:::sighs as she sits awake at the Villa, rubbing her temples, the children all asleep, including Lia:::

I have no idea what is going to happen. Alterio wants to have a meeting with me. He specifically said 'no weapons'...as though he thought I would try to use them against him. My 'future' on the Isle? What the hell is that all about? I know he doesnt believe me. I can tell by the way he replied to the scroll. I know he believes Im just using Lia to be able to take her as my own. If only he could have heard her...that innocent little face, golden halo of hair, and those big eyes as she said.."peas"...how could I possibly say no to her? Why couldnt he have been there to hear her when she was telling me of how he is always angry....and how she is being ignored...though I can somewhat understand..what with the loss of Mairin and Marissa. Why shun the children that are still living for the greif of those gone. Even though Mairin is not dead...I dont believe she is dead....he should control his temper around the children. I know he and Vix argue all the time.

:::shakes her head, rubbing her temples again, as she hears Ben in the background snoring lightly on the couch::::

I did not do this to hurt either of them. That is the last thing I would ever want to do. I understand both of them are upset about the recent loss of Marissa. I kept my promise to Lia and sent word to them of her wishes. *sighs* Im not trying to take her away from them. Maybe the scroll will help them see that Lia isnt happy...that shes missing something she needs. Right now, she needs so much attention after the loss of Torlin...Im sure with their recent losses...that it was hard to think about Lia and her loss and how devastating it was for her. By Khlamar, I love them all to death. ALL of them...Vixen,Alterio, Mia, Alkane, Lia,Alianna...I just want them all to be happy. And according to Lia...she isnt. I dont know...*sighs*...Im going to go sleep in the children's room until they wake up. I have such a headache now.

~Lyrias~

:::sprinkles a little sand on the journal entry, and rises, carrying her journal back to the bedroom she is sharing with Lia, to try and sleep a bit, after hiding her journal:::

--Journal Entry, 12 October, Lyrias Dreams

*looks happily at the worn journal before her, packed with paintings and remnants of her travels and all bound together in ribbon to save it from bursting at the binding. Carefully, she opens the covers sifting through a good many things and plucks out a portrait of her beloved, smiling she rests the small drawing atop the journal and begins to write*

I am so glad to be back here once again. The moons are always cold and lonely when you wish you were somewhere else. But as it turns out here I am, and in the arms of the one most loved. Thank the Goddess above for shining so down upon us both. We believe ourselves to be eternally indebted and greatful. You wouldn't believe how warm you feel when you wake up in the arms of someone you love, especially when you've both been away so long. We are s'happy...And engaged to be Betrothed sometime in this week. Vixen has offered to make the wedding dress and what with all the gifts from the most kind Sir Carazzi I shouldn't be in needing in planning out a festival just as Silver and I've always wanted...An odd thing..we've been be-gifted a home...a home? I've never had a home, in all my life I've slepted beneath the sky and I shouldn't wonder I'd feel a great bit uncomfortable under a roof unless 't'were non existent or glass. Silver doesn't seem especially pleased with the idea either, but its right on the sea...Home...The Sea. A wonderous thing, that.

Chaos still reigns here and for the life of me I canot keep up in what goes on. Everyone seems to have been 'wandering through the mists' as it was once called, I certainly hope it isn't to be contagious...

I shouldn't ramble too much, so much to do this afternoon and this week...Again my thanks are offered to the powers that Be above.

--Journal Entry, 13 October, Arachne

*sits quietly, sucking her thumb curled up on Lyrias blanket and snuggling against one Alterio gave her, quite torn. Grumbling she finds one of the books from the library and brings it close remembering how comforting it was to have a journal, even if her childish ways entailed nothing more than speaking to it..*

I's ba'girl....'gain! An' I dinnunt mean to cuss..cuss da's right I wasn'nt mean to...Bu'Kicksnin an' A'trio all ang'y all time and derse no one'a pay wiff cuss A'kane and Mia iss a'ways sommerelz. So I axded Aun'y Leer if she be my mommy cuss I dun fink A'trio and Kickshin wanse me or dey wouldn't 'gnorse me and leabe my cry all time whin I goss ba'deams...And Aun'y Leer goss all leaky in her face and say'd she talksa A'trio fers me cuz dass wha'I rully rully wansded...bu'DEN Aun'y Leer gess all leaky 'gain cuss A'trio goss mad a' her! And he ALWAYSES mad! He finks da Aun'y Leer tryta steal me from him but he noss eben wanse me so whyfer dass stealin? Bu...I rully rully LOVE A'trio like a Daddy cept I fink da'cuzz his beebee-who-gose-way-and-neber-comes-back-gain jumped into d'baftub wiff hot stuff i'side da'he noss rully wansa anudder girl wike me and I no' wanse him mad a'me cus he d'bess Da EBER but...Aun'y Leer lise me nad I dun fink Kickshin lise me..wull she LISE me bu' as a besses fren an no lise a Mommy cuss she too sad inside I fink....rah rah...So I sorry I sorry e'ryone..I donse needsa mommy or a da iss e'ryone gess SADDER i'side...and...an dass all k? k.

--Journal Entry, 13 October, Thirlia

~sitting in the kitchen with untouched coffee in front of her, she busily writes~

Things are so much harder these days. I'd forgotten what it was like to have few true friends. It's been so long since I felt isolated in my thoughts and feelings. I suppose I could always change, have my old friends back, but why should I? No, I won't turn my back on what I believe in. It's like I'm back in Meadowood all over again, the outcast, the sore thumb. But I'm not so bothered by it this time around, which seems odd to me. I figure, though, that since I've got Ben and Aidan and Casi and such...well, things are pretty okay. I just don't much care anymore. It's not apathy, though...no, I'm not apathetic, I just don't see the use in worrying about it much.

Alterio's feeling better physically, I think. He can obviously see again. Good. Weight off my shoulders. As for Vixen, she's sporatically reverting to a childlike state. Trauma and all. Well, I got angry yesterday because they were *treating* her like a child. That wouldn't help her...when people try to revert to a "safer" state letting them stay there is the worst thing you can do. I didn't want to say anything, because it's none of my business, but when I got annoyed and left, Tigs came out to ask me what was wrong, so I told her. Mags overheard and grew angry with me, I think. She glared, anyway. Well, what can I do? Everyone knows I've been crazy for awhile. Vixen seemed fine later.

With most of that stuff settled in my mind, I think I can concentrate on worrying about Mairin and helping Aidan with his library now. This storm bothers me, too. It seems to be lingering just on the fringes...I hate it. Oh, I won two ships and some rings last night. I gave the ships away. I get seasick and don't know anything about boats, and I don't need the gold I'd get from selling them, so I saw it to be the best thing. I also gave the rings away to Calhin andf Casidhe. They're getting married, and I likely won't for many years. Marriages just don't seem to work out for me.

Then there's Mumphra. What's to be done? I leave that to the "experts" I think. I'll just heal the aftermath to pay my restitution.

Jane Maichen

~she grabs her cape and satchel and heads to the dome~

--Journal Entry, 13 October, Jane Maichen

His hand was feather-light on the smooth skin of her thigh, brushing down toward the inside of her knee. His touch was no longer strange to her senses. A slight frown marred the smoothness of her forehead when the sensuous longings filled her belly. His mouth reached for her in the darkness, kissing her with intense longing and pent-up passion. She didn't want to feel this way, but her body seemed to have a mind of its own. His fingertips were cool on her fevered skin, stroking her softly while his mouth plundered the softness of her lips. She had given up fighting the burning desire that raced along her spine when he touched her this way.

She gave into her desire for his gentle touch. When he nudged her gently back, onto the bed, she moaned and shifted at his urging. He was a masterful lover, giving more than he took, and making sure that no inch of her was left untouched by a hand or lips. Rowsy shuddered softly as his mouth traced a fiery path across her shoulder blades, branding her wherever his lips touched. His hands held her arms gently to her sides, as he licked the sleep-warmed skin of her neck. She'd never known how sensuous it was for a man to play his mouth over the skin of her back and shoulders...

:::::: He awakes suddenly upon Rowsy's couch where he has been sleeping during the storm. He can feel the heat from his own flushed skin. He sits up and looks for his journal, needing to put his thoughts down to help understand them. He opens his journal slowly and begins to write as he lets out a deep breath. ::::::

I think it's time for me to go. The storm has passed so I have no pretense to stay here any longer yet I find myself loathe to leave. Rowsy has lifted so much of the darkness from my soul these past days... more than I ever could have hoped. Will I stop wearing my mask? No. Though her wrds seem genuine and I truly wish to believe them, I am still not totally convinced. However, when we are alone, just for her, I will remove it when she wishes. I owe her that much at the least for the patience she has shown me.

Now, the dream. They come too often to me now as her closeness theatens to drive me mad. It's never been about that, my feelings for her, yet I cannot help the way I yearn for her just to be near. Her soft kiss upon my lips the day I removed my mask was pure exquisite joy. I've longed to kiss her again, yet am not sure it is what she wants, yet. She still seems to doubt that Icould love her so deeply and truly though we've spent but little time together. If only she knew that I love her so much more now than I did before the storm.

Yes... it's time for me to go home. I will tell her when she awakens. I will not, however, tell her the reason why. How can I tell her that I'm having such dreams when she has been so kind to me. I shiver at the mere thought of her touch, yet do not wish to rush ito anyhing only to regret my actions later. For now, it is simply best to accept the gifts she has given me in the form of helping lift some of the darkness from my heart. Really... what more could I ask for so soon?

:::::: He lays his journal on the small table before the couch and stands, stretching. He leaves his journal open so that it may dry, trusting that Rowsy will not awaken yet and see it, as he decides to walk outside to get some fresh air. Yes... perhaps some fresh air will do him some good. On goes the black and silver etched mask as he opens the door and steps outside for the first time in days, perhaps with a ... different ... outlook. ::::::

--Journal Entry, 13 October, Lord of Masks

"shakes her head after being told what was overheard"

Well its a good thing i canceled having a new home built. Im not staying here. Im leaving the Island this evening as soon as I can. And -this- time im not making the mistake of telling anyone im going. I wont be talked into staying here again by anyone.

Ive had enough. I need some sanity in my life and so do the children. They will be better off on the mainland.. away from this island and especially away from their so called dad. He treats me like shit cuse he wants to be with Jane. Thats fine.. he can have her and shove her up his ass. He wants to make that mistake again I will not try to stop him this time. BUT I refuse to stay here to watch it. I told him that before and i meant it.

"She closes the journal and glances at her scattered clothing and decides to not take much with her, anxious to get away from this island as soon as possible"

--Journal Entry, 13 October, Vixen Blade

The reign of darkness is at the threshold.
Darken skies will bloom upon death of the innocent,
Which was caused by the foolish who knew nothing
But mindless be.

Will feed upon your tears while laughing at the tragedy
I am the soulless without the pity story
I am the scum without the excuse
I am the coward without the claim of honor
I have no weakness; I am twisted be.

I will haunt you; I will become of you
because I carry no remorse.
And just when you thought I was done
you still have ten-fold to pay to be.

The Pariah will be.

--Journal Entry, 13 October, Mumphra