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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:45 am
The casino was mostly quiet as she walked around the floor though it was lit far more than normal. The patrons were gambling, the lights were up, the mirrors gone, and the shows were still going on, but there was an air of expectation sliding through. An expectation of trouble. Perhaps it was just she who noted it. Perhaps not. Theros was never far away now and there were three times as many guards as before. He and Asmo had been holding all the interviews for which she was thankful, but it just seemed odd to have so many around.
Even the customers glanced around at seeing so many employees wandering around constantly watching. Some it made nervous while others never seemed to notice other than that first glance.
Finally Mischa moved towards the entrance. She needed to check on rooms and to make sure everything was going as planned for the elite customers that were there. Perhaps then she would go to the showroom and get something to eat while she watched. She could definitely use a drink.
It seemed rather odd. There had been no fights. No complaints. Strange.
But the demons there did not lessen their patrols or tenseness due to the quietness of the customers. They continued following Asmo's orders to the letter. He had made it plain he would accept nothing less. Maybe nothing would happen. Maybe something would. Either way, they were prepared.
As she walked towards the showroom, Mischa stopped one of the waitresses.
"I want something to eat and my usual red wine, Meli." she stated as she moved towards her table. The show was just starting.
"Coming right up, Miss Renaue`." Moving quickly, she headed towards the kitchen to place the order.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:54 pm
Irving had only come to the casino two other times in his life, his honeymoon and the death of Natalie. Pulling himself together as he listened carefully to the chiming and ringing of various gambling machines he made his way through the crowds. Irving had little favor for the colorful individuals that made their home in the casino and placing his bets on a quiet evening in the restaurant he headed that direction.
However, it wasn't without notice that the casino security was tighter than usual and carefully Irving moved about. He wasn't here to cause any trouble but he was unable to say the same about the hiding hunter. Pulling his hair back in a nervous run of his hand Irving nodded and looked about.'This is highly uncomfortable.'
Gaining his composure back, however, the man made his way over to the restaurant and was caught by a bouncing woman just before he entered. "Sorry sir, today we are closed. Can I do anything for you?" she asked, a cheerful and intoxicating smile spread across her face.
Irving sighed under his breath and waved to the girl, "If you will so indulge me as to why such an establishment is closed on such a busy season, and, why don't you fetch me some wine while you are at it." Irving didn't want to deal with this, nothing, and no one so happy.
The girl left with a nod, and completely ignoring his question he growled. If only he could get his wine, he would relax. Hopefully she wouldn't get him any bitter wine. It made his tongue sour. 'Probably should have told her that,'he mused.
Turning again the man leaned up against the post and turning letting his eyes linger on a shadow in the corner he signed. Hunter had followed him, as anticipated.
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:45 pm
Mischa glanced back as the man when he asked about the restaurant. "It's closed because the shows are open tonight. Food can be served in there." For a moment she hesitated, but then she saw the hunter. The pack of hounds were watching him warily as much as the man in front of her. This man was a summoner.
Instead of continuing forwards, she said, "Meli, he can order whatever he likes from the kitchen. See that it's brought with my order. I apologize. Most people know that when the shows are on that everyone eats there. It gives them time to clean here. Being open 24 hours a day does not leave much time for things like that."
"Forgive me. I've not introduced myself. My name is Mischa Renaue`. I own the Tempest." she smiled warmly. "If you want, you may share my table. I'm going in to watch the show. It's been a rough day. Rough several days actually with adding lights and removing mirrors." She indicated he follow her as she commented. "Ignore the pack of hounds. Asmodeus put them here for my protection."
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:36 pm
Irving was completely clueless. Not that he understood what anybody seemed to say these days anyhow but the confused look plastered on his face didn't help the situation. Stuffing a hand in his pocket and pulling out an ancient pocket watch he opened it and looked at the ticking hands. He had time, plenty of it, to spare for a dinner and a show. After all, papers were closed tomorrow- it being a holiday and all.
"Mischa Renaue?" he asked, hoping to have pronounced the name right, "I am Irving Clark the fifth." He introduced himself with a small wave of the hand and looked at the hovering daemon behind him. "Pardon Hunter if you will, he knows nothing of what to make of a place like this. It is perhaps the most curious thing he, and I, have ever seen." Irving smiled, he had been in a casino before, but never one like this.
In fact, the show premiering tonight felt like it was unique to this place, unless Irving was just oblivious. "What is the show? Oh, and it'd be lovely to join you." he smiled. Irving took a step forward himself and pulled open the door in which he hoped to let Ms. Renaue in. "Perhaps, the circumstances being as they are, you could explain to me what you said earlier." he asked.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:43 pm
"Pleased to meet you both, but call me Mischa. Prince Asmodeus is my contract. That's one reason there are so many here, though most people do not see them." she murmurred as they continued walking towards the table. Mischa waited to explain until they were sitting down at her table which was slightly separate from the rest and with the best view of the show. Many times she needed to talk to patrons or others without anyone eavesdropping on the conversations.
"The show is a musical done with the showgirls and some actors that I hired. Various skits, and then a stand-up comedian afterwards." she laughed then admitted. "I was just planning on propping my feet up a few minutes while I had something to eat. Trying to escape and hide out for a few minutes."
"You must not know." Mischa frowned slightly before asking him, "Have you been to the Daemonologie shop, Irving? Or have you had any strange occurances at night? If so, it's not just you. Many of the summoners have been having odd things happen. I went to talk to Edward and found out a bit more." She would have continued but the waitress delivered their glasses of wine. For a long moment Mischa stared at the large plant in the opposite corner of the area. A frown crossed her face as she watched the shadow, but then turned back to Irving to reply. Maybe it was just her nerves.
"I decided it was best to add alot more lighting and to get rid of all the mirrors I could. I made the excuse that it was for security reasons and to prevent any trouble. And the mirrors reflect too much, so they are being taken down also. Of course, all the demons and the employees that know about them all know the real reason why it is being done. I can at least tell you what I know."Taking a sip of her wine, she watched he and Hunter for a few moments. They did not seem to know anything was going on. Perhaps it was a good thing they had come here.
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:40 am
Irving rallied over the events of the past few days. In fact, what had happened had caused such an emotion that the man hadn't traveled any place in darkness since. "Perhaps, yes I have." he responded sullenly, "I've only been to Daemonolgie once, but I had a strange occurrence a few nights ago involving a mystery which scared me out of my wits." he noted, taking a cup of cola up to his lips and taking a sip.
Letting his line of vision drift to the empty stage Irving kept his eyes on it for a moment before turning back to Mischa. "If I may- does Edward know what is going on?" he asked. His guesses was no, Edward seemed a brilliant man, but this situation seemed to cause everyone he knew to go into a small state of alarm- then again- that wasn't many individuals.
"I know what the lights do, but do mirrors-" he paused, "Do daemons have the ability to project themselves threw mirrors?" It was worth a shot.
Hunter drifted closer as the conversation grew intense but he continued to maintain his distance. Hunter was silent and observant, and as his hands twitched nervously as he looked around. This conversation was going no where and the questions he had persisted Irving with- weren't being answered.
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:17 am
"I know exactly what is happening so far." Mischa stated with a great deal of certainty. "A daemon hunter is trying to kill Edward, Hae-min, and Tae-yul. We are the trap she plans to use to draw them out."
"Edward said the image the other night was a warning of some sort but he was uncertain who was warning us other than they spoke high Enoch which only the highest level demons even speak. This demon was warning us of the hunter, whose name is Sibyl van Hellsing and she's very good. The daughter of Gabriel van Hellsing from what I've been told. She's also a summoner and she can teleport. Anyhow this Sibyl killed Tae's parents but her father killed his sister. So there is alot of enmity there." Her explanation was perhaps shorted but it got to the point. That was what mattered.
Mischa shrugged, but smiled. "She planned to kill me as an example to Edward and Tae who are her real targets, but a friend of mine interrupted by walking through the door. Kyrie was shot in the shoulder instead. You might want to talk to Edward and Tae-yul but be very careful going there and leaving if you do. Tae said to remain out of heavy shadows and Kyrie seemed to know more. She was the one who said to cover the mirrors to prevent information being gathered that way."
She watched Irving and Hunter for a long moment. "I'm not sure how many others are involved. I know that a few others have come here. All I can say is to spread the information to whatever summoner you run into that does not know. Personally, if the shop goes under, the rest of us will be her targets next. I don't plan on letting that happen. Edward and Hae are friends. Tae and I tolerate one another but still I don't want to see anything happen to any of them."
Staring at the shadow in the corner, Mischa glanced around at the other corners. She was so nervous of shadows and mirrors now- imagining movement when there was none, but this had to be stopped. Sibyl had to be stopped. But where would she pop out next?
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:07 pm
Mischa was right to have been wary.
The leaves of the plant were icing, slowly, shriveling and falling into nothingness. At the edge of the shadow, bone white fingers curled around the edges of the shadow, black nails dug into the wall, tearing gouges in the wood. Armor glinted on the back of the hand, and then the figure pulled itself entirely into view.
She was beautiful. Her face, aristocratic and pale, highlighting her bloody red eyes, the black lips, the black hair that fell like sheets of ice. She wore armor on her left arm, on her torso; she was armed, blade at her side, silver thread embroidery along the pommel. Black fabric pooled on the floor, falling from her hips. Her skin sparkled like ice in the sunlight. Calmly, without attention to the summoners, she adjusted the armor on the back of her hand, and then she approached.
Evidently no one could see her save Mischa, Irving and their respective bound demons; the guards weren't reacting, sliding past her like she wasn't even there. "I am Zuleika," said the armored demon; she stopped out of reach of the humans, hands linked behind her back. "I seek Asmodeus, for he has a debt which must be paid to me, and there is a warning which I must give."
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:54 pm
Irving absorbed the information, or rather attempted too. It was troublesome enough dealing with his own hunter who would go and vanish in the night, but to have another danger lurk over his shoulder- was all too much. Shaking his head with a slow and sullen nod he closed his eyes. "All goes by fast, but you speak the truth." he noted, "I do not know either of the three very well, and in fact, I had yet to remember any name by Edward's without much trouble. However, no life should be lost and this... Sibyl, why mirrors?"
The answer was obvious, they were numerous and easy mediums to see through. Perhaps, living in a house with few of them had helped him out lately. As since then he hadn't been visited any- but it seemed as if something would have to be done about the Victorian household with held welcome to long shadows.
Drawing over the ideas in his mind Irving dazed out for just a moment. In fact it had been only a minute before another voice came into their conversation. Instantly the hunter drew near to daemon and pulled a weary arm over the summoner's head. Irving was reluctant to admit such possession but instead he stared at the newly approached figure.
He was speechless and instead he drew reluctantly into the arms of his daemon. The figure didn't touch him but instead kept a careful eye on the newcomer, it seemed as if guardian and daemon both were weary of such a presence.
"I know no Asmodeus," hissed Hunter. His body was rigid; the gravity of the situation weighed down upon him, and his prize, Irving, felt all but easy under the close touch of his hands.
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:33 pm
As the room got colder, Mi blinked, staring at the demoness, but finally nodded to her. If this Zuleika meant her harm, she would have already done so, no? No reason not to be polite then. And it was all the more interesting that Asmodeus owed her.
"Zuleika, I am Mischa. This is Irving and Hunter. Don't worry, Hunter. I know him." she introduced briefly, then growled, "Asmodeus, get in here. Now."
The demon prince glanced over from where he stood with Theros. There was an intrusion and he could feel it. Then he heard Mischa.
"Theros, come with me. The showroom." He knew precisely where Mischa was and most likely that was the intrusion as well. Vanishing, he reappeared just beside Mischa. A faint twitch appeared. "Zuleika, my love. Beautiful as ever. Have you come to stay?" Asmodeus wanted her to remain. His eyes gazed from her feet upwards, lingering on her face.
"Or have you come to kill me?" he asked remembering their last confrontation. He had not defended himself at all. Here he would have to.
Mischa blinked then asked, "Kill you? Great. Let me guess.. you pissed her off too? I swear, Asmo, is there anyone you do not make angry?"
The demon prince shrugged. "I wanted her here with me. It's as simple as that."
Theros was standing beside the pack of hounds that were always nearby. He could definitely see what Asmodeus saw in Zuleika, but he had no doubt looking at her that she would be a challenge to even the prince.
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:44 pm
She looked to the Nameless demon, coldly; she said, adjusting the armor on her hand again, "Then do not speak." He bore a superficial resemblance to the man she sought, but not close enough to keep her attention for long. Just in case her point wasn't clear, she drew the silver sword and held it out, the tip of the razor-sharp blade resting in the air without wavering barely an inch from Irving's nose. "I have no interest in any demon but Asmodeus, and once I have collected my debt I will share my warning. Lest you have something of import to say, you will remain silent."
To Mischa, she added coldly, "As will you. I thank you for your assistance, but this is a matter of honor."
The sword was lowered, without a shake or tremor, to her side.
"Why would I want to stay," she snapped once Asmodeus arrived. "You took everything I wanted from me, you're hardly likely to replace my Queen--" She had worked so hard to replace Tenebrion as the Queen's Guard, and then see what had happened!
Her attention was drawn back to Mischa. "You've summoned this idiot? I pity you." That pity seemed to change something, she looked again to Irving and the hunter, calmly. "The Princess of Hell is in service to Sibyl van Helsing, by the way. That would be the message."
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:15 pm
'Princess in Hell...'
Irving had no clue who this princess was, but her title seemed to beseech her. Looking at Zuleika with curiosity Irving examined her body before turning to Mischa. She seemed to know perfectly well what was going on, at least for the most part.
Pulling on his sleeve though Irving felt the air around him slowly grow heavier. The atmosphere in the room was unbearable. Hunter was still hovering uneasily over Irving, even after the other had assured that no harm would come to them. The daemon felt threatened.
Irving hadn't much experience with daemons, especially not his own.
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:46 pm
"She never summoned me." Asmodeus corrected. " We contracted after I was already here, but there was another contract that needs fulfilled and it was more important than how I got here. Or remained here. Simply that I did. I said there was more that you did not see. Even contracts from the time of Solomon still need fulfilled."
"And I have no intentions of replacing Lilith. I wanted you here as an equal, Zuleika, but you never see anything other than duty. You are worth more than mere servitude." Asmodeus admitted as he watched her still. She was beautiful and he wanted to pull her into his arms and carry her off inspite of those here now. But he was sure that would not happen for some time to come. She was still angry at him.
Mischa nodded, agreeing, "He's trouble, but I had more before he came. You are welcome here, Zuleika. To remain as long as you wish. Inspite of him." She glanced at Irving and Hunter a moment to see how they were taking all this information.
"Kyrie said that she was trying to protect us as best she could. And I'm guessing she wears gray silk. We need to find a way to protect Edward, Hae-min, and Tae-yul. I don't suppose you would remain, Zuleika, and help everyone out?" Asmodeus would be annoyed at the invitation. Mischa did not care. Zuleika might have the information needed to help everyone out and it was up to the demoness to decide.
"Is there any way to help the princess out of the contract she's under and circumvent Sibyl? Do you have a solution? She cannot be left to that hunter." She had no doubts that Zuleika could be of help in freeing the princess and getting rid of Sibyl. If enough of them banded together instead of running and hiding. She frowned, musing almost to herself. "Hm.... I wonder what Seere or Sam know. Or even Tenebrion and Mastipal."
Theros chuckled, drawing a glare from Asmodeus. The demon prince was scowling at Mischa as she mentioned going to others for information. Theros shrugged still amused. What could be done? Asmodeus had wanted her to get a backbone. Mischa had. The fact that it was going to be an irritant to the demon prince had never been discussed. Perhaps not even thought of.
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 4:57 pm
Regarding the hunter, she smiled after a moment and said, "You guard your summoner well, even in the face of a stronger demon. Fear not. I won't raise my blade against those who bear no ill-will towards my queen; you don't wish to harm Lilith, do you, hunter?"
Zuleika nodded to Mischa. "Her favorite gown, as I recall, is of gray silk. She wore it every time she had the opportunity; that, and an ivory coat. I've no idea where she got the second." She crossed her arms over her chest, the blade in her hand seamlessly flipping to point at the floor.
"Asmodeus should know," said the ice demon, "that there is no way to break a contract unless the demon in question wants it broken I doubt she is going to want to give something up that allows her to remain the in human world." Zuleika was perfectly loyal to Lilith, but it seemed Lilith's daughter fully missed that boat. "Unless you have evidence that proves she no longer wishes to be bound to Sibyl's side, you're faced with learning the weaknesses of Lucifer's lineage."
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:54 pm
Hunter didn't flinch, he didn't even bother to blink. The only reason he guarded Irving was for the blood that ran through his veins, his guardian was the only tie he had to this world and to the desires he sought to fulfill; as long as he upheld his contract, he wouldn't be restrained.
"Whomever you speak of, I hold no grudge. However, this Sybil, and this Princess, who are they?" his metal fingers twitched nervously, one coming dangerously close to Irving's face.
Personally, the guardian could care less of the daemon hurt him, he was becoming more and more confused by the conversation. All the names, mentions, and suggestions towards things were out of his league. However, Hunter seemed to be keeping up with it.
The other nervously twitched which meant he was curious, and curiosity for him wasn't a good thing. In all accounts, it was rather dangerous; denying such information to him was even riskier.
Running a nervous hand down his arm Irving stood and adjusted his clothing. Hunter came closer and hovered beside Irving, both of their eyes moving from speaker to speaker.
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