August Hill

Shaiel

Ballow applied the healing salve Lazona had prepared to Shaiel's wounds, and the angel quickly learned that with healing came a price. His whole body went rigid for a minute while he bit down on the pain, grimacing. At the moment, he held several of his traveling companions very low in his esteem. Of course, the elves could be somewhat forgiven, as they would not have realised that Rason had a good side, but Ballow, Ringo and Lazona currently posed more than a small threat to his own safety, as it seemed.

Screams of anger and the sounds of a brief battle reached Shaiel's ears from the surrounding forest, and he bolted upright. "Damnit! They can't kill him!" He shouted, to no one in particular.

One of the elves sneered, "Oh, why? Do you have some better reason to be killing Daemon?"

He turned on her with a snarl, "Vengeance, the same as everybody else, except I also need to protect you all from Rason."

"We seemed to do fine against him this time." Someone said.

"Next time he'll be more prepared though. He won't try any flashy tricks, he'll just kill anyone who he wants to." He shook his head, "And if someone other than him kills Daemon, Rason will feel compelled to kill them in order to prove that he is the strongest. We have to go. We have to find him now."

Raesa

Raesa staggered. She was exhausted, and her extremities felt like lead. Raesa backed up a few steps, and leaned against a tree for support. Raesa closed her eyes briefly, trying to suppress the feeling of bitter disappointment.

She had missed. It wasn't Daemon lying on the ground, it was some nameless minion of Daemon's. And Raesa didn't have enough energy left in her to produce another bolt of energy like that. To even to attempt to summon any magic might kill Raesa at this point.

But then Vashhun had to say it. One simple word that brought Raesa's fragile, straightforward world come crashing down.

Father.

Raesa's eyes shot open. Vashhun was kneeling over the fallen man, hot tears flowing down his face. Raesa straightened, horrified.

"No...." she moaned, her eyes wide. That man couldn't be Vashhun's father! He couldn't be!

Vashhun gripped the man's hand fervently. Vashhun's next words were lost in the crackling of the fire. But Raesa could guess what he said, even as Vashhun laid the man's hand gently. Daemon swooped up behind him.

"He is not dead," said Daemon reassuringly. Raesa blinked. Why was Daemon talking to Vashhun as - as one would a friend? "I can help him, but not here. He protected me, so I will try to help him."

Raesa staggered onto her feet again. "No," she hissed. Vashhun's father could not have helped Daemon.

Vashhun looked up at Raesa. He staggared into a standing position in front of Raesa.

"I-I, I can't let you... kill him," Vashhun panted. Raesa's eyes widened.

"Vashhun, don't talk, you're hurt..." Raesa stuttered, trying to ignore Vashhun's last comment.

"You can't kill him," repeated Vashhun. The pain was evident in his voice. Raesa saw Lazona's hand grip Vashhun's shoulder roughly.

"Sit down," Lazona spat. "Now, before I force you to."

Raesa staggered toward Lazona. "Lazona," she babbled frantically. "Is is the potion, right? The potion is addling his brain?"

Lazona glared at Raesa. "I have no idea," she spat.

Vashhan

"The potion has been doing nothing to me." The pain was easing away slowly but surely. Vashhan was getting more strength, standing taller and broader. "I can't let you kill Daemon." He spoke the words and they seemed foreign to his own mouth. He felt himself quiver, and look at the ground, trying to order his own emotions on the matter. This was all going by to quickly.

At that moment, Akira and Nadira leapt into the clearing. Akira tranformed and his face dropped and his eyes started to water but he wiped them away. He ran over to Malik and looked over him, with the gruesome wounds and the small staggered breaths. Vashhan knew what he was feeling. The dreaded feeling he had never wanted to feel. his other half was dying and he too was dying inside.

"This can't be." Akira hissed. "Would did this?"

Nadira trandformed into a human and gracefully walked over to the dying corspe of her father. She closed her eyes and stepped backward and stumbled. "The attack is a magic one."

"You!" Akira yelled pointing at Raesa bitterly. "It was you!" He stepped forward blindly at her, his hand outstretched, his eyes pleading. "Why?" The very word was spoken yet transmitted all through the minds of the surrounding people. "Why the hell would you do something so foolish! That was Malik! Malik is dying! And it was you!"

"Akira," Vashhan stepped forward awkwardly and grabbed his shoulder. "Get Malik out of here."

"He is going to die anyways." Akira spat at the ground.

Daemon spoke eloquently stepping forward also. "Akira, take him back to the underground. I will meet you there after this is done, and I will save him. Don't kid with something this... feeble." Daemon gestured over at Raesa. "He will not live here if not treated. Our healers will help him. Do it. It is an order."

"Yes sir."

Nadira got up and looked at Vashhan confused, she stepped towards him but he briskly oushed away. "They told me to come." Nadira felt a quiver go through her heart.

"Well you shouldn't have come." He felt the dread of saying those words, yet right now he wished to have nothing with anyone. He wanted to run, but he couldn't. He wished to fight, and the only person he could at the moment was Raesa.

Daemon stepped towards Raesa, and alarm shuddered through Vashhan and he crept forward beside him following Daemon's piercing gaze at the girl.

"I believe I do know who this Thalia you are speaking of." Vashhan watched in horror as Daemon smiled again. "She tried the same thing as you, yet I wasn't as merciless. I killed her. I think I shall do the same with you."

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~Incognito

Shaiel

He'd raced ahead of the others in a desperate attempt to save them all from Rason. Daemon held no fear for him, indeed, if Rason had his way with the world, he would probably do worse things to it than Daemon could imagine. So Shaiel had to satisfy the demon in him for the time being, had to make sure that no one else caught his eye as a worthy opponent.

The angel was almost relieved to see that Daemon was still standing after the bright burst of energy that had engulfed the forest. The human was facing Raesa, reaching for his sword, ""I believe I do know who this Thalia you are speaking of." Daemon smiled as he drew his weapon, "She tried the same thing as you, yet I wasn't as merciless. I killed her. I think I shall do the same with you."

Shaiel let himself drop from the tree, hitting the ground beside Raesa. Lazona's healing ointment had revitalised him well, but he was still aching all over from it, and likely wouldn't be able to operate at his full strength. Even so, Daemon might hesitate to attack if numbers were against him.

Daemon's eyes half-narrowed as they settled on Shaiel, then his smile curved up even more, "The half-breed, yes? I remember seeing you at August Hill, angel. Moments before your transformation. Your other half cost me many good soldiers. Are you now going to stand against me again?"

Shaiel nodded once, "You've killed too many innocents to go without punishment." He drew a spear made purely of light from the air and stepped forward, "My question to you is this, though. Will you really risk another unleashing of my brother? Because he's of even less mind than I am to spare your life at the moment."

Vashhan

"Don't!" Vashhan hissed stepping inbetween Daemon and Shaiel. "I can't let you." The potion had returned his strength and agility, but Vashhan knew what had truly happened. The potion was not completed, only just set aside the poison. He needed Nadira, but he could not do something like that now, with his father's savior so close to death.

"What are you doing Vashhan?" Nadira hissed grabbing his arm. He pushed her off sending her sprawling.

"I am protecting father."

"Like a good son should." Daemon explaimed a broad smile spreading across his face. "Remember, it is only I who can save him."

"Shaiel, if you wish to kill Daemon, you must kill me first." And before everyone's eyes, Vashhan morphed half-way, his nails elongated, his canines enlarged and sharpened, his eyes had become feral. His skin had toughened and he felt the force of his other form rush through him once more. Part of him called to tranform into a human, but the other half called for him to turn back into a wolf. But here he was at his strongest, at mid-way point.

Shaiel had hesitated at the familiar face, but sooned his face hardened and he spoke. "You really don't have to do this. Let me kill Daemon, he killed your people." His words came out softly.

"That is what I thought, but it seems that the actual truth was buried a little closer to home." Vashhan spoke. "I cannot let this man die. Not just yet. I will not be known for not trying to help my father. Fight me. I will only let you pass if my blood is shed and I can live no more."

"So it seems." Shaiel said in nearly a whisper.

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~Incognito

Shaiel

The angel bowed his head for a long moment, seeming to draw back into himself. He muttered quietly, but the words were clearly intended for his other half alone. Not even Vashhun, with his augmented hearing, would be able to pick up the words.

Rason's reply came clear in his mind a moment later, the demon's tone serious for once, rather than half-crazed or menacing, You know my thoughts, and I know yours. Daemon must die. He cannot be allowed to escape.

Shaiel's eyes opened again, filled with determination. Beneath that, there lay something akin to sadness or regret as he looked Vashhun in the eye. Light spun in a tight ray near his hand, and he gripped onto it, his will forcing it into the shape of a sword. A slight heat haze, as well as the blinding whiteness of the blade itself, prevented seeing any kind of detail to the sword.

"W-wait!" Raesa said, stepping forward, "What're you doing? Y-you can't!"

"I have to." Shaiel said, dropping into a crouch, sword held bfore him. Surprisingly, there was no laughter, no manic jeering from Rason. The demon understood the gravity of the situation - Shaiel was actually forcing himself to kill someone other than Daemon. He understood, as well as Shaiel and Vashhun, that if Vashhun was going to protect their enemy, it could only end with the death of one of them. If not now, then later.

Raesa

Raesa stared at Shaiel, disbelievingly. She glanced frantically at Vashhun, then back at Shaiel. Shaiel moved forward a step, brandishing his sword distastefully.

"Vashhun, I'm going to ask you one more time to move."

"I cannot."

"So be it."

"So be it."

The launched at each other. Raesa gave a wail of terror.

"Stop it!" she screamed. "Stop! Stop!"

Raesa wanted to cover her eyes, to run away. She couldn't. If either of the two fell, Raesa needed to know immediately. More now than ever, Raesa regretted spending all of her magic on that one attack. If she had her magic, Raesa would conjure a shield around Vashhun, or a bind around Shaiel. She'd do anything, anything to prevent this.

The worst part was, Raesa knew how it would end. She'd either watch Vashhun die, or she'd watch Vashhun commit murder.

Things looked grim, either way.

Raesa glanced at Lazona. She was shaking, her eyes closed and grimacing. Raesa knew she was feeling the tremors. Lazona needed to help Vashhun before she could help herself. And the only way for her to be able to help Vashhun was by ending the battle. And the only way to end the battle was for one of the two to be incapacitated.

"Raesa," Lazona croaked suddenly. "Get my bag."

"Are you okay?"

"Shut up and get my bag. Of course I'm not 'okay'..." Lazona shuddered again, closing her eyes briefly. Raesa grabbed Lazona's bag off of the ground.

"What do you want me to get?' asked Raesa frantically. Lazona opened a bleary eye at her.

"I hate you. Let's get that straight now. You caused this," she hissed. "You have no idea what you are doing."

Raesa bit her lip. "Lazona, I didn't - "

Lazona shook herself. "Never mind. Get my acid," she snapped. Raesa gulped. She searched the bag quickly, finally pulling out the familiar bile-colored liquid.

Another tremor shook Lazona. "Pour it," she spat at Raesa, her hands clenched into fists. "All of it. On the halfling. Get the Lycanthrope here. Quickly."

Raesa swallowed again. "Shaiel won't - "

Lazona gave a frustrated growl. "I don't know, Raesa," she snapped. "And I don't particularly care. Just do it."

Raesa took a shuddering breath. She turned back to face the bloodshed before her. Shaiel had pinned Vashhun to the ground, and was lifting his weapon for the last time against Vashhun. Vashhun's borrowed strength already seemed to have failed. Raesa ran up to them blindly. With a desperate cry, she emptied the bottle on Shaiel's back.

** I hope this is okay - Just to protect myself - Raesa didn't kill Shaiel - Lazona may have exagerated the power of the acid earlier, because that's just her style. Shaiel may be injured, but Lazona is a powerful healer, and would probably help in some way. Also, once Raesa gets an ounce of her power back, she'd probably siphon any remaining acid off of Shaiel to prevent and further damage.

And, if this post is totally unacceptable, I can always delete it.

Vashhan

Shaiel lurched off of him, obviously feeling the pain of the acid. A drop of the fluid dripped off of him and landed eloquently onto Vashhan's vest, and Vashhan watched the acide burn right through the animal hide, and right into his flesh burning. Again at that moment, the poison once more kicked in, making Vashhan cringe in pain, he became feverish and anything he tried to see was blurred.

"R-Raesa." he spoke, reaching out to find her. Soon he felt a cold touch on his hand and a small squeeze. "Raesa..." Vashhan breathed again.

"Lazona, come here and help him!" Raesa called. Vashhan could barely distinguish what she had said. She had said more, but it seemed that he could not hear. He watched her mouth move, until his closed his eyes in pain.

He felt a sudden sharp twinge on his wrist, he would have called it pain before but nothing compared to this burning intensity. Everything was dull including his senses. He breathing caught, and he felt his heart beat an irregular beat. He must not die. He must not let Daemon die.

Nadira

She watched in horror as Vashhan squirmed in pain. His voice came out raspy as he called out Raesa's name. It sounded like he had not drank water in years. Just the sound of his voice made her long to help him.

A drilling sensation went through her, almost a warning that Vashhan was truly at the brink of death. She had been feeling this all the time, but she had never took the time to notice. At this moment, she could be standing at Vashhan's death bed without even knowing it. What was her last words to him? More over what was his last words to her? The memory slipped back painfully.

Well you shouldn't have come.

She watched as Raesa restrained him, sweat coating him, and watched as Lazona grabbed his hand and slashed his wrist open, blood squirting out lightly. It almost seemed like they were going to bleed him of the poison. But then Lazona looked at Nadira pleadingly.

Nadira did not even need a second thought. She leapt to Lazona's side and sliced her palm open and held it out to Lazona who seemed to be tremoring. She was feeling the exact same feelings that Nadira herself was going through.

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Heh. Blood Transfusions. Any of you can decide how they will get Nadira's, intainted blood into his blood stream.

~Incognito

Ballow and Ringo

Ringo had skipped ever slowly to where the battle was happening, or had happened. Ballow was all but dragging him alone, hand held tightly around his wrist. Then they happened upon Nadira who's palm was thoroughly sliced, and Vashhan would appeared to be dying.

They stared in silent incomprehension at first, a hesitation occurred, Ringo seemed a little stung for a second then Ballow nodding, they reacted immediately. Ringo with a smile had pulled one of his daggers from his belt and completely dug it through Nadira's hand and Lazona's.

Ballow copied the movement except doing it to Vashhan and to both hands, Vashhan was whimpering and sweating fiercely. Then after they had done they slapped the two separate hands of the counterparts together with Vashhan's, blood pooling out and making a horrible sticky splush sound.

The Ringo began to pump the blood from one Nadira's hand to Vashhan's and Lazona's blood to Vashhan as well. As blood is nearly made entirely out of water, but with other elements in it, it was more dragged into Vashhan's system then flowing freely.

Ballow watched, and concentrated, a vein throbbing on his forehead, a scowl on his face as he waited for his turn to act. Ballow then decisively slashed his blade across Vashhan's, blood began to flow at fast velocity out of his grounded leg.

It was a sickly brown colour instead the the usual crimson liquid. After a while Nadira and Lazona had gone pale and white and just as sweaty as Vashhan had been, but Vashhan was quickly regaining colour. The blood seeping from his leg was slowly turning back to normal.

Ringo instantly stopped and handed all their hands over to Ballow, he took a wobbly step back and watched in a frozen state. Ballow nodded and as Ringo drew up some water from the ground, Ballow steamed their wounds closed. A clean burn of sorts. He repeated his action to Vashhan's leg.

Ringo smiled as he pushed the dizzy Nadira onto her side, "You have so eloquently dedicated yourself to this therefore, you will accept what your actions have given you. Now, if you die I want you to inform me so I can throw you away."

Nadira gained some colour as anger grew in her. Ballow had completed his part, all of the holes in their hands steamed back together. He nodded and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and let out a sigh, "You'll heal."

Ringo smiled and gave her a kick before helping Ballow to stand and punching him straight on the jaw, "Never save another person's life, you hear?"

"You did it." he retorted anger dry on his voice.

"You understand that that is not the sooth version and you know it!" he yelled, voice shrill. Ballow swallowed, his face suddenly pale, life seemed to seep from him at that very second, "Sorry."

Then Ballow fell down next to the three others, his face white like a ghosts. Ringo's smile slipped off as he began to mutter obscenities. Ringo looked as if he hadn't even used an ounce of his magic. And in truth, he really hadn't. Ballow began to moan.

** Woah, woah, woah, woah - It was VASHHUN who needed Nadira's blood, not Lazona - Lazona just needed to help Vashhun because of the Ultimate Plea -

*LOL! I'm so sorry! I skipped ahead WAY too many posts, and then I read through them after I wrote it and posted. I hope it makes a little more sense after I edited it (more than once). I apologise profusely for being so lazy. Please forgive me!*

** I noticed that! Nadira was feeling tremors because of Vashhan close to death, and Lazona was having tremors because the Ultimate Plea and Vashhan was dying and she wasn't able to help him... I am pretty sure Lazona wasn't bleeding.

~Incognito

*Eeeek! Please forgive me! I didn't realise how bad I stuffed up! I hope it makes a little more sense now. Sorry for the really big stupid mix up. I have learnt my lesson, I will now ALWAYS read ALL the posts before doing mine. Please forgive me!*

**Ligh_Devil, it is a simple mistake. I have done it plenty of times! We forgive you. it doesn't really at all matter.

Nadira

She was incredibly light headed and felt herself falling bakwards. She landed heavily with a thud and curled over because of the pain the outlined her spine. All her muscles and bones ached, and small layer of cold sweat had broken across her skin, but she no longer felt the sudden tremors of her partner. He would live. He would be strong.

She watched as his fists clenched with strength and he ambled slowly upwards unaffected because he did not loose any of his blood. He seemed to looked shocked at what had just happened. No pain what so ever. Nadira couldn't help but smile. She wished with all her might to get up and hug him when he was in this bemused state. She wished to reasure him that he would feel that pain no longer.

But she could not move or speak. She was blatantly to weak. And she just watched him get to his feet, strength returned, a jagged scar across his wrist and leg, but it seemed he did not care. His attention went fully towards Raesa and Lazona right away.

A pang of jealousy shuddered through her, and she closed her eyes. She did not wish to see what was going to happen because she already knew. Their connection was to strong. Exhaustion pulled her into a black void, undemising, no stopping it. Soon she too would loose consciousness.

The last thing she heard was a loud cackle of laughter coming from that demonic man. The man who had salvaged their father, leaving them to think he was dead. The laugh haunted her in her dreams as she fell asleep leaving the rest of the consequences to those around her.

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~Incognito

Ummm... could someone please pull me in again?