Price

Puck was resting in the card but his conscious was very awake and aware of his surrounds outside in the physical world and in the world where he and the rest of the card spirits rest. He had sense one of them was summoned by their master but didn’t catch their name at first. He waited until that particular spirit returned and felt it approached him. There was no mistaking that aura…

Thanatos?! Puck exclaimed in surprised. Why did M’ Lady summoned you?!

I have no idea, the Spirit of the Death Card said irritable. Puck could sense that the higher Arcana card spirit was very annoyed about their master. When they were in this realm they could sense each other’s thoughts and emotions because in the way they are one. That stupid mortal girl called out my name without thinking again just like last time. His voice was heavy and Puck sensed something like regret. Was he regretting what happened last time? Or was it…

She asked you to use your power….? Puck said and he sensed Thanatos mentally nodded yes. Oh no! Oh no! This is bad! The price! How could she go and forgot about the price again?!

She’s an air head, Thanatos said flatly. And too good hearted for her own damn good.

Puck didn’t say anything as his head was whirling with shock and anxiety. Calm down she’s still alright even after paying the price, Thanatos said in a sharp command. Puck mentally shook his head. I have to go talk her she probably doesn’t know about it.

Huh, I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t, Thanatos said. Bring Brant with you. That damn demon Loki is here. When he mentioned the name Loki there was a sharp hint of loathing in his voice.

Loki?! He’s here?! Does that mean…?

I don’t know, Thanatos responded darkly and Puck stiffened. Just go and do your duty as a Spiorad de Peacadh*.

Puck left the realm and entered the Physical Realm along with his comrade Brant.

“Where’s M’ Lady?!” Puck said urgently as he looked around sharply. Several feet away he saw Aisling lying next to Mari. The white haired man that Puck remembered was called Matsu was kneeling down checking Aisling’s pulse.

“It’s alright,” Matsu said gently as Puck zoomed over to hover close to Aisling’s side. “She’s very weak but I believe she will be fine.”

Puck nodded and then glanced at Mari who was out cold as well. “What happened to her?” Puck asked and saw Kaki hovering close to Mari with a very worried look on his face.

“I not exactly sure, she wonder off awhile ago and when she came back she suddenly fell unconscious,” Matsu looked at Mari with a slight from on his face. “I found this on her hand,” He held up Mari’s hand and Puck looked at it and saw what looked like a red tattoo.

“Hh...what could that be?” Puck said wrinkling his nose as he scrutinized the tattoo or what it appeared to be at tattoo. He stared at it and then said, “What bit her?”

“Sorry?”

“Something bit her and left that,” He pointed at the tattoo. “It could be a spiritual imprint of some kind I donno.” He frowned crossing his tiny arms over his chest. “I think I recognize that writing… it looks like it could belong to a Pagan culture or something. Sir Richard might know.”

“Who?”

“M’ Lady’s father,” Puck looked at Aisling and asked, “Who did Thanatos brought back to life?”

“Brought back?” Matsu said looking at Puck blankly. “Oh it was Ryuu—

Puck drop like a stone and crashed on the floor face down. The pain from the fall didn’t comprehend with the feelings of shock that was exploding inside. Th-that boy?!?!?!

“Uh…are you okay?” Puck vaguely heard the white haired man address him but he pay no attention to it. The little fairy shot back up in the air which made the man lean back as if he was expecting him to explode and in a way he did. “HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH AN IDIOTIC THING!!!?” Puck yelled at the unconscious red head. “YOU…YOU WENT AND DID THAT AND PAID THE PRICE FOR IT!!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!!!!” Puck stopped when he felt a gentle hand resting on top of his head. He looked up and saw it was Brant.

The knight shook his head, the movement made quiet squeaking and creaking noises. She doesn’t remember about the charge that comes with Thanatos’s power. Brant voice spoke in Puck’s psyche. Puck calmed down and looked at the floor embarrassed and angry at his own behavior.

There was silence in the hallway and Emiko broke it. “Okay we can’t let those two lying on the floor all night. We should take them to our base.”

“Yes yes,” Matsu said nodding. “I will carry Miss Aisling…” He paused and looked at Brant. “Unless you want to?”

Brant nodded and picked up Aisling gently. He carried her bridal style like he did with Mari the other night. Kaki watched him and followed Brant’s actions and carried Mari in his arms.

“Okay then,” Emiko said, “I’ll lead you to the room.”

“That’s alright Miss,” Puck said. “We know where it is. You all go ahead with your business or whatever. We will look after them.” Puck said honestly. They will look after them even if Aisling didn’t order them but he knew that’s what their master would want anyway.

Emiko looked hesitant for a moment but nodded, “Alright then.” She walked away and the woman with dark hair that Puck forgot her name at that moment followed after her.

“Right I shall go and find Nino, you take care now.” Matsu said as he walked away. Puck waved after the white haired man as he left and went to settle on Brant’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Brant went down the hall with Kaki following them. They walked in silence; Brant being mute, Kaki being to shy too talk and Puck too busy keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. The group made it to the classroom turned base without running into any spirits wicked or not. Puck wounded if all the good spirits were in hiding or had turn evil by the demons’ influences.

Puck looked at the room, there were tables line up against the wall with equipment used by the ghost hunters and a few desks and chairs. “This won’t do, we need beds for the two sleeping beauties here.” Puck flew out of the room, “Be right back.” He said over his shoulder.

In a few seconds Puck was in the school’s infirmary. He turned to the beds that looked more like cots that the students that didn’t feel well would lie on. “I’m sure they won’t miss two beds.” Puck said to himself as he waved his little wand. Acting like a maestro he commanded the wind energies to create small tornados to lift the beds up. He moved his arms this way and that as if he was a traffic cop directing drivers to move around safely. He led them out of the room down the hall and back to the base.

“Mind your head*,” Puck warned as he skillfully directed the winds to carry the beds inside the room. Thankfully the room had plenty of space and the two beds were able to fit without much trouble. Brant gently place Aisling on one bed while Kaki did the same with Mari on the other.

Brant turned to Puck and motioned his hand at the beds. Puck knew what he meant and said, “It’s not stealing it’s borrowing.”

They wait in silence, Kaki sat in a chair next to Mari and Brant remained standing. He was alert and prepared encase his assistants was needed. Puck sat at one of the desks, his legs swinging absently. After a moment Puck asked, “Anybody wanna play Eye Spy?”
~*~
Aisling was dreaming.

A figure of a woman dressed in black and armor stood on a hill surrounded by numerous black crows. Aisling stared up at the figure in horror. The stranger held a bloody spear in her hand and lying at her feet were dead bodies and she recognized them as friends and family.

Aisling woke up crying out.

“M’ Lady?!” Someone said in surprised.

Aisling was sitting in a bed, sweat drenching her face and her heart was hammering hard in her chest. She felt very sick at that moment and clutched her stomach and cover her mouth. She was going to be to throw up. “Bathroom,” Aisling managed to say through her fingers. She jumped up and ran out the classroom. She went straight for the girl’s restroom that was just around the corner. In a matter of seconds, she was on her knees, in front of a toilet and retching against her will.

After the disgusting and uncomfortable episode Aisling shakily got up and flushed away some of her insides. She walked over to the sick and gargled water to wash away her stomach discharge. When her mouth felt clean she looked at her reflection and it stared back at her with haunted eyes. “Who was that…?” Aisling murmured and then splashed water at her face. “Crows…” she said staring at the water running from the faucet. She felt her heat jumped as she remembered something from Celtic mythology, “Morrigan*.”

“M’ Lady are you alright?” Aisling turned and saw Puck hovering close to her face.

“Puck? This is the girl’s bathroom!”

Puck glanced around and shrugged, “So?”

Aisling opened her mouth to scold him but instead let out a sigh. She leaned against the sink and rubbed her temples. “Why do I feel so weak?” She asked out loud. She saw Puck stiffen and looked away. “Puck what’s wrong?”

Puck stared at the floor and glanced at Aisling somberly. “Puck?”

“….You paid the price….” Puck said in a solemn voice. Aisling looked at him confused. “Price? What do you mean?”

The fairy page took a deep breath and said in a hollowed tone. “When you asked Thanatos to save that boy you paid a price…”

Aisling stared at him. “And…that price was?” She sensed the emotions of sorrow and regret radiating from the card spirit.

Puck grimaced and bowed his head, “The price is years of your life.”

Aisling could do nothing but stared than she sank to the floor and sat on her feet. “Years of my life…what?” She stared up at Puck who looked back at her grimly.

“Bringing back someone from the brink of death is not free.” Puck said. “To use his power Thanatos needs a little of your life force.”

Aisling said nothing at first then she said, “Oh…” She looked at the floor and then a smile slowly appeared on her face. “At least Ryuu’s alive that’s all that matters now.”

Puck gaped at her dumbfounded. “Are you insane?! Your happy to pay for your life essences for THAT GUY?!?!?”

Aisling looked up at him and said in a clear strong voice. “He’s my friend Puck.”

Puck stared at her and then shook his head mystified. “Do as you will M’ Lady.” He said but it sounded like he wanted to say ‘It’s your funeral.’

Aisling smiled and stood up. “I’m hungry I wonder if they have bendy machines that’s working.” She and Puck left the restroom. When they were out in the hallway they felt the atmosphere vibrate from the release of intense spiritual pressure.

“Nino?” Aisling turned to head for where she could sense the man’s spirit aura but Puck hovered in her way.

“You can’t go M’ Lady, your too weak at the moment.” Puck said. Aisling wanted to argue but she knew he was right.

“Okay,” Aisling sighed. “But you could please stop calling me ‘M’ Lady’.”

***
Okay that’s it for now. I thought it was time for her to wake up. It’s not good to sleep on the job tsk tsk.

AISLING: <_< It’s not my fault.

Uh huh so it’s your guys turn I hope this was good ^_^

Spiorad de Peacadh*- literally means “Spirits of Sin” not it does not mean they represent sin they are the committers of sin.

“Mind your head”* >.> why does this line sound so familiar?

Morrigan* is the crow goddess of war and death in Celtic Mythology here's an picture of her. FYI I did not made this.

I forgot to mention that Thanatos is the name of the god of death form Greek Mythology.

HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY!!! :D Agghh!! The faces are getting on my nerves! DX

End