Demonizing An Angel [SileceneAlethea]

[Areawin]

Sapphire eyes slowly opened, blinking away the haze of exhaustion. How was it that she was so tired? It seemed impossible, and yet as she lifted her arms to sit up, they sat heavily in place -- simply not tolerating such an action. Her eyes met with a tall figure, causing her to smile a bit. "Mmm," she sighed, willing the strength in her body to stretch out. It hadn't been long... an hour, maybe? Perhaps not even that, but there was a stirring inside her that told her not to go back to sleep. Not now.

Her long fingers stretched out toward Keiran, grasping a a handfull of his shirt and tugging him with a strength that she never had before. The girl didn't even notice it; curling up against his chest and sighing again. It felt good to be here, but it still wasn't bringing a sense of home. Of course it wouldn't. She hadn't been here very long, and soon enough, they would be able to go back. Or would they? Her father said that a kingdom of sorts would be built between the two lands, connecting them with Keiran and Silennia... but how long would that take? Where would they stay until then?

The valkyrie hybrid knew that Keiran didn't particularly like it at her home, and she most certainly hated it here. An image of Vermina flickered against the back of her eyelids, causing her to scowl and get up. An uneasy feeling crawled across her skin, making her shiver. Upon glancing down, she realized that she was still wearing the clothes from before; instantly looking towards the bed, where the swan blanket was crumpled messily. She reached down and touched it before crossing the room and slipping past the door that connected her previous bedroom; taking only moments of rummaging through the closet before she found something suitable to wear: long, thick cotton pants and a long-sleeved shirt.

As she stepped back into the room, her eyes met with Keiran's form for just a second before a jolt went through her; gritting her teeth and folding an arm against her stomach with a groan. It only took a second to recover, and her movement from one side of the room to out of Keiran's door was too quick for her to even process. Only one thing was on her mind.

Korina.

She threw open Korina's door, but the bedroom was empty. An odd chill sat heavily in the air, weighing down on the hybrid, and as she turned to leave the room, a glint caught her eye. There, on the table, sat a knife -- jagged and sharp, with a twisted and carved handle. There were symbols engraved there, but Silennia couldn't read them; tucking the knife gingerly into her waist band while keeping a hand on it carefully so that it wouldn't cut her.

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Kaleb jerked towards Vermina as Shiori was dragged away, but decided against it when his sister took a step back; glaring towards the shadows that made their way toward her suddenly. An arm thrust forward; the liquid in her glass flew out, splashing Vermina's face and upper body. A smug look crossed the girl's face as the smell of burning flesh suddenly tainted the air. Kaleb looked at his sister, rather mortified. Shiori's words still hadn't quite sank in: She's carrying a demon spawn.

The thing that bothered him most, was he didn't sense Raoul being a demon. Yet he knew that Korina would not have slept with another man. So what was happening? It was then that he noticed the shadows... they'd slowed down, but not completely stopped. He pushed Korina out of the way, becoming instantly distracted as the door flew open and a figure came behind Vermina, dragging the woman brutally to the floor.

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Silennia smelled the flesh. Felt the uneasy feeling bite at her skin. It wasn't her mind, but simply her feet that carried her much too quickly to the room; her hand forming a fist into Vermina's hair as she grabbed at it and wrapped the raven strands around her knuckles, holding tight. Dragging the succubus to the ground. Grabbing the knife that she had recently placed in her waist band.

The scent of blood pulled her back to her senses, and her immediate thought was that it smelled simply awful here. When she looked down, she realized that she was holding a knife tightly against Vermina's throat. The flesh had sliced beneath the sharp edge, but it wasn't deep enough to be fatal -- just to wound her. Why isn't she healing? Her jaw was sore; unclenching her teeth when she realized that she was gritting and grinding them. Black hair fell around her face where she was leaning over the succubus slightly.

She would not step back.

Her hateful sapphire gaze bore into violet, snarling slightly. "Pathetic," she spat. The knife dug a little deeper into her flesh. To her, nobody else existed right now. It was just her and the succubus. "Ah, not so brilliant now, are we?" she purred. In the back of her mind, she decided that she didn't like awful rage that was coursing through her veins, making her blood run hot as if it were slowly driving her towards the peak of insanity. Her coheirant thoughts, however, were not connecting with her body. "Perhaps it's time to tell your precious little boy exactly what happened, hm? The deal you made? How upset you were at finding me alive?"

She yanked Vermina's head backwards quite brutally, hearing a snap, though she knew that -- sadly, yet again -- it wasn't fatal. The thought of killing the woman disgusted her, but the thought of leaving her here, alive, was equally nauseating. Neither Kaleb nor Korina were stepping in to stop her, or interfere in anyway.

[SileceneAlethea]

What was that silly woman going to do with her pitiful glass of water? Vermina was nearly amused at the notion.... until the contents of that glass made contact with the succubus' bare flesh. Shiori having let out a cry seconds before, being held firmly by Vermina's grip, being just in between Vermina and Korina. In the way enough to be splashed too.

Water than had been blessed by a holy man.

Though, while Shiori simply fell limp against the floor, curling into a ball as if to avoid coming in more contact with the sacred water, Vermina had quite a different reaction to the liquid that would have been completely harmless to anyone else.

A shriek of pain tore from the raven haired demon's lungs as she fell back, her hands instantly moving to her face but it was too late, the damage already done. Those shadows under her control slackening and missing their target as the demon let out a sound that didn't even resemble speech. The pale flawless skin that was exposed turning red, as if she had been horribly burned, painful blisters swelling on her flesh, and as her trembling hands fell away from her face, it was clear that the worse of the damage had been done there. The skin looked as if it had melted, entire patches of raw flesh exposed where once there had been beautiful white skin. Violet hues wide and wild in pain.

The maid at her feet desperately crawling away from the succubus as abruptly yet another entered the room, dragging the demon queen to the floor as she still hadn't quite regained herself just yet. The pain alone enough to disorient Vermina.

"I'll KILL HER. I'LL KILL HER-" She screamed, thrashing about, long nails biting into the side of Silennia's face harshly, digging in deep as they ripped at the girl's skin, "I'LL KILL THEM ALL. ALL OF YOU. ALL OF-" She felt that blade bite into her already blistered and burned skin, the sharpened edge only causing her more pain as it was dug against her throat. Wild hues locking onto Sapphire with what could only be the utmost of loathing for Silennia, Only falling still when a small bit of reason managed to break through the craze that her mind had been thrown into.

Had she continued to thrash about, she would have undoubtedly slit her own throat.

Disfigured lips wrenching back in a snarl at the girl's words, and in the next moment, those black tendrils rose up, all aimed at Silennia's back with full intent to tear the girl apart...

But they would never quite reach their mark.

"I've heard enough."

In a flash, Keiran himself had joined Silennia, sheilding her with his own body as molten gold hues flared dangerously, a barrier having formed just in time to repell Vermina's attempt to injure the half-blooded Valkyrie, it's surface rippling with flakes of gold that matched his eyes, before they vanished from sight and that glow dimmed down in his eyes. Black tendrils melting away, dissolving into thin air as that sickening crack sounded.

"Keiran-"

"Don't speak to me." His voice was a mere hiss as he cut his mother off, her voice labored and barely understandable, not even looking at her as a deep buried desire to help her tried to blossom within him. No matter how vile she was, or cruel, there was still the fact that she was the creature who had given birth to him. Who had raised him and cared for him. Even if she had been showering him in her lies and controlling him through her 'love' as a mother.

"Is it true?" His voice held a dangerous edge to it, only now looking at his mother's disfigured face, nearly flinching as he did so. Yearning to help her, though, he drove such thoughts from his mind, anger coursing hot enough through his veins to drown it out. For the moment, she seemed temporarily paralyzed, her spine damaged when Silennia had broke her neck, though, those wild eyes spoke clearly enough as he met them.

He felt sick.

"You know, the only proper way to kill a venomous snake is to cut it's head off." Mina's voice had sounded, the girl no doubt having sensed the commotion, almost seeming gleeful to see the condition that her birth mother was in. Unlike Keiran, who still felt attachment to the woman, Mina most likely had NEVER felt an ounce of love for the demon who had tormented her and used her. Walking over, she reached down, snatching the mirror necklace off from around Vermina's neck, and then, without another word to the three, turned her crimson hues towards Kaleb and Korina.

Walking directly towards the vampire as she folded it into his hand, glancing towards Shiori for a brief moment.... though... there was something off about the woman. She hadn't been physically harmed by the holy water, but... there seemed to be more of a internal battle going on with her right now, her hands clamped tightly on the sides of her head, "Keep that safe." She commented, meeting Kaleb's gaze, "She'll thank you for it later."

[Areawin]

Silennia hissed, using her arm to shield her face as Vermina's nails sank into her flesh. It was easy to ignore the pain with the hot rage pouring through her, but something within her melted at the sound of Keiran's voice. Slowly, her grip into the queen's hair loosened. The knife didn't dig quite as deep, but it was still there. And finally, sapphire hues tinged with ruby flecks, met with molten gold. She wanted to lean forward and kiss him, but pushed the thought back. Now wasn't the time for such things.

His voice was cold enough to pull Silennia a little further out of her rage, feeling suddenly much too tired to hold the knife. Slowly, carefully, she pulled away and stood behind Keiran; leaning against him slightly with her eyes closed. The knife was still clutched in her hand, and there was a soothing hand against her back. Upon turning her head, she saw Korina there, who pulled the princess off to the other side of the room near Kaleb; eyeing Mina as the redhead gave the mirror to him. Avoiding Shiori completely.

Korina pulled the knife out of Silennia's hand, handing it off to Kaleb who had taken the small mirror without a second thought; placing the cord around his neck and tucking it into his shirt. The cool metal feeling cold against his skin, but at least he knew it was safe. Out of Vermina's grasp. Those strange, almost mossy-green eyes flickered to his right, where Korina was sitting on a couch next to Silennia; the valkyrie half-breed resting her head against the other woman's shoulder.

Silennia brought her hands up to her face, gently touching the bleeding marks there. The pain made her hiss inwardly, blinking away the sudden wetness that clouded her vision. Gently, she ran her fingertips against the wounds, feeling the skin knit together and heal with a relieved sigh. Korina sat quietly, playing with her fingers. "Korina..." The girl looked up at Silennia's voice, smiling weakly. "Thank you." The pregnant woman smiled at Silennia, shaking her head. That strange look in her eyes was gone, but she was hunched over slightly, as if the child she carried within her womb was hurting her. Silennia put a comforting arm over her shoulder, watching Keiran almost anxiously.

Kaleb wasn't sure if he should move forward and see if the strange demon was okay. She didn't seem to be herself... and if she interpreted him as a threat, it could end badly for both of them. With a shift of his eyes, he kneeled next to Shiori and placed his hand against her face, turning her a bit so that she was facing him. Not until he felt like she was back to herself would he give her the mirror. There's no telling what she would do -- whether on accident or on purpose -- if her hands came across it. So it stayed safely tucked beneath this shirt, out of sight.

[SileceneAlethea]

While Silennia was drawn away by Korina, Keiran stayed near Vermina. After all.... surely she was seething with rage by this point, being left in this sort of condition. Surely she would rise up with vengeance running hot through her veins... and Unlike her burned skin, which had showed no sign of healing just yet, the bone in her neck painfully snapped back into place, realigning itself. Only a sharp intake of breath sounding to indicate just how much such a thing agonized the succubus...

Then, slowly, Vermina started moving again. Collecting herself off the floor as soon as she had the use of her body again. Those violet hues clashing against gold hatefully, and Keiran almost had a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach as he met her gaze.

She had never looked at HIM in such a way before.

Though, before anything else could happen or be said, a child's voice sounded, "Momma?"

Kieran and Mina both stiffened slightly, the siblings both turning to look towards the girl who had wandered into the room. Their little sister. "Lillian, wait-" Keiran tried to stop her, but the young girl shoved past him coldly, heading straight for Vermina, who smirked slightly... at least, it might have been a smirk had her skin not been so horribly damaged at the moment, even the small movement seeming to cause the demon pain. Kneeling down so that she was at eye level with the girl, "Ah... my little one... You still love your mother, don't you? Unlike your horrible... mean brother." Her voice was affectionate, loving. Violet hues closing as those small hands came up to touch her face, only to jerk back sharply.

Blind eyes widening slightly even though they couldn't see, "M, Momma? Your face..." The child's voice cracked slightly, Keiran actually stepping away as he glanced towards Mina nervously.

Though, Lillian had turned towards Keiran, "Who...? Who did this? Who hurt her? WHO HURT MY MOTHER?!" She screamed out at him, advancing on him, "YOU KNOW. TELL ME. TELL ME. TELL ME RIGHT NOW!" The entire room vibrated as the girl screamed at him, dust falling from the ceiling, the glass in the windows rattling viciously, as if the girl's emotions literally was affecting her surroundings. Raw power seeping from her, and it was clear that she had absolutely no control over it in her young age.

... and Vermina knew it. The demoness had stepped back, not bothering to restrain her daughter. Looking directly at Keiran with a smile before she abruptly vanished from sight, just as a stone from the ceiling fell, clattering against the floor.

Though, abruptly, Mina let out a growl, grabbing hold of the young girl by her golden red ringlets, "THAT'S ENOUGH LILLIAN." She snapped, though, crimson hues widened when suddenly, one of the fallen stones stuck her right against the head, knocking her to the floor with a hiss of pain as Lillian turned on her elder sister, "IT WAS YOU, WASN'T IT?" She snarled, white eyes emitting a brilliant glow, "YOU'VE ALWAYS HATED MOTHER."

Laughter abruptly ripped from Mina, the crimson haired girl staggering back to her feet, though, there was a wild look in her eyes, blood trickling down the side of her face, the skin roughly scratched where she had been hit. Any normal person might have been killed from such a blow... but not Mina, "Keiran, get Silennia out of here." The words came out in a hiss, flames rippling along the surface of Mina's skin, "You want to fight, Lillian?" She hissed, "You think you can throw your little temper tantrum and strike ME?! YOUR BIG SISTER?!"

Keiran had turned on his heel at this point. Things were about to get messy, there was no denying that, "We have to leave." He urged, "Before they tear this place apart." Glancing towards Kaleb and Shiori, about to say something, but then thought better of it as he started pushing Korina and Silennia both out of the room to give them idea of just how urgently they needed to leave. Just as Mina's entire form exploded into flames, her wings extending, engulfed in flames as well, just as Lillian shattered the windows, glass shooting through the air and stabbing into anything they hit.

[Areawin]

Silennia's entire body became rigid as the succubus began to pull herself together. It wasn't something that the princess ever wanted to see, silently wishing that the woman would simply die. However, obviously she knew that wouldn't happen. Drastic measures would be needed to take the queen down, but Silennia didn't want to be the one to do it. Sapphire orbs trailed longingly to Keiran, only looking away when Korina leaned forward and blocked her view; staring at the hybrid girl with silent disapproval.

Every head snapped toward the new voice. The biggest sinking feeling that Silennia had ever experienced buried itself into the pit of her stomach, almost causing her to flinch away. Chaos suddenly erupted through the room. Nothing could be done to prevent the next events. Things were moving much too quickly for that. A few flashes. The room beginning to crumble. The very floor trembling beneath their feet.

Silennia was on her feet, shivering at Keiran's touch as he pushed both herself and Korina out of the room. To prevent the incubus from going and helping his sister, she grabbed onto his hand. It wasn't that she wanted Mina to get hurt -- her entire body was craving the man as if he were a drug. She'd never felt anything so intense. It wasn't a mental need; purely physical. There was so much energy pent up inside of her that it was forming into a deadly rage, practically blinding her as Korina led them through the halls. How did she know where she was going? It confused the princess, clenching her fingers a little harder through Keiran's.

Kaleb didn't take long to react either. He made sure that the mirror was tucked safely against his chest, under his shirt, before picking up Shiori bridal-style; slipping out of the room just as there was a booming noise. Glass sliced into his skin, but he only flinched, barely seeing where the rest had gone as they hurried down the halls. He wasn't familiar with this place, and having to take the time to figure out where was out simply would not do. The vampire needed to get himself and Shiori out of the palace, and quickly.

They got outside, and Korina walked a bit further until they were on the outskirts of the village. Snow still blanketed the ground, but it wasn't a deadly freeze to the point of hurting upon breathing, like it was when Deikona began to cast his magic against the castle. The pregnant woman stopped and turned, recieving no complaints from Silennia; the girl having taken the opportunity to mold herself into Keiran's chest. She felt jittery. It s a similar feeling to what she'd get when she was younger; chewing on bright green leaves. It was only allowed when she couldn't sleep the previous night and had rigorous studies that required her to stay up for long amounts of time. Sometimes the leaves had been dried up and ground, mixed into the morning tea to give both royalty and servants alike a good boost to start off the day.

That was the feeling that pumped through her veins, making her heart beat a little too fast. Korina looked at her almost sadly. She knew what had recently happened; understood it completely. Then the woman spoke up, although quietly; directing her words toward Keiran. "I didn't stay in my room doing nothing, all of that time." There was a slight hesitation in her voice, but she continued. "This child... it does something. I can sense things. And since I am -- was -- so close to Silennia, I could feel her and what had happened."

Yet another pause as Kaleb caught up to them. His skin was lightly blistered, and he immediately took to the shade of trees. It was still light out, and the sun reflected dangerously off of the snow. The only reason it wasn't killing him was because he'd fed so greedily onto Shiori, and now he felt like he especially needed to return the favor that she had given to him. The vampire set her down and adjusted her so that she was leaning up against the tree before resting beside her, taking a heavy breath.

Korina felt slightly nervous with Kaleb there, but she continued slowly. It seemed as if Silennia wasn't hearing a word she was saying anyway, so she wasn't too worried about upsetting her and unleashing that terrible rage. "Many demons make their own energy. Her father feeds off of the emotions of other, but he can store that energy so that it releases slowly. His particular... breed takes years to master how to do this. And then there is her mother. We've all figured out that she's a valkyrie by now, I'm sure." Her lips drew into a hard line, looking grim. "Valkyries do make their own energy, but if they do not release it by doing their job, it slowly drives them mad. They'll shape-shift without realizing it, they'll hallucinate, and they'll do anything they can to relieve the sort of... pressure building up in their blood from the intenseness of it."

Silennia was fully content leaning up against Keiran, with her cheek against his chest and sapphire orbs closed. Humming silently in her head and completely blocking everything out except for what she was registering as the man in front of her.

Kaleb wanted to interject with questions, but he was too tired. A sick feeling kept washing over him, making him feel as if he were about to vomit. Instead of talking, he repeatedly swallowed; trying to block out everything that destracted him from that small, simple task of holding himself together... and realizing just how weak he was in comparison to those around him. It was a depressing though, but he tried not to aggrevate himself with it further.

Korina became quiet, hoping that Keiran wouuld understand what she was saying. After a second, she said in a rather meek voice, "You need to pull away a person's life force... and she needs hers taken away. If either of you do not get what you need, you slowly go mad. There is no telling what could happen if one or both of you became too deprived."

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Damien had been resting when Mina left the room, and had uninteionally fallen asleep. The entire foundation seemed to shake, however, and it startled him awake; instantly reaching over and feeling for the spot where Mina should be... but wasn't. He swore under his breath. If Mina was gone and there was something dangerous or deadly happening, he knew she had to be a drastic part of it somehow. That was simply who the succubus was, and there would never be any changing it.

It didn't take long for him to find the room in which the chaos had started in, staring in as crimson, flaming wings erupted from Mina's back, reminding him of a phoenix making itself look bigger before a fight. And then... there was a child.

A child?