Demon Slave [NeonCat & WilyCoyote]

[NeonCat]

"Shh." He told her. "The servants said that he'll be taken care of. We just need to focus on getting out before something else finds us." He walked with a slight limp and tried his best to show much pain in his face. Although his apparent attention was else where, focused on escaping, he mentally would feel for Havanneh's weight and any movement to check if she was conscious or not. Making his way back through the entertainment room he found the hallway they had come down and started down the opposite way from whence they came originally. If he had built this castle there would be an escape door down here just in case something got out of hand and a quick exit was needed. At first his suspicion seemed wrong then he remembered that the door to get down here had been hidden, and so he started to push against the walls and on his forth try it gave away to another long hallway.

"Alright, now we're getting somewhere." He said more to himself than to Havanneh. The hallway was dark, but his demon eyes could see well enough, and eventually he saw the outline of a door that led to the outside. The sun was slipping through the cracks in the old wood. When he reached it he found it shut and locked, but with freedom so close he could taste it he stepped back and shifted his weight onto one leg and with the other kicked the wood hard enough to knock the door off it's hinges. On the outside it was completely covered in vines and a thicket. A perfect hiding spot, and concealment for their escape.

As he stepped out he could hear voices come from the main house in panic as the search for him continued and the discovery was made of Havanneh's disappearance and Griffus's death by a more faithful servant. "Well that didn't take long." Pressing forward he carried Havanneh for several hundred yards before collapsing onto his knees and gently setting her on the ground. "I need to stop. Your wounds will heal so you'll be fine, but mine..." He felt his chest where the stake had stabbed through and could feel blood soaking his shirt. The rune he had used didn't close the wound under the skin completely due to the nature of the spell that the stake had been laced with, and now with his strain it had reopened on the surface as well. His leg also he was pretty sure was busted up pretty bad and started to hurt more now that he had stopped. "Nah, I'll be ok." He said quietly.

[WileyCoyote]

"Something else?" she questioned, and though it was a pressing matter Havanneh was drifting in and out of awareness far too frequently to even try and insist an answer. Every so often she would come back just long enough to be sure she was still with Dante and then off she would fade. It wasn't until the sunlight, which was far to harsh for her eyes that'd been in the dim dungeon, was shining down on them that she stirred enough to keep awake, though probably not for long.

She was silently content for the time being. Though she missed how, they were free of that place, and it didn't seem anyone would be coming for them any time soon. As they went she tried to think of what there was to do now? Surely he didn't come all this way just to turn her in himself, but then why? What would they do now? If there were worse things than demons after them now as well where could they go? She had placed a hand over her eyes to shield them earlier but now she was stroking her temples in frustration. Nothing ever just added up simply around Dante. There was always some riddle or secret to unfold. Now isn't the time. she reasoned with herself, and that proved true enough when suddenly Dante fell to his knees and set her down. Reluctantly she let go of him, now using her arms to help her sit up straight.

"But yours?"A slight panic was evident on her face as she scanned the area around them. There may not have been in sight but the castle still wasn't far off. Focusing back on him she could see the wound in his chest from the stake gathering blood. When did that? She wondered, but looking at her hand that had been there only moments ago she realized she wouldn't have been able to distinguish his blood from her own anyhow. With a sigh she tried calming herself. They were concealed from anyone nearby, and no one would have reason to look here for them here anyhow. If they knew Dante broke in they would hopefully just assume they used magic to leave. Searching the grounds out this far would be extreme.

With the small amount of comfort gathered from that thought she could feel the tenseness leaving her quickly. Now all that was left was Dante. She couldn't know for sure if he was seriously hurt, and she wasn't sure he wouldn't be too proud to admit it if she asked. "Are you sure? Is it just your chest?" she questioned anyway. Looking around once more she was trying to find anything she could that might ease his pain. The variety of plants in their immediate area were few though, and even those she wasn't sure she recognized well enough to make any remedies with. If there was anything she could use she'd have to muster the strength to get up and go find them. Waiting for his answer she pushed on her arms every few moments or so, testing how far she might be able to go.

[NeonCat]

"Lets just stay here for a moment. If I can regain enough strength I can use a spell to get us away from here, but using my legs isn't going to work." Wincing, he re-positioned himself so that he was sitting against the trunk of a tree. When his weight settled against the bark he gave a sigh and closed his eyes for a second. For the first time in a very long time he could feel exhaustion weigh on him heavily, but he knew he couldn't sleep yet. If he did they would surely be found, and that was not going to happen. The demons might not think to check the surrounding area, but angels were very thorough and would most likely set up a perimeter that would reach them within a couple of hours.

Dante opened his eyes again and looked at Havanneh. "Come here." He said and outstretched his arm to her. Normally he would have just pulled her over to him, but in this circumstance he was unable to. When he spoke, as well, it was not the normal demanding tone, but just a simple instruction that almost sounded like a request.

[WileyCoyote]

A pained expression took over her features as the same flickered across Dante's face. She'd never seen him like this before and it was forming doubts in her mind for their safety. If them making it out depended on Dante being able to rebuild some energy for a while it must have meant he'd really been weakened. Eyeing him carefully as he rested against the tree she watched to see if he'd fall asleep. If so she could use the time to perhaps give the area a better look around for useful plants. Waiting for him to drift off she practiced shifting her weight more and more in anticipation for forcing herself up.

When he suddenly opened his eyes and held his arm out for her she couldn't help but flinch back. His voice had been calm, even rather kind to be his, but still she sat wide eyed contemplating it for a moment. During her time of capture and release she'd forgotten exactly what her situation was. She'd gone from bad to worse back to bad, and yet still, she didn't feel the urge to flee from him like she had before. After a moment she carefully inched herself over, slowly taking his arm for support as she did so. "Yes?" She questioned, shakily positioning herself just beside him.

[NeonCat]

He put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. "Why did you run away, Havanneh?" He asked, anger not yet in his voice. "I told you to go to the room for your own safety." While he spoke he drew careful symbols on the dirt next to him. The symbols were not in the usual language he wrote in, and his movement were slight enough for Havanneh not to notice.

A sound like a muffled explosion was heard behind them back at the castle, and the corner of Dante's lips curled into a smile. "I know I've wronged you as a human, but if its any consultation I was easy on you compared to others in the past." He knew his words would be less than comforting, but it was the truth. Another explosion was heard, and this time it was much louder.

"Despite what I've done to you I need you to trust me now. Both of our lives depend on it." He looked down into her eyes. "Whatever happens next, it's just an illusion." A figure walked around the trunk of the tree Dante was sitting against and lifted a shining metal object, a sword to swing down on the two. Just before it made contact with the couple a giant explosion of energy expanded out of Dante and hit the figure with such a force that it knocked him back and into a tree a few feet away. Afterward Dante's form changed to that of a true demonic entity. He had long black hair that went in every direction, giant feathered wings that seemed old and charred by fire. His eyes turned red and his hands turned into claws while his teeth became jagged points in his smiling mouth.

The figure that had attacked them raised white wings and yelled in fear as Dante gently moved to his feet, setting Havanneh in the ground. As the figure scrambled to get away Dante turned back around and scooped Havanneh back into his arms and with his wings flapped them until they were airborn. He did not however breach the forest canopy in fear of being spotted by others, but simply flew away while the other man went to sound an alarm.

As Dante flew with Havanneh he spoke in a strange voice. "This is just an illusion Havanneh." He reassured her.

[WileyCoyote]

"You wouldn't answer me.." she replied quickly and truthfully. "I thought you'd turn me over to whoever was after us. Or turn me into a demon." As he pulled her into him she felt herself getting self conscious all of a sudden. With her mind clearer than before, naked and stained in her own blood was probably not a good look, though still, she was reluctant to pull away. Instead she let herself move closer with his touch, her eyes set on his for any hint of anger that might follow.

The sound of the explosion in the distance threatened to steal her attention away but his next words were indeed entrancing. What was she supposed to feel? Happy he hadn't been as terrible to her as he'd been to the rest? That didn't feel like the point though. He seemed sincere, and what was that a hint of? Apologetic? No. He's exhausted, nothing more. she reasoned quickly, and with the sound of another, much closer explosion she let thoughts of him leave her completely.

"What is that? she was starting to say, but his words and the look in his eyes cut her short. "Trust you?" she said lowly, and more to herself than anything. What was he going on about now? And what was this coming for them? Those explosions certainly didn't sound like an illusion and surely wouldn't feel like one either if they got caught in it. She was ready to voice her building fear and confusion when what seemed to be an angel rounded the tree and raised a sword, ready to strike them both. In anticipation for the blow she instinctively clung to Dante, ducking her head into the side of his chest, but it never came, and when she turned back to see why not, the figure was now pulling itself from a tree. Unaware that Dante would have had the strength to defend them she turned to him but he was changing now. A scream caught in the back of her throat and presented itself as a low whimper. If he hadn't set her down she may have leapt from his arms. An illusion. Just an illusion. she kept telling herself as he picked her back up, but only the fear of falling kept her still in his grasp. She fought as hard as she could to quiet the truth forcing itself to the forefront of her mind; she just didn't want to think about it. If this was Dante's true form she'd prefer the lie, to herself and from him. "An illusion." she repeated, nodding in agreement, the words barely able to leave her lips.

As they flew she kept her eyes locked on his. Despite the fear they inevitably struck in her she couldn't look away. They evoked something more than that, stronger than that, but what was it? The longer they flew the tighter she felt herself clutching to him, as if he'd completely transform and disappear the moment she let go. "Dante?" she'd call every so often, just to hear he was still there.

[NeonCat]

It seemed that Dante flew for hours, but eventually he landed next to a house out in the middle of no where. There was no sign of life in the abandoned hut and the area was completely silent. As soon as his feet touched the ground the monster like form Dante had melted away leaving the still wounded and tired man from before. "See, I told you. Just an illusion." He smiled and set her down on her feet, but kept an arm around her to keep both of them steady. "Here, take this." He said and reached into his pocket and pulled out a small crystal like object. "It looks like a hard stone but you can crush it." He took her hand and placed it on her palm then folded her fingers around it. He squeezed slightly and the crystal cracked and broke in her hand and when it did a white smoke seeped out of her fingers and wrapped around her body. Once she was covered the dress that had been made for her covered her body and the blood had been cleaned away.

"I brought that knowing that you might need a change of clothes, and it turns out I was right." He straightened his shoulders a bit. "Normally I would leave you somewhere while I take care of this mess that we're now in, but those bastards aren't going to let that happen. So it turns out that you'll be stuck with me even while we travel." He took a deep breath. "That is unless you want to be captured again." He was trying to restore his composure, but wasn't doing such a good job. Though his words seemed a little harsh he still held onto her with a firm but gentle hand and didn't have his usual smug look on his face.

[WileyCoyote]

The time seemed to drag on forever. Every so often she would feel herself trying to drift off to sleep, but the fear snapped her back each time. As soon as they began their descent though she was immediately put at ease. Her eyes grew wide when they landed and Dante had returned to normal but the nagging feeling about just what he'd become was tucked away for now.

She eyed both him and the crystal suspiciously for a few moments, but when it shattered in her hand and the mist surrounded her she could feel herself being clothed. Even though she cracked a smile as the thought of Myra crossed her mind, she couldn't help but wish he'd given it to her sooner, but it was better than not at all, and she was just glad to have been cleaned. Thinking about it a little more though she probably would have preferred an actual bath, but she knew that was a luxury they probably couldn't afford right now. At least that's what she assumed looking at the little hut before them now. "Thank you." she said finally with a nod.

As he spoke she led them towards the house, frantic to get out of sight. The place was indeed in the middle of no where but that also meant there was nothing to conceal them. It was a good thing he'd been holding onto her because her knees went weak when he added his final words, suggesting she might want to be stolen again. She adjusted herself in the next moment though, trying her best to wipe the wince from her face and answer evenly. "I had not planned on it, no." she replied, a bit of anger detectable. As if that was something I asked for.

Pushing the door open with her free hand she led them forward. As soon as they entered though she let her grasp on him go, and began sinking towards the ground to get out of his as well. When she did she just sat there silently, too angry and a bit too afraid of the answer to ask if they'd be safe here for long. Letting her face fall into her hands she began envisioning her home now. "What I would do to see their faces again." she said in a whisper to herself.