~Chapter 13~
~The Raging Battle of Good and Evil~

"Corana..." The voice was silky smooth as its owner materialized from the shadows.

Corana knew this demoness. It was Darktydes. A tormented mutt of Wolf and Unicorn heritage, she was constantly battling both the good and evil in her nature. No one side would let the other take over. She was struck with blood lust and was consumed by guilt whenever it took over. She looke almost like a full-blood wolf demon. She had black hair with wolf ears perched atop her head. A black horn protruded from her forehead. Her eyes were so dark blue that they appeared to be black. Her fangs were not as sharp as those of a full-blooded wolf demon and neither were her claws. Her feet however were actually the cloven hooves of a Unicorn. She was dressed in a long hooded cape dragging to the ground in an attempt to hide the hooves that Corana already knew were there. Beneath the cloak, was a simple storm gray grown with billowed sleeves. The dress bunched around her waist and the skirt trailed nearly to the ground, not quite covering her hooves.

"Darktydes." Corana nodded and attacked quickly. She had no time to lose her soul to the schizophrenic demon, just to have it returned and taken away again.

Darktydes had anticipated Corana's movement, but instead of attacking her, she attacked Hiei. She formed a ball of white light and blue mist and sent it hurtling at the tiny fire demon before he could dodge it.

"HIEI!!!!!" Corana cried in panic. His eyes had already gone blank before his body even hit the floor. Corana's tears were flowing freely. "Hiei..." She gasped, before turning back to Darktydes, anger increasing her strength. She stopped when she saw Darktydes' tears.

"Oh Corana! I'm sorry!" She shuddered and Hiei's soul was released and went soaring back to his body. "Please." Darktydes begged. "My whole existence has been a battle." She sobbed. "Just kill me. I don't want to cause anymore pain...Please!" Her voice had taken on a hint of desperation. "Before I turn dark again....PLEASE!"

Corana nodded and before Darktydes' tears could create her signature protective mist, Corana had embedded a dagger into the girl's heart. A look of peace settled over the tormented demoness as she slid to the ground with a final whispered "Thank you."

Corana just nodded as tears dripped down her face and she closed the girl's eyes.

Neko shook his head. "She'll be happier now." He told her.

"Why must the children suffer for the sins of the parents?" Corana muttered as she turned away from the still form of Darktydes. "WHY?!" She hit the wall with resounding force in her anger and frustration.

Hiei had begun to stir. "Asking why is useless." He muttered. "But I'd like to know what just happened." He coughed weakly.

Corana snapped up and ran to him and hugged him. "Are you sure you're ok Hiei?"

"Dizzy and confused. Stop hugging me! What happened?" He pushed her away.

"Darktydes took your soul and then gave it back and then I killed her." Corana replied cryptically.

"Why'd she give it back?" Hiei asked, just slightly confused.

"You need to understand Darktydes to understand why." Neko began. "She was half wolf demon, half unicorn and shunned by her mother until Darktydes eventually killed her in a fit of rage. Her entire life has been a constant battle between her Unicorn nature and her Wolf Demon nature. Always battling between the side that lusts for blood and the side that only wants to help. She is capable of great destruction and great healing. You just happened to receive both in the course of about five minutes." Neko grinned down at the fire demon.

"Hn. Death was a mercy for her then." Hiei nodded.

Corana had chosen to ignore them both and continued walking. They realized this and hurried to join her.

***
"HIEI!!!!!" Kurama, Yusuke, Arctic, and Kuwabara heard Corana's muffled, distant scream. They had just passed the body of the first demon the two had destroyed, Hizeme.

"Come on! It sounds like they're in trouble! We have to hurry!" Yusuke urged the others on and up the stairs to the second level.

A/N: OK Issa! Thanks so much for Darktydes! She was so tragic and dramatic...I just ate up her character! Hope you like what I did with her. If you don't and have a better suggestion, just let me know you. You know where to reach me!