All Magic Has A Price

There were a few of the old Gods that everyone still followed. In Luminiege they followed Torb and Marwoleath, the god of the hunt and the goddess of death. On Isle Feros they followed Pele, goddess of fire.

In Breena, they followed Julius Crispin.

It wasn't the fact that he was immortal or the fact that he had done everything there was for a man to do, but lately Julius had been feeling less than godlike. After all, when you paid for immortality and the ability to conjure dark magic, you usually paid with your soul. Julius had been soulless for the majority of 300 years.

Everyday life had grown grim since the loss of his wife ten years ago. She had been murdered by Ulfarian hunters, the current plague of Julius' existance. He had even sent his own son away so that maybe he could infiltrate and destroy the group of men that had taken the last little bit of mortal happiness from him. Since his son had returned, proud to be a hunter, he realized that wasn't going to be the case.

Julius feared nothing; not death since he could not obtain that through mortal means and not through old age. The one thing he feared, the one thing he thought, was that perhaps he had been wrong to give his soul to obtain the dark arts.

That's how he came to find himself at a church of the new age gods. He had never frequented one before, had never thought about how the mortals decided on deities like he decided on what piece of fine clothing to wear in the morning. Yet here he sat.

Wondering and waiting what the day held in store for him.

Fae were once abundant in the world, though they grew to be highly secretive creatures that carried on in their own societies, as they most certainly do now. The Fae cared for the Earth and Elements, and were guides to the first elemental humans. Rumors around Breena state that while the angels created White Magick, and the demons Black Magic, the Fae created Gray Magic. Some would say that it was a clear sign of their mischievous nature, while others would argue that the Fae have simply always fought for the balance of the world.

In ancient times, Fae were often worshiped as gods and goddesses, mostly those baring the Seeli Court emblem. They taught humans to harness and nurture their gifts and powers. Bringing beauty to the life of man.

And then the little bastards turned on them.

At least, that's how the Fae would tell it. Really, they're not terribly far off. Humans have proven to be power hungry people. And once the days and ages passed, and magick became something feared rather than respected, it was all downhill for the Fae of either the Seeli or Unseeli Court. Betrayed (and not terribly forgiving creatures), they retreated into secrecy for the most part. Some could earn their trust and become Fae-friend, but the punishments were terrible for any who crossed them. It was then that the fae around the world began to worry for their future in the Human world. They converged, and rulers of both courts ultimately agreed: it would be for the best if they left this world. This is how the Veil of the Faeries came to be.

It was years in the making, with magick so powerful even the most ancient of Elders had to doubt whether it would work, or simply fail in cataclysmic ways. With spells that took years to cast, the Elders were able to create a new realm. Initially, the Fae were allowed free passage to and from this realm - the Fae have never been bothered with the human passage of time. But at some point, the gateways were closed. The Elders willingly destroyed the door to the outside world, sealing themselves in, effectively washing their hands of human nonsense.

Yet this was not the last the world saw of the Fae. Centuries later, the Fae were occasionally exiled to the Human world as a form of punishment for severe crimes. When a coven of witches in the Human realm attempted a spell to reopen the gates of the angelic realm, there was an unanticipated consequence: the spell was a little too powerful. The element of Gray Magick used in the spell caused all gates to open - including the one to the Veil of the Faeries. In the exact moment, every Fae in the realm felt the change in the Magick - and knew they had the ability to travel to the earthly realm at will. The Elders, horrified by this turn of events, had no time to even think of damage control. Many of the younger generations - Fae who have never had the option of visiting the earthly realm - jumped at the chance, traveling before anyone could even think of how to close the gates again.

Because of this, the gates have remained open - for now.

In any sense, Darcii found it hard to believe that she harnessed the powers of the Fae; she believed that she more resembled a pixie, less intimidating than the old stories made Faeries out to be. Her family was normal...well, at least as normal as it was going to get. Valentine seemed to be the more sane one of the group. He looked after everyone of the Rousseau family. Rousseau having not been their real name, but an alias taken on when their family had switched from the Fae realm to the Human realm.

The Seelie Court had been her home and she missed it terribly, but only remembering it with the memory of a child. Times had changed and no doubt the Fae she once knew had changed as much as she did; but she still wanted to find the Veil between this world and the next to revisit her old home. Yet, the Veil always hid from her. Exploring Breena had become a must, and this day she had adorned her explorer's boots, a tight leather vest, and black leggings that hugged her like a second skin. As she pulled her hair free of its ties, Darcii jumped from the trees, spotting the ever close Church. It's bell tolls were loud and deep in sound, extending its mournful tone across Breena's beautiful hills.

Darcii never truly believed in the Gods, but she did believe that there were always someone watching down on the world. Not really knowing why she chose to, Darcii ascended the stone steps up to the Cathedral doors, pulling one open and closing it accordingly, before sitting in a back pew, oculi pointed towards the ceiling where stained glass shown in the sunlight.

"Beautiful..." She murmured quietly, resting her arms together amidst the pew in front of her, laying her chin there to relax her head, eyes still directed towards the impending ceiling.

He remembered the words that were tossed around when he was older. Words like prophecy, destruction, and banish. Banish was the word he remembered the most. Julian had been twenty one, the legal age of most Fae men. It was the only time he had been allowed to go to court with his mother and father. He thought it was going to be a joyus occasion.

He was wrong.

The King and Queen of the Fae had ordered his exile, had forced him from the realm and only home he had ever known. He swore, from that day forward, to detest the fae and all their king. he knew he would always have the gray magick, the mysterious magick he was born with. His mother, the only fae to ever show him kindness, had taught him white magick that she had learned from an angellic friend of hers.

He swore to learn the black magick and become the most powerful fae there was. He would fulfill the prophecy that was made of his birth.

A child born of the blood of Fae
On the years darkest day
Shall grow to be cold of heart
Learning magick from the start
But woe to come if he is to live
The destruction of the fae he shall give

It could have meant any fae born on the winter equinox but because of his love for magick and willingness to learn it meant him. He would never forget that. Til this day, he had always had hatred in his soul for the fae, in all of his 300 years.

"Beautiful..."

He heard the muttered statement, his heightened senses picking up that he was no longer alone. He turned his head, glancing at the young woman who stood on the other side of the room. She was of magick blood, no doubt about it. Her pink hair spoke for that. Mortals had not created a way to dye their hair yet, at least not the few mortals he spoke too. He saw her youthful tone: the way she dressed, her flawless skin and small frame. She was either fae or pixie.

"You think this is beautiful dearie," he grinned, teeth perfect for his age though his skin was gray from the taking of his soul, "you should see things where I'm from."

The bell tolls had ceased when Darcii's head snapped up at spoken words in which she hadn't expected, nor did she recognize. It seemed ironic, when this particular steeple in the cathedral was accordingly abandoned. Layers of dust an decay had grown upon everything that filled the wide-spaced room, yet the bell tolled every day at the same time, as if missing the villagers that used to gather here to praise their God. But not for the years she had been amongst the Humans.

Narrowing her oculi, her gaze landed on a male who sat on the far end of the room. He was Fae. Darcii could sense it. A peculiar talent for the Fae of course, sensing their own. But of Seelie or Unseelie, she would never know unless she asked and he answered. But it was rude to ask many questions to a stranger. This man wreaked with magick, that was obvious, though Darcii was curious, she cared not. Only to wait until Gracelin returned to Breena so she could pester her further about the location to the Veil.

"Beauty. Something no one seems to admire anymore, except for the Fae. Quite sad really." She smiled, releasing a glistening grin. " And where exactly are you from?"

Her inquiries put her interests at high. Maybe he knew the path to the Veil that had eluded her for so long.

"Beauty, pah!" Julius practically spat, as she mentioned the fact that only Fae seemed to appreciate it anymore. The Fae only appreciated what they thought was beautiful. There was no real beauty in the world, only what passed as beautiful due to the perceptions of the individual. "The Fae are more about glamour then they are fae. But then, again, I think you know that."

He bowed in an almost mocking manner, "The name is Julius Crispin and I, like you dearie, am Fae."

He stood, stalking toward her almost menacingly. "You seem to hide your magic. To hide what you are. Tell me, little Fae, where are you from? Were you born after the breaking of the veil or were you born in the area where our kind so 'lovingly' likes to frolick?"

“I was born in the Unseelie Court….though, I don’t remember it very well. It was long since passed, and now the Veil hides from me. I don’t think I will ever be able to find it.” She said solemnly. She wished so badly that she could return to her old home. She missed the acceptance of living there without having to hide who they were or have to face death.

This man was so strange. It seemed like he talked in riddles without actually speaking them. It was all very confusing, and truly Darcii had to constantly rethink what he had to say, so that way she could keep up. He didn’t seem to want to hurt her, and maybe, just maybe he was as lonely as he appeared, but trust came a long way with the Fae. And certain things were always kept behind closed doors. Darcii moved forward, closer to the stranger who had so willingly started a conversation with her.

“I am Darcii Rousseau, Mr. Julius. It is really nice to meet you.” She smiled lightly. “Do you know a lot about the Fae?”

"The Unseelie?" grinned Julius, a wicked gleam in his eye. He had never been allowed to visit the Unseelie court, his mother and father claiming that it was a dark thing and should never be approached. This young woman in front of him was anything but dark. She radiated happiness, though there was the brief undertone of sadness and depression. The Unseelie were one of the only mystery's that life held for him anymore.

Perhaps I can use this girl to my advantage...

Circling her like a buzzard circles it's prey, Julius examined her. She was not to tall but then again not short either. She held a sense of childlike wonder so she was not an old fae and unless her father and mother had told her the stories of his birth, she knew nothing about the destruction he was to cause.

With a bow he grineed, "The pleasure is all mine dearie. And how do I know so much about the Fae? Isn't it obvious? I am one."