Soulless

[Miguelito Breathstealer]

Amidst the serenity of trees and caution tape

The scene could have been a network crime drama. The several dozen witnesses claiming everything from gang warfare to space aliens. The tape lines spreading from tree to tree and even accross a basketball court. Blood stains and smears, broken foliage, stange men in rain coats and hazmat suits surveying aniamls dropping and shoe prints, and at least a dozen vehicles all topped with flashing lights.

Deriminar strode with confidence. He had been an expert witness on occult crimes and had managed to arrange for more then one conviction to cover his actions in the past. It was a strange and giddy feeling to know that for once, he was not the guilty party. Further it was just the opportunity he needed. Surely he would find the elusive ingredient he so carefully had hunted over the years.

In his usual woolen suit and leaning on his best cane, he comforted and calmed himself by discretely stroking the knife in his pocket. The seargent had expressed gratitude at his prompt initiative to visit the scene, and informed him that the forensics team had taken their samples and the body was left in place for his consideration. Careful strides brought him face to face with with and old friend.

"Well, Jorath, haven't we fallen on hard times." He stiffled a full belly laugh knowing he was being watched, but couldn't help a hard chuckle. He certainly understood why the corpse of the demon had been mistaken for an animal. Shaggy misshapen limbs and horns on your head certainly didn't make the cover of GQ the way they should. "Impaled upon your own sword. Heh heh heh, very sloppy, old friend. And I had always had such expectations for you. You won't mind if I borrow this?" Deriminar carefully bent, paying only the slightest attention to the outcry from his lower back, and slipped a glass vile from his sleave and pressed it against and open wound, disguising his action as casual examination. "After all, if you were so thoughtful to give some to those nice mortal lab tachs, you can certainly spare some for your old master. And as you helped to arrange, my own just isn't as potent anymore." Once the third vile was full, he braced himself for the rise to his feet. He then turned his attention to the trails of blood that surrounded the body.

There had been a significant struggle, more then two combatants for sure. He danced a jig in some of the foot prints left behind. He stopped abruptly as they did. One of the other combatants had lain here, certainly felled, perhaps mortally. Another had scooped them up, and then teleported. The foot prints became heavy, and then just stopped just a meter from where they had appeared. But the other, they had come on foot. He backtracked the trail, following the investigative teams postings. This had clearly already been photographed and documented. He became lightheaded at the closeness of it all. The trail lead back in among the trees, but always in sight of the waters edge. Interesting.

"And they say that if you look into the darkness long enough, the darkness will look back." Deriminar smiled at what he was sure sounded all in all a wity but mysterious coment. The blond figure of what must certainly be a demon in a remarkably human looking form, gazed back at him apparently lacking the capacity to appreciate his wit.

[OOC: Muh he, er um, muh ha ha ha]

 

[AmenRa]

Malachi knelt over the large, black leather satchel. He closed his eyes, extending his senses beyond the small, narrow hallway. He touched the beings in the room next to him, and then passed his unseen psyche through the building. Malachi felt no one else around, no one else who's prying eyes would see what the black satchel held.

The archangel undid the ancient fasteners slightly, peering through the partially open top. Malachi looked around again, making sure no one else was in the hall.

The satchel held weapons. Not just any weapons, but weapons forged in Heaven for the Army of Light. There was a longsword, similar to Malachi's own, with a gleaming white steel blade that could cleave any being in two. The sword, however, could only be used by the righteous. If an evil hand touched it, the sword would flame with brimstone, and burn the demon spawn in hellfire. There was a bow, forged of the wood from the Tree of Life, it's arrows poison to hell's minions. And then there was a dagger, the Dagger of Sight, who's gift to it's wielder was the power to see hell's minions in their true self.

Malachi had gone to great lengths to secure these weapons from various sources. There were those above that wished for the same as he: an end to the senseless killing and restoration of the good. Malachi had intended to give these weapons to Abraham, to aid him in the coming battles.

He quickly closed the satchel, picked it up, and returned to the room.

OOC: if this part about the weapons is not cool, let me know and I will dispose of it.

 

[Wolfsister]

She listened to his movements with senses that had been sharpened from the unexpected link with Abraham and his most... Demonly... deeds.

She gasped with shock as Malachi's lips brushed gently over hers and she was given another blinding view of the world through now sightless eyes. His own large eyes studied her and her reaction and then he pulled back. Then darkness returned to her and she could not see any longer.

A flash of anger would suddenly heat her face and then she would raise a hand and swipe at his face to execute Woman's ancient rite and last line of defense.

A slap.

Her hand connected with empty air as she hadn't realised that he had moved back to the hallway. That damned Angel could move silently alright!

She calmed her features and hoped he had not seen her momentarily lapse of composure.

"You must call to Abraham now. Tell him to come at once!"

Her mouth tightened in a pursed smile when she heard the command in his voice. She inclined her head in a hauty way and her full red lips curved into another smile that was inherently seductive. The curse of being a Half-Breed. Too attractive by half, that was what she was. Damned too attractive. Even for a damned Archangel!

She tilted her head, " There is no need," she paused and continued in a mocking tone, "He is outside, across the street. You can go to him if you want. I'm not having anything to do with that filthy Demon!" she fairly spat out the word again. Her face once again twisted with an odd mingling of anger and fear.

She tilted her head and walked to the window, sidestepping the unconsious form of Warren when she sensed his nearness. Then she pointed out to what she herself could not see. Abraham below... in the park. In trouble.

"See? He's right there. Being a Demon! I wish he would just leave me alone!" she screamed and the window rattled and then shattered.

"Shit!" she turned her blind eyes to the Archangel. "Well? You want to go Kiss and Tell?" her anger was palpable and quite directed at the innocent Malachi.

Just what was happening to her now?

 

[Angelus]

I felt the energy wave hit the shield that was around me and turned my head to look at the building. I could feel the hate that Wraith had for me but I did not care what she felt for me. She could hate me as much as she wanted, that I could not change but there was something more important to me at the moment. The mortals that were now surrounding me were going crazy and as they threw energy waves, fireballs and lightning at me I could hear them laughing but screaming for help at the same time. I wanted to help them but I did not how I could do it for them as the only way that I could would be to attack them and use that which I did not want to use, my destructive powers.

I knew that I could move away from the park, teleport out of there so that I would not be in danger but I also knew that it I did then I would be leaving the mortals who had not yet fled in danger. I looked at the mortals around me and shouted at them to stop but they started laughing and screaming even louder. I felt myself being knocked back by the force of the energy that was being thrown at me and wondered how I was going to do this alone. There was nobody around to help me and I wondered it anyone would, even if I asked.

Just then a large energy bolt slammed into my back, sending me crashing to the ground and breaking the shield that had been surrounding me, that had been saving my life. As I tried to get to my feet I heard a laugh a second before something hit me and I screamed as my back caught fire, causing me to writhe around in pain. I knew that I had been born of fire but this was not the same, this felt different and I knew that it could kill me if I did not get any help. I screamed, wondering if someone would hear me.

 

[Miguelito Breathstealer]

"Perhaps I've been hasty," thought Deriminar. It wasn't himself that the demon had noticed. Somehow, he had overlooked the notion of other interested parties and their possible arrival on the scene. If he hadn't felt so incredibly astonished by this, he would have perhaps thought to move to a position less exposed. But as it was, the angry mob didn't seem interested in him for once.

It wasn't hard to deduce that this demon was involved with whatever happened here earlier, visible blood on his hands and clothing. And watching him fend for his life, it wasn't a surprize that he had walked away victorious, his sheilding was firm against the testing it was being given, and despite being obviously exhausted, he still moved with a distinctive grace that showed him to be a practiced hunter and assassin. And the reaction of the apparent cultists of whatever hoo ha religion to muster their arcane might and attemt to apprehend or maybe destroy the hellish man was almost amusing, if in a rustic, old fasion kind of way. But what perplexed Deriminar the most was,

"Why aren't they all dead yet? He just wimpers there like he has a skinned knee." Perhaps he ought to have given thought to what he let out loud. Was he trying to spare the humans? Was he begging them for his life? And what was it about the building above accross the street that had been catching his glances?

And for that matter, who were these audatious mortals and why hadn't he ever gained a cult following who could actually tell a spell from a crackerjack toy?

 

[AmenRa]

Malachi presently dropped the satchel at Wraith's feet.

"Look well to this," he told her. "They must be kept safe until it is time".

"Oh, you should know that I never kiss and tell". And in an instant, Malachi was no longer standing before her.

He arrived beside Abraham before the demon's scream had finished. Malachi pivoted in a quick circle, his angelic eyes taking in those who were Abraham's foes. Those that had just become his foes.

With a gesture of his hand, Malachi dampened and quenched the flames that licked Abraham's spine, until only the smoldering ash of the demon's clothes remained. The balls of energy raced towards him now. Malachi held up his hands and the orbs of power disintegrated into the air.

Malachi then held up his hands again, and said, "Be still."

And no one moved. Time had been frozen for them. They were no longer foes. Now they were simply existing. They knew nothing. Even thought had stopped for them. But, upon their awakening, they would know that an archangel had touched them. They would know that an angel had helped a demon.

Through the sharp smell of ozone, Malachi reached for Abraham. He grabbed the demon by the arm. "They will not be in this state for long, my friend," the archangel told him. "We must leave this place now."

 

[Angelus]

When I reached up and took the angel's hand I did so with a mixture or shock, surprise and pain. My back felt as though it had been torn apart and all that I wanted was to stop feeling the pain that was flowing through my body. All that I wanted to was to give into the pain and fall to the ground. I had tried not to hurt these mortals as I knew that to kill them would be to give into the half of myself that I had given so much to shut down, the half of myself that screamed at me to destroy all those around me.

I felt myself being touched and winced in pain, not because it was touching my back but because it sent a fresh wave of pain flowing through me. I wanted to scream out in pain but I felt as though I had nothing left in me, as though what little energy I had left in my body was slowly being drained away. I raised my head slowly from the ground and wanted to tell the angel to leave me but I knew that would not happen.

"I need you to help me angel but I do not want to go back to where Wraith is. I know that she hates my kind and I know of a place that we can go if you will help me."

 

[AmenRa]

Malachi looked at Abraham through his bright, blue eyes. The creature was in pain, and Malachi could feel his thoughts and the confliction of emotions regarding Wraith. What was it that bound them together?

The Archangel nodded his head. "Lead and I shall follow," he said.

 

[Miguelito Breathstealer]

Deriminar tried to remain still as he listened to the Angel and the Demon in their exchange. Their attention clearly on eachother, he moved closers among the stilled mortal crowd to gain clearer sense. Picking a pocket or to along the way wouldn't hurt either. Perhaps he could get a better idea about these clowns later. The alliance of the these two supernatural beings was far more exciting. What climate must it reflect in the other realms?

"I need you to help me angel but I do not want to go back to where Wraith is. I know that she hates my kind and I know of a place that we can go if you will help me."

The demon seemed all too concerned over this name. The look of understanding that passed between the two spoke volumes of the value they both placed on this. Glancing back at the building above, Deriminar played his fingers accross the blade of his dagger once more. Clearly he would have to look into it.

"Lead and I shall follow"

Ah, yes, but where will you go? Deriminar took this as his cue to fall back. He did not want to be in the middle when the crowd came to.

 

[Angelus]

I looked at the angel and knew that I could not take him to where I wanted to take him as I was far too weak. I had been hurt by those mortals, more than I thought possible and all that I wanted was to go to a haven and rest but I knew that I could not go anywhere near Wraith as she wanted nothing to do with me. All that she saw in me was the demon, she did not see any good in me; she did not see that I was capable of anything good and that hurt far more than I could say.

I grabbed the hand of the angel and looked into his eyes, "I will share with you where my haven is but I cannot take you there. I need your help if you will give it to me."

 

[AmenRa]

Malachi placed his other hand on top of the demon's. The archangel closed his eyes, and a faint glow appeared over his body.

The healing power of light coursed through his celestial form, passing from him into the wounded Abraham.

Malachi smiled. "Feel a bit better, now?"