Anora, Jahanara and Nadya's Quarters
You walk into a room big enough for three people to live in. Anora, Jahanara, and Nadya all share this room. It contains three small cots along one wall and on another is a small table with three chairs around it. There's a little closet for the three girls to put their clothes. There's only one window, covered with thin, old curtains. There's a single lamp near the door acting as the only light.
At the foot of Anora's bed are the only possessions the vampires allowed her to keep--The things she had put in the shoulder-bag that she had with her at the time--her mother's guitar with pictures of the one's she loved most in the world taped to the case, a small portable boom-box and some CD's, her poetry book with the pen attached to the cover where she also keeps her songs as well as her poetry, a sketch book, a little notebook that Anora keeps the stories she writes in, her the diary for her most private thoughts which she usually keeps hidden in the shoulder-bag next to everything else, and a big photo album containing all her memories of the past. And, there is nothing of hers in her part of the closet but her clothes.
Nadya, on the other hand...pretty much all of her things are in her part of the closet. Her clothes, of course, are hanging in it. On the shelf right above her clothes, she stores all of her jewelery, makeup, and her scarves, sashes, and bandana's and things like that. And, on the floor just below her clothes, she keeps the violin her mother gave her. On top of that sits the porcelain doll given to her by her father, with the necklace her older sister gave her hanging around it's neck.
Jahanara's bed is decorated with many indian artifacts, many brought from her mothers house. Her bed is lined with candles, and a statue of Kali, wich she worships every night. On her side of the closet, all her saris and dresses are hanging neatly, while her other ornamentation and cloths are along with Nadya's. Her sidetable has some sticks of insence, while a piece of red cloth drapes above her cot. Under her bed are books of witchcraft in a locked safe, where nobody but her may reach.
Anora walked into her quarters, changed into her servial, taking off all of her makeup and jewelery and stuff like that, tying her long light-brown and royal-blue hair back in a single long braid. She put on a simple long black dress and replaced her boots with Converses. Then, having taken care of that, she walked back to the Draconis Mansion and, unknowingly, walked to
The Mansion Library.
Anora walked into the room, got her swim suit and a towel from her part of the closet, and then walked back to
The Entrance Foyer, hiding the suit in the towel so as to avoid receiving any strange looks from anybody around.
Jahanara stormed in, removing the cloth from her head. She then sat right beside her bed, facing her statuette of Kali, and began to pray. After about 5 minutes, she stood, and before picking up her scarf to go back to the mansion, she bowed to the statue and left, headed for
The Entrance Foyer, the damned plac where she was brought unwantedly.
Heaving a relaxed sigh as they walked into the room,
Nadya finally released her vice grip on Jahanara's hand and sat down on her bed, still shaken again, crying out in pain and then grabbing her ankle with both hands gently, crying both tears of pain and of fear.
"My God!"
Jahanara cried, standing awkwardly and heading over to her. She clutched her close. "What happened? You're fine now..."
Nadya held tightly to Jahanara, trembling and crying. After a few moments, she whispered through heavy sobs, her voice muffled since she still clung to her friend, "My mistress just got back... She is really angry with me... I am so frightened... And my ankle hurts really badly... I must have twisted it when I fell back in the foyer..." That being said, Nadya broke down crying once again.
Hugging her tightly,
Jahanara remembered the drink. "Wait here," she said, getting up, the wounds hurting. She hated to see anyone cry. Seeing people dying was one thing, crying was just horrid. She couldn't take it. She walked over to her bureau, pulled out some grains and mixed them in a cup, then filled it with hot water. Walking over to her, she placed the cup in her hands. "It tastes horrible, but it'll help with the pain in your ankle, and it shall calm you down."
Nadya managed a weak smile as Jahanara handed her the cup. "Thank you, Jahanara." She looked at it for a second again, crying out in pain and then grabbing her ankle with both hands gently, crying both tears of pain and of fear.
"My God!"
Jahanara cried, standing awkwardly and heading over to her. She clutched her close. "What happened? You're fine now..."
Nadya held tightly to Jahanara, trembling and crying. After a few moments, she whispered through heavy sobs, her voice muffled since she still clung to her friend, "My mistress just got back... She is really angry with me... I am so frightened... And my ankle hurts really badly... I must have twisted it when I fell back in the foyer..." That being said, Nadya broke down crying once again.
Hugging her tightly,
Jahanara remembered the drink. "Wait here," she said, getting up, the wounds hurting. She hated to see anyone cry. Seeing people dying was one thing, crying was just horrid. She couldn't take it. She walked over to her bureau, pulled out some grains and mixed them in a cup, then filled it with hot water. Walking over to her, she placed the cup in her hands. "It tastes horrible, but it'll help with the pain in your ankle, and it shall calm you down."
Nadya managed a weak smile as Jahanara handed her the cup. "Thank you, Jahanara." She looked at it for a second, then sniffed it and wrinkled her nose at the smell. Then, she took a breath and quickly drank it down so as not to give the taste the opportunity to affect her yet. Nadya coughed a little bit as the taste finally got to her, handing the cup back to Jahanara.
Jahanara almsot laughed at Nadya's face; it was simply too funny not to smile, but she kept it well hidden. Taking the cup back, she returned and sat down beside her. "How do you feel?" Her medicine should work, it worked all the time.
Taking in another deep breath,
Nadya emitted a relaxed sigh. "Better... Thank you, Jahanara." She then rested her head against the side of her bed, which she was now leaning against. "I am sorry... It is just that I was so emotional at the moment... I could not help myself..."
Jahanara looked at her. "Thats quite alright, no one ever said you couldn't be emotonal." she then walked over to her oval mirror, the one with the extravagant boarder that she smuggled in, and sat in her chair. "I shouldn't be showing emotion; Jayashri would forbid it..." she spoke, a little quieter this time.
"Oh?"
Nadya was curious. Jahanara had told her about Jayashri a few times, but not much. Slowly, Nadya lifted herself up and sat down on her bed, quickly noticing that she felt no pain in her ankle. Good ole' Jahanara. Nadya could always count on her to make her feel better when she was hurt.
"Yes, Jayashri is almost angry at me for my almost demise."
Jahanara stated, looking at her grains again. The goddess was unpleased for letting her earthly body be almsot destroyed like that. The battle wounds still had not healed. She made a cup for herself, making sure to add more grains. She downed it easily, making sure not to gag as the liquid went through her body. Her arm stopped throbbing and her ankles felt stronger. Then, sitting on Nadya's bed, she looked at her. "Would you like to pray?"
Feeling a sense of calmness come about her as she began to feel again as though everything would be alright,
Nadya took a deep, relaxing breath and exhaled it in a calming sigh. She then looked at Jahanara and smiled. She hesitated a moment before answering, the clash of their two cultures obvious. "Yes, I would like that very much, Jahanara," she then answered softly. Nadya may have been born and raised with different beliefs from her friend, but within the last couple of years, the girl had started to share in Jahanara's beliefs as well... Really, this was because Gypsies didn't really have a solid religion in the first place, and Nadya found it reassuring to have something to believe in for a change.
"Come then,"
Jahanara said, taking Nadya's hand and taking her to the corner where her prayer booth was situated. She set down two cushions, one for her and one for Nadya. She urged her to sit cross-legged in a lotus position, as she was. "Clear your mind of all thoughts. Leave it blank, then repeat after me, I'll keep it simpler for you, since I assume you haven't done it before.." she instructed, her eyes closed.
"Vunde gurunam caranaravinde Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe" she chanted over and over, waiting for Nadya to pick it up.
Nadya obediently sat down as Jahanara was right next to her, closed her eyes, took in a deep and relaxing breath, and started to repeat the words Jahanara told her.
"Vunde gurunam caranaravinde Sandarsita svatma sukhavabodhe..." she said softly with her friend. She couldn't really get the hang of completely clearing her mind though. Nadya couldn't help but wonder what she was saying, as well as how badly she was butchering the language. English was hard enough for her, and now she was trying to speak Indian! She was also a bit fidgety. After all, she had never really, in her entire life basically, been able to sit still for any lengthy period of time. She just hoped that it didn't bother Jahanara.
Repeating the words in a chant over and over,
Jahanara began to relax, even with Nadya occasionally stirring from her prayer. She knew she was fidgety, and she didn't blame her. Her mistress was not the greatest person to deal with. She could sense the energy coming from Nadya; she was still 'wounded' from the encounter with her. "By the way, it means, I worship the gurus' lotus feet, Awakening the happiness of the self revealed, Beyond comparison. It's part of the prayer I said when I was facing Strevin..." The memory alone scared her. His veins slithering and his eyes made her want to shudder. She kept calm, and forced the memory out of her mind.
Nadya cracked an eye open for a few seconds to glance at Jahanara. Then, she tried to go back the way she was and actually stay that way this time...which didn't work too well. "And it helped you defeat him?" she asked softly with another relaxed sigh, finally starting to calm herself down.
Opening her eyes fully,
Jahanara ended the prayer, and glanced at Nadya. "It didn't necessarily help me beat him, it just invoked Kali and Jayashri in an attempt to save me. They cleared my mind so I could concentrate. My mother always told me I had a gift to speak to the Goddesses... I never knew it was true until weeks before she died..." She looked down, and asked, "Remember the prayer? It meant
I worship the gurus' lotus feet, Awakening the happiness of the self revealed, Beyond comparison, working like the jungle physician To pacify loss of consciousness from the poison of existence In the form of a woman up to the shoulders, holding a conch, discus and sword Thousand headed, white I bow respectfully, Peace. It invokes them both; the goddess of victory, and the goddess of Death and decay. They helped me in a way I cannot comprehend."
Nadya opened her eyes as well and listened intently to what Jahanara was saying. "Oh, I see," she said. She smiled softly. "It is nice to have something to believe in finally. Gypsies are raised to believe very differently from this, and sometimes our beliefs cause us to lose hope in a lot of things..."
Smiling,
Jahanara spoke, "You don't need to believe in what I believe in. My course in life is set. I am a witch, as you know. My life ends in darkness. You need to choose where to go in life." she then noticed she was babbling, so she quieted herself. Her sari was getting uneasy on her, so going into the closet, she quickly changed into a lenga.
"You are right,"
Nadya said, also getting up from the spot on the ground and heading over to the closet. Eager to get out of her servial clothes, she too changed. Within a few minutes, Nadya was actually dressed like a Gypsy, bangles and colorful clothing and all. She twirled around happily, feeling much more comfortable. "Ah, that is much better," she sighed. Then, she went back into the closet, took out her violin, sat down on her bed, and began to play it.
Jahanara moved towards her chair near the bed, and listened to her play. Jahanara didn't play any instruments, so hearing someone play was more than people could appreciate. Plus, Nadya was an excellent player.
June 7, 9:00
All day, the lycan girls spent the day resting and walking around in clothes they normally wouldn't. They had fun, until 9:00, when Cybele and the vampires would wake up...
Nadya was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She had actually woken up from resting only a little while ago, being the restless little girl that she was. Sighing, Nadya looked at a little clock she had by her bed. "9:00?! Uh-oh! I am going to be late if I do not hurry up!" she gasped, jumping up from her bed and hurriedly getting dressed in her servial. "Goodbye, Jahanara, I shall see you a little later, okay?" she then said quickly to her friend as she rushed out the door and headed over to
apartment #22, Cybele's apartment.
Exondria walked in and glanced around the room. she then leaned angainst the wall (as usual) waiting for Anora.
Anora walked in a few seconds later, glancing suspiciously at Exondria as she came through the door. She went and sat down on her cot, stealing a quick glance at the collar she had left hanging around of of the bed posts before turning all of her attention on Exondria. "... What... is... it... now...?" she said slowly, obviously angry. She really didn't like how Exondria seemed to switch from Good Cop to Bad Cop on her all the time and it was apparent now.
"I am sorry if you think I keep switching sides,"
Exondria began. "If someone found out I hate being a vampire and I was trying to protect Lycans, I would be killed after brutal torture. Please put your collar on so Servina will think I am in control for the most part. You can act rebelious sometimes, but not to much ok?"
Anora only stared at her in silence, now trying to figure out what the hell was going on. She was still really confused and was now also wondering whether or not Exondria remembered what they were talking about last night. But then she got her attention back to the issue at hand.
"Keep focused, Annie," she told herself.
"Don't let her get your guard down again. Who knows what'll happen?" She attemted to speak, but only managed to stammer a weak, "...W...What..
.?"
Jahanara walked in, and glared at Exondria, bowed briskly and took a seat right beside Anora, in between her and Exondria. "Excuse me, Mistress Exodius, as you wish to be called, Anora does NOT need a collar, at any time. Servina understands that Anora is in control simply by obeying you. She doesn't need a damned collar to prove she's controlled." she said sharply, putting emphasis on NOT and controlled. "You seem to not know much for someone who claims to be in control."
Anora stared at Jahanara for a second in shock. Never had anyone she didn't know ever come to defend her like this. She stood quickly in surprise. "No Really, I ...I-it's alright. I-I'll wear the stupid collar. I don't wanna stir any trouble between anyone here," she rushed in a worried tone, really confused by now but still not wanting anyone to fight over her.
Standing, Jahanara gave Anora a look, that secretly said, 'I know wha I'm doing'. "Beat me if you wish, Exondria. But, as long as I have breath in my body, no lycan, especially Anora, will wear a damned collar. Report me to Raven, I do not care. I'm already in enough trouble with her already." she ten glanced at Anora. "Where is the collar?"
Staring at Jahanara with wide eyes and her mouth dropped open, Anora looked at Exondria once to check her reaction and then reached over to the bed-post it was hanging on and took it from that spot, not once taking her surprised eyes off of Jahanara. She looked like a deer in headlights as she sat there, holding the collar in one hand and fiddling nervously with her locket using the other hand.
Grabbing the collar firmly, Jahanara bent it and placed it in a hidden pocket in her servial lenga. "No more will she be your pet, Mistress Exondria. Servina will find you in control if you make her listen. Using a leash does not make them listen." she turned and headed for the door, but Exondria was in the way. "Believe me, Exondria. If I find another collar, so help me God..." she trailed off. She knew her time would come sooner if she didn't shut up, so she bowed silently and quickly, and stayed there, emotionless.
Anora stared at the two in horror. She quickly rushed over and put herself between Jahanara and Exondria, trying to keep Exondria from being able to go after Jahanara, though she suspected that the other woman could probably take care of herself. "...Um...Thank you for your concern and your help...Um..." she trailed off, not knowing the other girl's name yet.
Exondria's eye twitched. She told herself to calm down befor saying "I am not going to turn you in. You are correct though about the collar. Thank You."
Anora breathed a sigh of relief before returning to her spot on the bed.
In respect, Jahanara bowed her head, and went to her cot, sat down, making sure she didn't hear any bells for vampires to summon her. She began to pray again, making sure her mind was completely silent, and if Anora attacked her, she was ready.
Anora looked silently back and forth between Jahanara and Exondria, deciding not to say anything or bother anyone at the moment. She simply took out her guitar and started polish it up and to clean it off.
Exondria looked at the lycan girl with interest. "What is your name?" she asked.
Anora looked up from her guitar as Exondria asked this question, suddenly interested in the conversation again.
"My name is Jahanara Dhanyata." she stated, her voice firm and bold. Her mind was calm, unafraid of what the child vampire could do to her.
Hearing what she was interested in hearing, Anora turned her attention back to the guitar.
"It has been a pleasure talking to you," Jahanara said, and bowed, "but I must be going. I will see you soon, be assured of that." she stated quickly, taking her cloth and wrapping it about her head. She walked out the dor and headed for The lounge Room.
Anora looked up at Jahanara and nodded a polite goodbye as she left. Then, she turned back to her guitar again.
"Goodbye Jahanara," Exondria said. She turned and looked at Anora. "How well can you play that?" she asked.
Anora looked at Exondria and smiled. She positioned herself and flawlessly played one verse of a rock/goth song she wrote. Then, she replied. "That depends. How good was that, in your opinion?"
Exondria smiled and said, "Awesome."
Anora smiled back. "Thanks," she replied. Then, she put her guitar down. "So...about our little conversation last night..." she prompted, wanting to continue the discussion that was cut short yesterday by Quintz and Sehk.
"What about it?" Exondria asked.
"You seemed really surprised when I told you about my uncle," Anora replied. "Why is that?" In her voice was genuine concern, and her eyes showed the same thing.
"What he did to you. I thought I was the only one who had someone do something like that to me!" Exondria said.
Anora put up her hands. "Okay, okay! Calm down! It's okay. He just...beat me a couple of times that's all... And...on the plus side...at least I didn't get pregnant or anything like that when he...raped me... Good thing, too! That would be a nightmare for a 10-year-old." That last part was added mainly to try and make a little joke out of it--Anora's way of trying to escape nervousness.
Exondria shook her head and said,"What is it with men?"
Anora sighed and played with the locket around her neck somewhat absentmindedly. "Most of them are idiots and pervs. That's what."
Noticing her necklace, Exondria asked,"Where did you get that?"
"My mom and dad gave it to me when I was born," Anora said calmly, a somewhat serene and sad look crossing her face. She carefully opened the locket, showing Exondria the little picture of her family and the one of her boyfriend in it.
Seeing Anora's family stung Exondria. "I am truly sorry for your loss," she said.
Anora put her head down, trying to calm herself. It didn't work. When she picked it up again, she had tears in her eyes. "...My sister was only seven... Seven... A seven-year-old girl losing her family and taken off to God only knows where to be a slave...all alone... And me..." she trailed off, searching for the right words. "...And I couldn't do anything to protect her...to protect all of them... My mom and dad, my sister, my boyfriend, my entire clan...! ...I couldn't do anything to help them..." She thought for a second before going on, practically hysterical now, the tears streaming down her face. "...And all I've been able to think about in four days is all of that... All I can hear whenever I try to sleep are the sounds of what happened... The sounds of the fire...the fights...the shouting...the screaming...my father yelling 'Anora, be a brave girl for me now! Take your sister and go hide'ora</b> took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm herself down as she listened to the sound of Exondria's voice. Eventually, she drifted into a seemingly peaceful sleep, resting her head on the other girl's shoulder.
Noticing Anora fell asleep, She layed her down and gently shook her. "Anora! Wake up! We could get into trouble," she said softly.
It took Anora a few seconds to wake up. When she did, however, it was with a startled gasp. She'd obviously had a flashback from what happened. She looked around the room in a little bit of a panic, trying to remember where she was and everything. A few seconds later, she simply collapsed and then started shaking uncontrollably.
"Anora! Are you ok!?" Exondria asked worridly. She hopped that Anora would be ok because she couldn't get help! Everyone would wonder why she cared if somthing was wrong with a Lycan. "Anora! Snap out of it!"
About a minute later, the shaking finally stopped. Anora laid there for another minute, still unconcious. When she finally opened her eyes, she looked around and immediately noticed Exondria's expression. She took a deep breath, not even daring to get up from the floor just yet. "I'm sorry, Exondria," she said weakly. "I guess I should've waora</b> took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm herself down as she listened to the sound of Exondria's voice. Eventually, she drifted into a seemingly peaceful sleep, resting her head on the other girl's shoulder.
Noticing Anora fell asleep, She layed her down and gently shook her. "Anora! Wake up! We could get into trouble," she said softly.
It took Anora a few seconds to wake up. When she did, however, it was with a startled gasp. She'd obviously had a flashback from what happened. She looked around the room in a little bit of a panic, trying to remember where she was and everything. A few seconds later, she simply collapsed and then started shaking uncontrollably.
"Anora! Are you ok!?" Exondria asked worridly. She hopped that Anora would be ok because she couldn't get help! Everyone would wonder why she cared if somthing was wrong with a Lycan. "Anora! Snap out of it!"
About a minute later, the shaking finally stopped. Anora laid there for another minute, still unconcious. When she finally opened her eyes, she looked around and immediately noticed Exondria's expression. She took a deep breath, not even daring to get up from the floor just yet. "I'm sorry, Exondria," she said weakly. "I guess I should've warned you about that earlier."
"What was THAT about?" Exondria asked. Her face was paler than normal.
Anora finally managed to sit up. "I guess I should've warned you... I have seizures sometimes... Like, when I get too overly upset about something or when I hit my head on something. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." She looked at Exondria for a second, trying to see what her reaction was.
"That's all?" Exondria asked.
"Um...Yes..." was Anora's reply, a little confused by what she meant by "that's all?".
"I need to know what could happen so I don't get the crap scared out of me!" Exondria said with a half smle.
Anora looked down a little bit, a bit ashamed that she didn't tell Exondria about this, though she did smile. "It may scare you whether you want it to or not, because it happens without warning. I mean, there are instances where I'll feel weak and dizzy before it comes on, but that's not always the case. We just need to be careful with how much stress we put me under and stuff like that, and to not let anything slam me in the head. But if it ever does happen, all I can tell you is just to make sure my head doesn't hit anything when I'm shaking, and if we can, that I don't bite my own tongue by accident. You know?" She looked at Exondria, trying to see whether she understood or not, but then turned her head as she heard Damos yell from the hallway. "We'll have to continue the conversation in the mansion, it looks like. Apparently the 'Head Cheese' of this hell-hole wants all Lycans in the mansion now." Anora knew very well that she shouldn't really be making fun of Servina, she just didn't care.
Exondria smiled her cute ten-year-old smile. That was a rare sight. She never smiled like that in three years. The last time she had done that was when she thought Servina was the greatest person ever for letting her in the coven mansion.
Anora smiled back and held the door open. "I guess we'd better go then." A thought suddenly crossed her mind. "Hey, let's not tell Little Miss High-and-Mighty about the whole 'Head Cheese' joke, shall we...or that one for that matter?" she laughed, waiting for Exondria to go out the door.
'Ok!" Exondria said. "Shall we go to the garden?" she asked.
"Hmm," Anora said. "Ok then." She made a gesture as if telling Exondria to go first.
Exondria smiled and thanked Anora for holding the door. She then headed to The Mansion Garden.
Anora returned the smile and followed Exondria to The Mansion Garden.
Anora walked in, got changed into her other black dress, and then headed to The Entrance Foyer.
Maggie came in and quickly prepared Jahanara's bed for the others.
Anora and Artemis came shuffling into the room with Jahanara and set her down on her bed as gently as she could. Both girls were panting by now from exhaustion. Artemis grabbed onto the bedpost for support as she stood there, while Anora collapsed into a chair, trying to cool herself off before she had another one of her spells.
"Thanks mates," Maggie said as she pulled the blankets up to her shoulders. She tossed the almost empty IV bag on the floor and fixed another one, positioning it up on the bed post, making sure the needle was still in properly. With a sigh, she looked Jahanara over to make sure there was nothing else left to do before she would wake, and smiled somewhat contently. "Should be fine," she said, trying to comfort the girls some. She patted Jahanara's hand and stood up again. "You two want 'a wait for 'er 'a wake up?" she asked them
Artemis wiped the tears away. She'd calmed herself down enough. "Ok," she said as she stood up. "Just let me see my son for a few minutes. I'd really like to hold him right now." And with that, went out the door and into Artemis and Sadira's Quarters.
Anora nodded her head weakly. "Sure, I'll stay with her. This is my room too after all," she said, trying to make herself sound cheery, but really trying to cover it up so the other two girls wouldn't know that she was feeling like she could collapse at any moment.
Maggie smiled softly, ever the optimist. "When she wakes, dont let 'er move at all. She must 'ave at least 4 'a 5 hours 'a rest before gettin up at all. Dont let 'er eat nothin... she can 'ave some water. She'll prolly also want some asprin an a pack a ice," she instructed, trying to think of everything she would need. Three lycans unable or unwilling to work for some time... someone would have to go back and continue cleaning, and she determined that it was best the girl's friends were with her when she awoke. "You alright?" she asked Anora, seeing she looked just a bit queer.
Anora was breathing heavily, suddenly feeling very weak and dizzy. She knew what was happening, and prayed it wouldn't. She didn't want Maggie to have to worry about her with Jahanara like this. She couldn't answer Maggie's question. All she could do at the moment was put her head down in her hands and close her eyes to try and steady herself.
Maggie came to her side and began fanning her face. She smiled to herself, knowing that Anora did not know that she was well aware of her condition. Maggie had a way of knowing things. She pulled back the bits of Anora's hair that were down, trying to cool her off as much as possible. "Jus' breathe deep," she told her softly, watching her carefully
Anora did as instructed. "Please don't collapse! Please don't collapse!" she silently begged herself. After a minute, to her surprise, her dizziness subsided. She just felt weak after that, but not like she'd pass out. She leaned back in the chair, letting her head rest on the back of it. "Thanks," she sighed, her head lulling to one side a bit as she smiled weakly at Maggie. Then, she remembered something that was said a few minutes before in all the chaos. "Wait...How'd you know my name?" she asked, remembering Maggie saying her name earlier and thinking about how she didn't even know Maggie's name.
Maggie simply smiled and patted her hand. "Do us a favour, love, an let me know when she wakes," she said before heading back to The Lycans' Quarters. She had one last thing she had to do.
Anora smiled and nodded as Maggie walked out, then sat back in her chair, getting comfortable and beginning to feel very tired. Within minutes, she'd drifted off to sleep. This was probably a good thing, considering she hadn't slept much in four days now.
Jahanara's eyes fluttered and she rose her hand, and with the other attempted to sit up, even though she could hardly see. Her eyes hurt, and she felt like something hard had smashed into her stomach. She sat back down, unable to move.
Within moments, Anora had started to fidget in the chair as she slept, flinching and whimpering every now and then as if having a nightmare.
Artemis walked back into the room. Seeing Jahanara, though, she smiled at her and turned to leave, casting a weary eye on the sleeping Anora, heading into the entrance foyer to go get Maggie.
Maggie came quickly back in but stopped just at the doorway, peeking her head inside first. She then slowly made her way to Jahanara's bedside and felt her head, then satisfied, clasped her hand. "'Ey mate... can yeh 'ear me?" she asked quietly
Artemis walked in and knelt down beside the chair Anora was in, watching her closely as Maggie attended to Jahanara.
Jahanara's eyes fluttered, and her gaze seemed blurry. The silver took its toll, but she was fine. Luckily for her magic, it didn't hurt too much. "...the light... it looked upon me, and frowned... it said You don't belong here, go back... I see... you...Maggie... don't let me go..." She mumbled, grasping Maggies hand. She could hardly make out Artemis or Anora, but concentrated. "Anora... Missy... is it, you?"
"Yes, Jahanara, I'm here," Artemis assured her. "And so is Anora. She's just asleep."
Maggie squeezed her hand, hoping the feeling would keep her awake. "Aint your time yet, mate... dont know nothin 'bout lights 'n such, but 'ang on. Yeh jus' need some rest"
The door opened to reveal Raven. She wasted no time in saying, "Someone tell me what happened and please anyone but Maggie." Raven didn't care how the last of her order sounded. She didn't want to worry about desiphering Maggie's East End accent.
"Umm..." Artemis started, her head lowered slightly in respect for Raven. "Well, see..." she trailed off, trying to find the right words to say. She had no idea how to tell Raven this, or even what to tell her and what to leave out, but it seemed to her as though she were the only one capable right now--seeing as how Raven told Maggie not to, Anora was sleeping restlessly, and Jahanara was clearly not of the right health to do so. There was a long pause as she tried to figure out what to say to the Alpha.
Maggie lowered her head more of out embarrassment than out of respect. She listened silently as Artemis tried to explain.
After glancing briefly at Maggie in an apologetic manner, seeing her lower her head, Artemis found the right words and continued. "See...What happened, Raven, is that Jahanara here apparently made Quintz very, very angry. She'd gone up to her and was quite respectful, I thought, bowin' and usin' a respectful tone and everythin'. Her only mistake was in callin' Quintz by her full first name. This made Quintz very angry. She slapped Jahanara across the face really hard and started yellin' at her. Jahanara didn't seem too thrilled with bein' punished by Quintz and so she...she cursed her, Raven. Jahanara recited a curse on Quintz and Quintz just became completely enraged. She started yellin' and screamin' and ended up nearly killin' Jahanara. Raven, Jahanara's been shot, with silver bullets, and greatly damaged. I think Quintz completely destroyed her womb...and the child that was in it..." Artemis lowered her head, surprisingly even to herself, feeling a rush of sympathy for Jahanara and for the unborn baby, again thinking about her own son, her dearest Leo.
As Maggie gripped her hand, Jahanara exhaled quickly, and kept breathing. As Raven entered, she only heard bits and pieces of the conversation, her mind drifting in and out of consciousness. The strain on her stomach was unbearable, and at the sound of Quintz, her eyes darted open. "Cursed... damned... she is evil... I saw to her... Won't hurt again.." she mumbled, trying to turn amnd sit up. The pain was excrutiating, and she whimpered, it hurt too much for even her to maintain. Her eyes drifted from person, catching only distinctive traits - Maggie's eyepatch, Anora's clothing, and Artemis' voice. She finally gave up and let her body relax. She desperately wanted to be able to get up.
Maggie hushed her as she began to mumbled and began stroking her hair in a most motherly fashion. She held tightly to her hand still, one way of letting her know she wasnt alone. She suddenly heard her name being called not far away. Setting Jahanara's hand down on her chest, she quickly stood and bowed her head, "Pard'n" she said as she walked past Raven and into The Lycans' Quarters
Artemis nodded as Maggie left, contemplating whether to leave too or not. She decided against it, however. She needed to stay and keep Jahanara company for a while and to keep an eye over Anora and to give Raven all the information she required.
Jahanara let out a little cough, and a little spew of blood came out her mouth. She attempted to lift her hand and wipe it off, but she just couldn't. She let her hand drop. Moaning silently, she looked at Artemis. "I need... I need help. I need to walk..." she said, wincing at the pain in her chest. She was completely oblivious to the fact her fetus was removed.
Artemis turned her attention to Jahanara, glancing nervously at Anora, who was tossing and turning by now in the chair. She quickly walked over to Jahanara, kneeling beside her bed. She laid her hand gently on Jahanara's, taking a hankerchief from her pocket and wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth carefully. "Jahanara, no. You can't walk yet. You're too weak. You'll hurt yourself even more, Honey. You need to rest and recover some more before you walk again," she said softly, concerned for the woman. She even surprised herself with how nice she was actually being to someone for a change. Then again, she felt so bad for this woman because of the child.
Jahanara coughed again, and looked deep into Artemis' eyes. A fire burned in hers, and Jahanara locked eyes with her. "I am a witch," she said, simply, still staring at her. "I wish to be free of this." She tried to explain, but even she knew she was too tired to do anything at all. Her eyelids fluttering, she relaxed her body against the bed, and tried to sleep, but couldn't. She was, in an awkward way, too tired to sleep. Sleep was the farthest thing from her mind. The first would be to be able to stand on her own. "I can't sleep," she declared, and then looked to the side. The pain in her stomach was declining, and then she realised where she was shot. Her eyes went wild, and she clawed at Artemis' shirt. "My baby - where is it? Is it allright?!"
Artemis gasped at this and grabbed Jahanara's hands and held them tightly in a comforting way. "Oh, Jahanara, sweetie, calm down! Everythin's gonna be fine. I promise," she told her in a wavering voice, almost losing her composure again thinking about this poor woman's baby. She'd be heartbroken if anything ever happened to Leo, so she knew how this woman felt.
Her eyes opened wide, Jahanara screamed at Artemis, and then trying to reach for her throat, "WHERE IS IT?! IS IT ALLRIGHT!?" she hissed, glaring at her, her eyes full of concern and hatred. Her child was to be the one who would set them free...
"Oh God!" Artemis gasped, grabbing Jahanara's wrists gently yet firmly to stop herself from being strangled. Tears fell from her eyes again at last at seeing the woman like this. "Jahanara, please, calm down! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Nothin' could be done! Quintz... She...she killed it, Jahanara. She killed the child you were carryin'. I'm so sorry, but your baby's dead!" Artemis was sobbing now, trying her best to comfort Jahanara.
Jahanara was silent for a minute, and then a flood of tears rushed from her eyes, and she began screaming, despite the pain. "NO!" she screamed, over and over, trying to swipe at her, hoping it would cease the pain she was feeling. Her child was dead. "IT CANNOT BE!" she hissed, her vision flooded with hatred. She wanted to rush out of the room and dismember Quintz, but the pain shot back to her, and she screamed over and over again.
Artemis stepped back slightly to avoid getting hurt by the woman, but she kept her grip on Jahanara, sobbing even harder from the pain she felt for the other Lycan. "Jahanara, I'm sorry! Please, you have to calm down! You'll hurt yourself further! Please, Jahanara!" She pleaded, all the while trying to comfort her grieving friend.
Still crying, but ceasing to scream, Jahanara simply moaned and talked to herself - the only thing in the coven she was looking foreward to was gone. She cried softly, her rage and hatred leaving, but she still talked to herself as the seconds seemed like hours.
"Shh..." Artemis cooed softly, again kneeling down beside Jahanara's bed and actually holding her this time, still crying. She wanted so badly to comfort this woman, thinking about how she must've felt and how Artemis herself would feel if anyone took Leo from her. Again, she was surprising even herself with her sudden compassion towards another person besides herself and her son. "It's alright... Everythin's alright..." she whispered through her sobs, rocking back and forth gently while she held Jahanara.
"Nothing will be allright," Jahanara said, letting her body go and refusing to do anything. "It'll never be fine as long as they're here..."
Artemis furrowed a brow and looked at her. "Who, dear? That vampires? I know, sweetie, I know. That's why we need to stay with in bed and get better, so you can fight with us at the rebellion. We'll take care of them once and for all and then we'll be safe again..." By the sound of her voice, one could easily tell that she was trying to convince herself of the same thing, but she hid it as she continued to hold the woman comfortingly.
"Rest isn't what I need - I need magic... my magic... all of it..." Jahanara said, whispy breathing. "Get me my book - its in a chest under my bed... Jayashri will protect me.. she always will..."
"Okay, okay Jahanara. Don't worry, I'll get it for you," Artemis said to her soothingly, gently letting go of her. She went under the bed for the chest, opened it, and pulled out the book. Then, she replaced the chest in its place and sat on the side of Jahanara's bed, placing the book in Jahanara's hands.
Jahanara looked at the book, and whispering a word in no apparent language, the crest upon it glowed, and the seals opened. Her eyes began to shine bright, and she turned the pages slowly. " Edkesh ddkak weuais nait aidks ls alheaqu," she began, saying the words in an unknown and non-earethal tone. "Bakhim ahsi dominueas rhinam, bahkimnas hirikoutash belehein." As she said that, her body seemed to shine, not brightly, but as in a heavenly glow, and the scar on her stomach began to recede into her flesh. Then, making her voice grow louder, she continued, "Asjarabado sjayet jsaksd uiter loradnem, AKESH DANIM! JAR UBEK NERAS!" She finished, and then fell back, the glow fading, yet every scar on her body began to slowly fade, and heal itself. The stitches began to fall out, and her skin transcended into the purest and softest skin.
Artemis gasped at this last part, being startled, and accidentally fell back. She got up then and looked at Jahanara, seeing if she was okay, her eyes wide in shock.
Jahanara's eyes bursted open, and sat up straight. "Now," she addressed, getting up slowly. "I am ready. Please, if you will, get me a clean sari - this appears to be ruined. I'd prefer my red one." She then headed to the small bathroom, removing the excess blood in the shower.
Artemis nodded as Jahanara got up. "Alright," she said, and then got up and went to Jahanara's side of the closet, picking out the red sari for her. Anora stirred even more as Artemis set it down on the bed. She looked at the girl briefly, concerned, and then waited for Jahanara to come back, kneeling again by Anora's chair.
Coming out of the shower, 5 minutes later, Jahanara only had a towel around her, grabbed the sari and headed back in the bathroom, and then put it on. Coming out, she had left her long dark hair down and simply left it there, and put a forehead necklace on. She wore many dangled gold bracelets, that seemed fake but werent, and walked to Anora, the soft fabric swaying as she walked. "Come now," she said, tapping her forehead lightly, saying a small spell to wake her up. "We need to see what the commotion is about. I can feel repungeance and fear."
Artemis stood and looked at Anora.
Anora awoke with a gasp a few seconds later, breathing heavily and sweating. She'd obviously been having another nightmare. "W-What...?" she asked weakly, not exactly sure what was going on, only knowing that she didn't feel so good again.
"Death is in this house." Jahanara replied. "Anora - you look sick. Take this," she said, walking over to her dresser and removing an odd shaped leaf. "Eat it. It tastes horrible, but you'll be fine. The Nightmares will go away."
Artemis watched closely, wondering how Jahanara was able to do all of this.
Anora trusted Jahanara just enough to where she'd do this. She ate it, grimacing at the taste and wondering if it'd make the seizures that she'd been having since she was nine go away. Soon after eating it, she felt well enough to stand, her dizzy spell leaving, and she stood up. "Thanks."
Smiling, Jahanara said, "Just a word of caution - do not excersize or do something that will hurt you within the next 30 minutes. The effect will simply leave your bloodstream and it'l come back times 2. Good?" she then turned, and headed for the door.
Anora quietly nodded and then followed Jahanara to the entrance foyer, as did Artemis.
Stopping right at the door, Jahanara turned and faced the girls, hand to her stomach. "My... where's my baby?"
Anora just lowered her head and waited for Artemis to answer.
Artemis looked at Jahanara sincerely. "It's alright. Maggie has put it somewhere safe. We can get her to to take you to it."
A tear fell down Jahanara's cheek. She wiped it away quickly with her hand, and looked up. "I want to see it, now, please." she said under her breath, standing completely still.
Artemis nodded in understanding. "Okay, we'll go find Maggie then."
"She's in the mansion kitchen," Jahanara stated, eyes closed. "I can sense her, and..." then her looked up, her eyes now red. "Her. Quintessence."
"Who?" Anora asked.
Artemis rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Oh joy," she said sarcastically, "That bitch."
"But, I want my baby," Jahanara announced, and she turned, heading for the kitchen.
Knowing that she probably didn't know where to go, Artemis motioned for Anora to follow them as they headed for the mansion kitchen.
Entering very quickly, with long strides, Jahanara knew what she had to do. She removed her cloth and hung it up in its appropriate place, and sat down on the floor in the middle of the room, gently on her knees. She then looked over her shoulder, and moving a piece of the carpet, she placed a jem that was removable from her armlet and placed it directly on the floor. A strange light flew from it, and made a strange shape, until finally, in the floor, it was evident there was a secret compartment. opening it, she retrieved some things, a book incense and another amulet. Removing the jem and making the door dissappear, she opened the page instinctively, while the insense lit by itself. Placing it on the floor, she put herself in a lotus position, and begann to pray. As she did, her third eye seemed apparent in a green light.
The gentle sound of light feet could soon be heard. A few seconds later, Anora appeared in the doorway. She paused for a moment, unsure of what to do, and definitely unsure of what was going on just then. She didn't go into the room just yet. Nervously, seeing as how Jahanara still intimidated her, she spoke softly. "Um...Jahanara? You...wanted to see me...?"
Looking up, Jahanara tried to look less frightening, the third eye vanishing as Anora walked in the door. "My child, please come here - I have news that is very troublesome. Speak not a word to anyone, besides Nadya. Understand?", she explained, looking deep into Anora's eyes. She sat perfectly still on the floor, her sari making a circle around her.
Anora very hesitantly made her way into the room, very quiet as she did so. She nodded her head at the last thing Jahanara said. "Yes, I understand, Jahanara," she said softly. She stopped a bit short of the other woman, though, a bit unsure of whether to actually get too close to her or not. And so, she stood there, waiting to see what Jahanara wanted her to do.
"Please," Jahanara said, motionig for the girl to sit across from her. "Now is not the time for you to be frightened of me. I do not mean you harm. The Death Dealers have arrived at the destination. I can sense it." Then, her eyes snapped open. "I can see them... please, Anora," she added, looking at the girl, "please, give me your hands."
Anora did as she was told without a word. She actually believed what Jahanara said, about not meaning her any harm. A hint of trust actually began to show itself. As she lowered herself onto her knees across from the older woman, Anora's brows furrowed in a confused way. "Destination? What...?" she began, having no idea of what was happening at the time. But, she trailed off in her words as she obediently gave Jahanara her hands as commanded.
Taking both Anora's hands in her own, Jahanara shut her eyes and prayed. "Lords and ladies of the night, give me the gift of the second sight. Dukes of Darkness, Kings of Hell, show thine enemy, show thine hell. Show me visions clear and true, show me visions, that must persue." And with that, a light shone in the circle between their locked hands, and a clear sheet of whiteness filled the center of the circle. "Jayashri, show me Quintessence Acanthus, Sythera Damonico, Strevin Lothingurt, Jelena Insakovs, Kurati Mahado, Justice Reinhart, Zaphikel Parish, Cybele Nefrukakasha, Eris Discordia, Orthanos Inquestiana and Drake Marcoe." And with that, in the whiteness, a vision appeared, of the death dealers, ready for battle. "It has begun then..." she whispered, looking at Anora's face.
Anora wasn't sure what to think as Jahanara prayed. She had no idea what the woman was doing or what was going on. What was this...destination...that the Death Dealers were supposedly at? And why were they there? As Anora watched what happened in the circle, her eyes went wide and she was at a major loss for words. She hadn't known that Jahanara could use magic. She'd never met anyone who could. It made her nervous again, yes, but she tried her best to try and restrain those emotions. She looked at the image that had appeared. "W-what has begun? What're they doing, Jahanara?" she said in a soft, shaky voice, very confused, as well as in shock over what she'd just witnessed.
Looking directly into Anora's face, Jahanara detected the hint of nervousness. With that, the vision stirred a little, and became out of focus. "For this to work - you need no anger, hostility, fear or nervousness in you." Breathing in slowly, Jahanara tried to organise her thoughts into comprehensible speech. "The Death Dealers are at a hideout. Lirit Silvermoon's hideout, to be precise. They are going to kill our kind, no matter what happens. It is what I have feared. The rebellion might not ever happen. If they capture Lirit, it might not be a possibility..." She briefly told her about how she knew all of that, and then breathed heavily as the image dispersed.
Anora nodded as she was told about her emotions. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then stared at the image as she listened to what Jahanara had to say. This worried her a bit. She knew of Lirit Silvermoon. He was greatly admired among the other members of her own pack. She'd even seen him, on one occasion, and met him and the other members of his clan. His clan had come to meet Anora's, and to discuss the rebellion. They'd stayed with her clan for a bit, even. Her clan and the Silvers were great allies in this fight. They aided each other a lot. She wondered if he'd heard about the downfall of her clan, and was worried to know that his was in danger. The future of the rebellion...and of the Lycans in general, was in great danger, and she knew it now. "They won't kill him...will they?"
"No, my child. They will make him a slave. And now, with the Sartyrsetis coven coming, their headmasters will want to see him, I beleive." Jahanara reassured, trying to sound as motherlike as possible. "They will probably humiliate him, but kill him, no. Have faith. Salvation wil be ours. I swear, if Lirit does pass on, I will do all thats in my power to make the rebellion possible."
Anora listened as Jahanara spoke, nodding her head to signify that she understood. Although, her eyes were beginning to tear up. All of this was beginning to really scare her. She was still so new to all of this. Not to the rebellion and rebel slaves. After all, that was her life. But what she was new to was slavery and the Death Dealers and all of this. "But..." she began, hardly able to form the words due to her getting upset now. "They'll kill the others...won't they?"
Hanging her head a little, Jahanara spoke quietly. "The Death Dealers, I'm afraid,will kill anyone necessary until they get what they want." Then, moving closer to the girl, enveloped her in a hug. "It's allright. We will be fine... we will be..."
A tear finally fell from Anora's eye as Jahanara spoke. She was a bit startled by the hug, but quickly welcomed it. As she listened to this last sentence, it all became too much for Anora to handle. And so, she broke down crying, wrapping her thin arms gently around the older woman's neck and crying softly into her shoulder. God, what was wrong with her? It'd been four days and all she could ever seem to do all the time was cry. And, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop herself from doing so. "Jahanara...I...I'm scared..."
As she saw the girl crying and clinging on to her, Jahanara couldn't tell her all she knew. She couldn't let it all happen at once. Jahanara hadn't told her all that she saw. Jahanara, for the first time, cried herself, letting tears spill down her cheeks. "It's allright. Many of the lycans will die, but not in vain. Those who die will die for our freedom. Anora - we will be saved. Don't be scared." She then lifted them both standing, and walked over to her dresser. "Come here, child", she beckoned, and handed her something. It was a necklace, of a sphere wrapped in a serpent and a dragon. It shone different colors, and it was cold to the touch. "It's an amulet. Wear it always, and you will be protected. I swear it."
Anora listened to what Jahanara had to say, having her eyes shut tight as she clinged to the woman. For some reason unknown to her, the older Lycan's voice was reassuring, and even a bit calming, to her. Anora did as she was told when she was told to follow Jahanara, the tears still running down her cheeks. She took the amulet and nodded her head as Jahanara told her what to do with it. She put it on and then looked at it. She liked the way it looked alongside her own locket. "Thank you," she whispered softly, her unique and beautiful eyes finally lifting up to look Jahanara directly in the eye willingly, which she hadn't actually done before on her own. She never usually looked most people in the eye on her own accord. She always did feel uncomfortable with people she didn't know seeing her unusual eyes. But, given the situation, Anora wasn't really focused on that at the moment.
Smiling as Anora put the locket on, Jahanara smiled a bit, something she wasn't used to do, and looked at her sari. From being on the floor, it was rumpled, so she fixed it a bit, and looked at Anora again. "Believe me, my child. But - do not breathe a word of this to anyone, anyone besides Nadya and Magdalen. It is upmostly important you not tell anyone." If she were to tell, the mansion would know her being a witch, and it was not permitted, to what she knew so far.
Anora managed a small smile, but nodded when she was told to not tell anyone about this. "Not a word to anyone. I promise, Jahanara." She knew very well now what the older woman was, but it didn't surprise her at all. She was used to people like this, to tell the truth, used to people who were considered "special" or "unusual". Her best friend was one, a witch herself, and Anora always watched and observed what she had done. And Anora's eyes, she guessed, made her unusual because they were her natural colors, believe it or not. No one really understood why her eyes looked so odd, but they always tried to reassure her that it didn't really matter all that much. Anora looked back down at the amulet and her own locket. She touched the amulet lightly, and then, as she usually did, fiddled with the heart-shaped locket around her neck a bit.
"Good girl," Jahanara said, smiling. "And yes, I am a witch... Well, more a priestess than anything. I was a priestess, Guardian of the Goddess Jayashri. I was a withc all my life... until I became a lycan. Most of my abilities are gone, wiped away with the change. Beleive me - if I wasn't a werewolf,I'd have Servina eating off the floor." She then remembered the night she came - and tried to escape. She ad been slapped so hard, she thought the skin would fall off her face. "And of your friend, I'd like to hear more of your friend - what type of witch was she?" Jahanara smiled inside, she knew the girl hadn't spoken a word about her friend, but spirits told her things, and she couldn't ignore that.
Anora was completely speechless. She stared at Jahanara with a bit of a wide-eyed, shocked look. What had just happened? She hadn't said anything, and didn't understand how Jahanara had known exactly what she was thinking. Her friend had never done anything like that. She wondered if this woman was some kind of mind-reader or something like that. "Uhhh...w-what...? I..." was all that came out of her mouth. This had certainly caught her offguard.
Jahanara simply sat down. "Spirits whisper to me, all the time. One told me of your thoughts. Simple as that. It's a shame your friend can't comunicate with this spirit, it comes very useful." She smiled again, and motioned for a chaise-longue. "Please, do sit. Make yourself comfortable. It is your room, you know."
Anora snapped out of her state as she listened to what Jahanara said. It made sense to her. Spirits were nothing new to her. After all, Anora had...experience with that sort of thing. She tried not to think on it too much; she wasn't sure if she should let Jahanara know about that, though. After all, she'd barely ever trusted anyone with that secret, as well as the other small ability she had. She went and sat down, but first grabbed two things from her side of the room--her photo album, and her guitar. Even though the slight nervousness of the other woman finding out about something she'd never told anyone but her best friend nagged at her a bit, she tried to ignore it and pointed to a picture taped onto her guitar case. It was of her and another girl with long, light-brown hair, both clad in Anora's favorite type of style--goth/punk rock, like what she was dressed in on her time off now. They looked to be very happy, with Anora hugging the other girl from behind. "That's her," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice as the memories of her friend came back to her. "It was taken after one of our performances..."
Jahanara could feel the girl's uneasiness with her spirit. "It is okay, Anora. I won't pry." She then relaxed herself, and became statuesque as Anora took her photo album and her guitar case. "I see you and Nadya share the interest of music," she noted, taking a look at the guitar. "I've never played, yet it is a beautiful instrument. She looked at the picture as Anora pointed. They seemed happy, as kids her age should. Although their clothing and style was not what Jahanara liked, at all, she found a sense of happiness come from within them. "If I may ask, what happened to this girl? After a performance... If you don't want to talk about it, child, I understand completely. I had a friend, well, family, that were taken from me as well. I care not if you know this, just never tell anyone, please. I was the head of a covenof witches when I was 26. By myself, I performed a ritual. I worshipped Kali and Jayashri, the goddesses of death and victory. The ritual was very drastic, yet gave me more of my powers. I took a victim and slaughtered him, eating his heart. Right after the ritual had been finished, I was attacked by a Lycan and was left for dead, but I was made into a lycan, as you see. Right as soon as I gained the new abilities, they fled from me. As I returned home from the ordeal, it appeared that my mother and sisters had been slaughtered by the same lycan, but it wasn't so. They had odd bite marks on their necks, as well as their necks had been snapped. It was a work of a vampire... whom I eventually found, and killed." She stoped after that, and looked at the girl. "I'm not all I seem to be... I have taken quite a few lives, as it was necessary..."
Anora listened to everything Jahanara said silently. She didn't know whether to feel sorry for her or what. Most people didn't like that. After she was finished, she looked at her and smiled. "Oh, it's alright. I know you won't pry. I've just...never met someone who...had some of the same..." She almost couldn't bring herself to say it. "Abilities, in a way, that I do." She looked over the guitar. "And as for what you said about music... Nadya's into music, too? I didn't know that. Glad I'm not the only one." She stared at the picture a moment, pausing to think of what to say about this. "No, I don't mind. I guess...I should talk about it. It might help me to heal from it... This picture was taken after one of our performances. See, we were in a band together. This was after one of our concerts. Actually, this one was taken after...the last concert we ever got to do...before..." Anora trailed off at this. She wanted to go on, but it was hard. After a moment, though, she finally continued. "Before we were attacked... My clan was attacked by Death Dealers...four nights ago, actually. That's why it's still so painful for me to talk about it. It happened so recently. We were attacked by them, our home burned to the ground. ...The Death Dealers...killed most of us... All the Lycans in the clan over the age of eighteen. I...watched as my parents were murdered right before my eyes. And my little sister, unfortunately, also had to witness that. And those of us eighteen or younger, like me, my sister, her," she pointed to the girl in the picture again, "my boyfriend, and my other friends, were taken as slaves. We were all split up, and...I still have absolutely no idea what happened to my little sister."
It pained Jahanara to hear the words come from her, as they sounded so familiar. "I know how it feels - remember, you're not alone."... Then, immdediately, she got a vision in her head. A spirit locked the image of Anora's sister in her mind, and it was let loose. She breathed deep as her eyes went from placid green to a near white. Her mind seemed to spread, until finally, it just all stopped. "Anora... your sister... your friend... and your boyfriend... are all alive. Your boyfriend is on the..." She looked at her, and ased "Do you want me to continue? It might come as a shock."
Anora looked at Jahanara as she said this first statement, feeling a bit better about what she said. However, when the woman's eyes changed color, she became a bit wary, wondering what was going on. She was in a bit of shock as Jahanara spoke next. Her mind could hardly comprehend what she was hearing. She almost didn't want to continue, but the side of her that did won over. She took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever happened next. "Yes, please continue..."
"I'm sorry, child." Jahanara said, trying to use a comforting tone. "Your sister, and friend are perfectly fine." Getting ready for the breaker, she said, "But your boyfriend is on the brink of death. I know what coven he is at, but I don't personally know it... he has been tortured and starved. I'm afraid, nothing I can do can help him..."
Anora knew this knews had to be something completely devastating, even before she said anything. She could here it in the way she spoke, see it in her eyes. She breathed a small breath of relief at hearing that her sister and friend were alright, but her breath caught in her throat and her heart skipped a beat as she waited for Jahanara to continue. This was bad! She knew it, but she sure wasn't ready for the words that came out of the older woman's mouth. She took in a sharp gasp as Jahanara said it, and then basically froze, a disbelieving look on her face. Had she heard right? Was her beloved really about to die at any given moment? And if so, was it all due to his unbreakable spirit as a rebel Lycan? She shook her head a bit, almost not believing what she'd just heard. "No..." Then, she slid off of her chair and onto her knees on the floor, burrying her face in her hands as she broke down crying, looking frail and weak as ever. "Oh God, please, no!"
"I am so sorry, my child..." Jahanara said, walking over to the girl quietly, wrapping her arms gently over Anora's shoulder. "I will, and I promise, to do anything in my power to save him... I mighgt not be successful, but child, we wil try." She then stood up, and removed her neclace from her neck, and placed it on her little bookshelf. Immediately, all the books simply faded away, and a new set of much older books were behind the ones that faded. She grabbed one, and walked over to Anora, and as she did, she took her necklace, and the old books vanished, and the other books replaced them again. "I will try."
Anora looked at Jahanara with tear-filled eyes. "T-thank you..." was all she could manage to say in a choked whisper. Then, she clasped her hands together and did the only thing she knew of that she could do--she closed her eyes and began to pray in Hebrew as she sat there on her knees, praying to God for Him to protect her boyfriend. Anora was Jewish and believed a lot in her faith. And so, this was the only thing she could think of to do.
Flipping through the pages rapidly, Jahanara looked for anything she could find that might help him. So far, the the large book she had, she found nothing. "All I can do, is send him a message from you. I'm sorry I cannot help any further..." she said, watching the grl pray. "It's a good thing you pray. Most people survive when they have loved ones who pray."
After taking a moment to finish up her prayer, Anora opened her eyes and looked at Jahanara. "My faith is very important to me. And as for the message--it's perfectly alright if that's all you can do. Don't worry about it," her voice still cracked a bit due to her still crying a bit. "Sometimes, just a message from a loved one is enough to give someone the courage and strength to live. It may help him more than we think." She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and, at least, attempted to give Jahanara what she could of a smile.
Without even taking another glance at Anora, Jahanara dropped to the floor on her knees, and placed her forehead on the ground, and began to pray. After a few seconds, she lifted her head, and her eyes were no longer green, but a gray/white. "Jayashri, goddess of victory, Kali, goddess of Death, I need you at my side. Your child, Jahanara Dhanyata calls to you. Jayashri, flow into the body of this man Tobias, and save him. Kali, goddess of death, fly far from his body, and leave him free. Spirits of the abyss hear my call - listen one,one and all. Send a message, in a dream to this boy, let your voices scream. Give him strength, let him perservere. Tell him this girl, Anora, still lives and cares. Send him a message, do my bidding. I swear to the heavens, the nine hells and the purgatory - if you fail me, my wrath be begotten upon your heads. Jayashri, fill me, Kali, fill me. Spirits, do as I say! LISTEN TO YOUR DAUGHTER IN HER TIME OF NEED! GO!" As she spoke, an unspoken wind began to circle around her, billowing everything around her, yet nothing outside the circle she was sitting in was affected. Little whispers could be heard at all times, and lights began to flicker.
Anora watched all of this in amazed silence. At first, she wondered how Jahanara knew her boyfriend's name, but then she caught on, and it wasn't any bit of a surprise to her that the woman knew. She was, at first, a bit unsettled by what was happening. She'd never seen anything like this before, even with her friend. But, she then calmed down, knowing that it was nothing to be afraid of since Jahanara was the one calling for all of this to happen. She'd seen small things almost like this before from her friend, but nothing to this magnitude. Also, she was a bit anxious. She heard the whispers all around her and could definitely that they were no longer alone. She didn't know if Jahanara was aware of this, but she could sense the presence of spirits around them.
After the ordeal was over, Jahanara raised both her hands from the floor, still on her knees, and immediately everything stopped, and she looked at Anora. Her eyes were fading from a white to her natural color of green now. Se stood up, a little dazed, teering a little, until she regained her balance. "It is done," she said, and taking a step foreward, her eyes faded to black, and she fainted.
Anora's relief as everything seemed to calm down was short-lived as Jahanara fainted. Seeing the woman fall, she immediately gasped and rushed to her side. "Jahanara!" Kneeling beside her, Anora softly touched the woman's shoulder and shook her gently, hoping to awaken her. "Jahanara?" Then, almost in a panic, she tried to think of what to do. "Oh God, oh God, oh God. What do I do?! Okay...okay, calm down, Anora. Just...get help!" Anora started to move to go do so, but then stopped and thought more about it. "Wait! Oh, and tell 'em what? 'She fainted while performing a magic spell because she's a witch and was just trying to help me out by contacting my boyfriend, who is God-only-knows-where'? No way! ...But...what do I do, then? ...Ugh, think, Annie! Think!" The only thing she could think of to do was just try to reach her again, and so she gently shook the woman's shoulder once more. "Jahanara?"
At the first few calls, "Jahanara heard nothing. She was simply exhausted from the ordeal. Finally, after a few moments, a light appeared in her mind, of three women; Anora, Jayashri and Kali, each pulling at her back to reality. Right before her eyes opened, she saw Strevin, screaming at the lycan lair. She got up quietly, and sat on a chair, ever so slowly, with the help of Anora."Thank you, child... Your kindness will not go unrewarded." She smiled at the girl, and could hear footsteps coming closer to their door.
Keith walks towards the door and knocks, "Is everything okay in there?"
Anora was extremely relieved when Jahanara finally woke up. She'd been really worried about the woman, and was all too glad to help her get to a chair now. After the other woman sat down, Anora knelt down next to her chair and looked up at her, trying to see if she was alright. She smiled a bit at what Jahanara said to her. "Oh, you're welcome. You had me worried there, Jahanara." And then, hearing the knock at the door, Anora looked to Jahanara, not exactly sure what to tell him.
In a voice that seemingly wasn't her own, Jahanara looked at the door, and said, sharply, "Do not let him in! He cannot see this!"
Slightly alarmed at the sound of Jahanara's voice, Anora looked at her. "Alright," she said, then stood up and hurried towards the door. She put her hands against the door so that he wouldn't be able to open it, and then called to him from the other side, "Yes, everything's alright now. I just slipped is all, clumsy me. But I didn't get hurt or anything, so there's no need to worry. Thanks for your concern, though." Then, she looked back at Jahanara to see if she was satisfied with how the girl was handling the situation.
"Well, if you say so. I'll be going now." without really thinking about it Keith yawns and stretches his arms, causing the tender wounds on his back to hurt. "Ow! Damn! forgot I had those." thinking about how the vampire who ordered the whiping made him a little angry but there wasn't anything that could be done about it at this time. "I, hate this place..." Keith began to cry a little but did his best to hide the tears.
Jahanara nodded and listened to what Anora said, and then listened for Keith's response. When she heard what he said, her normal ugliness went away for a minute, and she felt compassion for him. Opening the door with only a wave of her hand, motioning Anora to move, she spoke quietly, yet sternly. "Listen, Keith. What I am doing here never leaves this room. If you so much as utter a word to the Vampires and any other lycan I will see fit that you never sleep in peace, and that every moment in your life will be unbearable. Understand?"
Anora moved away from the door at Jahanara's command. She wasn't at all surprised by the other woman's matter-of-fact way of speaking to him by now. She looked at Keith and gave him a bit of a concerned look, catching a glimpse of tears in his eyes.
Keith embarrassed of being seen like this wipes at his eyes, "Yes Ma'm."
Jahanara shut the door as he entered, and looked him over. She could tell he was telling the truth about keeping quiet. She could sense it. "The Death Dealers are about to capute Lirit, the head of the Silver's Clan... I can sense it. Many of the lycans will die, but I'm sure that the rebellion will continue on if Lirit is brought here."
"Why do they feel the need to enslave us?" Keith despite his usual care free nature, had a feeling this wasn't going to be something he was going to like, not for his safety but for those around him.
Anora, leaning against the wall now with her arms crossed, had somewhat of a glare on her face, though it wasn't fixed on anyone. She had her gaze locked on a spot on the ground instead. She let out a frustrated breath, and then spoke. "It's because they fear us, whether they'll admit it or not," she stated, a little anger showing in her voice. "We're a threat to them, and we're wiser than they are. But, of course, they simply can't let us know that. So, they try to cover it up and, possibly, change it by enslaving us. It makes them feel safer because they think they have us under control, that they have us beaten down, and they think it makes us unaware of just how unconfident they really are about this whole thing." Anora paused for a moment and then scoffed, rolling her eyes. "The idiots are just blissfully unaware that a lot of us know this. They're rather dellusional creatures, if you ask me. Don't you think?"
Jahanara listened intently to Anora's words. Being young, and by first glance not an intellectual person, almost every word Anora said was true. "By torturing us, they make sure to show that we are the understudies. Yet, as they might not know - the moon no longer holds her sway. Older lycans - like myself, can change at will." She said, glancing at Anora. It was too bad she missed the fight between her and Strevin. "We are the powerful." she said, standing again, and raising her head high. "They mean nothing to us - it will only be a short time until they realise that."
Anora lifted her head up and looked at Jahanara as she spoke, a sly smile playing on her face. She nodded, fully agreeing with the older woman on everything. She chuckled a bit under her breath, the sly smile still there. She hadn't shown this much of her old rebel Lycan spirit in days, and it felt really good. "And by the time they do, it'll be far too late."
"exactly", Jahanara chided, smiling. Then, looking at Keith, who apparently was in pain, decided to help him. "Keith, please don't ask questions as I know most of what you are about. Pleae come here - I can aid you in dealing with the pain. She removed certain objects from cupboards and drawers, and poured them all in a bowl, making a murky paste, that immediately moved to either side of the bowl it was stirred in, one side solid, the other liquid. "Drink the liquid, and remove your shirt. I need to place this directly on the wounds," she said, holdingthe pasty-like substance in her hands. "It will burn at first, and then ease to a coolness that wil rid the pain."
Anora smiled at Jahanara at hearing the woman agree with her. Then, as she helped Keith, Anora couldn't help but look on with great interest, curious to see what she was doing.
Keith did as he was told, chugging the liquid and carefully removing the shirt. Turning his back towards the woman so she could apply the paste to his back. "Can't believe this, I finaly had money to finish colledge and then I get bit by a werewolf."
Quickly applying the paste to the whip marks on his back, Jahanara cautioned, "This will hurt, alot, for a few moments, then as I said, a cooling will take place." She stood back as she saw the paste do what it was to do - it slowly changed from a green color to a light blue, and then seeped into his skin. "Life's a bitch," she said, for once sounding not so regal.
Keith's face expresses pain as the paste soaks into his skin, *still in pain* "Yeah, life seams that way.*
Anora gasped at seeing the marks on Keith's back. The sight of them made her cringe slightly. Then, she watched what Jahanara did, really interested. She chuckled a bit at Jahanara's comment and then leaned her head back against the wall she was leaning on. She sighed softly. "Life is never fair, especially to those who are ... 'different', from everyone else..."
Keith managed a smile as the solution began to cool, "reminds me of 4th grade, everybody picked on me cuz i seemed different."
"Oh, trust me, I know how that is," Anora said, looking at Keith softly with her rather unique eyes.
"I believe we all know how it feels," Jahanara replied, walking over to her bed, and sitting down, folding her hands in her lap.
Anora looked at Jahanara. Then, she looked at Keith for a moment before speaking. "So, Keith, is it?"
"Uh, yeah." Keith looked at the girl, she reminded him of some of his friends. "I don't think I know your name."
Anora smiled at him kindly and pushed herself off of the wall, extending her hand. "Anora. But you and Jahanara can call me either Anne or Annie, if you want to. Those are two of my nicknames."
Keith returned the smile and shook her hand."I don't have a nickname. Well, not any that would be appropriate."
"I detest sobriquets," Jahanara said, standing again. "I only prefer to be called Jahanara. Nothing else. It seems rude to me, but then again, I am pretty ancient myself."
Keith smiled at the woman,"funny, you don't look it."
"Beleive it - I've forgotten more than what you already know," Jahanara smirked, and then walked over to her nighttable, where she cleaned up a few things.
Anora smiled a bit. Then, she picked up her guitar and photo album and walked over to her bed, setting the guitar down on it. Then, she simply sat down and set the photo album in her lap, opening it and going through it with somewhat of a far-off look in her eyes.
Keith chuckled, "are you saying im stupid?"
Anora tried her best to contain her laugh at hearing that, not once looking up from her photo album.
Turning to look at him her face calm, Jahanara retorted, "And if I am?" She placed both hands on her hips, and smirked. "What would you do about it?"
Anora smiled, trying again not to laugh. She lifted her eyes up from her photo album to the other two in the room. This was going to be entertaining.
Keith Smiled widely, "Well, I might not be adept at the same things you are, but I'm willing to bet I know more on more...modern things. Like Computers, vehicles, weapons..."
"Things that don't matter." Jahanara shot back. She was testing him tosee how well he could do, in any situation. "You're forgetting something," and then, raising her hands, and letting her index fingers point down at her, "I'm a priestess, or witch, whatever you would like to call me. What you know, I know. Don't try to make me do it."
Chuckling Keith "You don't have to be so angry, I'm just trying to let you know I have my own streangths, and that you shouldn't overlook me. I'm sorry, I meant for this to be...uh...good natured."
"I got that before you even started talking," Jahanara chided, smiling and turning her ack. "I'm not that much of a bitch, actually." she had to raise an eyebrow as she said tht, swearing wasn't something she was used to. Her indian accent made it sound a little strange, yet she smiled anyways. "Good natured, indeed."
"Thats good, I was afraid you were gonna hurt me for a second there." Keith said as he smiled at the woman.
"I was tempted to," Jahanara admitted. "Remember, don't give me a reason to actually get it done with." And she looked over at Anora, and supressed a smile.
"Hey, I may not look it but I have a little more fight in me than meets the eye, It's just that I haven't found anything worth fighting for..." Keith said to the woman, hoping that he could maybe earn a little bit of respect, or at least feel a little more welcolme amongst these people.
"And I do hold respect for you, but very little," Jahanara told him, and then looked away from him. "I hold no man in higher respect than any woman. It is from personal experience, as I speak. Men are volatile and are mostly the reasons for violence and oppression in this world. Hitler, all the chiefs of the Ku Klux Klan, Pol Pot - all of them, men, and all created monstrocities on this earth." She sat down on the chaise-longue again, and sighed. "And my maker was a man... that doesn't really score too much on the men's side, if I do say so myself."
"yeah, testicles can make people do funny things, and I can understand why you would feel that way, but if you look at some of the "Ladies" of this coven they seem just as volatile as Hitler or any KKK member." Keith said to the woman, he couldn't help but feel like he was losing this little debate, but it was still nice to actually have such a conversation, most of his friends were to immature to even think about such things.
Anora had been giggling again when Jahanara looked at her. At seeing the woman's eyes on her, she gasped silently, cleared her throat quietly and quickly went back to her photo album, every now and then stealing quick glances up at the two of them.
"That much is true," Jahanara stated, "Yet without the men that started it, the KKK and Hitler wouldn't be mentioned in this debate." She looked at him, and his side of thedebate. One actually worthy of her time - not some stupid imbecile who thought he was smart. "Yes, you might be losing, but there are some strong points in there." Noticing Anora glance at her occasionally, she rolled her eyes a bit, knowing Anora would be remembering this for a while.
Keith looked at the woman "Okay, so besides blaming the worlds problems on the men, is there a more constructive way we could converse? This Lirit you spoke of, is there a way we could help him?
"I'm not blaming them," Jahanara retorted, adding emphasis on blaming, "I'm simply saying the women had little or nothing to do with it." She walked over to her chaise longue again, and sat down, hoping to get a little rest from her tired feet before she was sent off to clean for the banquet. "I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do. I'm one of the oldest of us," she said, making sure that he understood her superiority, "and none of us know where the base is. Besides - the second we get up to help him the bloods will be all over us. I'm afraid all we can do is hope that Lirit kills those damn bloods... especially that homiopathic, psychotic whore Quintessence." Mentioning the very name, a book from a bookshelf flew across the room and smashed into the wall beside the door.
Anora didn't lift her head up, yes, but her eyes lifted to the two in the room when it was asked if there was anything they could do to help Lirit. As she listened to what Jahanara was saying, she felt very uncomfortable being silent at the moment, then, almost instantly freezing up and looking nervous. Jahanara said that none of them knew where the lair was...that wasn't exactly accurate. ...Anora knew where it was. That's how she'd kept in touch with her friend, Ileana, and a few of the other younger Lycans from the Silvers Clan. She had the address and wrote them letters and things like that all the time. Besides, a lot of them had laptops, so she also kept in touch with a few of them through email. Jahanara had a point, though, about the vampires. They couldn't help anyway because the vampires wouldn't let them anywhere outside the mansion. She grimaced at the mention of Quintz's name as well, and then jumped with a loud gasp, alarmed by the sound of the book smashing into the wall. She looked around a bit wide-eyed, trying to absorb the shock of that small scare.
Immediately catching Anora's thoughts as she thought them, Jahanara turned to her. "Sorry, I must've been mistaken. Wehn I meant no one knows where it is, I meant the exact location. Not the address. I even know the address, yet I don't know where that address is." she said, and raised an eyebrow at Anora. "do you happen to know wher it is?"
Anora looked at Jahanara as this all was said, having sort of a deer-in-headlights look on. She'd seen pictures of it, yes, sent to her by her friends through the mail. But it was mostly from inside the lair, although there were one or two from right outside it. She didn't know enough to actually know how to get there. "N-no..." she said as she recoiled back just a bit, a bit nervously from having been singled out like that.
Keith stood looking at the book that had crashed into the wall in utter suprise. "How did you do that?"
"I didn't think so," Jahanara said to Anora, and then looked to Keith as he talked about the book. "I'm a witch, remember? Things happen when my anger happens to flare. It's happened before."
Anora quickly dropped her gaze to the floor after Jahanara turned away from her and hugged her photo album to her chest a bit, slightly shaken up and what little color she had on her face drained away due to her nervousness. She understood completely about what'd happened with the book. Her friend had the exact same problem. With a silent sigh to relax herself, Anora looked back to her photo album and went through a few of the pages. She stopped on one picture imparticular, however, and just stared at it for a moment, seemingly stuck on it in a way. It was one of her favorites. It was such a good memory, and yet...such a painful one. Anora's eyes began tearing up before she knew it as she stared at the picture. She realized this as a sob escaped her lips, and she quickly hugged the book to herself again and wiped the tears from her eyes, turning her head away in hopes that neither Jahanara nor Keith saw her crying. She tried her best to calm herself down before she got too worked up. She suspected that her attempts to look strong probably weren't working, though.
Keith relaxed a bit after hearing Jahanara explain about the book. Hearing her sob Keith look over at Anora, walking over to her, "are you okay?" he said with a sound of concern in his voice.
Anora heard the voice, but kept the book held tightly to herself. "I'm fine," was all she said, her voice wavering, turning her face so that Keith couldn't see it and her hair was now framing it, providing the cover.
Jahanara noticed Anora's look as she gazed at her photo album, and Jahanara sighed, deeply. Emotion - one thing she tried never to show, besides anger. "What is it, Anora?" she asked, mother-like, looking straight at the girl, actually wondering what was the matter. Somehow, she couldn't tell what was happening with her. She bit herlip a little as she saw the girl cry, and wanted to go and hug her, yet she needed her space.
Anora tried her best to fight back the tears as now she'd gotten Jahanara's attention. "It's nothing, Jahanara. I'm fine," she said, having to basically force the words out due to her voice cracking. She set the album down, leaving it open at the page she'd just been on without knowing it. Then, she went to stand up and go over by the window. However, the girl must've had her foot in a bad position or something, for the next thing she knew, she tried taking one step and tripped, falling to the ground with a loud gasp. She just sat there for a moment on her knees, clutching her head, which she'd obviously hit when she fell, whimpering softly with her eyes closed. Then, after a moment, she opened her eyes, wincing, and tried to stand. A sudden dizzy spell, however, sent her right back to where she was on the ground. The girl whimpered and went back to clutching her head, her eyes closed but still tearing up. Anora was scared, then. She knew what that most likely meant was going to happen. "Please no..." was all she could think to herself at that particular moment.
Keith rushed to the Anora's side, "whats happening? Jahanara!" Keith put his hand on the girls shoulder, "I'm going to help you up." Keith put his arm under hers, and began to lift her to her feet.
"No, don't!" Anora said, although she did take his hand in one of hers, still clutching her head with the other one, and squeezed it a bit as if for her own reassurance that he was there with her. "It'll just make it worse if I try to move too much." She had to force this out, breathing heavily, sweat starting to appear on her face a bit. Slowly, then, she began to lose consciousness, everything going in and out of focus. "Jahanara!" she called out weakly and desperately, knowing she could help.
Kneeling down at her side holding on to her hand Keith with his arm around her shoulder Keith brings the girl close to him letting her lean against him.
Throwing herself out of her chair, and touching the girl's forehead, Jahanara looked at Keith - "Get her something comfy to lie on - she's having a seizure. The symptoms are there." She tried to calm the girl, and no effort worked. Conjuring a spell, even through her pain, she tried to stop it, yet somehow she couldn't. "Shit," she swore, her indian accent making the word sound strange. She tried a cooling spell, which, she didn't know worked or not.
Anora tried her best to stay with them, leaning against Keith for comfort and stability, but her attempts failed. She just couldn't hold on to consciousness anymore. And so, she then suddenly went limp in Keith's arms. Then, she began to convulse violently, as she always did during her seizures after passing out, shaking uncontrollably and whimpering from the pain and from her own fear.
Keith did his best to keep the girl from injuring herself from her convulsions, using both arms to try and steady her. Looking at Jahanara, "Quick throw a blanket on the floor or something!"
"Shit," Jahanara repeated, and then looked at him. "YOU get something, RIGT NOW. Don't make me ask twice." And with that, she took Anora's body from Keith's grasp, and tilted her head back, so the airways would open, hopefully if she were to wake up, she could breathe easier. Calling upon any ancient spirits that she could, she pleaded with them to release the child. All she could do was hope that it would work.
The seizure went on for about a minute or so. Then, slowly, Anora's cries of pain began to die down, and her convulsing began to slow. After another moment, all was finally still, and the girl lay limp in Jahanara's arms, unconscious but alright for the most part. It was in these moments when people really began to notice just how small and frail Anora was, and this case was no exception. The teenager really did look small and weak for her age. Her illness was all too apparent.
Keith quickly cleared Anora's belongings from her bed.
"okay will this work?" Keith spoke as he looked at Jahanara, seeing Anora in her arms made him worry alot more about her.
"It will do," Jahanara shot back, carrying Anora's limp body. She placed her down gently, rused and gotm a cloth, wet it, and placed it on her forehead. She sat on the bed, beside her, and waited to see if there was any indication she'd be allright. She was breathing, shallowly, but it was good enough.
A groan so soft it almost couldn't be heard escaped Anora's lips, and she moved her head just the slightest bit. She still had her eyes closed, but she was coming to.
Keith moved around to the other side of the bed, and sat on the floor. "what happened?" as he spoke he looked at Jahanara.
"Seizure," Jahanara said, looking at the girl in the face. She need'nt say more. She took the cloth and turned it over and placed it on her forehead, and hoped it would all end soon.
Anora shifted a bit more as she lay there, and moaned very softly, starting to awaken. She just wasn't all there yet.
Keith "Is there anything I should do to help her?" Keith wasn't sure what to say, it would be better to just wait to see if Anora got better.
Jahanara just looked at him, and shook her head 'no'. "I'm afraid we'll just have to wait, and see what happens to her..." She sighed, and placed her hands in Anora's, and prayed.
Anora laid still for a moment, seemingly fallen unconscious once again. However, this wasn't so. The next second, her hands closed on Jahanara's in a small squeeze, just as a scared child would do were an adult holding their hand. Then, she opened her eyes just the slightest bit, she moaned softly just a tad, and her small and extremely weak voice broke through the silence. "J...Jahanara...?"
Keith breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."
Jahanara squeezed her hand again, reassuring Anora that she was there. She scooched a little closer to her, and brushed her hair away from her face. "I'm here - you're alright... You need to rest." And then, looking at Keith as he spoke, Jahanara tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and stared at him. "'Goodness' isn't the only thing that should be thanked."
Keith looked at Jahanara."Well, who else should be thanked then?"
Anora's eyes scoped out the room a bit. She barely moved at all--she couldn't because of her weakness at that point. "W-what...happened...?" she barely managed to whisper, still seeming a bit like she could pass out again at any moment. The girl was obviously disoriented at the moment and didn't know what was going on. "I-is everything a-alright, Jahanara?"
Jahanara ignored Keith for the moment - she didn't need to explain herself. "Yes, Anora - its alright. You... had a seizure. You're on your bed. You're alright."
"What...?" Anora was having a hard time comprehending what was going on. This was usual, after one of her spells. A lot of the time, after a seizure, she tended to wake up and not have any clue where she was or what was happening at the moment. It's never even clear how much she remembers of her spells. "I h-had a seizure...?" Her voice was just barely a whisper. Anora was extremely weakened by this most recent spell. It'd been her third today and by far the most violent. It wasn't quite clear at the moment whether she was going to be alright soon or whether it would take a while for her to recover. But one thing was for certain--the young girl was very scared, and seemingly confused.
"would you like some water?" Keith asked Anora.
Anora looked at him for a second in a confused way, barely comprehending the question. "What...? I..." Then, she slowly oriented herself just enough to get what he'd just asked her. "Y-yes, please..."
Keith looked at both of the women, "I'll be right back then." he walked out of the room and into The Lycan Kitchen
Anora watched him leave and then laid back on her bed, barely able to move. She looked up at Jahanara weakly, her eyes showing concern. "I didn't...scare worry you at all...did I...?" she asked. "I'd hate for you to have been scared because of me."
"Oh, no, child" Jahanara calmed her, stoking her hair. "You just got us a little worried, thats all." She smiled kindly, and took the cloth off her head and placed it in cold water, then re-lacedit on her head. "You'll be fine."
Anora nodded, then swollowed. She was breathing slightly hard due to exhaustion, her breathing labored, and she was sweating slightly. At that moment, she looked deathly pale and weak, like all of her strength had just been taken from her. "Thanks..." she said in a soft voice, about all she could manage. She tried her best to give the woman a small smile. Eventually, she was clearing her throat every now and then to make sure her airway was clear. Maybe the seizure had messed with her airway.
Keith re-entered the room carrying a glass of water. unsure if the girl was strong enough to sit up and drink it without choking herself.
Anora cleared her throat again and looked at Keith helplessly as he walked in. She tried her best at a small smile. "Thanks," she said. Then, she attempted to sit up, but found that she couldn't. She was just too weak to support herself like that at the moment. The girl groaned softly as she fell back onto the bed. "I...can't..." she said softly, her voice weak and shaky as she laid there, helpless.
"I'm sorry, dear," Jahanara said, placing a hand on her forehead - she was dead tired. "I cannot do anything to help this pain." She grimaced as she knew she outdid herself this night. Placing a hand behind her back, she tried to lift her, so she could sit.
"It's...it's alright, Jahanara. You've done enough for me as it is," Anora said greatfully, then winced slightly as she was lifted up into a sitting position, Jahanara's hand supporting her a lot more than her own muscles were at the moment. The girl took a moment to breathe through the pain. She hadn't had a seizure this bad in a long while, and it slightly worried her. Then, managing to sit a bit, she gently reached up for hand for the glass of water. Although, her hand was very shaky and all of her muscles were extremely fatigued. She probably wouldn't be able to hold the glass on her own.
Keith Kneeled next to Anora and helped her hold the glass of water, "Here." Keith looked at Jahanara. "Do you want me to watch her for a bit while you rest?"
Anora used both hands to hold the glass, glad that Keith was helping her hold it. She took a nice, long sip of the cool water, making sure to do so slowly, so as not to choke on accident. Then, she took a breath and smiled a bit. "Thanks."
Jahanara didn't entirely trust Keith with Anora, but, she sighed, and nodded. She smiled at Anora, and without saying anything, walked slowly to her side of the room and removed a simple red pillow, and placed it on the floor. She sat down, slowly, and sighed as she entered the lotus position. She immediately began meditating, to Kali and Jayashri to strengthen her.
Keith set the glass down on a nightstand next to Anora's bed. "Do you want anything else? I'd be happy to get it for you." he said to Anora with a caring smile on his face.
"No," Anora said very quietly, finding it hard to speak. "No, I don't need anything else at the moment. But thank you, though." She looked very pale and sickly at the moment, which she basically was. All of her energy was completely gone to a point where even breathing proved to be difficult for her.
As she prayed, Jahanara managed to slip in a few pleas for mercy on Anora's part - she needed no more pain in her life. Being Lycan was pain enough.
"You..." Anora tried to speak, though it was hard at the moment. "You...don't need to...stay with me...if you don't wanna. I...don't want...you to get into trouble...because of me... Aren't we supposed...to be cleaning the mansion?" She said this all through small gasps of air, her breathing quite labored, and she was sweating a bit from the effort of trying to keep her strength up at the moment.
Keith rubbed his chin thinking for a second. "Hmm, I finished the dinning room's windows like I was asked too. No one suggested what else I should do."
"Well...that may be true...but still..." Anora said, trying her best to breathe as well as she could. "Little Miss High-and-Mighty expects the...entire place be spotless... I don't want you to get...in trouble for...being here with me instead of cleaning..."
"If need be, Keith," Jahanara threw in suddenly, "I can watch her, while you clean. Anora is right - if Servina knows the three of us can't do anything, she'll be furious."
Keith thought about it for a second, "Would that keep you two from getting in trouble? Then again if they were looking for me I could cause both of yall unwanted attention. So I guess I'll go check it out." He gets up, looking over at Jahanara "Thank you, Jahanara." He walks to The Lycan Kitchen
"Thanks for all your help, Keith," Anora said as he left, trying her best at a small smile as he walked out the door. Then, she looked at Jahanara. "Really, Jahanara, you don't have to stay here with me if you don't want to," she said, weakness and sadness still shining through in her voice.
Jahanara nodded to Keith in reply as he left, then turned her attention to Anora. "It's allright. Chances are, most of the lycans are cleaning. I'll stay a little while." She then winced, as a sudden glimpse of a vision struck her. "The fight has started... The bloods are attacking our kind..."
Anora relaxed against the pillow. She didn't want Jahanra to get into any trouble, but she was also glad that she had someone staying with her at the moment. She felt too helpless to me comfortable being by herself. Slight alarm showed on her face as she saw Jahanara wince, knowing almost immediately that something was wrong. When she was told, she gasped in surprise, her eyes wide as she tried to sit up. "Oh no!" She was visibly beginning to get upset, which probably wasn't a good idea due to what she'd just been through. If she got stressed out enough, it could slow down her recovery. Or worse, it could completely reverse it and her condition could deteriorate.
"I...I'm sorry to have worried you, my child." Jahanara said, placing a hand on the ground to steady herself. She was breathing rather heavily, and little droplets of sweat stained her forehead. Her breath came out raspy, and she tried to calm herself. "Kurati and Sythera are more powerful than I thought... luckily they have the one they call Ileana..." she then coughed, and went for a glass in the little shelf. She poured herself a glass, then eld the glass to Anora. "Would you like a glass of water, my child?"
"Yes, please, Jahanara," Anora said in response to her question. Then the other comment she'd made caught her attention. "Oh! Lea; of course! Yes, she's an awesome fighter. I watched her train one time, when the Silvers visited our clan once. And she herself is very nice."
Filling her glass and handing it to Anora, Jahanara smiled. "I've heard little of her, aside from her being a pirate of some sort."
"Thank you, Jahanara," Anora said, then took a sip of the water. Setting it down on the nightstand, she looked at the woman and nodded. "Yeah, that's about all I really know about her as well. I only met her once, when I was really young, and she was very nice. She's got quite a reputation among our kind, though, I know that much. Probably because of her being a part of the Silvers. She's one of the best, I know that much. My clan wasn't quite as famous as the Silvers, but it was still up there. Other Lycans aren't going to like hearing that the infamous Shadow Clan was taken down."
Jahanara nodded as Anora spoke. "I only know what I've heard of the Silvers'" she said, sitting down on the foor of Anpra's bed. "But I hope to god Lirit pulls through this."
"So do I," Anora agreed. "My father said that, should anything happen to the Shadows, Lirit would look after me, if I was still alive. He was basically named my godfather. Odd, I know, considering I haven't seen or heard from the man since I was really little."
Smiling as Anora spoke, Jahanara stood and sat beside Anora. "Are you well enough, if you wish to," she added, pausing, "to meditate with me? I might be able to see more with a clear mind."
"Yes," Anora replied. "I'd like that. And I think I'm well enough."
"If you feel too weak," Jahanara said, closing her eyes and taking Anora's palms face up, and placing hers palm down on hers, "You need not say anything, just do not break your concentration."
"Yes, Jahanara," Anora said, letting the older woman do whatever she wanted without a problem. She trusted Jahanara now, and she really needed to do something to calm herself down a bit. Meditating was a good way to do that, she knew. Anora meditated a bit sometimes. She wasn't sure if she was strong enough to talk for a long period of time, so she just decided to keep quiet and concentrate, as Jahanara had told her to do.
"Anora," Jahanara instructed the girl, tapping into her minds power. Her third eye was vaguely visible, as if her forehead glowed a little, with a green tint to it. "I need to to completely clear your mind. Not a vacant thought can be heard, or it can be dangerous." She spoke as if her voice was the freezing wind, a calm cooling over her. "Clear your thoughts in sections, and think simply of nothing. Darkness."
Anora nodded. "Yes, Jahanara," she said, and then tried to do as the woman said. It'd always been hard for the girl to calm herself down and clear her mind. She was young, energetic, and a bit too high-strung at times, and so it was hard for her to relax her mind at times. Somehow, however, she managed this time.
Jahanara concentrated harder, letting her minds eye open, flooding toward the building where the bloods were meeting the lycans. The minute she did, her eyes opened, and she practically screamed, "LIRIT!"
Anora jumped at the sudden outburst, immediately opening her eyes and looking at Jahanara. In her mind, she immediately imagined the worst. "What?! What is it?! What's wrong, Jahanara?!"
Her eyes still open, her mouth gaping open, for once Jahanara's eyes watered. "Sythera... the devil has captured Lirit..."
"Who?! What?!" Anora muttered, hardly able to comprehend what had just been said. She didn't know who Sythera was yet, either, which didn't help. Her eyes almost immediately began to tear up and within seconds, she was ready to break down crying again at any second. "A-and...and Lea...?" she asked in a soft, choked whisper.
"That damned woman... she... she has taken them both out..."Jahanara said, breaking concentration, and holding her face in her hands. "We're through... there is hardly any hope left..."
Anora covered her ears as she sat there on her knees trembling, not wanting to hear that at all. "Don't say that! Please, don't say that!" she said as she finally broke down crying again. Within seconds, she was hyperventilating, rocking back and forth slightly, and just completely freaking out--a bad thing for someone prone to seizures and just recovering from one to do. "Jahanara, please...!"
"Just lie down, child." Jahanara said to her, wiping the last tear on her face. "Calm... be calm" she placed her hand upon Anora's brow, and flooded her with a calming spell.
After only a few seconds, Anora's breathing began to return to normal. She was still crying, but at least it wasn't as bad as before. She was trembling badly, though--though, it wasn't clear whether that was from how upset she was or from weakness. Again, she leaned against Jahanara, seeking comfort.
Jahanara tried to compose her thoughts and herself, but it hardly came across. She laid down on the bed and waited for the dizzyness to pass - she had done far too much this one night.
Anora watched Jahanara as she laid down, while she herself sat on the floor, seemingly unable to get herself to move, her tears blurring her vision. She was still crying slightly and rocking back and forth, now muttering to herself in Hebrew, probably praying, but it wasn't clear. She looked to be in a state of shock, her eyes wide and unblinking, shaking her head a bit and trembling as she just sat there. She definitely didn't look to be all there at the moment. It wasn't clear whether or not she knew what was going on around her anymore.
Jahanara lay quietly, her eyes closed. She mentally tried to re-stabilize herself. Though, through over-use of her abilities, her thoughts and concealed emotions were running wild as if a river's dam had been crashed. She desperately tried to re-assemble it, though it was hard. Green energies circled around her forehead - her third eye was apparent, and it glowed.
Anora didn't even seem to notice anything. She just kept on with what she was doing, although by now the muttering seemed to only be her talking to herself in Hebrew. She probably didn't even pick up anything that was happening right then. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and yet she made no noise--no audible sobs or sniffling or anything of the sort.
Jahanara lay silently for a second, then, amidst what was happening, she began to laugh. She then said, quickly, "So much for being calm"
Anora's condition didn't change at all. She probably didn't know what was going on around her at all.
Jahanara just lay there silently, waiting. Waiting for the moment the death dealers would return. Waiting for the second the lycan's salvation was gone. Waiting to see Lirit, their only hope for survival dragged through the door by them. She couldn't bear the thought, but it kept her occupied.
Finally, Anora stirred. She still looked at disturbed as before, but at least she moved. The girl crawled over to Jahanara's bed and then simply knelt beside it, gently laying her head on the side of it close to Jahanara's hand. She didn't touch Jahanara at all, even though she desperately wanted some comfort, for she didn't know if the woman wanted to be left alone or not. She still rocked a bit as she sat there, though not as much since she didn't want to move the bed at all and disturb the older woman, still crying silently and trembling.
placing her hand on Anora's head, Jahanara looked down and tried to smile. "It will all be over soon," she said. She wasn't sure herself what she meant by that. It's either our lives, she thought, or our freedom.
The gentle hand on Anora's head seemed to calm her down, at least a bit. Her crying quieted slightly, though didn't cease completely. "What're we gonna do now, Jahanara?" she asked in a quiet whisper.
"Act as if we know nothing," Jahanara instructed, looking at Anora in the eye. "They cannot know that we know about the lycans defeat. They'll suspect me." she said, looking up again.
Anora looked up at the woman, appearing weak. "Got it," she said, wiping away tears. "I won't say anything." The stress definitely seemed to be getting to her. If she wasn't careful, that could cause a relapse of her recovery and make her have another seizure. As it was, the girl already looked close to a relapse--look just as weak and sickly as right before she first collapsed. "Jahanara... They're...they're gonna bring Lirit and Lea here to Draconis aren't they?"
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