Forgotten Glory }{ By Invite Only

[laraine]

Blinking, Raine turned her head to the side. It was no use running from this one. "Look, I'll tell the truth since I'm done eating." She got to her feet and looked at them. "I'm being pursued. The people who are trying to get me want me dead at all costs. Which is why I probably should leave soon. They are not known for their patience. Which is why I want to avoid getting any of you in danger." She sighed. "If I don't leave soon, I'm afraid they will attack this place and try to burn it to the ground...I've seen them level towns. Anyway, thanks again for your hospitality...Ill just be going then." She started to leave.

[Vexxus]

Vexxus stood abruptly. She shot a thought at Deraj. "Should we tell her that we met them?"

"Wait," She said, hoping to hold Raine off a bit. "So you're just running from them? What happens when there's nowhere to run to?" She searched Raine's eyes, her own filled with a peculiar determination and concern.

[deraj]

((Sorry for not responding for a while, I’ve been pretty busy and recently I got . I should be able to post fairly frequently now.))

Deraj continued when Vexxus stopped. “Even if you do choose to ignore the long term solutions to your problems,” Two halberd-wielding skeletons barred the only exit to the massive dining hall, “You don’t need to be worrying about those people now. There is no need to rush off to your doom. They’re camped just outside my dominion and seem to have been for a while now. Vexxus and I ran into them on our ride earlier. If they haven’t attacked yet, my guess is that they won’t. They are afraid of something. It appears that you have the upper hand, which if I had to guess isn’t something you are accustomed to.”

Deraj nodded at the skeletal doormen and they withdrew their weapons. “If you stay, do so freely and of your own free will but know that you are welcome and safe here."

[laraine]

Raine was about to leave when not only two hal-berd wielding skeletons blocked her path, but both Deraj and Vexxus spoke, trying to stop her with their words. She turned to them both, her face looked very confused. "Why? Why do you want to help me so bad? If you've met them then you know." She smiled lightly, looking down to the ground. "Laraine the cursed half demon. How can you want to help someone you don't even know? I could be dangerous. I could..." she clutched her hands into fists. She sighed turning away and staring at the doorway.

"You're wrong Deraj...they aren't afraid. If I know my Aunt Raven she already has something set in motion. Unlike most rumors, demons can use their whits and brains. Raven is one of those who will try to break into the castle discreetly, unnoticed by anything or anyone. Hmph..she isn't called the demon of darkness for nothing."

"I'm sorry for my outburst. I just, can't trust people very easily. Especially when they say they want to help. In the end they either die, or..." she glanced at Deraj for a second and then looked away. "They leave."

"Either way, my family is running out of time to destroy me. So I think they are getting desperate. They've started to tear apart towns looking for me. I thought at least in a forest they wouldn't hurt any more people." She looked at the two. "But I really didn't expect all this."

[Vexxus]

Vexxus firmly stepped in front of Raine.

"I don't care what you are, how well I know you, or how much trouble you're in. If someone is trying to kill someone else, I do something about it. Unless you're a murderer, or a cruel, evil, dishonorable creature, I am going to help you. I could see the malice and hatred in the demons' eyes. I do not see such in you. There are only traces of confusion and apprehension; which are normal for anyone who has a rough life." Her unyielding eyes darkened to a pewter grey. "We are with you."

[deraj]

Seeing it only natural, he rose with Vexxus. She spoke her mind and he admired it. He too felt no evil in Raine. Something felt all too familiar about this situation. Suddenly he was overcome by a sense of guilt that he could not quite justify. As Vexxus said “We are with you,” Deraj nodded as if to seal some agreement. Whatever needed done to help this girl, he felt honor bound to do. Whatever the cost, he would atone for his past sins whether they still belonged to him or not.

[laraine]

"Heh, you both are crazy..." Raine commented, putting a hand on one side of her face. But she was smiling. "But those tend to be the best friends in my experience. Just don't regret your decision in the end." She let out a breath and fell to he knees. It seemed as if she was letting go of her facade that she was alright.

Raine knew it was a uphill battle and she was used to fighting all alone. She only hoped Deraj wouldn't leave her again. She looked up. "Oh sorry, I'm just relieved I guess. Fighting alone for so long isn't easy." She got back onto her feet. "If possible I'd like somewhere to rest for a while. I'm a little tired."

[Vexxus]

Vexxus jumped forward a bit when Raine fell, then put her arm around her when she stood.

"Let's get you the rest you need..." She turned to Deraj, the question need not have been spoken. She doubted that he had a bedroom at all...however, he did have a kitchen, so she wasn't sure.

[deraj]

Deraj watched as Vexxus caught Raine and then looked up at him as if a question or command should be understood without words. The youthful titan merely looked about at his subjects and shrugged not understanding what exactly was going on in the hall with Raine's collapse.

His ever faithful servant Alfonso sighed in response to the situation and drifted through the table toward Raine. The skeletal servants guarding the door dropped their weapons and offered their arms to assist Raine if she needed it. "Follow me m' lady," droned Alfonso as he drifted through the great entryway and back into those other neglected halls.

[laraine]

Almost hesitantly, Raine followed Alfonso down the hallway, and indicated that she was fine walking on her own to the soldiers in the doorway. She smiled and nodded a thank you to them. She followed Alfonso down a long corridor to a bedroom where she could rest. All the while thinking about what happened in that other room.

They both seemed...so sincere...oh Raine, don't get your hopes up. Whatever this feeling they have of me, whether it be that they pity me or genuinely wish to help, will go away once they find out everything. I'm still barely hanging onto sanity myself. No wonder I'm so tired.

She smiled to Alfonso as they arrived at her room. "Thanks." she said as she walked inside.

[Vexxus]

Vexxus let Raine go, as she could stand and walk without her help. Her eyes reverted to the icy blue they once were, but never left the pink-haired girl as she walked out the door into the massive halls once again, and then she spoke to Deraj.

"She believes so fervently that she does not deserve anyone's help..." She frowned, thinking, and dropped her gaze to the floor.

[deraj]

Deraj went to Vexxus and held her in his arms. He gently lifted her chin and gazed into her sapphire eyes and smiled. His lips moved to form familiar words. He gently spoke, “One as lovely as you should not be made to suffer. Smile and be of good cheer! All is not lost. We are safe here. She is safe here. There is still hope. If they do somehow manage to breach these walls, we could make a stand and rid her of those fiends for good.”

[Vexxus]

“One as lovely as you should not be made to suffer."

Vexxus had heard the words before. Giving a sheepish grin, she knew he was right. She rested her head on his capable shoulder, and spoke softly. "I missed you."

The Deraj she knew was practically a wanderer, and as far as she knew he had no home or major possessions. Finding him in this massive structure, as a noble, wasn't what she had ever imagined. She had thought about how he looked like nobility or royalty, but never considered that he might actually be. It was a lot to take in, and so many questions formed in her head pertaining to how he ended up here; but they did not matter. She was with him again, and had plenty of time to learn about everything later.

[laraine]

Sitting in the unfamiliar bed, Raine looked out the nearby window, thinking. The past seemed to come at her all at once. Still she had to think of a way to defeat the demons that awaited her outside of this place.

"If I don't be careful this could turn into my prison." she thought ironically. She smirked, getting out of bed and walking to the window.

"This new Deraj, is so much more different than the man I met in the desert." She said to herself. "Well, no use getting them all upset about it." She smirked.

"But I wonder when my Aunt will show up. She must be planning something big. Of that I'm positive. It looks like I'll have to keep my powers in check to make sure I don't blow anything up."

Suddenly feeling weak, she got back into bed and stared at the ceiling.

"It's too hard right now. I can't believe in them...Not that they'd believe in me..."

[deraj]

He would never be able to express the joy he felt at her words. It came upon him all at once how lonely he was before. He did not know what would become of him if something would tear Vexxus away from him. She was the only thing that was familiar to him. Vexxus was the only thing left of this past life, a life with little else but guilt and regret.

Deraj somehow knew in his heart of hearts that part of this regret was tied up in this demon girl, Raine. He had a feeling that it did not end with Raine but he knew that if there was a place to start making amends, it was here and now. She was in danger. He did not know what they could do to the poor girl nor did he know what it was that makes her supposed family so determined to end her. However great her transgressions, Deraj felt no hesitation in granting her sanctuary.

Before long, Deraj was lost in thought and everything seemed so distant. He became less and less aware of Vexxus, his castle, his ghostly subjects. He tensed and his eyes grew wide, unfocused. Something else had caught his attention. “Did you hear that?”

Suddenly the ground began to shake violently.