The Echoes of Aethra

  Part 2: Sinner Saint Juxtapose

  ~

  Was that me or you?

  Oh...

  It must be me.

  Looking into the reflection, myself looks back.

  She smiles, as does he.

  One is two, for a mirror; just a reflection it shows.

  So to my(their) puzzlement,

  why do I(they) smile?

  As I(they) smile at myself...

  As I(they) look into me...

  Am I not frowning?

  Am I not looking into my own eyes?

  I guess I too am just a reflection.

  This unknown image...

  Is me(them).

  This heart of mine is broken. I feel nothing but the bitter.

  I frown. I cry. I pout.

  They smile. They laugh. They cheer.

  Frozen in this moment, I look deep within.

  I find a stranger.

  Not the one in the mirror.

  Not this one the same as I.

  The looking glass laughs.

  My face breaks the mirror.

  The pieces...

  the shards fall away.

  Within them, I see myself.

  In the myriad dust of eternities reflection,

  the light showing the truth, and the lies...

  I see their faces.

  I see their truths.

  For there is more than one of us all. Both real, both false.

  Both denied, and accepted.

  My feet now bleed. The glass… the shards… when did I step upon them?

  When did I drop to my knees? When did this truth, this blood, reflect more than the light?

  When did I begin to weep?

  …

  Oh. Oh, now I see.

  I am the one within the glass.

  I am the one that was shattered.

  I am not the one to bleed, but the one to wound.

  I caused this.

  They caused this.

  We caused this.

  My world now broken, I know not the truth.

  Reality.

  That is the now.

  Reflection gone, no way to see within or without…

  Rage. Anger. Pain.

  Blood.

  Among the links that bind these shards of glass...

  I am the only one to weep.

  ~The Weeping Glass

  ~Feldyn Goldchord, the Endless Bard

  * * *

  Suffocating.

  Crushing.

  Terror, confusion, the waves disorienting, the current tugging her down.

  Yet there was no water, was there?

  As she felt the engulfing, drowning darkness break, her delicate throat gasped air. Caleb knew without the man next to her, she would have drowned. His large hand holding Caleb's thin arm tightly. There was no chance of slipping. Of falling into the depths of the Void

  “He needs us!” Caleb heard herself shout to the man at her side.

  'Where is this? Why am I a girl?'

  Those were questions not asked as the man at Caleb's side shouted back to her,

  “We have to get you out of here! She’s more important than any of us!” he cried over the deafening silence.

  'She? Oh... I'm pregnant. How... curious. I'm pregnant. Pregnant with... a girl.'

  Again, she was engulfed. Though, in the deep pondering state of a dream, Caleb could not help but ponder deeper. Deep as this darkness she tried to not drown in. And she knew the words -ZZVBT- spoke were true. Caleb knew the baby in her womb, the child that would one day save them all, was more important than even the suffering of a friend she loved so dearly.

  When the solidity of the nothing fell from her face once more, Caleb again breathed deeply. The only part of the Void that held air. Her hands flailed, reaching for the debris, the something, that floated, that existed along the top of the depths.

  -VZRRT- was yelling for her to calm down, as he held her arm. To not panic. But how could she? They were all but submerged in the Void and -BRZZFT- was so far away! He meant to stay behind! He meant to allow her and -FFZZT- to escape! Caleb knew in her heart that he was right. As long as the Dragonheart survived, as long as she was born and grew into the hero she was destined to be, nothing else mattered!

  'What? Dragonheart? She? … Who am I? Those two men... I… know them? Their names… why… can't…'

  Darkness. Cold. She was in the Birchric of the Void.

  'She… was… not… me. No… This was.. the memory... of... another. But... Who am… I? ... So real... Who...'

  Despair. The lapping waves of nothing, crashing and rolling. The rift was going to close! They would be trapped here! She looked at -ZZTCK-, seeming so far away now. How cruel to leave him here! But Caleb knew he would survive! This was -ZKKBT-! If anyone could handle the Birchric, it was him! Even if it took ten thousand years, he would still be here! She believed this! She had to!

  She cried out to the one they were abandoning to the darkness. She cried out a promise, a vow to the man that was to suffer for the fate of the world! A promise for the future of the baby in her womb!

  “She'll come back for you! The Dragonheart will come back for you!”

  * * *

  Caleb woke with a gasp, his heart slamming. He was cold, confused, and… soaked? For a moment he thought that dream might have been real. That he had not awoken at all. It was dark. So wet. So wrong. But now he felt pain. Like every muscle had been beaten from his waist to his neck. The memories of that dream had already began to fade. He didn’t want to forget it. The angel had no such concerns.

  'We have more pressing matters to attend to,' the voice in his head stated, as the boy tried his best to think of nothing but that dream; trying -and failing- to hold onto the feelings that had been so lucid. So very real.

  Nameless was not dealing with any more melodrama. He had violated enough rules, no reason not to continue at this point. Since the boy was practically ignoring any of his faculties besides whatever he was struggling to retain within his subconscious; taking a hold of the part of his mind to control his muscles and causing his torso to jerk, was quite easy. The pain from his injuries was incredible, and Caleb immediately forgot everything; his scream was breathless and silent.

  'I am sorry Caleb, but you need to focus. We do not have time for you to fall into another of your emotional pity parties.' The teen gasping, trying to recover from the pain, he still felt the angel was a dick. Nameless, of course, knew this. As well as the boys concern he had injured him worse. 'And what exactly would make me want aggravate your injuries? For your information, you are healing faster than a human should be able to.' At least that sunk into the boys mind a bit. 'I truly am sympathetic and know what you are feeling. But we are not yet out of danger. And if we die here, we can save no one!'

  Surprising the angel, Caleb understood, calmed, and cautiously began to sit up. “How long was I out?”

  'Not long, though it is hard for me to tell. Just shy of an hour is my best guess.' It was dark, and raining. Dark enough Caleb knew he shouldn’t be able to see as well as he could. 'Peculiar, isn’t it? I am not certain why, but you appear to have gained more than the ability to put your fist through a mans helmeted head.'

  There was a peel of mundane lightning, briefly illuminating the sky.

  'You should be able to stand. Your muscles are injured, though at the rate they are healing, it will hinder you little.' Caleb could not only hear, but also feel the words from the angel. He didn’t ponder such long, instead his thoughts going to his friends, and if they were okay. He wondered if the angel knew- 'I do not,' Nameless replied, before Caleb could properly think the question. 'And where I say that I do not know, that only applies to the group as a whole. Gigi is alive. So is Reba, and Stryker,' the angel sounded odd when mentioning Stryker, but Caleb dismissed it. Too much going on to over-think. 'Feldyn, and the tikirin, should also be alive, unless something killed them after they left. Masque, Ally and John, I know no more than you. Same for the fate of most of our foes. Though my assumption is they were routed, killed, or fled, since we have thus far remained unmolested.'

  Standing with a groan, he bent and stretched, checking his range of motion. He was sore as all fuck. Not to mention stiff in the neck and shoulder. Nothing he couldn't handle though. Walking towards the down-slope on the side opposite where he had come up, Caleb wondered what a tikirin was -and Nameless inserted the answer in his head unprompted.

  Rolling his eyes, Caleb was still glad his thoughts were again his own, even with the angelic hitchhiker. And having the demon gone, a sort of passive mental nausea he had not even been aware of, was also now gone. He almost felt like himself. Almost. The image of his little girl eviscerated flashed in his mind. Stepping wrong he almost fell, and grabbed a piece of a destroyed stump, his torso twisted violently and all his soreness screamed.

  Which was nothing compared to the shame and guilt. The guilt alone was an agony surpassing the physical, allowing him to brush off his pain, and continue carefully down the muddy and slippery slope. 'You are handling things well,' Nameless complimented, as Caleb again replayed the brutal murder of little Aiya in his mind.

  This year he had made the worst decisions of his life. He soiled himself spiritually and physically with a witch. Seduced, and emotionally raped Ally. Betrayed friends. Destroyed the innocence of children. Caused the death of so many. Even sweet Jessie, who’s death was not directly his fault, he still felt responsible for. Same for the entire town… On top of it all, because of him, Pazely had been taken away again. This time alongside Bryan. Lives he had known, grown up being surrounded by, had been snuffed out. His entire home town destroyed.

  A little girl screamed from below, and there was no doubt in his mind who it was. Why he could tell just from her scream, he couldn't say, but he was positive it was the Iiyni. Hearing the imp cry out again, the sound broke his heart; the child demon's eyes flashing through his memory. Eyes of one who was truly alone. 'Of course you ignore the fact she nearly killed Ally and Feldyn. Or the fact the abduction of Pazely and Bryan was more than likely her fault. She has actively played a role in all the death and destruction you so bemoan, and God only knows how much innocent blood is on her hands.'

  “I don't care,” Caleb said out loud. 'You do not care?'

  “We all make mistakes. How many are dead because of me?”

  'It is not the sa-'

  “Isn't it?!”

  Clenching fists, and stomping a foot, he was determined to make the voice -the angel- understand! Right now, if Caleb couldn’t believe he could help someone, anyone, then there was a very good chance he wasn’t going to make it. The angel sighed heavy and dramatic in the boys mind. Exceedingly so, if you take into account he had no actual lungs to breathe with. 'Could you not just save a puppy? Perhaps not step on one of the many maggots, or other insects at your feet? This is a demon, Caleb. A demon.' Nameless made sure the boys mind remembered more than just his own guilt, or the events that effected him personally. Memories like the small child and his grandmother being consumed by a giant spider the night of the blood moon, and a Hell gate opening not far from where they now stood, in the mud, and rain.

  “Why are angels such assholes?” Caleb felt nor heard a reply as his heart pounded, and knees shook from the vivid forced memories of the pure evil of recent events. “On TV, in books, even video games. It never matters, the stereotypical angel is always an asshole. Self righteous. Judgmental. Why? Why are the servants of God such fucking dicks?” He waited a few seconds, to no reply; feeling rather bad about his anger induced language.

  Caleb knew he was comparing fiction to reality. He had no more right to judge this angel, than the angel did him. Nor did he want the judgmental, rude, thing in him any more than it wanted to be there. But this was his body, and his mind, dammit! HIS!

  Reaching the bottom of the slope he once again remembered the face of his daughter. Of looking into her eyes. And he froze. That innocent baby… that would never know her daddy’s arms… that he would never get to hold.

  Thunder rolled, rain crashed. There was no lightning.

  … He was freezing.

  'The Echoes of Aethra.' It was the angels turn to not hear nor feel anything in reply, though he knew the boy was listening. 'Christ forgive me if I am wrong, oh may he forgive me simply for the notion- however, if I am right, if you are right... Iiyni might be able to be saved.' This time, the angel had the boys full attention.

  * * *

  Feldyn had wasted no time in rushing to the fallen demon. She was still unconscious when he made it back down, Lance cradled in his arms. Looking all about, there was nothing immediately helpful. He needed to find a way to to hurt that vile abomination, but most importantly a way to contain her. And then hurt her. To make her scream. Suffer. Forcing the creature to give him information, before sending her to the fires of Hell she calls home.

  Hurriedly searching farther, he entered the artificial canyon. It was mostly destroyed by a combination of what looked like a battle, and the massive land upheaval when the shield shattered. Despite his worry, he quickly found something, and his heart soared. A holding collar! Feldyn was no mage or arcanist, but he understood the rudimentary concept of how they functioned, knowing a basic incantation or two that should work. He was not uneducated, just -as the Professor said- uninspired.

  The runes inscribed on this one… were for humans. Which were the most simple to alter to apply to other beings. Only, this collar was broken. Checking, he found the remains of two more, also broken. Swearing, Feldyn began kicking papers, and what appeared pieces of shelving- when he heard a clink. At his right foot was a holding collar, lying atop some papers without a scratch on it. He was sure that hadn't been there a moment ago.

  “Lance...” he said softly. It was his fault Lance was injured. To ask him to do anything at all, let alone expend more energy… His small friend began to lift his head, failed, then on a second attempt, looked up weekly at the bard. “The lead imp still lives,” Feldyn explained, holding the collar for the tikirin to see “My friend, can ye engrave this with runes to bind her?” With a squeaked meow that startled the bard, Lancetron Que Delimitrix focused his eyes on the collar.

  A small red beam of energy began emitting from the air in front of Lance's eyes, creating a thin stream of smoke from where the beam touched the metal. Feldyn slowly turned the collar, as his friend wrote the runes. Sustaining such a strong, and pin-point focused psionic beam took a concentration the bard couldn't imagine having. And not for the first time he was proud of his familiar. His best friend.

  Lance fell asleep on his forearm immediately on completion, Feldyn already rushing back to the fallen imp. She was still there! Thank the Lord! Looking around for some type of shelter, it was now raining fairly heavily, and he noticed an opening. The landslide hadn't filled in a portion of the structure in front of the Rock.

  “Feldyn!” His heart leapt when he heard her voice. Then it sank slightly with renewed guilt, remembering how he had left them. “Ally!” Feldyn called turning to see her and John, looking no more rough (though significantly wetter) than when he had seen them last. The two were hurrying over some rubble, Ally carrying a long black flashlight. She shown the light briefly on a mound of earth and stone not so far away, that had risen in the quake when the barrier came down. It was almost as large as the Rock, if not more sheer.

  “John! Help me move her!” Feldyn urged the old man. John, assuming it was Pazely, blanched when Ally focused the flashlight on the imp, laying prone and unmoving. “Why? Where are the others?” John inquired, now noticing the beaten pink and white tikirin resting on the half-elves forearm. “Caleb is alive, unconscious and injured, but alive. He is atop the Rock. No more dangerous there than here,” Feldyn defended with a shrug as the two glared at him. “Quickly John, before she wakes! We must bind her to a wall! Inside, here!” Delaying no further, John balanced his staff against himself, leaning and lifting the tiny ('my God, she feels frail and delicate as a human child') demon into his arms. Easily carrying her and his staff inside the disaster caused lean-to-cave.

  “Have you seen Masque?” Ally asked, coming in last. She was looking around at everything. Her and John had been carefully making their way to the Rock when the barrier came down, and the land upheaved all around them. John had told her to be on guard, that they would be under attack at any moment. The Order, he had said. Yet nothing. Just rain, lightning, more rain, and thunder.

  The two had argued a bit if they should head back to Stryker and the two girls, or follow after Feldyn. When Ally took off in the soaking gloom towards the Rock, John had half a mind to let her go alone. But when he heard her cry out, he chased after. She had tripped on a flashlight. Just laying in the middle of the only thing that could be considered a path in the now jungle of dirt, asphalt and stone. Ally seeming as puzzled as the old man. Turning it on, it had shown brightly. She gave John a look that dared to him say it was a coincidence. And once again, against his better judgment, he followed the direction of a child. And now, after far too much climbing, here they were; helping secure a demon to a wall in a cave created by a landslide.

  “I have seen no sign of him nor the Vampire Queen." Feldyn saw she was about to ask more, and he reflexively lied, "nor any, aside from… this infernal whore.” The anger in his voice was real, at least, and partially directed at himself. He had lied about Pazely and Bryan without even a thought, not wanting to risk her reaction to the truth. Feldyn knew better. He knew Ally could handle it. He knew she wouldn't break. Yet he did what he had been doing to them this entire time- He lied.

  Trying to focus on something that mattered, namely the demon. Feldyn handed Lance to Ally, and then placed the U shaped collar over the imps neck, who was being held by John high enough to be at eye-level once bound. The collar was far too large to fit her properly; which mattered little, as it should shrink to fit once Feldyn used the command words. There were mundane words that could be used to activate runes, though Feldyn did not know any.

  Assuming the generic command to activate most demon warding would work, Feldyn opened himself to mana, and pooled it forcefully. He didn’t need much more than a spec, but mana on Earth was so very thin, he didn’t want to risk not using enough. “Elliga-bis prea-nihi prodeno dinium,” he spoke, releasing the mana from his mouth. He never was good at incantations, nor controlling his mana intake and output. The flare from the runes, no backlash, and flash from (presumably a manastorm) outside, signed he had succeeded. And timed perfectly. Iiyni'jeari'eea's eyes opening at the same moment the storm flashed, and the collar tightened around her neck.

  John -who was holding the child-creature aloft by her waist- had looked towards the cave opening, and got kneed in the head. Positive she had just killed him, he was stunned to discover he was still alive, and the attack had done little more than possibly a mild concussion. All things considered, that was quite the blessing. Feldyn punched the imp from the side, not wanting to crack her head against the wall. Her innate abilities to heal should remain intact, but he didn't want to lose time waiting.

  “Ouch!” the imp complained. “Ass!” She got slapped across the face from the bard, who smiled smugly. “Language,” he lectured. ‘Language,’ Iiyni'jeari'eea mouthed at him with an exaggerated mocking expression.

  She may be acting casual and pissy, but the imp was struggling to to figure out what was happening, fear lacing her thoughts. Last thing she remembered, that nerdy bitch-boy had saved her while she was flipping the fuck out. By far her most pathetic moment ever. Then he did something... Oh yeah! He punched her in the face! Must have powered it up somehow. Ugh for being weakened. Fuck her cunt of an aunt times three, because now she was bound to a wall before fag-elf, the priest, and slut face.

  Trying to piece things together, the only explanation she could come up with for the current situation was X'al'antra had been taken out. Though the tard squad killing X'al'antra was a bit hard to fathom. Who else could have done it? The Order? If so, where the fuck were they? Had they allied with these supposed Esseff twats, and were out cleaning shit up?

  “I have questions, demon. And you will answer them,” the bard told her. She sighed, obnoxious and theatrically. “Why not? Looks like I lost. Might as well grant ya three wishes. Care to give me a rub first?” She winked, and flipped him off with her left hand, right hand holding onto the collar. Feldyn ignored the attitude. They were in a hurry, and if she went along with things, all the better.

  This was Ally’s first chance to get a good look at the monster that had almost killed her. And the teen girl was transfixed. The demon did appear to be a fair skinned Asian girl, of maybe ten years old, and she didn’t see any Pazely resemblance her friends seemed to. The imp wore a two piece black bikini so skimpy, even Ally wouldn’t have had the guts to wear it. The demon rocked it though. Her face was pretty. Ally would go so far as calling her cute, in an attractive way. Though there were soime weirdnesses.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  On the demons forehead, along her hair line, veins pulses and squirmed, like thin worms just below the surface. Her teeth were jagged and cruel. Fingers and toes had nails that were visibly pointed, but not long, and her entire exposed body, had some strange effect. Like, one of those optical illusion images that change when you tilted it. She had crazy muscle tone, yet she also had none; body smooth and delicate as any non athletic child.

  Ally felt lightheaded. It was as if all the evil of the last day -or however long it had been- was just now beginning to register. Not the weirdness, or the tragedy, or anything else, but the actual evil. Hanging on the wall before her wasn’t simply a monster. Not some freak created by science, or a soul corrupted by evil. No, this little girl was an actual pure blood demon.

  “Are ye to defend her?” Feldyn almost growled, John pulling him away from the imp. “Of course not!” John snapped, standing tall and strong, If not sore. John had seen -and been impressed- with the best the bard had to offer. However, his confidence in the half-elf getting any information out of the demon was low, to say the least. "It is just your approach at interrogation," John explained. “You can try spanking me,” the imp teased. Feldyn sighed, “Did ye have something else in mind, or should we just kill her?” The demon twitched slightly. “Aw, 'cmon I was just playing!” she complained.

  The imp had a adorably tiny voice. Ally thought she would make an excellent voice actress for loli characters. Sure, the demon already was a loli, far as appearance went, but her voice was just so very unique. Kinda squeaky, and un-intimidating, it was also expressive, and managed to carry a weight that demanded your attention. No one should take that voice seriously, yet Ally couldn't imagine anyone not.

  As Feldyn, John and the imp fell to bickering, Ally wedged the flashlight in a crack in the wall, so she didn’t have to keep holding it. Then, feeling cold, she hugged Lance tighter to herself, and moved. She loosened her hug, and the small cat thing looked up at her. “You’re awake,” she smiled at him. He didn’t say anything. Frowning in confusion, she was worried she had been treating him wrong, or had hurt him, before noticing he was no longer wearing that fancy collar from before. “Where's your collar?” Ally asked, and Lance gave a feline expression that shared a sheepishness. “He sent it back through the portal,” Feldyn answered, his wits barely in check, turning to look at the girl. He was about to strangle the imp and John! “Without it, he cannot speak.”

  “Pazely? Bryan?” Ally asked out of nowhere. She wasn't sure why, but she abruptly had a horrible feeling about them. Feldyn had said he didn't know where anyone else was. He was lying. She knew he was lying. “Where are they? Don't lie to me again, Feldyn.”

  The imp was smart enough to know when to shut her mouth. The blonde girl’s words had shaken the elf. And Iiyni’jeari’eea needed to buy time. She was only being obnoxious to stir things up. Trying to piece together the fuck was going on. So letting him talk to slut face (who seemed on the verge of some type of break down) would be beneficial in a few ways.

  “They were taken through the portal by Darlothz,” Feldyn stated matter of fact, looking her in the eyes. “They are now in the hands of the Akur.” He would not lie to them anymore. Not on purpose... He should have immediately corrected his lie earlier, but instead rationalized it. Again. He had to stop. They deserved the truth as much, if not more, than he. No longer. Every effort would be made to no longer obfuscate, if not flat lie. “Do… Can we follow them?” Ally asked, momentarily forgetting how cold she was. “We used the glisserant collar to open the portal that brought us here. It was... programmed for that specific portal.”

  “The what?”

  “Lance’s collar.”

  “And even if it could be reprogrammed...” Ally said, voice trailing away in understanding.

  “Aye. We no longer possess it.”

  "Can't we just wait? I mean, won't... the bad guys, come back again?" Feldyn was already shaking his head. "Nay, Ally, I do not believe they will. Opening a portal takes tremendous energies. Even if they were willing to open another, I believe the only reason they did was due to the shielding the Terrors had erected. Darlothz, and more so Antioch, and my entire world, rely heavily on magic. God's defenses, the manastorms, keep them from coming to Earth.

  "You both must believe; my priority now is finding a way to open a portal, to get to our friends. To save them.” His voice held a much different note than moments ago. Ally, who’s gaze had drifted to looking at the ground, could not bring herself to once again raise her eyes to meet his.

  "First, we need answers," Feldyn continued. "I promise- I swear to ye, I will explain everything, true and proper, no more lies or half truths, once we are regrouped and safe."

  Ally wasn’t sure how much more she could handle. She felt really weird. Cold. Tired. Dizzy. And sorta… nauseous. Her knees should have long ago given in. Sure felt like they had. Dizziness overcame her, and her knees finally did give. She stumbled, grateful Feldyn caught her, providing the opportunity to regain the strength to stand.

  “Sorry,” Ally apologized softly, Feldyn stood with one hand on each of her shoulders. “Tis quite alright,” Feldyn spoke softly, kindly. Ally rose her eyes to look into his. “I was talking to Lance,” Ally told him. Feldyn tilted his head a bit, puzzled, still holding her. “I almost dropped him,” she explained, tone of voice a lot like Gigi's.

  Stepping back, Feldyn smiled seeing her expression was indeed quite similar to the much younger cousin. And she was holding Lance very tightly against her small chest, covered only by a tight fitting, soaking wet, sports bra. The half elf couldn’t contain a sigh. Sensing the extremely awkward tension from the tikirin, held against the beautiful human teen, he smiled wider and shook his head. Lance would receive no end of teasing from him later.

  “Ally...” John started, noticing the tikirin's situation as well, but trailed off in a loud sigh. He had to avert his eyes anyway. The girl barely had a chest to speak of, and her top was black, however it was very tight, and the material could have done with being thicker. “Hmm?” she asked, finally shifting Lance to be simply held in her arms, and not pressed into her bosom. John held up a hand in defeat, Ally staring at him blankly. Lance was doing his best to not look as embarrassed as he felt. His level of physical pain made it a fairly simple task.

  “Let us collect what intel we can, dispatch the demon, gather whom remains, and have our leave of this place, before it is too late,” John said, shaking his head at the entire thing. Events had not transpired like he had expected. And they continued to defy his expectations as time went on. He knew the Order had to be here, so where were they? Where was Masque? The vampire queen? The other imps? Lycanthropeire? Had anything exited the Hell gate? And had his Reba… Were Stryker and the little one also alive? Or was John’s own life, now more pointless than it had ever been.

  “What do you propose?” Feldyn asked, tired of arguing about a topic where they both were already in agreement.

  Iiyni'jeari'eea opened her mouth to speak, and John touched her on the stomach with his staff- turning the question she was about to speak into a wail of pure emotional agony. Shocked, Feldyn stepped back. The imps face contorted as she screamed, struggling frantically to escape the touch of the staff, but John kept it pressed firm. Ally had returned to being alert. The demons screams were so horrific it made you feel sick; which Ally combated with anxiousness. John removed the staff after six seconds. The longest he had ever held it against a demon of any variety. If the demoness was as powerful as they believed, he gambled such a prolonged touch would not cause irreparable damage.

  “Bloody hell was that?!” Feldyn asked stunned. “Lancea Longini” Iiyni coughed the answer for the old man. What else could it be? “The fucking Spear of Dest-” she erupted in more wails worthy of those suffering in the depths of Hell as John again held the staff to her. This time it was only four seconds. When he removed it she began to curse the name of God. And John attempted to shove the staff into her small mouth. It didn’t exactly fit, though muffled her screams a bit.

  “John!” Ally said, her tone of fearful disgust made the old man's resolve falter. Hanging his head he removed the staff from the imp, who appeared to now be having a seizure, blasphemes silenced.

  “The Spear of Destiny,” John finally answered in a heavy exhale laden with guilt. He had hoped to not have to reveal it; that the imp would be as puzzled as the rest by the effects it had on her. Instead, she had immediately ascertained the truth. “The what?” Feldyn inquired. The name sounded rather generic, but it was apparently a known relic. “The spear that pierced the side of Jesus on the cross,” Ally answered from behind him. The chills that ran through Feldyn made him visibly shiver.

  “Obviously it is but the shaft, and has been... altered,” John said, still seeming shamed. “During my rescue of Reba, and fleeing the Vatican; I stole it. Legend of the luck it bestows on the wielder is no more than that. However, having once had the blood of Christ upon it, having wounded Him, it induces an... effect on demons.” The bards eyes were wide, “I would say so!” With such a weapon, why had John not used it earlier? “The slightest touch causes a reaction so violent, any prolonged contact with a demon is near impossible. They pull away as you or I would if touching something too hot. Until recent events, I had never met a full demon for which to try its effects upon; only vampires, and possessed individuals,” John further explained.

  “Uuuuuuuh,” Iiyni'jeari'eea moaned, seizure abated, drool running from her mouth. “Where are the other imps? What else do you have planned?” Feldyn asked her, without missing a beat. She kept groaning, so he backhanded the imp hard enough to split her lip. She snarled at him, deep and feral, with such ferocity and malice he actually backed away.

  She was tired of being hit. And just why in the holy fuck did this ninja white mage, twat stain of a PRIEST, have the cock sucking shaft, of the mother fucking spear of Longinus?! It forced the reality, the suffering of Sin upon the demonic. Basically Hell, sans the physical pain. In other words, some serious fucking bullshit! She was done playing the fool! Done! She was getting out of this! And she was going to kill them all!

  Opening her mouth Iiyni’jeari’eea began to speak in the tongues of Hell. She barely said two syllables, hardly enough to drive them mad, or melt the wall behind her (which the runes on this collar would likely have prevented anyway), when John held the staff up, panic filling her, and she quit speaking. Iiyni struggled to think, a sob escaping before she could compose. “You will tell us what we want to know,” John ordered.

  That was when Iiyni’jeari’eea knew it was over. That it really was hopeless. It didn’t matter how much determination she had. What extremes of pride or anger- she was going to burn. For the first time (or possibly second, depending on how you wanted to look at shit earlier this evening), she had lost.

  Iiyni'jeari'eea had broken earlier, swallowed her pride to beg for help; only to change situations to being fucked in another way. She wasn't going to beg again. This time she was going to be defiant; face the Fires of Hell as the Tyrant Iiyni'jeari'eea! 'sides, who knows? Maybe her sisters will succeed it rescuing her, despite the overwhelming powers denying their attempt? Even if they managed ti quickly… what of her would even remain?

  Not everyone was like Zit. The hellfires did things to you. To demons. Human souls remained untainted. Clarity. Suffering that would never break them. Demons? True demons? Powerful demons? They changed. Warped. Became different. At least, sometimes. Wasn’t really common for high tier demons to burn, so the effects weren't well known.

  “How did you open the portal?” Feldyn hissed, slapping the imp as she started to reply. “How?!” He slapped her once again. “Feldyn-” John began, frustration in his voice, and the half-elf spun on him, taught, ready to strike. “Not a good idea,” the old man warned, his voice holding no doubt the words were true.

  Ally couldn’t remember what the demons name was. Or if she had even ever known it. She did know demons were deceptive. Evil incarnate. This imp had almost killed her! But seeing her hanging there, bleeding, Feldyn beating her child-like body, the way that staff made her react- it was getting to Ally. Blasphemes or not, her words weren’t really much worse than you hear most " Christians " shout when they stubbed their toes. Not that it was okay, but all things considered, this monster could -should- be saying much worse. She was a demon, right? Like, a demon demon, from actual Hell, demon. What was with the watered down anti God stuff?

  “Oh!” Iiyni'jeari'eea suddenly exclaimed, like she had some great revelation; the priest and bard glaring at each other. Iiyni wanted to get this show on the road. Ge the suffering fucking over with. Tapping into her natural ability to understand sin (And taste it. Feldyn had cut his hand on her teeth, getting blood in her mouth), she took the information available to her, and used insight to piece it together. “Your sister, right?” The look on the half-elf's face said she was on the right track. “You beat the fuck out of your little sister.”

  Feldyn stiffened, horror coming over his expression. “You and your rage. Almost killed her too, didn’t ya?” Feldyn’s expression once again said it all. “Hah! You did!” Iiyni squeaked a triumphant little giggle. She always was good at reading the insecurities of men! Especially the pathetic ones. “How was it? Get ya off? All that power, hatred, betraying the trus-” Feldyn was suddenly pummeling the imp in a blind rage. And he was shouting. This time his rage was laced with grief and guilt. Not only from the memory, but of fear the worst mistake of his life would be revealed to two of his -new- friends.

  Ally couldn’t take it anymore! She was about to demand Feldyn stop, but gasped instead as Caleb, shirtless, hurried into the enclosed space. He grabbed Feldyn left shoulder with his right hand, violently spinning him around, and hit him with with a left cross, before shoving him backwards into John - both men stumbling backwards, into the wall, and then the ground.

  Feldyn quickly recovered and charged the boy, before John could voice a complaint- and Caleb kicked him in the chest, taking the bard off of his feet, and into the wall next to where John was still rising. “Enough!” the teenager roared his command.

  John, Ally and Lance -who couldn’t speak anyway-, were stunned silent. It wasn't just the dramatic entrance- it was the force of that kick! Caleb could have killed him! Feldyn, leaning on the wall, struggling to breath, spots in his eyes, and parts of his body numb from whacking the back of his head, wondered if his lack of control had caused the Dragonheart to kill him. Caleb stood his ground, a fierceness, strength and determination, that surprised even Ally. Gasping, Feldyn waved a hand, “Considered me stopped,” he coughed, barely managing to stay upright.

  Looking at the other two, Caleb forced a smile when his eyes met Ally’s. He then turned to look at Iiyni. “Let me talk to her,” he told the group. John started to speak but Caleb interrupted, “Trust me,” he said. Commanding. Confident. John remained silent, unsure.

  “Aye, your highness. Do as ye will!” Feldyn scoffed, and slid down the wall to sit. Ally thought he looked like a child throwing a fit. John thought he was embarrassed, using this moment to try and get his emotions under control. Lance, on the other hand, would have known both were right, and also wrong. Feldyn had submit. He might seem pissy, but he was essentially bending knee to the one he believed, deep inside, to be the hero. The entire reason they were here. Watching Caleb stand before the imp, Lance was intrigued. Something was different about him.

  “Iiyni,” Caleb calmly addressed the imp that glared at him, looking uncharacteristically concerned. “Don't call me th-”

  “What was X'al'antra planning?”

  “Huh?”

  “The vampire queen. The Terrors. Was opening a portal their plan the entire time?” He stood unflinching, watching the bruised, broken face, of this pretty demon heal before his eyes. She appeared to be struggling with something. “Fuck if I know. Not exactly like I was privy to her secrets,” she sneered. “I probably don't know more than you twats.” Caleb stood, waiting, not saying a word. Iiyni sighed. “My sisters-”

  “Your sisters?” John interrupted. “Yep. Sisters. Y'know, we have the same mom? Came out the same vagina?” She rolled her eyes. “My sisters were commissioned by auntie- YES, as in X'al'antra is my mother’s FUCKING sister! GAWD!”

  When the imp snapped at John (who hadn't said anything this time), Ally couldn't help but once again make comparisons between her and Pazely, as she fixated on the imps voice. Paze had a voice that would carry to the moon. It had force. Power. She could be quiet, or -usually- loud, but her voice had strength. This demon's itty-bitty, high pitched, diminutive voice, was adorable, and somehow, somehow, just as powerful as Pazely's. Though, Ally assumed, the demon probably had problems being taken seriously. Even shouting you felt the desire to smirk. Not from the very apparent killing intent, it was because because her voice was just so little. So childish! Like a tiny mouse trying to be fierce! And succeeding...

  Yeah, she was pretty fixated at the kid demon’s voice. It stood out that much.

  “X’al’antra, my sisters, bitch tits, and the rot sack, summoned me,” the imp kept explaining.

  “Why?”

  “Why?! Probably because my aunt is just one on a very long list that want me dead! The fuck you even still asking me questions?! I told you, I don't know dick! I wasn't even here of my own will! We collected hearts, killed fuckers, and opened a Hell gate, following her convoluted bullshit scheme. Why? Because of some supposed prophecy! And before you start asking, psycho-bitch is obsessed with Antioch; I am not. Sooo, never asked why, never investigated, never fucking CARED!” There was no reason to lie. There were no secrets to be kept. Fuck, they knew more than she did! A portal? The fuck was that about, anyway? Was that Japanese cunt really taken to Aethra? And... the boy... that had... saved her...

  “Were you not worried about the angels intervening?” Caleb inquired. “Um, duh? But first sign of any angelic shit going down, my sisters and I woulda been gone.”

  “And Shuzariel? My daughter?”

  Now Ally had to say something, “Your daughter?” her voice was quiet, but Caleb still heard her easily enough. “My summer school teacher, Miss Redling,” Caleb explained, without turning. “She was the Witch Queen. I… didn't know.” John was leaning on his staff, listening intently. “I… We… we did nothing but have sex during class. A lot of it. I got her pregnant. Since she wasn’t a normal human, or was using witchcraft or something, so she gave birth much sooner.” Caleb still hadn't turned around, but Feldyn could see his face. It was solid as stone. Unflinching. And the pain emanating from him was tangible.

  “That baby, my baby… Aiyaka,” saying her name, he almost lost his composure, “they tore out her heart right in front of me!” Now he was beginning to show some emotion. “They used her heart as the last one to open the gate!” Everyone was speechless. Feldyn managed to stand. Lance had told them about an infant's heart being used. They had not known whom that infant was. An infant alone was bad enough. Your own child? How awful. Ally had tears streaming down her cheeks. For a few reasons. And she had many questions.

  “Why?” Caleb's voice was stern as he locked eyes with Iiyni's, continuing his interrogation. “I don’t know,” she answered, sounding defensive. No idea why this boy had such an effect on her, but honestly, at this point, she hardly cared. All she knew was the more he spoke, the longer she lived.

  “Do you know anything?” Caleb asked then, not a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Iiyni's hope of prolonging her survival plummeted. “Not really.” Another honest reply. "Not sure how many times I have to say it." Iiyni'jeari'eea was grateful she was keeping her cool. And then Caleb got closer to her and she gasped when her heart spontaneously pounded. He was looking right into her eyes. She felt... weird. Uncomfortable. “So you are just a pawn,” Caleb sighed, disappointment clear in his voice. “So-so now what? You kill me?” she asked, and laughed. More like giggled. Madness was a bitch.

  “You sound afraid,” John observed. “Yeah, I am!” She replied, sarcastically as possible, looking John square in the eyes. “Do you want to die, old man? I sure as fuck don’t!”

  “Why would a demon care about returning to Hell?”

  “Are you fucking serious? Who wants to go to Hell? When demons die, we burn like anyone else! Well, ‘sept you all get a choice! You ain’t born damned! You fear your short pathetic lives ending, and for what? Heaven, paradise, or whatever the fuck it is- is where you’ll eventually end up, if you want it. Us demons? Hell and Hell alone.”

  “What if you had a choice?” Caleb asked, taking all eyes once again to him. Iiyni looked obstinate. “What if cunts had wings?” she asked in reply. “A choice,” Caleb continued, ignoring her, “like humans have.” The imp blinked at him, unamused. “Salvation,” he clarified, and she exploded in raucous laughter. “Salvation?! You cant be serious!” She kept cackling. John and Feldyn couldn't help but agree. Seemed like Caleb still had no plan, nor was an actual leader. He was simply up to his same foolish stupidity, masquerading it as confidence and wisdom. “I am,” he answered the imp with such conviction, Feldyn and John's thoughts paused.

  “That isn't possible,” Iiyni told him, no longer laughing, heavy contempt in her voice. “What if I told you it might be?” Caleb pressed. She was getting angry. Everyone, regardless of their species or past, had sensitive topics. This was one of Iiyni’s. “Look, Dragonfart, I know you are quite possibly a legendary hero; which should be enough to let you, and everyone, know that God's setup is a joke. Demons can't be saved. Why? Huh? Why are we fucked? Because the all loving God wants us to be. Yup, the God of Forgiveness. The Holy One himself, has cursed as all to eternal suffering for shits and giggles! We are born into being damned. It doesn't matter what we do. We wont be granted Salvation. None of us! And ya know what? We fucking deserve it! We are evil, you stupid fuck! Evil!” Furious. Iiyni was furious. She was so angry that if not currently incapacitated, they would all be very very dead. Grease-stain caliber dead.

  “The Echoes of Aethra,” Caleb stated, and despite her cunning and natural insight, Iiyni hadn't a fucking clue why. “Absolutely not!” John snapped, aghast and horrified the boy would even utter such a blasphemous idea! “Why?” Caleb asked, seeming a dipshit. “Why?” John asked in return, seeming senile. Ally was about to say something when it all finally clicked for the imp. All at once, in one large hideous weight, the what the Dragonheart was implying hit her, and she let out a moaning whimper, refusing to let herself entertain the cruel suggestion.

  Salvation. What a mother fucking joke. Not the concept, or anything like that. For Iiyni, it was the desire for such that was the joke. Her families name was stained beyond fucking belief because of such a stupid fucking pipe dream. And by who? None other than her Jesus simp of a mother. Yup, her mother. Tyrant, damner of millions, and the Queen of the Succubi. She was obsessed with Christ, and would do just about anything to join the rank of Christian, even though she denied it, and had never said so openly.

  Iiyni's mother was born not long after the Sealing. Younger sister to X'al'antra (who had been banished to Hell instead of being sealed. Something most demons considered a huge mistake on God's part), she was born an imp. Their mother, Iiyni’s grandmother, was one of the first mystics, and had given birth to many species that were later to become demons, alongside herself; only the Vampire and Succubi currently held any real presence in the Earth region. The Trelpu, Gqastiglian, the Fritukus, and the Niplid, were few and scattered.

  Iiyni's mother, Yhu'niea'jeatara -Yuna-, grew fast and strong, into a full succubus. For an imp is nothing more than a succubus who ceases to age before hitting puberty. Yuna kept getting stronger and stronger, quickly bypassing the strength of her sisters, until she rivaled that of every other demon in the region. After the Rift War, Yhu'niea'jeatara was one of the victors who formed the local Tyrant hierarchy.

  Despite being this region's Tyrant of Lust, she did very little in the way of Sin-sidia. Instead, acting more of a rogue; a mercenary, as history would paint her. So of course, when the raid was being formed to kill the Christ baby, she signed right the fuck up. Why wouldn’t she? A tyrant, one of the most powerful demons in Creation, on a mission to kill the actual Christ? To kill God? Certain things had to happen, Certain things did not. If they succeeded, or came close to it... Well, scenarios completely fucked with His plan, and would prove (or at least begin to) that God was fallible. Flawed. More than just a step towards overthrowing the Creator, and regaining access to the Kingdom.

  Human's may still debate the fucking star, and if wise men traveled to the God baby before or after he’d been squeezed out, but none of them knew about the epic battle to protect him. You see, the demons gathered a force so awesome, they had a motherfucking Tyrant! Yeah, epic strike force. There was around a hundred top tier demons, and twice as many lesser. 'Around' because, err, records were fucked with; the exact numbers were a bit skewed. Maybe. Probably. But Iiyni'jeari'eea had her mother to tell the story. Her mom was a lot of things, an embellisher wasn't one of them. Usually.

  As most would assume, Hell lost. Gabriel and Raphael had led the defense against the forces of Hell. Lorint, Silic, Tyrea, Fromuo, Horashior, Scyi, and Nono were the other known angels. There were a handful of other, lesser beings, that also fought against Hell and survived, though none were recorded.

  “Well?” Caleb asked, interrupting her train of thought. “Well?” Iiyni asked back, trying to sound snotty. “Do you want Salvation or not?” Caleb pressed. “It's impossible,” she replied, honest emotion finally in her voice. “Do you know what happens to demons that try to accept Christ?” she asked, doing her best to mask the despair. “Oblivion,” Caleb answered without hesitation. “Exactly!” Iiyni assumed the boy finally got it. Instead he replied: “I'm still failing to see your logic.”

  “The fuck is your problem?!”

  “If you run the risk, and truly accept Christ, you what, get obliterated worst case?”

  “Um yes, you stupid fuck!”

  “Isn’t that better than Hell?”

  “Huh?!”

  “Eternal damnation? Isn’t Oblivion, being wiped out of reality, better than suffering for all time? Even if you get out of the fires, sooner or later you'll be damned. No escaping that.”

  His logic was something Iiyni had heard before. Iiyni’jeari’eea knew what consent to the Christ meant! What happened when the Spirit came to a demon! Demons could not repent! They did not want to repent! They simply wanted to escape their fate! And even if one of them, one out of billions, did truly and truthfully wish to repent- it didn’t matter. The outcome would be the same.

  And now, this skinny teenager before her was the hypothetical fix to the problem that kept them from Salvation. The Dragonheart. The Echoes of Aethra. In theory, it was the answer to all her mother had sought. It was so obvious, yet so hidden. Not once had Iiyni heard such a notion even uttered, let alone fathomed. ... Why? The Dragonheart was myth, not fiction. Why had no one thought of this loophole? The Echoes were instead heralded a danger. It didn't make any-

  “Holy fucking shit,” Iiyni mumbled, going pale, and beginning to shake as the pieces fell into place.

  They knew. Hell knew. It was a cover up. If word got out demons could attain Salvation, the de-facto forces of the Deceiver might be weakened catastrophically. Not rushing to Christ, that would never happen, no, they would simply want to use the blind spot for various schemes and shit. She guessed even demons needed some conspiracy theory level cover ups from time to time.

  John was puzzled. There wasn’t a chance in Hell -or any plane of existence- for a demon to be Saved! Why was the imp so visibly shaken? Could she truly be such a fool as to find hope in the boys words? Salvation for one such as her? And if she was believing in the impossible, would not she be expressing joy? Unparalleled relief? Why would the honest possibility of Salvation be met with such fear?

  Iiyni was trembling now. She clenched the binding collar in two hands, and closed her eyes. Caleb was hurting inside. 'We must be strong!' Nameless encouraged.

  There was a tale. Lore. Possibly planted by the Prince of Lies, that there was a way for a demon to find Salvation. All of the talk stemmed from the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus, when God stated all demons would be denied access to the rights the Word's blood bought. Despite such a statement from God, it spread that an exemption yet to be written, would one day allow for those born of evil to choose to be cleansed by the fire of judgment, their old self burnt away. Many angels defended this, saying it showed that God would never allow any to be damned not deserving, where other angels were of the belief that a demon deserving of salvation would never exist.

  All that said, Nameless knew there was none worthy. Demon, human, it didn’t matter, none were worthy. And ultimately the purchase come from His blood. God would choose whom he chose, and place in his Son’s hand whom he pleased. And not a single one would be lost.

  “How can I know,” the child demon asked in a whisper, eyes closed, continuing to tremble, “that you are really… That this is all part of...” Iiyni couldn't accept it! She couldn't! The Dragonheart?! The Echoes of Aethra?! She had better luck of winning the fucking American lottery! AT LEAST THAT WASN’T JUST SOME FUCKING LEGEND! But... Ra-ra did call them Esseff…

  Was it really possible? Could the nightmare she was born into, the empty Godless darkness she was swaddled with, was it really true... that... she could be rescued? Saved from eternal damnation? Would the God she hated with every fiber of her being… forgive her? After all she had done? That… was…

  “Choose, Iiyni,” Caleb said, her eyes slowly opening, tears streaming from them. “Christ and Salvation; or do we send you back to where everyone says you belong?"

  This... was too much to take in. Just too much! Iiyni'jeari'eea was at her end. This was it for her. She knew that. Accepted that. Hope? The best of hope she had had was not burning for too long. Delaying her eventual fate of the True Death or -if she was lucky- Oblivion. Now? As bullshit fucking asinine as it was, there was hope being dangled in front of her. Complete and utter horseshit as this STUPID idea was… it was Salvation! Not just being free of sin, but being loved by the one who had created everything!

  All Iiyni had ever wanted… truly wanted… Was... was to… to be free. For it all to mean something. To have a purpose. To... no longer... be... alone. To not have that empty hollow ache in her chest.

  "Why are you doing this to me?!" Iiyni shouted, breaking into sobs. She closed her eyes again, feebly struggling. Why was she feeling this?! Why was she feeling anything?! WHAT WERE THESE EMOTIONS?! WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING?! "It isn't fair! Get them out of me! STOP IT! STOOOOP!"

  John was dumbfounded. Was this truly an act? It felt so real! The pain, the anguish - could a demon mimic feelings they were incapable of, with such realism? "What do you choose?" Caleb asked, unshaken. The imp sobbed, and the silence from the group was palpable. “I-I c-c-chose... I ch-ch-choo-” It was hopeless. She was a fool. Born a demon. Born into sin, blaspheme upon blaspheme stacked on her soul. She could not accept Christ just to save her own ass. To run to him like a traitorous coward, No. She had to burn. It was time.

  Iiyni opened her eyes.

  And gasped so fiercely her throat seized.

  For a moment, just that second when her eyes opened... she saw him. Jesus. There was no fucking way, no fucking way- yet there He had been, standing behind Caleb, tears in his eyes, and reaching a hand towards her. He mouthed one word, then the impossible vision vanished. That word was: "sister."

  Iiyni screamed, and then screamed again, sobbing, panicking, struggling to get away from the feelings crashing through her! The violent chills running through her body! The agonizing guilt, the shame, the sin! 'Don't look at me! Don't look at me! Get away from God! Get away from me-' “-my Christ!” Iiyni wailed and lightning struck outside the entrance to the makeshift torture chamber. Ally almost screamed, flinging herself into a wall, crushing Lance against her. “I'M SO SORRY!” Iiyni wailed, absolutely freaking out.

  John and Feldyn looked around nervously, freaking out a bit themselves, as it began to sound like they were in the middle of a tornado. “I AM A SINNER! I AM SIN! I AM EVIL! I AM A BLASPHEME!” There was a loud crash, and the ground shook fiercely. “JESUS, I-” Iiyni retched, and tried to start again several times, as she repeatedly gagged and dry heaved. “Jesus, I-” the demon vomited a torrent of blood, forcing Caleb to step back. “Forgiv- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!” flames erupted from her eyes sockets. "CLEANSE ME OF-” her next scream was cut off as she belched fire, followed by smoke. Her body now began to blister everywhere.

  Holding his breath, John’s knees were shaking. This demon was really asking Christ for forgiveness. Was she mad?!

  “I'M EVIL!” the demon screamed, “I DESERVE TO BURN! I DESERVE IT!” she wailed as the fires in her eyes flared again, then began to die away “I DON’T DESERVE SALVATION! CHRIST I'M SOR-” she vomited something black, and began to stammer 'Christ' amidst coughs and gags. Reeking filth began to ooze from her body.

  John didn’t get it. He did not get it at all. Here stood Caleb, unflinching. Feldyn, eyes full of curiosity and sympathy. Ally - one hand over her mouth, eyes expressing a great pain; tikirin cradled in her other arm stared intensely at the foolish demon. And in his gaze, John saw... hope. Why did any of them care?! This was a demon! This was a damn devil! She was no doubt doing this as an attempt to save her own ass! ‘Why God? Why is she doing this?’

  At that exact moment, John got his answer. Wrapped in sudden epiphany, he began to cry. Chills running through his soul, he understood. This demon wasn't trying to get Christ to accept her, no, not at all. No, she was choosing to follow Him. She was honestly accepting Christ. Allowing the Spirit to enter her, to cleans her of her sins. She wasn’t just begging to be forgiven, she had let down all of her guards to let Him in! The Spirit, the holy essence confronting the blasphemous evil, burning it away. This wasn't some selfish attempt at survival, this was a demon honestly accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior. This was repentance, in it’s truest form.

  And she was still alive!

  Iiyni screamed as her left leg snapped violently. Then her left arm broke and folded five times. Then her right. “FIGHT!” John roared, startling Feldyn who stood near. “You fight! The Lord hears you, child! He hears you! And he has not answered with Oblivion!” Eardrums gone, one lung collapsed, no eyes, agony unlike any she had ever felt- Iiyni'jeari'eea still heard the voice of John. So fight she did.

  “ACCEPT YOU!” was the horse scream. “IN- HEART- SOUL!” her other leg broke, and her skin peeled away. John fell to his knees, dropping his staff and ripping his robe with both hands. “My God, forgive this demon! Show your greatness, show your endless mercy! Show your infinite forgiveness!” Iiyni was unrecognizable, convulsing and contorting so violently now, even Caleb was beginning to lose it. Nameless kept telling him she would be going through worse if sent to burn.

  “HEAR HER WORDS!” John shouted to be heard by the Creator, as if the storm outside could drown him out to His ears. “Judge her Lord, is she worse than I? IS SHE?! IF SO TAKE ME HERE AND NOW! You forgave me, forgive her! Show the heavens and the Earth! Show all that you have created! SHOW ALL WITH EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR, THE POWER OF THE LAMB!”

  Wind howling, lightning flashing, the demon was now fully consumed in flame. “Jesus,” Iiyni sobbed, clear and audible to them all. Heartbreaking. Haunting. “my Lord and my Savior, I surrender myself into your hands. I have blasphemed from the moment I was born. I am evil. I am filth. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  The binding collar came loose at the exact moment the storming quit, and the fire vanished; Iiyni falling to the ground, landing on her butt. Blinking undamaged eyes, she leaned on undamaged hands, supported by unbroken arms. There was not a cut on her body, nor singe on her skin. Even her human leathers were intact.

  All was silent.

  Slowly, the tiny imp, raised a hand to her chest. “Holy shit,” Iiyni finally said, breaking the silence, “holy fucking shit.” John, not sure what to be feeling, stayed on his knees. “I'm… I… I’m...” Iiyni rose her stunned expression to look at Caleb. “I’m free. I- God… he …. I don’t understand. God... forgave me.”

  The angel cheering and shouting in joyous triumph and praising the Lord, made the boy appear calmer than he was, as it took a lot of effort to focus. “Of course he did,” Caleb smiled to her. And for the first time in her life, Iiyni felt something she had only dreamed of. Peace. She didn't know how to process it, or what to even do next. So she followed her instincts. With a sob, the imp jump,threw herself into the boy, almost breaking his ribs, hugging him tight enough he couldn't breath.

  “We need to get going,” Caleb barely managed to say as she continued to cry, finding it yet another miracle he moved his arms to cradle her. Luckily for his life, the demon composed herself near immediate. “Where?” she asked, with barely a sniffle, letting go, and dropping to the ground. Everyone, aside from Feldyn, looked unsure to say the least.

  “Are you... coming with us?” Ally asked the imp that reached over and took the hem of John's robe he was trying to hold together, blowing her nose. Things had gone from super over the top drama to casual, a bit too quickly. Iiyni answered with a shrug, as John gawked at her silently. “I mean, guess I'm essentially homeless, so where the fuck else am I gonna go?” She looked rather unconcerned. “’sides, cant hurt to have a tyrant around, am I right?” Before Ally could sat anything else, Iiyni was beside her, and slapped her ass hard enough the girl barely kept from shouting. THAT was going to bruise. “Ya good with that slut face?”

  “S-slut face?!”

  “I mean, no hard feelings right? I know I tried to kill ya, but that was before I gave a dirty dick.”

  “Before.. what?!” Ally was beyond confused.

  John looked like he had gotten drunk and woke up next to a woman he had fallen in love with at the bottom of his mug, who transformed into a blighted heifer in the light of day. Feldyn? Feldyn was beaming as he strode over and took Lance from the teenage girl. “This is magnificent!” he sang to a mighty glare from Ally. “You are completely psychotic!” the blonde teen accused. Feldyn's mood swing irritated her enough to momentarily forget the demon that had walked over to the opening of the cave, looking out into the night.

  “We need to get back to the others,” Caleb said walking towards Iiyni, hoping Ally didn’t make eye contact. Suddenly remembering a truth, "Caleb," John began, taking the boys attention, “is there an angel within you?” The imp turned around to face them. “Yes,” Caleb answered, eyes lowered. “Can he still communicate with Gigi?” John asked. “Are… is Reba-”

  “She's alive. So is Gigi and Stryker. I should have told you right away, I’m sorry. Stryker is severely injured, but stable for the moment. The three of them are barricaded inside the pharmacy.”

  Feldyn then changed the topic. “What do we call you?” he beamed at the imp. “Me?” the imp squeaked pointing a finger at herself. “Aye. Ye must have a name you wish to be called.” She frowned, so Feldyn took a different approach. “Do ye even know our names?” The imp began to talk, froze, and her face contorted into confusion, then a deep frown. “Yeah, I guess. Though I have things I prefer to call each of you, but I’m sure they ain’t exactly kosher or whatever.”

  Caleb took the initiative to give the introductions. “That’s Ally, Feldyn, John and...”

  “Lance,” Feldyn finished for him. “What’s your name?” Ally asked now. “Iiyni,” the imp answered, quickly turning red. “My name is Iiyni.”

  A crackling band of electricity wrapped around Iiyni's neck, yanking her backwards out of the lean-to cave. Caleb, without thinking, quickstepped for the first time- at the man in a blue tunic, with matching breeches and cloak; who was holding the handle of a whip that sparked with a visible current. So surprised was the color, he didn’t attempt to block the boys right fist that caved in his chest, killing him on the spot. Caleb knelt quickly, grabbing the whip that was no longer sparking, trying to remove it from the imp’s neck.

  The color in red Caleb hadn’t noticed, was faster, dodging Feldyn’s kick, who had quickstepped a second after the boy, correctly choosing the second target. Though fast, the color couldn’t dodge John’s psionics. “Teri'kre!” John commanded, and Feldyn took a knife from the boot of the now rigid, red cloaked color, that held a katana in two hands- and stabbed him in the heart.

  “Order,” John said with a growl. “Ya think?” Iiyni snapped, ignoring Caleb's hand as she stood, rubbing her neck. Cockshit that HURT! At least her wounds seemed to be healing rapidly. Does this mean she no longer needed to feed? Did getting saved -a notion that still freaked her out, and she was trying not to think about it too much- give her a full power recharge, and free her from that extra bullshit? Either way, she had to focus. Getting surprised like that shouldn’t have happened. And it wasn't going to again. Iiyni snarled at four more colors that appeared to jump out of the sky not far from them. One blue, one black and two red. “Let me,” she told the group, and didn’t wait for a response.

  It was three seconds. Just three seconds. Iiyni, tiny body covered in blood, was standing in what was left of the four men she had ripped to shreds. “Let's hope they brought more, or this is gonna get boring in a hurry.” The twinkle in her eye, and crooked grin on her face, said she still enjoyed those few seconds.

  Iiyni frowned and started rotating her shoulder like it was stiff- and started, making a weird expression. Some blood had gotten into her mouth, causing an incredibly strange sensation. It cant be... She licked some off of her arm, and blanched. Looking at her new allies, “I can fucking taste it!” she said in awe.

  As they all stared at her a bit horrified, it was Feldyn that spoke first, "At least we are no longer the underdogs.”