Stars Align

by Red 9th November 2014, 4:24 pm

First topic message reminder :

"Hey, time to wake up over there."

Rivkah looked up from the hand mirror at the man standing across the room from her at an easel. The man nodded at her, pushing up his glasses with paint-covered hands, leaving a drop of red on the bridge of his glasses. "How you feeling?"

Rivkah dropped the mirror on the bed next to her, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. "...Tired," she said, for lack of a better word. A better word might be... distant? Like the feeling you got after a long time spent daydreaming. "What time is it?"

"Nine," Dylan said, his light brown curls falling down between his glasses and his eyes as he turned back to his painting. He blew up at the hair, trying to get it out without using his hands. "See anything?"

Rivkah shook her head. "Jack shit," she said, blinking hard. "Maybe something, but I don't remember it."

"Don't let it discourage you. Probably we haven't found the right medium for you yet," he said, studying his painting. "It's easy to get lost looking, too."

"I know," she muttered, standing up and stumbling as her legs nearly gave way. She felt way too weak after that.

"I was gonna order pizza soon if you want any," Dylan said, putting down his palette on a table near the easel. "You probably shouldn't go out yet like that,"

"Pizza is awesome," Rivkah said, wandering over towards the window and pulling open the blinds. She stared down from Dylan's window on the fifth floor of his apartment complex to the city below. Clubs were starting to light up already, filling up with college kids drinking and dancing away the weekend. Dylan lived in the heart of the 'college' district of the city, near the university campus - the guys who lived there called it Dinkytown.

She heard the sound of running water as Dylan turned the sink on. "You gonna go out and join them?" he asked.

Rivkah shrugged. "Maybe. Why the hell not."

by Red 19th November 2014, 8:49 am

Rivkah pushed off from the counter. "I'll pass," she said, standing up again and making for the door. She wanted to at least look around these places they mentioned - specially that cathedral he was so surprised about. And if he wasn't interested in raising hell, she might have to think about gathering her own reinforcements.

Rivkah left without another word.

by **EphPhoenix** 20th November 2014, 8:48 pm

The wharf was the closest from here. The ruined cathedral was the farthest on the complete opposite side of town. The cathedral seemed a likely culprit and a good place to avoid scrutiny--over the years it had developed a bit of a reputation to the point people avoided the area like the plague. Laziness--or rather efficiency--dictated his first target. He beat feet toward the wharf district.

by Red 20th November 2014, 9:14 pm

Rivkah pulled out her jar of ashes and reapplied another layer on her eyelids as she walked. It was that point of the night where bars were starting to close and the night life was starting to show signs of dying down - when everyone was drunk and no one wanted to admit it was time to go home yet.

She was among them, though tragically not drunk. And the last thing she wanted to do was go back home. University library was always open, she could probably sleep in some alcove there while she was out doing things that would give Dylan a heart attack.

But she was restless now, and that cathedral sounded interesting enough. While she was smearing dead people dust on her eyes anyway it'd be worth looking into to see if there was anything dead, magical, or otherwise lurking around there that gave the place it's reputation. Just a look of course - god forbid she have to deal with Suits Guy again.

by **EphPhoenix** 24th November 2014, 2:10 am

Teuto finished transcribing the circle. Nothing fancy, just a pool of power he could draw from if things got nasty. Now, there were spells one could use on the fly--a plethora if you knew what you were doing and had practiced--but they had limits unless prepared ahead of time. It was why a lot of witches carried books or rods or even brooms. They acted as a focus. Spellbooks even more so. A truly powerful spellbook was imbued with a witch's magic, specifically the witch that wrote it in there. It had a lasting effect that could build upon itself over time. The longer it had been etched into the book, the more power could be invoked. It was why he kept a small notebook full of spells. Well, that and he was lazy. Memorizing all those lines was a pain in the ass.

In dealing with ancient baubles from lost Ages, however, this wasn't the time to fuck around. His power alone might not be enough. Though considerable, he wasn't a god. Hell, he wasn't on his aunt's level, or that asshole at the mall wouldn't have gotten him so easily. Magic built over time. Magic also built through regular practice. And even though his aunt was stupidly strong, she had never relied on brute force alone.

"This isn't some sopping pissing contest, boy," he could remember her scolding him when he had fawned over her power. "Any idiot can beat their chest and just try to overwhelm you with sheer power. Anyone who does needs to go back to the Stone Age. That's not magic, m'boy, not at all. Real magic is finesse, it's style. It's like those mortal martial arts. Like tai chi. Using only what's necessary in the most efficient way possible."

People thought her a lunatic. They couldn't be more scary wrong. She was a genius, so far removed from everyone that her magical theories sounded like insanity until she had you on your back and wondering how she'd done it. And it was never with sheer force. Except once.

The circle closed and he willed it to life with his will. He felt the magic come alive, then watched with satisfaction as it shimmered. To anyone, other witches included, it was invisible. He didn't need any telltale signs while he ran his investigations.

He turned and looked ahead to his destination, looming ahead of him. The wharf warehouse looked foreboding, standing as a silent sentinel to the ages since it had been wrought. He grinned and popped his neck. The dance had begun.

by Red 24th November 2014, 10:51 pm

Rivkah had to check the time when she saw a bright spot on the horizon. Still like two in the morning, way too early for that to be the sun coming up. You're fucking kidding...

She watched the street signs as she passed - yup, it looked like it. That sun-bright spot on the horizon had to be the cathedral. Daaaaamn. I hope that spot isn't taken. Whatever magic was in it had to be innate to the place, considering how big and how bright the energy was - that wasn't the sort of energy even a whole coven of witches could make. It was the ideal place to set up shop and do some serious magic without being noticed.

So chances were it was already taken, if not by her mobsters by someone else bigger than her. Going in any closer without surveying the place was fucking stupid, and so Rivkah stopped, glancing around the streets with a sigh. No place she could hide at this hour - every place in the fucking world was closed - except for maybe a rooftop. Rivkah paced back a few buildings, finding an alley with a fire escape up the side of one building.

Rivkah stepped into the alley and started climbing the fire escape until she reached the roof, sitting down and resting her chin on her palm as she tried to figure out how to scout the place without being able to distinguish the magic of the place from whatever magic was happening in the place.

She reached into her bag and pulled out her spell book - prewritten with her more powerful incantations in it. She could try scrying but she was still bad at it, and there was still a chance she'd get lost in it. She'd have to try going in.

Rivkah reached up and brushed the ashes off of one eyelid, closing her ashen eye and leaving the bare one open. She could still see the light from the cathedral through her one eyelid, but it was dimmer with one spell undone. Closer she got the worse it'd get, but she'd deal with that when it happened.

Rivkah looked down at the street lamp below, and the shadows it cast on the road. That was how she'd do it. Shadowwalk and hide when she had to. She walked to the edge of the rooftop, reached her hand down into one of the shadows, and disappeared.

by **EphPhoenix** 27th November 2014, 2:20 pm

The place was dark, damp, and eerily quiet. If this were a horror flick, he'd have turned tail and gotten the hell out of here.

"Aww...who am I kidding?" he asked aloud to no one in particular. "I live for this cloak and dagger bullshit!"

It also didn't hurt he was smarter and more equipped than the morons in the horror movies. He sprinkled some dust over his eyes and spoke in Scandinavian, then blinked. Immediately, he could see the area as if it were bright as day. Darkvision. Had to love it.

He took in his surroundings. The place hadn't seen use in obvious years. Old machinery lay covered in rust and a layer of dust that spoke of disuse. Large crates dotted along old walkways and next to loading cranes. In the center lay a series of docks where ships would be loaded, but only a small, old, dilapidated boat lay tied to one of the docks. He'd need to check the records on the place to confirm, but he was certain they'd agree. But still, something was off about the place.

He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something in the air here. Something almost palpable, just on the edge of vision, but in the corner of his eye so he couldn't focus on it. He twitched and turned to his right, looking toward the docks below. He'd heard...something. He watched and waited, but the sound didn't repeat itself.

He grinned. "Gimme time, old girl," he said, "and you'll reveal your secrets."

by Red 27th November 2014, 8:24 pm

She wasn't even close to the walls of the cathedral before things started getting wonky - her spell went haywire at one point and jumped her out of the shadow on the opposite side of where she was going. Rivkah decided to take that as a sign. Two in the morning is not the time to be disturbing whatever may live here.

She reluctantly turned back, shadowwalking away from the cathedral until she was comfortable walking normally. She started off in the direction of the university and pulled out her phone. I'm fine Dylan, just needed space, is what she sent, knowing the kid wouldn't get up until well after the sun rose.

Rivkah put her phone away and stretched. Time to make herself comfortable in the library stacks.

by **EphPhoenix** 27th November 2014, 9:05 pm

He woke up in a cloudy stupor, the rays of first light peeking into his room. He'd looked that place over top to bottom, but found nothing of note. Or so he wanted them to think. Whoever "them" were.

The place was flawless except for a few conspicuous points. There had been spaces where the dust was extremely light--the office of the old place being one. The only thing he could conclude was a weathered spell. If it was, they'd hidden their tracks well. But even barring that, the office hadn't been unused too long ago. The answer was staring him right in the face, he knew it, but he couldn't put his finger on it. So, amused at the obstacle, he'd headed home to do a little research. After forty winks, of course.

He hopped out of his bed, giving his room a once over. It was in a fabulous disarray with books, papers, ink, and assorted scrolls all over the place, a couple of potted plants in the corners that got the most light, and assorted posters of his favorite witch bands. The Ethereals, of course, got the most attention. His desk on the opposite side of his bed housed a laptop and a massive desktop. His closet was to the left of the desk, and lined with a plethora of suits and other assorted clothing.

He was currently in a pair of blue boxers with hearts on them and a green tank top. Perfect research wear. After some eggs with a side of bacon, of course. And some Earl Grey, cause coffee was for losers.

by Red 27th November 2014, 9:28 pm

Rivkah woke as someone moved near her, and she opened her eyes to glare up at the mousy looking boy going through the stacks looking for a book. He didn't notice her until he turned around, book in hand, and quickly mumbled an apology before darting away.

Rivkah straightened up in the armchair she'd taken, tucked away in the corner near the last row of books in this section. She'd spread out best she could, throwing one leg over the armrest and leaning her head against the wall, and all that left her feeling stiff as hell. She twisted and cracked her back. She couldnt possibly have slept that much. Which sucked, cuz she didn't want to be up until noon.

Then again, the sooner she left the harder it'd be for Dylan to find her. He probably still wasn't up yet, and once he did wake up the first place she'd check would be the library. Rivkah grimaced. It's not like finding me will be hard. She lived at his place, he had no shortage of tokens to use for locator spells if he knew any. She was counting on him not knowing any.

Rivkah stood up, straightening out her jacket and made for the stairs down. She could pick up a coffee and a donut at the campus cafe and maybe google a few things before going back to the cathedral.

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 1:48 pm

As she sat there eating, a tv showed the news -- discussing the gas leak at the mall yesterday -- some college kids sat in a rowdy group, a man in nondescript clothing walked toward her with a neutral smile, a couple was looking avidly at each other, and other people were studying or bent over their tables discussing something. Outside, other students were rushing by, the man with the nondescript clothing's smile deepened as he reached into his coat, and there was a yell as a girl spilled her cup of coffee on her unfortunate friend.

The jolt from being startled was all that alerted her, making her aware as the grinning nondescript man stood right in front of her and plunged the knife forward.

by Red 28th November 2014, 2:12 pm

She was on the computer as she ate her bagel, doing some basic research on the cathedral. Official reports said ten years back there was an explosion caused by a gas leak, but a little more searching found it mentioned in a reddit thread on conspiracy theories. She scrolled through some of the comments.

residentweevil: yeah no my sister was in the area, she texted me something about seeing monsters in the cathedral during the explosion.

help23519: Hallucinogens? Maybe something they released in the air? Sounds like more proof they're hiding something.

Yeah, sounded magical enough. If she wasn't on a school desktop she'd go to wicca servers and see what the real story was, but the library was too crowded for this shit.

She looked up as some girl shrieked, her eyes almost darting past the suited man standing over her with a knife.

She had to force herself to focus back on him as he plunged the knife forward. She pushed back in her chair, trying to twist away from the knife as it stabbed into her jacket. Her chair tilted, and she tumbled over backwards, landing on her head and rolling over with the impact.

"What the fuck," she snapped, reaching for her side. The knife had been deflected some by her twisting and her jacket, but it still struck home in her side - missing any vitals but hurting like a bitch. She wrapped one hand around the knife in her side and stood, searching for the fuck who ruined her jacket.

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 2:16 pm

"Darn," said the voice from somewhere to her right. "I do so hate when random happenstance gets in the way. Guess it won't be a quick death, then..."

When she looked, the man wouldn't be there. If she focused and looked around, she'd see him behind and to the left of her, inching forward with another knife. His large brown eyes looked keen, like a dog on the hunt.

by Red 28th November 2014, 2:26 pm

Rivkah looked to her right to see the man... not there. Where the fuck... She spun around, scanning behind her and managing to catch sight of him creeping up behind her.

She glanced around, but no one else seemed to notice her assailant. She'd caused a small commotion when she tumbled over, but everyone else had either gone back to work or was looking at her like she was crazy. Fucking magical bullshit. She looked up, trying to find him again only to realize it was far too much of a struggle to focus on him. Fucking magical bullshit!

She fumbled behind her for her bag, slinging it over her shoulder and keeping her eyes on the man. Turning and running meant turning her back on this guy and losing sight of him again. Maybe magic sight? If she could cast the spell before he stabbed her.

She kept her hand clamped over the knife, trying to hide the wound before she started a panic. She had to get out of here so she could cast something. Shadows. Somewhere with lots of them - the stacks? Lots of bookcases to make lots of shadows, though a chase through the stacks was some horror movie bullshit. "I'm so fucking disappointed though," she muttered. "Your boss is such a baby, sending you."

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 2:31 pm

"Ah. Couldn't make up their minds," he said. "One vote was for toying with you, but the final verdict was quick and clean, if possible." His eyes took on a predatorial glow filled with longing. "But by all means, run. I do so love the chase."

He moved for her with a speed that was inhuman, stabbing with his other knife. A girl screamed for a moment, decrying "Ghost!"

"Damn potentials," the man said with a jovial laugh as the entire place went bedlam.

by Red 28th November 2014, 2:38 pm

She could bet who voted for toying with her. "You shoot a guy once and suddenly we can't be friends," she muttered, taking another step back towards the stacks.

He lunged, and she dove back, reaching her hand behind her and yelling her curse. Her hand fell through a shadow and she was gone, popping out on the other side and racing for the next one.

Sprinting hurt, so that wasn't gonna work. She'd have to be trickier.

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 2:52 pm

In the shadows, however, when she looked, a giant black dog with burning yellow eyes was staring at her with a seeming grin. "That's the way, little rabbit," came the man's voice from it. "Run."

by Red 28th November 2014, 3:04 pm

Don't have to tell me twice. She would have said hellhound but... it seemed off. Not hellish enough.

Rivkah hopped from shadow to shadow, reaching for her bag in between jumps and pulling out her spellbook. She sure as hell couldn't do this forever, it was just a matter of choosing where to do this...

Top floor was more open and had more escape routes, but basement was darker and black magic would work better down there. If she went to the basement, she'd have no choice but to fight that thing to the death. Top floor it is, she thought as she threw open the door of the stairwell, melding into the shadows on one wall to make a beeline to the top.

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 3:25 pm

As she ran, she could hear it bounding after her, but not see it. Moreover, dread and fear started tearing at her. Images of a gruesome, violent death kept flashing before her eyes. A howl rent the air.

by Red 28th November 2014, 3:44 pm

Rivkah burst out of the stairwell onto the top floor. The top floor was one of those quiet study areas that no one used this early in the day, thank god, full of open space and that sort of bullshit.

She opened her spell book haphazardly, finding the section with the runes she was looking for. Black magic usually looked for some sacrifice from the user, whether it was immediately obvious or not, and any using runes usually asked for blood. Lucky for me that's something I have plenty of.

She turned and reached down to the knife in her side, grabbing at her wound until her hand came away bloody. She traced her runes in the air, her hands shaking from the rush of fear she got from this thing. The runes appeared in the air as she traced them, glowing red and waiting for her to speak their activation. Rivkah pressed her back to the wall behind her, her heart pounding. Hurry up you son of a bitch.

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 3:49 pm

His presence was felt behind her, looming over. Eyes glowing yellow, teeth bared, a silent snarl emanating from it. "It was a fun chase, little rabbit."

He leapt for her with inhuman speed. His jowls opened, sharp teeth the size of her fingers, hungry to sink on its prey. The images of her death poured into her head like a waterfall.

by Red 28th November 2014, 4:01 pm

Rivkah turned, backing up towards her rune. She stepped to the side, away from the face of the rune, struggling to keep her wits about her.

As he leaped for her, she screamed, crouching down and holding up her hands over her head, but she kept her head long enough to turn her scream into a word in some language unknown to man for millennia.

The rune disappeared like someone turning out a light, and Rivkah looked up as she realized she wasn't getting murdered. The hellhound - no, it's not that, she knew that - was on the ground, struggling to move.

It was a binding spell that got worse the more one struggled, until eventually the curse was lifted or the victim crushed themselves to death. At least, that was how it ought to go. She didn't trust it'd last for a second.

Rivkah flipped through her book, looking for her notes. This thing... it wasn't a demon, but perhaps it could be contained like one? She'd done plenty of study on summoning circles, maybe...

"Sit tight you son of a bitch," she said.

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 4:05 pm

The dog growled, struggling against the binding. "Nice trick...little rabbit..." it growled, laughing, "but...not...good enough!"

As it struggled, it's fur creased as if something was trying to crush it, until suddenly, Rivkah would feel a part of the curse shatter and the giant mastiff's front paw moved freely. The beast laughed. "I'm coming for you..."

by Red 28th November 2014, 4:28 pm

"I bet you are," she muttered, pacing a circle around the dog. Her notes said containment circles could be made of varying strength and using any breed of magic or language, and should work on any magical creature. It damn well better work.

She started with the simplest circle, she could build up from there. She began chanting, basic Latin, and paced out a circle around him as she chanted, drawing Latin letters in the air as she paced. The symbols appeared floating in midair, glowing faintly as she paced out her circle.

She breathed a small sigh as she finished her first circuit, and fished in her bag for another jar - salt, which she sprinkled as she began to walk another circuit with another language, a pace out from the first.

by **EphPhoenix** 28th November 2014, 5:48 pm

The beast growled and writhed, trying to break through that which held it. "I will feast on your bones and suck the sweet, succulent marrow from them, little rabbit." His other fore paw broke free. "Your blood will slake my thirst as I suck your sweet meat down..." It shook as his head broke free. "Prepare yourself, little rabbit..."

by Red 28th November 2014, 6:27 pm

She finished her second circuit in halting Arabic, throwing up another layer on the containment circle. "Why the fuck do you even care so much," she muttered under her breath, starting up another circuit with the salt, staring down at her notes as she recited the Sumerian she'd copied down.

Maybe she should have just run away the first curse, but the way this beast was going on it was going to keep hounding her - heh - wherever she went. She was certain the Coven would have heard word of this little disaster and would be around to pick up the beast later - if she could contain it.

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