All in a DAY...

Finishing up

“We will work on Rus,” Calla offered watching Londra surveying after cleaning off blood. Her light violet eyes no longer containing the worry. “Maybe you and Helen compare spells?”

Helen was already working on a spell, but it just wasn’t… “I am not a crafter. I know what spells I want to use but to weave them together so they all work…” she sighed by moving her left, Elven ear but her green eyes never left the spell she was working on.

“Good thing I know a great crafter,” Londra smiled looking down at what Helen had started. She added a few more circles of runes as Helen nodded. They both looked at it… “It is better but not done yet,” she mumbled, closing her hazel eyes. “I will be right back,” she told them before she disappeared.

“She went to compare with Anna,” Zerina mumbled watching the guys start to move around. With a sigh she sat down next to Alpha in his large form. Rus' blood was all over her, so she washed it off then did the same for the others. It had been terrifying... seeing the bolt coming then watching it go through Rus... stupid fool. She ran her cinnamon-colored hands through her short turquoise hair to realign her thinking. “From what I can tell their battle is the same as ours. Don’t know if that is good or not. What Alpha said… we are done after we get through… the very tall archer and I think twelve, magical, tall ones… maybe twelve feet tall?”

“Wonderful,” Peter grumbled walking around, his white rabbit ears slowly standing while his short white hair was plastered to his head from sweat. His ivory, diamond face showed a bit of fear but mostly resolve was in his dark pink eyes. “I know that Londra will be back soon but how do we divide them up. I can purify if you like Calla, or I can jump around,” he added a little tail wiggle.

“It is funny, I am exhausted, but my magic is still more than half,” Calla started, her light green hands resting on her restless stomach. “But the toll it takes on the mind and body… I don’t think I could fight right now. Maybe next time a bit more even in the beginning.”

“Good, you must always think of how to make next time better,” Helen agreed with a nod moving her long, platinum braid. She closed her green eyes to survey her own body and magic supply. “I still have my magic… can use it to jump higher. If we use air stairs from behind, they can’t eat them immediately. Otherwise, they would have to be reinforced.”

“Londra will be back soon. She is playing with the spell while only having Julius with her,” Alden projected to the group sounding a bit annoyed. He was standing next to Delta trying to control his emotions, so they didn't show on his long, accented, beige face or marbled blue-green eyes. He was annoyed and a bit angry that she didn't take anybody with her. “A distraction in the front and the attacker sneaks to the back. No way they will fight fair.”

“Good idea, but I don’t think I will be jumping for a bit,” Zeke responded, twisting and moving around. He fisted and released his large green hands while looking around. The magic had worked but there was a bit of lingering pull that he didn’t want to make worse. “I can guard though. Don’t mind being the distraction. Delta, you have enough left to keep them apart?”

“Yes,” Delta meowed which sounded more like a roar since he was still panther size. “Zerina refilled me. It was such a nice, warm hug.”

“I can be a distraction as well and her hugs are always warm,” Alpha stated. “From what I seen, they really created a spell that will make protecting a waste of time.”

Mara chuckled, tossing her blue-black braid behind her. She took a moment to make sure her thin, violet-navy horns were clean to start the battle with. “That sounds like them. I can’t take my wings out, but I can jump around. So, Helen, Peter, Zerina, Alden, and I take the back while the rest of you distract? Any other ideas?”

“Helen,” Alpha started. “I think the two of us should go after the archer first. Even if they are using gravity to have the quills fall before they hit.”

“Welcome back,” Alden commented since Londra was breathing hard. He moved to steady her. She didn’t seem to care that his hands were on her hips, but she did notice how tense his marbled blue-green eyes and long Elven ears were. She waited for the scolding but he projected nothing.

“Yea, I know but I wanted to play too. Just go get this done,” Londra mumbled trying to not blush at where his hands were. She needed a distraction desperately. “I have questions Helen, perhaps you could help me focus by answering them?”

Helen nodded, with a bit of happiness in her green eyes. “The music is nice, but we always talked about anything while battling. Who started it again?”

“Anna or Fern. It stopped before the quills,” Londra answered taking her spot next to Calla as the barrier went down. The spells came and they were reflected back. She waited for Helen to get behind the archer, amazed that Alpha was dodging the attacks with the help from the spell.

Helen took it out quickly looking over to see that a yellowish one grabbed Mara’s long hair only to have his arm blown off by a lightning bolt. She smiled; nothing had touched the hair yet. These were the worst of the worst, of course they would go for the hair. This battle would be slightly easier. “What was your question?”

Londra began to purify the archer as if it didn’t almost kill them. “Glad the spell is working but it is quite the drain on our energy so it can't last long. Anyway, can the Impenetrable Skin spell be attached to each person? I was reading about nests and they all said after you go down the stairs or path the first person must cast the spell. Then as the team moves forward the spells are cast again then weaved together or made to overlap. It just seems easier if they were attached to the people and familiars there wouldn’t be any fear of being attacked out of range.”

“I have been thinking about that too,” Alden added, waiting for the right moment to jump and attack. “Keeping large spells going is more taxing, not that they don’t have the energy to do it. This spell is still going strong. But if we did it like the Victim’s Revenge spell…”

“I hear what you are saying but that would take a lot of work…” Helen paused to dodge an arm before cutting it off. “Then again I didn’t know you could attach the Victim’s Revenge spell to one individual or that they didn’t need to be immobilized.”

“Spella taught them that,” Alpha added with a switch of his black tail. “They couldn’t heal and work with her if they couldn’t move. If I remember right, it takes three hours of non-moving if the spell is applied the normal way and a three-hour nap after playing the other way. Who doesn’t like to play and take naps?” he finished with a purr like roar.

“You are right. I was just so happy to see Alex and wanted to be with him, I wasn’t even paying attention. That first spell was Victim’s Revenge? Amazing… I didn’t feel sleepy immediately but after a few hours… that is extraordinary,” she commented, jumping around since the M-M she was after wouldn’t stay still nor grab her hair as she whipped it around before him. She stopped a few feet away waiting for it to finish with its fit. “What the three of you did in a matter of minutes… it might be doable. The barrier surrounds the whole nest… that is always needed especially when the weather isn't friendly. The Impenetrable Skin... it would also be easier to release smaller spells. Plus, if you did attach it to each person going in, we wouldn’t need to do one floor at a time. That would be faster. We never tried it because we didn’t have any that could manipulate spells like what you three just did. Twenty-five years and we are still changing things... Next question?” Now the M-M grabbed her hair since she was standing still. She smiled evilly as his arm blew off. She moved to take his head.

Londra was working on purifying her third while nodding; Calla just started to purify her third. “There seems to be a food shortage, which I understand is because of the M-Ms. Why do we always move food with wagons or carts? Not that I don’t enjoy walking or the company but... Why not preserve it like we do our kills, then put it in a vault before the person teleports close to a town. Wouldn’t that be easier and faster to get it to starving people?”

“That is an interesting question,” Calla commented, amazed that the conversation was helping to keep her focused while the music drowned out the grunting. “The teleportation couldn't be into a village or town because of the extra energy around unless there was a strong draw point. Thus, outside with a few guards... a good idea. All the Archdukes and Archduchesses have Demons capable of long teleportation with ample vault space. If they did that…”

Zeke laughed, “I wonder if anyone thought of that before! Just like befriending Castaspella!”

“This is what you want to talk about!” Rus grumbled, dodging another arm. His anger was below the surface because he refused to let it help the M-Ms anymore, but they would not make him dance around. In a clean motion he took that arm.

“I like this group,” Helen stated working with Alden to take down the second to last. “I would like to stay on permanently. Could I or we? I am sure Alex would like to stay too. It is strange. This is all I seem to be able to do and doing it again feels so… good? Even if the creatures are horrible. Do you know what I mean?”

“I do,” Londra nodded, her eyes so heavy but they were almost done. “I will ask when we talk to Master Oscar. I think the limit is twenty-five per party but that doesn’t include familiars or slaves. By your ear language there is more you would like to ask.”

“Yes,” Helen answered, jumping down looking at the dancing rainbow fires. They were done, just like that. She watched as Londra released the new spell and saw the toll it took. It was a wonderful spell but not doable with all the others going on.  “I have heard rumors about four others from our team that might be alive. My Lacrama confirms they are alive but…”

“Close or far away?” Londra wondered, rolling her shoulders waiting for the magic to finish.

“Two are in Archduke Dristen’s area,” Helen started moving with the group beginning to take down the tents around them.

“I am sure they are in need of something,” Londra commented with a slight yawn. “We can just ask Master Oscar to give us a quest that will take us there then… wait, are they slaves? Do we need to get Master Yevhen involved?”

“I believe one of them is, perhaps all four, with kind masters it would be a way to protect them... and the villages they are part of,” Helen answered. “We all needed to change our names, so I am not certain that it is them, but I have a good feeling about it. The first is part Feline Beastwoman and part Demon with the most beautiful silver-violet eyes. Her name was Rayjenna but it may be anything now. Do you trust Master Yevhen?”

“I don’t know if trust is the word,” Londra admitted as Delta helped pull her up only to land in her arms to be carried. She took down a few more tents and purified all the items inside, realizing that she wasn’t the only one running on fumes. “I think he has been told to help us, and he isn’t a bad person. I also think with enough extra coins he will keep any secret.”

Zerina laughed, walking with Alpha, “yea, that about sums him up. He did try to find ways to free those that were forcibly brought here to be slaves.”

“Helen,” Zeke started, “I know you have some interesting things… anything that could get us back to our room? I think the shower will be the end of me.”

“I hate to agree, but I do,” Alden projected to the team, noticing that he could see the others and that they only had about one tent left each. “The extra items in the tents really add up.”

“I agree with that,” Calla sighed, closing her light violet eyes for a moment. “I am so exhausted. It will take will power to unbraid my hair… or whosever stands before me… hopefully not Mara, she is so tall.”

“And quiet,” Londra commented. “Mara?”

“I am concentrating on getting to the end,” Mara stated simply. “I agree with everything.”

“I have a tent,” Helen started. “It is an item we used often after battles. Inside is a little sitting room and ten magic beds. It has a barrier around it, so we would be safe for our three hour nap. I don’t think there is anyone who should be teleporting.”

“Agreed!” Anna yelled, finally reaching Londra. Hugging her she said, “I don’t know about the rest but so can’t teleport. Look, empty!” she happily gestured to where the camp was. A large empty circle in the middle of a forest. “Now shower time then whatever you two were talking about.”

“I would like to say…” Fern started, leaning against Fenten as they both walked forward in human form. “That was not fun. I don’t like you very much right now Rus, even if Helen said you had a good reason. I would also like to say someone else can have my place on the female team whenever the urge strikes. I know my poor Trenton has to go but I am not sure I can go every time. My lovely blue eyes are so assaulted.”

“You were awesome though,” Anna slurred leaning against Londra with a thin smile. “Zerina, are you doing the shower or the yuk magnet?”

“Wow, you are toasted,” Zerina chuckled, blinking her deep blue eyes with a smile on her long, cinnamon face. “Whichever, but only one.”

“I can do the magnet,” Alpha offered, rubbing against Zerina. “I am that good, sorry boys.”

“I got the… magnet,” Peter laughed. “Don’t think that the spell minds being called that?”

“I will do the shower. I don’t want it too hot,” Alden offered, nodding to Robbie.

“He is fine,” Trenton answered. “He heard the question about making little spells.”

“Wait, did I hear that question?” Anna wondered as Londra pulled her to the side. “Oh, right shower time… I like water, it is so clean. The music was nice too…”

“It was,” Londra responded starting to take down Anna’s hair. It took fifteen minutes, but they were all free of poison and purified everything. It was Helen and Alex that moved them towards the edge of the barrier before everyone removed their spells.

Once the spells were removed, the forest they were in started to reform. They all stood in amazement watching trees pop up from underground as if they were just buried instead of cut down and used to create the camp. Then the grass and vegetation came back with a bit of magic pushing them onto the newly made path. They had left the other so fast, so they never witnessed it. “That was awesome!” Anna giggled like a child. “Wait, we are on the path now… is that a door?” She walked around the strange brown door that appeared suddenly as Alex and Helen tried not to laugh. “It is just a door, but with one golden handle! So magical!”

Londra did laugh, “I love it when she is exhausted. It is so comical. Why don’t you open the door?” she encouraged with a bit of light in her exhausted hazel eyes.

Anna’s deep green eyes grew big; this time it was Julius who was laughing. “I can go in?”

“Please,” Alex answered, gently moving her towards the handle. She slowly twisted it, opening it to reveal a room. She backed up and walked around the door again.

“That is so awesome!” she told everyone. “There are ten beds inside that door, and the room looks like a tent. Then there is a little place in the back with all kinds of different chairs and fluffy pillows…” With that she marched in. “But there are only ten. Helen, do they grow? Some of us are quite tall… Trenton and Mara.”

The rest of the group followed her inside and had the same reaction just toned down drastically. “They do,” Helen answered. “If needed, Alex and I can rest in the back. Once we are all in, we will be safe. Here,” she paused, pulling out Rejuvenation Potion to pass around. “We can stay in here for hours, it draws energy from the sun. We are safe, so I suggest we all drink and rest. I will let Daniella know that we won’t be back until later.”

Nobody argued, just drank looking at the five beds on both sides. Zerina turned towards Rus. Her intense focus on him made him step back one step. “Are you, you again? I don’t have the concentration to hear whatever happened… I just want to know if I can trust you.”

He slowly nodded, moisture in his oval, dark silver eyes. “I am me, but very confused. I lost three whole days and if I did something to hurt you… I am very sorry,” he finished softly, bowing his head before her.

Zerina nodded, then shrugged, taking his hand, yanking him from his bow. “Good enough, I am not sleeping alone after all that strange. I like you for some strange reason so come.” She pulled the confused, but trying not to show he was happy, Rus towards the farthest bed. She pushed him down into it then snuggled in next to him. “Alpha, you coming?” she slurred not knowing the cat was already laying on the pillow.

“Shall we?” Calla asked, taking Zeke’s hand without waiting for an answer. “I agree with not being alone. That was a lot.” She decided on the bed next to Zerina. She turned to see that he had no idea how to speak. “So articulate, come,” she stated with a little chuckle, pulling him down into the bed with her. It magically adjusted.

“I have to have my wings out,” Mara sighed, looking at Julius with such emotion on her ivory face that the undertones of violet were barely visible. “I didn’t think that I would be able to bring them out but now they ache and want the air…”

“I have this,” he smiled motioning her to the other side. “You take that bed, I will move this one closer and hold your hand. Then my sister can lay on the other side of me, while Robbie is in the next bed covered with feathers.”

“You are the best brother,” Anna sighed, pulling Robbie behind her.

“I do need to let my feathers out,” Robbie agreed softly. The three beds were shoved together while Mara and Robbie laid face down so their wings could have air. The beds widened to support the wings. Julius and Anna climbed into the middle bed and got comfortable. Theda flapped over to share the pillow with Mara as they both sighed.

Sasha switched forms holding out her hands for Fenten. She knew he needed to be small with his wings out. He smiled, motioning her to get comfortable in the bed next to Calla and Zeke. He waited until the bed grew and her whole tail was supported. He shrunk, fluttering towards the pillow. Beta appeared on Sasha’s left side, so he took the right side of the pillow. The strange group was asleep instantly.

Trenton decided to take the bed next to Robbie. It grew as he laid down. Fern shrunk and joined him on his pillow. He smiled just before he dosed off.

Belle and Peter didn’t say anything, just climbed in bed next to Sasha and Fenten. Alden decided he wanted to try sleeping next to Londra. If the curse made it impossible, he would move over into the chairs. He moved her into the bed next to Belle. Her Lacrama was glowing, so she was doing something before he gently pushed her into bed. She didn’t argue, just finished up, holding out her arms for Delta.

“Looks like we get a bed,” Alex smiled, taking Helen’s hand.

“I am going to contact a few people for Londra then I will be to bed, my love,” Helen responded, moving over towards the furniture. Alex sighed and followed. He knew it would be quick, but he didn’t want to sleep without her ever again.

Three hours later…

Alden awoke still holding Londra with Delta beside her. He closed his marbled, blue-green eyes to gage the time. He had been asleep for about three hours without the curse bothering him. Actually, there was no violent urges within him… he was at peace? When was the last time he felt like this…? He looked around to see the others were starting to wake up. He had an interesting vantage point to the show. Belle was lying flat on her back, her long, platinum hair to the side, falling off from the bed. She was holding Peter’s hand while his white, rabbit ear was curled around her head.

At some point during the nap Fenten must have had a burst of energy. Sasha and Beta were tiny and on the pillow with him. Shasha’s tail coiled around one of his legs while one of his transparent blue, cicada wings were covering them both with Beta curled around their heads. Alden thought it was almost as cute as the rabbit ear hug.

Calla and Zeke were tangled together, both with a smile on their faces. While Zerina had one leg out of the bed, but the others was tangled with Rus’. Alden could tell he was more awake since his body was ridged because Alpha was sleeping on his stomach and Zerina was slowly petting the tuxedo cat.

Yes, Alden understood since his hand was still on Londra’s naked stomach holding her close, breathing in the scent of her hair. Most of it was tossed above the pillow but a few strands were there just for him. He never understood the Elven fascination with hair of loved ones until now. He could sense who she was in so many ways just from the scent. He wasn’t sure how it was possible, but he needed to move before his body betrayed him. He slowly slid out of bed, placing her hands on Delta.

Helen and Alex were up, moving around where the furniture was. He could see that they had slept in the bed, but it was almost perfect again. Trenton was still his tall self with a five-five Fairy lying beside him. It was interesting how Fairy wings could bend. One side was on the bed while the other side was covering her and him in a pink blanket.

Robbie looked like a pile of white feathers, but his hand was still holding Anna’s while she was back to back with her brother. Above their heads was fluffy Theda while Julius was still holding Mara’s hand. She looked like there was a deep, black blanket over her.

He thought about the weeks before this and how Robbie had paired them in every way to make sure the feelings that were sprouting were real. But the calm air in the tent showed everyone was where they belonged. Before he could dive more into his feelings, Londra took his hand, using it to help her sit while keeping a sleeping Delta on her lap. She pulled him back down trying to keep her hazel eyes from looking at all that was on display.

“I lived on Earth before,” he admitted to her through their link, wondering if he said it to make her let go or because he wanted to tell her.

“It is alright. I don’t get headaches anymore when talking about Earth,” Londra responded. “I am pretty sure I have remembered all I am going to until I see my family again or learn their names. But it is like this life… feelings more than visible memories. So, where on Earth?”

“Ireland,” he answered simply, realizing the only other one that knew was his sister and brother. When they were talking about things during their guarding quests, he never answered anyone, and they never pushed to know.

“I always wanted to visit, but never had the money, time, or courage to go alone,” she admitted. “So what color were your eyes?”

“Actually, other than the Elven ears I look mostly the same. My eyes were more blue with a hint of green. Oh, I wasn’t so tall… around five-seven,” he answered so glad his outburst didn’t give her a headache. She was actually smiling. He was about to say something else when Zerina decided it was time to wake up. She jumped out of bed with such gusto everyone was sitting up.

“Sorry, I wake strangely,” Zerina admitted, nervously blinking her blue eyes. “Always ready to run. Anyway, rise and shine there are stories to tell. Plus, I am staving!”

Calla sighed, sliding out of Zeke’s warm embrace. “You always are. But I do agree…” she stopped as the pile of feathers stood at the same time shadows took Mara from the bed to the floor. “Do we just leave then teleport home?” she asked Helen smiling at the strange show. Helen nodded. “Good, I am ready for clothing. Oh, look at the tiny Beta, how cute.”

Those close heard Fenten sigh as everyone returned to their normal size. Sasha switched her tail for legs, collecting her long yellow, green, and red hair behind her neck. Beta stretched, “I am always cute,” he purred, blinking his blue eyes.

Helen’s Elven ear wigged, “I will close it up, put it in my storage then be on our way back too.”

Slowly everyone made their way out of the tent, stretching and mumbling things to each other before teleporting. Londra waited, just to make sure Helen and Alex got back to the room. Of course, Alden waited with her. As Mara passed by, she mumbled something about letting the kitchen know they were back. Once Alex was out Helen simply closed the door then touched the center and it disappeared. “I thought there would be more,” Londra shrugged before taking them back to the room. She joined the others heading for the bathroom as the room exploded into happy chaos.

Answers...

Rus was the first dressed and waited next to the dumbwaiter for the food. He had no idea what was going on, or what he did, but something told him it was going to be a long, strange meal. He thought he would have some time to sort out what he remembered but instantly everyone was gathering around the table glancing at him. The silence and looks made him want to shrink and scurry away. At least not everyone was focused on him and his twitchy oval eyes. His brown skin felt hot while he hoped his nervousness wasn’t in his long face but feared it was. Why wouldn’t his eyes stop blinking?

“Okay, first,” Helen started with a crisp, clear voice bringing everyone’s attention to her. Other than her loosely braided platinum hair, her stance, sharp, oval, light beige face and green eyes showed how serious this all was. “Who has Mical’s diary? I believe the Death Seed was talked about in it extensively.”

Robbie frowned, running a buttercream hand through his short, auburn hair. “I do… I sort of remember reading that.” He produced the book for her and watched as she thumbed through the pages. He looked closer, reexamining everything with his meticulous green eyes, before backing away so everyone could see it.

“We named it the Death Seed,” Alex started sitting down the other end of the table. He gave everyone a smile since they noticed his right arm was missing. He was glad when the team just nodded back. His square, cognac face and steel grey eyes focused on the ceiling. “Horrible thing… didn’t come across it until… around ten years before we came here to help… so about twenty-five years ago. It is the size and shape of a pumpkin seed with a super sharp point. Oh, it is a brown-green color, sound familiar?”

Now everyone was gathered around the book looking at the pages that had detailed pictures. Londra pointed to the finale picture, amazed that her light beige hand wasn’t shaking. “This is what it looked like when I pulled it out. About the size of my fist with roots that oozed evil. I was terrified while intrigued. Helen yelling at me brought the terrified back into focus, so I purified it with a level twelve flame.”

“It wanted you to pause long enough it could latch on to you. He was lucky that you have so much magic energy,” Helen stated, moving down to sit next to Alex. “I will tell you all about it…” there was a bell signing that the first group of food was ready. “While we eat. That way it will break it up a bit.” She stood with Alex and began to unload the waiter with Rus before sending it back down. It was only a minute before the next group was coming up. The group moved away from the book to pass around the chicken soup and sandwiches.

After the bowls were on the floor for the cats, Londra motioned to the couple to start. Alex looked down at his bowl that was already half gone, he needed to slow down anyway. “The seeds are made by high ranking M-Ms. The point is jabbed into a person, but few would every realize. It is just a prick.”

“Yea, that is what he turned into,” Zeke commented, looking across the table at Rus who was focusing on eating. Zeke frowned slightly since Rus didn’t take the bait. Stirring his soup he tried to get a read on Rus.

Alex continued glad that most weren’t completely blaming Rus. “The seed moves into the body, attaching to the nervous system and within three hours it is in control. They give off a certain scent, but I didn’t know you all enough to think he had a Death Seed inside him. Plus, Helen was only with us for a little over a week so she wouldn't have thought about it either.”

“It doesn’t fall on just you two. We can’t use what we don’t know,” Londra said softly, looking down the table where Rus still had his head lowered focusing on his food. The waves of anxiety and annoyance were radiating off from him. “Okay, you four. You smell a…”

“Musty, moldy, water scent,” Helen provided. Taking another spoon of delicious soup. “To be fair, a Lizard person is perfect for the seed since there isn’t a large difference in smell.”

“Fine, we smelt that,” Alpha sighed, cleaning his black and white face theatrically. “This is good. We will be more alert to smells.”

“Anyway,” Helen continued with a slight ear wiggle, “after the seed is attached the individual has no memory of what they did. They also don’t know who they are and don’t respond to their names.”

“Really… wait, that is true he didn’t respond when we used his name,” Zerina whispered, her deep blue eyes blinking as she tried to understand. A frown on her long, cinnamon-colored face as an absent hand pushed some of her short, turquois hair behind her slightly pointed ear. “Absolutely no memory?” she looked to see Rus shaking his head. “Is it the seed or repressed thought of the victim?”

“That is a good question,” Alex stated with a nod before looking over at Rus. “He is the only one I know of that lived, so who could say," he shrugged. "The seed brings a group of people to the M-M camp to be lunch.”

“So, the seeds laying on a table that took so much to purify were them?” Calla wondered, rubbing her nervous, light green hand on her simple slacks. Her light violet eyes looked around to see everyone was thinking the same thing, it could have been any of them. Yet Rus was perfect since he had so many different layers of personality.

“Yes, but the M-Ms don’t usually choose the victim. Instead, they choose a human that wants revenge on a group. The high-ranking ones can change their appearance for around ten minutes to look like normal Goblins,” Helen added, sitting back in her chair looking at her empty bowl and plate wishing for more. “So now we need him to tell us what he remembers. I know many of the twisted that were involved with the challenges have become sick from all the negative energy and a few have died. Most don’t have energy, but they still have servants and access to money. At least that is what I am thinking.”

“Oh,” Fern started a bit louder than she thought causing many to jump or chuckle. Her oval, fawn colored face showed a bit of embarrassment while her vivid blue eyes sparkled. “Three days ago, he seen a few other Lizardmen on one of our escort jobs. I heard one of them say… how easy that was and that the sick lord’s money was as good as theirs.”

Londra sighed loudly, “yep, should have figured that out. Well Rus, when you are ready.”

“Wait, first did you know he is a prince?” Delta added with an evil purr, cleaning his black fur to make sure all of the lovely soup was eaten properly.

“I guess I should start at the beginning,” Rus grumbled, rubbing his long, brown face, closing his dark grey oval eyes for a moment.

“Yea, you avoid most questions by pissing us off,” Zerina stated, batting her turquoise eyelashes. “Yet, your kiss is just enough to make me keep talking to you.”

He nodded, trying to smile but… “Here it is then. My life in Terra was horrible. My parents married and had a child because they were promised a job with decent pay. It lasted for three years, after that we bounced around trying to make enough money to eat or steal food. My father died when I was ten, mom said he wanted us to live… we ate him. Pretty sure mom killed him for food. I was also sure that she would do the same to me, so I ran the first time we came to a town. She didn’t look for me because she found a man who wanted… you know, and was willing to keep her fed. I floated around for the next eight years but was killed for the same reason my father was. A group was starving, and I was the weakest one.”

“Wow,” Fern mumbled, lowering her soft fawn, oval face so nobody noticed her tears. Trenton reached over with his large, golden pecan colored hand to take hers.

“Yep, when I was reborn it was to the Rondo of Continent Twenty-five,” Rus continued, blinking the moisture from his oval, dark silver eyes. “The second son.”

“The Rondo is the head of all Lizard people on a continent, right?” Belle asked for clarification looking around the table. Her sharp, oval, light beige face and deep blue eyes showed little emotion but her long, Elven ears drooped slightly letting her long, loose, platinum hair frame her face. As if realizing they straitened, pushing her hair back. “I do not know ours but have heard he passed. Nobody has retaken the title because of the king.”

“I heard that too,” Rus nodded, trying to relax in his chair but his body wanted to move. “It is true, I remembered my past life at three. Quite young for all that. I cried a lot and then was coddled. I liked being coddled. I was able to evolve easily, grow muscles without work, and could do anything I wanted. My father came right out and asked that I be a smoke screen for my brother. I agreed without hesitation. I had no direction, just never to be hungry again and I loved being the center of attention.”

“So, you were the reborn son with all the power, while your brother was able to keep in touch with the people because everyone thought you would be the one to take the title?” Sasha wondered, her long, buttercream face showing her emotions as she blinked tears from her evergreen eyes. Then she looked at Fenten. “Have you heard this all before?”

“Yes, there was little to do and after we warmed up to each other it was all we had to keep us sane,” Fenten admitted tilting his head slightly, just enough his indigo hair moved around his caramel pointed ears. His light blue eyes surveyed Rus who looked so defeated. “Next part, it worked too well. Soon after Rus became an enhanced non-human he was taken. You see the revolution was starting and he would be a strong warrior out of the way.”

“Thanks,” Rus sighed. “I was a slave for two weeks before Master Yevhen found me and placed me. There is a large Lizard town to the southwest, it is shared by all three of Archduke Driston’s children call Aquatican. It is where two rivers come together. It was there a group of children put me in my place. If I could evolve and had all the techniques of a warrior, why wasn’t I one? Why didn’t I use my knowledge instead of making others do my work for me? Why was I so lazy? How could I be a son of a Rondo, when I had no backbone and no pride? Yea, having a group of children say that to your face and others to stand around nodding… it fired me up. I became an active member of the town. There were a few rumors that I would be a good Rondo. Then a few years ago it happened, our traders from Duke Elwin’s area stopped coming. I, with three others, decided to go to Duke Elwin to see why. He tossed us in the challenge. They blamed me for not finding a way to get out… yet they made it because of Londra. She was the first to befriend me… asked so many questions but I digress…”

“We were close to that town,” Fern stated, nervously pushing back stray locks of violet hair that didn’t want to stay in her partial braid. “Did you recognize the ones that spoke to you?”

“No,” Rus answered honestly, standing to clear the table. His hands shook as he collected the first few dishes but then became steady. He needed something to do. “They seemed to know me, and I just felt so guilty I stood there and listened.”

“Wait, like the stories you told us?” Robbie wondered, a frown on his soft, oval face.

“Yes…” Rus started slowly, while stacking the last of the dishes.

“Did they give you any specifics about what was happening in the town?” Julius asked, sitting back in his chair watching Rus with his green eyes. He rubbed his square face with his strong, light tan hands figuring it out with Rus. He felt bad for him.

“No, and the only names they used were the ones that everyone knew,” Rus mumbled slowly starting to realize why he had been chosen. He felt like a fool.

“Lords, no matter how sick, can look at the quest logs,” Fenten mumbled as anger crossed his accented, oval face.

“None of us had any real dealing with the continent,” Zeke commented, his golden eyes watching his friend. He fisted his green hand under the table. “You did. Any Goblin could come up to speak with me but there is no way I would trust them.”

“I was a target,” Rus sighed, “saying it out loud made it worse somehow...”

“There was no way to know about these Death Seeds,” Londra stated, looking around at everyone’s serious and somber expressions.

Just then the dumbwaiter made a noise, surprising Rus, causing him to jump and everyone else to chuckle. Rus opened it, revealing a fruity dessert and four bowls of thick chicken gravy. “We get a treat. They even added one for our dear helpers,” he said softly beginning to hand them out. Nobody moved to help him because they all understood his need to do something while he thought about how he had been used. They all ate silently for a few minutes. “Helen, could I ask you something about the soul crystals?” Rus asked wanting to change the subject off from him to anything else.

“I do not mind,” Helen responded without much thought other than how good the parfait was. “Their purity is all unique, but they have the same amount of power.”

“That helps but… they are all fist size but a few look like they could be split it two easily,” Rus commented. “That was what I was wondering about.”

“Because you are right,” Alex answered since Helen was enjoying the desert. He pulled two from the party vault where everyone had moved them for Londra to decided how to use them. He was glad he had access to it through the party links. He set them on the table. “Fist size is the norm, but they do come bigger and a bit smaller,” he held up the fist size, clear crystal with a bit of rainbow color hidden within. “These are the ones that run the barrier machines. Now for the others…” he picked up the other fist size crystal with a stress line in the middle and gave it just a little twist causing it to pop apart. “These are the same color and start the same size but split because the soul or souls inside were not whole. When someone loses their will to live but not their life the M-Ms are able to suck out pieces of soul. The individual can still live but the energy is now part of the M-M until it is purified. The females can also split souls to make more if she is a high level.”

“Okay,” Julius started taking in the new information wondering if he had read it in one of the diaries. “So, what do we do with the smaller crystals. If they break that easy, they don’t go in the machines.”

“That is right,” Helen confirmed after finishing her parfait. “I don’t know what they use the small crystals for here, but other machines were built to use them on other continents.”

“Thanks for asking that Rus,” Londra said, sitting back in her chair digesting the information and her lovely parfait wondering how many partial souls the Challenge had made from their hopelessness. “We collected sixteen full crystals and nine that will split in half. I say we keep the ones that will split… just a feeling that we may need them or come up with a way to use them. Would you be opposed to me giving fourteen full crystals to the Archduke? I understand that we do a lot for him, but he is running interference and helping.”

“I say why not,” Zeke started with a smile on his long, green face. “We will get more.”

“That is for sure,” Sasha smiled, fluttering her evergreen eyes at Fenten who almost choked. “I also agree that helping him is helping ourselves.”

There were plenty of nods around the table as everyone was finishing their desserts. “Zerina?” Calla started looking at her last forkful of delight. “Could you help me evolve? All the way. I am ready. I know that it will help, not only me but everyone else.”

“Okay, one question,” Zerina sighed as the sweet fruit and cream melted away. “Do you, Calla, want this for you or are you doing it to help the party?”

“Yes, I want it very much for me,” Calla answered honestly. “I spoke to my family yesterday about it and they would be honored to have a daughter evolve to enhanced. Mom got all emotional about how it would have tickled my father so much. Anyways, I have been debating it since I learned with Spella,” she finished blinking the moisture out of her light violet eyes. “I wonder what skin tone I will have.”

“Then yes, before bed or in the morning depending on what happens,” Zerina pointed to Londra who was lost in her own world. Calla smiled, nodding.

Anna was the first finished, she then gently moved Sasha who was next to Londra. The two began to work on personalizing the Impenetrable Skin spell. Robbie and Helen soon joined them as Zeke laughed. “That is what I expected! Hey, Robbie, before you go getting absorbed…”

“What is up, Zeke?” Robbie asked, looking at how the ladies were changing the large spell.

“You want to help me evolve… all the way?” Zeke asked with a nod. “My father approved it quite forcefully actually. My mother just smiles, like moms do.”

Robbie looked up, “you are sure? Okay, yea I see that you are.”

“I worked with Spella and Cas,” Zeke stalled. “They both explained different things about going all the way. But bottom line is that I will be stronger and more agile. I need that and want it. Of course, I will have to let Catalina know I will need a different colored chest strap. That will be fun… but yea, I really want it.”

“Okay,” Robbie nodded. “Tonight, if they don’t go all night or in the morning…” he trailed off since he was focusing on the spell. He murmured and pointed.

“That is its own language,” Zerina chuckled. Her deep blue eyes outlined in white, red, and silver were focused on Rus with an evil smile. “I say we don’t go back out until our dyed clothing is done. Mine is supposed to match Rus’ eyes.”

“Oh, it is like that,” Rus grumbled, sitting down with his large, muscular, brown arms crossed and a slight frown on his long face.

“Uh-oh,” Londra smiled, looking up and handing the spell to Helen. “I know that tone.”

“So do I!” Anna giggled, her deep red eyebrows dancing. “He wants a hug.”

“I do not! I want to be left alone! I want to remember what I did so I know how much I need to put up with,” Rus answered. But that did not stop the two as Robbie, Zeke, and Fenten began to chuckle. Soon Rus was being hugged from both sides.

“My new shorts are brown, just like me,” he tried to deflect the attention. “So, it will look like I am naked! Take that.” This caused all the ladies to laugh but Londra and Anna didn’t move.

“Actually,” Alden began, “they are going to match all of our skin tones for the nipple protector. Just the rest of us like color. I chose blue. I do believe they are supposed to be done by tomorrow. I think a day or two then we start again. How would Delta say it… oh I know, because we are just that good.” This caused more laughter.

Londra sighed, leaning against Rus a bit heavier, “anyone have real objections to a visit from the Archduke? He is approaching now… I want to see what else we can change while they slowly figure out who is knocking on the door. We can be scary.” With that she pulled Anna, and they returned to their square of thought.

“I went with maroon, if anyone was wondering,” Julius said bringing the conversation back for a brief moment. Delighted at how annoyed Rus was. He wondered if they could get his bald, brown head to lighten from pure annoyance.

“I went with forest green,” Alex added with a smile, while Rus continued to smile thinly. “Our first real date was in a dense forest.”

Helen smiled widely, looking up for a moment. “We never thought about dyeing them after we were told it wasn’t possible. I asked for orange, the color of the lilies that you gave me on that date.” This had all the females responding in emotional ways.

“Zeke talked me into light violet, like my eyes,” Calla smiled softly. This brought about a new wave of emotion. She wanted to switch the focus, so she added, “Mara’s are deep violet.”

“I have matching turquoise with Londra,” Anna added without looking up. “She never stood a chance. I really can’t wait to see how they turned out.”

“I will go let them in,” Julius snickered at his sister while Delta and Alpha changed into their large forms to go with them. He wanted to laugh but just walked with them to the door.