Quoth the Kraven

@archaievist

"Now I see you."

Many killers became somewhat ghostly after enough time spent in the Entity's realm, haunting their respective locations almost as if they could not leave. The Dredge, however, was different. When its lonely, old Victorian lie empty except for itself, the starvation would set in. The deep, cloying hunger that totally eclipsed every other need -- visceral, primal, instinctual.

So it wandered. Moving from shadow to shadow to siphon what delicious threads of fear, doubt, and pain it may find lingering in miserable souls between trials. Presently, it inhabited an otherwise empty locker, tucked between the broad trunks of two trees, situated on the outer rim of the Faerie's haunt.

As she addressed it, the Dredge let out an abrupt, but quiet symphony of moaning and screaming, startled to have been detected.

With one of its smaller, more dexterous hands, it slowly opened the locker doors from within to take a peek at its discoverer. It breathed in her emotions, probing for something to eat. But it found only curiosity. A desire to nurture. Loneliness.

It slammed the locker doors and hissed a collection of baleful cries.

You didn't see anything, lady. There is absolutely nothing inside this locker.

The old Victorian house was a personal favorite realm of hers, reminding her of her own childhood home. That's where she had first seen it. Only a shadow at the time, but she knew it had to be another one of the killers.

She didn't mean to startle the poor thing, but she couldn't help but address it. Her head cocks to the side to try and get a better look at it before it slams the door.

Eliza can't help but laugh, "Oh, don't be like that. I mean you no harm." What it detected was correct, she was very lonely and seeing such a creature did bring out her nurturing instincts. Perhaps it was lonely too?

@archaievist

"What are you looking for?"

Since the inclusion of the Faerie to their happy little family of murderers and ne'er-do-wells, Dr. Carter had carefully kept a record of her. Of course, he did this for all the specimens which shared his little pocket of paradise, but the supernatural had, ever since his own arrival, become somewhat of a special interest of his. In life, before the Entity, everything was cut-and-dry. Empirical. Scientific.

Not so much when it came to specimens which defied science -- the Faerie, the Artist, et cetera. His discomfort had, like a piece of coal under immense pressure, rendered a diamond. And with that sparkling new perspective, his obsession reignited.

"Just you, madam."

His words were crackled in ambient static, not spoken with a voice. Like a man speaking over an old radio set. As he spoke, his permanent grin did not falter one iota.

"Can you fault a man for his scientific curiosity?"

Charming, well-spoken, believable. Entirely non-genuine.

It's rare that other killers seek her out. She's new to this little collective and these are the types who don't trust easily. Save for Burong, who she shares a realm with.

"Hm, how very interesting," the shape she takes in trials is gone, replaced by a tall, but normal looking, woman. The only thing that is the same is the shocking red hair. A throng of vines gather behind him, forcing him to sit and brings him closer to his host.

"No, I can't fault one for curiosity," she sits down herself. "But I am curious about you as well, Dr. Carter."

It's not that Thad thinks Eliza can't take care of herself- it's that even he's afraid of what's been unleashed. He doesn't wait to see what happens in the box they've left, nor who else might be in danger, rushing for a side exit marked EMERGENCY ONLY before dropping her there and yelling

"RUN!" He whirls, then, blocking the entrance. He has no clue what might wait outside...or if the door out is even useable. It could be blocked.

He has a horrible feeling that might be the case.

Once again she does not argue, but runs with the rest of the crowd. As she makes it towards the door her mind is full. What are these things? Who sent them and why?

Never mind that now. Eliza bursts through the door but does not go far. Vines whip the creature's away from the fleeing masses; trying to give them more time to escape. Green eyes wildly search for the dark shape that would be Thad.

Anxiety wells up in her as the seconds tick by. She has to resist the urge to rush back in there to help him, but she stays put. All she can do now is hope he makes it out.

SEND “⚡️” AND A QUESTION AND MY MUSE WILL BE FORCED TO ANSWER HONESTLY

Please specify the muse for multimuse blogs.

Saying that Eliza's face is the last thing John was expecting to see emerging from the mirror is the understatement of the century. Yet, he cannot deny that her red hair and green eyes appearing in place of a mangled ghostly visage is a relief, strong enough to allow him to catch himself before he can finish casting the spell.

The magical sigil simmers away, slowly vanishing in thin air, and the magician's shoulders slump, the tension draining from them. However, the frown on his face remains, even if it's not as deep and angry as his previous scowl.

"Woh in th' bloody Nines...Lass! I coulda 'armed yeh!" He exclaims, throwing his hands in the air and taking a few steps away from the mirror. "Jesus H. Christ, Eliza! Yeh can't jus' sneak up on folks when they're in a bleedin' 'aunted 'ouse!"

He runs a hand over his face, achieving only to smear the dirt covering it even more. A heavy sigh leaves his lips, mouth curling a little with a flash of worry as she gracelessly stumbles out of the mirror, but it's quick to go as it has appeared as the librarian picks herself up immediately.

"Well I didn't know it was a haunted house, now did I!" She throws her arms up in exasperation. Huffing and placing her hands on her hips, she's able to get a better look at him.

He looks like shit, more shit than usual.

"John, why don't you come with me. I can lead you back to my house and you can get cleaned up there. It's just about dinner time back home too, you're welcome to join me. If you want of course."

The tone she used indicates that while it is truly his choice, she highly recommends coming with her.

This was new territory for her.

She can't help the smile, he looks so cute eyeing the jerky. Eliza sets the box down on the counter, she'll deal with it later.

"Such a handsome boy," she gives him another scratch, "here you are love." She holds the treat close to him for him to take.

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