Monsterhearts:So Easily Manipulated

Tuesday August 19th, 10:20 PM
Wildomar, Chris's House
**Chris, Liam, and Orion and walking from the garrage and up the stairs. The night outside is cold and it's still raining pretty heavily and they can hear the rain falling against the windows as they walk up into the back hall. As they walk into the huge foyer, the house is dark, none of the lights seem to be on and the storm blocks out the usual moon and starlight.**

**Orion**: **He looks around the foyer for a moment, then folds his jacket over his arm, it's soaked from holding it over his head when they ran out to the car a few minutes ago. He looks to Chris, and as he does there's a flash of lightning that illuminates them for a split-second.** Natalya was in a poor mood this morning before she left. Asking for help from her could be... Well I don't think I have to tell you. **He shakes his head.**

**Chris**: **He runs his hand through his hair again, having already shaken off most of the rain when they were in the garage.** It's an emergency, so I have to try... **He walks, hunched slightly from his back still hurting.**

**Liam**: **He's trailing behind Chris and Orion quietly. He's becoming emotionally withdrawn, and despite the fact that he should be home by now, he doesn't care or say anything. The situation is so serious and troublesome that he feels like future consequences simply don't need to be thought of for now.**

**Orion**: **He shakes his head as he starts walking towards the ballroom.** Good luck, Chris. **He says it in a way that seems almost like a goodbye, and it's followed by an ominous roar of thunder. He turns and heads into the ballroom and to the guest rooms, dissapearing into the darkness of the house.**

**Chris**: **He bites the inside of his lip and looks around the dark interior of his house, which always seems foreboding. After a moment he turns to look at Liam.** I don't have to tell you to keep your mouth shut, do I?

**Liam**: **He shakes his head, but after a second he realizes that Chris might not be able to see him in the darkness.** I'll stay quiet...

**Chris**: Good. **He turns away from Liam and walks towards the steps, waiting for his mother to appear from the darkness as she has the last few nights.**

**As if on cue, there's a flash of lightning, and Chris can see his mother's slender figure standing atop the stairs, silhouetted against the light for moment. Though her form is hidden by darkness again, her strange chartreuse eyes gleam in the dark down at Chris and Liam.**

**Chris**: Mother... **He takes a deep breath and drums up his already fading confidence.** Something has happened, I need your help. **He takes a step forward, to the foot of the stairs.**

**Natalya**: **Her eyes sway in the dark and she moves forwards down the steps.** I told you not to contest a wielder of demonic power, yet you have learned *nothing*. **Her soft voice deep has burning dread to it and it makes the pit of Chris and Liam's stomachs churn, and their throats to ache and tighten up. As she stresses the word "nothing", their injuries from the fight with Shane suddenly ache sharply for a moment, like her voice carries a physical weight to it.**

**Chris and Liam gain the conditions** **Terrified** **and** **Snake Food**

**Chris**: **He gulps down the pain in his throat.** It wasn't... Intentional... Mother... We were attacked... That's...What I need help with, actually. **He keeps his eyes downward, make sure they don't meet his mother's paralyzing gaze.** ...My friend... Was possessed... You said you've slain demons before... Could you help save him?

**Natalya**: **There's a long quiet pause, interrupted only momentarily by a far off thunder.** ...What care would I have for the life a single human? Thousands die each day, yet you think one grand enough for my attention? **There's a hissing at the end of her statement that echoes through the darkness.**

**Chris**: **Her cold comment makes him angry, marking Shane up to nothing more than a statistic.** He's been through the last few days with me. He *saved my life*.

**Natalya**: **She lets out a warped sigh that echoes through the house.** I've no care for a boy, and your action these passed days have made it apparent that you are a failure. *Incapable* of self-sufficiency and survival, a young mind mired by self-sacrifice and arrogance.

**Taylor**: **Rolling to** **Hold Steady** **4 + 6** **+ 2 Cold** **- 2 Conditions -1 Disadvantage** **is 9. Choosing for Chris to keep his cool.**

**Chris**: **He looks back and forth at the ground a few times, after a moment his skin wells up with scales and his face shifts to its reptillian appearance.** I'm still learning how all of this works! **He looks up at his mother, meeting her terrifying gaze. Though he tenses up and does his best to glare right back at her, with a snake's eyes, though his stare is still meek compared to hers.** There's a demon wearing my friend's skin, running through the night, causing any imaginable trouble to anyone he runs into, and you're just going to *let it happen*?

**Natalya**: **She takes another steps down the stairs.** The demon with burn through its host in less than a week's time, and then the host will die. This is a temporary problem with its own solution.

**Chris**: This problem wants to *kill* me! **He tries to stay confident under her debilitating gaze.**

**Natalya**: If the weak spawn inside a withering boy is sufficient to kill you, then my high expectations of you will be fully vanquished. **Her eyes sway again in the darkness as she descends another step towards Chris.** What need of I, of a boy so weak that he can't even save himself from a preening pigeon?

**Chris**: **His resolve weakens, her words hitting him hard. He stares up at her in silence for a few minutes before he finally blurts out at her.** Then make it a challenge!

**Natalya**: **She pauses as she begins to descend the next step, and then tilts her head.** ...A challenge...

**Chris**: A challenge, that I stop the demon, save my friend, and if I succeed I will have proven myself to you! **He gulps down the soreness in his throat.** Please... I just need to know what to do...

**Natalya**: **She finally looks from Chris, breaking her paralytic gaze. Her eyes settle on Liam.** Your demon has put my son through a great deal of strife.

**Liam**: **His eyes go wide and he trembles as she looks at him.** I-I... I'm sorry... I... Didn't know it... He... I didn't know it was a demon... **He shivers a little, staring into her glowing eyes.**

**Chris**: **He lets out a quiet gasp as she looks away from her and slumps down, tired and sore from standing up straight.**

**Natalya**: **A hissing echoes through the darkness around Liam.** Many times had I heard that the western coast of the Americas was lawless and wild, but to see a covenless little witch before my own eyes, unable to keep even a meager demon spawn under his sway... **She looks away from Liam and seems to quickly glide down the stairs and to the left, towards the ballroom.**

**Illiadius**: **Rolling for Liam to** **Hold Steady** **5 + 6** **- 1** **-2 Conditions -1 Disadvantage** **is 7. Choosing for Liam to** **Keep His Cool**

**Liam**: **He blinks a few times and slumps down, after a moment he catches what Natalya said. He looks to her as moves through the darkness, hesitating before he asks.** ...W-witch?

**Natalya**: **She stops and turns to look at Liam, a flicking flash of white lightning illuminating the foyer. Trailing behind her Chris and Liam can see her long dress, which seems to serpentine up the stairs, and glimmer silken green in the flash of light in a pattern of sharp diamond shapes.** ...Then you know not what your nature is? **There's another flash of lightning that illuminates her face, her emotionless and blank expression peering out at Liam. Her green eyes look to Chris for a moment, then she turns away.** Follow.

**Chris**: **He looks at Liam for a moment and then follows after his mother.**

**Liam**: **He follows after Natalya, staying behind Chris, he quietly contemplates what she means by him being a "witch".**

**Natalya**: **She leads them into the center of the ballroom and then stops. They can barely see her in the darkness.** Never have I required the rites of exorcism to be performed. Many times have I ended a possession, but never in a way that would result in the outcome you seek. **She continues to stare at the floor as she speaks, but it's obvious she's speaking to Liam anyway.** ...What is it you used to summon forth this demon?

**Liam**: **He hunches down slightly, looking at the floor.** I-uhh... I found a book, it might have lead me to him...

**Natalya**: Bring me this book, tonight. Do that and I will contemplate this challenge. **She continues to look at the floor, which suddenly flares bright with green and yellow sparks, a yellow runic symbol suddenly glows outwards from her, a runic icon set against a deeper green diamond shaped symbol.** ...Go. Now. Any delay and I will not agree to this trial.

**Chris**: **He looks at Liam and turns, grabbing Liam by the upper arm and pulling him with him, practically dragging him as he breaks into a run back into the foyer.**

***About ten minutes later...***

**Chris and Liam are in Chris's car, driving through the night towards Liam's house. The rain has let up a little, but there's still lightning and thunder in the distance. They're about half a mile from Liam's house, out in the wilderness of the hills where there's little lights and the roads are unpaved.**

**Chris**: **He's driving very fast, despite the weather. Most of the ride he's been quiet, however, as they're nearing Liam's house he breaks the silence.** You're sure where the book is?

**Liam**: **He's looking out the window into the darkness.** Yes. **He says it in aggravation.** ...I hid it in my closet...

**Chris**: **He nods and steps on the gas.** Good.

**As Chris steps on the gas and speeds down the dirt road leading back to Liam's house, the car's lights suddenly illuminate Shane as he hobbles into the road in front of Chris's car.**

**Chris**: **His eyes go wide and he immediately slams on the break and turns the wheel to the right to swerve out of the way.**

**The car slides off of the road and down into a pool of water, careening through it as a wave of mud washes over the windshield. The car continues sliding until it slams into a bank of mud and sand. The airbags suddenly explode out from the front of the car and slam Chris and Liam into the backs of their chairs.**

**Chris**: **He groans for a moment, stunned by the crash and the airbag hitting him in the face. After a short moment he transforms into his serpentine form and buries his claws into the airbag to bust it. He immediately gets out of the car, remember why he swerved in the first place, quickly returning to human appearance.** Shane!? **He looks around the darkness, he winces, and grabs at his back.** ...Shane? **He keeps his eyes on the darkness, unsure of what just happened.**

**Avarada**: **His voice rings monotone through Liam's head as the airbag deflates.** *You think that just because I am off hobbling through the night in your boyfriend's body, that you are free from my influence? There's a great deal of pain coming your way Liam, and you will break beneath the weight of your own sins before the end.* **His warped voice changes, sounding like Shane's** *And you better hurry if you want to get to that book before I do...*

**Liam**: **His eyes go wide and he moves, wincing against his still-wounded shoulder, as he leans over the center divide of the car and calls out into the rain.** CHRIS! Get in the car!

**Chris**: What?! **He walks up next to the open door and bends down, looking at Liam.**

**Liam**: The demon knows we're after the book! It's gonna try and get to it before us! **He leans back in his seat.**

**Chris**: Shit- **He jumps into the car and slams the door. He shifts the car into reverse and steps in the gas, easing onto it slowly so that the wheels can catch.** Did you see him?

**Liam**: I *heard* him, in my head I think. He was... Taunting me... **He's looking out into the darkness, like he's afraid that Shane is nearby.**

**Chris**: **He revs the engine and shifts to a higher gear, then steps on the gas.** He said he was after the book? **He turns and looks back as he continues to step on the gas.**

**The car continues to go nowhere, the back wheels sliding in the pool of water and mud.**

**Liam**: Yes... **He furrows his brow as his eyes dart around.** ...Are we stuck? **He turns and looks at Chris.**

**Chris**: Fuck! **He slams his fists on the steering wheel.** FUCK! **He's breathing heavily as he rubs his shoulder and then shakes his head.** Alright. This is a stupid fucking idea, but we don't have a choice. **He looks at Liam.** You *need* to run home and get that book. *Now*. I'm going to stay here and try to get the car out of this fucking mud. **He shifts back to park and pops the trunk before getting out of the car.**

**Liam**: **He looks out into the darkness beyond the window.** ...What?

**Chris**: **He turns and bends down, looking into the car.** LIAM! GET OUT OF THE CAR AND GO GET THE FUCKING BOOK! **He runs around to the back of the car and opens the trunk, pulling out a jack and a large wrench.**

**Liam**: **He looks out into the darkness again, then opens the door and runs through the mud, out onto the road. He breaks into as fast a run he can muster, setting off towards a few small lights in the distance that he knows are his house.**

**Liam runs down the road and reaches his house, without incident. The lights in his house are on, and it sounds like somone is watching TV inside, likely his dad.**

**Liam**: **He hears the TV and not wanting to deal with his parents he walks around the back side of the house. He steps up onto one of the old rotted tires of the "mobile" home, and slowly pushes the window to his room open, as he's done numerous times in the past to seek in and out of his house. He climbs through the windows and falls onto his bed. He waits for a moment, making sure that no one heard him. After a moment he quickly, but quietly moves over to he closet and slides the door open.**

**Avarada**: **She he reaches to slide the door open a shadowy version of him stares back with golden eyes and smoke tumbling upwards from the top half of his head.** *What are you going to do with the book Liam? You do not think you can still save your friend, do you? His soul is like a three-course meal, and each moment that goes by I take another bite. The book will not help you.*

**Liam**: **He recoils away from the mirror. After a moment his expression turns angry.** You're not even here are you? You're just talk, and I'm not going to listen to your lies *anymore*.

**Avarada**: *I am everywhere you are Liam. **The mirror ripples and vibrates, the suddenly shatters and bursts outwards at Liam.***

**Liam**: **He reflexively shuts his eyes and turns, pulling his jacket up to shield him from the shards.**

**Most of the glass bounces off of him harmlessly, however one large jagged piece stabs into his back shallowly, and another glances off of the back of his head, cutting him just behind his ear. Liam takes** **1 Harm**

**Liam**: Ah! **He grabs the back of his head and turns to his closet, the pain is quickly replaced by rage and he grabs the closet door and flings it open in irritation.**

**The house creeks slightly, and Liam can hear someone getting up and walking towards his room.**

**Liam**: **He suddenly realizes that one of his parents have heard him and he quickens his search through his closet, ignoring the broken glass on the floor and all over his jacket. He pulls out a few shoeboxes and throws some of his old clothes out, along with his old backpack. After a moment he sees what he was looking for, the small old journal. He whispers to himself.** Got it!

**Otis**: **His father's voice can be heard from behind the door as he moves towards Liam's room.** The hell was that!? Was that you Liam?! Is that you?! You better *get your ass out here*! **He knocks on the door several times.** Liam!

**Liam**: **He bundles up the book in an old jacket and then runs back onto his bed, crawling through the open window. He drops down into the mud and runs away before his father can stop him. He turns and runs for the front gate.**

**Otis**: **He burst through the front door of the mobile home suddenly. He's in a messy tank top, standing slightly shorter than Liam. He's slightly overweight, but obviously strong, with a head of shoulder-length messy black hair.** LIAM! GET YOUR ASS BACK TO THIS HOUSE!

**Liam**: **He stops and turns to look back at his dad, breathing heavily. He yells out.** I'm sorry, dad, but it's an emergency! **He turns and runs out of the front gate, not waiting for a response, and back out onto the road. His shoulder is still aching, but he doesn't care, ignoring the pain as he tries to pick up speed, seeing the light of Chris's car int he distance.**

***Meanwhile...***

**Chris**: **He's done his best to jack up the back of his car slightly, and he's shoving a sleeping bag under one of the back wheels to give it some friction.**

**Shane**: **His voice comes from behind Chris.** *Strange isn't it?*

**Chris**: **He jumps and turns, looking back at the source of the voice.** Shane?!

**Shane**: **He's no where to be seen, but Chris can hear his voice anyway.** *What a little push can do to send you two into such a panic... An illusion in the middle of the road, a little whisper in someone's ear, and you go careening off into a pile of mud and send pitiful little Liam off into the darkness on his own...*

**Chris**: Where the hell are you?! **He looks back and forth into the dark.**

**Shane**: *You are so easily manipulated... In way over your heads... It has been a very long time since I have had such... Fun.*

**Chris**: **He turns and runs to the drivers seat. He turns the key to start his car up and steps on the gas. The wheel catches on the sleeping bag as he hoped it would, and his car heaves backwards onto the road.** Fuck yeah. **He shuts the door and drives up the road towards Liam. After a few minutes he sees him running down the road and turns, stopping the car so he can get in.**

**Liam**: **He opens the door throws the jacket wrapped book onto the seat.** I got the book! **He's breathing heavily bent over.** I gotta go back home, if I don't my parents will kill me.

**Chris**: **He looks down at the jacket and unwraps it, seeing the book inside.** ...I'll get this to my mother. **He looks to Liam.** I think the demon is just taunting us, like you said. I don't think he's anywhere around here.

**Liam**: **He nods.** Yeah... I hope... **He takes and few steps back and shuts the passenger door, then runs off into the darkness, back towards his house.**

**Chris**: **He turns and drives into the darkness in the opposite direction, driving slowly until he gets off the dirt road.**

***About twenty minutes later...***

**Chris**: **He's running through the foyer.** Mother!? **He looks around the large dark interior.** I have the book!

**Natalya**: **She walks out from behind him, circling around him she looks him over before stopping in front of him after a moment. She holds out her hand.**

**Chris**: **He unwraps it from Liam's jacket and hands the book to her.**

**Natalya**: **She opens the book, looking at the first page.** ...Go to bed.

**Chris**: **He nods a little and then turns, walking up the stairs and going towards his room. He's unsure if he'll be able to get a restful sleep, after everything that's happened to him tonight, but he doesn't want to draw anymore of his mother's anger tonight.**

***The Next Morning...***

**Despite Chris having thought that he wouldn't be able to sleep, he seemed to have drifted off right when his head hit the pillow. He's awakened only by a loud knock on his door, it repeat several times, growing louder.**

**Agatha**: Lady Natalya wishes to speak with you. **She knocks on the door again loudly.**

**Chris**: **He groans, hopping out of bed and walking over to the balcony in his room. His back and ankle are still sore, but he doesn't have to hunch today.** I'm up! I'm coming! **He opens one of the dressers next to his bed and pulls out some pants, putting them on as he runs down the spiral stair and to the door of his room, out into the hall.**

**Agatha**: **She holds out a note for him.** A note from your uncle Orion, so that you need not participate in swim with your injuries. He said to keep your arm dry.

**Chris**: **He looks at the note and takes it from her, nodding after a moment.** And my mother?

**Agatha**: She is in the library. **She pats him firmly on the back a few times.** Get a move on before you turn her temper.

**Chris**: **He nods and runs down the hall, through the door and then quickly makes his way up the steps to the library.**

**Natalya**: **She's sitting in the far back, on one of the couches near the window. As he runs up the stairs she looks to him for a moment, and then out the window.** Sit. **Her soft voice comes out commanding and as sever as always.**

**Chris**: **He bites the inside of his lip and quickly makes his way over to the couches, sitting on the one across from her, not saying anything.**

**Natalya**: **She places her hand upon the small leather book next to her.** I have decided your trial. **She turns and looks at Chris, staring him in the eyes.** I know a great many ways of *killing* a demon. Should you wish to save your friend and pass this trial. *You* will participate in a ritual. *You* will gather the necessary components. *You* will slay the demon. I will not help you beyond what is required, is that understood?

**Chris**: **He nods slowly.** Tell me what I need to do.

**Natalya**: To kill a demon in the way I will show you, you will need the following; Two witches, seven candles, a stick of sage incense, ten pounds of salt, snake venom, and the true name of the demon. You have six days to gather these. Should you fail to acquire these items within that time, your friend will be lost, as will your place within this family. **She breaks her gaze and looks outside.** When you've gained what I've listed, come to me, and I will instruct you on what need be done...

**Chris**: **He nods.** Thank you mother... I won't fail.

**Natalya**: **She curls her fingers into claws and drags them down the cover of the small leather tome, cutting into it deeply with her metallic silver fingernails.** Be gone from my sight, and do not speak to me until you've gathered what I instructed of you.

**Chris**: **He nods again and hurries out of the library, down the stairs.**