Where Eri gains new nightmares
21:01:57 To [Eriene]: There is a flicker of an image intruding upon her memories of Senes, fuzzy at first. The image seems to be a disorted view of a death knight in patchwork gear. There seems to be a deep sadness associated with the image, and some pain.
21:03:06 Eriene 's visage contorts into a pained wince, the tip of her ears wilting. 21:04:11 Vandern seems to be breathing in time with Eriene as he speaks quietly. "Accept the pain he shares, for this is what he is feeling, pull it towards you if you wish and you may relieve him of some of it. Do not take too much or the other will notice." 21:05:52 Eriene swallows hard, attempting to gradually take in the experience but not without amplifying the tremble in her hands. Her eyebrows knit together, bracing herself.
21:08:29 To [Eriene]: The image suddenly sharpens as Eri can feel herself along side with the presence of Vandern. There stands a death knight, his features young, but his hair as blue as his eyes. He seems to be staring back at them as they watch. As they watch, a deep coldness starts to penetrate them both, feeling as though it reaches to their bones. Vandern seems to shift in his presence and the cold subsides for Eri.
21:08:49 Vandern gives a small shiver as his hand starts to feel ice-cold. 21:10:08 [Vandern]: Try speaking... he should hear you. Take care in what you say, for he may not be able to answer. 21:11:37 Eriene inhales sharply, the cold akin to needles slipping beneath her skin before the sensation subsides. "I am here, Senes," she whispers throatily. "You are not alone anymore. I- .. -We- are coming to find you."
21:18:11 To [Eriene]: An putrid presence starts to... ooze around them, darkening the image. The Death Knight frowns, stepping forward before the image dips into an inky blackness. Painfully, all feelings to Senes are instantly severed as they hear a sinister laughter whispering through their joined conscious, going lower in tone even as it becomes louder in their minds. Eri can feel Vandern struggling, pushing at her, and suddenly she is watching Senes with black blood coming from his eyes and nose, his face twisted in a mad grin.
21:18:38 Vandern grunts and holds his breath, jerking slightly. 21:20:02 Vandern grates through his teeth, barely able to speak. "Out, leave! Pull yourself away!" 21:20:22 Eriene 's eyes remain closed, the volume of her voice louder and desperate as she struggles to hold on to the link. "Senes?!" Weighed down by her panic, her whimper escalates. "No, Senes! Fight it!" 21:25:17 Vandern jerkily tries to pull his hand away from Eri, but seems unable to budge it more than a fraction. "Sunblast it! Sever it!" 21:26:42 Eriene attempts to tighten her clutch around Vandern's hand. "No!" Her pitch fluctuates between a choked sob and frantic shriek. "I swore to him I would never leave!"
21:29:01 To [Eriene]: As Eriene watches, Senes's expression changes to one of extreme anger, then back to the mad grin. Senes speaks, but the voice is not his. With the black blood oozing from the warlock's mouth, the familiar dark voice speaks again. "Yesssss... more pain... give me more pain to pour over him..."
21:33:01 Eriene pulls her hand free, the image of Senes' twisted expression and that voice becoming too much for her to bear. Trembling all over, she leaves the mistletoe - 21:33:04 Eriene - in Vandern's palm as she buries her face in hers, her shoulders wracked in trembles, pushing the image out. 21:34:59 Vandern seems to still be jerking and shaking, breathing fast and shallow.
21:37:13 To [Eriene]: The image of Senes fades quickly, leaving Eri to her own mind once again.
21:37:36 Eriene growls, "Damn it." into her palm, the sound muffled. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" She throws her hands down and attempts to grab Vandern's shoulders, shaking him, her sights - 21:38:12 Eriene - blurred from moisture when she opens her eyes. "We cannot leave him like that!" 21:41:37 Vandern is wincing with pain even as he continues to twitch. His eyes open once, black as night before they close again with force. The priest starts to bleed from his mouth as he talks painfully through his teeth. "You... cannot... have me!" 21:44:15 Vandern is wincing with pain even as he continues to twitch. His eyes open once, black as night before they close again with force. The priest starts to bleed from his mouth as he talks painfully through his teeth. "You... cannot... have me!" 21:45:00 Eriene swallows again, feeling as though her racing heart has leapt into her throat. "Redsun!" She snarls in her desperation to bring him back, giving his shoulders another shake. The mistletoe is promptly removed from his hand. 21:46:10 Vandern lets out a loud shout into Eri's face before collapsing limply into her hands. 21:49:49 Eriene instinctively winds her trembling arms around Vandern after he collapses against her, wincing and shaking her head. "This is all my fault," she whispers, "I am so sorry." 21:50:07 Eriene holds him up, using her tabard to wipe the black blood away. 21:52:04 Vandern jerks lightly as a weak light starts to surround him. His breathing grows slower, more purposeful even as he doesn't otherwise respond to Eri. 21:54:23 Eriene insists on holding the priest upright as he gathers his bearings, all the while safely tucking the mistletoe into the confines of the pouch connected to her belt. She breathes in deeply, endeavoring herself to calm. 21:55:08 Vandern snaps his eyes open and stares at Eri with a weary but intense gaze. 21:56:32 Vandern speaks in a husky voice, sounding almost muffled. "The place they were in... nerubian." 21:56:57 Eriene 's ears flatten back submissively at the stare she receives, wishing she could turn her own eyes away. "... In Icecrown? He told me he was headed there." Her voice cracks slightly. 21:59:14 Vandern nods slightly as the weak light subsides from around him. 22:00:16 [Vandern]: One of the nerubian mazes underground... there must be a thousand of them. 22:00:57 [Eriene]: It's better than what we started with. Do you think you can reach this Death Knight somehow? 22:04:14 Vandern sighs, closing his eyes slightly. After a long moment, he gives a slow nod. "Vynardien simply follows Viskis because he has no other direction, he is a weapon and he needs to have someone powerful to direct where to swing his sword." 22:04:28 Vandern reaches up to his throat and swallows painfully. 22:04:49 [Vandern]: Are you able to use the light, Paladin? 22:06:54 Eriene 's knee-jerk reaction has her glaring ruefully at the inquiry presented. "Blood Knight," she corrects through her clenched teeth. "My reserves on the Light is not as potent as a mender's hand would be." 22:06:57 [Eriene]: Why? 22:07:51 [Vandern]: Ah yes, not all came from- that is of no matter. 22:07:58 Vandern clears his voice quietly. 22:08:08 Eriene peers at you searchingly. 22:08:11 [Vandern]: I require a cleansing, if possible. 22:09:03 [Eriene]: I can do it. It is the least I can do. 22:09:28 [Vandern]: It... seems he has dulled my ability to reach out to the light, and as for the shadow... 22:09:48 Vandern shakes his head. "It does not come, even as I call to it now." 22:10:16 Eriene stands up from the bench, her stance staggering slightly. She hunts for the pair of gloves she tossed aside into the bushes and slides them back onto her hands, flexing her fingers. "... I'm sorry about that." 22:10:31 [Eriene]: I did not want to leave him alone out there. 22:10:48 [Vandern]: Nor did I, dear girl. Nor did I. 22:11:00 Vandern leans his head back over the bench. 22:11:21 [Eriene]: What is your relationship with him? 22:11:31 Eriene walks back to Vandern. 22:12:25 [Vandern]: A rather complicated and unhappy one, I am afraid. Otherwise to be technical, Viskis is a far-removed relative of his, while I am a more direct decendant. 22:13:00 [Vandern]: Of Viskis, of course. I apologise, I am still gathering wits. 22:13:45 Eriene hovers her gloved hands closer to the priest. "I see," she murmurs distantly as she focuses to clear her mind, "try to open yourself, if you can. It makes the process for me much easier." 22:14:56 Vandern sighs slightly, but nods. "As you wish, Duskbane." He closes his eyes and goes quiet. 22:16:29 Eriene 's chest swells as she breathes in, the gentle glow emanating from the fel crystals decorating her armor dulling. Faint flickers of Light pulse from her fingers. Her eyebrows twitch. 22:17:31 Eriene exhales. Tendrils pour from her fingertips and into the priest's mouth, commanding the energies to seek the corruption within. She winces, sweat gradually developing on her forehead as she continues to concentrate. 22:20:36 Vandern jerks a little as the light enters and begins to purify the effects of the black blood. 22:22:51 Vandern straightens some. 22:22:52 Eriene closes her hands into a tight fist, a searing sensation exploding within Vandern's body, driving to burn the corruption -out-. She sways slightly to her left as her mind spins. 22:24:58 Vandern grunts hard as his eyes flash open. 22:26:01 [Vandern]: Sunblast it, woman! 22:26:13 Eriene staggers again and presses her gauntlet to her forehead, breathing raggedly. The glow in her eyes is dim and flickering. "Sunwell," she rasps. "Did it work at all?" 22:27:01 Vandern peers at her with a small frown, but then settles in to a more distant expression. "It worked, with my help. I was not expecting the sudden surge, however." 22:28:18 Vandern closes his eyes again and takes a deep breath. "Very good. Thank you." 22:28:56 Eriene nods slowly, her entire countenance weary and depleted of any strength she had. She mumbles tiredly, "I'm glad." 22:30:08 Vandern goes to stand up, but stumbles forward. 22:30:28 Vandern attempts to catch himself by throwing a hand to Eri's shoulder. 22:31:47 Eriene sways from the sudden weight landing on her shoulder, her own hands desperately reaching for Vandern's arms to keep herself upright. She heaves, "I'm.. I'm sorry. I'm suddenly very.. -tired-." 22:32:31 [Vandern]: Yes... I am sure you are. We both are. Here... 22:32:42 Vandern places his hand over her head and murmurs a few words. 22:33:20 Vandern blesses Eri with more stamina so that she is able to complete what she needs to. 22:33:37 [Vandern]: That should last for a small while... finish up what you must then rest. 22:34:11 Eriene gives her head a quick shake in effort to keep her eyes open, the temporary boost giving her what she needs to stand without feeling like the world is about to tip. "Thank you. Will you be all right on your own, or do you require an escort?" 22:35:48 [Vandern]: I will escort myself, thank you. Ah... would you like me to remove that image of Senes from your mind? 22:35:54 Vandern peers at her. 22:36:06 [Eriene]: ... -No-. 22:36:47 Eriene gulps audibly and moves away. "Let me keep it." 22:37:13 [Vandern]: Very well... but I suggest you think of him at happier times, if you wish peaceful sleep to recharge you. 22:37:38 Vandern cocks his yead slightly. "Child, I will not enter your mind without permission." 22:38:15 Eriene flicks her gaze away from Vandern and frowns. "I'll keep that in mind. The moment you find out anything, you will contact me, won't you?" 22:39:07 Vandern bows his head once more. "Of course. Do not doubt my motives, I wish to have him returned home as well." 22:39:45 [Eriene]: If I doubted you, I would not have sought you. 22:40:08 Vandern watches her. "If you were not desperate, you would not have sought me out." 22:40:50 Eriene rubs the bridge of her nose and allows her eyes to close for a moment, inwardly grimacing. That maddening grin she saw... "You are right about that." 22:41:05 [Eriene]: ... Good night, Redsun. 22:41:35 [Vandern]: Mmm. Sleep well, for you will need it before we get him back. 22:42:01 Eriene turns around on her heels and walks, eager to get back to the villa. She says nothing in response.
