City of IF

[Chinaren]

I'm rather liking the idea of a city under seige. Don't know why, it just calls to me.

[Liana]

Hey sis. I love this SG. It's so unlike anything you've ever attempted. It has elements from every story you started but it's more mature and flows better. Keep it up my saati!

[Lilith]

Here it is, as promised......

Chapter 4: One Chance


But the gates were all that stood; Haven had been destroyed that night, and Shoren and I were too late. The chaos had long since ended and the rubble was settled. Houses were burnt to the ground and the ground itself was stained with innocent blood of man, woman, and child; young and old were deceased. The pregnant women in the town had been spitted upon wooden spikes thrust into the ground; the half-demons had throughly shown their distaste for the humans in every way possible.

“Shoren,” I said in a hushed whisper, “we’re too late! ”

Shoren’s features were unreadable as we picked our way through the rubble and destruction that had once been the thriving heart of the land. “We should look for survivors, Lil. Never know who may be able to be saved if we just take the time to look.” Shoren’s voice was little more than a harsh murmur.

I silently nodded and we split up, each lost in their own thoughts as we looked desperately for survivors. Old memories of the once magnificent city flooded my mind as I moved stones and wood and listened for faint cries for help.

The first time I had ever set foot in Haven, I nearly had an anxiety attack; it was crowded with ten times the amount of people my hometown had. My father had smiled at my shock and pulled me up from my little colt onto his horse with him.

“Lovely isn’t it, my little Lily? Haven has always been large and the family here dates back thousands of years. I am sure Tobias will be happy to show you around while his father and I discuss adult things.” My father and I rode to the biggest house in the center of the city; it was a grand building made of the finest marble and the walls were decorated with silver and gold inscriptions in an unknown archaic language.

To my then eight year old mind, I was supposed to be visiting Tobias whom I had made fast friends with when the head family of Haven had come to visit us in Avalon. But really it was another attempt at bringing Caladron and Nementon into the alliance that Avalon and Haven had.

When we arrived at the grand house, a servant man rushed into the house yelling for Lord Accolon. “I am guessing we made it here quicker than they expected, my dear.” Father chuckled.

I spotted Tobias, who was ten years old, running pell-nell away from his governess towards my father and I; I jumped down immediately and dusted the dust off my pants and shirt.

“Tobias, you naughty boy! Get back here! You must finish your grammar! ” The governess was a matronly sort of woman and at the moment she was out of breath and her hair was escaping its long braid and becoming frazzled. So was the woman’s patience.

“I give up! I quit! There is no teaching you, boy ” The governess was in a foul temper and stormed off.

Tobias and I glanced at one another and began laughing as soon as the governess was out of earshot. Father shook his head at Tobias and chuckled more. “Your father will make you his heir yet, sonny. You had better stop terrorizing your teachers and learn something so he won’t tan your hide.”

Tobias looked back up at him, laughter dancing in his honey-colored eyes as his jet-black hair fell in his face. “I have learnt plenty! I can climb trees, shoot a bow, ride a horse,.....” Tobias rambled off.

As Father went on to the house, he gave me a wink, our secret signal that I was allowed to take off and play to my heart’s content. I waited until Father had disappeared and then I tackled the still-rambling Tobias. He started tickling me and I wriggled with laugher.

“Hey! No fair! ” I giggled and shrieked with laughter as I pushed him away. We both stood and before he could start tickling me again, I took off, running like a deer through the landscaping of the house.

“I’ll catch you, Lily! ” He called after me.

“Lil?” I heard a small voice coming from a pile of rubble to my left, which threw me out of my reverie.

By some strange twist of fate, my old friend Tobias had lived through the horrid destruction of his home.

“Hold on! I’ll get you out! ” I said reassuringly, hoping nothing vital to my friend’s life had been injured. I moved rocks and stones hurriedly, frantic to get my friend out safely. After about ten minutes of feverish digging, I found him. He was shoulder-deep in the rubble but some large stones had fallen in a complicated way, leaving him an air pocket without fatally injuring him.

“Hey, you.. What’s with the wings, or am I seeing things?” Tobias rasped, throat sore from calling for help for hours. He grinned despite a bleeding, split lip and plenty of bruises.

I did not return the smile, only dug him out and threw his arm over my shoulder and got him out of the cavity in the rubble. “Shoren! I found him! I have him! Tobias is alive! ” I yelled, hoping Shoren wasn’t too far away.

He wasn’t. Shoren came galavanting up to us in wolf-form and shape-shifted easily to his human form without missing a step in his pace. “Tobias, old friend. It is good to see you! It has been too long.” Shoren said, throwing Tobias’s other arm around his shoulder; we set off to find a safe place to camp out for awhile.

We found some of the bottom floor’s of Tobias’s house intact and safe enough to be habitable for the day. Even some of the horses that had been in the stables were alive. I grabbed the three that were the best with long journeys and tied them up close to our hiding place with some grain and water.

I entered the room where Shoren was carefully tending to Tobias, who was half asleep.

“How is he Shoren? Anything serious?” I asked, sitting down and trying to calm my nerves.

“Just some cuts and bruises. Nothing too bad. You know he heals quickly so we should be able to move tomorrow. Only trouble is.. where are we gonna go?”

I replied without missing a beat. “The great lake Carthos.”

Tobias’s eyes snapped open and Shoren looked at me sharply. I sighed and explained first what had happened back in Avalon to Tobias and then the dream that I had back in the forest to the both of them. And finally, with heavy hearts, Shoren and I took turns telling of Derek and Selene.

When we finished, Tobias spat angrily, “I knew Caladron was no good! ” I bit my lip. I knew Tobias would be back to normal in the morning due to an inherited trait in his family’s bloodline of exponentially increased healing, but what good would it do to drag him and Shoren along on a mission my dead mother had sent to me in a dream?

As the day wore on, Tobias got a little better with each passing hour and he, Shoren, and I spoke of our trip and how long it would take.

That night, as the boys drifted off to sleep, I placed my belongings in the saddlebags of the swiftest horse, who had been correctly dubbed Shooting Star, and made things ready for me to leave quickly at morning’s first light.


Dawn came and I was the first one awake, as it had always been. I got up silently and led Star far enough away from Haven so the boys wouldn’t wake when his hoofs hit the ground. Star was a cooperative type of horse and soon we were out of Haven and galloping our way towards Carthos.

Forgive me, boys! I must do this alone! I will not lose any more friends to this war! I thought as I slowed the horse down to a trot, so he would not tire out.


About mid-afternoon, my early rising had started to catch up with me and I began to yawn as I took in the ravine in the earth and judged my distance to Carthos. I had made pretty good time, so I stopped the horse by a riverbank and let him have a break.. Star had some grain and drank some water and laid down to rest. I leaned on him and tilted my head back against his warm flank. Midwinter was close but between the horse’s warmth and a thick cloak I had taken from my home in Avalon, a peaceful drowsiness overtook me and I drifted to sleep.

It must have been many hours later when I heard voices. I did not open my eyes but tried to listen more and make out the voices. They sounded familar but I couldn’t tell because to voices were whispering. Eventually, the voices stopped talking. I took this as a sign that they had moved on. I opened my eyes.... and saw two honey-golden colored ones staring at me, inches from my face.

I shrieked in surprise and scooted backwards. “Damnit, Tobias! I hate it when you do that!” I yelled as he got up and started to laugh. He and Shoren had both caught up with me and it was dark; there were still trace amounts of rays in the sky but the sun had set.

Shoren looked at me curiously. “How long have you been asleep? We heard you get up this morning and as soon as you were gone, we got up and followed you.”

I held my head in my hands. “Since the middle of the afternoon would be my guess. You know every single time the five of us went camping, I was always the first one awake. What made you guys wake up?” I stopped speaking as Tobias shook his head.

“Nu-uh, Lily. I was the first one awake. And then I woke Shoren up. We actually placed bets to see if you were gonna be the next one awake. We just pretended to be asleep so we wouldn’t have to cook. Besides,..” Tobias paused and ducked when I threw a rock at him, “we liked to see your temper rise when you had to wait for us to get ready so we could move on.”

Obviously Tobias had made a full recovery and was back to picking on me, a sign that he was in good health and high spirits. The loss of Selene and the deceiving of Derek still held sorrow for all of us, but Tobias made attempts to keep up the mood and lighten our hearts by playing little pranks and making some crude but harmless and humorous comments.

We started our journey again, this time together, and moved when the moon and the stars were out. Carthos’s edge soon greeted us and the boys collasped to sleep for they had been traveling all night with out the benefit of a nap that I had. I wasn’t going to run off again because I knew that they would catch up to me one way or another. I sat for awhile, staring at the stars, my knees drawn up to my chest and thought about what my mother had said in the dream.

Once you reach Haven, you must go to the center of the land where the great lake Carthos is. Wait for three sunrises. On the third sunrise, you will be shown the way to a place where you can find out how to defeat Valara and her minions. But remember... you can only leave at sunset.

What did she mean, defeat Valara and her minions? Surely this war could be won if we pulled reinforcements from over the ocean and rebuilt our cities. We could begin with fortresses and once the war was over, we could and homes and farms once again... and maybe, just maybe our way of life would return.

I jumped to my feet at the sound of a dry stick breaking behind me and whirled around. A figure in a dark, hooded cloak approached me. The figure stopped and removed the hood revealing a pale, milk-white complexion, dark hair and completely black eyes.. no pupils, irises, or even whites. It was the demon queen. She spoke in a voice that turned my blood into ice.

“So, you are the little half-Eldahar upstart that is trying to kill me, eh?” Valara walked in a circle around me as she spoke.

“I would not be trying to kill you if you hadn’t attacked my friends and family!” I spat back, unsheathing my sword.

She laughed. “Hmm... and then my son wouldn’t have died either?”

“Who is your son? I don’t have any idea what you’re going on about!” I replied, slightly confused.

Valara fixed me with a hard stare. “My son, Derek. You killed him, dearie, but he was weak. It comes from being raised with humans, weaklings!” She spat at the ground.

I felt my heart skip a beat. “What do you want now, then?” I asked in a quiet voice, now matching Valara’s circling step.

She stopped moving and straightened her posture, a demonic pride over taking her features. “To make you a deal, little wings.” At that moment, I became aware of the wings that had been visible the whole time since I had unfurled them when I ran into Shoren, Selene, and Derek.

I twitched them a bit and fluttered them to indicate my annoyance. "I am listening."

“You will stop this fool’s errand to wait for the entrance to Regent. Yes, I know the entrance to the Eldahar’s city resides here at Carthos. I also know that you have two more sunrises after this one to wait for the entrance to appear. Now if you turn around and go back home, I will put Nementon, Haven, and Avalon back to the way they were before my army attacked.”

My heart rose.

“With the exceptions of the deaths of Orion, Selene, and Derek. If you go and turn away from the Eldahar side of you now, I will stay in Caladron and never bother you or yours again.”

So, do I take her deal? Suggestions, please!

[Liana]

Oh course NOT!!!!!!!!! *hackles raise* Never trust a demon to keep their word. i say spit in her face and tell her exactly what she can do with her deal.

[LordoftheNight]

Take the deal - it's worth it. Think of all the death that'll be avoided. Just remember to make the daemon swear - once sworn to something it's unavoidable for us, it's like a contract.

We're like lawyers that way.

[Lilith]

Demons = Lawyers? Where did you pull that one from, Lordy, Charmed, (i.e. Cole Turner, DA = Belthazor)? Just kidding! So.... Suggestions are take the deal and make her swear.... or spit in her face and tell her to shove the deal up her... where-the-sun-don't-shine..... is there a third option?

[dinranwen]

Quote: So.... Suggestions are take the deal and make her swear.... or spit in her face and tell her to shove the deal up her... where-the-sun-don't-shine..... is there a third option?

There is no third option that I can see Lilth. And personally in regards to the Dp I perfer the later aption not the former.

So I have f5 Liana.

[LordoftheNight]

Lilith wrote: Demons = Lawyers? Where did you pull that one from, Lordy, Charmed, (i.e. Cole Turner, DA = Belthazor)? Just kidding! So.... Suggestions are take the deal and make her swear.... or spit in her face and tell her to shove the deal up her... where-the-sun-don't-shine..... is there a third option?

No - not at all. It's well known (as far as I'm concerned) that daemons can't be trusted. If they swear to do something, they'll do it, but they'll also work out a way to stab you in the back five minutes later, without breaking the clause.

[Chinaren]

One has to ask why she is asking this, instead of just spitting her on a sharp stick.

If she is willing to offer such a big deal, then it is obviously important that she doesn't want you to carry on, which is enough reason to refuse her offer.

As an aside, I think it a bit convenient the only person left alive in the city was her friend. Come on now. :? Maybe have the city in chaos, with the survivors picking through the debris or something.

[Lilith]

Perfect, Chinaren! You're making my points for the next chapter and the DP for me!

BTW, the votes decided that Tobias was left alive, not me. But now that he is, he has a role to play in the next chapter.

Anyhoot, I never directly said there were no survivors,... I plan on addressing the fact that the survivors fled from all four cities in the next chappy or so. (i.e. they fled to the lands overseas? Maybe?)

But it is good that you're thinking, "Why is Valara offering such a deal?" You see, there is a good reason Valara wants Lilith to stop her mother's quest, so to speak, and I may reveal it in the next chapter... I may not... the votes shall decide!

EDIT: Okay, that's it! I can't wait anymore! The next chapter is tickling my brain and tugging at my fingers! Here's the poll!

[Liana]

Patience grasshopper........just kidding sis. I can't wait for the next chappy!!!!! I think if she does tell Valara to stick her deal where the sun don't shine, she should do it just like that. Nice and rude. It's the best way to get the point across in this situation.

[DukeReg]

Deal with a demon? I think not!

Great story, L.

[Christalnightshade]

I'm To late no!!!

Blood oaths are bad when offered by a deamon. Then later in the future when failed a family member would dei. I say don't take it take a route she doesn't know of and reach where you want to be. Or say deamons can't be trusted and i know you miss your boy then, just leave me and I'll never be seen again be you. Or something in taht line of tought.

Great chapter lilth. I can't wait for the next one. Hope you still have my seggestions in mind. :D remember I'm also here for bouncing ideas off. The deamon one's job should not be accepted. I'm use to writeing Stories about deamons, and it would'st not be wize to follow a deamon without irises offer. Trush me poeple. She might be one, but try not to anger the woman or she would send a curse bringer upon you.

Keep safe from her evil flaming talon's of hell.

nightshade :P

[Liana]

*nods* She knows what she's talking about *points at Nightshade* NEVER.....EVER trust a demon's deal.

[Lilith]

*giggles* Well, and people call me opinionated? Okay guys, a little longer and the poll will be taken down.. and I will begin the fast and furious typing of the next chapter.. you oughta like this one... ;)

[DukeReg]

The demon queen's deal wasn't even a good one... Lily would still have lost 3 people she cares about, and the demon who killed her father would still be alive.
Aside from that "the way things were before" was a situation where the demon queen was poised to destroy everything. If she kept her word, she would just return to that state of events and then immediately re-destroy everything.:(

I guess I should have said all that before the poll closed.

[Lilith]

As promised, Chapter 5!


Chapter 5: Prophecy

I considered the offer and ran through the possibilities of each.

If I take the deal, everyone’s safe and I can just go home. Tobias and Shoren will be safe as well and can return to their homes and the people will be restored... the survivors will have never had to flee overseas and all those families will be together again. Except mine.

I clenched my fists tightly as the demon queen’s eyes alighted in victory.

But, if I don’t, she hasn’t won at all.... Selene will not have died for nothing. Or my father. I won’t let her have this victory over me. My mother asked me to go here for a reason, which it seems to find the Eldahar and ask them for aid like in the ancient battle long ago. She fears me for some reason..... and I don’t think the half-Eldahar blood that flows in my veins is the reason. There is something else.

“Well, girl? Have you pondered this long enough?” Valara smiled sweetly and approached me.

I looked her directly in the eyes, my own cold with fury and hate. “How dare you... you think you can kill off people I care about and then waltz in here to try and make me a deal like that? Forget it! Take your deal and shove it up your ass, bitch!” I spat at her and my spittle made contact with her left eye and dripped down her cheek.

She shrieked curses at me and her form dematerialized before my eyes into black particles and a moment later, was gone.

I returned to my former position on the ground, glad that the drowsing boys miraculously hadn’t heard a word of the altercation with Valara and slept on.

The dawn of our third day approached and the three of us now well-rested and ready, stood at the edge of Carthos. As the first ray of sunlight hit the lake, a piece of land arose from the depths, on which there was a simple tree, a weeping willow to be exact. Tobias, Shoren and I looked at one another in confusion, hoping for something with a little more excitement. I sighed and dove into the water; the boys followed suit and soon we rested on the miniature isle, looking at a carving in the tree.

Ye who have waited the time of three suns and three moons,
Have discovered the entrance to a place to heal all hurts and wounds.
Walk desoil thrice about to enter this place,
Touch the tree and turn about-face.
Ye spirit strong but ye heart weak,
Here ye will find the answers that ye seek.
But be warned, traveler!
Widdershins walk thrice about
During the setting sun to get out.

“Pretty direct isn’t it?” Tobias said after reading the instructions on the tree. He and Shoren made to walk around the tree, but I put a hand out to stop them.

“I have to tell you guys something. Valara came to me during my watch that first night we were by the shore. She made me an offer, in which I would stop this and turn around. In turn, she would return Nementon, Haven, and Avalon to the way they were before and then she and her army would stay in Caladron and never bother me or mine again. Except, Selene, my father and Derek would still be dead.” I took a deep breath and forged ahead. “But I told her no. Actually I told her to shove her deal up her ass, called her a bitch, and spat in her face.”

The serious faces my friends had worn for the length of this speech broke and they collasped in a fit of laughter. I was dumbfounded. “You aren’t angry I didn’t ask your opinion first?” I asked, for once timid.

“No, of course not! You made the best decision possible... and in your own way, got your point across throughly.” Shoren replied as he came over and hugged me, as a brother would do to a younger sister. I stiffened at the touch for a moment but then I relaxed and returned the sibling-like hug.

“Although, the next time she shows up, you had better come and get us. Don’t keep all the fun for yourself.” Tobias added, approaching me as well when Shoren released me. His touch, however was different. His hands rested lower than Shoren’s had and his face was angled towards my neck. I did nothing but pat him on the back in a friendly way, and he soon released me too.

I mentally slapped myself. Get a grip, you fool! This is not the time, nor the place! You simply imagined it! It means nothing!

I smiled at them both. “Well then, let’s walk.. what does it say? ‘Walk desoil thrice about to enter this place, Touch the tree and turn about-face.’ Ahh... okay. Ready?” I looked at both men and they smiled back in answer.

So we followed the tree’s instructions and when we touched it, I felt a jerk behind my navel. Then the world went black.

I woke to two groans and as I opened my eyes, I made one of my own. “What the hell happened?” I asked, standing up too quickly and falling down on my ass as a bout of dizziness overcame me.

Shoren and Tobias had already been able to get up slowly and came by to help me up. “Was that supposed to happen?” Tobias asked, holding his head in one hand.

“I hope so. Otherwise, I have no idea where in the hell we are.” Shoren replied, looking around. Tobias and I copied him.

The landscape around us was dreary and rather depressing. No plants anywhere, just solid rock underfoot. Mountains and hills of stone were all around and the sky was a drab gray color. Sometimes, lighting would flash, followed by the dull boom of thunder but no rain fell. The tree we had touched was the only thing that looked even close to being alive. And it was almost as lifeless as the sky. There was a sun so we could judge how much time until sunset, but it offered little light and no warmth whatsoever.

I spotted a cave quite some distance from us that had two totem-like poles on either side of the entrance and pointed it out. Tobias and Shoren nodded and the three of us took off for the cave at an easy jog.

At some point, Tobias seemed to be trying to get me to race him. I smiled, a little surprised at this unexpected competition. I sped up and surpassed him, and then he did the same. I sped up again and so did he; soon we had left Shoren behind, just enjoying the fun of our impromptu game. We reached the mouth of the cave at a full sprint, but Tobias touched it first.

Shoren had slowed his pace to a leisurely stroll and still had some time to catch up. I leaned against the wall and slid down the wall into a squat while Tobias flopped on the ground.

“I’m.... still.... faster.... than... you!” Tobias panted, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

I tried to stand and failed. I giggled as I fell on my ass. “So?” I collasped in a fit of giggles on the ground beside Tobias, who promptly sat up and tickled me. I squealed and writhed in laughter, leaving my sad memories behind for just a moment.

“Hey! You two! Outsiders! What are you doing here?” A voice came from the cave. Tobias and I stood quickly, automatically on our guard. Shoren finally caught up with us and looked at us questioningly. I shook my head at him with a Don’t worry, I am handling it, look.

“We mean no harm to any here! We are simply seeking help! We fight the demon queen Valara and her half-demon army!” I called into the darkness of the cave. A phantom wind blew out of it suddenly and I wrapped my wings around myself for protection.

“Leave! You’ll find only terror here! The Guardians of the Light are all dead! I am simply the Keeper of the prophecies of the Eldahar!” A robed figure came out of the cave. It took one look at me and gasped.

“What?” I asked, unfurling my wings now that the wind had stopped.

The hood came down and revealed the face of a weathered-looking man, his dark hair greying, giving him a salt-and-pepper look. His eyes were a clear blue and at the moment were filled with shock. “You’re an Eldahar.... the Guardians of the Light have been gone for five years now and yet here one stands before me! Are there others returning as well?” The robed man had a light in his eyes, a hope that nearly made me scream when I had to dash it.

“No, I am only half-Eldahar. There is no one coming; I have never even met another Eldahar.” I almost choked when the man looked so crestfallen that I thought it might kill him.

But a second later, his eyes filled with hope again. “You’re a half-Eldahar? Then you must be Elian’s daughter. Yes, I see it now. Same build, same defiant stance, same kind heart. Come, follow me. She asked me to show you the prophecy of the Lightbearer before she left.” He moved back in to the shadows of the cave and I followed with my friends close behind.

“Who is this guy, Lil? I don’t like him. He could be feeding us a line of bull.” Tobias hissed in my ear.

I bit my lip, shook my head at Tobias, and continued forward before I lost my nerve as the dark enveloped us.

There was some shuffling, a few clinks and some sparks, and then the Keeper held a burning torch in his hand. He outstretched a hand to me. I looked at him for a moment, hesitant, and then took it. He drew me to walk beside him; I heard Tobias making sounds of dissent and Shoren’s attempts to calm Tobias while resisting his own urge to shove the Keeper away from me. But for some reason, I felt no ill intent coming from the Keeper.

The tunnel we went through was dry and surprisingly warm; the floors were covered in sand and the walls were rough but no moss grew on them because of the lack of moisture.

Soon, we came to a stop and the Keeper lit a torch on the wall which seemed to trigger torches all around to lit as well. We stood in a circular room, the stone walls covered in shelves filled with old books and delicate-looking scrolls. In the center of the room, a stone pedestal stood with a large sphere of clear crystal half-embedded into the surface.

“What is this?’ I asked in a half-whisper, in awe of the pedestal; it seemed to call to me.I closed my eyes and placed my hand on the crystal; it almost hummed to my touch. I smiled, let out a small chuckle, opened my eyes, and turned back to the Keeper, who smiled indulgently.

“That, my lady, is the Prophecy Gem. Any and all prophecies made anywhere by anyone in the world are locked into that crystal once they are made. Only those with Eldahar blood have access to them because they are the Guardians of the Light and usually when prophecies are made, they entail good things to come. There are some unpleasant ones but the good ones far outnumber those.” The Keeper withdrew a small, curved knife and held it out to me.

“Wait a minute, you mean in order to hear the prophecy my mother wanted me to hear I have to...” I stopped, having stepped backwards away from the pedestal. The Keeper simply nodded. I sighed, knowing better than to question the ways of these things. I took the knife and returned to standing behind the pedestal; I held my left hand out above the gem, palm up and shaking. Before I could blink, I made a quick slice across the fleshy part of my hand and my blood splattered on the crystal. I winced and hissed in pain but put my cut hand down onto the now glowing gem and closed my eyes. I heard a monotone but melodic voice speaking; it matched my mother’s voice from my dream.

Ever the Dark exists,
For that is the fate of the balance;
One cannot be without the other.
Dark and Light;
Evil and Good;
Prey and Hunter.
All coexist with each other in duality
And the Grand Design is maintained.
On the night when Dark and Light are equal
And the Light from then on increases,
The Lightbearer will complete the circle
And the Dark will fall back.
The Grand Design will forever be changed
And the Light will finally prevail.
The world will become a world of peace.
Conflict, war, and hate will be forgotten in the hearts of humans....

I was jerked back to myself at a shout from Shoren. Opened my eyes and found myself staring at Shoren, Tobias and the Keeper. I was lying on the ground and they were leaning over me, all looking concerned.

“I believe that the fact that you are only half-Eldahar is why you couldn’t handle the power behind the prophecy,” mused the Keeper. “The human in you lessens your power.” He shuffled to another part of the room.

Tobias and Shoren fussed a little more and finally let me up once I threatened to club them both over the head. As I stood, I found my legs wouldn’t obey me and I was forced to lean on Tobias for support. “Okay, the prophecy started off with the whole grand design and duality and balance spiel, but then it talked about a Lightbearer completing a circle and the Dark falling back on the night when Dark and Light are equal. What’s all that about?” I said when I found myself steady enough to stand.

The Keeper returned and looked me in the eye. “Surely, child, you know that your mother believed the Lightbearer to be you.”

I hung my head, hearing the words I had hoped weren’t going to be said. “Maybe she was wrong....” I whispered, the pain of loss entering my mind again. “My existence has done nothing but cause deaths of the people around me.”

“If that is what you choose to believe, then fine. I’ll tell you this, though, girl. Elian never placed faith in prophecies yet she put everything she had on the line because she believed in this one.” The Keeper’s job now finished, he stood and began to fall to pieces of dust. “My final duty to lead you here and let you hear the prophecy is done. I can now rest.”

Tobias and Shoren each came on a side of me and we backtracked back through the cave to its mouth. They had stayed silent the whole time and finally Shoren said something as we left the cave to get to the tree. “Some day huh?” he said with a half-cocked grin.

I let out a small laugh and returned his grin. We reached the tree just as the sunset and managed to walk widdershins around it three times. Once again we had been tossed on our respective asses.

As I made to get up, a sword tip appeared at my throat. I looked up at the sword’s owner, a noble-looking knight whose clothing proved him to be from overseas. I looked at Tobias and Shoren, who were in the same predicament. The knight forced me to turn my head back to him with his sword.

“Who are you and how did you appear out of nowhere?” He spat, his eyes lingering on my wings. “Speak, woman! Or your men die!”

Damn it! How do I end up in these situations? Okay, my twisted, sick-minded audience! How do I get out of this one? Suggestions please!

[Mastermind]

:shock: They're all gone! Humanity is DOOMED!! AAAARGH!!! :shock:

Eh, sorry about that, had one of those moments, you know.

As for the DP...
"Teleportation, moron!"
Maybe without the moron part.

Quote: Shoren finally caught up with us and looked us questioningly.
Shoren finally caught up with us and looked at us questioningly.

[Lilith]

Quote: Quote: Shoren finally caught up with us and looked us questioningly.
Shoren finally caught up with us and looked at us questioningly.
Correction made! Thank-you for keeping an eye out!

[dinranwen]

Mayhap you can tell your a wizard...or an angel.

If being foreign he might believe you.

Or YOu could....ask him why he is there, and why he is on this island. Although that might get you killed.

[Christalnightshade]

Ok... jipee.

Ok you can say your an angle, but not a wizzard for all you know he might be a wizzard killer or has a hate against them. Or you could say that you were teleported there.

speak the truth or lei your an angle- drama would unfold in lying.

I say then speak the truth. What would you know ask him questions after answering, like asking where are you? Or what is he doing here then? from what castle or country? What is his name after answering yours to him, keep in mind he might be a crusader and not tell his name at all.

a forener aren't stupid you know. They might just know more than you do your self. since your in the baddest possition you could be I'd say he has the keen sences and mind to be more ingelligent about the place than them; because how do you awake with a sword to your neck and a face looking down upon you- he has a mind alright.

You could try and take him into helping you out, just hope he is no prince and everything would work out fine... *laughes* You could ask for a place to rest if you want to, or he could as you or don't ask atall... try speaking in a slow kind manner and get some information and get him to help out for a short while or trough the journey. :D

there ya go. remember the daemon might come back after washing the spit away and getting her honour trampled over she would come back with recruits.

nightshade :P

nightshade

[Chinaren]

I don't think saying you are an angle, or even an angel, is the way to go. It's probably worth saying you are fighting the demons as, assuming these people are real men of course, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Good chappy Lil. :)

[Christalnightshade]

I say speak the truth. It only shows that lilith is a true-hearted charrecter. And it would keep them out of trouble by telling the truth. I say that she must speak the truth, but begin to lei when something is getting suspicious.

And china then I'm sorry about the spelling then. :( sometimes my mind thinks ahead of my writing, so you'll expect it alot when only replying or in a rush... (I hate... Erm neva mind I cut out what i was going to say)

1) speak the truth, lei when sispiscuis.

2) tell the truth and only the truth.

3) say your an angle and your occompanied by your friends; who is deamon hunters.

4)say you teleported and you all are hunting deamons and nothing more...

5) tell truth and become allies along the way get information.

that is what I picked up. in here. ;)

[Lilith]

Okay guys, I feel that there should be a quick recap of my character....

In less than a week, a female warrior loses her home, the man she called father, and a close friend. She finds out that she is only half-human and half-Eldahar (race of beings everyone believed gone), that a demon queen and her army of half-demons are after her, someone she grew up with was a half -demon, and now she's been handed this cryptic prophecy and some new destiny that she's not sure she even wants.....

Why in the world should she have any reason to trust somebody who has got a sword to her throat? Or anyone at all, for that matter?

Just thought this might get your coniving minds on the right track...

[Mastermind]

Tell him you teleported, make up a lie about the rest.

[Chinaren]

Lilith wrote: .

Why in the world should she have any reason to trust somebody who has got a sword to her throat? Or anyone at all, for that matter?


I don't see it as a matter of trust, more of a matter of getting them to stop pointing a sword at her throat. :shock: Whatever she thinks would be a likely story to do the job...

[Liana]

i say take his sword point it at his throat. Then tell him he needs to learn some manners. I bet you he'd grovel like a puppy with his tail between his legs. mwhahahahaha......teehee

[Sunburst]

I think it is time to employ my theory of everything. Usually if you apply enough force something or someone, it generally does what you want. Pretty simple theory but if you think about it, it actually works on everything.

[Crunchyfrog]

Well I've just read 5 chapters in one hit ... :P

(see, I did say I'd get around to it!) o-)

I like the adventure, and still not knowing where it will lead makes me want to read the next chapter. Well written!! :D And I needed the character recap too, thanks!

OK have voted too!

:D

[Lilith]

Okay! The poll is now closed and soon your next Chapter will be up! I really hope you people know what your doing letting me write a story! :shock:

[Lilith]

Chapter 6: Sacrifices


I weighed my options carefully but quickly and then I responded to the knight’s threat by bringing my foot up and knocking the sword from his hands. Then I jumped to my feet and caught the sword as it fell.

“Now, what was that question? Oh yeah, who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing here?” I replied, a mischievous grin stealing across my face as I held the knight back with his own sword.

The knight was rather young, couldn't have been more than fourteen or fifteen. His training was rather weak; I guessed he was the runt of the brood; the youngest child usually wasn't trained in the arts of war or fighting.

“Lil, let him go, they are no threat to us,” Shoren said as he and Tobias had both disarmed their now-fleeing opponents.

I cocked my head to the side. “Hmm, loyalty not worth much overseas stranger?” I asked him, handing his sword back to him, handle first. As he took it, the blade reopened the wound on my hand. I hissed in pain as blood dripped from it again. “Damn it ” I cursed.

The knight made a movement to help, his previous behavior forgotten. “Oh, I am so sorry, “ I waved him off. “Are you okay? that wound looks pretty deep,” the knight observed.

“It’s nothing, just an old wound made fresh,” I replied, binding my hand in a piece of soft gauze Shoren handed me. “So, what are you doing here and who are you?” I asked, now curious.

The knight straightened up as pride took over. “I am Eclipse, son of King Arcon of Jaden.”

“Jaden... the most powerful empire overseas?” Tobias asked.

“Yes. Recently, many people from Haven, Caladron, Nementon, and Avalon entered our borders; they spoke of horrible demons and the destruction of their homes and ravaging of their families.” The knight sheathed his sword and looked at us all. “My father sent me to see if the rumors were true. Have the cities fallen? Is it true?” He seemed anticipating the news like a dog panting for water.

“It’s true, Eclipse. All four cities of the Alt lands have fallen.” Shoren replied after the three of us had stood there in a long, awkward silence.

My jaw dropped in shock. “Shoren He’s a total stranger What if...” My objections trailed off as Shoren gave me a look. Suddenly, I heard his voice in my head as clearly as if he had been speaking. Give it up. We haven’t got anything left to bargain with right now. He may be able to give us some hope of restoring our homeland when this is all over.

I disguised my surprise and thought, I thought you could only do this with Selene.

Shoren grinned one of his rare grins. I lied. Tobias has known for a long time. See what happens when you miss out on a couple years?

“Well, then... which city are you three from? Are there any more survivors around? Is there any chance that the cities will rise again?” Eclipse rattled off questions rapidly, as Tobias snuck around behind me and rested his head on my shoulder.

“What are you doing, you goofball?” I said, shrugging him off.

“Trying to relax until he finishes talking,” He yawned pointedly.

“Look, kid, we have somewhere to go and we need to leave now..” Shoren said, shaking the knight’s hand and turning to go.

“Wait! I need to know these things! Please! If you don’t tell me, what will I tell my father?” Eclipse had a desperate note to his voice, strained and almost high pitched.

Shoren... what could it hurt just waiting long enough to answer his questions? I thought.

Nothing but we do need to get going! The night when Dark and Light are equal approaches... Midwinter! We need to get somewhere to analyze the rest of the prophecy you heard. His reply seemed hurried and uncomfortable.

“Oh alright, but hurry up ” Shoren relented.

“Where are you three from?”

“I am Shoren from Nementon, the goofball with the dark hair is Tobias from Haven, and the redhead in need of an attitude adjustment is Lilith from Avalon.” Shoren replied quickly, ducking as I smacked him playfully.

“Hmm.... You are all the children of the head families. Are there any other survivors?” The knight seemed to be mentally taking in everything and storing it for later.

“Your guess is as good as ours on that one.. We are currently trying to find a way to restore our homes but with little success so far.” Shoren began to walk towards our horses, which miraculously were still there even after the scuffle with Eclipse and his abandoning cohorts.

“We will set the refugees we have taken in on the right path to... what city would rise again first if you succeed?” Eclipse queried, making ready to leave as well, probably to give his fellow knights a stern talking to.

“Haven.” The three of us said at the same time. Haven had been the biggest and might have the most resources.

We gave our thanks and said farewell to Eclipse and rode our horses away from Carthos at an easy pace.

“Hmm... Nice guy, horrible training. He’s still a little wet
behind the ears...” Tobias commented. We chuckled a little.

“So, where are we going?” I responded, looking at Shoren pointedly.

Shoren shot me a look. “Maybe we should ask the Lightbearer?” I glared at him.

“How in the hell am I supposed to know? Maybe we should just go to Caladron and kill Valara there?” I said, sarcasm dripping from every syllable.

“Actually, that’s a pretty good idea. We are about 2 days away from the borders and there is a stretch of forest we could hide out in. But the closer we get, the more half demon’s we’ll run into.” Tobias responded.

“So? We just kill them too.” I decided. The finalty of the statement settled it. We were going to Caladron.

Shoren reined his horse to a stop and jumped down from its back. “Why don’t we stop here. We have had a long day and we don’t want to get there too soon.” We made camp in a clearing that was a comfortable distance to a freshwater stream.

Shoren was an excellent cook so Tobias and I offered to go and get firewood if he would cook. We traversed a pretty fair distance to find some wood that was actually dry; quite a bit of it was damp from sitting on the ground for a long period of time.

When I wasn’t looking, Tobias came up behind me and grabbed me from behind. I jumped about ten feet in the air and laughed when I found it was him.

“What is with you today? You acting funny.” My face fell. “Wait. Are you a half-demon too?” I wriggled free and took up a defensive stance.

“Well, no. But if you wanna go a round, let’s go!” Tobias replied, grinning, as he rushed me.

I dodged to the side and caught my foot behind Tobias’s knee and brought him down to the ground. He tried to kick my legs out from under me but I jumped away. Tobias got to his feet and stood for a moment, regaining his balance and waiting for me to make the next move.

“You fight different, Lilith. The technique is good as always but you’ve lost your fire. The passion, the emotion, the creativity. Where is it?” He began with some punches, slow and methodical.

I blocked him blow for blow, ignoring his statement; that was getting to close to the mark. He increased the intensity of the blows and threw in a few kicks as well. “Come on, Lil! What would Selene say if she saw you right now fighting without all you’ve got? What would your father say?” Tobias yelled these words and they dug under my skin and ripped open the old wounds from the loss of my best friend and my father.

I was incensed and let it show by not only blocking Tobias’s blows, but throwing in a few of my own. Eventually, one struck and Tobias was knocked on his ass. I fell to my knees, sobbing, as Tobias picked himself up and knelt beside me.

“Now, doesn’t feel better just to let all that bad stuff go?” Tobias whispered, enveloping me in his warm embrace. I leaned into him, grateful he was there, as more tears came and sobs wracked my body. After awhile, I stopped crying and for a moment we just stayed that way together. I turned my head slightly to look at him and he leaned down close. Our lips met and a spark deep in my soul that I thought was gone forever rekindled.

We broke apart for a moment and then kissed again, this time more demanding, and our hands began wandering.


**************************************************


Some time later, after the sun had set, we trudged back to our little campsite in silence. We were silent as we laid down at our usual opposite places beside the fire. When I had almost fallen asleep, Shoren spoke.

“I was wondering if you two were ever gonna work through the sexual tension and get it over with.”

We laughed at the comment and knew we were forgiven for not returning with the firewood, leaving Shoren to get it himself.

You fool! What were you thinking? You’ll just get him killed; you’ve become too close. My thoughts berated me endlessly throughout the night, long after the boys had fallen asleep. I finally fell asleep, only to be woken by Shoren shaking my shoulder.

“Come on, sleepyhead. We need to go.” Shoren ruffled my hair with his hand as I got up and got my things together.

Tobias tried to ride closer to me the whole day and kept trying to catch my eye but I looked away and distanced myself from him to appease the guilty little voice that kept badgering me constantly. Finally, Tobias gave up and let out a frustrated sigh. “What’s wrong Lilith?” He asked in a low voice.

“Nothing’s wrong, Tobias. I am perfectly fine.” I lied.

“Then why are you acting like this? Everytime I get close you pull away.” Tobias laid a hand on my shoulder gently.

“Look, Tobias. What happened between us... it can’t happen again.” I nearly started crying again.

Tobias pulled his hand back as if he had been bitten. “Why? It’s not as if it hasn’t happened before.” He tried to shrug my hurtful comment off.

“We were young teens then, Tobias. Young and stupid. Yesterday, I was just so confused and just needed a release. That’s all it was, Tobias. Nothing more.”

We all rode in silence the rest of the journey, only Shoren speaking once in awhile to see if anyone was tired. When we stopped again it was in the last stretch of forest close to Caladron.

“Okay, now to the important part of that prophecy. We need to figure out what Lilith has to do to ‘complete the circle’ and we have to figure it out soon.” Shoren said decisively, as we had sat down on the ground.

“Oh, no I believe not!” A familar voice sounded behind us and we got to our feet as Valara appeared. A group of half-demons surrounded us as well.

She laughed as we reached for our weapons. “What are you going do? Fight my whole army off? There’s three of you and a million of them. Think about the odds.”

“Valara. Since you seem to like deals so much, let me offer you one of my own.” I responded, my mind moving quickly.

She held up a hand to signal her army to hold back. “Yes?” she purred.

There was no other choice. “Let them go. And take me. Do with me what you will but let Shoren and Tobias leave here and go home.”

Valara mulled it over in her mind for a few minutes. “Girl, do you realize what you’re giving me? You do realize that I’ll kill you, correct? No, I don’t think so. There is something else to the prophecy that makes you think you will win.”

She took my chin in her hands and looked me in the eye. “No, we’ll take you all and hold you until I find the rest of the prophecy. I think it would be in my best interest to keep you alive for the moment.” She paused. “You have the same defiant look about you that your mother had. Too bad she never lived to see you grown.”

The demon queen straightened and barked out orders. “Take them away to the holding cells! I will decide what to do with them later!”

We were taken to a dingy looking cell that had a slime-like mold plopping off the walls onto the floor.

“Great idea Lil. Either get yourself killed or send us all to a stinky holding cell.” Tobias commented sarcastically.

“Shut-up! I am trying to think, moron!” I snapped back.



So, how are we gonna get out of this one, folks? Make some good suggesstions cause my Idearium is running a little low...

[Crunchyfrog]

Hmmm.

She wants them alive, so their lives are their only way of bargaining. Feign death, or bad illness or injury, or something like that. Something that would manipulate their captor into changing their prison environment for something they could more easily escape from, or a place where they are able to eavesdrop and learn more about the prophesy.

[Chinaren]

Quote: What are you gonna do

I don't really think a Demon Queen is going to say 'gonna'.

Personally, I wasn't very happy with the handling of the knights. I realize that these guys are highly trained, but so would the son of a noble be, along with his lackeys. Disarming them like that was rather too easy and not very authentic IMO. Make sure you don't make the charcters too 'uber', it really turns me off a story.

Anyway, the DP.

The DQ must have a reason for not killing them right now. Perhaps some ritual way of disposing of her to nullify her influence? :?

It's about at this time she makes friends with someone in the next cell, who tells her about the weakness in the defenses. :-o

[Lilith]

Crap! I know not my best work... but there are some additions to get my point across.... The knight is a kid... (I meant to write that in there but I forgot damn story keeps getting away from me!)

But corrections are in blue!

[Mastermind]

Quote: “What are you going do?
“What are you going to do?

Now would be a nice time for that knight to come to the rescue.