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“Mmph?”

Ethan rolled over, blearily wondering what the shrill noise pestering him was. It sounded familiar... Not an alarm clock, no, it was barking not ringing... Thorn? He blinked in confusion as the identiy of the noise became clear to him. Why was the puppy barking like that? The wrinkled black creature hadn’t made this much of a racket since when Vyn first got him a few weeks a go... Since then he’d settled in and the whining and crying had ceased, yet he’d never barked like this in the dead of night.

Something akin to worry stirred in the businessman. Perhaps he should check on Vyn, make sure that both she and her noisy pet were ok...

Slipping out of bed he moved out of his room, the ominous feeling rising as the barking reached fever pitch and developed into a frantic yelping, accompanied by scratching on the door. His feet scuffled along the flooring as he reached her room’s door. Yanking the door open and allowing the young scruff of pitch fur to escape, Ethan peered into the gloom with wary eyes. Normally the businessman was adverse to swearing and the flamboyant use of profanities; when Rivener had sworn at the concert and Vyn had mimicked him, his feathers had been ruffled. Regardless of this, a cuss issued from his wizened mouth as he took in the room that Thorn had been so desperate to escape from...

Although the room was dark, lit only by the dim light creeping from behind Ethan in the doorway, somehow the shadows were clustered round a certain point in the room. Rather than obediently staying still attached to their casters, they’d snaked over to the corner; entwining themselves around... Vyn. A horrible lurching feeling rocked the pits of Ethan’s stomach. It was happening again! Her powers were kicking up in some peculiar way of trying to protect her – like they had at the concert. Only this time he didn’t have Rivener to pry the frei out of her strangling guard.

Cautiously he proceeded to cross the room, bare feet treading lightly on the floor that was so peculiarly dark yet somehow barren of actual shadows. As he approached the mass of darkness seemed to react. They flexed and extended, occasionally cracking in the air with angry whipping motions. Of course, each of the tendrils was armed with a coating of vicious barbs, thus the danger for the businessman was not just a lash but a nasty gore too so he kept his movements slow and obvious. The more unthreatening he appeared, hopefully the less likely he would be at risk of damage.

“Vyn?”

His voice wavered between them, nervous and afraid for both his and Vyn’s safety.

Vyn's closed eyes quivered slightly, as though she was in a light sleep and his voice was beginning to wake her. The shadowy tendrils around her pulsed and swayed and with her rune at the centre of them - glowing brighter than Ethan had ever seen it - it really seemed to look like some morbid rose in the midst of a black tangle of briars. This image sent a shiver down Ethan’s spine. It was easy to forget that the raevans were not human – Vyn was so quiet and reclusive, Rivener so animated and charming, and Xiu so humble and intelligent: All human characteristics. But he had to remember that on top of that they had other not so human attributes: Shadow, poison and some relation to innocence. Evidently Vyn didn’t have the same sort of control over her powers as the others and thus he swore silently to seek help for her as soon as he managed to defuse this situation, it wasn’t just her emotions that he had to worry about...

Unfortunately for Ethan his gentle calling did not have much more of an effect on the girl and after a few more uttering she did not even react in the slightest. He racked his brains to think of an alternative. If he simply shook her to wake her up he was too scared of her unconscious defence lashing out and potentially hurting not only him but Vyn in the process. There seemed to be nothing else he could do though...

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a remedy for the solution. On Vyn’s small but cluttered bedside table – heaped high with CDs and teach yourself Japanese books – was her mp3. The slim line creation had been his welcoming gift to her and Ethan knew full well that it was jam packed with explosive J-rock; loud enough to be used to drown out his attempts at conversation and therefore hopefully loud enough to stir the raevan non-physically from her slumber. Filled with new confidence and a plan Ethan took the headphones and inched them closer to the raevan’s head. As his hands approached the trestles of malicious thorns bristled, extending slightly to form a ring of black needles around her face. Wincing slightly, but continuing with the task he slipped one headphone into one of her delicately sloped ears.

Retracting his hands he exhaled and swiftly turned on the music player. However, rather than blasting her straight away which could induce deadly startled waking consequences he instead opted to slowly feed the music in – raising the volume over the following minutes. As he did so the shadowy defence seemed to falter; most visibly and immediately the thorns that had caused his heart to beat at double time began to lose their demonically wicked points, becoming more harmless nubs. Then the shadowy stems entwined around her pale form began to lose their form, dark wisps slipping off of them to return to their rightful places as shadows on the floor... As she came to Ethan took her hand, tracing the lines of her palm; praying to a god that he didn’t believe in that she was ok.

Alex: Mnm? *comes out of her sleep rather quickly, sitting up with an alert expression and picking up the phone, flipping it open, wondering who is calling at this hour* This is Alex.

Ethan: /almost before she's got her words out. Alex? Hello, it's Ethan... I'm afraid I need some help.

Alex: *there's a scuffle as the woman gets out of bed* Ethan? What's wrong? Do I need to come over?

Ethan: /a long pause, followed by a deep intake of breath. It's Vyn.. She hasn't been coping well with the death of - Gage? Her old companion? And tonight things got rather out of hand... /again there's a long pause as if the businessman is assessing the situation in hand. I don't think you need to come now, but your advice is sorely needed.

Alex: *the shuffling stops, with only sound being the background chorus of crickets while she waits and listens to the man speak* Out of hand? *another silence follows before she exhales softly* Okay. I'll do my best to help, Ethan. What happened?

Ethan: She hasn't been eating properly since the news of his death reached us - whilst we were in the company of the Delaran's, it was most unfortunate timing... However I simply assumed that after a little time she would straighten out again. /sighs deeply, as though he is taking it as a rather personal failure. However apparently the stress triggered some sort of response with her powers...

Alex: That's right...they were friends. I saw that the first time I met both of them. *another soft sigh escapes her* Don't worry, Ethan. We can't predict everything they're going to do, just try to deal with it as it comes. *a light clacking sound is heard, with the soft whisper of 'shadow, shadow,' heard between it* Okay, it might be good to immerse her in as much shadow as possible right now. Her rune should absorb the essence, survival instincts and all. Is she awake? Or rather...um, is she still seeming like herself right now?

Ethan: /the sound of movement can be heard as the man stands up and moves around. A dark room would be suffice? Correct? /a sound similiar to the one at Alex's end is heard as he switches off the room's light. She's not awake now, she's sleeping on the couch in the living room with Thorn. Though she was asleep, or I assume she was sleeping, when the incident happened. I thought moving her out of her room would be best... Something in her bedroom could've been the trigger. I can keep an eye on her here... Unless you'd advise me to keep my distance?

Alex: Mm, darkness and shadow aren't the same. If she's on the couch...if the light's on, don't worry about it. We need something to cast shadows. Even if it's just a blanket casting them on the couch. No, no, Ethan, you're fine! *she laughs softly* It's so nice to hear you're concerned...that sounds bad, I...mean I'm glad you have her. *another pause* But she needs shadow, not darkness.- As long as there's moonlight or even a night light to cast some sort of shadow around her, it'll help. Don't you fret, okay? Just be there for her, and these things will help. I promise. You're doing fine.

Ethan: Yes, yes, of course.. Shadows not darkness. /sounds uncharacteristically flustered by the error, there's another click as the light is turned back on and he searches for shadows cast by the artificial lights. There's a few slithers of shadows from the windows? Not very big though. Perhaps... two inches wide at the most. I don't think I own a night light. /mutters something about not having thought he'd be needing one.

Alex: *laughs gently at his muttering* It's okay! Is there a light in the hall or kitchen? Oh, that might be good - if there's a light in a room behind the couch. That'll cast the shadow right on her. It wont be as good as a feeding but it will help, and hopefully...whatever happened with her powers, you mentioned...will settle. If needed, you can bring her to Kyou's tomorrow and we can stress the importance of feeding, if you think it necessary. We're here to help you in this, okay?

Ethan: Marvellous idea! /laughs nervously and can be heard hurrying to follow her suggestion.... There's a long pause then a scuffle as he picks up the phone again. Yes, yes it casts plenty of shadow onto her. /sounds very relieved. Thank you Alex, I think I will... I don't want to see her like that again...

Alex: *listens, a soft sound of chuckling following his words* You're a good man, Ethan. Now, is there anything I can do for /you/? It's just as important that you're okay and relaxed too. They respond to us just as much as their powers respond to their food. Are you okay? *there's a soft blip and a new clacking start, one that sounds like a keyboard*

Ethan: I, uh, I don't know.. /there's a long pause and several sighs. I feel rotten, to be quite honest. Like I've let myself down. You down. Vyn down... Seeing her like that, it really hit hard. /there's the soft thump as if he's settling into a chair. I wonder whether I'm doing the right thing...

Alex: Ethan. *the name is said softly, warmly* None of us can begin to understand their emotions, how they react to things. You were there for her. She's whole and safe, is she not? You've given her that security. You're the one on the phone at this hour. Don't sell yourself short when you're doing everything in your power - that's a lot more than you're giving yourself credit for. *a pause follows again, the keys having fallen silent* She'll learn through you. Showing that you care - I think it'll do a lot more for her than you think. You are being an ideal guardian Ethan, you've not failed any of us.

Ethan: /listens intently and quietly. Thank you Alex... I suppose you're right, the fact neither of us were hurt and that she's recovering is good enough to forgive my fault in the matter. /sounds more at ease than before, there's even a sense of optimism in his voice as he goes on to speak. I'm sorry to have bothered you at such a late hour, but your pearls of wisdom have been wonderful.. I won't keep you much longer.. We can talk more tomorrow - well, /he pauses to presumably look at a clock. -later today. At the LAB...

Alex: *her smile is audible in her voice* I'm happy to help you at all, Ethan. She's...she'll be okay. I can't imagine what she's going through, but I'm very glad she has you to watch out for her. And please - don't apologize, that's what I gave you my number for. I'm just glad you use it! *another soft chuckle sounds* Definitely. Just give me a call when you're ready - I'll be working there anyway.

Ethan: I cannot thank you enough... Until we speak again.. Good bye.. /there's a slight hesitant pause then the clack of the phone resting on the holder and the line goes dead.

Duality: the state of being twofold or double.

Vyn had been thinking about this a lot recently. Since seeing Kenth’s fel essence and soul bottle, the intriguing cloud and the life sucking object, her mind had kept gravitating back to the two parts she was made up of. A living shadow and a wild rose... She’d been distracted from the world, too busy reflecting; Ethan was starting to query the distant look that was often creeping into her dark eyes. Even the LAB’s file photo that was tucked away in a file in Ethan’s office was starting to show the signs of her musing. Before her encounter with the fel essence and bottle it had been neat and crisp – only really handled on rare occasions by the careful handed businessman. Now, about a week after Ethan’s check up it was well thumbed; the corners bent and it’s flatness bent from being constantly fetched and examined by the frei.

Querying why Shuura had chosen to combine her soul with her essence had never really crossed Vyn’s mind before – it had never been spoken about in depth, rather it was one of those things one learned not to worry about, especially since the only person who could truly answer was no longer there. However, now that the creation of raevans was at the forefront of her mind, Vyn couldn’t help but ponder the logic behind her creation.

Why a rose? Something so delicate and unrelated to her fel essence... Surely a bat soul would’ve been more fitting – they liked the dark? In fact, a rose soul couldn’t be more unfitting! They required light, nutrients, and care – everything a shadow couldn’t provide! Had it been laziness on the teenager’s behalf; the first soul that Shuura had come across? Or even an accident?! A plant sucked into the bottle through sheer clumsiness...

All these thoughts, questions, curiosities were bouncing around her head as she lay still in her bed. It was dark in the room, but her amber eyes could easily pierce the gloom and distinguish the familiar shapes of the room’s other inhabitants: Thorn, huddled at the end of the bed and her bird, perched sleepily in its cage.

No. She certainly couldn’t sleep like them with her mind so active.

Sighing she raised herself into a sitting position – her ribbon stirring beneath her at this activity, moving under the covers like an angry snake. Thorn also stirred at this movement. First just a twitch as though his dream was being interrupted, making Vyn’s breath catch guiltily in her throat. But then his squat face turned and his pug eyes examined his mistress groggily, as if to say ‘What’s going on?’

“I can’t just lie here...” Vyn cooed apologetically, stretching a hand and gently rubbing the space in-between the dog’s ears, just where he liked it. This induced his familiar expression of joy: tongue lolling out of his black lips and eyes scrunched gleefully closed. A small smile curved Vyn’s lips, perhaps she could take him out on her night-time excursion; a companion in the dark.

Gently she rose, exiting the covers and scooping up the dog. She could make her exit silently from the penthouse, floating across the floor had it’s advantages, but Thorn did not have that ability. His pattering footsteps and lightly dangling collar would appear loud in the quiet of night. Loud enough to wake Ethan and spoil her plan? Maybe. The chance wasn’t worth taking; the pug didn’t weigh much in the rose’s arms anyway.

The darkened penthouse was almost eerie as the frei made her way through it to the exit. The fish tanks gurgled quietly and as the glow of Vyn’s rune hit them shimmering illuminations darted all over the place, to say the least the shadows were so unusual the girl paused for quite a lengths time – the desire to experiment and feed very present. However, the pawing of her pet urged her to the door. She grabbed and donned a cardigan quickly before exiting into the lift, descending to the ground floor and making her way onto the streets.


Outside of the modern tower of apartments Vyn’s night-time journey really did begin. She had a destination in mind, but the process of actually getting there had totally eluded her. Thus, as she floated above the pavement infront of her home she found herself at a loss as to what to do. There was an autumnal chill in the air and as she mused Vyn found herself thankful for the warmth of her cardigan and the heat produced by the pup; still hugged close to her chest.

“Where now?” She mused, glancing down at the puppy as if he could provide an answer. Of course, he couldn’t and the only reply she got was an excited yap followed by some wiggling...

She had to think logically. Normally when she and Ethan went to a different city in Gaia either Ethan had driven them there or they had gotten a taxi. Evidently the first option wasn’t available – but the latter? Perhaps. She dipped into her cardigan pockets, holding Thorn in the crux of her spare arm – they were nice and deep, plus they were pleasantly warm due to the woollen nature of her clothing, about one of the only good items Ethan had selected on their occasional shopping trips. Thankfully for the frei lady luck was smiling upon her as her fingers brushed against what she was looking for; her mobile. Ethan had borrowed it the other day when they had required a cab home and his phone had been out of battery – if luck persisted to be on the shadow’s side the number would still be in the call history.

Fortunately Vyn made very few calls, preferring to text if she was going to use her mobile at all, thus the number remained top of the past calls list. Pleased she hit call.

“Hello, Gaiaspeed Taxis, how may I help you?”

Vyn paused slightly, her miserable social skills holding her back slightly before she nervously responded; “I would like a taxi to Durem please.”

There was the sound of rapid clicking, as though the person on the other end was typing followed by, “where are you now please?” Her voice was nasally and held a hint of boredom that suggested to Vyn that whoever it was, she didn’t want to be there.

Vyn recited her address and the woman responded by saying a taxi would be there shortly, directly after which the call ended abruptly with the clatter of the woman hanging up. The raevan got the feeling Ethan’s chosen cab company didn’t employ such well mannered phone operatives at night... Then again, it must be around the early hours of the morning now and Vyn knew how humans generally reacted to a lack of sleep. Shuura had never been a bundle of joy when she had requested outing in the depths of night...

And there she was again! Her thoughts just kept homing in on her guardian and after that... her creation. It was frustrating to say the least. Vyn didn’t enjoy tormenting herself with all of her doubts and queries, but they flooded in none the less; like Kenth’s raevan-to-be had opened a door that needed closing promptly if the girl was to get a good night’s sleep any time soon. However, this little outing should be able to give her the closure she needed. If anywhere could provide explanations then it would be the destination she had in mind...

Fortunately the taxi ride past like a blur, the countryside of Gaia was bland at the best of times – mostly grassy fields – and in the depths of night nothing much was present to capture the rose’s attention besides the occasional sleeping cow. Thus, when the cab driver grunted to signal the end of the journey Vyn was a little startled mid-doze. Hurriedly she pressed the correct payment into the driver’s hand and excited the car. Of course, the cold night air bit at her, but that wasn’t the thing that shocked her.

The graveyard’s condition was disgusting.

It had never been the grandest of places, when Shuura had taken her there it had been slightly run down with weeds clambering to and fro. But none the less it had been a pretty sort of rundown; like the souls resting in their graves were close to nature. Decorative moss sprinkled over headstones and little blooming plants.

Now, well... Now it was a disgrace. Vyn drifted to the first row of gravestones and with a mild look of disgust as she skirted around half a dozen condoms and many discarded bottles; some smashed and empty, other filed with what had to be stagnant urine. Her soul’s birthplace appeared to have become some sort of crash out for drunks. Heavy heart weighing her down she began to scout out the gravestone that was most important to her. Originally she’d planned to allow Thorn to scamper around on his own, but in light of the place’s poor condition she kept him firmly in her arms. After a few minutes of searching, recalling the memories of over three years ago, Vyn finally found what she was looking for. Vyncente Van Helson’s grave: her namesake and the location where Shuura had collected her soul.

To her relief there seemed to be little sign of desecration there; just the dried out husk of a plant draped over the headstone. Sighing, the rosy-haired Raevan dragged her fingers lightly across the stone tablet, tracing the carved letters etched into its surface just as she had oh so long ago, though now she could read the finely curved words. “Vyncente Van Helson; 1986.” The corpse of the plant shivered in the breeze and so did Vyn.

She had come and now she wanted to leave... She had achieved what she wanted to achieve.

Now she knew that although some things had had a dual nature, it was better to accept them happily as a whole.