Dante used the flat of his sword to block the heavy drill aimed for his face. It bounced off the blade at an angle sending the demon off balance and stumbling away only to be knocked to the ground by a well-placed kick from behind.
Trish placed her heel on the back of its neck, pinning it to the ground as she fired a shot into the back of its skull. The beast squealed like a dying animal as it spasmed beneath her. She fired again, sending another round into the demon's skull. It stilled, the whirling of its drills slowing to a stop as the life ebbed out of its body.
There was a noise of scrambling metal coming from behind him. Spinning on his heel Dante brought Rebellion up and around slicing through the joint connecting the spinning metal to the demon's arm. It flew through the air, its rotation still turning as it landed, only to continue its directionless course across the ground. Dante dropped to his knees twisting his body to the side as the beast threw its remaining limb towards him. It pierced into the earth, jerking as dirt and stone lodged into its ridges only to groan a metallic whine as they halted the rhythm of its circulation until it smoked and a burning stench filled the air.
The demon tugged its arm free from the soil, growling manically as it watched its weapon burn only to fall forward as Dante kicked his leg out and took its footing from underneath it. Jumping back to his own feet, Dante speared the tip of Rebellion into the creature's back.
A shadow fell over him and as he looked upwards to a demon as it launched itself from above Dante heard his name being called from behind. The sound of her footsteps running towards him caused Dante to spin on his heels. Bending forward he dropped his blade to the ground and cupped his hands together. The sole of her boot pressed into his palms and as her weight drew his body downwards, he forced his strength down his arms to hoist her into the air.
Trish shot upwards, the air whipped against the bare flesh of her shoulders. She spread her arms out to the side and spread her legs for balance. The action tilted her towards the descending demon and as it neared, Trish brought her arms above her. She gripped it around the shoulders, her fingers pinning under the loops of the chains wrapped around them. The force of her uplift dragged the creature from his downfall, spinning them madly in the air as she tucked her knees against its chest. Slipping a slender leg upwards until the joining of her knee slid against the beast's neck, Trish pushed her body against the gravitational force yanking them back to earth and fixed herself around the back of its neck. She pressed her thighs to either side of its throat and squeezed. The demon choked, its raspy gurgles unable to fully leave its lips as she tightened her grip. Unhooking her hands from the chains, Trish arced them above her using the highest point of their curve to stop their revolving and angle them in direct line with the uprising ground. Just before they connected Trish twisted her hips roughly to the side using the pressure of her thighs to snap the demon's neck. Then seconds before they landed she pushed her body away from the lifeless creature to roll across the ground and slide to a stop.
Dante picked up Rebellion only to tuck the blade underneath his arm as he clapped his hands. Trish rose gracefully from the ground and spread her arms to give a small bow before straightening and smoothing her hair down against the back of her head. Flicking the tails over her shoulder she gave him a broad smile.
Stepping over a demon Dante's body rose as his boot pressed into its corpse only to descend as he took another step forward.
'I give you an eight,' he said as he shifted his sword to his back, 'I'm marking you down for the landing'
Trish stuck her hands against her hips and frowned, 'what was wrong with my landing?' she questioned haughtily before pointing a slender finger towards him, 'that at least deserves a nine-point-five'
'It lacked flare' Dante smirked as he stepped up towards her.
'My ass it did' she stated before turning her chin away and crossing her arms over her amble chest.
'Speaking of ass'' Dante muttered as he turned his head to take in the area. Hundreds of demons littered the ground; their lifeless bodies sprawled across the terrain haphazardly. The unresponsive chain-saw-like blades jutted out between them, sparks still twitching and crackling against the metal, 'it's time we got ours out of here' he stated and with a jerk of his head motioning for her to follow him.
They ran towards the path that led to the rip. The strong arm-like beams of light still holding it in place as the dark, wet world beyond shimmered before them. They reached the edge of the wooden, cabin-like huts only to skid to a stop as the earth exploded in front of them. A large sphere erupted out of the ground, its rusted protrusions whistled as they cut through the air. It slammed into the ground just beyond their feet. A long, massive chain led into the hole. It shook and rattled as something moved within the depths of the crater. Two red-skinned hands burst through the gap only to thrust themselves palm down against the ground. There was a strain visible along the lengths of the meaty fingers then with a loud groan of metal a hulking body burst upwards.
As the demon's feet slammed to the ground they sent a rumbling vibration long the trail. A menacing growl drifted through the air from between its clenched teeth. The wide shoulders heaved as it snarled and peered at them through the one remaining eye enclosed behind its slotted eyepiece.
A small, gnome-like creature perched on its shoulder, its tiny hands clutching fiercely to the helmet of the beast. It seemed to be whispering an unrecognisable chatter into the demon's ear only for it to click loudly and scurry down the expanse of the demon's wide back.
Castion laughed, the tone deep and hearty from the minion's words. He turned his face to the side slightly angling his head so he could peer mercilessly towards the half-breed.
'You are too late' he chuckled as his body hunched with tension, 'you will never reach her in time' Leaning forward slightly Castion hissed only for it to turn into a low growl as his vision took in the sight of his downed army, 'she is already dead'
The light pulsed around her hand. Jess gulped in large panting breaths before gritting her teeth. Her mind was spinning, twirling so violently inside her head that she felt a deep desire to vomit. She trembled against the pain burning through her. Its intense heat scorched away the cold of the rain and mud that covered her body.
The hooded figure snarled only to grip her harder and push her hand further into the depths of the portal. He held her there for a moment then as the light began to fade and the spell to open it began to disperse he roared.
'Why is it not working?' he bellowed only to shake her arm before throwing it from his clutches.
Jess hit the ground with a hard thud. The lifeless limb bounced off its surface before sinking into the murky depths of the mud forming below her. She was shaking too badly to attempt to reach out and clutch it to her side. Hissing as muck seeped across the fresh cut over her palm she threw her good arm out to the side and gripped several blades of grass in her fingers. She used them to try and pull herself away. The arm dragged against the ground behind her and even though the pain was almost unbearable, Jess tucked her shivering knees below her and hitched herself up.
The hooded figure spun towards her, watching her as she turned away from him and attempted to crawl away. Her footing slipped against the slickness of the mud, her injured foot stretching painful outwards. A growl echoed around her as she felt his hands wrap themselves around her bruised ankle only to hoist her back. He dropped to his knees, his hand roughly turning her knee inwards as he stared at her mud-covered calf. Smearing the dirt away with the sleeve of his cloak he let loose a fierce howl of fury as he glimpsed the ragged laceration on her skin.
The hood turned towards the golem as a rippling snarl echoed across the empty area, 'she has been ruined' he bellowed only to toss her leg back to the ground.
'Massster?' the misty mask hissed in confusion towards him.
The hooded figure jumped to his feet only to point a grey-skinned finger towards her, 'her blood has been shed in this world, you have ruined the key!'
'No massster,' the golem sunk down into itself as the demon hunched and inched away, his hands rose before him in a protective manner, 'we have not ssspilled her blood, I ssswear to you, we did asss you inssstructed.'
Jess glanced down at her leg.
'You imbecile,' the hooded figure roared as he stepped around her towards his servant only to lift his hand and slam the back of it across the golem's face, 'I needed her blood to be unpolluted by this world!' he screamed.
Jess squinted through the rain towards them, her head reeling with confusion and pain. She inched herself back to her knees her movements slow as all feeling was lost to the cold touch of the world around her. She felt the disjointed drag of her knuckles against the dirt and as she glanced over her shoulder, she saw her palm facing upwards as the back of her hand dredged the muck. Jess whimpered at the unnatural angle only to grit her teeth tightly and force herself up to her feet. She swayed dangerously close to once again toppling to the ground only to push her legs apart and brace herself. She reached out and gripped her arm as it swung uselessly at her side only to arch her head back and groan into the sky.
She dropped it down on a whimper and as she attempted to take a step forward she stumbled back as a hand fisted itself into the waves of her hair. It wrapped itself around the lengths twisting into the threads. It forced her throat to arc painfully and as her dislocated shoulder slammed against a hard chest she screamed.
'Where do you think you are going?' his mouth was right by her ear as he hissed. It vibrated against her skin with violent intent.
'Please,' Jess sobbed, the tears rolling down her cheeks mingled with the dampness of rain, 'let me go, you don't need me anymore' she pleaded only to scream once again as he jerked her roughly with his hand.
'Of course I do,' he stated harshly. Jess recoiled against the heated touch of his breath as she pried her hand into her hair in an attempt to release it from his grasp.
'The spell didn't work,' she gritted her teeth as her footing slipped against the slippery ground; it caused the strain on her roots to worsen.
'No,' he hissed, 'it didn't. I now because of you I will not gain the power of your world'
Jess shock her head and instantly regretted the decision, 'my world,' she stuttered, her voice shaking with the shudders running through her, 'it doesn't have power, not the kind you want'
His laughed a raspy chuckle against her cheek, 'that's where you're wrong' his hood brushed over her cheek as he rested his forehead to the side of her face, 'souls, you have pure unpolluted souls, untainted from the demonic touch of this world. Each one would have given me more power than those that have come before me.' Rolling his head against her cheek he growled before lifting it away, 'she was the key, the all-seeing witch, her blood held the power to see different worlds, it had the power to open the voids, but it was fouled by the aura of this world. I needed blood that was free from its contamination. I needed innocence'
'That's why you went after her baby' Jess muttered then yelped as the hand slid free from her hair. She stumbled backwards only to lose her footing and slam hard against the ground. The hooded figure stared at her for a moment before he bent down beside her.
'It's blood was unmarked by this world, unspoilt by the touch of the atmosphere. It's pure innocence more powerful than its mother's before it' the demon snarled as he reached out and clamped its hand around her throat. Pushing his head close to her face the hood tilted to the side, 'but she knew that,' he hissed as he lifted his free hand to tap her temple with a rough jab, 'she saw my plan and sent the child away.' Squeezing her throat tighter he lowered his voice, 'and that's where you come into it, my sweet. You are the descendant of that little brat. The same blood flows through your veins. The same innocence'
Jess scratched at his hand as the air lodged just below his grip. Its pressure was starting to build in her chest causing her to gape her mouth.
'But now you are poisoned by the very air of this world' Loosing his hand he stood and watched as she choked.
She was bent forward her hand clasped against her throat as her body trembled and rocked. Mud and dirt stained the white cloth around her black, her hair hung around her body in long, rat-tailed ropes as muck clung the locks together.
She panted slightly as she turned her head up, her eyes narrowed as they fixed upon him, 'then why do you still need me?' she shot the question at him with a heated growl underlying her words.
'Because,' he started as he moved so that his body was standing over her, 'it was not the only power that I craved.'
Jess lowered herself into the ground, her natural response to distance herself from his presence, 'you wanted Malory's power?' she whispered, 'but how would you?'
The hooded figure grinned behind the confines of his hood only to lower himself closer as she edged away, 'why do you think she sent her heart away?'