Malakai got his whiskey and made sure they left the bottle. This was distinctly turning into a third wheel senario and he didn't feel at all comfortable about it.

Archimedes seemed to sense the discomfort "I'm sorry Malakai, is this making you uncomfortable?"

Malakai took another long swig of booze. Eyeing the girl out of the cornner of his eye. "What? Me? What's giving you that idea?"

Archimedes didn't answer "Sorry I'll go" Gwen said and started to get back up "No no, stay" Arch insisted

Malakai sighed. "I'm the one that should go." He stood and patted Arch on the shoulder. "Good luck with that whole student thing. If you find yourself in need of my services I'll be happy to help you out for 10 silver. Just give shout into the wind and I'll be there as soon as possible." Malakai smirked. "Today was fun. See yah." He walked out.

((I'm pretty sure we've milked this as much as possible. Malakai's too socially awkward to sit around like that))

Milennel shook his head. "Even if I found her. I wouldn't know what to say. And I just know it would break my Dad's heart to ask about my birth parents..."

Reedak nodded and sighed, "I'm sorry you had to go through this Milennel."

((Sorry That Malakai ditched Arch, KJ, but I have to follow what I think the character would do))

To say that he was brooding was perhaps too much. Still Malakai couldn't lie that he'd rather enjoyed Arch's company for the day and was a little disappointed that it was over. It didn't matter though. He knew when to leave a situation and there was no way he was wanted or needed back there. He was pretty sure he'd just get in the way. Besides it was better this way. After all what was he thinking? Friend? Honestly, he couldn't hold such a heavy chain. If he had stayed longer the situation would probably have gotten very messy.

"Nothing is necessary. There is only choice and consequences," Malakai muttered. Walking out was his choice and the consequences were clear. He did not regret it. He merely accepted it. He sighed. It had been a while since he'd felt like something other than a monster. He snorted. VAIS was going to be in stiches over this.

(meh it's ok. I'll figure out somthing else fer em ta do)

Milennel grinned despite it all, there was no use worring Reedak over something like this. "Its no big deal."

Malakai kept walking thinking things over. Perhaps the alcholo had been just a little too strong or hanging with Arch had made him drop his guard a little too much. Whatever the reason he didn't notice the mage's binding spell until it was too late. His arms and legs went stiff, the majority of his mucles paralized to the point where even breathing suddenly was difficult. A man in a dark cloak and hood slipped out of the crowd towards him. A white fox tail swished about him.

"VAIS..." Malakai called with his mind as he quickly summed up the situation.

"What now?"

The fox man reached the frozen Malakai. They were so close that Malakai could see under the hood. A man with a badly scarred face with piercing ice blue eyes gave hin a twisted grinn.

"Lucifer..." was all he managed to say before the man stabbed him with a needle in the neck. What ever drug was being used, it was fast and effective. Within half a second, he was out. His limp body slumped forward into the arms of the scarred man as the hidden mage released his spell.

((Okay wild impulse saticfied. Now I will take a few hours to figure out what I just did. Lucifer sounds like a good name though doesn't it. ))

"Hmm, I'll have to find him later to pay him" Archimedes said idly

"Pay him?" Gwen asked

"Yes, I asked him to show me around, in exchange I would pay him" Arch explained

"I see..." Gwen shifted in her seat

"You are royalty?" Arch asked bluntly. Gwen growled

"Ah, an illegitimate child" he observed Gwen started to get up, glaring at Arch "Must have lead a hard life child, the royals can't have been happy about it, I know the pride of the Griffins" Gwen paused at his words.

"They must look down upon you, I however do not, you have as much right as anyone to lead a normal life" he added

Gwen sat back down, dragons in her experience with the few that visited the Griffins, looked down on her like everyone else did. His attitude stumped her.

Hovering high above the roof tops VAIS flitted one way and then another. Gone! He was just gone! How had she not noticed Lucifer? Why did the wind not find him? She hadn't seen him and now and now...

"MALAKAI!!" Vais shouted telepathicly trying to find the connection, the contract that they had formed so many years ago now. There wasn't a response, not even an echo to suggest his were abouts. As far as her senses and what the wind could tell her Malakai had just ceased to exist.

Lucifer! That conviving insane out of control obsessed bastard! How could he get to Malakai like that? Malakai knew better than to be vulnerable to any...

She paused and persued that thought. Who had been that guy Malakai had asked about? Archimedes? He'd been hanging out with that guy not long before all this. She hadn't found anything bad on him, but maybe...

"If he's involved I'll kill him for sure," VAIS muttered. Malakai was her contractor! How dare these people decive her and him like this! She wouldn't stand for it! Still she'd needed help. She was only an air spirit. Her influence was limited. She searched out Ginko through the wind's memories. That just made her madder. "Ginko! You stupid lizard! HOW CAN YOU PLAY AT A TIME LIKE THIS!!!????"

Streaking off toward the wyvern the air heated up around her from the friction giving an illusion to the people below that a metorite was crossing the sky.

((Heh heh, fire ball heading for Chao and Ginko))

Vinnatol crouched on the crook of a branch in common ground and licked his fingers. The blood was foul, tasting worse. But he knew it was a small sacrifice if he could become a carnivore. One day, perhaps soon, the taste of blood would no longer curdle his stomach. He kicked the body from the tree and it landed with a plunk to the ground.

His green eyes were luminous in the night. "How utterly foul this feels..." the night was so beautiful, yet all he felt was disgust.

And his single thought was, that if this world ended at this moment he simply would not care.

-

Milennel heard the sound of a body hitting the ground. "Did that crazy creature fall?"

When VAIS felt like really moving she moved fast. In moments she reached the space between Ginko and the raven boy the air sizzling and sparking around her. The poor leather ball went right through VAIS bursting into flames, loosing all its momentum and dropping to the ground below. VAIS shifted to a "human" form a shape she had to take to talk with anyone other than her contractor.

The air cooled and hissed letting off steam as VAIS became visible to normal people (and Ginko). She floated in the air still slightly transparent her eyes the color of the evening sky and her air a whisper of clouds in the upper atmosphere. Her "human" form appeared like a young girl of 10. A pair of moonlit feathered wings extended about her and a long starlit tail of more feathers danced about her legs. She wore a dress that glowed like the sky just before the sun rose which danced with her tail giving one the illusion she had no feet though in truth she did: the toes bare.

"GINKO!" VAIS shouted her voice much louder and more mature sounding than her form would have suggested. "YOU STUPID USELESS FLYING LIZARD! WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS ARE YOU DOING?!!!!!!!"

Completly taken off guard by the air spirit's appearance. Ginko whined and chringed not really sure why she was so mad.

((I have no patience...sorry Jade, I know you're just busy with real life))

Ignoring the stunned Raven boy VAIS darted forward and "grabbed" the wyvern's horns, bringing her her ghostly face close to Ginko's. "Lucifer showed up! By the GODS! You didn't notice him either?! Malakai's...Malakai's..." VAIS was driving herself into a panic over the whole thing. There was just no way Lucifer could so completly fool the wind like that. She hadn't been vigilant enough, they'd all been too careless, and now...

The wind swirled and moaned forming small wirlwinds as they responded to the distressed spirit. VAIS ran a hand through her cloud-like hair. She took a breath and tried to pull herself together. "That crazy bastard is going to do something horrible I'm sure," she muttered. "but I can't find him at all! My only guess is this has something to do with that damned druid. Malakai isn't a guy who just gets ambushed like that! Anyway we've got to go NOW!"

The very mention of the name Lucifer had sent Ginko growling and nashing her teeth, her eyes gleaming with a wild feral sheen. Though VAIS was too wraped up in her worries to properly explain what happened Ginko had been with Malakai as long as anyone and knew perfectly well the implications of Lucifer appearing and VAIS' distress. She roared a resonating sound that echoed deep inside her gut and her tail lashed catching the cornner of a roof that was too close and shattering the wood and tiles. No one, was allowed to harm her master. She would bite that vile fox's head off for sure this time!

"Follow me, but don't go killing the guy until we get answers or we wont find Malakai at all!" VAIS declared and darted off. Having completly forgotten Chao or the ball, Ginko snarled and with a snap of her wings was off right behind VAIS.

Finding Arch wasn't hard. He still hadn't left the resturant. Inside would be too crowded for a fight, especially since they were dealing with a powerful spell caster. Ginko landed outside the resturant for the third time, her wings sending dust and debris everywhich way. She growled and snapped, her tail lashing through the air threatening to take out several stunned bystandards. The unattended wyverns arrival an actions put most people into a panick and people rushed away. Soon no one was left on the street and no doubt the guard would be on its way. Heh like VAIS or Ginko cared about that in the slightest.

"ARCHIMEDES!!!!" VAIS shouted with her impressive voice, the wood about the front vibrating from the force. "GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW YOU WORTHLESS TRECHEROUS GECKO!"

((Ah I feel better now))

Archimedes looked up as his name was called out "Gecko?" he looked around the restaurant, it didn't register that is was an insult until Gwen slapped her for head "You, it's an insult you dimwit" Gwen said "Oh" Archimedes looked back at Gwen "Who could I have made so angry?" Arch asked himself as he got to his feet "Suppose i should go find out" he wondered over to the door and stepped out. Gwen rolled her eyes and fallowed him to see what was up.

VAIS hovered in front of Ginko holing out a hand behind her to keep the enraged wyvern from attacking the guy on sight. VAIS narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the griffon that followed the druid out. Who was that? The wind gave her an instant response hissing about her whispering all the secrets it knew. Still Lucifer had hidden himself. VAIS had no guarentee that anything she learned would be the whole truth.

"There you are you snake," VAIS growled the wind whirling about the four of them, kicking up dust. "Five minutes and 43 seconds ago you two were talking with Malakai. Tell me where he is right now and my friend here wont maul you beyond any hope of later identification or resurection." Ginko smashed her tail against the ground for added affect.

Archimedes stayed calm though Gwens tail was flicking irritably her

"Well I'm sure I don't know, as you have pointed out her left me fi..well six minutes ago now. I should like to find him though, as I haven't yet paid him for his assistance"

Gwen sighed "What's happened to Malakai? Has he gone missing or something?" she asked, catching on a little quicker then Arch

(Ok I am really goin now, night)

((*can't resist having the last post of the night* good night))

VAIS glared at Gwen. "Gwenievier Narcisa Larkspu, even though you appeared to show up here at random do not think you are above my suspicion!" She turned her eyes back on Arch. He didn't feel like he was lying but... damn it... "4 minutes 38 seconds ago Malakai sent me a distress signal and now as far as the wind knows he's ceased to exist. Malakai isn't someone to get ambushed so easily! If he can be hidden from me then so can other things. You didn't just happen to meet him in park, did you? This was a trap! You... slipped him something or cast a spell when his guard was down around you because you fooled me into thinking you were clean! If you value you're lives you'll tell me where you helped Lucifer stash him RIGHT NOW!"

Ginko gnashed her teeth and took a step forward. The wind was picking up in speed. A few small rocks skipped along the road in the gusts. VAIS had limists but outside she had a distinct advantage. Between her and Ginko the whole street could easily become a war zone.

((Malakai sure is popular with the ladies XD VAIS and Ginko are so desperate to help him.))

Pine Erloat's eyes went wide at the sight of the air spirit. The little wyvern on the floor was growling and they were threatening what looked to be a winged girl and a dragon. Neither of the two looked bad, while their opponents looked ferocious. "Y-You leave them alone!" she thew a book at VAIS.

Gwens lip curled back as she snarled back, agitated by the whole situation

"Calm yourselves, what reason would I have to harm Malakai?" he asked calmly

((Ginko isn't that "little" she's the size of a horse with wing span to match and they're outside, so Rynx, did your character just happen to walk up?))

The book that the little owl had thrown went right through VAIS her image warping around the object like mist as it passed through then settling back into her form. She was only air. Without turning her head VAIS raised her other hand and a particularly vicious gust of wind blasted the owl off her feet.

VAIS' narrowed her eyes at Arch. "You don't need a reason. Lucifer has plenty of twisted excuses! Malakai met you and the next thing I know he's vanished! Don't play dumb!" Still her vocie wasn't as loud as before. She could see he was being honest, she could feel that fact in the air, but... but... "If Lucifer can decive the wind I can't trust anything about you! Prove it! Prove that you're not in league with that old whithered creepy slimy ugly fetted fox bastard!"

"Well if you wont believe anything I say how am I to prove to you that I have never even heard of a person called that" Arch asked still as calm as ever

VAIS was about at her breaking point. She was scared, confused, frustraited, and most of all terrified for Malakai's sake. She didn't know what to do or say. Ginko growled and walked up to Arch putting her impressive head and jaws right in his face, glearing at him eye to eye. After about a minute the wyvern lowered her head and shook it, letting out little whimpering noises. This guy didn't smell like Lucifer at all. He didn't smell bad at all.

VAIS seemed to fade a bit and covered her face the wind dying suddenly. "What...what am I supposed to do?! I can't find him! I can't..." Air spirits can't cry even in human form. They're only air, but VAIS could still sob. Something terrible was going to happen to Malakai and she couldn't do anything! The wind picked up again but it was not angry wind. This was slow and sad moaning reflecting VAIS' depression.

((Gotta step out for a bit be back at 1:30pm MST))

Archimedes considered them for a moment "Tell you what, I'll help you find him" Archimedes offered

Ginko lifted her head and whined hopefully. They had to save Malakai and with Lucifer involved they could use the help. The only other person they could turn to was Henri and who knew where that crazy alchemist was right then?

VAIS looked at Arch with naked suspicion. Her confidance had been shattered. How was she supposed to trust her information if Lucifer had so effortlessly snatched her contractor, snatched Malakai from right under her nose? Still how could she disbelieve the facts in front of her? He was telling the truth and being completly sincere. The wind knew that. She sniffed. "How are you gonna do that? If Ginko and I can't find him how are you going to?"

"What have you tried?" Archimedes asked

Gwen stayed quiet but she still looked agitated

((Lucifer's trick is explained in the OCC thread VAIS and Ginko can't notice it though))

The wind died down and VAIS looked worn and tired. Ginko was half whining and half purring, nuzzling Arch ingratitude for his offer. "Malakai and I are connected by a contract. I should be able to feel his presence and know where he is at all times. If he's concious he should be able to contact me telepathicly even. That's how I know he's in trouble in the first place. Plus I'm an air spirit, the wind knows of everything that passes through it. From your first cry to your last breath the wind records all of it. Even if Lucifer shielded Malakai so that I can't follow my usual connection the wind should have some trail of where he moved. As far as I can tell though they've both vanished completly like Malakai just ceased to exist!"

She glanced at Gwen. "And why are you looking so annoyed? If you want to say something spit it out."

(Yeah I saw)

Archimedes thought about it "What if he left to another dimension?"

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