Forgotten Glory }{ By Invite Only

[Vexxus]

The ground trembled, and Vexxus began to feel the pull of some sort of power. Her head reeled, and she took a few steps back from Deraj. She fell to her knees, and her eyes glazed over a pale white, while shadows crept over her form. A sort of self defense, her magics sensed something dangerous, and so took the form of a powerful entity that would aid her and everyone else in danger.

"Deraj-" She reached for him. "Be prepared for anything..." She knew that whatever they were facing would be more powerful than anticipated. The sudden transformation wasn't something that happened for no reason.

[laraine]

Raine felt the force and her eyes widened as the castle trembled. She got to her feet and started to run out the door and into the halls.

Was it her aunt Raven and the demons? She had to find out. Her feet began to run down the hallway, going in the direction she herself felt the presence.

This darkness, it felt so strange. Thinking about it made her feel like something terrible was going to happen if she didn't fight.

"I cant let this go on." She whispered, running straight into danger.

[deraj]

Vexxus disappeared as if against her own will. Deraj was about to leap into action but then she spoke as if to reassure him. He smiled at the thought that someone was looking out for him.

The tremors grew more violent. Deraj stood his ground in place as the heavy furniture shifted and dust fell down about them. He was resolute and focused. The shaking stopped and suddenly he felt the rush of a warm air from behind him. The heady musky scent was, like everything else, all too familiar and filled him with a sense of dread.

He turned to see her slender form emerge from veritable inferno raging the great stone fireplace at the other end of the hall. She casually brushed the ash from her shoulders as she sauntered toward the two with an unsettling grace. She looked around the hall before looking at Deraj.

"You've been busy over these past years." Her beautiful and terrifying voice rang out across the room. Deraj felt the urge to physically put himself between that accursed enchantress and Vexxus but found himself unable to move.

She didn't break eye contact and continued to smile. During her long walk across the room, she gave an exaggerated wink as if in a playful challenge. Visions of desert wastes and horrific deeds filled his mind. Deraj suddenly felt the weight of the ages on his shoulders. The crown atop his head grew heavy. He began to grow dizzy.

"Now don't collapse on me yet." He fell to the ground. "What a wonderful host..." She laughed to herself and continued walking toward his lifeless form, unaware of the presence of Vexxus.

[Vexxus]

As Vexxus' form writhed and grew, six great black wings rose out from her shoulders; and the runemarks on her arm extended wispy tendrils that traced glowing scarlet patterns while adhering to her body. A great, dark ancient armor took it's place; paired with her shadowblade.

Coming back into control of her body, Vexxus looked in awe at her new form. This must be the form of the Goddess....

In the forest, after Deraj had left, Vexxus again found the white wolf. It had been attacked by a great monster, and was severely injured. She communicated with the Goddess, who gave her consent for Vexxus to take up her form; as she was going to die anyway. She made a pact with the Goddess, to protect the wolves from the great evils that lurked in the woods. In return, her new form. While the wolf was the Goddess's disguise, this was her true appearance.

Vexxus looked around, and saw the mistress before her; and a great fear rose in her chest as Deraj collapsed on the floor. "What a wonderful host..."

She does not know I'm here....But what am I to do?

She decided that attacking immediately was not in her best interest, as she did not know the full extent of the mysterious female's power. She waited.

[laraine]

Raine ran through the hallways and finally came across the room where the darkness suddenly became familiar. She slid inside and saw Deraj collapsed, a woman in the very back and a transformed Vexxus. Raine blinked and then eyed the woman at the end and frowned.

Raine pulled out her wand, transforming it into a crystal bladed sword and pointed it at the woman. "Vexxus! Be careful this woman is after Deraj! Don't let her get near him!"

I'll protect him this time for sure. She thought and flew towards the woman, slashing at her.

[Vexxus]

Vexxus was startled at Raine suddenly addressing her, "Vexxus! Be careful this woman is after Deraj! Don't let her get near him!"

She can see me? When she thought about it, she was half demon; which means she was part shadow. Thinking quickly, she shot her a thought.

"She can't see me...I'm not sure exactly why you can see me, but it must be because you're part demon."

[deraj]

"You little half breed!" The woman screamed as Raine leapt at her with her blade. After an initial cut on her cheek, she managed to put some distance between herself and the new assailant. She raised her hands to the ceiling and a mysterious blue flame leapt up forming a barrier around her. "You are more resourceful than i thought to have survived the desert... And not only that but to have found him. I didn't even know where I sent him. He shouldn't even know who he is and yet he seems to have found the rest of himself. I can feel it. His phylactery is near!" She looked about the room with a fanatic zeal. The flames began to spread to the heavy wooden furniture.

[laraine]

"Back off crazy woman!" Raine hissed, swinging her sword at her over and over. Meanwhile she thought to Vexxus.

Oh probably, there's a lot about myself that I still have yet to know. Well talk about it after I deal with this annoying woman..

"I'll only say this once, stop messing with Deraj he does not want to be with you." Raine growled, still advancing towards the woman with her sword.

[Vexxus]

Vexxus moved towards Raine slightly. "Be careful!...Don't be too hasty....I'm not sure how powerful this woman is. If she can render Deraj lifeless... She looked again at her companion limp on the floor. Rage begun to build inside her.

She grasped her sword firmly; and moved towards the woman.

I'll get behind her...we'll attack at the same time.

[deraj]

The incessant and violent waving of her blade only served to irritate the strange woman. "Enough!" shouted the mad enchantress as she again raised her hands to the heavens. The flames around her shot up and so did those that had managed to spread about the room. "Let's us see who really has power here."

Just then those that had moments before been the undead servants of Deraj quickly filed in through the doorway. "You'll find that the dead have little issue with ... or should I say opinion in what master they serve." She pushed her head back and let out an annoying cackle.

As she continued to laugh, the flames had reached Deraj and had begun to creep up on his form.

[Vexxus]

Vexxus watched as the flames began to crawl onto and devour Deraj's cape.
Deraj!...

She could either save him; or engage in battle with this mysterious woman, risking that he might not wake up before- Wait...He can't die..... She reminded herself. Gripping her sword ever tighter, Vexxus rose halfway to the top of the room,
"Now." She shot a thought to Raine.

She let go of the sword with one hand; and stretched it out before her. Again revealing white runemarks on her palm, she uttered a spell which shattered the aura around the cackling wretch. Before a moment passed, she descended upon the still-laughing form; delivering a great blow. It seemed to come in contact with some sort of armor; but the sheer force of the hit still jolted her somewhat slight form.

[laraine]

Raine attacked from her side, bringing forth her blade to end the life of this woman who kept terrorizing Deraj.

Thinking back to the time when Deraj was trapped by that woman, she was saving him as well.

I'm starting to think that this will happen to me a lot... Raine sighed, suddenly she felt a surge of energy from behind and her eyes widened slightly. She turned abruptly to block a attack of demonic magic that appeared and almost injured her.

Another figure slowly stepped into the room. Her long pink hair floated behind her and her red eyes fixed solely on Raine.

Raine felt a shudder roll through her and she took a step back as the woman, clothed in a black dress slithered up to them all.

"Well now, what a sight. And because of the insanity within the walls it was easy enough to get inside." The woman said.

Raine grit her teeth and flew foreword pushing the woman towards the doorway with her hands. The sword clanged to the floor and Raine turned back to Vexxus.

"Save Deraj!" Raine ordered, meeting her eyes evenly. "I'll take care of my Aunt, you destroy that witch!"

Raine and her Aunt tumbled into the hallway, Raine slamming the door shut behind them.

"Now that we are alone Laraine. It is time for you to die." Raven smirked.

Raine smirked. "Just try it Aunt Raven..."

[deraj]

The mysterious witch writhed in pain and a dark mist oozed from the deep stab wounds. Fire leapt from her eyes as the mist cotinued to pour out and into her black dress. She appeared to grow in size and she gave off a blast of dark energy. The walls threatened to fall down around them.

It was not long before she loomed menacingly from above the blue flames of her protective circle. Now, in a voice that was composed of a multitude of voices, she spoke. "I'm not giving up so easily." Two bulky shadowy forms came forth from the shifting folds of her dress and rushed over to Deraj. They lifted his limp form and began dragging him to the firey portal in the massive stone fireplace. "With him at my side, nothing will stand in my way!" Her speech gave way to maniacal laughter once more.

[Vexxus]

The witch attempted to drag him away. Vexxus knew that she had not realized she was there, so she figured she'd better just stay hidden, and follow. Flapping her massive wings to propel herself forward, she dove through the portal with Deraj.

Grabbing his arm, she sent him a thought. "I'm not letting you leave without me again."

She felt very weak, but held onto Deraj as they traveled....wherever this witch had in mind. Vexxus felt everything fade away, one sense at a time.