[CupcakeDolly]

The ache in Rue's head grew stronger, and she squeezed her eyes shut, focusing on aligning each signal coursing through her mind in such a way that they didn't intersect and clash with each other. By then it had become far too difficult to tell exactly what had happened up ahead. She was hesitant to even close the distance to find out.

"Hm... What? Oh, them. I suppose." The artificer's words overlapped another voice, and Rue finally realized that during the distant cacophony somebody had been attempting to break through her walls. Her presence flared with tangible anger. "CLIVE!"

She opened the connection violently, as if she were kicking a door open in the face of an eavesdropper - which was actually exactly what she was doing. She felt the presence recede meekly, then reappear.

"I see you have been blocking mother and Constantine. Not even they have discovered your whereabouts. But then, your power has always been great enough to ensure -"

"Enough! Your groveling is not helpful at a distance, Clive." Despite her tone, Rue relaxed somewhat. The headache had faded with the admission of her half-brother's signal, and with the relief of finding that it hadn't been her mother. Clive was good for little, but his psychic walls were strong, and his utter devotion would ensure Rue's safety.

"Forgive me, sister. I only wanted to offer help. You must ascend to the throne before this house realizes your intentions."

"You are spouting nonsense." Rue hid her sudden hesitation with perfect nonchalance.

"I know you too well, Ruebella. You think I am a fool, and though I am struck dumb by my adoration of you, I can guess at what you desired so much that you felt you had to leave us. I want you to succeed, dear sister, and I wish to act as your tool so that when you become our lord I might stay in a lofty position at your side." He paused then, Rue guessed, for dramatic effect before he continued. "I have discovered this much - Constantine has targeted one of the Seven Priests for crimes related to treason against our Lord. If you are to find what you seek, you must do it quickly. There has been blood shed over your absence, and you cannot go on as peacefully as you are for too much longer."

"I will consider what you have told me, Clive. Now leave, and STAY OUT OF MY THOUGHTS." With a huff, Rue broke the connection and fell back against her seat. Her face showed signs of physical weariness as she closed her eyes and kept her mind clear.