“Forgotten?” Raziel cocked his head at Delmont from across the table.

Delmont paced back and forth, slowly moving from one end of the room then to the other. He stopped briefly in front of the fireplace and turned to face in Vorador’s direction, believing Raziel to be in said sitting place as Vorador. “Our kin. The lot of us, sir.” He answered.

Raziel didn’t understand what Delmont had just spoken of. ‘Why is he speaking to Vorador? I’m over here, unless…’

Vorador stood up from his seat and strode towards Delmont to turn him in Raziel’s direction. “He’s that way old boy. You’re sense of direction is fading.” That being said, Vorador sat down, this time across from Henrietta.

The two exchanged glances before Henrietta cracked her knuckles. “Say something and I’ll break your skull.”

Vorador held up his hands in defense. “I’ve said nothing, my dear. You all have the floor to speak. I’m just here for…moral support let’s say.”

“Yeah, yeah. Fuck you pal.” Henrietta sneered, waving at him disrespectfully.

Delmont remained silent until he was sure Henrietta had finished her rant. “May I continue?” He cleared his throat distinctively with annoyance.

Harlequin nudged Henrietta with a frown. “Ahem.”

Silence. Henrietta nodded. “Very well.”

Delmont continued, this time walking towards the table and then into it. “Ow.”

The clearly glazed over look on this strange man’s eyes signified he was blind, and Raziel had not noticed it before until he was up close. “Perhaps you should be careful of where you step. You’re sight is not well.”

“You judge too quickly.” Delmont reprimanded Raziel quite suddenly after being told he was blind. “Just because I do not see with my sight, does not mean I cannot see with my mind.”

He took a step back from the table and smoothed out his fingers. “They’re dry today. My senses indicate we will have unwanted company soon.” His essential gaze into the future caused Harlequin to stand to her feet.

“They’re coming? All ready?”

“It is not Monsiuer Cat, Madame.”  Delmont corrected her. “Mind you I did say, ‘unwanted’.”

“Mister Cat IS an unwanted guest.” Vorador growled.

Harlequin grumbled something and her attention turned back to Raziel. “You’ve come here seeking answers pertaining to your fate, unfortunately at this time we cannot provide answers to that. We’ve just recently thrown ourselves in the middle of the game.”

“What game?!” Raziel asked apprehensively.

“The game where the coin is on its edge. Well, the coin is spinning now and I assume the one who quoted the coin has not a clue.”

--

On a corner table, a shiny ruby red box was placed strategically the way many before it had been placed so that dainty little fingers could grasp the delicious treats within it. They were never out of reach, they were never hard to pick up, and it was never a challenge getting them into the mouth that they journeyed to. The boxes were always heart-shaped and always wrapped with red paper. Any other colors in the rainbow were unacceptable and if a mistake was made, the one who made the mistake met a grisly end by her hand. A silver scepter lay in her lap, and soon afterwards so did the box of treats.

Full, rosy, lips suckled on a tasty chocolate bonbon without much thought before she was disrupted from her leisurely lounge. The old hack was back. Here he came along, sulking and muttering incoherently to himself about some vampire and here she was trying to enjoy her leisure time in this grievous meeting with him. This Time ‘Streamer’ as he so called himself worked on her last nerve and she even wondered why she decided to plot with him in the first place.

‘He’s an incompetent and stupid old man. I’ll probably have to do everything myself because he can’t do it for me. Hmmf!’ she thought selfishly.

She bit into the chocolate unintentionally, while her gaze settled on the one who had broken her concentration on the snack in her mouth. Her royal highness swallowed the candy before her steely blue-green eyes glowered at the bumbling old man in front of her and Justine sneered.

“Rise, fool.” She sighed in irritation. “I was just having a lovely time with my bonbons when you interrupted me. What do you want?” She sneered.

“Your Majesty,” Moebius’ tone was always too pleasant to her for her good taste. Thankfully, he had her mercy of toleration for his appeasing attitude towards her.

“As always, you do radiate a lovely aura.” He complimented her. “And the sun-“

“It’s not shining, so you may excuse your shenanigans and get on with it!” She snapped, grasping her scepter in hand and suddenly had it pointed at him. The end of it unhinged and morphed until it had become a double-bladed axe and she wasn’t too keen on letting it leave his wrinkly neck for long.

“Speak now or hold your tongue. You’d best have an excuse for bringing me here today or I’ll set my royal bodyguard upon you and your men.”

“Well I’ve all ready had one problem today, your Grace. Now, if it would humbly appease you I will gladly looking into the paths you plan to take for this strategic action. But first, I would love to know if there is anything I could possibly to possibly avert your wrath from my men.” Moebius pleaded, tone still pleasant towards her.

Justine’s axe left his throat and it transformed back into its scepter appearance. “Hmf. Very well.” She turned her head and called out suddenly. “SETHY!”
From the corner of the room, her exotic bodyguard stepped forward, standing at her side with his arms crossed in front of him. Seth. This creature was always at her side like a personal lap dog.

A dog. Moebius always referred to him as such due to the set of positively furry ears perched atop his black head. No Sarafan alive dared question his loyalty to ‘her majesty’ lest they meet a very painful reprimanding from him. Exotic was only one of the few things to describe him has. Golden chains clinked together on his boots as the (seemingly) young man, approached her and stood at her side.

Seth was far from Nosgoth standards. He had no knowledge of the land and only seemed to be concerned with its welfare when it was convenient for him. “Yes My lady.” He spoke to Justine.

“…Take this…this…oh what do you call him?” She glanced up at him, blinking innocently up at Seth with a pout on her full lips. “Hm?”

Seth’s crimson eyes laid upon Moebius in contemplation before he spoke again. “Elderly gentlemen, my lady?”

“Oh! Yes, yes. Whatever you call him. Take him outside and out of my sight. I have to decide the fate of his men without his negotiations.”

“Wh-what?!” Moebius stammered frantically while Seth stepped forward to put a hand on his shoulder. “Come, sir. My lady hates to be disturbed while in thought. It is in your best interest if you were to do as she asks…or I will make sure to carry out her duties for her…swiftly.

Moebius gulped as Seth led him out of the room and closed the door behind him.

“My lady?” Seth turned towards her, standing a good foot and a half taller than his queen.

Justine sat, arms crossed and her body giving off a sulking aura on her chair. “Hmmph. I don’t understand it Sethy. I just don’t. You try to find good help when taking over a poor and desolate country and what do you get in return? Incompetance! It’s just not fair! Why can’t I belike Lenore’ and take over things like she can?! It’s not fairrrrrrr! Waaaaah!” Justine cried obnoxiously. “It’s just horrible.”

Seth could only stand idly by and allow his precious lady to rant all she liked. If there was anything he would do for her it was follow her every command devotedly and without question. Some of the men in this godforsaken place even wondered if he possessed feelings other than duty for her royal Majesty the Heart of Darkness.

“What may I do to help alleviate your foul mood, my lady?” Seth offered, trying to make her feel better. He stepped over towards her and suddenly scooped her up in his arms and sat down in the chair with her in his lap. “I am rightfully here to serve you and you alone.”

Justine sniffled and she looked away from him, pouting at the floor and then the ceiling before a wide smile came to her face and she turned to him, her lips pursed and her fingers stroking his ears. “Ohh…I think you could come up with something.”

“Such as?”

“…I want the Heart of Darkness from the Beast in the Mountains.”

“…As you wish, my lady.”

Justine pecked him on the nose and squealed in delight. “Oh Sethy, you’re always so good to me. I want something else too. All of my dresses are out of style and none seem to-“

He placed a finger over her lips, rolling his eyes at his dear queen in a bored fashion before he spoke again. “Fortunately I’m able to predict a lot of things about you due to the fact I’ve known you for the whole of your life.” Seth reminded her.

 “I knew this day would come for you to complain about your dresses. You’re fortunate that I imported some new fabrics for you from Egypt and I’ll even see to it myself they are sewn by my hand if nothing will be to your liking.” Seth informed. “Now if any complaints shall be made, my lady. You may make them to me.”

Her blue eyes blinked up at him with innocent confusion until he mentioned the fact that he had specially imported fabrics from her favorite place in the whole world. The magic word: Egypt. Ohhhh. Justine mentally melted at the thought of the fabrics he had imported. The soft silks, the pretty satin, the elegant Egyptian cotton, and jewelry too! Oh, Sethy never forgot her jewelry. Justine squealed in delight and clapped with approval before hugging him around his waist tightly. “Ohhh! Sethy, Sethy! Thank you sooooo much. You always know how to treat me right.”

“Anything for you my lady.”

--

Kain and spent what felt like an eternity searching for Moebius and found it even more difficult when Chevalier would occasionally get in his way and then disappear again.

He stabbed the Reaver down into the stone of the floor before snarling. “Com eout here and fight me if you so desire you wretched creature!”

Chevalier’s head suddenly stuck out from a wall with his tail swishing light-heartedly. “Who me? Oh I don’t want to fight you, Mr. Vampire. I’m just picking on you because you actually get mad when I do provoke you.” He suddenly came out of the very stone of the wall before sitting down in the middle of the floor in front of Kain. “…Hello old boy.” He greeted him. “Again.”

Kain grit his teeth and his brow furrowed. “Is there any reason as to why your trail has proved faulty in finding the Time Streamer?”

Chevalier lay on his belly and picked at his fingernails. “Hmm…well, he seems to have changed direction and gone upstairs instead of down.”

“Down?” Kain asked him. “To the caverns. I heard he’s in a meeting with someone right now. Though, they don’t know whom. And neither do I.” His yellow-green eyes glanced at Kain and he stuck his tongue out. “Anymore questions, jackass?”

Kain cocked his head to the side and grinned suddenly, grabbing Chevalier with his telekinesis and throwing him against the wall, holding him there before pressing the blade to Chevalier’s gut. “Actually…I do. Why are you lingering here?”

Chevalier’s tongue clicked and his tail swished, not even bothering the struggle in Kain’s grip. “Well…I WAS here to gather information but you seem to be filled with more of it than that old man is. Perhaps you could help the Madame.”

“The Madame, is your benefactor. As you told me before. What use would she have of me? I will not play pawn to anyone and I will certainly not continue to have you harass me in my quest to find Moebius the Time Streamer.”

“Tick tock, tock tick. Oh my goodness, we are rude. The Madame wouldn’t tolerate that. If it is information you seek then the Madame can certainly help you.” Chevalier assured, suddenly purring. “Come on then, what do you have to lose? She’s having a tea party and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind me being late and bringing a guest.”

“If I agree to accompany you to this…Madame, will you cease your harassment on my being?” Kain asked.

“Negotiate a little better than that. Promise me something if you go with me.” Chevalier grinned.

“…A good little kitty like you enjoys fish I’m sure.” Kain sighed.

“No, no, no.” Chevalier protested. “I’m fed that everyday.”

“Then what do you want?” Kain snarled.

“…Scratch my ears, please.” Chevalier meowed, an innocent smile on his face.

“Ugh.” Kain growled in disgust and he released Chevalier and reluctantly gave him a pat on the head.

“You’re not even trying!”

--

“You mean Kain.” Raziel spoke with interest. “How do you know of Kain?”

“We’re aware that he’s the Scion of Balance. It’s hard to not know about him.” Henrietta scoffed, rapping her knuckled against the table at Reginald. “Hey! Can I get some more tea over here? And make sure it’s jasmine this time.” Her cup was held up in the air and Reginald hurried over to take it from her.

“Right away, Henrietta.” Off Reginald dashed towards the kitchen again.

Raziel watched as the two exchanged their ‘code of conduct’ before his attention went back to Harlequin.

“Kain’s presence isn’t an unfamiliar one. So I’m not surprised you are asking that question.” She folded her hands, elbows on the table. “Hm…”

“What?” Raziel asked.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve found you to be rude by not introducing yourself to me.” Harlequin shrugged.

“You said you knew of my arrival.” He said, dumbfounded. “You must know of my name if you foresaw me coming to this place.”

“Just because I’m a seer doesn’t mean I get names like that.” Delmont sighed in disappointment and snapped his fingers. “I’m gifted but I’m not that gifted.”

“Wished you were Nupraptor.” Halrequin chuckled.

“Not really. At least I wouldn’t lose my mind like he did.” Delmont sat down then across from Raziel. “Now sir, your name. Please.”

Raziel looked amongst the hosts at the table and found them all to be staring at him. Henrietta’s glare was of no help and Delmont didn’t provide any sort of sympathy to his apparent ‘rudeness’ to this Hatter woman.

“…You’re joking, right?”

“Hell no!” Henrietta snapped.

“You’re all quite mad aren’t you?” Raziel said, obviously stating a fact from earlier when he was being led to the dining hall.

“Haha, as mad as a hatter.” Vorador laughed.

Harlequin’s head snapped up and she gave Vorador what could have been considered a death glare from the head of the table. She threw her chair out from behind her and jumped up onto the table.

Raziel seemed to watch this feat with interest. He would have expected that from the rabbit-eared woman sitting next to the Hatter woman, but she didn’t even have the chance.

“Harley!” Henrietta called out to her, face now etching a different emotion: concern. “Hey!”

Harlequin stormed across the long table with her stare murderous and she snapped her fingers before a long wooden staff seemed to form in her palm and warp itself into deadly scythe with a Teapot attachment at the head with the jagged blade spouting out of the tip of the teapot.

Reginald had just now arrived back with the tea when the pocket watch attached to his neck was suddenly pulling him towards the scythe. “AAH! M-Madame! Your scythe! Please! Not now. I can’t have it off me today!”

Harlequin raised the scythe in her grasp and suddenly had it pointed at Vorador.

The elder vampire could only stare up at Harlequin with regret at what he had said. Her face a scowl and her teeth clenched. “Ah…ahem. Madame?”

“Speak again…I dare you.” She sneered.

“Oh…well-ah…” Vorador hadn’t the words to speak, and Reginald set the tray of tea down and latched onto the chair Raziel was sitting in. “AAAH! Madame! Please!”

“What’s this madness?” Raziel asked him, suddenly getting out of the chair and watching as Reginald clambered into it and clenched the seat with a death grip. “Please sir, I know we’ve been terrible hosts, but make her stop. She’s going to make herself sick!” Reginald pleaded.

“I’ll stop her…” Henrietta insisted, standing up.

“Wait.” Delmont held his hand up. “I’d like to see what…Mr. Raziel could do.”

The remaining party members could only stand there and look at Delmont with sudden surprise.
Raziel included. “You said you didn’t-“

Just now got it actually. Monsieur Cat is returning with another guest. I suggest you help Madame back to her seat before she takes Mr. Vorador’s head.”

Raziel turned his gaze back to the angry Hatter woman standing on the table and threatening Vorador before the Reaver uncoiled around his arm and he leapt up onto the table to pointed the spirit blade at her back.

Harlequin whirled suddenly, the scythe suddenly connecting with The Reaver and freezing in place.

Reginald felt his body stop moving itself in the chair and he settled back down. “Phew.”

Her eyes still blazing, Harlequin hissed. “Do not get in my way. I have been insulted and will not settle until I have seen justice.” She tried to move the scythe but found it was locked around the Reaver.

Raziel of course hadn’t expected the weapon in her hands to survive its forced contact with the spirit blade, but found that the Hatter woman was at a standstill and place his other hand over the wooden handle of the scythe and pressed it down in her hands. “Put your weapon away…and sit down Miss Hatter.” He said coldly. “You’re being a poor host and very…”

She had called him such a thing before, so now returning the favor seemed just.

“Rude, Miss Hatter. You’re being quite rude.”

“I-I concur.” Reginald stammered.

“Yeah Harley. Stop being a bitch.” Henrietta agreed.

“Very rude indeed.” Delmont said, yawning.

With no other choice than to back down, Harlequin’s scythe unlocked itself from the Reaver and disappeared in her hands.

“Well done, Mr. Raziel.” Delmont appraised the wraith, clapping with approval.

“Welcome to the Tea Party.”