Drake was lost in a dream, an old memory mixed with all the oddities dreaming carried but something felt wrong. He felt like he was forgetting something important and before he knew it, he looked down a foggy street that was dead silent only a moment later to have his ears filled with a blood-curdling sound. It was the sound of a siren, the very siren that heralded something even more terrible than what this hell already lived as normally. Drake held his pistol tight in his right hand and a dagger in his left. Soon what little gray light filled the fog faded as darkness filled the world around him and the smell of rust filled his nostrils. The air stung to breath and the sounds of what moved in the darkness with unnatural bodies and twisted feelings they carried were what he now heard after the sirens stopped their blaring. Drake took shallow breaths as he slowly moved his eyes, adjusting to the dark just enough to move to where he knew a building was but found only metal walls orange and covered in marks from weapons and claws. This was the deepest into hell Silent Hill could go and if there was further still Drake was far from ready. Putting his dagger away he would pull out a lighter giving himself some light that was stronger than one would assume. It wasn't more than two steps that a twisted horror came from the edge of the darkness and lunged towards him Drake getting only one haphazard shot off before being taken to the ground.

Drake woke up from that nightmare panting looking around as if the thing chased him out of the dream, but he was alone in the dorm. What did follow him though was something that got his mind to wake fully as the light smell of ash and dust graced his nose. His eyes saw the low gray light bleeding in from the windows as well as the state of the room as everything in here looked like it was worn to its last few days and ready to just either break or crumble away. Drake got up his mind planning his next move grabbing his new daggers he had found in the dorm along with his gun. Twenty-one shots were all he had, and he wasn't about to waste them unless he needed to. He didn't hear movement in the dorm or outside of it yet, but things were bound to start hunting for him while he was here. Sighing Drake would go into the kitchen to check the sink seeing water still came out and get himself a drink to help him relax. That nightmare must have caused his connection with the otherworld to happen and send him into the otherworld version of this school. Luckily Drake knew where he made safe havens and the exit but having switched dorms meant the walk to those were different causing Drake to curse himself for not thinking the placements of those sigils and exit more thoroughly.

—-------------------------------------------

Alistar stretched languidly as she made her way back to the dorm. She had gone out early that morning for a run and to check on a few of her stashes. This school had been amazing at supplying the things that she needed for her supply spots. She had even found that others in the school either did or had thought of the same thing as her. She didn’t disturb the other supplies she found but made note of what was within them.

Opening the dorm door, she stepped in and before she even let go of the door she stopped and immediately something made the small hairs all over her body stand up. There was something wrong. Sniffing and looking around she noted the changes to the room. Shifting to step in fully she heard a sound behind her. Turning she couldn’t hide her confusion as she saw a creature that looked like a child with knives as fingers walked towards her. Not understanding in the least she quickly shut the door and locked it. Survival mode kicked in and she whirled around. Catching sight of movement in the kitchen she moved silently to see what it was and could barely contain the relief that flooded her when she saw Drake. Waving to get his attention she put a finger to her mouth in a motion to be silent and pointed to the door. Stepping closer to him as her eyes did a quick assessment of him, she leaned up and whispered in his ear. ”Creepy kid-like creature outside the door. I’m going to grab my gear. Did the school throw us into some kind of event like I’ve heard about?” Barely waiting for his reply, she ducked into their room being mindful to look around for danger as she quickly changed clothes and armed herself before coming back out to him.

-------------

Drake finished his water and set the cup down taking the safety off his pistol. He had heard the movement and the door shutting so he knew something was in here. He would turn as it made its way over ready to aim and fire for where he knew would hurt them the most before seeing Alistar and stopped himself before any actions were made. She came over and pointed to the door before whispering in his ear and he shook his head “unfortunately it's worse” he said in a quiet voice as she would slip away to get what she needed. When she returned, he looked to the door then back to Alistar “we can’t stay in the dorm. They will just slowly come to find us. Right now, we are fresh into the place they haven't fully sensed our existence but that will change. We need to find one of the sigils I made in here.” he said, his voice holding more command and authority to it then it usually did “they can die for a time but don't let them grab you. They deal multiple kinds of damage to their victims and it will drain you.” He said adjusting one of the blood canisters he got from Toni making sure they were ready for whatever happened. “I can try to keep the weaker ones at bay but that will also let the worse ones know where we are. We will see how bad it is today and play it off. We need to get to the cafe” he said calmly to her “do you understand?” he asked giving her a serious look “we don’t leave till you understand and know what we are doing”

—--------------

Alistar had no idea what he meant by ‘it’s worse’ as she went to get changed. When she returned, he launched into a storm of information but didn’t really start with the basics. The main things she took away from what he told her.

1. They couldn’t stay here.

2. They were being hunted.

3. There were multiple ‘things’ out there that had a range of abilities and Drake was familiar with them.

Huffing slightly, she glanced at the door where she could hear scratching sounds now. Seeing the door handle jiggle her face turned grim. ”I’m a close-range fighter Drake. You know that. What kinds of damage do they deal? How can I disable or kill them? What the hell is even going on? The rest of the school wasn’t like this until I stepped into the dorm. And why the Café? Please tell me that’s not your closest safe location?” she hissed softly. She didn’t want to speak loudly but she was feeling rather frustrated. Seething she ducked back into their room and grabbed a pack and slipped it across her body and thigh belts, each loaded with rows of knives before coming back to him. ”Main part that I understand… You know how to survive these things. So even if I don’t like it. I follow your lead and do what you say.” it grated on her nerves to put her life in someone else’s hands like this. It was a strange vulnerable feeling, and she didn’t like it. Did she really trust Drake that much?

-----------------

Drake mentally cursed himself out realizing he has not given a proper understanding. Drake looked to the door handle and a thought came to mind. He would move with a familiarity that he didn't normally show in the dorm. He went right up to the door opening it seeing the monster child with bladed fingers move into the dorm, but Drake would slam his foot onto into its head then before it could do anything slammed a dagger into its throat. He dragged it away from the door and then shut the dorm door once again before looking at her. “This is a horror as I call them. They are born from pain, trauma, fears, and twisted desires. This place gives them forms and for whatever reason they are drawn to people. Maybe they feed off the pain they make us feel as they kill or maybe it's their nature. They all are something and the stronger that pain or fear or whatever is then the tougher they are to kill. Their existence is wrong, and your body feels that making it hard to fight some as they bring up trauma, pain, and fears by being around them. Some people weather it well….some very much don’t. Some aren't physically strong….others are very much so. If we see one that makes me say run, we run. Other than that, I believe you should be fine but even the weaker ones wear down your soul as they hurt you.” he said looking at the door “and unfortunately the cafe is the closest one I made. I didn't think of the possibility of me changing dorms after I made them. A glaring error on my part I am seeing.” he said glaring down at the ground for his screw up.

“Finally as for what this is….it’s my fault. I am connected to silent hill in deeper ways than I have mentioned and as a result it keeps trying to pull me deeper and deeper into here, what I call the otherworld.” he told her shaking his head “I guess that dream i had triggered a pull and now we are here. It must have been still going on when you arrived so you got pulled in along with me.” he looked at her with apologetic eyes “sorry Alistar. But we don't have any more time. Aim for their heads or hearts, best place I found…though you will need to guess on some for where the heart is…or for what's the head.” he explained before beginning to move towards the door.

—-------------------------

Alistar watched him silently as he killed the monster. It looked simple enough to kill… She listened to his explanation and frowned. Well, this was a very bad place to be if you had a lot of trauma… and pain… things she had in abundance but very rarely showed. Tilting her head, she was confused. There were creatures here that would make Drake say ‘run’? That sent a shiver down her spine. She didn’t know him to be afraid of very much. Gritting her teeth, she really wasn’t liking this ability of his. ”Dream?” she had no idea what he meant, but given how early it was, he must have been sleeping and had a nightmare. Seeing him move towards the door she glanced at the balcony then back at the door. Thinking about the fact that she had already seen one in the hallway it made sense to her, to go the opposite way… which would have been out the balcony and scale down the side of the building. However, Drake was the one leading this. Maybe there were ones that could fly? A very displeased look stayed on her face as she nodded to him and followed him out of the dorm and into the hallway.

-----------------------------

Drake would have his game face on as he scanned the halls looking for any signs of bigger horrors but from what he saw there didn't seem to be too much activity yet. He would slowly move making sure to always be aware of Alistar and where she was. Drake was rather annoyed that this happened at all, not really happy for her to see this place and it being due to his connection with it. He also hated how familiar and welcoming it felt to his body to be in this place. Unbeknownst to Drake his body began shifting into its other appearance, his hair growing longer and those old scars from when he died showing up. He would notice after they passed a cracked mirror noticing his milky eyes. Drake sighed knowing it wasn't the time to be self-conscious. Drake would stop hearing a familiar metal scraping noise echoing down the hall. Drake would in response open one of the blood canisters and the blood would float out coating his daggers as he moved forward. It was obvious he was ready for a fight, and it was one he couldn't handle without using his powers. “It's one of the big ones” he said, his voice scratchier and rougher than usual “Be careful.” he told her and moved, hearing the sound more in the way they needed to go because of course it was.

But then another sound that froze Drake in his tracks as his eyes darted around before landing on the thing coming from a trap door looking opening in the ceiling that a lanky monster climbed out of landing on the ground before them being only a few feet away as the other one with the giant metal pyramid and a great giant knife came to stand beside the taller horror from the ceiling. Drake instantly recognized that it wasn't just any executioner as the crimson coloring and size showed it was the real one. “This is bad” he said, shaking a little as he got ready to force control over them but before he could they both knelt down. Drake looked lost in that moment as he stared in disbelief “what the fuck?”

—-------------------

Alistar followed Drake carefully and silently, but as she saw his appearance start to change, she allowed more distance to build between them. Obviously, she wasn’t aware of how his face changed until she saw him look into the mirror. Shock registered on her face, but she didn’t say anything. Was that an effect of the place? Did she look like that?

The sound that came from ahead of them was creepy and not one that she enjoyed with her sensitive hearing. Amber eyes darted up as she saw one drop from the ceiling and then another joined his friend. Braced for a fight she didn’t even acknowledge Drake as he muttered that this would be bad. How the hell were they supposed to take out two of these? Drake looked rather scared and then utterly stunned as they knelt. Confusion registered but she still palmed two short blades and flipped them around, so they were braced against her forearms. ”Take it that’s not normal?”

---------------------

“It’s very not normal…these are the two lesser gods i told you about” he said to her looking at them “this is what this place turned them into” he said watching as the one looked different then he remembered. Was that a…mouth?

Before Drake could say anything else about it the one spoke “...Goddess….but….not ours…” it spoke out in a broken, hoarse voice that couldn't have a gender placed to it. The other one just made a groan that reverberated against its giant metal helm.

Drake looked even more confused if that was possible as he looked around “goddess….where is she?” he asked with his milky eyes looking around. After a moment he gave up looking as it was obvious his goddess wasn't there. Drake looked at the two beings knelt before him thinking about the situation before looking to Alistar “we should go. I don't know why they are like this but it's better than them coming for us. I can beat one but not both at the same time.” he said looking back at the two great horrors and held out a hand trying to control them “move aside…we are leaving” he said his voice strained from the effort his power took to try and control these two. But unfortunately for Drake they didn't move.

The one horror snickered at Drake before speaking again “Why is……goddess here?” it asked the eyeless face pointed right at her waiting for whatever she would say in reply.

—------------------------------

Alistar stood next to Drake, trying not to look at him, and stared at the two kneeling before them. Tilting her head hard she seemed confused when one of them spoke, saying there was a goddess here. Frowning she looked to Drake who was looking around for his goddess. ”Didn’t you say your goddess left?” she asked keeping her eyes on the two in front of them. This was all very confusing for her, and Drake was visibly shaken, and if she had to guess… borderline upset. Relaxing ever so slightly she straightened when the horror snickered and spoke to Drake.

Considering it’s question she looked like a regal queen staring down a subject. These creatures kept calling her goddess… her only conclusion was from her lineage. Her people were the caretakers of Bastet. They had said she had been blessed from birth because of the mark on her wrist. Drake couldn’t control these two… wait… could he control the others? She knew a little bit about his powers but not much and that oversight sent a chill down her spine. Inhaling deeply, she spoke in the most authoritarian voice she could. ”I do not wish to be here. I was brought against my will.” she paused and looked between the two considering them. ”Are you able to provide a guard to a safe haven?” she squinted at the two, feeling something wrong with them. She had this pull to try and help them but couldn’t understand why. The emotions she felt boiling up the longer they were near felt awful, but at the same time only made her angry. Years of pain, trauma, and the fear of eventually being a slave pooled into dread in her stomach. That dread ignited to anger, and she was left with a desire to raze this place to the ground. The injustice of these souls being trapped here and twisted fueled that anger. ”If you can, I will grant you a blessing each before leaving.” Gripping her swords, she waited to see what the horrors would say.

-----------------------------

Drake nodded “she died…only her ghost remains now” he told Alistar before looking at the two. It kept saying goddess, but it was obvious she wasn't here. “There…is no goddess here. She is gone…or do you not even remember that?” he asked, feeling guilt inside of him. These were two important figures in his faith twisted by this hellish otherworld, and he had tried to fix them once but only failed spectacularly. Drake would glance to Alistar when she took a commanding tone and said nothing as deciding to see what she was planning because in this moment he didn’t know any better than her about what was happening.

The horrors listened closely to her words, and both gave a solemn nod to her when she asked if they could guard her. Then she said a blessing and the one that had a mouth spoke “A blessing…what will that…do?” he asked her, and Drake looked confused. What did she mean she would give them a blessing? Was that something she could do with some of her power or was she just trying to convince them? Drake really did not like seeing this abnormal nature from these two horrors because it only showed he didn't have nearly the control over this side of his curse as he was beginning to think he had. Drake put one of the daggers away and looked around. It was still a bit to the cafe from here and if these two stopped listening they would be in great danger, especially due to Valtiel (the one with a mouth) being here. Drake would still remain silent seeing how she would reply to Valtiel before getting involved again.

—--------------------------------

Alistar glanced at Drake when he spoke to the horrors before looking back to them. Hearing giggling growing louder near them she looked away for just a moment. This bought her enough time to think. Bastet was the Goddess of a lot of things. Cats, fertility, childbirth, protection from evil spirts and disease, and she was even a guide and helper to the dead. Thinking of her powers how could she use those to her advantage? Could she mix her pleasure touch with some of her healing? Looking at the horror Valtiel she frowned. ”What is your name and purpose? You can tell I’m a Goddess… can you not sense what I represent?” her tone held obvious irritation at the creature for questioning her.

The giggling grew louder and more of the small child like creatures appeared ambling towards them. ”Are those children?” she hissed turning to Drake. ”This is the place you lived in?!”

--------------------------------------

Drake would crack his neck hearing the laughter pulling the second dagger back out “yes it was…and time flowed oddly there.” he said a tired resentment in his voice as he spoke.

Valtiel would look at her in the way the eyeless horror could and just smiled “A goddess…..but not….but soon….odd.” he said slowly standing and turned its head to where Drake had moved “the chosen…is still….not prepared for….his role” he said and moved his head to look at the other horror “go…help…our goddess’ child” he said and the pyramid headed one rose up and moved to go fight with Drake. “We….will do so….but hurry…our corruption…may take hold…again…then you’re in danger”

Drake would start killing the child monsters, surprised by the amount wondering if it was a mix of both those great horrors and them being in one spot. But suddenly a giant blade swung down taking out a few Drake getting ready to attack but saw it was helping fight the others. The wave of monsters was soon dealt with but Drake didnt look at ease walking back over seeing Valtiel standing “lets go.” he said, his tone sharp as he would walk with Alistar seeing the two horrors follow behind them. “You okay?” he asked Alistar drakes voice still scratchy and worn out sounding as he looked with his corpse like face.

—----------------------------

Alistar filed the knowledge that this had been Drake’s home away in the back of her mind. How was he not batshit insane? The horrors words made her grimace. Could they tell she wasn’t Bastet? Why did they call her a Goddess then? Watching the way the two interacted with Drake she was certain that they needed to leave. It didn’t take long for Drake and the other one to dispatch the children. She didn’t like it. Walking next to Drake she glanced at him when he asked her if she was ok. ”This place feels disgusting. It’s messing with my head like the temple.” Gritting her teeth as they finally made it out of the school building and started heading down the path to the Café when a familiar voice called out to her. Instantly her hand shot out and gripped Drake’s shirt. There was no way in any hell that… that man was here. Slowly turning she looked to the side where the voice had come from, her eyes wide.

There he stood in all his imposing glory. Her Father. ”Running away again? You always were useless. At this rate Ra won’t even want you.” the man sneered at her before looking at Drake and the two behind them. ”What’s this? Relying on others to get the job done. How messy. Did you spread your legs for all of them too? Or maybe you just let them use any part of you they wanted?” laughing cruelly at her the man stopped only a few feet from them. ”Not even a proper greeting for your Father?” staring her down Alistar suddenly felt as if she were a small child again. The terror this man had brought upon her while she grew up…. ”You can’t be here.” she whispered still holding onto Drake’s sleeve. ”Look at you. Shamelessly holding onto this runt to protect you. Why did you have to be born with Ra’s mark? You’re not even worthy of it or the honor of being his guardian and slave! Why should our people put their faith in a failure like you.” the man looked at her with disgust. ”You have sentenced us to death. Too much of a coward to come and do it yourself huh?” he jeered at her.

--------------------------------------

Drake would be walking with her when a voice he didn't recognize came out of nowhere and his eyes became filled with annoyance. It was a person speaking to Alistar and soon the words father came out of the mans mouth and by that time Drake looked down with the man. He would say his last bit as drake would point one of his daggers at him and the blood that had been clinging to it shot out stabbing the man right in the throat before become wide and thin like a big flat sword decapitating the man “I have no time for this places torture.” he said his voice darker than usual “let us keep moving.” he said simply and began walking his eyes keeping a watch out for any more sudden guests. They were getting closer to the Cafe, but it felt like this place was fighting to keep them here more than usual which was irritating and possibly dangerous. “As you said, it will mess with your head. I will try to hurry up so it doesn't get more of a chance to mess with you” he said to her, nodding assuredly.

As he finished saying that they would pass a door of him being whipped viciously as a young teen who looked starved. The man who was doing it was screaming at Drake the tenants of the cult before each barrage of strikes. Drake in the moment looked dead eyed, tear stained, and broken. The real Drake beside her would only glance at it and then look forward “try not to look into open rooms, it likes to play scenes from your past” he said to her, and another room would show Drake holding Claudia and weeping having just been forced to kill her. That one did cause a moment of pain to show on Drake’s face, but he didn't stop walking onward. “IF you have questions feel free to ask them. It is better than letting it decide what fills the air.” he told her his eyes staying forward.

—------------------------------------------

Alistar could only stare as Drake killed the creature that looked like her father. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She hated her father, but she had wanted to be the one who killed him. Her mouth set in a grim line she followed after Drake only glancing in the doorways every now and then. She did pause when she saw the one of Drake as a teenager being whipped. Again, that rage of injustice burned hotly within her. It made her eyes seem as if they were glowing slightly. ”Don’t look into open rooms because I’ll see myself? Or parts of you that you don’t want me to see?” Seeing the room with him holding a woman and weeping over her she frowned. ”Old fling?” This made her curious about what she would see from her own life. Doors started appearing near them open to show off as much as possible. As they passed one it had Alistar torturing a child. Grimacing she looked disgusted before looking away. Another had screams from a man and a woman begging her to stop. As they passed it, the man had his arm flayed of skin. A woman and teenager were tied in full view of what she was doing. The teenager finally lifted his head and told her that his parents knew nothing of his underhanded deeds. They were innocent.

Alistar knew these moments. They were memories of moments she regretted. Things that she felt a deep-seated pain for. They weren’t far off from the café, but things didn’t seem right. Stopping Alistar opened up her senses and looked around. A soft chanting could be heard. It was the prayer that she had said in the temple. Then on the wind her name. She visibly paled and her eyes darted around. ”Run.” a hard edge to her voice as she took off at a dead run ignoring everything and heading for the café.

----------------------------------------------

Drake would hear her ask why not to look into the rooms “the first one, I have nothing to hide from you” he said to her as he continued to walk. He would hear her next question, having to think for a moment on what she meant by fling “That was first woman I ever loved was human.” he said calmly “but…she lost herself inside of this place.” he said and if she looked, she would see the woman was older then the drake in the memory. He would hear his scream of pain soon after passing the door completely only to hear Alistar in a room causing him to glance to see a child being tortured, then a family with a teenage son who must have gotten caught up in something Alistar was connected to. Drake didn't have any judgments knowing his own past, so he remained silent until she stopped. “You okay?” he asked, seeing her pale before she told him to run and Drake nodded following her. The two horrors soon followed after a moment of pause giving some space between the two the pairs. Drake could see the halls shifting and soon they came to the end of the hall where a door that wasn't supposed to be there was.

Drake quickly opened it and entered only to stop to see another version of himself slowly hanging up a woman by meat hooks punctured through her flesh. That drake was humming before wild, sleepless eyes looked at them and a giant smile came over his face. “Welcome dear guests, it seems you caught me in the middle of some chores” he said giggling an odd, uncomfortable laugh. Drake glared reaching for his gun, but the smiling drake pulled his out first training it on them “no need for that. Hands out of your jacket sir” he said before slowly piercing his hands on the hook as the blood rose up in barbed tendrils one actually moving and began whipping the girl “I will be able to talk in a moment, once I have dealt with this chore.” he said before looking at Drake for a moment “wait…You have my face. Then you must know how important what I am currently doing is….yet your face is telling me you wish to end my life” he said his face never looking displeased but instead a gentle kindness rested on his face that seemed twisted and wrong “we need to finish the sacraments…or everything will stay broken.”

The real Drake beside Alistar was fuming. He was glaring, gritting his teeth, and balling up his fists so tight he was making his hand bleed. This is the side of himself he hated the most. The broken, twisted version who became what he hated the most. He had become a zealot believing in the Order's bullshit and killed ten people before Henry was able to break him free of his shattered mind just enough to show Drake the error of what he was doing. It felt so long ago now that Drake had been this monster but in truth it also felt like it hadn't even been a month since he killed the tenth person for the sacrament. He wished out of all of it he could change this, to fight the insanity harder, to not let this place win, to not tarnish the memories of those he lost with his actions…but he did, and it ate at him still.

—------------------------

Beginning to get very annoyed by how the hallways continued to change she audibly growled as Drake opened the newest door. Seeing another, obviously insane Drake, she barely bothered to listen to him. Instead, she looked around and tried to figure out how to get back to the pathway to the café. ”Why is it warping the pathway?” she turned from the crazy Drake and pinned a hard look at the two angels that were following them. ”Is this your doing?” Hearing the last words from Crazy Drake she looked back at him. ”Well then hurry it up. We have places to be. What all do you have left?” She didn’t care if she had to jump in and help this crazy man out. She would rather do that then deal with the voice that she had heard.

-------------------------

The two twisted angels stood silent, Valtiel shaking his head at her accusation. Drake meanwhile would stare his insane self down but the crazy version of himself was looking at Alistar curiosity sparking in his eyes. “So who or what are you?” he asked his eyes looking at the two in the back, his smile growing slightly. “well…how very fun” he said as he plunged his hand into the woman, tearing out her heart and putting it into his coat. “Well I plan to cleanse everything” he said wiping his hands half heartedly on his jeans his eyes looking up as the room twisted and warped, showing it was unstable. “it seems it wants you both to stay. Guesss i have been naughty and so has the miss there” he said chuckling slowly running his hands through his hair “But it doesnt matter to me, nothing matters but bringing them back.” he said smiling

“They can’t be brought back, Ever.” he said darkly, slowly stepping forward toward “we were powerless, weak, and far too late.” Drake said and it seemed the insane version of him didn't like that as one of the blood tendrils lashed towards him but was met with one of the real drakes making. Drake kept moving forward sending a hand signal to Alistar trying to get her to look at the door he noticed appeared. He planned to distract the psychotic doppelganger while she left. The crazy drake chuckled “you're so odd me. You are a murderer yet you hold back your power so much.” he said holding his arms out making more tendrils “[cd]Why not be like me and embrace it? Let it flow wild and be a part of it” he said chuckling “none of it will matter in the end” he said but Drake said nothing in return as he kept moving towards him. The insane Drake simply sighed, tilting his head before sending all the blood tendrils to attack the real one only to have them stop short of their attack. “What?” the crazed Drake said before the real Drake lunged forward decapitating the clone of himself. Drake glared at the door before rushing onward, noticing the two angels turn to face the direction of whatever was chasing after them, apparently planning to meet it if it came into the room.

—----------------------------------------

Alistar was growing rather tired of this place. It was messing with her on a deeply personal level, and she was growing madder and madder by the second. Something inside her reached out to these poor souls that were trapped in this realm. It wanted her to help them. Another part of her wanted to burn it all to the ground though. Amber eyes glared at the crazy Drake as he asked her who/what she was. Seeing the way, they fought and the hand signal that the real Drake sent her, she was about to tell him off when she heard it. The chanting was getting louder from the direction that they had come. Glancing back, she visibly paled and swallowed hard. Knowing she had made a promise and would not suffer the injustice of being forced to break it… she stepped between the two angels, facing the same direction as them. Not caring that they had all sorts of gore and other things on them, she lay a hand on each and closed her eyes concentrating hard. She focused on them entirely and mentally reached towards them. Healing was not always physical. Normally she hated healing anything, but something nagged at her to do this. Mixing her limited healing ability with her pleasure ability, she flooded them both with it. She had no idea what they would feel, if anything at all, but she had learned with Drake that sometimes the pleasure one felt from her touch, wasn’t sexual.

So many questions raced through her mind as she mentally felt the two creatures underneath her palms, but she didn’t spare them any attention as her voice lifted in a haunting prayer. A soft melody playing in her mind.

” Beloved Bastet,

mistress of happiness and bounty,

twin of the Sun God,

slay the evil that afflicts our minds

as you slay the serpent Apep.

With your graceful stealth

anticipate the moves of all

who perpetrate cruelties

and stay their hands against

those who protect your children.

Grant us the joy of song and dance,

and ever watch over us

in the lonely places

in which we must walk.

Slowly opening her eyes, she sucked in a deep breath and stared in the direction of the chanting. ”bꜣstt be with you.” It was like she could feel the energy physically drain from her and into them. Not bothering to see if anything actually happened, she turned and headed for the door that Drake had pointed out. Pushing through it, she found herself in the Café finally. The air changed, and the aura of the place felt noticeably cleaner. Moving swiftly, she found a nearby seat and sat down to steady herself.

--------------------------------

As she placed her hands on them and began praying, she would feel a gentle embrace as a soft female voice spoke in a whisper directly into her ear. “Thank you for easing them…I only hope it will help them return” the voice said as the embrace faded. As it did the two Horrors seemed to groan a bit before both stood a bit taller looking less in pain. For a moment a shimmer of what they may have once looked like came over them in a quick moment only Alistar would see. Valtiel looked back to her, his body looking less fleshy than it did a moment ago “thank you…for this kindness…now go” he said and the two moved to leave the room and meet the oncoming horror head on.

Drake would join her soon after she entered the cafe making sure the door was closed behind them. Drake let out a sigh and looked over to the counter to see a glowing seal on the counter of the cafe that matched the one on his stomach. Drake silently made his way over to it planning to use it to take them out of the other world. Before doing that, he would stop and look to Alistar to make sure she hadn't been hurt or if anything else was wrong.

—--------------------

Alistar had her head in her hands, her fingers threaded into her hair. ”What the hell Drake… Who was that voice? What did she mean she hopes it helps them return?” Alistar didn’t know if she should cry or rage. She really felt like doing both. ”So, is it that anyone around you can get pulled into that place with you at any moment?!”

Finally lifting her head, she stared him down. ”What if you’re around children?” the very thought of a child getting pulled into that place made her gut twist. ”Why was Ra there?” The questions that she had pushed down previously were coming out in a flood. Frowning she stared at him hard. ”How often do you get pulled there? Why were there so many rooms with you being tortured? Why did your face….” she couldn’t even finish the last one as her hands curled and clenched on her thighs.

--------------------------------

Drake would look at the distraught Alistar feeling a pang of guilt in his stomach that he had brought her into this. “I guess she spoke to you…That was likely my goddess thanking you for whatever you did to the two horrors you met.” he said calmly. She then asked about the pull into the otherworld and a sigh would leave Drake ``yes it seems that way.” he told her before she brought up children “I don't know, I have never seen a real child in Silent hill save for one…but she is an exception since she was connected to it.” he explained to her “I believe children are too pure and whatever is left of the goddess power in that place keeps them safe from the other world's horrors.'' He explained thinking back and never really seeing another kid that wasn't a ghost. Drake then heard her next question and looked back to the door “It wasn't Ra, it was probably your horror. Everyone that comes here makes their own horror that embodies all of their dark feelings and those ones only hunt the one who made them. Sometimes they aren't hunting you though…because not all peoples pain is like that…sometimes they are just in pain like you are.” he said looking to his hand before looking back to her.

Seems the next few questions were about him. He expected that much after everything but it didn't make him want to talk about those things with her, at least not yet. He had barely shown her any good qualities he had to now be showing off all of these terrible ones he had but drake wouldn't lie to her. “Not often, this is a rare occurrence anymore and if it happens while I am conscious I often prevent others from being pulled in. As for why you saw many rooms of me being tortured…those just scenes from my life being played out in front of me to make me suffer.” he told her thinking back to that moment “I have very few happy memories, Alistar. Most of the ones that are happy are either new….or before my friends were taken from me.” he explained further letting out a sigh before touching where the new mouth wound was “as far as this appearance…its two parts. I died looking as you see me now…or almost died the details of if i was truly dead i am unsure of. The second part was that my horror was special for reasons i don't truly know. Maybe my faith in my goddess was mixed into my horror or perhaps my connection to this place made her more sentient than the others. Regardless my horror did something to me as I laid dead or dying to bring me back which in doing so made my horror part of me. I want to believe I am human but knowing what I just told you makes me unsure at times if that is fully true. Also, when I am in this place or places similar, as I learned from an event here at the school, my body takes this form. I can even grow wings if I try, though I cannot fly with them or haven't bothered to learn how to.” he said taking a breath and closed his eyes forcing himself to shift back to his normal appearance “Is this easier to look at? I need to focus somewhat to keep myself looking like this.” he said, hoping knowing these things would make her feel better.

----------------------------------------------------

Alistar held in a near hysterical laugh. His Goddess had spoken to her? Why?! Everything he was saying was absolute batshit to her. Why was there so much pain around her and why did she feel this overwhelming need to help the dead things? Gritting her teeth, she scoffed as he said it wasn’t Ra, but probably a horror she cooked up. Looking at the door where they came, she wasn’t so sure about that. How did it know the prayers?

Looking at him she waited for him to finish answering all of the questions she had spat in his direction. The way he fidgeted and wouldn’t directly look at her made her want to punch him. The answers he gave though… Made her stomach sink and she felt ill. Grateful that she was already sitting down she put her face back into her hands. She had been sleeping with a guy that was half… whatever the hell those were…. That could turn into something that looked like a knock off joker, and claimed he could grow wings... why? Because why the fuck not?

When he asked her if ‘this was better’ she raised her eyes to stare at him for a moment. Even though his face had gone back to looking normal it was like she could still see the other face now. She stayed silent as she just examined him for a long hard moment. What the hell was she even supposed to say to all of this? This place felt wrong, and she knew that it wasn’t exactly Drake’s fault she had been pulled here. Taking a deep breath, she rolled her shoulders and checked her weapons on hand. ”I don’t know what you want me to say Drake.” Standing she looked at him blankly, one assassin to another. ”You just told me you’re one of those things out there that’s hunting us.” her amber eyes assessed him. ”I’ve never forgotten what you are Drake. It would probably do you well to remember what I am too.” This was all too much. She needed to breathe, and this place felt suffocating to her. The deep-seated need to help the creatures here grated against what she knew. It had been beaten into her from an early age to not help others or grow attached. Yet here she was doing exactly that. ”How do we get out of here?” She demanded softly looking at the door that they came through.

-----------------------------------

Drake would meet her eyes and for once he glared back “there is more to us then our ability to kill. You're more than a killer which is something I will never forget.” he said bluntly to her “As far as what I am…I know I am not one of them. I dont have the pull to hunt or cause pain like they do. Whatever it was that happened to cause that appearance was simply reinforcing the tether that connected me to the otherworld, nothing more from what I know.” he said walking over to the counter where the sigil was “its right here, put your hand on this seal and i can take us out of here. I will prepare one later for our room in case this happens again because then we won't need to rush off like we did today.” he told her and waited for her to come over and when her hand was on the seal, he would focus making the seal glow insanely bright before a darkness covered the world around them and, in a moment, the two were standing in the cafe. “There, we are out. I will head to the dorm now. I will see you later if you are heading elsewhere.” he told her as he began to leave the cafe and head back to the dorm. He had a lot to think about, not to mention his plans for tonight. Did she hate him now? Well he figured something like that could be possible and even if she didn’t what he was going to do tonight would probably make her hate him but he needed to admit it to her and stop playing this game of pretending there weren't any attachments now.

—-----------------

The moment he told her what she needed to do to help get them out of there she was already walking over and putting her hand on the seal. Of course, she heard him, but she wanted to get the hell out of that place. As soon as they were back in the real world, she paused to hear what he had to say. Obviously, they would be going back to the same place… She had after all been coming back to the dorm to shower when she got sucked into that vile place. She didn’t really bother saying anything as she followed him back. He was off in his own thoughts after all. It did occur to her though that he could have left her there and didn’t have to explain any of this to her. So, glancing at him she spoke softly. ”Thank you for not leaving me there… Or letting that thing that was praying get anywhere near me. I realize you didn’t have to tell me what any of that was or answer my questions.” he had done that willingly…

Drake had always been one to answer any question she asked. At first, she had thought it was a character flaw, but now she began to wonder if he really just didn’t like to hide things. He never lied to her either. They had known each other for a while now and she couldn’t remember a single time where he had lied.

Shaking her head as they got back to the dorm, she claimed the bathroom first and made quick work of cleaning up. Getting dressed she called out a farewell to him before heading out to find something else to do. She needed a bit of space to think and to get away from the dorm for a while.

------

Drake would look at her as she joined him on the walk to the dorm and heard her thank him “I would never do anything like that to you, I thought that would be obvious by now.” he said simply “and I would have fought with you against whatever was there. We may kill people Alistar but that doesn't mean we can’t also keep others alive; didn't you tell me I could use it to protect.” he said, giving her a small smile before they entered the dorm. She would get washed up and he would sit down planning out when and where the sigil could go. When she came out, he would watch her giving her a small wave before going back to his plans for the sigil but also for how he would go about this event tonight with Alistar.

Alistar quite liked this new person that she met, Liberty. She felt a bit lighter and more excited each time Liberty touched her. Of course, she used the chance to push her own ability into Liberty to make her feel better when talking to Alistar. Which seemed to go over quite well. Their conversation was light and fun, about everything, and nothing in particular. The pet café that they viewed was quite interesting. The dogs there didn’t seem to care for Alistar too much but the cats loved her. Giving Liberty a side eye when she mentioned her allergies, the unknowing Goddess laughed softly and nodded. ”Yeah. I need to get going. I’ve got to go get ready for my date tonight.” it was a no brainer that she would be giving Liberty her number and taking her own in trade. Giving Liberty a good solid hug, she watched the other woman head out. On impulse she called out. ”Meet me at the café tomorrow morning beautiful. I wanna hear all about your adventures or make some of our own.” she laughed softly before turning and heading to her dorm to get ready.

--------------------------------------------------------

Drake would appear back in the dorm with a sigh after doing what he needed in the otherworld. He had placed a seal in the version of their dorm in the otherworld so now they wouldn't have an event like today. Drake then felt a presence and a sense of danger and moved feeling something knick his shoulders and with practiced movement summoned from the cut some blood to make a dagger and without hesitation turned and threw the dagger at who or whatever just attacked him. It wasn’t till after throwing the blood dagger he realized it was Alistar and due to his surprise couldn't focus enough to stop the dagger from going at her. Drake was sure she would dodge but worried about her getting hurt because he was too quick to react. But then the question arose, why did she attack him in the first place? Had he done something to offend her? Was she angry and getting revenge for being taken to silent hill? None of these seemed right but at the moment he wasn't sure what the hell would be the reason for her attacking him.

—---------------------------------

Walking back in the dorm room after spending some time with Liberty that afternoon, Alistar blinked. There was some kind of mirage looking thing happening in the middle of their room. Was one of those things coming to their world from Drake’s?! Subconsciously she pulled one of her throwing knives and had already let it fly when she realized it was Drake. Thankfully it only grazed him, but she did not expect him to attack her back! That was so unlike Drake. Shifting and trying to dodge, she managed to keep it from being a lethal strike, but the blood dagger still imbedded itself into her left shoulder. Huffing in annoyance she gripped the dagger and yanked it out. Today was just a fucking day. Shaking her head, she wasn’t even mad. She had attacked him, and he had attacked her out of reflex. Giving him a peeved stare, she pressed her hand hard into the wound and made her way to the bathroom to get a bandage, and see if it needed to be stitched.

-----------------------------

Drake would move to say something but instead received a peeved looked and wilted a bit stopping in his tracks. Drake watched her leave heading to the bathroom and he ended up following her to the bathroom “Alistar…I am sorry” he said trying to see just how bad the wound was. He would stand there in the bathroom waiting to see if she needed any help.

—-------------------

Frowning as she pulled her shirt over her head, she used it to keep the blood from going everywhere. Hearing Drake apologize, she glanced over her shoulder and pursed her lips. Kneeling down she started looking through the cabinets for the first aid kit. ”You shouldn’t apologize for an instinct Drake. I’m not apologizing for throwing a knife at you.” Dragging out the kit to the floor, she sat back for a moment panting. ”I thought you were one of those weird creatures coming from your world. What in the hells were you doing?” Looking up at him, she nodded her head towards the first aid kit. ”You gunna help or just stand there?”

--------------------------

Drake would come over to help after she mentioned him just standing there showing some practice using first aid kits “I was making sure if we got dragged in there again our dorm would be a sanctuary like the cafe is.” he said as he began cleaning the cut “I figured it was a good idea to do so after you left i went back into the otherworld.” He explained further, seeing the wound was not great but it should heal fine if they stitched. But before any of that Drake would hold out his hand and some blood would leave the wound “there, that should make things easier.” he said and let the blood that was now floating near his hand fall to the ground “none of my blood should be in the wound now.” he told her as he got some thread and a needle out “would you like me to sew it shut or would you rather?” he asked her.

—----------------------

Alistar tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling as Drake set to work on her. She didn’t mind him working on her, but it didn’t mean it was any less painful. Listening to his explanation she softly grunted at him. Shifting her gaze to him when he asked her if she wanted him to sew it shut, or if she wanted to… ”Go for it. I can’t see it well enough. You’re probably better at sewing than I am anyway.” Taking a deep breath she prepared herself for what he was about to do. ”Did you see the notifications about the wishes tonight?” she asked softly but kept her eyes on the ceiling.

-----------------------------

Drake would nod carefully beginning to sew the wound. This was something he honestly was used to having to do so himself quite often or did before learning how to use his blood ability to do the same. Looking at her he would nod “Yes, I was aware. Were you planning to make a wish for someone?” he asked her as he tried to make the sewing as painless as possible. He did find it curious she was bringing up that topic wondering if she had a suspicion on what his plan for tonight was. Drake wasn't sure how she could have found out if she did but then again he never underestimated her. For all he knew she had kept the fact she could read minds a secret from him as an ace should he ever prove to be a threat to her. Drake would never betray her and he knew why but did she also know that now. He soon finished sewing and cut the thread “there you go, it should be fine now.” he told her looking at her and smiled “It's sort of amazing how used to you being shirtless I am.” he told her with a small smile.

—-----------------------------------

Wincing only slightly as he began sewing her shut, she grunted and took several deep breaths. ”I didn’t know if the signal would reach your other world or not.” glancing at him when he asked if she would be making a wish for someone that night, she turned her head to fully look at him. ”Yes. I’ll be making a wish for Niels.” she didn’t sugar coat it or anything just ripped that bandage off. Watching him with her golden eyes she continued. ”He has to worry about sucking the life out of someone if they fall asleep next to him. Something about the terror pony instincts. Which means he can never sleep next to the person he loves.” she let that sink in for a moment. ”I plan to wish for him to be able to control that ability completely, or at least have the choice of when it activates. He should be able to know what it’s like to hold and be held by someone dear to him; without that fear.” Once he finished, she would look down at her shoulder and then blink at his declaration. ”Yeah, well you’ve seen it enough times. I would hope you would be used to it by now.” getting up she grabbed a washcloth and started wiping away the blood and looking at the different bandages. ”Didn’t we have some liquid skin stuff? I don’t want to walk around with a giant white bandage on.”

----------------------------------------

Drake would listen to her explain her plans not looking away “Alright, sounds like Niels is stuck with quite the curse.” he said relaxed as he thought for a moment “I am guessing that means you care about him rather strongly.” he said with a smile “A wonderful thing.” he told her, meaning that whole heartedly. She was forming attachments which showed she was opening herself a bit to people which he knew was very difficult for her. When she asked about liquid skin he thought before going into a cupboard in the bathroom and handed her the bottle she was looking for “There you are.” he said and looked her over “Does he know you're doing this?” he asked her.

—---------------------------------

Why did it bug her slightly that Drake didn’t seem to care that she was making a wish for Niels? Feeling rather frustrated with herself she took the bottle from him. ”No, he has no idea. I plan on making the wish and that’s it.” She paused in opening the bottle and looked at her hands. ”He has feelings for a staff person named Harper. My having feelings for him or not are inconsequential to what I hope to give him.” she seemed to be struggling with her thoughts for a moment. ”Regardless, I will be making my wish and that’s it. I’ve told you both that I don’t do attachments. This is my way of utilizing a tool that the school has granted us.” rolling the bottle in her palms she finally opened it and started applying the liquid skin. Her tone had been soft and contemplative while she explained everything. She cared about Niels quite a bit, but she didn’t want to come between him and the person she knew he loved. Make her wish and cut the tie, that was her plan.

----------------------------------

Drake raised a brow and took out his phone rereading it “Alistar…The wish wont work unless you love the person you are making a wish for.” he said with a calm tone. Drake looked at her for a moment before nodding “Regardless. If this is what you want I won't and can't stand in your way. I just hope this works out the way you wish it does.” he said, feeling a faint gripping at his chest but pushed past it. He felt deeply for Alistar but he didn't know what she felt for him. If Niels was where her heart lied he wouldn't hold her back but it didn't hurt any less. Thinking for a moment in the silence and glancing at his phone he said “Would you like to go see and enjoy the attractions together before you go off to meet Niels?” he asked her hoping she would agree so he could spend some enjoyable time together with her before she ran off into the arms of another.

—---------------------------------

Alistar paused in what she was doing and braced both of her hands on the sink in front of her. Staring at the drain for a moment before taking a deep breath. ”I am aware Drake. Do you want to hear me say it out loud?” Raising her amber orbs to stare at his reflection in the mirror, looking at him hard. Did he really want her to tell him that she loved Niels? She let out a sigh of relief though when he said he wasn’t going to stand in her way. Turning she moved past him and redressed now that she was clean and bandaged. Thinking on his question she glanced at him, looking him up and down. ”I suppose so. I have a while before I’m supposed to meet him.” Running a hand through her hair she lifted her face to the ceiling for a moment before taking a deep breath and letting it out. Drake hadn’t been able to control that morning any more than she had. So there was no use in staying upset with him over it. She really didn’t wish to stay angry the rest of the day.

----------------------------------------

Drake would notice the frustration in her voice when she asked him if he wanted her to say it aloud. He didn't want to make her angry, so he didn't push it. It seemed like she wasn't looking forward to much today, but he wouldn't comment on that. “Okay, where would you like to go first? There are currently a lot of places that now exist on the school grounds and from what I understand only one will get to stay after today. I am fine with going to any of them.” he told her looking at his phone thinking about the wish and what a tempting offer it was for what he assumed was a lot of people here, but he could see the trap in it. IT would show if your love was genuine or not and if it wasn’t it probably led to some broken hearts, chaos, and pain which fit what the school seemed to enjoy causing. Drake just hoped that what he wanted to do would work out.

—------------------

Considering his question on where to go, she shrugged and headed to the balcony. ”I did get to see some of it bit not all of them. Perhaps the Lakeview?” Waiting for him to join her, she sat on the railing and smiled at him softly. Leaning back, she let herself fall and laughed as she started to float in the air. ”Come on. We can fly there instead of walking. It’s much faster.” She chuckled holding out a hand to him.

----------------

Drake looked surprised when she fell back but relaxed when she was just there floating. He thought for a moment before nodding and took her hand “alright, let's go then” he said smiling as he then stepped off the balcony and found himself floating. The two headed towards one of the new places that his phone talked about. Drake kept stealing looks at her as they flew, finding that her hair against the wind looked lovely, putting the image to memory to sketch later. When they landed he looked out at the lake memories of the lake from his home flashing back a mix of good and bad. He didn't dwell on it looking at Alistar letting her lead on. He wanted her to be relaxed and in a good mood for tonight so he would do his best to help her relax and feel at ease.

—---------------------

Floating next to Drake wasn’t so bad. Landing she made her way to the hostess station where the hostess took them to an igloo kind of seat on the rooftop. Looking out over the lake Alistar smirked and looked down at the live band playing. ”This place is actually pretty nice.” Looking over the menu she wasn’t sure what she would feel up to right now.

------------------------

Drake would nod as they sat down looking at the menu. It was nice that they were having a meal together like this but nagging thoughts kept picking at his brain. He would look up at her shoulder from his menu still feeling a bit guilty for how bad he had hurt her. It felt like he kept screwing up today and it made him nervous about what he had planned for tonight. “What will you be getting?” he asked her, looking back at the menu. He would find some food he thought sounded good and would put the menu down to look out at the lake “It reminds me of Toluca Lake…before everything happened. It was a beautiful lake with a nice beach.” he told her, obviously talking about his home before it became a cursed hellhole.

—-------------------

Looking down at her menu she kept Drake in her peripheral vision. He kept staring at her and it was a tad uncomfortable. Hearing his question, she shrugged a bare shoulder. ”Probably just a steak. You?” Leaning back in her chair she left the menu on the table and watched him. He seemed to be fidgety today, more so than normal. Glancing out at the lake when he told her of the one near his home, she gave him a brief nod. ”Is everything alright Drake? You seem uncomfortable and strained today. If it’s about this morning don’t worry. I know it’s not your fault, and you did get us out of there.” That didn’t mean she liked that place at all. It felt wrong on so many levels to her. Shifting in the chair she crossed her legs and arms getting comfortable. As the waitress came to get her order she smiled and gave it before looking back to the man across from her.

-----------------------

Drake would nod at her answer “I was going to get the chicken fettuccine.” he said as he set the menu down only to be asked if everything was okay. She was so perceptive that it always surprised him. A soft sigh escaped his lips “I have a lot of things on my mind. I am worried I ruined the day if I am being honest.'' he told her as the waitress came over Drake giving his order to the man who took their menus and left. He looked back to Alistar taking in her beauty for a moment before he spoke “That is not a place I enjoy seeing others in. It is something I have grown used to but that doesn't mean I want to take others there. Seeing your pain, guilt, sins, and trauma being made real is a torture thats difficult to describe. You should have never had to deal with that alistar, you deserve better in my opinion.” he said with a calm yet serious look to him glancing at the lake “But I am glad you were safe after everything was said and done.”

-----------------------

Amber eyes watched him closely taking in the sigh and his words. He had a point it was difficult to deal with everything manifesting in front of her the way it had. The hardest part was when he reverted back to his old ways and degraded himself again. That… That part felt like a slap in the face to her. They had been working on it for the last month and he just so easily did it. She didn’t even have words as her eyes stayed on him when he looked out at the lake. Mulling over what he said, it made her feel a bit hollow inside. ”You’re right. I do. Is that realization why you didn’t flinch when I told you I was making a wish for Niels?” Staring at him unblinking she quirked an eyebrow.

----------------------

Drake would actually flinch when she agreed with him as the man slowly looked back at her but he slowly became confused “what?” he asked, replaying her words in his mind. Drake finally spoke “What does you deserving to be in lovely amazing places have to do with your decision to make that wish?” he said, trying to figure out the connection as he looked at the table in front of him. After a moment he looked at her with his eyes serious in their gaze. “Your choices are yours. I trust you know what you're doing, why you're doing it, and have thought it through. You're smart, cunning, and rational.” he said, smiling a bit as he relaxed. “But if you want to explain it more I will listen. I am not against understanding more thoroughly.” he would tell her wondering how close she had gotten to niels but knew asking her would result in no answers as she did not reveal such personal things usually.

—-------------------------

Slowly blinking Alistar stared at him for a moment when she saw his obvious confusion over what she said. When he questioned it, she blinked again, and a red tint hit her cheeks making her look away. She had misunderstood what he meant. The first thing that had come to mind for her was that he had been degrading himself, when in fact he had been talking about actual places. With a sigh she looked back at him. ”I thought you were talking about yourself again and degrading yourself.” She explained with a monotone voice.

Listening to him, hearing his trust in her, and what he thought of her it left a sinking feeling in her stomach. It was difficult to hear such praise from him when she didn’t feel that she deserved it. Something inside of her just felt wrong with the way he said that. He wasn’t lying but when she said those same things to herself they felt like lies. Her gaze dipped to his lips as he smiled. He always did look better when he smiled naturally like that. ”There’s not much else to tell other that what I told you earlier.” she replied simply and watched him. ”You barely had any reaction when I told you about it. I’m proud of you for not being upset about it and haven’t gotten attached. I’ll say I was a little worried.” Seeing their food brought to them she thanked the waiter and sat forward to eat.

-------------------------

Drake nodded, “I try not to do that anymore, I know it isn't good to do and that it is upsetting to you.” he said simply with a thought. He was trying to figure out how that would come off as him degrading himself but maybe it was in a way he didn't get with his still powerful inept understanding of social norms. The conversation moved on to her saying there wasn't anything else to share which got another nod from him. Then she brought up his reaction from this morning along with being proud of him for not having attachments. He would glance at the waiter with their food as her words echoed in his mind. He remembered that day back in that faith chamber and how she talked about both him and Neils. Drake had thought about going and learning what he could about the man in secret by stalking after him to see if he was worthy of Alistar but he knew that would have been wrong and he had no right to judge who was and wasn't for her. With a smaller smile he looked up to her “I like you being proud of me, it means a lot to me.” he told her. His reaction this morning had been steeled the moment the man's name was brought up. “In truth I was just surprised how confident in the wish you were given your own want of not having attachments. It is why I brought up the love part of it.” he told her but there was another truth to that of wanting to know if she truly did love niel’s that much.

—---------------------

As she cut into her steak she nodded and thought about Drake’s words. ”There is a difference between caring for someone in a loving way and having an attachment to them.” she bluffed. Her words sounded stupid even to her. ”I love him. I recognize the beginnings of an attachment and thankfully he has his eyes elsewhere. That will make it easier for what I have to do afterward.” She couldn’t look at Drake as she said she loved Niels. Pushing her food around on her plate it was apparent she was struggling with this. ”I can’t say it’s the ‘I can’t live without him’ kind of love, but it is love, and that is a problem. If my wish works… I’ll be planning a sleep over with he and Harper. The girl he has feelings for and playing a bit of a match maker for them.” Setting down the fork and knife she leaned back in her chair and looked out over the water.

---------------------------

Drake would calmly listen, finding her words a bit lacking in conviction but he didn't say anything but hearing her say she loved him had his eyes locked onto his plate. Drake was unable to look up as he just slowly began eating the food in front of him listening as she went on giving more detail about it. Drake would force himself to look up when she said what she had to do afterwards. “You mean to break it off? Is that what you plan to do?” he asked before hearing her continue to explain and hearing her say she was playing matchmaker actually got a surprised reaction from Drake. “I am sorry to say this but i would never have pictured you as someone who would be called a matchmaker…I hope that isn't rude to say.” he would add at the end hoping he had not offended her but from what he knew she wasn't normally one to care about other people's problems or love lives.

—-------------------------

Amber eyes turned to look at Drake as she shrugged and gave him a small smile. ”I normally don’t. This though… every now and then when something strikes me as an injustice, or I’m facing a complication like this… I’ll do something out of the ordinary.” When he apologized for saying it, she waived a hand dismissing his statement. ”You’re fine. Besides, I’m not playing match maker to make him happy. I’m playing match maker to protect myself. This way it keeps him from loving me and puts a definitive line there that won’t be crossed. When you’ve lived for as long as I have, you learn a few tricks.”

---------------------------------

Drake listened and nodded “So it's just a complication this time? Or an injustice? Actually thinking about what you have said this is a bit of both isn't it.” he said thinking for a moment. Was she so nice to him because the things that happened to him struck her as an injustice? A creeping doubt tried to worm its way into his mind but Drake fought it off. His own feelings wouldn't change even if that was true. Focusing back on the conversation it sounded like she had thought this out or had been in similar expectations. A small smile came on his face “you must have lived an interesting and long life to know so many tricks.” he said with a light tease before thinking “And if he keeps pursuing you after the wish? I am sure things don't always go to your plans each and every time.” he said, curious as to how she would answer that. He was also thinking about his plan and all the lines he would be crossing tonight with her but knew it had to happen.

—-------------------

Shrugging again at his question she sighed. ”We’ll just have to see if that even happens. He was always pretty dead set on Harper if I remember right. So, I don’t see an issue with him still trying to pursue me. Consider my admission, from the wish, as my way of also saying goodbye.” It was starting to feel slightly awkward now and she wasn’t entirely sure why. ”I think I’m going to head out now. I’ll catch up with you later on Drake.” nodding to him she smiled faintly and stood heading out to go meet Niels.

The day so far had been interesting indeed. She was glad she was going to go meet up with her friend Niels. After seeing the notification for what would be available this evening she had thought about her wish. Should she wish for something for Drake or Niels? It had been a long hard battle but eventually she had settled on something for Niels. She had even explained to Drake that she would be making this wish. Granted she didn’t really explain too much past that. With what had happened early today… she wasn’t sure what to think anymore.

Niels though had always been someone she knew was on the same page as her. No strings, no attachments. She realized during that time at the interfaith center that she did indeed have attachments to the two men but honestly, she planned on not doing a damn thing about it. This wish though… she would regret it if she didn’t make it.

She had asked Niels to meet her in one of the fields he loved to run in. She figured it would be a place that would make him comfortable. Alistar would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous. How was he going to react to her making this wish? She knew he had feelings for Harper and didn’t want to intervene there in the least. So, standing at the edge of the field… she felt like a child waiting to be scolded by a parent.

--------------

”Big wish at midnight, huh? Don’t see how the school could actually make it come true, but it is a crafty bastard so who knows?” Thus far he had been enjoying himself doing various things, but all day he knew the night would be the best part. Alistar had asked him to meet up with her in one of his favorite fields, which was super sweet of her to pick a place he knew so well. ”She really does know me pretty well. I’m kinda flattered she cared so much to pay attention.” For a second he thought about showing up in horse form since it was one of his running fields, but a niggling notion in the back of his mind doggedly insisted he arrive as a human.

”Sex in a field would be nice. Maybe that’s what she’s thinking?” he mused in a quiet voice. ”Probably while the fireworks are going off, for extra symbolism of course.” It being such nice weather, he opted for wearing tight distressed denim shorts with frayed ends barely reaching his mid thigh and nothing else. He confidently swaggered through the field to the spot she stood, though once he was in range to see her body language, he slowed a bit and the swagger disappeared. ”Long time no see. How’s my favorite All-Star doing?”

----------------

Standing there in her outfit she had her arms crossed under her chest, with her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. Her ears perked when she heard someone coming her way. Turning her head to look in the direction of the noise a smile broke over her lips as she saw Niels. ”Well hey there sexy. Much better now that I get to see your beautiful self.” letting her eyes trail over him she grinned and walked up to him. ”Gunna catch a cold coming out here in just those shorts.” This was familiar to her. The banter between her and Niels was comforting and safe. She knew she would be just fine. ”I hope I’m stealing you away from other things.”

Laughing softly, she winked at him and bit her lower lip suggestively. She knew that the saying normally was that a person wasn’t stealing someone away, but frankly she didn’t care right now. Her life had been hell this morning and just weird the rest of the day. ”Missed me?” she chuckled, glancing around quickly. Her normal confidence coming back to her.

-----------------

”That’s my job, bringing happiness wherever I go. But also have you ever noticed that “happiness” minus the “ha” is a lot more fun?” It wouldn’t be Niels if he didn’t share a random sexualized fact. ”Well, I can’t say I was exactly planning on standing around by lonesome in a field. You’re not wearing much more than I am, you know. But I’m sure if we both get cold we can find a way to warm each other up.” No need to mention he was used to cold damp conditions what with being a wild horse in the Netherlands. ”This is me we’re talking about, of course you stole me away from other things. I had a baker’s dozen party planned: twelve chicks plus one stud. But…I’m willing to put them off for one of my favorite chicks. You’re welcome.” He did have a fairly wide circle of “friends,” but it was not that high nor did he plan on accumulating that many consenting chicks. Hell, if he got an offer to make a more permanent arrangement with a spicy mare he might even consider dumping the others. Or keeping them if he and said fiery dreamsicle wanted to have “guests” join in from time to time. He could be flexible. ”Of course I missed you. You’re my number one partner in crime after all! Just say the word and I’ll see if I can spring us from the dorms for curfew. We could get up to some real shit then.”

-----------------

Alistar laughed happily at his joke. ”You bring the other one with you everywhere you go too. So, you’ve got both bases covered.” He had a point when he referred to her clothing. She really wasn’t wearing much more than he was. ”I’m sure we can think of something.” she grinned up at him. Laughing she rolled her eyes at him. ”Awww and you didn’t invite me? My feelings are hurt.” she feigned pain by pouting at him. ”You would have such an awesome party without me, but it makes me happy that you would meet me out here. What do you mean number one? I thought for sure that would be Harper.” chuckling, she gave him another grin and lifted an eyebrow tapping her chin in thought. ”Ya know, I will take you up on that. I want a sleepover. Me, you, and Harper, if we can wrangle her into it.” grinning mischievously, she looked him over. ”We should do a themed or matching pj’s too. I need some pampering.” Moving closer to him, she smiled up at him again and ran her hands up over his chest and then down his arms to take his hands in hers. ”I have something for you by the way.” she said softly. Looking oddly uncertain and nervous for a moment.

-----------------

”If I invited you, all of the other girls would get such an inferiority complex. Wouldn’t want to ruin their time like that would we?” He gave her a wry smile when she told him she would have expected Harper to be his number one girl. ”You forget the age-old maxim: bros before hoes. And you, my spicy señorita, are both. You’re my number one bro and my…one point five hoe. I’m such a flatterer, aren’t I?” She seemed to be thinking hard about something, but since it was after he mentioned them escaping the dorms, his curiosity grew immense. ”Alright, you just give me a day and I can arrange it. Want me to bring the facial stuff? Sorry, I don’t have any nail polish, always turns out awkward when I switch forms. Hell, I can even be wholesome if you want?” As much of a slut as he was, Niels still had the willpower to check his pervy thoughts and actions when he needed to. Given a chance, he quite possibly could become “just one of the girls.” His thoughts were broken as she ran her hands up his chest. For a brief moment, he thought they might be going for a romp in the grass, but something about her look and how gently her hands traced along him, eventually holding his hands in hers, something just seemed different. So instead of being a wise ass, he waited patiently and attentively to see what she was going to do next. ”For me?” he gently asked, trying to encourage her through this sudden nervousness that floated about her like a miasma.

-----------------

Alistar had to laugh at his comment about inviting her giving them an inferiority complex. ”Uh huh. That sounds like a likely excuse, but also a plausible one.” giving him an amused but skeptical look she added. ”Or maybe you’re just worried I’ll just steal them all from you.” she teased chuckling. Tilting her head, she listened intently as he told her that she was both a bro and a hoe for him. This amused her greatly, especially his nickname. Rolling her eyes, she couldn’t help the smirk and soft chuckle. ”A real flatterer wouldn’t admit that the woman standing in front of him was in second place to someone else.” she teased him making it obvious she was joking. On some deep level it hurt but at the same time she just accepted it. She knew where she stood with Niels. That’s what made him safe to her. Grinning at him, she was glad he accepted her request. Wiggling her eyebrows as he asked about the facial stuff, she gave him a steamy look biting her lip. ”Well… if you insist. But yes, bring the normal facial cream.” giggling softly she shook her head. ”I’m sure Harper or I can bring the nail polish. I want you to be yourself. So, you being wholesome would be more up to Harper. Unless of course you’d like to show her how well you can behave when you want to?” Biting her lip she chewed it nervously for a moment as the fireworks started. Turning her face up to look at them, she smiled when he asked, ‘for me?’.

Giving him a sultry look, her head would dip in a nod. As the fireworks boomed in the sky, casting their different colored lights over her tan skin, Alistar smiled her usual confident smile. ”Remember my rule Niels? No attachments. Sadly because of our time together.” she sighed in mock sadness. ”An attachment was formed… I wish that Cornelius “Niels” Manfred van ’t Hout can finally control when his powers activate completely. I don’t want him to worry about draining the life force or giving people nightmares, from sleeping next to him. He'd be able to control it and never have to worry about it happening on accident again.” Tilting her head, amber eyes looked up into his multi-colored ones. ”We got that notice that said if we love someone, we can make a wish for them, and it will come true. I want the sleepover so we can see how my wish for you works. You and Harper can snuggle and sleep, and I’ll stab you if you hurt her.” she laughed softly, there may have been a hint of sadness to it, but it would barely be noticeable. ”I will stand by my rule though my lovely Terrorpony. I give you this gift, and the promise to be the best wing-woman you’ve ever had.” swallowing she smiled again, her eyes closing as she cleared her throat.

Not really feeling sure if he would be upset with her now though… she squeezed his hands in hers and loosened her grip in case in he wanted to take his hands back. ”Hopefully this doesn’t throw any bad kinks into any plans you already had.” she half laughed trying to keep things lighthearted.

-----------------

He had no idea where the conversation was going when she brought up her one rule. Had he accidentally broken it or something? It was definitely seeming that way, but maybe it hadn’t entirely been his fault. What threw him for a loop was how she segued into a completely different topic. Why was she taking that exact moment to make a wish for him? She knew him well, wishing for the one thing he wanted most, if only he could achieve it though. For a moment there was a hint of sadness to his eyes before she went on to remind him of the wish granting which would only happen tonight. The sparkle in his eyes only magnified as tears of joy sprang to them. ”Alistar, I can’t believe…you are the greatest person I have ever met. Even the sleepover, it was a gift for me? I am so lucky to be friends with you!” Though why was she standing by her rule? Was it for him or her? It was so much harder to read her now. ”I never make longterm plans. Sometimes the derailments are better than the destination.” With her grip on him weakened, he took a moment to free his hands so that he could pull her into a tight hug. Not just a tight hug, but he lifted her and twirled her in many little circles of absolute glee. When he did finally set her down, after giving her a moment to regain her balance, he held her hand once more. ”This might throw a monkey in the plans though. Uh…let me do this in my native language so I don’t screw up.” He took a calming breath then started: "Ik wens dat Alistar Bastet en haar hele familie vrij zijn om hun leven te leiden zoals zij willen en waar ze maar willen, zonder bang te hoeven zijn dat ze er voor vervolgd worden.” A momentary pause passed, just so that whatever magic was granting these wishes knew for certain the entire wish had been made. ”I made a wish for you. I said that I wish you and your family were free to live however you choose and wherever you choose without fear of punishment from anyone. It just…sounded better in Dutch, I think. Your family can move back to Egypt now, and the pharaoh has nothing on you. I don’t know if that is as special to you as your gift is to me, but seeing you distance because you didn’t want to lose anything when the pharaoh took you…it was depressing and painful. Now, if you want a relationship or don’t is up to you alone. Nothing will steal you.” Hopefully she would be just as excited as he was, though maybe she would be mad he had broken the rule too.

-----------------

Hugging Niels back hard, she laughed when he lifted her up and twirled her around. ”Yes! The sleepover is a gift for you too, but I’m being selfish with it. I really do need that pampering and a general stress-free night.” she nodded and winced slightly when he told her that he didn’t make long term plans. Well, usually she didn’t either. It was a good thing though that it didn’t cause him any issues. Giving him a very curious look when he mentioned throwing a monkey in the plans. She was pretty sure he meant throw a monkey wrench in the plans, but she wasn’t going to correct him. Her amber eyes went wide though when he made his wish. She understood enough Dutch to get at least an idea of what he had wished for. Tears welled in her eyes. Could he really make a wish like that? Would it work? Had it worked? Letting out a strangled half sob, half laugh she jumped slightly and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Hiding her face against his neck and shoulder she couldn’t help the laughing cry. Sniffling she pulled back slightly, putting her own feet back on the ground. ”Thank you Niels. I… I honestly have no idea what to say.” she stared up at him grateful for what he had given her. Reaching up she cupped his cheek in her hand, then playfully swatted his shoulder. ”You broke the agreement too though! It was like the first thing we agreed about when I first came to this school.” she laughed and wiped her eyes. It had been so long ago now that they had made their agreement of no attachments. Smiling a bit sadly, the sadness didn’t quite fill her face. She was still really happy that he had made the wish for her. ”I know you’ve got your sights set on your vampire Queen though. Don’t worry, I won’t get jealous or get in the way. As long as you are happy, that’s all I want to see.” She reached up and gave him another hug when she heard her phone chime.

Pulling back, she was obviously confused by the sound. Taking out her phone from her pocket, she quickly read through the text that Drake had sent her. Furrowing her brows, she looked back up at Niels confused. ”I’m sorry hun. I… I gotta go. It’s a text from Drake and I have no idea what he’s talking about in this message. He doesn’t sound right, and we had a not so great experience earlier today.” she wasn’t sure how to explain Silent Hill to anyone who hadn’t been there. Hell? Stuffing her phone back into her pocket she leaned up and kissed Niels on the corner of his lips and hugged him tight. ”Thank you again and I want time with my terrorpony soon! I mean it!” she gave him a pointed look obviously feeling very torn about the fact that she had to leave him. With a huff she waved goodbye to Niels and took off to go find Drake.

Drake would be waiting at the spot he had picked out. It was a nice clearing in the woods nearby where they first met. He would take out his phone messaging her to meet up and use the phone to share his location. He would wait calmly staring up at the night sky hearing some fireworks going off. He was ready to let this happen and there was no turning back because the moment she arrived there would be no point in trying to make up an excuse or a lie since she would see through it. Drake would take his fingers and run them through his hair to make sure it was tidy before she showed up wanting to look his best.

--------------------------------------

Thankfully the field she had picked to meet Niels wasn’t terribly far from where Drake had asked her to meet. She wasn’t sure why he had asked her to meet. He knew she was going to meet up with Niels. Finding her way silently through the forest she didn’t really have any issues with how dark it was getting. She had always had better eyesight at night. Pausing just outside the tree line she watched him touch his hair. Amber eyes studied him for a moment before she purposefully stepped on a twig, snapping it.

Ducking under a branch she walked into the clearing, her gaze sweeping the area as she walked closer to Drake a steady expression on her face. ”What’s all this?” she asked simply, nodding to the flowers he held in his hands and letting her eyes linger on the new trench coat he had on.

--------------------------------------

Drake would feel eyes on him before hearing the branch looking to see Alistar and a small smile appeared on his face not taking her expression in too much since he was just happy she came. He would hand her the flowers “I saw them and decided to pick them for you.” he said calmly handing the flowers to her. “As for my appearance I decided I should look nice.” he said, his tone relaxed and in a weird way confident but in the way of being confident in what someone was doing and not in themselves. When she took the flowers he looked around “We met right around here, I remember it clearly. It was honestly my first time meeting another assassin that was worth being called such.” he said, his smile never fading. ''It's odd being understood sometimes.” he commented before looking back at her “did it work?” he asked, referring to the wish she was making for niels.

--------------------------------------

Lifting a slender purple eyebrow as he handed her the flowers, she took them with one hand but looked at him questioningly. Already she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Glancing at the flowers she did think they looked nice, but she didn’t know what to say to them. Shifting her weight from one leg to the other she did her best to pay full attention to him. There was obviously a reason to why he asked her to come here. Honestly, she was just very confused. Why bring her back to a place that they had met at? ”Understanding you? I think there’s still a lot to you that I don’t know, but so far, I’ve been pretty damn close. she had no idea that he was asking about her wish for Niels and would only comment on him being understood. Frowning just slightly she would lift the flowers to look them over again and even smelled one of them.

--------------------------------------

Drake didn't hear a response to the wish question but it didn't matter. No matter what happened over there his actions were not going to change. Drake would glance up to the clear sky before looking back at her smiling as he gently brushed some of her hair to tuck it behind her ear “you look stunning.” he told her before sighing “which would be nice if I wasn't about to possibly piss you off.” he said putting his hands in his pockets “So i guess i should start with an apology. I am sorry Alistar.” he said looking into her eyes “I didn't mean to break the promise but I did and for that all I can do is apologize.” he said before taking one hand out of his pockets “Can i hold your hand for a moment?” he asked her, seeming relaxed, still his smile a bit bigger but holding a kind gentleness to it.

--------------------------------------

Reflexively she tilted her head away from his hand but managed to not knock his hand away. Flashes of that morning played through her mind, making her hyper-aware of Drake. Her eyes narrowed slightly as he admitted that he was about to piss her off. She wasn’t sure she could handle being mad at him again. He had already done a pretty good job of it earlier that day. Starting with an apology made her frown and she adjusted her stance again ready to fight him if necessary. ”For?” she asked softly, a hard edge to her voice. Trying to remember what promise he was talking about she gave him an incredulous look. Slowly and wearily holding a hand out for him… the look on his face was one she wasn’t sure she had ever seen before. It made him all the more handsome. ”What did you do Akl?”

--------------------------------------

Drake smiled and didn't answer the ‘for’ question she asked just waiting for her hand and when she reached out he would gently take her hand smiling a bit bigger at the feeling of her hand “I have been thinking hard since my phone notified me about tonight. It seemed like as good of time as any to come clean to you while proving I'm not just confused or just lost in the moment. I wanted to make sure you know I'm serious and what better way than proving it with action” he said smiling before going serious “I wish for Alistar Bastet to have a weapon able to kill Ra, god of the sun.” he said with an intense look on his face before smiling letting go watching as in her hand appeared a spear Drake looking slightly surprised at the weapon but soon his focus was on Alistar “I broke the rule of no attachments and I think the fact you have that in hand tells you in what way i did that.” he said smiling softly “but i want to say it. Alistar, I have fallen very much in love with you.” he said softly, feeling a small gust of wind blow by his hair flowing a bit in that moment as he just smiled lovingly at her.

--------------------------------------

The smile on Drake’s face was curious to her. She liked seeing it and it made her want to smile too, but something still just felt off making the unknowing goddess uneasy. His words didn’t make that feeling any better. They were almost enough to make her want to pull her hand away.

Her eyes went wide with surprise as he made his wish. Her cheeks turning pink and instinctively she pulled her hand back. Her jaw dropped as a spear formed in her hand. Blinking her amber eyes grew even rounder as she understood the implications of what this meant. Staring at Drake, the spear, and then back to Drake, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her face was scorching from the blush that reached all the way to the tips of her ears. Her gaze was filled with wonder, confusion, and so many other emotions it would be impossible to list them all. Gripping the spear tighter she pulled it close to her body. Twisting the handle to break it into two. She recognized this type of spear and knew it would be very useful to her.

Bringing her eyes back up to his, she had no idea what to say to him. He had broken the rule that she had put into place, but hadn’t she also broken it? With her eyelids closing she shivered, not from the cold, but from hearing his words. Not even an ounce of a lie. She couldn’t get mad at him and tell him he was confused. No, he fully and completely believed what he was telling her. Lifting the spear to look at it she bit her lip. What was she supposed to do in this situation? A very large part of her wanted to kiss him. Part of her was angry with him for breaking the promise too… but the gift he had given her… it wasn’t one to manipulate her into loving him. It was similar to what she had done for Niels… it was a way to make sure that the person was happy, and in her case, could protect themselves. Dragging in a deep breath she looked up at Drake and asked in a shaky voice. ”Why?” Why did he fall in love with her? Why protect her like this? Why give her such a weapon where she wouldn’t need him? So many questions tumbled through her mind making her eyes water. ”You know I made a wish for Niels.”

--------------------------------------

Drake just kept smiling even as she pulled away seeing her take in the spear before seeing her eyes once again meet his. He could get lost in those eyes very easily as he blushed a big with his smiling expression before hearing her ask him why. “Why? Why did I fall in love with you? Why did I break the rule? Why would I make this wish?” he asked smiling and shook his head when she brought up niels after her question. “Let's tackle these in order.” he said, stepping to be even closer to her. “I met a woman who was talented beyond compare, more confident than anyone, Braver than stories can compare, and understanding in a way I couldn't find anywhere else. You challenged me instead of coddling me when I needed that the most. You found this broken man attractive enough to lay with him.” he said smiling, his hand coming up to her neck giving it a gentle rub before leaving her neck “So I ask you how I was ever supposed to not fall for you? You truly are one of the most amazing people I have ever known and I have barely scratched the surface of knowing you which I won't lie excites me to realize. So I broke the rule because I would be a fool to not try to take a chance to be with you…it might have ended up being one of my most regretful things if i didn't.” he said, smiling big “As for the wish, well I feel it's obvious. The person I love has a danger looming over her head that she wasn't sure how to deal with so I gave her what she needed to no longer fear it. You can free yourself and protect your people. I wanted you to take your freedom.” he said looking at the spear “And now the tool lays in your hand, ready for when the time comes.” he added, glad the wish had come true.

Now it was time for the niels wish question. Drake wasn't going to run away from this question either “As for you bringing up the wish for niels, of course i know you did. You haven't said if it worked or not and I don't know if you will tell me but it doesn't matter. You cared deeply for him and you wanted to do this. I just said I wanted you to be free and I also want you to be happy. I wasn't so full of myself to think your happiness was by my side and as much as I want it to be that won't change whatever you feel in your heart. I love you Alistar unconditionally. I don't need you to love me back nor would I want you to force yourself to. I just want you to be happy and free like you always wanted to be. I know what having your freedom and joy robbed from you is like and it is truly hell so I wont be the thing that stands in your way of having those things'' he said smiling “I just couldn't keep this in anymore when there was a chance i could do this for you.” he said and motioned to the spear “And now that it's in your hands I have done everything in my power currently for you. So that's it…any more questions?” he asked as his expression no longer hid the feelings he had for her, most of all his eyes showing a deep compassion and love for her.

--------------------------------------

Watching his smile and that beautiful blush her heart constricted. His questions were almost like he was reading her mind. Feeling him stand even closer, his smell permeated her personal bubble. Was this what it was like when she used a similar tactic to seduce someone? Swallowing thickly, her hands hung at her sides still holding onto the spear as she looked up into his eyes and listened. His touch seared her neck but thankfully it didn’t last long. Silent tears tracked down her cheeks but her eyes stared at him with a hard glint.

Looking off to the side when he brought up whether or not the wish for Niels worked or not, she sighed. ”I don’t know. We’re going to plan something soon to find out if it did.” her expression turned sad but with a blink it was gone. The wind blew hard around them, whipping her hair around her face. ”I wished that he can finally control when his powers activate completely. I don’t want him to worry about draining the life force or giving people nightmares, from sleeping next to him. He'd be able to control it and never have to worry about it happening on accident again.” She couldn’t look Drake in the eyes as she explained what she had done for Niels. Drake was essentially doing the same thing for her. Was this what Niels had felt?

Glancing up at Drake it felt like she was staring into the sun. His expression was so bright. His normal expressionless face flashed through her mind, and it hurt. Would she be the one to kill this beautiful face? Gritting her teeth, she gripped the spear tightly and held herself very still. Drake had given herself something to protect what she loved and held dear. Yet if Niels’ wish had come true… she may not have to arm herself against Ra… but that deep seated fear of ‘what if’ wiggled around in her brain, making itself at home. Hanging her head she stared at the ground. With this spear she didn’t have to care about ‘what if’ and would be able to do something if she needed to. She didn’t have to be a victim anymore. The relief that the two men had given her made her hang her head, a few tears making their way from her cheeks. The attachments she made were growing thicker and wrapping tightly around her. Removing the dangers in her life and the dangers if they were to stay with her. Could she really keep them? Could she really let herself actually ……

The fear that followed her line of thought made her grow angry. She didn’t like all of this mix of emotions. She wanted to scream and rage at the unknown, the ‘maybe’s’ of the world. She wanted to kiss the man in front of her, for what he had given her, but she also didn’t want to give false hope. She didn’t want to murder that beautiful smile on his face. Memories of what she had seen in that place this morning surfaced, making her wince. How often was it that he was able to feel happy enough that he could smile like he was? For 200 odd years she had been trained to be a tool, a killer. She only knew what it was like to love from watching others and what she had experienced when people had told her that they loved her previously. These feelings in her were so much stronger. The people she cared for no longer had to die, was this Bastet hearing her prayer? That thought had her reeling. It hadn’t been that long since she had visited that damn interfaith chamber, and she had felt strange when she was there…. Was Bastet trying to talk with her? Swallowing thickly, her shoulders relaxed and she finally lifted her head to look at Drake. A resigned sad expression on her face, but her eyes regarded him like she was seeing something incredibly beautiful. ”I really hate you sometimes.” her tone was soft and teasing.”

--------------------------------------

Drake let out a soft chuckle at her words “I know.” he said softly his eyes never leaving hers. There was so much obviously going through her head it almost seemed like she might overheat. “And that wish you made shows off how wonderful you are. I am sure he is happy you made it.” he said leaning in and rested his forehead against hers “Alistar, you don't need to worry or walk on eggshells. Do what you want as you always have. There is nothing you owe me nor am I trying to guilt you with this wish. I just wanted you safe and free like I said. I wont be changing around you either though i may seem more…lets say joyful.” he told her snickering a bit “I am sure once you calm down you will grab this situation by the balls.” he said chuckling before going silent as he just looked in her eyes, felt the warmth of her forehead, and took in her scent. All these things made his blush a little darker. Slowly drake would kiss her being gentle, soft, and loving for the moment the kiss lasted before breaking it “So don't go changing on me Ali, or ill be upset.” he said grinning big at her before tapping her nose playfully “I would like to do more honestly like we usually do but I think the mood currently is wrong. Or am I misreading that?” he asked her, looking at Alistar feeling lighter and more confident now that he had said all that and it certainly showed in his body language. He stood at his full height, his eyes were clear and focused, and he had put his hands on her sides gently holding her now in a half embrace.

--------------------------------------

How had she gotten so lucky to have someone like her Akl fall for her? ”You … joyful? I’m not sure I can handle that.” she grinned a bit as he snickered. Feeling his lips press against her own, she of course created and kissed him back. It was as natural as breathing now with him. Cocking an eyebrow as he told her that he would be upset if she changed and tapped her nose. She wiggled it like a bunny and rolled her eyes at him, smiling. ”Who are you and what pod planet have you come from?” leaning into his embrace slightly she chuckled at his words. ”Yeah… sex is usually a good idea… but right now might be a bit much. A lot has happened in the last hour and it’s going to take some time to process it all. It’s not everyday that a girl has someone play their knight in shining armor.” she giggled and got a curious look on her face. ”Well, I wonder if your armor would be those horrors of yours and blood? I think I prefer that. More intimidating ya know?” she outright laughed and sighed resting her head on his shoulder. ”Thank you Akl.” nuzzling his neck, she decided to do what he told her and not change. It wasn’t like her to dwell on ‘what if’s’. Usually, she stayed in the moment and enjoyed herself. ”I have to say. I like this newfound playful side of you. Keep it.” Glancing up at him she grinned mischievously.

--------------------------------------

Drake smirked, raising a brow “So you would rather my usual monotone?” he asked softly his tone now as he began calming down being a mix of his happier joyful side and his usual tone. She then commented on some pod planet raising a brow “Is that more of…what did you say it was called? Sci Fi stuff? I don't get that spacey stuff yet.” he told her before blushing a bit as his smile grew at being called a knight, he really liked that. That was until she made it weird bringing up horror and blood “knights shouldn't be intimidating. They are meant to make you feel hope and stuff.” he said with a hint of a pout. Then she thanked him and smiled holding her close enjoying her being close like this. She brought up his playfulness and he smirked “I have been learning by watching you but I was worried if I did it before confessing then it would come off too flirty or give away my feelings.” he told her. He looked up seeing the sky then back at her “Should we head to the dorm and relax? Maybe some drinks?” he asked her.

--------------------------------------

Rolling her eyes Alistar shook her head when he asked if she preferred his usual monotone voice. ”I prefer you to be your natural self. I’ve just never seen you so happy before.” she would admit though she had to laugh a bit as he told her he didn’t understand the whole pod person joke. ”I meant you’re not acting like your normal self. So, you must have been replaced with a clone who has different personality traits.” she laughed, shaking her head again. She could tell that he liked being called a knight. Raising a slender purple eyebrow at him she poked his chest. ”Not completely true. They should be intimidating to those who would harm the ones they protect.” Nodding decidedly she kept her head on his shoulder. ”Well I am a fun person to be around.” she thought about what he said and pulled back slightly to look up at him. ”Yeah it probably would have. If you were like that all the time like Niels, I wouldn’t think anything of it. But the fact that it would be a 180 for you would give it away.” Watching him she admired the way he looked when he wasn’t paying attention but nodded when he asked her if she wanted to head back to the dorm. ”Yeah. Drinks sound good. I think I’m going to need a few.” feeling a sweat drop come on she covered it with a laugh. Putting the spear back together she held it in one hand and took Drake’s with the other. Tugging on it she walked with him back to the dorm.

--------------------------------------

Drake would listen as she said she preferred his natural self which brought a smile to his face. When she said she had never seen him so happy before a smirk replaced the smile "that is your fault." he said looking into her eyes "and if i had been replaced I would fight tooth and nail to return to your side." he said with a nod of confidence to his answer. When she poked his chest he couldn't help blushing some before hearing what she said about knights and he couldn't find anything wrong with her words which made him smile "guess your right, sometimes knights need to be intimidating when it matters." he said in agreement with her before she said she was fun to be around which after she said that pulled back a little and Drake's initial thought was to pull her back close to him but he resisted that urge. Hearing her mention it would have been a giveaway he smiled glad to know he did the right actions up to now. Hearing her agree to heading back and drinks Drake simply nodded before feeling her take his hand and his blush grew as the two headed back to the dorm. When they arrived Drake would pour a few drinks for her like she said she would need. That night when he was asleep he had a wonderful dream of the two of them and it was actually a peaceful nights sleep for the poor man which was a rare treat.