Forgotten Glory }{ By Invite Only

[deraj]

"Shall we?" She smiled and he smiled in response. He knew that he would never tire of looking on her face. Just then, it began to dissolve. He panicked! “Noooo! My angel! My love! Come back!” He reached out to what still remained of her form and where the rest of it should have been. He thought that he could still feel her but it was not long before she completely disappeared. He was afraid to let go but in his panic, he did and stepped back. Thinking that she was gone forever, he broke into tears and fell to his knees. He wailed out to the heavens and probably scared off any animal that had been near.

[Vexxus]

As he jumped back, he released her hand. Vexxus, confused at his stupor, had to wait until she was in the shadow realm so that she could touch him again and bring him into it with her.

Her heart throbbed at the pain she had obviously caused, as she watched him begin to sob and fall to his knees. She came behind him, crouched, and put her arms around him gently, resting her head on his shoulder. Fibers of darkness from her shadow form began to creep around him, pulling him into the parallel world.

She whispered gently in his ear. "I'm here. Do not weep," she moved in front of him, and placed her hands on either side of his face. "Do you not remember coming here before?" Her brow was furrowed in a puzzled expression, as she searched his eyes.

[deraj]

Deraj felt a mysterious comforting force embrace him. He enjoyed it at first but then a darkness seemed to envelope him. Before he could cry out in confusion and despair Vexxus’ comforting voice bring him solace. "I'm here. Do not weep,"

She slowly moved to the face him. He could clearly see her now but was baffled at this strange variation of the only world he had ever known. She gently placed her hands on either side of his head and gazed into his eyes, knowing that something was off. "Do you not remember coming here before?"

He was not as frightened with Vexxus there. As far as he was concerned, the world could disappear entirely as long as she remained with him in the void. “Truth be told... I don’t seem to be remembering much of anything that I apparently should.” Wide eyed and determined, he clung to her as if to ensure that she could not disappear on him again.

[Vexxus]

“Truth be told... I don’t seem to be remembering much of anything that I apparently should.”

Vexxus felt a wave of confusion and fear wash over her. Deraj's arms around her helped, but she still feared the worst.

"Do...do you remember me?" She gazed into the haunting, deep eyes the color of a rolling thundercloud touched with wisps of silver. The eyes she had known for what seemed like forever, and had longed to see once again for many, many years.

[deraj]

"Do...do you remember me?"

He gazed back up at her and trembled as he attempted speak. His eyes went out of focus and tears formed in his eyes, “You are the only thing. I know you are Vexxus, that I love you, that I could not go on without you….. but that is all... maybe that is all that matters in the end” His titanic form began to shake and in a whisper he said, “help me.”

[Vexxus]

“You are the only thing. I know you are Vexxus, that I love you, that I could not go on without you….. but that is all... may that is all that matters in the end” He began to tremble, then he whispered, “help me.”

Vexxus closed her eyes tightly, perhaps in an attempt to restrain tears, then pulled him closer. "I will...I will never leave you, Deraj."

[deraj]

She tightened her embrace and brought him comfort. “I love you,” he said. It was not long before he had calmed down.

Suddenly, a disturbance in the forest made him on edge. He leapt to his feet and looked around through the dark version of the world around them. “Something is wrong.”

[Vexxus]

Vexxus tensed, and looked around. Several faintly glowing figures could be seen in the distance, but for all they knew they could have been a heard of deer.

"Whatever it is, it's pretty far off...We could probably avoid it, but..." She looked at Deraj, and smiled mischievously. "Well, from what I knew of you before, you wouldn't shy away from a challenge."

[laraine]

The demons were huddled within the woods, talking in hushed whispers to each other.

"Have you heard? The halfbreed is in that place?"

"Finally we can kill that runt and be free from this insane hunt!"

"She will get what is coming to her for sure."

"Shut up." The woman with pink hair hissed. She turned on the demons who suddenly stopped talking.

"Honestly, all of you are pathetic we haven't killed her yet. Celebrate when we bring her head back to mother." The woman hissed, glaring harshly at them all.

The group was silent.

"But of course the hard part will be getting her outside." The woman whispered, then she saw the two in the distance. AS they got closer, she smirked. "I have a plan.."

[deraj]

"Whatever it is, it's pretty far off...We could probably avoid it, but..."
"Well, from what I knew of you before, you wouldn't shy away from a challenge."

He grinned and nodded. Deraj turned to the direction of the stables and whistled. Two massive black steeds in differing stages of decay galloped toward them, fully saddled and dressed in embroidered red turnout blankets. The thunderous hooves shook the ground as they approached. Deraj turned to Vexxus, with the reigns of one in his hand, as if to offer her aid in mounting the massive beast.

[Vexxus]

Vexxus smiled at Deraj, and mounted the impressively large horse. She watched as he easily ascended his mount, and gave her a nod.

They began galloping into the forest, dodging trees left and right. Vexxus had never experienced such speed, and found it rather addicting. She shot a look of amazement at Deraj, who was easily going just as fast, but she suspected he was holding back. Digging her heels into the horse's flanks, she drove the steed faster.

[deraj]

When Deraj saw that Vexxus was amazed by the speeds capable of his horses, he couldn’t help but to laugh. He had kept pace with her at first wanting to make sure that she was okay with it. For all he knew, she had never ridden a horse before. But when she commanded her steed to go faster, Deraj threw caution to the wind.

As Vexxus passed him, he leaned down and whispered something into his horse’s ear. Flames erupted in its eyes and the forest became a blur. The heat from the creature’s hooves scorched the ground beneath it. It was only a matter of seconds before he passed her, his great cloak flapping in the wind. He turned and winked at Vexxus but when he turned back around he saw that a small troop of demons stood in the path. Confident of himself, he actually maxed out his speed before stopping completely mere inches from the head of the group.

Feeling a need to impress Vexxus, Deraj straightened himself and took on a commanding air. He looked down at the demon that was obviously the leader of the group and asked, "Who are you and what business do you have in my domain?" His horse kicked the ground with one of its front hooves and smoke poured forth from its nostrils.

[Vexxus]

Vexxus watched as he raced past her, and chuckled at his performance. She sped up, then hesitated when she saw the demons. She slowed, and came to a rest beside Deraj.

"Who are you and what business do you have in my domain?"

There were quite a few of them, though Vexxus knew that Deraj and her would have no problem defeating them if they dared to attack. Her horse stepped in place impatiently.

[laraine]

The female demon stepped foreword, giving Deraj a bow. "My good sir, I apologize for the intrusion. But it seems that my niece has come into your possession. I believe both of you have met her." The demon brushed a hand through her pink hair, the same color as Raine's. "She goes by the name Raine. You see, she ran away from home and we wish to bring her back. It seems she's upset with us." the woman appeared to be on the verge of tears. "She is very important to us. But I know she stubbornly wont return. Could you, maybe help us?" The woman smiled.

Be prepared Raine, you will be dead before long.

[deraj]

She did seem to resemble Raine but Deraj knew that this resemblance wasn’t the only reason that this pink haired individual seemed familiar. Were it not for this unsettling familiarity, he would have offered Raine up at once. Instead he kept his head raised high and maintained his stoic façade.

He thought hard at Vexxus. This time consciously willing that Vexxus alone would hear. “I don’t trust this woman. Raine came with you so I assume she is a friend of yours. That is reason enough for me to grant her sanctuary. I do not know what game they play but perhaps we could use this to our benefit. Any ideas?” As he sent his thoughts, he gave no sign that he was doing anything other than considering the demon woman's plea.