[IC] The Collector

[FoxFireOfDawn]

As soon as what looked like hands sprouted from the glass creature, Xerc flinched. Noticing that they were lashing put at his comrades, he growled lowly, getting into the stance to charge. He visually darkened, made one loud bark and charged. He then began to claw and rip off the hands, him being engulfed in rage. He moved quick, darting around and slowing down for larger attacks. The black that oozed out of cuts and wounds to the hands blended in with his fur, but made it somewhat sticky. He payed no mind to it and with the state he was in now, it wouldn't be a suprise if he hit someone and didn't care.

[TheWendil]

At the sight of a beserk Xerc, the hands began to slowly creep away, returning back to the source of the glass creature. The horrid thing gave one hate-filled glance in their direction before appearing to phase through the walls, bringing with it the hell limbs. The hallway was littered now with black liquid and bloodied arms. It seemed the house was determined, no, hell bent on ensuring they didn't leave. Sasha breathed a heavy sigh of relief as she sniffed the blank gunk closely. "Ugh. It's like oil but...mixed with a corpse or something. Seriously, whoever lives here is a real...real...nutjob...."

What....was this? Her eyes were getting so...heavy. And her head began to spin with a dull ache...Sasha was reduced to her knees as she felt her senses deaden and her movements began to slow. What happened? What did she...when did she...her eyes widened as she stared at the sight before her. When she saved Alexandra, those things began to ooze out....

Crap.

"Guys...stay away from that...that tar stuff. I...I think it...messes with...." She layed on the floor now, her body completely numb. She could still move and talk to an extent, but she wouldn't be protecting anyone anytime soon. A drug. Meant to slow them down and incapacitate their movements.

[Scarifar]

Daniel sighed with relief as the hands retreated and let his firewall dissipate. He briefly wondered why they could phase through the castle walls yet not his firewall, but that thought quickly passed away when he saw Sasha collapse onto the ground. "Sasha!" Daniel cried out in alarm, then searched her wrist for a pulse. There was a slow one, and it didn't seem to be slowing down, so Daniel was relieved to see that Sasha was no going to die. He listened as Sasha said something about the black liquid on the ground. He eyed the liquid with distaste, then lifted her up in his arms and said, "Alright guys, let's get out of this hellhole." He also kept an eye out for Xerc, in case it would have the same effect on him, especially since he was covered with the stuff.

[shi12]

As the hands retreated they harshly dropped a struggling Alexandra, her sleek black jaguar form landing on her back. She quickly attempted to stand, already spitting up the tar-like liquid coating her teeth, yet her feet gave out under her with a shudder. A growl escaped her lips as she once again struggled to stand, finally standing up on four unstable legs. This stuff, it had already taken down one of them, and Alex was determined to beat it.

The shape-shifter quickly lets her bones turn back into her usual form, but her disheveled condition didn’t change. Her white hair was dripping in the black ooze, her lips coated with the disgusting substance like her pale fingers, the liquid even dripped from her clothes. Seeing herself in the mirrors though she began to worry, how much of this stuff did she take in? “There’s nowhere else to go. The other way is a dead end as well.” She says, her eyes scanning the hall for any escape. “Wait, is that- A door!!” Alex chimed, shocked as her eyes locked onto a reflective knob on the wall. With steps much slower than her usual pace she stepped up to it and opened the door, shocked to find a relatively normal hallway that seemed to open up to a foyer of sorts. “It looks safe enough, come on.” She quickly calls, her voice slurring slightly. Alexandra shook her head to get rid of the dizzy feeling. No. She wouldn’t let herself fall to this, she had to get out of here.

[FoxFireOfDawn]

After the mirror-like creature phased through the walls, Xerc returned to his normal self. He began to then make the attempt to shake off the oil-like substance that blended with his fur. Splatters of it covered the walls and floor. He still had a lot on his teeth and claws, but the majority of it over all was gone. He then felt a slight fuzzy feeling in the back of his head that slowly crept forward after Sasha had made the attempt to warn them of the tar before collapsing. He whimpered, already feeling the effects.

Xerc then moved quite slowly to the door that Alexandra had found, him now slightly slouched with his eyelids feeling much more heavier. He purposely scratched at himself, the slight pain giving him the hope of staying awake. If he collapsed now, it would be difficult to get him anywhere from his weight and size. It would definitely be a pain to haul him around. He kept scratching and growling, the constant sound and pain would make him last longer, or that's at least what he thought would work.

[Scarifar]

Daniel constructed a firewall to shield himself from Xerc's removal of the liquid. He had no intention of getting that stuff on him, and was lucky enough to have not gotten it on him earlier. He adjusted Sasha's position on his arms to make himself (and hopefully Sasha herself) more comfortable, then went next to Alexandra, concern on his face, ready to catch her if she fell. "Well, whatever is out there, it can't be as bad as this mess," Daniel said, making it sound confident, but really just trying to convince himself of that.

[rocketrobie2]

When the creature had finally been defeated Mr.T was still scared but more at ease thanks to the threat of the creature being gone but he was still shaky from being covered in the goop. Some of it had been absorbed into his stuffing inside but not lots of it. When he saw the black, oily goop was making people all dizzy and such he began to get scared but nothing happened. Thanks to the fact Mr.T was a Teddy bear he didn't have any nervous systems for the goop to effect. He followed everyone through the door making sure not to touch anyone and get the goop on them.

[TheWendil]

"Hey...don't think I'm down for good...Pretty Boy..." Sasha grumbled at the fact that she needed to be carried around like this, but it really couldn't be helped. A drug with that much potency was enough to slow down any supernatural. So it only made sense that as a human, the black liquid would have a stronger effect on her. Biting her tongue and gritting her teeth, she thrashed and rolled in Daniel's grip for any frail and feeble attempt at staying awake. As Alexandra and Daniel both led the group down the foyer into a larger area, Sasha couldn't help but notice that the others had the black goop on them as well, though it didn't really seem to be affecting Mr. T all that much. Figures. With a name like that...

When the group entered through the foyer, they stumbled upon what looked like a grand ballroom. Under normal circumstances, this place would have been beautiful. A silver chandelier hung high above them while the entire floor was paved with strokes of crimson and marble. Gold and purple decorations adorned the walls everywhere, giving the huge room a radiant glow. Just how big was this place anyway...hey wait. "What's...that?" Sasha reached over to point a finger at something fast and moving in the center of the ballroom. It looked like...a person. Though she could just be hallucinating from the drugs...no, those movements definitely looked too real to be a dream.

The girl moved with such grace and elegance as she danced alone on the grand stage of the center. Her pale skin contrasted with the pitch black dress around her figure, crowned atop with equally long black hair that covered her left eye with bangs. Her single seen right eye was a deep crimson, as red as the flooring of which she was dancing upon. After a final twirl of movement, she paused to take a bow to an imaginary crowd before finally noticing the group of at strange people no doubt watching her.

"My goodness, you all startled me!" Walking over to them, she bowed politely and flashed them each a warm smile. "Apologies for the rude endeavor. You seem to be...lost. Tell me, is there a certain reason you're roaming this mansion?" The girl titled her head to the side and blinked in suprise. "Oh yes, I almost forgot! Apologies once more." She bowed once again to emphasize her point.

"I don't really have a name...but you may address me as Marianne."

[shi12]

Alexandra was puzzled by this new being, questioning her presence. It was becoming hard to do that though as the strange ooze worked its way into her system, making it hard to focus on anything. The ground felt as if it was spinning under her feet while her throat felt as if it were constricting due to the substance no doubt coating her esophagus. “Guys-“ she attempted to say, wanting to reason that they should probably get far away from this girl. Her words however came out in a desperate wheeze, the shape-shifters lips becoming numb. That’s when it became hard to fight this poisonous substance, her entire form slumping sideways into Xerc like she was a rag doll. She couldn’t move, her eye lids drooping as her eyes glazed over and her vision blurred to a point where she couldn’t see the new girl’s face.

“You don’t look so good.” Marianne chimed, looking a little worried in Alex’s direction. The tiny girl stepped a tad closer, seemingly looking at the ooze that coated our group. “No. That really isn’t good.” She adds, suddenly stepping back. The girl’s eyes conveyed the fact she didn’t want to come in contact with the substance, yet she seemed to know something the group did not. “Maybe I can help.” She finishes, a smile on her lips.

[Scarifar]

"Hey, quit squirming," Daniel said while carrying Sasha. "It's hard enough to carry you as it is." As the group walked along they came upon a room that had only one word to describe it: grand. It was so pleasing to the eye, Daniel looked at the colorful decorations until something that moved caught his eye. He focused on it and it turned out to be a girl, dancing rather gracefully, until she noticed the group and started speaking to them. Daniel was soon confused by her chatter, until she mentioned that she could help. Daniel's eyes widened in surprise and he asked, "Help? How so?" eagerness slipping into his voice.

[rocketrobie2]

Mr.T walked carefully near the group getting closer when they saw the pale woman in the black dress and the red eyes. Mr.T quickly ran up and hugged Alexandrea's ankle in fear. Even though the lady seemed nice enough Mr.T wasn't quick to trust her in the slightest and when Alexandrea slumped down due to the black goop Mr.T just hung on tighter hopping it would somehow help if he hugged harder.

[FoxFireOfDawn]

After entering the ballroom which looked fairly beautiful, Xerc still kept up the scratching and small whimpers, but the sight of the girl confused him. It does make sense that there would be others here but surely they would also wish to escape? Xerc said nothing and sat, before feeling something gently hit him. He turned, to see Alexandra slumped to the side. His expression didn't change much, due to the tar substance that was still affecting him. He payed his attention mostly on the girl, but kept silent, knowing that his words would probably come out slurred.

[TheWendil]

Marianne tilted her head and giggled lightly. "I can do all sorts of things Daniel. See, just watch." The girl suddenly tensed up as as a hand sprouted out of her abdomen, causing a huge wound to appear as blood began to seep out messily. Marianne's single eye glazed over and she gave one last smile before collapsing forward onto the floor like a lifeless weight. Dead. As the blood began seep everywhere around the fresh corpse, several hands rose up from the sticky red substance.

Unlike the hands from before, these hands were feminine and had claws on the ends of them. Lashing out greedily, they dragged Marianne's body within the pool of blood, submerging her into some self-apparent portal before fat bubbles began to form over the blood's surface. Rising out of it like water, was Marianne once more, smiling as if nothing has just occurred.

"My, my! Apologies for the mess I've made. Here, I'll clean it up." The precious life liquid began to now move on its own, seeping towards the girl in black and rising up until it levitated before her. Then, with a low whooshing sound, the blood began to be absorbed within the girl's crimson right eye. Soon enough, the floor was clean once more. "There we go. I believe this is what you need." Holding out her hand, she showed the group a small vial of green liquid that softly fizzed within the glass. Having witnessed this entire sight through barely conscious eyes, Sasha frowned at the item being offered to them.

"Wha...what is....?"

"It's an antidote Sasha. It should reverse the effects of that yucky black ooze." Walking to Daniel, she held it out for him to take but only by her fingers. "Sorry about this, but it would only cause problems if you touched me directly, ok? Trust me." Again, that same smile graced her lips as if none of this was strange at all. Sasha wasn't really in any condition to complain, but still, she had to know at least one thing about their mysterious savior. If she was to be trusted at all.

"You said Daniel...and my....how do you...know our names...?"

The girl in black giggled as she pointed to her single red eye. "Dear Sasha...I know many things. But that's my little secret for now." She wagged her finger teasingly.

[rocketrobie2]

Mr.T looked at the gruesome scene as the girl did.... something. Mr.T didn't really understand in the slightest what had just happened in front of him but he continued to tightly hug Alexandrea's ankle. He didn't trust the antidote but for all he knew it could help everyone out.

[Scarifar]

Daniel instinctively took a few steps back when Marianne destroyed her body only to have it reappear unharmed. His face now wore an expression of shock and horror, although Marianne didn't seem to notice. At this point all trust that Daniel had for Marianne vanished, and he eyed the green liquid with suspicion. "I'm not sure I'm willing to touch even that vial, at least until I know what it even holds," Daniel said. Nevertheless, he constructed a human hand out of fire, gently taking it out of Marianne's fingers and lifting it to eye level.

[shi12]

Alexandra had no idea what she just saw. In truth she thought the bloody fiasco she just witnessed was a figment of her delusional brain. It had to be, it didn’t make any sense to her, but the way everyone else had reacted made her realize it wasn’t in her head. She had to focus, already getting sick of the weak state she was in, so in a desperate struggle to regain some awareness she deftly slapped her hand across her face. It stung, ringing out with a loud smack, but surprisingly her vision was slightly clearer than before. There was still dots clouding her sight though, so it only helped a little, and it probably made her look even more mental than she truly is.

“Here, I’ll try it. If it’s actually harmful I’d have a better chance of surviving it than Sasha, seeing as she’s got the immune system of a human. Plus I don’t think anyone really wants to take it in the first place.” She says, her voice slurred but still distinguishable as she deftly reached out towards the green vial. The shape-shifter knew that if it did turn out to be a trick she might still have enough strength to shift into something that could expel it. She would have done that with the ooze but it had been in her system too long to do any good.

[Scarifar]

Daniel was reluctant to let anyone try the mystery liquid, but he could find no flaw in Alexandra's words. With only a nod, he handed the vial over to Alexandra. If anything went wrong, was would be sure to retaliate against Marianne, but then again, he was still holding Sasha, so that might not be the best thing to do, at least not yet.

[rocketrobie2]

Mr.T shook his head and tugged on Alexandrea's ankle. He didn't make any noise because he still thought and hoped the strange looking stranger didn't realize he was there. He didn't want the shape shifter to take the liquid because he didn't trust it. He wouldn't be able to convince her not to just by saying that but he hoped she wouldn't do it. She was the only one he felt safe around so far.

[TheWendil]

When Alexandra promptly slapped herself to fight off the effects of the black tar, Marianne frowned as she titled her head. "You're a funny one Alex. Though I assure you, that is nothing short of the real deal." Marianne then noticed the tiny animated teddy bear at Alex's ankle and waved at it. "Well hello Mr. T. Aren't you just so cute!" The dark clad girl suddenly turned to a door at the very end of the ballroom and pointed to it. "I recommend taking that route. There shouldn't be anything of danger to you in there...."

Smiling, Marianne gave one last bow to the group. "Well, until next time then little ones. We will see each other again. How soon depends entirely up to all of you." Clapping her hands one more time, she made her way back to the center of the ballroom and began dancing by herself once more, humming a soft melody.

Taking the hint that she was now ignoring them, Sasha shifted in Daniel's grip to get a better look at Alex. "Well....Reeking Girl? Is it...doing anything yet?"

[shi12]

Alexandra took the strange vial in her hands, uncorking it with shaking hands. A sweet smell wafted to her nose from the container, an aroma that almost seemed too sweet. Nonetheless she lifted it to her lips. “Here we go.” She muttered to herself, taking a small sip.

Oh my god- she thought, pulling away from the vial with a look of disgust on her face. Antidote or not the stuff tasted awful but it wasn’t the flavor that made her retreat from the liquid, it was the warm burning sensation it gave off as it traveled down her throat. She quickly gave the vial back to Daniel before bending over at the waist and coughing up a fit. It was then she noticed the little bear looking up at her, clinging to her leg. How long had he been there? Finally though the burning sensation disappeared and she stood up straight.

Her vision slowly returned to normal and her legs stopped wobbling, it seemed to her that it had worked. “Minus the rancid taste it seems harmless. It burns a little though.” She replied, looking at Sasha with newfound strength. Alexandra no longer leaned into Xerc, instead standing on her own.