A mansion for the ill in the land of Ferya

Alice was comforted by Tarik's arms, and whispered "thank you" ask she caught her breath. She realized how similar he was to Larik--the comfort, the ease, the friendliness. She admired them for that. She took a deep breath and gave him a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Looks like I'm getting better at that."

She took in Tarik's warm presence. When she had first came here she could hardly trust anyone, and yet, in a non-threatening way, in a very kind and honest way, they made her feel a little more at home. She showed her appreciation by giving his hand a small squeeze, finally feeling some kind of warmth from real, living flesh.

She understood what he had said, and, not meaning to ignore him, responded, "You are not alone. While I have no control being here, it must be hard knowing others are out there, longing for you." Alice bit her lip, remembering the look of her father's face when she had started to transform. She shook her head. "My dad...he hates me now, just because--"

She was distracted by something moving across the room. Tilting her head, she saw that the guard's fingers had twitched and his eyes--sending chills down her spine, so many she nearly transformed right there again--flickering open. Realizing her hand was still on Tarik's, she lifted it up and brought it to her lips in surprise.

Alice gave Tarik an empathetic smile, then followed him over to the table, her eyes widening when she saw life beginning to fill the guard's eyes. She was doubtful when Tarik asked him to speak, but miraculously he did. She smiled, yet her appalled expression remained on her face.

When Tarik gestured to her she immediately glanced down. She had had enough attention for the day, yes. But what really put the pink in her cheeks was how the guard seemed to know her name. Was he listening the whole time? Could he understand everything she said? More importantly, she felt somewhat--strange, to have hold and cared for something (now someone) she barely knew.

And yet, what could she say in that moment? She stuttered a bit, her eyes trying to fixate on the guard's harsh, icy one. A stray lock fell in front of her face but didn't tuck it back, embarrassed. "I...how do you know my name?"

((Post moved))

Alice let the feathers bleed in and out between her fingers. They were a comfort within themselves. She found it odd that they were black--not white or cream or powdery in a anyway. She never thought of angels to be so personal. She always thought they were perfect, unable to be destroyed, but she guessed everything had their own weaknesses. She looked up and gave a small shrug, feeling her back full of knots built up from stress. "No, not unless you call friends people you meet and then leave you within ten minutes." She thought about Jordyn, his sarcastic behavior and then the strange way he disappeared. She hoped he was alright.

"And then a nice young man welcome me here, who told me to come and meet Tarik. Luckily you helped me find out where he was so I could change out of my horribly chilling clothes." She took her hand back and clasped them together, still resting on the edge of the bed. "What's it like, being a guard?"

Luka turned over on her side, hot white pain gripping her body and crushing her lungs, constricting her breathing; the young woman was dripping with sweat and sobbing uncontrollably. Attempting to keep her eyes shut was something she had given up trying, now the young girl simply sat up in bed staring at the ceiling.

She looked down, realizing that her late reaction to pain had caused early wounds to reopen, spilling blood onto the white sheets. "I hope nobody notices this...I do not want to be the one to explain this to...whoever..." Street fighting at a young age had earned her both a title and several close brushes with death at the hands of mercenaries.

"That guard was really...nice to me yesterday...I would hate to screw things up on the first day." If he comes up here and sees this...I am so...dead...

A note slid under her door. it was a little card. The card was white with blue trim and said, "You are invited to the Barlo Mansion Winter Festival! Please show up in the celebration hall at 3:00. If you are in need of a suit or dress please let one of the staff know."

And that was all it said.

Tarik stood outside the door, grumbling in annoyance at having to deliver invitations to the few residents at Barlo. Why was he having to do this? He was supposed to be in the infirmary... healing people. Though this was a good break from Tawny. He certainly needed a break from her crazy antics. he was lucky he had been able to sleep through the night without having nightmares of her sexually assaulting him or something.

He adjusted the loose sleeves of his green formal wear and headed on down the hall, mumbling to himself.

(Post moved to Celebrations Hall)

The loud rustling in the bushes accompanied by gruff, demonic growling is heard, marking the end of his surprisingly long slumber. Damakos emerges, shielding his face as the blinding sunlight beats down upon him relentlessly. On top of that, it's cold. If there’s one thing that irritates him, aside from everything, it’s the bloody lens flare! Luckily the disruptive patterns of his outfit have obscured the Tiefling’s presence overnight; he especially wouldn't want that mad man from before stalking him endlessly. That in conjunction with the scarred girl is certainly getting on his nerves. He’ll need to get in and get straight to business. No more wasting time.

Without thinking twice, Damakos quickly scales the mansion’s building and enters through the window he had broken through originally. Amazingly enough, nobody had bothered to fix it. He can think clearly, move easier and is more attentive thanks to a rough but thorough good night sleep. Unfortunately upon entering the Hallways from the Garden, he is ‘greeted’ by the presence of both Alice and Tsukasa! The tiefling grunts, clenching his fist tight while his eyes narrowed, teeth grinding in a firm grit as these are the last people he would want to see upon his awakening.

Where a simple 'good morning' would suffice, Damakos instead asks "Don't you irritating little insects ever die?" by roaring, simultaneously lighting up the hallways with unprecedented fury!

Aria gasped and tears jumped to her eyes as she saw the bloody mess. The sparrows immediately flew over to Luka to assess the damage but Aria took a step back. "W-Who are you...?" She asked the thing holding the knife. She was trembling as it, whatever it was, turned to look at her.

"Heehee I am Barlo'ssss worsssst nightmare, and this ssssstreet fighter made me rather angryyyy..." The thing is a towering black shadowy mass, it seems to fill the entire room with a sort of evil prescence, grinning, laughing..."Oh Ariaaaa you sssseem ever sssso niceeee come to your massster... The thing reached out a shadowy hand, lashing at her. "Whenever the sssstreet fighter losssesss a fight I make her bleed...assss punisssshment...Luka is uselessss to all here at Barlo, being a sssstreet fighter..."

Aria stumbled back as the thing lashed out at her, causing it to just barely miss her face as she fell to the floor.. "W-What do you mean master!?" She asked, her voice not hiding the fear she felt. She looked to Luka then. "Street fighter...?" She turned back to the thing, trying sound brave as she said. "Why would you do this? No one deserves this!"

"Yesss darling come to your massster...my pet isss worthlessss...you however are beautiful..." The thing grabbed her, slamming the door shut. "Oh, now I have you..ssssee Luka?" The girl's hair had darkened, entire figure had completely changed..."Now you can become a monsssster like Luka...hold sssstill love while I tear you apart..." The thing proceeded to wrap its fingers around her throat and squeeze..."Heeheehee all mineeeee..."

Aria had tears in her eyes as she began choking, she managed to let out one strangled cry, loud enough for anyone to hear. "Somebody.... HELP!!!" She grabbed at the shadowy fingers that had captured her throat. Her hands passed through the shadow and she was unable to get a grip on him but the fingers around her throat were definitely strangling her. She struggled but began to lose air. Is... is this it? She thought through the choking and the tears.

Tears streamed down Aria's face as the shadow, whatever it was, continued to squeeze at her throat. She couldn't breath, couldn't swallow, couldn't scream. Her brain was beginning to go haywire from lack of blood and oxygen and she began to thrash violently, it was the only thing she could do. She swung her arms and twisted her body but the hands were relentlessly glued to her throat. Her feet kicked the nightstand causing the lamp to fall with a loud crash and her fists went above her head to bang on the closed door. Someone... please... help us... She thought frantically.

Alice frowned when Tsukasa mentioned Isamu. He wasn't pushing himself, they were pushing--and hurting--him. These people were definitely not on Alice's good side. She nodded as she listened to her explanations and predictions. "That is odd. I don't know too much about the family, but it's weird how they just randomly show up, and her daughter just..." She shook her head watching the innocent little girl twirling about. Poor thing.

"I will. And..."

Alice's eyes drifted towards the beautiful creature across the room. She raised a brow in confusion, but she knew she would be in for several surprises that evening. Alice leaned into Tsukasa to keep her voice low. "I don't know, but you're right." The girl made her slightly concerned, but she didn't have the same bone-chilling effect as the Saiforros. "Do we talk to her?" Alice asked Tsukasa. From now on, she figured all actions should be done in a team form. Splitting up now would just be...a bad idea. Especially considering that no one else was really around.

Damakos waited patiently, analyzing her eyes and expressions, the way she looks at Airi and especially at him. If he did not know what to say before; he certainly knows now. The fear, the sorrow he has cast upon her from that day in the dining hall is still there. Her reluctance is strong enough to make the Tiefling hate himself. This adds much needed incentive.

"It is simple” he begins, watching Alice return her attention to him. “The Saifforos have invited me to this mansion, and I want to know why. Once I have found out why, I will leave this mansion forever”. The corners of his lips curling into a grin whilst speaking in a serene tone as he reiterates “And I know just how much you want me out of here. Now is your chance. Assist me, and your reward is my eternal absence” what the Saiforros were is none of his concern, but he has put up with his callous act and these people one day too long.

Upon finishing the proposal, he folds his arms and waits, keeping both eyes fixated on Alice. He will not let her go anywhere until this transaction as been completed. Hopefully he caused enough negative emotions to where this will be instantaneous, though the past incidences have given him reliable ammo should anything contrary to what he wants to hear come out.