[IC] The Collector (2) [Closed]

[drallinix]

Adrian had been blown off his feet backwards by the explosion and lay about ten feet back. He twitched a few times before he was engulfed in black fire and the wings and sword disappeared to be replaced by horns. He kicked up to his feet and cracked his neck a smirk breaking across his face.

"Now that's what im talking about! My god what fun lets have a round two what do you say!?" The demon laughed out manically as black flames appeared in his hands. Before he could throw them however the presence of someone new caught his attention and the flames died away. It was a girl with white hair and a teddy bear. For a minute the demon stared, then began to walk forward only to fall to his knees clutching his head.

"Damn you, you had your turn its mine now, NO! GAH!" the demon yelled as the horns were stripped away and the angel knelt in his place. As the angel stood he looked somewhat out of breath, and he had sustained minor wounds from the explosion. Nothing that would hinder him, but enough to be painful.

[TheWendil]

Scarlet instantly reached for her knives, ready to kill this newcomer if she proved to be a threat for them. However, she soon paused when the girl named Alexandra began to speak, albeit in a broken and manic manner. She loosened her grip on her weapons, eyebrow rising as the girl before them spoke to the teddy bear in her hand.

As if it was some kind of sentient being…

She caught the sneak glances at Marianne, though for some reason didn’t feel as if they were hostile or that she should be concerned about the looks. Instead, she felt that same strange feeling again, as if she was missing something entirely.

Marianne suddenly let go of Rose’s hand and stepped forward. A new emotion was present in her crimson eyes. It looked like…respect? Pity? Something along those lines. The young girl walked until she stood right before Alexandra. Little Ann watched this all in wide-eyed silence.

“This is the result,” Marianne said quietly.

Her voice was different, as if it took on a new level maturity and wisdom, something this young girl couldn’t have possessed. With a turn on her heel, she looked at the group assembled. Her eyes were held steady and her voice was clear.

“This is what happens when you don’t escape the Collector. You become raving and mad, much like this poor girl here. And yet, this girl holds more bravery than any one of you. If each of your suffering were amounted to me and put together….they would still fail to measure up to the despair and sacrifice this girl has underwent.”

Scarlet was taken aback by the girl’s words of praise. She looked at Alexandra with a new perspective now. Still, what did the girl mean when she mentioned making a deal with someone?

Who?

Marianne remained unwavering and calm, not even fazed when Adrian transformed into his demon self and back again.

[Scarifar]

As Conna'Cel pushed Faira away, the explosion knocked Conna'Cel off his feet and caused him to crash onto the floor, sliding a few inches before stopping.

"Damage report," Conna'Cel said as he pushed himself off the ground. "Multiple areas damaged. Most notable locations: wing attachments, spine, upper left and right thigh. Estimated repair time... Four minutes and 23 seconds."

As Conna'Cel reported all this, his body was already in the middle of repairing itself, slowly but surely.

Then came the new arrivals. This odd white-haired girl holding a teddy bear... she seemed odd. The teddy bear had no anomalous properties, but the girl made his threat detection fluctuate much like Marianne did, although not nearly as much.

Little Marianne and Alexandra's words only created more questions than they answered. One thing was for certain, however: there were means of escape, however dangerous they were.

"A deal with whom?" Conna'Cel asked, his voice stern and robotic. He could make a few guesses on who or what it was, but it was best not to draw conclusions on mere speculation. "And do not seek to lie to us again. Lies do not escape my detection."

[shi12]

Alexandra hugged the bear tighter to her chest, smiling down at Marianne when she approached. She paid little attention to the advancing demon, only casting him a glance when she noticed him change. That only lasted a second, her teal blue gaze flickering over the group. Suddenly she tensed, her eyes on Little Ann, she looked spooked. Alex took a step back, she clearly did not like the little girl.

The woman then flinched, her eyes snapping over to the robot. "You've already met the answer to your question... Everyone meets her eventually." She chuckles, her mannerisms clearly insane but there was truth in her words.

Rosaline was finally putting the pieces together, and Alexandra's words only strengthened her beliefs. What really worried her though was Marianne's words and the look Alex was giving Ann. "What do you mean by we've met her already??" She questions, stepping forward.

Alexandra turned to look at Rosaline, her eyes widening as if she had seen her before. Suddenly Alex moved forward, putting the doll-like girl's face between her hands. "Oh my... It's you! I always wondered who that picture was of!!" She laughed madly. "He's obsessed with you you know?" She chuckled, ignoring her question.

[Riven Wight]

Faira relaxed slightly as Rosaline extinguished the flames, the house repairing itself and leaving only a few remaining plumes of lingering smoke that hugged the ceiling of the entrance room before they, too, dissipated.
Noticing Rosaline wobble, Faira stepped toward the glass woman. “Are you--”
Laughter on the verge of hysteria interrupted her, and she spun around, the sword again raised defensively.
She took in the woman with long, flowing white hair standing at the base of the staircase, a teddy bear clutched in her arms as she greeted the group. Faira shifted her weight awkwardly as the woman introduced the stuffed animal, the girl trying to figure out whether or not the newcomer meant them harm.
Faira’s gaze snapped to Adriane, panicking as his demon side emerged.
“Don’t!” Faira shouted, moving toward him to try to stop him from causing another explosion, but the angel regained control, making Faira release a relieved sigh. “And that’s why you should think things through before you go throwing fireballs at things. You okay?”
She tilted her head toward Marianne at her statement about the Collector, the thought creating a pit in her stomach.
We’ve gotta find that key! she thought, running a hand through her hair as she faced the others again, just catching Alexandra's disease at Little Ann.
Faira glanced curiously from one to the other. Her grip tightened on the sword as Alexandra suddenly strode forward, speaking as she cupped Rosaline’s face in her hands.
“By ‘he,’ you mean the Collector?” Faira asked quietly, her brows furrowing.

[TheWendil]

“Of course she does,” Marianne answered calmly, that air of wisdom still present in her voice. “It would seem that your captor has quite the fascination with Rosaline here. For one reason or another, he’s kept on an eye on you always. Would you like to enlighten the group about your past encounters?”

The young girl looked up at Rose curiously, no malice or benevolence shown in her gaze. Little Ann on the other hand was growing rapidly hysterical, panting and trembling all at once. She held onto Faira’s leg with a death grip, casting scared glances both at Alexandra and now Marianne.

She opened her mouth to say something, only for her voice to be cut off from the sound of something loud creaking. The noise echoed everywhere, though Scarlet tried to pinpoint the exact origin.

When she did, her body tensed up.

“Whatever that was…it came above us.”

[shi12]

Rosaline tensed, pulling away from Alexandra with wide eyes. There was a look of confusion and disbelief on her features. “No… T-That was over a hundred years ago. He can’t still be alive.” She suddenly stuttered. The nebula looked a little spooked. Joshua had been human, a warlock, but definitely mortal. He would have been dead by now, yet she knew that Alexandra and Marianne were right. She had had this feeling for a while now but had refused to believe it. A sigh leaves her lips as she tries to figure out how to explain this. Their trust of each other was fragile enough as it is, she did not want them to fear her as well.

“Joshua… He was a warlock I was once acquainted with. I stumbled across him in the year 1867 while he was practicing his spells… Not even two years passed before he turned on me though. For some strange reason he thought it best to seal me in a physical body. I gave up my mortal body hundreds of years ago, but he trapped me in this body. He sealed me away in a body of porcelain…like I was a doll.” She explained. “I still, after all this time, don’t know why he did it either.” Rose added, shaking her head. She didn’t know how he could be the Collector though, how had that decent mortal become this twisted?

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

“That was brilliantly told dear Rosaline, but you forgot the part where you betrayed my feelings.” A voice, one that seemed both wise and dangerous, suddenly chimed in. Standing at the top of the grand staircase was a man who looked no older than 25. His hair was pitch black, making his skin seem even paler and his cold blue eyes stand out. It was the man from the painting, yet this time he was all too real. To Rosaline he had hardly changed, minus the cold look in his eyes…that was new to her.

Alexandra tensed, backing away slowly. “Oh, and there’s the problematic shapeshifter… I still have to figure out what to do with you seeing as for some strange reason you don’t listen to me.” He huffed.

The man stepped gracefully down the stairs before suddenly appearing right behind the nebula, his arms wrapped around her. Joshua’s right hand gripped her chin while the other hand rested on her stomach. “What are you talking about? I never-“ he cut Rosaline’s words off, his hand clasping over her mouth. “I loved you once, until I saw you in the arms of another… now I plan on keeping you here along with the rest of this little crew.” He chuckled, before pushing her forward onto her hands and knees. Then with a haunting, devilish laugh he disappeared. “You only have one more day and then you’re stuck here.” His voice adds, his form appearing back at the top of the staircase.

[Riven Wight]

“You’ve met him?” Faira asked, looking incredulously at Rosaline before her gaze turned to Little Ann as the child trembled and clamped onto her leg. “What the… What’s wrong?”
Before the child could answer, a loud creak echoed through the room, making Faira jump, her head swiveling around in search of anything that could have made the noise. She looked up as Scarlet stated where it had come from.
What, the roof going to cave in on us now? Faira thought before Rosaline began her summarized story.
“Eighteen… But that… that’s impossible!” Faira placed her free hand on Little Ann’s shoulder, unsure what else to do with it. “He’d be, what, like almost two…” She let the thought trail off and spun toward the staircase as the sharp snaps of a slow clap pierced through the room.
Faira swallowed hard and took a half step back as the man from the paintings began to descend the stairs, Little Ann’s grip preventing her from moving too far. She blinked in surprise as he disappeared, only to reappear behind Rosaline.
“So this is all about revenge?” Faira hissed as Joshua finished speaking, her wary gaze on him. “Everything that’s happened to us, to everyone else you’ve trapped and killed, just to, what, get back at her for not wanting to be with you?”
Her face twisted angrily as he pushed Rosaline to her knees.
“Hey! Leave her alone!” She raised the sword toward him, the man behind it all. If not for him, she would be home, safe and comfortable. A thin stream of flame spiraled around the blade.
His laugh made the hairs on her neck stand on end before he disappeared, his disembodied voice still sounding.
“A day?” She turned in search of him, then looked back to the top of the staircase as movement caught her eye. “Then what? You’ll kill us, if we aren’t already dead?” Her stomach churned at the thought. She tried to push down the nudge of her powers, hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened with Marianne. “Try to make us your slaves?”

[drallinix]

"Im fine" Adrian replied breathing heavily. "Stay behind me for what comes next its gunna get bad" Adrian said coldly before adding "Whatever you do don't look me in the eyes". When the man grabbed Rose Adrian's fist clenched and he gritted his teeth. "Hey asshole didn't anyone ever tell you not to touch a lady without permission?" was Adrians choice of insult. "Rose get away from him and get the others out of here ill handle this" Adrian replied.

He started slowly pacing forward his eyes flashing as he walked. "This is actually the much nicer and reasonable side to me. If im going to fight against something as twisted as you ill let you see my true darkness." Adrian said as he walked. His halos turned to black flames on his arms as he was engulfed in them while he walked, horns grew o his head, his eyes turned brilliant scarlet, and a tail emerged. Suddenly the demon stopped and started laughing maniacally. He put his head in his right hand and continued to do so before raising it just enough to look at the warlock. "So I hear your a badass. Lets find out" was all Adrian said before unleashing a burning ball of hellfire in the mans direction.

[Scarifar]

So, there was a way to escape the mansion, and it was by making a deal with the one and only Marianne. However, there would be a hefty price to pay for that freedom, and at least one person would not come out of it unscathed.

As the creaking began, Conna'Cel followed Scarlett's advice and looked up, maintaining a careful watch over the source of the noise. Conna'Cel then gave some of his attention to Rosaline when she was discussing the topic about the Collector. So she's had prior experience with the Collector, although perhaps he was not known as that before. Regardless, it was information about the Collector, and any information about this anonymous being was of valuable significance.

Then the Collector finally showed up in person, and Conna'Cel couldn't resist turning his attention away from the ceiling to obtain information about the Collector's appearance.

Something was odd, though. His threat detection level on the Collector... it was in the negatives. That shouldn't have even been possible. There was no conceivable way that that should have been possible, and yet here was proof that it was. However, he expected the Collector to be a complete oddity, so it was not a complete surprise.

Already people were having confrontations with the Collector, and Conna'Cel didn't blame them. After all, they were all brought here against their will. Still, Conna'Cel did not have any human emotions to get in the way of his logical thinking, and determined that it would do no good to resort to violence so quickly.

Placing a hand on Faira's arm, Conna'Cel told her, "Patience. The time will come." As for the demon, he let him go on. There was no way to convince him to not resort to violence except by letting him see for himself just how bad of an option it was.

[TheWendil]

Scarlet watched the scene with a dark glare, eyes reverting to a blood red color. A growl escaped her throat, but she heeded Conna'Cel’s warning to back off for now. So this was the infamous Collector she had been hearing so much about recently? For some reason, she wanted to rip his throat out right then and there. This man…was connected to her master somehow.

Likewise, Marianne said nothing, merely observing with a neutral expression. She moved to step forward, only to fall and crumble to the ground. With a sigh, she passed out almost instantly. Before she hit the ground, a shadowy entity appearing from nowhere grabbed her, holding her up bridal style.

The darkness dissipated to reveal the older Marianne, this one smirking knowingly.

“That’s enough for now,” she muttered to her younger self. “Ah, good to see you Joshua! How long has it been since you ran away from me? You silly little boy! No matter where you go, I’ll always find you. You know that, right?”

Now Marianne had a history with the Collector too? As the tension began to rise, Adrian using his demonic powers to attack the man before them, the creaking from above became louder, almost deafening.

[Riven Wight]

Faira glanced over as Adrian addressed Joshua, for once glad as Adriane changed. She gasped, jumping slightly, and turned as Conna’Cel touched her arm, the flames around her sword intensifying unintentionally as the robot spoke.
She regarded him for a moment, then glanced quickly back to Joshua. Taking a deep breath, she nodded stiffly.
“Alright,” she whispered to him, the flames sluggishly extinguishing, though she kept the sword raised.
She looked over as the movement of young Marianne fainted and fell toward the floor caught her attention. Faira stepped as the shadow being caught the child, the girl inhaling sharply as it formed into the older Marianne.
He ran away from her? She thought, looking from Marianne to Joshua and back again in shock.
She flinched, the shadow at her feet twitching toward her, ready to suck her into the shadows as Faira ducked down and looked up as the creaking grew excruciatingly louder above them.
“What is that?” She looked to the collector, her gaze hardening slightly and a slight quiver marring her voice. “What 'game' are you playing at now?”

[shi12]

“Revenge?” Joshua questioned, a laugh following the inquiry as if she merely didn’t understand. “Oh Faira, that isn’t it at all. Yes, she wronged me. Yes, she opened my eyes to the possibility of eternal youth… but she had no influence on my little hobby. I merely enjoy collecting power and interesting things, be it living or not. I never meant for anyone to die though, it’s a waste, death is almost inescapable though and thus some do die in my home. They chose to fight their way to freedom…” he replied, smirking devilishly. He hardly flinched at Adrian’s threat, looking the incoming fireball dead on. Right before it reached him though he raised a hand out to it, closing it into a fist, and with that the projectile was extinguished. “Nice try little devil.” He chuckles before turning back to Faira.

“-and no, I don’t plan on killing you. You have until the clock strikes midnight tomorrow, a total of 34 hours. If you don’t get out then you will eternally stay here, part of my collection… not quite like Alexandra there. She still has a will, her insanity keeps me out, but she’s the only one.” He smirks.

Rosaline looked up at him, struggling to her feet. She was drained from how much she had used her magic, ever since his curse on her she had limits on how much energy she could use. The nebula’s knees were cracked, small fractures running over the porcelain. There were even some on her hands. He had pushed her with more strength than she had thought he had.

The nebula and Joshua’s attention turned though when the familiar form of Marianne appeared. Rosaline looked a little confused by her words, slipping back to her knees as her legs gave out again. Joshua looked a little bothered though, but not too much. “Marianne? Does it look like I’m hiding? I have no reason to hide, you cannot kill me. You failed to collect my soul… was it four years ago, what makes you think you can now?” Joshua taunts, though he never went any closer. He wasn’t about to risk it quite yet.

Rosaline suddenly seems to understand, her gaze turning from the dark haired woman to the man on the stairs. “Now I understand. You delved into the dark arts, magic you were never supposed to touch… magic that comes at a hefty price. It might have given you youth but it has twisted your mind, corrupted the humanity in your soul.” She says, looking a little angered.

“Did you not do the same Rosaline? You gave up your human body and so much more for ‘immortality’.” He replies. “I paid my price… it did not come cheap, but you did not.” Rose snaps back, once again trying to stand though it seemed she was still having trouble.

[TheWendil]

Marianne raised an eye at Joshua’s words, a dark grin creeping up onto her features. Turning to Rose, she deposited the unconscious younger version of herself near her. It didn’t need to be said that she expected the Nebula to look after her. One glance told Rose all that was needed.

“Goodness, you’ve certainly grown bold over these last couple of years,” Marianne said idly, placing her hands on her hips. “It’s not like I couldn’t take you if I wanted to. Rather, I just wanted to see how insane you’d drive yourself with these self-inflicted games. That’s all!”

The image of her form flickered out of existence, only to appear right in front of Joshua. The smell of decay and ruination wafted from her dress, and the pale girl tilted her head to the side playfully.

“Ahaha, there’s really nothing stopping me from taking your life right here you know! But of course you do know, don't you? That’s why you’re shaking right now, heheheh!”

Marianne leaned in closer, blowing an icy breath of air into the Collector’s face.

“Hmm, maybe I’ll finally rip you apart the moment you cease to entertain little boy! That’s before these nice folks here are through giving you a piece of their mind. As for me, well you already know my policy, don’t you?”

The dark dressed girl grinned eerily, a smirk that could freeze any heart solid.

“You’ve been very naughty Joshua. And naughty children get their hands cut off.”

The sound of something whizzing in the air made the girl take pause, before she dissolved into shadow. A moment later, something landed where she stood, a knife embedded into the floor. Marianne appeared by the group again, hands on hips and eyes glimmering with amusement.

“What’s this? You’re still using that worn down puppet Joshua? Ahahaha, oh see this is why your heart’s still beating!”

The figure was tall, impossibly tall. It wore a black striped suit, boots, and gloves. Pale hair crowned its head, and when it opened its eyes, all that was seen were two holes devoid of all light. It moved unnaturally, like a spider on stilts ready to pounce.

The creature twisted its head to face the group. The source of the creaking was finally discovered.

[Riven Wight]

Faira’s eyes darkened as Joshua addressed her by name, widening in amazement as he extinguished Adriane’s fireball like a candle flame.
She glanced to Alexandria as the collector mentioned the deranged woman, and Faira’s face paled.
Slaves, then. Her lip pulled down in a defiant glower. She glanced over as Rosaline struggled to a stand.
Her attention turned to Rosaline as the glass woman fell back to her knees. Keeping an eye on Joshua and Marianne as they spoke, Faira stepped toward Rose as the woman finished addressing the Collector and tried to stand for a second time.
“You okay?” She placed the tip of the sword against the floor and bent down as the flames extinguished. She extended her free hand toward Rosaline in an offer to help her up.
She looked up at the sudden motion on the stairs, half raising the sword again, the blade scraping gently over the floorboards. She jumped and gasped as Marianne spoke from among the group, before quickly looking back to the new arrival.
“What is that?” Faira breathed, standing partially back up as the spidery humanoid turned its sinister, dark eye sockets to the group, a shiver running down Faira’s spine.

[Scarifar]

So, the Collector had some power of his own. That was to be expected, though. After all, this one man managed to bring everyone here and trap them in this prison of a mansion. However, it seems like even this mysterious being can't control everyone. In fact, he and Marianne don't even seem to be on the same side. This information could prove valuable, so Conna'Cel placed it into several memory banks to ensure that it didn't get lost.

Eternal life? This man accomplished it? Conna'Cel had his suspicions, but Rosaline's comments proved them. It was hard to believe that only a short time ago Conna'Cel would have thrown that theory out the window, but after his experiences here, anything would have be believable. Eternal life was certainly nothing special compared to this mansion.

As the creaking grew louder, Conna'Cel noticed his threat detector levels rising. There was something dangerous approaching. Readying his arms to transform, he waited for the right moment to determine the best course of action.

Then the "figure" appeared. It was fast. And powerful. The threat detectors reached 100% threat capacity, which made Conna'Cel take action. "Battle mode activate," Conna'Cel said in a calm manner that perfectly revealed his hostility. Both of his arms turned into minigun barrels, and his glorious wings appeared, fully repaired and ready for use once again. Taking off, he fired directly at the figure's chest, intending to use this confrontation to learn just what it could do.

[drallinix]

"Ill deal with you later." Adrian said as he turned to face the new threat. His eyes gleamed fiery red as he bared his fangs and ran laughing at it. "Lets get it on then" He said leaping forward to land on the monsters back and clinging to it with flaming laws. He sunk his teeth into the things neck and moved his head back and forth attempting to rip out its jugular.

[shi12]

Rosaline gave Marianne a nod of understanding, using the little strength she currently had to pull herself closer to the unconscious child. When Faira stepped over to her she turned her attention momentarily to the worried human. She shook her head, waving her hand away. “I’m fine but I wouldn’t be able to support myself with my legs in this state,” she says, gesturing to the cracks in her porcelain skin. They had ceased to spread or spilt further but they would if she put weight on them. “I can’t fix them yet either, I might need the energy for other things.”

Joshua flinched when Marianne appeared before him. He didn’t look fearful by her presence though, merely stunned. The warlock let her speak, unafraid of her threats. There were still many things up his sleeves, including his favorite piece… who had just thrown a blade in Marianne’s direction. It had worked, having forced Marianne back to the main floor with the others. His gaze swept over the little group, lingering longest on Rosaline. A smirk pulled at his lips when he noticed that she had failed to get up. It seems his little curse had done more than trap her in a physical form; she now seemed to have a limit on her magic. He knew it would replenish itself eventually though, but the idea made him chuckle.

The nebula tensed, going rigid at the new addition to the room. Rosaline could not stand though, for now she would have to remain on defense. If anything happened to little Marianne it would not end well, that much was certain. At that thought she looked about for Ann, only to come up empty in her search. The little girl had vanished, as if she was never there. She would have to dwell on it later, maybe the little girl could turn invisible.

“I do hope you all have fun with my little friend here.” Joshua chimed, disappearing. The man once again reappeared by Rose’s side. He reached down, tilting her head up, a smirk still on his lips. “Having trouble Rosaline?” he chuckled. The nebula lashed out at him, her hand charged with what looked like black bolts of electricity. She missed, the warlock having disappeared completely before she could hit him. He did not reappear either.

[TheWendil]

“Really, that man is such a pain the ass,” Marianne said airily with a hand on her hips. “Bouncing around to take cheap shots on you lot. Heh, almost makes me sympathetic for you. Well, almost.”

The dark dressed girl turned to both Faira and Rose with a smirk and gleam to her single seen red eye. The creature up front twisted and contorted its body to move rapidly to the side to avoid the volley of gunfire aimed at it before squelching was heard as Adrian dug into it. It retaliated by protruding numerous black spikes from its back to launch the demon off.

Leaping away, it crawled like a bloated spider towards Conna'Cel and lashed out at the robot’s wings with elongated claws and arms that stretched out without proportion. This thing was a living weapon and nightmare. Every time it moved, it was like the sound of a doll and body parts being meshed together.

Definitely gross to ponder by all means.

“Any of you want to make an offer?” Marianne said, glancing between Faira, Rose, and finally Alexandra. “I can tell you now that if anything happens to that girl, you will all suffer slowly for fun,” she said with a new glance to the younger Marianne.

“I can help you for a…relatively small fee. Or maybe you can convince me otherwise? Heh, it doesn’t matter at all really.”

The girl now grinned widely at Faira. Scarlet watched this all nearby with narrowed eyes.

[Riven Wight]

Faira shouted and stumbled away as Joshua appeared by Rosaline, nearly stumbling over her own feet. By the time she righted herself, their captor had disappeared. She looked around frantically for him as Marianne addressed the group.
Faira snorted at her “almost” sympathy.
“And you’re not doing that?” she muttered under her breath.
She took a backwards step closer to Rose and raised the sword defensively in front of her as the spidery monster forced Adriane from it. The unnerving squelch of its movements made Faira’s stomach churn from where she stood between Rosaline and the monster.
Her head tilted toward Marianne as the woman threatened them over the child's well-being. Fara glanced between both the young and older Marianne curiously before looking back warily to the threat at hand as it impossibly reached out to attack Conna’Cel.
With her wary gaze still on the monster, a large ball of flame formed above her free palm as Marianne spoke again.
“What’s with you and payment?” The orb of flames intensified with her bitter words. She looked angrily to Marianne. The flames died down slightly and flickered out of shape as Faira shifted uncomfortably at the grin the woman gave her. She swallowed and looked quickly to the floor in front of her, her fist tightening around the sword’s hilt as she scowled.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to turn her frustration and fear instead on the creature. She felt the sensation of her abilities eagerly rise to the emotions. At her thought, a spiral of flame sparked to life and wound harmlessly down her left arm and twisted around the glowing blaze hovering an inch above her skin. The new strand spun around the orb, a gentle buzz emanating from it.
Not wanting to draw its attention quite yet, she held the elemental ball at the ready in case the new foe turned on her and Rosaline.
“If it doesn’t matter to you, then just do it,” she muttered to Marianne. She glanced to the top of the stairs where Marianne and Joshua had had their little confrontation. “Unless the Collector’s too powerful for you,” she added quietly, hoping to bait Marianne into helping. “I mean, you did basically just run away from him.” She held her breath as she awaited Marianne’s response.