::Black Abyss::

[Mara]

The room was not a room, but a hole. A narrow void where things of little importance where stored etc etc. It was dark. Damp, and the stench of sweat hung in the air like clammy hands against clean skin.
The night was thick in here, the cellars where feet hadn't trodden for many moons where coated in a layer of dusk, so thick it gave the illusion of a grey carpet grappling with the wine bottles, groping the floorboards, touching the night.
In this room, hidden from the Grey companions, in the shadows swelling with hidden secrets a woman made her way.

A hand, punched through a wall of black shadows and hung there, clenching and unclenching to sample the space it had found. Then, slowly but surely like a babe squeezing from the womb, the woman touched the light.
Candle light from lanterns, old and tired, swayed against a blue mass. Veils dyed blue shades where draped across the female like a thick robe, covering her hands, feet and all behind the layers. Behind the white and blue mask, her head shifted from side to side. Trying to understand where she stood.

It came to Mara in a flash. Fingers traced glyphs in the dust as she examined the 50 year old wines. She had not been here for a long time, staying away from Glendonite Ruins was like staying away from home. And to her, it felt like home, the strong aroma came like a blessing to her nostrils. Thank heavens She nearly cried, touching the dying lanturns and caressing the shelves.

Mara had been away for what felt like years, sampling life in a the barren lands of the north, doing jobs and getting a name for herself up in the ice capped mountains. But her home had called her back like a tick, and obidiently Mara had caught the first ship to Iscabelore, caught another boat to Bshiloi and then trecked through the forests here, all 900 miles. Of course, she had snuck into the shadows as much as possible for they forced her around like tides, a fast push came when her body seeped into the black abyss and she became faster as she crept in the shadows.

Not by choice did she escape the tides of the shadows but more, because everyone needs fresh air.
Mara looked up at the black stair case, wooden steps threatening to fall, an old wooden door with light seeping through like water through a tissue. Mara thanked theb gods for this light. The woman had grown unused to light, but it felt lovely against her mask. Humans take this warmth for granted, complain they can't feel the warmth of slight shafts of light but, Mara laughed at this moment. The warmth radiated around the blue figure like a heavenly caress. "I'm... Home."
A strong but, melodic and gentle voice spoke to the door as if it where a real person.

[Mirage]

Mirage watched the heavily veiled and cloaked person with fascination. She wasn't sure what she was doing in Grey Company territory, but she was there watching this woman from the shadows. The woman also wore a mask. Mirage could see only feline like eyes, golden orbs shining brightly in the dark room. She remained invisible, at one with the darkness. She wasn't really supposed to be here, but she had wanted to see the ruins. "What makes this place home?" Mirage asked, still invisible to the other shade. The elven side of Mirage wondered why she was even talking to the strange woman, but she wanted to, and should also be far away from here. A member of the Queen's Army caught snooping around Gray Company Headquarters could bring about trouble for everyone.

[Mara]

Senses tingled, primed like the rush of fresh autumn leaves. They where on edge due to the very moment. "It seems it was true what they say about snails." Like a ghost, a horror movie in human form the eerie Mara turned. "You push them away. They just wriggle back." Mara took a deep breath as if savoring the scent that repulsed her so.

"I don't know why you'd question my reasons. I should question you. The foul stench of the Royal family writhes on you like maggots on a corpse. Its disgusting, your presence here is unwanted and... You'd best remember that." Though Mara couldn't see whom she spoke to, it was clear in her mind that 1) It was an intruder 2) They where intruding. Two actions which Mara frowned upon.
Her feet paced up and down the room, seeming to look normal - anyone can pace up and down if they so choose. But she was deep within herself, trying to track the female.

Mara could feel the magic against her breath. It was like a twitching worm, a spider writhing. Mara had never had a keen love with the feelings of magic. To her, the oozing palpitations it sent out where like a vile curse.
"Your magic is crude and... Not without faults. It pains me to say that you mean no more to me than a flea biting my backside. Why do your feet carry you to the bowels of this place? A place where you should not grace. Tell me why, with such crude magics, you dare come inside here." Mara spoke matter-of-factly. Pronouncing every word, every syllable to the highest degree of her skills. Her voice was loud, crisp and clear. Reverberating like the beat of the bees wings. Even muffled behind a mask, Mara had to train her voice. To not add to any confusion.

Her feet stopped the center of the room. Fingers, beneath the thick veils mounted one upon the other, where primed. They twitched as if on their own accord, bleached by the shadows. The tips where black - her whole body was ready to dance in the face of darkness and slink into the shadows like an alley cat. Her magic sucked the shadows up into her fingers without leaving a trail. To anyone, this act would be unnoticed - Mara would be mearly standing there. That is of course if her magic didn't have a heavy pulse like the thick music of a lulling bell. It was overbearing, like a thick fog or a dense odor. The near by animals, mice, rats and beetles all fell beneath its charms. Heavy and willed into sleep.
It was beyond Mara's control, the effect it had on smaller creatures. It was no magic to make people sleep, but its taint on the world had such an effect. "Now. Tell me your purpose here and, I will try to make the pain quick. Fail to tell me and... God knows what I Will do..." Mara let a slight chuckle flit into the dark air.

[Mirage]

Mirage fought against the magic. It attacked her body and mind like a thousand knives stabbing her at once. "Please, Stop!" Mirage called out. "I did not mean to intrude," she became visible and walked towards the woman; her teeth gritted against the explosive pain in her mind. "My powers have been acting oddly of late, and I was looking for someone who could help. Ever since Waefae nearly killed me when I assassinated the former king, I've been becoming a wraith, and death personified. No one in the Queen's Army could help, so I thought I'd look here for help. If you want me to go, just ask me to leave, and I will."