Took her awhile to find him. Malso, that damn demon, was in his human form preventing her from sensing him. He moved into the forest to add cover for his movements. Hell, he could be beside her and she won't know it. She wasn't sure whether or not he would have help nearby if that would cause her senses to go off. She was going to watch him die with her own two eyes bringing their personal battle to an end.
He wasn't leading a demonic army. It was a good dozen or so she killed to keep her bloodlust in check. She didn't need Jake ordering her right now. That's why she hated Jake, always sticking his nose into her business. Trying to help her in one way or another until he gave her orders that would interfere with her goals, she hated that. She understood why he did it still kicking his ass will be pleasurable.
Destroying her shackles, she fought letting her rage take control without risking too much blood loss and that demon bastard couldn't control her. Slowly her sparring partners entered her thought process.
Movement to her right caused her snap her head in that direction. She saw him. with two swords on his back and ordering what looked like blood dogs. Then he pointed in a certain direction and they ran off. As he turned to move, she used the branches of the trees to get ahead of him. Finally dropping in front of him, she saw Malso smirking.
Standing face to face, they knew one or both of them would not walk away from this fight. Drawing her daggers from her sash caused Malso to grin.
"Do you think you can cut me with such little things, my pet?" reaching behind his back drawing a pair of large scimitars that were made of black iron.
The blades shook for the hunger of blood to be spilled upon them and pointing at Hazara.
"Come to me my pet, play with me and let me savor your life liquid."
Even with her mask on, one could see the hate and the rage in Hazara's eyes. She launched forward, attacking Malso with her full fury. She didn't land one blow. At this point, the bastard danced around laughing avoiding Hazara attempts to land a blow.
"You have grown stronger my pet but you will not beat your master," bringing one his scimitars down at her.
Rolling out of the way, Hazara sent one of her darts flying at him. It passed right through him as he vanished.
"Too slow, my pet."
His voice behind her as his right sword sliced into her side. His evil grin was still on his face.
"And now look what you made me do, my pet," grabbing her mask, "You made me hurt you. No matter, I can travel between earth and hell…so I will visit you often," removing her mask that Cyborg made for her.
"You can't walk if you're dead," she spat through clenched teeth.
Snapping around, her dagger managed to cut the demon. Collapsing from the deep cut in her side. Malso smiled.
"Nice little trick I have with my sword, pet. See your Dragon Breath doesn't affect me, however once I cut some one with the blade, it releases a poison into their system. Destroying the precious life they hold within their veins."
Focusing on him, she screamed rushing toward him, fighting through the pain, slashing at him with her daggers with her full fury. Not holding back like Jake had ordered her fought with the advice her two sparing partners told her about controlling her impulses. She would be the one to kill him. Her attacks slower as she blocked out the pain.
"I grow rather bored with this my pet, I order you to stop and stand completely still." Sneered Malso.
Not stopping like she was ordered to, Hazara kept coming. This pissed him off to no end.
"If you will not obey me pet, then I have no use for you!" bringing his scimitar down onto Hazara who blocked with her daggers.
Spinning around Malso slashed through them both causing the broken pieces fell on the ground. A hard kick to her stomach sent her flying. Landing on her back caused her to taste her blood then coughed it up covering her jaw.
Studying her mask, "Poor workmanship," tearing it into two.
Malso landed on top of her, smiling with glowing eyes.
"I enjoyed what time we had my pet, but now you will die, but fear not, I have many friends waiting to play with you," leaning forward, "and I will walk to hell to visit you often," running his finger down the side of her cheek, "And I will enjoy hearing you scream," whispering into her ear.
Pulling back both swords, he swung down for the final blow.
Clash
Only to be stopped by a new piece of metal. A katana. Otomo's katana to be exact. With his free hand, he removed his mask revealing a side of him no one had seen. His eyes which were always filled with compassion, now filled with hatred.
"No more of her blood will be spilled tonight," he growled through clenched teeth. "Now you shall spill your own BLOOD!" bringing his second katana towards Malso, who dodged the weapon.
Rushing towards him, Otomo going all out to destroy the demon. His arms were a blur of motion, attacking at every angle.
This demon hurt the one person he cared for the most. He wasn't going to see her die, not this way. Hazara watched in awe as Otomo fought against the Malso. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she snapped around, to see Altair and Etana standing there.
"You'll be ok." spoke Altair handing her back her original mask.
Etana smiled at her but pain and anger were evident in her eyes.
"We're here for you now, sis."
Retying her mask on, Hazara looked at them, and then back at Otomo.
Touching their hands, "Why is he fighting like that?"
Squeezing Hazara's hand, "He's fighting like that for you," answered Etana, "He cares about you too much to let you die. He seen too many people he cares for die, I know that now. And you're the first person I think he truly cares for since leaving his family behind."
Hazara looked at Etana, and then back to Otomo. New light dawning in her eyes.
Grabbing Altair, "Heal me I will not let Otomo die for me, and if my life must end tonight I wish to die standing, and I plan on taking that demon with me," she snarled inside .
Grinning, "One heal coming up!" said Altair pressing her hand on Hazara's side.
Focusing with everything she had, she healed Hazara. Within seconds, Hazara was healed. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Altair blacked out allowing Etana catch her before the ground caught her.
Hazara sat up. Etana handed her own army knives to her. Hazara stared at her.
"I know yours were destroyed," said Etana, "Take mine; I'll stay back at look after Altair."
Nodding, Hazara grabbed them from Etana.
"I expect you to be the one who hands them back to me, got it?"
Smiling beneath her mask, "I promise, sister," spoke Hazara.
Grinning, Etana let go.
"Then go help your boyfriend."
Nodding, Hazara rushed back into the fight. Otomo had managed to get a couple of good hits in while avoiding some of Malso's attacks. He was tiring out, yet he wasn't stopping. He would fight, no, he would die to protect Hazara. Malso can in with a downward blow which Hazara appeared in between them, slashing the demon's exposed stomach. Drawing black blood, Malso screamed in pain stumbling backwards. He looked at Hazara with a new rage in his eyes.
"How are you walking? You should have died by now!"
No one saw her smile.
"I have friends," talking with her fingers, "unlike you. You will die alone demon, and you will die by my hand."
Otomo took a step back, this was her fight, he had no right to be here.
Stopping him, "But I can't fight alone anymore. I know that now."
He stared at her while Hazara looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
Locking her eyes with his, she gripped his arm.
"Otomo, I would be honored if you would fight with me," causing him to blink and then to return to her side, "But remember the kill is mine."
Nodding, he threw one of his swords towards her while she tossed one of Etana's knives to him. They caught their respective weapons.
Now the walker knew he couldn't win, not with the two of them. Calling out to a pack of wild blood dogs to attack only for a barrage of daggers followed by a series of gunshots preventing the dogs from making it to the two hunters.
"Sorry, but you ain't getting any help that way," causing Hazara and Otomo looked over their shoulders to see Daria, Cray and Jake standing with smiles plastered on their faces. The slots that held Daria's throwing knives were empty while the guns in Cray's and Jake's hands were smoking slightly.
Grinning, the two warriors refaced the pale Malso. His face twisted into anger and with a roar, he charged the two hunters. Otomo disappeared while Hazara ducked and spun away from his attacks.
"Stand still you-" unable to finish with a sword piercing the right side of his chest.
Over his shoulder, he saw the cold glare of the ninja. A second shock of cold steel pierced the other side of his chest. This time from Hazara. Standing there, the pain was intense. Now, he had felt nothing. The two swords were pulled out causing Malso to drop onto the ground. Rolling onto his back, his scream full of rage and pain.
"You will be mine you damn bitch, and your friend's will-."
A pair of knives entered both shoulders even breaking through the bones. Hazara and Otomo stood over the fallen walker. Jake, Daria, Cray, and Etana with a revived Altair walked towards the fallen demon. Malso coughed up blood.
"I will not die," with her fingers, "but you will," staring at him, "Leave," to the other hunters, "I want to see him die with my own eyes. You may stay Jake but I don't want the rest of you hurt."
Understanding, they left expect for Jake. After they were safe distance away, Hazara removed her old mask letting the poison from her mouth fill the air. Jake was unaffected. The demon, that cursed her, was immune to it. Sitting top of the demon, Hazara satred into his eyes.
"Listen to me, you hell spawn spit!" she snarled, "I'm done being your pet. I've never been your pet; because of you my life has been hell, my family, old friends dead. And now…it's your turn."
Laughing at her, "And you will burn in hell for it and I plan to be the one burning you, my pet."
"Wrong," she growled, "I choose my path now," pulling the knives from the demon's shoulders, "no one will control me anymore," pressing them against his throat, "You will not control me anymore!"
Laughing, "Even in death, my pet. I'm always with you."
Slicing his throat with both knives, she tossed them up. Catching them plunged the blade tips into Malso's eyes. Malso's screams proved difficult with his throat sliced. Twitching for a few minutes, he laid there lifeless. The moment the demon died, the poison in the air dissipated with the wind.
Hazara's curse lifted. The demon's body burned to ash for the wind to carry. It was just Hazara and Jake. Looking back up, she stared into the distance.
"Oh god, what have I done?" was all that she could say before breaking down and crying.
With the curse gone, she was reliving the sins she had committed. Approaching her, Jake embraced her. Jake wasn't the comfortable type.
"It's ok, Hazara. You'll be ok."
Still her tears flowed.
"But…but why…..how can I….get past what…. I've done."
"Your friends haven't abandoned you yet, and they never will. It will be your friends that will help you through this Hazara." Jake didn't understand the meaning of being comfortable.
"Thank you," couching, "my*cough*friend. *cough*No!"
Detecting that familiar scent, "Everyone stay where they are!" staring at the dark covered ground, "Where's her old mask now!"
It seems her victory was short lived. Malsco did leave a keepsake to remind Hazara of him. She still had Dragon Breath.
