Back in Aspheri - Open - (Gabriel)

"Knowledge is power, i prefer not to give my enemies such power." Be'lakor stated coldly. He straightened his face, closing his eyes for a second, and letting out a deep breath. He smiled when his eyes opened.

"That is very true," Shadow said quietly. Her mind wandered, leaving her looking as if she was half asleep. Her mind was reaching out over her dimension, checking on people she knew, generally making sure that everyone was being treated after the battle.

- Shall we bring CnP in? -

-yes...please...-

Be'lakor smiled, looking at Shadow. He closed his eyes, slumping back into the chair. He opened his eyes again, making sure he was aware of his surroundings and Shadows. Anything unusual was unacceptable.

- K, I'll get him tomorrow morning. He's gone off for the night. -

Shadow's consciousness extended further, crossing dimensions to reach earth. She frowned slightly in concentration, closing her eyes fully. Familiar minds greeted her, her family. It wasn't unusual for Shadow to contact them in this way. But she was looking for a different mind.

A faint crackle. A low whir.
The mind of a Kraferr is already hard to enter by telekinetic or magical ways, because normally it is restricted either by its own magic or just by plain unconsciousness of what it is. And the mind of a demonic Kraferr is not an exception, if not harder to establish a contact with.

Bart's eyes shot open, and he sat up from the stone he was lying against. His thoughts had been cut. A small twinge of magic he hadn't felt for a long time entered his body. Bart turned his red eyes to the sleeping Dominique, and decided not to wake her. Bart slowly walked away, lifting his head to the starry sky, flicked with the space-lights from above.

It's been a long time, he thought, Shadow.

In Aspheri, a small smile appeared on Shadow's face. She could hear the Kraferr's song, just as she knew that he would be able to hear hers. The fingers on her broken arm twitched slightly.
Bart... She thought, Long time no see... I need your help.

Bart lifted an eyebrow, crossing his arms and sitting back onto the emerald grass.

That's not something I hear often, he answered quietly, what is it?

As he thought, he grabbed a rock in his clawed hand, and threw it into the lake. The rock clashed against the liquid surface of the water, sending a blade of water into the air. It slowly rose, before falling heavily onto the surface, making gentle circles appear. Bart didn't need to go demonic to be able to hear or to speak to Shadow through the mental line, because Shadow had created it. He began to worry about the answer that would come from Shadow's mind.

Shadow frowned slightly.
It would be easier to explain face to face... The mental link was starting to flicker slightly as she grew tired again. She closed her eyes to try and concentrate, to hold the link a little longer.

Bart's thoughts faltered as the link grew weaker, and he nodded to himself, before standing up.

Sure, he answered quickly, I'll be there right away.

Bart recognized the faint song that went through the link. It was the one of the throne room, back in Aspheri. He had only been there once, but he had carefully memorized all the songs he had heard back in Aspheri. It didn't make him a better teleporter, but it prevented him from teleporting to Antarctica.
Bart turned on the tip of his foot, walking over to Dominique. He shook her shoulder, and her red eyes slowly and tiredly opened up to gaze at Bart. Bart pulled her up, before muttering a few words in her ear. Dominique nodded, and slightly pulled away from Bart, before kissing him on the forehead and morphing back to her human form.
Bart untied the silver bracelets from his wrists, and shoved them in the black pockets of his ample pair of black trousers. He pulled up the sleeves of his long-sleeved dull purple shirt, as the brown fur on his skin immediately changed color to violet. Four red eyes appeared on his face as his claws grew, and as the normal loud crack pierced the air. Black bone spikes shot out from his back, and he lifted his head to the skies.
Bart concentrated on the song he had heard. Black, tensed electricity sprouted from the ground, coiling around his feet, before he suddenly vanished in an obscure bolt of lightning and disappeared from the face of the earth.

Shadow had felt the link break, but had faintly heard the last words Bart had spoken. Now all she could do was pray that he wouldn't end up in the north pole or some other dimension. She opened her eyes briefly, but then closed them again, falling into a light doze on her throne.

The air quivered at the entrance of the throne room. Two bolts of black lightning struck out, hitting the ground. Then one, more massive spear impaled the ground, leaving a crouched black figure in the shadow-dust which the bolts left in the air. The figure stood up, swiftly flinging its body and arms once at its sides, taking off the dust which had clung onto him.
A row of sharp white teeth glistened past the obscurity, before four red lines appeared. The silhouette stepped out of the darkness, hands on hips, standing valiantly. Bart's tail was coiled around his left leg, and he pulled it away. He turned his eyes to the demoness which brought back many memories, and a slight smirk made the side of his lip curl. Bart took another step on the black marble ground, the small sound resonating in the large room.
"Nice to see you alive, Shadow," he began. He noticed Shadow's broken arm, and lifted an eyebrow, before adding, "more or less."

Shadow smiled behind her mask, getting to her feet, moving towards the Kraferr.
"Bart, Bart Kraferr. At least you seem to be faring better than I, or is that because of Dominique?" She asked with a slight teasing tone to her voice.

Be'lakor, who was standing in the darkness behind the throne, opened his eyes. The blue glow from his true sight was evident, and easily noticeable in the Darkness that surrounded him. "Greeting, Kraferr, we meet again" Be'lakor said in a voice he had not yet used in front of the princess. It was wise and ancient, but had a slightly deeper tone.

"Yes, I've been living with Dominique," Bart answered, not at all hesitant in his voice, "but I can stay alive myself, thank you." The Kraferr turned his red eyes to the other man, who brought him a sudden picture in his mind. With a slightly shocked expression appearing on his already moderately tired face, he continued, "You again."
His voice was low, and not very welcoming. He remembered how he had reacted in front of him before, and it seemed that he hadn't changed one bit. Even though, he was with Shadow, so he needed to calm down a bit on Be'Lakor's image he gave to Bart's eyes.

Shadow glanced between Bart and Be'lakor before narrowing her eyes. They were not going to start fighting, as she guessed from Bart's tone of voice.
"Look, no fighting while I'm here. Be'lakor, I trust the Kraferr with my life, and Bart, he's my protector, live with it." The demonic princess snapped, her temper starting to fray.

Be'lakors lips moved up into a slight smile, looking at the kraferr. "I did not wish to fight. Nor did i last time." Be'lakor answered Shadow, but was looking at Bart. "Sandstorms do not harm me." Be'lakor told the kraferr, stepping out of the shadows.

Shadow still glowered at the pair of them. Be'lakor's attitude towards the Kraferr seemed to be suspicious to her.
"You'd better not, because I am completely fed u-OW!" Shadow had tried to gesture with both arms, forgetting that she had broken one. She held the arm close to her, biting her lip. With a deep breath, she sat up straight again.

Bart refrained himself from speaking anymore, turning his bright red eyes to the ground, then back up at the demoness. He flicked one strand of brown hair out of his eyes, before trying to forget that Be'lakor was there. He could not deny the feeling he gave him though, the one of sadistic superiority.
Bart concentrated on the present, sighing. "So," he called out to Shadow, "may you please explain to me what's happening?"

Shadow turned her violet towards the Kraferr.
"The reason I called you here is because we have a not-so-little dilemma." She said. "We are currently in heated discussion with another dimension, and have just fought a battle with them, but now we've taken a step back..."

"Dilemma?" Bart answered, a small grin appearing on his lips, "Another dimension? Battle? Sounds like some docile music to my ears. So, for what exactly did you contact me for?" he asked, his red eyes gleaming in some sort of interested gaze. He crossed his arms on his chest, and his purple tail coiled around his leg, tightening. Even though Bart seemed calm on the outside, he was anxious to know to what degree has this 'dilemma' worked up to, and how the heck they were going to ease it.

Shadow rolled her eyes mentally at the fact that Bart seemed to be taking this lightly.
"The prince of Merthras has been pressuring Aspheri over the last while, for us to unite the dimension by union of its rulers, or to anger them and risk war. Be'lakor and I paid him a visit, which didn't end too well, hence our recent battle. Now he has extended the offer of union once more..."

"Yeah, I get what you mean," Bart replied, sitting down, one leg curled under the other. His tail eased from his leg, and flattened itself on the ground, slithering like a snake. Bart lifted his clawed hand to his chin, stroking it pensively. His black claws grazed the skin of his neck, before he turned his red eyes up to Shadow.
"So, what are you planning to do? Pay him another visit?" he asked, with all seriousness possible.

Shadow contemplated it for a moment.
"I don't see him letting us through the dimensional barriers, certainly not if Be'lakor accompanies me. The prince seems to be terrified of him, and with good reason if I judge on what I've seen."

Bart glanced in Be'lakor's direction, the feeling staying still within his mind. He turned his head to Shadow, a stern stare setting on her violet eyes.
"Well, I really don't know how I can be of any help right now," he replied, "I mean, my teleporting sucks in the first place, and if little Princey won't let us pass the borders, I can't do anything. I don't know the song of that place, anyways."

"It means basically that we have to communicate by messenger, but I have no idea what I'm supposed to say back to him." Shadow said, putting her head in one hand. She would have liked to just pass on the crown to someone else, but there was no one else. Not while Archangel was still younger than three hundred.