~To the End of Eternity~

[Zach]

The room was dark and filled with the murmur of voices. They were many and distinct, running the gambit from high and feminine to gutteral and beastlike. From the darkest shadows, a voice issued that silenced the room on the very first syllable. "Let us begin our meeting." With that, blue flames erupted around the room, illuminating it somewhat, yet still leaving it's occupants shrouded in shadows. The man that had spoken slowly moved forward, floating eerily above the ground. From the faint illumination, it was apparent that he was extremely thin, and two wing like structures extended from his back, yet were totally still, making his levitation all the more bizzare. Three others were standing behind him, and from each of them issued a powerfully dark aura that seemed to warp the very spaces in which they stood. They were, doubtless, extremely powerful. "As you all know, the Cosmic Will is dying. This is our chance to re-create the world into our image. However... there has been a slight... hiccup." said the winged man, crossing his arms over his chest. "The Will has apparently made a provision against us... Six different powers have been gathered by the Will at the Core World." To this, the crowd erupted into murmurs. With a wave of his hand, the winged man silenced them. "They are few and weak, yet we cannot allow for any variables in our plan. They must be eliminated. Immediately." The crowd began to murmur again. "I'll kill them all! Let me do it! ME ME MEEEEEE!" One figure was jumping up and down dementedly, screaming. His silhouette was slender, and two extremely long, scythe like wings curved from his back and arced down toward his feet. "Contain yourself, Julius." Another voice said, this one light and undoubtably female, yet completely devoid of emotion. "Bahahaha! Need some ice for that burn, Julie?" said another voice, laughing uproariously. "IT'S JULIUS! JULIUS JULIUS JULIUS! I'LL KILL YOU, DEMITRI!" "Quiet." The winged man shook his head. "You're all acting like children. Yet... Julius. If you wish your comrades to stop heckling you, then I suggest you prove that you are more than a demented waste of space." The blade-winged man clenched his fists, angry, but apparently scared to speak out in defiance. "Therefore... I shall send you to deal with these six pests." The man turned back toward the other three, still hidden in the shadows. "I trust that is all right with you?" The others nodded, and he turned back toward Julius. "Go. And if you fail, then expect a severe punishment." The man forced a bow. "Yes... sir." He turned and walked out of the room, mumbling under his breath. "Once I rewrite the Will... you'll ALL bow down to me..." and, with that, he was off. After he had left, the voice that had laughed earlier spoke up. "Gee... do ya really think he can do it?" The winged man laughed. "Not at all. He is merely a tool to test their strength. Whoever these people are, their collective auras are almost as strong as my own." The laughing voice gave a whistle. "Poor Julius." The winged man shook his head. "We shall reconvene in four days. This meeting is adjourned." With that, the blue flames were extinguished, and the room and its occupants vanished into darkness.

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

"Uuunh..." A boy dressed in elegant black clothes was lying in a field, face down. "Where... am I...? Violet...?" He struggled up, wiping the dust from his doublet. He rubbed his eyes, looking around. Three people were lying on the ground, all face down. As his eyes traveled across the unfamiliar forms, he suddenly stopped. The one closest to him, a young woman in a maid's uniform, looked very, very familiar. "Violet?" The woman groaned, putting an arm over her face. "Just five more minutes..." she whined in the typical teenage manner. "VIOLET! WAKE UP THIS INSTANT!" The woman leaped to her feet, hands clasped firmly to her sides. "Yes, sir, Master Sebastian! ...Um... wait." she looked around. "Where are we?" He pinched the flesh between his eyes. "That's what i'm TRYING to find out. Make yourself useful and tell me who these people are." The girl looked around, then shrugged. "No clue." The boy glared at her. "U-uh... I mean... My apologies, Master Sebastian. I do not have that information at this time." (Why does he make me talk like a robot...?) she though, trying not to roll her eyes. "Well... make yourself useful and wake them up." She sighed. "Yes, Master Sebastian." she walked over to the nearest one, a slim young man with glasses, and gave him a good swift kick in the ribs. "Hey! Wake up!"

[Quill]

Bone was dreaming. He wasn't sure what he was dreaming exactly, but he knew it was pleasant, and that he wasn't ready to leave it yet. Unfortunately, someone else seemed to have other ideas, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He felt his pleasant dream world vanish, and suddenly he was lying on cold floor, his favorite book- a supposed spell book, bought from some secondhand pawn shop- tucked under one arm.

A faint groan escaped him, and he sat up, rubbing at his new sore spot. "Hey, come on, what was that for...?" He adjusted his glasses, which had been knocked askew at some point, looking up at his assainlant. He blinked a few times, having trouble registering what he was seeing.

Conflicting warning klaxons went off in his brain- it's a stranger, and she attacked you, you don't know where you are, get the hell out of there, she's hot, she can't be much older than you, she's hot, don't do anything stupid in front of her! He settled for an unhappy medium.

"Who are you, and where the hell are we?"

[Zach]

The girl shrugged. "I'm Violet, but... that's all I can tell you. I was kind of hoping you'd know where we were..." The young boy tapped his foot impatiently. "Violet, what have I told you about associating with rabbel? And step backwards. He's obviously looking up your skirt." Violet blushed crimson, stepping back. "U-um... s-so... what's your name?" she asked.

[ღMax]

Marcy...she stood in darkness, her hands outstretched towards him. Viktor looked down to her, the wary lines in his face fading in disbelief and relief. He saw the young girl smiling up at him, her two front teeth missing, her pigtails swaying as she laughed. "C'mon, Vik! Wake up!" Her soft feminine voice beckoned him.

Viktor smiled at the small child, and extended his hands to grasp her tiny ones. She smiled brightly, squeezing his hands. The darkness around them lightened, and her face faded from view. The relief on Viktor's face faded, replaced quickly with dispair. "Marcy...Marcy, no!" His voice rang out in the silence as her small form faded from sight.

Voices broke his melancholy silence, a two male and one female. Viktor's eyes fluttered open, and he pushed himself up, careful not to jostle his wings underneath the leather coat that concealed them. He looked at his surroundings, a deep frown crossing his face. He kept silent, not wishing to inturrupt the conversation already taking place. Maybe he'd learn his location from the handful of individuals present with him.

[Quill]

Bone immediately decided he didn't like the boy. He would never do anything like that! ...Well, he would, but certainly not to some chick he didn't know. Red color creeped into his face, and he stood slowly, dusting off himself and then his book. "Gl-- Bone. My name's Bone," he said carefully, looking around. He noticed that the fourth member of their little group was awake, and he nodded towards him politely.

[ღMax]

Viktor pulled himself to his feet, arms crossing in front of his chest. He nodded in return to the young man with glasses, looking at the woman near him, and then the other boy with the arrogant attitude. He said nothing, watching silently.

[Zach]

The young boy crossed his arms, looking at the newcomer disdainfully. "Eavesdropping. How befitting for a commoner. Didn't anyone ever teach you it wasn't polite?" The girl facepalmed. "Master Sebastian, perhaps now isn't the ti-" "SILENCE!" the boy shouted, stamping his foot rather childishly. She shook her head, helping the glasses boy to his feet. "My name's Violet, by the way." she turned to the man in the coat. "Violet Abilene. This is my master, Sebastian Nightshade. ...and you are?"

[ღMax]

The quiet man uncrossed his arms, politely holding his hand out to the young woman. "Viktor." He replied softly, running his other hand through his hair. "It's nice to meet you, though the circumstances are a bit odd. I suppose no one else knows where we are?" He qustioned lightly.

[Zach]

Violet took his hand, blushing lightly. "Charmed." she stepped back, her face flushed. Sebastian rolled his eyes. "If you'd been paying the SLIGHTEST bit of attention, you would already know that we have no idea where we are."

[Quill]

The boy was really starting to grate Bone's nerves. He glared at Sebatian. "You're one to talk about polite, you little brat," he said sharply. "Look, none of know where we are, and we're stuck here together, so I suggest you pull that stick out of your ass and learn some manners."

((...*facepalm* Bone, you idiot...))

[ღMax]

Viktor didn't give the boy his attention, acting as if he had heard nothing. He looked at the one called Bone, amusement glinting faintly in his eyes. He slid his hands into his pockets, his wings twitching faintly under the heavy leather.

[Zach]

The boy's jaw dropped. "Y-you insolent commoner! Violet!" The girl shrugged. "Um... what is it you want me to do, exactly?" The boy stomped his foot, fuming. "Nevermind! I'll make you pay on my own time, you filthy commoner..." Violet rolled her eyes. He was SUCH a drama queen.

[Quill]

Bone seemed unimpressed. "Commoner? What are you, king of pint-sized brats?" He towered over Sebastian, his hands on his hips.

[Zach]

The boy snapped. "I'll have you know that I am Sebastian Nightshade of the esteemed Nightshade family, most wealthy and in direct line with many great monarchs! What are YOU? King of the pathetic, penny-less commoners? I'd say it's apparent, what with your tatty glasses and your pathetic little book!" he reached into a messenger bag slung over his shoulder, pulling out a vial of purple liquid. "I'll teach you!" Violet covered her eyes. "No... not again..."

[ღMax]

Viktor frowned slightly, taking his hand out of his pocket to run it through his hair. "It may just be an opinion, but I don't believe we should be fighting. We're obviously here for a reason. Maybe we should put our energy into figuring out that reason rather than bickering."