercedes with a slight wave of his stronger-looking hand. "I doubt very seriously that going alone or without Saea will change the way our wizard reacts."

Felina nods. She closes her eyes a few moments, letting out her breath and just thinking, very serious. She finally opens her eyes, staring at the lake below. "I think...well, I'll almost certainly be unable to stay out of this for long no matter what we do or don't do next. With that in mind, Mara-kuru, I'll leave the rest up to you. Do you want me to go with you when you first meet your creator, or not?"

Mara looks aside. "No. If I don't come back, I want you to be able to escape."

Korliss's eyes close. "Mara..."

Felina looks over to her double eyes soft. "Mara...if Ahmin Rei-ono really wants me for something, 'escape' won't be an option. I'm not going to try to stay out of this, we're more powerful together. Let me rephrase. Would you feel more comfortable with me by your side or watching remotely and ready to jump in and help immediately if something goes wrong?"

Mara mumbles something, barely audible.

"What was that, Mara?" Korliss asks of her, knowing full well what she had said. Mara pouts, but speaks up.

"I want you to come with me," she softly admits, ashamed of herself for her plaguing weakness.

Felina smiles just a little, and nods. "Okay. Then that's what we'll do." She's not thrilled. But she's not showing her discomfiture at all. She can't, Mara needs her to keep it together. "When will you be ready to do this?"

"I was going to go right away," Mara answers, relieved that at least one of them has it together. "I guess, whenever you are ready, my love. Though I would certainly not be offended if you wanted to wait a while... a few years..."

Felina nods. "The present is as good a time is any." She pauses a moment, then looks sidelong to Korliss. "On the off chance that something does happen, will you please see to it that the ether Guardians know, for my brother's sake?"

Korliss nods. "I will see what I can do. But you, see that the occasion does not rise."

"Yes...having both cat-creatures running around is quite necessary to keeping people in a proper state of shaking and or scratching their heads." She looks over to Mara. "Shall we?"

Mara nods. She vanishes, reappearing just outside the door to Ahmin's Citadel

Felina lets out her breath, and smiles wryly at Korliss. "Wish us whatever you can...we're going to need more than luck." She vanishes as well.

---

Felina reappears in a surprisingly short amount of time. She doesn't really know why she'd popped back here, though she can certainly give the excuse of filling the elder vampire in on what had happened. But then, she's still asking that of herself. She finally just sits down outside where she'd appeared, leaning her head on her knees and not seeking anyone, losing herself entirely too deeply to her own thoughts.

It takes a while, but Korliss eventually comes wandering out of the front gate. A life force like Felina's is hard to miss, and it isn't as if the vampire hadn't been waiting with baited breath for their return.

"Felina," he hails her from the step, "is everything all right? Where is Mara-kuru?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out," the feline notes after a few moments, shifting just enough to keep from muffling her voice. "And she's still with her father as far as I know."

Korliss is aghast. "Why? It must be witchery. There is no... he has..." For once, the eloquent gentleman lacks the words for the situation. "What did he ask of you? Please, young lady, explain."

Felina sighs a little. "You comfortable with telepathic reenactment?"

The vampire gives a slow nod. "However... I would ask that you wait, then. If you must tell me in that fashion, let us bring the other leaders together to know as well. Kaishen returned shortly after your departure, and went to collect my daughter and Thran."

Felina closes her eyes, nods, and covers her head. As she begins to recover from the situation, she's beginning to realize that she screwed up. Badly. Horribly. May as well make that humiliation public.

Korliss sits upon the step beside her, eyes settled upon the stones in front.

"You are troubled, child, but I have seen you. You would not have acted in a way that you did not think beneficial to us." He nods to his own statement, not for any particular reason. "Mara, I am certain, believed in your choice as well."

Felina clenches the fist atop her head. "No. I swear I still can't tell...if he was lying or not. If he was sincere or not. But now I'm starting to realize that I may have been a stupid pawn easily manipulated into abandoning a dear friend to her death or worse." Her fangs are gritted and bared. Rei-ono had really screwed her up. And worst...she still doesn't know if he's screwed with her at all. Maybe she's just hideously, horribly paranoid. Or maybe she's a coward and despicable traitor more keen on getting away from discomfort than seeing to allies' safety.

The vampire listens with a slight sense of disinterest, knowing full well that his words can have no effect upon her right now. So, he speaks calming things and supplies a gentle touch whenever it seems appropriate.

Kaishen, Amilei, and Thran make their presence known before too long at all. Each bears a silent mask of worry, Amilei most of all, and they say little upon entering the keep.

"Felina," Korliss gives the Sentlin a nudge, "they've come. Let us hear your tale, now."

Felina nods, getting herself a bit more dignified though not looking up to meet anyone's eyes, face held down by an overwhelming sense of shame. "I'm going to use telepathy to show you all what happened, as it happened. Note that opinions, analyses, and emotions you experience may well be mine, and it's better to just watch, and evaluate after." That said, she takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and replays the entire scene, from her perspective of course, in perfect detail, from approaching the citadel to her leaving. They see every moment of the encounter, though, here and now, the process only takes the better part of ten seconds.

All are silent, overwhelmingly so.

"How dare he play upon her naivete like that!" Amilei is the first to speak, and when she does, there is thunder in her voice. "Mara is too sweet to think that he might have been lying."

Kaishen gives a slight nod. "An about face like that is surely impossible. I say we pay a visit to our wizard friend, if for no other reason than to be sure that Mara is alright."

Felina looks to Kaishen, and nods. She has no desire to speak...but she sure as hell wants to know if Mara's okay.

"Compose yourself, lady Deyono. We may need your power," Thran requests of her, his voice as ever rumbling, "you must be in top form."

Amilei moves to take a seat next to Felina, so that vampires are on either side of her. "You couldn't have made a wrong choice, Felina. He almost had me convinced and ready to hug him, through your mind's eye. Do not worry about it."

Felina smiles tightly at Amilei, but shakes her head. "No. I screwed up. Let myself be talked off my guard, and I don't want to sugar coat or forget that." Looks back to the others. "But I think it's time to go check on Mara." She's ready to go.

Amilei nods, and all, even Korliss, make ready to leave. 

"Just remember, Felina, that there is the possibility of his reacting violently. We must be ready for a fight," Kaishen warns as they walk. "I have a few allies from outside of the city, who will arrive before long, but I cannot say how much difference they will make. Let's try not to start a fight until we know that we can win."

Felina nods. "If that energy signature was legitimate--and it sure as hell felt like it--then 'winning' would be the tricky part. But still, straight danger is easier to deal with than trickery, in its way." She feels steady on her feet again.

Kaishen nods again, and Thran picks up the lead on the way to Ahmin's Citadel.

---

Felina strides up to the keep, having some trouble keeping her pain completely in check. "Amilei? Korliss?"

There's no answer, mental or otherwise, from within the citadel. Lashrael's signature remains rather dimly outside, though, and Mara's yowling is still subtly evident.

Felina sets her jaw and closes her eyes. She's fairly certain Amilei and Korliss have been taken or similar...she scans mentally for Kaishen and Thran.

Kaishen's signature is there, but far, far away. Thran's is much more obvious, and indicates that he is quite close to Ahmin's Citadel.

Felina bows her head a little, thinking. She sits down, not opening her eyes yet, and concentrates just on healing her arm for a minute or two. Simple breaks take just seconds, but...this is a not a simple break.

It isn't long, long enough for her to partially heal herself at least, before Lashrael's signature grows strong again. 

"Come out," her fluted voice calls over the bowels of the cavern, "cat-girl, do not make me search for you."

"Come in, you needn't search unless you're blind," Felina calls back. She increases the potency of the healing spell several times, concentrating on the hand first and then moving up. She shifts Culheru telekinetically, putting that hand nearer the hilt.

Lashrael's steps are silent, wary... very much those of an assassin. Her hazy eyes scan endlessly about the cavern, falling at last upon Felina.

"Put away your sword and come with me," says the mer in a soft tone of voice. "I have no intention of fighting you."

"And yet I've yet to see a reason that such isn't pertinent," Felina observes, tone equally soft. The big breaks are healed...she's fixing up several hairline fractures in her upper arm now.

"You haven't seen Mara-kuru dangling from a rope, then." Lashrael shrugs, and turns as if to walk out. Her mind certainly doesn't indicate falsehood. "Your choice."

"And she'd suddenly be free by my joining her?" Felina thinks the arm is mended. "That seems farfetched."

"It's true that my current master is not a liar. He does love Mara-kuru. And he will free her, and you, if you give him what he wants." The mer just shrugs again. "I'm looking forward to torturing her. I love to ruin a beautiful face."

"Where are the others?"

"Held. You ask too many questions."

"Information isn't usually offered without them."

"Fuck you. I'm going to get down to business, now, so unless you want to get Mara back without a head, you'll join me." Lashrael starts walking, disappearing around the bend a moment later. Her mind swims with fury, but it's a very controlled sort of fury... almost as if directed by someone else.

Felina sighs quietly, stretching her fingers and examining her claws. It was a nice ultimatum. The mer had already made it clear that "without a head" isn't a concern--regardless of whether that's true--but she doesn't doubt that Mara will be tortured. And she doesnt put any stock at all in the lives of the others. She doesn't like this being on his terms...but what's going to come of putting it on her own? Can she put it on her own?

She doesn't know right now. And she needs to act right now. Felina's face has no expression, fearful or otherwise, as she stands up and follows without a word.

---

Oh, crap. Really should have cleaned up first. Felina sighs inwardly, but looks to Saea and Senowin. Mostly Senowin. "You okay?"

"I am fine," Senowin smiles at her to confirm, "how are my children?"

Mara-kuru is the first to come running out the front door. She starts to pounce for Felina, but skids to a tumbling-down-the-stairs halt in front of her. Her eyes widen, pupils dilate. "EEEEEE!!"

Amilei is right behind her, watching Mara freak out, and sniffing the air. "It's old blood, Mara dear. She's not bleeding."

Mara looks up at Felina, eyes shining.

Felina has to laugh, quietly. "Amilei's right. Nice to see you too, huh?"

Mara practically leaps against Felina at this. "My love! I was so worried...!" She looks around, ears dancing. "And you brought Saea! He's so cute!"

Amilei just chuckles from where she stands, and heads down the stairs to meet them.

Senowin gazes wide-eyed upon the both of them, not saying anything just yet.

Felina smiles at her brother's blush.

"It is...nice to see you as well, Miss Mara-kuru."

"Nu nu. You aren't getting off that easily," Mara observes, letting go of Felina. Her eyes flash as brightly as her smile, and she pounces upon Saea as well.

A light cry of surprise precede's Saea's being taken soundly to the ground, wings splayed awkwardly this way and that. He laughs quietly after he realizes what had happened.

Mara grins down at him, and kisses his cheek. "I wanted to see you." She cuddles him, not too suggestively of course, since she sees him as, perhaps not her brother, but a cousin or something.

"He is a very cute boy," Amilei notes, before looking up to Felina. "Hello, again. How did it go?"

Felina lets out her breath slowly, glancing to Mara before looking back to Amilei. "Messily, and I don't remember all of it. But Ahmin Rei-ono is dead in any case."

Mara looks up, quite suddenly. "Dead?" She sits back, letting Saea up, and looks forward. "Dead." 

Amilei closes her eyes. "He was an abomination, Mara sweetheart. He would have ruined us all."

The Sendiran sniffles. "Dead."

Felina closes her eyes. "Yeah. I'm sorry, Mara."

"It's... I guess it..." Mara sniffles again. "I hated him. But I loved him, too."

Senowin, having seen quite enough, kneels before Mara and gazes upon her with a maternal expression upon her face. Mara blinks up at her.

"You're pretty," she whimpers through sniffles, "who are you?"

Senowin wraps an arm around Mara's shoulder. "Hug now, ask, later." Mara giggles and does so, stilling any tears that had been forming. "I am a... what was the word, Felina?"

"Construct."

Senowin smiles. "I am a construct. I was made to be a mother... for you," she taps Mara's nose with a forefinger, "and you," smiles up at Amilei, whose eyebrow practically crawls around her head, "and Felina, and two Saeas."

Felina smiles wryly at Amilei. "Say hello to mother, dear. Also, do you know where your father and Kaishen are? They should know, too. And the sooner they know, the sooner I can go find myself somewhere to bathe."

"Father is resting right now. Wherever Kaishen went, he hasn't come back yet." She 's slightly confused by all this, but Mara certainly seems to be accepting of it. If the cuddling between her and Senowin is any indication, anyway. "There is a bath inside the keep, towards the rear of the ground level. Feel free."

"I think I'll take you up on that, thanks. I'm not sure where you mean, though...I don't suppose I could bother you to show me?" The "yes/no/stop, you moron" aspect of her psionic ability generally directs her about well enough, but her eyes indicate that she wants the moment to talk. 

Amilei nods, little trace of a smile upon her face. Her manner seems a bit more serious than usual, not altogether apart from being grim, though this appearance is heightened a bit by the simple black shirt and pants that has replaced her ornate yellow robe, showing off the clan allegiance tattoes on her stomach and arms. She glances at Saea.

"I am going to show Felina to the baths, Saea. Will you be alright with Mara and... this woman?" Her voice is cool, somehow, detached. She seems miles away.

Saea nods. Felina smiles at him.

"Come along, Felina," Amilei says as she climbs the short stairs and passes through the front gate of the keep. A lengthy hallway, dotted here and there by servants' quarters, leading to another stairwell of intricate craftsmanship. Reliefs of merfolk and whales dominate the walls, growing more prevalent until they reach a wide, very open chamber of white and blue tile. The end of the chamber feeds water into a natural pool, which smells faintly of minerals. "Here is the bath," the vampiress unnecessariliy points out, closing the door behind them. "I am all ears, Felina."

Felina nods. "I just wanted to make some notes on Senowin. First, while I'll admit it's too soon to be entirely certain, I'm beginning to gain fair confidence that she's not a threat, or at least not a willing one if so. That she really was built, at least mentally, to be a mother to Mara-kuru and Saea...how the two of us got into that picture, I'm still trying to guess, haven't found anything on it. Secondly, she is damned powerful. Doesn't know how to use it, but it's still a wildcard for any side, worth mentioning. And finally, Radivishe Moorn did something to her energy and I don't know what yet. That is a threat, though how pressing...that sociopath seems the type who can plan things moments or decades in advance, preferrably the latter. Maybe it's nothing she couldn't overpower, maybe it's worth worrying about, but in any case, I do think that it's the only danger she poses at the moment. So, if things seem to be awry somehow, especially if they're accompanied by a red glow, please tell me promptly." She examines an only lightly blood-spattered hand. "Just wanted you to be up to date on what I know."

"I'll keep my eyes on her... better still, I will ask Mara to examine her. I doubt she will have a problem with that. Father will be awake shortly, and he can look as well." Amilei looks down into the water, pondering. "The water is always on the warm side of cold." The way she says this, though, it almost sounds as if she's being metaphorical.

"I'm not picky. Thanks for the note." Felina begins trying to pick the seal of her vest in the mire, then just sticks to psionics on this one. "What's bothering you, Amilei?"

The vampiress bites her lip. So much for subtlety.

"I'm troubled," she admits, an unhappy expression clouding her face, "by you." 

"Fair enough. Care to expound?" Felina doesn't look at Amilei lest she make whatever this is harder. Amilei has understandably never been anything but conflicted about her...not about the one Kaies chose to love. She can neither hold that against the vampiress nor fail to understand it, but in any case, whatever else is troubling the other won't exactly be a slap in the face.

The vampiress strides across the room to sit upon one of two cushioned seats against the opposite wall. "Go ahead and bathe. It isn't as if I will gawk." She leans forward, elbows propped upon knees. "Whenever you come here, there is culture-altering war. Have you not noticed this?"

Felina finishes undressing as she speaks, then, setting the ruined clothes in a pile and the more solid things in another pile. "I suppose. I never really thought about it...it always happens. Great power brings great pain, to you and everyone around you. I think that's one of the real reasons my father was so hermetic by the end of his life." She closes her eyes a moment. It's a bit bitterly honest, even for her. She steps into the water. "And yet once you've met them, refusing further contact doesn't help. The stain is there." She dips her head under the water for a few moments to wet her hair, then resurfaces.

"Somehow," Amilei answers her, "I am not so sure that you are the problem. You are powerful, yes, but that man you were with earlier rivalled you, perhaps not in raw power, but certainly in ability. And yet he seemed so much more subtle. I may be far off base. But I'm beginning to believe that our society is simply rotten... and you draw out that rot. Something about you, your unfailing stubborness to give into what would be simpler for all involved perhaps." She gives a soft sigh, laying her head on her palms. "My father was dying yesterday. I knew it, he knew it. And then you came, and suddenly, that changed. I don't know what I would've done... now that Kaies is gone, I need him more than ever. And you saved him, god damn you, out of the goodness of your little heart. Don't deny it, I know better. And then you turned right around and killed Mara's father, and he deserved every second of his death. I simply..." she looks up, her ghostly eyes sparkling, "I can't understand you."

Felina doesn't know what to say. Truly doesn't. It was easier when she thought everything was being blamed on her. She half-floats quietly, just scrubbing away blood that's a vivid reminder of what Amilei had just said. "It's not here...not just this place. There are things wrong everywhere, Amilei, societies suck. I didn't grow up with my father...and if anyone's allowed to condemn society in general, the little girl who got dressed up in ruffles and ribbons to murder people for the sick amusement of others is it." She pauses a few moments, re-absorbing memories she usually keeps banished from her conscious mind. "But individual people are worth pulling for. I don't save governments; I save lives." She looks back to Amilei. "Mara-kuru needed to stop hurting. And your father didn't need to die because he saved my life, especially not when I now have life energy to spare. That imbalance I should have fixed sooner."

"I understand all that, Felina. What I don't understand is why trouble seems to find you so easily, and how you simply face it down like it's some sort of irritation." She looks away again, hiding her eyes. "Father seems to think that your creator implanted more purposes into you than you know. Just as Mara has, in her mind, a bloodlust that rivals any vampire. Whether she knows it or not, I've seen it. It isn't pretty, Felina, it is downright terrifying. But she doesn't even know it's there. Do you..." she looks to the pool again, "... follow, or am I being too vague...?"

"No. You're not." Felina's quiet...this is the sort of thing she can't just reassure Amilei on. The vampiress is making observations that she can't just explain away. "I don't know. My own father was always vague if I asked him those questions...kind of had a way of making you think he'd answered so you go away, and then you realized later he'd done no such thing. He would only conclusively tell me a few things about my nature as his construct instead of his daughter...I'm to watch out for my brother. He did not place a failsafe mechanism in me. I have a slightly heightened sense of protectiveness. And my values are my own decision, not physiologically inlaid." She blinks. "Nothing else. Well..." finally manages to pull her claws completely through her hair. "That he wished me to be his heir. But...I always interpreted that more as his daughter, than his glorified toy."

"I hope I am not digging too deep." Amilei gets to ther feet, still looking unsettled about all this. "Forgive me if I sound like I'm assuming too much. Eventually this rot will catch up with you. You won't have a choice... cutting it away in small, surgical slices will no longer suffice. I've seen it, and I see in you the seeds of that fate. You will be forced, some how, to take control of something much larger... much like you were forced into killing the wizard. Precision will become impossible, and you'll become a killer of innocents as well as evil. Casualties of war. I just want to know if you can handle it."

"Or maybe my possibly undefined purpose is to prove that there's another way. People matter, even the ones I've never met." She looks up at Amilei. "I can't become that which I fight. Then there would be no reason to fight at all."

"That's what bother me so much about you, Felina. Please don't misunderstand, I respect you, and as a person, I like you. But defying fate is just begging for it to hurt you." She smiles at Felina then, the friendly smile that has been hidden for... well... ever. "You're becoming a wrinkly Puss, you know that."

Felina's face warms in her understated way at Amilei's. "When I'm a wrinkly, blood-free puss, I'll you know." She's mostly done.

The vampiress nods. "I suppose I should go see to them. I think I might keep your brother, though. He is such a cute boy." She bows a bit, and heads off on her way.

Felina smiles, genuinely though slightly. But then, her sincerest smiles are seldom broad. She gets back to scrubbing, with more concentration this time and employing cleansing spells here and there, so she's done in a couple minutes. A towel heads over of its own accord and helps her dry where it's hard to reach, the same sort of thing Kaies had observed about her Guardians making "being freaks seem perfectly normal."

Ugh...another set to burn. She kicks at the clothes a little before they vanish, and she conjours a new, identical set. Not much creativity in that department. Felina combs out her hair, the binding held between her fangs, as she walks.

The scene outside is basically as she'd left it. Mara is playing some sort of tag game with Senowin, a game which sees Senowin teleporting all around the cavern at impressive speed. Her spell seems a lot more like Moorn's than Felina's, a more natural, less Barrier-inclined method.

Amilei is already outside, trailing one hand Saea's hair, and commenting on how she wishes she had such a color.

Saea's blushing and unsure of how to react...he manages to note in return that he can turn her hair that color, if she really wants...

Felina just smiles a little. Everyone seems...happy. Maybe Amilei's right. Maybe she is tempting fate. And it is true that a good chunk of her life is pain. But...moments like this are precisely what make it all worth it. She sits on the stairs of the keep and just watches, leaning on the wall and still wearing that tiny smile. She dozes off a little here and there. Quite...content.

Amilei tilts her head at Saea's assertion. "Would you? People see this red, and they assume that I am either an idiot or a whore." Her hand settles on Saea's cheek. "That would be lovely of you!"

Around this time, Korliss steps outside of the keep, sitting down next to Felina. He's quiet, simply watching with a bemused expression.

Saea's nearly as red as Amilei's hair by this point. Her hair does, however, starting from the root and trickling none-too-slowly through the tip, shift to a pure, brilliant white.

Felina isn't sure whether she'd been asleep. She thinks so. But isn't sure. She glances over to Korliss. "Good morning."

"Is it?" Korliss asks of her, noting her dozing. "You are a miracle worker. This, Felina, is a great morning. Though if my daughter had wished for white hair, she needed only to wait a few centuries."

Amilei, by this point, is perfectly thrilled. So thrilled, in fact, that she leans forward and pecks Saea's lips... quite briefly. At this point, she seems as preoccupied with turning him into a tomato as anything else.

"Eep. I...uh..." Yes. Blushing works. Words sure don't. Not that the albino seems entirely displeased, though looking firmly at his feet.

Felina laughs softly at the interaction. "Well, it was an even swap in any case...her hair for his skin." She sighs and leans back against the wall. A happy sort of sigh. "Yeah. It is a great morning. And whatever led to it is just...worth it, and far away."

Amilei gives his cheek a final stroke, and steps in front of him. "Felina," she says to the Serinian, "would you mind if I borrowed him for a while? Now that things are calmed down, I think I want to go for a walk."

Korliss gives Felina an 'accidental' nudge. 

One corner of Felina's lips twitches at the nudge, but she just smiles at Amilei. "You'd have to ask him."

Amilei reaches up with a thumb and first finger. She tilts his chin, gently, and looks into his eyes. "Saea, would you like to come with me? I want to show you the tavern that Kaies left to me." She'd be lying if she said a bit of her charm wasn't going into effect, but just a bit.

"I..." he's about to say "he's already seen it." But then, for once, some bit of social common sense actually kicks in. Voice trails off for just a second, and then he just smiles in his quiet way. "I would love to, Miss Amilei."

The vampiress gives him a light smack upon the cheek. "Excellent! Whenever you feel ready, we will go. I think we should walk it, though, for posterity's sake." She grins. "Unless you can think of a better excuse."

Saea doesn't get any redder. Can't, really. He stutters something as he stands up.

Felina laughs quietly. "He usually walks, Amilei," she clarifies for him. "He's a much more patient person than I am."

Saea flashes her a quick, grateful smile.

"Alright then. The exit is that way," Amilei points to the semi lit passage across the way. "Do you handle cold well? It's pretty chilly, today."

"I will be fine, thank you. Do you?"

Amelei nods. "Of course. I'm a fiery..." she smiles softly, "former red head."

Korliss, at this, speaks up. "Amilei, be gentle with him. He is a shy fellow, indeed."

Saea looks over to Korliss, a little surprised at that. Smiles a little, though mostly in acknowledgement...he doesn't know what it means, precisely, himself.

Felina reassures him with a telepathic "pat." "Have fun, Saea. We'll be here."

Amilei reaches down to take Saea's arm and leads him to the exit, headed in general towards The Wretching Dragon, and filling his ears with simple, harmless chat.

When they're gone, Korliss breathes a sigh of relief. "Did that strike you as odd, at all?"

"I'm sorry, but did you just ask me if your strong-willed daughter hitting on my brother, of all people, struck me as odd?" She grins a little. "But then, I don't understand people when they're not trying to kill something." She shrugs.

"He is a handsome... pretty... fellow. And her heart is mending, still, though I'm sure the excitement of the last few days has done much to push that out of all our thoughts." Korliss looks at Felina then, head turned slightly away. "That woman. Who is she?"

"Her name is Senowin." Felina's eyes travel back to Mara and her..."mother." "She's Ahmin Rei-ono's final construct...considers herself a 'mother' for Mara-kuru and the nether Saea...and, interestingly enough, me and Amilei, too."

Korliss's eyebrow lifts a bit. "Is she dangerous? It is obvious that her power is... vast, to say the least."

"It's too early to be entirely certain, of course, but I'm reasonably confident that she's not a willing threat. Mentally, she seems to be just a dedicated mother, though her power isn't consistent with that." She sits up straighter to lean her chin on her hands, face more serious. "Haven't been able to do any close exploration, of course. Anyway...her power seems to be largely drawn from an obscenely large shard of the dimensional barrier, even around the size of one of the Guardians' former crystals." Wars had been waged over the damnable things. Nether plane history is fun. "But Radivishe Moorn altered the energy somehow...I don't know the specifics just yet. An altered aura color is the only reason I know. That creature's sociopathic at best, though also very patient...I'm not sure what threat it poses, or when that might come to fruition. Amilei suggested that Mara look into it."

The elder vampire nods slightly. "Mara dear," he calls, and the game of tag ends in a timely fashion. "Would you come here for a minute?" 

"Nope," Mara answers, before appearing in front of him. "Did you need something?"

Senowin trots over as well, her face the picture of serenity.

"Felina, would you let her know?"

Felina smiles at them, though not entirely happy to be put on the spot. She knows it's for the better. It's just not fun. "Sorry to interrupt your game, you two. I just thought it was good, while we're both thinking about it, to point out the altered energy aura you showed me, Senowin." She looks to her double. "It's interesting, really, Mara...Senowin has a strong dimensional energy within her, certainly something we know well. But Radivishe Moorn altered it somehow...it used to be green, and now it's red." Smiles again. "Not anything you necessarily need to worry about, but certainly something for both of you to keep in mind. Looking into it a bit when you get the chance would be great--Mara can certainly do that--but, most of all, keep a lookout for further changes or shifts in the energy's type or intensity. Or sudden moods that you can't explain, Senowin."

Senowin seems concerned at first, but Felina's reassuring words do a great deal to take that feeling away. "I will let everyone know if I feel unusual, my daughter."

Mara, meanwhile, is busily examining Senowin's wrist. "Wow..." she mutters, "... what a wonderful thing. Felina, it feels like it's supporting magic. Like... she has her vital functions, but it has sorcery inside it that is keeping them optimal. I think it is a safeguard system."

"Can you tell what it's safeguarding? The vital systems themselves?"

Mara's eyes narrow as she searches more deeply into Senowin's physiology. "Sort of. She wasn't designed to be eternal, my love... but..." she blinks, "... this system... it's like it's been changed to support her even if her life force was taken away."

Felina blinks. Thinks. But doesn't have any answer. She finally shakes her head. "That's...bizarre. Korliss, have you ever heard of a precedent to this?"

Korliss scratches his hair, perfectly befuddled. "Never. It sounds like necromancy, but... I have never heard of preemptive necromancy before."

"Well, I guess it deserves a bit of research in the near future. What can you tell me about Moorn's alteration, Mara? Anything?"

Mara sits down beside her 'mother' and holds her hand, which is just fine with Senowin. "It feels like... her energy was rerouted. Felina..."

"Felina, I think she was designed to die very young. I think... my love, this alteration is complicated, but so obviously made to save her life..."

Felina becomes quiet at that. She finally smiles after a few moments. "Well. I'm sorry to interrupt your game."

"Would you like to play?" Mara asks of Felina, standing and finding herself hugged by Senowin once again. "It's fun!"

Felina's smile gains sincerity. "I'm sure it is. I appreciate the invitation, Mara-kuru, and it's tempting, but I'll probably look for somewhere to sleep in the very near future. I'm worn out."

"Aww..." Mara gives her a telepathic hug, "you can sleep at my place, if you like. I've got a bedroom at the top of the stairs, on your right. The bath is on the left, and if you still feel scuzzy, you can use it too, my love."

Felina smiles, and returns the gesture. "Thanks, Mara. I think I'll take you up on that. Enjoy your game. You too, Senowin."

Senowin smiles, of course, and holds out her arms.

"Heh..." Felina hugs her, briefly. "Thanks."

Senowin smiles at her, but... she's starting to understand. She doesn't show it, though, but the things that Moorn had said back in Saea's gardens are beginning to ring within her mind. Fortunately, Mara-Kuru is all too willing to hug her, and the thought passes.

"Rest well, Felina. You've done so much for us... we must contemplate something to do for you," says Korliss, "preferably something that does not involve life and death struggles."

"I appreciate the thought, thanks, but seeing everyone reasonably happy for the moment is all I need." Felina smiles at him. "It's a nice feeling when something seems to have actually been accomplished." she stands up. She really is very tired.

"Oh," Mara smiles at her, one last time before Felina leaves. "If you want to wear anything fresh, feel free to pick from my closet. Call my crazy, my love, but I think our size will be close enough."

Felina chuckles. "I don't know, Mara, sounds like a long shot. Oh, speaking of which..." she looks to Senowin. "If you'd like to pick some clothes out on your own, there are plenty of books or spots around town we can show you later, to see what's about."

"We will work on that," Senowin assures her, "after we figure out what my middle is talking."

Mara grins. "I'll feed you, mommy. C'mon." They go, arm in arm, into Korliss's keep, while the owner simply looks on, bemused.

"Sleep well, Felina," he bids her, as he himself follows.

Felina smiles a little, though thoroughly exhausted, and yawns, heading for Mara-kuru's Estate...walking. It's just nice, sometimes.

---

Saea has no idea what he's going to say, appearing and holding Amilei's living but uninhabited body. And not really thinking about that. Just Amilei.

Felina takes a deep breath, not looking forward to this, but is the one ready to explain. "Master Korliss?"

"I am in my study, Felina," Korliss's voice, radiatingl all around the keep at once, calls to them. "Come, come. Did you rest well, young one?"

"Quite, thank you." Felina lets out her breath slowly, beckoning Saea to follow. She can't decide if she's relieved or upset that he's so relatively close. "Though I'm not sure now that I should not have been awake..."

Mara appears behind them, and simply walks along, quietly.

"What do you mean by that? Is something wrong?" his voice calls again, about the time they reach the hallway leading to the study.

Felina bites her lip lightly. "Well, we have not found Amilei just yet..." She takes a deep breath as they approach the door, then steps in first, for her sibling's benefit. "But we did find her unoccupied body. Amilei herself is...elswhere. Alive," she's quick to add. "But not here."

The vampire elder stands from his desk when he hears this, all trace of humor gone from his cloudy eyes. "What...? What do you mean?"  He knows, but is hoping that he's wrong. "Amilei...?"

Felina closes her eyes, then glances to the door, nodding a little to her brother, who steps in hesitantly, still bearing his grim load.

"There's no reason at this point to think that the greater part of Amilei has been harmed," the Guardian notes quietly. "We just need to find it, and we'll start looking immediately.

Mara, meanwhile, is issuing a steady stream of empathetic hugs to Korliss, trying to lighten this... unhappy situation for him. It helps, but...

"Amilei..!" The elder vampire reaches out for his daughter, recoiling at the limp muscles, the rolled-back eyes of his vibrant daughter. He takes a breath, composing himself as quickly as he can manage. "T-take her to the altar, Felina... she will be safe there."

Felina bows her head, and, taking her brother's arm, heads for the door. Pauses. "We will find her." And then leaves, breathing out a shaky breath.

Saea's crying nearly as soon as they hit the hall. Felina just comforts him as best she can, with all the appropriate touches and empathy...none of this helps, especially when he lays Amilei's body most gently onto the altar.

"She's not dead, Saea, she is not. If anyone can help her it is your sister. Felina is a miracle." Mara smiles at the albino, and hugs Saea with all the gentleness that she can muster. "It is okay to cry. Right Felina?"

"It most certainly is. Speaking of which...someone should stay with Korliss, at least reasonably on-hand."

"Saea is here. With Father gone, there is probably no one who would dare mess with a millenia-old fear elemental." Mara smiles, pats Saea's head. She feels for him in ways she can't really describe, largely because he has been so emotionally quiet in the past. 

Saea smiles at her, however wanly.

"I meant for moral support, not protection. But...it will have to do. As many of us need to be looking for her as possible. Mara, how are you on planeswalking?"

Mara smiles. "Well, my planeswalking doesn't limp, if that helps. Just give me some idea of what I am looking for, my love. And... as for moral support, Senowin is still here. She will be happy to hug Korliss, I'm sure!"

"Senowin...right." There's a very good chance this might be about her. "She needs to stay near Saea." Felina lets out her breath, thinking. "Okay...Saea, you're a better spiritwalker than I am...you scan the southeastern quarter of the planet, Mara, the southwestern. Be systematic, it shouldn't take more than a half hour on a first sweep. Skip any hidden areas unless they seem especially promising, come back to them if your full sweep doesn't turn up anything. Be careful. Stay alert. Remember that we're dealing with something that obviously can harm your astral forms. I need to talk to Senowin, Saea, and Korliss, and then I'll start checking the local area physically and telepathically, in case they haven't gotten far and also so that another fighter is immediately available if something happens here, or if one of you needs quick help on the astral plane. Sound fair?"

"You can count on me, my love. I will not let you down, and I will get right on it." Mara smiles at Felina, then looks again at Saea. "Saea, be strong for Mara, okay? Amilei would be sad if your pretty ears were full of tears."

Saea nods a little. "I simply wish to find her."

Felina nods. "Find the safest place you can to leave your bodies, wherever that may be, all right, Mara? I'm sure you know better than I...and be careful, both of you." She hugs her brother tightly. She's not used to sending him off to do things that even might be dangerous.

Mara grins. "I know a very safe place. Saea, can you follow me to Thran's Marsh?"

He nods.

Felina steps back. "Alright. I'll leave you two to it, then. Good luck, and be safe." She glances at Amilei, and heads back into the hall, looking for Saea.

"Keep up now." Mara winks at Saea, and vanishes for Thran's Marsh.

Monrovia is with Korliss at the moment, patting the old man on the shoulder, but saying nothing in particular.

Saea glances down to Amilei, sets his fingertips gently on her shoulder. "I will help you. I promise. After all, you have my blood now," he notes, very quietly. And then he's gone, following Mara.

Felina closes her eyes a moment just before getting to the study, but opens them again, looking quite steady though solemn when she walks into the room. She waits a few moments, until she's sure she's been noticed, and then speaks softly: "as soon as they get to whatever safe spot Mara has designated, my brother and Mara-kuru are each going to be scanning one corner of the planet astrally, then spot-checking any spots they missed. I'm about to search this area on the physical plane. This whole thing may be as simple as her trying to planeswalk without proper training. We're just not taking any chances or leaving any stone unturned."

"Is there anything that... that I can do to help, young lady...?" Korliss asks the question knowing full well that the answer will probably be no. "She is my life, Felina..."

Felina nods, eyes gentle. "I know. And she'll be fine. If she's somehow stranded on the third plane or higher--searchable, just not part of our first sweep--then she may figure out how to get into the subconscious of those closest to her. If you think you have a sudden burst of insight as to where she may be, it may or may not be wishful thinking...just jot down your thoughts on such and we can check into them later. The high planes are generally safer in many ways than the physical one, so the wait won't hurt her." The chances of her being that high are next to nothing. But it gives her father something to do.

"Also," Felina continues, "this came in horribly quick succession to yesterday's events, and I can't rule out the possibility of this being tied to Senowin somehow. Saea, it would be very nice if you could keep her near you at all times--I'll tell her this, too--in case something further manifests."

Saea nods, giving Felina a soft smile and a telepathic affirmation.

About this time, Senowin's gargantuan energy signature makes itself known, approaching at a casual from one of the keep's towers. 

"Hello, Felina," she calls when she sees the Serinian. "Did you sleep well?" Her eyes fade, falling upon the sour faces in the room. "What?"

"We can't find Amilei, Senowin. I'm sure that she is fine, however, considering the timing of this, we can't be sure it's unrelated to either Ahmin Rei-ono's death or your creation. It would be wonderful if you would be so kind as to stay with Saea whie Mara, my brother, and I look for Amilei." She puts a hand on Korliss's shoulder on a whim. She feels so bad for him....

The vampire affords her his most capable smile, a weak one at best right now, and simply lowers his head. He has nothing to say... it's all too sudden for him.

Senowin blinks. "O-oh. I..." she smiles. "I would love to help. I will stay right here," she points at the floor for emphasis, "as long as I need to."

Felina smiles at her. "Thanks, Senowin. This should be cleared up in no time, for all the capable people helping." Glances to Saea, then Korliss. "If anyone needs me, for dumb muscle or what not, let me know. I'll be listening." She squeezes the vampire's shoulder lightly, and heads for the door.

Senowin, in order to quiet the despair in Korliss's mind, sends out a warm, coating image of happy scenes, fuzzy bunnies, and hugs. "Good luck, my beloved daughter," she says to Felina's back.

"Thanks. We'll have all your daughters back in one blissful little peace soon enough." Felina leaps into the air as soon as she leaves the keep, bound straight for the skies above Wu Yuan.

---

It isn't terribly long before Felina returns...she's still trembling a little from pent-up emotion. She closes her eyes as she walks towards the room with the altar, trying to compose herself...normally she'd let Korliss know at this point that all is well with some quick telepathy, but she doesn't trust her emotion to not seep through at this point.

Her eyes soften a little when she approaches Amilei. That helps. She sets the pendant on the vampiress's chest, then lays a hand over it gently. Palm glows.

Amilei is worrisome in her unresponsiveness at first.  Her life force sings out with some sort of foreign signature, but quiets just as quickly. The emptiness of her body and the vitality of the pendant slowly begin to mesh together, strand by precious strand. It will not be a swift process, but it has begun.

Felina narrows her eyes. That's not something to be ignored and brushed off. She halts the process gently where it is, and, closing her eyes, searching for the source of whatever that foreign energy path had been.

It's subtle, but not obviously hidden. It is an energy signature that strongly feels of Saea... probably from his blood that she had so recently taken in. There is a contented, joyful aura around that particular strand.

Felina smiles, just the littlest bit, and releases the energy from the grip she'd taken on it to continue its hopefully steady path autonomously. She seeks out Korliss, grateful that that little energy strand had at least taken the edge off her anger.

Korliss is in the same room he'd been in, although... he really looks like hell. He's shaking, mumbling to himself, and leaning heavily upon Senowin who has her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Saea sits across from them, cross-legged, quietly waiting.

"Daughter...!" Senowin smiles up at Felina when she sees her, eyes perfectly thrilled. "Did you find anything?"

Felina smiles just a little and nods. "Yes. Amilei, actually." Felina looks to the vampire. "She'll be fine, Korliss. She's back. Her body and astral self are reknitting as we speak."

If Felina has never seen an elder vampire weep, then she has seen something new on this day. Senowin holds him all the more tightly, smiliing, and singing softly in a voice that nearly puts Monrovia to sleep for its tranquil prettiness.

"He will be fine, Felina," Senowin announces after a verse, "he' s just... overwhelmed. Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine, thanks. I just need to think over some things." She smiles at Senowin. "Thanks for taking care of those here."

"A mother does not save all her love for her children alone, Felina." The construct pats Korliss's shoulder. "What will you do now?"

"I'm still deciding." Felina frowns. "There's...a lot to be considered." And timed. She doesn't have to tell Korliss at this exact moment that Kaishen had taken Amilei. "After the others get back, I may strike off again to do some investigation of my own, into whatever brought this on."

Korliss, whose weeping has subsided a bit, speaks up. "Felina... thank you for what you have done. But as much as it hurts my pride... you returned quickly, without an obvious fight. This cannot have been the true intent behind whatever caused it. It.. could have been a distraction. Please watch yourself..."

Mara arrives, a bit late of course, but doesn't go upstairs. She doesn't feel like dealing with what is probably going on, and prefers to visit Amilei instead. She sits quietly by the recovering vampiress, eyes closed.

Saea's torn as he stands beside Mara. He can sense his sister's mood. But she's also busy. And he is so very relieved to see Amilei back. He stays by the altar for now, watching Amilei and keeping an eye on the energy transfer, quiet.

Upstairs, Felina nods to Korliss. "I will, thank you. I'm quite sure at this point that Amilei knew something she shouldn't have, a bystander shoved out of some yet unknown picture as convenient. Mara thinks she knows who caused this part of it...and she's right. You can ask her, but only once you feel more yourself, please." Felina pulls her hood over her head. "I'm going to go see what I can see."

"Watch your back," Monrovia warns Felina, "I will guard the keep. Worry nothing about that."

Downstairs, Mara's eyes open, and she smiles at Saea. "I am going to leave you two alone. I need to talk to Felina." She gets up, tousles Saea's hair, and leaves wthout waiting for an answer. She waits in the hallway, though, for Felina, her eyes slightly troubled.

Felina smiles tightly at the elemental, and nods. "Thank you. I won't." She heads out into the hallway. "Walk with me, Mara?" She doesn't think the people inside need to hear everything just yet.

"Sure," the Sendiran nods. "Are we headed anywhere in particular, my love?" She goes on ahead of Felina, at least until the destination is decided... knowing how dangerous the information that they have might be if not perfectly correct.

"Not until you've said what you need to say. I need some time to cool down and clear my own head, too, anyway." Felina closes her eyes. "You were right, unfortunately."

Mara closes her eyes, too. "Oh, no... Kaishen..." She shakes her head vehemently, growling a little in the back of her throat. "I don't know why he would hurt her. But...he hasn't been himself lately, anyway."

"He's not working alone. I'm positive of that. I don't know whom...a door opened, and I don't think he was feigning his surprise, and he was pissed at something as I was walking around in the place I found Amilei. I think Radivishe Moorn being involved is a possibility...the reason he gave for helping to destroy your father was too simple. I don't think it checks out, not for the risk involved. But then, I didn't see even the barest hint that he'd been there." Felina frowns. "We don't know why Kaishen did what he did...I do know that he chose the stasis as an alternative to killing Amilei. It's still treachery. But 'why' is still a very important question. He mentioned 'his goals' more than once, but, to be honest...I was too pissed to try to hang around and ask questions. I'm going back there now to see what I can turn up from the building and its contents. I don't think Kaishen will be back yet." She's still trying hard--so very hard--to swallow a bitter sense of betrayal. Kaishen is her friend. Was. And now this. Now he's the enemy. Just like that.

Mara can feel this, running around Felina's mind. The Sendiran feels it too, feels like she could just sit down and cry. But now is not the time for all that.

"Felina, you don't have to be strong this time." Mara looks right into her double's eyes. "Let me be strong. You just kick someone's ass when the time is right. Okay?"

Felina meets Mara's eyes, looks ahead again. Sighs, looks back to Mara. Smiles a little. "Thanks. I appreciate that." She almost has a hug impulse.

Mara grins. Wider. Eyes sparkle. "Oh, yes you did!" She pounces.

"Eep!" Felina lets herself be taken down, landing soundly on her backside. She laughs quietly, a welcome release.

Mara snuggles in against her vest, hugging Felina without mercy for just a second or so. She sits up. "Feel better, hon?"

"Somewhat, yeah." Felina hugs her double for a moment, before getting to her feet and helping Mara up as well. "Thanks." She smiles.

Mara grins, but doesn't answer. She lets her smile do that for her.

"Do you want to go straight over there, my love?"

Felina nods. "I'll show you the spot. It's less cloaked than before...just follow me."

"Sure thing! Just let me change into something more appropriate." Mara reaches into her pocket, producing a little hair band, an ties her hair back much like Felina's usual style. It looks different, though, since Mara's curls make her hair poof a bit. "Ready!"

In the altar room, Amilei's eyes flutter open. Her recovery isn't complete, but she's lucid again.

Felina has to grin a little. "Lovely." She vanishes for the Haven of Wen

Saea looks up when he feels Amilei awaken, and stands up quickly to put a hand on her shoulder and orient her to being awake. He smiles, deeply relieved though the worry's shadow is certainly still lacing his features. "Welcome back, Miss Amilei."

She looks up at him, looking quite stoned, but smiling a little smile anyway. "You came back? Have I... slept too long?" 

Saea tilts his head a little. "You are in your father's keep, if it is fair explanation."

The vampiress turns her head to both sides, curiosity beginning to glow within her eyes. "Why...?" She blinks. "No, I remember. Kaishen and his... silly schemes..."

Head tilts the other way, hair brushing his shoulder. "Kaishen? He is the one who did this to you?" His brow creases a little. "But I had thought that Kaishen was our friend."

Her hand comes up quite suddenly, taking hold of Saea's forearm, searching for his hand. "No, yes... he did it to me, but he is still our friend. He..." she pauses, gathering the strength to speak a little more, "... knows that we aren't alone in this universe. That a lot of us are strong, but... we can't defend ourselves from outside threats. Not really. We are a backward planet, we lack the technology of the ether plane." Her eyes are wide now, and she's shaking... almost as if her body is going into shock. "He wants to revive our Derrias. To protect us all."

Saea blinks. "You mean...your Derrias is not still active?"

"No, they aren't. Saea, where are you...?" Amilei blinks, shakes her head. Blinks again. "I cannot see you. Please, light a torch or something." As she says this, the artificial lights that always keep this chamber lit burn quite strongly. "Saea, please."

Saea's eyebrows raise a little at that. "The lights are quite adequate, Miss Amilei...your sight may be one of the last things to restore itself to your body."

"No, Saea, you don't understand. I could see you when... when I first came to. Everything faded to black so suddenly." She reaches up and rubs her eyes, worry creasing her brow. "It must be nothing," she assures herself. "Saea, forgive me. I will answer your questions, please, ask them. Just... let me have your hand."

Saea's very worried at that...he smiles, wanly and ineffectually, and takes her hand gently. "I am not quite certain as to what may have caused your sight to drop off, Amilei...I am trying to think."

She squeezes his hand, trying her best to concentrate upon that, upon the warmth of his skin. Her shuddering abates a little bit, and the particular section of her energy signature that houses his blood's power seems to glow fiercely. She relaxes upon the altar, composing herself a bit.

"I'm sure it will get better," she assures him, "for now, just stay with me, and talk to me. Saea, do you want to know more about... Derrias?"

He smiles wanly, nods, realizes neither means anything, and responds verbally. "Yes, if you do not mind. I am familiar with the ether organization, but...what happened to this one?"

"They were based in a town across the country. Something happened to them, no one really knows what. Infighting became so common that the Derrias itself split into faction. One under a man, Marshault, and one under a woman, whose name was Ki." She blinks, but the blackness does nothing to dispel. "And then aggression and arguing turned to violence. They destroyed each other in detail, just... outright murdererd one another, for God knows what reason. Only a few are alive today."

"That is...awful." Saea blinks, digesting that. "How does this plane get by without a force serving in that facility? Regardless of the troubles my sister and I have had with them, my sister and I both have to acknowledge the services that they provide for the interuniverse...they are like Guardians for universes."

Amilei smiles a troubled smile. "Oh, Saea... we are a backwards planet, really. What we know of universes and planets is limited to what we know of our doubles and our Derrias. But... I am just a normal girl, here. And yet, I am stronger than any 'normal girl' on the ether plane. It is possible, I guess, that our kind can handle problems better than ether plane's average types." Her smile softens. "But I don't know for sure."

"It does seem possible." He nods a little, thoughtful. "It seems that the stronger double is the nether version, more often than not." He doesn't add that, in general, the more clever is the ether version. There are plenty of exceptions either way, anyway.

"Well, it seems like coincidence to me." Amilei blinks again. "If legends ring true, of course. Your father was stronger than anyone here, except the malleable ones like Saea. It isn't possible to gauge her power."

Saea smiles a little, pleased at that. "You are probably right, Miss Amilei."

The vampiress is quiet for a moment. "I wish I coud see your face. You have such a pretty face, Saea." Her eyes close. "What if my sight never returns?"

"Then we can inspect every aspect of the sense until the problem is found, that it can be alleviated. Blindness is difficult to cure, but hardly impossible."

"... it is so hard to be depressed when you are around." Amilei favors him with another smile, lets loose of his hand. "Your sister is so blessed to have you."

Saea smiles in return. "My sister is a blessing to have. She deserves what help that I can give her."

With a slight groan of exertion, Amilei sits up upon the altar. "Where are you, Saea?" She holds out her arms. "I need to walk, I think. I feel suddenly dizzy, like the world spins arouind me."

Saea is by her side quickly, taking her arms gently. "You should not be up just yet, Miss Amilei."

"I know," she unhappily admits. "I'm not even sure if my legs will support me. But I..." she sighs again, shakes her head. "You are right, Saea. At least... would you let me lean on you? I would be as blessed as anyone else, if I could."

He pauses, considering how to best facilitate that, and sits beside her. "Certainly, Miss Amilei...whatever you need." He helps her fiture out where he is and how he's oriented with a gentle touch and mental hint.

The vampiress leans against him, grateful beyond her ability to express in words. There's really nothing that she can say, except to let those feelings sing out in her mind, and hope he can hear them.

He can. He just smiles, and holds her gently, though very politely, while she regains her energy. It's much easier to monitor the merge this way, anyway.

She's quiet, while she leans upon him. Despite the strain of losing her sight and having been assaulted by a very good friend, she's content now. "Thank you again," she whispers, "for being here for me. For not being like any other man, who... would certainly take advantage of my vulnerability. Most men would be patting my shoulders and saying comforting things, while trying their very best to hide a bulge in their pants."

Saea blushes just a little. "Well. It is best that you feel better as soon as possible." He smiles. "I am sure that your father is eager to see you all right."

"My father... is he okay? Does he know about this?" She lifts her eyes in the direction she thinks he is, their light blue cloudiness having been replaced by a dim gray. 

Saea nods before remembering that she can't see it. "He knew as soon as we did that the larger part of you was missing, and he knows that you are back safely. He was very worried...he cares about you very, very much."

"He is a good man, nowadays. He has changed so much..." Amilei is quiet again, for a moment, her mind unconsciously wandering back to her vampiric rebirth and... the consequences of that. She shuts it out quickly, though, and just concentrates on Saea's warm scent, that comforting sort of scent.

Saea puts a hand on her hair quite reflexively when her thoughts become too disturbed, very much like he would have with his own sister. Felina... He's quiet, concentration divided between wondering about his sister's well-being and monitoring Amilei's reintegration.

She smiles then, not the bright and cheerful smile reserved for patrons, or the lying smile that she always wore around Kaies, but the secret smile that has been hidden behind her mask except in the most private of places. Her hand comes up, fumbling about until it covers his, and she remains quiet.

Saea smiles at her, though feeling a touch shy, wondering how he's so comfortable with someone other than his sister, so quickly, but...then just doesn't worry about it. Amilei is a nice woman. And she needs support right now.

About this time, Mara-kuru appears in the hallway, shaking the dust out of her hair. Amilei looks up, though not moving her head away from Saea's hand... that just feels too wonderful, too comforting to give up. 

"Heyyyy..." Mara observes when she catches sight of them. "Saea, you slippery fish. I see everything is going well here." She trots over, humming too herself, her ears flicking in amusement.

Saea turns red, though, all told, he's not sure why. "Ehm...'fish', Miss Mara-kuru?"

"Yup." Mara grins at him, and pinches his cheek when she gets close. "You're a sweety. And..." she pauses, just then receiving the drift of sentiment here. "Ooh. You are good, Saea. And how are you, Amilei?"

The vampiress doesn't look at Mara, but then, it would be kind of pointless.

"Here, I am just fine."

Mara cooes. Then looks at Saea, head tilting. "Saea dear, has anything unusual happened here? I ask because that girly man blew up the dome that Felina and I went to."

Saea stiffens, and shakes his head. "No...is my sister all right?"

"She's just fine, don't you worry. She is the rock." Mara grins at him. "I don't think the blast was meant for us, not really. But that subject is depressing. Saea..." Mara smiles.

"I'm so happy to see you and Amilei like this. Her poor heart is in pieces... you are so good to be there for her."

Saea just smiles at her. The wordless response says something about Amilei being a good person, and deserving whatever help he can give. That he feel bad for her, and wants to help.

Mara smiles brightly at this. Then, in a move that she's sure won't be well received, she looks quite directly at his crotch.

"Saea, that is even better! Truly noble intentions are so rare these days..."

Saea turns bright red at this. "Mara...!"

Amilei looks up at the tone of his voice, coupled with Mara's giggling. "What did I miss?"

Mara grins. "Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."

The vampiress smiles sleepily at that, and just cuddles back in.

Mara winks at Saea. "Good boy. I'm going to go have a talk with Korliss, and maybe chase mommy around the house if she's willing. See you!"

Saea smiles and nods. "Take care, Mara-kuru, have fun." He's supporting Amilei telekinetically now, at least in part, though she shouldn't feel the difference. Shoulder and arm cramps. Well. Before the telekinesis.

"Saea," Amilei whispers, "I feel your blood pumping harder. Is something wrong? If I embarass you, you... don't have to hold me."

Saea smiles at her, eyes softening. "Mara-kuru was teasing in fun. I am certainly not embarassed by you, and will support you as long as you wish me to."

She smiles, but that smlie darkens more than a little bit after a moment. "Saea, I have to tell you something. I... will understand if you hate me, once you have heard this... at first, I was instructed to get close to you by Kaishen. He wants Senowin for the Derrias... and... I was to convince you to have her handed over..."

Saea's heart sinks at that. "The reason you talked to me, and joked, and invited me to walk with you...that was simply to accomplish a goal?" The hurt in his voice is very real.

"... yes." Amilei bites her lip, fangs drawing blood in a hurry. "I thought that I could help my plane... but Saea... when we went to see my favorite flower together, I forgot about the plan entirely. I was enjoying myself in a way that I haven't been able to in the longest time, I... felt a bond with a man who wasn't Kaies Metsaf." 

Saea looks down and aside. He isn't sure what he thinks, not really...thoughts and emotions are directly conflicting. It's not something he's used to. The choice he makes in a few seconds is based largely not on Amilei's words, but Mara-kuru's. That the vampiress needs someone right now. "It is fine, Miss Amilei," he notes quietly. "Are you warm enough?"

"... yes." Her eyes are closed. No matter what he says, she knows that he feels betrayed, because she feels like a filthy traitor. "I won't ask you to forgive me, Saea. I deserve no such thing from... you."

He's quiet a bit. He thinks slowly, really...he's never had a reason to change that. "I am...hurt, Miss Amilei. But I am not angry. You were trying to help those you care about. I can feel that you meant that. There is no malice in that, and nothing that you need to be forgiven for."

"I want you to understand that what happened out there was not an act, Saea. As long as you understand that, I will be fine." Amilei pushes gently away from him, sitting up under her own power and feeling quite a bit stronger, though hardly better. "I should go. I need to see my father while I can."

"'While you can', Amilei?"

She looks at him, mournfully. "With the week I've had, I need to take the chance now. I don't know who'll be dead tomorrow." She stands, wobbles just a bit, and starts walking in the direction she knows the hall to be.

Saea's eyebrows raise just a little. That feeling...that he can definitely identify with. He gets up quickly, taking her arm when she wobbles again. "Here...I'll help you."

"You don't have to..." she lies. The chance of her making it to her father's chamber without tumbling a few times is practically nonexistant.

"Well. I am already here," Saea notes. He puts an arm around her back to steady and support her gently.

"... I am grateful for you, Saea..." Amilei leans upon him as much as she feels she can without being too dependent upon him, and walks slowly, one foot in front of the other. The path to Korliss's chambers seems infinite, and as she expected, Amilei doesn't quite make it all the way before she has to stop and rest.

Saea is quiet. He's half-wondering whether it's his place in life to watch those he cares about be injured, and be the one to care for them, but...he does fill it gladly. He waits or helps as needed.

Amilei gets her bearings and moves, leading them eventually to her father's chamber. There, Monrovia and Mara-kuru sit upon the floor, a game board between them, while Senowin sits next to a still distraught Korliss upon a couch.

"Amilei! Feeling better?" Mara is the first to speak, getting Korliss's attention with the mention of his daughter's name.  His eyes meet hers, and he tilts his head. "Your eyes...? What happened to them?"

"The senses of sight and smell are often the last to restore themselves," Saea notes quietly.

Korliss stands, and rushes his daughter's side, hugging her tightly to his chest. "I am... relieved, my daughter..." He glances at Saea. "You are truly a wonderful creature, Saea. My thanks to you for... looking after her."

Amilei is simply to overwhelmed to speak.

Saea smiles at their interaction, eyes a little nostalgic. "It is...my pleasure."

Senowin stands up to let Amilei have the couch with her father. She smiles brightly at Saea, and takes his arm. "What will you do now, my son?"

Saea smiles at her. Shyly, but he's at least a little accustomed to her by now. "Now...I think I will wait for my sister. And you, Miss Senowin?"

"Are you tired? Or hungry? I could fix something for you." Her eyes sparkle prettily at this chance to do that for which she was made in the first place. "Come on, we should let Amilei to her father."

"I am..hungry, Miss Senowin, but it is not pressing. Though yes, we should probably leave them be."

Senowin beams at him. "Well then. There is a kitchen down the hall. Want to be my helper?" She leads him to the hallway, smiling the whole time, that same dutiful smile.

Saea smiles and follows. "If you wish, Miss Senowin."

---

"Saea?" Amilei's voice calls for him after a long while, all traces of unhappiness gone from its singing tone. "Where are you? I need to talk to you."

Saea had finished helping Senowin as she asked some time ago, and now he's more wandering and killing time than anything else, keeping a lazy telepathic eye turned to his sister's signature. He looks up as the vampiress approaches the exact room he's in. "Yes, Miss Amilei?"

"Oh, there you are."  Amilei smiles a half-smiles at him, her obviously freshly-brushed hair bouncing when she turns to face him. "I thought I should tell you that my sight has returned, almost completely. And to make sure that you weren't just forgiving me for my sake."

Saea smiles at her. "That is very good to know, Amilei. And know...forgiveness cannot be feigned, I think."

"I don't know. I've done it myself now and again." Amilei sits upon a nearby counter, settling herself in. "I want to ask a favor of you, Saea, even though I have absolutely no right to do so. I won't cling to you if you don't want me to. But I do want to spend some more time with you." She bites her lip softly, not bleeding herself this time. "I want to go to the ether plane with you and your sister, when you go."