It's Dark Inside Dearies { OPEN }

[Nyx]

Nyx was brooding. She had been cooped up in the castle for far too long. Too much time watching plain, boring people walk in and out. No one who mattered, no one to have fun with. She had been on her own for far too long, even Hecate her only friend had been distant lately. She was so bored she thought she might explode so she decided to take a walk. It was an overcast day which proved to be to her liking. The streets were jammed with people hustling and bustling about the market.

As she made her way through the streets the people made a path for her. There was no one who came more than five feet from her. It was subconscious of course, some small part of their psyches that told them to fear her. Some part of their old selves that still remembered how dark and cruel she was. Nyx could laugh at how pathetic they all were now. True, she was technically like them with none of her godly powers remaining. Yes, she could conjure up some simple, plain spells but she was nothing compared to the glory that she once was.The distinction in her and them was that she remembered. She knew and that made all the difference. She tried to stifle a laugh at a street beggar that was once a goddess. They were all so plain now, they were nothing. 

They thought they truly were these plain mortals and that's how she intended to keep it. Maybe not exactly because there was a burning desire to bring her magic back over, but they would remain under her. They would remain the pitiful mortals that they should have been all along. She crossed the threshold of the Agora and stepped inside. She was dissapointed to see it almost empty. The only people milling around where cleaners and random villagers. She sighed in annoyance and made her way to the back of the building. 

It wasn't long ago that Hades held a meeting here and it was packed, she had made a mental note to attend it with him but had forgotten. Now it was her luck that when she did attend it was almost completely empty. There was no one to mess with and cause pain, no one to keep her interested. She leaned back against the row of columns that was along the back wall. The shadows fell almost completely over her body, hiding her in the darkness which is exactly what she preferred. She began looking at her nails absentmindedly while watching the door waiting for someone interesting to come along.  

[Linus]

"STOP HIM!!" a guard yelled as Linus took off running.

Well he almost got away without being caught, it's just he didn't expect that guard to turn when he did. The guard shouldn't of turned around for another minute or so. Why was the guy making such a fuss? The rich guy could afford to lose a few coins. Course Linus would admit he needed to work on his thieving skills when it came to going into homes and then leaving. He was much better at pickpocketing.

It took some doing but he managed to lose them in the market and thus made his way to the Agora. Once there, he let out a sigh of relief. They didn't figure out where he went and that was a good thing. Taking one of the coins out of his pocket, he looked at it. While he was glad that he got it along with the other coin, he really wished that he didn't have to. Placing it back into his pocket, he looked around as he stood there.

[Nyx]

Nyx was growing even more bored. The only people who were milling around could offer her nothing. They feared her and she even spotted a few faces that she had threatened. There was no one new, no one fun. She glanced over her shoulder at a woman who was whispering to another nearby. She couldn't hear the exact words they were saying but she was almost certain she caught the words evil and witch. Good, she thought happily to herself. Her reputation was spreading. That's what she wanted, that was a small taste of the times to come. There would be day where every member in the kingdom knew her name. A time when they would worship her again. She looked back towards the doorway as a man came in. 

He looked to be in a hurry and was clearly out of breath from running. She watched quietly as he pulled a coin from his pocket and looked at it. She watched his face and grinned a little when she realized who it was, Hermes. The old messenger of the Gods seemed to still be up to his being quick ways. She wondered what he had been running from. In the old days before her spell Hermes wouldn't have shown even the slightest bit of friendliness to her. None of them did, they feared her sure. They were all afraid that she would cast the world into darkness, but that fear of her had also meant loneliness. The loneliness was something she adapted to and it eventually became a part of her like the darkness. She pulled her thoughts back to the present and gazed at the man. She wondered what his name was now, what the spell had caused him to be. 

The real question was how was she going to play this? She could turn him in to the authorities which is why she suspected he was running or she could have him carry her things around, yes that would be nice, but surely there was something more. She thought a moment and then tried not to laugh as a thought came to her. She quickly pulled a little plan together in her mind and looked around. She grabbed two boxes that were lying around and put a small spell on them to appear as if they were filled with old plates, a small mirror, and other little market goods. She grabbed them and pretended to be struggling with holding them up. She made her way to Hermes and spoke

" You...there....will you PLEASE help me with these boxes?? I swear I will have my servants head whenever I find out why he left me here to carry them. I will pay you handsomely of course" 

[Linus]

You can't steal forever moron. One of these days they'll actually catch you. Linus thought in his head as he stood there.

At first he didn't notice Nyx, considering he was still catching his breathe. However the voice caught his attention and he turned his gaze to the owner. Wait...wasn't that? Linus didn't sneak into the castle, he never did. But...he felt like he saw Nyx before at some sort of meeting that took place in town. She seemed to be someone important, considering she said she'd have her servant's head. Going over to her, he took the boxes from her.

"You can keep your money, consider it just helping out." Linus told Nyx.

These aren't....really that heavy... Linus thought. Either she's faking something or...she's not really that strong.

[Nyx]

Nyx watched as he grabbed the boxes for her

"You can keep your money, consider it just helping out." 

Nyx waved off what he said " No, no, not at all. You're doing me a service and services must be paid. Could you walk them to the castle with me? " She managed as polite and nice a smile as she could. It was rare that she actually asked someone to do something for her. Normally she just told them, but she wanted to convey a friendly image. At least for the time being. She didn't enjoy asking, but if she told him to do something she had a feeling he wouldn't be very open to sharing things with her. She wanted him to be willing to open up and talk to her. She wanted some information, she wanted to have a little fun. That just wouldn't do if he shut down. 

She ran her hand through her hair and looked around the room. People were staring at the two of them. The room was split between people looking in fear at her and pity on him. She wondered what they were all thinking. She would kill to be able to read minds. She made a mental note to speak to Hecate about a spell. She was always wanting more, always wanting the shadows to take over as much light as she could. 

[Linus]

Linus's eyes widened when she asked if he could come with her to the castle. The castle?! Wait...he...he couldn't go there. For one thing the guards would recognize him and he'd be done for. Plus he was a peasant, going to the castle was off limits.

"I...I can't...can't into the castle..." Linus said shocked. "I'm a peasant. I....I could still...help you out with them but I...I can't go into the castle."

[Nyx]

When he began stuttering about not being able to go into the castle Nyx laughed a little and shook her head as she spoke, " No, no, no my dear of course you're not going to just walk right into the castle. Heavens no. We'll go through the servant's entrance..no one will bother you. You're with me darling." She gave him a smile that was meant to instill trust, but she doubted that it came across that way. Without waiting to see what he said she began walking towards the castle. There was no doubt he was worried about someone there seeing him which would have made her guess of him being a thief correct. 

She almost wished that she could show them their former selves with them not being able to do anything about it. It would be hilarious. She would love to see their faces remember what they used to be and what they were reduced to now. It could never happen of course, it was much too risky, but she could daydream. She wondered what Hermes was thinking, if he knew how dangerous a situation he found himself in. Probably not, he reminded her of a lamb. Completely trusting and unaware it was about to go to the slaughter. 

[Linus]

Well....that made sense, going through the servants entrance. Linus was a person to trust others, however he wasn't foolish enough to trust everyone immediately. The fact that he couldn't place the name of Nyx and what position she held in life, made him unsure if he should place trust in her. So really all he could do was just go along with this, he already made the mistake of offering to help her with these light boxes. It still puzzled him as to why Nyx seemed to have so much trouble with carrying them and to him, they were very light. He wasn't a very strong person.

He nodded his head to show he understood and really there wasn't anything else to say about it.

[Nyx]

Nyx was pleased with herself when she heard his footsteps following her. She really hadn't thought that he wouldn't, but it was always nice to see her wishes met. She glanced over at him and smiled. " So...I suppose you know who I am. Nyx, one of the royal advisers to the great King Hades, but who are you my dear? What is your name?" She wasn't sure if he did actually know who she was but she assumed that everyone did. Hades made the two witches' presence known. She doubted that there were many who hadn't heard of her or Hecate. 

She noticed that he was carrying the boxes with ease and she mentally kicked herself for not making them weigh more. Without her true powers any spells that she did tended to have something do wrong. Usually they were little things, sometimes they were big things. She hadn't quite perfected them yet but it would be all in time. She would soon master them like she mastered everything else. 

[Linus]

SHE WAS WHO?!! Oh great. Now he was doomed. Sure he didn't know Nyx at all but he heard people talking about her, many branding her cruel or a witch. Linus did give people a chance, no matter who they were but...was this wise?

"I....I'm Linus." Linus answered.

Great now I'm really in for it. If she shows me to the guards or soldiers, their bound to recognize me and it's to the dungeon. Linus thought as he walked along.

"I'm no one of...interest or value." Linus added.

In a way that was true. He was peasant but he did steal, and thus he had some value to be turned in for coins to the lucky soul most likely.

[Nyx]

Nyx grinned, so he was Linus now. Well that didn't quite have as much as a ring to it as Hermes, but what could ya do? She smirked a little at how humbled and small he was now. The quick God that everyone was friends with was now just a thief and beggar, it was sad really. Not to her, but she was sure that if anyone else knew they would feel remorse. It was just something that she didn't have, along with morals and decency. She wasn't a fool. She knew what it took to get ahead in this life. 

Whenever he said that he was no one important she shook her head a little " Now, I wouldn't say that. Everyone is important one way or the other." She was so good at playing good, she tried to make her words sounds as genuine in possible when in reality being nice was causing her stomach to tighten." I'm sure you have friends and family who would disagree with that statement." The statement was true though, everyone held value. Without the lowly baker there would be no bread. Without the servants there would be no one to fetch her things. Every life held some sort of value, even if the value was to simply give another...more important life...value. Those were the things they should, and would...if she had any say about...be teaching the classrooms. Not stuff about loving each other and everyone as one. 

[Linus]

If Nyx would recall, Hermes was a thief before being the Messenger of the Gods. It was as if he was just put in reverse before he was the Messenger. A very skilled thief at that, but in this life he was just a simple thief. He mainly pick pocketed, only stole when he was forced to.

"I....I really don't have any family left." Linus said, his parents left and he hadn't seen them for years and thus he didn't know what became of them.

He wouldn't say that Alexia was a friend, he wasn't sure if they were friends yet. Yes he got along with her and there was a good chance they'd be friends. But since this was the Adviser to the King, he wouldn't say it. He didn't want to get Alexia in trouble. She was talking to a lowly thief and she was to be the mistress to the King in four months. Who knows how much trouble he'd be in.

[Nyx]

Nyx raised her eyebrows when he said he had no family left. So no one would miss him if she was to take him? How deliciously wonderful she thought to herself. It was humorous to her to hear him speak so forlornly about his parents. He never had them, most of them didn't. Well...not in the sense they thought at least. Most were from Zeus and Hera or Zeus and someone who he cheated on Hera with like in Hermes' case. They never had any mortal parents who treated them terribly or well. It was just a creation of the fabulous spell. She made a mental note to thank Hecate for making sure there were so many bad memories that she conjured up from them all. 

Getting her attention back to Herm...Linus, She looked at him and couldn't help the small evil smile that spread across her face. " So you're alone?" The question was already answered of course, but she wanted him to say it out loud. She wanted to hear the words as he virtually placed his neck in the noose for her to end. " What do you do then? How do you...support yourself? I noticed you were not a fan of going to the castle so I assume you've never worked there."  

[Linus]

"Uh pretty...pretty much." Linus answered.

He noticed the smile that Nyx held, it did make him uneasy as he followed along. Though he had something to worry about. What did he do? Oh dear....he...he couldn't tell her that he was thief.

"I...I...I try to...to invent things..." Linus said. "Sadly though my..my inventions don't..don't work that great."