Sooner

[Short post this time, and I don't think I'll post again until after Christmas. This is a sad story, and it doesn't get any happier... So, I don't want sadness for Christmas. - Sooner]

Part VIII

Ruadh's jaw dropped open. His wings, the feathers still broken and bloody, mantled over his back, and his eyes and hands began to glow with his power. He roared, a furious, grief-stricken denial that reverberated off the stone walls. He took one lunging step forward and his knee crumpled under him. He stumbled into the stone wall beside him, pushed upright, and charged, never once taking his eyes from his enemy. Cad'strum tried to sidestep, but Ruadh still managed to crash into him, driving them both back into the wall behind them. They grappled, pushing each other back, slamming one after the other into the stone. It seemed to go on forever, but in reality lasted just a few seconds before Cad'strum trapped Ruadh in corner, with torchlight flickering down over both of them. Ruadh pushed with all his remaining strength, but Cad'strum had him pinned and Ruadh couldn't break free.

"Go back, Atru'vum. I have this situation in hand," Cad'strum ordered, then spoke again, disdain dripping from each word. "You've come for her then, have you, oh most glorious angel?" Cad'strum asked.

"If you've harmed her I SWEAR that I will see you dead," Ruadh spat.

Cad'strum tossed back his head and laughed. "You are worse than a fool, Ruadh. Of COURSE I've harmed her. That was the point of my taking her, after all."

The angel's face twisted with grief and rage, transforming the handsome, even features into something ugly. "You should have come for me and left her out of it."

"You should have walked away instead of having me cast down. And you brought her into this when you allowed her to become special to you."

Ruadh narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth as if to speak. Instead he simultaneously stomped his foot hard on Cad'strum's instep and slammed his forehead into Cad'strum's face. As his enemy reeled back, Ruadh reached up and snatched Sadb's pendant away.

Cad'strum backed away. "How did you find your way here so quickly?" he asked as he wiped a drip of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"I'm not the only one who wants to see you dead!" Ruadh yelled and then lumbered after Cad'strum.

The devil was fit and healthy and unencumbered by injuries. He easily evaded Ruadh's clumsy attacks. Their power was enough to knock chips from the stone walls, but Ruadh was just too injured, too exhausted to out fight Cad'strum. And when it was clear to all that Ruadh could not win, Cad'strum stepped behind the angel and grappled his arms back, breaking a few more feathers from the angel's battered wings.

"Keep the pendant, Ruadh." Cad'strum whispered. The devil drove Ruadh forward around the corner. "Keep it, and remember her."

Ruadh fought to get free, but he was held tight. He was suddenly certain that he did not want to see what was around that corner. He pushed and twisted, but nothing prevented Cad'strum from pushing him step by step around the corner. At first he couldn't even comprehend what he seeing. Blood - that he understand, and a heavy wooden table broken into splintered chunks of wood. So much blood.... And Cad'strum's three minions, Atru'vum, Ira'tus, and Trist'us watching with gleaming eyes from where they stood near a piece of art on the wall.

Cad'strum sank a hand into Ruadh's hair and turned his head to face the wall. "See what your actions have wrought?" He hissed. "See what has happened?"

And still Ruadh was slow to recognize what he saw, even with his face turned towards it. He began to shake his head in denial when Ira'tus reached out and lifted a strand of something golden red and twirled it through his fingers. And that's when Ruadh finally recognized that he was staring at what was left of Sadb. "No no no..." he whispered. His struggles had stopped. He stood still and stunned.

She was pinned to the wall, her head hung forward and her beautiful strawberry blonde hair covered most of her face. But he could still see one blue eye open - vacant and staring. Cuts and bruises to her hands and arms showed she'd fought back, but she was still... so broken. Pieces of the legs of the table had been rammed into her, one through her shoulder, one through the left side of her belly, with such force they had cracked the wall behind her. Blood soaked the remains of her simple white shirt and long skirt, and pooled beneath her motionless toes. His eyes flicked over Sadb's body, cataloging each cut, bruise, and burn, his mind filled with thoughts of what her last few hours of life must have been like. The image was a soul-deep wound to the angel.

"She's done, blessed," Cad'strum whispered. "Your love is broken and gone from you. And YOU have brought this about." The devil flung Ruadh down to sprawl on the stone. "Now get out of my home!"

Ruadh pushed himself up, unable to take his eyes from Sadb's ruined body. He barely noticed or resisted when Ira'tus and Trist'um dragged him away and tossed him back through Ciara's portal to land, defeated and grieving, in the chilled autumn leaves beside the road.

---

Cad'strum waiting until Ruadh was gone and the portal vanished behind him. Then his lips curled in a fang baring smile. The angel would be mad with grief and anger. Ciara had been a very useful ally. He knew she was still hoping to avoid being bound to him, but her aide and counsel had just confirmed to him that she would be a very valuable servant. Once he was finished with Ruadh, once the angel was not just dead, but defeated, then he would turn his attention to Ciara.

He returned to the spot where Na'rul hung pinned to the wall. Ciara emerged from hiding and leaned back against a pillar, displaying her body to best advantage, even when draped in the full cloak. "You did well, Na'rul," he said, his satisfaction clear in his smile and voice.

His former servant, still wearing the damaged form of the human, lifted her head and glared at him. The wooden table legs that held her pinned to wall kept her from drawing a full breath so she could only whisper back, "Get me down, you motherless *****."

"Yes, Cad'strum," Ciara murmured and slunk across the floor like a cat looking for a place to nap. "I'd like to take my servant home now. She needs care in order to recover from this ordeal."

"Get her down," he instructed, and his servants obeyed. Na'rul crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes, but when Atru'vum offered her his hand, she batted it away angrily. Slowly, bit by bit, she forced herself to her feet. She couldn't straighten, and her right arm hung limp at her side, but she stood.

"My pretty little pet," Ciara said, stroking her knuckles along Na'rul's jaw. "Sadb is dead and gone, and there is no more need for this likeness." As Na'rul changed back to her natural form, gritting her teeth over any pain caused by the change, Ciara went on, "Really, we did him a kindness. He will no longer worry for a woman who never existed. Come with me, Na'rul. We'll get you cleaned up and see about healing those wounds."

Na'rul ignored Ciara for the moment. She was herself again, black eyes and hair, leathery wings, short horns, and a barbed tail. Her eyes were narrow slits and she cocked her head at Cad'strum. "He will kill you," she promised. "I hope I am there to see it. He'll kill you for me."

Cad'strum laughed. "You think he would ever have touched you with anything but violence if he saw your true form? He doesn't care a bit for you, treacherous *****. He loves a woman who never existed. He never loved you."

She laughed and the sound was bitter and brittle. "Whomever it was he loved, Cad'strum, he HATES you."

My attempt at The Mighy CoCo!

Part V
Ciara Banenighe prowled the confines of her mystical prison, exploring rooms and corridors forbidden her for centuries. As the eldest of the daughters had grown steadily in power, the walls had grown softer and fallen back further and further. She found treasures long forgotten, and a few she had longed to hold again. She pressed one clawed hand into the shimmering field of magic and was filled with both joy and frustration as it gave, just a little, under the pressure of her palm like a fruit just starting to ripen. It was happening. It was finally happening. But so slow...

She furled her wings and stalked to stare at the three cabochon spheres, each the size of her fist. Two of them still glowed with fierce red energy. The third... She bared her teeth in a fierce grin as she stroked the surface of the third. The light flickered weakly from within that one and tiny cracks and flaws formed deep within it. The more the girl drew on her power, the darker that crystal became.

Her smile grew wider and she turned to one of her imps. “Get me Akando.”

Paragon City
Sooner Spirit ducked as swarm missiles shot by overhead, and then whirled to make sure Broken Shadow was uninjured. Her oldest friend in Paragon City had avoided the worst of the damage and she turned back to face the titan again. Ahren, blazing with brilliant shimmering white power swooped overhead as he positioned himself to attack. She fought back tears as she tried not to hear the frightened voice of the man trapped within the robot. She’d promised his family she’d save Joe, but it was too late for him. All she and her friends could do now was stop what had been done to him.

The abandoned office building was dark, dusty, and smelled of mildew. The raging battle just made it worse. Fogman, another old friend, drew the attention of the titan off of Sooner and her companions, and they threw themselves back into the fight.

As the Zeus titan attacked Fogman furiously, as Joe’s frightened voice begged them to stop him, Sooner, Ahren, and Broken Shadow tried to find a way. The giant gleaming metal body ignored her fists, Shadow’s dark energies slid around it, and Ahren’s impressive light show of attacks didn’t even make it flinch. It drew back one massive arm and swung, smashing into Fogman like a wrecking ball. Fog shrugged it off, but in that moment, Sooner saw a weakness. She pressed in harder and waited for the titan to swing again. Rockets burst around her, and fire, the shrapnel, even the poison gas was starting to get through. Her lungs burned, blood dripped from a dozen wounds, and her cape was smoldering. But then the titan drew that arm back again, and Sooner took her chance.

She drew hard on the magical energies that gave her power and leapt up, With her left hand she grabbed the edge of the armor that protected the titan’s torso while she plunged her right deep into the exposed wires under that arm. She ripped and pulled everything she could while the titan reared back like a bucking horse. Fogman tried to get its attention again while Joe’s voice screamed at her to help him. Then she got her hand on the hose she’d seen. She yanked it loose and foul green liquid began to spew out. She held onto that hose for dear life as the titan thrashed and Joe’s voice finally became quiet. All was still as the last of the mechanical noises from the titan died away. She dropped the hose, and then the magical power hit hard, surging through her, flaring around her.

---

The demon glared at her servant in crystal ball, flexing her fingers furiously.

“You told me I could have the girl, and now she’s gone!” Akando complained.

Ciara hissed in fury. “You can have all three if you finish the job. The middle girl hasn’t even DABBLED in magic yet. You must show her the way.”

Akando held his breath and expelled it angrily. His jaw worked as he grit his teeth over an angry response and then nodded. “She is back in school. I’ll get to her.”

The demon started to retort, then whirled at a flare of light behind her. Her gaze was drawn to the three glowing spheres. The dark one flared suddenly, and she heard it crack deep inside. She threw back her head and roared triumphantly. She turned back to Akando. “I have waited long enough. You will find a way.”

Akando nodded and the crystal ball cleared.


Norman, Ok
Caryn rushed into her apartment and dropped her overloaded backpack on the couch. She frowned when she noticed the pile of dirty dishes still sitting in the sink and wish heartily that Cyd was still her roommate. Well.. Next year, Cerise would be here and she could dump the slob roommate.

She trotted to her room to change. She’d taken 19 hours this semester so she could graduate in the fall. That would let her start her master’s work in the spring. It also meant she didn’t have a lot of free time. As she changed from her jeans and tank top into comfortable workout gear, she perused the mail tossed on her bed. Cell phone bill, statement from the bursars office, and yet another letter from Chi Omicron Sigma. She stared down at it in frustration, “I’m a SENIOR!” she yelled at the envelope. “I’m not joining a friggin sorority!” They’d been hounding her for the last three years, and Cyd had told her that they’d tried recruiting her even after she’d graduated.

Back out in the living room, she flipped on the TV while she stretched. She flipped channels until she got to Hero News for the latest news on Paragon City, and stopped mid-stretch when she was treated to a close-up of Sooner Spirit, smiling, with the caption “Latest Hero of the City, Sooner Spirit!” The shot drew back to show the hero in red being presented with a plaque, while several people she recognized as Sooner Spirit’s friends in the Ghosts Reborn watched.

“Well... son of a *****...” Caryn marveled.

She was still holding her position, watching the brief ceremony when she was interrupted by a knock at the door. She stood, backed to the door, and smiled as she opened it.

The extremely attractive man that stood there smiled back at her. Their relationship was still young enough that they spent a lot of time smiling at each other. Benjamin Tenkiller, with his tall, athletic build, wore his course black hair just long enough to pull back into a queue. His face was straight out of a western movie with its high, broad cheekbones, eyes so dark they were nearly black, and chiseled features. He would look just right in war paint and a loin cloth clinging to the back of a pinto pony. He was dressed for running, but the loose fitting clothes really didn’t hide how fit he was. He was a few years older than she, but a year behind her in school. He was going to school on the GI Bill, and had started school a little late because of his military service.

“C’mon in, Ben.. I was just finishing up my stretches.” She clicked off the remote and finished prepping for their run, and wished she had another couple hours in her day so she could spend them with him.

---
Caryn finished her evening happily perfecting her Tae Kwon Do techniques in a private lesson. Every minute she spend with Ben just made her happier, and when he'd reached over and taken her hand when they paused before crossing the street.... it had made her heart sing. And he was going to pick her up after her lesson, and they were going to have dinner. And she made up her mind that at some point, she was going to reach for his hand. Just so he knew she liked it. And that she liked him.

She smiled again, a big goofy smile, as she finished her last kata and picked up her towel. She hoped by next spring to be good enough to start competing in tournaments, if she could find the time. She had tried several different forms, but found the stand up style of Tae Kwon Do suited her best. It had been a good lesson. Any lesson where she put that combination of surprise and approval on her teacher’s face was a good one, and she’d managed a couple of surprises that night. She was sweating and pleasantly exhausted by the time her hour was done and she changed to wait for Ben to pick her up for a late dinner, then home for studying.

---

Ben trotted out to his old dusty blue pick-up truck. He didn’t want to be late to pick up Caryn because he knew she only had a little bit of time for dinner and then she’d want to hit the books. And he wanted every minute he could get with her. He’d never met anyone like her, and it seemed that she was all he could think about. Her smile, her laugh, the way she moved, the sparkle in her green eyes, her red-blonde hair that seemed to have a mind of its own... and... other things.

He climbed up into his old blue Chevy, cranked the engine until it started with a rumble, and backed out. He let out a surprised curse at the loud metallic “thunk!” Nothing else sounds like a automobile crash, and he was already cursing his own stupidity.. Thinking about a girl and not watching where he was going and he hoped he hadn’t hurt anyone...

But it wasn’t another car. It was the apartment’s trash dumpster. It was out of place, and it would have been nearly impossible to back out without hitting it. The dumpster was a dark green, and he hadn’t seen it in the dusk. He cursed again when he realized his crumpled rear bumper was caught on the dumpster.

He climbed back into the truck to call Caryn and let her know, only to find his cell phone shattered. He frowned. He hadn’t remembered anything getting damaged - and it hadn’t seemed like he hit the dumpster hard enough to have done that kind of damage to the phone - but there it was.

“****!” he yelled with feeling. He wondered how long Caryn was going to wait for him, and how mad she was going to be. Finally he took off on foot to find a pay phone.

He never noticed the trio of small red imps that scampered gleefully away.

---

Caryn tried calling Ben again, but it went straight to voice mail. Again. With a last glance at her watch, she took off walking. She was going to have to hoof it to get to the CART stop on time. She hoped he was ok. She hoped he had a good excuse.

It was too hot for her to cool off. It was August, which meant it was still in the mid-90's well after dark. She was sweating again after just a couple blocks, and her mood was plummeting. She’d been looking forward to spending time with Ben, and she was hungry! Now she was going to be grabbing a PB&J while studying. And showering as soon as she got home to rinse off the sweat.

Most of the businesses on Campus Corner were closed, except for the bars, of course. But she could see the lights on behind a large, plain storefront. The floor was one huge mat, and there was one man dressed in loose clothing inside. He was working his way through the slow, measured movements of Tai Chi. It was beautiful. She paused, watching his hands and feet. He appeared Native American with his skin tone and high cheekbones, but he wore his black hair cropped short. She frowned as she watched him. She could faintly see something moving around him, like shadows, but when she tried to look directly at it, it vanished.

The man ended his routine and looked up. His dark eyes found Caryn’s and he smiled a welcome at her. He approached the front door of his studio, moving with the grace of a hunting cat. He opened the door and looked out at her with a friendly and open smile.

“Are you interested in Tai Chi?” he asked.

“It’s beautiful,” she answered.

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

Part VII is up

Part VII

Na'rul's eyes flicked with disbelief to Ciara. She couldn't be serious!

"I do not want her dead, Ciara!"
"A devil could easily survive what would kill a human. It will no doubt be uncomfortable for her, but she will not die."

"No!" Na'rul protested. "You demon cow! No!"

Ciara ignored Na'rul as if she weren't there. "Then, when I send Ruadh here, it will be his attempt to save his love. But instead, he will see her... he will see that she is dead."

"I say again, I do not want her dead," but to Na'rul's horror, he sounded thoughtful. As if he were actually considering the demon's idea.

"She is a devil, Cad'strum. Not a fragile human. She'll survive it. And Ruadh will... go mad at the sight of her."

Unable to speak, Na'rul waited, filled with shock as Cad'strum considered the idea. "I think... Ciara... that you.... are correct. That would be devastating to him."

Atru'vum spoke abruptly, "Cad'strum! Are you... seriously considering this? To one of our own?"

"She betrayed me. She is not one of mine anymore." His gaze switched to Na'rul. "How ironic, Na'rul. You fell in love and were cast down. And now you have fallen in love again. And another angel will be cast down. There must be great power in your love, Na'rul." He paused, his face thoughtful, his anger dark and cold. He turned his dark eyes away from Na'rul. "I think her body will be exactly the right last touch."

"Cad'strum? Is this really what you want?" Atru'vum asked, reluctance clear in his voice.

"I want Ruadh to hurt." he answered simply. "Seeing his love dead... knowing he failed to protect her..."

Ciara turned Na'rul to face her. "You... will hold this form until I instruct you otherwise. I will send Ruadh here after you've had time to set the scene."

As Ciara turned away, Na'rul turned her furious gaze on Cad'strum. "He's going to kill you! His furious face will be the very last thing you see! And it will be for me!"

---

Ruadh was struggling awake. He was lost in his own pain and couldn't find his way back. He knew he urgently needed to wake, but wasn't sure why. He dragged himself upward through the darkness and pain, the confusion, the growing fear. Something was very very wrong, and he kept seeing a pair of bright blue eyes watching him, urging him awake.

He heard a door open and then a woman gasp. The door slammed again and footsteps rushed to him. “Ruadh! Oh no! What happened here? Where is Sadb?!”

The presence of a human gave him the urgency to wake. He couldn't be unconscious and helpless with a human in the room. He tried to push himself up but only succeeded in rolling onto his back. His eyes opened, and he saw the woman Marah crouched next to him.

"Sadb..." he breathed out, and then he remembered. "They took her!"

"What happened?" Marah asked, "She didn't come to work at the Hart - and you didn't show either - we thought you were together," Marah blushed at the suggestion. "But... no. I came to check on her. What happened?"

He pushed up and grasped at Marah with one hand, “Help me, I need to stand.”

Marah glanced at his hand and her eyes widened. Ruadh was no longer disguised as a human. Whether she could tell he was an angel in his condition, he didn't know. But he was clearly not human. She bit at her lip, then stood, grasped his hand, and helped pull him up. He held on to her tightly until his feet settled under him and he was sure of his balance.

"What.... are you?" she asked finally.

He stretched his body, reaching with his arms, standing on first one leg, then the other, twisting side to side, and finally stretching his wings out. He was hurt, and hurt badly, but he healed faster than a human would. He could travel. "Marah," he said finally, "I am the one who is going to find Sadb and punish the ones who took her. I'm going to find her."

“Be careful, Ruadh,” she urged. “I don't know if I really understand the forces at work here, but... be careful.”

Ruadh said nothing at all in response, he merely limped out the door and made his way into the darkness.

---

Ciara smiled, delighted with her progress with Ruadh. She moved into the darkness herself, dropping her own disguise of Marah and appearing as her true form. She wrapped a cloak about herself, hiding her near nakedness – that would not be the best way to approach an angel.

He was so badly injured she easily moved ahead of him on the path. He was, of course, headed for the shrine. He would hope to recharge his energies and heal some of his injuries. She waited for him just outside - no need to offend his angelic sensibilities by entering the shrine.

She heard him coming before she saw him. He was stumbling and lurching along the path, and there was a sort of low animal keening. If she had human emotions, she was certain he would have stirred them with the depth of his grief and rage.

“Ruadh... “ she called and stepped out into the path. As soon as he stopped, she raised her hands to show she meant no harm to him. “Peace to you, angel. I had no hand in harming your love, there is no need for us to fight each other at this moment.”

His colorless eyes blazed with fury, but he was so badly hurt. He wanted to attack her, for the mere fact of her existence, but he held himself back. He needed his strength for his chosen battle.

“Out of my way, demon *****, I do not have time for you” he snarled.

“Foolish angel...” she purred. “We have a common goal, a common enemy. We both wish Cad'strum dead. I lack the strength to do it. You lack the knowledge of how to find him”

He shuddered, wracked with pain, and considered her words. “You know where I can find Sadb?”

“I know where you can find Cad'strum,” she answered. “I can send you to him. And your Sadb should still be with him.”

He swayed and shook his head. “I know your type, I know you can twist words and meanings, but rarely lie. Say plain and clearly what you are offering and what you want from me?”

“I will open a portal that will take you to Cad'strum.” She shrugged. “I will leave that portal open so you can exit his realm as well. I want you to kill him. As this will benefit us both, I ask for nothing more from you at this time.”

Ruadh blinked and considered her words. She knew he was seriously injured and wracked with urgency and grief, but she had spoken truth. The fact that there was no chance this beaten and wounded angel could even hurt Cad'strum didn't factor into it. She'd spoken the truth. She kept her face blank, but her magical senses could taste his power. And she wanted him. Already her power grew now that had access to Na'rul's power. Once she claimed the soon-to-be-fallen angel, she would become a major power. Cad'strum would be dead, and she.... she would be free.

"Send me to him, demon," Ruadh growled. "And do not betray me. I have enough rage to avenge myself on you as well."

"I will send you to the heart of his lair. You might land right in his lap. Be ready."

"I am more than ready."

No amount of control could hide the smile that spread across her lips. She began her spell casting, noting that he turned away with distaste clear on his face. She didn't really need nearly that much casting and chanting to open the portal, she needed it to alert Cad'strum.

When she was finished, a portal glowing red and black swirled before them. Ruadh stood in front of it, but turned to fix his colorless angel's eyes on her. "Promise me this portal is not a trap, demon. Say it plainly."

She smiled. "Neither death nor captivity wait for you on the other side of this portal, blessed.You have my word on that." She gestured. "Your enemy and your love are through there."

With determination hardening his angel's face, Ruadh stepped through the portal.

---

Ruadh had just a moment to question whether he should trust a demon as he travel the magic portal, then he stumbled as his feet hit the stone floor of Cad'strum's lair. The hard landing jarred his injuries and he grit his teeth over a groan of pain. His shoulder throbbed and his arm ached. He limped forward a few steps, feeling every bruise and cut. For the first time, he really wondered if it had been his wisest course to accept the demon's offers.

However, true to her word, Ciara left the glowing portal open behind him. He still had a way out. He had arrived near the corner of a stone hallway just curving away to his left. Behind him, the corridor stretched away, lined with doorways and curtained arches. But he face a corner just a few steps away, lit by a flickering torch. He had just a moment to recognize the movement of the shadows toward him before Cad'strum and Atru'vum swung into sight.

"Cad'strum!" the other devil called. "Here... it is done."

Time slowed, moving forward a heartbeat at a time. Cad'strum was still more than half-hidden around the corner, glancing behind toward Atru'vum. Ruadh could see his lips quirked in a smile. The angel's eyes spotted a fine spray of blood over a brocade sleeve. Cad'strum took another step, and Ruadh's head lowered. He could now see what Cad'strum had taken from Atru'vum. Draped over the long, clawed fingers of one hand, Cad'strum held Sadb's lapis blue teardrop pendant with the red flaw in the center, the pretty blue ribbon stained nearly black. The sight of it, the image of that pendant in Cad'strum's hands was more than he could stand.

Even though you rarely play any more, this is where I met you, so it seems appropriate.

Also, you keep telling me you're going to play more, and I keep believing you .. so there ya go.

Any way... Happy Birthday, Zem!

I <3 you!

walking out to the mailbox with mine right now.

Part VI of Ways of the Heart is up.

I think I may slow down posting just a little. This is a majorly sad story, and I don't want to be posting sad stuff at Christmas.

Part IV

Jenks, Oklahoma
Cerise Nation sat at the kitchen table, books and papers spread out all around, and tried to work on a research paper about Mendelian genetics. The room was filled with the odor of stew in the crockpot and some sort of dough rising in the bread maker, but that wasn’t what had her distracted. Cyd had been missing for 3 weeks, and no one had heard anything. The Nation family was close, and Cerise and Caryn were deeply worried. Oddly, their mother seemed unruffled. Cerise wondered what mom knew that she hadn’t shared with her daughters.

Cerise stared off into the living room, lost in thought. The father she’d never met had left them comfortable in their split-level home, even if the nice house was strictly middle class by Jenks standards. The living room was a series of shrines - glass cases documenting successes and awards. Cydney’s was crammed full of trophies and medals. Cyd had dabbled in basketball, track, and softball before finding a home in soccer. She’d never been on a losing team. The case held picture after picture of championship teams celebrating victory, always with Cyd’s tall frame and long red braid somewhere in the middle. Crowning the top shelf were the twin photos of Cyd graduating from Jenks High and from the University of Oklahoma, decked out in the cords that commemorated her academic success. Her disappearance had put a hold on her rapid progress towards her master’s degree photo. Next to Cyd’s was Caryn’s shrine. Unlike Cyd, Caryn had found her true love in track and field events and never strayed from it. The tall, slender, leggy build of all three girls had helped Caryn to more ribbons and trophies than could be counted. Caryn’s graduation photo had just as many cords and held the place of honor in that case as well. Their mother had her own trophy case. Her sport had been softball. A worn, soft catcher’s mitt still snugly clutching a ball sat inside along with her own plethora of ribbons and trophies.

And then there was Cerise. Her case stood between mom’s and Caryn’s. Cerise loved her mother. She loved her sisters. But she didn’t want to be them. The reaction of all three when she tried out for cheerleading still made her laugh. Her mother proudly, if somewhat bemusedly, placed Cerise’s awards for winning cheerleading competitions in prominent positions in the trophy case. Cerise’s photos of a clean pretty girl wearing short skirts, make-up, and ribbons in her hair were in stark contrast to the sweaty, dusty, make-up free pictures of her sisters in action. She knew her family didn’t quite know what to make of the girly-girl in their midst, but she was ok with that. She needed to be her own person, and being a clone of her older sisters wasn’t going to accomplish that.

Cerise deliberately looked down and away before her gaze fell on her father’s trophy case. Daniel Nation had died before she was born. She’d never known him, and it gave her a funny feeling in her gut when she thought about him. Like she was supposed to love him, but how can you love someone you never knew? She’d studied it enough over the years though. The loaded shelves held championships rings from his high school days as a multi-talented athlete, more trophies and ribbons, then his career as a running back for the University of Oklahoma. The thought prompted her to look up at the photo of the young man in shining crimson and cream, wearing the red jersey over the snug white pants, in a close approximation of a Heisman trophy pose. She jerked her head back down to her books. Another championship ring adorned that shelf. The next shelf held pictures of him as handsome marine in his uniform, smiling his handsome smile. Daniel Nation had been too attractive to even be real, with his chiseled jaw, bright blue eyes, wide mouth that always seemed to be smiling, and golden blond hair. The top shelf of his shrine held a triangular wooden box with a glass front. Inside was an American flag, folded into a tight triangle. Laid out in front of the flag were the medals and ribbons he’d won after he was done with sports. Cerise had heard the story of each one, including the ones awarded after his death. She glanced back up, as always, when she looked at her father’s memorial, she was filled with both resentment and grief. Cydney remembered him and Caryn claimed she did, but he had never been anything more than those pictures and trophies to Cerise.

She was saved from her spiraling bad mood by the ring of the phone. A quick glance at caller ID revealed that it was Caryn. She snatched up the phone quickly, “Hi Car,” she answered.

“Any word?” Caryn asked, as she had every night since Cyd vanished.

Cerise rolled her eyes but answered pleasantly, “No... we haven’t heard anything.”

Caryn was silent for a long moment, then suddenly asked, “Whatcha up to tonight, sis?”

“Homework!” Cerise sighed, expressing her extreme suffering. “I have to write a paper about Mendelian genetics and I don’t know what to do!”

“About anything in particular?”

“Just some aspect of genetics and how they’re expressed.” Cerise answered.

“Write about McCalli.”

“Huh?” Cerise glanced over to the back of the couch, where the tiny calico was curled into a tight ball. “The cat?”

“Sure! All calicos are female. Why is that?”

“Genetics?” Cerise guessed.

“Look it up, sis. It’s pretty cool.”

“I guess that could work,” Cerise answered skeptically.

“Is mom around?” Caryn asked.

“She’s out shoppin’ and stuff, I guess.”

“Ok, tell her I called. Love you, sis!”

“Love you, too, Car.”

Cerise hung up the phone and picked up the cat, who, in true calico style, protested vocally, hissed, and jumped down. After huffing and flicking her tail, she climbed back up into her favored spot, bestowed one last glare on Cerise, and curled up. With a shrug, Cerise settled back down at the table and dived into her research paper.


Norman, Ok
Caryn was feeling the pressure of the end of a very full semester. Her dining table was full of textbooks ranging from Ancient Egyptian Art to Physical Chemistry. The far corner of the table still held the small stack of items Cydney had left behind, including her keys and that slim blue book, stacked up and left untouched like a shrine. Caryn rubbed her aching eyes, thought longingly of a nice run, a challenging kata, or just a long hot bath, and finally shut the chemistry book with disgust. She turned and hit the remote control to turn on the television.

The colorful image flared to life, showing what appeared to be a disaster area. Text scrolled across the screen identifying it as the former Eastgate bay area of Paragon City, now known as The Hollows. A trio of heroes stood behind the handsome reporter. Caryn watched as the reporter turned to the first of the heroes, a bizarre shadowy figure with a quiet, whispery voice identified by the screen as “Broken Shadow”. After exchanging a few questions, he turned to a strikingly handsome man identified by just the name Ahren. He spoke briefly, then the reporter turned to a tall woman wearing red leather and a hood, her eyes hidden by a stripe of red across her face. Caryn frowned, and then jumped up with an angry protest when the woman spoke with her sister’s voice. When the text identified the woman as “Sooner Spirit,” Caryn put a furious fist through the drywall of the kitchen.

She stalked through the house and began tossing everything of Cydney’s into garbage bags. She was too angry even to call mom. Her sister just LEFT! Didn’t say a word to anyone. They had all been SO worried, and she’s been playing HERO in Paragon CITY! Clothes, bedding, photos, shoes, CDs, all got tossed into bags. After an hour of furiously removing every trace of her sister, Caryn stalked by the dining room table and swept Cydney’s keys and that blue book titled “Magickal Strength” into the last bag. She shoved all the bags into the closet of Cydney’s former room and angrily slammed shut the door.

The Demon Realm
Behind the veil that separates the world of humans from the underworld, a demon prowled. He was mighty, he was angry, and he was waiting for his chance. Conall Cian was big and powerful, an imposing winged monster with huge wings flaring over his back and curved horns framing a harsh human shaped face. Lesser demons fled at the sound of his voice and the trapped souls which resided there trembled at his approach. But all his strength was not enough to let him cross over. Yet. For that, he needed something to weaken the barrier from the other side.

He stalked the veil. He know his time had come to return to the human side of that barrier. It was now. An opportunity was about to arise, an opportunity he had no intention of missing. He had plans for the future, and those plans all started with him breaking through that barrier into the rich world of opportunity which was the world of humans.

And when he heard the first faint sounds of violence, when he felt the child’s fear, he placed his hands on the barrier and felt it starting to thin.

Kings Row
Little Christopher Newman huddled under his thin blanket in a room too cold for good sleep, but mommy said the gas was off again, and she didn’t know when it would be back on. When the knock came at the door, he buried his head under his pillow and squeezed his eyes tight. Daddy often got visitors in the middle of the night, and Christopher knew he was never ever to leave his room when those visitors were there. It was stupid. Christopher knew Daddy was selling his special medicine to the people that came by. So it was stupid to make him stay in his room after the knocking woke him up.

But something was different this time. Usually the people who came to buy medicines were quiet, but these men were yelling, and Daddy was yelling back. Christopher slithered out of bed, clutching his blanket around him like a cape, and crept to his bedroom door. He slowly and quietly turned the doorknob and peered out. It was policemen. There were policemen in the living room and Christopher knew Daddy wouldn’t like that. There were two of them, both dressed in long dark coats over shirts, ties, and dark pants. One of them was older and stood back, looking around the living room like he was counting anything that might be valuable. Christopher didn’t like the way that one looked at Mommy’s legs where she was just starting to wake up from her nap on the couch. The other one was really big and he stood there with his hand on his gun and never took his eyes from Daddy.

Daddy was yelling, “Just get outa here! I already paid you. I don’t got any more for you!”

“Mike? What’s goin on?” Mommy asked. Christopher whimpered when he heard how frightened she sounded. She got up and stumbled a few steps until she stood behind Daddy’s shoulder.

“These ******** want me to pay them off again!” Daddy yelled.

“Hey!” the big cop yelled, “watch your mouth, Mike. Unless you want me to start comin up with probable cause to toss this dump.”

“I don’t have any more money!” Daddy yelled again.

The older man stepped up then and spoke calmly. “Perhaps we can work out some sort of trade, then.”

Daddy stood very still and cocked his head. “What sort of trade?” he asked.

The older man took another step forward and licked his lips. “How did a looser like you get such a good-lookin woman, Mike?”

“No!” Daddy yelled. “No trade, no more.” He stepped forward and pulled Mommy behind him. “You come back next week, like usual, and I’ll have your cut.”

“No,” said the big one. “We’ll take it now.”

The older man stepped forward again and grabbed Mommy by the wrist. That was when Daddy hit the older cop. And the big one pulled his gun.

It happened so fast after that that Christopher never could really remember exactly what happened. The gun went off and the boom was so loud it made Christopher’s ears ring. Daddy spun around and blood went everywhere. Two more tremendous booms and Daddy fell down with a red river running from his body. Mommy screamed and screamed, and then turned to run, but they grabbed her and pulled her back. Her pretty blue eyes met Christopher’s, and he saw her lips form the word, “HIDE!”

Christopher scurried back into his room and tried not to hear Mommy. He was a very smart young man, and knew they would look under the bed first and probably in the closet second. He climbed into his toy bin instead, burrowed down into it, and pulled it closed over him. It seemed like forever that he hid there, the air growing stale as he panted in terror, then the noises from the living room changed. It sounded like they were breaking everything, opening and closing doors and drawers, dumping stuff out and stomping on it. He tried to make himself even smaller when he heard his own bedroom door open. He heard heavy shoes stomping around and thought he would be safe when they started to leave, but then the chest opened, and the big cop stood there with the bedroom light glinting off his badge. The rough face broke into a smile, “C’mere kid.” he reached down and pulled Christopher out by the front of his pajamas. “Where’s your dad keep his drugs?”

“H-h-h-his... medicines?”

“Ya, kid. Right ... where’s he keep his medicine?”

Christopher knew big boys didn’t cry, but he couldn’t help it. “I-I-I....”

The big man drew back his big hand and struck Christopher a hard open hand slap. “C’mon kid... where?”

Conall bared his teeth in a smile as the barrier thinned even more. The rich blend of terror that leaked across the veil was immensely powerful. The thin wail of a terrified child ripped through it at last and Conall roared with triumph as he pushed his way through. His essence passed into the child whose fear had broken the barrier, and for a long moment, Conall looked through the child’s eyes at the powerful human man who held him in his grip. The sensation of being small and powerless, helpless before a stronger enemy was profoundly unpleasant, but then Conall completed that step and stood in all his winged and clawed demonic might in the world of humans.

Standing before him was a big human man, wearing the shield of one sworn to protect. And that sworn protector held a bloodied and cowed child. The human was an oathbreaker and false. And that made his life forfeit.

“Where the **** did you come from?!” The human yelled.

Conall plucked the child away from the human. “You should not be concerned about where I came from, human.” With surprising gentleness, the huge demon sat the child on the narrow bed before turning back to the human. “You should worry about what I am about to do to you.” The human just stared, stunned, at the monster, and then reached for his holstered gun.

“You have made a grave mistake, human.” he growled. He stepped into the punch, driving his clawed fist into the man’s jaw. The cop slammed into the thin bedroom wall, still attempting to draw his gun, but Conall stepped into him again, hammering his fists into face, chest, and gut. The big cop dropped, and Conall turned back to boy. It was his first mistake in the human’s world, and he was not looking when the second cop came through the door firing.

Conall moved faster than the cop could ever have expected, but still two rounds found a target in the demon’s belly. Three steps carried Conall to the cop. The demon grabbed up the smaller man like a stuffed toy and ripped his throat open. Blood fountained out as the cop collapsed.

Conall cursed as his own blood dripped from his wounds. He was bigger and broader than the human the cop had been expecting or the wounds would have been much worse. He crouched by the bigger cop. The man wasn’t dead yet. Conall stripped the cop of his clothing and studied him. A big man. A hard man. Square jaw, hard eyes, a powerful body. It was a good shape, and the demon claimed it for his own.

Conall Cian straightened, and concentrated as his wings vanished, his legs reshaped themselves, and his skin paled. He stood over the dying man and could be his twin. The demon pulled on the cop’s shirt and pants before shrugging into the rich leather trenchcoat and straightening the badge. When he had taken the human’s form in every way, Conall reached out with one big clawed hand and ripped that throat out as well.

Finally, he turned to the child who sat motionless on the bed. At first, Conall thought the child might be injured and dying, but outside of the marks of the beating on his face, there were no injuries. The child must simply be in shock. Well, he was young and therefor resilient. He found the child’s coat in the closet, with a tag that read in a neat feminine hand “Christopher Newman.”

---

When the big Paragon Police Department detective walked into Kings Row’s Crowne Memorial Hospital carrying a child, the overnight staff was concerned and attentive. The cop didn’t have much to offer besides the name “Christopher Newman,” the information that his family had been killed in a shooting, and that social services should be called right away. Then the child was safe, and the demon was loose in the world.

Part VI

The three devils beat him with savagery, and held him firmly and helplessly against it. He couldn't dodge the blows and he couldn't fight back. But every moment he was trapped there, Cad'strum would get further away with Sadb and the chances of him saving her went down. He had to act. He had to, while he still had a chance to fight.

They became more careless with him, more concerned with hurting him than with holding him. And he let them believe he was already too hurt to fight back. He slumped against their grip, he coughed and choked and cried out with each blow, and waited for the right moment.

His left shoulder had been badly injured in a brutal battle a few centuries earlier, a wound that had never really healed back as it should. Every time a blow rocked his body back, every time he flinched back, it twinged that shoulder more and more. And though he knew the risk he was taking, he thought that shoulder might just be the key. He just had to endure what they were doing, just had to make them believe he was beaten and cowed until the opportunity to break free came.

Ira'tus gave him that chance. "I want my turn!" he demanded. Ruadh let his head drop forward, gasping for breath and letting out an occasional choked moan.

Atru'vum scowled and looked away. "We can't kill him, Ira'tus." he reminded.

"Just take him!" Ira'tus demanded.

Ruadh waited, more alert and ready than he appeared. He slumped forward against the arms holding him, even while his heart raged at him to find a way to go after Sadb. Atru'vum moved to his right and bent down to grasp Ruadh's wrist. Ira'tus took his foot from Ruadh's knee and lifted Ruadh up. "On your feet, 'blessed one,'" he commanded. "I want you standing for this."

Ruadh snarled as they pulled up on his arms, putting more strain on his tortured shoulders. They were worried about his upper body, maintaining control of his arms and wrists. They should have been worried about his feet, but they expected his feet to be moving, they were, after all, trying to make him stand.

He complied, clumsy and weak. He pushed with his right leg, lifting himself up and - just as Ira'tus pulled his hand away - Ruadh "stumbled" hard into Trist'us. He'd hoped to catch the devil by surprise, but he was not so fortunate. He twisted and leaned, smashing his head into Trist'us's nose and mouth. The devil's face crunched satisfyingly against Ruadh's forehead, but he still managed to yank hard on Ruadh's arm to try to maintain control, and that weak shoulder popped out.

Ruadh screamed with both rage and pain and pivoted to take out Ira'tus's knee. As painful as it was, the dislocation freed him to move. His foot smashed into the joint and Ira'tus's leg bent backwards and crunched. The devil stumbled back, roaring and slammed into the wall.

For a moment none of the devils had their hands on Ruadh. He took that moment to revert to his true form. Moments later an enraged angel stood in that small room, bleeding and battered, but glowing with his power. With his wings held high, he reached out to Atru'vum and pulled energy out of the devil to heal himself. His left arm popped back into place, but Ruadh was too badly injured to heal himself fully that way.

Ira'tus pushed himself off the wall, "You self-righteous *******!" he screamed. "You deserve to suffer for what you did to us!"

"Still want your turn, Ira'tus?" Ruadh growled, and slashed with his natural crystal weapons. He sliced through the devil's face leaving tatters of shredded blue skin behind. When the devil flinched back, Ruadh turned and raced for the door.

He nearly made it. If he could have darted through that door, they would never have caught him. But he was already too injured and could not move fast enough. He didn't know which one managed to grapple him to the floor, but once he was down, they never gave him the chance to get back up. With each passing moment, as it became more and more clear that he couldn't get free, his despair grew. He didn't need to imagine what a devil could do to a human woman. He'd seen it, and more than once. The thought of his sweet Sadb hurt that way caused him far more pain than the thorough and savage beating that left him bleeding on the floor ever could.

In the end, Ruadh lay on the floor of Sadb's home, struggling to breath, struggling to move.

---

Servitude in the world of demons and devils tended to be a depressingly permanent situation, usually lasting until the servant tried to break free and then ending with tragic consequences for the loser. Or, the master could recognize the growing strength of his servant and choose to end the relationship – which still occasionally ended tragically.

Na'rul was learning another facet of her servitude – that she was a commodity. “Cad'strum! No! Not to her!” She would normally not have dared to even speak to him when cold rage froze his eyes that way, but she couldn't bear even the thought of being handed over to Ciara.

“You betrayed me, faithless creature! I trusted you to carry out a very simple task, and you turned on me. Unfortunately for us both, I wagered on your fidelity and lost"

His eyes grew more cold, and then he cursed and raised his hand to strike her. Na'rul steeled herself for the blow, but refused to cower. She'd taken enough blows that day to her pride, dignity, and heart to flinch before a physical blow. His palm slammed into her cheek with even more force than she'd anticipated. Her head snapped around and back and she staggered. Her hand darted to the corner of her mouth and found blood. Her eyes narrowed as she clenched her fist over her own blood.

"No, Cad'strum," was all she said, and then she threw everything she had at him. Fire rained down on him, flew at him from her palms. She spat fire at him, flung it at him. For a few moments, she thought she had a chance, that surprise would be enough to win her freedom. The hateful demoness stood back watching with interest but did not interfere, and Cad'strum himself was staggering back before the force of her attack. He roared angrily, and then charged through her fire at her. His first blow, a rock hard fist to her jaw, rocked her but didn't break her concentration. She danced back, just starting to strain for the energy to keep fighting. She thought she was more agile than he, but his strength was intimidating. He closed on her again and his second punch knocked her from her feet. She shook off the confusion with nothing more than force of will and tumbled away.

"You little simpleton," he sneered. He stalked her, he must have been aware that she had burned through her energy too quickly. She reached for the fire but it wasn't there. She backed away, circling, but he kept coming. "You were my favorite, you know. I preferred you above your brothers."

"Those cursed bastards are not my brothers!" she spat back.

"I suppose they are not anymore, at any rate," he said sadly, then charged her again. She tried to roll away, but she'd backed herself into a corner and he trapped her. She found the strength for one last blast, then he was on her. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her out. No amount of clawing or kicking would dislodge his grip. He twisted his hand to turn her face to him, then drew back his other fist.

"Do NOT damage my property, Cad'strum." Ciara snapped suddenly.

"Your property?" Cad'strum scoffed.

"She is mine."

"For one century.”

“One century, and then she'll be returned to you at your request.” The demoness agreed with a smile. “Come to me, my pretty one.”

"NO!" Na'rul denied furiously, but Cad'strum shook his head and passed the bonds of compulsion to Ciara. Na'rul flinched, but stubbornly refused to cry out at the sensation of the magical bonds sinking into her mind and will. When it was over, she shook her head, but the compulsion to obey was complete. She had no choice but to comply, slinking slowly to Ciara and standing by her new mistress's side with her head down and her black hair falling about her face to hide her fury.

Ciara reached out with her slender clawed fingers and began to twirl Na'rul's hair. “Let me offer a bit more assistance, Cad'strum.”

“And what will be your price this time?” Cad'strum asked suspiciously.

Ciara smiled indulgently. “Your good will, Cad'strum. And perhaps I am as anxious to see this angel brought down as you."

"What affront did he do to you?" Cad'strum said with a suspicious frown.

She waved her hand in an airy gesture. "Him? Nothing. He is one of the blessed ones. That is enough for me to want him to suffer."

Cad'strum nodded understanding. "What do you suggest then?"

"Two things. First... Ruadh will not rest until he finds his Sadb." Ciara paused and smiled, but Na'rul refused to give either the satisfaction of her reaction. "I will come back to that, though. Once you are ready, I will go to Ruadh and offer to send him here to you. I will lead him to believe I want him to kill you. Once he is here, you will, of course, beat him again. Between that, and the other thing he will see here, he will be further enraged."

"What other thing will he see?" Cad'strum asked, intrigued.

Ciara trailed the back of her hand along Na'rul's cheek and lifted her chin with one clawed finger. She smiled indulgently and wiped away Na'rul's hot tears with a knuckle. Na'rul angrily pulled away, but Ciara gripped her jaw.

"There is still the matter of punishing this one."

Cad'strum raised a brow. "I thought her punishment was you."

"Cad'strum, please. You lost possession of her in a wager. That was between you and I." Ciara turned an indulgent gaze on Na'rul, and Na'rul felt a knot of dread beginning to twist in her gut. "Let me see Ruadh's love, my lovely one."

Na'rul's eyes flicked to Cad'strum, but, really, he didn't matter anymore. She concentrated a moment. Her features shifted and her color faded. She felt suddenly weaker and more vulnerable standing there as the pale red-headed human while Ciara still held her jaw.

"Is she not pretty?" Ciara purred.

"Yes. She's a very lovely human. I designed her to be. Make your point!"

Before Ciara could continue, Na'rul's former colleagues under Cad'strum, Ira'tus, Trist'us, and Atru'vum returned. Na'rul's eyes widened at the damage to all three. Atru'vum was bruised, Trist'us's entire face was swollen and discolored, and Ira'tus... Ira'tus who had been an exceptionally handsome example of a devil, limped in only with the help of an improvised crutch and his face was sliced open. Na'rul began to laugh.

"What happened!" Cad'strum demanded. "Did he escape?"

"He fought back, Cad'strum," Atru'vum answered. "He fought hard to get free. But we left him as you ordered. Unconscious and bleeding."

"He fought for you, my little pet," Ciara murmured. "Now.... for our treacherous little devil here. Turn into her into a display for Ruadh. Let him see her corpse."

Travel safe and come back to us well!

That was really great, GA.

Part III
Ciara pressed her clawed hands around the crystal and peered at the eldest sister. Her red-skinned face glowed with satisfaction. She was pleased with the progress the girl was making, but it was time to ensure that her magical path would continue. She must draw more magical energies if Ciara was ever going to be free. Akando moved too slowly, he did not press her enough. No daughter ó Floinn would respond well to coddling. She needed to be pushed, and Ciara intended to give her a solid shove.

Ciara whirled, pointing rapidly to a trio of her imps. “You! You and you! Go, now! She will find you shortly. Be ready.”

Campus Corner
Another dark night, and Cydney Nation was back in Akando’s gym tucked away on an alley of Norman’s Campus Corner. Cyd had said nothing to correct Caryn's belief that she was studying at the library. She was coming to believe that magic was the answer she was seeking. When she drew the darkest of the magical energies into her body, she was instantly tougher, stronger, faster. She was already trying to decide how best to present her discovery to Coach. He wouldn’t believe her at first, but if she could get him to listen long enough to see what she could do... maybe he’d consider it.

Akando danced around her, the dark magics coiling off his body as they spared. She knew he was holding back with her, but that was ok. She was learning more by the day, and she was confident that soon she would be able to match him. She struck at him, her fists moving so quickly they vanished in the cloud of darkness that surrounded her. To her surprise, she managed to sneak a fist past his guard, where it landed solidly. She danced back quickly with her hands up. “Did I hurt you?” she asked anxiously.

He coughed and straightened. “I’m pleased with your success, Cydney.” he answered. “A few bruised ribs are a small price to pay to see a student succeed.”

She smiled at the praise, and bowed slightly. “I have a good teacher,” she said.

He rubbed at his ribs, and his smile quirked. “That’s enough for tonight, though, I think. I’ll walk you to the CART stop.”

“Oh, no.. I’m going to just catch it at the South Oval so I don’t have to transfer. That’s too far.”

“Not at all. I want to be close in case the demons return.”

She blanched, and didn’t protest again. The demons had frightened her badly, and with his reminder of what had happened earlier, she welcomed the company.

As they walked out into the muggy night, Cyd shrugged into a warm hooded sweatshirt. It was the official sideline wear from last year, and its heavy fleece was perfect for the chill night. The temperature wasn’t as frigid as a few days ago, but she knew she’d be grateful for its warmth.

“Can we plan a long session tomorrow being Saturday?” Akando asked.

“I don’t think so. I don’t know if I’ll be available at all tomorrow. My mother is coming to talk to me, and I don’t know how long she’ll be here.”

“Your mother?” Akando frowned. “I hate to see you miss an entire day this early in your training.”

Cyd smiled. “If I’m free in the evening, perhaps?”

They passed through the brick archway of the North Oval and continued south. They passed Evan’s hall and then entered the lights of Bizzell Library. The chill was just starting to work its way through Cydney’s hoodie, and she glanced at her watch. Her CART should be along very soon.

Just at the edge of the lights, in the narrow strip where the shadows began to take over from the light, Cydney saw a skittering red body. Fear jolted through her like a shot of lightening. She let out an embarrassing shrill shriek and stumbled back. Akando turned toward her with a question on his face, but before he could begin to ask it, two of the tiny demons hit him, one at the knees, one at the shoulders. He tumbled down, she thought she heard the distinctive “thunk” of a skull hitting cement, and then they turned to her.

She was breathing so fast, her heart was pounding, she was nearly paralyzed with fear, and her skin tingled with her agitation. Then a calm came over her and she called the magic. It eased into her like a cooling balm, and she settled herself into a ready crouch while letting her book bag slide to ground. As the first creature leapt at her, she gathered the dark magic around her and slammed her fist into it. Its body felt fragile and weak as it folded over her fist, dropped to the ground, and vanished. She felt a surge of triumph and her confidence soared. The second demon paused and looked faintly uncertain as she advanced on it. It backed up one step, and another, then let out a frightened squeal as she landed a rapid series of blows on its tiny body. It managed to get one claw on her arm, rending the heavy fabric of the hoodie and scoring her forearm with a deep scratch. She hissed in pain, but before she could respond, it vanished as well.

Cyd ran anxiously to Akando. She was relieved to find him breathing steadily, and stirring. She was elated with her victory and filled with concern for her mentor, and didn’t think to look for another of the tiny monsters. The last of the trio hit her high on her shoulders and nearly took her to the ground. Its tiny teeth ripped through her clothing and its claws were scrambling at her neck. She reached for it, but couldn’t get her hands on it. Instead, she crossed her arms across her body, grabbed the hem of the sweatshirt, and yanked it off, pulling the demon with it. She then proceeded to smash the bundle into the ground until it stopped moving and chittering. It was still for a long moment, and then the shape inside the hoodie vanished.

Once again, Cyd stood, cold and bleeding in the darkness of the South Oval. She took several deep, shaking breaths, and then let out a triumphant warcry. Akando pushed himself to his feet and stood shaking. “Well done, Cydney,” he said, clapping her on the shoulder. “Very well done.” She nodded, shivering with reaction in the cold. He continued, “Let’s go back to the gym, and let me treat your injuries.”

“I want to go home,” she said as a rumbling CART pulled up in a hiss of air breaks and a rumble of a diesel engine.

“You’ll frighten your fellow passengers with the blood...” Akando pointed out.

“**** ‘em,” she answered with surprising heat. “I want to go home.” She glanced over at Akando one last time. “You’re ok?”

“I’m fine,” he answered.

“Then maybe I’ll see you tomorrow,” she answered, picked up her bag, and jogged on shaky legs to the CART. As her bus rumbled off into the darkness, Akando picked up the discarded hoodie. A red skinned imp appeared out of the darkness at his side. Akando glanced down and handed the creature the bloodied garment.“Our mistress may want this,” he said.



---

Cyd carefully hid her injuries from Caryn as she entered their apartment. Claiming exhaustion, she headed straight to the shower. When her wounds were as clean as possible, she retired to her room where she dressed in her warmest sweats and called the magic again. She welcomed the power, and waited patiently as the deep scratch on her arm slowly closed. She frowned at the oily dark power coiling off her skin. She had loved the clean white power she had first called. Maybe it was the ancient concept that light equaled good and dark equaled bad, but she felt somehow wrong to be surrounded by shadows when, at first, she’d been glowing with bright light. She tried to call the lighter colored magic, but, when she descended into her trance, she couldn’t even see the brilliant white colors. When she reached for the paler colors, blue, yellow, green... it was as if they fled from her. She couldn’t call them any more. The harder she tried, the more the dark magic came to her, the less she could even see of the brighter magic.

Glowing with darkness, she put her head in her hands and wished hard that she’d never seen that book.


Campus Corner
Norman, OK
Cydney opened the glass door into Victoria’s Pasta shop and stepped inside. The interior of the small restaurant was dark and fragrant with garlic, onion, cheese, basil. A large party of students in the side room laughed and talked loudly. Her mother loved the local restaurant, and they ate there most of the times she visited. She glanced at the daily specials board to note that the mushroom caps that day were crab and feta. She trotted up the narrow steps to the elevated section near the back and waited. She settled herself into a corner table and watched the front door.

A young woman putting considerable effort into passing as a homeless person approached and offered menus. Cyd waved them aside and ordered, “Two waters with lemon, two house salads, add shrimp to one, chicken to the other, an order of the caps, go easy on the sauce, and we’ll split an order of lasagne rolls.” The waitress wandered away to return moments later with the glasses of water, and then left Cyd alone to wait for her mother.

Mom was punctual, as usual, arriving at 12:30 on the dot. She pushed her dark sunglasses up onto her forehead, holding her jaw-length strawberry blonde hair back from her face. The family resemblance was strong in the Nation girls, and since their mother appeared quite young for her age, she was often mistaken for an older sister instead of their mother. She was tall and slender, like all her daughters, wearing dark jeans, black boots, a dark patterned sweater, and a bright red peacoat over it all. She waved when she spotted Cyd and trotted up the stairs. Their hug was warm before they settled into their seats.

“I ordered the usual for us,” Cyd told her.

“Shrimp on the salad?” Mom asked.

“Of course,” Cyd smiled.

“Then it’s perfect.” Mom peered at her oldest daughter, and Cydney could see the worry deep in her eyes, even though she hid it well. “You look tired, Cyd.”

Cyd shrugged. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Mom nodded, “You kept using ... the magic, didn’t you?”

Cyd’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t touch the book...” her face fell. “But I did keep using it. I didn’t realize.” Crushed at disappointing her mother, she looked down at her lap.

Mom reached out and laid a hand on Cyd’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t have tried to keep you three in the dark. After everything that happened.... after your father died...” her hand went to her neck, in a gesture of long habit and she grabbed the wedding ring she had worn on a chain over her heart for the last 18 years.

Their waitress returned, placing salads, baked mushroom caps, the luscious lasagne rolls, garlic bread, and two empty plates on the table. Cyd silently dished out a pair of caps to her mother, and one of the lasagne rolls, her mouth watering at the thought of the indulgent rich shrimp, cheese and spinach filled roll. When the waitress left, mom looked up, her face filled with some dark emotion. She delicately sliced one of the caps in half as Cyd filled her own place.

“I think,” mom began hesitantly, “even though I knew better by the time Cerise was born, I think I was hoping it wasn’t true. That it was just a charming family story, not a cautionary tale.”

Cyd savored the rich flavor of a mushroom cap as she tried to understand what her mother was saying. “What’s going on, Mom?” she asked when her mother fell silent.

Mom laughed, though there was no joy in it. “I always thought your grandmother was deliberately flaunting family tradition, with me and then six sons. I think she was trying to have three daughters, but just couldn’t.” Mom pushed her food around her plate, she had yet to taste it. “You know what’s going on, Cyd.. You know the story.”

“Mom, I don’t know... what are you talking about?”

“The Irish clan, the beast, and the three sisters.”

“But... Mom...” Cyd went pale, as in her heart she suddenly knew the old story was true. “That’s.. that’s just a bedtime story.”

“No, Cyd. It’s not. It’s the truth. It’s a warning to all the women of our family to never let themselves have a third daughter, or else the beast would be released.” Cyd stared in shock at her mother. “I wouldn’t change a thing. Cerise was the very last gift your father ever gave me. But, I should have taught you myself. Not left you to find it on your own. I’ll have to tell Caryn and Cerise... but not just now. It’ll be hard enough doing this today.”

They talked for hours. The food grew cold, and was eventually taken away. Cyd was filled with horrified certainty and dread the more she listened to her mother explain.

Cyd rode back to the apartment and Caryn bounced out to take Cyd’s place in the passenger seat of the little red miata convertible. Caryn with her mother, absently waved goodbye to Cyd, and pulled the door closed.

---

Cydney had a plan. Like Jonah, she hoped to run away from her fate. She packed quickly and efficiently, taking everything she needed in a duffel bag emblazoned with the OU logo, and a rolling suitcase. Before she left, she deposited her OU student ID, her keys for work, her sideline badge, and several books that needed to be returned to the library on the dining table in the hall. She wrote a quick note saying goodbye to her sister and asking her to please return the books.

She exited the apartment without glancing back. Just a few minutes after she left, a small red imp materialized in Cydney’s abandoned bedroom. It glanced around curiously, then skittered to the bedtable. It pulled open the drawer and removed the slim blue book with the ornate title “Magickal Strength.” With a high-pitched giggle, it bounded down the hallway and placed the book on the dining table. It waved its tiny red hand over the note and Cyd’s jagged handwriting flowed across the bottom of the note, “...and, Sis...you should read this. It’s really interesting. It might help you with your running and your field events.”

Part V is up.

Part V

Ruadh plummeted out of the sky on his pearly white wings. His anxiety to see Sadb consumed him, and his normal stern reminders to himself to keep himself under control, to follow the rules seemed woefully inadequate. He stooped to a hard landing and darted into the shrine to make his change. She'd been fine when he'd left. Still horribly shaken and pale, but fine. He hadn't dared stay a moment longer. If she'd asked him that night to walk her home, he would have accepted. And, he was afraid, he would have accepted anything else she offered as well. Oh.... Sadb was only going to be more trouble for him, he knew it. But he couldn't stay away. And... besides, he had to make sure she was safe.

His distraction kept him from realizing that he was not alone in the shrine until the intruder stepped out into sight. The dim light revealed dusky blue skin, black hair, black horns, a barbed tail, and leathery wings. Ruadh was slow to recognize the danger... a delay that could have been deadly. Instead, the devil raised his clawed hands, palms out. "Peace, friend. I am not here to do you harm."

"We are not friends, Atru'vum." Ruadh hissed. "Get out of here."

"But we were once. And for that, I am here to warn you."

No devil ever meant well for an angel. Ruadh glanced about, seeking into the shadows for further danger. He put his back to the stone wall, his eyes quickly and effectively finding anything that could be used as a weapon, mapping out the quickest routes to escape. "Then deliver your warning and get out, devil." Ruadh spat. "I can still remember when we were brothers. That is all that holds me back from killing you now."

Atru'vum shook his head sadly and took a step forward. "Then, for my old friend, do not go to The Hidden Hart tonight, or ever again."

"What are you talking about?"

"I cannot say more. I can not. But do not go back there."

"How-" Ruadh began, but Atru'vum moved fast. He ducked and flung a fistful of dirt into Ruadh's eyes. Ruadh tumbled and rolled, furiously blinking and cursing himself for trusting a devil for even that short time, but when he could finally see again, Atru'vum was gone.

In that instant, Ruadh gave up his attachment to The Hart. If Atru'vum knew about it, then his friends and companions among the devils did as well. Ruadh could not bring that sort of danger to the people of The Hart. But... he could not walk away from Sadb so easily. He would go there one last time... just long enough to say goodbye to her. He told himself it was for the best anyway... how long before he would succumb to her? How much longer could he have resisted his own desire? For her sake as well as his, this was best...

He nodded, striving for resolute acceptance. He would find her, say goodbye, and leave. He would miss The Hart, and he would miss Sadb fiercely... but it was best that he go. For both of them. And not just because Atru'vum knew about his visits there.

With his human face in place, and his emotions determinedly shut away, Ruadh left the shrine and hurried down the road to The Hart. The moon was full and its silvery light stole the color from the night. The trees and brush along the road glittered and shone. The air was cool and crisp. The noise from the surrounding forest, insects, birds, night creatures, rose up around him.

So focused was he on what he would say when he saw her for the last time that he nearly missed her standing there by the road. She was so beautiful with the moonlight full on her face and glittering in her hair, her skin illuminated, her white shirt glowing.

“Ruadh!” she called to him. “Ruadh, wait!”

He turned to her, “Sadb!" he cried out, smiling despite himself at the sight of here. "I must talk with you.”

She hurried to him and placed one slender, long fingered hand on his arm. “What is it?”

The magic from the enchanted feather reached for him, but he didn't recognize it. He didn't realize the danger as the spell woven into it broke down his barriers and sank magic fingers into his mind and soul. He was no longer capable of saying no to her, he was trapped and he didn't even know it. He rocked back as if hit by a heavy blow, then his eyes found hers. With no control left over his feelings or desires, he reached for her and gathered her into his embrace. “Ruadh!” she gasped. He tilted her chin up and kissed her, relishing the soft warmth of her lips. His right hand traced the ribbon that held her blue teardrop pendant until it disappeared under her blouse.

“Invite me to your home,” he whispered. “I will not say no.”

“I- I-” she stammered, then pushed back from him just enough to look into his eyes. “Ruadh, come home with me, please.”

He smiled and took her hand. Together they ran back to her small home. It never crossed his mind to wonder why he no longer worried about the rules or the consequences of breaking them, or that he'd forgotten Atru'vum's warning.

When the door to her home closed behind him, he drew her into another embrace and a kiss that expressed his desire and passion fully. She sank into it, pressing herself against him, and for a moment... a moment he would remember for centuries to come, they were like one being. He lifted his head, his eyes darting around the small room until he saw a hanging curtain. He guided her back, and she yielded, moving with him like a skilled partner on the dance floor. He pulled the curtain aside and revealed a narrow bed. Narrow, but he thought it would do. A few more steps and she fell back against it.

Then she pushed against him. “Ruadh, Ruadh... wait,” she gasped. “Please, wait.”

“I can not wait any longer, Sadb.” He couldn't hear, couldn't think over the roar of his desire for her. He couldn't see anything but her. His mind was full of her, the scent of her hair, her eyes, her flushed cheeks, her rapid breaths. Her skin was hot and soft like fine silk under his hand and he couldn't take his eyes from her lips. "Tell me after... you can tell me after."

She pushed against his chest, leaning back “But... I am not.... I'm not what you think, Ruadh.”

He was so lost in his love for her, and his need for her, that he couldn't imagine anything she could say that would matter. He just wanted her. He was ready to give everything up for her. His eternal existence,.. it would be worth it. One lifetime with Sadb... that would be enough. "Sadb..." he breathed her name and lowered his face to her neck, breathing in her scent and nuzzling into her.

“Ruadh. I love you. I love you so much, and that is the truth. Remember that, always. I love you and that means I can not allow....” She paused, took a deep breath, and continued.” Ruadh, you cannot. We cannot. I am – Ruadh... it is all a tr-” The door behind them reverberated with a loud "THUMP!" and another. "Oh no..." she breathed. "Ruadh... "

Before Sadb could finish whatever she had to say, the heavy wooden door burst open. Ruadh's enemy and former mentor Cad'strum filled the doorway and behind him stood Atru'vum and two other devils, Ira'tus and Trist'us, each of whom had an old grudge against their former brother Ruadh.

“What are -” Sadb began, but Cad'strum cut her off.

“Be silent, you little fool.” Cad'strum commanded, and Sadb's mouth shut with a snap.

Ruadh roared with fury and lunged at Cad'strum, putting himself between Sadb and the devils. Ira'tus darted in, hitting Ruadh hard square in his chest and knocking him back. Ruadh was still slow to think, slow to react, and Ira'tus easily pinned Ruadh's right arm against his body and drove him back. His head buzzed, but the urgency, the need to fight was struggling through. Ruadh pushed back and reached around with his left hand, trying to get a grip on Ira'tus, but Trist'us was there, moving behind him. Trist'us grabbed Ruadh's left wrist and twisted it behind. Ruadh roared and lunged away, but Ira'tus shifted his grip as well and then both Ruadh's arms were pinned back. With a face both angry and sad, Atru'vum grabbed Ruadh by the hair and twisted his head back. Atru'vum opened his mouth to speak, then shook his head. He pulled back until Ruadh fell to his knees, wrenching both arms painfully. Before he could stand Trist'us and Ira'tus each planted a clawed and broad foot at the back of Ruadh's knees. And the angel was held helpless.

Cad'strum ignored Ruadh for the moment. He grabbed Sadb by the arm and shook her, his face furious.

“Take your hands from her!” Ruadh bellowed, consumed with rage. The urgency of the situation began to wake him up. Four devils were in the room with him. And the woman he loved. And he was helpless.

“Ah.. you care for her, do you? And, it appears, she cares for you as well,” Cad'strum cast a dark look Sadb. “Ah, Ruadh. I am so glad you found love, someone to care for. It gives me yet another way to hurt you.”

“No!” Ruadh screamed. He struggled uselessly and succeeded only in hurting himself.

Cad'strum dragged a silent and passive Sadb away. “Hurt the angel,” Cad'strum sneered. “Hurt him, leave him broken. And then join me with this.” Cad'strum's smile made Ruadh's heart go cold as he turned Sadb toward the room. He stroked a clawed hand down her cheek as he meet Ruadh's eyes. “Imagine every way four devils could hurt her. Think about what we could do to her - all the various things we could do to her before we kill her. Ask yourself how much of that a human can endure before they cannot live. And while you're imagining it, remember that we would be doing all of that to her in order to hurt you.” He laughed at Ruadh's inarticulate response. “As I thought. Hurting her will hurt you twice as badly. Come with me, you foolish thing, your punishment for loving the angel starts right now.”

Atru'vum stood over him. “I told you to stay away.” he said, shaking his head. “There's no saving either of you now. Ruadh... you should have known Cad'strum would never forgive you for getting him – and the rest of us – cast out. You should have expected this”

“Do not hurt her...” Ruadh gasped out, calling out to Cad'strum. “She is innocent in this.”

Atru'vum shook his head and laughed bitterly. “You are a fool, Ruadh.” Atru'vum sighed sadly one last time, and then slammed his clawed foot into Ruadh's belly.

"Sadb!" Ruadh screamed. "NO! NO!" Her bright blue eyes met his, shiny with tears and she held his gaze fiercely. He fought uselessly as the wooden door slammed closed, trapping him inside with the devils and his Sadb alone with Cad'strum.

Still getting cards! Whoop!

Pax, that little stocking is adorable and I will keep it forever!

Even though I know you never come to the forums.....

Happy Birthday!

Part IV of Ways of the Heart is up.

Part IV

Cad'strum turned. "So, why come to me with this, Ciara? What do you have planned?"

"I prepared something for you," she said with a charming smile. She lifted her hand to her cleavage and withdrew a shimmering white feather. Bands of colored symbols adorned the quill. A leather cord wrapped thrice just below the up-curved edge of the barbs, and trailed down over her wrist, the ends weighed down by small beads, each etched with a potent magical symbol. Magic saturated it. It oozed with magical energy. It was beautiful. But there was only one source for a feather so large, so pristine.

"How did you acquire an angel's feather?" Cad'strum asked, not even trying to hide his surprise.

"Ah, it is not just ANY angel's feather. It is one of Ruadh's. I worked a few spells into it. Give this to your servant, and when he is close to her, she will be able to get past his barriers and win his heart completely. He will become willing to give everything up for her."

"Now you are talking in circles. Na'rul will betray me, but if she wears this she can win his heart? One or the other can be true, but not both."

"Ah, you devils and your logic. Hear me out. I am offering to give this feather to you. Or... rather, I'm offering to let you win this feather from me."

"Enough, Ciara. Enough. What do you want?"

"I will give this feather to you. It is valuable and powerful and I have invested a great deal of my own magic in it. I will make a wager with you that your servant will betray you before she seduces Ruadh. If you win... if she succeeds in seducing him, then the feather is yours and I will ask nothing of you for it. However, if I win, if she does betray you, then you will give the lovely Na'rul to me in payment for the feather."

"If you win, what good does your feather do me then? Besides, I need him cast out. If he is seduced because of magic, he will be exonerated and I will lose my chance."

"I suggest a modification to your plan. Either way, it will not be the seduction that will have him cast out, for as you stated most correctly, he would have been seduced after he lost the ability to say no. Instead.... his human love, Sadb, will be taken from him and killed. For the pain it will cause his heart, it really doesn't matter if she seduces him or not. Either way, he will want vengeance. And his brothers will not give it to him. He will be furious. And it will be his anger and drive for revenge that will cause them to cast him down. And then he will be alone on this earth and an easy target."

Cad'strum considered her words. It was.... possible.... she was correct. About both Ruadh's ability to resist Na'rul, and about Na'rul's feelings for Ruadh. He still doubted that a devil could be dissuaded even by love... but it was possible. Ruadh's dedication to his duty was always a barrier to the plan, and Cad'strum was fully aware that he might never succumb to seduction. But... wrath... yes... if the seduction failed, invoking his wrath was an excellent fallback plan. Still....

Cad'strum smiled indulgently. “Na'rul is a powerful asset, and likely to continue to grow in power. You ask for far more than your feather is worth.”

Ciara affected affront. “This feather is priceless and unique. Your servant is just another devil.”

“Do not treat me as if I were a fool, Ciara. You hope to increase your own power by binding her.”

“I see her potential, it is true. I still say it is a fair trade for this.”

“You can have her for a decade.” Ciara laughed and made as if to hide the feather away in her clothing again. Cad'strum waved his hand. “A century then. Then you return her to me.”

Ciara was silent, and Cad'strum could see her tumbling the possibilities around in her head. Finally she spoke. “She will be bound to me for at least a century. She will remain mine until you send for her.”

Now Cad'strum paused to carefully consider her words, trying to find the loophole. “You think I will forget about her? That I will not call for her return on schedule?”

“I think it is possible you could be otherwise occupied at the end of that century. In which case, how does it benefit either of us for me to lose her before you are ready to take her back. Besides, let us be honest, she will see this as a punishment for her betrayal of you. will not it make her punishment all the worse if she doesn't know exactly when it will end?“

“I assure you, I will want her back as soon as the century is done.”

“Then, as soon as you send for her, after that century has passed, she will be yours again. But that bit of uncertainty...”

He waved a hand. Ciara had a point. Any eternal creature could endure anything for a century. But the uncertainty... yes... that would make the punishment worse. “Very well, Ciara. You will give me the feather. If Na'rul betrays me, I will give her to you for a period of at least one century, after which, you will return her to my service upon my demand. If she does not betray me, then you will ask for nothing more from me for payment."

Ciara nodded slowly, a broad smile spreading over her face. She slowly extended her hand to him. "That is my deal."

Cad'strum reviewed it in his mind, tested each word, seeking the weakness, the trap. But he could find none. He reached for the feather, "You have a deal. And a wager."

Ciara tilted the feather away from him just as he reached for it. "You, of course, will not influence Na'rul on this, Cad'strum."

Since that was exactly what he'd intended to do, Cad'strum allowed himself a chuckle and a nod. "Very well. Na'rul will make her own choice with no influence from me."

Ciara smiled. And handed over Ruadh's spell imbued feather.

-----------

Ciara smiled triumphantly. Devils were always so confident in their own superiority. It made for some interesting blind spots. Ciara, on the other hand, knew how rarely one's opponents cooperated with their own downfall. She knew Cad'strum was just waiting for the day he could bind her into his service. She didn't intend to ever let that happen. However, since Cad'strum truly was more powerful than she, it was just a matter of time before he won. If she sat back and allowed it to happen.

Instead, she watched and waited. She knew her place in the hierarchy of demons and devils, and she was NOT satisfied with it. She intended to be a major power in the world. So she avoided Cad'strum's plans to bind her, and involved herself in his schemes. She hadn't revealed how much she'd already influenced this plan. She'd influenced the constable in both his attacks on Na'rul, and that had advanced his plan far more than any of his own manipulations so far.

And so she reviewed the terms of her agreement with Cad'strum again in her mind. Na'rul would someday be a rather major power herself, and Ciara was positioned to control her and draw that power to herself. She had a century to cement that claim. Na'rul would be hers until Cad'strum asked for her back. Cad'strum imagined that his plan would bring him revenge. Instead, Ciara would hijack his plan and she would gain great power for herself from it. And Cad'strum would never ask for Na'rul back, because if all happened as Ciara planned it, Cad'strum would be dead.

---

The day before Ruadh would visit The Hidden Hart again, Cad'strum let himself into Na'rul small home. It was simple and plain, and Na'rul had decorated it with dried flowers and wreaths, handmade curtains and knotted rugs, all well in keeping with the human she pretended to be. Pretty and sweet.

Na'rul herself, however, hissed with irritation when he walked in. She wore her human form, but the expression in her eyes was pure devil. "You risk your entire plan every time you come here like this!" she snapped. "What would Ruadh think if he saw you walk in here like this?"

"Mind the way you speak to me, Na'rul," Cad'strum scolded. "Ruadh is a thousand miles away, trying to encourage sheep to behave like men."

"Then what if someone else told Ruadh they saw a strange man just walk into my home?" she asked, then waved her hand as if tossing away her objection. "Why are you here?"

"I have brought you a present, Na'rul."

Cad'strum watched Na'rul's eyes when he offered her the feather. She lit up with delight when she sensed the power and magic in it. "What IS it?" she marveled.

"It is his feather. Enchanted to make it easier to break through his barriers. You wear this close to your heart, and he will be helpless to resist you any longer."

She reached out and plucked it gently from his fingers. Her human eyes, wide and bright blue, were shining and focused on the shimmering feather. She tilted her head one way and the feather the opposite and smiled a predatory smile. "It is.... " she trailed off.

Cad'strum took her hand and directed it to place the feather inside her blouse, over her heart. "It is his downfall, Na'rul. That feather will destroy him." He watched her eyes as he spoke. Her face revealed nothing. But the corner of her right eye twitched and, after a moment, she looked away. She pressed her palm over the feather.

She nodded. "It will destroy him." she repeated thoughtfully.

Cad'strum pursed his lips, but anything else he said could be taken as influencing Na'rul's decision. So instead, he asked, "You will meet him on the road, then?"

"I will be waiting for him." She nodded.

Cad'strum nodded and smiled. And said nothing.

Hulkers!

You stopped too soon!

Reminder!

Get your nukes and come on out!

Part III of Ways of the Heart is up.

I may need to look at my posting schedule. I don't really want to be posting the end of this right around Christmas....

Part III
Ruadh left the quiet shrine and picked up his pace toward The Hart. He coached himself sternly, reminded himself of the rules he must follow while among the humans. He was drawn to Sadb, he could no longer deny that. But he had to be careful. However pretty she might be, however sweet... he had to remember to remain aloof. He HAD to.

His resolve was firmly in place until he heard a terrified woman's scream ahead of him on the road, abruptly cut off, and a scuffle, He broke into a run.

His temper flared instantly when he realized what he saw. Three men, holding a frightened and struggling Sadb. And all three wore the bronze stars of a constable. Men sworn to protect.

“Release her! NOW!” he demanded. He could feel the glow of his power beginning to flare around him, and he pushed it back down.

The dark haired man, the one with the scratches on his face, pulled Sadb tighter against his body, but the other two both released her and stumbled away.

“This doesn't concern you, friend,” the constable declared.

Sadb reached one hand towards him, her eyes wide, her face pale with fear. “Help me!” she screamed. “Ruadh, please!”

“Release her, right now.” he commanded, his voice far more calm and even than than the rage within him. “Release her, and you and your friends may go on your way with your lives.”

“Three of us and just one of you. I think I'll keep her,” the constable declared. “YOU go on your way, or you'll spend the night beaten and bleeding in a gaol.”

“Fool,” Ruadh spat, and then Sadb screamed as the two deputies charged Ruadh.

The disguised angel stepped back, dodging their clumsy attacks. He ducked, he sidestepped and then he abruptly reached out, grabbed each assailant by the back of the neck, and slammed their heads together. The CRUNCH resounded through the darkness and the pair dropped like a pair of over-sized dolls, laying motionless at Ruadh's feet. Blood began to seep out into the dirt of the road. And Ruadh lifted his eyes, eyes he knew were glowing with his righteous anger. .

“What are you?” the constable demanded. He yanked a knife from his belt and held it to Sadb's throat. She went still and quiet, just one slim hand reaching up to tug at the man's wrist.

“I am messenger, and guardian, and, when needed, justice,” Ruadh answered. “Consider that carefully.... And then I give you one last chance to release her and live.”

The three hung there in a motionless moment. Sadb pleaded with her eyes, but Ruadh and the constable focused their attention on each other. Ruadh could see the human thinking, but in the end, the human made the wrong choice.

Ruadh saw his hand move, the knife flashed in the light. Sadb screamed and twisted and the knife sank into her shoulder rather than her throat. Ruadh charged forward at full speed. His fingers sank into the man's arm hard enough to crunch bone. He yanked that arm away from Sadb, heedless of the damage he caused with his more than human strength. Sadb crumpled to the ground in a motionless heap and Ruadh's heart missed a beat worrying that she was dying.

The knife had dropped from the constable's now useless fingers, but he slammed a fist into Ruadh's ribs. Ruadh took the blow without even a wince and then slammed his free hand into the human's throat. His temper made him want to take it slow, to drag it out, to make the human suffer. But instead, he clamped fingers shut like a vice, crushing everything in his grip.

He dropped the dying man heedlessly and rushed to Sadb. He turned her, terrified that he hadn't been fast enough and the human had succeeded in killing her. He put his fingers to her throat, feeling for a pulse, but even before he felt the soft movement in her neck, he saw her breathe.

“Thank you,” he murmured, and allowed himself to trail the back of his fingers down her cheek.

He stood and surveyed the scene. Three dead men lay in crumpled piles, but Ruadh had no blood on his clothing, and the only blood on Sadb oozed from her shoulder wound.

It took him only a moment to make his decision. He quickly dragged the bodies into the forest and scattered leaves over them. By the time they were found, the wildlife would have been after them and it would be reasonable to assume they'd been killed by wolves. Ruadh would make sure the village that had just lost most of its lawmen would have extra observation from the Host. He kicked road dust over the bloodstains in the road and then returned to Sadb.

Her eyelids fluttered and he patted her cheek gently. “Sadb... Sadb...” he called.

She moaned and her bright blue eyes flicked open. “What... what happened?” she gasped.

“You do not remember?” He hid his relief. If she didn't recall his power glowing, that meant less explaining he would have to do.

“I... no....” she lifted one hand to her injured shoulder, cried out in surprised pain, then swooned again.

Ruadh crouched over her, indulged himself by cupping her soft cheek gently in one hand, then lifted her into his arms. Her hair tumbled down over his arm and her blue teardrop pendant swung to dangle down her back. He carefully lifted his gaze when he noticed that the neckline of her shirt had been cut by the knife and now gaped open. He shifted her so she rolled into his body. She whimpered softly and roused enough to lift one hand to his chest. She snuggled her face into his shoulder like a child and then subsided again. Ruadh strode rapidly towards The Hidden Hart, with his heart swirling with emotion.

-------

Cad'strum was thoroughly pleased with the progress his servant was making. He watched the unfolding events on a screen of scented smoke rising from a brazier near his left hand. The human's attempt to attack her was extremely fortuitous. Cad'strum would have thought that arranging another attack would be too many trips to that well, but it seemed to work, and from the expression on Ruadh's face he was completely won over.

"Well, well, Cad'strum," purred a throaty female voice from the arched entrance to his chamber.

"Ciara. I do not recall summoning you." He waved his hand through the smoke and the image of Na'rul pressing her hand into Ruadh's shoulder vanished.

The sultry demon slunk through the archway like a lazy cat. He had long ago established that she could neither charm nor seduce him, so he believed her provocative behavior was more habit than anything else. Typical demon, wasting energy on useless flirtations. "Oh, Cad'strum... I think you will be glad I visited."

"You are presumptuous, demon."

Cad'strum's lair had been dug deep into the stone. He had carved miles of halls and rooms and the air was warm and slightly stuffy. His work room was large and spacious, with rigid sharp right angle corners, ruler straight edges, and walls polished as smooth as ice. The magical accoutrement in the room were neatly stacked and organized. The furnishings were fine and rich, with heavy dark wood and leather. The decorations were conservative and few and would have each been worth a fortune to the humans. Ciara settled herself into a chair next to Cad'strum and smiled as she leaned forward. As a concession to him, she wore more clothing than was her norm, but she still showed her lush body off to advantage. "I think shortly you will appreciate my initiative."

Cad'strum said nothing in response, he merely lifted a brow. Ciara was a strictly mid-level demon with great ambitions at power. But she was clever. She had managed to evade his efforts to bind her into his service, but they both knew it was just a matter of time before she was one of his servants. "What is it, Ciara. Why have you interrupted me?"

"I have been spending some time lately among the humans." she announced. "I found a charming little tavern named "The Hidden Hart."

Cad'strum sighed. "Alright, Ciara. You have my attention."

"I thought I might." She smiled. "They have recently hired on a DELIGHTFUL new young woman. So very pretty."

Cad'strum hid his irritation and waited for her to go on, but she sat there silent, kicking one foot slowly back and forth with a knowing little grin on her face. "Say it and be done with it, Ciara!" he finally spat out with frustration.

"You plan to bring about the fall of the oh so powerful and glorious Ruadh? And you plan to do that by dangling a pretty woman in front of him..."

"She is his perfect woman. Hair, skin, eyes, body, demure and shy. If any woman can tempt him, it is her."

"And once she seduces him, he will be cast out?"

"Of course he will, the rules may bend occasionally, but the host will not tolerate that." He raised a hand to forestall her asking another leading question. "And once he is no longer protected by the host, I will kill him."

"Such a waste..." Ciara pouted, then waved her hand. "At any rate. It will not work."

Cad'strum raised a brow and laughed politely. "Indeed. And why is that?"

"Ruadh will never risk his eternity for a human woman, no matter how pretty, no matter how sweet. He will think about it, he will be tempted, but in the end, he will walk away from her."

"I think I know him better than you, Ciara."

"Do you? And how was it you came to be cast out?" She shrugged and held up a hand before Cad'strum could even begin to form his angry response. "He does not matter though. What he will or will not do will not be the reason your plan fails. Your servant will betray you."

"You know something? Or is this more conjecture about a situation of which you know too little?"

Ciara gestured at the curtain of smoke and the image formed of Ruadh and Na'rul wearing her human form of Sadb. Sadb sat wrapped in a blanket and settled on a chair near the fire. She gazed up at Ruadh, her eyes wide, her cheeks pale, on hand at her chest clutching her blue teardrop pendant. "Look at her face. That is the face of a woman in love."

"She is not a woman. She is a devil."

"You gave her a woman's form. And she grew a woman's heart. She loves him. She will not betray him. He will escape your wrath."

The devil and the demon sat in silence, watching the smoke. And Cad'strum watched as Ruadh pulled his eyes away from Na'rul and lifted them to the ceiling. And Na'rul stared at him, full of adoration even when he wasn't watching her. It was... possible Ciara was correct.

Part II

Norman, Oklahoma
South Oval, University of Oklahoma Campus
Cydney peddled quickly through the throng of students scrambling to get to class. Her breath puffed out ahead of her as she huddled down into her sweatshirt. The weather had done another of those abrupt changes. It had been a gorgeous sunny 64 degrees the day before, but on that day the temperature was still in the low 40s and the sky was overcast with dark clouds. Cyd wasn’t dressed for the weather, was dreading the trip home, and debating whether she should risk leaving the bike locked up and taking the CART home.

She braked in front of the steps leading up the heavy wooden doors in the brick archway of the Zoology building. Her eye was caught by movement out in the middle of the Oval. A man, dressed in dark, loose fitting clothing was performing what appeared to be some sort of kata. She absently locked her bike and watched him. She could still faintly see the tracers of magic flowing through the world, and she was intrigued to see that he was surrounded by a magical glow that grew stronger as he moved. As the glow became more intense, his movements became faster and stronger, and she noticed that he was actually breathing more slowly, in complete contradiction to his increased effort.

Cyd adjusted her bookbag over her shoulder and started across the street, jumping back quickly to avoid a rumbling CART, and then jogging to the middle of the oval. Several students were standing around watching the man, but it was cold enough that most of them moved on quickly. Cyd stayed, studying the way the magic flowed through him, into him, and back out. He went on, increasing the intensity until his movements were a blur.

He slowed and then stopped. He executed a bow to his small audience, and Cyd narrowed her eyes thoughtfully as she observed him breathing as normally as if he’d just strolled across the oval. He was neither sweating nor flushed. He turned towards her as if she’d called him, and walked closer. He was a fit middle-aged man, with salt and pepper hair cut short, his skin tone and angled cheek bones spoke of Native American ancestry.

He reached out for her shoulder and said, “You have questions.”

She frowned and pulled back before he touched her. His lips quirked in a smile, and he pulled his hand back. “Ya,” she said, “I have questions.”

“I can see the power swirling around you,” he said. “You need my help, and soon. If you don’t control it, it will control you.” He smiled again. “I am Akando. Let me help you.”

Cydney stepped back from him. Her mother’s face appeared suddenly in her mind. A chill went up her spine and she took another step back. “No. I don’t think so,” she answered. She turned and strode back across the Oval, took the steps up to the Zoology building at a run, and darted through the heavy wooden doors.

When she exited the building, there was no sign of the man who called himself Akando. She shook off the uncomfortable feeling he’d given her, and braved the weather for her bike ride home.

---

Ciara let a frustrated growl escape her full lips. She rose languidly to her feet and stalked closer to the crystal. Her apparent calm fooled her imps, and one of them let her get too close. She grabbed it up by the scruff and flung it into the stone wall with a crunch. She rushed after the unfortunate creature, kicking and biting until it went still and limp. With a final aggrieved stomp she turned, her wings flaring over her back, her tail lashing the air. “I must press the issue,” she said. “Quickly.”

---

South Oval
University of Oklahoma Campus
The weather had turned dark, cold, and rainy, and Cydney rode the CART in for her evening visit to the library. An ominous quiet had settled over the normally bright and bustling campus. Cyd hunkered down into her windbreaker and pulled up her hood as she stepped off the bus. The lights of Bizzell Library even seemed more dim in the gloom.

She settled her bookbag across her hip, and started a long-legged jog across the damp Oval toward the main library entrance.

The only warning she had was a screech like an angry cat. She skidded to a halt, glancing around for what had to be a mortally wounded animal, when something small, winged, red, and definitely NOT a cat skittered across the path and vanished into the shadows. She let out a small screech of her own, and then suddenly there was another. She couldn’t see them clearly, but they didn’t look like anything she could identify. They were just a little taller than her knees, and what she could see of them was horrifying. They made shrill chittering noises as one after another they darted towards her. She danced back, still not really sure what she was seeing, then one of them got close enough for her to lash out a kick at it.

It responded too quickly for her even to see as it bounded up and then latched onto her leg. Tiny, needle sharp teeth sank into the muscle of her calf. She let out a startled cry and tried to step back, but the thing was much heavier than it looked, and she fell onto the cold, damp earth behind her.

Just like that, the other one pounced at her face. She barely managed to cross her arms in front of her face in time, and then she let out a genuine scream at her first real look at one of them. It could only be called a demon, with fiery red eyes, tiny horns, and a viciously fanged grin as it tried again and again to reach her face with its clawed hands.

The magic she could still see in the world suddenly swirled towards her. Her body began to glow with power, but she didn’t know what to do with it. The thing on her leg just kept chewing, and she could feel blood starting to roll down her leg while angry, fiery pain shot straight to her spine with each chomp. Against her chilled skin, the blood felt red hot. The one reaching for her face sank its teeth into her arm instead and shook its head like a dog trying to pull meat off a bone.

The power abruptly exploded out of her, and the two miniature demons flew back. She scrambled to her feet, nauseous from the pain, and wondering if they had toxins in their bite. She glanced around, but the library was the closest, and she sprinted toward the beckoning lights.

She splashed face first into a puddle when one of them landed on her back. It chittered some sort of evil laugh and then bit into her shoulder. When she tried to scream, the other one landed on her head and forced her face into the cold, muddy water.

Panic set in and she shoved her way up to her hands and knees to let out a frantic scream for help. The combined weight and strength of the two of them began forcing her head back down, and she flopped over onto her back to avoid being the first person to drown on the South Oval. She pinned the one on her back, but the other one hopped free. It turned and prepared to leap for her face. Just as it cleared the ground, a beam of pure shadow struck it. It seemed to freeze in midair, then vanished.

“Get away from her!” a man’s voice growled, and Cyd looked up to see Akando standing there. His loose-fitting attire was obscured in shadows as he crouched with his hands up.

The tiny demon scrambled out from under Cydney and hissed furiously at Akando. The man stepped closer to where Cyd still lay and, with a gesture, did something to the demon. The pain vanished from Cyd’s leg, arm, and shoulder, and she scrambled up and away. It was still so dark, and so cold, she couldn’t see well, but she stared wide-eyed as some sort of greasy black tentacles reached up to grab the last tiny demon, and it too vanished.

---

Cyd found herself in an bare gym on campus corner, with Akando watching her. She was dressed in a blessedly warm and dry yoga outfit. She sat cross-legged on the mat and closed her eyes. The magic swirled around her as if welcoming her.

“Reach for it,” Akando said. “Reach over it and take it.”

She mentally reached out and embraced the power. It flowed into her, and she opened her eyes to see her hands again glowing with pure white energy. She smiled happily and held her hands up for him to see.

“Excellent!” he answered. “But you can do more. The white is the weakest of the energies. Reach deeper. Reach further. Grab the darkest color you can find.”

She frowned and struggled. It had been so much easier to just let the power come to her, but trying to reach for the darker colors was more difficult, and the energy of the pure, white power faded slowly as she struggled.

“That’s it...” Akando encouraged her. “Reach down.. Reach down for it. Use that energy.. Use your frustration... use that energy...”

Cyd was an intelligent woman, and a natural athlete. She had been tall and strong her whole life, and excelled in both scholastics and athletics. She was unaccustomed to failing. She was becoming frustrated, and she did ride the energy of that frustration. And slowly, the darkest tendrils of energy turned towards her and began to flow into her. Once again, she was filled with energy. She opened her eyes to see her entire body surrounded by black shadows. Her hands were covered with them. She lifted her eyes, and the dark grin on Akando’s face unsettled her.

“Excellent.” he said. “You succeeded.” He settled back into a fighting stance, his weight balanced on his toes, his hands up, his dark eyes on her. “Now.. Try to strike me with it.”

---

Deep within the close confines of her tiny prison, Ciara waited anxiously. She eyed a trio of glowing red cabochon spheres as one of them began to pulse. The light within flared suddenly. Deep within she saw a tiny flaw appear - a tiny crack. She placed on hand on the magical barrier that defined the boundaries of her prison and smiled hugely as the surface gave under the pressure of her hand.

“Excellent...” she purred.