Skai

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

"Coming up on the stage is Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiberty!"

Lyss turned her head away from Taylor and felt her jaw drop in shock. She knew that Madison stripped to make ends meet, but she never expected to see her in action. Any words Maya spoke to her were lost in the chaos as Madison began to dance. If Lyss were sober, she would have merely supported Madison in silent, but she wasn't.

Instead, she moved her glass to one hand and began to cheer on her Coven sister. "Yeah, Liberty, we see you!" She said, grinning wide. She'd brought enough ones to hand out to a few of the strippers, but to Lyss it was more important to support a friend than some strangers. She turned to the other girls just in time to see Maya return with shots. "Now you're really trying to get me drunk." She teased before throwing it back. She felt Maya's weight against her, and instead of feeling awkward at the touch, Lyss just let Maya use her for support.

“We totally need to talk to her after this."

"Hell yeah we do! I have so many questions." She sipped her whiskey before throwing some cash onto the stage. Sin arrived, but introduced herself as Quinn this time. Lyss couldn't help but laugh. "She has a name!" She accepted Quinn's shot without a second thought, but held out her glass of whiskey to her. "Quinn, you want this? You need it more than I do right now."

"I dare one of you to go up and slap her ass."

"Hell no, girl! You aren't supposed to touch a stripper unless you're putting cash into their thongs."

She tossed a few more ones onto the stage before she heard Izzy's voice as she arrived.

"Damn, you look good Lyss. You should wear that lipstick more often, it suits you."

Lyss beamed at Izzy. "Thanks, it's my favorite shade. I'll keep that in mind." She was just about to cheer on Madison again when she felt Maya nudge her. Her head turned to look down on her smaller friend, before her gaze followed Maya's finger to where she was pointing.

Lyss squinted, At first it was difficult to see the woman, but once she spotted them, her jaw dropped for the second time today. "You've got to be fucking kidding me." She said, her tone suddenly bitter. "That's General Meifeng and one of the other agents." She pressed her lips together, but had to laugh a little about the situation. "Why on satan's earth would two DENs agents go to a strip club? They're dressed for a cocktail party."

She suddenly yearned for her whiskey back, but she knew better than to drink more in case Meifeng had come on official DENs business. "If she's here to fuck with our night, I might return the bruise." Without another glance in their direction, Lyss tossed the rest of her ones Madison's way before looking at Maya. "Let's just go backstage and wait for Madison there."

She didn't want to know why Meifeng was there. She didn't care, and if it was anything to do with DENs, she didn't want it to be Meifeng that showed. She wanted it to be the only agent she respected. Maximillian, the one who'd ever grabbed her arm and left the situation without a bruise on his body. She suddenly remembered something she'd wanted to tell him. Should she call him after they leave the strip club? Should she meet him in person or just do it over the phone? She brought her hand to her head. "Ugh, why did I have to be reminded of the DENs right now?"

Soldiers of Fortune

Senna

Age: 26

Race: Darkling

Gender/Pronouns: She/Her

---

Picture to Come

Appearance: In comparison to her fellow Darklings, Senna is quite beautiful. Or at least she would be if she cared about her appearance. Being blind doesn't exactly help with that either. She keeps her hair short so that it is manageable, and her bangs just barely drop over her eyes because she can't tell that they're too long. Her eyes were once as red as a ruby, but now they have a cloudy haze over them. It is the only obvious tell that she is blind. Her skin is the color of grey bark, with a brown undertone to it similar to that of a black poplar tree. Her hair is white and wavy. Senna stands at 3'5" with a curvy build. Her arms and legs are strong from years of climbing in the caves, but she is small enough to fit through the smallest of crevices.

Attire: Senna still sports the traditional dressings of a Darkling. Her desert inspired clothing covers her from head to toe. At first it appears that Senna is covered by a long, dark brown cloak resembling the wings of a bat. This cloak is always pulled above her head, and she wears a small brown samurai-style hat with a string to tie under her chin that also matches the color of her cloak. Poking out from the collar of the cloak is a beige cowl that protects her neck from any light. When Senna reveals the clothing underneath, she wears light brown pants with wrappings around her ankles and feet should her boots mysteriously disappear in the daylight. On her torso she sports a long sleeved tunic, a belt of ammo with holsters for her scimitar and pistol on each side, and gloves with wrappings around the wrists to prevent unnecessary removal. She has become adept at fighting under the protection of her cloak and jingasa hat, but at night she lets the jingasa rest against her back and often removes the gloves.

---

Outward Personality: As a child of Gallor, Senna believes that it is important to be strong. In any situation, Senna is brave and determined. She processes whats happening around her like she processes her way of sight. She listens, thinks of the best route to take, and takes it. She is rather stubborn for a blind darkling, but she has learned to yield to the wishes of others if it means she will get her way some other time. Even though she has a tough exterior, Senna is still a young darkling. She uses humor to avoid any deep emotions, and often makes jokes about her lack of sight instead of beating the ones who make them. If she were to attempt to stare menacingly at her enemy and was told that she was staring at a tree, she would ask if the tree felt intimidated to avoid the embarrassment. - To this day, Senna's family hates the senna flower. When Senna is reminded of it, or handed one, she is filled with grief for the loss of her sight. Even though her mother hates them, Senna yearns to see the yellow petals again.

Bonds: It is the will of Gallor to become strong, and to use his strength to serve her community. Since she hasn't done much for her family and home, she wishes to become the strongest darkling in Tithe.

Goal: Senna has the belief that if she gathered enough coin to earn a Tear, she would be able to use the magic to make a living for herself. If she discovers her purpose along the way, she will use the coin she's earned to help her family. She also wishes to prove herself to her family and community back home.

Character Flaws: Senna has much to learn. She is still living off of the high of mercenary work, and has not learned what true sacrifice and survival feels like. Sure, she's lost a few fights, but she hasn't had to overcome any extreme situations yet. She has survived this long on cunning and skills, and often her cocky nature gets her into trouble. If she is ever put into a life or death situation, she will have to rely on her courage and colleagues to get her through it.

Backstory: Senna was born to a small community of darklings in one of the many caves of Ignion. Her parents named her Senna after the small yellow desert flower common in their area. Their love for their daughter grew into an intense worry for their child's safety. Senna spent her first five years within the cave, with only a few rare visits to the larger communities and to the ground above only under the light of the moon. She quickly grew to resent her sheltered life. Her curiosity and restless mind made helping her parents with the crops and going to school a bore. She began to wonder what it was like to walk in the light of day despite what her parents said about the sun's burning touch. She began to feel trapped beneath the earth, and at the breaking of dawn on her seventh birthday she'd had enough. Under the protection of her mother's cloak, Senna snuck out of the cave and took her first steps into the sunlight.

While her parents warned her of the sun's effect on her kind, Senna never imagined that it's warmth would feel so... nice. With every step into the outside world, she grew fond of the hot desert air. Still, her curiosity was not satisfied. She had a goal to accomplish: to find the desert flower she was named after. She imagined that it looked quite beautiful under the light of day. It was a childish need, and she was too young to fully understand the risks of her venture. Yet with every step, Senna felt free.

With her head bent low, her eyes scanned the desert ground for the yellow flower. Her mother's favorite. The first sight of it's bloom filled Senna with joy. She'd found it. Her mother's favorite flower. She picked as many as she could to bring home with her, but in one careless move she exposed her hand to the sun. She immediately felt her skin roast. She pulled her hand back into her body and tears welled in her eyes. She'd fortunately covered it just in time to prevent blisters, but she suddenly yearned for the darkness of the caves. Her body turned back in the direction of her home, but she realized that she'd walked too far. The entrance was nowhere in sight, and by the shadows of the senna plant she could see that the sun had risen high into the sky. She was lost.

Senna reacted the way any small child would when they've found themselves in an unfamiliar place. She sat down where she was and cried. The only hope of finding her parents would be to stay where she was and wait, she thought. They'd look for her. She'd been gone for hours now. Certainly they were coming for her. Her tears eventually dried, and while she didn't look directly at the sun she felt her eyes grow sore from the bright desert earth and white rocks that surrounded her. She blinked, and blinked, but the feeling didn't go away. She wanted to close her eyes, but she was worried that if she did, she wouldn't be able to see if her parents were close by. She had to keep looking. They could walk past her and never know it, but she could call out for them and then they'd see her.

An hour later, a search party of her community found her. By the time they returned to the cave, Senna was blind. Her parents, although devastated for their daughter's loss, felt that Gallor had blinded Senna to make her stronger. They also believed it was to punish them for raising Senna to be weak. They vowed that day to never shelter their daughter again.

For a few years, Senna remained in the cave until she could navigate with the use of echolocation instead of her sight. She could even make it through the darkest regions of the cave better than the elders. Her parents began to believe again that their daughter could still have a bright future. That Gallor would be proud of her strength despite her condition. While her education wasn't up to par with the larger communities of Darklings, and it was difficult to teach a blind Darkling their ways, Senna was one of the smartest pupils in her class. She never let her blindness stop her from succeeding. She was often teased by her classmates because she'd wandered into the sun, and when their taunts became too much Senna lashed out. They never saw her coming, but she saw exactly where to hit to make them shut up.

As tough as Senna made herself out to be, the taunts still affected her confidence. She continued to get in fights until her parents had enough. She was given lessons separately from the class and was given more work in the crop fields to help the community earn a living. Unfortunately for her family, Senna had the exact opposite of a green thumb. When her family realized this, they begun to save coin every harvest so that they could send her to a good school in one of the large communities. Senna, on the other hand, had no intentions of becoming a scholar. School was boring enough now that she couldn't read or write. She'd had a taste of adventure when she was seven. Even though she'd been blinded by the feat, Senna yearned for the freedom outside of the caves. She convinced her parents to put their savings towards their crops and not to worry about her. She would venture into the lands of Tithe on her twentieth birthday to seek out a Tear so that she could provide for the community in other ways. Her parents were skeptical at first, but after a year of failed attempts to make Senna "see" reason, they realized that Senna had to do this to feel worthy of Gallor. On her twentieth birthday, they gifted Senna with a belt of ammo, a scimtar, and a wheel-lock pistol to protect her from the harsh world above. They gave her proper clothing to protect her from the sun's harsh eyes, and prayed to Gallor that their daughter would return home stronger than ever.

Now a free darkling with the will of Gallor to guide her, Senna ventured into the lands of Tithe to find her way. She took odd jobs at first. Simple tasks only darklings could accomplish due to the nature of them. Darklings were excellent spies and thieves, a rarity of a mercenary because most stayed underground, and Senna was among the best even if she was still adapting to the world outside of the caves. For the next few years, Senna grew her reputation and her skills. She even returned home every year to share her coin with her community and restock on ammo.

While Senna enjoyed her freedom to travel Tithe, she soon learned that she would need more than just her own skills to take on higher paying work. She searched for groups of mercenaries, but none took kindly to her small stature, blind eyes, and race. But, but by the will of Gallor, Senna found herself in the same land as the Iron Pride Mercenary Company. Their reputation was far greater than hers alone could ever be, and she'd heard many stories about their conquests and wealth. It took quite a bit of convincing to prove her worth to the Captain, but after a few weeks of pestering, Senna was accepted into the fold. Two moons have passed since she was accepted.

---

Skills:

Enhanced Hearing: While Darklings already use echolocation to sense their surroundings, years of relying on this technique to see has given Senna an enhanced ability to see most things around her using the vibrations, or waves, of sound. In a loud room, Senna can sense where each object or person is located. In a quiet area, Senna must click her tongue, snap her fingers, or tap her foot to see where she is going. She often uses a combination of the two to make sure that she is correct.

Near Perfect Aim: Years of using the wheel-lock pistol, and many many days of practice, has given Senna the skills to shoot an apple off of the top of someone's head. (If someone would volunteer, she is sure she could do it.)

Swordsmanship with a Scimtar: Since the bullets for her pistol are rare in Tithe, Senna uses the scimtar to fight in close quarters. She even uses the sound waves of her blade clashing against another to see around her.

Climbing/Parkour: As a Darkling, Senna already possesses a keen ability to climb walls and trees. If she is careful enough, she can even jump between high objects, buildings, and trees. She often climbs walls to get her into buildings instead of picking locks.

Magic: None yet.

Weaponry: Senna is equipped with a scimitar, a belt of ammo, and a wheel-lock pistol used sparingly because of the rarity of bullets. Both weapons have holsters upon the belt for easy carry and are concealed beneath her cloak.

---

Other: Senna is ambidextrous.

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

After the unfortunate demise of the Coven's deal with Blake Schmidt, Lyss's stomach was still warm from the top notch whiskey. The group was splitting up. One to go to dinner, and one to go to a club for drinks. As much as Lyss worried that the girls going to the club would cause a scene if they were to drink, she had a feeling that going to dinner with the others would be a bore. If she was going to do anything with her free time, she would rather drink than sit and share pity stories. Her eyes followed Emily as she left Fantasy Land with the briefcase in tow, but she didn't feel like asking Emily what or who the money was really for. Lyss was just worried that Schmidt would want his money back. She already owed too much money to someone else. Why put her name on someone else's bounty list?

So, Lyss made sure to tell Maya that she would see them at the club before she made her way home. At her apartment, she ate some leftover chinese from the day before and dressed for the club. It had been a long while since she'd been to a club. In Miami, she used to frequent rooftop bars and the finest clubs in the city. It wasn't like she didn't have the clothes for it, but it was difficult to guess how a club in Tampa would look like. What was too much and what was too little? She tried on a few outfits before deciding on a body suit and black leather pants. On her feet she wore black heels to finish off the look without being uncomfortable. She even put on some smokey eyeshadow, eyeliner, and finished the look with her favorite dark red lipstick. She pulled her long, straight hair up into a sleek high ponytail and felt satisfied with herself.

When it was time to meet the girls, Lyss downed a few shots of whiskey to make her stomach warm again before calling the uber. She arrived at the club to see a small line outside. "I am not waiting in this." She muttered before she walked right up to the bouncer, flashed her prettiest smile, flirted a bit, and was immediately let inside. Inside it was thumping. She had to admit that the clubs in Tampa had some taste, but the smell of sex was in the air and it made Lyss uncomfortably thirsty.

She headed straight for the bar to quench it with another shot of whiskey before asking for a glass. She'd just turned around to look for her Coven girls when she heard Taylor's voice.

"Hey, wassup, sugar!"

Lyss smirked and headed towards the girls.

"If you want some drinks, I can distract the bartender." She said as she walked up, her red lips grinning. "Let's drink, dance, and give these girls the cash they deserve!" She looked towards the closest stripper, and while she wasn't interested in the dancing girls in any sexual way, she loved to see other women embracing their bodies. She pulled a ten from her wallet and made sure that the woman got it before turning back to Maya and Taylor. "Who else is here?"

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

Lyss took her exit at a much more casual pace than the rest. She was silent as she descended the stairs. The meeting had gone much differently than she'd planned. She thought over every question Blake had asked them, and thought of every answer she'd given to him. Yes, she'd revealed a few certain details that could have been left out, but in the game of business one had to woo the buyer a little. It was working, until Blake erupted because of his wife's tussle with Maya. The only action she'd taken that she actually regretted was removing her shades. Her identity was a secret, and she didn't like the idea that Blake's security cameras would have her face on recording. Yet, there was nothing she could do about that now. She could only hope that he'd want to forget everything about the meeting.

Ten minutes later, Lyss was pulling into the abandoned Fantasy Land. She parked right at their usual spot among the labyrinth of rollercoasters and remained on her speedster instead of standing. She leaned forwards, resting her elbows on the handlebars. As she listened to the girls, she couldn't help but frown at their comments. Is the whole meeting just a joke to them now?

Lyss's plans were to just go home and do research on their new acquaintance, but Maya's offer to pay for their drinks was enough to change her mind. Herik suggested dinner and Lyss wasn't against that either. Her eyes moved over the rest of the Coven to see who would agree to what, but then she caught sight of the briefcase in Emily's hands.

"How about Emily treats us to dinner and drinks? She can't keep all of that cash to herself, now can she?" Her voice was overall friendly, but had a bitter undertone to it. She nodded towards the briefcase in her hands. "It would only put a little dent into your savings."

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

Lyss raised an eyebrow as Blake took some time to think. "I want all of the power in the world!" She could hear him thinking. The answer he gave her was different, of course. Lyss smirked lightly. Red lux? How dull. The idea of being Blake's dirty workers didn't sound appealing, but then she thought of the briefcase full of cash. She wasn't one to pass up a load of money to work for some scumbag again. Plus, the Coven wouldn't put up with Blake pushing them around.

She was just about to reconfirm their arranged contract write-up, but then she followed Blake's gaze towards his disarranged wife. Are you fucking kidding me? He'll really think we're sluts, now. Her disdain was evident across her face. It was the greatest expression of emotion she'd shown the entire meeting. Lyss uncrossed her legs. Things were about to get way too dramatic, and she was prepared to walk away before Blake awakened from his rage. Maybe you'll get your red lux after all.

She watched the exchange between Schmidty and his wife and knew immediately that it was time to go when his wife displayed her new abilities. She was like a walking rave. Lyss sighed and downed the whiskey in her glass. It's warmth filled her stomach and fueled her exit strategy. Down the stairs, out the back, and straight to the getaway bike.

"And it gave you powers?"

Lyss's frowned deepened. She's a human being, scumbag. She stood the moment Blake started shaking. It looked like the vein in his forehead was about to burst. The glass of wine he so smugly drank from shattered within his hand and Lyss grimaced. She didn't even flinch when Blake unleashed his anger upon them all. It was disappointing that the deal was off, but Lyss was glad that she wouldn't have to work for such a mess of a man.

_{"Retracting."}

Lyss smirked and shot Kayla a knowing glance. She turned away from the steaming millionaire and stepped over to the fallen briefcase on the ground. Holding it in her hand she considered taking it as a reparation to their broken deal, but she knew better than to take an angry man's money. She held the handle with both hands as she turned to face the Schmidts again. At least Kayla was trying to regain some respect with her implied apology. Lyss doubted that Schmidty would want to see them again for a while. As pleasing as it sounded to never see this prick again, Lyss had an inkling that she should keep an eye on him from afar. He knew enough now to get what he wanted on his own.

When Kayla had finished speaking, Lyss made her way over to stand at the bar near Blake. She set the briefcase down between herself and Schmidt. "I would say it has been a pleasure to meet you, but I've been cursed to never tell a lie." She said before smiling. "Have a good evening, Mr. Schmidt."

Without bothering to see his reaction, Lyss grabbed her sunglasses from the bar and put them on before making her way towards the exit. She stopped by the door and looked back to make sure that the rest of the gang were following. She wasn't leaving anyone up here. Even Kayla. Blake was one order away from siccing security on them. The last thing she needed was to be thrown out of the building by some sweaty men.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary 2.0 #2020

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

Oh, for satan's sake! It was as if Mr. Schmidt hadn't heard a word she said. He's thinking with his other head. Is that how he's always made decisions? Lyss watched his wife strut off with Maya. Oh, great. Another "demonstration" for the Schmidts. She was steaming on the inside.

Then Babylon had to pipe up in her ear. Lyss frowned. She shot the spirit a cold glance. Even if Blake had the "smart" idea to go after a powerful apparition for powers, there was no way to find the cursed music box. Not even the Burns family knew where it had been disposed, and they had been a part of the ritual to seal the bastard in it's cage.

Blake's questions brought her attention back to him. Oh, so he had been listening. She thought bitterly. His last question was offensive, to say the least. It didn't do anything for Lyss's sour mood. Her frown deepened and she looked him over. She avoided his pant area lest her eyes would be burned by his bulge.

"You do not want to have anything to do with The Hound. Yes, he is powerful, but he will cross you as quickly as he can and guide your soul straight into the pits."

At least he didn't directly ask me about necromancy.

"My family has been feared in the past. Before we started focusing less on necromancy and more on apparitions, people would avoid the Burns name like the plague. My family has and always will be a statement of power, but with power like this there are many consequences." She narrowed her eyes at him. "If you should seek any lux of your own, I would advise you to look in the opposite direction of the Black Lux."

Deciding to give him other harmless options, Lyss sat back in her seat and gestured to the bartender for another glass.

"Your family name is another type of power in this world. You could have anything if you wanted it. I don't see why you want to join our part of the world, but to each their own.

So, I'd like to ask what kind of power you seek? While we've made it clear that we will not help you gain any extra-normal abilities, I'm curious what you had in mind if we'd accepted."

She looked back at Blake once her drink had been place in her hand.

"I've met men like you before, and every answer is generally the same. I want to know if you're different than the rest."

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

Mr. Schmidt soaked up every word Lyss said. She could see the hunger in his eyes. If the Coven couldn't give him what he wanted he would get it some other way. Her words of caution hadn't hindered his plans. He was a smart guy. He would find the loophole somehow. His question about apparitions would be easy to answer, but Lyss felt herself tense when he specifically asked about her own extra-normal qualities. She didn't want to give him that knowledge. He was a man of power, and all men of power could find their way to the black market eventually. While there was a low chance that he'd speak with anyone that would know her name, she didn't want to risk anyone on the market knowing about her deal with Blake fucking Schmidt.

Thankfully, Izzy returned from wherever she'd gone just in time to draw Blake's attention. Lyss took a moment to reground herself as Izzy moved to give Schmidty a "demonstration." She picked up the glass beside her and took a sip. Her gaze moved to watch Izzy's performance just in time to see her take Blake fucking Schmidt's finger into her mouth. She almost choked. Instead, she finished off the glass and refrained from expressing her disdain. What the fuck is with these girls? I don't give a shit if they're sluts. Just have a little class with it.

She set the empty glass down and pushed it away from her. The bartender looked at her, silently wondering if she needed another drink, but Lyss waved him off. She turned back to face the millionaire as Izzy took a seat. She could barely look at him now. He's going to think we're easy now. No fucking way in hell I'm going to let that happen.

She frowned as she looked him in the eyes.

"Well, now that you've got a glimpse of magic," she started, her tone expressing her irritation, "I'll answer your questions."

She crossed her legs and removed the sunglasses from her face. After she'd set them down on the bar, she turned her flat stare towards him. "The Blind are only 40% correct about ghosts or spirits. Apparitions can take the form of the deceased, but only if there is a powerful emotion that existed within them or another that knew them before their death. Even so, the Blind cannot see them because they are made of the same spiritual energy that the Extra-Normal harness to produce their magic. Most Apparitions are born of beliefs or emotions. As long as people continue to feel that emotion, or believe in their existence, they exist."

The whiskey in her stomach burned, but its warmth spread throughout her body. It was easier to relax now, after such an embarrassing act by the Coven's very own love aberration.

"Only the Extra-Normal can harm an Apparition. We can even destroy them with our magic, but if their source of energy still remains, they will reappear after a certain time. Apparitions have powers, as well. Their abilities reflect the emotion of belief behind them. Almost like a lux. Izumi's Apparition is the condensed energy of love, and she can therefore grant Izumi the power to heal through these acts of... kindness." Ugh.

"The most ancient Apparition known to our kind is the embodiment of death. It's name is The Hound. It has this name because of it's form: a large black wolf of smoke with red eyes that peer into your very soul." She couldn't imagine seeing the beast in person.

"The Hound is only seen by the Extra-Normal at their time of death, but it can appear when you summon him as well. Still, The Hound is always there for the Blind at their last breath. He is the balance between life and death. He cannot decide when, where, or how you will die, but he knows when it will happen. There are also rare cases when people die sooner than he expected. So, to fix the balance between life and death he hunts anyone who cheats him. There is no running from death. He is the most powerful of all Apparitions."

She took a deep breath and held her head high.

"To answer your second question, I am an Adept. My blood runs generations into the past. Our Black Lux was granted by The Hound himself to the beings from Glint, and passed onto many families. My family name was one of the first."

She held up her hand to showcase the antique ring on her right ring finger. "This ring has been passed down within my family for centuries. It is the means to which I harness the Black Light. Our lux was given the name of the Necromancery Lux, because we can manipulate the dead. Many of my ancestors could raise the dead from their graves, and many could manipulate Apparitions as well."

She rested her hand back in her lap.

"I can specifically ward, trap, and seal Apparitions. There have been a few times that I have also released an Apparition from it's cage, but I am aware of the dangers of doing so and I've chosen not to do so again."

She raised an eyebrow. "Does that answer your questions?" If he asks me about the necromancy, I'm going to need the bartender.

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

Blake fucking Schmidt. Basically the human version of Megamind, but the big head was just a metaphor. From what Lyss had heard about him (and read about him when she looked the guy up), he was just another big money man with no real criminal allegations against him. Well, none that could be traced back to him. The fact that he'd contacted the Coven to "gain" supernatural abilities wasn't out of the ordinary for men like him. Lyss certainly didn't peg him as the Batman type, but that was besides the point.

Lyss was highly aware of men like this. There were many Blind buyers in the market. Blake was just another millionaire that wanted a little more excitement in his life. Would he perhaps use his gained abilities for the wrong purpose? Would this backfire on the Coven, in any way? It was possible. And yet, the suitcase full of cash was incredibly tempting. Lyss eyed it through her sunglasses as they stood in the elevator. She wasn't happy to be even meeting Blake, or even attempting to give him magical abilities... but the second she stepped out onto the private rooftop bar she laid her eyes on Blake. The way he and his wife were dressed. The way they sat at the bar. It was like they owned Tampa. They screamed money.

If this went through, and the Coven didn't immediately regret their decision to "help" him, she might just be set for the rest of her life. Enough money to survive. Enough money to move as far away from Miami as possible. Maybe even enough to pay back her former partners if they ever caught up with her. While the morality of this situation was debatable, the reward was just too high. So, Lyss approached Blake the same way she approached any of her buyers from the market. Head held high, shoulders back and loose, and an air of skepticism. He'd need to sell himself pretty well, if the group was to go through with this. She shared Kayla's caution, there was no doubt about that. She'd just gone through enough of these deals to think that this wasn't that much of a problem.

Lyss took the seat between Kayla and Emily. She turned to the bartender and asked for a glass of top shelf whiskey on the rocks as she listened to Emily, Maya, and Blake banter. She sat back in her seat, but didn't slouch because she was a goddamn professional, and gave Blake a nod when her name was mentioned. Second in command. Shoot me in the face. The bartender slid her glass over, Lyss nodded a thanks, and took a sip. The smooth liquor slid down her throat and warmed her belly. Thank you, Mr. Schmidt.

Just when she thought that Kayla would start the meeting, she heard Maya speak up. She said what most of them were thinking, although Lyss would have said it in a much subtle way. Lyss shot her a glance through her shades, but she turned her head back towards the man in an expensive polo. At least they would get their answers up front.

Lyss watched him closely as he spoke. If he lied, she would know. Flaunting? The corners of her lips turned into a small frown. Has everyone in Tampa seen that damn video from Greenwood? Better yet. Had anyone outside of Tampa seen it too? Which gave Lyss even more of a reason to need this deal to go through. Blake mentioned "enforcers" and Lyss immediately saw their way out of giving him powers while still getting paid. She glanced at Kayla and trusted her to see the better deal here.

Yeah, but what other supernatural "organizations" are as batshit as we are? Certainly not the DENs. They'd deny all involvement.

Lyss suppressed a smile when Kayla denied Blake's magical gifting. Then she smirked when Kayla suggested to go the personal protection route. Come on, Blake. Take the deal. How else will you protect yourself when your plans go awry? A demonstration of her own abilities would be... difficult. Which made her wonder if Blake had already gotten his hands dirty with apparitions and other magical beings? Paragon Lab Corps was a large business. With many buildings scattered across Tampa. Any one of them could be a secret hold of supernatural experiments. It also brought another question to mind. If he was as rich as the media made him to be, why hadn't he just gone to the black market for his needs? Why bother with the Coven at all? Was it because they appeared reckless? Did he think them desperate? Lyss, you are desperate.

Lyss took another sip of her whiskey. The commotion in the corner, by the Coven's one and only alcoholic, definitely didn't help their impression.

"We don't need a contract for that, right?"

Lyss set her glass down and turned to face him. The terms were set. If Blake kept his word, they'd seal it in writing by Monday. Now, it was time to convince him that this was worth his time too.

"Mr. Schmidt." Schmidty. "I'd be happy to answer any questions you have related to the supernatural."

"There are many things that exist in this world that the blind cannot see. The Blind being, you and your wife or any non-magical being.

There are Blind that have been exposed to extra-normal elements and have gained the sight to see magic. We call them One-Eyes. One of them is among us today as a member of our group." She didn't bother to point Herik out. If Blake was curious, he'd ask. "Next, there are the Awakened. The Awakened were blind, but through a traumatic experience they have gained their abstraction. An abstraction is the term we've given to our abilities. Each abstraction is unique to the owner."

She gave Blake a moment to think as she took a sip of her whiskey, and then continued.

"Next, we have those known as Aberrations. They manifest when they have encountered an apparition- a spirit, as you'd call it. There are multiple types of Aberrations. The Afflicted are Blind who have encountered an apparition, whether a Casper or a foe, and have been given a blessing or a curse." She shook her head slightly. "I personally think that the gifts cannot be defined as either. It is up to the Aberration to decide if they have gained or lost by becoming a part of our world." She thought about Vashti for a second, and almost wished that the girl had been around to hear her say this. Then she thought of the scales on her arm. "All magic comes with a cost. It is what you do with it that defines you and your ability."

She eyed Blake and gave her words a moment of gravity. How would you use your ability, Mr. Schmidt?

Then, she took a breath and continued on. "An affixed aberration have been bound to apparitions. The spirits rest within their bodies and can have symbiotic or parasitic relationships with their hosts." Emily walks a fine line here. "The apparition can even manifest in person, like the spirit beside Emily."

"Next, there are Agents, Abscised, and Adjoined. Abcised are those who have been possessed by an apparition. Agents are Blind that have come in contact with an apparition that was sealed inside of an object. Adjoined are those Agents who have agreed to fuse with their spirits and become one." She briefly thought of those who'd bought objects like this from her group. Hand sealed and delivered by none other than herself. If Blake was smart, he'd just get an object like this himself. If he was willing to fork over a large amount of cash. "While purchasing a sealed object may seem like the easiest option, there is a danger to submitting yourself to magic in that way. There are legends about an apparition named The Outsider in our lore."

"The Outsider once appeared in our world a long time ago. It is an ancient apparition that threatened our world's very existence. It took many of our kind to seal it away. Many died doing so. The term Pandora's Box is a reference to the very music box they trapped it within. If anyone were to ever find this box and open it, the world would surely be lost." She hoped that this little lesson would resonate with the man in front of her. She remembered hearing it from her grandmother when she was little. She remembered the fear that she felt thinking about such a spirit. Hopefully Blake felt it too.

She leant back in her chair, and decided to finish her little description of the Extra-Normal. "Lastly, there are the Adepts. Adepts are the oldest Extra-Normal beings. They descend from long lines of power and history. Magic was first given to them by beings from an alternate universe called Glint. Their magic is given to their children, and passed on down the bloodline. Their abstractions are unique to the Glint that gifted their blood. Each being from Glint had a specific type of lux: the lights that each are connected to and can harness. Each lux is connected to certain magical abilities based upon emotion."

"For example, a Red Lux experiences anger. With this anger, they are able to manipulate the elements. A Yellow Lux can create spells to shield or provide stealth. An Orange Lux can imbue objects with Extra-Normal energy as long as they are casting their spells. The list goes on, but I will continue if you'd like."

She took another sip of her whiskey now that she was done. "If you have any specific questions to ask me, now is your chance."

Recollections: The Coven [COMPLETED]

---

Lyss's expression didn't change as Taylor turned her intense eyes her way. There was something wild about her. Looking into her eyes, it was like looking at an angry spirit. This chick had two of them, but it was like an odd mish-mosh of color. Two souls intertwined. Like Kayla. Even so, Kayla's energy was far more docile with a deepness to it. Taylor's just had an intensity to it. Like a swollen red giant about to go supernova and destroy anything in it's path. Lyss was wary of this girl, but she knew not to see raw power like this as a threat. It would be better to have it on their side, and not as their enemy.

Taylor wasn't even trying to hide her dual-spirituality. She used the pronoun "we're" instead of "I" like it wasn't a secret. As Lyss listened to her speak of her shared childhood with Kim, she couldn't help but wonder how much her old buddies could get out of harvesting the apparitions within her. Shut up, Lyss. That's not you... ^anymore. Taylor narrowed her eyes and Lyss shrugged. She couldn't give less of a shit why this girl wanted to be in the Coven. Everyone had their own reasons. She just wanted to know why Agatha had made an alliance with Kimberly before taking off.

Before Lyss could even bother to respond, she heard the soft padding of paws approach from behind. Thank satan Kayla can handle the rest of this. She thought as she turned to see Kayla sliding into the table beside Herik. It was a funny sight to see two girls and one hunk in one seat. They locked eyes for a moment, and Kayla's sly smile drew Lyss's own smirk out of her usual blank face. Good luck, fearless leader.

So, the interview began. Well, it was more of a negotiation from the way Kayla put it, but Lyss knew that Kayla wasn't one to beat around the bush with niceties. Lyss pulled up a chair from a nearby table and set herself down in it. She sat back and preferred to listen and observe these girls as they answered Kayla's "demands." It was like watching a movie, but instead of popcorn Lyss lazily savoured the rest of her sundae.

Vashti didn't react well. Lyss watched in fascination as she saw the woman's pupils narrow into slits. Lyss could only smile when Vashti directed an incredulous question her way. In this particular case, Lyss agreed with both Vashti and Kayla. Yeah, it was rude to just outright ask these girls to spill their darkest secrets and abilities, but the Coven had fallen into dangerous waters and only the strong would stay aboard the boat to help withstand the currents. Agatha had already hopped ship. Would any of these girls do the same if the DENs came back to cash in the IOU?

Cursed to look like a reptile? Lyss mused to herself as she stared at the scales on Vashti's arm. Or is this only a small sign of a deeper vein? Lyss felt sympathy for her. Curses were nasty things. It would take a skilled magician to reverse it. Can Babylon remove a curse? As if the ghost would want to. Lyss raised her eyebrow as Ashley took her turn. So, a human version of Keisha?

At least Taylor had some humor about this situation. Both of Lyss's eyebrows rose this time, as her aura sense confirmed the girl's backstory. The Glutton, huh? No wonder she's so intense. She has two maniacs psychosis inside her head. Lyss looked Kayla's way and slowly ate the last bite of her sundae as Herik murmured into Kayla's ear. She could see the recognition in their leader's fiery eyes. This meeting was practically over. The girls would join the Coven, and hopefully there wouldn't be a brawl between the newbies and the current members. For some reason, Lyss could see Emily and Taylor fighting or becoming best friends. With no in between. Kayla did a pretty great job describing the group of outcasts.

Lyss glanced at Kayla's phone as she took a moment to send some messages. Was it one of the Coven girls? Did Kayla have friends outside of the group? Lyss certainly didn't. Well, at least she didn't think so. Not any real friends. Kayla announced that Ashley and Vashti were in, but then surprisingly gave Taylor an ultimatum. The way Kayla put her words made Lyss feel some concern for her. She remembered the way Kayla looked after she and Madison returned from their meeting with The Hound. "I don't need any more blood on my conscious." Facing death must have really gotten to her. It was hard to think that as brave and powerful as Kayla was, she was still afraid of death. Was my father afraid of death?

She set her empty sundae cup on the table in front of her and quickly pushed that thought into the dark recesses of her mind.

"I think what Kayla's trying to say here is: If you join our Coven, you have to be 100% ready to defend your friends. This group is a safe haven for all of us. We've all got our own shit to deal with, and we're all looking out for each other." She looked all three girls in the eyes, resting her gaze on Taylor in the end. "We want to help you. Are you willing to help us too?"