Nocturne

Roseanna

I was talking to the priest, demanding information, about to kill him and see what was going on upstairs when I felt a shock run through my body. I felt my head knock against the stone altar. And then I couldn't see, for a while. I felt myself being picked up. The arms were not gentle. They were rough, and hurting, but nothing compared to the pain in the back of my head. I wished my mind would tell my lips to form words.

Put me down! I would have said. There was liquid flowing through my hair. Blood, it must have be. How could they do this to the Princess, didn't they know they would be seriously punished when I woke up? Then the world went black.

I woke up on a little straw matress. Upon opening my eyes, I discovered I could see again. The moon through the window. It must have been the next day, for it was nearly dusk when I had left the camp, and the moon would be shining low in the sky if it was the same day.

Where was I?

I look around. I am in a small room. The door opens, and a man in a black coat steps into the room. He has brown hair to his shoulder and very pale skin.

I muster up the strongest voice I can, "Who are you? You better let me go right now or, OW!" I exclaim when I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head. The man laughs. I make up my mind to have him exectuted. And I would do it myself.

(I really have no idea either but can we just have Teresa and Scarlet run into each other that way we can at least be able to post somewhat?)

Scarlet/fire~

I ran down the alley, trying to find a new way into the temple. I didn't notice the girl until I ran tight into her knocking us both over. "Oops. . .sorry about that." I apologize while extending my hand out to her.

"Well be careful next time." she snorted. This girl seems kind of cold I thought to myself while still smiling at her. "Do you always smile like an idiot after running people over?" she asked with a glare.

"Nope smiling is just my thing." I replied with a sly grin trying to figure her out. She looked to her right, I followed her stare noticing it towards the temple. "So your headed to the temple?" I asked, she seemed startled at first but quickly hide it.

Arkady

At Zal's words, the acolyte got to his feet slowly, pacing across to the door. "I'm sure it's nothing." He said quietly, though his voice carried the undertone of crashing waves. To anyone trained in spotting such things, it would be clear that he was starting to lose his temper. Arkady glanced over his shoulder at the door, "You may come, if you wish. Since you're against the Cabal, I don't think Hierophant Phorcys will want you locked away."

Assuming that the other boy would simply follow, Arkady headed the rest of the way down the hall and then up the stairs to the main chapel.

What he saw upon his arrival horrified him - the Cabal's little princess-witch actually threatening the hierophant! He could see her hand sliding gradually towards her knife, and prepared to strike at her himself. The spheres of water coalesced into a single long trail around him, coiling upwards like the very creature he could become, ready to lunge forward. He smiled to himself, this was going to be easy, she'd never reach her knife before he struck her down.

The air seemed to explode with light and sound, a shock wave pushing him a step backwards. Others, non-elements, were knocked over by it, tumbling across the marble flagstones of the chapel.

Through the bright light that accompanied the lightning bolt, Arkady saw the princess hurled through the altar. A man in a dark coat collected her fallen frame, and was racing back out the doors by the time Arkady was back on his feet.

Though the acolyte did want to know who that other element was, there were more important things to attend to. He rushed across the floor to the prone hierophant, dropping to a knee beside him. "Teacher, are you alright?"

The old man waved a dismissive hand, coughing a little. "Fine, Arkady. I'll live." He rubbed the back of his head a little, sitting up slowly. "At least that haughty young woman won't have a chance to murder me now. We'll have to close the temple to the public, I believe she has suspicions about my true purpose in Nocturne."

Teresa ~ Pain

Teresa sighed, brushing herself off and checking the money bag at her belt. "I wasn't originally. I just sort of started going that way." She sounded irritated. Teresa didn't like it when people started butting in on her business. The girl looked a little hurt. She sighed again.

Well, it's better to make friends than enemies.

"My name is Teresa. What's yours?" She held out her hand for the girl to shake, reluctantly.

James\ Lightning

We were in the farming district it was a peaceful area so easy to blend in with. The princess hands were tied using some rope I'd found in the small barn. I didn't have to be worried about people coming and finding me, in front of the house their had been six impaled bodies with a warning saying "do not harbour traitors". As I entered the barn the Princess put her head up and tried to speak.

"you better let me go right now or, OW" She tried to speak but the pain in her head was too much. I laughed, what could she going to do to me.

"look princess, I need you to ensure my freedom, you see I recently woke up with no memory of my past only to find a bunch of people want me dead" I said she looked board. This made me angry she deserved to die for the evil her family had done.

"do you know what impalment is miss" I said waiting for her to fall into the trap.

"yeah you run someone through with a spear and then stick it in the ground" The princess looked pleased with her self.

"no, common misconception the definition of the word impalement is that, but the form of torture execute by guards through out nocturne is much worse. A long stick is taken not to wide not to short and one ti[ is sharpened, again not to much not to little, if it was too sharp the person would die to quickly. The person is held down on the floor so that can see his oncoming doom. The sharpened end is covered in greece and the victims legs are spread" I paused letting her think and ponder about what would I would say next.

"The pole is shoved were the moon don't shine as far as it can, next the guard hoist the stick up in most cases the person is still alive, they stay that way for a while" When I stop the princess is shaking her head.

"no I don't believe you my farther wouldn't allow it" She stood up and took a bold step towards me.

"you only have to look outside this door to see the truth." I said Their was a pause as she opened the barn door a crack, my hand was ready to stun her and pull her back if she tried to make a run for it. The opening of the door was quickly followed by the sound of her throwing up.

"it's disgusting" she said flopping onto her bundle of hay.

"I've seen worse" I replied memories flooding back to me.

Rose

What he showed me wasn't pretty. Not even close. It made me sick actually. I felt a strange feeling near my heart. Then I started crying.

I had never cried before. Never. It was a sign of weak ness, but I felt so awful. How could daddy let this happen?

"Why are you crying?" The man asked.

"I-I-I ca-n-t believe m-m-y fa-fa-th-er would," I take a deep breath and start again, "I can't believe my father would let this happen."

"Well believe it, princess, this was all his idea."

"I didn't know this happened. But why would he do this?"

"It is what happens to people who opose him, or are acosiated with the Order and the Elements."

"And I am a part of this?" I ask in horror.

"Entirely." He sighs.

"Can't I help, somehow? Please, I don't want this to keep happening! And could you take these ropes off me?" I ask, he cuts the rope. I couldn't beleve I let this happen.

"And there is a way," he started, "you can help..."

**I understand that Zal is not the true thief. I was writing a misunderstanding on Kessa's part.

Kessa

Kessa heard an explosion and rushed toward the sound. She had only just turned the corner when she saw a dark figure sweep in and snatch a limp body. Kessa was about to cry out when a horrible, tingling sensation overcame her body. Kessa's cry became a strangled moan, and she stumbled back.

The man soon had rushed out of the door, carrying the woman's body in hand. Kessa breathed deeply as the tingling feeling receded. Kessa had never experienced any feeling like that before. Kessa could only find one explanation for it. The kidnapper must have been someone else like her, another element. Kessa had always had a feel for the living things around her. She remembered the time see saw a young boy fall out of a tree and break his arm. Kessa had felt a sharp, burning pain in her own arm. But that was nothing to what Kessa had just experienced. The only reason Kessa could find for that would be because they man was another element, and had attacked the woman with something far deeper and more powerful than a broken arm. Elements weren't meant to attack humans. It wasn't natural.

Kessa cautiously looked around. If what she suspected was true, then Kessa would need to say something. Any search party formed for that woman would need to know who they were up against.

Kessa spotted a young man kneeling by a fallen priest. She approached them tentatively.

"Excuse me," said Kessa. The young man looked up at her. Kessa gave a nervous smile. "I may have some information on the kidnapping," she continued, quietly. "I believe the man was an element, embodied in human form. Such a thing does exist, I assure you." Kessa hesitated. Deep down, something was telling her to stop there, and not tell the priest that she herself was an element. But, Kessa reasoned, if she could tel anyone, it would be a temple! "I am one myself, actually. And if there is anyway I can assist you in capturing the man, I would be more than willing to lend my aid."

**Let me know if this is okay. Kessa is talking to Arkady and hierophant, if that needs clarification.

I will not be here for a while, I am going on vacation. I will be gone for five days.

Scarlet/fire~

"Scarlet." I chipped happily even though this girl didn't seem to happy about talking.

We stared at each other for an awkward moment debating about what to say, but out of no where a shock wave hit us, it seem the main source was from the temple. The people around us were knocked down and almost seem to be thrown down, while Teresa and I only stumbled back a bit. We looked up at each other it was strange how we were the only ones who didn't fall.

I'm sure that mine is due to my powers. . .but Teresa how did she not fall? Is she like me?

"Are you?" I barley started to stumble out.

Teresa ~ Pain

Teresa gave Scarlet a sharp look. "Am I what?"

Scarlet looked excited. "A-are you like me?"

She blinked a few times. "What do you mean by that?"

Scarlet lowered her voice. "Can you do things?"

Teresa jumped slightly. "What kind of things are you talking about?"

Hey, I had a LOT of school work to do, can anyone catch me up/ bring me in? greatly appreciated

Scarlet/fire~

"You know. . ." I said while trailing off, she kept looking at me like I was crazy, or maybe like she knew exactly what I was talking about but didn't want to believe it.

"Watch." I whispered while pulling her into the alley I barley just ran out of. She seem reluctant at first but soon followed. I held out my hand and soon a small flicker of a flame sprang to life before disappearing.

I glanced at her hoping she was like me and not about to turn me in. She stared at me for a long moment before a sound of someone clearing their throat to get our attention. I jumped not even realizing he was there.

(That's you Rider I just forgot your name sorry)

Ahzal/Wind-

His eyebrows shot up and he glanced at Arkady, who looked just as surprised. Zal smiled wistfully as he looked at the girl. "I'll help find her. I have a few questions to ask her highness. That, and I'd do anything to put off getting yelled at by my dad. She should be easy enough to find."

Emerald eyes gleamed, as Zal moved to the center of the hall. Moss green hair rose in a crown around his face, stirred by a gentle breeze. Images flashed before Zal's eyes as he stretched his senses across the sky.

Muttering to himself as he studied the images. "Soldiers running around doing stupid things, eww... the king's kissing a maid she can't be more then thirteen. Oh look, a ship trapped in ice..." Zal quickly narrowed down the images until he found the one he was looking for, the faint scent of ozone from the lightning was as distinct as a fingerprint.

Zal smiled slyly and glanced at the others, Arkady looked curious, the priest was smiling, and the girls jaw had dropped in shock. "Found them, they're on the outskirts of the farming district. Though how he got there so fast beats me. It's not like he can fly that's my department. What are we waiting for, let's go."

Arkady snorted as he walked over to Zal. "How do you do that anyways?"

He rubbed his fingers together, a mischevious grin lighting electric green eyes. "Information is my coin of currency, It's what I live by, and die by."

Arkady/Water

He glanced at the hierophant, a questioning look in his eyes. Phorcys shrugged. "As you will, Arkady. It shall serve the Order, after all."

The water element didn't fully understand how it would help the Order, but what little he had been told about his kind included the fact that they had been created with a specific purpose in mind. This purpose, which even Phorcys seemed to have no knowledge of, was intended to bring about the downfall of the Cabal. Maybe being in the company of others like himself would reveal it to him.

Or maybe Phorcys did know the truth of them, and just couldn't reveal it to Arkady. The acolyte had held his own reservations of how 'expendable' the Order might have viewed their people. After all, if they were focused on nothing other than bringing the Cabal down, how could Arkady know whether he was intended to live?

He shook himself mentally. Thoughts like that, no matter what grains of truth they might hold, were hardly conducive to dealing with the key problems at hand. No, more important was a quick analysis of his new 'companions'. Zal's element he already knew, and had something of an idea of what he could do with it. Kessa, however, was something of a mystery. He'd encountered her from time to time in the temple, but she, a scribe in training, had never struck him as a possible element. How had she kept her glyphs so well concealed? More importantly, how had she hidden what she was from Phorcys?

He followed the others out of the temple, letting Zal take the lead towards the farming district. After all, he was somehow connected with the thieves, he'd know the city far better than one who had seen it almost exclusively from a tower.

As they walked, he glanced at Kessa. "What is your element, anyway?" He asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "You never even came close to manifesting it on your visits. Not that I could see, anyway."

James~~

I dropped behind the girls quietly, and although I was first going to just give them a warning, the fire made me think otherwise.

"What are you two doing out here?"

The girl who had made the fire appear shook her head and hid her hand, "Nothing."

"Well, if you can make fire"-I pointed to the girl-"and you can do something"-the other one-"then this is not a place you want to congregate. "

I pushed past them out of the alley and started walking down the street. If they followed it was up to them, but their life was not mine to protect.