Efferon (Count and Kate)

[Katelyn]

OOC

The journey was long and trying, but with nothing behind her but memories of a life once lived, she moved forward. The pain of the rocky dirt road was muted by the psychological terrors that continued to swim to the surface of her cognizant thoughts. No one left to go back to, no one left to talk to, to laugh with…

Lillith was the last of her kind and had witnessed the destruction of her world as payback for a refusal to cooperate that she’d change in a moment’s notice if she were allowed, but he liked it better this way. There was destruction in every shell of a city that she passed through, the demon’s having made a pilgrimage across the land, taking and raping, killing and destroying. They wouldn’t stop until someone stopped them and though she was powerful, she wasn’t nearly enough to stand against them alone.

She moved steadily toward Efferon, one of the great cities of the Fae and the only place she knew of that still held the Elixir, which she needed to regain her energy levels after using her gifts and abilities. They were still developing as she grew older, which rather surprised her, seeing that she was as old as time itself. Her story with the demon king went back to the creation of all that was visual.

Lillith made it to Efferon as the sun slid behind the clouds, her stomach grumbling at the need for sustenance. She looked around, but of course there was no food to be found. She walked toward one of the dilapidated trees, only the base of it surviving the fiery massacre. She touched the trunk of it and smiled - an apple tree.

She closed her eyes and whispered into the wind, “Come forth and produce for me.” She exhaled and gold dust swirled from her lungs coating the tree and causing it to transform in front of her eyes – morphing into a large, beautiful apple tree. She flinched as the price was paid for the use of her magic, a tear racing down from her shoulder blade to her lower back. Blood seeped from the wound, but it was worth it, she would heal relatively quickly being immortal – but her hunger was almost overwhelming.

She quickly filled her bag with as many apples as she could fit and then turned, feeling slightly dizzy and sat for a moment, leaning against the tree. Lillith sunk into the comfort of the tree, worried very little about the effects of her bloody back on its deep chocolate color. It would accept her lifeblood as an offering and she was damned to lose it anyway. She closed her eyes, hoping to get a small amount of rest.

[Countdown0]

Fire, unnatural in its gray color and immense in its oppressive, crushing heat, burned all around, surely melting all that it could not use to sustain its haunting presence, consuming everything in its path. But this was no forest fire. The gray flames were burning an entire city, ad almost seemed to be intelligent, following those who feld from the scorching heat as though it had a mind of its own, or were guided by some cruel, hateful thing. Irader was no exception to being preyed upon by the fires, and they chased the wizard as he ran through the streets of Galestone. Normally leaving the city would have been simple, becuase even though Galestone was massive, all teh streets were well organized. But rubble and flames blocked so many pathes, that Irader was beginning to worry whether or not it was even possible to escape at this point.

Still, he ran on, but skidded to a halt when a large, burning building that he was running by was sundered, and a hulking form easily three times the size of a normal man brust through the walls. It was grotesquely bloated and misshapen, and looked as though it may have been pulled from te nightmares of the sickest mind in all the world. It was a demon, though certainly not the one responsible for the fires engulfing the city. That said, Irader knew he was in trouble now. The hideous beast turned to regard the wizard, its beady, pitch black eyes seeming devoide of all emotion. But the blood curdling screech that came from its throat was certainly something borned of either anger or bloodthristy excitement.

Either way, it was bad. The demon charged at Irader, and he barely had time to leap out of the way, landing hard on the marble road and rolling dangerously close to the fire devouring the building the demon had just burst from. He pushed himself up quickly though, and stared at the creature for a moment.

It had four arms, two on each side. The arms that were higher up its body ended in massive, club like bones, which looked like they were meant for crushing people the way a boot crushes an insect. The lower arms ended in hands, though the six fingers on either hand were all tipped with long, jagged claws. Irader wasn't sure if this was a particular species of demon, or if it was just crafted by a more powerful being through the use of foul magic. Not that it mattered either way at this point. The beast had managed to regain its balanced after missing Irader in its charge, and was staring at him now, shrieking again, and certainly ready to charge one more. Its massive legs flexing as it took off like an enraged bull about to gore a tormentor.

The demon was a great, powerful, beastly thing, but it clearly wasn't a cunning thinker, by any means. Irader crouched low, ready to jump away again, and traced a rune into the ground quickly. It was sloppily drawn, given how little time Irader had to think, but that was fine. It just meant that the magic that would be released would be very unpredictable. Stupid things like this creature weren't good at dealing with the unpredictable, as they were the polar opposite of such things. Irader timed it right and lept away before the demon reached him.

It kept running through the space the wizard had once occupied, and in doing so it stepped on the rune, which flashed to life on the ground as though it were reflecting light that wasn't there. With a sudden raor that could but thunder to shame, the rune exploded, launching the demon up into the air, though it also continued to move forward as well, crashing into the collapsed remains of another building down the road. Irader frowned and nodded, standing up and running over quickly. The demon was starting to get up though, and while it was bleeding from... all over its disgusting form, it still let out another hateful cry, turning to stare at the mage again.

Irader let out a growl of frustration and pushed his hand towards the creature, as though he were throwing something at it. A stream of dark purle light suddenly shot forth from Irader's hand at the demon, expanding as it closed in on the beast and then hitting it hard. The creature reacted in a manner befittinga normal man hit with one of its massive, club-like appendages, staggering back and then being thrown over entirely. But it wasn't the physical force of the magic hitting the creature that would kill it. Rather, it was the effects that the magic had as it torn over and through the demon's body, shredding it utterly.

Irader held back after a few moments, taking a deep breath, walking over to the creature, as every other path was blocked by the gray flames anyway. It wasn't moving anymore, and its body had been ripped into a disgusting sight. Its once dark blue and mottled green skin was now torn wide open and oozing a thick, tar like substance that could only be its blood. Irader grimaced in disgust and looked around for a moment before taking off running again.

He had to get out of the city...

[Katelyn]

Damon:

Damon watched through oracle water of calduron as the swift mage defeated his demon and smiled. The man was handsome, cunning, agile and seemingly good at heart. He was nothing less than perfect for the needs Damon had for a hitman, a gopher of sorts. He smiled and ran his long, thin fingers through his back hair, his face a mask of perfection - created by god himself. It was said that he was gods most beautiful creation, but Damon disagreed... that title belong to Lillith.

He touched the water and it echoed his desired intent. She sat against a large apple tree, of her own creation he supposed. She looked so very weary and if he'd had a heart, perhaps it would've burned with desire for her still. If he had a heart he'd feel sympathy for her pliat, but as it were... he didn't. He lost it along time ago and if his heart were made of tangible substanence, he'd imagine it was mere pieces scattered about, the resounding remains perhaps in a vile in her shatchel.

He waved his hand over the water and walked away. He'd turn the earth upside down to insight revenge on the beauty, his love, his betrothed, his own heart.


Lillith:

Lillith slumped a little more and began to drift off. She found herself in Nate's embrace, fire all around them - the screams of her court echoing from every angle. "What are we to do?" She yelled and grasped onto him tightly, she would die protecting her prince, her lover.

He kissed her lightly, "Princess Lillith, please go to the containment cell. In the far left corner you will find an underground entrance to a small earthen room - get in it my love and I will come for you."

Lillith shook her head, she would not leave, "Not without you." Red tears rimmed her eyes and small droplets of blood trinkled down her face. "I won't leave you, Nate - I cannot. Our baby." She touched her stomach and Nate smiled sadly - "I will be back for you, Lillith - it's for our unborn child that you must go to the room, my love. I will be there shortly - NOW GO. Do not be selfishly in love - understand that everyone with childbearing capacity is dead - the children slain in our streets. GO - save yourself and therefore our son, my heart. GO!" He yelled in her face.

She backed away from him and ran, finding the door - seeing the demons from the windows of their court - tearing the flesh and wings off her people, eating children and raping women. Hate filled her heart, but she ran with all she had in her - she knew that the demon's wouldn't just kill her or only rape her, but they would deliver her to their King - for the story between Lillith and the Demon King was as old as time itself.

She hid herself in the room and waited for Nate - but he never came. The seal on the door wouldn't allow her to leave. She spent weeks clawing her way from the earth - paying dearly for her life when she reached the surface half dead - for the child in her wound was dead upon arrival and with it's death took all warmth from her soul. She would fight for the light and eradicate every demon she came in contact with - but long since past were the days where she could be the light - the hope of all-kind as she was called when the world spun itself into motion.

[Countdown0]

Irader kept running, sprinting down the marble road as the fire kept chasing him as though of its own volition, literally burning or melting the marble of the road as it moved after him. However, it seemed that the fire wasn't trying to comsume Irader as it was everything else in its path. Rather, the gray flames seemed to be herding him like some kind of prey animal. The wizard wasn't sure if that was better or worse than the fire just trying to kill him. Probably worse. Everytime he came to a turn that he thought would lead him to the city gates, Irader was cut off by a sudden wall of flames blocking his path.

Eventually his suspicions were confirmed, and Irader found himself herded into the town square. Floating in the middle of the town square was a great circle, made of the same stuff as the gray flames that had forced him here. A portal, obviously. "Oh... that's bad..." Irader muttered to himself, looking around for a way out. He wished he could create a portal of his own at that point, but unfortunately teleportation required some rare components that Irader didn't have. Perhaps that was the most frustrating part of all. He knew how to get away, he simply didn't have the means to do so. The most powerful person in the city was trapped, while the rest got away. It was almost ironic, really.

There was a disturbing noise coming from b ehind him then, and Irader turned around, seeing a tall, lean, and familiar figure standing not too far away from him. It was a powerful type of demon, more intelligent than most. The exact name of this... breed roughly translated into 'man hunter,' as they were famous for their ability to track, trap and capture humans, specifically humans of interest to more powerful and influential demons. "I'm surprised you made it this far. You must be fast to have out run the fire for so long."

Irader quickly held both hands out towardsthe demon, frowning and focusing his magic into his palms. The demon was powerful, but pure arcane energy could rip apart just about anything, demons included, with enough of a concentration. "You started the fires then?" He asked. "Good, then you can stop them so I can be on my way." He added, his hands beginning to glow that familiar dark purple hue.

The demon laughed. "I could stop the fires, but I'm not going to. The demon King himself has requested your presence, and I'm here to make sure that you show up." It said. Irader figured it was probably male, but he couldn't be sure. Unlike the beast he killed earlier, this particular demon actually wore clothing.

"And if I refuse?" He asked, his eyes not starting to emit the same color of light as his hands.

"Then you will be brought to him by force." The demon said. A few loud roars could be heard, and Irader turned to look at the portal. A dozen or so of the large creatures, exactly like the one he killed earlier, flooded through the portal, as if the man hunter had summoned them. "And believe me, you don't want that."

Irader frowned and turned, then magical force shooting forth from him once again at the brutish creatures as they ran at him from the portal. What was bad had just gotten worse...

[Katelyn]

Lillith came to with a jolt as the air around her shifted. She moved swiftly to her feet, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of night. "Speak brother... tell me what is in occurrence."

The wind swirled around her, pulling her small frame forward toward a cliff that overlooked the dilapidated city below. There was shouting and yelling as the people began running amuck. Demons. They must have been just behind her on the journey, or perhaps a bit ahead.

She hesitated, wondering if she could do anything to assist the people below. The echoes of a voice swept through the wind. She knew what to do, but it would kill the people below as well as the demons. They were going to die anyway and it was heartless of her to allow them to be torn apart as her people were. She peered down again as the fires started to blaze at the edge of town.

She'd have to find the pool of elixir soon after performing this task. Her body wouldn't heal itself fast enough for the retaliation that she was sure would come once they realized someone of her power was so very near.

She dropped her backpack and closed her eyes, lifting her hands.

"Nnir à mon frère la masse" she shouted loudly, not feeling a bit of hesitation as the earth rose up around her in a large dust storm, the weight of its breadth sustained by the unfailing arms of the wind.

The earth continued to move, giving itself up to her command. It created a deep trench around her small body, but refusing to touch the circle that her feet stood upon.

When she knew the sustenance above was great enough, she flung her hands and watched as the enormous avalanche of dirt and rock barrel down the cliff in front of her. It covered the city and its inhabitance until nothing could be seen.

Buried alive.

She picked up her bag and felt the first tear in her back, muffling a scream as she lost her balance and slid down the steep trench, landing painfully at the bottom. She lay there for a moment, biting back tears at the painful currency that was paid for such an event.

She knew she was leaking blood from several tears in her skin, but her heart ached more for thinking about what she'd just done. Justice being served to the oppressed wasn't always the freedom one would think it to be.

Sometimes death was the only release available.

[Countdown0]

As the arcane energy carved through the demons, more and more poured through the portal, their bloated, vile forms beginning to fill the town square. Irader had managed to get himself time to place a rune under his feet, which created randomly appearing illusions of himself all over the place, confusing the stupid beasts. It wasn't fooling the man hunter, though, and the more intelligent demon was clearly in charge of those with lesser minds. That said, he almost seemed to be enjoying the sight, watching as Irader tried to kill off the endless horde of demons. For every one that the wizard felled with his magic, three more came through the portal.

It was starting to become exhausting, and Irader wasn't sure how long he would be able to last against the onslaught. They were larger and stronger than him, yet they were simply going to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. Still, no matter how he struggled, how he fought, Irader couldn't think of any way out, regardless of how many he killed. They just kept coming.

But still that fight for survival raged on for the better part of an hour, the wizard having to use every trick and magical manipulation that he knew of just to survive to see the next moment. The fatigue was beginning to set in though, and Irader was starting to become sluggish, his movements less precise, his thoughts and actions less measured. Finally there was that one mistake.

Irader stopped to scribe a rune into the air before him, but took his eyes off of the man hunter for the first time since seeing him. And that was the end. Irader suddenly felt as though he had been kicked in the back by a horse. He looked over his shoulder, his vision suddenly going dark, and saw an arrow sticking out from his upper back, having obviously been fired from above. He finished turning a looked up, seeing the demon flying above the town square. Irader tried to fight as his vision grew darker. The demon began to lower himself to the ground, and the wizard tried to focus his arcane magic into the palms of his hands again.

"My name is Hruojlasz, mage. You will do well to remember that I can find you anywhere you go now." He said, landing in front of Irader. "The poison on the arrow," He began, letting go of his crossbow, which fell to hang from his hip. "Is my own saliva." He finished, laughing a little bit.

Irader tried to speak, and to raise his hands to unleash the magic he had been gathering, but he didn't have the strength. The other demons, the beasts, and surrounded him, but had stopped trying to kill him. He realized that his illusions had faded.

"The Demon King has need of your services." Hruojlasz said, grinning smuggly. "And whether you wish to or not, you will serve him." He finished. He stood forward and grabbed Irader by the collar of his robe, dragging him into the center of the town square. Irader was barely concious anymore. But he did feel something strange. Something like... falling, perhaps? No... not falling.

Irader didn't know it yet, but Hruojlasz had dragged him through the portal into the pit from which the demons themselves had spawned. There were many realms that demons called home, but he was being taken to the home of the most powerful demon in existance, and possibly the most powerful being to ever draw breath...

[Katelyn]

Lillith rolled over as the wounds began to finally close and lifted herself up from the dirt, groaning at the strenth it took to move the depeated muscles of her small frame. She needed to find replenishment. She walked toward the forest, not sensing anything around her or far before her in the cover of the trees.

She stopped and closed her eyes, allowing her sense of need reach out and locate the elixir. It should be close now. She felt the warmth of its pools skim across the warmth of her face as it beckoned her to come near.

She opened her eyes and moved quickly through the forest, or what was left of it. Every step she took caused the eruption of sound to ech around her from the dead bits and peices of once was. She touched a few burnt tree tunks as she hurried along, her heart aching for what the demons had some and more so for what they were going to do.

Maybe if she were to give herself up... a trade to Damon, for peace in these realms. She laughed coarsely outloud and the wrapped around her. She walked faster toward the warmth of the pools, now visable to her at a short distance.

He would call for momenary peace, but his lust for power over his love for her would win out before her body grew cold from his deadly touch. He'd want more -he always did. The thought of him made her ill and she swallowed hard to keep her lunch down, reaching for her backpack and pulling out the first of several viles. She was there.

[Countdown0]

Irader's eyes fluttered open, and he tried to look around, though he was inside of a very dimly lit room, and it was difficult to tell exactly where he was. He was lying down, that he knew without a doubt. And despite the oppressive heat, Irader felt a cool breeze. He realized that his clothes were missing, and nowhere he could see. Feeling sore and stiff, Irader tried to sit up, but suddenly stopped, feeling himself choked as he tried to rise. He was trapped, tied down on... something. A table, or a hard, unyeilding, uncomfortable bed of some description.

Even his head was stuck down, a there seemed to be a band of metal over his neck, preventing his from lifting his head up any more than half an inch at most. Irader was suspicious that he would have no luck, but tried to move his arms and legs as well. Indeed, he had no luck, as his arms, at the wrists and elbows, and his legs at the ankles and knees, were soundly trapped like the rest of him. "At least I can breathe properly..." He mumbled to himself.

He heard footsteps, and then a screeching noise as a slight bit more light filled the room, and the footsteps drew closer. The screeching was a door, and Irader wasn't alone anymore. "Well, hello, little mageling..." Said an unnaturally deep, booming voice, clearly dripping with an amused tone. "You gave my minioms some trouble. It was rather entertaining to watch, really. Like a mouse trying to run away from a cat, not realizing that it is trapped in a box with its feline predator." He said. "Oh, forgive my manners. I am Damon." He said. The person moved into view, and looked to be a normal human, though Irader could sense right away that the appearance was fueled by magic; a disguise.

"I regret that you can't see my true form here, but unfortunately, I'm rather large, and can't fit into this room. A subject of a rather long and... painful discussion I had with the person who built it. He was very remorsful by th en-" He got cut off.

"Will you shut up?" Irader said, clearly not caring to hear the demon talk anymore. "You clearly love the sound of your own voice, but I'd like to know why I'm here." He said.

Damon laughed. "That's no way to speak to royalty." He said with a chastizing tone. The demon King gave a sigh then. "But you'll learn that, in time..." He added.

Damon walked over to a wall and there was the noise of metal clashing against metal. He came back holding what looked like a fire poker, but on the end of it was a rune, as opposed to a blunt point. Irader didn't recognize the rune though.

"And this is why you are here. You see, all of those people who ran away... its rather annoying to catch them all to kill them, but has to be done." Damon said. "But there are people that I need dead who can't be allowed a chance to run. They would flee from demons... but they would not flee from you... not until ts too late." Damon said, holding the rune end of the metal rod in a fire and grinning at the wizard.

Irader snorted. "What makes you think I'm going to killed people for you?" He asked.

"Well, its rather simple, little mageling." Damon said, holding the now extremely hot rune over Irader's face. "You wont have a choice." He added.

Irader understoof now, his eyes going wide. Damon gasped a bit, an exaggerated expression of surprise on his face. "Oh... make sure that you don't bite your tongue. You're less useful if you can't talk." Damon said.

The wizard struggled a little bit against his bonds, but it was no use. Then the pain hit him, and he cried out in agony as Damon pressed the burning hot rune against Irader's chest on the skin over his heart. He thrashed and writhed about in agony, but that didn't do him any good. Irader was helpless as the rune was burned into his chest. Finally the pain stopped, and Irader was still wimpering in pain.

"Oh, really? You barely got through that, boy." Damon said, gripping Irader's jaw and turning his head to they were facing one another. "There are still five more to go!" Damon saidm laughing maniacally. Indeed, there had been another five of the pokers in the fire. Irader found himself turn over, and indeed, the entire table was on was shifting, and he found himself facing down.

This time there was no warning, and the burning pain hit him again, and Irader cried out once more, though this time, as his skin was mangled by the intensly heated metal, his cries were not quite so loud as he struggled to keep his breath. It was agony...

[Katelyn]

The blue and green water of the Elixir Lake ripped and danced in the sunlight, small waves being tossed about by the playful motions of the wind. She pulled her hair up into a bun and secured it, the sun feeling good on her skin. She knew how much it helped to drink this divine potion, but to submerge herself in it was even more advantageous. She laid her backpack down and slipped out of the small coverage she wore, walking back a few steps and running to sprint off the side, hitting the water perfectly.

The lakes were created to be deep on all sides, so walking into them, as their liquid was deadly to most other creatures. As the water welcomed her achy torn body, she sighed with relief, the effects almost overwhelming. She reached for the bottom as she approached and called the earth to come and hold her still, the wind to fill her lung when needed. She laid down on the bottom of the lake and just rested, her body healing itself quickly.

The strength that seeped back into her muscles tingled as they beckoned to its powerful call, contracting and squeezing strength and endurance deep into their core. She opened her eyes and watched the vision of the sun through the thick water as it shifted and swayed, all an illusion from the wind and waves.

She laid there for a few more minutes that could’ve been hours, her thoughts dancing on the next part of her journey. She was unsure of what was to come, but first she needed this moment and then a place of shelter that would provide a steady supply of food nearby it. After that, it would be time to start plotting. The demons had to be defeated. She’d have to find the darkness to her light for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Together, they perhaps stood a chance to beating the ultimate evil – Damon.

[Countdown0]

Irader woke up again, coming to the realization that he must have passed out while the runes were being placed on his body at some point. Irader tried to stand again, and this time he actually found he could. Of course, his efforts were accompanied by pain shooting through his body. There was a little more light, and Irader recognized that he was still lacking any form of clothes. He looked down at his body, seeing some of the six runes that Damon had promised. He could feel the rest, of course. There was one over his heart on his chest, one between his shoulder blades on his back that still stung awfully, one on the top of his right thigh, a fourth on the palm of his left hand, another on his waist at his left side, and the sixth, which hurt the most, on the right side of his neck.

What's worse, the runes were glowing faintly greens, and then blue, and then red then violet. The colors were ever changing, and Irader knew right away that magic had been placed into the runes. The wizard tried to walk around, but was stopped by what seemed to be a chain around his ankle.

The door to the room opened then, and Irader brought a hand up to cover his eyes, ad he wasn't used to the light. "Ah, good, you're up already. The last time I did that the poor bastard was unconcious for two days..." Said a familiar voice. It was Damon again, which drew a sigh from Irader.

"Now, you're probably wondering what the runes are for, and why they are glowing." Damon said.

"No, I'm actually wondering why you haven't given me my clothes back." Irader countered.

Damon laughed at that, but then uttered a single words, a elextricity coursed through Irader's body, emitting from the runes, dropping him to his knees from the pain. "I like that you are spirited, but unfortunately I do't have time for insubordination. Its a lesson that you would do well to learn quickly." The demon King said, his tone suggesting that he was obviously proud of himself. "Anyway, back to the runes. As you no doubt understand now, they are there to make sure that you do what I want you to. If you refuse I will put you through the worst pain you've ever felt in your life. And if that doesn't stir some cooperation into you, then I'll pull your soul out and give your body to one of my pets, and they'll use you to do some terrible, cruel things with your face... and I'll make sure just enough of you is left inside of your husk to watch it happen through your own eyes." Damon said.

That caught Irader's attention, and he forced himself back up to his feet. "What do you want me to do?" He asked, sounding defeated now.

Damon laughed some more. "Well, as I said, I want people to die. You are going to make sure I get what I want. Understand?"

Irader sighed but nodded.

That seemed to satisfy Damon enough, because he threw Irader's clothes onto the floor in front of the mage. "Good, get yourself looking presentable. You'll be back to your own world later today."