Alliances are formed from an array of reasons, to bolster the strength of a shared cause, to show good faith for a cause but in most cases one thing instigates the formation of an alliance, wealth.
" Hurry up and get changed! Honestly, I should be charging you for those clothes!" Celene commanded, having propped herself up on the remains of one of the damaged tables that littered her hideout.
" You stole it all I'm not paying you, besides we're friends now. We'll just call this even." Cyrus chuckled from a small nook that was littered with scattered clothing.
" You just slammed my head into the ground half an hour ago! How is this being even!?" Celene complained, her foot stamping into the ground.
" Hey, I apologized already and Sarah healed you. You didn't make a fuss when she picked out that hairpiece for herself."
" That's cause we have a mutual understanding here, honestly even Henry here is higher in my book than you are." Celene jeered, cradling Henry in her arms and stroking the top of his head getting greeted by a small quack from the duck.
" Hey Henry is a very distinguished gentleman so that's not the insult you think it is." Cyrus smirked and stepped out from the small cove he was tucked away in. He was dressed in a tight fitting black long sleeved shirt that was underneath a dark blue hooded capelet with purple lining. His legs covered by loose fitting dark blue patched harem pants that were lined with purple puffed out around his calves tucked into a pair of black boots. As he stepped into view of his three companions he twirled on his feet. "So what do you think?"
" Honestly..... I'm surprised you don't look like a complete idiot." Celene jested covering her hand with her mouth as she spoke.
" He's surprisingly good with aesthetics." Sarah commented.
" Yeah I guess." Celene rolled her eyes and flicked her long ponytail behind her.
Cyrus chuckled softly to himself, he strolled out of the small cove he had used to change twirling a small mask on one of his fingers. The mask was all white save for the pitch black eyes, smile and black tear drops that ran down the face of the mask. Seeing such a thing Celene tilted her head.
" Where did you get that from?" She inquired
" Huh? It was just with all the other stuff."
Celene walked up and took the mask from him, holding it up in the air as she looked it over. " I don't remeber stealing something this tacky, who would I even sell it to? Some kid?" She tossed the mask back to Cyrus, walking back towards the entrance to her hideout.
" Well it was in here so obvi-" As Cyrus spoke he suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine, grabbing Celene and Sarah he tucked them back away in the cove he had used to change.
" Hey! What's the big idea!? Don't just mmf!-" In the middle of her frantic protests and flailing Cyrus covered Celene's mouth with his hand.
As the four were huddled in the small cove the wall that acted as the entrance to the hideout began to shine the same similar pink hue that appeared when Cyrus and Sarah had first arrived. That same shimmering portal appearing on the wall.
Ripping Cyrus's hand off of her mouth Celene huffed, turning to him as a small star appeared next to her head. " Gods, how many of you are there!? I-"
As Celene spoke a cold chill started to fill the room, it was as if the air itself was starting to grow heavier. The walls seemed as if they were starting to shake and quiver, the weight of the very air seeming like it could crush them. A dark presence seeping out of the portal that appeared on the wall, seeping into every corner of the room. Shivers were attacking Celene's body, sweat ran down her brow and she felt her pulse quicken. Thump after thump in her chest, the pounding of her heart bounced around in her ears, her hands, her entire body started to shake as the thumping of her heart felt like it was going to overtake her. Her chest rising and falling as her breathing quickened her mind was spiraling until a sharp shock was felt against her forehead. The shock bringing her eyes back to focus, seeing Cyrus in front of her his expression had darkened and a few beads of sweat were dripping down his face as he looked at her.
" Safe to assume you're not expecting anyone." He'd ask
Celene nodded her head at her question. Peeking around the corner that hid the small cove they were hidden away in Cyrus scanned the room. The hideaway was still a wreck, the room littered with toppled tables, chairs and other broken wooden debris from the walls and ceiling. Looking towards the entrance something began to stretch out from its starry opening. Poking through the portal were a row of sharp jagged teeth, pushing through expanse of the portal a hulking figure pushed through the space. Stepping out of the portal the brutish creature peered its head side to side. Looking back and forth the large creature seemed to be that of a man, but mangled. It was larger than any average man, a hulking brute, its arms covered in dozens of stitches that ran down to its crimson red almost black fists. Its face covered in scars, the spots where its eyes should be scarred beyond recognition, its cheeks torn open exposing the rows of sharp jagged teeth. Scanning the room as if searching another figure stepped out of the portal, a much smaller woman entered the room. Her jet black her draping down her back, a long black trench coat was draped on her body, an assortment of vials tapered on and dangling off almost every possible spot on her body her own mouth covered by a mask that resembled the beak of a crow. Standing next to the brute she raised a hand, her fingers adorned with sharp metallic claws that would scrape against his arm.
" Oh my, what happened here?" The masked woman cooed.
Stepping into the ravaged room she spun around, her heels clacking against the ground as she pranced around what was a battlefield a mere hour ago. Practically dancing amongst the ruined clothing in jewelry a sinister expression stretched across her face.
" We got lucky my love... There's two of them here. "