'Even so...' Armin closed his eyes, breathing slowly to get control of himself.

'...It was all dark... I could hear Janet's voice, calling to me. Then I found a switch on the wall, and pressed it, and everything went light... Then I saw her, but... she was just a rotting corpse, hanging upside-down in front of me... Everything was so vivid. Even the smell.' He shuddered a little.

Dianne: "Oh my god....that's horrible...."

{She immediately puts her hand on his head, running her fingers through his hair.}

Dianne: "What could have brought that on?"

'The Aspect, probably...' Armin muttered. 'It showed up while I was hunting, and it said something like... 'Make peace, embrace my daughter'... And just for a moment, I saw something that looked like /her,/ hanging out of its chest. Then she turned to ash, and the Aspect disappeared... Still don't know what it was trying to tell me this time...'

{Dianne just makes a horrified face at that.}

Dianne: "It did what? I'm so sorry....no wonder you looked so ill last night...next time Lucci's around, we'll ask him for an interpretation....that thing never gives a straight answer...."

'Lucci isn't exactly great at giving straight answers either... but I'm sure he'll be more helpful than that thing...'

Armin continued to lie quietly on his front, eyes closed, trying to focus on her fingers combing through his hair. He kept swallowing, as if he felt slightly queasy.

{Dianne continued to stroke his hair, holding him as tightly as she could. Despite her best efforts, she was having a very hard time keeping her eyes open.}

Noticing how drowsy she was, Armin shifted slightly. 'Just go to sleep...' he muttered. 'I don't want to be keeping you awake...'

Dianne: "No..."

{She states defiantly.}

Dianne: "You're feeling bad, and I'm going to comfort you...."

'You're on the verge of falling asleep,' Armin shot back. 'You're ill. I don't want you sacrificing sleep just because I have nightmares...'

Dianne: "So, I'm just supposed to let you suffer?..."

{Sighing, she snuggles up to him.}

Dianne: "I understand what you mean, but....I don't like the idea that you're feeling physically sick from this experience..."

'Yeah, well... I've just seen the decomposing corpse of my ex-wife hanging from the ceiling... I need more time to get over that...'

He rolled onto his side and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against his chest.

'I'll just cuddle with you, that helps a little...'

{Dianne willingly accepts the embrace, resting her head between his neck and shoulder.}

Dianne: "Ok...Take all the time you need...."

Armin held her tightly, breathing in her comfortingly familiar scent. It took the edge off his nausea.

'Sleep if you need to... Just as long as you stay right here...'

{By that time, she had already dozed off, snoozing comfortably in his arms.}

Armin couldn't go back to sleep, but lay comfortably with her, trying to think about more pleasant things than the nightmare.

{By this time in her recovery, she was no longer pale. However, her eyes were still green, and she still exhibited physical exhaustion.}

Quite later, Esme awoke and surveyed the pair. She then gave a chirp, and padded over to nudge at them both.

'...Hey, Esme...' said Armin quietly. He briefly tightened his grasp on Dianne, feeling calmer, but still unwell from his recent experiences.

{Dianne stirred at the disturbance.}

Dianne: "Hmmm....Hey, sweetie....Hungry?.....So am I...."

Esme squeaked, bounded off the bed, and ran downstairs to wait for them.

Eyes still closed, Armin shifted slightly and nuzzled into her neck. 'Guess we have to get up, then...' he murmured unenthusiastically.

{Dianne tightened her grip momentarily, speaking up in a drowsy tone.}

Dianne: "Yeah...We should....I wish a side affect of this crap wasn't physical exhaustion..."

'Mhm... maybe you'll be feeling better by tomorrow... Isn't there anything that can help you recover faster? Does it really just have to heal at its own pace?...'

Dianne: "Well....if there was someone who knew a spell that would transfer mana to me...that would remedy the situation immediately....I have no magical energy right now, which is why I'm like this..."

Armin considered for a moment. 'Well, there still aren't many non-humans in this city, let alone any spellcasters... There might be someone like that elsewhere... but I don't know where. Maybe Fred would know someone. He has a lot of contacts... And he researches more than I do...'

Dianne: "It wouldn't hurt to ask...but, until then...help me into a dress and carry me downstairs, please..."

Familiar with the routine now, he helped her get dressed, then put his own clothes on before picking her up and carrying her downstairs. He carefully set her down on the couch.

'OK... now where's Rex...'

{Dianne seemed a bit more alert today, looking around attentively.}

Dianne: "Probably hiding in his room."

'He'd better not be hungover again...'

'I am not hungover,' grumbled Rex, emerging from his room, Esme trailing after him. 'What should I do for breakfast, then? Same as usual?'

Armin settled on the couch beside Dianne, gazing blankly out the window.

Dianne: "Yes, please. Thank you, Rex."

{Dianne pulls the blanket over herself and settles into the couch.}

Dianne: "Turn on the tv."

Rex went into the kitchen to start cooking, followed by a curious Esme. Armin fumbled for the remote and started boredly flipping through various channels. 'There probably won't be anything good on at this time of day...'

Dianne: "Maybe...but, might as well look...Not like there's anything else I can do..."

Armin handed her the remote. 'You have it, then.' He leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes. 'I should text Fred... ask him if he knows any good spellcasters in neighbouring towns... With how often you get attacked, it'll suck to have to go through this every time someone hits you with light magic...'

Dianne: "...If only Ardens was around....He could help me....he has before...."

{Flipping through the channels, Dianne settles on a documentary about ferrets.}

Dianne: "...Cute..."

'Yeah, it'd be nice to have another dark-magic-powered dragon around to help us,' said Armin absently, eyeing the screen with a faint smirk. //Heheh. Ferrets...// 'I'm sure he's alive somewhere.'

Dianne: "It would....Especially now that his rude b!tch of a wife is likely long dead..."

'Hey, he might be sad that his wife is dead,' said Armin lightly. 'If we do meet him, you probably shouldn't mention that you're glad she's gone.'

Dianne: "I know...I'm not that rude..."

{Subsiding into silence, Dianne continues to watch the ferrets playing with each other.}

Armin settled in more comfortably, watching the ferret documentary.

After a while, Rex re-emerged, having made more eggs. He distributed plates of food to Dianne and Esme, then sat on the couch next to Armin. 'How are you?' he muttered.

'Better,' said Armin tiredly. 'I just need some time to... stop seeing it.'

{Dianne ate her eggs quietly, glancing at Armin with concern. Barnabas then appears behind the couch.}

Barnabas: "Yeah, that was pretty scary last night..."

'I'm sure /you/ didn't find it scary...' Armin muttered, still watching the TV. 'It just showed up to traumatise me, just like last time...'

Barnabas: "Well, I was scared for you. I've heard the tales of when it manifests. They don't tend to end well."

'Yeeaah, I don't want to hear any horror stories about the thing... What I saw for myself was bad enough...' He shivered slightly. Rex eyed him with visible concern, shifting a bit closer.

Barnabas: "Yeah, I wasn't going to tell you. You seem shaken enough. But, I think that was the only time you let me pet you."

'Compared to everything else going on, it was pleasant. And I wasn't really in a fit state to fight you, anyway. I was on the verge of either passing out or throwing up blood.'

Barnabas: "Yeah, but you made it out ok. That's more than most can say..."

Dianne: "Maybe...let's not stray too far from each other for a while...It's been a stressful week..."

'Honestly, I kinda need to hunt again... I barely got to feed before the Aspect showed up and... revived the deer I'd just killed... But I don't want to do that again for a while, no frickin' way. I'll just wait until you're better and we can go together.'

Dianne: "Ok, but...you still need blood. Ask Fred if he can get some for you...I might not be fully recovered for a little while..."

'...I'll text him later...'

Looking both bored and tired, he sunk deeper into the couch and closed his eyes. Rex absentmindedly rubbed his shoulder while watching the TV.

'So, how often does this happen to you?' he said, eyeing Dianne from over Armin's head.

{Dianne shrugs in response.}

Dianne: "Not often. This is kind of an unfortunate circumstance. Most people don't bother to learn light magic."

'...Good. This would be hazardous if it happened often,' Rex muttered. 'I don't want to worry about you being incapacitated in a fight, and then Armin dying because of it...'

Dianne: "Don't worry, Rex. I won't let that happen."

{Having finished her meal, Dianne puts her plate aside.}

Esme finished her food and promptly wandered off to play somewhere. Armin had seemingly decided to be affectionate with Rex for a change, and leaned against the other vampire as he watched the TV. He was still slightly tired from Pythia's healing, but nowhere near as exhausted as Dianne.

{Dianne eyed Armin briefly, with a hint of jealousy, before settling down to sleep.}

Dianne: //I suppose it's fine that he wants to be close to Rex...They have known each other for a very long time...//

Rex noticed Dianne's glance, but said nothing. He quietly watched the TV, absently running his fingers through Armin's hair as Armin seemed to settle into a light doze.

(Not sure what to do today. Was thinking of maybe having Fred try and talk to Pythia, but she might be busy with patients.)

(We can do that. I could also throw a displeased Prefect Murphy their way.)

(Alrighty, you wanna start?)

(I will soon.)

-----------

{Later that afternoon, Pythia was once again tending to patients. After yesterday's run in with Crowley, she simply refused to house hunt alone.}

Pythia: "There you go, Mr. Frederickson, your back should be much better. Ryder, send the next one, please."

Ryder calmly let the next patient enter. Meanwhile, Fred was in his bedroom, drinking tea.

//This is getting ridiculous,// he thought. //She can't stay here indefinitely just because she refuses to go out. Tomorrow, I think, I'll send her out with Ryder to look at houses... but it would benefit her if she was more willing to defend herself, too.//

(Mr Frederickson? XD)

(Yes, Mr. Frederickson. He a grumpy square faced man. XD)

{As Ryder let the next patient in, a familiar face came into view. It was Prefect Murphy, and he certainly did not look pleased. However, that may be because everyone in line was booing him as he walked to the front.}

Murphy: "You there, I demand to speak with Pythia."

Ryder looked up, running his gaze over the newcomer. 'You're Prefect Murphy, that one who works at the temple now, aren't you?' he said, with a healthy amount of caution. 'Pythia's busy. I can't ask her to step away from her patients to talk to you, unless it's important.'

Murphy: "Of course it's important, you scaly simpleton! I don't care who she's seeing, let me through!"

{He then tries to push past Ryder.}

Ryder moved in front of the door, extending his wings threateningly.

'Hey, in case you hadn't noticed, this isn't your house. You don't have any right to barge in here. Wait until Pythia says you can come in.'

Aware of the commotion outside, Fred gingerly entered Pythia's workspace. 'Apparently, Prefect Murphy is outside, demanding to see you. We can get rid of him if you want.'

{Pythia looks up at Fred, surprised and annoyed}

Pythia: "What? Why? Hasn't he taken enough from me?"

{Sighing, she returns to helping her patient.}

Pythia: "Send him in next. We might as well see what he has to say..."

{Prefect Murphy steps back in alarm.}

Murphy: "Why, I never! Such impudence! Don't you know who I am?!"

Ryder said nothing, calmly continuing to block the door until Pythia was done treating her current patient. He then shifted aside. 'Now you can go in.'

Fred remained in the living room with Pythia, drinking his tea.

{Adjusting his coat with an air of arrogance, he struts in.}

Pythia: "What do you wa-"

Murphy: "You need to shut this establishment down immediately! You've no right to help these people! You are no longer an acolyte! Because of you, people have been sending complaint letters to the High Seer, saying that I am useless! The temple you once ran sits empty, because all the sick and run down have come to you! So, cease this insubordination immediately!"

Fred waited for Murphy to finish ranting, then coldly spoke up before Pythia did.

'You are correct; she is no longer an acolyte. She isn't a member of your 'Order', and you are not her superior. Therefore, you have no right to come here telling her what to do. If you soiled your order's reputation by firing her, then that's your problem, isn't it?'

{Murphy turns to Frederick, face red with anger.}

Murphy: "I am the highest ranking perveyor of peace in the region and I deserve more respect! I may not be her superior anymore, but my will is in the best interest of the weak and the poor, and should be followed!"

Pythia: "Your will may have the "best intentions", but as a healer, you're sub par. I would have expected the order would send an actual suitable replacement, and not an air headed fool!"

Murphy: "What did you say?!"

{Pythia was clearly fed up with the man, and a mean spirited part of her personality was starting to show through.}

'I second that. You're wondering why everyone is leaving your temple to seek out Pythia's treatments instead; maybe it's because she can actually heal them, and you can't,' said Frederick, eyebrows raised slightly, looking at Murphy without much expression.

{Murphy just sputters at that, unsure what to think or say.}

Murphy: "I...you...oh, this is that witches doing! That, Dianne, introducing disobedience into the subserviant! I /can/ heal them, but they're spoiled by your fancy magics, and scoff at my remedies...Everything would have been better if Paxton hadn't screwed it up...."

{Pythia just makes an appalled face at that.}

'You're incapable of healing them to an acceptable standard,' said Fred bluntly. 'And what does Paxton have to do with this?'

Murphy: "...Nothing..."

Pythia: "Did you just imply that things would be better if my friend was killed?"

Murphy: "Yes! She's the reason you were fired to begin with! You cannot associate with dark powers!"

Fred didn't seem surprised to hear this.

'Whether or not you think Dianne should be dead has nothing to do with this. You came to tell Pythia to stop healing people. What she does with her powers is none of your business. I suggest you leave so we can all return to important matters.'

Murphy: "...So be it...I hope you're all happy with the damage you're doing to /my/ career and the reputation of the order..."

{With that, Murphy storms out.}

Fred sipped his tea, watching Murphy leave with a stoic expression. 'Hm. I've never heard someone so full of hot air.'

{Pythia just rubs her face wearily.}

Pythia: "Yeah.....I'm embarrassed that /he's/ the one they sent to replace me, and not someone who's actually competent....It's a little insulting, actually..."

'They shot themselves in the foot by getting rid of you. Forget about them. They're not worth your time.'

Fred paused to think.

'I wanted to talk to you myself, but I suppose it can wait until later, since you still have patients waiting outside.'

Pythia: "Ok...we'll talk later then...Have Ryder send in the next one..."

{The conversation seems to have lowered her spirits a bit, but she intended to keep working.}

Fred nodded and walked away. He was vaguely aware that she seemed a little downcast, but he didn't say anything. Emotions and offering comfort weren't his strong suit.

Ryder invited the next patient in, lying down calmly beside the door.

(Should I skip to the last patient of the day so Fred can talk to her?)

(Yeah, let's do that, then go back to Armin's house.)

(Ok)

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

{Later that evening, Pythia had tended to everyone who came and was simply cleaning up.}

Ryder had flown off back to his own house to enjoy some time off. As Pythia cleaned, Fred gingerly entered the room, careful not to touch anything that looked dirty.

'Done for today, are we?'

Pythia: "Yes...I'm just cleaning up in preparation for tomorrow."

'Clearly.' Fred surveyed the room, then continued. 'I'll cut to the point. I noticed that you haven't been willing to set foot outside since the event with Crowley. You need to resume house hunting, but if you won't go out alone, I can send Ryder with you next time.'

Pythia: "That would be wonderful, thank you. It was bad enough he accosted me in Shacklestone, and now he's followed me here..."

(Posting new room before the lag kills me)