Why Now? (Marsaili)

[Esme M. Lolland]

Esme had recently come to the realization that gallivanting around London had really hurt her grades as of late. She was beginning to struggle in a few courses and had to dig her way out, and above all of that she had a mock trial coming up soon. With that in mind, she had made a promise to herself that she would take time to work on her grades. "No more otherworldly adventures," Esme had promised herself.

Which is how she found herself in the University's library, pouring over books to help with her case, the same murder trial that brought her parents to London that month. Esme was extremely upset with herself, at that point, that she had signed up to do that case. She had thought that because her parents were on the case they'd help her, but here she was: lost and alone.

The library was clearing out quickly, the sky outside was getting darker by the minute, but Esme paid no mind. She had a feeling that she should head home, but packing her belongings was too much work. She was tired, mentally exhausted, weak physically and at one of her most vulnerable states. But it's no wonder that even in times like this, she would still be attacked by her other life.

[Marsaili]

The winter cold didn't bother Marsaili one whit - after all these years, she was more than used to it, and in all honesty it couldn't really compare to the black chill at the bottom of a loch.

That being said, the cold DID bother her intended supper. Winter had always been a slow season when she'd lived in the lochs - humans just didn't see the same need to wander by the riverside when winter was upon them. Now that she prowled the city, she had more luck, but she was still one of very few out on the streets when the sky turned dark.

Her steps carried her toward the University, for students were always willing to put themselves through more of the elements than other citizens. They seemed quite addicted to suffering - while Marsaili comprehended the allure of knowledge, she didn't understand their fervency.

Still, there were few enough people about as Marsaili entered the library. The comparative warmth of the book-filled room was a pleasant sensation against her false skin, but one she ignored - she was on the hunt. Not a ravenous hunt, but a hunt all the same.

Browsing through the stacks as she was, it took her a moment to recognize the faint prickle along her senses of otherworldly power. Drawn, she followed the prickling, tracing it back towards its source the way a cat might follow a string of yarn.

[Esme M. Lolland]

Esme was drawn from her concentration, the aching need for coffee caused her to make an attempt to rise from her seat to get caffine. But before she could muster the energy she felt something enter the room, something otherworldly.

Esme looked behind her and could only see a shadow of a person in the corner, the power scared her, but she knew that there was nothing she could do to fight the person if she had no idea what it was she was fighting.

She cooed, no louder than a whisper, "Who are you, dear stranger? And what is it you want with my school," Esme hoped that the quiet inquiry would be enough to reach the person's ears. If it wasn't enough for this person, then perhaps they weren't anything to fear too much. Esme was hoping that their power was directly proportionate to their hearing, they can't hear well, they're not powerful enough to fear. But of course, that was the hope of a child in a world for adults.

[Marsaili]

The whisper indeed carried to the kelpie's loch-bred ears.

She stepped out into the light, her shadow an equine profile for one blink before melting seamlessly into the shadow of her current form. A long coat billowed open about her shoulders in deference to the cold outside - another form of camouflage for the huntress. Beneath it were the garments of any well-off London woman, everything neat and fitted and immaculate. The one exception was her hair, which seemed as though she had just exited a downpour, though the dryness of her clothes suggested otherwise.

"I want nothing with your school," she murmured back, her steps taking her closer in a leisurely sort of stalk. There was power in the girl, but there was also fear; the latter appealed more to her predator's instinct than the former did to her caution. "As to who I am... is that what you really wish to know?"

No, she was certain the girl had meant 'what'.

[Esme M. Lolland]

Esme was angered by just how easily ignorable her questions seemed to this being. She knew that she had meant 'what' but it wasn't the job of this person to try and correct her choice of words. Esme was attempting to figure out what this person was without bringing attention to it's lack of humanity to any brave soul that may still be in the library at that point.

"You are quite right, I do not mean who. And by what do you want with my school I meant, what do you want with the library in which I am currently studying?"

With that she turned toward the person who had walked into the room and was talking to her, a truly beautiful woman, but slightly peculiar at the same time. How was it that she was so well dressed, dry and pressed, but she looked like she just got out of a swimming pool. She should have a cold at this point if that were truly the case.

[Marsaili]

The girl's further questions only widened her smirk. She continued forward, hips swaying in an almost sultry manner darkened by the glint in her eyes.

"And I clarify, I want nothing with this library. Places hold little interest for me." Her head tilted as she examined the specimen before her, circling inward. Mm, yes, scrumptious indeed.

Finally she stopped, close enough that with her equine neck she could have snatched the nose off that pretty face. With her human neck she was more limited.

"Have you more to ask of me?" She was enjoying this game, this baiting; it gave the hunt a new depth, new challenges. The stalk was over, and now they played a hunt of wits. Would this lass with the magic dancing around her provide a chase? Mmm, she could only hope.

[Esme M. Lolland]

Esme's heart started to beat quickly as the woman neared her, she wasn't human, that much was obvious, but Esme was filled with an overwhelming sense of being a prey.

Esme quickly grabbed her books and threw them into her tote bag. She put on her coat and slung her bag over her shoulder, she walked around her table, the end furthest away from the woman. "Well, I ought to go home. I have a big mock trial coming up and I don't think the library can help me much more. And I really should start studying for my test in Economics, and I've got a lot of other things to do, too. It was a pleasure meeting you, let's try and do this again sometime," Esme began to babble, she was nervous, she didn't know what she could do.

Silently she began to rack her brain for any protection spells she had learned, anything that would be helpful. She was too scared to think of anything... it figures.

[Marsaili]

A low laugh trickled out of Marsaili's lungs, and she followed in an unhurried manner, tsk-ing her tongue.

"I said places hold no interest for me, my hasty friend," she purred, her eyes skimming over the nearby books. Her voice went deeper, a bit huskier, and her eyes slid back to the girl's face, almost reptilian in their intensity - certainly far from human.

"You, on the other hand, interest me a great deal," the kelpie whispered, taking another step closer.

That prickle was still there, like a wind holding its breath. It intrigued Marsaili - if the girl had talent, why hadn't she warned her off?

She smiled, in a fashion that was most certainly not warm and endearing. Despite the perfect human pearls she displayed, there was a definite ferocity written in her expression.

[Esme M. Lolland]

Esme kept walking away from the woman, pushing open the doors to the library and entering an also empty hallway. She heard her quick footsteps and the much slower footsteps of the woman following her reverberate off of the walls.

Esme was barely listening to what the woman was saying, she knew that if she stopped and turned to listen she'd certainly be allowing the firing squad to attack.

After a while she realized that this person wouldn't leave her alone until she told her off. Irritatedly she whipped around and asked pointedly, "Can I help you? Why are you following me?"

[Marsaili]

Marsaili followed the girl with ease, truly intrigued now. Why didn't she avail herself of her talents? Was she unaware of them?

It certainly made the hunt easier.

She couldn't believe her luck when the girl turned down an empty hall, and let out another low chuckle, licking her lips languorously.

"I told you," the kelpie almost giggled, never ceasing her stalk forward. "You interest me. On multiple levels."

Her eyes flickered to their true baleful crimson, and she smiled again.