---

In listening to Eddie’s voice he calmed down it helped how she told him he wasn’t bad. But, then stopped when she said something that confused him. "Able to probably eat me in one second? Yeah, probably. But you aren't bad," He tilted his head at her looking at her funny. ”I can’t eat people. Why are you saying that I could eat you in one second?“ Just what in the world was she talking about?

"I mean, if you are going through puberty, could just be growing pains, right?"
Mercury burst into laughter, and then groaned as his sides ached. He held her hands in his warmly. ”God I love you Eddie.“ When the desserts came he was surprised that she pushed both in front of him. But, he decided to ask for a small plate. When that came he separated a bit of both desserts then slid the plate over to Eddie. He wanted to share the sweets with his sweetheart. At that mental pun he face palmed with a stupid looking grin. ”Thanks for the sweets.“ He then started digging in, enjoyed each, and every bite.

Afterwards he was feeling a lot better. He stretched his arms up with a big yawn. ”I’m so ready for a nap I’m exhausted. Being in pain, saving your butt from drowning, and running all the way away from the docks… You’ll forgive me if I ask you to carry my sweet beaked crow butt to a hotel.“ He almost zonked out right then, and there.

---

---

Eddie blushed again. "Y-you love me?" As relationships go, she never had someone tell her that on the first day. Of course, that is, if this could be considered a relationship. She wasn't quite sure what it was, what definition matched.

She nodded, eating a tiny bit of gelato. ”I’m so ready for a nap I’m exhausted. Being in pain, saving your butt from drowning, and running all the way away from the docks… You’ll forgive me if I ask you to carry my sweet beaked crow butt to a hotel.“

"Oh...Okay." Eddie said. Quickly paying for their food, she picked up the sleeping crow, and went into the New York streets. Lighting a path through the darkness, Eddie made her way to the nearest cheap motel, and paid for a room. The hotel was old and creaking, reminding her slightly of the Lizzie Borden inn. The room was on the top floor, fitted with two twin beds. Placing Mercury and his belongings down on one, Eddie sat down on the other, and quickly fell asleep herself.

---

Mercury dozed peacefully tucked into Eddie as she carried him to a motel. When he was set down on the bed alone he quickly became restless, and with that began to have terrible nightmares. He let out soft cawing noises in his sleep as he twitched.

He was floating aimlessly somewhere dark, cold, and wet unable to tell which way was up or down. After a while he began to see bodies of the dead floating around staring at him with cold vacant eyes. They oddly felt familiar to him, and he reached out to one. Only for something massive to swoop in, and take them away. When the bodies were down to one in the far distance Mercury swam towards them desperate to prevent anymore people from vanishing. When he finally got to them he saw it was Eddie with eyes shut, and he gently pulled her into his arms. He tried to rouse her awake hoping that she was merely asleep. When that didn’t work he began to grow desperate shaking her, and then finally opened one of her eyelids. What he saw horrified him, and then he turned hearing the sounds of the dark mass coming for Eddie. What he saw shook him to the core it was a giant of a monster, and had four heads like a hydra. Those masks was what caused him to wake screaming.

Mercury woke fast screaming, and he ran to the bathroom dry heaving. Nothing was coming up no matter how much Mercury wanted to puke, it was like his body refused to let go of anything. While at the same time wanting to puke. He was shaking as he held the toilet seat tears streaming down his face. ”That was the worst fucking dream I’ve ever had. Whatever happened to the lollypop trees, cotton candy clouds and trees of dreams I used to have. Dammit… This sucks. God I'm gonna kill Tia when I get my hands on her.“

---

---

Eddie's sleep wasn't quite as pleasant.

She was back at Lizzie Borden's house, surrounded by darkness. No matter how many beams of light she pulled on, the darkness continued to consume it, surrounding her. Her voice wouldn't sound, no matter how much she attempted to scream. And then, the demon approached her, wearing the same silver mask she had seen before.

"Darkness will consume you..." the mask hissed. The creature charged at her once more, and she began to hear Mercury's screams. Jolting upright, Eddie glanced at her friend -- boyfriend? lover? -- rushing towards the bathroom.

"M-Mercury? You okay?" Eddie asked, sitting up in her bed. Looking around the room, she took a few deep breaths, the nightmare quickly fading from her mind and memory. All she could remember was the silver mask, that it had something to do with it.

"You can, erm, share my bed with me if that'd help you sleep?" Eddie offered.

---

Mercury looked up at Eddie, and smiled at her weakly. He dried his eyes with his sleeve, and nodded. ”Thank you Eddie, I’d really appreciate that. I’ll turn crow so you still have plenty of space to sleep.“ He flew over to her in crow form landing on her shoulder. Eddie felt that he’d gotten a little heavier than before not by a lot, just enough to notice a difference. He nuzzled up to her cheek just need the closeness with her to ease his mind. That nightmare had been truly horrifying.
It took him a long while before he started sleeping beside Eddie’s head nestled on top of a pillow. This time he didn’t have nightmares, but he didn’t have good dreams either.

---

---

”Thank you Eddie, I’d really appreciate that. I’ll turn crow so you still have plenty of space to sleep.“

"Oh, you don't have to do that, human form is fine," Eddie said, but he had already turned into a crow. She settled back into bed, this time having a crow pressed up against her head. It was a lot like sleeping with a cat, though in a way, it was unnerving. He couldn't have been this heavy earlier.

Must have been whatever Tia did to him...

She watched him fall asleep, and once being sufficiently certain that her voice wouldn't wake him, she peered around the room as best as she could without moving her head. Her voice as soft as possible, she began to whisper. "Warlord, Magi, Sly, and...Daily? What's going on with him?"

She had no idea if the masks could hear her, or even, where they were. For all she knew, they had been turned into feathers when Mercury transformed. She bit her lip slightly, hoping that Mercury hadn't been woken up by her whispering, but she was starting to grow worried. Something was indeed happening to him. Eddie couldn't help but feel responsible for it.

---

Mercury twitched a bit his wing bopping Eddie on the face before he folded his wing back to his body. It was almost as if Warlord was talking to her through movement, and he was telling her to shut it. As not only was Mercury tired, but so were the masks. They’d been put through their paces, and needed some serious rest. Without the fear that Mercury is going to need them at any moment.

The next time Mercury woke up he hopped a bit on the bed then turned to human form. Before getting off the bed in wraith form. His eyes were glowing a solid yellow no pupils, and the way he moved looked zombieish. He moved to the front door, and left the room he quickly went down the stairs into the dark parking lot.

Slowly this zombie Mercury walked for a while the sun was just starting to come out. So he stuck to dark underpasses, and pulled his hood more over his head to obscure his face. Soon he seemed to find what he was looking for. There were several gang bangers selling drugs to kids by a dirty underpass near a park. A growling clicking noise escaped him as a huge fang filled mouth opened in a wide smile.

---

---

Eddie groaned a bit, after getting hit in the face. She kept her eyes open, facing the ceiling. Entertaining herself by telling herself stories, she didn't sleep that night. She stayed wide awake, shining light in her own eyes whenever she began to feel drowsy. It didn't hurt her eyes at all -- light never hurt her -- but it stimulated her brain, keeping her awake.

Of course, two hours before sunrise, none of it mattered. She fell fast asleep. She didn't notice Mercury get up, she didn't notice him move like a zombie, she noticed none of it. By the time the sun came out, Eddie rolled over, only to notice the bed was empty. She sat up, wide awake, and found herself completely alone in the room.

She chuckled sadly. "That's how it is, then..." she said softly. Grabbing the hotel phone next to the bed, Eddie made a quick call to her parents. It was early, but since her mother was a school principal, she was up at this hour anyways.

"Yeah, I'm going to head home for a few days, if that's okay," Eddie said. She paused as her mother answered, and nodded. "Love you. I'll see you soon."

She hanged up the phone and gathered her belongings, tucking her dead iPhone into her pocket. Heading out of the room, she waved at the front desk lady, having already paid for their lodging. As far as Eddie was aware, Mercury had just left her. It was something guys did--girls, even, she knew from experience.

Fortunately, there was a bus stop not too far from the hotel. She walked to it and waited for the bus that would take her to the Amtrak station, and from there, she'd take the train back to Massachusetts. Her heart felt broken, but she didn't let herself dwell on it. She'd only known him for a day. There was no reason to grieve something that never was.

Sitting on the bench, she noticed a park across the street, near an overpass. Shady figures stood out to her in the distance, and she gripped her belongings a little tighter, having had enough excitement for a lifetime. At any moment, the bus would arrive, and she could put this all behind her.

---

Eddie soon heard men screaming, and one of the gang bangers take off running. Only for Mercury to pounce on them dragging them back into the shadows. But, he looked incredibly off his coat was torn with large black horns coming out of his back with long arms, and claws for fingers. His eyes glowing yellow, and red pupils that were thin slits. The gang banger was screaming all the way into the dark underpass, the hispanic gang banger screaming for someone to help him.
After a while Mercury stumbled out of the dark looking dazed, and confused. An ungloved hand set to his face, and he was slowly making his way back to the motel. He fell over three times on the way there, his flesh started burning in the sunlight. But, didn’t seem aware of anything that was going on.
He entered the motel room to find it empty he stood there confused, and scared.
”Eddie?“ He looked around for her knocked on the bathroom door listened, nothing. Walked outside as the sun began to grow brighter, and looked around this time feeling the sun start burning him, and ignored it. He had to find Eddie, what if someone took her? What if she was hurt? He fell down the stairs partially barely catching himself. ”Lucy?“ Did she leave him? Was she exactly like all the others? She had to have known Mercury wouldn’t have just left her for no reason. He loved her, and she was his only friend. Now he was all alone, and fell to his knees in a new country without knowing anyone. He crossed his arms over his abdomen as he started sobbing.

---

---

Eddie glanced up open hearing the screams. She jogged across the street, attempting to get a better look at what was going on. The bus zoomed past her, and she turned around, and swore. The next one wouldn't be coming for another hour, and once more, she wanted to sink to the ground and cry.

However, that was when she heard the cries for help. She didn't have the added strength, but with her heart feeling broken, it didn't matter to her. She made her way towards the underpass, walking before going into a sprint. Making it to the underpass, she hid behind it, peering her head around to see what was going on.

What she saw horrified her.

Mercury, with pure gold eyes and sharpened teeth, was moving around, practically pouncing on his victims. She sank to her knees, attempting to make herself as small as possible, as she desperately hoped that she would wake up, and it'd all be just a bad dream. But she received no such solace. After Mercury left, wandering and looking confused, Eddie slowly got up, and went into the underpass.

"I'm so sorry..." Eddie muttered, looking at the wreckage. Silent tears fell from her eyes, and she held her arms tightly, her nails digging into her skin. Slowly making her way back to the bus stop, she wanted the day to end, and it had only just begun. Not feeling like waiting for the bus for another hour, Eddie made her way back towards the hotel, hoping that they'd be able to call a cab for her.

Part of her hoped that Mercury would be there when she got back, but she doubted it. Back in the parking lot of the hotel, she glanced up at the window where there room had been, hoping to see a sign that he was there. Instead, she heard someone sobbing--someone calling her name.

"M-M-Mercury?"

---

Mercury turned hearing Eddie’s voice he got up hobbling towards her as smoke wafted from his burning body. He was in pain, in misery, and all he wanted was Eddie. All he wanted was for her to be alright. He reached out for her touching her face just to make sure she were real.
”Eddie why did you leave?“
He didn’t remember anything that’d happened. What he’d done or the people he’d hurt. It’d destroy him knowing he’d killed someone innocent. Well, good thing they weren’t innocent. They were gang bangers selling drugs to kids, and the kids weren’t harmed.
”I came to, and you were gone all your stuff packed up. What did I do to make you wanna leave? Tell me what I can do to make it better, tell me please. I don’t want you to go, I don't want to be alone.“ He pulled her into an embrace holding her close to him. Eddie made everything better so much so he forgot the burning pain of his body.

---

---

Mercury quickly pulled her into a hug, his body continuing to smoke. Eddie coughed a bit as she inhaled the smoke, trying her best not to breathe it in. She couldn't help it, though, due to the proximity.

"I-I woke up and you were gone," Eddie admitted. "I thought you...you left."

Despite him just being half an inch taller than her, she somehow managed to practically curl up against him. Her thoughts were whizzing by, but her emotions were constant, somewhere in between happiness and despair. Resolving not to tell Mercury what she had seen him do, she simply remained in his embrace.

"Sorry for being stupid and naive," Eddie mumbled, coughing a bit more from the smoke. She shielded Mercury from the light, causing her to be unable to see him, even though she knew that he was there. The smoke stopped, along with the coughing, and she let out an apologetic sigh.

---

Mercury heard Eddie start coughing, and felt the pain again he gently pulled back, and coughed into his mask. ”It’s okay Eddie, It’s okay I forgive you. I’m just glad something made you decide to come back. I don’t think I could go through whatever Tia did to me, and lose you at the same time… I know that sounds wrong, and dependant of me. But, it’s the honest to gods truth Lucy. So please don’t leave again, and don’t think I’d ever leave your side unless you wanted me to go. Which I hope to god I won’t do anything to deserve that..“ He felt the light stop scorching him, and smiled in gratitude. ”I should probably head back into the motel room to heal. Then I’ll get dressed, and grab us something good to eat. Sound good?“

---

---

For a moment, Eddie considered telling him about how she went to the bus stop, only to hear screams and see him attacking gang members. But once again, she decided against it. It wasn't something that Mercury needed to know about. And unless he figured out how to read her mind, he wouldn't ever know about it. She made a silent vow to watch him, and if he ever went rogue again, she'd somehow restrain him.

Perhaps a light cage would work, she wondered.

"Yeah, okay," Eddie nodded, gazing into where she assumed his face was. She had plunged him into complete darkness, figuring it would help his healing the most. And with the lack of sleep she had gotten, totaling to just two hours, she wouldn't mind taking a nap. With Mercury in tow, Eddie went back to the motel room, and collapsed onto the bed, dragging him down with her. Falling asleep practically instantly, the light returned to interacting with Mercury, with Eddie's hand holding onto his arm tightly.

---

Mercury gently fell into the bed with Eddie, and smiled at her. He was grateful that Eddie had lead him by the hand otherwise, he’d be bumping into all sorts of stuff before finding his way around. He held her gently cradling her head with his arm. Then leaned his forehead against hers gently before nodding off to sleep. The yellow light of his eyes dulling till finally going all dark. The mask of Sly started glowing as if trying to tell Eddie something.
The masks had heard her question last night, but weren’t able to answer because they were bones inside of Mercury’s body while in Crow form. With Mercury now asleep Sly was able to talk to her without Mercury learning anything. He needed to get a message to Eddie, but soon Magi started glowing to. She was willing to talk, and she was less insane then Sly was. Plus she could keep the secrets better hidden then Sly could. Even if he was a master spy in life.

---

---

Had Eddie gotten more than two hours of sleep, the light of the masks in front of her would have been enough to wake her up. As it was, her entire body was desperately plotting to keep her asleep as long as was humanly possible. Cuddling closer to Mercury for the warmth, her forehead leaning up against Mercury's. She shifted slightly, her arms practically draped over him.

Potentially, her hands would touch one of the masks, but fast asleep, she was dreaming. Any information they told her would most likely be incorporated into her dream, but as fate would have it, her hand brushed up against Sly. She let out a sigh, unaware that she was touching bone, and continued to dream.

---

Sly brought Eddie into a white, and black room white ceiling on one side white furniture, floors, ceiling, and even the table. But, on the other half was darkness with only slight light being cast into it. On the dark side of the room was a man in a nice business suit, and a Sly on his lapel. His face obscured by an unnatural darkness being cast on his side of the room. He motioned to Eddie then to a seat. Hello Edwina, it is quite the pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. My name is Sly, I'm the spymaster of mercury's masks. Though, he does tend to confuse my caution for insanity... Quite the bother that one is at times. He took a seat across from her folding one leg over the other. I brought you here by your touching me whilst you sleep. Quite fortunate for both of us you're starting to become more relaxed around us. As it will start to become a nuisance if you keep acting so squeamish. We're clean no blood or guts attached. You're not afraid of touching ivory are you? think of our masks as pure ivory from now on. Should help you out some in theory anyways.
He put a manilla file onto the table, and slid it over to Eddie. Then motioned for her to take a look inside. In it were photos of what was going on inside of Mercury a darkness, and then some sort of whole.
edwina, you wanted to know what was going on inside of mercury yes? well, it's rather hard to explain. whatever tia did to our shadowy friend seems to have created a hole inside of him. a hole that needs to be fillled . every four hours that hole remains empty is when it starts to grow. causing mercury untold amounts agony. as the hole is beginning to devour him, and slowly drive him to doing things he'd never normally do. such as eating those gang bangers earlier this morning. Inside that file was also the gangbangers, and what they were doing mere moments before death. They’d been selling meth to kids no older than fourteen, babies almost.
I'll now be answering your questions.

---

---

Eddie had been dreaming that she could fly. She was flying across cities, oceans, and islands, enjoying the feeling of freedom and the wind in her hair. Suddenly, gravity landed her, causing her to fall rapidly towards the ground. She screamed, only to blink and find herself in a white and black room.

Across the room, there was a figure, obscured by shadow. Eddie paused, realizing that she could control each and every action she took. "I'm lucid dreaming..." Eddie said, paying hardly any attention to the figure at first. Whenever she came to the realization that she was lucid dreaming, she always loved attempting to control reality.

However, upon the realization that she couldn't, a pit grew in her stomach. "This...This isn't a dream?" Eddie gulped. The figure motioned for her to take a seat, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was the demon attached to her soul. She took her seat, her hands shaking slightly.

Hello Edwina, it is quite the pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. My name is Sly, I'm the spymaster of mercury's masks. Though, he does tend to confuse my caution for insanity... Quite the bother that one is at times.

British accent? Eddie realized instantly. She always found British accents unbelievably attractive. Gulping slightly, she began to realize there was only one way that Sly could be talking to her.

"A-Are you on my face?" Eddie squeaked, instantly reaching up and pulling at her skin, hoping to wake up. Instead, she remained fast asleep, moving only in the dream.

I brought you here by your touching me whilst you sleep. Quite fortunate for both of us you're starting to become more relaxed around us. As it will start to become a nuisance if you keep acting so squeamish. We're clean no blood or guts attached. You're not afraid of touching ivory are you? think of our masks as pure ivory from now on. Should help you out some in theory anyways.

Eddie practically whimpered, and held her head in her hands. Her ginger curls were quickly seized up in her fingers, and she rocked back and forth slightly in the chair, trying her hardest to think about anything but the masks. Still, the awake Eddie began to shift, her heart accelerating and her grip on Mercury tightening in terror.

Edwina, you wanted to know what was going on inside of Mercury yes? well, it's rather hard to explain. whatever Tia did to our shadowy friend seems to have created a hole inside of him. a hole that needs to be fillled . every four hours that hole remains empty is when it starts to grow. causing mercury untold amounts agony. as the hole is beginning to devour him, and slowly drive him to doing things he'd never normally do. such as eating those gang bangers earlier this morning. I'll now be answering your questions.

Eddie glanced up, looking at the file. Trying her best not to hyperventilate, Eddie removed her head from her hands, biting her lip hard. She'd always been an incredibly squeamish person, fainting in biology labs and unable to take classes in college that involved bones. Death and decay always set her off--the remains, for her, were torture.

"I...um...What do I need to do?"

---

Nothing really besides keeping the truth from him. Do not by any means tell him what he has been doing. If you do it could very easily destroy him. I like being alive very much so, even if the means are less than optimal. Sly adjusted himself in his seat, and slowly stood up. He walked towards the back of the dark half of the room folding his hands behind his back. As he thought for a while. You also need to find whatever tia stole from Mercury in order to fill that hole. Or something close to it in order to stop this from happening again.

He walked back to the table to look at Edwina. Then braced his hands on the table looking down at her. She could see two glowing golden irises from the darkness looking at her. I like you Edwina, you are a good kid. Sure you got a bit of demon in you, but all good heroes have a bit of that. It is what you do to overcome it that is important. I have seen many a thing in when I was alive. Heroes fall villains rise, vicea versa as well. But, understand this. You are the hero Mercury needs right now. Both to fill his heart with light to combat demon inside, and to stop his demon when he cannot.

---

---

Eddie nodded, clenching the handles of her seat. She listened to every word Sly gave, until she saw the eyes. They were the very same eyes she had seen on Mercury, when he lost himself and acted like a beast. Springing up from the chair, Eddie ran from the desk, going to the single door in the room. She desperately tried the handle, but it was locked. Kicking and screaming at the door, the yellow eyes continued to haunt her.

"G-Get back..." Eddie practically choked, unable to leave the room. Her fear was becoming more and more intense, causing her heartbeat to once more skyrocket, and soft whimpers escape from her sleeping form.

"I-I-I know those eyes," Eddie gulped. "Th-Those were the eyes Mercury had when he went insane..."

Eddie started pounding her hands against the door, every so often throwing a glance over towards Sly, as if it could prevent him from moving.