Demons, Part 1

Serpent Wing had finally come back to life. Fifteen members now made up the ranks (seventeen, counting the exceeds). It felt good to be home again. Kavi read silently beside Blythe as he slept. He grinned faintly as he remembered the events of their journey with Fairy Tail. Blythe and Yona had been right. It was the perfect guild to help them. Kavi wondered if the retrieved vial of etherion would actually help Veda. She'd been in seclusion for days, a practice usually reserved for when she shed her skin. Her husband, Puck, was out on one of his many travels. He was not counted among the deaths of the original guild for two reasons - first, he had not been there and second, he did not bare the guild's mark. Now, however, he did. Anything to help those he loved, so he gladly took on the mark of the winged serpent in the early days of rebuilding. He, like his wife, was not of the human race. He was elven. They had met many years ago and he had helped raise Kavi alongside Veda once Gita, the sound dragon, vanished.

Kavi waited and tried not to worry. Veda would contact him when she was ready to be seen once more. She was a wielder of dream magic and often communicated via his dreams. This was she kept track of all of her so called children when they left on missions and Puck, as well. New teams had formed, the first consisting of Kavi, Blythe, Yonaguni, Ronen, and Rani. Team two was made of two girls, Callie and Domino. They arrived together and seemed very close, as if sisters. Team three consisted of two men and a young lady - Van, Yung-Li, and Koko. Van wore an eye patch, but insisted it only made him more interesting to the opposite sex. Koko could not speak and Kavi understood her frustration well, thus making them fast friends. Yung-Li seemed sweet on her, but he maintained a respectful distance. Team four was a mess. Two boys, Grem and Acheron, were like brothers. The girls, Hantu and Ahiru rounded off the team and Acheron did his best to keep the others under control. Lastly, Teresa, the seeress that directed Kavi toward Blythe, remained at the guild, offering advice where possible.

A knock at the door pulled Kavi from his reverie. It was Teresa. She seemed concerned. "Kavi?", she asked, unable to see the face before her. "Is something wrong?", he asked, slipping into the hall. Blythe was sleeping well for once and he didn't want to disturb him least it cause another episode of his sleepwalking. "I've seen something I don't understand. I was hoping you could shed some light on the subject", she stated. They headed downstairs to the common area. Kavi stared into his tea as he listened. She described a strange place, somewhere where nature seemed to warp. Mirrors and reflective pools of water rested beneath ivy and drifting colors. Kavi tensed. He knew this place. It was Puck's sanctuary. "What else did you see?", he asked with caution. "A large crystal, perhaps a pillar at one time...It's broken", she replied, trying to figure out what it meant. "You seem tense. Is everything all right?", she inquired. He took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. "I will speak to our master about this tomorrow", he stated, not wanting to give any more information.

-

The next morning, Van and Yona were loudly debating who had cheated at their last game. (It was both of them.) Yung-Li and Koko spoke through sign language nearby, seemingly oblivious to their partner's ruckus. Hantu was harassing her team leader (and cousin), Acheron, to do something fun with her. He seemed quite content to polish his bow. He used archery magic and had little reason to "live it up" as his cousin stated. Grem and Ahiru were out of of the building, assumeably on a date, leaving Acheron to some peace and quiet, or so he thought. Domino and Callie had gone out on a job the day before, leaving a little elbow room in the common area.

Kavi stepped outside to smoke, leaving the banter of his comrades behind. He leaned against the building, enjoying the subtle breeze. A pure white falcon flew overhead. He grinned to himself. Puck was home. Not only was Puck elven, but he used the ancient magic of the druids, allowing him to shape shift when the need arose. Kavi made his way behind the guild to greet him. He'd flown straight down the air shaft ahead, skipping the barrier. In no hurry, Kavi took the route he'd lead the fairies down. When he made it to the open area, Veda was happily squeezing her husband. He was home so seldom these days...

Releasing his love, Puck turned to Kavi with a mixed expression. He had yet to share his news with Veda and wasn't sure how either of them would take it. Kavi glanced toward his master. She seemed well enough, perhaps a bit tired. He waited in silence as Puck sighed the way only a barer of bad news does. "Something wrong, my love?", asked Veda, gently touching his arm. It was unusual for him not to tell her right way had something gone wrong. He reached into the pouch on his belt and held out his hand. Several small, blue crystal shards lied in his palm. "He's gone", he said solemnly. Veda tightened her grip on him without though, staring at the tiny fragments with concern. She slowly turned her eyes onto Kavi. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Teresa was right then", he uttered.

He explained the previous night's events. Teresa's description had been spot on. It was indeed Puck's sanctuary, his nexus of the worlds. It was a sacred place, connecting him to other planes of existence when needed. It was where he recharged his natural energies and kept the most precious of possessions. It had housed a massive crystal, containing someone dear to him and now that person was gone. "I looked everywhere. Wherever he went, he didn't want to be followed", sighed Puck. He was taking this hard. But how did he get out?", asked Veda. Puck shook his head, at a loss for words. "It was shattered from the inside", was his only reply. After a moment of collective silence, he turned to Kavi and asked, "Any ideas?". Kavi remained silent. Veda looked between them with concern. "We'll find him", she assured.

-

That evening, Blythe stared at Kavi with sad eyes. He was hiding something again. Kavi tried to ignore the sad puppy face, but it had been hours and was getting to him. "All right", he sighed, giving in. Blythe perked up and scooted closer, listening with rapt attention. "It's Jasper", said Kavi calmly. "Blythe lilted his head, unfamiliar with the name. "...My brother...", trailed Kavi. Blythe beamed excited, "You have a brother?!". His face shined with anticipation for more information. "I know I never told you before now...I'm sorry", said Kavi, trying not to get drawn into the adorable, bright smile before him. "We were raised together...Here, with Veda and Puck", he added. Blythe grinned, glad to learn more about his love. "Why hide it?", he asked, ignorant of the reasons. Kavi's expression darkened, prompting Blythe to drop his smile. "He's the only person to ever be removed from Serpent Wing", replied Kavi, lost in the past. "Removed? You mean kicked out?", inquired Blythe, trying to get the facts straight. "Yes", sighed Kavi, "And he didn't leave on good terms...A few months later, we tracked him down. He was causing havoc, unable to control himself or his magic...Puck sealed him away for the safety of all involved."

Silence drifted through the room. "He's not like you and me", uttered Kavi. Blythe stared curiously. "He isn't human", clarified the dragon slayer. "A naga?!", asked Blythe excitedly. Kavi couldn't help, but grin at his childlike wonder. "No", he said, hiding a chuckle. "He's an incubus. He came home with Puck one day unexpectedly. He said he'd rescued him from a dark coven." With a hint of confusion, Blythe said, "You mean a dark guild?". Kavi shook his head. "No, a coven of witches, not a guild of wizards. That coven practiced only the dark arts. Puck said little at the time, but I found out more from Jasper. He did his best to avoid contact at first. Maybe he thought I would reject him...I'm not really sure...Over the next few months, he started to come around. We grew closer, best friends. In many ways, he was my brother", explained Kavi nostalgically. "Then one day, his past came calling. Something happened...Something deep inside his mind snapped. Veda tried desperately to help him through his dreams, but she had trained him too well. He repelled her presence. His behavior became erratic. Despite all of our efforts, he changed. The only thing Veda managed to see in his mind was the coven. They simply had to be responsible...", he trailed.

"What happened?", inquired Blythe. "He lost he fight", said Kavi, staring into the distance. "He no longer considered himself part of our family. He cursed all of us for not understanding, citing his heritage as the major cause. I reached out as best as I could...It was no use. Half of my scars from our last fight", stated Kavi grimly. Blythe shuddered. Kavi was covered in innumerable scars and half of them had come from someone he cherished. "With a heavy heart, Veda sent him away and took his guild mark, hoping he would realize his mistakes and come home. It didn't work. When Puck and I finally caught up with him, he'd mastered a new secondary type of magic - corrosion. He destroyed everything and everyone in his path like he was desperate to find something. With little choice, I had to defend myself. In the end, Puck encased him in crystal, preserving him until the day we knew how to help", explained the dragon slayer. "And now?", asked Blythe with concern. "Now he's gone, burst from his crystal prison like a cocoon", said Kavi.

Blythe sat and spoke with him until he passed out before making his way to Veda. When he arrived, Veda was sitting in the moonlight, listening to Puck play his lyre. They both glanced up in question. "You're awake this time", teased Veda with a grin. Blythe blushed faintly. He was notorious for sleep walking. "It's about Kavi, isn't it?", ventured Puck, setting his instrument aside. He slid down from rocks with grace and stood before the newly awakened mage. Blythe was fairly short to start with. Next to Puck he felt like a child. The elf stood nearly seven feet tall while Blythe was only a smidge taller than Levy. "He told you about Jasper", observed Puck keenly. Blythe nodded. Finally he asked, "What exactly is an incubus?". He was invited to sit with his master and guild mate. Veda explained, "He's a creature of the fey, like us. Some call them demons and they're the ancient source of nightmares." She tried not giggle at Blythe's 'thinking' face. He was clearly trying to picture what Jasper looked like. "Why don't I try?", offered Puck. Veda nodded and their joined history unfolded.

-

To be continued...