After arriving back at the house and informing Ellen (er...Ellira) what had happened and putting Mephisto back in his room with the door locked from the outside, Iris and Auriana headed up to the library to ask Talia several questions. As they trudged up the stairs, Iris soon realized that something wasn't right. It seemed oddly...empty. Normally she could sense that Talia was here, almost like a bond; But she couldn't feel the girl's presence anywhere.

Where is she?

As they trudged into the library, Iris and Auriana froze.

Not only was Talia gone, but everything had been destroyed. The shelves were knocked down, glass shattered, books sprawled out on the ground, but the most ominous aspect was the black crystal littering the floor.

"Iris, where's Talia?"

Auriana backed up warily.

"I don't feel right here. Somethings seriously wrong."

Iris nearly ran out of the library, followed shortly by Auriana.

"When she stormed out yesterday, I thought that she came back later that night, and that she just holed up in there, like usual when she's mad."

Auriana looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully.

"I could have sworn I heard the front door swing open last night, but that doesn't explain the black crystals. Do you think..."

Iris cut her off.

"No. Lets not jump to conclusions, okay?"

The girls looked frantically around the house for any sign of Talia, but to no avail.

Ellira thought that Talia went out with them.

They finally settled on doing a crystal locatum spell on one of Talias hair ties.

The crystal display in the air flashed an image of Talia. She was sitting in a tree, her eyes and face downcast.

Hmm... It doesn't look like anywhere in Sunny Bay, why would she be out by the mountains? Could it be...No. Think happy thoughts, Iris.

"Iris, are you okay? You look pale."

Auriana eyed the lack of colors from the girls face.

"No. I'm okay. let's just go talk to her."

The girls rode on Amarus back, following the crystal trail. Soon enough, they arrived in a meadow surrounded by the mountains.

"Talia! We need to talk!"

Auriana looked around.

"I thought she was right here!"

"You stay here, Auriana. I'll go look for her."

The redhead nodded as Iris treaded off into the trees.

Come on, Talia!

It was a few minutes before Iris froze. She looked up to see Talia, smiling brightly at her.

"Hi!"

The brunette waved and brushed a strand of hair off her face.

"Talia! Thank goodness I found you! Are you okay?"

"Of course! I've never been better!"

She winked.

Why is she so happy?! I thought she was furious!

Talia sensed the suspicion on Iris' face.

"I just wanted to go for a walk, to cool off, that's all."

"In the mountains, miles away from the city?"

Talia froze.

"Well, uh...I guess I got carried away!"

No kidding!

"Well, we came here to take you back to the house. A few... A lot of things have happened; with Mephisto, and we need your help to solve some problems."

Iris turned to go get Auriana.

"I want to stay here a little longer."

What? Talia hates the outdoors!

Before she had a chance to wheel around to face her, Talia grabbed her shoulder.

"Ouch! That hurts!"

Iris forced the girl's nails out of her arm.

"Can you stay here with me?"

Her eyes widened. Talias voice was cold and sent shivers up the blonde's spine.

"Talia, we really need to get back. Mephisto is out of control. We need to fix this. Now."

Iris turned towards the Xerian, adopting her firmer attitude.

"But I thought you cared about me, Hm? I thought you cared about what I want."

Talia smiled a cold, emotionless smile.

Somethings seriously wrong. I need to leave.

Iris didn't answer. Instead, she took off towards the meadow at full speed.

Okay. I need to just grab Auriana and leave. Grab Auriana and leave. We don't need to fight with anyone.

Iris reached the meadow. She scrambled out of the protruding bush and towards the spot where she left Auri and Amaru.

They're... Gone?

Iris started to run off into the opposite side of the clearing; wondering if Auriana, too, went looking.

Instead of continuing to sprint as fast as her body would let her, Iris was painfully yanked backward by her hair.

What? Talia wasn't behind me! What the hell?!-

The frantic princess tried to spring back to her feet, only to be met by the blade of a blood-red sword, held inches away from her neck.

Mephisto turned over onto his stomach, kept awake in his bed by a throbbing headache and the searing pain in his right side. His pillow was soaking wet from a mixture of sweat and tears. He had given up on trying to open the door or calling for help.

No kidding everyone's trying to get away from me. I-I'm a monster, too.

He forced himself to hold back another sob.

This whole thing is a disaster. Im washed up on some beach with no memories, I get attacked by some weird magical girl, I have strange dreams, and it just so happens I have magical powers, too.

He laughed to himself.

And nobody even cares to give me anything to eat after an entire day!

Mephisto glanced over at the window and saw light seeping through the curtains. He pushed a lock of hair from his face and walked (More like tripped and stumbled) over to the window. He tried back the blinds and stared out at the immense body of water behind the house. The churning waves were hypnotizing, and the sunlights reflection was gorgeous. As he gazed, he felt like he was floating, weightless.

How pretty.

Mephisto felt a drop of water on his back.

Water?

Another drop. Another.

Rain? But im inside!

His throat became tight.

Mephisto blinked. He was underwater, in the ocean. He started panicking, grabbing at it, trying to get back to the surface.

Where am I? I can't ...breath!

He started to cough as he felt himself sink deeper and deeper. Poison green light seemed to surround him, filling up his vision.

He started to feel dizzy, and it felt like his chest was being crushed.

His eyes began to shut from the pressure, as the sunlight only became more and more distant.

Mephisto gasped. He was laying on the ground, back at Iris' house. He felt his whole body, looking for any signs of water

I'm...completely dry? But wasn't I just-

He looked out the window again. The bay was still the same, the waves colliding with the shore.

He shut the blinds and collapsed on the bed.

Im not dead.

This has been a PSA by Jippitypaws