Ramia still just sort of stood there in the entrance hall, looking around very curiously, like she was trying to get as much information about the goings on in the castle without actually moving. If she was nervous the black haired swordswoman hid it quite well. Despite the water dripping from her clothes and hair she seemed to be thankful to just have a roof over her head at the moment.

@YamiCuoreLaroux



"Oh yes, master, there are people here!" Felix exclaimed happily to Marco. He jumped up onto the counter, pacing around waving his tail around. "There will be so many things to do! We simply must organize a dinner..." Felix began worrying, taking to nobody in particular. As he spoke, Faris slunked into the room, sliding along the wall, and tugged on Felix's shadow. It was a storage feeing having your shadow touched- much like having your hair pulled, it wasn't exactly a part of you, but it was attached to your spirit. And Felix nearly jumped out of his skin from the strange sensation. He yowled and turned, looking for someone and seeing nothing, not noticing Faris on the wall.
"Why are they here?" Faris whispered, and Felix saw him. A look of feline surprise came over his face. The youngest prince hadn't left the attic in years. The only reason Faris was talking at all was that it was only Marco in the room, and he hadn't ever used Faris for nefarious purposes, unlike some of his less tame brothers.
"Well, erhhh..." Felix stuttered, unsure of how to conduct himself in front of the young master.

@luclovers

"People? Who...or I guess, since when...?" Marco watched as the cat started going off excitedly, more than a little shocked. He hadn't known a thing about any visitors, and even if he had, he would have advised against it. This wasn't the best way to meet people in his opinion. Then again, perhaps they couldn't keep them away forever. Still, it seems far too soon to expect people to just accept something like...

At the sound of Felix's yowl followed by another familiar voice, the bear looked up from his thoughts, honestly a little surprised when he finally found the shadow on the wall. "Faris? It is you, isn't it? You're back?" He wasn't entirely sure where the younger brother went when he went off, especially since his new form made him very tricky to track. Combined with the only-increasing amount of time he spent in his room, he really didn't see the subtle shadow much any more. When had he last seen him? He couldn't even be sure at this point.

Embarrassing, though probably not that odd considering how the elder often had been.

"I admit that I wonder that as well; I received no notice I can recall. Why are they here, Felix? Please answer."

Aria looked around the grand entrance and saw that the other girl had began to work for them. She wondered if she should apply. Her family did need the money. She decided she should try.
"Um... Excuse me, uh, your Highnesses. I was also wondering if I can find work here. My family needs the money. You see, we lost our farm..." Aria cut off. They don't need to hear her entire life story. She put her arms behind her back and shut up.

Nyra giggled and flew after the the young new girl and the bossy cat. It's not everyday she meets someone new. and she will be working with them! Nyra was so excited! She flew into the new girl's room.
"Hello! I'm Nyra! I work her also! Oh! I'm so Excited to meet someone new! It's been a while!"

Hate walks out from the dining room his hooves clicking as he walks at a steady pace. he stops at the entrance again and studies Aria. With amusement in his tone he looks at his brother. [well brother, what do you think? Should this one work here as well?] he gives a slight nod to Aria.
The he notices that Ramia is still in the hall. [What of you wanderer? just shelter or do you seek work] to her the tone was less amused and more curious his eyes seeming to pierce her into place. His head tilted as he stares at her. He seemed curious, especially since unlike the other two women she had a sword. She probably knows how to use it as well, making her somewhat dangerous in case she decides to turn on them. Not that he would let that happen.

"Ummm...Errr..." Felix stammered yet again. "One of them came for work, and the others... They just... appeared?" Felix assumed. He hadnt really thought of where they had come from, they were just.... here. He looked around confused, wondering where they all came from, and if they knew eachother somehow.



"But...why did they all show up at the same time?" Faris asked, thinking back to that tragic day all that time ago. He hadn't thought on it in a long time.

Around four years ago...

Faris was sitting at the dining room table, eating a delicious meal. He looked up at the servants, making cute little faces at them and trying to make them laugh. They stood off to the side, waiting for the princes to be finished. They always ate after the princes, due to Felix's belief in holding strong to their late Lady and Lord. Faris just wanted to make them all happy again. Everyone seemed to be so sad now that Mom and Dad were gone. But he figured that they were in a better place now. Sometimes he felt like they were still around. A knock sounded through the halls, and Faris stopped smiling, his childish curiosity kicking in. He went to stand up, but Grey gave him a stern look, and rose to answer the door himself. Faris sat quietly, waiting for them to all look back down at their plates. He heard bickering in the main hall, and some raised voices. His curiousity got the best of him, and he quickly ran to the hall, ignoring the calls he heard from behind him. He made it into the hall, but Grey was nowhere to be found. Someone stood in the doorway, and they turned as Faris approached.
"Where's my brother?" He asked, feeing confusion take hold of him. The figure gave him a surprised and worried look, and left hastily, slamming the door. Faris backed up slowly, feeing strange suddenly. He turned, running back to the dining room. His hand slowly began to turn back, and he stared at it, screaming a childish yelp. He flung open the door to the dining room, and screamed even louder. His brothers were knelt over, and a large creature stood in the centre of the room. Faris get himself pulled to the wall, and he slid up the side, his body slowly darkening to black as he rose higher and higher, screaming louder and louder. As the shadow swept over his face, he floated out from the wall, and above the dining table. Suddenly, he was slammed hard into the wall, vanishing.
And the screaming stopped.

Present Day
"It's her. " Faris whispered, the shadow on the wall shaking as he remembered the first confusing days as a shadow.

@YamiCuoreLaroux

Aria smiled and bowed her head slightly to the majestic looking prince, a smile on her face. She looked back up at him.
"Thank you, your highness."
She turned to look at the girl with the sword who the prince was talking to. She wondered if the girl knew how to use it or it was a bluff to scare others off.

Grey was very surprised to see that the girls had come to work here and were fine with it after seeing everything. He was happy all the same though. Hachi seemed to be active heading the house as the oldest brother, and Faris had come out as well. He would have liked to ask Faris about shadows, but now was not a good time. Grey went off to the kitchen himself. The servants were all very busy preparing for meals and the newcomers arrival. He made his way into the kitchen avoiding the commotion, and poured himself a cup of hot water. He soon found a strainer and added some tea. When it was done sitting he made his way back into a grand room with a fireplace and let everyone continue their preparations and business.

Ramia answered Hatchi's piercing gaze with a steady stare of her own. The prince could nearly see the fire burning inside the swordswoman. "I ain't degradin' myself to be some damn chambermaid." As she spoke she began literally fuming - so maybe there really was a fire inside her. Soon Ramia's hair and clothes were dry again and she took a deep breath as if to calm herself or prepare herself for something. "I will have you know, good sir that I am Ramia Elanna of the noble house of Kastagir. I may not become a duchess any time soon - unless something happens to my brothers, which I wouldn't like mind you. I only got my family name as my inheritance. I've studied swordplay since I was 14 so I ain't - and wouldn't have to - be nobody's damn chambermaid."

@luclovers

"Her?" Marco repeated the word in slight confusion, pondering what he meant for a good few seconds before it finally clicked. He had never actually seen the woman, only heard about her from the others after, since he had been called to another one of his duties at the time of the event. "Are you saying that she came back with them? Or did she send them? I...don't think I understand." The bear shook its head, barely taking note of the crow's appearance as he entered and went about making tea without word to any of them. "In any case, we should still be careful while they are here. It wouldn't do to repeat that accident by being inhospitable. How many of them are there, anyway?"

@Marcus XVI
Hatchi tilts his head and the room drops lightly in temperature as his eyes glow slightly.[Then you will receive food....then leave.] He then walks closer to her and meets her fully at eye level. [Do not mock myself or my servants by degrading them as such. If you do such again I will simply kick you out now. For I care not of your title] There is zero hint of sarcasm or amusement. He truly means it. The light temperature drop showing just as since he is. His tail flicks as he turns and starts walking past her his hooves once again clicking.

@YamiCuoreLaroux



"How... Many?" Felix repeated. Damn it. He hadn't counted! He hopped off the counter and ran through the halls, trying to determine how many strangers were in the house.

Faris sunk the the floor on the wall. He didn't want this. Whoever these girls were, they weren't here at the same time by coincidence. He slowly faded away, reappearing in his attic moments later. There was no point in socializing. He was safe up in the attic. Nobody could find him here.

Aria was silent while she listened between the two. She decided it would probably be best if she left the room. Her heart sunk a little at the woman's comment about being a servant. Sighing, Aria decided to get familiar with the great home. If she would be working here, she needed to know all about it.

Now that she really thought about it Ramia had heard rumors about this place - a castle with some kind of a curse cast upon it's inhabitants. She had no difficulty understanding why they had been cursed, especially if all of them were like the prince she had exchanged words with. "Guess getting food is good enough. I'd rather spend the night in the woods with the wolves than here anyways!" Obviously Hatchi's words had really hit a nerve on the swordswoman. "I have no damn title for you to care about! I have no damn lands to start a life with someone if I were to marry!" Little tendrils of smoke began rising from the fingertips of Ramia's left hand - a fact she herself noticed, but was too annoyed to do anything about. Who did this damn prince think he is? Being all hostile all of a sudden? "I don't really know any damn thing about you lot, but I can bet I know exactly why you are like you are! Heck, with an attitude like that you'll most likely remain like that!"

Belle listened to the snake. "He should still be concerned about the people that serve under him. As head butler it is his duty. Not to mention being concerned for other people is that right thing to do." She patted the snake gently on the head. "I very much appreciate your work."

She looked up in surprise at the sudden flurry of activity as a bat came flying into the room. Her initial alarm went away as the creature started to speak, introducing herself.
"It is very nice to meet you Nyra. I am Belle," she said, bowing. "With so many kind and friendly coworkers I can say honestly I am looking forward to working here."

A few minutes later she closed the door before slipping off her dress. Standing in her simple shift, she found a lovely and modest maid's uniform in the wardrobe. After dressing, she brushed her hair and arranged it in a braid. A simple apron was left on the chair for her.
Once she was ready she headed for the kitchen. She thought about those she had met, in particular Hachi. He seemed... she couldn't put her finger on it, but something about him fascinated her. Not only his current appearance and what had happened to put him and his brothers in such a predicament, but his seemingly gentlemanly yet protective-on-the-border-of-dangerous personality. There was something underneath the manners that unnerved her, but at the same time made her want to know more. She only hoped that when she made mistakes that it would be the cat reprimanding her. She had a feeling she wouldn't be able to handle any kind of reprimand from Hachi, though she supposed she should be calling him 'master' or 'milord' now shouldn't she?

She wandered the hall, looking for either the head butler or Hachi in order to ask what she was supposed to do first.

Hatchi stops, the temperature plunges causes for the castle to start to get cold. Though the area where he is in is the coldest. His eyes glowing brightly as he spins his ears pinned back he growls at Ramia. [speak not of which you know nothing. You insult myself, and my servants.] He scrapes a hoof on the castle floor then roars his voice booming through everyone's minds, something he has not done...really ever. Ice forms on the walls around him and a mist starts appearing around his feet. She had insulted the servants, then himself and his brothers. She knew nothing....and she had smoke on her hands.

Ramia clutched her head, the mental roar rang in her ears and for a moment made her feel so small. It did however nothing to reduce her growing annoyance which by now was turning in to full fledged anger. The fire burning inside her wanted to get out - which was something she did not want to happen, not in this state of mind. "You are only insulted because YOU wish to be insulted!" The black haired woman's voice trembled, maybe due to the cold, maybe due to the fear or the barely contained anger. "You take my words as insults when I mean no such damn thing! Go ahead! Throw me out or strike me down!" Ramia was now fighting against both the cold on the outside and the flame inside. "Just know that if you throw me out and I end up keeling over out of hunger or end up eaten by whatever lurks in the woods..." She shook her head and turned on her heels. "...I'll curse you with my final breath." The little tendrils of smoke became little embers, soon her fingers were covered by a small flame. Ramia gritted her teeth, though the flame did not actually burn her skin she could feel the heat. She was scared and angry. The only reason she had came to this damn place had been for a meal and hopefully a bed to spend the night.

@luclovers@BlackPanther

The cat's exit left the bear in silence as he stared after in curiosity and some slight remaining confusion. There were new guests, likely linked to the curse somehow if the younger brother was correct, but that still didn't tell him very much. Sighing, he turned back toward where the odd shadow had sat on the wall only to realize that he was unable to find it anymore. "Faris?"

When no voice answered back and no shadow in the kitchen gave any sign to him, he let his shoulders fall a bit. He finally saw him, and he lost him again. Who knew when he'd show up again, or if he would even be able to tell with the boy in that state? Deciding that there wasn't much to be done on that front for the moment, he sat down to take stock of the situation. There are people here who we don't seem to know, likely connected to the curse if Faris is correct. And...that's more or less all I know. I guess they must have arrived extremely recently, though it's possible that everyone has just been too busy to give much notice yet. Still, they couldn't have been here that long...In any case, guests mean that there's work to be done. I should at least--

The roar ringing through the estate jolted the bear from his thoughts as he scrambled to his feet. "Hachi?" Such a sound couldn't mean anything good; whether he was in trouble or causing it somehow, it was a problem. And monster or not, preventing these things when possible was his field.

@Marcus XVI@BlackPanther

Grey was very startled at the 'sound' of Hachi yelling. He thought that the swordswoman wouldn't be a problem, but evidently she was. Or at least that's what Grey assumed since she was the only one that appeared hostile. Grey immediately started running for the entrance where Hachi and the woman were. This was unacceptable. For someone to push Hachi that far, this must be serious, and it was proven when he got there. He got there in time to hear her shouting back at Hachi, and saw her hands begin to glow with flame. Grey instantly grew into a much larger, fiercer looking monster. His eyes began glow and feathers began to circle him in a chaotic fashion. His shirt and shoes tore off, and his pants stretched incredulously.

He slipped into a shadow and re-emerged right behind the woman. In a new, deep and threatening voice, he as calmly as he could retain gave her the following. "For someone who seeks shelter and food from the elements, you do not know how to ask. I suggest you cease your profanity, swearing, and cursings in the presence of this castle or you will not be given a chance to die by the element's hands. I do not know your situation, but you will calm down now, or I will be forced to be the peacekeeper. You may try to fight with your sword and flames, but whether or not you kill any of us, you will die."

Belle crouched down and covered her ears in reaction to the loud roar in her head. Hachi? What had happened?
Her eyes grew large when ice formed on the walls. What was happening?!

"Hachi," she murmured before standing and hurrying towards the coldest point, the source of it all. "Hachi?" she called, this time a little louder and her voice trembling.

Once she saw him fear immediately latched on to her with hands even mire icy than the walls around her. He looked livid.
The only thought that pushed through the fear was that she had to do something...

"Hachi?" Belle called gently but her voice trembled with fear. "Hachi... talk to me..." she pleaded, trying to calm him. She took half a step forward, testing the waters so to speak. If he was too angry to control himself she wanted to be a safe distance back, but if he welcomed her attempt to calm him then she would continue forward until she could stroke him soothing.