The Twins

[Aeri`]

They were twins. Brothers in fact. Ethen and Athen Mason came to the Edi a few weeks ago, seeking jobs as clerics. The elf was thrilled to hire them for they came highly reccomended. Little did she know their papers were forged. The Silent Order had planted both to keep an -eye- on the elf.

That fateful day when the Kolob had brought Aeri the warning of silence then shortly died after the blast, taking the front part of the Edi with him and one of the twin brothers as well. Poor Ethen. He died a heros death, but was he really a hero? The elf mourned for the wrongful deaths and she was unaware of the plant.

Athen grieved for his brother far more than the elf did. He knew he would die if had confessed to what he and Ethen had been up too. There was a hate for the elf however. It was all her fault his brother died, and somehow he would get even. The man was near to insanity but it was kept in check. He would have his revenge. It was only a matter of time.

[Itanya_Blade]

Itanya had taken to sleeping in the doorway of the room the elven healer took as her own when Aeri spent her nights at the Edi. It did not help that there was still some tension between Itanya and Aeri's husband Suede. Most of it was gone, though the swordswoman was beginning to regret asking the tailor about making her an outfit to distract her mage husband from his constant research.

Just last evening, she had returned a silver dagger to the tailor. Itanya had removed it from Suede's possession rather forcibly the last time she had been present when the tailor attacked Biske. Just thinking about that night made her head ache.

For now, she was unaware of Athen's intentions towards Aeri. Though, no doubt, her nightly presence in the Edi had prevented the man from taking any foolish actions. Only time could tell how long that would last, since the swordswoman was noticibly absent nearly every morning.

[Aeri`]

It was the grief that drove him further into his insanity. Twins were like one and now he was only half. It was the elfs fault. She did this. The man would clutch the sides of his robes till his knuckles grew white and shook with fury when he was alone and out of sight from prying eyes. Dark eyes would follow her every move and he fumed in hatred. His emotions were kept in check however for -they- were always watching the elf. He would wait for the right moment then finish off the job.

His duties consisted of helping the others and he did his job well.
There was still some heart left in the man when it came to the children, but the others he seemed to be overly rough with. Aeri had seen this action many times over since the death of Ethen. The brother Athen seemed alright however and she did not wish to add to his grief. She would however keep watch over him incase he needed a leave of absense. Little did the elf know the man, Athen, had other ideas. Everyday he got closer and would wait for his chance. The madness would cloud his mind. It was only a matter of time.

[Jirai]

Athen was not the only insane one working at the Edficium, though. The hospital also sported Jirai. And while Itanya was absent every morning, the dark elf was usually around. Though she did not pay any specific attention to Athen, one way or the other, maybe the cleric was insane enough to try something when Jirai was there. The diminuative drowess would no doubt enjoy killing him. He was trying to kill Aeri, that should be enough excuse, if the Doctor said anything like he had the last time she had gotten a bit out of control. Of course, it had been Suede she stabbed last. But there would be nothing wrong with killing the cleric, would there?

[Aeri`]

The deed was done. They promised him revenge. He waited, oh how he waited. He could almost smell the blood. Blood was spilled but not the elfs. Their plan failed. The werewolf Biske was to turn on the elf and kill her. He failed. They failed. They all failed him. It was up to him now. She would pay and dearly. Athen was besides himself now. Madness began to rot his mind. The werewolf was so close to doing the deed he longed to do, however the guards came. Damn them all.

Ethan could not be brought back. At least some sanity was held by shreds of memory. He would however get even.
He paced the floor and mumbled to himself. Long tappered fingers would grab at the short strands of his hair in frustration.
A blink made. A plan. He would make a plan that would not fail. He would need the werewolf again. They said he could be controled by just a few words spoken. He knew those words. A slow malicious grin curled upon his lips. Dark eyes narrow.
He would need coins to free the werewolf, but how? Again he paced the floor with hands held behind his back. He would have a look of a scholar had one looked his way. White robes clinged to the near skeleton of a man. He had not eaten in days now. There was only thing on his mind, and that was to kill the elf.
It was only a matter of time.

[Aeri`]

Aeri had taken the sack of gold -Dara- had given her to rebuild the Edi. She knew it would be best to hide the said gold till she had a chance to hand it over to David. There were far too many theives about lately. The elf knew of a place near the fairey circle. A tree was chosen near it and at the base of it, she began to dig with her bare hands. The dirt came up easy enough and the hole made. The sack of gold was dropped in and then quickly covered with dirt again. She then placed a small cross over the shifted dirt. Noone would dare dig up a grave. Satisfied she had disguised the small treasure well, the elf then walked back down the beaten path and back towards the Edi.

Anyone with their sanity intact would never touch a grave, but then there were some who would. The figured drew out slowly once he was sure the elf had left. His heart was beating fast with excitement and knew exactly what he would find under that make shift grave. The cross quickly grasped and plucked from the ground, then tossed aside...forgotten. Long tappered fingers dug greedily into the soft dirt till they brushed against the leather sack. The gold, the precious gold. He hugged it to him as if it were a new born babe, softly caressing it and murmuring to himself.

It was nightfall again by the time Athen returned to his duties. He seemed almost too chipper. The elf noticed it but said nothing. The others noticed and just shook their heads. Either the man lost it or he accepted his fate and found peace.
Little did any of them know of his plan. Tomorrow..Tomorrow would come and he would go to the gaol and buy the werewolfs freedom again. The elf then would die. It was only a matter of time.

[Aeri`]

The twins were always insepatable. Even in early childhood they were always seen together, never alone. One was bright and had life in his dark eyes, yet he was shy. The other seemed, well odd to most and his lifeless looking eyes would send many screaming off. Their nanny even nicknamed them the angel and the demon. Ethen always did what he was told, yet Athen would go out of his way to defile orders. The kitten they were given as a gift by the neighbor boy was found dead, hanging by it's neck. Accusing eyes were sent Athen's way, yet Ethen took the blame. As they grew into manhood, both seemed to change. Ethen became more bold and out going. Athen just sunk further into his own world, yet both twins remained close.

With family funds diminishing because of their fathers poor health and the untimely death of their mother..the twins set off to find work and help support their father. Odd that their mother was found hanging from the rafters. Suicide was pronounced, no doubt because the family was going bankrupt. Again the servants would look towards master Athen's way. Not a tear shed by that one. He was such an odd sort. Rumors were heard that he and his mother were agruing just the night before about his gambling debts and the fact he was keeping bad company with the local brothel. Accusing eyes set upon Athen. He however was oblivious of it, or was he? The malicious smirk always seemed to be curled upon his lips sent many realing back from his wake.

Within a weeks time after their mothers death, the men would set out to find work. Ethen would get the better jobs, were as Athen would manage to lose them. Both seemed very skilled in the arts of healing however and managed to get by throughout the years. Again mysterious things would happen and eyes would look upon Athen. The twins would only up and leave the town they were in to find yet another and start over again.

It was by chance the two ran into the ones leading the Silent Order. They were recruited to help heal some of their men that had the misfortune of falling into a fever. The two clerics helped heal the ones that were sick and the Order paid them well. Ethen saw a good opportunity here and requested that the both be hired. The ones in the Silent Order were no fools, yet they needed ones that were -expandable- to go after that certain elf who managed to dodge their recent attacks. The mute elf would soon know not to mess with the Silent Order again. Both Ethen and Athen were hired to -watch- the elf and report back to them.

The death of Ethen changed everything. Signs of madness were beginning to show from Athen. He kept it hidden well for now. It was only a matter of time.

[Aeri`]

He was good at covering up his emotions. Even the death of Ethen had not brought him to show any emotion. Not in front of others anyways. What he felt was beyond indurance and measure. He was careful, very careful. Ones would never know what dwelled in the mind of a madman till it was too late.

Even as a child he could trick them. He always came up the innocent or so he thought. Ethen..his dear twin brother who left him alone now in the cruel world always took the blame no matter what. Now he would have to answer for his crimes.

It was all her fault. Pain, he needed pain to ease his mind. Twisting the creatures neck till it squeeled and died in his hands did not do it. He needed to feel pain to ease the anger he felt now. The small dagger held and a slice made upon his arm. It felt so good. The pain..it was there and it was good. Blood would drip then down his arm and over the many scars he had upon it. Years of self abuse. It was his punishment to himself. The blood licked off then a lose bandage placed over the small cut. If one looked closely it almost looked as if the scars formed some kind of symbol. What it was of, one might never find out. His way of thinking was only of the mind of a madman.