The Coming Darkness

JD had been considering countless things while he lay on the bed. He had managed to dry himself off a bit, and had put his pants and undershirt back on. He laid the button up and tie neatly on the dresser, and glanced about the room to make sure he didn’t see anyone else’s things sitting there. There were numerous little thoughts tumbling about his head- and they all wanted the forefront of his attention. Some of those thoughts just had to do with the sheer nudity he had just witnessed, but some part of him didn’t want to ruminate on that too hard- there might be a problem with the rigidness of other things if he did.

About that time he was pulled away by a knock on the door. He swung the door open to see Silver. “Yesss-?” He said slowly and inquisitively- piquing his blonde brow. Her presence ignited several thoughts in his mind, and only a few of them were altruistic.

He felt warm. Nothing felt more calming than a bodily embrace. His tensions and other various issues just seemed to have floated away, he found himself embracing her also. It felt right and it made him feel appreciated. Even his little nickname that he was called all the time felt natural and comfortable coming from her, and he hasn't known her for long. He was surprised how happy she suddenly made him. Remembering when they first met, she intended to interrupt him. But now it seems she's grown closer to someone that he just randomly ran into sitting on a bench. "Yes, Eos?" He said with a warm and relaxed smile.

Maya hummed as she walked, taking the last available room on the floor. She noticed the room doors that were open, but shook her head as she knew eavesdropping was bad. Closing the door (but leaving it unlocked, with the relaxed atmosphere it would be weird if she did lock it), she sat down on the edge of the bed. Maya curiously opened the nightstand and found a pen and a notepad. She wasn't an avid artist, but began to sketch out her feelings, almost in comic strips but without words. She drew all of the dramatic events that had happened. After she had gotten that out of her system, she began to draw the couples as she saw them. "Sasha and Enzo," she hummed, "Volitaire and Eos," she sketched along happily. It allowed her to process everything that was going on. It was then that she realized she still needed to get dressed, but she ignored it in favor of finishing her sketches.

Silver looked at him when he opened the door, a bit surprised that he was in there. "Ah.. Um, well, I thought this was where I was going to sleep tonight, so I'm just a bit surprised you're here, is all.." She looked down the hall for another room. "I can find another room though, so no worries," she said with a smile.

The question nearly made Sasha let go of her towel, but she kept her hand tightly clenched. Sasha's tattoos seemed more than evident in the moonlight that cascaded through a window. It was odd, seeing as the young lady didn't even make a move to hit Enzo, just stayed still, her eyes taking on a softer, sadder, and more vulnerable look," I..." Sasha began to say, " ....Killed him."

[[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ3L...cvgmFeoaVBG9LQ]]

Instead of calling for the police, Enzo slightly lowered his head. "What happened?" He asked, in a more sensitive, worrying tone.

She shook her head, " He was taken over by some..some thing..."

Sasha walked over to the bed, apparently needing to stabilize herself before going on, " ...He killed my family. He killed everyone, Enzo. And all for this power, that's...it's in his-" she stopped, then corrected herself, " My eye...now."

“Oh!” JD paused. “Oh, this was your room. Didn’t realize we had already dibsies. Well you can have this one if you want. I can take my things and fine another, oooorrr~” he wiggled his eyebrows. “You can stay here for the night. Snuggle up to me. I can be your teddy bear.” It was then he broke out into a short laugh. “Sorry that was uncouth of me. I’ll just get my things. And while I do so- you can tell me if you are still alright or not.”

Silver blushed a little. "Well, I mean, you don't have to if you're already all um.. Settled in.." She cleared her throat. "I'm alright, yeah.." she said, her voice getting a bit quiet as she stepped into the room and leaned against the wall.

"There are so many things I want to tell you..." She nuzzled her face against his chest in that moment, before pulling away - her face only inches away from his. Her wide honey eyes reflecting into his. Her thoughts were something she always kept locked away, but every moment she was around him, she was threatening to burst. "Do you... like me?" She blinked nervously, her face heating up at the question.

These are questions a girl like Eos was never meant to ask. These are feelings Eos was never meant to feel. And it wouldn't be long before this fantasy she had begun to build around her being would collapse.

Enzo sat on the bed next to her, but didn't actually look at her, it was as if he were reliving a painful memory himself. "I understand a fraction of your pain.." He clenched the bed sheet in his fists. "I.. killed my own mother, with my own flames." It seemed as if everytime he recalled on it, he teared up. His hair hid his watering eyes. "All she wanted was for me to be happy.. And I killed her in response." Enzo sniffed, trying to contain the onslaught of tears. "Though I can never understand the pain of losing an entire family." Enzo looked straight, he seemingly won in holding back the tears. "But, that's one thing my mother taught me.." He looked to Sasha, revealing watery eyes. "Friends are family." He said, with a smile.

He hid under his hair again as his body froze. He did like her, but wondered why she like him. All their little talks, jokes, and small amount of time spent together grew on him. He didn't know how to say no to her, it was like he couldn't. The spark moment made it felt like they were close, and he was quite happy with it. Shakily he answers; "I do...under the short amount of time, yes I do. But, I'm shocked you feel that way...may I ask why?" He decided to move his hair and let her see his face.

Sasha couldn't believe that she and Enzo shared the same pain. Her eyes widened as she heard him tell his story.

Then he looked at her with those warm brown eyes, which were almost to their limit in resisting those tears. Sasha couldn't stand them.

" Dammit, stop staring at me with those eyes."

A pause.

" 'Cause it's making me sad as well."

The last sentence was whispered so softly, so quietly, and so fragile, it was about to break. Sasha averted her gaze from Enzo's, attempting to hide her own tears that were forming.

Her eyes flickered with joy as he responded to her in such a way. When he revealed his face to her she reached out to touch her warm hand against his cheek, gazing upon his handsome features. "Most of it... I can't explain. I was drawn to you because you were reserved, distant and strong. But now that I've spent time with you, I realize you are much more than those things..."

Eos leaned in, her lips moving close to his ear to whisper, "I sense a darkness inside you..." Her words were mysteriously grim, but she did sense a darkness, one that she felt inside herself. "... caused by wounds I wish to heal."

Her lips moved toward his now, her breath lingering as the space between them was closing in.

"Eos!" A voice rang out amongst the night, wavering in such a way that made it seem distorted. A gasp escaped the girl as she pulled away from Volitaire - coming to her feet and looking all around her rapidly. "That voice?!" Why did it sound so familiar? Her heart raced and without hesitation, she ran off through the trees behind the spring.

Could it be? Could that voice really be...?

Her sudden drawback made Volitaire worry, he even jumped a little himself. He wasn't new to odd situations, all he did was raise a eyebrow. He kept quiet but made a low groan, but he felt she was in trouble at the same time. He did hope he didn't run into conflict, with his weakened state he could succumb to the virus once more, weakening him even more. He shrugged it off and decided to follow after her, warping in shadows in case he can get a drop on a possible enemy.

"That's how I see it.." Enzo looked at his hands, and his rings. "That's what she taught me. So, I treat everyone like family, you know?" This was the time when Enzo was at his weakest. His biggest weakness was always emotional, it would never change. Memories of his mother flashed in his head, and the last smile she ever made was burned into his head, as he watched his mother die.


Kenji was getting sick of seeing the two lovebirds. "Time to head in." He said to himself, finally getting out of the spring. It looked as if the ghosts of the Inn were sleeping, too. Kenji walked behind a nearby bush, and got dressed up. He walked back into the Inn, and the atmosphere was still the same. Is there nowhere I can go without any of this? He didn't feel like leaving the Inn, for who knew what dangers laid out there. He walked up the stairs, looking for his room. In The Gaze, he had no secret hiding spots, where he could spy on Enzo, and monitor his activity.

Moving further down the hall, The atmosphere felt normal once again, and there was one door left. Maya's. Kenji smirked. I see.

She ran as fast as her feet could take her, trying to avoid any obstacle that came her way.

"Please! Mamma, please! I know it's you!" Her eyes began to blur, welling up uncontrollably as she followed the voice deep into the forest. Her heart broke in longing, the stone hanging around her neck was glowing fiercely now - latching on to the pain resurfacing inside her.

"Eos!" Once again, the voice pierced through the air in the same distorted fashion.

The blonde haired girl barely tripped as a thorn bush took hold of her ankles, ripping into them as she ran past. But she ignored the pain, pressing onward. "Where are you!?" , she called out.

She continued to run, but the voice never echoed out her name again. Eos would beg, but it was hopeless. Finally, she collapsed when she came to a riverbank. Her legs buckled below her, and she grasped onto her head, sobbing like a child would. All the pain she had tried to silence was flooding out of her, every inch of her body trembling.

She was not incorrect, that voice was indeed that of her deceased mother. But the voice was projected from somewhere far from where they were - the call to Eos fulfilling the purpose that was planned. The stone around her neck now glowing with such a ferocity that it began to emanate a sharp humming sound.

Sasha scoffed a little, " I just push them away, like you see me doing every day. S'easier for me that way." Sasha sighed, and looked away from Enzo, rubbing her eyes a little to hide the shedding of her tears, " I guess having friends isn't that bad," she continued, " But it's gonna hurt me someday, and I'm not prepared for that."

A small sparkling orb slid down her cheek, and Sasha rushed to brush it off, " Godammit, this hasn't happened in a long time..."

“Nah- I really just folded my clothes up- it isn’t any problem for me.” JD stated as he scooped his dress shirt and tie into his arms and glanced over her. He could tell that he hit a nerve almost immediately as her voice hit a lower range and she seemed to shy away once again.

“Well- look- I’m sorry that these things fell on you so suddenly. But. You seem like a strong girl, and tomorrow is another day.” He sighed. “And if he was really any uncle to be worried about he wouldn’t have just contacted you. Bullshit move I say. We’re the only family you need right now- eh? You can be like my second little sister- the less annoying one.” JD chuckled a bit. It was then he made his way towards the door. “So I’ll leave you to it Silver. I need my beauty rest and I’m sure you need some peace and quiet from my voice.”

It was then JD excused himself to go find his own room and politely pass out.

Keeping close but out of sight, he made sure she didn't get too hurt. But she already wounded herself on a thorn bush. He made a promise to herself to never get hurt, and also promised JD that also. He couldn't go back now, even if what was wrong was out of his reach. He had to help. "Her..mother? Something isn't quite adding up, perhaps I'm missing something, or the Gaze is playing tricks of some sort. Either way, I wouldn't be shocked with either. I just have to make sure she isn't hurt!" He kept up, he somehow was at his most courageous with her. He again felt the need to protect someone, and he was not going to lose this time.

She doodled and continued pairing others together. She felt pretty content, even in the current situation. "That's got his own-" Maya's humming was cut short by footsteps thudding against the floor outside with all of the power a human could muster. I don't... Maya paused, trying to sense something, but all she could figure out was that it was probably Eos running. She also heard cries, which confirmed it. Maya opened the door and ran out, managing to collide head on with Kenji and falling onto the floor. "Guhh.." Having my sensing abilities diminished sucks. I need to stop relying on them. She layed face down on the floor, not moving out of embarassment.

All the strain, physically and emotionally sent her over the edge. It was then that the tears finally stopped, and her whimpers came to a silence. Eos had exhausted herself completely, falling to her side and passing out amongst the soft grass. Her ankles were still cut up and bloody, and her cheeks were stained and wet - the moonlight catching up their reflection amongst her long lashes.

Her mind left this world, fleeing to the safety of her dreams.

Kenji placed a hand on his hip, and tried to figure out what just happened. He quickly grabbed her hand and helped her up. "Sheesh, you're hopeless. Nearly as much as Enzo." He shook his head. "Where are you off to in such a hurry? It's late."


"Just.. remember that you aren't alone." Enzo's tears had come to a halt, his mind back on the straight track. There was so much he wanted to ask, but he couldn't find himself to ask them. He didn't want a repeat of his childhood, not now, when he needs his friends the most. "You're.. really interesting." He said. His voice was lower then usual, sounding as if he were thinking out loud. He had the urge to cheer her up, and hug her, but he didn't want his face aching for the next few hours.

In the riverbed, glowing fish raced down the stream, making the water seemed neon. With the combined glow of the light orbs floating around, it made quite the setting.

"And what were you doing outside of my room so late, eh?" Maya asked defensively. "My spidey senses were telling me that something was wrong." She looked down. "...Sorry for running into you. For some reason, my 'powers' are acting up." She shook her head, realizing she had never changed out of the towel. "Oops." Maya's cheeks were red all over again.

He stopped and walked over to her, he let out a breathe of some relief seeing she stopped. But he was still wondering what happened. All that mattered was he got her to safety. "Now..where was your room..?" He hoisted her up from the ground and carried her back to the inn, he looked at her scrapes and felt so terrible he couldn't stop her. He felt now that she porbably wouldn't have much quarrel he could use his odd method of healing. He took a shadow and had it whip is palm and create a cut, then he used a sort of blood magic to cover her wound and speed the healing. He didn't want her beauty marred by scarped ankles. He smiled knowing she was patched up at least, now for the task of getting her to the Inn...

After walking through a plethora of trees and dodging bushes, he made it back to the springs and took her inside. He wanted to find JD, but was worried he'd think this was his fault. Though, he had no other way of knowing where her room is...this was a bother. He decided to walk about looking for him, hoping he could shed some light on what just happened.

Silver remained quiet as JD spoke. He was being sweet again, and she didn't know what to think or say. Perhaps she should just go for a long walk in the dark, it might be good training for her. She needed to fine tune her magic abilities anyways since she was without her weapons. Looking up to him, she offered a smile as thanks, her green eyes almost glowing. "I don't mind it really, you have a nice voice."
Suddenly she felt something. She felt as though something was very wrong, though she couldn't place what it was. She shifted uncomfortably at the feeling, and hoped it was nothing.

" ...Interesting?" Sasha looked up at him, sniffing a little. She looked so vulnerable, so fragile, that you'd be instantly reminded that yes, Sasha was indeed a female, and not just a feminine looking male who liked to kick ass.

She laughed, " This is so damn embarrassing, having you see me like this. "

Enzo laughed, rather pathetically. "It's not like I'll tell anyone." He ensured her. The door to the room closed, and locked on it's own. "Huh?! What was that?" Enzo stood up, his towel nearly falling off again. "Sky.." said a voice, coming from all directions. Destruction formed on the other side of the room, his voice sounded like a ghost, echoing from all directions.

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"Sky.. You've grown." He said. "Who are you?.. Are you another angry ghost?! No.. you're Destruction!" Enzo shouted. The 7 entities.. This is what Red was talking about! "I'm here to help you. Your best friend, Enki, is corrupted." "E-..Enki.." He remembered the red haired boy, the one that put them in this mess to begin with. "What do you mean, corrupted?" "Darkness, Another one of us, has corrupted him to kill you."

Enzo looked down. Enki.. "It's very important that you save him, before it kills him. I will give you, and the ones you hold dearest to you, the power to do what you've been destined to do; Protect the innocent, and re-balance the world of magic."

Suddenly, the hands of Enzo and his friends started to tingle. Rings, made of the material as Enzo's armor gloves, started to form on their fingers.


[[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJyM...eature=related Listen before you open the spoiler, for best effect. ]]

Spoiler

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Volitaire
- The Storm Ring -
The Storm that attacks relentlessly, without giving up.


Janus Dante
- The Lightning Ring -
The Lightning that strikes quick, and electrifies.


Eos
- The Rain Ring -
The Rain that instills tranquility and maintains peace.


Maya
- The Sun Ring -
The Sun that lights up and shines brightly.


Silver
-The Mist Ring -
The Mist that tricks and takes on all forms.

Sasha
- The Cloud Ring -
The Cloud which drifts and is unaffected by Man.

Enzo
- The Sky Ring -
The Sky which harmonizes and holds all the flames together.

As their names were called out, the Rings formed on each of them.
"With these rings, the 7 Guardians of Magic, is formed. Please, save Enki, and restore peace, in both your world, and The Gaze." Destruction then vanished, leaving only the rings on the fingers of Enzo and his friends. His voice was heard by all 7 ring holders.

While carrying Eos, a ring was slipped on his finger from nowhere at all. He heard a faint voice speaking in his head. He wasn't a man for jewelry, but he felt less weak when it was on his finger. It's like his power returned to him suddenly. With his new energy he continued to look for JD to see if he can help with Eos. The new found power gave him courage as well.

Silver felt something almost forming around her finger, so she looked at her hand to see what it was. A ring, right there, shiny and new with an indigo-colored gem in it. She gasped as she felt a sudden surge of power run through her, and she felt like she could do anything. She looked up and out the window, thinking that now would be the ideal time to train a bit.