It's a long way down to the bottom of the river

[Prof. Albert Campion]

With a nod of greeting to Lady Laroux, Campion addresses Christine

"Ah yes, The demon and the river, you mentioned them briefly before, I'm quite interested in them. Please come and tell us the story of the yourself, the river and the demon. I suspect it would be most facinating and illuminating."

Albert leans back in the chair presenting as relaxed a visage as he can to put Christine at ease, but briefly glances at Lady Laroux and raises an eye brow as if to say "you may need to help with the story"

[Christine Daye]

Christine sings, her face screwed up in concentration.

"...the wolves will chase you by the pale moonlight
Drunk and driven by a devil's hunger
Drive your son like a railroad spike
Into the water, let it pull him under
Don't you lift him, let him drown alive
The good Lord speaks like a rolling thunder
Let that fever make the water rise
And let the river run dry..."

A deep breath, and her fingers twist until the joints pop. Halting, hesitantly, she tries to explain:

"...they called for me... he called for me... my Fae Lord... bid me come... and I obeyed... bid me sing... and I obeyed... desert roses blooming... and I sang... gave voice to the stars... flew like the sparks... up, up, up, night black, star black, blood black... the others... guiding... riding... songs from the wilderness... lamma badda yathahanna... offerings to the Muses... Melpominee... Euterpe... curling like incense... and I sang... and I saw him... alabaster skin... ink and darkness and eyes of flame... he... it... tore me from the circle... broke my song... my invocation... my prayer.... stripped me... bare and bleeding... next.... I remember... drowning... water in my lungs... so I could not even scream... scream... screaming and screaming and screaming and... "

Her eyes are dark with remembered fear and pain. She takes refuge in song once more, hands tight around each other.

"... I said.... hold my hand... oh, baby, it's a long way down to the bottom of the river.... hold my hand... oh, baby, it's a long way down, a long way down..."

((https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeR7zo2zfKM))

[Erika Leroux]

Erika catches Campion's look, shrugs slightly, before reaching to Christine to reassure her once more.

"I am afraid I do not know quite what happened. Many strangenesses befell us in the foreign climes, yet this has disturbed myself and Miss Daye more than any other strangenesses of late. I'm not sure what to make of it, and that in itself should tell you much, as we've been pretty inseparable of late."

[eponine]

Eponine sees the unknowing glances between Erika and Albert, she does not no what else to make of it or where it may lead but it is clear the recollection is adding to her instability so Eponine steps in and tries to back track a little.

"Miss Daye, could you describe this soul in your head in any way? Does he speak to you? Or sing? Or try to control you at all?"

[Christine Daye]

"...no... no... no no no no no...."

Christine shakes her head, slowly to start, but increasing in tempo and violence, until, with an obvious force of will, she stops, the muscles in her neck rigid.

"...hickory, oak, pine and weed... bury my heart underneath these trees... and when a southern wind comes to raise my soul... spread my spirit like a flock of crows..."

She reaches out blindly for Erika, sliding off her chair to sit at the Nosferatu's feet, craving comfort, like a child. Her voice is a hoarse whisper.

"...no... no songs... no words... a thorn... in my mind... oil... on water... dirty... filthy... whore... cause I loved you for too long... I loved you for too long... I loved you for too long..."

Memories flare. Screaming. Whispers of love and possession. The coldness in his eyes. Blood in her mouth. On her skin. Her blood. Choking and drowning and her throat working... desperate to scream. Sing for me. Dance for me. Slut.

Her hands bunch in her skirts, rise to claw at her face, but Erika catches them, holds them firm.

"...old heat of a raging fire.... come and light my eyes... summer's kiss through electric wire...but I'll never die..."

There's nothing but pain and madness in Christine's eyes now as she sings.

"...sycamore, ash, moss and loam... wrap your roots all around my bones... and when they come for me... when they call my name... cast my shadow from a bellow's flame... 'cause I loved you for too long... I loved you for too long... I loved you for too long... so let the storm come..."

The last phrase is a whisper too deep for her normal range.

"...old heat of a raging fire... come and light my eyes... summer's kiss through electric wire... but I'll never die... I will never die... you can bury my body but I'll never die..."

Her voice is still hers, still under her control. But it rings with strange, alien harmonics. Rough tones, darker overtones. No longer human. Shades of the otherworld, like others are using her voice for their own purposes.

"...in the dead of night... I'm gonna loose these chains... I'm gonna run and run and run and run and run... I'm gonna run and run and run and run.... I'm coming for you again....

So let the storm come...

I will never die... you can bury my body but I'll never die."

Then, like a marionette with her strings cut, she collapses into a faint.

((https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPLdVYb6tUQ))

[eponine]

Throughout all of this Eponine is paying attention. She pulls out a notebook and a pencil making what appear to ne random notes, words not in order.

Fire, Light, Electric wire, will not kill me; I loved you.... (etc)

As Christine's voice grows harsh and rough, it becomes clear to Epi that it is no longer her own. For a moment Eponine allows herself to stop examining so closely and observe the face of her friend, yet it is not the bouncy, happy, optimistic, free flowing friend she knows, but a scared repressed child begging for help. She knows that something must be done, she must consort with Campion alone to be able to understand, but her heart is driven with compassion and a need to help her friend. She reminds herself that the best way to help her is to stay strong and try to help her beat this.

When Christine falls silent Epi folds her notebook and hands it to Albert. She kneels on the floor at La Roux's feet on the opposite side to Christine so not to create another outburst.

Epi talks quietly in a soft and gentle voice "It's going to be OK Christine, I am Just going to talk to Elder Campion a moment and then we'll be back, alright? We will do everything we can to help you, you do not need to be afraid any more."

She looks up to the Elegant Nosferatu next to her. "Lady La Roux, is there anywhere Elder Campion and I would be able to talk alone for a moment please?"

[Erika Leroux]

Erika nods, escorts the two to another room nearby, empty, smaller, less comfortable, but private. The concern for Christine is evident in her eyes.

"I'm uncertain as to exactly what has happened. You understand of course that she is prone to wild delusion. But I've not seen anything quite like this before. She means a great deal to me. If you can aid her..."

She let the words hang in mid air, before bidding them enter.

"I'd best return to her. I hate leaving her long when she's like this. Please, feel free to return when you are ready."

[eponine]

Eponine smiles at her gently and reassuringly but the concern in her voice was abundantly clear, "You know her far better than I, however I am inclined to agree this is not usual for her. Try not to worry my Lady, we will do everything we can for her."

She turns and looks at Albert silently for direction in conversation.

[Prof. Albert Campion]

Albert thanks Erika for the use of the room, and looking intrigued he turns to Epi and speaks,

"Well that is certainly interesting, do you have any thoughts Lady Mayweather? You've spent more time with Miss Daye than I have."

[eponine]

As she retrieves her notebook from her Primogen, she begins to pace the small room in the fashion to which Elder Campion has become accustomed to while she is thinking, and begins to construct her thoughts to present to him.

"Well sir I am quite inclined to agree with Lady LaRoux, this is far from the delusions to which we are all accustomed to from Miss Daye, this was by far darker."

She looks at him for a moment before pacing again.

"my analysis of the situation, based on what Miss Daye has told us and the songs she has chosen, would be that she acquired this soul of a male when she fell into the river. I do believe that whatever and whomever this thing is it's intentions are for the good of evil, and would hasten to suggest that it may, in time, take full possession of her mind and that if her were not for the mind of a Malkavian as unique as Miss Daye's it would have done so already. It is apparent that there is a part of her that thinks it cannot be destroyed, most likely because of insinuation from this soul. Several words from Miss Daye's lips stuck out to me, as I am sure you saw me noting, but I do believe that it was trying to make me aware that fire, light and electric wire will not kill it, it thinks it loves her, and was daring me to [b]"bring on the storm"[/b] leaving me to believe that it is, or at least wants us to think that it is powerful, but with a lack of compassion does not see that I shall not harm my friend."

She ponders just a moment

"I do believe it inadvertently displayed it's weakness... does it appear to you as it does to me that the reaction to my touch was rooted in fear?"