Demon

[thedookienut]

Samuel seemed intent on watching the scenery slowly change as they travel through the hillside. He watched how the trees changed slowly, growing smaller and thinner, then taller and covered with large, thick leaves. He watched how the grass became damp with dew, how it seemed taller in some places, but eventually a civilization in the distance caused him unease. He didn't like what was coming. He sighed and checked his belt for his weapon. After traveling several legoins, it would be stupid for him to have left something. But it still seemed he'd lost a small knife back in the fight they faced in the Inn. With a sigh, he checked the rest of his kit: sword, small dagger, and gloves.

Then Raine's voice suddely shocked him. They had all been so silent during the journey, he'd almost forgotten they were with him. He listened quietly, careful not to make too much of a reaction. He glanced behind him, noticing just how silent Silvarn really was. It seemed Samuel trusted him now, compared to his first reactions. Maybe that's why he'd been so silent. He'd spent as much time as possible, watching for any sign of muteny towards him or Raine that he'd lost vital energy. But, thanks to the mage, he was still alive. He definatly owed Silvarn an apology.

[Silvarn]

Silvarn's face stoned as Raine unleashed her pent-up emotions and grievances. He stared at her bleakly, answering her questions in his mind, not wishing to escalate her lecture into an argument.

"I do trust you, Raine." he said, "I do not trust myself. I, second to you, am the largest target. And, yes, life is that bad." he pursed his lips, indicating he had spoken his piece and would not utter another word.

The Lockner village loomed closer and Silvarn's fingers tensed a little. He reached into one of his pocket sleeves and extracted the ebon-violet stone he had received. He caressed its magically smooth surface with his thumb while it rested in his palm, contemplating a plan of action. Then he crushed the stone.

Five seconds later, half a dozen Lockners leapt from the shadows to surround the group. They noticed Raine and made to set upon her, but were halted,

"You swore!" Silvarn growled in a dire tone, "You swore you would not harm her until she exacted her revenge!"

The Lockners shied away from both halfbreed and irate sorcerer, unintentionally congregating around Samuel. "And now she knows who she must slay," he continued, "And we will require advanced scrying techniques to locate him. If you provide this, you can kill her sooner."

He knew he would get flak and distrust from Raine about that, but he needed to play to the Lockners at the moment.

"Very well," the head of the hunting party grudgingly acquiesced. "Follow me."

Half an hour later, the trio, surrounded by at least ten Lockners, entered the village.

[laraine]

Once the group of Lockners surrounded them, Raine went into panic mode. She attempted to pull her crystal wand from her waist but stopped as Silvarn halted the approaching witches. She took a shaky breath, relieved when the Lockners retreated a distance away. She was annoyed at Silvarn when he answered her questions and even more so when he said they would kill her sooner as soon as she got her revenge.

She bit her tongue the way into the village. But once she stepped through, she couldn't stop the shudder through her body. Her right hand grasped her left arm, as if for comfort against the dangerous area she was in.

Quickly she saw several witches stand and glare as she walked past, their hatred and fear burned her skin. It was as if their stares alone could burn her alive. Several children all with the similar colored eyes stared from behind their mothers skirts. Each one's purple eyes expressed the same resentment that the adults felt. And each held a trait she had not gotten from her mother, black hair, the one thing that made her different, and evil.

Raine couldn't help but feel pity for the children forced to grow up to hate someone they didnt even know.

But you did probably kill one of their family...

Raine's eyes widened and she looked around her, wondering if someone whispered that thought into her ear. But she saw no one that would be close to her to do such a thing.

Did that...come from inside me? She focused once again before her, repressing the anger and fear that swirled inside her.

Finally the parade of Lockners stopped and before them stood an old man. Deep purple eyes stared at the group. Immeadiately the parade dispersed, leaving Raine and her traveling companions to face one Raine knew all too well.

"To what do we owe this visit?" The old mans voice crackled, his fingers tightening around the cane he held before him.

Raine looked down, then back up to the old man who was one of the people who ordered her execution.

"My traveling companions and I know of the beast I must slay before I allow you to destroy me. The demon who stole everything from me. But we need some help to locate him if possible so we ask for your guidance."

There was silence for a few minutes.

"I didn't ask you half breed."

Raine lowered her head and made no sound. She couldn't speak out to ruin Silvarn's chance.

"Though I suppose a monster like you wouldnt understand manners and such, with the way you were raised."

Raine clenched her hands into fists, trying to ignore the fear and anger within her body.

I suppose I don't grandfather, but then again I wasn't the one who allowed the entire town to attack my mother, your daughter to get to me.

She knew she couldn't say those words, no matter how much she wanted to. Raine closed her eyes and stayed silent, knowing that this was the best course of action, but the pain from those words still echoed within her heart.

The old man turned to Silvarn and Samuel, brushing as strand of silvarn hair from his eyes to gaze at the two.

"I will ask again why should we allow you all safe passage into this land, when we should kill the half breed this instant?"

[thedookienut]

Samuel kept unusually silent as they traveled towards the city, his cheery mood vanished instantly. He kept a watch on the Lockners that surrounded them, his heart beating madly in fright; but he tried to remain calm. He had to at least try. It would be almost certain they would be attacked if something went wrong. At least he would have Silvarn and Raine's help if they did. It was defiantly certain he wouldn't be able to fend off the witches by himself. He wasn't that good of a swordsmen. In fact he barely even managed the last few battles they encounted.

As they reached the village, Samuel began to feel ever more nervous and the moment they came in contact with the old man, the male could feel his heart thundering away in his chest, as if it would explode at any given time. But he could stay quiet no longer.

"We are looking for someone. Damn it!" He shouted, his ice blue eyes staring at the ground, almost burning it with rage. "We are just looking for someone..." He hoped his sudden comment would not worsen their prediciment too much. He almost expected a sudden hit to the head out of foolishness, probably each from Silvarn and Raine.

[Silvarn]

Silvarn sighed tersely into his palm, his hand shielding his frustration from the Lockner patriarch.

"Looking for the monster's monster, I presume?" the old man spat, "A likely tale. We gave you that stone to alert us when you had her cornered, Grey One. We planned on killing her as soon as you gave the signal --"

Silvarn politely silenced him with a raised hand. "If I may?" the old man did not respond. "I brought her here because she may be yet of use to us." The old man's slender silver eyebrow rose, "Yes, I mean 'us.' I, also, have a certain bone to pick with the Risks. And, I assume my companion," he indicated Samuel, "does as well. I propose a contract: You will help us track down Laraine's prey, and we three will help you against the Risks. And, believe you me, you will need the assistance."

"I should think not. Whereas the Risks may have raw power, we Lockners have centuries of lore and enchantments to aid us. We will slaughter the demons and make their leader drink his brood's ichors."

"I bear ill tidings, then," the patriarch's ebon-violet eyes became fixated on him. Silvarn hesitated a moment, wondering how much to reveal, "I have a rivalry with another sorcerer. A powerful one at that, assisted by a very old, very evil entity. They have been graceful and foolish enough to inform me they are assisting the Risks."

"What are their names?"

"That is irrelevant; we must strike out as soon as possible before they teach the Risks --"

"What are their names?!" the old man slammed his cane into the ground, creating a small fissure.

"The disciple, my rival, is called Echoes of Darkness Reach."

"We know of Darkness Reach. It has always been a place of evil. And the master?"

Silvarn pursed his lips. "The Twisted Mirror."

The old man scoffed, "Khul'Yddis is nothing but a bad story to keep the young ones from acting out."

Silvarn's dead eyes flared in indignation and silver lightning crackled around his fingertips. "This is no fable!" He wrenched his hood off his head, simultaneously disintegrating his silver hair, exposing his pallid crown. There, affixed to the pasty flesh, was a tattoo, a wicked ebon-blue eye with many spires. He bowed to the old man, giving him a clear view.

"That...that is..."

"The signet of the Twisted Mirror." Silvarn straightened, quickly replacing his hood.

"Then you are also his disciple?"

"Was. I was freed by a band of heroes. Now, I seek my own revenge upon him."

"And why should we believe you no longer serve the Twisted Mirror?"

Silvarn narrowed his eyes dangerously, "Because, you all would have been dead five minutes ago. I did not operate subtly under his command."

"We have heard of you, Grey-Eyes." a matriarch commented, "The Twilight Scourge. He speaks truly." she said to the old man.

"Very well," he acquiesced, "Have you a plan?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact."

Silvarn stayed up the whole night through, speaking and organizing with the Lockner elders, formulating a plan to bring down the Risks, Echoes, and Twisted Mirror -- for good.

[laraine]

As the members of the tribe and Silvarn talked, Raine looked on with dead eyes. Everything seemed to be going so fast, even her heart had trouble keeping up as it pounded within her chest. It was getting harder for her to breathe in the stifling room of enemies.

I can't take this anymore...

She quietly slipped from the room all were in, determined to find a place alone where she could release her pent up emotions.

As she walked through the village she realized that going somewhere alone probably wasn't the smartest idea. After all, if she was found by a witch she would probably be captured or worse. But she couldn't stand the room anymore. The aura of the room was heavy with death and destruction. She didn't understand why all of that talk affected her so much, but it seemed that even being in that room tore her up inside.

Gravel crunched under her boots as she made her way to a lake centered in the middle of the village. She looked down and stared at her reflection in the water as the full moon rose above her.

A tear slid down her face and dripped into the water, causing a ripple to distort her image. What she saw in that reflection caused Raine to gasp and stumble back, landing hard on her back. Eyes widened, she cautiously gazed back into the water to see her normal reflection.

She curled her hand into a fist and placed it over her heart.

"What was that?" She asked softly into the wind.

What is going on? That reflection... She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head.

Danny I wish you were still alive, you would know what is going on....and how to fix it. Maybe I....am really turning into a monster...

She shook her head again, and then walked to the nearest tree, randomly whacking her head against it.

"I am a idiot!!!" She announced to no one.

She sighed and closed her eyes as the wind surrounded her body with its comfort. She smiled gently, but then jumped as she heard footsteps crunching leaves. She quickly turned around to face the person who had found her, fearing it would be a townsperson or a demon.

[thedookienut]

Samuel hung around for a while before taking a seat outside. He watched many of the villagers give glances towards him; not something he was entirly bothered by. He tried to remain awake, mostly in fear he would be killed if he slept. But once again, the long day had tired him and he was asleep within half an hour.

((Really...Short post... X.X))

[Silvarn]

Silvarn emerged triumphant, his eyes agleam with a well-forged plan behind them, though the dark rings beneath them begged to differ. His focus immediately turned to Samuel's sleeping form.

"Now, we have three days to prepare. I will see to it our forces are informed of what exactly they are facing. Also, the three of us will reside on the outskirts for that duration."

"You will keep a sharp eye on her? She is not to be trusted." the patriarch spat.

"Yes, sir." Silvarn answered simply. "Now, if you will excuse me, this has been a long night, and it will be an even longer three days." he shook Samuel to rouse him and directed himself to the lake, where he, Samuel, and Raine would reside while the witches made their arrangements.

He halted once he saw Raine's figure already near the lake. Though, it was not Raine that held his attention. There, approaching with a slow, cautious gait, was a wisp, a phantom of a man. It offered its hand to her, and Silvarn understood.

He would give the couple a moment to catch up.

[laraine]

As Raine turned, her eyes widened in shock.

"Danny?" She whispered. As tears began to form she jumped toward to hug him...then fell to the ground flat on her face.

The phantom Danny started laughing, clutching his stomach in the process.

"Oh Raine, I miss that nativity of yours." Danny's voice whispered into the night.

Raine pulled her face from the dirt and glared up at the ghost.

"You idiot." She muttered, but started to smile.

Danny's grin was from ear to ear. "I must admit though you haven't changed."

" I should hope not." she huffed, standing up and brushing away the dirt from her clothes.

As Danny watched her, blue eyes hardened. "Raine, I came to tell you something."

Raine turned to Danny, tilting her head to the side.

Danny sighed and looked away from her. "Raine please don't hate me for saying this, but on your birthday..."

Raine closed her eyes and turned away. "No, I don't want to know Danny...."

"Raine please... its the only way to save you."

She clenched her fists at her side.

"Raine you know what happened to your father."

"Don't remind me Danny..."She said harshly. "Don't remind me of what happened to him and what happened to you. I can't lose another person important to me. I can't..."

"Raine let me say this, on your birthday...something terrible will happen to you. You will only have two choices, life or death. But if you chose to live...you will kill many people."

"Not you too! Everyone believes I will turn into a freaking monster that will raise towns!! Not you too!!! You always believed in me Danny, you always were there! You were the only one who believed me and brought me back from a darkness that would have consumed me! Don't take it back now!"

"Raine...I..." Danny reached out, but Raine stepped out of reach.

"No! You can't be Danny...Danny would never want me to become the animal I once was.." She looked into the lakes waters, confused and hurt.

"I came to warn you Raine, but I can't stay any longer. This is against the rules and I want you to survive, you must trust me Raine...Please." Danny seemed almost desperate.

"I won't listen to anymore of your lies!..." But as Raine saw him dissipate, her heart hurt. "Danny! No!....not again....Danny!" When he fully evaporated from her sight, Raine sat by the waters of the lake, her head lowered.

"I know your there.." Raine called to Silvarn and Samuel. "Come on over." She lifted her head and turned to them, her mood seemingly better from the look on her face.

Still, the pain Danny caused her ran deep.

[thedookienut]

((Really sorry, once again. My server packed up and f*cked off to 'I hate working' so I had to take it to PC World and now it's working again. I'm so sorry for my absence.))

Samuel woke soon, confused as to how to had got to the lake during his sleep. Although the instant he saw Silvarn, he understood. He shook the sleep off and noticed Raine calling to them. He hurried forwards, concerned. "Raine? Are you alright? What's been going on?"

[Silvarn]

Silvarn watched the interaction from afar, being uncharacteristically polite.

Oh, please. Scorcahr whined, We both want to know what they are saying. I could blip into her head while she is distracted --

"No." he answered flatly, "If it is anything important, she will be wise enough to inform us."

She called them over, and Samuel was at her side in an instant.

How sentimental. the demon cackled.

"I agree. Even so, I have a grave feeling he will be what really stands between Raine and mad rampage, not me." he approached the two, effortlessly keeping his face bland, unemotional. It was easy, just like breathing.

"I trust your conversation went well?" he knew the look on her face was supposed to convey so, but her eyes gave her away once again.

Such weak eyes. Scorcahr jibbed.

Silvarn ignored the demon, and continued, "We should all turn in early tonight. It is going to be rough and draining for the next few years."

[laraine]

Raine smiled to Samuel. "I'm all right, nothings wrong no worries." Then she turned to Silvarn, keeping her eyes averted from his. "It was okay." She lied.

She hated to lie, but if he knew what Danny had said, Silvarn might have wanted to kill Raine in the end.

What he said to her a few days ago echoed in her head, along with Danny's warning. She clenched a fist, wanting to run away.

Danny was the one who saved me from myself. If even he said that.....then maybe I really am a monster.

The thought alone made her tremble. She didn't want this.

Why deny the truth? a voice whispered into her mind.

Surprised, Raine stumbled back and fell. "Ow....okay that hurt." She grumbled, but still looked worried.

Who are you?

Do you really want to know? Laraine Lockner Risk...

Raine swallowed. Yes...

On your birthday...I will tell you..

Why cant you tell me now?!

If I do, you might do something drastic..My dear Laraine, know this..You cannot be saved. You are a monster and everyone believes this. Also, there is something that everyone hasn't told you, about the last half demon half witch in this family line..

What do you mean?

The last half demon, half witch hybrid killed herself when she discovered the truth.

Raine's body froze. Then, she sat down; mulling over what the voice told her. She felt it was the truth, but she couldn't be sure. She had forgotten the others were there. She looked up at them both and then turned away.

"I'm going to bed." She said in a shaky voice. She quickly picked a spot a little ways from both of them and lied down.

You are alone Laraine...and will always be till your death..

[thedookienut]

Samuel watched Raine, wishing he knew more about what was going on. He felt thrid wheel. It seemed like he was the only one who didn't know. He looked over as she laid down, clearly upset; but he knew she wanted to be alone. Quietly, he turned and gazed over the lake, watching the moon edge towards its half. He tried to think about calming things, things like his old home, like the festivals they used to have, the nights that celebrated certain events, happy events. He made an educated guess at the date, guessing it was know about the 18th. A small smile appeared on his lips, tonight would have been their summer celebrations. To celebrate the summer godess and gods. He let the songs they would have sung dance about in his head, odd lines flickering about playfully.

Uich gwennen na 'wanath ah na dhun. An uich gwennen na ringyrn ambar hen. That would have been the first they would have sung, the line in which to welcome the Summer Godess and her Husband. With a sigh, a happy sigh, he started to recall the dances, drinks, food, each with a happier smile than the last. Samuel bend down towards the water, waving his hand across the top of it, watching the ripples dance.

[Silvarn]

A familiar presence crept into the vicinity, causing goosebumps to prickle on his skin. He turned to face Raine, who was unexplainably on the ground. She remained there for a while, then rose and brushed past him, claiming an urge to sleep.

Samuel, on the other hand, sauntered over to the lake and began splashing around in it like a child.

Silvarn sighed wearily into his hand, massaging his forehead.

A halfbreed destined to destroy the world, a grown man slowly slipping back into childhood, and a cranky mage. Do we stand half a chance against the Risks, let alone Echoes of Darkness Reach and the Twisted Mirror? Scorcahr whined.

"We will have the aid of the Lockners. Hopefully, that will be enough."

And if not?

Silvarn pulled out a small phial from his sleeve pocket, its contents gleaming a sinister amethyst.

Yozi Venom? the demon asked, astonished.

"I will never serve the Twisted Mirror again. One drop is all I need to ensure it."

You always have a Plan B.

"The more I think about it, the less I think we shall succeed. Assuming the Lockners are on par with the Risks, and I with Echoes -- that leaves Raine and Samuel to compare against the Twisted Mirror."

Then, all we have is a fool's hope?

"Yes. But, it is still hope."

[laraine]

A her head rested on the earth, Raine wondered why she hid this from the others. It would serve no purpose; yet, she could not tell them. She wondered why it felt as if she was being controlled to hide everything from her friends.

Your friends? They would betray you in a second, especially that dark mage. He has already betrayed you once and he always hurts you, like Danny did.

Shut up!

But yet you believe in this Silvarn. Why?

He could have killed me, but he didnt. He's a good person.

Do you have feelings for that coldhearted mage?

No! Don't be an idiot..I just know he's a good person is all. I just wish he didn't push people away so harshly. Is he that afraid of liking people? Because he knows he will leave this world soon. He really doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore. Just like me.

I think you do like him.

He's a friend okay. I can't love anymore. I still love Danny, even if he hurt me. I can take the pain alone..I can take it all alone.

That is what you are Laraine, alone.

Shut up, I know that. But he doesnt have to be. He made a mistake, he has his life to change it. I...I may not even have my life... All this fighting, is about me and my life and what I might do.

Its not just you Laraine.

Who are you?

Laraine, I will say this for now, I am you. I am your darkness and your complete opposite. Do not fall in love with the mage Raine, or I will have to kill him myself. You are alone, you were born alone and will die alone. No one will miss you.

Raine's heart skipped a beat. Those harsh words she heard over and over and were beating up her soul. But still she held on strong. For, it was the only thing she had left. If she lost her soul, then she would surely become nothing more than a lifeless puppet of darkness.


Raine awoke the next morning feeling refreshed. She got up and stretched, looking over at her two companions. "Wake up guys!" She smiled at both. "Who wants breakfest?"