Wicked Siren

"Wicked Siren" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread started on [IRL DATE] and finished on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
[Write a summary of the thread's events here, including spoilers and important plot details. Check the Order of Threads to see if the thread you are placing already has a summary, to make less work for yourself.]
==Full Text==
Two months had passed since the two survivors of the Morning Star had washed up on Haligan’s shores, and yet not much more was known about either of them than was known when they arrived. Meranym, the silver-haired child, had essentially locked herself away from everyone upon hearing of the Captain’s survival. In the few instances she had appeared outside she hid inside her cloak and spoke to no one. To Deoridh, it was clear that the lapses in the girl’s control were getting worse. Objects around the house would shake at odd hours, and strange flashes of light would shine from under her door as the girl whispered and pleaded to herself.
The Captain, on the other hand, had been bedridden since his arrival, unable to speak from his ordeal. He had become a constant fixture in the healer’s hut, and his eyes had opened perhaps twice in the time he had lain there.
His silence, however, was about to break.
Light from the rising sun was just hitting the windows when he woke, and his confusion was immediate. This wasn’t what he expected to wake to - in fact, he had thought he wasn’t going to wake ever again. The room he was in was strange, but judging by the ache in his bones, he had been here for some time.
He swung his legs off of the bed stiffly, and took a few weak steps towards the door. Cor, he was starving. Maybe he could find something to eat outside. With a tremendous amount of effort, he finally made it to the door and opened it. The warm morning sun felt good on his skin, even if the accompanying breeze made his sweat-soaked body shiver. As he walked further away from the house, he ran into a guard, who looked at him with… bewilderment or amusement? His brain couldn’t tell.
“Can ye tell me where I am? I don’t remember how I got here…” The guard nodded. “You’re on Haligan Island, sir - you’ve been unconscious for months. I need to take you to our Cheif - the Lady Grey. She’s been wanting to ask you a few things.”
The Captain paused. “Months? Well… I s’pose it’d be fine… mind if I lean on you? Looks like I lost my sea legs.”
The guard takes one of the Captain’s arms around his shoulders, and begins leading him to a path into the nearby trees. “The Lady Grey is just in here, sir…”
The two men disappeared into the wood. Moments later, a flock of birds flew out of the trees, clearly startled by something. Soon after, the Captain staggered out of the woods - but the guard was nowhere to be seen. As the Captain made his way back to the town square, a loud explosion could be heard coming from Deo’s house.
Jul 30, 2020
Deo sighs as she calmly walks downstairs and knocks on Nym’s door post. “Hey can ah come in?” She asks. Her voice calm and kind.
Jul 30, 2020
The door to Meranym’s room, now blown off its hinges, slams shut on the opposite side of the room. Clearly, Meranym has no idea that the door isn’t where it should be. 
Inside the room, it looks like every piece of furniture was smashed into the wall at once. In the center is Meranym, hunched over and clutching a stick.
Jul 30, 2020
“Ah’ll take that as a yes.” She says as she steps around her and sits in front of her. “What'cha got there?” she asks, gesturing to the stick.
Jul 30, 2020
She instinctively pulls the stick to her chest. “I… I need a focus…” she whispers, her voice hoarse with anxiety.
Jul 30, 2020
“Ye look tired.” She says. “Ye should probably rest.”
Jul 30, 2020
“It’s… It’s too loud… too many people…” Meranym’s eyes shine out from under her hood as they dart around the room, like they can’t keep focus.
Jul 30, 2020
She gently places a hand on her shoulder. “Then let’s go somewhere quiet. We can head out inteh the woods, bring a tent. No one teh bother ye out there. ‘Cept me o’ course.” She chuckles.
Jul 30, 2020
She presses her free hand to one of her ears. “Maybe… maybe…” 
Jul 30, 2020
She nods and stands holding out her hand to her to help her up.
Jul 30, 2020
The girl sniffles as she takes Deo’s hand and stands. Her gaze shifts to the window, and the world waking up just beyond. “Why… why is everyone so loud…”
Jul 30, 2020
She chuckles and smiles as she begins to gather stuff for their trip. It might be a while. “It tends teh happen when ye live in a populated area. Specially at night when all yer thoughts are the only things goin’ on in yer head wit’ dreams. Gotta be Hel fer a psychic.” She says simply, as if she had simply commented on the weather.
Aug 3, 2020
Meronym presses her hand to her ear again. “Hell… yes… monks are quieter…” Her grip on the stick tightens, to the point that the stick snaps in her hand, but she doesn’t relax.
Aug 3, 2020
Deo finishes packing up as Nym breaks her Focus. “Ah’m gonna pick ye up and carry ye, is that alright?” She asks as she stoops down next to the girl.
Aug 3, 2020
“I… I can walk…” she looks just to the right of Deo ,clearly unable to meet her eyes. 
Aug 3, 2020
She nods and smiles. “Alright, let’s get goin’ then.” She says as she stands and holds the door open for the girl.
Aug 3, 2020
Meronym bows her head and slowly shuffles to the door, the stick still clutched in her hands. “Maybe.. maybe it’ll be quieter…”
Aug 3, 2020
She nods and carefully wraps an arm around her in a side hug. “It will be Nym.” They start walking towards the forest and eventually deeper. “Lemme know if et’s gettin’ louder or quieter.” She says.
Aug 3, 2020
At the edge of the forest, she stops and turns sharply, as if hearing something.
Aug 3, 2020
She turns quickly. “Somethin’ wrong hon?” She asked, worried for the girl.
Aug 3, 2020
“I… I thought I heard something…” she turns back slowly and pulls her hood down further. “Just…more noise… more secrets…”
Aug 3, 2020
She nods. “Well let’s get ye somewhere quiet.” She says with a smile as they start trekking into the woods.
Aug 3, 2020
Meronym twitches a little as she follows Deo. Something… wasn’t quite right. A voice didn’t belong…. She shook her head. No… it was too much noise, that was all.
Aug 3, 2020
“How’s the noise love? Louder, quieter, ‘bout the same?” She asks as they continue on deeper into the woods.
Aug 3, 2020
Meronym’s response sounds more like she’s muttering to herself. “I.. I don’t know… better? The same? I don’t know…”
Aug 3, 2020
She nods. “Alright, let’s keep going then.” She says as they head further and further into the woods.
Aug 3, 2020
After about an hour, Meranym slumps againt a tree, a short breath of relief coming from her. Aside from Deo there was… silence. Deafening silence - something she must preferred. As she slowly sinks to the ground, she lets the stick fall from her hands - and it’s now clear that she held it so tightly that her hand was bleeding. 
Aug 3, 2020
“Looks like we’re ‘ere then.” She says before noticing her hand. “Here, lemme take a look at that.” She says as she takes Nym’s hand and pulls some medical supplies from her pack and starts dressing her wound. “Maybe now ye can get some rest, hm?”
Aug 3, 2020
“Thank… thank you…” she murmurs. Her hood begins to slip back as she leans her head back against the tree. As the light catches her face, Deo can see the dark bags under the girl’s eyes, and how hollow her cheeks look.
Aug 3, 2020
She sighs as she sees this. Might have to build a house out here for the two of them. For now though a tent would suffice. As soon as the wound is dressed she goes about setting the tent up and starting a fire.
Aug 3, 2020
Meranym watches Deo quietly for a while, then speaks up as she starts the fire. “How.. how do you control it?”
Aug 3, 2020
“How do ah control what love? Yer gonna ‘ave teh be a wee bit more specific.” She says, moving around some logs around.
Aug 4, 2020
“Your magic...” she looks down at her hands, sniffling softly. “I... I can’t control what I do... not well, at least...”
She hums and sits down across from Nym. "If ah'm honest, practice ah got these powers when ah were 17, died when ah were 32. Good 15 years o' practice. But what's most important is teh not fear yer abilities. Ye have awesome power Meranym, it's a part of ye. No sense bein' afraid o' yerself. But ye have to respect it too." She holds up her hand, a small ball of flame sitting in her palm. "Fire is the best example of this. If ah'm not careful wit' et, if ah just toss 'round willy nilly, ah could set the damn forest on fire, or ah could hurt some one." She closes her hand extinguishing the flame.
Aug 4, 2020
“I’ve... had mine since I was little, but... everyone thought it was just.. just magic. The monks brought a wizard to train me. He gave me a wand to help me focus my magic, but... when I could do little more than this,” She opens her hand, and a small ball of light materializes. “He thought I was just... stupid - unable to actually do magic beyond parlor tricks.” She sighs and lets the light fizzle out. “In a sense, he was right. I... can’t really use magic outside of a few small things. But... he stopped trying to teach me after that. Every lesson was just him berating me. Until one day... I was so angry... I thought about hitting him with everything in the room, and it just... happened. That’s when the docent decided to send me away.” She wraps her arms around her knees and rests her chin on top. 
Aug 4, 2020
She comes over and sits next to Nym, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Hey, yer not stupid. And 'e never should'a treated ye that way. And yer care takers shouldn't'a let him treat ye that way. They all sound like a bunch'a bastards teh me." She chuckles a bit. "If ye want, ah can help teach ye."
Aug 4, 2020
“I... I don’t even know what it is I can do. It’s not magic... and... it’s so... varied. Look...” As she closes her eyes, what’s visible of her tattoos begin to glow, and a wall of clouds suddenly forms around the pair, impossible to see through. After a moment, the clouds begin to dissipate, and a huge, beast-like shadow appears. It takes a few steps towards Deo, and while it certainly looked menacing, its actions were the opposite. As Meranym opens her eyes, it fades away. “I can also do this... when I concentrate hard enough....” She unwraps the hand Deo had just bandaged. Her eyes begin to glow, and the skin mends itself within a few seconds. She leans her head back against the tree, and shuts her eyes. “I...I can even fly... but... that’s when I lose the most control.”
Aug 4, 2020
Deo is blown away by this display of power but she shakes her see and turns to Nym. "Hey, don't matter what it's called. We can still work together teh help ye, if ye want muh help that is."
Aug 4, 2020
“I... wouldn’t object.”
Aug 4, 2020
She nods. "Well then, we can start tomorrow, in the meantime, go get some rest, I'll go get us some food and cook something up fer us Kay?"
Aug 4, 2020
The girl nods and straightens. As Deo moves away, she adopts a meditative posture and closes her eyes.
Aug 4, 2020
She nods and places a kiss on the top of her head before heading out, only returning an hour or two later with a deer. She skins it and butchers it a fair distance from their campsite to keep the smell away before hauling it back to camp and begins cooking it up.
Aug 4, 2020
By the time Deo returns, Meronym is in a deep meditative state, and is floating about six inches off the ground. What’s visible of her tattoos is glowing, and she seems completely oblivious to the world around her.
Aug 4, 2020
Deo let's her rest and continues to cook food for the next few minutes. Even when she's finished she lets her rest for a few minutes more before going over and gently taking her hand. "Nym, food's ready."
Aug 4, 2020
Meranym opens her eyes, the light emanating from the quickly fading as she sinks to the ground.
Aug 4, 2020
Deo smiles as she makes a big plate for Nym. "Sleep well dear?" She asks, bringing it over for her.
Aug 5, 2020
The girl rolls her neck and shifts a bit in her cross-legged sleep. “I was... meditating... I needed to just... center myself again.” She looks down at the plate, then up at Deo. “Thank you.”
Aug 5, 2020
She nods and smiles. "Any time hon." She makes a plate herself and sits next to the girl. "So, we can start trainin' tomorrow, but fer tonight we'll jus' relax. Sound good?" She asks.
Aug 5, 2020
Meranym looks up at the sky quietly. Was it really night already? It seemed like it had barely been morning just a few hours ago... “Right. We... we can do that...” In the back of her mind, she could hear a voice. Come here, little morning star, it crooned. Come and find me...
Aug 5, 2020
Deo obviously doesn't hear this voice. "So ah was thinkin' we could look up at the stars, see if we can see any constellations, or maybe we can sing songs, or share stories or somethin'. Or jus' go teh sleep if yer feelin' it.
Aug 5, 2020
The voice continues. Come and find me, little morning star. Come and find me before I kill someone.... Meranym looks over at Deo. “We... um... constellations are fine...”
Aug 6, 2020
She nods and smiles. "Muh da and ah used teh sit out an' make up our own. I'll see if ah can find 'em tonight." She says as she takes another bite.
Aug 7, 2020
“I.. I was taught about constellations at the monastery - some ancient, some modern. You could say I have an... intimate familiarity with them.” As she speaks, she brings a hand to the back of her neck.
Aug 7, 2020
She grins. "Well, tonight ah'll show ye some Tuathanach constellations." She says as she tosses another log on the fire. "Just gotta wait fer et teh get dark."
Aug 11, 2020
Meranym nods distractedly, the voice in her mind growing stronger. It had to be nearby, but how?
Aug 11, 2020
Deo quirks a brow at Nym. "Ye alright hon? Ye look a wee bit... Distracted?" She says.
Aug 11, 2020
“The... the quiet. I’m not used to it. It’s... loud, I guess.” She pushes her hands through her heavy curls and hangs her head.
Aug 11, 2020
She chuckles. "Aye, et be like that sometimes." The red head says. "Is there anythin' ah can do teh help?" She asks.
Aug 11, 2020
Meranym shakes her head. “I’ve heard the voices since I was a child... I just have to adjust.”
She nods. "Well in the mean time we could play a game or sing songs or tell stories, or something." Deo pauses for a moment. "Or ye could take another nap, looks like ye need et."
Aug 11, 2020
Meranym pauses. “Sleep... sleep isn’t easy for me. I used to be able to put the voices aside so I could sleep, but... sometimes I get visions, and... I don’t know, they haunt me.”
Aug 11, 2020
She shakes her head. "Maybe not, but ye still need teh rest. And ah promise teh be right 'ere if ye need me, alroight?"
Aug 11, 2020
“Right... “ After a few moments, the girl curls up on her side and pulls her hood over her head. She pillows one arm under her head, then wraps her cloak around her shoulders. “I guess there’s no harm in trying...”
Aug 11, 2020
She nods and takes her hand giving it a gentle squeeze as the girl falls asleep.
Aug 11, 2020
While she does eventually fall asleep, the voice plagues her rest. It beckons and taunts, and even threatens her.
When she finally wakes, it is in total darkness, and she is left completely disoriented. Looking up, its clear to her that it’s well past midnight, which is corroborated by Deo softly snoring nearby. She sits up and takes a breath. Nothing was wrong, no one was hurt... everything was fine.
But that voice... it came back.
Good morning, little star, it whispers. It’s time to play. Come and find me, and perhaps I won’t hurt anyone...
As if acting on instinct, Meranym stood and walked into the forest, trying to locate the source of the voice.
Aug 13, 2020
Deo woke up a short while later. It was dark, but two things were certain. The first was that Nym was gone, the second was the sound she heard. At this distance she could barely hear, like a whisper at the edge of hearing, but it was there, and it was coming from the village. She cursed and quickly grabbed her bow and arrows before dashing through the woods towards Haligan.
Aug 13, 2020
As Deo got closer to the village, she could see the flickering of torch lights near the healer’s hut. Several guards were clustered near the hut, their weapons pointed at the door. “We’re going to have to break down the door,” one murmurs.
Aug 13, 2020
"And why, pray tell, are ye be needin' to break down the door?" She asked as she stands at the back of the group, hands on her hips, not looking very impressed.
Aug 13, 2020
“We heard a scream come from the house, but the door is barred. Also... there’s that.”
The guard points to the windows, where a brilliant white light is pouring out.
Aug 13, 2020
Deo sighed as she saw this and begins pushing her way through the crowd. "Right, every get outta 'ere ah'll 'andle this." She walks up to the door and knocks. "Hey Nym! Et's Deo! Can ye let me in!" She calls.
Aug 17, 2020
The door is blown off its hinges, and Deo can see blood splatter on the inside of the door and the room.
Aug 17, 2020
She startles for a moment before taking a deep breath and calmly walking into the building.
Aug 17, 2020
The site inside the house is, in a word, unbelievable. Meranym seems to have pressed herself into a far corner of the room - or as much as she can with the two luminous wings that have appeared behind her. Her tattoos and eyes are glowing, and it looks as though she’s not totally there.
As if the sight of the wings wasn’t enough, the girl is covered in blood. In one hand she clutches a knife, also dripping with blood. Closer to the door, the body of the Captain is grotesquely mutilated, having clearly been stabbed repeatedly.
Aug 17, 2020
"Jesus Christ, whoever that is, what happened kid?" She asked as she takes a seat in the doorway.
Aug 17, 2020
“I had to...” she intones, her voice sounding like millions.
Aug 17, 2020
She nodded but stayed where she was at. "Okay, why?" She asked.
Aug 17, 2020
“I was drawn here... I had to... he...” the light in her eyes begins to flicker, and the wings slowly dissipate as she’s lowered to the ground.
Aug 17, 2020
She awaits for a few moments before asking
"Can I come over there?"
Aug 17, 2020
Meranym blinks and looks around. “Oh... oh goddess... that... that’s the Captain!” She cries.
Aug 17, 2020
"Nym... Do ye remember what happened?" She asked, afraid that she already knew the answer.
Feb 14, 2021
Meranym looks down at her bloody hands and robes, her breathing beginning to quicken. “I… I could hear him… he… he was thinking lies…”
Deo took a deep breath and took a seat on the floor across from Nym, not wanting to startle or scare her. "What sorta lies are ye talkin' about Nym?"
Feb 14, 2021
“Lies... lies... lies about me... I was... drawn to it.” She runs her hands through her hair, inadvertently streaking hair and skin alike with blood. “I... I remember holding the knife above him...” 
Meranym looks Deo in the eye. “I... I think... I think I did this,” she whispers, her eyes full of horror.
Feb 14, 2021
Deo takes a deep breath and sighs. "Ah'm gonna come over there now okay? Ah'm not gonna hurt ye, alright?"
Feb 14, 2021
“B-but... what if I hurt you?”
Feb 14, 2021
"Are ye gonna try teh hurt me?" She asks smiling, trying to calm her.
Feb 14, 2021
“That... that.. that doesn’t...” She looks down at her hands again. “I never try to hurt people... it just happens. Like the Wizard... and the ship... and now this...”
Feb 14, 2021
Deo begins to slowly crawl over to her. "It's okay Nym. Ah promise ah'll be alright."
Feb 14, 2021
Meranym sniffles as Deo sits beside her. “People keep ending up dead.. around me....”
Feb 14, 2021
Deo wraps her arm around the younger girl and pulls her closer. "It's gonna be okay Nym." She said, as she kissed the top of her head. Part that wasn't stained with blood.
Feb 14, 2021
Deo’s attempts at comforting are interrupted by a furious banging on the door, which immediately causes Meronym to put her hands up defensively.
“What’s going on in there?! Come out!”
Feb 14, 2021
Deo gently took her hand and put it down. "It's okay Nym, ah'm right 'ere." She said, her voice calm and soothing. "Come in." She said to the guards.
Feb 14, 2021
Several guards enter the room, spears at the ready. Two of them visibly pale at the carnage, while the one in front charges over to Deo. “Is this the person responsible for this?”
Feb 14, 2021
The Chief, her husband, and her mother all raced to the healer’s hut. Being woken up in the middle of the night was not what Grey expected after the Rebellion moved to the Jaw, and the idea of the island being quiet was wishful thinking for sure. Nevertheless, she ran as fast as she could as soon as the guards banged on her door waking her, Brandt, and the kids up. 
Shadow stayed behind with Sven, Dagny, and Kari as she and Brandt threw on their robes over their pajamas and ran out telling the guards to get Ingrid. Ingrid ran along with them to the healer’s hut, and sure enough, they found a crowd outside the hut. The Chief, the second-in-command, and the healer all pushed through the crowd as the villagers allowed them to pass. 
Soon enough, they found...Meranym, Deoiridh, and the guards...along with the Captain...from the ship Meranym was on...dead. 
“What’s going on in here?” Grey asked with a raised eyebrow. 
Feb 14, 2021
"Stay right here alright? Everythin's gonna be okay." She stood up, releasing the psychic and started walking towards Grey. "None of ye touch her or ah'll scorch ye alive." She said menacingly as a blue ball of flame sat in the palm of her hand surprisingly enough. Blue flame was something Greg had never accomplished in his life. The red-head ignored it for now and walked over to Grey and began to whisper, sighing as she does so.
"She says she killed 'im, but ah don't think she's in 'er roight mind, and ah think puttin' her in jail'l jus' make 'er worse." She explained.
Feb 14, 2021
One of the pale guards looks up from the body. “Chief...” he pauses, as if trying not to vomit at the sight. “She’s clearly a danger to the village. As far as we know, this man has been unconscious for nearly two months, and now she has confessed to killing him...”
Feb 14, 2021
Grey stared at the guard and then at Meranym behind Deoiridh. She remembered the captain’s logs...how the captain expressed quite a dislike for the girl, and things had certainly turned for the stranger ever since she arrived. If she had just confessed to murdering the captain...the guard was right. She would need to be punished. However, she looked back at her husband, who shared the same look as her. This girl was still the same age as Sven, Dagny, and Kari, and they needed to go easy on her but couldn’t let this go unignored. 
The Chief sighed and looked to Deoiridh. “Deo, I’m sorry,” she said. “If she did just confess, then...I will need to bring her in for questioning. Just give me and Brandt a few moments alone with her.” 
Feb 15, 2021
"Ah'm not askin' that she be left off the hook, ah'm askin' that ye remand her teh muh custody. And if it's all the same teh ye, ah'd prefer teh be there when ye talk teh her. She trusts me more'an anyone 'ere." She crossed her arms as she spoke, her voice protective. Clearly this was not something she was budging on.
Feb 15, 2021
The Chief sighed in absolute frustration. Deoiridh was being so stubborn whenever it came to this girl, and if she had read the logs, she would surely understand. However, maybe...if Deoiridh was there...maybe Meranym would remain calm. It usually wasn’t done unless the suspect was not of sound mind or body, so there was no law against it. 
“We can let her sit in, Grey,” Brandt said gently. 
Grey sighed. “Fine,” she said, “but you must not interfere unless she or I ask you to.”
Feb 15, 2021
Deo nodded curtly before going back to the young girl and offers her a hand. "The chief and her husband are gonna ask you some questions okay?"
Feb 15, 2021
Meranym’s fear-filled eyes bore into Grey as she gleans her thoughts. She swallows hard before nodding, the dread in her heart growing to hellish proportions.
Feb 15, 2021
Deo smiled and gently pulled her to her feet. "Ah don't worry, grey's an old softie. Plus she were me sister in a past life. She ain't gonna hurt ye."
Grey nodded to Meranym. “We just want to know what happened,” she said gently, “and it would be better without a scene. We’ll go to the Great Hall and talk there.”
Feb 15, 2021
Meranym pulls her hood up to hide her face - not that it does anything to change her bloodied appearance. A guard steps forward with a pair of binders, and gestures for Meranym to put her hands out.
Feb 15, 2021
Deo puts a hand on the manacles and gently pushes them back towards the guard. “Those won’t be necessary.” She says firmly. “We’re jus’ goin teh have a chat. Aye chief?”
Feb 15, 2021
The Chief sighed and clenched her fists at her sides. This was getting harder and harder by the minute. However, Meranym hadn’t been proven guilty yet…so…she didn’t see any cuffs. 
“For the time being,” Grey said firmly, “but if she becomes a threat or proven guilty, she will need to be restrained.”
Feb 15, 2021
Meranym shivers under her hood, her eyes fixed on the manacles. Her fingers twitch a little at her sides, and a few objects around the room begin to shake and clatter. She takes a deep breath and clasps her hands together tightly. “I… I… I… we… you… we should go…”
Feb 15, 2021
Deo wraps an arm around her shoulders and squeezes her comfortingly. “It’s okay, ah’m right ‘ere.”
Feb 15, 2021
Despite her best efforts to remain calm, Meranym was turning everything over and over inside. She couldn’t have killed him… but she had to have killed him… Her memory had gaps. But… that wasn’t uncommon, not when she lost herself to her angelic side. But this seemed… intentional. The last time she’d killed someone… it had been an accident. You’re dangerous, little morning star, the insidious voice mused. Such fear, such desperation… I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a deliciously deranged killing…
Feb 15, 2021
“Mom, stay with the guards,” Grey said placing a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “See what you can gather from the body.” 
“Of course, dear,” Ingrid replied, “but,” she whispered in her daughter’s ear, “do go easy on her. She is just a child.”
Grey nodded. “I’ll do what I can,” she said. “Deo, Meranym, come with me and Brandt.”
The Chief and her husband proceeded to lead them to the Great Hall.
Feb 15, 2021
Deo kept an arm wrapped around Nym as they followed Grey to the Great Hall. If things turned south and there was a way for her to turn aside disaster she would do it.
Feb 15, 2021
A few more guards join them as the move tot he Great Hall, and Meranym retreats further and further into her own head.
Oh, my sweet summer child… the voice teased. You aren’t safe in your mind. Haven’t you learned this? I will always be here…
Meranym shivers in response and begins tapping her fingers on her leg.
Feb 15, 2021
Deo notices her shiver and looks down at her. “What’s the matter hon? Cold?” She asked. The red-head’s hands began to glow dully and as she slowly ran them up and down her back warmth began to spread through her body.
Feb 15, 2021
“N-no.” She shies away from the warmth - she could feel a burning sensation on her shoulder blades, and she didn’t want more of that. “I… I should be locked up…”
Feb 15, 2021
As they walked into the Great Hall, Grey tried to listen in on the conversation between her brother’s reincarnation and the young girl trying to figure out how things were going to play out. Meranym seemed like she expected this to happen…or at least knew what happened, but did that make her guilty of murder? Nevertheless, she and Brandt sat down at the table, and she gestured for Deoiridh and Meranym to do the same. 
“Please, have a seat,” Grey said gently gesturing to the chairs across from her and Brandt. 
Feb 15, 2021
As Meranym and Deo sit down, the voice persists.
Come on, little star… you know how this will play out. After all… you remember killing him, I saw you kill him… and it isn’t your first time committing murder - or have you forgotten poor Master Tontos? I’m sure the monks haven’t forgotten… Meranym’s eyes dart around the room. The voice seemed closer than it ever had before, but… no one she saw seemed to match the voice. The tapping on her leg increased in frequency, and she forced herself to take deep - if uneven - breaths.
Feb 15, 2021
Deo looked at the girl nervously. Not for herself or anyone else, but for Nym. She seemed really distressed for some reason. “Nym, what’s wrong? What’s goin’ on? C'mon ye can talk teh me, ah’m here fer ye.”
Feb 15, 2021
The look she gives Deo - while a touch distracted - looked like any look you’d get from a teenager after asking them a question with an obvious answer. She had apparently killed someone, the entire village had seen her covered in her victim’s blood, and now she was on trial. What was wrong, at least on the surface, seemed pretty obvious.
Feb 15, 2021
“This is not a trial, Meranym,” Grey said gently with a small smile. “Brandt and I…we just…want to go over what happened. It’s a questioning. I only ask that you tell the truth and explain what happened, and if this needs to go to trial, we will do that.”
Feb 15, 2021
“Just.. just-just ask…” she murmurs. The voice continues its verbal assault internally, and her brows come together as she tries to focus.
Feb 15, 2021
Grey and Brandt looked at Meranym and then at each other before looking at the girl again. 
“Tell us what happened, Meranym,” Brandt asked aloud. “How did the captain die?”
Feb 15, 2021
“I... I had the knife...the knife... the knife, in my hand... and I was... standing above him..”
Come now, revel in the glorious detail, little angel. Tell them of the warmth, of the thrill, of the urgency...
Meranym twitches and fidgets as her hands tap against the bench. “N-no! He... he... he was telling lies.. lies... lies! I couldn’t let him!”
Deo's frown deepened and she gently placed a hand on her shoulder in an effort to be comforting. "Lies about what?" She asked softly.
Feb 15, 2021
Grey and Brandt simply waited for Meranym to explain further. 
“Go on,” Grey gently urged.”
Feb 15, 2021
Meranym froze. How could she explain that?
Tell them. Tell them how you heard the captain’s lying thoughts... though he wasn’t lying, was he? The ship sank because of you, little star. You can’t deny it...
Her hands go to her temple. “N-no... he... he was lying... I... I didn’t.. I didn’t sink the ship... that was... lies! Lies! All lies! I couldn’t let... I couldn’t let him tell you... he was looking for you... no... no, no, no!”
Feb 15, 2021
“Okay, okay,” Grey said holding her hands up to calm the girl down, “calm down. Slow down. You’re bouncing all over the place. You said he was looking for me...and that he was telling lies. What lies?”
Feb 15, 2021
The girl shakes her head vigorously, her lips sealed shut. A light glow emanated from under her hood.
You can’t fight it, little one... you hurt people. Perhaps you should give in... come along, now...
As she tried her best to suppress the inner conflict, one of the guards - just out of everyone else’s eyeline - cocked his head and gave her a sickening smile.
Hello, little morning star. 
Feb 16, 2021
Deo gently took her hands. "Meranym look at me." She said calmly. "Yer okay. Take deep breaths. It's alright, everything is going to be alright." She said. She needed to calm her down as quickly as possible.
Feb 16, 2021
“Meranym,” Grey said leaning over the table, “please calm down, We just want to know what happened. Slow down and tell us the truth. We can’t help you if you won’t tell us.”
Feb 16, 2021
You can’t escape me, little star - I’m everywhere. I saw you kill him. I saw you sink the ship. I know you killed the wizard. You’re a killer.
The glowing intensifies, and she yanks her hands away from Deo so she can fidget with her rings. She continues to shake her head, but the barrage continues.
Killer. Abomination. Assaulter. Child. Coward. Denier. You did it. You killed him. And now you can’t take it...
“N-no...”
You know they’ll treat you differently. You’ll be a monster. They’ll lock you away.
“S-st... stop... stop-stop...”
Don’t deny me, girl - DON’T DENY WHAT YOU ARE!
Various pieces of furniture begin to shake, and Meranym makes a few noises of distress. Any attempts from the adults in the room to calm her fall on deaf ears, and she gasps.
MURDERER! JUST ADMIT IT! YOU KILLED HIM. YOU KILLED HIM. YOU. KILLED. HIM. YOU KILLED - 
“I- I KILLED HIM!” she shrieks. With the confession, the floodgates on her emotions open, and it sends a shockwave through the room. People and furniture go flying, and Meranym doubles over.
As the dust settles, Deo can feel a light wind picking up. Based on what she saw in the healer’s hut... she might be able to guess what’s coming...
Feb 16, 2021
"Everybody get down!" Deo yelled as she threw herself at Meranym, wanting to get to the eye of the storm before it became impossible to do so.
Feb 16, 2021
Clearly knowing exactly what Deo was planning, Meranym straightens and calmly steps to one side. With a casual swat, Deo slides away from her intended target. Two wings of pure light sprout from her back, and Meranym seems to effortlessly lift off the ground. The wind picks up and surrounds the enthralled girl, acting as a sort of barrier between her and the rest of the room. 
Meranym speaks, and as before, the sound is more like a million voices speaking in a monotonic unison, in hundreds of languages - yet perfectly clear:
“The Captain had awoken. He was going to tell people his truth - that I caused the Morning Star to sink. I heard his thoughts. I went to find him. I went to stop him. A knife was in my hands. Then it was in his chest. His blood is on my hands.”
Feb 16, 2021
The Chief and her husband stared at the girl in absolute shock, and after sneaking a look at each other, since Meranym just essentially confessed, they decided to try to get more information. With that, Grey leaned forward to speak to her. 
“I read his logs from the Morning Star,” Grey said. “The captain had something against you. Could that have played a role in him believing you sunk the ship?”
Feb 16, 2021
Meranym turns to Grey, her impassive expression vaguely disturbing as she speaks.
“The man prided himself on living a normal life - a life interrupted by my existence. His men were equally disturbed by me. They often dreamed of burning me at the stake as a witch, or throwing me overboard. How could they not? They could feel me in their minds like some unwanted parasite.”
As she continues, Grey can hear the words in her mind, as if Meronym was trying to prove a point.
“I knew a storm was coming that day. I warned him. He did not believe me. They never stood a chance.” 
A strange sound comes from the girl as she finishes, almost akin to a bitter laugh.
Feb 16, 2021
Deo stands up and brushes herself off. Other than a bit frustrated at her ineffectiveness she seemed fine, unafraid of what stood before her. "What is this, what's happenin' roight now? Are you Nym?"
Feb 16, 2021
“I am as much Meronym Morgenstern as you are the reincarnation of Greg Ericson. We are two parts of the whole. I have merely tapped into my full potential.”
Feb 16, 2021
She hums at that. "So... Ye say the knife were in yer hands 'n then in 'is chest, but ye don't remember the in between?" She asks.
Feb 16, 2021
“I was losing control; fighting to keep myself from becoming this,” she gestures to herself. “I do not remember what happens in this state. But I vaguely recall pulling the knife from his chest.”
It isn’t lost on anyone that, as this has been going on, the vortex surrounding the girl has been picking up various loose items, and that the vortex itself has begun to grow.
Feb 16, 2021
Deo raised a hand up over her face as the vortex began to swell. She starts to walk forward, fighting against the swirling winds. "Nym, ah'm gonna come over to ye now. Ye know ah don't mean ye any harm."
“Deo, stay back!” Grey said standing up from her seat watching the scene unfold before her as Brandt stood defensively in front of her watching Meranym closely. “Meranym! I order you to stop this at once! We just want to talk! You have nothing to be afraid of! Please…before someone else gets hurt!”
Feb 16, 2021
“Shut the feck up!” She called to Grey. “She clearly cannae control it! Orderin’ ‘er teh stop ain’t gonna get ‘er teh stop.” She continued to make her way towards the girl.
Feb 17, 2021
Meranym glances in Deo’s direction, and the woman immediately slides into the wall and is pinned there. Blood slowly begins to drip from the girl’s nose as she looks back at Grey. She cocks her head to one side. “There is always something to be afraid of… you of all people know that, Lady Grey.”
The guard from earlier whips his head up in response. This cover was blown, and he needed to leave before the child revealed more. He struggles to his feat, and yells as loud as he can over the winds. “Chief! I’m going to go get help!”
With that, the guard runs out of the hall and disappears.
Feb 17, 2021
“Lady Grey…?” Brandt whispered to Grey as his wife looked at the girl in confusion. Neither of them remembered telling Meranym Grey’s former title from her rebellion days. Usually, Grey’s former comrades tended to slip back to that title, but usually people who came to know her after her Rebellion days referred to her as Chief. 
The Chief barely paid attention to the guard or to Deoiridh cursing at her for giving the girl an order. 
“What does that mean?” Grey shouted up to Meranym. She didn’t want to ask too many questions at once. She had to approach this carefully. 
Feb 17, 2021
For a second, the calm demeanor breaks, and the girl presses her hands to her ears. “I… I-I can hear everyone. E-everyone is afraid of something or another, and it’s so… so… so loud…” 
She pulls her hands away from her ears, stopping short of wrapping them around her torso when she notices the blood on her palms. her expression changes, as if she were once again fighting for control, and losing. The calm returns again, made more disturbing by the dark blood against her illuminated skin.
“You’re afraid of me right now. The captain was afraid of me. Everyone is afraid of something. You were wrong.”
With that, the wings and the glow suddenly disappear. The wind stops, and everything drops to the floor, including Meranym.
Feb 17, 2021
Deo quickly rushes over and slides next to her. She quickly checks her over before lifting her head into her lap, looking over at Grey to see if she was ok.
Feb 17, 2021
As soon as things…seemed to calm down, Grey and Brandt slowly walked over to Deoiridh and Meranym, and the Chief eyed the unconscious girl in Deoiridh’s arms. She sighed and shook her head. This young girl had just confessed to murdering a man…and while it seems like there were other matters at hand that played into this, she admitted it…to her, Brandt, and practically everyone in the Great Hall. 
“Are you okay, Deoiridh?” she asked. 
Feb 17, 2021
She nods. “Ah’m fine. Seems like Nym is too. How bout you? You guys doin’ alright?” She asked.
Feb 17, 2021
Yes, aside from the bloody nose and the blood coming from her ears, the unconscious Meronym seemed fine. Whatever power she had tapped into… it looked like it took a huge toll on her physically. 
Feb 18, 2021
“We’re fine, but…” Grey looked at the girl in Deoiridh’s arms again, “Deo…we…uhh…she did just confess…”
Feb 18, 2021
Deo scowls at that. “Were ye even listenin’? She said she remembered the knife in her hands ‘n then the knife in ‘is chest. She’s makin’ logical leaps but that ain’t a confession cuz she can’t remember stabbin’ ‘im.”
Feb 18, 2021
“Deoiridh, she literally just said, ‘I killed him,’” Grey said with a stern look. “Whether she remembers it or not, the knife was in her hand, and she was found at the scene. Until I can prove otherwise, I have to take her confession and arrest her.”
Feb 18, 2021
“Okay let’s look at it like this.” A knife suddenly appears in her hand. “Knife in me hand.” The knife suddenly disappeared from her hand and reappeared in Grey chest, but no pain or even discomfort came with it. “Now it’s in yer chest. Did ah stab ye? No.” She shakes her head in frustration. “Somethin’ weird’s goin’ on chief. Ye half teh listen to me.” She said as the knife disappeared.
Feb 18, 2021
Grey was about to retort when Brandt placed a hand on her shoulder. “Just hear her out,” Brandt said gently. “I know it looks bad for Meranym, but Deoiridh may be onto something. What if it was Sven, Dagny, or Kari in her position?”
The Chief sighed and crossed her arms knowing that her husband was in fact right. There was definitely something very strange, and she had a whole island to protect, especially after this Captain…and Darien. “Okay, Deo,” she said calmly. “What do you think is going on here?”
Feb 18, 2021
She shakes her head. “Ah don’t know. But ah don’t believe she’d just kill outta the blue fer no reason. And ah don’t thin she’d do it wit’ a knife neither.”
Feb 18, 2021
Grey sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as Brandt closed his eyes and lightly groaned. 
“Deoiridh…that’s not enough to prove that she’s innocent,” Grey said with a glare. “Unless you were there when it happened…or you know someone who witnessed it…or you have some evidence to prove Meranym innocent…” she sighed, “I…I have to arrest her. She will be held in the prison, and we will give her a trial in two days. You can visit her anytime you’d like.”
Feb 18, 2021
A guard comes forward with a pair of manacles, and Meranym begins to stir in Deo’s arms. The guard hesitates and looks to Grey for direction.
"Prison ain't gonna help her Grey. She's been goin' nuts in the village. She 'ears everyone's thoughts and it keeps 'er up at night, not teh mentioned she can't control 'er powers really. Ye cut her like this not only will it make 'er worse it'll make 'er dangerous. And none of us will be able teh stop 'er. The bastard monks tried teh isolate 'er and it didn't help her. Ah dunno if she can do that again. Please don't do this." She begged as she stood, lifting Nym with her and taking a few steps back from the guard
Feb 18, 2021
Grey felt her heart break seeing her brother’s reincarnation practically beg her to not put her in prison. She hated the idea of placing this young girl in prison and disappointing Deoiridh. She could only sigh as she signaled for the guard to wait. 
“What do you propose, Deo?” Grey asked. “I can’t just let her roam around freely. She needs to be put in place until her trial.”
Feb 18, 2021
"Remand her teh my custody. Put me in charge o' her. I took her out inteh the woods tehday teh get her away from people so ah could start helpin' her control her powers. Ah think this is what she needs more 'an anythin', please."
Feb 18, 2021
Brandt and Grey sighed together. This was just getting worse and worse by the minute. 
Grey knew that Deoiridh had been keeping Meranym close by and trying to help her, and she knew she could trust Meranym in Deoiridh’s care. Perhaps...she could place Meranym in Deoiridh’s custody until the trial. She sighed. 
“Very well, Deo,” she explained. “She will be placed into your custody...until the trial, BUT...she doesn’t leave this island for any reason. And she is not to leave your sight, and if she is caught in other crime, she will be severely punished.”
Feb 18, 2021
Still going on with the fecking trial. She sighed and grit her teeth. "Aye." With that she began walking back to their campsite without another word.
Feb 18, 2021
“Deo,” Grey said, “if you can prove she’s innocent, then...by all means, I’ll be willing to listen and look into it. Please...trust me. I have to do my job.”
Feb 19, 2021
“Then do yer fecking job chief!” She called as she exited the Great Hall, slamming the door shut behind the two of them.
Feb 19, 2021
The Chief sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose feeling another head ache coming on. 
“You did the right thing,” Brandt said wrapping an arm around his wife, “and Deoiridh needs to understand that. She is trustworthy, and I mean she’s Greg’s reincarnation.”
“I know, but...you saw how upset she was,” Grey said leaning her head on Brandt’s shoulder. “If Greg were here...both of you would’ve backed me up. I can’t just let her roam free...not after that.”
“I know,” Brandt said. “Hopefully, we can prove she’s innocent, and if not, then we will deal with it according to the Law.”