More Problems Than Just Demons (Plot)
Aug 26, 2012 22:56:15 GMT -5
Post by Kender Bard on Aug 26, 2012 22:56:15 GMT -5
It had been difficult getting out of the city, but Blaine had managed it. He made his way outside to the forest int he distance, sweat trickling down his back the whole way as he anticipated an arrow to suddenly strike him between the shoulder blades. Not to mention he wasn't used to heavy trekking in dark woods.
The demons noted his presence almost immediately but decided to allow him to flounder in the dark for a bit. Neither had any fear of him individually or even if he was merely a trap for an ambush. Let the whole of the city rise up against them--they could drink the lot of them dry.
"I think he's waited long enough," Akkarei finally decided. Both heads of Zephrion smiled in amusement and nodded. The pair of them glided soundlessly between trees, revealing themselves to him. Blaine yelped and, after a moment of staring, went down on his knees.
"You must be the one the little servant said would come," Akkarei remarked after a moment of silence and Blaine prostrating himself. "Why do you come?"
"Great ones, I come before you because I am a wise man who knows the way that power blows," Blaine explained. "The city before you is called Maelstrom, home of the proud and powerful Storms. They are led by a base, selfish, coward by the name of Shadow Brightmore. He opposes your presence and will seek to destroy you at any cost."
"I hardly doubt he will be able to," Zephion scoffed. "Let him try. It should be an interesting diversion, for a time."
Blaine smiled thinly. "Oh powerful one, I am well aware that your strength far exceeds that of Shadow himself or anything that the city could muster up. That is why I am here. You see, as things currently stand, it is inevitable that there will be a clash of some kind and while I have little doubt on who the victors will be, it would pain my heart to see the city streets run with blood needlessly. And though you both would surely be triumphant against we mere humans, I dare to say that the victory wouldn't be without at least some wounding or at the very least taxing to yourself. Why not avoid such a messy affair for us both with a neat, clean cut of the proverbial sword?"
"You speak a great deal, human, without saying much," Akkarei intoned, causing Blaine to blanch. "Do get to what it is you want from us and what you will give in exchange."
Blaine bowed his head. "Of course. I wish you to help place me in power. In exchange, I will open Maelstrom's gates to you, peacefully."
"You can contain the hatred of all your brethren, hmm?" Zephion asked skeptically.
"I can," Blaine said firmly. Of course, he had no intention of doing such a thing. Once Shadow was deposed of, he would get rid of these two and people would fall over themselves to see their savior crowned.
"His proposal is interesting, Zephion," Akkarei told her companion. "I think it would be delightful to see how it plays out. Very well, mortal, we will grant your request." Blaine smiled widely. "But nothing is without a price."
Blaine's smile faded at the edges. "Of course. I am a businessman; I understand completely. What is it that you desire?" He chuckled dryly. "Virgin women? Babies?"
"I would very much enjoy the succulent, young souls of infants, but I have eaten well today," Akkarei remarked. Blaine's smile faded completely. He had only been joking. "I will give you an item that should rid you of this human. I will also give you a small, red orb. I want you to take it to the nearest cemetery and bury it in the soil."
"That's it?" Blaine asked before he could help himself. "I mean-"
"That is all," Akkarei said mildly. "Unless you want more."
"No, no that should be just fine," Blaine hastened to assure her. "I will do this. No problem at all."
Akkarei held out one of her arms and dug the nails of her other hand into the flesh spilling dark blood that looked black in the night. Blaine struggled not to vomit as she tore aside flesh and muscle and revealed white bone. There was a sudden sharp crack and she pulled out a long, slender piece of bone. Her arm healed itself after doing so. After a bit of focusing and turning the bone around and around she willed it into the shape and appearance of a dagger made of a white-ish metal and a fine, rust red leather grip. She handed it to him and Blaine accepted it.
Next, Akkarei held a hand out and the fallen droplets of blood drew themselves up from the ground and from her arm and floated into her outstretched palm, coalescing into a small red ball that hardened. it was similar to a marble. She handed this to him as well.
Blaine looked at the two objections in confusion and then at her.
"The weapon is a dagger of treachery," Akkarei explained. "You will present it to this Shadow, spinning whatever lies you must to get him to accept it. When it does so, he will have an overwhelming compulsion to stab himself in the heart."
"Not exactly subtle," Blaine muttered. Akkarei stared at him and he lapsed into silence.
"The orb I will not tell you what it does. But the dagger will not work until you have done as I have bid. I do not suggest treachery against me or it will be another's heart the dagger feasts on this night."
Blaine bowed low. "I will do as you bid, my lady," he replied. "May I go?"
Akkarei nodded. "Go."
Blaine turned and left quickly.
"That one means to serve only himself," Zephion noted.
"Doesn't everyone?" Akkarei responded. "Come. Let us watch the city a bit more. We will strike at dawn."
Later, after the deed was done in the cemetery (and Blaine could not figure out what purpose planting a marble in some grave dirt would be), Blaine went home and found a sheathe that fit the new dagger well. He made his way to the city walls to see if Shadow was there.
The demons noted his presence almost immediately but decided to allow him to flounder in the dark for a bit. Neither had any fear of him individually or even if he was merely a trap for an ambush. Let the whole of the city rise up against them--they could drink the lot of them dry.
"I think he's waited long enough," Akkarei finally decided. Both heads of Zephrion smiled in amusement and nodded. The pair of them glided soundlessly between trees, revealing themselves to him. Blaine yelped and, after a moment of staring, went down on his knees.
"You must be the one the little servant said would come," Akkarei remarked after a moment of silence and Blaine prostrating himself. "Why do you come?"
"Great ones, I come before you because I am a wise man who knows the way that power blows," Blaine explained. "The city before you is called Maelstrom, home of the proud and powerful Storms. They are led by a base, selfish, coward by the name of Shadow Brightmore. He opposes your presence and will seek to destroy you at any cost."
"I hardly doubt he will be able to," Zephion scoffed. "Let him try. It should be an interesting diversion, for a time."
Blaine smiled thinly. "Oh powerful one, I am well aware that your strength far exceeds that of Shadow himself or anything that the city could muster up. That is why I am here. You see, as things currently stand, it is inevitable that there will be a clash of some kind and while I have little doubt on who the victors will be, it would pain my heart to see the city streets run with blood needlessly. And though you both would surely be triumphant against we mere humans, I dare to say that the victory wouldn't be without at least some wounding or at the very least taxing to yourself. Why not avoid such a messy affair for us both with a neat, clean cut of the proverbial sword?"
"You speak a great deal, human, without saying much," Akkarei intoned, causing Blaine to blanch. "Do get to what it is you want from us and what you will give in exchange."
Blaine bowed his head. "Of course. I wish you to help place me in power. In exchange, I will open Maelstrom's gates to you, peacefully."
"You can contain the hatred of all your brethren, hmm?" Zephion asked skeptically.
"I can," Blaine said firmly. Of course, he had no intention of doing such a thing. Once Shadow was deposed of, he would get rid of these two and people would fall over themselves to see their savior crowned.
"His proposal is interesting, Zephion," Akkarei told her companion. "I think it would be delightful to see how it plays out. Very well, mortal, we will grant your request." Blaine smiled widely. "But nothing is without a price."
Blaine's smile faded at the edges. "Of course. I am a businessman; I understand completely. What is it that you desire?" He chuckled dryly. "Virgin women? Babies?"
"I would very much enjoy the succulent, young souls of infants, but I have eaten well today," Akkarei remarked. Blaine's smile faded completely. He had only been joking. "I will give you an item that should rid you of this human. I will also give you a small, red orb. I want you to take it to the nearest cemetery and bury it in the soil."
"That's it?" Blaine asked before he could help himself. "I mean-"
"That is all," Akkarei said mildly. "Unless you want more."
"No, no that should be just fine," Blaine hastened to assure her. "I will do this. No problem at all."
Akkarei held out one of her arms and dug the nails of her other hand into the flesh spilling dark blood that looked black in the night. Blaine struggled not to vomit as she tore aside flesh and muscle and revealed white bone. There was a sudden sharp crack and she pulled out a long, slender piece of bone. Her arm healed itself after doing so. After a bit of focusing and turning the bone around and around she willed it into the shape and appearance of a dagger made of a white-ish metal and a fine, rust red leather grip. She handed it to him and Blaine accepted it.
Next, Akkarei held a hand out and the fallen droplets of blood drew themselves up from the ground and from her arm and floated into her outstretched palm, coalescing into a small red ball that hardened. it was similar to a marble. She handed this to him as well.
Blaine looked at the two objections in confusion and then at her.
"The weapon is a dagger of treachery," Akkarei explained. "You will present it to this Shadow, spinning whatever lies you must to get him to accept it. When it does so, he will have an overwhelming compulsion to stab himself in the heart."
"Not exactly subtle," Blaine muttered. Akkarei stared at him and he lapsed into silence.
"The orb I will not tell you what it does. But the dagger will not work until you have done as I have bid. I do not suggest treachery against me or it will be another's heart the dagger feasts on this night."
Blaine bowed low. "I will do as you bid, my lady," he replied. "May I go?"
Akkarei nodded. "Go."
Blaine turned and left quickly.
"That one means to serve only himself," Zephion noted.
"Doesn't everyone?" Akkarei responded. "Come. Let us watch the city a bit more. We will strike at dawn."
Later, after the deed was done in the cemetery (and Blaine could not figure out what purpose planting a marble in some grave dirt would be), Blaine went home and found a sheathe that fit the new dagger well. He made his way to the city walls to see if Shadow was there.