Why, hello there, unwary readers! I guess you know what time it iz, right?
That's right! Its time to thank the reviewers!
Natsumi/Natsu-aoki (whichever floats yer boat, bebe): You've returned! Woot! Iz good that you like how the story went while you were gone. Ugh, moving sux. You gotta put everything in boxes and then move it and then... Its not good. (and yes, no internet DOES lead to insanity. Then again, is sanity a preferred thing...?) Aerosmith rocks. So sez I. And, reflecting on the nature of this chapter, I felt that I could use one more from them too ^_^ Yeah, and boredom is in season. It mysteriously disappears around school, though, when you suddenly have a long list of things to complain about. Anyway, thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like this chapter!
And I hope you find a good scanner! I'd love to see what ja made!
Arcander: Reading when you're tired isn't a great idea. You tend to forget and skip lots of things, in my experience, and you get confused when you try and read further. But, I can't stop you ^_^ Thanks for the compliments, by the way. I can never get enough of those ^_^
Ickle-Wicca-Girl: Why thank you. I'm like to believe that my stories are nice to read, and its good to hear people who agree with me ^_^ And yes, I will keep up the good work. I try my best.
A Flower Merchant: Thank you for the kind words! I hope you like how this fic continues as well!
And no, this chapter was not delayed by lack of inspiration. It was delayed by a game (Surprise there, ne? Bet NOBODY *EVER* heard THAT one from me. Nope, not EVER.) However, after thoroughly beating it (It was kinda easy toward the end. My azz kickin' spells fried my enemies like flies flying into one those blue, thingees that go 'Bzzt' when something touches it.), I finished this chapter IN ONE DAY. I was possessed by... something. Dunno what yet, but when I do I'm get me some more o' that!
And after inspecting the list of books I have to buy for school, I must say, I am afraid. VERY afraid.
On a second note, I now hate my machine. Because of its MASSIVE ping-age, I won't be able to play any of the wonderful MMORGP's that come out -_- Stupid hunk of steel and plastic! *Kicks Machine* Ouch! Maybe I shoulda put on a shoe first...
Today's chapter is 'Dream On', and iz by Aerosmith. So enjoy!
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Chapter XXX: Dream On
There are worse things in life to wake to, than, say, the sight bright brown eyes and a giant rodent standing on your stomach. This was exactly the case of Elena, when Impus scrambled onto the bed and onto Elena's stomach, and then jumped. Elena awoke with a start, half expecting to be under attack from something, but upon seeing the furry creature in front of her, she blinked in surprise. A moment passed, and then she remembered what had transpired the day before. That hussy-girl Miena, and Jarred offering a place to sleep, and Impus. Elena ruffled the furry creatures head, and yawned sleepily. What time was it?
The smell of cooking came to her attention. At that, her stomach growled loudly to remind her that she hadn't eaten for a day. Impus flicked her tail in a suggesting manner, beckoning her to follow. Pulling on her clothes that she had discarded the night before, she obliged.
Jarred's room was a tidy place, to say the least. There was a closet which rounded a corner, filled with robes and cloaks and jackets, but most looked like they hadn't been used in decades. One jacket even looked like it would fit a child. Jarred's bed was wide enough for two people, with a night stand on each. The glass bird, which upon closer inspection turned out to be a falcon, was on one, while a book and lamp were on the other. Out of curiosity, Elena picked up the book, and found it covered in strange letters she'd never seen, while the lamp shed a soft, but bright light. Other than those things, hardly anything littered the room, the floor devoid of any markings of any sort, along with all the other things in the room. Even the CEILING looked pristine.
Impus squeaked loudly for her to hurry, jumping up and down on the bed. Elena laughed at the creatures antics, and pulled her blue jacket around her. Seeing her properly clothed, Impus darted out of the room like lightening, shooting for the door.
"Whoa, wait up!" Elena cried out, trying to keep up with the speedy creature. Following it out of Jarred's room, it led her into her the bright white room that passed as a living room of sorts. The smell of cooking was closer, now, as well as the sound of singing. Elena didn't know what language it was in, but the melody was catchy and the tone was merry.
Behind a counter, she could see a jaunty Jarred cooking what looked like pancakes. Expertly, he flipped it, and turned to bring out three cups and plates. Impus appeared on the counter, and took the crockery from his hands, and hopped onto the floor once more. On her hind legs, she walked over to a table, hopped onto a chair and then onto the table itself, she began arranging the plate and cups. A minute later, Jarred emerged with a stack of pancakes, and a bottle of syrup. Impus retreated once more, and came back with her hands filled with utensils. Jarred seemed to notice Elena for the first time as she walked towards the table.
"Ah, so the little beast really did wake you." He said with a grin. "Surprises me a bit. She'd have let you sleep if it meant getting more food." Impus hissed at him, but she was the first to jab a fork into the stack of pancakes and put them on a plate, and the first once more to hijack the syrup. Jarred beamed at Elena. "Sleep well?"
Elena grinned back. Jarred was shockingly chirpy in the morning, as opposed to the rest of the world. He stole the syrup away from Impus before she could use it all, and handed it to Elena.
"Yes, actually I did." Tabbing the stack of pancakes as well, Elena removed three cakes and doused them with syrup. Cutting off a wedge, she put some into her mouth. "Mm, sweet."
Jarred pulled the remaining stack, and plopped it down on his plate, and veritably soaked it in syrup. Elena looked in amazement as he demolished it all in a few minutes.
"I know, I ufed vaniwa in da badder." He said between mouthfuls, well, ALMOST between mouthfuls. Elena was too busy gaping to try and decipher what he was saying.
Elena, in an attempt to bring herself out of her shocked state, tried to talk once more. Something Wraith had said earlier came to her attention.
"Jarred, I asked Wraith to teach me magic yesterday, the type you guys use, and he looked at me like I had the plague when I did, and told me to ask you." She said, taking in a deep breath. Upon hearing those words, Jarred stopped eating. Stopped breathing, as well. The fork in his hand stopped like it had been frozen inn place. Even Impus's eyes were bulging. "Could you?"
The fork slipped out of Jarred's grasp. Impus's mouth dropped, and she hid under the table. Elena raised her eyebrow. What was so wrong about teaching her magic? It should be a reasonable thing, really. Not as bad as Jarred asking people what went bump in the night.
Jarred cleared his throat. Nervously, and making funny sounds.
"Well, erm, Elena, that's a toughy." He said, putting an elbow on a table. "Impus, could you go get my blood gem? Yes, good girl." Impus scampered off, looking over her shoulder at Elena. Jarred's blood red eyes turned to Elena fiercely. "I will let you experience my powers for one day. You won't get physically tired, the cold will hold no sway on you, and you will have the True Sight. If you feel tired, then you're using too much magic. Never exert yourself." He laid the necklace down on the table. The blood red gem gleamed dimly, slightly ominously. "Just put it around your neck, if you want."
He made it sound so terrible, like it was a curse. Elena could only see good things about the abilities that necklace would grant her. Not getting tired? No cold? And whatever this True Sight was? So what if magic would tire her! Nothing else would!
She picked up the necklace, looked at it critically, and then carefully looped it around her neck.
The instant she let go, a warm, energizing feeling erupted in her. She felt like she could tear apart the world with her bare hands. The raw power welling up in her was awe-inspiring! But, something was wrong. She could feel a greater source of power, just out of her reach.
A hand on her shoulder brought her out of her own world. Who was there? Where was Jarred? Why was the only thing she could see pure blackness? Where had everything gone? Was this the True Sight?
Suddenly, she realized her eyes were closed. Hastily, she opened them. Jarred was kneeling above her, concern in his crimson eyes. He was trying to rouse her, saying something, but she couldn't hear him well. It was as if he was on an island far away. She could only hear vague half-sentences. Tears were welling up in his eyes, though, she could see. He was sad about something, unbelievably sad.
"Wake up! Oh gods..." He trailed off, his words becoming indistinguishable. He put is hands on her chest, around her neckline. Energy leaked inside her, and she could hear his words more now. "Please, Elena, wake up! Dammit, I KNEW I should have said no!" More energy leaked into her. Even more strength burst through her. She reached upwards, and touched Jarred's face. For some reason, her hand was shrouded, a greyish black cloud surrounded it. The young warrior jumped, but smiled quickly, and wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh thank god, I thought the power had killed you." He murmured happily, clutching her tight. "I shouldn't have given you the Blood Gem. It's too dangerous."
Elena was happy to lay right there, uncertain as to how she had gotten onto the floor or why Jarred went on about how he shouldn't have given her this fantastic gift. She was content just to lay in his warm embrace, his strong arms wrapped around her.
"S'okay." She mumbled back, patting his back.
He pulled away slightly, so that he could look into her eyes. Despite the immense strength she now held, she felt powerless compared to the energy radiating from him. Where did it all COME from?! How could he contend himself with weapons, when he had all that POWER at hand?
"I'm not leaving your side at ALL today. " He growled fiercely, hugging her once again. "I afflicted you with this, and I will watch over you, until the spell wears off. Maybe afterwards too, to make sure you're alright"
Elena furrowed her eyebrows. She wasn't against him staying with her, quite the opposite. But there was something wrong with what he was saying. He made it sound like he had given her a disease.
"Afflicted? Jarred, what are you talking about?"
"Look at yourself, Elena, and you will understand." He pulled away, but supported her into a sitting position.
Elena looked down at herself, as he had said for her to do. She blinked, and looked again, just to be sure. Yes, that was definitely...
"Jarred, why is my skin black?"
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Kahn awoke on the floor, the room spinning and a thousand armies stomping on his head. Clutching his head and trying to stop it from splitting apart. He moaned pitifully, and rolled onto his back.
The ceiling was moving. Well, parts of it, at least. Kahn became sick watching it move like a stormy sea, and looked away from it, towards the furniture. Precious little was more supportive there. The couches seemed to be moving away from him in a sickeningly random pace. The demon dug his claws into the ground, in a futile hope to try and stop the ground from churning. Unfortunately, all this accomplished was to distort his arm. He looked in horror as his arm bend into crazy angles.
A boot slammed into his vision with a head splitting 'thud'. Kahn curled up tighter, the pain racking his skull proving too much.
It was a very solid-looking boot. Comfortingly solid-looking. Unfortunately, it was still a boot, and boots that slam down against the ground in front of your face don't usually have the best of wearers. Kahn trailed his eyes upwards, looking into what seemed like twin pools of oblivion. BLACK pools of oblivion.
Kahn groaned.
"NICE TO SEE YOU AS WELL, DEMON. HOWEVER, TRY NOT TO SING THAT LOUD AGAIN. SOME OF US WERE TRYING TO SLEEP." Wraith said with a mocking look, lip twitching into a grin. "Shakal wishes to torture- SPEAK with you." He smiled at that, and turned away.
Kahn groaned once more. His wings lat limply across the floor, and he was pretty sure he couldn't feel his legs. He pushed himself into a sitting position. No, they were asleep. Even BETTER.
"A little help?" The demon grumbled, hitting his thigh with a fist. It jolted a strange feeling through him. "I'm trying to stand but I'm having a little difficulty."
Wraith's smile seemed to broaden, if it was possible for someone as dead as he to smile in the first place.
"BUT OF COURSE." With a flick of his hand, Kahn's body levitated above the ground, and began trailing behind the tall Half-Breed.
His head was no longer swimming, Kahn realized. The room had stopped spinning, and the head splitting march of armies had stopped.
~The bastard probably did it so I would know I wasn't welcome.~ He thought grumpily, trying to curl his wings against his back. ~It'd be just like her, anyway.~
Wraith's long cloak dragged across the floor, while that wickedly long sword sheath ALMOST dragged along with it, but as it was just barely avoided this. Kahn frown upon looking at the sword handle. WHERE had he seen those runes before? They seemed familiar, like he should know about them.
Kahn banished the thought. No use thinking about a SWORD. Only weaker races used weapons. Or soldiers. Either way, a sword was far from important.
Wraith rounded a corner, and opened a door.
~Well, that was quick.~
After a moment or two of staring upwards at the ceiling, it became clear that someone else was there. A someone who turned out to be a she, in fact. The demon twisted around to look at a scantily garbed young woman with bright pink hair. She seemed to be inspecting him with a critical eye. Kahn returned the favour by trying to give her an inspecting look, but with that skimpy outfit he kind of felt like a lecher doing it. Didn't the girl get COLD wearing that?
She spoke, suddenly. And what she said didn't fail to offend Kahn.
"YOU'RE the last Demon lord?" She said doubtfully. "You look kinda, scrawny, to me."
The demon hissed loudly, and tried to claw at the girl as he was moved away from her. Who was this insolent woman to insult him?!
"Say your name, degenerate scum! Say it and I will hunt you down like a dog!" He roared, scrabbling to get to his feet.
"Ah, Kahn, I see you still traumatize children as a hobby." Shakal's icy, yet melodious voice said behind him. Kahn whirled around to stare at Shakal, garbed in a light blue, silken dress. She smiled at something behind him, and it was only until Wraith closed the door and took a chair beside her that he realised she was smiled at HIM. At HIM, that dead-faced, black-eyed, fr- wait, no that was wrong. Mistakes, maybe, but Half-Breeds had never been freaks. Vincent, on the other hand, came quite close. "How has your day been, so far?" She asked sweetly.
Wraith smiled widely. A genuine, malice-free smile! Kahn's mouth nearly dropped there and then.
"Not bad, not bad. Spectre has been a bit of a pain, but nothing I can't handle," He said, in a voice that seemed to leap out and attack Kahn with its smug-ness. "Although I would like to know why you insisted on talking to him." He said gesturing to Kahn.
The demon snarled viciously.
"Oh, just IGNORE me!" He growled. "Don't let me interrupt you're wonderful little get-together!" He pushed himself into a kneeling position, and slowly forced himself to stand. Miraculously, considering he had woken up on the floor while trying to stop the room from spinning, he had no trouble. "I'll just leave and get myself KILLED." He twisted around on his heel, turning for the door.
And suddenly found himself hanging in midair. Oh, sure, he could move his feet. Heck, he could even run in mid-air. Put without them being on the ground that did little to improve his situation. His arms were forced behind him as well, and he felt the suspicious cold of steel. Oh, gods no...
Twisting his head around. Yes, those were chains. And yes, those manacles WERE on HIS wrists. And no, that WASN'T very promising. Not for him, at least.
"When I summon someone to my presence, they stay until they have my leave, Kahn." Icy as her voice had seemed earlier, she managed only too-well to make even frostier. The demon slowly revolved around, coming face to face with Shakal as she bore into him with those icy blue eyes. Those eyes he had once adored to look at...
He caught Wraith's evil smirk, even as curled into a sneer once more.
"And not even YOU can't leave until then." She ground out. Turning around, her dress twirled a bit with her. She sat down on an elaborately carved chair, and stared at him levelly. "Now then these are my terms for... Sanctuary of any kind."
Wraith made as if to leave, but suddenly Shakal laid down the law on him, as well.
"Sit," She commanded, and Wraith only blinked before obeying. Gods! The man could ignore the world one second and then take commands like a dog the next?! What a total waste of-
Shakal stood up from her chair, and gestured for Wraith to sit down. Kahn raised an eyebrow at this. Surely he wouldn't-
Wraith hesitated, but obeyed then as well. And then, just as he sat down, she hopped onto his lap like nobody was there! Kahn felt his blood boil at that, and he reflexively tested the strength of the chains binding him. His veins stood out like ropes as he fought to shatter the cold steel binding him. Nope, no luck there... Nothing short of divine intervention would help him now.
"Now, back to business." Shakal said, shooting Kahn a malicious grin. "I will protect you from your brethren, but there are certain things I would like to get straight right now. First of all, you will NOT, under any circumstances, be speaking to Jarred Rath anymore. It was bad enough that he brought HUMANS here, after all, but I will not have you corrupting his mind beyond what it already is. Secondly, if even so much as hear about you getting into trouble, there will be consequences. Saint's should be able to kneel to you without fear of having their heads lopped of if you plan on staying here. Thirdly," Shakal narrowed her eyes, and her voice hardened to steel. "Stay away from my daughter."
Kahn raised an eyebrow. Well, he didn't have any, but if DID he would have raised one.
"Daughter?" He shot a disgusted look at Wraith. "And I thought I would have put you off the other sex forever." He growled. Wraith sneered back, his hand reaching for the sword handle behind him. "But it seems my work was hardly done, if you can spawn with him."
Someone snickered behind him, but he hardly cared at the moment. Here was a thousand years of pent up rage, anger and frustration, and he now had the chance to release it.
"I went out one day and suddenly I found that the Half-Breeds had taken away Psirys Grove, and allied themselves against my people! I try and STOP the damned war from happening, and someone throws a F-#%ยค-ing SPEAR at me! A SPEAR! Who throws a spear, dammit?! And to top it off, you had the NERVE to reject EVERY SINGLE negotiation request I sent! And now you're BITTER that I defended my people?! HAH!" He paused for breath, but continued on, spitting out every word with as much acid and contempt he could manage. "Don't bother gloating over a new life here in this forgotten tower! I still hate the last one!"
Shakal flinched. With every nuance she stirred uncomfortably. At the end of every sentence she gave him a horrified look. And the best part, he knew, was that he was enjoying every second of it.
Wraith, on the second hand, was only a second away from frothing at the mouth. Before anyone saw what had happened, he had leapt from the chair, launching Shakal off him, and drew blade. He kicked Kahn in the stomach, and brought his sword to the demon's exposed throat.
"Apologize." He ordered, pressing down on the blade. "Beg for your life and I might be merciful!"
The person behind him gasped, and he heard scrabbling as someone tried to dart out of the room. The door shoot closed hastily.
Kahn smiled. It wasn't that he wasn't afraid. Hell, he wasn't immortal any more, he should be terrified. But he smiled, if only because he had been taught that if you can smile death, then you can probably buy enough time to kick it in the shins and run away really fast. As it was, he decided to buy a little time and see what happened.
"Demons TAKE lives, they do not beg for them!" He snarled, and kneed upward sharply. Happily, his blow didn't hit Wraith's stomach, but a little lower. The half-Breed's eyes went wide, just before keeling to side. He paused only a second before spitting on the groaning man lying on the floor. He smiled at Shakal, and made for the door.
"The King of Demons leaves when he pleases, Shakal, in chains or no." Looking at the door handle, and pausing only for a second to consider turning around once more so he could open it with his hands, he kicked it open, exposing the pink haired woman once more, looking just as scandalous as before. "Dear gods, woman, put some clothes on, would you? There's barely enough cloth in that to make a glove!" He scowled, and walked down the corridor.
As he rounded the corner, the woman caught a glimpse as the demon tried once more to tear the steel manacles off of himself. He failed once more, but the steel groaned under the strain, making him laugh triumphantly.
Shakal joined her daughter, as Kahn disappeared.
"THAT," She said, with deliberate care. "Is an angry demon lord." She warned. "Do try and take precautions if you are going to talk to him, dear. I doubt he'd hesitate very long on killing even his own child, if it began to annoy him."
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It was a dark, and hopefully forgotten pathway Nox Seran slithered down as he stealthily snuck of The Spire. He held no illusions about this place's magic, and used it to his advantage. It was the work of the moment to get back to the entrance, and he was willing to risk Vincent's anger if it meant getting back to the Shadowlord. Whether he liked to admit it or not, the prospect of an unknown amount of war-happy psychotic killers made his skin crawl. Especially when said killers had a genocider in their ranks. That was enough to make any demon stop and rethink anything they had been up to. And when they were there to locate and assassinate someone in their care... well, the idea wasn't exactly favourable. He would have to warn the Shadowlord of what he faced.
The stairways that led down into the forest below appeared before him as he rounded a corner. He very nearly bolted for it.
As he got near, however, a cackle and curse brought his attention elsewhere. He whirled around, to see the grinned face of Spectre, and the deep scowl of Ghost.
"Okay, so I lost that bet," He said, handing Spectre a glowing red stone. "But I have high hopes for the next one."
Spectre plucked the stone from Ghost's hand, and stuck unceremoniously into his tattered cloak, all the while staring suspiciously at Nox Seran.
"Going somewhere?" He asked slyly, brushing a strand of indigo blue hair out of his vision.
The snake demon considered his options. He could A) Make a bolt for it; Which would probably ensue a massive search for him which would with his head on a platter, or he could B) Fight them, and hope they mysteriously grew moral qualms about fighting an unarmed demon, allowing enough time for Nox Seran to kill them both. Or he could C) Try to talk himself out of the situation. He took the smartest choice.
"Just out for a walk." He assured. "Or slither." A mad cackle here, and little giggle there, and it masked every little nervous cough he couldn't stop.
Ghost smiled good naturedly.
"See, Spectre, I TOLD he wouldn't try to escape. I mean, that'd give us a reason to kill him! And we WOULDN'T *EVER* want THAT!" He laughed, eying Nox Seran coolly. The snake demon laughed along with them, slowly slithering away from the pair. Not towards, the exit, mind you, merely away. Veiled threats were better than real ones, and he decided to leave while they were still... menacing him discreetly.
But not before he dished out a little bit of revenge to an over-pompous ass.
"Yes, very good. Oh, and Ghost? You might want to pick up your book from me later, hmm? 'Falwyn's Saphire', I believe? The one where the guy falls head over heels for a demon?"
If it was possible for a person with Ghost's complexion to go pale, then he could have made snow look dark. Spectre barely stifled a laugh, resorting to putting a hand over his mouth. It didn't quite stop him, however.
"Ehehe, you actually READ that stuff?" Spectre gave up trying to stop laughing, and roared. The walls resounded with his laughter. "BWAHAHAHA!"
Ghost reached into his cloak right then, but remembered himself and pulled it out slowly. He shot Nox Seran glares that could chill an iceberg.
"On your way, demon!" He commanded, and turned to Spectre. "Stop laughing, you homicidal freak! So what if I like the book!" he continued berating the blue eyed friend. "it's a good book!"
"There are better!"
"Am I going to have to kill you?"
"Try it!"
"Don't think I won't!"
"Not if you value you your life!"
Indiscreet cursing in a foreign language. More cursing. Gunshot.
Silence. VERY loud cursing, in the suspiciously familiar voice of Ghost
Nox Seran was long out of eyesight now, but he continued to listen. Half- Breeds could be very amusing when you managed to wedge their ego against another's.
"HA! You think THAT can hurt me?!" Spectre cackled. "Take THIS!"
Something broke. Something, by the sounds of it, very big and, most likely, very valuable.
Nox Seran grinned evilly. At least he could start on breaking those three apart, once more.
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Whoops! Sorry for yesterdays glitch! I clicked on the wrong doc, and uploaded chap. 18 instead of this one! Anyway, hope ja enjoy THIS one!
That's right! Its time to thank the reviewers!
Natsumi/Natsu-aoki (whichever floats yer boat, bebe): You've returned! Woot! Iz good that you like how the story went while you were gone. Ugh, moving sux. You gotta put everything in boxes and then move it and then... Its not good. (and yes, no internet DOES lead to insanity. Then again, is sanity a preferred thing...?) Aerosmith rocks. So sez I. And, reflecting on the nature of this chapter, I felt that I could use one more from them too ^_^ Yeah, and boredom is in season. It mysteriously disappears around school, though, when you suddenly have a long list of things to complain about. Anyway, thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like this chapter!
And I hope you find a good scanner! I'd love to see what ja made!
Arcander: Reading when you're tired isn't a great idea. You tend to forget and skip lots of things, in my experience, and you get confused when you try and read further. But, I can't stop you ^_^ Thanks for the compliments, by the way. I can never get enough of those ^_^
Ickle-Wicca-Girl: Why thank you. I'm like to believe that my stories are nice to read, and its good to hear people who agree with me ^_^ And yes, I will keep up the good work. I try my best.
A Flower Merchant: Thank you for the kind words! I hope you like how this fic continues as well!
And no, this chapter was not delayed by lack of inspiration. It was delayed by a game (Surprise there, ne? Bet NOBODY *EVER* heard THAT one from me. Nope, not EVER.) However, after thoroughly beating it (It was kinda easy toward the end. My azz kickin' spells fried my enemies like flies flying into one those blue, thingees that go 'Bzzt' when something touches it.), I finished this chapter IN ONE DAY. I was possessed by... something. Dunno what yet, but when I do I'm get me some more o' that!
And after inspecting the list of books I have to buy for school, I must say, I am afraid. VERY afraid.
On a second note, I now hate my machine. Because of its MASSIVE ping-age, I won't be able to play any of the wonderful MMORGP's that come out -_- Stupid hunk of steel and plastic! *Kicks Machine* Ouch! Maybe I shoulda put on a shoe first...
Today's chapter is 'Dream On', and iz by Aerosmith. So enjoy!
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Chapter XXX: Dream On
There are worse things in life to wake to, than, say, the sight bright brown eyes and a giant rodent standing on your stomach. This was exactly the case of Elena, when Impus scrambled onto the bed and onto Elena's stomach, and then jumped. Elena awoke with a start, half expecting to be under attack from something, but upon seeing the furry creature in front of her, she blinked in surprise. A moment passed, and then she remembered what had transpired the day before. That hussy-girl Miena, and Jarred offering a place to sleep, and Impus. Elena ruffled the furry creatures head, and yawned sleepily. What time was it?
The smell of cooking came to her attention. At that, her stomach growled loudly to remind her that she hadn't eaten for a day. Impus flicked her tail in a suggesting manner, beckoning her to follow. Pulling on her clothes that she had discarded the night before, she obliged.
Jarred's room was a tidy place, to say the least. There was a closet which rounded a corner, filled with robes and cloaks and jackets, but most looked like they hadn't been used in decades. One jacket even looked like it would fit a child. Jarred's bed was wide enough for two people, with a night stand on each. The glass bird, which upon closer inspection turned out to be a falcon, was on one, while a book and lamp were on the other. Out of curiosity, Elena picked up the book, and found it covered in strange letters she'd never seen, while the lamp shed a soft, but bright light. Other than those things, hardly anything littered the room, the floor devoid of any markings of any sort, along with all the other things in the room. Even the CEILING looked pristine.
Impus squeaked loudly for her to hurry, jumping up and down on the bed. Elena laughed at the creatures antics, and pulled her blue jacket around her. Seeing her properly clothed, Impus darted out of the room like lightening, shooting for the door.
"Whoa, wait up!" Elena cried out, trying to keep up with the speedy creature. Following it out of Jarred's room, it led her into her the bright white room that passed as a living room of sorts. The smell of cooking was closer, now, as well as the sound of singing. Elena didn't know what language it was in, but the melody was catchy and the tone was merry.
Behind a counter, she could see a jaunty Jarred cooking what looked like pancakes. Expertly, he flipped it, and turned to bring out three cups and plates. Impus appeared on the counter, and took the crockery from his hands, and hopped onto the floor once more. On her hind legs, she walked over to a table, hopped onto a chair and then onto the table itself, she began arranging the plate and cups. A minute later, Jarred emerged with a stack of pancakes, and a bottle of syrup. Impus retreated once more, and came back with her hands filled with utensils. Jarred seemed to notice Elena for the first time as she walked towards the table.
"Ah, so the little beast really did wake you." He said with a grin. "Surprises me a bit. She'd have let you sleep if it meant getting more food." Impus hissed at him, but she was the first to jab a fork into the stack of pancakes and put them on a plate, and the first once more to hijack the syrup. Jarred beamed at Elena. "Sleep well?"
Elena grinned back. Jarred was shockingly chirpy in the morning, as opposed to the rest of the world. He stole the syrup away from Impus before she could use it all, and handed it to Elena.
"Yes, actually I did." Tabbing the stack of pancakes as well, Elena removed three cakes and doused them with syrup. Cutting off a wedge, she put some into her mouth. "Mm, sweet."
Jarred pulled the remaining stack, and plopped it down on his plate, and veritably soaked it in syrup. Elena looked in amazement as he demolished it all in a few minutes.
"I know, I ufed vaniwa in da badder." He said between mouthfuls, well, ALMOST between mouthfuls. Elena was too busy gaping to try and decipher what he was saying.
Elena, in an attempt to bring herself out of her shocked state, tried to talk once more. Something Wraith had said earlier came to her attention.
"Jarred, I asked Wraith to teach me magic yesterday, the type you guys use, and he looked at me like I had the plague when I did, and told me to ask you." She said, taking in a deep breath. Upon hearing those words, Jarred stopped eating. Stopped breathing, as well. The fork in his hand stopped like it had been frozen inn place. Even Impus's eyes were bulging. "Could you?"
The fork slipped out of Jarred's grasp. Impus's mouth dropped, and she hid under the table. Elena raised her eyebrow. What was so wrong about teaching her magic? It should be a reasonable thing, really. Not as bad as Jarred asking people what went bump in the night.
Jarred cleared his throat. Nervously, and making funny sounds.
"Well, erm, Elena, that's a toughy." He said, putting an elbow on a table. "Impus, could you go get my blood gem? Yes, good girl." Impus scampered off, looking over her shoulder at Elena. Jarred's blood red eyes turned to Elena fiercely. "I will let you experience my powers for one day. You won't get physically tired, the cold will hold no sway on you, and you will have the True Sight. If you feel tired, then you're using too much magic. Never exert yourself." He laid the necklace down on the table. The blood red gem gleamed dimly, slightly ominously. "Just put it around your neck, if you want."
He made it sound so terrible, like it was a curse. Elena could only see good things about the abilities that necklace would grant her. Not getting tired? No cold? And whatever this True Sight was? So what if magic would tire her! Nothing else would!
She picked up the necklace, looked at it critically, and then carefully looped it around her neck.
The instant she let go, a warm, energizing feeling erupted in her. She felt like she could tear apart the world with her bare hands. The raw power welling up in her was awe-inspiring! But, something was wrong. She could feel a greater source of power, just out of her reach.
A hand on her shoulder brought her out of her own world. Who was there? Where was Jarred? Why was the only thing she could see pure blackness? Where had everything gone? Was this the True Sight?
Suddenly, she realized her eyes were closed. Hastily, she opened them. Jarred was kneeling above her, concern in his crimson eyes. He was trying to rouse her, saying something, but she couldn't hear him well. It was as if he was on an island far away. She could only hear vague half-sentences. Tears were welling up in his eyes, though, she could see. He was sad about something, unbelievably sad.
"Wake up! Oh gods..." He trailed off, his words becoming indistinguishable. He put is hands on her chest, around her neckline. Energy leaked inside her, and she could hear his words more now. "Please, Elena, wake up! Dammit, I KNEW I should have said no!" More energy leaked into her. Even more strength burst through her. She reached upwards, and touched Jarred's face. For some reason, her hand was shrouded, a greyish black cloud surrounded it. The young warrior jumped, but smiled quickly, and wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh thank god, I thought the power had killed you." He murmured happily, clutching her tight. "I shouldn't have given you the Blood Gem. It's too dangerous."
Elena was happy to lay right there, uncertain as to how she had gotten onto the floor or why Jarred went on about how he shouldn't have given her this fantastic gift. She was content just to lay in his warm embrace, his strong arms wrapped around her.
"S'okay." She mumbled back, patting his back.
He pulled away slightly, so that he could look into her eyes. Despite the immense strength she now held, she felt powerless compared to the energy radiating from him. Where did it all COME from?! How could he contend himself with weapons, when he had all that POWER at hand?
"I'm not leaving your side at ALL today. " He growled fiercely, hugging her once again. "I afflicted you with this, and I will watch over you, until the spell wears off. Maybe afterwards too, to make sure you're alright"
Elena furrowed her eyebrows. She wasn't against him staying with her, quite the opposite. But there was something wrong with what he was saying. He made it sound like he had given her a disease.
"Afflicted? Jarred, what are you talking about?"
"Look at yourself, Elena, and you will understand." He pulled away, but supported her into a sitting position.
Elena looked down at herself, as he had said for her to do. She blinked, and looked again, just to be sure. Yes, that was definitely...
"Jarred, why is my skin black?"
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Kahn awoke on the floor, the room spinning and a thousand armies stomping on his head. Clutching his head and trying to stop it from splitting apart. He moaned pitifully, and rolled onto his back.
The ceiling was moving. Well, parts of it, at least. Kahn became sick watching it move like a stormy sea, and looked away from it, towards the furniture. Precious little was more supportive there. The couches seemed to be moving away from him in a sickeningly random pace. The demon dug his claws into the ground, in a futile hope to try and stop the ground from churning. Unfortunately, all this accomplished was to distort his arm. He looked in horror as his arm bend into crazy angles.
A boot slammed into his vision with a head splitting 'thud'. Kahn curled up tighter, the pain racking his skull proving too much.
It was a very solid-looking boot. Comfortingly solid-looking. Unfortunately, it was still a boot, and boots that slam down against the ground in front of your face don't usually have the best of wearers. Kahn trailed his eyes upwards, looking into what seemed like twin pools of oblivion. BLACK pools of oblivion.
Kahn groaned.
"NICE TO SEE YOU AS WELL, DEMON. HOWEVER, TRY NOT TO SING THAT LOUD AGAIN. SOME OF US WERE TRYING TO SLEEP." Wraith said with a mocking look, lip twitching into a grin. "Shakal wishes to torture- SPEAK with you." He smiled at that, and turned away.
Kahn groaned once more. His wings lat limply across the floor, and he was pretty sure he couldn't feel his legs. He pushed himself into a sitting position. No, they were asleep. Even BETTER.
"A little help?" The demon grumbled, hitting his thigh with a fist. It jolted a strange feeling through him. "I'm trying to stand but I'm having a little difficulty."
Wraith's smile seemed to broaden, if it was possible for someone as dead as he to smile in the first place.
"BUT OF COURSE." With a flick of his hand, Kahn's body levitated above the ground, and began trailing behind the tall Half-Breed.
His head was no longer swimming, Kahn realized. The room had stopped spinning, and the head splitting march of armies had stopped.
~The bastard probably did it so I would know I wasn't welcome.~ He thought grumpily, trying to curl his wings against his back. ~It'd be just like her, anyway.~
Wraith's long cloak dragged across the floor, while that wickedly long sword sheath ALMOST dragged along with it, but as it was just barely avoided this. Kahn frown upon looking at the sword handle. WHERE had he seen those runes before? They seemed familiar, like he should know about them.
Kahn banished the thought. No use thinking about a SWORD. Only weaker races used weapons. Or soldiers. Either way, a sword was far from important.
Wraith rounded a corner, and opened a door.
~Well, that was quick.~
After a moment or two of staring upwards at the ceiling, it became clear that someone else was there. A someone who turned out to be a she, in fact. The demon twisted around to look at a scantily garbed young woman with bright pink hair. She seemed to be inspecting him with a critical eye. Kahn returned the favour by trying to give her an inspecting look, but with that skimpy outfit he kind of felt like a lecher doing it. Didn't the girl get COLD wearing that?
She spoke, suddenly. And what she said didn't fail to offend Kahn.
"YOU'RE the last Demon lord?" She said doubtfully. "You look kinda, scrawny, to me."
The demon hissed loudly, and tried to claw at the girl as he was moved away from her. Who was this insolent woman to insult him?!
"Say your name, degenerate scum! Say it and I will hunt you down like a dog!" He roared, scrabbling to get to his feet.
"Ah, Kahn, I see you still traumatize children as a hobby." Shakal's icy, yet melodious voice said behind him. Kahn whirled around to stare at Shakal, garbed in a light blue, silken dress. She smiled at something behind him, and it was only until Wraith closed the door and took a chair beside her that he realised she was smiled at HIM. At HIM, that dead-faced, black-eyed, fr- wait, no that was wrong. Mistakes, maybe, but Half-Breeds had never been freaks. Vincent, on the other hand, came quite close. "How has your day been, so far?" She asked sweetly.
Wraith smiled widely. A genuine, malice-free smile! Kahn's mouth nearly dropped there and then.
"Not bad, not bad. Spectre has been a bit of a pain, but nothing I can't handle," He said, in a voice that seemed to leap out and attack Kahn with its smug-ness. "Although I would like to know why you insisted on talking to him." He said gesturing to Kahn.
The demon snarled viciously.
"Oh, just IGNORE me!" He growled. "Don't let me interrupt you're wonderful little get-together!" He pushed himself into a kneeling position, and slowly forced himself to stand. Miraculously, considering he had woken up on the floor while trying to stop the room from spinning, he had no trouble. "I'll just leave and get myself KILLED." He twisted around on his heel, turning for the door.
And suddenly found himself hanging in midair. Oh, sure, he could move his feet. Heck, he could even run in mid-air. Put without them being on the ground that did little to improve his situation. His arms were forced behind him as well, and he felt the suspicious cold of steel. Oh, gods no...
Twisting his head around. Yes, those were chains. And yes, those manacles WERE on HIS wrists. And no, that WASN'T very promising. Not for him, at least.
"When I summon someone to my presence, they stay until they have my leave, Kahn." Icy as her voice had seemed earlier, she managed only too-well to make even frostier. The demon slowly revolved around, coming face to face with Shakal as she bore into him with those icy blue eyes. Those eyes he had once adored to look at...
He caught Wraith's evil smirk, even as curled into a sneer once more.
"And not even YOU can't leave until then." She ground out. Turning around, her dress twirled a bit with her. She sat down on an elaborately carved chair, and stared at him levelly. "Now then these are my terms for... Sanctuary of any kind."
Wraith made as if to leave, but suddenly Shakal laid down the law on him, as well.
"Sit," She commanded, and Wraith only blinked before obeying. Gods! The man could ignore the world one second and then take commands like a dog the next?! What a total waste of-
Shakal stood up from her chair, and gestured for Wraith to sit down. Kahn raised an eyebrow at this. Surely he wouldn't-
Wraith hesitated, but obeyed then as well. And then, just as he sat down, she hopped onto his lap like nobody was there! Kahn felt his blood boil at that, and he reflexively tested the strength of the chains binding him. His veins stood out like ropes as he fought to shatter the cold steel binding him. Nope, no luck there... Nothing short of divine intervention would help him now.
"Now, back to business." Shakal said, shooting Kahn a malicious grin. "I will protect you from your brethren, but there are certain things I would like to get straight right now. First of all, you will NOT, under any circumstances, be speaking to Jarred Rath anymore. It was bad enough that he brought HUMANS here, after all, but I will not have you corrupting his mind beyond what it already is. Secondly, if even so much as hear about you getting into trouble, there will be consequences. Saint's should be able to kneel to you without fear of having their heads lopped of if you plan on staying here. Thirdly," Shakal narrowed her eyes, and her voice hardened to steel. "Stay away from my daughter."
Kahn raised an eyebrow. Well, he didn't have any, but if DID he would have raised one.
"Daughter?" He shot a disgusted look at Wraith. "And I thought I would have put you off the other sex forever." He growled. Wraith sneered back, his hand reaching for the sword handle behind him. "But it seems my work was hardly done, if you can spawn with him."
Someone snickered behind him, but he hardly cared at the moment. Here was a thousand years of pent up rage, anger and frustration, and he now had the chance to release it.
"I went out one day and suddenly I found that the Half-Breeds had taken away Psirys Grove, and allied themselves against my people! I try and STOP the damned war from happening, and someone throws a F-#%ยค-ing SPEAR at me! A SPEAR! Who throws a spear, dammit?! And to top it off, you had the NERVE to reject EVERY SINGLE negotiation request I sent! And now you're BITTER that I defended my people?! HAH!" He paused for breath, but continued on, spitting out every word with as much acid and contempt he could manage. "Don't bother gloating over a new life here in this forgotten tower! I still hate the last one!"
Shakal flinched. With every nuance she stirred uncomfortably. At the end of every sentence she gave him a horrified look. And the best part, he knew, was that he was enjoying every second of it.
Wraith, on the second hand, was only a second away from frothing at the mouth. Before anyone saw what had happened, he had leapt from the chair, launching Shakal off him, and drew blade. He kicked Kahn in the stomach, and brought his sword to the demon's exposed throat.
"Apologize." He ordered, pressing down on the blade. "Beg for your life and I might be merciful!"
The person behind him gasped, and he heard scrabbling as someone tried to dart out of the room. The door shoot closed hastily.
Kahn smiled. It wasn't that he wasn't afraid. Hell, he wasn't immortal any more, he should be terrified. But he smiled, if only because he had been taught that if you can smile death, then you can probably buy enough time to kick it in the shins and run away really fast. As it was, he decided to buy a little time and see what happened.
"Demons TAKE lives, they do not beg for them!" He snarled, and kneed upward sharply. Happily, his blow didn't hit Wraith's stomach, but a little lower. The half-Breed's eyes went wide, just before keeling to side. He paused only a second before spitting on the groaning man lying on the floor. He smiled at Shakal, and made for the door.
"The King of Demons leaves when he pleases, Shakal, in chains or no." Looking at the door handle, and pausing only for a second to consider turning around once more so he could open it with his hands, he kicked it open, exposing the pink haired woman once more, looking just as scandalous as before. "Dear gods, woman, put some clothes on, would you? There's barely enough cloth in that to make a glove!" He scowled, and walked down the corridor.
As he rounded the corner, the woman caught a glimpse as the demon tried once more to tear the steel manacles off of himself. He failed once more, but the steel groaned under the strain, making him laugh triumphantly.
Shakal joined her daughter, as Kahn disappeared.
"THAT," She said, with deliberate care. "Is an angry demon lord." She warned. "Do try and take precautions if you are going to talk to him, dear. I doubt he'd hesitate very long on killing even his own child, if it began to annoy him."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a dark, and hopefully forgotten pathway Nox Seran slithered down as he stealthily snuck of The Spire. He held no illusions about this place's magic, and used it to his advantage. It was the work of the moment to get back to the entrance, and he was willing to risk Vincent's anger if it meant getting back to the Shadowlord. Whether he liked to admit it or not, the prospect of an unknown amount of war-happy psychotic killers made his skin crawl. Especially when said killers had a genocider in their ranks. That was enough to make any demon stop and rethink anything they had been up to. And when they were there to locate and assassinate someone in their care... well, the idea wasn't exactly favourable. He would have to warn the Shadowlord of what he faced.
The stairways that led down into the forest below appeared before him as he rounded a corner. He very nearly bolted for it.
As he got near, however, a cackle and curse brought his attention elsewhere. He whirled around, to see the grinned face of Spectre, and the deep scowl of Ghost.
"Okay, so I lost that bet," He said, handing Spectre a glowing red stone. "But I have high hopes for the next one."
Spectre plucked the stone from Ghost's hand, and stuck unceremoniously into his tattered cloak, all the while staring suspiciously at Nox Seran.
"Going somewhere?" He asked slyly, brushing a strand of indigo blue hair out of his vision.
The snake demon considered his options. He could A) Make a bolt for it; Which would probably ensue a massive search for him which would with his head on a platter, or he could B) Fight them, and hope they mysteriously grew moral qualms about fighting an unarmed demon, allowing enough time for Nox Seran to kill them both. Or he could C) Try to talk himself out of the situation. He took the smartest choice.
"Just out for a walk." He assured. "Or slither." A mad cackle here, and little giggle there, and it masked every little nervous cough he couldn't stop.
Ghost smiled good naturedly.
"See, Spectre, I TOLD he wouldn't try to escape. I mean, that'd give us a reason to kill him! And we WOULDN'T *EVER* want THAT!" He laughed, eying Nox Seran coolly. The snake demon laughed along with them, slowly slithering away from the pair. Not towards, the exit, mind you, merely away. Veiled threats were better than real ones, and he decided to leave while they were still... menacing him discreetly.
But not before he dished out a little bit of revenge to an over-pompous ass.
"Yes, very good. Oh, and Ghost? You might want to pick up your book from me later, hmm? 'Falwyn's Saphire', I believe? The one where the guy falls head over heels for a demon?"
If it was possible for a person with Ghost's complexion to go pale, then he could have made snow look dark. Spectre barely stifled a laugh, resorting to putting a hand over his mouth. It didn't quite stop him, however.
"Ehehe, you actually READ that stuff?" Spectre gave up trying to stop laughing, and roared. The walls resounded with his laughter. "BWAHAHAHA!"
Ghost reached into his cloak right then, but remembered himself and pulled it out slowly. He shot Nox Seran glares that could chill an iceberg.
"On your way, demon!" He commanded, and turned to Spectre. "Stop laughing, you homicidal freak! So what if I like the book!" he continued berating the blue eyed friend. "it's a good book!"
"There are better!"
"Am I going to have to kill you?"
"Try it!"
"Don't think I won't!"
"Not if you value you your life!"
Indiscreet cursing in a foreign language. More cursing. Gunshot.
Silence. VERY loud cursing, in the suspiciously familiar voice of Ghost
Nox Seran was long out of eyesight now, but he continued to listen. Half- Breeds could be very amusing when you managed to wedge their ego against another's.
"HA! You think THAT can hurt me?!" Spectre cackled. "Take THIS!"
Something broke. Something, by the sounds of it, very big and, most likely, very valuable.
Nox Seran grinned evilly. At least he could start on breaking those three apart, once more.
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Whoops! Sorry for yesterdays glitch! I clicked on the wrong doc, and uploaded chap. 18 instead of this one! Anyway, hope ja enjoy THIS one!
