AN: Well… its been a long time, huh?

First off, I just want to say to everyone who has stayed with me for so long… I'm sorry.

I went through some tough times, and really, I'm still going through them. Major depression killed my desire to write, but after so long… I still get people asking about this story.

Those people have encouraged me, along with my loving and amazing girlfriend and the rest of my family and support, to pick this up again.

So… welcome back, old friends.

Chapter 7 – Invaded

"Are you… sure, you need to go so soon?" Rhea asked softly as I pulled on the swordbelt for my new longsword, curtesy of a now-dead hollow.

I smiled at her lightly.

"The sooner we ring the bells, the sooner we can relax." I tried to reassure her, but she was obviously still beside herself with worry.

"Surely just the two of you-" She began, but Oscar cut her off.

"As I have said before, a larger group is just a bigger target." He said firmly, gaze hidden by his helmet. "And Orph and I happen to work quite well as a team."

I grinned at the knight and nodded.

"Trust us, Rhea." I said, grabbing her hand. "Can you do that?"

She blushed lightly at the touch, but nodded slowly.

"Very well…" She said. "But… please, take this."

She pulled a small, golden bottle out of her robes, and Oscar gasped.

"A Divine Blessing…." He breathed. "They are said to cure all but death."

I took it gently and put it in my pack, smiling.

"Thank you." I said. "Now you're looking out for me out there too, see?"

She smiled and nodded.

"I will pray for you, Sir Oscar and Sir Orpheus." She said, clasping her hands together. "Every moment I can spare."

Oscar bowed his head, whereas I rolled my eyes.

"Enough with the Sir, please." I muttered, and Oscar laughed, patting me on the back.

"Come, friend." He said, turning back toward the elevator to the Undead Parish.

I followed him, shooting one last farewell smile at Rhea before we ascended the small lift.

"You know where we are going, I assume?" Oscar said, and I nodded.

"From what info I gathered…" I lied. "The entrance to the Lower Burg is on the bridge with the drake. I grabbed the key for it on the way here, so we should be golden."

He nodded, and we set off for the bridge, casually cutting down any undead that got in our way with ease.

"You have improved with your bladework, Orph." Oscar commented as I backstabbed a dredgling. "Impressive."

I shrugged.

"It's probably the souls." I said as we walked. "They help us improve a lot quicker than normal, after all."

He let out a hum of understanding, probably wondering how he was being affected by the souls, and we arrived.

"The drake…" I asked as we sat down at the Sunlight Alter bonfire. "What happened to it?"

"We managed to fell it." Oscar said, sitting down with a clunk of his armour. "I'm surprised you did not hear its death wails…"

I chuckled.

"I was out cold, friend." I said, leaning back slightly. "A hunter and his wolf came across me… Ryder, was his name. I hope he's okay…"

Oscar shrugged.

"The forest is dangerous." He said simply. "Stories of roaming bandits, giant cat-like creatures..."

I shuddered at the memory of those damn cats… yeah, lets not go that direction when we need to.

"Right…" I muttered, thinking. "We need to find a way into the Depths through the Lower Burg, then from the depths, Blightown."

Oscar nodded, remembering the crestfallen warrior at Firelink mentioning the place.

"Is it as bad as the name implies?" He dared to ask, and I laughed.

"Worse." I said, getting up. "C'mon, lets not waste too much time."

We casually jogged across the bridge just in case the drake came back, and I unlocked the door to the lower burg, and we descended.

Oscar took the lead, with was good because he was ready with his shield to block the attack dogs at the bottom of the stairs, while I took them out with a swift slash each.

"Hold on." I muttered, straining my ears. "Do you hear that?"

Oscar stopped clanking around in his Elite armour and listened as well, and we both heard muffled calls for help, coming from nearby.

"We should help them." Oscar said, and I nodded, remembering the young mage, Griggs, I think his name was.

We came upon the locked door, and I frowned.

"I don't suppose you have the key?" I asked Oscar and he shook his head.

"Is... is someone there?" The muffled voice called.

"Yeah, hold on." I said, putting my sword away and closing my hand. "I'll see if I can break the lock."

"Careful, friend." Oscar muttered, stepping back as he did, and I chuckled.

"It's just a wooden door, it should be fine." I said, shrugging as lighting charged into my hand, and I threw out a swift straight at the lock, blasting the wood around it loose... but not the metal lock.

"Dammit." I muttered, nursing my numb hand. "These are tough."

"They are designed to stop Undead, Orph." Oscar reminded me. "We will need more force, or the key itself."

"True." I said, thinking. "Maybe a greataxe, or a hammer..."

"F-Friends, the one who owns the key is an undead merchant." Griggs told us. "He laughed at me when I got locked in here, demanded souls I did not have... Oh please, if you could free me I would be ever so grateful!"

From what I could recall, Griggs was theorised to be a spy sent to watch over Big Hat Logan... no wonder he wanted out, he had a job to do.

And those that can't move toward their goals, go Hollow.

"I'll see if I can go." Oscar suggested. "It is pointless to risk yourself on backtracking, Orph."

I scowled at the reminder of my own mortality, but nodded.

"Guess I'll keep Griggs company till then." I said, sighing as I leant against the wall, and Oscar chuckled at my attitude, waving as he went back the way he came.

"Damn knight." I said, snorting. "So chivalrous, even out here."

"I must say I agree." Griggs commented, and it sounded like he moved closer to the door, probably to chat. "Introductions are in order, my friend. I am Sorcerer Griggs of Vinhiem."

"Orpheus." I responded. "A... wanderer, in these lands."

"Truly a strange time to wander Lordran, friend." He muttered. "You... are not Undead, are you? I can smell the humanity in you."

"...yes, I am very human." I said, glancing at the door. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"No, no." He quickly corrected. "I was just... curious. Why would you risk your life here?"

"I'm not doing it by choice." I confessed. "I want to go home. Only way I can do that is seeing this Undead Curse to its final moment."

"...do you mean to say..." He said slowly. "You are not allowed home until the curse is broken?"

I paused, hearing the pain in that question.

"...yes." I said softly, and I heard him sigh.

"I am in much the same scenario, my friend." He said, melancholy taking his tone. "My school has banished me here... with only a paltry task to keep the pretence they care."

Paltry? I suppose watching a crazy old Undead as he wanders for lost knowledge is probably pretty low on the 'Things Vinhiem needs to worry about' list.

"But even then, it's a fools errand." He muttered. "There is no cure for this dammed curse..."

"There is." I said, tone strong. "Have faith, Griggs."

I know his fate... its not a pretty one. Gone hollow in the madness of Sen's Fortress... But his fate is one more that I can change. Just like I changed Oscar's... and that I will change Rhea's.

"You sound so sure." He said, chuckling dryly. "I envy your resolve, friend. I truly do."

I felt bad, hearing that. It wasn't unshakable resolve. Not at all... I felt myself constantly on the breaking point since I got here.

But its easier to believe in a goal when you KNOW it can be done.

I leant back, closing my eyes, when I felt an unnatural chill go over my spin, like someone had stepped on my grave.

"By the gods..." Griggs muttered, apparently feeling it too. "Darkwraiths, here!?"

I paled, standing and drawing my blade, looking around.

Darkwraiths?! That was what that feeling was? Was I being invaded? But... the first invasion is in the depths, with Kirk, right?

Like I had summoned him with my thoughts, the ethereal red, spiked armour of the Knight of Thorns turned the corner, walking, sword in one hand and shield in the other.

He didn't pause when he saw me, simply striding toward me with a confident swagger, but eventually did pause.

I was sweating, fear buidling in my chest as my sword arm shook slightly. Was I ready for this? Kirk was good, one of the best...

"Boy."

I blinked, hearing the echoing voice, like he was speaking from far away, through planes I could see.

"You are human." He continued, shifting his stance. "You are replete with Humanity... more than you would ever need."

I swallowed. I couldn't convince Kirk, not at this stage. He believed what he was doing was just, and really, it would be, if he didn't kill savagely to get his humanity.

"I don't suppose we could just move on?" I tried all the same. "Forget we saw each other."

A dark chuckle met my words.

"No." He said, tensing his body. "You are too good a catch to let go, boy. I will make it quick."

He suddenly sprinted toward me, much faster than I expected from the look of his armour, and slashed at me with his blade, going for my neck.

I brought my blade up and blocked the swing, gritting my teeth as I felt the force behind the swing. So strong...

He seemed unperturbed by my block and simply swung his leg up, kicking me in the side, and I cried out in pain as the spikes on his armour dug into my barely-protected flesh.

"Shit..." I gasped out, rolling away. This was bad... I couldn't hold back here.

I came up from my role and swung my open hand toward him, sending a wave of lightning at him, which struck him full on and threw him backwards a good distance, allowing me to get my footing.

"Run you fool!" Griggs shouted from the room. "You cannot handle a Darkwraith!"

"And leave him to drain you?" I shot back, scoffing. "Not happening Griggs."

Kirk came at me again, and I dodged his swing and jabbed at his side, only for him to nimbly step around my sword, forcing me to clash with his sword again, and again.

He was good, more than just simply adept with his blade, it was like an extension of his will, like one of those old masters in shows and games.

I charged lightning into my blade and clashed, sending bolts up his arm to try and get him to drop his sword, but he simply shoved back, hard, knocking me of my feet as he shook off his deadarm.

"Your Faith in the Sun God gives you much power, boy." He growled. "But it won't be enough."

"Getting real sick of people calling me damn cleric." I muttered, charging a Lighting Spear and hurling it, close range, at the knight, only for him to dodge, the lightning bolt hitting the door Griggs was trapped behind, fizzing out.

Kirk was on me in a blink, slicing quickly at my torso, but I managed to get my arm up, taking the hit to my off arm instead.

I grit my teeth, ignoring the pain as I blocked his follow up, when dazzling blue light suddenly shot into the knight's side, causing him to cry out in pain.

I turned as saw Griggs, or more accurately, half of Griggs leaning through the hole in the door, firing Greater Soul Arrows with a cold look of concentration.

I didn't hesitate, I gathered lighting into my sword, supercharging it with as much as I could handle and dashed in close, just as another Arrow made contact with the knights shield, breaking his guard open for a second.

In that moment, I struck, slicing straight through Kirk's torso with the enhanced blade.

For a moment, nothing, then with a sound of whirling air, the red phantom collapsed and faded, leaving only Souls and a sliver of black Humanity.

The Souls flew into my body, and I breathed out in relief, feeling my strength return, even feeling slightly stronger, and I gathered the Humanity and passed it to Griggs.

"You earned that." I said, smiling. "Thanks. I would have died there without your help."

He smiled slightly at my praise, and soon I had widened the gap enough so he could clamber through.

"Banishing a Darkwraith is no easy feat, my friend." He told me after we were done. "Although I fear the fiend isn't truly dead."

I cocked an eyebrow, wondering about that.

"He was like a ghost." I prodded, and Griggs nodded.

"Darkwraiths can astral project themselves, using an ancient method known only to them and to the Darkmoon Blades." He told me. "It makes hunting them extremely difficult, as they can fight endlessly as long as it is only in their Astral form."

Interesting... and yet, Solaire was human when he helped Oscar, not a phantom. Did it only apply to 'invaders'?

I heard armour clinking and went for my blade, when I recognised Oscar coming down the stairs.

"I just spent the last of my Souls to by this key, and you're telling me you got him out anyway?"

I chuckled as Griggs offered meek apologies, and filled Oscar in on what he had missed.

AN: I know this is a weird spot to end it, but Capra is coming up next and I have PLANS for that goat! It would make this chapter take way to long to finish, and I really want to get this out to you guys so you know I'm back and writing again.

Please review, and it really is great to be back with you guys.