Spirits of the Earth

Day was breaking when they made their way into the city of Uthlyn; the buildings of Connlaothian architecture looming before them, and the sun stretching their shadows across the land. The journey had been days long, and Lorant's backside was sore and aching from his seat on the wagon. He was tired of the horses going awry, and his hands were beginning to blister from his hold on the reins. They never liked him, the horses. They could smell the wolf on him, and it sent their animal instincts into a frenzy if they ever knew one. Even now as they grew anxious of the city, Lorant had to raise his voice. Why the Bishop insisted on taking him was not because he handled horses so well.

   The moment he had announced travelling to Uthlyn, Lorant knew he would be accompanying him. Like a loyal dog at the heels of its master. Richard would smile cooly at his scowl and promise him things he did not get to indulge in while in the bosom of Vestalla. It was a small wonder how the horses had not taken off. At nights, where it grew cold by their fire and the crickets in the fields sang their songs, so did he. Only his was to the moon glowing in the sky. It did not lessen the pull of the wolf as the full moon drew nearer, yet it calmed his damned soul. Ansgar forgive him. When Vestalla was in their view again, he would repent his sins in long nights at the altar; Praying to St. Svan to give him the strength his weary body needed.

   Lorant did not know what the Bishop had been called for in the city of Uthlyn, nor did he ask of it. Despite being donned in his Brother's robes, he had no place in the Church. The mage's mark sewn to his chest screamed louder than any privilege. He did not mind it. Lorant would bide his time being the shady figure the Bishop called on. And for brief times, when the Bishop went where he couldn't, he had more time to himself than he needed.

   In the stay and Uthlyn, Lorand found himself wandering. His senses were at their peak, for the full face of the moon was close. The city was alive then with more smells than the human mind could possibly imagine. They told stories no one else knew. And on the air, he would catch the scent of magic that stirred the wolf inside. It wanted to hunt. He wanted to hunt. But the leash was strong around his neck. Uthlyn was not his ground. Vestalla was.

   In his meandering, he found a quiet place, a library.

"King Amemshi- volumes one, two and three..." Artemis counted out loud, dirty fingers pressing through the scrolls. "But where is four?" she lifted number five, scrunching her nose at it before sighing and pressing them into their slots. She ran a hand through her dark, brown hair, keeping the soft, puff of her side bang out of her face before glancing about.

There was another pile of scrolls to be sorted in the corner.  Another fresh batch to boot.  Sighing, she approached it and began rebinding the scrolls in lace.
"Ah, Gloriful Nights on the fell.." she clicked her tongue, shaking her head fondly at the romantic scrolls she held and moved towards the back room and came to a pause, craning her neck up to the very top shelf.
Frowning, she had nearly forgotten this scroll belong on the top.
Tapping it once to her palm she gave a sigh.

"I suppose it will the ladder today." Turning around, she stuffed the scroll beneath her arm and moved over to the ladder that was set on wheels. It took an awful lot of grunting and huffs of steam, but she managed to drag the ladder all the way to the other side of the room.
In a huff, she craned her neck back up to the top shelf, then went about securing the ladder against it before testing it for security with a few hefty hits against the wall.

"There,"s he smiled at herself, nice and triumphant. "Nice and secure!"
Taking the scroll in hand now, she slowly began to scale the ladder, one awkward step at a time. She didn't much care for heights and paused a moment, frowning at the way down. It was a little dizzying, but she shook it off and proceeded to climb until there, she had made it to the top, and found herself coughing at all of the dust up there.

"Oh, how careless. I've forgotten to clean here."Sighing, she took out a rag from the side pocket of her dress skirt and began to wipe it out, shaking the loose dust aside and then began swathing away the cobwebs sticking against the corners of the shelves.

"There,"s he said, smiling, very proud of herself. "Nice and clean!" With a nod of her head, she slipped the scroll inside and turned around to stare off into the library for but a moment-

It was just something she did, and could not help herself..
The library looked over more magical from the vantage point up there.
She smiled wistfully, then moved to climb down, only to find her shoe slipping off as it tumbled onto the grounds below, and- being startled by the action, found herself losing her footing as her   feet began to slip, ass falling onto the ladder as she tumbled down it like an unceremonious slide, heading and plummeting to a very unfortunate circumstance below!


OOC: feel free to either have him catch her or um, watch her drop to the ground like some fool XD

Away from where his senses were filled to bursting, he climbed up the steps to the large building. Buttress hung above him supported by columns of white stone. Statues and engravings decorated the arches, and the grounded pillars; Things of old: a series of battles drawn out. Of the victory against mages, and of Ansgar's rise in the hearts of the Connlaothian people. It wasn't an uncommon sight to the architecture. The people had a pride to them that screamed and thumped heavily upon the ground. Lorant could say he had the same, despite the emblem on his robes that burned in the eyes of others. His work brought him favour.

   A wave of relief filled him as he entered the grand entrance to the Library. The barest of magical scent caught his nose, but it was not enough to signal a mage. Ancient scrolls, books, tomes could hold remnants of magic. He grinned to himself. The librarians and scribes didn't know, he assumed. How would the engravings of Mordecai and battles past feel to know that what they laid their stone flesh on was tainted?  He wished they were animate so he could see their faces when he told them.

   His footsteps echoed on the flooring; his boots pressing against rugs draped over the masonry. Lines upon lines of bookshelves adored the inside. High glass stained windows filtered in colourful light that danced over everything. He could see dust mingling in the air, and he breathed in the sweet musk of old parchment and aging bindings. It was far more grand than the library in the church of Vestalla, and it did not hold memories of being strapped to a table and made to read scripture to cleanse his soul. He liked it.

   Soon enough, his ears caught the sound of a ladder sliding and the small voice of a woman talking to herself. He followed it. Curiosity in his eerie eyes. And the woman should be glad that he did, for as she fell, he managed to move quick enough to catch her. However, the sudden weight shocked him off balance, and with her in her arms he stumbled back slightly to knock books off the shelf behind him.

   "Are you trying to kill yourself, girl?" He said harshly as he set her down, a scowl rife on his face. He was the best at introductions.

Artemis gave a cry as she was suddenly captured into a man's arm, and then it was to the floor with them as they collapsed into a heap.  She had made an interesting series of noises during i, the last one being a gasp as she looked up at the man in who's arms she was now cradled.  He was a giant of a man, long legs and limbs easily spilling around them in the pile of books that had settled around them during the chaos.  His face, though long, reminded her much like a bird, almost like a hawk, glaring back at her with his dark, brown eyes.

"I was just-" she began. "Just.." she tried again, but always found her tongue twisted when in the presence of a man, and to be in the arms of one slightly handsome, and one so very angry, it was all that she could do not to faint...

Except she did...
nose burning, eyes rolling as she suddenly draped back into his arms and went still.




OOC: I wasn't going to go that route.. but it sort of just typed itself onto the page XD

She fainted. Fainted.

   Her dead weight was left in his arms as she fell unconscious, the barest of her mumbling echoing back across the tall ceiling. Her brown hair spun over his limbs, long and frizzy. She had a comely look to her, with the small spread of freckles over her sleeping face. But none of that mattered to Lorant in these few wavering moments. He was left in an awkward situation. He wasn't expecting being responsible for another being. He couldn't say human being, as he did not even begin to belong. He started to regret catching her, as her chest heaved up and down and her eyes closed without even the slightest intent on opening. But the obligation he had as a Brother of the Church required him to exercise kindness, Ansgar help him.

   Lorant moved tomes out of the way on the floor with his feet, uncaring for the damage that could be done to their brittle spines. He laid the girl down on the same kind of decorative rug that ran in all the aisles. He stared down over her, with a frown pulling at his thin lips.

"Wake up." He said, half-believing the force of his voice could herald her back to the land of the living. It didn't work. Obviously. He sighed and pulled back, siting against the shelf for a few moments before he decided he had done all he could. Still in deepest part of his being, the wolf wanted to hunt and the faint scent of magic hovered in there air so tantalizing he could not resist.

While the girl slept, Lorant stalked the aisles and began bringing his 'prey' to one of the back tables.

It was after some time she finally awakened, blinking and then- gasping to her knees.

"Oh my goodness!" Artemis ran a hand frantically through her hair. "What on earth-" but then she noticed the scrolls on the floor,a nd her nose almost bled at the atrocity!  Scrambling to pick the things up, many scrolls in her hand, it was then she spotted the man from before and let out a noise, and all of the scrolls she had been scooping up off of the floor fell back towards her feet.

"You!" was all she said, voice echoing embarrassingly between them, gaining her stern looks from the other patrons of the library. She made a nervous smile towards them, hands smoothing back into her hair before she moved back to gather up the fallen scrolls, and once placed, more safely aside, she moved again towards were Lorant was now picking through the ancient scroll section.

"Um.. excuse me, excuse me, sir?" she said, meekly at first, but then she cleared her throat and tried to find her voice again, but the man was simply a trifle bit scary for her and well..
She had awkwardly fainted before him already. Flattening her lips, she tried again.
"Excuse me, sir?"S he approached him then paused to stand just a few feet away.
"This is the restricted section. You need a pass to come in here." and she stared at him for a while, hands clasped before her before carefully asking.
"Do... you have a pass?"

   His fingers traced over the raised letters of the book he held in his hands. A smile was drawn on his lips; one of amusement and contentment. It reached up to his eyes in a way that was rare. The cover was rough and old, the sting of magic filled his nostrils as they flared, and his heartbeat quickened. This was one of them. In ancient days past there had been an enchantment on the pages of the tome. What kind, he couldn't say, all he knew was that there was. He liked to think he was better than a Mordecai, in many ways. They failed this library. He would be its saviour. The Bishop would be proud of him, he would.

   If Lorant had a tail to wag, it would be.

   He placed the book down on a back table where he kept piling the others; a dozen he had found stuck between others and often in dark corners of the aisles. He found it odd at where he commonly tracked them down, and was playing with theory that it was a magical web that drew whoever placed them to go to dank corners, away from prying eyes. Like a survival instinct. Magic was alive, just as mortals were.

   His ears twitched at every sound the library made; the soft turning of pages, the harsh coughs of elderly Brothers and Sisters of the Church - he wasn't alone in being of the cloth. It was a common sight in Uthlyn. Joining the Church of Ansgar often meant broadening your education. Lorant snorted at that thought. What little good it's done him.

   It wasn't until he heard her voice did his interest truly bloom. His hand paused in dragging a scroll out from its nesting place on a shelf. Lorant turned his head to see her demure form standing in the entrance of the aisle. He had ignored her first weak attempts in trying to grab his attention, but now she had it with the small muster of bravery.

   "No." He said bluntly, and resumed to take the scroll. He undid the twine and carelessly unrolled it. Old poems. Huh. Out of the corner of his eyes he watched her for a moment, then rolled the scroll back up. He didn't need a pass. Why would he? They were just books and parchment. It wasn't an armoury.

   "You should be happy," He said calmly, and moved to brush past her but stopped just short. He looked down his long nose at her, with a lopsided grin growing on his face. "I'm doing you a favour."

   Lorant continued on his way to the back table, and put the scrolls with the others. He was making a nice collection.

Artemis flattened her lips, her face going long at the man's comment.  How very rude of him! She looked from him and then to the pile of books with a gasp.
"Be happy indeed! Look at all of the work you're setting up for me!" she placed her hands to her hips. "And just do you think puts all of these old books and scrolls away when you are through?"
Gasping, she noticed one of the parchments tearing as she rushed for it and began to fuss over it's wrinkled surface.
"Oh no, it looks like the scroll is cracking!" she griped, and began to roll it up within her hand with a sigh. "I suppose I'll go work on this repair.." she eyed the man suspiciously for a moment, then back to his pile of books and things.
"What are you doing, anyway? Are you looking for something specific?"
Really, the man should merely ask. She knew everything and anything about the books and scrolls in this library, after all! It was her job!

He waved off her comments with a dismissive hand. Lorant hardly cared about the work he was causing her. It wasn't his priority to make her job easier, it was to do his job. But her voice pulled at the part of him that did care; that inch of human kindness that hadn't been beaten out of him. He almost felt guilty.

   Almost.

Lorant frowned as the girl moved to grab one of the scrolls he had gathered. His hackles would have raised protectively if he had any. His body would settle for sending a cold chill down his spine.

   "What am I doing?" He said, moving around her and grasping at one of the arm that held the scroll. With a minuscule amount of force he dragged it out of her hands, cracking the paper more.

   "I told you what I'm doing." He continued. A pride for his work filled him, and he felt the urge to tell her exactly what he was doing, just so she could stand in awe. "These things are tainted by magic. I'm finding and getting rid of them. What do you think the Mordecai would do to a librarian that kept magical books?"

Artemis gave a gasp, then realized she was still standing close to them as she gasped again, hopping away with her hands held tightly against her chest, shoulders shrinking back.

"M-magic!?" she looked at him, face twisting, appalled at the very idea what he professed.
"In my library!?"  She could have fainted gain, but just found herself becoming ill. She wiped a hand down her face, groaning.  "You.. you can't be serious. You're.. you're joking, right?" she said, following after him as a cold sweat broke out about her face.
"You don't need to lie to me if you're just here for some extensive research," she added, then stared at his clothes.. and stared..and stared... and... stared.  There it was- a stitch.. a stitched mark of the...
She gasped and backed away, smacking her back off of the book shelf behind her and sending a few books toppling about her.

"You're.. you're a mage!"


OOC: If I've mistakenly assumed he wouldn't still be wearing the mark, I can fix it XD just lemme know!

So over dramatic. But Lorant would have lied if he said he wasn't fond of people's outbursts. It made them afraid of him; and fear was a real and tangible way of getting what he wanted. He learned well from the Bishop, but whether that was a good or bad thing wasn't for him to say.

Lorant stared at her paling face and the way she fidgeted and struggled with her words; stumbling in disbelief. It was amusing, really. She acted like he was going to hurt her. Animal instincts he may have, but he knew better, and there were enough eyes in the library to rattle the cage.

As she bumped into the bookshelf behind her, he took a step forward. "No need for hysterics." He said casually.

"I'm a marked mage. It took you a while to notice." He paused, and pulled at the collar of his shirt. "But also a Brother of the church." People seemed to notice the mage part first, though.

"I won't call the Mordecai if you keep your mouth shut and let me do my job. Trust me. It's easier on both of us." He went to the back table once more, and laid down the scroll he had.

Artemis clamped her mouth shut. Still, her eyes remained as wide as saucers as she stared at him, heart racing and beating inside her head. Then, slowly, as her mind crept back into reason, she began to look around- feeling sheepish, but also afraid. But it seemed most didn't pay them much mind as the library continued on with it's normality in relative silence.

It was then she turned back towards him,t hen to the pile of books.
"Perhaps, then, I shall notify the head master here of the library."S he frowned. "He will want to know and I'll have to properly catalog all the scrolls and old books you aim to scrap..."
Though she feared magic, and even shivered at the thought, she peered over sadly at the heaping pile of books he meant to destroy.
It seemed a shame they would suffer such a fate.

ANd who would have thought! Magic right under all of their noses!

Poor girl, he couldn't help himself from thinking. Lorant shuffled the pile of books he had as she mumbled away in the background.

"No cataloguing." He said briskly. "Or, lie when you do."

His hands traced over the embossed letters, and down the worn spines almost lovingly. He had caught them. They were his. The wolf was appeased. But he knew in his logical mind that doing away with such ancient writings would be a tragedy for the Library. Lorant did have some smarts.

"Scribes." He voiced his thoughts out loud. "Copying the pages of these books won't copy the magic."

Artemis stared at the man incredulously. Where did he think scribes would just appear from at such short notice?

"And you'd allow the library such time to find enough scribes for all of this?"s he said, voice almost cracking at the thought. She stared, almost in a panic, at the amount of things he had collected and appeared to pout.  "This could take years for it all to be preserved and if it's tainted by magic..."s he didn't want to think on those consequences! "And some of these scrolls are so old and brittle, not all scribes hired would know how to attend to them without ruining or breaking such transcripts."
She frowned, but could not think of any other way, eyes tracing across the pile of books before she turned back towards him and eyed Lorant warily.

"And just where are you from anyway?"s he demanded, feeling the need for him to justify it. What sort of church would send in a magic hunter, let alone a mage.. and were all mages this way? Able to just sniff out magics?

"W-well..." He was rendered speechless, and he inwardly flinched at his own ignorance. Lorant didn't know how libraries worked, or how books were taken care of, and it was painfully obvious. It was never something he had to worry about. The girl had to fret about it. But, he was making the trouble. Glanced away from her awkwardly, and set to watching his hand play with the twine that kept a scroll rolled together.

He wasn't heartless. That was his problem.

The itch of the hunt was still there, and he could feel it right up from the palms of his hands, yet the young woman was insistent on keeping him here by asking questions. Smart girl.

"Vestalla." He said simply, and moved to brush past her to continue on with his work. He didn't have time for idle banter. There was something in the library that called to him stronger than anything else. And he wanted to find it.

Artemis's face twisted at his reply.
"Vestalla?" Seeing him move away, she moved light on her feet to follow.
"And you didn't answer my other inquiries!" She said, hands to her hips. Really, were all mages like this!? Despite her fearing him, she ALSO feared the wrath of the head of the library (also known as her boss) and found it still alarming he hadn't come out of his office to see what was going on.

"What am I to tell the Head Librarian about all of this? He will be furious with me as he would be with you. And under what real authority do you have to go around, digging through all of these books, seeking them out and aiming to destroy them? They are all properly coded and the reports are tallied monthly and the nobleman council who delivers our funds will want to know why our book and scroll count had some sudden terminations on sequences of... of well, well, you know, over they fact that they are, cursed with magic and the like."

Her eyes naturally went to the patch on his clothes, then quickly averted, feeling embarrassed for staring before her brown eyes flickered over to him.

"Do you have the paper work I could at least use as a presentation towards the head librarian?" Really, if he at least had that, the chaotic turmoil that would ensue could being more properly ..
and if not..
well....

She didn't rightfully know where they would all have to begin!
But the authorities would not be happy- neither their patrons, especially the master and keeper of the library.

"And could you.. you at least be  a bit more careful in handling of these books and scrolls? They should be treated with care, like you would a knew born child who is fragile. You could be ruining ancient history and you wouldn't even know it!"

   Were all librarians like this? As he walked, she followed close behind him in his shadow. Her voice was beginning to ache in his ears, and he wanted her to close her mouth more than anything. Lorant's restraint faltered slight, he caught a growl in his throat. The wolf wanted her to simper down as much as he did, it seemed. She wasn't as annoying as Sister Eliza with her shrill voice echoing through the high arches of the Church, he had to admit. She was younger then, and he had been the bane of her existence as a small boy. Now her body was aging and crumpling against time itself.

   Time would do him a great favour if it sped up for this girl. But no amount of wishing would make it true. He thanked Ansgar for his training as a Brother. He was by no means a gentle man, he had his moments but they were rare, but he could fake it like the rest of them.

   Lorant slowed his steps until he came to a halt, and ran a hand across the stubble on his chin. The moon and Ansgar were testing him. And he wasn't about to fail.

   He put his hands on the girl's shoulders, softly squeezing them in reassurance.

"I am here in Uthlyn on the wiles of Bishop Richard Gilroy." He said, staring down at her. His gaze was no more calming than the sharp hawkishness of his nose. "He will handle your head librarian. Consider this official Church business. Do you want to get in the way of that?"

   He assumed her answer would be no, despite her obvious lack of wanting to cooperate.

   "Sweet child," He was really laying it on thick. "Worry not. I, Brother Lorant of the Church of Ansgar won't let anything more befoul this place."

   Lorant let go of her, and his arms dropped to his sides. With a sigh that sounded more irritated than he would have liked, he continued: "I will be more careful."  God help him.

Her stomach went cold when he informed her his authority. No, it would do no one any good to oppose the church, and for it, she frowned.  But as him condemning her as a child, really! Her cheeks gave way to blush. Well, she was rather young, but even still, she ought to be respected none the least as she gave a haughty look, but kept her own pride in check, eyes softening at his last comment when he seemed to submit to her inquiry of well, being more careful, at least.

She nodded to that, dropping her gaze a bit bashfully.

"Thank you."
And she went awkwardly silent for a time before raising her head and clearing her throat.
"Well, is there something I might be able to assist you with?" Really.. she.. just couldn't find it in her heart to walk away from those poor scrolls, and her heart went out to them, as if they were a precious child, a precious child to her whom, only until now, a mother had been ignorant of on their second face...

It was still hard to digest.. Really, all of these books were cursed with magic? There was quite a pile and her eyes went a little wide as they swept over it, but then Artemis quickly returned her gaze back to his and stared at him, almost meekly, timidly so and awaited his response.

He had to hold himself back from playing a smirk on his lips when he saw the blush rise on the girl's cheeks. He was embarrassing her, wasn't he? The 'child' remark was most likely the culprit. It always felt odd on his tongue, and even now it left a metaphorically bitter distaste in his mouth.

"No need to thank me." He said, but Lorant was thinking the exact opposite. She should thank him; he was not obligated to make any sort of effort to be careful. He would be regretting his choice of words if they had not worked to calm the young woman down from her frazzle. It was worse than the horses, honestly.

He followed her eyes as they flicked towards the table where he piled everything he gathered. What was going through her head? That some dragon would reach out beyond the realms and snatch them in its greedy claws? Not likely. Everyone who has been read the child's tales knew that dragons didn't read.

"You can carry them." He said, "Please." He added almost as an after thought.

The library echoed with his heavy footfalls as he continued on with his search. No doubt the girl would think him odd as he placed his nose near the covers of the books and took in deep breaths. He really was sniffing them out.

Artemis blinked.

Carry his books? She lifted her head, the blush still there and blinked again.
"Oh.. ok." she looked away. She was rarely asked to follow someone around to carry books before, most of the time she was just simply asked questions, then the majority of the time she was coding, cataloging and storing things away. Keeping a tidy library meant for a happy library.

So, begrudgingly, she moved forward, feet feeling like led as she walked behind him, shivering only after the had past the drafty doorway that lead to the lower bowels of the library. But she kept up, and well, made good for what he requested, but she seemed distracted, only half paying attention to what Lorant was doing as her mind kept chewing over the fact that-
were these books really magical!? Were they cursed!? and would htey really have to get rid of them all!? 

Lorant trailed his fingers along a shelf of books, his fingertips picking up loose dust along the way. The light of the chandeliers above them flickered softly as their candles' flames wavered back and forth as a breeze breathed against them. He caught a scent then; the stronger one that tickled, and tasted like burnt ash and decay. Almost like a graveyard. But it was magic. A certain kind of magic. For a moment his eyes reflected the light like how an animal's would; that eerie stare as he wound his way around a corner.

   "Librarian." He said, and took a quick look behind him to the mousy girl. In her hands she was carrying to books that he found. His 'prey'. So delicately were they wrapped in her arms, as if they were precious things. He was aware of her breathing, his senses catching everything. The moon gave him no blessings but this. He wouldn't trade it. Even if it was to be human.

   He pointed a long finger towards a large wooden door. Knots were decorating it much like the young woman's freckles. The dark face of it beckoned him. In a wayward place in the library it sat, as if waiting for someone to open it. "I'm going in there."

   Lorant didn't wait for her permission, nor was he asking it. He took the handle of the door and pried it open, being lucky that it wasn't locked or bolted. The scent of magical decay rushed at him, and he couldn't help but bare his teeth and growl like the wolf.

So many scrolls..
He had taken out so many scrolls she began to fear even her delicacy would break them. She adjusted the handful, re positioning them in her arms as they walked and he, Lorant, paused before a door way. She peered up at him, blinking her brown eyes before turning towards which door he had meant.
"Oh!" her face suddenly twisted at the notion.  "You can't go in there. Not even I can! That is the cellar for new books!"
But as such, he did not listen, and pushed the door open, disappearing within.
Gasping, Artemis nearly dropped her pile of scrolls and books, and it took her some time to catch and reposition them again.

ANd out of fear (and well, partial curiosity) she followed after the man, bobbing down the stairs with light footsteps, quickly remaining at his back.  Once at the bottom, she new there was a nearby table by the faint light casting in from upstairs and set the scrolls and books she carried upon it with a light 'Oof!' and then moved about, fussing over a nearby oil lamp before holding it upa nd over to him.  She was panting with the effort, her face glossed not only by a light blush, but was brushed in the golden light cast from the lamp.

"Are you certain you need to be down here?"s he inquired, pouting somewhat as she looked around in the looming dark. It was cold and foreboding in that basement, with wide shelves housing sacks of more scrolls and books , and crates fairing with the same goods, littered about.  There were heavy cobwebs, and the thick scent of dust and decay- Even a menacing furnace that appeared to have teeth and eyes remained dormant in one corner, and a small, round table across the way.  Artemis only took two cautious steps forward before she shivered, then turned the lamp back towards the priest- or, whatever it was that he was. Her eyes looked to the mage symbol on his robes, then to his face.  "We shouldn't be down here." she informed about.

She didn't stop him. Then again, there was not much she could do physically to keep him away from whatever laid in the bowels of that chamber. When Lorant stood on the top steps, he could feel pinpricks of fur raising out from his skin. All to eager was the wolf to have its jaws on whatever was lurking in the deep. It was trained well. Lorant clenched his jaw, and the restraint he trained long and hard for eased him back into his human skin.

He descended with the young woman quickly following after him. Lorant was breathing out his mouth, like an animal in anticipation. It was difficult to keep everything from surfacing so close to the full moon. He did what he could. Dust was disturbed in clouds as the made their way down, and a couple of spiders scattered out of their way. It was like the dark had shadows of its own, and when the girl sought out light it was almost as if monsters were bearing down and threatening to eat the flame whole.

"Yes." He said, and it sounded like his attention was draining elsewhere. "This is it."

Lorant made his way to the small table and thumbed through a book out of curiosity. It was in an old dead language he doubted the woman would know. He didn't need the light to see it. Being what he was had it's obvious perks. "These books, and scrolls," He began, his voice echoing in the dark. "Not all of them are from Connlaoth."

   "Misplaced in wars. Mages most likely sought out these dusty old pages in hope of a way to forsake their tainted powers. Or revel in them." He was musing out loud. Lorant had heard of such stories as a boy, but he never thought they were true. Connlaoth would not let such books exist, especially not in Uthlyn. Who brought these here, and to what purpose?

Artemis winced, cringing away as her fingers tried to brush a thick swab of cobwebs away.  Looking around, all she could think about was how disorganized this place was- and how entranced she was by this new area, reveling int he possibilities of all the knowledge she could consume.  It wasn't that there was no fear in her, for fear was easily brewing in the pit of her belly, but excitement also flared inside her heart, and made for an interesting sparkle in the depths of her brown eyes.

As Lorant spoke, she held her breath, finding herself very intrigued by what he claimed, and as she ran a hand over a crate, spilling thick dust into the air, she had to wonder just how long some of these have been stored down here.  But her thoughts were interrupted by a sneeze, then another as she stumbled forward, nearly dropping the light.  It was as she stood, half catching the glass, one foot up, the other planted heavily forward, that she blinked and noticed a chest, greyed over by thick dust, near the back wall door.

Curiously, she approached, her foot steps echoing ever so softly around them in the darkness.  The world around her immediately was cast in orange wonder from the flames, drawing long laps of light that stretched long and tall and faded up towards the ceiling where the menacing darkness seemed to gobble the rest up. The darkness continued to follow her like a plague, the lamp light, a brilliant ghost, illuminating her path as she finally stopped, standing before the chest with interest.
Though upon close examination she had to frown.

It was locked.

"Librarian, don't wander off." He said coming up behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders. "There's no telling what's hiding in here. Ansgar help you if you get lost."

   And he didn't want to be responsible for a missing woman in the depths of the library. His face was brightened by the orange lamp light, and his features were illuminated to be far more angular than they were. His nose leaving a long shadow on his face. Then he saw what the girl was looking at, he leaned over her slightly, his height allowing such a thing.  Lorant's hair fell in his eyes and he brushed it away.  An aging chest in this far corner of the room. From the light, a spider's shadow cast itself on a nearby wall, almost giving the dark it's own manifestation. Lorant's senses tingled, and he wished to change shape right there so he would have the benefit of a proper nose. What would he smell? Who had been in here? How long ago? His mind was burning with questions.

   "There should be a key somewhere." He said, and at a nearby table he began to search. Lorant carefully lifted up the books, so not to knock the key in oblivion if he did disturb it. Long minutes past, until he found one, it was only a matter of time before they figured it if it was the right one.

   He held it up to show the librarian. "This might be it. It seems as old as the chest." He stepped towards the chest. "Do you want the honours?"

Artemis tensed, almost giving a shout when the man touched her shoulder. Instead, a gasp escaped from her lips as her eyes widened as did the gape in her mouth.
Shying away, she turned to him, color from the lamp sweeping across his features as she watched him rummage through the room. When he produced a key and asked her to do the honors, a cold chill washed over her as she turned away, shaking her head.
"I.. I feel it is not my honor to have,"s he admitted lamely, keeping her eyes well averted and meek.
Really, it was not her place to go about searching the library for such treasures! Especially in a room she should not be in, with a man who was seeking to snuff out all of the treasures of magical knowledge he had found!  And really, she could have sworn that early.. she clutched a hand to her chest as it tightened at the thought, she had almost thought he had changed momentarily into something else, but she merely assumed her eyes playing tricks on her.

But there was something wolfish, feral about this man, and she could not quite put her tongue on it.

Shaking her head again, she stepped away, but held up the light for him- since, despite the curiosity that burned through her, she would simply stand back and watch.


OOC: Would be funny if the key wasn't for this chest but to another door that lead them even deeper down the rabbit hole,- but whatever you want to do is fine XD

He shrugged at her response. Lorant had no problems with being the one that opened the chest. Rather, he preferred it, for if anything dangerous should be lurking within it, he had more of a chance to react quickly than the librarian girl. All of his assumptions, of course. What was worrying him was, if they were right.

   Lorant knelt down beside the old chest, and with the key in hand, he slid it into the lock. Or attempted. The teeth were wrong, marking it as a failure. A deep frown grace his lips as he stood up, but his curiosity was not sated. He had found the key under a pile of books, it was an odd place. Conspicuous. As if someone just left it there without caring about where it was. As if they didn't expect anyone to come down into the dark.

   "St. Svan, old and tired I stand. Give me strength to press forward." He said under his breath. The dust must be getting to his head. He wanted to find where the key went. What he was searching for was not in this room. Nor was it in the chest. His nose told him so. They were getting closer nonetheless.

   "Librarian." He said, "I'm going further. Whether you come or not, is up to you. I would be gladdened by your company. Something...Stirs here. It's more than enchantments on those books. I can feel it."

Artemis had both of her hands wringing, then eventually clutched them to her breast, brown eyes peering down and holding a breath as she watched him slowly, gently slip inside the hole, the key.  WHen he turned it, she released a deflated breath, frowning, pouting even when it did not open, and although he pulled away from it, looking elsewhere, she could not help but stare at it in pity.  How she ever so wanted to be on an adventure, at least, not one as grand as in books or legends, but even something as simple as poking about inside the library basement would suffice the enticing thrill fluttering inside her chest.
At his next statement, she whirled around and said a bit too enthusiastically, "I shall follow!" and gasped, clutching a hand over her lips as the noise echoed into the darkness around them. She lowered her gaze, feeling embarrassed.
"I.. I mean, so as to ensure proper conduct is carried out."
Lest she admit she was curious, too!

He barked out a laugh when the girl let spill her overenthusiastic inner thoughts. It would appear that he wasn't alone in the curiosity. The orange glow pouring from the lamp she held brightened her mousy face, and made the sparks in her eyes shine brighter even as her gaze darted away.

    Lorant spent no time dawdling. With measured steps, and looks behind him, he lead the way down one of the corridors in the basement. The air grew staler as they pressed on, as if it had been a long time since any living thing breathed where they walked. Everything was quiet save for their footsteps and racing hearts. His nose itched and began to ache. Magic was less of a smell and more of a physical feeling that ripped through a person. They were drawing ever closer. And when a door loomed before them, Lorant gave no hesitation with sliding the key in. With a satisfying click it opened.

   And it only took that for the entire bowels of the library to reel as a scream rent the air.

The library wasn't the only thing screaming, the librarian was, too! As she dropped her the lamp, it landing with a clatter at her feet, nearly snuffing out as she slapped hands to her ears and let out an ear splitting wail.  Then, just as swiftly, a wind howled around them, lapping at the lamp and it too, threatened to snuff it out but as it ceased, the fluttering and fading orange glow of the light soon crawled back to stability, and slowly, ever so slowly, the librarian lowered her hands away from her ears.  Breath was choking in her throat, heart racing as she looked around, whimpering..
"Oh... what... what was that?"  Though in all honesty, she didn't hope to know.

Lorant's hands clamped down on his ears fast. The scream was shrill and long lasting, and soon enough it was paired with the librarian's right beside him. Through his bones it soared, shaking them to the core. His jaw tensed and he ground his teeth together, only to find his incisors growing longer and biting at the back of his bottom lip. Beastly claws dragged themselves out from his fingernails, and he felt them poke at the side of his head.

The wolf was thrashing hard against the chains that bound it.

The door flung inwards, smacking against the inside wall with a sickening clunk. A dusty wind blew at the two of them, carrying wreathes of old dusty pages and used twine into their faces. And then there came a voice...

"Get out, get out, get out!" A high pitched squeal shuddered in Lorant's ears. It sounded like a girl was having a tantrum. Inside the room, a light white glow illuminated, almost chalky in substance.

"I didn't ask you to come here! And you brought a dog! Gross!" She continued. Lorant didn't dare pry his hands away from his ears, for the fear of his eardrums splitting. It had a form of a girl in a long white dress, but her face was... Her face was...

Decaying. 

Artemis clamped her hands to her ears again, flinching as the screamed tore across them in a blinding wind, then when the door open, she gasped, drawing back in fear of the ghostly woman of decay moaning before them.

"I... I... think.. think,... we... we ought,.. to...to  leave.." Artemis stammered, slowly, ever so slowly creeping away, but backwards, as her lower lip was quivering with fear, eyes blinking swiftly, but as she finally had the gall to turn to her partner, she gave a start, hand clenching to her chest.  The man had- had- had- turned into some partial beast! And she felt the acidic burn of a faint coming on, but the dreadful moaning chill of the ghost added to the sudden appearance of her partner as a part beast, part man ... thing!  -suddenly made her drop her own mouth open and let out a terrifying scream.


And it was her scream that agitated the ghostly woman as she too, let out a terrifying scream and roared forward, sharp, piercing, haunting fingers reaching for them fast.

"Get out of my room! Get out of my room! Before I tear out your hair! No one invited you here!" the ghost wailed.

Artemis let out another blood curdling scream before throwing herself behind Lorant, but the ghost made chase as the librarian and ghost continued to go about in circles until finally Artemis turned, grabbing onto Lorant's wrist desperately. "You're.. you're some kind of monster thing. Can't you DO something!?" But then Artemis gave another scream, ducking just in time as the ghost swiped for her over head, then turned and hissed angrily at the werewolf.
"I thought I told you to get your dog out of here!!!" the ghost shouted, voice raising and vibrating in rage throughout the air that came with enough force to shake the very grounds.

What in Ansgar's name was this creature?!

Cold air breathed around them, as if wailing the same tale as the decaying girl. Who would have thought the library could hold such a thing? Lorant didn't. All he expected was a tome enchanted to the teeth. The sight of what laid before him made his blood boil. It should not exist it told him. The magic was rife in the air, he could taste it's foul flavour on his tongue. The young woman, the alive one, was muttering beside him in a weak voice.

"It's seen us now." He said, his voice being backed by a guttural growl. Then he heard her scream once more, and his eyes locked onto her, hinting at a feral yellow. The glow from the lamp light was just enough to scratch the surface of his face and his features. She had seen him. She was seeing the wolf breaking through. Before he could clamp a hand around her mouth, the creature took their pause as an opening and struck forward. It's lipless mouth gaped open, and the sight of it made Lorant's hair stand on end. Ansgar help him stave of this abomination. The librarian and the creature made circles around him. One running away, and one chasing the other. He just happened to be the centre. Lorant growled low, and he could feel the wolf's fur prickle under his skin. He had to act, and the girl's grip on him only made his decision solid.

He let go of his restraint. The sound of ripping clothing echoed as Lorant's body grew and changed. Ansgar forgive him. Ansgar forgive him.

   In the small hallway, the werewolf made a barrier between the Librarian and the creature. His lips were pulled back, and long teeth were glinting in the failing orange light. His growl was like a rumble of thunder. The phantom girl reeled back and shrieked.

"Ew, ew ew! You're going to shed and drool everywhere!" She said flailing her arms.

As Artemis was pressed behind him, she cringed as she felt his muscles buckle, his clothing burst, hair spewing from the shredded remains as a werewolf came forth before her.  Her eyes widened, body frozen in shock as the ghost continued to wail out her tantrum. And as her neck craned upward, watching as the beast's lips peeled backwards, baring white teeth and froth, her nostrils filled with acidic vapors, eyes rolling into the back of her head as she dropped like lead to the floor.

The woman screamed, roaring towards her and ducked beneath the werewolf's legs.  The cold windy chill from it's form fluttering about him as she sunk over Artemis's body and  sunk right through Artemis's heart- possesing the poor girl as she slept-

and suddenly, with the ghost's spirit inside her, 'Artemis' awoke with a start, tossing her arms about in a tantrum before lunging at the hairy beast of a werewolf before her.

"GET OUT OF MY PLACE! GET OUT! GET OUT!! I DO NOT LIKE DOGS AND YOUR WREtCHED SMELL!" the woman cried, hands hitting and clawing at Lorant, and as she did so, the ghosted forms of the ghost inside Artemis followed her actions in delayed animation, and her voice sounded as if she spoke in four tongues while ghostly flames lapped like chalk around her body.


OOC: Hope it's ok to assume Arty got temporarily possessed XD

that's what she gets for fainting :U

He didn't react quick enough. Damn it! From under his legs the ghost slipped, and he felt the cold of its spectral body breathe across his underbelly. The hallway was narrow, and cramping the form Lorant held. A wolf in its cage, though this one was not of flesh. His hackles stood on end and he tried to manoeuver around the librarian, unaware of the creature wiggling itself into the very soul of the girl that laid on the ground. Now was not the time to faint! Of all the things he had to deal with, he didn't need this. But then she rose, and with a shrieking voice that was not her own, she began pounding on him. The different voices swirled in his ears, and he gave a whine out of pure instinct. Immediately he tasted sour regret. He could not show weakness. Her hands thumped against him, trying to rake at the skin beneath his thick fur. His wolf mind was screaming at him. Danger. But she lacked the strength to truly hurt him.

This was not the librarian. What was left of his human logic allowed him to see that; to see the aura flicker around her, and to have his nose twitch at her change in scent. The creature had disappeared, and what was left was this. He backed up slowly, his feet catching the remains of his clothing on the floor. He didn't know what to do. His body had told him to change shape, but what he was left with was far more useless than the human facade he put on. He couldn't hurt her. She was innocent.

With a large wet tongue, he licked her face.

'Artemis's' face wrinkled, drawing back in disgust as she threw her hands up.

"No, no, no, no!" the woman squealed in many tongues. "My face, my beautiful face- ruined!" she squealed touching a hand to her slobbered cheek- which was TOO much for her and the spirit quickly abandoned it's host-
slipping out from her form in a wail of a breath as Artemis's eyes rolled back into her head as her limp body moved forward, falling into Lorant.

OOC: Lol...

His dignity, oh his dignity! If there had been another option, Lorant would have gladly taken it, but aside from pinning her down, he saw none, so he was forced to resort to a puppy kiss. It was enough to expel the creature, much to his favour; the air shuddered around the girl, and the chalky spectre shot back towards the dark room, screaming all the way. But still, he couldn't chase after it. Slumping forward, the librarian was still unconscious, she landed on the coarse fur of his shoulder. Slowly, Lorant laid down, taking her with him. She fell over further until her body was sprawled over one of his front legs.

   Now he wasn't sure what to do. A girl was in his 'arms', and a creature was up ahead. In the dark they stayed, all except for a tiny flicker from the lamp. He couldn't leave her, though the thought was tempting. She wasn't a mage. She didn't deserve his contempt or his cruelty. Lorant nosed her face, and gave small whines in hopes to rouse her. 

THe cold wet of his nose was enough to rouse her, and slowly she stirred, moaning from where she lay against his paws. Her eyes were bleary at first, fluttering as she came to-
but when she noticed the creature before her, hair coming into focus, then nose, black lips, fangs and beastily eyes...

She gave a start, sitting up and placing hands before her face as she let out a terrible scream-

a scream that set the other ghostly spirit into a panic.

"A DOG! A DOG! A DOG! A DOG!" the ghostly woman wailed, flying wildly over head before throwing herself at the wall, the door, clawing at anything she could before anger over took her senses as her nails came flying straight for him!
"I WILL KILL YOU YOU FOUL BEAST! FOR RUINING MY HOME!"

Artemis looked up just in time, flinching against the werewolf as the ghost drew near and letting out another scream when she realized their other plight of the flying, maniacal ghost!

For the love of Ansgar, again with the screams? He could feel a headache begin to throb at his temples. He gave a bark, but it did nothing to settle her. And who would it settle? A giant wolf was not the most comforting of things. Least of all when the same beast was a stranger and the only other companion in the dark.

Save for the ghost hurdling towards them.

One could see the tendons in the creature's face stretched as she howled. It was an unpleasant sight, but Lorant had no time to admire it. As it drew close, he snapped his jaws at it, biting through its etheral body as if it was air. His tongue burned of the magic it was made out of, but he did more damage to the ghost than what it did to him.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" It wailed, there was now teeth marks shadowing its form. "BAD DOG!" It spiralled down at him again, and once more his jaws closed around it, tearing off a ghostly arm. Lorant chuffed in a doggie laughter, readily amused.

Artemis was beside herself, falling to the ground as she could merely watch as the werewolf tried to chomp the ghost to itty bits.
The ghost, however, wailed up a storm, making more terrifying noises that caused Artemis to throw her hands over her ears again, lest they bleed.

Realizing, however, that the dog seemed to be doing more harm than her than he should, she turned her rage towards the librarian on the floor and dropped her jaw open inhumanly wide and screamed again in her fury, rushing towards the library like a white stream.

Artemis could only stare, brown eyes wide with fright as the ghost bore down upon her- aiming to gobble her up within it's ghostly maw.

Not so fast.

Blinded by rage the creature did not care to realise that the werewolf cradled the girl in his paws. It wasn't going to touch her, not while he still stood. Its voice hurt Lorant's ears; the shrill shriek, high enough to break glass. But it did not disorient him. He was better than that. And with that same arrogance, he gave a swat with a large paw at the incoming spectre. It ripped through it, and the chalky white shreds floated down through the air like snow.

A creature of magic, no ghost. Lorant would not have been able to harm it as he did if it were a lost soul. He gave a loud snort through his nose, pathetic. In moments the quiet rang through his ears, as if he never experienced it before. He stuck out his tongue and panted, his hot breath flitting towards the librarian. Lorant's tail thumped on the ground behind him. He was proud of himself. He was a good doggie.

OOC: Awwww, Lorant <3 so coot little puppy

IC:

As the ghostly figure faded away, all Artemis could do was remain, pressed now with her back and shoulder against the warm fur of the beast behind her- the beast that had protected her, and now one that was thumping his tail. It was only at this gesture that she realized he was her second plight, despite him saving her life as she pulled away suddenly, staring at him with terrified eyes as she grimaced, uncertain what to make of him as she crawled backwards and away.

However, she didn't get too far as she paused, blinking slightly-
it's tail was wagging...
wagging...
didn't dogs normally wag their tails when they were happy?
Blinking, because she was most certainly UNCERTAIN about this little arrangement, but on the other hand...
This creature had just saved her life.

She felt her shoulders settle a little, though they were still tense as she tried to study his face, tried to make sense of this was but-
her mind rattled, it was too difficult to fathom, so she merely pressed on through a whimpering breath, "That's a good dog, yes.. now,.. er.. nice.. wofly.. beastly thing... Just stay there and be a good dog, now." She gave a nervous laugh, but still continued to crawl away from him until she gave a  gasp, back of her shoulder hitting against the back wall- the force knocking over an urn from above that smashed beside her as she slapped her hands to her ears, gasping and tensing with fright.

He was so proud of himself! Wait until he told the Bishop! Maybe he'd be given treats?! Those thoughts had his tail thumping louder against the flooring, but then it slowed when the librarian pushed away with him, fright dancing on her features. Lorant tilted his big head, in the sheepish dog-like way. He wasn't going to hurt her. Yet, he understood her fear. He was large and intimidating, much more threatening than an average wolf. He assumed that was the point.

He stood up to his full height and made paces towards her as she tried to slither away, his eyes were wide and bright. Lorant flinched as the vase dropped down, his hackles raising and readying for another attack beyond the door, but when there was nothing, he relaxed back down. With obvious hesitation, he nuzzled at the librarian's face, trying to give what little comfort he could offer. Lorant waited not for her to calm down, brief was his kindness. The open door called to him like a rampant howling wind. And he padded off towards the dark, his claws clicking on the floor.

A nose had better sight than eyes. Better yet, a wolf nose had better smell than a humans. Lorant was reluctant to change shape on certain reasons, and those were some of them. The room was unlike what he expected; he expected another poorly lit chamber stacked to the roof with books. The books were there, hundreds of them. But sitting in the centre of the room as a desk made out of expensive and old wood. Inks laid dry in their containers, and quill pens sprawled haphazardly over wreaths of paper. Questions burned in his mind as he pressed his wet nose to the flooring.

Why was there magic? Why is there magic? This was Connlaoth! Why haven't the Mordecai found this place? Someone was keeping a secret, but to what purpose?  He still did not have the answers. Lorant's nose rolled over countless piles of dust that had him sneezing, but all the while they were telling him stories. It had been a long time anyone was down here. He was beginning to presume it was forgotten on purpose.

Artemis let out a  squeal when the wet nose found her again, dizzy by the fact the wolf was being... 'puppish'.  So she blinked, hair in disarray as she followed his body as he disappeared into another back room.  It took some time for her to compose herself- as she found herself rambling terribly to herself-

"Oh, Artemis, what did you get yourself into this time?" she began, hands shaking as she pushed herself, only barely to her feet, needing to use the nearby wall for support. "Here I find there are magical books in a library, some man hunting after them can transform into an animal- and some ghasty, ghostly woman tried to rip off my face." She choked on the expression, clutching at her dress. "Gods... maybe I'm dreaming." she said, feeling dizzy as she wilted against the wall. But still, curiosity lead her forth, noticing, with some interest, the room Lorant had disappeared, so further down the rabbit hole she went, leaning against the wall for support, holding her breath as she stepped in through the open door.


There was much to be seen in this place- stacks and stacks of books that were ancient and old and reached near tot he ceiling. Craning her neck, she found herself amazed as she took a few steps in, then a few steps backwards towards the back wall, to give herself enough room to crane her neck properly to just take it all in.

"Books.. there has to be thousands upon thousands of books!"

Fear still over took her, but now she was enchanted, and could not help herself from slowly following along the wall of one book shelf, heavy and overstuffed with books, stood out to her.  As did a worn, fat blue book as well- for it stood out, seeming to have settled out of place as the librarian in her took over and she attempted to push the blue book back into place.
"There." she said, rather proudly to herself before turning around and hearing a click. But the moment her eyes swept over Lorant, the book shelf came to life, pivoting and sweeping her into the wall as it turned with a lurch, carrying her out of view.

Lorant let out a series of sharp barks when out of the corners of his eyes he saw the wall move, and the librarian girl disappear. He sped over, his body jarring stacks of books. One of them tumbled over, and the loud sound reined over the room. Pages fluttered into the air, but he had no time to care for such messes. The bookshelf was gone, and what stood in its place was a wall. Carved into its face was a scene akin to what decorated the library's architecture. Connlaoth, strong and proud. Lorant turned around on the spot, giving a low desperate whine. He clawed at the wall, standing up on his hind legs.

What trickery was this? He demanded to know!

The wall gave him a blank stare. He knew what he needed to do. Outside the room was a pile of his clothing, and he wound his way back to them. Lorant hunkered down, and a soft tingling drew up his legs, to his shoulders, down his back and over his face. Slowly, he shrank back down to his man flesh, and the cold air pressed upon his bare skin. If the girl were there to see, she may  have fainted once more, as there was now a naked man crouched in the dark. Ansgar must have been breathing fortune on him. His pants were still intact. Lorant could say the same for his shirt as he played with it in his has. The awkward transformation was the last it could take. He dressed in what he could, leaving him bare chested but not bare bottomed.

"Librarian!" Lorant pressed himself against the wall, ears to it. "Can you hear me? Oh most likely not." He scowled. His hands were feeling up and down along the wall and when he felt a loose stone, he pressed on it. With a click, the wall turned, taking him with it the same way it took her.

   It was pitch black on the other side, and his eyes struggled to adjust. Lorant breathed in the stale air through his mouth, and taking a step forward made him stumble as stairs laid below his feet.

"Librarian!" He called again, his own voice echoing back.

When the wall sealed behind her- she gave a start, not knowing what to do or knowing where she was. She stared out tensely into the darkness as her eyes adjusted- but soon heard Lorant calling through the shelves. Turning around, she tried to look desperately for some sort of clue- the blue book- but before she could respond to Lorant, or even attempt to use the lever again, the floor rumbled and turned-  Spinning the wall around- so that the pair was on opposing sides yet again.

Blinking as she found herself back inside the room, she heard Lorant call from inside.

"Wolf!" she shouted, pressing herself against the books- also, feeling silly she had already forgot his name...
"I... I'm back on the other side! In the room with all of the books!"


OOC: lol

 Oh for the love of-

It was like they were at a show at a local festival. One goes in, another goes out. Every year Vestalla would hold them. Lorant didn't like them. They were loud, people were everywhere, and being happy. It was safe to say, he wasn't fond of this one either. Lorant stepped down carefully, finding his footing on the stairs. The shadows felt like they were thicker there, as if he was breathing them in with the stale air.

"Do whatever you did!" He yelled back. "I'm away from the wall!"

Blinking, Artemis looked up at the bookshelf, studying it and trying to figure out how this thing might work, then back down to the blue book from earlier.
And with haste, she clutched onto it, and tensed, feeling the shelf rumble as the wall shifted, pushing her and spinning her back into the darkness with him.

After a moment, she finally released a breath, noticing his form in the dark.
"I... well.. I'm here." she said softly, then noticed, the paleness of his bare torso flesh in the dark, and if he could see, he'd notice her face had become redder. And all she could do... was stare.
Yes.. awkwardly stare...

He did see, and grinned with a laugh quick on his tongue. Modest little thing. Lorant was no great stud, whatever lean muscle he had was covered in dark hair. He didn't have the Connlaothian fair locks, but he did have that. Her staring was a nice little confidence boost, he had to admit. Yet it was hardly relevant to their situation.

"Librarian, you're drooling." He said cooly.

Artemis jumped at his comment, a hand going over her lips.

"It's just- that- well - you- er.." and here she found her entire body going hot as she stuttered. "Yo're clothes!" she finally barked out, staring again as she braced herself against the book shelf.

"Wh-what happened to your-"

Shirt?

"Shirt?" He finished, greatly amused at her flustered antics. Really now. It's like she had never seen a half-naked man before. She could hardly get a good look at him in the dark anyhow. "The seams tore." He said simply, Lorant assumed he needed no more of an explanation. The transformation was too much of a strain on his poor, poor clothing. Boo hoo. Despite his lax demeanour to the subject, he would hear an earful of it later from the Bishop.

"Wonder where this leads." He said, taking a couple of tentative steps down. Lorant glanced over his shoulder, certain he could see better than she could in the dark. He held out his hand. "Need me to guide you, Librarian?"

Artemis blinked. Thank goodness he couldn't see her in the dark, for her face was quite red.  She thought about his explanation and realized, again, that he was a werewolf-
werewolf..
Something she had never believed in.

Until now.

She hesitated as she looked at his hand, then shook her head.
"N-no, I'm fine . I mean I can walk just fine, I.. I'll just follow behind you." she stammered.
Not only was she in the presence of a werewolf, something that just baffled her, but also int he presence of a shirtless man- and shirtless men , or even handsome men with shirts on, had always made her 'flittery'- as in she had no idea how to react to them in any sort of situation.

Lorant was no exception.
So she did all she could do- follow after him as they moved within the dark.

She was wringing her hands nervously as they walked and had she had not been so caught up within herself she might not have caught her boots upon themselves, for soon she was tripping over her own two feet as she stumbled forward, gasping as she fell right into... Lorant's bare chest.


OOC: lol

As they made their way down the winding corridor, Lorant's mind was far from settled. His thoughts kept roaming, and try as he might he could not stop the ever growing feeling of dread in the core of his person. He had failed his god, and himself. The wolf had taken him, and he had let it. Let it! He was a pitiful creature, undeserving of forgiveness, but when he could, Lorant would take to his knees and beg his god to cleanse his soul. He could do better, he would say. He had to do better. But for now, he would delay as much as he could in the darkness. He didn't want to face the light. Not yet. Not yet...

His breath was stolen away as the librarian slammed into his back, and he barely caught her before she stumbled the rest of the way down the stairs. Lorant held her up by an arm, and pulled her into him. Her warmth against his bare flesh.

"Watch it." He said, a growl apparent behind his voice. Lorant set her back on the stairs, but didn't let go of her arm. The hallway was wide enough for two people to stand side by side, and he didn't care if she didn't want to, he would not have her fall and break her head open on some silly stairs. That would be a terrible way to go.

"Do you have a death wish, girl?" He said, "Stay beside me. At least I can hold on to you."

Artemis's face was a glow with the hottest of blushes, her hands clammy and heated as well as they were held beneath his and she, guided away much more safely.
And all she cold do was stammer a lame, "Th-thank you," as she tried to focus her eyes on the darkness around them.
But as just a normal human, with no magics about her, it was impossible to see, and she nearly tripped again, breath catching in her throat, but this time she managed to catch herself against the wall just as they walked off of the stairs.

"It's so dark.." again, another lame comment- but what more could she say or do? She was blind here in the basement, the bowels of the library. And for what purpose? Why had she allowed herself to become so far lead astray- so far deep, deep beneath the ground of this house of books?

Lorant was glad as they came to the bottom of the stairs, at one point he hadn't been sure if they would ever end. They were deep below the library now, and the staleness of the air did not improve. It all screamed at being ancient. How long had it been since anyone graced this place with a presence? A long time. His human nose couldn't tell, but the wolf at the back of his mind reassured him in his assumptions. He let go of the librarian, and took the first steps forward into the new domain. Blue light flickered beside him, and one by one torches lit up the hallway. Lorant covered his eyes with his arm, and winced visibly.

   "Magic!" He growled. The wolf was stirring once more. "What in Ansgar's name is this doing here? Was this built by mages? As an escape route from the city?"

   When his eyes were adjusted, he lowered his arm and looked back to the girl, her features set a glow in the wreath of the blue fire around them. "Look at this place." Lorant placed his hand on one of the supporting beams of the wall, and traced the designs with his fingers. "This was made from love, not haste."

Startled by the display of blue flames, Artemis hung back, she too, shielding her eyes as they slowly began to adjust. And, despite the squirmy sensation she had around this magic, she was at least thankful that it was there enough to light their path. She wasn't fond of all of this travel in the dark.

Blinking, she finally lowered her hands away from her face and began to look around-
this place looked so.. so... old! And to think, such things existed beneath the library!
Though, as she approached the symbols chiseled into the wall, she could not help herself but wonder what had been here so many years ago-
Clearly it wasn't some sort of library as it were today, and idly, her fingers traced over the gentle recesses in the ancient text- and as she did so, she noticed Lorant was doing the same and her fingers flinched away as she blushed- but she couldn't help but feel..
as if when she touched the text.. something had whispered to her.

Turning around, she looked at the wall-
but nothing was there.
Just stale silence.


"This text looks very old," she began, after swallowing the dryness inside her throat away.  "And yes.. it is evident much care was taken into making this. Look at all of the detail." She was simply mesmerized by it, her eyes dancing against the full breath of a nearby blue torch.  She even slightly smiled, her heart fluttering.
But when she touched it again, she swore she heard something and drew her hand back-
the words had been haunting and so faint, she started to second guess herself as she lowered her hand to her side.
Clearly the ancient text was not whispering to her. That would be foolish. 


She turned to Lorant.
"Who do you think could have carved all of this?" and here her eyes swept outward into the room, noticing all of the walls and beams were full of this ancient text.
And it was beautiful.

It reeked of magic. Had this been the place he was searching for all along? Hair was sticking up along the back of his neck, and he could feel the warmth of a torch light across his bare skin as he stood close. His calloused hands continued to trace along the ancient words, his mind struggling to comprehend what they just stumbled upon. By all reasonable actions they should have turned back through the dark stair case and brought the authorities. But he didn't trust the Mordecai. They were too afraid.

   "People not from our time." He said, his brown eyes glancing towards the librarian. His pulse was racing through his ears like thunder. Lorant, waved his hand through the flame of a torch, and came out unscathed. Pure magic.

   "They were smart." He began, taking steps forward into the hallway. "It's underground far enough that Mordecai abilities can't reach it."

   He wished he could read the writing spread all over the blue tinted walls. The light danced on them, as if telling their own stories. He wanted to know those tales. "The writing could be spells. We should be wary."

Artemis heard his words, releasing a breath about how the text was obviously ancient, and she moved forward, despite his warnings and began to inspect each inscription carved into the wall. A thrill of excitement washed through her as she began to recognize some text- but in another aspect, it was as if it weren't just one language, but two, and then all together she realized it must've been some other language all together as she shook her head, simply staring in awe.

"I can almost read it.." she said, voice straining over one tone. Her infatuation kept her brown eyes glued upon the words. She shook her head, reading silently inside her head.
"Da'r... d'ar eth m'uht s'int uh..." she struggled over the words, brown eyes searching reading, digesting more. "It's.. it's a story-" she began- and as her fingers continued to move over the text, reading a little more, trying to decipher it as she went- her body prickled with excitement until-

The lights began to go out-
one snuffed at a time.
And as each one did, Artemis jumped, gasping and clutched a hand to her breast as slowly, but surely, the duo was suddenly surrounded in darkness.

"Oh... oh dear.." was all she could stammer-
and the darkness was so cold....



OOC: I just randomly made up ramblings she's saying lol
but on another note I'd write more but I have to go for the evening XD might post later if you reply~ :3 but yeah XD hopefully not a lot of typos in this D: *rushes out zee door*

He wasn't quick enough to tell her to stop what she was saying. Lorant's heart caught in his throat, and the cold of anxiety seized him to the core. His instinct to run instead of fight was pushing hard against the corners of his primal mind. And one by one, the light around them was snuffed out like dark hands closing in on them. The two of them were left in darkness once more, and the air hung with stale dread.

"Why?!" Lorant yelled out, grasping at his hair to pull it. "Turn the lights back on! Turn them on!" He wasn't certain who he was asking, but desperation was in his voice. While he could see, the werewolf hated the feeling of the darkness swimming around them. It was as if it had a presence of it's own, slithering down the back of his neck.

   "What did you do?" He stalked over to the librarian, and took her by the arm. And he would have said more but his words were cut off. Below them the floor rumbled.

If all of Artemis's hair could stand on end, it probably would, as his sudden shoutings had frightened her as she clamped her hands over her ears and grimaced.  His voice was thunderous, like the sharp bark of a dog.
And then his sudden anger was turned oh her. Gasping, she took a step back, but he had already fetched onto her arm. Her eyes went to his, she held a breath and froze- having no idea how to explain herself when suddenly the floor began to rumble, the entire room beginning to shake.

Artemis gave a start, leaping off the ground as it felt the very tile she had been standing on had begun to move- and when she looked down, she noticed there were glyphs there too, similar to the one she had been reading on the wall- and the only reason she could see them in the dark, was because a snuff of light began to warm in their centers, and pooling across the glyphs like water as they glowed.
Blinking, her eyes looked this way and that, realizing the entire set of tile throughout the room posessing the glyphs from the story began to light up in a big wave of a burning gold color starting from one end of the room to the next, until the entire place was consumed in it's subtle light and eerie glyphics peered back at them like glowing eyes.

"Oh.... oh my..."
She curled a set of fingers to her lips, feeling herself trembled- and all she could say in her defense was.
"But I was just reading it- it .. it was just a story.."

What harm ever came from just reading a story?!

He hadn't meant to be rough with her, but agitation and frustration readily grew like sick weeds in his mind. Lorant's grip was strong on her arm, feeling her soft skin under his calloused hands. But he let go as light reverberated up from the floor and his attention was taken away.

"What in Ansgar's name?" He gasped, shifting his feet away from where they laid on the glyphs and manoeuvring them into empty spots as if the things would burn and seethe under him. His heart pounded against his ribcage, wanting to fly way from this accursed place. And once more the wolf was rattling at its binds. Lorant bared his teeth and his human incisors grew long and sharp like a beasts.

"We have to leave." He said in a panic, even this was too much for him. Lorant could feel the magic all around him, and it danced on his bare chest. He took a hold of the Librarian's arm and dragged her along with him as his hurried steps made way for the bottom of the steps.

A blue light shimmered before them, and Lorant walked right into the barrier. Straining his dignity.

Artemis made a cry of fright when the invisible barrier showed itself as Lorant tried to pass. She backed away, so terrified that she was, that when the sharp 'crack' snapped behind her, she jumped nearly out of her skirts.  Whirling around, a hand was already braced over her mouth as she gaped and stared in wonder as one piece of tile after another began to  explode in a traced outline of golden light, then off of the ground it came, snapping off in piece after piece as the stone tiles began to lift themselves off the floor, the centers and symbols still glowing as they moved about the room.  The tiles floated this way and that, before Artemis blinked and came to realize they were beginning to draw together and float in a circular motion, like that of a cyclone as tile after tile after tile had cracked off the floor, gutted from the wood or stone husk that had once supported it underbreath and now, the walls and floor were left like toothless gums while in the center, a single breath of light flashed and the tiles began to dance and swirled faster. Around and around the ball of light they went, and the golden color was growing brighter and brighter as the tiled pieces were finally collected and in the chaos, they began to  take form, knowing precisely the order and with precision they beckoned to one another, clattering together and surging up and around in some sort of ancient spell-

and then she heard it, the ancient whispered noises again in a voice....


The story...


She gritted her teeth, wincing when she realized...


The voices were calling out to her.

Instinctively, her hand found Lorant's hand she gripped it tightly, uncertain what to make of the sight before them-
and then the light went out, and the pair was settled into a sudden, quiet dark and all she could hear was the blood drumming inside her ears. She let out a whimper.
"L-Lorant.." she began, but then the light flared anew, and there it hung above them, that golden breath of light, their bodies now lapping in it's melt of color as slowly, ever so slowly, the tiles moved around them in formation, still in a cyclonic pattern, but now they hung slowly in air, moving around and around and around.

Artemis whimpered again, her sweaty fingers clutching onto Lorant's so fiercely the knuckles began to turn white.  She had no idea what to do- or what was to come. And here she thought she might faint, but then something happened-
did the light above them twinkle some noise? Did it whisper to them? Was it calling them forth. Craning her neck, her eyes became lost into the center, as her brown eyes reflected the gold flame of light, until the voices returned again, and her brown eyes morphed, they changed, and soon the warm brown color was replaced with a fiery golden glow...







And that's when the tiles stopped.
And one dropped suddenly, and as the first one hit the ground it's symbol peele off f it in a hiss of light, in a lap of gold and the symbol flared through the air before slamming into her body- or perhaps both of theirs? She was not sure, for she was too scared to look elsewhere but the light-
and the process repeated itself- again and again and again.
Tile slammed to floor.
Symbol hissing off it's form and floating through the air like a ghost, slamming in through her body and dissolving after she would find herself lurching from the touch. But she made no noise if she was pain, only a breathless gasp, until symbol after glowing symbol had sunk into her body- and they were left with  a pile of useless, stone tiles on the floor around them, laying in silent rubble while the ball of light between them twinkled.
The last tile had been raised, hanging in the air and spiraling around them silently, stalking them as if it were some animal eyeing it's prey.


And then it happened- the symbol peeled off, just as Artemis's eyes were drawn from the light, and hse watched in fear as the symbol smashed into her breast.
And then she fainted, and all of the light exploded in that moment and back into darkness they became.

He heard them then. The voices. They became a constant tickle in his ears as the scene unfolded before them. Just out of hearing, but there, breathing into him with a life of their own. Fur began to prickle up from his skin as the wolf struggled, and Lorant hardly had the attention to keep it in check. What was he witnessing? What was this hand tight on his? All he could do was squeeze back and pray.

   And pray and pray.

   "Ansgar help us..." He whispered.

    "Here..." A voice said, no thousands of voices at once ringing as one. Lorant's free hand shot up to tug at one of his ears, his fingernails growing sharp nicked his lobe. He didn't even feel it. All he felt was the burning in his eyes and the pressure of the Librarian's hand in his. He couldn't smell anything but a cold ache rushing through his nostrils. It was as if the world was coming apart in the very room they stood in. Lorant couldn't take his eyes of the swirling tiles, and the flickers of light. And perhaps that was his undoing; being beckoned too far. A glyph slammed into his chest, taking the breath out of him, and for a moment it left a sizzling imprint of itself on his bare flesh. The Librarian jerked beside him, and off in the distance, it felt so far away, he heard her gasp the same as he. Another one came after that, and then another. Something squirmed inside his body; alien and ancient.

   "Here..." The voice came again against the clatter of the tiles falling to the ground. Lorant shut his eyes. And opened them only when the hissing stopped and the room stood still.

   The Librarian let go of his hand. He wasn't quick enough to catch her; her body sprawled on the floor, limp and unconscious. Of course she would faint, but Lorant couldn't find it in himself to be angry as a dizzy spell of his own came on. But he kept standing, if wavering on his feet. The werewolf kneeled down beside the girl and shook her gently by the shoulder.

   "Wake up, wake up." He said, his voice cracking. "Don't leave me alone here. Please." But the answer was all but silence. Lorant placed his arms under her body, and scooped her up. She was lighter than she looked. Her head was cradled to his chest and he made tentative steps towards the stairwell, heart thumping through his ears. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, and he collapsed to his knees, hitting the hard flooring with his weight, he cried out in pain.

   "No, no no." He muttered out. The strength of the wolf left him, and he felt hollow like the first days after a full moon. Alone. Human. Light shimmered before him like a tower with its looming stature. All he could do was stare with his mouth gaping open, and a girl held in his arms. A book tumbled out in front of them, and landed with a papery clatter.

If under natural circumstances, Artemis would have remained fainted for quite a long time, but the moment the book dropped, clattering from seemingly no where, she sat up with a start, gripping onto Lorant fiercely as she choked out a sob as tears began to sparkle across her eyes.

"Ah...a h.." she began to gasp, shaking within his arm as she had no idea what had occurred, nor could make any sense of her thoughts as she continued to clutch onto the man, shaking terribly within his arms before she stiffened suddenly, and shivered, a chill washing over her as she realized the pair had been plunged back into darkness.

"Oh... oh, Lorant. What... what.. just happened?" she had no idea and could not contain the hot, fat tears that began to roll down her cheeks. But then when she turned back to him, realizing- again, he was shirtless her eyes went terribly wide as she let out a sudden shriek and released her grip on him suddenly, which sent her toppling unceremoniously out of his arms, resulting in another squeaky squealed scream.

It was with a jolt that the young woman awakened in his arms, and Lorant wavered unsteady on his knees, trying to keep a hold of her and not drop her unceremoniously to the ground.  His bare chest still burned as if the glyphs imprints were there, mocking him. Even in the darkness that again surrounded them with such ferocity, his eyes could see her and see the pinpricks of tears. 'Oh great', were his first thoughts, now he had a crying lady to contend with. He wasn't one who could comfort easily, despite his training as a Brother of the church; it came to him with much struggle, as if going against his very nature as a person. He never quite knew what that told about him, even now when the Librarian began to cry and all he could do was stare down at her.

"I..." He began, his mouth dry. But then she gave a shriek and toppled out of his arms with a will of her own. Lorant fell backwards, his backside aching from the crash.

"What are you doing?" He growled low, his voice the tone that someone took when they wanted to scold another. "Did the Librarian just notice she was in the arms of a monster?" He let out a sour laugh. "You're none too quick there, girl."

Artemis blinked, flinching when he began to growl at her. But then at his words, she blinked again. Then again.
"I.. er.."
That wasn't quite why she was so upset, her entire face heating.
"I was just jarred because it is not proper for a man to hold a woman with.. with so little clothes."
And then when she spoke the words, she realized how absurd she must've sounded, and in the same breath, she only then, began to fear that,..

That was right-
He wasn't just a man.
He was.. well, a wolf! Or partially so!

But even still- to think on their predicament! It wasn't like he did it on purpose. Or.. or so she hoped!

"But.. what.. what happened!? I..."S he clutched at her chest, feeling very sore there, and achy all over.

Not proper. That was a jest and a half, he may have made a play about it if he were some fool entertaining in a hall. But he wasn't. He was Lorant the marked mage, Brother of the Church. He had to laugh though, it was all that kept him from breaking down. His hair was in a tangle and falling in his face as he righted himself, edging towards the girl with what little his eyes could see. They were weakening. Like the wolf was leaving him. He still felt it, but it was asleep, deep asleep.

"We've been touched by... Some magic." He said, and ground his teeth, the thought of it stirring anger. How foolish he had been. Lorant would have been right of mind to call on the Mordecai. He tended to forget, he did not have their powers. He could not defy what some gods considered natural. His finger slid over to the leather bound book, and the touch invoked memories of the library. A missing book, he thought, yet it was warm under his hand, as if someone had been holding it before him.

   "It would be in our interest to leave this place." He said curtly and stood up, book in hand. He held his free one out to the librarian to help her stand. "And pray there are no witnesses to what we have done. I feels...Like we've disturbed something, and no doubt we are not the only ones that felt it."

Artemis shivered, a sense of dread washing over her.
"Magic?" she visibly pale, her mind going numb, her stomach turning cold. "Oh... oh.." She found herself trembling, eyes wavering at the very real idea that they had just tampered into something forbidden, something magically, something unnatural, something not right.  At his suggestion to leave, she nodded her head.
"Y-yes, we must leave at once!" but when she attempted to moved, a power surged from the book- it snapped open, roaring hot and lashed out, it's power smashing into Artemis and striking her to the ground.


And there she lay, on her back, eyes closed..
adn the book, seemingly a roaring fire...
and from her chest heaved a burning symbol from flames-


The symbol that whispered...

The beginning....

And from it, words, symbols began to appear as Artemis's clothing began to fade away, dissovling into a black mist of steam that swirled around her body that began to sweep out, spiraling and churning, growing thicker and thicker within the room like a hurricane moving black across the stone.  And through the thick fog an unseen power erupted in the center, coursing through the room and shaking the entire earth-

Then BOOM
Into darkness they thundered, the ground shattered and collapsing into a dizzy mess of rage and heat
then light wisps of fire scorched- burned, threaded, weaving angrily through the air, catching fire against her form and then linking across her in the visions of flaming chains.
Then against her body they went, twisting around her and then reaching out-
a hot collar binding around Lorant's neck, and the chains hissed out like a whip, latching onto his master's wrists-
and once the chains were interlocked, connecting the pair together, it dragged him forward with such power he could not resist the force.

And so into the spiraling pool of hot mists he went, and soon his own body would be in disarray and Artemis was standing before him- eyes still closed, the iron chains still hot and seering, her long, dark hair fluttering up high above her head.
And they were floating, turning moving, but it was only evident in the lurch of their stomachs andthe brief flashes of flame that breathed out from the chains.  Off and on went the flames. Off and on like the lights.

And then- just as the chains had embedded themselves into the wall,  striking in and taking hold-
The lights went out again, and the chains broke-

Artemis made a noise, falling forward into him- flesh to flesh, chains entangling, rippling and melting until they transformed around her body and doused her in dark.  She found herself swarthed in a black dress and a mask with wicked crow feathers wisping off the masks sides and lacing through her hair, falling down her shoulders and lining a long, sheer black cape.

ANd her dress looked like liquid midnight, sealed against her body, with tall, high boots and heals...


and the symbol came again, pounding out from her chest in a heart beat-

THe beginning.


And then she opened her eyes suddenly- and screamed.


OOC: I left it kind of open to see how you wanted to play Lorant into the story-
The post is meant to throw Artemis into character lol
<3 so it would do the same to Lorant

It would be funny if he was meant to be her dog, but since he's a werewolf, he doens't change and maybe he's left there without any clothes at all (lol)  just some random thoughts XD

ARtemis has a really long, silly dress, so perhaps she can give some of her skirts to him (Looool)

but yeah XD
I had fun with this hopefully it makes sense >>!

   If he were only a fool... Life would be easier.

   Lorant had no option but to let go of the book as its covers burst open in his hand. He stumbled backwards, his head dizzy and in his sight the room took to ablaze. But he was cold; cold in limb and cold in mind as all he could do was watch. His face was pale and sweat beaded on his brow. Bile rose at the back of his throat, and he swallowed it down. Fear. Fear was washing over him; its chill bound hands squeezing at his heart much like how the silver knife of the Bishop would bite into the skin of his neck. The werewolf was afraid.

   And he began to run. His feet spilled and thudded against the titles strewn haphazardly down the hallway. He didn't care if he was bolting away from the stairwell, all that mattered was he distanced himself; instincts screamed at him, told him to flee. His heart beat angrily against his chest, and his breathing was heavy. Lorant's legs strained to keep up with the pace, his feet slipping under him with each foully placed step. The hall seemed to grow onward in front, never ending. He cried out in his frustration, his voice strangled by the force in which the collar strapped around his neck. It pulled him backwards, slamming him on to the ground. Lorant struggled to stand, his feet kicking recklessly under him, all for naught. The chain grew taunt and dragged him along the floor. His eyes were wide and white, and his hands scrambled to take hold. Tiles under his fingers lifted off, not giving him any grip. He was sliding backwards, and fright danced on his features. Lorant grappled at the collar, his hands burning at the touch. It was hot around his neck, sweat rolled down his chest, like demonic claws only seen and felt in nightmares.

Ansgar help me...

   His god didn't answer, instead he was lifted of his feet and made to float along side the librarian. It was then his eyes spied where the chain ended. Her freckled face was struck by the light brimming from the chains, the woman's eyes were closed to it all. Closed to the madness that surrounded them. Lorant squeezed his fingers under the collar, cursing words no Brother should curse, and he writhed in the air with reckless abandonment, trying to get free. And he howled.

   The wolf was awake. And it was pushing through his human flesh. Forced out. A furred wolf's tail sprouted from the small of his back thrashing wildly. His fingernails grew into claws and nicked the skin under the collar, he could feel the blood slid down underneath it. Lorant's canine teeth elongated, pushing against his chapped lips as he bared his teeth. His eyes reflected the fire's light and gleamed a bright yellow. He looked the part of a beast; what he truly was. Not quite human, not quite wolf. But always a master's pet. He let go of the collar and his fingers came up bloody.

"Release me!" He yelled. The chains grew lax, and for a moment the world held its breath. With a shudder the chains lashed out, dragging themselves in to the stoney face of the walls, then breaking with a terrible ringing. Gravity came back to them, and Lorant stumbled to his feet, his head swimming. The librarian fell forward, he caught her, wrapping his arms around her body and feeling the warm press of her flesh against his bare chest. His face was flushing hot, and his heart in his throat. Then it was as if darkness itself drew upon her body, covering her with an unearthly gown and a crow feathered mask for a crown. Magic. It was all magic. He could taste it as well as the fear. Her eyes fluttered open and he was gladdened for a brief second - then she screamed, and it rang like the chains that broke.

He grabbed a hold of her shoulders and made her look at him. "Stop screaming!" It was all he could think of to say, while inside he too, wanted to scream. "Please?"


OOC: I was nice and let him keep his pants. >_> Hopefully that's enough for you to go on, I wasn't sure where you wanted to take yet, so I left it open.

At his words, her face twisted, realizing only then some half-wolf man held her. Now her face contorted, mouth going open again in another scream as she pushed herself away from him, hands to his bare and furry warm chest when she heard his whimpered words of 'please?'

It was here her heart caught to her throat, and was beating clean into her skull as she peered at him, breathing hard. She took a moment, calming herself down through breaths before lifting a hand gently when she realized her vision was abstracted.  Something..
something was on her face. SHe curled her fingers onto it, shaky hands smoothing across the leathery surface and trembling across the soft, delicate feather pattern embedded strongly within.
"Wha-what!?" her voice squeaked out, hands going into her hair where a few of the feathers were twisted into it. Her brows furrowed in question, uncertain what this all meant as a black leather gloved hand moved, the chain that connected her to Lorant jingled and drew her attention, leading her to the collar that connected him to the chains she held firm.

Gasping, she drew back within his arms again, not even sure what to make of the display of bondage upon him. When she gasped yet again, it was when she took notice of her body cradled in a black dress. It was as if her body swimming in a sea of soft black silk, feathers fluttering at the ends around tight black boots that suctioned to her legs tightly, like skin.

"What.. what am I wearing!? What have you become!? What sort of magic IS this!?" she cried, eyes sparkling, threatening to brew into another fit of tears. As her face jerked to his, she couldn't help but become fearful, leaning back into his arms in a visibly and uncertain flinch.

Thump. Her hand pressed against his chest and she tore away from him. She left him staggered and staring at her with his mouth agape, the slivers of his canine teeth showing beneath his lips. The scream had rend the air, and it was like a slap to his face. His tailed curled low. He had said please. But in that moment, all her eyes would have seen was his face. The face of a monster. And that same monster watched her; watched as she patted down her body, feeling the new cloth between her fingers for the first time. Lorant's cheeks were still aflame, remembering the press of her body against his. The meek little Librarian. Yet now, that woman wasn't before him. Instead stood the form of some girl married to the dark.

She drew closer to him, the chain rattling as she walked. Lorant took one step backwards. Only one. She mustered the courage to draw into his arms once more, and before he could properly think he raised a hand to lightly touch the back of her hair. Her eyes were wet with tears, he could barely see beyond the mask that covered half her face.

"A.. Dress." He said dumbly. "I am what I always was." Lorant shivered under her touch, his body's strength sighing out from him. The book laid open at their feet, blank pages mocking them. He could almost hear them laughing at the edge of his senses. Lorant's free hand picked at the chain he was attached to, feeling links between his fingers. It still breathed warm.

"I know as much as you do." He said, his voice shaky. Before long, Lorant collapsed to his knees, the chain jingling with him as his body gave way. A clawed hand grabbed hold of one of the Librarian's arms, his fingernails poking at her skin, though not enough to break it. "Argh." He moaned, his head hot and dizzy.

Artemis's mind could not wrap around it.
"A dress? But why?" came her feeble reply, but she frowned at his own. Yes.. he was right. He was a werewolf...

ANd it still sent a shiver through her. After all, she had never thought to accept that, werewolves were real. ANd now she had every proof that they were. And every proof that magics were as horrible as all of Connlaoth could predict.
She wanted to cry to him, cry for him and run away. But she did not, and found herself collapsing along with him, to her own knees as she gave out a small cry of alarm, body falling weakly forward against hims as her black dress and feathers and dark hair spilled onto his body of fur.

He wasn't the only one dizzy, the magic still held a hold on them- zapping them of their strenght.
and seemed to laugh.
She shivered at the sound, eyes going to the blank pages of the book curiously. But she abadonned her thoughts of it and turned to Lorant. "Are you.. are you alright?" she asked quietly, a hand hesitating, as if she were about to touch his face. But did not.

"I..." He began, cursing himself mentally for showing such weakness. And in front of a woman. But it could not be helped, he tried to reason. Foul things were involved. His limbs felt heavy, like they were being weighed down by stones. For a moment he feared the ground would open up to the ocean, and drown him under it's frothy waters. But it didn't come. All that was there was her, him and the dark.

"I will be all right." He finished, not ready to raise himself to his feet. He doubted he could even if he tried. The strength was drained out of him. "After a fashion. How do you fair, miss...?"

Even after all this, he still didn't have her name.

At his words her head rose, eyes meeting to his with a hopeful flicker as a fluttering over took her heart. Then when he asked of her name, her brows rose as a hot pink color burned across her cheeks.

"A..Artemis,"s he stammered. "Miss Artemis Longfellow."
Though she flinched some after she spoke it, feeling her own body just as devoid of strength, just like his. But it seemed her heart had all but enough strength to hammer inside her chest.

OOC: Sorry it's short

D: still trying to clean my house before tomorrow T_T

"Artemis." He said, testing the word on his tongue. Names, of all the things to speak about, why had it been names? Her name hardly mattered in the grand scheme of this misery. It mattered as much as his did. A light flickered on one of the wall columns, adding an eerie blue to the room once more. The fire wavered, pushing its strength against the darkness. All alone. Lorant squinted against the light. It illuminated Artemis' face in time for him to see the flush still on it. And he cracked a grin, a weary one.

Casually, and without thinking he pulled at a sliver of fabric at the Librarian's shoulder, feeling the fineness under his fingers. His brow furrowed together. This would be trouble. More trouble than his furry friend at his backside. No meek bookish girl would have been able to afford such a lavish dress. Not to mention the chains. If they emerged from this hell, there would be questions. Lorant hated questions when he was not on the asking side. There was only one thing to do, and he loathed it even more.

He let his hand drop. "We have to turn ourselves in to the Mordecai." He said. "At our honesty they might give us a quick merciful death."

Artemis continued to stare at the beast-man a he spoke her name. She felt as if she were still under a spell, then when his wolfish hands began to fondle her clothes, she found herself holding her breath and visibly flinching, not used to such close contact, let alone by such a creature.
But then her face fell at his last words.
Gasping, she drew back from him.
"Would they really kill us!?" she said, brown eye welling up with tears. Slowly she shook her head. "Clearly they would have mercy. Clearly they could help us, would want to help us. Especially when such a place like this should have been destroyed ages ago. We are innocent on this matter. We were just-"
BUt then another lamp huffed back into light, right beside the other blue one, which startled her into speechlessness as each lamp began to regenerate, one flap of flame at a time, until the entire room was back in it's eerie, blue glow.

Artemis could hear her heart pounding in her ears as she whimpered.  Turning back to Lorant, she shook her head.
"What can we do? Would anyone even believe us about this place? Nothing like this should even have existed!"

The poor girl was so naive. Lorant felt sorry for her. Long ago, he too had the illusions that the Mordecai would help, but he was a simple child then looking at the world in a rose tint. The Bishop saw to it that he learned the truth. Fear ruled men more than kindness. They would be seen as mages. And he, a marked mage, would have his last strike. If they did not kill her, they would surely kill him. An iron hand clenched at his heart, seeming to tell him he was less prepared for death than he believed, even though he had been waiting all his life for it to finally come around and get him. He didn't want to die. By the tears in the Librarian's eyes, she didn't want to die either.

"If they don't kill you, they will certainly kill me." He spoke honestly, and eerily calm. "Mordecai see things in black and white. The gown you wear reeks of magic, dear girl. You have been touched with it as much as I have been born with it."

His hands went to fumble with the chains that bound them together. He scowled at them. "We can run." He said. "But we'd only be fleeing the inevitable."

Despite him speaking about how more realitstic his death would be over hers, she paled even further.  SHe was shaking her head by now, and in the moment he mentioned running away, she found herself naturally beginning to nod her head in silence instead.

"But why don't we run?" she asked, taking his hand and squeezing it, despite how odd it felt within her grip. Her fear of death, of surviving, far outweighed her fear towards this man, this half-beast of a creature before her.  "If death is the only answer.." she continued quietly, beginning to visibly shake when suddenly the book flashed a warm color, opening to the first page and constantly fluttering a warm glow of light.

It was blinding at first, but when she managed to open one eye, she peered down at the page and noticed something happening, a brief animated vision that was soon flashing into the dead language that had once been written all over the wall. She found herself captivated by it so much, that despite the fear clenching at her chest, she read the symbols carefully out loud.

"Everything has a beginning. This story starts on a note of change." And as she read, she furrowed her brows and tilted her head curiously to one side, as the words on the pages began to fade and dance around, swirling out of words and melting into imagery- and there she found herself staring at a woman in a similar, crow feathered dress and black mask, and a dire wolf at her side. Her eyes went wide as fear shot through her as she suddenly snapped the book shut and backed away from it, stumbling back onto her ass as she cringed.

But the book did not want to be closed and began to whisper, it's words calling and reaching out towards her like a begging hand.  The words were so breathy, so ancient, so weak that it was as if they were almost not there. Except they were. Artemis's eye suddenly snapped to Lorant's as panic over took her- and it was at that moment the book snapped open, fluttering back to the same page. On the left were the symbols and imagery. On the right- a milky black ink series of words began to form and all Miss Longfellow could do in that moment was stare- and contemplate forcing herself to faint.

'Why don't we run?' 

They would be caught sooner or later by the Mordecai, or passing soldiers. The taste of life would be briefly on their tongues, and they would want more but couldn't have it. Lorant imagined the moments before being found. They would be squared away in some dark hallow, or sleeping at a camp with the fire's embers burning low. Kicks would come quick to their sides to wake them, and steel would glint or their eyes would be peering down the barrel of a gun. Lorant would not go quietly. The wolf inside him wouldn't let him. And- his thoughts were broken as Artemis took his hand in hers, his clawed hand with the dark nails that looked more beastly than human. She was shaking, and yet, found her courage. But why would she take his hand?  Did she mean to console him? Console a monster?

The book beside them sputtered open, wrenching his yellow eyes away from her to stare. Lorant bared his teeth instinctively as he was blinded by the light soaring out from the pages of the book. He pulled up an arm to shield his eyes, but it was too little too late, the burned and watered. The cold sense of fear churned in his stomach, dreading what else the cursed place had in store for them. What more could it do, they were already damned. Artemis began to speak, and part of him wanted to scream not to read, yet his voice was stunted, the collar feeling thick around his throat. Lorant lowered his arms to see the pages flutter; to see the pages turn, and turn, the words dancing on their pale aging faces. And the image of the woman and the wolf. Were his eyes deceiving him? Before he could truly understand what he saw, the Librarian snapped the book shut. But it did not stop whatever possessed it. Soft voices rang in the air, tickling Lorant's ears, in a language he didn't understand. And soon it was open once more.

"What is this?" He choked out, slipping his fingers under the collar to pull at it, he felt dry blood brush against the tips. "This is no normal book." He spoke the obvious. Regular books did not burst forth, nor write themselves. Lorant's eyes glazed over as he watched the words appear on the pages.

"What is it saying?" He said, stealing his hands away from the collar to reach over and pick up the book. It was warm in his touch, like it was more human than object. An unsettling thought. His gaze flicked towards Artemis, seeing her pale face and wide eyes. He growled low. "Don't you dare faint. I need you."

At his voice, his plea, her eyes went to his and her breath caught within her throat, words frozen there as it tightened into a knot. She tried to swallow it away, but it seemed impossible. And for that moment, all she could do was stare at him, mouth gaping open before she finally uttered a sound, though no real words came out. Finally she was able to press her lips together in a bit of a pout, realizing, fearfully, that this man actually needed her and it was a cold reality to have to come to realize this. As she was outside of her element.
ANd she couldn't just hide behind her desk or books.
They were in this together. For better or for worse.

Swallowing again,s he began to tremble.
"I.." she began, words barely escaping from her lips. "I.. I don't know." It was partial truth, but when her eyes flickered down towards the page, she furrowed her brows as it seemed more words began to display, though they were still foggy and hard to read.
She made a noise as if she were attempting to try, her lashes fluttering when suddenly a door was heard and the approach of footsteps.
Slamming th ebook shut, she turned to Lorant and pressed herself against his side.
"Someone is coming!" her eye were terribly wide and filled with fear. "We must hide! Or run away! Anything but to be caught like this!"

 Lorant's heart shuddered to his throat when he heard the ringing of footsteps coming down from the corridor. He swore under his breath, and whatever other words were going to tumble out from his mouth were stunted when the Librarian drew close to him. For a monster, he seemed to be a chick magnet. Funny that.

Run? Where? With the book in one clawed hand, and Artemis' arm in the other he helped raised her to her feet, the chain clinking together with their movements. The sounds made him hold his breath. Lorant was still dizzy on his feet, the room swam around him, but the cold terror squeezing his guts would push him more than what would make him frail. He was not a man to deny being afraid, least of all to himself.

A long hallway stretched behind them, but there was no where to run. Lorant's grip on Artemis tightened as sweat began to bead on his brow.

"We can't run."  He said, his voice quiet and strained. They were trapped like animals in a cage.

The footsteps were getting louder, and the dizziness was getting wilder. She felt herself wobble, and nearly fell over, but found herself stumbling into Lorant, knocking the book to the floor, but it seemed more like the book had leaped onto the floor, rather than had been knocked over as it landed witha heavy clatter onto the floor, the book opening, pages flying frantically open at the same moment... city guards tore after them.

Artemis blinked. It was as if she were in a dream. The men, seeming common placed, suddenly melted into character the moment they passed through a wavering void. It was as if the air around them were becoming steamed, or surreal; like the foggy first impressions of a dream. But librarian robes were replaced by metal, glinting hot against the afternoon sun.
The sun.
They were suddenly outside, the foggy world melting around them, breathing itself into a reality until she found herself squinting and drawing her blade.
Blade!?
Her eyes went wide as she realized, with terror, she was holding out a weapon, poised before her 'dog' Lorant, brown eyes widening beneath her black mask.


A sword!? Why was she!?
And then the guards.. they were heading straight for them.
And then the book pulsated a notion- whispering the words that bled onto the pages-
It started off as an average day for the masked princess...
the ink was thick and black, and soon it's murky appearance solidified, show casing the next sentence to the story.
Where she had to defend herself against a trio of guards, all of whom now announced-

"YOU THERE! WOMAN IN THE MASK! YOU ARE WANTED FOR SUSPICIONS OF CONSPIRING WITH DARK MAGICS! SURRENDER NOW OR FACE THE CONSQUENCES!" the first guard shouted, proudly as he withdrew his blade, the two men standing behind him.

And all Artemis could do was blink. And stare.. and stare and stare...
Since the man before her was the head librarian. Her boss. And for some reason he was dressed up in full plate mail, minus his helm.

Shocked, Artemis took a step back, still holding her sword, which felt heavy and uncomfortable in one hand.
"Oh dear.. Lorant.."she began, voice wavering and whimpering. "I... I... don't know how to use a sword, but I can't seem to drop it. ANd.. that's... the head librarian. Why.. why is he in armor.. Oh dear, he looks very much like he might actually act on his words."
And it was true, the sword in her hand, it felt glued to her, so she did all that she could do and...

Continued to stare as fear prickled up her arm.

"L-Lorant? Is this some sort of dream?"

Really... what else could it be?