Private Tales Nine Lives

[Isaac]

"We are in Alven." Isaac answered.

It was a small city, at least compared to the likes of Alliria or Dornoch. Located near eaglehead, and also the home of his family. "My fathers, well I suppose my manor now."

His birthright, after all. His hand raised into the air and he snapped his fingers once again. There was a slight shudder, in the air that seemed to almost reverberate within the air. "Your things will be brought to you."

Isaac said as he walked back towards the bar.

"I guessed you wouldn't really want to go back for them yourself." Given how she had reacted to their last...trip.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

"I will murder you in your sleep if you make me go back through a portal again tonight," she was only half joking. "But you are right, I can wait for them to be brought here."

Layla walked over to Teekle and squatted down in front of the cat. She scratched between his ears and spoke softly to him, "sorry, I freaked out. I do like you a lot. More than Isaac, I think..." She scratched a few more times before she stood again.

"So what now?"

 

[Isaac]

He nodded. "I figured as much."

Isaac had always been good at reading people, it was part of how he'd gotten his way so many times back at the College. Studying back then hadn't been his main skill, mainly he'd conned the other students to tell him how to do something.

Teekle only seemed to purr as Layla scratched the back of his ears, though within his eyes something seemed to flicker. Something with more depth than a simple cat.

"Now we wait." He said with a smile. "Or more accurately you wait."

A hand scratched at the stubble on his cheek. "I need to cast a ritual, Teekle needs to help, and then hopefully in a few days time we'll find the next peace."

Though there was a chance it could take months again.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla was surprised that she didn't mind the waiting. When one didn't have to worry about a place to stay or eating, it was easy to relax and wait.

Well...easy-ish.

Isaac had made sure she had a very nice guest room and an unlimited amount of wine. For the most part, Layla had spent the last three week reading, writing, and drinking wine. It was literally a dream that she never thought she would be able to live. To just relax and not have to look over her shoulder.

She did find herself missing the rush of the kill so when Isaac let her know it was time to find the next piece, she was ready.

 

[Isaac]

When Lyla stepped into what Isaac had designated as the 'laboratory' she would find three large scorch marks on the floor along with a splattering of crimson liquid.

Teekle was sitting quietly on a nearby table, his tongue running over his paw and cleaning something of a similar consistency from his fur. As the former assassin pushed opened the door, Isaac whirled around. His hair was a mess, his stubble had grown into half a beard, and there was something wild in his eyes.

"I found it!" He declared, more than a little unhinged joy in his voice.

It had taken him weeks to track the fucking thing down, and even now he wasn't entirely sure what it even was.

That hardly mattered though, he at least knew where to head.

"It's in Neus." He told Layla, pointing to a finger at her as though she would recognize the name. "To the north."

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla walked into the laboratory and looked at poor Teekle immediately. What did that man get all over the place? She walked over to the cat and picked him up gently, setting him on a folded arm as she pet him. Her nails scratched between his ears and then made long strokes down his back. "What did he do to you, sweet boy?"

She kept the cat in her arms while she walked closer to the man who had essentially taken her in, giving her a home and a purpose.

She had grown to like Isaac over these last few weeks. He was determined and extremely smart. Being handsome, funny, and rich were perks as well. Well...rich...he made his own money out of thin air so self made rich...literally.

"When do we leave?" Layla asked her half crazed friend.

 

[Isaac]

Teekle glanced up at Layla.

"Breeeeeeow."​

Was the only response that she received in answer to her question, a code that really only Isaac could decipher. "Well that depends."

There was a wild exhaustion to his eyes. It was clear that the Warlock likely hadn't slept in days, probably more. The power that he received made him more than human, but even his body needed rest at times. The strain of magic touched even him.

"Would you still rather not venture through the Ways?" He asked, taking in a deep breath. "It would be much faster."

Even though she despised it so.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla grimaced at the mention of the long dark tunnel of death but he was right that it would be much faster. Plus the only way to get over a fear was to conquer it. She could conquer the dark tunnel of death especially if she was going to stay around Isaac and Teekle long term.

"No, I need to face the fear and go through it. Can I be really drunk first though?" She was only partially kidding. She gave Teekle a few more scratches and long pets before setting him back down in his original spot.

 

[Isaac]

Isaac nodded eagerly. He wanted this puzzle to be complete, even if he was still missing two other pieces beyond the one in Neus.

"Good." The Warlock declared, though immediately put a damper on the second part of Layla's plan. "No...well...I mean yes technically."

There wasn't anything stopping her from being inebriated. "But you might want to be sober walking along those walkways...not to mention what may wait for us beyond the next door."

Isaac had never been to the city before, nor the Isle it sat upon. It was a strange, cold place. The people there were calculated, strong. Teekle would guide their path there, everything else? Everything else would be up to them.

"We'll leave as soon as you pack. It'll be cold." Isaac told Layla. "And I...I will take a nap."

It felt like he hadn't slept in years.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla didn't take very long to pack. She figured that there would be a way to get more clothing if she needed any. She did make sure to pack the important things...her weapons. Several daggers and various poisons were stuffed in the bag.

She was in no hurry so she decided to have one glass of wine so she could try to relax and get ready for the tunnel of death.

Layla ended up napping in the chair in the study while she waited for Isaac to wake up.

 

[Isaac]

"TIME TO WAKE UP!" Isaac shouted, his voice booming out as the doors to the study slammed open.

There was a wild, almost manic look to his eyes.

He had slept almost six hours, enough for the rings under his eyes to have disappeared. His face was a mark of excitement and joy, so different than it had been over the last few weeks as he'd searched. Teekle rushed across the room, jumping onto Layla's tummy.

The cat's paw pressed against the assassin's face, a gentle nudging knead. "We're going!"

Isaac shouted, his fingers snapping and the doors to the foyer throwing themselves open.

"I hope you packed for the cold, love." Isaac announced. "Neus can be rather chilly."

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla was awake as soon as the crazy man slammed the doors open. She didn't realize that she had been out. She didn't think she was tired but apparently she was. Teekle nudging her face with his paw made her smile. She scratched between his ears and booped him on the nose. "Sweet boy," she cooed to the daemon.

"I am up and I packed the only cold weather clothing I have so hopefully it is good enough," she said this as she scooped Teekle into her arms and stood to follow the maniac.

"I feel like I need to give you a sedative, Isaac. You are definitely manic, but let's go. Let's get your tunnel of death over with..."

 

[Isaac]

Isaac swept through the study like a hurricane, moving faster enough that some of the leaflets of paper seemed to stir within his wake.

"It helps that I don't use my own energy." The Warlock said as he stepped through the doors of the study into the foyer. He glanced around for a moment, frowning deeply as though he were looking for something.

Then he turned back towards Layla.

"Just remember." He told her. "Look down, try not to focus on where you are, but where you're going."

"Mreeeeeeow."​

Teekle added a second later. "Right. Good point."

Isaac said, as though Layla would have at all understood what he just said. His fingers snapped, echoing in the empty space of the foyer, and then over the front door appeared that same strange black portal. Isaac stepped through it first, standing on the stone platform and offering Layla a hand.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla watched the portal form at the same time the dread formed in her mind. She took a long, slow deep breath and took Isaac's hand. He helped her into the portal and she kept his hand in hers as he snapped the portal closed. Like before, the stone platform started to lengthen and they trio started to walk.

She kept her eyes on her feet, focusing on each step while she thought about the light at the end of the tunnel.

Layla was more confident this time. She wouldn't say she was rearing to go or anything but she didn't feel like she was going to throw up or pass out.

 

[Isaac]

The tunnel was longer this time.

There was no doubt about it, even Layla, with the panic in her heart would be able to tell. It took them close to half an hour to traverse the abyssal bridge, Teekle walking ahead of the two humans and meowing impatiently every now and again.

It was a long while before they reached the exit, and as they came upon it Isaac began to slow. "Let me go first."

The Warlock told Layla.

"I am not entirely sure what awaits us." That was always a question with this, in places he had never been. Neus was known to him, but only through books and manuscripts. For all they knew they could pop out into the Tsarina's bed chamber. An eventually he was not eager for.

He waited for her to answer, and then stepped forward into the unknown.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

The fact that the tunnel was way longer than previously was not lost on Layla. She supposed it made sense though. The further you traveled, the longer the tunnel. One could not simple teleport instantly without a portal stone.

She desperately wanted to keep hold of Isaac's hand but she let it go so he would step out of the portal. Once he was out, he raised a hand a help her down. The cold wind hit her face immediately and a shiver ran through her body. "Fuck," she said as she pulled the fur lined coat she had been carrying onto herself. She put the hood up and glared over at Isaac. "You couldn't have requested an indoor entrance?"

 

[Isaac]

The Warlock glanced around, and to add to Layla's complain a loud 'MRRRRRRRRREOW!' echoed out behind him. "It doesn't work that way!"

Isaac called out over a sudden rush of wind that pulled against them.

"You know that!" He said, glancing down at Teekle with a hard stare as the cat quickly rushed between Layla's legs and took refuge beneath her long coat. Isaac rolled his eyes, his gaze flickering up to the assassin's face.

"The magic is...inexact when traveling somewhere I've never been." He told her, his head shaking. "We just need to find a-"

Before he finished he noticed something in the distance, a plume of dark smoke. "Fi-fire!"

He called against the biting cold. "A village, or a hut maybe?"

Didn't matter. From there they would find their way to Neus proper. At least he hoped.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla unbuttoned her jacket and picked the cat up before holding him to her chest and rebuttoning the jacket. She made sure one arm held his body up so he didn't fall and he could still look out if he so desired. "Teekle, I could travel as a nice warm snow panther if I wasn't a nice human to you. Remember this, my friend!" She smiled down at the cat.

"Let's go, it's fucking freezing!" The assassin said as she started trudging towards the plume of smoke in the distance. "I hope its a village cause I really do not want to have to kill you, Isaac!"

Layla really said the sweetest things to the Warlock.

 

[Isaac]

A shrug rolled over Isaac's shoulder, and Isaac didn't point out that Layla had just put his familiar to her chest and he would probably eat through her heart in a matter of moment.

Perhaps the Assassin had chosen to forget that Teekle was no regular kitty.

It was probably preferable. "It'll be fine!"

He shouted at her as he began to trudge across the snow covered plains. The isle that Neus was situated upon wasn't quite as bad as the Tundra, but they were in the north. That meant snow and ice built up over centuries. They didn't sink down to the knee, but walking was...well hard enough.

It took them near an hour to crest the hill in the direction of the smoke, and when they finally found their way the sight before them was hardly encouraging.

Three little shacks, only one of them pluming with smoke. The other two looking as disheveled as could be.

"At least someone is alive down there!" The Warlock called with a shrug, beginning to walk down the trail.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

"How is someone alive down there? That is the real question here." Layla was beyond freezing at this point and she apologized to Teekle before setting him down. She had carried him for quite a while and it was time for her to warm up.

"I am going to shift but I am not running ahead. I don't want them to think I am dinner," Layla said a moment before she pulled the strings of her magic and shifted. Standing in the spot the assassin had just been was a beautiful snow leopard.

She stretched and then started to walk again. Perks of being a shapeshifter.

 

[Isaac]

Isaac shrugged his shoulders. "I imagine they're used to it."

The people up here were of a different sort, that much at least he knew. There had been one or two students from Neus at Elbion, and all of them had been tough as steel. Most seemed to never even feel the weather, even when it was hot.

As Layla set Teekle down onto the snow he let out a loud, objectionable, meow. "Oh be quiet!"

He told the cat.

"You can't even feel cold anyway." His eyes rolled, watching as Layla shifted and began to pad up towards the village. A sigh escaped the warlock, and then he slowly followed after her. It wasn't long before the small 'village' was directly in front of them.

The two disheveled buildings appeared as though no one had lived within for years, the other looked in a relatively good state. Even as the blizzard swept down on them the smoke kept roaring from the chimney, stretching out into the sky.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla's ears perked towards Isaac and she threw a look a Teekle. Asshole. Evil little kitty using his adorable looks to keep from walking.

Once they had reached the huts, Layla circled them each with her face in the air. No one had been around the out two in a very long time. She was surprised they were even still standing.

She had no intention of shifting back until they knew if it was safe and if they were welcome by the fire. She was nice and toasty right now.

The former assassin stared at Isaac expectedly since he was the only one with talking abilities.

 

[Isaac]

Ugh. Isaac thought to himself Lazy fucking cats.

Typical really.

With a deep breath the Warlock stepped up the rickety stairs and reached out to knock on the cabin door. His fingers curled inward almost instantly, drawing into his robes to keep from freezing off within seconds. There was a pause, longer than he would have liked, and then he heard steps.

They thumped outward, echoing out, and then suddenly the door opened just half a crack to reveal the face of a haggard old man.

"W-what the hell are you doing out here?"​

He demanded, his voice stern but not hostile. "We got lost, and then the storm fell in on us!"

The man frowned, glancing at Isaac, then Teekle who was sitting besides him.

"Hell, you best get inside, you're liable to freeze to death out there."​

A nod ducked Isaac's head.

"Our friend is just back there! She had me come forward...wasn't sure if it was safe." The man looked at Isaac for a moment, then pulled the door open further. His head ducked in another nod, as if he perfectly understood the precaution. The land was not always the safest, particularly this far from Neus itself.

 

[LaylaMoreno]

Layla shifted back to her human form and stepped to the front of the cabin with her jacket pulled tight around her. She was much warmer than she had previously been but she was immediately reminded of the terrible temperature.

"Thank you," she said as she stepped into the cabin with her companions. "We are very grateful for your fire because it led us through the storm." It was not a lie.

"My name is Layla," she was not going to introduce the others because she, honestly, didn't know if Isaac would give their real names.

 

[Isaac]

The cat slipped inside without a sound, and Isaac stepped in after Layla. He smiled briefly at the old man. "I'm Isaac."

A nod greeted them in turn.

"Griggory. What in the hell are you doing out there? The storm is a bad one."​

For a brief moment a frown flickered over the Warlock's features, a dozen different lies playing over his mind as he considered an answer. A touch of truth was probably the most important thing to add, though this man hardly seemed a detective.

"We were traveling to Neus...dropped off at the port of Petrach." He shook his head. "Our guide abandoned us half-way through and so.."

The man shook his head.

"Say no more. Took your gold and left you half-way, the story is familiar to me. Please, I don't have much, but you're welcome to it."​

He gestured towards the fire, the small padded seats arrayed around it.