"Welcome to S'yms home little Angel." The pale purple demon growled at him as they appeared in what could only be described as a medieval torture chamber. Angel found every torture device he could name was in the room, along with some he couldn't. Some didn't even look like they were made for humans, and probably weren't.
"You take great pride in your work don't you S'ym." Angel spoke to try and allieviate his fears.
"Yup." Came S'yms response as he half carried Angel to a wicked machine.
"You were here before DarkChild weren't you?" Angel asked, vainly trying to find some angle with which to save himself.
"Be here long after she's gone too I bet." S'ym growled. Angel hadn't expected a response but the implications of this one stunned him. S'ym had worked for Limbo's previous master which meant that he probably administered punishments to his masters apprentice, Illyana.
"How many times did you have Illyana in here?" He was fishing for information.
S'ym grinned and Angels blood temp dropped a couple of degrees. "More than she would care to remember." S'ym pushed him up against a particularly lethal looking table which already contained an occupant. "Say 'ello to your ex-bodymate."
Angel took another look but still couldn't recognize the mass of demonic flesh on the table. Angelous tilted his head towards the human and growled toothlessly. Angel swallowed hard and turned back to S'ym. The shadows seemed to pool around the demon and hide his visage from view except for the pair of narrowed glowing eyes. It took all of Angels will not to scream as S'ym grabbed him but that was the last time he was able to resist that urge for quiet awhile.
--- --- ---
After S'ym had removed Angel and himself from her chambers Illyana had teleported to her throne room and proceeded to sit smoldering upon her chair. None of her pets dared approach her while she remained in this dark of a mood. After a while she summoned her scrying crystal and peared into it.
As she watched scene after scene of her own life flowed through the crystals lattice. Some were of happy times, her and her friends playing or relaxing, of her family and sometimes lover and of ones that were lost to her. Other scenes were of sad times, when things didn't go as they should or when the others took a step back from her. The latter seemed to out weigh the former.
Her dark mood didn't lighten but it did shift, to one of remorse. She closed her eyes against the threat of tears and forced them down again. As she centered herself and regained her sense of purpose she felt a disturbance within her realm. Another had arrived, alone.
Her power stretched out almost of it's own accord and took stock of this new comer. "Syndaheil." Illyana whisphered to herself. "And now the game begins in earnest." A twitch of a finger brought a lesser demon scampering to her side.
"Yessss, Mistressss." The creature hissed.
"We have another visitor." She stood from her throne. "Politely bring her here and make her comfortable." She motioned to the large cushioned chair on a new dais a few steps down from her own chair. Neither the chair nor stone landing had existed a moment before.
"Yessss, Mistressss." The creature agreed.
A simple thought then brought her to S'yms private chambers and the horrors within.
--- --- ---
"S'ym!"
His mistresses voice was clearly heard through out the chamber while it had not raised in volume above a conversational level. "Gotta learn that lil' trick som'day." the demon muttered to himself as he placed a wicked knife on the table before him and went to bosses side. "Yeah Boss." He rumbled as he approached.
"We have more company S'ym." Illyana told him while scanning the chamber for Angel. "I need to have Angel fit and ready for an audience... Soon." The threat was unspoken but definitly there.
"Um..." S'ym glanced over his shoulder. "Didn't realize you wanted him so soon."
Illyana closed her eyes and shook her head in dissappointment. "Just tell me that he is still in one piece."
"Uh, yup... just barely." S'ym explained as he lead his mistress to one of his many work tables. "Made sure to keep him alive and consicous through the whole thing too."
Illyana's eyes narrowed at her chief demon "You went easy on him."
S'ym felt a chill race up and down his demonic spine. There had been times when S'ym had had to send quickly for Belasco to 'repair' the damage he had inflicted upon his DarkChild. If Illyana felt that his holding back was in any way a sign of betrayal he may die to regret it, a few hundred times. "No Mistress." He then corrected himself. "Well, yes but you's said entertain and not damage or nothing."
Illyana was still tempted to vent some of her wrath upon her servant but then brushed it off. "Show me." She dismissed the issue with that simple command. As Angel came into view Illyana smiled.
"Poor Angel, maybe you feel that you would have been better off with Angelous and Diablo in Hell?" She didn't really expect an answer and although he was awake she wasn't sure he could answer. "Well don't worry, you might yet get that wish. It all depends on how well this next little meeting goes." She made an arcane gesture with her hand and Angel began to regenerate before her eyes. "If all goes well you will soon be on your way back to Earth. But if not ..." she shrugged "You may soon wish for S'yms tender mercies." She spared the demon a cold smile. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind a new playtoy for, oh say, eternity."
By now Angel had recovered enough to be able to speak "I would rather die, you bitch." He spat out at her.
Illyana laughed. "But Angel whether you lived or died would rest solely within my hands." She held up said appendages formed as the DarkChild, her claws poised as if to rip his lungs out. When Angel shivered uncontrollably she laughed even harder as she brought the three of them once more to her main hall.
--- --- ---
He was surprised to find himself dressed again in the black silk drawstring shirt and pants, along with stretch slippers on his feet. He took this in directly after noticing the throne room had been re-organized to seat a guest just below and to the right of the DarkChild. The new chair remained empty, for now.
The throne, on the other hand, was now occupied by Illyana's lithe and powerful form. Her reignment had once again become that of her upper chest and arms encased in eldritch armour and her legs fully revealed by a white split skirt, held in place with a metal belt.
"Now we find out just how badly they want you back." Illyana smiled at him but it lacked anything resembling warmth. She reclined casually in her chair and motioned to the step at her feet. "Seat yourself."
It was a command which could be disobeyed but it wasn't worth the consequences. Angel placed himself in the indicated spot and resisted the urge to growl. He was beginning to wonder how long they were going to have to wait just as the double doors upon the other end of the room silently opened.
The single form the doors admitted was a human female in shape, eight feet tall, and that is where the resemblance ended. Her skin was a dark violet, almost black, her eyes were solid glowing red and her hair was as white as her teeth and fangs. She was wearing an ornate white bikini top and long white split skirt which didn't reveal as much as the DarkChilds.
"Syndahiel." Angel whispered. He hadn't meant to say it out loud, it had just slipped. Illyana glared at the back of his head before putting on a welcoming face for her guest.
"Syndahiel." Illyana stood as she spoke "Welcome to my home." She smiled graciously and swept an arm towards the chair near herself. "Please be seated."
Syndahiel returned the curtesy with a slight bow and smile. "I thank you young Magus." Her voice was beautiful and only slightly echoing with power, which was a deception in itself. She carefully arranged her skirt as she placed herself upon the chair. "I am quiet pleased with the reception I have thus far received. I, unlike my cousin, truly respect you and your power. I have no wish to continue any unpleasentness between our realms."
"Neither do I." Agreed the Mistress of Limbo. "I assume that you are here to collect your wayward cousin but perhaps we could use this opportunity to get to know each other as well." As she spoke her eyes seemed to fill with a light of desire as she watched her guest. The look was not lost to either guest before her.
Syndahiel seemed surprised but pleased to hear Illyana suggest such a course of action. "It would be my pleasure." She admitted. "Unfortunately such things must wait for the moment. How fairs my cousin and his Angelous?" She asked. It was a signal that it was time to get down to business.
"Not as well as when they first arrived." Illyana admitted with a half grin. She motioned and four big demons appeared holding the captives between them. Arioch looked better but was still obviously very weak while Angelous was mostly recovered from his injuries. Angel assumed that Illyana had sped his healing along for some reason or another. He couldn't imagine a vampire being able to out-heal a Named Demon.
Syndahiel stood and approached her peer. "Poor Arioch, to have been brought so low." There definitly was no love between these family members. "You have disappointed Lord Baal and Diablo." Arioch visibly cringed at the mention of Baal, the Lord of Destruction. Syndahiel turned and gave Angelous a cursory look then returned to her seat.
"As you can see" The Mistress of Limbo smiled prettily "They are not permanetly damaged." She paused for a moment. "The same cannot be said for some of my denizens though." Her voice carried a note of sadness upon it. Angel couldn't tell if it was feigned or not.
"I understand." Syndahiel spoke softly. Her angry gaze peirced Arioch for a moment before returning to gently reguard the girl on the throne. "What recompese do you desire?"
Illyana pretended to consider this for a moment. "I want Angel and I want all other claims on him discarded." Her wounded act was gone and replaced with the steel of the deal.
Syndahiel nodded as she considered this. "He would not be allowed to leave Limbo... ever." She countered.
Illyana shook her head negatively. "Unacceptable. I need him to be able to return to Earth." She weighed options in her head then said "If I was given leave to call upon a Named Demon for a single task." She nodded "Yes, that would be agreeable."
Syndahiel couldn't agree to that and everyone knew it. To allow a Named Demon to be called upon even for a single task by a half-mortal would ruin that demons reputation. "DarkChild, please. Maybe there is another way we can arrange to return Angel to Earth." She looked thoughtfully into Illyana's blue eyes. "What if Angel was returned with Angelous in residence?"
"NO!" Angel snapped which promptly got him backhanded off his seat and down the stairs away from the Mistress of Limbo. He kept quite as he glared up at Illyana.
"That would be acceptable." Illyana agreed after a short time. She could barely keep herself from jumping around in glee. "I will rejoin them and place them back whence they came."
"You will, of course, erase any memory of this time from their minds." Syndahiel requested. She glanced at Angel as he stood up but made no move to come forward. He would have been running if he wasn't sure that Illyana or one of her pets wouldn't bring him back in less than a minute.
"Of course." Illyana agreed. She too spared Angel a look and a smirk.
She planned this from the start. He thought to himself. Including the bargaining session. The realization actually filled him with more respect for the young girls abilities and daring.
"And this will secure the release of Arioch with no grudges attached." Syndaheil replied and Illyana nodded. They stood together, the difference in steps putting them at eye level, and clasped forearms.
"Thus the pact is made." They intoned together. Angels head bowed in defeat.
Syndaheil turned to Angel "A pity" as she spoke her fangs were very visible "I do wish I had been able to sample the flesh before he left."
Illyana turned her lethal smile on Angel "Perhaps... I can interest you in some other flesh." The demonesses reguarded each other. "I am free to... roam you know." She was rewarded with an equally lethal smile from the Maiden of Deception.
"I shall take you up on that offer." Syndaheil agreed. "But first, come cousin, there is one who wishes to speak with you." She strode over to Arioch who had gotten noticable better and grasped his upper arm.
He glared at the DarkChilde "This... is... not... over!" he hissed at her.
"Unfortunately it is," Illyana told him. " beacuse next time, I would have to kill you." Her cold voice and demeanor convinced Angel if noone else. Syndaheil tipped her head to her host and a stepping disk whisked them away. Illyana fell onto her throne and threw a little happy fit for herself. "I just love it when a plan comes together."
"Oh yeah." Angel spoke with heavy sarcasm "If you call pissing off a couple of the biggest powers in Hell a good thing."
Illyana let the lask of any honorific pass by and smiled lightly down on Angel. "You can't begin to understand what I've done here."
"Hmmm, let me guess." He said as he reclimbed the stairs to her throne. "Stole me. Defeated Arioch, after letting him think he had a chance. And parlayed with Syndaheil for his and my life. All for..." He raised his eyebrows at Illyana as he drew the moment out. "a chance, a chance mind you, of sinking your claws into Syndaheil, Maiden of Deception."
Illyana sat up and narrowed her eyes at S'ym and then Angel. "I'm not sure how you put that together but I'll give you that you're right. But now-" She was cut off by the mortal man.
"Because, even though you can go anywhere, one thing always remains the same. You look like you." Angel pointed to make his point. "With a bit of Syndaheils energy backing you, you could cast perfect glamours. I doubt that anything could detect them... Maybe not even the Prime powers of Hell itself."
"That's a given. It's the source of her power. They wouldn't bother to check something for thier own glamour." Illyana finished for him.
"That can only mean one thing... there's something in Hell you want and you don't want the Prime's to know you have it." Angel pronounced.
Illyana smiled her wicked smile. "Oh, Angel I should have kept you here with me. We would have been glorious." She stood and stepped close to him. "I could have made you my equal, instead you must go back." She finished with a frown.
"Don't send me back." Angel said quickly. "Destroy Angelous, defy them. They can't hurt you here."
She seemed to consider it "But I'm not always here. If I did that they would never rest until they had my head. At least this way they can escape with some dignity and they may forget. But to do as you ask...." She shook her head regretfully.
"HA, brother, she has rejected you." Angelous sneared at him. "And don't think they will forget. Arioch will avenge this insult a thousand fold bitch!"
He would have continued but Illyana cut him off "ENOUGH! S'ym, bring them together!" She commanded and it was done. "Good bye Angel. I will remember you but you shall never remember me." She then began casting her spells. The first was an enjoining spell similar to the Thesselian Orb curse the Gypsies used so long ago. This brought the two similar forms together as one. The second was a spell of forgetfullness with a slight touch to alter Angel into a wild beast like state. A mortal simply wouldn't have remained sane after extended exposure to Hell.
S'ym grunted slightly as he clamped his hands harder around Angels shoulders. "He's a fighter now!" He then grinned because he really wasn't expending much effort at all.
Illyana waved him to silence as she scanned Angels continuim in her scrying crystal. When she found the right time she smiled and sat back. "Release him!" She commanded. S'ym was surprised but shrugged and let go. 'Angel' launched himself at the pretty blond only to find himself swallowed by a stepping disk.
"You take great pride in your work don't you S'ym." Angel spoke to try and allieviate his fears.
"Yup." Came S'yms response as he half carried Angel to a wicked machine.
"You were here before DarkChild weren't you?" Angel asked, vainly trying to find some angle with which to save himself.
"Be here long after she's gone too I bet." S'ym growled. Angel hadn't expected a response but the implications of this one stunned him. S'ym had worked for Limbo's previous master which meant that he probably administered punishments to his masters apprentice, Illyana.
"How many times did you have Illyana in here?" He was fishing for information.
S'ym grinned and Angels blood temp dropped a couple of degrees. "More than she would care to remember." S'ym pushed him up against a particularly lethal looking table which already contained an occupant. "Say 'ello to your ex-bodymate."
Angel took another look but still couldn't recognize the mass of demonic flesh on the table. Angelous tilted his head towards the human and growled toothlessly. Angel swallowed hard and turned back to S'ym. The shadows seemed to pool around the demon and hide his visage from view except for the pair of narrowed glowing eyes. It took all of Angels will not to scream as S'ym grabbed him but that was the last time he was able to resist that urge for quiet awhile.
--- --- ---
After S'ym had removed Angel and himself from her chambers Illyana had teleported to her throne room and proceeded to sit smoldering upon her chair. None of her pets dared approach her while she remained in this dark of a mood. After a while she summoned her scrying crystal and peared into it.
As she watched scene after scene of her own life flowed through the crystals lattice. Some were of happy times, her and her friends playing or relaxing, of her family and sometimes lover and of ones that were lost to her. Other scenes were of sad times, when things didn't go as they should or when the others took a step back from her. The latter seemed to out weigh the former.
Her dark mood didn't lighten but it did shift, to one of remorse. She closed her eyes against the threat of tears and forced them down again. As she centered herself and regained her sense of purpose she felt a disturbance within her realm. Another had arrived, alone.
Her power stretched out almost of it's own accord and took stock of this new comer. "Syndaheil." Illyana whisphered to herself. "And now the game begins in earnest." A twitch of a finger brought a lesser demon scampering to her side.
"Yessss, Mistressss." The creature hissed.
"We have another visitor." She stood from her throne. "Politely bring her here and make her comfortable." She motioned to the large cushioned chair on a new dais a few steps down from her own chair. Neither the chair nor stone landing had existed a moment before.
"Yessss, Mistressss." The creature agreed.
A simple thought then brought her to S'yms private chambers and the horrors within.
--- --- ---
"S'ym!"
His mistresses voice was clearly heard through out the chamber while it had not raised in volume above a conversational level. "Gotta learn that lil' trick som'day." the demon muttered to himself as he placed a wicked knife on the table before him and went to bosses side. "Yeah Boss." He rumbled as he approached.
"We have more company S'ym." Illyana told him while scanning the chamber for Angel. "I need to have Angel fit and ready for an audience... Soon." The threat was unspoken but definitly there.
"Um..." S'ym glanced over his shoulder. "Didn't realize you wanted him so soon."
Illyana closed her eyes and shook her head in dissappointment. "Just tell me that he is still in one piece."
"Uh, yup... just barely." S'ym explained as he lead his mistress to one of his many work tables. "Made sure to keep him alive and consicous through the whole thing too."
Illyana's eyes narrowed at her chief demon "You went easy on him."
S'ym felt a chill race up and down his demonic spine. There had been times when S'ym had had to send quickly for Belasco to 'repair' the damage he had inflicted upon his DarkChild. If Illyana felt that his holding back was in any way a sign of betrayal he may die to regret it, a few hundred times. "No Mistress." He then corrected himself. "Well, yes but you's said entertain and not damage or nothing."
Illyana was still tempted to vent some of her wrath upon her servant but then brushed it off. "Show me." She dismissed the issue with that simple command. As Angel came into view Illyana smiled.
"Poor Angel, maybe you feel that you would have been better off with Angelous and Diablo in Hell?" She didn't really expect an answer and although he was awake she wasn't sure he could answer. "Well don't worry, you might yet get that wish. It all depends on how well this next little meeting goes." She made an arcane gesture with her hand and Angel began to regenerate before her eyes. "If all goes well you will soon be on your way back to Earth. But if not ..." she shrugged "You may soon wish for S'yms tender mercies." She spared the demon a cold smile. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind a new playtoy for, oh say, eternity."
By now Angel had recovered enough to be able to speak "I would rather die, you bitch." He spat out at her.
Illyana laughed. "But Angel whether you lived or died would rest solely within my hands." She held up said appendages formed as the DarkChild, her claws poised as if to rip his lungs out. When Angel shivered uncontrollably she laughed even harder as she brought the three of them once more to her main hall.
--- --- ---
He was surprised to find himself dressed again in the black silk drawstring shirt and pants, along with stretch slippers on his feet. He took this in directly after noticing the throne room had been re-organized to seat a guest just below and to the right of the DarkChild. The new chair remained empty, for now.
The throne, on the other hand, was now occupied by Illyana's lithe and powerful form. Her reignment had once again become that of her upper chest and arms encased in eldritch armour and her legs fully revealed by a white split skirt, held in place with a metal belt.
"Now we find out just how badly they want you back." Illyana smiled at him but it lacked anything resembling warmth. She reclined casually in her chair and motioned to the step at her feet. "Seat yourself."
It was a command which could be disobeyed but it wasn't worth the consequences. Angel placed himself in the indicated spot and resisted the urge to growl. He was beginning to wonder how long they were going to have to wait just as the double doors upon the other end of the room silently opened.
The single form the doors admitted was a human female in shape, eight feet tall, and that is where the resemblance ended. Her skin was a dark violet, almost black, her eyes were solid glowing red and her hair was as white as her teeth and fangs. She was wearing an ornate white bikini top and long white split skirt which didn't reveal as much as the DarkChilds.
"Syndahiel." Angel whispered. He hadn't meant to say it out loud, it had just slipped. Illyana glared at the back of his head before putting on a welcoming face for her guest.
"Syndahiel." Illyana stood as she spoke "Welcome to my home." She smiled graciously and swept an arm towards the chair near herself. "Please be seated."
Syndahiel returned the curtesy with a slight bow and smile. "I thank you young Magus." Her voice was beautiful and only slightly echoing with power, which was a deception in itself. She carefully arranged her skirt as she placed herself upon the chair. "I am quiet pleased with the reception I have thus far received. I, unlike my cousin, truly respect you and your power. I have no wish to continue any unpleasentness between our realms."
"Neither do I." Agreed the Mistress of Limbo. "I assume that you are here to collect your wayward cousin but perhaps we could use this opportunity to get to know each other as well." As she spoke her eyes seemed to fill with a light of desire as she watched her guest. The look was not lost to either guest before her.
Syndahiel seemed surprised but pleased to hear Illyana suggest such a course of action. "It would be my pleasure." She admitted. "Unfortunately such things must wait for the moment. How fairs my cousin and his Angelous?" She asked. It was a signal that it was time to get down to business.
"Not as well as when they first arrived." Illyana admitted with a half grin. She motioned and four big demons appeared holding the captives between them. Arioch looked better but was still obviously very weak while Angelous was mostly recovered from his injuries. Angel assumed that Illyana had sped his healing along for some reason or another. He couldn't imagine a vampire being able to out-heal a Named Demon.
Syndahiel stood and approached her peer. "Poor Arioch, to have been brought so low." There definitly was no love between these family members. "You have disappointed Lord Baal and Diablo." Arioch visibly cringed at the mention of Baal, the Lord of Destruction. Syndahiel turned and gave Angelous a cursory look then returned to her seat.
"As you can see" The Mistress of Limbo smiled prettily "They are not permanetly damaged." She paused for a moment. "The same cannot be said for some of my denizens though." Her voice carried a note of sadness upon it. Angel couldn't tell if it was feigned or not.
"I understand." Syndahiel spoke softly. Her angry gaze peirced Arioch for a moment before returning to gently reguard the girl on the throne. "What recompese do you desire?"
Illyana pretended to consider this for a moment. "I want Angel and I want all other claims on him discarded." Her wounded act was gone and replaced with the steel of the deal.
Syndahiel nodded as she considered this. "He would not be allowed to leave Limbo... ever." She countered.
Illyana shook her head negatively. "Unacceptable. I need him to be able to return to Earth." She weighed options in her head then said "If I was given leave to call upon a Named Demon for a single task." She nodded "Yes, that would be agreeable."
Syndahiel couldn't agree to that and everyone knew it. To allow a Named Demon to be called upon even for a single task by a half-mortal would ruin that demons reputation. "DarkChild, please. Maybe there is another way we can arrange to return Angel to Earth." She looked thoughtfully into Illyana's blue eyes. "What if Angel was returned with Angelous in residence?"
"NO!" Angel snapped which promptly got him backhanded off his seat and down the stairs away from the Mistress of Limbo. He kept quite as he glared up at Illyana.
"That would be acceptable." Illyana agreed after a short time. She could barely keep herself from jumping around in glee. "I will rejoin them and place them back whence they came."
"You will, of course, erase any memory of this time from their minds." Syndahiel requested. She glanced at Angel as he stood up but made no move to come forward. He would have been running if he wasn't sure that Illyana or one of her pets wouldn't bring him back in less than a minute.
"Of course." Illyana agreed. She too spared Angel a look and a smirk.
She planned this from the start. He thought to himself. Including the bargaining session. The realization actually filled him with more respect for the young girls abilities and daring.
"And this will secure the release of Arioch with no grudges attached." Syndaheil replied and Illyana nodded. They stood together, the difference in steps putting them at eye level, and clasped forearms.
"Thus the pact is made." They intoned together. Angels head bowed in defeat.
Syndaheil turned to Angel "A pity" as she spoke her fangs were very visible "I do wish I had been able to sample the flesh before he left."
Illyana turned her lethal smile on Angel "Perhaps... I can interest you in some other flesh." The demonesses reguarded each other. "I am free to... roam you know." She was rewarded with an equally lethal smile from the Maiden of Deception.
"I shall take you up on that offer." Syndaheil agreed. "But first, come cousin, there is one who wishes to speak with you." She strode over to Arioch who had gotten noticable better and grasped his upper arm.
He glared at the DarkChilde "This... is... not... over!" he hissed at her.
"Unfortunately it is," Illyana told him. " beacuse next time, I would have to kill you." Her cold voice and demeanor convinced Angel if noone else. Syndaheil tipped her head to her host and a stepping disk whisked them away. Illyana fell onto her throne and threw a little happy fit for herself. "I just love it when a plan comes together."
"Oh yeah." Angel spoke with heavy sarcasm "If you call pissing off a couple of the biggest powers in Hell a good thing."
Illyana let the lask of any honorific pass by and smiled lightly down on Angel. "You can't begin to understand what I've done here."
"Hmmm, let me guess." He said as he reclimbed the stairs to her throne. "Stole me. Defeated Arioch, after letting him think he had a chance. And parlayed with Syndaheil for his and my life. All for..." He raised his eyebrows at Illyana as he drew the moment out. "a chance, a chance mind you, of sinking your claws into Syndaheil, Maiden of Deception."
Illyana sat up and narrowed her eyes at S'ym and then Angel. "I'm not sure how you put that together but I'll give you that you're right. But now-" She was cut off by the mortal man.
"Because, even though you can go anywhere, one thing always remains the same. You look like you." Angel pointed to make his point. "With a bit of Syndaheils energy backing you, you could cast perfect glamours. I doubt that anything could detect them... Maybe not even the Prime powers of Hell itself."
"That's a given. It's the source of her power. They wouldn't bother to check something for thier own glamour." Illyana finished for him.
"That can only mean one thing... there's something in Hell you want and you don't want the Prime's to know you have it." Angel pronounced.
Illyana smiled her wicked smile. "Oh, Angel I should have kept you here with me. We would have been glorious." She stood and stepped close to him. "I could have made you my equal, instead you must go back." She finished with a frown.
"Don't send me back." Angel said quickly. "Destroy Angelous, defy them. They can't hurt you here."
She seemed to consider it "But I'm not always here. If I did that they would never rest until they had my head. At least this way they can escape with some dignity and they may forget. But to do as you ask...." She shook her head regretfully.
"HA, brother, she has rejected you." Angelous sneared at him. "And don't think they will forget. Arioch will avenge this insult a thousand fold bitch!"
He would have continued but Illyana cut him off "ENOUGH! S'ym, bring them together!" She commanded and it was done. "Good bye Angel. I will remember you but you shall never remember me." She then began casting her spells. The first was an enjoining spell similar to the Thesselian Orb curse the Gypsies used so long ago. This brought the two similar forms together as one. The second was a spell of forgetfullness with a slight touch to alter Angel into a wild beast like state. A mortal simply wouldn't have remained sane after extended exposure to Hell.
S'ym grunted slightly as he clamped his hands harder around Angels shoulders. "He's a fighter now!" He then grinned because he really wasn't expending much effort at all.
Illyana waved him to silence as she scanned Angels continuim in her scrying crystal. When she found the right time she smiled and sat back. "Release him!" She commanded. S'ym was surprised but shrugged and let go. 'Angel' launched himself at the pretty blond only to find himself swallowed by a stepping disk.
