Twisted Ties

Oh man I took a while didn\'t I? My sincerest apologies. Life can be such a drain as I\'m sure we all know.



But I am glad to at least update with another chapter before Christmas!



No real new characters in this chapter folks, minus a brief introduction of Kaine\'s sister, Lily, who belongs to one of greyjay\'s friends, as well as the appearance of his mother, who belongs to another of my roomie\'s friends.



So yes the plot picks up a bit more and we delve into some character\'s past! As well... some slight child rape so be warned!



Hope you enjoy ^_^



* * *



A light breeze passed through the forest carrying the scent of flowers and pure water. Such a fresh scent, could revitalize those that lived amongst the greenery, or even those passing through. The sun was slowly rising above the soft mist that filtered around the skies. It was a rather crisp morning, as most mornings tend to be within the wilderness.



Somewhere in the woods, not far from the camp the trip of mortals were at, a small glowing orb suddenly drops from the sky, landing on a bed of moss, the orb glowed faintly with a pinkish swirl within.



At the camp site Joey is conked out next to the fire, curled up in his cloak but still shivering slightly. Tobias was half awake, looking over Joey and Velacia slightly, his mood very off ever since Kaine\'s last encounter with them only a number of hours before. He had a bottle of rum in his hand but everytime he would try to bring it to his lips, he would only lower it after with a sigh. That man killed his mood... that and he did not know why their friend would not do anything to help. He knew the man would never lie when it came to his reasons, but did Velacia really not want him to help? Why was she allowing all this punishment from this bastard? It just was not fair.



The woman herself was awake, though feigning sleep, having already rested the few hours before after Kaine and the red haired man had dispersed. Her mind was full of thoughts, and plans of what she was going to do. Harper\'s sword was still curled within her tail, a grip on it so tight that she would never let go. She knew what to do, even if doing what she had to would crush her in the end perhaps. Well not perhaps, but most likely. She just wished to know what Kaine truly wanted, or if she was just merely the toy that brought him vast amounts of entertainment. His form of entertainment, however, was slowly costing her the waning life she had. Never had she felt so exhausted or tortured, on all levels. Her heart had not stopped its rapid beating for a while.



Joey yawned loudly and slowly opened his eyes. He hadn\'t slept well; he was too cold and damp from the night time dew. He sighed miserably and pulled his cloak tight around himself.



"We should find a tavern" he mumbled. Despite what most had seen of him thus far, Joey wasn\'t actually as much of a wuss as he appeared, but still, he was just human, and he didn\'t really want to end up getting sick, cause then he would be even more useless.



Tobias looked over at the human, the words registering with him after a moment of gazing at him. He slowly got up to his feet, stretching, his tail fluffing up behind him.



"Mmm... perhaps that is best. But Vel doesn\'t attract good service" he added, remembering the last encounter with bounty hunters.



"Its fine" the woman finally spoke, rising to her feet, her voice soft and distant, the skin upon her body more pale than before though she had healed fairly well. She could still feel the remnant effects of that internal iron maiden move however. She kept her back to them, stretching. "We might as well make our way to one now". Joey climbed to his feet at this and shivered again as he picked up his pack.



"Good. Looking forward to a hot meal too... dried meat doesn\'t usually taste that great after the twelfth meal in a row". He raked a hand back through his tousled hair and glanced up at the sky. "Clear morning light. No wonder it is chilly".



"I\'m just glad its not raining" Tobias muttered as he put out the fire, making sure all the embers were snuffed before moving towards to Velacia, wanting to check on her. However she moved away from him slightly and started to walk ahead of them, her eyes unfocused slightly, her mind clearly elsewhere. Tobias shrugged and glanced at Joey, gesturing after the woman.



"Shall we?"



Joey nodded faintly and slung his pack onto his shoulders and started to trudge sleepily after Velacia. He was worried about her. She had been really quiet since that last encounter, but he didn\'t know what he could do to help. He didn\'t know her all that well. He was more or less a stranger to these people he was with.



Velacia\'s mind kept on swirling and the forest before them faded into an image of being back in Kaine\'s nursery and the image of him killing one of their first children kept playing through. That pleased smirk on his face, those cold ice blue eyes piercing through her as he just drops the egg to the floor, the sound of it shattering echoing through her mind. She winced, begging the image to disperse, to stop plaguing her mind. As if silently accepting her wish, the forest came back into view and as her eyes refocused to the land around her, a tinkle of something glowing caught her eye. Pausing she approached a small moss bed, peering down at what was some pink orb. Blinking, and curious, she reached down to pick it up.



“What do you have there?” Tobias asked, moving up to her. Unsure, she turned to him, showing the orb to both him and Joey.



“I’m not sure what this is...” she murmured as Joey peered at the object curiously.



"Huh... well we aren\'t that far from a town, maybe some kid was playing with their ball and lost it? Or maybe it is someone\'s special treasure or something and they decided to hide it out here". He was fairly sure it was neither of those things, but it was better to say something goofy then to just stare and scratch one\'s head.



“Well as long as its not some cursed rock” Tobias muttered, taking the item from Velacia’s fingers, inspecting and then sniffing at it carefully. “I don’t smell that bastard on here”.



“I wouldn’t associate him with something that is pink” Velacia muttered, tasting the air before the object before shrugging. “Lets hold onto it for now. May prove to be of some use... and if we come along someone who lost it we can return it” she suggested as Tobias attempted to pass the object to Joey to inspect, who quickly shook his head quickly and backed away from the object and not accepting it from Tobias.



"Nooo I\'m not touching it. I\'ve had really bad experiences with touching crap that I find laying around.You hold onto it". Tobias shrugged and pocketed the orb, the three of them commencing to move again.



"So do we have any plans for what to do once the sun rises?" he asked. Velacia was still ahead of them, her tail swaying slightly from left to right, Harper\'s sword still within the scaled clutches.



“We should commence finding Harper again” she suggests. “Perhaps use the next of the teleport stones...” she mused.



"I wonder if your devil friend will show up sometime soon... its already been a while now" Tobias muttered.



Just shortly after Tobias put the orb in his pocket, it glows brighter and the scenery changes abruptly, everything seems hazy but as it clears they seem to be in a dark castle, morbid paintings adorning the walls. Obsidian walls and floors, other pieces that could be deemed art were placed in a neat manner about the large room. Servants were bustling about, tending to their master\'s home. They were dressed well enough and did not seem burdened by their work. It was a very well kept castle... but the atmosphere was none too pleasing. Beautiful... a beauty that could kill you. An attraction to something that appeared as a rather evil abode.



Velacia tensed as she viewed the scenery change and her muscles clenched, not liking this turn of events. This place... reminded her far too much of Dark Hatred... except this was not Kaine\'s home. That much she knew. But she had an inkling of whose home it was.



"... Tobias..." she growled.



"Hey, I didn\'t know it was going to do that!" the youkai replied indignantly, looking around wide eyed. "Where the heck are we?"



"This reminds me of Kaine\'s home..." Velacia muttered, her stomach clenching as her hands moved instinctively over her stomach.



"See? Told you picking up random crap was bad" Joey pointed out as he looked more then concerned. He already had his tonfas in hand, preparing for the worst.



The sound of footsteps was heard coming from one end of the corridor and from the shadows emerged Kaine, though he looked different somehow. He was dressed the same, had the same hair, but something about his face didn\'t seem quite so... evil. The three mortals tensed, getting ready for what he may say to them. However he merely stopped in front of a huge ornate door, at one end of the vast room seemingly not noticing the three, as he pushed pushed it open and entered. The door closed behind him, but voices could be heard through the door.



"I need you to deliver a message for me to an old... friend. Will you do that for me Kaine?" one voice wafted through, a completely new, unknown voice. It had a deep melodic baritone to it... a tone that could hold one\'s attention. A voice that held power in each syllable.



"Of course father".



"You will meet her and give her this". There was a long pause as Kaine seemed to accept whatever his father was giving him.



"But... that\'s her! That is the bitch that-"



"SILENCE. Just do as I ask. Nothing more, nothing less".



"............ yes father" came the purple haired man\'s reply, Kaine\'s voice sounded quite grudging.



"What... the fuck?!" Tobias yelled, not believing what he just saw, or even heard for that manner, having come out of his reverie of horror. "Are you telling me we\'re in his home?! With daddy??? Ohhhhh fuuuuuck... we need to get outta here!" the wolf hybrid then urged, looking around wildly.



"I don\'t think they realize we\'re here Tobias... and I said this reminded me of Kaine\'s home, but its not. It most likely his father\'s. Besides... Kaine seems different..." Velacia mused. The wolf hybrid whirled to her incredulously.



“Yes because you’re the expert on that bastard” he commented though wish he hadn’t upon the gaze he received.



"What I mean is that he seems... a little bit more of a pleasant disposition and not a-"



“A complete asshole?” Tobias filled in. Velacia sighed nodded, not exactly the word she was looking for but went along with it, rather confused enough as it is. She wondered what it was that he and his father were discussing about as the door opened again and Kaine emerged, closing the door behind himself and leaning back against it, looking rather upset.



"How can he even consider even talking to her? After all she did to him?" Kaine clenched his fists in frustration "I\'ll get h-"



He stopped in mid speech as a tall woman with rather long and beautiful curly blond hair turned the corner into the corridor. She was almost the same height as the dark clad man, though she was wearing a long flowing white dress, the sleeves hanging a little loosely around the wrists.



"Mother" he said as he smiled at the woman. "How are you doing today?" He moved to give her a hug and a peck on the cheek, like any normal son would. After a brief conversation, seeming a bit too quiet for the others to hear, he bid his mother farewell, stating that he needed to deliver something for his father.



"I\'ll be back to Consuming Darkness in short order. It is almost Lily\'s birthday, I was planning on working on a gift for her. I was thinking of a Hell hound pup". He smirked and waved before turning and stepping through the shadows.



Tobias could only stare at what he saw, though Velacia realized part of it was how hot Kaine’s mother was to the wolf hybrid. Sighing she shook her head, but gazed at the woman, feeling this would be the only time she would see her. Though she appeared normal she doubted she truly was.



Probably another bloody devil...



Seeing the purple haired man’s actions around the mother, as well as speaking of his sister almost made the hydra smirk. No wonder he took offence when she dissed them... but she hardly could believe he still acted like this now. It seemed weird. As if he was almost an... innocent maybe?



The scene before them changed again and Kaine was standing near another ornate door, however this time it was covered in gold leaf flowers and seemed rather more homely then their previous location. He knocked once and just then a small blond haired girl, similar hairstyle to her mother\'s, dressed in a simple periwinkle blue dress came out and nearly tackled him to the ground, smothering him with kisses. He laughed amusedly, turning his face slightly this way and that as he got the sticky marks of affection.



"Hey, careful Lily...you\'re going to make me squish your present". The young girl tilted her head and moved her hands and fingers in various manners, seeming to speak in some sort of sign language before Kaine reached into the shadows and pulled out a small black and red puppy with two heads and a whip like tail. The little girl squealed with delight and hugged the puppy, who, despite its dark appearance, happily licked at the girl before she put it down and hugged Kaine as tight as she could. He rested his hand on her head.



"You can ask mother about how to care for it, or father, they\'ll give you the run down. But I can\'t, I need to go make a quick delivery for father. You stay out of trouble alright?" He pecked the little girl on the forehead before vanishing in a swirl of darkness as the little girl picked up the puppy and carried it into her room.



“... oh my god... I can not believe this. No way that bastard can be so fucking sweet... NO FUCKING WAY” Tobias groaned, appalled at what he was seeing.



Velacia however remained silent, taking in the scene. Seeing Kaine in this light... was just... downright odd. However it was touching how much affection he doted upon his younger sibling... who looked nothing at all like her brother... or at least acted like him. Did she misjudge the man? She was even rather perplexed she was having such thoughts. Was this even real?



But something still didn’t seem right. She could hardly believe he was like this now.



The scene changed yet again and they were now in the Opera House. They watched as Kaine strode through the crowd, actually looking rather awkward when various beings, both male and female, and other androgynous type beings, made attempts to seduce him. He was even blushing slightly, trying to hide his unease.



"Uh... sorry but I\'m busy with something at the moment". He continued through the masses till he saw her, the the ice blue skinned woman, the one that Tobias had a conversation with when they were probing for information. A dark shadow of hate could be seen as it crossed Kaine\'s eyes as he spotted her.



"I\'ll avenge you father" he whispered to himself before striding towards the icy woman "Uh, excuse me, could I please have a word with you? Someplace more private, I have a message from my father." The woman, who looked more like an Ice Queen, as a comment Tobias mentioned of her before, simply nodded and gestured toward the shadows, the two of them passing through them into a room, though it is unclear if it is still at the Opera House. Their unseen viewers could hear nothing but the two conversing.



"My father wants to offer you a job at the Opera House" Kaine began as he made his way toward her and circled around behind her, his demeanor more resembling the Kaine Velacia, Tobias and Joey were familiar with. The woman herself smirked.



"Is that so? Well, how very kind of him". Kaine leaned in, toward her ear.



"I know what you did to my father. Keeping him as a slave for all those years". The Queen grinned wickedly at this.



"Yes, and he was a good little boy... my favourite".



Kaine suddenly lost his cool and tried to sink his teeth into the woman\'s neck but suddenly he couldn\'t move, his fangs barely brushing the at that slender, cold nape.



Tobias, whose eyes were full of interest upon seeing the Ice Queen, froze upon what Kaine was trying to do, though let out a laugh when the man couldn’t move.



"Serves that sucker right... so there are some people he can\'t harm" he snickered.



Velacia\'s eyes narrowed slightly at the scene. Kaine\'s father was a slave to this woman? But isn\'t he powerful? How on earth could this woman do that? Perhaps she was more powerful... but how could she really know? The power scales for all the underworlders were most likely quite diverse.



For some reason a sense of concern filled her features upon Kaine being frozen in place. Why there was that twinge of concern she did not know, but a foreboding feeling went through her... this would not go well. Not at all. What was this woman going to do?



A look of complete fear crossed Kaine\'s face, a fear that could only come from feeling utterly defenseless. The woman continued to grin in her wicked manner and turned towards Kaine, who was still froze in the pose.



"Well well well... this wasn\'t your father\'s idea was it boy? He may have risen to power to match my own, but he wouldn\'t send a boy to do a man\'s work... and he wouldn\'t dare try anything against me. Not yet anyway". She circled Kaine like a predator, eyeing an injured being... the look in those cold eyes only implying that she wanted to hurt him more.



"Hmm. What would be a proper punishment for this little... transgression? Oh... I know. Let\'s see if you\'re as good as your father was. I may just have a new favourite" she sneered and suddenly Kaine was reduced from what appeared to be nineteen year old young man, to now a five year old child. The Ice Queen\'s gaze only became more chilling as she looked upon the young boy.



"Yes. This will do nicely. Come boy. I\'ll show you exactly what your father went through".



A frosty mist enveloped the two and the scene changed again, and what the three mortals saw next was nothing short of a sickening nightmare.



The young boy was, to put it in the most lame of terms, sexually tortured. Strapped down in various positions, either chained by something visible or not, he was stripped bare. The woman\'s long, slick, cold fingers poked and prodded at all of his orifices, those that were there, and those that were opened anew. Cruel items made out of ice or barbed coils she thrusted into the sobbing child, shredding his soft flesh easily like a hot knife through butter.



Designs would be drawn upon his flesh and when he came to the point where his black blood almost engulfed him completely, he would be healed and the process would be repeated once again. Looks of revoltion were clear in those shaking ice blue eyes as the adult before him would lower her mouth, baring her sharp glistening fangs and take him into her jaws, sucking fiercely, almost chewing him off as ice seemed to cover him, and a sharp bladed object of the similar material being shoved into his rectum most violently. And then a thinner needle of it would appear in her fingertips as she would plunge into the opening of his small phallus and though they could not see it for the ice was inside, by the way he screamed they could only just fathom at how it shred through the inner tubes, similar to how Kaine might of skewered Velacia\'s insides.



Day in and day out, in the various unspeakable ways, ways that would break anyone\'s mind after the first day, and Kaine endured it for three days, without rest, though it could easily seem that it could of gone on much, much longer. The scene, finally, thankfully, flashed again and Kaine is seen, still in child form, tossed from the shadows onto the floor where he curled up and huddled till his parents found him. And for a last time the scene changed to a tall, pale looking man who seemed almost too perfect, wearing a tight black shirt and slacks, embracing his muscles snugly while his long black hair was formed in a long braid, seeming to sway around his ankles as if a snake. What was the most apparent of his features were his eyes, dark flames continuously seeping out.



He stood near a door, along with Kaine\'s mother and Lily. The woman turned to her husband and spoke, the look of sadness quite apparent in her deep blue eyes.



"He hasn\'t come out in two weeks, he just sits in his room and stares at the wall, he hasn\'t even eaten". The dark alluring man simply nodded and opened the door, entering the room and as he did the scene slowly fades, the forest slowly coming back into view for the three onlookers.



Tobias himself was in complete awe, sputtering at the images that flashed before him. Never in his life had he seen such... horror... sure he has seen bouts of pedophilia but nothing to that extreme. He felt some pity for the man... but at the same time had grim satisfaction. That bastard definitely deserved it. And it only made his allure to ice woman more intriguing.



"Serves him right..."



“Does it really?” Velacia whispered, her voice unnaturally soft, even weak almost, that Tobias observed her curiously. “... perhaps that is why he is the way he is now Tobias...”



Her heart had clenched at seeing what the woman did to him. The way he cried out in pain, for his family, the tears streaming from his eyes. Velacia wanted to close her eyes, to shut out the images, but she couldn’t. And when it came to an end she could still see them play vividly in her mind. No wonder he was the way he was now. That innocent touch... now corroded and stone cold.



"You think he would learn not to do things as she did though" the wolf hybrid commented but Velacia merely shook her head.



“Sometimes things do not go that way”.



Despite all that he has done to her, and even though her rage against him was still there, immense pity for Kaine filled her. Even with how much anger she held towards the man at what he did to her could not overshadow the pain she could only barely imagine he went through. No wonder he was so cruel...



No... she will have to change her course of action again. He does not deserve what she originally had in store... no matter how much he treats her badly. She would not sink to that level... she may be deemed an animal, but she was no monster. The philosophy of an eye for an eye didn\'t work in every single case. Yes, she would not forgive him for taking her child the way that he did, but she would not shoot back in the same corrupted ways people from his world would.



“I don’t think I can ever look at him the same way again” she whispered. She feels everytime she will now encounter him, only sadness and pity would fill her. Amazing how one would feel... especially one who use to care for nothing but her own kind. But she has changed and she could just picture what it would be like if her own children or even herself went through that. She could picture it, but not truly comprehend as he did.



Joey himself had promptly turned away and threw up in the bushes. How could anyone treat another living thing like that?! And those kids... Joey was shaking, what he had seen had hit him so hard that he could barely stay on his feet. Tobias immediately went over to Joey, making sure the human would not cough up any organs. He gently rubbed the human’s back.



"Just let it all out buddy. It\'ll be ok... I know how you feel" he muttered, at least in regards to how nauseating it made him feel, but he had better control over his stomach then the brown haired man did.



Velacia herself could merely only think of what occurred, her hand moving to gently clasp the pendant around her neck, a sad gaze upon her face.



"Oh Kaine..." she whispered.



"How could someone do that... to anyone let alone a child?!" Joey demanded, his voice cracking as he spoke. It was hitting Joey really hard; he had opened an orphanage not all that long ago to help kids. They were practically like his own by now and just the thought of something like that happening to one of them... that thought alone made him retch more out of his insides.



"I don\'t know man... I don\'t know..." Tobias muttered, the thoughts still eluding him. "I guess that\'s how the way... those demons work..."



"A very poor way" Velacia muttered, turning towards the two fully. “Come, lets get Joey to a tavern” she said and Tobias nodded, waiting for the human to be done emptying his stomach before they move.



Eventually Joey managed to climb to his feet, if a little shakily, and followed in utter silence. Obviously he wasn\'t up for talking, what he had seen had just been too much. It was too much for any of them, though how it affected them each was on their own separate levels.



It did not take them too long to reach a town, lights upon in some of the windows of the wooden buildings. Tobias directed the way towards a nearby inn, though upon approaching said inn, a peculiar scent was in the air and he craned his head sideways, his ears perking up curiously. Velacia noticed it too and glanced around slowly until the red haired man from before appeared from within the inn, greeting the trio.



"Why hello- my my, don\'t you look worse for wear" he commented softly, observing the three.



"You have no idea" Tobias grumbled. "What are you doing here?"



“Checking in on you all... and hoping to have a talk with the lady” he said, nodding to Velacia politely. She shrugged, glancing at Tobias and Joey.



"You two go on inside and rest. I\'ll be out here".



The hydra and the red haired man watched as Tobias and Joey tiredly lumbered into the inn before the red head moved Velacia over to the back of the building, eyeing her calmly.



“So what happened?” he asked, concern upon his features. “You look like you’ve seen something quite gruesome”.



“It was...” she whispered and with the look she was giving him, gave the man silent permission to see for himself, for she could not describe what she saw in words. Gingerly he placed his gauntleted hand over her forehead and again she seized slightly as he looked through her thoughts. His face remained impassive till he he finally removed his hand and shook his head softly.



“So that’s why he is so much of a brat right now, or at least that being a good part of the reason. Most sad indeed” he muttered. Velacia could only nod, her eyes giving a faraway look. Upon seeing this, he commented. “You feel sorry for him? Even with all he’s done to you?”



“I can’t help it... no one... deserves that”.



“And you don’t deserve what happened to you” he said matter of factly. “Don’t you hate him?”



“I hate what he did to me, what he still does... but I don’t hate... him...” she muttered, running a hand through her hair, surprised at her even claiming such a thing. There was silence between the two till she got a bemused look from the red haired man.



“Do you love him?” he asked. She gave him an incredulous look, her eyes widening as she placed her hands on her hips.



“For god sakes no. It does not bode well to love someone as destructive as that. No one could love such a loathsome man”.



“Yet you keep going back to him”.



“Not intentionally”.



“Velacia...” the red haired man sighed.



“I don’t know...” she sighed wearily. “I just don’t get... how I feel around him. I hate him and yet I don’t... I want to rip out his tendrils but from what I saw I almost feel like hugging him...”



“I’m sure that would bode well” the red haired man mused, grinning slightly, causing a small smile to appear on the hydra’s face. "How are you going to act around him when he appears? Can you hide those thoughts from him?" he then asked next. Velacia sighed again.



“I won’t tell him what I saw but I don’t think I can ever look at him with anything but pity”.



"You know that is going to unnerve him".



“As everything else I do at what point or another” she muttered. “I still wonder as to why I am still alive”.



"He doesn\'t want to kill you. At least not yet. You\'re too much fun to play with... and he must have a motive, at least with keeping tabs on you with that necklace and making a clone of you..." he mused. "Are you sure you can continue through with what you have planned?"



"Yes. Its the only option I have now. I have to try... even if I don\'t succeed" she said and for once, ever since her encounter with the purple haired man and all she\'s been through, her voice was full of confidence, as if she just knew she was going to succeed.



“What happens if he finds out? He will not be happy at all” he warned.



"Well he thinks he can do worse to me, but there is nothing that he can do..." she whispered softly again.



"Don\'t be too sure. He\'s going to try his hardest to prove you wrong".



"Perhaps... was this what you wanted to talk to me about? I feel there is more here".



“Velacia...” the red head sighed, his crimson eyes piercing hers carefully, holding her gaze, but not in an intimidating light. “I don’t like what he is doing to you. I really don’t... and you’ve always... fascinated me. I want to help you”.



“No one can help me Dryzon” she said quietly, finally calling him by his name as she observed the man, who was in truth a very ancient dragon, quietly. He seemed pleased at her using his name and continued.



"But I can. That boy is no match for me... he is no where near my skills. Come on Velacia... if you can be my mate I can save you".



Another sigh emitted from her lips, and the long black haired and red banged woman ran her hand through her hair, another heavy sigh coming. She then shook her head softly from side to side.



“We’ve already been through this. I’m sorry but I can not mate with you. Dragons and hydras do not mesh well and you know that. You’re not worthy for me” she said. It was not in the fact that she was insulting him, though may have seemed as such. But is the way her species was. To mate was someone was a very picky and hard process. Only the best of the best could claim a female hydra, and more often then not, it was usually another male hydra.



Dryzon observed her for a moment longer before pushing her against the wall, placing his hands on either side of her head, bringing his head in close, their faces almost touching.



"I am not worthy yet that mongrel is? And why is that?" he asked. "Is it because you like being treated as viciously as he does to you? To be made his slave? Is it the way he talks? The way he touches you? The way you burn for his touch?" he whispered erotically into her ear, trailing one of his hands along her frame sensually, in a way that Kaine did at one time. A voice then sounded behind Dryzon, both calm and cool.



"Now now dragon. Don\'t be getting any funny ideas. I would hate to have to destroy you". Kaine stood there leaning up against a wall, his arms folded over his chest and one leg braced up against said wall, that sly smirk on his face.



Dryzon laughed softly, shaking his head from side to side, though did not look at the man, keeping his eyes on Velacia, who only tensed at the other being here, doing her best to not look at him.



“That protective of your property? How touching... I thought you didn’t care” he chuckled, moving to trail his hand up to Velacia’s face. His face was close, however he still did not kiss her for he knew she did not want it. Nor did she tremble from his caresses. She didn\'t even with the first time he touched her.



"Are you sure my dear? I can treat you definitely a lot better then he can. I can save you..." he whispered into her ear, moving his other hand along her body sensually again. It wasn\'t really to tempt her sexually, but to show that he could care for her a lot better. The hydra did know this, even with their ill departure from one another those many years ago. But a hydra was a hydra, and she knew, even before receiving the knowledge from her ancestor, that mating with him was not wise. As well, the spark for a mate was not with this being. Velacia closed her eyes, turning her face away from him.



“No one can” she whispered. “I don’t want your help”.



"You certain?" he queried, once again touching her more, though his touch still did no effect, as it would on another woman. Again Velacia remained still and he smiled, releasing her and moving away, turning to gaze at Kaine slightly.



“Quite loyal to you she is” he smirked, his gauntlet fingers clicking slightly. Velacia in the meanwhile wished she could meld into the wood. After what she saw from those images, she couldn’t bare to look at the dark clad man... that and with his last promise of something for her... she could only dread the possibilities, even more so as Kaine simply chuckled darkly.



"She isn\'t loyal, she is up to something. But I\'ll find out what she is up to eventually, have no fear of that." Kaine gazed upon Dryzon with a contemptuous gaze "Don\'t you have someplace else to be, Dragon?" He said the word \'Dragon\' as if it were something as pathetic and timid as a mouse.



Velacia paled, opening her eyes but keeping them to the ground, wondering if she could maybe slink away as Dryzon merely laughed again at the way Kaine spoke to him, shaking his head softly.



"Say what you will... you\'ll be surprised" he let out, letting off the air that he knew more then he let on, which was true. Smirking he headed towards the entrance of the inn. "As a matter of fact I do... but I\'ll be back momentarily. You two have fun" he said, a glint in his eyes as he moved away from them, going around to the front of the building, a smirk upon his features. He just needed to grab the other two first...



Velacia meanwhile wished she was dreaming or had the ability to turn invisible as she slowly edged away. She may of felt pity for Kaine for what she saw, but that sure as hell didn\'t mean she wanted to be around him right now. After all, she still hasn\'t forgotten what he has done to her. Unfortunately for her, Kaine turned his attention to the hydra.



"Come here". It clearly wasn\'t a request, but an order, an order he wouldn\'t tolerate her disobeying. A small gem had formed in his hand. "I have something for you. As promised".



Velacia froze, raising her head slightly to observe what Kaine had in his hand. She stiffened and slowly approached him, keeping her face down, her bangs covering her black eyes, eyes that held nothing but sadness in them. Sadness for herself, as well as for him. Even if it were a small fraction, it was still there.



Once she was closer, Kaine grinned at Velacia and extended his hand toward her calmly, offering the gem to her.



"Well? Take it. I think you\'ll be pleasantly surprised" he commented as he stepped toward her till he was uncomfortably close.



Velacia felt a shudder go down her spine at how close he stood, something that Kaine wanted her to experience. She was repulsed to be around him, yet she forced herself too for she really had no other choice. The inner turmoil he could see writhing in her was satiating. She continued to refuse to look at him, gingerly taking the gem from his hand, inspecting it as it laid in her palm, though her hand shook slightly.



"... thank you..." she whispered, her voice oddly soft. Kaine grinned at Velacia but it faded slowly, noticing her strange behavior.



"What is wrong with you?" he asked as he reached to grab her chin and lift her gaze to meet his eyes.



Another tremble shot through Velacia as he tried to get her to look at him and she struggled slightly, before finally pulling her face free from his grasp, keeping it firmly turned to the side, causing the man before her to raise an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing slightly.



"Nothing" she said, her bangs still over her eyes. She gestured to the gem, trying to change the subject. "What does this do?"



When she gestures to the gem a small spherical image of the remaining egg appeared, it seemed to be intact, a light from beneath it illuminating it and making the unborn form appear within, visible through the shell, even if it was just a silouhette. She could even see the growing embryo shift around, as if getting into a more comfortable position.



Upon noticing the spherical image of the egg, her breathing stopped as she looked at it, feeling her heart pound hard in her chest again, but of a more hopeful sensation. The second child... the second child was still alive. A smile, a true smile came upon her features and she visibly relaxed. She didn\'t even think that it may be a fake. Something told her, for whatever strange reason why, that Kaine would not lie to her about this. Clutching the gem close to her chest and her tail wagging slightly behind her, without thinking, she moved to kiss Kaine on the cheek, though her eyes were still obscured from her red bangs.



“Thank you. This... means a lot...” she whispered. To see her child, still alive... it really did mean a lot to the last of the hydra.



"Don\'t mistake it as an act of kindness, this is merely to ensure that you know that I still have the creature and I will kill it if you try anything stupid" Kaine replied, sneering slightly. Despite his words, he leaned in and attempted to kiss Velacia\'s lips hotly.



Velacia tensed slightly at the words, but knew it was true and knew she could still not try anything. However her thoughts were muddled as he captured her lips. At first she struggled, taken off guard but then submitted to it, moaning softly, the one hand gently clenching the gem while the other gently moved to grasp his shoulder, her eyes giving off a half lidded gaze, though still mostly hidden. This man knew how to distract her well.



Kaine kissed Velacia long and deeply, pressing his toned body against hers and wrapping his arms around her firmly, instigating the lust she had for him, willingly or not, to rise through her like molten lava. Finally he withdrew his lips from hers and whispered to her ear.



"Your little dragon friend getting jealous?"



Velacia panted heavily, squirming slightly from his touch and inhaled air after, trembling from his whisper but glad she did not have eye contact with him. She chuckled softly, her tail gently swaying behind her.



"A little I suppose. He has been trying to make me his mate for a while, but I have no interest in him. He does realize this and will not force me into the matter". His lips brushed against her ear as he spoke again.



"Perhaps you would care to visit it, I\'m sure it is due to hatch any day now..." He rested his hands on her hips as he smirked.



A chill travelled down Velacia\'s spine as she kept her eyes away. The idea of being in Kaine\'s home anytime soon did not entice her at all, especially from the last visit and if Kaine ever found out she was pregnant again. However she was desperate to see her remaining child. She just had to play along with Kaine and do whatever he desired if she could within her means.



"...yes... that would be nice..." she mentioned, tasting the air briefly before stiffening. The others were now outside...



Kaine opened a portal and started to lead Velacia towards it as the hydra herself could hear the faint talking of her three male companions getting closer.



"Tobias...come on, let go. I just want to stay here for now".



As they appeared within line of sight, Dryzon smirked as he led Joey and Tobias to where Velacia and Kaine were, his smirk widening upon seeing the open portal.



"Leaving so soon?" he asked nonchalantly. Velacia froze, turning back to the others, where Tobias stared at her and Kaine wide eyed.



“And what the hell is flamer doing here???” he demanded before glaring at Dryzon. “I thought you said she was alone!”



"Well this is considered alone time for her" Dryzon said in a bemused tone, eyeing the hydra and the purple haired man, though there was a particular look he was giving the other man, one that could unnerve him, if said devil was paying attention, however Kaine ignored the new arrivals for the most part.



"Come Velacia, I\'m sure the child would love to see his mother." To add insult to injury he turns his back on the trio of men, attempting to lead the woman into the shadowy portal Joey couldn\'t do much more then stare, his mood brought down even further by Kaine\'s presence where as Dryzon could only laugh.



"I\'m sure the child would but perhaps in a moment. I\'ve grown so fond of you Kaine... that I feel it is time I invite you to my own home" he snickered.



He waved his hand towards the portal and red flames engulfed around the black portal, it turning to a burning crimson. A vacuum then started to pull at Kaine and Velacia and not only was it pulling them into the portal, it seemed to drain the strength from the people in front of it, and that also included of the magical sense. Casually he pushed Joey and Tobias to the portal too, the force of the suction quite strong. Velacia\'s claws dug into the ground as she stared at Dryzon incredulously.



"Goddamnit you bastard-" she started as she pulled along the ground towards it. Dryzon grinned and winked.



“You’ll thank me later” he said and with a wave of his hand, a giant invisible force shoved them all inside.



Kaine was spat out of the portal on the other side and landed neatly knelt on one knee. He wasn\'t pleased about being hijacked like this, but he could make the best of it. This wasn\'t going to get under his skin, that would give the dragon too much satisfaction. Joey on the other hand was spat out on the other side and landed in a heap on the floor with a groan.



"Ow...."



Tobias yelped as he collided against the floor none too graciously, a little off from Joey, shaking his head and hoping the ringing would disperse from his ears. As for Velacia she landed on all fours, if not a bit hard, her muscles protesting as she forced herself to a bipedal stance, looking around, eyes quite wide.



They were in a large hall, the walls made of gold, though it looked like it were scales along the wall and if staring at them long enough it looked like they would move on their own accord. The floor was silver and almost like that of a mirror, their reflections looking up to them. Along the sides lush patches of grass and vegetation, the scent of nature all around them. Great massive skeletons of various beasts, some dragons and some other massive creatures towered over them, their bones pure white, or black and they seemed to shift, as if it too were alive. Immense trees stood by them with silver and red leaves. Everything along this place glittered immensely. Further down leading to the archway into another part, one could see burning hot lava bubble beyond, indicating that a lava pit seemed to be beyond this room.



Various different creatures went about doing some chores, most of them along the lines of being blue skinned elves or red skinned fairies, if not human size. They all wore silk robes and seemed to have a pleasant disposition of how they set about their task.



There was a strong aura in the air, and it made the visitors feel that any special powers they had were greatly repressed, almost to be lowered among the same status as a human. Velacia could only be in awe as Dryzon appeared beside her, smirking at the others.



“Welcome to my home”. Kaine stood up, looking perfectly composed despite the face that he couldn\'t summon his powers as easily within this realm.



"I must say that the decor is rather garish, Dragon. I\'ve never been much of a fan of gold." Joey sat up and rubbed at his head sorely.



".....I\'m seeing stars..."



Dryzon smirked as he passed Kaine, motioning to a female elf to come tend to Joey. She approached the human easily, running her hands along his face, a blue aura coming from her hands as she healed him completely, smiling at him sweetly.



“Dragons are known for collecting various amount of treasure over the ages... gold is one... but there are other forms” he said, smiling at Velacia in a certain way that made the woman scowl. Tobias meanwhile could only intake everything, especially the attractive women.



“Mmmm... think I’m in heaven. I think I visited the best of both worlds... here and the Opera House” he laughed, wondering who he should tempt first.



“Now now Tobias... please keep your hormones in check” he smirked, giving Velacia another look before he started walking off, waving to them. “You’re free to follow me or to wander around. My servants will tend to any of your basic needs”.



Joey stared a bit at the woman, turning red in the face before quickly averting his gaze. Kaine simply strode off, apparently intent on wandering. He didn\'t want to make any attempts to leave just yet, he knew that the dragon would probably enjoy that, instead he wandered, taking in every detail he could see, one could tell a lot about a person by their home. Kaine saw it as a good way to gather tactical intelligence on a potential opponent.



* * *



Some time has passed and Dryzon\'s guests were still within his vast home, each room being explored far different and more magical then the last.



Currently Tobias was seducing one of the female red fairies, the woman herself blushing, if being hard to notice upon her red skin. The wolf hybrid was having a very good time in the dragon\'s home and was pleased that with the wards in place, Kaine proved little to no harm. Not even he could use his ice magic here, not that he wanted to for that matter. He was even in a better mood to start drinking again, having a good time with his new friend.



A few of the blue elves were following Joey around, some intrigued by him while others wanted to dote on him with any help they could provide, even by physical means.



However a heated argument could be heard within the room beyond the great hall, the room that was literally a lava pit. In the center of the room was a very tall chair, made with some sort of black marble and adorned with bright red rubies and silver trimming. A narrow rock path led to the chair and random different platforms floated along the bubbling magma, stalagmites and stalactites, burning red hanging from the ceilings and emerging from the lava. Large sea serpents made out of lava itself rose and dived among the vast depths. This was clearly an important room, but for what reason was unknown. As for the argument itself, it was with the hydra and the dragon, if only one sided.



"For god sakes I know what you\'re planning! Don\'t be stupid Dryzon!" she hissed, the dragon only regarding her with a bemused manner.



"I don\'t know why you are so upset. As promised I am not doing this for you but more for my own personal reasons" he purred.



"Don\'t lie to me! I know you\'re trying something and even if you were to succeed what am I suppose to do after? How on earth can I get back what has been taken?" she yelled, the gem that Kaine had given her clutched in her hand tightly.



“I can help you with that. You don’t need to worry” he reassured her.



“You just don’t get it!”



“What I don’t get is how you are trying to protect him...” This caused her to splutter.



“I...but... for god sakes that’s not it!!!”



“Mmm... I do agree with him that you look rather attractive when angry” he purred, moving closer to her who only moved back in disgust.



"...I can\'t believe you" she growled, attempting to move away but he grasped her wrist quickly, pulling her back.



"In time you will and you will be grateful" he reassured her with a deep tone, looking her straight in the eyes where she only glared back. Protecting Kaine? Perhaps it may of seemed like that way... she just didn\'t want any stupid attempts of harming him tried in case that will enrage the purple haired man to kill her child. That and she felt somewhat that Dryzon couldn\'t beat Kaine.



Kaine himself reached the chamber and glanced around it calmly before starting across the narrow rock path toward the two, his hands clasped at the small of his back as he leisurely strolled towards them.



"How about you unhand what you aren\'t worthy to have, dragon". He seemed completely unfazed by bubbling lava below.



"And you are worthy to hold her?" the dragon asked, though it seemed to be asked of both the purple haired man and the woman. Velacia struggled against Dryzon but this time he seemed keen on keeping her within his grasp. There was a glint in those red eyes, a warning that he was up to something.



"So it seems you have seen most of my home. Good..." he went on absentmindedly, observing the man some more, a smirk coming upon his features. He then turned to the hydra, grinning darkly.



"My dear, I think I know the answer as to why that has been taken from you..." he trailed and this made Velacia freeze, getting a sinking feeling by how he was saying it, and with how hard he held her wrist, tugging her closer as Kaine continued to move forward till he was standing barely five feet away from the two.



"You have a very flashy abode. Must be severe compensation. How about you release her and I won\'t destroy it from the inside out". He watched them with a calm expression and that faint smirk on his lips. Dryzon\'s smirk deepens, laughing softly, shaking his head from side to side.



"Like your home is any better you death loving creature. Exact opposites... respecting life versus death. One cannot live without the other..." he sneers and then looks to Velacia again, his grip remaining.



"My dear, here is my theory as to why he took your children. He wants them for himself... and not by the means of upbringing, but to play with..."



"...play... with?" Velacia tentatively asked, getting an idea as to what Dryzon means but not wanting to believe it. The smirk darkened.



"You know what I mean... sexually playing with. Did you not know devils these days grow tiresome of doing adults that they must result to raping young children? And what better way then to traumatize their own. I\'ve seen it has a quite pleasant effect... and he does seem the type... doing children, wouldn\'t you agree?"



Velacia could not believe how low a blow Dryzon was taking and she glanced at Kaine haphazardly, a worry and sadness in her eyes, the images from before rising slowly from what she saw. Deep down inside, however, she knew Kaine would not do that. Yes it was true that some who were harmed cruelly may in turn do the same to others, but that is not always the case. Kaine... just didn\'t seem like that type and somehow the long black haired woman knew Dryzon realized this as well.



"One usually commits what has been done to them to be done to others... perhaps daddy and mommy played with him when he was little and he enjoyed it so much that he wishes to pass the love on to your child" he grins, pulling Velacia closer, who could only pale, not looking forward to the reaction it may emit from the man across from them. Kaine narrowed his gaze at Dryzon slightly, but otherwise didn\'t seem to react much.



"How would you know what my home looks like, Dragon? You haven\'t seen it before. Which leads me to believe that someone has been feeding you information about me." Kaine\'s hands tightened into fists behind his back. "You may find it hard to believe, Dragon. But I would never do such a thing. I would kill a child yes, but I would never violate one in such a way".



"If the heart is willing, one can see all" was the dragon\'s response to the first question and said nothing more, but it was implying to his ability to read people\'s minds... and the only one he could get the information from was Velacia.



"I beg to differ. It only hurts after the first few tears, and then one learns to accept it. After all you must of enjoyed it... if after crying out for so long... and looked at how it shaped you into who you are today... wouldn\'t you agree Velacia?"



Velacia refused to answer and dared not look at either one of them. It was apparent Dryzon was gently pushing at Kaine\'s buttons and she was surprised the man had not attacked with such a blow to his family. Her fist clenched tightly around the gem she held, shaking as she replayed Kaine\'s past in her head, gritting her teeth while the man\'s faint smirk opposite of her only grew.



"You couldn\'t have found any of that out from me, so tell me, where did you come across this information? I can tell that you are trying to provoke me. Are you disappointed that it isn\'t working, Dragon? I should warn you, that even in your warded home, I could still destroy you". Something in his tone was off, like there was some hidden meaning to his words.



The dragon\'s smile grew evenly still, his eyes twinkling as he increased the force of his grip upon Velacia\'s wrist, finally to the point that it was getting painful, causing the woman to let out a low hiss. But he was not worried. His wards blocked lethal attacks and suppressed many forms of magic and powers, though there were always some exceptions to the rules.



His red eyes pierced into the cold blue one\'s deeply, baring his fangs in a friendly smile but one could tell there were hidden intentions.



"Tell me Kaine... how long did you take till you finally left your room after the Ice Queen played with you like the little doll you were? Was it just those two weeks? Or was it more?"



Velacia visibly tensed, bowing her head as Kaine paused, his expression unreadable for a long moment, then he started to chuckle which turned into flat out laugher that could chill the blood.



"So, someone has been spreading that little story around have they..." He continued to chuckle, in a way that would bring his sanity into question. "How amusing... that someone would think that bringing up that little tale would have any affect on me". He grinned twistedly. "I won\'t deny what happened. But I will tell you this. It didn\'t kill me. And thus, it only made me stronger".



Dryzon merely shook his head, pointedly not looking at him now, though it was not because of the way Kaine was acting, but it was more out of pity. Smirking he looked down at Velacia, grinning.



"Stronger in some aspects perhaps... but weaker in others. But one has their own views. A pity... such a nice creature before... but all dogs go rabid after being broken" he mused and then turned to look at him, the pity never leaving his eyes, and it was intense. He was looking down at him, in all sense of the word.



"I wonder if you would become stronger if it were to happen to you again? Or would your resolve break more? No one takes rape victims seriously these days... just casualties in the long run".



Velacia could really not believe this was going on and wondered what point Dryzon was attempting to get to. She absentmindedly tugged at her wrist though the dragon held still. She certainly hoped Kaine would not rape her child though... but again such a thought seemed silly to her. She believed the man, as hard as it was to believe such a being, that he would do no such thing.



"Just how long do you think I endured that torment, Dragon? One day? Perhaps two?" He watched Dryzon with his cold gaze, deep down that look of pity fanned flames of hatred in him, but he had long since learned to hide that sort of thing, it was necessary in The Game. But it wouldn\'t stop him from getting back at the Dragon for this little charade.



"Three... such a big number. But wasn\'t it your father who endured a lot more? So you truly know nothing" he said, smirking though still conveying him with pity.



"I don\'t think I can take you so seriously now. All I see is a little boy getting raped over and over... hardly anyone to take seriously" he muttered, his other hand reaching to curl around Velacia\'s face, raising her gaze to his. "Wouldn\'t you agree my dear?" He then glanced at Kaine.



“Perhaps I shall let the little boy go home now”. Kaine\'s smirk darkened.



"Three days was nothing. I went through an additional year later one. And I don\'t compare myself to my father, that would be foolish, he\'s been around far longer then I ever have. That just goes to show how very little you know about our way of life. It must be nice to be so completely ignorant. You know, if you wanted a fight, you only had to ask. I live for war....I would have happily obliged you". His hands slid to his knee high boots and pulled two long thin dagger from them.



"It amuses me how you had to come up with such a convoluted scheme for something I would have readily given you had you simply asked".



“Who says I really want to fight you?” he drawled, but then smirked, flashing his fangs before finally releasing the woman before him, having left a black bruise that encircled her whole wrist.



“Better stand a bit a way dear. Children don’t aim very well and we both know he would not care if you ended up as a casualty of war” he commented and Velacia followed the advice, wanting to stay away from both as far as she could.



“I hope you can amuse me boy. If you please me enough... I’ll remove the wards... and I assure you I won’t hold back when I do... provided you get to that point”. Gripping the two stiletto like knives in a reverse grip, the purple haired man lowered his stance slightly, like he was preparing for a sprint.



"You better hope I don\'t get to that point Dragon, cause if you lift these wards, it is over for you". Kaine slide his tongue along his fangs and regarded Dryzon with a predatory gaze. Dryzon merely crossed his arms, still conveying Kaine with that pitying look.



“All talk and no action. You’ll see if the times comes... provided you live long enough” he smirked and then did a waving motion with his hand, as if signaling that Kaine could start anytime he wanted.



Suddenly Kaine sprinted forward, even with his magic abilities disabled or dimmed he was still incredibly fast. Just as he reached Dryzon however, he leaped upward and landed a powerful kick to a stalactite which broke and started to crash down toward Dryzon, Kaine temporarily hidden from view from Dryzon by the massive falling rocks.



The red haired man smirked and merely dodged the falling stalactites, the roar of the lava serpents echoing in protest at the rumbling of their home. The dragon did not attack yet, however. He was staying on the defensive, wanting to see how well this boy did.



Velacia was a good few feet away and remained hunched over, observing the scene with wide eyes, unsure who would best the other.



Kaine landed soundlessly behind Dryzon, having used the falling rocks to mask his approach, his back to Dryzon\'s back and he quickly stabs backwards at the small of Dryzon\'s back with one of his knives, intent on trying to sever the spinal cord.



Dryzon’s hands shot out behind him, curling around the purple haired man’s wrist, his grip hard and quite painful. He then bent forward, his claws digging into the flesh of the wrist slightly before hurling Kaine up over and away from him, smirking softly as he conveyed his flying form. With his free hand he dragged a blade along Dryzon\'s forearm as he was thrown, it slicing neatly through the thick metal of the gauntlet before landing lightly in a crouch with a grin on his face.



"One." Apparently keeping tabs on strikes landed, or perhaps there was a more sinister reason for it. He moves forward again, arriving in front of Dryzon and quickly ducks down and sweeps at the dragon\'s feet with one leg, prepared to strike upward if the dragon attempted to jump over the sweep.



Dryzon observed the cut on his forearm with mild interest, mildly surprised at the weapon being able to cut through his long gauntlet before observing the next attack. Debating quickly, he let the man trip him, but not until before he landed on his back he swung his other leg up and slammed it into Kaine’s chest, driving him back with full force.



Kaine went flying back, skidding along the rock path and nearly falling off of it into the lava, but he jack knives back up onto his feet. Dryzon could feel a faint burning sensation in the cut on his arm, those knives clearly were not normal metal weapons.



Dryzon lazily got up, observing the sensation he felt in his arm with interest. Smiling softly he ran his hand over the cut gauntlet, the metal resealing and strengthening, though he did not bother with the cut. He was interested with its impact though it would do nothing to harm him.



Kaine being so close to the lava, the serpents living within it let out a roar, emerging from the bubbling substance and sprayed the ground with the hot liquid. If Kaine remained on it long, he would sink into the magma.



Kaine leaped forward and out of the way, heading at Dryzon again, stopping with a sudden abruptness barely five feet away and he smirked. There didn\'t seem to be any reason to his actions, his knives held at the ready.



"You better hope I don\'t nick you with the other blade... fair warning". The burning sensation was only growing and spreading as Dryzon\'s blood carried whatever toxin had been on the blade.



“And you better hope I don’t make you into my serpent’s snack... it is very rare to find adequate sparring partners these days” Dryzon said, intrigued by the burning sensation in him. It did not halt his motor skills or make him feel any bit queasy. But still... fascinating. Grinning he slowly walked towards Kaine, his gauntlet fingers clicking softly as Kaine licked at the dagger he had cut Dryzon with then tossed it aside into the lava as if it were no longer useful.



"I do agree, so difficult to find worthy opponents now a days".



Kaine quickly spun toward Dryzon moving to attempt to drive the remaining knife into the side of Dryzon\'s neck, whose hand snapped out to seize the purple haired man\'s wrist, the blade almost touching his skin while his other gauntleted hand pierced into the man’s side and there was a burning sensation, as if fire was being breathed upon the fleshy muscles beneath the skin. A most unpleasant sensation. Their mortal viewer watched the show grimly.



Masochistic bastards...



Kaine grunted as the hand was driven into his side and grinned wickedly, changing his grip on the knife to just barely manage to scratch Dryzon\'s flesh as he drove the tip of the stiletto through the metal of the other gauntlet.



"Two..."



The burning sensation suddenly stopped and a sense of pure cold seemed to overtake Dryzon, starting at the scratch. The flesh started to take on the consistency of stone and it was slowly spreading.



The dragon kept his grip on Kaine but observed how his flesh turned to stone, a thoughtful look in his eyes and he smiled softly. He wasn’t worried. Actually for some odd reason he seemed happy... but not a good happy. Those eyes held something in them, something that one had to be wary of, though he doubted this man had such sense. He pulled Kaine closer, a smirk on his features.



“Such an interesting player...” he smiled before he blew black smoke directly into his eyes. Upon making contact it turned into a corpeal substance, almost resembling some type of thick goo and coated over the eyes. It burned the flesh heavily, almost as if acid was being poured directly onto his face, causing his opponent to hiss in pain and bare his fangs.



"You think I need eyes or magic to defeat you? You\'re little more then a lizard masquerading as a human". He shifts his position, and brought his elbow down on the stone flesh, attempting to break off the arm that held his wrist.



Dryzon merely smiled, seeming unperturbed, his eyes alight with hidden intentions as he actually allowed the hand that held the man’s wrist to be broken off and he looked at the stone stump, laughing slightly.



“And do you think I need to do much to trounce you boy?” he asked and with his other hand, lightly tapped the goo on Kaine’s face.



Upon contact, the black substance started to expand across his face, seeming to sink into his pores, the pain of being burned increasing only more that the flesh started to smoke. Some of the substance began wanting to worm into his mouth as Dryzon slammed his foot against Kaine’s chest, sending him to the edge of the platform.



Kaine hit the ground and slid to the edge. He didn\'t move, he just laid there, as if knocked unconscious, though it was impossible to tell if he was even awake with his face covered in the goo. Meanwhile the stone continued to creep along Dryzon\'s flesh, overtaking his shoulder and starting to spread to his chest.



Dryzon smirked, knowing that the stone would fully engulf him, and knowing what will happen when it does. Yes, perhaps playing with this boy for real would bring much more amusement. As he pondered this, while his legs remained of flesh, he casually walked a bit towards Velacia’s direction, flashing her a grin.



“I’d give that man of yours one last look while you can” he purred, winking before turning to look at him. The goo was draining at Kaine’s motor skills, though would lessen once the dragon was fully engulfed in stone, something that they both knew deep down.



Velacia watched worriedly, even though she wished she didn’t, as the magma serpents rose again and unhurled lava towards the purple haired man’s form, his face still smoking lightly.



With what little movement that remained, Kaine suddenly rolls... right off the edge. He plummets toward the lava, but somehow turns the uncontrolled fall into a perfect landing on the very tip of a stalagmite, effectively avoiding the magma attack from the serpent. He just needed a little more time for the stone to spread. He stayed perfectly still on the stone obstruction, its jagged tip not piercing him at all. He would only move if he had to; he had to keep the substance from spreading too quickly and so he ceased the heart that beat in his chest. He didn\'t need it to beat anyway, it was only a little detail he had added.



Just a little longer...



“Clever little boy” he murmured, watching his action with a bemused look as the serpents let out a roar, turning their attention towards Kaine again. However Dryzon shook his head, and though they were not looking at him, could sense it and moved away from the form.



Soon the stone took over his legs and his other arm, and all that was left was neck and face. He glanced at Velacia again and winked before the stone covered him completely, giving the cold appearance he was now dead.



Upon his complete petrification, the black ooze upon Kaine’s face receded to just being around his eyes, having removed itself from his pores. It would not come off him however, but it did not impede his senses at all.



Velacia tentatively approached the stone Dryzon, reaching out to gently touch his chest, tasting the air before him. He seemed... dead. But no. Impossible. He just couldn’t be...



“...no...” she whispered, unsure if Dryzon was actually playing along or if he thought he would succeed and failed.



Kaine wasn\'t willing to accept that this being, with an ego to match his own, would go down so easily. Kaine leaped up high and as he shot downwards swiftly, he came down with a heel driving down at Dryzon\'s head to completely smash the statue to pieces. Velacia staggered back slightly as the stone statue shattered completely, staring wide eyed as what was once Dryzon fell to pieces. She just could not believe it. Was he dead? She backed up from Kaine slightly, not liking this turn of events so far.



There was no way that Dryzon... no way... Kaine tilted his head toward the woman\'s direction, as if sensing her thoughts.



"He isn\'t dead. He has the advantage in this place. Do you honestly think he would be so easily defeated? Don\'t be fooled". Kaine stood there with his head down, apparently listening, expecting to hear Dryzon\'s voice any moment. And as if on cue, a laughter filled around them, a pleasant laughter that echoed along the rocky walls.



“Clever clever. Well I guess you’re not so much the fool as I thought you were. Perhaps you’re more then the whimpering boy from that scene... very well. Lets make this more interesting... and please try not to hold back”.



A burning sensation went through Velacia’s wrist, the one which Dryzon had bruised as well as did it go across Kaine’s face from the black goo, ten times stronger then before as the ground began to shake heavily.



“Let’s take this outside, shall we?” Kaine\'s lips quirked upward in a faint smirk, despite the growing pain he was feeling, the sensation of his face wanting to be seared off.



"Yes, lets". He was excited to put it simply. It wasn\'t often some living creature actually held their own against him, but so far things had been child\'s play, even without his eyes and magic it had been a simple matter of tactics and calculated risks.



"Whenever you are ready Dragon".



The room started to brighten considerably, white light shining from every possible corner, blinding the two completely. When it finally dimmed they were high in some mountainous area overlooking a very long drop into a churning ocean below. The air was very cold here and Velacia shivered slightly as she kept herself in a crook in the side of the mountain, looking warily about before her attention was brought to the vast expanse of the bright blue sky.



Wisps of gold light seemed to come from everywhere till it surged into a great ball of pure energy, glowing brightly and then it exploded.



Upon the bright light receding did a magnificent red dragon fly in its place. In size it was huge, though smaller then Velacia’s hydra form. The wingspan was three times as long as the body, the golden underwing glittering softly. Sharp gleaming red scales ran along its form with blackened tips. Long ebony ram horns curled out, spikes running down along its back and to its tail, ending in a wicked looking spade. The arms and legs were long and muscular, ending it sharp talons. The eyes were a mix of red and gold, glinting dangerously, the underbelly of the beast a sleek silver.



A very large aura emanated from this creature as it gently flew in place over Kaine, gazing at him in a peculiar fashion.



“Let the fun begin...” came his voice.



Kaine observed the scene before him silently till he muttered and shadows surrounded him briefly before dispelling and leaving him completely healed.



"I hope you aren\'t a sore loser". The long wicked looking sword formed in his hand. "A blade forged from the bone of a Crypt Dragon. Perhaps it was a cousin of yours..." he chuckled. He took on no spectacular form, he just rested the blade on his shoulder and watched the dragon above him. "You won\'t be the first dragon I\'ve defeated or toyed with for that matter". He jumped into the sky, floating up into the air till he was at the same altitude as Dryzon ."I\'ll allow you a free hit". The dragon let out a soft rumble, though it was indicating that he was laughing.



"In a sense all dragons are related" he mused, lowering his head to almost Kaine\'s eye level, exhaling from his nostrils heavily, his mixed coloured eyes glowing out. "A free hit? How kind..."



The dragon\'s eyes flashed but otherwise he remained flying in front of Kaine. However a slash hit him in the back at full force, gashes sinking into his back, the black blood spilling out in copious amounts.



And what had made this attack? An exact copy of Dryzon, flying behind Kaine\'s form, the devil\'s blood dripping from the creature\'s claws. However not even this fazed Kaine as the man grinned while his black blood continued to run down his back.



"I\'m rather disappointed. I was hoping you would make better use of your freebie". Kaine extended his hand toward the attacker that had struck him from behind, muttering under his breath, something that sounded like \'Devil\'s Mark\'. Upon such incantation, a thin beam of black energy shot out toward the second dragon form, intent on burning a hole right through its chest.



The dragon before him did a heave with its muscular shoulders, almost as if he was doing a dragon shrug, his long tail gently swaying back and forth behind him.



"Stop acting so high up. You haven\'t seen everything in the world little boy..." he purred out.



The dragon behind Kaine curled his wings out before him, taking the hit, it reflecting off its wings and hitting towards the original Dryzon, who merely held up a clawed hand, the energy being sucked into a ripple in the air before it became nothing. The doppelganger then darted forward, jaws wide, clamping down upon the dark clad man\'s torso, the long slimy tongue curling around certain... parts. The mouth was very hot, as if made of lava and smoke began to emit from his form.



However, despite all this, Kaine\'s grin only grew as he had watched the second beast bounce the beam back at the first. Perfect. He never would have thought such a thing would happen, but he was pleasantly surprised. Neither of the two beasts would be able to dodge his next attack, now that the mark had been placed on both.



As he felt the jaws of the second dragon on him he grinned even more so. He almost felt sorry for the creature. He needed a bit of distance however. With a swing, he quickly brings his blade to slash at the tongue that was wrapping around him, severing it and inflicting the progressive rot and decay on the creature\'s mouth, yanking himself free and flying some distance away from both creatures.



The second dragon growled, watching his prey escape. He glanced at Dryzon momentarily before going after Kaine and though he started to rot and decay on the inside out, his pursuit nor did the aura lessen. He brought back his head and let out a barrage of pure white fire balls, heading towards Kaine\'s direction. Some hit passing mountains and upon contact literally obliterated the inanimate objects, seeming to burst into dust.



Velacia, who was currently residing near one of the mountains, did not take well to this and hopped to a different one, keeping an eye on any other rogue attacks as the expression Dryzon had on his scaled face was most definitely a grin of his own, his eyes flashing again as the sky above them began to grow clouded and dark, rumbling being heard from within in the sky as Kaine fled from the attacks till he was prepared to make his own. The Devil\'s Mark would prevent either of the huge beasts from evading; the attack would hone in on both of them, no matter how much they tried to evade.



"Hell Storm".



The words were quiet, and calm. He held his hand out and it was like a souped up mini gun opened fire, with large black bolts of energy, the thousands of bolts split evenly, half going toward Dryzon, the other half raining down on the double, searing holes in their wings and flesh with a vicious malevolence.



Both Dryzon and the double let out pained roars, the bolts of blackened energy creating wounds of massive size, though for some odd reason blood did not spill from the original\'s form, though it did from the second dragon. The pain was intense but it seemed to spur Dryzon on and there was a glint in his mischievous eye.



The second dragon, seeming to get a silent order, let out a roar, his body beginning to glow brightly till it was almost as if he was on fire... and then he literally came on fire before exploding completely. As the combustion sent echoes of grand noise bouncing off nearly everything, bolts of pure white lightning and energy seared down from the blackened sky, curling and probing around Kaine\'s form, locking him in place as it shot through each of his limbs and chest, sending volts of high electrical energy through him. It wouldn\'t kill him, but it would deaden some of his senses for a while.



Still smoking, Kaine moved forward, only to vanish from view quite suddenly in mid air. The next moment, he is falling from the sky with his blade held high, ready to drive the blade down at Dryzon\'s head, letting gravity handle his decent.



Shifting his head upwards, he let out a loud roar, it piercing through the sky, echoing off the mountains so roughly that they began to crack. The sword within Kaine\'s hand seemed to shake and tremble, as if struggling against the man\'s intention. The dragon laughed slightly.



"Weapons forged from dragons don\'t work against me boy..." he hissed, reaching up and snatching Kaine into his clawed hands, holding him tight as he dipped downwards, wings folding to his sides as he plummeted straight down into the ocean. As he hit the water, he let out a large white blast into the depths, heading straight through the underwater ground\'s surface, seeming to ignite the lava that hid beneath the crust, turning the water into a bubbling hot inferno.



Kaine didn\'t surface as the water of the ocean bubbled where he had been sent into the waters. As the dragon emerged from the waters, a portal suddenly opened right behind his head and those same boiling waters came rushing out and slammed into him with incredible force, however Kaine was still nowhere to be seen.



Dryzon snarled as the same boiling water hit him. It didn\'t burn his scales however and he shook his head roughly, the scales smoking but having not burned through him completely. Even his other wounds have healed from his recent onslaught.



Smirking he tested the air slightly. The only one he could sense was Velacia on the mountains below. Hmm... where could he have gone? Grinning in a way a dragon only could, his eyes glowed before he began to hack up bright red blood violently, it spilling into the water below him. Once ceasing, a liquidial bloody dragon emerged from the ocean, sloshing and swirling in the sky. Smirking still, Dryzon remained still as the bloody doppelganger circled around him as he waited.



Just then huge black tendrils shot out from Dryzon\'s very own shadow, they reach up and attempt to snare the old dragon in a steely grip, trying to coil around his neck, legs, tail and wings, all the while trying to hold him still. Dryzon himself was surprised but did not struggle, the liquidial dragon still swirling around his form, but not doing anything to aid the dragon. It was odd really... even more as he merely closed his eyes and breathed calmly, waiting.



As he did those tentacles became rock hard and sprouted long spikes, stabbing into Dryzon from all angles, the dragon himself letting out a roar of pain and began to hack up horribly, but no blood spilled from his lips, or his wounds. Only white smoke curled out from his jaws and the holes in his body, a soft chuckle emanating from his lips as the bloody dragon continued swirling around his form, seeming to grow a bit bigger with each movement as a figure appeared up in the sky, having lowered down through a portal.



"Your starting to bore me..." he spoke, his tone was dull and he seemed uncaring about the strange blood dragon. Dryzon laughed out loud, and shook his head from side to side, as if what was causing him pain was his laughing and not Kaine\'s onslaught.



"You\'re interesting, I\'ll give you that... but still, you have much to learn and I feel this battle will end... with a victor and failure on both sides..." he purred.



At that moment the blood dragon darted towards Kaine, engulfing him completely into its liquidial form. It did not burn him or hurt him in any manner. Instead he could feel that he was repressed within this dragon and being unable to move.



"This is what I like to call a... mind roulette..." Dryzon hacked and upon those words, Kaine\'s memories began to burn within his skull. It was a random function, but it basically caused the entrapped one to relive the pain of previous battles, though no physical scars would show. They would show on Dryzon himself however... that was the exchange. It wouldn\'t kill either of them, even if they received life threatening blows...



Hideous gashes opened up all over the flying reptilian\'s body, chunks of flesh dropping into the ocean below them. The sounds of bones being crunched and splintered on the inside snapped across the air and the dragon took it in stride. Each backlash he weathered, his head jerking minutely from side to side. It almost looked like he was getting ravaged by some invisible being. Laughter that came behind him seemed to break the monotony of the painful onslaught. Kaine floated there, seeming entirely amused by what he was seeing, his doppelganger he had released control of prior, leaving it as an empty husk that floated within the bloody dragon. His eyes did not leave Dryzon\'s form as he folded his arms.



"I think I will end this now. But I will do you the courtesy of overkilling so that you can see exactly what you are losing to".



Three orange and black spheres appeared around Kaine, thin threads of crimson electricity crackling over their surfaces. An overpowering aura of absolute chaos could be felt, like those spheres were the concentrated form of chaos itself. They slowly started to spin around Kaine, picking up speed gradually.



Suddenly, a steady WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH, could be heard as a gargantuan dragon with two heads rose up over the peak of the mountain into view. Both heads roared deafeningly and Kaine frowned, the spheres blinking out of existence, along with him. That damn woman, he couldn\'t use his attack if she was going to get in the way. Mother would be furious. They would have to finish this little fight another time. All sense of Kaine vanished and the two headed dragon flapped its wings slowly, kicking up massive winds and looking rather perturbed.



"What is going on here?" The eerie two toned voice carrying clearly over the roar of the winds.



Upon Kaine disappearing completely the liquidial dragon returned into Dryzon\'s form who then plummeted into the side of a mountain, plowing right through the object, stones crumbling around him. Velacia who was nearby moved a little closer to him, her eyes darting between her heavily breathing friend and Toria above.



"Good to see you again Lady Toria..." she called up as she eyed Dryzon carefully. "One could say this was... Kaine\'s doing..." was the explanation given as the second huge dragon swooped down, its scales glinting in the dim light as a pair of blank white eyes scanned Velacia and the red dragon by her.



"A friend?" she queried as her wings slowly folded against her back, her set of red eyes scanning where Kaine had been moments before. "What exactly happened? I sensed something bad was about to happen that would cause a great deal of damage to the living things around here".



"More along the lines of an acquaintance" Velacia corrected, not really seeing Dryzon as a friend, remembering a past occurrence with him. "He had taken myself, my companion you met, Tobias, and a new one named Joey to his home, along with Kaine. The two then decided to battle to test themselves... and well, this was the end result... if it weren\'t for you... well..." she trailed off.



Dryzon shifted slightly, still breathing heavily though his wounds were healing. Though he did not look at Toria, there was a pleasant feeling about him.



"Pleasure to meet you Toria. I thank you with aiding Velacia before. I wish I could be more proper in my mannerisms... but the boy is... thorough with his methods..." he commented amusedly as a flash lit up around Toria, the massive dragon vanishing and the dark haired woman with a strange tattoo on her face stepped toward the hulking form of Dryzon\'s dragon form, extending her hand and placing it against his side, closing her heterochromic eyes and focusing on healing the other dragon\'s wounds.



"Stay still."



Dryzon remained so, closing his bright red and gold eyes, allowing the other to work her magic. Velacia kept her distance slightly, watching the two mildly, though her mind was elsewhere. Dryzon was old, very old... and even he had problems with Kaine. Could no one kill that man?



"It is the nature of males of any species to compete against one another, I just wish that they would be smarter about it" she said as she opened her eyes and stepped back from Dryzon after having healed the majority of his wounds to the best of her ability. Her words didn\'t come off as chastising, but ernest. "Are you feeling better?" she then asks as she takes a few steps back from the hulking form.



"Male ego... it tends to get the best of us at times..." he laughed. His body then glowed after she finished, gold light erupting about his form. When it died down he was back in his humanoid form and he smiled amicably at the woman, bowing his head in respect.



"Thank you my lady... I fell much better. As well as for your appearance... sad to say my reign of old age was on the line" he chuckled softly. Toria nodded to Dryzon with a regal sort of elegance. "Is anyone else injured?" There was something in the way that she behaved that made her seem very old, or perhaps she had just been through a great deal. Dryzon glanced briefly at the minor injury he inflicted on Velacia\'s wrist but the hydra shook her head softly from side to side, declining his silent suggestion and he returned his gaze to Toria.



"No, everyone else is alright" he said.



"...minus Harper..." Velacia muttered in an aftertone, the thoughts of the elf entering her mind. Toria\'s piercing blue and red eyes turned towards the hydra.



"Harper? A dark haired elf with two swords?"



"Yes... but with one sword now" she muttered, and indicated the sword that was clenched tight within her tail. She debated mentioning the next part, worried if Kaine would hear her... but what choice did she have? She kept her choice of words selective as she continued.



"He was kidnapped by the devil I came into contact with and we are trying to find him".



"That doesn\'t surprise me much. Harper is a kind soul but he is also involved with Kaine\'s sister romantically. It is possible they plan on using Harper to get to the Ny\'Tshaide family. Lily is very much in love with Harper, and she would be devastated to learn of his capture and would probably do something rash and get captured herself in which case the family would be in a very bad position" she explained, lifting a hand to her forehead to rub at her temple.



Lily? The name rang a bell in Velacia\'s mind and the image of the little girl that Kaine gave the hellhound puppy too came rushing back. She looked... awfully young... but perhaps she has aged now? No matter...



A sickening feeling came within her stomach and once again dread of this being her fault came full force into her. Dryzon, as if sensing the hydra\'s grief, glanced to her.



"Velacia. It\'s not your fault" he said gently.



"Say what you will but I feel otherwise. If I only made him not follow me for that whole time... damnit" she hissed, clenching her hand that held the gem tightly. She was going to fix it. She was no match for a devil perhaps, but she was going to rectify this. And then once she did, she\'ll make sure none of them will associate with her again.



"We need to get into Hell and get him back, no matter the cost" she said firmly, her tone of voice quite cold.



"Let me find out where he is before you go wandering into the depths of Hell to get him. I will speak with Lord Daemokus about what is happening and he will no doubt know who is behind this, or will be able to find out. He has vast resources". Toria observed the two for a long moment, as if evaluating them.



Velacia nodded, but would not acknowledge the words. As far as she could tell, she could not trust this Daemokus... what with Harper\'s efforts having proved unsuccessful, if for a different matter. An idea was forming in her mind, a risky one at that... but a plan.



"Good idea. Here... take this" Dryzon said, handing Toria a small figurine of a red dragon made out of rubies. "This has the energy signature of where my home resides. We shall be waiting there" Dryzon said. Toria glanced down at the small figure in her palm before nodding.



"I will be there as soon as possible. Unfortunately teleportation is not one of my skills".



"Understandable. We shall be awaiting you" Dryzon said, giving a nod of respect while Velacia was waiting till the woman would leave, and then she would make her move.



In another bright flash the tanned woman changed into a snowy owl and took to the air, heading off towards the horizon in silence. Dryzon observed her departure for a moment longer before turning to Velacia.



"Shall we go?" he asked. He raised his eyebrows in surprise as the hydra shook her head no.



"Look Dryzon, before you argue, Kaine now knows where you live. I don\'t know if he can get there easily, but he can sure as hell try and the last thing I want to happen to you is to get hurt again. I think it\'ll be best for me to stay away, at least for the moment. I have something to do" she said, making herself sound as believable as possible. Dryzon raised his eyebrows in surprise, unsure but seeming touched that the hydra was worried for her.



"Alright... but what of your well being? He\'ll most likely snatch you once I\'m gone" he warned.



"That\'s why I need you to use your masking ability... at least make it last for a moment so he can\'t find me" she said.



"I doubt that will work, with that pendant you\'re wearing... but perhaps I can befuddle it for a moment" he said, musing. "Where are you going?"



"To see someone I know and ask them something..." she said, making herself sound as confident as possible. Dryzon looked at her wearily, unsure but then sighed and waved a hand over her, a tingling feeling going through her.



"There. This should block Kaine for a moment from locating or hearing you but it won\'t last long. Whenever you want to return, just call my name" he told her, tapping her on the nose before disappearing in a puff of red light. Grinning grimly, she looked around her, fists clenched, hoping this would work.



"DEMON! Where are you?! I know you\'re watching!" she yelled, hoping to whatever gods that he was listening. It would help if she knew his name.



She didn\'t have to wait long though as she heard a voice, but could see no person to match up with it.



"What do you want hydra? I\'m very busy". Velacia thought swiftly, but was pleased to hear his voice and spoke quickly afterwards to make sure his attention remained.



“Kaine has found out that you’ve taken Harper and is planning to find you and hunt you down. His father may even be enlisted into this as well. I want to... help you so that does not happen...” she said slowly, gesturing to the sword in her tail next. “Neither he can touch this either and it harms him immensely... I... know of things that can aid you... if you let me”. The voice in her ear chuckled at this.



"You think I need your help? I have allies of my own".



“I know you are far more powerful then myself but there are things I can do that you can not when it comes to Kaine... and besides... think of me as an expendable tool. After all, I am considered yours with the contract” she continued. “Harper is with his sister Lily, correct? She would not be that difficult to obtain... I can help there... trust me...” she purred out on her own. “All I request is to see the elf for a moment and to ask something about the sword... just so I know how to use it... properly...”. This seemed to amuse the demon even more that the voice started to cackle.



"You would give me the innocent little girl. Sacrifice the one thing that the elf cherishes, just so you can ask him how to use his own sword?"



Velacia hesitated. Of course that is not her plan, at least she\'s conveying it that way to the demon but that would not be her intention. This could be risky and explode in her face, with not only Harper wanting her dead, if that was possible, but with Kaine too and his whole family... and she\'ll never see her child again... or give birth to the one in her stomach... or to ever live. But it was all she had and she didn\'t feel of it as foolhardy as it should.



"Yes, I would. If you let me see him and interrogate him, then I will fetch the girl for you. Whatever you desire from me... I shall give to you willingly..." she promised. The voice chuckled again amusedly.



"You could not bring her to me even if you did try to keep your word. She is too well guarded by her mother and step father. No deal".



"There must be something I can do to prove to you. Please..." she hissed. She could feel a weird feeling about her, a warning that the masking power Dryzon put on her was going to finish soon. "Once she finds out that Harper is taken she\'ll do anything to get him back... and I can lead her to you..."



She looked desperate, knowing that somehow he would not believe her... finally a thought came to her and she gritted her teeth. She did not want to do this but still... she could always make another.



"I am pregnant with his child. I offer him to you if you allow me to help". This however did not seem to be a good offer and the voice sneered.



"I own you, I can take the kid when I want I don\'t need to bargain for it. You waste my time. Don\'t do it again". The voice went silent.



Velacia remained standing where she was, the masking aura Dryzon had on her falling away so that she can be viewed by anyone. Damn it. But did she expect such a good out come? What use was she when bargaining with devils? What experience did she have when it came to such debates anyway? She was only recently thrown into this mess and it would take some time before she could come even close to being able to fool any of those wretched underworlders.



Her fist clenched the gem tightly and she slammed it into the wall of a mountain, the back of her hand splitting open with rivulets of blood but the little keepsake inside the palm remaining unscratched.



"Damn it all..." she sighed, sinking to her haunches, tugging at her hair. When would this all end?