Estylwen

The Dark Beyond

Can I just say woooow! Amazing timing making my wish come true, I got good news today!! What an amazing collab!! I now understand why it took so long; the amount of detail, time and dedication in this work of art is amazing. You can really see Sabrina and Thierry finally finding common ground and understanding each other, after all this time. I.. I could cry. :'>

"Now, don't be getting jealous of the men I date from here on out, Thierry..."

This stuck out to me the most, signaling Sabrina letting Thierry go. It's sad. Very sad. But also beautiful. Will we see Sabrina find new love in the timeliness of DB? I hope so. :> She deserves to be happy to.

I also want to point out how emotionally mature Thierry was in this collab. He processed his emotions and apologized. Just, good feels all over. Being a good husband, or good father.

Amazing. Truly, an amazing post.

Also, the bits on the gala and Stella were the icing on the cake. :DDD

I think that means it's @Days turn now!

The Dark Beyond: Adventures in Candyland (Prequel)

You're alright, Lexi. When you want quick responses from me in your posts, it's the perfect opportunity for a quick collab. That way you're not guessing what my characters do. ;>

All good! And thaaaank you. :)

The Dark Beyond

Is there good news for me today? :>

The Dark Beyond: Adventures in Candyland (Prequel)

Posted! As a note for future posts, please keep your actions to your sole characters only, and avoid doing actions of other characters. :)

The Dark Beyond: Adventures in Candyland (Prequel)

Egypt, Undisclosed Location

@Lexisheeps

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As a gunfight broke out, Nick would notice one interesting thing. All five of the mysterious nodded men, save for one, would vanish in a haze every so often during the battle, the reappearing in a different location, effectively moving to avoid bullets. However, the one who was wounded had a fizzling scar across his buckle, perhaps impacting performance.

As the leader cornered Nick at their loot point, he gave his number two a nod.

“We’re taking him with us. Tie him and put him in the back.”

The second-in-command nodded, and while the leader held his gun against Nick’s head, the number two grabbed Nick’s wrists, aiming to tie a ziptie tight around them.

“Perhaps we made quite the catch today…”

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Pyramid of Giza, Secret Sacrificial Chamber

@Days, @WhiteAngel25, @Lexisheeps

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”What is this?”

Cosy stared up at her sister, then down at the statue, then stammered hard, her cheeks flushing red. Like a two-year-old caught with the candy jar, she tried to shove the statue behind her back.

“N-nothing. It's nothing, sis.”

“Auri's right, Cosette. Why did you run when you knew she was looking for you? Why did you lie to me?”

Cosy whipped around in the darkness to face her mother, her flashlight fumbling in her little hands. She swallowed hard; her mother had used her full name. She really was upset with her.

Cosy lowered her head, unable to meet anyone's gaze. “I'm…. I'm sorry, maman. I just… wanted dad to be proud of me-”

Her voice was a soft whisper, clearly unheard by her father as he ripped the flashlight out of her hands. The shock was evident on Cosy's face as she stared at her father, looking for a reason as to why, before the tears started to fall. A whimpering moan escaped Cosy's lips as she cried, feeling a terrible pain in her stomach, in her heart.

Her crying pitched in fervor when she watched, or rather, heard, her father commit violence against the pyramid man - a solid deck to the face. Shaking, she dropped the statue and clutched onto her mother, crying obnoxiously loud now.

The statue that she wanted to impress her mother and father with was left to collect dust on the ground as she was given the cue through bleary eyes to move forward. But Cosy wouldn't. She couldn't, rooted firmly on the ground, falling to her knees, and crying in the sacrificial chamber.

To anyone who followed Mr. Andrew through the tight corridor, they would find it lead into darkness, then somehow, they would end up right back in the sacrificial chamber from another corridor. There were in fact, many corridors. Each marked with a different symbol: death, rebirth, afterlife. The Death route Mr. Andrew took was the one that looped into another matching death corridor. So that left rebirth or afterlife to explore.

Iris Ascendis

Hehe, and this is why Ciara can't have nice things. xD

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

Let's gooooo!

The Dark Beyond: Adventures in Candyland (Prequel)

"Why the hell didn't you tell me this tomb had a sacrificial room?"

"Why the hell did you bring your kids?!"

"Do you really think I want them here?!"

//inhaling popcorn

I live for drama like this.

Epic post, Lexi! There's lots I'll be able to have fun with now. //muahaha. I'll ideally have a response up in 2-3 days.

Iris Ascendis

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Who Is She - I Monster

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Ciara Ventura

Acendia, Room 103 Fountain
@Nanaya

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“Fear us or falter, Umbralist.”

Ciara's blood ran cold.

Umbralist.

“How dare you…”

The Voices stirred in her. “These monsters deserve our wrath. Eroding the darkness, casting down our brothers and sisters. Strike them through.”

Ciara felt her temper flare, wholly agreeing with the Voices, before her eyes widened.

“Wait. Brothers…? But you said…” She thought.

Flashes came into mind. The angry mobs in front of the orphanage. Being dragged from her home, chased out and scorned against the winter snow. The humiliation of being unable to show her face where she grew up.

“But you said… I wasn't an Umbralist.”

“Your nature is tied in darkness. These people do not see the difference.”

Ciara stiffened. The Voices were holding something back. “You're being dishonest with me-”

A flashing strike aimed for her head. Ciara twisted on her heel, blocking the attack with her daggers. Dark sparks flew off the steel as the mannekin wailed on her, trying to find a weakness.

“Are they right, then? Is my whole life an utter lie? Something to be wiped away, like a smudge of soot?”

From the corner of her eye, she saw the wave of air pressure wheeling towards her. Ciara grit her teeth, yanking the sword down with her shadows to break apart the wind. The collision sent out shockwaves, stirring the collar of her shirt before it broke past the sword, knocking Ciara back.

She fell to one knee, knocked back into the underbrush of the forest. A hiss of annoyance escaped her lips as she stared out at the duo of Kiimos Trelle.

“Is it my fate to suffer like this?”

There was a pause, before a deeper Voice spoke, withered with time.

“Light cannot exist without darkness. Like water and oil, they cannot tolerate one another.”

Another pause.

“Your peace will be found in overpowering the light. Remind them which of the two is superior.”

Ciara let the words sink, staring hard for a moment, before slinking further into the dark underbrush.

Shadows.

She could feel them.

This was how she'd gain the upper hand.

Front the underbrush, shadowy tendrils shot out. They snaked around the ankles and legs of the duo mannekins, worming their way up. If Ciara was successful, she would encase their limbs and torsos entirely in writhing shadows, squeezing hard against the barriers. More tendrils shot out, clasping hard on the sword and axe handle, crushing hard enough to create splinters down the shafts.

Ciara emerged from the underbrush, eyes alight with grim arrogance. She squeezed a little harder, placing enough pressure that she was certain would create cracks and tears in the barriers of the mannekins.

But she didn't outright destroy them. Not yet.

“Beg for mercy, and I might spare you.”

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

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MISSIO - Twisted

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&

Location: Shadowzone
@Punished GN, @Blizz

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Layla couldn't help the chill creeping along her spine as she stepped into the portal. Where on earth were they going?

”Welcome to the Shadowzone. My home, away from Shimmer.”

Jack

Void breathed in deep as they entered the Void. He could tell they were in shallow waters. The dangers of the deep were unlikely to bother them here.

His eyes glanced over the mundane home, then to Layla. Despite the shivering, she seemed alright. Good.

”Shortly, we’ll eat and discuss what we do in the future.”

Jack

Void's eyes landed on Jack, and narrowed slightly. He was being nice. Sure, he had liked Alizée, but he had never stepped out and tried to make Void feel welcome.

In the many years the Void Heart had traveled the war-torn areas of the Void, and the dark alleys of the Shimmer, he had learned one thing: kindness always had a price.

In the case of the Temple, he knew he wouldn't refuse if management asked for a favor.

In the case of Jack, well, it made Void wonder… What price did Jack want? What was he purposefully leaving out?

”And a word of advice- Do not look outside the windows, or open the doors. Do you understand, Layla?”

Jack

Layla's shivering increased, eyes wide as she took in what Jack said. Was the Void really that dangerous? Who would want to live here?

She felt scared, a bit unnerved and unsure. But right now, Jack was a beacon of assurance. She appreciated his kindness, and what he was doing for them. Perhaps her good karma in the old coven was finally paying off.

She sat beside Jack on the couch, pulling her leather jacket a little closer around her small frame. Purposefully, her vision dipped, avoiding the windows.

“O-okay, Jack. Whatever you say.” She peeked at him from the corner of her eye as she sat there.

Void stared at Jack for a long moment. No way. He didn't have any definite evidence, but something was off. Way off. Don't look outside? This was shallow waters, Layla would probably be fine.

Why was Jack pushing such an over-protective request such as this?

That got Void thinking… Why didn't Jack just move them to another location in the Shimmer, like Layla's home, or the Temple?

Why was it necessary to be in this specific place, of all places?

Suspicious.

Void moved to the window, peering outside into the darkness briefly. As he began to draw the curtains closed, he narrowed his eyes at the ground. A thin, black line wormed its way down above the stone, black specks drawing into the swirling line. It would eventually become a portal.

Satisfied, Void drew the curtains closed quickly. Now, all he had to do was wait.

He didn't know exactly what or why, but he had a feeling they shouldn't be here long. Jack was acting strange. Very strange. Usually, acts like this ended up badly.

He turned back to the room, eyes studying Jack as he bided his time. He had to give the impression he wasn't suspicious.

He moved to hover in the center of the room, hand thoughtfully placed on his chin.

“If Auri wants us outed, and me sealed, aren't you betraying her for helping us?”

All he had to do was bide his time.