From Life into Legend }{ open

[deraj]

Camilla was unphased by Raine’s screams. She tilted her head back, shook her hair out, and went back to work on Deraj. Deraj on the other hand, was appalled.

Without taking her eyes off the last part of her work she spoke, “I simply can’t be interrupted during these last few steps. It is crucial that I’m alone while I work. You don’t want me to slip now and render you blind or a eunuch, would you?” She gave another high-pitched cackle and went on with her work. “Why do you fraternize with her like anyway? Dirty half-breed. I have the feeling that you were not of noble birth but I can tell you come from good stock… old stock. No intermingling with your line.” She paused her work, held up his head, and gazed deep into his eyes. “That crown looks good on you, you know. I’m glad you found it. It suits you far better than it did him.” Deraj could not help but to return the gaze and saw that she was crestfallen. To call that look in her eyes loneliness would do it injustice. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to ease her suffering. She gently put his head back down and went back to making him whole.

“Don’t think me unkind, Deraj. There is a tunnel in that oubliette that leads out of these catacombs to one of the only oases in this forsaken desert. I imagine she is resourceful enough if she was found in your company. She will have a way of escape.” Deraj knew in that moment that Camilla had no intention of allowing him to leave. Perhaps she was hexed too when this crown was cursed. Perhaps she is imprisoned here.

She began to tremble and cry. She threw the knife she was using on the floor and it bounced until it fell down the hole. She pulled at her dark hair and screamed in agony at the memories of her past.

[laraine]

The pain was still fresh when Raine heard the screams up the shaft of where she came from. She stared up, to see a knife fall through the shaft and nearly impale her.

It landed a inch before her, impaling itself into the stone. She blinked and pressed her back against the wall.

She looked up. "What's going on up there?" She whispered.

The skeleton man ghost appeared before her once again. Raine squeaked and jumped. "How many times do I have to say announce yourself before you do that!" she winced, the pain in her side intense.

Raine sighed. "I'm sorry I cant stand. Even if you show me the way... I don't know if I can even save Deraj....or his body anyways. I'm a halfbreed...I really am useless.." she laughed lightly.

The skeleton pointed up.

Raine looked annoyed. "Trust me...if I could fly that wouldn't be a problem...But I don't have wings!"

The skeleton again pointed up.

"You know, you really are persistant.. I already told you. I can't fly!" Raine growled. She sighed. "Still, there must be some way to get back up there....I wonder if I can climb up somehow. "

Raine thought about it and concentrated. She formed a knife in her hand using her witches magic and threw it up to the edge of the opening where it impaled itself. She smirked.

"Good...now all I need is to get my body up there. "

The skeleton moved towards her and then grabbed her wrist. Raine cried out.

[deraj]

If there was only a way to calm this woman down and get her to finish putting me back together then maybe I could just jump down and run away with Raine. I don’t see how Camilla expected Raine to have fallen that far and not sustain any kind of damage. He could hear Raine cry out from below. In that same instant, Camilla stopped her screaming and took on an unnaturally serene expression. She pet the side of his face. “You don’t want to leave me do you… my love.” Deraj was terrified at the prospects of being sealed away down here with this madwoman. Has she been locked away down here all of these long aeons? With the wave of her hand, the grating began to slowly slide close.

[laraine]

"You know...you're one impressive skeleton person.." Raine grinned, forming another dagger in her hand and impaling it into the rock above her.

"I didn't even know ghosts could carry someone up that high." She took the dagger below her and impaled it further up. She continued this process but as she neared the top, she saw the grating start to slide closed.

Raine grit her teeth and continued to climb up, ignoring the pain in her body.

The ghost floated up next to her, it also seemed worried about the grate closing before they could escape.

Raine breathed hard, finally managing to get to the grate just as it closed tightly shut.

"No.." Raine whispered. Her anger rising, "Darn it no! Open up! Open......this......now!!!!!!!" Raine's body began to glow and a red and pink light emitted from around her. Then it exploded, breaking apart the grate to ash and propelling Raine onto the floor above. She landed on her feet, unsteady as she was. She still had blood dripping from her wound on her side, she looked out of breath and soaking wet. She brushed her pink hair back and stared at the woman. "Let him go now! Deraj deserves to rest in peace!"

[deraj]

The witch held his limp body in her arms pushing his head on her perky breasts. Her demented eyes were wide and she stroked his hair as if she was trying to comfort him. “Now now love, you need your rest.” The explosion didn’t break Camilla from her crazy spell but it didn’t exactly reassure Deraj either. Oh gods, what is it now!? If that is Raine, I hope I’m at least in my greaves.

"Let him go now! Deraj deserves to rest in peace!"

I’m paralyzed not dead!... Well, I am dead but I'm still in here!

[laraine]

Raine seemed annoyed that the woman wasn't paying attention to her. Her body began to glow a red tint. Her purple eyes also seemed to be changing color.

She held her arm out and the demonic energy wrapped around her arm, forming a orb of energy in her palm. It sparked and fizzled with intense heat.

"I said let him go!" Raine yelled. She ran towards them both and fired the blast at the woman who was holding Deraj, who Raine believed was dead.

The skeleton ghost rose from the opening and hovered behind Raine.

[deraj]

Deraj considered the incalculable pain of the blast of energy as much as an assurance of a blessing as a necessary evil. A dark red substance, that he was not entirely sure was blood, was splattered across his exposed torso and face as he fell backwards onto the table. The form of the beautiful enchantress Camilla had fallen atop him.

She was injured but the blast had not killed her. With her soft breathy voice she gently spoke into his ear, “I’ll be back to finish the job when she finally gives up on you and decides to leave.” Deraj could do nothing as the witch planted a kiss on his cheek and turned into a mist that merely dissipated into the stagnant air of the small stone chamber.

[laraine]

Raine was breathing hard, surprised that the woman gave up without a fight. She fell to her knees, trying to keep herself from passing out. The ghostly skeleton floated next to her and she grinned up at him. "Ah don't worry I'm fine Mr. Skeleton. Thanks again for the help down there. At least...I could save his body right? I'm not totally useless." she grinned.

After a few more minutes. Raine got back onto her feet and unsteadily walked over to Deraj's body. Her face was flushed, whether it be from the fight or from trying to avoid looking in some inappropriate areas. She looked down at Deraj's face, a mixture of emotions flooding through her. "I have to get him out of here first.." she was saying to herself. "Whatever that woman wants with him can't be good." She noticed his eyes were open and seemed to be staring at her.

I don't remember him dying with his eyes open..

She looked away, unable to handle the stare anymore.

"But how do I get him out of here?" She asked herself, trying to think.

[deraj]

She stared into his eyes and avoided his shameful state as best she could. Deraj was thankful for that. I wonder what that witch did with my armor and sword. Good Raine is coming near! She sees that I am still aware. My eyes are open. She holds my gaze! This will be over soon enough!. I hope she can sew…. Wait?! What are you doing? NOOO! Don’t look away…..Crap. She still thinks I’m dead.

[laraine]

The ghostly skeleton seemed to know what was going on. And as Raine turned away from Deraj, the ghost popped in front of her.

Raine let out a squeak and jumped back, accidentally knocking into the table where Deraj was behind her.

"How many times do I have to say don't scare me like that!" Raine said, trying to recover herself.

The skeleton ghost pointed to Deraj. Raine blinked and looked back over to Deraj, confused. "What about Deraj?"

The ghost grasped her hand in his bony one and placed it upon Deraj's chest.

"What are you....." Raine started. Then she looked closely at Deraj. Did his....eyes just move? Her own widened and she jumped back, clutching her hand tightly by her other one.

What is going on? His eyes..they move as if he was....alive...but no he's dead there's no way he could be alive! I felt his chest there was no heart beat! So why is......I'm so confused.

"Okay, somebody better explain what the heck is going on here!" Raine yelled into the empty room. She hesitantly walked back over to Deraj, swallowing.

She looked down once more at his face, again ignoring the fact he was nude. "Deraj?" she whispered.

[deraj]

He felt her warm hand on his chest. He looked at her and tried to look over to where he thought the witch had set down the surgical needle. He looked back up at her. Deraj could not control his facial muscles yet but he managed to get his right hand to twitch. When she leant down and whispered, he repeated the same series of gestures. It looked like she was his only chance of escaping this place. A ghost of a skeleton emerged over her shoulder.


When Deraj saw the phantom servant, his own spirit was lifted. He managed to pool some dark energy from the room and will it onto the ghost. It slowly gained flesh on its ghastly bones. Before long it had the visage of a high-ranking noble. If one had not seen this process, they would simply think that it was a living man like any other. Indeed, it was no longer a mere apparition but had substance. The ghost was as marveled as anyone else there. He beamed with joy and clapped his bejeweled hands together. “Thank you, m’ lord. Perhaps now I may of a bit more use.” As the servant scurried off to some dark corner to fetch Deraj’s affects, Deraj prayed that the witch would not show herself again.

[laraine]

Raine was surprised by his movements. Even more so when she turned and saw the skeleton gain back his flesh. She looked from one to another. Then she noticed Deraj was looking some place, then at her. She turned her eyes to where he was looking. He seemed to be looking at that needle. Raine took the needle in her hands and walked over to Deraj. "What do I do? Deraj, do you want me to give you this?" She looked into his eyes.

Taking the chance, Raine tried to find a vein and then stuck the needle into him.

[deraj]

Deraj had no idea as to which needle she had picked up. At first he panicked and then he reminded himself that he was dead and had been for a long time now. She found a vein and then thrust the needle in.

It was like a liquid fire flowed through him. As it spread, he gained control of his form. It was excruciating but it was better than being hopeless and naked in front of complete strangers.

His screams ended abruptly and he sat up. He lifted his arms and examined them, amazed at the ease of his movements. The ghost servant came back with his armor and handed them to Deraj while diverting its own eyes. Deraj, reminded of his own nakedness, excused himself from the servant and Raine as he leapt off the table to dawn his armor. As he had just finished adjusting his cloak, the lights flickered in the room.

A voice whose source could not be determined shouted “NOOOOOOOOO!” A gust of wind blew the few scattered candles out. Then, like the calm before the storm, an uneasy silence descended on the small stone chamber.

[laraine]

Startled, Raine jumped back as Deraj suddenly started to scream. Fearing she had done something wrong, a tear slid down her face. But when the screams stopped and he sat up, Raine was speechless. She noticed first that he was naked and quickly turned away, face red.
After he finished putting his clothes on they all heard the scream as the light dimmed in the room. "Wha....what's going on?" Raine formed a ball of red energy in her hand, the light illuminating the darkened room.
"Just what is going on here?" She asked, looking at the spirit and Deraj. "And Deraj you are dead, how can you...possibly be alive?"

[deraj]

The humming red ball cast an eerie light on the already unsettling room. Deraj had an idea as to what would happen next so he closed his eyes and concentrated. The room grew deathly cold.

The ghost, as if pulled by an unseen force, was enveloped in darkness and disappeared screaming.

Raine turned to him and spoke, “And Deraj you are dead, how can you...possibly be alive?"

Deraj broke his concentration and was hesitant to explain. In the time that took him to respond, Camilla emerged from the shadows behind him and clamped her hands on his shoulders. She leaned in and said, “Go ahead Deraj, tell her. Tell her, my deathless prince, how you escaped that which should come to us all. Go ahead! Lay your sins bare! See if she is she is so eager to stay by your side then.”