Connection

[Kaden]

"I've been feeling it." Kaden nodded. "Something's trying to get into my mind again. I can't be sure if it's the same being or not, but I'm not letting it in to find out." The wizard could finally see the city in the distance. He'd never forget how Night World looked, ever. The place held too much memories for him, bad and good.

"There it is." He pointed ahead of him. The ice board sped up for a while, before slowing down and coming to a stop in front of the gates.

[Aazarah]

Aazarah jumped off the board and felt herself instantly relax as her feet touched the ground again. It was strange the connection she had with Nightworld, having only been here for a few weeks. She could almost feel herself warming to the idea of staying here if everything settled... and the city doesnt get destroyed.

That put things in perspective. The nagging feeling continued to beckon at her from somewhere within her mind and the earth witch supressed a shiver. The fact that it felt so familiar unsettled her greatly, but she was determined not to allow it any further then it had already wormed itself in.

She waited for the wizard to stand beside her, "Ok, lead the way to these catacombs."

[Jaira]

The look on Nykos face did not seem too inspiring at this point. Jaira took a further deep breath and attempted to do something to help the situation before they were found. One thing she could not do was just sit around.

Taking his hand she felt a deep shock move through her entire body as she landed on an immense wave of energy he was commanding around them. The lack of response from him told her he was either completely oblivious to her joining him, or he had expected it all along.

From what she could see, he was currently looking through the eyes of his sister, Aazarah and skimming her mind for an entrance to announce himself. She also noted he was doing this all to carefully, trying not to jump into private thoughts along the way. He would probably be angry with this, but she had to try.

She took the first entrance she could find within the witches mind, and found herself in a complete place of grief. Tears rolled down her face. Image after image of death played before her eyes.

"That is why we take further care in these situations...", Nykos voice was lined with disapointment, and Jaira felt her first nigglings of guilt in years. Which soon led her to other thoughts.

Searching, almost without aim, she reached out to the man that stood before Aazarah and found herself longing to explain why she had run all those years ago. And then, without warning, she felt herself connect.

[Kaden]

Kaden wasn't looking at her; his gaze was directed in the direction of the cemetery. His mind wandered to the episode that occurred the last time he had been in the graveyard. Well, under the graveyard to be more specific. He had perpetrated one of his more...morally grey actions. He still believed it to have been the right one, but it still heavily weighed on the wizard's mind.

"We need to get to the cemetery. The catacombs are underneath one of the graves." Kaden said, taking her hand and beginning to move.

[Jaira]

Jaira forced her legs to move, her mind a mixture of fear and astonishment. This was very different to what she had felt earlier. It was as if Aazarah had vanished from all around her, as if she herself was her being pulled behind Kaden.

"I know", it was out of her mouth before she had thought twice about it.

[Kaden]

The ice wizard's legs stopped immediately, almost causing the two of them to stumble. He looked back at Aazarah's face and saw Aazarah, but...there was indeed something intangibly different about her. He searched her eyes. Kaden knew that there was only one person besides him that knew about the catacombs; only one person went into them with him and with the recent developments, it wasn't that farfetched. He could only bring himself to say one thing though:

"Jaira?"

[Jaira]

She took a deep breath and met his eyes, finding herself only able to reply with one very tense word. "Yes"

[Kaden]

"How...I..." There were months of questions he wanted to ask her; things he wanted to say. The words and sentences jumbled together in his head in their attempt to all get out at the same time. Then he felt that familiar tugging sensation in his mind again and was brought back to reality. "Later." He said more to himself than to her, before turning back toward their destination. "Let's go."

[Jaira]

She fell straight into a run beside him, an abundance of words springing to her lips as she did so. "They`ve been there for just over a year, Torrik, those demons have been taking the magical supplies from all of us. Their aim is to take NightWorld but none of us know why. We all exist in some sort of half-existence that they draw from....."

Jaira jumped the fence that led into the cemetery at a fast leap, and thanked whatever powers that be she had fallen into the body of a female with a good level of fitness. The energy within her was almost singing with the feeling of being alive again.
"When you came last time they sensed something in you... I tried to warn you, to get word to you but couldn't make it. They think you know something.

She looked back at him, "Do you?"

[Kaden]

As soon as Kaden landed from clearing the flimsy fence around the graveyard, his eyes scanned the ground for the right grave. He'd never forget that time, or what led up to it. It didn't take long to find it. No shovels this time, so he'd have to do it the easier, but irreversible way. He made his way to the right patch of dirt and placed his hand on it. The topsoil instantly froze, but he kept his hand there for a while longer, freezing the dirt under it as well. With a raise of his hand, the large block of iced dirt pulled itself from the ground around it. The wizard put it down nearby.

"I know where whatever it is they're looking for is. But as for what it is? No, I don't."

[Jaira]

Jaira approached the grave, her suspicions confirmed with a restrained sigh. "The symbol. Nykos should have been the one to be here.... he has much more understanding of the Oporan magic."

All her own knowledge revolved around that which she had learnt in otuwitting the Oporans in combat. Nothing at all on their origins. "Kaden, I do not know how long I will be here like ... this", she motioned the earth witch`s body. Let alone how I got here again. "Before we get down there - there are many of us living in this half state back in Taroq. Whatever happens, we need Night Worlds help. We`re not dead, there still has to be a way of us living... We need someone to keep looking for us whilst we gather strength".

[Aazarah]

"Sis, Open your eyes...". The voice came loud in the darkness, a slightly worried tone tainting its strength.

With a start, Aazarah obeyed her brothers request and almost jumped out of, well, Jaira`s skin. Seeing him before after such a very long time, she grabbed a hold of him with super- tight ferocity and hugged him for at least a full minute before she could speak. "Nykos! It is so good to see you again". Pulling away to search his face, she squeezed his arms. "I can not believe you found the Oporans.. I am so sorry I did not listen to you.. My mind was still on grandmother, and the murder... "

"Aazarah", as always he was not one for excessive words. "It is OK. All will be fine. We are not lost just yet".

She took a deep breath - why did it forever feel like her younger brother was years ahead of in age? Shouldn't it have been her calming him? "What happened to you?", she finally asked.

"I came to Taroq after months of traveling through the west. Grandfathers notes had mentioned the weapon had landed somewhere in this area- but for many months I could not locate it. It took me about 3 weeks to conceive the idea it may not be within our physical realm of existence - hidden from our sight . I knew it had to be here somewhere - so, frustrated, I turned to our Connection work, spending days within the fragile state - It took an exhausted week to find it . The Oporans were building their reserves in what they call the supreme transcendental state - what I and all these others currently occupy is a slower frequency, yet still one that resonates above your physical body. To put it simply, our energy is the doorway into the third dimension, without it they can not cross the barrier"

"So, what do they need from the physical world if they are in this so called supreme state?", Aazarah asked.

"Only part of the weapon resides in this state, it is what they used to destroy Taroq and all those that come to here. The last piece is hidden in some catacombs - beneath Night World - they are dedicated to moving heaven and hell to get there. And when the parts are combined - it truly will be the weapon to fear. Until recently the final key was being guarded by the Esteen family line - the woman's body you now occupy was due to become the next guardian, although she has no clue of it. I do not trust anybody at this point enough to give what information I know, even though this Jaira seems trustworthy enough. You are the only one I want to know of this for now, Aazarah. Promise me this."

Aazarah found herself nodding emptily.

[Kaden]

"So you remember it. On the back wall of the room we fought the necromancer in? I didn't until I was forced to." Kaden replied, jumping down into the open grave. The underground was auspiciously zombie-less, to the wizard's relief. The pair talked as they traversed the catacombs.

"Taroq. That's the name of the between-space place your soul lives in? I assume Aazarah's brother is there as well." This last part was no question. "But your body...it was destroyed, wasn't it? Even if a way is found for you to return to the living, you would need a body to inhabit. I mean, I will look for however long it takes." Kaden found himself adding before his mind could stop the words. Since they were already out, he just continued. "I miss you Jaira." He admitted. "But you can't keep Aazarah's body."

[Jaira]

She ran her hands along the cold walls as they walked, relishing the feeling of touch once again. How had she not appreciated this more when she had the chance? "Nykos recently joined us there, yes... and I must admit I am glad - he seems to know much more then the rest of us, although I cant seem to find out why. The guy is about as tight lipped as they come." Part of her still found herself questioning just how much the earth wizard withheld - but hearing Kadens last words about Aazarah, she decided not to voice these concerns. They were obviously close.

"Dont worry about Aazarah, I promise not to hold her body for long.. I don`t even know how I came to possess it this time, everything just feels... different. More real". She drew in a sudden, quick breath as her fingers caught a sharp piece of rock. Seeing fresh blood begin to drip from the cut, Jaira stopped and studied her finger quietly. "After a while, Kaden... you begin to even miss the pain", she looked up to him, "How strange is that?"

[Kaden]

The bright red of her blood caught Kaden's eye. He felt concern flit quickly through his mind, and silently chastised himself. It's just a tiny cut, you idiot. She's not gonna die from it. The thought that this reconnection with Jaira was temporary made the wizard reluctant to open himself too much, but that was also what he tried to do when he met her the first time. It was working about as well as it did that time.

"It's not strange at all. I can't imagine not being able to feel. Even pain. It would be hard to feel alive if you couldn't." He answered.