Viaduct Courtyard

-Feeling some sympathy for her, SOME, but still not over what she did, I sit next to her-

Lulu, he didn't care if Crouch killed you! He was loving every minute of it! You heard him! Both Liria and I were watching! He was laughing at your pain, laughing that you were dying! You can't owe someone your life who would toss it aside so carelessly!

She twisted the ring on her finger unable to look at him "I know he was enjoying it.. that's just how he is..but he saved me when I was very young, putting me in his debt and it's not something I can just ignore..there's powerful magic binding me to him until my debt is repaid."

Will it ever be paid? I know Aadius's type. He'll make all the promises in the world and NEVER go through on any of them... don't continue to be his puppet! You have to find some way to break it...

Tears stung her eyes thinking of all the broken promises over the years and she curled her knees to her chest staring out at nothing in particular "I've tried..many times. Nothing ever seems to work.. or he just glamours me into screwing things up.."

Now I thought glamour was only a myth... what exactly is it?

"Glamour is basically mind control.. right after a vampire feeds they are at their most powerful and they already have talents when it comes to others minds, but during this time they can bend another mind to their own will. It's able to replace memories, change thoughts ..basically anything they wish to do to one's mind.."

I see... that is a most terrifying technique... So were you under it when you were... umm... with Amy last?

"To be completely honest I'm not sure.. I was so jealous of everything she has.. not to mention Aadius wanting her over me.. it was like all the rage I had built up over my entire life was let out on her.. " guilt consumed her "it gave me no right to do what I did though.. I guess I'm just as evil as Aadius..." she rested her head on her knees.

-Shocked a bit, completely unsure what to do, so I try to keep things on a pleasant note-

I'm going to tell you something... there's evil in all of us... just a few days back I was ready and willing to kill someone for almost stealing the one precious person in my life... however few are beyond the realms of forgiveness and redemption. Crouch and Aadius may be, but you still have hope... it will be difficult though

She stayed quiet for a moment pondering in silence and then says softly "I don't deserve forgiveness.. I should just find Crouch and let him kill me.."

OOC Crouch Jr: Would sure save me some time...

IC

NO! Accepting death is not the same as redemption. You can still make amends... why don't you try to stop Aadius before he does something? I know he'll try to either extract revenge on Crouch or try to collect Amy again... why don't you and I work together? You can pass on messages about his plans and I can make preparations. You're not a lost cause Lulu...

"what good could a couple of teenagers do? Even weakened he's still more powerful than we could ever hope to be...and angry...I imagine he's convening with the other elders right now as to what to do to Amy for her betrayal to her own kind.. and what to do with Crouch for using that spell on him.."

-Smiles- I don't know... a couple of teenagers were able to very nearly defeat Aadius on his home turf. A couple of teenagers were able to take him out and cast a spell to greatly cripple him... it seems to me like the possibilites are endless...

Also the Elders? and how did Amy betray her kind?

"I think he was underestimating Crouch greatly then.. but he knows now what to expect.. I don't think he'll be toying around with him anymore.. as for Amy.. Vampires live by a very strict code of sorts.. and one of their main rules is to not go against another vampire, especially when it comes to humans or other beings..they're very loyal to each other normally..and I'm sure Aadius has twisted the truth to make it appear as if he did nothing wrong.."

Well... what if you went before them and explained the truth?

She scoffed a little "why would they ever take the word of a lowly human over an elder?"

Be that as it may, they would surely be able to tell a true memory from a tampered one... if Amy or you went before them... then Aadius couldn't possibly continue without the others getting involved...

"isn't she having some memory problems? .. I just don't know what would work..everything feels utterly hopeless right now.."

Now listen... A Strayer doesn't give up until he or she is dead... what if, and hear me out on this, you helped restore Amy's memory? Then Amy could go before the Elders... explain the case and free herself and Crouch from future hardship...

"A Strayer?... I'm rubbish at memory charms..some one else would have to do it... and I don't even know if that would work as it's a physical trauma.. besides I don't think I can face her after what I did.."

Oh, Strayer is my last name... and I understand... well, maybe you can at least keep me informed about Aadius's activities...

-I look her in the eyes and smile- After all, the Strayer network IS pretty large, I'm sure most would think they could've EASILY figured out everything you could tell me...

she felt calmed as she looked into his eyes "I really don't know any other humans that know vampires like I do.. I'll tell you what I can..it'll probably get me killed, but it's the least I can do.."

-Puts hands on Lulu's shoulders- You've taken your first steps towards redemption...

She smiled a little for the first time in weeks "thank you..for believing I can still do some good.. I had really lost all hope in myself.."

You're welcome! No one is destined for good or evil... you can change your path.