Demon

[laraine]

Raine looked over at Samuel and smiled softly. "It was okay." She was lying, and she hated to lie. But, that nightmare seemed to burn through her soul. Something really bad was going to happen soon. Her hands clenched the reigns, wondering if she would survive this time around, or die. That's when she noticed something.
She looked around. "Where'd Silvarn go?"

Meanwhile, a few figures appeared from the mists, all having the same characteristics, purple eyes like Raine's but black hair. A young woman in her 20's seemed to be leading the group.
She looked around the clearing and then towards the direction where Raine left. "The halfing went that way. As did one of her companions, as for the other, I can't sense him. Be weary everyone."

[thedookienut]

Truthfully, Samuel didn't really care where Silvarn had gone, but it seemed Raine didn't feel the same way. "Probably going to appear out of nowhere like he usually does." He muttered, rolling his eyes. His eyes moved over to Laraine and his face dropped slightly.

"What's wrong?" He asked, slowing the horse down. He pulled it to a stop and watched Raine. She seemed troubled. He couldn't tell what. But either way, she seemed incredably troubled.

[Silvarn]

"Honestly," Silvarn muttered, suddenly, letting his aura fade back into being. He placed a hand on his hip, using the other to accentuate his words, "whatever happened to patriarchy? Granted, males do have our flaws, but it is reassuring to see one taking charge every now and then."

His entrance caused the dark-featured figures to recoil, the stench of hostile magics blasting into the air.

"Now, now, we need not be cruel to one another." Silvarn jested, a dark smirk on his face.

"Why were you hiding?" the leading woman inquired.

"For the same reason anything else hides: to make certain it is not eaten."

"We have no intentions on feasting on your foul flesh, mortal." the woman spat, her violet eyes flashing dangerously.

"Agreed. A bath would be excellent at this moment."

The woman seemingly growled like a beast, then ordered tersely, "A young woman and a man passed by here not long ago, most likely on horseback. Did you see them?"

"Why, yes I did." Silvarn's smirk spread into a full-fledged wicked smile.

The woman tensed visibly, "Where? Where did she go? Tell me!"

"I can do better than that. I can take you to them. I could even lead them to some dark corner, where you might prevent her escaping once more."

"And what do you want in return?" the woman looked at the odd grey man with distaste.

"Unlimited access to your tribe's grimoires." Silvarn stated, his face and voice frank and serious.

"Agreed." the woman looked away and muttered, "Those grimoires will mean nothing if she survives." She looked back up at Silvarn, her face skeptical, "How do we know you will not rat us out to her? How can we trust you?"

"I have slain two of the Risk demons. That should be enough proof."

The woman appeared shocked, but for a moment, "Very well. We will follow you with this," she handed a smooth amethyst to Silvarn, who found it fit perfectly in his palm, "And if you try anything...funny, we will not hesitate to kill all three of you."

"Believe you me, madam, I would not spoil this opportunity."

"You had better go now, before your friends realize you're missing." the woman and her retinue faded into the mists.

"Friends?" Silvarn could have laughed. He turned on his heel and strode away in the direction Laraine and Samuel had departed, depositing the amethyst into one his inner sleeve pockets.

[laraine]

Raine was worried. She was worried about being caught, she was worried for silvan being caught. But worst of all, she was worried for her future.
She met samuels eyes, her own trying to hide its pain.
"Its nothing." Then she saw silvarn. "Thank goodness."


Meanwhile the witches were folllowing within the darkness.

"It appears that man is smart."

"Yes and he doesn't even know what she is capable of."

"Even raine doesn't know what she really is."

"We just have to stop her before her birthday. Otherwise everything will end."

[thedookienut]

Samuel wasn't too sure whether to believer her or not. There was something obviously wrong and even he could see that. He nodded and followed her gaze to Silvarn. "Thank the heavens..." He cheered sarcasitclly. He rolled his eyes and nudged the horse into a walk, but soon stopped, noticing nobody else was following.

He and the horse walked back, standing a few yards from Silvarn, half glaring. He looked down at the horse's neck and patted it lightly. Anything to get his mind of the man.

[Silvarn]

"I thank you for so patiently waiting for me." Silvarn said, with the slightest infusion of sarcasm to the two mounted co-travelers.

Silvarn returned Samuel's glare with an apathetic face and livid grey eyes before turning his attention back to Laraine.

This should be easy. We have had plenty of practice lying with a straight face. Scorcahr coached.

"I apologize for my tardiness. I do not enjoy hurrying myself, unless the circumstance is incredibly dire."

So far, so good...go on... the demon urged.

"Speaking of dire circumstances, miss Laraine, would you indulge my curiosity and tell me when, exactly, we will reach that auspicious date and you begin your twenty-first year?"

[laraine]

Raine shook her head at the two. "Samuel, don't say such things. We are all on equal ground here, no matter what horrors they have in their past."

Raine blinked at Silvarn's question and turned to him. At first she looked surprised, then saddened, but quickly hid the look behind a smile. "Two months and five days."

She closed her eyes an sighed, trying to remain calm with that darkness. "I am sorry if I seem distant to you Silvarn, its hard for me to trust people. Since in the end, all do abandon me for their own means. At first I'm mad at them, but not anymore. Not that I blame them, it still is hard to accept, that there is no more goodness within this world. Though I do want to believe in goodness. Betrayal is my closest friend." She stretched her arms out and looked up into the bright sky.

"Hmmm...we should find shelter soon, looks like the sky is going to cry." She did not want to say Rain, for obvious reasons.
Of course, to the others the sky looked clear and blue, no hint of a storm in sight.

"Ah by the way, if there is anything else you guys want to know, just ask. I don't mind sharing. After all, its hard to trust people you don't even really know. One of us should break the ice if we are travelling together. So go ahead, I don't mind. I'll let you know what topics are out of bounds though."

As Raine grasped the reigns of her horse, deep down she knew a storm was brewing. A storm that could destroy her.

[thedookienut]

"No, no. Course we're on equal grounds. This is my homeland and that thing-" He pointed to Silvarn. "-isn't supposed to be anywhere near it." Samuel growled and listened to the two's conversation without making eye contact with the either of them.

He furrowed his eyebrows for a minute, wondering why exactly Silvarn wanted to know the exact date of Raine's birthday. He couldn't want to kill them or he'd have done it already, when they were sleeping or even as they were riding away. He quickly cancled out the thought and stuck with plain curiousity.


"What about the sky?" He asked, turning his head up to look at it. "There's no clouds..." He shrugged and searched every inch of the sky he could see.

Samuel smirked and grinned to himself. 'Here's a question for 'ya, why is he still here?' He wanted to ask, though held back. He knew it was more trouble than it was truely worth.

[Silvarn]

Silvarn averted his eyes towards the end of Laraine's little speech on morality. Even though he had more experience with intrigue then he cared to admit, he knew even the most hardened liar let a little guilt show through his eyes.

He stood still for a moment as they rode away.

That Samuel fellow does not approve of your existence. He is saying rather unkind remarks about you to the half-breed.

"You know I do not care what that inferior fool thinks of me."

How coincidental. He considers you to be less than human as well...a thing, in fact.

"Hmph," the grey mage grunted, taking a mental note. Although his mask of apathy was in perfect working condition, Scorcahr could feel the ire practically bubbling up inside of Silvarn.

Are you certain you want to go through with this? Scorcahr interjected, suddenly.

"How can you ask such a thing? Of course I do. The Lockner grimoires are bound to have arcane secrets locked within their pages."

But what if we backstabbed the Lockners instead of the half-breed? Scorcahr suggested, If we become her dearest and closest friend in all the whole wide world, she may take pity on us when she ascends to her destined power and give us the Lockner grimoires anyway. That way, we have a powerful ally and powerful magics.

"But there we run the risk. Laraine may not gain this destined power; and, if she does, she may kill us just as readily as the Lockners and the Risks. Furthermore, if she did take pity on us, as you said, what is to stop the Lockners from destroying those grimoires?"

Scorcahr remained silent.

"No, we shall continue on the planned course of action." Silvarn hastened his pace to catch up with the other two.

[laraine]

Within an hours time, dark clouds loomed over the trio as they made their way towards shelter. Within a few minutes came the downpour of rain. Quickly putting the hood of her cape over her head, Raine turned to the others with a slight smile. "Hope you guys can make it to the next town. It isn't too far, just bear with it for the time being." Raine shivered slightly under her cloak as a rush of cold air brushed past.
She could feel them, the Lockners were nearing the group. They were ready to strike if need be.
Raine needed to somehow get the boys away from this. It was bad enough the Risk's were after her, but she wouldn't let the Lockners think these boys were her allies and have their lives endangered.
Suddenly she stopped and got off her horse, starting to walk towards the forest before her. She looked over at the boys and huffed.

"Sorry but I need to go in there for a minute. Before you even ask its female problems all right? Don't follow me." Her purple eyes met Silvarn's then Samuels. "Just go on ahead, I will meet you both soon I promise." She waved them away and started to walk into the woods with a dark look in her eyes.

Once Raine figured she was far enough away, she turned around and sighed. "Come out, I'm alone and I am sure you all didn't come here bringing gifts for an early birthday party."

"On the contrary Cousian. We do have presents." Four figures emerged, led by the woman Silvarn talked to eariler. Each held a weapon. Raine knew what they were for.

"What do you want?" Raine asked evenly.

"Grandfather has ordered us to kill the remaining link to his daughter. Like everyone else he wants you dead. I am sorry about this." The tone in her voice caught Raine, she did seem sorry.

"I have an idea why the Risk's want me dead. But what about you all?"

"Raine, are you that blind?" The woman snorted. "Have you even heard the stories? You certainly have seen what that power of yours can do right?"

Raine shut her eyes, wanting to block away those memories, too painful.

"You are a gamble. Those born of witches and demons are cursed only with death. Why do you insist on living? Save everyone by ending your own life!" The witch held out her wooden wand aimed at Raine's heart.

"Because I made a promise. I wouldn't let the Lockners or the Risk's kill me. I also will avenge him. The one who stole everything from me. I can't die until they do." Raine pulled her crystal wand from her belt. Energy of red and pink surrounded the wand as it started to grow and morph into its other form, a crystal sword. The blade shimmered as a brief light appeared from the clouds.

"If you want to kill me, then come."

All the witches attacked her at once and Raine fought.

[thedookienut]

Great... Samuel thought, half glaring at Silvarn again. He watched as Raine vanished into the forest and sighed, nudging his horse forwards, hoping the time would hurry and Raine would return sooner. He hadn't exactly intended, or even thought of, being forced to stay with Silvarn. He shuddered and once again, nudged the horse faster.

He soon glanced back at the Mage, hoping he was following, or at least not showing signs that he was about to kill someone. That wasn't something he hoped on seeing. He forced himself to keep looking forwards, paranoia kicking in. He wanted to know exactly what the man was thinking. Maybe be able to see his actions...or something like that. Somehow Silvarn frightened him. He seemed strange, dark and deadly powerful. Those sort of things terrified him most. Things that apposed a threat to him. A fatal threat.

[Silvarn]

The stench of fear rolls off of him like the final belt of the soprano...piercing and overpowering... Scorcahr sneered at his master's mounted "companion."

"How poetic." Silvarn grumbled.

I wonder what Laraine is up to? Scorcahr whined.

"I wonder as well..." Silvarn froze, the dark gears in his mind whirring into life.

About that deal you made with the Lockners... the demon began.

"What about it?"

What if they saw a loophole? If you do not, technically, help them kill Laraine, maybe, technically, you will not be allowed to view their grimoires?

"A valid hypothesis, Scorcahr; but, no...we shook on it."

They are a coven of witches! the demon practically screeched, They have no more honor than you or I!

"True as that may be, I will get my hands on those grimiores, one way or another."

You do realize that Samuel fellow will blame you if and when the Lockners get rid of Laraine, and most likely strike out in revenge for her?

"Yes. I am rather looking forward to it."

[laraine]

Raine held her ground as four figures attacked at once. She swung her sword, meeting each magical attack with her own. She continued to block attacks until one hit her from behind. She crashed to the ground,biting back a scream. She rolled away, dodging another attack. But before she could stand, all four attacked at once. Energy tore through her side, arm and right leg. Her life spilled from her wounds, red the color of a human. This didn't stop the witches from circling her and pointing their wands at the fallen girl.
"Tch, fighting dirty as always I see." Raine rasped, grasping her sword. She swung it at them, catching them offguard and all jumping away.
Raine weakly stood. She held her sword before her. A witch appeared behind her and electrocuted the girl from behind.
Raine couldn't hold it in anymore.
She screamed.

[thedookienut]

Samuel continued to trot ahead of Silvarn, cursing him under his breath. Forcing himself to keep looking forwards, constantly. He began to glare at the horizon before him, knowing it was better than glaring at the man behind him. He didn't intend on angering him just yet.

As soon as Raine's scream flooded the surrounding area, his head jerked suddenly, immediatly looking into the forest. He swore loudly and turned his horse, not bothering to glance back at the mage. He slammed his heels into the horse's sides, forcing it to hurry towards the sound. As he neared the trees, he quickly drew out his sword and pulled his horse to a stop.

[Silvarn]

"What an impressive show of gallantry." Silvarn spat as Samuel came racing back to Laraine's aid. As he dismounted from his horse, the grey mage flung his arm forcefully. The effect was latent, as if it invisibly built up as it approached its target. Silvarn clenched his fist, hard enough to extract flecks of blood, and the treeline detonated, setting the timber ablaze with sunset-colored flame.

"Going some where?" the mage asked, stalking Samuel. A cruel smirk sprang onto his features, and a sinister gleam crept into his ancient eyes. "I am afraid I cannot allow you to aid the distressed damsel."

His face became suddenly very serious. "I have no qualms with you personally, Samuel, no reasons to kill you. If you walk away now, I will let you live. If you decide to take a stand and be the hero," silver lightnings crackled from his fingertips, "then I shall have to break you."