Chapter 12 Part One AUTHOR’S NOTE: If you get mad because of alternative suggestions of how the Universe was created (such as for religious reasons) then it might be best to not read this Chapter. If you do, do not yell at me for going against [religion]. I’m telling a story, not saying to worship Nyan Cat. /endslightrant ============= In the beginning, there was nothing. After jumping through the portal, Poizynus was in a colorless dimension; floating endlessly throughout time and space. And so, she got bored, and said unto the vast emptiness those powerful words that brought forth the creation of the universe as we know it: “GAH I’m so friggen bored out here!!” Feingz called out. She sighed. As she sighed, orange mist swirled out of her breath, and grew in size and heat. This mist gained form and solidified, and so there was the Sun. “Hmm. That’s pretty cool,” Poiz pondered aloud “I’ll do that for a bit.” Poiz made suns and stars, some small and some large, until she grew bored of the orange mist. “Stars are great and all, but I’ve been really depressed as of late, and could use some companionship.” Wiping her hands against each other, droplets of Auroran’s dark brown blood sprang out into the now well-lit space; growing and gaining mass and density. “Guess that covers the planets,” Poiz chuckled. After a few more hours of work, Poiz’s keen half elven eyes saw what looked like a microscopic piece of jello on one of the planets that had managed to obtain water. “Huh,” Poiz raised an eyebrow “I think I made life.” Several tens of thousands of millennia passed, and now Poiz was in Rome, working as advisor to none other than Julius Caesar. Draped in a snow-white toga, Poiz’s long red hair hung over her shoulders, and a golden belt was around her waist. Gracefully, she walked into Caesar’s throne room. The room was a large rectangle, with large, royal blue curtains and an impressively sized throne covered with delicate brown fur. “Aιώνια Ένα,” Julius sweetly said, lounging in the throne of the massive hall, made of beautifully carved marble. “Yes, Caesar?” Poiz replied to the name she had taken up. “Tell me again the tales of the gods.” “Yes, Caesar. In the beginning, there was the great Titan, Ouranus. And he had many Sons and Daughters, whom eventually overthrew him to rule the Universe, and….” Late one night, Poiz was standing on the balcony to her quarters, looking out at the majestic sun set. She sighed. Kakarias would love to see this, I would bet. He loves sunsets… “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Caesar asked, opening the mahogany doors and stepping outside. “Quite,” Feingz replied sighing, “Tomorrow you have a speech, you most surely should go to sleep soon.” Julius nodded “Clever as always, Aιώνια Ένα.” He turned out the doors. Poiz shook her head “It’s not that hard to think of, Caesar…”
A great feast was planned, in honor of Jupiter, the Roman god of lightning. At the feast were great wines, meats, and breads. Julius laughed, “Come now Aιώνια Ένα, yoo mush eat sumthon!” “I’m…not hungry…” Poiz replied. “Naw…c’mooonn. Da wine’s relly gooood and yer bein’ relly preddy!” Caesar grabbed Poiz’s arm. “No thank you.” Poiz said with a fake smile as she pulled away. “Aιώνια, c’moooonnnn. Whay dunchu like meh?” Julius frowned as he put his hands on Poiz’s shoulders. “Get off me!” Poiz stepped back and twisted his hands off her. “Aww I jush wanna…” Julius took a drunken step forward, and tried to pull in Poiz’s face to his. “PIG!!” Feingz launched her head, already not more than a few inches from Caesar’s face, into the man’s nose. A crack of bone could be heard from Julius’s nose fracturing into two. “OW OW-OW-OW OW OW!” Caesar screamed “GUARDSH! Geh heerr!” As Poiz glared at Julius, four guards simultaneously swept their gladiuses down in a powerful yet graceful arc, cutting off Poiz’s head and sending her body sprawling. Julius laughed. “Silleh wimahn!” Poiz rolled her eyes. “Stupid Caesar.” Caesar looked at the head talk and gasped. “You’re…still…ahlaive?” “Of course I am, stupid, I’m immortal.” “Yer a goddess?!” “No, I’m a-“ Poiz tried to explain, but a nervous guard stabbed into her right golden eye, and when he drew out his iron blade, there was a wiggling eye and about five ounces of brain on the tip of his blade.
Chapter 13 Alice's eye twitched. "No...the pills are supposed to work...!" Suddenly, Alice's eyes turned a deadly, hazy purple. Wide-eyed and smirking she said "Ah-ah-ah, never trust the humans! Or me, for that matter." Reverting to her eyes' initial gold-green color, Alice protested, fighting back tears "Vy! No! Not again! Geoff...Geoff deserves to know the rest!" The purple eyed Alice grinned maliciously "You said it yourself," she whispered "Geoff deserves to know. " "NO! No! Please Vy!" But it was too late. Alice, or rather, Vy, was typing another email to Geoff. It read: Hello Geoff. You don't know me yet. You know Alice-or who you think is Alice. Oh, the secrets she's kept from you. By the way...if you want to know Alice's full name...it's "NO." Alice gritted her teeth "Not Geoff. He won't be scared away. He won't call the cops. He can't!" Vy frowned "Oh, he will. Just like Julius, and Galileo, Arthur, George, Abe...Tyler, Carl...Geoff will just be another name to add to the list. Admit it, Poiz," Alice winced at the name "no one wants you. You're a monster. You're a freak, an absolute abomination. You are always imperfect. And somebody's always better than you..." Alice cried as Vy spoke " 'Corn Flake' is better," "No she's not! She's evil! She doe-" "But, Poiz, Pim's better to Kakarias." Vy snarled as she typed 'Poizynus' then hit send. Silence. Slowly, Alice lifted up her last brown pill. Carefully, she raised it to her tongue.
Chapter 14 The next day, Alice arrived at the Library around one pm. Looking around, she quickly spotted Geoff. "Er...hi..."Alice mumbled groggily "Sorry about the second email, I...had a friend over...he's a recovering alcholic," Alice lied quickly. "Oh, really?" Geoff challenged with a fierce gaze. "Yes." "Prove it." Alice gasped "How?" Geoff reached for Alice's waterbottle, and grabbed it. "It's just juice!" Alice cried. She could picture Vy laughing manically. With unwavering emotion, Geoff untwisted the lid. "Pomegranate blueberry, you claim?" he questioned. Alice nodded. "How convenient that I have some right here; I'll taste test the two." "Geoff-please!" Alice begged. "Why?" Geoff asked "Have something to hide?" Geoff lifted his juice to his cracked lips, and eagerly took a large gulp. "Well, that cup's good." he glanced at Alice. Raising up Alice's green waterbottle, Geoff cautiously took a small sip. Geoff's cheeks bulged, and then he ran and vomited into a nearby trash can. Wiping his face, Geoff sadly went to Alice. "You're a-" "Monster? Murderer? Demon? Witch? I've heard them all before, dear Geoff. Many call me these, yet few see beyond the names to see what lies within. If you aren't afraid, I'd like to talk to you in the presentation room." •••••••••• Geoff trembled "Are you going to kill me?" "No." Alice spoke coldly "If I did, I would be no better than they." Geoff was puzzled "But your only enemies were Lynn and the other Geoff, right?" "Sadly, no." Alice stared at something that wasn't there "There was a traitor amongst us. But alas, there is still much to tell, and our group's betrayal shall come at a later date. " "If you still wish to hear the story of Poiz," Alice added. "I do." Geoff nodded "But how did you get here? To Earth?" "You remember the story of Julius. Well, in order for me to come here, and have a chance at stopping...Lynn...one of my friends paid with his life." Alice explained sadly. "Who, Poiz?" Geoff asked innocently. "Don't call me that!" snarled Alice menacingly. "I'm sorry, it's just...hard to talk about." "What happened to Kakarias?" Alice looked away and bit her lip. Only now did Geoff recognize the point in her ears. There was a few minutes of silence as Alice battled the conflicting voices within her. "You loved him, didn't you?" Geoff asked quietly. Alice nodded. "How do you live? If you made the universe several billion years ago-how is he alive?" Geoff whispered. "I don't know if he is," Alice finally answered "but if Kakarias is alive, one day, I will find him-and save him."
Sorry about the lack of chapters lately... Chapter 10 Wolfgang found himself in a vast world of black emptiness. "Master...?" Wolfgang barked. Silence. "Has Wolfgang failed you, Master?" the tremendous wolf whimpered. A voice from behind snickered, "You have not failed your 'Master', Wolfgang. She has failed you. She didn't rescue you. If Poiz had, you would still be alive!" Wolfgang turned around. The voice had come from a man. With greasy black hair, unhealthily pale skin and sunken in, black, beady eyes, even Wolfgang knew immediately who was talking to him. "Makintos!" Wolfgang snarled. The God of the Dark laughed, "I see that even being sealed away in a stupid little rock for a few thousand years has yet to diminish my...reputation." "Master has not failed Wolfgang!" even the large dire wolf seemed tiny in comparison to Makintos. While Wolfgang was bear-sized, Makintos was at least one hundred times that. Still, Wolfgang gallantly leaped to attack Makintos. With a swat of his hand, Makintos batted Wolfgang away, sending him skittering across an unseen floor. Wolfgang winced from the pain, but staggered to his feet for another attempt to take down the impossibly huge God. "Stupid wolf," Makintos rolled his beady eyes as he blew gently, sending the wolf soaring once again, "Why defend your Master when she didn't defend you?" Wolfgang tried to stand up, but fell down. With a heave, he managed to sit up. His lungs breathed deeply, and body shook from taking a God's blows. Fierce red eyes bore down upon Makintos as Wolfgang answered back. "Wolfgang defends Master...because Master...defends...Wolfgang... Master saved Wolfgang when pup...from orcs...from guards and bandits and traitors!" "Even now," Wolfgang whispered, "Wolfgang can sense Master. Master...Master is fighting for Wolfgang's body." With a groan, Wolfgang leaped up a final time. Makintos, shocked by the supposedly stupid wolf's loyalty and courage, didn't notice his attack until Wolfgang clawed a long mark down his cheek. "GRAAAHH!" Makintos screamed as he felt his own black-blood streaming down his face. With crazed eyes, Makintos reached down and grabbed Wolfgang, then flung him as far as the God could throw. With a thud, Wolfgang landed, and was knocked unconscious.
The Chapter numbers are back on track. :S Chapter 16 Poizynus Feingz slowly walked to the body of her fallen companion. "Wolfie? You...you were just faking...right buddy?" Poiz stuttered. As she reached Wolfgang's body, Poiz's eyes reverted from the blood -red hues of her vampiric rage to their normal golden color. Seeing his lifeless red eyes, Poizynus pretended not to. "Ith...Ithûriel! Come help Wolfgang! He...he's hurt!" Poiz cried. Ithûriel, Quarin, and Kakarias worked their way through the assassins' bodies to Poiz and Wolfgang. Ithûriel laid a hand on her shoulder, "Poiz...there's nothing I can do. There's nothing anyone can do. Wolfgang is dead, and you need to accept that." Poiz pushed off Ithûriel's hand as she flung herself onto Wolfgang's body, hugging him deeply and spilling fresh tears onto his bloody and matted fur. "Wolfgang...I'm sorry...." Poiz whispered. "Let us offer a prayer to Mak-er, Silvanee," Quarin corrected. I almost blew my cover... Thought Quarin as she hoped no one noticed. "No." Poiz said as she slowly stood up and wiped her eyes. "Kraemin? I forgot that half elves worship both, my apologies." Quarin bowed her head. "No. Neither Silvanee, Goddess of Elves, nor Kraemin, God of Humans are the Gods I pray to." Poiz gritted her teeth, "Now I worship vengeance. That's all I care about now." "All you care about?" Ithûriel prompted as she glanced at Kakarias. "Er, yes. All." Poiz replied solemnly as she turned to Kakarias, while avoiding the gaze of his stormy grey eyes, "Kakarias, you mentioned that wizards can perform necromancy..." "I'm sorry, Poiz. I'm a warlock, not a wizard. " Kakarias said as he shook his head. "But...hmm...that Lynn fellow...didn't he take a wizard from the Acadamy?" Turning his head to Quarin, Kakarias's eyes seemed to melt, "By the way, that was really cute-er, kind of you to offer a prayer to Silvanee!" Quarin twitched her nose, but remained emotionless as she replied, "So, do we hunt down this Lynn?" Poiz's eyes were full of determination as she answered. "I will travel to one end of the world and back again if I can get Wolfgang back." "So it's decided then," Kakarias said, "We will find Lynn."
Chapter Seventeen Geoff smirked as Alice continued to tell him of how her and Quarin, Ithúriel, and Kakarias traveled to the very east of the humans' land, to the beginnings of the elvish territory. Alice had lost herself in describing the large trees of the elven folk, and how the elves could talk to the trees to make them grow according to the elf's desires. Alice didn't notice Geoff's smirk. She was staring off into the distance as she told of a kind of tree called Sureen. •••••••••• The sureens had thin, slender trunks, with birch-like bark yet oak-like leaves. Their leaves were mint green, and were so large in comparison to the sureens' branches that they made the branches droop, looking kind of like a propped up mop. As Poiz and her companions searched for Lynn, Kakarias had noticed that Poiz was being very peculiar. Acting extremely strange, and extraordinarily different from her normal self. Poiz was being quiet. He glanced up at Quarin, who glared at him then sighed, "You can talk to her, idiot. I'm not your mother, for Silvanee's sake." With a sheepish grin, Kakarias walked across their small campsite to who, after many weeks of traveling, Kakarias considered his best friend. "Hey Poiz," Kakarias greeted. Poiz's eyes seemed to have deteriorated from their once sharp, glimmering gold to a more pale, rotted looking yellow. Her hair seemed frizzy and unkept, while her fingers were bony and weak. Poiz's face still seemed oddly childish, yet instead of the familiar face of a young troublemaker Poiz resembled the child who failed every assignment yet no longer cared. She awkwardly held a mint green sureen leaf in her hand, then with a long twist cast it into the air. The leaf drifted through the air, accompanied by four other leaves. Yet one leaf drifted away, and five bigger leaves swooped in and felled the other three, so that only the five and Poiz's leaf remained. The six leaves tangled in the wind, until a dark red maple leaf happened to fly by. It paused, and slowed down to catch the six. It knocked down the six leaves, and nurtured the original leaf high into the sky. After much dancing in the wind, a grey leaf appeared and sent the red leaf flying into a branch. With the red and mint leaves no longer together, the grey pushed the mint green leaf into a sharp branch, to meet it's end. Outraged, the red leaf sailed through the wind to the grey murderer. After a close battle, the red leaf stabbed the grey into a branch, not unlike what happened to the mint. With what seemed like a defeated cry, the red leaf slowly, depressingly slowly, drifted far to the ground below, to land in Poiz's outstretched hand. "That was amazing Poiz!" Kakarias gasped. Poiz looked melancholily up, to see the mint green leaf painfully impaled on the branch. "...Poiz..?" Poiz glanced back down to reality. "Oh. Hello Kookoo. Done toiling over Cornflake, I see." "Cornflake?" Kakarias raised an eyebrow. "...Quarin. Did she enslave you or something?" "No...why? Do you think she'd be that desperate for me?!" Kakarias asked dreamily. "Ooooh, that would be perfect!" "Yeah." Poiz sighed as she looked away. "...Perfect..." "So anyways, I know Quarin is awesome and all, but how did you do that? You didn't tell me you know magic!" "I...I don't. The trees..." Poiz seemed to lighten up a bit, realizing that she had all of Kakarias's attention, instead of Quarin. "They bring back memories. She turned slightly, and began combing through the matted fur of Wolfgang's limp body. She had carried him for many miles. "Someone older than me...she would make the leaves dance. Just for me, when we were little. Father...he plant a sureen for her. Sureen...sureen..." Poiz's eyes widened, and for a second Kakarias swore he saw happiness flood into her face and eyes. "That's it!!" She exclaimed. "What?! What is it Poiz?" Kakarias prompted. "Serena," Poiz smiled as tears of joy spread down her cheeks. "I remember her now. I remember! Serena..." Poiz grinned a familiar wolfish grin as she ran into a sureen and hugged it. "...my sister!"
Chapter Eightteen "Waitwaitwait! You have a sister?!" yelled Quarin as she dashed towards Poiz and Kakarias. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't..." Poiz stuck out her tongue. Kakarias gave Poiz a look until she admitted that she did, in fact, have a sister. Quarin's face took on a horrified expression as her eyes expanded and she whispered, "Oh gods, there's two of her." Kakarias smiled as Poiz grinned a large mischievous grin. "Now look who's a happy camper!" "Well...a bit happier, atleast." Poiz replied. "I'm just glad my best friend isn't so sad all the time," Kakarias teased. When Kakarias wasn't looking, Quaring smirked as Poiz turned around to avert the warlock's gaze. "Yeah...your friend..." Poiz mumbled as she walked back to Wolfgang. With a sigh, she collapsed by his side, and fell asleep. Bookcases towered over the short half elf as Poiz searched once again through the vast Library of Names. Yet tonight, for the first time, Poiz was seeking someone else's book. After what seemed like days of searching, Poiz could not locate her sister's book among the billions of books that resided in the grand library. "Where's that stupid shadow of mine when I need it?!" Poiz yelled angrily as slammed a goblin's book into the ground. Her blood red hair was sticking up in all directions, and the rogue's face was in a frustrated scowl. Suddenly, Poiz heard laughter behind her. Standing up and whirling around, Poiz stared right into the glowing purple eyes of her shadow. "Why are you here?" asked Poiz. "Because I wish to be, and so that is how it is." shrugged the shadow. "That answers how you are here." "Hmph. If you insist on knowing, it's for about the same reason I woke you last time." "We'll be attacked by assassins for no apparent reason, then someone that's close to me will die an excruciatingly painful death?" Poiz asked sarcastily. "No. Because something that I consider amusing is about to happen. And if you're not awake, I can't see it. Ta-ta. Shoo along, now. Wake up." The last thing Poiz saw before waking up was her shadow re-arranging all of the books with a snap of her fingers. All of Poiz's hard work for over a hundred years was lost in an instant. And in that instant, Poiz knew that she and her shadow would not get along well.
Chapter Nineteen Poiz slowly opened her eyes. She was sleeping in her tent, with Wolfgang beside her. Ithy must have moved me in my sleep. Quietly, Poiz raised herself off the ground so that she was propped up on one arm. Looking down at both arms, Poiz saw many long, jagged white lines. They ran horizontally across her forearms and wrists. "Stupid Ithy took off my vambraces too! Hope she didn't notice my scars...that'd be too many questions." she muttered under her breath, which hung in the crisp morning air. All was quiet. Too quiet. Poiz strained her ears, trying to hear a sound, any sound. And she found it, far off in the distance, barely audible even with the silence and half elven ears. "Do as your General commands!" said a male voice sharply. He sounded tough, raging, a commander. Someone charismatic enough to draw in support and fearsome enough to prevent abandonment. "Yes sir. The...the cardinal doesn't see the hawk." replied a female voice. She sounded familiar, yet altered. Perhaps she was using magic to change her voice. "Very good, Pi-wait. My ring is glowing. Someone is listening to us!" whispered the man, quieter. "I think I know who, sir." Poiz could almost hear the bloodlust dripping from her cold voice. "I will ensure that the cardinal won't fly for a while." Eyes wide, Poiz slowly lied down in her bedroll once more. Pretending to be asleep, she easily heard footsteps approaching the camp. Just as the footsteps stopped directly outside her tent, Poiz felt red hot pain stab through her like a spear of flames. Her back scalded under the immense heat, and the back of Poiz's clothes were burned away in an instant. The moment the unbearable heat came in contact with her skin, Poiz screamed so loud she could feel the trees shake. A sharp pain exploded from behind her head, and the last thing Poiz saw before blacking out was stars. A few minutes later, Poiz awoke to find herself soaking wet, with ice cold towels draped across her back. Running a hand through her wet hair, Poiz found a large, eyeball shaped dent at the beginning of her hairline. "Well isn't that dandy." Poiz said aloud angrily. Hearing her voice, Ithúriel poked her head inside the tent. "Oh! You're finally awake!" even when surprised the elf sounded as f she was singing. "And ah, Poiz, I couldn't help but notice that, ah...well, let's see. You have scars on your arms, legs, stomach, back, neck, feet, hands, fingers...care to explain?" Poiz awkwardly scratched her head for a while, then replied, "Well, I can't die from anything but fire and holy wounds...but lemme tell you, angry villagers are pretty keen on the idea that I shouldn't have any limbs. Or a head. Or feet, for that matter." "So that's why you impaled yourself before," Ithúriel nodded, "it doesn't hurt you." "It leaves one heckuva scar, though." Poiz explained as she pulled up her shirt enough to show a large scar to the right of her nasal. The scar looked knotted and unpleasant. "Well you're just lucky that Kakarias and Quarin happened to be up and about. They managed to conjure up cold water. Unfortunately, they left me with you while they went out on, shall we say personal business." "P-personal...business...?" Poiz whimpered. "Well, turns out that Quarin likes Kakarias after all." "Whelp, I hope they have fun. And that she catches a deadly, not contagious disease." Poiz answered angrily as she laid her head back down on Wolfgang. "Not jealous, are you?" Ithúriel grinned mischievously. "ITHÚRIEL-LEAVEMEALONEGAHHHIWANNASLEEPANDI'MFINETOTALLYNOTJEALOUSGRAAAAAAH!!" Poiz screeched as she quickly reached for her scimitar and blindly threw it at the laughing elf. With a flash of her hand, Ithúriel dexterously caught the elvish weapon. Her eyes widened as she examined the blade. "Sorry...?" Poiz whispered. Ithúriel's gaze was hard as steel. "Where did you find this?" "Back in Migin...why?" "It used to be mine."
Chapter Twenty "Okay, hold up a second." Geoff stopped Alice from continuing. "What is it this time, Geoff?" Alice rolled her eyes. Taking one hand, she put her hair behind one ear. Geoff couldn't help but stare at Alice's ear- and not just because of the pointed tip of it. Her ear was covered in scars, seemingly as if her ear was repeatedly cut off. "W-well first, what happened to your ear...?" Geoff stammered. Alice furrowed her eyebrows, and with a slight smile on her face, asked "So you're fine with me being over a billion years old, from another dimension, a vampire, and only half human, but having my body mutilated is what peaks your interests?" Geoff's eyebrows raised. "You're from another dimension?!" "Oh, right. We haven't gotten there yet, have we?" "Could you show me your stomach?" "Why?" "I'd like to see the scar. From your battle with the assassins." Alice sighed. "Geoff, just know that it looks quite nasty. I really, really don't want to clean up vomit." "Er, okay then." Geoff examined her ear more, and noticed a strange earring hanging from Alice's ear. It appeared to be...a miniature scimitar. "Okay, here are my questions. First of all, when you got that magic sword-" "Scimitar." "Whatever. When you got it, you had only used daggers before, so how were you so good with it? Second, you actually carried Wolfgang all the way to the elves?! That's a long way." Alice smiled. "Good questions. For the first, that's what Ithúriel was about to explain to me. And yes, I carried Wolfgang all that way. I already had increased strength, but when the life of someone you love dearly is on the line, you find yourself with newfound strength, and courage." Geoff nodded. "Oh yeah, and why has that cat been sitting on top of the bookshelves for the past few days?" Alice's golden eyes widened has she slowly raised her head. On top of the mahogany bookshelf directly across from her sat a medium sized cat, with dark grey fur and black markings. It's underbelly was a light grey, and it's poofy tail swung from side to side. The cat's yellow green eyes stared at Alice, and it's mouth turned into what looked like a sinister sneer. Slowly, Alice stood up. "Geoff. Get out of the room." Geoff looked at the cat wildly. "Wha...?" "Geoff. Go! Lock the door behind you!" Quickly, Geoff stood up and dashed out of the room. Alice's sharp ears heard the soft click of the door locking behind him. Her fierce eyes never leaving the cat, Alice unfastened her scimitar earring. She raised it to her mouth, and slowly breathed onto it. As she did, the scimitar grew until it was it's original size, and the snakeskin grip fit perfectly in Alice's right hand. The blade glittered and gleamed even in the dim presentation room, and the engraved snake on either side of it's curved blade seemed to be eager for a fight. The flowing elvish script across the hilt seemed to catch the cat's eye. Carefully, the cat leaped down from it's perch and stalked towards Alice. Alice firmly planted her feet shoulder length apart, and drew her sharp scimitar apart into two blades. "I wondered how long it would take for you to find me. I must admit, Ereythreo did have quite a few minions. Too bad I killed them all. But not you, Tess." Alice sighed. "Unfortunately, my sister loves Conan Auroran. And you, are Conan's sister." The cat twitched, agitated. "Conan is no brother of mine! The only family I have is my master, Ereythreo Makaroy, the rightful heir of Makintos!" it hissed in a surprisingly human voice. "Is that so? Well then, I guess Serena won't mind if I kill you." Alice grinned.
Chapter Twenty "Okay, hold up a second." Geoff stopped Alice from continuing. "What is it this time, Geoff?" Alice rolled her eyes. Taking one hand, she put her hair behind one ear. Geoff couldn't help but stare at Alice's ear- and not just because of the pointed tip of it. Her ear was covered in scars, seemingly as if her ear was repeatedly cut off. "W-well first, what happened to your ear...?" Geoff stammered. Alice furrowed her eyebrows, and with a slight smile on her face, asked "So you're fine with me being over a billion years old, from another dimension, a vampire, and only half human, but having my body mutilated is what peaks your interests?" Geoff's eyebrows raised. "You're from another dimension?!" "Oh, right. We haven't gotten there yet, have we?" "Could you show me your stomach?" "Why?" "I'd like to see the scar. From your battle with the assassins." Alice sighed. "Geoff, just know that it looks quite nasty. I really, really don't want to clean up vomit." "Er, okay then." Geoff examined her ear more, and noticed a strange earring hanging from Alice's ear. It appeared to be...a miniature scimitar. "Okay, here are my questions. First of all, when you got that magic sword-" "Scimitar." "Whatever. When you got it, you had only used daggers before, so how were you so good with it? Second, you actually carried Wolfgang all the way to the elves?! That's a long way." Alice smiled. "Good questions. For the first, that's what Ithúriel was about to explain to me. And yes, I carried Wolfgang all that way. I already had increased strength, but when the life of someone you love dearly is on the line, you find yourself with newfound strength, and courage." Geoff nodded. "Oh yeah, and why has that cat been sitting on top of the bookshelves for the past few days?" Alice's golden eyes widened has she slowly raised her head. On top of the mahogany bookshelf directly across from her sat a medium sized cat, with dark grey fur and black markings. It's underbelly was a light grey, and it's poofy tail swung from side to side. The cat's yellow green eyes stared at Alice, and it's mouth turned into what looked like a sinister sneer. Slowly, Alice stood up. "Geoff. Get out of the room." Geoff looked at the cat wildly. "Wha...?" "Geoff. Go! Lock the door behind you!" Quickly, Geoff stood up and dashed out of the room. Alice's sharp ears heard the soft click of the door locking behind him. Her fierce eyes never leaving the cat, Alice unfastened her scimitar earring. She raised it to her mouth, and slowly breathed onto it. As she did, the scimitar grew until it was it's original size, and the snakeskin grip fit perfectly in Alice's right hand. The blade glittered and gleamed even in the dim presentation room, and the engraved snake on either side of it's curved blade seemed to be eager for a fight. The flowing elvish script across the hilt seemed to catch the cat's eye. Carefully, the cat leaped down from it's perch and stalked towards Alice. Alice firmly planted her feet shoulder length apart, and drew her sharp scimitar apart into two blades. "I wondered how long it would take for you to find me. I must admit, Ereythreo did have quite a few minions. Too bad I killed them all. But not you, Tess." Alice sighed. "Unfortunately, my sister loves Conan Auroran. And you, are Conan's sister." The cat twitched, agitated. "Conan is no brother of mine! The only family I have is my master, Ereythreo Makaroy, the rightful heir of Makintos!" it hissed in a surprisingly human voice. "Is that so? Well then, I guess Serena won't mind if I kill you." Alice grinned.