Learning Curve

The sun was starting to set as the party began to stir, but getting out of bed wasn’t something they were doing. Daniella had snuck up the stairs a few minutes ago taking in the scene. She pushed back her long, curly, black hair so it was away from her heart shaped, copper face. “Good, I see eyes!” she yelled, getting their attention. “I am not to baby you,” she started with a slight chuckle watching a few pop up. “I am here to make sure you all eat.” She looked around at the eyes staring back at her with a range of emotion. “It is super time; stand up, go relieve yourself if you need to, then report to the table. You have eight minutes before I help… and it won’t be gentle. Alexander will be here in forty minutes, figure that was enough time to eat. Londra, unbury yourself from the cats and start moving.”

“I am not a cat!” Alpha snarled with attitude, his long white whiskers twitching as he stared. “You are lucky I like you!”

“Your food is good,” Beta stretched then arched his grey back.

Theda said nothing just moved towards the end of the bed blinking his hazel eyes, looking at her deeply before yawning.

“I am, at the moment,” Delta chuckled. His black wings popped out, “dibs on litter box!”

Londra smiled a bit, slowly standing looking around at the others. She was in a nightgown… better not to think and just do what Daniella said.

Daniella was standing there with her arms crossed and her brown eyes focused on them all. There were no traces of a smile on her heart shaped face yet it was warm and caring. When they all started to move, she walked over to let the kitchen know it was time to send up the soup and sandwiches.

Daniella didn’t have to say anything else, just watched. They were all moving around alright, a bit stiff, but from what she was told that was more than great. She stayed until they were all eating, then disappeared down the stairs before anyone could thank her for her silent motivation.

Thirty minutes later the table was clean, the dishes sent down to the kitchen, and everyone was lounging in the square of furniture. The taller of the two pale green couches contained Sasha in her Beatwoman form, Trenton, Alden, and Belle. Sasha’s nervous buttercream hands smoothed her simple green nightgown before moving to position her snake tail just right. The light brown was all that was showing since she was tight against the arm of the couch. This caused her long hair containing yellow, green, and red to frame her long face that was a bit pale so one could see the small scales under her skin. Her evergreen eyes looked around to see everyone was fidgeting in their own way. Trenton beside her was stiff and she wondered if he was even breathing. His tall figure was expertly positioned with his golden pecan-colored hands in his lap. This contrasted the light blue pajamas he was wearing. His deep green Demon eyes were not focused on the group but the ceiling causing his short, layered, black hair to fall back over his slightly pointed ears. His long face showed he was thinking by the simple movements around his eyes and the way his black eyebrows moved slightly. Similarly, Alden was not moving anything but his long, Elven ears. His pajamas were a shade darker but the same style, short sleeved shirt and loose fitting pants. His long, brown hair was loosely braided while he his long, accented, beige face was a bit pale bringing everyone’s attention to his unique marbled blue-green eyes. Belle wasn’t still, her light beige hands moved slightly in her lap just like her long Elven ears. Her short, platinum hair wasn’t styled, while her sharply accented, oval face contrasted her deep blue eyes with slight circles under them.

On the arm next to Sasha, Fern and Fenton leaned against each other in their small Fairy forms. They seemed to be leaning against each other creating a rainbow of color around them. Fenton was on the side next to Sasha, his light blue eyes roaming the room while he tried to push the worry out of his caramel, accented, oval face. His short, indigo hair was neatly shaped to show his pointed ears hoping it would give him some strength. His long, oval, cicada shaped, transparent blue wings were out behind him like a limp cape. The outside edges were bold green while the inside veins were indigo, white, and blue thickening at certain points to create vibrant ovals in an exact, symmetrical pattern. The only one that really could see them was Sasha. Fern sat with her vivid blue eyes closed not afraid to show worry on her soft fawn colored, oval face. Her long, violet hair was still loose but pushed behind her slightly pointed ears and fell in between her butterfly shaped wings that were draped behind her as if they had no energy. They were not vibrant pink at the moment but still a lovely pink color with lines of white, and spots of blue, orange, and yellow.

Next to them was Mara and Robbie in special chairs for wings. Mara’s violet colored pajamas seemed to bring out the undertones of violet in her oval, ivory face. Her navy-blue Demon eyes were closed while she enjoyed the support the unique chair offered. It was shaped to support her large, black wings while keeping them in the perfect upside down v shape, yet they bent just slightly so the bottom slid into a special compartment to support the bottom of her wings. Her short, layered, blue-black hair was a mess, but it wasn’t tangled around her two thin violet-navy horns. Robbie’s white, feathered, wings were out as well, enjoying the air and the unique chair. There was a slight frown on his soft, oval, buttercream face while his green eyes searched the room. His strong hands slightly moved in his lap as if communicating to each other, then one would run through his short, auburn hair. For those who knew him, this was his thinking movements.

Zeke and Calla shared a double chair on the other side. Their friendship seemed to blossom the fastest of the group and be the strongest. For all the abuse they both had endured they seemed to trust each other completely. Zeke’s pajamas were grey but sleeveless so his golden eyes could glance at his muscular green arms to validate that they were healed without any scars. He had taken the time to braid his long, mahogany hair but it wasn’t as neat with short hairs escaping and curling around his Goblin, triangle shaped ears that were close to his head. His hands were in his lap, but he was shoulder to shoulder with Calla whose light green, diamond face was filled with a variety of emotions. Her light violet eyes were closed at the moment, but her hands were slowly finishing braiding her long, golden hair. Her pajamas were the same color as Zeke's.

In the other couch was Zerina, Anna, Londra, and Peter. Zerina couldn’t sit still but it didn’t bother anybody. Her nervous cinnamon colored hands were everywhere. In her short, turquoise hair, rubbing her long face, fixing her long, dress-like pajamas, then in her lap folding and unfolding. Her deep blue eyes outlined with white, red, and silver were moving just as much. Anna reached over to take her hand for a moment. She was trying to keep her light tan, heart-shaped face warm and deep green eyes focused. Her long, deep red hair was captured loosely in a tail on top of her head. She then took her other hand to calm down Londra who just couldn’t leave her layered, sable brown hair alone. Her round, light beige face was a bit pale while her hazel eyes continued to look around the room as if checking on everyone. Peter seemed to be in his own world. His ivory, diamond face and dark pink eyes completely blank. His long, rabbit ears simply flopped behind him mixing with his short, white hair. His toned body appeared to be so relaxed he could slide out of the couch.

While Rus and Julius had taken the single, high backed, plush chairs that they had switched out with the special chairs for wings. Rus sat stiffly, checking his brown hands to make sure that they were healed and free of the burning, itching blood. His bald head and long face were smooth like leather again. His oval, dark silver eyes showed little as he surveyed the others. Julius was just enjoying the tall chair. He flexed his muscular arms and toned body a few times making sure everything was responding the right way. His square, light tan face and green eyes continued to check on Anna then stray to Mara. A thought had him messing up his short red hair nervously.

The other double chair was pushed back while a rectangular coffee table sat in the middle. When a knock from the balcony door broke the strange silence, they all looked around to see who would answer it. Julius sighed, standing to answer the door.

“We are moving like old people,” Anna mumbled. “I am so achy, yet happy that is all.”

Julius nodded opening the door to something he wasn’t expecting. Alexander was there but there were three… no five more on the stairs. Behind Alexander was Master Oscar, Archduke Dristen, Zeona, Caldon, and a female he didn’t recognize. “You don’t look happy,” he mumbled to Alexander. “Can’t say I invited the others but don’t think we can refuse.”

An instant later all four cats were off from the cat tree and next to Julius, larger than a tiger gently growling. “Alexander was invited, you were not,” Alpha stated sharply. “That air up there turned us into monsters! We do not like you now.”

Alexander smiled a bit as Beta moved so he could enter. He slowly stroked the large grey cat walking towards the circle of furniture. “I understand your anger,” Master Oscar started wondering why they all looked so frightening when usually they brought a smile to his face. He heard a loud sigh as Londra came up behind Julius who was standing there like a guardian. She wiggled in between Alpha and Theda, two that didn’t usually care about much and stroked their large heads. She looked at the group shaking her head.

“Guys, go join the others,” Londra said softly, stroking them all a few times to help calm down their anger and give her a bit of strength. “They are right, we did not invite you… I don’t even recognize her so… are you going to use your titles to barge in?”

“It isn’t like that Londra,” Archduke Dristen started, moving the tense Master Oscar to the side gently. His tan, square face showed frustration as did his thick, fluffy, messy dirty blond hair with strands of silver while his blue eyes showed concern. “We don’t know of any that have fought Green…”

“Stop!” Londra yelled. “We DO NOT USE THAT NAME HERE! They are Manifestations of Malice and if you can’t accept that then you are not welcome here, ever! Those things are not green nor are they… I will not say it again.”

“According to your Adventurers’ log, the group defeated one hundred and five M-Ms,” the strange female from the back said clearly. “That is a feat that we would like to know how you managed…”

“Let me cut you off there,” Londra grumbled rubbing the back of her neck, glad that Julius was still beside her and her Familiars had retreated to the furniture, reverting to their small forms. The doorway began to glow. “You can come in and listen, but nothing is repeated outside of this room. This lovely spell makes sure of that. You see, Alexander is risking his life by telling us what he knows. I will not let a random word uttered by any of you cause him harm. If you come through, know that your words on the outside must be guarded. If you try to use his name or ours your memories will be wiped clean. So, if you must talk about what you learn outside of this room we are nothing more than anonymous sources. You will be sitting behind us at the dining room table, and it will be up to Alexander how you can participate. Now, come in if you would like or close the door.” With that she turned to head back to her spot on the couch with Julius waiting to close the door if nobody came in. Alexander gave her a large smile; his face was so full of different emotions.

“I am going to sit on the floor next to the table,” Alexander started, not caring about those debating about coming in. His cognac, square face and steel grey eyes showed so much compassion it could flow out while his short, messy auburn hair showed just how many times his nervous hands had been through it recently. “Then you can move the furniture closer, I am not claustrophobic.”

“Are you coming in or not?” Julius wondered with a slight yawn, blinking his green eyes.

“Yes,” Master Oscar decided, slowly entering. His tall, muscular body tenser than usual as his vivid green eyes looked around at the disappointed faces. A small frown appeared on his square, copper face as he looked down letting his thick, short, silver hair fall forward for a moment before pushing it back and heading for the table. The others followed, standing next to the door waiting to be told where to sit.

Julius closed the door and headed back to his seat. “Feel free to move the chairs away from the table or stay at the table, don’t care.” Once Julius was back the furniture moved closer to the table while the others debated about where to sit or just to stand, after all they weren’t invited.

Alexander’s cognac, square face and steel grey eyes became very focused as his tall, well-toned body relaxed a bit. He placed his real hand over his bag that was attached to his belt. He began to hand out books. “These are diaries,” he started. “Green Cleanse… was a party made up of thirty six… it started as sixteen, strange enough. We all lost something to M-M attacks and changed the term quickly. As you seen, they are not all green.”

“Few were green,” Calla pointed out beginning to skim the pages while Zeke looked over her shoulder. “This is very detailed…”

“We had most races but Angelleas,” he continued. “I ended up with them because this bag was linked to our group vault. I have little mana, but I still had my sword and now I can use that again thanks to the artisans I work with and your party.”

“Did you have any Familiars?” Alpha asked, watching the others with piercing amber eyes while Zerina gently stroked him, calming them both.

“We did, two actually,” Alexander smiled a bit. “They were Tigers that could change their size and talk so on our continent they were called Demon Tigers. The female had been wounded and couldn’t reproduce but her mate refused to leave her. We rescued them.”

“So, there is a way to guard us so we don’t turn into mindless killing machines?” Theda wondered as Mara slowly stroked his soft, long, yellow fur.

“Yes, it is in my wife’s diary… Belle has it,” Alexander answered softly. “Demon Spider Silk, that is what you need to find. You have access to everything else you will need.”

“So, listeners,” Delta started with a little growl in his voice, “is that something you can help with? After all, we are willing to face these even if it is just to say we did it.”

“He is not wrong about that,” Rus sighed, nervously rubbing his brown, bald head. “I have never been so terrified in my life. Especially when they started to multiply. So horrible to watch... but horrible just seems like a tame word for what we seen.”

“The laughing in Purifying Fire while reattaching their head was on my list of creepy,” Anna sighed, leaning her head back against the couch. Her deep green eyes closing for a moment. “Not understanding how to help Trenton…”

“Do you want to share or just have me jump in?” Alexander wondered looking around. He had planned on using the small table to show them some things but… he nodded, leaning against the arm of the large couch.

There were sounds behind them, so everyone looked to Londra. She shrugged, “Why not, then you know what we were capable of doing and tell us where we went wrong.”

“We started with sixty-two, after walking into a teleportation circle,” Mara stated smoothly, even if her hands were constantly stroking Theda. “Amazing that those creatures can do that kind of magic when it has been lost to us.” This caused a few sighs from the table area.

“Few were green, and they had us surrounded,” Belle continued softly, wishing that one of the cats was on her lap. Instead, her strong, long, light beige fingers fidgeted in her lap. Her brother reached over to calm them, and she sighed. “There were different sizes and the smaller ones mostly disintegrated when we did a combined purification spell. Robbie, Londra, Fern, Anna, and Calla… the spell was powerful.”

“Then the tallest talked… horrible voice,” Zeke mumbled, rubbing his long, green face as if trying to clean the memory away. “The kind that makes you want to run away… and their eyes… made me feel dirty so I can only imagine how it unnerved our brave females… sorry, that sounded bad.”

“You are not wrong,” Zerina nodded, slowing her petting of Alpha. “I wanted to hide.”

“So did I,” Fenton added, making his voice stronger since he wasn’t ready to be large again. This caused a few to chuckle. “Just shrink and stay under Anna’s deep red hair.

“We started strong,” Robbie sighed, his white feathered wings moving slightly as he repositioned himself. “But then the screaming and the blood just broke us.”

“That is right,” Fern added, using magic so her voice could be heard. “At first the blood was just… a way to scare us. Killing their own above us so it rained down… more than scary. It wasn’t until we started really moving that it began to burn and itch.”

“The screams…” Calla mumbled, holding the diary close. “The necklaces saved us, but I still seen nightmares for a few seconds and that really messed with my mind.”

“Bugs everywhere,” Londra agreed with a sigh, pushing her layered, sable hair back with a shaky hand. Anna took her other hand for a moment to give them both strength.

“We noticed that even though we were taking them out the numbers didn’t go down,” Trenton continued, his deep voice almost a whisper, his deep green Demon eyes closed. “That is when we spotted the females making more females… so many frighting things.”

“Trenton and I were the only two that could see and track them,” Mara added softly, blinking tears out of her navy-blue Demon eyes. Theda snuggled closer causing her to relax a bit. “Londra and Anna are the strongest magic users, so we split up.”

“Things started to fall apart and get better all at the same time,” Peter sighed, his white rabbit ears still limp on the top of his head while he rubbed his deep pink eyes. “Not having them in the circle was terrifying but the numbers stopped changing. Gone was gone.”

“We didn’t dare teleport with the blood and the wounds,” Mara continued. “We went from shadow to shadow, even using grass just to get close.”

“Then something changed,” Rus sighed, fisting his large, brown hands. “The flames weren’t working no matter who was casting them… at least we were down to workable numbers.”

“We went from purifying the M-Ms to killing and that negativity made it practically impossible to destroy them. But the fear was so hard to push down, and the hopelessness seemed to gnaw away at our energy. By now we were all wounded, and the nightmares weren’t only ours but those they had killed before,” Anna mumbled with a shiver.

“Londra figured it out first,” Zerina pointed out, leaning back, her hands resting on Alpha who didn’t seem to mind. “The fear was so thick we had to remember that we were purifying not killing. They are the killers… but how did we convince our exhausted minds?”

“Then she sang… horribly,” Zeke smiled slightly, a slight glow in his golden eyes after a little ear wiggle that made her smile. “I have heard the song before.”

“During the challenges,” Julius added softly. “She told us it was a mix from her past and her other past but wasn’t sure which was which. But that song… it seem to wake me up.”

“It took a while,” Robbie sighed, holding a diary tightly, “but then we were done.”

“Alden gathered us together again,” Belle said softly, glad his hand was still over hers. “Then all we could think is now what?”

“Thank goodness for our friends,” Sasha commented finding her voice. She had a handful of grey cat hair that disappeared with magic. Her buttercream hands returned to stroking Beta. “The bathroom was so full of people when we arrived. I didn’t know most of them but at that point I didn’t care. They just started to help us undress while waiting for some direction.” Everyone sighed.

“Sounds like you figured out a lot,” Alexander commented, with a stern nod. “Okay, I was part of the second wave of Green Cleanse. They were determined and used everything to figure out how to protect and purify the blight of our continent.” He pulled another book from his bag, handing it to Alden. “This is the book of finalized spells. It talks about why things were changed and how. It was meticulously written by four Elves...” Alden was motioning to Robbie. “He can read it?” Alden nodded.

He handed it to Robbie who looked like a child receiving a present. Not that the first book wasn’t special, but this one had spells. “The final spells are marked…” Alexander started only to see Robbie flipping through the book, with such joy in his green eyes.

“Now you did it,” Julius smiled, his square, light tan face showing a variety of emotions as he watched his friend and one day brother-in-law. “Don’t explode buddy.”

“Okay, I am ready. Break it down for us,” Londra started, squeezing Anna’s hand while petting Delta with her other. “Your final steps.”

“Not going to like the first part,” he mumbled, leaning back against the arm of the couch near Belle. “There is a spell that makes your skin practically invincible, but it requires more than half of it to be visible.” He pulled out some clothing that was off-white. Everyone looked at the two outfits, some groaned while others nervously laughed.

“The spell is amazing,” Robbie mumbled only taking a glance at the clothing before returning his green eyes to the book. His soft, oval, buttercream face slowly regaining color as he read. “I can’t see any way to make it better… here, I will translate it for you, Anna.”

He stood, letting the visitors see the beauty of his white feathered wings, tucking them close so he could hand the spell book to a nervous Anna. She let go of Londra’s hand looking at the spell in question. With a slight gasp, “It is a work of art… not excited about wearing underwear but… if the blood and poison slide right off and the wounds heal… I guess practically naked will work…” she finished with a sigh, handing the book back to Robbie. He nodded, sitting back down in his special chair, knowing everyone was watching.

“What is it made out of?” Zeke wondered, looking at the strange outfit. “What is the strap for? The bottoms are self-explanatory…”

“Cover the nipples?” Calla guessed, shivering slightly. “Always talking about nipples.”

“You would be right,” Alexander nodded. “All clothing, short socks, ribbons for hair, and collars for your Familiars need to be made with Demon Spider Silk.”

“There is our main problem,” Fenton commented. “That is super rare, especially since the King has them sealed in their caves because he doesn’t like them. I have heard a lot during my time here. People just love to talk to cute Fairies like me.” This caused a few snorts.

“Well, active listeners any ideas?” Beta wondered, his grey tail slowly moving while Sasha stroked him to help keep them both calm.

“The silk, I can get for you,” Archduke Dristen stated, his square, tan face and blue eyes showing his resolve. “Finding someone to shape it… that might be a problem.”

“Okay, lay it all out for us,” Londra said with a nod, her hazel eyes connecting with everyone. “I can see you are ready.”

“Thanks,” Alexander nodded enough to move his short, messy, auburn hair. Leaning forward he unrolled a paper on the table showing the common layout of a camp. He moved closer to the table. “First let’s start with numbers. A platoon is fifty to eighty male M-Ms and two to six female M-Ms, which is probably what you fought. A camp is three to five platoons,” he continued, pointing down at the paper.

“Oh, I don’t like this math,” Trenton sighed, rubbing his large, golden pecan colored hands on his light blue pajama pants. “Sorry, go on.”

“A nest is levels of camps, usually three to five,” Alexander continued hearing the sighs and moans. “The largest is a hive which contains levels of camps, at least three above ground and up to ten below.”

“Yuk,” Sasha grumbled, staring down at Beta’s blue eyes.

“Exactly,” Alexander mumbled. “This is a standard layout of a camp. As you can see it is sectioned off with the largest and strongest in the center. The females are usually there too, but they are unpredictable. Demons are the only ones that can find them… a smell and strange aura if I remember correctly.”

“Yes, they were strangely easy to locate,” Mara confirmed looking over the camp like the others were without moving. “It wasn’t pleasant.”

“There is a spell to give one Demon eyes but since you have two…” Alexander trailed off. “Okay, here is the easy way to do it. All the spells are in the book that Robbie has with different notes about them in the various diaries. First, wear the Demon Spider Silk outfits complete with short socks and tight Three Horn or Drake leather shoes. Also in this book,” he mumbled taking out another and handing it to Londra since Anna was looking at the diary Robbie had passed her. “Also, collars for your Familiars and maybe two of the necklaces since the negativity is so thick here…”

“Question, sorry,” Fern started, she let her voice grow but didn’t want to be human size yet so those listening behind them, still couldn’t see her. “Hair, should we leave it up or down and would it be more beneficial to have it short?”

“Oh, yes that question,” Calla agreed. “I don’t know who took my hair down but when they did there was M-M blood in it. I heard you tell them all to let it fall to the floor then clean it up with the wash. There was a lot that fell.”

“Okay,” Alexander nodded. “That is a good question. It is completely up to you. With the Impenetrable Skin spell active you can use your fingers to comb it out before taking it down. Or you can use a water spell to wash it out. Now the irritation. If you leave it up the tie must be made of Demon Spider Silk or it collects under it and the scalp will need to be treated afterwards, even if you wash it out before taking the spell down.”

“I heard,” Zerina started, “short unless we have some Demon Spider Silk left then it goes up because we can just wash it out afterwards. Does it dry there or just fall off as we move?”

“Falls off,” Alexander answered as the ladies began to think about their hair. “Also, everything but feathers is considered skin. Meaning, with the spell the blood will flow off from Peter’s ears and Sasha’s tail as if it was skin… because it is, technically. Moving on,” he paused to see everyone nodding. “Next, scout out the camp beforehand. Some sleep between ten and two while others go earlier. You want to attack when they are all within the camp. I know it sounds cowardly but starting while they are asleep makes the battle easier. There are spells to help with scouting in the book. Now, you start with a barrier spell to lock you and them within. Make sure everyone is in and it reaches below the ground at least two feet for a camp. This is to make sure no one escapes. All it takes is two to repopulate a camp, especially with the negative energy in the air. I know the challenges are done but that… pain stays in the air for months.”

“I could see that,” Trenton and Mara mumbled in unison before nodding at each other.

“Now that can be one or several who can intertwine their spells. I would suggest having Londra or Anna do that spell. Next is Impenetrable Skin. This one needs to be woven between three to five, you have plenty that can do it with little pull. After, break up into thirds or fourths. A Demon, Sage, and fighter for the two teams searching for the females while the others take on the males. But don’t wait for them. It sounds horrible but once again, attack while they sleep. Also, Purification Flame will also destroy the tents and anything in them. Remember, everything there is made of negative energy and must be purified. Then just search them out until there are none to be found. Remember, you are not hunting but purifying that is one of the hardest things. As you learned, when you forget that your fire won’t work. If it helps, think that each M-M has at least three innocent spirits connected to it. Killing won’t set them free. You must remove the head so you can purify the spirits. I know it doesn’t sound simple but…”

“Then everything burns until the land is clear. We purify the land and air after working the blood out of our hair?” Sasha asked. Alexander nodded.

Zeke sat back in the double chair while Calla shook her head. “It sounds easy but yet…”

“Thank you, Alexander,” Londra said, her voice full of emotion. “I know this wasn’t easy for you but… would you like to become a guest support member and join us out there? I am sure we will be traveling to the North again…”

“You are sweet,” Alexander smiled. “I would like that for multiple reasons. You may all keep the books. Remember to drink the potions that are over in the corner next to the dumbwaiter. Is there anything else?”

“You said wings are skin, just not feathered ones,” Fenton started. “With the spell going can we change back and forth? Small to big, with wings or without?”

“Yes!” Robbie answered, his voice containing excitement. “Sorry, but this spell is amazing.”

Most chuckled at Robbie while he waved it off returning to his treasure. Alexander looked down to see his Lacrama was glowing. “You don’t waste time do you. I accept. I will stop by tomorrow morning. What time is breakfast?”

“Seven thirty,” everyone responded happily causing Alexander to laugh. Julius produced a letter for him, and he placed it in his bag, waving good-bye to his new friends. He simply left out the way he came in. But the listeners were still at the table.

“We need a new third goal,” Zeke stated loudly, causing a few chuckles. He had his reasons for saying this now in front of an audience and he hoped they figured it out. “If we pull off our first then being the best is already in progress. I say our third should be freeing Alden.”

“Oh! I so agree,” Rus yelled, louder than anyone expected causing a few to slightly tense. “While we were fighting, pretty boy was the only one I could always hear. Duck, lizardman,” he finished with a laugh.

“Really,” Belle whispered, squeezing his hands looking into his marbled blue-green eyes. “I thought he was only in my head since nobody else was talking back. I was right next to Zerina and Sasha, but I could hear them.”

“A result of the scream,” Calla said, holding the diary close. “Well according to this. I too agree. He was constantly telling me how grand my fire was. Well, him and Londra. After a while I could hear her until she started singing…”

“Yea, I know it was badly,” Londra smiled. “I wondered if any of you heard me, so I went to telepathy because at least you showed me that you heard me by moving and ducking.”

Now they were all looking at Alden, who hadn’t said anything through their connection during the discussion. His marbled blue-green eyes, and long, beige, Elven ears showed that he was having a hard time taking the praises.

“I came close to losing a hand,” Julius confided, wiggling the fingers on his right hand. His green eyes on Alden. “His warning saved it, so I can continue to pet Theda,” he finished with a smile watching Theda rub against Mara and purr.

“I like you and Mara a bit better than the rest… well I still love Londra,” Theda responded in his monotone way. “My job is to help her today. I will sit on your lap tomorrow.”

“Love you too,” Londra nodded. “Well, I think it is a fine third goal.”

“I did it for me,” Alden admitted to everyone through their link. “I needed to focus and by telling you all what to do, it gave me more purpose then just fighting and defending. But… to free me… someone would need to kill those who did this so the spirits could be purified the rest of the way. I don’t want to put that burden on anyone.”

“I will do it,” Londra said, not surprising those that had done the challenge with her. “It won’t be a problem. Actually, I look forward to it. The problem will be rewriting your memories. That will need to be Belle, are you up for it?”

“One thousand percent,” Belle responded her ears wiggling happily. “I even asked Spella about it. I learned lots of spells that will help,” she smiled. “I wonder if I grow my hair out if I can use it as a whip. I asked her about that too. I never wanted to have it used against me but maybe… this would be the time to grow it out again. My braiding is tight…”

“Wow, talk about whiplash,” Rus said causing many to grown.

“So, listeners,” Londra began standing to look over at the table while holding Delta. “How long will it take to get the Demon Spider Silk? Oh, sorry for not asking your name, miss, but we have had a long day.” This caused Master Oscar to laugh, his muscular form shaking but his square, copper face and vivid green eyes showed little humor.

The woman in question stood. She had to be between five and six feet tall, with a golden, oval face, focused blue eyes, and short, neat, light brown hair. Just by watching her stand they all knew she was toned under the loose, light blue tunic. “I am Elizabeth, Captain of Templar Platoon Three. I thank you for letting me listen. It was a lot to digest, and I can see why you wanted to protect your informant.”

“Nice to meet you,” they all said in various tones.

“I don’t trust my team enough to wear something like that… nor do I think we could ever survive a true attack,” she continued. “We usually use high level holy magic and status magic to make us fast and them slow. Yet, truthfully, it never slows them down much. I think… perhaps now would be a good time to revisit the trainees and reshape my team.”

“It is impressive,” Archduke Dristen sighed. His tan, square face and blue eyes showed how lost in thought he was. But also, his thick, fluffy, dirty blond hair with strands of silver was far from neat from his large, nervous hands running through it. “I have the Demon Spider Silk in storage. Once Hero Brandon was enslaved and the Demon Spider tribes contained the want for it left. Nobody wanted to upset the king. He never made it illegal like some things at that time so… you could have it tomorrow, but nobody that I know of can cut or sew it. They were the only ones that did that.”

“Makes sense,” Zerina commented, stroking Alpha slowly. She closed her deep blue eyes outlined in white, red, and silver for a moment since they were so dry. She rolled her neck, letting her short, turquoise hair move around her slightly pointed ears. “That way they get all the profits from their silk. I know it is a natural secretion, but it is still theirs.”

“Other than the spells, we did it mostly right,” Robbie said closing the book and sending it into his vault. “They are impressive spells. We collected enough liquid blood and poison to test it out a few times. But with their details, I am sure we will have a solid grasp on the spell in no time. Too bad we couldn’t store the scream.”

Fern fluttered off from the arm of the couch to stand beside it. “You know, that doesn’t surprise me like it should. I think I noticed you scooping some up before it hardened.”

“Wow, you are a beautiful Fairy,” Elizabeth said louder than she thought. But it caused a bit of laughter so it must have been alright. “Well, I know that you need rest. We have had our fair shares of run in with the blood; they love throwing it. Some of the poison but never… well, I will take my leave now. Thanks again.”

With that she stood up with Master Oscar and the two left. Fenten also decided to take his larger form, standing beside Fern. All eyes were now on Archduke Dristen, Zeona, and Caldon. When he finally noticed he sighed. “Sorry, a lot on my mind. You all need sleep. I might have a way to help you get into Golden, but it will take months of tugging from the shadows. I can tell you this, Alden, after I found out who you were I asked Archduchess Elizabeth. Yes, I know over twenty Elizabeths it is a very popular name. I digress; she has been keeping an ear and eye open. It seems your younger brother is still free of the… greed that has overtaken your father. He and your mother work behind the scenes to keep the town going but it won’t last for much longer. They are pretending that she is sick. But it is a ruse, she is more than fit… from what I know.”

“Thank you for that information,” Belle said for both of them. Her brother had a few other words, but she wouldn’t tell the Archduke that. “We thank you for any help.”

Archduke Dristen with his guards, still lost in through, stood. “Now, if you can figure out how to help… cull this infestation then it is I that will be grateful.” With that they headed out.