Stormy Skies

China had called Pleasant. There was an 

issues that needed to be addressed. "You called me, Grand Mage Sorrows."

"One of the prisoners has been unaccounted for since the incident in the boiler room a few days ago."
"That should be no problem."
"Erskine Ravel."
"What?! How is that possible?"
"3 weeks ago, Grand Mage Kerias and another woman were caught down by his cell. They had a small scuffle with Vex and they escaped."
"So you think they are involved?"
"I know they are." China assured him. "And I need you to go collect him." 
Pleasant nodded and left.
********************************
Zafira had finally had a moments rest. She was home. She was in her bed and on the verge of sleep. From 3 weeks of restless nights stalking the sanctuary, the injuries from the rescue mission, and 3 nights at sea, she was exhausted. She yawned. It was a relief that she could. Sleep.
She awoke to birds chirping and a beautiful sun shining. It WAS going to be a good day. She went to the court and got the papers. Today was going to be her wedding day. She sat up and stretched herself out. A simple white summer dress. It may have been a touch too cold for it but it had to play the role of wedding dress and ...
She got into her dress and threw her robes over it. She grabbed the papers and a single white rose. Since her house was across the road from the sanctuary, she shadow walked. She smiled and waved to the administrator. She went the the world contact room and Marissa Spiritheart was in view. The look on her face screamed 'problem'. "Elder Spiritheart." Zafira started. "What is the trouble?"
"Grand Mage Sorrows spoke to me last night. She believes you and Detective Riddle were involved in an incident a few days ago."
"Why would she say such a thing?"
"She says that you are a supporter of Erskine Ravel, who was found missing."
"I assure you, Elder Spiritheart, there is nothing to be afraid of." 
Zafira quickly ended the call. She left the room. It was upsetting. Marissa had been a good friend but this issue had been very sensitive. She went to her office. The time went by slowly but it did pass. It was time. She threw off her robes and went into the bathroom. She added a touch of make-up and prettied up her hair. She grabbed the papers and rose and went down to Ravel. He sat up and looked at her. "What's the occasion?"
Zafira smiled. "Our wedding."
She walked over to him. He was laughing lightly. "I feel underdressed."
She sat beside him. He smiled. "Give me that pen, Zaf."
Zafira gave him the pen. He signed his name with a great flourish of the pen. She took the pen again and signed her name. "You may now kiss the bride."
And then the two were together. A full bodied passion that could never die or be separated. Together, for all time.
*********************************************
Vinette was looking for the Grand Mage. She found out the the one truly dead man was on his way. She entered the sanctuary and saw the administrator on the ground, unconscious. He was here. She ran toward the medical bay and saw him. She grabbed his arm and twisted it. She was in shock when it came off. He turned around and spoke "Hello. You seem to have my arm. May I have it back?"
"Why? So you can hurt decent people?"
"I'm just collecting a fugitive. I haven't hurt anyone."
"So you didn't 'hurt' the administrator?"
"They don't have a knife in their leg, now do they?"
Vinette glared at him. Pleasant lunged forward, reaching for his arm. She stepped back and moved the arm further out of his reach. He pulled out his gun and fire it into her side. She slid down onto the floor and tried to make the bleeding stop. He picked up his arm and began to walk off. Vinette kick out his legs, but, he used the air so his landing was graceful. She began to black out but before she did, she screamed out, hoping Zafira and Ravel would hear her.
*********************************
A scream. Zafira looked at Ravel. "That was Detective Riddle."
"That's not good. Go. I won't go anywhere." He said, smiling.
Zafira got up and got dressed. She was ready to attack at any moment. A well-dressed skeleton stepped through. He had an odd look on his face."What are you wearing?"
"Never you mind!" Zafira hissed. "What are YOU doing here?"
"Collecting a fugitive."
"I won't let you take him."
"Why? He's a criminal. A murderer!"
"No."
Pleasant clicked his fingers and threw a fireball but the shadow consumed them. She lashed the shadows at him but he dodged them. Pleasant ducked underneath Zafira and punched her in the jaw. She stumbled back and gathered more shadows. She slapped with shadows and he flew across the room. He stood up and adjusted his tie. She braced herself as he summoned flames. His fist- now bathed in flames- made contacted with her stomach. As she doubled over, he punched her in the jaw again. The flames were eating away at her face. She used the shadows to douse the fire and then used it to pull pleasant apart. She let herself breath for a moment. She glanced around. She saw a box of medicine. Large enough for a dismembered skeleton. She quickly emptied the box and shoved Pleasant inside. She looked around for something to keep it shut. She luckily found a staple gun. Zafira took the staple gun and stapled it shut. 2 cleavers came down. She looked over. "Take this over to the mailing department. Tell them to send it to the irish sanctuary."
They nodded and took it away. She went over to Ravel. "We don't have a lot of time, Zaf."
"I know." She said just before she kissed him.
They stayed together until time was up, and even after that. They had found their happily ever after.
In each other.

White Dove Fly

Again, slight LSODM spoiler, written by Vinette Riddle

Zafira and Vinette sat in the roof top. It had been 3 weeks since they 1st visited Ravel. They were watching the sanctuary for the thirty-seventh time. She knew because Vinette had been counting. They wanted to see where the cleavers were not and when it would be the best time to go. Zafira was determined to save Ravel from the Irish sanctuary. The cleavers still circled the sanctuary, but more arrive when it came closer to Ravel's hour without pain. Vinette type some more things on her laptop. She was taking notes for when they execute the plan.  "What do we have so far?" Zafira asked.
"Night time is tighter as well as the time around Ravel's pain-free hour. Its mostly cleavers but as soon as his hour start they put some sorcerers. Uh .... Lets see .... We already have a plan to use a bundle of explosives as a diversion then we sneak in and grab him."
Zafira sighed. Not much to go on but its still useful. Explosives. Zafira was partial to explosives. "When should we go?"
"Tomorrow at noon." 
"Isn't that risky?"
Vinette smiled. "That's why it perfect. Most people don't try theft in broad daylight."
"You do have a point."
"That's why you hired me, G.M. Kerias."
"Don't get too cocky. We still need you to get him out."
It went quite. Two sorcerers. Vex and Saracen Rue. Two dead men, guarding another. Zafira felt a hand on her back, pulling her down. Vinette looked at her. "Saracen." She whispered.
And when Zafira peaked, Saracen was pointing at them. She felt her heart sank. They were going to be caught. After a few moments, they were continuing there circle around the sanctuary. The two looked at each other. "We need to move. It isn't safe for us up here."
"Agreed."
The roof was vacated. It was the roof of the hotel so all they did was go into the hotel and go into their room. Vinette jumped onto her bed and fell asleep instantly. Zafira went into the bathroom and changed into her night clothes. A pair of sweat pants and an oversized t-shirt. She sank into her bed and flicked through the television channels. It was quiet expect the voices nearby- recorded and not- and Vinette's light snoring. Zafira swore Vinette was NOT human. She barely ate and her sleep patterns were animal-like. There was a knock on the door. Zafira got up and answered. It looked like a business man but Zafira knew better. "Hello Grand Mage Kerias."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Staven Weeper. May I step in? I would like to talk with you."
Zafira hesitate but let him in. He sat at the chair at the desk, near Vinette. Zafira sat on the edge of her own bed." Grand Mage, we know you are making plans to relieve Ravel of our sanctuary. Please do not make matters on yourself. Turn yourself in."
Zafira was angry but when she spoke, her voice did not show it. "Turn myself in? For what? I have committed no crime."
"You have broken into the sanctuary, assaulted one of our operatives and  conspired against the Irish sanctuary."
Zafira went quite. At about the same, Vinette stopped snoring. She was waking up. This would be good for Zafira but bad for Weeper. "Grand Mage, we can make this easy or hard depend on how you treat the situation. I would turn myself in if I were in your position."
Suddenly, Weeper was on the ground, unconscious. Vinette smirked. "God, I thought he was going to put me back to sleep."
Zafira rolled her eyes then she went into the bathroom to change back into her regular clothes. When she came out, Weeper was tied down to the bed. "We better get going. Its not safe here anymore."
The two left Weeper in the bedroom. The got onto Vinette's motorcycle and drove to a 24 hour diner. It was still close to the sanctuary but a little farther than the hotel was. It was 3 in the morning. Zafira was exhausted. She wanted to sleep but she knew sleep wouldn't come to her tonight. Today. Whatever it was. Vinette order some coffee for the two of them. Zafira added a dash of milk and 2 spoonfuls of sugar into her coffee. It tasted perfect. "Ok, now we have coffee. What do we do now?"
"I have a suggestion, Grand Mage."
"Very well, let me hear it."
"We go ahead with our plan."
"Maybe we should move our time forward." Zafira suggested.
"To when? I know your concern to move him but there is no better time to follow through."
Zafira sighed. Vinette opened up her laptop and scanned through the notes. "The only other time that could come even remotely close to noon is 6 am. When most operatives are switching."
"Then we should go ahead with it."
Vinette shook her head. "Are you disobeying orders?!" Zafira demanded.
"What? No. I'm telling you the facts. It won't be as affective as we originally planned."
Zafira glared at Vinette. Vinette sank lower into her chair. "I guess we could do it at 6."
"How much longer?" Zafira asked.
"Soon. I have everything we need."
"Alright."
Zafira finished her coffee and they stepped out. Vinette brought her bag out and opened it. Inside there was a large white ball with a blue thread. C4. Zafira smiled. "If we set it off in the boiler room" Vinette explained "it'll draw a lot of attention."
Zafira nodded as Vinette closed the bag and got on the bike. Zafira held on as they spend through traffic. They stopped nearby."I want to clear something up."
"Ok. Go."
"I have permission to do what is necessary. Right?"
"Yes."
"Even kill?"
Zafira nodded. Vinette went in the opposite direction. Zafira knew she would get the job done. She followed the map down to Ravel. He was quiet but she could tell he was having difficulties. He knew what the plan was and was trying to help her. She went over and silently picked the lock with the shadows. Ravel's face twisted into something that didn't look right. In her heart, she could tell he was trying to smile but was keeping quiet. She went over and kissed his forehead. She sat in the cell until...
BOOM!
There was smoke everywhere, it was hard to see. The floors were soaked with scorching hot water. Zafira felt her legs and feet were on fire. It was times like this she wished she was an elemental. She trudged on in the darkness of the smoke, ignoring her own pain. She had Ravel on her back and as long as he was there, she could continue on. The only-
The world tumbled and shook as she fell down the stairs. Ravel was awkwardly positioned and he pinned her down in the scalding water. Zafira was quietly cursing in spanish. She wiggled her way out from under Erskine and quickly picked him up again. She kept moving forward and finally found her self outside. It was very chilly compared to inside. Again, another time she wished she was an elemental. She laid Ravel down in the dead grass. She sat beside him. Luckily, they were out of sight. She brushed the hair out of his face. He almost looked peacefully asleep had his body not been shaking. The only man she ever loved. Erskine Ravel. A horn. A car horn. Vinette was driving. She looked like a mutant. She was probably badly scalded. Zafira grabbed Ravel and placed him in the rear. Sitting next to him, they went out. "Where to now?" Zafira asked.
"A familiar place for you, Javert." She said jokingly.
Zafira frowned. "Do you mean the docks?"
"The shipping docks. We'll sneak on and we'll be in America in no time."
"You hear that Ravel? We'll be free soon." She said tenderly.
Ravel's eye glistened with hope. He knew he would be with her all the time now. He used all his energy to grab her hand. She smiled and all was good. 
***************************************
It was time. His hour was here. He was on the ship. Zafira was beside him. She saw him and was lit up with happiness. He smiled. "Zafira. You look so beautiful."
She hugged him tightly. "Ravel! You're ok."
He hugged her back. "I'm always ok when your around."
The other woman came over. She had a lunchbox. "I thought you could use some food. Its not much but its better than starving."
Ravel took it. "Thank you."
"No problem." She said and she left. 
Ravel opened the box and began to eat. Zafira watched him. "Erskine, we are going to find some way to cure you."
"Zafira, there IS no cure."
She put a finger in front of his lips. "Hush, there is always a way."
Ravel swallowed his food and leaned in closer to her. In that single kiss, he knew that everything would be alright.

The White Dove

 

Spoiler alert: READ LSODM BEFORE THIS

Written by Vinette Riddle

Grand Mage Zafira Kerias had not gotten a lot of information on what happened in Roarhaven. She only just got reconnected with her lead spy and detective, Vinette Riddle. But by then, she decided to go over herself. She already was on an airline since most of the teleporters were unable to assist her. Vinette had sent her an address after she told her the plan. She kept the real reason behind her visit; Erskine Ravel. She had always believed that the two of them had a secret and unspoken love. He had always been a tiny bit nicer to her than any other of his supporters. She wanted to believe that he loved her, she knew she loved him however. Zafira was already on her way to the rental cars. They seem backwards to the cars in America. That's how weird Ireland was. Zafira paid for her car and punched in the address, a café in Dublin. Zafira followed the automated voice to the little café and immediately saw the detective outside. She was sipping tea and checking her e-mail. Zafira circled at least 20 times around the block to find a parking spot. She walked up and sat beside the detective. "You know" Vinette began "If you don't tell someone all the details but they want you're help, you look very suspicious."
"Detective, I do need you're help. But this is a sensitive matter."
"I'm assuming you want me to properly fill you in."
Zafira nodded.
"In short, Darqusse came out and ended the battle. She didn't kill anyone truly important but ... Erskine."
"What happened to him?!" Zafira demanded
"Darqusse did something to him. He feels 23 hours of pain. He has 1 hour to do whatever but it starts up again."
"Can't they use painkillers?"
Vinette shook her head. "No. Nothing will help."
Zafira looked down at the ground. She felt warm tears roll down her cheeks. "I heard" she began "that he was dead. I wish it was that over ... This."
"I'm sorry Zaf. Must be hard."
Vinette offered Zafira some napkins. Zafira took them and wiped her face clear. She looked at Vinette. "I can take you to him. His pain-free hour is in about 22 minutes."
"Where is he?"
"Well, he's in the sanctuary's medical bay."
Zafira frowned. He was in the jaws of the enemy. To go would practically BEG to be arrested. But Erskine Ravel ... Every moment wasted is a moment she could be with him.
"Take me to him. Now."
Vinette smiled. "I knew you'd take the risk. Stay put." 
She ran off around the back. Zafira decided to look at her laptop. Most of them were e-mail's tapped. Ravel to Ghastly. Pleasant to Cain. Countless tapped e-mail conversations. That's why she was sent over here. She was the best. Vinette came back riding a motorcycle. Zafira hesitantly got on. Vinette started and she was not even remotely slow. Maybe triple but definitely double the speed limit. In a matter of minutes they arrived at the sanctuary. Vinette opened a secret passage. The two Americans walked down the corridor. After some time, they arrived. Nye was right there. Vinette pulled out a rather large wad of cash. "Tell no one Nye."
It didn't object. It walked over and began counting the money. Zafira didn't need Nye to find Ravel. He was still screaming in pain. She followed the screams into the holding cells. There he was. Laying on a prison bed, in pain. A few moments, he was still. She smiled. "Erskine."
He smiled and looked at her. "My favorite American. Hello Grand Mage Kerias."
"I had to come to see you! I didn't know how you were!"
"Grand Mage, it is good to see you. You took a great risk by coming here. If you were caught ..."
"It would be worth it. To see you again."
He sat up and went closer to Zafira. She put a hand through the bars. His hand was as cold as ice but she didn't mind. "I wanted- no, needed- to see you."
"I feel the same way." He whispered.
A moment passed and she could see every detail on his face. The faint lines on his face from all the pain and stress. The shimmering traces of tears in his eyes. An explosion. She felt an explosion in her whole body. Not of pain, but of passion. They were as close as two people could be. Another moment and they were separated again. "Zafira. We should be this close. All the time."
Zafira smiled again. She felt she couldn't stop smiling. "I agree." She paused. "Is this ... A proposal?"
He smirked. "I guess it is."
They kissed again. And again. And again. They were entwined in each other.
"I'll get you out of here. Some how, you'll be with me. In America."
"How?"
Vinette coughed. "Sorry to break the honeymoon plans but someone's coming."
Vinette drew her scythe. Zafira stood next to her, dagger in hand. Footsteps neared. Zafira knew who was going to come around without any hints. Karma was going to show its ugly face. Vex walked around the corner. "Grand Mage Kerias. And friend."
"We aren't here to fight, Vex." 
"Too late now." Vinette muttered.
Vex moved first and threw energy at Zafira. She dodged the beam but only just. She took some shadows and whipped them at Vex. Vex was hit and stumbled backwards into Vinette. Vinette used the staff part of the scythe and jammed it into the back of his neck. Vex, on the ground, rolled over a threw energy at Vinette. Vinette's shoulders were bleeded and a chunk and been blasted off. She backed away into the wall near Zafira. Vex stood up, only to be knocked over by a blue haired girl with a tray of food. "Oh, i'm sorry Vex. My mistake." The blue haired girl said as she was getting up. 
Vex was already on his feet. Zafira threw her knife and grabbed Vinette. She shadow-walked away.
Vex walked away but with a knife engraved into his leg. He went to find China. China looked upset. "Vex, what happened."
"Grand Mage Kerias and another woman broke in."
"What were they doing here?"
"Making plans with Ravel."
"Well then, we need to tighten security. Also, get some people to search the country. They may still be around."
*************************************
"They're going to come after us. Are we still going to go ahead?" Vinette asked.
"I'm not leaving him here." Zafira replied
"Operation ..." Vinette began, trying to give it a title.
"Operation White Dove. Yes."