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Time: A few moments later......He couldn't help it, walking through the portal with Racheli over his shoulder the Polish kidnapper closed his eyes. It was a childish reaction, and he berated himself for it, but magic was just too far out of his personal experience and he wasn't comfortable with what was about to happen. Of course, little could have really prepared him for literally entering another world, if that was even the right term for it, the place where spirits came from. Lekh wasn't very much in touch with his people's mythology, but every child grew up fearing the spirits of the forest, and he'd just walked right into their home!
Eventually, mustering his courage, he took a deep breath through his mask and opened his eyes, somehow oddly surprised to find it was still nighttime in this strange world. Despite that, the moon was unnaturally bright and he could see that before him was a great yew tree, larger than any he had ever seen before. Glancing around he realised he was in a meadow with a forest before him. It was so diffferent to his location just moments prior that he took a moment to get his bearings, almost panicking for just a second before he got himself together, which roughly coincided with Odette's arrival. Her passing through the portal drew him from his reverie and set his focus back on work, though his adrenaline was still shooting through the roof.
"Ms Ambassador." He greeted her, oddly, considering they had only been apart for moments. There was something about the strange distance he had travelled to enter this place that made the greeting appropriate.
Odette looked as if she'd been jumping over lit candles with the way her dress was singed and ruined by spectral fire. Red, angry burns were up the length of her legs and calves. While her white jacket was now several shades of brown from being dragged through the dirt on her back. Closing the portal door behind her she took a deep breath in of home. Relieved they made it without being pulled back by the intruders.
Lekh's greeting was pleasant and his expression had the lingering first impression of entering the Faerie Realms that so commonly affected every newcomer. Wonder and curiosity being difficult to hide.
Pointing the Archon to float on into the forest where they could recover under the safety of the trees in the darkness. Pixies came racing to her side and flittering up along the Archon guiding them away. Bach poked his head out and then vaulted from her pocket. In a burst of autumn leaves Bach returned to his normal size looking about as relieved to be home as Odette was. Bach stepped up to Lekh casting a rather judgemental look.
"
I thought we were heading straight to Ironworks." He said to Odette not breaking eye contact with Lekh.
Hobbling past the pair Odette headed for the Yew. "
Come, Lekh. We shall make a quick stop to catch our breaths then I will create a portal for wherever you need to go."
Lekh, for his part, looked only slightly surprised when a tiny person popped out of Odette's pocket and returned to his full size. He was quickly becoming accustomed to his ally's invisible friends. He gave her burned and disheveled appearance a worried glance however, the last he had seen of her she had been fine, apparently the other magic users were a bigger threat than he had thought.
"Well?" He called out Bach, who was staring at him awkwardly as if forcing a challenge of some sort. He turned his attention away from the fae for a moment as Odette used his name.
"Yes, I believe I have fuliflled my end of our bargain, Ms Ambassador. As you are well aware I am somewhat at the mercy of your whims in this place, so lead on, if you will."Leading the way she announced to the Yew, "
Please excuse us, I humbly invite our guest Lekh into our home." She spoke in Common Fey, satisfying the magical protection spells that prohibited strangers from entering their home.
The inside of the Yew was walls and floors of pale polished word, the warmth rolled over her as she entered. They had entered the living room, cozy couches and furniture to match the same colour of wood from the tree itself. Removing her shoes and shuffling them to the side sorely removing her jacket as she entered with an expression pinched by pain.
"
Please make yourself at home, Lekh." She said cordially.
Lekh was taking in the sights, so to speak, though despite the unearthly beauty of the place it unsettled him greatly. This was not a place for an ordinary man, and though he was not exactly normal himself, he felt almost a sense of forboding. That was until his host apparently spoke to a tree in some strange language, after which the feeling diminished somewhat.
In turned out the strange woman with even stranger friends lived in that same tree, which doubled as a home of sorts. He probably should have expected as much, the Ambassador hadn't really told him what to do with the girl he was holding so he carried her inside, his eyes taking in the tasteful furniture and neat interior decor. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, to be honest, if he had learned anything about this world as of yet it was that it constantly defied expectation.
He nodded, wishing he could take off his shoes at the doorway but with Racheli over his shoulder he was a little burdened. The Pole walked across the room and deposited the girl on one of the cozy looking sofas, so that he could properly look around.
"Are we still on schedule?" Lekh asked, trying to return his thoughts to the job at hand and maintain his professionalism, difficult indeed when standing around in what could only be described as a magical tree-house... house tree.
"
We are. We have a few hours left before pick up. Do not fret we won't be here long. I'll need to prepare the area prior to presumably, the Syndicate's arrival. I do not doubt that the intruders from earlier will simply let her go." Odette said plainly taking a seat on one of the lounge chairs as gracefully as she could manage with her legs ringing with pain. "
Lekh, Bach was rather rude to not properly introduce himself. He is rather petulant in regards to revealing himself to humans. Bach is my partner, he is Faery. Earth Fey to be specific."
"
Bach, fetch me cold wash cloths and refreshments." She said waving the indignant Fey away.
"I see." Lekh replied, somewhat awkwardly.
"I suspect you may be right in that assumption, the amount of interference we encountered tonight was... troublesome." Lekh shrugged, sitting down next to Racheli, letting his aura seep out just enough to contain her. He was under no illusions that she wouldn't shrug off the sedative just like before.
"Even Ms Desdemona here was a significant nuisance, I would suggest sedating her further or containing her in some other fashion. In the right conditions she could be exceptionally dangerous." He smiled, hidden behind his mask, the reason for it being that he had been reminded of the extra sample of her blood he had acquired.
Bach returned shortly with two wash cloths in hand gently laying them over the burns on her legs whispering healing spells into the cloth glowing briefly with green light. The burns resisted the minor healing spell, the injuries imbued with spiritual energy. Bach decided to change tact instead of a spell he spoke directly to the spirits lingering in her skin. It took a little convincing but the spirits lifted and so the wash cloths were able to work away the burns.
"
Merci, Bach." Odette said gratefully.
Bach nodded replying with, "
You're most welcome, My Lady." Disappearing into the kitchen to grab presumably glasses of water for their guests.
Sitting forward keeping her legs straightened while the wash cloths worked away healing her. "
I have a few ideas of how to hold her captive once you carry on. Her apparent ability to manipulate metal is troublesome, indeed." She agreed with him pulling out her phone tapping away notes, no cell signal could reach through realms and dimensions. Typing away everything she noticed from their little excursion.
"
Until moments ago we were working very much in the dark in regards to the information we had. In spite of my attempts to be prepared it was barely enough to slow down the intruders. The Archon being poisoned in the process was unacceptable." Odette's features darkened considerably as she clenched her hands around her phone glaring at the screen.
Her tone changed when she spoke next, "
Your abilities however, were imperative to our success, Lekh. You have more than earned your payment for your help today. Along with a token of my friendship, you may count me as an ally." Reaching through her purse she removed the small container of healing salve.
"
This belongs to you now." Placing the container on the coffee table between them.
Lekh nodded in response to the compliment, accepting the reward graciously but hiding his excitement behind a mask, both physical and mental. He looked at the salve for a moment, before reaching out and grabbing it in one smooth motion and looking at it closely.
"I am pleased to have you as my ally then, Ms Ambassador, and about what you may have learned in regards to my... gift, I would appreciate it if that information would remain between us." The thief guarded the secret of his psychic powers jealously, it was only an ace when his enemies knew little about it. The more one knew, the better chance they had of finding ways around it, the less effective it would be in future endeavours.
"Now, about this salve, what are the limitations in regards to its use? Can it only be applied to physical wounds on the surface of the body?" Lekh seemed unusually eager to hear about the limitations of the magical item, uncharacteristically so, considering he had escaped with no injury himself.
"
Physical injuries. It has the ability to close wounds from bullet holes to stab wounds. It however won't regrow lost limbs. I find if swallowed it can rid the body of poisons but not cure the common cold. Though the taste is rather... unpleasant. It is easier and recommened to seek an antidote as opposed to relying on the salve." Naming off the capacity of the salve on her fingertips.
"So it has no capacity to fight say, disease?" "
Disease is tricky. It can heal areas affected by disease much like applying ice to sore muscles. It cannot remove it completely." Odette answered carefully, to make the sure the distinction was clear. "
You can heal and soothe the skin affected by leprosy but you cannot stop the disease from taking over the area once again."
"I see." For a moment, Lekh sounded dissapointed.
"Still, it is a powerful gift, I thank you for it." He tucked it away in his top pocket without further inspection, nodding slightly.
Odette smiled at his acceptance. "
Your secret is safe with me."
Peeking at her own injuries they had all but disappeared. Removing the cloth and balling them up. She stood back up then excused herself, "
I must quickly change from these rags and then we shall depart."
Bach arrived back into the living room holding two glasses of water while Odette brushed by heading up the winding staircase to the upperfloors.
His yellowish green eyes tracked Odette until she disappeared then turned back to Lekh. "
Impressive, indeed." He said with a snort then placed the glass of water in front of Lekh.
The horned head of the Fey tilted at the sight of Racheli sleeping with a face contorted only by what he assumed was nightmares. "
You would do well to keep the extent of My Lady's abilities to yourself as well."
"Protective, are you not?" Lekh looked at Bach as he spoke to him, wary of the unknown.
"Though you presume that I even understand the extent of your Lady's abilities." Lekh shrugged and leant back into the couch, giving Racheli a glance to ensure she wasn't about to awaken and restart the whole process of kidnapping her. He wouldn't put it past her, even with his abilities keeping her down.
"
Protective would insinuate the need to protect My Lady. I wouldn't hesitate to lay down my life for her however." Bach said icily at the sound of Odette's descent back down the stairs Bach quickly hissed, "
You have already have had enough of a glimpse behind the curtains."
Odette arrived back to the living room dressed in pale pink skinny jeans, a dark brown t-shirt with a collar of white lace. Another white jacket was on her shoulders while on her feet were black laced leather boots. "
Ready to head back to Earth?"
"Eager." Lekh stood up suddenly, and then to soften the implied insult.
"You have a lovely home, Ms Ambassador, but I believe I am right in thinking this is not the place for me." He looked at Bach as he said it, then he turned and gestured towards the sleeping girl on the chair behind him.
"Will you still be needing my assistance in transporting Ms Desdemona?"Walking up to a hallway mirror hung by the door she reapplied her lipstick glancing at Lekh in the mirror, "
The Faerie Realms are not for everyone. Humans often have the most difficult time adjusting to it." Fixing little bits of her hair next, "
I can restrain her before we depart in case your presence was the only factor in keeping her asleep. I will open two small portals one for Racheli and I then one for you wherever you choose to go. Once we are back on Earth I plan to contact The Cowl with an update. Give him trouble for his utter lack of information regarding Racheli's connections."
"I wish you the best of luck in that endeavour, perhaps I will look into some of our new enemies myself." There was an ominous tone to his voice, not unlike that which he had used shortly before killing a man only a short while ago.
"If you could open your portal to my apartment, that would be best. It is the only place where I am assured there will be no one around to see my unorthodox arrival.""
A block away would be best. The light from the portal is rather conspicious unfortunately." Odette suggested turning to face him fully.
"You are the expert, whatever you think is best."She nodded then with a flick of her wrist at Racheli, "
Se Soulever." Her body lifted weightlessly. Opening the front door she walked over the threshold Bach and Rahceli following behind her.
Odette proceeded to cast a quick spell vines and grass from the meadow moved to her will wrapping snuggly around Racheli's chest, torso, thighs and finally her ankles. A final touch Odette had grass wrap around Racheli's eyes as well.
"
I would like to see her escape those restraints." Odette said smugly. Then within the span of ten minutes did Odette create two separate portals both back to Earth. Dabbing away the sweat at her brow she pointed to the door on the left.
"
That door is for you, Lekh. This is where we part ways." Stepping up to Lekh she held out her hand expectantly, "
There is one last thing I will give you. I am not always easy to reach due to my time spent off Earth's plane of existance."
Lekh removed the glove from his right hand and reached out to accept Odette's offered hand-shake with a nod.
She shook his hand then turned his wrist up saying lightly, "
If you want it I can give you a mark that will alert me to your location when you use it. If you should ever need my assistance."
He weighed up the offer for a moment, and decided if he was going to survive in this super-human world he needed allies more powerful than himself. The Ambassador was probably the only reason their little kidnapping had succeeded, so at the risk of there being some other purpose behind the gift, he chose to accept it, perhaps foolishly.
"I would be a fool to turn down your help, Ms Ambassador, I accept."Her thumb pressed to the soft tissue of his wrist Words of Power binded the mark well to his skin and soul. Glowing blue across their hands and the mark highlighted with white light. When the binding was complete the light faded and revealed a pink thumb print.
"
Press your thumb against the mark and speak my name clearly. I will know your location and be able to come to your aid. My name is Odette Favre, nicknames do not work." She said releasing his hand grinning.
"Well, mademoiselle Favre, it has been a pleasure working with you. Until we next meet, I bid you adieu." With his words mirroring those of their first meeting, Lekh strode over to his portal and threw open the door, trying not to think about the mark on his wrist or how he might have just sold his soul to the fae. Happy thoughts were crucial.
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