Kaos sits under a tree an unrolled scroll in his lap. It was his orders from his Lord. "Damn bastard" He never understood how sibling rivalry could go as far as wanted to kill your family. Kaos shakes his head unhappily.
"Are you that upset with me, young assassin" The lord's cold voice penetrated the small hallow in which Kaos hid. "You never curse unless extremely displeased." Rezic stares at his young 'friend', no hints of his mood on his emotionless face, or coldly priecing eyes.
Kaos stands quickly bowing his head, "My Lord, please forgive I was unaware..."
Rezic cuts the leopard off with a wave of his elegant clawed hand. "Silence, I do not care for petty excuses. Kaos, you were became an assassin and you decided to follow me of your own free will." He turns way from the young man before continuing, "All I asked was loyalty, you knew what I would have you do. Now you will kill Silvanoshei Blood Bane or pay for it with your life. Do not test me cat"
Yamiko was in shadow form, listening but not getting involved. Once again, she was just around because she was wandering aimlessly. Still, quiet, none threatening, the panther only watched through darkness made by the shade of the trees.
Kaos growls staring at his lord angrily. "He's your brother, Rezic you kill him." He immediately drops his head, "I'm sorry my lord I didn't mean too."
Rezic's eyes narrow in anger. "Whelp how dare you speak to me in such a way" He lashes out against the cat, backhanding the young man into a tree. "You will listen to me. I am your Lord and you are in debt to me cat. I own your life."
Kaos whimpers and drops to his knees. His cheek stung and he knew it was going to swell and changes to a nice purple color. "My Lord, please I will. I'm sorry." He keeps his eyes down as a form of submission. He knew about dog demons, and if he looked up he would be dead.
Rezic stared down at the leopard. "Hn" He dropped a collar in front of the young man. The leather on the collar was worn and white hairs still cling to it. "Do not fail me cat."
Among the many strange creatures that dwelled in the darkness of the trees, a single, innocent, if somewhat outsize bat hung, it's crimson eyes transmitting the details of the meeting to someone far away.
Miles away, in some nameless pit, pale lips firmed into a scowl.
"Now that just won't do. "
The panther was feeling very very antsy and as was starting to squirm by her want to just say something or rather punch Rezic in the damn face. But at this moment, it was not her place to do such, too many tables that could be turned against her...
All she could do was watch and wait. It's what a leopard does with its pray anyway.
Kaos snatches the collar from off the ground rubbing a thumb over the leather. He looks up glaring at his lord's back. "I won't" He stands slowly watching as his lord disappears back into the forest. Kaos looks at the collar and snarls wincing in pain. His cheek hurt.
The panther took in a breath then started to stir. "Your dept must've been great...” she said, hanging on a tree branch behind him by her legs. ".... To make you submit like that, Kaos."
Kaos growls angrily at Yamiko. "How dare you watch us!" He turns on her, he was pale and blood trickled down the corner of his mouth, his cheek gaining a bluish purple color. He growls at her walking past her dropping the collar as he passed her by, not wanting to remember.
A chill, unsettling feeling crept through the clearing, making the pair's skin crawl. A soft chuckle echoed into the still air, and a pair of burning, feral yellow eyes glimmered.
"Indeed. Your current employer leaves much to be desired. You wander the world, a filthy brigand on a leash; while you could be a great lord among your fellows... He is cruel, and demands you kneel. But I am kind, and ask only that you stand... Stand with me at the final sunset of this world."
The rich, silken voice was matched to a figure of remarkable grandeur, none other than The Count himself.
Yamiko tensed then looked over at him; crimson eyes staring slightly coldly then she stepped towards him. Brave of her to do such anyway, but her thought to that would be that's she dealt with enough crap already.
"Dracula," she started. "Not him. Not this one."
The Count turned his venomous yellow gaze to Yamiko, though it lacked the usual malice. He seemed genuinely amused.
"You misunderstand me, my dear... I'm merely offering him a job, in exchange for the... mediation of his dispute with his employer."
He grinned, his fangs flashing in the moonlight. "Besides, my children, wherever they've run off to, will assuredly make my life hell if I let their mutt of an uncle die."
Kaos grabs Yamiko's hand softly before growling and turning around. "Yamiko..." He pauses looking at the man he had only heard about. "The Lord of Vampires, it would be an honor but in these circumstances it is not. I have no use to be a lord among anything, my race is almost dead." Kaos bows his head as he was taught to do in the presence of any lord. "I only serve those who have earned my loyalty. My Lord Rezic has done that." Kaos looks into those yellow eyes shuddering slightly not trying to mask his distrust and fear of this being.
Dracula arched a slender, angular brow. "Pity. I must admit, I admire your dedication." His expression turned dark, his yellow eyes pulsing with tainted light. "But, much as I detest Silvanoshei, if you attempt to carry out your mission; I will kill you."
Dracula's expression softened, and became almost amicable.
"So, how is that hellcat wife of mine? Still terrifying men far and wide?"
The female leopard sighed, in a way with relief, however this only brought more of a dilemma now...
Kaos squeezed Yamiko's hand gently and lowered his eyes. "Then I will die." He smiled sadly before raising an eyebrow. "Do you mean Lady Karitine? She is dangerous, and explosive. I must admit she does terrify me with a raztar."
The Count nodded, chuckling softly.
"She hasn't changed much..." He turned on his heel, cloak billowing behind him.
"Try to enjoy your last days among the living, then. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry... maybe show off some battle scars to the female students... they eat that up. And do consider my offer."
With that admonition, The Count exploded into a flock of shrieking, flapping bats and soared away into the night sky.
The woman looked at his hand, tilting her hand slightly then she patted at his back as if telling him not to think such things.
Kaos released Yamiko's hand walking back over to a tree and settling himself under it. "I don't have days, Bane is here." He smiles sadly looking at his hands. 21 years of life most wasted on death.
An enraged dog demon erupts into the clearing his red eyes sweeping over it's inhabitants before resting on Kaos. The beast growled "Traitor!" Bane lunges at the assassin's throat.
Burroughs, with uncanny speed, pulled a one-eighty, and stood parallel to the ground on the trunk of a nearby tree, observing the oncoming battle.
"Never thought I'd be cheering for you, mutt..."
"Bane!!" Yamiko grabbed him from behind, but was also preparing a shield just in case Kaos deiced to attack. Just in case. "Come on, control yourself!"
Burroughs inspected his talons disinterestedly.
Having tried multiple times to rid himself of the puppy, he knew he could take care of himself.
But, if things took a turn for the worst, Bane was getting assistance, whether he objected or not.
The Vampire King grinned to himself.
Yes... The constant stigma of having his life saved by Burroughs was something he'd love to inflict on Bane.
Bane shrugs Yamiko off "Do not get involved he's just another cat, you find someone else"
Kaos stands slowly waiting for the demon to come close enough "Silvanoshei you are scenticed to death by my Lord." Kaos ducks under the dog's claws pushing his shoulder into Bane's ribs. "Finally we face each other mutt."
Bane reels away holding his stomach. "You’re a fool." He lunges again this time grabbing Kaos' neck slamming up against the tree hard enough to break couple ribs.
Kaos snarls wrapping his legs around Bane's arm, twisting until there is a sickening snap as her tries to pull the hand off his abused windpipe.
Bane snarls as he pain shoots through his now broken limb. "Stupid" He grabs a large branch off the ground and rams it through Kaos' shoulder effectively pinning him to the tree. "Bastard."
Kaos lets out a low agonized cry reaching for the branch.
Burroughs clapped lightly, as if he was enjoying a private drama.
"Well done... well done indeed."
prick though Bane was; he had a knack for brutality.
"Only a twisted mind can find this enjoyable, Burroughs,” she said through clenched teeth when she heard his clapping through her ears. She shook her head, not knowing how to take this.
"And mine is a very, very twisted mind..."
He grinned darkly.
"However... I might be persuaded to leave this one alone..."
She turned her head to glare at him, her anger starting to rise. "Why you..."
Bane watched in sick enjoyment as Kaos removed branch slowly and painfully.
Kaos growled loudly giving one last jerk on the branch freeing himself. He fell to one knee, watching Bane; he coughed up blood rubbing his windpipe. Unlike normal demons he did not heal quickly.
She tensed up more. "Bane! Stop this that’s enough!!" she glowered, taking a step forward.
"Kaos, for the love of your mother's soul, please remove the deal. Don't kill bane, damn it."
Kaos gets up smiling, and laughing. "Good show mutt." He flicks his wrist sending out a raztar, the seven blades ripping through the flesh of Bane's side. Kaos gains a wild glint in his eyes holding up his chin and smirking.
Bane gripped his side snarling at the leopard, he lunged once more at Kaos slicing him across the chest before turning and adding a mass kick to the stomach and ribs breaking a few.
"Damn" Kaos hit a tree pieces of bone priecing his organs. He lunges at Bane this time; he was down with defense. Kaos sinks his fangs deep into Bane shoulder well his spring-loaded dagger unlatches and buries itself into Bane's stomach. He then uses his legs pushing off Bane, sending them both flying in opposite directions.
Bane snarls, why wasn't his poison working on the whelp.
Burroughs arched an eyebrow, and stepped down from his tree.
"You owe me for this one, Doamne..."
A black-gloved hand leveled its palm at the two of them, pulsing for just a moment with an unfathomably dark aura.
A split second later, a boulder-sized sphere of congealed hellfire surged forward, exploding in an immense conflagration of scorching wind and flame between Bane and Kaos.
Both demons look up and glaring at Burroughs for interrupting their fight.
Kaos smiles sadly at Yamiko before disappearing into the forest knowing it was the smartest choice.
Bane turns on his brother in law. "Why? I had him!" He growled loudly before turning on Yamiko. "It's your fault. I bet you would do anything to help your lover."
Burroughs smiles mockingly.
"Bane, my dear brother... When have I ever needed to explain why I do anything?"
He turned to Yamiko, his smile turning a shade more dangerous.
"I'll be at the Castle. You have questions, I'm sure."
He shot Bane one last mocking grin before vanishing in a burst of sulfurous fire and choking smog.
She glared at him. "Bane you were acting ridiculous as well as Kaos." she suddenly lashed at him through her voice. "And how dare you lower me down in such a state! How dare you blame me when I consider you my own brother!"
She crossed at her arms, growling even more. "He is my friend and you are my family, what else was I suppose to do, huh? And so..." she bowed her body to him. "Now I owe the Devil for stopping you two. Do not make my efforts go in vain, I swear to Hell and Heaven I'll haunt you and your offspring if you do."
Darkness engulfed her and she was gone.
~ Dracula’s Castle- Castlevania ~
Burroughs sat idly on his throne, sipping a glass of warm blood.
He was in a good mood, and he saw little need to be anxious before the battle began.
Still.
The anticipation hummed in his blood, and his spine registered a light tingle.
It was a rare night indeed.
Some shadows and black eerie smoke rose from the marbled floors as the demon emerged, already angry and agitated. "Alright... what do you want this time, huh?"
Burroughs smiled, sipping the last of his drink and carelessly tossing it to the floor, the thin glass shattering.
"It's quite simple, actually... I wish to offer you a challenge."
He rose from his seat, his form shifting slightly to the colder features of Count Dracula.
"A battle, a duel... It is over when one of is can no longer fight, or when we yield. If you should triumph, I will abandon my assault on this world, and simply let humans do as they will."
His lips curled over his fangs in a chilling smile.
"But, if I should win... You will be my bride, to dwell forever by my side in darkness eternal, the sweet bliss of endless nights..."
He tilted his head upward.
"What say you?"
She glared at him, however having a disbelieving look on her face. The woman looked down, growling as she thought to herself, reached some logic, but only found that risks were always taken and that there was always a catch to everything. Especially in dealings.
"...Heal Kaos first.... He took a rather fatal blow back there." she said calmly, her head still low as if still thinking.
He chuckled softly, and nodded.
"As you wish..."
He made a minor gesture with his head, a gesture to one of the unseen creatures of the Castle.
~ Cliffs near IMAG ~
Kaos whimpers stumbling toward any sort of safe haven in which he could die. He had lost too much blood. He collapses his forehead resting against the dirt. "I have failed you my Lord."
Rezic stood over the leopard. "You have but your fight was interrupted by another Lord. I will not fault you for that, and it would seem I do not need you anymore assassin. The mutt is under the hold of another Lord and no longer my problem." Rezic sneers at the leopard "You have paid your debt little one, you may die in peace. I release you from my hold."
Kaos starts to laugh not knowing what else to do. That man, his lord who gave him back his life and made them all pay, was now tossing him aside and with it his life. "Damn you Rezic. I trusted you."
Rezic allowed Kaos a glimpse of emotion. He laughed, "Don't you know, you can't trust anyone dear boy, how naive of you." He kicked Kaos in his ribs sending him flying into another tree back towards Bane. "I used you assassin." He replaced his mask and disappeared into the night back to his castle.
A pale, supernaturally beautiful young woman in a long, white chemise appeared suddenly, standing over Kaos. Her blue eyes glowed eerily in the darkness, the full moon halloing her waist-length, platinum-blonde hair.
Black lips twisted into a grin, parting to show pearly fangs.
"I don't know why he wants you to live.. but part of the reason my boss is more pleasant than yours is because I don't question him."
She sucked in a deep breath, and blew a fresh, jasmine and lilac-scented breeze over his face, the perfumed air filtering into his wounds, the deep gashes and broken bones healing of their own accord.
"Remember this.. little kitten."
With a disturbing giggle, the strange beauty was gone, as if she had never existed.
Kaos whimpered. "Wait" He reached out for her as she disappeared. "No..." He lets his head fall. "Burroughs I accept your offer." Kaos slowly stands. He lifts his nose to the wind hoping to catch his scent or Yamiko's. "Yamiko... I'm sorry" He had a lot to explain to her.
~ Dracula’s Castle ~
He closed his eyes and nodded, briefly.
"Done."
His grin returned, even as his yellow eyes burned into her.
"So.. What say you?"
"I could be really stupid and just run off right now with all your monsters probably going to attack along the way. OR...." She shook her finger. "I could be even more stupid and agree on your deal in hopes that I would banish your ass outta here to leave my family and friends in peace..."
There was a click and a sudden thunder was heard, Yamiko holding her Colt revolver that already fired at him, the smoke coming out of the barrel.
"Guess that answers things..."
He grinned, spitting a mouthful of blood to the side as the bullet fell to the floor, the flesh already closed behind it.
"Indeed, it does."
He vanished in a swirl of shadow, appearing at point-blank rage behind her.
The cloak snapped open, and a veritable wall of hellfire orbs erupted from the crimson cloth.
She growled, her dark barrier appearing in from and around her. "Shit," she jumped back, feeling those volcanic orbs already having its heat burn slightly at her. However not fatal.
Her barrier took a rather huge hit from two of the molten orbs, the darkness suddenly reacting and turning into large thorns that shot out swiftly at the orbs and at her enemy.
Though how he'd concealed it was anyone's guess, the massive grotesque blade of Soul Edge came up in a swift arc, shearing the murderous implements apart with ease.
The Count jetted backward, as if borne on a conveyor belt.
"Very good.. But not good enough."
His left hand shot up, several beach ball-sized masses of crackling electrical plasma charging forward to surround her.
She yelled out, cursing at the things and suddenly turned into shadow, swiftly zooming though to avoid them. In this form of hiding and avoiding state, she was charging up her next attack, however it was taking her some time. She solidified, but only went into shadow again when she saw more coming.
Damn it, she couldn't get close.
"Am I interrupting?" A young woman with bright blue eyes and bluish silver hair that fell to her waist stands by the door. She wore a midnight blue gown that hung of her but showed off her shoulders and feminine curves. "Bur?" She pouts slightly trying to look cute as she watches the fight between her husband and her old friend.
Yamiko was taken off guard, stumbling here and there then looked over at Kari with wide eyes. "Kari!"
The Count blinked totally caught off-guard.
"Kari?"
So surprised was he by the sudden appearance of his long-absent wife, that he was left wide open for attack.
"HA!!" She suddenly summoned up her darkness, letting it crawl up her body then reach her arms, the power collecting and growing and in a heartbeat, impaled Burroughs strongly.
Kari blushes looking at the two stunned people. "Do I really look that bad in a dress." She smoothes the wrinkles out of her dress. "Yamiko, NO!"
Kari blushes looking at the two stunned people. "Do I really look that bad in a dress." She smoothes the wrinkles out of her dress. "Yamiko, NO!"
He was about to instinctively tell her how stunning she looked when the barbed spears of darkness shot through his torso, lifting him from the floor.
"Phuschta.." He coughed up a mouthful of blood, and fed his power into the cape, the fabric spreading like ink in water and sweeping toward Yamiko.
Yamiko wanted to say something, opening her mouth but closed, opened it again along with lifting a hand, but closed it and plopped her arm back to her side then leaned against one of the walls. She was at a total blank right now.
Burroughs coughed and stopped the deadly advance of his cloak.
"Call this one a draw?” He offered.
She looked at him the looked down, smirking. "Fine."
He smirked covertly, and misted off of her tendrils, landing a few feet from Kari.
He straightened his slightly bloody clothing.
"To answer your question, you look gorgeous in that dress."
~ Cliffs ~
Yamiko brought herself to the cliffs and she collapsed on the ground, her head throbbing now. Jeez..." she shook her head then sighed, kinda laughing to herself actually.
"Yamiko?" Kaos sits down next to her looking out over the cliffs. "Are you okay?"
Her ears perked and she looked at him, suddenly patting at his chest and shoulders. "I should ask you that! There's no viral infection is there? Nothing dark inside?"
She wouldn't trust Burroughs fully for doing a good deed without adding a little something sinister to it. She sighed, relieved that she sensed nothing.
"I feel normal..." Kaos gave her a confused look before realization dawned on him. "So it was you, why?" He didn't understand. The leopard massaged his temples trying to prevent a headache. "I'm sorry Yamiko. I should have listened to you."
"I have a heart, you know." she said then sighed, patting at his shoulder then looked up at him. "It didn't go well, did it." Yamiko looked down for a moment then smirked. "Well, at least you're alive..." she looked to him. "Right?"
"You could say that." He chuckles slightly "I do have my life, but no purpose." He smiles and shrugs. "Maybe I'll take up Lord Burroughs up on his offer, and take his advice." He grins. "Know any single students?"
"Kaos...!" she growled but then shook her head. She smirked and flicked one of his ears. "Are you sure that you want to take up on his offer?" she asked, rubbing his ears gently as her black tail swayed behind her.
"What!?!" He bats her hand way from his ears as he starts to purr. "I'm just your friend Yamiko nothing more, you said so yourself. And as for the offer what do I have to lose?"
"There are things at stake, sometimes he can be rather.... Well, he'll risk those who are close to you, risk your life, home." she rubbed at his ears again without a care. She smirked.
"Bane called you my lover, actually. Heh, and this is for the time when you pet my own ears, Kaos..." she could be evil herself, and right now this was only the softest thing ever.
"I have no home, I was used once already, my life means nothing for me, and as for people close to me... " He looked straight at her. "It seems they are making their own deals with this devil." He sighs batting away her hand again, but gives up and starts purring softly. "Bane says anything on his mind. He knows the truth though. You are just my friend, and that's all you'll ever by. You have a mate already."
She kissed at his cheek gently, tenderly, then pulled away and rubbed his ears softly. "I hope for the best of you then." she said, giving him a bit of a smirk/smile.
Kaos blushes brightly "Wow I think my heart just skipped a beat." He grins stupidly at her; he was definitely making a fool of himself. His purr grows louder.
She laughed a little by him, her tail swaying about as she continued. "First time that happened?" she asked, laughing a little lightly as she brushed his hair for a moment then went back to his ears.
Kaos whimpered his ears flattening against his skull. "Yes... First time I've ever been kissed okay."
The demon instinct in her sparked up and created a bit of a shine in her eyes. She shook it away however and went to him to groom his ears and hair.
"Actually I consider that a peck. You've yet to know what a kiss is." she said then looked at him, smiling a little. "And you saying that just makes it tempting." She laughed jokingly.
"Okay enough, I don't need to know what a kiss is. I'm not one for forbidden fruit. I'm not a normal demon." Kaos growled slightly not wanting to talk about his love life or the lack of it. He scooted away from Yamiko brushing her hands away.
She only smirked and laid herself down, looking up at him. "Hey I was only teasing, don't worry." she then closed her eyes and frowned to herself.
"Females, I don't understand them" He shook his head rubbing his temples.
She laughed then teased him more, soon doing the leopard imitation of a mating call from a female then she laughed a little more. "I could say the same to you males!"
Kaos' turn from a blue to silver and he snarls. He looks at her, and when he talks his voice is deeper and huskier sounding thing. "Female don't use a mating call unless you mean it." Kaos' demon glared at her. The male leopard was not amused.
Burroughs filtered into existence a short distance away, sitting cross-legged on a small boulder. He looked at the pair for a moment, then looked out toward the darkening horizon.
Yamiko's instinct kicked in and she could only snarl back, the hair on her tail standing on end as her ear folded back. "Perhaps I did." she growled, baring her fangs as she crouched a little, preparing to attack when engaged.
Her ears twitched when she sensed someone familiar then she went away from Kaos. But she then remembered what he was planning to do then stopped herself, obviously calmed down. From her teasing and anger.
The male demon growled smirking. "I see then female do find this male suitable." The leopard was unlike his normal self he was cockier and more straightforward. He got ready to pounce as well circling the female.
Burroughs again turned his yellow gaze on the once-bickering felines.
They were getting a little too close his taste.
And, though he was loath to admit it, he felt a very human pang of jealousy at the attention the leopard was receiving.
Perhaps that was why his talons lengthened and sharpened, his entire hands becoming murderous iron implements.
She growled moving a little then she suddenly tackled him to the ground, biting at his shoulder.
He flipped them over growling in her ear. "Enough female." He ripped his shoulder out of her mouth and the sight of blood surprised the demon giving Kaos time to regain control. "Yamiko?" He looked down at her blushing "Um..."
She was about to bite again with her fangs but only stopped herself and she stared up at him. After some moment, she blushed slightly then looked away from him. “.... Just get off me..."
He nods, leaping off her and staying a few feet away. He touches his wounded shoulder wiping away the blood before sniffing the air. "I smell the devil, Yamiko." He smiles and turns around. "Lord Burroughs, come join your little chat."
Burroughs stepped off his rock.
"I'd wipe that smirk off, were I in your position. You're just getting started in my horde of underlings, and you just might get swallowed up before you make anything of yourself. Be wary."
The fingers that protruded from his coat sleeves were strange, inhuman, like his skeleton had swelled and broken the skin, and the whole thing had been glazed over with iron. He was clearly in the mood to cause immense physical harm.
"Burroughs." she growled, standing in front of Kaos protectively.
Burroughs sneered, his fangs bared.
"How cute. I was under the impression the male leopards did the pack protection bit. Or could it be that he's only a cub to your eyes?"
Burroughs snorted, and turned away, flourishing his cloak as he prepared to take flight.
Kaos step out from behind Yamiko smiling the petty insults doing nothing. "So what did I do to get you a Lord this worked up?"
She shot at his shoulder instantly, glowering at him. "You know, you didn't have to get mad so easily at us, Burroughs. Which brings up the question, why did you get mad at him, huh?" She grinned, however still pissed.
The bullet worked its way out almost instantly, and Burroughs turned around, his eyes burning with a feral gleam. "Don't start what you can't finish, Yamiko. .. or perhaps you'd rather we finish our little spat from yesterday?" His claws clanked together ominously as he stood to his full height.
She placed her gun over her shoulder, smirking. "Yes, let's." she replied.
Burroughs grinned, his fangs glinting. "Excellent. Hope you didn't want to wear white at the ceremony." His cloak snapped open, spreading a set of huge wings behind him. "You might want to step back, boy. You might get hurt."
With that, Burroughs flung his arms forward, and a blinding pulse of light erupted from his body, flinging pulsar level heat and mass amounts of gamma particles toward the pantheress.
Kaos snarled, his eyes flashing silver for a second but he backs away. He knew he had no right to interfere in Yamiko's fight. He didn't care about the Lord, though he had accepted Burroughs offer.
Yamiko brought up her barrier but this time deiced to sprint forward with it still around her. Her shield would spark and crackle by the impact, but she kept going and started to shoot her revolver at Burroughs. The bullets were able to pass.
A sudden thought went through her. "Kaos! Get out of here!"
"Yo, Bur! You fucker, you owe me." Bane had notice Bur's scent in the air. His eyes narrow when he saw Kaos. He would deal with the assassin after he dealt with the asshole that thought he could do whatever he wanted. "You interrupted my fight. You and I both knew that cat was as good as dead"
The cloak swept forward, the thin cloth stopping the bullets as effectively as a bank vault. Burroughs shot forward, as if propelled, The Soul Edge coming from within the swirling folds of his cloak, and impacting the barrier with all of his ungodly strength behind it.
Burroughs snarled as he ground the blade into the barrier.
"Get in line, mutt! I'm a little busy!"
The barrier broke but suddenly formed into huge spikes and impaled at Burroughs the moment she did a last minute block at the Soul Edge, her body bending down by it's strength over her own sword.
"Now is not the fucking time Bane!!" she yelled.
Burroughs snarled, his eyes pulsing with lurid blood-light. The Cursed Blade surged with dark power, a pulse of tainted fire spewing at Yamiko as Burroughs bore down with all his might. He struggled to ignore the blades of darkness boring through his torso.
She yelled out then turned into shadow and went a few ways from him, soon solidifying and was found burnt here and there. Pretty badly. She snarled to him then brought up her darkness, surging it to her palms as the energy grew and suddenly shot forward towards him to be engulfed.
He swept the blade in a broad arc as he flew backwards, shredding the oncoming darkness and landing a safe distance away. The holes in his torso leaked brackish ichor, the tissues rapidly trying to repair themselves as he weighed his options.
She didn't wait for him to think, she was already sprinting with her sword in hand again, dark energy forming into the blade as it sparked red ominously. A hit from this wave directly is fatal. She vanished at the last minute then slashed down from above.
Kaos watched the fight from a safe distance. He didn't like this but he would not let anyone interrupt this fight. He watched Bane go to intercede and snarled, grabbing the mutt by one of his three tails. He used the tail to hold the man long enough, so he could grab his shoulder and fling him into the nearest tree. "Stay you stupid dog. It's their fight." Kaos kneeled down making a six-pointed star in the ground "Protect", and then he sealed the symbol with diamond.
In a split second, the Soul Edge flew forward, a tendril of blood-red mist trailing from the hilt. Almost simultaneously, his hands snapped up, the fingers curled into raptor's talons. Dazzling arcs of indigo light speared through the air, a full-force barrage of Force Lightning.
Her eyes widened and the energy from her word reacted with the Lightening, the force transferring through the metal and into her. She wasn't even able to scream when both energies made a violent reaction and caused an explosion to fling her back.
Burroughs, too, was caught by the blast, the impact that would have shattered his torso dispersed by a sudden transformation. As it was, a flock of bats was spread like buckshot into the tree line, the Soul Edge held in the middle of a larger cluster.
Yamiko was breathing heavily, twitching by the power still going through her body violently, her chest bleeding a little heavily with some burns. She snarled, her aura growing and a tint of gold appeared in her eyes as she shot out more of her darkness at him. The flexible wave tried to catch every bat there was, she wanted to get Burroughs.
The bats swerved and dodged the massive flock of shrieking creatures dispersing over a wide area. Suddenly, each and every bat burst into cursed flames, surging forward as one entity and charging Yamiko, the darkness scattering and tearing under the barrage of flaming demons.
She bared her fangs, suddenly her aura becoming solid into some type of thickly metal wire that went at the flames, swirling around it, wanting to engulf it as she stood herself up with her hand charging up for something.
Some flames hit her, her body burning and her power tried to heal her. Still her hand continued to charge as she glared deathly at her enemy.
The bats surged to the side, melding back into their original whole. Burroughs jetted forward into a flying thrust; Soul Edge trained at Yamiko's chest.
The woman widened her eyes and suddenly slammed her hand into the ground, her red energy transferring quickly. A heartbeat later, the thousands of black hands of the damned appeared, coming from hell itself to ensnare Burroughs and hold onto every inch of his body with immense strength. The black hands even grabbed hold of the Soul Edge to rip it away from the Vampire Lord's grasp.
Yamiko's aura continued to linger, a twisted smile slowly starting to form.
Burroughs' eyes went wide as he was ensnared; his beloved parasitic blade ripped from his grasp as he was bound with impossible strength, overpowered by pure might for the first time in centuries.
He struggled and writhed, his cloak flexing against his bonds.
Strong as the hands were, they couldn’t hold him forever.
The demon noticed this movement, some little laughter being heard as her aura solidified into long, thick strands of barb wire-like things, suddenly shooting forward in heartbeat speed to latch into his body, digging inside but slowly.
Oh so very slowly, every nick ripping at his insides, dragging his muscle.
Burroughs snarled and hissed, the pain obliterating his mannerisms instantly.
He writhed with the agony of the barbed chords tearing and dragging at his tendons and muscles, his regenerative factors just giving them more flesh to rip. His eyes burned red, the blood-light of an agonized rage boiling within him. But pain is a passion, and Passion is the well from which a Sith draws...
"Here's a lullaby to close your eyes. Goodbye..." The woman started to sing ominously, her wrist turning as the wire dug inside more, grabbing around every organ, nerve, and bone in his bone. The next moment, in a slow pace they started to rip through his pale skin.
"It was always you that I despised. I don't feel enough for you to cry... here's a lullaby to close your eyes goodbye.... Goodbye..." The woman smiled, that gold in her red eyes gleaming like a devil, actual evil and psychotic blood lust forming in them. "Goodbye..."
"Goodbye..."
Blood splattered and sprayed everywhere, the wires ripping apart the very pieces they latched themselves on to separate the very body that once was Burroughs. The Devil's Substitute continued to smile, a little innocent laugh heard from her.
In the spray of gore and eviscerated effluence, four remains pulsated with unfathomable dark power.
A fang, torn from the jaw that once held it.
An eyeball, its vacuous yellow gaze no longer seeing anything.
A rib, bloody and gouged.
A heart, black as burnished jet, throbbing even in death.
A ring adorned with a deep black crystal.
These seemingly random scraps of the corpse pulsated, and then..
Like a horrifying, satanic Raggedy Andy, bits of flesh began to aggregate, blood crept across the ground to pool in a massive, churning lake of gore. A skeleton pieced itself together, scraps of flesh oozing and growing as they covered the denuded bone. An eyeball slithered back into its socket, and a cloak draped of part of the slowly- rising monstrosity.
What hellish creature was this?
"Yamiko why?" Kari had stumbled upon the fight and was shocked. She started to shake tears rolling down her face as she watched the scene play out before her.
Kaos grabbed the little sobbing female pulling her into his barrier for protection. "Calm yourself this is not over yet." He pilled her into a hug trying to block her view of the scene; a still knocked out Bane was no help.
Kari growled angrily at this brazen man. She should be out there helping her husband. She turned on the man only to notice that his attention was not on her but on Yamiko. The leopard stared lovingly at the cat. "Let me go" Silence was here answer. Angered by this man, Kari pulls out her dagger and drives it deeply into his chest before twisting.
The leopard stares at the woman in his arms. He was shocked but pain replaced that. He still held the woman tight so she would not interfere "Kari... I can't let you go." He felt the dagger bury itself deeper into his chest. Kaos pants struggling with the female blood trickling down his chin.
Yamiko's eyes narrowed and she started to snarl, suddenly forming more of her hellish wires and she started to go right at the recovering Burroughs. However she smelt another drop of blood. She looked to the side, more of the Devil's power seeping inside her body, black markings crawling at her body.
An arm shot forth from the mound of gore.
But it was not a human arm.
Not even remotely.
A massive, mutated claw; gigantic bone talons attached to several tons of muscle, bristling with groaning, shrieking, roaring demons, and covered in leathery black hide.
It batted the wires aside like candy floss, sending them sprawling and snapping before digging into the ground and anchoring itself. More of Dracula's latest transformation appeared, working its way out of the ruined body that was once Burroughs. Huge leathery wings- easily a sixty-foot wingspan - unfolded, heads out of a H. R. Geiger painting slithered out, snarling and hissing. This was far from over.
Yamiko roared out and she glared at the monster, her power exploding as she started to unleash her own hell that opened behind her. The darkest of flames erupted as a large hand of 70 feet emerged and lunged at the monster to smash it down.
Kari turned away from the wounded demon watching these two creatures. The smell of Burroughs' blood making her hungry and her anger just fueled the thirst. She watches the fight while going back to Kaos. She punches him into the stomach brings him to his knees. Yamiko had destroyed Burroughs body so in return Kari would ruin Kaos. Kari tilted the demon's head to the side licking the blood off his chin before sink her fangs into the young man's neck. She would make him a slave once again. She glared at Yamiko while watching that monstrous transformation out of the corner of her eye. She smiled despite herself. This fool leopard had made sure she was safe from Yamiko's wrath thanks to his seal. "Your move my love. Make her suffer." Kari went back to drinking. She had grown dark and more evil.
Yamiko's eyes shifted again and a sudden waved of monstrous wire attacked the seal Kaos had done, the very pure darkness managing to brake through with it's own wrath and grabbed tightly around Kari's limbs. She pulled her violently away, now wanting to do the same thing she did Bur not too long ago. In this form, there were no such things as friends, family, nor loved ones...
However, somehow a tiny bit of sanity made her not attack Kaos herself.
The Creature emerged at last, 280 feet of towering anthropomorphic demon, its black hide studded with smaller beasts, its head crowned with spiraling horns, three red eyes glaring down at Yamiko. Its face was human, but colder than the moon's corona. Massive wings spread to blot out the full moon, as huge talons opened wide, and released a hellish storm of indigo lightening.
The demon yelled out, being hit however her darkness started to protect her as another wave of black started to attack her enemy. But something happened, her eyes sight was getting blurry and she was starting to become weak.
Kari struggled against her binds screaming not only in pain but also in rage. She fought the darkness growling deeply. The binds loosened for a moment though
Bane now wake immediately went to rescue his sister, using part of Yamiko's curse against her, his tattoos on his arm grow as his own dark aura charges forward to stop her attack on his little sister. Bane however didn't fight long; he grabbed his sister pulling her out of her binds and retreating deep into the forest seeking shelter away from the fight.
The leopard growls gathering the last of his strength. Kari didn't have time to finish what she starts. Kaos gets up slowly making his way toward Yamiko. She wants herself and if she wins this fight he feared she might not return to normal. "Yamiko"
The moment she stumbled, the very instant he saw her falter, the claw came down. With all the crushing, impossible force the massive monster could muster, the claw came down. With a sphere of hellfire the size of a Semi in the palm, The claw slammed right down on Yamiko, a stray mass of serpentine tentacles tangling the monstrous wire and tried swallowing Kari into a safe, if somewhat frightening cavity within the creature.
A high, shrilling and painful scream was heard throughout the area, her body burning her darkness also burning as it tried to fight against Hell's very flames. Every agonizing second, moment, felt like an eternity of immense pain of the burning flesh.
However, when that power and assault faded, she was left bloody skin burned, and her energy low enough that it was near fatal. The woman fell to the ground, all the darkness that was in her suddenly exploding into a black smoke that faded away along with her energy.
Kaos last ounce of control snapped when he heard Yamiko scream. He's eyes changed from a blue to silver then finally to a crimson red. His fangs lengthen as he rushes toward Yamiko. He would be damned if he let her die.
The claw pinned her down, not applying any pressure, but making it clear that her life could come to a sudden and messy end at any moment.
The trio of crimson eyes burned into her, piercing into her very soul.
Burroughs voice blossomed into her mind, though the creature above her didn't seem capable of speech.
"Do you yield? Think of all that you possess in this world. Think of all you have to live for. In the end, is the price really so steep?"
She couched out blood and noticed Kaos coming. She shook her head o him, wanting him to stop then she looked at the monster, glaring deathly at it before she turned her head away. Her body continued to struggle, her breathing weak and desperate as more blood started to fill up her mouth
Kaos stopped in his tracks as he saw Yamiko shake her head at him. He didn't understand. She was dying and yet she pushes away his help. He didn't understand. "No..." He takes a couple more steps forward his eyes losing their redness. Pain shot through Kaos chest and he clutched his heart looking at the creature. It was that thing's fault. Kaos' demon blamed it for this pain, for the pain of losing the only person that they love. Kaos roars at it, wanting to attack. He doesn't however for fear that Yamiko would be hurt even more.
The voice became stern.
"There is no way you will survive your internal injuries. The burns have undoubtedly manifested on your lungs and heart. The damage to your musculature, nervous system and bone density from the Force Lightning will cripple you for life, if by some miracle you survive. So, as I see it, you have three options. You can yield now, and Armand will still have a mother, you'll still be alive, and everyone goes home happy. Or I can crush you now so you don't suffer. OR, you can stall a bit longer, I can kill your would-be rescuer, and you can slip even further into the realm of death. Pick quickly, you're on a tight schedule."
"Fine..." she growled out, choosing the first choice. She started to cough again and her heart was struggling.
"I'm glad I didn't have to watch you die."
With that simple statement, The Creature began to dissolve rapidly, collapsing in on itself until the Claw pinning her down was a pale, if still large hand on her chest, attached to a dashing man in black and red.
"Hold still. I don't practice this form of magic often."
Burroughs closed his eyes; his hand settling over Yamiko's faintly beating heart. A cold sweat broke out on his brow and he grit his fangs.
"Sanctuary!"
The hand on her chest pulsed with brilliant, beautiful prismatic light, the wave of warm, soothing numbness penetrating into every cell, healing gashes and burns at an astounding rate, re-building muscles, nerves and bones. Within moments, Yamiko was healed. While she wouldn't be running any marathons tonight, she was in no danger. Burroughs pulled his hand away, and sagged a little as he sat down. At this range, Yamiko might have caught the cracked, blackened mess before it disappeared into his coat.
"There. I'm not a total bastard."
The demon stared up at the sky above her for a few moments, kind being a bit of a sore loser as her lungs happily breathed in fresh air again while her heart beat strongly against her breast again. The gold in her eyes was gone and they were back to being crimson.
She tried to get herself up but she was still a little unable to walk.
The leopard smiles slightly and turns away clenching his teeth in pain. He was glad she was safe. Kaos whimpers making his way toward the forest and collapse under the nearest tree. The same tree he slammed Bane into. He laughed slightly finally noticing Kari's dagger was still in his chest. He yanks it out letting the blood flow. He had already lost too much due to Kari's thirst and her anger induced hole in his chest.
"Kaos..." she let out a breath then tried to sit herself up and tried to stand to get to him.
Burroughs curled his left arm around her back, and easily lifted her against his chest. "Even though you completely destroyed my anatomy general not five minutes ago, I'll not forget my responsibilities."
Bane growls angrily standing behind Burroughs. "Now you owe me twice." He threw his sleeping little sister down near Bur. One of his hands covers a part of his neck blood leaking through his fingers. "She bite me." For some reason Kari's bite had not healed either. "Watch her Bur. I have no idea what is going on with that girl but she is not my sweet stubborn little sister. That girl is evil"
Burroughs stooped, scooping his sleeping wife up in his other arm.
He smiled, somewhat oddly at her face. "Perhaps I am contagious?"
He chuckled, and turned to walk the long path home, a woman on each arm, and a world-beating grin on his face.
Bane had the urge to stab the bastard through his blackened heart but held back. He looked around the battleground seeing the wounded leopard. "Serves you right, traitor." He could heal himself or die. He no longer cared for the assassin. He looked upon the man, he look so young. Bane glared at the sleeping boy. At least he would die peaceful in his sleep. "More then most deserves." Bane heads back to his home
After all the chaos, after all the bloodshed and gore, there was a sense of some innocence that was wandering about. Armand was in his daily night travel, and his reason from coming here was because he smelled blood and he was afraid if his mother got herself into some trouble again.
But there seemed to be some other blood and he went towards it, only to see a familiar face lying on the ground. “.. Kaos?" the young boy went to him then noticed that he was bleeding so much that there was any left. "Hey, hold on I'll help ya buddy!"
He placed a hand over his chest, closing his eyes to unleash healing red energy into Kaos, reviving the blood loss and rebuilding the muscle and skin into place.
Kaos coughed loudly sitting up quickly. "Am I dead?" He glanced at Armand before grabbing his head. He was dizzy. "Apparently not." He looked at the boy again. "Did you heal me?"
The boy grinned then rubbed at his nose. "Yup! Saved your life, now you owe two cases of colas!" Armand looked at him then he tilted his head. "So... what happened to you, huh?"
Kaos sighs, "Why does it seems I can't escape any debt?" Kaos glanced at the boy before adverting his eyes to the forest retelling the situation with Rezic up to this point make sure to leave out details that might scar the kid or make him overly worried. "So Lord Burroughs has your mother, what she lost when she lost the fight I'm unsure about." Kaos ears flatten out against his skull at the look Burroughs gave Yamiko. It wasn't good, for him or even Armand's father.
