Yay, many reviews :) All right, there will only be a couple more chapters at the most. It's good to know that none of you are too mad at me, and that you're still reading this. This chapter has very little happening, but I figured I needed it. All right, on with the story! See you all at the bottom.
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"So, what am I supposed to do?" Marguerite asked quietly.
There was still a few hours left until daybreak, but she wasn't safe at home like she should be. Instead, she was meeting with an angel in the middle of the forest.
For a second, Marguerite wondered if she had gone insane at some point during the past couple of months. But then again, maybe all the people who met with angels in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere had the exact same doubts.
That thought made Marguerite pause. God, maybe she really *had* gone insane.
Sidra smiled at her, as if reading her thoughts.
"Don't worry, I'm really here." She assured Marguerite. "And you're supposed to kill the deamon before he can kill you, and destroy everything in existence."
"Oh, so no pressure then." Sarcasm dripped from Marguerite's voice.
The angel smiled at her once more, her golden eyes dancing with amusement.
"Sorry. This is the first time I've had to deal with a mortal." She apologized. "I've only been an angel for a few centuries."
Marguerite shook her head as if to clear her mind. This was just too strange. Even for the plateau.
"Ok, so I have to kill a deamon. How am I supposed to do that, exactly?" Marguerite asked.
Sidra shook her head.
"No. Not *a* deamon. *The* deamon. The original sin and source of all evil. And he can't be killed. You just have to defeat him."
"Funny how all of this just slipped your mind earlier."
Marguerite murmured.
She was silent for a moment, letting the information sink in.
"The source of all evil!?" She exclaimed. "Are you insane?!"
"Marguerite!" Sidra snapped, showing that even angels had their limits. "We don't have much time. You have to listen to me, all right?"
Marguerite nodded, not saying a word.
"All right." Sidra took a deep breath. "Now, I'm going to send you into the void between realities, because that's where the deamon lives. First, you'll have to pass a number of tests. Marguerite, this is important. If you fail the tests, they'll kill you before you even have time to blink. To pass the test, you'll have to identify various deamons and prove that you are worthy enough to challenge their master."
Marguerite nodded absently.
"Whatever you do, you cannot let them get to you. Remember, it is all just an illusion. Deamons are crafted from deceit, and they do nothing but lie. I cannot come with you. They would tear me to pieces and suck the marrow from my wings." Sidra said with a shiver. "But I'll always be right here."
Sidra placed her hand over Marguerite's heart.
"What happens if I fail?" Marguerite's voice was low.
Already, the jungle was filling with a strange mist. Soon, she would be in the void, and on her own again. She didn't have much time.
"You know what will happen if you fail." Sidra's voice seemed to come from all around her. For the mists had already consumed her.
"Marguerite, you cannot fail. You won't fail. For Roxton, you will not fail."
And without knowing how she knew, Marguerite could tell that the angel had gone. The mist was complete now, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not see through it.
The heiress blinked, and suddenly the world had substance again. But she was no longer in the jungle. Instead, she seemed to be in the dungeon of a castle.
'An old, creepy castle.' She noted with a shiver.
With a deep breath, Marguerite took her first step, and began to look for a way out.
"What have I gotten myself into?" She asked quietly.
But there was no answer. Then again, she hadn't really been expecting one.
~*~*~*
Marguerite sighed as she came to another fork in the maze of a dungeon she had somehow gotten herself lost in. She had been traveling for what seemed like hours, and her feet were starting to hurt. Her anger was also starting to build. She just wanted to get this over with, and get back to the plateau.
"Damnit, can we just start this already?!" She demanded of the air around her.
Silence met her demand. But unlike the past dozen times she had shouted out in anger, this silence had substance. It was not the silence of an empty room, but the silence of a room that had someone hiding in the shadows.
"What's the matter? Are you too scared to face me?" She screamed.
Silence.
"Come on. Poor 'lil deamon afraid of the big bad Marguerite?"
Silence.
"For Christ's sake!" Marguerite exploded.
The silence seemed to be mocking her, which only fueled her anger. However, before she could shriek at the shadows once more, an image of Lord John Roxton danced across her mind's eye, and stilled her soul.
For years, Roxton had been trying to teach Marguerite the secrets to relaxation, and meditation. It was all in the breathing. So, now, Marguerite took a few deep breaths to clear her mind.
One... What was it Sidra had said? Two... Lie and deceit. Three... She had said that deamons were nothing but.. Four...
Marguerite's eyes opened, and she smiled to herself.
"Deamon, I know you." She laughed. "We've become quite close during my life time, haven't we?"
The silence wasn't mocking her any more. It was threatening. And suddenly, Marguerite knew she was right.
"Deamon, you are anger." She named it.
In a puff of black smoke, the creature appeared before her. It was a fire-engine red, with wicked curved horns and leathery black wings.
"Do not look so pleased." It hissed at her. "I am just the first."
And with that, it was gone. In it's place, a stair-way.
"Well now, that wasn't so bad." Marguerite spoke, trying to believe it.
At least now, she knew the rules.
~*~*~*
An hour, and a dozen deamon's later, Marguerite was starting to wonder when the experience would be over. She was getting tired of this. With a sigh, she stopped for a moment to rest. Wondering to herself how one went about calling a time-out in this game.
She leaned up against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment as they were starting to hurt. And as usual, on the backs of her eyelids Marguerite found Roxton staring back at her. Grinning like an idiot, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Tears started to build behind her eyes, and Marguerite had to suppress a sob. Why should she be in such a hurry to go back to the Plateau when he was no longer there? She had no one to bicker with anymore. It wasn't the same with any of the others. They lacked the passion John had possessed. And who would protect her from her nightmares, and even more frightening realities? With Lord Roxton absent, Marguerite couldn't think of a good reason to return home.
'I should just give up now. Let them kill me.' She found herself thinking. 'At least then, I'll get to be with him.'
Marguerite opened her eyes in alarm, allowing the tears that had been resting upon the backs of her eyelids to spill over, past her lashes.
"Depression!" She called out into the empty hallway.
And, like all the others, it appeared before her in a burst of black smoke.
"I was wondering how long it would take you." It hissed at her. "But I am not defeated that easily, Marguerite."
It took a step towards her, bloodlust heavy in it's eyes.
"I know you better than the rest, don't I precious? You cling to me tightly when the sun goes down. I've been with you since before you can remember."
It was close enough now that Marguerite could feel the heat of it's breath against her.
"What makes you think you can chase me away like the rest of them?" It demanded.
Marguerite closed her eyes against the horror before her.
'Help me.' She pleaded silently.
"She named you, Deamon. You must leave her be." Sidra's voice erupted from Marguerite's lips. "Those are the rules."
"Sidra." The deamon smiled wickedly. "Why don't you step inside of my realm for just a moment, and I'll show you how much the rules actually matter."
"Let her pass." Sidra insisted, her voice steady.
"Fine." The deamon hissed gently after a moment. "If I must."
It raised an arm, and ran a claw across Marguerite's face.
"I will see you later, precious." It promised.
Marguerite shivered as it left her. And with a silent 'thank-you' to the angel sitting in her heart, Marguerite continued forward. She had passed her tests. Next, came the big guy.
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So, what do you think? I really dislike this chapter, lol. But, the next one will be better. I'll make it shine. Please review. It'll make me work harder & faster. ;). Hope this chapter wasn't as bad as I think is was. But I wasn't ready for M to deal with the big bad just yet. We needed to weaken her just a bit first. Anyway, next chapter soon.
Dai stiho
~CrimsonCat~
=^..^=
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"So, what am I supposed to do?" Marguerite asked quietly.
There was still a few hours left until daybreak, but she wasn't safe at home like she should be. Instead, she was meeting with an angel in the middle of the forest.
For a second, Marguerite wondered if she had gone insane at some point during the past couple of months. But then again, maybe all the people who met with angels in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere had the exact same doubts.
That thought made Marguerite pause. God, maybe she really *had* gone insane.
Sidra smiled at her, as if reading her thoughts.
"Don't worry, I'm really here." She assured Marguerite. "And you're supposed to kill the deamon before he can kill you, and destroy everything in existence."
"Oh, so no pressure then." Sarcasm dripped from Marguerite's voice.
The angel smiled at her once more, her golden eyes dancing with amusement.
"Sorry. This is the first time I've had to deal with a mortal." She apologized. "I've only been an angel for a few centuries."
Marguerite shook her head as if to clear her mind. This was just too strange. Even for the plateau.
"Ok, so I have to kill a deamon. How am I supposed to do that, exactly?" Marguerite asked.
Sidra shook her head.
"No. Not *a* deamon. *The* deamon. The original sin and source of all evil. And he can't be killed. You just have to defeat him."
"Funny how all of this just slipped your mind earlier."
Marguerite murmured.
She was silent for a moment, letting the information sink in.
"The source of all evil!?" She exclaimed. "Are you insane?!"
"Marguerite!" Sidra snapped, showing that even angels had their limits. "We don't have much time. You have to listen to me, all right?"
Marguerite nodded, not saying a word.
"All right." Sidra took a deep breath. "Now, I'm going to send you into the void between realities, because that's where the deamon lives. First, you'll have to pass a number of tests. Marguerite, this is important. If you fail the tests, they'll kill you before you even have time to blink. To pass the test, you'll have to identify various deamons and prove that you are worthy enough to challenge their master."
Marguerite nodded absently.
"Whatever you do, you cannot let them get to you. Remember, it is all just an illusion. Deamons are crafted from deceit, and they do nothing but lie. I cannot come with you. They would tear me to pieces and suck the marrow from my wings." Sidra said with a shiver. "But I'll always be right here."
Sidra placed her hand over Marguerite's heart.
"What happens if I fail?" Marguerite's voice was low.
Already, the jungle was filling with a strange mist. Soon, she would be in the void, and on her own again. She didn't have much time.
"You know what will happen if you fail." Sidra's voice seemed to come from all around her. For the mists had already consumed her.
"Marguerite, you cannot fail. You won't fail. For Roxton, you will not fail."
And without knowing how she knew, Marguerite could tell that the angel had gone. The mist was complete now, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not see through it.
The heiress blinked, and suddenly the world had substance again. But she was no longer in the jungle. Instead, she seemed to be in the dungeon of a castle.
'An old, creepy castle.' She noted with a shiver.
With a deep breath, Marguerite took her first step, and began to look for a way out.
"What have I gotten myself into?" She asked quietly.
But there was no answer. Then again, she hadn't really been expecting one.
~*~*~*
Marguerite sighed as she came to another fork in the maze of a dungeon she had somehow gotten herself lost in. She had been traveling for what seemed like hours, and her feet were starting to hurt. Her anger was also starting to build. She just wanted to get this over with, and get back to the plateau.
"Damnit, can we just start this already?!" She demanded of the air around her.
Silence met her demand. But unlike the past dozen times she had shouted out in anger, this silence had substance. It was not the silence of an empty room, but the silence of a room that had someone hiding in the shadows.
"What's the matter? Are you too scared to face me?" She screamed.
Silence.
"Come on. Poor 'lil deamon afraid of the big bad Marguerite?"
Silence.
"For Christ's sake!" Marguerite exploded.
The silence seemed to be mocking her, which only fueled her anger. However, before she could shriek at the shadows once more, an image of Lord John Roxton danced across her mind's eye, and stilled her soul.
For years, Roxton had been trying to teach Marguerite the secrets to relaxation, and meditation. It was all in the breathing. So, now, Marguerite took a few deep breaths to clear her mind.
One... What was it Sidra had said? Two... Lie and deceit. Three... She had said that deamons were nothing but.. Four...
Marguerite's eyes opened, and she smiled to herself.
"Deamon, I know you." She laughed. "We've become quite close during my life time, haven't we?"
The silence wasn't mocking her any more. It was threatening. And suddenly, Marguerite knew she was right.
"Deamon, you are anger." She named it.
In a puff of black smoke, the creature appeared before her. It was a fire-engine red, with wicked curved horns and leathery black wings.
"Do not look so pleased." It hissed at her. "I am just the first."
And with that, it was gone. In it's place, a stair-way.
"Well now, that wasn't so bad." Marguerite spoke, trying to believe it.
At least now, she knew the rules.
~*~*~*
An hour, and a dozen deamon's later, Marguerite was starting to wonder when the experience would be over. She was getting tired of this. With a sigh, she stopped for a moment to rest. Wondering to herself how one went about calling a time-out in this game.
She leaned up against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment as they were starting to hurt. And as usual, on the backs of her eyelids Marguerite found Roxton staring back at her. Grinning like an idiot, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Tears started to build behind her eyes, and Marguerite had to suppress a sob. Why should she be in such a hurry to go back to the Plateau when he was no longer there? She had no one to bicker with anymore. It wasn't the same with any of the others. They lacked the passion John had possessed. And who would protect her from her nightmares, and even more frightening realities? With Lord Roxton absent, Marguerite couldn't think of a good reason to return home.
'I should just give up now. Let them kill me.' She found herself thinking. 'At least then, I'll get to be with him.'
Marguerite opened her eyes in alarm, allowing the tears that had been resting upon the backs of her eyelids to spill over, past her lashes.
"Depression!" She called out into the empty hallway.
And, like all the others, it appeared before her in a burst of black smoke.
"I was wondering how long it would take you." It hissed at her. "But I am not defeated that easily, Marguerite."
It took a step towards her, bloodlust heavy in it's eyes.
"I know you better than the rest, don't I precious? You cling to me tightly when the sun goes down. I've been with you since before you can remember."
It was close enough now that Marguerite could feel the heat of it's breath against her.
"What makes you think you can chase me away like the rest of them?" It demanded.
Marguerite closed her eyes against the horror before her.
'Help me.' She pleaded silently.
"She named you, Deamon. You must leave her be." Sidra's voice erupted from Marguerite's lips. "Those are the rules."
"Sidra." The deamon smiled wickedly. "Why don't you step inside of my realm for just a moment, and I'll show you how much the rules actually matter."
"Let her pass." Sidra insisted, her voice steady.
"Fine." The deamon hissed gently after a moment. "If I must."
It raised an arm, and ran a claw across Marguerite's face.
"I will see you later, precious." It promised.
Marguerite shivered as it left her. And with a silent 'thank-you' to the angel sitting in her heart, Marguerite continued forward. She had passed her tests. Next, came the big guy.
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So, what do you think? I really dislike this chapter, lol. But, the next one will be better. I'll make it shine. Please review. It'll make me work harder & faster. ;). Hope this chapter wasn't as bad as I think is was. But I wasn't ready for M to deal with the big bad just yet. We needed to weaken her just a bit first. Anyway, next chapter soon.
Dai stiho
~CrimsonCat~