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 Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:36 am
Once through the portal, Cole and Hikari were no longer in the pagoda. In fact, they were no longer in the same realm as the pagoda. Hikari now stood in what looked like something out of the abyss. She stood in the middle of The Realm.
The ground was blood red with cracks running every where. Dark fire lept from some of the crack while some of the ground pulsated as if it were alive. Off in the distance, demons could be seen flying around what looked like a castle any demon would love to call home.
Cole held Hikari's hand tighter and looked at her with eyes that spoke warning...
"While we are here, do not let go of my hand and do not leave my sight. As long as you're with me, the demons here will not harm you. And just as a precaution, don't be shocked if you hear me call you my Nitzva."
Cole waited for Hikari to respond before he took another step. He knew that this portion of the journey was not going to be pleasent. Even Cole despised coming to the realm for too long.
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 8:54 am
*Hikari felt colder than she ever had before. She felt her demon blood profoudly in this place...as though it were sensing her and calling to her. She held on to Cole as tightly as she could and motioned to him to proceed. The sooner they were out of here the better. She would speak, but she felt silence as best for now*
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:25 am
As the two walked through The Realm, Cole could sense that Hikari was feeling rather on edge. He knew this wasn't the best place to be but this was the only way Cole could get Hikari to the Astral Plane. After some distance, Cole stopped suddenly and stepped in front of Hikari just as a demon landed in front of the two. The demon stood at almost twelve feet tall and had a massive body, with sharp claws, wings and a tail. The demon eyed Cole for a moment before he bowed.
"Welcome back Prince Ethren. Are you here to reclaim the throne?"
The demon's dark eyes shifted to Hikari and then back to Cole.
"Is this your play thing Prince Ethren? Or is she for all?"
Licking his lips, the demon took a step forward but stop when it saw the look in Cole's face. Cole's eyes had narrowed and were glowing purple.
"You shall not lay a hand on my Nitzva. Is that understood? I am not here for the throne, I am merely passing through, Now be gone from my sight, your presence disgusts me."
The demon nodded his head, bowed, then flew away towards the demon castle. Once it was gone, Cole let out a sigh and looked to Hikari with his usual expression on his face.
"Are you ok Hikari? Hope he didn't scare you..."
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 2:33 pm
((Hehe, Cole, sorry but I can't help pointing out... it's spelled "throne"))
*Hikari, feeling a little braver having Cole with her for a few moments, stared back at the demon. She wasn't afraid, but she wasn't dumb enough to instigate anything, but she refused to let it intimidate her....much*
I'm fine...lets just get through here...
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:59 pm
((Please forgive the poor spelling. Many times my hands move to fast and type the wong words or I do not pick up on my mistakes))
Glad he was on Emberis' payroll...
With a sigh, Cole decided to let Hikari know how far their travel would take them. Turning to face her, Cole took a deep breath and let her know...
"This may not be something you're going to like hearing but you see that castle off in the distance? We have to pass through that in order to reach the location of the old ruins which hold the key to getting to the plane we seek. We're mostly likely going to have to fight a few demons to get there... are you prepared to fight should the need arise?"
Cole waited for he response before he continued onward...
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 9:18 am
((hehe, I'm back =D But I am really tired and I think I'll actually post something intelligable later...))
*Hikari turned to face the castle with steely resolution*
I'm ready...
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:40 am
((That's ok, it's good to have y ou back. Hope you are your husband are happy together wink ))
Cole nodded his head and took hold of Hikari's hand once more. They began to move towards the dark castle with haste and care. The last thing Cole needed right now was for a demon to come up and try to attack the two. Cole had not yet forgotten that there was still a large number a demons in this realm that wouldn't mind eating him and drink his royal blood.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:19 am
((sorry, it's been so crazy getting back to things... ))
*Hikari and Cole crept ever closer to the dark castle in silence. Although the terrain had become more mountainous and required more care, it also afforded some small amount of shadowing to their journey and so far, they had gone unnoticed. The smell of burning somethingwas filling the air and Hikari didn't want to think about what it was. She was glad, however, that her demon heritage allowed her to see perfectly in the dim reddish purple light. There had been several pitfalls and loose rocks that any mortal, with their eyesight, would have seen crashing as they inevitably bumped into them. She wished for a moment that she had brought her demorva crystal bracelet with her...it could give her the powers of a full demon...but she also feared losing it to another here. That would be bad news*
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 10:18 pm
((It's all right, I understand completely))
The castle on the horizon loomed. Hikari and Cole were making steady progess through the rough terrain and it would be only a matter of hours before they stood in front of that dark and twisted castle. Cole knew what awaited inside and he did not look forward to venturing through it. It had been many decades since Cole last set foot into this realm, and he had hoped he never would have to again. Yet, it seemed the fates dictated that Cole would have to in order to help Hikari, which Cole would gladly do for anyone of the people who resides in the pagoda.
In the skies above, something was flying towards the dark castle. As it flew over the two travelers, it looked down and spotted them. With a devilish grin, the demon flew off faster towards the castle.
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 9:26 am
We've been spotted, at last
*Hikari whispered to Cole. She wasn't suprised. She had in fact been growing more suspicious of the fact that they remained hidden for so long. It seemed more of a relief to her that not. She knew they'd never get through unnoticed and the tension of when they would be discovered was beginning to get annoying.
Hikari supposed she should be more frightened than she was. Of course she was frightened somewhat. But that was normal. She was however able to put the fear to good use in being alert and suspicious of everything, instead of letting it get to her. Since they had started and there was no stopping, there was no point in just cowering in a corner.
She wasn't going to stop until they had gotten to the Astral realm. She was not on any quest...this was personal...this was family. No one, not even Cole (though he might guess) had seen what she was really capable of under her cheery surface, if she was angered far enough*
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:54 pm
A sigh escaped Cole's lips as the two pushed onward. It had been sometime since the flying demon had spotted Cole and Hikari, and yet, nothing had happened since then. By now, Cole was growing increasingly concerned. If no demons had attacked them yet, then that meant only one thing...
The two wanderers now stood at the large black gates that led into the dark castle. Cole stopped and turned to Hikari.
"Are you prepared to do battle?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:22 am
*A change, some would say slight, some would say drastic, had overtaken Hikari. Obviously she still looked mostly the same. However she appeared to have become harder and colder than any that knew her had seen. Gone was the twinkle in her eyes and the exhuberent nature that drew people to her. It was replaced by steel determination and unshakeable resolve to get through anything that could lie behind those massive doors.
She was not naive to believe that she would not be terrified by what unimaginable things she would have to face. She was after all, half-demon and knew as much about that side of her as she could ever learn. Although her clan gave up hatred and bloodshed over a millenia ago, their and her birthright was still an awful power to be unleashed if she let it. She told herself in a small chuckle, nothing behind those doors could possible imagine what they were about to find on the outside in her seemingly tiny body.
Just before going in, she placed a very powerful incantation of white magic over her bow and arrows. She expected its power not to have an effect against the demons inside for long, but the few that would be hit before they could counter-spell it would be in for a suprise.*
Nothing will change by waiting...I'm ready
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:46 pm
"You have a point... I must warn you however to be on guard and stay close to me. We may be demons, but we are only half-breeds to those who are within. We'll most likely become quick targets."
Cole began to focus his energy as he tried to self-induce his demonic change. As much as Cole loathed his demon form, he knew how helpful it would be in this situation. His skin went from its usual slight plae color to midnight black. His body began to expand and grow as his muscles became more and more defined. Horns began to form and then went back over Cole's head and pointed out. Claws and a tail finished the transformation which turned Cole from a six foot tall human to a now over fourteen foot tall demon. Giving Hikari one final glance, Cole reached out his massive claws and began to push open the dark gates. The Dark Castle awaited their entry...
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Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 10:54 am
*Hikari, being of a lesser demon race than the incubi, did not have so startling a transformation. However, as the threat of the castle had been growing nearer and she cultivated her usually well-hidden temper into a near boiling rage, her senses became much sharper and nothing could escape her hearing, sight, smell etc. She had no change in height or general appearance but her eyes began to glow red, as happened when she let her demon blood run as it would please. Her tail was ciled up, neatly out of the way and her ears were laying flat. She needed as small a profile as possible. While Cole would benefit from his size and appearence, she would benefit by becoming as small as possible.
.......
The castle door at last stood open. Although they were smart enough to stay guarded by walls, pillars, staircases and the like...the inhabitants were still in obvious view of Hikari and Cole. Hikari presumed they were too eager and impatient to get their hands on them to wait and lay some sort of silent trap. Hikari as yet had not armed herself...she could be ready to loose an arrow in less than half a second...and she didn't want to give the demons a half a reason to attack first. She would wait to see how Cole handled the beginning. This was "his home" after all.*
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Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:53 pm
Through the castle gates was a scene words could not describe. Walls seemed to shift every so often. Stair wells seemed to turn in on themselves and yet seem to be perfectly fine. Demon wandered through this castle, some talking, some arguing, and some even battling. To say the least, it was chaos and yet, it seemed to be controlled. Cole began to walk through the castle as Hikari followed him. At first, no one seemed to notice the two. However, this easy travel was about to take an ill turn...
When Hikari and Cole reached about the center of the castle, a large demon blocked their path and glared at Cole.
"So, the lost prince finally returns. You've got some gall to return to this place slayer."
Cole stared back at this demon and said nothing. He merely stood there, tall and steadfast.
"Do you think you are better then us Prince Ethren? You are nothing but a fool. You've corrupted Prince Emberis and Princess Katha with your softhearted views on humans. Thanks to you we have no one to take the throne. I for one will not stand for this. You will die this day!"
The large demon lunged at Cole, claws out, ready to strike. Had Cole been alone, this demon would not be much of a threat, but since Hikari was with him, Cole began to fight as he once did during his travel... protecting his comrades. Instead of stepping out of the way of the attack, Cole turned around and shield Hikari from it. The large demon's claws slashed across Cole's back, leaving blood gashes down it. Cole did not even flinch.
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