Rise like the Phoenix

Chapter 10

A/N Ok this story is in the double digits, and I'm kinda happy with that because there were a few times where I thought this story wasn't worth making for the people who are up to date with everything else. Although I could've just stopped this story all together and started some Gears of war stuff I have ideas for. Well I guess I'm committed so let's go.

Demodius had been using the trees to stay elevated and follow Stream. He doubted she'd hear him anyway with the raging hangover she obviously had and knew he missed a great party and sighed remembering a promise he had given someone important to him. He forgot he not only left Scorch severely hurt but also left Awan hanging at the party like he had promised her.

A new feeling filled his stomach that made him feel sick. It almost felt like a lump in his throat and he knew it was disgust in himself. He not only hurt someone badly but he never kept his promise to Awan and he felt like he was naturally evil after all.

He shook out of the thoughts and continued to follow Stream until she reached the town and he dashed to the inn.

He phased through the wall in his shadow form and looked around. The place was empty except for the people who lived there and were trying to get past their hangovers. He saw Awan who looked exhausted and felt the lump in his throat again and he slouched feeling terrible.

He forced himself to leave and went upstairs to his former room and saw his friend still asleep. He came out of shadow form and sighed at how Torque seemed happy and walked to his side of the room to see that disturbing picture on the wall. He would've brought it but it was too big to bring along when he finally decided to leave and turned to his bed and nightstand.

He grabbed the cloak he had stolen when he first got here and remembered when he paid for it secretly and looked into his nightstand. He saw the books he had bought and regretted leaving them behind and quickly thought of an idea. He hated this idea too but wanted to books and ripped his cloak and tied it so it was now a crude satchel and placed all the books inside and turned to see his last possession.

The drawing kit Awan had bought him and sighed. He didn't know if he wanted to take it. He had shown her his true colors last night and felt terrible taking something she had spent her hard earned money for himself. Although he planned to leave and he wanted something to remember her even though it would be much harder to move around with this. He didn't care and bit around the handle with his jaws and was about to leave when he heard someone knock on Torques door.

He gasped seeing the door open and saw it was Stream and their eyes both locked with each other. Demodius gulped as she stared at him only the gentle snore of Torqe until she asked "Demodius? I thought you left?"

Demodius was out of words right now and stood there a moment then finally said "I did, but I came back for my stuff" he made a weak smile trying to be convincing.

She saw straight through him and said "You did not just leave. There's more to it isn't there?"

Demodius gulped and sighed "Ok, this is what happened. Last night during the ceremony they talked about the war and some of the key figures including the Dark Assassin… When I heard everything he did I broke down and left from grief…"

This confused Stream and asked "Why, did he do something to you and your family?"

Demodius gulped unsure how to tell her and finally said with a deep sigh "I'm the Dark Assassin"

Stream looked at him with a gaping surprised mouth. Demodius expected this and said "When I left Awan followed wanting to know why I left. I told her who I was then. After that Scorch appeared when she ran off and he threatened me with telling everyone who I was and I suddenly couldn't stop myself and nearly killed him" he had that lump in his throat again as he hit the last part and held back tears thinking about the next part.

Stream was now a bit horrified with what he just said and Demodius finished up "Luckily before I actually killed him Awan came back, she later told me that she wanted to forgive me and was ok with me being who I am but saw I had attacked Scorch and gave me… this look that I can't get out of my head" A tear escaped his eyes and he choked on a few breaths before getting his composure back.

Stream could see the remorse, guilt and pain in his eyes and said "You are seriously hurt by this? Come with me"

Demodius shook his head and said "No, I can't. Awan is out there"

Stream sighed and said "She has not been herself lately. Ever since last night she's has not had her… enthusiasm like normal" She kinda asked with the statement not knowing if the word was in the right context.

Demodius gulped and said "That's probably because of what she saw me do, it was really bad" he said with a lowered head.

She thought and finally said "Meet me outside the town fence we'll talk from there" Demodius was going to argue but she left and he sighed. He heard Torque start to wake and turned invisible making everything else he was holding disappear too and jumped through the wall and went outside.

He saw Stream come out of the inn shortly after a followed her still invisible until he was sure nobody would see him and came back into view. He continued until he found Stream sitting under a tree and he walked over not knowing what she was planning at all.

"Demodius, good for a second I thought you weren't going to come" she smiled knowing he really did want to stay if he was willing to continue talking to her.

"Ya, so what did you wanna say?" he asked nervous from being this close to the town without cover.

She said "I want you to come back, and I don't care if you are too afraid" she said this sternly.

Demodius was a bit thrown back by her sudden courage "If I come back Scorch will tell everyone who I am and I'll surely have to leave" he was very saddened by the fact that his life in Portum was hanging by a thread by the one person who didn't like him.

Stream said "Well then he won't learn you are here. You can hide from him and your friends will keep you secret" she suggested.

Demodius frowned and sarcastically said "Ya, they'll totally help a murderer"

She sighed "Torque doesn't know that, he just thinks you left"

"What about Awan?" Demodius asked "She'll surely rat me out afraid of who I am"

Stream smirked and said "Well we will see if that is true in a moment"

Suddenly Demodius heard someone coming and heard Awan's voice "Hey Stream where are you?!"

Demodius gasped and asked frantically "What are you doing?!"

Stream smirked "I asked Awan to come meet me out here too so you two could meet and settle this fear you have. If she rejects you then we have out answer, if not then we have another answer" her smirked widened as the noises got louder.

Demodius trembled at the facing the horrified look of Awan again and started to breath faster and it suddenly hit him, he was afraid of Awan. As the noises and her voice got louder Stream yelled "I'm over here!"

Demodius gulped and he could hear her reply and come closer and just as she was about to reach them he disappeared out of fear.

Awan appeared through a bush right as he did and asked "Stream why'd you drag me all the way out here?" he was panting from going through many other bushes and stuff like she just did.

Stream had seen her dark friend disappear and was at a loss for words. Demodius was in a begging position even thought Stream would never be able to see it and he waited for her verdict.

She turned and said "I… thought we could go for a walk out here and get to know each other a bit more"

Demodius silently sighed in relief but could see Awan hadn't totally bought it but nodded and followed Stream for a walk. It occurred to Demodius that she may tell her on the walk and sighed once again but didn't bother to follow.

He turned and decided to see if Torque really didn't know, for some reason he felt he needed to talk to him. He walked back staying invisible and went back to his former room again.

He fazed through the door and looked around and saw Torque lying in bed looking a bit depressed. He was staring at Demodius' old bed in a futile attempt to make him come back. He didn't really know how to start the day now without him and he sighed.

Demodius looked at his friend frowning and took the plunge and fazed back into view. He instantly gasped at his appearance and said feeling like he was going crazy "Demodius!?"

His friend smiled and said "Yes it's really me bud" in a split second he was tackled into a friendly hug but Torque got off him almost just as fast and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Sorry about… WHY'D YOU LEAVE!?" he yelled angrily.

Demodius sighed and once again explained everything that had happened last night including his past and attacking Scorch. By the end Torque was obviously surprised and said "You… are the Dark Assassin? But why haven't you killed me or anyone else?"

Demodius sighed and said "When I led the dark army to attack Warfang like you've probably heard a few times I realized that the one thing I wanted was free will but at the time my master was in my head as a final desperate attempt to win. Spyro, the legend as you know him, was able to once and for all kill Malefor somehow and the army was sent back underground and I gave up promising to never come back again. I travelled for awhile across the burned land my army made and had a lot of time to think of what I truly wanted. I eventually learned I wanted a real life and so I found Portum and decided this would be where my life would begin" he finally finished expecting Torque to think the story was bull.

Surprisingly he said "That took a lot of guts to spill your real life for me, and if you are saying the truth about wanting a real life I'll allow it" he smiled friendly to him.

Demodius smiled back at his friend, no, best friend and said "But please, don't tell anyone I'm here. Only you and Stream know ok?"

Torque said "Wait not even Awan, she was really sad with you gone?" he gave a worried expression but didn't question why he wanted his presence secret because of Scorch.

Demodius sighed "No I can't face her, at least not yet, those eyes she gave me that burned through me" he looked down.

Torque nodded and said "Well I know how you feel, a bit, remember how nervous I was with Stream then you kicked my ass and made me go? I'm gonna do that to you" he said. Demodius smiled and nodded in thanks.

"Just give a bit ok? I promise that when I get my head wrapped around all this again I'll show her I'm still here" Demodius said and smiled thankfully to his friend.

Yay, that's chapter 10. Kinda short I know but I've left you guys hanging for a bit so I needed to get this out, that happens when you get Gears of War Judgment. Anyway tell me what you think and wait for the next chapter.

Admiralkirk