The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Book I: War

The cold was like a well sharpened knife running down Tanneth's back when he emerged from the building into the icy wind. He hadn't received as much sleep as he had hopped for. Chen Shin was to blame for that.

It was unimaginable, for him at least. Then when he considered what horrors the Master had authorized for his "divine" purpose he shouldn't be surprised since it was those truths that drove him into exile among his own, which many still held him in. His slaying of the Master though powerful and god-like had set him into an awkward relation ship with the others of his own. None of them held much love for the Master at that time but they still felt uneasy of his destruction. Really it was as though their purpose was done. What ever direction they had strove down before his reign only he could remember and he by the time of his death was not the same man or rather god as he was before. To describe his relation ship over them is complex. It laired through many levels, some visible others non one could see or even ponder of what they are. He was a lord of prescience, of telepathy and other mind powers which he used at his amusement. He enough of how the mind and spirit correspond and how the physical coordinates with the psychological, to put the heads of the Spirit world to utter disgrace. He truly was the greatest among them, in mind, power and ability. All knowledge had come through him. When Tanneth in his magma rage used his power to rip the very cohesion of the Master's cells into nothing but dust, that source dried and they were left motionless. The Praetors, once respected and admired, lost all influence over their lower peers. Some saw them as traitors and other saw them as old and tired worthless farts. This made the Dominion, the greatest of all the being's civilization break into its many sub-sects and sub-federations. The wide space encompassing most of the Universe became a realm of anarchy that not even the sturdiest of their commandos could survive long in with out threat of challenge and conflict.

Though the Praetors lost most of what they had before wielded without thought, no one step up to challenge them. Not one of the many proud leaders wanted their tile and power. The lack of arising usurpers said to Tanneth that the title "Praetor" itself had become a mark of sham for them. A wound that they shown in the open but tired to erase its existence they had become. .For Sincion the tile of Master of Assassins was given when, Osiris slew Asriel after Asriel allowed Tanneth to pass. The hatred they had shared was fierce. Asriel knew he had no chance of defeating Osiris and let himself die quickly. The irony was great, but the implications it would prove to have would be much greater. Sincion still held control of many of the Contingency's sub-sects which he used to create his own source of control in hope counteract all of what the Master had set out to perform in his interminable reign over them. What the purpose was he did not care. He used prescience more often and more often hoping to see what he had seen in the universe. The level of which he dived into the no-regions where time has little effect became dangerous. Warlock advised his new peer to hold down, that he was using the gift unwisely. Sincion ignored the Praetor from that point. His determination rivaled that of Tanneth and the Praetor himself. He set about his work, at times spending years in deep trances feeling through the quantum fabric, moving his fingertips along the seams, feeling the woven stings that held their reality together. It was something that he could not describe. Prescience was dangerous and rare thing even for the greatest of all the races.

Argon joined Sincion shortly after Tanneth had done. It seemed like an all star team. They had the great revolutionary that killed the Master, the Intelligence Master that found the way to do so, and one of the greatest commanders and warriors to have held a mace. For some time the union was so indeed. For long years they explored possibilities and discovered invisible sects that had sealed all eyes from them. Tanneth went on many adventures into space and the lowest regions of the demon world Makai. The more adventures he took on and the more time was spent by Sincion in his deep trances the more Sincion himself seemed to change. It was not quick just slow and camouflaged form the view of Tanneth.

As the days grew drearier at the Moonscare the more Tanneth fell from his usual boyish exterior. Time wore on him heavily at the truth which he had discovered. He began to long for the days of ignorance and the days where he had no worries.

Slowly and surely the time created a being that was other than Sincion and only the hard steel frame, that refused to die, remained of Tanneth. Happiness was drained form them in the long years that they had wasted chasing after the purposes theta lead them to where Tanneth found himself then in the snow of Russia. He wished he had a more productive life. He found a reason for the demons' longing for the flesh of humans then. Envy, a deadly sin the humans called it. They wanted they blissful family life that the humans had cherished. They had once been that way but then where only faint reflections. The mirror that shot those reflections began to crack by the vengeful wailing of an old wind. Revenge, murder, death, pain, strife, war these thing encompassed the mighty Dominion. They gave sincere smiles and greetings to them as they sharpened claws for the feast of the ages.

The proverbial noose was tied and the gallows stood tall in front of the dominion. What would come of his failing and Sincion's puppet hands made to perform the awful task that was ripe within his mind. It scratched him so subtlety and nudged him so easily over long days of near darkness in the far north in the shadow of the great Moonscare. He knew it not. Sincion saw only the light which was reflected from a far away truth. He didn't care of the implications of what he had planned of what he twisted Tanneth to prepare out of the great trust that had been established when the reign of the Master ended. While he wanted to rid the domino of the dominant hand that held them to be humble, though all other races would say they were far from that it was the truth of them. Breed out was the naïve nature which was so potent in most other beings. While their strength was unparalleled once it waned it was likely to fall. Sincion was no exception even with his unusual gift for prescience.

Tanneth was the soldier, the one who bore might against the mighty with the mind of a philosopher, he was very youthful when his insurrection in the Dominion began, thus he was truly remarkable to have the success when far wiser had died far more quickly. He was a commando selected for his speed and endurance to join the most elite of all warriors. He had little idea of what it meant at the time he was accepted and was placed in the trials form his conditioning. He was as arrogant as the human youth who join their armed services. The dominions were not different in that respect. They were arguably the most arrogant of children before their wisdom was obtained by long years in the campaigns which spanned billions of miles across the whole of eternity. He gained much knowledge of combat upon his return. Many do perish in the wars but those who live have a power that was unmatched by the other races. Tanneth used his knowledge in the days of his strikes against rebels and insurgents who sought the Dominions dissolve into the black abyss of space. He had a pride in his people which lead him to serve his Master well and earned much respect from all. The madness that was the last years of the reign of the Master didn't dawn upon him for some time. Only after death had visited those around him that he wondered with all the vastness of the home they had built with the raw elements of time that they needed to spend more life to create a greater home? The question of how great hat they had to become grew and grew nurtured by his love for life and joy that was in him during his young years as soldier. The question was one at first would seem miniscule to that task at hand but it came the more potent. Time had a way of making all things grow including the pride Tanneth held in the might of the arm of the Dominion. He never wanted to see an end. Before long he would encounter Warlock, his Chief of War. The Praetor in appearance was tired and old but held the greatest force to be seen. He was not the strongest of all dominion. Osiris held that title as the Master of Metal. He was the commissioner of the commanders, he had the might all what was built by Osiris and all that was found by Asriel, the Master of Assassins. Warlock would show the soldier the art of war and power through absolute force. He told the truth of how dominions held their power over all. Invulnerability. He told of the need to have no rivals to smash all others. The first meeting of the two gave the impression to Tanneth that the Praetor was nothing but an old war hawk. It came to later after his occasional meaning. Force of fist and of mind. He understood absolute force was invisible and at the same time everywhere to be seen. It opened his eyes to how he was under the lease like a dog. How all the dominions in the universe bowed to a master that he never had even seen and would not see for a long time after his epiphany of his servitude.

It all was hoped to end with the final breath of the Master. It was not so. It ran in contrast to the reason it was purposed. It was so obvious later. A house divided cannot and will not stand. They had been divided for eons from the Masters design to reshape them which he did well. He held all the strings over them. The strings that kept them to stay as an empire. The size of the nation should had been a well seen sign to what would happen, Tanneth saw how different they were, but he could let the madness to remain until they were nothing but leased berserkers willing to devour all of the world in their wickedness. They were not demons which could be played like that sort. Then it came that Sincion and he would destroy the memory of the Master over all of their people. End his legacy not by death but using the technology and wisdom they had. That was the charter, the page which their book of deeds to reshape their kind had begun. But like all the great novels it was not to be theirs without a struggle and a price.

Then many years and centauries later Sincion and him finally fell away from each other becoming foes in a clashing struggle. They both were locked then. They had no choice but to face the will of the other as to find the truth and purge themselves of the pain that set in on them from their war on the offspring of a leviathan.

Tanneth felt fear, fear of something more elusive than he knew. He like had some of the most beautiful dreams and the most horrible nightmares. He was scarred by the deeds he did in the name of conquest but not in the way to drive him into fear. They left their mark on him by his immense power. It was a fatigue, a sort of pressure hat he discovered a long while back. With his eyes half closed he could still see the image however intangible it was. The burning cold he stood in reminded him. The flash in the skies of St. Petersburg reminded him. The memory of the beast he had seen in his thoughts. The great beast in the belly of the abyss calling, beckoning him to come.

It was dream he knew. It had to be something induced by the entire trauma that he had put his body through to kill the Master. No other explanation stood firm when he looked deeply on the subject. Just a dream, a dream that had brought him the only terror he knew. He a soldier was not one to feel fear of an enemy. Fear was something bred out of his class by the Master. Fear unto itself hurt a man hurt a soldier. Fear in the dominions was down sized to caution and wisdom. It was not needed in their mark. They meant not to have any thing to fear, so the emotion was erased. Still Tanneth knew the odd sensation was fear. He had feared the Master in a similar way. A gene that demanded respect and humility caused him toward that, but pure terror of any thing was not in his nature.

Tanneth closed his eyes and quitted his mind form the anxiety in his sleepy sate. He brought the memory fourth from its den of woe. He went through it recreating all the senses that came in the order they occurred. He felt burning the cold sting that it set upon his nerves. The death that endlessly waltz around him, bring the hopelessness that it was. The sinking feeling of nothing. Power lost and mind insane. The fear came then, the dim flame that flickered with a perverted malign aura that wished pain to come. He felt it. His mind in strife and his body in pain, Apathy came to be him. Malice building a force like the hammer of war wishing to crush all others lay beneath the mask of suffering. Then he remembered it, though e never wanted to. The eyes of a great animosity pierced into him. He drifted then in the void of despair. Starring into them petrified by the power they held over him. It stretched a great arm calling him close. The name was there as well. That horrible name. He never thought of it or spoke it. It stood there on the edge of his mind, never leaving, never revealing it to him, but he knew it, and knew it well.

Tanneth remained in his trance state until the brotherly voice of Chen called him from the fear. Tanneth's heard him clearly but it was moment before he removed himself from his mind. It laid heavily on him. He wanted it gone but he had to know why it was so. Why of all the dominions was he having these dreams. He wondered of Sincion. Was he being affected by prescience? Tanneth was ignorant of all the power the skill of prescience had. Tell me my brother. Do you have these moments of hopelessness?

"Tanneth."

Looking up to the eyes of the young domino Chen Shin Tanneth questioned the decision that was made. It wouldn't have mattered to him if the boy didn't carry an item was worth more than the Earth to the remaining contingency. He wanted the kid to stay with him so he could protect and ensure that safety of the precious cargo as well as Chen's life. Still it was most likely he was not to be clear of Argon for that long. Soon the wolves would arrive, so to speak.

"I can only give one sound piece of advice when you arrive their."

"…and that would be…..." said Chen.

"Don't drink the water," it was sound advice.

Chen was somewhat amused he didn't thing Tanneth to be one to make a joke especially in that moment which was the most importance to the both of them. "If you are trying to give me health advice….."

"It is an old proverb of my battalion. It means in a foreign place you never give the chance of a vulnerable point to exploit. In Makai, even most of the plants are out to kill those that that live. Some of the beast have abilities that will mean your end if you are careless there. It is not a very beautiful place in most areas. Demons, the foul creatures, have corrupted the once vibrant life that was there. Upon arrival I only suggest that you rest in a sturdy tree or better rock. Even then you are at high risk. The best way to survive is to never go into the bush. Wide country is much safer than a dense woodland," Tanneth said it all with a sternness that forced respect from the young Skyler and from the half dominion Chen.

Chen knew it was something that Tanneth would not respond well, but he had to ask. "What if I encounter another….another of us?" he asked.

"It is unlikely you will find them they will most likely find you, but you are not known to them as a hybrid. Whatever you do avoid them if possible. They will look into the area you arrive in for they will sense the tear in the worlds." Tanneth passed away from them for a few moments wit his hand on his chin. "There is only one that might not slay you. If you are found say you wish to see Warlock. He may understand my reasoning for putting the stone in you. One last thing I must also say, the name Osiris, NEVER….go see him or to meet him"

"Who is Osiris?" asked Skyler.

"He is an old friend if you know what I mean." He turned once and folded his arms over his chest, "He and Warlock are Praetors. They once held some of greatest power and knowledge in the universe, and they still do keep some, even in this divided time. Avoid him if all possible. He will not warm up to the idea of there being a hybrid that is half human. If you value your and her life, don't go searching for him."

Skyler brought her shoulders back when Tanneth turned to her. She could guess by his glance what he was thinking even with that ego on top of his head. The slow movement from the ground to her and the low sigh of regret she and most women always had the habit of picking up on. He began to speak slowly as if to be polite, "Skyler, I don't need to tell you of what kind of fire you are about to jump into."

She gave a breath of disgust and responded with a subtle fierceness. "Tanneth you fought me before and you have seen how powerful I am. I can handle it. And plus you'll need someone to watch him, with the bomb he is carrying."

"I would prefer me going though. It was once a beautiful place but now all the good things seem to have come here. Be weary of everything there."

A somber silence followed Tanneth's epitaph. It unto itself was an omen of what was going to happen. The air change all at once. From a fine pine scent to pockets of humid air reeking with the smell of decomposing mater al it changed. Skyler's nose picked it up first followed by the little white fire wolf Flame. The pups became uneasy as the time went on. Skyler felt a chilling aura around her, like an electric charge coming into her. Her leg stung as the claws of Ice the swiftest of her small pack, grazed her skin as he nervously jumped against her. She looked up at Tanneth as the wolves ran in panic around her. He did nothing but stare into one direction. He didn't blink but his eyes changed focus as if they were trying to see something.

Chen looked on in awe of his new compatriot. He knew of what he was doing. He told him. His mind with all its speed was still catching up to the moment. He wanted to believe things should have been different for him all his life. He was always told to accept reality and worked with it make it better. Believing something as radical as what was happening still seemed like a leap of faith. He shook his hoping it would help clear his thoughts. It's real. It's real! He repeated those words over and over in his mind. His thoughts never wandered as he starred.

Tanneth blank his mind. He imagined the rifted opening and seeing the demon world, Makai, in his view. He saw the air currents as they flowed with the cold wind of Russia. The morphing waves merging and twisting into the pace as the pressure changed. Slowly the waves thickened like a veil of electricity. He looked beyond it and saw the dark soil. The wrangled tress with wicked branches growing over the path grew clear. He saw the sky blooming with animosity of the creatures which ruled it. He feel was hot but as lifeless as a desert. It was Makai. He knew he had success in finding it. He blocked the thoughts of the demons when he began to open the portal. He put his hands against the veil, moving his fingers along the flawless surface of the barrier. He pushed feeling it give way to his power. He slowly put more pressure. A stinging came as the energy flowed around his hands. The burning became more intense as he pushed on farther. He moved the pain from his mind seeing only the world beyond the world he needed to reach. The barrier fought him as if fought all the unnatural breaking of the physical with the mental powers His nerves arched with the agony. The fire of the barrier bolted out and hit his chest trying to stop the piercing. It seemed like he was hurting nature herself to Tanneth. Every time he opened the doorway it seemed some part of the universe died with the last pitch of pain that came to him. Like the sweet death striking a little bird on his conscious, innocence felt as though it had raped when he cut his hole. A tear seemed to come to his eye from the pain and the mental stress he once thought. In time Tanneth felt that it was indeed death and vain that he broke when two far a way points were brought close together. Like a cold air it hit him as he finished the opening.

Skyler and Chen starred at it in awe. It looked a monster ready to devour them to Skyler, like the forbidding surface of the ocean when a storm was in the sky. The air around it also felt forbidding to her. It was a surreal feeling and it frightened her. Chen grinned his teeth walked toward and she followed despite her far of the monster. Her desire to see the new world came over her common sense and she followed Chen and stood by Tanneth.

Next to the old soldier she see the dark damp ground of an unpaved road covered by a thin array of trees which looked as unworldly as they were. Chen's eyes looked on them like Aham over the great ocean. He was eager to see his heritage and find the truth which his new compatriot spoke to him of. His determination was not likely to be broken by the sight on a strange creature walking the road like the white wale under the fierce surface of the water. The noise that filled the air was not that of liquid but the thunder of lightning. Like a wall of electricity, and power surging through lines. Tanneth backed one step and turned to see them.

"There is no way to tell where you end up. The energy lining the worlds will carry you for a time before you land in Makai. You should be near each other if you jumped quickly after the other does. Just hope you don't' end up in some demon's nest. When you're ready."

Skyler stepped forward slowly, her eyes fixed on the mighty colossus before her. Her young pups followed at her heels. She stopped again as the energy grew in furry. Holding her sword tight she lunged forward in a run hitting the hard wall of energy. It burns!!! She opened her mouth to try but was pulled away as if she was in a great river. She squirmed and kicked trying to regain some control over herself. It grew hot at first but quickly went to an ice chill as she moved on, the noise faded from the thunderous roar to murmur then to silence. The streamline around her seemed to calm and she felt like she was flying over the highest clouds. He opened her eyes. A cosmos of lights was around her. They passed quickly as she moved with the unseen current toward some destination. They were beautiful. They showed off rays of light of all colors like the stars in the sky. She did not find any words to describe in her mind, but it would stay with her of a long time.

In an instant a light surrounded her blinding all from her view. It waned to a blue mist. Skyler remembered losing her self like her soul began to diffuse into the mist and equal itself throughout the space. She floated until the fist faded to black and found her in the dirt.

It was a blur of water until her vision retuned and her thoughts collected. She found herself at the edge of a cliff over looking some sea which the sun was setting behind. Looking up into the east she saw to moons rising over the peak of a small mountain.

She had made it. She was in Makai, the demon domain and the home of Tanneth's race, or at least one of their homes. She looked over the land in slight disbelief. It wasn't like Tanneth had said it was. The sun was red and orange like that of Earth and the two moons resembled the lone moon of the Earth. The sea itself too was also not bad. It was beautiful in fact. The mountains shown with a forest green with dark soil brown peaks. The sky was a slur of blue and purple, while it set into twilight. The stars began to give their majesty as the day yielded to the night. I was just like her home. Some way better than her home because no large skyscrapers or industrial factories to ruin the land with unnatural toxicity. She could see while some people disliked human form that view, but it wasn't all bad at her home as she remembered. While the outside looked striking and wonderful she was certain a different view would come to her as she spent time wondering the land with Chen. She felt homesick as she would not see her own family. She held that hope always even though it was unlikely as she knew. It seemed ever so more distant now she was in another world in another part of the universe. She looked unto the moons, as though they were some kind of deity. She was a wolf, a werewolf in truth. The moon held comfort for her. They were familiar to her. Her past life came in feelings as she looked at the dual satellites. She wished for her' family's good luck and fortune then bowed. She spent a moment in silence for the memory to stink into her thoughts.

He eyes opened as Tanneth's words came back. They half to be around here somewhere. Close I know. She felt a weird presence like that which she felt in the Himalayas. It had to be Chen Shin. Looking at the tree line bellow where she stood she saw a group of white wolves running toward her. They made it! The cubs ran at her as though they had been separated for mouths. Elated to be in presence, they jumped and barked at her legs. She knelt down hugging them and kissing them affectionately.

More barks came in the distance. A black figure ran behind a larger group of snow white wolves. Skyler stood up quickly at the sight of him running down the hill to meet them sooner. Her stress melted away when she saw the black figure's face. She slowed down and petting the cubs as they came but never removed her eyes from the man. Chen was no different than when he jumped in the fire, no different when she first saw him. He slowed down as he came closer, walking slowly toward her. She saw him then in a different light like something was revealed from he was in the hotel room. Chen's face relaxed as he saw her. So far it was not as bad as Tanneth had said but6 he wasn't one to lie. They starred into each others eyes, not moving, not paring, and not worrying. Chen thought it was for once a good day had come and his life of crime was at an end.

The dual moons rose over the twilight land in unison, always staying one distance, one angle, one direction with each other.


Red lightning and blue lightning erupted as the tear began to collapse back into the barrier. It hit the ground traveling along the ice until it reached soil or Tanneth. He was throne back but the sensation was all too familiar to him to be knocked down like he had been in the earlier days. It was still painful though. His ligaments and spark with a positive charge and the muscles in his hand and lower arm twitched and spasmed. It would wear off in a few moments but the burning feeling was there to stay for a while.

The humidity in the air which was so one would think they were in the Caribbean while the tear was at its full glory, waned and dissolved until nothing but the smell of ice was traceable.

Tanneth walked from the site calming his woes. He had just let a sphere stone get out of his grasp. He had let a piece of dominion technology something that vital to his success in the war of assassins he was engage in with his old compatriot Sincion. It was no in the breast of barely adult dominion with no experience in true combat eagerly run into the area which Sincion could force out most of strength. He was having trouble dogging demon hunters and he put the stone in a world where Bashar's riders could hunt without restraint. He regretted it but considering how close one of the bounty hunters was to him now the decision was better than the alternative. He walked briskly back toward the city.

The lights of St. Petersburg were as bright as they had been the last time he saw them the night last. Aluminating the sky with their aura like a beckon to all those weary and tired from travel as he had been and was then they were. Small lights and noises could be heard as planes and other flying vehicles moved in the sky to the air field that was some miles away from Tanneth. The thought then crossed him of finding his altered jet fighter. He could reach it after he had dealt with his pursuers.

He could feel the fire as one raced to him at high speed. He was eager. Tanneth stopped walking and looked over the hill that leads to a side Road which was to the main highway. The highway after Tanneth followed it. It was the most direct path for one would on a motor vehicle. Tanneth heard the low revving of the engine in air, becoming louder as the waited longer. The demon coming was most like fire. His energy seemed to dance around him and his motor vehicle as he came closer. Tanneth removed the cloak he used to blend with the humans. Revealing his Sentinel armor. It warped around his arms and showed off the crest of the dominion. The crest which Tanneth had so long fought under and now would fight under it again.

Tanneth readied his knife, and if needed his black blade. If this demon wanted a battle then he would get what he desired. The sound was clear in the air, even a human could here it flutter in the air as the engine accelerated over the small hill toward him. This should be quick. He saw the bike rise over the summit leaving the ground and traveling in the air. Ice left the continuing spinning wheels sending small water droplets onto Tanneth's brow. The shocks bent low as the wheels touched the ground and forced back the momentum causing the bike to bounce onto its back wheel, it a display of noise.

The rider was likely trying to intimidate Tanneth, but that machine was a pitiful rusted mechanism. He had seen mechanics of such glory that humans couldn't think of their practical purposes. The rider steadied his heading and increased the throttle. The rear wheel threw shards of ice crystals into the air as the bike burned its fuel with maddening heat thanks to its rider's own power. He drew a red sword and scrapped it a long the snow. Flames ran down the blade as it was raised to smite Tanneth. The blow came close to hitting Tanneth. The speed of which the rider was able to strike was quick and he was deadly accurate. It meant nothing, for Tanneth didn't move. He closed the edge of his knife on the red blade and wrenched it from his hands. The fire whirled and burst away as it flew freely in the air. The snow melted and evaporated around the blade when it returned to the snow, and the rider lost he balance fallen with his motor bike rolling over and smashing it self along the stones.

A myriad of images flashed before Kevin's eyes fast enough that he lay in shock as he was left weaponless and his newly repaired motor cycle was broken once again out of its working order. Another reason not to take blind contracts. Once his headed leveled he was on his feet facing the demon or what ever he actually was. He didn't look that formidable and his spirit energy wasn't anything to be proud of. He stood wondering how he was brought off his broke so easily. A second glance revel the answer to him. He wore armor that wasn't any demon's for the reason it was too advanced for any of them to make it. It was fashioned in way that the armor was very beautiful yet Kevin could see clearly the advantages of it. The smooth cuts of the plate replaced with something that resembled mail to give maximum mobility while nothing was really sacrificed in defense. It was a work of art and war. Certain other aspects became clear. His eyes were fierce for a humanoid demon and they seemed to scan Kevin even when his eyes remained fixed, like some machine. He was formidable now. His body was obviously conditioned for combat, Kevin saw, it was like his own. Always be careful, why do I always forget?

He saw his sword only a few dozen feet from him and luckily his foe did not stand in his way. He called out to Glamdring and the soon after the hilt of the blade came to his hand.

The fire demon bought sword up pointing the blade at him. It was a challenge and a challenge Tanneth wasn't at liberty to refuse. He saw it was to be a battle of swords and with the slightest command his morphed from its silver streamline shape to a black blade. He pointed it out swing it behind him giving space to accelerate the sword of a deadly swipe.

The moment tensed as the warriors planned out their attacks to the other. Tanneth could see the ire demon having considerable speed t his own. He will not let me get close enough to knock him down. Maybe he will survive an attack so I can learn perhaps a little edge of intelligence over Sincion.

A minute passed and Kevin considered striking first but he found a better strategy to find what other skills the demon or what ever had. Now I am being careful. Kevin remained completely focused only for a short period. He began to think of what Shuro was doing, he was supposed to be helping him in their capture. Kevin how long he could hold against this. He wasn't any pushover demon; he was close to his own class of power. That presented a lot of problems. Kevin had to win this or he would… it was doubtful he would leave alive if he lost this demon.

The moments that pass through the flying lives of humans were so long to the both of them. Kevin only grew only more agitated. It would, or rather it might kill him in the first strike, but once he got going and the adrenaline crashed into his muscles he would loose most of the frustration he was having with his knew ally. He silently cursed Shuro in his mind before hen noticed the air was swirling like a subtle cyclone around them. He guessed he noticed it too but his eyes remained as fierce as they would always be. What is he doing? His ally had something in plan for he must have guessed the advisory would be powerful. If he runs he set me up and it is not like I will survive to find out? What is he doing? The nigh around Tanneth and Kevin grew ever more the darker as the clouds of the snow storm seemed to become more dense but the fall remained the same. Tanneth who had experienced conditions far more radical suspected nothing of the sort of a demon such as Shuro controlling the weather, even though he had heard of it being done before. He kept tight waiting for the fire demon to break eye contact a chance for him to immobilize him without effort. He could it their but that wasn't very sporting He would kill him just after he got what he needed. Tanneth's thoughts brought him back as the eyes of the fire demon became more familiar. Gaol had said to him of demons and skilled humans who used their powers to "fight" evil demons and send them back to Makai. He had heard them before too but they were not taken as seriously as they were taken on Earth he knew. Perhaps this demon is one of them. He is considerably stronger the mean of what I have seen so far. This might work out better than the last few days have seemed to prophecies to me. He bent low as the fire demon moved his sword out further.

Kevin was in earnest waiting to see the speed of Tanneth. He focused on keeping his breathing controlled and his eyes opened to all the angles. Tanneth decided it time enough spent, ducking down and his sword back he charged to the right and forward keeping the back of the blade on the attack side so it would just break bones instead of slaying his blood and staining red the white snow.

Kevin saw it. It was swift when his eyes were clear he knew he was almost at him. He was ready though. From his palm of large crimson fire ball manifested.

"Burn."

The red flame came at him like the sweet death air that flew threw the void.


Serenity was prized by many, even those who in their nature are not peaceful beings. Life forms that define themselves through the destruction of another still become of serenity as a blessing. They build their lives in the blood and secretion of the life which thrives in men. The silent wings of death circle around them and the fear of that death thrives into a long circle which ends in death then continues on to more death. Thus a fear of the dark always haunts them. They isolated from the light, desiring only the darkness and not hear any but the serenity of the sound of silence. There they build their fortress around their corrupt hearts and thus ultimately seal their demise and end in a bitter loneness which will never subside. Many for one reason or another are lost into their minds and find their caves to which they hope death will not find them. Starved of life they drift into the void filled with nothing but the sweet serenity to which they drift and are lost. The frayed ends of their sanity become tattered and broken until their gift of reason is destroyed and nothing, but the primal, remains. Those who of themselves are not strong enough perish while drifting in the lifeless void. When the sanity torn beyond repair and scattered they, that is their soul, dies in the dark. With logic and conscious gone, malice takes hold of the remaining shadow weaving it into the primal beast, the terrible monster. In the sweet serenity it finds a new way, to live by death. Thus they utter a terrible cry of rage and revenge. Fueled with jealously and unjust reasons of hate, they break their shell, tear down the mighty walls which made them the destroyer and find the light again. They live to kill. To end those who had not suffered. To make all suffer and to make all dark. But they are shadows. Soon their darkness wanes in the glory of a greater light. They retreat to the fortress of solitude and hide from the good for the shame mares them and the light burns their strength. Some do not return. They remain in the light. Robbed of power and might they are forced to see the petty primitive murders they are. Thus again they suffer for lights heals the deep wounds slowly and old pains return they see the lie of why they longed for vengeance they see the beauty and good that they once were. Faced with despair and disgrace often the road is too long. Faith which glimmered for a moment is again covered by the black ooze of the malignant primal demon inside. Seeking removal from pain they longer care. With new awareness death greets them warm. They say goodbye to the world to which they suffered never wishing to see it again. The sad but true story of the scarred. While the circle claims those who are lost. A force a great comes to save some of those who wail with agony of regret and wish for death to return them to the sweet serenity. The love of another corrupts the judgment and destroys the malice, and the broken soul lost in the shell feels the rays of the healing light. Confused and frightened they run away in disgrace for the joy of love seemed too bright for their dark hearts to bear, too glorious to be blackened by their misdeeds. They shun all the friends the hold them close and seek to return the cold fortress to which they fall back to the circle of despair and the lock of death to which they know so well. They the darkness their old friend the one that never changes. Love does not die it lives and thrives in the sweet serenity and in the sound of silence whispers a silent plea to return to glory to return the red dawn and the white light. But the old fear of the dark comes home and gives them false strength to fend off the silent whispers of the righteous. A battle which prolongs until they weep in submission and with the power of a god rip the walls and smash the boundaries till the goal of love and is restored, commences. Long years can pass until it realized. Thus they cast down the sword, bid farewell the old night which they once as kings of nothing. The selfishness dies and only the will to love rules. The purity and beauty and fragility it is protected by sweet amber glow of logic reborn in the glory of a god passing. Thus the story ends, of the corrupt becoming the pure, the weak becoming the strong, the pale becoming the bright, the dark becoming the light, the black the becoming the white, the devil becoming the angel.

The dogma of the Master ran still clear in his ears as his horse bet down to fuel its huge appetite. He sat there half asleep half troubled by what was happening to him and to his old friends who were once full of life and were then full of despair. He hated the Master for it. And even still in his hatred the cold prophesizing propaganda of his tyranny dominated over his head, over his mind and over his actions. He closed his eyes n his exhaustion. I'll never get over it. With the Master dead he felt moiré ruled than even. He would wake up in his quarters and expect to see strings attached to his limbs. He felt like a doll or voodoo made humble by the harsh sting of sharp pins.

His eyes felt heavier and his head bent lower as he sought relief from the stress he was under that day. The closed without him wanting to and he fought to keep them open. Gradually he blinked more often and often until they shut completely. The darkness was peaceful. The serenity of his tired mind soothed him. Even in his sleep the worlds were still very clear. Thoughts feel silent though as his head began to calm and go into the trance of rest.

His horse let out a low muttered and galloped a few meters forward to find better plants to eat. The peaceful black tuned back to the colorful world of Makai as Bashar was shaken awake. He sighed greatly. He wanted to sleep even though it was gross mar against what he was tired to do he was tired as beings get. Sleep gaze some time to forget and enjoy life rather than the very real hell he was living in at the moment. He shook his head trying to give strength to the muscles in his eye lids but only succeeded in making himself dizzy giving a headache to work him down further. The horse spent to the side and to the other side a few steps getting a firm balance in the shallow mud. His rocked around as though he was asleep, and fell down again as his horse stopped muttering. He put his hand through his short hair spreading the dew which settled there when he was falling asleep at the reins.

The weather was damp and dreary reflecting his attitude quite well. The day was coming to an end and all the meaningless preparations were weighing in on him. He had been a chief captain not for Sincion or Argon but for Tanneth, was not as motivated to do their wishes as his old magester. There was bound between them that he would honor save for they were the allies of Tanneth. At that moment he was standing y waiting for orders to go find and perhaps destroy his friend. A paradox it was. He wouldn't kill Tanneth. Still he held a fear of Sincion like all the others did. Like the shadow girl Mel and even Argon. The signs he was giving of in the recent years were shared by the Master and frightened all the dominion. Fear for them was always unwelcome as they were meant not to fear.

His horse was still gorging himself. He was usually frustrated by their appetites (that were much superior to their Earthly cousins) since he was exhausted he didn't care. There were three of them out that day and nothing was happening. His eyes' muscles began to fail him once again and sleep came over him. Almost an hour passed as he sat motionless on the composite saddle. The horse still wasn't near finished eating with his armored head began to clear the area far to the side of the trial. Bashar was too deep in sleep by that point to notice the movement. His head filled with dreams of pax. The old years when first flew to distant worlds and rode machines to victory over the vile enemy as he knew them as. Then His mind began to see the innocence and relive the day when he fled Sentinel and flew until he found Tanneth and Kyra. It was the same each time save for the man he saw as Tanneth gradually changed till it almost was not him. He never took notice to it but it loomed there in the far reaches of the powerful mind of the dominion rider.

More minutes came by till one another rider came to look for her sleeping captain. She rode slowly and quietly with the horse not making a hoof sound in the mud. The weather was growing damper and she had begun to wonder of the reason she was out there. Her slender face and black are were dripping with water as removed her helmed and attached it the composite saddle. She dismounted off the horse whispering to it to stay put and she walked over to the slumbering Bashar. She walked slowly with a short stumble for her feet got stuck in the mud once or twice. Once beside the horse moved its snout to greet her. She patted him assuring him he was a friend. She leaned up close to his ear and spoke clearly.

"Captain I think It is safe to say that this area is clear of anyone," she said.

The words echoed in his mind clearly and being drowsy didn't tell right off if was her. He swiftly reached for the hilt of his blade. He began to unsheathe when a firm grip held him still. Getting his head back he refocused and saw her.

"Edge," he shook his head twice and blink a few dozen times. "What?"

"Captain as ordered we dispersed and patrolled the surroundings. There is no one here. I think there is better sleeping are over at the barracks," she spoke trying to hide her amusement of the Captain being off guard.

Bashar's head still ached but he was getting his nerve back finally by that time. "I think all this is a big waist of time. Let's go find Riff and get ridding back to the Moonscare."

Edge starred with a surprised look as he rode away. He was not so outspoken usually. She then mounted her steed and rode after him. She came up blind him and spoke to him in his blind spot, "Captain, are serious about that?"

"What?"

"Are you serious that this is a waste of time?" she repeated to him.

He slowed down and rode next to him. "Yeah I am. The Moonscare has nothing to fear of any onlookers in this area. Sincion is just keeping me….keeping us away, until he can get a fix on Tanneth with his prescience. Then the hunt begins."

Edge remained quiet for a moment. Tanneth meant something to her as well. "Can I say something, sir?"

Bashar slowed down to hear her.

"I think something wrong with the machine. I have been thinking for a long time and nothing makes sense if all was going for Tanneth to betray Sincion. I just….I can't except that he is the enemy," sighs of regret came as she paused.

"He isn't the enemy. There is a lot more going on than we know, probably a lot more than even Sincion knows."

Edge rode the rest of the way without saying anything to Bashar. They both were troubled and she was broken up by the loss of recent friend. Bashar knew that had some presence to why she had a slight break in her control. Bashar cared for her greatly, and for his other close companion Riff. They both were younger than him and young enough to not even remember the Master. Bashar wasn't much older than Chen when Tanneth brought his destruction but the words still stuck. Edge and Riff were of the few dominion that was born after his demise. The new age of them was so small. Bashar knew if they, if Tanneth, failed they would fall, and if they fell all of the dominion was forever lost in the sound of silence.

They rode on until they reached to where the trail circled a cliff and they the third rider Riff, coming down at a very fast pace. They met not more than a minute after.

"You're going to love this. Some bull headed demon posse is heading down the forward. And I think are orders were to engage all enemies we find. Am I right?' he spoke with an eagerness to get into combat.

"Engage?" said Edge.

"How about it Cap? Sounds like fun?" Riff said.

"Well, if they pose a threat to the Moonscare……."

Edge could tell that Bashar was eager to slash some enemies as well.

"YES!" Riff rode off followed by his Captain.

"Boys will be boys." He removed her helmet from the composite saddle and set off for war.

I tried to put a bit of poetry wit the text. Did you find it?

-Thanks to all the readers and to all the critics. I like reviews so please keep sending.

Merry Christmas and sorry for the long wait.

-Please check out my account on need some suggestions.

-My C2 communities are not some of biggest but they are some of the best of the best. Like this story.

Have a great New Year.

Thank you for reading.