"How did you...? Nevermind..." Lucas said, now hearing a chuckle come from behind. Kimeram was surely amused by all of this.

  Kimeran asked drolly "Lucas, do *I* need to threaten to sit on you now?  GET SOME SLEEP!"

Lucas chuckled at Kimeran.

"DO you know how many people have threatened to sit on me today? All right...I'm going to sleep," he said, now laying comfortably in the couch, and then, not even two seconds later, was sound asleep.

  Andy snickered as Lucas went to sleep, and said "There.  He finally listened!"

Victoria put a hand around Andy's waist, watching Lucas sleep.

"We have to keep watch over him, Andy. I think he already knows it, but the struggle that is to come, he will be a large part of it. For good or for ill, that is only for the sages and soothsayers to know."

  Andy nodded, and kissed her temple, then said softly "I'll reinforce the wards.  Add one.  Anyone coming in here might be very freaked out, really."  He kissed her again, then one talon extended, and he thrust it through his palm to make it bleed.  Using his TK to get it all around the baseboards, as he spoke in Demonic.  The walls and floors and ceilings flared with energy, vividly eldritch green, and then he sketched a rune over the doors and windows as he spoke something else.  "Anyone tries to get in without an invitation, they'll be getting a good look at one of the less . . . pleasant . . .denizens of Hell."

"Protector of the Black Jaguar AND the Champion of Light...you're making quite a reputation," Victoria said with a slight giggle as she smiled at Andy.

She leaned her head against his handsome chest, looking at the man who now rested on their couch. She had a slight expression of worry however. What this man had been through, hardly any human could endure. Now the question would arise: Would HE be able to endure?

  Andy rumbled softly "Got to do what I can to merit being a Demon who isn't sealed into Hell, you know.  It's not a right, it's a privilege."

"You've more than earned the priviledge of being with me," Victoria said, gently poking Andy in the ribs. "Don't you forget that. Now, what say we let the Champion sleep?"

  He chuckled, and said "I'm Bound to you.  That gives you something KeCard wanted, but couldn't manage, your very own personal Demon."

"Lecarde's gone...at least from what we've heard," Victoria said. "Unfortunately, there are always four more of the same kind of man out there. But...let's talk in the other room...let Lucas sleep.."

  Andy grinned, and picked her up, carrying her into the other room with a grin, then tossing her onto the bed so she could laugh as she bounced.

Victoria laughed as she bounced on the bed, then got up and shut the door so that Lucas could sleep in peace.

  Andy chuckled, and bounced on the bed with her.

Lucas slept somewhat peacefully, but only for a short time. He was plagued by nightmares...horrible nightmares.

The first phase of the nightmare was when he and Friday had fought against Flamethrower. Flamethrower had been enhanced by Brain...made stronger than ever before. And then Dragon Fist ended him....though he didn't intend to. Flamethrower was dead...by his hand. He saved everyone in the hospital that day. But at what price?

Then came his own recent loss: Mirage. At the hands of the future madman known as Dr. Taylor. The scientist who had come back through time to make the lives of the Legacy a living hell, and once that had been done, to kill them. The climactic confrontation at Above and Beyond played out, and although they had seemingly stopped him....he did succeed in felling the Femme Fatale, and sundering the Legacy.

Lucas tossed and turned, his brow sweating as he relived the nightmare.

Victoria seemed to sense something, then told Andy "Andy...our friend is not sleeping well. I...I think the Realm of Nightmare might be trying to take him.."

  Andy nodded, and she felt him still as he left his own body to enter Lucas, letting him safeguard the Champion's very soul from within, and turning his dreams from the bad to something better, teaching his students.

Andy entered Lucas' body, and could immediately see what had caused his nightmares. Andy saw firsthand Lucas and Friday's battle against Flamethrower, and the grim end that it came to. Andy was able to use his mental strength to guide Lucas' dreams towards something more serene: first, one of his classes where he helped along a small young lad who was having trouble keeping up. Second, when he met up with Friday at Versuezzi's on a double date with Aaron and Katy. And third, at the Christmas party with the Derrings and young Diantha.

Andy soon heard a voice that was chilling, its presence malevolent, which then disappeared after it spoke.

"THIS ONE HAS DELICIOUS NIGHTMARES. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FEED NOW, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DELICASSY AT A LATER TIME."

  {{Vic, love, he'll need warded from malevolent creatures of Orpheus and Morphea, so that they can not sneak in and terrorize him at night too.}}

Victoria nodded, then began to chant as her hands swirled with eldritch power. Magical signs soon appeared, manifesting above the fallen Lucas, now protecting his dreams.

"That should take care of that. It seems that there are a lot of those who are trying to take advantage of him being absent on the streets."

A short time passed, and Lucas found himself slowly stirring awake. He felt adequately rested and sat up briefly, looking to see if Andy and Victoria were still around. Or otherwise occupied.

  Andy had settled himself in the chair, and closed his eyes, letting his empathic senses keep watch, and Vic could do as she pleased.  He wasn't the mage of the two of them, after all.

Victoria kept watch as well, though she was keeping an eye on possible incursions from outside of the native plane.

"If you need anything Lucas, our place is at your disposal. I have found that this also makes a great training area to focus the mind as well as the body."

>>>>>>>>>Post timeskip

Lucas had been resting comfortably, training both his mind and body, focusing himself. He felt better, thanks to all of his friends, as they all put forth great effort to making sure he was in the right frame of mind.

As he was training, he heard Candy's message via the mindworm network.

"Andy...did you get most of that?" Lucas asked.

  Andy said "Yep.  And you're staying put.  Vic's warded the apartment, I'll teleport her and I there, and if I find out you set foot outside the apartment, I'm going to tie you to a bed.  You still need rest, although I'll allow you to consult via the mindworms if you're determined to chip in."  He shifted, unfolding his wings a little as he added "You are safe here, so don't fret, Lucas.  Let us handle this one."  He caught Vic's hand, and teleported to where he knew Meg and the others were.

-------------->> Kattakara Estate
This message was last edited by the player at 19:18, Mon 10 Sept 2012.