Air of the Demon

[*Kymmi*]

(( First sad attempt at evil character. >< Forgive me. Hopefully I can get passed always using innocent characters.))

He walked forward a few more steps, cruelly chuckling to himself. Next to him a red glowing orb replaced the night's darkness that surrounded him. He came across a roughly small jack rabbit sleeping near a dried cactus. Saiik smirked and his eyes narrowed.

"Stupid. Sleep there and your predators will gladly accept the favor you've offered them," He whispered. He did not say this out of care, but out of his cold heart. Killing never had been a big deal to him for more than several years now. In his eyes, there was no problem. It'll happen to everyone eventually. He just causes some to pass sooner than others.

Saiik took a step nearer the helpless, dumb rabbit. He kicked it, but held back his strength. He smiled as the rabbit hit the near by cactus and opened it's wide black eyes to see it's powerful opponent. The startled rabbit immediately shook frightened and attempted running off.

Now that's what you should do. But it was too late for the tiny creature. Saiik merely raised his hand and a loud snap seemed to echo throughout the desert. The sound of running paws had stopped and Saiik looked around him.

"Ah..." He stated, realizing he was in some canyons. Perhaps he was closer to what he was looking for than he though. His smile faded a bit as now he was focused on his business here.

[ryuuza]

Etzam watched the scene expressionless. The rabbit died just as easily and painfully as his brother did when Etzam could do nothing about it. The hot invisible wind rushed up against his face and played with his hair. Etzam's mouth opened as if to speak, but the man with the strange arm already seemed to have noticed him. Etzam wasn't sure, but he seemed to seek great power beyond what he already had. What else would you do in these deadly sands?

Etzam's eyebrows furrowed together. If he didn't choose his words carefully, it could cost him his life. Etzam knew how these types of guys worked. Just from looking at the man, it was obvious he had either made an oath with a demon himself, or just took it's arm. Etzam wondered the story behind this, but it wasn't his place to ask.

"Don't mean to trouble you, sir. Would you know about demons, by any chance?" Etzam decided to say.

[Kaia]

Cait's vision was suddenly cut off as sand was shot right into her eyes. She did her best to keep her scythe in her hand as she lost her cordination. Rubbing her eyes frantically, she waited and listened for the sand demon. She felt the ground beneath her rumble and shake as the giant centipede creature moved deep beneath the sand. Cait stood still trying to judge where he was, when suddenly everything stopped. A few seconds later the demon shot up through the sand a few yards away from her. Expecting this, Cait cast a blocking spell to keep the exploding sand from the creature bursting from the earth from blinding her again. The spherical shield around her faded as the centipede kept firing straight into the air. Cait spun her scythe around and sliced the demon straight across it's underside. Enraged, the centipede started retreating back into the earth, not before not before slashing one if it's whip-like antennae against her. The impact sent her straight into a large canyon wall.

There was a shrill scream that ended abruptly a few moments after Etzam spoke his question.

Severely injured, she slumped to the ground. Her eyes fluttered shut as the pain overwhelmed her.

In her mind, she heard a comforting, soft voice in her head start to speak, "My child, it is not your time to die yet..."

Cait clutched the pendant around her neck and whispered a quick prayer, barely audible. Gaining a momentary blessing from the gods, she earned her strength back, though not fully. She staggered to her feet, supporting herself on her scythe. Feeling the ground start to rumble beneath her feet again, she straightened herself up and took a stance to face her opponent once more.

[*Kymmi*]

Saiik studied the boy expressionlessly. The boy seemed dress to look tough, but he barely seemed to be adult at all. Saiik completely turned around to give him his attention. Saiik did not feel the sudden shock of being in the presence of another. He sensed the boy following him a while ago. Finally. He speaks his mind. Saiik smirked as a scream filled the air.

"Anyone who enters these dry lands, knows of some demon, boy." Saiik frowned. "Do not waste my time. If you have more to ask you better soon." Saiik hinted at his own impatience, plus that they might have company to fight. Saiik could care less about the girl, but the demon could interfere with his little "treasure hunt."

Saiik dashed over to the girl who he already decided was weak. Without much respect, Saiik lined himself up with her and looked straight ahead for some monster. "Tell me about the creature." He demanded avoiding eye contact with her and concentrated on the horizon. The ground seemed to rumble again.

"Ah. One of those, eh?" Saiik laughed taking out his double swords. He hadn't faced one yet, but he heard rumors about this sort of creature. "Well kid? Did you at least find a weakness?" He questioned without so much noting her condition. His heart hardened what could seem centuries ago. Saiik figured if anyone had the heart still soft to see the hurt and saddened, it would be the young blonde kid.

[ryuuza]

Etzam gasped out the sound of the scream. Was he really so involved in himself, he didn't notice this? It seemed Saiik barely noticed as well. Obviously, Saiik looked down on anyone weaker than him. Etzam decided this man was not the type he should confront. Saiik dashed off, and Etzam followed, just a bit slower, but showing the less experience he had in life. The demon in his body laughed through out his mind. Etzam rubbed his mark and decided it was best to defeat the monster as soon as possible and provide help for the girl. This would not be a good place for the demon to take over. Why was the man so eager to fight as well though?

Oh, entertainment then? Etzam decided as Saiik threw demands at the girl, obviously looking down on her even more than Etzam. Etzam jumped to Cait's side. She survived? Maybe she deserved more credit than Saiik was willing to give.

"Information would be helpful. Can I help you? I don't know if you want to find a safe place to say, but I doubt there is such with this kind of demon.." Etzam said concerned. He knew Saiik probably hated that Etzam was possibly delaying the answers he wanted. However Etzam's focus was on the girl and being aware of where the monster could pop up. "I'm Etzam, a friend," He muttered to her calmly. He would protect her. He couldn't bare to relive someone innocent dying in front of him again.

[Kaia]

"It's weakness is it's underside. You have to hit it in between the plated shell." Cait stated suddenly. She also refused to look at him, her eyes searching for the place the demon would emerge. She appreciated the help of Etzam and nodded a quick thanks. She had no time for introductions at the moment.

Cait's natural instinct came forth to protect this man, but she assumed he was more powerful than her, probably way more than she sensed. So she pushed aside those feelings. But yet, something still called to her to take care of him....

"Stop. Concentrate on the task at hand."
She told herself.

There was another rumble before the creature burst through the sand and threw himself into the sky. Another blocking spell out of the way as she sprinted to where the centipede had emerged, leaving the man behind her. Even though she was injured, she would not fail.

As she approached, she managed to slash her scythe in the form of an L shape, which removed a cluster of it's enormous legs, (twice the length of herself.) Before doing so she whispered a few words and her scythe throbbed a soft green color as it struck the demon. She managed to poison the creature when she attacked it, the poison from the blade of her weapon sizzling through the armor plating.

Cait knew that now, even when the creature submerged itself beneath the sand, it would continue to weaken as the poison filled it's body.

The centipede began to thrash in pain as it began to retreat once more into the earth. Cait, expecting another blow, brought up her shield and held it strong as the demon attempted to attack her as it disappeared.

[*Kymmi*]

Saiik focused on the creature and its attacks as it attacked her. Did she make it angry? Saiik's eyes narrowed. It kept attacking, but retreated each time after an attack. Or at least when it got hurt. The giant beast seemed to find sanctuary in the sand, but attacked from random places, as if its own sensors were fazed by the sand. Saiik patiently waited to try another attack. He grinned excitingly.

"Come out...come out already. I haven't had an opponent in much too long a week..." Saiik laughed coldly. The ground thundered once again and the beast shot out a little farther from last time. "Perfect!" He roared. He crossed his blades in front of himself in the direction of the monster. "Nightshadow's Fire!!" Deep black spheres of flame hurled straight to the centipede like thing. "Ha." They exploded on target and a few more of its legs vanished in the heat. The burn on the thing looked deep and the creature cried in pain. The centipede demon kept on its path towards Cait however. It obviously moved just slightly slower, probably the effect of the poison.

Saiik watched it awkwardly come closer. I don't have much time to prepare another spell accurately, and close-ranged attacks will only cause me damage similar to the girl's. He knew he could actually push himself to more power if he wanted, but why waste his own energy and breath? What other skills did the kids have? If they proved to be any good, he'd question them about maybe of achieving more power. The girl had an interesting fighting style, but what could the fancy boy do?

[ryuuza]

Etzam tried to focus, realizing that Saiik didn't stop the monster. Etzam drew his sword. He pointed the blade towards the demon. His eyes narrowed as he started to swing it in certain movements that got faster and faster until he made one last slash. "Radia blusto." He murmured and serveral strokes of a deep, dark blue exploded towards the creature. The creature tried to dodge, but obviously was too affected by the poison and the blue slash tore through it's right side. Etzam managed to throw off a few legs and cut part of it's underside open. Etzam frowned at the unpleasant sight.

The man's obviously not going to try close range attacks.... Etzam noticed. Unlike the man however, Etzam had a trick up his sleeve to try to get closer. "Oh? Borrowing my power?...heh....You are so good at making yourself vulnerable!" His demon laughed in his head. Etzam longed to punch the demon out.

"Oh, shaddup," He muttured under his breath. He laid his free hand on the blade's side after touching his forhead. "Stretch." The sword grew twice it's length. Etzam had no trouble wielding it. It still possessed it's primary weight, though he still held it with two hands to keep good control.

"I demand your speed," He spoke to the demon in side him. His body shook slightly as the demon tried to take over his body as well. In your dreams. Give it up. He shouted through his mind. Etzam thought the demon growled. He looked back to the large centipede and his eyes widened when he realized it was about just a few meters away.

Etzam charged silently with inhuman speed. The speed he used seemed as powerful as an elf's. He slashed, turned, jumped, and slashed again. He smirked at the progress he made. Overconfidence filled his mind too quickly however and before he knew it himself, another leg whipped him towards the sand. Etzam felt himself hit the ground with his shoulder, flip back, and slow to a roll. Gah.... He stood up, angry with his actions. I underestimated....again... He didn't know how badly he would have been hurt without having borrowed demon power. The only blood came from his left cheek that must have been scratched by the sand and tiny rocks.

He wiped the blood off, hoping it would stop bleeding soon. He looked around and discovered the creature went back underground yet another time. He sighed and returned the demon's power to the evil thing in the back of his mind. He watched for it to pop up again and took a few steps backwards cautiously. Why is it so angry? He tried to think.

[Kaia]

Cait paused a moment to take advantage of the break this newcomer gave her. She whispered prayers to herself as she watched him fight. Gaining more and more strength, the gods were blessing her. Though... something nearby was blocking her full connection to the heaven's. It wasn't the centipede. She concluded there must be something demonic about one of the two men, or both, fighting with her. As she watched Etzam though, she noticed something.

"Is he talking to himself...?

She stared at him a moment before she realized the demon had withdrawn into the ground. She pushed her eyebrows together in concentration, the heat from the desert causing a few drops of sweat to run down her forehead. Cait prepared for the centipede to reveal itself.

"Nothing seems to be affecting this thing... We've all tried weapons and magic. Hmmm..." Cait thought to herself, "Maybe I should try pure, holy magic. It is a demon, right? I can only do this once, I hope it does some damage. I won't be strong enough after using so much power..."

When the sand began to shoot up, she knew the creature was emerging again. Cait prepared her spell, twirling her scythe around her, she made the shape of an insignia in the air. It started glowing a bright white. The ground trembled and the centipede burst from the ground.

"God's, let me be your vessel! By their power bestowed to me, I banish you back to the hell from which you emerged!" Cait yelled at the demon.

Large tendril-like wisps emerged from the insignia, and soared straight to the demon. Almost whip like, they wrapped themselves around the creature. They tightened, constricting the creature until it began writhing in pain. A black liquid began to run from the demon's body as the tendrils continued tightening. They disconnected themselves from the insignia portal and remained on the creature, binding it like a rope.

"Please help them defeat it... thank you." Cait whispered quietly as she failed supporting herself on her scythe. She slumped down to the ground, the screeching coming from the creature slowly faded as her eyes shut.

[ryuuza]

Etzam gaped. By looking at her, he had doubted she had this much power. He lectured himself about judging by appearances. He sighed, feeling slightly guilty it had to come to her passing out in order to ensure their safety.

"Might've taken a bit more time if she didn't, but did she need to....?" He muttered to himself. Etzam ruffled his blonde hair. He was learning to hate the desert's cold nights and hot days. Seeing as the creature was strictly bound, Etzam stretched his arms for another attack.

"Guess it's safe to do this...." Etzam murmured a few more words to stretch his blade a bit longer. He charged straight for the demon and prepared to attack. His speed seemed to increase with every fourth step as he approached the angry, ugly demon. He slashed and struck at various parts of its body.

Etzam jumped back. The creature was definitely wounded, but if he were to kill it, he'd have to strike a spot for massive damage. The head was the first obvious choice, but the top looked too hard to even bother striking. Etzam decided he'd have to slash at its neck.

With one last strike, Etzam swiftly sliced his sword through its neck. "Mid Gust" Etzam said and a dark wind filled the giant beasts throat. The unyielding focused mini tornado tore about the gash and messily spurted blood around the area. Etzam leaped back and groaned in disgust at the gooey black blood now on his right boot and the bit on his face. The beast twitched some more until it finally grew still and moved no more.

"Perfect. Didn't account for that...."Etzam wiped the blood off his face again childishly, walking towards Cait. Leave her. She's fine on her own. The voice in his head said. Maybe she is, but I wouldn't be human at all to leave her like that.... Etzam calmly answered. He looked at the night sky and shivered.

Etzam looked at Cait, examining her for serious injuries. He found small scrapes on her face and hands from the rough sand she hit. His eyes narrowed in concentration. "This is the most I can do....Forgive me...I've barely brushed on light magic." After a few minutes the scrapes were sealed shut. He directed his attention to Saiik.

"I'm moving towards the canyon walls so we can sit up against something." He informed him incase Saiik might be interested. Etzam looked at Cait again. Gently he sheathed back his sword and picked her up, holding her classically with one arm under her knees and the other on her upper back and slightly supporting her neck.

When he reached the wall, he set her down to lean against it. He walked about five feet away from her and muttered various words at the ground. A ball of flame appeared and grew to about the size of a regular campfire. This should keep us warm... Etzam then removed his jacket and laid it on top of the girl. Not wanting to seem too friendly, Etzam walked off several feet from her and leaned against the wall himself. He crossed his arms and legs and closed his eyes. Pondering about the encounter with the girl and the demon.

[*Kymmi*]

Saiik watched the events emotionlessly. He shrugged when Cait fell. Eh. They'll be fine. Hopefully this'll finish soon. He yawned and watched Etzam's final slashes. He grinned. Interesting team. I'll have to question them on their strength. Saiik planned. The grin didn't last more than a few seconds.

Etzam seemed to almost invite him over now. Saiik stared at the centipede-like thing. "It would appear to be dead....or mostly....It should at this rate if not..." He murmured through the beast's final twitches. Saiik watched with his eyebrows raised at how careful Etzam tried to be. "Does he really care so much to be so kind....?"

Saiik closed his eyes. Effortlessly, he strode over to where Etzam prepared the fire in front of the unconcious girl. Before he got there, Etzam already made himself comfortable. Saiik stood in front of him, almost glaring down at what he considered still a child.

"Where did you learn that, boy? The magic you use....and your speed...." Saiik questioned. He looked to the girl and wondered when she'd wake up and join on the conversation, if she would want to. Saiik sighed and sat down, feeling that there was no need to continue standing in a prepared position.

[ryuuza]

Etzam looked up, feeling slightly annoyed being labeled as "boy." He shrugged, quickly going over the events in his head, coming up with the usual part-truthful summary.

"Woke up in a different village one night. The villagers found me unconscious in some forest." He started talking as if he didn't have any memory of events before. "I left them and ran into a witch who practically forced me to have lunch with her, then I received a spell book of some sort. I already had skills with magic, this just improved them a bit. If you're looking for power, I suggest a different method."

Etzam shrugged again. He frowned at the events that played in his head. I'd rather have my brother than have gone through this.....that evil witch... He wondered if he could find a way to completely control the demon or get rid of it in this dry desert. He rubbed his finger against his lips and found them dry. He took out a vial and drank some enchanted water, which had more lasting effects than regular water. He sighed.