The first thing Luna did was haul off and smack Blade in the face, her green eyes filled with tears "You! You big! You! GRRR! I thought you were dead!" She exclaimed hugging her Master's freezing cold body very tightly as the creature fired another burst of its magic, downing Emily and her brother.
"I am dead." Blade whispered in a daze. "GROTE! Lead him away! FIRE!"
"Hey! I'm not one of your slaves 'Master'!" Grote said with a grin as he opened fire, letting the creature have it as he stepped carefully onto the ice, the space between the two covered by an endless rain of bullets.
"You're too mouthy to be a slave. I wouldn't want you!" Blade said with a grin, pulling himself up to his feet. "Luna, it's a parasite. You have to kill the host."
"The host...?" Luna began to ask as Blade rushed forward again, his fists curled into balls.
"That's good Grote! Get my kids off the ice!" Blade screamed as he tackled the black mass, lashing out at it with blinding speed as he struck it again and again, the black blob coiling around Blade as Grote grabbed Spike and Emily by the ankles, dragging them to the shore.
Luna's eyes widened in horror as she screamed out, realizing what she would have to do as the black mass consumed her Master, Blade and the monster merging into one form. The black mass became contorted, as if it were having trouble even moving, the blackness giving way in places to reveal parts of Blade's body, the parasite was taking over his body. "Now Luna! Now!" Blade ordered, his voice echoing with the beast inside of him, his face emerging from the blob as it slowly stalked towards Luna.
Luna sobbed as she stood, gripping her scythe as she shook her head more and more, Blade losing more of himself to the monster as she walked backwards, the shape of the two following her up to the shore.
"Kill...me!" Blade managed to say, his voice filled with pain, any minute now he would slip, he was trying to keep the beast at bay for as long as possible.
Luna shook her head every step, her small arms shaking as she held her scythe. Finally the creature came to a halt, a shrill growl of pain spraying from Blade's lips "Do-do it! If you don't we'll DIE! The others will die!"
"If I do it, it will destroy your soul! You cant come back!" Luna screamed through the tears, her chest burning with pain, her heart aching.
"I know." was the answer that came from Blade as the last of the beast poured into his body, fully consuming her Master.
Luna watched the figure that was once her Master, seeing no trace of the man she had spent dozens of lifetimes with, her companion, her friend "G-goodbye, daddy." Luna said, as she rose the scythe blade, closing her eyes as she swiped the weapon downwards, cleaving the shell of her Master in two.
She opened her eyes slowly a massive pillar of blinding white light blasted out of the body towards the sky, lighting up the forest as bright as day as the blackness melted away from the others who had been wounded. The creature was dead, its essence no long potent would now leave their bodies unscathed by its magic. Spike, Emily, Karyn, Conrad and Brianna all rose at the same time gasping for air, the strange pillar dampened in intensity, the light mellow, not as harsh. There was a strange warmth emitted by it, the path of dirt around it blooming to life with thick patches of grass and flowers before the light lifted. There was no sign of the creature or even Blade's remains, just a patch of flowers, and Blade's reformed sword stuck into the ground, a few white particles of magical energy swaying around the sword.
Everyone moved slowly to the patch of flowers, the events of the last day hard enough to process without the events of the last half hour to mull over in their heads. Brianna's eyes widened as she looked at the sword, Karyn's voice coming from beside her. "Its his blessing." She mouthed, a strange, almost lustful smile creeping over her lips.
She looked back to her mother who nodded slowly for her to go ahead. Slowly Karyn walked forward, her hand out in front of her as she walked cautiously towards the sword. However, just before she could grasp it's grip, it was grabbed by someone else, snatched out of reach of the other Blade of Desoul.
Karyn snapped her head angrily to the side to see Elise holding her father's sword, the magic still swirling around it. "Elise! What are you doing?! Give it to me!" She ordered firmly, holding her hand out.
Slowly, Elise shook her head. "Princess, I mean no disrespect. You are a fine Blade of Desoul, but you are not the Blade of Desoul. This sword belongs to my son." Karyn snapped her head as all eyes turned to Conrad, whom looked as white as a ghost. Shaking her head slowly Elise moved her hand to her stomach. "Not Conrad. But him." Elise said sadly, the particles glowing intensely before they drifted downwards into Elise, vanishing into her stomach.
The Heir of Master Blade's power had been chosen...
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20 Years Later
Christmas Eve, Morgan's Spire
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The snow was falling in the windless night like a soft trickle of feathers from the sky. Ice covered the bricks lining the rooftops of the older buildings, and all was quiet for a change, except for the Phantom of course. The lightly armored figured clad in tight black garments with a tattered black cape ran through the snow capped rooftops, leaping from building to building, light sometimes reflecting from the polished side of the two-toned steel mask that was surrounded by a hood.
For hours the Phantom had scoured the city, from the highest roof to the darkest alley with no sign of its opportunistic prey. Indeed, since the forming of the Imperial Magic Academy and the resurrection and eventual integration of the Order of Desoul into the governmental structure, the crime rate had dropped considerably. The Phantom rested on its heels at the last point on it's circuit, the balcony of a church currently being rebuilt. The Phantom crouched low on the skeleton of the ancient building, bright blue eyes scanning the waterfront below. Not so much as a foghorn to catch it's attention. The black figure's shoulders slumped as it sighed, hot breath being expelled from the edges of the mask as steam.
"Mmp! Maybe the Blades are doing too good of a job as peacekeepers! Sorry father, I'll try to find you some criminals to play with next year..." The Phantom sighed and turned, eyes going wide as it suddenly spun back around and looked down to the docks. "What in the name of Light and Shadows?!" The figured growled under it's mask, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Down at the end of pier 37 was a large oval ring of blue flames, not unlike a large demonic eyeball hovering just above the water. The Phantom crouched, gathering all its energy into its legs before it uncoiled, launching itself into the air, the stones of the balcony shattering from the sudden release of kinetic energy.
Landing several hundred yards away the Phantom broke into a flat run, jerking like a kite from side to side before stopping at the edge of the pier. The portal swirled and burped out a crimson burst of flames onto the concrete before the flame vanished, leaving the portal. The Phantom trembled for a moment then stumbled back. 'Y-You died! You aren't real!"
A figure was crouched on the smoldering concrete and slowly rose to its full height, its toothy smile was like a jackal's. "And yet here I am, Karyn." With lightening speed the black mass moved forward, its fingers on its left hand stiffening as it lashed out, sweeping it's hand across the Phantom's chest, ripping apart armor, clothing and flesh as blood splashed steaming onto the ground between them. The Phantom lashed out with a growl more of anger than pain as the figure towered over it, eyes narrowing as he lashed out, fingers connecting with the Phantom's head, leaving it a limp, bloodied heap on the concrete.
"One down..." The figure grinned and then bolted off into the darkness, leaving the cities' first line of defense a crumpled, bloody heap on the frozen ground behind him.
A few hours later a tall, slender, but well toned man with white blonde hair ran full speed through the corridors of the medical ward, sending healers and Blades alike crashing into the walls as he passed, his heavy, black boots finally skidding to a stop in front of a well guarded set of doors.
One of the Blades stationed at the door advanced forward with his hand out "Please Master Barak, you have to wait outside, Doctor Owens said..." The man was cut short as Spike lashed out, collecting the soldier by the front of his uniform before hurling him into his counterparts stationed nearby.
Spike rushed into the room where his sister was being treated and stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of the girl thrashing around under the doctors trying to restrain her. Her tanned, toned, warrior's body was caked with sticky red blood, hers from the smell of it, though her wounds were closed she thrashed madly, her eyes clouded over as she screamed nonstop. Obviously, she wasn't herself
"What in the nine hells happened?!?" Spike growled as he rushed forward pushing his sister's shoulders to the exam table as the vampire thrashed, sending a doctor flying before the injured troops outside rushed inside to help.
"Spike you need to wait outside." Hissed Doctor Owens as she leaned over Karyn, trying in vain to keep the girl strapped down as she thrashed, breaking the leather straps on the table almost as soon as they were put on. "It wont do you any good to see her like this, now go wait in my office!" The pale, middle aged doctor snapped the order, her green eyes bolting up for only a moment as Spike pulled back and reluctantly walked out of the room, vanishing into the halls.
The Doctor was passed a large hypodermic syringe along with a small bottle of sedatives. "This wont be enough, bring me as many bottles as you find! Her metabolism will just burn right through this. We might as well be throwing water balloons, there is no point in knocking her down if we cant keep her that way!" Two of the other doctors bolted from the room as the soldiers struggled to hold Karyn still, the Doctor plunging the syringe into the bottle of medicine before extracting it, she then plunged the syringe, undiluted into Karyn, her thumb depressing the plunger immediately as she shot the drug into the vampire's chest.
Karyn struggled then slowly passed out. Her chest still rose and fell rapidly, her muscles tight coils under the soldiers that held her. "Strap her down, there is no telling how she will react when she comes to..." With that the doctor produced another vial of sedative and promptly emptied it into the still figure on the table. She then turned, letting out a sigh of relief as the other doctors returned with the extra supplies "Get a drip going with that sedative, I want 4 men stationed on the inside and outside of that door at all times. And someone get a fucking mage down here!" The doctor had barely barked the orders as her subordinates rushed to carry them out.
Slowly the doctor leaned down, her hand brushing over Karyn's brow as she whispered. "I've done all I can for her now." With that, the Doctor slipped out of the room and headed off down the hallway, her heels clicking as she passed the 8 soldiers filing in to guard their commander. She reached her office and glanced around once before closing the door behind her, sighing heavily as she reached back and locked the door, her back resting against it. "Spike..." She started, her tone much softer, but just as passionate as it had been moments before.
"What happened to her?!" The Vampire growled his muscular arms folded over her chest, the shape of which was well defined by its tight, black t-shirt, he sat on the corner of the woman's desk.
"I-I don't know Spike. We found her down at the docks an hour ago, covered in blood on the ground screaming hysterically like that. Her wound, whatever it is, healed before we found her. I think... I think it has something to do with magic. I am having a Mage Knight brought over on the double." The Doctor sighed and slowly stepped forward, her hands in front of her as she cautiously reached out and slipped her warm hands over his chest. "Its going to be okay, she's alive...she's mostly unharmed."
Spike stared ahead, the vein on the side of his head twitching angrily as he clenched his jaw and let out a hiss of a breath. Slowly the Doctor reached up, her hands sliding over Spike's cheeks as she leaned in to kiss him. Quickly though, Spike reached up, grasping the woman's wrists as he yanked her forward, his lips meeting hers in a brief, but very intense kiss that left her cheeks flushed. Slowly he let go and slipped off the desk. "Call me as soon as something changes." With that he turned and headed out into the hallway.
"But where are you going??" She called.
Without breaking pace he answered "To kill whoever did this. Frost! Mason! On me!" with that said he snapped his fingers, the soldiers whom he had thrown aside earlier now falling in line behind him, all of them vanishing around the corner.
"Oh Spike..." The woman sighed as she blew a strand of red hair from her eyes, her body relaxing for a moment before she took a deep breath and left her office, heading back into the unfolding mess that awaited her.
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Christmas Morning, Angel Island
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High in the forested mountains of Angel Island sat a small manor. It was perched near a cliff on a hillside, one that overlooked the green valleys and deep blue sea to the south. On a clear day, one could almost make out the shape of the Royal Palace and its ivory towers, gleaming like pearls in the sea in the city of Rogue Port. The manor was spacious and fully staffed, maids, cooks, tutors and soldiers. Despite the staff of 20 or so people, plus guards, the house always seemed quiet, private in many ways. That is, unless Lord Barak was up to his usual mischief...
Conrad slowly blinked his eyes open, the warm light cascading through the window framed with a crust of frost slowly coaxed him from his sleep. The half elf slowly blinked his eyes open and shut before they wandered over the room, for a moment he had forgotten where he was. He swung his legs out from under the warm covers and grumbled, running his fingers back through his short, sandy blonde hair as he crossed the floor to the fireplace. It was obvious the staff had kept the fire going through the night, though royalty, he was never really accustomed to the idea of people serving his needs like that.
Sighing, he threw on a black house coat that was trimmed with silver and collected a large book from the mantle of the fireplace before slipping out into the halls. He gave a gentle look to the left and the right, the corridor was empty save the numerous displays, paintings, tapestries and other relics that seemed to litter the manor. He hummed a quiet tune as he strolled up the hall, his eyes drifting out to the snowy forest that surrounded them. Finally, he rounded the corner before pausing and stepping back.
Conrad watched with a smirk and a knowing shake of his head as a young maid walked out of one of the rooms, her cheeks and chest flushed as she fumbled to pull up her panties and stockings, once she smoothed out her uniform she walked briskly down the hall, fixing her hair as she vanished from sight. Conrad chuckled as he pushed on the partially open door to his brother's room and stepped inside. "Its what, 6am? How many of the young girls working here have you violated already?" Conrad asked.
Nathan was sprawled out on the foot of the bed, his arms folded behind his head as he watched the fire. "Two, depending how you look at it. The young maid just now and then an older attendant who came in here to stoke my fire. I was happy to return the favor." The boy grinned and reached down to tighten the string on his black sleep pants before he turned his attention to his brother. "Merry Christmas and all that." He said through a heavy yawn.
"Merry Christmas Nathan." Conrad said with a nod before he tossed the book at the boy.
Nathan rolled to the side softly and dodged the bulky missile with a frown. "A book? You got me a book for Christmas? God I hate you." The boy blew a few strands of his stringy blonde hair from his murky grey eyes before he went back to watching the fire burn.
"Well they say knowledge is power... Don't let mother catch you with it, this never happened." With that Conrad turned and headed down the hall towards the kitchen. Nathan rose a brow and quickly rolled over, eyeing the book for a moment before he opened it, his grey eyes instantly widening.
"What have we here?" he asked himself when greeted with the sight of a small black device that looked like it was carved out of obsidian. The center of it housed a polished stone that looked like topaz, the rim of the device was grooved to accommodate fingers. Slowly Nathan looked around before hurrying to the door, he stole a glance in each direction down the hallway before he closed his door and pulled the disc from the book. He slowly slipped it into his right hand, his fingers sliding into the grooves so that the yellow gem faced outwards.
His eyes darted around for a moment before he extended his hand and squeezed. With a loud flat THUMP the device emitted a swirling yellow ball of kinetic energy that raced out and struck the outer edge of the fireplace, chipping off a large portion of the stone that bordered it.
"Good show Conrad, good show." Nathan said as he slipped the device off and placed it in the book before kicking it under his bed
No sooner had the book glided out of sight, there was a knock on the door, which quickly swung open to reveal Nathan's mother, Elise. The brunette elf narrowed her murky grey eyes as she looked around, her arms folding over the black robe that was tied tightly to her athletic figure. "What was that noise Nate?" She asked, her inquisitive eyes wandering around the room, finally stopping on the missing chunk of stone.
"Oh I uh..." The boy stammered, stealing a glance at the stone behind him, thankful for a moment to conjure an excuse. "I uh... Got mad and punched it." Well he tried.
"Any particular reason you decided to bash apart an ancient set of carved stone, or did you do it just for amusement?" Elise asked, the corner of her mouth perking in an irritated smirk.
"N-no ma'am. I'm sorry..." Nathan bit his lip and lowered his gaze, but he could feel her eyes burning into him, any minute they would pierce him and find the truth.
"Very well. I trust it wont happen again." Elise sighed as her right hand dropped down to rest on her hip. "Well you should get dressed. We're having breakfast with the Queen and spending the rest of the day in the city."
Elise turned, leaving the door open behind her as she strode into the hallway, stopping as Nathan immediately began to protest. "No mom not the Palace!" His voice was like an annoyed whine.
Shaking her head, Elise turned to face her youngest son. "And why, pray tell, would you reject the invitation of our hostess? The Queen has very generously provided us with all we need, a home, guards, all the tutors for you education."
"I-I know I just... She freaks me out sometimes that's all. She's the Queen but she's like, she's different. Always attacking people for fun, and drinking, then always teasing me talking about how dad use to fuck-"
Nathan stammered before his mom snapped her fingers, he immediately fell silent.
"Language young man. Now get dressed. You know very well that even if you were to say no she'd make a game of it and come find you. Like last time." With that Elise turned and headed to the kitchen, leaving a red faced Nathan behind to sulk in the memory of his last encounter with the Queen.
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