++Smooth Criminal++

[Rikku_Feline]

Myfi seemed to be limp and unresponsive in his arms until her eyes slowly regained the light they had in them previously. "...Kette...?" she asked confusedly. "Kette!" She looked around, frightened as she saw the pair of fins swimming circles around them. The selkie pulled herself closer to him, not wanting to be pulled under again. A scream exited her throat as she felt the pair of arms snake around her once more, dragging her under the water and away from the demon.

Casticus was completely out of it, entire body unable to move as he listened to the siren's song. Myfi's scream struck his heart and immediatly part of the fog cleared, still not enough for him to move yet though. ...Myfi...? he thought weakly.

[DemonicFox99]

"Myfi!!" He dove under the water chasing after the much quicker siren. He reached out grabbing her by the hand and pulling her from the siren then held out his hand sucking the air from the water around the male siren. He refused to let go of the selkie huddled against his chest slowly making his way up to the surface. Once breaking the surface he gasped for air. "Myfi.. Swim to the shore. Go!" The second he let go to push the to the shore the female siren rose from the water sliding her arms around him and dragging him down underwater with her. She drug him deep pushing him up against the volcano walls hot with fresh magma boilling beneath the rock. He struggled but her song was weakening him fast. She kissed him deeply further locking him in her spell.

[Rikku_Feline]

Myfi turned to swim back to the shore but stopped looking back to see him be dragged underneath the water. She looked around desperately, crying, "CASTICUS!!!" A pair of misty silver grey eyes suddenly snapped open, fully alert of the situation. The skin around the kelpie's muzzle shrank, peeling away to reveal the sharp fangs beneath. The horse dove beneath the water, moving unlike a horse, unnaturally and otherwordly. The kelpie slammed its head as hard as it could against Kette's attacker, shoving her off and snapping at her with his teeth.

The selkie quickly back pedalled onto land, careful to watch the orange spot that zoomed about underwater like a shark watching its prey.

[DemonicFox99]

The siren screached horribily like nails against a chalkboard and swam away allowing the demon to escape her grasp. Kette swam towards the shore slamming into the siren circling in front of Myfi, then lifted himself off onto the shore and collapsed next to her panting and soaking wet. "Are.... you ok?" He could bearly talk for his heavy breathing.

[Rikku_Feline]

"I am...fine..." she managed to say, still in shock. She moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his shoulder. "They are going to hurt you again..." she said, entire body shaking. "I wasn't strong enough...oh, Kette, I am so sorry..." She shut her eyes tightly, shoulders shaking. "Please...tell them it was my fault..."

Casticus emerged from the water quickly swimming to shore and watching the water intently.

[DemonicFox99]

Kette grabbed his coat that was laying beside him soaking wet and dried it instantly to wrap around her keeping her warm and covered. He didnt say anything sitting up to hold her and trying to calm her down. "It will be ok." He held her tightly never taking his eyes off of the water. Only a few moments of silence passed and the sirens where gone, after only several more the centurian from before arose gracefully out of the water, not even remotely wet.

"Demon... You have violated your exile once again!! You dare mock our laws?! AND YOU DARE TO AFFLIATE YOURSELF WITH A WATER FAE!!!" He stepped onto the shore carrying his trident/whip. Kette only stared off into the water with a glazed look, his eye still vivid blue. "Fifty lashes will be your punishment!!" He held out his hand to bind Kette but the demon gently pushed Myfi away and kneeled before the centurian keeping his fists on the ground.

"That wont be nessisary." His voice sounded more sad that it ever had been, but at the same time calm. The centurian seemed surprised, none of his victims had ever submitted this easily to the punishment but he flung his trident back, it now a long pronged whip and struck the demon across his old wounds. The demon bit his lip gripping into the dirt. Again. Again. Again. He took all he could before crying out in pain. Twenty lashes. Blood poured freely from his torn flesh being ripped appart by the prongs. Forty lashes. The whip often missed and wrapped around him catching his arms and chest causing deep gashes in his tanned skin. Forty-nine lashes, his ribs where exposed on his back and sides, every breath was difficult and small. He could no longer see straight, his vision blurred and his head spinning slowly he began to fall.

"Stay up demon." The centurians voice was no longer angry, carrying with it pity for the demon. He felt that even though his body was broken his pride should remain intact. With a snap of his wrist he flung the whip back one more time.

[Rikku_Feline]

The whip cracked down, as the sound of skin ripping filled the air, only this time Kette felt no pain from the whip's blow. The small selkie was hovering over the demon, body shaking with tears falling down her cheeks, a serious look on her face as she tried to fight the pain. Her body covered his, blood pouring down her bare back. "It...was...not...his...fault..." she hissed, gripping the ground beneath her tightly.

[DemonicFox99]

The centurian quickly jerked the whip back looking terrified. Kette's blood ran cold, "Myfi!" He quickly turned around pulling her into his lap, "Myfi.." Even talking hurt him. The centurian gripped his whip and saddly walked back to the water muttering.

"The price has been paid." He sank back into the water. Kette fought to stay conscious, tenderly holding her by the shoulders so as not to touch her wounds. He instantly became enraged at himself for allowing this to happen to her. He gently ran his hands across her wounds, fingertips dripping with healing water.

"Be still." He struggled to control his magic healing as much of her wound as he could before pulling her close to him, laying his head on her shoulder and passing out.

[Rikku_Feline]

"MYFI!" cried the kelpie reverting back to his human form. He rushed over to her, keeling down beside her.

"Save your strength Kette...I am not as hurt as you are..." She gently stroked his hair as he lost consciousness. "Casticus, do not tend to me. Help him, please," she begged, looking pleadingly up at him. Casticus looked at her confusedly for a moment before nodding, examining his wounds. Myfi gently whispered soft words into his ear, cradling his head to her chest and shoulders. Casticus sighed, saying, "Help me get him to the tent." Myfi nodded, as Casticus turned to his horse form, kneeling down so she could slide him onto his back. Once he was laying against his neck, his skin became instantly adhesive, not allowing him to fall off. He carried him to the tent, allowing Myfi to slide him from the kelpie's back, skin turning back to normal. She gently slid him onto a soft blanket, careful not to touch his wounds while ignoring her own. Casticus snorted as Myfi laid down beside him, not wanting to leave him through the night. Casticus sighed, turning and walking outside, guarding the two injured people inside the tent. The selkie snuggled up to his arm, eyes slowly shutting as the blood on her back slowly dried leaving intricate crimson patterns on her pale flesh.

[DemonicFox99]

The hours passed as the demon lay unconscious on his chest next to the selkie. Slowly his eyes fluttered open, his left one having gone back to its original color. He remained still watching the little selkie beside him sleep. Painfully he slid his finger tips across her cheek, brushing her dainty jaw with his thumb. The tent remained dark as the moon began its nightly decent. Slowly, Kette lifted himself off the ground and sat up straight feeling his skin pull tightly across his back. He moaned roughly as the wounds tore and reopened but not as badly as they had been. Gently he pulled his jacket off of the girl and drug his fingertips across her wounds able to heal them completely.

[Rikku_Feline]

Myfi eyes slowly fluttered open, feeling the warmth spread across her bare back. She looked up at the demon, watching him confusedly. "Kette..." she said sleepily, rolling over towards him. "Save your strength..." She pressed her hands to his arms comfortingly, rubbing them up and down. The selkie sat up more, shivering slightly as the coat fell lower, revealing her pale flesh the the night air.

[DemonicFox99]

He whispered, "Dont worry.." He looked at her with slightly sad eyes that misted over as he looked at her big brown eyes full of innocence and kindness. He ran his fingertips up her arm healing any trace of her wounds, his tanned skin looking twice as dark beside her soft pale flesh.

[Rikku_Feline]

Myfi absentmindedly leaned into his touch, allowing the warmth of his fingertips to seep into her skin. "Kette...I don't want you to be in pain..." She sat up, watching the silhouette of Casticus sitting outside of the tent before turning back to the demon. "Rest..." she whispered softly, voice full of concern.

[DemonicFox99]

He smiled slightly, unable to look away from her eyes then laid back down on his chest. "Alright..." He curled his arms around his head and after only a few minutes fell fast asleep.

Please help me... Darkness surrounded Kette, he could not hear, see, nor feel anything except a voice. Please, Kette.... I'm in pain... please.. the voice was begging him now and it seemed to sound more and more like a woman. He tried reaching towards the voice but he touched nothing.

In his sleep the demon squirmed and tensed his muscles cauing his wounds to retear.

[Rikku_Feline]

She tiredly watched him sleep, a peaceful smile sliding over her face before he began to tense and his wounds began to bleed slightly again. "Kette...Kette!" she said, gently nudging him. The selkie worriedly looked on, pressing her hands against his skin, trying to relax his muscles to keep them form spazzing. "Kette, what's wrong??"