A World Without End (Inactive)

Game Master pinvendor

Drake looks at Frau and shakes his head, "You know how it is, Frau. When you are given a note to be delivered by your hand and your hand only do you just give that duty to anyone? No. I'm sorry but it is important, private business which can make or break a deal."

He looks at Frau and waits, knowing that this person knew about business deals and how they could be broken in moments from even one minute thing going wrong and handing it over to another person to deliver was bad. It could break multi-million dollar deals or worse.

Frau Stuptsman stares down Drake for a moment, then finally hisses in frustration. "If the Massri wished for privacy, she should have brought her own bodyguards! Far be it from me to interfere. Incur her wrath if you will. I have more important things to worry about," she spits softly, then whirls on her heel and stomps off - quietly.

Rashida is seated in the ornate central chair of the Massri box with a tall, thin man seated in a much lower chair at one side. Nobody else is on the box, the usher and waiter having accompanied the Clockwork Theater's owner from the box.

Softly, in a corner of Rashida's theater box, one of the pipes gently rattles and ticks...

"Thank you, Frau." Drake says meaning it then goes into the seating area, walking across to the woman in the chair.

He puts a hand on her seat and kneels beside her, "M'lady Massri. I have a message here for your eyes. It is from a mutual friend."

Drake puts out his hand with the message in it. He has no idea if she can see him well in the lighting or if she can if she would know who he was or his family but either way he was acting the humble message giver.

Rashida directs her eyes to the paper for a moment, then leans over to whisper to Drake.

"Please tell Cassie it is important we all distance ourselves at this event. Only get in touch in case of emergency. Good luck."

She sits up and speaks aloud. "Do not bother me any more with such trivia. And have somebody fix those rattling pipes. They are extremely annoying during an opera."

An attendant comes into Princess Alexia's box trying to be discreet and disturb as little as possible bowing apologies for the interruption "Please forgive the intrusion your Highness... there's a young man and women that are insisting they need to join the lady DuSollier. The boy wouldn't say a word, but he was very insistent and refused to leave without my asking they be permitted."

The man turns to Cassie "He gave me this note for you my lady." He offers Cassie the page of Psychotropic paper "He seemed quite young for the title... it must be a prank, shall I send them away?"

Drake nods his head to Rashida then stands, "Thank you for receiving this note."

After the woman makes note for no more interruptions he turns and is on his way back to the princess's box and trying to be discreet which is in no way a big problem for him. He plucks a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and drank it on his way past people, toasting to their accomplishments and lamenting their losses as per social requirements but he did not linger. He walked and spoke to any who spoke to him while heading to the box.

Once there he would tell the attendant that it was Drake Khoth requesting to be readmitted to the room.

Sighing lightly as the performance is interrupted, she turns with interest to see what is so important.

Cassie takes the note and with a Gallic quirk of her eye-brow looking at it with an intrigued manner. The noble 'discards' it by handing it to Ysillith, although there is a slight smile to the corner of her mouth showing that she doesn't believe the Satyrix is a servant.

Looking back to the attendant; "No show him in, if that is alright with Your Highness? After all conversation can get quite repetitive without a man to add a certain piquancy. And the General certainly doesn't qualify." she adds the barb in, though she isn't really that catty but if she can put him off balance for the next conflict.

"The more the merrier," Alexia says sweetly, smirking at Cassie's last comment. I wonder if it would be possible for her to make him any angrier...? she ponders curiously, feeling the rage bubbling out of the man's very being. Manipulating his behavior at this point would be of no use - total pacifism would have to do. Not that it matters anymore.

A short time after the attendant has left Ralph comes in with his arm around Alice assisting her to walk. He bows to the nobles on the fainting couch, and helps Alice to sit down then he'll take the princess' hand to give it a light kiss if she'll let him. After greeting Alexia he leans over giving a quick hug to Cassie in touching his cheek to hers briefly as he whispers.

After having greeted them, and giving nod to the general he squeezes in between Alice and Cassie 'Mmm cozy we might have trouble when Chuck gets back though. Then again it could be a good excuse to get closer to these lovely ladies'

Again Cassies eyes flick up as the couple enter, she smiles as he sits next to her feeling him squeezing up to her. "Princess Veritas has been keeping me entertained." she replies rubbing his shoulder.

Then she leans around behind the man and looks to Alyce; "I am Madam DuSollier, but you can call me Cassie. It's a pleasure to meet you." she tries to blow her a greeting kiss. Ralph can feel the warm weigh of her against his back as she talks to the newcomer.

Alice limps in on Ralph's arm, dips a small curtsey, then sits where Ralph puts her, looking around wide-eyed at the Princess, the General, and Cassie. She doesn't see the tall figure in the shadows behind them.

"Madam DuSollier, it is such an honor," she whispers, flicking a nervous smile in Cassie's direction. She leans against Ralph and whispers into his ear.

Cassie smiles warmly trying to put the young lady at ease; "It's fine. Don Giovanni is amazing." She half turns back to enjoy the second scene.

Ralph enjoys the warmth of Cassie against his back although leaning forward so that she could talk behind him seems a little awkward to him. Once Cassie has moved back Ralph settles back on the fainting couch. He turns and smiles at Alice when she leans against him answering her quietly.

Ysillith stands in the darkened recesses f the booth, having taken the scrap of paper handed to her by Cassie. As Squirrel and Alyce bob, bow and scrape to Cassie and the Princes...Ysillith does no more than stay where she is, though her eyes continue to take in how ever much of the rest of the theater as she can.

Cassie waves her fan lightly as she watches the next scene, fanning away the tears from Elvira's plight. A white piece of paper imperceptibly flies only to be caught by Ysillith's quick reactions.

Ysillith gives no impression of having caught or noticed anything at all. She remains the watchful presence hovering by the Lady DuSollier.

Rashida tries not to sigh as she watches the disguised servant fool Giovanni's hapless victims, but as the scene wears on, her golden nails begin to tick rhythmically on the arm of her ornate chair. Lighting from the stage vaguely illuminates the audience, so she can see the Princess' box filling up quite nicely, while Vorian looks like a tiger in a trap. She can sense Richard's growing unease and impatience as the minutes slip by with no sign of the Inspector's delivery.

Finally the scene ends, and she turns to whisper with Richard while gears grind and steam valves hiss behind the lowered curtain as the scenery is changed to the graveyard of Act 1, Scene 3. "If the Frau has him or knows where he is, she's either not cooperating or he's out of her reach. I don't think we'll get any closer to finding him by sitting here."

The curtain rises again for the opening of Scene Three. Rashida abruptly stands and sweeps out of the Massri box, Richard following in her wake.

Ralph slips a hand to Cassie's shoulder and squeezes gently leaning in against her to whisper.

After whispering something to Cassie Ralph moves to put an arm around her to cuddle. Assuming she doesn't stop him he appears to be happily snuggling his date, but if one were to observe them closely it might be apparent that he's still whispering to her.

Cassie smiles as he snuggles up to her, en-rapt in the performance and the fore-shadowing of Giovanni's inevitable doom. A chill runs up her spine, a premonition of her own? She leans against Ralphs shoulder, finding it lean but comforting as she whispers back.

She keeps her words short so as not to interrupt the Opera, punctuating it with a playful pinch.

As Cassie leans further into him Ralph catches a whiff of her perfume, which combined with her warm form against him and breath in his ear, was an assault on his senses that wasn't easy to overcome. He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a slow breath to clear his head before answering her.

Drake finally comes in with a couple of servers who bring in some red cake and a strong wine. He bows his head to the group and grins, "I found some servers with red chocolate rum cake straight from frosting, still warm and tasty as can be as well as some strong wine. Please be careful. This is all heavy with alcohol so it may not be exactly what you may be used to. Ah yes, and fresh real cream whipped for your delight if you wish it upon the cake."

After directing one of the waiters to bring a full bottle and the strongest cake to the darker section he takes the other women's hands in turn and gives them a kiss on the knuckles in greeting then looks past Cassie.

The doctor then goes into the dark area and stands beside Ysillith then whispers to her.

"Bugger that other stuff...let me at the Rum...." Her voice is a husky purr at the mention of a certain beverage...(^_~)

A rueful smile crosses her face as Ralph's breath whispers into her ear; "Certainement" she whispers.

Her gaze turns to Drakes entry carrying food. 'So the Harem is back together....well apart from poor Vorian. I hope he is alright.' "Cake! You are a love." she exclaims with a low hunger. Breaking a piece of moist cake the rich rum flavour dissolves upon her tongue; the warm fumes making her light-heated. With a thin slice of cake with cream balanced in her lap, her attention is drawn back to the unfurling play.

Sub-consciously drawing her manicured nails across the white surface, the creamy goodness curls around her finger. Pushing it through full lips; Cassie lets slip a soft sensual sigh.

Her mind slips back to the last time she saw the Opera, the warm body next to her. She smiles and enjoys the song singing as the play starts to reach it's crescendo, slowly a dark tear rolls down her cheek.

Ralph smiles and nods in thanks to Drake accepting a piece of cake keeping up the pretense of having lost his voice. The strong rum is certainly evident, but not unwelcome it seems to give a warm feeling inside as Ralph eats his cake.

With his cake eaten the little street rat gets back into the opera enjoying the cuddle with Cassie, and the warmth of Alyce squeezed next to him on the fainting couch. With an arm still around Cassie he uses his free hand to lightly touch her cheek.

Melancholic Cassie just shakes her head slightly, enjoying the company with the sounds flowing over her from the music. The memories tugging at her draw a smile as she leans into Ralph; "Good tears, they show I've lived." she whispers hoarsely into his shoulder.

"Rum? Rum?" Drake clucks at Ysillith while wagging a finger then putting the hand into his jacket and brings out a bottle of rum, "Red Rum." He winks and hands it over.

"Show me where you last saw him," Rashida says quietly as she takes Richard's arm, the singers and orchestra fading as they enter the corridor behind the premium boxes and draw the heavy curtain behind.

"Of.. of course, Lady Massri," Richard stammers, leading the way up the long staircases to the very top floor, "It was after the first act. He left our seats in a rush and I believe exited from... this door." He stops and waves at one of the exit door from the top balcony seats to the hallway where they stand.

"A good a place as any to start, don't you think? Now, where would he have been off to? The little kobold's room? Or was there something in particular you two were here for? Or someone?"

Rashida releases Richard's arm and strolls to the balcony door, peeking in to see the stage from a dizzying height. It is exhilarating in some ways, but not the best view for seeing the action. The music manages to sound quite wonderful up here, the acoustics reflecting it perfectly to even the meanest seats.

She turns to face the corridor; then, after thinking a moment, crouches down to get the view Clousuk would have had upon exiting. "Well... we were here observing, hoping to catch a notorious thief. This seemed like a good place to watch the rich and see if they were being stalked."

Rashida nods absently and scoots forward still in a crouch, holding her dress up so as not to tread on it and drawing startled glances from a couple of ushers. "I've lost a bracelet, gold," she tells one who stops to offer aid, and he corrals several others to scour the carpet in the area. Rashida sighs and gives Richard an exasperated look, then moves to the balcony rail by his side to look down upon the atrium floor below. "It's certainly a good view from up here, isn't it?" she murmurs, then whispers, "We'll have to wait for them to leave."

After a few fruitless moments, she waves the first usher over. "It's obviously not here; I must have lost it elsewhere," she sighs, "Don't trouble yourselves further..."

"What's this?" exclaims one of the ushers, who has wandered a bit far afield and is searching nooks and crannies with his lamp, "This isn't jewelry, is it?" He holds up an object in the beam of light, which glistens off a flat, coppery object spattered with dots of color, a splash of blood at one end.

Richard elbows Rashida frantically, apparently forgetting her divine status. "Lady Massri.. that's one of Clousuk's scales!"

Ralph smiles and sighs softly, that was pretty hard to argue with. An unruly strand of her hair threatens to interfere with Cassie's view of the Opera so he tucks it in behind her ear as he whispers.

Speaking of other dames, and living reminds Ralph that, despite how easy it is to get carried away by his date, he can't focus on her entirely. He needed to keep an eye on the Princess and the others.

There was Alyce too, she'd seemed quite eager to meet Cassie, but kept almost entirely to herself. He supposed that was the polite thing to do during the opera, but it must be nearly finished now. Leaning away from Cassie slightly he puts a hand on Alyce's arm talking quietly to her "Kit, ya doin awright? I ain't mean ta leave ya out nor nottin."

Alyce perches rigidly at the end of the fainting couch, squeezed in next to Squirrel on the other side of Lady DuSollier, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. I feel like a party crasher, she thinks, looking sideways in some awe at the glamorous Princess and her intimidating escort.

She gives her head a timid shake when Drake has the waiter offer around cake and whipped cream, the ache in her mending bones taking away her appetite. I wish it were over and the Tesla field were down so I could go home. Then Drake moves into the shadows and Alyce can hear whispered conversation. Must be bodyguards.

When Squirrel takes a break from cuddling with Lady DuSollier to talk to her, she nods. "I'm fine, Squirrel. Just watching the opera," she lies, being only marginally aware of the action on the stage.

At Drake producing a whole bottle of Rum, Ysillith does give forth a throaty chuckle in obvious appreciation, the item also disappearing into one of the possibly many voluminous pockets of her great coat.

"Wonderful stuff, luv. I'll be sampling thiis later once we've all retired safe an' sound back on the ship..." Her dark, amber eyes rest for a moment upon Drake as she smiles and he can see a faint green sheen glimmer there. Some strange effect of the Satyxis nature becoming more evident in the darkness. Before Ysillith returns to watching the environs for trouble.

"Here...Rashida's slipped out..." She brings the Princes' empty booth to Drake's attention.

Rashida glares unnoticed at Richard, who rushes forward to take the scale from the befuddled usher. "I must have dropped it in the carriage," she says to the head usher, "Dismiss your staff. I will return to the opera." He nods and they return to their duties.

As the ushers disperse, some still looking around the carpet in hopes of glimpsing gold, Rashida joins Richard, who is kneeling in the little alcove by the steam pipe where the scale was found. "Yes, this is perfect. He could squeak right in here and see the atrium floor beautifully," Richard murmurs, "But where from here? This scale did not fall off, it was wrenched out... I wonder."

Rashida nods. "Breadcrumbs, do you think? That must be painful. He must be in trouble. Not much to do but try to pick up the trail. We didn't notice any coming up the main stairs. We should look more toward the back, see if there are any utility stairs or passages."

To her surprise, the trail leads not to any stairway, but to a utility closet, where there is no sign of any kobold. Mystified, Rashida and Richard search the little room, finally finding a clever latch that releases a wall panel and gives access to the maintenance passages of the marvelous mechanical theater. Richard plunges in and, when he discovers another scale, dashes onward in excitement. Rashida sighs, gathers up the train and stole of her gown, wraps it over one arm, and slips into the darkness behind the man as they slip through the catwalks and down spiral stairs.

I don't like this one bit, she thinks, We must be near to behind the League box by now. Hearing the distinct and patterned rattling even more clearly than before on a nearby steam pipe, she stops, lays her hand on it, and starts tapping her ring on the metal. "Richard! Don't go too far!" she calls to her escort.

She dimly hears the strains of music that is not the Master's as the fifth scene opens.

Drake winks at Ysillith, "I took a wild guess." He chuckles then smiles heartily as he sees the sheen in her eyes. Too soon his attention is turned to the Massri's seats and a brow lifts, "Is this a matter we should attend or something to acknowledge?" He asks uncertain if it is of a big interest to whatever is going on here.

The opera has been one of note. The technological advancements of the Clockwork Theater had been particularly spectacular this evening. Everyone waited breathlessly as the final scene of Mozart's classic unfolds.

Don Giovanni Act 2, Scene 5: Elvira appears, saying that she no longer feels resentment for Giovanni, only pity. ("L'ultima prova dell'amor mio" – "The final proof of my love"). Surprised by her lack of hatred, Giovanni asks what it is that she wants, and she begs him to change his life. Giovanni taunts her and then turns away, praising wine and women as the "support and glory of humankind" (sostegno e gloria d'umanità). Hurt and angered, Elvira gives up and leaves. A moment later, her scream is heard from outside the walls of the palace, and she returns only to flee through another door. Giovanni orders Leporello to see what has upset her; upon peering outside, the servant also cries out, and runs back into the room, stammering that the statue has appeared as promised. An ominous knocking sounds at the door. Leporello, paralyzed by fear, cannot answer it, so Giovanni opens it himself, revealing...

...nothing anyone expected. The final scene was supposed to end when a statue of the murdered Commandare came to force Don Giovanni to change his ways or be dragged to damnation. The figure that strutted onto the stage was not the statue of the Commandare. It was tall and muscular. Long flowing black hair and with a soft down of blue fur covering every inch of its body. Solid white eyes surveyed the stunned audience as it completely ignored the just as startled performers on the stage. Seeing what it - no, he - wanted, the figure smiled broadly.

Turning to the performer that played the opera's title character, the blue-colored humanoid said in a deep mocking voice that carried well with the acoustics of the theater, "I am sure not to be the only one here who thinks that your baritone was inadequate to ever capture the true feelings of one who commits atrocities without remorse. You really have to use one's throat."

Still smiling with perfectly white teeth, the figure moved to stand next to the trembling singer.

"Here, allow me to show you how to use your throat."

With out any hurried motion the blue-furred humanoid casually reached up with a clawed hand and tore off the man's throat. Red blood sprayed briefly as the man's jugulars emptied his lifeblood in a torrent that subsided quickly. Screaming erupted from the performers who knew this shouldn't be happening after only a brief moment of shock. The audience was still unsure if this was just another part of the performance.

"Aw! Now that's how the end of a truly horrendous rendition of Don Giovanni should be done. After all, if one really wanted to show how to debase our fellow lifeforms in word and deed, they should have asked me to sing," the figure said as he turned to look up into the boxes fixing Cassie with a direct look.

"Wouldn't you agree...?"

"...Cassandra DuSollier?" Wowbagger says with a perfectly white toothed smile that almost looks benign. The white eyes however display an arrogance, a terrifying alien disregard for life in any form.

A blue extraterrestrial last seen at Von Ryuko's party on the island, a known assassin who escaped before he could be brought to any sort of justice.

Wowbagger the Cosmic Insulter stands ready to collect the assassin's bounty.

The change that comes over Ysillith is subtle. A slight shifting of balance, a change in her breathing, her eyes initially looking only to the fresh crimson stain spreading across the stage. Her eyes tracing it back to the blue furred creature and thence to said creatures eyes. One pale white Satyxan hand instinctively clutching at a hip where a sword hilt is not currently kept, while her other reaches for a pistol not sheathed at her other side.

"Ooooo...Yeeesssss...." She breathes. For the first time something like excitement and animation being heard in her voice. Then she realizes that her usual array of 'toys' are not upon her person and her hands deftly move, one into the pockets of her jacket, the other to the metallic/plaited belt snugly wrapped about her waist.

"Now we gon'a have us some FUN." She purrs, stepping forwards.

"Ma'am?" And it is not clear whether she's talking to Cassie, the Princess or both. "I think it be very much time we made motions t' engage..." Her eyes now beginning to drift, though always keeping the blue creature in her peripheral vision.

"Any one got a name fer that, by th' by?" She adds casually.

Alyce sat in shock as the tenor of the opera changed, uncertain if it was normal or not. As the... thing onstage spoke the name of her idol, she became certain it was all real.

Then from out of the shadows came a familiar voice with an odd accent, green eyes glowing in the dimness at the back of the box. It hit her then... the monster worked for Cassie. Cassie wanted her dead. The thing onstage wanted Cassie dead, but that didn't mean it would save her.

Everyone's attention was on the stage, the air sprinkled with the screams of the performers. It was time to go. She slipped to the floor and, all prey animal instinct, slunk to the curtain separating the box from the corridor, and out. She didn't know if the Tesla field was down or not, but by God, she was going to find out.

A spike heeled boot comes down in front of Alyce face. "No ye don't. Safer here with every one else, lass." Ysillith simply steps in-front of the squirming girl as the youngster tries to sneak away. "Hey, Squirrel? Ye should be keepin' a better eye on folks. Don't want t'have t'chase stragglers all over th' place now, do we?" She asks Ralph.

Ysilith's only got partial attention on the big galoot on stage. Everything be a threat now...

Ralph shifts some of his attention away from Wowbagger looking to Cassie, wondering just what in the world this blue thing was and why it knew her. Alyce starting to slip away caught his attention he's just about to stop her when Ysillith stuck a boot in her face. "Git yer foot outta her face. Kit's fine, da one ya should be wurryin 'bout is dat blue ting down dere. An' since he ain't seem ta be runnin y'ain't need ta chase nottin. Can't ya see she's terrified? Dat blue ting's prolly da mons'er whut 'tacked her in da vent. How bout ya focus on de actual tret onna stage, an' not an innocent girl dat's jus' tryin ta hide from da ting? keep dat fuzzy wuzzy away from Minx, I cin make shure Kit don't git hurt." He looks towards Ysiliith and adds "Or do ya need me ta take care o' fuzzy for ya?"

Ysillith's eyes haven't stopped looking for threats.

People moving along balconies. Snipers scaling into the rafters. Soft clouds moving against the darkened background.

Her ears haven't stopped listening for threats.

The sound of booted feet tromping in quick time along corridors. The adjusted, muted sound of air being blocked in vents as things move about inside dark places. The subtle change in the mechankia sounds of the theater around them.

This was conflict. This was combat. Every fiber of Ysillith's being hyped up and wired for action. She smiles, sparing but the smallest glance down at Alyce and then across at Ralph.

"By all means, luv. Take it away..." She cajoles Squirrel, indicating the blue fuzzy on stage with a tilt of her head. The hand at her belt moves subtly and there's a click, even as a much shortened but vaguely familiar brass device is pulled from an inner coat pocket.

"Might want to make it quick, though. Afore ye lose its attention." She offers Squirrel the barest of winks. She still does not let Alyce escape. Not... just... yet...

Drake watches the blue creature with little expression almost as if he is watching a dissection of a cadaver which is least to say a trained one which few could see behind. If anyone dared to pry open his mind to find out what really was going on there it would be of a person sickened yet pulled back out of the realm to ignore the base urges of revulsion and anger.

He walks out to where Ysillith is and looks at Alice, "Looks like you found a foe on stage." He motions with his chin to the stage, "Go on." He says to Ysillith showing he will take care of the youngster by putting out his hand for her, "Common. It is dangerous out there and no reason in here to hurt you. I will care after you with my life." Drake gives Alice a look with his deep brown eyes which has care written inside them.

Alyce curls up into a ball, sitting huddled on the floor with her back against the wall. "I want to go home," she whispers.

Drake kneels down with Alice and motions for Ysillith to leave this to him. He puts his hand on a shoulder and gives her a sympathetic look, "I'm sure a lot of us want to go home right now but you are a brave girl and I know we can get through this. How about we get through it together?"

"Well that most certainly was not the ending I came here for," Alexia muses calmly, seemingly oblivious to the reality of the violence they had just witnessed. "But I am afraid it will have to do. I am on a very tight schedule." Delicately placing her wineglass on her seat's armrest, she lifts herself off her seat and offers her hand to Darkov, who takes it without hesitation. "It was a pleasure, Cassandra. Perhaps we can do this again sometime. "

Alyce struggles to her feet and looks pleadingly at the Princess and Darkov. "Take me with you, please! I want to get out of here."

The rattling in the pipe stops, but so does the music, dying away to near-silence before the cries of dismay start.

"Richard, I don't recall Don Giovanni being quite so, um, screamy, do you? At least not without music."

Ysillith frowns, though she begins to move towards the front of the booth,

"That's either a very good idea...Or a very bad one, luv." She spares the Princess one glance, before returning her attention to the blue fuzzy cavorting about on stage and the patrons who are scampering and fleeing from said presence.

The opera was beautiful, even the melancholic echoes of the past reminded her of enjoyable times. The danger of the Princess added a frisson of risk and excitement, unexpected. Music rolls over her and the alcohol warms her inside whilst Ralph her outside. Looking across to Alyce; 'She seems like a lovely girl, I should know her better. Maybe talk to Rashida too.'

As it starts to reach it's climax, Cassie hopes that maybe the Duchess will sing. There had been a rumour, it would be the perfect end to a wonderful night.

Then it all changes...

He walks out on stage.

The Hunter.

The Stalker.

Many had tried to kill her, but he had almost got her to destroy herself. It was as if he knew her weaknesses, her heart thuds against her chest she can hardly breath.

Half rising from the couch she is illuminated it the spot-light, as it swings into view. The shocked eyes of the audience, focus upon her and the figure on stage. Silently judging.

Too much of the past comes back to her, painful memories; the world tumbles around her.

She stays there transfixed, the figure on stage, the memories of the past....of him. How she has failed those she wished to help now another life has been torn apart, the blame laid at her feet with the aliens words. 'So much blood on my hands, yet I've never killed anyone'

The chaos in the box itself, threats and recriminations. Young Alyce suddenly so afeared of Cassie, crawling away.

She must act, but there is a gnawing fear. The deep dark ball of pain in the base of Cassie stomach, crafted over years of instruction in her youth.

'Caution, always caution, Miss Cassie.' the words of her instructor are sharp in her ears, punctuated by the sting of pain. 'You will fulfill your potential and birth-rite. Our prophet Nostradameus, fortold it. But you must train harder than this.'

Sweat drips down the young girls back as under the strict tutelage, she has to perform harder. The mixture of pride and humiliation as she knows she cannot accurately complete the tasks but must or face the consequences.

"Wowbagger! Stop this!" she calls never once taking her eyes from the creature.

Reaching down for her clutch bag her fingers cannot find it, long fingers pat upon the carpet whilst the rest of her body is held rigid. However the clutch seems not to be where it was left.

As they Princess leaves in Cassie's peripheral vision Cassie sees a twinkle of enjoyment in his eyes. She realises General Darkov, he isn't quite fully under the Princesses control anymore...

"Oh, merciful heavens!" Eleanor gasps as she clings to Vorian's arm in terror. "Goodness gracious!"

Wowbagger! Vorian stands up abruptly with great difficulty, knocking his wineglass to the floor. The sound of it shattering into hundreds of pieces is drowned out by the screaming down below. His initially do not move from the assassin, who he had not seen since Von Ryuko's party. What is he doing here...? Did the Baron send him?

"And where is Ingilstadt?" he asks quietly, his eyes darting through the audience. Wherever Wowbagger went, his apprentice had surely followed. Wary of this thought, Vorian reaches for his cane, gritting his teeth anxiously.

Ralph doesn't look very pleased as Ysillith tells him to take the blue thing. When Drake comes over and insists he'll take care of Alice instead, Ralph shrugs "Awright Chuck if yer set on lookin after Kit. I guess I'll go say hi ta fuzzy, sounds like he's too much fer Cap'n."

He moves forward in the box towards the blue being "Hey blue meanie ya leave my Minx 'lone ya hear? Y'ain't gonna git ta her 'less ya come trough me." He glances towards Cassie as she yells towards the thing on the stage.