Disclaimer: I wish I could own dragon knights, 'cause then I'd actually know what's going on! But I don't, so its sad.

Chapter Fifteen: Transition

The hallways were dark; black smoke billowed out of the windows and doors making it nearly impossible to see. Rune had to repress the urge to scream, "I told you so" at the top of his lungs. One look at Rath told him his partner felt the same. How many times would they be played as fools by the Demon Lord before they finally killed him!

Rath seemed extra ticked off. Normally, even under betrayal, he enjoyed killing demons. It was his way of getting back. But he didn't look pleased today. He looked mad. And possibly hurt. Rune learned not to ask about Rath and what he was feeling, but hoped the two of them could talk later about everything. If there was a later.

"I didn't even sense how powerful she was," Rath mumbled under his breath, as if reading the faerie's questions in his looks. "I didn't even know she was demon until Shydeman showed up. We spent five hours in that market place."

"No one knew who or what she was," Rune offered in an urgent whisper. "She fooled everyone. Even Delte. Even Cesia."

Rath let out a "like that's hard to do," and brought out his sword. It shone like a beacon in the darkness for a few rare moments before becoming like everything else: dark and seemingly untrusting.

Lykouleon stopped dead in his tracks. Demon Lord? So Nick was..." What?" he asked unable to comprehend what was being said.

Lidan wasn't looking at the Dragon Lord.

Nick's eyes were wide but if she was angry, scared or surprised, the dragon couldn't tell. She took in a breath, unable to calm her nerves. They were screaming and every fiber of her being felt as if she was being ripped apart. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a shaky hand. She didn't even notice it beginning to change to its original color.

The Demon Lord...She was PART of him? That devil of a creature, that horrible thing that words couldn't even describe, was her...

She wiped at the blood on her cheek again. It wouldn't stop. It just followed the same line from her eye to her mouth and dripped to the floor.

"Explain this to me, Lidan," she said in a weak voice. She hadn't begun to cry yet, but she knew she was getting there.

The dragon looked toward the Dragon Lord, a pleading look in it's awful purple eyes.

'Please, do not judge us as you would without explanation.'

Lykouleon crossed his arms over his chest, closing his eyes trying to get some type of grip on the situation. "I've been asking for one for a while now," he said. "You will tell me or I'll no choice but…" he tried to think of something really terrifying to say, "turn you over to Rath."

Cesia couldn't tell which way Rath had gone. She clung to the walls, all her strength put into trying to stay standing up. "Ruwalk, do you see him?" she asked.

"I believe he was heading for the garden," Ruwalk replied, "but it's difficult to make out anything through the darkness and smoke."

"Thank God we haven't run into any demons," Cesia commented.

Ruwalk kept a strong hold on his sword. "We'll see how long our luck holds." He spotted a dark figure through the smoke. "Stay here."

He approached cautiously, making sure he wasn't attacking an ally.

"Ruwalk," it spoke in a calm tone. "We need to secure the castle."

Ruwalk let out a breath he hadn't known he had been keeping. "Sure thing, Tetheus." He glanced over his shoulder at the fortuneteller. She was fading fast. "Help me get Cesia to her room."

"No," she protested when Tetheus had a grip on her arm to support her. "No, I have…I have to make sure Rath doesn't…doesn't get himself killed."

"I can take care of that," the Security officer said. He turned to Ruwalk. "Where is the Lord?" he asked.

"In his throne room," Ruwalk said, coughing from the fumes. "Where I told him to stay. Nick's with him."

Tetheus studied the other officer for a minute. "We'll need to get to them right away."

An explosion brought some of the castle down. A wicked, demonic laugh echoed through the halls, cutting through the silence.

"Let's hurry," Ruwalk said, rising to his feet. "It's getting rather dangerous." As if that wasn't the biggest understatement ever.

"Take this you bloody imp!" Rath yelled, slicing the creature in two. That made seventeen down and he counted forty-two to go. Four had appeared since he last checked. "Why don't you just show yourself," the Fire Knight asked sensing the chill in the air. "Or better yet, fight your own d--- battles!" He swung behind him, catching Shydeman's arm. Blood splattered his face and clothes.

"You're pay for that," the demon officer cursed. He stood before his master, no doubt protecting him like the dog he was.

"Did you come back for Cesia?" Rath asked, already attacking again. "Is she why you're here?" He gave a roundabout kick and ducked to dodge a slash from Shydeman's sword. "Your little puppet did her job, now you gonna leave with our heads or what?"

"Puppet?" Nadil asked, enjoying the spectacle. "Rath, you self-centered idiot, she is much, much more than that."

"Yeah, figured," Rath mumbled. "Only makes sense you let the male demons have any free will." He made an attempt to strike the demon, but Nadil simply caught his sword. The Demon Lord smiled.

"You still believe this is about that worthless little witch girl. Or, better yet, you. This is why I hate losing demons to you dragons." He picked Rath up by his sword and threw him over his shoulder. "You all become so arrogant."

TBC...

Bloody imps not sold in stores.

Personally, I don't like this chapter. I don't like what's said or how Nadil acts. It sickens me. But its been sitting on my computer since the last update and it hasn't gotten any better and i feel bad about making you guys wait so long for such a crappy update. I'l try hard this time. Promise.