The World inside Scar’s Hat – Part Three : SS.

Mariela’s brothers; Sean and Sam don’t know quite what to make of Scar and his tales of Hell.  Was he simply a mad man, or was he telling the truth?

This arc is co-written with Dessy, and is a spin off from the Maze of Greed stories.

Scene setting – Scar’s hat – Seven sins series.

 

Dessy:  “Considering you just beat your head against the tree, of course you’re gonna be in pain.” Sam commented sarcastically, crossing his across his chest. Honestly, the boys should have left by now. They should have just left this crazy man alone… but they didn’t. Why? Because they wanted to know why their sister’s name was being screamed from his mouth. They needed to know.

“My…Mariela…is trapped in a maze in Hell. She’s there, and I’m here.”

The man finally began speaking in between pants. The boys turned to look at each other, raising an eyebrow as they looked back to the man standing in front of them. Mainly the way he called her “his Mariela”. There confused looks ony got worse as Scar continued talking. He then mentioned a warlock using his hat to send him here as punishment. Sent him from Hell to Earth? As witches, they knew traveling between the worlds was possible, but they didn’t honestly believe this man came from Hell. Plus, why would their sister be in Hell? She was much too good-hearted for that.

The brothers let him finish talking before they said anything. He then went on to mention about how she was the most powerful witch he’s ever met, but she didn’t know her own strength. Maybe it really was their sister. They all came from a long line of powerful witches – although Mariela seemed to have gained more strength than they all did, for reasons unknown. She used her witch abilities more than anyone, and was better with them. She also learned new spells and such easily. She was passionate about her abilities and powers… about being a witch. She cherished being a witch. Their parents knew she was powerful, and the brothers knew it – but Mariela never knew how powerful she was. Mariela was a powerful being, but she never thought she was when it was brought up. And nothing had ever happened for her to need to use her power and strength to prove how powerful she was.

But this still didn’t mean it was her. Not yet. He began speaking about Lydia, and Lydia wanting to use Mariela’s power to cause war in Hell… over the Wrath kingdom. Sean widened his eyes, his green eyes looking at his brother. They all knew that someone would end up finding out about Mariela’s power and wanting to use her for it… they just didn’t expect it to be in Hell, of all places. They expected it to be here. He then talked about the maze, and the brothers noted the guilt in his voice… blaming it on himself.

He tried getting Mariela to take the hat so she could be here. This caused Sam to roll his eyes… their sister was always stubborn. It was certainly starting to sound more like Mariela. He then said that… there was no magic here? Was he nuts? He was standing… kneeling now… on the ground in front of two witches. Of course there was magic. From the way he talked about Mariela, it sounded like he was in love with her… which was weird. Mariela was never one for relationships or love. She certainly never had people fall in love with her – so she says, at least. She did, but she either never noticed or they hid it well.

“You called her “your” Mariela? From the way you talk about her, you make it sound like you’re in love with her or something.” Sam spoke up again. “The way you described her certainly sounds like our sister, down to her being powerful and not knowing it, to her stubborness. But, let me get this straight… You came from Hell? You were sent by a warlock? And Mariela is there in Hell?” he said, shaking his head. “Impossible. Mariela wouldn’t end up in Hell after death. She’s too good-natured. She’s never done anything to land her in hell.”

“Wrong.” Sean finally spoke up, looking at his brother when he gave a confused look. “Marie may have been good natured, but there is one thing she’s done that sent her to Hell.” “What is that?” Sam asked, dropping his arms at his side. “Murder. Remember? We were eleven, Marie was sixteen. We were coming home from a walk when a man attacked us in the alleyway, holding a gun to my head. He threatened to shoot me if Marie didn’t do what she was told. Marie knew he was lying and would kill us anyway, then her next, so she knocked the gun out of his hand and shot him with it.” Sean spoke.”She was sent to Hell for killing him.” he added afterwards.

“Oh… god.” Sam said with wide eyes, shaking his head. “Still doesn’t prove it’s her. Can you describe her to us?” Sam said, looking at Scar. Sean looked over at him as well, running a hand through his light brown hair. “You said there was no magic here?” he then asked. “You’re standing in front of two witches… in the same bloodline as Mariela. She was born and raised in this world. Magic is what got our sister killed.” he crossed his arms. “So what do you mean “magic does not exist”, when it does? You’re standing in front of it.”

 

Razorbackwriter:  “You called her “your” Mariela? From the way you talk about her, you make it sound like you’re in love with her or something.”

Scar rolled his eyes and looked exasperated. What was with the big hoo haa about him calling Mariela his. God, she did the same thing. It seemed so natural to say she was his, because he really didn’t know where he was, and they spoke of a Mariela…their Mariela and Scar…had his. Now with a terrible headache to contend to, he was going to have to explain himself to these…boys. “Yes….I love her. Throw the book at me. Woah, it is so wrong that an Alp should love a witch, but I do.” This of course was said with much arm flailing as though to emphasize the point. Bringing his fingers back to point at his chest he continued. “My Mariela, Your Mariela…Mariela is in hell. How she got there was a mystery to me. All I know is that I was summoned by Lydia and Mariela to the Kingdom of Greed to serve the Princess.”

Now the story was starting to be told. From the moment that Scar arrived in the palace of Greed, Lydia had plans for him. What she didn’t count on was the fact that by him spending so much time with the young witch, that he would find himself falling for her goodness and beauty. It had nothing to do with power. The Alp himself had power, but most of it lay in the hat that he wore. The hat that was back in the Maze in Hell.

“And yes, I came from hell, via…my own Hat. Which was used against me by a powerful warlock named Raul. Raul works for Lydia. You do the math.” Again, much hand waving as he spoke. To see Scar this upset and emotional was most unusual, but answering the boy’s questions meant a lot of explaining, that he felt he had already done time and time again.

“You must be her kin. You sure do ask as many questions. Hmmph.”

Scar pushed himself up off the ground at this point, ready to square off with the lads if they didn’t believe him. He listened to the tale of how she had murdered a man that had threatened to shoot one of them. Again, another roll of the eyes.“Murder….is a one way ticket to hell, fellas.” Of course it was. It was one of the ten commandments, and it had been broken. “No matter how good you are, one bad mistake can cost you dearly.” The Alp was getting tired of all this. He knew in the back of his mind that precious seconds were ticking away, and the longer he was here going on and on about Mariela and not doing anything was like he was wasting time.

Scar was about to facepalm now that they were asking him to prove that she was the one that they had lost years before. The alp fumbled and then he suddenly looked up. He pulled away at his scarf, and there…tightly fixed to his neck was Raul’s collar that had been removed by Mariela from Bandit.

“This…horrid thing. It was one one of the Warlock’s slaves….or something. Mariela broke the magical seal by damaging one of the jewels. It’s a tracker…thingymebob. Horrible thing. The Warlock fixed it onto me, because Mariela took it off Bandit. Another in the maze. Mariela’s magic might still be on it…I don’t know. I’m just an alp…this is all completely beyond me.”

The Alp did not believe magic existed in this world, because he was no longer an alp in form, but a human. He didn’t feel magical, or how he had. The brothers claimed that they were witches. Both of them.

“Male witches? Is there such a thing?’ He said with a raised brow.

 

~RB~

 

Dessy:  “Does she love you?” Sam asked, and this caused a glare from his brother. “It doesn’t matter! Our sister is in Hell and it sounds like she’s in danger. That’s what matters.”Sean spoke, shaking his head at his brother then turning to Scar. “You’re an Alp? I’ve heard of that before, but I don’t remember. This… Raul… sounds like bad news. Just how in danger is Mariela?” Sean asked. Sean had the right idea – they needed to worry about their sister.

“You must be her kin. You sure do ask as many questions. Hmmph.”

Sean nodded. “We’re her younger brothers.” he then replied. “I’m Sean, and this my twin brother, Sam” he gestured to his brother, who nodded. “She was very protective over the both of us. That’s why she had sacrificed her life.” Then again, Mariela was always willing to risk her life to save others – every other time she had just gotten lucky. She wasn’t very lucky for the fire.

Scar began explaining the collar around his neck, explaining that Mariela had took it off and Raul snapped it on to him. “Let us take a look at it. While we’re not as… strong and advanced as our sister, chances are that if Marie’s magic is still on it, we might be able to break it off again.” Sam finally spoke up, receiving a nod from his brother. “There’s a lot of things Mariela can do that we can’t… not even her parents. While she taught us a few things, she couldn’t teach us everything before she died… and soem things were hard and impossible for us to learn. But we should be able to break it off.”

“Male witches? Is there such a thing?”

This caused both boys to laugh. “Yes, there’s such a thing. It’s uncommon to find a male witch, as most are born female. But when you’re born from a long bloodline of powerful witches… chances are both genders will be witchs.” Sean spoke.”You said the collar was some sort of tracker? Maybe it can be used to find Marie.” Sam spoke. “Possibly even find a way to send you back to Hell.” They both called her “Marie”, even after death… never her full name. It was the nickname she always went by, and to this day they still called her Marie.

Razorbackwriter:  “Does she love you?”

This question would stop the Alp in his tracks. Did she love him? She never showed it if she did, and it was not like they were any sort of romantic couple. It was very much one sided. He was an Alp. A demon of nightmares. The whole idea of love, was so foreign to him, and yet he was feeling this way for the young witch. Unrequited? Possibly. All he knew was that he was willing to die for her. More than once. If that was not love, then…what was? The two boys went on and on. Asking questions then dismissing it as they conferred on all that Scar had told them. Scar didn’t really think they even knew what an Alp was, but he was pretty much caught between the incessant banter. Back and forth he looked between the two lads as they started asking more questions as to whether Mariela was in a really dangerous situation. Would Scar be acting as he had if she wasn’t? Hadn’t he just explained that the warlock of the maze was a very powerful one.

The twins names were Sam and Sean. Younger brothers of Mariela. They claimed to be male witches, something Scar didn’t know existed. They were not as powerful as say, Mariela, but they had been taught a few things by her, and they were willing to do what they could to help. On learning about the jeweled collar that was fastened around Scar’s neck, again they were eager to see if they could break it off. The notion that it was a tracking device meant there was a slim hope of using it to create a portal to go back to Hell, where Mariela was. All Scar knew was that he had been sent via his own hat. This world, was inside the hat. To escape it would take a great deal of magical power. Was it something that the boys possessed?

Through all the talking and the questions, Scar was beginning to have doubts. As he had told Mariela from the outset of using the hat, there was a price to be paid. So far, the price was the loss of his magical power. His third eye would not even open. He was in human form. Scar watched on as the boys pondered using the collar to send him back.

“I don’t think it can. The only ones that have even a slim chance have to have magical power in this place.” Scar stared at them both as he loosened his scarf further. The horrible truth was he didn’t think he was ever going to see Mariela again.

“If you think you can break it off me…..you are welcome to try.”

 

~RB~

 

The World inside Scar’s Hat – Part Two : SS.

 

The shocking realization was now hitting Scar as he found himself in what he thought was a world without magic.  The World inside his hat.

Scene setting – Inside Scar’s hat – Seven Sins series.

Co-written with Dessy.

 

Razorbackwriter:  Scar was spinning and then stopping in his tracks. Squinting his eyes tight together as though willfully trying to blink away the reality of what he faced. At a blink he can change forms. He could. In Hell. Here however, he would open his eyes to find that he was the same man, the same outfit. Everything stayed the same. Nothing worked. His magic….gone. Scar raised his hands up before him, as they quivered. His fingers as though clutching at some unseen being. Scar wanted to strangle the life out of Raul for what he had done. Sending him into his own hat. Sending him to a world without magic. The alp panted and looked up at the sky once more, only to just see a jet liner through the clouds – spiriting away to some unknown destinations. Flying…metal things! It was crazy. None of it made any sense to the creature. Hell might have been the last place you ever wanted to be, but that was where he belonged – not in this reality.

“Hey, dude.” A voice. Scar spun around to see two boys, though they were not children they were young men. One then asked the oddest question. One he would never expect to hear. “Why are you calling our sister’s name?” The young man had the bluest eyes. Radiant and matched in well with his colourings. The one beside him though, had green eyes. Like jade pools….with a frightening similarity to…Mariela’s. Both boys…had her features. They were younger of course, but…there was this eerie feeling that Scar was getting. “Why are you calling our sister’s name?”

What were the possibilities that the hat sent Scar to the one place that he knew Mariela would be safe from Lydia and Raul? The one place, she would call home. Scar’s eyes widened as the shocking truth was coming to fruition. There was no doubt in Scar’s love for her, that he would wish the hat to take her home. The only problem was, the hat….took him after Raul turned the game on it’s head.

“I don’t belong here.” Scar uttered, backing away from the two young men. He raised a hand, pointing at each of them in turn. “She…never told me…she had siblings.” He shook his head, then he reached up and started pulling at his hair.“This can’t be happening. She’s in that maze with Raul….and a…human. What if Lydia……..Oh fuck no.” Scar started walking around in a circle, then saw a tree. Marching over to it, he gripped it around the trunk and started to beat his head against it.

~RB~

 

Dessy:  This guy looked like he was having a mental breakdown… or something. The boys didn’t know what was wrong with him. They didn’t move or take any steps further – for all they knew, this man could be some crazy who would attack them the minute they took a step toward him. Instead, they stayed in their position where they were, watching him and exchanging glances every now and then.

“I don’t belong here.”

He spoke, and Sean looked at his brother. “What do you mean “you don’t belong here”? Who are you?” Sean asked, deciding to take the risk and took one step further. What if he was one of the people after his family? The people who burned their house and killed their sister? What if they found out the rest of the family escaped? Their mother always feared that the people would find out and hunt for them. That they’d find out where they had ran off to and try to finish them off. What if this man was sent here to see if it was really them?

Then again, after Mariela’s death their mother had became really paranoid. After going through a depression state, she became over-protective and paranoid. Their father had to not only pull her out of that depression, but also convince her that everything would be fine and there was no reason for her to freak out. She had to be pulled out of a paranoia. It took a few years for her to finally be her normal self. Even now, mentioning Mariela’s name always ended up with their mother in tears again. This man pointed to each one of them, then stating that he never knew she had siblings.

The boys exchanged glances. Maybe he really did know their sister. But they had to be sure. “Are you sure we’re taking about the same girl here?” Sam spoke up next. “You have to be talking about a different person. If you knew our sister, we would’ve recognized you.”

“Who the hell is Raul? And Lydia?” Sean asked in confusion. “What are you talking about?” What was wrong with this guy? The brothers were just getting more and more confused as he rambled on about a maze. Then he walked in a circle. Then, he started beating his head against a tree.

“Woah! Hey! Calm down!” Sean spoke, taking a step back at this sight. Sam stayed in his spot, unsure if he should help hm or not. Was this guy crazy?

 

Razorbackwriter:  “Woah! Hey! Calm down!” Blurbs of questions were being asked as the Alp continued to smack his forehead against the tree trunk. Each time he hit the tree trunk, his eyes rolled about comically in his head. At last he staggered back, with a great red welt right in the center of his forehead. “Pain….such a rush.” If the boys thought that Scar was indeed crazy, it was because he was certainly acting like it. Now you’d think the boys would just wipe their hands of him and go back to their game of football. Leave the sad mad chap to his own devices, but they really wanted to know if it was their sister that Scar was crying out for.

“You have to be talking about a different person. If you knew our sister, we would’ve recognized you.” This might be true in their world, but Mariela was from a place after her death. A place that the brothers would not have even contemplated her being in. Scar finally stopped moving, though he was panting hard. In between taking in deep breaths, he tried to answer them, to the best of his ability. “My…Mariela…is trapped in a maze in Hell. She’s there, and I’m here.” He pointed to the ground and then slapped both his arms to his side, as though he felt totally lost.“A warlock….used my hat, to send me here as punishment.” He looked up at both boys, and then said something that may help them figure out what was really going on.

“She’s the most powerful witch I’ve ever met, but she doesn’t know her own strength. That is why Princess Lydia was going to use her for another war. To topple the Princess of Wrath. Then….I STUPIDLY…led her into the maze…thinking, she’d be safer there.” Scar was now feeling the stinging sensation of guilt. “This is all my fault.” His voice breaking into quiet sobs.

The Alp collapsed on the ground. Sitting in a crumpled heap. A sad laugh coming from his lips as he tried to wipe away a tear. “I kept telling her. Use my hat. She’s supposed to be here….not me.” Scar bowed his head, ashamed of himself. “I was trying to save her. Now I’ve signed her death warrant, and there is no way, I can go back. Not without my hat. There is no magic here.”

What would the two boys think of all this?

~RB~

The Maze of Greed – Part Nine : SS

 

With Scar now lost in his own hat, Bandit and Mariela have found themselves a new ally.  Question is, how did he come to be in the maze?

Scene setting – The Maze of Greed, Seven Sins Series.

This arc is co-written with Phyln, Dessy and Artie.

 

Phyln:  Following the force that had drawn him there Solomons trek through the maze was made significantly easier. Taking atleast half the time if not less that it would have taken had he went through relying on basic senses. Rounding a final corner the click of his cane on the ground stopped as he stood silent. He watched over several people a little further in, he had heard screaming as he approached but could discern any of the actual words. whatever was going on drew him here so now he watched. Taking up a spot nearby to do just that the first site was that of a giant man appearing and striking at another, he could now clearly make out what they spoke about but it was not his business so he kept to himself. With everything that was going on around here he was deffinetly in the right place.

 

Dessy:  Mariela looked back down at the hat, then up at Raul. He had a look of triumph. Like he was the greatest thing in the world because he sent Scar off. This fact made Mariela angry. She looked behind her at Bandit, seeing her hold up her dagger, and simply gave her a nod. She then turned back to Raul and glared. He was mocking her. Why was he mocking her? Mariela clenched her hands together in fists, just getting more angry than she already was. Seeing him march toward Bandit, Mariela took a defensive position in front of her.

“He wasn’t my play boy. And if you call me little witch again, I swear…” she started, but was interrupted by… yodeling? Yodeling and Scottish. That’s all she heard, before she saw Raul get knocked down with the blunt end of an ax. She widened her eyes, watching him get thrown in the bush, then looking up at the tall and large… very large and tall… man. “Thank you.” she spoke softly, her gaze going back over to the bush. She then turned around, walking back over to Bandit and kneeling beside her. “We need to get out of this maze. Preferably before Raul wakes up.” she spoke to her. She was about to pick her up, before the giant spoke.

“Okeee…then. Can anyone tell me…where the bloody hell I am? Do either of you know a Quinn?”

This caused Mariela to look up at him with a raised eyebrow, standing up. “You’re in Hell…” she spoke slowly. Why didn’t he know where he was? And who was he? Why was he in this maze? “A Quinn? No, I don’t know of a Quinn.” she said, looking to Bandit with a confused expression. “But this is Bandit, and I’m Mariela.” she turned her gaze back to the giant. “Who are you? And may I ask, how did you get here in the maze?” she asked, crossing her arms. Maybe he knew how to get out of the maze… if so, maybe he could help them get out.

 

Artie:  Fear struck Bandit as Raul began to move towards her, breath pausing and her whole body tensing — but he would soon be staring at Douglas in surprise, right up dropping her dagger as she stared at the giant. What an interesting twist this had been.. Where did this guy even come from?! Bandit blinked a bit, letting her hands fall onto her lap and leaving them there. “Yes.. there’s a Quinn.. Hellhound, right? Basically Satan’s entire police force?” Oh, Bandit had run into Quinn, from the look on her face. Not that she didn’t particularly like the hellhound, but.. “She’s intense.. But no matter that. Who’re you? And how do you not know that you’re in Hell?” She blinked, confusion etched on her face. Bandit didn’t quite know the circumstances of Douglas’s arrival…

Her confusion was replaced with pain as she winced, pushing off the ground with her hands to adjust her body to the side a bit in an attempt to become comfortable. Her butt felt dead against the hard ground, and the lack of feeling in her legs still frightened her. She would attempt to wiggle her toes, only to have a shock of anxiety run through her when she realized that they weren’t, technically, there.

 

Razorbackwriter:  As much as it was a surprise for Mariela and Bandit to find that Raul had just been knocked out by a wily Scottish Giant named Douglas, so to the Giant was surprised to meet two lassies in the Maze. The witch was naturally thankful that Douglas had come along when he did. Scar of course had just disappeared into the hat, and Raul’s magic melded with his anger meant that the girls had been in real danger. For now at least the only sound coming from the hedge was the strange snores from the Warlock. Douglas hit him hard…really hard. And not just in the head. All that protruded from the hedge was his legs. His ass having been kicked into it as well. A strange thing occurred too. The hedge started to close around Raul, almost like it was trying to trap him inside it. Vines wound around his legs and feet and soon he was one with the hedge of the Maze. For how long though, remained a mystery. It would however allow the Giant and the two girls a chance to exchange pleasantries.

When Mariela said her thank you’s, Douglas pointed at where Raul had been and spoke.

“Ah don’t like seeing a lad hit a lassy. I don’t care what ya done. Leave the fisty cuffs to the menfolk.” Douglas leaned on the handle of his axe whilst staring downward at the two. “My name is Douglas McGee….warrior of the McGee clan…but mah friends call me Duggie. Quin…she be err…mah friend. I lost her before I came into the maze to work. Chopping things takes mah mind off mah troubles.”

For a giant he was very forthcoming and honest. He was surprised though to find that the maze somehow wound up in Hell of all places. The giant rubbed his bearded chin on this news. “Can’t be much worse than the Mansion. Filled with daft laddys and small doorways. Quinn and me were the only bigguns about. Aye….I miss that lassy. Misunderstood by many. Heart the size of the sun, if ya askin’ me.” It was clear from the emotion of his words that Quinn was a special friend. Hell hound or not.

The Giant looked down on the ground and then spotted Scar’s hat. It was tiny and rather cute. He reached down and picked it up, inspecting it by pinching his fingers. He was almost about to try it on, when a strange sound came from within….like an echo. it was faint…very faint. Douglas put it to his ear….and then heard what was called.

“Some git is calling for you, little witch.” Note…he didn’t say my.

He offered the hat to Mariela and then thundered over to Bandit, gently trying to help her to standing . He had immense power that was obvious, as he managed to hold her up with just two fingers. Like a child holding a moth. He didn’t mean no harm, but was clueless to her injuries. . “You know me Quinn?!” An incredulous look coming over his rough features. He grinned and showed off a few of his broken and gold teeth.

“Well then, let’s find a way out of this mad maze and find me Quinn!”

~RB~

 

 

 

The World inside Scar’s Hat – Part One : SS.

 

This is the side arc from the Maze of Greed – Seven Sins Series.

Co-written with Dessy.

 

The World inside Scar’s hat

Razorbackwriter:  The setting was like any typical suburban park with families out enjoying the delights of a summer’s day. Children were playing on swings, families were at picnic tables and lighting barbecues. Boys were playing football on the wide fields of green and the sounds of laughter and music came from all around – coupled of course with the everyday sounds of a modern world. Cars….trucks…the odd horn blast and of course planes that flew high overhead. So with all these ordinary people going about their ordinary lives, they would not even notice something extraordinary happening.

A swirling vortex of purple mist opened up high above the tree canopy of a nearby forest. Deep from within, the scream of a certain alp came down as his body plummeted to the earth below with a dull thud. Scores of leaves went up in a cloud of greens and browns as the Alp lay there, slightly winded. We all remember how Scar was dressed right before Raul zapped him into the hat. In this reality however, Scar looked nothing like his Hellish counterpart. In this world….in this age, he looked….human.

Laying there for a few moments, Scar blinked. What the hell had happened? His mind was a jumbled mess and all he could see above him was the steady movement of the trees, the sparkle of light from the sun’s rays. In a trice he sat up and could hear a couple of lads shouting out football numbers. Scar’s head snapped around – left to right and back.

“No…..NO!”

He looked down to what he was wearing and he gasped loudly. His hands…they were big. Scar touched his face and started to cry. “I’m…..I’m…..human!” There was no mistaking it. Clamoring to his feet, Scar’s eyes were starting to go glassy, as unseen tears were threatening to fall. The reality hit him like a speeding train. His worst nightmare had come to fruition. He was lost inside the world of the hat. A world….that he believed had no magic.

“M..M..Mariela?’ A whimper came from his lips, that quivered ever slightly.

“MARIELA!!??” Desperation now evident in his cry. Where was she? Was she still in the maze with Raul and the human? What of Lydia? “MARIELA?!” Scar turned around and around. He started to see evidence of the truth of his surrounds. Happy families….strange objects that moved on wheels. A world of humans.

“MARIELA….HELP ME!!!”

 

~RB~

 

Dessy:  Over on a clear, green and grassy field was a large group of boys playing fotball. It was a Saturday – a weekend. There was a group of girls sitting on blankets over to the side that the group of boys had brought with them, talking and gossiping and stealing a few glances from the boys every now and then. Some of them went as far as to blow kisses. This was the modern world – the world of cars, social media and cell phones. This was Mariela’s world.

It had to have been pretty hard for a family of powerful witches to live in secret in the modern world – but the family kept the secret pretty well. Until they eventually found out about it, when Mariela’s life had ended. Even to this day, it was unknown how those people had found out. But after the incident, her parents took her brothers and they moved to a new state and town – starting a new life.

Mariela would have been twenty-three years old at this time – five years after her death. Life had went on with her family, and even now they still used their witch abilities in secret – being extra careful this time around. Laughing could be heard from the field of the teenage boys, which was close to the forest. “Nice tackle, Sam!”spoke one of the voices with a laugh afterwards. Football numbers were then being shouted, the boys getting ready to get back in position.

“MARIELA!!??”

The shouting of the all too familiar name caused one of the boys to stop. He nudged his brother in the side with his elbow.”Sam, did you hear that?” the boy with light brown spoke, causing the other teenager to look at his brother in confusion.”Hear what?” the dark brown haired boy, known as Sam asked, but just got a “shh” by his twin brother.

“MARIELA?!”

There was that name again. “Is… is someone calling our sister’s name?” Sam asked, receiving a nod from his brother.”We need to go check it out.” he said, giving the other boys the timeout symbol. “Me and Sean need to go check something. Break for now!” Sam yelled, before motioning for his brother to follow as he began running off. “Come on, Sean.” he spoke, Sam running off and the one known as Sean following. Yes, these were Mariela’s little brothers – the twins Sam and Sean. After Mariela saved them from the burning house when they were fourteen, they continued on with their lives like their sister would’ve wanted. Both boys were now eighteen, and seniors in high school.

The brothers ran into the forest where the voice had came from. Why was this person screaming their dead sister’s name? Coincidence, maybe? Maybe this person happened to know someone who shared her name… but they weren’t sure. They both stopped when the voice was heard no longer. Then they heard it again.

“MARIELA….HELP ME!!!”

“This way!” Sam said, running in the direction of the voice. “Why is he screaming for help? And using our sister’s name at that?” Sean questioned, following his brother. “That’s what we’re going find out.” Sam answered. They stopped when they came to the source of the yelling. Some male… they knew that much. But they didn’t recognize him, which meant he couldn’t have known their sister. They knew most people that Mariela had always hung around… so he couldn’t have known her.

“Hey, dude.” Sam spoke, looking at him with an eyebrow raise. “Why are you calling our sister’s name?” he asked. Sam had blue eyes, unlike his brother. Sean’s eyes were green – almost the same green as Mariela’s, just darker. They also shared similar facial features with her. The brothers exchanged glances, before looking back at the male.

The Maze of Greed – Part Eight : SS.

Breaking the curse brought about anger from beyond the Maze.  The trapped trio were not ready for this turn of events.

Scene setting : The Maze of Greed, Seven Sins.

Co-written with Dessy, Artie and Phyln.

 

Razorbackwriter:  Scar stood in behind Mariela, twisting his bottom lip with two fingers as he hoped that Mariela would find her true power deep within and be able to undo the Warlock’s magic. It was all about the jewels. Break the jewels, break the collar. The Alp truly believed in her greatness, and had seen it well before Lydia had even bothered to notice. When she did however, Lydia wanted Scar to keep tabs on her, in her every movements. This was an unknown blessing, since the more time he spent with her, the more he fell in love with the pretty and innocent young witch. The wait seemed to be ages, and Scar had to hold himself back from over reacting when finally there was a cracking sound. The smile grew on his face as the human let out a joyous sound and it was true. Mariela had done what was deemed impossible.

“Hey… Hey! You.. You did it! Shit! That’s awesome!”

The collar was thrown into a nearby hedge, and while Mariela was probably checking the girl’s neck out, Scar went over and picked it up off the ground. He was curious to see if the jewels had indeed cracked. One had a definite crack in it. The collar was now faulty. Scar twirled it around his finger and let out a laugh.

“Now this is what I call…a souvenir.” He pretended to chew on it to see if it was real gold. Sure enough it was. The Alp could no longer hold himself back, and ran to hug Mariela. So thrilled that she did something good. But as he went to embrace her, there was a swirling of black smoke that built up to form the image of a man. That man. Raul.

“So….you are the one that broke the collar. My….little witch.” His eyes glaring at Mariela with a sickening menace. He pulled on his gloves as he shot a look at Bandit on the ground, covered in cuts and bruises. ‘“I’ll deal with you…soon enough, my sweet Bandit.” He rounded on Scar and Mariela and then snarled. “But….no one…touches my things!!!” He raised a hand towards Scar and blasted him back with a powerful surge of energy. Scar hit one of the hedge walls, while the collar spun around and around in the air. It was being controlled by Raul, as he started to grin and bare his teeth.“You’re the Witch’s toy boy, hmm? Well, how about I collar you!”

Scar tried to stand up, but the collar whizzed at him at speed and then locked onto his neck. The Alp struggled and tried to prize it off as his eyes pleaded with Mariela. “Get the human away…..quickly!” He didn’t want the witch to suffer, and thought he could fight the Warlock on his own. Raul raised his hand and then drew back sharply, with the hat flying off Scar’s head. It landed on the ground and then started spinning. Scar looked on horrified as he started to levitate. Gasses going into his nostril from the collar. He was fighting with everything he had in him. “Not the hat……Not the hat!” he screamed. The Warlock was now feeling a rising sense of triumph as he knew much of magic and the best way to get rid of Scar. In the hat. Scar started spinning round into a purple vortex, much like a portal opening from the hat. He was screaming out Mariela’s name as he started to get smaller and smaller and then with a loud bang….Scar vanished into the hat.

~RB~

 

Phyln:  Boots clicking against the ground as Solomon approached the entranceway of the maze, bringing himself to a halt a couple steps from entering the maze. he tilted his head back as he admired the design work, Reaching out he placed a hand on the stone. “Well this is the place.” then looking forward again his eyes began to take in what was visible of the interior. He let out a small sigh of displeasure as finding his way through a maze was not exactly on his list of things he enjoyed. Reluctantly he stepped forward into the maze running his hand along the wall hoping that he would continue to feel the force he was drawn too and it would aid his path through the maze.

He continued on to a point where the way he had entered from was no longer visible. The deeper in he got the more vivid the sounds from within became. The maze and its contents were new to him he didn’t know if there were others further in or if creatures inhabited this place. His concern growing he reached his free hand into his jacket and pulled his cane a quick flick and the segments popped out and snapped back together with a click. Continuing deeper into the maze one had on the wall following the draw the other continuing the monotone click of his cane on the floor of the maze.

 

Dessy:  Mariela kept her focus on the collar – nothing else. As she ran her hand over each jewel, she heard a cracking sound. The collar then broke open, and Mariela let out a shocked gasp as it did so, before hearing Bandit’s happy words. “I did it…” she spoke, a bit shocked with herself, standing up. “I actually did it.” she said, giving a smile to Bandit and a nod. “You’re welcome.” she said, before she turned to face Scar.

She laughed as Scar twirled the collar around his fingers, then chewing on the collar. But Mariela was a bit shocked when Scar ran up to embrace her, but was more than happy to return his hug. Unfortunately, the happiness didn’t last as she saw the swirling of black smoke then the formation of a man. She narrowed her eyes, automatically assuming the guy was Raul.

“I am. And you must the one that made the collar… Raul.” Mariela spoke back. When Raul spoke the words “my little witch”, Mariela narrowed her eyes. “I’m not “your little witch”. You don’t own me.” she snapped back. She turned her eyes to look down at Bandit when he spoke to her, moving her self to be standing in front of Bandit as she turned her gaze back to him.

“Scar!” Mariela shouted when Scar was shot back, the collar locking around his neck. Scar shouted for her to get the human away, and Mariela opened her mouth to speak… but then Scar’s hat flew off and the Alp was being sucked in. “No!!!” Mariela screamed, but saw nothing left but the hat as Scar vanished. “Bastard!” Mariela shouted in anger. She then looked down at Bandit, and back up at Raul. The question was: fight or flight? She needed to get Bandit out of here… but now Mariela was nothing but angry, and the guy deserved whatever was coming for him.

 

Artie:  Bandit’s eyes hadn’t looked at Scar, instead they were closed as she focused on finally getting the damn collar off of her neck.. Finally.. But she knew this relief would be short-lived, as a terrible noise of Raul’s voice was heard. “I’m not something to be dealt with, you son of a bit-..” But Mariela had already begun to talk, Bandit’s eyes widening as Scar screamed and suddenly was thrown into the hat, only to vanish. “Fuck!” The blonde haired girl would look up at Mariela, already feeling defeat as her gaze would then turn to meet Raul’s, hardening.. With the last amount of energy she had, she would pick up the dagger that had previously fallen and held it up, sharp point towards Raul.. though, it required an immense amount of effort, her hand shaking as she began to sweat, mixing with the dirt and blood on her body. Worse come to worse, Bandit would take the blade and run it through her own heart rather than go back with Raul.

 

Razorbackwriter:  The Alp’s hat spun around and around as the cries of Scar faded into nothingness. Scar was gone. The Warlock raised his head in triumph. The pair were foolish to even think that they would dare be a match for him. Women were weak, in his eyes. All of them, even Lydia. She had her weakness. That was ambition itself. The very thing that gave her great power, was also the one thing that could bring her down. Even if she was the Princess of Greed as well. The two fused together could only spell disaster….eventually.

Mariela’s cries for her little Alp were falling on deaf ears. The Warlock acted out of revenge. For breaking Bandit’s collar, the pair would pay the price. Now that the Alp was in the hat….he was no longer a threat. Grinning, the Warlock mocked Mariela with an imitation of her voice.

“Scar!…Scar!…Ahahaha. Cry all you want, little witch, but your play boy is now lost to Hell…Forever.”

He watched how the witch kept looking between Bandit and him, as though trying to decide to fight or flee. Oh, that was right, the Alp told her to run. It was almost comical to think that Bandit could run….considering. Thinking he had it all under control, he simply folded his arms, instead of raising them and attacking the pair at the same time. That was, until he saw Bandit reach for her dagger. Oh yes, her favorite weapon – beside her mouth.

Bandit’s hand quivered and shook as she pointed the dagger at her Master. Raul didn’t seem phased. Again brushing off any fears that she could do him in. Not thinking for a moment she would use it on herself.

“Right….time to end this.”

Just as Raul lowered his arms, and started to march for Bandit, there came a massive roar from behind him. A loud…yodel that…had a Scottish edge to it.

“I don’t think so ….LADDY!”

~WHACK~

A massive axe was swung with the blunt end towards the Warlock’s head, knocking him clear off his feet and into the bushes, where the Giant then gave him a right hefty kick up the arse.

The ginger haired giant with the speckled beard then looked down at the two tiny women that were there.

“Okeee…then. Can anyone tell me…where the bloody hell I am? Do either of you know a Quinn?”

It was Douglas…the Giant.

~RB~

 

 

The Maze of Greed – Part Seven : SS.

 

In order to help the human called Bandit, a curse would need to be broken.  Mariela has the strength to do it, but at what price?

Scene setting : The Maze of Greed – Seven Sins series.

Co-written with Dessy and Artie.

 

Dessy:  “My bad. Lydia is the cause of everything.” Mariela mumbled under her breath. She looked down at Bandit again, nodding her head in agreement. “Hm. I think “manipulative” fits him well.” she said, but looked up at Scar when she asked the questions. She kept silent, watching Scar as she let him answer the question about why they couldn’t use the hat. She still didn’t say anything, instead just frowning at Scar’s words. “You would think that every maze would have an exit. But, being how Lydia is pure evil, it wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t make an exit.” she said, but gave the girl a small smile. “But don’t worry. We’ll find a way out of this maze.” she spoke determinedly.

Her gaze turned to Scar when he spoke about there being an exit. She raised an eyebrow, before pushing herself to stand up. “And that exit is…?” she started, narrowing her eyes as an eerie smile played on his lips. Then, he spoke again.

“You’d have to defeat Lydia.”

Mariela flinched at those words. “Should’ve seen that coming…” she gave a nervous laughter. Sure, she was a bit pissed at Lydia, but Mariela honestly doubted that she’d be strong enough to defeat Lydia. Lydia was clever, and evil. Powerful, even. Mariela was not. “Of course. In order to get out of this Danger Zone, we have to destroy whatever created it.” she spoke. “Which is Lydia.” she said. “Yeah, uh, is there another way out?” she spoke. “I mean, I wanna get out of this place, and I’m not the happiest with Lydia right now, but…” she trailed off. “Fighting Lydia? The Queen of all evil? I doubt there’sany chance in defeating her.” she spoke, now biting the corner of her mouth. She should have expected that defeating Lydia would stop this mess. She looked down towards Bandit again, continuing to bit her lip. She seemed to do that when she was nervous or scared. Bandit still needed help… but they had to get out of the maze.

 

Artie:  “Lydia.. Lydia..” Bandit searched for the name to put to a face, but could find nothing. She hadn’t yet heard of the new management in Greed, and to be frank, she didn’t care much for any of the royals. “I’d help, but if she’s some ‘Queen of Evil,’ I don’t think even at full strength I’d be able to help you much. I mean, I can’t help at all, now. I can’t feel my legs.” Bandit seemed bitter at her lack of abilities in general. It figured that she was the most under-powered in this realm, and without legs, she was an ant to others. Though she couldn’t feel her legs, the slight dampness that continued to creep showed they were still bleeding. Maybe not gushing, but the wounds had yet to fully close. Her breathing had remained hard and rough as she remained calm, keeping herself from screaming. This, at least, showed her stubbornness and willpower. If she’d had some sort of powers, she’d be a worthy adversary, indeed.

Her eyes stared into Scar’s without break, matching his own seriousness. This only furthered her show of will. “I’m assuming that this is the only way, aside from that hat, because life has to always be difficult, doesn’t it? Things can’t just be simple in Hell?” Bandit perked a brow, slight sarcasm and more bitter feelings creeping into her tone. It was more how ridiculous this all felt – what, was she in some sort of novel or something? Of course there had to be an ultimatum, and neither choice favorable.. Though, she barely knew Scar, and she was one for her own survival. Bandit wouldn’t have hesitated to take the hat, as she felt nothing to Scar… nor Mariela.

 

Razorbackwriter:  The smell of blood was wafting up from the ground where Bandit lay. Mariela’s attempt to heal the girl fell short of actually closing her wounds. Not to mention that the girl was now paralyzed from the waist down. If she couldn’t move off the ground, then what chance did she have to escape the maze. Scar’s smile remained fixed as he tilted his head downward and looked at that jeweled collar once more. The girl claimed that it caused hallucinations, but at the moment, the girl was speaking perfectly normal and not showing a touch of madness. Maybe the charm had worn off, or the Master of the collar was pre-occupied. Perhaps he was up in the castle Greed right now, banging Lydia. Who was to say? It was no secret that she took lovers now and again. Scar though, wasn’t her cup of tea. But back to the girl on the ground. She was showing her sarcastic edge, when lamenting that the only way out, aside from the hat would be difficult.

“Life wasn’t meant to be a picnic, girly.” The Alp was already feeling that standing around in this part of the maze was using up valuable time. Scar reached up and straightened the hat on his head to a more fitted position. Rounding on Mariela, he went to take her hands, and then whispered.

“Try to remove the collar. Focus…on the jewels. It was made by a Warlock, and I think you are strong enough to break it.” Scar stared at Mariela without looking down at the girl again.

“Free her from the link with Raul. It may be her only chance out of here. After that, she’s on her own.”

~RB~

 

Dessy:  Mariela turned her head to look at Bandit and gave an apologetic smile. “Once again, I’m sorry for that…” she apologized for Bandit’s lack of feeling in her legs. “And Lydia is a powerful individual. I, myself, probably couldn’t beat her.” she said. Mariela couldn’t help but laugh at Bandit’s next words. “I’ll be the first to tell you that Hell is far from simple.” she said, before turning to look at Scar when he spoke. She simply nodded her head in agreement, before Scar walked towards her and took her hands in his. He then told her to try removing the collar. “What makes you so sure I’m strong enough to break it, Scar? What if I can’t?”

Oh Mariela, self-doubting herself and her strength. The girl was much stronger than she thought or claimed she was – and it was obvious Scar could see that while she couldn’t. Lydia clearly had saw it, as well. But Mariela didn’t believe it. “I’ll try…” she said, removing her hands from Scar’s grasp and walking towards Bandit. She sat on her knees to the girl’s right, narrowing her eyes and looking down at the collar. “I’m gonna try to get this off… Don’t move…” she said. She took her hand and ran it over the jewels on the collar, staring at them. Scar told her to focus on the jewels. That meant it was something with the jewels that could break the collar off.

 

Artie:  The blonde would furrow her brows as Mariela moved closer, placing her hand on the collar and the jewels inscribed within it. Almost instantly, Bandit had winced away from her hand, further opening the door for Mariela to see her hard background… but at the moment, more things were important. Bandit bit her bottom lip, waiting, pondering… Her eyes closed as Mariela thought and pondered, an almost impatient feeling spreading through Bandit if she had not been so anxious herself. And then… A crack, the collar beginning to break itself open — air. Cold air pressed against her neck where it’d once been covered by the collar, a laugh of relief coming from Bandit’s lips as excitement filled her despite her disabled form. “Hey… Hey! You.. You did it! Shit! That’s awesome!” Her hands would move as she gripped the collar, tossing it away and then raising her hands to rub her neck, feeling at the skin that could now breathe..

 

 

 

The Maze of Greed – Part Six : SS.

 

Chancing upon the human who was also a prisoner of the maze brought out Mariela’s good nature.  Of course the girl needed help, but Scar and Mariela needed to get away.  Would they assist the girl, or did they have something bigger to worry about?

Scene setting : The Maze of Greed – Seven Sins series.

Co-written with Artie and Dessy.

 

Razorbackwriter:  Against Scar’s better judgement, he fell in behind Mariela whilst she started to do an introduction of sorts to this bleeding mess of a human laying on the ground. In a way, it was nice to see her take charge the way she did, but the fact she kept telling Scar to shut up made him slightly miffed. After all, in his mind he was only just trying to help.

“I’m Mariela, a witch. This is Scar.”

“A nightmare.” Scar said with a tip of his hat. Well, he was a nightmare demon, so he was close in his introduction. Scar kept his eyes skyward however, rather than have to see another angry glare from Mariela, while she was trying to convince the girl that they were of no harm. “We’re trapped here just like you. We have no intention of hurting you. We want to help you.” There she went with the Florence Nightingale approach. Scar, was more direct.

“Did Raul hurt you?’

There, he asked the big question. If the girl had been a victim of the Warlock and knew his name, then he would have no choice but to assist in helping the girl. Course, the girl was not really in much of a state to answer that. She had just dropped the blade, after trying to find out what day it was. Perhaps she had been out of it for some time.

“Near midnight, Saturday eve. The Night of the Greed ball.” Again, these would give Bandit clues as to how long she had been in the maze. He was starting to wonder if she even knew she was in a maze. Bandit wanted names, but Mariela had already offered those. Was she hard of hearing? Using his hands, and with an animated face he said.

“THIS…IS…MARIELA!…SHE…IS….A…WITCH!” He signed this as he raised his voice as thought she was deaf.

“I’M SCAR!….LOOK….LET THE WITCH….HELP YOU.”

Whether she would or not, remained to be seen.

 

~RB~

 

Dessy:  “A nightmare.”

This caused Mariela to reach over and smack Scar once again. “That’s not helping!” she spoke, but turned her attention back to the girl. Once she dropped the blade, she didn’t hesitate to run over to the girl’s side. She knelt down next to her on her knees, looking the girl over. She opened her mouth to speak, but Scar had already asked. This caused Mariela to give a tilt of her head towards him. “Raul? The warlock that gave Lydia the mirror?” she mouthed, but looked back down at the girl. “I don’t know how much my healing can help you. But it’s worth a shot.”

But then she turned her head to glare at Scar. She was tempted to throw that dagger at him, but didn’t. “Will you be quiet and come help me?” she asked. “I think she needs water.” She looked back at the girl, assessing the damage. She held her hand over the girl’s body. Her healing would only help her a little bit, at least to not be in so much pain. But the girl would need a lot more than that to help her, but what she needed they didn’t have the maze. Mariela would try her best.

Mariela ran her hands over the girl’s body, trying to heal whatever she could and trying to stop whatever pain she could. “I’ll try and heal you, but with how injured you are I don’t know if it’ll do much except lessen the pain only a little bit.” she spoke. “I can’t help you anymore than that, at least not here in the maze. It isn’t exactly a “medical” place.” she said, looking down to the girl. “Can you try and tell me your name?” she said, looking back over as she tried to heal as much as she could.

 

Artie:  The “healing” hurt perhaps more than the actual cuts, Bandit giving a strangled gurgle that would otherwise be a growl of pain. Her hand shook in agony, the little markings on her fingertips closing in a painful itchy fashion. Bandit would look at Mariela and bare her teeth, in pain and somewhat hostility, though not directly aimed at her but more the pain. As she healed, only slightly, the dryness in her throat subsided to enough that she could speak. “You can call me Bandit.. And yes, I know that.. Scum.. He put me here.. He.. He put this collar on me and I can’t get it off..” She would reach up to it, attempting to get her fingernails underneath the harsh fabric but to no avail… “Help me.. I think he’s been controlling my mind with it.. I keep seeing things, I don’t know what’s real or what’s fake.. I was forced to..” As her mind suddenly began to recall the Red Velvet club, she swallowed, her voice fading. She felt no need to say more on the matter.

“Greed.. I’ve never been to Greed.” Bandit mumbled, looking down at her hands as they now went to the dagger – though she would give a faint cry at trying to pick it up due to the pain… Though, with a shaking arm, she’d tuck the weapon back into her boot.. “I can’t walk.. I can’t feel my legs.. Oh, god! I can’t feel my legs!” The numbness of her body was overtaking her. Her arms felt limp and heavy. Mariela had healed Bandit’s pain, but in the lack of pain was no feeling at all. Of course, it wasn’t that she was paralyzed.. It was simply that she was so heavily damaged that she could only feel the pain, and without that pain.. Nothing.

 

Razorbackwriter:  Mariela was slap happy. That was how Scar saw it. Scolding him and now physical violence. He held a gloved hand up to his cheek and grumbled under his breath for his troubles. So much for helping. The young witch had obviously learnt a bit from Lydia, or so it seemed. The alp zipped his lip and instead of doing anything further, he simply folded his arms indignantly and turned up his nose at the whole scene. Let her help the tragic human, he thought as he let her set to work.

“I think she needs water.”

Scar simply shrugged. It was not like he was carrying any water on him, or even knew where the nearest fountain was. It was a maze, after all. Mariela was soon learning that this girl, Bandit – was in fact a victim of Raul the Warlock. Scar was right. Course, she had told Scar to shut up so many times, that Scar refused to say another word, merely running his pinched fingers along the line of his mouth as though he had zipped it, and threw an imaginary key over his shoulder.

Mariela’s healing powers were doing more harm than good, if the cries and gurgles were anything to go by. She twitched and shook violently as the magic did its job, but it wasn’t enough. Hearing her growl at Mariela was enough for Scar to roll his eyes and that look of “I told you so.” was plastered all over his face. The whole…goody two shoes gig was really not his bag.

The girl’s name was Bandit, and she had been left in the maze by Raul with a strange collar fastened around her neck. It had markings that the Alp had never seen before along with glistening, sparkling jewels. It must be worth a pretty penny. As to what it did, well, the girl seemed to think it had something to do with mind control, and hallucinations. Scar rubbed his chin as he thought to himself. She could be the Warlock’s property, if she wore his collar. Maybe she had disobeyed him, and this was her punishment. Mind you it looked like she had taken a right beating.

When the girl had tried to put the dagger that she had drawn on them, back in her boot, she started to scream that she couldn’t feel her legs. The magic had somehow brought about a paralysis. Not that Mariela would have known this. Scar turned away for a moment and then mouthed a few obscenity s so that Mariela couldn’t hear him. It was one thing to be lost in a maze created by Lydia. It was quite another to somehow drag this helpless girl to safety, when he wasn’t sure where that was anymore. The alp took his hat off and raked his gloved fingers through his disheveled black hair.

Snorting under his breath, he turned back to Mariela and then handed her the hat.

“Place it on the ground, two feet from the girl. Then….I want you to spin it.” The Alp was giving her instructions on how to use the hat. “You then take the girl’s hand and jump into the hat. It will get you both to safety.”

The Alp wouldn’t take no for an answer.

~RB~

 

Dessy:  When the girl started showing signs of pain, Mariela flinched. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would hurt you.” she said, cursing herself. She looked over at Scar, raising an eyebrow. “So now you’re going to be stubborn and not talk at all?” she said. Mariela looked down when Bandit spoke.about Raul. “So the warlock is the cause for everything, it seems.” she said, more to herself than anything. She looked down at the collar, running her figner over it as the girl begged for help and talked about how he thinks he’s mind controlling her. “I wish I knew a way to get it off, but right now, I don’t.” she spoke. “I’m sure there’s a way. There has to be.”

She looked up to see that Scar had this “I told you so” look on her face, and it caused Mariela to just stick her tongue out at him. When the girl started panicking about not being able to feel her legs, Mariela looked down with a horrified expression. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I don’t think your paralyzed… something must have happened with my healing, and I’m sorry. We’ll fix it, I promise. Right now, we’ve all gotta get out of here.” she said, biting the corner of her lip.

She looked up when she was handed Scar’s hat. Hearing him speak, she frowned deeply. “No, Scar.” she spoke, defiantly. “I’m not leaving without you.” she then spoke softly, still holding the hat. She was being stubborn again. Scar wouldn’t take no for an answer, she knew that – but she wasn’t going to leave without him. She refused to leave without him.

 

Artie:  Bandit looked back and forth between the two – lovers, maybe? Her eyes fluttered a bit as she gazed away and at her legs.. She had her own problems to deal with, not to be in these two lovebirds’ feud. “Raul is a manipulative bastard.” Bandit gave a slight growl, moving her hands to massage her unfeeling legs. “Why don’t we all just use the.. hat.. wouldn’t that make more sense?” She held skepticism in her voice, unsure of exactly what a hat would do. Then again, this was hell. She could expect that something even as seemingly ordinary as a hat could contain some magical value. “But.. never mind that.. Is there any progress on a possible way out?” Bandit raised a brow, wondering if the two had thought of mapping it out as they went along..

“Every maze has to have an exit, right?”

 

Razorbackwriter:  “No, he is not the cause of everything.” Scar said in an exasperated tone. The real culprit behind everything was Lydia. At least that is how Scar saw it. The Alp watched as Mariela stared at the collar that was around the human girl’s neck. The jeweled collar was charmed, and done for a reason. It was not the kind that had a lock that you could prize off. It would be magically sealed. The only way it would come off was in a place where magic didn’t exist. Again, they were going around in circles and Scar had his reasons for earlier offering Mariela the hat. She knocked him back then….and she was refusing again now. Damn her for being so …so stubborn. Scar’s lips flattened as she said that she was not leaving without him.

It was then the girl on the ground appeared to have all the answers. She had been snarling about how Raul the Warlock was a manipulative bastard. He must have been to get that collar around her neck in the first place. Scar and Mariela knew nothing of this girl. To add to that, Scar’s intel about Raul was limited. He had only overheard them twice, but it was enough to piece together that he was bad news. Even worse than Scar himself.

“Why don’t we all just use the.. hat.. wouldn’t that make more sense?”

Hearing the human ask why they all couldn’t use it, Scar smacked his lips together and turned his head sideways and then cast his eyes down to the ground where she lay.

“Because….there’s no coming back.” Surely Mariela knew what that meant.

The alp pulled away from Mariela and moved a few step closer to the girl on the ground, before crouching down to her level. He made sure that she could hear what he was going to say.

“Unlike you….we are creatures of this world. Going through that hat strips us of who….and what we are.” Scar was a part of that. His magic….everything. He was more than willing to send Mariela into it, if it meant her safety. For him though, it meant something else. Scar started to get up, when the girl asked about a possible way out of the maze. That was when he said something that he knew would probably scare Mariela to death.

“Oh…there’s an exit.” The Alp put his hat back on and tapped it twice. An eerie smile played on his lips.

“You’d have to defeat Lydia.”

 

 

~RB~

 

The Maze of Greed – Part Five : SS.

 

The Witch and the Alp were not the only ones in the Maze of Greed.  Another had been placed there against their will, but would she trust Mariela and Scar?

Scene setting : The Maze of Greed. – Seven Sins Series.

Co-written with Dessy and Artie.

 

Razorbackwriter:  “Ever heard the phrase “Curiosity killed the cat?” Scar said off the cuff, while Mariela was going on and on about how she didn’t understand Lydia’s plans, not that Scar was all that clued in. He was just told to keep Mariela busy and out of the way, which he had done a bloody good job of – till he fell in love with her. What Mariela didn’t understand was that Scar was facing a death sentence. Help the witch or not, Lydia’s anger was going to be extreme. Course, Scar didn’t want to fret the young witch was such things. She was having a hard time enough coping with being lost in Lydia’s maze.

“Yeah… “Hate” is starting to lead me down the path where I’m going to destroy the next living creature that appears in this damn maze.”

“Can I watch?” Scar was now keen to see if Mariela really had it in her to kill someone, or a beastie. The thought of it, kind of got him excited. He showed off that cheeky Cheshire smile of his, which was disarming when done at the wrong times. Clearly she had forgotten that there was a high chance that there was another unfortunate soul lost in this maze. Mariela, suddenly remembered and that was when the true goodness of her nature came to the fore. She got on her little soap box and went on about how they had to do the right thing and help whoever was caught up in this nightmare. Scar blew a raspberry, his lips flapping. Fun times were over.

Also, Mariela did not want to use his hat as a way to escape after all. Her magic was a part of her she simply could not let go of. She rather stay in Hell than venture to any other dimension where she would be a simple human. Who could blame her? It wasn’t Scar’s first option either, but he was willing to do it for her. Again she looked at him with mistrust in her eyes. After everything, she still didn’t trust him.

Scar pouted, and looked up at her with sad eyes.

“It doesn’t matter now.” He simply didn’t want to discuss it.

‘grnoa?’

The Alp’s ears pricked at the sound of a feminine voice.

“You hear that?”

Could it be another one of Lydia’s creatures that roamed the maze?

“I think its killy killy time.” He wiggled his brows at Mariela and then bowed before her. “After you.”

~RB~

 

Dessy:  “Of course I’ve heard of that phrase.” Mariela said, her arms still crossed. “I don’t like to think of it has “curiosity”. I prefer to call it “investigating”.” she said, sticking her tongue out at him in a childish fashion. She had turned her head to look around her, before looking at Scar when he asked if he could watch, and he gave a grin. “Sure. Why not?” she said with a shrug. Mariela may be all “good-natured” and everything, but when she was pushed or angry – such as this – she could kill someone if she really wanted to. Especially if it was to save someone’s life. After all, that’s why she was sent to hell. For murder. It was for good reason and it was to protect herself and her brothers. She’d do it again if pushed that far, or if she needed to protect someone. The girl was innocent and kind-hearted, but she was no weakling. Underestimating her was a bad decision – the man she killed learned that the hard way.

Mariela narrowed her eyes when he blew a raspberry. “What? We can’t leave them here to die!” she exclaimed. Scar then appeared sad, and it caused her to frown. But she had also heard the noise that Scar did. “Wait, it might not be one of Lydia’s creatures. It could be the person that was left here.” Mariela said, looking down at Scar. “So no killing until we know for sure, and until I say so. Got it?” she spoke sternly. When he bowed and told her to go first, Mariela rolled her eyes and walked ahead of him. “Such a gentleman you are…” she spoke in sarcasm, but couldn’t help a smile that formed on her face.

“Hello? If you’re not a scary creature of this maze trying to kill us and you’re trapped here like us, then we want to help you. Give us some sign as to where you are.” Mariela spoke out, but not too loud. Judging by how they heard the noise, even at how weak it was, the girl couldn’t be too far. “We won’t hurt you.” she then said again. She turned around to look at Scar, before looking back in front of her.

 

Artie:  Bandit’s hearing was downgraded, from some sort of blow from her ear. The world was underwater, her own breathing resonating through her own head. It sounded labored and hard, her eyes squinting open as she heard someone speak.. “Who are you?” Though once more, it was no more than a croak that pained her on its way up. It was heard as, “Ooh err oo?” Soft, tentative. Though, her hand would still reach to be near her boot, grabbing the handle of her dagger as she pulled it free with tremendous effort.. Jesus.. Had someone added 70 pounds to her blade? Bandit held it out in front of her with a sort of last-survival effort, glaring towards the sound of voices..

She looked somewhat humorous, with an inner ferocity and a battered outside body. It was likely that she couldn’t walk, and truthfully she felt reality fading with each second. She was sure that she had a black eye, from how swollen and tender it felt. Maybe from her fall.. Somehow, she’d gotten a rather large cut on her leg. It was healing, but dirty and still dried blood clumped around it and on her clothing. Her hands themselves were dirty, and her hair was in the same state. Was her throat bleeding from the sheer dryness of it..? It sure tasted like it.. But, Bandit figured.. if she was going to die, she would go with a fight, no matter how feeble.. Her hand would tighten its grip on the blade’s handle.

 

Razorbackwriter:  Scar raised himself up slowly from bowing before the young Witch. She was such a funny girl at times. Angry, yet curious. Good natured yet with a mean streak when crossed. Threatening death one minute, then being a saint the next. It was enough to confuse the poor Alp, who had the weight of much on his mind now. They really had to tread carefully, and what lay up ahead could well be one of Lydia’s creatures. The Alp had come up with the idea that there was a slight possibility of another person or enemy in the maze, but if that was true they still needed to be on their guard. Scar crept along after Mariela, once he had firmly placed his hat back on his head.

“Hello? If you’re not a scary creature of this maze trying to kill us and you’re trapped here like us, then we want to help you. “

“If you are scary, the Duchess is going to rip your heart up out your nostril and chew on it.” Scar added, only to see her stern look, when she cast her gaze back at him when she had said that they wouldn’t hurt them.

“…much.” Poor Scar, his nature was always getting the better of him. “Oh come on. It could be anything.”

Sure enough when they made the next turn, there was a girl laying in the path of the maze. Covered in bruises, cuts and blood – she looked to have been through the ringer. Her voice was quite strange and she stunk. “Ooh err oo?” the girl whispered, looking to be in so much pain.

“It’s…it’s a girl. I think it’s human.” Scar said with a look of surprise. The Alp had not come across humans before and had only heard about them. What he had heard was not good. This one was wearing a jeweled collar and then she brandished a knife. Holding it out in front of her like she was ready to defend herself. This was not good as far as he was concerned. “A feisty human.”

Scar waited to see what Mariela would do next. Would she dare try to save a girl that looked ready to attack them?

“What if she wants to hurt us? Hmm?”

~RB~

 

Dessy:  Mariela kept walking through the maze, Scar following close beside her. Her eyes and ears were focused on finding out where the voice came from. But at Scar’s comment, she snapped her head towards him and looked at him sternly. She then reached over and slapped him. “And if it’s one of the creatures, then I’ll take care of it. Now shut it.” she spoke. Soon they turned the corner, and that’s when they saw her.

She was bruised up, with cuts and blood. She looked like she was in a lot of pain. “She is human.” Mariela gave a nod of her head. She took a step forward, but stopped when she pulled out a dagger. She turned her head to glare at Scar. “Shut up and let me take care of it.” she spoke, before looking to the girl again. “If she tries to harm us, we will be able to defend ourselves. She’s too weak to do much.”

She took another step forward. “We’re not gonna hurt you.” she spoke softly, gently. “I’m Mariela, a witch. This is Scar.” she gestured her hand over to Scar. “We’re trapped here just like you. We have no intention of hurting you. We want to help you.” she took another step forward. “Put down the dagger. Please. And let us help you.” she still spoke in that calm, and gentle manner. “I promise no harm will come to you. If you let us help you, we will protect you. You have my word.” she spoke once more, her green eyes showing worry for the girl’s health. The girl wouldn’t survive if she wouldn’t let the two help her.

 

Artie:  Everything in Bandit’s core screamed at her to deny their help, to fend for herself and figure her life out on her own.. But she knew this would not be wise, and she would be very unlikely to survive a night in this state.. How could she trust two strangers? Yet, she would be dead either way.. It was simply a death of waiting in this god forsaken maze or one at the hand of these two strangers. With a shaking hand she would drop the blade, the metal making a dull thud but also a clang as it fell to the ground, her fingers held tensely in the air as she felt an immense amount of pain, blood coming from her fingertips in slight cuts and scratches – the grip of her dagger had bloody fingerprints on it, the stinging lingering through her bones. She would grit her teeth, glaring at her fingers as she began to curl them in, as though going to clench her fists but instead finding herself stopped by the pain. Her hand would shake in the air from the stinging pain, her fingernails caked with blood – what had happened to her in her moments of unconsciousness?

“Day.. What day is it?” Her lips attempted to form the words, clearing her throat weakly. “Dai.. Wha dai.. s’it?” She turned her head, spitting out a clump of blood.. Her throat was so dry that the blood itself was little in liquid, no saliva to coat it so it instead was just spat out in a thick mass of dark red. She let out a puff of air, labored, then gazed at Mariela. “Names?” “Nm..ss?” Her eyes focused on Mariela’s as hard as she could, yet still appeared glazed when she was gazed at. Her eyes closed slightly in her struggle, though then reopened.. Bandit would not allow herself to look weaker than she already did. Couldn’t.

 

 

 

The Maze of Greed – Part Four : SS.

Hate and revenge can lead you down a very dark path.  This is what Scar and Mariela are about to find out.  What if they are not the only ones that are lost in the Maze of Greed?

Scene setting : Maze of Greed – Seven Sins series.

Co-written with Dessy and Artie.

 

Razorbackwriter:  “I was speaking all la de da. You know, fancy talk. I didn’t mean that you were mywitch…I…I…oh forget it.” Trying to explain his faux pas was just making him seem a bit silly. He didn’t mean to upset her, but by her body language the damage was done. When a woman folds her arms and gives you the look, its best to settle your bets and pay your dues. Even if you meant no harm by it. The alp much rather find a way to help the witch get far as he could from Lydia’s clutches, but now that they were in the maze, it was going to be easier said than done. Course, she interrupted his chain of thought when she mentioned that Lydia was far more evil than she first thought. Lydia had gone out of her way to earn the young witch’s trust. Becoming a woman who was nothing more than a fraud. Oh she seemed lovely, alright, but the clues were there. Like when she killed Warner, and used his blood as a sacrifice for the Devil. Did the Devil himself not say that she was an ambitious little bitch? This was of course all well before Scar arrived on the scene. And he was summoned from the book of shadows. Lydia’s grand plans for him were to keep Mariela out of harms way as she plotted the ball, and then what was to happen afterwards, when everything fell into place. Again, Scar knew that Mariela was the key to Gabriel’s curse or the removal of it. But Scar had taken Mariela into the maze first and well before Lydia was ready. That was why she appeared in the hand mirror held by the raven man.

“You…remember the hand mirror, don’t you?” Scar started, his face now perfectly serious. There was no joy or mischief in his voice. “There….is another one. Here….somewhere in the labyrinth. A bigger mirror…a looking glass.” It appeared the Alp knew a whole lot more about Lydia’s schemes than first imagined. “It’s not hers. It belongs to a Warlock. I think his name was…Raul, or something. Anyways, it is enchanted just like the one I broke.”

Scar fidgeted with his hat nervously as he bowed his head. “My understanding is that the Lydia in the mirror is in another dimension. It was why I thought….that it was safer out here, than in that hall.” Was the Alp starting to regret bringing the witch out into the maze? “As for….the price of using my hat as a way to escape, the price could be a greater one than you are prepared to pay. As I said before, magic always comes at a price.”

~RB~

 

Dessy:  Mariela stared at him, raising an eyebrow as the alp tried to explain himself… but miserably failed. “‘Fancy talk?’ That’s what it is?” she said, before she just ended up grinning when he told her to forget it. She didn’t know what had happened for Scar to start calling her “my witch” when she wasn’t his property. But if he was trying to earn brownie points, it wasn’t working. Not right now. Mariela was still a little unhappy that Scar never gave her an explanation. She also didn’t like whatever was going on in the maze. She was a little angry about that.

Mariela nodded her head when the hand mirror was mentioned. Her face turned into a frown when Scar grew serious. Most of the time he was always happy and playful, so seeing him so serious was weird. “What does the mirror have to do with anything?” she asked, putting her arms by her side. “And why did a warlock give it to her?” she then asked afterwards. She was so full of questions, and so curious.

Mariela watched him fidget with his hat, her green eyes watching him as he talked. “So, there are two Lydia’s? Why and how? And what does this “other Lydia”,” she made air quotes with her fingers. “…want to do with me?” she then pointed to herself. She listened to him again, and she thought that Scar was regretting taking her out to the maze. That’s what it sounded like, at least. “What do you mean “a greater one than I won’t be prepared to pay”? Scar, I have no idea what you are talking about…” she sighed, and gave a roll of her eyes. “I know magic always comes with a price! Everything comes with a price!” she said, annoyed, and moving her arms around the air dramatically.

 

Razorbackwriter:  Scar grimaced as Mariela’s anger started to get the better of her. Here she was, stuck in a horrid maze with the Alp, when she could be back in the ball room. Though little did they realize just what had gone down within those walls. Scar certainly didn’t know….not yet. All he knew was that when he took Mariela from the ball room, he genuinely feared for her life. Some of Hell’s most powerful beings were in that room, and with murder taking place, unruly fights…well, Scar figured some of them might succumb to the blood lust and attack a pretty thing like Mariela. She totally took his words the wrong way, and he felt like she was scolding him for it. It really was just an honest mistake, and yet he could feel the rise of her anger. She was becoming more and more animated. Flailing her arms about her wildly. His answers had only made her want to ask more questions. For example, what did the mirror have to do with anything? Why would a Warlock give it to her?

The alp was starting to feel drained. He had no idea that Mariela would be so damn curious about…well everything. His job was to keep her in the dark. That was what Lydia had set for him. But after the wonderful times he spent with the witch, he had lost sight of what was required.

“Why would a Warlock do a deal with the Demon of Ambition….and Greed? Why do you think?” Now he had an exasperated tone. Scar had only overheard the pair plotting, but not actually met the Warlock properly. “He obviously thought there was something to be gained. I don’t know….maybe…maybe…” the Alp stuttered. Racking his brain of possible conclusions. “There must be…a damn good reason. Maybe they had a common enemy. You know, revenge and hate can lead you down a very dark path.” He glanced around him and then he suddenly had a clue. “What if….there is someone in this maze, beside us? What if, she let him use the maze…for a purpose other than her own?’

Perhaps the Alp was on to something, but the train of thought left his mind when Mariela again quizzed the hat and the price that would be paid for using the magic within. The colour drained from his face, as he stepped right up to her and went to grab her shoulders. Staring at her he said softly.

“Imagine a place where you had no power, no magic. The hat is a portal in a way. You could use it and save yourself.”Scar turned his head away from her as he closed his eyes. Was his love for her so much that he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?

~RB~

 

Dessy;  Mariela took a deep breath and put her arms by her side. She was getting angry. This entire thing was just frustrating her in many ways. From being dragged out of the ballroom, to being in a terrifying maze, to this whole confusing mess with the two Lydia’s and the two mirrors. It was frustrating the young witch. All she wanted was for the entire mess to be over, and that’s it. She rested her arms at her sides, watching Scar as he spoke.

“Why would a Warlock do a deal with the Demon of Ambition….and Greed? Why do you think?”

This caused Mariela to give a shrug of her shoulders. She didn’t know. It could be anything. But Lydia and this warlock were obviously working together for something. For what, Mariela didn’t know. “I know there must be a “damn good reason”, but what is that reason?” she asked. The witch was too curious for her own good – asked so many questions. “Yeah… “Hate” is starting to lead me down the path where I’m going to destroy the next living creature that appears in this damn maze.” she grumbled, putting her hands on her hips. At Scar’s next words, Mariela’s eyes widened. “What purpose would that be? And if there is someone else in this maze, then we have to find them, Scar. We can’t leave them in the dangers of the maze.” she spoke, now determined to save whoever this person was from the terror of the maze. She wasn’t going to just leave them here.

All of a sudden, the color drained from Scar’s face when she mentioned the hat again. He grabbed her shoulders, staring at her as he spoke, and Mariela’s green eyes stared into his red one’s. “If losing my magic is the price I have to pay, then I’m not doing it.” she spoke, but watched turn away from her and close his eyes. “My magic is the only part of my family I have left, and I fully intend on keeping it.” she spoke, crossing her arms now. “And I never said I wanted to go to another dimension. Because I don’t.” she said, but her face softened. “There’s something you’re not telling me about this, Scar. I can see it in your face.” she said. She took one of her hands and placed it on the Alp’s shoulder. “What is it?” she then asked, tilting her head to the side as her other hand lay by her side.

 

Artie:  Blackness, then slight light. More blackness, then light again.. Bandit’s eyes would flutter open slowly, laboriously, her head pounding as though she’d been knocked out. What a hell of a dream.. Though, she would soon find it wasn’t much of a dream. Her wrists felt sore underneath her, her whole body aching with a dull and burning pain. She would push herself off of the grass, attempting to take in her surroundings through a fog of pain in her head. Her eyes blinked again, lids heavy and yet not fully opened yet. A light groan escaped her lips, a tired look on her face that had a prominent bruise on her cheek, in the midst of a healed but dirty cut. How it had gotten there, she couldn’t tell. Blonde hair that was stained brown fell into her face, furthering to cloud her vision. With a light huff the female would manage to sit herself up, reaching to her neck to find no collar… a clear ploy of some sort. She was sure it had merely moved itself to be around an ankle, but she wasn’t sure. At the moment, all of her limbs felt painfully dead and dull.

“Hello?” The word formed on her lips, but her throat was so dry all that came out was a soft croak, more along the lines of ‘grnoa?’ She herself could only barely hear the noise come from herself – it was so painfully quiet of a noise. This was the effect of little water, the burning that steadily rose a direct symptom of this dry throat. She would lick her lips, but unsuccessfully, as her tongue had little moisture to begin with. As she began to somewhat focus, yet still weakened, Bandit would gaze down at herself. She was fortunate to be back into clothes, her prior clothing.. It was in the same dirty condition, with a minor tear on the hem of her shirt or pants leg, but otherwise they seemed to be unaffected. Where am I? Pure willpower would force her to crawl to a hedge of the maze across from her, sitting up but un-moving as she appeared almost dead, eyes barely open from the energy crawling here had required. Her head slumped a bit as her eyes closed, the sounds of something in the distance.. voices, maybe? She couldn’t be sure if they were friend or foe, but she would try to not make herself known, knowing an enemy wouldn’t be fended off if she was found..

The Maze of Greed – Part Three : SS.

There are many untold dangers lurking in the Maze of Greed.  Mariela, the witch has escaped one, thanks to the magic of Scar’s hat.

Scene setting – The Maze of Greed.  Seven Sins Series.

Co-written with Dessy.

 

Razorbackwriter:  Scar felt a tingling sensation just after he had shouted for Mariela to put the hat on if she could. He knew what the hat could do, but did Mariela? Hearing her voice, the desperation in the tone made Scar all the more determined to find her in this hellish maze. Scar had a renewed sense of urgency as he raced down yet another path that was lined with hedge walls so high that you couldn’t see over them. The alp was panting, much like a canine – rounding another bend and yet seeing no sign of his beloved Mariela.

The snake woman statue lurched forward with the intent to grab at the witch. This statue that had come to life was one of the charmed attractions of the maze. A deadly creature that if she had gotten her hooks into the young witch, she would have set her venomous snakes upon her. Her yellowing eyes glistened with hatred as she swung out, only to have the witch vanish before her eyes. All because she put on the magical hat. The snakes drew back their heads sharply – then started a slow dance like motion, using their senses to try and feel a change in the air flow to find the wily witch.

The charms clinked and rattled all around the snake woman statue, who was now hissing violently in her desperation to snatch at the witch. Her head snapped towards the sound of Mariela’s foot falls as she fled from the scene. Her nose crinkled up in disgust, since she could not capture the girl, but just as the statue started to stiffen, Scar turned the corner – almost running smack bang into it.

“GAK!” The alp explained. He looked up slowly to see the menacing eyes of the statue once again brighten. “Oh……shit.”Yes, the Alp was frightened, but then he used his agility in speed to zip around the statue. Making faces, and blowing raspberries at it. The snakes flew out, snapping at him wildly but the alp was simply too fast. He was like a blur of black and white, being the tuxedo that he wore. This was turning into a bit of a game but one where he was trying to get the snakes all tangled up and cause the statue to become trapped within her own creatures.

“Ehehehehehehe!”

Scar was such an odd one at times.

~RB~

 

Dessy:  Mariela had eventually stopped running – mainly so she could catch her breath. She turned around to look in the direction she was just running from. She hadn’t heard anything else from Scar after last time, and she was beginning to worry. The maze was huge, and she didn’t want to know what else was in this maze, or get lost in it. She was walking backwards, watching the statue as it appeared angry that it couldn’t catch her. This caused a grin to appear on Mariela’s face.

She then squinted her eyes at a blur of black and white – before hearing familiar laughter. Scar. Mariela had ran towards it a few feet, before stopping and watching Scar make faces at the statue. “What the hell is he doing?” she mumbled. Mariela had a very amused expression on her face, and it took every urge to not burst into laughter. He was acting like a five year old, and the entire scene was quite amusing. He was… an odd one, that much was for sure.

She waited for Scar to run towards her, but the Alp seemed too busy. Mariela gave a groan and a roll of her eyes, before running in his direction. She took Scar’s hat off to make her visible, before quickly grabbing his hand. She spun around afterwards and began running again, pulling Scar along with her. She stopped after they had ran several feet and handed his hat to him. “I believe you might need this back.” she spoke, although she was also trying to catch her breathe. “And what took you so long?”

 

Razorbackwriter:  It was a strange, yet comical sight to see the snakes slither around and around the statue maiden daring to try and attack the wicked alp who was simply way too fast for them. Within no time at all, the snakes were all knotted and tied up, causing the statue to be unable to lift her arms. Scar continued with the childish taunting, the poking out of his tongue and the cross eyed expression that would have any child in fits of laughter. He would have continued, had it not been for the sudden sound of Mariela’s voice – a light mumble asking him what on earth he was doing.

Scar finally stopped to catch his breath, tossing a glance back at the statue and then smiling proudly at Marelia.

“Snake charming.”

It was said so off the cuff, that it was simply ridiculous. Before Scar could say how pleased he was to see her, Mariela snatched at his hand and spun on her heel to drag the wicked Alp along with her. Scar almost got pulled off his feet and it took him a bit of effort to keep up with the witch. Only when she stopped a few feet away from the now incensed statue that she spoke to him. It was hard to tell what she was saying, cause she was visibly out of breath.

“I believe you might need this back.”

“Why thank you. Did the trick, didn’t it?’ Scar took the hat graciously and placed it back on his head, giving it a firm pat and then tilting it to the side. You had to admit, it looked better on Scar than it did on Mariela.

“And what took you so long?”

“Ah…yes. Well. Remember birdy?” Scar said with a slight tilt of the head. He wasn’t sure how the witch would take this news. “Let’s just say he would make wonderful pillow stuffing.” In other words, he was dead. Scar shrugged his shoulders. “Oops. My temper got the bad of me.”

Pouting he approached Mariela and uttered softly. “I am sorry. Old habits…and all that.”

~RB~

 

Dessy:  “Snake charming.”

This caused Mariela to roll her eyes. “That’s just…” she started, before sighing. “You know what? Nevermind.” she then said with a shake of her head. She looked over towards the statue and gave a grin. “Well, at least you’ve managed to get snake lady over there distracted for a while. That’s a good thing.” she said with a nod of her head. She then turned her gaze back to Scar. By this time, she had caught her breath back – at least for now.

“Mm… yes, it did. The hat isn’t just a simple accessory after all.” Mariela commented, grinning. The hat looked far better on Scar than it did on her. That was for sure. Mariela narrowed her eyes and titled her head at the mention of Birdy. “The one you got in a fight with? Yes, of course I remember him.” she spoke. At his comment, she widened her eyes. “You… killed him?” she then spoke in a shocked tone. “I can clearly see that.” she said when he mentioned his temper. She then shook her head. “One less person we have to worry about.”

Mariela gave Scar a pat on his arm when he apologized. “No need. Old habits die hard. I get it.” she gave a smile, before growing serious and putting her hands on her hips. “Now, I don’t suppose you have a trick in that fancy hat of yours to get us out of this death trap of a maze, huh?”

 

Razorbackwriter:  Rows of glistening razor sharp teeth were on show as Scar cracked a huge smile at Mariela’s words. According to her, he had done a good thing by trapping the snake woman statue in her own snakes. It was rare for anyone to pay he a compliment, let alone say he did something good, considering what he had just done to Birdy. Course, what he did do to Birdy was the next source of conversation and her reaction left him feeling a tad nervous. Scar succumbed to temptation to eliminate the raven man as he believed that Mariela’s life was in danger at his hands.

“One less creature, my young witch. I dare say that Lydia has many more lurking amongst the hedge walls.” His eyes taking in their current surrounds before settling his gaze back upon the beautiful Mariela. For a young innocent she was handling the maze rather well….considering. “This maze is no simple parlor game. It was designed with a sole purpose in mind.”Again that would take thoughts back to Lydia’s evil schemes. One thing he did know was that Lydia did not do this on her own.

“There is…one more thing I didn’t tell you.” Scar started, only stopping when Mariela asked if there was another fancy trick in that hat of his. Scar pinched the edge of his hat with his thumb and index finger – dragging the pair along the brim with a quick flick. The alp’s mind racing as he teetered on whether to tell Mariela or not.

He lowered his hand uneasily and stepped back from the witch.

“It….could. But I must warn you, there is always a price to pay.”

What he meant by that was something he was not quite ready to divulge.

~RB~

 

Dessy:  Mariela watched him as he smiled after she commented on him trapping the statue with her own snakes. She gave a smile as well, but the smile then went way and ended up with an eyebrow raise. “Your witch? I don’t recall ever being “yours”…” she spoke, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms. HIS witch? She wasn’t property. Scar didn’t own her – nobody did. “Yeah… I really don’t wanna stick around to to find out what those other creatures are.” she said nervously, this causing her to shiver because she could only imagine. And she didn’t want to.

“Really? I could have never guessed considering I got got attacked by a statue and her snakes.” Mariela said with an eye roll. “That “sole purpose” is obviously death. Lydia is much more evil than I originally thought.” she stated. Mariela’s face grew serious at Scar’s next words.

“There is…one more thing I didn’t tell you.”

“Oh, boy.” Mariela sighed. “And what would that be?” she asked, mentally preparing for whatever came out of the Alp’s mouth. She was not having fun right now. Not at all. Mariela eyed him the entire time, and wehen he took a step back, Mariela tilted her blonde head. “I don’t like the way you said that.” she spoke with a frown. “What “price”? Why does everything come with a price?”