Back at Charons mansion, she'd fallen asleep in the office chair, her head lolling backwards with one hand in her lap and the other still partially on a wireless mouse.  In her dreams she was in Darkspades house wandering aimlessly through the corridors, there was a door she kept passing and it was beginning to irritate her.  With a massive effort of will she made herself stand right in front of it, when she tried to reach for the handle it felt as though her arm was made of concrete.  She concentrated even harder and made her arm lift, her hand push the handle down and the door swung open.  The bright light was blinding and then......

She was standing in the middle of the gardens as they were hundreds of years ago, a scene she'd only seen in photographs, many of them sepia toned but this was vivid and bright.  She knew then that this was no longer her dream.

"You are a very determined and wilful child."

Julie smiled at her, then hugged her before leading her to a garden bench.  

"I know you wouldn't be here unless you really needed me, what has happened to bring you here again my child?"

Charon hardly knew where to begin.

"I killed Spade now I need to know how to kill Darkgeist.  Mortismere and Dylious are in the mix as are the Arcanes.  Not forgetting Mr slightly overzealous preacher man as well."

Julie looked thoughtful for a few minutes then smiled.

"You were always a busy child!  Mortismere has one huge major flaw, Dylious will blindly follow his master and Darkgeist can be manipulated through Mortismeres flaw.  The Arcanes will remain blind while they see you working to the end you all want, preacher man will follow the Arcanes.  A religious zealot is easily manipulated because they see only what others want them to."

Charon furrowed her brow.

"What's Mortismeres flaw exactly?"

Julie laughed and took up her hand in her own, holding it against her cheek.

"My child, Mortismeres biggest flaw is you!"

Charon made a gagging sound making Julie laugh even more.

"This path will not be an easy one and I know you are not keen on it but it is time to set the balances back as they should have been."

Charon nodded solemnly, she sighed, she could stay here forever.  Julie pulled her to her feet and looked at her seriously.

"Charon, whatever happens, promise me one thing?"

She nodded.

"Anything."

Julie held her hands tightly.

"Never give up, always remember and most importantly the strongest power of all is in all of us."

Charon had no idea what she was on about but Julie seemed to have put the thought directly into her head, it burned there in strangely bright letters.

She woke just as she fell off the chair and crashed onto the floor.

"Shit!"

She knew what she was going to do but she needed permission from the Shadow Realm first, they would need to know what was happening and then a visit to Mortis would be on the cards.

(open post)