Demon

[laraine]

Raine smiled lightly and said nothing more the rest of the day. She held the reigns tightly of her horse until night fell. As the darkness consumed the day, she finally found a sheltered place in the woods where they could rest for the night. She got off her horse and looked around the clearing, shadowed by two large twin oaks which branches extended across their clearing to meet each other. Each branch entangling the twin's making a sort of nature made tent. She smiled slightly and looked over at Samuel.
"How about resting here for tonight?"

[thedookienut]

Samuel glanced around, checking the scene. "Sure." He smiled, dismounting and quickly tieing his horse to a firm branch. He stood still for a moment then shuddered with fright. "Where's that mage anyway?" He asked, his voice displaying a tone of annoyance.

[Silvarn]

"Rare is the instance where I am of timing impeccable. Yet, this is one of those rare, shining moments." Silvarn seemingly materialized out of the surrounding forest growth directly behind Samuel. "As I proomised you, miss Laraine, I have found you before the night was through, and I am a man of my word."

Perhaps we should inform her we axed another relative of hers? Scorcahr whined.

"No, I do not think that advisable." Silvarn told Laraine's mount.

Either you or the bit of demon clinging to your arm will tell her.

Hastily, Silvarn brushed the shred of flesh from his sleeve, hoping neither of them would notice.

[laraine]

Raine blinked as the strange figure appeared from nowhere. She smiled and nodded. "So I see. I'm glad you were able to arrive safely Silvan." Raine got ready to sleep and eat for the night, every once in a while checking behind her back for anyone willing to attack her.

Her weariness of attacks had shown through as she removed her cape, revealing a top with no arms. Scars criss crossed around those arms and shoulders and there were even more where the boys could not see. Not even paying attention to he revealing she put up her pink hair into a pony tail and kicked off her boots. As she continued her process of getting ready for the night, she wondered if anyone would dare attack the three of them.

[thedookienut]

Samuel jumped a foot into the air and swore loudly as Silvarn appeared from nowhere. "Temples of Valear!" He cursed, spinning around, sword swinging with him. He hissed and stopped himself from attacking the mage. "Stupid prat..." He muttered under his breath as he walked away.

He reached a low tree branch and swung himself up, sitting in a position that would allow him to see both Raine and the mage. He wouldn't sleep tonight. Not while he was around. Samuel didn't trust him. Not even in the slightest.

[Silvarn]

Hmph...where are the customary and complimentary trumpet and fanfare? Scorcahr whined.

"Yes, I agree. This reception was less than warm." Silvarn muttered.

And your gender-sharing comrade appears to be the least enthused to see you again.

"But, with just cause." the mage replied with a devious glint in his eye, looking out of the corner at the man perched on the branch. "But of all the possible combinations of words resulting in a curse...'Temples of Valear' is the best you can come up with?"

Silvarn noticed no one paying him any heed. He smiled in secret thanks, silently laying himself down.

"And do not fret about things going bump in the night. If they recognize me before it is too late, they will know that I bump back."

[laraine]

Raine smiled at his choice of words as she lied down to sleep. "I suppose your right Silvarn. But, please don't get yourself hurt, despite what they appear to be, they are very dangerous demons. If Grandma wanted she could destroy anyone within ten feet. She's extremely dangerous and powerful. The ones we faced before are apart of my family, but they are more or less the weaker demons. The ones with the weakest powers. Don't underestimate them. They will do anything to get their target. Ah, sorry I was babbling on, probably said way too much." She laughed softly. "Well both of you have a good night's rest and see you in the morning. Sweet Dreams." She closed her eyes.

[thedookienut]

Samuel grunted, looking away from the mage, hoping the mage would loose interest. He turned his attention to the sky and began to watch the clouds, listening to every noise he could hear. He didn't trust Silvarn. He wouldn't sleep if he was around. Not in an open place like this.

He sat still for a while and every few seconds, checked the mage hadn't moved. His lack of activity began to make his eyes heavy. Within a few minutes he'd drifted to sleep. Though it had become a uncomfortable sleep.

[Silvarn]

"Scorcahr?" Silvarn asked the branch above him, shielding his view from the starry skies.

Yes, O Master? the demon sneered.

"Why do people not like me?"

The demon's response was silent.

"Scorcahr?"

You are joking, yes?

"Of course I am, Scorcahr. I was just making certain you were alert."

You did put me on sentry duty.

"Anyway, I was wondering --"

That never bodes well.

"-- about that man, Samuel, is it not?" Silvarn continued, habitually ignoring Scorcahr's interjection.

What about him?

"Is he a threat?"

If he does, he percieves you as too much of a threat to do anything.

"You are not answering the question, Scorcahr."

He is as threatening as any other thug who could stab you in the back at any given moment.

"Then he is not trustworthy?"

I did not say that.

Without moving his head, Silvarn's ancient grey focused intensely on Samuel's sleeping form.

"No. He is trustworthy. If he wanted to get rid of me, he knows the most viable immediate option would be to ally himself with either the Risks or the Lockners, most likely the Lockners. But, he values Laraine too much to do that to her."

And you do not. There was no implication of a question in the demon's disembodied voice

"If it means getting closer to getting out of this place, then I would ally myself with the Lockners. I have already slain two members of their hated rivals, have I not?"

All the same, Grey One, I would be wary.

"Am I not always? That is what has gotten us thus far." the mage retorted, squirming about on his back to find a more comfortable position.

One particular incident comes to mind -- Scorcahr began, but found his master had drifted into slumber.

[laraine]

"Beast, demon, filth!" Raine flew back into a nearby tree. She groaned and opened her eyes weakly to stare up at the form above her. It smirked, vivid purple eyes bore into her soul. The hatred this person felt was above her own of her family.
"Grandpa, why?" She asked weakly, struggling to stand.
"Do not call me such, its your fault that she's dead. You and that filthy demon." He flung a blast of magical energy towards her.
She barely managed to dodge as a figure wrapped its arms around her and held her tightly. She looked up and blinked. "But, what are you doing here? You're dead."

The figures blue eyes smiled down at her. "Raine, stay strong. You have to stay strong or you will not survive what is to come."

"That half breed will die as is her birthright. We will meet soon beast. When we do I will rip you to shreads." Her grandfather's eyes lacked any emotion.

As he faded into nothingness, images of her mother and father appeared within her mind.

"Its starting." Ray Risk, her father said.

"The end will come." Liane Lockner, her mother whispered.

The blue eyed boy released Raine and joined her parents. "Raine, wake up."


Raine awoke from her slumber, sitting straight up and looking around the darkened forest, on edge of what just transpired within her mind. What was that? Some kind of warning? It didn't make any sense. Why would I see grandfathers face now? Somethings not right.

She gazed at the darkened forest in a daze. It was no use getting back to sleep now. She would only have stranger dreams. She stood up and looked up at the stary sky, waiting for the sun to rise and the new day to begin.

I wonder what they meant, its starting and the end will come...

[thedookienut]

After a few hours, Samuel awoke, his vision shaky and hazey. He blinked a few times and lifted his arm to sheild his eyes from the sun. Sitting in the tree branch had seemed a good idea at the time but now, with the rising sun blazing into his eyes, it didn't seem so great. He shuffled forwards and dropped of the branch, not caring to be quiet, since Raine was already awake and they would have to get Silvarn up sooner or later.

He glanced around the clearing, not looking up into the sky in fear he would be blinded once again. He stelthed his sword and peered around their camp. Everything seemed okay. Nobody seemed hurt. He nodded, discarding his suspision of a midnight sabatarge by the mage.

[Silvarn]

"I was wondering when you two would get up." Silvarn muttered, his voice still croaky from sleep. He stretched luxuriously, groaning in satisfaction as his spine popped in several successions. "I do not know about the two of you, but I slept quite well last night."

That makes one of us. Scorcahr grumbled.

Silvarn ignored the comment, sitting up and resting his hands on his knees. He looked up at Samuel, smiling sarcastically, "Well, good morning, sunshine."

He chuckled darkly to himself as he rose to his feet. He paused a moment to straighten his robes and stretch his arms and legs again. He folded his arms, scrunching up his shoulders and frowning, "A bit chill for a summer morn, is it not?"

[laraine]

Raine herself noticed the colder air around them. Her soul knew what this meant. They were coming. "Let's go. We have a long way to travel before night fall." She hoped she would not run into her family members again that day, but knew with every day that passed the attacks would grow more frequent. They were determined to destroy her before her 21st birthday.

Raine quickly gathered all her personal belongings and moved to her horse. She quickly got onto it and looked back at the forest from the direction they came yesterday.

She had to keep running. It was all she could do to survive. Her eyes shifted over to Silvarn, eyeing him carefully. The man wasn't trustworthy, that she knew. But, she also wanted to give him a chance. If he would end up betraying her, as so many had...well she didn't know what she would do.

As for Samuel, her gaze shifted and then looked down to the ground. She only hoped he would be safe and not be killed, as so many others had. She hated to lose anymore companions, she wouldn't allow it.

[thedookienut]

Samuel growled and took a few steps away. He threw Silvarn a snide look and quietly moved towards his horse. The man seemed to have fun toying with him. Making jokes and generally being annoying.

He untied the horse and mounted, resting his sword in a easily accesable place. He still didn't trust the mage. Even if he hadn't tried to murder either of them in their sleep. But what could he do, his presance wasn't welcome amoung where he'd lived and his presance wasn't welcome around him.

He glanced over at Raine and nugded his horse forwards, hurring towards her. He fought for something to say. Something to take his mind off the strange man they seemed to be travelling with. "You...er... have a nice sleep?" He asked.

[Silvarn]

"And once again, they just...leave me." Silvarn grumbled at the horses' departing hindquarters.

Not that it much matters, of course. We can catch up to them easily. Scorcahr sneered.

"Is it really that cold out, or is your presence finally beginning to take a toll on my senses?"

Yes, it really is chilly for summer, and it is getting colder -- faster. the demon whined.

"Which means it is not the demons coming after us." Silvarn mused, his heart accelerating slightly in anticipation.

Then the other side of the family?

"I would hope so."

What if they believe us to be the whelp's vanguard? By 'us' I mean 'you.'

Silvarn did not answer, but waited in silence, drawing his power like a veil around him, dulling his prominent magical aura. He wanted to negotiate privately with the Lockners, without Laraine's presence to drive them into a bloodthirsty mania.

He waited until he felt Laraine and Samuel would be far out of sight and out of perception. He waited for the first Lockner to emerge into the small clearing, materialize out of the accumulating mist...waiting all the while with a cruel smirk.