NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC - Party Thread and Learned/Lost spinoff thread, basically Terefedel-Rave interaction, and generally being able to better explain the Vampiric Kingdom of Porphyria.

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The Portal swirled in it's different purples and greens and blues as it opened in a small back garden, gently leading Ravelyn by the hand Terefedel smiled as he returned to the familiary garden with it's brightly coloured flowers and bushes and trees.
"Home." he simply said with a smile.

"Home" as it was was a small granite built mansion set within sizable typically Midlonian gardens, filled with every flower from the popular song "How many flowers can you grow in a Midlonian's country, garden?"

She smiled, and opened her senses. It was quite the change here. Here her magic rippled through her blood, and Tere could feel it's warmth. "I'm a fire adept, as you might have guessed," she explained. She looked about the garden with various flowers in it, immediately drawn to the roses for a momentary glance.

"Do you happen to have somewhere I can get out of this dress?" she said, thought a moment and then blushed. She hadn't meant it like that. It was hard to walk in those heals and that gown for an entire evening.

Terefedel followed her gaze and moved over to take one from a bush and offer it to her, he laughed when she asked to get out of the dress. “Yes, of course, there are some rooms inside that have plenty of space for you to change…” He wasn’t sure into what or how she would change, even if she didn’t seem to carry a wardrobe with her.

She gave him a mischevious grin. "Well then..."
"Why don't you just show me to your room?"


Terefedel merely took her by the hand and led her inside, where the furniture was suitably modern, yet not so. The furniture was all in classical styles from the 1940’s to the 1960’s, but made of more modern and durable materials. “It’s up here.” he said with a grin playing on his lips. A lot of his worries simply being lost as soon as he had returned home, to his safe haven.

As she entered his room, and the door closed behind him, she whirled aroud. Her wings spread outward as she jumped, supporting her so Tere didn't have to brace anything but the impact. She laced her legs around his waist and bit down into his neck. Her bite was euphoria. Warmth filled him, stirred different emotions and sent him at the mercy of the countless waves of pleasure as she licked up his blood and sealed the wound with her lips. She drew her face back from him, still holding on to hip with her wings beating. Some vampires were known for their bite. She was one of them.

"I've been waiting to do that...since the garden...."

She eased herself slowly off of him and settled easily. She turned from him and started to unzip her dress, which did so down her back just to the small of it. Her heart was racing.


Lying in bed afterwards with his arm wrapped protectively around her Terefedel took another draw of the cigarette he had lit. “That was incredible.” He murmured to the seraphim curled up next to him. Both of them were covered in various bruises and bite marks, with just a thin bed sheet covering them both from the cool breeze blowing in through the open balcony doors.

"You know those will kill you," she commented, hugging him as if he had drained all the warmth, but in fact her skin was hot to the touch. She was sure he had seen it; the hellfire within her eyes...waiting to be released from its corperal prison. It didn't matter though. She wasn't hiding what she was to him.

“I’m apparently already dead.” he chuckled as he took another drag as he pulled her closer to him again. “Would you care for a drink?” he asked with a smile.

"Mmmhmmm," she said in a low voice, taking time to delicately pin-prick his chest with her fangs. She was amusing herself quite thoroughly.

“Not just from me, I wondered if you fancied some more fresh blood, like in the garden.” he chuckled, stroking her hair.

"Unless you want to spend the day in bed," she said, and caught his expression and lightly hit him on the chest. She couldn't help but to smile. "The garden really is beautiful..." she paused. "Do you feel more relaxed now?" He had probably felt her taking some of his worry, replacing it with the pleasure found at whatever she was amusing herself with at the time.

“Better, but it still plays on my mind,” he sighed, smiling and kissing her. “It will do so on all of us until the matter is solved.”

"You know, if you go and fight I'm going to follow you. If you tell me not to I'm going to anyway, so don't bother." She paused as she felt cool metal around her wrists. She looked down. As if she wasn't expecting them to return after she got out of that anti-field. There were shackles around either wrist, long chains that she moved on her command. They were a strange metal; adamantine.

Terefedel looked at them puzzled.

Apart from her black wings there were two more, though they were just wisps of dark red light that faded in and out in tendrils. She had taken on her full form.

"I guess...I should explain."

“Perhaps you should.” he smiled.

"I have told you my real name is Azrael...right?"

"I am afraid not, no." Terefedel looked at her, puzzled. It was rare for people to assume different names in the Greater Kingdom unless they held more than one title.

"Oh boy..." She managed a smile.

"Well," she started up again. "There are four seraphic souls. I was the first to cross to this realm. There is a seraphic of the Void, of the Throne, of Life, and of Death."

"The only reason I am called Ravelyn was because that was the name my sire gave me when he found me, but my seraphic name is Azrael. Very few people call me by that name, those who do are either very close, or wish to threaten me."

Quissera is the Seraphic of the Throne, Kaidya is the true name for the Seraphic of the Void, Challain is the Seraphic of Life, and I am Azrael; Seraphic of Death.

“I see…” Terefedel says looking at Ravelyn, or Azrael? “So, you’re an Angel of Death?”

"Yes," she said, nodding her head slightly. "My gifts are a good deal more destructive than creative, as my counterpart is more creative than destructive. Every month I send the souls of the dead to their respective places through ritual."

"I am also sometimes compelled to kill as well, dark Others who chose to break the treaty."

"But lately I have just been focusing on the treaty, as there are more agents that can take care of the job for me."

"Like the other three, I am aligned with the Light. Seraphim spirits have an infamy among demons, so they don't tend to like us. These chains around my wrists are permanant, cannot be broken. They are made out of a metal called adamantine. They were placed around my wrists by a demi-god by the name of Mephisto; a dark Other who didn't quite fancy me. Can't really get rid of them."

“So… which do I call you? Azrael or Lady Ravelyn or Rave? I’m a little confused.” Terefedel sighed slightly extinguishing the cigarette and pulling Rave closer to him, kissing her forehead gently.

He took one of the chains and looked at it for a moment, before letting it go. “I bet there is somebody who could get rid of them…”

"Rave is fine. Dating me means a rather high risk of death from those that search from me," she sighed softly. "If you don't want to...I'll understand. I'll tell you it won't be easy. Everyone who has in the past is dead now." he paused for a moment. "It is very doubtful they can be removed. I know the curse well; in full enochial. I am stuck with them, though I have learned to fight with them."

“I think I can look after myself. I fought Him and survived after all. Not many who went into direct combat with Him survived after all, save me, The Attendant, Heruss and Clodius.”

"You realize I'm going with you..."

“I’d rather you didn’t. He is something many people have faced and died against, He is really not something I would want somebody I care about to go up against. I want to risk as few lives as possible this time round. The last time caused 28 million lives to be extinguished, the time before that 20 million….”

"I think I will be able to help," she said. "I have not fought anyone or anything in a while. My energy just simmers here unused. I'm not helpless. You know I'm strong enough to hold you down." She grinned slightly.

Terefedel smiled, then looked seriously, worriedly at her and whispered. “I am serious Azrael. You don’t know the history the way us four do.”

"And you do not know my history."

“Perhaps. But I have heard some tales, true or not I doubt you could go up against… Him.”

"Not alone."

“Not with others either.” He sighed, shifted down slightly in the bed and kissed her, gently stroking her hair as he did so. “I am serious. If He walks again, you should be know where near. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

"If you go," she said in all serious. "You expect me to wait around and pray you come back? Did you ever think I was that kind of woman? My heart is in the fight and in the good for everyone. I cannot wait when I may have a chance to tip the scales. I can't watch anyone's people die by the hand of a dark Other. It isn't in my nature. This is how I am programmed. I help maintain the balance."

“He’s never been part of any balance, not as far as our research has ever shown.” smiled Terefedel. “You wouldn’t know his name either. Franz Haringott.” he shuddered slightly as he said it, gently wrapping an arm around Rave for security.

"I don't know the name..." she agreed with him there.

She shifted more comfortably into his arms, the heat from the ethereal set of wings was quite warm. "But if I don't know his name he probably doesn't know mine, which means I would not be an immediate target of hatred."

“You don’t know Him.” Terefedel sighed gently as he allowed Rave to get more comfortable in his arms. “I guess some history may be in order… I dunno. It may take some time to explain what we know to you. I’m not even sure that you should know, duty-wise you‘re a civillian, Seraphim or not.”

"I'm not of this nation," she said quietly. "So tell me what I need to know."

“That makes it doubly difficult.” he laughed nervously. Genuinely agonizing the choice now, before finally taking the plunge….

“So far as we have been able to trace back, He was a very powerful Mage of some sort. A Vampiric-Mage that aided the Midlownyans in their conquest of the whole Greater Island of Midlonia. Every time he has been killed, he always comes back, and is always in a position of power when he does so. Nobody remembers Him arriving, but they always remember what He did. We know he's done it six times before and that's by his own claims.”

"Sounds like me..." she commented quietly. "The coming back part...I've been killed twice." She did not mention that one time was suicide.

“But I bet it was painful, right?” he said, tightening his grip on Ravelyn a little.

"Once it was," she said softly, shifting to be somehow closer to him.

“He was different. Every time he came back he was twice as strong, twice as willing, twice as able, twice as ruthless…” he trailed off to a whisper.

"Ah I see... I can only work back to where I was again, until new abilities are granted to me from the Chamber of Fayth." she smiled. "You should come to my nation so you can learn about me a bit more. Meet my children..."

“I think I’d like that, but how about I show you here first? I’d like that… you may want to stay…” he trailed off again smiling.

"Allright...though long term plans shouldn't be made yet. I don't know if you can deal with me," she chuckled and pushed him a little bit.

"You seem manageable here." he chuckled as he rolled over, placing Ravelyn underneath as he kissed her deeply, hungrily again.

She groaned softly into his mouth.

She reached her hand out to the side, and a small spark ignited a flame within her hand; burning in the air. The fire she had created was slightly green in color; something in enochial called hellfire. She opened her crimson eyes; her skin hot. Not fair… she communicated to him silently.

I know, but you enjoy it all the [I]same he thought as he held the kiss for longer, his fang grazing her lip, causing it to bleed slightly which he sealed with his tongue.

The fire trailed up her arm which was wrapped around her and erupted on her two ethereal wings; though they did not burn the sheets nor her skin. It was quite strange. As it hit her wings it turned to a deep red flame. She was loosing this battle. Her hands were quite hot, and she trailed them down his back. How much she just wanted to give in.

He broke the kiss at this point and looked at her, before moving down to her neck and biting the soft skin, marking it with his fangs.

She shivered against him. I thought you were...going to show me around? Hmmm?

“Perhaps one last tour of the Bedroom first.” he muttered as he punctured her neck this time and drank a tiny bit of her blood.

As often when a vampire drinks from another, they can experience some of the memories from their victem. While Rave was not a victem, the effect was not less the same. Her barriers were down. What he saw was a research laboratory in front of him; countless scientists all staring at him; no, her. There was some kind of water in front of her, vision fading in and out. He could hear the echos of the voices as they discussed subject 857.

Then; the glass shattered. There was pain everywhere; the realization of breath as the wires were pulled from the body. The staggering into the medical field, the bullets that never reached their target and seeped to the ground as moltem metal. The place went up in flames. The first enforcer's neck snapped. He saw the man's soul through her eyes.

She absorbed it hastily as she attacked the next group, ignoring the cuts on her skin. Escape was her only goal mixed in with confusion. She couldn't understand their language. She knew they were the ones who imprisoned her in this body. She was not a vampire. Searing pain tore through her back; skin covered in blood. Two large white wings ripped through the skin on her back. She screamed as bits of flesh scattered themselves across the floor and her body quickly began mending itself. She ran down the only corrider available, leaving the bodies to themselves in the main research room. She felt someone grab her by the wrist, instinctively turned and kicked the man square in the face; but he turned to vapor.

That's no way to treat me, Azrael… she heard the voice. He came into being beside her.

She turned, and the man was too slow to avoid the hellfire which seared up his side. He backed away, hissing. He was a vampire; blond hair and amber eyes. "I'm not your enemy!" he hissed. She didn't understand him. He looked her in the eyes and there was an understanding. He grabbed her wrist, not taking notice of the scalded side of his face. He opened one of the doors and it lead to the outside.

"Go..." he said softly. "I can't follow." She looked at him, not leaving. After several seconds of scanning his thoughts, she was able to form words. "Deserve to die..." she said softly.

"You have already done enough damage. They were only doing their job. They never meant to bring you here...I will find you in the future, but I cannot go with you. I have to deal with altering the remaining memories so this doesn't get out..."

"Thanks, Tempestttt," she said and jumped off the cliff into the tumultuous waters below. It was freezing; and she hadn't realized it. Was this substance supposed to be cold? She felt herself losing consciousness.

Terefedel continued drinking, a tear forming in his eye at the memories, then he felt something else, something pulse through his body, his veins, he moaned and grunted slightly, and let go of her neck, licking the wound closed. Suddenly he felt his skin warm, his face gained more colour from it’s slightly pinkish white to a deeper hue. “What?”

"My skin is warm when I have certain emotions. I have no resistance to the cold... my blood carries a good deal of strength in it. I guess you absorbed some of it, as well as a weakness."

He looked at Ravelyn under him as he sat up from her, she was a bright shimmering red, a swirling light within her. “I can see red in you as well…”

"That's my essense" she explained. "This way I can tell who is a light Other and who is a dark Other, who is human, what they are like and such. Who is marked as breaking the treaty and the like."

“So…” he said looking at his hands, which shimmered a pale, light blue. “I…have I done something wrong?”

"No, probably just were experienced enough to take a bit of my angelic bood as well. Normally it shies away from the bite suprisingly. I think that side of me likes you as well."

Terefedel smiled. “Perhaps we should go into the garden for a bit now after all…” he slipped off of the bed and put on a loose white shirt with a collar and a pair of trousers on.

"Perhaps..." she paused, and picked up her dress from the floor. No, she was certainly not wearing this dress again. Too tight to be actually functional. She rumaged through his effects in the dresser, and pulled out a black button down shirt. She looked at him with a mischevious grin. Sorry for this. She pulled it on, and her wings ripped two wholes in the back then expanded outward. It was long enough to be a dress on her small form, and she wore it that way.

He stopped for a moment, then turned. “You never mentioned you were in a laboratory…” he said, looking at her in the eyes.

"I was never supposed to be in this world. I was ripped from my ethereal heaven and confined within this body. Scientists were working to create a perfect soldier, but the head of the faction was a powerful mage, who didn't tell them they had locked a death angel within the body." She saw the gore she had caused flash within her own mind. She rarely forgot a thing. "Sorry you had to see that side of me.”

“I actually found it quite exhilarating. If saddening.” He said with a weak smile. “You certainly do seem to be able to take care of yourself around normal human beings at the very least.”

"That was when I first experienced this world. I was weak. You felt the ache throughout my body, didn't you?"

He nodded, it was rather a tremendous feeling. Like being sucked inevitably towards a darkness, a dull ache at the end of a tunnel.

"The more I kill, the worse it gets, I learn how to control it better, it dies down again. The souls of those I kill I cannot send. The dark Others I kill, plague me. I was built as an entity to handle it though, so it only effects me some of the time. Only very rarely in great stress, but to me it is a small price to pay considering I have eternity."

He nodded again, then moved over to her and held her for a minute, maybe more, he didn’t know. It was a calm, quiet and intimate hold, one of sympathy, of passion, of beginning to understand the complex being underneath the beauty. The Pain.

She rested against him, finding comfort in his embrace. His physical prescence was something she could hold on to; to keep her steady. She felt safe, which was strange. She felt safe by herself. It felt good to let some of her memories pass to him. Over time, she wondered if he would be able to handle the many years of her life. Only time would be able to tell.

You feel...so much like Vaughn...but you aren't pushing me away… she thought silently to herself, and took a deep breath. Suddenly, everything went cold. Their shadows rose from the ground and engulfed them. There was no color; just black, white, and various shades of gray. The fly which had been buzzing across to the opposite wall slowed down and beat its tiny wings once every few seconds.

Ravelyn backed away from him a bit, yet still held his hands. "How did you take us here?!" she said, a bit alarmed.

"I... where is here?" Terefedel looked around a little bewildered by his new surroundings. "Where....?"

"The Dark Path... we are in the Twilight, the Gloom? Others are able to go in and out of this realm as they please.” She looked away from him, taking in the surroundings.

“It's a parallel to the first plane of existence we were just in. We are in the first level of twilight. Anyone in the first plane we just left can't see us. This is an Other's ability, not my own. Vaughn had given it to me but I was never able to enter because of the souls within me. He would have to take me.” she said, looking at him again, worry creasing her brow.

“Depending on your strength you can't stay in the twilight for too long or it will engulf you, and you will fade into it. How long you can stay depends on your strength, and how deep you can go also depends on your inner strength. I can stay for five minutes maximum at the first level, and a minute at the deepest level of twilight."

"The deeper you go the more things you can bypass. At the last level, you can get through locked doors and nearly all magical enchantments. You can't stay there for long though. Already our time is wearing down. Take us back...and I will explain more.."

“But.. I don’t know how to go back.” Terefedel looked at her.

"Then we will die here," she said softly.

"Think about pulling yourself up from your body. To get to the twilight you went down into your shadow. Think of this as your body, and your soul rising off. You will have to take me with you. I can't travel alone here..."

She was calm. Vaughn had tried to explain it to her, she could never do it though. She hope he could.

“Ok, I’ll try” He closed his eyes again and held her close, trying to gather the same feelings he had experienced before the world around them had changed. He began to feel himself rise, but he then could not feel Ravelyn with him.

"Fuck," she said softly. She as looking at her hand which had turned a stone gray, and it was travelling up her arm. She had to distract the twilight which seemed to me more apt to want to take her down than him. She bit down into what felt like hard stone, tried three times before she got through her once soft skin. Then, blood flowed freely. "Try again and hurry. Angelics arne't welcome here."

He looked at Ravelyn, then nodded again. He took a deep breathe and tried again, gathering the feelings this time he felt her body begin to move with him.

They fell out of the twilight. Ravelyn's hand was a normal color, yet still bleeding from excessively deep fang marks. There were four marks in total from her double set of fangs. She placed her lips over it, sealing the would. He felt fine but she felt weak. "I don't know how you did it, but you took Vaughn's ability to stay in the dark path without consequence, and his ability to go in and out of it. I was never able to, but he was. After practice, you'll be able to support me as well...hopefully. It's quite good for avoiding specific situations."

“Are you ok?” he said, taking hold of her arm and rubbing it. “Perhaps you should sit down for a minute or two, you look… well I’m worried.” He led her over to the balcony where there was a small sofa-come-Loveseat and a table. In front of them was the garden, and further back the rolling green hills and forest of great Midlonian Oak trees. Down below in the garden was a sheer cacophony of colours and fruit bearing plants, all a wonderful assault on the senses, and a gentle, calmingly sweet smell that blew up from below them.

"I'm fine.” She said falling back slightly into the seat. “I've never been good with going into the Twilight. He only brought me there when necessary. There is a danger there too though. Shades are creatures that live there. Shadows of what were once human beings or other entities that faded away into the Dark Path. They are fond of light ones..."

“So, why do I not feel tired? What does that make me? Neither?”

"You don't feel tired because you didn't stay in long enough to feel tired. You are not an Other, and you are not an angelic like me. I'm sure if you were in there for a while, the twilight will claim you too. You take to it just like Vaughn."

“I see, so we are always at extreme risk when there?” He said as he knelt on the ground in front of her.

"Yes, but sometimes that risk has outweighed our risk in this plane of existance..."

“I see…I think I need to sit down too, I was doing to show you this view with a glass of drink, but I think I need to stop and think what has just happened.” He sat next to Rave on the seat, his hand immediately finding hers and gripping it tightly.

[Tag]

It seems you learned quickly how to get out. You can get in the reverse way. Don't worry." she said comforting him. "Seems that you take to it a lot better than I did. Are you all right?"

“A little shaken up I guess…” he said as he looked at the small table in front of them, a pair of flute glasses and a bucket of ice with a blood bottle in sat on the table in front of them. “I think I may need a drink.”

She chuckled. She couldn't drink right now. She actually needed a break. Normally she went a few months with out feeding, and lately she had gorged herself.

Terefedel poured himself a glass and hovered the bottle over the other glass, looking at Rave to see if she wanted any or not, when she gently shook her head, he nodded and put the bottle back, taking a small sip and savouring it.

He heard faint whispers in his head, undistinguishable words.

“Mnh?” he looked up and looked at Rave.

"Something wrong?" she asked him, noting his expression.

“I, um, I don’t know. I thought I heard something, but…” he trailed off, frowning and took another sip.

"Whispers?" she said, then closed her eyes only momentarily. "Well, all of my soul gems are still within me. Good thing you didn't absorb those! Those would be rather difficult to though. They are embedded very skillfully. Anyway, they are probably thinking you are an extention of me for a while. Probably just see you as more of me to bitch to."

"I always hear them."

“How can you cope if they’re like that all the time?” he asked, hearing another quick catch of whispering.

"Blah blah blah, I didn't mean to break the treaty! Give me my life back! Give me a release!," she mimicked them, then said something in another language. "I was built for this. My entity was meant to deal with all of them. I have the capacity for a good deal more. I probably won't reach the limit for a good millenia or so, unless I go on a rampant killing spree which isn't likely. I hear them all the time yes, but they don't bother me as much as they would someone else. It's my job. It's what I was made for."

"Luckily you didn't take the souls themselves, just some of their thoughts are escaping to you. If you took the souls they might tear you inside out after a few minutes if you can't resist their combined wills. They hate me because I am their murderer and their prison." Her tone was dark.

“Yet, you aren’t supposed to be here in this form, are you?” he said, sliding into the same language without realising it. “Your soul is supposed to be amongst the heavens, I can understand that, but your body is… man made.”

"I'm not supposed to be here, period. I am supposed to be in another level of existance. Not the level of twilight, but a lighter path. From there I would gather the souls that strayed, send them off. Take the lives of dark ones who violated the treaty. Now that I am here, I do the same, but i can't enter that lighter plane again, nor return to the heavens. My job though, has not changed."

"My body isn't what is dealing with them, my soul is. My soul remains the same, while my body may be different. These souls wear on your own, maybe not your body, but they could very well drive you insane if your soulisn't meant for it. I apologize you even hear their whispers. I will sheild better next time you drink from me."

“I guess we must both be cursed..” he chuckled darkly. “I shouldn’t have done that, but.. Well. I just wanted to return the favour.” he smiled and ran a hand on his neck, where the four puncture wounds still were, faded now, but just see able.

She smiled and slinked over to him, making her way into his lap. She kissed his neck and ran her tongue over the warm skin. He felt almost human. She bit into the fading scar in the same place, and began to drink.

A dark city skyline, screams and shouts, spattering of gunfire and shouted commands to reload. A hulking great beast suddenly smashed through a building in front of him… her. Without realising it she was holding a long, double bladed curved sword and running at the snarling dark creature, her head turned and shouted to the figure running next to her, a man that looked like Terefedel, yet slightly different.
“Another day, another pound of flesh, eh Garufedel?”

The other figure yelled back in a voice a little younger sounding than Terefedel’s. “You know how it is, always a good day to di -” The sentence was never finished. A large chunk of masonry, a side of a building, something large and made of stone slammed the figure away, backwards, a stain of blood on the ground where he was.

She screamed, then turned to the giant shilouette, a snorting beast who’s very breath clouded in the air, with dull glowing yellow eyes, a snarking visage and a gigantic battle axe. With a scream she leapt at the figure, sword drawn high above her head.

The it was all darkness for a while.

Then the scene folded back into focus. She was running again, back the way she had come, looking at the pieces of rubble strewn down the street, the small fires and the sparks of electricity from lamplights.

Then she slowed down. And stopped. And started crying and screaming.

Ravelyn had pulled back from the bite. "Was he your brother?" she asked without hesitation.

“Yes.” was the simple, monotone reply.

“That was… so long ago. Back in a war, so long ago. Centuries old now, in fact, a different country a different time, all loss.”

"I'm sorry for your loss," she said. The truth was she had become numbed by death. She had lost far to much to shed any more tears upon. She had never had any siblings of her own. She had children though; some of which had died, and she had to suffer through. Both of her former fiancés were dead, and one had been from suicide. A suicide she had caused.

“I got revenge 60 years later, a hell of a battle on the sands of Navarre. I killed him but felt no better, I thought it‘d avenge him and make me feel less guilty for letting him die, but it did nothing.”

"You didn't 'let' him die. It was not something you could forsee. Don't beat yourself up."

“I know that now, but back then…” he sighed and took another sip. “I made my peace right near the end of the second war in Navarre. I let go of all that had happened. It was why I turned against Franz.”

"I see. I merely go against people for the color of their souls," she chuckled. "No doubt his is as black as Mephisto's."

“Possibly, I don’t know, I don’t think I want to know now I can see souls.” he chuckled, putting the glass down and wrapping an arm back around Ravelyn who was still in his lap and kissing her.

"Evil ones have dark souls..."

“He’s a whole new level of evil. I think.” he murmured barely an inch from her lips.

"Perhaps he will have a votex as well then."

"A votex..." she continued. "It's like a soul that's dark but also spins like a vortex in the void. Taking in the terrible emotions around them. Quite scary actually when yout hink what you have to do to get to that point."

He drew back a little and looked her in the eyes “A what?”

He looked up at the scenery again for a moment in thought. "I think he'd qualify." he said with a slight shrug.

"Probably."

Darkness.

Eternal, unrelenting, darkness.

No pain, no pleasure, no sound, no silence. Just darkness.

No heat, no chill, no sensations at all. Not even the sense of self to allow someone to know how and why this was.

And then, light. Smoke. The sound of chanting. How long had it been since he had been called? Decades, millenia? Maybe just weeks? Wait, one of the mortals was here. It was an effort, after all these years in the void, to try to understand another's words.

"And so, I, Marglath the magnificent..." Ah. A summoner. Such had once been his lot. He remembered. Or did he? Either way, this wasn't important. He probed the pentagon he had been called into. Clumsy. Foolish. And there was the spot. None of these mortals ever managed to get a perfect pentagon.

And then, suddenly, memory returned. And with it, purpose. One word. One name. The nattering fool wasn't still talking, was he? "And so, I demand..."

He reached through the pentagon and grabbed the wizard by the neck. "You. We have some work to do, you and I."


A cloud passed over Rave and Terefedel that day, darkening the sun for a moment. A single, solitary white card flew down and landed near them. The card was blank, save for a single black horseshoe and a sentence. 'I'm coming for you, Rave. - M'

Ravelyn frowned and picked up the card, and slipped away from Tere before flipping it over. Clearly it was meant for them. Tere perhaps? News on the sorcerer? She was sadly mistaken. It was for her. Rave’s face paled, the way Tere, Heruss’, and Clodius’ had when they received news of Franz. She couldn’t speak for a few moments, then she set the card in her hand on fire and the ash blew away with the wind. She looked at Tere. He hadn’t been able to read the card, which she was thankful for. She didn’t want to bother him with this news. This demon, Mephisto…was the one who killed her the first time, though with the last burst of magic she had sealed him away deep within the void. The powers there had been too careless with his guard. That was the only way. She would have to see him again, no doubt. She cringed. She couldn’t look Tere in the eyes. She would not place this burden upon him.

She called a dark colored bird to the window. It was a raven; not that common around here. It landed on the railing next to her. It bent its head close, and she whispered something to it in another language. Softly. It wasn’t in a Slavic language, but enochial. When she was done, she grasped her hand into a fist. The bird froze. “FLY!” she commanded. She flung her hand outward towards the sky, and with it, the bird’s soul soared out from it in a mass of flames trailing behind it until it disappeared over the horizon. The body of the bird fell to the ground; dead and lifeless.

The bird found it’s target, perched itself upon Mephisto’s shoulder. It had known in death where the demon was, though Ravelyn remained ignorant. It’s soul plunged to the earth after breaking its landing with the demon’s shoulder with its sharp talons. The essence scattered to form a message. “I’ll be waiting for you. –Your sweetheart”

She looked at Tere helplessly. "Would you care to accompany me to my nation?" she questioned, sounding as even toned as possible.

Mephisto growled as he stood in the shattered remnants of the wizard's tower. "Good." He said, smiling to himself. "Very good." The demon waved his hand, and the fractured soul burst away. "Come to me, Rave. Come to your death."

(Sorry, R. All I could think of despite my best efforts.)

Terefedel got up from his seat and wrapped his arms around Rave's waist, pulling her close and looking into her eyes with a worried expression.

"I'd love to, but I don't like that look. What's wrong Azreal?" he used her real name, simply because he was still slightly confused by the several names she took, it'd probably be a while before he just called Rave "Rave".

The wind blew again, causing them both to shiver and embrace slightly against the cold wind, a feeling Terefedel hadn't felt in a long time. Upon the wind they could hear the hefty growl of a Motorcycle, it burped and cut out every so often as it's gears changed. Terefedel looked out off of the balcony to a scree-covered driveway that ran on the far right of the gardens as the engine got louder. At the far end, through a pair of wrought iron gates a Motocycle turned. It was a sleek black Midlonian Triumph model bounced it's way up the driveway, it's rider wearing a leather riding helmet and wearing riding goggles. He was dressed in a blue overcoat, which was flapping heavily in the wind.

"An outrider?" He questioned quietly.


The engine cut out and the rider let the bike coast to a rest near the front of the house.

"Leftenant!" Called the voice. "May I come up sir, I have orders to issue."

Terefedel sighed, what now? He was on a break from his duties wasn't he?

"Yes Sargent, come on up." he sighed and looked at Rave again and kissed her gently. "I'm sorry, but duty is duty."

The outrider knocked on the bedroom door loudly before opening it and walking across the chamber to the balcony. He clicked his heels and bowed his head.

"Leftenant Jelthan, I have these orders to issue to you." He said, handing a small sealed envelope to him. The seal was of an Ankh with a D on the left hand of the cross-bar and an "A" on the right.

"It's from Colonel Heruss." he said with a sigh, he tore it open.

Leftenant,
It has come to my attention that you have not had any kind of "Rest and Relaxation time" in a good few months, hence I am hereby issuing you with 6 full days of RnR leave with a view of a full month when the current matter is resolved. Please do enjoy your time at home pursuing whatever leisure activities you see fit.

I will however request you at 9 am prompt at the Castellion of Porphyria within 6 sunsets of now.

Colonel Heruss.

Terefedel smiled with releif. "It's just a summons after the better part of a week off. So yes I can go with you. If-" He turned to the outrider who was still there. "Something else Sargent?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes sah." he replied. "I also have orders for Lady Shentavo." He offered the envelope, sealed similarly to Rave.

The orders, when opened read.

Lady Shentavo,
I also request you presence at the Castellion in 6 sunsets time, your talk at the party in Menelmacar still has me worried that you may not know what you face, hence I challenge you to a friendly duel to first of all decide on your combat prowess, and should you meet my expectations, I would like to offer you honorary status within the Dark Angel's Regiment.

Yours Sincerely, Prince of Porphyria, Colonel Asopher Heruss of his Greater Majesty's Dark Angels Regiment.

"Wow." muttered Terefedel over her shoulder, having read the note also. "He must be serious about offering you a place, he rarely signs off his orders with his full title." His arms gently wrapped around her waist again. "How about that? He must like you after all, he usually doesn't challenge people to a friendly duel unless he means it. Usually it's just "duel" with a lot of sarcasm and one-liners." He kissed her neck, before looking up.

"You are dismissed, sargent." he said.

The Sargent clicked his heels again and bowed. "In Darkness and in Light" he spoke, before turning on his heel and leaving.

The motobike engine gunned up again a few moments later, roaring as it sped away back down the loose stone drive, hissing as it did so.

“Is he a sore loser?” she questioned him, then looked away from his eyes. “I’m not sure if I will be in the best fighting condition in six days time, but if I have to go through him to go with you against Franz, I have no choice but to defeat him.” She sighed heavily, and then returned to the matter that was weighing on the forefront of her mine.

“I received a card from an old…acquaintance. A demon of the seventh level, which is equal to an angel of the seventh level; like myself, only of the dark ranks. He had broken the treaty with his deeds, and I was forced to intercede. The battle wiped out a fourth of my nation’s population. I was able to seal him within the void, heavily locked away. He took my life before he was sealed however. That was the first time I died,” she paused for a moment, waiting for it to sink in. “He somehow broke free from the prison. I don’t think he’s too keen on seeing me alive. He doesn’t understand that no matter how many times you kill me, though it might take centuries to return, I will come back until my job is finished. That time in waiting to be reincarnated does take an aweful toll however, and separates me from my memories for a while, and those I knew.”

“I feel like my own nation would be a safer place for me, and a safer place for battle should the time call for it.” She kissed him. “Don’t worry…I have to duel your Colonel. I can’t die before then,” she winked at him. She offered him her hand. “Mind leaving with me now? The sooner I get there the sooner I can make preparations.”

Terefedel nodded and took Ravelyn’s hand “I suppose no time like the present would be a good idea… let me get a bag for my things though, you’re not the only one who’ll be fighting other people’s demons you know.”

"Mephisto will do anything he can to get to me. His favorite past time was targeting those close to me. No doubt he already knows I've been intimate with you..." she trailed off.

“Franz will know the same.” he quirked a smile. “My my, how alike they seem on the surface..” he chuckled darkly as he reluctantly let go of Ravelyn’s hand and went into the bedroom again, grabbing a small carry bag into which he threw his uniform, cap badge, regimental badge, his two-bladed sword and his blade-pistol and some ammunition.

"Seems like this might be a good warm up," she coughed slightly. Was she scared? No. She felt it very hard to find fear. She was rather agitated, however, that this may cost her one hundred years in between heaven and hell, and the death of so many people all because the bastard broke free. She might even loose Tere, if he dies, or if she had to wait, would he wait one hundred years or would he move on without her? No, she wasn't going to die. She had other engagements to keep.

He threw the small bag onto his shoulders. “I think that’s everything.” he quirked a smile. “I guess staying here is out of the question after all huh? No rest for the wicked…”

"That's why I have never really been able to retire," she sighed heavily. "Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” he smiled and took her hand in his again, stroking it with his thumb.

"Allright then," she whispered softly, and wrapped her arms around him tightly. The world became a bright, blinding light.

As it disipated they were on the sidewalk, in her own nation. The whether was warm, but clouds interrupted the sky. She frowned. That happened here whenever the realms started to mix into each other. She reached up her hand and light shown through the clouds.

They receded to the horizon. As they did, people turned to look and see what had caused the blessing. They observed her visage and awe, and customarily bowed in the fashion of her nation as she walked down the side walk towards the east side of the city. There were good tidings called out to her, children pointed at her wings. She laughed to herself. All of this; so much to save, which was why she had to fight. She couldn't let them down or her family. They were headed towards a rather large mansion; her estates, in which her family waited for her with patience.

Terefedel merely followed behind, he had been using the Librarian’s portals and methods of transport for years now, so things such as this didn’t phase him much, what did was the instant recognition and reverence she was generating as she walked. “I assume you did that on purpose?” he whispered into her ear, quirking a smile.

"This land was not created by chance. Occasionally it starts to mix with twilight. I merely scared it off. The people would have noticed me anyway," she said, her wings fully out. Unlike many rulers, she deserved every ounce of respect for what she had done over her time as empress.

“You mean it’s a border land? I thought those were largely myths, might explain why the weather surged so much when I was la-” he then coughed. “Ah, now that I’m not permitted to tell you until you beat Heruss.” He grinned and hitched his small leather backpack further up his shoulders.

"I'll beat him. I really have no other option."

“I dunno.” he said with a sigh. “Knowing the Colonel he’ll mimic Franz’s fighting style, I can give you some tips, but some of it would require you to overcome your… well our weakness to extreme cold I suppose.” he sighed and rubbed his chin in thought.

"I can't over come that, I can prevent the cold from reaching me," she winked at him.

“Then you might stand a chance.” he chuckled. “One thing though, if you hear a gong sound it’s the end of the duel. If you’re still fighting him when that sounds then you’ll definitely have passed, if he’s got the upper hand though… he may decide you haven’t.”

“How does your Colonel do in extreme heat?"

“Quite well, we fought twice in the Freethinkers after all, that place is very hot. Then there was the time we had to expunge a Fire Demon in a volcano, he seemed pretty unfazed then also. It’s why I respect and fear him in the same breath, he’s so much like Franz, yet so fanatically loyal and all for keeping order, it’s quite odd.”

"I see...has he ever been to hell?"

“I think he’d argue he’s been near as dammit.” he chuckled again. “Mind you definitely have the upper hand there I suppose?”

"Indeed."

He chuckled again as they continued to walk, hand in hand, towards the mansion in the distance.

"I'll be fine. I just have to focus on my own strengths and amplify what I have. I'll draw from my son before we leave, and my daughter after Mephisto."

“Draw? As in drink?” he asked questioningly, raising an eyebrow.

"Something like that..."

"I will drain their magicka as well..." she looked monotonously towards the large gold-leafed double doors, gripped the handles, and pulled them open. Home.

The doors opened into a very large circular reception room. The architecture was medieval elegance, with wonderfully crafted pillars, large cathedral ceiling, and marble floor. There was beautifully carved stone and marble throughout the mansion, as well as paintings. There was a more modern section above, to which the outside still remained dated. They walked up the grand winding staircase and she opened the doors to the center room. There was a long table with chairs around it. The woman sitting at the head had long white hair that fell in loose curls quite possibly to her ankle. Her eyes were violet, and had the same piercing gaze as Ravelyn’s. There was another woman siding in one of the side seats, though she didn’t appear to be completely there. Her vision was like a hologram, but clearly her essence was there. The final member in the room was a man about 6’2” with a muscular appearance, probably aged around twenty-eight years old. He had a scar across his face with one white eye and one ice blue. He had one wing extended fully; as black as night with several piercings running through it. His other wing had been cut in half sometime prior to this day, which rendered both useless for flying.

The white Queen had a light aura of white and light tan, while the darker haired woman’s essence was a violet. The man leaning against the window had a grey essence with flashes of deep blue. His soul showed as a vortex. “My children…” Ravelyn said upon entering. The white Queen stood up and bowed her head. She addressed Ravelyn as ‘mother’. “Terefedel,” she said, using his full name, “This is the Empress of the empires, Charmaine Shentavo, my son, Quissera, and his fledgling, Kayde.” The three did not need to be introduced to Terefedel, for they already knew his name.

“Is it true he broke the seal?” Quissera asked, apparently already aware of the situation. He looked at Kayde, and the girl nodded.

“The void is doing it’s best to keep him there, but without the sorcerers and enchantresses holding his binds, I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time until he comes back to this realm.”

“I will have to bind him again,” Ravelyn said, sitting herself on the edge of the table. “We don’t really have any other option.”

“Last time you sealed him, he took your life with him. I’m not loosing you for the third time,” Quissera said, hitting his fist on the table. “I’ll go.”

“No you won’t. None of you will. Kayde needs to be in the void in order to touch up the resealing once it’s done. Quissera, I need to drink from you. Lend me your strength in blood and spirit. You are the strongest of our family besides myself. If I’m gone, you are to protect the Empress at all costs. Charmaine, you certainly aren’t lending a hand because you are the Empress now. People need you.”

“You risked your life when you were the Empress,” Charmaine protested.

“There was no one else to do the job for me,” Ravelyn said monotonously. “You will stay here and remain as hope for our people.”

“Yes, m’lady,” Charmaine said, bowing her head. Kayde seemed indifferent, and had taken her order well, but Quiserra…he wasn’t too happy about it.

Terefedel merely bowed to Rave’s family and listened to the conversation as it unfolded.

“You realise I’m going with you, right?” he quipped quietly to Ravelyn as they moved on from the family, the matter apparently being dealt with, Rave was going and that was that.

"You really inspire such loyalty in your followers," Quissera hissed at Ravelyn. She rolled her eyes. Apparently Quissera didn't like not being the only male in Ravelyn's life, that much was quite clear.

Terefedel merely raised an eyebrow. “Or it could be she’s so determined to go with me to deal with something else that I feel it wrong to not return the favour…”

"She would," he said, shooting a glare towards his mother, she sighed heavily. "When are you going to stop trying to get yourself killed?"

“Perhaps when people stop trying to kill her first, at my guess.” muttered Tere.

Ravelyn was taken back by this remark, raised her hand and hit him across the face with the back of her hand.

"I need to draw from you," she said coldly. "Whether you allow me to or not."

Terefedel merely raised his eyebrow to the affair, family was family and he did nothing to stop the slap. From what he could tell her “son” was spoilt and perhaps insolent in what was actual duty to a family and a nation, not to mention having to uphold the Ravelyn mythos.

"I completely understand the only man you've ever approved of in my life has been Vaughn. I know how you felt when it happened, but enough is enough. It's my decision so fuck off," now that was a bit of a harsh approach. "I never said a word about Yekaterina, even though she warped your soul..." Qui struck out at her, to which she caught his fist in her hand and eluded his movements.

He loved her, he really did. He was only thinking about the best for her and the family. She knew this as well. She couldn't, however, yeild to his will. She took the opening and plunged her fangs into his neck. He didn't stop her, but loosened up.

Terefedel merely took a step back, gripping a bag strap, he was worried things might kick off before they were even anywhere near to Mephisto, when she began to feed he merely relaxed a little as the tension was still there, but underlying and subdued.

She drained a few mouthfuls before bracing him for the temporary weakness. She helped him to a chair. He looked awefully drained. He rested his head in his hands. "Go," he said gruffly. Charmaine shook her head, and nodded to her mother. They all knew him well; and they knew her well.

“Well.” he said as he hitched his bag slightly again as the doors closed behind them. “I guess that was the family. I suppose all re-unions are that eventful?”

"Don't mind Quissera," she said softly. "He doesn't like sharing me. His father was my sire..."

“Ah.” Terefedel merely nodded. “So he’s jealous that I may take you away forever and that you will forget him?”

"No," she commented. "He knows how much he means to me. He was my first son. He is afraid you'll die and I'll be hurt again."

He paused for a moment in thought. “Um, Rave, I’m still getting used to all these new… abilities. But. Did I see a vortex in Qui?”

"And, yes," she sighed once more. "You did."

"He is a very sadistic individual, very powerful as well, and while he might not always use it for good, as he's taken many innocent lives, he has always protected the family, and steps up when needed to."

“Ah.” he nodded. “Well, for a start that was rather strange to see. Second of all,” he took Rave’s hand in his. “I’m not much of one for dying on people.”

"Every man I've been with has died, Tere. He has every right to be worried."

“And everyone I cared about has also died.” he said with a grim smile. “Save for the Colonel, but that’s a different kind of caring. I think I’ll be more positive in my outlook. Perhaps our bad luck at having partners and friends die on us will cancel each other out?”

"Hopefully," she said in return, walking down the corrider. She changed the subject. "I have to change..."

“If we’re going now after him, so do I.” He stopped and turned, “Unless we’re staying here for a short while?”

"You can change in my room," she said. She opened the door to her room; clearly her room. It was very large, with tinted windows looking out over the expanse of the nation in every which way. The general color theme in the room tended to be a dark crimson color and black. There were weapons mounted on the closest wall including a beautifully gemmed blade. She opened her dresser, and unbuttoned his shirt that she was wearing.

Terefedel dropped his bag onto the floor and took off his own shirt, then turned and placed his arms around Rave’s waist, causing her to pause. “How dangerous is Mephisto?” he asked, whispering into her ear.

She slipped on a dark shirt which zipped up the side and was backless to accomedate her wings. black shorts in a soft denim material and a black belt. She took an amulet from a jewelry case as s he felt Tere wrapped himself around her.

"The most dangerous opponent I have ever fought. The only opponent that ever managed to kill me. He won't be so lucky this time..."

She put the amulet on, and the thick metal choker latched around her throat. Metal came from no where, forming boots around her feet as they travelled up to her knee, then to her mid thigh. Gauntlets then formed around her wrists and forearm, though most of her hands remained bare. More of the same metal rushed up the side of her wings along the bone, and then raced upon the feathers making them as sharp as knives.

She slipped away from Tere. She didn't want to cut him. The metal was suprisingly light; adamantine, the same as her chains which ached to taste the blood of her foe.

“The fact that he’s the only one to do so worries me.” he said, moving back to his bag. Unzipping it he pulled out the black leather top, which had pads and bits of armour at the chest and shoulders, toughened leather and metal underneath. He removes his trousers and replaced them with similarly padded knees. Finally he replaced his shoes with ankle boots, re-enforced with steel. He removed a belt which held on it a simple set of loops. Into two of which went a pair of canteens, the other held his blade-pistol.

Finally, and with reverence he picked up his double-bladed Vampiric Katana. It was an unusual weapon. Two blades on the same handle, but of different lengths, one of which was at a 90 degree angle to the other. He took it out of it’s sheath to check it, the metal shone brightly. He clicked it back in and fed the weapon through the loops at the back of his tunic. It was a long blade, two and a half hands and stuck out above his head.

He turned and looked at Ravelyn. “I guess we’re both as ready as we’ll ever be.” he smiled, but there was worry in his eyes all the same.

She made a swift motion with her hand, and a large scythe appeared in it. The handle was black with dark metal towards the top. The blade was long and had enochial enscriptions on it. By the end of the metal, the blade was red. She spun it in her hand; familiar with it as a good friend. The rest of her armor adapted itself to her and finally solidified. "I hope it's enough."

Terefedel responded by pulling out his Blade-pistol and holding it up. “I think it will be.” he said rather evenly.

"You don't know his hatred for me," she chuckled. "I took away almost a millenia from him and placed him a world where you can feel nothing but pain. I detroyed his minions time and time again until he got up enough rage to come to me himself."

“Sounds familiar… except his time frame seems to be much longer.” He rested the pistol on his shoulder for a second. “Doesn’t stop Him coming back and being more terrifying every time though…”

"We will worry about that when the time comes for it."

“Still. I suppose we could both use the warm up…” Terefedel said with a slight twinge of fear in his voice.

They had left the house as quietly and uneventfully as they had came. Travelling by vehicle under Ravelyn’s direction they had arrived at a rather beautiful place, it was quiet and serene. Clouds gently drifted in the distance and the scent of jasmine was in the air. The land itself sloped gently away from where they had parked. Holding his sheathed sword in hand Terefedel looked at the field with mild curiosity.

“So, what is this place anyway?” he gestured “What are we here for all dressed up and ready? It’s… well. A field. Of Jasmine if I’m not mistaken.”

"He'll come here," she said softly, looking up at the sky before taking a few steps and laying down in the flowers. She spread out her wings and let the warmth of the warmed grass and flowers as well as the sun warm her skin. Her eyes remained half open. Clearly she had a past here.

Terefedel looked at her as she lay on the grass. She looked radiantly beautiful, even in full armour there was a serene beauty about her amongst the grass and the Jasmine flowers, a contrast of her black and the white and green. He looked to the sky, savouring the warmth before lying down himself next to Ravelyn, next to her, but just down from her, so he didn’t lie on her wings. He rolled over and leant his chin on his hand, looking at the apparently dozing figure. “So. What happened here that makes you so sure he will come?”

"He knows were I am," she said simply. "He'll go wherever I am."

“Yet, from what I can tell, you didn’t direct us here at random. This place is so…” he struggled for the appropriate word. “Calm, serene even, you belong here, or at least deserve to be here.”

"It's away from the city; away from people," she brushed him off.

He sighed and turned back over, lying on his back looking at the clouds. He would be more insistent, even pushy if he had to be, but the way she was acting. It seemed like one of those times to just sit back and let her tell him if she decided to.

“I remember a place like this, quite an odd place it was too… long long ago.” he chuckled “I was sired in a field much like this one.”

"I was sired in the cellar of a lighthouse..."

He tilted his head back a little so he could see a glimpse of Rave. “In a cellar? It’s not exactly a place I’d willingly go to….” he trailed off, the realisation sinking in. “Oh. It wasn’t voluntary was it?”

"No. It wasn't..." she said plainly. The angel closed her eyes.

“You seem… remarkably unemotional about it.” he turned over again, looking at her with slight worry. “Ravelyn… I…” he sighed. “I don’t want to sound as though I am prying on a deep dark secret, but… what happened?”

"It's not any of your business..." she said coldly.

“Then…. Forgive me, for this.” he said, moving quickly, grabbing hold of her shoulder, pinning her down and sinking his teeth into her neck.

She had tried to move away, causing the wound to open a little wider than normal, but the memory had swept them both over. It was dark, and the ocean waves hit up against the side of the stone building. The ground was slightly damp, and her wrists were tied tightly with some combination of leather straps.

Her wings to either side of her were a pure white. The tips of the feathers were slightly dirtied from her surroundings. Her eyes were a light amber color; hair a dark auburn. She had her back against the wall as she heard the footsteps approaching. She was tired. How long had shee been here? Two days? This realm was draining without any sutenane. No food; no water. What of ambrosia? Where was the one who claimed he'd come for her again, the one who called himself Tempest? Whose real name she knew as Corothisia.

The only one she knew now was the one whose ghostly visage appeared in the door way. He was strong; his soul black and winding mixed with flashes of red. Her's was white, almost blindingly so, but he could not see the light. He could only see the seraphim in front of him. Power eminated from his very skin as he bent down to her level.

He had a double set of fangs, dark crimson eyes with black hair and pale skin. She had come to know him as Daja; perhaps one of the first vampires to walk this earth. "I finally thought of a name for you," he said without emotion. "Ravelyn. Do you like it my dear?" He drew his fingertips alongside her cheek, and dug his nails in at the end. She grimmaced. He brought the few droplets of blood to his lips. "I have tasted the blood of many angels, but never as one such as you, Ravelyn."

"Azrael," she said in return, the syllables coming slowly as she learned to speak through lips.

"You shall be called what I will," he said in return, then started to kiss her neck. His lips were so cold in comparison to her hot skin. She stood up against the wall, but he came with her. He started to untie the dress he had given her; made her wear, and bit her neck at the same time, taking as much as he could as her body went lip. Her struggle was futile. She hadn't adjusted to the realm enough to have enough strength to fight him off; not yet.

He cut his own wrist and placed it to her mouth, tipping her head back then holding his hand over her mouth so she had no choice but to swallow. She tried not to, but her body reacted to prevent her suffocation.

He had gotten the dress off by the time his blood had started to take its toll. Her screams were drowned out by the waves as the Dark Gift, as it was called, took her. It wasn't a smooth transition; but a slow and excrutiatingly painful.

Her wings turned to black; and her hair darkened. Her once amber eyes were flooded with the sanguine liquid forced down her throat. Fangs started to take shape within her mouth. Her soul, which had once been white was shifting. That perhaps was the most painful part; to be ripped from any contact with the light realm.

She could see him hovering over her, but the only thing she could feel was the pain, and it took her into unconsciousness.

Terefedel was weeping, he licked the wound closed gently and took his hand off of Rave’s shoulder and put it to her cheek instead, stroking it gently. “I’m sorry…” he whispered to her. “I’m sorry.” He kissed her neck gently before leaning up, supporting himself on his one free hand, looking down at her, his eyes still glistening with tears.

“I had to know, you wouldn't tell me so.... I just." he trailed off and sighed deeply, hoping she really would forgive him.

He turned from her at sat up. “I just… shouldn’t have done that to you, knowing that was how you… were forced in such a similar way to become a child of the Night…”

She looked back to where she was gazing before with her eyes half open; her face emotionless. She continued to let the sun warm her skin as she reclasped the choker around her neck which covered the bite marks. "Why are you crying? It wasn't you," she said plainly.

“I guess… the emotion of the event, the sadness, the pain.”

"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger."

“You don’t know how true that sounds.” he said, managing a weak smile before taking her hand in his. “I don’t know how you’ve coped. It’s a traumatic experience, regardless of what you are, who you
are.”

"I've never been human."

“You seem to have many human emotions. Perhaps you’re more human than you think, even if you are an angel.” he had stopped crying now, the emotional effect of the memory having passed, instead he took her hand and kissed it.

"Or perhaps humans have some angelic emotions."

“Perhaps.” he said, smiling warmly now.

The ground tore itself open. Fire shot from the trench, filling the air around them with smoke. Slowly, a dark figure began to become visible against the grey, a man leaning forward on a cane. The smoke slowly cleared, revealing an aristocratic, stunningly handsome man. He reached up with a perfectly manicured hand to bring back his shining black hair. "Hello, Rave." Mephisto said with a smile. "Still beautiful, I note."

That's what I've got. It just seems a bit of a waste to only post that tiny thing.

Ravelyn turned towards him. "You've changed," she said softly in note. "Last time we fought you didn't need a cane." She smiled wryly.

"You've changed as well." He said, looking her over. "Last time we fought you weren't anywhere near as beautiful, Azrael." He tapped the cane against his chin. "But this is only an affectation, my dear."

"Are you here to hit on me or to fight me," she questioned, rising from the ground and folding her wings behind her back. "Or something else?"

"Depends, Azrael." Mephisto stepped forward, his hands flexing. "Are you willing to give yourself to me, mind, body and soul...?"

She took a step backwards and summoned her scythe in her right hand, twirling it once around. "You know that answer..."

"Then, regrettably, we shall have to fight. Oh, but you look so disappointed..." He said with a sinister smile.

"I was hoping with your new appearance you'd be more agreeable," she said calmly. "Apparently I was wrong."

"Agreeable?" Mephisto snarled, his eyes narrowing and a whiff of brimstone reaching Rave. "After you left me for DEAD, Azrael? A cruel and painful death, torn from my very existence for aeons? I would fain have you kneel before me and plea for forgiveness!"

"Hey, I actually died," she protested. "You just got locked away! Suck it up."

"Enough! No more talk!" Mephisto roared. "Now, Azrael, you die!"