Something Out Of Nothing (Zeli)

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

It was a chance encounter. Jo never thought much about visiting that strange city of Celestine. Or, rather, it's ruins. She had her own collection of run down homes throughout the kingdom, without delving into mysterious locations and local legends. She was too busy trying to become a legend in her own right.

She wanted a big heist. One that would talked about for years. To do that, she would need to sneak back into the castle. It should be easy. She already had proven she could enter with out a guard giving her a second look. The trick would be getting near anything of value.

It was as these thoughts made their way around her mind that she stumbled upon the city. One minute she was riding her horse along the road and the next thing she knew she was on a stretch of main road in between two decrepit buildings.

The full moon lit her path and she was snapped back to reality as she looked all around her. It was the ruins all right. "Well! This a surprising turn!" Jo mused to herself, "A pity it's most likely been picked clean. Still, a souvenir would be nice. A fine addition to my collection!"

[Skye, Zeli Leyley]

Laughing as she had entrapped another in the ruins Zeli flicked from shadow to shadow staring at the sky and blessing her luck that her powers had almost been entirely restored bar the light hiccup with not being able to kill with them. Still that didn't mean she couldn't have fun with this woman. Opening her arms out she crafted the shadows behind Jo to make a shadowy wall that would bind any who tried to walk back in it and cast their lives into infinite or near infinite darkness, however there had been those that had escaped it before, She also let the shadows spread on either side of Jo covering the backs of the buildings just within eyeshot so that it would simply look like the night was darkening and to help with that illusion she crafted more shadows to cover the moon as though they were clouds.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

At the moment, Jo had absoloutely no interest in turning about. There were still a large number of buildings that could potentially be ransacked. As she continued along, things got darker. Everything had the appearance of just some ours rolling in, but...

...Well, something just felt off. Jo had hidden herself away enough times to know when eyes were on her and when they were not. And given that she was in a mysterious city that would disappear and reappear at night, there was a distinct possibility that someone was about to try and have fun at her expense. Her, the Daring Lady and a plethora of other self-given titles. Well, if that was the case, she would have to rob them blind and ride off laughing. It was only fair.

She whistled happily to herself as she rode around the ruined street. She hitched her horse up at what remained of a post and took a look around herself. Yes, things were much darker. About as dark as they could get in those tricky woods she called home. Taking one of her many bejeweled canes, she swung it about before resting it on a shoulder.

"Ah, it was such a lovely night out, too." she remarked, aloud.

[Skye, Zeli Leyley]

Laughing evilly and making it sound as though it were coming from the darkness surrounding Jo she slipped out of her hiding place and made some of the shadows from in front of Jo fly backwards knocking into her as they circled around 7ele her eyes glowing blood red within the confines of the dark mists swirling around her and distorting her appearance. "Fool" she hissed. "You have wandered into a dark nightmare you may never wake from" scanning Jo's minbd she uncovers her greatest fears that she had kept hidden from even herself bringing them to life in the dark night around her

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

Fear was something Jo had actually encountered before. As was the darkness. What was knew were the voices and the rather forcible persistence ofthis particular darkness. Jo had landed on her backside and made sure she was not leaving any personal effects behind as she climbed back to her feet. The strangest things were threatening to overwhe the thief.

But, there was a voice attempting to engage her conversation. And Jo could never resist the opportunity to talk.

"What's this?" she inquired of the stranger, "Have I a companion on this fine evening? And here I was, thinking this town had little more to offer than a few dusty trinkets! Oh, we will have some fun, you and I. Though, I would much prefer to sit you down over a fine scotch. But....maybe you're tastes lie in port? Or perhaps a stout? That's rather fine dark beverage."

The Daring Lady leaned forward on her cane and closed her maroon eyes. She made an attempt to try and visualize the voices owner. In this darkness it was hard to tell, so she felt free to exaggerate a few proportions.

"Or perhaps we could skip formalities and simply share a bed? Does that not sound like much more pleasant way to pass the time than messing about with these charming tricks of yours? Do be a dear and allow me to compare the vision in my head to your true appearance. I find I'm a rather good judge at these sorts of things. I have studied women extensively, after all."

[Skye, Zeli Leyley]

"You try and tempt forces you do not understand." Zeli hissed slightly but the darkness vanished from around her nethertheless and scattered to the winds the night suddenly becoming much clearer as she landed gently on the ground with one hand laying in front of her she slowly rose then glanced at Jo once more. Zeli seemed semi-normal in this form that was when her eyes were closed, except for the fact that her hair had no shine to it and no light reflected from it as though it were the same as the shadows around her, nothing but darkness. Slowly opening her eyes she fixed them on Jo her eyes were the other unusual feature of Zeli being black as coal and the act of simply staring into them for some people would make them feel as though they were falling for an eternity.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

Jo peaked open an eye to find that the strange, lost city had returned to a state of normalcy. Or at least as normal as vanishing ruins go. The woman, she found much to her liking. Although, there were a few features that she hadn't predicted. Namely her odd hair.

Adjusting her arms, she folded one across the handle of the cane and the other rose to prop her head. She tapped her gloved fingers against her cheek, both eyes now open and going over the stranger with a fine tooth comb.

"You'll forgive me if a say I was being a tad generous in my assessments." she grinned, "But I am ever the optimist. Still, you fit my prediction rather nicely and will no doubt be pleased to hear that I find you most enchanting! Though, it seems you could fit that expression literally, as well as figuratively! My what a talented one you are. I love what you've done with your hair! It's an exquisit quality!"

The thief could feel the draw of those dark eyes. It was such a peculiar side-effect. But Jo kept herself in the present.

"Now then!"'Jo continued, giving a deep sweeping before returning to her relaxed state, "I am Daring Jo Lockwood. And to whom do I have the pleasure of meeting tonight?"

[Skye, Zeli Leyley]

Having ignored most of what the woman said bar her name she looked coldly at her once more. "My name is Zeli the original and highest spirit of darkness. Queen to all shadows and mistress to all shades." She said bowing slightly her voice cold as death itself.

"It is a pleasure to meet such an acknowledgeable thief." She bowed once more then sat. "As for the hair its natural. Its not exactly hair though nor is it shadows more an absence of light." She said cool and collected.

"So what of this drink you promised."

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"My, I am truly honored to have such an esteemed acquaintance!" Jo pushed herself backwards from previous position, "As to the drinks, I find myself limited this evening. The highway had little to offer in refreshments..."

Jo strolled over to her horse and produced a bottle of wine from of the saddle bags. "Still, it is a fine vintage! I may have even stolen a chalice, this evening." Jo searched through the bag on the opposite side and produced a golden cup. Fine stones adorned it's base. Jo only the stole the best. Otherwise, what was the point?

"Yes, here we go!" she held it up triumphantly. Her cane hung from an arm by it's grip and the highwaygirl returned to the seated Zeli. She offered the cup, before going about uncorking the bottle of wine, "I have always made it a point to carry around a corkscrew to situations just like this. You never know when you'll be sharing wine!"

[Skye, Zeli Leyley]

Having not paid attention to anything the highway girl had recently said Zeli was instead contemplating a deeper thought on why she did not wish to bring this girl harm. Well no serious... well at least didn't wish to kill this girl. Unless.. No she wasn't going to kill her apparent friend unless given reason to.

"You have stolen well Jo." She said her voice cold enough to make the fire die down slightly before bursting back to life.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Now, there's a trick." Jo mused. Her companion for the night was an odd one. More in terms of ability, than anything else. Personality quirks were one thing. Affecting the world around was another. Though, this was not the first supernatural entity she had ever encountered. Jo fondly remembered the love goddess, whose statue she had stolen. Then, of course, there was that death goddess (or spirit...she couldn't properly recall). And now, there was this curious woman. Though any meeting with someone in the vanishing city would be far from a dull encounter.

"And thank you! I make sure that I steal only the best!" she grinned, "Today was a rather profitable day. More coin, than anything else, though. I was rather hoping for a nice painting, myself. But, alas, it shall have to wait. Plenty of nobility travel with works of art. They love showing off how cultured they are!"

Jo laughed, merrily. It was always fun to talk with someone who enjoyed her type of work. The opportunity didn't always present itself, to talk so openly. Not that had deterred her very often...at least not when she had an escape route well planned.

[Skye, Zeli Leyley]

Feeling the power of the merry laugh Zeli laughed in turn her own laugh however sounding colder then her smile and words were earlier. Suddenly an idea struck her thoughts and yes this girl did seem like she could be tempted plus it would mean Tilalli's idiotic curse would finally be lifted. Well time to play capture the heart.

Looking up to Jo, Zeli whispers softly. "I know of some treasure's that will sell for a nice little profit." She said dropping the first little tad of information before the shadows swallowed her sitting place and she appeared behind Jo gently trailing her fingers up Jo's shoulder and slowly up her neck as Zeli reached in to whisper softly into Jo's ear matching the grace and calm almost steady flit of her fingers.

"I can share it with you if you wish." As she said that the distant darkness suddenly shimmered to show piles upon piles and rows upon rows of already thieved treasures that had gone missing including most likely some of Jo's own rare steals that when she had awoken had mysteriously dissipated.

"The treasures could all be yours as I was saying. However there is a catch." as she said this she flicked Jo's earlobe and appeared on the other side of her following suit again but instead moving down Jo's neck and shoulder instead of up. "If you wish you can think of it as the grandest steal of all and it would definitely place you in the history books for years to come. There are even land seals in that pile to match that possessed by the princess Anactoria and her family. However like I said the catch is grave. You would have to marry.... and not just anyone." She paused for dramatic effect her cool voice radiating in the air and bouncing back from the shadows amplified to make her voice sound darker as though all the shadows were speaking through her throat.

"You Josette Lockwood would need to marry me... The daring lady matched with the dark lady. However it shall be an open marriage so you would be free to pursue any cleavage that might take your fancy if in turn you respect the facts that being heartless and cold as I am plus my quest to exterminate my sisters and in turn bring about a new era for this planet of darkness being the striding elemental. Well I digress." Laughing a laugh so chill that the fire sputtered out completely she returned to her sitting position and looked forward all in one shadowy step appearing as if to have not moved at all and sure enough the shadows that had mostly gone unnoticed as they had drawn across the sky again before the going out of the fire were only a vague memory though the words that Zeli had spoken still reverberated in the air and above the fire that had burst back into life there was still the faintest picture of all the lost stolen goods dating back to humanities first thieves.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

Tempting? It most certainly was. But thief still had questions. Zeli seemed pleasant enough and Jo was certainly looking to take for a quick roll in the proverbial hay. Or it was more likely to say that she was quite easy on the eyes.

And all that talk of extermination. She sounded more capable filling the role of Death than the last supernatural entity she had run across. Jo was never one for murder, herself. She preferred to show off how clever she was and let everyone spread the good word. But, to each their own.

"Me? A married woman?" she smirked, "My now that would be something else."

The vision faded as Zeli returned to her seat. To think that "settling down" would win her all that. "An interesting deal, to be sure. But I must ask..." she put a finger to her chin and tapped it contemplative, "These treasures...are they to be delivered upon completion of this little contract ours?"

It was a valid question. These kinds of things were important. And if she was going to get hitched, Jo wanted to know the details.

[Skye, Zeli Leyley]

"I would gladly give you a quarter of it before the event and then the remaining at the completion even with a quarter it would be a major chip in your shoulder and a decent addition to your reputation. Also as I said I know you are a woman of certain hmm wanderings so to speak as am I. So with an open marriage you are free to chase cleavage to your hearts content." laughing again for once sounding warm and cheery instead of her usual dark laugh, a laugh that actually made the fire grow and the town become lighter.

"So are we agreed?" She asked letting a quarter of the treasure appear next to Jo still fazed so if she even tried to reach for it the treasure would faze through her fingers. That was at least until Jo said yes in which case the load would solidify.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Hm..." Jo paced around the half-formed treasure, with a rather skeptical look on her face, "I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong, the honey moon would something else, I'm sure."

She turned to Zeli with a smirk as she picked up the bottle of wine and took a sip. It was still a very tempting offer. But, there remained one very pressing issue that still needed to be addressed.

"You see, I rather enjoy stealing." she explained, "It's just so much fun! But just receiving treasure? It's all just too easy. Takes all the fun out of it. Still, an open marriage that let's me continue to loving the fine women of the land? There isn't much to argue with there...I guess, what I'm left wondering is why you want to get married at all in the first place? We can always just skip the ceremony and get right to the good part!"