Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Ihra just stays close to Shadow Stephanie, glancing at the guards nervously.

 

The guards give Ihra stern looks, though stay where they are.

I head into Artemis' room, and Shadow Stephanie knocks on Katie's door.

"Yo, Katie, time to get up." Shadow Stephanie says, waiting for a response.

No reply.

Shadow Stephanie knocks again, "Come on, Katie, you can't sleep forever; I know you're in there." She says, slighty annoyed.

Still no reply. Rather ominous.

 

"Are you sure she's okay?"

 

"I'm not sure." Shadow Stephanie says, concerned.

"She's been quiet all night. I figured she was a heavy sleeper." The guard next to Katie's door says.

Shadow Stephanie opens the door.

"Katie stop with this silent ac-" Shadow Stephanie pauses, out of shock.

Katie's duvet seems to have been moved, but there's no sign of Katie.

 

"Shit."
If there's a window, Ihra looks out of it.

"Is there a pool she might've gone to?"

 

"The palace has a pool, but it isn't open through the night. I doubt she could figure out the elevators to get to it either." Shadow Stephanie says.

The window is already open, ominously.

Shadow Stephanie opens the door to the bathroom, looking inside.

"Uh...do you mind? I'm taking a bath." Katie says.

Shadow Stephanie breaths a sigh of relief, "Didn't you hear me knocking?" She asks.

"No...sorry." Katie apologises.

"You scared me, Katie. I thought you'd run off," Shadow Stephanie says, "Well...Ihra wants to get going, so come down for breakfast when you're done in there."

 

"Sorry Katie."

"Hey, Shadow Stephanie, how do I get the guards to stop thinking I'm a murderer?" Ihra asks telepathically.

 

Shadow Stephanie closes the bathroom door, and it sounds like Katie gets out of the bath.

"Just tell them it wasn't you who killed the guard. I'm sure with Aj or I's presence, they'll believe you," Shadow Stephanie thinks, summoning her white violin, "Or they'll face a few consequences."

Shadow Stephanie starts playing a beautiful tune on her white violin. The notes sound almost magical.

 

"They trust you more. Won't they listen to you?"

 

"I'll be there to say you didn't kill the guard if they doubt you. They'll only half believe me because you're my special guest, if you explain to them what happened, and I back you up, I'm sure they'll be convinced." Shadow Stephanie thinks, continuing to play her white violin.

"It's the more humane way, after all." Shadow Stephanie adds.

 

"Okay. I trust you."
Pause.
"Well, let's give Katie some space..."

 

Shadow Stephanie finishes her tune, de-summoning her white violin. She then heads out of Katie's room, holding the door open for Ihra.

I wait just outside the room, holding Artemis' hand. Artemis looks like she's had a restful sleep, and she smiles when she sees Ihra.

 

Ihra walks out the door.
"Morning, Artemis."
Ihra can't hide the fact she's bothered by something.
"Hey, Aj? Did any of your guards... um... ask you to kill me?"

 

"Morning, Ihra!" Artemis says sweetly.

"What? Why would they command me, their king? If anything, I'd order them to kill you, not the other way around," I say, "Anyway, I'd never hurt you, Ihra. Even if one of the guards asked me to kill you, I wouldn't do it. Besides, you're too precious."

 

"So, uh... We've got a new problem. While I've been absorbing charges, moving ever closer to becoming you-know-who..."
She swallows.
"My nightmares took a physical form and killed one of your guards. They all want me dead now. They think I killed them, but it wasn't me. It's Nyre."

 

"Hold on." I say, oddly calm.

I summon a glass of water in my hand and start drinking it, just so I can spit it out in surprise.

"Your nightmares are coming alive!?" I exclaim.

"I think the more pressing matter is the guards turning against Ihra, Aj." Shadow Stephanie says.

"How is this even happening? Do you have some kind of special connection with Xlentia so she can send you the souls of people she's drained!?" I ask, clearly shocked.

 

"I think it's just a side effect of charges. I'm at fifty, you know... If I wanted to burn them all, I'm technically able to use the spell that banished Vesius to the world you found me in. I don't want to absorb any more until these are slain, though. They might get stronger as I do. But I'm with Shadow Stephanie; they only come alive once I fall asleep. The guards wanting me dead is a bigger problem as long as I'm awake."

 

"Well, maybe I could use Shadow Katana to see if I can slice these nightmares. It's pretty powerful." I say.

"Aj, guard problem." Shadow Stephanie says sternly.

"Oh, right. Well, I guess we could gather them after breakfast in the throne room and have Ihra explain herself." I suggest.

"Speaking of which, can we get breakfast? I'm hungry." Artemis asks.

"As soon as Katie's ready, we can go." Shadow Stephanie says.

 

"Didn't Shadow Stephanie just... err... Okay."

 

"What?" Shadow Stephanie asks, confused.