"I... guess that makes sense. I- "she sighs not knowing what else to say "I-I just-" she struggles with what she should say next or even know what she should think of it, since she knew only the Jack that was always caring and sweet.
It was only until as of a year or so ago that she found out he had a pent-up grudge towards someone without even knowing their name. Then one day while he tried to take his life. "JACK NO! STOP!" She tried to take the blade away from him and managed too. She saw him cry in pain more than he ever did before and didn't want to live alone. He cried. "It's all HIS fault! I don't have anyone now! There all gone! And I have nothing! I'll get him if it's the last thing I do!" she watched him cry and all she could do was hold him. She looked up at Marek as he spoke again remembering this.
"Now that I think about it, I guess I don't hate him as much as I feel cheated out of Norah's deal when Alex was killed. He was emotional and connected the one witness account to me "a dark shadow". He assumed and I've been chased since. That stubborn ox won't listen to me."
"Maybe I can talk to him and convince him otherwise? W-would that help?"
"Maybe. He's just as stubborn as me if not more, but you can try. I am tired of running but it's all I pretty much know now. Doing my thing naturally called attention and created a case file."
"Oh. I-I just want to return the favor as a way of thanking you for helping me. Cause, uh" she said stumbling in words again.
"You're welcome...and thank you for being my host at the moment, though not under the best of circumstances. I actually hate it here, but usually I can have peace and quiet. You and Julian are the first two I don't mind being here."
Her ears perk up. "R-Really?" (She's a Khadjit, aka a cat looking person.)
Marek smiles. "Yes. Most leave me be, but you two are different in many ways. Your mind is fairly easy to get along with, Julian is determined and very persistent; reminds me of me in a few ways."
"How-?" She sits cross legged, facing him.
"You're meta humans. Special in your own ways with personality, attitude, and abilities. Hell, stood up to the physical embodiment of fear itself proving you're both strong in your own ways as well."
"Well, I do have my ways." she giggles at her own comment.
He chuckles back also. "Things didn't go exactly as planned for me but this-this works. My decision is simple, you choose him. You're engaged anyway. If you choose, I'll wait to be physical again before anything else. Dawn is approaching, I can sense it. It'll be time to leave soon enough."
Daro sighs. "Damn, I was hoping night would last longer."
"Why? I thought you were in more of a hurry to get away from this place. I don't have much control from in here, so it's more or less at normal time."
"Well, not...anymore. I actually kind of like it here." Marek raise an eyebrow in surprise and interest.
I dont have to deal with those nightmares anymore. That's part of the reason. Did you mean here or on this town?
"Here. Not the town." Explains Marek. "As long as you're my host, you can come here anytime, not just asleep. All you have to do is desire it or think of seeing me and you're here."
She nods. "Ok. I'll keep that in mind." she moves to get up but hesitates before doing so and leans back in the couch. Marek leans back and stretches out, relaxing as he felt the town begin to change with the first rays of dawn. "Mmm...that was eventful for not being physical, but enjoyable nonetheless for the most part."
"Yeah." looks down with a gloomy expression, hoping he wouldn't see it, she sits completely still, almost like a statue.
Marek doesn't notice as he sips his drink at first. His eyes slide over to glance at her. "What is it? What can I do for you?" he cocks his head, not wanting to read her thoughts unless she gave him permission.
"I don't want to say it out loud cause, uh-" Marek mentally speaks. "We can talk like this, if you'd like."
Daro nods and speaks to him telepathically. "It's just that, uh, I think I'm interested in you and I don't want Jack to find out because he'll get upset at the idea that I have feelings for you as well. I just, uh-I-I don't know. I-"
Marek says "Telepathically here, you're safe. The Void is basically a combination between an external projection of my mind and a spiritual threshold. Yes, you'll have to block others out of your mind if you want to be alone with me, but otherwise...whose to know but us? Unless you tell."
"That's the thing. I dont know how to block others out. Could you...teach me?"
'Of course, I'd be happy to." She smiles too his remark.
Marek cracks neck and grins, "First, we need to be in your mind. Next, you need to concentrate but not too hard. You have to clear your mind. As you can see, black is my choice, you can choose white; blank, black; darkness, or your favorite color for your surroundings and walls." Daro switches the colors of the walls and surroundings to grey.
"Good" he looks around "Alright, for anyone in your mind, you have to let them know you want privacy with authority. My preferred method is just kicking them out, but you choose your method. The stronger your walls, the harder it is for them to get in." She nods and makes the walls thicker.
"I dont like the idea of kicking people out. It's just not me."
you can just tell them, put up a block, mental defenses, or whatever else.
I see.
Marek nods. "Next, learn how to sense when one is entering. The blocks and/or defenses help keep them out when you don't want them in."
"How do I do that? How do I sense if someone has entered?"
"That's the tricky part, it's different for each person. There are mainly two types; Diggers and Sneaks. Most demons, like myself, are diggers. Ones like Julian and Jack tend to just pop in." she nods, letting him continue.
"Diggers will be forceful, most of the time feeling like claws or talons piercing through. Painful. Sneaks will tend to be hardly noticeable, popping in and out. Paying attention to the slightest look in their eyes will give it away just before they do. As you sleep, keeping your mind closed off is the best bet." Explained Marek too Daro.
"Ok. But how come when you entered my mind, it didnt hurt?"
"You were between comatose and dying...your mind was completely open as your brain was shutting down. I acted fast, latching onto your spirit first to keep it from leaving and rode it back in. I became a cord between your spirit and body."
"Oh." She looks away from him and stares at the ground.
"I did that only one other time before without including a deal or trade."
"With whom, might I ask?" She wondered curiously.
Marek's voice becomes low and somber. "Alex's spirit. Whether she killed herself to void the deal or whatever reason, I felt cheated. He was just a baby when that night came, Jack was passed out and didn't hear the intruder. Once I sensed the spirit leaving, I latched on and created a special mimic infusing the child's soul. Now he's half creation, half child." Daro looks up, surprised even gasping covering her mouth with her hands.
"Jack never knew, did he?"
"No. I wasn't there when the initial murder happened. I did the fusion here in the town, the Alex you see now. Jack was emotional and once he heard "dark shadow" well..."
"Oh my god. Should he know? I-" she wanted to move away from him but couldn't. It felt like something had her stationed where she sat.
"He should know I wasn't the one, as for the child I don't know...the mimic half makes him unstable, but he's my favorite most special creation. Jack might try to kill him if he finds out." He runs his hand through his hair as he bowed his head. Daro looks down, feeling sympathy for once, as the walls around her turn to a dark grey color. He sits down heavily sighing. The tension in the air was getting heavier between the two of them as they sat there without saying a word to each other. Daro finally speaks up again.
"So, um-" she looks over with a softened gaze. The minute Marek gaze over, her heart begins pounding as she is trying to think of something to say but nothing comes to mind, causing her to blush lightly.
"That got kind of...yeah" says Marek.
She giggles nervously. "Y-Yeah." smiles as her mind races with one question burning deep inside her heart and soul, she stands awkwardly across from him, the butterfly feeling increasing by the second. Daro opens her mouth to say something but the feelings inside her put her to a halt. Marek nervously stands and walks over, making sure the mind was completely closed off. "
"C-can I...kiss...you? I'll understand if you say no." Daro is shocked by his request but blushes brightly and bites her lip and nods a little. Marek stands close to her, the alluring intensity in the air between him, tracing a finger down her cheek and leans in kissing her. She kisses him back, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.