Sooner

Can someone PM me the names/globals of the people causing the problem?

Pretty please?

The final scene of Ways of the Heart is posted.

Epilogue

Centuries passed, and Ciara made good use of her two unwilling servants. She did indeed rise high in the ranks of the diabolic, from a minor power to a major player. The former angel now terrorized the world under his new name: Conall Cian. Sometimes Na'rul worked alongside him, though his disdain for the devil never faltered, and sometimes Na'rul was on her own task. If any rival challenged Ciara's power, her servants ended that challange quickly and savagely.

But no matter how strong Ciara became, she always lusted for more power. She gathered artifacts and trinkets and stashed them away in the spacious lair she'd claimed from Cad'strum. She did bind other servants, and drew on their power to increase her own, but of them all, only Conall and Na'rul managed to survive her considerable wrath.

As the years, decades, and centuries passed, the angel Ruadh slowly faded and weakened, supplanted almost entirely by the monstrous demon Conall Cian. He fought Ciara, with all his will and occasionally with physical violence, but he was well and truly caught. While he never learned to accept his bonds, he learned to survive within them. With time, Conall ceased denying the evil in which he was awash, and embraced it, truly becoming the fearsome demon he appeared. Only the occasional spark of honor and nobility showed through to prove that somewhere the angel still lived. Angel or demon, Ruadh or Conall, Ciara's Red Wolf endured the centuries by reminding himself again and again that his life was the price he paid so that Sadb could rest in peace. He soothed his pain, fury, and pride by reminding himself that it was for his love.

As for Na'rul, for her own sanity, she locked away her love for Ruadh. It helped, yes, but even centuries later, it stung when Conall would sneer at her. He hated many things, Ciara's pet demon did, but devils would always be first on that list. He tolerated her only because Ciara demanded it. Na'rul suffered the pain of his disdain quietly, because she had no other choice.

---

Then, one very lucky day for Conall, Ciara set her sights on the wrong clan of red-headed Celts. Conall was across the veil, in the demon world, when he felt a barrier slam shut. He didn't know what had happened to Ciara, but she was cut off from him. He never spared a thought to trying to find and rescue her- or Na'rul - instead he turned his back and began making his own plans for power.

More centuries came and went before Conall found his way back to the world of humans. He set his plans in motion, even binding his own servant, an imp with tremendous promise by the name of Excruciatrix. Things were proceeding well for Conall, then he felt Ciara moving again, pulling on his will at first faintly, then finally too strongly to ignore. Finally he succumbed to her call and learned that Ciara had been locked away by magic. Na'rul was nowhere to be seen at first, but Conall learned later that Ciara had imprisoned the unfortunate devil in a pillar of rock for some unknown transgression.

By carefully skirting the limits of his compulsions, Conall was able to aid Ciara's enemies. It was a dangerous game and he was found out near the end. As part of his punishment, Ciara revealed to Conall that Na'rul had played the part of Sadb so long ago. Ciara did not, however, allow Na'rul the opportunity to explain. Conall's rage at that revelation terrified Na'rul.

In the end, it was too late for Ciara and she died, freeing Na'rul and Conall at last. Na'rul fled, in fear for her life. She was certain Conall would kill her before she ever got the opportunity to tell him the truth. And, her fears might have been founded, except that once he was free of Ciara and her corrupting magic, Conall fell away, and Ruadh lived again.

---

Ruadh set one foot on the first step and thought about the irony. He'd first met Na'rul, as Sadb, in a wood and stone tavern heated by wood fire in a world so different from this one that it seemed more than time must separate them. Now he stood in the heart of the Campbell building* in Steel Canyon, a towering modern skyscraper of glass and steel. It seemed a fitting analogy for how they, the world, and their circumstances had changed. He was there to meet with Na'rul, to ask her a few questions. And he still had a great deal to consider, so he climbed the steps in the elegant tower, rather than ride the elevator, to give his thoughts a few last moments to settle.

I'm working on it right now! Soon™!

Happy Birthday to you!

This is today!

Part XIII

Na'rul watched the image in Ciara's crystal avidly. She crept forward, though Ciara had already shooed her back twice. Her hands and her wings opened and closed in rapid jerky motions and her tail lashed so rapidly that it stung when it struck her own ankles. She was filled with conflicted emotions and even though it hurt her to watch, she couldn't take her eyes from the image in the crystal of Ruadh and Cad'strum fighting. Ciara laughed like a delighted little girl, but there was no delight in Na'rul. Guilt, as unfamiliar as that feeling was to a devil, yes... she was filled with guilt for her part in ruining Ruadh. Still, he was glorious and savage even with his wings darkened in disgrace, and she still wanted him - oh, yes, she did. Right at that moment, as Ruadh slammed the first sharp wooden stake into Cad'strum, more than anything else, she felt a dark and vicious joy to watch the devil who had forced her into this situation die an ugly death.

But, as satisfying as that was, that meant that Ruadh would share her fate - a fate Na'rul already understood would be profoundly unpleasant. And even moreso for him as he struggled to understand and accept not just his new place in the world, but the loss of his will to Ciara.

Na'rul, however, was already looking ahead. First she would have to talk to Ruadh, make him understand why she had gone along, make him see that she'd had no choice at all. Then... make him believe that she loved him. Truly loved him, the depth of it, the strength of it so intense she thought her heart might burst. At another time, she might consider the philosophical ramifications of whether a devil was capable of love, and, if not, then was she truly still a devil? But that... was for another time.

Once they were together again, they could work as one against Ciara, gain their freedom, and make their own place in the world. She had never been ambitious for herself, but for Ruadh... for him... she would pursue any goal, follow any dream. She felt just a sliver of hope. Ruadh would live, there was no question of that. And she was confident that if the two of them were together, they could do anything that needed to be done.

"My pretty one," Ciara spoke suddenly, "Look... it is nearly over."

Na'rul growled with profound satisfaction, spared a moment to imagine Ciara getting a bit of the same treatment, and smiled as Ruadh killed Cad'strum once and for all. Then tears sprang from her eyes when she heard the pain and grief pouring out of a soul-deep wound as Ruadh spoke Sadb's name. She ducked her head, she didn't want Ciara to see how she'd been affected. She would heal Ruadh's soul wound. She would let him know his love wasn't dead, merely caught in the same trap as he.

"There, my sweet Na'rul. His love has been avenged." The demon smiled at her. "I think it best we leave it at that, do you not agree?"

"I do not understand," Na'rul answered carefully.

"He has suffered enough. There is no need to put him through any more pain by letting him know that his human love never existed, that this was all a scheme to bring him to just where he is now."

"No! He must know the truth. You can't let him continue to believe -"

"Believe what, Na'rul? If he were ever to learn your part in this... if he were to learn that his wonderful, beautiful, pale, sweet, innocent human woman was actually an evil, treacherous, wicked, blue, scheming devil playing him as a fool and using his emotions in order to bring about the end of a master she hated... why, my pretty Na'rul... if he were to learn that... I believe he would do worse to you than he just did to your former master. Do you not agree?"

"You would not!" Na'rul protested furiously. "You would not tell him that!"

"Yes, my sweet. I would."

"Stop calling me that!" Na'rul protested. "I am not yours!"

"But you are, Na'rul. With Cad'strum's death, you become mine for always. As Ruadh will be. And therefor - are you listening? - therefor, you will not tell him that you once played the part of his Sadb. You will not speak to him of any of the details of how he came to fall, nor of your part in it. Nor will you tell him of my part in it. Do you understand?"

Na'rul fought the compulsions, fought them with all her might. If she couldn't tell him...he would never know the real truth. She fought, but it was useless. As soon as the words left Ciara's mouth, Sadb's dreams of ever being free with Ruadh withered and died.

---

He felt magic moving behind him and pushed to his feet. Ciara was there, stepping through the portal. At her heels was a female devil. Ruadh sneered at the sight of the devil, then turned his attention to Ciara.

"Oh, Ruadh... you have done so well! I am pleased. After I claim this as my home, I will drink a toast celebrating your victory!" She turned to the devil, "See, my pretty one? Cad'strum is dead, as I told you he would be."

The devil's entire being vibrated with emotion. Her face was alternatively angry, frightened, sad, and - when her gaze would fall on Cad'strum's body - fierce. Then her dark eyes would flick to Ruadh, fill with even more emotion, and then flick away.

"Who is the blue *****?" Ruadh demanded.

Ciara laughed, and it was the delighted sound of a bell's chiming rising up through the vaulted room. "This is my pretty new pet, Na'rul. She and I were just discussing you." Ciara reached out and stroked Na'rul's hair and smiled.

Ruadh shrugged. "Just keep her out of my way," he sneered, "I have seen enough devils and their foulness for today. But now, our deal is done and I am -"

"Oh, no, my fallen one. Our deal is not done. Not at all. There is still that matter of the favor you owe me. Until that time, our deal holds." She smiled at his dismissive shrug. "But, you are right. I did promise that my first spell in that pouch would end after the last devil was dead. Let me take care of that now." She gestured and the magic and power that had been flowing into Ruadh reversed, flowing out again. He staggered, his head spun, and then he sank down to one knee. It was an effort to remain even that upright, as if all his scant remaining energy were consumed by the simple acts of breathing and continuing his heartbeat.

"What... is this?" he gasped. "What did you do to me?"

"Most immediately, I have taken back the power I gave you. You used well more than was truly yours, hence your exhaustion. But..." She stepped closer, shrugging off her hooded cloak and revealing a curvy female body just barely hidden by a few strategic straps, "I think it best you be in this condition before I explain the rest of your situation to you." She reached out and rested her hand on his head. He twitched away, but the gesture lacked any strength and she followed it easily. "You are now my pet. My red wolf, my hound, my soldier, my messenger. You and Na'rul will be the basis of my ascension to power. Together, the pair of you will lift me high in the ranks. I will reign, and the pair of you will sit at my left and my right. My pretty Na'rul and my magnificent... no... "Ruadh" will not do. Not a name to strike fear into the heart..."

She paused, thinking, and Ruadh reached for the energy to stand, but it was not there. "I will never serve you, demon *****. Never."

She laughed again, "My pet.... you already do. You knew you should be careful dealing with a demon, and yet... you let yourself be trapped. Perhaps you simply wanted what I offered so badly you didn't care to look behind the gilt covering." She crouched and took his jaw in her hand, lifting his head so his eyes met hers. "Our deal stands until the day you do me a favor." Her lips spread in a wide smile. "But that day will never come. What need have I to ask you a favor? You will be compelled to follow my orders."

"No!" He spat out his defiance and struggled to his feet, pushing aside the waves of weakness. He awkwardly brushed her hand away. "NO!"

"It is done. You are already mine. I hold your will in my hands." She gestured and he could feel her pull on his will.

"Release me, you *****! Release me immediately!" he demanded.

"Why... why would I give you up? You are magnificent, and you will make all my dreams come true." A broad and delighted smile crossed her face and she lifted her hand into the air. "But first... you must have a form more fitting to stand at my shoulder - I cannot have feathered wings at my back. You will become a demon, my demon servant. But... huge, and strong and powerful, terrible... and beautiful."

Ciara waved her hand at him and his form shifted explosively. It was excruciatingly painful, but at least it was fast. The form of the fallen angel exploded away from him. From the skeletal remains of his wings, a thick, black membrane grew. His skin darkened and turned a deep brick red. He threw back his head and screamed as thick dark horns erupted through his scalp to curl over his skull. He grew needle sharp fangs and claws burst from his fingertips. His entire body grew taller and broader, his form changed from a muscular human shape to a brawny and powerful monster. When it was over, an enormous red skinned demon stood where the fallen one had been. Heavy membranous wings stretched overhead, and a barbed tail flicked around his ankles. Fire burned in his eyes, but for just a moment, he noticed the devil Na'rul had tears rolling down her cheeks and he wondered why.

Ciara cocked her head at him. "You are everything I had dared hoped you would be."

"I will escape you," he declared. "I will be free of you, and I will see you dead."

She chuckled, low and soft. She stroked him, his head, shoulders, his now membranous wings. His skin twitched at her touch, but at that moment, he was helpless to stop her. "We will wreak havoc on the human world! You, my pets, will bring me all the power that should always have been mine! Na'rul, you will be my pretty one, my pretty pet." She turned to him. " And you... You will be my red wolf. You will be my Conall Cian."

Today!

This is TODAY!

Part XII of Ways of the Heart is up.

....nearly done.

Part XII

"I am here to kill you, Cad'strum," Ruadh said.

"Of course you are. And, I intend to kill you." The devil cocked his head, studying Ruadh. "And after I kill you, I will find Ciara and bind her to me. And AFTER I have control of her, she and I will discuss her conspiring with my enemies."

"Before we end this, Cad'strum... just tell me why. Why did not you just come for me? You did not have to hurt an innocent woman!"

Cad'strum laughed and gestured towards Ruadh, a swirling hand motion that started at Ruadh's feet and rose to the curve of his wings. "Look at you. Even wearing the dusky feathers of a fallen, you still stand there so full of self-righteousness. So confident of your own moral rectitude. And yet, we are both cast out, neither of us are welcome among the host ever again. You could have turned away, Ruadh! You did not have to fly away to the host like a child tattling on another. And you did not have to stand there before the host and condemn us, condemn me! If you did not want to be part of my world, you could have just... WALKED AWAY!" Cad'strum bellowed the last two words, the first time his composure had cracked since rising from his throne.

Ruadh shook his head. "Angels do not rule over men. We do not hold property, or seek wealth or power, and we.... they... do not hold themselves above the host. Even if I HAD turned away, even if I had accepted your offer to join you, how long before you began to demand your subjects pay you tribute? That they worship you? How long would it have been before the entire Host came to punish you for your transgressions?"

Cad'strum dismissed his words with a gesture. "I would have been ready for them...." he said quietly. "But it was not the host who ended my rule... it was you. And so it is not enough to kill you, Ruadh. I want you to suffer first. You obliged me by falling in love, gave me another way to cause you pain." He cocked his head and Ruadh could see his eyes go just a little unfocused. A faint smile crooked one corner of his mouth. "What exactly did Ciara offer you, Ruadh, that you agreed to this?"

"She wants you dead. As do I. That was enough."

Cad'strum began to laugh. "You do not know... " The devil tossed back his head and laughed, the power of it shaking his whole body so that even his wings and tail shook with it. "Ah... I should thank the faithless *****. Even if what she gave you is enough for you to win, I will still have had my revenge on you. Whether I win or lose this, Ruadh, I have won."

Ruadh shook his head. His anger, spurred on by the relentless prodding of Ciara's spell, roared so loudly it overrode any sense his mind tried to make. There was a part of him that knew he needed to understand what Cad'strum was saying, but that voice was small and growing weaker as his rage rose within like a rampaging mob.

"I will have my revenge for Sadb," he growled. He dropped into a combat ready crouch, with his wings flared around him, his hands up and ready, his weight carefully balanced.

"Oh, you poor dumb fool," Cad'strum said as he crouched as well. "You have been nothing but used, Ruadh, first by the host, then by me, and now by Ciara. "

"Enough!" Ruadh cried out, "You shamed the host with your actions and you have tormented me long enough. We end this now!" He declared and charged at Cad'strum like an enraged bull.

The devil evaded Ruadh's attack and launched himself into the air. He darted on membranous wings, keeping his distance, attempting to assess his opponent's power. Ruadh leapt into the air, as focused on his prey as a hunting cat. Cad'strum evaded and Ruadh pursued, spiralling higher and higher into the vaulted ceiling of Cad'strums' home.

Ruadh was too lost in his rage to think beyond his need to hurt his enemy, so he was taken by surprise when Cad'strum turned abruptly and charged back towards Ruadh. They collided in mid-air and plummeted downward. Cad'strum took first blood with his surprise attack, but Ruadh was even stronger than the devil had anticipated. They clawed and pummeled at each other, tumbling down towards the stone floor. Within moments he fought free, and though Ruadh bled first, Cad'strum bled more.

Once again, Cad'strum kited around and around the room, flying higher, dropping lower, and occasionally darting closer to Ruadh to attempt a quick slashing attack. The strategy worked for him at first. He was hampered by the wing Ruadh had torn in their first clash, but he was still nimble enough. He was able to surprise the enraged fallen angel with quick slashes to the face, shoulder, and wing. But Ruadh had still more of Ciara's power to draw upon, and while he was enraged, he was not as blind as Cad'strum believed. So the next time Cad'strum darted quickly in to attack, Ruadh feigned a clumsy dodge one direction, and then lunged at Cad'strum, wrapping his arms around the devil and driving them both into the stone floor below.

Cad'strum took the force of the impact and lay motionless for long enough for Ruadh to grab hold of Cad'strum's dark hair. Ruadh retracted the crystal spikes - he wanted Cad'strum to pay in blood and pain for his crimes for a very long time before he died. He slammed his fist into Cad'strum's face, and again, and again, relishing the way the skin split and blood flowed. He roared with triumph, bellowed out his pain and grief and he struck Cad'strum over and over. He began to rain his blows down on the devil's chest and belly, he the delicate frame of the membranous wings. Cad'strum began to fight and struggle against Ruadh's grip, finally managing to roll free by wrapping his tail around the fallen's ankle and pulling off balance for just a moment.

The devil was at a serious disadvantage after the beating he'd just taken, and he knew it. One eye was damaged badly enough that it might never recover, even if he were to live. The other was rapidly swelling shut, and hampered still more by blood running from his scalp down over his face. His nose was smashed so he could not breath through it, and his lips were shredded after being smashed into his sharp teeth over and over. In fact, several of those teeth were now broken or fallen out entirely. One arm arm hung uselessly, the other was raised in a warding off gesture. He tilted his body to the right in an unconscious effort to guard the broken ribs there. However, a fine mist of blood flew from his mouth with every breath and no one could tell if it came from hidden internal injuries or from the numerous wounds to his face.

He staggered away, fear clear in his one open eye. He wiped the blood away from his mouth and circled, finally managing to put some of the room's furnishings between them.

"The demon - she gave you.." Cad'strum gasped, "So.... much." He stumbled, caught his balance on a heavy wooden table, and then backed further away.

"It will suffice," Ruadh growled. He advanced straight forward, like a siege engine plowing over everything in his way. He shoved chairs aside, kicked ottomans, picked up a priceles carved ivory side table and flung to smash against a wall. "You should never have touched my love."

Cad'strum coughed again, and spat out a mouthful of blood. "And if you had not touched her, we would not be here now."

"I LOVED her!" Ruadh roared again. "And YOU took her from me!" He stalked straight to the heavy wooden table, crouched, and flipped it over. Then his eyes flicked to the legs pointing to the ceiling. His furious, burning eyes flicked from the table to Cad'strum and back. Then he grabbed one of the table legs and pulled at it, finally stepping up on it until it broke and splintered away. He repeated the actions with a second leg and then continued his pursuit of his enemy, a sharp pointed spear of heavy wood in each hand.

Cad'strum tried to evade his death, but by that time, he was struggling to draw in air. He was weak and dizzy and becoming clumsy, his blue skin gone a dusky slate grey. He couldn't get away and Ruadh herded him back step by step, until Cad'strum slammed into the stone wall behind. His dark eyes were full of fear as Ruadh drew his arm back, and his body with it, and plunged one of the table legs through Cad'strum's shoulder with such force it drove chips from wall behind. Cad'strum howled with the pain and fought like an animal stuck in a trap, but he was well and truly stuck.

Panting for breath, he turned back to Ruadh. "No! No no!" he protested as Ruadh drew back again with the second table leg and thrust it forward, slamming into the left side of Cad'strum's body and into the wall behind.

Cad'strum's hands fluttered over the two wooden shafts before they fell away limply. "You... did not.... win," he breathed out finally.

"You will soon be dead. I am still alive." Ruadh sneered.

"You have... lost... every..... thing."

Ruadh sighed. He had lost everything that mattered to him. It was true. "Perhaps so. But I have avenged my love. That will have to be enough."

"Ask her.... about..." Cad'strum stopped and coughed, crying out weakly from the pain, before he continued, "her new servant."

"Why would I care about that?"

Cad'strum coughed once. "...fool..."

Ruadh shook his head. The crystal spikes on his wrists reappeared. "Will you still be prattling on after you are dead?" he sneered. "Let us find out..." His fists flashed. The left slashed, opening Cad'strum's throat, and the right plunged forward, the crystal spike piercing Cad'strum's heart. He pushed again on the right, driving the crystal spikes even deeper into the devil's quivering heart. The vibrations traveled up the crystal and resonated within him as the devil's heart tremored and fluttered and finally stopped.

When it was done, when his enemy was finally dead, Ruadh threw back his head and let out a scream of rage and grief, victory and loss. He yanked his claws from Cad'strum's body and dropped to his knees, his shoulders shaking with sobs and cries of exhaustion.

"Rest, Sadb, my love" he said when he could speak again. "Be at peace now. You have been avenged, and whatever price I paid is worth it if you are at peace because of it."

He didn't look up. He never wanted to set eyes on another devil again. He didn't look ahead, his future too uncertain. He looked back, imagining Sadb's smile, her laugh, the way she would look up at him through her lashes. He remembered the way it had felt to hold her body against his. And he smiled a small, sad smile.

Part XI
Once again, Ruadh stepped through a portal Ciara opened for him into Cad'strum's lair. His rage, his need to rend and tear his enemies filled him, but he held it in check. He had to remain cautious. He wasn't sure if even bolstered by Ciara's power he could defeat all four at once. So he stalked the carved stone halls like a wolf on the hunt, lean and hungry for blood. He reached up to pat the pouch hanging at his neck, the one that held Ciara's spell, the one that would grant him his vengeance.

He wore his dark angel form as he prowled. His skin and wings were a dusky black onyx and his eyes, completely black, glowed with a faint pale light. The crystal that coiled around his arms and legs was the color of smoked glass. His wings mantled over his back, the black feathers framing his body.

The place was an enormous maze of halls and tunnels, some natural, some carved. As he advanced deeper and deeper into the lair his fury grew and it became more difficult to remain cautious. But then heard voices, and a laugh. Oh.. yes. That laugh. He snarled and ducked his head. He remembered hearing that laugh over and over again while Cad'strum's minions held him down and beat him. An expression that was more bared teeth than smile spread across his face. The last vestiges of reason and caution warned that he should check to make sure that all four of his enemies weren't in the room together, but he ignored caution and charged into the room, roaring a wordless battle cry.

Ira'tus and Trist'us lounged in a comfortable sitting room, warmed by a fire that cast a flickering golden glow over the room. Trist'us held a half-eaten fruit in his hand while Ira'tus gnawed the last of the meat from a bone. They were frozen in shocked surprise, their black eyes wide, their mouths dropped open in comically identical O's. Ira'tus reacted first, dropping the bone and jumping up so quickly that his chair toppled under him. Trist'us was slower, more cautious, setting down his fruit carefully as if he wanted to make sure it didn't get soiled before he returned for it.

"Well, look at you," Ira'tus sneered, looking Ruadh' up and down. "Not so exalted now, are you?"

"How did you get here?" Trist'us demanded as he stood more slowly.

Ruadh ignored them both, for the moment, as he surveyed the room. Then his dark gaze traveled back to the shocked devils. His smile had no warmth in it at all. "I fell."

He waded in with a roar and Ciara's spell began working. While his fists and crystalline claws flashed, Ciara's magic began to funnel through him, adding strength and speed to his attacks. Fire, which Ruadh had never controlled before, began to flare around his fists. And, completely unseen and unfelt, that second spell flared into life. It began prodding at the part of his brain that controlled his temper, spiraling his rage up and up. It also began forging heavy and strong magic chains around Ruadh's will.

"So you came here, fallen. Cad'strum thought we would have to find you, wallowing somewhere in your own self pity," Ira'tus said with a mocking smile. "You know we're going to kill you?" He began to laugh, and Ruadh growled low in his throat like a wolf pushed to the edge. For just a moment he was back in Sadb's tiny home, held down while Cad'strum dragged Sadb away, and Ira'tus laughed.

With a roar of equal parts rage and anguish, Ruadh charged at Ira'tus, colliding with a force that knocked the devil sprawling on the ground. While Trist'us vaulted the table, Ruadh slammed his fists and his crystal claws into Ira'tus. The devil struggled to get free, but Ruadh's bulk and furious strength held him down. After just a few moments, Ira'tus had ceased any type of actual fighting. He could only scream and struggle uselessly to get free of his enraged attacker.

Trist'us grabbed Ruadh by the shoulder and tried to pull the fallen angel away. Without even looking, Ruadh channeled more of Ciara's power and raised his fist. The back of his hand slammed into Trist'us's face like a sledge. His wings extended and he struck Trist'us with the hard bony joint in the crook of his wing. The devil staggered back, and Ruadh ignored that one again.

The sounds his fists were making had gone all moist and soft and Ira'tus had stopped moving when something slammed into Ruadh's back with a crash. He turned with a snarl, a mad beast pulled from his kill. Trist'us had broken a heavy wooden chair over Ruadh and succeeded in gaining the fallen's attention.

Ruadh reached down and picked up a horn broken from Ira'tus's head and flung it at Trist'us. "Your turn...." he growled, his voice gone so animalistic it was nearly unintelligible. And as he advanced on Trist'us, Ciara's spell continued spinning its chains more and more tightly around his will and poking at his rage, stoking the fires until they roared white hot.

"Wait! Wait!" Trist'us protested, and then Ruadh was on him, clawing, punching, biting, kicking. It was as if combining his magic with the demon's had somehow magnified both their powers, making him stronger than if they had just been added together. In the end, Ruadh strangled Trist'us to death with what might have been the devil's own tail, but the devil was, by that time, such a mangled mess that he likely wasn't aware of it.

Ruadh pushed himself up, unaware of the blood covering his body and staining his clothes. He shook his head to clear it and his mat black wings stretched out and shuddered to clear the blood. With his head ducked down, and his wings mantled high over his body, he advanced further into Cad'strum's lair.

His rage continued to smolder and grow. He thought about Sadb and how frightened she must have been. He thought of his first trip to this lair, easily defeated by Cad'strum and flung out by the side of the road. And he remembered his former brethren, denying him, judging him, damning him, casting him out. The more angry he became, the harder he drew on Ciara's power, unaware that the more of her power that flowed through that crystal, the stronger and tighter the magical bonds on him became.

He turned a corner and found himself in the same hall where he'd arrived on his first trip to this lair, which meant he'd likely find Cad'strum in the next room. A smile that was more snarl than anything else painted itself across his face as he stalked ahead, anticipating finally coming face to face with Cad'strum, finally seeing justice done for his Sadb.

A shadow moved on the wall ahead and Ruadh slowed. Were he less consumed with rage, he would have sought a place to hide, a way to assess the approaching danger before engaging with it. But his mind was filled with the need for blood and so he made ready to fight.

Atru'vum, who had been a friend when they were both still among the host, rounded the corner. He was looking down, lost in thought and was unaware of his danger until Ruadh grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him back into the stone wall. "Ruadh!" the startled devil gasped. "Wait! Wait!"

"Sadb has waited long enough," Ruadh growled.

Atru'vum shook his head, a bitter laugh rose from his chest. "If only you understood...." he murmured. He lifted his black eyes to Ruadh. "I told you to stay away. Why did you go after I tried to warn you? My old friend... all of this could have been avoided had you stayed away."

Ruadh twitched with the rage washing through him, "You DARE to call me friend after your part in this?"

"Ruadh, please, you need to know the truth.... Ruadh, do not kill me!" Atru'vum pleaded.

Any interest Ruadh had in the "truth" Atru'vum mentioned vanished with the devil's plea. "Did Sadb beg for her life?" He snarled. "Did it help her?"

Ruadh didn't wait for an answer. His hands began to move before Atru'vum even began to answer. His right hand plunged forward into Atru'vum's throat, his fist crushing while the crystal spikes rended and tore. His left hand dragged down Atru'vum's chest and belly, slicing him open. Even as the devil collapsed, bleeding, twitching, and choking, Ruadh wrapped his left hand around a horn and dragged the dying devil into Cad'strum's lair.

Ruadh deliberately turned his eyes from the place where he'd seen Sadb's body pinned to the wall. He was already enraged, but when his eyes found Cad'strum, pushing himself up and out of his throne, his rage went cold.

Cad'strum took just moments to compose himself. His alarm and surprise vanished behind a smooth veneer and by the time he was fully standing, he showed no more emotion than if Ruadh had arrived a few minutes early for a dinner invitation.

"Ruadh... this is unexpected. I had thought I would have to find where you'd landed before I could kill you." He took a step down, a step closer to Ruadh and cast a curious eye on Atru'vum's last few twitches of life. "I suppose my other servants are in a similar condition?" he asked, as if the answer mattered not at all to him.

Ruadh tossed the corpse to sprawl on the ground between them. "You are the last, you motherless *****."

Cad'strum cast one last glance on Atru'vum and shook his head. "I suppose I should ask how you came to be here, but there really is only one answer. That demon-***** Ciara, correct?"

"I am here to kill you, Cad'strum."

May your 2011 be better than your 2010!

And however you celebrate your New Years Eve, may you end up home safe afterwards!

Go go go! Everyone!

PART VIII

Ben woke up in his apartment with a foggy head and vague memories of a very explicit dream. The hint of an expensive perfume still seemed to linger in the sheets. He lifted his head from his pillow, but was instantly dizzy. Something was very wrong with him. He tried to remember what day it was, but couldn’t. He tried to remember what he’d done to feel so sore and tired, but couldn’t. His whole body hurt and he couldn’t even think. He struggled to wake, fought for consciousness. After a supreme effort, he lifted his watch and blinked to focus on it. He read SA 11-27 2:28PM and frowned. That couldn’t be right. Saturday? Oh... no.... he was supposed to have gone with Caryn to have Thanksgiving dinner with her family. Had they talked? Dread filled his belly, and that gave him the strength to roll out of bed. He grabbed his phone as he dragged on a pair of jeans. Caryn’s phone rang twice and then went to voice mail, which meant she’d hit the “ignore” button on her phone.

“Caryn... No no... c’mon...” he muttered as he ran through the apartment. He paused for just a moment to stare as he passed a mirror. His body was covered with bruises and scratches and he had no idea where they’d come from. Then he pulled on a t-shirt and he ran out the door. It was far too cold to be running around outside in short sleeves, but he didn’t waste the time to go back inside for a jacket. He sprinted, still barefoot, to his truck and pulled out of the parking lot with squealing tires. He tried again to call Caryn, but this time it went straight to voice mail. She’d turned off the phone.

He blatantly double parked and ran across the dead grass, the cold concrete sidewalk, and up the steps to Caryn’s door. “Caryn!” he yelled, banging on the door. It seemed like forever before he heard the locks turning and then the door cracked open.

Caryn’s roommate, Angie, stood there, short, dumpy, dishwater hair pulled back in a sloppy
ponytail. She shook her head at him. “Dude, you screwed up.” she offered helpfully.

“Just let me in, Angie.”

“Your funeral...” she said with a shrug and stepped back. “Caryn! He’s here!” she called.

Caryn came stalking down the hall like a lioness on the hunt. “You... get out!” she growled.

“Caryn, c’mon... let’s ta-”

“Talk?!?” she scoffed. He could almost see the sparks flying from her eyes. “By talk you mean telling me you don’t know? You can’t explain? You don’t remember?” She snatched up a dufflebag from the floor by the couch. “My mother made cherry cobbler for you, you *******!”

“I’m sorry, Caryn, I don’t know-”

“You NEVER know!” She advanced on him, fury twisting her face. “How stupid do you think I am?”

“Dammit, Caryn, I love you, let’s talk about this.”

“You don’t LOVE me!” she yelled. “You don’t treat people you love like this!”

“But I do! You’re everything-”

“Shut UP!” she yelled. “I’m so tired of hearing lame excuses from you!” She flung the dufflebag at him. It bounced off his chest, striking the huge blue and purple bruise there, and he winced. He had no idea where that bruise had come from, but the pain was sharp and surprising.

“Caryn... please calm down and listen to me.”

“Fine! Where were you? Why didn’t you call?”

“I don’t-” he broke off at the look on her face. “Caryn, really... I don’t remember. I just woke up today and-”

“Is it another woman?”

He gaped at her, stunned. “No! Of course not!”

“Drugs? Are you doing drugs? Drinking?”

“You know I don’t-”

“I don’t know anything! I especially don’t know you!” She pointed at the bag. “Get your ****. Get out of here.”

“Wait! No, Caryn...”

She took the last two steps toward him and shoved him back. “GET OUT!”

He winced when she pushed on that bruise. “Stop it, Caryn. Talk to me.”

“I am DONE talking to you.” She pushed him again. “Get OUT of here!” She pushed again, “I don’t ever want to see you again!” She shoved him even harder, and he hissed from the pain of the repeated pressure on that bruise. He reflexively reached up and grabbed her wrists.

“Stop it,” he said, “Just stop it. Calm down and talk to me.”

She twisted her wrists out of his grip. She drew her arm back and landed an slap on his face. Like her sisters, Caryn was a tall, strong woman. Even an open hand slap had power behind it. His head snapped back and he tasted blood where his lip had smashed into his teeth. The sound of it, the sharp concussive sound cut though and echoed in his head. Shock froze him as she twisted the ring off her right hand and threw it into the dry grass. With one last fiery glare, she kicked the duffle outside and pushed the door closed in his face.

He stood there for a moment, then pounded a frustrated fist into the door. “Dammit Caryn, I need your help and now you refuse to even listen to me at all! I'm hurting here and I don't know what the hell is going on, I can't explain it to you because it doesn't make any sense to me! I can't believe you think I'd touch drugs or go on some bender, if you think I'd do that I guess you don't know me as well as I hoped you did!” He pounded his fist one more time on the door and stepped back, hoping that she’d open it up again, even as he knew she wouldn’t. Finally he turned and searched through the grass until he found the ring. He gripped it tightly in his hand, picked up the duffle and trudged back to his truck. He took a deep, bracing breath, but couldn’t make his throat work above a whisper. “I need you Caryn,” he breathed. “I love you...”

---
“It appears the boyfriend is no longer a problem,” Akando said. “In fact, the situation may well work in our favor.”

“You finally killed him?” Ciara asked.

“He has left her for another woman. She is alone, and upset.”

“Make your move, then. Quickly. I am tired of waiting and may take out my frustration on you. Or give the boyfriend to me, and I’ll make him pay for the delay.”

The next day....
Caryn landed hard on her back on the soft mat and her breath whooshed out of her. Her instructor stood over her, and shook his head. “You’re distracted, you’re not centered” he said. “You’re not here.” She experimentally shifted her jaw back and forth. It didn’t appear to be dislocated. He reached down to help her up. “Shin, gin, tai , Caryn. Is it mind, body, or spirit?”

“Bad break-up,” she muttered. “Really bad.” She shook her head. “Ya, I’m distracted.”

He nodded. “Cool down, then. We’ll call it early today. But, Caryn...”

“Yes?”

“You need to take this seriously: shin, gin, tai. Think of it as a tripod. If one leg is weak, the whole cannot stand. You are off balance today. Why?”

“I’m hurt. And sad.”

“Your spirit is wounded.” She nodded. “Don’t neglect the spirit, Caryn. Shin, gin, tai. Remember it.”

She gathered her belonging, shrugged into her parka and trudged out into the cold, dingy day. She was miserable. School started back up tomorrow, she had two tests and a paper due, and she just didn’t care. All she could think about was Ben. What had changed? Why had he suddenly become a stranger to her? She so badly wanted to call him, to beg him to explain what had happened, but she knew it would be more of the same: excuses and evasions. Whatever it was, it was obvious she couldn’t change it by talking about it.

As she walked, her eye was caught again by the Tai Chi studio. Today there was a class in session, a dozen students swayed in graceful synchronized movements under the direction of the instructor. She watched, drawn in by the beautiful movements. The instructor glanced up and caught her eye. He smiled a welcome and gestured to her to come in.

“Shin, gin, tai,” she muttered to herself and approached the door. Her hand was on the handle when she saw Ben’s battered old blue pickup screech to a stop nearby. He looked terrible as he jumped out. He had deep, dark circles under his eyes, and his normally neat long black hair was a bird’s nest around his ashen face. He'd missed a button on his shirt and it hung crooked on him.

“Hey, I was hoping I’d find you here.” he said. She could hear how tired he was.

“Go away. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

“Please, listen to me, Caryn. Something is wrong.”

She sighed, tired and hurting and not ready for another fight. “Ben, no.. just leave me alone.” She turned away from him and reached for the door of the gym.

“Caryn, dammit! Let me explain!” Ben shouted, moving around in front of her. “I don't know what's going on, I'm not even sure what day it is anymore! Something very wrong is going on, I'm so confused. I need you to listen to me, instead of accusing me of stuff you know isn’t true! I know you're mad, I.. I know I’ve screwed up recently. I should have talked to you before but dammit something is seriously wrong!” He yanked open his shirt and revealed his chest and belly covered with huge purple bruises, welts, and scratches.

“What....” Caryn was stunned. She’d seen strange bruises on him before, but he looked like he’d been through a war. “What did that to you, Ben?”

Before he could answer, the Tai Chi instructor stepped out of the gym onto the street. “Is everything ok?” he asked, with an expression of concern.

“Caryn, c’mon. Come sit with me, and just talk for a minute.”

“Is this young man bothering you?” the instructor asked.

“No... no no,” Caryn answered both of them. “I need a minute... just... give me a minute.”

“Caryn!” Ben reached out and took her elbow in his hand.

Caryn narrowed her eyes and slowly looked down at his hand. She saw the ring he’d given her on the pinky of that hand and that caused a fresh spurt of pain. She masked it quickly with anger. “You’re going to want to move that hand before I move it for you, Ben.” She glanced at the Tai Chi instructor, watching intently with concerned eyes. She remembered his name suddenly. “Akando, isn’t it? Yes, I think I would be interested in learning Tai Chi.”

“Wait wait...” Ben stepped forward suddenly. “His name is Akando? Akando? You’ve talked to him before?”

“Ben... go home.” Caryn said, suddenly just very tired. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to be jealous, now. Ya.. He asked me before if I wanted to learn Tai Chi.”

Ben put himself completely between Akando and Caryn. “You stay away from her!” he growled. “You just stay far far away from her.”

“What are you DOING?” Caryn demanded.

“Caryn, you don’t want to learn anything this man might teach you. Stay away from him, please.”

“What are you talking about?” She shook her head and closed her eyes, not sure how much more she could take.

“Akando is an Indian name,” Ben glanced over his shoulder at her, and suddenly she could see that warm look in his dark eyes, the one that was just for her. And worry. His eyes were filled with genuine worry for her. “They are... wrong... they... ” he looked confused suddenly. “...and he means you harm. I don’t know how I...”

“What are you talking ab-” Caryn started to say when a hot pink corvette convertible pulled into the slant parking nearby. Caryn’s jaw dropped when she saw the gorgeous blonde step out. Caryn hadn’t seen Ashley since the day she’d ejected the blonde forcibly from the apartment, but recognized her instantly. Her eyes narrowed.

“Ben, darling?” Ashley called. Ben’s eyes went cold and he turned away from Caryn to stare fixedly at the blonde. “Come on, sweetie, we’re going to be late for dinner.”

“Yes, Ashley,” he said quietly, and walked away without a backward glance.

Caryn just stared after him with her jaw hanging as he folded his tall frame into the corvette. Ashley then spared one single bright smile for Caryn before she settled behind the wheel and drove away.

Akando turned his dark eyes on Caryn then. “Today might be a good day to get started, I think,” he offered gently.

Caryn threw her hands up in the air. “No. No no no.” was all she could bring herself to say as she stalked away across campus to the CART. She relived again and again and again the moment he denied that there was another woman. And each time felt like a fresh betrayal.

Part X

Exhausted and numb, Ruadh pushed open the door to Sadb's small home. How long had it been since he'd happily run through this door with a living and vibrant Sadb? A little more than a day? He didn't even know what day it was.

The destruction hit him and sent him reeling again. His own blood stained the floor in several places. Pretty decorations, ribbons, dried flowers, bits of lace, were scattered about and had been crushed or stained with blood.

He stood in the room where his entire existence had changed so very suddenly and put it all aside. He summoned the last of his strength to walk the few steps to her narrow bed. One of her simple white shirts hung from a hook on the wall. He gathered it up and clutched it to his chest before collapsing into it the bed. He was surrounded by her scent and he chose to take comfort in it. He drew up the blankets around himself and fell into an exhausted sleep. And if the fallen angel wept as he drifted away, even he was too tired to know.

---

Ruadh was dreaming. A part of him knew it for a dream, but that same part knew the pain that waited outside the dream, so it stayed quiet. He held Sadb tight against his body, her warmth pressed back into him. They lay spooned together on their sides, his arms around her, her head back against his chest. He breathed in her scent, smiling a sleepy and happy smile. He stroked the silken skin over her shoulder and she let out a contended sigh. They were warm and safe and happy together, and he didn't ever want to wake up. After a moment, she twisted her head back, her bright blue eyes met his and she smiled. "Ruadh..." she breathed, her voice husky with sleep.

"My Sadb," he answered, smiling, and lifted his head to kiss her.

That was when a noise broke into his reverie. The creak of a hinge cut through the quiet of the small house and Ruadh's eyes popped open. Instead of his love, he clutched a pillow in his arms. A wave of fury and despair washed over him, but he didn't give in to it. Instead, he relaxed and closed his eyes to slits, waiting to see who or what had just snuck into Sadb's house. A hooded figure moved smoothly and silently into the room, slowly and softly, like a hunting cat, watching him.

He was ready to move, either to leap to the attack or roll aside. He watched through his eyelashes as it crept closer and closer and then suddenly he could see under the hood. Red skin, horns... it was a demon. No... it was the demon from the road. The one who had opened the portal for him. And now she stood watching him, a small smile on her wide lips, and a variety of expressions passing over her unguarded face showed that she was thinking intensely as she approached him. But about what.... he couldn't tell.

---

Ciara moved carefully into the dark room, watching Ruadh sleep. He would be hers, she was determined. She would have to tread very carefully. He would not be at his best, and that gave her the best opportunity to bind him. Cad'strum's plan had knocked him off balance, but Ciara's meddling with it... that would have Ruadh confused and ready to act before he thought everything through.

At rest, his face was peaceful. He lay with his arms wrapped protectively around a pillow. His body, mostly hidden under the blankets, was big and powerful and even in his human form, his unearthly power was apparent. She was overwhelmed by the desire to possess that strength, but she pushed it back. One misstep, one wrong word, and it would be denied her forever. But if she could succeed... if she could add his power to that she was already pulling from Na'rul, then Ciara would rise in the ranks and become a major player. Add to that having such imposing minions as Ruadh and Na'rul bound to do her bidding and she would begin to climb the ranks of the truly powerful diabolic forces.

She eased herself even closer, studying his face. As an angel, he had been beautiful. In his human form, he was still remarkably handsome and she wondered if that were vanity on his part or if he'd simply added enough imperfection to his appearance to pass for human without considering how attractive that made him. It didn't matter to Ciara, she was not interested in pursuing him for his handsome face. All she wanted from the fallen angel was his power... and his servitude.

She rehearsed in her mind what she would say, how she would lure him into her trap, how she would use his grief and his need for revenge against him. The deal must be struck honestly, or it would not stand. But nothing prevented her from allowing him to believe what she wanted him to believe.

Another step closer and his power was palpable. She reached her hand toward him, her fingers reaching out as if she could grasp the power and hold it.

And then he spoke, "If your hand touches me, demon," he growled. "I will keep it." His eyes popped open, the vivid blue blazing. He sat up, glaring. "Step back, and then tell me why you dared to bring yourself here."

Ciara took a large slow step back, both hands lifted to show her peaceful intentions, but she noted that even as he sat up, he kept one hand resting on the pillow he'd been clutching. Na'rul had been correct, he would be focused on vengeance for his love. She would play to that. But first... to lay out her web.

"I come here to propose that we ally ourselves." She raised her hand when he started to object. "Hear me, fallen. First, I tell you my name. You know there is power in that, but I want you to know that I am being truthful with you. I am Ciara." She nodded her head at him, and waited.

He pursed his lips and studied her face. Finally he nodded. "Go on. I'm listening."

"Cad'strum is our enemy. Neither of us is powerful enough to take him on alone-"

"I am NOT walking into a devil's lair with a demon at my back!" he spat suddenly. "I'm not a fool."

"I will not be going in with you, Ruadh. In body, at any rate. I would like to explain something to you, and it seems it would be especially important for you to hear this, since you are likely to become one of us soon." A dark look washed over his face. Oh... he doesn't like that idea at all, she thought with a carefully hidden smile. "Our common enemy, Cad'strum, desires me as one of his bound servants, and he is strong enough to win that fight. The only reason he hasn't forced the issue so far is what the fight will cost him - he knows how strongly I will resist him, and how much energy he will have to expend. So he will wait, until he finds me weakened or unaware, and then he will take my will from me. "

She began to pace slowly around the room, "That is what Cad'strum intends for me, Ruadh - to make me a servant." She shook her head. "That is why I want him dead. I know that when he does make his move, he will win, so I need him dead before then. I can't attack him directly because he is stronger than I, and he would, in the end succeed in binding me to his will. You, however, he doesn't want to bind. He wants to kill you. And he expects that he'll be able to do so. He knows how strong you are and he believes that when you find him, when you fight, he will be able to toy with you, hurt you, and humiliate you before he kills you."

Ruadh nodded, but his face was still skeptical. "So you can't go in after him, and I can't defeat him alone. What is it you suggest?"

And here it was... the moment when her plans could crumble into dust if she was not perfect. "I have a spell that I would give you. This spell allows me to... give my power to you. Your strength, supported by my magic, will make you far more powerful than Cad'strum expects. You will defeat him, and his minions. You will have your vengeance on the devils who hurt your love."

His hand stretched itself out over the pillow beside him, but his face twisted. "A demon's magic, working through me... I do not like it," he grumbled.

She waved her hand, a graceful throwing away gesture, "The spell that allows my magic to work through you will last only until the last of them is dead, Ruadh. You have my word on that. But...." She glanced down, then back up, shyly, through her lashes. "I would ask a favor from you, in the future."

"Is that the cost then, of your help? This favor? What sort of favor, Ciara?" His eyes held hers, his suspicion clear on his face.

"A future favor..." She smiled. "You are strong, and powerful, and I might have need of one such as yourself in the future. I do not know what that favor might be..." She could see the refusal forming in his eyes, "If I ask you to do something you find too reprehensible, you may refuse, and I will have the favor for another time? And when you do me that favor, our deal will be done."

Once again, he considered and thought, working over her words, "Is this a trap, Ciara?" he asked suddenly.

"Trap?" she repeated, trying to find a way to answer him truthfully that would not ruin everything, but then he went on.

"Are you and Cad'strum plotting against me? Are you sending me to him so he can kill me, or worse?"

She laughed, immanently relieved. That question she could answer with simple and plain truth. "We have worked together in the past, since it suited me to do so. Cad'strum does not know we are talking, and this is not a plan that he and I are working towards. I want him dead, Ruadh. I want him dead, and my only regret is that I can't be there, that I can't do it myself." She paused, then made her final play, rousing his need for vengeance. "I want to feel Cad'strum's blood on my claws, Ruadh. I want to see the life run out of him. I want to hurt him, as he hurt your love. I want his life, but I cannot take it. Do this for me, Ruadh. Do this for your Sadb, and for yourself. Kill Cad'strum. Kill him!"

He paused, and she knew he was looking for the trick, he was carefully considering her every word. But he wanted his vengeance too badly. She could see it in his eyes, in the way he stroked that pillow next to his hip. His desire for revenge would overwhelm his caution, she already knew it. And, indeed, after just a few moments, he looked back up at her, his eyes dark. "Give me your spell and tell me how to find him.

"I have it ready," she answered and handed him a simple leather pouch, small enough that he could close his entire fist around it. Simple tanned leather tied closed with a leather thong. Inside were two perfect crystals. One contained the spell that would allow her to give him her power, and, exactly as promised, it would end as soon as the devils were dead. But while the first was working, the second spell, the one she hadn't told him about, would be working as well. And that one... well, that one... was something else entirely.

I read it the first time and thought of star crossed lovers dying in each other's arms. I said it then and I'll say it again: A twisted Romeo and Juliet - the classic tale of star crossed lovers, as only our Bamahulkers could tell it.

Wonderful. And I'll also say this: You'd better post again damn soon!

We miss you!

Happy Birthday!

Looks like I miss counted at some point - but I just posted part IX.

PART VII

Conall's Lair
Deep in the earth, in a place no one, hero or villain, would ever think to look for him, Conall Cian rested. He wore his enormous demon form, and his wings wrapped about his body like a bat's, while his tail draped over one powerful calf. If a creature of pure evil could ever appear relaxed, Conall did. However, deep within his mind - or perhaps it was his soul - ancient bindings began to take hold again. Magical ties crept into him. They had never broken, but they had faded to nearly nothing. Now, like gleaming silver chains, the magic moved through the depths of his will and began to claim him once again.

His red eyes opened and narrowed. Flame erupted from them as he bolted upright. His wings flared, his tail lashed and his claws flexed. Fury oozed from his powerful body as his head lowered. His lips moved in a snarl and he growled out a name, "Ciara...."

Norman, OK
Ben stripped off his gloves and hat and laid them on the small table in the basement food court of the student union, and then his heavy coat, still damp from the cold rain, and draped it over the back of his chair. Winter had come to Oklahoma, with a cold vengeance, and he was bundled up for the cold. He patted the pocket that held the tiny box and debated, again, whether to give it to Caryn here or wait for a more romantic moment. It wasn’t an engagement ring, or even a “promise” ring. It was just a token - a carved silver ring inset with a pair of turquoise triangles flanking a deep, rich blue lapis. He wanted her to know he loved her, and how important she was to him. He nodded as he made his decision. The crowded, noisy food court was not the setting he wanted for that moment. He would give it to her when they both had the time to give each other their full attention. He settled in to wait for her.

He was becoming absorbed in his studying when he heard the opposite chair pulled out. He looked up with a smile, expecting to see Caryn, but instead he saw a gorgeous blond smiling at him. Her form fitting sweater was an argyle pattern of blue and pink. Her long blond hair was pulled back into a thick tail with delicate tendrils framing her face. She wore snug, purple pants and dainty snow boots. She looked vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place her until she crooned, “Well... hello there,” at him, “Ben, isn’t it?”

“Ah.. Ashley?” he asked, remembering the blond in the fuschia dress that Caryn had so forcibly expelled from her apartment. There was something very predatory in her expression and it made him more than a little uncomfortable. And... He didn’t think he’d ever had the opportunity to tell her his name.

She flashed a smile at him, a brilliant, perfect, white smile. “You remember me? How sweet!” She cocked her head, batting eyes the color of a warm spring morning sky at him. “Don’t tell me any woman would be foolish enough to leave a guy like you alone waiting for her?” She ran perfectly manicured fingertips through a lock of her hair and her smile ratcheted up another notch. “Someone else might just try to snatch you up.”

Ben smiled back - it was hard not to - and answered, “I was a little early. Caryn’s coming all the way from Dale Hall Tower. I was just across the street.”

“Caryn’s coming?” He had the feeling the wide-eyed expression was not entirely feigned. “Maybe I’ll just keep you company until she gets here. You don’t think she’ll throw me out into the snow just for talking to you, do you?”

He laughed nervously, “She might,” he answered as he scanned the entrance to the food court. He had a feeling Caryn would not be at all happy to see the blonde there. Why? he thought, why do girls always want to flirt with you when you’re seeing someone else? And.. Why this girl? He wasn’t stupid, he knew he was a good looking. But he wasn’t in her league. He wasn’t rich, he wasn’t powerful, and he suspected her mother and father were equally pale and blonde and wouldn't be happy to see their daughter with an Indian. This girl shouldn’t be giving him the time of day. He nervously looked back down at his book and wondered if there was some practical joke in the making.

“You’re such a handsome man,” the blonde sighed suddenly. She reached out with one slender hand and touched his face. “Do you see other people?”

He flinched back from the touch as if a spark had jumped between them and glanced back up, looking for Caryn. He reached up and firmly pulled her hand from his face, setting it back on the table. “No, we’re not seeing other people.”

“Ben,” she said, twisting her hand to clasp his. “Ben, look at me...” He dropped his eyes to meet hers. A shock like a bolt of lightning shot through him. Her eyes were so blue... so big... he sank into them. She reached out and grabbed his other hand and smiled. He couldn’t see anything but her eyes, couldn’t think of anything but her. “Ben?”

“Yes...” he answered slowly.

“Ben... come with me.”

“Yes,” he nodded. He stood up, never taking his eyes from hers.

“Ben, get your coat. You need to get your stuff.”

“Yes,” he agreed, and gathered up his belongings. His mind was empty of anything but Ashley’s big blue eyes as he followed her out.

---
Caryn tried calling Ben again, but got no answer. It wasn’t like him to miss a lunch date. It made her worried, and it made her angry. She glanced at her watch and sighed. Her precious lunch hour was nearly gone. She finally trotted over to Sbarro’s, ordered a slice of cheese pizza and a soda, and sat down alone to finish it off, still wondering what had happened to Ben.

A week later, Caryn lay awake, staring into the darkness. Her cheek was on Ben’s chest as she listened to his slow even breaths. Her right hand traced the tattoo over his heart, a beautiful stylized phoenix in heavy black lines transposed over a fiery sunrise. She loved that tattoo, she thought it said so much about him: the hope of life reborn from death, the fire transforming into the hope of a new day. But this morning that tattoo was marred by a heavy purple bruise, a bruise that he couldn’t explain. He said he didn’t remember how he got it. She was getting very very tired of things he couldn’t explain.

She flexed her fingers, running her thumb over the pretty ring he’d given her earlier that day. It was a token of his love, he’d said, but something was deeply wrong. She didn’t know what it was, but he had been the most solid person she knew. A truly good man, and one she’d looked forward to getting to know better and better. But in the last few weeks he’d become flaky, unreliable. He would disappear, not show up, and have no real explanation. She’d already given up depending on him for rides and gone back to using the CART or her bike to get around Norman. There was a look in his eyes she just didn’t understand, like he was listening to music no one else could hear. They’d had their first real fight, but even then he didn’t seem to really be there. It felt like he was slipping away from her. Ring, or no ring, she had a feeling that she and Benjamin Tenkiller would not be a couple much longer. And that made her heart ache.

The Chi Omicron Sigma House
Ashley stroked her gold handled brush through her thick blonde hair with a smile like a cat with a bowl of cream. Her eyes, however, flashed with anger. “I don’t WANT the Nation ***** to join us. I want her to pay for daring to touch me.”

“Ashley, be reasonable,” Stephanie said. “There is power in that family. Power Chi-O-S could profit from. We never got the oldest but we still have a chance to bring Caryn in. We can use your hold over the boyfriend for that.”

Ashley slammed the brush down on her dressing table and stood up, flinging her mane around in a move that didn’t look at all practiced and perfected. “I will not!”

Stephanie sighed. “I knew we should have had Jessica get the boy.”

“Jessica! Hah... I’ve got him wrapped up like a little blue box. Jessica would still be trying to get his attention.”

“Is that right?” Jessica said with a snarl as she entered Ashley’s room. Sparks flew as the blonde and the brunette glared at each other until Stephanie stepped between them.

“Ashley, we need the Nation girl,” Stephanie said with infinite reason and patience. “We need the boy to get her. I like that she had the nerve to fight us. Get her to join us, then work it out with her. Surely the fact that you took her little boy toy from her is payment enough?”

As Ashley opened her mouth for a scathing response, Jessica waved a postcard between them. “Forget Caryn Nation. Cerise Nation wants to join us.”Jessica bestowed one last glare on Ashley, as a reminder that her prior insult was not forgotten. “Ashley, do what you want with the boyfriend. For that matter, do what you want with Caryn Nation.”

Part IX

Ruadh stood at the center of his brother and sister Principalities and made his case. He understood now how foolish he'd truly been going after Cad'strum. Injured and grieving, he had jumped too eagerly at the false chance to save Sadb. He knew he had the strength of an angel, but that would never be enough to let him best four devils. He needed the help of the host if he would have vengeance for Sadb.

Silence was his response. His heart sank as he looked over the faces around him. Disapproval, disbelief, anger, and, worst of all, sadness and disappointment on the face of Chlaiomh, his mentor and friend.

One brother stepped forward, "You accepted help from a demon?"

A sister followed, "You loved a human woman?"

A brother with his face dark with anger, "You come to us seeking vengeance? You dare to ask us for vengeance after you admit to such reckless actions?"

Chlaiomh waved his hand in a gesture quieting the gathered Principalities. "My brother, perhaps if the woman still lived... if she was still in danger, we would have every reason - no, an obligation - to try to save her. But she is gone and "vengeance" is a very poor reason to rally the host."

Before Ruadh could say another word, another Principality stridently called out, "I say we should be discussing whether Ruadh is fit to remain among us at all!"

Ruadh turned, shocked, but Chlaiomh shouted down the gathering. "Ruadh is one of our best! It is only through his honesty that we are aware of these faults, and that alone is enough to make him fit to remain among us!"

Ruadh smiled gratefully as Chlaiomh turned his gaze upon those brothers and sisters with complaints. One by one they stepped back into the crowd. "Thank you, my brothers and sisters for the understanding. And know that a great wrong will be avenged and an even greater evil ended when we move in and eliminate Cad'strum and his minions."

Chlaiomh raise his hands for silence at the protest that arose, but turned his face, his concerned and compassionate face, to Ruadh. "We are not moving on Cad'strum, Ruadh. You tread perilously close to the edge of violating the rules that govern our existence. I argue that we not cast you out, and I make that argument because you truly are one of our best. But your relationship with the human woman was wrong and you should never have come to us with your selfish desire for vengeance." He shook his head. "No more excursions among the humans, Ruadh. You should come home and rest among the angels when you are not completing your duties. That will keep you from further trouble." Chlaiomh raised his voice to the assembled angels. "Is that agreeable to all? We will pursue no further disciplinary action as long as Ruadh agrees that he no longer walk among the humans unless his duties require it?"

Ruadh was struck silent. His heart was numb, but bolt of ice and lightning shot through his belly. He was stunned that not only would his brothers and sisters not help him, they would punish him. He glanced down at his left hand still clutching Sadb's pendant. The knuckles still bruised and cut from his fight but he curled his fingers into a fist over the blue teardrop. He squeezed it until the knuckles turned white and his nails bit into his palm. He raised his eyes to scan the crowd as the chatter died down, looking upon those he had truly thought of as brothers, as sisters. Until today.

Chlaiomh raised his hands for silence and then asked again, "Are we agreed?"

The Principalities replied back, "Agreed!"

"Ruadh? Are we agreed?" Chlaiomh asked.

Ruadh stared at the pristine white marble under his feet, so perfect and pure. He raised his head, his gaze traveling over the assembled Principalities, each of them so exalted and pristine. The home of the angels was beautiful and full of peace, serene, quiet. Colorless eyes, exactly like his own, watched him as he stood in their center, each face glorious and full of stern power. And he realized that he was not truly one of them any longer. This beautiful place was no longer his home. He wanted Sadb. And if he couldn't have her, he would see her avenged.

"We are NOT agreed!" Ruadh roared. "One of our charges, a sweet and good human woman suffered and died for the sole purpose of causing pain to one of your brothers! I will not let that injustice go unpunished! And shame to EACH of you for turning your back on her!"

"Ruadh," Chlaiomh asked, his face sad. "What would you have us do now? You defy us."

"Summon the host," Ruadh said. "I will state my case before ALL our brethren."

"Ruadh, are you sure? I am afraid for you if-"

"SUMMON THE HOST!" Ruadh roared. "Sadb will not wait any longer for justice!"

Chlaiomh turned away from him, and sent out the call. Within minutes the lesser Angels arrived, and then the Archangels. The wait was even longer for the second sphere, the Virtues, Dominions, and Powers. They took their positions above the Principalities, Angels and Archangles, murmuring to each other, and staring down on Ruadh. The first sphere took even longer to arrive, but then one by one the Oraphim arrived, the Cherubim and finally the Seraphim. The first sphere gathered high above, too exalted to mingle with the lower spheres. But now the full host was assembled and staring down on Ruadh, waiting for him to speak.

"My brothers and sisters, my elders, I am here before you to demand justice for one of those we protect. A human woman whose only real fault was love. For that love she was taken by a devil who was once one of us, and put to an ugly death. She was kind and sweet and she cared for me. She was killed in order to cause me pain. I was too late to save her, but I would ask the aid of my brothers and sisters to see justice done. Help me right this wrong." Silence was his only response. "Help me, my brethren!" he pleaded.

The silence grew, became palpable and oppressive. All eyes turned to the angels of the first sphere, waiting for their response. The faint chiming of their voices carried throughout the chamber. Ruadh waited, his jaw clenched over his need to say more. His nails bit into his palms as he clenched his fists. It was all he could do to stand and wait.

A ball of light, too bright to look upon, rose out of the first sphere. It was one of the seraphim, but which, he couldn't say. He could just barely see the agitated motion of all three pairs of wings as it hovered over him.

"Ruadh... these are grave charges," it sang, its pure bell tones ringing throughout the chamber. "But I commend you for bringing them to our attention." It dropped lower, and even Ruadh was forced to glance away from its brilliance. "You loved this human?"

"I did," Ruadh answered.

Bells and chimes erupted above him, and a cold knot began to form in Ruadh's gut. "There are laws that govern our behavior, Ruadh, for the protection of ourselves as well as our charges. Was it not you who stood here and condemned the one now known as Cad'strum, as well as his followers, for his arrogance and ambition not so very long ago? And now you have presumed to trample those laws. Perhaps your honesty was an attempt to evade punishment for what you have done. You should have shown better judgement than to allow yourself to develop feelings for this mortal, and you certainly should not have laid your hands on her.You indulged desires you should never have felt in the first place! You show dangerous signs of being corrupted by your time among the humans. Your desire for this woman, your indulgance in their food and wine, your fury at your enemy, your accepting aid from a demon, and now your presumption to come before the entire host and demand vengeance? We all regret the harm that came to your human, but perhaps what you feel now will serve as a reminder that our rules exist for a reason. You have been, until now, an example to the lower angels. You will one day be great among us, Ruadh, but for now.... Chlaiomh had the right of it. You will spend a few centuries in meditation and consideration of why things are as they are and stay away from the temptations of human interaction."

Ruadh bowed his head, struggling to accept the judgment of the host, to accept that it was over. His eyes stared down at the pristine white marble, but in his mind he saw splashes of bright red blood. He looked down at his own hands, big and strong, and pictured instead long slender fingers, bruised, scraped and cut while fighting back. And he opened his palm to reveal Sadb's pretty lapis teardop pendant, the blue ribbon still stained dark with her blood. His face darkened, but he knew, in that moment, that if Sadb were there, she would urge him to accept the judgment and to find a way to regain peace. He nodded his head once. For her, for Sadb, he would go on.

He lifted his face to the glowing seraphim overhead. His heart was filled with grief, but he would go on. His duties would, once again, be enough. He lifted his hands and let the pendant drop to dangle from his fingers, but before he could speak, the pendant vanished and reappeared high overhead, suspended for all to see.

"A memento of your human?" the seraphim asked.

A stone fist gripped Ruadh's heart. "Return that to me!" he demanded.

Disapproval darkened the seraphim's glow and Ruadh could see all six of its wings agitated beating.

"You seem to need help forgetting, angel, rather than clinging to a memory of a dead woman you should never have known."

The pendant burst into a brilliant flare, a bright flash that burned hot and fast. The last traces of blood stained ribbon charred to ash and fell around him.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Ruadh screamed. It was as if he'd watched the last spark of Sadb's existence burn away with the pendant. "No! DAMN you all! For my entire existence I have done everything you've asked of me, every task, no matter how arduous, every test, I have gone where you ordered and done whatever you needed done. I have never asked for anything from the host, nothing! I have expected no reward, craved no recognition. I have followed my duties even to the point of turning against my brothers and seeing them cast out! You yourself call me one of the best of us! But when I come to you, when I ask for your aid... the one time I ask something of my brothers, you turn me down, you punish me, and then you take from me the only possession I value - the only thing I have left to care about - you would destroy it before me eyes! After my service - service you yourselves commend me for, after I stood before you and condemned four of my brothers- after all that I have never asked for favor before today. I have done nothing but what the host needed of me until today. And TODAY you dare to punish ME! You PRESUME to DENY me?!" He lifted up, his wings attacking the air, his body arrowing up until he hovered next to the seraphim, surrounded by the angels of the first sphere. Their angry protests chimed around him. "Know this... I WILL have vengeance for my Sadb. And if I can't it find among my exalted brothers and sisters, I will seek it elsewhere!"

Ruadh turned away, his mind already looking ahead to his vengeance. He ignored the rising chatter behind him as unimportant. Of course there would be consequences, but he would deal with them after he finished with Sadb's killers. He was already so focused on his vengeance that he was unaware of Chlaiomh approaching until his friend and mentor placed a hand on Ruadh's shoulder.

"Ruadh, stop," Chlaiomh whispered urgently. "do not do this! You do not know how close you are to being cast out entirely. Go back, quickly! Apologize for your outburst and accept the judgment of the host. Quickly, my brother, before it is too late!"

"You are no brother of mine, Chlaiomh!" Ruadh swung around, furious, and landed a clumsy punch on Chlaiomh's jaw, managing at the very last moment to retract his crystalline weapons so only his fist struck.

Chlaiomh took a startled step back, and then moved in, grabbing Ruadh's shoulders. "Brother, I beg you... stop before it is too late!"

"Take your hands from me or you will lose them!" Ruadh roared.

"Ruadh! They will cast you out! Please! Control yourself, stop this!" Chlaiomh tightened his grip on Ruadh's shoulders and shook him, but it was the last straw for Ruadh. His fist swung again and this time the razor sharp crystal weapons were fully exposed. Two hits, one to the face and one to the chest, and Chlaiomh was bleeding and coughing. He released Ruadh and stepped back, but other members of the host were there by then and Ruadh was overwhelmed.

---

Cad'strum watched from deep within the luxury of his enormous stone lair, the success of another stage of his plan played out on a curtain of smoke. He indulged himself in a bottle of fine wine and laughed as he watched Ruadh fight against the judgment of the host. Oh, Ruadh did not go quietly. He did not accept his fate, no. He fought every step, every moment, his every breath expended in furious denouncement.

Cad'strum sipped his wine. All that was left now, to finish his revenge, was to kill Ruadh.

---

In another lair, cramped and sparsely decorated, Ciara watched Ruadh as well in her flawless crystal. Na'rul huddled nearby, curled into an unhappy ball with her knees clutched to her chest, her tail curled around her ankles, and her membranous wings wrapped tightly around her body. Ciara smiled, admiring Ruadh's rage. He fought to the last, his voice a furious roar denouncing his brethren. They dragged him to the precipice and cast him out. And even while suffering an angel's most dreaded punishment, his screams were a roar of protest, not despair or fear. Even as he plummeted down, he was reaching back up, clawing at the sky, screaming out defiance. Ciara let out a low, satisfied chuckle as his pristine white feathers turned a dull, matte, onyx black.

She smiled indulgently at Na'rul. "Come to me, my pretty one. it is not every day that you see an angel fall."

Na'rul obeyed with obvious reluctance, but still didn't look up at the crystal sphere. Ciara rested her hand on Na'rul's shiny black hair and continued watching Ruadh. "But, I suppose you saw enough when you fell yourself." Na'rul's only response was to tighten her arms around her knees and duck her head.

"Do not worry, Na'rul. Cad'strum wants to take his life. But it is not my plan for Ruadh to die. He will live and be stronger than anyone could ever imagine." Ciara glanced down at Na'rul. The devil's black eyes were shiny and full of anguish. "I am going to save him."

Happy Birthday, Froggy!

Part VI
“Come in, I can teach you how to start,” he said. “My name is Akando.”

Caryn let out a musical laugh at the thought of adding anything else to her already crammed schedule of school and activities. “Thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Akando. I gotta run.” She fit action to words, and jogged briskly across Boyd street and the North Oval, wanting to make sure she caught the CART before they stopped running for the night.

One month later....
Caryn knelt on the soft mat, eyes clothes, as her instructor paced around her. “Shin, gin, tai” he repeated. “Mind, body, spirit.” Caryn let her thoughts drift while his soothing voice spoke to her. Strengthening the mind? Sure. She was just a couple months away from graduating with honors. Strengthening the body? Well.. She was strong and fit and healthy. In running she was competitive at sprint distances and dominant at longer distances. But spirit? How did one strengthen a spirit? There were no studies, no exercises that would bulk it up and fill it with knowledge. She’d stopped rolling her eyes at him, since he could apparently hear it even when her eyes were closed, but... seriously... besides... “spirit” made her think of Sooner Spirit, and that just made her mad, that her sister had run off without a word and was now halfway across the country playing hero without letting her family know what was going on! She’d always thought Cyd was her best friend.

“Focus, Caryn,” her instructor said in admonishment. “You’re not here. Be here.”

“Yes, sorry,” she muttered, and refocused on her breathing and her heartbeat.

“I know you are a very busy young woman,” he said, “but you must be sure that whatever you are doing, you give it your best, in that moment.”

“Yes, I will,” she agreed.

“Good. Now, get up, and give me your best.”

Caryn smiled and did as instructed. And neither of them ever noticed that the man known as Akando was watching, full of frustration.

And one month after that....
Ben looked up from his studies of recombinant genetics in fruit flies and smiled at Caryn. She was bent over her own text book, concentrating as she highlighted away in three different colors. Her short cropped hair kept falling into her eyes, and she distractedly raised one slender, long fingered hand to trail across her forehead and tuck her hair behind her ear. And with just that one gesture he was filled with a fierce longing for those fingers to trail across his skin. She glanced up, her green eyes smiling, and then her lips quirked as she noted the look in his eyes. She held his gaze for one long moment, arched a brow, then ducked her head back to her book.

He reached across the table to rest his left hand on hers, smiled at the contrast of his dark skin on her so pale skin, and thought about bringing her home to his family. His father was heavily into tribal politics and his mother worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Would they have any idea what to make of this pale-skinned red-headed girl? But they’d like her. How could they not like her? She was smart, funny, and gorgeous. He squeezed her hand, just once, and then let go before he started blurting out things he wasn’t quite ready to say. Things he felt... but wasn’t ready to tell her yet. Besides, he had a big test tomorrow, and this gene mapping thing was tricky. He stroked his thumb just once over the base of her ring finger, and drew his hand back.

He was deeply absorbed back into the details of red eyes, curly wings, and tubby bodies when they were both startled by a knock at the door. Caryn muttered as she climbed to her feet, and Ben took the opportunity to enjoy the view as she walked to open the door.

Three perfect young women stood there. They could be pictures out of a fashion magazine. A blonde in a form fitting fuschia tank dress and endless legs with her perfect hair falling over her tanned shoulders, a brunette with short spiky hair, a bright blue sun-dress hugging her curvaceous body, and a stylish African-American beauty in form fitting jeans, pointy toed boots, and a floating peasant style blouse in brilliant yellow. All three of them oozed stylish sophistication and money.

“Are you Caryn?” the brunette asked with a brilliant, friendly smile.

“Ya?”

“I’m Jessica, and this Ashley and Stephanie,” she said. “We’re with Chi Omicron Sigma, and we were hoping you could find the time to come by our “Get to know Chi-O-S” party next Friday.”

Ben could clearly see the frustration on Caryn’s face. “I’m a senior,” she said as if speaking to a particularly slow child, “I’m about to graduate.”

“All the more reason to join us, then.” the blonde, Ashley, said. “Once you graduate, you’ll have an unparalleled network to help you get a leg up on your competitors in the job market.”

“I’m going to grad school,” Caryn responded.

“Ah! Then you’ll still have the strength of our social activities and academic support to help you as you finish your graduate studies.”

Ben could read Caryn’s body language, and it was clearly stating she’d had enough. She took one step forward, crowding the fashionable trio away from the door and onto the step. “If I had any interest at all in frittering my valuable time away with drunken parties and shallow people, I’d have joined you when you FIRST started stalking me 3 years ago! Now you come here and waste my-”

Ashley had caught sight of Ben, and actually brushed past Caryn into the apartment. “Hello there,” she purred at him.

Before he could say a word, Caryn stepped back into the apartment, grabbed Ashley by the thumb and twisted her wrist up and back. “Ok ladies,” she said in a light, friendly tone over Ashley’s outraged howls. “I have some studying I need to do. I appreciate your considerate invitation, but I think I will have to decline. I hope your party goes well.” She steered Ashley outside, “Thanks for dropping by!” and slammed the door.

“Wow...” Ben marveled.

“What the hell?” Caryn asked as she walked back to the table, “I’ve never heard of a sorority..like... stalking people before. Why do they want me to join so bad?”

“You’re academically successful, athletically successful, and gorgeous. Why wouldn’t they want you?”

“It doesn’t make sense.”

Ben smiled at her. “Well, I want you. Does that make sense?”

She smiled back, settled into her chair, and resumed her studying.

---

Ciara roared her frustration. She pounded clawed fists into the magical barriers and smashed furnishings. She grabbed up the pedestal with the three cabochon spheres and smashed it into the floor. The pedestal shattered, but the three spheres were unaffected. She grabbed the one that had gone dark and flung it with all her considerable might at the stone floor, where it bounced twice and lay still. She roared again and kicked all three spheres furiously. Her imps scattered before her, but she managed to grab one by its tail. She lifted it from the floor, ignoring its terrified shrieks, and smashed it into the stone wall. It went limp, stunned, and she set upon it with teeth and claws. When it woke enough to whimper and struggle feebly, she redoubled her efforts, finally leaving the remains scattered in moist shreds over the floor of her prison.

She stalked to her crystal ball and screamed “Akando!” at it. Her fury grew with each moment that it stayed clear, then, finally, Akando appeared. The furious demoness brandished one of the glowing cabochon spheres, its deep red hue glowing throughout the room. “What are you doing!” she screamed. “The girl! You have done NOTHING with her!”

Akando’s face paled, but his voice was calm as he answered, “My attempts to connect with her have been rebuffed. She is never alone. She is either in class or with her boyfriend.”

“Then kill him.”

Akando went even more pale. “I.. I..”

“You are reluctant to kill?” the demon sneered. “You have no compunction against my giving you the lives and freedom of three girls, but you hesitate to kill one young man?”

Akando hesitated to answer, then spoke, “I cannot enjoy my reward if I am in prison.”

“When I am free, there will BE no prisons!”

“There may be another way. Give me more time.” The demon roared again, but Akando stood his ground. Reluctantly.

“You will find a way to draw her into magic. You WILL find a way!”

Akando nodded and stepped back.