GREYBURN - INTO THE LABYRINTH

[DKender]

  
Babette-
"I can see it - the shadow that clings to me!"

She grasped at it, pawing at the water like a cat over a fishbowl.

Babette-
"It'll be a shame to lose this crown ..."

  

She plucked away the deception, less tangible than wrapping paper. How curious! Babette wondered if, the next time they met, she could transform Billy into a teeny little rag doll. A goal worth working toward!

  
Babette-
"Well, how do I look now?"

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Anselm-
"..."
          
              Anselm-
                    "..."

Anselm-
"No, zave kisses for later!"

Anselm-
"Now it's two Babettes! Do I become your reflect now?"

Babette could feel the pulled-away reflection still hanging on to her fingers like invisible wet strings. Maybe she could tuck it away, or toss it on to someone?

[DKender]

  
Babette-
"Hu-rah! Never change, beautiful! Hehe. Just kidding. I'd miss you too much - I had a fun time in your shape."

She rolled the invisible wisps of illusion in her hand, contemplative. How real they felt! She was tempted to become philosophical about stuff like reality and the meaning of life. After a moment, Babette tucked them into her dress, saving them for later, if they could survive the passage of time.

  
Babette-
"Well, you know what this means? You can be my stunt double! I'm sure August will be thrilled - he so loves to include people in our project."



Babette-
"We just need to escape this place first! I've called Ellen, but ... even she can become lost in the labyrinth."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Anselm looked to the sky as a little bird fluttered down to him.

Anselm-
"I don't see edges... it's all black beyond..."

The bird crawled under the cape, and Anselm pulled out two fully formed Babette hands.

Anselm-
"Hm, maybe if vee can cross 'dhe vater?
But I don't know to svim..."

Babette turned to look out at the horizon, and saw a dark shape rising from the silver ripples...

[DKender]

Babette-
"EEK!"

That wasn't Sophie! ;-;

  
Babette-
"Run, Anselm! He found us!"

Babette backed away from the lake's edge, mindful of the illusion she still carried. If Aubrey caught them, she'd throw it at Anselm and hope that he reverted to a non-prince! Maybe that would deter Aubrey ...

"If ... if you are cast into a maze of bookshelves, don't sing about jukeboxes around the piano man."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

      Anselm-
        "Yes, I-- Ahh!!"

Aubrey came upon them with uncanny speed.

Aubrey-
"Babette, my love! Why did you run--"

Aubrey-
"What's this?"

Aubrey-
"Oh ho ho, are you having fun talking to yourself?
What lovely things must young women talk about,
even if it is to their own company. How divine..."

[DKender]

Babette-
"Ooooh yes! We were just talking about lipstick. What was that, Babette? We need to do our lipstick again? Darker red? Yes! What a good idea, Babette! But I left my purse outside the cathedral. Tragedy."

It worked once!

  
Babette-
"Any chance you can show us the exit, Lord Aubrey Greyburn?"

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Anselm tried to keep up with her mirrored movements.

Aubrey-
"Hmm, perhaps later we can take a jaunt around the--"
     
      Aubrey-
        "What's this--"
 
Aubrey-
"Your reflection-- it's got something strange adhered to it--"

[DKender]

Babette-
"You mean the cape? Well, she was cold."

Babette took out her hidden illusion. She might need to rethink her plans.

    
Babette-
"About that jaunt - maybe now is a perfect time? The lake is haunted by a woman with no head. It's a dreadful place."

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Babette could feel the illusion in her hands beginning to slip through her fingers...

Aubrey-
"Oh dear, have you been talking to these infernal spirits?
I don't know where they all come from, they just crawl
out of the library like it's an open door."




Aubrey-
"Hm, a loose thread..."

[DKender]

Babette-
"Of course spirits are drawn here! The cathedral has a terrible gravity."

Oh, why not! She threw the slippery illusion at her reflection (formerly known as Anselm).


Babette-
"Reveal your true self!"

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

SPLAT! Babette tossed the reflection like an invisible jellyfish, just as Aubrey tugged at the red cape.

                   
               Aubrey-
                            "Hmmm^mmm?"
   
Anselm-
"How odd! Hm, how do I come here? I am confused!
It iss an unusual magic! Strange zpirits, vhat a situation!"

[DKender]

Babette-
"The prince is here!"

She clapped her hands and curtsied - wearing that evening dress finally paid off!

 
Babette-
"It's Anselm - what a surprise! We were just talking about spirits. Hehe. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you again. I'm glad you're wearing your crown this time. Have you been formally introduced to Lord Greyburn, pre-eminent Godlyman of this city and many others, I'm sure!"

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

  
Anselm-
"Ah yes, lovely to meet! I hear-- um-- I hear you make a dead people sausage?
Vhat's it like? How long it is? How intriguing!"

 
Aubrey-
"Welche Linie sind Sie ?!"

Anselm-
"Ahh-- Eichel! P-Prinz Eichel?"

  
Aubrey-
"Babette, what scoundrel is this? I know not of this lineage."

[DKender]

Ooof. People sausage. The organs in the piano were probably real ...

Sadly, if she encountered a pile of sausages in the cathedral, Babette would wrap them up in her handkerchief and give them to Zero.

Babette-
"His family crest is marked by the fanged deer and several robins, Aubrey. It's really quite precious."