A cold chill pierced the air of the hideaway, the clacking of heels bouncing off the walls step after step. The woman clad in vials of liquids pranced around the tattered room, she picked up splintered and shattered table legs and tossed them haphazardly. A soft tune escaped her lips, an eerie humming that scratched against the ears, a childish tune that followed her every step. From table to floor she sauntered back and forth kicking away the various bobbles that were unfortunate enough to be in her path.
A thin wall was all that separated Cyrus and the others from the two that had invaded upon the starry thief's hideaway. Each step, each hum, each little change in pitch that came from the woman rang in Celene's head. A budding annoyance that grew and grew, the childish tune that bounced around her hideaway scratched and clawed at her mind. A hum that was out of tune, a tempo that sped up and came to screeching halts, a song that was frayed and mangled. She felt her body shake, that damned humming refused to stop, it was wrong, it was broken, it needed to be fixed! Her lips pressed together, the correct tune loaded within her it was going to come out, it was going to be fixed! It- Screech!
A grating screech and snarl cut through the broken humming that echoed through the room. That large brute gnawed at its own teeth, the screech pierced through Celene's head. The sight of the man's scarred, eyeless, serrated face flashed through her mind. His blood soaked fists that were as large as her head, teeth that were tearing into their own gums, a face that was so damaged it looked alien, was this man even human anymore? Her pace quickened, her body crumpled against the wall she was hidden behind, that insistent song plagued her ears, scratching at the walls in her head, scrape after scrape the agonizingly broken song echoed, her lips pursing together to correct it only for her throat to seize like it had been gripped by talons as scenes of those serrated teeth flashed in her mind, that permanent mangled smile infecting every corner of her mind. Her body began to sink, the room spun on itself, the wall she was propped against, the floor that was beneath her sinking away into a dark obscurity. A cold darkness encompassed her, her body shook, she clutched at her own body, hugging at herself desperate for any warmth as her jaw went slack. A rumble rising in her throat, her voice finally starting to climb out of her throat.
" heh.... heh.... haha-" A low mangled giggle started to erupt from her mouth starting to morph into a deranged cackled before a hand suddenly covered her broken laughter.
Cyrus covered her mouth and pulled her into him, his chest would rise and fall with labored breathing. His hand slid down from her mouth to her chin, grabbing and making her look into his eyes.
" Take a deep breath, don't let yourself get agitated. " He whispered softly to her.
He watched as Celene took her breathes, steadying her mind and body his own was softly shaking. His leg bounced beneath him, he grabbed his own thigh and flexed it, halting the frantic shaking of his own body as he looked behind him to see Sarah. The angel was slumped against the wall, her body twitching and a distorted, stuttered chuckle seeped out of her mouth. He reached towards her and let out a deep breath, electricity crackling around his arm and jolting toward the angel making her body shoot upright. Panting heavily she broke out into a cold sweat, frantically whipping her head back and forth she was met with the sight of Cyrus putting a finger over his lips shushing her. Frantically blinking she steadied her breathing she clutched at her own shaking hand. Cyrus looked at Sarah, motioning towards the main room with the two invaders with his head.
" Any idea what the two of them are doing?" He silently asked.
Taking a deep breath Sarah peaked her head out from behind the wall they were hidden behind, seeing that brute along with that frayed humming in her ears her body felt like it got pinned to the ground and needles stabbed at every nerve on her body. Pulling herself back behind the wall her breathing was frayed. " S-some kind of fear magic, maybe something that amplifies emotions." Sarah shakily responded.
Cyrus nodded his head as he heard Sarah, gripping at the dagger that was hilted on his hip he took a deep breath. " Probably both, there's something weird in the air and its coming off that woman." He added as he seemed to sniff at the air a bit.
The group was huddled together behind the wall when the humming came to a screeching halt.
" Ahhh, what's with them? They should be fawning all over my beautiful humming by now." The woman giggled, a shrewd smile on her face as she went to the large man and clung to his chest. " But it's alright, I can sing all night for you my love."
The large man let out a low growl, those serrated teeth of his parting as his mouth opened to let out an incoherent mumble.
The woman's lips pursed together again to start her song once again but before it began once again a grin crept up on her face. " Oh you're so right, we are on a schedule. Give this place a proper search darling." She giggled as she gave the man's chest a few taps.
On her command the large man's jaw seemed to unhinge, a blood curdling scream shook the walls of the hideout as he began to barrel and crash into every thing in sight. Tables being splintered, the walls and floors becoming even more cratered in the throes of the large man's search. Rampaging around his large body came to a halt, a black mist started to erupt from the brute's feet. Its disfigured face scanning back and forth.
Celene's body shook, each loud crash that was made caused her body to jump and shiver. Her breathing growing rough and ragged as she looked towards Cyrus and Sarah only to be met wit Cyrus taking a deep breath.
" This is your hideout, isn't there some back exit." He'd ask as he peeked around the corner, that black mist growing closer.
" N-no, I never thought I'd need one."
He chuckled. " Wow, some thief you are."
" Shut up. I don't wanna hear that from you right now!" Celene frantically responded before her eyes went wide. " But I could make one..... with some time that is."
As he heard that Cyrus let out a heavy sigh before his brow narrowed and a cackling started to erupt from his feet. " Just try to be quick about it. "