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The first date was utterly successful, in more than one way. Salome was everything she seemed to be, but what neither of them expected was the new direction Rudolph Yerbler's mind chose to pursue, to unveil the thread of lies intentionally inserted by the enemy into the historical truth.

Later, when the experience was over, and he inwardly relished every detail of it, every satisfying moment of silence, every accidental brief touch between their hands, every newly shared time of recognizing the value of a previously unknown pleasure of culinary delight, he was no longer distracted and could piece things together. What Salome told him, was delightfully new, not because she shared those memories with him alone, but also because his mind based in occult lore began piecing it all together.

Salome was originally a dancer behind the veil, just like, or almost like, Isis. The supposed beheaded of a prophet was a clear borrowing of another episode of history. It was all symbolic, of course. And if that was the case...on a hunch he created another Tarot card.

This one was not as part of his duty for his boss, to spy on the strange couple, but to do something he has never attempted before. To craft the cards that would show him the past instead of the future. Not to influence them, but to merely observe and learn the truth.

The spirit of the Land as the High Priest. Lazarus, the real one, as the acolyte. Their interaction was surprising. Before his name came to imply resurrection, Lazarus was meant to be a helper, and assistant, though assisting whom, was yet to be determined.

Perhaps even himself, Rudolph considered with wonder, as he watched. The demon of betrayal trying to seduce Lazarus with lies and doubts about him being unworthy, about him never being able to rise from that rock to which he was bound in Hell. Not for his sins, but for his multiple unwarranted doubts.

And then Lazarus began listening to the spirit of the land again, the one that inspired him originally...and he was able to rise. All on his own. Despite the horrors surrounding him. The mighty demons, the corrupting environment, the very air of sin itself. Lazarus rose, and flew up, and no chains could hold him. The cards Rudolph drew did not lie.

That rock had to be special, and he had to find it. If it were the turning point in Hell for a soul that deemed itself to be doomed. If it allowed it to rise from the depth of despair, it had to mean something. To be special. Perhaps, if he dared to hope, to be the anti dote to the dark energies of Belial and Judas. How effective, remained to be seen, but Rudolph could finally admit to being greatly reassured at present.


That night he dreamt again, and this time, the scenes of torture that seemingly made him who he was, gave sway to scenes of hope, and another mysterious message he was finally able to absorb. His search for the truth was to continue, for it made sense, not only of the greater forces at play, but of his own personal history, those parts of it at least that were previously hidden from him by other agencies.

Rudolph Yerbler slowly nudged the girl Charlie towards discovering her witchy powers. She merely thought of herself as a psychic but he knew better and found a good opportunity to place his own tome on her path.

The Cults of the Forbidden Gods was a treatise he had penned a few centuries ago but even then, before he uncovered his full potential, the yellow haired demon invested great amounts of magical energy in it. And because of his elegant spell work, the tome was not only preserved, but started changing with each century, molding itself to the particular tastes of each time period.

Now as he pored over Charlie's shoulder, utterly invisible to her, carefully protected against her scrying devices and the possibility of her acquiring a familiar further along, he saw that his book changed one more time.

If he did not intend on remaining utterly hidden he would have allowed himself a small laugh. The tome of his making opened onto a face he well knew, but did not belong there originally. His Salome may have been many things, a clever woman, a strong witch but never a goddess.

As far as Rudolph remembered, both her and her mentor and protector Messalina, made a simple bargain that was honored and turned them into demons. In return, they gained protection from those insatiable mortal men who had accosted them.

But, magic, being an evolving entity, that shaped itself along with perception and Hellish trends, now turned Salome into the goddess of hidden treasures, the guide through the arcane terrains, the light within the unfathomable utter dark.

It was probably not true, but it was in his book, and so, through popular imagination, could possibly become part of the known realities, as more and more human witches began reading the volume and using its occult wisdom.

And yet, and yet, he could not ignore the sign so clearly dropped on his own path. His dream girl, written into his own tome that started him onto his own journey, he had to obey the implied meaning of it all.

With Judas running around, Lilith seemingly kidnapped, and Father Lucifer glaringly absent from his throne of Fire, it was too late to wonder, have seconds thoughts, or dare waiting for a better time that may never come now.

Yerbler abandoned Charlie, all of his other mortal charges as well, and plunged down onto the lower region of Hell. He decided to arrive in style, commanding one of the smaller winged demons to create some fireworks in the Hellish skies that spelled out the few simple words. "Salome, will you accompany me on a night out of Hell?" Rudolph noticed with some surprise that for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, his heart began furiously pounding once again, which let him know, his dire attempt was well worth any risk.

"Thank you, boss, I finally get it," Rudolph wrote out a note for Crowley's benefit, with the warmest smile, he did not even remember from his mortal existence. Sending a smallish, but remarkably fast imp, to carry out his message. That was another thing about him, he knew. He was getting increasingly more confident. No more just some shy good for nothing demon, he now began to appreciate what he could do, and the lesser demons seemed to have sensed the change in him as well. He would make both Crowley and Salome proud yet, Rudolph happily decided.

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Elena could hardly say that she was all that surprised when it initially seemed as if he was rejecting the idea and wouldn’t have pressed the issue if that were the case. But what else could she suggest in its place? There was her growing frustration with the ever looming question of whether she in fact was Smaranda and until she knew that answer it would continue to eat at her.?

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She started to come up with something else to talk about when the delayed realization that he hadn’t ruled it out struck her. But was it a good thing? She supposed it could go either way. When asked about her feelings for Damon or rather the reason behind them she hesitated a moment. “When I...” Why was it so difficult to answer this question? Was there even one clear reason she could give? “When I became a vampire he was...he was the one who made me feel most alive.”

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It wasn’t easy talking about him as it stirred up emotions that threatened to drive her to find serious quantities of ice cream and a few dozen movies to binge. “To everyone else he was...well...a bit of an ass but he had these moments with me where he was completely selfless.” Of course there were far more times that provided evidence of his being a monster but he wasn’t with her.?

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“He was always there for me even when I didn’t want him to be or risking his life to protect me.” Except now. Those two words crept into her mind even though she tried not to think them. She couldn’t hide the sadness in her eyes when she spoke about how things had been between them back then.

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She looked away trying to keep it together then after a bit she returned her focus to the conversation at hand. “There are so many things I want to know but part of me knows that if I ask too many questions and it does turn out that I am her...you might think I was trying to manipulate you. I honestly don’t know what I’m hoping for here or what I’ll do if I am her.”

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Jenica checked her phone when she got a text then quickly responded with two words.?

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//I will.//

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She paused while considering asking what he knew on the subject because she imagined with all the research he’d done he might have come across some information. Briefly looking to Mina before typing another message then hitting send.?

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//What do you know about reincarnation? Or more accurately restoring the memories of someone who might have been?//

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“Eve? Yeah. She can be plenty bad. You just never know what you’re gonna get when dealing with her because it could be civil conversation or a grisly death depending on her mood.” She turned to her brother. “Most priests would probably run scared if they found themselves face to face with an actual demon. Especially a heavy hitter like Eve.”

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Through the centuries she’d had little to no experience with priests that left her at all impressed. Sure they talked a good game but when it came down to the wire they usually ran for the hills like a scared little bitch.

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?(OOC: it’s all good.)

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Elena was almost hoping he would simply brush off her question mostly because she was honestly afraid of what an answer could stir up for either of them. But she supposed she couldn’t or shouldn’t try to run and hide from this. Besides...the witch could easily be mistaken and her memories once recovered might easily confirm it. But what if she wasn’t wrong? Her mind kept going back to that question no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise. The brunette bowed her head slightly at his words. “Sometimes I don’t understand either.”

It was a truth that she’d never shared until now because she was always so busy defending whoever she was seeing at the time. “So...what would you like to know?” She paused briefly. “I mean...I’m assuming we have some to kill before whatever is gonna be done to help me remember. So, why not fix that?” She said of his not knowing her. “Unless, you’re not at all curious then I suppose we could always find that party was mentioned or find somewhere to sit and watch the people go by?”

If not for the uncertainty surrounding her relationship or possible lack there of with Damon then she’d probably be more curious and even a little excited to learn what memories were being kept beyond her reach but with him to consider the prospect of learning she might actually have been Mihnea’s wife was a little frightening.?

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“I was here to meet up with someone about going in search of the only weapon on this earth that can kill Eve. She’s been breaking the seals which could either be the locks on Lucifer’s cage or that of Judas Iscariot. No one really knows for sure what she’s up to.” Jenica imagined that her brother wouldn’t be too keen on her involvement in that considering how protective he’d always been of his family or at least the relatives who hadn’t betrayed him.?

“Either my friends will go on ahead or wait around here for me. Probably depends on what else is going on this town. But they should be good while we help Mihnea.” Her family had always come first and of course the thought of her brother figuring out how she felt about Sam might not go over well.

She sent a quick text to Sam letting him that she’d been reunited with her brother and then stared at the screen a moment before sending another.?

//My nephew needs our help with something so will be leaving town with my brother but he assures me that we should be back soon.//

She honestly didn’t know how she’d respond if he decided to offer to tagalong leaving Jo to undoubtedly work whatever other job they had with Castiel in the meantime.?

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“I am merely pointing out there’s always more to a story than what ?even those who lived it may be aware of.” Pandora hardly considered herself to be anyone’s ‘judge, jury, and executioner’ and for that reason was reserving judgment because she only knew one side of this particular tale. Granted what she’d learned about it in the last few minutes was horrifying but it was still only one side of this.

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“I have called this town home a few months now and during that time I have encountered a handful of people this person...this being has brought back to life and they’re good people. So, I firmly believe you’re wrong in your assumption that whoever it may be is evil.” The witch very much doubted either of their willingness to see things from her perspective and didn’t entirely blame them but it did complicate matters.?

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The dark haired witch tipped her head slightly as she drew a breath preparing to speak again. “The same person or being behind her resurrection is responsible for Lucy being alive again. Does she strike you as a terrible person?” If things played out in a way that cast a bad light on the former queen then she would do what was necessary to take her down herself but not until there was some indication of her being the monster this woman claimed her to be.

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Lucy was making a concentrated effort to stay focused on the conversation because it happened to be the polite thing to do. But her thoughts kept returning to one of two things...either the book written by Bram Stoker or the string of movies she’d watched hoping to spark something memory wise. “Then based on that sentiment you believe the two of you should have stayed dead? I mean, if my understanding of how you became as you are now is correct you died...did you not?” She slid a look between the two vampires.

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She did so hate feeling so uncertain about who she was and would give anything to have someone who’d known her before all of this resurrection nonsense. Bringing one hand up to push a few strands of her blonde hair back behind her ear as she momentarily looked over towards the pool table where two brunettes were talking then to the blonde seated alone a few tables away before looking back to those at her own table.

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Pandora sighed, “Just because I am unwilling to cast myself in the role of ‘judge, jury, and executioner’ based on the terrible deeds done six thousand years ago does not mean I am harboring anyone. None of us know what her side of the story is and before either of you come at me in anger over that statement you should think about the things you’ve witnessed in the centuries since then because there are things in this world which can bend people to their will in order to get them to do things they wouldn’t otherwise do.”

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She looked around a moment noticing the women that Lucy had before catching sight of the sheriff at another table with a raven haired woman she’d seen around town a handful of times. “It doesn’t make what you endured any less horrible but it does mean there might have been another ‘惫颈肠迟颈尘’ in all of it.” The dark haired woman knew that she couldn’t speak on Akasha’s intentions but when she had this sort of feeling about something she couldn’t turn a blind eye either.?

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“As a little girl I used to believe there was someone up there watching over us but the years of constant fear that that Halloween would be the day he came for me and that I wouldn’t get away...” Jamie shook her head trying not to think about those fears in too much detail as they’d always made it incredibly difficult for her to keep from locking herself away somewhere that theoretically her uncle couldn’t find her.

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She didn’t know what threat had the redhead so worried and quite honestly was afraid to ask because she didn’t know if she could handle more than one ‘产辞辞驳别测尘补苍’ at a time. Especially not with her concerns about her own cousin turning out to be one herself thanks to family genetics.

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Kali stared down at her drawing getting that faraway look on her face as she found herself seeing through someone else’s eyes...through his. This time was different as there wasn’t a terrified person on the wrong end of his butcher knife. He was watching and waiting...biding his time. She kept things like this to herself because she wasn’t entirely blind to her cousin’s fear in certain instances.

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(OOC: figured I’d include mentions of other characters who happen to be at the Grill as well. Also decided against the original face claim I picked for Lucy since didn’t feel like her. Course the pictures I had here for claimed characters have vanished anyway.)

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Belle spun around startled at the sound of the other woman’s voice as she’d thought herself completely alone in this sparsely furnished room. Instinctively taking several steps backwards when her gaze fell on the transparent figure. One hand coming to rest protectively over her flat stomach as to some degree she feared the specter was there for the unborn child of the ‘Dark One’.

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But slowly she began to register what had been said which helped her to relax a little though not entirely under the circumstances. “Help you? I don’t see how that I could possibly do anything of the sort with being trapped here.” Her arms moving to wrap loosely around herself as she stood there watching the spirit. It shouldn’t have been all that jarring finding herself face to face with one with all she’d experienced.

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She did so wish that Rumple was there but with no way of reaching him she couldn’t get word to her husband that she was in any sort of danger. Though she supposed if the brunette who wore the simple white dress had wanted anything from him then she’d have found a way of getting in touch and might well be coming for her.

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(OOC: I so need to rewatch Once Upon a Time among other things.)

Elena didn’t quite know how to respond or even why it bothered her at all that it seemed almost as if he wanted the witch to be wrong about who she was. It shouldn’t be the case at all because at least this way she didn’t feel guilty for her inability to remember anything about how she’d known those words. All of the things going through her mind had her wishing that Damon was there with her. She brought a hand up anxiously tucking a few strands of dark brown hair back behind her ear.

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She’d unconsciously allowed her gaze to drop to the half full glass sitting on the table in front of her. Slowly looking up when he’d apologized though it came with more words that seemed to confirm her theory. Not like she couldn’t understand his hesitation on the matter because she wouldn’t want to face that sort of heartbreak either were their situations were reversed. And it could be as he said. So, why did this bother her?

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The last part of what he’d said was exactly what she’d been afraid of. But why? If he was right then it simply put the matter to rest. But what if he wasn’t? She had a relationship with Damon that she hoped to rebuild even though she strongly suspected things were over between them. It was all...seriously complicated. What would she even do if it turned out that she was indeed Smaranda?

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She gave a small sigh deciding to bite the bullet and ask the question she’d been trying to avoid. “What if I am...her?” In that moment she’d started trying to convince herself that nothing would change...that after centuries apart he’d moved on and would simply be content knowing she was alright. But how would she feel about that? Going through all of the ‘what ifs’ was maddening.?

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“I don’t...I’m not expecting anything. I’m just...trying to make sense of things while at the same time attempting to get my brain to shut up.” She didn’t know how else to explain because right now her imagination was in her overdrive. “You know what, never mind, you don’t have to answer that. Sorry I even asked.” Taking a deep breath, she felt even worse for any pain her question might have caused.

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Jenica looked to her brother following the series of questions Mina had posed after receiving a text which she’d assumed was about help with the little reincarnation issue that her nephew had briefly mentioned. She’d been there in Sleepy Hollow to work a job, one she’d reached out to Sam and Jo for help with, and even though she hated the thought of being separated from her family again so soon after being reunited with them she was prepared to tell them to go ahead.?

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But she knew her brother well enough to know that silent question was clear indication that he wished for them to stick together. “I was in town for a ‘箩辞产’ but I can let him...them know something came up.” She knew if anyone could understand bailing on a hunt for family it’d be Sam especially since he knew how much her brother meant to her.

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“He said something about having a priest.” Jenica was sure there was a joke in there somewhere. Possibly one of those that started off with ‘a vampire and a priest walk into a bar’. She couldn’t help smiling at the thought of the family being together again because of how much she’d missed them all. “We should definitely do something like that.” Her gaze briefly went to her brother then to Mina. After saying her goodbyes to her nephew she quickly texted him her own number from his mother’s phone before handing the small device back to its owner.

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Elena was sipping on her drink when an easily readable look was sent her way... one that clearly indicated the time had come to discuss what she’d learned from the redhead. She knew that there were those who might advise her against being honest but she wouldn’t feel right about hiding the truth from him. She slowly exhaled before going into what she’d been told. “For starters...she’s a witch.” That would prove to be the easiest part of the conversation.?

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“She says that when she touched my shoulder before she saw these flashes of us from long ago and that I looked different but it was definitely me. She told me what she saw...she said that I was afraid then you took me in your arms saying the words I’d said earlier and that I was visibly calmer. If she’s right...then I am Smaranda.” She didn’t know how she felt about it.?

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Was there really any way to feel about it? She had no memory of her life with him or her feelings towards him. But even though that was true there was some sort of feeling there...one she couldn’t put a label on. Her brown eyes moved to his face as she tried to get a read on how he felt about what she’d just told him.

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