A/N: Finally a new chapter of this story. I've been offline for a long time and during that time I have written all of the final chapters for this story, so if you've been following it, or want to read it all I will be uploading all of them in the next few days. So keep an eye out for them all!
Don't fear the Demon
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the notorious Rayne." Caleb drawled loudly as he sauntered down the corridor towards the pair of them. "The so called fugitive at large, back here in the icy flesh. How convenient"
At the sound of the all too familiar voice from behind them Rayne stopped suddenly in her tracks, damn. They were barely inches from the door, but a whisper away from freedom once again and they had been seen. Perhaps she had been far too foolish to consider returning but too late to change things now. No time to run, nowhere to hide and with someone like Caleb at her back Rayne knew there was only one choice left, only one way that her and Draco would be getting out of there alive.
She turned to fix Caleb with a icy glare, cursing him silently for ruining things as he was so very good at doing. Funny how his attitude was not so very different from the pale haired wizard that currently stood by her side and yet it grated harshly on Rayne's nerves as she watched him close the stretch of the corridor between them. Perhaps it was knowing the fact that he was all too keen to kill her, to sell her out for the bounty on her head when they had once been something close to friends. People like him, demon or not, were not to be trusted which begged for questions about Draco to be answered. That point however was not the time to do so.
"I should have known you'd be the first to come after the bounty on my head Caleb." Rayne said with a dismissive shake of her head. "Greed sadly is not your most attractive feature."
Caleb smiled, but it was a painfully obnoxious expression that Rayne couldn't help and picture forever wiping it off of his face. For that moment she bit her lip and restrained herself, violence would inevitably ensue this night, but all things in time.
"Rayne, now what sort of thing is that to say about your old friend." Caleb replied, still smiling and moving to stand uncomfortably close to the two of them. "You know me, I'd do anything for the greater good of our kind. It did disappoint me though…" He said raising and hand and beginning to idly play with strands of Rayne's jet black hair, "To hear of how you'd betrayed us. I tell you I never saw that coming, not from you."
Roughly Rayne reached up and brushed his hand away from her, wincing slightly as he came away tearing several strands of hair from her scalp. "That's your problem Caleb, you don't see a lot of things." She spat viciously, her face mere inches from his. "Like how you've now gone and bitten off far more than you can chew."
During the demon pairs heated exchange Draco stood close by, watching on, almost entirely forgotten. A small part of him felt bitter and resentful for being ignored, this would never have happened back in the wizarding world, but his better judgement made him stay still and quiet beside them knowing deep down that if things came to blows he would probably be more than out of his depth.
"Bitten off more than I can chew? Please Rayne do tell me…" Caleb said, harsh laughed cutting through his voice. He paused to laugh harder before making a show of composing himself and continuing, "How exactly did you come to that conclusion? You're wanted dead, I've found you…sounds like the perfect set up to me. Why not just give up and I'll make it easy for you." He coaxed, trailing long skeletal fingers across her cheek as if he were trying to entice her to bed not to her death.
Baring her teeth Rayne once again dragged Caleb's hand away from her face, tightening her grip about him and squeezing until bones threatened to crunch. "You and I both know that you're not demon enough to kill me." She hissed, suddenly shoving him forcefully away from her.
Caleb stumbled backwards, but did not fall as Rayne had hoped he would. Quickly he straightened himself, smoothing his clothes before shaking his head and stretching his arms out wide. "Fine, if this is the way you want to do things that suits me." He spat, glaring hard at her across the corridor. "Its been a while since I last killed something and I'm just itching for some bloodshed."
The promise of violence however was the last straw for Draco. Don't get him wrong, under the right circumstances he was not one to shy away from a fight, if he could win it, however down there in the demon realm with a vast room full of swarms and swarms of demons just waiting to descend upon them, he was not in favour of being caught in a riot where the odds were so heavily stacked against him. Shaking his head he roughly grabbed a hold of Rayne's arm to ensure getting her attention. "You have got to be joking. We don't have time for this lets just go." He hissed in a low voice, tugging hopefully on her arm.
Rayne allowed herself to turn and glance beside her at Draco, shocked for a second by the sound of his voice. He'd been so well behaved and quiet as she and Caleb 'spoke' it was almost as if he wasn't there at all. She shook her head at him. She could understand his fear but they couldn't just run, things could turn out far worse if they ran.
"What, you think we should run?" She said to him hurriedly already knowing the answer to her own question. "And have him follow us back to your world do you really want that? No Draco we go, he follows and brings half of demon kind with him. We wouldn't stand a chance." She said realising some sense of irony in her words as bringing the demons into the wizarding world had been her plans and orders from the beginning and yet here she was trying to prevent just that from happening. Maybe Draco had had a greater effect on her than she realised, or maybe it was just the death sentence hanging over her head that changed her mind.
Either way Rayne shook her head and quickly flicked her amethyst eyes back to Caleb. "No, we stay and we fight. Better he die here where he can be found when we're long gone than risk a raiding party come knocking at our doors as soon as we're back"
"So very presumptuous Rayne. You really honestly believe you can win, it is quite…" Caleb paused for a few moments as if to carefully consider his words. He clutched one hand to his chest in a mocking gesture and his tone of voice positively dripped with sarcasm, "…touching." He finally finished, even venturing to wipe a fake tear from his cheek. "I think you've been up there far too long my dear, allow me to give you back some sense of reality."
With those final words Caleb scowled towards Rayne and muttered a silent curse. He waved his arms in a pattern of movements required for his particular curse and thrust his palm violently towards Rayne. A huge, swirling ball of energy could be seen rippling the air as it hurtled the length of the corridor towards them, but he had taken too long with his dramatics and conjuring that Rayne was ready for him. She crossed her arms at her chest, muttered a short word and then rapidly thrust then back down to her sides, fingers dagger straight and pointed to the floor.
A similar rippling energy built up in a solid wall before Rayne and Draco, shielding them from Caleb's attacking curse. The energy ball hit the wall with a great sucking sound as it's energy was absorbed into the shield. "That always was your problem Caleb, far too fond of the theatrics. It makes you readable." Rayne said, an unpleasant grin crossing her face as she dropped her energy shield, and almost instantaneously, sent a curse of her own streaming towards Caleb.
In response Caleb did not raise a shield of his own, as Draco had been expecting to see, instead he cast another curse. This time he aimed so that the two spells would collide in mid air where the fizzed for a second before exploding and splattering the corridor with a iridescent, slimy looking substance. Draco ducked suddenly to the side as one particularly large clump came hurtling towards his face, dodging just in time and cringing as it squelched against the wall behind him.
Caleb on the other hand had not ducked or dodged away from the residue, he knew it no longer had any power and wouldn't harm him so he didn't allow any feeling of aversion to break his concentration. As soon as the spells had collided in mid-air he swiftly sent another curse in it's wake. Its path hidden from Rayne's view by the chaos of the colliding until it was too late for her to defend herself. She saw it hurtling towards her, closing the inches rapidly and there was nothing she could do but brace herself for it's impact and hope it did no lasting damage.
"Still believe I'm readable do we Rayne?" She heard as Caleb's scathing remark through the sudden ringing that had begun in her ears. The spell hit her hard and the world around her seemed to slow. The ball of energy had hit her square in her chest, quivering fingers of power rippled through her skin and felt as if they would choke her lungs. The force of it's impact lifted her from her feet, shoving her backwards the few meters until she slammed hard against the wall. What little air was left in her body was knocked from her and she crumpled into a heap on the floor of the corridor. The power danced across her skin sending probing hands deep into her body where they drew constricting pain from every one of her cells.
Her mouth opened and a scream of agony escaped her lips as the pain held her crippled on the floor, there was nothing she could do but ride out the curse. It would pass in a wave and eventually the power would fade and leave her, until that happened she gritted her teeth and forced herself to endure the rest of it's surge in silence.
It seemed to take an age but soon the power had rode up her body to the top of her head, every fibre of her brain feeling as if it would explode from the pain, and finally dissipated. Rayne found that she could breathe freely again and that the residual pain from the curse, though left her feeling achy all over, had disappeared entirely. With shaking limbs and ragged breath she dragged herself back to her feet and glared down the corridor at the smirking figure of Caleb.
"Nice curse." She muttered, her voice harsh and breathy but she was feeling more and more like her normal self again with every second that passed. "But you should have finished me off when you had the chance." Rayne added, a maniacal grin slowly spreading on her lips. "Egotism will be the end of you Caleb."
With those words Rayne willed her power to summon the elements and she shot vast streams of flame down the corridor towards Caleb through her outstretched fingers. Rather than cower from the flame he simply shook his head and stretched his arms out in front of him, a great wash of icy air rolled down the hall and extinguished the flames with a fizz and splutter. "And your trouble Rayne is that you have no creativity. You say I am the readable one but fire…please Rayne who would not have seen that one coming?" He droned sardonically, still shaking his head.
Draco was beginning to think that this was less of duel to the death between the two demons and more a war of insults and one-upmanship. A battle of wills and egos to see who was the 'bigger' demon and all it was doing was wasting time. Draco was feeling more and more uncomfortable down there in the demon realm and was more than ever itching to get back home to where he at least knew how things worked and didn't feel in danger of being eaten by something big and scary everything he walked around a corner. "Rayne can we get on with this please…" Draco pleaded impatiently, his tone of voice obviously annoyed.
"Oh dear Rayne, looks like lover boy wants to go home. Think he misses his mummy?" Caleb responded with a broad smirk before Rayne had a chance to answer Draco. He then, for the first time, turned his attention directly to Draco, who couldn't help but feel a tad better about the situation at least he was finally getting some attention paid to him he was after all not used to being ignored. "What's the matter, don't you like our home?" Caleb asked with arched eyebrows as he began to pace slowly down the corridor back towards the pair of them.
"Oh it's delightful." Draco sneered sarcastically. He knew that this was probably a bad move to respond in that way but for some reason he just could not hold his tongue and keep quiet, it wasn't in his nature.
"Draco…" Rayne hissed warningly, but Caleb held up a hand in a gesture of silencing her and cut her off before she could say any more.
"Don't try and protect him Rayne. Your boy here has a big mouth and a bad attitude to go with it." Caleb scowled, the stretch of the corridor between them closing more rapidly than should have been possible at the speed he was pacing. "A little lesson for you, don't try to play with the big guns if you can't handle it. You may know what we are but you have no concept of 'who' we are, what we are capable of. You think you're the big bad wizard? But you like all of the others are hindered by your morals and humanity, we are not. We are demons, our morals are like nothing in comparison and humanity is not a cross we bear so heavily." Caleb droned on as if he were lecturing Draco and that the words he spoke had been previously rehearsed. His intention had been to scare the young wizard, but when Draco appeared to be nothing more than bored by his words Caleb scowled a little more and added. "Care for me to give you a demonstration? Get to know first hand exactly what we are capable of doing to a person."
At those words Rayne stepped forwards and pressed a halting hand to Caleb's chest, stopping him from moving that slight bit more and reaching Draco. "Don't touch him." She said in a threateningly low voice. Yes she did indeed still have feelings for the arrogant but handsome wizard, how could she not after the time they had spent together. But really the last thing she needed was to go back without him, she didn't believe that even she could survive a death threat from both realms, it would leave her very little in the way of places to hide and she was sure the Draco's father would not take too kindly to the disappearance of his only son.
Caleb's scowl melted into a smirk as he regarded the demon in front of him. She was actually defending him, when any other time she would have been as ready as him to paint the walls with his blood, what the hell had he done to her up there? "I think you need a reminder of just what you are Rayne." He muttered before moving away from her in a blur of speed and grabbing Draco. Caleb pinned both of Draco's arms behind him with one hand and held him tightly around the neck with his other. "I swear, the sight of his blood will have you feeling yourself again in no time. Perhaps they'd even let you live…" He said coaxingly, tightening his grip on the struggling Draco.
It pained Rayne to admit it, but his words tempted her. Not only had it been what felt like an age since there had last been blood spilt by her hand, but a possible way back into her society? A way they would allow her back, believe the things that had happened had been through no fault of her own. That she had done her very best and had rectified it all by killing what could be seen as the biggest threat to not only their plans but their lives as well. Who wouldn't be tempted by an offer to go back to life that was familiar, comfortable and above all that you loved beyond anything.
Caleb watched intently as he saw Rayne consider his words. Something inside of her sparked and he knew that he had come very close to convincing her. "Come on Rayne, think about it. What is there for you up there?" He questioned still coaxing her closer to the choice he wanted. "But this way…You can prove that you are still one of us, still loyal to us. You know what you need to do Rayne, what choice do you have?"
What choice did she have? That really was the question, she had very little choice at all but in killing Draco she could give herself a little more in the way of choices. But tempting as it was could she really bring herself to do that?
For a few horrifying moments Draco stopped struggling against his captors grip and watched as thoughts of careful consideration passed over Rayne's face. Wait, she couldn't really be considering killing him could she? After everything, after all that they'd done together and after he'd abandoned everything he knew in his life to follow her to this wretched place? A sick feeling of terror planted itself in the pit of Draco's stomach and mixed badly with the broiling anger that threatened to bubble over. "Rayne…don't do this…" He muttered in a strangled voice, words fighting against the fingers at his throat to escape. "Help me…let's get out of here…lets…"
"Now I think we've heard more than enough from you." Caleb drawled nastily as he tightened his grip further still so that Draco's words could no longer fight their way from his mouth. "Come on Rayne, what's it going to be? Kill or be killed which would you prefer?" He goaded nastily, presenting Rayne with her final ultimatum. Time was ticking away and if he wanted the bounty on Rayne's head all for his own things had better come to an end quickly.
Rayne felt lost in her thoughts, the more she thought the more she seemed to drift away from what was happening and what had so recently happened so much so that Caleb's words seemed to be the only thing that made any sense to her. She was a demon, she belonged there and simplest way to solve most problems was with a death. Through the spilling of blood she would be forgiven and welcomed warmly back into the fold of her people, yes it all made perfect sense she knew just what she needed to do and how convenient that Draco happened to be there just when Rayne needed a suitable victim.
That seemed to be it, her mind was made up. Resolve seeming to be firm Rayne began to walk towards them, more than ready to kill Draco and save her own skin when she heard him speak. Not simply speak but plead with her in his all too familiar irritated tone. It was strange but upon hearing his voice Rayne felt suddenly more real again, as if a spell had been lifted and she was once more acting of her own free will. What had she been thinking? She couldn't kill Draco, not now after what he had done for her leaving everything behind just to help her, what kind of a person was she?
But that was just it, she wasn't a person was she? Not really, but it seemed that Draco had brought out something in her that she had not ever felt so strongly, her sense of humanity. Caleb was wrong, a demon could feel something more than simply bloodlust and impediment or not there was no way that Rayne could ignore what she was feeling.
With those few simple words Draco had changed Rayne's mind, or rather freed her from the delusions that Caleb had set into her mind. Either way she would never be welcomed back and they both knew that, she would not sacrifice Draco on a vain hope. Her mind set she continued to step towards the two of them, showing no sign of having had a change of heart, her and Draco needed to get out of there and for that to happen Caleb had to die. No more duelling, no battle of power and will, assassination was the only way to go.
Draco became more and more panicked as Rayne inched ever closer, "Rayne…no don't…you can't just…" He managed to struggle and stutter as Caleb held him tighter.
"That's it Rayne, it's easy. One little death and all will be well again." Caleb grinned evilly.
"I know, it's too easy." Rayne said flatly as she stood barely inches away from the two of them. She met Draco's eyes for a second before she flung a claw like hand against Caleb's chest. Harnessing her otherworldly strength Rayne felt as her sharp nails ripped through his clothing and met bare skin. They pierced through his soft cold flesh and blood began to flow beneath her fingers warming and wetting her hand. Muscle parted and ribs cracked and Rayne could feel the resounding throb of the muscle her fingers were seeking.
She was going for the heart, as with most beings destroy the heart and the creature will most surely die, demons were no exception. Caleb gasped in shock and grunted in pain as her fingers probed deeply inside of his chest, his grip on Draco loosening who took the opportunity to slip away and stand back from the gore. His face more pallid and pale than usual and a burning in the pit of his stomach threatening to empty the nights dinner there onto the corridor floor, but he was indeed getting what Caleb had promised a show of just what a demon was capable of.
Rayne's fingers met with Caleb's heart and encircled the strong but oh so vulnerable organ. Rayne cast her glance up away from where her wrist disappeared between his ribs to meet Caleb's eyes. "Much too easy." She said tightening her hand around his heart and violently ripping it from his chest.
Caleb gasped and crumpled to the floor, spluttering on blood and soundless words. His heart gone it still took a few seconds for him to die, long enough to watch as Rayne dropped the still throbbing organ from her hand where it landed with a wet slap on the floor beside his face.
Her eyes had bled to black and her breath came in ragged gasps. It had been too long since she had spilt blood and Rayne felt no shame in admitting to herself that she had enjoyed it. The rush felt almost sexual and now she'd had a taste she was hungry for more. Her will however was stronger than her desires and she knew that there was no time for them to hang around any longer. She looked at Draco, her eyes still deep pits of black. "Come on, lets get out of here."
Her voice sounded empty, haunting as if only the smallest part of the Rayne he thought he knew was still there. Draco was scared. Scared of that place and desperate to get home but scared also of her. He had seen something in her that had not been there before, something feral and ruthless and for a few terrifying moments he knew she could quite happily have killed him. Did he really want to travel back with such a creature? But then what other choice did he have.
Rayne held out to him a hand, painted from the wrist down with rapidly drying, rust coloured blood. She seemed to either not notice or not care about the gore that stained her alabaster skin but Draco cringed at the repugnant sight. He shied away from her hand until he realised that her offer was not relenting. She neither offered her other, clean hand, nor even made any other move, sound or gesture. In the end he knew that he had to take her hand, to grin and bear the gore if he wanted to get home quickly.
She felt him grip her hand and without a word called on the power and stepped into the darkness, dragging Draco along with her.
He didn't know what would happen, what they would do when they got back. But one thing that Draco did know was that things with Rayne would not be quite the same again and that he had some serious questions that needed answering. One thing for sure, Draco then knew far more about demons than he'd ever wanted to and if he was honest it scared him.