Demise: Demise estate

[Eduardo DeLioncourt]

Eduardo let Anna take over the reigns of his control, he at first resisted. But when he looked to her, his resistance metled away. Eduardo fell to his knees, his hand reaching out to the ground. His mind slowly faded from Demise as it drifted back to the ebbing flow of his conscious. It was like an ocean of voices, faces, he plunged beneath their surface. Eduardo's hair came down covering his eyes which had become solid white. He felt his connection renewed as the fatigue of battle slowly began to fade. Eduardo breathed it in as Anna sent out orders to each of his clones. Eduardo existed not only here, but many other places as well. Places he'd been sent to conquer, places he'd moved across in his search to escape his creators. They however had their own fights, their own lives they were living. This one Eduardo was their saving son, it was his personlity, his spirit, that freed the others.

They learned to live through him, by his actions they improved themselves. Eduardo snapped back to Demise after spending hours in his meditation, his mind went to Adonis. Adonis was the one clone of Eduardo that followed a different path. Adonis was defective, he sought to destroy life and conquer every place he came across. His clones were lost to Eduardo, but he was thankful for that in a way. Eduardo stood and looked to Anna, " Thank you for giving me a few moments rest, I think you should rest as well." Eduardo looked over the city of Demise, surely there was a place here she could rest for the night. He had one of the clones go search for a place while he extended his hand to Anna. He wore a smile upon his face, he felt better thanks to her.

" I sense others fighting to free the other gates, I also sense something coming, something that will change this land forever. Something deeply tied to me..."

Back in Lochland the seed which was held in the painting room began to glow. It slowly drifted down the hallways of the castle coming out into the garden where Gem sat. The seed drifted to the tree, the small crack on it began to spill red light out as the seed itself glowed white. A small glow appeared in the tree as the seed passed into it becoming one with the tree. Eduardo sensed something now, a rush of knowledge that had never been there before. He was created by the people who had fought over that tree long ago. He and the tree shared a destiny, perhaps that is what drew him to Velusia long ago.

" I'm tied to this land more then I had thought, soon this battle will end and a new day will greet us all."

[Honor Demise]

Her lips grazed Adrian's with a feather touch and seductively tilted her head giving half a sigh of contentment before kissing him again before he could say anything, a slow, passionate kiss, her desire trying to express itself in one kiss. This would probably be the only moment they would share like this?and she did not regret doing it. Slowly, Honor deepened the kiss, her tongue coaxing his playfully as she intertwined in his arms stroked the broad plains of his back.

"...You Majesty come quick!"

Suddenly, her body stiffened hearing to the urgent call. She jerked away quickly, shaking her head fiercely, clearing her head. ?I must go...?  In half a heartbeat, Honor slid off the bed and strided over to the door, unlocking  it, practically ran into the parlor. The door to Vincent's room remained open. Honor's breath  She stumbled to his room. The window remained how the healer had left it, opened to the outside, the heavy red curtains billowed in wind. Fear, guilt, anger mixed together overwhelmed her delicate control over her emotions. A sob broke free as she ran over to the window. "Vincent!" Honor screamed near frenzy stepping up on the window's edge. "Vincent!"

Panic blossomed. She tore out of the room stalking down the corridor. Two of her ladies joined her. "Milady... Something terrible has happened!"  

"What happened to the man that was in that was in the first room on the corner!" Honor turned her heel on the Elie grabbing her elbows harshly and started shaking her. "He is not dead is he? Did he get up and get himself killed. Tell me! Tell me or so help me...!" Tears streaked Honor's flushed cheeks full of hysteria.

"No your majesty! Please stop! It's your brother, he's been injured badly, milady!" The lady gushed bring her hands up to avoid a blow.

Honor dropped her to the floor, her tone fierce. "Where is he?"

Elie would do anything to redirect the Queen's attention. "Downstairs. Cor-"

There was no time for the lady-in-waiting to say more. Honor flew down the stairs taking two at time. Vincent gone. Vahn injured. Too much, too much to bear alone, she sobbed as tears stained her fair cheeks. "Vahn!" At the bottom of the stairs, she threw herself over her brother's broken body. "WHO DID THIS? You find them. I want them DEAD. NO. Tell me andI will kill them...I will kill them ALL..." Honor was not making much sense; her rationality had deserted her. Honor's body shook with anger and sorrow. "Vahn my precious..I promise I will make it right. Please goddess...please I pray to you. Avenge my brother...I love you so much..please don't leave me alone..."

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn's mind was torn between two different versions of his life. One was what he could have, if he could get what he wanted, a chance to stop living in Reagan's shadow. A chance to be what he might never be able to be, but a chance. A chance for a life, a lover, and a place to finally belong, his sister and Reinne. That dream of being a father, a lover, and a brother, being better then his father and brother. The other version of his life, was what he'd been doing before Honor set him free. Playing the villain, following every footstep Reagan had left behind. He had looked up to his brother, but it was out of fear, his brother commanded people's attention. His brother found something he wanted and waited until it was his. Vahn had tried hard to be that cold, calculating force that his brother had been.

Vahn had never stopped to ask himself who he really was, perhaps it was part of their curse. Vahn had been changed while in the mirror realm, he'd been given a second chance. It had come to his attention, mostly in part thanks to Honor, that if he continued as he was, he would die. Did he really want to die being labeled just as bad as his father, brother, or even mother? Vahn had been slowly reforming his character while he had returned, trying to turn around his life. Trying to get out of Reagan's shadow and into his own. Vahn wanted more then anything to be himself and no one else. He could see Reagan's smile, smiling as he hit him over and over, that same smile Vahn held when he was in that role. Vahn felt suddenly disgusted with himself, how could he have been so stupid.

Vahn had never really lived, he'd been alone in his shell not letting anyone in. He could have been warmer to Honor, been a better brother, not so cruel and manipulating. They'd been through enough already and Vahn merely complicated matters. But Vahn wanted more then anything to find love and happiness, that thing everyone else seemed to be able to find except him. He knew Reagan would kill Reinne if Vahn married her, but Vahn wanted her more then anything. He knew Reagan would try to hurt Honor, but he loved his sister just as much. Reagan was a looming shadow over Vahn, a huge figure like some childish god and Vahn was the insect now. The boot heel of Reagan's foot loomed over Vahn now, and he knew he had to let everything he wanted go.

As Honor held Vahn's broken form, tears fell from his eyes, they hit the floor as solid crystal. Vahn didn't want to let everything he wanted go, it wasn't fair, but he couldn't let Reagan have that pleasure. Vahn's wounded mouth quivered as his raspy voice said, " R..R..Reagan.." Vahn's eyes looked on Honor distant and full of tears. He was that scared little boy again, in his sister's arms, afraid of his brother, afraid he had no choice in his life.

[gem_sherbrooke]

Again time passed for Gema s she sat in the temple gardens.

She thought she was dozing when she first saw the seed drift to the tree. Blinking her deep lavender blue eye repeatedly to make sure she wasn't ....

The seed drifted to the tree, the small crack on it began to spill red light out as the seed itself glowed white. A small glow appeared in the tree as the seed passed into it becoming one with the tree.

Standing, she walked closer to examine the seed and tree.  For a  moment she wondered if this was a bad thing to happen. but deep with in her core she knew the seed belong there, knew that it ws part of this entire process.  

How is it that I know these things..she muttered to herself.  It all made no sence to her. She also wondered what had happened to Reese and Solius...why was she the soul person kept here to defend the tree.  

Raising her delicate hand she noticed that the glowing from earlier had stopped though she knew the power it had unleashed was still present in her

"Bah too many unanswered questions" Moving back to the corner of temple she sat down and prayed to her goddess for clarity

[Calesta Charis]

Calesta watched a lady run in the room and throw herself across the body of the man that she was looking over. Slowly she knelt down and placed a hand upon the lady. She was hit by the fatigue that the lady was going through, quickly taking a deep breath and pushing it away.

"He will be just fine m'lady for I have been told to look over him personally. I shall do everything in my power to keep him on this plane with you. "

Slowly moved her hand long the should of Honor wishing she could take the pain away. But that would go as Vahn was healed and kept here with her.

Calesta leaned back as she watched tears form and fall to the floor from his eyes. But his tears were different then those that she had seen before  they hit the floor as solid crystals. She looked back to Vahn's eyes shocked that they were open. It was a good sign that he would stay here and not die.

She took her hand from Honor and placed it over the deep wound upon his shoulder. If she did not get it taken care of it may get infected by the dirt on his body.

"I do not mean to ruin this but his wounds need tending. If dirt gets in them then it will take longer to heal him."

[Honor Demise]

Slowly moved her hand long the shoulder of Honor wishing she could take the pain away. But that would go as Vahn was healed and kept here with her.

Holding her brother eased her hysteria, Honor had to be strong for him. ?All will be well. I promise??

"He will be just fine m'lady for I have been told to look over him personally. I shall do everything in my power to keep him on this plane with you."

Cordelia handed her a handkerchief monitoring the activity around her mistress making sure that none would interrupt. She hurt for her lady?s condition and feared for her state of mind, wondering how much pain could her lady internalize. She caught the glance of Calesta and frowned shaking her head as if to say. ~My mistress does not even know we are here.~

Honor took it from her confidante and wiped her eyes leaning in to cradle him in her lap. She sat like this for minutes rocking him in her arms, the pitiable youngest son. Courtiers collectively gave a sigh of relief when her majesty seemed to claim, not noticing the double images kneeling at her side. Vincent was gone and left her an empty shell. What was it that Vahn had told her repeatedly? Never trust a man with your heart. She brushed his hair and lightly kissed his forehead. You will never have to worry about that ever, she promised Vahn mentally, you will be the only man of importance in my life.

The aching pain dulled as she focused on Vahn?s beautiful grey eyes. Some infant?s eyes changed weeks after they were born. His never did, remaining their striking color. Honor had held him, raised him, cared for him before the rest of their family ever noticed him. Her heart tore in two to hear Vahn try to speak.

Vahn's wounded mouth quivered as his raspy voice said, " R..R..Reagan.." Vahn's eyes looked on Honor distant and full of tears. He was that scared little boy again, in his sister's arms, afraid of his brother, afraid he had no choice in his life.

?Shhhh, darling, Reagan is dead. He cannot hurt you anymore.? She thought that the beating that he had been given had conjured up Reagan?s memory, Vahn?s worst nightmare, rocking him gently she whispered, ?Reagan is very bad memory, a phantom of your worst fears. Do not fear him. You are a man now, not a child that can no longer fight the nightmares that come. Face him and you will see he is nothing more than shadow, a reflection of fear itself. I love you, Vahn. First, last and forever. Let our love give you the strength to face your fears.?

She took her hand from Honor and placed it over the deep wound upon his shoulder. If she did not get it taken care of it may get infected by the dirt on his body.

"I do not mean to ruin this but his wounds need tending. If dirt gets in them then it will take longer to heal him."[/b]

Calesta?s logical statement snapped Honor into the present, turning her head to address the healer. ?Of course, Cordelia?Cordelia??? She said her voice trailed off weakly realizing that Cordelia was kneeling on the right side of her.

Cordelia smiled with chagrin. ?Yes, mistress.?

?You are not Cordelia.? The lady stated her gaze darting between the cousins with a puzzled expression on her noble brow.

?You are correct, milady,? her confidante explained. ?Calesta is my cousin; therefore, yours distantly. Time for formal introductions later, my Lady, because my Lord needs his rest?and so could you.? Cordelia held her tongue about Sidius's ghost sighting. The story could wait until her mistress was in a better rested and in a stronger frame of mind.

((joint post for Cordelia and Honor))

[Einar Blackthorne]

"I shall show you the powers of old, show you boundless pain that will carve away your very sanity."

Einar flashed a wolfish grin towards Prasutagus, even while the White Wolf grimaced through the pain that coursed through his wounded shoulder. He could feel the wound healing - although, not at the rate of the Darkthorne King. However, as the Knight tested his arm, he found that he could move it once more, even though it pained the warrior to do so. And so, Einar began to back up, heading back towards the place in which the warrior had thrust Fenrir into the ground. As he came to his faithful weapon, he reached out with his swordarm - the wounded arm - and grasped the weapon. The wolf-like jaw of the warrior clenched in pain, but Einar tightened his grip around the blade nonetheless, pulling it from the ground and brandishing it before him even as Prasutagus' form twisted itself into an Apocalyptic form of himself.

"NO!"

Silver eyes flashed, catching sight of Reinne rushing in. The White Wolf prepared to fly into battle, thinking the Queen to be attacking Prasutagus from behind - yet, then he noticed the form of Lucan and knew that he needed to divert the Darkthorne King's attention before he turned on both Reinne and Lucan. Einar began to stalk forwards, heading out to meet Prasutagus, rage and hatred for the man filtering into his system, boiling his blood. Adrenaline rushed through the warrior's form, and the pain began to fade away, replaced by an undying need to bring Prasutagus down to his knees. The warrior knew full well he was outmatched against the Old Powers, knew full well that he could not expect to destroy Prasutagus without his own demise ... yet, the Knight marched forwards nonetheless ... And with every step Einar took towards the Darkthorne King, Fenrir pulsated. The sound of drums began to pound within the Warrior, soft and first but growing stronger and louder with every step the White Wolf took. And then, as one, Fenris-Wolf and Einar howled!

The howl ripped through the empty cathedral, shaking the very foundations, causing the windows to quiver and the pews to move. And then, even as the howl filled the air, the White Wolf rushed forwards with all the strength and might the warrior could muster. Reinne's fate rested on that of the White Wolf's, and if in death Einar could save his Queen, he would gladly meet his maker.

Fenrir flashed out as Einar closed in on the daemonic form of Prasutagus, the sentient sword slicing through the air, swinging in a round-about arc, coming towards Prasutagus' left side, heading straight for the Darkthorne King's middle. The slash was meant to catch Prasutagus not by the tip of the blade, but rather by the middle, making it difficult for the Darkthorne King to dodge and back away from the White Wolf's fierce strike. And, if that were not enough, Einar would keep charging forwards, the scramsax - still in a negative grip - would come slashing in towards where Einar precieved Prasutagus' face to be. " ... We're going to Hell, Prasutagus," Einar would growl as the scramsax came in, " ... Together!"

[Anna Dimitrich Levin]

When he rose from his meditation a Clone to his side handed him a flask of water. It was one of Anna?s last orders to the clones that seemed all to over-powering in the first moments she slipped through his mind taking strings and plucking them as she could. The flask was not just water though. If Eduardo managed to noticed through his groggy waking again he would noticed the soft a white bandage wrapped hastily around her wrists. The ends dangled some as she stood there catching his forearm as the clones voices faded from her mind and her concentration began to narrow down into just herself and the sense of connect to the Eduardo standing in front of her.

It was one reason why she was a unique blood doll to some. Her blood was nearly an elixir to humans as well as those of the immortal realms. She was often used as such for the blood dolls favored by her masters, renewing their strength so they could continue to supply the precious amount of their blood they could. The flask, however, held more water than it did blood so the taste of it would be masked. The second flask disappeared into the ranks of clones and soldiers still trying to keep the gate secure.

The very mention of the word made her sigh in a sense of relief as the last clone?s voice slipped from mind.

~Rest sounds good,~ She glanced to the flask of water the clone was holding to him and added ~Drink some water it will help even more?~

Then with that simple request the world began to fade and a enveloping darkness. Her body and her mind could only take so much. Being untrained to handle the voices of another person taxed enough of her mental strength to hang on to the strength her body didn?t really have. No her hand on his forearm slipped off and the rest of her body swayed forward into him.

[Adrian]

He himself felt as though he were in a waking dream, as though the things that were to take place were nothing more than a figment of his imagination. he saw the form of the woman he had threatened to kill earlier gracing the doorwaybefore she seemingly glided over to the bed. She climbed in beneath the sheets, only to gaze at him momentarily before leaning in for a kiss. Did he want the kiss? Did he yearn for a woman's touch after so long? Who knew.. He just went with the moment.

The feather kiss that grazed his lips took him a bit by suprise to a degree, as thoughts of perhaps holding back were not only upon his mind, but perhaps upon hers too. But before he could even try to utter the word that maybe they shouldn't, she leaned in to deepen the kiss. Her lips found themselves pressing against his and the tenderness and passion behind both ends could have perhaps been considered a prelude of perhaps things to come. He let his tongue roll into her mouth, to press against her own as he wrestled for domination over her. But he pulled his tongue out slightly, only to let his teeth bite down ever gently onto her bottom lip before sucking and pulling almost simotaneously. Her hands finding themselves moving across his back almost sent a shiver down his spine, as the cool air of the room and her hot flesh seamed to contradict everything about the situation.

The ruckus of hand servants calling, beckoning for their mistress caught way to his ears and apparently so to Honor's as the woman found herself breaking their little ecounter so she could go take care of some other business. He watched the womans form slip from the bed, before opening the door to Vincents room. adrian couldn't help but watch the woman walk away, taking particular notice of her skin, her hair, her scent, her very aura in its entirety. His eyes trailed their way from her shoulders down her back, only to rest themselves upon the curvature of her bottom. His daze upon this aspect was only broken as he heard Honor start to scream, wondering to the whereabouts of Vincent before she then proceeded to find news of her brother. So Vincent had made it out of here before Adrian did? Somehow Adrian had pictured himself making it out of the window before his brother did, but it seams his brother was a bit quicker to the ball. Couldn't very well be a copycat now could he?

Adrian leaned over a bit more and turned ever so slightly to let his feet hang over the side of the bed. He pressed himself to his feet, a sigh almost instantly rolling from his mouth. It seamed he never had a moments rest, but then again, did ever Thorne truly sleep peacefully for very long? It seamed they were always off running somewhere for something. Upon standing from the bed, Adrian looked down to find that the only type of cloth that was worn upon him was the wrap of bandages that covered his midtorso and a bit of the upper, before wrapping around his left shoulder. Where had the healers taken his clothes? His right hand reached up a bit to scratch his hair as he looked around inquisitively, only to spot them in the corner of the table in shreds. He looked up and around instantly as if to yell at the healers, he wanted to yell at them, seriously.. What the fuck?

A groan managed to escape his lips in his frustration as he now looked about the room for something else to adorn himself with to keep his naked form from the world. Checking the dresser by the window, he opened it up to find only womens dresses of greens, lavenders, reds and every other god forsaken color. Obviously this room hadn't had any male occupants in some time for there to be no clothes for him in here. He glanced over his shoulder to take a look at the bed...

Moments later Adrian was walking down the hallway towards where Honor had gone, the white satin sheets wrapping themselves around his waist, only to be tied in a knot at his right hip. His right leg would peak itself out between the folds of the sheet with each step, turning a corner to peak his head in at Honor, Vahn, and the other two women (Cordelia and Calesta). He stood in the doorway for now, not wanting to interupt the conversation, since these were not his estates. He simply waited, half naked, half bandaged, and half wondering where he could get some clothes.

[Reese Blackthorne]

Reese fought and fought, with each battle, he pushed his lifeforce ever closer to death. If Reese continued to fight like this, he would surely die, but he could not let anymore Velusians die this day. If he was going to die, he wouldn't die a god or a Blackthorne, he'd die as a Velusian. A cut across Reese's head began to bleed down into his right eye. Sweat poured off of Reese's face, his clothing was damp with it.

" I won't let anyone else die in vain, I will defend my fellow Velusians, I will defend my family, and my home."

Reese's sword clashed with a Darkthorne's blade, the two struggled against one another. Finally Reese pushed back and then quickly lunged his sword piercing the Darkthorne's heart. Reese began to cough, it seemed he could not fight death, no matter how hard he tried. Blood trickled down from Reese's mouth, making a crimson trail along his chin and down his neck. Reese looked up at the army, they kept coming, was there no end, would the tree be too late? He couldn't let doubt fill his soul just yet, as long as they lived, there was a chance. He only hoped he could live to see the balance returned to the land.

All the faces of those he cared about, of those already dead because of the Darkthornes flashed before his eyes. No....if he did fail now, he would let them all down, he couldn't. Reese clashed swords with another Darkthorne, he moved to the side as the Darkthorne slashed. Reese stabbed his sword into the side of the Darkthorne, sliding it between it's ribs and into it's heart. No matter how much blood had to be shed, the land would know peace finally. " Ahhhhhhh!" Reese ran towards the Darkthornes before him, his sword clashed with theirs, they fought with Reese leaving one remaining. The names of those who had died for peace, he would carry them like badges in his memory. They would give him the strength to carry on, just a little bit longer.

Reese couldn't hear the battle anymore, his mind played out a sonata, one his mother played for him once. The day before the wars came to Velusia, the day that would live in his memory forever. It was peaceful then, life wasn't so complicated, pain was just a word. That dark day so many years ago, it echoed in his mind, that tune. Time around him seemed to no longer flow at it's natural pace. Was this his clock ticking away it's last few minutes here, his end? Blood and sweat soaked his clothing, as explosions rocked the field around him. A fallen soldier of Velusia lay there among the bodies of the Darkthornes. Reese knelt down next to the fallen hero and the man reached out to Reese. The man's face had been badly burned, but he could still speak.

" My family...I came to fight to protect them, so that they could live to see the day...when peace returned to our beautiful land...whoever you are...you must fight, so that a war like this will never happen again...life is too precious, it's...it's the only treasure we have left in the end....." the man spasimed for a few moments trying to rise up so he could fight again, but it was too late. Reese looked down to the man, a tear fell from his eyes, war was never good, but a land where war was a yearly cycle, was not a land, it was hell. It was a depressing place, a place where one could not live their life to it's fullest, but wait for the day they too would die. Reese couldn't let the man's sacrifice go in vain, it hurt him inside, to see this, to feel this burden. But he had to push through it, to let go of the chains of sorrow and misery that threatened to over burden his very soul.

If he fell into that path, he would never be free, never be able to fight for that peace. To see a day when the war was finally over, to see children playing in the streets and growing up without having the threat of war destroy the future they might have. Reese looked up to the skies above, if only he could be a god on this plane instead of one so far away. If only he could bring those powers here and use them to end all this, but that was selfish. His powers were for the protection of another realm, a place that needed it just as bad as this. He spoke, " Gaia...look at how your followers suffer, look at how they die and bleed upon your earth, fighting for the sake of peace and happiness. Is this the way things will end, is this how you let us sort out our differences, our problems, by dying in vain for something everyone dreams of?"

" I'm sorry...Gaia, but I can't let this go...on anymore...the cycle must end here...it must end. The warmth of kindness is lost here on this field, I am so lucky to have lived a full life, I only wish I could have lived to see peace restored and balance returned. I'll be coming to visit you soon Gaia, maybe you can show me how things turn out in the end." Reese began to cough more violently this time as he slowly stood up. Reese ran forward towards another Darkthorne and as their blades met, Reese had struck so hard, their blades shattered. Reese punched the Darkthorne with his metallic fist, crushing it's throat as he fell to his knees. He could give no more...his heart was begining to slow as the cold began to creep over him. Reese turned falling back, he lay there on the battlefield looking up at the clouds, the sun, if only he could have held on longer. He might have been able to see the day, but he had done what he came to do.

Reese smiled, he had done his part in this, " I will carry those I love in my memories, I only wished I..." Reese lay there looking up at the clouds, his breathing slowed, then stopped completely. His eyes glazed over as his life faded from the mortal shell of his body.

[Prasutagus Darkthorne]

As Einar came forward towards Prasutagus, he felt something, something warm course over him. His father, Reese...he was dead, but in death he gave his son, the one gift he had not been able to give in life. Not because he couldn't, but because Prasutagus would not accept it. But now he had forgiven his father, he knew the truth, he could hear Reese's voice in his head. " My son, I give you...my love for you, don't let the dark path your on, burden you and lead you to your death, live for me and find your happiness, the happiness I could never give you in life." Prasutagus barely noticed Einar now as the distant memories of his childhood flooded his head. A time when he didn't know how to hate, days he could never have again. Prasutagus heard Reese's words from years before, that he would fail if he continued down this path. A sword drawn in hate, would be a sword drawn in vain, a sword that would never find peace.

As Einar's sword slashed into Prasutagus's side, his gauntleted hand grapsed the blade preventing it from going very deep. He looked up into Einar's eyes, as they fought Prasutagus had better understood Einar, he had connected to Einar's heart. Einar fought for love, not hate, he fought, for Reinne, he loved her. Prasutagus's eyes glazed over for a moment, those times of happines, he'd thrown them away to get to this point. A single tear fell from Prasutagus's right eye as he understood now. His love for Merlindria, it burned in him stronger then the fires of hate, stronger then anything. His goal of returning to Velusia to protect those that had been oppressed had been twisted into this corrupted campaign.

Prasutagus looked to Einar again, " you...fight for love.. you would give your life to protect her happiness, her life, even though you hide your love...how could...how could you be so strong and dedicated to that fickle emotion?...How..." Prasutagus looked back on those times, back when his small hands had never been stained by blood. Back when he was a child, his father did love him, he remembered now, his father had put his life in harms way to protect Prasutagus. Just as Einar was doing for Reinne, one could not lie in battle, their heart spoke through their actions. Prasutagus had been fighting all this time, for the wrong reasons. Blood coursed down from Prasutagus's side as the Darkthorne king decided, he had to die. He had to die to be forgiven for everyone he'd convinced himself was the truth. He'd been lying to himself all this time, the decision he had made long ago had made him suffer for so long.

He had created his own hell, it was all his fault, he felt that guilt, and that guilt drove him to let himself die. But he would not go down without a fight, he couldn't, Merlindria.... No..he couldn't let himself die, he had found love, found a chance at the happiness that his father wanted him to have. " Thank you father..." his heart had once bled tears of blood for every life he took and now it bled again. Bled for all those lives he'd taken believing in a lie. Prasutagus's form began to shift back to it's normal form, the wound began to bleed even more. His people wanted him to win, they believed in everything he told them. All the lies he'd said, he had to live to undo everything he'd done. " What have I been fighting for..." Prasutagus's eyes were distant, as his soul screamed in pain. He'd let so many of those he loved go for his hatred, he'd thrown all those days he could have had with them away.

Prasutagus brought his axe up bringing the flat to hit Einar in the side of his head with a powerful swing. He had to see if this man could show him the way to death, or if he could win and change everything.

[Eduardo DeLioncourt]

Eduardo looked to Anna and to the flask, his eyes seemed to become possessed by something. " You would give your blood merely to give me strength..." Eduardo couldn't help, but feel moved by her kindness, she barely knew him. The fact that she gave up her own blood meant so much more then the act of giving him water. She was willing to bleed to give him strength to continue fighting. She may say she was not all that trained, but her heart, it was the heart of a true fighter. Someone willing to give their life's blood for the strength of others. Eduardo felt honored beyond words as he looked on her. He felt her grip on his arm begin to slacken, Eduardo felt fear grip him as he reached out. His hands embraced her as she fell back into him, he blushed.

" I..I.. Anna? Are you okay? You've exhausted yourself, you need some rest.." Eduardo looked around spying an inn in the distance, he lifted up Anna's form and carried her, the clones walked alongside him, they all wore that same face of worry that the one holding her did. The clones at the gate fought harder now, they had something to drive them, something beyond just their own selfish desires. Eduardo walked into the inn and looked to the inn keeper, many injured had been brought here to be treated, but they were obviously being taken somewhere else as well. Eduardo spoke with the inn keeper finding that they had no more rooms vacant, but there was room in the cellar. Eduardo closed his eyes and looked back to the man thanking him.

Eduardo found that the cellar is where the furnace which heated the inn was, there was a small bed there, it would have to do. Eduardo set Anna down upon the bed, tucking her in under the sheet, he and the other clones sat there silently watching over her, while the others defended the gates.

" So will she be okay?" one clone said, while another turned going " Shhhh" with his finger to his lips. They'd keep her safe, and try to give whatever they could to her, just as she had done for them. To think that such an act of kindness could exist amongst all this hate, death, and destruction. Eduardo was amazed by Anna, she defied his logic, he couldn't understand much beyond battle, it was all he knew. He had learned a little bit of farming while in peace, but peace here had been such a fleeting moment, long ago. Could he exist in peace, could he actually find a purpose without a battle for life and death? Or...was that the thing, that life itself was a battle to survive and live everyday as if it were your last? Eduardo laid back against the wall watching the fire burn, it's light cast illumination over Anna's form.

Beauty existed on her outside, but inside she was scarred by a past, much like him. It angered him that such a kind and beautiful person, could have gone through so much. Eduardo should never have allowed her to get involved in the battle out there. But he didn't know that there was such a person worth saving in this city. He had merely wanted to repell the Darkthorne attack to prevent them from reaching Lochland. Now he realized that he'd even been blinded as the Darkthornes, fighting for his own needs, his own goals. He was ashamed of himself for never seeing it sooner, but now he had a chance to be a better being.

[Kaydean]

Kaydean stood there on the battlefield just a few feet away from the figure he'd seen escape from the window. The thoughts of revenge for his mother's death hung about Kaydean's head. He knew sometimes there was more pain in living then in dying. That pain of his mother's death would never leave Kaydean's heart. Cebreese had spared no one mercy, he had destroyed so many lives. How could anyone let someone so evil go by unpunished, living a life while so many suffer from his actions. Cebreese had to die this day, so that his mother would be avenged. All the harm Cebreese had done to his father, him, and his mother, their lives would never be as they were. He could never have those precious memories back and he would make Cebreese suffer. He knew the path of the Darkthornes now, he knew it in his heart.

Kaydean ran towards the figure with purpose, he would find a way to bring Cebreese to his knees. His mother had died protecting him, died shielding him from the sword meant for his heart. A heart that now beat with anger at his weakness then, his inability as a child to protect his mother. Even if Cebreese died, it would not change Kaydean's fate, his life. But he didn't care anymore, he wanted Cebreese to pay for the life he took away from Kaydean. Not far from the figure, Kaydean saw the man, the beast Cebreese, he was weak. He could see that the battle was slowly taking it's toll on Cebreese. If he struck now, perhaps he could win, he knew Cebreese's moves. He had been trained by Cebreese, trained to fight just like him. That would be Cebreese's undoing, he would fight Cebreese with his own style, his own techniques.

Kaydean looked back to the figure in red, his black hair swaying in the breeze. He didn't need any help, why should he, this was his battle, his and his alone. If he died, he would die as Kaydean, son of Adrian and not a Darkthorne soldier under Cebreese's control. Kaydean drew his sword, the sun glinting upon it as he made his way to the devil of his past. To the killer of his mother and the man who had tortured him and his father. Tears fell from his eyes as he ran towards Cebreese's form, he would find peace with Cebreese's death or his own. He raised his sword and shouted at him, " CEBREESE!" he jumped over a nearby boulder coming slashing with his sword, downward towards Cebreese.

[Cebreese]

Cebreese fought without hesitation, without regard to his own personal safety. The fight for him had taken on meaning, had become his redeemption, as he fought the demons of hell to pay for his sins. These were his sins alone, no one elses, the sins of a former soldier. A soldier whose debts so far had been paid in blood, he had walked down a road stained in blood. The rode of the ebon heart, the road of Darkthorne, stained in blood and built from the bodies of countless enemies. That road which lived in Darkthorne legends as the road that the champion of the Darkthornes would walk. Cebreese had been down that road, gone to it's end and seen the future it held for him. A future as a king of ruins, a king over corpses, Cebreese had turned his back on that path now. Walking back down that road was not easy, in fact it was damn near impossible.

Cebreese sliced through another enemy and turned just in time for an attack from behind. He blocked the attack and began to counter attack, when he saw the face of his attacker. Kaydean, he'd almost forgotten about the boy, amazing he was still alive. What was he doing, was he still a servent of Darkthorne, no, by that look in his eyes, he knew. So he found out the truth about his life and now he was trying exact his revenge on Cebreese. The boy was brave, but he was not very smart, to put one's life in danger after discovering the truth. He had a long life ahead of him and yet he threw it away carelessly just for revenge. If he killed Cebreese, he would become a full fledged Darkthorne with no hopes of turning back. Cebreese knew all to well, the boy wanted to walk the dark road, revenge was honey to the taint of Darkthorne.

Cebreese didn't want to kill Kaydean, he had nothing against the boy, nothing against his father. He was his uncle after all, and now that he had found his way back towards the light, he would not go further in either direction. " Why do you fight, do you think that killing me will bring back your mother...it won't. Your father just found you and you throw yourself into danger without any regards to your father's feelings. You haven't even had the chance to get to know him and already you come looking for death. I know your heart, you can't hide it from me, your attack has told me everything. You carry anger, the hope of revenge, you will become a Darkthorne should you let yourself give into your emotions. I have done many evil deeds, only now do I try to redeem myself, to atone for the crimes I have done to others. If killing me will make you happy, then I shall not stop you, but in killing me, you will become what I was. I hope you like slavery, the Darkthornes will welcome you with open arms."

Cebreese looked to Kaydean's eyes and lowered his sword, he knelt down and offered his neck for the boy's blade. Cebreese didn't fear death, it was merely a part of life. A soldier had to take a chance in dying by taking up their blade and fighting. If he died here, at least he died free, it would take an eternity to pay for his sins. But if this boy wanted him to pay so fast, he would lay it all on the line.

[Isabelle Dragonheart]

Belle started to get worried about her sister being that she had not head anything from her. She gave a call out for Darius as she fought to get the Darkthornes back. As Darius flew down she grabbed a hold of one of his clawed hands and sheathed her blade. Carefully she made her way up to Darius' back, using the edge of his wing to giver her a lift up.

Her eyes started to scan the land below for her sister, nothing but people fighting down there. Til she hit a grassy hill where she saw a dragon that seemed to be not moving. Belle had Darius do a fly by so to get a better look. Shock crossed her face seeing that it was Meredith, what was she doing just sitting there. They cam eback around and landed a few feet from the two just resting there.

Belle walked over to Meredith looking to her face. "What are you doing here you are supposed to be looking for mother? I know that you did not want to come but I could not do this alone. Another pair of eyes were needed to find her quickly."