Demise: Demise estate

[Prasutagus Darkthorne]

Prasutagus turned from Einar and walked up to the altar in the cathedral, he laid his axe down on it. Looking up at the window which they'd crashed through, he thought over his life. Einar asked questions that Prasutagus could not answer just yet, within his hand began to shift shadows. The blade of the Darkthornes appeared in his hand, only those who controled the old powers. Those worthy enough could wield this blade of hate and sorrow, of pain and suffering. Years ago Prasutagus had been struck with this same blade in a battle against his half brother Diago. Diago had been the leader of the Darkthornes, he had killed all the Blackthornes in one masterful battle. And after they were dead, he walked in the castle of his birth unhindered, but he saw something. Or rather he felt the lack of something, Diago had brought those Blackthornes back to life, and returned to Belgada to one day come again and fight.

What had Diago seen that Prasutagus did not, Diago had won and yet he gave up that victory to revive his enemies. If Prasutagus won would the battle truly be over, or would his soul search for more. Would he yern for this battle the rest of his days, would he continue to search for a fight like this? Prasutagus turned to Einar with the blade and said, " The light...ha...without the darkness there is no light Einar. I can't come back to Velusia, I see that now, if I kill you all and take what I want, I will be cursed in wanting more. I can't stop the battle outside, I can't deny who I am, I am Reinne's half brother, she may hate me, but I once loved this family with a deep devotion like no other. Can I go on living with this knowledge, with the deeds that I have done? If I come back with you, they will put me on trial for everything I have done. I will be going back to be executed as the representation of all the evil that has befallen Velusia."

" You were given a clean slate, but I...I am the leader of Darkthorne, I openly defied everything Velusia stood for. A sometimes there is no hope for one as cursed as I. I was happy once, that happiness I found again in love for my wife. She is my hope Einar, my darkness will never end, but with her the flame returns and there is a fire lightning the darkness again. Destiny has dealed the cards to us, and I fear I was found to be weak, I've not only betrayed my family the Blackthornes, I've betrayed my clan the Darkthornes, the people that have come to respect me and fear me. There is no place for one such as I, not until balance is returned to the Thornes. I fear we shall have to fight to the death Einar, but can you fight someone who now fights for the same thing you do? I fight to live to see another sunset, to find happiness with my beloved, to see my people suffer no more. I fight to restore order to the Darkthornes, to bring peace to my lands. Can you fight what you stand for, thats the questions troubling me now. Fighting you will accomplish nothing, defeating you will accomplish nothing, but where do I go from here?"

Prasutagus waved his hands as the shadows themselves began to form into Darkthorne minions. Prasutagus gave a grim smile to Einar, he was torn between his decision, but they were not. The minions had only one thought and that was to kill the Blackthornes and serve Darkthorne. Prasutagus held up a hand for them to stay back, he knew Einar would be asking himself questions, He knew Einar would be trying to figure out if he should kill Prasutagus or try to redeem him still. Prasutagus asked himself these same questions about Einar, he could have killed Einar many times already in the course of this battle. Something kept his hand from delivering that death blow though. Ever since he felt his father's death something inside him had been growing, the memories of who he was began to surface. The taint fought for him though, it didn't want to let go of Prasutagus. The symbiotic creature formed from his darkness began to slither about his armor, it was fighting Prasutagus's will. But something that was so much a part of him could not withstand the will of it's master.

" My father Reese...is dead..in his death, he gave me love, the love he had for his son even though I destroyed almost everything he loved and cherished. That forgiving nature is not among the Darkthornes, and it corrupts my very being as we speak. It's like a warmth burning in my heart growing, it's guiding my actions, my thoughts. My love for my wife is clear to me now, pure in it's new form. I can't allow myself to give up Einar, to surrender to you or Reinne. Call it pride, but I feel that my destiny has changed, I am a great leader of men and women. With my guidance the Darkthornes could become better then they are now, but they have been lost to the darkness for so long. Together Merlindria and I can lead them with our light, to a new tomorrow. And maybe someday we can mend the wounds between our family and restore balance. That day has been being fought for over countless years and no one has ever won. When that day comes, I would gladly come lay down my arms and end this battle forever, but until then....this fight must continue for balance itself rest in these actions."

Prasutagus's form shifted to a shadowy ethereal form as the symbiote crept off him forming into a image much like his own, only completely black. The minions began to move forward now as Prasutagus turned from Einar and began to head towards Reinne, the minions moved in closing the gap between Einar and Prasutagus. " Now as mere pawns of this legacy, this destiny, we will decide our fates and see whose clan has the right to rule over this great kingdom, once and for all Reinne."

[Einar Blackthorne]

As Prasutagus spoke, Einar could see well the position of the Darkthorne King. It was true, Prasutagus could not return to the Blackthorne Clan - it was true, that the people would hate him. It was all very true ... Prasutagus brought an army to the lands of Velusia, brought pain, death and destruction to countless people. He could not be forgiven so easily. To believe so would be naive ... The White Wolf knew this, but he also knew that if Prasutagus continued on his path, the Knight would be forced to cut him down, no matter the cost. A pale brow lofted as the shadows around him began to shift, morphing into man-like shapes, but bigger ... spikes and blades erupting from apendages where hands should have been. Einar released a regretful sigh, for he knew that he was losing the battle for Prasutagus' soul ...

"Prasutagus ... you are being a fool." The icy words of Einar fell from the man's lips, a haunting echo moving throughout the cathedral, "Velusia is not the only land the Darkthornes can go to ... You have Belgada, and with work you can return it to it's beauty ... You can go forth and find a new home, devoid of peoples that must be slain for the benefit of your kin ... Your pride and your weakness blind you, Prasutagus ... and they shall be your downfall."

And with that, the Darkthorne King was moving off towards Reinne, whilst the shadow-warriors were closing in on the White Wolf. Lids fell over the grey hues of the White Wolf, and Einar began to atune himself to Fenris-Wolf through Fenrir. He felt the savage nature of Apocalypse-Wolf, felt the courage and nobility of the great warrior ... And Einar allowed himself and Fenris to become one. The Darkthornes closed in, moving in ever nearer with every moment, but Einar stood there, silent and still ... until, suddenly, his eyes flashed open, and rather than the grey occulars looking out onto his enemies, there was silver flame erupting from the sockets. And then silver flame began to dance over the blade of Fenris-Wolf, lighting the darkness.

"Forgive me brothers, but if you do not return to Belgada," The White Wolf's sight panned over many of the Shadow Warriors, "I will send you into the abyss ..." And then, with a savage howl that made the Cathedral's stained glass windows shake, Einar leapt forth into the foes that stood before him, the flaming sword of Fenris slashing in a wide horizontal arc, ready to cleave as many of Prasutagus' creatures as he could.

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn was sitting up in his bed, his thoughts had been rolling over Vincent and Reagan both. As his eyes looked out the window of his room, he saw the Eduardo clones, one of them was injured by the Darkthornes coming over the battlements. Vahn had been looking for Eduardo for some time now, this was his opprotunity. While they were distracted he could get the sample he needed for his ultimate weapon. Vahn used his magic to collect the blood of both Eduardo and Matius that was on the battlement. Darkthorne and Cascadian alike, once he added these attributes to the blood of Duran Shadowspire, the deathwalker of the Cryptonis race. He could create a serum through his alchemy to give himself the abilities of all three individuals. Reagan and Vincent would have no chance against Vahn after that.

Vahn smiled and put the samples in vials sending them to his private laboratory. He'd work on it later when he felt his strength begin to return, he could become much more powerful. He laid back down in his bed and looked up at the ceiling, he thought over it more realizing if he could purify Matius's blood he could make a strain of it that would of the Thorne pure blood type. But what else was in Matius's blood, he knew he was a Darkthorne, but what else was he? Vahn smiled, yes he would show Reagan he was not to be played with. He would kill Vincent once and for all as well as Reagan. Vahn could become something more powerful then even the Thornes. He could carve a new destiny for Demise, they could rule over vast lands. Vahn couldn't wait to get started on his new plans, he would change everything.

Vahn also thought on the deal he and Reinne had, Vahn had done his part.  He wanted Reinne, but he knew Reagan would be coming to kill her if he married her. He'd have to do something, as soon as the battle was over he'd begin to have everyone prepare for the wedding. He'd make his decision there rather then making one now. After all, the only thing he could think of now, was that he wanted Reinne.

[Reinne Blackthorne]

She was frozen. The fear of losing the man whom she loved with every fiber of her being held her paralyzed as she stood by and watched the two go back forth verbally and physically. Bitter tears rolled down her cheeks as she warred with her own sense of honor....love. The moment Reese's spirit fled the physical shell of his form to pass on she clutched her chest and collapsed to her knees a soft sob erupting from her lungs as the tears flowed like a broken dam. Doe like eyes looked up to the pair, a sudden passing of knowledge seeming to flood her form, almost as if Reese had given her one last gift...a gift that could save not only her clan...but the Darkthornes as well.

As Prasutagus summoned his minions and spoke of not being able to return to Velusia she slowly stood up watching intently. Where anger had once been for Prasutagus, there was now a deeply rooted love. The love given him by their father had been spread to her as well. She understood. She understood and she acknowledged it with a muted nod toward no one.

" The light...ha...without the darkness there is no light Einar. I can't come back to Velusia, I see that now, if I kill you all and take what I want, I will be cursed in wanting more. I can't stop the battle outside, I can't deny who I am, I am Reinne's half brother, she may hate me, but I once loved this family with a deep devotion like no other. Can I go on living with this knowledge, with the deeds that I have done? If I come back with you, they will put me on trial for everything I have done. I will be going back to be executed as the representation of all the evil that has befallen Velusia. You were given a clean slate, but I...I am the leader of Darkthorne, I openly defied everything Velusia stood for. A sometimes there is no hope for one as cursed as I. I was happy once, that happiness I found again in love for my wife. She is my hope Einar, my darkness will never end, but with her the flame returns and there is a fire lightning the darkness again. Destiny has dealed the cards to us, and I fear I was found to be weak, I've not only betrayed my family the Blackthornes, I've betrayed my clan the Darkthornes, the people that have come to respect me and fear me. There is no place for one such as I, not until balance is returned to the Thornes. I fear we shall have to fight to the death Einar, but can you fight someone who now fights for the same thing you do? I fight to live to see another sunset, to find happiness with my beloved, to see my people suffer no more. I fight to restore order to the Darkthornes, to bring peace to my lands. Can you fight what you stand for, thats the questions troubling me now. Fighting you will accomplish nothing, defeating you will accomplish nothing, but where do I go from here?"

She bit back the cry that threatened to rip from her throat. She wanted nothing more than to help Einar, to save him, even if she could never tell him the truth of her feelings for him despite the fact she could not hide her emotion towards him in her eyes. Was Prasutagus right? Would one of them have to die to restore peace to their clans and unite them as they should be? Or was there something else there...something they were all missing?

" My father Reese...is dead..in his death, he gave me love, the love he had for his son even though I destroyed almost everything he loved and cherished. That forgiving nature is not among the Darkthornes, and it corrupts my very being as we speak. It's like a warmth burning in my heart growing, it's guiding my actions, my thoughts. My love for my wife is clear to me now, pure in it's new form. I can't allow myself to give up Einar, to surrender to you or Reinne. Call it pride, but I feel that my destiny has changed, I am a great leader of men and women. With my guidance the Darkthornes could become better then they are now, but they have been lost to the darkness for so long. Together Merlindria and I can lead them with our light, to a new tomorrow. And maybe someday we can mend the wounds between our family and restore balance. That day has been being fought for over countless years and no one has ever won. When that day comes, I would gladly come lay down my arms and end this battle forever, but until then....this fight must continue for balance itself rest in these actions. Now as mere pawns of this legacy, this destiny, we will decide our fates and see whose clan has the right to rule over this great kingdom, once and for all Reinne."

It was as if she had suddenly been filled with ancient wisdom. A light so bright burned inside her as her gaze slowly left from its lingering on the figure of her true love to look upon her brother...her family. It was almost as if she were being possessed by a higher being. Perhaps she was, but she would never truly know. She choked out the first words.

" I forgive you Prasutagus....Julian."

[Prasutagus Darkthorne]

Prasutagus halted in his movements toward Reinne after her words hit him. She forgave him, and she used his real name, the name he'd left behind so long ago. The name given to him by his mother before hell fall into darkness and corruption. That named carried with it a long history of memories, ones that could never be forgotten. A smile crept over Prasutagus's face, so she knew him better then he thought. The first born son and the last born daughter, it came to this. Prasutagus couldn't move, he felt as though he were frozen, forgiven. Prasutagus turned to the souls of the Darkthornes in the shadow minion form and shouted, " STOP!" They all halted in their movements towards Einar, Prasutagus extended his change out to them. They began to change, their eyes held a reason that was once not there, they looked to Einar no longer the evil unreasonable beings they once were.

Prasutagus held a hand out to Reinne, his sister by blood, and action, she was more family then his dead twin ever could have been. " You forgive me...and you know my forgotten name, we shall stop this fighting together then. Belgada and Velusia will merge and the two thrones will be united in alliance. We have to find Shamus and Merlindria though, before either of them fall in battle."

[Einar Blackthorne]

"I forgive you Prasutagus ... Julian."

The words filtered through the Cathedral into the ears of the White Wolf, even through the din of battle, as Fenrir slashed against the shadow weaponry of the Darkthorne warriors. Even as Einar fought, his eyes widened in surprise, the silver flames flaring out through his grungy, pale locks. Could it perhaps be that Reinne had found the way into Prasutagus' heart? Could it be that she had found the way to the Darkthorne King's redemption? "STOP!" As Einar brought Fenrir back to release a decapitating swing unto one of the Darkthornes, he found himself holding his strike back ... as did the Shadow Warriors of the King. The White Wolf could not stop the smile that crept onto his face, as he witnessed a change in the Darkthorne warriors. As he witnessed a change in Prasutagus himself.

Einar brought Fenrir to his side, and walked through the circle of Shadow Warriors towards Prasutagus and Reinne, watching as Brother and Sister joined together, not as enemies, but as family. " ...  We have to find Shamus and Merlindria though, before either of them fall in battle." The White Wolf nodded, but kept himself silent. It was up to Prasutagus and Reinne to end the strife between Darkthorne and Blackthorne ... Einar's duty was simply to protect them and enforce whatever the two needed done. The White Wolf looked to Reinne, watching her in silence, all the emotions he held for her rising to the surface. His brow creased, and he was sure that even through the silver flames, his adoration for his Queen could easily be seen. Yet, he said nothing. Now was not the time, if ever it could have been. They had a job to do, all of them ... And Einar would see it done.

[Adrian]

He rested between the doorway for a moment, letting those baby blue eyes scan over the forms that lay before him. Scan over the bodies of the women almost visciously. He was a predator to them, eyeing the three women without signs of hiding almost primal intentions. He surveyed Cordelia, Honor, and the third woman Calesta. Who were the three women to him then perhaps meat for him to feast upon, to feed primal desires, to feed the hunger that was dwelling within him and seemingly growing more impatient by the moment. And his thoughts? They held their way on his face in the very eyes themselves, those hungry eyes which would tear the women apart one by one. But a small smirk that came complacent upon his lips denied that hunger, as other thoughts rang into his mind, driving his insatiable hunger to a hault as he paid slight attention now to Vahn.

Vahn, the creature who had tried to declare himself silently as a hero before on the battlefield, by coming late. Adrian couldn't help but ponder whether or not it was a common theme for Vahn to show up late and try to save the damsel in distress. But by the wounds that he surveyed upon the man, the look in the man's eyes, he wasin distress in his own sort of manner. Vahn's eyes caught themselves to be reflective upon past events to Adrian, causing Adrian to perhaps wonder what the man was truly thinking; but in all honesty, Adrian couldn't really give a damn less. He was just curious as to who they were. Not purely on a first name basis, but on a historical, psychological, emotional basis.  He was finding himself a michevious cat, curious by all standards. But wasn't that in itself such a dangerous thing? To be curious of anothers nature and wanting to explore the depths that it went. no, he wouldn't just explore things by persuing him. He wasn't about to fall into a game of cat and mouse on somebody elses terms, he wanted them to fall in on his own. Thats how he would discover who these people were and what they meant to this realm. What their future would hold.

The satin white sheet seamed to catch the shadows to make appropriate areas seam darker, as he walked over closer to Honor and the other two women, giving each of them their own little smile that was intended to be enticing, almost inviting. He leaned down, letting his nostrils flare ever so slightly as he inhaled the scent of Cordelia and then Honor, only to let his hot breath roll down the neck of both women. The bandages that he wore gave way to no scent of blood, as one would have expected, for the wounds would be considered fresh by any standards, but nay, not even the sanguine droplets would proclaim themselves on the linen bandages that adorned his upper torso. He let his mouth drift delicately next to the ear of Honor, letting his words escape from the vassel that was two soft pink lips, pursed together only to hide an attractive baritone voice. The whisper was lavished as he pronounced each syllable, emphasising the use of his tongue to give way to no accent which some would find. "I would like to thank you for your hospitality."

He paused, a devilish grin peering upon his face as he glanced at all of the women, speaking each of them now, except Vahn. "All of you."   He then turned his attention back towards Honor, as he let his voice ring on in his self indulged conversation, "That is all. Should any of you need me, Ill be in the quarters that I was stationed in upon my arrival" Was it an invitation to Honor? To Cordelia? Or perhaps to all three women? One couldn't really tell by the way he implied it. He used his body movements as much as any women could have to send mixed messages, while his words would then send them in a complete different direction.

He pulled himself away from Honor, standing uright to show the curvature in his torso, fine lines becoming apparent and obscured with every movement that he took, ever shifting with his steps as he found himself turning about face to start walking out the door. Hands raised themselves to clasp together and rest upon his head, elbows out to the sides as he walked by guards and haindmaidens alike, half staring the ceiling as though he didnt even notice those that he passed now. He was thinking what was in store now for the Thorne's, the people in the room, for all of Velusia... What was to become of this land now? Would peace reign, or was it just something that some prayed for but would never find. Only time was tell. And that was something he now had plenty of....

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn saw Adrian, Honor, and the other two women gathed about, his mind instantly became aware. He couldn't let his plans become undone by his own growing madness could he? Adrian, Vahn remembered the man, though he was sure Adrian knew little about Vahn. When Vahn and Cebreese had once worked together, Vahn had disagreed with Cebreese's decision to inprison Adrian. He had suggested that Cebreese kill Adrian there and now while he had the chance, as they had his family. Vahn had been there with Cebreese in Cerebus when he discovered the Thorne ruins. They had met with the being known as Coldheart and together the three evil men had uncovered a lot. Thats why Vahn had began to collect the blood samples, finding connections within some of the being's creation and blood that hinted back to the ancient Thornes.

Vahn didn't care about Adrian, after all he didn't appear as a threat to Vahn's plans. Vahn had collected the Exodus Machine from Cerebus and would use it to create the serum that would make him an army of one with the touch of death. Vahn already could see the world at his feet all his enemies crushed and Reagan...Reagan begging for his life instead of Vahn. And Honor would be there with him, no one would take his sister away, no one. Vahn yawned and laid back down pretending to sleep while he plotted in his mind. Now that Cebreese had lost his mind, no one could reveal Vahn's plans, he'd enjoy the moment he unveiled his plot. It would be his last ditch effort to destroy Reagan and keep his sister by his side. If he had to declare war on the world to do it, then he would. It would take some time to prepare the serum, he needed more samples for it. He'd find them, however, and follow through with his other plans.

[Longinus]

Longinus could feel something, he knew the dread of what he didn't want to admit. In Belgada the spear had found it's way out of the crevace and it was calling out to Longinus. He began to feel it's pull, he resisted, not sure how this was happening. How could the spear be reaching out to him from this distance, without him touching it? Longinus's eyes began to grow black as he fell from the dragon's back. Before he fell he said, " The spear is trying to get me back..." Longinus couldn't see anything, his eyes were being flooded. Images of the spear flooded into his mind as he combated this threat from within his mind. He started to think about Raven, letting the thoughts of her push away the spear's influence. He couldn't become that instrument's slave again, he wouldn't.

Longinus regained his mind and understood now, the spear would be coming here. There would be no safe place for him to go, for the spear could find him now. He wouldn't let it take him without a fight no matter what the costs, he would fight to tbe bitter end.

[Reinne Blackthorne]

There was no hesitation on her part. Those eyes shot to his extended and her own lifted and embraced it with her own. Tender fingers wrapped around his much stronger one as she looked to him, staring him deep in the eyes and spoke.

" Yes, let us end this war together. Let us bring the light and the dark back together bringing peace and balance to both our lands and unite them as one....a United Kingdom"

Immediately her mind reached out for that of her brother's mind, the gentle touch of her warm mind waves brushing over his only to retract with a gasp at the scene she saw from his wild eyes. Her gaze popped open and those deep amber hues widened as she looked to both of the men she loved in their own way.

" We must hurry! Shamus is fighting Merlindria!"

[Merlindria Darkthorne]

Merlindria snarled as she moved with him. The pair would be like water, constantly changing, gauging each others actions and equaling it with a reaction. Shamus had gone into a frenzy, giving her a slight advantage as she remained diligent, but that advantage was nulled by the use of his weapons as she had nothing to block with. It was not her way to use weapons.

She stepped back in a feint and moved to other side hoping to gain ground behind him something happened. Something that had her stumbling with shock. Her heart suddenly twinged, skipping a beat. A lump filled her throat. Emotion she was unused to seemed to cover her being from an outside source..a source she knew only to well.

Prasutagus.

A sharp gasp fell from her lips as her form suddenly shifted back to it's human status whilst she tumbled to the ground in a tangled heap of skirts and legs. Gagging on this sensation she brought herself up to her hands and knees, crimson gaze staring at her hands as the deadly talons retracted leaving behind deceptively soft digits in their wake. As she came to her knees her gaze shot with wild fear, another sensation she was unused to, toward Shamus whom had matched her step by step.

As he bared down on her, her hands lifted as is to beg him off. At that moment she knew she was going to die and all she could think about was the man she had married..the man she loved.

[Anna Dimitrich Levin]

Anna didn?t fear much in her life. Not even death phased those beautiful opal white irises. It is the reason she gave her all to save those who still fought against a darkness they feared. Hwoever, darkness was her one weakness. Not the dank cells of torture chambers that have been her home on occasion. No, it was the oblivion overwhelming her mind and body when all energy was sapped from the very marrow of her body and mind. It was this darkness she feared.

It always began thus. The enveloping cold that brought her down into a hell she never wanted to revisit again. Yet, here she was wondering if the light would ever return. Next came the cold, like a grave seep into the skin and through her. Winter could not compare to the breeze tearing through her body. Darkness consumed this cold and brought her to her knees. Breathing was hard and shallow as she waited and waited for the drowning to begin, Water was smoother than this stuff that was fed to her by a force unseen and unknown.  Hands held her steady to take the stuff down into her throat making her choke and cough with the force to breathe past the thick liquid. It coated the very walls of her throat and caused all sound to fade from those precious vocal chords. It was a dream that lasted forever, a dream she sacrificed herself to now.

In the outer world among the clones that fussed and worried over her, even to the man who stayed at the wall watching her, it was a different sight. Weakened by giving so much Anna laid there for quite sometime without much improvement beyond her breathing becoming more normal and less raspy. Eventually a maid came down and shoved them out of the room so she could clean Anna?s wounds and body of blood and muck. It didn?t take long and now her hair shined like a rainfall of moonlight. It shimmered under the crackling furnace and her pale cheeks blushed with the heat of the room. But when the dream intensified the blush soften to a pink first, then the pale color of a corpse. Bluish tints coming to where the lines of structure and high cheek bones surface over the skin. Yet this was a gradual sign of the dream within her mind.

It always came, these dreams? the nightmare of something she should remember but never could.  Before to long the movement of shifting began. It was some life in her despite the cool and pale color of those cheeks. Yet, when touch the skin would burn like the flame that heated the room. Breathing was always steady now but soon that would give way to a soft coughing now and then. And finally it would happen.

The fit of taking it in her mind was effecting her physical form to the point where the tossing and turn, the simple delicate cough would wake her. The connection between her and Eduardo would erupt into a series of screams that were trying to get past those delicate lips. The scream was only halted by the fit that came after. Sitting straight up with an audible gasp to those parted lips. Wide fear stretched those orbs as she focused first on the fire. Then the fit began. Anna?s body doubled over twisting some to catch the side of the cot she was on. This was no ordinary coughing, No, it was as if someone had choked her nearly beyond what her lithe body could handle. It was the coughing of someone?s lungs reaching for the precious air needed for the blood in her body.

It only lasted for a few moments her hair covering her face as she tried to gain a steady breath from the gasping aftermath of coughing again. Straightening up again she noticed she had a huge white cotton shirt draped over her shoulders and hanging loosely over her body. Her bare legs covered by a sheet and her pants no where to be seen. No longer supporting herself from coughing, lightly her fingers touched her lips feeling a residual effect of the nightmare. Drawing those fingers away she realized that some of the black slug she was forced to drown in was on her lower lip dripping down her chin a little. Shock registered and Anna merely stared in an eerie silence.

[Shamus Blackthorne]

Shamus's heart pumped as he moved towards Merlindria, the Zalentran knights on all sides of her. The knights looked at him in bewilderment, they could see there was something different about Shamus. Shamus's eyes were white, he was not the noble king the knights knew him to be. He was something else, something that only his people could know. The long legacy of berserker blood that lived within his veins had awakened. He was more demon then anything at this moment. Victory lay there before him, his enemy at his feet defeated. All that he had to do crush them and then move on to the next. The knights were not recognizable to Shamus, the only thought within his head was battle. Shamus dragged his swords along the ground laughing as he slowly walked up towards Merlindria. The knights drew their blades pointing them at her, but they kept their eyes to both king and enemy.

Shamus resembled something primal and animalistic in nature, the grin more like that of a wolf to a lamb. Shamus raised his swords and screamed at the heavens as he prepared to bring them down and crush the enemy before him. Some would say he had gone mad, while others would say he were possessed. But not even Shamus knew what was going on at this moment. That the war was so close to being over, and yet within his heart it would never end. All those years of fighting, all the near death instances, they all awoke that blood within him. That blood that made him this battle saint, this being who would fight to the death. No effort in defense was taken, he didn't care about his life. His life now was the battle, and that was all that mattered. No words were needed, no mercy, nothing, but the one single thought.

It was time for Merlindria to be cut into pieces and scattered across the battlefield. Time for Shamus to bath his form in the blood of his enemy and take any life that crossed his path. He had become the hunter and all those there on the battlefield were his prey.

[Prasutagus Darkthorne]

Prasutagus wasted no time as he ran with Reinne from the cathedral, his minions flooding out after him. The Darkthornes were slowly feeling the change as well. A change that was even greater then the mere leader's transition. The land was changing in the distance, like a coming storm, something was happening. Prasutagus didn't think about what might be coming, instead he thought about the woman he loved. Merlindria...he couldn't think of what he'd do if she fell in battle. It would be a destructive blow, enough to push him back into the darkness. It would be enough to bring destruction like no other to this land. The land of his birth, he had to reach her before something happened. Pushing aside his own soldiers and minions as he traveled with Reinne across the battlefield. They came to the area where Merlindria's troops were, were they were.

He could see Merlindria's form laying upon the ground, for a moment his heart stopped. That old voice began to echo in his head, he was too late, they were his enemies, they would destroy his hope. Prasutagus shook his head as he saw Merlindria move, his black heart began to beat again. His eyes went over the Zalentran knights that stood about her, to his half-brother Shamus. Shamus had his sword in the air as the sun began to rise to another day. Would this new day bring with it the death of Prasutagus's love? He couldn't allow such a thing to happen, not after he found her, after he was given another chance.

Prasutagus's form became shadows that swirled into mist as his form appeared there over Merlindria. His eyes turned to Shamus, whose mind he could not feel, the spirit of the berserker dwelled within Shamus. Prasutagus knew it would not be easy to reach Shamus, he leaned over Merlindria and blocked the first blade with his own body. A deep wound appeared on his chest as he saw Shamus raising his other sword. Prasutagus fell back and raised a hand creating a barrier to stop Shamus's blades. The wound began to pulse with energy, he could feel himself becoming weaker as some of the red dust had been upon Shamus's blade. Prasutagus cursed his luck, it wouldn't be so easy would it, soon he wouldn't be able to keep the barrier up. He would have to try to plea with Shamus, to reach his half-brother's mind and bring him back.

" Shamus, it's over, do not kill the one woman I love, do not start the cycle of death and hate all over again. I have just found her, just been given a chance to start over again. If you kill her, I will never forgive you..I'm your half-brother Shamus. The war is over, already those not directly loyal to the Darkthornes are turning to retreat....balance is sweeping like a wave towards Demise..can't you feel it? Something has changed the land's fate, there is no reason for our clans to fight, for we are one clan united."

Prasutagus had felt it with the first blow of Shamus's sword, the ancient tree had been planted. Balance was slowly returning, like waking from a long dream the thornes were slowly begining to take hold of their own destinies. No longer did the curse keep them seperate, soon that balance would be here where they stood now. Prasutagus only had a few moments of energy left before it would be gone, but would balance awaken Shamus in time to spare both Prasutagus and Merlindria's lives?

[Reinne Blackthorne]

Reinne's feet beat across the fields of death as she ran in tow behind Prasutagus, both of them desperate to stop Shamus before it was too late. Her heart crashed against her ribs fiercely with each fleeting step forward in thier flight to stop the senseless killing. She saw Merlindria on the ground and nearly wept thinking it was too late, but as the woman of crimson hair moved her heart beat with a renewed hope. There was still a chance to stop it, to save them all..

Suddenly her grasp was devoid of her half brother's grasp as he melted away only to appear over the form of his wife taking the first blow of Shamus's swords with his own body. Reinne slid to a halt her hand already reaching for her bow with a speed that was nearly unmatched. Pulling it before her she tugged back on the string and took aim at the other sword of Shamus. Quickly she released the arrow of a steel make sending it with the unerring path toward his sword as it came to meet with Prasutagus's body once again. She would not harm Shamus, but she would be damned before she let him kill Prasutagus in his frenzied state.

Finally she screamed toward her twin with another arrow notched and ready to knock his swords free form his grasp if he did not stop.

" Shamus! STOP! Please brother..LOOK AT ME! It is OVER! Do you understand!? We have peace between us! Do not shatter that in your rage! Come back to me..come back to us and see the change as it is taking place."