Disclaimers: All characters belong to rightful owners.
Story concieved by Lee.


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"I... I was just... waiting for my mother..." Addie admitted as he took the offered handkerchief with a slightly unsteady smile. Still, trying to be polite about it, he soon steadied this out as he wiped at a bit of the blood on his skin; after all, his mother would be quite upset if she saw that he had been hurt and, well, maybe he was just nervous because of her lateness, instead of because of the stranger. That... really made more sense.

"She usually picks me up right after school, but she's a bit late." He continued as he offered the other two a slight smile. "Still, you... you really don't have to stay, either of you. I... I'm sure she'll be along any minute."

"Oh, nice to meet you Mr. Parnikov and... um... Erik." He giggled softly at this as he inclined his head slightly. "I'm Adiv Baara, but.. you... you can just call me Addie..."

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"It's nice to meet you... both," Nathan nodded as the boy named Alexei held up the pink catcus up. He made sure to note what the young boy said about "Them" and the "Evil ones" who went to the school. It was certainly something that could be useful information later. It was strange how all the events were occuring over the span of the last two weeks, but it was convenient nevertheless. His attention soon was turned back to the younger of the two, especially when his identity was revealed. "Baara?" Nathan inquired as he looked at the younger boy. "Wasn't that the founder's name?"

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Alexei peered at Addie with new-found interest at Addie. "Then you will be very important to Them, yes?" He asked, tilting his head thoughtfully to one side, "Beware the blind one. He is one of Them. And the girl. She pretends to be nice, but she is Evil and only Evil." He intoned this warning with an almost comical solemnity, "They are more dangerous than those bullies. We will stay with you until your mother appears."

He then turned his attention to the mysterious man, "We did not quite catch your name, Best." He addressed Nathaniel.

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"Y-yes." Addie nodded to Nathan's question even as he continued to avoid the man's glance. Frowning a bit guiltily, he continued to wipe at his forehead as he chewed softly at his lower lip. "Prometheus was my father."

"Im-important to Them?" He repeatd Alexei softly as he winced. Yea. He already knew about being important and that wasn't too much of a pleasant experience. Still, at the mention of them staying, he shook his head. "You... you both really don't have to do that. I'm... sure that I'll be alright..."

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Prometheus's son. After Lucifer's release, he had lost track of the young boy. As far as He knew, the boy had suffered the same fate as his father. Not that He could have checked up on him with Lucifer's sudden visit and apology, He was honestly caught off-guard. 'Prometheus... I don't know which was the greater fool, you or Lucifer," Nathan thought disdainfully as he reached into his pocket. He shook the thought off and flipped open his cell phone. "Do want to at least call your mom and make sure she's on her way?" he asked as he handed the phone over to Addie.

He then looked over to Alexei and smiled. "Oops, must of slipped my mind," Nathan smiled. "I'm Nathan, I'm just a substitute here." He looked at the boy for a bit. He was certainly a strange boy, obviously a bit crazy. But in the midst of his babblings, there was a great deal of truths hidden beneath. This female he was talking about sounded like he could be referring to Lucifer... Lucia as she went by as a human; but who was this blind one? "Out of curiousity," Nathan whispered to Alexei. Addie seemed a bit nervous as it was, so he didn't want to make him more nervous as it was. "Who are these, 'Them,' you keep talking about?"

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No motive, that's what Sophia was gathering from Nevan's words. No _reason_, just senseless savagery... she shuddered inwardly, wondering if it was possible he was the focus of some psycho stalker. Perhaps... but she would only consider that as a last resort. In the meanwhile, it was better to hope their _was_ some sort of reasoning behind this, so that it could be understood and countered.

"Mr. Alraune," she asked, looking up at him gravely, "would you please report all this to the police? This is far too dangerous for you to keep silent." She well knew it was a chancy affair to rely on the police department; some were honest, some were little better than crooks, and if those dishonest ones were connected to or in the pay of Mr. Alraune's persecutor, then they could even be a danger. But it was still something...

...and the rest would be Sophia's responsibility, of course.

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"'Course not," Darran was quick to assure her, "and boy, great outfit you got there..." He rose out of his seat, but leaned in a little to talk, and as a result found himself _just_ close enough to think... Hmm, it'd be too quick to dart in now and kiss her, right? Right. *Who's to say you're not still on probation with her, eh? Damnit.*

"Anything you want?" he continued as he straightened only slightly dizzily, and gestured to the counter with a grin. "I mean, I practically kidnapped you here and all, might as well have something..."

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"I... really don't know if that's wise, Sophia." Nevan answered with a shake of his head. Of course, he had no reason to fear the police and, even if he did, that wasn't the basis of his refusal. The police, doubtlessly, had other, important things on their minds; to bring something like this, something he didn't _know_ was anything above a cruel prank would simply be wrong.

"I'm sure that it doesn't mean anything." He continued as he slowly regathered himself, his senses. "There's no need to worry yourself over it. I'll just... get rid of it and it'll all be over."

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"Hey, thanks! I _love_ this shirt. Just have to find the perfect boy- on-a-leash accessory." Para giggled as she dropped a quick wink at him. No, it didn't seem like it took very long, at all, for her to fall back into her flirting ways around the guy and, really, she was just glad to see that he wasn't avoiding her like the plague for her brother's actions. _Really_ not wanting to think on that, though, she pushed these thoughts aside as she renewed her smile to the other. "Heeey. What size collar d'you think you'd take, hon?"

"Hey, I was _hoping_ you'd figure out how to get my number." She chided him as she shook her head. "I was half-tempted to troll outside of your Oscar's building so that I could accidentally bump into you. 'Course, my luck, I'd just end up getting arrested or something."

"Speaking of the Great Grouch..." She murmured as she turned a slightly more serious glance to the other. "You're sure that it's okay that you're not at work? I'd really hate to get you in bad with your boss or anything... especially a boss that probably eats kittens and small children for snacks."

"Hmmm..." At the question as to what she wanted, though, Para turned her eyes to the board advertising the place's fare. Of course, she knew better than to expect Dar to pay for her so, as she made her decision, she rooted in her pocket for the money she had put there. "Well, I _have_ to take a triple cream mocha caramel cappucino and... hmm... one of those huge white chocolate chip cookies! And you're having, dear...?"

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Alexei scooted closer to Nathan, responding with equal quietness, one eye scrutinizing the man, the other eye watchfully guarding Addie. "They," he answered, wanting to explain to someone who understood, took him seriously, someone good and kind like this Nathan, "are the Evil ones, the ones who prey on unguarded mortal minds and souls. They creep in like thieves and live off their host like fleas until only They remain. They kill the ones they feed off of and use them to hurt others. They killed Sergey. One of Them did," he amended, "One named Azazel. Granny says it was suicide, but we know it wasn't. The blind one is similar. Smells the same as Azazel. Stinks of death and destruction and chaos and cruelty. The girl..." he paused, thinking how to word it, "she is different," he began again at last, "More than the others, more powerful, more evil. We can sense it, smell it. She reeks of the Evil."

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"You're so right... being swarmed by people just isn't my thing. I really enjoy being independent, the master of my own destiny. I mean, two years is long enough for a relationship at my age! Single and ready to mingle all the way!" Kisoku grinned, pumping his fist in the air triumphantly with a laugh.

"Have to say, this has been one hell of a nice conversation, Dante. You've made my day."

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"If you're sure that it's alright..." Addie murmured as he eyed the proffered phone. Yes, he really should call just to see if anything had happened to his mother, but he didn't wish to be rude or to put out this man who, despite his misgivings, had really helped him. Chewing slightly on his bottom lip, he watched the two whisper in secret for a bit as he rubbed absently at his arm, but, he mused as he waited for a convenient moment to comment, it wasn't as if he were afraid that they were talking of him.

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"Single and ready to mingle all the way?" Dante repeated with a small quirk of the corner of his mouth which was likely meant to represent a grin. Still, it wasn't like he was one to harp on lifestyles or the way in which one lived his life. "Well, whatever works for you, I suppose. You seem young enough for that sort of thing to still work."

"Yea, it has been pretty alright..." He agreed with a slight shrug as he brushed back a bit of hair. "Certainly wasn't expecting this, at any rate and I got a free smoke out of it."

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"Really?" Nathan replied with a confused look on his face. "You can sense all this from anyone? If they've gotten to the person, I mean." Nathan could not help but be skeptical, part of his human nature. Could this boy sense who Lucia had turned, angels? Human beings were amazing creatures, it wasn't uncommon for them to acquire these type of "skils." It's why he was fascinated with them, they never ceased to go beyond his expectations.

Noticing that Addie had grown uncomfortable with their whispers he looked over at the younger boy and smiled. "It's okay, I have about a thousand daytime and weekday minutes that I haven't used up yet. They would be more useful to you than they are for me. I just want to make sure someone is going to pick you up. Wouldn't want you waiting here all night."

He then turned back to the Alexei and his cactus and looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. 'Might as well see if what he can do,' Nathan thought to himself. "What about me? What do you sense off me?"

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"You are the first person we have ever met who has no bad," Alexei responded promptly, mismatched eyes glittering with a feverish excitement, "You are Good and Only Good. Everyone has some Bad, but you... you are different. You are the opposite of that girl. Her name was..." he squinched his eyes shut, trying to recall what the boy had called her, "Lucia. And her blind friend is Sam. You are Lucia's opposite. She is Worst and you are Best."

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"Eh? Well, well..." Arvel failed to find words to defend himself, "So?" He ended at last. "I'm hungry!"

Estelle shrugged her bookbag into a more comfortable position, "Me, too," she agreed before turning large brown eyes onto Lukas, "Do you know if Sam has a date to the Sadie Hawkins Dance? I'll bet he has just tons of offers. I shouldn't even hope... oh, well, if I get rejected I'm going with Arvel." She looped her arms around her smaller friend, sighing dramatically.

Arvel yelped and pryed her off, "No, way! I'm going with a hot _guy_!" he announced. Unlike Estelle he wasn't about to ask anyone. Not Jeremy, who only liked girls, and not Lukas, who undoubtedly could have anyone he wanted. Regardless of his timidity, he did not intend on going to the dance with a girl, even if she was his best friend. He knew the chances of finding a date were slim under those conditions, so didn't expect to attend at all.

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"Seem young enough?" Kisoku feigned shock, letting out an indignant 'Hmph!'. This slowly melted away into something that quite resembled a devious grin. "Are you implying that I might be too OLD to party?"

"And I got a light for my much needed smoke. Such are the fickle workings of fate! It's all very fabulous really."

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"Oh, I'm sure that mother'll be along. She... probably just got held up in a store line or in traffic..." Addie commented quickly, though he wasn't entirely sure if he was trying to reassure himself or if he was trying to reassure the man, this Nathan. Still, he shook his aside as he finally decided to dial his home phone number.

Holding the phone to his ear, he listened to the line ring a set number of times before the answering maching kicked in. Frowning a bit at this, he left a quick message about still being at school and that, if his mother would like, he could always walk himself home. Freeing the line, he decided to make a quick call to his mother's cellphone, but this only resulting in the same lack of answer. Rather discouraged-- and not a little worried-- he frowned in thought at this as he held the cellphone back out to Nathan.

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"Well, I don't know..." Dante responded as he tipped his head on side. Crossing his arms, he gave Kisoku the critical eye as he seemed to be considering the question put to him and, somehow or another, he actually managed not to grin in the meanwhile. "You _do_ seem pretty old, but I understand that some clubs and the like can be navigated pretty well with a cane or walker..."

"Fickle workings of fate, huh?" He chuckled at this as he shook his head. "Well, thinking where fate's recent workings have taken me, I'm not too sure if that's such a great thing..."

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"Lucia and Sam. Hmmm... I'll keep an eye out of anyone who has that name then if you say that they're dangerous," Nathan nodded as he looked over at the Addie. The boy seemed to be having trouble contacting his mother. Hopefully she was all right and would be there soon. He had a feeling though that leaving wouldn't be wise, especially with what Alexei had told him about Lucia and the other. 'Sam,' he thought to himself as he turned his attention back to Alexei. 'The blind one named, Sam... He sensed Lucia and me, he knows that we're not normal humans. But who is Sam?'

The sound of the phone flipping shut broke his concentration as Addie had given up on his attempts to call his mother. "Is anything the matter?" he asked as he took the phone from his hand.

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