“Will the beast be used for good or for evil? Each Master must decide for himself what path he wishes to take. But be wary, for the line of evil has a penchant of returning again…” The old man closed the book and looked at Nathan. “Does that answer your questions?” Nathan was speechless for a moment. He looked at the orb again and said, “I'm sorry, but it's just so hard to believe… I mean-” He was cut off as his orb began to glow with an intense light. He shielded his eyes with his other hand, and the orb began to float. The light intensified, until he couldn't see anything else besides the orb.

The Manticore finished the final toutches of it's story with, “There's ssstill much to be learned about us. Many of us possess special abilitesss, that are not always obvious. And then there are some that have a bit more… dramatic powerssss.” Vladimir looked at the Sethok's slitted eyes. “Meaning?” “Meaning a demonstration would be in order. You see that table over there, with the glittering portal?” Vladimir was confused. “Oh, you mean my desk, with my computer?” Sethok responded, “Ssssure. In any case, watch carefully….” And so Vladimir did. Within moments, and orb of darkness appeared where the desk was. When the orb faded back, almost as if it had dissoved into the very air, the desk was gone. “Why did you do that?!?!” said Vladimir incredulously. “If you needed to demonstrate, could you have done it on something less important?” Sethok interrupted. “Quiet you. You need to learn patience when dealing with entities such as I. Now watch.” Then, from the same inexistence it had dissapeared to, the desk returned. “So…” Vladimir thought. “I get a black hole generating manticore.” Then a voice sounded in his head, resonating in his brain. “Careful of your thoughtsss, friend. I hear them now.” Vladimir spoke up. “So, yeah, I'm not liking this. You can intrude into my head, and I can't stop you. Or even speak back. Can the rest of you do this?” Sethok responded, “Only those who have a link can speak to eachother, they are using a power. And it's not that I am intruding, it's that you're thoughtsss are very… loud.” Vladimir sighed. “Great. another thing I have to worry about. That kid a gamestop has one of these. Maybe I should try to befriend him…ugh. Unless he plan's on misusing his familiar, in which case I'll destroy his orb, hopefully before it has awakened.” Vladimir looked outside, where the sun was just breaching. ”Gamestop will be open soon. We know where we're going.” Vladimir said, heading out the door. “Where you go, I will follow… I'll be above you.” Sethok said, taking to the air. “It's good I've found such an interesting partner.” Sethok thought quietly. “I'm glad I didn't just get some boring 16 year old kid…”

Black walked down the road, her eyes moving back and forth, till she found a fairly quiet restaurant.  She lifted her hand, threw some of her dark hair behind her shoulder and adjusted her back on her shoulder as she walked in.  She was greeted by the hostess and promptly sat down at a table by herself.  She placed her bag on the table, pulled out a notebook and waited for her server.  When she was greeted, she promptly ordered a martini and an appetizer of calamari.  It had been a long day, and she was going to treat herself.

Black had opened her notebook and was flipping through it, skimming over notes.  She could see someone standing by her table out of her periph, but she did not look up.  Just another guy probably, at some lame attempt to flirt with her.  She nodded her head though, “Uh huh?” she sounded in a questionable tone, waiting for him to state his business.

Luke was just logging in and getting his webcam ready for an online conference when there was a knock on the door to his room.

“Not now,” He called out, “Please come back later.” He was a little irritated that the room service didn't seem to notice the DND sign hanging on his doorknob.

The knocking came again, “Sheesh.” Luks murmured to himself as he got up and walked over to open the door. “What is it?!” He almost screamed at the guy standing in front of him.

He was clean cut and of medium build, Luke guessed they were probably of the same age. But this guy was definitely not Room Service. He simply smiled, or more like grinned at Luke.

“Yes?” Luke asked impatiently, “How may I help you?”

“Well,” the guy said finally, “I serve a collector you see. And basically, you might have something that he is interested in.”

“Uh, right.” Luke replied raising a brow, now more curious and weirded out than irritated. “I don't think I have anything of collector's interest. So please, if you don't mind, I'm kinda busy right now. Or maybe you didn't notice the sign?” He said sarcastically referring to the DND sign.

“Oh I saw it,” the guy said calmly, “But unfortunately I need to collect this item for my master. It's small, about the size of a golfball, translucent smooth and has the marking of an eagle on it.”

Luke suddenly sensed danger, he stepped back and attempted ot close the door. “Sorry, don't have anything of that sort.” But he couldn't because the guy slipped his foot in the door sill.

“I think you do.” he said opening the door again as Luke stepped back and reached into his pocket.

“You can't have it.” Luke said sternly.

The guy laughed heartily, “I don't think you understand. I said I'm collecting it, I never mentioned anything about requiring your consent.” He pulled out a similar orb from his pocket.

Luke decided to make a run for it, he quickly swiped up a pillow behind him and tossed it at the guy. Ducking low Luke twisted and knocked the guy off his legs. He then ran out shutting the door and loooked for the nearest exit.

Literally leaping entire flights of stairs, he was at ground level in no time. He ran out to the backyard where his glider was still there. But then he heard a sudden rush and the guy was standing in front of him, with a Raptor on the side.

“Who are you?!” Luke demanded.

“They call me Ace, not that it will matter anymore.” The raptor crouched low, poising for an attack. Luke's heart skipped a beat as he pulled out his Orb, “Sorontar!” He called out.

The light began to fade, and Nathan could see again. Where there had once been the orb, there was now a serpent floating down to the ground. It was medium sized, and colored white and gold. Nathan stared at it in amazement. Suddenly, he felt something strange in his mind. It was as if the serpent was touching his mind with its own. Cautiously, Nathan let it through. He then heard a voice in his head. Greetings Nathan. I am Nero.

Black watched him closely now as he sat down across from her.  It was at that point that the waitress placed her drink down and smiled then walked off.  She sighed and lifted her drink, sipping it lightly, “Black.” she said.  “Good thing she brought this in time,” she smirked and then placed her drink down and cautiously gave him her hand.  “So do you normally do this?” she asked.

Black's eye brows arched and she laughed.  “Aren't you a bit nosy?” she asked as she closed her notebook.  “I'm a secretary.” she said.  Not beliving that needed anymore explanation than she had given him.  “And what about you….Zeke, was it?”

Black tilted her head, “Guitarist?  What sort of music?” she asked as she saw the servers come towards her table, and she lifted her drink as they placed her food on the table between them.  She sipped from her drink once more and then placed it back down before helping herself to the food.

There was a wide grin that formed on her face and she chuckled to herself, “Niiiiicccceeee,” she commented as she popped some more food into her mouth.  “Favorite bands?” she asked.

Black laughed, “Good choices.”  She popped another piece of calamari in her mouth and then sat back.  She picked up her notebook and moved to put it in her bag when a white and red orb fell from it rolling to her feet.  She sighed, picked it back up and placed it back in her bag.  She then sat up and looked around, “So exactly why did you approach me?” she asked as she picked up her drink and gave it a slight stir.

Ethan woke as the sun streamed in through his window. He must have stayed up half the night researching this orb and what did he find? Nothing! Absolutely Nothing! what good was google if they couldn’t find a single thing about some wierd glass orb? For that matter what good was the internet if it couldn’t tell you what you wanted to know? It was time to try testing it himself. Ethan went downstairs to the kitchen and popped an eggo waffle in the toaster. he’d eat it if it wasn’t too moldy by the time he remembered. His parents were away right now and the whole house was a mess. He actually remebered to pull his waffle out of the toaster before heading to his room upstairs to try a few experiments with the stuff he grabbed dowstairs.

Jon was about to leave college to go to the pool before hockey, when he kicked something on the ground.  It was a small royal blue golf ball

“this is weird” said Jon.  He pocketed in then hopped on a bus to get to the pool.  It was running late so he wouldn't have much time for swimming.  he put the strange ball down on his towel when he noticed that it had a drawing of a triangle with a side bent in and one bent out.  He picked it back up. “that's weird” said Jon “it look kinda like a fi-”  Someone had sneaked up behind him and pushed him into the water.  He quickly swam away from the pool's edge, and something made him keep hold of the ball.

“Alright, why would anyone push me in the water?” thought Jon “it can't be for my hockey stuff, I left it with the staff, the only thing new is- The ball!”  He must have let it go in the water, but he was sure he had kept a hold on it.

“Calm down human” said a strange deep voice in his head, “I am here”.