Diplomacy [Plot thread: All in plot here.]

[Jazz]

I... can't.

As soon as Jazz managed to choke out (albeit magically) those words, she regretted it. There was no can't. And why was she close to tears, anyway? This wasn't her fault. This was all Claw. She felt exhilarated, energized, as a new surge of fury came over her. She'd trusted, loved, and what happened? Almost been killed multiple times, gone through more sorrow than any lover, been in too many battles - and now she was caught up in an imperial crisis. She stood straighter, gripped her daggers tighter. Now, as scared as she was, she was angry too. More angry than she'd been yesterday. More angry than she'd been in her life. But she deflated slightly, as she expanded on her thoughts. Why had she done it?

The answer was obvious. She knew it, Rose knew it, possibly even Claw knew it. She had to make him remember, even if it was only to save them. I'll try, she told Rose, resigned. She thought for a few seconds, although each moment seemed longer than the next. She'd never felt so alone in her life, even with Rose standing beside her - between Claw and his escape. Because she'd never been through this. But Jazz felt a sudden rush of gratitude towards her old knight mistress, for just being… there for her. “Claw, listen. Please,” she implored, once she had herself under control. Jasmin marveled at how collected she sounded. She was calm, yes, but not collected. Far from it.

But, alas, he didn’t seem to have heard her. He laughed, and she flinched. She no longer felt blind rage, just a mess of other emotions that didn’t help her stay level. She glanced at the people around her – Rose beside her, Sapphire, Wayne, Kirra, and a few others behind her. And – the thought struck her, terrifying – only herself, Sapphire and Kirra were permitted to carry weapons. None of them had much – Jazz couldn’t see a sword or polearm. They had magic but – with Claw in this state, who knows?

"In that case, I will have to make you move."

Jasminai’s eyes followed Claw’s every movement as he approached them. She knew that, without magic, without Claw’s extra powers, in purely normal combat, he was stronger, bigger, more powerful. But Jasmin was quick and agile, and stood a very good chance. But, and what an important but, here the odds were against Jazz. The light around Claw grew until Jazz’s eyes almost smarted, but never once did she look away. This was important. This was more than a lover’s quarrel – this was a whole international, imperial, political crisis, and by Mithros, there couldn’t have been a worse time for Jazz. She felt that, any second, she’d just break down and she would never be Jasminai again. Not the real Jazz.

But then something very strange occurred. He looked at her, which she had been expecting. Their eyes were locked for a second longer, and something there made her find her voice. “No.” Once again, it surprised her how powerful her voice was, when the emotions that ran high would’ve reduced anyone else to a sniveling mess. Her voice was quiet, cool, powerful – but, unlike yesterday, there was actually some feeling in it. Her voice didn’t crack, she didn’t choke on her words – but it was there. “Don’t do this. Don’t make me do this. I don’t want to.”

[Fhire's asking for you guys to withhold from posting still she does, 'cause she doesn't want to miss anything]

[Sapphire]

"Something horrible has happened. The Emperor has been assisnated. I want all of us to return to our rooms and await there for further instructions."

Sapphire half listened to Rose, her mind was in another galaxy. She couldn't quite wrap her head around anything that was happening. She felt cold and scared. She could feel something even more terrible was just on the horizon. Something that might be unfixable.

"No Fhire, I don't think it was Claw. Sure, Claw has been known to act irrationally at times. But he wouldn't do something as irrational as this. It isn't him."

She shook her head, "It can't be, can it? I mean it's just so. I don't know. Not right." She shiverred. This was all starting to go over her head. She had known Claw for ages. And Jazz for even longer. This situation was unlike anything she had ever experianced. And on top of it all The Emperor -Her Emperor- was dead. How could someone so powerful just die?

"Come on. We have some damage control to work out."

She nodded. Damage control was needed. Greatly needed. It could not have been Claw. Never. And they needed to fix this, "Well what do we do?" She pulled at her curls. In the back of her mind the thoughts, 'well at least they are talking to me,' ran through her mind. She shoved them back and focused on Rose and Jazz.

"I think that we ought to split up. Some to the dungeons, and the others to stay here and asses what’s happened.”

"Alright, I think thats logical. Sapphire, Wayne. Will you two stay here to talk to the guards and such? I'll go with Jazz down to the dungeons."

She nodded and looked at Wayne. "Ok, sure. We'll see waht we can do. I also should probably talk to the other delegates. Just to see how they are, um, taking all of this." She didn't really want ot do so. She wanted to cralw back home and curl into a ball and cry. She didn't know where this overwhelming feeling had come from. Exhaustion maybe, disbeleif.

Sapphire trailed off in mid-sentence as an explostion split through the quite conversation. "Oh my. Wow. No, oh gods, "She looked wide eyed as Claw entered the thrown room. She thought she was going to throw up. This was bad, very, very bad. This was going to be a terrible thing. She bit her lip and stared at Claw. She had never really seen the demon inside of him. Now it was exposed and she couldn't take it.

"Get out of the way! MOVE!"

She stood still, unable to move from fear. She should have been helping Jazz and Rose, but all she could do was stare at Claw in disbelief. This was all wrong. She watched mutely as Jazz stood between Claw and the Tortallans and Jazz and Rose trying to reason with him and him starting towards Jazz. And Jazz, Jasminai, who must have been going through hell, speaking so calmly to Claw. She watched with tears in her eyes as the scene played out. Unable to say anything, unable to do anything, just watch, in terror and disbelief as her world started to unravel. She looked at Jazz, so calm, and Rose, rational as ever, and at Claw, evil which shone in his eyes. She couldn't let this happen, she couldn't let Jazz face this alone, she couldn't let Rose be the only one holding it together, and she couldn't let Claw do whatever he was about he was about to do. She looked at Jazz, "I have an idea, if it helps," She whispered, she repeated it magically and hoped like hell that she wouldn't have to resort to what she was thinking.

((Sorry for the oh-so-mary-sueish-drama-drama-post, I am in a very dramatic mood, listening to depressing music on my computer and *trying* to straighten my hair, which happens to very hard with my brother making faces in the mirror and pretending to be the vocals to whichever depressing song I am on at the moment.))

[Claw]

“Claw, listen. Please, no. Don’t do this. Don’t make me do this. I don’t want to.”

Claw heard. And it was probably a bad thing that he did. Rather than calming him down the words infuriated him. It was clearly a struggle for him to continue walking in a straight line. His muscles went taught, veins bulged, and his eyes narrowed.

"Oh, I'll listen. As well as you listened in the market!"

He fists gripped so tightly that the crystal gauntlets made a strange cricking sound from the pressure he was putting on them. His footfalls began to get heavier, as did his breathing and he seemed to grow bigger with the aura of power that was now rolling off him. His magic was clearly visible as a dark glow building around him. His magic was changing colour to that of his twins. Through their link power was draining from the imprisoned Baelinicus, and building up in Claw. Amber and black emanated from Claws eyes and person in spirals, sending out tendrils which grabbed at anything within reach.

He began to run, the aura manifesting into a transparent shield of whirling colours. His momentum built up within seconds, but his eyes fell onto Jazz and didn't leave them. His mindlink was wide open and through it a mess of emotions were clouding his thought. He appeared to only be using emotions to think with.

And then it became apparent he was growing. The power which had just appeared to making him grow through his emotions transferred it into actual growth. He had reached eight feet tall when he suddenly flew into a flying kick straight at Sapphire. And although his emotions were clouded, he still had all the fighting skill of a shang warrior.

[Sapphire]

Sapphire stared at Claw in horror. She shiverred and looked at Jazz, "Ok, I am going to do something that might end up being stupid." She looked at Claw, growing bigger, his magic changing and looked at Jazz, she took a deep breathe and thought about what she was about to do. The kind of magic she was thinking of was scary, especially with her so exhausted. She started towards Claw. The look in his eyes scared her som much. She wanted to run far away and let other people deal with this. But in a wierd way she felt responsible for what was happening. And she wasn't about to let him hurt her friends.

She looked at him and let go of all fear. She opened her mouth and started to sing. She watched as Claw got greater and more powerful and she knew what was going to happen. She took a step and got hit. The kick held such a volocity that she had was thrown back. A pain seared through her as she flew back into the wall. She could feel the world going black. She groaned and looked over at the man who she had healed, the man who had just attacked her, looked at his evil eyes and felt hate and hurt and confusion. This was not Claw. This was something bigger than him, bigger than all of then. She looked over at Jazz and prayed to the Gods that he wouldn't hurt her.

She could feel such pain running through her body. She shot her friends and the frightening person that stood in front of her a last look. Her world became black.

[Jazz]

"I have an idea, if it helps."

Jasmin slowly shook her head, her eyes still on Claw. Sapphire, no. Wait, she said, adjusting her grip on her weapons. She knew that Sapphire was a powerful mage, but she didn't know what was happening. Skill, power - it wasn't enough. Her stance too, was ready. She sttod balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to move if the situation called for it. And Fhire, Fhire wasn't a fighter. She wasn't a warrior. Magic was nigh useless, and how could she defend herself?

"Oh, I'll listen. As well as you listened in the market!"

It was as if he'd slapped her across the face. She was rendered speechless, for the moment at least. What on earth? jasmin knew she'd overreacted slightly, but her reaction to needless violence wouldn't have been that different, even if Jazz hadn't been going through heartbreak. There had been nothing to listen to. An arguement, yes, a heated fight. But it wasn't as if Jazz hadn't listened. He hadn't listened to her. Just attacked her with a godsdamned blunt sword. And he was... growing? She found couldn't break eye-contact, and something was going to happen. She was scared stiff, but she stood straight and ready.

"OK, I am going to do something that might end up being stupid."

"Sapphire! No, don't - " Jazz wrenched her eyes away from Claw, as she called out to Sapphire. Sapphire didn't heed Jasmin's words, or she didn't hear them. Whichever one, it happened all too fast, much too fast. Fhire sang, and Claw kicked out - it took all of Jazz's self control to stop herself from running to the fallen delegate. "Kirra, please do what you can for Sapphire," she said, her voice not willing to be argued with. This was getting out of hand - Kirra didn't have any magic, and normal fighting skills weren't going to help them now.

She stepped two strides to her right, so that she was directly in between Sapphire and Claw. What irony. "And what exactly was I meant to listen to?" she asked. Her voice was still controlled as ever, although her vunerability and fear showed in her face. "A stranger that attacks me with a blunt sword?" It hurt to say, but it had to be said.

[Rose]

I...can't. I'll try. came Jazz's soft reply.

Rose nodded her encouragement to her friend.

I'm right here Jazz. I'm not taking one step away from you.

Rose thought away while Jazz tried to reason with Claw. As Tortallans with Yamani heritage, Jazz, Fhire, and Kirra were all allowed to carry weapons of a sort. Wayne, Claw, herself, and those of them who weren't of Yamani heritage were rendered somewhat defensless. Sure, Rose had her magic, and she did know how to fight unarmed, but with Claw in his state, how much would magic and unarmed combat help?

"In that case, I will have to make you move."

Rose's eyes narrowed as a strong light enveloped Claws hands, forming into a pair of crystal gauntlets. And his hand...Rose's eyes widened. Black veins? That wasn't right!

“Claw, listen. Please, no. Don’t do this. Don’t make me do this. I don’t want to.”

Jazz's voice struck Rose. She was imploring Claw.

"Claw, knock it off! This isn't you! SNAP OUT OF IT!" she said forcefully.

Her eyes watered against the brilliance of the light emitting from the crystal gauntlets. Then she noticed something else. Claws magic, usually an amber color, was changing into a darker, more black magic. And this magic didn't feel anything like Claws. No, this magic felt evil...pure evil. But its features were exactly like Claws magic...just more twisted than usual. And there was only one other person who would have magic similar to Claws, just more twisted. She'd recently dealt with this person, and the memory wasn't exactly pleasent.

"Bael." she whispered. "Goddess help us its him."

"No. NO. It can't be. He's imprisoned. He's dead!! I helped lock him up myself, with 6 other mages!! He can't be getting loose! Even if Cynthia found a way to free him, his magic shouldn't be this powerful so fast!"

Claw began to grow, and then spun around so fast and landed a kick at Sapphire, striking her. Sapphire, who had been singing, was thrown. Rose tried to throw up a wall of magic, but missed. She shook with fury. It was distracting her!

Focus Roseanna! she told herself forcefully.

"And what exactly was I meant to listen to? A stranger that attacks me with a blunt sword?"

Rose stood, ready to shapeshift or move into a fighting stance if needed. She tried locating the source of Bael's magic, but was having difficulty doing so.

Keep him busy long enough so that I can find the source of his power Jazz. she told her friend.

[Claw]

Claws face contorted further, and another plan of action appeared in his destructive mind. A smile flitted across his face, and he darted forwards, his speed aided by a mix of magic, and his hand shot out and grabbed Fhire, before he flipped back to his other place. He carried her over both arms, but the seemingly gentle way he held her decieved how twisted his plan was.

"Simple. You move, or Sapphire here dies. All I have to is clap my hands."

He laid a quick spell over her which kept her unconcious, and he smiled. He had the situation under control now.

"So. You go too near me and 'snap'. Maybe it'll be a broken back, or neck. Whatever, it is, it'll be painful. I could break her limbs one by one. Whats your choice?"

His voice sounded cold and empty, and a smile flicked over Claws face and stayed there. He looked down at Sapphire, then back at the group. Only a slight flicker of Claws mind could sense what he was doing, but was overpowered by the storming emotions.

"Now, move."

[Jazz]

Keep him busy long enough so that I can find the source of his power Jazz.

Jazz nodded slightly, but she was sure that Rose saw her. She didn't want to use the magical cord - the taint of evil through Claw's link, the strongest link she had, was too great. She had to concentrate. The sudden revelation about Claw/Bael's magic made her feel slightly sick. She would help Rose do her job. "Right, so we all know it's my fault, then. So, you go and hurt Sapphire. Where is the logic in that?" she asked increduolously. "I don't see it."

"Simple. You move, or Sapphire here dies. All I have to is clap my hands. So. You go too near me and 'snap'. Maybe it'll be a broken back, or neck. Whatever, it is, it'll be painful. I could break her limbs one by one. Whats your choice? Now, move."

Jasminai had stood carefully still throughout Claw's little demonstration. She shoved back the tears hat were treatening to come more than ever, the fear that made her want to collapse, and the feeling of the magical connection between the two of them. Jasmin felt sick, light-headed. She wanted to stand her ground, dare him to do it - but she knew he would. And the image of Sapphire, helpless and unconcious, wouldn't dissappear, no matter how hard she tried.

Taking a deep breath, she let the daggers in her hands fall to the ground. The usualy soft clinks sounded deafening, clattering, in the silence of the hall. She had others. Then, Jazz took a careful, measured step backwards. Just one. The magic, growing more powerful, made her feel nautious. She felt furious again, angry. Sapphire, yes, she'd hurt Jasmin, but she was Sapphire. And she shouldn't have been mixed up in this. Rose and Jazz, yes, they'd been through this for years. For fourteen years. But Fhire, really, shouldn't have had to be affected.

"Who are you?" Her voice grew stronger, aware of Rose's plans, but more overcome by angry and injury than anything else.. "What's she ever done to you? Put her down, Claw. Or whoever you are, actually, because you aren't Claw. I don't know you anymore." She had half a mind to shift and attack him, but that would only get her and Fhire killed. She was at a loss, a rare moment in her life. She could only keep talking, in hope.

[Rose]

"Simple. You move, or Sapphire here dies. All I have to is clap my hands."

Rose locked eyes with Claw, her amethyst ones looking straight into his amber blackish ones. She had to find the link. Where was the link? She couldn't allow Sapphire to die, wouldn't even think of it. Yet if they didn't move, Claw would surely do something to make them. And there was only so much one could do with magic.

"So. You go too near me and 'snap'. Maybe it'll be a broken back, or neck. Whatever, it is, it'll be painful. I could break her limbs one by one. Whats your choice?"

Was there a choice? Ok, maybe there was. Move, and let Claw pass and get Sapphire back safely, or stand there and watch Claw kill Sapphire. None of the two choices appealed to Rose very much. She had to find that link...she could try a quick magical wall to protect Sapphire, but she'd need more than just her own magic...both Claw and his twin were very powerful apart from each other, but with both of their magics mingling, that'd make just one of them double the trouble.

"Who are you? What's she ever done to you? Put her down, Claw. Or whoever you are, actually, because you aren't Claw. I don't know you anymore."

"Fhire has done nothing but help you out of tight spots Claw. Fight this for her. She's done so much good for you, healing you, listening to you, but most importantly, just being a friend. Don't do this to her. Don't let her down." she said, all the while searching for a link. It had to be there somewhere...she took another deep breath and looked directly into the light of the crystal gauntlets. Maybe the answer lay within them.

Light seared her eyes, and her eyes began to water and sting. But she had to find that link, find a way to force Bael's magic away from Claw for the time being until they could figure out what else to do.

Jazz, I could trying pulling Sapphire over to us. I have an idea of how to bind Bael's magic for the moment, but it's to risky having Sapphire in his hands. We need to compromise with him somehow so that we can get Fhire away. she said.

[Wayne]

||ooc: Sorry, I've missed way too much. Iff....I'm shortening this post.||

Wayne nodded in response to Claw's desicion to head in first. He didn't know what was going on with Claw, but quite obviously, he was avoiding someone. He looked at the arrivals from the corner of his eyes. Who would he avoid out of Sapphire, Sirri, and Jazz?

Suddenly, Claw was dragged out. He froze, unable to move. Rose and Fhire got into the room and came back out, faces grim.

"Something horrible has happened. The Emperor has been assisnated. I want all of us to return to our rooms and await there for further instructions."

Wayne was silent, completely shaken. What could he do now? He watched all of the other events occur at a lightning pace. His fingers grew cold. What was happening? It was his worst fear come to life. Something dreadful was happening, and he couldn't do anything.

An explosion was heard and Claw ran into the main hall.

"Get out of the way! MOVE!"

A lot of stuff happened, much of what he couldn't detect. Magic was a weak point for him, seeing as Wayne didn't have the Gift. Suddenly, Sapphire was in his hands. about to die from his threat.

"Simple. You move, or Sapphire here dies. All I have to is clap my hands."

Wayne sighed. His quick thinking came up with nothing. He had no magic; he was weaponless. And he was facing something inhuman, something that wasn't Claw.

[Claw]

"Not moving. Well then, let me give you a warning."

Ina swift movement one of Claws hands reached out and grabbed Fhires leg. A moment later and with a sickening crack it hung at an odd angle. And then he reached out with his other hand and settled it around Fhires neck, bonding it there with magic. A smile spread across his face as he watched them.

"And so, with that, the stakes have been upped. Any attempt to remove my hand And I will simply close my fist, killing her instantly. If I even feel any magic from any of you I will kill her. Poor Fhire... she must be in so much pain right now. And how would all of you feel if she died? Me, I'm indifferent. But I doubt any of you feel the same way."

And then, for a single sickening moment it became apparent the full extent of Claws madness. For in it, just for a second, his face mirrored Baelinicus'. Bael himself was trapped, having his magic drained by his brother, but unable to change Claws situation (though not for lack of trying.). Which meant that this was just Claw, and his mind slowly slipping into the depths of evil from whence Bael came from.

When Fhires leg broke the black vines on his arm grew larger, coiling up his arm. He smiled at them, face showing emotion for one of the first times.

"Do you like them? Its a side affect of my twins magic. Depending on how grim the situation is, they grow and shrink. Needless to say, they haven't been doing much shrinking lately. But enough talk. Move. And if I am forced to escape with Fhire, well, so be it."

[Rose]

"Not moving. Well then, let me give you a warning."

A sickening crack filled the air, and Sapphires leg stuck out at an odd angle. Rose's mind screamed with frustration. Claw always did that to her, made her frusturated when he became like this. Then everything changed. Claws hand moved from Sapphire's leg up to her neck.

"And so, with that, the stakes have been upped. Any attempt to remove my hand And I will simply close my fist, killing her instantly. If I even feel any magic from any of you I will kill her. Poor Fhire... she must be in so much pain right now. And how would all of you feel if she died? Me, I'm indifferent. But I doubt any of you feel the same way."

Rose froze with the magic that she was doing. She couldn't have Claw hurting Sapphire anymore. It just wouldn't work for her. She sighed and pulled her magic back in to her. She sighed. She had to give up this fight...again. But only to save Sapphire's life. She'd have to let Claw get out of the palace and then they'd go from there. She sucked in a breath as the black vines on his arm grew longer.

"Do you like them? Its a side affect of my twins magic. Depending on how grim the situation is, they grow and shrink. Needless to say, they haven't been doing much shrinking lately. But enough talk. Move. And if I am forced to escape with Fhire, well, so be it."

"No, I think they're disgusting looking. And I'll move. But I want you to lay Sapphire down on the side. Then I'll move and let you out. Now doesn't that sound like a fair compromise?" she said politely. Inside, she was screaming at him.

This sucks Jazz. I can't do any magic without him feeling it and risking Sapphires life.

[Jazz]

Any colour that was left in Jasmin's face drained; the black curls that now hung messily around her face contrasted against her now white skin. She stared for a long second at Sapphire, unable to decide. She should try, at least, to stop him... but.... Fhire's life was at stake. And even if she... died... gods forbid... what would they do then? She couldn't just let Sapphire die. No. Each word spoken was like a dagger of reality, tearing up this fantastical peaceful image she had of her life.

And then Claw was... Bael. If she wasn't already pale, she would have blanched. She wasn't scared of him as an individual, but of his abilities. She'd hoped they'd gotten rid of him, although she had known she could never be fully rid of him. But why? Neither Bael nor Claw had a grudge against Sapphire - though both, it seemed, had one against Jasminai. And Jazz, a wildmage, was useless, and Fhire had magic they could use - yet Fhire was the one suffering, and Jazz was standing. I know, Rose. Her voice was sorrowful.

She looked Claw in the eyes, and her voice was harsh and cool. "I am willing to move," she told him, "But how do I know you won't hurt her? Any more, that is?" She almost shivered. "We could move, and you could just kill her for the fun of it. I don't doubt that." The worst thing was that Jazz's words rang true. She didn't. And that was precisely what scared her.

"No, I think they're disgusting looking. And I'll move. But I want you to lay Sapphire down on the side. Then I'll move and let you out. Now doesn't that sound like a fair compromise?"

Jasminai noddded. "And you have my word that we will let you out, if you do." But there was an unanswered question - but one she wouldn't ask aloud. She wondered if the connection would work. She gripped it, and the sick feeling was worse than before. She had to try, though. Can you hear me? she asked him tentatively.

[short. But, meh.]

[Kirra]

Kirra was definitely scared. Not only scared of what Claw was becoming, but that he could vanish so completely so quickly. That this diplomacy was turning into a crisis. She stood there, just staring at Claw as he laughed, and then turned cold.

"In that case, I shall have to make you move."

He was changing. Kirra could see his eyes sparkle with blue fire, and a pair of crystal gauntlets appeared around his hands, sparkling, yet Kirra could still see the network of black lines pulsating underneath. Whatever they were, they were not good.

Kirra just stood there, staring as Claw continued to change, to grow more… distant? evil? with every passing moment.

“Claw, listen. Please. No. Don’t do this. Don’t make me do this. I don’t want to.” Jazz's voice was collected, powerful.

And then Rose. Kirra could only listen. "Claw, knock it off! This isn't you! SNAP OUT OF IT! Bael. Goddess help us its him. No. NO. It can't be. He's imprisoned. He's dead!! I helped lock him up myself, with 6 other mages!! He can't be getting loose! Even if Cynthia found a way to free him, his magic shouldn't be this powerful so fast!"

Kirra blinked slightly. If this was Bael… well, even if he wasn't, it wasn't good, not good at all.

"Oh, I'll listen. As well as you listened in the market!"

At this, Kirra's mind sparked into thinking. What had happened at the market? What happened that could start the spark that set Claw off like this? Kirra, still watching Claw, though it wasn't really Claw any more, saw him growing. Already taller and stronger than the rest, he was know even taller, even stronger, even more powerful.

Kirra could only watch as Sapphire walked forward, singing. Her breath caught in her throat, Kirra could only stand there. No, oh, no, no, no…

"Ok, I am going to do something that might end up being stupid."

"Sapphire! No, don't - "

Kirra could only watch in horror as Claw executed a flying kick. Straight as Sapphire. And still, Kirra could only watch in horror as Sapphire was thrown back, back into the wall with a sickening thud.

"Kirra, please do what you can for Sapphire."

Kirra nodded slightly, sparking out of her stupor. She couldn't do much, she wasn't a healer or a mage, but she would do what she could. Her deep brown eyes were filled with a flurry of emotion. Anger, fear, desperation, but still there was a hint of determination, and perhaps a bit of bravery.

, "And what exactly was I meant to listen to? A stranger that attacks me with a blunt sword?"

Kirra turned around to go to Sapphire, but she hadn't reached her yet when Claw grabbed her. Oh, gods, no. Kirra turned back towards Claw, or the frightening creature he had become.

"Simple. You move, or Sapphire here dies. All I have to is clap my hands. So. You go too near me and 'snap'. Maybe it'll be a broken back, or neck. Whatever, it is, it'll be painful. I could break her limbs one by one. Whats your choice? Now, move."

His voice was empty and cold. Who was this now? But they couldn't let him hurt Sapphire.

"Right, so we all know it's my fault, then. So, you go and hurt Sapphire. Where is the logic in that? I don't see it. Who are you? What's she ever done to you? Put her down, Claw. Or whoever you are, actually, because you aren't Claw. I don't know you anymore."

Kirra's eyes were glistening, and she knew that they had to do whatever they could to get Sapphire back unhurt. Or, really, not anymore hurt. Swallowing, she couldn't pull her eyes away from Fhire's limp body in Claw's hands. The noise as Jazz dropped her daggers seemed deafening in the silence that enveloped them.

"Fhire has done nothing but help you out of tight spots Claw. Fight this for her. She's done so much good for you, healing you, listening to you, but most importantly, just being a friend. Don't do this to her. Don't let her down."

And again, Claw's strange, icy voice. "Not moving. Well then, let me give you a warning." Kirra could not move her eyes away from him, even as she saw what he was doing. Just what was happening to him? It happened with a sickening crack, and suddenly Sapphire's leg was hanging at a bizarre angle. How can this be happening?

She watched as he moved his arm to her neck, continuing, "And so, with that, the stakes have been upped. Any attempt to remove my hand And I will simply close my fist, killing her instantly. If I even feel any magic from any of you I will kill her. Poor Fhire... she must be in so much pain right now. And how would all of you feel if she died? Me, I'm indifferent. But I doubt any of you feel the same way."

Kirra watched as the black vines coiled up his arms. Larger, not good. "Do you like them? Its a side affect of my twins magic. Depending on how grim the situation is, they grow and shrink. Needless to say, they haven't been doing much shrinking lately. But enough talk. Move. And if I am forced to escape with Fhire, well, so be it."

Kirra closed her eyes momentarily, collecting herself slightly. In this situation, she was helpless. She could do nothing. She was fighting tears, and not only for Fhire. It frustrated her that she couldn't do anything. She was frightened, but she would stay.

"No, I think they're disgusting looking. And I'll move. But I want you to lay Sapphire down on the side. Then I'll move and let you out. Now doesn't that sound like a fair compromise?"

"I am willing to move, but how do I know you won't hurt her? Any more, that is? We could move, and you could just kill her for the fun of it. I don't doubt that." Nods. "And you have my word that we will let you out, if you do."

Kirra nodded. She would also move. Speaking softly, but loud enough that everyone could hear her, she also spoke, although her voice trembled. "I will move, if you leave Sapphire safe."

[Claw]

"Hmmm... tis a tempting offer. But I think I'll pass. See you."

He laughed maniacally, and winked at them all. It was not a friendly wink. It was a 'I'm going to kill you all later' wink. And with that, he bent his knees, and lept into the air. A shockwave blasted from his feet, and the ground rippled outwards. Claw shot into the air, still carrying Sapphire over his arms as he pummelled through the floors of the Emperors Palace, rocketing into the open air. He soared of the Islands, an energy shield bulding around him. It protected the unconcious woman in his arms. In seconds he was gone.

He landed in Port Caynn, and ran off into the maze of streets, carrying Fhire with him. He needed to meet somone and there was nothing on the face of the Earth that could stop him...