Mr. Solomius' Tasks

Mr. Solomius

Mr. Solomius stared into his crystal ball, observing Melissa's interaction with the rest of the group. Many would consider the task he had set her to be cruel, even downright evil, but he did not feel at all guilty. She was the variable whose function could be changed to affect the outcome of his grand experiment, and having sensed the heart's desires of each member of the group he had concluded that only with Rathal's death, after completing his task, could their desires be met. It all depended on when Rathal was killed, and whether or not a resurrection of some sort would be possible. The matter was out of his hands...for now.

Rathal

Nabin entered the room, visibly shaking.

"Is it cold outside?" Rathal joked.

"A bit." He trembled.

"You look like you've seen a ghost. Would you like to talk about something."

"Not really. I think it would be best if I didn't." Somehow Nabin seemed relieved to say this, though Rathal couldn't quite understand why.

"Whatever suits you. I think we should get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us."

Nabin

"I agree." Nabin yawned. "I'll just be going back to my room now. Er, if Soria wants to talk with me about anything, just tell her to knock. I won't mind." He headed out the door.

"Are you sure there's nothing you'd like to talk to us about?" Selnia asked.

He hesitated. "Absolutely certain." He strode into the hallway.

Selnia

The sorceress frowned and turned to Rathal. "I don't like this," she said. "He's keeping something from us."

Rathal shrugged. "It wouldn't be very sporting of us to take advantage of his condition and make him tell us."

"Sporting or not..." Selnia's eyes narrowed. "If it looks like something odd's going on, and he might know something about it, I'm asking him. There's far too much at stake."

Rathal

"Wait, Selnia!" Rathal stood up as Selnia moved towards the door. She turned around.

"You're not going to change my mind. We need to find out what's bothering Nabin, no matter how private it is. Lives - his, ours and others - could be at risk."

"I know, but," Rathal stepped between Selnia and the door, "at the same time, it might be more risky to ask him." Selnia looked at him for a moment, crossing her arms.

"Do you know something I don't?"

"No. No, I just...I just think we should be more trusting. Only he knows what is on his mind, so only he knows whether it would be appropriate to let other people know."

Selnia sighed and turned away.

"Where are you going?" Rathal asked.

"Bed. As you said, we've got a long day ahead of us."

Too late to join?

((I don't think so, but you'll have to ask Face Engine about a way to slot you in. We can probably work something out. ))

Wow, I've missed quite a bit.

Soria

Soria was silent for a moment, silently digesting what he'd just admitted. She frowned a little, mulling over his confession.

"But you said you did that when you were younger," she pointed out, unable to keep the hope out of her voice. "You have changed, you must have."

"Yes. But it's hard, people don't like the truth."

No, she thought, watching his face as he studied the ground. A comforting lie is always better than the harsh truth. Like the harsh truth that you were prepared to steal from an old woman, and had done so with the thousands of others you'd tricked.

She swallowed, gathering her nerve, and reached out a trembling hand to touch his face. He sucked in a sharp breath and looked at her. "We all do things we regret. But not everyone is willing to try and better themselves."

He was silent for a few moments, thinking about what she'd said, and then he nodded once. Soria quickly retracted her hand, a blush warming her cheeks. Then he stepped back, still facing her, nodded once more and turned jerkily, striding away into the night.

Soria pushed out a sigh and lifted her face to the glittering stars, magnificent in the cloudless, black sky. She analyzed every word, repeated sentences in her mind, and refused to believe she'd actually worked up the courage to touch his face.

Another face swooped from the darkness, appearing right in front of her. Soria's scream never left her gaping mouth as she recognised it was once again Melissa.

Melissa

She grinned at the girl. "Why hello there, Soria. Miss me?" She asked sarcastically. Soria didn't appear to find this funny.

"What?" She asked, slightly annoyed.

"Hm, you probably want to learn better manners or you just might hurt my feelings," Melissa said, cocking an eyebrow. "Now, I haven't come for pleasant, happy conversation. I have a question for you."

"Not interested," came her reply, quickly.

"What if it meant I would help you to the full extent of my ability?" Melissa questioned.

Soria paused a couple seconds and shook her head. "Already told you. I'm not interested."

"Why?" She asked, truly curious.

"Because I can't trust you," Soria said simply.

"Good point," Melissa smiled, amused and slightly impressed. "You're pretty smart, Soria. Which is why I should probably leave, but you see, I'm not smart right now. I'm desperate."

"Go on," Soria urged, eyebrows furrowed.

"There is a way you can help me, and I need your help. My brother's life relies on it," Melissa sighed. Of course, she was only playing on Soria's soft side. She was trying to build up the sympathy and compassion in Soria.

Soria's eyes softened a touch and she groaned. "Alright, I'm listening," she said, though still suspicious.

Melissa held back a smile. "I need inside information. As a spy for Solomius, I need to get the information and it's kind of hard."

"You want me to betray everyone here and dish the dirt on them?" She asked, laughing. "You have got to be kidding."

"It's for my brother. I will do ANYTHING get him back," Melissa said, calmly. Soria's eyes widened a little, then narrowed.

"Which is why I won't do it. I don't really know who you are or what's going on inside you're brain, but I have an idea of what you're capable of and I don't like it," Soria told her.

Melissa shrugged. "Fine. Don't help me, but you won't speak of this to anyone," she told her calmly.

"What are you going to stop me?" Soria asked, stubbornly.

Melissa shrugged. "I could kill you in a second, Soria. I am a spy. I'm around when you think it's impossible. I have ways of knowing things and I will kill you if I think you're going to betray me. You think you know what I am capable, I can do worse, so long as it gets my brother to me."

Melissa thought she saw Soria's face pale. She smiled and walked away. She had another idea. A much better one.

---

Melissa smiled at Rathal. "You still need help with your task?" She asked him.

Rathal looked at her warily. "Maybe," he said drawing out each syllable, unsure.

Melissa rolled her eyes. "Every one's always so suspicious of me!" She exclaimed. "Look, I need your help completing my task and I have ways to help you."

"How?" He asked trying to sound calm, but his voice betrayed his eagerness.

"What I ask is simple. I need you to help me spy on one of Solomius' 'friends," Melissa lied. It was a good thing that no one could ever tell her lies from her truths. One of the perks of being a spy.

"How do you help me? And why do you need my help?" Rathal asked.

Melissa shrugged. "You were the most eager and, to me, one of the more sneaky people here. And yes, that is a compliment," Melissa said. "Now. I can help you because, I know certain weaknesses dragons have. I studied with them for a very long time."

That wasn't exactly a lie, Melissa thought. She did know many things about dragons because she and her brother were fascinated with them. Melissa had made sure to learn everything she could and found very rare and interesting things about them, mostly for her brother.

"So?" She asked. "Do we have a deal?"

---

That was your task right? To slay the dragon tyrant of the north?

*yes it was*

Rathal hesitated. Melissa wasn't exactly the most trustworthy person he knew, but he felt like he would need all the help he could get. And besides, Mr. Solomius wouldn't have chosen her if she would sabotage everything...would he?

"Okay." He said reluctantly. "I'll help you spy on whoever it is you want me to spy on. But that's all. I'm not doing anything else for you."

Melissa smiled. "Excellent."

"Now who do you want me to spy on?"

Melissa

Melissa sighed. She would make the task slightly difficult, thus making sure Rathal didn't get suspicious.

"One of Solomius's...acquaintances may be planning to rebel against him. I need the inside scoop on him," Melissa smiled. "Then we can start on your task."

"We just have to spy on some regular guy?" Rathal asked, confused.

Melissa shook her head. "'Course not," she retorted. "You see, he is a sorceror and quite aware when he's being spyied on. That's why Solomius needs me...and I need you."

Rathal

"So...what do you need me to do?" Rathal asked. Melissa gave him an 'isn't it obvious?' look.

"Just follow me and I'll tell you what to do when necessary."

"Right. And what about the others? Are you asking me to abandon them? Because they've got a difficult task ahead of them, and I'm not sure if they'll succeed without me."

Melissa snorted. "They'll be fine. It's them against one vampire - they know how to defeat him, so they'll be fine."

"No." Rathal shook his head. "It's them against a vampire lord, who has an entire vampire clan under his command."

"Well, I'm sure that will be difficult. But not as difficult as fighting a mighty dragon without knowing its weaknesses. Come on. You'll be able to return to them once we're done." She turned around and walked away. Rathal had no choice but to reluctantly follow.

Melissa

"Wait," she said, nervously. She hid her emotions from Rathal easily.

"What?" he asked, bumping into her when she stopped.

"I'll be right back," she told him. "I've got...business to attend to."

She took off, leaving Rathal muttering protests. It didn't take long to find the girl that Melissa had been looking for. She had told her to wait in one of the alley's close to where the others were staying.

"Hello," the girl said, anxiously. Her hands shook when she tried to pat down her hair. "I've got your information."

Melissa smiled. "And you were inconspicuous?" She asked.

She nodded. "Didn't suspect a thing," she assured her.

Melissa looked over her shoulder and held up a hand. She wanted to be sure no one heard her. She checked around, positive that no one had followed.

"Excellent. And you wrote it all down. What you uncovered?" she asked the girl. She nodded and handed her the paper.

Melissa was about to leave when the girl caught her sleeve. "What about my payment?"

Melissa narrowed her eyes. "Hands off," she growled. The girl instantly dropped her.

Melissa nodded and took out a small bag of cash. It wasn't much, but for her, it was a lot. This was the life of a spy, she sighed.

Melissa turned back. "Oh and girl!" She called. "You tell anyone about this, even causing me to fail my mission. I will kill you."

The girl stopped and let out a small shriek. "You won't have to worry about that!" she assured her.

Melissa shook her head. "And I have ways of finding out. I promise you. No one can offer you protection from me. Even if someone threatens to kill you to get information, Melissa shook her head. "Trust me. You'll prefer death from them. Not me."

With that said, Melissa took off to find Rathal. She could read the information soon. She needed to keep tabs on Soria and Nabin being that she had told them, especially Nabin, about her mission.

**Don't die!**

Melissa read over the message eager to see how Nabin and Soria were doing.

The tall male, Nabin, has been acting skittish. The others have noticed his behavior and have been asked what was wrong. So far, though, no one has realized what has happened. The pretty female, Soria, has had no real reaction so far. She seems decently safe, though she will be watched.

Melissa smiled a little. Nabin would probably be okay so long as he wasn't acting so nervous because he wanted someone to take interest in him. That could prove to be a very difficult task.

"So are we starting?" Rathal asked. Melissa turned to him, putting the packet away. They had stopped at a small cafe place, away from all the hub-bub of everything. It was kind of nice.

"We will start with your task first," Melissa replied. The sooner this was over with the better. She didn't want to kill Rathal, after all he didn't seem too bad. He could be a little too nice, but he was a good person and those eyes were just...

Stop, she scolded. You will kill him to save your brother, she told herself, and you won't feel any guilt or sorrow. You will be strong.

"I could start be supplying you with some information," she shrugged.