((time to plot!))
Sometime before the trip to Hatred Island...
Tali stood in darkness, her axes bared.
"Come on! I don't got all night!" she growled.
A smooth voice answered, echoing from nowhere and everywhere.
"...I don't need to fight you. You'll defeat yourself. You'll betray them...you always do..."
...
Tali woke up with a gasp, her handaxe raised in her left hand. Her eyes immediately rested on the sleeping form of Kanesrae. Back to the Axe. She put it down. Tali wouldn't remember much of the dream, but it mader her uneasy...that day, when the expedition to the island set out, she stayed on the ship-the echo in her head 'You'll betray them...you'll betray them..."
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Riawilde didn't have any dreams. She didn't sleep at all. The closer they had got to the island, the worse the headaches became-it felt like a spike being driven into her head. The spirit realm was screaming, madness, horror...and sorrow. So much, Rias mind was breaking. She was strong, but...not strong enough.
Not wanting the others to see her like that-especially Rae-she had retired to her quarters, Bael tending to her, keeping her from slipping into a deeper dark with kind, soft words and tender ministrations.
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They had watched the others leave from the deck, the three left behind. They all felt a certain cold dread. All eyes watched Rae as she walked away, carefree and happy. Deep down, they knew something was very wrong...Tali lowered her head, spitting into the ocean and skulked back under the deck. Ria almost collapsed, Bael picking her up in his arms and spiriting her away.
And, far away, Bano the Lich chuckled a dusty, mirthless laugh. It was so difficult to forge emotional bonds, he mused...and, so very easy to sunder them. Perhaps he would work on the Wizard next...