Laevateinn hums in anticipation. Alex looks at it, "It's hungry for blood."

Arkymikarus nods, "So is Caedis."

The Queen is against the wall, looking dazed, and Ashe is unconscious near her.

Alex grins, "Well this makes things easy."

Baruki is standing to the side, watching them, "Done crying, then?"

Arkymikarus glares, and his eyes glow.

Baruki smirks, "Ah, you aren't as docile as I thought, though that'd really be no fun."

Nike snarls at Baruki, fiery fur blazing warmer than before.

Alex is enraged at the disrespect, "Watch it, boy."

Baruki laughs coldly, shadows forming stripes around him, "Disrespect doesn't matter when you're enemies. Besides, this isn't even your fight." He looks at Arkymikarus, "As soon as you kill your prey, we can fight for your soul. I will be reasonable, so long as you call off your boyfriend." Shadows form claws on his hands.

Alex becomes a condemned, "Watch your back little one. One wrong move and you're dead." He licks Laevateinn's blade.

Baruki crosses his arms, "Well?" Part of the shadows flick like a tail, "I could take you with me otherwise."

Ashe groans from his spot and manages to sit up, but Alex kicks him in the face, knocking him back out, "Don't get cocky." He appears behind Baruki, his mouth at his ear. He whispers, "You are nothing boy..."

Baruki calmly unbuttons his coat and shows the contract on his chest, which is glowing scarlet, as is Arkymikarus's. Baruki speaks arrogantly, "You'd be killing your boyfriend as well, kid."

Nike lets out a savage bark.

Alex puts a barrier around Ark and the Queen, isolating them together, "It's just me and you Baruki. If I win this he lives and you go. If you win you get both of our souls."

Baruki tilts his head, "Fine, kill him. I'm honestly surprised." He bares cat-like teeth in a smirk.

Alex disappears and reappears behind him, kicking him in the back of the head, sending him flying, "Shut up."

Baruki lands on his feet, "Love isn't what it used to be." He ditches the coat and walks towards Ashe, picking him up by the wing.

Arkymikarus is silent, looking at the Queen.

Reis appears next to Arkymikarus, his contract glowing on his hand, "Hey." Alex kicks Baruki again, then slashes him with Laevateinn. Baruki's stripes block it, and he recovers quickly.

Arkymikarus turns and looks at Reis, his and Baruki's contracts are still glowing. His eyes are duller than usual, "..Hi."

Nike barks at Baruki.

Reis looks worried, "Kill the Queen. I'm going to enforce the barrier."

Baruki moves to stab Ashe through the heart, but Veris appears and flips him over his shoulder.

Arkymikarus blinks, "My life is a bloody joke." He starts walking towards them, through the barrier, the dagger shining his hand, "Never put a barrier between me and my enemy. I thought we talked about not saving my ass."

Reis looks very nervous, "We are disobeying him to keep you alive for a reason. He loves you. He's shown that much."

Alex notices Reis, "Reis! Go home!"

Reis sighs and disappears, the barrier falling, "You fight, but better stay alive!"

Alex grabs Baruki by the foot and smashes him into a wall, stabbing Laevateinn into his leg and tearing it back out as he does.

Baruki lets out a roaring laugh, "Say goodbye to your partner! I warned you." His body disperses into the shadows.

Arkymikarus puts a hand over the mark on his neck and falls to his knees, shouting in pain.

Veris yells, almost as loudly, "Shit!"

Alex places his hand over Arkymikarus's mark. His hand glows white and angelic energy temporarily severs the connection, "I won't let you hurt him!"

Arkymikarus doesn't move his hand. Blood runs down from the mark, trickling through his fingers. His other hand's grip is so tight on Caedis that his knuckles are white.

Alex looks at Veris, "Force him out! I know damn well you can!"

Veris shakes his head, "Use Caedis. It won't kill him..most likely.."

Alex looks confused but puts Caedis on the mark after moving Arkymikarus's hand. He takes a deep breath,and shoves the blade in, being sure to keep it shallow, and to avoid vital points.

Arkymikarus passes out. The contract stops glowing but It's still bleeding.

Alex does his best to stop the bleeding. He succeeds for the most part, "Veris watch him." He waits for Baruki to show.

Veris speaks, "He's gone. Caedis destroyed his soul."

Arkymikarus's side and neck are covered in blood. Alex looks back down at him, "Come on..."

Veris picks his master up gently. Nike takes Caedis and slits both the Queen's and her pet's throats with it.

Tears are streaming down Alex's cheeks, "Is he still alive?"

Veris nods, "He's fine for now. Nike, torch this place." He teleports back to the Marukai estate.

Nike starts running through the mansion, destroying it with hellfire.

Alex follows Veris. Mikhail is waiting for them at the estate, "Thank god you're alright...Never thought I'd be thanking him..."

Veris walks past him, heading upstairs, bringing Arkymikarus to his room.

Alex follows, intending to stay by Arkymikarus's side.

Veris changes his master into a set of night clothes and lays him on his bed.

Alex walks in silently examines his neck, looking for the contract. It's still there, but it's faded like an old scar.

Veris walks out of the room after a while to take care of Baruki's old duties.

Alex sighs and lays his head next to Arkymikarus.

Mikhail walks up to Veris, "I'm in need of advice."

Veris looks at him, "Yes?"

Mikhail sighs, "Ashe's death completed lord Blackburn's contract, though he doesn't know it. I'm not sure how to go about handling this..."

Veris shrugs, "Just continue your duties. My contract with Master Marukai was completed years ago, but I stayed."

Mikhail shakes his head, "There is the problem. The contract is what kept me sane. And unless he makes another one, which won't be easy, I'll be consumed by my demon blood and will attack him." He shudders, "I don't wish harm upon him." He chuckles, "The boy has, per se, tamed me."

Veris sighs, "I can't do a whole lot about that."

Mikhail sighs, "Thankfully, the others didn't care for his soul, and returned to Hell. But I think I know a way of dealing with this." He looks at Veris, "When they wake, please let lord Blackburn know about our contracts end, and tell him I will be gone for a time."

Veris nods, "Alright. Stay safe."

Mikhail nods and disappears, his voice echoing around Veris, "Thank you, my friend."

Veris smiles and goes to check on Arkymikarus and Alex about an hour later, when he's finished with everything, seeing that Alex is out cold at the side of the bed. He leans against the wall and waits, spending his free time thinking about how absurd it is for an angel and a demon be friends.

He suddenly hears Mikhail's voice, "I'm not a pure demon. I'm also half Angel. So it's not as absurd when you think of it."

Veris quietly laughs.