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Night chuckled bounding forward following Danni "Danni we have no idea who we're dealing with right now, all we know is that there's a problem with Ialo, and Chris seems to know more then we do." Night sighed lazily flipping so his back was towards the ground. "not to mention those bombs had the potential of kicking our asses if enough went off."

"please Danni I'm already there." He disappeared into a wisp of purple smoke reappearing at the same sight as she would in the nether world. "come on Danni don't take that long to switch your bodies between realms."
he looked at the opened portal now only waiting for Danni's appearance.

"Yeah, yeah, don't be a nag." She said, stepping through the portal and feeling the dark power enter her as she stepped into familiar territory. Fire beasts and minions paraded through the eternally burning flames, and the stifling heat gave the air a smoky quality that spectors floated through. Cries of 'Shadow Runner' seemed to echo through the area, and several bowed down out of familiar loyalty, oblivious to the fact that she was on Satan's own personal hit list.

"Listen up, my minions, and listen well, you of the third gate!" She called above the constant cries and roars from the depths of the worlds, and her voice carried throughout the area, alerting all that Shadow Runner had at last returned to the netherworld. "I seek out the hell dragon Lazareth and the flame spector Artemis! They've knowledge I require, and I'm under the understanding that they reside here, in the third gate. Lead me to them." She said, and a decrepid man with his face half melted and his left arm gone limped forward, bowing at what was left of his bone-showing waist. "At your command, Shadow Runner. If you'd follow me," He said in a rasping voice, and Danni nodded.

"Many thanks, Azmith. A loyal follower you are, for one who resides in such a place." She said, and he laughed quite madly, the sound ending on a hacking cough as he led them past demons and minions of every shape, size, and species. Truthfully, this place always gave Danni the creeps, but information was to be found here, so here was where she would come. At least there were no damn thunder storms here, she thought grimly, then shook her head. Focus.

"I know, right?" Danni murmured, raising a brow as a group of fire-covered demons danced and chanted around a bubbling cauldron. That was a curse if she'd ever heard one, and could only feel sorry for whoever it was getting cast upon.

"We've arrived, Shadow Runner. The two reside in the fire caves." Azmith said in his rasping voice, and bowed before he disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

"Good, good," She murmured, and didn't hesitate before going into the infinite darkness of the caves. She instinctively made her way through the winding, twisting caves, using magic to guide her way. It was quite a while before Danni heard a furious roar, and pulled up a shield just in time to deflect a whipping spiked tail.

"Well, well...In a bad mood today, Lazareth?" When she took another step forward, she pulled up a wall of water to cast away the balls of blue flame that came at her without warning. "And you, Artemis...I come peaceably enough, fellows." She said, and saw the great dragon's head come out of the darkness, his very presense illuminating the cave slightly.

"You've been banished, Shadow Runner. The Dark Lord would like nothing more than to have your head on a platter. What business could you possibly have with us here, in the third gate? Your inquiries usually take you to the fifth gate and beyond." He hissed out, his breath steaming. "Yes, Shadow Runner. What brings the Mistress of the Night down to our humble caves?" A deep, dark voice demanded, and a figure cloaked entirely in a black cloak floated out from behind Lazareth, and the spector flew above their heads, gliding menacingly just out of reach.

"Because I require information on new magic. And because, should you really not want me here, I'd have been blocked at the portal." She said, and Artemis chuckled, the sound reverberating through the caves. "Yes, well, the word is quickly spreading that it is you who wields the Sword of the Ancients. You who has the power to bring down the Dark Lord. If you truly have that power, who are we to refuse you, Mistress?" He said smoothly, and she chuckled darkly. "Cute, real cute." She said sardonically, then squared her shoulders.

"I'm sure you've heard via Arzol and his companions already that there were bombs planted in Switzerland today, bombs that could easily pass through even my shields. I know you must have information about, if not who built these bombs, then about what spells can be used to deflect such things." She said, and Lazareth, not in a good mood today, rolled his massive eyes. "And do you suppose we'll just tell you the secrets of dark magic?" He asked, and she sighed, planting her hands on her hips.

"No, but know this, Lazareth. If I find out you've kept information from me, and it results in the harm of certain people, I'll come after you. And I will kill you, as well as anyone who tries to defend you. No matter how many centuries you've lived, I've spells that could have you resting eternally, with no choice to come back as a demon." She said, letting the threat hang in the air for a moment.

"

Lazareth huffed out a breath of smoke, his anger evident in the way his spiked tail twitched, barely controlled. "You'd threaten me? Me, who was around before the beginning of time, before foolish mortals ever walked the face of this earth?" He demanded, and looked over when Artemis suddenly swooped down, floating in front of Night.

"Ah, a Guardian spirit, Lazareth...Who knew you'd have companions willing to assign one of these to you, Shadow Runner? As I recall, even your family banished you from your home." He said, attempting to goad her on, but paused when Night mentioned the Silver-kin. "Ah, so it's that way, is it?" He asked, then looked at Lazareth.

"What shall we do about this, my flaming friend? This could turn out to be quite troublesome." Artemis pointed out, and Lazareth let out a hiss. "Oh, very well..." Turning his great head towards Danni, he said impatiently. "We may have the information you seek. What price will you pay for it, Shadow Runner. You know nothing here is without expense." He pointed out, and she sighed. "Yes, yes, I know. What's your fee?" She demanded, and Lazareth chuckled.

"'Tis quite simple, really. For the information you seek, we require access to the mortal world for one of your earth days." He said, and she narrowed her eyes. "What for?" She demanded, and Lazareth raised his head. "We've heard rumor that one of your aquaintances is a dragon. It's been many centuries since I've last communicated with my own kind. And Artemis here wishes to observe the movements of Arzol, Dunstall, and Gambit. We wish to know who the Dark Lord considers his best team these days..." He said, and she chuckled. "I have to tell you, his standards have really fallen...If I grant you your twenty four hour reprieve, you will obey the treaty?" She demanded, speaking of an ancient document that had been formed several generations before.

"Very well. We'll even provide our unbreakable oaths. Do we have a deal, Shadow Runner?" He asked, and Artemis held out a skeletal hand. It was a challenge, she knew, for anyone not stong enough would burst into flames on contact with this man. Nodding her head, she took his hand, and quickly, efficiently sealed off the dark spell trying to cast its way into her body. "We've a deal. Now, the information," She began, and he nodded. "Yes, you've earned it." He began, and floated back over to Lazareth, waiting for his companion to begin.

Lazareth paused for a moment, then began to speak. "There is a spell, young Shadow Runner, located not even in the Book of the Ancients. It is in the Ancient Scrolls, which are sealed in the deepest of the fire caves, even beyond our realm. Find them, young Shadow Runner, and use your right as wielder of the Sword to reveal the spells locked inside the Scrolls." He said, and she groaned.

"Of course it couldn't be easy. I know the location of the Scrolls. Many thanks, Lazareth. I shall pass now, and the two of you shall now start your twenty four hour reprieve. I've your portal right here." She waved her hand, and a swirling purple portal appeared out of nowhere. Lazareth bowed his great head respectfully, then disappeared into the portal with Artemis.

Shaking her head, Danni conjured a torch out of midair, and began her way into the deep caverns of the fire caves. The magical energy seemed to be pushing in on her from all sides, and from deeper down in the caves she could heard the roars of beasts, ones she'd have to get by before she could reach the scrolls. She'd done it once before, years ago, but just barely. Then again, she'd only been ten then, and much weaker. And she hadn't had family duty to think of then.

"What I won't do to keep them safe..." She muttered, knowing only she in her family was capable of doing this. Anyone else, Ambrose or Lia or Cook, would've never even gotten through the portal.

"Let's just say I stopped trying years ago," She muttered, shaking her head. "The girl is so wrapped up in family tradition and how she'll look to the rest of the world, she'd cast off anyone who dared to smudge the ever-so-prestigious Rinaldi name." She rolled her eyes, then cast a quick stunning spell when a goblin jumped out of the shadows, his long nails deadly sharp. He was repelled easily enough, and she continued calmly deeper into the caves.