Chapter 10: The Record Is Cracked

Back in Akise's apartment...
"You don't need to stop. That's silly talk. Even though I'm not cursed anymore, I still think your music is great!" Lillian piped up.
Akise looked at Lillian, who turned to look at Mikaro - who was still donning his mask.
Lillian stared.
"Mika, take off your mask."
"Why might you tell me that, Lillian?"
"Mika, take off your mask." She repeated.
With a sigh, Mikaro lifted his bird-shaped mask from his face. He handed it over to Akise, who gently brushed his paw over the feathers once. Lillian leaned forward from her spot on the bed and brushed Mikaro's bangs from his face, revealing the same crescent-moon symbol she'd seen when she visited him backstage.
"What does that moon mean, Mika?" She queried. Akise, interested, raised an eyebrow. (Well, you know, if mice had eyebrows?)
Mikaro froze.
"The crescent moon.... it's the symbol of the curse."
Allie grunted. "Couldn't you just wash it off, or something?"
"Do you really think I haven't tried that, Allie?"
Allie rolled her eyes and looked away.
"What have you tried to remove it?" Amaranth asked, his smooth voice making the room seem calmer.
"Let's see.. Burning, Washing.. I tried cutting it out once, but it was still there - on my skin. I think it's imprinted on my skull or something."
"I think a ritual would remove it." Amaranth cut in, popping a small cupcake-type pastry in his mouth.
Everyone looked at him. He calmly finished chewing the pastry and swallowed.
"What? Rituals are real, you know. Mikaro of all mice should know that, at least."
Akise walked over to his bookshelf and skimmed over the spines of the tomes that were neatly aligned in rows. Eventually, he picked out a book titled Rituals And Witchcraft. He handed it to Amaranth, who began skimming through the pages. He stopped eventually and began to read aloud.
"Mute Ritual. Note: This ritual does not actually make the subject mute.
"This ritual removes all music-type curses.
"Requirements: Soot or ashes - one pouchful. A vial of blood from the subject. A raven's feather. A patch of the subject's fur. One piece that the subject has written while induced with the curse.
"How to perform:
"1: Draw a treble clef for female, bass clef for male with the soot or ashes.
"2: Carefully trace that line with the subject's blood. Note that the subject themselves must perform these acts.
"3: Make sure that the subject does not use all of his or her blood in step two. Now, place the patch of fur in the center of your designated clef, then place the raven's feather on top.
"4: With the remaining blood - to the best of the subject's ability - draw the designated clef of the demon or demoness that has cursed the subject. Once again, for female: treble clef. For male: bass clef.
"5: Place the piece of music - written on paper - on top of the other ingredients. The subject must then sing the lyrics to said piece.
"6: The demon or demoness that cursed the subject should appear. Do not show fear, for otherwise the demon or demoness will curse all of the present mice with the same or a similar curse to which the subject has undergone.
"7: The subject must tell the demon or demoness that he or she is finished playing his or her games. If the subject does this without fear, the demon or demoness should be paralyzed.
"8: Take the raven's feather from the ritual ingredients. The edge will be sharper than a blade - do not touch it. For if you do, poison will grip your body and you will die. Walk up to the demon or demoness and carve your designated clef into their chest. The demon or demoness shall disappear, and the curse will be lifted."
Amaranth set the book down on a sidetable near him and lifted his gaze to Mikaro's.
"Think you can do that, Mika?" Lillian queried, breaking the silence.
"Yes... I believe so. But we must gather the ingredients.."
Allie rolled her eyes once more and yanked out a patch of Mikaro's fur. He let out a yelp of protest, but she only handed it to Akise without a word.
"I have a friend who can get the raven's feather," Meiko chimed in, "she has three pet ravens."
Akise nodded. "And I have a fireplace downstairs. Well, it's not really mine, but there's a fireplace in an apartment downstairs. The owner of that apartment is really rude, though. I'll try to get by him."
"I have a new song that I wrote in my jacket." Mikaro said, nodding towards where his coat was hanging near the wall.
"That leaves the blood." A dark yet somewhat charming voice suddenly said. Everyone looked towards the direction of the door, which suddenly swung open. A grey-furred mouse with silky silver hair slowly walked in and closed the door behind him. His dark violet eyes seemed to glow eerily in the pale light of the few candles that lit the room. "Who are you?!" Allie snapped, but the silver-haired mouse raised a single claw to his lips and made a sshhh noise. "How long have you been listening to us?" Amaranth queried. The mysterious mouse seemed to like Amaranth's calm attitude, so he replied. "The entire time. Don't fear, my lips are sealed." He made a zipping motion by tracing two claws across his lips, and made another motion as if he were throwing away a key. Now that he was in the weak candlelight, the group could see the white cloak that he donned. It draped slightly over his legs, and the back of it went down to almost halfway down his legs. He was wearing a black and slightly-glowing purple mechanical choker, and white gloves with rubies embedded in diamond-shapes a little higher than the center of them. His dark-violet eyes still seemed to have an eerie glow.
"Who are you?" Allie repeated, her tone calm - although, underneath she was fuming.
"My name is Add. It's a pleasure to meet you all, really."

TBC in Chapt. 11: The Mysterious Psychic Tracer!

The Mysterious Psychic Tracer!

Add's grin ceased to fade as he faced a barrage of questioning from the gathered mice. His voice was smooth, silky, and frightening - though no one dared to admit it.
"Now, to the ritual." Add said. "Gather the materials. I'll take care of getting the blood."
Everyone left the room to gather their designated materials. All except Allie.
"Listen, you weird-ass brute," She snarled. "I'm not going to let you kill off my friend here."
"Did you really think that that was my intention?" Add replied, faking hurtfulness.
"Save the drama for Lillian." She snapped. "How, exactly, are you going to extract a vial of Mikaro's blood?" Allie snapped impatiently.
Add grinned again. "Watch and learn, Allie. Of course, you can't really learn how to do the things I do." He said afterward. Grabbing Mikaro's white-furred arm, he dragged his claw against the skin, making a small incision. Holding up the vial, Add watched as the blood flowed into it. After it was full, he put a cork in the top, and slid it into his pocket. Afterward, he bandaged Mikaro's arm to stop the incision from bleeding more.
Allie's jaw hit the floor, but she quickly regathered herself and stormed off with a "hmph."

~=~Meanwhile, in the apartment downstairs...~=~

"Akise? What the hell do you want?" Akise's neighbor snapped. Sighing apologetically, Akise explained that he only needed about a cup of ashes from the fireplace.
"Ashes? What the hell do you need those for? Some satanic ritual?" Not far from the truth, sadly. Akise thought bluntly. Holding out the measuring cup he'd brought with him, he let out another sigh. "Please, Jackson. I just need a cup of ashes."
Jackson muttered a curse and snatched the cup from his paw. Stomping over to the fireplace, he scooped up a pile of black, coal-filled ashes and dropped them into the cup. He handed it back to Akise and grunted, "Get out of here, you teenage rat."
Akise muttered a "Thank you," and went back to his own apartment.

~=~Meanwhile, at Crow's Mansion...~=~

"Crow~?" Meiko chimed as she entered the mansion's doorway.
"Meiko? It's been a while. What brings you? Your eyes give away your concern."
The idol frowned slightly. "I need a raven's feather. Preferably a large one."
Crow seemed to ponder for a bit, then raced into the kitchen. Opening a drawer that was revealed to be stuffed with raven's feathers, he picked up a rather long, bushy one and raced back to the doorway. "Found one~" He chimed as he handed it to Meiko.
"Thanks, Crow. You're a lifesaver." Literally.
Crow nodded as Meiko left the mansion to head back towards Akise's apartment.

~=~Meanwhile, Finally back in Akise's apartment...~=~

"Everyone here? Ingredients?"
Akise held up the cup of ashes. Meiko grinned as she stroked the smaller feathers on the raven's feather. Add held up the vial of Mikaro's blood, and Amaranth - who'd returned from God knows where - was holding the patch of Mikaro's fur. Mikaro himself was holding a piece titled "Songwriter's Lament".
"Then, it's time to get this ritual underway?"

TBC in Chapt. 12 - Mute Ritual