Reanimate

[Myk]

This most certainly was not a normal situation. They all felt it to some degree and they had all gravitated to this spot as if some supernatural force was set upon them. The more time passed, the more that happened, and with all that he watched, Myk found himself growing increasingly concerned. He stood in silence amongst the group, fading into the background as they spoke amongst themselves and more people were summoned from the ether. Myk found that whenever he was with people who talked a lot, he would go uncharacteristically quiet. It was almost as if he found himself competing for the microphone in such a circumstance and if the other parties had a tighter grip on it than he did, he would simply let them carry on, forfeiting his right to be heard. While Alexandrea had addressed him directly, that didn’t mean Myk had to respond. She gave no indication that he had to because she’d commented on his question and left it at that. There was a question posed, but Myk’s attention had drifted with the flood of events that followed – the flood of events surrounding the blind woman as it happened – so Myk didn’t have the opportunity to answer. His concern and his confusion seemed to match the Italian’s though and so his pewter eyes focused in on Cosimo. Still, to that question Myk had no answers either. Well, didn’t he feel utterly and completely useless just for a change.

A sigh, as heavy as double cream, left the Telepath, but now was not the time to feel sorry for one’s self. It was time to get productive.

“We should attempt to track her,” he offered. “At least if we can discover her whereabouts, we can go and question her directly. Alternatively, we could summon her like Lisa has summoned the childe…”

Myk gave a vague wave of his hand in the woman and her childe’s direction at that point. It seemed the most logical choice and was certainly better than clucking and flapping around like headless chickens. Myk had enough powers at his disposal to perform all the tasks that he suggested, but he was sure that the others would have their suggestions too. Myk didn't consider himself to be in charge, and since this was a democracy of sorts, he was happy to leave this to be up for discussion and up for a vote.

“Thoughts?” he asked them, pewter eyes turning to each individual in the group.

[Moon (DELETED 6546)]

It became clear after a time that there was no reflection. Just...a fever maybe? He felt like he was in a walking fever dream ever since the first night but the word just fell absolutely short. He didn't feel 'under the weather'...he just felt like...like...

Like someone else was wearing his skin.

He felt the buzz of a response and read it...furrowing his brow. She was sending someone to get him, obviously. Maybe a Taxi service? It was probably going to arrive soon just by how she worded the text itself and he was on his feet to try and make himself presentable before the world fell away before him, for a brief moment he reacted on instinct and reached out to try and grab hold of something..anything...and was surprised when something instead grab held of him. He felt the touch of his Sire's hand as he was now...here? With others?

He kept the questions held...until the one known as Myk Posed a question? Thoughts? Thoughts?

He opened his mouth as if to answer, before realizing he had very little understanding of what was going on. He remembered something he had once read...better to be a silent fool then to speak and remove all doubt.

[Elizabeth]

"HOLY CRAP!" The younger of the two blurted out as he looked up at the leading scientist. "I didn't know that happened. Did you know that would happen?" "They don't all do that. Some do, some don't. The last specimen didn't. But others before have. We don't know why some vampire body parts turn to ash when removed from the body, while others don't. Maybe some vampires are more unique. Clean up the mess so we can continue." The male said calmly as he placed the saw on the metal shelf and moved back to the monitor system to see what it read from the massive trauma Elizabeth endured when he sawed her leg off.

"How?" The bewildered young male asked as he just stared at the ash on the gurney. He was evidently still unsure of what he saw as much as he was taken aback. "Don't be an idiot. You have a degree. Use your brain." The scientists patience was beginning to grow thin from the less experienced male he had been partnered up with, but what could he do? The big shots up top thought this kid would one day proceed his work and studies, so he had to try and not lose his cool and send the kid packing as much as he'd like to.

The lead scientist prints out a small sheet of paper that monitored the woman's brain activity as he progressed with sawing in to her body in various spots, however, only taking one actual limb; her right leg. He might need the others for something else later on down the road. He was patient, unlike his counterpart it seemed. A look of glee spread on his features as he read the results, and he even circled some spots on the print out before setting them aside and pressing record on his monitor. "Subject displayed high spikes of brain activity at the times; 20: 32, 20:47, and 21: 08. Indicates she is aware of pain on some level." He pressed stop, set the recorder aside and moved back to the metal medical table where he pulled a bottle of nitric acid off the shelf and set it next to an arm he was going to work on. Only to be interrupted by another question from the twit he was forced to spend a week's worth of nights with.

"Do we need her? All of her?" He asked, clearly excited about an idea. "If all we need is her brain, why not just cut her head open and fiddle with that?" The scientist sighed, pulled off his glasses and just looked at the younger male with an exasperated look. "Because we didn't know what might happen if we removed a limb. We don't want to risk anything else turning to ash. Like her brain. That would be counterproductive, don't you think?" It was meant to be more of a rhetorical question, that much the younger male knew as he wiped ash off the gurney to a trash can he pulled over beside it. With the glasses back on the brim of his nose, the scientist sat on a stool next to Elizabeth as he gloved up and very carefully opened the nitric acid. "Hurry up. You're not going to want to miss this." He said as he put a glass dropper in the acid and started to siphon it up the tube.

[Alexandrea]

Despite the worry that was setting in on Alex’s heart, she grinned when Lisa replied with ‘In the flesh’. It was cute. Lisa wouldn’t know that the Allurist was cheered, as she couldn’t see the blonde’s face, but Alex could send more than thoughts with her mind and shared a warm feeling of gratitude and an image of what she knew her face looked like when she smiled.

“Well despite the circumstances, Lisa, I am very glad to finally meet you in person! It was long overdue.” The smile faded slightly but was soon back in place as the Allurist turned to Cosimo. Or whom she presumed was Cosimo. Liz hadn’t sired that many Italians. But he had neglected to return the courtesy of introducing himself and Alexandrea was raised to never assume anything or use a person’s familiar name unless invited to.

“And you are…” The was only the slightest touch of ice as the blonde addressed the unfamiliar male but it melted away as her charm took over and she winked playfully. “I’d guess you are Cosimo but I don’t care for games of chance.”

“But in response to your question, I don’t think for the smallest of microseconds that Elizabeth would ever cause her family to worry just for the sake of some ‘trick’” The blonde chuckled a little and shook her head. “Liz isn’t the prankster in the family. That would be Olive or myself.”

Lisa’s childe, as it seemed the newest arrival must be, was a source of support to his sire, as Lisa leaned on him after another telepathic experience of some kind which caused more alarm bells to go off in the blonde’s head. She resisted the impulse to rush to the other woman’s side and turned to the only face that before this evening she found familiar.

But Myk seemed even more down than he usually did so the Allurist didn’t take it personally that he didn’t reply to her directly and respected that the young man got right to business. She agreed and said so; “ Yes, I can track Liz. And try to summon her as well. But let’s keep trying to reach her by mind speak before we yank her across town? Just in case? I’ll try to see where she is right now and then we can talk whether or not to try a summoning.”

“If anyone has something I can draw on, I can make a picture of what I see. Otherwise I can share the image to your minds, if you prefer.”

Alexandrea used Triangulate first, she knew the inside of most of the buildings in down so having a district always helped to narrow things down after she used eyespy. “Newborough district” Alex said softly, not even aware she was speaking aloud as she quickly moved on to the next ability, and tried to see what Elizabeth saw; “I.. I see a hospital room or the inside of a lab… oh this is NOT good!!!”

Alexandrea's voice took on an edge of panic as her eyes flew open wide. The image of her beloved friend and mentor seemingly held against her will in a room almost a carbon copy of the same place where Serenity had once kept Alex a prisoner terrified the sensitive Allurist. But that had been in Cherrydale… “I’m going to say I firmly believe Elizabeth is not happy being there!”

The sensation that hit the blonde as she tried to touch her adoptive Sire’s memories was gut wrenching, her enhanced empathy went into overload and Alex crumbled to her knees shaking like a leaf as she reached out to try to summon Liz home, safe where she belonged with her family.

OOC: Alex fails to summon Liz.

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

If Cosimo had not replied to Alexandrea, it had not been out of any maliciousness, or forgetfulness, or lack of manners. Instead, he’d seen that she had moved on to the next person, had continued on with other conversations and he’d not had the chance to respond, or introduce himself. Nor did he respond the second time, either. As optimistic as Cosimo could be, it was clear that something was not right. His sire was missing. His arms crossed over his chest as the others deliberated between them.

The truth was, Cosimo had no idea what to do. All these things that the others suggested—summoning and tracking, speaking into minds, seeing where she is? All of this was going right over Cosimo’s head. Although he scraped the back of his mind for the things that he himself was capable of, none of them were useful. Not to find Elizabeth, anyway. Or to bring her here.

No one went to get something for Alexandrea to draw on. But that didn’t seem to matter. It wasn’t needed, was it? She described the place just fine and it she was right. It didn’t sound good. Although the blonde crumbled to her knees, Cosimo was filled with dread not for the woman kneeling in the garden in front of him, but for the sire that he could not see. The Italian glanced between all those present, before turning back to Alexandrea.

”Someone must summon her, then. I cannot. I do not think I can … do anything to help,” he said, and winced. Elizabeth was his sire, and he was devoted. She had done so much for him, and he couldn’t do a thing to help, now. It was very clear that she was in trouble. That he could understand. He himself had been summoned before, and it seemed like an easy trick. Surely someone could succeed. Lisa’s progeny was right there with them; Lisa had used the exact same power. Alexandrea had said she would try, but had she? Or was something preventing her?

He was lost, in this situation. Lost and drifting—concerned for no one else and nothing else but the safety of his own sire.

[Myk]

The phrase ’too many chefs in the kitchen’ came to Myk’s mind as Alexandrea proceeded instantly into tracking Elizabeth. The Telepath wasn’t bitter at all, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment that he was of absolutely no use here... again. He wasn’t alone in this conclusion either however, as it soon became apparent that Cosimo felt about as lost and useless as Myk did. The Telepath looked to the Italian with sympathy weighing on his delicate brow. He wanted to provide some sort of comfort for the other man, but touching people was a no-no. The only thing the Telepath could consider was patting Cosimo on the shoulder and whispering words of encouragement, but the prospect of doing so made Myk withdraw into himself. He felt strangely insecure all of a sudden and this simply would not do. Pewter eyes analysed each of the individuals, their depression and hopelessness was hanging over them like a visible aura causing Myk to sigh heavily. Lisa and her childe were silent spectators at this point and even though Alexandrea had taken charge, she soon crumpled to the ground with failure. Cosimo and himself were feeling worthless, obviously, and the desperate nature of their situation seemed to be making each of these people feel stuck and overwhelmed.

Myk closed his eyes for a moment to dispel the sights before him, dispel that sinking feeling that had invaded him as it had invaded them all. It wouldn’t do to run about like decapitated poultry. It wouldn’t do to feel defeated. As far as Myk was concerned, his observations were still relevant. Now that they knew where she was, they could go to her. Myk had to agree, given the new information provided by Alexandrea, that summoning the Lady would not be wise. If she was in a Hospital of some kind, or Heaven forbid, a laboratory being studied like a cadaver, it would be risky to rip Elizabeth away. They had no idea about the predicament she was currently facing and if summoning her was in anyway a threat to her health then Myk wouldn’t dare to suggest it. Not once did it occur to the Telepath that summoning an individual would be a broach on the secrecy of their kind – he didn’t care what Humans saw and what they thought they knew. Still, if any of them had any idea of the true dilemma that had the Lady caged, they might consider drastic, Masquerade-squashing actions were simply a necessity.

After yet another calming breath, Myk opened his eyes and approached the Allurist crumpled on the floor. A pale hand was offered to her, one that didn’t tremble despite the circumstances. Myk no longer felt so insecure because in that moment of quiet reflection, he remembered his place and his role.

“Let me help you up,” he said to Alexandrea, a small yet confident smile playing on his cherry lips. He hoped she would take him up on his offer, but he would never force her. “You have done a marvellous thing. We know, we have a sense of, where the Lady is. And if she cannot come to us, we shall go to her. All of us.” A small acknowledgement of each individual was made and Myk smiled to each of them too. “She will be happy knowing that each of us cared enough to worry, I am sure. We’ll go to Newborough first and foremost. She’s in a building somewhere in that distract, this much is certain, so we will need to narrow down which one. The Lady could be being held in any residence, private or public, and it might be wise to split into groups…”

Although they may not have been aware of it, in that moment when Myk had acknowledged each person and smiled to them, he had also Appraised them. It was simply quicker than asking what each Vampire might be capable of power-wise, especially given that some Vampires were not even aware of their own ability. It seemed that three of the five Vampires were capable of tracking all on their own, particularly with the technique of pursuing one’s aura. To Myk, this would be the most valuable, most effective power in tracking down which building Elizabeth was being housed. If Triangulate could give them the district and Eye Spy could determine the look of the room, then Aura Tracking could most certainly do the rest. They would know, these three individuals, when they were on the right track to finding Elizabeth the instant they entered the building in question. With this logic, it seemed best that they split into three and allow Cosimo and Moon to accompany whomever of the three they preferred. Myk and Alexandrea were capable of Mind Speak, so they could keep everyone in communication, but then again, there was such a thing known as a mobile phone…

“Alexandrea, Lisa and I can track the Lady with her aura trail, so I think it would be best if the three of us were to fan out across the district and search what buildings we come across. We can stay in contact easily enough, I should think, and once we know where the Lady is being kept, we can inform the others. We’ll converge on that point and proceed from there…” Myk trailed off momentarily, his pewter eyes lowering as he contemplated what to do with the left-overs. “Cosimo? Moon?” he began, looking to one male and then the other. “I’m not 100% certain of what your intentions are, though I suspect you want to be there, I suspect you want to see the Lady safe…” Pewter eyes seemed to settle more on the Italian than Moon at this point. “I would suggest you follow one of us three. I would want you in the loop, I would want your opinions on the matter… Like I’d have all of your opinions on the matter.” Myk turned back to acknowledge the whole group again. “Do we think this will be a successful plan? I can’t imagine I know everything about everything, but, I do believe that this might well be our best shot at finding her… Yes? No?”

[Elizabeth]

The woman is aware on some level that she feels pain somewhere and somehow. Dreams don't normally produce pain on this level, or at all. Elizabeth has had dreams (or what some would consider nightmares), where she has been injured, or parts have been lost. But she has never felt the pain of that loss in either dream or nightmare.

The Telepath is alerted immediately that something is not right. Along with that feeling is another; a presence. A heavy one-which she mistakes as an intruder, when in fact it is Alexandrea that has connected to her mind. The blonde woman reacts with haste and what she feels is appropriate. Because the presence is unfamiliar and not her husband, she feels as if someone is searching for something. But what? She didn't know, but the tiny woman begins protecting the things she thinks is important to her.

The siring of every childe, whether they be dead or present in this realm. The adoption of many others she has come to call her own. The night she met Isabella and was sired, her siblings that are recognized by the woman, her 'grandchildre,' and anyone under them. Any and all activities she's taken part in; The Council, TFF, DTM, Helping Hands and the Telepath Guild. The creation of the Noble Bloodline, the creation of her own Bloodline, her own personal strides in regards to technology and modernizing herself, the start and current activities of her family, Shamus, her marriage and finally her binding to the male, and finally, his disappearance.

Her mind connects to the wireless connection in her home; her cellular phone to be exact. Once she is there, the woman's mind snakes its way through the two dozen or so applications on her phone as she types up a basic premise of each event, but as the presence continues to be felt, Elizabeth grows more and more paranoid that the presence is also retaining the information she is trying to save. At least half the information is lost before her body, consumed with too much pain and torture shuts down, her mind following not long after it and she is thrown into the telepathic hell-Vathia.

It is dark and blank. There is nothing there. She isn't aware of where she is on any level, subconscious or consciously. Just that Elizabeth is in a large pit of darkness.

[Alexandrea]

Shivering so hard that she was sure everyone on the rooftop of the Ivory Tower must be able to hear her bones rattling, Alexandrea looked up into Myk’s soulful eyes and relaxed. Gratefully, she let him assist her back up to her feet and, thanks to having a healthy complexion, blushed as red as a beet. If it had been anyone other than Myk, Alex might have refused the help. But she needed a steady hand at the moment and, listening to Myk comforting words, felt safe enough to came back from the edge she had been on from being so overwhelmed. Quietly she thanked her but then stayed silent for a time, taking in everything about her.

Alex couldn’t even begin to describe what she had felt from Elizabeth, even if she had been in complete control of her emotions. Guilt was easy. That one was all too familiar. Maybe Liz didn’t trust Alexandrea enough to allow herself to be summoned. The thought made Alex deeply sad but she had no one but herself to blame. Back when Alexandrea had found herself..’in trouble’, she had first gone to Elizabeth. But rather than trust the wiser Elder, Alex had tricked her friend and ran away, too afraid to let Liz do what had to be done. Elizabeth always did know what was best.

And now when Elizabeth herself needed help? The blonde wasn’t able to be there for her. Alex cursed herself for not being worthy of her dear friend’s trust. The idea of Liz simply not remembering Alexandrea, never even occurred to the Allurist.

Alex was still trying not to scream, the brief touch of Elizabeth’s mind as Alex had reached out to her had felt like chaos.Trying to read the Telepath’s memories had been just terrifying to the blonde and she just couldn't bring herself to try again.

She made herself focus on Myk’s voice, the only thing familiar at first but as she got over her breakdown, Alex’s mind sharpened. And with a calm voice and bearing, as if nothing at all had happened (think of a cat that just face-planted into the wall and ignored it), the blonde looked up into Pewter eyes and smiled at Myk as he finished speaking.

“I vote for sticking together, Myk. But that’s just my opinion. I’d like to be all gung ho and lead the charge? But I feel like I just got the wind knocked out of me. So I’d rather just follow your lead, if that’s alright?”

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Myk stepped forward and did what Cosimo did not. He helped Alexandrea up. Shame billowed from deep inside as Myk’s softened voice praised Alexandrea and her actions. And he was right. Whatever she had done, she had not found Elizabeth but she had helped the cause. She had done more than the rest of them could have. Until Myk continued, and Cosimo realised that wasn’t true. He, Lisa and Alexandrea could do what he could not. Split up, he said. And what could Cosimo himself do? Nothing. Hang around like dead weight, to be a nuisance who had no more of an idea how to track than a giraffe knew how to dance.

As shameful as it was to feel like some loose end, Cosimo nodded. He did not want to be left behind. He wanted to be kept in the loop. He wanted to be there, should Elizabeth be found. At least he could do a little damage with his gun and his sword. He squared his shoulders and glanced at Alexandrea as she stated her preference to stick together.

”I agree. We should stay together. If Elizabeth is in trouble, if… if something is wrong, we might need all the help that we can get. To split up… if one of us find her and it takes the others too long to come and help? It could be disaster,” he said. He was too new to take charge of anything. He had no idea that ‘aura-tracking’ was a thing that could be used to find his sire. He had no authority. He definitely did not have the knowledge.

”Myk, it looks like that you are in charge,” he said. ”We will be quick. There are buildings that are more likely than others, si?” he glanced toward the fadeportal, which would take them directly there. They had no time to waste. They might all have stated that Myk was in charge; even if they had both just disagreed with his plan for splitting up, Alexandrea herself had said that she was not in the right might, and Cosimo knew that he could not lead to save his life. Or to save his sire's life. This was not the time to be upset about what he could not do; he knew what he could do, and he would help to search. And to be of whatever service he could be with the limited power that he had.

It seemed ludicrous to wait around; he took the portal and, once he'd landed on the other side, in the midst of the travellers at Newborough station, he waited for the others to follow.

[Myk]

The lime-light shining on him at that moment of time was a little confusing. On the one hand, Myk loved the attention and the warm, fuzzy feeling he got when people actually thought something positive of him. On the other hand, he was potentially setting himself up for failure. If he took charge and they marched into action only to be fended off, or for Elizabeth to come to harm or death or worse, then Myk would feel the entire weight of the blame press on his shoulders. Though not just press, but squash him into the dirt, through the surface of the Earth, through its mantel and down to its very core. And how could they suggest he be the one to take charge? His only suggestion at this time had been utterly thwarted. He said let’s split up and find her more quickly, and Alexandrea and Cosimo had preferred the idea of sticking together. The Telepath looked back and forth between the pair of them at least six times, his expressions vacant but for a bewildered stare and the occasional blink. Then, before he knew what was happening, Cosimo had started moving away from them. The Italian wasted no time in walking through the fadeportal and POOF! He was gone.

“Yeah… Sure… Myk’s in charge… Let’s stick together… And then I will walk off ahead of everyone,” Myk muttered mockingly with a roll of his pewter eyes. Once he was done with his little sulk – which was really more amusement than sulking – he passed a glance to Alexandrea and nodded.“See you on the other side, I guess.”

The Telepath was not looking forward to returning to the streets – least of all Newborough. He’d just come that way and had not forgotten the reason why. One cold, pale hand reached up to rub his neck idly at the memory, but he couldn’t hesitate forever. Gathering his courage with one heaping breath, Myk walked toward the fadeportal and followed the childe’s lead. Myk wasn’t sure what to expect whenever he teleported to random destinations and he often came through with his eyes closed. Frankly, the whole zooming around the city thing made him a little queasy and so when he popped up on the other side of the city, he came through with his arms out in front of him, eyes squeezed shut and groaning. The image was not entirely unlike a cartoonish mummy appearing from nowhere. After just a few short steps, Myk made contact with something tall and Human shaped because he felt shoulders underneath his palms. The Telepath quickly retracted his hands, pewter eyes were forced open and he looked for the face he had to apologise to…