[2259] Total Eclipse of the Heart

Klaus:

Now what?

The current state of my home brought forth another option to which I had yet to consider.

Join Joseph on his mission...

I follow after him and after a couple days of search, i find him once again at the pink car.

"You will be sure to stick out in that thing, that is for certain."

I respond to his choice of vehicle while looking at the heart.

Jospeh:

It took DAYS to stalk out the car, everyone was too busy to pay it mind BUT the heart jar was inside the Foxe House. Impossible. 

YET by chance a old women had carried it off. I whipped her into the CORN field with a flash and she didn't know what hit her. 

I catch the jar *twitch twitch at its presence*

Then go back to the car. 

Klaus!?

I try to hide my reaction in seeing him again.

"Come to help me make my wife jealous? "

I playfully lean on the pink car like when he made me do those Stupid modeling pictures for Crystal. 

I'm out of ideas...

Beolan:

*LURKING WANTING REVANGE ON THE VAMPIRES WHO DID THIS TO ME INSANE FROM PAIN AND INFECCTION MADNESS*

My face still felt raw and open the moment that vile acid blood befell it. Peeling and leaking. My eye cant grow back. I had to rip a mask off some stuffed creature (scarecrow) to continue on without being such a bleeding target. 

You could smell the blood and rott though and I was tracked relentlessly by the hunters. Reports of me being seen cast me back to hide and travel onward aimlessly and broken.

I loonged to find the FOX women who tempted me with the idea of 'freeing' Meri only to see her for a moment and be crippled like this. No answers were even given by her 'brother'. What was the point??

I would RIP that trickster apart for this but the vampires, they did this, THEY did this.

*HISSSES AT PINK CAR PERFECTLY FROZEN LIKE A SCARE CROW*

**Gets distracted by flying women who is tossed into a hey barrel*

*ducks and crawls through the corn SHARD like paranoid more pain is coming, they are on to me*

Klaus:

I raise an eyebrow at Joseph's first remark.

"Perhaps."

I respond coyly.

Before looking around having a strange sense that we re being watched.

Hopefully by the right monster..

"Is trying to attract her really so hard?"

Joseph was very pretty afterall..

Josheph:

"The problem is I'm not one of them anymore... she probably cant sense me.."

It doesn't help everyone has been hunting her for days.

We were kinda sitting in the danger zone here too.

I sit up and stop posing on the roof seductively as Klaus kept me waiting to long
Now Im embarrassed.  

I pick up the jar and shake it. There was only one big worm left... (the one in Carry's head ate ALL the others)


"Can you use magic to project this mind outward, maybe make it look like theres multiple here, she should try to flock to fellows..."

We could always poke it with a stick so she FEELS it but I was afraid to open the lid really... 

*shakes it to be REALLY annoying*

Klaus:

Joseph's request was a bit advanced for my limited set of skills but I give it my best shot regardless.

*Casts a spell projecting the erks mind outward.*

Now for that other thing..

*Tries for duplication effect.*

Jospeh:

While Klaus does the spells I start up the ship and take to the air hoping to give the 'many minds' the appearance of moving together and away hoping they will be a beacon to follow for any of our vampires to sense.

(Raluca Heart to Klaus): ((Aren't thee cute.)) She mocks his lack of SKILLZ

I nearly hit into a invisible mother ship RIGHT in the sky from the voice of the worm.

I then try to go around the huge ship and start a course around the city before driving upward, past the moon and onward trying to find a planet safer to land on. 

One not frozen.

Klaus:

I tilt my head at the voice and note Joseph's reaction/near crash with an invisible object I hadn't the time to fully question.

"Someone you know?"

I ask before feeling a vibration on my leg and taking out my communicator.

Bloody hell Blythe..

I sigh seeing the majority of my missed messages are from her before picking up the phone and making a call.

"Yes, Blythe, my apologies for not getting back to you sooner, but as I am sure you are aware, I have been a bit busy working on Sebastian's request."

In the far off distance, a dark figure approaches carrying a smaller one in its grasp.

Blythe:

"Klaus Thank Dane your alive!" I exclaim honestly so relived to hear his VOICE after this long. It has been nothing but everyone in such great vampires hyper paranoia for days I was so worried he had been killed or was hanging on a wall somewhere ...*minds wanders* 

"Err or whatever you are.." I recover with a scoff of carelessness. 

Alive wasn't the best term there and I'm sure Dane wouldn't have approved of what he is either.

"You're really blowing your cover staying silent during all THIS..its crazy..."

If I was him I would be publicly seen passing out wooden stakes for orphans or something..

I sigh wishing he had made better process, he tells me he has been working on it.

"Today is THE day Boren's supposed to come back. What if he has more vampires did Joe tell you anything worth mentioning??"

Klaus:

"Believe me I am aware."

I respond to her 'cover' comment trying to think of a proper response in the moment everything had been so hectic, I had barely the chance to process what day it was until Blythe reminds me.

"Have you heard anything from our allies. Are they sending backup?"

William was supposed to be making progress on that but who knows what that quirky human  soldier was up to.

Blythe asks if Jo had anything worth reporting.

"No, but we are looking into the matter further.."

I think about Beolan's appearance and escape from the base and... Meredith.

She left and I let her go. I knew I should have stopped her but in the moment I was too caught up with.. what happened.

I hope she is doing ok wherever she is..

"Blythe, just give me a few more hours. I will return with something more of substance before the day is up."

I report to her.

Blythe:

"Yes they came... I can see why their kingdoms sent them over...."

I say sarcastically finding them all to be probably send here just to be death fodder because they were ALL the most unlikable bunch. AT LEAST some of them were hella hot in a 'hear me out' sort of way...
 
Klaus's whole conversation was useless. I had no idea what those two were 'investigating' in the rubble.  They were probably just ...fucking..

*hangs up on him pissed*

Joseph:

I take us down to the planet and try to stop visualizing Xenon ripping Klaus's head off....

To my surprise / horror he was on a voice chat with Blythe.

Oh my Flynn...


Today was BOREN day too?! 
If I wasn't pale already I would pale at the thought of us all getting back to rubble. 

I mean Echo is off world BUT ....but all his little friends

Klaus tells the princess he will be back in HOURS like we we're just out to lunch. I can't imagine how this is going to go ....and we could even well be  strung up and bleed out for days or any other worst punishment Xeon and the old ones dish out. 

Klaus shouldn't make promises he cant keep, even his sister is in danger back there!

"Here.. I'm going to talk to her, you might just.. " I don't finish the sentence and give him the keys.

((Remember Klaus, I left fully intending on taking the risk and not coming back.. if something happens go back. Your moonrock is the only thing that will save them all.. and if you do that for them. Maybe they wont hate what you are so much. Prove them all wrong, dont worry about me.))

I try to encourage him before flashing out to my DOOM.

"Xenon.."

I hiss her name and let my eyes drop to Echo. 

"I'm sorry son... I couldn't protect you. She can... I couldn't not say goodbye though..if I can have that?"
I say timidly to Xenon.

She was all forgiveness and niceties in goodbye last I saw her and I rather have had that been our last encounter but now I was remembering her new self and I didn't know what to expect having no good experience with any of those who turned.

Klaus:

I did not understand Blythe's last comment before she hangs up on me.

.....

When we land on the planet Joseph hands me the keys and says something that very much sounds like goodbye.

I stiffen and watch him leave.

Not sure if I could just sit idly by should things should take a turn for the worst.

Xenon:

I land close to the ship with Echo near to me.

It seems I was tricked..

I glance over at his small bat-like form as he shivered in tears.

The journey was quite hard on him I'm afraid.

Nonetheless..

I turn to address my husband as he makes his appearance.

His words to our son were wise, yet I hesitate at his request for goodbye.

"Not so fast Joseph. We have 3 children and I only have 1. Where are the other 2?"

I hiss.

Jospeh:

I freeze up unsure how I was going to... explain..

(Raginbar): "Thee arrived BEFORE the attack thee had TIME to do it and thee failed!?"

....

*trances out at my father's presence ... again... like ..in the alley..*

**WHATEVER happened on the station , so terrible so terrible Flux has not written it yet leaves Jo SPEACHLESS HE CAN NOT ADMIT TO IT HE BLOCKED IT OUT* 


"I .failed..they are all gone.."

*closes eyes for beheading*

The Vampire Heart:

*tries to pick in Klaus's mind boredly for entertainment as we are left in the car ALONE*

Such a short sad little life...

*worm does restless flip through the mossy plants inside heart and back around again*

Xenon:

I shake my head in annoyance.

"They are not. You are mistaken."

*Echo squeaks in agreement **based off of what Cary told him***

I glance over at Raginbar's projection for a moment before allowing my eyes to move back to Joseph once more.

"Echo, why don't you say goodbye to your father."

I flash a dangerous sort of smile.

Klaus:

I sense the little worm poking around inside my head.

*Sets the jar down in the backseat of the car and throws a jacket on top of it.*

Orion:

My eyes open, my gaze darkens at the news. Terrible... news...

Everyone was better off dead.

I cant meet Xenon's eyes, I was trying to keep the memory of her last moments alive not..this..

"I'm sorry. I didn't  know..."

(Raginbar): "Because you're a lesser creature now with limited senses.."

....

Hes not wrong.


I numbly look at Echo barely remembering anymore when I could do that. I didn't prepare him or train him, anything. I have been raising him like a ..human. Like Klaus and Penny.
Jospeh Sharpton. 

Not Orion.

It almost felt embarrassing now. 

"Hey.."
I awkwardly stop before I call him 'cute' he was ugly as sin.

((Rukkbat. There's no future for you with Klaus's clan, just lies and hiding. Your mother.. can craft our empire with you in the center how it should be. Not serving the Starker King. I'm sorry we cant be together. anymore.. ))

The Vampire Heart:

Darkness falls. (aka jacket)

* after a moment of DRAMA heard outside by Raginbar's course loud tone of disappointment - when didn't he sound like that.

 I levitate jacket upward over Klaus's face pulling it down like a haunting*

Little Echo:

*Sniffles.*

((Whyyy))

*Wipes ugly as SIN canine snout.*

((Can't you come with us?))

Klaus:

The jacket somehow manages to make its way over my head.

Bloody worm...

I whip the coat off of me in a dramatic gesture before turning around and giving the small creature the attention it so obviously craved.

((You have my attention. I am not letting you out if that is what you want.))

The vampire heart:

Klaussss takes the BAIT.

((You know what I desire. What is it thee want?..))

*shares with him my observation he was doing very LITTLE on this mission but be a BURDEN on another.
Did he wish to make Orion hesitate, today of ALL days he abandons alll he prepared for so long for this DAY ..WHY

Orion:

..ok hes kinda cute...

*is SOMEWHAT touched by the little bat monstrosity when he wipes at his snout* 

Rukbat wants me to come along. I slowly look at Xenon and father over there unsure their motive. 

Was ignoring me punishment? Like a insignificant insect.

((I'm not like you..anymore.I'm like Klaus. We're not the same...))

Still it did not feel very good to leave him when Xenon planed on finding all these other children... 

I was hoping she would just set him up somewhere for success. But if she has to go loooking..

I stop myself from considering it. I cant....

*eyes the car nervously*

Raginbar:

((Are thee truly lettith the traitor go?)) I question believing she had alterer motives plotting away for Orion and his fair haired male lover.
I MUST know the details.

Look at HIM, just sitting pretty over there, not a thought in his airy illiterate brain space,  playing jacket dress up as true gods discuss business that will change the course of history.   

Raluca was also present...  

*would blow up car with mind taking both of them out if I COULD*

Xenon:

I ponder Orion and Rukbats interaction before turning to address Raginbar.

((Of course not. He has responsibilities to attend to.))

And truly he cared for Rukbat or he would not have gone to such great lengths to see him.

So why did he bring the other one?

Ponders this before swooping over to the pink car and leaning on the hood.

The creature inside smelt of rot just like Orion.

Can't eat him, he is useless, he will only DISTRACT.

I attack the vehicle and throw it accross the landscape like a toy ball.

Klaus:

The worm strikes up a conversation.

I had no time to explain myself to her, nor did I care to.

When I turn around however, I am met face to face with Xenon.

I freeze for a moment sensing her perusal.

Before I have proper time to react she throws the car and we go flying.

**Blacks out**

Joseph:

I hiss at Klaus being attacked while I was DISTRACTED.

((Was that necessary!?))

I flash over to Xenon's side angrily.

"Hes the only vampire still with a coven left! Its vey large and powerful! You will need to start somewhere.."

*lies*

Xenon:

I turn to Orion with an inquiring look..

"I think you know it was. "

I respond coldly as he proceeds to vent.

"That creature has nothing to offer me nor you anymore. Your obligations lye elsewhere Orion. It is time for you to grow up!"

I scold.

"We are of the last of our kind and have a continued responsibility for survival. While you were off "playing" I, along with our children were fighting for our lives against everyone and everything including starvation!"

I stretch out my wings to appear larger and scarier to him in a display of dominance.

"Let him GO before you force me to hunt him down and actually kill him!"

I forgave Orion for his failure to rise to the occasion when he was young, I will not tolerate such further behavior now that he is a MAN.

Jospeh:

I stop myself from smarting back to her HE CANT DIE.

She can try

BUT .... with it being the being THE BIG DAY and all....

"I'm not a Xern anymore. I dont see what I can do for you...If you think I can be a help in some way.."

I sigh rubbing the back of my head.

"Who are the children? Do you know?" I ask which ones since we and so many and so many died.
I cant imagine ...what they would be like..

I start walking AWAY from the smoke and dont look back at Klaus's car.

Xenon:

I shake my head in annoyance at his mindset.

So single-minded in his thought process how ever did he survive?

"You will be put to use."

I turn to Echo with impatience.

"Come on Rukbat. Ragweed is close and I sense Derwood not too far either."

I knock Joseph out as he will not want to be awake for this.

*Picks Orion up and sets off into space to search the next planet.*

 




 

Xenon:

I hold little Rukbat close to my chest, stroking his hair ever so gently in my attempts to comfort him.

"There, there.. you did well little one."

I hand him some stolen fruit from a few locals I devoured.

Orion was elsewhere satisfying his own.. urges.

Tsk.

A few giants hone in on our position. Orion retaliates.

(To Orion) ((Come, come now we don't have all day.))

I tease but do not help him before taking Echo's hand as he continues to shiver.

"You are strong. Just a few more steps and we'll be there."

I kiss the top of his head and lead him onwards to his brother.

Desmond:

The noise! Oh Flynn, the noise!!

I flattened my ears down and do my best to cover both sets of ears but it was still there. The sonic sounds ache my head something fierce.

"What is that???" I don't know if anyone can even hear that question over whatever the hell this is.

Ethan was gazing out the window.

(Ethan): "Wow. This place is amazing! So many healing crystals everywhere."

Ethan thinks maybe the squid kids will get help without further genetic tinkering after all. The soldiers have saved the day as always.

Orion:

((I am NOT like you Xenon, I am weaker. I am just wasting yout time thawing out..))

I remind her hoping she grow sick of me dragging her down.

I flash past the giants trying to defend their hovel of a town.

I see Echo eating some fruit, imagine the germs on this simple planet. 
He was so much safer in the city.

However would he cope to the SAVAGE lifestyle his mother was putting us all through.

I see a boy in the midst of hooded giants on a fiery alter. I attack the high priest beheading him against a tree trunk. Others move towards Xenon not knowing what she is capable of. 

The young boy was loosed in the chaos from his bonds, but was not Roewood...his 'antlers' were clearly a flower branch crown strapped on his head.

*antler frequency coming from antlers on fire below on the alter*

Xenon:

((SILENCE!))

I snap at him and his pitiful excuses while sensing around the area.

We make our way to an alter where Orion is the first to attack.

The boy was not ours though.

Echo startles slightly at all the violence.

I stroke his hair, reminding him that this was the way.

Where is he?

I let out an impatient sigh before making my way closer to the alter and finally, discovering my little one's antlers.

................

"WHERE IS HE?!!!?!!"

I screech out at the others, letting out my wings in a threatening manner.

Desmond:

Crystal presses her palms against her ears, inaudible hissing at the all-encompassing sound, and eyes the spirit thing.

I gaze up wide-eyed, frozen to the spot at the frost spirit-like entity. It feels like my outer warmth is being channeled out of my body and vaporizing out my mouth.

Cold so cold. Outer cold entwining with my center.

The blue-haired one fails to hear Fritz and flinches back as the window they were looking out of shatters, sending glass shards at their face and chest.

When the ship's windows break, my own pain just gets worse as well.

My ears start to bleed. The pain in my head and four ears is unbearable. 

Genuine thick energies press down from all around me. Trying to crush and flatten me and sucking out my energy. It combined with the cold reminded me of space. Floating in it, tumbling. A creeping vacuum of cold threatening to boil and dissipate me and freeze my remains.

So many red eyes were everywhere. Surrounding me. Watching me. Waiting. An audience to my demise.

I gasp uselessly. Trying to fill my insides with something, anything, but it only brings more cold that pierces my inner being further.

Crystal unleashes her claws and tries to attack the spirit and bite at it.

I don't know if she succeeds in any of her attacks against a ghost as my head tilts back as my eyes gaze upward, in the midst of rolling back. I see spots in my vision and know unconsciousness is near. I clamp down my teeth and send out arcs of electricity from my body as a last act before I fully succumb.

 Lightning arcs and zaps around the inside of the ship.

The blue-haired squints and raises their arms trying to protect their face from further environmental hazards.

Crystal, so close, gets a strong zap through the stomach. She falls back to the ground burned, the air knocked out of her. She gasps on air in pain as she curls forward to get up again, but the sound is swallowed up by the choir.

Orion:

I finely spot what Xenon was tracking.

I freeze up dishearten again at our search. 

We're we really just reduced to trivial collectables and decor to use in rituals and spells. For being so feared they sure dont fear ..this.

I think of Ragweed's eyes, and even Raluca's heart...

"Come on Echo.."

I try to pull him away letting her have her vengeance on the hooded giants. 

((I dont think we're going to find anyone else..)) I tell him BLUNLY, needing someone ..sane to talk to.

Outside Father and Xenon's grand insanity.

Rukbat:

I follow after dad as violent screams of terror are soon heard in the background.

I wipe my eye of a tear drop, trying to be brave.

Dad doesn't think we are going to find anyone else.

I hoped it was because they were all missing and not dead like Roe.

"I don't want to fly in space again."

I whimper and squeeze his hand.

Rukbat:

I nod my head at father's encouragement before wiping my sniffly nose with the back of my hand.

We approach a wagon. It was very colorful.

I brighten finding its appearance comforting. I look at the creatures which pulled the wagon curiously.

Dad whispers to me to act hurt.

I do as instructed and walk forwards with a limp towards the carriage.

Crystal:

While keeping arms up in an attempt to shield the eyes, below them at the ground Ethan witnessed the body poof away wide-eyed and looks around wondering if they all were getting teleported away. And then really notices Violet and her sounds and raises an eyebrow.

I heave some heavy breaths from the aching pain as I scootch myself back away from Des, towards Fritz.

Des' lightning stopped. Thankfully. But it was a little too late now, wasn't it?

At least it gave me a different pain to focus on than the damn headache these bastards were trying to give with all their obnoxiously loud choir harmony.

I'm not even sure I'd even be heard by anyone telepathically with this cursed space song. Did Yrt bless these freaks for their moon-ness or what?

Eth takes the tentacle child from Friz so the medical can be unencumbered and bounces her lightly and scoops up the other one and bounces him too trying to be soothing.

After I move back to Fritz, I see to my annoyance others come back in to grab Des.

Ugh.

Why couldn't you be zapping now, Des?? I think annoyed.

Fritz:

"Desmond!" I yell but it's no use, he's out of it.. maybe its for the best I don't think we could have stopped them anyway. I try not to think selfishly but at least its not taking us

I try to help Crystal up.

((Maybe... caves..)) I struggle to send a message and try to lead her on. I hope others follow. I know its CRAZY maybe to go out there but they are busy with Desmond and I think the caves may block the screams.

I try to support Crystal forward.

Rukbat:

"I hurt my leg."

I say to the kind lady.

"I think I twisted my ankle.. when I was playing."

*Swallows.*

She offers me her hand and I hesitate, expecting some kind of magic spell that might detect my lie.

She was a witch wasn't she?

I nervously stagger backwards and look towards her growling.. friend.

"Is he dangerous?"

I try to cover up my foly.

Austrah: 

The poor child was afraid of me, who can blame the dear heart? There are so many dark souls who prey on innocence here. One can only hope to be a beacon of light to bring clarity to such madness. 

If this child is a orphan the safest place for him is in the great City of Light. 
Oh I know Good King Sebastain is trying to clean house in this galaxy and cut down, planet by planet a purge of the rements of the dark curse but the WORK was great.

The harvesters oh so few.

I play with my fair straw colored braid casting a look for dear Bayly to be at PEACE and show this new friend some compassion and hospitality. 

"No child, hes just home sick. I'm taking him to his friend."

I stop the wagon, the two big burly beasts (Flux hasnt found what their damn are names yet)


"I am Austrah, these are my friends, we're on a pilgrimage to the City of Lights. The home of the returned Starker king. Do you know of it?"


I pet each one and offer a sugar cube in thanks for their service. 
I had hoped the boy would feel more comfortable away from a moving vehicle.

(Bayley): "I'm Bayly.." He finely says trying to appease me. What a trooper.

I claps my hands together at his attempt to open up.

One day.. one day.

I can not wait to meet this Teagan fellow Bayley speaks of so much! He sounds like such a nice boy, these  two have such a bond.Like brothers 

I take out a picnic basket where I have some wrappings and medicine. 

"I can patch you up if you wish or if you aren't comfortable I can offer you a treasure at least for stopping by."

I smile and show him my ornate box of finds from our travels thus far. Smooth stones, little knick nacks and dried flowers. 

Treasures of the heart