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They knew the attack was coming. Moments was all the time they had to prepare, so moments was what they worked with. They crowded into a dense thicket, knowing that it would be hard for anyone to approach except in the one area where the thorns were thinnest. It was apparent that Zamiel was going to stay and fight, though Verity still couldn't be sure why. Her own strength had failed too much for her to be of any use, except for one thing.

As the kalonas began their rush, she used the rest of her energy to bless Zamiel. She put as much strength and speed into him as she could bear to lose, leaving herself barely able to stand after.

Zamiel had made his choice. He would kill as many of the kalona as he was able to and damn the rest. His life since he had been captured had been smothered with humiliation. He would rather stand and fight now than run with his tail between his legs like a coward.

When the angeni reached for him, he felt a surge of strength course through him. Whatever she had done was potent. He could feel his body become more responsive. It was just in time, as he could see the kalona hurrying forward.

With a snarl of defiance, he leaped over the thorns and stood before the enemies, bristling.

Liliel dug her claws into the earth to bring herself to a full, and sudden, stop. That had been surprisingly fast and brutal. Tythoss had attempted to attack and had been struck down as quick as a bolt of lightning. Eyes widening in a new found fear she looked between the stallion standing guard and the mares hiding in the thickets behind him.

"Why don't you all come out and play?" She cooed managing to keep any trace of tremor out of her voice. "You're not gonna let this fellow do all the work are you?" Liliel really only wanted to kill the angeni, especially now that she knew what sort of a force that mutant was.

Zelcion stopped further away from Liliel and stared. This was not going to be easy. He frowned, it would be smarter if they all just let them leave. He doubted anyone would really care if this was just part of some big scheme.

"I think you almost had him." Zelcion said to his brother rather than offering any of his more useful insight. "Why not try hitting him faster?"

Tythoss was surprised when no attacks fell on him as he got to his feet, but he took what was given. He scrambled away from the enemy, back to the circle of mazoku. He was wounded, and his pride was scratched much deeper than that.

"Together," muttered Xellra. "We need to attack him together."

Zenos scowled, but nodded. There were five of them, and one mutant to kill. It couldn't possibly be too dangerous or difficult...

Zenoskelis was incorrect. Zamiel's build made him a natural fighter, his training made him a powerful one, and the angeni blessing heightened his abilities even further. The mazoku attacked and did injury, but he did injury in return for their blows. The wall of thorns kept them from being able to surround him, and at some point in the fight his wings came free.

Still, even fighting a monster with claws, six wings, and fangs didn't deter them. Zamiel's injuries built up faster than theirs, and in the battle of attrition, it was clear that they had the upper hand.

And that was when Gort the wolf arrived, telling them that they had to return to base and Xelloss immediately. With their fight unfinished, they were called back.

Zelcion led the pack this time, glad to be done with the little games. Xelloss had sent a wolf for them that bore no instructions to finish what they were doing before heading out. Whatever Xelloss really wanted them for was happening and it seemed to be happening now or else their little game would have kept going.

It didn't take the group long to make it back to home base, they knew the paths through the twisting trees well. What Zelcion saw when he got there was confusing to say the least. Rezo was after Xelloss? Rezo had done something to Zelcion's father that was making him cough badly. He stopped running and began a more measured approach looking between the two.

"A traitor?" Zelcion questioned before coming to a complete stop. The lords had sworn an oath to Lord Ruby-eyes as he was supposed to be the most powerful. "Why not kill him yourself?" He asked flatly. If he was so strong he didn't need them to do it.

Liliel was hurting. She'd been too eager to get in there and attack the beast just like she'd been too eager to get the angeni. She had slashes down her haunches and bruises everywhere else, so when Zelcion slowed and stopped she did the same. She didn't particularly want to attack Xelloss. Hadn't she just been instructed to listen to Xelloss's orders? That sat with her a lot better than listening to a stallion she barely knew. It seemed like her father had similar feelings on the subject.

Rezo glared, astounded. "I am your lord, and I command you to kill him!" His voice was sharp-edged with tension. Xelloss was still incapacitated by the powder, but it wasn't a fatal mix and wouldn't last forever....

The powder blurred Xelloss' vision with tears and had set his lungs ablaze. He coughed and heaved to get it out of him as he rubbed the rest of it off his face with tail and wings. As labored as his breathing was, a strange noise began to sound between each rattling cough. He was laughing.

"They know," he laughed hoarsely, hardly getting enough air to speak.

"Wait..." Rezo backed up a few paces, stepping high in alarm. "I said wait!" More of the kalona were joining Zelcion. A pack of demons prowling towards him. "I will have you all punished, killed!" He stepped on his own cape and staggered a little. He shot up again, but quickly was starting to look more fearful than menacing.

Xelloss spat out some white foam, drawing a deeper breath, but still hoarse. "Don't kill him," he rasped. He saw surprise register on some of his children's faces. Death was a gift to some soquili. He knew something that would be far more torturous to the Red Priest.

"Blind him."