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[Jolicia]

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Jolicia sat quietly at the table, absorbed in her own thoughts as the others talked and waited on Wolfwood's arrival. Her nerves were already set on high but she received some small comforts from Aingeal's words, the large hug from Alisiea, and the mere presence of John. Him agreeing to go through this with her... there weren't words for her to find to express what it meant for him to be by her side. Ultimately though, it made her think of Balam. She was doing her best to keep it on the inside as there was business to tend to. Renthar was right though, she couldn't be distracted right now or it could prove to be a dire consequence and there had already been too many.

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Renthar had set the stage for the ritual with explicit instructions for everyone. Jolicia looked around the dungeon with anticipation at those there for a second chance at life and to those that were there to protect them while the task was completed. As Renthar asked if they were all ready, she was the first to respond with no hesitation. The next instruction was for the four of them to disrobe completely and little to her surprise the two men were the first to follow the order. She looked to Renthar curiously, "Now?" Jolicia could swear there was a slight hint of delight as he answered. Sighing, she slowly untied her dress and let it fall to the floor. She didn't look at the others, but kept her focus on Renthar as he went to each of them and gave instructions. Having finished, he moved to the middle of the Pentagram, "Now, I regret that which I must do... But unfortunately, for us to continue... You must all die."

Jolicia's spirit floated up as her lifeless body hit the floor. Watching as she heard Renthar begin to make contact with this world, she felt a familiar presence behind her. She turned and there was Balam with a serene look about him. Reaching out to him in disbelief, "You're... here?"

He smiled to her with a reassuring look, "I just needed to see you one more time. I needed to tell you that I love you and that I hope you will be truly happy now. I couldn't be with you in the way you wanted, but I couldn't leave you and John alone in this."

Renthar's voice broke through, "Choose Spirit! Breathe the Fire. Choose your fate. The time is at hand." She looked back to Balam feeling torn in two directions as he smiled to her. Then Renthar's voice broke through again, "Join us now! Jolicia!"

Balam reached out to her, "Go Jo. This isn't your time. Return to your body, return to the others and live the mortal life you longed for. I'll be waiting for you when you return."

"Jolicia!" Renthar's voice reverberated through her. Balam brushed her hand away as she reached for him again and then she was suddenly pulled back into her body, the living world. Jolicia coughed violently as she rose to her feet, unsteady and wobbling on what felt like newborn legs. Rubbing her face she looked around the room and her gaze met John's as he smiled to her with that knowing look.

[Renthar]

---

"You may dress now," Renthar ordered the naked Tokuno native standing in the center of the room. It had been important for him to examine the integrity of Mariko's smooth, naked form; he would not tolerate any abnormalities or deformities. Not where his pleasure was concerned. "I long for the day that I am well enough to do what I please to your body."

"Hai Rentha-San," the Geisha quietly acquiesced as she dressed.

"Now, I suppose it's time to see the damage done," he said, more to himself than to his foreign-born audience of one. Nearly a day had passed since he had performed the Restoration Ritual, and his body was still weak. Yet the spell was successful, was it not? Aurelia Bretane, Jolicia, Dominic Wolfwood, and John Reid were no longer kindred, they had been restored to true life. Of course, as always, the strange-eyed mage was mostly concerned with the personal effects. And until he removed the dark shroud that concealed his face and body, he would never know for certain.

When Renthar's initial attempts to leave the bed failed, Mariko dutifully rushed to his side. "No!" He shouted, as he smacked her away. "I am not some ancient or invalid." He would do this on his own, or not at all.

"Please forgive my boldness Renthar-San."

Slowly, and painfully, he finally managed to stand. "Lead me to the vanity," he commanded, and the Tokuno native did his bidding. Step by step, she helped him across the room, until he was seated before the mirror. "Shall we see the results?"

"Hai Renthar-San."

After disrobing, Renthar eagerly gazed at the mirror and was satisfied with the results. The face that peered back at him was one he had not seen in ages. More than a century even. "Well, how do I look? Does Mariko approve? And if you tell me you haven't given it thought, I shall likely slap you."

"Renthar-San looks very ... young."

Yes, his appearance was younger. Overnight, he had transformed from a man of fifty years to one of barely three decades old. With any luck, this was how he would forever remain. Also noticeably absent was the corruption, those dark magicks that had slowly been consuming him. Renthar was whole once more. Like the former vampires, he too was cured. "The way it's supposed to be."

"Hai."

He slowly turned to Mariko with an amused grin. "That's the one good thing about the sort of fools you find here in Ashencrosse. They're so optimistic. So self-centered. Focused only on their own goals. They do not consider the price, or the cost, and how they weren't the only ones to benefit ..."

For there would be consequences in the days to come. They simply would not be Renthar's to bear ...