The Coming Darkness

It was blatantly apparent that everyone knew a lot more than he did about magical places, their formation, and how to deal with them. Honestly JD wasn’t well versed in these lessons and failed to take part in the explanation of where they were and how it adversely affected how to get home.

It was alright- as per the usual- no one really spoke to him or otherwise acknowledged his existence. Eos seemed fine, and everyone was quite happy to congratulate her on the use of her magic. He was about to head off when she grabbed his hand and seemed intent on exploring. Those lips let out a taut sigh and he just let himself be drug away by her. “Well- this is confusing- to say the least. What did they say about the Gaze earlier- honestly- I didn’t think it was too very interesting and so I didn’t pay attention. Yes yes I know- bad JD.”

About the time Eos shivered- JD unlaced himself from her and peeled his jacket off. He gingerly laid it over his sister’s shoulders before taking her hand again. Probably not the most masculine thing to do, but considering all their realm jumping he didn’t want to get separated from her.

Enzo hopped out of the hole, landing into the mysteriously glowing grass and trees. This place felt familiar to him, yet he had no idea where he was. Kenji came in after Enzo, still in his adult form. "Kenji, you're still.." "My curse doesn't work in the Gaze." He said sternly. Sasha's yelp caught the attention of Enzo. "Hey, are you alright?" He asked her.

" Che, I'm fine," Sasha replied, wincing a little. Her eye still burned, and she didn't expect it to stop any sooner. Sasha began to walk forwards, stumbling a little bit, " Guh...."

"Enzo, help the poor woman out." "What do you think i'm trying to do?!" Enzo sighed, and turned back to Sasha. Without asking, he tried his best to try and help her catch up with everyone else. "We'll get Eos to look at those wounds for you." He said.

Red looked around the forest, and pointed down a certain direction. "There is a path over there." Red said. "We should follow it."

Smiling at her brothers kind gesture she stepped down from the illusion into The Gaze, following behind everyone else. Her eyes widened as they scanned the unknown realm around her. It was amazing, nearly breathtaking. She was so caught up in looking above her, she didn't notice the branch that poked out and caught hold of the front of her dress, tearing it as she tugged away. "Ah~" Looking down she blushed, attempted to cover with JD's coat, hearing her name from Enzo.

"Do you need help Sasha?" It was strange, she couldn't sense any real wounds coming from her. Where was the pain coming from? "I have a spell that works much like a common pain reliever. It won't do anything to heal you, but it will ease your discomfort..."

Volitarie got up and decided to follow behind everyone. Even though he was cautious of the Gaze, he was also interested in how the place was laid out. It was beautiful...even though they were lured here and then attempted to be murdered. That still bothered him. Closely following behind, listening to Red's instruction he noticed Sasha was in pain. He wasn't a healer, the only way he could was to trade his life force with another. That would then hurt him...and he didn't want to have Eos focused on healing him. But it didn't matter anyhow, Enzo already got Eos to do the job.

The corners of Maya's mouth were curved slightly up. She was happy that they had a healer now. With everyone, their group was complete. The only other ability that they might have needed was someone who could be a tank for the rest of them, very good at distractions and taking lots of damage. She followed behind Kenji, trying to make it seem as if she wasn't following him so closely. He was her 'date' still, and with everything that had just happened, her mind was still uneasy. She looked at Sasha, and, even though she was grateful for her help, still wasn't sure if they were compatible as friends. She spoke again. "I can't believe what happened. At all. I expected something to happen, but not... that."

Juice Girl- Sasha- seemed to have received some wounds or something of that sort in their past battle, and needed medical attention. Or at least this what JD deduced as Eos wandered away from him. He glanced at the path that Red pointed out, and honestly he wanted to follow it but he didn’t want them to speed ahead of Sasha and the rest. “Maybe I’ll go scout- eh? Sound good? Anybody want to go with me? I mean not too far ahead like ‘get lost in the woods and murdered’ far ahead, but maybe take a bit of a look around in case there is danger up the road. I’m almost-practically danger-proof.” He then smirked. “And sexy to boot.”

Sasha shook her head, " I said I'm fine..." But clearly, the girl was not fine. She had begun to perspire, and now, her whole body felt as though it was on fire. Sasha instinctively touched the eye patch, which was burning hot to the touch.

Volitaire had walked up to JD, he didn't want him to go out alone. "I'll go, I wouldn't want you getting hurt by yourself. Or anyone.." There was a lot of worry in his voice. It was even more worse that JD had saw him use a Virus that was experimented inside him when he was younger. He felt that now that JD thought he was some deranged individual.

Enzo noticed Sasha looked like she was about to melt. "Eos, q-quickly!" He had no clue as to what was wrong with Sasha. All he cared about was reversing whatever curse had overtaken her.

She put a hop in her step when Enzo called for her, only more urgent this time. "Yes, coming!" Kneeling over, she put a hand on Sasha's back. "I can't tell where you are hurt... but here... this should ease the pain." She leaned forward a placed a peck on Sasha's cheek, a warm glow centralizing where she kissed and then dissipating through her body. Pulling back, Eos blushed. She had created her method of this spell at the age of thirteen, and somehow she always saw herself coming to her hero's aid and planting a healing kiss on him. As she got older she grew to regret her decision, as it was just a tad bit embarrassing. "Did it help?" The sensation that came from the spell dulled pain and usually left the user with a faint tingling sensation.

Looking over her shoulder, Eos' eyes examined Volitaire and JD. "You two be careful."

“Uh sure,” JD stated rather morosely to Voltaire in an attempt to seem his usual and regal self. He then tucked his hands into his pockets and perused the path forward. Something was wrong with Sasha- he knew that for a fact. But he couldn’t do anything to help in that area, and so decided instead to make sure that while they were helping the poor girl they wouldn’t be ambushed.

“So,” JD said slowly. “Voltaire. Do you like my sister? I mean we have only been here for like two days, or something of that sort- hard to tell time when you are in some alternate realm area-thing. Either way she has taken a bit of a fancy to you, and I don’t really care for her to indulge it further.” He was curious about Voltaire- extremely so- but he seemed extremely hell-bent on keeping Eos safe. That struck many cord with JD and it was hard to tell which ones were the most overpowering.

JD glanced around the Gaze- unsure what this place was much less what troubles it could give if any. Either way it was just another piece to the already confusing puzzle. “At the same time you tried to thrust her out of harm’s way back there- much appreciated- but that made many more questions arise. Like- what was that craziness that overtook you? I shall call it ‘Crazy Murder Face’ for lack of a proper magical term; seemed- powerful- and scary of course.” JD added to not make him seem odd for being interested in it. “I don’t know a lot about magic, but I do know ‘bad’ when I see it. I also know that you would keep her safe if the need arose.” He sighed. “I’m not going to stop her from pursuing an interest that makes her so bloody happy, but at the same time if you ever put her in harm’s way: I will end you. She is the only family I have left, and the only friend I’ve ever known. So as long as she is alive and happy- I don’t care what ‘Crazy Murder Face’ is.” JD sighed. “Just have her home every night before eight.”

For approximately thirty seconds, the sensation was gone. And then, thirty seconds later, the pain hit full force. Sasha screamed, her voice echoing throughout the region. She was on the ground, panting, her head spinning from the pain.

" Damn you, Josef..." the girl managed to mutter, " ...You're not going to get that back...even if we are in The Gaze"

Listening carefully he kept pace with JD, so many of the things he said about Eos being the only family he had felt far too familiar. It pained him knowing there was someone else who feels the same as he once did. He never wished this kind of pain towards someone, but he thought he should start with explaining the Virus. The most dangerous trait about him. It was most likely the best start. "Well...'Crazy Murder Face' as you like to call it is a Necrotic Virus, implemented into me by my father when I was young. He figured it would help my skill with Dark Magic, but it backfired terrible. As you can imagine Dark Magic is a unpredictable force and can turn on the user with no remorse. That Virus is a prime example. Of course I'm much stronger in that state, but I'm more vulnerable. It eats my own magic that's natural to my body, and replaces it with its own, I have half control of my own actions, which would lead to unplanned tactics and carelessly made attacks, lastly, it can kill me if I'm in that state for too long. I've been gaining more control over it but less of my own magic to use on a daily basis. I plan to completely subdue this demon and have it used for my own personal goals. If this is a impossibility then I'll have it removed. Thought, my father said removing it could kill me. It's now latched to my own 'life-force' and is helping maintain its own stability inside me. If I were to yank the thing out, it would permanently damage me." He sighed. "Now to address your sister...I do, but I sort of wonder why she has taken the fancy to me. This is something entirely new to me and knowing I have this Virus, a Time Lord who I must assists, and I'm after the man who took my family away I find myself too dangerous for her to be with too often. This is what I wanted to speak to you about...I am quiet, mysterious, and very kind yes. But I keep quiet because I never want anyone involved in what I have to do. After seeing my brother die in that fateful mission that I took apart of he made me have him take part in the mission to look after me. Now I don't want anyone else to accompany me on my personal vendettas. I want no one else to die. Oh..and uhh..I guess I acted on impulse. I would've done it with anyone who was near such a situation. Heh, I think I blabbered on enough..." He hung his head a little embarrassed about telling JD everything all at once. He's now the 3rd person to know about his problems.

While JD and Volitaire walked down the path, talking. They came across a dead end. The path led right off the side of a cliff. It seemed like the forest stopped, and so did everything else.

http://i46.tinypic.com/t5j7fn.jpg

"S-sasha!" Enzo shouted. Whatever was taking a hold of Sasha seemed like it wouldn't get better anytime soon. Is it something related to the Gaze?! He wondered. We can't stay here forever...

" Tch, idiot, I'm fine!" she yelled back after hearing her name, though Sasha did know that she was obviously lying. She just didn't want Enzo worrying his ass off. Not that he would, of course...

She attempted to get up, arm leaning on a tree, and gritting her teeth, shaky on her legs, " Damn..."

You're in The Gaze.

You're in The Gaze.


You can give it back now.


The voice ran through her head, causing Sasha to choke out, " N-never, you bitch!"

It was worse than she could have imagined, her spell was too weak or perhaps the cause of her pain was just too strong. Perhaps it wasn't physical... could that be it?

It sounded like Sasha was arguing with someone Enzo and Eos couldn't see. "What's going on, Sasha? Please! Let us help you!"

She looked at Eos out of the corner of her eye, " B-brother..." Sasha choked out, " He's...here..."

And I want my eye back.

An ear piercing scream flew out of Sasha's mouth as the girl tumbled to the ground again. The eye patch's elastic snapped in two as she did, revealing her red eye, with the pattern in place of the pupil. But the pattern wasn't just on the pupil anymore. It had spread to outside her eye, trailing down her cheek.

Enzo jumped when he saw her red eye. "Gaah!" He didn't know what to do. Brother? Her brother is here?! He looked around, expecting to see a knife wielding murder coming out of the woods. "W-where?!"

Stepping back she gazed upon Sasha's marking in disbelief. "What on... earth?" The symbol seemed strangely familiar, but it wasn't triggering anything in her mind. Closing her eyes tightly she thought of her brother, she pictured him in her mind and shouted for him. Oddly enough, calling him in such a way seemed to work in most instances, and she could only hope it worked now. She needed them to come back if they were about to be attacked, and as of right now - they couldn't see their enemy.

Sasha writhed on the floor, the markings swirling in and out, in and out...

She could feel him coming- she could feel Josef approaching at a fast pace. The closer he got, the more her eye hurt, and the faster the symbols spun.

And finally, a rustling in the bushes was heard as a head of black hair flipped out of them, standing over Sasha.

" Well well, dear sister, it seems that we meet once again..." His voice was breathy, almost whisper like, yet it seemed to hold the most meaning in the world, " Dear sister Allochka, please give me my eye back."

Sasha turned over, facing him and frowned, eye burning more than ever, " No way in hell, you little bastard."

This earned her a kick in the stomach from him. Sasha choked, holding her stomach.

Josef laughed, " Dear sister, dear sister, you should know by now that you DON'T. DISOBEY. ME." His once friendly smile turned into a leer, " GIVE ME THAT EYE BACK!"

Enzo was spooked once he saw the boy appear. His demands made even Enzo afraid.
The ghost resorted to force, instantly making Enzo step in. "Cut it out!" He shouted as he stood in between her and the ghost boy.

Without thinking she shouted out, "Leave her alone!" Eos thought she would be able to summon a defense bubble and place it around Sasha, but she thought wrong. Earlier on she had used so much energy on Red that she hadn't gathered up enough to use an ability that strong - her bubble spell fizzling out before it could be of any use.

Gasping at the realization she took a step back, completely useless and completely vulnerable.

Josef looked at Enzo in pure amusement, " Hah, seems my sister's got herself a boyfriend. You never did have any good taste, Allochka."

Sasha never felt so useless in her life. Her brother was this close, and she couldn't seal him away again, " Shitty little brother, I'll knife your head," she snarled, attempting to stand up, but failing to do so again, from the sheer pain.

He chuckled, " I haven't done anything wrong, Miss," Josef said to Eos, " In fact, all I want is my eye...and she has it," he pointed to Sasha, " She took it from me, so she needs to give it back."

Sasha shook her head, " It's never going to belong to you anymore, Josef. I am NOT letting that...that beast out again!"

JD listened intently as Voltaire spoke, and his eyes narrowed a bit as the other began explaining the mystery behind his power. He reflected no emotion while doing so, but seemed enrapt in those words. A hand came to his hair and he brushed back the blonde locks for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “Oh boy- that is quite the story mate.” He stated slowly. “Why do parents always think they are doing better for us and end up fucking the entire thing up? That we have in common Voltaire-ole-chum.” He waved his finger in the air for a bit in thought before dropping his hand next to him. “Either way- thanks- for that at least I know what my sister is getting herself into.” It was then he shrugged. “And who knows maybe we can help each other out when the time calls for it. I can look into this curse with you- I think my sister and I might have some tomes on old magic. Something our parents had. Along with tons of photo albums with us doing ridiculous things as babies.”

It was then JD laughed as Voltaire finished up his conversation. “Sure- impulse- blame it on the adrenaline.” Those lips then sealed themselves and he became serious for a moment. “Believe me- no matter what happens to you, if E is with you she will be able to take care of herself. What the girl lacks in offensive capabilities she makes up in a span of other magics. You won’t lose her. I mean that is hypothetical to winning her heart and everything. Anyone who wants to do that should know that her favorite flowers are daisies and she has a soft spot for chocolate covered cherries. But you know- that is just the rumor.” JD stated flippantly and with a Cheshire grin as they marched along. Shortly thereafter they were greeted by the land’s abrupt stop. “Well this is going to be problematic.”

“You think I could jump it?” JD suggested and then smirked. "Actually who knows how gravity works here; might just skid off the side of it only to float on into nothing, and that is not something I want to get into.” It was then he paused. “Can anyone fly in our group? I can’t. I mean I can jump really far if given the right amount of prep work, but I don’t sprout wings and start fluttering around like a fairy or anything- contrary to popular belief.”

Volitaire looked at the floating islands, he was awestruck by how beautiful they looked in his view. He came back to reality and replied to JD; "I have a spell that conjures wings made of the element you're magic is its strongest. So I can fly. So can Enzo, when he's the Human Torch. I also thank you, this Virus is no easy thing to deal with. It's actually painful to go through the transformation. My left eye bleeds corrupted blood and it then strangles my body into that black apparition. But I wouldn't recommend jumping that, friend." He chuckled looking down below.

Boyfriend? Enzo's face flushed red, and he shook his head rapidly. "Nonononono, it's not like that at all!" He shouted, even if it was not revelant. "I'm just her date!.. Prom! Prom date!"

This caused a chaotic laughter to ripple through Josef's body. His red eyes glittered, " Hoh, you get embarrassed that easily? I wonder what you would do if I told you some of Allochka's bigger secrets, like what color panties she wears, hmm...?"

At that, Sasha's temper flared up, and she turned a little red, " Shut the fuck up, Josef!"

He stuck his tongue out at her, " Never, dear sister. "

Josef then came face to face with Enzo, " Get away from her, so I can get what I need. Now." He scowled.

Enzo nearly choked. Just standing there proved hard for him. He wanted to hide his face, but he knew he was inside the spotlight, and it would make him look back. Then, the boy's overall mood changed to something way more ominous. It made Enzo waver, but then he remembered key phrases that he needed to imply. He clenched his fist, keeping in mind that he was facing off with something that wasn't even alive, but when it came to his friends, he would do anything. "N-..No!" He shouted. "You will have to go through me, first!"