A Fly on the Loose

Xavier was restless. And worried. He had not yet been able to find the other one. And the first one was out of his reach. Someone had taken her away. And this time, it wasn't those known as Spider. It was someone far more powerful, someone capable of concealing the entire being he was looking for. Not even on the astral plane could he find a single trace of her. She was gone, just like the other one had been for years. If they were both found by the same, it could be dangerous. Someone this powerful must know about them... And would be able to recognize them.

A spark caught his attention. In his roaming of the world using the 7th realm of power, he'd come across someone he recognized. Curious, he opened a window to the physical plane and observed the three teenagers in the dark alley. One of the two girls spotted him and he quickly closed the window. He knew enough. The three were here. Finally. He smiled, even if he knew they wouldn't be important for a long time yet. For now, they could only screw up, but later... The powers and possibilities were endless.

Riskare's castle on the astral was just as amazing to lay eyes upon now as the first time Xavier had seen it. All black, but decorated with diamonds, rubies and saphires to give it a glow he hadn't seen anywhere else. He entered the gigantic gates that were only open to those who had proven themselves worthy. Xavier had been found worthy after a battle between Riskare and her enemy Damien many years ago. The battle had left Riskare wounded to the point where she couldn't defend herself, and Xavier had fought Damien until she was brought to safety.

"My friend" Riskare said from the throne. Xavier kneeled before her. "My Lady." Riskare stood up. "What brings you here?" Xavier stood up also. "The Twins... I cannot find them." Riskare's piercing eyes were upon him. "How did you lose the one you were so close to?" Xavier refused to look away for even just a second. "Spider faded her aura, enough for me to lose sight of her for a few hours. When I finally found her, someone else shielded her and took her away. When I came to the room she had been in, all I could find were a few traces of blood." Riskare turned and walked to a door. "Come with me" she said as she opened it. Xavier followed her.

The stairs behind the door lead up to a tower. From the roof of it, they could see the entire world Riskare had built up around her castle. "The shielding must be Damien's work" Riskare said while staring out at her creation. "Or one of his disciples" Xavier replied. Riskare looked at him. "If so then only one or two are possible. It takes several lifetimes with intense training to obtain a power so strong. Souls aren't easily hidden from me, and you are right. They cannot be found." She paused. "It can only be Daniel or the one with many names." Xavier nodded. He knew who she was talking about. "Both powerful," he said, "but enough to shield them both?" Riskare smiled, a sad smile. "Only if they work together, or shield one each." She turned to the view again. "They are together, they must be" Xavier said. Riskare nodded slowly. "Yes. And they are on their way to Damien."

Xavier was roaming the earth again, looking for any trace. Damien's castle was empty, the tall white towers were silent like the grave. Damien must have entered the physical realm because it was harder to find him there. And easier to hide the Twins, since they could not switch from physical to astral bodies at will. Xavier went back to the room where he had last felt the one he was following. It was still empty, Spider didn't seem to have been there. The door creeked. Xavier hid in the 7th realm, but with a small window open, big enough for him to see what happened but not enough to be discovered.

The one who had taken the name Scott entered the room. He looked around, then noticed the traces of blood. "Fuck." Tom and Ryan appeared in the doorway. "What?" Tom asked. "She's gone. She was here, but someone must have taken her with them." Xavier half smiled at them. That's what happens when you don't guard your prey, he thought. "I told you to stay here and watch her" Ryan said to Scott. "I didn't think anyone would find her" Scott said, defending himself. "We faded her aura! No one is supposed to be able to locate her then." Ryan put his hand over his eyes. "You fool!" he shouted. "Fading the aura is not enough to keep the ones who are after her away. It merely shields her from the lesser entities who want to use her to get something out of the ones who need her." Tom walked over to the blood and knelt down. He felt one of the spots. "It's not fresh. She must be long gone." Ryan walked out of the door. Xavier could hear him talking to himself on the way out. "We lost her! We fucking lost her! And all because of an incompetent idiot who's lacking the basic knowledge about our enemies! Greum! We need to find Solora!"

Solora. Xavier closed the window completely. He knew that name from somewhere. She would need to be found, but not now. The Twins were more important. He had just come back onto the astral plane when he felt a call for him. Riskare wanted him.

His Queen was waiting outside her castle. "You are late" she said. "My apologies. I was looking for the Twins" Xavier said kneeling down. "Rise" Riskare said. He rose. "William and Isabelle have found some of Damien's men. Go there. Help them." Xavier nodded. "Yes my Lady."