The tears came again.

How pathetic. How sad....but they came again. Sneaking upon her in the dead of the night.

She emerged from her covers wrecked with cold sweat and sick on the stomach. And with pain in her backside and feminine core.

Brother Memphis was a cruel lover. He delighted in the flesh overmuch, putting teeth and penial to it in a fury that apparently left many of the women in the Brotherhood quite uninterested in sharing his company of their own free volition, but he seemed to like it even more when they resisted, because then...well most of the women had always tried to steer clear of his lust.

Feeling foolish Ann couldn’t understand why she had sought it out.

Sought out this pain. She felt no better for it. Instead she bleed outside and deep inside remembering how she had always saved herself for Eric. How she had wanted her first to be Eric, even when she had coveted his place at Hovels side. But Eric was gone. She had to move on.

And she needed to dispel this weakness...these tears!

Frustration became her as she stalked across the cold floor of what used to be his living quarters.

She had hoped that having the impression of another upon her would release her from her folly. Her evil thoughts. Her weakness. Her sorrow. Her rage. But if anything she felt them all the more keenly. The rage most of all.

The Mana bloomed, no, it burst alive. The burning sensation of its touch made her gasp as she slammed her arm across the desk. Papers, ink styluses, bottles, the cold cup of coffee, clips and erases crashed to the earth in an unholy chorus of sloshing fluids, and shattering glass. Shuddering she raced around the mess, and snatched up the locket, from where it sat in the mess. In the dim light, glass shards slashed her knuckles as she grasped wildly through a mask of tears.

Not bothering to even look at the locket, she slapped burning black pulsing hands around the chain, and with a furious shout she started to direct the Mana into her hands. The air snapped tight about her sense like she was swimming in molasses.

Dust...I want it all to be dust! I want his memory GONE!

She wanted to be gone too.

Ann pressed her hand to her forehead and screamed through her teeth in frustration.

She couldn’t do it! Why couldn’t she let him go!

Sobbing wildly she collapsed on their floor by his empty bed, and she wept her soul out. Loud, and deep, and without any thing to stop her grief.

Suddenly there was a vibration across her left temple. The metal bell across the room rattled. The sharp ding.

A Summons!?

The distraction saved her from her spiral. Ann quickly dressed, put on her slippers, and tucked away the locket in her pocket, before she glided out of Eric’s room and dashed down the halls. She made haste to the Fifth Foundation.

The Third and Fourth Foundations were utterly clear of any soul, alerting Ann, more than her internal clock, just how late in the hour it was. It couldn’t have been more than one-o-clock in the morning.

Pressing in the buttons to Master Hovels room Sister Ann, wiped at her eyes, and ducked her head in sharp fear as the door closed behind her and the Grand Master appeared sitting deep within his study. She had been in this room countless time over the years.

The room was spacious, and twice the size of Eric’s old room. A giant imposing mahogany desk dominated the cent back of the room, and to the far left and right the walls were adorned with the Symbols of the Scions eye, threaded into tapestry’s and hung from the walls, as if by magic, but she knew it was simply a trick of painting the nails white before they were driven into the concrete.

Sitting about the room were stuffy white cushions, and single thick podium leveled at a slant, so that a giant ancient book, twice the size of any other book, was splayed open in the light. Squiggled words and Alchemic writing adorned pages that were glossy and clean, even though the binding holding the writings of their Creed was thousands of years old.

Silently Hovel beckoned her closer with a wave of his hand.

And Ann obeyed. On habit alone she nearly fell to her knees in supplement to the Savior as she came to stand before his desk. But seeing as her status as an Novice, and her position as Hovels Second Hand had her so twisted and conflicted and confused, she focused more on simply bowing her head, in private hope that the act would obscure her puffy eyes and outlandish emotional thoughts.

“Rise, Novice.” Hovel commanded.

Ann lifted up slowly and she took pains to also blink slowly so that the surprise on his face was well hidden. Even so, the disgusted sound that Hovel made as he looked into her eyes told her that he was not fooled.

The Grand Master was looking decidedly, un-Grand, in that moment. He looked no better than he had been when she had last seem him after they had discovered Eric. His skin that had always been pale, was now more gray, and pasty to the eyes. His golden hair, hung lip on his sweaty forehead, and his cheeks burned with fever spots. He was flushed, and his normally lustrous eyes, looked clouded with fatigue. Never before had Ann been more aware of the Saviors age, then she was in that moment.

Ann took a moment, then she softly asked. “Master are you well?”

The Grand Master, who appeared to be looking over a stack of sheets and ledgers upon his desk gave her a cold snort. “Well?” He bit. “No, I am not well in the least Novice. I have been besieged by an avalanche of stupidity since Eric’s unfortunate demise.”

Ann took a breath as she glanced about at the cluttered desk and softly surmised. “The Counselors have been bombarding you with these ledger requests, haven’t they?”

Hovel growled as he shook his head. “Whom else!” The Alchemists sighed deeply. “You know this is why I have Place Holders Sister Ann. I had Eric and he was very conscientious about keeping these trivial matters away from my desk!” Hovel lifted a sheet, peered at it, then tossed it aside, so that it floated to the ground. “I appointed you to his place as my Second and for the last few days I have seen neither hide nor hair of you!”

Ann licked her lips and looked down. “I’m sorry if I have failed you Master. I have been somewhat overwhelmed with other matters. And I was not aware that you had need of me. I would have been here.”

She knew he had to have heard of her Game with David. As well as the fact that there were others who wanted to play at defeating her. He may even already know about her tryst with Brother Memphis.

She knew he did not care about her struggles, and so she made no move to use them as an excuse.

Hovel didn’t speak, so she continued to look down and speak. “I also much admit that I am somewhat ignorant of what my duties to you as the Second should entail...I never knew that Eric took such liberties in dealing with the Counselors.”

Hovel glared at her now and snapped. “They were liberties I expected of him Novice! I needed him not only to speak in my stead, but to regulate the Counselors when I asked him to. He was the one who handled these ridiculous Ledgers asking for allowances for soap and other amenities. I do not have the time. He was to be the future Grand Master so I appointed his to this work. I expected him to operate without me in his ear.”

Ann was surprised and somewhat annoyed with this. She wanted nothing of catering to the Counselors. She was not a diplomatically minded woman. She cared not to do Hovels paper work for him either. She felt that the Savior should handle such things, it was he who should oversee the inner workings of the Brotherhood.

But this was not her place to say or to think. Instead she inclined her head further.

“I see that Eric took his duties to heart. He was a great man. I fear that I can’t hope to fill the void left in his place, Master, but I will do better. ” Ann eyes stung as she spoke this truth. But her eyes also stung with the realization that perhaps she wanted to fail.

She expected Hovel to express something akin to grief at the loss of Eric.

Hovel only waived aside her sentiment. He righted his glasses in a tired fashion and responded coldly. “No. You won’t be able to fill his place.” The Grand Master turned his eyes back to his desk. His left hand began to tremble as he lifted it from his frames.

But Hovel quickly tightened his fist, hiding the reaction, as he dropped his hand into his lap. “You have neither his skill nor Eric’s experience as an Alchemists to guide you in this attempt Ann. But I have placed in this position beneath me because it is rightfully yours by Succession. I expect you to take to your duties with gusto, as of now.”

Swallowing...and taking a pause Ann glanced up, righted herself and looked into Hovels eyes. “I understand. I will endeavor to make myself more available in whatever capacity you need.” Ann swallowed and stopped closer. “Master...I do have a question. Why haven’t you made any attempts to pass Rites for Eric’s passing? He’s been dead for nearly a week and you know he was a great and loyal Brother.”

“No, he was a fool, much as his father was a fool.” Hovel suddenly snarled, his cool façade cracked by a terrible veneer of condescension and annoyance. “I told him to stay away from that Druid and he did not obey me. He died for his actions. The choices of a fool...and someone I’m ashamed to say I thought I could count on him.”

Ann whispered. “But you would let his memory be made a mockery by not giving his spirit Rites. Do you want everyone to keep believing that he died in disgrace? It was the Bane that killed him not the Abomination and we both know it!”

Hovel glared at her. “Exactly.” He spat back as if this truth were not something he had lied to the rest of the Mana users about.

“He died because of his presumptions, and his foolish pride. He walked into a Den of Gods and told them something they did not want to hear. He died at their hand like the fool he was!! And he will be remembered for that, but the actions of the Bane will not be questioned or spoken of especially by CHILDREN like you who do not understand anything!”

Ann saw a flash of red as her heart jumped into the pits of her stomach.

She and Eric may have grown distant in their later years, but as children Ann had always...understood him. She had always know why he did the things he did, perhaps even when Erich himself did not. She had never know him to act selfishly when it came to Hovel. He had always acted to serve. To please.

And she knew, without a doubt that whatever the reason was Eric had for disobeying the Grand Master, it had been out of care for the Hovel. He had died not because of the Druid...but because of Hovel. For Hovel.

He loved you! You held his heart and his loyalty but you don’t CARE! Instead you left him down there to rot in the Bowles with that...that BEAST!! You spread lies of him and leave his legacy to be tarnished with shame!!

The words curdled in her belly.

She wanted to scream into his emotionless face, but she simply conceded to his words, by silently leveling her gaze to the floor. She trembled as she fought to center he mind. Her lost soul. She began to pray to Scion of Darkness, for peace....and only ended up wanting to vomit as she said the prayer to the beast.

Again you call it a Creature, but I thought it was your GOD?

What else could it be if not that?

Said that vicious voice inside that had been her constant companion since that trip into the Bowels.

She cursed that voice......it made the rage simmering inside her pulse all the hotter.

Hovel took a moment, then he wiped at his cheek and sat back. “Enough, Ann. I called you here not to speak of dead men, but to ask that you endeavor to find out where that damnable Lion had disappeared to the last few days.”

Ann schooled her voice, but it still came out cold. “Why?”

At that moment the door across the room, slammed open, and Ann couldn’t help but flinch and step back as a familiar Shifter, slammed the large door, and then sauntered into the Master’s room as if it were his own.

The Lion...

Ann thought. Her sternum gave a painful thrum reminding her of where he had attacked her the last time they met.

She felt the normal compulsion towards disgusts for the Shifter that had been pounded into her since she had become a Alchemists. It was a natural as breathing to her now. But...she felt not joy in the feel as she once had. 

No fire to make it known that she detested the beast, and was better then it. She did not jump to put the beast in his place for arriving so boldly before her Master. She actually retreated, and walked to the side of Hovels desk, so she could quietly let the Master and the beast speak.