Nightfall:Memories I Don't Have

[1:48:20 PM] Omniance: [Friday, June 9th 3:00 a.m.
Downtown L.A., Ricky & Lucas' Apartment]
[2:28:46 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He watches the Prince thumb through a large ornate tome, each page is detailed with paragraphs and illustrations of strange demons. He arm is in a sling from being badly dislocated a few days ago. A demon is attacking my school? He looks up to the Prince in slight disbelief.
Edward: His influence is centered on the school. He pages through the tome delicately. What makes him so troublesome is that he's not attacking anywhere.
Lucas: He looks slightly more confused. What?
Edward: He is possessing the faculty and classmates, along with a sizable portion of my county. He pauses as he reaches his desired entry in the book. For some reason, likely due to the previous occurrence you experienced two days ago, you have remained unaffected. A feat which I may not even be capable of. He looks to Lucas with his pitch-black eyes, and then grabs the book. We will find out the demon's name using this tome, then you will put a stop to him...
The dream jumps forward, hours, possibly a day, and Lucas is in the main dining area.
Lucas: Why do I have to do this? The guy can probably bench like two-hundred and I don't even have full use of my arm.
Adam: He's sitting at the table with a large chemistry set. The talisman I've transmutated for you will protect you from him.
Edward: It's also what you need to stop him. Wrap it around his neck, or a limb, and it will bind his power for a short enough time. If you bring him here I will be able to perform an exorcism, and all will be as if nothing happened.
Lucas: He sighs, watching Adam push a large silvery talisman across the table towards him. After a moment of hesitation, he grabs it.
Another few hours, or maybe a day passes and Lucas is now walking into a large mansion, an incredible party is happening, everyone from school is here, and even richer people are arriving in expensive cars.
Mandy Lane: She looks around. I can't believe you talked me into coming here.
Lucas: You were the only way I can get in. He keeps looking around.
Mandy Lane: Well, promise me that when we're done with whatever you're here to do, we'll get the hell outta here... She sighs.
Lucas: He looks at her and smiles slightly. Yeah. I promise. I'll find you out front, ok? I gotta go... Do the thing. He runs off, looking back at her, he feels something is off about this entire party.
Mandy Lane: She shrugs.
Stacy: Oh my god! She grabs Mandy Lane and pulls her into a ground of friends. That dress is fucking stunning Mandy Lane, where'd you get it?
[2:31:29 PM] Omniance: 
Lucas: He wanders off, losing sight of Mandy Lane as she pulled away into Stacy's group. About ten minutes later he's pacing down an almost empty hall, and seems to be drawn to a large door. He grabs the nob and twists it and as it opens a gush of hot air rushes passed him. The room on the other side is impossibly large, lined with pillars of blackened stone, like it were fashioned from volcanic rock. At the back is a huge altar-like throne.
Ricky: Were you looking for me? He rises from his throne. Or her? He motions to Mandy Lane as she walks out from behind one of the pillars. Thanks for convincing her to come here. She steps towards Lucas. She's really all I even wanted.
Lucas: Mandy? He runs down the long hallway to get to her.
Mandy Lane: You know I actually felt bad for you, with your brother dying, and your best friend. But you're so pitiful. I need a real man. She smirks.
Lucas: He slows down as he reaches her, gripping the talisman Adam gave him tightly in his pocket. Mandy Lane, resist him, please.
Mandy Lane: Look at him, Lucas. Who can resist that? She sprints towards Lucas.
Ricky: She's mine now. I'm just curious as to why you still aren't mine. Something makes you different. But it doesn't matter. I have what I want, thanks to you, and now my queen will kill you! He smiles.
Mandy Lane: She leaps onto Lucas and tackles him to the ground, wrapping her hands around his neck. Her grip is like a vice and he can't get her off of him.
Lucas: Mandy... Lane... Please... He struggles to breath. Mandy... He continues to squirm as Ricky walks up, looking down at him.
Ricky: Whatever makes you different... Still didn't keep you from being a fucking nobody and a loser.
Lucas: His vision is starting to dim, and his chest hurts badly from the lack of oxygen. Man... Dy... Yuri's knife suddenly stabs her in the side of the head. A near-invisible spectral hand holding it. She instantly goes limp, and Lucas gasps for breath, rolling onto his side.
Ricky: NO! His body wreathes in flames and his skin cracks open like scorched wood to reveal veins of fire inside. He reaches down and grabs Lucas, burning his arm badly as he pulls him up. SHE WAS MINE! A wave of flames expands outwards from him, but it flows harmlessly around Lucas like water.
Lucas: He raises the talisman up and wraps it around Ricky's neck. The flames immediately vanish, and Lucas falls to the floor. He struggles to get to his feet, both of his arms now badly injured.
Ricky: What the hell it this? The flames on his body flicker. You think this piece of shit will STOP ME?! The talisman shatters and melted pieces of it fly off of him. He runs for Lucas and releases a torrent of fire as he does, it engulfs Lucas, and everything goes black.
There's a sick popping sound. Something tearing, then the sound of something strange, like a little kid eating sloppily.
Edward: Mr. Vera, can you hear me? He sounds far away. Lucas. You put a stop to the demon. Perhaps in a way I didn't expect you to...
Lucas: His vision clears. He's chewing on something. He spits it out as he speaks. It tastes gross. ...What? He looks around. Before him lays Ricky, his right arm seems to have been completely torn off, and his face has been ripped away, down to the bone in most places. Lucas stumbles backwards. What the hell!? He spits, and a chunk of flesh rolls from his lips. His eyes go wide.
Edward: It seems you consumed parts of him.
Lucas: He turns and immediately throws up. I... I killed him... Like that? He slowly looks back to Ricky.
Edward: No. He's still very much alive. Ricky's only remaining blue eye in his horrifically mangled face snaps to look at Lucas.
Lucas: He opens his mouth suddenly, rolling onto his back in bed, and nearly over Ricky, screaming as loudly as he can. WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP! PLEASE! WAKE UP PLEASE!
[2:41:18 PM | Edited 2:41:41 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He quickly sits up, hearing Lucas having a nightmare. This has happened before so he immediately tries to calm him down, placing his hands on his shoulders to stop him from moving around so much. He talks a little loud, but in a comforting voice, so he can hear him through his own yelling. Vera... Vera, open your eyes. It's just a dream. He rubs his shoulders. It's just a dream...
[2:42:48 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He opens his eyes and sees Ricky's face. He immediately wraps his arms around him and hugs him tight. His heart is pounding so fast that Ricky can feel it as Lucas holds him tightly.
[2:47:27 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He hugs him back just as tightly. After a moment he looks back towards Odie and Hunter, seeing them both awake in their sleeping bags. He doesn't say anything and looks back down at Lucas. still rubbing his back to comfort him.
[2:51:34 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He lets out a quiet gasp and puts his head against Ricky's shoulder.
About ten minutes later they're all up, wanting to hear what Lucas says.
Odie: He has a cup of coffee in front of him, sitting at the kitchen table. The dreams are that bad?
Lucas: He's making more coffee, his hair is still all messed up. I don't want to talk about it.
Odie: He looks at Ricky with a bit of worry.
Lucas: We need to talk about what we're going to do with Yuri. He turns the coffee machine on and turns, looking at Odie, and then to Ricky. He stabbed me in the back, paralyzed me. I... He looks down and frowns slightly. ...I honestly couldn't tell if it was him or not...
[3:05:29 PM] Arbi: Hunter: He's sitting beside Odie across from Ricky. When I first saw Yuri I didn't think anything was wrong with him... it wasn't until... he hugged Odie when I saw him. He looks at Lucas. He was standing right behind him, looking at me... He starts to look down. ...I couldn't move. I've never been that scared in my life before. I wanted to warn Odie but there was nothing I could do before he tried to...
[3:06:52 PM] Omniance: Odie: Stab me in the back.
Lucas: He moves his shoulders uncomfortably. Well he succeeded with me... I think... He cut something in my spine. I couldn't move at all... I could barely speak...
[3:08:15 PM | Edited 3:08:50 PM] Arbi: Ricky: It's obvious he's more pissed off about Yuri than worried about him. ...What did he say to you?
[3:13:12 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He said... He wasn't possessed... That he only wanted us there to kill Rodin. He looks at Hunter for a moment, then back to Ricky. ...He talked about being all powerful... How... We used to be "gods"... And he demonstrated some of his newfound power by stabbing me in the back and making me helpless... Then he said he had someone new, someone that does care about him... He sighs and turns away, grabbing the coffee. Who knows how much he's changed since we last saw him... It could've been him saying those things... Gloating, attacking us... Going out of his way to manipulate and threaten us...
[3:21:08 PM | Edited 3:21:15 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Yeah? And what about The Prince? Is he in on this too? He came back to life before but it's been four years...
[3:23:14 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He shakes his head. It wasn't the Prince... At least, I don't think it was. I incinerated Calavera. When we was talking to him I saw him drop fragments of her skull... That Merchandice, the ones he used to sell... I think Yuri's using them to bring them back... At least fragments of them. He sighs and looks to Ricky. He said he did it because the fights weren't "fair" before...
[3:24:46 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Calavera... He starts shaking his head, smiling out of anger. Your brother is really making it hard to want to save him.
[3:25:30 PM | Edited 3:26:01 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He looks to Hunter. You said you "saw him". Does you mean that you could see the Hat Man?
[3:35:04 PM] Arbi: Hunter: I only saw him because he wanted me to see him. He looks at Lucas. He was all black, like a dark shadow. He was wearing a hat, the same kind we saw Billy wearing.
[3:37:24 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He looks down in distress, then puts his hands over his face and sighs. I don't know what to do then.
Odie: He looks around, then down at his cup of coffee. ...Well the first step of getting a demon is learning his name.
[3:41:47 PM] Arbi: Ricky: What then? We can't just walk up to him again. He almost killed you and he left Vera on the ground bleeding...
[3:43:20 PM] Omniance: Odie: He sighs and leans back in his chair. We've all been through possession before. He looks at Ricky. It's fucking awful. There's no way Yuri is having a good time with it. I don't care what he said.
[3:48:14 PM] Arbi: Ricky: It is awful but none of us have been possessed this long before... We need to find out if Yuri is still in there before we start risking our lives again.
[3:49:17 PM | Edited 3:53:09 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He has to be in there somewhere... I can't exist If he doesn't... That's just the way it works... And it's the only thing keeping me hopeful right now... He looks to Ricky.
[3:54:31 PM | Edited 3:56:31 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He silently sighs and then looks back at him. His tone of voice sounds reassuring. I trust you, Vera... If you really believe we can save him, I'll be there with you all the way.
[3:56:29 PM] Omniance: Odie: ...We just need a lead, something that can point us in the right direction... But we don't have anyone to help us... I could call Murdoc but... He's not really an expert on demons. He looks up at Ricky. I don't think he'll know anything about this Hat Man, other than maybe a general history...
[3:59:06 PM] Arbi: Hunter: Sounds better than just sitting around not doing anything.
[4:00:47 PM] Omniance: Odie: He sighs, opening his cellphone. I'll get him on the phone. He starts dialing his number and stands up, walking over to the couch area.
Lucas: He's looking down, like he's thinking, or trying to remember something. ...I think I have an idea... It's a long shot... But... He looks to Ricky.
[4:03:32 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks at him, unsure of what he's thinking of. ...But what?
[4:07:27 PM | Edited 4:09:14 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He looks down and crosses his arms in front of him as he leans against the counter. ...In the dream... The one I had tonight... I've had it before... He sighs. The Prince finds Aibhleann's name in a book... He furrows his brow slightly as he thinks. ...More like... The book tells you how to summon a demon that trades information. He looks up at Ricky. ...And he gives the demon something, and the demon gives him the name he's looking for... I've had the dream so many times I remember where the book is in the library... I even know which... Fucking page the demon is on. The only problem is he does it in secret, so I don't know what the demon asks for. He looks back down. ...Or if the book is still there...
[4:10:00 PM] Arbi: Ricky: You think it's still in his library?
[4:10:40 PM] Omniance: Lucas: Like I said... It's a long shot. He shrugs nervously. ...And we'd have to deal with some kind of demon... But... I don't have any other ideas.
[4:12:16 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He stands up and walks away from everyone, stretching a bit. He looks like he doesn't know what do either.
[4:15:37 PM] Omniance: Odie: He walks back towards them. Murdoc says he's heard about this Hat Man before. He has a lot of information on him. He can fax it to us if need be. He pauses.
Lucas: ...But?
Odie: But, the information he has is... Sketchy... Conpiracy theorist nonsense, unfounded rumors going back to the early sixties and seventies. Whatever the Hat Man is, he's... Just impossible to pin down... His alias is just some name that was given to him by people that have seen him. He looks to Hunter. Because he's only ever appeared as a silhouetted figment, that appears to be wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
[4:18:00 PM | Edited 4:18:26 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He stops stretching and looks over at Odie. How many people have seen him?
[4:19:33 PM] Omniance: Odie: Enough for him to be considered to be in the same conspiracy circles as UFOs and Men in Black. He sighs sitting down on the couch. This is going to be a tough one.
[4:22:14 PM] Arbi: Hunter: He stands up and sits down beside Odie on the couch. How's your back?
[4:23:07 PM] Omniance: Odie: I probably should've went to the hospital to get some stiches... He sighs. ...I think I'll live though.
Lucas: He looks to Ricky. So what do we do?
[4:28:31 PM] Arbi: Ricky: We should talk about how we're gonna do this, this isn't like high school. He looks at each of them. We can't just drop everything for Yuri, we all have jobs now and bills to pay. Not just that but Odie, you're staying in Santa Monica and your brother still lives all the way back in Wildomar.
[4:30:54 PM] Omniance: Odie: I have to be at work by noon today... He looks o Hunter. Mom's going to be picking you up around eight. He looks at his watch. That's in about three and a half hours.
[4:31:24 PM] Arbi: Hunter: He looks at Odie suddenly. Who says I'm going back?
[4:33:10 PM] Omniance: Odie: He sighs. I guess... You're an adult now... Sort of... He pushes his hair around and shakes his head. ...But I can't be with you all day, like Ricky said, they have to work. I have to work, I can't take two days off in a row, that's just not going to happen.
[4:37:34 PM] Arbi: Hunter: I told you, I'm not going back! He stands up and walks up to the window, not wanting any of them to see his face. He closes his eyes, trying not to cry. ...He killed my dog.
[4:39:46 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He looks down. I can take a day off... God knows I need... He looks up at Ricky. Today's Friday, right? That means we have the weekend. He looks at Odie. Three days.
Odie: I work weekends... I might be able to get Saturday off if I can have someone cover for me, but... That's about it.
Lucas: .He just sighs.
[4:42:01 PM] Arbi: Ricky: It's still early, we should get a few more hours of sleep before we use the rest of the day to figure this out...
[4:47:51 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He looks over at the coffee pot and silently dreads going back to sleep.
Odie: That's probably a good idea.
[4:50:52 PM] Arbi: Hunter: He looks down at his sleeping bag before walking back over to it, getting back inside and curling up.
Ricky: He looks at Lucas and walks up beside him, placing his arm around his back before pulling him a little closer.
[4:52:18 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He whispers quietly. We have to save him... If these dreams have meant anything... It's that if Yuri dies... He looks up a Ricky.
[4:55:47 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks back at him silently before pulling him into a hug and whispering. We'll save him...
[4:58:23 PM] Omniance: A few hours later...
[5:04:12 PM] Omniance: It's a little after seven in the morning, they left L.A. early to dodge rush hour traffic, but still hit some of it on the way down. After a little over an hour's drive, they've managed to get to the Elsinore-Wildomar area/
Lucas: He's sitting in the passenger's seat. Looking outside. He didn't sleep much more after everyone else went to bed. Out his window he can see the lake in the distance, it looks like it's almost dried up, and has taken on a particularly sickly hue of yellow-green. He watches as familiar landmarks, like the low-end casino and hotel, are now surrounded by new buildings that are unfamiliar to him, a larger theatre, better housing along the side of the lake. Everything he knew from before is set against the newness of some kind of economic boom that's taken place in the once small town. Without looking away from the window he speaks to Ricky. Where do you think we should head first? Murdoc's, or the library?
[5:10:37 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He reaches a red light and stops the car before briefly looking over at Lucas. I think we should see Murdoc first... I feel like hearing from him might help us a lot right now.
[5:11:26 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He keeps looking out the window. I feel like the last time we were here was a hundred years ago...
[5:17:16 PM] Arbi: Ricky: All these new buildings everywhere... it doesn't even feel like the same city anymore. The light turns green and he keeps going straight, going down the long main road that leads to Murdoc's place.
[5:18:39 PM] Omniance: As they reach Murdoc's old building it looks almost like it's closed down, but there's a light on inside.
Lucas: Looks like Murdoc's seen better days... He shakes his head a little.
[5:27:26 PM | Edited 5:32:01 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He parks his car in the front in the same place he always used to. After turning off the engine he opens his door and steps out. He does notice how old the building appears compared to the last time he was here but the car parked outside catches his eye first. It's still hard to believe that he gave away the Pontiac... but if anyone deserved that car, it was Odie.
[5:31:46 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He smiles as he steps out looks around. I'm glad Odie's doing well. He looks over to Ricky. He always wanted to be a cop. He looks over at Murdoc's car. It's an old black Cadillac of some kind. It pisses me off that we finally see him again after all these years, and it just has to do with this... Same shit we've been through before. He sighs, closing the door to the car.
[5:38:30 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He walks up to the front door with Lucas and grabs the doorknob, turning it to see if it's not locked. It opens and he looks inside, checking to see if anyone's at the front desk.
[5:40:02 PM] Omniance: The smell of cigars instantly fills the air as they walk into the small office. It's familiar to both of them.
Mudoc: His grizzled voice can be heard from down the hall. That you Ricky?
[5:45:51 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks down the hallway, seeing that he must've just walked out from one of the rooms. Glad you haven't forgotten about me. He walks up to him. It's good to see you again.
[5:46:57 PM | Edited 5:47:07 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: He's reaches out to shake Ricky's hand. Forgotten? I'll never forget you kids, heh. Not even if I wanted to... He looks to Lucas.
[5:51:44 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He shakes his hand back. Yeah? Must be our great personalities. He steps out of the way for Lucas to walk up to him.
[6:01:55 PM | Edited 6:04:53 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: He shakes Lucas's hand and as he lets go of his hand. He walks over to his desk and sorts through a few files. Well let's get down to why you're here.
Lucas: You still don't have a computer Murdoc?
Murdoc: No, there's too many ways for people to watch what's happening when you're using a computer. Hackers, the damn government... He takes off his hat. His hair looks a little longer and more grey on the sides. He opens one of the files on his desk. The "Hat Man" phenomenon is something that's been in and out of conspiracy and paranormal circles for decades. He pulls out a few printed out sketches of a dark and vague figure, appearing as a featureless masculine form, all of them with a "hat"-like silhouette. These are sketches drawn by various people around the U.S. Now, I'm not sure if Odie told you or not, but the problem with this Hat Man figure is that no one really knows what he is, what he does, or where he comes from. He's generally seen or encountered by people who are trying to sleep... Though he's seen by people that have been sleep deprived, usually drug-abusers. People who have seen him report being paralyzed, only being able to see him out of the corner of their vision. Some say that he leaps on your chest and attempts to strangle you... He pulls out page after page of various sketches and documents. ...But the one, single, thing that ties every single report together, is that everyone who encounters him feels an incomparable feeling of menace and dread. The kind of thing that makes your skin crawl. He looks back and forth between Lucas and Ricky.
[6:07:08 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He sits down in front of his desk and listens to everything he has to say. When he brings up "feeling of menace and dread" he briefly looks over at Lucas before looking back at Murdoc. Is there anything in there about murders?
[6:13:10 PM | Edited 6:15:49 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: He shakes his head. You know, this is one of those instances where half the shit I have is probably just exactly that: shit. Once you start getting into these paranormal circles, this AM Coast to Coast nonsense? You have kooks that just want attention and... They make up whatever the hell they think will allow them to fit in with others... He pats a pile of files. Most of what I have on the Hat Man falls into that category. It's just unfounded information, very little concrete... If there's murders... He shrugs. There could be, but this... This entity is good at covering his tracks if that's the case... When I see a murder on the news or in the paper there's a click. He taps the side of his head. I can practically feel it in my head, and I can tell like that. He snaps his finger. There's something paranormal about that occurrence... But with this shadow creature... He shakes his head again. I don't have that "click". I see reports that may be related to him, but they may as well just not be... And I won't lie... Deep down, it's things like that... That just scare the shit outta me, you know? He looks to Ricky. Like alien abduction. I just don't know. I don't get that "click" when I see something that's supposed to be in relation to it, and that's the exact feeling I've always gotten whenever anyone has come to me in regard to one of these "Shadow People", but most especially this Hat Man entity.
[6:17:24 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He sighs, quietly saying. Odie said the same thing, he can't figure this thing out. He looks down at the files on the desk. But we have to find someone that can help us, Murdoc. He looks up at him, Murdoc can tell he's serious. It's bad...
[6:20:51 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: I wish I could help a little more but... Outside of sleep deprivation, I don't have any information on how you'd even get into contact with this creature, let alone stop it. If anything this... Thing's been around a while. He looks down at the files. At least forty years, probably a lot longer. He sighs and taps his fingers on the pile again. And it may not be the only one. Reports are so numerous and wide spread, that this guy is either really busy, or the one you're dealing with may just be one of many... There's just no way to tell. Sorry guys... Sorry you came all the way down here for nothing.
[6:24:24 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks at Lucas again before looking back at Murdoc. We didn't just come down here to see you, Murdoc. He breathes in slowly before exhaling. He's obviously stressed about all of this. We're desperate... and we're thinking of finding one of The Prince's books and doing something we really shouldn't be doing.
[6:25:07 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: He looks at Ricky strangely, then looks to Lucas, then back to Ricky. You two are going back to that library?
[6:33:04 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He almost nervously says. ...Yeah... It was left to me and my brother, it's... He shrugs. Mine... Along with everything in it.
Murdoc: I would stay far away from that place. Things are different here now. A lot different. The new Prince, Natalya Nadrageel... She's... It's difficult to even put her into words. She's less of a person, and more and an inevitability. I'm sure you two saw all the new homes and shops and everything else in the area... All of that is because she's bought out this entire county. Riverside is, figuratively and almost literally, hers. She owns the housing tracts, most of the shops, franchises, hospitals, she donates thousands to the police... And that's just the surface that we can see. In the paranormal world she's a tyrant with a kind of high-end black ops secret police... I'm actually thinking of moving to Nevada, because I simply don't get work here anymore, as you can probably tell. Good or bad, she's stamped out everything that she can't exude direct control over... He pauses. And she owns the land that Library is built on. He looks to Lucas.
[6:34:35 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He just looks to Ricky silently.
[6:38:16 PM | Edited 6:43:02 PM] Arbi: Ricky: The library still belongs to Vera. He stands up from his chair. We're out of options here, Murdoc. We're getting that book, and if any "Prince" tries to stop us... I'll deal with them myself.
[6:42:00 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: Well I know I can't dissuade you, but I thought I'd feel guilty if I didn't try. He stands up, Lucas stands up too. Just be careful... This woman doesn't mess around.
Lucas: We've dealt with Princes before Murdoc... He looks at Ricky. ...Very recently in fact... But thank you for seeing us and getting all of this together. He looks back to Murdoc. Do you still charge the same amount?
Murdoc: It's fine. He holds up his hand. This is a favor to my old juniors. Ricky's gotten me out of a few pinches. I own him. He smiles at Ricky and sits back down. But you guys can see yourselves out, I have a client coming in later today and I really need to get her case file together.
[6:46:46 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Before we go. Tell me something about Natalya... Is she another warlock?
[6:47:49 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: He sighs, looking back and forth between the two of them. So far as I know she's some kind of ancient reptile... But suffice it to say, I keep my distance. Just being in her eyeline is... Unpleasant.
[6:48:50 PM | Edited 6:49:49 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He nods about to leave with Lucas. Thanks, Murdoc.
[6:49:31 PM] Omniance: Murdoc: You guys need anything... I'm here to try and help. If I find anymore on this Hat Man creature, I'll give Odie a call.
[6:59:09 PM] Omniance: About fifteen minutes later they're driving through the Slaughterhouse Canyon community. Just getting into this place is a lot harder than it was before, and Lucas had to show his I.D. to a security guard in a booth at the entrance to the area, and he called ahead to get an "OK" from someone. The houses here look mostly the same, large mansion-like estates spread over large tracts of land, expensive and imposing. But above them all towers a modern gothic estate, imposing beyond even the rest, looking more like a castle than a house. As they pull up to where the old Totenkopft estate was, it appears to have been completely overhauled, it's style now being very similar to the towering castle, and it has been fused by a pair of long halls that span the distance between it and the monstrous castle to the west, as if it were all one enormous building that exists only to make anything the Prince had seem like a humble shack.
Lucas: He looks up at the towering castle as they pull up, spotting one of the large windows of the library in the distance. It's one of the few pieces of the Prince's estate that has remained completely unchanged, if anything it looks like the new structures were built up around it. ...I don't like this.
[7:09:08 PM | Edited 7:09:57 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He continues up the road towards the Prince's house, driving on the pavement that circles the fountain until he finds a spot to park by the sidewalk. His car is parked facing the other direction, so if they get into any trouble they can drive off a little easier. He gets out of the car and looks up at the towering castle on the next property over. It's ridiculous size is actually intimidating him but he doesn't waste any time. Let's go. He heads to the left side of the building where the library is.
[7:12:03 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He follows after Ricky. The front lawn and every is the same layout it was, but it's all been made more "plain", less "inspired". The house in general doesn't seem to fit the European eccentrics of the prince, but rather just looks like it's built to look large and monolithic. Think we can just sneak in?
[7:15:49 PM | Edited 7:21:53 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks up ahead, seeing the library entrance is still there. The door's right there, let's just walk in.
[7:24:23 PM] Omniance: The door opens suddenly.
Agatha: It's you're library. She stares at the two young men. No need to sneak into it like thieves in the night. She has a large bundle of keys in her hand.
Lucas: He looks at Ricky and shakes his head a little.
A few seconds later she's leading them into the library.
Agatha: I'm the caretaker of this estate, which includes your library. Though I must admit it seems to keep itself rather clean, so I don't spend much time in it. She walks them out into the main space in front of an oversized fireplace. Lucas recognizes it as the first place they spoke to the Prince, his chair is even sitting in the exact spot it was all those years ago. ...Nothing has been changed, Ms. Karen Totenkopf once told us it would be fine should myself, the Lady of the house, or her sons, used the library, though we've been meticulous in respecting the placement of the books and the objects within this space.
Lucas: I don't want anyone else using this library.
Agatha: Well it's yours, so I suppose we must be forced to accept your decree. She looks to Ricky for a moment, then looks down to her keys, pulling one of them off. To my knowledge this is the only key we have to this room. She holds it out. You may take it, if you wish. Lucas reaches out and grabs it from her. The door to the main hall is locked. That key works only on the side door. This space may be yours, but moving through the house proper is trespassing, and the lady of the house doesn't suffer... Trespassers. She looks from Lucas, back to Ricky. Is there anything I can help you with?
[7:29:57 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks at Lucas before he just says. We're fine, thanks.
[7:31:58 PM] Omniance: Agatha: Well, should you want to sit down to a morning meal with the Lady of the house... Please visit the main entrance and I will happily prepare breakfast for you. We eat at eight sharp. She turns and walks towards the opposite side of the library, disappearing behind one of the shelves.
Lucas: He immediately turns and walks around the library. She's right this place is exactly the same as it was when the Prince was alive.
[7:36:54 PM | Edited 7:37:36 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He follows close behind him, having almost no interest in any of the books around him. Not because he doesn't like reading but because he doesn't want to get cursed or accidently release some demonic spirit just by reading a few lines in latin. Does that mean you know where the book is?
[7:39:28 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He nods. It's like I was just here this morning. He looks around, then turns a corner behind one of the shelves, then turns again. I'm feeling so much deja vu I'm almost getting dizzy... They've gone in a circle, and should be back out near the fireplace, but they're not, instead they're in an open area with a few tables and couches. He narrows his eyes, looking around. After a moment he turns and looks at a single large tome on a shelf. ...There.
[7:41:46 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He walks up to the large shelf with him, grabbing the large tome and looking the cover over.
[7:45:52 PM] Omniance: The tome is black and detailed with silver metal designs. To anyone else it'd be quite heavy and difficult to hold, but to Ricky it's not very challenging to carry.
Lucas: He stares at the book silently for a moment. It's about halfway through the book... There's no numbers on the pages, but there's a page before it that's torn up. You can see it if you look down at the top of the book while it's still closed.
[7:48:37 PM | Edited 7:54:30 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He walks up to a large book pedestal and places the book down, feeling that these pedestals were made for massive tomes like these. Torn up page... He tilts the book upwards and looks it over carefully, quickly finding the torn up page and opening the book straight to it. Nice memory, Vera. He slowly turns it to the next page, not wanting to rip it up anymore than it already is.
[8:00:36 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He watches Ricky turn to the next page and lets out a sigh of relief. ...There it is... The creature on the opposite page looks like a kind of human fetus, floating in an array of complex runes and glyphs. ...I've never seen this book before in my life, but I knew where it was, and what page this thing was on. He looks really relieved. I'm not going crazy...
[8:02:45 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks down at the human fetus-like creature, feeling a bit uneasy because of its appearance. Is that the demon?...
[8:08:50 PM] Omniance: Lucas: Yeah... Cetassin. He moves closer, looking the page over. The text is written in cursive, and possibly in a different language, but it doesn't matter. Lucas knows what to do. There's... A umm.. He looks around and then moves to one of the other shelves. He pats the side of it and a tray full of things that look like sticks of chalk, extents outwards from a secret compartment. ...I'm... Not actually sure if it's a good thing that I'm remembering things I never actually knew about... Or not. He grabs a piece of black chalk, it almost looks wet or oily. He holds it up in front of him. In the dream the Prince used almost half of it, but the piece he's holding has is brand new, unused. After a moment he looks over to Ricky, looking unsure of himself, and almost a little scared.
[8:17:42 PM | Edited 8:24:24 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He walks away from the pedestal, going up to Lucas. It's scary, I know... but I'm here with you, Vera. I'm not gonna let him hurt you. Remember what happened to Billy when he tried hurting all of us? He reaches into his pocket and takes out a cross made out of some type of metal. It doesn't look elegant or overdesigned but it's big enough to fit in his whole palm. Yeah, I'm ready. He's holding it with his human hand as it would actually burn him if it touched his demon flesh.
[8:24:28 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He smiles at Ricky and then holds the black chalk tightly in his hand. He walks over to the tables, pushing one away, and then pulls up the rug. A huge circle is etched into what looks like obsidian. Lucas kneels down and presses the chalk to the smooth reflective surface and starts dragging it in sweeping circles, drawing purely from memory what he's seen the Prince in his nightmares do dozens, if not hundreds of times. I'm going to get you back, Yuri. The room fills with the faint chemical smell of paints, or something like nail polish, and the lines of black chalk begin to glow up, glowing bright neon-blue as he draws, reflecting in his eyes as he focuses on each motion.