Until I Fall: A Manifestation of Cursed Blood

[Talbot Linsorim]

She had come here early in the morning with Mikon and Zula. She had come here to do one thing. And her heart would not aloow anything else. The wind blew gently though her long, tangled blonde hair- she had neither brushed nor tied it back. Her clothing was rumpled after a long night of violent dreams ruining such gentle happy ones. She was dressed no further than her skirts and a bandaged chest- not from injury but rather for training. Her train of thought had gone instantly to how lax she had been with ther physical and magical training- getting sidetracked with everything else, getting sidetracked with chances at a life she had always dreamed of. A simple normal- ENOUGH!, her mind screamed, You are here for one thing, Stupid- NOW DO IT! DO IT UNTIL YOU FALL!

Raising her scythe to the sky, she seemed to be offering it to any above her who would accept it before spinning it. The blade making no more sound than a soft hiss as it tore through the air in no more than a blur. The sounds of her skirts gave no distraction- the golden edges of them flashing softly in the rising sun. Beads of sweat appeared on her skin as the newly found heat of the sun touched her skin. A shiver passed though her soul and she shook her head. YOU'RE NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH!

Moving faster now, tossing her scythe aside, she bagan casting at Mikon as he flew about. Zula watched with curlean eyes as Mikon would fly high and as their ward would cast repeatedly, simply to wear down the emerald tainted azure power which flowed though their ward's being. Zula waved her tail from the rock she sat on. Mikon dove, weaved and spun away from every attack- their ward had no intent on hurting him and both familairs knew this. Suddenly Mikon screeched as a marble sized ball of cutting air nicked his tail, Zula hopped into a puddle and cast heal. Mikon chittered a thank you and continued to do as he had been.

Shaking her head, unbrushed locks flaring, she took a knee as sudden anger flared through her- a soft crackle of breaking stones sounded, Mikon screeched as emerald consumed azure- fluttering quickly as a wave of gravity swept close behind him, Mikon scooped up Zula and flew out of dangers way. Time to train- time to play- time to work- until the moon fades.

Standing up, a new dance began- one of erratic and misplaced magic use- one which caused unsuspecting students, here to train more injury than first intended. Her first partner ending up on the ground, screaming in pain from a bone bone or two. How pathetic. Moving back to where she had been- now having maked out her space with crying on unconcious new fighters- sad how they didn't understand the screeching rodents and their panic. She laughed, taking a piece of mana candy between tongue and cheek, scooping up her scythe, she began to dance- blood stained the bandages around her chest and the skirts she wore. For the moment she reveled in the smell and feel of the blood as she began to twirl and sway- a dance for only a to be goddess of death.

[Midnight]

Though the mice were desperate to warn those who approached their ward, yet their warnings fell on deaf ears. Finally, Zula began to beg to go get Joseph the only other person they knew could understand them. Mikon didn't like the idea of leavign Talbot at first but Zula's insistence eventually sent them flying off to the dormatory. Flying to where they knew his room was, the two mice found Joseph polishing his revolver with his door open.

They darted past a strolling paladin into his room, squeeking desperatly of danger. They spoke so fast the gunmage didn't understand them at first, but he quickly got the message that something was wrong with Talbot. With a final stroke along the barrel of his weapon, Joseph stood and placed it in its holster. "Take me to her." he said in a voice reflecting his determination to help.

The three quickly bolted for the training grounds only to find more students laying along the ground. At this rate an instructor or the stronger students would probably come, but Joseph had to do something. Looking at her chaotic dance now, the gunmage felt a buzzing in the back of his head. SHaking the empathy away he knew whatever had done this to her was quite potent. His hand rested on his revolver as he prayed he wouldn't have to use it. "Mikon, find Ziare and Jyo. Now! No arguments." he ordered in a firm voice of the battlefield as he opened his collar so there was a loose arc around his neck, "Zula, I want you to hide behind my neck, and hold on. When Mikon gets back you two go and find a spot in those near-by trees, ok?"

[Talbot Linsorim]

Mikon whipped his tail as he fluttered away as another pulse of gravity majick slammed through the area- making those who were injured scream in agony and those who were coming pause to either swear or descide against training. Zula squeaked softly, tapping into her small abilities as she clung to Joseph- a soft voice trickled into his mind, childlike in essence, 'Emerald has taken azure.'

She looked up, having felt a presence that dare stand, her eyes were shielded by the mass of tangled blonde hair. She recognized him, his name passed her lips, "Joseph," but her voice was divided, a essence more primal had won over the sound- blending with the voice all knew as her own with the hollowed pain of a to be goddess of death. Several plants wilted as she moved, faster closer, closer and faster- her dance was within arms reach of him- she froze inches from his face. Blazing emeralds pulsed glimmering brightly as they met the ever faithful, ever loyal sapphire eyes. Tendrils of energy reached out, enfolded his mind- ripe for the influence, how wonderful to have so close an empath. If he denied her it would hurt, if he accepted- he would dance as well.

[Midnight]

Joseph had been confused at first when he'd heard Zula's voice. What had she meant? His attention was quickyl shifted to Talbot, however as she spoke his name...or rather, she and whatever force was controlling her spoke his name. They approached, the scythe swinging dangerously close, but never touching him. The blue of his eyes grew as his pupil shrank. Their eyes locked, the force attempted to leach onto him through his curse.

As the buzzing in the back of his skull grew, the gunmage found a near irresistable urge to dance with her. Images of their bodies pressed together flowed into his mind's eye. A tango, they would dance. In this garden of flesh. Her scythe tiwrling in beautiful arcs around him, as he guided her about. His revolver providing a loud base as they danced. A tango of passion, of madness, of lust, of death. She a blooming goddess of death, he a dawning god of oblivion- Joseph shook his head furiously.

"Zula....hang...on..." he said in a very strained voice as he focused his mind with clenched teeth. His muscles stiffened and tiwtching agains his will, he slowly made his hand for his revolver. Drawing it was easy, keeping from firing into the wounded wasn't. Every moment was agony. The force weighed down upon him much more than any of her gravity spells could. Waves of pain rolled over his flesh as he refused it's influence. He began to chant slowly, forcefully past it. In a reversed tongue the words flowed from his lips, and the emblem on his back grew hot. Several smaller versions of the symbol appeared across Talbot's body. Most centered down her legs as the influence pressed his mind towards the dance, but two also appeared on her arms. Now even if he succumbed, at least one of them would be stopped.

"Tal-Talbot, listen to me...there are people, getting hurt here...because of this dance...y-you must stop...look at my eyes...you're bringing me pain...find...control...please..." he said in an incredibly strained voice, a droplette of blood appeared at his left nostrill. Rolling down his skin as the immense pressure began to take affect on his phsycial body. With all his might he focused his latest innovation into his revolver. If he succumbed, the ice bullets would at least stop her...

[Ziare]

Ziare was in the garden behind the academy a place she loved to relax with Armenius and her familiar Kalladra. She was practicing using Kalladra and her spells. She had recently acquired the familiar and had not had a chance to battle with her yet. Ziare wasn't dressed in her robes but in a comfortable pair of jeans and a t-shirt of a light pink color.

The beautiful pheonix her large body came down shrinking in size to that of an eagle the red and orange feathers minimizing as well as she landed in her favorite spot on Ziare's shoulder. She nipped at Ziare's long locks lovingly as she always did.

"All right, I think that's good for today." she said laughing. But her laugh was cut short by a squeak close by. Ziare turned around to see Mikon fluttering nearby. She ran over he seemed distressed.

"Mikon, somethings wrong with Tal isn't there?" she asked cursing that she wouldn't be able to understand his answer. Mikon began squeaking.

"He says you must come now, Talbot is in great trouble and now Joseph is as well. The training ground we must leave quickly."

Ziare gave no thought to how Kalladra understood Mikon she was too worried about her sister and her friend. Ziare dismissed Armenius and began to run to the training grounds. Kalladra flew over head as Ziare ran as fast as she could her pony tail trailing behind her. She moved into the training area and saw in the distance Tal and Joseph. But it looked like they were dancing. Ziare stopped a moment taking in the scene.

Ziare looked around the people in the area were in different stages of pain and had injuries. She looked at Tal but something was different was it the eyes?? She didn't know but she had a feeling that something was wrong with Talbot and something was happening between the two despite the dance.

"Tal!" she said running into the training area. She knew that she could easily defend herself...or well she hoped so anyway. She didn't know what was wrong.

"Damnit Talbot stop it whatever it is your doing!" Ziare screamed. She summoned Armenius and Zara. The enormous giant dwarfed the woman that stood next to him transparant. She walked over to Joseph and placed a hand on his shoulder to heal some of the wounds he had it seemed since he was bleeding.

Armenius roared as he felt Ziare's distress over the situation and Mikon had already flown off again to Ziare assumed, retrieve someone else. Ziare moved to stand behind Joesph but far enough away that if Tal shifted her gaze she would see her.

"Tal! Stop it! You're hurting innocent people that isn't you!" she screamed hoping to break her from the trance.

[Talbot Linsorim]

A mad smile lilted onto her face, a cheshire grin as her emerald eyes glistened at the empath. Leaning foreward, her right hand gripping the blade of her scythe, cutting her flesh, allowing her crimson blood to flow from her palm. "You shouldn't fight it- let it consume-" as she spoke, her hand pressed against his face, resting of so gently holding his chin, her blood flowing down his neck and chin, tainting his skin, his essence, dripping onto his clothing, one small speck glancing onto his beloved companion weapon.

Turning emerald eyes on the girl- the summoner and her summon, another bust of gravity tore through the training field, making her earlier toys scream- one or two passing out. Spinning her scythe faster, coming closer and stading bare feet away from Ziare and her summon, the cheshire grin faded and tear welled in her emerald eyes, "Oh, Ziare, what is happening?!" She gestured to Joseph, "Look what has become of my dear Joseph!"

Suddenly with a quick movement, she was closer to Ziare than most protective summons would allow- her bleeding palm touching the girls face, stroking for but a brief moment before letting go and laughing maniacally as she danced away. Tendrils of enegry now spreading from the blood to the touched- it would be hard to stop the curses influence from spreading- though not impossible with small sacrifice. She laughed, no longer beloved wind chimes but now a howling cackle.

She moved away laughing still, dancing once again, a tune escaping her lips, "As the demon child sews, Stealing life as she goes, Taking power from the weak, And making it her own!" Owver and over, even without word- the wind carried her song now- spreading the tune around the battlefield- beginning the deep influence on any who dare come dear.

[Midnight]

Joseph trembled as Talbot touched him. Her blood mixing with that which flowed from him. Their eyes were locked as her warm fluid flowed over him. A slight gasp escaped his lips as his eyes pulsed, flashing in color to match hers, but the moment the single drop of blood touched his weapon, the gunmage fell to his knees with a moan. He threw his head back in resistant agony, tears of blood rolling from his eyes.

Conusmed in his own dark world he screamed in the agony, the only other sense he knew other than his fight against the control was the increasingly heating emblem on his back. It was on fire. He felt as though a hole would burn through to show it on his chest it was so hot.