Bahr al Jabal

Descole smirked lazily, nodding slightly.

"Just my thought. However, we can't outrule the possibility that this was left behind as a red herring."

---

The girl's expression darkened, but she did not move. She did not go closer or further.
She tightened her grip on her teddy.

"I don't wanna go home..!"

Crest: "A diversion..." -I look around us with my wand drawn but I make sure Descole is still in my line of sight.-

Artemis: "Mind control."

Artisan: "Yeah... why don't you rush forward..."

Descole smirked, his grip on his sword in his right hand lax but sure.
"Perhaps. But I wouldn't be too worried..."

He stopped and turned as the sound of a boy's voice called out from behind them.
This boy looked about ten, and had a blue newspaper boy's cap.

"... Oh, you found my watch.."

----------

The girl took a small step back.

"Go away! I don't want my mummy or my daddy! They didn't want me, so I don't want them!"

Crest: -I stay silent, this may yet be the diversion. Rather than accepting what was in front of me, I analyze the rest of my surroundings, taking in other details.-

Artemis: -I start running forward, my wand remained in my pocket as I have no intention to hurt the child.-

The boy's eyes twinkled as he took a step forward slightly, slowly.

"Excuse me, but do you mind if you give that back to me? My Mum gave it to me a long time ago- it's pretty important to me..."

Descole paused and tucked the watch in his jacket pocket.
The boy's expression went dark.

-----

The girl gave a cry of shock and fear, stepping back, somehow tripping over herself and falling fully into the water with a shout of surprise, clutching to her teddy even tighter.
She thrashed for a moment before getting her feet back under her, standing up, soaked to the bone.

"If you don't go bad things will happen!"

Crest: "Mind control. Do not harm the child." -I command as I rush forward to get past the boy.-

Artemis: -I walk up to the girl- "It's alright... we'll be fine. Can you tell his if she's here?"

Descole scowled.

"Oh, I don't think that's mind control, Strayer.."

The boy, on the other hand, gave a small smirk.
"If it's all the same, sirs, I would like my watch back.."

-------

The girl looked terrified, her soft skin paling out again.
She took a step back from Artemis and shook her head.
"No.. l-leave us alone! Leave us alone or I'll have to do what good things she taught me!"

Crest: -I don't even regard Descole's words or the boy's existence as I run past the pair.-

Artemis: "You don't have to do anything... please... let us help you..."

Descole watched Crest go, anger in his expression.

Well, so much for this. So much for the 'don't abandon' thing.

The man gave a cool laugh, swishing his sword.

The boy didn't even bat an eye about Crest, and merely waded forward, pulling out a wand.

"I don't want to fight you, sir."

"Nor do I. But I'll do what's necessary."

-------
The girl's expression went flat, dark all on it's own.

"... I'm a witch, you know. I can do extraordinary things.."

A small giggle.
"Teddy doesn't want to go back, either... he says we don't need any help.."

Another giggle, now the girl pulled something from a stitch in the over-large teddy-bear's body.
Something that was clearly a wand.

"I'm not the best, but She told me I'm really good at her kind of magic.."

Crest: -I keep up my run, looking for Persephone, if a diversionary tactic was necessary then we must be close. Now do I go back and help Descole. The more animalistic part of my brain says no, but the more moral side says to.-

OOC Should Crest go back?

IC

Artemis: "Please put that wand away..." -I ask her while readying my own wand.-

(( Well he could. But if you find Persephone and the other children, we could either get this wrapped up or... started or whatever. c: ))

Descole smirked as he branded his sword. The boy had a wand out, shooting a spell at Descole quickly.

The man blocked the curse, sending it into the water.

"Afraid I can defend myself.."

A laugh, he waded forward quickly, in a near run.
And the boy threw another curse as Descole swung his sword, both blocking the spell and slashing the boy's wand arm.

-------

The girl gave an angry and upset cry, backing up quicker, holding up her wand.

"Leave me alone or I'll tell madam Persephone!"

Crest: -Although currently possessed... Descole would not care for the child's wellbeing. I rush back to him.-

Artemis: "I don't wish to harm you... I'm going to be a father myself soon. Please... tell me where this Persephone is..."

(( Crest cares for children omg yes.
deep down. ))


Descole smirked quietly as the boy backstepped, dropping his wand.

"H-how dare you! Madam Persephone said..."

"Madam Persephone can eat her words- Tell me where she is now... and you won't get hurt."

"I refuse."

"Fine then. We'll play with pain."

A chuckle, the man lunged forward, sword held forward toward the boy.
---------

The little girl gave a cry of anger, shaking her head.

"No! Madam Persephone told us not to or out parents would try and takes us back! That they would regret giving us to the right purpose!"

Crest: -I draw my own rapier and lock his attack, protecting the child.- "Controlled, do not hurt."

Artemis: "And what if I told you that was a lie? That your parents miss you greatly and just want their little girl home?" -I ask her gently, kneeling down to look into her eyes.-

Descole snarled at Crest and took a few steps back, separating their swords, swinging his slightly at his side and skimming the water.

"Damn it, Strayer.."


Descole was cut off as the boy grimaced and grabbed his sliced arm- a bad and heavily bleeding cut.
His voice seemed to soften, grow concerned.
"... W-where's my parents..?"

-----

The girl trembled and blinked at Artemis, quivering with fear and anger.

"I... don't believe you..! S-Sectumsempra!"
A weak curse thrown by the girl, but still the curse itself.

Crest: -I glare at Descole briefly before looking back at the hurt child. He seemed cured not, ergo something in their blood must be doing this.-

"Back home. Follow us." -I command curtly-

Artemis: -I deflect it with barely any application of effort. It was no surprise it was weak given her age.-

"Please... don't do this for your own sake."

The boy blinked, looking up at Crest and nodding slightly, giving another wince.
"Y-yes s-sir..."

Descole wrinkled his nose and eyed Crest harshly.

"Well, what do we do, mm?"

---

The girl gave a small sob, letting go of her wand.

"M-mummy... D-daddy... they hate me, she said so.. s-she said so.."

Crest: "Boy... lead us to Persephone." -My voice didn't have much or any comfort in it, it was just a command.-

Artemis: -I pull the child in for a hug- "She's lying to you... they love you very much. They want you home.."

The boy grimaced slightly, wincing away from Crest.

His voice came harsh for a moment, almost frustrated. As if something was fighting through him for control.
"Why should I? And besides, She never stays in one place forever..."

------

The girl struggled in Artemis' grip, now dropping her toy bear into the murky water as she tried to hit Artemis' shoulders and chest with her fists.

"N-no... n-no.."

A pause, a woman's voice spoke up from a bit behind Artisan and Artemis.

"... now now, boys. Please let little Nina go.. can't you see you're upsetting her..?"

Crest: "Because we're here to save you..."

-I have absolutely no experience with child, and it's apparent in my voice.-

-Both Artemis and Artisan turn around and instinctively grip their wands.-

Artemis: "Persephone... you're under arrest for kidnapping.."

The boy blinked and winces away from Crest, his voice going normal again.

"I'm sorry, sir... I don't know where she might be.. she moves all the time.."

Descole gave a small exhale and looked up at the hot sky.
"... I'm sick of being here already. Come on... let's find your brother's and get the lady arrested so we can leave.."

-------

The little girl gave a happy cry and grabbed her teddy, wading past the brothers and moving to grab hold of Persephone's dress, giving a small sob.
The woman herself, jet black hair falling neatly over her shoulders, kneeled into the water, comforting the girl with a few mutters.

She then looked up to Artemis and Artisan quietly.
"Kidnap..? I beg your pardon..?"

Crest: -I give a curt nod and gesture for the boy to follow them.-

Artisan: "Oh come on, cut the motherly act..."

Artemis: -This woman reminded me of Liesel.. all too much. The twisted motherly ways... and that same thing led to shit events like forcing a marriage. I have to stop her, or Lord knows what she'll do to my children if she finds out I have any.-

"Undo whatever spell you have on them..."

Descole shot a glare and a nasty look at Crest as he let the boy pass in front of him.
Once he did start to follow Crest, Descole was close behind- this boy wasn't going to wait.

---
Persephone gave a chuckle and straightened.
The little girl clutched to her dress, hiding behind her as if afraid of Artemis and Artisan.

The woman gave a small chuckle and raised a thin brow, the tattoo around her left eye standing out against her thin skin.

"Spell? I'm sorry, but these children are under no spell. Something... different than one. You're the Strayers, from the Ministry.. No wonder all the kids are scared of you.... they're scared of any ministry agent now.."

OOC You can decide when Descole and Crest meet up

IC

-I glare at her a little.- "Tell us what you did to them!" -I speak with an unusual amount of passion and disdain for what she was doing, thinking of my own children.-

(( haha okay ))

The woman gave a small smile, running her hand over Nina's hair, who buried her face in her dress with a sob.

Persephone kept a calm look and a look of disdain.

"I have upgraded these children and taught them my ways. Only physical pain breaks the daze their in. And something much more then a prick or simple little cut or splinter. These children simply know that their mummy and daddy no longer want them."