<div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/01/Taya.jpg)</div><div style="text-align: right;">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/2/23/Stamp.gif) <span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: pristina;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 25pt;"><strong>T</strong>aya, the <strong>I</strong>urus <strong>F</strong>ormator</span></span> (http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/2/23/Stamp.gif)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><strong>Currently:</strong> Upper East Side "New York", Serendipity III...<em>Mmm, ice cream...</em></div><br/><sup><em>Continued from The Haunt (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=89959.msg3934739#msg3934739)...</em></sup><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://blog.hungrycu.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/serendipity.JPG)</div>...landing with a light clack of heels as booted feet hit cement sidewalks. The profound silence of before no longer pressed comfortably around her, instead replaced by the beeping of horns, angry and impatient shouts, the occasional curse. Someone bumped into her as they hurried to their next destination.<br/><br/>Manhattan, or the compiled memory of it anyway. The hum of souls buzzed in her mind, like small flames that danced on the edge of her consciousness. Two burned brightest at all times, their energy evident no matter where in Gilead she was at. Perhaps she would pay the Two a visit later on, though not now. No, it was rude to intrude upon a tryst.<br/><br/>Two others, like a steady flame instead of the piercing energies from the previous pair. Another steady flame lingered as well, though not with the warm glow of the others. Darker, and...oddly split. One, all alone, a soft glow exuding that now familiar warmth of goodness.<br/><br/>She stretched again, was bumped into again, not an uncommon occurrence. While Gilead was inhabited by thousands of Nephilim, some never 'woke' and eventually they drifted off altogether, becoming one of the many lost souls lingering about the Haunt. Instead, they continued their 'lives' blindly, doing without actually seeing.<br/><div class="floatright">(http://cdn.most-expensive.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/expensive-ice-cream-sundae.jpg)</div><br/>Stepping through the doors of Serendipity III, the woman emerged a few minutes later with a crystal goblet in one hand, 18K gold spoon in another and a wide grin on her lips. Dipping the spoon into what was lauded as the "richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla," she let the decadent mouthful melt on her tongue. Looking thoughtfully at the spoon, she shrugged and took another bite. "So this is what the 'World's Most Expensive Ice Cream Sundae' tastes like hrm?" Mumbling past the spoon, she bit down on the gold, hard enough to leave tiny imprints of teeth. "Not what I expected."<br/><br/>Three sparks. She felt them. Like tiny pinpoints of light that were struggling against the overwhelming tide called Gilead. New Nephilim, vibrant life still clung to them but would soon fade to gray as with everything else. Perhaps they would meet. The question was, what would they meet<em>as</em>?<br/><br/>But it was another presence that finally caught her attention. One that continually lingered at the back of her mind no matter how far away she was.<br/><br/>Another bite, another step...<br/><div style="text-align: right;"><strong>Currently:</strong> Gilead Memorable Park...<em>Tea Party...?</em></div><br/><br/>...and the smell of sharp iron greeted her before her eyes opened to take in the gory scene. The swing set, rusted, broken, squeaking timidly, and now coated with blood. The edges of the thick liquid was already drying, browning from oxidization. Idly, she wondered how long the bodies had been there. Time was a tricky game in Gilead, some may even say that time stood still. A world that the inhabitants 'played' on in a futile effort to escape.<br/><br/>Her eyebrows raised at the sight of one unfortunate demon's intestines now serving as binding for the other. "I see you've been decorating the park again." The comment was dry and held more than a little bit of sarcasm. Ah, sarcasm, how she'd grown to love it. Even when unintended her words seemed laced with insincerity at times - was this a habit that all those residing in Gilead picked up? Grey eyes the same color as the clouds bearing down above them, forever holding a threat of rain and thunder, glanced thoughtfully at the stone table. A tea set had been laid out and from the looks of it, fresh, scalding hot tea was being served.<br/><br/>"A tea party without cake?" Seating herself next to the doll and across from the crimson-clad Infernal, she set the sundae down before picking at one of the delicate gold leaves. Twirling the edible piece in her fingers, the dreary lighting seemed to dim the brilliance of the leaf's shine. "It's amazing, don't you think? They got all the little details in. I wonder how long it took to make this?" She didn't expect an answer, she never did. As odd as it was, there were times when she wanted to actually speak to another besides just listening to her own voice. They may not be the best of companions, but companions they were. Despite not being able to trust him, he was also the only one she could count on when needed...or could she? Heh, how pathetic was that?<br/><br/>Her fingers pressed down, exerting light pressure only to be met with cracks as the piece quickly crumbled and fell onto the stone table. "Yet it disappears in a split second." Ruined. Was it truly worth it? She pondered the question for the hundredth time as she nibbled thoughtlessly on one of the broken pieces. The sundae sat in the middle of the makeshift dining table, ice cream slowly melting next to the heat of the teapot.