*Hidden Nature* A Shapeshifting RP

[NickyKnack]

Baalberith peered uncomfortably from within the book. He frowned and started to pull the book closed. He knew he was on holy ground now, in the upper realms. He knew his place. Asclepius caught the book, forcing the pages open. 'it will destroy me, to be here. If the others find me here, my brethren will end me.'
" Oh, don't be so melodramatic, Baalberith, I'm not sure Fay is even using angels to assist her. I've seen no evidence that she even has any in her service at all. And you, Anton, are you feeling comfortable here? So, how about this: we draw up a new contract, to overwrite the old one. Baalberith has his uses as one of the best contract writers among demons. I suspect that is the biggest reason he was stuffed into this handy book! No offense, Baalberith," joked Asclepius.
The book flicked a few pages, Baalberith and a few other illustrations rolling their eyes.
'Since we will be planting him into a body, we can put a clause in the new contract, stipulating that if Anton tries to maliciously (that's the key word there, it won't count if consenting) drain another woman, he will forfeit his freedom and be banished from his vessel and thus back to the demon realms. This allows for Anton to use his natural charms to find women willing to feed him in exchange for services rendered. We all know what your powers of persuasion can do. The second clause will be that you may not take a life, except in self defense. If you kill without reason, you will return home to the demon realms. Are there any further terms to this contract? Does the mate of the victim wish to add any further stipulation?'

"I feel fine here. But perhaps it's the bubble that buffers such effects. And I don't know how else to phrase it. Yes! Anything to free me form my existing contact would be great. All previously mentioned terms and conditions are acceptable to me." Anton replied to Asclepius queries. He looked to Ravek to see if he had any additional stipulations.

Ravek looked over from his place on the floor with Shaylee. "Just one, that he stays far way from my mate, both body and mind." He said with quiet resolve.

"My home is not 'holy ground' I am not an angel and do not consort with them. They are uppity, about as much as you demons are. That Christian, Jewish whatever he is God has his own realm" Fay stated, frowning at the book. She shook her head and turned back to look at Anton then to Ravek "You two deal with his contract and him, I will get a body for him" She added on, vanishing to do as she said. They were the Greece/Roman gods here, both good and evil and quite a few simply neutral on the humans and their realm, though they didn't want to lose it since losing Earth would be detrimental to them. There was even an island in the middle of the sea that the Icelandic and Vicking gods stayed on in this realm.

Anton quickly added before she left, "Preferably male! Please!"

Ravek turned his attention back to feeding power his energy to Shaylee since the demon agreed to release her.

Baalberith peered sheepishly after Fay had disappeared, fidgeting uncomfortably. Even if it wasn't Yahweh's realm, these were still gods. He himself had been a Mesopotamian God before being absorbed into the angelic host as one of the cherubim. Many of the angels and demons were formerly gods and goddesses of the ancient middle Eastern tribes, who were either brought into the fold or destroyed. 'Well, let's hope she brings a suitable host body for you, Anton. Do these stipulations suit both parties? Does Ravek have nothing to add? As mate to the injured party, you are allowed to speak for her if she is unable.'
Asclepius chuckled at Baalberith's obvious discomfort. He looked expectantly at Ravek, and looked askance towards Anton. He was still conflicted, but the contract being drafted did protect any possible victims and still allow Anton a comfortable life.

"So, how are we going to get this current contract off my chest? " Anton asked resolutely.

 

[NickyKnack]

With a soft click, the shackles gave way, revealing angry, raw skin underneath, the scales rubbed off wherever the restraints had been placed. Phoebe gasped sharply, sucking in her breath. The tail restraint had ruined the double ridge of wing that would normally extend all the way to her tailtip; now a wide swath was crumpled, ruined, or altogether gone, along with the scales rubbed away underneath there as well. Several raw spots on her ankles and wrists, where the bone was closest to the surface, had angry oozing sores that started bleeding as the shackles peeled away. Her heavy lidded eyes rolled around, smoke escaping her jaws as she lumbered forward on shaking legs, before collapsing on the floor, her massive bulk shaking the room like a little earthquake. Phoebe thrashed around, trying to find her footing in her heavily drugged state, her equalibrium completely altered. The viewing windows from the control room were destroyed by her long sweeping tail, sending tempered glass everywhere. The walls were dented and buckling near the control room.

Aurelius moved back long before the glass ever shattered. Seeing it in a vision before it actually happened had it benefits. The heat would have been unbearable for her to endure.

Degan rushed to take cover to escape harm from the suddenness of Phoebe's flailing. Not that she intended to inflict harm upon either of them, she was so out of it. He just didn't have magic to survive such a blow.

"Easy, easy, easy." Kellan called out as he tried to touch her and make her calmer. "You have to calm down and be still. We can heal this."

Phoebe wailed, but stopped thrashing and lay still. She was dizzy, and the room seemed to be spinning around. Forcing the words out, she managed to apologise.

Degan let out a relieved breath as he ventured to stand up and come back to Kellan's side. "Is she stabilizing? What do you think they gave her?" He asked quietly.
~~~

Kellan would help the temperature drop, slowly enough to not harm her but quickly enough to let them be able to take her away from this place safely too. As they waited, he would start to unlock her from her chains. 
~~~

"They understand us, they just speak oddly." Elle said and looked to the dragonkin, translating for them as they spoke to answer the questions. Most of them had moved to surround and watch over the group, keeping them safe now that the little queen asked them to.

One of the females stepped over to Merrick and dipped her head, nudging him and chirping in answer to his question. He would be riding one of them.
~~~

Anna frowned at that and looked around "We should find Jason and the others then, losing the cameras could mean they took them over again" She said, then looked to Zypher and Maxton "Have we gotten all the innocents from every floor?"

~~~

Jason stopped and looked to Navar then clapped him on his shoulder "This is why I keep you around" He teased then sighed, focusing on his magic to try to make a locator spell for Anna. He frowned a little then pointed, a bit to the right "That way" He didn't really understand how to make it a light to follow, so for him it was a feeling of which way to go. It wasn't too long before they could see something ahead

Nashton nodded and glanced to Merrick as the dragonkin stepped forward. He then laughed at his response.

"Oh, come on! Fly in and fly on are to vastly different concepts. How am I supposed to stay on? They don't even have saddles. " Merrick said in a rush as he looked to the dragonkin with big eyes.

Cadeon chuckled and said as he patted him on his shoulder, "Obviously you've never seen Avatar. It's all in your legs Merrick and I don't envy you the task."

Merrick swallowed audibly and held out his hand, hopefully in a friendly gesture. "Hi, you wouldn't drop me or sting me would you?" He asked imploringly.
~~~
Zypher looked to Anna as he read the text aloud to her. "Jason's floor is an inferno. Xatia went back to get them and was burn when she opened the portal. No one knows what happened or if they even got out. I'm sorry, Anna. As far as the rest of the floors, they're cleared."

Ackley gasped in shock and looked to Anna with sympathy in her eyes.

Sabra looked to Xavier as he said solemnly, "Maybe they made it to the elevator."
~~~
"Good! I'm glad I have my uses. " Navar teased back. As they journeyed onwards the distant sight was a welcomed one. Good or bad, at least it was something in the vastness of white nothingness. "What do you think it is?" He asked eagerly.

Keira stepped forward to take point with Vasper close behind. Their guns raised ready for bogie's.
~~~

 

[Bantambird]

"I feel fine here. But perhaps it's the bubble that buffers such effects. And I don't know how else to phrase it. Yes! Anything to free me form my existing contact would be great. All previously mentioned terms and conditions are acceptable to me." Anton replied to Asclepius queries. He looked to Ravek to see if he had any additional stipulations.

Ravek looked over from his place on the floor with Shaylee. "Just one, that he stays far way from my mate, both body and mind." He said with quiet resolve.
Anton quickly added before she left, "Preferably male! Please!"

Ravek turned his attention back to feeding power his energy to Shaylee since the demon agreed to release her.
"So, how are we going to get this current contract off my chest? " Anton asked resolutely.

'We need to find a way to breech contract. It is binding on your end. Perhaps, since you were promised Shaylee's soul, we could work with that. If, perhaps, by making Shaylee's soul unavailable to you, that would be a breech of contract, because it was the promised payment for services rendered. Since we have already brought you out, we may be part way there. The stipulation that you remain away from Shaylee would make her unavailable, and thus the old contract should be breeched. That should free you from it.' Baalberith was flipping the pages of the book, looking for more information. Asclepius let Baalberith work.

 

[StarrNico]

Phoebe wailed, but stopped thrashing and lay still. She was dizzy, and the room seemed to be spinning around. Forcing the words out, she managed to apologise.

"I feel fine here. But perhaps it's the bubble that buffers such effects. And I don't know how else to phrase it. Yes! Anything to free me form my existing contact would be great. All previously mentioned terms and conditions are acceptable to me." Anton replied to Asclepius queries. He looked to Ravek to see if he had any additional stipulations.

Ravek looked over from his place on the floor with Shaylee. "Just one, that he stays far way from my mate, both body and mind." He said with quiet resolve.
Anton quickly added before she left, "Preferably male! Please!"

Ravek turned his attention back to feeding power his energy to Shaylee since the demon agreed to release her.
"So, how are we going to get this current contract off my chest? " Anton asked resolutely.

'We need to find a way to breech contract. It is binding on your end. Perhaps, since you were promised Shaylee's soul, we could work with that. If, perhaps, by making Shaylee's soul unavailable to you, that would be a breech of contract, because it was the promised payment for services rendered. Since we have already brought you out, we may be part way there. The stipulation that you remain away from Shaylee would make her unavailable, and thus the old contract should be breeched. That should free you from it.' Baalberith was flipping the pages of the book, looking for more information. Asclepius let Baalberith work.

After a while, Fay returned with a young mans body that she had gotten from Viduus, the Roman god that separated the soul from the body. She looked from one to another of them before focusing on Anton again "Are we ready?"

 

[StarrNico]

Aurelius moved back long before the glass ever shattered. Seeing it in a vision before it actually happened had it benefits. The heat would have been unbearable for her to endure.

Degan rushed to take cover to escape harm from the suddenness of Phoebe's flailing. Not that she intended to inflict harm upon either of them, she was so out of it. He just didn't have magic to survive such a blow.

Degan let out a relieved breath as he ventured to stand up and come back to Kellan's side. "Is she stabilizing? What do you think they gave her?" He asked quietly.
~~~
Nashton nodded and glanced to Merrick as the dragonkin stepped forward. He then laughed at his response.

"Oh, come on! Fly in and fly on are to vastly different concepts. How am I supposed to stay on? They don't even have saddles. " Merrick said in a rush as he looked to the dragonkin with big eyes.

Cadeon chuckled and said as he patted him on his shoulder, "Obviously you've never seen Avatar. It's all in your legs Merrick and I don't envy you the task."

Merrick swallowed audibly and held out his hand, hopefully in a friendly gesture. "Hi, you wouldn't drop me or sting me would you?" He asked imploringly.
~~~
Zypher looked to Anna as he read the text aloud to her. "Jason's floor is an inferno. Xatia went back to get them and was burn when she opened the portal. No one knows what happened or if they even got out. I'm sorry, Anna. As far as the rest of the floors, they're cleared."

Ackley gasped in shock and looked to Anna with sympathy in her eyes.

Sabra looked to Xavier as he said solemnly, "Maybe they made it to the elevator."
~~~
"Good! I'm glad I have my uses. " Navar teased back. As they journeyed onwards the distant sight was a welcomed one. Good or bad, at least it was something in the vastness of white nothingness. "What do you think it is?" He asked eagerly.

Keira stepped forward to take point with Vasper close behind. Their guns raised ready for bogie's.
~~~

Kellan stepped closer to Phoebe to pet her gently "Once you cool enough to not be harmed, we can open the portal and get you out of this place. Do you think you could shift in a few minutes?" He asked her then glanced to Degan "I'm not sure, if I could touch her directly, I could try healing her at least of that drug before we move. I don't want to risk her scales cracking from too great a change in temperature too fast though." He added then looked to one wall, making a portal to help the room cool,
~~~
The dragonkin chirped and touched her snout to his hand. Once they touched, she would be able to speak to him, or rather, he would be able to understand her. "I won't hurt you, the queen said not to." It seemed that the person touching them could 'hear' the words they spoke, but when not touching only heard chirps unless they were dragons.
(velociraptor 'chirps' by the way, lol)

"She said she won't hurt you" Elle said, looking at the two
~~~
Anna gasped at the news that her brother could be gone. She was glad for the small consolation that he could have gotten to an elevator, but that didn't help much. She shook her head a little and looked down "If the floors are cleared, we should get this place ready to blow."
~~~
Jason chuckled and looked to the group ahead, wondering whi they were as they came closer. He thought it was Anna or her group, or someone close to them, but he couldn't be sure.

 

[NickyKnack]

'We need to find a way to breech contract. It is binding on your end. Perhaps, since you were promised Shaylee's soul, we could work with that. If, perhaps, by making Shaylee's soul unavailable to you, that would be a breech of contract, because it was the promised payment for services rendered. Since we have already brought you out, we may be part way there. The stipulation that you remain away from Shaylee would make her unavailable, and thus the old contract should be breeched. That should free you from it.' Baalberith was flipping the pages of the book, looking for more information. Asclepius let Baalberith work.

After a while, Fay returned with a young mans body that she had gotten from Viduus, the Roman god that separated the soul from the body. She looked from one to another of them before focusing on Anton again "Are we ready?"

Anton looked to Baalberith as he flipped through the pages. As Fay returned to them with his host body, he turned his attention to them instead. "Yes, I believe we're close to figuring out the loophole in my contract. One that may render said contract as null and void. We're just waiting to see what Baalberith finds to confirm it." He replied to her question.

 

[Bantambird]

Kellan stepped closer to Phoebe to pet her gently "Once you cool enough to not be harmed, we can open the portal and get you out of this place. Do you think you could shift in a few minutes?" He asked her then glanced to Degan "I'm not sure, if I could touch her directly, I could try healing her at least of that drug before we move. I don't want to risk her scales cracking from too great a change in temperature too fast though." He added then looked to one wall, making a portal to help the room cool, 
~~~
The dragonkin chirped and touched her snout to his hand. Once they touched, she would be able to speak to him, or rather, he would be able to understand her. "I won't hurt you, the queen said not to." It seemed that the person touching them could 'hear' the words they spoke, but when not touching only heard chirps unless they were dragons. 

(velociraptor 'chirps'  by the way, lol)


"She said she won't hurt you" Elle said, looking at the two 
~~~
Anna gasped at the news that her brother could be gone. She was glad for the small consolation that he could have gotten to an elevator, but that didn't help much. She shook her head a little and looked down "If the floors are cleared, we should get this place ready to blow." 
~~~

Jason chuckled and looked to the group ahead, wondering whi they were as they came closer. He thought it was Anna or her group, or someone close to them, but he couldn't be sure. 

 

Phoebe nodded where she lay. She realized she wasn't going to be able to get up and walk yet. "I'm so sorry to be a bother. They did something to make me keep laying eggs. I am still pregnant with eggs. I can't shift with the eggs, the eggs won't shift with me. It would be rather uncomfortable. I'm not even sure what species these eggs are crossed with, I'm sorry I am a burden to you all." She laid her head on the floor. "They kept my mind cloudy so I can't use magic. It's all muddled," she moaned. She laid out on her side like a sprawling cat, her wings folded against her back.

 

[Bantambird]

Anton looked to Baalberith as he flipped through the pages. As Fay returned to them with his host body, he turned his attention to them instead. "Yes, I believe we're close to figuring out the loophole in my contract. One that may render said contract as null and void. We're just waiting to see what Baalberith finds to confirm it." He replied to her question.

'Just to confirm, the stipulation forcing you away from Shaylee will sever your current contract as unfulfillable. Breech of contract does serve to make the whole thing null and void. If Pariah cannot fulfill payment, you don't need to continue serving Pariah. Here, it's all written in the rules.' here he flipped to a fresh page as the blood red text flowed across the page for Anton to read. 'i trust you, the undersigned, to make any adjustments nessesary? So far we have it as thus: Anton, Incubus, is to do no harm to Shaylee, or any other for the sake of feeding unless s/he expressly allows it. Killing is forbidden except in self defense. Anton is not to initiate contact with Shaylee on pain of banishment to the demon realms. If you get too near her, your new contract will warn you away, I'll just write that in as an addendum. In exchange, you, Anton, are free to roam the mortal realm unencumbered, with this fresh, unoccupied soulless body. Are these suitable terms? Are we ready to write the final version?'

 

[StarrNico]

Phoebe nodded where she lay. She realized she wasn't going to be able to get up and walk yet. "I'm so sorry to be a bother. They did something to make me keep laying eggs. I am still pregnant with eggs. I can't shift with the eggs, the eggs won't shift with me. It would be rather uncomfortable. I'm not even sure what species these eggs are crossed with, I'm sorry I am a burden to you all." She laid her head on the floor. "They kept my mind cloudy so I can't use magic. It's all muddled," she moaned. She laid out on her side like a sprawling cat, her wings folded against her back.

Kellan frowned at that and came over to touch her head again after she settled "Alright, we can move you in this form, it'll just be further out." He said, looking to check the temperature to see if it was cool enough to physically touch her yet. "Once it's cool enough, I can drive those drugs out of your system and heal you enough to walk." He said then looked over to Degan "Degan, you and Aurelius go ahead and get in the void, clear the floor so we can get this place ready to blow. Let the wolves know they can start with the explosives here, please."

 

[NickyKnack]

Kellan frowned at that and came over to touch her head again after she settled "Alright, we can move you in this form, it'll just be further out." He said, looking to check the temperature to see if it was cool enough to physically touch her yet. "Once it's cool enough, I can drive those drugs out of your system and heal you enough to walk." He said then looked over to Degan "Degan, you and Aurelius go ahead and get in the void, clear the floor so we can get this place ready to blow. Let the wolves know they can start with the explosives here, please." 

Degan nodded and moved to leave the cell. "Ok, you stay safe." He said in parting. Once outside he carefully took off the suit and hurried over to Aurelius who was speaking with the rest of their group. She ran to him and embraced him tightly. "Jason's group is unaccounted for Degan. His floor is lost and I can't even see the future to know he's alright or not. What's the point of having this horrible gift if you can't use it to help your friends." She said miserably.

"Easy love. It's just the cards we're delt. Besides, Jason isn't that easy to kill. Perhaps he's found a way out, he does has the blueprints. Be it vents or something else. Now Kellan wants us to clear the floor to let the wolves start placing explosions. So come on, let's do that. " Degan said gently to her.
~~~

Kellan stepped closer to Phoebe to pet her gently "Once you cool enough to not be harmed, we can open the portal and get you out of this place. Do you think you could shift in a few minutes?" He asked her then glanced to Degan "I'm not sure, if I could touch her directly, I could try healing her at least of that drug before we move. I don't want to risk her scales cracking from too great a change in temperature too fast though." He added then looked to one wall, making a portal to help the room cool, 
~~~
The dragonkin chirped and touched her snout to his hand. Once they touched, she would be able to speak to him, or rather, he would be able to understand her. "I won't hurt you, the queen said not to." It seemed that the person touching them could 'hear' the words they spoke, but when not touching only heard chirps unless they were dragons. 

(velociraptor 'chirps'  by the way, lol)


"She said she won't hurt you" Elle said, looking at the two 
~~~
Anna gasped at the news that her brother could be gone. She was glad for the small consolation that he could have gotten to an elevator, but that didn't help much. She shook her head a little and looked down "If the floors are cleared, we should get this place ready to blow." 
~~~

Jason chuckled and looked to the group ahead, wondering whi they were as they came closer. He thought it was Anna or her group, or someone close to them, but he couldn't be sure. 

 

Merrick made a surprised sound at that little detail. He hadn't expected to hear the dragonkins's voice in his mind. "That's good to know. But strangely enough, she just told me that. So what are you called little one? I'm Merrick by the way. " He said with genuine amazement as he looked at the dragonkin in a new light.

Nashton stepped forward to meet the dragonkin as well. Having seen them in battle, it was something to see this other side to them. "That's amazing, how is that even possible all I heard were the chirping sound? " He asked quietly.
~
Nektar, Jaxon and Garth had moved along with the wolves to help in the search for the others by ground. Nektar looked to where Garmr had landed and noticed the drag marks as she'd be moved out of sight. Then nothing was evident after that. Poof she was gone.
~~~
"They found a dragoness on Kellan's floor. There's a heat factor that's slowing things a bit. But they're starting to place the explosives as we speak." Maxton informed them. He'd heard it through Kellan's mind.

Zypher wanted to comfort and hug Anna, but knew his alpha was all business right now. So he settled for squeezing her hand instead. If the worst was realized, they'd deal with it later. "Alright, let's get this place ready to light up like Chistmas then." He said.
~~~
(Oh, who could it be? Friend or foe?! :yiipchick )
Navar growled softly as they drew closer. Also on high alert. He drew his gun and was ready for anything should they not be friendly. Especially since they had to share the void with the enemy. "Yo, Jas, if you ever wanted to try for a shield thing, now might be a good time. Just saying. " He whispered softly.