Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Okaaaaay." Abigail says, wary of Ruby.

"Hey Abigail, do you know what we haven't had in a while?" I ask.

"What's that?" Abigail asks, trying to avoid looking at Ruby.

"A lava bath. Those are nice." I say.

"Yes, let's do that immediately." Abigail says, walking towards a nearby hill; grabbing me by the arm.

Abigail seems to move quite quickly; any faster and she'd break into a sprint. Katie follows Abigail and I.

"Aren't you coming, Artemis?" Katie asks, turning around.

"I'll wait for mother to come back; if she brings Stephanie, I'm sure she'll want to join." Artemis says, smiling.

 

"Lava?"
Ruby conjures some in her claws.
"I know. I'm not welcome. I know what happened with Rineth. I won't hurt you, I don't want to."

She closes her eyes, just levitating now.

 

Abigail seems to have already disappeared over the hill; Katie waves before heading down the hill herself.

A large flower sprouts nearby, which Myria and Stephanie emerge from. Stephanie still has her cloak covering her face.

"Where did your friends go, Artemis?" Myria asks, concerned.

"They said they were going to have a lava bath. I was waiting to see if Stephanie wanted to come." Artemis explains.

"I'll go." Stephanie says quietly, walking over to Artemis.

The pair head in the same direction as Abigail, Katie and I went.

"Stay safe!" Myria shouts.

"We will!" Artemis shouts back.

 

"So, a product of necromancy? I never got your name. I didn't mean to scare them off... it's just that all the other preservers died to those they trusted most."

 

"Yes, I instructed my daughter on how to bring me back. I'll start teaching her soon, I didn't want to interrupt what she was doing though." Myria says.


"She creeps the hell out of me." Abigail says.

"I don't think she's that bad. She doesn't seem hostile, at least." Katie replies.

"I'm not sure, she said she was a follower of Xlentia for quite a long time, how do we know she's not corrupt too?" I say, concerned.

"I don't think talking about Ruby behind her back is right. I think we should see what's wrong with Stephanie." Artemis says, smiling at Stephanie.

Stephanie just swirls the lava in front of her.

"Are you feeling alright, Stephanie?" Katie asks, worried for Stephanie.

"Yeah...fine." Stephanie says.

 

"That's respectable. I just wanted to assert myself... I may have gone overboard."

Magma is conjured in her claws, then water, then thunder, then blood, then stone.
"I am more than a trophy for someone. I hate when others think of me as such. In ancient times, I was swooned for my beauty; horns were a sign of status. Now, I'm hunted for my knowledge. It's a no-win situation for me, it feels like..."
She trails off, then blasts something out of the air behind her without as much as turning to it.

 

"Why not teach people your knowledge?" Myria suggests, "I'm sure if you got enough people, they'd be interested in what you'd have to say. If people wish to know what you know, tell them."


"It's fine, you don't have to tell us, Stephanie." Artemis says.

"Thanks...Myria helped me talk about it...I'd rather keep it with her." Stephanie says, cheering up a bit.

"I think it's nice you've reunited with your mother, Artemis. She seems really nice." I say, smiling at Artemis.

"I think mother is happy to see me as much as I am to see her. I'm glad we've finally been able to meet." Artemis says happily.

"I think it's quite impressive you were to bring your own mother back from the dead. Spooky magic." Abigail says.

 

"I don't see the point. There are so many advancements... It's mostly only good for stories now."

 

"Well, if people are trying to kill you for what you know, surely the information you hold must be important to someone?" Myria asks, "If they wish to hear stories, tell them!"


"Remember last time when Artemis jinxed us and summoned Nyre?" I ask.

"That was pretty hilarious." Abigail says, smiling at the memory.

"Well, there's no chance of him coming back now is there? So I can wonder if Nyre's going to show up all I want." Artemis says, slightly offended.

"Hey look, it's Nyre!" Katie says, forming an ice-Nyre beside the pool.

Abigail, Katie and I laugh.

"Do you want me to jinx us again? I could wonder if Virei'tus is going to show up!" Artemis asks, grinning.

"Virei'tus is cool though." I say.

"Well, maybe I could wonder if Ruby will." Artemis says, grinning at Abigail.

"Oh god, please don't. I came her to escape her; I think she's secretly plotting to kill me." Abigail says, shivering despite being in lava.

 

"I have no reason to kill her." Ruby tells Artemis telepathically.
"All of my fellow preservers died to those they trusted. I wanted to assert myself to her; not scare her."


...
"True... I can't believe that never occurred to me."

 

Myria smiles, "Maybe you could get this Xlentia I've heard of to help you?" Myria asks.


"She's not trying to kill you, Abigail. She just wanted to show she had power." Artemis says.

"How do you know that?" Abigail asks.

"She told me. Her friends died to those they trusted; she didn't want the same happening to her." Artemis says.

"Jesus...she's Rineth 2.0..." Abigail says, sinking into the lava.

"You still think he's perverted?" I ask.

"Yes!" Abigail says.

"What did he do?" Katie asks.

"He 'spied' on Abigail last time we were having a lava bath." I explain.

"You know he was there the whole time watching us!" Abigail says, annoyed.

"I wonder if Rineth will contact you spirtually, Abigail." Artemis says, grinning.

Abigail sinks deeper; only her eyes remaining above the surface of the lava.

 

Ruby's voice echoes from above the pool.
"The difference is I can't control this. I know the precise location of everything and everyone a certain distance from me. I know how they feel, the language they speak, and if they wish to kill me. You, no matter how you respond to this... part of you wants me dead."

...
"Xlentia is the deity Ihra's trying to free. Aj and company is trying to help."

 

"Oh, is she the one that was said to be 'Corrupt'? I feel so sorry for her." Myria says.


"Abigail's secret genocide complex revealed!" I shout.

Abigail sinks below the lava; even though it doesn't really do anything to hide her from Ruby.

"Does Aj want you dead?" Katie asks.

I seem a little offended, "There's an obvious answer to that." I say.

"Ok, uhm, who wants you dead? And to what severity?" Katie asks.

 

"Just Abigail, just as much as she wanted to kill Rineth. Did she not already tell you that?"

...
"Yes, she is. She is one of the deities of our homeworld. I was her first follower, and my devotion hasn't changed. Call me a fanatic if you will."

 

"There's nothing wrong with being passionate about something or someone; regardless of who or what it is." Myria says, smiling.


"Holy crap, Abigail is a freaking psycho." I say, shocked; before quietly celebrating about something to myself.

Something drags me under the lava.

"I don't think Abigail told us anything about her wishes to kill Rineth. I know she wasn't exactly on the best terms with him, but I didn't think she'd be so angry she wanted him dead."

"I...think I might have killed Rineth..." Stephanie confesses quietly.

 

"Finally, someone who understands... Thank you."
...

"Part of her did. Still... As for you killing Rineth, I wish to thank you. Yes, you killed him, but you knocking him unconscious made his end comparatively painless."

 

Myria smiles, "I try to be as understanding as possible. Death removes your ability to hold grudges or try to discriminate." Myria says.


"Ihra feels horrible though...and I'm responsible..." Stephanie says, saddened.

I surface from the lava momentarily, gasping, before getting dragged back under.

"Should we help him?" Katie asks, concerned.

"I doubt Abigail could really hurt him; it's really just playing for him." Artemis replies.

 

"For that I thank you."
Ruby disintegrates.

...
"Don't worry about it. It was in the heat of battle."

Ruby forms from dust, her eyes shut.
"Abigail, release him!"

 

Myria seems quite concerned, but doesn't say anything.


I surface from the lava, and Abigail pokes her head out.

"There, he's been released. You didn't specify for how long though, so..." Abigail says, grinning.

Abigail drags me back under the lava again.

Artemis shakes her head, disappointed.

 

Ruby dives into the lava and clutchhes Abigail's arms and legs, freeing you.
"NO MORE GAMES!" She shouts, perfectly audible through and above the lava.