Eternally Bound: Part 3

Eternally Bound: Part 3

----- Conjuration -----

The sun yawned and peeked its head over the horizon.  It liked this time: the silent stillness of the morning, before any other thing expected its return.  It shot beams onto the ripples of the lake near the Dejarin Estate, gleefully enjoying the reflectivity and refraction it caused.  Paige shared in the enjoyment.

Each new day brought along with it the affairs and political woes of the estate, yet in the moment - just as daylight began - she had a few minutes to herself.  The woman glided onto the balcony, watching the shoreline and waters below, then finally sighed.  It was a sight that took her back to when she was a girl, waking up before anyone knew, sneaking into her father's study to look out the window to watch the spectacle of a new dawn.  The excitement of her youth at witnessing it had been replaced by serenity as the woman grew into her role, and she relished in the time - however fleeting - that she could find it.

Ember cleared her throat, having been silent for longer than the woman thought she could have been.  Paige turned around, warmly greeted her new captain.  The day had begun, and the morning report signaled the beginning of it.

Demitra stepped onto the overlook, stretching and yawning.  Both her hair and attire (what little it was) indicated the woman had just rolled out of bed. While most wouldn't wear this appearance well, the exotic woman looked absolutely ravishing, and both Ember and Paige stopped their conversation at the sight of her.

"Good morning, my dear, and ahai to you, Lady Paige Dejarin." the woman wiped her eyes, continued yawning and stretching as she approached.

Ember's cheeks were red at her lover's appearance.  "Are you… uh… going to change?" she asked as politely as she knew how.

Where some would consider her rude at times, Demitra found Ember's forthrightness and honesty refreshing.  She simply smiled large ruby lips and winked at her partner.  A hand was waved over her attire which rippled and completely vanished for a moment, leaving her completely exposed.  A split second thereafter, small fuchsia distortions formed around her curvaceous body which solidified, forming her armor and adventuring attire.

Ember had seen the magical wardrobe change before, but it hadn't occurred to her until that moment that it involved a bit of nudity (it was usually only done in the privacy of their bedchambers).  She hoped Paige hadn't caught it, but, a quick glance to Paige's wide-eyed and shocked expression literally made Ember's hair catch fire from embarrassment.

Paige swallowed the knot in her throat and employed her diplomatic skills to ignore it, even though she was clearly flustered.  "A-and, how did the… night find you? Are you well rested?" she managed to ask.

"Indeed it found me quite well.  We rested quite soundly after we..." Demitra noted Ember's fiery head. "Well, I would simply say we slept very well, indeed."

Ember rubbed the back of her neck and decided to change the subject.  "Did you eat?" Ember asked. Since her lover's return, Demitra had eaten very little.  At the coronation she had seemed almost disgusted at the prospect, and while Ember was no anthropologist, she knew enough to understand that most living beings ate.

"Sebastian set out a wide variety of foods; hopefully you found something to your liking?" Paige offered graciously.

"I appreciate the gesture, but it seems I no longer require such to sustain me," Demitra stated casually

Paige shifted awkwardly.  She hadn't expected the statement, and no matter how much diplomatic experience someone had under their belt, conversing with a Djinn wasn't something one often practiced.  This fact, combined with Demitra's stature, her accent, articulation, and - Paige had to admit - the woman's exotic physique, certainly could be intimidating.

Ember raised an eyebrow, was about to interject, when another approached.  It was Ariadne, a member of Ember's newfound cavalry.  She was a tall woman, and since Ember was shorter than most, she had to crane her neck just to see her face.  But, despite her imposing stature, Ari had become someone Ember respected for her insight and assessment.  She approached her captain, the lady of the house and Demitra carefully, as not to interrupt any state of affairs in progress.  When all turned to her, the woman placed her hand over her heart, in a greeting salute.

"Greetings Ari," Paige said as she bowed her head and Ember saluted her subordinate.

"May I have Ember's ear for a moment, Lady Paige?"

"Of course," Paige said, gesturing a dismissal to Ember.  "We may continue the morning report afterwards."

Ember and the woman excused themselves momentarily, while Paige noticed a figure standing silently in the balcony's entranceway.  The frame was of a young woman, petite in size, wearing a short dress with a small top, separated by an exposed midriff.  The entire outfit was of blacks accented by mustard yellows, complete with a top-hat she often wore - even when the situation didn't warrant it.  Paige considered the young woman a very dear friend of hers, and while her sorted past would make anyone a bitter person, Six, as she was called, always seemed to wear a smile.  However, she now stood in the arch of flowers with a slightly furrowed brow and a subtly grave expression.

"Six?  Come.  Is something the matter," Paige called out, concerned.

Six came to the balcony, walked by Demitra with a slight nod of her head, then brought Paige to stand upon the overlook to the beach.  She gestured below and kept her tones low, for only the Lady's ears.  "Sorry for interrupting, but there is something I found that I think you should know before Ember finds out."

Paige nodded, as if ready with a shielding spell to prepare herself for the news.  "What's wrong?  You've never been this… serious."

"Well," the young woman seemed to consider the words carefully; she had always struggled with certain social cues, and wondered if there were varying degrees of seriousness lost to her.  She shook herself back to the moment.  "I found something on the beech…"

Demitra felt a flood of worry and heartache come from Paige; the most she had felt from the woman's normally methodical analytical mind.  She took a step toward the woman, to offer support, when a wave of panic came from Ember's corner of the balcony.  Demitra was torn, felt at odds with herself.  Ember's urgency was intense, but Paige's new was unsettling and heartbreaking.

Ember came quickly to stand beside Demitra, as Ari leaned against the banister and looked distantly, thinking of their objective.

"What is amiss?" Demitra asked, her emerald eyes glowing with concern.

"Seems I'll be working today; looks like we'll see how far the raptor's training has come." She put her arm around Demitra, attempting to ease concern.  "It's all part of the duty of Captain of the Guard, you know," she said with a smirk, then signaled to Paige, who tried to keep a brave face.

"Is all well?" Demitra quickly slid the question in before Ember could speak.

Paige looked almost in tears, but kept her head poised.  "It's fine.  I'll just… I'll handle this.  I just…" her gaze was locked on Ember, who figured it was only to indicate her turn.

"Lady Paige, Ari has informed me there are pirates to the north in a cave which seem to be gathering.  It appears your theory about the target painted on our backs is warranted," Ember said.

"What target?" Six asked, joining the circle.

Paige explained her theory to Six.  "We are becoming a bit well known, it seems.  Since the festival in Amnoon, our wine has started circulating, and I'll admit, even I have been surprised by the increase in demand.  But, with that comes those who would steal our prosperity.  Thus, a 'target on our backs,' and it sounds like these bandits or pirates or whatever are amassing to do just that.  What do you propose, Captain Ember?"

"We ride out and snuff them out before they even begin to march for us," she said.  With a nod from Paige, she gave a salute, then turned to Demitra to kiss her love a quick goodbye.  "I'll be back soon; just going to make ready the raptors and guard are ready to move out."  Her words were bordering giddy, and she seemed to almost skip away.

"Oh… Oh gods," Paige whispered in an exhale.

"I am sorry to add more to your already full skate (or is it plate?).  I hate sayings…" Six muttered.

"It's fine, Six.  Thank you for bringing me the news discretely; it's a delicate matter," Paige said.

Six nodded, went to join Ari, with a sidelong glance to Demitra.  Having seen the Djinn's powers on the beech during the coronation, Six remained skeptical of the woman, but -as was her way- remained silent and vigilant.

Demitra's concern was for Paige, however.  The woman's worried attention had brought her to the veranda that overlooked the beach.  She was leaning against the railing holding the wood tightly.  Lost in thought, she hadn't realized the Elonian came to stand beside her, until Demitra spoke.

"Lady Paige Dejarin?  What vexes you so?"

Paige averted her eyes.  "It's nothing of concern," she said, but her mannerisms spoke volumes, even to Demitra who hadn't known her that long.

"Do you recall our adventure to its fullest?" she said, also leaning against the railing.

"I do; as if it were yesterday, in fact."

"Then you recall, no doubt, that I can sense the feelings in others, yes?  It is an ability I have had since I was a teenager, and one that I have come to count on.  I feel you are deeply troubled; please allow me to assist… That is, if you can place your trust in me," Demitra smiled warmly, sympathetically.

Paige sighed.  "I had forgotten you had that gift for a moment.  Six came to give me some news, and I fear that Ember will discover it before I can learn more about what happened.  I just… I don't know how to tell her…"  Paige's voice inadvertently cracked.



Demitra placed her hand over the woman's, trying to console her.  She hadn't counted on the tingling sensation her touch was prone to, and seeing Paige's wide-eyes and the audible gasp that came from the woman made Demitra's face turn red.  She withdrew her hand, stared at her own azure sparkling fingertips.  "Apologies; I just wanted to… Well, I simply need you to know, Lady Paige Dejarin, daughter of the Dejarin line, that I have come to know of you over these past months."

Liquid hazel eyes turn to Demitra's emeralds.  "W-what do you see?"


Warm thick lips reassured the noble woman.  "I know you to be a caring individual.  You have such a big heart, it is welcoming and exudes love.  You are a strong, confident woman; a Lady of an up and coming house.  But, you feel all the weight is yours alone.  You should know that it is not.  There are those around you which shall help with that burden; you simply have to trust them to help you."  Demitra winked.

Paige sighed.  "Sometimes I take too much after my father, and I'm always cautious about that.  You know, I saw the stress and strain on a man too used to live alone.  After my mother had gone, Father had gotten used to relying on only himself, and I think it drove others away.  And, I… I don't want to live like that, so I surround myself with great people."

"You do not give yourself enough accolades, Lady Paige Dejarin; the very fact you objectively reflect on such is truly a trait most admiring."

"Do I not?"  Paige seemed to rummage through her memories for a moment, until she saw Ember below, approaching the house, a small herd of raptors and drakes behind her.  "Ember needs to know that we won't stop until we've discovered the truth behind this tragedy," she said eyeing her captain as she made her way into the manor.

"And we shall be here for you to help shoulder the responsibility, as well as console Ember, in her time of need."

"Demitra… I…"

"Everything is ready!" Ember exclaimed loudly.  She had full battle armor on, and already donned her helm.  "Who is coming?  I have a few of the riders coming along, but any that aren't needed elsewhere would be welcomed to accompany us."

Ari and Six paused their conversation and seemed to look at each other with the same excited expression.  "We're in," they both said in unison.

A quick wardrobe change into their armor later and the group gathered on the grounds.  Demitra stood within the group of raptors looking, proudly, at the accomplishment her partner had become captain to.  Ember rode to the front of the line upon Cinder, who had enjoyed a pounce upon Demitra when first seeing her again.

"This is one of the first large operations the cavalry has embarked on," Ember said, rallying the troops.  "I know some of you are new to this, but if you remember your training, you will be victorious.  We're going to stop some looters, before they loot; so we'll have the drop on them.  The drakes have gone ahead in the waters and will stop anyone trying to escape.  Stick with the group; don't be a hero, and we'll all be coming home to a barrel of wine."

For one who unequivocally avoids speeches, Ember's speech was brilliant, Demitra thought.  She stepped forward, waved a hand to use her magics to conjure a crystalline raptor, as she had done so many times before.  This time, however, what manifested was… different.  From her conjuration was a raptor construct made completely out of ice...

[To Be Continued...]

 

Eternally Bound: Part 2

Eternally Bound: Part 2

----- Coronation -----

--One Month Later--

Ember took a deep breath and, while she knew what she had to do, she feared doing it.  The fear was not born from the war, rather, it was fear of the dreaded podium.  As with the battle from a month ago, Ember looked over her shoulder to her companion for reassurance.  This time it wasn't Harid's presence which bolstered her, but instead was his daughter's smiling face which gave her confidence.  Her name was Paige.

Paige was a mocha colored woman, darker than Ember's skin-tone, which carried along with it certain Elonian features.  A product of Harid's travels, her mother was Krytan while her father was from Kourna in Elona.  What resulted was a remarkable mixture of uniqueness that the woman had come to embrace.  Her hair was puffed in a afro with curly brown locks which were lightly highlighted midway down them.  It surrounded a face which held plump lips and a smaller nose, accented by slightly puffy cheeks.  Her hazel eyes spoke volumes, as did the quiet smile she returned to Ember.

She placed her hand onto the woman's shoulder, winked, then quietly passed her, taking the stage with a grace that instantly made one note her nobility.  A Lady of House Dejarin, Paige had finally grown into the role with a perceived confidence that made those under her respect, admire, and adore the woman.  In truth, Paige was constantly considerate of her presence, and those over which she governed, and took care not to issue orders too harshly.  Each member of her house was important to her, down to the servants of the estate, and Paige made sure every individual knew it.

The small crowd gathered, readying to receive the speech from the noble woman.  Most still had plates with hors d'oevres and mugs of wine from a casket - of which, a particular charr had almost emptied by himself. The house servants took the opportunity of the guest's attention redirection to prepare the tables for the main course, laying out a bountiful spread of meat, grapes, bread and wine.  Fireworks shooters were on standby as flags bearing the colors of House Dejarin flapped in the breeze coming from the lake behind them.

Paige cleared her throat, took in a breath, looked over the crowd and smiled.  "Greetings, to everyone.  For those new faces I see, allow me to introduce myself, and extend a warm welcome to you all.  I am Lady Paige Dejarin, and I'm so very glad you could all make it to this special occasion."  She paused for effect, glancing to each new face in the crowd, then continued.  "We are here for two announcements: the first is that the Dejarin Estate is now fortified and we are prepared to defend our lands to the fullest.  After my mother abandoned this land, I feel we are finally back to our glory and pride; House Dejarin Is now a true house of nobility, and we will continue advertising our name as a predominate winery!"  After a moment of cheers from the crowd, Paige continued her speech, "The second, is…"

Ember shifted nervously in anticipation.

"Today I make my first coronation as Lady of this house and welcome Ember Drakenfist as captain of the guard and leader of our new cavalry, with all the rights, privileges (and work) therein!"  The crowd laugh at the joke.  "She has returned with experience in House Valdyr's cavaliers, during the defeat of Joko in the war in Kourna, as well as many other campaigns under her beld.  She will serve with pride and prestige!  Three cheers for House Dejarin and Guard Captain Ember Drakenfist!"

The crowd erupted and cheered at the announcement, as the first set of fireworks launched.  Paige clapped, stepped away from the podium with a warm, welcoming smile to Ember.  Nervously, Ember returned a weary smile, then proceeded to the stage.  Within two steps upon it, she tripped, fell headfirst onto the deck.  There was an audible gasp from the small audience.  Ember quickly stood, brushed herself off, attempted to look indifferent to the incident, but her head slightly smoked.

To urge her on, a member of Ember's cavalry named Ariadne roared over the crowd.  "To our first female captain!" she yelled, holding a mug to the sky with a wink to Ember.

Ember slightly grinned in spite of herself and took her place behind the podium.  "I… Uh… We at House Dejarin are not responsible for any drake-caused burns, bites, injuries or death."

The crowd erupted in laughter. Paige joined them and giggled.  She knew her father's sense of humor, felt it in the joke he undoubtedly helped the new captain write, but said nothing.  Instead she whispered to Ariadne, "Ari, there's a hidden chest beside the stage we will be presenting to Ember.  I think she will be quite surprised.  Would you mind fetching it after her speech is concluded?"

The woman's speech was as short as Ember, herself.  There were a lot of pauses, a bit of stammering, but the new captain did the best she could.  Ember's eyes lit up as she spoke of future plans for her raptor rider cavalry and the uniforms they would wear, which she was modeling throughout the night.  She awkwardly thanked all for coming, then quickly excused herself from the podium.  It happened so quickly, the servant, Sebastian, had to be prodded to set off additional fireworks.

Ember made her way through the crowd, planning a stealthy retreat.  It's not that she didn't want the position, but all the fuss focused on her put the woman in an extremely exposed position and she just wanted to get on with her duties.  She came to an abrupt stopped as Ari stood with Paige, blocking her escape.

Paige folded her arms playfully.  "You're not planning on leaving so soon, are you?  You haven't eaten or even opened your gift."

Ari presented the small chest she had retrieved.

"A dear friend wished me to give this to you," Paige said with a sly wink.  She invited a few over to witness; the drunk charr, Nyto, then a small asura named Varro, who had been busily pocking seashells.  "She'll be so surprised; just watch!"

Ember blinked confusedly.  She accepted the chest with reservation, then cautiously opened it.   The lid creaked open to reveal a gossamer lined velvet padding which held two fingerless bracers in its center.

A choked gasped came from Ember, her eyes immediately tearing.  She let the chest fall as she cradled the bracers and began to sob.

Without warning, a cloud of white, black and purple smoke magically emanated from the bracers, following unseen pathways to culminate and gather.  Within, a silhouette of a four armed woman was seen, stepping out and forming into Ember's partner: Demitra.

"Ahai, my love," the Djinn smiled ruby lips at Ember's shocked expression.

"I… uh… I wanted this to be special for her," Paige whispered to Ari.

Ember stood as a statue, wide-eyed in disbelief.  She stammered, reached out to Demitra, touching the Elonian's arm to ensure she was real.  Demitra giggled as she wrapped her arms around the woman.  "I am here, dear heart."

Cheers rang out through the small gathering, as the last round of fireworks were launched, the noises forcing Ember back to reality.  "I… I can't believe… I'm so… I'm so glad you're back!"  She stared at Demitra's eyes of emeralds, then embraced her and drug her lover into a deep, passionate kiss.

Demitra giggled, pulled back to stare at Ember's tear-filled reds.  "Did you honestly think I would miss such an event?"

"I… I didn't think you'd know!"  Ember said, absolutely giddy.

A ruby thick-lipped smile came from Demitra.  "Oh, I knew, indeed!" she said, winking at Paige.

"H-how… did you?" Ember looked confoundedly at Paige.

Paige quaintly smiled, then excused herself without a word, attending to the guests.

"It is quite a bit of a story, my dear.  I found myself being… called upon… while Paige was on a quest within Elona.  I assisted; came to understand that we shared friendships with others: you and… And Valandra," she paused for a moment at the name, then pushed forward.  "As a gift to me, Lady Paige allowed for transport back to Tyria… and back to you."

Ember buried her face in the corner of Demitra's neck, causing the woman's cheeks to darken.

"She is quite remarkable, you know?  This Lady Paige Dejarin, daughter of the Dejarin line; the wonderous House which you have joined."  Demitra turned her attention to Ember with a squeeze.  "Come.  There will be time for us; Let us not forget those who have come to your coronation."

The two ventured back to the crowd, when a loud boom pierced the air.  Over the water, next to the shore, appeared a rift in the air.  Its burgundy ripples and electrical magic may have been a beautiful sight, had a force of Joko's Awakened not come through it, followed by a large Elite Candid Awakened.

"Death to all, in Joko's name!" its sinister garbled voice rang out.

"Why… Why would the Awakened still be attacking us, after Joko's death?" Ari asked.

"There are those who choose not to believe in his death," Paige concluded as the Elite began ordering his troops forward.

"Then we get them first!" cried out Varro as he unsheathed his weapon.

Nyto shook himself sober, came to stand beside the others.  "Let's show'em what our steel can do, then!"

"Wish our cavalry was already ready," Paige considered aloud.

"Your Captain of the Cavalry is already ready!" Ember said proudly, drawing her flame-sword.

"Then let us put an end to these abominations!" Demitra said.  Her skin suddenly erupted, replaced by a star field held together by fuchsia electrical currents.  Two additional arms came from the woman's sides, as purple smoke held her aloft, her legs disappearing in it.

The party hesitated at the woman's advance.  "Should we… should we attack?" Ari asked Paige.

"Wait…" Paige said, unsure of the situation; unsure of sending her people in the line of fire at what the Djinn was about to do.  She had seen Demitra's raw power during their adventure in Elona, but the powers never manifested in such a spectacular display as they were now.  By her own admission, Demitra's power was depleted after healing Paige's friend.  Now Paige saw a level she hadn't before.

Djinn Demitra held out all four arms to channel sands from the beech, which rose to meet each hand.  The sand shimmered, formed shards of reflective glass surrounding each hand as fluid crystalline structures.  At the apex of her channeling, and just before the enemy reached her, her back arched, then pulled all four hands were together.  A cone of mirror fragments and pink electricity was unleashed upon the enemies.  It permeated everything in its path, decimated all living and awakened things ahead of the Djinn, and turned the sands below to mirrored glass.  The Elite and all his subordinates toppled over, landing with thuds onto the mirror floor as the portal behind them snapped shut.








Demitra collapsed onto the ground.  Her skin was returned to its normal caramel color, the two additional arms now gone.  She lie naked and unmoving upon the mirror she had created along with her vanquished foes.

Ember cried out, dropped her flame sword and ran to the woman's aid.  "Demitra?  Are you… Are you alright, hon?"  Ember scooped the woman into her arms.  "Tell me you're alright!  I… I just got you back… I…"

Demitra coughed and giggled slightly at her partner's concern, touching as it was.  "Perhaps that was overzealous of me?"

"You think?" Ember said as she cradled the woman, kissing her cheeks, her neck and squeezing her more than she knew she probably should, given her condition.

Paige and the rest came to inspect the scene.  A few murmurs could be heard from the crowd as they looked at the woman who had just single-handedly taken out an incursion force.  Paige shushed them.  "What she did was to save us from any losses that may have happened, and to me, that's worthy of celebrating!  Please, enjoy the feast my staff has prepared, and let this incident not ruin our night," she said, diplomatically, gesturing to the tables of food.  The group meandered over to the feast, still obviously talking about what had just occurred; Paige stayed behind.

An unheard command had a staff member bringing Lady Paige a cloak, which she lay atop Demitra's curvaceous body, blushing as she did so.  "I-I'm grateful," she stammered, then politely turned as Demitra was brought to her feet and adjusted the cloak to wrap around her.

"Thank you for saying so Lady Paige Dejarin, although, I shall admit such a thing was not my plan; I still have much to learn about my…"

"Djinniness?" Ember giggled.  "Kind of makes you miss the days when I was the weird one, huh?" She pecked the woman's cheek.

Demitra slightly frowned at the joke.  "It was my hope to obtain answers from the otherwise cryptic Djinn; thus, I ventured to the Djinn Sanctuary deep in the desolate wastes.  Given my…" she paused, distastefully said the word, "'transformation,' I considered, perhaps, the Djinn would be willing to assist in explanations of their own kind.  However, upon arrival at the gate, I was not allowed admittance, turned away, rejected for a reason that continues to elude and vex me.  I was simply told to 'Return when you are pure'."

Ember blinked.  "Really?  But they let me and Val…"  She paused, shook her head angrily.  "We should go right back there and I'll kick in their door!"

"You do know the entrance is a magical sand portal they control, love?" Demitra smirked.

"I'd still kick it down.  Well, I'd kick it until they let us in!"  Ember stuck out her foot, emulating a small kick.

Demitra chuckled.  "I am quite certain you would try until the point of exhaustion, and for that, Ember, I love you."

Ember grumbled.  "Well, you're pure to me, at least," she said, her hands around the woman's waist.

Paige was lost in thought.  As if knowing her train of thought, Demitra smiled.  "It feels… It feels connected somehow.  You're time in the vault; you summoning me, Paige.  This riddle: It all seems… connected?  In a way I truly do not understand."

"That was exactly my thinking," Paige tapped her chin.  "I think I want to gather some notes in the estate; maybe piece together a few theories.  This is a puzzle, and I think most everyone here knows how much I love solving puzzles!"

"Hey… Just how did you two meet?  You said you were summoned?"  She raised an eyebrow at Demitra, then looked to Paige, "And you were in the Deslation with Nalla?"

Paige giggled at Ember's inquisitiveness, akin to her own.  She decided to offer up an explanation, having ignored the woman's inquiry earlier.  "Remember that ritual I was researching the other night?  Well, while it may not have had the desired results, it worked.  (And it worked really well; I summoned a Djinn!)"  She tapped the torch base attached to her belt.  "I think this torch we found in that vault had something to do with it.  I just don't understand how… yet."

Demitra's emerald eyes grew wide.  "The… The vault?  Does she speak of our vault?" she asked Ember, who nodded.  "Paige, I would wish to understand your ordeal in the vault.  While I know it is deeply… personal, if your experience was anything like my own, and Ember's… But there is something that possibly holds the key to how you summoned me without my vessel."

"Vess- What?" Ember looked confused.

"I'd be willing to share.  We can maybe swap stories after we have privacy in the manor?"

Demitra nodded.  "This, I would very much appreciate Lad-"

Ember interrupted, "Oh!  The vessel where we met?  What was its name?  The Mockingbird?  It's been so long, but it really still feels like yesterday when we met just south of here."

Paige tilted her head, "What were you doing there?"

A smirk came from Demitra.  "I was… 'securing' passage on the vessel.  But that is not the vessel of which I sp-"

"Oh wait!  We met before that!" Ember excitedly reminisced.  "Remember? At the party?"

"I do, indeed.  You wore that long evening gown, which accentuated your curves," Demitra winked.

Ember's head burst into flame.  "I… I was… Um… forced to wear that dress."

"It was lovely, dear heart," Demitra pressed her ruby lips to the woman's cheek.  "It made me notice you."  She brushed Ember's bangs from her face (which immediately fell right back down into place).

Party goers began to disperse, as the staff cleaned up the festivities.  Nyto sat asleep in a chair, his drunkenness finally catching up.  Paige said goodbye to all the guests, took a few extra moments with a young girl in a top-hat, then turned to the women, who had never dropped their embrace.

She looked at them, smiled and watched Varro mount a small raptor, and waved goodbye.  She sighed.  "I really wish we could do this every night."


"Such a thing can be granted," Demitra joked.

Paige turned and laughed.

Ember raised an eyebrow.  "You… You grant wishes now?"

"It's a phrase, Ember; a saying," Paige attempted to explain.

"Ah… Well, there goes my plan," Ember said with a smirk.

Demitra laughed.  "Well you know Ember: your wish, is my command." The Elonian winked at her love.

"Um… Well… We might need a room," Ember teased.

Paige turned, began to sashay away.  "You do know that the Captain of the Cavalry has permanent residence here at the estate.  Did I fail to mention that?  Oh, silly me," the woman said playfully as she retired.

"Did you… Did you grant a wish right then?" Ember asked Demitra with a seriously puzzled look.

Demitra laughed.  "Ember, you fool!"

Ember's face flushed.

The couple walked along the beach back to the manor, not noticing a trail of blood which started at the mirror, traveled along the shoreline and behind a rock.  The source was a dying drake.  It took its last breath as shards of crystalline mirror embedded in its side ended the creature's life.

[To be Continued...]

 

[Note: This story takes place after the events of The Search for Lexxie.
If you'd like to learn more about how Paige and Demitra met between Books 2 & 3, see The Search for Lexxie: Chapters 7 - 9]

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Eternally Bound: Part 1

Eternally Bound: Part 1

----- Downfall -----

Ember looked at the giant wall of vines and frowned.  The small force stood, gathered to have a ritual administered that would make the scarabs believe they were already dead; already infected.  She held her breath and closed her eyes as the cloud of smoke from the ritual passed over her, visualizing her role when they entered the fray.  She exhaled, then looked over her shoulder at Harid.

The man had been a mentor of hers for years, and she had grown up under his tutelage and befriended his daughter, Paige.  Despite both Paige's and Ember's protests, Harid, had slipped his way into the war in Kourna as well.  This battle wasn't like others they had been in: before, they had been confident they would win; either they were small forces, or they were fighting a god that Ember was almost built to beat. But, this time, they were fighting the immortal god-king Joko and Ember felt something she usually didn't: fear.  She looked down at the icy blade she held at her side, and grinned at it, feeling as if Valandra was urging her on.

"No more being diplomatic.  Go Ember; go and unleash!" the ice queen's voice drove her.

The Sunspear commander's voice called the troops to arms, "Ride to war!  In the five's name, we will take down Joko!"  He led the small contingent to an Inquest cannon outside the vine wall.  They hurriedly took out the small camp and used the cannon, turning the gun to take down the necrotic field around the fortress.  In the distance, three additional forces marched.  The closest, a group led by a sylvari, were intent on taking out the inquest lab, removing any chance of the plague spreading.  While the center force was led by the master commander Ember once considered a rival if not a foe.  Finally, the farthest group was set to light the tar ablaze, led by a charr using Ember enchanted arrows.  With the cannons secured, Ember's group charged fully into the Inquest labs.

While some of their forces engaged the Awakened, Ember quickly jumped to her important task.  She smashed raw materials and incinerated lab samples, in a brilliant display of flames, ensuring nothing survived.  They made quick work of the lab, joining the other groups to assault the fortress head on.  This was meant as a diversionary tactic: their force was a distraction; they had to give the master commander time.

Ember arrived at the tar pits, which were already on fire, the last of the Awakened in the area cut down.  A cursory glance around had the woman wondering if the plan had brought in their reinforcement without reason.  As if to answer her, a large group of golems marched forth, stepping in sync, forming a wall of metal to block the enemies advance across the bridge.

"Ember, could you perhaps use your talents on the other side of the golems?" the charr commander asked.  Despite their parents likely fighting, Ember had actually befriended him; both finding commonality in the fire and in the battle.  She nodded to her comrade.

Another force gathered on the other side of the bridge.  It comprised of a sea of Awakened, led by a member of the Mordant Crescent, an elite group of Joko's personal Awakened warriors.  Ember paled under her helm at the sight of the grotesqueness, bile dripping from every orifice.

"We need time to get ready!  The golems will hold as long as they can, but I doubt they will last for long!" the leader of their force shouted.

Ember knew what she had to do, but she was scared.  That is, until a calm hand came to her shoulder.  "Go ahead Ember.  You got this," Harid said.  His grip was steady and strong, yet there was obvious tension.  Ember knew the man for a long time, and while he wouldn't admit it directly, she knew he was also afraid.  His face showed a purposeful calm, but she knew he feared that he would never again leave this land.

She hung her head a moment to gather herself.  Even with Harid's presence, she feared what she must do.  Then a familiar presence held her in an icy embrace, as the frost sword at her side glowed in the night.  She looked at it, felt her confidence swell and slightly smiled.  "For Valandra..." she said softly.  Instantly, she scrambled on top of the center golem standing with conviction against the coming forces.  The leader of her enemy smiled a broken sneer as they marched forward.  When suddenly, they were met with a wall of Ember's flames, her magic halting their advance.  She glanced over her shoulder down at her troop, readying themselves for the coming force.  With any luck, Ember would thin the herd and…

"Thwip…"  An arrow landed and entered Ember in the ribs.  The woman wavered only slightly, kept the flames going; She knew what she needed to do.  The people behind her moved frantically calling for healing, some asking about the state of the fires, all afraid they were about to face the sea of enemies.  Ember's brow furrowed as she increased the flames and heat.  She would ensure her troop wouldn't be overwhelmed by the undead enemies!

"Thwip…"  A second arrow pierced her lung.  Ember let out a pained gasp, her fires flickering for a moment.  Nevertheless she persisted, increasing the immolation, despite a large explosion booming to her right.  The master commander's forces had busted open the main gate, which meant their distraction had worked!  She could almost smile at the thought of Joko being exterminated like the scarabs of the plague he enacted.

"Thwip…"  A third arrow found itself lodged in her gut.  A cry came from the small woman, as her vision darkened, and she fell from the golem.  Her charr companion caught her, brought her to the field healer; the asura went quickly about his work to stabilize her.

As her sight faded back to normal at the healer's magic, Ember could see her forces fighting the awakened, and trying desperately to stop the scarabs from escaping and spreading the plague.  Ember watched as they struggled.  Two of the three pipes were being managed, but the third was left open, scarabs pouring like an ocean wave.

Ember pushed herself up, despite the medic's protests, and grabbed a mortar shell.  "No one tell Harid or the others that I am doing this..." She stumbled to the last pipe and dragged herself into it.

Her charr comrade saw her going in.  "Ember! What are you doing?"  He took a step to stop her, but was stopped by the asura.

"If she doesn't do this, we are all doomed," the asura reasoned.

The spell continued to mask Ember, the scarabs ignoring her, and for that she was grateful. She was in agony, coughing up blood when she wasn't gasping for air.  She looked to the battlefield, no longer able to see Harid in the fray.  She hoped he was ok, but she felt… she knew… they were both going to die there.  Their forces were being pushed back and they were running out of room.  If the scarabs weren't stopped, they would everyone would die.

In a final act of defiance, she raised her hands over her head, mortar shell grasped tight, and let out a mighty shout.  What was left of her magic was channeled into the mortar shell launching into the pipe, while another hand blasted flame and fused the pipe shut.  Out of energy and wounds slowly taking her, she looked back to the fight.  She fell to her knees, coughing up blood.  The thought of a hero's death came to her, but moreover, she was happy to die having saved her people.

A loud boom came from the pipe as the mortar erupted, destroying the pipe and the connecting structure.  Ember grinned a bloody grin and closed her eyes to the sound of the battle as her life force faded.  However, what she came to hear was silence:  the awakened had suddenly stopped.

"The awakened are not heeding the call of their master!  It really happened!  Palawa Joko has been defeated!" a voice rang out.  Cheers roared from around the fortress from the survivors.

Ember collapsed onto the ground, laying on her back, staring at the night sky with a small smirk on her face.  A white haired figure came into view.  The beautiful Elonian woman looked down upon Ember with the most beautiful smile.  Icy blue eyes danced with joy, as tears filled Ember's.

"We did it.... Valandra... I... I kept my promise," Ember wept.

The ice queen smiled, held her hand out to Ember.

Ember reached out to take the hand... as blackness consumed her…

[To be Continued...]

 

Eternally Bound: Prologue

Eternally Bound: Prologue

----- In Time -----

The last word of the bedtime story was almost a whisper.  The child's mother stood from the slumbering teen, looking blissfully at her daughter.  The innocent child was of caramel skin and dark brown hair laced with golden highlights; had her eyes been opened, they would have glowed with a vibrant emerald-like shimmer.  Her mother softly sighed, said a prayer to ask the gods to watch over her, then kissed the child softly on the forehead before leaving.

A brisk night desert breeze found its way into the room from the nearby window, chilling the child.  She curled up in an attempt to regain her comfort, when a wrinkled grey-clawed hand pulled the blanket up to assist.  Content, the girl exhaled softly and resumed her dreams.  Above her, the hand pulled away, joining three others, all attached to the same being beside the child's cot: an elder Djinn.

The creature towered above the girl, floating legless, by unseen forces which held him aloft.  His four arms were folded as the purple flames of his eyes illuminated the room in an ambient violet.  A lipless smile came to the Djinn as he inspected the child quietly.  "They believe the time is not at hand.  I believe our interference will be our downfall and I choose to wait no longer," came a ghostly determined voice.  All four arms reached out, stretching out over the sleeping girl as magical sparkling sands of fuchsia lightly showered her.  Where the grains landed came a bright blue shimmer, then sank into the child's skin.  She stirred and opened her eyes for a moment, but rather than be afraid of the creature, or the spell he was casting, the girl simply smiled thick lips at the Djinn.

"Shhhh, be still okht; this is but the beginning of your journey.  Sleep now," the Djinn whispered as the girl was lulled back into her slumber.

The Djinn materialized a chest from a puff of black and white smoke held by one of his four arms.  The lid opened on its own accord, revealing a purple gossamer velvety silk, pillowing two intricate finger-less bracers, affixed to golden blades running alongside their length.  He waved another hand over the gloves, while simultaneously continuing the sandfall over the girl's body.  The same magical sparkling sands of fuchsia flowed into the gloves.

Ritual complete, the chest left the Djinn's hand in another small cloud of smoke; this time with a purple hue.  The Djinn was pleased as he looked upon the girl for a moment longer.  His gaze was through the child, staring at something beyond.  "In time, you shall come to know me, and in time, you shall come to understand… If it takes a millennia, they all shall understand…"

In a cloud of white and black smoke, the Djinn vanished.  In its place sparked a fire, which ignited, spread and burned the entire village to the ground; its only survivor: a young girl named Demitra Naja Nyimah.

[To be Continued...]

 

Raiders of the Lost Egg: Epilogue

Raiders of the Lost Egg: Epilogue

----- Pew-pew -----

(Note: This is a co-authored story with Bampot/Six)

Kimura sat on the ledge, high above the streets of Divinity's Reach. It had been three days since the explosion, since the blast that killed Barrox and Plopp, and took everything she had from her.

She took a long swig from the bottle in her hand, throughly drunk. She looked down upon the darkened streets, a trail of smoke still snaking it's way to the sky from the shell of the warehouse that sat atop Barrox's hideout.

The fire itself burned for two whole days inside the underground lair, no doubt due to all the explosives, chemicals, devices, and other items they used in their theiving operations. The Seraph concluded that a hidden cache of weapons must have been the culprit, that something had set some kind of explosive off. Kimura knew better though, she knew Spurlock was the cause.

She had not spoken to Tressa since that night, but she knew she was still around, she could almost feel her eyes at times. The past two days however had been nothing but a drunken blur to Kimura, even the alcohol was doing little to numb the pain in her heart.

She lost the closest people she had. She now had no home, only the clothes on her back, and was on her last bottle of booze. She took another long swig before throwing the bottle. Whipping out her gun with lightning speed, she tracked the twirling bottle as it pummeted down toward the dark streets below.

"Pew...pew..." she whispered, pretending to shoot it. If not for the fact she only had four bullets left to her name, she would have shot it.

She told herself she would not cry anymore for Barrox and Plopp, but instead would turn the tears into rage to fuel her revenge against Spurlock.

The tears came anyway.

[The End...]

 

The Search for Lexxie: Epilogue

The Search for Lexxie: Epilogue

----- Promise -----

The door to the room in which Nalla was sleeping slowly creaked open. In the crack Paige's hazel eyes reflected the candlelight from within.  Lexxie had just been permitted entrance, and while she respected their privacy, Paige was extremely worried about her friend.  "I know what you're going to say, Sebastian," she kept her voice low to her servant.  "But, it's been a few days and I haven't gotten to speak with her yet.  The healers said she can have visitors now, and visit I shall.  Now, please stay out here for a moment longer to receive Lexxie, then please allow Nalla and I some time."

Sebastian slightly sighed in a nod, directed the rest of the staff to leave, then patiently waited for the Asura to finish their conversation.

Nalla took in a deep labored breath.  "Lexxie do you have any idea what you were doing there?  What you were helping them to make?" she said, tinged with desperation.

"Helping," Lexxie said with a childlike innocent expression that instantly told Nalla everything.  Her sister was, in a word, brilliant.  She could repair, fix, create anything using magitech or mechanical gizmos.  With only a few tweaks, the girl had been able to stabilize Paige's teleportation crystal.  Her skills were amazing, and they came innately to her.  She had always been this way, ever since they were younger.  But, after the accident, Nalla's younger sister had difficulties with both expressing herself, and understanding situational dangers.  She really was innocent.  Balthazar's minions had used her brilliance for ill-begotten ways, and Lexxie had no clue as to her own involvement.

Nalla sighed, reached up to take her sister's hand, and smiled wearily.  "Oh, Lexx, I am so very glad you are okay.  I'm sorry I couldn't find you sooner.  I promise to look after you from now on.  No more Pact; no more Peacemaker responsibilities.  You are more important that all that."  Tears came to Nalla's eyes.

Lexxie simply smiled.  "Important," she said, echoing Nalla's words.

Paige waited a few minutes outside, allowing the tender moment to play out.  When she was quite certain they were finished, she entered the room.  Lexxie looked up and smiled at her, then trotted to the doorway, where Sebastian was.

"Would you like something to eat?" Sebastian said to the little Asura.

"Eat!" Lexxie said, enthusiastically.

Paige giggled as she watched Lexxie and Sebastian disappear into the hall, then turned her attention to her friend.  Nalla was laying on a couch, looking up expectantly at her poobah.  And, while Paige tried not to look at it, her eyes went to Nalla's ear, less than half of what it used to be.  She immediately choked up, sniffling back the tears.  "I'm… I'm so sorry Nalla!" the words flowed out like a rushing wave.  "I should have been faster; I should have done more!"  The woman fell to her knees.  "Please forgive me, Nalla!"

Nalla sat up and instantly threw her arms around Paige, both women holding each other tight and sobbing.  "Forgive you for what, Poobah?  You found my sister!  You rescued her!  You are no less amazing to me now than you were before!"

"I know… I know… Just… I'm so sorry for not being your protector.  Your… your ear," Paige whimpered.

"Shhh…  My sister's safe; that's all that matters!"

Paige pulled away, wiping her tears.  "She's suffering from (what I believe is) Claypool's syndrome.  It's a condition I read about.  When a kidnapping victim sympathizes with their captor and wants to stay…  Lexxie didn't want to come with us; she wanted to stay.  I think I can get her the help she needs.  I know of a few psychologists that…"

Nalla sympathetically smiled.  "Oh, dear, sweet Paige: Lexxie has been that way since the accident."  Realizing her informality made the Asura blush, but she didn't correct herself.

Paige's eyes were wide.  She blinked a few times, raising a hand to her lips.  "What?"

"Lexxie… Well, she's special.  She's the most brilliant engineer I've ever seen, but… She's not really in her right mind."  Nalla exhaled softly.  "Since the accident, she's been a bit… well, 'off' (to put it succinctly).  But, don't get me wrong, she's as sweet as a pie."  The Asura giggled a moment, licking her lips at the thought of pie.  Then, she absently reached up to tug on her ears, to find only one available.  Her smile quickly vanished as tears streamed down her face.

"You're still very, very beautiful, Nalla.  To me you always will be," Paige flushed as the words left her lips.  She politely offered the Asura a napkin.

Nalla took the rag, wiped her eyes, then honked her nose ungracefully with it.  "I… I didn't even protect you…"

"Oh no!  You did!  The ritual was a success because you bought me enough time!  I'm just… well, we can both be a little sorry, can't we?  But, we saved you and we saved Lexxie!"

"You're," Nalla sniffled.  "You're amazing, Poobah!"

Paige smiled warmly.  "I've learned to take the best with the worst, and I think we can both use this as a learning opportunity, and grow… together!"

Nalla tugged at the woman, inviting her to the couch beside her.  "I want that very much, Lad- Paige.  If it were truly up to me, I would want to stay," Nalla moved to stare directly at Paige.  "And, grow… together; perhaps see where it leads…"  A disheartened sigh came from the woman.

"But… It's not up to you, is it?" Paige said, holding her hands.

Nalla looked at their intertwined hands.  "My ear is not the only thing broken; the idea of not being with you," she averted her eyes, staring at the door where Lexxie had exited.  "My sister though; Lexxie needs me, and I think she needs our people if she has any chance to recover…"

Paige pinched the Asura's chin, pulling her back to stare into Nalla's large liquid blue eyes.  "I understand," she whispered.

Without warning, Nalla pulled the woman into a kiss, pressing her small Asuran lips to the human's soft ones.  Tears came to both women in the exchange, a soft smile spreading on Paige's face as she gave into the moment.

Finally, Nalla broke the kiss, her large eyes looking longingly into the humans.  "I'm… I'm sorry;  I shouldn't have," she whispered.

"Shush with that.  I would have done it, if you hadn't beat me to it," Paige slightly giggled flirtatiously.

"I've wanted to do that… since I first met you, actually," Nalla flushed a bright pink, then wrapped her arms around the woman's waist, nuzzling her face innocently into her breasts.

Paige's cheeks darkened, but she didn't move the Asura, instead, embracing her in a long hug.  "Take all the time you need in Rata Sum.  Get Lexxie the help she needs.  The door is always open here and your room will always be here waiting, as will I.  And, I will always be your poobah."

Nalla again sobbed.  "Promise?"

"Promise," Paige whispered.

[The End]

The Search for Lexxie: Part 9

The Search for Lexxie: Part 9

----- Liberation -----
(Also: This story takes place between Books 2 and Books 3 of the Destiny Bound series.)

It was a relatively short trip to Vehjin Palace.  The ever-curious Paige was uncharacteristically silent; the evening's events still playing in her mind.  Her friend's health weighed heavily on her, but an inspection of the facilities Demitra recommended did show the staff to be competent in their medical applications.  While it would have been better had she been in her homeland, with the medical staff of the estate taking care of her, Nalla seemed to be in good care.  Enough for Paige to focus on the task at hand.

Demitra was on a ledge of the outpost, which nestled itself high in the desert sky, held aloft by enormous pillars over the chasm below.  She pointed ahead, downwardly as Paige approached.  "There.  That small cave entrance ahead.  It has winding corridors which should take us to our destination."

Paige blinked.  "How do you know this?"

"I am from Vabbi," the woman paused a moment, then said with resolution, "A lifetime ago…"

"Okay," Paige fought back her curiosity.  "So what do we do?  Do we glide across this gorge?"

"Do you have the ability to do so?" Demitra asked.  She hadn't meant the question to sound condescending.

Paige held her hand to her chest.  "I'll have you know, I'm champion glider in Applenook and Claypool, three years running!"

An astral-finger tipped hand was held above her as Demitra sprinkled sand over her person.  It fell around her, clinging to a seemingly invisible object on her back.  Once covered completely, a bright purple light came from the sand, solidifying into a set of purple and black wings which sparked with electrical pulses.  She turned, smiled to Paige.  "You wish for me to do such for you?"

Paige was already at work, affixing an apparatus to the backpack she wore.  She double-checked the joins, nuts, and bolts and when satisfied, she attached it to her person.  "No thank you; I came prepared!"

Demitra grinned her large lips at the woman's resourcefulness.  "I am intrigued by our mutual acquaintances.  I wish to explore such topics after our adventure, if, that is, such a thing is within the realm of possibilities.  Valandra and Ember, the only two lovers which have held my heart; and you know of them both."

"Ember is as close to a big sister as I've ever had in my life.  We've known each other since childhood.  As for Valandra: Ember told me about her.  I never met her, but I heard she's a wonderful person."

"She was not," Demitra quickly said, then added, "but, I suppose, that is what made her great."

Paige was about to interject, when Demitra suddenly dove off the platform.  Her electrical wings expanded, caught the air, began to flap, propelling her to their destination.  "Oh gods above," Paige breathed heavily.  "I… I can't believe I'm doing this!  How exciting!"  She took a step off the ledge, and ungracefully sank.  A moment later, she pulled the draw-string, causing her magical wings to sprout from the device.  It glider caught wind and stabilized, much to Paige's relief.

Ahead of her, Demitra's feet landed gently, her wings falling to the sand it had come from, behind her.  She glanced back to see Paige planting her feet onto the ground, albeit with more of a thud than the Djinn had made.  "Masterfully done!  'Three years running,' indeed!"

The woman went about folding the glider back to the sides of her bag, looked up with a large grin that made Demitra lightly chuckle.  Both made their way with stealth through the corridors leading to their destination; both determined to see the quest to its completion.  A split in the corridor caused a pause.

"Two paths, huh?"  Paige already logically began to look at the possibilities.

Demitra held out both palms, pointed to each of the paths with a hand.  She sighed.  "Normally, I could emphatically sense sorrow from a captured person, having felt Lexxie's presence here before.  But, whether it is the location, or my weakened state at the moment, I cannot."

"Okay.  Well, let's think this through then.  Balthazar had a factory here.  A place of heat.  If he…"

"Had?" Demitra asked.

"Yes.  He was defeated… Just… how long have you been gone?" Paige asked, before she ever considered the question may be taken rudely.

"A bit too long, it would seem.  Another topic for later, perhaps.  Please continue your analysis, Lady Paige Dejarin, daughter of the Dejarin line?"

"Oh, well… There was a furnace thing here at one point.  It was rumored it's where the Forged were being made.  Perhaps this is it?  And, if that's so, we follow the heat where it's coming from.  Can you feel it?  Over here," Paige took a few steps down the corridor to the right.  "Here I can feel the heat touching my face.  If this corridor is a giant exhaust vent, then, in theory, we'll find its source."

"I shall follow your lead then, Lady Paige Dejarin, daughter of the Dejarin line," Demitra gave a nod.

"You know… You can just call me Paige.  In fact, please do so.  It's awkward otherwise."  Paige could have almost swore she saw Demitra blush.  The woman was a mystery; a puzzle to be solved.

"P- Paige it is then."

Further down the pipe, Paige recoiled as the immensity of the heat grew.  Her cheeks were already glistening with sweat.  A look to Demitra showed the woman to be unaffected; Paige was almost envious.  She told herself it was due to the Djinn's tolerance for the heat, but in truth, she was amazed at the woman's resolve to help a stranger.

The couple came to stand at the vent's mouth; before them was a giant forge: an entire room dedicated to the construction of Balthazar's minions.  Pipes and gears whirled and turned, as conveyer belts brought various pieces of metal to and fro.  Even after his defeat, the fires continued burning as his underlings continued their reign.

Demitra took in the scene, frowned in disgust.  "It is here those which wreak havoc upon these lands are spawned.  While they are not Joko's forces, they continue to slaughter my former people of Vabbi.  Had I the power, I would snuff these flames out for good with all the pain they have caused."  Scowled at the creatures of molten metal and flames as they roamed the Forge, their very presence a blight on the world.

"Wait, shhh," Paige pulled the woman down as a wandering patrolman followed a path below them.  After he had passed, she whispered softly.  "He's carrying a whip.  I bet if we follow him we'll find where the slave pens are.  Lexxie's got to be in one of them!"

"Impressive deduction, Lady Paige Dej- Paige."

Both women slinked down to follow the guard; Paige with an acrobatic maneuver to minimize noise and Demitra floating down like a feather.  She watched the rambunctious woman, and with a look back, she offered a blushing smile.

"Father taught me to sneak.  You have to stay low and move fast."  The woman was, indeed, stealthy.  She moved from rock face to rock face; cover to cover, her eyes trained on the whip-cracker.  "Now!" she said as she threw down a curse beneath the monster's feet.  The Forged instantly froze.

Demitra held out a palm toward the being, brought her fingers in to make a fist.  Crystal shards erupted from within the creature, piercing its armor from the inside out.  Demitra let her fist go, causing all crystalline shards to dissipate as sand.  The armor collapsed on the floor.

Paige looked at the woman.  "What… What was that?"

"Your friend's sister?"  Demitra pointed to the cage, at a small Asura in the corner.  She was tinkering with a piece of Forged armor, paying no attention to the commotion outside.  All other prisoners in the pen were pressed against the outer cage, longing for escape.

"That has to be her, but we're going to free them all, if we can," Paige said.  "Lexxie!  Is that you?" she called out.

The asura only briefly perked her ears up, slightly at hearing the name, but continued with her work.

"That is the being I felt from Nalla," confirmed Demitra.  She glided over to the cell's lock, ran her fingers over it, channeled her power into it.  A moment later the lock dissolved into grains of sand and the bars flew opened, the prisoners rushing out, fighting the coming Forged and their way to freedom.

"Lexxie, come on!  We've got to hurry.  Come with us and I'll take you back to Nalla!  Please, we're here to rescue you!"  Paige shouted over the battle in desperation.  She approached the Asura, who was continuing with her work.

"We shall take her forcefully, if reluctant, yes?  The time is now, Paige!"  Demitra said, exploding a group of approaching Forged with magical spikes.

Without waiting for a response, Paige hurried the Asura along their escape path.  They came to stand beside Demitra, who placed her hand on the Asura for a moment, then recoiled with a shocked expression.

"What is it?" Paige asked, commanding a spell to trap two rushing Forged.

"She… She is happy here."  Paige's bewildered expression prompted the Djinn for a further explanation.  "I can… tell by touch, the feelings within others (sometimes without touching), but… She… Lexxie is happy here."

"It has to be a trick.  Brain-washing, or something.  Why would she be happy as a slave to a dead god?"  Paige said gravely.

"Of this, I know not.  Perhaps she is too far gone to understand the situation in which she was placed?  It explains why I was not able to ascertain her exact whereabouts while…"

"Oh Kormir's veil and Lyssa's eye!  It just can't ever be easy can it?  If I leave her she'll only think she's happy, yet, if I take her, she'll fight us the whole way.  But…"

Demitra threw up a shield to halt a large approaching Forged construct.  The monster wailed and began to pound upon it, cracking it more with each blow.  "Whatever the decision, it must be made quickly!"

Paige swore.  "Gods dammit!  No time to think.  I'm sorry Lexxie, but the long challenge is always greater than the easy answer."  She held her fingertip to the Asura's forehead, used blood magic to draw just enough energy from the girl to cause her to fall asleep.  She lifted her up using the adrenaline the situation caused.  "I'll carry her.  I can draw us a portal to get back to the ledge but you'll need to be my fists if we're caught!"

"I shall provide you an opportunity to escape.  Take leave now!" Demitra shouted as the large monstrous Forged broke through her barricade.  After seeing Paige was well on her way, the Djinn turned to her enemy.  Instantly her body glowed a vibrant blue, contrasting in the red atmosphere of the forge.  "Come then; let me show you the price you pay for enslaving others!"

Paige was nearly knocked over by the explosion which came from where she'd been.  She hoped Demitra was okay, but had confidence that the woman was powerful enough to overcome the monsters.  She continued running through a gauntlet of guards, ignoring shots and weapons as they targeted her.  "I am Paige Dejarin, and you are not stopping me!" she cried as she ran.  Approaching the ledge, she threw forth a sand portal and dove into it, resurfacing with Lexxie in tow, at the mouth of the exhaust vent.  She sat the young girl down, then turned to see if Demitra's status.

The woman was running toward Paige, a large contingent of Forged behind her.  She channeled her magic into the ground ahead, causing it to ripple and wave like small pool of quicksand.  With a leap forward, she landed in it, appearing beside Paige within the exhaust.  She turned, held her hands above them, the magically pulled a pile of sand down to block the entrance.

"Impressive," Paige said with a smirk.

"It has been quite some time since I've felt… like I used to," Demitra said with a playful wink.  She glanced down to the sleeping Asura.  "Will that one be alright?  I have yet to feel such disconnection as I did within her."

Paige looked over the girl.  "I pray so.  She's alive; just sleeping.  When she wakes up, she has a long journey ahead.  I'm not going to let her or Nalla down.  I read once," she said with a hopeful smile, "that faith can change the world.  I have faith that these sisters will be reunited and will be better for it."

"I know you believe such; this, I can feel from you.  You exude hope, Lady Paige Dejarin, daught- Paige."

"Thank you.  In the end, hope is the one thing we should never lose."

"Even if one loses their humanity?"  Demitra said this in almost a whisper, but Paige heard without necessarily meaning to.

"It doesn't matter.  Even if I'm battered and broken, and spent… I'll always spit in the eye of fear and tell them I still have hope," Paige suddenly became self-aware and blushed.  "At least… that's what I believe.  It was probably a quote from a book I read."

Demitra smiled warmly at the woman.  "You, Paige: I like."

Paige turned a shade redder, then stood, picking up Lexxie.  "We should go.  We have a teleportation mechanism nearby.  If you want to, you can accompany us back to Tyria.  I know of a certain someone that would like to see you…"

"I would very much like that, Paige.  I have not seen Ember in quite some time."

Paige smiled, began to walk slowly out the corridor.  "We did a good thing here today, Demitra."

"Indeed, we did Paige," Demitra said.  "It was a good thing I was summoned to assist; a feat I am still very much curious about."

"I'm curious as well, because I have the feeling that there's something more to it than just following a ritual scroll.  Perhaps," she patted the torch handle at her side, "perhaps it has something to do with this?  But, there is always tomorrow for answers."

"Perhaps," Demitra said, staring at the torch.

[To be Concluded...]