[Dolwoods] The Other Side of Me [Austin]

[Jade Alanon]

First Cycle of Pontius, Season of Winter

She was running, pushing branches out of her way as she pursued her quarry. It felt good to be back on the hunt, the stink of Rhasic blood in the air and on the ground, a trail that she followed to the man that ran from his ill-fate. The Rhasic Jade followed was not one that was aware of the knowledge that flowed through his veins, he knew nothing of the crime his ancestors had commited and so truly, he was an innocent. But Jade didn't feel sorry for the man, she had moved past caring for the innocent Rhasic because she had been convinced that none of them were truly innocent, the Rhasic could easily rise up against the Sanguine once more and try to hurt them, there were so many of them and so little of the Sanguine, Jade couldn't allow herself to fail in protecting the Krevion once again.

The man, who was rather poor and living his life as a thief to feed himself and his two children had chosen to rob her, feeling that she looked like the sort of woman that didn't need a few crowns. A frail looking man with old dirty clothes and shaggy brown hair, he didn't look like much but he had quick hands. Jade and Nymira both sensed him nearby, but it wasn't until Jade felt crowns being lifted from her pouch did she notice where he was. Nymira, who had been in human form at the time, ripped the emerald from her neck and began her transformation back into a Virkyn, the process hurting both sisters terribly and gave Devan a chance to run in terror. The crowns weren't worth his life! Not when he had Layla and Deedra at home waiting for him. He took off, when he heard both creature and woman in pursuit, he threw the crowns back, begging them to let him alone and to take their crowns back. Poor man didn't understand that it was his blood they wanted.

Jade had thrown Aganadara, but being that she wasn't particualrly skilled in throwing daggers, the blade skinned his side and that was it, but it did help by leaving a blood trail, one that both sisters could follow, the tang of his blood filling the air, driving both sisters almost crazy with the need to kill. They needed to kill him before he reached Natura and the spring, she didn't need him telling anyone that a woman and black beast were after him, Austin would be alerted surely and he would know who the culprits were. Devan mentioned his children in hopes that this would sway his would-be-killers, but he only damned his daughters as well, for they couldn't be allowed to live and produce more Rhasic, that needed to be nipped in the bud quickly, but they would find the two girls once their father was dispatched.

[Austin Eventide]

Although winter had fallen even upon the enchanted town of Natura, Austin enjoyed spending time outdoors. Although he was a busy man, taking on roles such as Thane, merchant, student and philanthropist, Austin always made time for himself and those closest to him. Realizing with each passing brightening, his devotion to Carmelya and to nature and wasn't enjoying time in the Winehouse, Austin traveled into the woodwhen he s surrounding Natura. The thick, mysterious, green even in winter trees always comforted him when work began to take its toll.

This particular brightening, Austin took a break from things and was wandering the length of a small yet winding stream. Small stones lined the bank and the songs of frogs and birds filled the air. The towering trees hid the winter sky and little wind blew. Austin was dressed in a heavy leather long coat, heavy, high black boots with his traditional black silk underneath as well as a pair of leather gloves to help keep him warm. He was unarmed save for a simple dagger carried at his waist; his sword left back at the manor as he had little need for it in Natura thanks to the Spring.

Following the stream, he allowed his mind to become lost in thought. He was always thinking, usually about new ideas to further improve the lives of the people he served as Thane. His pondering often caused him to lose track of time and sometimes direction; especially during walks such as this. When he finally pulled his thoughts away from future business ventures, he realized that he had wandered quite some distance from the town and the protective power of the Spring. He wasn't terribly concerned about this yet did not want to press his luck out in the wilds effectively unarmed.

It was just as he turned to follow the small stream back the way he came when he heard commotion coming from nearby, and it was getting closer. It sounded like rapid movement through the underbrush and as he looked around he realized there was little place for him to go. This is mind, he reached for his dagger and prepared to greet whatever was coming.

[Jade Alanon]

The thrill of the hunt was coursing through their veins, they could smell their prey's terror and this drove them on, his tainted blood fresh in the air as he ran, surely the man would run out of stamina eventually. Jade was nervous because they were getting closer to the vicinity where the man would be safe, near the spring and Jade couldn't allow that to happen. He was injured, which caused him to slow and she could almost hear his heart pounding in his chest. She could definitely hear his sharp terrified breathing as he tried his best to escape his predator.

Little could Jade have guessed that the fates would be cruel in placing Austin in her path, she and Nymira both smelled another nearby and they were heading straight for him, but Jade couldn't imagine that it would be Austin. This had been the brightening that she had been fearing, but perhaps Austin wouldn't interfere, the man she was after was a thief after all, though that mostly wouldn't be enough for him to let her kill him.

The terrified man burst through the brush first and halted when he saw Austin wielding a dagger and standing at a defensive stance. Was this some sort of setup? How could he have been so easily ambushed. However, the thief saw that Austin seemed more surprised then ready and so he saw a chance that he might take shelter behind the well dressed man, surely he would take pity on an old poor thief that was injured and being pursued. "Please, please protect me from her." He didn't seem to be too injured except for a gash in his arm that was bleeding, but it was apparent that he had been running for a while for he was drenched in sweat and his gray eyes were wide in fear. Such a pathetic sight to see really.

Jade and Nymira burst through the brush, hearing that the man had stopped his running and was now begging for protection. Jade sighed as she realized she would need to kill someone else to get to this Rhasic, poor unsuspecting individual was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Jade nearly skidded to a halt when she realized just how stood in her way. The thief saw Jade appear and scurried to hide behind Austin, trembling and preying to the goddess to protect him.

Jade took a few moments to breathe, her eyes wide as she stared at Austin for a few moments, her breath heavy from running, both staff and double-bladed dagger clutched in her hands and the look of a killer on her face. Nymira halted as well, cursing under her breath at their luck, her eyes held on the target, she would kill the Rhasic and had no problem going through Austin if need be, but Jade was the one that hesitated and it was understandable. "Step aside Austin," Jade said in a slightly shaky voice.

[Austin Eventide]

Austin was indeed surprised to see a man explode from the brush and rush toward him. The man looked exhausted and at least mildly wounded. When the man ran up to him, Austin could see the fear in his eyes and when asked for protection from someone; a woman, Austin looked back to the direction of where the man was running from just in time to see the person he hoped he wouldn't at that moment. He and Jade had spoken about the possibility of such an encounter and he remembered clearly the words he had spoken. Now it seemed he would be put to the test. He reached out his arm and ushered the man to stand behind him while keeping his dagger raised defensively. He knew his skill with a dagger was rudimentary at best and even if he had his sword, he was not sure he would be able to hold Jade back if it came to it; saying nothing about Nymira.

Whispering a silent prayer to Carmelya, Austin shook his head and responded to Jade's order; his tone calm though with no small amount of effort, "Not gonna happen, love. You know me better than that to think I would refuse to help another; especially here..." Austin gestured to the forest, the place he had sworn to protect the moment he accepted position as Thane of Natura. "...considering the circumstances that have brought us together in this moment." He of course referred to his knowledge of why she must be chasing the man and what she intended to do.

Seeing the look on Jade's face, he honestly did not know what she would do. He would like to think that she would not hurt him to get to the man yet he had to admit there was still much about her that he was not certain of. As much as he loved her; as much as he wanted to help her, he could not stand aside and let her do as she would.

[Jade Alanon]

Jade wasn't sure what to do as she came to rest before the man she loved, seeing that he only carried a dagger with him made her want to beat him senseless just to show the danger of being so unprepared. The thief hid behind Austin simply because there was no one else around, he recognized him as Thane, and he could run no longer, his legs almost giving out completely as he hunched over in a cowering position behind Austin. If Nymira and Jade both attacked, they could probably kill both men and had Jade been the cold heartless assassin she had made herself out to be, she would be able to kill Austin since he got in her way.

Nymira could sense the conflict within her sister and so she kept from attacking Austin, instead she slowly moved around, trying to position herself so that she could get to the man behind Austin, she had no hard feelings towards Austin whatsoever but she wasn't afraid to spill his blood for her sake, she wanted to be whole again and no lover of Jade's would get in the way.

Jade couldn't believe how calm and casual Austin sounded as he refused her demand to stand aside, not that his refusal itself surprised her, she had been expecting that. Her voice had broken when she had spoken, showing how shaken this situation had made her. Her grip on her staff lessened a bit as she looked at Austin, her emerald eyes almost pleading for him to move aside, she didn't wish to fight him. Especially not when his chances of beating both her and Nymira were quite slim and Jade knew that Nymira would kill Austin if she had to.

"I don't want to fight you Austin, but I can't allow you to get in the way, I can't allow you to protect a Rhasic." She brought her staff up in a defensive mode, watching Austin carefully, fighting back those damned emotions that made her hesitate to move forward. "Plus you need a lesson in how to carry the right weapons no matter where you are." There was a hint of a smile on her face despite the seriousness of the situation. A low growl was heard near Austin, the thief had made a move to run but halted when he saw Nymira close by, he wasn't sure why the creature didn't jump him and tear him to pieces, but he certainly didn't run now.

"You said you wanted to help me, if that is true then do not interfere, if I don't kill him then another of my clan will, his blood calls to us and we answer, his brightenings are numbered Austin." Their relationship was about to be tested, would it survive? Would they survive? Jade didn't believe she had it in her to actually kill Austin, but would he forgive her if she knocked him out and murdered the thief? Most likely not, but he had to understand that what she had told him was real. She was a murderess first and a lover second.

[Austin Eventide]

Although sure of himself as far as his actions and intent were concerned, Austin maintained his defensive posture; keeping the man behind him while keeping contact with one hand on him at all times. He could sense the hesitation in Jade's own posture and expression yet he also knew how determined she was to complete her quest. He kept a close eye on Nymria as well as he knew she did not hold quite the attachment to him that Jade did. No matter what he could not step aside and let Jade commit the crime she pursued, even if it meant personal injury or death to himself. At least, if he, and or the man he was protecting were to be injured or killed, it would be done with Austin doing all he could to protect the vows he swore and no matter who the man was or what he did, Austin hoped he would be forgiven in the afterlife; his, the man's, or both.

Austin swallowed hard as he sensed the conflict growing and the possibility of a death hovering closer.

"Jade...If I have to die here fulfilling the vows I took to the Goddess, the people and myself, so be it. Think of this though before you choose your next action; an action that may stain your soul deeper than you may expect. All your life you have held something within you that at first, you did not realize; something that has isolated you and brought great pain and a feeling of being incomplete. It's a feeling that you did not realize until you had lost everything. You had no control over what happened in your past and you feel you have no control over what you do now. This man, he may or may not know what he is; my guess is he doesn't. He has no control over it yet he is a breath away from being killed because of it...as are others..." By 'others' Austin was of course referring to any family members that the man had although he assumed Jade would know what he meant as he did not want to further frighten the man than he already was.

"Thus, by what you mean to do, you are becoming that which you despise and which you hunt so diligently. If you become whole again and lift the curse which hangs over through violence and murder, what sort of person do you think you will become? Sure, I only know what you have told me of it all and maybe I don't know a thing about anything otherwise; just a delusional drunken boy playing paladin in his safe little city in the woods. You do this your way and the way you have been ordered to, you will become a Rhasic, the hateful, violent murderers and destroyers that brought this curse upon others; forcing them to commit the same acts and perpetuating a cycle of death." Austin said his peace, hearing the words of the Luduan echoing in the back of his mind. Although he possessed the power to see into the heart of another's problem, he did not bare his Heart's Eye to Jade though she had seen it before; the stylized scar of an eye baring ancient scrollwork inside. Whenever asked about it, he said it was a reminder of his duty to the people yet he never delved further. At this moment however, he did not have to attempt the call upon his gift to see what was happening.

After he spilled his thoughts and feelings on the matter to Jade, he followed up with one final comment, his hopes and prayers not for himself or even for the man he protected, "May the Goddess protect and look out for you, my love."

[Jade Alanon]

The gods surely laughed at Jade as they watched the situation between the assassin and her lover, perhaps Austin's goddess Carmelya had this planned the whole time, using Jade as a test of his loyalty to his calling. Such a thing infuriated Jade as her whole life had been nothing but a simple game for the gods to play, from when she was a Krevion librarian to now, it just wasn't fair. Austin remained in his defensive position as she remained in her attack position, Nymira watched the cowering man behind Austin with piercing intelligent eyes, her eyes dark from the need to tear the man apart and then hunt down his children. It was strange how Nymira, who had always been so gentle in her human form, was a brutal killer in her Virkyn form, perhaps that was why she so wished to be whole again.

Jade's maddened half soul tugged her towards the Rhasic, knowing full well that his death would come so easy, neither the thief nor Austin were fully prepared to take on both sisters, not when they were so in sync during battle and not while Austin only carried a dagger. Blood would be spilled upon the grass that brightening whether she liked it or not, she couldn't allow the Rhasic to get away, who knew how close they were to actually filling the great library once more.

Jade's attention was brought back to Austin as he spoke, most people she faced didn't get the chance to speak before they were brought down by Jade or Nymira, she didn't want them toying with her emotions, but Austin was of course different from most she faced. She had faced her lover in battle before, but it had been a simple spar that had ended with bruises and cuts, but nothing serious. She kept her in her attack stance, but she couldn't help but listen to what Austin had to say, for his words were wise and unfortunately they struck a nerve with her. He seemed to understand just how she felt at that moment, powerless to fight the destiny that she had been handed and really, wasn't she? How could one fight fate?

It was the man's destiny to die because of his ancestors just as it was Jade's destiny to kill those ancestors, it was two fates that couldn't be changed, wasn't it? "Jade, stay focused!" Nymira growled between their telepathic connection. "His dedication is no longer to you but the Goddess he serves, as your dedication is to us being whole, he is just trying to distract you."

Jade felt disgust surge through her at even the mention of being like the Rhasic, was Austin right or was Nymira right in saying that he was only trying to distract her? She would betray someone with whatever she did, kill the Rhasic and she would end up losing Austin, but allowing the Rhasic and his family to live would betray Nymira and her Sanguine clan. "I want to be heartless, but how can I when you hold my heart in your hand?" Her words were sad but true, echoing the inner conflict that she felt at that moment. Tears formed in her eyes but she didn't allow them to fall, she could feel Nymira's frustration but was relieved that Nymira still hadn't attacked because she would kill Austin to get to her prey. "You don't understand what you're doing to me Austin, no matter what I do here today, I will lose someone or something."

Austin ended what all he had to say with a prayer, but the prayer was not for him or the man he kept safe but for his love. "May the Goddess protect and look out for you, my love." She did her best to blink away the tears, looking to Nymira for a moment, the Virkyn edging closer to the thief, her body tense with the need to spring on him and kill him. "Stop Nymira." Her words came as a surprise to her sister, who looked up at her elder sister with confusion and a bit of anger, their prey was within reach and yet she was allowing Austin to get to her. Jade then turned her eyes back to Austin, "You win Austin, you saved one Rhasic's life from me, don't expect it to happen again." She tried to sound as cold as possible to cover the broken parts in her voice. It was becoming apparent that Jade couldn't have a relationship with Austin and continue her mission, it was too hard, but she didn't dare break it off, she would leave that for him to do.

[Austin Eventide]

Austin watched Jade's reactions and listened to her words. She said that he couldn't understand what he was doing to her yet he did know. He knew that he was forcing a choice upon her and knew that the consequences could be very painful for both of them no matter what choice was made. However, by forcing her to choose he was also giving her the opportunity to finally have a say in what she did. In the past he had given her many gifts and throughout it all he began to see that such material things were not what she needed. This time, finally, he was giving her a gift that she could truly use; the gift of choice, the gift of something she felt she could never have. Whether or not she realized it, he would leave that to chance as he could not control how she felt about it.

When finally Jade appeared to pull back a bit, Austin did not relax as he was uncertain what sort of tactics may be in the works. Jade had proven to be rather unpredictable in the past; just when he thought he knew her, something completely different was thrown his way.

"Jade, its not about winning or losing. It's about choice, something that all of us have..." Austin kept his eyes solidly on Jade and Nymira and began to back away in the direction of Natura; his hand still keeping contact with the hunted man.

"My door is always open to you, Jade. You need but open it and step inside." Although he meant it literally in that Jade was always welcome in Natura and in Austin's home, there was a double meaning. She would always hold a place in his heart and he would do almost anything for her; all she had to do was ask. He was seeing now that by offering Jade the choice that he had, he was sacrificing hope of the two of them being able to have normal lives together. Even so, he did not give it all up for he was determined that she could still find a way to break her curse without the need for bloodshed. He would not cut her loose and leave her alone in her journey but he could not force her hand either.

He continued to back away, his eyes ever on the two hunters. Would they follow and still try to kill their prey or would they continue to hold while Austin and the man cautiously made their way back to Natura.

[Jade Alanon]

OOC: Sorry it's so long.

This entire situation was killing Jade, Austin had warned her when she first told him about who she was and what she did that they might have to face one another in battle, but it was harder then she had ever imagined it to be. This wasn't fair to anyone involved and this was all that damned thief's fault for seeking Austin out in the first place, she was going to lose the man she loved for sure because of this. She was proud of the fact on that she hadn't cried, because assassins shouldn't cry, crying means weakness, but Jade was feeling weak at the moment.

While Jade was upset, she did see something that Austin was doing for her, he might have been forcing her to make a hard choice, but he was still giving her the choice. This fact made things harder and yet easier on her as she stood there, her staff still in hand as she looked past Austin at the cowering thief behind him, it was a sad thing that he had to die, he was trying to feed his family and she got that, but he would be killed eventually anyway because no Rhasic can be allowed to live. If Austin could prove to Jade that he could find some way to fix the curse without the next for bloodshed, a way to extract the crystals without the Rhasics death, then Jade would be for it, but so far he hadn't. "We can't fight who we are, can we love," her words were even, she was calming down.

"We knew this brightening was coming, it was inevitable." She blinked a few times as she spoke even as he began back up, she made no move to stop them, having already decided that it was over. Where they through, was this their final good-bye as he moved closer to Natura and that damnable spring? "My door is always open to you, Jade. You need but open it and step inside." His words made her unsure, she could see so much in his eyes and yet she still wasn't sure. Part of her wanted to forget that she was Sanguine and admire the man that had stood up to her and the other half wanted to pummel him for hurting her and making her decide. She wanted so badly to just talk to him about this, but not with the Rhasic or Nymira there.

Jade had called off the hunt and Nymira knew it, but the large Virkyn was no in the mood to play this game, the Rhasic was right in their clutches and Austin was in the way. "I chose you over love!" Nymira growled, not bothering to care that this was said aloud. "Do this for me, we are one step closer to ending the curse." Neither Austin nor Jade understood how it felt to be trapped in this world in this wretched form, only allowed snippets of human freedom with extreme pain as a price. It was too much to bare sometimes and no paladin was going to keep her from tasting true and lasting freedom. She growled as she circled around to cut off Austin's retreat, ignoring that Jade had said, the thief facing her now. She snarled angrily, baring her teeth and getting ready to lunge at the man. She would kill him and would kill Austin if he got in her way, she had no attachments to the man at all and Jade would get over it, it would be better for her anyway.

Jade was surprised by this, Nymira had never gone against her sister before, but maybe it had to do with things of the past that Nymira really hadn't gotten over. It was ridiculous but Jade had to fight her own sister to save a fethin Rhasic...no feth the Rhasic, it was Austin she wished to protect and she knew her sister, knew that she was a vicious killer and if Austin somehow fended Nymira off with the dagger he carried, he would risk killing Nymira and in doing so killing Jade as well. "Oh feth feth feth." Jade said under her breath, Nymira was ignoring her through their connection, the black nightmare was in charge at the moment. "Um love, might wanna move."

Jade had the pendent in her bag, she carried it everywhere with her and that perhaps would help save things from going insane. Jade ran around Austin and the Rhasic, Austin might believe that Jade had lied and was going to attack him and the Rhasic, but it wasn't that, Nymira had started running towards the man and Jade had to time her jump right or she would miss or end up being killed by her own sister.

[Austin Eventide]

Austin had expected some form of action from the two, but wasn't sure what was to happen. When Nymira growled loudly, words forming amidst the rage and ferocity, Austin swallowed hard. This was not going to be pleasant. A human, Austin could deal with in some form or another, but a giant wolf filled with bloodrage was not something he was looking forward to experiencing. Regardless, he kept his stance with one hand holding his dagger, the other on the man next to him. Nymira was fast and kept him on his feet as she circled around, cutting off his retreat.

Austin was mostly confident in the idea that he could still step between the man and Nymira if she were to strike yet he knew it may very well mean the end of him and the one he was protecting. His focus on Jade was diverted at that point as he could not keep watch on both her and Nymira and have any chance of reacting appropriately. The snarling, raging wolf was a sight to behold and even Austin's usual steady resolve was cracking.

Austin did not hear Jade speaking as his attention was too much on Nymira. He hadn't even noticed Jade running toward the scene until it was too late and she was there. Everything, though happening so fast, seemed to slow down to a near standstill as Austin did the only thing he could with so little time. He kicked his foot at the ground as to catch a bit of the light ice and snow that found its way to the forest floor. His hopes were that it would be enough to momentarily blind the leaping Nymira as he then grabbed the man and fell to the side and to the ground. He hoped it would be enough to buy him the time he needed to reposition himself to deal with not only Nymira but also Jade who seemed as though she may now be joining the final strike.

[Jade Alanon]

While Jade was a brute and an assassin, when she gave her word on something, she tried to stick with it. She had called off the hunt because of Austin, she just couldn't be so cold-hearted as to kill the man she loved because it would be killing a part of her as well. Jade had expected Nymira to be upset with her, but she couldn't have expected Nymira to defy Jade and go after the Rhasic anyway. It put Jade in an awkward position because she had to choose between her sister and her lover, but hadn't this happened to Nymira before, hadn't she lost her fiancee in order to keep Jade alive longer? Was it truly fair for Jade to choose Austin over Nymira?

Jade had little time to actually think this, she had to make a decision quickly as Nymira began to race towards the Rhasic and Austin. Nymira would spare neither, she made that clear as she raced forward, her dark eyes maddened in the need for blood to be shed. Jade couldn't believe that she was going to fight her own sister to try and protect Austin, it would be embarrassing to be killed by Nymira, though she was sure that Nymira would halt her bloodlust if she saw Jade in her way. Austin was too busy watching Nymira to hear her words, she would have pushed him out of the way but she was too busy racing around to try and deter Nymira off course.

Austin's plan of momentarily blinding Nymira worked, the snow and ice causing her to stumble a bit and miss the two as Austin grabbed the Rhasic and jumped to the side. Nymira landed a few feet off from where Austin had been standing before. She shook the snow from her face and looked over to where Austin and the Rhasic were. She threw her head back and howled loudly, as though sending a message to all those that heard, a killer roamed the Dolwoods. The howl resonated through Jade's body, sending chills up her spine, knowing full well she should be with her sister and not against her. She looked to Austin a moment, wondering if he was really worth it, but then she thought back to how he used to make her feel...how loved he made her feel.

Jade sprinted forward, jumping on Nymira's large back. This cause the Virkyn to halt in surprise, long enough for Jade to get the emerald necklace around Nymira's neck. Being that she was in her Virkyn form, she was unable to get the pendent off and a wave of intense pain hit both sisters as the transformation began. Jade fell next to Nymira in the snow, her body under attack from the magic of the pendent. Nymira was in more pain and unable to actually continue her planned attack on Austin and the Rhasic. Jade's plan had worked for now. "Get out of here," Jade spoke through the pain, Nymira's black fur began to shorten, revealing pale pink skin. The sense of betrayel ran deep through their connection, Jade knew that once Nymira could, she would rip the necklace from her neck and resume her Virkyn form, but hopefully at least Austin was in range of the spring. She hoped that this act proved how she felt about Austin.

[Austin Eventide]

Although everything was happening so fast, to Austin it was as if it were all slowing down to a crawl. Barely out of range of Nymira now after his attempt at stalling her attack, Austin was shocked to see Jade leap forward onto the wolf's back. A struggle ensued and Austin paused only for a moment and watched as the sisters fought for control. He bore witness to the transformation as Nymira went from wolf to humanoid form. He barely heard Jade's words through the conflict as he picked the shocked man next to him up and pulled him in the direction of Natura. The city as well as the effects of the protective blessings of the Goddess were but a short distance further.

As the two men ran, Austin was having difficulty understanding what all had happened. At one point he thought Jade was going to continue with her early threats despite what she had said only to end up fending off Nymira who indeed planned on following through. He couldn't help but wonder who Jade had done it for. Was it for him or for the man who ran next to him. Austin felt it had to be because of him for the hatred of the Rhasic still ran too deep. Regardless, Jade had made the choice to stand up and not let her decisions be ruled by her curse. It was a step that Austin had hoped for yet had slowly lost a bit of hope of it ever happening.

Quickly yet not as quick as he would have liked, Austin reached the outskirts of Natura with the man in tow. He needed to get the man someplace safe in order for both of them to calm down. Austin headed for the manor; rushing inside and to his office. He offered the man a chair to sit in and immediately set to pouring a couple of glasses of wine; hoping to take the edge off and get their senses in order.

[Jade Alanon]

Jade lay next to her sister as Nymira continued the transformation from Virkyn to human, gods how Jade felt so guilty, guilty that she had betrayed her sister and allowed a Rhasic to live all because of Austin and her love for him. She could feel Nymira's eyes on her as the transformation was nearly completed, such a glance felt as though it burned her in it's intensity. This would not be easily forgotten and Jade knew it, she accepted it as well, nothing more she could really do, the deed had been done.

As though not caring that it would cause even more pain to the both of them, perhaps used as a punishment, Nymira ripped off the emerald pendent as soon as her human hands could grasp it. Another wave of intense pain hit both of them, enough to cause Jade to scream. Her body ached so badly now, almost as badly as her heart ached. Nymira had been right, she had allowed her lover to be killed so her sister could live and yet Jade wasn't willing to do the same, it hardly seemed fair at all. Jade watched as Austin wasted no time in running with the Rhasic man, the poor thief having no idea what he had gotten himself into.

Once the transformation ended once more, Nymira slowly got to her feet and walked off without even looking back at Jade, who still lay on the ground in the snow. Jade's body tingled with pain and yet the pain was mostly from seeing her sister walk off like that, knowing that it had been her fault. She had been weak in her decision, had Nymira been human and Jade been the Virkyn, Austin would have been dead as well as the Rhasic. Having to fight her own sister to keep the man she loved alive wasn't easy and she would have to live with it for a while. The question was, how did Austin see her now? He had seen her when she had been in assassin mode, did this change things between them? Of course it did, how silly could she be?

It took Jade a few moments to get to her feet, since she was still so sore, she leaned on her staff for a moment, trying to steady herself. Where was she to go now? Leave in the direction Nymira had gone or go back to Natura and see Austin? In the end, the need to see her love, if not for the last time won out and she walked weakly towards Natura. She passed through the barrier easily enough, her staff in hand while her dagger was back in her pouch at her side, she headed towards the Manor, walking ever so slowly to give Austin time to see to his charge. The thief was safe here, Jade couldn't harm him and at the moment, she had no strength nor will to.

She made it to the Manor and she took a few moments before entering, there was a chance that Austin would fear her, she would understand fully if he did, though Nymira didn't trail after her, which should help things. Jade needed to speak with Austin before she left, wanted to see if she had a home to come back to now. She spoke to whoever she needed to and waited outside the Thanal Manor for Austin, hoping he would speak with her, hoping that the comment on how his home was still open to her hadn't been made just so she would back off the Rhasic. She would soon see when Austin came out, if he chose to come out of course.