The Storm [M][DragonSong]

[Lowen Thorn]

Theodore nodded. "Of course," he agreed. "Tommy, would I-"

"It would be my pleasure, sir," the butler said before hastily making his way into the kitchen.

It only took a few minutes for Tommy to fetch the three of them a nice warm cup of tea, but during that time Theodore was able to give his thanks to his escorts, have the guards settle back into their normal routine, and see Daniel off with another guard - sending him back to his parent's estate.

He led the father and daughter into the parlor. There was a seat for all three of them, and even an empty one for Twyla if she wished, but something told him the little hellcat would rather be in the warmth of someone's lap.

"Here you are."

Tommy handed them a mug individually, and then poured them full with the steamy beverage one at a time, before bidding a quick good night and leaving them alone.

[DragonSong]

Twyla immediately leaped up onto the chair that had been left free, kneading the cushion for a few moments before pacing three circles and then curling up in the center, purring happily.

Ilia managed to muster up a weak smile from her own seat, and chuckled quietly to herself. "Little princess," she teased the hellcat quietly.

"Mrrow! Mow-wow-wow."

Varyyn smiled slightly and lifted his cups to his lips, breathing in the steam of the drink before he took a sip. "Well now. Are you sure we are alone here, Theodore?" he asked after a moment, eyes flicking from Lola to the door pointedly.

Ilia leaned back in her chair, letting her eyes close. God, she was just so tired...

"Lottie, darling, you must stay awake."

She flinched as her father's voice all but snapped out at her, jerking her from the edge of sleep. "Papa," she complained, rubbing at her eyes. When she met his gaze however, she felt a tiny shiver of fear run down her spine at the intense concern on his face.

"Please," he muttered. "Just stay awake. Just a little longer."

[Lowen Thorn]

Lola gave Varryn a slight smile before snapping his thumb and middle finger together. A seal surrounded the room in a quick flash - naked to the human eye but he assumed Varryn would at least be able to notice the subtle change in energy.

"We're alone," he said, dropping the accent and the act. "Ilia," he looked to her. "Are you okay?"

[DragonSong]

"'M fine," she tried to mutter, waving him off, but it was just so hard to shape the words properly in her mouth, to keep her eyes open...

"She's still bound to you," Varyyn said quickly, rising from his chair and crossing to kneel in front of Ilia's. "The ritual she performed in the Demon Realms is taking longer to fade than I'd anticipated--and it seems she bound herself to you too powerfully to begin with."

He'd been worrying about this for weeks, but it was only now that he could see them both together defenses both magical and mundane lowered, that he could read the change in their auras properly. Glancing to Lola, he explained shortly, "With half her soul tied to you and the--the baby starting to grow, it's eating her life away."

[Lowen Thorn]

Lola bent over in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands now covering his mouth. "I thought so," he said quietly. "I didn't know how to explain it, but I knew it had to have been something like that."

Another sting of guilt touched at his chest.

"So what do we do?" he looked to Varryn for guidance.

[DragonSong]

"I have to perform a ritual to completely sever the first."

Varyyn spoke quickly and sharply. He was angry with himself. He'd suspected this, he should have just made them stop on their journey and sorted things out the moment he thought Ilia was in danger. But that would have required time and supplied they didn't have, and may have raised suspicion.

Didn't exactly make him feel any better about the situation.

Straightening up, the demidemon said briskly, "We'll need vervain, salt, hot water, and a copper bowl. And somewhere to perform the ritual where we won't be disturbed."

"What do you mean?" Ilia's voice was weak and hazy, but she still managed to catch her father's attention, at least, as she tried to sit up straighter in the chair. She was looking at Lola. "What did you mean, you...you knew?"

[Lowen Thorn]

Lola's face was absent while he was taking in everything Varryn was saying. All of the ingredients he had requested should be easily enough obtained - more than likely all was readily available in the manor, and he had the perfect place for them to do it at.

He looked to Ilia, blinking slightly at her question. "Oh," he started, a little caught off guard. "Every time I used my abilities you became noticeably weaker. That's why I stopped doing anything, and rode the rest of the way in the other coach."

[DragonSong]

"Oh." Had she noticed that? Should she have noticed that? If she was being honest with herself, Ilia knew she hadn't really been paying much attention to anything going on around her since she'd left Connlaoth--not even what was going on with her own power, apparently.

Turning his attention fully to Lola, Varyyn cut in smoothly, "If you would tell me where I may acquire the ingredients, perhaps you could escort Ilia to the ritual site." The suggestion was voice softly; despite the wards Lola had erected, he was cautious.

[Lowen Thorn]

"All of that should be readily available for you in the kitchen area," he said, gesturing his hand toward a hall that would lead him there. "If you see Tommy, you can ask him for his help. He won't ask questions."

Lola rose from his seat and stepped over to Ilia. "Ready?"

[DragonSong]

Varyyn nodded and slipped out the door quickly.

"I'm fine," Ilia tried to protest again, waving a hand at him. "Really. I'll just be happy to have this link severed."

She moved to stand, but her knees buckled the moment they took her weight and she collapsed back toward the chair, clutching at the arms. "Shit." She clenched her eyes shut, trying to suppress a wave of anger and fear that threatened to swamp her.

[Lowen Thorn]

If she was actually just tired and not in any danger, he probably would have laughed at that. Instead, he just frowned slightly out of concern. "You're not fine," he argued. "Come on. I'll help you. Take my arm."

[DragonSong]

She glared at him, hating the fact that she needed help--but she did need it. With a small sigh, she reached up to take his arm, leaning on him heavily.

"...Thank you."

[Lowen Thorn]

Lola was careful with his bride-to-be, taking each step with caution and he supported her down the hall and then down the stairs into the cellar.

The cellar itself was much larger than one would typically expect in a home. Where most people would ride out a bad storm, he often used it to torture his victims that he would lure here with his glamour. He released the seal that remained in hold on the underground room before they entered, and then resealed it once they were settled in.

Solid stone, sealed with magic, sound-proof. There would be no better place for Varryn's ritual.

He brought her to a chair that he kept stashed in the corner, pulling it out more into the open and helping her to sit in it. "Think you'll be okay here by yourself for a while?" he asked. "I'll need to go get your father once he's collected everything he needs."

[DragonSong]

Ilia had enough energy to quip a weak, "Charming locale," as Lola led her down into the cellar of the manor. Twyla followed at their heels, sometimes winding in and around their legs, but mostly just padding along behind.

When he sat her in the chair, she nodded tiredly and tried to wave him off. "Fine, I'm fine. I've got Twyla with me, see?"

The hellcat mewed and jumped up into her mistress's lap, kneading the fabric of her skirts. She blinked slowly up at Lola as if to see, I've got her, go on.

Though she'd told him to leave, before he could actually go Ilia suddenly reached out and grasped Lola's wrist weakly. "Damien..."

She took a breath, swallowed, then murmured, "About... The journey here, I wasn't--I think I was...unkind to you. I'm sorry. You didn't deserve it."

[Lowen Thorn]

He was about to leave when she grabbed his wrist, and he let his eyes linger on her for a moment while she apologized. He was unreadable until a small but warm smiled curled into lips. "Life is unkind, Ilia," he said. "Many have been unkind to me, and you are not one of them. You're actually quite charming."

He winked at her, gave Twyla a quick scratch behind the ears, and began climbing the stairs to find Varryn.

[DragonSong]

She managed at least the ghost of a smile in return. As he pulled away to leave she found herself reaching out for him again, words forming on her lips. But she pulled her hand back before he noticed and simply slumped into the chair, head bowed and shoulders heavy.



Varyyn had found the kitchen easily enough, although he seemed to have disturbed some of the staff by coming in and rooting around for the ingredients he needed without allowing them to help him.

[Lowen Thorn]

Lola was back in character as he made his stride through the manor. He heard the click clacking, ping panging of dishes, pans, and the sort being shuffled around from the kitchen area. Guess he didn't ask Tommy for help, was his first thought with a soft, amused smile as he appeared.

"How we doing?" he leaned into the door frame and asked.

[DragonSong]

"They are common enough ingredients, and easy to find," Varryn replied as he turned to face him, holding the copper bowl with the main spell components in one hand and a water flask in the other. He jerked his head toward the door, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "You left her alone?"

There was just the barest hint of a growl in his voice.

[Lowen Thorn]

Lola looked at Varryn wearily. He knew that was less of a question and more of a disapproving statement. He nodded and said, "Yes. I made sure she was fine, and Twyla is with her. If anything were to happen, we would know about it."

He moved out of the frame and into the room. "If you're ready, follow me."

[DragonSong]

Varyyn grumbled quietly, but didn't press the issue. He just nodded and moved to follow Lola to wherever it was that he'd decided was an appropriate place to perform the ritual.