We know why we are here...

"No. It cannot wait." Her groaned sitting up and rubbing his face and blinking a lot. "Mandelyn has the right to cut my wings off if I do not show up. Not only that I would like to prove to Toxic, Mandelyn and Aubresiah I mean well and am no longer a Council Member." He sighed and looked at her "Aubresiah doesn't even know we are together yet, let alone that I will be there to prove myself today. She thought I was brought along as a prisoner for Mandelyn to torture once she came back. Another reason she struggled so much with Kyuu holding her. She wanted to murder me. Toxic...hopefully knows I mean well for giving him my key and pass code." He groaned getting up slowly not wanting to leave the warm, comfortable, Carson filled bed. Grabbing a set of clothing that was delivered to the door he stripped puling on all white boxers, beater, t-shirt, long sleeved shirt, and finally jeans and combat boots. He was in all white. Grabbing his armor he changed the color quickly as to what the card in his hands said. Putting it on quickly he smiled at Carson apologetically with a dopey smile. His hair was al messed up and he combed through it quickly.

Aubresiah saw him right away wondering why he was in the building so early and before he could have gotten great sleep, ate, and got dressed. "You sleep or eat yet?" She asked hands on hips. "You know we aren't supposed to be in here until the beeper calls us to come." She had her weapons delivered the night before, walking to Blood Bane, and Night Bane she smiled, fingering over light bane she couldn't choose. Between the swords and her new gifts she wasn't sure if she would need the extras. Holding her Hand over the swords she smiled. "Always great to have a back up plan. She clipped the now white holster she had for them onto her hips and put Light and Night Bane in. Grabbing a back holster she clipped it on as well, Blood Bane then went upon her back in the sheath there. "Yes it is very peaceful." she raised her eyebrows at him. "Mandelyn announces our new leader today."

"I am here to prepare. And yes I have slept and ate. I am ready." He walked over towards where Aubs was standing and smiled at the weapons. "I don't think the weapons will be very necessary, do you? Mines only along for if I need it." Toxic looked serene in the all white attire. Almost like it was not him anymore. "When will everyone get here. I am ready for this."

Carson sat up, the blanket pulled around here until she ran out of bed and to the closet that Kyuu promised her was filled with dresses. She threw an adorable white and black one on and pulled on some matching heels. She raced over to the door, just in time to shut it when she pushed her back up against it. "I want to watch you guys..." Carson said softly, but it was clear that she refused to let him change her mind. She pursed her lips, waiting for him to argue or kiss her. She was ready for either or.

Lex quickly woke up from the deep sleep that he had entered. He sat up and then stood beside the bed. He went to the bathroom, shaved, and got dressed for the day. For once he did not have to worry about wearing his armor. But he did place a sword on his belt, and a spear upon his back. That was basic protocol for him. Today, he would watch Aubresiah train. Just the thought of her made him smile.

Will's eyes opened as he woke from his deep sleep, near comatose state. "I'm awake..." he said, slowly sitting up. He must have been incredibly tired to have slept for what seemed so long. "I love you Mandelyn..." he said, smiling at the sound of her voice. He was truly happy, and always would be.

Aubresiah smiled at her brother with a small smirk and knowing tone "Of course I don't think they are needed. It's more of a... Hmm... Being closer to part of Mandelyn." She smiled making sure the weapons were in place." I'm glad you have eaten. It's a good comfort to know you have followed the rules." Aubs smiled ready to reveal her gift to her mentor today. To be a new level of experimentation. To be whole."When Mandelyn comes. When Marcus comes. Then we battle."

Lex had a piece of paper under his door. It was Aubresiahs seal upon the paper. Her signature. It was directions and a map to the theatre area.

Mandelyn groaned and sat up with William rubbing her eyes." I love you too William." She smiled sleepily at him and kissed his lips softly she too was truly happy and always would be.

Lex looked down and picked up the note from Aubresiah. He opened it and saw it was a map with directions. He followed the directions to the theatre area.

William smiled, returning Mandelyn's kiss. "Is it time for the training already?" he asked, looking away as he yawned. He then looked back into her eyes, moving her hair away from her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. She had his full, undivided attention every moment of every day.

Vek slowly woke up, looking at Audrey as she slept. He lightly kissed her, whispering "I love you" as he pulled away.

Once Lex went to the Theatre, he saw Aubresiah and Toxic talking, he could hear them. Aubresiah was in all white, looked quite at peace, calm, serene as she clipped the swords in place. Her fluffy wings looked much sharper, razor like. Her eyes were a dark blue again as she looked over Tox with a smile. Aubresiah looked like she knew something Toxic did not. He heard this was a tournament for the New Council, modeled after Mandelyn's Council leader.

Mandelyn nodded to William. "Yes darling it is." She looked so awake already. She blushed and shivered at his touch. "I need to get dressed and ready darling." She gave him a kiss, then pulled herself from the bed. going behind a white blind to change behind she undressed placing her clothing on top of it, changing into the same thing Aubresiah wore. He could see her silhouette but nothing more. She came out and her waist length hair was tied back in a braid. She grabbed her swords from the wall, clipping them upon her belt. "Will you be coming to watch dear?" She held her hand out for him.

Audrey woke up slowly kissing him softly back. "I love you too Vek." She whispered back, sitting slowly. "Are we going to watch the events?"

Marcus watched her curiously "I never said you could not come dear. Of course you can come." Kissing her gently he took her hand and walked down to the tournament building. Walking her to the theatre, he kissed her smiling. "Ill see you afterwards dear. I love you." He kissed her again more forcefully. Waving goodbye to Lex and Carson he then walked down to the training area.

Kyuu woke up, staring at the ceiling. She turned her head to see Kakuzu, curled up in a ball, facing away from her. She sighed. She felt the silk all over her body. She remembered everything that had happened the night before. She remembered how she almost died. How Derek and Jacob and Mandy tried to save her. How Kakuzu did. How she didn't let him stop. How that was the closest they'd been in ages. That she begged for his touch, cried when he tried to refuse her again, and then seduced him into submission again. How she always did.

Kyuu lay there a moment longer, then slid out of her bed, careful not to wake her love. Inside, her heart broke when she left him, and yet, she knew it was the best thing to do right now. He wouldn't cuddle her right now. She knew it was better to just allow some space between them. She slid on her dark purple robe and went into the bathroom, fixing her make up, making herself look more alive. She sighed at her reflection looking back at her as she brushed her long white hair. She tiptoed out of her bedroom and shut the door quietly behind her, muttering a silencing spell around the door so that nothing would wake her Consort. She walked down the staircase and went into the blood slaves chambers. She knocked on Derek's door, and he opened it, looking like she had just roused him out of a deep sleep. She took note of his bare, tan, chest and then walked passed him into the room, trailing her fingers over his chest as she walked passed him. He shut the door behind them, and she muttered more silencing spells. Kyuu slipped off her robe, feeling Derek's eyes on her, and slid into his sheets. He was quick to follow, in just his blue silk pajama pants. The room grew dark, and then all Kyuu heard was his sigh of delight when she bit into his neck. She barely remembered anything through the veil of bloodlust after that.

"I love you too..." Carson said softly to the retreating figure of Marcus. And somehow, she couldn't help but stare, watching him walk. She saw such strength and pride in his steps that she could feel herself falling more madly in love with him. Into a love that was so deep, it would have scared her if it hadn't felt so right. Not to mention there were other parts of him, other than his strong back and shoulders, that caught her attention. She sighed softly, wishing she would have cleaned up better for him. But then she shrugged, figuring that she could after she watched him.

Aubs caught her attention next. It'd been forever since she had saw her. Carson smiled lightly. She still had a day-dream expression on her face from Marcus, and she had to consciously keep her eyes off of him. She liked Aubs in white, and she smiled more at the serene look on her face. Aubs seemed to finally lose that underlining evil in her aura. She seemed as if everything were okay for once.

Next, Carson found the person that Aubs was modeled after. "That must be her.." Carson said, slightly awed. Kyuu's best friend and sister. Mandy. The person Kyuu almost killed herself to save. Carson watched her from where she stood, too eager to sit. She'd be pacing if she was even a bit more wound up. It was early, and she didn't want to be up yet, but she could tell everyone else was used to it. So she would get to be too. She wanted Mandy to like her.



With a sigh, Carson finally sat down and looked at Lex with a soft smile. "Hiya..." Carson said softly, trying not to be so timid. She was truly working on it. Carson finally settled into the seat and pulled her legs up to her chest, using the long skirt of her dress to drape over her legs. Part of her was still trying not to stare at Marcus.

Lex respectfully nodded to Carson ,for he was greeted by her. At the very sight of Aubresiah, his vision tunneled, for she was the one that he was here to watch.

William stood up and went into the bathroom and changed into something comfortable to wear. He placed his sword upon his back. He always carried it with him wherever he went. "Let's go" he said, smiling.

Vek nodded, "Only if you want to. I'm willing to. All i have to do is snap my fingers and i'll be ready to go."

Marcus placed the watch on the training door and it opened, as he stepped in it shut with a final clank. He looked at Toxic and Aubresiah. He was scared of them. They looked so at peace, so ready. With no armor on. He looked down at his armor and his three swords. Noticing their wings were razor sharp he looked over his own dull wings and sighed. Closing his eyes they sharpened, to the point of Toxic's.

Audrey enveloped Vek in her wings, they became fully dressed, and were in the Theatre area. Audrey gasped seeing Marcus in there and was wide eyed.

Aubresiah instantly tenced at the smell of Marcus. Turning to look at him her fangs seemed to be longer. She looked tense. "Why are you here?" Her voice sounded harsh and cold.

Mandelyn enveloped William in her wings arriving at the Theatre. "This is your stop love. I'll miss you, I love you" She kissed him tenderly, smiling at Lex and Carson she walked out confidently, shoulders held high, walking like a true leader, of great unimaginable power. Walking into the training area she looked at Aubresiah. "He, is here to prove to all of us he is no longer of Auroun's council but of my Council." Mandelyn looked at Aubresiah with her knowing eyes.

Aubresiah tensed slightly more but nodded to Mandelyn. "He's participating. That means you think he can lead us." She said it with such venom in her voice it made even Mandelyn cringe. Aubersiah was truly angered. All the training her and Toxic had to do, all the shit they went trough, trials. Even Audrey had to go through experimentation and trials. Then he, A council Member gets to participate? Aubresiah stayed still deciding what she would do and how she would do it.

Mandelyn cringed and nodded. "He is a candidate to run the new Council." Was all she said. Grabbing the same weapons Aubresiah also had she clipped them in place and watched Aubs carefully. Grabbing four shields she handed them to Marcus, Toxic, and Aubresiah keeping one for herself. "Marcus I hope you have done your homework. Aubresiah. Toxic. you know what a Level One, Two, Three, Four, and five are. This will make it so that you can survive a Level five. I have only ever seen a level five, only possess a level five myself. It will still damage you, you will however not die."

Aubresiah looked at Mandelyn "Is it required?" She asked trying not to sound to bitter.

"Yes. It is." Mandelyn clipped hers on her left arm, Aubresiah did the same.

Kyuu left Derek's room with him, having already changed into a beautiful white gown, letting her wings out. Her hair was up and had a hint of blue in it. Her beautiful white wings were out, and Derek stood beside her, escorting her to the training grounds were she settled next to Carson with a air of dignity. Derek still clearly was wrapped in the bitten pleasure haze, and he moved as though he were in a dream. Kyuu lightly held his hand when they sat, her wings getting smaller to fit the chair better. She smiled. "Today is a lovely day.." Kyuu said softly, speaking to Carson and all that were near.

Kyuu timidly, the only moment of lacking control she allowed, waved to Mandy. She was still a bit hurt from their fight yesterday. Her face became a mask again in the next moment. Kyuu turned around, sensing his presence, and turned to see her Kakuzu, hiding in the shadows. She dropped Derek's hand, only to watch her love shrug at her. Kyuu's eyes lowered, hurt that he barely cared who her affection went to, though he should always remember he was the only being to have her love. Kyuu turned her eyes back to the field, a mask in place again. At some point, her familiar, a fox named Kitzu, came and sat by her feet, laying next to Kyuu, guarding her. Kyuu only lightly petted Kitzu, the beautiful red fur fluffy on her hand. A faithful girl, as she had been with Kyuu for ages.

Manit walked into the arena, quietly watching what was happening. All of his clothing and weapons were white when he awoke, along with a note saying to be at the arena early. Looking around he noticed that there was a good sized group of people getting ready for combat. "Heh, so we meet again Toxic. Aubresiah." he said with a silver tongue. Noticing Kyuu he walked up to her and whispered in her ear so only she could hear."You know, after this tournament I am leaving. Your permission or not. I am not fit to be a blood slave. And I am not sorry. Goodbye"

Kitzu softly growled in warning as Manit approached. Kyuu lightly put her hand on Kitzu's head, calming vibes coming from her into her familiar. "You're not a blood slave." Kyuu stated softly, letting her despair and depression show in her eyes to him alone. "You were a welcomed Guardian and lover. Had I wanted to use you for a walking blood source, I not only would have, but I would have been paying you handsomely as I do Derek, Jacob, and all the others." Kyuu stood, startling Kitzu and brought Derek with her. Kakuzu tensed in the shadows, wondering if he was going to have to step in. "You do not bare my Mark, nor do I share my blood with you. Leave if you will. Your absence will not be unnoticed though." Kyuu glanced at her friends, her guests. "I have failed everyone..." She turned her back on them all, only a sad look at Carson as she left, and she was back in her room before the first of her tears fell. She felt Kakuzu knock on the door at her back, but he reluctantly turned away from it, choosing to leave her be. The only thing he did was take away the Blade of Diana, a gift he had given her from her marriage to Tyrael, Wyatt's father, that was crafted of silver and psychic. He took away all of her silver blades, knowing it was best not to leave her with them. She sank to the floor, covering her face, and cried until she collapsed there on the floor, not being able to breathe anymore.

William, Vek, and Lex all watched as things started. They did not know what to say, do, or think. They wanted to be involved, but they knew they could not be. Lex wanted to be able to protect his girlfriend Aubresiah, though it was a practice exercise and he promised not to get involved. He would watch nonetheless. William wanted to keep Mandelyn from getting harmed, and Vek stood beside Audrey, holding her hand in his. He gripped her hand tightly at the sight of Marcus. He did not know who he is, but his reputation seemed to precede him.

Carson frowned, seeing the hurting in Kyuu's aura, though she attempted to mask it from them all. When she left so abruptly, Carson stood up, and she was pissed. "Whatever you said to her..." Carson said to Manit with an evil glare. "You should be ashamed of yourself for. She welcomed you here and I would never believe she treated you in such a horrible way! You deserve nothing better than to be cast out of her realm now!" Carson lifted her hands, creating a storm cloud above his head that would follow him until he apologized to the Goddess he apparently had served. As it cracked with tiny lightning bolts above his head, she walked away from him. He wasn't even worth her anger, especially if Kyuu didn't allow herself to be mad, but took it in her despair to add to it.

Marcus would understand her leaving. She didn't much like the idea of fighting anyway, she just wanted to see him in all his glory. Turning to the feild before she left the theatre, Carson found the eyes of Mandelyn. Softly, a silenced spell, she said something to the woman from the great distance, only her lips moving, but her voice carried to her just the same. "That bastard hurt Kyuu, and I'm going to calm her down. Kicking her when she's down like this, after she almost DIED yesterday. He deserves nothing more than pain, but I will not cause it." After the last word of her message was uttered, Carson left, running as fast as her legs would carry her, up to where Kakuzu sat outside in the hall.


"She's going to be okay, isn't she?" Carson asked the manbeast God timidly, lowering to her knees. When Kakuzu nodded, she felt just a bit of relief. "He shouldn't have said that to her... He shouldn't have said anything..."
Kakuzu nodded, and shrugged. "She's the embodiment of Athena, most of the time. She doesn't control her actions. I have never blamed her for it, only given her free reign. Though I love her to the ends of this plane and every other that exists, I will never push to be the only." Kakuzu's voice was rough as he said the words, as if he had been crying too.
Carson looked at him, trying to see what it was that drew Kyuu to him. She couldn't see it, but she understood that it had to be something much deeper then he saved Kyuu's life all the time. Pouting a little, Carson leaned over, listening on the door. She sighed when she realized the room was sound proof. "I don't know how you didn't go and kill him, damn him for eternity, anything..." Kakuzu just shrugged again, as if to say "It's not our way." Though Carson knew from talking to Kyuu that Kakuzu lived for a fight, as did their first born son, Strax. Feeling a bit sorry for knowing too much, Carson ran down stairs to the bar and grabbed a bottle of rum, and brought it back to him as an apology. She hadn't know it was his favorite until after she had asked Jacob, but he assured her that Kakuzu would love it. When Kakuzu nodded in thanks and took the bottle from her, taking a long pull from the bottle, she mentally noted that she would have to thank Jacob later.

Kakuzu shattered the bottle in his hand grinning. "I know how I should do this.... I know how I will make this man go apologize the the goddess." He grins to Carson. "Tell me little one, have you ever seen a Battle Imp? And more importantly, have you ever seen one fight? They are vicious little creatures... why don't I send my little friend, Morxtog to take care of such a man... Or even better, my Grandson, Rig... or his Cursed form Zaron.... yes... Zaron will be perfect..." Kakuzu chuckles darkly and snaps his fingers.

A tall man, with raven black hair appears next to the other two. "You called?" This man was Zaron, the future form of the Salazar curse personified, Zaron held the rarest of all elements, Psyro, along with Chaos and Paradox. Zaron was an unstoppable killing machine that even the gods would have trouble with, only Kakuzu could defeat him by shutting the psychic half of Psyro off. And even at that he had trouble.

Kakuzu nodded and grinned. "yes.... go take care of the pest whom hurt Lady Kyuu, won't you? unleash your full fury on him... but have fun" Kakuzu chuckles

Zaron's eyes light up with happiness and he grins. "Of course!" He turned, Laughed darkly, and headed towards Manit. "Oh creature of such a.... short future... you have hurt the wrong woman, come creature, we shall do battle, and I shall be the victor."

Carson looked utterly confused. "No, I haven't, sir. We don't have those in public from my time.." Then she saw it. Whatever Kyuu saw in Kakuzu, it was there. Some underlining of determination to fight for her honor, even if he himself didn't get his hands dirty with the task. "Hey, I'm not little!" Carson argued, a pout on her lips. She was so much like Kyuu, though they were both from different times. "And your...whatever Kyuu is to you... Is about to make me immortal..." Carson pulled her knees up to her chest, pulling them away from the nasty liquid from the broken bottle. The she saw the demonic being before her. She wondered how, and if, that thing was related to the Goddess by blood. Surely she couldn't have such an entity related to her from her Angelic blood... Would Carson's descendants turn out like this if she did it? And yet she refused to let the fear strike her so obviously.

As Zaron stands, waiting for the fight, Kakuzu turns back to Carson. "you are little compared to me, also, what your thinking. No they will not... Zaron is a curse... this is how this works... my son Strax, took my other son, Krahz's DNA and mixed it with a Nobody named Sayx's DNA. This mixture made a child named Rig. Rig, being an Eragous and an Salazar, had the best traits of both god like families. The Salazars however had a curse. Rig's cursed form was named Az. Rig managed to get rid of his curse... But because of the Psychic, the power of the mind, mixed with the Cero from Sayx, the power of the heart.... and the power of Psyro... the power of the soul. the Curse manifested itself in a physical body, making Zaron."

Carson tilted her head to the side, her eyes wide. "That made little sense to me, but that might be because I don't know who most of those people are..." Carson sighed softly, used her thoughts not being her own, since Marcus was always listening. On w him, Carson waved her hand over the broken bottle and the dripping, pooling Rum, and fixed the bottle as it had been before. Pleased with her own show of magick, she looked up at Kakuzu, and then stood, realizing the way he towered over her. He must have towered over Kyuu, too, but then again, Carson had noticed that even the male blood slaves were taller then the Goddess. "That's something you seemed not to have an answer to. What is Kyuu to you?" Carson leaned against the wall, mulling over in her mind ever good thing that Kyuu ever uttered about the being she loved, noting there was little to nothing bad said about him. So she knew how the Goddess felt, but not the God.

Kakuzu frowned. "I don't know what Kyuu thinks i am... but i am her Lover and consort. She... she wasnt my first love no, but she has always been my best..." he sighed. "im not sure what you know of me... but most of it probably isnt true... i may never show up. but im always here when she needs me most... im gone most of the time because of how much power it takes to keep my realm up and running. i barely have power to spare"

"You know that she understands that and loves you though. And no, everything I know is true. Just from what I've seen when she talks about you, and just from a few minutes of your time I see it clearly. She would never allow anyone to speak ill of you, and she would probably die if anything but delight was uttered from her own lips when it comes to you." Carson shrugged her shoulders. "Why don't you both just combine your realms and rule together? Knowing her, she'd want nothing more. Well, for some reason she might want something more... Committed, since she's been planning my own wedding and it seems to both excite and sadden her... But if it takes so much energy, why don't you just let her help you maintain it in one world?" Carson shrugged again, wondering why nobody else thought of it. "I mean, she's carrying, what, your seventh child and yet she wants nothing more than you to be there for her? It just seems like the most logic of ideas to me." Carson smiled a little, almost jealous of the Goddess. "And yes, I know she's having another child. Nobody else does, though."