Under the Hill - Second Circle: Lust

[Flux]

Phantom raised his sword, bringing it in a downward cut towards the overhead foe, closing the portal at the same time with his left hand. It seemed that his foe was not going to make things easy. He was running out of time, and needed to finish this fast. The others were out of immediate danger; it was just the succubus and himself, now.

[Sutoratosu]

Ethic tossed a quick glance over his shoulder as he heard a deep rumbling sound from where he'd seen Ixidor, as if someone were moving an incredible amount of earth and stone, but that rumbling was over-scored by a familiar voice calling out for help in the distance, Ethic recognized it immediately

"Ellaria!" he called out as he reached down to his belt, going to draw Scott's sword from it's place th- oh... oh wait... It wasn't there.

"Damn it" Ethic cursed under his breath as he recalled that he had given it to Lucian earlier, and that he'd had it when he'd told him to get lost. Acting fast and going for plan B, he moved his hand to the other side of his belt, this time intending to draw his knife... Except his hand's hit nothing but the black denim of his jeans. he looked down, already knowing what this must mean. "God Fucking Damnit..." he again cursed under his breath as his eye's confirmed what he had already determined; the Sheath for Man Without Honor was gone, the two leather straps that had secured it to his belt were broken, hanging limply from his waist. he glanced around as he took the straps and tossed them away, there was point in keeping them now. he took a few steps around the area of the path, still not seeing any trace of the knife on the ground or any hint as to where it could have fallen while he had been walking. sighing, he tried to think... once again he was unarmed... wait... no he wasn't, not this time.

That's it he thought to himself as he established the Death Link, holding his hand outward, palm facing up as his life force began to flare around it, flickering and dancing like some type of flame. Ethic balled his hand into a fist, turning it vertically as he recalled when he'd first used the effects of the Death Arcana's link, back when he had dealt with Scott once and for all. the moment he had established the link for the first time, he had instantly become aware of what power it held, how it could be used. there were two main versions of how the life force manipulation the DL made possible could manifest; either in explosive burst, which was the method Ethic had been relying soley on so far, which also happened to be the less conservative but far more destructive use... and then there was the other way... the one Ethic hadn't really tried out; drawing up his life force and focusing it into a distinct, semi static form which he could use as a makeshift weapon...

"Well," he said as he willed his life force to shape itself into a vague pillar like form, watching as it did just that, extending outwards from his fist as it blazed in a harsh light, soon it had grown to a little over two feet in length "Guess it's about time I try this..." that said, He drew his arm back, placing his other hand on the one holding the construct, getting his feet into a wide stance, then swinging in a wide arc, cutting clean through a small sapling nearby with the energy blade he'd formed with his life force. he nodded as he took his other hand away from the one supporting the construct. this would indeed do as his main way of arming himself from now on... it would indeed. now prepared with somethng to use incase he needed it, he tore off down the pathway towards where he heard Ellaria screaming, his saber like weapon blazing brightly in a multitude of colors as it swung up and down in his hand as he sprinted.

Edited July 16, 2014 by Stratos

[Notus]

Rose, Kenny & Byron

The spear pierced through Aighan's chest, having hit the mark. The Incubbus let out an horrifying scream and fell, the fire now slowly consuming his body.

Byron smiled, relieved to think that at least this part of the nightmare was over.

"Great aim Rose, I couldn't have done it better myself. Now, how's your shoulder? Should Kenny give a look at it?"

=================================

Annie, Enya, Ellaria & Ethic

Ellaria heard hurried footsteps as someone approached running. "Who's there? Can you help us?" she asked towards the sound.

=================================

Phantom

Lara spinned in mid flight, and let her wings hit the sword and knock it aside. The blade did cut them badly, but the succubus didn't seem to notice. Now with the way clear, she grabbed Phantom's wrists with surprising strenght, trying to brute force her way to his neck.

=================================

Ixidor

Mia walked a bit ahead of Ixidor through the dark passage. There was no source of illumination there, but Mia herself seemed to irradiate a golden light while she walked. "Oh Ix, I'm so excited! Mom told me to present you to her, and if she likes you she will let us go together! I never imagined this was even possible! Lara always told me that I was dumb for wanting to leave, that I would never do it, but she was wrong!" the girl was a portrait of pure hapiness, spinning on her feet from time to time and laughing aloud.

Finnaly they reached the bottom of the staircase. Looking around, Ixidor realized they were in a big cave, with no plants at all in contrast to the rest of the circle. Candles lighted the place from the top of the rocks scattered through the cave and, in the middle of it stood an huge bed with red sheets and a woman sitting on it.

She was very beautiful. Her long dark hair went all the way to her waist, her skin was white as snow, and her eyes were an startling red. Judging by her looks, one would never say she was Mia's mother - an older sister, at most.

"So, you're the painter boy that conquered my daughter's heart... And wants to take her away from me. I'm Lilith, pleased to meet you." She started to say, her voice showing no emotions. "By the way, would you mind telling me why in the nine hells should I let you go?"

[Sutoratosu]

"Ellaria, It's me, Ethic!" the young black man called as he broke into the clearing, seeing Annie, severely injured on the ground with a... wait...was that a Paramedic by her side? he glanced over and spotted none other than Shotgun McGee slumped against the giant tree nearby, apparently dead, blood covering his snout. this was a tad bit weird..."Uh..." he began, a bit hesitantly "Would you mind explaining what the hell happened here?" he glanced over at the medical official tending Annie "And since when did Hell have a Medical Staff?"

[Ragnar]

Ixidor can't help but smile as he saw Mia's overjoyed reaction. "Who's Lara?" Kayle asked softly at the boy as they take the steps futher, "I don't know, must be her sister or something." Ixidor shrugs. They decent further into the stairs and make their way to the bottom. What in Vahalla's place is this!? The Valkyrie thought to herself.She looks around at their new surrounding. Her eyes makes its way into the center of the cavern and saw an oddly pale alluring woman in the middle of the bed, the angel spread and flaps her wings widely and begins to levitate an inch, lazily holding her bastard sword. being at her highest guard to protect Ixidor. So that's the voice i heard earlier in my dream Ixidor thought to himself as he gaze upon the lady.

"So, you're the painter boy that conquered my daughter's heart... And wants to take her away from me. I'm Lilith, pleased to meet you ,By the way, would you mind telling me why in the nine hells should I let you go?"

Without hesitation Ixidor steps forward to address Mia's mother(sister?stepmother?). "I'm Ixidor Mctracy please to meet you." said with confidence.

"Oh its not like that" said the naive artist trying to reason with Mia's mother.

"with all due respect. Mia somehow show signs of aspiration other than guarding those lustful creatures, it would be unfair for me or her to be locked away in this place. for i have a dream of my own to fulfill. there are others as well on the top of this cavern that might want to escape this place as well." Ixidor said.

"So, would you let us go?" Ixidor kindly ask Lilith.

Edited July 18, 2014 by typhlosionrulez

[Rosesong]

Rose slumped to the ground, eyes glazed over in pain from finally feeling her wounds. "Don't worry about me Byron... Kenny just came back to life, he'll need to keep his strength up for a bit..." As Rose spoke, she shakily pulled her skirt from her bag to tear a strip from it. The rip could be heard echoing through the forest. Quickly she wrapped her shoulder, trying to slow the bloodflow. Already she could feel the weight of unconsciousness weighing on her, and before she could tie her makeshift bandage, a wave of blackness took her. The woman's head hit the ground with a soft thump.

[Flux]

Phantom reacted quickly as his wrists were grabbed. A portal appeared directly below his feet, causing his body to rapidly drop. He would close the portal after his fists safely passed through, catching Lara's arms in the middle if she didn't release him. He actually didn't know what would happen if a portal were to close with somebody half way through, as he had never tried before. He supposed he'd find out if she decided to hold on...

[K_H]

Kenny saw Rose slump to the Ground, and he knew that he had to act fast.

Rose is right, but i need to act fast. i mean, there's gotta be some way tha-

Kenny's face suddenly lit up as he got an idea.

My Healing Power is Variable, just like my other Powers! I might not be able to bring her back to Consciousness, but i can at least Stabilize her!

"I can help her, but I won't be able to fully heal her."

And with that, Kenny went over to Rose, both of them started glowing a very faint Turquoise, and Rose's Wound seemed to Clot Up within a half-minute while they were both glowing. Once Kenny had stopped the Bleeding, he slumped to the ground by Rose's side, knocked out by his headache.

Edited July 18, 2014 by K_H

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

A small dainty head, framed by wavy black hair, popped out from behind the static figure.

"Hiya, Mister Ethic! D'you.. maybe... know how to heal electrocuted people?" asked the seemingly ever-cheerful child, a little bit out of breath.

Just then, however, the paramedic rose. Bandages covered the patient's limbs, and even her torso. From just looking, one couldn't tell how bad the damage had been.

Enya piped up again. "Oh, never mind. Miss Annie," she said, turning to the woman on the ground, "you've got to, phew, be more careful now. Luckily, the doctor didn't have to... To take some of your skin and place it on your worse injuries." The said doctor seemed to close in on himself like a TV screen flickering off, and Enya laid down herself, panting.

[Notus]

Phantom

Lara tried to hold Phantom up, but the sudden disapearance of the ground beneath him caught her out of guard. She started falling alongside him.

========================================

Rose, Byron & Kenny

Well, I can't blame them. This was a tough fight. Byron thought to himself, finnaly getting some rest. The mist had almost vanished at this point, revealing a small pathway that he hadn't noticed before. He decide to take look at it while the others recovered, taking care of keeping them on his view all the time just in case.

=========================================

Ellaria, Ethic, Annie & Enya

A paramedic? So that's what the stranger was... Ellaria could only deduce this was Enya's doing, and this time she was really glad to have the little girl around. "That Rat-Man attacked us, and Annie defeated him... but she got hurt by him... I think she took a shock." She explained to Ethic. Then she turned to her hurt allie, hoping she was concious enough to hear her. " Are you feeling better Annie? Can you walk?"

==========================================

Ixidor

Lilith stood serious for a while, as if considering Ixidor's proposition. "Very well, but let's put up an hipotetical question: What would you do if told you Mia cannot go with you?Would you still want to go? Or would you stay here with her? " The woman's red eyes locked on the boy's with a cold gaze as she asked that.

Edited July 21, 2014 by Notus

[Ragnar]

Ixidor flinched with fear after he saw Lilith cold eyes. "Uhmm.. well" he said with a timid voice and paused. The painter mustered up the courage to answer the pale lady in front of him."thats not your choice, Mia already made up her mind." the boy said confidently. "I'm taking her away from here, i don't know how but i will, she doesn't belong here neither do I." Ixidor said and decided to push his answer.

"you're her mother after all, you should know better what your daughter's ambition is and support her, instead you deprive her of that and force her to work here in this hellhole." the young boy takes a gulp as cold sweat drip down his neck after he finish his statement.

Kayle saw the defiance his master just did to Lilith, not to mention the tension.of both sides She steps forth igniting her sword into a blaze, just in case something goes wrong.

[Flux]

Phantom fell through the portal, Lara alongside him. He hit the ground of the other dimension, rolling away from the succubus and looking around for the old man and Meridian. He no longer had his sword, leaving defenseless aside from his portals. He could feel the place pushing against his very being, as usual, and he knew Lara would be feeling it as well. Hopefully the others were nearby, as they would be experiencing a much greater rejection right now.

[Supernovae]

Mr. Taylor looked around confused after Phantom tossed him through the portal. It was as if he'd entered a whole new dimension. It seemed lifeless, except for a few random plants. It was almost a beautiful place, well except for the enormous strain it put on his body. The old man looked around wildly for a way out as he felt the strain of the world crushing in on his bones. But, of course there was no escape.

Mr. Taylor tried his best to stay on his feet, but the world around him was doing its best to murder him and after he'd been in there for just a short while, he collapsed. Breathing was next to impossible at this point. His bones seemed to be crushing in on him. Every single inch of his body screamed for air. Mr. Taylor knew the feeling all too well. The feeling of dying, it wasn't as if this would be his first time. The elderly archaeologist decided to give himself over to his fate. He stopped fighting and rolled over. But, just before he closed his eyes, the masked man and the girl who'd helped them earlier appeared, seemingly, out of nowhere. Mr. Taylor knew this was his last chance. If the masked man could put him here, perhaps he could pull him out. He reached for his whip and snapped it in the masked man's general direction, hoping that it would catch his eye.

[Rosesong]

Rose opened her eyes slowly. I feel like I've been hit by a train, she groaned, slowly sitting up and beginning to notice the things around her. Byron had taken to keeping watch, while Kenny was out cold. At first she thought he had overexerted himself facing Aighan, until she realized that her shoulder wasn't pouring out blood like it had been. He must have healed me a little, she thought blearily.

Glancing over at Aighan's now unmoving corpse, the young woman remembered what he had said to her and lightly blushed again. You could have been a nice guy, she thought. Maybe we could have left this place together. Giving herself a few moments to compose her thoughts, Rose climbed to her feet and lightly cleared her throat to alert Byron that she was awake.

[Notus]

Phantom & Mr.Taylor

Lara stood up in the new environment instantly, still in a kind of rage trance. She started towards the masked man once again, but this time she felt something strange. Her breathing was heavy, her movements were not as quick as usual... It felt like she was underwater, trying to hold her breath. Her opponent , however, seemed to move much more fluidly than her here. She saw the old man and Meridian was nowhere to be seen. Whatever. She focused in a sprint to reach the two man but...

It turned out her legs were gone.

The succubus stared in terror as her own body dissolved in thin air and realized. Wherever they were now, it wasn't Hell, and demons could not exist out of their domain. Shit, that's what happpened to Meridian!

With a last agonizing scream, she extended her arms toward Phantom, and a moment later the red headed succubus named Lara was gone, leaving Phantom and Mr. Taylor alone in the Mirror Dimension.

====================================

Rose, Kenny & Byron

Byron was peeking through the new path when he heard Rose. "Oh hey, you're back. Are you feeling okay?" the marksman asked the girl. Then, pointing in the direction he was looking before, he continued. "I've found something interesting here by the way. There seems to be a stairway on the ground, going down. Wanna take a look?"

=======================================

Ixidor

Lilith faced him in a serious manner for a second, and then burst into laughter. After she had recovered herself, she started to talk to the group again.

"Ooooh, what a bold young man you've found Mia! Though he clearly has no idea who he is talking to." she started with irony clear in her voice. "And look, it seems he has your angelic version as an body guard. Did he see your true form yet?" By Mia's scared look after this last sentence, she already knew the answer.

She turned serious again. "It's very commendable of you to say such words, painter, but I'm not joking around here. Mia cannot leave this circle, and it's not because of my will. We demons are bound to Hell and our respective circles, and if we leave we cease to exist. So your choices really are: stay here with her or go out alone. I won't stop you if Mia agrees with that."

Mia stood still for a moment and then spoke, terrified with the revelation. "But mom! You said you'd let us go!" The girl was shaking out of control, tears starting to form in her eyes. "Oh sweetie, I lied. I just needed to see him you know. Either way, you shouldn't be so worried about a man out of all things. Trust me, it's not worthy." Lilith answered with a bored voice. "So, Ixidor McTracy, what is your choice?"

Edited July 21, 2014 by Notus

[Sutoratosu]

"So the rat bastard has struck again..." Ethic thought to himself as he stood there listening to Ellaria explain what had happened. "And apparently he has lightning powers just like Byron does...yeah, that's just great..." he looked up from his mental mutterings and recalled the life force he had been using to sustain the blade in his hand, causing the construct to flicker and then collapse back into his palm, the energy retreating back into his body as he broke of the Death Link for now. he and Shotgun McGee, or 'Quincy' as he said his name was earlier,had made a pact on the stair case, a truce for the night. but you know what? to hell with the truce, as far as Ethic was concerned, attacking his friends counted as the same thing as an attack on himself, and therefore, the pror agreement between them was technically broken now...

"If Annie is well enough to walk," he began, looking over at Ellaria and Enya as he spoke "Then you all need to get away from here quickly, before Rat Man comes back from death." he turned, casting a narrow glance at the body of the were-beast laying slumped against the tree, his voice ringing with a bit of wrath as he spoke up again "I'll stay behind here to make sure he doesn't try to pursue you... " he added "Plus there are a few...words I'd like to have with this rat bastard for going after you all..."

Edited July 21, 2014 by Stratos

[Ragnar]

Ixidor was in disbelief of what he just heard from Lilith. Demons?True form? What the hell? everything i know about this place is a lie..Ixidor steps back in shock as he looks at the cold carvern floor beneath his feet. To make matters worst, he just witness Mia cry helplessly after being use by her mother which sickens the painter the most.

"I understand, If that keeps Mia alive, then so be it. "ixidor said with a timid voice disappointed about his decision. "But she is not a demon! she is more than that! i learn compassion from her," Ixidor spoke boldly. "how could you lie to your own daughter? treating her like a pawn, playing with her emotions to get what you want, you really are a demon. you're whats wrong with this place."

"I've decided, i'll go alone. like I said i don't belong in this hellish place, either do you! enough with the lies Lillith, show your true self demon." the boy foolishly issues a challenge to the deceitful demon. Kayle change into her battle stance,holding her sword up high. bracing herself for what may come.

Edited July 21, 2014 by typhlosionrulez

[K_H]

Kenny recovered just in time to hear Byron speak.

"...stairway on the ground, going down. Wanna have a look?"

Kenny then stood up, headed to the others, looked down the Staircase, but couldn't see all that far down. he then spoke up.

"It seems like a good idea to me. After all, we should probably try to find the exit ASAP."

[Rosesong]

Rose nodded, stumbling back to the ground. Seeing her spear lying a couple feet away, she grabbed it and stood again, using it as a walking stick. "Stairs?" she rasped, making her way over to Byron. "I wonder where they go."

Kenny had already gotten up again, so she leaned against the tree while the guys figured out what they wanted to do. Rose would go with them-- she was too weak for anything else.

[anethia]

Annie's eyes flickered open and she took in a sharp breath. Looking around, she saw Ethic, Enya and Ellaria.

"Ugh. Stupid rat." She stood up and fixed her hair, moving it from in front of her face. She looked around and saw the dead rat. "Guess I got him. Also, thanks for saving me, Enya!" Annie leaned in and pulled Enya in for a quick hug.

[Flux]

Phantom ran over to Mr. Taylor as Lara disappeared. The man appeared to have blacked out from the effects of this dimension, but he was still breathing. Phantom picked him up, opening a portal for the two of them to step through. He looked back at the place one last time before he stepped through. Meridian appeared to have disappeared just the same as Lara. And it was all his doing. His only... friend, and he had caused her to fade away. He stepped through the portal, arriving back at the real world. He set Mr. Taylor on the ground, kneeling at his side. He would wait here until the man woke up, then perhaps spend a while searching here for Meridian. He thought back to their conversation.

"Trust... friend..."

"Yes."

She had smiled when she walked through. Why would she do so if it would mean her death? Then it hit him. It was the fault of his own words. He had asked her to trust him, and she had done so without question, because she had considered him... a friend. And in that trust, she had unknowingly been taken to her demise. He let his head fall into his hands. He was... sad. It was strange for him to feel this way. He hadn't felt like this in a long time. He began sobbing lightly, and the tears brought back the one memory he had -- the face of the girl, Lyra. She was somehow associated with such sadness. Seeing Lyra's face reminded him of Meridian, and the resemblance she bore to Lyra. He leaned back, the last of his tears rolling out from under the mask. He would wait until the man woke, then decide what he would do next.

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

The little girl didn't really protest, having fallen asleep, still hugging the bear protectively, as a result sandwiching it in between the two girls.

[Notus]

Annie, Enya & Ellaria

Ellaria smiled relieved as she heard Annie's voice. "I'm glad you're better Annie! Thanks for saving us... But i think we should get going, as Ethic said we never know when the rat guy will get alive again." Then the girl spoke to Ethic. "You, uhmn, you don't need to stay here to fight him you know? He will just get alive again right? Maybe we should try to get as far from him as we can now..." she suggested.

============================================

Ixidor

Lilith smiled and started walking calmly towards Ixidor and Kayle. "So i'm the one in the wrong uhn? You just said yourself that you will leave my daughter. You said she thought you compassion, and still you won't stay by her side here... You only would if she could meet your conditions and leave. See Mia, just as I said, men are all the same proud and selfish scum, who always fancy themselves above the others.

I said I'd let you leave boy, but if you're so eager for a painful death I will have to satisfy you... "

Lilith stopped and a red light flashed through her eyes. All of a sudden two huge snakes appeared from the floor, apparently made from the earth itself and measuring almost twenty feet long. With a unaturally loud hiss, both started towards the painter and his creation.

======================================

Rose, Kenny & Byron

Byron stood quiet for a moment, thinking. "We should probably go anyway. We don't know if Aighan can come back from the dead like we can, so the earlier we leave this circle, the better." He started going forward slowly, to make it easier for Rose to follow. "If you guys need to stop just tell me."

[Sutoratosu]

"Don't worry about me, Ellaria." Ethic said simply, not looking away from Quincy's still dead body. "I know he'll just keep coming back if I kill him... But maybe I can put the fear of god into the freak, make it so that he thinks twice before pulling shit like this again." with that, his hand began to again glow in a multi-colored light as he again established the death link, preparing for battle.

"you all go on, You don't need to worry yourselves with this one anymore," He continued as his Life Saber materialized in his right hand "Me and Quincy had a bit of an agreement from earlier tonight, and it seems some of the things we agreed upon earlier didn't come off as quite clear to him, so Him and I are just gonna have a... little chat...and get things straightened out..." As he spoke however, his true intentions were clearly visible in his eyes; He said he just wanted to talk, but he was far more likely going to try to hack this freak of nature into so many bits and pieces that he'd never be able to come back; there had to be some type of limit down here, right? some type of border between how bad a person could be injured and still come back from death? Ethic had a hunch that the body needed to at least be partially intact for it to be able to work, but if his current theory failed and making Rat Sushi didn't get the job done, he'd think of other things...other methods he could try...

Edited July 24, 2014 by Stratos

[Rosesong]

Rose began to hobble down the stairs after Byron, noticing the slower pace he was taking. Not really in the mood to talk, and wanting to do some self-inflection, she said nothing, retreating into the depths of her mind for some time to think.