From Life into Legend }{ open

[laraine]

She stared at them both evenly. She was both annoyed and afraid that the woman suddenly appeared again and whispered something in his ear. Raine could even see the hesitation in Deraj's eyes. The silence around them was long and Raine took a step towards them both.

"Deraj, I know better than anyone that some things are better left unsaid. I know we just met. But if you cant tell me, just say it. If you want to tell me, I'd listen." She smiled. "After all, if were partners you need to trust me.."

[deraj]

The witch, perhaps either spitefully or playfully, planted a kiss on his cheek. Deraj somehow knew that he would not be able to push her away and that she would not consciously do any lasting harm to him so he just spoke. “Raine, I’m dead. I have been for a long time now. This youthful form you see before you is what I looked like in my prime. It is only because of this cursed crown that I have the benefits of youth. I would have told you earlier but I only wanted to help you. I thought that it would only frighten you.” The witch giggled and Deraj was filled with contempt.

[laraine]

He's....dead?
Raine was surprised at this. Visions of people she knew flashed through her mind.

He's escaped the curse of death? But...how? If I think about it, he did bring those people back from death, if only for a moment...maybe...

She shook her head, No, don't you dare think about it...

After her shock, she met Deraj's eyes evenly. After a few moments she sighed. Then she gave him a smile.

"Deraj, I'm a half demon. With what I've seen in my life, you really think I would walk away from you? After all, you did save my life. So I owe that much to you, my friend."

[deraj]

It seemed like an eternity to Deraj before Raine responded. He could not begin to imagine what all ran through her head in those moments. Deraj felt naked again revealing this possibly alienating secret to the first friend he had in countless years. Deraj was too demoralized to do anything to Camilla as she wrapped her arms about his waist and nibbled on his ear.

Finally, she spoke. "Deraj, I'm a half demon. With what I've seen in my life, you really think I would walk away from you? After all, you did save my life. So I owe that much to you, my friend." She smiled.

Deraj was overjoyed at her response. The Empress, however, was not. She pushed him away. “No! No, no, no… all this compassion is disgusting and simply foolhardy on your part girl.” She pointed a reprimanding finger at Raine. “You know he should be in the grave and that he had to commit untold horrors in order to achieve this…” She began to walk toward Raine. Deraj stepped between the witch and Raine. Camilla began to twitch in aggravation, “I don’t have time for this.” She brushed him aside, and he flew across the room. He cracked the stone wall as he hit it. Before his body could slump to the ground, shadowy forms emerged from the wall and held him in place. Deraj struggled but it was all for naught. As he was about to demand to be released his mouth was covered by another shadowy appendage. “I’ll deal with you later. As for you, you little abomination…” Deraj could do nothing as Camilla leapt at Raine with her talon like hands.

[laraine]

Reacting almost instantly, Raine grabbed her wand at her belt and transformed it into a sword, blocking the woman's attack with her talon like hands. She pointed the sword at the woman and met her eyes evenly.

"While were on the topic of secrets. Well there's something I figure I better say it now. I'm not just a half demon. I'm also half witch as well." Her body seemed to glow a bright pink light. "Even someone like you must know what happens when those two magics combine. Release Deraj woman! Or I will not be afraid to use it in this space. Since Deraj is already dead, this blast wont hurt him in the least." Her hand began to form a mixture of red and pink energies.

[deraj]

The darkness fully enveloped Deraj as Raine began to speak. He could hear and see nothing of the imminent conflict. As he struggled, the dark cloud only tightened. He abandoned hope as oblivion took him in her comforting embrace.

Without warning the cloud lifted. He found himself not in that chamber far beneath the desert sands but lying among the ruins of a massive stone complex that a forest had long since claimed. He struggled to his feet. Gripping his head, he fought through the pain to try to make sense of where or even who he was. He managed to stagger near a reflecting pool before collapsing again.

The magic of the empress had taken away his name. Now he was filled with nothing but a profound unexplained guilt. He looked down at his own reflection in the clear water with a mix of sadness and wonder. He was without knowledge and he was afraid. Deathless, he was doomed to wander in solitude with the weight of the ages upon his shoulders. It was not long before he drifted off into a deep sleep. The filtered moonlight shone off of his polished armor and cast a solemn glow about his body.

((this is the end of Deraj's portion of the story))