Chapter CLXXXV: Happy Reunions ~Ria

Far back…(Yeah, she got the book back before the whole 'revive Markior' thing. So sue me. I just need to get my chars back up to speed, so sorry if it's a bit choppy. It really is hard to write in a foreign environment, with no music.)

Adrian walked over to the room, staring intently at the yellow book Kyanosa had tossed to her. Most of the pages were blank, and the ones that actually held text were filled with mostly useless information, or at least to Adrian. She finally found a page on interest somewhere in the last quarter of the book (The pages were not numbered, and since everything was changing places all the time anyway, numbers would not have helped much).

There was a short paragraph about where CR had gone with Multehx and Havering.

"I see now why he didn't take me along," she muttered. "It wouldn't have been the best place to take someone like me who doesn't like vulth'n in the first place."

She had wandered back to the main part of the train. She found an open spot, on the far side of the train from Havering, and sat down cross legged, with the book in front of her, flipping though it for anything else of interest.

She looked up briefly as Lich, Naaro and Kyanosa left, reading on the next page she turned to, where they were going and for what. She remembered Markior from their brief meeting on Zolott, after which she had met Kyanosa. Given the choice she would’ve preferred to stay on Markior’s ship.

Adrian felt a stab of sadness at the thought of her lost planet and home, but Markior had been polite and friendly and she wouldn't mind seeing him again if the group was successful. She couldn't help wondering how he had died. She didn't really want to ask any of the Spectrummers, in case it brought up bad memories of some sort; but she was considering asking Havering, just to see if she would get an answer, when a pack landed on the ground next to her and Kaye plopped to the ground in front of her.

"I'm bored," the Arcanian announced.

"Mazzic's not interesting enough?"

"I think he's a little sore that I kept beating him at cards…again," Kaye responded.

"Well, it's going to be a bit more waiting," Adrian said, showing Kaye the book's explanation of what was going on.

"Markior? Kinda a funny name," Kaye said after thinking about it for a minute. "Though I suppose most people's are on this train."

Adrian chuckled slightly. "Yeah, I guess I never thought about that, but it is true."

Time passes and stuff…

"Gin," Adrian said, laying down the cards in front of her with a grin. "That means I win right?"

Kaye looked down at the cards. "Well it would if you actually had Gin."

"Oh." Adrian hastily picked up her cards, looking sheepish.

"Here we can start again." Kaye said collecting the cards.

Suddenly there was a swirl of power. HAVERING!! A roaring voice called out.

Adrian looked up to see Markior standing in the doorway, his eyes furious as he stared across the train at Havering. Kaye paused her collection of the cards and turned around as well.

Havering grinned, crossing his arms. "Well, if it isn't mister kamikaze pilo-EURGH," Havering gasped as he felt the burning hands of Markior grip at his throat.

I destroyed you before, and now, after all this time, I will squash you like a fly, returned weakling...

PERISH, Markior rumbled.

"Markior, stop it!" Havering wheezed. "I'm on your side. I'M…ON...YOUR SIDE, WHYR DAMN YOU!!"

The Time Bender started kicking against the Archon's lower body. Markior loosened his grip on the Time Bender's neck and placed his feet down on the ground.

.... Explain.

Adrian could feel the invisible battle of the two being’s powers against each other. She caught the worry on the faces of the others on board.

Havering adjusted his collar. “Yes, quite, explanations are in order, but first–"

With that, Havering threw both of his arms up, bent at the wrists, throwing Markior’s hands off his neck. He glared coldly, his black pupils flashing with black fire.

"Don’t TOUCH me again," he said in a threatening voice, walking towards the back of the train.

Adrian sighed and shook her head. She had sort of been hoping Markior would start a real battle with the Twilighter, one which she would have eagerly joined.

"Guess that’s over," she said to Kaye, only then noticing the other woman had shifted her weight so she was now in a crouch, staring across the train at Markior.

She was suddenly aware of a power that at been masked just a moment ago by Markior and Havering’s own flaring powers. It seemed to be coming from Kaye, but it felt different that her normal power. Adrian blinked. The power signature felt somehow similar to Havering's, like a demon's.

"Kaye?" Adrian touched the woman's shoulder, then pulled back sharply, her hand tingling slightly.

"I’m back!" Kyanosa suddenly jumped into Kaye’s line of vision, the black headband on his forehead. "Did you miss me?"

"Were you gone?" Kaye asked, looking up at him while hiding a grin.

Adrian sat back, crossing her arms in thought. Why does it feel familiar?

Then she suddenly remembered back to the brief time she had been with Kaye on Zolott. She had felt something like this in the Arcanian then, not quite as strong, but it was the same.

But what could be causing it? Why would it start getting stronger now?

She looked towards where Havering had disappeared and thought suddenly of CR and Multehx, and all the exposure she'd had with the Twilight Council.

Could it have something to do with being around demons? What if my theory was right?

"Excuse me."

Adrian blinked, looking up at Kyanosa as he turned the headband around.

"If it’s not too much trouble, gimmie that."

He snatched the yellow book from where it sat on the floor.

Adrian sighed. "I was going to return it."

"Sure you were," The teen glared.

Good thing this guy hadn’t been on Zolott, or I might have used my real sword.