A place without shadows

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Keaira had passed along the message to him telepathically. D'rorah wanted the Lightfighters to meet. The reason had not been revealed. Perhaps simply to take stock of who still lived and who had been awakened. With Wysteria's and Dien's recent deaths and his own newly woken power as the Elemental Master of Metal, there had clearly been at least some shifting in the possession of power in the war. Perhaps there had been more. If nothing else, it would allow everyone to know who was on their side. Zee still only knew of D'rorah, Dylan, Keaira, and Alessandro. And Wysteria, but that hardly mattered anymore.

And so there he was, sitting in the sixth floor corridor, even though it was not yet the agreed upon day for his instruction and training from his Shadow Warrior. Zee had arrived early intentionally. He had not been thrilled by the notion of walking into the Room of Requirement after everyone was gathered. It would feel far too much like entering a courtroom during his own trial. But he had not intended on being the first to arrive. He knew how to shape the room, but knew there would likely be no less than three objections to entering the room if Zee had been the one to decide what was there, and on what conditions any could get in or out.

Instead he seated himself against the tapestry opposite where the door would appear, watching a woven troll out of the corner of his eye. Someone would be along soon, surely. The awkward thing would be if it was someone Zee didn't know to be a Lightfighter, especially if they were similarly ignorant of his affiliation. What could he do though? There he sat, somewhat despondently, waiting for whatever would come.

[mallan]

It had been another stressful day and Mallan had not had time to himself to clear his mind as he usually attempted to do. He had been too busy with homework and practicing Expelliarmus. It still frustrated him that he could not perfect it. Mallan was glad though that he had a few people helping him otherwise he knew he would have drowned in all the subjects. Miss D’rorah, Illy, and Professor Archer were all a huge help. Mallan reminded himself to do something special for each of them as a form of thanks. He was glad when he received the telepathic request to meet at the Room of Requirement for a Lightfighters meeting though it still threw him off a bit. He was in library and the walk would give him time to clear his head. He knew he would need it if he was going to be aware of anything going on in the meeting.

On his way to the sixth floor and the Room of Requirement, Mallan tried to refocus and let his mind relax. It wasn’t until the fourth floor with which his mind finally lost some tension. Too many students had been running around or having conversations and at the moment even a conversation at normal volume was a frustration to Mallan, hence why he had chosen the library to finish his homework. The fourth and fifth floors were quieter and Mallan decided to take a few minutes to sit down and perform a quick Zanji meditation. He sat himself against a stone wall of the main hallway and meditated.

After a few minutes Mallan felt like he could actually think again and so continued to the sixth floor. He was excited to finally have the chance to meet the rest of the Elemental Masters and Shadow Warriors. At the moment he only knew of D’rorah and she had not mentioned any others. The idea of finally meeting the rest of the group put Mallan back in his typical lighthearted mood. He finally made his way onto the sixth floor and over to where D’rorah had taken him the night he had found out. Finding the door not visible Mallan looked around and saw a boy, who was just sitting against the wall. Mallan seeing no one else thought it would be silly to just stand there by himself with someone else in the hallway so Mallan sat down next to him and pulled out his sketch pad from his book bag. Mallan began sketching for a few moments before introducing himself.

(Mallan looked up to face the boy and noticed his prefect badge for the Slytherin house) Hey there, I’m Mallan Baine. It’s nice to finally find a quiet place. Hope you don’t mind me breaking it. (Mallan smiled, looking at the boy for a moment longer in case he responded before continuing to sketch)

Matter of fact, he was the first Slytherin Mallan had even met and he was a Slytherin prefect; lucky him. Mallan thought it would be nice to be a prefect but could not quite credit himself qualified for the position. Mallan sat there sketching and awaited the Slytherin’s response. He was finally going to see if they lived up to the rumors of their house. If the boy did not want to talk, Mallan wouldn’t push it further though; he knew how he felt when people interrupted his time to himself.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Zee regarded the newcomer with passive curiosity. In truth he didn't feel like talking and would very much have liked to be left alone, but seeing as he was there to meet many other people, he couldn't quite justify being completely antisocial. Suppressing a sigh, Zee nodded at Mallan. His voice came out somewhat blandly. There was no malice, but no warmth either. Ironically, his tone reminded him of D'rorah.

"Hello Mallan. I'm Zee. I suppose I shouldn't be too annoyed by having my privacy disturbed while sitting in a hallway where any student can freely go. Any particular reason you picked this stretch of nowhere to recline in?"

The question was reasonable and would possibly tell Zee whether Mallan was supposed to be there or not. If he wasn't one of the Lightfighters, Zee still wouldn't take any steps to remove him. He'd leave that to D'rorah or Keaira. Despite his strong desire to return to his thoughts and ignore the rest of the world, Zee kept his gaze on Mallan, though his face remained quite emotionless.

[mallan]

Mallan listened to Zee introduce himself and could not help but think about how many students seemed emotionally taxed here at Hogwarts. Not only D’rorah, but then he met Dylan and now this boy, Zee. They all seemed as though they were just glad they were alive and had no other reason to stay alive. Well, D’rorah had a reason. As Mallan thought about that he couldn’t help but realize that he shouldn’t assume too much so soon about both boys. Mallan was beginning to lose his wonder of the school. At first he thought it would be a marvelous and fun place but now he had begun to rethink that idea. The longer he remained here the less he marveled.

Zee’s question was one that Mallan expected from anyone. Unfortunately he could not answer the question honestly. He had no idea who was a Lightfighter and who was not and he could not risk telling the wrong person; especially if this boy was a spy of the Mage’s. So Mallan decided he would just leave it slightly ambiguous. He stopped his sketching while he answered Zee in a casual, patient tone as to not appear chipper or overly friendly.

A pleasure to meet you, Zee. It’s strange; I’ve been here for a few weeks now and you are the first Slytherin I’ve met. Fate has an odd hand sometimes. (Mallan mused half to himself) Well, I have to say I’m glad for the company. I’m waiting to meet D’rorah; she asked me to meet her here, instead of the park, for some reason or other. How ‘bout yourself?

Mallan wanted to add a joke but thought that Zee’s eyes said he wouldn’t appreciate it too much. It made the mood press on Mallan slightly. Mallan just hoped that his mood did the same for Zee. It was sad to see so many people emotionally dead. Mallan tried to think of some fun times he had since he was here and could only think of flying with Aimee. It still helped though.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah made her way to the Room of Requirement as quickly as she was able after sending the message to the others to meet. The meeting would serve a few purposes, the main one being merely introducing the members of the group to one another so they would recognize each other when the need arose. And then, there was the business of relaying the news about Wysteria's death and Alessandro's possible disappearance. She didn't particularly relish this task, especially given that many of the Lightfighters now were new... which meant that they'd be more likely to decide that this ultimate struggle between Light and Darkness wasn't worth their lives.

As she made her way down the corridor, she nearly cringed to see Mallan and Zee out in the hallway. One couldn't doubt it was an odd place for anyone to be. There were no classrooms on this level... only the Room of Requirements and the Headmistress' office were here. Luckily, that also meant there was less chance of stragglers wandering by.

"So, Mister Bishop, Mister Baine," she acknowledged by way of greeting. "I suppose we should not congregate in the hallway. It would be just our fortune to catch the Headmistress out and about... I would not wish to sully my virtue with rumors of lurking in empty hallways with random Wizards..." as she spoke, she made the requisite passes up and down the corridor. It was almost habit to call the room into existence now. And sure enough, the sought after door popped into being from the empty wall just as she finished the third pass.

She opened the door and slipped in, holding it for Mallan and Zane as they came in behind her. "Gentlemen."

She looked around, they were in the main corridor of the Elemental Training Rooms. Ten chairs were seated around a circular table. Each chair was emblazoned with a symbol for the Element of the door in front of which it sat. D'rorah made her way to one of the Wind chairs and took her seat. "I suppose we should wait for the others to arrive before we begin."

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

I wonder if my previous attitude of overt, overdone friendliness was ever this annoying to anybody else.

Zee kept the thought private, simply nodding absently at the other boy's explanation. It seemed somewhat odd that Mallan had not met any other Slytherins, Zee after all saw numerous housemates every day in the common room. It was true however that he saw far fewer of them out and about the castle and grounds, and in fact had himself met no more than three other Slytherins. They did seems to be a rather reclusive bunch. The barest whisper of a smirk came to Zee's lips as he thought of how, even as he grew less sadistic, he grew more insular. It seemed no matter how he changed he would still fit in well with the other Slytherins.

"I see. I am also waiting. I can't say what for. I'm not really certain."

Perhaps the words would seem like an attempt to be mysterious, but in truth Zee just wasn't sure why he was there. Was he hoping for a discussion on the many virtues of Wysteria Edwin and how she would be desperately missed by all? Perhaps some would give nice eulogies. Or perhaps he wasn't waiting for that at all. Could he be hoping they would decide what was to be done with him? Neither Keaira nor D'rorah had seemed terribly sure of themselves concerning him. Could it be this was a meeting of his jurors?

Zee had far too many questions and no answers. He didn't know enough about the war, he didn't know enough about his allies or his enemies, or even who fit into which category. And lately he'd discovered he didn't know enough about himself either. How could he assure the others that they need not fear him when he couldn't convince himself? Wysteria had had a profound impact on him true, swaying him far to the side of his previous values. But how could he know nothing would sway him back?

His thoughts interrupted by D'rorah's arrival, Zee lazily rose to his feet. The little quip about her reputation went by without reaction, as did the rest of her speech. Typically he'd have responded with some innuendo or other while dissecting her word choice and body language, wondering what it meant that she had treated him exactly as she had Mallan. Instead he simply shrugged and walked into the room when she held open the door.

The impressiveness of the room did manage to pierce Zee's shell of apathy, and he spent a few moments taking it all in. The fact that one of the open seats was undeniably his struck him as important. He was a part of this, and it wouldn't be complete without him. Much as it was incomplete without Wysteria. Slowly, Zee circled the table, examining the symbols carved into each chair. Fire and Water were easily identified, and the symbol on Dee's chair was clearly not metal if she sat there. Neither of the remaining two symbols seemed terribly metallic to him, but one was decidedly more earthy, so Zee finally seated himself in a chair bearing the other symbol. Folding his hands in his lap, Zee's head drooped down though his eyes remained open, aimed down at the table before him but not seeming to really see it.

[mallan]

Mallan listened to Zee’s words as Zee answered him with the bare minimum of a response. Mallan knew he was there for a reason, which Zee did not reveal, but he could not tell whether it was to be alone or to meet with the rest of the Elemental Masters and Shadow Warriors. Either way it seemed that the boy had no intention of speaking further and obviously did not want to be disturbed any longer. Mallan felt bad about interrupting the boys silence but decided he would not interrupt it again to apologize. He could not just get up and leave either, as he was awaiting D’rorah, so Mallan just sat there continuing to sketch.

“The first Slytherin I meet and he doesn’t want to talk; wonderful. I wonder if they are all antisocial. I probably made a complete rude fool of myself.” Mallan thought as he sketched. Again, Mallan stressed to himself that he should not assume too much. As far as he knew Zee could be having the worst day of his life. So Mallan tried to take the annoyance of Zee being so curt off his mind.

Mallan was contemplating what to add to his sketch of a castle in the rain when D’rorah showed up. She regarded both him and Zee in the same manner, which lead Mallan to assume that Zee was an Elemental Master. She paced the hallway similar to the time she had brought him here and moments later the same door appeared. Mallan stood, and at the same moment Zee stood, but Mallan let Zee walk ahead and return to his seclusion before moving any further. It seemed the best to just let Zee be by himself. Maybe some other time he would be able to meet Zee in his usual manner.

After Zee had entered and sat down Mallan decided to enter. Pausing for a moment, a few feet into the room, Mallan sensed a sort of apprehension enter his mind causing a feeling of vertigo. After his vision cleared he looked around and saw a round table with ten chairs placed around it and in front of the appropriate doors of the elements. Seeing D'rorah, Mallan wondered if the feeling belonged to her or if she had telepathically sent the feeling to him. However, she did not move to look at him and so thought perhaps Zee had sent it. He then looked at Zee but his head was already facing the table and did not move either. Then Mallan remembered D’rorah mentioning that there would be a telepathic link between them. He felt a little more reassured at knowing that control was still in hand and he had not gone crazy. This connection was going to take some getting used to. It still threw him off occasionally; as it did just then. Mallan wished that these abilities would have just all happened at once. That way he would have been able to pass out and get it all done with. As it was the sensations were just stacking up on each other and with each new aspect of the link being revealed the sicker he felt.

Mallan walked over to the chair on D’rorah’s right hand side and sat down in the chair for the Elemental Master of Wind. It felt awkward being only the third person in the room when the two others seemed unwilling to converse. Mallan was unsure what to do. So he decided not to temper with the silence knowing that Zee would probably appreciate that. Mallan began wondering what they would talk about as he waited with anticipation for more to show up. He spent the time quietly while subconsciously rubbing the Celtic charm on his wrist. The sickness slowly left leaving only a lingering part of it.

[Dylan Cooper]

Trying to return to a somewhat normal timetable now that he was free of the infirmary, Dylan lay huddled over the beginnings of his History of Magic research. His recently completed Ancient Runes work lay on a nearby table, his small, neat writing covering several inches of parchment. He had quite a bit to catch up on, not to mention helping in Dee’s research, and he intended to finish it all as soon as possible. There was no use in getting behind, and such a thing could only be detrimental to his O.W.L exams at the end of the year.

Resting back and rubbing his eyes, quite tired from having focused on such a small spot of parchment for so long, he sighed in an exhausted sort of way and cracked his stiff knuckles. A voice that was not his own, though almost as familiar as it, resounded through his mind, calling him to the Room of Requirement. His eyes flicking up from re-reading what he had processed so far, he quickly collected his things together and packed them back into his satchel.

Departing the common room as quickly as constraints would allow, he was glad for the significant lack of stairways between himself and his intended destination. Tracing quickly up the required staircases and along the fastest corridors, he found the door already accessed. His hand on the doorknob, he stopped briefly, wondering why D’rorah had called this meeting.

Finally entering the room, he found a familiar setting. His eyes flicking quickly over the scenario, they were drawn immediately to the Slytherin currently occupying a chair aligned with the element of metal. His eyes narrowing even as his jaw set into a tight lock, he simply emanated disgust and hatred as he moved with a carefully measured pace to a seat that he had noticed previously to contain an earthly symbol.

Eyeing down Zane as if he would like nothing more than to thump him multiple times over, he hadn’t even bothered to acknowledge either Mallan or D’rorah yet. Barely having the capacity to hope that Dee would understand, he simply remained staring Zee down; a particularly nasty look on his face. Being summoned only moments ago, he hadn’t realised until actually seeing him, that Bishop would even be here. Of course, D’rorah had told him that Zane had replaced Dien as the Elemental Master of Metal; it had just not registered that he would be here.

[Keaira O'Connell]

((Gosh Dylan get your dead people right, Zee replaced Dien, Mallan replaced Mord. feels insulted that people forget Dien *cries*Also, is Alessandro comming back??))

Keaira had waited; she knew that it was better to error on the side of caution, then otherwise. So it was several minutes after passing the message to Zane before she even thought about grabbing her bag and heading to the Room. As always her book bag contained her small potions kit, stocked and ready to go, her wand in its special compartment, and a recent addition of a muggle first aid kit. It would seem an odd choice for a witch to carry such a kit, however, if you knew of the Mage and her weapons you might not argue it.

It took a good deal of careful maneuvering to get dressed since Dien had died, and she had been injured. Even though a few days had passed the wound still looked bad. Keaira had gone through quite the extensive care for it in hopes that it would heal quicker, but that was the way of the Mage’s tools, they hurt, and took forever to heal. Even changing the dressings frequently had done little to help it. So each day it had been an ordeal in itself to get dressed without letting her dressings show through her robes, or scraping her arm up too badly.

Keaira had taken to carrying her book bag across the other shoulder as of late for the same reason. It felt awkward to her, but it didn’t look too terribly out of place. After donning her bag she stepped out of her dorm, and headed for the closest of a series of secret or little used hallways that would lead her to the sixth floor. It was best to not be seen headed to the same place as several other students, especially when you were one of the known light fighters. It was going to be a hard task keeping the group alive with so many of them already known to the Mage, but they would have to be able to do it, the fate of the world seemed to rest on their shoulders.

As she approached the top of the secret passageway to the sixth floor, she waited, listening, and feeling to see if the halls were free of onlookers. It would not be good to be seen disappearing through a door that no one else could see. After waiting a few seconds more just in case, Keaira slowly came out of the hidden passage, and made her way towards the door that only the light fighters could see. A final glance around and Keaira opened the door, and slipped in silently. As the door carefully closed behind her she surveyed the room. It had been different last time she had seen it like this. Mord had sat by D’rorah’s right side, her own chair had been next to Dien’s, Wysteria and Alessandro were side by side, and most of the rest had been empty. Now it would be different. Although she had not been there at Hogsmeade when Mord had called them out, she had heard of what had happened, and knew what was to be expected in this meeting.

Silently she made her way over to Zane. Keaira glanced to the others in the room, D’rorah, Dylan, and Mallan, Her eyes rested on Dylan longer than the others. She could feel the hurt, and anger that he radiated, and she felt that she couldn’t blame him. After all, Zane had done so much to him, and now he was expected to trust his attacker, and fight by his side. Keaira wondered if Dylan would always be looking over his shoulders ready to sink the earth beneath Zane’s feet if needed. After sitting down, and placing her bag by her feet she turned her gaze away from Dylan, and looked toward Zane. Seeing him there was still so very new. It felt like fate had just decided to shove salt in to the open wound that she had from losing Dien, by having him replaced to soon. She tried on a smile, a small one, then faced toward D’rorah, ready to talk.

[Caitlin Collins]

Coming from here: www.ragedsyphers.proboards100.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=library&thread=1199908420&page=1

Caity listened, bewildered, as D’rorah started talking about a “being” inhabiting Professor Kade, Dark Phoenix, and what was this about her being a “shadow warrior”? Of water? About to speak again, with more questions than she’d started off with, D’rorah stopped her before anymore could come out of her mouth.

"Come, we should all meet together... then I can answer everyone's questions at one time. Follow a bit behind me. We will all meet in a room on the sixth floor, I can answer more of your questions there."

As Caity waited, more and more questions ran through her head. Rather than be worried about the people she knew who were involved in this war, it seemed that she now had herself to worry about. A warrior? Her? She didn’t even have a working wand right now! It was mad, completely mad! Although D’rorah hadn’t said for certain that she was right.

Walking almost in a daze through the corridors, Caitlin only just managed to avoid walking into people, and did indeed walk straight into one rather boisterous 4th year Gryffindor. Sending an absent-minded ‘sorry’ behind her, she continued on her way to the 6th floor. Why the 6th floor? There was nothing there except the Headmistress’ Office. Was the Headmistress part of this? Was that where she was supposed to be headed? She wondered who else would be there – D’rorah, obviously, and almost certainly Dylan, Keaira and Susan as well. Who else? The other people from Hogsmeade? She hadn’t known the others really, except for seeing them around in classes. She didn’t know their names, at any rate.

Reaching the 6th floor, Caity tried to look around without appearing suspicious. To her relief she immediately found a door that wasn’t usually there, further down the corridor than the entrance to the Headmistress’ Office was. Cautiously she entered, looking around to see who was already there. D’rorah, Keaira, the other boy from Hogsmeade and Dylan were all there – Dylan appeared ready to strike down a Slytherin she recognised as Zee – he had been part of their adventure in the forest. She slipped quietly into the seat closest to her, which incidently had a symbol on the back of the chair which looked suspiciously like water. She felt enough out of her comfort zone here that she didn’t want to have to walk all the way to the other side of the room in view of everyone else.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Romania . . . visiting family . . . she never told me that she was a . . . or about the war . . . so many secrets between us, neither one knowing what the other really was. If she loved . . . was it actually me she loved? If not, can I say that I actually loved her? Did I know her enough to love her? Is knowing a prerequisite of love? Romania . . .

Vaguely Zee heard the door open and close, but did not look up to see who had entered. It didn't seem important enough. Zee's mental barriers had also been dropped. The effort it took to constantly maintain his occlumency was hardly worth the effect. Enough people knew enough of what he'd always kept hidden that it didn't seem as if it would change much for others to know the rest. His thoughts were still focused inward, not being shouted about the room at the top of his mind, but any who even glanced his way mentally would find no resistance at all.

After a few moments he became aware that some amount of attention was being paid him, and he looked up from his reverie. Two sets of dark brown eyes found each other. Zee could plainly see the hate in Dylan's dark orbs, the utter abhorrence. For several seconds Zee simply stared, his own face and eyes void of any feeling. More than once he almost opened his mouth to say something, but it never happened and after a time Zee's eyes fell back to the table before him.

And what would I say? "Good day Mr. Cooper, I see your wounds are healing nicely. I apologize for having inflicted them, but the opportunity was simply too good to pass up." How could I possibly explain myself? What words could I use that could make the situation any better? There's nothing. I've no excuse, no explanation. Perhaps he'll simply kill me one day. That should settle the matter nicely.

Keaira sat beside him then, that bag she always carried (and now Zee understood why) at her feet. Perhaps he would have one ally here. Perhaps she would speak for him, vouch for him, and let him sit there undisturbed. Turning his head slightly to the side to regard her, Zee saw the tiny smile play across her lips, but could sense the pain she was trying to mask. She may stand by him, but it was only because she felt she had to for the sake of the war. She, as the rest of them, did not want him there.

Zee had spent his entire time at Hogwarts carefully cultivating relationships. He had lived to be liked and trusted. Now he was certainly neither. It was mind boggling to him how everything could have fallen apart so quickly, so suddenly. Keaira had found out simply because of the psychic connection they had suddenly found themselves sharing, but she had agreed not to tell the others and Zee could have gone on. But then he found out about Wysteria . . .

That had been what really ended it. After that he didn't care enough to keep up the facade. He'd told Dee himself and she had told Dylan. Perhaps they would reveal it to the rest at this meeting. Perhaps they already had. It didn't matter.

Turning away from Keaira as she turned away from him, Zee caught site of Caitlin Collins enter and sit nervously, and he surmised that she too must be a new addition to the group. That or perhaps she was simply uncomfortable being in the same room as he.

Yes, they all must know. Dylan will have seen to that. He'd want them all to know what a monster we are. He'll likely try and get them to attack us before we have a chance to leave. I told you the Hufflepuff was not good for you. I said this school was not a good place for you to be. You didn't listen. Congratulations.

Zee's eyes again returned to the bare marble table before him.

((I dunno if it's actually marble, but that seemed the coolest likely material. I can change it if need be.))

[Susan Matthews]

Susan jumped awake as thoughts that were not her own sounded through her head. Being the second time this had happened, Susan was not entirely ready for it and it took her a moment to gather her wits. With a quick glance around her, she finally remembered what she had been doing before sleep had over taken her. Her astronomy homework was in her lap, slightly crumpled and less than halfway finished.

Susan sighed as gently rubbed her head. She was needed in the Room of Requirement immediately. At this rate, her Astronomy paper would never get done. She assumed destiny came above good grades though. And surely Professor Archer would understand if the time came to it, that instead of completing his homework she was saving the world from a certain evil?

Susan gently closed her parchment with in the text, and made new haste in leaving her common room and heading for the floor below her. Thankfully, not many people were out in the halls, and Susan didn't have to worry about followers or curious first years.

It didn't take more than a moment for the hidden door to appear. Without wasting anytime, Susan easily opened the door and slipped inside. She was careful to close it quietly behind her. As she turned around to face the Room, a plethora of students seemed to have already accumulated.

Susan headed straight for the chair next to Dylan embedded with the familiar symbol of Earth. Susan risked a glance at the door behind them. She could feel the energy leaking from the seams of the doorway. It gave her newfound energy to be so close the the element that she loved the most. She smiled gently at Dylan, beside her and gave him a quiet, "Hey."

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah looked around as the others entered the room one by one. She could feel the hatred radiating from Dylan as he glared at Zee. She rose from her seat as quietly as possible, doing her utmost not to be noticed. Circling around to where Dylan was seated, she leaned down over his shoulder and whispered something to him very quietly, so that the others could not hear it. That done, she quietly returned to her own seat.

"You are awfully quiet, Mister Baine," she remarked off-hand.

She sat in her seat as the last of the group finally filtered into the room. When the door had closed and Susan had taken her seat, she finally stood from her chair. "Now then, I am certain you are all quite curious to know why I have called you here so unexpectedly," she began. Her voice was calm. It was quiet, though it seemed to carry throughout the room with no trouble. "Our first order of business..." she paused and shook her head. "No, I am beginning all wrong... I have the sad duty of informing you all that Wysteria Edwin, my friend and our Shadow Warrior of Fire, has been killed while on Order business in Romania. She is a dearly felt loss to our group and I am aggrieved to note her death." She was silent for a moment before continuing, her head slightly bowed.

After several moment, she cleared her throat to continue. "Our other loss was of Mordred Kade. He has been killed by the Shadow Mage. It was his body which was used during the Mage's volunteer draft in Hogsmeade the other morning." She took a deep breath, as though to regain the will to continue. "So many things have happened recently. Also, we must note the death of Professor Dien Serlaen, who only recently was murdered by Dark Phoenix." Her eyes closed for a moment. "Keaira, we are all deeply sorry for your loss." She raised her voice again to address the group. "We all knew when we first began, when I first spoke with each of you, that this struggle would not be easy and the price would not be small."

She nodded to Cait and Zane. "You are both new to our circle. Mister Bishop, I have explained to you the danger of the enemy we face. Miss Collins, you have had no such introduction, but I believe now is as good a time as any."

"Mister Baine, Mister Bishop. I would like for each of you to explain, for the record, what you have learned from me of Dark Phoenix." She chose both of them, knowing that Mallan knew the mythology and history while she had told Zane more of the underlying struggle... for Darkness to destroy Light and for Light to maintain balance. They would be best to explain it to everyone. With that first task delegated, she returned to her seat, to open the floor for the others.

[Zane Lucifer Bishop]

Not even looking up at D'rorah until she mentioned Wysteria's name, Zee slowly raised his head, his jaw tightening considerably so that the veins in his neck stood out. He said nothing, simply staring at the female Ravenclaw prefect as she spoke. His eyes remained locked on hers throughout the moments of silence. When she continued, explaining about the death of Professor Serlaen and what was effectively the death of Mordred Kade, he finally lowered his gaze. He'd not known either of those men and they meant little to him.

Zee gave no acknowledgment when D'rorah nodded his way and spoke to him. By all appearances he hadn't even heard her. When she then asked him to speak, Zee nearly fell out of his chair. He had not expected to truly participate in the meeting, merely to be introduced and perhaps executed. He didn't relish the thought of speaking in front of them all. For perhaps the hundredth time since he'd entered the chamber, Zee wished that Wysteria was there. Even if she wanted nothing to do with him, even if she was at the front of the line that wanted his head. If she were ok then he wouldn't need to worry about the rest.

Zee swallowed hard but remained in his seat, silently staring at the table. He could delay his speech at least. Mallan would no doubt jump at the chance to talk. He seemed to enjoy it.

[Keaira O'Connell]

The tension in the air made Keaira want to shudder. It was so thick that for some, it might mean having hard time breathing. She tried to be understanding about both sides, feeling that she owed Dylan some sense of remorse that he had been tortured by her elemental master, and she had kept it a secret. Maybe she did, but now was not the time to be considering what Dylan might be feeling toward her. She allowed her eyes to sweep the room as more people entered it. Caitlin, Susan, yes, faces she knew, faces that she could trust ever so slightly.

That seemed to be a key word trust. Who could they truly trust, if it was not the people with in this room, then it was no one. The survival of the group would mean that the balance might be restored, and humanity as a whole would be allowed to live in the light which they so cherish. Their failure would result in the world being plunged in to darkness, consumed by shadows, and destroyed after a short time. Failure means a death sentence to everyone. With the possibility of a result like that it seemed that the few deaths that they suffered might just be worth it.

As D’rorah began to speak Keaira let her mind focus, it hurt so much to hear those words spoken, but they were necessary. Every one needed to understand the cost they may pay. Everyone needed to know what others had done for them. The number kept rising. How many more would die before they would win? Mongol, Mordred, Dien, Teresa, Wysteria, would their deaths be avenged, or would they all have died for naught? Keaira couldn’t help but wonder if they would all have the chance to pay someone back for the loss of their friends, or if they would fail before they had the opportunity. When D’rorah nodded toward at her, Keaira felt the need to return the nod; they after all, shared the same loss. At least Dien’s death had not lead to his body being defiled by a wraith.

Keaira fell silent after Dee was done speaking, her head bowed, as a tear traced down her left cheek. Wysteria was a friend, Dien was a partner, and to lose them both in such a short time was heart breaking. Her sleeve was quickly brought to her face and the tear removed. Before D’rorah continued onward Keaira turned her eyes to Zane. She felt his grief over Wysteria, and the lack there of over the death of the others. It seemed a little bothersome, that he didn’t feel any sympathy for those that had been close to them, but Keaira pushed the thought away. Just because he didn’t grieve for them doesn’t mean he is cold to the rest of their pain, Zane has his own grief to deal with. With her attention on Zane, Keaira put out a supporting smile. Whether it was for good or bad, they were together, and if she could help it, she would try and make it for the better.

Keaira reached her hand over, and gently placed it on top of Zane’s. As she did her thoughts were focused on calm things, waterfalls, gentle summer breezes, the oceans tide, and quiet rain falls. Things that could make him feel better, but that would also convey her feeling of ‘I’m here for you’ without being too pushy. Wysteria was a friend, and Keaira grieved for her as much as she grieved for Dien. But she also understood that Wysteria was more than a friend for Zane, he loved her, and she was gone. Knowing what might be going through Zane’s head, Keaira drew her hand away slightly, so that he wouldn’t feel like she was trying for something more, but she left it close enough that he could still reach her, if he needed the slight comfort she could convey.