Dreams of the Past...

[Marrina Ters]

…flames devoured everything everywhere; Marrina lay helpless with a broken leg and a severely bleeding arm. Her screams couldn’t be heard over the roaring flames. Her mildly tan face blackened and burnt from the endless battle to stay alive, her long silver hair scorched as well. Marrina gave a few final cries for help as her vision became dark and blurry.

Just as she hit the floor two strong arms gripped her, one around the waist and the other just under her shoulder blades. As she past out, she felt herself being lifted off the floor and carried through the red hot flames…finally she awoke just outside the burning warehouse, her mahogany eyes flickered to the blurry figure leaning over her. Her vision started clearing some and she noticed that the figure next to her had bright blonde hair and 'red' eyes. Before she could speak, she felt an unbearable wave of pain shoot through her body causing her start lose conciseness again. Just before she lost all concisenesses, the figure placed his hand on her forehead and said in a deep voice “…everything will be alright.”

Marrina eyes snapped open and sat up hurriedly. She noticed her body covered in sweat, her breath came short and hard. Taking a minute to even out her breathing, Marrina went over her past memory. She could remember almost everything that happened, the flaming beam that had broken and burned her leg, the explosion that caused her to bleed everywhere, and the blurry figure with 'red' eyes. The only thing she can’t recall is the time between when she past out the second time and when she woke up in one of Telo’s medlab’s.

Marrina concentrated on the figure in her mind; she never did meet him again after that night. She knew the figure was a male for when he spoke to her the voice so low it had sent shivers up her spine.

But now she was on Coruscant, living in a fine apartment building. She made her living by working as a weapon shopkeeper. Her features were mostly plain, except for her deep mahogany eyes which clashed with her bright silver hair. Since the fire had destroyed her long hair, Marrina kept is cut short so it was out of the way and at less risk at being ruined again.

Her apparel is far from normal, her main colors of clothing are black and red. Her upper body is usually covered by a thick but small piece of black leather that runs from just below her shoulders, around her back and is pinned on the left side of her chest with a metal pinwheel pendent. Underneath her cutoff “topcoat”, she wears a tight black undershirt with red straps, which her “topcoat” does not cover. Her abdomen is completely exposed except for two belt-like straps that run across her stomach and back. Black shorts fit snuggly from her hips to her upper thigh. Shin high black leather boots cover her feet, traveling up from her boots are black spandex leggings which are kept up by miniature suspenders that connect to the bottom of her shorts. Hanging around her neck is a strange blue crystal that was given to her from her mother before she died.

Marrina’s thoughts were interrupted by heavy knock on her apartment door…maybe she had been screaming in her sleep again. Marrina slipped out of her bed, grabbing a pair of black shorts which she quickly slipped on. She swiftly walked through her living room to her door and opened it. She peeked her head around the corner and found a man on the other side who had to be at least a foot taller than her.

Marrina stood dumbfounded as she looked up at the man towering over her. When she came back to her senses she realized that the man wasn’t looking into her face but just lower. Wondering why Marrina looked down at herself, in the rush to answer the door she had forgotten to put on a shirt over her tight red and black undershirt. Marrina blushed furiously and brought her arms up to cover herself. Soon after she found the courage to ask “C-can I help y-you…?

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Yes, yes you can. But while don't I wait while you dress yourself more properly..." Dalamar waited for the girl she still seemed shocked by his prescence.

He did give off an intimadating impression he knew. Dressed in all black armor and his pale face took many people aback. But she seemed to dress in a style similar to his own. His red skull Death Dealer symbol stood out clear on his heavy black armor.

"I will wait..."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina continued to stare at the man's strange attire, losing all sense around her as she gazed at his pale face.

Marrina came to when he said "But why don't I wait while you dress yourself more properly." Marrina blushed even more remembering herself.

"Ah...alright, come in" She managed to say as she motioned to follow her.Marrina lead the stranger to her main living quarters.

"I will be back shortly, so make yourself at home." Marrina said while leaving the room.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar looked around the place was nice for some one as young as her. She must have done well for herself.

He found a rather large black leather chair that suited him perfectly. He sat down and laced his finger's in front of him. She would fit his purpose's rather well. He would have to try her first. See if she had all that he needed. Her feature's where appealing also. Her hair so like he remembered though shorter.

He smiled inwardly things where fitting into place as he had hoped.

[Marrina Ters]

What does he want? Marrina thought to herself as she left the living room. She stepped into her own room and walked to her dark wooden dresser.

Opening the top drawer, Marrina pulled out her small leather cloth and wrapped it around her back and pinned it together with her pinwheel pendent.

She closed the open drawer and opened the one next to it. She pulled out a pair of black leather gloves and pulled them gracefully over her hands.

Marrina checked herself in her mirror, then walked down the hall not bothering to put on her boots and leggings. She entered the leaving room and found the stranger seated in one of her many black chairs.

Marrina strolled over to the far walll and leaned her back against it, slowly studying the man's pale face agian.

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Now that your more properly dressed I have a proposition for you."

Dalamar sensed her eye's upon him. Could she already be aware that he was not human. It did not matter he was not here to hunt her but use her. She had not yet entered the room so he let his voice trail down the hall.

The Dark Lord of the Sith waited better to act like a gentleman than to be thought of as rude he would wait for the Lady to come all the way into the room... before he continued.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina lifted her bare foot and placed it on the wall she was leaning against. Her gaze moved from his face to a bright red crest that stood out of his armor, she could have sworn she had seen it somewhere.

The man seated in front of her seemed so calm it made Marrina uncomfortable. His pale features were unnerving but strangely captivating in the darkened apartment.

"What is the proposition you have for me?"

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar looked at her again as she entered. She was perfect. A beautiful woman who didn't know it. A small hunger started to build within him but he quenched it with a steel hand. He was not here for that...

"What is the proposition you have for me?"

She spoke timedly like a wild deer ready to bolt. The Dark Lord tried to put her at ease. He spoke in a low voice to calm her.
"Everything will be all right." Dalamar said.


For some reason it seemed her face went pale. "I have need of an expert and you have been recomended."
She stood there so strong yet seemingly so frail. It only added to her beauty.

[Marrina Ters]

“Everything will be alright…”

Is he…? Marrina felt the small hairs on the back of her neck stand up. An eerie feeling crept through her body; she felt her body heat leave her. Her hands gripped the wall as a shudder ran up her spine.

“Expert? Recommended? What are you talking about?” Marrina asked wearily while shaking.

[Dalamar DeSang]

“Expert? Recommended? What are you talking about?” She said shakily.

Dalamar continued speaking easy and calmly. "I am a representative of Onderon and am in charge of security matters there. I have been visiting nearby weapon's shops and your name kept coming up. They said that you where one of the best when it came to the latest modifications."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina smiled weakly. She was quite good with the newer mods and profit payed handsomely. Her business had thrived only a few weeks after opening. She spent most of the week fixing and building different weapons, ranging from blasters to almost any melee weapon. During her time off, she tried to improve her shop in any way possible. Night was when she was engulfed in dream's and visions from her past which seemed to haunt her.

His voice seemed to crawl through her whole body as he spoke. Marrina felt her strength leave her, she collapsed onto the hearth next to where she was standing. She leaned her head back agianst the hearth wall, taking several calming breaths.

"Onderon...what does Onderon have to do with me?" Marrina asked with a bit more confidence.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar jumped to his feet when she nearly fainted.
"Marrina are you okay?" The General asked with concern. She remained silent so Dalamar answered her question.
"Onderon has nothing to do with you, but your life concerns Me greatly and I am determined to see that things go well for you."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina froze and looked up at him. Confusion obviously among her fine features. Vision's from the night of the fire came flooding back to her; raging flames, unimaginable pain, the darken figure, and now the face of the "man" in front of her.

Marrina closed her eyes trying to rid herself from these vision's. She felt cold and alone as the images continued to flash in her mind. "Concern...you are concerned from me? Why?" Marrina barely finished her head started to spin, she began to tremble as she opened her eyes to the man in front of her.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar soothed her with the force calming her nerves. He then reached out to her mind. "Be at peace and do not be afraid. I am here to help you. As I helped you that night in the fire. Your soul cried out to mine and I found you. The Flame's nearly engulfed you and I could not let that happen."

The General saw her eye's widen. "Yes, It was me that saved you that night and It has been me that has watched over you for years."

Dalamar knew that the flood of question's would now come but it was time for Marrina to know the truth. He waited silently while she absorbed the information. He continued to soothe her frazzled nerves using the force. It was like a warm glow all around her giving her peace and comfort.

[Marrina Ters]

He did save me!! Marrina inwardly gasped. She was still a bit weary but her mind started building up with question's. She didn't know to start any of them. She felt her body begin to calm so she recovered and stood up.

She stared at him with thankful eyes and slowly stepped toward him. For the first time in so long she felt her broken self begin to come together. Marrina felt a tear fall down her cheek as she stepped even closer to him.

"T-Thank you..." was the only thing Marrina could say. She felt herself embrace him in a warm-hearted hug. Marrina started to cry and buried her face in his chest.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar embraced her small strong body next to his. She muffled "T-Thank you..." He could feel her sobbing and he held her close. "Its okay Marrina, It will all be okay. I will take care of things. There will be no more nightmare's for you." Dalamar held her tight like his own lost love.

His red eye's flared in the darkness. She was precious to DeSang she would be safer with him... He wondered as she trembled if she would accept this. Still he knew that the questions must be answered first.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina gathered herself and stepped back. Wiping the tears from her eyes she tried to find her voice. Her gaze finally rested on his face, she gave a lop-sided smirk as she looked into his blazing red eyes. She thought they were beautiful.

She stepped forward again and placed her fragile hand on his pale face. "First off, what exactly are you?" she asked as she traced under his eye with her thumb as if trying to look farther into them.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar smiled, "I am a Vampyre. Many fear what I am but few understand me truly. I am a Dark Lord of the Sith 2,990 yrs young. My full name is Dalamar DeSang and I am known around the Universe by my title General Devious."

Her hand was soft and warm upon his face. She was so beautiful. She did not shy away as he spoke. That was good Dalamar and would never hurt her. She didn't know how important she was. Not yet anyway...

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina removed her hand drop from his face, letting her fingers linger a bit. She side-stepped and took a seat on the arm of her leather couch. She sat in silence taking in every word Dalamar just said. She mumbled to herself letting the word fasinating escape loudly. Sitting for a few moments, Marrina finally looked into his eyes agian.

"So...DeSang, you came to me for a reason?" she spoke soothingly with a slight smile.

[Dalamar DeSang]

"So...DeSang, you came to me for a reason?" She spoke so calmly Dalamar thought. "Yes, Marrina I have been keeping tabs on you for a very long time... your whole life I have been there secretly helping you. It had to be secretly because I have enemies. If your importance to me was ever uncovered you would be in a lot of danger."

Dalamar walked closer to her and looked back into her beautiful eyes. "Promises were made by me to take care of you..promise's that I have kept and will continue to keep."

Dalamar took her hand in his. "I am not sure, but maybe someone has uncovered the truth about our relationship. Someone who might want to kill you maybe even make it look like an accident, like the fire. I have decided that it is time that you knew the truth. About me and your importance in the Universe. Or at least know that your life could be in danger..." There was that look again, so strong yet so frail at the same time. Dalamar wanted nothing but to take her in his arms and protect her and keep her from all harm..

[Marrina Ters]

She gave Dalamar's hand a quick squeeze as if saying "Thank you" again. She continue to listen to his mesmerizing voice without breaking eye contact, smiling as he talked about how important she was to him.

"I am not sure, but maybe someone has uncovered the truth about our relationship. Someone who might want to kill you maybe even make it look like an accident, like the fire. I have decided that it is time that you knew the truth. About me and your importance in the Universe. Or at least know that your life could be in danger..." Marrina felt cold agian, more secrets.

"How am I of any importance?"

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Importance? How am I of any importance?"

Dalamar smiled at her... "Marrina tell me your earliest memory and then I will try to fill in the gaps for you..." The General sat back down deep into the black comfortable chair. He looked like someone who was settling in for a long story one to hear and one to tell..

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina felt scared, her mind began flashing memories before he even finished talking. She was forced to hold it together and remember what had happened earlier in her life. Closing her eyes, she began to remember what had happened before the fire nearly fourteen month’s earlier. Marrina’s mind raced, images from her young teenage life slid in and out of her mind.

Finally she settled with a memory when she was thirteen; she had just left the shop where she was assigned to work at. She began to walk home, several minutes later she felt like she was being followed. The teenage Marrina quickened her pace hearing footsteps behind her, the footsteps quickened too. Soon she felt herself falling to the ground and the laughing of aliens behind her. She quickly flipped over and backed away from a gang of six Duros. They grinned evilly at her as she backed up against the side of a building, they spoken in there alien tongue throwing a few glances at her. Soon after they advanced toward her, one grabed her arm and threw her to the ground. Before she recovered she felt strange, like the same feeling she felt around Dalamar, as she looked up she saw the gang running in the opposite direction. The younger Marrina looked around confused expecting to see someone but no body was around her.

Remembering that Dalamar was sitting next to her, she shifted and asked timidly “Were you there that night when I was younger and I was attacked by Duros?”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“Were you there that night when I was younger and I was attacked by Duros?” Dalamar listened while she spoke of a night he remembered not to long ago..

"No, Marrina that was not me that helped you THAT night. It was Sting an assistant of mine my aura surrounded him though and that is what you felt. He was on planet at that time watching over you...for me. He was the one that chased them off. Let's just say they where dealt with permantly at a later date. They have nothing to do with the bigger picture and the reason I am here."

Dalamar looked at her again. "Please, Marrina I want you to go back further. To your earliest memories.. Something from your childhood, something about your Father. Can you do that?"

The Dark Lords voice was deep and soothing to her the force continued to surround her. He knew the memories of her father may be harsh to rehash.. He tried to make it easy for her to go back to that time. Dalamar eyes glowed red as power and strength flowed into her from him. He had made a promise to her father. A friend of his at one time. Devious needed to know WHAT she remembered of the past so they would know where to begin rebuilding her life.

[Marrina Ters]

My first memory…” she slid off the couch’s arm so she was sitting on the leather cushions, she closed her eyes while her mind went back farther to when she was small and naïve. More images flowed through her mind as a soothing feeling came over her. One image was of the day her father left, another was of her first boyfriend, but the vision continued to go on.

She concentrated on her father before he left, she had never known him well for he was always away on some sort of business occasion. She remembered several days when he would come home, go into his study and not come out until morning. Marrina felt hollow as her memories began to slow, she settled with the memory of when her father brought back a “business partner” from work.

Marrina was about five or six, she was seated in the kitchen looking over her beloved pictures she had drawn for her father. She heard muffled voices just outside, before she could jump up her father burst through the door with his companion at his heels. The man behind him was tall and lithe, he had a black cape on that engulfed his entire body except for his face. His hair was combed back and his features soft but dangerous at the same time.

The pair walked past her to her fathers study without the slightest greeting. The door slammed behind them and Marrina was left alone. After an hour or so she heard shouts from the study and the caped man came barging out of the room. As he passed her, he shot her a worried look and rushed out the door. Her father came out moments later and gave her the same look the caped man did before heading to his room.

A few weeks after that night her father left her.

Marrina broke out of the memory and found herself covered in sweat. She glanced at Dalamar very quickly before speaking.

“I remember a few weeks before my father left me…he brought home someone, who looked like one of his business partners. They had a fight it seemed and his companion came bursting out of the room and gave me this odd look before leaving. My father gave me the same look before he went to his room…” Marrina tried to explain the best she could.

[Dalamar DeSang]

“I remember a few weeks before my father left me…he brought home some guy, who looked like one of his business partners. They had a fight it seemed and his companion came bursting out of the room and gave me this odd look before leaving. My father gave me the same look before he went to his room…”

Dalamar seemed lost in thought also. "Yes, I remember.... There where some bad people looking for your father. He and I where working together on something. I told him that he had to go. He was suppose to take you and leave. They where getting closer but he didn't believe me. He thought he was safe and we where both worried about you. You where to young to travel. We talked that night and argued I tried to get him to go... But he was to fearful for your safety."
Dalamar sighed heavily for the loss of his friend and her father. The General grew quiet his heart felt the loss for his friend Darren Terrs. The Peace of the force surrounded them.

[Marrina Ters]

“There were some bad people looking for your father. He and I where working together on something. I told him that he had to go. He was supposed to take you and leave. They where getting closer but he didn't believe me. He thought he was safe and we were both worried about you. You were too young to travel. We talked that night and argued I tried to get him to go... But he was too fearful for your safety."

Never once had Marrina’s father said he feared for her. Shock seemed to stun her; she continued to listen in silence. When Dalamar fell silent Marrina’s gaze lifted to his face, the red tear streak stuck out on his pale features. Marrina smiled at least she had one person that cared for her and her deceased family. She slid her feet to the floor and stood up. Slowly she walked to the miniature table in front of her guest. Taking a seat she bit her lower lip trying to find words of comfort or support, instead she found herself searching the man in front of her. Her eyes traveled from his thin fine hair to his pale face down his neck, resting for a moment on the red emblem before traveling back up to his eyes.

“You look different…” Marrina smiled when she saw the confused look on his face. “I mean you look different since then…when I was younger”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“You look different…” Marrina smiled when she saw the confused look on his face. “I mean you look different since then…when I was younger”

Dalamar smiled. "I assure you I look the same. It is you that has changed. Your perceptions have altered since you where a child. I do not loom over you as I once did. I have changed to my Death Dealer armor it is more suitable for our situation here and the off chance that there is any danger. Maybe that would explain the change of appearance. Also lastly you had eye's only for your father. I'm sure you did not look at me that closely..."


Dalamar could sense her thoughts of happiness that someone cared for her family...

"Marrina I will care for and remember your family long after your grandkids have grandkids... Never fear that you will be forgotten or unremebered."

The Dark Lord of the Sith took her hands in his. "We must be very careful from here on out. I am not sure if they have uncovered you or not. Or if they know of your importance." Dalamar raised his head as if hearing something. "You must get ready to travel. Bring only what you think is most necessary. I think maybe they are coming"

[Marrina Ters]

"We must be very careful from here on out. I am not sure if they have uncovered you or not. Or if they know of your importance. You must get ready to travel. Bring only what you think is most necessary."

Marrina sat a moment letting his words sink in, her hands still in his. Realization hit her full blast, a man she supposedly knew from when she was a child wanted her to leave her “home.” Even though Marrina felt secure she knew she had no choice in this matter.

“Answer me this first, why am I so important?” Marrina’s temper started to rise as she pulled away from him.

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Your father, my friend hid within you a genetic marker. It is that marker that will serve as a key. More than this I cannot tell you, there isn't the time. We have to hurry..."

Dalamar checked the door there was no one in the hall. "I don't know if they are following or not. We do not want to be here if they are."

[Sting]

Sting stood out in the street his blaster out and ready. What was taking the boss so long? He didn't like being out in the open like this. He felt exposed. Hugging the shadows he waited.


What was that? He saw some movement in the nearby alley. Sting pulled out his scope. he checked the area thoroughly but couldn't see anything... Probably was a frelling cat. Sting was nervous alright if they got caught now with there pants down it would be a blood bath right here in the streets.

[Marrina Ters]

"Your father, my friend hid within you a genetic marker. It is that marker that will serve as a key. More than this I cannot tell you, there isn't the time. We have to hurry..."

At those words Marrina began to protest, but was cut off by Dalamar’s voice "I don't know if they are following or not. We do not want to be here if they are."

Marrina played with the azure crystal at the crook of her neck as she sighed, she sat in silence for a few moments before lifting her head meeting her “saviors” eyes…”Alright, I just need one thing.”

Slowly she stood up and went back in the direction of her room. As her stepped into the darkened room she felt a familiar eerie feeling come over her. Giving a slight shiver, Marrina eyes settled on a large carefully wrapped package in the far corner of the room. Picking it up she gently unwrapped it to reveal a medium-sized sheathed longsword that had once been her fathers.

Inspecting it quickly, Marrina headed back to where Dalamar was waiting. On the way out Marrina heard a soft sheering sound from behind her. Having barely any time to react she dodged to the side, looking up she saw a lithe blade sticking out of the wall where she had just been…before she knew it she felt herself being jerked upright by an arm around her neck and a hand clasped over her mouth…

“Finally, we’ve found you…” hissed a voice behind her as she tired to scream.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar's supernatural ears heard a loud scraping sound and then a hiss. He pulled out his weapons and ran to the back room. He burst in with two silver daggers flying in the air. They struck behind Marrina with a thud. The hands that held her fell away softly. Then a screaching like a thousand banshee's exploded in her ears. Marrina glanced back in time to see the Slithe die in agony as it thrashed on the floor in pain. The small dragon daggers buried in its ghostly dead eyes. The Beast thrashed once more then turned to ash.. All that remained was the pale green tattered cloak that it had worn...

Dalamar grabbed her hand. "Come quickly there will be more!!!"

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina watched the creature shrivel away; she had never seen anything die quite like that. She was pulled away from the gruesome sight by Dalamar. "Come quickly there will be more!!!" The thought of more made Marrina’s stomach lurch.

While being dragged out of the room, Marrina picked up her fathers sword and strapped around her waist with her free hand. The both of them ran out of the apartment but stopped when they reached the street outside.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar talked into his com while he moved. "Sting we have Slithe hunter. Meet me out front and keep your eyes open..we may have only a few minutes.. Devious Out."

Dalamar hit the door with a bang Marrina in tow... His eyes scanned everywhere. He pulled out his silver worked katana it slid out the sheath like silk as he pulled it forward. "Sting on me in 5,4,3,3,1.." The black ship dropped down silently between the two building. The thrust from the engines blew over cannisters and threw papers into the air..

There was a violent hum of power. It grew louder and louder to the right. Like loud thunderclaps the sound rocked the street and shattered all the windows.. The Crash was deafening. Dalamar and Marrina covered there ears.. The Black ship smashed to the road landing on a hover car as it did.

Suddenly a missile exploded into the side of Sting's ship and it rocked back and forth between the buildings. One of its wings buried itself into the left building causing more explosions of glass and metal.. Dalamar pulled Marrina close and shielded her body with his own. They where blasted to there knee's. Large shards of glass stuck out of the back of the vampyre Lords armor and tore parts of his cloak...

[Legion]

Legion strode the streets confidently. Dalamar would finally pay for creating him. The Slithe hissed and hunted around him willing to do his bidding. The Assyrian would be very pleased when he handed him the Dark Lord still heart...
"Give it up 'General Devious' the girl will not live long enough to fulfill any prophecies you hope in vain.."
His steel taloned hand made a fist as he moved in with the dark intent to kill them all...

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina clasped her hands over her ears as a ringing sound filled her head. With her hands over her ear’s Marrina could still hear the missile enter the ship’s hull, she knew it would take just a few seconds for the ship to combust…knowing such she closed her eye’s.

She thought back to the fire. But the pain she expected to after the heat didn’t come. She opened her eyes; they met the sight of Dalamar’s shoulder, she sat in stunned silence…he had saved her again.

Marrina was still shocked when she felt Dalamar wince as she tried to move out of his embrace. Due to the amount of weight Dalamar was putting on her, she knew there was something wrong with him. As concern washed over her, she gently set the vampyre on the ground so he sat upright. Bracing his body with her arm spread over his chest, Marrina examined him. She found several shards of glass from the explosion imbedded into his back. From the limited light she could see that one had found itself extremely close to his spine and without being removed with the proper medical supplies, could cause disability.

Dalamar had helped her many times before and now it was her time to help him. Marrina kept her arm over his chest in place and put her other arm around his lower back.

“Stop being a hero before you get yourself killed…” Marrina said in a nurturing way as she helped Dalamar to his feet.

[Dalamar DeSang]

“Stop being a hero before you get yourself killed…”

Dalamar stood up stiffly his arm around Marrina. He leaned on her more heavily than he wanted to. He looked into Marrina eye's and with a voice that was gentle yet would brook no argument he spoke. "Marrina we don't have time. Pull the glass out of my back. Remember what I am. I can take a little more damage than most."

He placed his hand on his back and his leather glove came back filled with thick red blood. "We must hurry there are other things created in the Well of Hell. Legion is only one. The Slithe will have no mercy on us if we are caught."

[Marrina Ters]

As little as Marrina knew about Dalamar and these “Slithe” that hunted them both, she had a feeling the vampyre was right. Marrina used most of her body to support Dalamar’s weight, as she placed her thumb and index finger on two different sides of the large glass shard that had been blown into his left shoulder. “Hold still.” Her voice barley above a whisper when she gently began to pull the shard out. The piece was rather long and could have easily impaled and organ if it had hit a different area in his back.

Marrina concentrated hard on not causing to much pain for the Dark Lord. Her concentration increased as she reached more vital area’s of Dalamar’s back. The smell and feel of his blood on her skin made the sick feeling in her stomach grow. Marrina saved the most dangerous shard for last. The glass shard took much concentration to get out perfectly without causing long lasting problems to his spine.

Knowing she was successful, Marrina let out all of her breath she had been holding, relief washing over her. Now that she was able to support Dalamar fully, she began to wonder where they needed to go. Marrina hoped her companion had the answer as she gave him a worry filled look.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar bit into his lower lip as she pulled the last shard of glass out. Sweat poured down his face thick and hot. His armor seemed to weigh way to much... Dalamar pointed to a nearby alley. Marrina and DeSang stumbled to it the flow of blood from his wounds already stopping. They reached the alley and he cold hear the Slithe moving closer. There hisses and growls where starting to fill the street. Luckily the smoke and debris covered there tracks for the moment but not for long.

Leaning against the wall Devious spoke into his com. "Sting are you okay. Sting answer me!!!" Silence echoed back. The Vampyre stood straighter he was already feeling better. The unrgency of there situation seemingly lending him strength. He no longer needed to lean as the wounds on his back started to heal very quickly..

zzzzThis is Sting.. Ship in bad shape have to get out of here... Slithe on outer hulll. zzzz llakjuo8ieo[alll RUNNNNNN!!!... zzzzzzlka;lkj." then the line went dead.

Dalamar grabbed Marrina's hand haltingly at first then better with each step DeSang started to run...

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina was happy to see Dalamar’s strength return, she only wished she felt the same. Her body and mind felt exhausted, dirt and blood were smeared all over her arms. She was momentarily relieved when they stopped in the nearby alley. She rested while the vampyre checked in with his companion.

“Sting are you okay. Sting answer me!!!” When silence followed Marrina thought the worst, but a few moments later the com sprang to life. “zzzzThis is Sting.. Ship in bad shape have to get out of here... Slithe on outer hulll. zzzz llakjuo8ieo[alll RUNNNNNN!!!... zzzzzzlka;lkj." The line went dead just as fast as it started.

Marrina and Dalamar didn’t have to be told twice. Dalamar’s grabbed her hand and started to run.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The wounds on his back still hurt but he still was fast enough. The smoke and hiss of unknown chasers where behind them. His sharp ears could hear the heavy crunch of boots on glass. They weaved and ducked. Devious kept his pace down enough as not to wear Marrina out. She was in good shape though and had kept up with him well so far.

They came to a small vertical lift. Dalamar shoved gold at the attendant. Who eyes lit up. "Hey you can't just.... He looked at the gold again. "Uhhh never mind." he opened the turbo doors and they went in.

Marrina was breathing heavily and now it was Dalamar's turn to hold her up. "Sit down Marrina you will feel better in a little bit." Just then the doors slid shut silently. "We are safe for now."

DeSang should have known that he spoke to soon. He heard a scream of terror and then a gurgled choking sound. The attendant struck the tram window in a splat of blood and pain. The Tram started to move. Two green face's of the Slithe hit the windows. Clawing to try to get in they hissed there anger as they dissapeared from sight and the tram was safely away. All that remained of the encounter was the man's blood on the window.

The rest of the trip passed in silence. The city passed by in the windows as the tram sped on and on. The buildings became a blur of lights and shadows. Dalamar sat down with Marrina and started to look her over. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

[Marrina Ters]

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

She stared at the blood smear left by the attendant and tried slowed her breathing; she hadn’t realized how exhausted she really was. Her gloves on her arms, still covered in blood, protected from many cuts that could have injured her. In the rush to leave her apartment she hadn’t grabbed her leather boots, leaving small scratches on her feet. The explosion in the street, that had blown Dalamar and her off their feet, had left abrasions on her knees.

She smiled slightly, loosening the sword at her side “Nothing to serious, just a few scratches on my leg’s and feet…What about yourself, how’s your back?”

[Dalamar DeSang]

He checked her again to make sure she was fine. Only then he answered her. "All but the deepest wound has already healed." Dalamar showed her the small gash that was left from the last large piece of glass. "Within the hour I will be whole again."

The tram stopped a few time's and passenger got on and got off. But they gave Marrina and Dalamar wide berth. Mostly because of the Vampyre. He stared at anyone harshly with his piercing red eye's. No one sat near them for the whole trip. Finally the tram slowed to its last stop on the outskirts of the city. DeSang looked at Marrina. "This is our stop. Don't forget the 'Heart of the Dragon'" Marrina looked at him questioningly.
Dalamar smiled "Your father's sword Marrina. Or better yet your sword."

She looked ready to ask a question but Dalamar rode over her. "There will be a time for question later. For now we must hurry out of the city and into the woods. The Slithe are not done with us yet and I want to put as much ground between us and them as I can."

He moved and she followed. Suddenly he stopped he asked Marrina to wait. He moved over to the wall where a small woman stood. He spoke to her and her eye's seemed to be climbing out of her head. She had a little boy with her. She moved the child behind her back as Dalamar talked trying to protect him. Soon she smiled and Dalamar headed back. He tossed boots at Marrina. "Put these on and steel yourself the nights only begining to get rough." He pushed the steel doors open walked down the street and up another set of stairs. Devious opened those doors to the outer wall and there was another set of steps leading into the woods and outside of the city. He looked back at her with a smile.


"Here we go Marrina stay close....."

[Marrina Ters]

“Put these on and steel yourself the nights only beginning to get rough.” Marrina smirked as her companion threw her a pair of boots. She slipped them on with ease and surprising they fit well. The boot’s were similar to her normal pair; leather and extends to just below her knees. The color was more of a brown, different than her preferred black. She gave the women a thankful nod and a cheerful smile to the young boy.

She followed Dalamar off the tram and out to the wood’s. On the way, she recalled many rumors she had heard from some of her younger customers; the forest outside the city was apparently where young lovers went to “relax.” Marrina rolled her eyes at the thought. Her day dreaming was interrupted by Dalamar. He was grinning at her…”Here we go Marrina stay close…..” She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Seem's like I don't have a choice in this matter." She stated with a small chuckle.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar took her deeper into the woods further than any lovers would dare to go. He moved into a small clearing. He paused and looked around. He then looked at Marrina and spoke softly. "No, sudden move's some friends of mine are coming and they get jumpy around humans. They will help to us they hate Slithe.."

They leaned against a large rock. Dalamar traced his fingers against the side and edge's then it dawned on her that it was an old statue. So worn with time and filled with weeds that it was hardly recognizable. He finished checking it then gave a satisfied grunt. He sat down with Marrina. "If you have questions? Now would be a good time to ask."

[Jamian Heart]

OOC: ooop's....sorry wrong character:p

Marrina sat a moment trying to remember what all she had been told. She absentmindedly start to toy with the soft grass next to where she sat. Her memory briefly touched the conversation both of them had in her apartment. He had told her he and his companions had saved her numerous times, he told her he was a Vampyre, and he told her she was a key…a key? She knew her question although she did not want to ask it.

“E…earlier you told me the genetic marker I possess would serve as a key…but a key to what? She asked almost fearfully.

[Dalamar DeSang]

“E…earlier you told me the genetic marker I possess would serve as a key…but a key to what? She asked almost fearfully.

Dalamar did not even know where to begin. "There are things that I will tell you. It will be hard to believe but it is all the truth. Your father was not only a good friend of mine but also has been thru more living than any 3 people. The Assryian took you when you where young. He kidnapped you from Dak your father. Your father changed his name and with my help he hid.."

Just then a low growl was heard in the woods. Dalamar stood up and looked into the woods. "Be still Marrina and no sudden moves. shhhhh...."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina listened intently to the Vampyre as he spoke about her childhood that she couldn't even remember. Your father was not only a good friend of mine but also has been thru more living than any 3 people. The Assryian took you when you where young. He kidnapped you from Dak your father. Your father changed his name and with my help he hid..."

In the darkness, came a growl and Marrina instinctively froze. Dalamar stood up and gazed into the forest around them. "Be still Marrina and no sudden moves. shhhhh...."
She waited, her hand slowly drifting to the hilt of her sword. In the distance she heard tree branches breaking as something moved towards them.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar moved deeper in the forest slowly. His face rested darkly in the shadows of the woods. His eye's burned crimson red as he searched the tree line. He crouched lower his hand on the hilt of his sword. Another rustle came to the left and Marrina saw when Dalamar turned. His eye's went from scarlet red to golden auburn. They blazed like two yellow suns as a smile crept upon his face. "Blackleaf and Onepaw you can come out now."

Two grizzly looking wolve's appeared out of the bushes. One moved to muzzle his face in DeSang's hands. "It's okay Marrina there friends. They hate the Slithe and are here to help us."
The Dark Lord's mood seemed to improve drastically with the arrival of the wolves.

[Marrina Ters]

"It's okay Marrina there friends. They hate the Slithe and are here to help us."

Marrina moved shyly toward Dalamar and the two wolves, not wanting to frighten the newly arrived beasts. The two animals were beautiful and yet menacing at the same time. She moved slowly, staying low as if she were smuggling. She stopped a few meter’s away from the trio, still feeling a bit timid of the wolves.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Blackleaf nudged the Dark Lord on the side. Dalamar seemed to speak to the wolves directly. "No, I'm not sad Blackleaf. I was just using it as a marker." Marrina had a look of confusion on her face.

Dalamar pointed to the crumbling stone that he was inspecting earlier. "Its an old statue of me. It's about 1500 years old. It once stood in this area to honor me. But that was long ago. Now it only stands as a reminder to me of better times and Maybe a way to get away from the Slithe." The wolve's did not hesitate to move around Marrina and lick her palm. "They said they like you. Then Dalamar chuckled. They moved in the camp slowly as not to scare you. They said somehow you could sense them because every time they got closer you kept gripping the hilt of your sword. Devious stuck a thoughtful hand to his face. "I find that interesting that you could feel them out there before me. It must be the old blood of your father." Dalamar's eye's met hers as if seeing her in a new light. "Well it looks as if I am not going to have the time to tell you all that I needed to in regards to the Assryian and your father. Just know this he wants you for himself or he wants you dead. We can't let him have either."

[Marrina Ters]

She turned and looked over the statue as Dalamar told her about it. He spoke lowly "It’s an old statue of me. It's about 1500 years old. It once stood in this area to honor me. But that was long ago. Now it only stands as a reminder to me of better times and maybe a way to get away from the Slithe.” The wolves seemed to know when the Vampyre was finished with his tale, for they moved around him and began to nuzzle up to her. Marrina was hesitant about letting them close to her; she was always unnerved by animals, eventually she held up her palm for the creatures.

A few moments of silence passed before The Dark Lord spoke “They said they like you” that made Marrina smirk and Dalamar went on “They moved in the camp slowly as not to scare you. They said somehow you could sense them because every time they got closer you kept gripping the hilt of your sword.” At that comment her smirk turned into an innocent smile, it was sort of true on the way into the forest she did have an eerie feeling crawl through her at various times.

Dalamar seemed to be thinking "I find that interesting that you could feel them out there before me. It must be the old blood of your father." Marrina shrugged and sat down against a tree the wolves still by her side. She looked up to meet DeSang’s eyes just as he said "Well it looks as if I am not going to have the time to tell you all that I needed to in regards to the Assyrian and your father. Just know this he wants you for himself or he wants you dead. We can't let him have either." Marrina's stomach felt uneasy at the mention of the Assyrian and simply nodded.

“Alright, so…now what?”

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Oh you'll see" Dalamar said with a knowing smile. He moved over to the statue and read the base. There where some etching and marking on the base of the old statue. DeSang moved the leaves and the dirt from the base so that he could read it better.

Just then Blackleaf raised his head and sniffed. "They come" was all he said so strong that even Marrina could hear it. Off in the distance you could hear the crushing of the branches and the thrashing of the jungle. Laser fire could be heard and birds took flight to the sky...

"Black hearts!! The Slithe are coming!" Devious ran his fingers across the statue faster. "I need more time. This isn't easy." Blackleaf and One paw moved into the forest to slow them down.

[Marrina Ters]

“Oh you’ll see” Marrina made a mock pout, oh how see hated not knowing what was going on it made her feel helpless. Her eyes followed the Vampyre as he approached the statue. She cocked her head slightly when he began to push overgrowth and dirt off the statues base. Her observations were interrupted when the wolf on her right, Blackleaf, suddenly jumped up. He faced outward into the darkened forest; his lip’s curled up revealing his sharpened fangs. “They come” Marrina was completely baffled when she heard the creature speak.

Before she was able to question, the sound of blasters filled the silent forest. "Black hearts!! The Slithe are coming!" she heard Dalamar yell from behind her. "I need more time. This isn't easy." She backed away from the forests edge as the two wolves ran off toward the blaster fire. Holding the hilt of her sword she took one of the few fighting stances her father showed her. She continued to back up keeping her attention on the darkness around them; the blaster fire was now joined by snarls. Marrina waited as her companion continued to what appeared to be reading the markings on the statues base.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar touched two symbols at the base and the statue slid back revealing a small stairway. "Marrina it's working lets go." Dalamar waited for her to go down first. "There is a sconce on the left light it when you get down there." Devious sent to Blackleaf. "Where safe, break away."

Dalamar hit the hidden studs and the statue slid back into place. Just in time for the flame to be lit by Marrina. There face's shined in the dim light...

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina stumbled down the stony stairwell. She felt her way along the wall to find the sconce that DeSang had told her about. She found it and shortly after lighting it, Dalamar swept down the stairwell. The candlelight wasn’t much but she could tell the passage small. She kept her eyes locked on the darkness in front of them.

“Lead the way, DeSang.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Growls of frustrated Slithe and blaster fire sounded above them. Dalamar let her carry the torch with his eye's he didn't need it. He knew it would not take long for the Slithe to pick up the trail. DeSang moved to the nearest wall and started to read. "This is a guideway it will help us navigate the shallows."

The wall lit up in red and green traces at the touch of his fingertips. They shaped into the form of a large tree. Each limb a different pathway. "With any luck we will be gone before they find the door.." Dalamar chuckled. "They wouldn't come into here anyway unless Legion drove them to it. There are things down here that even a Slithe is afraid of." He held Marrina's hand and led her down a damp tunnel to the right.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina took a surprised step back as wall in front of her lit up, the sudden glow shocked her. She slowly examined the superior carved engraving. "With any luck we will be gone before they find the door…" Dalamar’s low laugh echoed through the many tunnels. Not with the luck we are having, she thought with a smirk. Her companion went on, "They wouldn't come into here anyway unless Legion drove them to it. There are things down here that even a Slithe is afraid of." Marrina winced at the statement.

She followed DeSang down various tunnels until she lost track of where they were. She thought it would be alright to ask him about this “Legion.”

“Umm…Dalamar, who is Legion?”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar stopped walking. He turned to Marrina "Legion is a clone. He was created at the Well of Hell along with a host of other abomination's. But he was crafted special. A hunter made to hunt Vampyre's and especially me. He is cloned from some of the most sadistic killers, Masterminds, tacticians and even...." Dalamar paused. "Me."

The General continued. "It is said that there are voice's in his head and that out of all of them mine is the loudest. The Assryian has convinced him that I had him created. Legion hate's his existence and thinking I created him he hates me most of all." Dalamar continued walking until he came to an open spot in the path. There on the wall was another guideway. He touched it and it lit up into the shape of a wolf. He studied it as he continued talking. "When he is close I can feel his mind. It is rancid with death and hate. He will kill you just because there is a chance I might care about you. Out of all that chase us short of the Assryian, Legion is the most dangerous, lethal and cunning."

Dalamar went around another corner and the hall was lit up with a light nimbus glow. "This is the wolf's head, we are a quarter of the way there. This place is a protected section of the shallows. Grubs don't come here. Here we can rest and recuperate." The Dark Lord sat down in section where the underground grass had grown. "The floor in this area is covered you will find it quite comfortable." Dalamar took his swords off and pull at one of the pouches at his side. "I have some food and water if you want some."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina followed his actions; she untied the sword that hung from her side and took a seat next to the companion. She declined his offer of food and water with a slight wave of her hand. She wasn’t in the best mood and neither was her stomach. Her body and mind was fatigued, she never expected to be running for her life.

She lay back against the tunnel wall and closed her eyes. Dalamar had been right the grass was quite comfortable indeed. Her thoughts were troubled by images that she could not remember. Marrina brought her knees to her chest, the drafts that traveled through the tunnels made her shiver.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar relaxed and before he knew it he was feeling pretty comfortable. The Wolf heads where they where lying in shimmered in the darkness and the tunnel changed shape around him. DeSang leaped to his feet his silver worked Katana already in his hand. He looked back and forth quickly, but the room was still changing before his very eye's. There where figure's standing in a circle all of them disguised to hide who they where from each other. Each one gave little clue's to who they where one was a soldier with a heavy walk. He gave himself away by the look in his eye's and the way his hand kept reaching for his weapon.

Another was clearly a lady of high class. Her many rings stuck out from the folds of her cloak and her house colors where on an emblem on her neck. Very foolish Dalamar thought for someone who was trying to hide their identity. Dimly Dalamar knew that this came from Legion. A meeting he had attended. He must be very close indeed for DeSang to feel this vision and see these memories. If memory this was or maybe it was a dream? He didn't know but he payed as close attention as he could. Two Slithe walked in behind red carved doors that appeared in the sky. They stood on either side like an honor guard for who came in next. Legion entered and spoke to those present. "On your knee's your Lord and Master come's. Bow before The Assyrian...."


The crowd eagerly obeyed hitting the dirt with fearful anticipation. Dalamar could pick up stray thoughts from the crowd. Some where enraptured with the thought of meeting the Assyrian. They where feeled with a lust for power and eternal life that the Dark Lord walker could give them. Other's more trembled in fear from what he could do to them. Give immortal life or take it away. Dalamar knew these, they where pawns of The Assyrian. People and aliens from every walk of life. They furthered his plans to revise the once great Vampyre Nation. The Assyrian as the Emperor.

The Assyrian entered Dalamar could feel there fear thicken in the room. Even those that lusted creeped back from his blood red cloak. His red eye's fired in the dim cave light. "Bring me Dalamar!!!! Bring me the Girl.!!!!! Oracle come forth."

An old man blind with a walking stick entered. His eye's was covered with a red ribbon. He circled the room until he came to one crawling mound of flesh. "This one Master." the old man pointed. The man let out a pathetic whimper and then a defiant yell. "You lie, I am faithful my Lord. Dalamar is just to powerful..... We tried to stop him me and a retinue of Slithe. He had Sting with him he slowed us down and blew up the whole block with that ship of his.."

"Enough!" The Assyrian said with thunder then calmly with a cruel smile "Stand before me." the man trembled as he rose to his feet. "Are you indeed faithful Mur?" The man babbled in utter fear his total allegiance to The Assryian. The Assyrians powerful arm reached out and grabbed the man by the face. His thickly muscled arm held him suspended. "I will reward you for your service then. But I don't think you will like it..." The man screamed and screamed Dalamar turned away when he saw the flame's in his eye's and mouth

The body fell to the ground burned and charred. "I guess I will need to acquire another Senator. The Body stirred and shook off the burn't flake's. A Slithe Hunter rose from the ashe's. Dalamar cursed under his breath. "By the Great Eye."

The Assyrian seemed not to notice as the hunter rose behind him he looked at the others assembled in the room. "You Jedi stand before me." One of the other quivering mounds rose slowly.. "Yes master." The Jedi said.

The rest was silent Dalamar could not hear. But was shocked to see that he had a Jedi in his pocket. One by one the Assyrian gave out orders. There where soilders and Sith, Rebel leaders even One Queen that DeSang could see. The Assyrian's plans had gone far indeed. Suddenly the Assyrian turned he looked right at Dalamar.

"DeSang!!! I am LORD OF DREAMS!!! A flaming sword appeared in his hands. Creeper vine's reached out behind him and held him fast. Before Dalamar could move the Assyrian cut him open. His body caught fire and his guts spilled out. Dalamar screamed. "Noooo" He woke with the scream on his throat. His hands went to his chest. There was no cut. He opened his shirt. There across his midsection a red burn raw and lightly bleeding.

Dalamar shook himself even dream's where dangerous now...

[Marrina Ters]

Silence, that was all that filled the tunnel; it seemed to send a calming feeling through Marrina. Her eye lids started to drift shut as sleep threatened to overcome her. Darkness soon crawled over her and she fell into sleep. Time passed and her breathing became heavy. Visions from earlier that night flashed through her mind; the fire of her dream, Dalamar, the Slithe from her apartment, the explosion in the street, and the two wolves in the forest. Her eyes finally fluttered open and she was met by a towering figure. The creature had long shaggy black hair, scars all over his body, and from what she could tell a mechanical arm. Without warning he whirled around and struck her across the face, she fell onto the ground hard. Seeing his clawed hand reach down to her, she closed her eyes…

Minute after minute passed and still nothing happened. Using all the courage she could she opened her eyes. This time her eyes met nothing, there was pure darkness. Blinking her eyes, she tried to take a step but her leg’s wouldn’t move. She tried to reach down and see what was wrong but her arms wouldn’t move either. Panic welled in her gut as dim light lit up her surroundings. Marrina took a good look around her this time with the advantage of light. She appeared to be in an old chamber of some sort; again she tried to move and yet again failed. Glancing down at herself she saw that her ankles were chained to the chamber’s stone floor and her wrists held shackles that were chained to opposite walls of the chamber. She pulled helplessly on the chains which caused them to rattle. She cried out in frustration only to be met with sadistic laughter from all around her. In the half lit room she could see darkened figures all around her, one stepped forward and raised his hand which put an end to the echoing laughter.

The figures cloak was red and his face caused Marrina to freeze with fear. Every feature was creased and filled with hate, his eyes seemed to glow in the dimmed light. He glided over to where she was chained, the panic in her body was now joined by fear. He halted in front of her and leaned down as if he were sucking in her fear. She tired to pull away from him but was held in place the rusted chains. He smirked and said “I am the Assyrian, you will receive no mercy from me!!!” Marrina cringed at his emotionless voice.

From behind him another cloaked figure stepped forward. It was the same creature from her earlier…dream? No…these couldn’t be dream’s they seemed so real. The Assyrian turned and exchanged intangible words with him. The Assyrian nodded and said “Have it your way…” then he left. The chamber was silent but was broken by a sudden mummer through the other darkened figures around the chamber as a tall Slithe brought forth a table full of knives, daggers, and other torture tools. The creature with the mechanical arm sneered at her before he walked up to her, like the Assyrian he seemed to feed off her fear. He took his hands and place one over each of her wrists. The creature put slight pressure on each of the thick shackles and they expand over her wrists letting small sharp blades extend out of the inside of both shackles. Before she could pull out her hands they collapsed back around her wrists sending the blades into her skin. As she screamed in pain, the creature laughed ruthlessly and did the same to the shackles on her ankles. Another wave of pain raged through her body as she cried out. The creature’s laughter was joined by howls and cheers by the Slithe and servants around them as the torture continued.

The creature brought forth another knife, this one longer than the others. He approached her blood covered body with the same evil grin he had started with. Tears fell down her face and mixed with her blood that pooled at her feet. Marrina felt him place the blade between her shoulders and cut down her spine. She shrieked in pain as she felt her own warm blood spill down her back. She watched the creature go back to the tray of bloody instruments and place the newly used knife with the rest. Her vision began to darken as the beast came toward her once again, she felt cold as she tumbled into the darkness…

Marrina awoke gasping for air. Her entire body ached, her ankles and wrists felt as if they had been torn off. She looked herself over no gashes or blood. On her wrists and ankles there were darken rings, which would soon turn into bruises. Her back felt like it was on fire as the cold wall rubbed against it. Tears began to fall as she reluctantly went over her ‘dream.’ Everything felt so real the pain, the shrill laughter, the panic and fear that grew inside her. She whimpered at the memory of the Assyrian and his followers. Marrina curled up next to her companion, as she continued to cry.

Without warning Dalamar jerked up shouting causing her to cry out in surprise. He ripped open his shirt to reveal a long bleeding gash across his torso. Both of them sat in stunned silence. Minutes passed before she finally decided to break the silence. “A-are you alright?” She coughed out, her voice was hoarse and her tears still fell as she spoke.

[Dalamar DeSang]

“A-are you alright?”Marrina said. Dalamar raised his blood covered fingers to his eye's. "The Darkness stirs. The Assryian's hunters are getting closer. We are still safe for now but not for long."

Dalamar stood up on one knee pulling his silver worked katana in front of him. He chanted silently putting a Sith Warding on the room. "This will protect us for the rest of the night."

DeSang touched Marrina's head and the warmth of the force surrounded her. He again soothed her fears and calmed her nerve's.

He brushed his hand across her cheek softly when he was thru. "We will make it, don't worry Marrina." The Vampyre said. He turned and sat cross legged. "Sleep, Marrina I will watch guard. You will need your rest if you are to continue with the rest of the journey."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina nodded and fixed a spot for her to sleep. She removed the pinwheel pendent and pocketed it in the shorts she wore . She folded the leather strip and placed it on the ground as well. She laided down on a softer patch of grass and for the first time in a long time she felt completly safe. Her back, arms, and legs still ached from her 'nightmare' but nontheless she felt safer now. She closed her eyes and went into a soothing sleep.

She still dreamt but this time it was a pleasent dream. It was about her only memory of her mother before she died. It was a perfect evening the sun was just fading behind the tree line; her mother, father, and Marrina herself were outside watching the sun as it cast a redish orange color over the city. Her mother sat with Marrina in her lap as her father sat next to them with his arm protectively around his wife. They sat there until the sun was completely gone. Once inside her mother took Marrina to her room. She spoke to her and gave her the cobalt crystal she still wears to this day...she said that it belonged to her great grandmother and was handed down in the family and now it was her turn. She wanted Marrina to promise that she would hand it down to her child when she was married and happy like she was. That was the last thing Marrina remember of her mother and she would never let her down....

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar watched as Marrina breathed slowly and soon drifted back to sleep. He sat guard all thru the day that followed. Legion and the Slithe might have found the tunnel by now. They where close he could feel there prescence. He didn't probe to deep he didn't wanted them to track him thru the force.

It was cool and the nimbus of the pathways kept the tunnel lightly lit. It was perfect for resting. Marrina stirred and woke up with a smile. She had had a good dream this time DeSang could tell. He handed her some flat bread and some cheese along with some tea to wash it down. "We are making good time, Marrina."
He smiled at her happy that her mood had cheered since her rest. "Hopefully we will be safe soon."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina thanked Dalamar for the food with a bright smile and propped herself up against the pathway’s wall, she winced as the icy wall made contact her still sore back. The pain in her back and other area’s faded some as she nibbled on the bread and cheese. She settled herself as she finished her meal

“I think questions can be answered now…” She said as took a sip of the tea she had received, the liquid soothing her throat. She wanted to know everything; her past that she couldn’t remember, what was the connection between her father, the Assyrian, and Dalamar, and she wanted to know what this so called key is suppose to open or unlock.

Not waiting for a response she asked “What happened between my father, the Assyrian, and you?

[Dalamar DeSang]

Marrina was right it was time for some answers. He spoke quickly for there was a lot to tell. "Okay first let me explain the Assryian. He is the Emperor of the Vampyre Race. He has access to the Well of Hell and is a leader of the Vampyre Nation. The Father of the Vampyre's my Master and the Assryians ruled. He created me and the Assryian 3000 yrs ago.

As history proceded the Assryians dreams of power faded. There was an incident in the past that caused a rift between me and the Assryian. We seperated and I was put into deep sleep. The Empire fell and the vampyre nation ceased to exist. That is the actual history....

The Assryian mad at his fate searched and found the Fathers foutain of power. He got access to the Well of Hell. He found that it opened a door to limbo. In limbo he found that if he altered historic events enough the vampyre nation would continue with him and me Ruling the Universe. He had to go back and alter events. Well to make it simple to explain he did just that. He created an alternate timeline. A timeline where me and him are still friends and ruling the Vampyre nation. Obviously he wants this to continue. There he is Co regent of a galaxy spanning empire. He considers me and you and this actual reality a glitch to his plan.

[Marrina Ters]

Normally someone would have panicked at this information but all Marrina had witnessed in the last few hours made her understand. “So the Assyrian can alter time and is trying to create an alternate reality and me and you are glitches…” she mumbled to herself when Dalamar paused. She drank the last of her tea as she went over what Dalamar had told her.

Dalamar and the Assyrian went back over 3,000 years ago. It still amazed her that her companion had been alive so long, how many life times had he lived or watched go by? She wondered how big of a burden it was.

“After all this he still wants you to rule next to him in his alternate time, why would he want that?” Questions seemed to form left and right; she tried to contain herself by limiting to one question at a time

[Dalamar DeSang]

“After all this he still wants you to rule next to him in his alternate time, why would he want that?”

Dalamar sighed there was so much to tell and not nearly enough time to go into it all. "He doesn't want me Marrina he wants the alternate Dalamar that is still his friend.


Lets see I will try to explain. I could not remember my past when Tiberious (A friend) woke me. The Assryian was willing to let me exist while I slept. You see the Assryian didn't know that my memory was gone. He wanted to silence me before I went to the Well of Hell and interfered with his plans."

Dalamar took another breath then continued. "Daniel was thinking that I knew what he was up to so he threatened me. Unknowingly that let me know about his existence. There is another Dalamar a different version of me. He is the one that he created with his messing with the fabric of time. There was an event in my past that he altered changing the 'actual reality'. That event was where the Father of all vampyre's killed my lover a human woman named Mischa.

Dalamar shook his head it was so confusing but he was trying to explain as best he could. "Daniel aka the Assryian went back and altered those events to benefit himself. In that alternate reality. We killed the father and drank his blood. He created another Dalamar and a different timeline with his meddling. This other Dalamar is more powerful than me. HE drank from the Father!!!" It was still unbelievable to DeSang even as he told the story. The Vampyre continued. "Thats why he wants us dead. Even though him and my other self are ally's in that alternate timeline. He is afraid that If I can reach him (The Other Dalamar) and let him know that he or me is being manipulated by Daniel. Well that just might end again all the dreams of the Assryian. He has the power of the Father, The resources of the vampyre nation and the foutain of the Well of Hell and he wants me and you dead."

"His timeline is not written in stone. If it was we would not exist still. The universe is in a holding pattern before it forms around the dominate reality. We have to stop them are everything you have ever known will cease to exist. This planet and all planets will be ruled by the Iron guantlet of the Assyrian and the Vampyre nation."

[Marrina Ters]

This was a lot of information, Marrina didn’t know if she could handle it. All this stuff of an alternate reality scared her, not to mention the Slithe and the Assyrian. Bits and pieces of her nightmare remained drilled to her mind. She shook her head as if trying to get rid of them but failed. Her cheery mood now melted away, she was scared more than she had ever been in her life. She sat in silent clutching to her mothers necklace as her fear continued to grow.

There were questions a lot of them but she was too afraid to find out the answers. She went over what Dalamar had just told and tried to answer her own questions. What happens now? Where do we go? What will happen to me? What will happen to Dalamar? These were questions she couldn’t find the answers too and secretly didn’t want them to be answered.

She pulled her legs up to her chest and gently hugged them. For the longest time she just sat there rocking slowly back and forth with her chin on her knees. She suddenly stopped with a dreary sigh…

“What are ‘we’ going to do?” She managed to keep her voice steady as she stared at the dimly lit wall.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar put a comforting arm around Marrina. "It will be okay Marrina. I am a Death Dealer and have lived for 3000 yrs I am nobody's easy meal. We will stop them and I will make the Assryian sorry the Father ever created him!!" Dalamar helped her to her feet and started them back down the dim tunnel..

He walked over to the guiding and checked his place. "We must move on. We have to reach the other side before the Slithe pick up our trail." Dalamar took her hand and guided her down the tunnel to the left the darkness descended again and only Desangs eyes could see the path.

The tunnel moved upwards and Marrina followed close. A light appeared down the long path. They walked in silence until they came to a wooden slotted door. He looked at Marrina "This is it, we made it for now." Dalamar opened the door and they where in another part of the woods. "We have to be really careful now we are in the open again. So far as I know we have lost them but we must be wary..."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina grabbed her sword as Dalamar helped her to her feet. After strapping it around her waist once more she picked up her ‘clothing’ and rapped it around her shoulders pinning it in front. She followed Dalamar to the guide she had seen before. He checked it, grasped her hand, and took off down a blackened tunnel.

The trip was uncomfortably silent. The farther they went the more Marrina clasped onto her companion’s arm for support. The tunnel shifted up and down, causing her to stumble every once in a while. The darkness didn’t help either, she had almost forgot that Dalamar had ‘special’ characteristics that helped them in their current situation and most likely help them in the future.

After what seemed to be forever the tunnel lightened enough for Marrina to make out DeSang’s outline, in the darkness. He told her that they had made it for now when he opened the door. "We have to be really careful now we are in the open again. So far as I know we have lost them but we must be wary..." Marrina nodded and moved with him out of the tunnel and onto the soft earth under them. She lightened her grip on his arm when the fresh air reached her nose and instantly relaxed her.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Vampyre saw Marrina relax and gave her hand a light squeeze. "There is a small town up ahead about a mile." Dalamar paused. "Give me one second." The Dark Lord pulled his hood up on his cape and dug a small bone white mask with two red marking at the eye slits. Clasping the back and front piece's together he moved with practiced precision. He then pulled on metal mesh gloves darkly covered for his hands. A few more minute's and a few more attachments and Dalamar was ready to walk in the sun.

"The sun will rise soon we will have to be more careful while we walk in the light. These people know me and we will be welcome here..." The vampyre was a figure in black except for the pale bone mask. His swords still rested on his back and he didn't look any less dangerous. He moved with a fluid grace as they started up the hill towards the town...

[Marrina Ters]

He led, she followed. It seemed so right; he was a leader, a caring, honorable, and worthy leader. He was strong yet he had flaws. He was a true leader, noble and courteous but dangerous and lethal when needed. She remembered that he had told her the galaxy knew him as ‘General Devious.’ She thought the titled suited him well. His grace gave her hope.

She walked slightly behind him; a general should always be followed. At the peak of the hill, Marrina stopped, the sight she saw made her breath catch. There was the village and there was a reddish glare that came from the rising sun that made every thing glow, it reminded her of the dream she had of her parents. A small smile crossed her lips at the memory, as she slowly resumed walking slightly behind the ‘General’ and her friend.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar was making a small talk as they walked towards the village. "You can get some rest when we get there and they will make you feast you will not soon forget."

The tree's parted and the village came clearly into view. Dalamar reached out and grabbed Marrina and pulled her down. He pushed her to the nearest tree. Her face lit up in shock. "Something is wrong Marrina the force stirs like its mired in poison." Dalamar pulled his sword it glistened in the morning sun. "Meya and Dana,... They better be safe... Come on Marrina we have to investigate..."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina gave him a questioning look before shifting her gaze to the beautifully lit village. She didn’t see any wandering villagers, which surprised her. She nodded and pushed away from the tree behind her. She moved carefully beside the general, her right hand drawn across her front and gripping her sword’s hilt on her hip. Each step was small and carefully planned as they moved closer to the village.

The knot had had now returned to her stomach. A familiar nervousness and fear spread through her body the farther she went. She kept close to Dalamar but sent her eyes darting around to decrease the risk of any surprises.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamars hand tightened on his sword, 'would this never end he thought?' He moved closer and the feeling from the force grew stronger like a thick oily film. When he passed the first house he smelled the burning wood and something else. DeSang had fought in to many wars not to know what the other smell was. When he rounded the corner his worst fears where realized. There in the center of town were four pillars ablaze with the remains of its citizens still lashed to the burning wood. One of them Dalamar could plainly see was a child. He said only one whispered word..."Legion."


"Lets stay together and search the house's for any survivors.." Dalamar said to Marrina thru anger clenched teeth. He only hoped that most of his friends in the village got away.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina looked through the flames and saw the many burning villagers. Her eyes reached a young child, she gasped and looked away. Who ever had done this was sick, very sick to burn a child or any other person, it was just so wrong. She held back tears and reluctantly followed the Vampyre’s instructions; she moved to the closest hut and gently pushed open the door.

Inside was a mess, there were broken chairs and tables scattered onto the floor with some remains of food and eating utensil’s. She searched through the debris in that room but found nothing. Moving to the next room was no different scattered remains of furniture and homely decorations. Once again there was nothing…no one that was to be found.

She stepped out the hut and started moving to the next building. Hopefully her companion was having more luck than she was.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Vampyre was in the house next to Marrina. When he walked in the stench of death was unbearable. There on the wall in the vampyre tougue a message written in Slithe/Human blood.


'Veara Villi Vearto Mealono Metsi Tega Belasco Chomi...LEGIONGINEUS'

'Give us the girl or the villagers will die by blood and fire... Legion'

Beneath that lied the body of the Slithe hunter that Dalamar had seen tranformed in his vision. His usefullness out lived in the need to leave the General a message. Leaving the house he went back outside to find out if Marrina had found anything.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina was about to enter another building when she saw Dalamar come out of the other homesteads, judging by his body language he was having just as hard as a time she was having. She was scared, no doubt, but she had to hold herself together just a little longer, for herself and for her companion.

Her heart was torn by what she saw in the center of the village. The fire scared her because it brought back memories of the night she nearly died but the face of the young child was what would haunt her forever. She started towards Dalamar trying to keep her gaze away from the fire and its victims. She met him half way between the two buildings…

Trying to keep her voice steady she asked…”Any luck?” But she already knew the answer.

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Just the usual threats 'Give up the Girl' all will die, blah, blah,blah. Much as I hate the thought of the towns people dying. Your life is worth 800 billion souls across the whole known existence of this universe. Those people's lives cannot be compared with that. Next to this we all are expendable including me." Dalamar hated the coldness in his voice but what had to be done had to be.

"Lets keep looking.."

[Marrina Ters]

She nodded slowly and gave Dalamar a soft pat on his arm before turning to the building behind her. Hoisting herself onto the unrailed porch, she made her way to the door and opened it. The house was the same as the last, an utter disaster. Broken, dismantled, and severed furniture were sprawled everywhere. The windows were broken and its pieces were scattered all over the floor. She moved around obstacles, avoiding any sharpened pieces of broken glass or wood. Marrina searched under anything that could hide a small infant, hoping to find some sort of survivor.

It seemed to take forever, looking through and around everything. Looking seemed just about pointless now. Marrina’s sadness was now joined with anger, frustration, and confusion. Why did this have to happen? What was so important for innocent people to be killed in such a manner? What was going to happen? She was so upset that she lashed out at an unbroken window causing it to shatter and immediately regretted it. She brought her hand to her chest on instinct, pain stung her hand and forearm. Silent tears fell down her dirt-covered face not from pain but from confusion. She removed the glove from her injured hand and watched as her salty tears swirled in with dark red blood.

Marrina slumped down against the nearest wall with her bloodied hand resting in her lap. She sat there and watched the tiny dust particles fly around in the air, letting herself cry out all her tears that she wanted so badly to get out.

As time passed so did her tears, she leaned forward and put her head on her knees, trying to get her strength back. Minutes passed before she noticed a hand on her uninjured arm. Thinking it was Dalamar she just sat there not wanting to show him how pitiful she was at the moment. More time passed and the hand still didn’t go away, she jerked her head off her knees to yell at him to go away and leave her, but instead of finding Dalamar she was face to face with a small boy. It was silent, both faces possessed tear streaks but the young child seemed quite concerned.

The boy gave her arm a tight squeeze “Ma’am, why are you crying? Are you hurt?” He threw a quick glace at the gashes in her right hand.

Marrina couldn’t help but smile, the boy was so innocent. “I’m just a little confused” She said in a motherly tone. Her mood instantly brightened. “And who might you be, handsome?”

The boy smiled slightly and blushed “My name is Aaron…”

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Slithe where monsters they lived for nothing more than killing. Dalamar feared that his good friends where now dead or soon would be.

"NOoooo!!!" Devious heard a scream he ran thru the house to the front door. He burst thru taking the door apart in splinters with his rough exit. He feared that Marrina would be dead before he got there. "Curse me for a bloody fool." But what he saw was not Marrina at all but a blond woman in a green tattered dress. She was surrounded by a small pack of Slithe. "Tryssss to escape humannnn.." The Slithe sounded like snakes with voice's if snake could talk. They moved gracefully like vipers in black armor. They turned from the bloody woman that they where making sport of when Dalamar broke the door. The woman whimpered. "Please I only came back for my son Aaron I will be good just please let me have my.." A back handed blow from the Slithe hunter ender her life the curved blade barely made a sound as it impaled her thru the heart.

The whole Slithe pack turned to face DeSang. "Itttt issss him my brothersss Black Heart, Trickster, Deceiver... Betrayer of the Father....The Slithe Master moved closer.

Dalamar snarled back "No father of mine dead meat come to the grinder and meet your maker." Dalamar pulled the silver worked swords of his back and clicked his boot blade out. Without a thought of hesitation he did a spinning kick digging his boot blade into the left eye of the lead Slithe. His blood shot up Dalamar's leg and the others stood back in momentary shock. The Slithe Master thrashed on the floor in its death throughs even as the Vampyre unlodged his boot. There apparent shock at his brutal attack gone they all hissed and growled moving in for the kill. Dalamar moved like pale black death. Moving with the speed of a vampyre he struck at his enemies. Using the force he pushed 4 of them back while holding one immobile for the killing blow.

Sharp pain gouged his back as he saw a Slithe with a crooked hooked spear stabbing at him. His armor had taken most of the blow but what made it thru still hurt badly. He bled from his side. He brought his sword down in a backword motion severing the Slithe's head. He thrashed on the ground like a wild animal his arms feeling where his head had been. It bounced against a wall the body went scrambling for it and then fell as gore spurted out of the top like fireworks.

The Slithe that had held the woman moved forward his black blade bared in front of him. He slashed to the left Dalamar stepped to the right then in an upward thrust of his sword he pierced his heart. Leaving the sword buried in the Slithe he freed his hand and pulled the heart out. It wanted to stay with its former master but Dalamar would not be denied. Soon the bloodlust was upon him. Talons and teeth came into play and the Dark Lord of the Sith was upon them. Suddenly they knew who was the hunter and who was the hunted. Wolve's came out and joined in the Melee killing the Slithe with teeth to the throats of the one's that they could bring down. Soon howls of terror rose from the Slithe's throat as they tried to run from the killing machine Devious had turned into. In a whirlwind of blood and black armor he was among them. Killing, biting, stabbing using the force and the boot blade. They thought to run, they thought to fight but It didn't matter what they did they all died. Dalamar breathed heavy covered in the blood of his enemies. He cleaned his blade. He thanked his wolf brothers for there assistance.

He walked over to the poor woman. "Sorry, I tried." Then all the energy and the wasted of death made him weary. The Dark Lord cradled the woman and sobbed great tears of blood. they fell from his face down his black body armor. The wolves sensing the heavy emotion faded back into the woods to leave there brother to mourn one of his own...

[Marrina Ters]

“Aaron, that’s special name for such a…” Marrina was interrupted by a long screeching noise. In a flash she stood up and was ready to bolt for the door but was stopped by the little boy. “Please!” the boy begged “Don’t leave me, I don’t want to be alone again.” Marrina looked down into innocent steel eyes, she smiled the boy could have been only a six or seven. She reached down to the boy “Here take my hand, then you can come with me.” Aaron smiled and grasped her uninjured hand that she offered him, as the both head for the doorway.

The sight outside made Marrina freeze in shock, the street was bloody and dead bodies lay around two others. She piercing gaze rested on two huddling figures, one was a woman and the other was……Dalamar!! She gasped at her realization, he was cradling the woman who seemed to be bigger built than Marrina herself. Marrina remember the child next to her when she felt a slight tug on her arm. She looked down at Aaron, he was watching the same scene she was. His eyes wide in horror “Ma…Mama?” he barely breathed out. Marrina froze once again she glanced at the woman Dalamar was holding. Before she could tear Aaron away from the sight, he dashed down the steps and started running towards the two.

“Aaron!” She yelled at the small child but he didn’t stop, he kept running as fast as his little legs could carry him. “Aaron!!” She yelled again as she started after him and this time he stopped dead in his tracks, he was about half way between her and Dalamar. Marrina ran towards the now trembling boy…Oh, no she thought. When she reached him he was sobbing, she knelt down next to him a guided his body away from his mother’s corpse. “Mama….mama…” he cried between sobs. Marrina did the only thing she could do, she put her arms around the young boy pulling him onto her lap, completely for getting about her injured arm. She gently rocked the weeping child…”It’s alright, sweetheart, just cry it all out.”

Aaron eventually snuggled into her while she held his trembling body. She continued to whisper soothing words to the young boy as he mourned for his mother. She watched the boy as he clutched to her as if his life depended on it. Marrina gathered the boy to her as much as she could then looked over at Dalamar with tear filled mahogany eyes.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar saw the child. No doubt this Aaron that the woman spoke of. It made him even sadder... He held the woman close as if he could will life back into her. He smoothed the hair away from her face and laid her down gently. His hand shook so much she was just like his Mischa.

They where tired and beat from head to toe. Legion and the Assyrian would not give up. The General had no way to contact his people. No way to get assistance. The long range communication where aboard Stings ship. If only he had acted sooner. This woman would not be dead and they wouldn't be running for there live's. They would be safe under the protection of the Queen and all the power and authority that she had to offer.

Dalamar walked over to where Marrina and the child where sitting. He crouched down. "Aaron your mother loved you very much. She came here to get you. She fought bravely and with all her heart to rescue you." Dalamar sighed heavily his heart almost to weary to continue. "These animals took your mother." For the first time the little boy looked up at Dalamar.

The General placed his hand over his heart where the Death Dealer symbol resided. "By the nameday of my Father I will avenge your mother. These here have already paid the price of there crime. But there are those that gave the orders. I vow to bring justice to your family and your village So I swear as a Death Dealer."

He helped them up and all of them buried Aaron's Mother. They stood solemly under the great tree at the other end of the village. Gathering around in sadness to mourn one of there own...

[Marrina Ters]

Burying Aaron’s mother was sad but watching Aaron was even worse. Marrina fought back tears as she watched the young boy weep at the head of his mother’s grave. All this reminded her of her own mother’s death, her father had buried her under a tree similar to the one before her. She remembered how she felt when her father and her looked down at soil that contained her mother. Marrina felt the need to comfort the boy.

She slowly approached Aaron who had silent tears streaming down his face. She put a compassionate hand on his small back as she sat on uneven ground beneath the tree. His body shuddered with silent sobs under her gently touch. Slowly with uncertainty Marrina pulled the child to her and with slight surprise he latched onto her just like he did earlier in the village. She held him just as tight as he held her. Marrina rubbed the boy’s back softly as he cried out all of his tears…

“Why…why did she have to die?” He asked her in a quiet hoarse voice. Marrina almost lost it then all the build up in the last 24 hours; all she could do was sigh and shake her head.

“I don’t know, Aaron, I’m just as confused as you are.” Marrina rocked him like he was her own child. “I’m so sorry this had to happen to you. But try not to worry too much, I will watch over you now, me and the gentleman over there will care for you.” She gestured to Dalamar.

Aaron lifted his head from her bare shoulder to look at the Vampyre. He had fear in his eyes as he stared at Dalamar. Turning his head to face her, he whispered… “He scares me.” Marrina almost laughed but restrained it to a small chuckle. “He has that effect when you first see him, but relax he’s alright.” She gave a wink to Dalamar and gave Aaron a reassuring hug.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar saw the sadness of the small child and vowed inwardly to himself. "Never Again.. Assryian. You kill and destroy everything you touch. You foul the very air with your vileness." Great tears where shed by Dalamar as 3000 yrs of sadness and sorrow welled up on his face. His body shuddered with the heavy emotion. All the things that he had done. All the one's that he had loved past before his face. He would stop the Assryian. His black steel guantlet creaked as he gripped the sword in his hand.

Marrina was comforting the boy when they turned to him and she winked. He made a small smile and nodded. No sense in letting Aaron know how upset he was. Most vampyre's where so emotionless and stoic they detached themselves from this life. DeSang was different. He knew this even long ago. He felt to strongly. It made him the perfect warrior a man of passions the Father had said. Devious chuckled now, the Father had done to good a job. With emotions and feelings came love. His feeling for Mischa the human woman. The one that had started all this. A 3000 yr old battle with the rulers of the Vampyre Nation all for the love of a human woman.

He walked over to them and placed a hand softly on Marrina's shoulder. "We have to go, there could be more." He said. Still he waited a few more minutes to give the a chance to compose themselve's despite the danger. He almost hoped more Slithe would come. His hurt and anger would have given them a whirlwind of pain. But even in his pride he knew that he could not overcome them all. Least of all Legion. He would be a handful all by his self.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina smiled up at Dalamar before gently lifting the boy off her lap and setting him on the soft soil under the tree. Aaron murmured in protest but was quickly satisfied by another warm hug. She was lifted to her feet with the help of Dalamar. Once up, she yawned from lack of sleep and stretched out. She wiggled her fingers of her right hand; pain still pulsed through her hand from under her semi blood-soaked makeshift bandage. She would only hope her companion wouldn’t take note of this minor but painful handicap. For some reason, she knew the smell of blood wouldn’t take long to reach him.

Marrina gathered her sword. Taking Aaron but the hand she lifted him up with little effort. The small boy settled on her hip and rest his head on her shoulder from exhaustion. Slightly smiling she turned to Devious.

“Lead the way, General.” She said with a small wave of her injured hand.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Throwing his pack on his back from the hasty supplies he was able to gather from the village they contiuned south. After a few hours the woods where so thick it was easy to forget that there had been a village. Devious could sense the wolve's out there somewhere trailing them and making sure they where safe. So far no Slithe pursuit had been sighted. The sun started to dip in the sky and Dalamar paused just long enough to take off his face plate and protective armor piece's.

Marrina and Aaron looked bone weary. He found a likely location and made camp for the night. He brought out some flat bread and water for them and before long he had a nice fire going for them to warm themselve's by. He sat the meat out and let Marrina handle the cooking for her and the boy. He went to the edge of the camp to talk to the wolve's they did not want to get to close to the fire.

[Marrina Ters]

They made good time, as they trudged through the forest. Aaron had worn himself out earlier resulting in Marrina having to carry him the rest of the way. She was so relieved when they finally settled in on a spot somewhere in the middle of the dense forest. Gently setting the boy down, she made small sleeping areas for the three of them while Devious brought out some food and made a small fire.

Marrina retrieved a small portion of bread and water from Aaron and herself. Aaron stuffed food in his mouth as if he hadn’t eaten in days, which wouldn’t have surprised Marrina at all. She asked his about his family trying to make small talk with him. In between stuffing his face he told her he had been born in the village Dalamar and her had found him in. His mother’s name was Leeana Avery. His father was James Rift, Aaron said that he had no idea where he was now, and all he knew was that his father had disappeared after the Slithe attack or the ‘green monsters’ as Aaron called them. Marrina just smiled as Aaron continued on about his happiest memories of his family as they finished eating.

For a small boy who just lost his mother, Aaron was holding up quite well. But finally he started to lose some of his energy and became drowsy. Before long Aaron curled up in a ball and fallen asleep. Marrina smiled sweetly at the sleeping child, she quietly cleaned up what was left of their meal. She spotted Dalamar near the edge of their camp, she watched intently as he spoke with the creatures. A soft whimper from Aaron brought Marrina back to herself. She sat next to the boy and brought him into her lap, letting his head rest on her shoulder. She draped one of the many old tattered blankets they had found in the village over them. Propping herself up on a log to support both of them, she stared at the soft amber glow of the fire, slightly shuttering at the memories it brought back. When the fire dimmed out to its final coals, Marrina felt exhausted and slightly anxious, soon after that she fell into a her first dreamless sleep since she was nearly Aaron’s age.

[Dalamar DeSang]

After talking to the wolves and hearing that all was safe he went back to the camp. Aaron and Marrina where asleep around the fire. He pulled his swords off and took one of them and laid it across his lap. As he had done for many years he again admired the silver worked dragons on the hilt. The sword was older than him that even his 3000 yrs. They still gleamed as if brand new and never needed sharpening. Where had they came from and who had made them? That was a story to find out all in itself. Another mystery of his past that he wondered about. He hope he got the chance to find some of the answers.

He leaned back against the tree. He listend to the fire crackle and slowly started to relax. He yawned the wolve's would warn him if there was any danger. As he started to drift to sleep he wondered about the child, Aaron.

There path would be extremely dangerous. "I will do my best to get the both of you out of here alive!!" He murmured to himself his hand gripping his sword until his knuckles cracked. Legion would have no mercy on these two. He would do anything to kill them and Dalamar. He pulled out a small leather bound book and untied the seal. His steel nib quill still made neat marks on the pages. It was in the vampyre toungue that few could understand. He wrote what was needed and then put it away. He reached out and the wolves assured him that all was still well. Soon the vampyre slept just as soundly as the two beside him.....

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina awoke with a strange sensation picking at her mind. It was still dark and the fire was down to its last coals. The glow shimmered from a golden yellow to a blood red, which reminded Marrina of Dalamar’s unique and captivating eyes. She smiled to herself; he took her from her home and now is risking his life to save her and Aaron. Her smiled turned into a frown, as much as she hated to admit it, she felt useless. It was Dalamar doing all the saving. Dalamar doing all the fighting. Dalamar doing all the work. And Dalamar doing all the reassuring. What had she done? All she had done was find a young boy who just so happens to slow the both of them down. Marrina looked down at the sleeping boy in her arms. She brushed a few strands of clutter hair out of his face, she wouldn’t have left him in the village, he needed someone now since his mother died and his father is gone.

Marrina tucked the blanket around Aarons sleeping figure and gently set him on the ground beside her. She stood up quietly and stretched, letting out a half hearted yawn. She looked around lazily and found Dalamar by a nearby tree. She smiled gently as she walked up next to him. He looked almost peaceful as he slept, she watched his chest rise and fall evenly with each breath. She didn’t understand how someone so kind and gentle could be so deadly and ruthless.

A gust of wind came through the forest and the itching sensation increased at the back of her head. Small sand particles flew up around her, she put her arms up to cover her eyes. The wind increased slightly making the trees and bushes dance around the clearing. As Marrina lowered her arms away from her face a scream ripped through the forest. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes darted around the darkness around her. She stole a glance back at Dalamar, who was still sound asleep. Strange…why isn’t he up? she thought. As she settle on the ground next to her ‘General.’

“HELP ME!!!” The scream echoed again. Marrina was on her feet and alert. The screaming rerunning through her mind like a broken record. She looked at Dalamar, still content in his spot. Marrina was confused. Why wasn’t he reacting? She knelt down and was about to wake him up when it sounded once again. The scream sounded so desperate, Marrina couldn’t take it anymore. She turned and ran strait into the darkness toward the cries for help, sword at her side.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar knew something was wrong immediately. He was in a Dark throne room. There was a round mosaic in blue and black tiles on the ground. Two Huge black obsidion pillars surronded a golden ornate throne. There sitting on the throne a large figure cast in shadows. To his left and right!! "Dream Hounds" Two men muzzled and trained in the art of mind warfare.

Dalamar pulled his sword on his back. He knew it wouldn't do much good. He was in the Assryian's realm. The realm of the mind. Dream hounds where thought to be extinct from the time of the vampyre nation. He remembered the Father using them to kill and torture those who opposed him. Leave it to the Assryian to find some more of these creatures.

His own training was adequate but against these Masters? He knew he could quite easily wake up a drooling idiot for all of his eternal life.

Dalamar felt a vibration along the line's of power. A false voice called out in the dream. They where being ambushed. Every part of him wanted to scream out to Marrina. But he knew if he turned his attention away they would both be good as dead. He felt her body leave his and go into the tree's. The anguish plain on his face in the dream from his desire not to be fooled into the trap. The Assryian stood up his Red Cloak flowed majestically behind him. He walked down the steps leading to his throne. In a voice that sounded like crushed Gravel he spoke.

[Assyrian]

"Why do you try my patience "Lord Dalamar".." He paced in front of Devious. His hounds remained motionless. "This little slip of a girl will not stop me. I don't care what the prophecies say."

Dalamar sheathed his sword it would do him no good here. The only weapon that was good here was a sharp mind. He had to throw the Assyrian off. Dalamar knew he hated to be called by his old Death Dealer name. He had taken on the title the Assryian after the old world empire. The 'Assryians' who where the first to conquer everything before them.

"Is that fear that I hear in your voice Daniel." He saw with a small hint of satisfaction a slight misstep by Daniel. The Dark Emperor of the vampyre nation would not be so easily take down. He turned and his eyes where red blazing furnaces of hate or was it jealousy?

Thunder spoke as Daniel towered over Dalamar. "Still you play your games. Very well lets see how your child of prophecy does." He waved his hand in front of the blank wall. The campsite opened up before his eyes.

Marrina appeared moving cautiously into the woods. The Assryian meant for him to watch what was going to happen. While he lied here and in the waking world helpless.

[Marrina Ters]

The forest was dense indeed. Every step had to be calculated in order not to run into an unearthed root or low growing bush. Marrina struggled through the brush; the screams she followed were fading. Each one was more and more desperate, as if that person/thing was fighting for life. Frustration built up in Marrina she would take no more that ten steps and the cries would change direction. She wanted to call out, to yell that she was coming or to hold on just a little longer.

“H-help me!! Hel…p…” The scream sound just a few feet in front of Marrina. Without hesitation she broke into a run, hopefully it wasn’t too late for whom ever it was. A similar clearing to their campsite came into view just up head of her. Another shriek ripped through Marrina’s mind as she stepped into the clearing. Marrina stopped. Something wasn’t right, she could feel it, something…someone was watching her. The bushes behind her moved, she turned, nothing. She back farther into the clearing hand on her sword. Again the feeling was there, this time stronger. More movement, it shifted around just like the screams. Wait, there aren’t any screams. Marrina was hit full blast with a wave of fear.

She followed the movement as best she could not allowing it to get behind her. This game ended with the same fate the screams did. She whirled around there was nothing, nervousness mixed in with her fear. Her mind screamed at her to run, she pushed out of her way, her eyes darting around. Again movement, this time in front of her and this time it didn’t stay in the shadows.

Marrina instantly froze; a cloaked figure emerged from the darkness. The itching that first attacked her mind came back as she took in the sight. The figure was small, hunched over, its body covered in a cloak, its head covered by a baggy hood. Each step it took forward Marrina would take back, even more into the clearing. The figure took notice of her fear and chuckled. Its laugh was deep. It stuck out a green hand and waved a finger, tsking her.

“Now, now…” its voice sounding like dry leaf’s being crumpled. “…you have nothing to fear from us.” Marrina’s eyes widened slightly. Us? The creature must have read her mind because with on quick gesture more movement started up around her. One by one additional cloaked creatures appeared out of the darkness. They had trapped her. There were no more than a dozen circling around her. Every one more sadistic than the other. Marrina could see their half lit faces in the moon light. A few snarled and bore their sharpened teeth, while others stared at her liking their lips and making small grabbing gestures at her. In unison, minus the Slithe that spoke, they took a step toward her. Marrina unsheathed her sword by instinct. She received another chuckle from the first creature, which was soon joined by the others.

“Your friend may have been able to fight us…” Its voice dropped menacingly “…but what possesses to you to think you will be able to?” Marrina tightened the grip on her sword and answered the question with a glare. The figure laughed again.

“What a stubborn specimen you are.” It pulled back its hood to reveal a thin lifeless face with hollow eyes. “Very well, master thought force would be needed.” It motioned with its hand behind her.

Shuffling could be heard behind her. With pre rage Marrina spun around, using her momentum to swing at her assailant. The blade made a clean cut, severing the creatures head from its body. Marrina was nearly thrown off balance by the force she had used. There was silence; both the creatures and Marrina were shocked. Never in her life had she killed something. She never thought it would be so easy.

“You little wench, you will pay.” This time her opponent came from the side. Marrina swung again with less force than before. The blade made almost a strait gash from its shoulder down its chest and ending at its hip. Nearly black blood splashed up around her, covering her forearms and sword. Marrina knew she wouldn’t last long against the rest of them, she needed to get away, and she needed to get back to Dalamar and Aaron.

Once she heard her next attacker shift; she broke into a run at the original Slithe. She raised her sword and impaled it through its chest. Marrina’s face contorted into a mix of fear, rage, and disgust as she pulled her sword out of the creature’s lifeless form. The body didn’t even hit the ground and Marrina took off into the darkened forest, this hisses of angered Slithe right behind her. She prayed that she would make it back to Dalamar, alive.

Marrina ran for all she was worth and yet she still only seemed to slow down. She heard maniac laughter behind her, it seemed that another Slithe had taken the leaders spot. “Run, run, run…” The coarse voice echoed. “Run back to the small boy you hold so dear to your heart.” Marrina stumbled the fear rising inside her. How did they know about Aaron? Marrina had barely recovered when she was rammed to the ground; she rolled to get to her feet, the sound of metal digging into the soil where she had just been. She could nearly make out the Slithe through the darkness, the blades it held gleaming in the moon light.

Marrina wasn’t a fighter, she desperately held onto her sword as the creature circled her. It lunged at her. Not expecting the attack Marrina jumped back but unfortunately not far enough. Its rusted blades skimming her bare abdomen, it was a swallow cut, enough to draw blood. She backed away, sword at the ready. It came again this time she was ready she dodged left and brought her sword down. A shriek similar to the cries for help sounded as its arm left its body. Once again Marrina turned and ran her arm over the wound in her stomach, she needed to see Aaron and Dalamar and she needed to see them alive.

Time passed slowly and Marrina became lightheaded from blood loss. A wave of relief came when she saw the ambers from the campsite up ahead. But it was quickly shattered when she entered to find Aaron no where in sight, only Dalamar’s motionless body laying against the tree where see saw him last. She took a step towards Dalamar but was stopped but mocking laughter in the shadows around her. Marrina turned to find the source of the laughter materialize from the darkness. She heaved up her sword ready for action.

“Not so fast…” It put up its hand. “You wouldn’t want to put your darling child in danger, would you?” The creature waved his hand and another cloaked Slithe came forth holding Aaron. It pressed a long curved blade to the underside of his chin. His horror filled eyes bore into Marrina’s and nearly went to tears. She turned her gaze to Dalamar and met his seemingly lifeless eyes, they provided nothing for her. She faced the Slithe and let a quiet sob escape her; she let her sword fall to the ground. Before she knew it she was encircled again, the ‘lead’ Slithe stepped forward.

“That wasn’t so hard…” Its voice like autumn leaf’s. “Maybe you aren’t such a stubborn girl after all.” It grazed a clawed hand over her flawless cheek as it spoke. Marrina grimaced at the touch. The monster stepped back with a chuckle. “Bind her and the worthless child.” Marrina’s eyes widened, no sooner had the words left its mouth a fist caught her across her jaw, knocking her off her feet. She gasped in pain as she hit the ground a few feet from Dalamar. She had no time to react for she was pulled off the ground only to be sent into the tree the General occupied. Marrina sank down to her knees unable to stand, she felt a grubby hand wrap around her arm. “I’m sorry…” was the only thing she could say to Dalamar before she was yanked up again. This time the blow hit her stomach wound. A scream of pain ripped the back of her throat she collided with the ground once again. The torture game went on blow after blow.

Finally the pain filled game ended. Marrina lie almost motionless, her breathing short and shallow. She felt her hands being bound behind her. She attempted to move but was rewarded by a foot to the ribs. Marrina opened her mouth in a silent shriek of agony; her world becoming darker and darker. The last thing she heard before falling into the black abyss was the weeping of a helpless child…

“No, A…Aaron…” She should have never found him and brought him into this mess.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar's heart went cold inside of him as Marrina was hurt and abused and Aaron taken. Every blow was a dagger to his soul. He tried to act like it didn't matter, to show no emotion. If he let on how much he cared for Marrina the Assryian would kill her instantly. He was always the jealous type.

He turned to face Dalamar, his face full of satisfaction. "You see she is nothing, less than nothing actually." His massive shoulders swayed as he walked. His crimson robe moved around his body as if it had a life of its own. Everywhere his footprints stepped there was a burning hole in the ground to mark his passing. The Assryian or was it Daniel? Was at the height of his power. A full vampyre Emperor. Against him alone maybe DeSang had a chance. Maybe. But with all the trapping of power that came with being the leader of the vampyre nation. He was an unstoppable juggernaught. Add to that the cunning power and mind of Legion and he was nearly invincible.... His Slithe army would make even the most hardened trooper hesitant to battle. I mean how did you fight an enemy that eats you?

"What do you want Assryian?" Daniel looked amused at your question. "What do I want, Why my dear Dalamar, I want it ALL."

He took one heavily muscled arm and started to trace an opening on the wall again... I am not there yet. It will take me a week to reach you by the fastest transport. But have no fear I have someone that will keep you company. Dalamar cringed inside as he saw Legion moving towards there campsite with grim purpose. He could feel Daniel's iron grip begin to crush around his throat. As he walked down the columned hall he left these parting words. "See you soon."

Dalamar eye's burst open. He was securely bound along with Marrina. He looked down on her curled up form next to him. "I am sorry also Marrina.." He cursed inside. He would find a way to stop this. To many where counting on him. He could not make any more mistakes...

[Marrina Ters]

”Ella, she’s just a child!”

“I know but you have to understand…” A warm familiar feeling flooded into Marrina at the sound of low voices.

“What’s there to understand, Ella?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen how much she’s changing…the way she looks? The way she acts? Her emotions have changed! Don’t you dare say you haven’t noticed. Darren she was suffering.” Marrina saw herself as a small innocent six year old. She had waken up to hear her parents arguing in the kitchen. It was the same night her mother had given her the crystal necklace. Marrina knew they were talking about her.

“Your right, Ella I’m sorry…” Her father’s voice cracked. “It’s just so hard, I didn’t know this would happen so soon. I don’t want to believe this is happening.”

“I know but you knew this would happen, nonetheless.”

“Ella, how long do you think you have?” Tears started to fall down her fathers face.

“I honestly don’t know, but I can already feel it starting, it’s small and yet it hurts so much.” The image of her parents began to fade.

“Oh gods, Ella, how will I take care of her?” Her mother gave him a soft pat on the hand.

“I know you will think of something, I’m sorry I can’t help.” Her father pulled her mother into a loving embrace as the memory faded into total and complete darkness.

---------------------------------

Marrina awoke with unwanted pain running through her entire body. She shuddered at the memory of a few hours ago. Fighting through the pain, she managed to roll onto her back and somewhat straiten herself out. She groaned, it felt like she had been to hell and back all in a couple of hours. She reluctantly looked down on her body to see the damage that had been done to her. With no surprise she saw many bruises in the various places she had been hit. Dried blood was smeared on her forearms and lower abdomen. The shallow gash in her stomach seemed to have stopped bleeding for the most part.

Marrina looked up to find Dalamar still propped up against the tree. She opened her mouth to say something but winced instead, she knew she had a nice sized bruise from where she had been hit in the jaw. She began to slowly shift her body starting with her arms and working down her legs and to her feet. She returned her gaze to Dalamar’s seemingly concerned one.

“I don’t think anything is broken…” She tried to smile but cringed as a small amount of pain ran down the side on her neck and face. “I should be fine…are you hurt at all?”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“I don’t think anything is broken. I should be fine…are you hurt at all?”

Dalamar was ashamed. Even though he couldn't have done anything to help her he felt like he had let her and Aaron down. "No I am fine." His head rocked to the side as a Slithe hit him with a butt of a knarled staff. "Noooo talking.. noooo Stalkingsss." A small amount of blood appeared from a cut above his eye as he stared at the Slithe with glowing red murder. The Slithe smirked. "Oohhh he glaressss so hardsss." The Green faced Slithe smiled showing his fine line of meat tearing razor sharp teeth. Dalamar smiled back showing his own. The Slithe stepped back slightly his cockiness erased. This made the Vampyre Lord smile even wider.

"Soon Legionsss will be here we will see if you smillleees thenss. Wont we.sss." He stepped back to join the others in the pack that surround them. He looked back to Marrina. "I will do my best to get us out of this." The Slithe threw Aaron between Marrina and Dalamar. The Dark Lord strained against his bonds in front of him. Aaron's breathing was shallow but he was still alive. Dalamar breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Sting had survived and was looking for them now. He did not usually like to rely on other's but his enemie's where growing larger and more numerous as the days passed and some allie's would not be a hindrance at this point. Still he did not hold his breath he hadn't heard anything from him since his ship was attacked. At the moment they where all still alive. He had to hold on to that for now. Until he could do something about it... He knew Legion would arrive soon. Then on his heels his Master the Assryian. Things where about to get ugly in the worst way.....

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina moved over some to let Aaron fit more comfortably between Dalamar and her. She watched his slow shaky inhales and exhales. A twinge of anger surged at the thought of these Slithe creatures hurting him like they did her. But her anger was subsided by fear. Was she was scared; yes, even though she didn’t want to admit it. Would they harm Aaron even worse? What would they do to Dalamar? To her? She was scared more than she had ever been in her whole life.

Time passed slowly as they continued to sit there. Marrina was rebound several times, her hands were in front of her and she was propped up against the tree leaning some on Dalamar’s shoulder. Poor little Aaron had been slipping in and out of consciousness for the passed several hours, he was currently unconscious between Marrina and Dalamar, his head rest on Marrina’s lap. The air was cold and the wind made it even colder, shivers were set up Marrina’s spine, making more painful than it already was. The worst bruises were just reaching the peak of their color. Black and blue bruises outlined by a sickening yellow were engulfing the side of her neck and face. Similar bruises run down her arms, legs, and back. Most of the dried blood had been rubbed off her stomach and arms. As for the cut on her abdomen, the edges were slightly red and swollen from lack of medical care, infection was evident.

Marrina wasn’t able to focus on anything other than the memory she had during the time she had been unconscious. It was odd how certain things were ordered in the memory; the necklace, her mother’s death, her father having to take care of her, the mention of her changing. What was her mother talking about when she said she could feel it starting? What had her mother meant when she mention Marrina changing? Why would her father have so much trouble taking care of her? Why had her mother given her the necklace that day? It had to be connected, but how? Confusion and uncertainty kept playing over her features as she thought the memory over and over again.

None of it made sense to her. Occasionally she would mumble out loud only to receive death glares from the many Slithe that sat around the clearing. They had told them that Legion was on his way. For what Dalamar had told her about him, she didn’t want to be introduced to him. She knew danger was coming and apparently so did Dalamar…She had hoped that Aaron would never have to witness all of this. She was now having regrets about finding him in the first place.

[Legion]

Legion turned from the com with a smile on his face. "At last, Dalamar you will pay for what you have done to me..."

"Slithe Master." The Slithe jumped at his name. "Yes Legion."

The Large man spoke to the Slithe with barely containable wrath. "Gather them all in the hunt is over. They have Dalamar and the girl. We leave on the hour." The Slithe Master spoke hesitantly.. "But Master, that is not enough time to recall all the Slithe in the forest."

Legion hissed in anger. "Those that don't return on time will be left behind!! I will not wait any longer for my revenge do you understand me?" The Slithe bowed quickly in acquience. "Yes, Master... Yes."


The Slithe already gone from his mind, Legion reached into his belongings. He pulled out a small head encased in armor. "Yes, we must not keep Sting and his Master from each other any longer." A cruel smile curved his face as an evil light appeared in his all to cunning eye's. A light that hinted at the madness that lied within...

[Marrina Ters]

”Many of you knew Ella as a…”

Marrina groaned and rolled over. She brought her hands to gently massage her face and neck. She stopped, her wrists weren’t bound? No bruises? Her eyes shot open; blinding white lights met them. Marrina instinctively covered her eyes with her hands.

“caring, honorable, trustworthy, and beautiful women…”

Whose voice was that? She had heard it before. She slowly moved her hands away from her eyes, letting them adjust to the brightened room. Her vision cleared; ember, white, and blood red flowers were scattered across the crowded room. Marrina supported herself on the wall as she stood.

“she loved everything and everyone…”

She studied the faces in the nearly all white room, she remembered some, and others escaped her memory. Where was she? How…Why was she remembering this?

“but most of all…”

What’s going on? The room, the people, the lighting, it was all so familiar. Why? Why was this happening? Why now of all times?

“she loved her family.”

Marrina froze. She now knew where she was. Turning slowly she closed her eyes, she knew what was there but she didn’t want to see it…again. She bit her lower lip and reluctantly opened her eyes; there lie her mother’s casket. Marrina felt herself falter; she saw her father and…herself. As she watched her younger self weep and cling dearly to her father’s leg, she felt all the pain and grief from that day take over her.

The priest finished his speech and the guests were allowed to pay their respected wishes to her mother. Marrina watched as the numerous people came up and either spared a moment of silence or gave a small prayer. Many faces were filled with grief, much like hers, and others were wiped with pain, anguish, and even a few of depression. Who knew so many people knew her mother.

Marrina continued to stand there watching until nearly even one left. When she was young she never had enough courage to see her dead mother in her death bed. She fought down the queasy feeling in her stomach as she approached the coffin. Marrina gasped when she laid her eyes on her mother’s corpse; it was so repulsive, how could this have been her mother? Her silver hair Marrina had inherited had lost its shiny shimmer and turned a sick green-grey color. It lay in clumps down around her neck and shoulders; like she had been held under water for to long. The golden skin Marrina had once remembered had been sucked away and replaced by dead grey similar to what her mother’s hair was now.

She stepped back, the cold of the dead was getting to her, she didn’t want to stay here any more. She wanted to stop this, stop the dreaming, stop the memories. Her back hit the near wall and the vision started fading. She slid down the wall and pulled her knees to her breast. She cowered slightly; what had happened to her mother? She looked so old lying there in her casket; she had been only 39 when she died. What drained the life from her? Marrina closed her eyes again and now the image faded completely.

-----------------------------------

Marrina came out of her dream with a small scream. Breathing heavily she glanced around her, little Aaron was asleep from what she could tell. The poor boy shouldn’t have to deal with this. Marrina sighed and turned her gaze skyward, the moon and stars lit up the clearing, it was quite enchanting how they lit up the forest. A single loan tear was evident in the moonlight as it fell down her bruised cheek…

[Legion]

The Skimmer brought them as close to the clearing as it could. Legion cursed the prescence of the tree's. They only slowed him down further from his goal of facing DeSang. The Vampyre had escaped long enough. It was time for him to face what he made.


Legion and the Slithe moved thru the woods at an unnatural pace. At full tilt they could have ran down a man on a horse for a small distance. They made good time as Legion and the hunting pack navigated the wooded area. Suddenly Legion stopped and the pack skidded to a halt behind him breathing heavily. DeSang's thoughts raced in his mind. He could point to him even though he was still a few mile's away. He only said one word "Come."

The Slithe rushed to keep up as Legion ran like a man possesed, which he was. Possesed with maddening thoughts of a Vampyre named Dalamar. His fist clenched and unclenched without his knowledge. He had a growing aprehension and yet a bloodlusting excitement. The time had come at last for Dalamar to pay for making this mockery of life. He would make sure that his 'Father' regretted spawing this creature that he had become. To have a concious to agonize over each death. Yet to kill without mercy or sanity when the moment came. To be so cold, so cold and ruthless. Also the voice's raging for dominance. Only Dalamar's mind reigned supreme. His sheer force of will even though cloned, ruled this body voice's. Legion's hate knew no bounds to make like, like this. The flame's of hatred flared again.

He came into the clearing. The party was up ahead. He slowed and walked into camp. He wanted to savor Dalamar's fear to hear him beg for mercy.....

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar could feel Legions prescence like thick darkness his thoughts slid across his mind. When he was close like this Dalamar could feel his hatred. His thoughts always raced like quicksilver always forming and finishing and adjusting for the many minds that bounced around in there. But always his own voice called back to him louder than the others. It hurt his head to be near him. He didn't know how Legion tolerated the constant rattling in his mind.

He steeled himself. He feared for Marrina and the boy Aarons safety. Legion would no doubt torture and kill them. Anything to cause him pain. His hands where tightly bound with steel mesh coil. The Slithe had taken no chance's with him. The boy was mercifully unconcious but Marrina was awake and obviously in a lot of pain. Dalamar did not know what to do. He had not planned for things to work out this way. The hope's of the Universe laid in the cruel hands of Legion. Devious groaned within himself. He struggled against his bonds once again. Drawing fresh blood upon his wrist,back and arms.

Legion walked as if he had all time in the world. His long talons clenching and unclenching... The moment he had waited for had come at last. Dalamar was in his hands and his hands where death....

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina was in a dazed state when the so called Legion arrived. She couldn’t keep the images from her ‘dreams’ out of her mind. The conversation between her parents only a day or so before her mother pasted away. The funeral for her mother was disturbing enough, the feel of the room, the smells, the arrangement of everything; it all seemed so familiar. But the thing that would haunt her forever was the image of her mother’s corpse. Her normally tan skin had been taken over by that sick green-grey color and her silvery hair turned an ugly dull grey. The hollow of her eyes were nearly black; they almost seemed to be bruises. Marrina was on the brink of tears just thinking about her mother.

She glanced down at Aaron. He was neatly secure underneath her arm; his head rest on her chest. The poor child still weaved in and out of consciousness. Marrina was sorry she ever found him, she was sorry she dragged him into this. Gently she kissed his matted hair; she felt like his mother now. The action sent a small amount of pain through the side of her face and down her neck. The worst of the bruises had gone but some still remain in varying areas on her body. Marrina leaned her head back against the tree with a small thump.

A small shimmer across the clearing caught her eye; the twinkle spread along thick mechanical-like talons. She knew something was wrong, fear wadded in her stomach as a figure stepped all the way into the moonlight, followed by many others. Cold overcame Marrina as the figure advanced toward the trio. The figure stopped short nearly fifteen feet away; its features clearly visible. Her breathing stopped and she felt herself go completely cold. Her vision blanked until the figures face remained…

“Legion…” The name came from her in a whisper. Flashes from her vision in the tunnels came back to her. Legion, the Assyrian, Slithe, knives, torture tools, her own screams filled her ears as she saw her deep vermilion blood drip from her limps. Her ankles and wrists began to burn, even through her bonds she could feel the unbearable pain coming back. No sooner had her wrists and ankles started burning a wave of pain went down her spine, causing Marrina to arch her back away from the tree.

She wanted to scream, yell, die, anything to get away from here, from Legion, anything to make all the pain go away. Marrina let out a small cry as pain erupted and pulsed through her body…

[Legion]

Legion could hear the thrumming of blood behind his ears. The moment he had fought and strived for had arrived. Sweet revenge for the madness that had been inflicted upon him. Legion's mind registered the three people before him but his eye's only saw the vampyre. His image that had haunted him for years. His metal talons protruded slowly as he moved towards the vampyre Lord.

His female companion started to thrash and arch. She distracted Legion. Her eye' widened as he swatted her aside, he would deal with her later. Legion reached down digging his steel talon's into Dalamar's chest. The Vampyre's crimson eye's stared back defiance as Legion bled him. There eye's locked in a mutual hatred. Knowing there could only by one of them. Dalamar's life flowed from the raw chest wound his talons where inflicting. A red puddle appeared from his dangling feet. Legion pulled out two of his special bone daggers made from his victims. Using them with violent force he pierced the Dark Lord in the shoulders pinning him to the tree.

"Your life is mine Dalamar. The Master has given you temporarily into my hands. He is as eager to meet you as I am. I am to ask you question's and as long as I don't kill you I am free to do anything I feel will help you speak. I told you that no prophecy would save you or the universe..." The Slithe gathered around Legion. In a voice like a harsh whisper he commanded "Take them."

Dalamar saw a thousand sickly green hands before he faded into darkness...

[Marrina Ters]

At first Marrina barely felt any pain when she was hurled across the ground at an alarming rate. Her stop was unpleasent as her back slammed against the large truck of a sappy tree. Dirt stung her newly aquired gash that ran along her cheek bone and small paritcles blurred her vision. She stook off her pain and reluctantly sat up; fighting the urge to close her eyes as fall back into darkness. She frantically tried to clear her eyesight; she worried for Aaron and the General.

Marrina nearly screamed in horror when she saw Legion pin Dalamar to the tree. She saw a dark pool of what appeared to be blood gathered at Dalamar’s; a wound was evident. Marrina blinked her vision munipulating again; she saw Aaron still curled up the same place he always had been and to her relief, still lost within his own darkness. She witnessed Dalamars’ body go limp; it was the first time she saw him close his eyes…she feared for him.

Her gaze shifted to Legion, going over his massive talon; fear was writen over her features but rage burned in her eyes. She hated Legion. Her anguish grew as the last words left his mouth…

“Take them.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar eye's slowly opened. The first thing he noticed was that they where not in the woods any longer. Legion had moved them to one of the internment facilities. Dalamar was stripped to the waist. Legion had taken all his weapons. His 3 swords his gauntlet, even his boot blade. He wished he knew where Marrina was or if she was safe. So much depended on her. His cell looked high tech and impentrable. There was a surgical white bed with black leather straps and all sorts of devices surrounding it in the corner of the cell. The Torture equipment was surrounded by walls that seemed to be made of pure glass.

As a former Warlord and now currently a General Dalamar had been in many prison's in his long life. He checked out the door it was Heavy Dura Steel. It wasn't going anywhere. Outside the door some men in black uniforms and shiny leather boots. They walked the halls at timed intervals checking all the prisoners. The Vampyre looked thru the narrow slit provided and all he saw was other cells leading down into the shadows. It was deathly quite with the exception of a few moans from the other prisoners. Every once in a while there would be a scream of pure horror.

Legion would come for him soon and then the question's would begin. He again hoped that Marina and Aaron where safe, Or better yet with Legion's reputation, he hoped they where still alive. Dalamar tried the door and the glass anyway. As he suspected there was no weakness's. This place was state of the art and the only way they where going to get out is if they let them out....

He heard the heavy footsteps of guards approaching, there steel tipped boots echoed down the hall in unison as they approached. He girded himself as he saw the door handle slowly turn. Legion stepped in with 4 guards and two men in white lab coats. His finely cut cloak clung to his body. His muscle's rippled with confidence. It all seemed familiar to him. Then he realized that was how he appeared when he entered a room. The part of him that was Dalamar's clone was showing forth.

Dalamar said nothing as the guards grabbed him roughly and directed him to the glass door. Legion smiled as he produced a large brass key with a skull at the end. Devious stepped in and the clang of the glass door sounded down the hall like the heaviest metal.....

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina was thrown into a cell with merciless force; the solid bars shook as her small petite body slammed into the side. She was able to hold in a sob of pain…she didn’t want to show weakness towards these monsters. They had taken Aaron away from her as well as Dalamar; she felt like she had nothing. The two people that she just realized she cared about the most weren’t with her; she felt empty.

Several green faces snarled and hissed at her, scaring her, mocking her, disgusting her, and worst of all infuriating her. Her hands weren’t bound anymore; with no sword or any other weapon why did they need to be. She was a zoo animal, someone’s or something’s entertainment. She was forced to change her attire; she was informed that it was for her own well being; now she wore something that resembled a priestess robe. The black robe was lined in a rust colored band and its sleeves extended far passed her slender hands. The robe itself lie on the ground pooled at her feet unable to fit her naturally small body.

Marrina curled herself up in the farthest end of the cell, where the shadows engulfed every crevice. She lost track of time; all she knew was that her tormentors left and she was able to give in. Her sobs were muffled by her hands, tears of pain, sadness, and emptiness fell down her face and slid around on the sleek cell floor. Her life had barely begun and she was being chased, tortured, and almost killed.

She wept for hours; she longed to see Dalamar alright, she wanted to hold Aaron’s tiny frame against her own petite one. She clutched tightly to the crystal that hung around her neck, what was she suppose to do, why did it have to be her…

“Why did you protect me?” She whispered quietly, desperately trying to reach the only person she trusted and secretly loved. “Why do you need me? What am I suppose to do? Was I suppose to cause this?”

Her painful sobs left her tired and weak. Marrina cried herself into an unsteady slumber, only wishing to wake up and see that everything was alright, and Aaron and her General were safe...

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Guards roughly strapped the General down. The thick leather bindings bit into his pale skin. The two men in white coats moved with mechanical precision. They calibrated the instruments that they where preparing to use. Legion's smile never left his face.

"Hello Lord Dalamar, Warlord of the Eye of the Dragon, Warrior for the Queen Mother of the Shrine, and current General for the citizens of Onderon. You have many accomplishments that have followed you to this your final destination." Legion circled around him his hands behind his back.

"I know that you will not give me what I want. I know because in many ways I am you. But you will scream for me Great Lord of the Dark that I promise!!" Legion's eye twitched slightly as he ranted his madness leaking out of a mind that could not possibly long contain it. Legion sat a glass jar on the Generals bare chest. It was filled with Larvae looking creature's with pincers for teeth.

"Have you ever seen a Bacta Blood worm before. They bore into your skin and begin chewing on nerve endings. They then attack the major organs in your body. For a human it is a living hell. But within 4 days they eventually die." Again that smile the smile of the Devil. "But for you a vampyre, One of the Ancient's so notoriously hard to kill. Hmnn... It could take months your fast healing body will be your own painful downfall. It should be quite an experience. I have heard some say its like having your blood boil, others say it's like being skinned alive, but of course from from the inside out. You will have to tell me yourself."

Legion spoke with smug satisfaction his deep voice rumbling thru the room. "So tell me, how do you activate the girl. What is her secret and why does my Master fear her?"

Dalamar laid in silence they would get nothing from him and Legion knew it. He was just going thru the motions so that he could inflict the pain he so longed to give. Again the smile, Dalamar so wanted to knock that smug look off his face.

"Very well, guards bleed him!!" The men worked Dalamar over with great satisfaction. Making joke's of his ethinticity and hinting at the horrible things they where going to do to Marrina and Aaron. They struck him across the face, chest legs and ribs until he felt like a raw piece of meat. It was getting hard to breathe yet the beating continued. Devious passed out his limits of endurace reached. Cold water was thrown across his body at the same time he was electrocuted awake...Dalamar's arms and legs went rigid as his muscle's tensed. The Electricity stopped and the beating continued. Until he again passed out. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ His body was smoking as the pain was grounded into his bones. He grinded his teeth so tight together that he gnawed his toungue and drew blood. Good anything to stay awake. Legion put his Metal Talon on the General's chest. "Don't pass out yet where just getting started. Are you sure you don't want to talk." Dalamar struggled to breathe but he kept his silence as Legion knew he would. He raked his hand across his chest opening 1 inch wounds across his mid section.

Legion opened the jar and emptied it all over the Dark Lord's chest. The Worms where cold and wet. There pasty bodies moved with sickning slowess as they burrowed into his flesh and everthing went black then a bright white. He burned!!! The Vampyre thrashed as the worms burrowed in and the guards started beating him again.....

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina opened her eyes to, once again, find herself encased in another memory. She spotted her teenage form sleeping on the cold floor of her fathers living quarters. Through the bay window the sky was dark and large drops of rain fell hard against the plush green forest around the estate. She glanced around the room everything was so familiar, it seemed like just yesterday she had been here in this place…it was warm and comforting.

Out of the corner of her eye Marrina saw a flash of lightening; she covered her ears she knew what was coming. A thunderous crack split the air, Marrina witnessed her 17 year old self lurch up right. A the sight of her scared and slightly confused look on her younger selves face, told Marrina that she had had a dream of her past.

The younger Marrina looked around frantically before standing. She stepped cautiously through the room to the far corner that housed her fathers’ bedroom door. Marrina followed her being to the door.

“Father…? W-where are you?” Her voice was filled with concern as she pushed open the door. Marrina remembered this…it was the night her father disappeared. The room was torn apart; clothing was scattered, the silver lamp broken, the sheets on the bed all messed up, and the window at the back shattered.

Marrina stumbled backward to avoid being struck by her own self. Her younger self fell back onto the floor, tears on the brink of falling; her father had been kidnapped and there was nothing she could have done to stop it.

Marrina watched the scene play in front of her…the aftermath was exactly the way she remembered. The pain, the tears, the fear it all seemed so fresh and relived. Marrina looked toward the bay window and froze. Right there before her eyes stood Dalamar, her eyes widened, she must have been in too much pain to notice him back then. The Dalamar in her memory just stared out the window, a look of guilt on his pale features.

Marrina began to step forward toward him; not sure what she would do when she met him. A few feet away, he turned but didn’t look at her younger weeping form he gazed at the real her…directly in her eyes. He smiled and was gone with another blinding flash of lightening; along with her dream.

-----------------------------------------------------------

She gasped awake from her dream…had he really seen her? Or was it another mind trick? Rolled over in her cell, groaning in slight annoyance and anger. Why did her memories haunt her? Marrina didn’t have time to grasp an answer, she was distracted by a shadowed figure in the corner of her abnormally large cell.

“Who?…What do you want?” Marrina asked shrinking up against the wall. Cautious but more scared than before. She felt the death reek off the figure.

Her answer was a deep wicked chuckle. The figure stepped forward revealing the ‘almighty’ Assyrian. He voice sounded of crushed gravel. “I want your full cooperation.” He stepped toward her again and laughed at her masked emotions.

She moved away and managed to find her voice. “What if I say no?”

He raised his hand and Marrina closed her eyes expecting another beating but instead he seized her arm. The Assyrian pulled her up to the point where she was unable to fell ground beneath her feet, which couldn’t have been that hard.

He smiled evily showing sharpened teeth. “Well, then you will see when we visit…your General.”

Oh, gods…no Marrina gasped in shock as he half pushed half dragged her out of her cell and down the dimly lit hallway where many pain filled screams were being captured and echoed.

The Assyrian laughed mercilessly as he shoved her into the room where the screams were being formed. “Not so strong is he now?” He laughed out before the doors sliding shut behind her.

Reluctantly Marrina looked up…and to her horror she witnessed larva like creatures eat through Dalamar’s pale bare flesh. Marrina closed her eyes and screamed…this couldn’t be happening.

[Legion]

"Why did you make me!!!" Legion screamed in the Warlord's face his sanity hanging on by a thread. He struck Dalamar again. He would have his answers. Raking his talons across the General's body once more he was trying to get him to match his own inner personal pain. The Assryian's goals for Dalamar where second to Legion's own painful question's of his past.

Legion was growing ever more frustrated with his callous silence. DeSang would speak or he would die right here on the torture table. Just then the Assryian and Marrina walked in. Legion whipped around nervously to see them thru the glass. How could the Assryian be here already?

No, he was merely projecting himself.. But so powerfully he would soon be here. Legion had to increase the pressure, If the Assryian arrived before his questioning was done he feared that his chance for answer's would pass.

Dalamar looked over at Marrina as tears of pain and worry leaked out of his eye's.

Legion seized on the sympathy in his eye's. "She is next Dalamar! Give me what I want!!" He knew that the female would ruin him he cared to much for her and the boy with her.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina found herself backing up against the rooms’ stony wall. Her heart fell when Legion gouged through Dalamar’s skin, just as merciless as before. She wanted to cry, but all she could do was stare in sympathy and fear at the tortured Vampyre. Her body grew numb as Legion’s beastly form turned toward her and his hollow eyes borrowed into her.

She found herself shaking uncontrollably when she noticed Dalamar’s own eyes on her, his blood tears stained his face. Marrina wasn’t scared of what Legion was going to do to her, she didn’t care anymore about her own pain. Seeing the General like this hurt her more than anyone could ever imagine…at the thought of Dalamar’s punishment now, a single tear fell down her face when she thought of what Legion would do or what he had already done to poor little Aaron.

Closing her eyes so tightly it hurt, Marrina clasped her hand over her mother’s necklace as if trying to get rid of her hurt, pain, and sadness.

“STOP!! Stop it!” Marrina shrieked before she could stop herself. “Stop…have you no heart?!? What has he ever done to you?”

[Legion]

“STOP!! Stop it!” Marrina shrieked before she could stop herself. “Stop…have you no heart?!? What has he ever done to you?” Marrina shrieked at Legion....

Legion's rage filled the room, filled the Universe as spit flew from his mouth and he banged his head in furious indignation against the glass wall. His eye's pierced Marrina like twin daggers. "LOOK AT ME YOU BASTARD CHILD!!!! LOOK AT WHAT YOUR BELOVED FATHER FIGURE HAS DONE TO ME! HE WILL DO THE SAME TO YOU IF GIVEN THE CHANCE!!! WHAT TWISTED EXPERIMENT HAS TURNED YOU INTO THIS THING THAT MY MASTER IS ANXIOUS ABOUT LOOK INTO YOU OWN LIFE BEFORE YOU QUESTION MY HEARTLESS ACTIONS!!!.. As if to suit his words he turned and started beating Dalamar again.. He was in a mad rage as he struck him over and over.. "YOU WILL PAY BLOOD FOR BLOOD LORD OF THE DARK!!!" I HOPE THE WORMS HELP TO FRAGMENT YOUR MIND AS BAD AS MINE IS..." Legion pulled two silver bone spearheads from his side and buried them in Dalamar's thigh and chest. "REMEMBER ASA DALAMAR, I took his life with these blade's."

Dalamar looked at Legion his pale skin was red, black seared and burnt. Dalamar gnashed his teeth but said nothing...But the hate that pierced out from his eye's was pure. Legion knew he would not get any satifaction from Dalamar...


Legion stalked around the table that Dalamar was still lashed to. "If Asa's death doesn't hurt you. Then how bout your precious Mishca." Legion pulled a strand of jet black hair and threw it on Dalamar's chest. Dalamar screamed rage and pulled at his bonds the leather strained tight as he pulled with all his might.. Legion tapped his head.. "Thats right General. I know all about Mishca as a matter of a fact I know everything you do up to a point.. Some of it is vague but most of it is still there... "

Legion walked over to the wall and pulled out Devious's sword belt. He pulled the blade out smoothly showing the forms that Dalamar learned as a Death Dealer. "The only thing I don't know is about Marrina so talk TALK NOW!!"

Dalamar looked at Legion and pure hate came out of his mouth. "I WILL kill you LEGION. You have my promise on that, you will die by my hands..and no other.."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina would have shrunk away from Legion if it wasn’t for the glass wall between her, Legion, and Dalamar. Instead she found herself going toward the glass cylinder. She slammed both her fists into the glass…even though she knew there was no chance in it breaking. She had no idea whom of which Legion was speaking about but by Dalamar’s reaction she could only guess that it was something not meant to be spoken about at all. Marrina wasn’t angry just lost…and frustrated…she felt so helpless. Dalamar had been saving her left and right up until now. And now she couldn’t do anything to help him, she wasn’t some supernatural creature like him or Legion, she was just some prophecy that she didn’t even know anything about.

Helplessness found its way out through her eyes. Her tears slid silently down her already tear-stained face. She hit the glass again…still with the same result, nothing. Legion was mocking Devious and her all at the same time. She wanted this monster to stop anything to make him quite his ruthless actions.

“Stop it…stop it, please.” Her practically whimpered to the glass in front of her. Why was Legion so sure Dalamar created him? Why did he serve the Assyrian? Marrina lifted her head, her gaze settle on DeSang’s burned body…it almost made him look weak, she thought of poor Aaron…Aaron!

How could she have forgotten about the young boy, she mind went wild. Both Dalamar and her were here but where was Aaron. The poor child, if Marrina couldn’t get a hold of herself here what would happen to poor Aaron. Marrina was frozen in horror…what if Legion got his hands on Aaron?

Once again there was nothing she could do…

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar looked up briefly, Did he see what he thought he just saw. The Assryian's projection flicked then recoiled from Marrina's anger. Her eye's flickered only for a second her rage maybe giving the power within her a conduit? She struck the wall in frustration one move time. Her face downcast. She did not even see where she cracked the glass.

Dalamar his mouth full of blood and his face badly beaten. Smiled a death mask smile at Legion. One eye was closed from the beating but it had the effect he wanted.. "Why are you smiling?! You will die here on this table smiling!!" Legion roared "Bring in the little boy." Marrina eye's shot up they where both two small flame's of anger. How could Legion miss it..The Assryian of course missed nothing his prescence faded from the room. Fearing his own prophesied doom he had left.

Soldiers brought Aaron's little body into the room. He slumped between two soildiers. Dalamar saw Marrina clench her fist as her hand began to grow very hot....

[Assyrian]

Daniel flowed back into his body with a snap. "What has Legion done!??"

The Assryian pulled his crimson robe around his large form. "Something has acted as a catalyst. He may have even activated the girl before my plans for her emergence where ready."

He was in the master chamber of his own dreadnaught the 'Black Heart' as it skimmed across the galaxy to Dalamar's location. He heard the ships call bell that marked the arrival of the Slithe Master and the ships captain.

He took to his large high bound black ornate chair. His crimson cloak clashed in a startling way with his obsidian chair. If being an immortal, a 3000 year old vampyre was not enough. His physical prescence and penchant for killing those that displeased him had made most of those who approached him very tenitive.

"Enter." They came in, the look of fear emanated from the captain as he accompainied the Slithe master. The Master easily towered over the captain at 8 ft 4inches If you compared the two you would think that the captain was a small child standing next to him. They entered and the Slithe moved in the sinewy snakey way that there race had always had. The captain clearly tried to look at his Master the Assyrian and the Slithe at the same time. He unsucessfully tried to act at ease. He bowed quickly and spoke even more so. "My Lord we have just dropped out of hyper space and will be planet side within 48 hours."

Daniel spoke and his voice sounded like grinding stone. "Very well captain, see that all necessary prepartions are made. You may leave." Daniel kept the man he was very efficent after all. With a face awash in relief he stepped quickly. As the young captain was wiping the sweat from his face when he heard the Master speaking to the Slithe. "Now this is what you will do..." The door slid shut behind him shutting off any more words.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina knees went weak when the two guards brought out Aaron’s limp body. Just by the way his small frame hung loosely between the two guards, she knew that the poor boy was dead. Her thoughts went rapid; why the hell would they kill a small child? What had he ever done, he was just a little boy. The first moment where the two met flashed in her mind, that child had given her hope, and now he was gone.

Marrina felt herself clench her fists and bare her teeth as an unbelievable amount of rage built itself in the pit of her stomach. This was the last she could take; she couldn’t stand it anymore. These bastards would pay dearly. Nothing would stop her from getting revenge, for what happened to Aaron, what these monsters did to Dalamar, and mainly what had happened to her family.

A deep growl escaped from the back of her throat as her whole body shook with anger. A sense of confusion hit Marrina, something was different, it wasn’t something wrong around her...it was her. Her entire body was numb and shook uncontrollably now. Her emotions went haywire; rage, fear, guilt, envy, joy, pain, and sorrow all swam through her body. A mysterious heat surrounded her body, a wave of power flowed to her, caressing her body like the wind would.

Before she knew it, her entire body was engulfed in a case of white light and her mother’s necklace was glowing with a beautiful azure center. Her wild gaze landed on Aaron’s body, and once again anger was captured in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t realize it until now that the mysterious light around her was gently forming itself around the little child’s body. Marrina outstretched her hand toward the wondrous sight before her; the light of her finger tips adding to the effect before her.

In the corner of her eye she could see that all this had drawn Legion’s attention away from Dalamar. Seeing his batter body made another raspy growl escape from her, she never realized how much it angered her to see him hurt. Legion would pay, the Assyrian would pay, and these damned Slithe would pay. Enough was enough; these monsters had practically destroyed her life and her dreams. It was her time to show what dealing with her was like.

The rage in her stomach began to churn, over and over again. Marrina faltered a moment, she felt as though she were going to explode. The build up in her body was getting to be too much, it hurt. Her body was on fire! Images after image began to show itself in her mind, all of the night that haunted her most of all.

---------------------------------------------------------

…flames devoured everything everywhere; Marrina lay helpless with a broken leg and a severely bleeding arm. Her screams couldn’t be heard over the roaring flames. Her mildly tan face blackened and burnt from the endless battle to stay alive, her long silver hair scorched as well. Marrina gave a few final cries for help as her vision became dark and blurry.

Just as she hit the floor two strong arms gripped her, one around the waist and the other just under her shoulder blades. As she past out, she felt herself being lifted off the floor and carried through the red hot flames…finally she awoke just outside the burning warehouse, her mahogany eyes flickered to the blurry figure leaning over her. Her vision started clearing some and she noticed that the figure next to her had bright blonde hair and 'red' eyes. Before she could speak, she felt an unbearable wave of pain shoot through her body causing her start lose conciseness again. Just before she lost all concisenesses, the figure placed his hand on her forehead and said in a deep voice “…everything will be alright.”

-----------------------------------------

Marrina couldn’t believe it, this was what had happened to her that night, she had caused that fire, that was what her mother passed to her…it was what had killed her mother. It all made sense now, her memories, her visions. It was a power and these monsters had triggered it.

Her scream pierced the room as the build up let itself loose from it confined. A heated red light flowed through the chamber; the shattering of glass and the curses of angry beasts could be heard in the mist of Marrina’s pain filled cries.

As quickly as it started it stopped. The blinding lights disappeared, Marrina’s screams were swallowed by silence, all was left was the crackling of chemicals and different obstacles being consumed by flames.

Marrina’s body went limp as she crumpled to the ground, her rage and pain drained from her every vein. Time passed, she had no idea how long she laid there but Dalamar entered her mind. She opened her glazed mahogany eyes, and reluctantly hurried to sit up. She was too frantic that she didn’t even see that her sheer power and blown the guards and Legion all the way across the chamber. Dalamar was still strapped to the torture table and to Marrina’s surprise seemed to be unharmed by her ‘explosion.’

Using whatever strength she had left, Marrina managed to half drag half crawl over to Dalamar’s side. His bindings were still there and strong. Picking up a piece of jagged glass, Marrina very slowly cut through his secure bindings, and as she finished the rest of her strength left in a sudden rush. Her frail form buckled under her own weight, her landing on the floor was delayed as she weakly grabbed the end of the surprising cold table.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar's whole existence was consumed suddenly by little moments. Legion had tossed some of Mishca's hair upon his chest. A human woman that he had loved. The one that caused his fall from the vampyre nation and the Father's good grace's..

The horror of it all consumed him and Legion was not done yet. He brought little Aaron in. His broken little body was more that Dalamar could take. The Vampyre's body shuddered and convulsed great tears until he felt he could cry no more. It was to much pain for anyone to bear. Everyone he had ever known and ever cared for was slowly being ripped from him one by one. The Assryian suddenly fled, Things where going to fast for the Dark Lord to follow. He saw Marrina's hand glowing as if it held a white hot coal. He could see the shadow of the bone's in her hand. Tears hissed and steamed away on her face as Aaron was slowly lifted into the air. She seemed startled then exhilirated as she seemed to float in the air. Flame's erupted in the room burning the guards to ash. The glass shattered knocking Legion and the two attendants unconcious. Still she floated there her eye's seemed to be two small flame's filling the room. Joy filled DeSang, she was so beautiful. She was life and fire and power. No wonder Daniel feared her. Somehow he had known. Suddenly just like that it all stopped and the world was darker for it.

One emergency light was left hovering over head. Marrina fell to the floor all her energy gone. She reached out weakly trying to
cut his bonds. To his right he could see the other's starting to stir. "Hurry Marrina hurry...." The strap was almost cut thru. The Vampyre saw Legion's shadow slowly rise behind him. Just then one of the straps finnally gave way. Dalamar Warlord of the Eye of the Dragon was free and there was going to be HELL to pay!!

[Marrina Ters]

As soon as his bonds were cut, Dalamar’s broken body was gone and a new found rage filled the entire room. For the first time since Marrina had met Dalamar, the Vampyre was truly angry. Marrina’s strength had completely left her and there was no sign of it returning; she was helpless as Dalamar took on the now risen Legion.

Her General’s rage burned everywhere; not physically like her power had but mentally, she could feel it in her mind. It almost scared her to see Dalamar so deeply angered; it was so strange how one minute she had released a devastating amount of power and the next she was unable to move. Marrina gazed at her companion; he was on his way to Legion, his rage not subsiding. She shifted her eyes to Aaron’s dead body; she felt her anger rise as well.

The feeling emanating off of Dalamar grew stronger; it was startled her. It was almost as if the two of them shared emotions; as her anger grew so did his. Anything was possible now, after what had happened to her; Marrina felt as though they would make it.

For now, she was helpless…she watched Dalamar raise hell.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar reached to the table at the same time as Legion. His twin dragon swords laid where Legion had left them. Like two silent hisses of Death both drew the Dragon Katana's from there sheaths. Legion assumed Master Kimatri sword pose. Weapon raised to his side he was a picture of poise and patience. He moved to show his skill. Twirling the blade in a x pattern in front of him. His eye twitching in time to the beat of the blade whipping in a frenzy. Dalamar surrended throwing his sword straight up. Legion's eye's followed Dalamar's sword amazed the he would reliquish his weapon.

He glanced up but a second. But he realized it was to late. The Vampyre done a spinning kick with his boot blade slicing Legion's neck open. Legion gurgled dropping his sword he cluched his throat with both hands trying to stop the blood flowing. One movement flowed into the next. Dalamar never stoped, catching the blade that Legion dropped before it even hit the ground. The General punched it thru his black heart and shoved him against the wall. The sword he had thrown up in the first place came down piercing Legion's skull. The Look of shock and pain filled the vampyre with Joy.

He spoke "How? Isss not possible I know all you kn**" Devious pulled out Legions Steel guantled talon. Legions face went pale. "You won't need that to the hell where I'm sending you!" Dalamar took his arm from the elbow down.

Dead and lifeless his body hung there. Devious pulled his swords out and his body slid against the wall to fall to the floor, there to congeal in his own blood.

Dalamar spit on him. "I'm 3000 yrs old you think you know all I have learned!" Dalamar was not done. The Warlords sword snaked out Marrina barely saw him move. One of the guards had tried to sneak up behind him. His body fell to the ground she could see the weapon in the guards hand. The guards head slowly rolled across the blood soaked floor.

Dalamar knew it must seem unreal to her Marrina was still dazed. He walked over to the guard that was still alive. He had his hands up. He was still wearing that doctors smock. "No, no don't hurt me. Please I was just following orders." Dalamar lifted the man up. His red eye's flared in the dim light. "What are you going to do with me? Wait!! please I can help you get out I can lead you out. Anything what do you want please anything." Dalamar smiled a pale face lined with blood. The Grim Reaper in black shod boots. Dalamar only said one word and the man screamed.

"BLEED."

[Marrina Ters]

Devious drove his final blade into the monster’s skull, leaving the body to fall to the stone floor…lifeless. Legion was finally dead. Marrina closed her eyes and sighed. They had won this battle. Aside from all the pain and suffering that had just happened, Marrina managed to smile. Dalamar had gotten his revenge on Legion and she was relieved that something had finally gone his way. But even so, Marrina knew all this destruction wasn’t finished yet.

Her power, so to speak, had left her with very little energy. Despite her feebleness at the moment, she managed to stand up right, with help from the torture table. She took an uneasy step, sort of testing her stability. In an instant one of the guards, crumpled to the floor; its head severed from its body. Marrina stumbled slightly at the action. Had Dalamar done that, she hadn’t seen him move. The head slowed to a stop in huge puddle of multi-colored blood; it made her sick.

Marrina had to support herself with two hands on the table for a moment, the grotesque smell of death and blood made her head spin. The screaming of the second guard made her forget about her nausea. Her head whipped up in the direction of all the commotion.

"No, no don't hurt me. Please I was just following orders.” Dalamar lifted the man up. Marrina could see his red eyes burn in the darkness. “What are you going to do with me? Wait!! please I can help you get out I can lead you out. Anything what do you want please anything."

She saw the Vampyre say something to the guard; she was too far away to hear, but judging by the way the man struggled and screeched, what Dalamar had said couldn’t have been very pleasant. Marrina knew that this was an enemy but still there had been too much death for her to handle. With horror in her own eyes; she watched the General prepare to kill his victim. She found her voice…

“DeSang! No! There has been enough blo…” but it was to late. The man was dead within seconds. Dalamar had killed him.

A strange cry made its way from her throat as she let go of the table and collapsed onto her knees. Marrina couldn’t turn away…she felt as though her soul had been ripped from her body…leaving just a frail exhausted young women in its wake.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar saw Marrina go down and rushed to her side. He helped her up and set her on the table. Dressing quickly while she rested he refastened his shoulder harness for his two swords then sheathed them over him in an x pattern around his head. Properly armed he went to check on little Aaron.

He picked the little boy up tenderly and held him in his arms. Suddenly the anguish came crashing home. Dalamar rocked back in forth holding his still form close. His crimson tears ran unchecked down his face. Everything he touched turned to Death. He could hardly bear it anymore. 3000 years of living had brought to much sadness. To many ghost's haunted his mind and life. But this was not his doing. These people here had killed another innocent person and he was going to make every one in this building pay for the lost. For taking the life of this innocent boy!..

Marrina started to come to herself. She also was crying when she saw Dalamar carrying the little boy to the table. They put him on the table gently... Marrina brushed the hair from his little face. He was pale and lifeless. No more would they hear him laugh and play. Dalamar covered him with a blanket. Marrina seemed to be offering up a muffled prayer.

Suddenly Devious heard boots coming down the hall. He took Marrina's hand wiping away tears and pain he felt hollow and cold inside. The grave's where gonna open and the cold white hands of the dead would consume everyone in this place. Dragged to whatever hell they believed in. With a voice like ice he spoke to Marrina "We must go, there coming.." She sensed his mood she bent over and picked up one of the soilder's blade's and in her eye's he saw innocense fade. He screwed his rage to the boiling point and yet still he was cold inside gripping his own weapons he kicked the door open.

[Legion]

Legion hurt. "Get up you fool finish him." "No, stay down he thinks your dead." Legion chuckled to himself. He was dead he could feel his heart beat slowing. His breath going shallow. Darkness was coming. "Quit feeling sorry for youself." "SHUT UP." It was the measure of his wounds that he actually talked to the voice's in his head. Most of the time he could drown them out.. He must really be dying.

He saw the cursed pale vampyre pick up the boy and then the girl and leave. Legion left to die as if he was not important. Legion hated the Dalamar even more. He just wished that he had not proven him correct. One misdirection one small error in judgement on his part and it was all the General needed Devious had taken him apart. He did not think he had ever been so thoroughly and completely beaten. He reached out taking a strip of cloth. He fumbled quite a few times before he tied off his arm and then he fell. Face forward in his own blood. ....."He's gone, What do we do now...?" "He's not gone or we would not still hear each other." "Wake UP!!!!"

.............
.........
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..............

Legion looked up thru a glassy haze. He saw black leather boots that gleamed in the pale light, they moved towards him.

Of course he thought to himself how fitting that it ends this way..

[Marrina Ters]

Hatred. Rage. Fury. Sorrow. Anguish. All these burned alive within Marrina’s unstable body. The minute her hand touched the hilt of the guard’s blade, all her pain and despair was washed away letting her will to fight back shine through. She wasn’t willing to back down now, not after all these people that had died. The towns’ people, little Aaron, and all the rest in between; it wasn’t fair for them.

Marrina felt the tingling feeling return to the pit of her stomach. She twirled the sword in her hand. For some reason, she wasn’t afraid of this place or what she was sure she would soon face. The sense of revenge burned in her every vein, and she could see it in Dalamar too. Her companion seemed calm and in control; though Marrina knew he wasn’t. His voice betrayed him; he was cold and fueled by anger, much like her. Dalamar was a bomb just waiting to be set off; he was the one thing she feared for now…with Aaron now gone.

Dalamar was ready to fight and so was Marrina. She knew she could do only half of what Devious could but she would fight beside him even if it killed her. Ever since Aaron’s death, she wasn’t afraid of death or the risk of herself dying. All she had to do before she did die was get back at the monster’s that brought this plague onto her and the innocent people all of this infected.

She took her position slightly behind Dalamar. Her weapon all ready up, the blade raised horizontally next to her face, both hands with a firm grip. If revenge meant killing, Marrina was ready. Her hatred for these monsters was so strong. They had killed the boy she had taken as her own and much more, they would soon regret it.

The door slammed open, Marrina tightened her grip on the long sword in her hands. For the first time since all this had started, she was ready………to kill.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Weapons drawn they where in the hall in a flash.. Someone had reached an alarm and the facility was becoming active.

Slithe and black suited guards where converging on there position. Marrina moved to guard Dalamar's back instinctively as if she had done this a hundred time's before. They moved closely together. It was only a matter of time before they where spotted. Devious was hoping for a some serious payback. But his main concern was getting Marrina out of there and in one piece. A piercing siren blared in his ears. It was an all out Clarion call for all forces. They rounded the first corner moving quickly while looking in both directions at once. Soon though they ran into a Cadre of Slithe led by a Slithe Master. Just then Marrina's voice reached Dalamar's ear. "Black Guard trooper at 9:00 o'clock." She smiled at Dalamar and for the first time it touched Dalamar how beautiful and innocent she truly was. A child with an adult full of hurt. She kidded him soflty. "I'll take care of mine if you take care of yours." Dalamar nodded back with a smile of his own. Near death has a way of making crazy moments like that.

One cockly slithe moved forward Dalamar heard the Slithe Master hiss,"No, you fool." it was to no avail. The Slithe saw his death in the General's eye's to late he tried to turn. Like a bolt of lighting an arc of silver, a sliver of bladed death took him down. He fell into the arm's of the nearest Slithe behind him. Which to his eternal regret caught the first. Attacking again Dalamar moved forward lighting flashed twice piercing his heart. The blade like a snake continued on and up thru the skull of the third Slithe behind him.... In two thrust's Devious had halfed their Cadre.

"Flank him, fools." The Slithe Master ordered. The other three where careful. They knew the General was dangerous. With a razor blade smirk Dalamar spoke. "Who die's first." He knew it was alway's good to taunt the enemy it made them careless.

No one moved they looked at the Slithe Master hesitantly. Dalamar lowered his weapon to his side. Blade pointed down. In the pose of a blade master at rest. One of the Slithe swung a chain with a 5 studed star point on the end. He lashed out and caught Dalamar's arm. The vampyre growled yanking the reptillian Slithe off his feet and into his waiting blade. He gurgled to his death as the vampyre again lowered his blade. The Slithe slid off in a pool of greenish red blood... landing with a thud... Another leapt to the attack... You could barely hear the click of the boot blade as it entered the Groin of the Slithe. It fell over shrieking in agony. That is until the blade was again laid point down thru his skull in the same blade master position.

The last slithe turn and ran..

But not the Slithe Master. He pulled out his long black blade.. it reminded Dalamar of a corkscrew but longer ebony and twisted with two prongs at the handle to keep it from slipping. He was the deadliest the most cunning and would be the hardest to kill.....

[Marrina Ters]

The screeches and snarls of angry Slithe echoed through the halls behind both Dalamar and Marrina. It would take only a matter of time before those monstrous creatures would reach them. Marrina was at the ready; like she had said to Dalamar moments earlier…“I’ll take care of mine if you take care of yours.” Before she knew it Dalamar had already started to wage war against the Cadre of Slithe in front of them.

There was nothing Marrina could do right now, except probably get in the way of this battle. It mesmerized her, how Dalamar fought, it was like an ancient dance that only he had mastered. Not one mistake in his posture, not one flaw. He moved in time with each slash or thrust of his sword, he made it seem so easy. The Vampyre hit all the places that counted all the vital areas of the body that were needed to live.

One Slithe dropped right after another. It was all so planned, so…perfect. Before she knew it, all but one was left. Marrina hadn’t realized she had been so enticed in the battle. It was strange how silent it was, now that the clanging of weapons and cries of dying monsters were gone. The sight of blood and mangled bodies didn’t even sicken her anymore. It had become a customary thing.

The silence was interrupted by the howling of a Slithe hoard just around the bend. With Dalamar’s hands full with his opponent Marrina knew she would have to do something. The only brilliant idea that first came to her mind was just to hold the rapidly approaching Slithe off, long enough so her companion would kill the one in their way. Her grip tightened on her blade, there was no turning back now.

Marrina wheeled around, she could see the shadow’s of their stalkers on the stone wall. The sudden urge to fight overwhelmed her, techniques that she had never even heard of filled her mind, she took a step closer to the corner. The adrenaline of battle already was surging in her veins. She already knew what she was doing, what maneuvers and techniques she would use. Her body would flow in unison with her blade.

An almost evil grin appeared among her innocent features as the first Slithe rounded the corner. The edge of her sword met the base of its neck, causing a clean cut and its head to fall to the ground, soon followed by the rest of the body. By the pounding footsteps, Marrina sensed that they close behind the one she had just killed. She smiled uncharacteristically wicked and peeled out around the corner. Hopefully, Dalamar would be ready to help her…if anything went wrong.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Fighting the Masters was always careful work. They where so sporadic and fast. It was hard to judge there movement. They where so different from there Nagari brothers. So much more faster and deadlier with an insatiable apetite for flesh. It almost always took a Slithe Master to run a cadre or they would go on killing spree's of carnage and murder. There only thought was meat..

The Slithe Master's where made of different stuff. There Red eye's glowed brightly against there green scaly skin. Again there viper like quickness was somthing to be wary of...

They moved together in sparks of metal. Silver blade against black ore lighting up the hall. The ebony blade darted in and out looking for vampyre flesh. He arched in low then jumped up to take off Devious's head. Only his own quickness got him pierced in the shoulder. Gritting his teeth Dalamar concentraited. The Slithe Master's where almost to quick... Feint to the right and stab to the leg. Dalamar cursed the Slithe. He was still fatigued and hurt from Legion's earlier mistreatment. The Slithe was getting as cocky as his first soilder. "I expected better from the Great Devious. Apparently your reputation is unearned."

The Vampyre focused and then relaxed his body in harmony. The dance began again the Slithe moving like lightning pressing and pressing then slowly falling back to the vampyre's superior skill. Sweat started to pour down the Masters face. His eye's narrowed in extreme concentration. Dalamar spun there blade's in unison they both twirled to take the advantage that would take place from the upraised swords. The Slithe gripped Dalamar's throat. First a smile of victory was on his face then horror. As he looked down he saw the small ivory handle of one of the surgical tools sticiking out of his abdomen. The Vampyre had gutted him like a fish... Dalamar smiled again then spinning neatly took the Cadre Masters head off in one swift stroke..

Again the body fell in a crumple of its own blood and gore...

Devious quickly turned to find Marrina. He ran around the corner to where Marrina had gone.... The Hall was empty. With the exception of one lone black booted guard lying dead in the corner there was no one to be seen... She must have had to move on.. haunching down he inspected where she had been. He saw one small blood boot print heading toward the turbo lift... He followed looking for Marrina....

[Marrina Ters]

It was obvious that the Slithe did not expect Marrina to come charging around the corner, as fast as she had and with the intent to kill burning in the depth’s of her mahogany eyes. The sword she held firmly in her grip was sharpened perfectly; clear cuts were made across tough scaly skin. It surprised even her how swiftly she was killing these monsters. Catching the Slithe off guard was an unplanned advantage on Marrina’s part.

Even though she very little combat experience, her attacks were constant allowing very little time to recover. Though it did not take long until the Slithe’s shock wore off. Soon Marrina was forced to fight on the defensive end; every time her blade and another’s clashed a large echo emanated off the stone walls.

A couple close calls made it all the more harder for her not to panic. In a couple of quick dodges, she had managed to get away unharmed. Although, the same couldn’t be said for her attire. Both her sleeves were sliced into pieces, simple rags that hung loosely off her arms. Lucky for her, one of her attackers had managed to cut extremely close to her leg and as a result made a slit in the leg side of her constricting robe. Even though she could move freely, her advantage declined quickly…

Marrina was able to make an easy block on the first of a series of attacks by swiping her opponent’s blade to the side and trapping in against the wall. A second blade glimmered in the shallowly lit hallway, making an evident path towards her neck. A quick decision led Marrina to jump back out of the range of her attacker’s blade. What she didn’t expect was a third blade; it came low and swift aiming for her lower leg.

A breathless scream filled the halls as the dagger hit its intended mark. As a reflex, she curled away from the blade; in which, probably saved her lower leg from being severed from the rest of her body. Before she had time to recover, she was sent skidding across the disheveled floor by a hard kick to the torso.

As painful as it was, Marrina was halted by the stone wall that she had originally came from. Dalamar and the Slithe Master had pushed their battle passed the three-hall intersection and into the corresponding hallway. Devious’ back was turned to her; she could tell that the Vampyre was hurting. It frustrated her that she could do nothing to help him in his battle.

She tore herself away from her companion and rolled to the side, down the opposite hall, as her first assailant’s blade came crashing down above her. With a quickly calculated kick towards the attacking Slithe’s hand, she sent its blade clattering down Devious’ hallway. A familiar fire started to build up in her stomach; she had to get these excess Slithe away from Dalamar, so he was able to focus on his more difficult opponent. Marrina kneeled swiftly and thrusted the length of her sword into the disarmed Slithe’s abdomen. Greenish-blue blood streamed from its stomach down her forearms, until it dripped off the ends of her elbows. One down two to go…

Marrina dove to the side, as once again, an upper assault came down on her for the second time. She fought to get on her feet, her sword outstretched ready to block the next attack when it came. And it did, barely stable on her one leg, she still managed to knock its blade away with her’s. If these Slithe were smart they would combine their attacks and flank her.

Swallowing the pain caused by her bleeding calf wound, she held her sword in front at an angle ready for an attack from either Slithe. Staggering around the dead bleeding body of her first assailant, Marrina held off the other two in a stand off. Backing down the intersecting hallway, she almost grinned when they followed her.

Only a couple of steps down the hall, the Slithe on her left flung himself at her. After, making a simple block off to the side, the other Slithe set up for a similar attack. His aim was high and heading for her shoulder. Marrina made a smart duck then brought her blade down on its gruesome arms. The monster screeched so loud, Marrina didn’t see the others attack coming; the first’s fist connected at her jaw line knocking her off balance and crashing into the wall of a convenient turbolift.

Shaking the sense back into her head, she had almost no time to escape the short sword flying towards her the center of her face. Slipping to the side, she narrowly missed being killed instantly. With his blade stuck in the wall of the lift, the Slithe was unarmed and an easy kill for Marrina.

The turbolift sprang to a start upward as she slammed her blade into the base of his neck. His near black blood mixed with the others that ran the lengths of her arms. Without warning a sharp pain rippled throughout her body as a pair of sharpened teeth sunk into her shoulder.

A shrill shriek echoed through the entire turbolift shaft. In shock, Marrina whipped around, causing the teeth to cut out gouges in the skin on her shoulder. The Slithe, whose arms from the elbow down were severed, had managed to climb onto the lift. The new wound, although not large, was deep and with the shoulder of her robe ripped off, it allowed the many cuts to bleed crimson blood freely.

The sight of her blood seemed to edge the Slithe on, for he grinned widely showing the section of her clothing that had caught itself in its jaw; he lunged at her again. Rolling forward, she slid underneath the Slithe, leaving a trail of her much needed blood on the lift’s floor. She needed a way to get off the lift and somewhere where she could openly fight this creature.

Knowing she needed to do something, Marrina slammed her fist against the control pad of the lift…allowing it to jerk to a sudden stop…

She slowly began to back away from her assailant, off the turbo lift, taking one painful step at a time. The already injured Slithe following her every move, they held each other at a standoff. As the Slithe stepped forward, she stepped back. She soon found the Slithe had backed her up to the edge of a relatively large hole in the stony floor. The Slithe smiled wickedly at seeing her predicament; he had known that the trap was there…and he had forced her into it.

The Slithe made his move, diving forward into the end of her sword and purposely forcing Marrina off her feet. In killing himself, he had done what he had planned to do. Frantically, Marrina flung out her hand for something to grab on to; there was nothing. She attempted to grab the wall but she failed, only succeeding in leaving behind two blood streaked hand prints.

Marrina could hear a hiss of laughter rise from the nearly dead Slithe as she fell passed him and into complete unwanted darkness…

[Dalamar DeSang]

The first feeling that hit Dalamar was near panic... In his dance with the Slithe he momentarily forgot Marrina. There was blood all over the Turbolift. Mostly Slithe but some of it human blood.. His heart was caught in his throat. He still had not told Marrina anything. If she was to die before she could be told the truth..

He shook himself and swore right then. If he found her she would know everything. God let it be so. He would tell her everything. Who her father was and her mother. Why they did what they did. How much Dalamar had come to look after her as a surrogate Father. She did not know how much she mattered to him. She was not just some quest!

He had thought the Assryian had just picked her because he knew the feelings of Dalamar. But now the Vampyre thought it might be fate or providence that led him to be there for her. To be her protector. Apparently the prophecies would be fulfilled. If she remained alive to fulfill them. Again the panic swelled he had to find her. Find her NOW!!!..

He burst out of the turbolift, more black jack booted guards and Slithe confronted him.. He growled pale death in black armor.. He leaped into the guards and Slithe with a growl.. It was like throwing meat into a bladed death machine. Dalamar thought he would drown in the blood and howls of pain.. He was howling himself with rage, panic, frustration.

"MARRINA!!!" he screamed the pain in his heart causing others bleeding death. He couldn't be stopped he couldn't be reasoned with.. Guards either fought, died or ran.. Even the bloodlusted Slithe could take no more as they screeched and hiss and ran..

Dalamar killed the packs even as they escaped. Slithe Master, Slithe or guard there was no mercy. Finally there was only silence and the heavy breathing of a Vampyre gone mad. Blood covered the halls and Devious. The gore drenched his arms his face his body. His arms where getting heavy.. He sheathed his weapons and crumpled against the blood soaked wall.. "MARRINA!!!! MARRINA!!!!" He bowed his head and cried.. He had to find her. He just had to.. Please God..

[Marrina Ters]

Fare thee well, little broken heart
Downcast eyes, lifetime loneliness
Whatever walks in my heart will walk alone

Marrina’s form lay unmoving in a crystal blue illuminated pool of chilling water. Crimson blood from slowly closing wounds frayed out in ripples through a small area of the sacred pool. Fingers gently curled and uncurled in the cool liquid silk around the weakened young woman. Small hands could be felt mending and cleaning battle wounds on her shoulder and leg, as a soft comforting voice sang the lullaby from her childhood...

Constant longing for the perfect soul
Unwashed scenery forever gone
Whatever walks in my heart will walk alone

The itching of healing skin and muscles flowed slowly from shoulder to lower leg. Pain melted away and tranquility washed over; no more did the need to kill fuel burning veins. Dirt and blood, hers and the monsters from previous battles, were cleaned away from pale skin by feather soft touches. Comforting knuckles caressed ever so gently over Marrina’s face as the familiar feminine voice sang on...

No love left in me
No eyes to see the heaven beside me
My time is yet to come
So I'll be forever yours
Whatever walks in my heart will walk alone

Driven mahogany eyes cautiously opened, she knew the song that was sung so perfectly and she knew the person her sang it. Two decades ago, this lullaby had been sung every night to a child of only six years old by the person who always cherished her the most.......her mother. Marrina’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief as her mother’s angelic face materialized in front of her. Opening her mouth slightly to asked questions, she was cut off by her mother’s life song...

No love left in me
No eyes to see the heaven beside me
My time is yet to come
So I'll be forever yours

Ella, her mother, smiled down sweetly at her only child before carefully pressing her petal soft lips to Marrina’s temple. Bluish-white tears formed in the corners of her mothers matching white-blue eyes. The same happened to Marrina, she knew her mother wasn’t alive anymore and this was only an illusion. This pool was a spirit infested realm and a memory of her mother came back in full form...

No love left in me
No eyes to see the heaven beside me
My time is yet to come
So I'll be forever yours
Whatever walks in my heart will walk alone

Clean tears fell down her face as her mother’s spirit sung in its heavenly voice. The lullaby was so real, Marrina knew every word. Once again cool liquid silk fingers came to her face, gently wiping away salty tears. It had always been a ritual, when Marrina was a child, that she would always sing the last line of the lullaby. Her mothers eyes shown with glassy unfallen tears, and so Marrina breathed deeply and sung the last line softly...

“...Whatever walks in my heart...”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar shook himself. This was no time to panic. He wiped the blood off of himself as best as he could. Already the stench was horrible. His initial howl of frustration was from the the fact that he didn't know if he could track Marrina in all this blood.

Dalamar was not use to looking out for someone else. For a very long time he had only had to worry about himself. But he thought that he could get use to it. It was nice to care for someone other than your self. Not knowing what else to do the General started doing a room by room check looking for Marrina. He ran into a few more guards but he kept a low profile and they went by without any more confrontations. Devious kept to the shadows. After checking the floor thoroughly he decided to get back in the turbolift and go even deeper into the facillity.

The turbolift fired up and Dalamar flew to the bottom level.. Better to start low and work his way up he thought. The lowest level was marked with a large red marker. It read "restricted floor Level 1 clearence only allowed."

The Vampyre wanted to move hurridly to find Marrina and this seemed like the best place to start. The turbolift doors slid open and two guards in black uniform where standing guard. There uniforms where similar to the Death Dealer uniform he himself wore. Probably something left over from the Assryian's old days. Whatever the reason it made things easier.

"Clearence sir?" Dalamar looked at the man with an air of command. "Lieutenant, do you see the blood covering my uniform." The Soldier and his companion looked at each other and then answered. "Yes sir, but" Dalamar didn't give him a chance to continue.. "We are under attack and unless you want your name on report you will go topside and assist the others. I was sent here to double check things." The guards hesitated again. "But sir." Dalamar raised his voice as he had many time's commanding his own troops. "MOVE BOY, or you will live to regret your indecision report topside NOW!!!!" They scurried then. "Sorry sir, just doing or job sir." The other one murmured. "Right away sir, sorry, you know you just can't be to careful."

Devious smiled graciously. "That's quite alright now report topside. I will make a notation to your due dilligence. That is all." As soon as the door clicked shut. Dalamar let out a sigh of relief. He was so tired of all the fighting. He wasn't sure that his little trick would work. Tweaking with there emotions helped it along but it was still a gamble. With the guards gone he went back to looking for Marrina with all haste.. He did not know how long until Daniel would arrive or if they would not come back.

This place was bigger than he had expected the Assryian's power had grown since there seperation. He moved forward to the marked off restricted area. It was unlikely that she was there but it was a small area. He would check it quickly and then move on to the other parts of the facillity.

[Marrina Ters]

It was a memory chamber. Places like this uncovered the most forgotten and hidden memories of any captive and make them real again. . .well, almost real. It was said in ancient archives that a memory chamber was often used as a weapon; it pried the truth out of those who were unwilling to give it up freely. More times than not the effects of the chamber back fired; past experiences caused several culprits to go crazy, others were driven passed insanity to the point of suicide. But not all side effects were harmful, a few cases reported that the revision to old memories caused a certain peace and tranquility within the revisitor.

There were no demons, as of yet, to be resurfaced in Marrina’s memories, only the Angel that sat before her.

Marrina sat quietly at the edge of the healer’s pool. She was still in shock that her mother was ‘actually’ sitting next to her; it had been over two decades since she had seen her mother last. Ella, her mother, also sat contently next to Marrina; she had already in a short time explained how all of this that was happening, could be happening.

In a memory chamber, obviously memories are uncovered; good or bad memories all depends on what the power within the chamber decides. The reincarnations of these memories stay until the revisitor is removed from the chamber or the life of the captive is completely gone.

It was strange; normally a few months ago Marrina would be shedding tears of both joy and grief. Now it was different, Marrina felt nothing to rejoice for. . .nothing to grieve for. Her mother was only a reflection of her past memories; she was just a ghost of the past. All this time spent running, hiding, and fighting with Dalamar was changing Marrina, slowly and surely it had changed her.

The ghost of her mother gently placed her hand on Marrina’s shoulder. Crystaline bluish white eyes met a surprisingly unique pair of mahogany one’s. A warm smile from the reflection made Marrina feel only the slightest bit better. She was trapped in this chamber; until it was opened from the outside, she faced the fact that she may be spending an extensive amount of time.

Laying her back on the sort green grass next to the blue crystal clear pool, Marrina knew she would have many questions for DeSang, when or if he found her. Looking at the image of her mother, Marrina sighed deeply. She might as well get comfortable here. She closed her eyes and actually began to pray. . .for what she did not know.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The shock that hit Dalamar when he entered the room made his desire to find Marrina grow even more. This was some sick twisted scientist's nightmare or dream. On one wall alone was something that gave him chills. It looked to be a periodic table of genetic material. Name's of people with the word sample attached to them. Dalamar marveled at the name's from the great to the sadistic.

Whoever Lab this was had a sample of people's DNA. Hitler's DNA!! How did he get that? Then Dalamar remembered Limbo and the Well of Hell. The Assryian had been helping this man. Travelling through time to get the material that he needed. To create a super Lab of the greatest and most twisted minds of our time. He had a Pope's!! A Roman Ceasar and some Generals. His eye's rose to his head they had the Genetic material of the Father. The Father of all Vampyres. How? How was he approached without his knowing.

Suddenly other name's leaped out at him. His own "Devious!" Someone had a sample of his DNA. He worked the controls furiously to get his sample out. It did him no good it wouldn't budge. He hammered on the outer casing releasing his rage futiley. He stepped back and calmed down. He looked some more at the table of samples.

Carefully he traced his fingers over the samples looking for familiar notations. Who ever this was they also had the Assryian's name with his lesser title Daniel underneath, also the Emperor. Devious scoured the board for name's that where important to him. With a heavy sigh of relief he noted that they had no sample of Marrina's. But marked in red and yellow letter where another name that made a light go off in his head. Legion with nine sub notation's next to his name. Legion experiment class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and so on.

This was the place where he was partially created. Legion was in charge of a facillity he was custom built to run!! Apparently he was not allowed in this part of the compound. So who ever ran this area either had more power than Legion or was given free reign in this section without Legion's influence.

Moving on he inspected the rest of the Lab. He saw things that should not exist. One creature with hard bristley spikes protruding out of his back. He had one mushy yellow eye in the center of his head. He looked at Dalamar with Mallovent intelligence behind his barred cage. His flesh hung from his body as if melting down around his feet. If they could be called feet there was two lumps coming down that ended in a sharp claw. It hissed and it gurgled at the vampyre. Devious gave it wide berth as he inspected the lab more.

Next he saw a small mewling thing it was pink and had no fur. It crawled around with one small hand. It looked like a small human child except at the waist it seemed to have no lower torso. It looked like it was dragging its own entrails in some kind of orange slimey substance.

Creature's of every size and shape. Custom designed here and then somehow transferred to the Well of Hell? He was not sure.

He came to a massive machine with many switches and controls another mad scientist dream. Two Pylons made out of Ruby red skulls absorbing some massive power from somewhere? Where had he seen those before. His mind was clouded. He did not know who's demented work shop this was but he was obviously in league with the Assryian. Not wanting to see anymore. He wanted to blow the room up. But if he did it would only divert there attention down here and make his search for Marrina even harder. With reluctance he left the room like it was and continued his search.

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina had made herself comfortable in a sort amount of time; her feet floated gingerly in the clear warm water of the healer’s pool as the rest of her body lay form fitted into the silky soft green grass. The luminous light from the center of the pool brightened and darkened as time passed. It was surprising to Marrina that the whole place sent a soothing feel through her.

She lay quietly, deep in thought about the past while that both Dalamar and her had spent together. The time had passed so quickly that it seemed that it was only a day or two ago that her had met him; for all she knew it could have been days, weeks, or even months that they had been running and hiding from the Assyrian. But in all that time she had made a wonderful companion. . .

Dalamar was the first person she ever trusted, and she trusted him with her life; early when they first met she had taken a chance in even letting him in her home. It surprised her how much things were linked together; events had been put into place that didn’t even make sense to her yet. As little as things had been explained to her, she attempted to put the pieces together.

The Assyrian wanted her because she was the prophecy to unlock something she didn’t quite understand, Dalamar had apparently been her protector since her mother died and her father disappeared, and lucky for Dalamar he had found her before the Assyrian had.

All these thoughts troubled her mind but also made her extremely curious to find out all the facts behind the whole ordeal. That is when Devious found her, she was fairly confident that he would come in time.

In the mean time, she would have to make good of the time that was given to her. She took her hands that were covering her eyes away from her face; she found her mother kneeling in the same spot Marrina had last seen her. Her eyes met crystalline ones. . .she looked away in an instant; a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

“Did you know this would happen to me?”

It was a simple question but Marrina knew that even this memory of her mother would be hurt by it. Any mother would.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Leaving the marked off area he started to check the rest of the floor. He went to the nearest door to the Lab. It looked to be some kind of office. He looked around quickly and then moved on back down the hall.

"Marrina." He called lightly looking for her with ever increasing urgency, The owner of that lab had to be kept from Marrina. He found another smaller lab. Past the test tubes Devious found an answer that had plagued his fellow vampyre's. There on the wall was two mock ups of the Nagari and the Slithe the races that served the vampyre families.

He was very interested to find that at one time they where actually one race. They where the same race but the Slithe where more aggresive and bloodthirsty with reptillian attributes. We had often wondered where the Slithe had come from. It seems they where not born but created.


But here stood the answer that he could now obviously see they did not evolve at all. They where genetically created they, and the Slithe Masters. Devious looked at the name of the office between the labs. It read Goen T. Kilmore Head Control. This Goen had created the Slithe and Legion he had much to answer for. Goen must be proud he made them stronger than the more docile Nagari who obeyed there Vampyre Masters. Besides these and Legion. What other horrors had this Head Control unleashed. Dalamar promised to find out.

He saw that Marrina was not there. Frustrated he headed to the elevator the weight of time pressing all around him. He hoped Marrina was safe and well. Please let it be so. He worried about her she was capable, but he had protected her this long. His unease grew...he moved faster.

[Marrina Ters]

The silence was almost unbearable. After her last statement/ question to the reflection of her mother; all there had been was utter silence. It was enough to drive Marrina mad, there had to be something else to do besides think. The more time passed the more antsy she got; she really wished that Dalamar would come for her soon. The fact that the Assyrian might find her first also caused a mild fear.

Rolling on her stomach in the soft plushy grass, Marrina pushed herself up on her knees. She sat with her back to the luminous pool while she tried to focus her eyes on the darker areas around the pool. She could make out the silhouettes of small trees and dark patchy bushes. Her attention was returned to normal at the airy melody of her mother’s voice.

“I am sorry.”

Marrina turned toward the memory. The statement had caught her off her guard. Both mahogany and blue-liquid eyes were locked with each other as Marrina breathed slowly.

“Why? For what?”

“I am sorry for giving you my burden.”

She must have looked confused for a moment because her mother gently touched the necklace that hung in the hollow of her throat. Ella smiled weakly at her.

“. . .”

Marrina kneeled quietly and let the memory’s words sink in. There wasn’t anything she could say; at least, she couldn't form the right words. Shyly she glanced at her mother’s reflection, the warm comforting smile still plastered to her face.

“At least you cannot meet the same fate I did.”

Snapping her head up, Marrina raised her eyebrow at the memory.

“How do you know that?”

Ella’s eyes sparkled with joy.

“It is simple. . .because you have the Vampyre. He will not allow you to die.”

The word left Marrina in shock. It stunned her even more that her mother was speaking about Dalamar DeSang.

[Dalamar DeSang]

After reentering the lift Devious grinded his mind to a halt. His rushing around in a near panic had gotten him no where. He examined the lift more thoroughly where he had seen evidence of Marrina. There inside was Slithe blood mixed with Marrina's. Her blood had a sweet smell that he could detect from the rotted stench of the Slithe. Like soft jasmine drifting in the wind.

But mixed as it was it was like trying to smell perfume buried under garbage. He took note of the Slithe weapon still pierced in the wall of the lift. He was relieved to find none of her blood on it. But something had wounded her.

There!! On the control panel. It was her blood on the button leading to the 24th floor. With relief flooding him he hit the recall. At least now he was headed in the right direction.

"Hold on Marrina Im Coming, just hold on baby girl." Fists clenched he was mad at himself. He had gone in the wrong direction. It was a 'human' mistake but he didn't have time for those. Not with Marrina and everything else riding on him and her.

[Marrina Ters]

By the time Marrina had finally found her voice to question her mother, she had already begun to move onto a new topic as well as shifting closer to Marrina.

“You know that these wounds will never fade.”

Cool feather-like fingers ran softly over the freshly mended teeth marks on Marrina’s shoulder and collar bone. The scars on her shoulder had healed into a light rose color against her tanned skin that matched the long deep gash in her left calf. The near eighteen gouges on her collar and the one in her leg were sensitive to the touch, even one as soft as her mothers.

She winced at the silky touch as her mother continued.

“The healers pool has done its job; your wounds are mended and cleaned. Although it would not be a bad idea for you to go in again, just to make sure everything is in place.”

Ella’s tone was motherly and persuading at the same time. She moved to the edge of the clear pool and ever so gently touched the cold water. To Marrina’s surprise the light in at the bottom of the pool turned an astonishing dark cobalt blue and the temperature emanating from the pool warmed considerably to the point that small clouds of steam rose of the surface.

Her mother’s reflection faced her again with that familiar smile Marrina had missed so much in her childhood years.

“The warmth will help.”

Marrina merely nodded and her mother moved back from the pools’ edge. After a moment, Marrina slowly stripped off her tattered black robe until all that was left was her ever present tight blood red sports wrap and matching boy-shorts.

Carefully she slipped into the colorful pool; the water was perfect. Her body was instantly soothed by the warmth the pool provided. Marrina cleared all thought from her mind and took a minute to bask in the pool before gradually submersing herself under the dark azure surface.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar exited on the 24th floor. He looked around quickly the hall was a mess. The blood led him to a rounded hole straight ahead. There seemed to have been some kind of scuffle and the trail ran right off the edge. At present there where no guards this high up. They like him must have started at the lower levels.

"Marrina!" Devious called down to her. No answer but his own voice. He waited then called again he knew she had been here. One small boot print marked in crimson was all the proof that he needed. The shaft was dark and forboding and there was no way to tell how far down it was. Still Devious was sure she was down there. He made some adjustments on his guantlet then attached it to the railing lining the wall. Slowly he backed down the hole and started lowering himself into the darkness. As he descended about 60 feet he saw a faint glow at the bottom of the shaft. Taking a small coin he dropped it against the sides of the shaft and waited to hear it hit.

After a minute he did hear a faint tinkle of the coin hitting bottom. It was not much further. "Marrina I'm coming" he shouted. "Please let her be okay" He whispered to himself.

When he knew he was close enough he hit the release and dropped the rest of the way. His heavy leather boots landed with a thud. He heard water dripping and thought he could hear laughter. It was Marrina she was okay. He ran around the corner. "Marrina!"

"Who is Marrina Dalamar? Are you playing games with me again."

Devious was stunnded for a second. Then a warm white light flowed over him cleansing him. He looked up and she was still there. His hand unconciously moved to his heart.

Tears welled up on Devious's face. He could not believe his eyes. "Mischa?"

"Well Dal, who is Marrina?" Mischa said with a playful smile.

"Mishca is it really you?"

Still smiling she said, "Of course it's me who else did you expect. His surrounding suddenly took on a familiar feel. It was his room as a trusted advisor and Warrior of the Dawn. He worked for the Father he had been out on an errand but was returning? He turned and looked at Mischa they where in his room and in his bed. All his pain and torn clothe's where gone.

He looked at Mischa "I, I don't understand. I was looking for a girl, Marrina."


"Shhh... Dalamar it was just a bad dream." Mishca reached over to soothe the Vampyre. Dalamar pulled away and sat at the side of the bed. "No, It was real!! Something is wrong why can't I think straight."

"Clang" There was a loud gong. Mishca got up and got dressed. Well arent you going to get dressed. "I need to think." Dal said.



Mishca grabbed him by the arm. "Dal, you have to go! She put her hands on her hips and made that face that made him smile.
"Dalamar its the father he has summoned you. You had better go. He does not like to be kept waiting."

"Okay, okay but something is wrong I know it." Mishca spoke again with mock severity. "The only thing that will be wrong is if you keep the Father waiting."

Dal pulled her close. "I LOVE you Mishca. I just need to you know that. I don't know why but's its important that I tell you for some reason. I love you more than anything just remember that no matter what happens. Just know that I would never do anything to hurt you on purpose."

"Clang" "I love you to Dalamar but hurry the Father is waiting! Now go.."

[Marrina Ters]

“Marrina, how long has it been?”

Cracking her eye open slightly, Marrina gave a questioning glance at her mother. After she was done bathing, both her and her mother had begun to converse about the happenings of past years. At first, Marrina didn’t understand what her mother was talking about, then she realized that never in their conversation had they discussed the time period that has gone by.

“About twenty years, at the very least.”

There was a small silence that filled the relatively large memory chamber. Marrina took that time to sit up from her comfortable laying position. A sniffle from her mother reached her ears. When Marrina looked up at her mother she saw crystalline tears falling freely down her mother’s calm features.

“You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman, Marrina. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to see my baby turn into the charming twenty-seven year old you are now. It broke my heart to leave you and your father.”

Marrina sat in stunned silence, the emotion and feeling that was behind her mothers words felt so real. It left her speechless; although she knew the woman in front of her wasn’t real, Marrina began to loose herself.

In a swift second, Marrina launched herself at her mother’s reflection. Marrina cried fresh tears as both of them clung to each-other in a bear-hug.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar threw his coat on and moved hurriedly down the hall. Marrina was right the Father did not like to be kept waiting. The Grand Tapestries of the past vampyre battle's lined the walls. Counltess thousands of years of beauty and art was stored in the citadels walls. It was a turning point in architecture and talent. All of it was gathered from all over the universe and placed here for the Father's Enjoyment.

Dalamar had no time to look at the exquisite beauty of the crystaline figure's that lined the walls. Or time to look at the priceless paintings and friezes that where placed in a 10 points star that spiraled out into a pyramid shape. The Masters of art would have to wait. He tightened the straps on his lauqured chesplate. It was a black chanmailed fist leading up to a bronze cast sun that was in the center. He adjusted his own crimson cloak a symbol of his office and neared the throne room.

He passed two guards in crimson. There guantlets and chestplates trimmed in black lauquer also in the shape of a fist. They nodded as he went past them into the throne room.


The throne room itself was a majestic its high vaulted ceiling was capped off with a round dome. Aged obelisks that had come from the Father's youth positioned themselve's on both sides of the Throne. Next to them on both side's was the Moon and the Sun. Symbols of Daniel's and Dalamar's positions next to the Father and Mother. Above the throne's where two Pyramids one larger than the other but both surrounded with Halo's at the top of the peak of the pyramid. Another Clang sounded and the royal court was gathering Dalamar quickly found his position next to the Father on his right. Daniel on the left of the Mother also found his place as the assemblage was called for the royal audience.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The royal court yard was filled with citizens from every planet. All in there royal regalia. Here to have an audience with the Father. His yellowed hand raised for silence. The power of just that gesture left many speechless.

Power crackled behind the dias a kind of electrical humm. Fear was in the eye's of many as the Father swept his gaze upon them. "39 years ago ONE of us all asked me to take the Universe and give it to her as a prize. Of the ONE of us I agreed. Knowing what would please ONE of us would please us both." He stood and many cringed back with as much grace as they could muster. "Now we have swept across the universe and have taken all that we surveyed. Our black booted warriors have washed the Universe in blood and water. There is no where I cannot go that is not ONE. Our owned by ONE. As she has said we are well pleased."

The crowd was subdued but then they started to cheer and chant Vampyre's of every race and creed of every power and age. Saluted the father. Emperors and Kings bowed the knee to his majesty. Gifts where brought before him to honor his name.

[Legion]

He has killed his thousands yet still he is arrogant. He promised to himself he would not go out weak like his victims. He would die with class and style. He walks up the scaffolding smiling at the mass of people that have showed up for his hanging. The black hood go's over his face. He is asked if he has any last words. He then finished with a "May the Lord have mercy on your soul." He smile's again at his executioner leaving him these last taunting words. "You are like me now a murderer."

The lever is pulled the rope goes tight around his throat. He curses and kicks. His last thoughts give him comfort and he shouts out the name's of his victims in a gurgled gasp. They will never find there loved one's now. Everything fades to darkness.
He shuts his eye's and then opens them again. He rises out of the liquid of his own creation. His veins pulse in his arms one of them is hard and cold like his heart.


The test is ready to begin. They mocked his genius and now they would see. The destructive potentiol of his new weapon.
There is something wrong with the calculations. The epicenter of the explosion is much more powerful than first imagined. Lesner is in his bunker but it does him no good. His eye's burn in there sockets as a white flash is the last thing he see's. It goes beyond him destroying the city 3 mile's away. 330,000 souls melt in fire. Slowly the burning stops... He rises out of the liquid of his own creation.His veins pulse in his arms one of them is hard and cold like his heart.

The prisoners deserved to die. Why are all the bleeding hearts crying now. They demanded justice and I gave it to them. There calling it the "Massacre" I am the Warden I had the power to do what the law would not. I burned them all in there cells. All the criminals crying for mercy and whimpering for there mothers. "Help me please, Im sorry and on and on.." Well now they are in hell and I will be joining them shortly. There words echo in my mind over and over. I try to tell them "I am the Law." how can they do this to me there making me a criminal just like them. I did the work of goodness. I am a hero.. I took the steps that no one else would. Still they speak the words"Warden Blacken do you have anything to say before we pass sentence." I have many things to say but they do not listen. I close my eye's, I ride the lightning it courses thru my blood..I am on fire. I am the fire. Slowly the burning stops... He rises out of the liquid of his own creation. His veins pulse in his arms one of them is hard and cold like his heart.


Some think I am mad as I sew up the pregnant women to observe what will happen.. I have long since stopped caring about the howls of the living. It is only science that I wish to learn now. Everything and everyone is just here for me to satisfy my curiousity. I tie a dead man to live one. I strap it to his back. The man goes slowly crazy as the dead man rots on his back side. When he looks over his shoulder the decompasing face stares back with glazed eye's and the hard cord wood look of death. Slowly the infections and disease from the body takes there toil on the living. He become's and infected and both are rotting away. The dead and now the dying. I find such experimentation amusing and interesting as I study the mind and the madness.. I die in my sleep. Darkness creeps in.. .. Slowly He rises out of the liquid of his own creation. His veins pulse in his arms one of them is hard and cold like his heart.



Goen T. Kilmore "Legion my greatest creation, I will restore you. You have yet to fulfill my plans for you.."

Gnarled and wicked he watches with keen interest as Legion's body forms anew.....

[Marrina Ters]

No more than a minute passed between the time Marrina grasped her mother in a crushing hug and the time Marrina found herself face to face with the soft grassy ground. The lingering words softly ringing in her head.

“…Marrina…”

The whole event left Marrina shocked and quite shaken. One second her mother and her were held in a tight embrace and the next she was flat on her face at the edge of the healer’s pool. Within that second the temperature grew to an icy cold and Marrina could have sworn she saw the reflection of her mother waver.

Slowly as if not to disturb a sleeping baby, she gently pushed herself up onto her knees. The temperature had returned to normal and her mother was just as she was before the whole ordeal. Besides the fact that she herself looked a little confused. Taking a second to look around Marrina also noticed that the healer’s pool was not as it had been and instead the middle grew a murky viridian while the edges began to glow in alluring gold waves.

Within an instant, the whole room flooded a blinding white and Marrina was thrown to the ground. The light lasted no more than a couple of seconds. It took a little longer for Marrina to get adjusted to the new brightened light. Wiping her eyes with her palms, she attempted to clear her vision.

The first thing she saw was the healer’s pool, it was just as it had been; viridian with golden edges. But what made her anxious was that the whole room was different; instead of the soft forest surroundings the chamber had turned into one huge white room. Bewildered and frightened, Marrina sat up cautiously. There was nothing else in the room not even another memory. . .

“Where am I?”

[Sting]

Goen was a thin man in white. His hair was thinning on his head and his skin was pulled tight over her face. He looked severe and pinced as he spoke in a voice of quite command. "Here is your payment you have done well."

Sting nodded and took the huge bag of credits from Kilmore. "I just hope that Dalamar never finds out that I betrayed him. If he does, I don't think that even I could get away from him..."

Goen chuckled light to himself. "A fear that a large enough amount of money has not conquered I see. No, I think you are safe unless you reveal yourself Sting."

"I thought those Slithe of yours would never come. Then when Dalamar still got away I thought you would welch on our deal."

"Not all is as it seems my dear Sting. I allowed them to escape you see the pleasure is in the hunt. Also I have other plans for our dear Dalamar."

"Well I wish you just would have killed him quick and gotten it over with Dalamar is dangerous."

Goen ran his hands over the controls as Legion stirred more in the tank. "What and not allow Legion his fun? This version will be stronger than the last. The other was a little too touched for my purposes."

Sting shivered "That creation of your's give's me the creeps why do you use him? He is to unstable. I heard he even killed off some of his own Slithe followers."

"It is not for you to question my orders. Go, and take the child Aaron with you." Kilmore gestured to the boy sitting in the corner with his arms wrapped around his legs.

Sting looked at the boy he was a little ragged looking but would make a good protege. "The deal is sealed then Goen I will finish the last part upon your mark."

Goen nodded with grim satisfaction, "The deal is sealed."

[Marrina Ters]

It was like a movie, there was no stopping it. The projection just kept rolling on in front of her; she could even turn away . . .It just had to be another memory, there was no other way to explain it.

----------------------------------------------------------

Beep….Beep……………….BEEPBEEPBEEEEEEEEP!

“Doctor! We’re losing her!”

“No, we can’t let her go!” The head doctor pointed at the closest nurse. “If she flat-lines then you bring her back, you got that?!”

“Yes, doctor.”

Beep….Beep….BEEEP…BEEEEEEP!

“Oh God, no! Hang on sweetheart! Kalian don’t let her go! Bring her back!”

The APT had been rolled in only moments earlier. It had been predicted that she might be losing the battle against death. The burns on her body and her broken limbs were enough to put her in this current position of facing death. But it was her own causing that led her here, although she didn’t know that.

“Everyone clear!”

The cool emitting pads where placed on her chest. Her lifeless body jumped as the first pulsating wave was sent through.

. . .BEEEEEEP

“Still nothing doctor!”

“Then keep trying, Kalian.”

Another electric shock came and nothing still.

“Come on, hun. Wake up!” The doctor was practically screaming orders. “Kalian, one more!”

The third and final bolt shook her body…

Beep…Beep…Beep…Beep…

“Oh my gods! Doctor she’s back and she’s breathing!” the nurse Kalian rejoiced.

Not wasting a second the doctor, placed an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose. Turning back to her the doctor smiled in pure relief.

“Congratulations, baby girl, someone up there must love you.”

---------------------------------------------------------

Marrina never knew what happened in those few moments of death. She didn’t even remember how she even got to that hospital. From the second time she passed out to the time she woke up from being dead was totally blank. There was no memory, no vision, absolutely nothing…just black.

Reaching out, she touched the replaying image in front of her. It was exactly like a movie screen, except there was no means to holding the screen up, it just hung there in the middle of the white chamber. The image rippled like water when she touched it, the screen flapping like silk cloth.

Inspecting it further, Marrina grew puzzled with the whole chamber, there was an ever present healing pool but new things, fake things, were popping up everywhere…

“What is this?”

The question plagued her mind as she observed the rest of the chamber; finding nothing new from the last shift in the chamber. What she didn’t expect was to have someone answer her question.

“I believe you know what you are in. A memory chamber. But as for what is wrong with the chamber now, I do not know. I have never seen this happen to this chamber before.”

Marrina spun to find the source of the low, dark voice. There was nothing. The surprises of this chamber were starting to annoy her.

“Perhaps it is because that there is someone else in the chamber.”

“W-what?” She felt like she was asking herself. Her eyes were ever watchful. “Who else is here, I see no one else.”

At first her answer was just a dark evil cackle. It sent shivers up and down her spine. A moment of silence followed, but didn’t last long.

“Hmm, I believe that you know who else is here, your companion possibly? Ah, but I strongly think that you are stuck in between memories. Your’s and his...”

Again Marrina, stood dumbfounded. "W-what?"

[Dalamar DeSang]

Those assembed where having a good time as the Father had commanded of course. There was smiles and laughter before the Great throne of the Father and Mother. But they did not approach to close, the guards and Dalamar and Daniel made sure of that. But still they came to pay there respects one by one. An Emperor is stark blues and red approached with his wife. They where of course announced. "The Emperor of the Crimson Sunrise there Majesty's the TERR'S." They stepped forward and bowed there heads keeping there eye's low as not to insult the Father.

The Terr's why does that name sound so familiar to me. Dalamar wondered. He put it out of his head it could not be that important and he had a job to do. After them a Slender lady in a bronze dress and a white gauze veil hiding her face approached. Dalamar could make out the ruby tear drops in her crown. "Lady Marrina, a noble from a small villa in Dakville." She approached also and made her proper courtesies.


Again that feeling of familiarity swept over him that he could not shake. Just then the room wavered like a ripple of reality just went across the room and it and shook everything to the core. He was stunned his hand on his hilt. Was it some kind of attack. But no, He looked around and no one else seemed the least bit concerned but him. He then looked to the guards and they also gave no reaction. Everyone but him acted as if nothing had happened. He shook his head. Maybe he was still tired and not quite awake yet. He did seem to be feeling really strange. Daniel looked at him odd but he waved him away. As a matter of fact when he looked at Daniel unexplainable rage boiled up within him. What was wrong with him?

All the guests made there courtesies and the party was starting to whine down. When a coronation of guards came in. There where 8 of them and they had a prisoner in tow it seemed. Apparently someone had broken vampyre law to bring them here before the Father. The Court bishop led them in Dalamar knew a serious crime had been violated.

The guests parted not willing to get in the way of the Father's personal Death Watch Guards. Dalamar himself had trained many of these men and they where smart to back away.

Horror fixed his face as they threw Micha to the floor. Marrina landed with a thud. "Marrina? who is Marrina?" What was his problem. He stood there and waited to see what was going on before he reacted. The Fathers yellowed hand raised. "What are the charges. Speak."

A tall soldier with a red crested helmet stepped forward. "We found this woman in the quarters of a vampyre. Sir"

"That is not illegal, why have you brought her here before the ONE." The Fathers voice rippled like thunder. A crowd started to gather around the throne to see what all the commotion was about.

The soldier spoke on. "She was not food nor slave sir. But a pet or more appropriately Sire a Lover."

The Mother stood up. "That is an OUTRAGE. It is forbidden everyone know's this. That's been law for generations."

The Father also stood, looking at his beloved. Power emanated from them both. They where Lighting and Thunder. They where the Old Gods. Pure power flowed through there veins. Pure blood.

The Father crooked a finger to the Red Crested soldier who approached with visible fear. He shook as he got closer.
"The ONE needs your mind open it to us." The soldier dropped to one knee. "Yes, Father."

The Father stuck his hand down gently upon the head of the soldier and the man began to shake and convulse as blood came out of his eye's and ears. As soon as it had begun it was over the Father released him and he fell to the floor. Court servants took his body away. The Father having gleaned what information he needed from his small mind.

The Father spoke in thunderous tones for all to hear. "A crime has been commited against the ONE. A treason of our belief's but there is much loyalty and love of this one. So he will have a reprieve. My FAITHFUL servant Dalamar will dispatch her and end this crime againt the ONE."

Chaos was thrust upon Dalamar in an instant. He had broken vampyre law by falling in love with a human woman but the Father would forgive all if he would execute judgement and kill Mishca. The 'FAITHFUL' Dalamar moved mechanically without thinking, down the steps he walked as he reached for the sword sticking up over his shoulder. He glance at Mischa's trembling form and he knew all he needed to know.

He turned and dropped to one knee with his head bowed. "Please Father spare her life and I will turn her myself."Devious knew as soon as he had bowed that he had made a mistake. The Mothers white knuckle's could be seen judgement was about to descend upon him and his lover...

Suprisingly the Father spoke first and beside him the Mother's rage was nothing.

His voice boomed and Dalamar winced in fear. "First you flaunt our laws then turn your back on my mercy and disobey my direct command!!"

"Guards kill her!!" Dalamar jumped to his feet in a heartbeat. "NOOO Father NOOO!!" He moved like lightning and got in close with his small katana's. He knew they couldn't use there long swords to great effect in close quarters.

This first guard charged him and Dalamar split him from crotch to sternum. He fell silently before the stunned crowd. Without stopping he moved to the next man beheading him cleanly. The third man hesitated long enough for Dal to punch through him and the man behind him killing them both with a blade thru the heart.

The other three circled him they where smarter and more cautious there blades could hurt him. The crowd onlookers where stunned. Mishca sat at his feet as he fought off there stabbing jabs at her.

Dalamar looked at them and spoke. "Stop now and I won't kill you." They did not listen. Two struck at once both drawing blood. One in the leg and the other the arm. He stood with his blade parrallel with the ground. He let the blood flow down from his wound and coat the blade. Waiting patiently for the next attack.

The youngest one growled and leaped forward moving on Dalamar's back side. With a spinning kick his boot blade slid out and buried itself in the young vampyre's eye. He barely ducked as a blade whistled by cutting his cheek the short guard chuckled thinking that Devious was done.

They where relentless and well trained. He had only time for a hit with the hilt knocking the short guard back. He then whipped his blood coated blade in the short man's eye's. Thick crimson drops of blood struck his face blinding him. He put his hands out as if it was any protection. But Dalamar didn't strike at him, because the tall guard behind him was not being lax. Ducking again he narrowly missed losing his head for a second time. Spinning low in a 360 degree direction his Katana cut the knee's of the last guard left. The Guard pitched and screamed in pain.

Two men where left one wobbled on his legs trying by sheer will power to remain standing and the other was trying desperately to wipe the blood from his eye's.

Dalamar hissed "Whats funny now little man." the short guards hand's where in front of his face desperate to clean his face. Darting his blade like a viper Dalamar took them and his nose. He howled in pain like a madman. Devious did not hesitate he buried a short katana blade down his screaming throat letting him fall to the ground.

The last guard cried all his cruel dignity gone. "Please don't killl me." Devious sneered softly at the man's weakness. But still a small chance would be given.

"focus and you will live." he turned his back on the tall guard but held his blade out from his side at waist high.

There was a snap as his leg finally gave out and his body fell forward. DeSang heard a whimper as the guards fingers and head where decapitated falling on the razor sharp Dragon blade. The weight of his own body ending his life. The eye's rolled up and the head rolled before the gold and silver throne's of the Father and Mother.

Women where screaming as the glazed over eye's faced the crowd. More guards where entering the room drawing blade's. Dalamar pulled Mishca close they would die together.....

[Marrina Ters]

“Ow! What the hell?!” Marrina shouted, as she found herself thrown onto the stone floor. . .Wait floor?!?! Looking down, to her surprise for a mere second there was a cold, damp, stone floor underneath her. But as soon as it was there it was gone. Leaving a very awestruck Marrina behind.

“Heh-heh, lose your footing, girl?”

Marrina scowled at whoever or whatever kept talking to her as she rolled over to sit up. Her knee stung; to her surprise she had a few new abrasions scattered on her knee cap. She quirked an eyebrow in confusion and turned to respond to the invisible person/thing.

“No, I don’t know what happened. It felt as if I was pushed. And by the way I’m not a girl, I’m twenty seven.”

She could hear the amusement hanging in the air from the things earlier comment.

“You’re a girl compared to the years I’ve lived.”

Before Marrina could retaliate, the room switched again. A little longer than the first time. As quickly as she could, she got to her feet. The whole room had converted into something of any old time movie. Except for nearly everyone was in panic; screams rang alive in her ears.

She hadn’t even finished looking around, when someone grabbed her by the arm. Her back was pulled into someone’s side and a protective arm put around her. It took a moment for the shock to wear off before she cautiously looked up. Her eye’s widened, not in surprise, but in a strange wave of fear. Beside her the imaginary voice echoed in her ear…

“Oh poor girl, you seem to be caught in his memory, and you just happen to not be playing yourself. This could be bad for you.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“What I’m saying child is that, you are and you are not part of his memory. If whom ever you are in his memory dies or get’s injured the same happens to you. It is the only way to explain what is happening to you. Unless he wakes up.”

Marrina swallowed hard, this couldn’t be good at all. She locked eye’s with Dalamar except for it was different; he didn’t look at her like he normally did. It scared her. She swallowed again before placing her cold hands on his face and whispering gently to him…

“Dalamar…Dal, wake up. Please…”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“Dalamar…Dal, wake up. Please…”

The room was filled to the bursting with guards. Reavers started to enter also. Legion and a cadre of Slithe appeared. Legion? Something stirred in his mind. Fali beast Masters and there trainers. It was hopeless. All in all Daniel stood by the throne. The Father had a thoughtful expression on his face. While the Mother was a thunderhead of anger.

He had defied the will of the ONE. He was surely dead. No one had done so and lived long. The will of the ONE was alway's followed without question. He had never defied them before. The Guards surrounded Dal and Marrina. She was on her knee's Dalamar stood again both blade's facing down. He looked everywhere at once. They knew his reputation and no one wanted to be the first one to lose a limb or there life.

His boots stood in the small pool of blood that surrounded them. In the next moment things started moving very fast. A guard moved in with a halberd attempting to hook Mishca. Dalamar was all focus. He relaxed and just moved a man with a job to do. Leave passion behind and focus on the movements. Cutting off the halberd tip he threw one of his many small daggers giving the man a third eye. Suddenly they all started attacking feeling that was the opening that they needed. The vampyre in relieved black and red began cutting them down with no thought to who they where. He was an ever widening Mangle machine that moved in a circle, protecting Marrina was his only focus.




Flash...He did not know how long this went on but he was severly wounded. Cuts to his face his chest. A deep gash in both his legs. Those alone would bleed him soon. He flinched as someone finnally pierced him from behind entering his heart killing him. He fell in front of Marrina/Mishca his eye's glazed as they took her away, then all fell silent.




Flash...He was fighting the guards when he decided his only hope was to charge the ONE. Maybe with them dead. Marrina/Mishca could live. He charged as fast as he could his swords sparking across the steps. Daniels sword pierced his heart and several spears caught him in the back before he could reached the Dias. Daniel caught him "Why brother why!!???" He looked up at Daniel then at Marrina. "Please save her he pointed weakly at Mishca,please..." Daniel laid Dalamar down gently but as his body grew rigid he saw Daniel pull his overhead sword and walk towards Marrina. DeSang knew she would die...


Flash...He was fighting the guards when he decided his only hope was to charge the ONE. Maybe with them dead. Marrina/Mishca could live. He killed the guard next to him then turned the Father was already standing him and the Mother's hands where linked liquid fire flew from there fingers burning him to Ash. He faded and blew across the winds of time never to live and love again...


Flash... He clutched Mishca close. Hoping to protect her for as long as he could. Like a human pin cushion they quiled him but he pushed his body back to protect Marrina for as long as he could. His blood red tears fell down his face. "I'm sorry Mishca, I Love you."

“Dalamar…Dal, wake up. Please…”


Flash... The whole room changed they where at the Shrine it was burned down. Everyone dead, Everyone gone. He dropped to his knee's the Glory of the Vampyre nation gone again... He fell to his knee's again weeping would his whole eternal life bring nothing but sorrow.

Flash.... He entered the long chamber and there it stood. The Blood sword. Again he hit his knee's in worship the blood sword called to him. Its fingers of control carressed him. The promise of Glory would never end... He reached for it and it burned his soul.

Flash... Mishca was dead the Assyrian had killed her. Taking her soul for a bauble around his neck. There locked in battle both severely wounded. Blood and Fire and Death filled the chamber. Dalamar kills the Assryian and by some miracle reaches and kills the Mother also before dying overwhelmed....

Dalamar screams his hands outstretched his swords drawn above his head. "NOOOO, no matter what I do I can't save her. No, matter what..."

“Dalamar…Dal, wake up. Please…”

The room ripples again and then turn's white. He falls to his knee's again and cries. His weapons dropped as useless, he is useless....He looks up and see's Marrina. "I couldn't save her Marrina I couldn't save her." The Chamber goes quite and in the silence Marrina now knows why Dalamar fights for her. She must live he must make it right.



IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN....

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina didn’t know what to do; she didn’t know if she should comfort him or not. She didn’t know what to feel; relief knowing he was alright or to feel greif for what he had just relived. Painful memories like his haunted her life; some of which she could not even remember going through. Still a horrible memory relived is just as or more hanting than the real life insidant as you are forced to watch while you sit there helpless. Marrina knew how Devious felt, it was something she expierenced nearly every night.

During the last moments of Dalamar’s memory, Marrina had seen Mishca die, several times. She had felt her die, it was how everyone feared to die. . .being afraid. Mishca had died in fear, the feeling Marrina felt as Mishca’s life was ended made her ezes fill with tears. Watching Dalamar greive was just about enough to send her over the edge.

“I couldn’t save her Marrina I couldn’t save her.” Dalamar’s voice came weak and tired as his weapons fell to the chamber floor.

Marrina’s whole composure softened as she knelt on the cold floor next to Devous’ trembling form. Reaching out, she gentlz wrapped her arms around the Vampyre. Shyly, she slowlz drew him closer, his head rested easilz on her shoulder. All the while, whispering small comforting words.

“Shhh. . .Dalamar. It will be alright.” Marrina placed her forehead gently on the top of Devious’ head as she moved her hand up and down his back in a soothing manner. “I saw her too, Dalamar. I’m so sorry, I really am.” She whispered the words to him softlz as she shifted slightly.

Silence once again filled the chamber while Marrina continued to calm and caress Devious. Time passed as thez sat there, after a while Marrina lowered her head and timidly placed a soft reassuring kiss to his forehead. She lifted his chen until both their eyes, unique in there own way, locked. She spoke with senserity and care.

“At least you tried to save her, Dalamar. That was probablz the most she could have asked from you.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“At least you tried to save her, Dalamar. That was probably the most she could have asked from you.”

Dalamars tears where for the loss of Mishca nothing else. He stood he was complete inside whole again. Marrina looked at him in a funny way. "I know you don't understand Marrina but this is a healing chamber used in the old days by the vampyre race. The room forced me to live thru scenario after scenario to prove to me that I had done all I could." He paused for a second to sheathe his weapons again.

"The room forced me to see, I always thought If only I had done something different. But the chamber showed me that I had done all I could. There was no escape."

Dalamar looked behind Marrina and saw another female. It was Marrina's mother!! Marrina turned and saw her also . They both where shocked to say the least... "How is that possible?" She should have dissapeared when the power left the room.

She smiled before she faded from view with the rest of the room. Now it was Dalamars turn to be puzzled.

[Marrina Ters]

She turned just in time to see the image of her smiling mother disappear along with the rest of the chamber, as it returned to normal. Marrina had the urge to reach out and bring her mother back. She had so much to ask her, so many questions about her past , about her power. She never wanted her mother to leave her ever again. She had lost her once before.

Marrina kept her eyes focused on the spot where her mother was standing before she vanished. It hurt her to know her mother was gone forever, but she also thankful that she had been reunited with her mother. It was something she had never thought of experiencing.

“How is it possible?”

Marrrina smiled as she turned back to Dalamar. She was wrong her mother wasn’t gone forever; shw would alwazs be in her heart and in the depths of her memory. She spoke as she followed DeSang’s suit.

“I don’t think I will dream about her anymore. I know now that she didn’t want to leave me or my father and she loved me. She still loves me. I know, that she died for me, in orderfor me to have the time she did’t to learn how to control this power.”

She held her palms out in front her as a gesture. Still smiling slightly, she allowed a few tears cascade down her face.

“She told me I wouldn’t die like she had. That you wouldn’t allow me to die that way.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“She told me I wouldn’t die like she had. That you wouldn’t allow me to die that way.”

Dalamar looked at her fervently. "Your mother's got that right. and as of now where not running anymore! The Assryian is afraid of me and you for some reason. Killing that village and then Aaron he went to far! It's time for a little payback."

Sheathing his swords he grabbed Marrina around the waist. Adjusting his setting on his gauntlet he fired the grappling hook straight up to the ledge. When he pulled her over the edge he smiled at her. "You gave those Slithe quite a tussle. I'm glad to see your safe. There blood is everywhere."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina smiled a little bit in return but then grimaced at seeing all that blood again. Now that she met Dalamar she learned how to handle a weapon, not very well but still better than she had ever been able too. That fact almost made her snickered with laughter, not being able to use a weapon and being a weapon shop keeper. It was just unlikely.

The sight of dried blood on the walls Marrina’s stomach churned. She could handle fighting no problem but seeing the remains and mixed bloods of the things she killed made her uneasy. She was pretty sure she would never be comfortable looking at blood; even if she was still alive in a few years she probably would be uncomfortable.

“I’m sure some of mine is around her somewhere.” She stated sourly as she took a minute to look around. The Slithe that she had killed last and the one that had sent her into the memory chamber was in the same place as before. The evil grin still on its face.

Reluctantly, Marrina took the time to flip it over; the sword she had used still imbedded in the Slithes’ chest. Closing her eye’s tightly she tore the sword out of its chest. She took a piece of mangled fabric from her robe and wiped the blade.

“I’m guessing I’ll need this later.” She looked at the fallen body again before turning back to Dalamar. Slowly she rubbed the side of her and shoulder, her nimble fingers running over the numerous scars there. “I’ll never forget what happen here. And these scars are proof of that.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar was watching Marrina clean the blade when her face took on a shocked expression. Whirling around with swords in hand Dalamar was ready to face almost anything that threatened them.

A golden voice echoed in the Vampyre's mind as he squinted in the brightness of the room. Marrina's mother rose slowly thru the floor like a golden ghost of light. She floated there and then gently like a feather moved towards Dalamar. He sensed no evil intent so he lowered his weapons. There was a beautiful song in the distance and in his mind's eye he could see a brilliant sunrise of many colors. It had been so long.. Lost in a hypnotic trance from Ella he felt like he was floating away.

Marrina seemed to tense when a voice of angels vibrated off the walls. "Daughter be calm, I am very real. There is much to tell you and I may not have much time open yourself up to me and listen. I sensed that the vampyre was about to reveal all he could to you. But even he does not know all the details." She floated down to the ground and walked towards Dalamar.

Her hand of liquid fire reached out and carresed Dalamar's cheek. Traces of fiery symbols where etched upon his forehead which soon sunk into him becoming part of him. Dalamar's eye's flung open in shock and a glow of warmth settled all over him as peace and knowledge filled him.

She then glided over to Marrina and duplicated the same thing she had done with Dalamar. Golden letters of fire sunk into her head also. As all questions seemed to flow with answers into her mind.

"You to daughter must know, In your youth you where taken by the Assryian. Even then he knew of your potential. You where kidnapped and taken to a place called Limbo and the Well of Hell. I thought that those memories would be to harsh for you so I removed them for a time. The Vampyre remembers them all and now is the time for you to also remember. He said that you faced Reavers and Demons and Dark Lord Vampyre's like a warrior born. You may think that you took to the sword easily? No, my dear you had more experience than someone your age should have.

You where with the Vampyre for a year between the ages of 10 and 11 fighting for your very soul. Me and your father where helpless to assist you. Trapped in Limbo as you where. To us you where gone only a month such is the passing of time in limbo. Finnaly you Reamerged stronger but scarred. At that time I had the power to remove the horrible memories so I did and I restored the innocence of your youth back to you. I waited, Until such a time as now when you would need those memories and have the maturity to deal with them. I counted it all joy when Dalamar returned you to us. He thought Dak made you forget and he respected our decision. Him and Dak where DEATH DEALERS. They where like officers of law for a time together and very close friends.

Dalamar was going to limbo thru a way that only he could. Thru all our efforts to retrieve you and they where considerable we could not pierce the Veil of Limbo. The Father of all vampyre's made is accesible to there kind only. We could send objects thru but it took great power and it had to be done in code as not to arouse the supicion of the Assryian or Daniel. Dak knew that if the Assryian knew anything that all chances of rescuing you would dwindle down to nothing. So imagine our amazement when we where plotting limbo that we found the prescence of Dalamar already there. Someone that Dak personally knew someone that could save our daughter. The rest you will now know as I restore all your memories of the past. These "Dreams of the Past." as you have called them yourself will reveal them to be not dreams of all but a memory of your life and the great adventures you have had. What I told you before stands true Devious will protect you. Deep in his heart is a Love for you the child next to his precious Mishca you are all he has and will die for you."

Ella glanced over at Dalamar "He has done so much for my family and I must now help him. Marrina when he awake's out of his trance he will have more to tell you. But I will not let him control the flow of all knowledge. My precious Marrina you will surpass him one day and there are many things you must know. But this is for him. Tell him that his beloved Mishca is alive! Her soul rests in a bauble a necklace around the Assryian's neck. Where he torturer's her endlessly. I love you both and have done all I can for you." She floated above them ready to fade away. Already the golden glow growing less bright. "I have to leave soon my daughter, I have told you what I can what I felt you needed to know, if you have any questions ask."

[Marrina Ters]

The first thing that came to her mind was to scream. She didn’t know whether these were the answer’s she had been looking for. In fact, she knew she these weren’t the answer’s wanted especially hearing it from her mother. It scared her to know now that all the visions she thought were dream actually happened. And Marrina barely had any memory of what had occurred during that time.

It frustrated her that she couldn’t remember what went on during that time she was at the Well of Hell and Limbo. But then again, she was thankful that her mother thought ahead to protect her from such horrible memories. She mostly understood the reasons her mother had to keep her safe and she knew it was for the best; yet she still couldn’t help to feel agitated about it.

As her mother faded into darkness for the second time, Marrina snapped out of her ‘day-dream’. She stumbled for a moment before steadying herself. She held her hand to her face until her head stopped spinning; underneath her hand she felt the fiery ancient symbols fade into her skin all along her body.

She was able to catch the same thing happen to Dalamar as the symbols disappeared into his forehead and neck. He looked a little dazed like she had been a moment earlier. As she watched him recover her mind wandered to what her mother told her. She knew by how Dalamar spoke about his human lover, Mishca, that he had loved her dearly. . .he still loved her.

Smiling softly at DeSang, Marrina passed the message her mother had wanted her to. In a voice as soft as a whisper, Marrina spoke. “Mishca’s alive, Dalamar. Her soul hangs in the pendant around the Assyrian’s neck.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar felt like he was floating on the clouds. Finally like all good things the feeling faded. He was at peace in his heart. A great mystery had been revealed to him. Of course, It all made sense now. He knew why the Assryian was after Marrina. He knew it all.

He felt a soft touch upon his arm and looked down to see Marrina looking up at him. "Dalamar." she said hesitantly. The vampyre was filled with the warmth of Ella's touch and he looked down at Marrina tenderly. "Yes, Marrina."

“Mishca’s alive, Dalamar. Her soul hangs in the pendant around the Assyrian’s neck.”

The Dark Lord thought he was ready to hear anything. Anything but that. He was in shock. "But, bu-- How? How is that possible." Marrina could see the promise in Dalamar's eye's he looked at her and spoke with angry determination. "First I see to your safety then I'm bringing Daniel down. He's going to pay for everything he's ever done. He's afraid of you but I'm going to give him something new to fear!!"

Dalamar still basking in Ella's touch was feeling more than he had in a long time. He reached over and hugged Marrina. "Your mother told me she gave you your memories back. It's been so frustrating for me to know you, yet not be able to talk to you openly.

Those dreams you kept having where supressed memories. The dream of the fire was just one of them.

When we where together in limbo for that year I taught you well how to use that sword you carry. It was a hard year and you saw many things that a child should not. Be glad that your mother did what she did."

He cleared his throat. Marrina there is more to tell you much more. Things even I didn't know. Do you remember a time when we where in Limbo? I briefly mentioned to you that I was a member of the "Eye Of The Dragon?"

[Marrina Ters]

She was more than a little bit surprised when Devious hugged her. Display of affection was something that Marrina would have never thought Dalamar would do, but that was by looking at his appearance. There was more to him, a side that probably never shows itself unless love is evident. Marrina thought of Mishca and smiled. Mishca was lucky to have Dalamar and visa versa.

Eventually, Marrina gave Dalamar a quick hug of her own before pulling away. Dalamar spoke to her before she had a chance. “ Marrina there is more to tell you much more. Things even I didn't know. Do you remember a time when I mentioned to you that I was a member of the "Eye Of The Dragon?"

It took a minute for her to realize what he was talking about, but alas. She didn’t remember, not at first anyway.

Just before she was going to say that she didn’t remember; it came to her. Like the answer had always been there. A distant memory resurfaced. She looked up at the Vampyre in front of her. Mentally thanking her mother for the old memories.

“I remember, but just barely.” She stated with a grin.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The purpose of the 'Eye of the Dragon' was to hunt a race of being's. Being more dangerous than a thousand Assryians. They feed off the energy in Suns. They are a race so ancient, so old, that I will not even try to describe there age.

I won't go into all the particulars but they are the reason that Tiberious found me. Thinking I was a weapon he sought for me in the outer rim. Long before I met you I have fought these beings. There was an item crucial to there survival. It was called the 'Eye of the Dragon'. Thru another story to long to go into Tiberious had melded with the Eye and it was buried in his chest. Thinking that he had something crucial to there survival melded with him he thought maybe he could stop them. They had killed his people and had killed many peoples. Whole planets destroyed in there hunger. Dalamar paused there was so much to tell he didn't want to leave anything out. "Do you understand so far?"

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina nodded in understanding. It was a complex story but it was crucial that she knew what the past had to do with what was happening now. She was sure that all this was connected and she was sure that somehow, someway she was going to be thrown into all this.

It all seemed lika a big dream; although it was a dream that no matter how hard she tried she could not wake up from. None of it seemed real even though she had the memories to prove it. This was something she never though was possible, something this surreal was amazing and frightening to her.

"I'm understanding now, Dal." Marrina nodded again as she spoke.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar took a deep breath there was much to tell and now with Marrina's restored memories of Limbo she would understand more of what he was telling her.



"Well there was another artifact of the Dragons created besides the Eye. Where one was an instrument of life the Sword was one of Death. It was called the 'Blood Sword.'"

Its origins begin like this. One of the Dragons was punished by others of his own race. He had done something so vile, so utterly evil that even this race of heartless beings cursed him for evil. They banned him from there universal community. You see they had a problem, how do you punish the Devil with the power that he had? Being on untold long life and evil cunning they found a way.

When the members of this race die there collective souls go into the 'EYE.' each member of there race dying until there is only one of them. He bonds the EYE to his chest and takes it someplace that only they can go. There that one person Rebirths his people and they live again for untold millenium. They have been doing this over and over succesfully for years beyond years. That was until thru some freak occurrence the 'EYE' bonded with Kinslayer. Maybe someday you will meet Tiberious. But anyway as not to get distracted back to the Blood Sword."

Well this one member of there race was punished and his vile essence was combined with the Blood Sword. Forever to be seperated from the 'Eye' he was Ostracized from his people and thrown into space. He was meant to go Crazy in his isolation.

But he didn't go crazy and thru sheer force of will he forced the hot metal to land planetside. In Limbo I found the Blood Sword in a far away future Citadel. Presumably under the Assryians control. When I found it the Sword tried to control me. It nearly succeeded but worse than that the thing spoke..Dalamar shook noticably at the dreaded memory of his first contact with the Blood Sword.

The rest of the Story I will tell you as the Sword told me on the night that I found it..


The hum grew louder.. "The Year of the Dragon...one, eleven.." The sword began to speak...

Dalamar was not stunned in the slightest. Of course the sword would talk. It all seemed so natural. The weapon droned on as the gigantic thunderclaps where the only thing to interupt its speech.


Dalamar listened with interest as it laid out the past.

"This story starts not with a sword but with a sighting. Long, long ago there was a man wandering along the hillside searching for some food for his family. When a meteor flew from the sky. It struck a few miles away from him. It shook the surrounding countryside with its impact and lit up the sky. Being curious he decided to investigate. For want of a better name we shall call him 'THE FIRST' his actual name not mattering and long forgotten anyways. Also though the 'actual first' come's later this one was the first to touch the cursed thing so you will understand why I name this one also the first."

"The man climbed thru some hills until he reached where it had landed. A green glow flowed from the pit in smoky tendrils. The rock in the pit seemed to call to him as he moved closer to see the meteorite inside. There was a small chunk of metal in the hole. It was large at the top and narrow at the bottom. From the heat of reentry. Compelled he reached for it. He didn't wait until it cooled and it burned into his hand badly. It was that first burst of pain that started to stir the dragons conciousness in the metal. To the human the pain meant nothing compared to the prize he now had. It was suprisingly light and felt perfect in his hand. A warrior's club. He took it home with him and hid it. Whenever he could he would pull it out. He was amazed at its handiness and weightlessness.

But this was not your average weapon it was a cursed thing hurled from the world it came from. Death and poison was all it would offer as this new owner of the weapon would soon learn. Still asleep the subconious mind of the alien was powerful within the metal. It reached out compelling the man to do violence.

Time passed and the man became more and more obsessed with the weapon. He slept with it now and clutched it close like a lost lover. He started to eye other's supiciously and began talking to himself. Or so it seemed little did they know that there was a being in the sword for want of a better word a Devil from another universe tied and bound by great and mysterious magic. He was cast from his own universe a vile and cursed thing. His punishment to roam the universe never to be seen again. Bound up in the enchantment was long life. Those that had punished him wanted him to suffer and he had caused suffering to countless millions.

No one knows how long the Devil wandered the universe in his magic prison. But what they do know is that somehow he became familiar with the prison that held him. After many thousands of years he was finnally able to exert enough control on his confine's to shift every so slightly. Just enough to bring it into orbit with a planet where it hoped it would break free from its prison on impact. Unfortunately for us it hit this planet. But his prison held. Not only held but blurred his conciousness. His frustrated subconciousness reached out and found his first victim. The minds of men back then where easily manipulated. He remembers the first reaching into the fire and pulling him out. His Greed for his prescense making him ignore the searing pain. Thus began a new beginning for an old Evil. Old before history, Old before even the Universe.

[Legion]

He stood on shaky legs as the nutra bath liquids dripped off his hard body. How had he gotten here? Then in a burst of pain he remembers his own death. He clutched his head and feels the blade enter his brain a second time. Stumbling he is caught by Dr. Kilmore.

"Steady Legion directive 2446 Implant activation mode. You have survived your encounter and the doctors have sped your recovery. Dalamar is still out there finish what you started. Do you receive?

Legion spoke in a droned out voice. "Received."

"Good." Goen said, "The hunt can begin again."

The Dr. opened the door and the nightmare on feet left the office.






"Sir, what are your orders. Sir?" Legion shook his head he must have been daydreaming.. He looked at his guards as they looked at him in anticipation. "My orders?" "Find them!"

As all the guards left he cradled his head. Something was wrong the voice's clamored for control as usual but now they where less, like a wedge was driven between them and him. One thought permeated "Find Dalamar, kill him, make him pay."

He looked in the mirror. There was no scar no mark where the Vampyre had stabbed him. Things where jumbled and he felt a wrongness like a name on the tip of his toungue that he couldn't quite remember... It would come to him. He knew it would.

[Marrina Ters]

It was the tale of all tales. The story that helped shape the universe was now told. The thought of how much this story explained the present made Marrina shudder. It incredible that such a story helped make what was happening now so much more understandable.

“No one knows how long the Devil wandered the universe in his magic prison. But what they do know is that somehow he became familiar with the prison that held him. After many thousands of years he was finnally able to exert enough control on his confine's to shift every so slightly. Just enough to bring it into orbit with a planet where it hoped it would break free from its prison on impact. Unfortunately for us it hit this planet. But his prison held. Not only held but blurred his conciousness. His frustrated subconciousness reached out and found his first victim. The minds of men back then where easily manipulated. He remembers the first reaching into the fire and pulling him out. His Greed for his prescense making him ignore the searing pain. Thus began a new beginning for an old Evil. Old before history, Old before even the Universe.”

“This is so uncanny it’s frightening.” Marrina stated with a slight shudder.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar searched his thoughts for he had to make sure he wasn't leaving out any valuable bits. "You have to understand Marrina the words bore into you when the sword spoke. It became part of you and you part of it. It was like a fire within you and you wanted, needed it to speak more. And so I did let it speak."


" The first to posses me was the leader of a tribe of nomads. The unknown ore of the club had called to him. He didn't know that I the inhabitant of the club was slowly manipulting him twisting him for my purposes his mind was weak and easily controlled."

Soon after aquiring the club he led his people to war. For the Demon, or Dragon as some called his race fused with the tainted metal compelled him. I led him to war because I craved Blood. Melded with one of the old races the club my home, would soon become a very deadly weapon. My race's sustenance was the very heart of living suns. I was reduced to another heart of the Universe "Blood"

Dalamar stopped to speak to Marrina. "I was in shock Marrina. I wondered did the sword know who he had found? Tiberious Kinslayer was the Leader of the Eye of the Dragon he was the one who found me. So I knew all about this race of Demons.

Had Tiberious not been scouring the universe to look for a weapon to fight them? Had his search not lead to the discovery of Dalamar on the outer Rim? To essentially my awakening. It seemed that Tiberious and Dalamars meeting was not some accident. Could it be that the sword played a part in all of this? Or was it your Mother Marrina? Was she directing Tiberious knowing of things to come?

"Like I said the Dragons had vast destructive power. Consuming suns for sustenance they ended whole universes and the races that inhabited them. That made the few paltry deaths slain by a vampyre as nothing. I remember sighing Marrina for this was way to big for me. Again I asked the Sword to continue."




" The Nomad cut a bloody path across the landscape killing many. Some say he grew paranoid and lived alone in a cave. Only him and the weapon. He had, had his family killed thinking they would take the object that had become sacred to him. Mothers, daughters, sons, wives none where spared from his love of the beast that he now held to his chest.

Soon though the passage of time caught up with him. He went the way of all mortals and died. The club was handed down from man to man each person overwhelmed with bloodlust and the desire to kill. 900 years after it had arrived a Black haired barbarian stood before the gates of a great city. Armed with only the club he decided to take the great city for himself. The king and his army could barely stop this lone man. He kept screaming "Crom!!! For the glory of Crom!!" 460 men fell in battle to this beserker. The main gate was destroyed. Still the Dragon inside called for more blood its apetite never satisfied. Finally weakened and surrounded the warrior fell. The Dark Northener died a legend, a reaver, a thief admired for his prowness.

The King took the club for himself surely he would be the greatest if he could master this weapon. They watched as the club seemed to absorb the blood of its victims. He unlike others knew he had to be protected from the metal.

Fearful of what kind of cursed thing they had they wrapped it carefully and placed it in an iron box. They then tied it in chains and threw it in the darkest deepest corridors of the castle. Util such a time as the King could call forth the greatest mages and wise men in his kingdom. Held prisoner the weapon called out but deep in the recesses of the Kings dungeons no one could hear it.

Evil being what it is, it found a way into the Kings heart. But this King was cunning and wiser than those that had handled it before him. He called forth those same magicians when the thing spoke into his mind. He had them coat the weapon with spells and ancient codes of binding now lost to the world. Things done that would protect him from its influence while allowing him to access its power. He then called the best weapon smiths in the country to come forth and alter the ore into a more respectable shape. To refashion the metal.

"The workers where watched and blindfolded while they handled me. Those that where allowed to touch me where chained. My influence was limited. They intended to stop me if I worked my way into any wayward mind. While the blacksmiths worked upon me they where surrounded in a 5 point star. On each point there was placed Magicians, Monks, and Druids. There enchantments turned the night green and purple while the metal ore was melted and shaped. Working long and hard they created the sword THE BLOOD SWORD. The king then had me encrusted with a ruby on the hilt and other fittings and honed me to razor sharpness. He used me as a weapon of justice and gave me a grand name "EXCALIBUR" but justice or violence I absorbed the blood the precious blood."

"With me at his side he rules well this king but he died and the enchantments placed on me to protect the others died with him. I was taken by the sorcerours who where afraid of me and thrown into a lake. The water boiled from all the foul magics that had been heaped upon me. All the murder and hate that I had inspired. They conjured up a Lady of the lake to hold me. I remember how she trembled when she took me into her bosom fearful that I would cleave her in two. More fearful to let me go. There I rested for many, many more years. This was the begining. My self awareness grew instead of just bloodlust I was again able to think. Before I was just bent on Malice. For being joined with the weapon. Anger filled the sword. But as time wore on my essence grew stronger and I became aware of the situation. I had been forgotten but I was eternal and I knew I must be free."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina was dumbfounded. This tale couldn’t be true, it just couldn’t. Even though she had the memories to prove it, she didn’t want to believe. It was a story of something so corrupt that even Dalamar had trouble overcoming it. It was so unbelievable that the object of such a power was just a sword, something of which it didn’t even start out as.

It was so hard to believe that all of this was started so long ago. Way before she was drawn into all of this. And it all started because of one corrupt individual who was so anger struck that he committed such an awful crime. Even to those of his horrifying race thought his actions to be too cruel.

It was scary, in a way. How this all happened. A cruel man was cursed to a sword for his wrongdoings by his own race. Only in his eternal damnation did he begin to think for himself, in the form of a sword! Rage and bloodlust fueling him as he corrupted men of all sorts and only to fill his own needs. It was disgusting.

Marrina turned her gaze downwards, away from DeSang. She was hiding her own despair and frustration of the tale. The whole thing made her sick and it was all made worse because she understood every word. As the Vampyre spoke, memories continuously flooded her mind, it was terrifying.

She brought her arms up and hugged herself in irritation. Her head hung lowly as she spoke quietly. “It’s sickening to know how corrupt people are. In the past, in the present, and in the future. I can see it all. It’s awful.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“It’s sickening to know how corrupt people are. In the past, in the present, and in the future. I can see it all. It’s awful.”

"It is corrupt Marrina but it's also our legacy. The Sword yearned to be free. The Lady of the lake was getting old she could no longer contain the Blood Sword. Humanity had gone on and she had been forgotten. She was resistant to the Sword but not immune. As ages past and she grew older and weaker she finally came to the fateful decision to release it again amongst men. Who she was and where she came from was never explained but how much worse off would we have been without her heavenly intervention.

She found a people and a new King. Young handsome and strong the king swore to her to keep the weapon safeguarded. Tired and weak the Lady of the Lake had no choice but to release it. Wrapped and put in a lead chest the people carried it back to the kings citadel.

But the King was young and foolhardy. He thought he could resist the sword. Even though the Lady had warned him he opened the chest. The sword was magnificent a bright red ruby in the hilt seemed to pulsate in the dim light. He wanted to touch it to feel it. But even this king was not so foolhardy as that. He locked the chest again and returned to his quarters. But as the nights grew long and boredom overtook him the sword filled his thoughts. He returned again and opened the chest. He longed to touch it to caress his fingers along the hilt. He could handle it he figured he had already resisted the Sword.

Dalamar interjected and interuption. "Bloody fool he hadn't even heard the Sword speak and he thought he could resist. Foolish mortal."

Anyway before long he reached in and grabbed the SWORD. The sword lay silent biding his time. No, a frontal assault on this kings mind would only leave him in the chest to rot. He had to wait be patient lull him. So he did the King came down more and more to hold the sword to touch it. To play with it. Until one day during court the sword leaned next to him on the dias. The Kings hand gripping the hilt. No one questioned him for he was the King. In this man's defense he resisted longer than anyone before him. The SWORD slowly ate him up inside like no other. His now concious mind was able to work its evil fully. Tainted and Dark the King became. All goodness destroyed until he was a twisted,paranoid, evil shallow version of his former self.

People started to notice that he snapped more and more. He also spent all of his time up in the Tower alone with the SWORD. They wanted there King. His food was ordered extremely raw and bloody. Three of his prime ministers came up to check on him.

Afterwards the King appeared and seemed okay. He said that he had, had council with his prime ministers and they had reached a mutual understanding. Four days later there rotting bodies where found in the Tower the King had killed them. But that wasnt the worst of it. There was parts of them missing as if eaten. Things got worse and worse he started to terrorize the citizens. He walked the streets with his Sword they where never parted now wherever he went the SWORD went.

He babbled crazily and would grab whomever was near and kill them. Finally one night in an act of insane violence he attacked an orphanage. When the Guards finnally got up enough courage to confront him. He taunted them. A main lieutenant a brave man challenged the King to come out. The King came out carrying a baby in his arms. He threw the baby at the lieutenant who dropped his weapons to catch the toddler. The man had done exactly as the King expected. Because just as he caught the child the King stabbed him in the heart. Pushing the crying baby aside he ate the mans heart right there in front of his own former guards. The Blood Sword had him now and there was no turning back. The guards had enough they determined to kill the vile man before them. He was strong and young and the Sword would keep him that way. For the young King now had a thirst for Blood. Blood, Blood like a wild beast he attacked the guards and they attacked him. He killed many. But eventually there forces where to overwhelming for any man.

So like a savage he ran from his own people. On the run and hunted this King became known as the FIRST. The First in a new race. A race called VAMPYRE.

[Marrina Ters]

She couldn’t quite grasp it as reality. The entire Vampyre race was created by a single man and a sword. The BLOOD sword for that matter. A sword of its own race, fueled by blood and rage. Her insides turned upside down as the story continued to unravel its gruesome details.

Marrina’s facial features turned that of an ill as Dalamar spoke about the BLOOD sword luring the King into its corruption. As repulsive as it was she forced herself to listen to the story. . .

The sword drew in its victims through sheer greed. Making its prey angry and drunken with bloodlust. The bare power of this sword turned a once honorable and generous man into a dark, greedy, paranoid monster. It was hard for Marrina to believe that Dalamar DeSang, a perfectly honorable man who had kept her safe so many times, was made part of this twisted race.

Marrina kept her head toward the stone floor. Soaking up such information was not easy it took a while before she could hear anymore. She merely nodded for him to continue. Although she didn’t know how much more she could take.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The First was not prey to the weakness of other vampyre's the sun didn't not bother him but he sought the darkness for other reasons. The Darkness hid his horrible deeds. The SWORD had found the perfect candidate to wield him. A man cunning, young and strong. But then the SWORD had, had that before. But not in one so clearly suited to its needs.

So the Entity in the SWORD tried to figure out a way to grant its human host some of the imortality it possesed. The Craving of blood was in both of them now. Host and SWORD. The Answer the SWORD realized was in the blood they both so craved. The HOST must drink the blood as the SWORD also drank. As the blood raged in both of them from desire the King took the SWORD and buried it in his still beating heart. There isolated in the darkness of a cave with his victims bodies strewn all around him,
he DIED.

For three days his corpse littered the cave with the SWORD pumping in his own recycled blood back into his heart. The HEART of the DRAGON. That is where the BLOOD SWORDS other name came from. Green fire and Purple lightning coursed inside the dark cave. As something New was being created. Something neither Dragon nor Human. Something with pale skin and super Strength. An anemia to the Sun and a insatiable craving for blood. He was a pitiful thing horrible to behold when he was revived. The SWORD had take longer than planned in bringing him back. Something had gone wrong he was a twisted version of what Dragon science could truly perform. But the SWORD did not care the King would live forever and carry him into the future.

The Sun was painful to him but would be deadly to his future progency. He found that he was weak yet he was not. Something was not right in him. A desire a thirst that he could not fill with any liquid but one. It burned within him and compelled him. Fresh from his awakening he had to feed. He thirsted for the hot, thick, blood. He lurched to the nearest town strong physically but weak from craving. He entered the small village. The one's he found first was a young couple on a outing. They never had a chance. There under the tree he commited his first murder as a Vampyre. His skin tone color returned and his back straightened. His beautiful dark hair again became lustrious. He realized his health and life was in the blood. Wiping his chin greed lit his eyes.

The weakness subsided but the desire was still there. His body and the SWORD where not sated. Three hundred and thirty six souls passed from history never to be seen again. And in there wake a new race was formed ....Vampyre's.

His power was incredible. He later learned he could control certain animals, Turn to mist, Call down the Storm, Change shape, Read minds and seduce the simple. He was a juggernaught an unstoppable dynasty. A Devil in the flesh. He was quick as lightning and as strong as thunder. He could not be hurt. He Regenerated if he lost a limb. He was the first and he would live forever. We are pale imitations of the FIRST.

Out of all the villagers only the couple survived to later be called The MOTHER and FATHER of all the Vampyre's. But they where not the FIRST. The FIRST was a King and somewhere, somehow he is still alive. Even though no one has heard from him in two millenia he is not gone. He cannot die. If him and the SWORD are ever reunited the world will tremble and weep.

[Marrina Ters]

So, that was it; she knew now how the race of the Vampyre was created. The tale was nothing sort of amazing, Marrina couldn’t explain it. Lust, greed, death, pain, creation, it was so complex. But still that was the beauty of it, the horrible turning of the FIRST combined with the creation of a whole new race.

Although the story was that of great history, it still filled Marrina with disgust and uneasiness. She shifted uncomfortably as Dalamar went on with the tale.

There was something that was bugging her ever since the words ‘blood’ and ‘feeding’ was spoken about. Never once since DeSang had showed up at her apartment had he ever had the need to ‘feed’. It made her wonder, Dalamar was very different form the Vampyre’s that were written about in books. He was a gentleman of sorts and held true to honor. He never overstepped his boundaries and would keep a promise even if it killed him.

She didn’t want to interrupt but she had to ask. “Not to be rude, Dalamar, but do you ever have ‘hunger’? Do you ever have the need for blood?”

[Dalamar DeSang]

She stood there taking it all in. The history, the blood sword the Dragons all of it. She looked at him with those beautiful question filled eyes. “Not to be rude, Dalamar, but do you ever have ‘hunger’? Do you ever have the need for blood?”

Dalamar turned away as his head went down. "All the time.." Dalamar saw her eyes look on him again and this time she noticed that he was covered in blood. She had not seen him feed. But then they both have cut a bloody path just to stay alive. It never donned on her that Dalamar would feed along the way... until now. "I do what I have to. What I have always have to.."

[Marrina Ters]

Horror didn’t strike at all, disgust never even came to her mind, but all she could find in her heart was compassion. She understood his complications to being a Vampyre; the weaknesses that didn’t affect her, the sun and mostly blood. She wouldn’t hate him or think anything less of him. He was her savior and she would repay him in kind some day.

With hesitation, she put a gentle hand on his shoulder. Probably risking herself in the process, she had been injured, more so than she ever had been. Although her wounds were mostly scarred over, she bet that traces of blood could be sensed, but it seemed Dalamar was worse off than she was.

If he had his blood hunger all the time, then there was no point for him to resist temptations. Though she knew that Dalamar would never try to hurt her, not even in the tiniest way. She thought that in any case she would choose to help him.

“Promise me this. If your temptation ever gets too much, by all means tell me to back up.” She never noticed at all during their journey if Dalamar had any trouble being around her. “And please, let me help you if you need it.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

“Promise me this. If your temptation ever gets too much, by all means tell me to back up.” She never noticed at all during their journey if Dalamar had any trouble being around her. “And please, let me help you if you need it.”

"Hmnn thank you, but the hunger is not constant. I wasn't being clear when I said 'all the time.' You get hungry all the time. But your not hungry ALL the time I'm the same. I really need to feed once a week. But if time's are desperate I can probably last a whole month if I had to. Also I eat regular food and enjoy it. But there is no sustenance to it for me. Just a function like breathing. I have never been tempted around you Marrina you are quite safe in my prescence. Also one last thing you see this vial in my side pouch. It's like emergency vampyre rations with special boosters in the blood to increase strength and endurance."

Dalamar looked around again to make sure they where safe. This really wasn't the best time. But things kept coming up and what if they where seperated. She had to know. "Marrina you said please let me help if you need it." Dalamar sighed, here it was, the time to tell her. He hesitated he didn't know how to say it other that to just say it. "Marrina I can't drink your blood. Your blood is special. It is the reason the Assryian is after you and afraid of you. Marrina YOUR A DRAGON. A 3rd generation Dragon. That necklace doesn't channel power. You are the POWER. The necklace is a piece of the Eye of the Dragon. It keeps you in check. Your mothers, mother was all Dragon. Your mom was half human half dragon your carrying her around your neck in the necklace your wearing. She bonded her soul to it when she died to always be with you. The power is less in you but still its off the charts. The Dragons are like Gods.. That is why the Assryian is hunting you. He wants to drink your blood while he holds the Blood Sword. He wants your power He wants to be stronger than even the FIRST!!!"

"The Blood is the Life." Dalamar tranced out for a second. Then repeated the words. "The Blood is the Life." Marrina shook him and he snapped out of it. "It's genius I suprised that the Assryian had the brains to pull it off..Unless.." Just then the Sirens went off again. It was time to run again.

[Marrina Ters]

A strangled gasp echoed throughout the empty hallway while time seemed to freeze right there. “It’s not possible!!” her mind screamed at her body. It took a minute for it to register completely in her mind; she was a Dragon…but how?! Now it was a nightmare that she couldn’t even wake up from, she was trapped in a dream, but it was so unlike what she had been through before.

It was odd, her blood seemed to heat in degree as Dalamar mentioned her a Dragon. It wasn’t like she was ill but more like she had just awakened to something long forgotten. Whether Marrina liked it or not, she was something of power and she was along for a very long ride. The heat burning inside her told her that was ready now…for everything.

A mere moment of realization began to hit her as all of a sudden a siren pierced the air, pretty much making her jump out of her skin. She shook her head, they had been standing there for way too long, they had to move. And now seemed like a really good idea.

She looked to Dalamar instinctively, her hand on the hilt of her sword. She was ready now, for more than she knew.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Marrina and Dal could hear the steel jacketed boots of marching soldiers. He pointed to a vent and Marrina quickly understood. He boosted her up and she pried it open quickly. They squeezed in tightly together in the confined area and waited until they passed. Crawling down the narrow shaft it wideneed up for both of them and made travel easier. They reached the end of the duct and Marrina braced against the wall and kicked the vent open. They where in some room that looked like a giant reactor. Black pylons reached to the sky and black rods lowered in to cool water that quickly turned to steam. What was the Assryian up to with this facility? Dalamar didn't really care he just wanted to save Marrina and get Mishca back. But there where to many he had to play it smart and chose when to take his revenge. He would get his chance if he was careful.

They kept low and checked the area out. There where no guards here everyone was searching for Dalamar and Marrina in the Lower area's. There where only technicians and others who paid no mind at all to Dalamar and Marrina. Apparently vampyre's walked freely around here and none thought any was out of the ordinary. His black armor was close to the guards. As the Assryian had tried to honor the Death Dealers Squads from the past. Something that Dalamar found plain insulting. But it did help him in he current situation. A man walked up. "Is everything okay sir?" Dal nodded and told the man to continue with what he was doing.

They went out the door and down the hall. Dal let Marrina lead her instincts where good and her guess on how to get out of there would have been as good as his. They heard heavy chanting as they continued. The room opened up and still no one paid any attention to DeSang and Marrina. They where dressed in dark blue and purple velvet robes. They formed a circle around an 8 point star in the center of the room. The men and women where oblivious to there prescence as they droned on in there ceremony. A man stepped forward looking as old as Dalamar actually was. Yet there was something about him an aura of power and strength. His tired and withered old hands walked with fluid like grace as he approached the center with his cane. The soft playing of a flute was lifted up on the air. As the chanting slowly started to tone down. The old man raised his gnarled old cane into the air. His eye's flared with a greenish unholy light as his face took on an appearance of rapturous joy. The light from his eye's cast a sickly glow on Marrina's features. She seemed to have forgotten there need for haste as she stopped and watch what was unfolding before them.

[Marrina Ters]

The jade light was mesmerizing; it drew her in even though she knew perfectly well that such a thing could not be all good. She felt something unusual within the bodies surrounding the eight point star. She was uncertain of what to call whatever it was that she was feeling, but yet the sensation was all too familiar.

As the old man rose his staff in the air, all though left Marrina. She watched in pure silence, in such giving a new meaning to the saying ‘Silent as the dead’. It was hard to look away, even though she knew that there was no time to waste in getting out of this place.

The old man seemed overjoyed as the sickly colored light spread over the entire room. She didn’t know what to make of it, what was going on? Her instincts were curious and there was not stopping her from watching what was unfolding around her.

The chanting of the robed figures rose and then fell; it was like an ever constant wave hitting the shore of a friendly beach. It only helped to draw Marrina in, she couldn’t even glance to Dalamar for help. She wanted to be pulled away; the two of them need to get out. But her gaze and her feet stayed where they were.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Marrina stepped forward and to Dalamars growing anxiety he saw that he also was moving toward the center of the Circle. His face became a force of concentration as each step brought them closer to the center of the Circle.

A cloaked man and woman appeared at Dalamars side. "Come this way son. Your place is over here." Dalamar did not know what to make of it. He fought with all his will. He thought his left hand moved that was it. "Do not fear, we will not hurt the promised one. We have waited for her for so long." Dalamar did not know what to say as the Old man in the center was finishing his chant. Marrina was now standing next to him. The green glow included her now and she seemed to move into the circle of power that surrounded the Old Man.

He stopped what he was doing and looked fondly upon Marrina. "You have come as it was foretold. A child of the Dragons and a child of Man. We had a hand in creating the Heart of the Dragon. The Blood Sword that helped create his race." Dalamar saw the old man gesture in his general direction and he could hear his voice ehco off the walls. "We have known for many years you would be here at this point and time. We always keep our apointments. We are never early, we are never late, we are always right on time. Time you see is something that we control. Dalamar has been to our realm our home. He called it limbo, he thought it belonged to the Father of all vampyre's, Well of Hell the Citadel, the Chest Board which you are now remembering and the Keep situated across the Barren Desert. These are all ours not the Man with the Plan and not the Assryian. Not even the Father with whom we had an accord held more sway that what we gave him. You see all time is there for us to lay out or not lay out. We see the beginning and the End. It has induced and lethargy in us that we almost did not shake off in time. Many of us have died at the hands of the Assryian. He forced us into an accord. Even though your memories of Limbo are sketchy and fatasticaly wild to believe you where there and you did do these things. You must face your memories for we must do something that you may not what to deal with we have to send you back."

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina couldn’t help but narrow her mahogany eyes. Did the old man just say what she thought he said? She turned to face the old man, green glow darkening his features making him seem older than he made already be. He looked fragile, like his legs would snap out from under him at any second. His gnarled fingers touched her shoulder; his eyes held certain hope for her, it something she didn’t quite understand.

Her glare was hard; not one of anger but one of confusion. Go back to Limbo? Was this man serious? Her memories were unveiling themselves but slowly…so far none of her memories seem to frightening, although she knew that the worst were still to come back. But all of what Dalamar told her, she knew that Limbo was not a place to return too, nor was it a place to even leave.

She locked gazes with the elder man next to her, the promise and joy she saw in his eyes was too much to hold. How could this man…all these people around her believe she could stop this? It seemed damn near impossible. What was she suppose to do? She couldn’t remember her past; she was blind to her tasks.

Marrina didn’t know what happened but one minute she questioned herself the next she felt her stance relax. She found herself glancing around the room; gaze after gaze from the robed figures found her. Each was a different face, male and female, but the same hope and promise that the old man had. Her dark eyes held Dalamar a moment longer than the others; his expression was unreadable from where she stood.

Darkness flooded her world of sight as her eyes closed on their own accord. A barely noticeable smile spread across her lips, she would face her memories. She would force herself too; for these people, for the villagers, for her mother, her father, Aaron, Devious, and all the others that depended on her.

Her eyes were soft now, understanding in a way. She brought her gaze back to the old man; she would accept her fate now.

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Send her back!! She barely survived the last time." One of the robed men put a hand on Dalamar's chest and a calm floated around him. Dalamar shook it off. "Don't try to pacify me Damn it! Marrina almost died the last time we visited your home."


The gnarled robed man in the center turned and caught Dalamar's eye. "You do not understand Dark warrior. You have already agreed to this. If you do not go back she will die in your past. All realities will soon collide and she will cease to exist. The very nature of Limbo is its timelessness. You and her are there right now. If you do not enter and return to Limbo she will die we have seen it. The Assryian drinks her blood and the Universe is ripped apart. You must go back, when you do you will see yourself upon your arrival DO NOT INTERACT with yourself. You are there to save young Marrina from extinction the time continuim cannot take any more strain. The Assryians plot of universal domination is acceptable to a blank slate event.

"A blank slate event?" Dalamar asked with a puzzled look. The man grew somber and quite. "The end of all life a universal rebirth without the struggle of mankind to taint the working of universal design." Again Dalamar looked puzzled. "Universal Design?"

"I have said to much. Just know this Dark Warrior everything hinges on your success." Dalamar chuckled. "Oh great, so no pressure huh?" This time it was the wizened figure who look puzzled. But still he said only one thing. "Do you understand?"

[Marrina Ters]

There was really nothing happy or funny about this situation but Marrina couldn’t help herself from smiling. It wasn’t a smile of joy or even a smile of compassion; it was a more of a smile of promise. As much as I scared her to relive the past, she knew she had too. Whether or not Dalamar wanted her too, she would go to Limbo.

She faced the elder man next to her and nodded to him. “I will go.” Her voice surprised even her, it was strong and held jst as much courage as she wanted. These people had waited so long for her to arrive and she would save them. The Assyrian trapped them here and she would do anything to save them . . . she had to set things right.

A passion began to rise inside her that she couldn’t explain. Whatever it was, was speaking to her; tellling her to be what she was born to be. She felt it calling to her and only her; and she was listening to it.

Marrina turned her head to the side directing her voice to Dalamar even though she didn’t look at him. “This is a game I don’t want to lose, Dalamar . . .”

She knew he would object to her going to Limbo, heck if she were him she would force her not to go; but she would go back there even if Dalamar stood in her way. He couldn’t se it but her eyes were glowing with determination.

“. . .and I’m going to need your help. I can’t do this alone.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Alone! Pftt. As if I would leave you alone NOW!!.." He smiled at her. "You knew that." he said. Dalamar approached the wizened old man. "So IF we don't go back the Assryian drinks her blood kills her receive's even more blood of the Dragons in him and rips the universe apart?" The Old man nodded. His voice slow and low "Though you don't know it you have already agreed to return you will aceept this mission. We are just going thru the motions to make time solid to do as we are preordained to do. As far as we are concerned you have already accepted our offer and are there now."

Dalamar chuckled "Well of course thats Time travel for you its a real pain in the ****. So what your saying is that for Marrina to even be standing here to hear your offer is the proof that you need to know that me and her go back now and make sure she's here?" The old man again nodded. "Yes. It is as you say."

Dalamar leans in close "Prove it to me I'm a little more skeptical."

"Very well." the old mans gestures and a female with a glowing red orb enters the room. "Show them." He says. The woman runs her hands across the globe small tendrils of green lighting cascade across the glass. She speaks and it sounds like a thousand voices united as one screaming thru her the cry of a thousand souls. Her hands gnarls and withers as she moves it across the globe the skin growing tight like ancient parchment. Images swirl in smoke and then appear As thousand different civilizations are destroyed, under vampyre heels. Mass grave yards on a universal scale cover the land and vampyrism spreads like a cursed plague killing all before it. You see the Assryian huge, and red, His muscles rippling with black tattos covering his massive body. Power emanates thru the glass Darkness and evil are felt by all that are present. Before him the legions of red damned eyes looking up to him worshiping him. No one escapes its touch as all your friends and all you know if forever scarred beyond redemption.. The youthful lady withers like a crone and collapses the orb falls from her lifeless hand and crashes to the floor. Her body reduced to sand mix with the glass and blows across the floor. The Man bows "My WIFE, she knew the price when we met you. The COST of making you believe. Still I will miss her." The Old man wept.

Deep inside Dalamar knows. He knows he has seen the future, he knows it is the truth. Somberness fill him and Marrina. Dalamar bows his head in humble grattitude. "Thank you for intervening I'm sorry for your loss and my foolishness. If not for your kind all would be lost."

The old man nods. "You are an interesting people I wish you well Dark Warrior." He raises his hands as power again emanates from him and his eyes. "I just ask that you remember Her. She risked it all just as you will for the sake of the Universe."

"Remove the veil.." the room starts to crackle with energy as Marrina and Dal prepare themselves to enter Limbo.

[Marrina Ters]

“Child, please come with me.” Marrina turned to see a woman dressed in robes roughly her size; she had spoken so quietly that Marrina nearly didn’t hear her. The woman bowed her head deeply to her and she proceeded to follow her. The woman led her back to a small group of cloaked women.

Her guide drew her into the middle of the group as the rest crowded around both her and Marrina. In unison, the small circle of women pulled back their hoods. Marrina gazed around, every face was ranged in age; some elders and others appeared to be younger than Marrina herself.

“Dear, you mush be tired of hearing this but I, and the rest of these ladies feel like we must tell you again.” The first woman spoke softly; as if telling a secret. “Limbo is very dangerous, anything at any given moment could happen and . . . not to be rude mind you, but that garment will not give you very good protection against the evils’ of Limbo.”

Marrina gave her ripped and tattered robe a slow glance and she internally agreed with the woman.

“We knew you were coming for some time, although we did not know when.” A different older woman began. “We have prepared armor, fit for only you and this purpose. It is the perfect suit for a Dragon . . . will you accept it?”

Marrina Terrs was caught off guard for a moment. A slow, steady nod was the response she gave the elder. It was surprising to her how quickly the women in the circle closed in and began their task.

A tightly made body suit of thin flexible black material was the first to replace the mangled robe. A pair of crimson and obsidian padded pant-like clothing came next, and was soon followed by thick course black armor that ran the front and back of her thighs and hooked around the waist of her second layer of clothing. Hinged at the knee was a protective covering with a unique design of cyan and red carvingsthat moved with Marrina’s full range of motion. Boots blended underneath this rough armor that surround her calf’s and shin’s. Various sizes of spikes scattered out around in blade like razors.

The cloaked women settled and fastened a thick black breastplate with the same pattern of cyan and red as her leg armor; while another one or two overlapped it with shoulder plating that appeared to fan out in sharpened edges. Beneath the shoulder plates began a real light weight armor that followed her arm down to the beginning of her elbow. A set of mesh knitted metal covering were pulled over her forearm; lastly the group of women brought forth a par of small gauntlets. The gauntlets covered her whole top hand and protected each individual finger with a series of black armored layers that allowed her fingers to grasp any object; the underside of her hand was left exposed.

The armor was not in the least heavy; it barely felt like anything was on her. Taking a long glance at the armor Marrina realized it resembled dragon scales. Again, the circle of women moved out so only the first woman remained in from of Marrina. Very carefully the older woman unsheathed a long sword from her layered robe. It was one of the most beautiful crafted things she had ever seen. The sword was black and matched her armor with a system of cyan and dark red carvings along the blade. The blade itself was long and from the middle to the near end emerged four large spikes . . . for hacking most likely; the tip was sharpened to a perfect point. Gently, the woman presented Marrina with the sword; the feel was unbelievable, it was so light and the perfect size for Marrina.

Marrina grasped the coiled handle of the sword, inspecting it generously. Slowly, she strapped the sword to her back before addressing the elder again. This time Marrina bowed her head. “Thank you, mistress. This is an unbelievable gift.”

The small group of women opened toward the great circle of which she had come. The only response of which Marrina heard before turning to reclaim her spot next to Dalamar was a soft, “Let the prophecy come true.”

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1049656/DarkKnight-Paine.jpg (armor like this, except no head gear)

[Dalamar DeSang]

A familiar hole in space appeared. One Dalamar had grown to know well. It was a window into Limbo. Before he had to do many things just to get the passage to open. But here and now the Old man and his companions did it with seeming ease.

Like a curtain being pulled back the very fabric of the air was ripped open. It was if the man just reached up and tore a hole in the middle of the room. On the other side Limbo. A wind started to rise and Dalamar and Marrina where being pulled in. The flame sconces on the wall started to flicker then went out as the suction increased. the only light was the green glow from the Old man and his friends. A rparing was filling Devious's ears.

He took one step into the rift and he was standing on inky blackness. It took only a second but it seemed an eternity filled that moment. Then for another second he did not see Marrina and panic welled up in him, had she been thrown across the universal divide lost to him? Then with relief he realiazed he still saw her hand held in his. He pulled and she came thru. It seemed as if her atoms screamed to catch up with her hand and she also blurred into Limbo with a shocked look on her face.

[Marrina Ters]

Anyone who had just had their atoms pulled apart and mysteriously transported into an alternate reality would be shocked, Marrina was no exception. What she experience going through the portal was nothing like she ever felt before. All feeling was lost from her body; no pain, no numbness, no sensations at all . . . it was like she didn’t exist. It was like nothing existed.

It was stunning how one minute, Marrina and Dalamar had been in a world full of life and . . . death; then the next minute the two of them were in a place where life didn’t even seem possible. Death didn’t even seem possible. There was nothing; no emotion, no air, no heat. And still Marrina could feel herself very much alive.

There was no sound; a silence that couldn’t even be described. It was almost heart stopping how the silence seemed to scream in her head; even with no sound Marrina was deaf from the silence. Never had she ever wished to hear the sounds of her old home more than now.

Her features sobered slowly; the newness took her by surprise. She found her grip tightened around Dalamar’s hand. There was no way that she was going to let go of him. This place was going to eat her alive.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Almost with a thump she seemed to land into Limbo. Though Dalamar knew there was really no landing just a shifting of all reality around you. The forward motion was just a trick your mind played on you to compensate for feeling it did not understand. Still when Marrina arrived and squeezed his hand he understood. He had almost forgotten the overbearing silence of limbo. The chirping of birds and the blowing of the wind was missing here. He gave her a quick hug and then turned to see where in Limbo they had been placed.

It was what he saw next that filled him with awe and stregthened his resolve. Quickly he pulled out the old piece of leather parchment that was in his hand. One that he had held onto all these years. "You will make it, do not doubt be strong Dalamar, YOU will make it." The same leather writing that had been left for him all those many years ago by that other Dalamar. It had given him hope and strength when you thought that there was no end to darkness and the evil.

A portal in Limbo opens he see's Marrina point. She points but even before she speaks he knows what she is going to say. Dalamar and Marrina are standing over a cliff of nothingness and with a view like a moutain top Limbo is laid out before them. There on the Valley floor of Limbo is Dalamar with a sword in hand stepping onto the great chest board that started this grand adventure and the vampyre's hunt for the past.

He smiled this was before he knew Marrina. But the time was coming soon for there future meeting. The two Dalamars saw each other and a circle 22 years old closed. Dal looked at Marrina and then at his younger self. "Amazing. I remember this happening and always wondered who you where? Now I know and I get to leave this for myself." With a wink to his younger self he dropped the parchment. He looked and Marrina. "It going to be okay where suppose to do this Marrina. I had my doubts but you made the right choice. We are suppose to come back here." Dalamar felt a resurgance of strength to carry out there mission. All the fighting and running and hiding had made even him start to doubt that them would succeed.

The former Masters of Limbo where wise. The vampyre knew that there emergence here at this point was no accident. He looked at Marrina and made a most profound statement in all his vampyre years. "Pretty Cool, don't you think."

[Marrina Ters]

As hard as she tried, Marrina couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across her lips. It was pretty neat how Limbo could portray these ‘timelines’. But just hearing the Great Vampyre Warlord call something cool was worth lightening up.

Her warm eyes cast back to the other Dalamar, before the portal closed. He seemed so lost . . . so unsure of himself; he was nothing like the man beside her; but also he was the exact same person. The younger Dalamar was taken aback by the gesture ‘her’ Devious made to him. As the Dalamar next to her dropped a small leather strip for the other; she turned, her hand raised in casual salute. She wasn’t sure if the other Dalamar noticed this, before she also threw a reassuring smile toward him before the portal closed.

She watched in a fascinated state; the mystery of this place made up for the silence. There was no doubt that she was still frightened of this place but in seeing Dalamar gain hope made her believe. This was right, this was going to work. One way or another this was going to work.

All the evidence of the portal was gone and Marrina let her hand drop to her side effortlessly. It was almost stunning what she saw. Limbo was . . . enchanting, but she also knew none of it was real. It was dangerous here.

Marrina turned knowingly to the Vampyre; her grin had barely faded.

“It’s interesting, really, you haven’t changed a bit on the outside. Not a day older, not a day younger. Even after 22 years.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar smiled "Hey don't be jealous, because I'm a handsome devil." The vampyre said with a smirk. Though he was in Limbo he could not help but feel really good his elated mood was like a boost of childlike energy that he sorely needed.

Marrina wariness at being here was apparent. Her feeling did translate to Devious just a little and his hand instinctively reached for his sword handle like an old friend. To lighten her mood he tried to get her mind off where she was.

"How did you like that ride to get here? Nothing like having your molecules ripped inside out. It was worse with the mock up blood sword that I had created to get here. It felt like every vein was on fire and going to burst out. This was marginally better no pain yet it felt like we where ripped apart and reassembled."

He paused and changed the subject. "Do you remember the Oracle? If not get a good look at him down there he's running the board on my past self. I don't know if he going to mess with us? I wonder if where under the scope of his power this time. Or if we are a miscellanious interpertations of our future selves. When I originally came he tried to help me even though he was under orders to hinder and detain me anyway he could. Eventually I understood that he was being compelled. Be wary of him though, even though in his own way he led me to you knowing that you would be the one to help him get free of the Assryians grip. Maybe despite the Assryians commands he will help us again."

[Marrina Ters]

Her once shining smile faded into a creased line stretched tight across her face. In coming to this place, memories that she didn’t even know existed showed its face. She remembered a lot more of Limbo than she wanted to. The Oracle was just one of many; but not nearly the worst.

But as for her trip in; it felt as if it had happened so many times before. It was just so awkward.

“It’s not everyday that my molecules get ripped apart and then get jumbled together again.” Her face reflected a soft grimace. “But this time, like you said, it didn’t hurt, it was just different.”

She watched as Dalamar waved a hand down below. Sure enough, there was the Oracle, revealing various doors for the Vampyre’s past. She did remember the Oracle and there was no doubt that it ‘knew’ her.

“The Oracle was odd, I remember thinking that when I was smaller.” Marrina recalled separate moments where the Oracle even frustrated her. “I guess we will see how much he will help now.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

The air rippled with power as a metal finger then a hand, then a body followed by the Oracle. Dalamar was not shocked to see both Oracle's at the same time this was limbo after all and time was funny here. "Hmnn you arrive at a crucial time, but I assume you know that. Follow me." The Oracle thrust his fist into the air and made another portal. Crackling with energy it widened to fit them all.

Marrina looked at Dalamar hesitantly and he nodded. She stepped thru following the mechanical butler called the Oracle. DeSang likewise followed. They entered a large open area with electronic device's lining the wall. In the center of the room was a crystal ball it was large and filled the whole room. Inside glowing liquid of pink and purples moved around along with small electrical currents that flowed across the surface and inside as well. A large conduit was connected at the top with many wires going in different directions along the electronic wall. There was also lined on the opposite side docking stations for what appeared to be 10 Oracles. each had a glowing head filled with the same liquid. A voice like thunder boomed across the room.

"Welcome Lord of the Dark and daughter of the Dragons. Welcome to my HOME."

[Marrina Ters]

It was like entering a meat cellar; the air Marrina felt around her arms and neck had all of a sudden gone cold. Involuntary shivers racked through the young woman’s body; if the entire room had been real, there was no doubt that Marrina would have seen her breath leave her mouth.

Watching the short bursts of electrical waves over pink and maroon clouds within the crystal made a hazy glaze work its over the warmth of her eyes. Luminous murky plumes swirled and mixed into soft spectacular colors while a small electrical spark would give the effected of miraculous lightening.

It was a sight only one could dream of. One would only see such things in movies.

“Welcome Lord of the Dark and daughter of the Dragons. Welcome to my HOME.”

Her mind was torn away from the wondrous display as the thunderous sound invaded her ears. She shook in her place, not out of fear but out of the sear power she felt plunge into the room. The feel only added to the racking shivers in her limbs and spine.

The sudden surge made her skin crawl…as well as the small hairs on her neck stand on end.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Well Dalamar was impressed. There was more than one Oracle. He thought all the multiples of Oracles where caused by Limbo and its weird state of time. "So this is how your everywhere at once. The Oracle nodded. He then walked over to the glowing crystal ball. "This is the central mind. The electrodes flow along the conduits giving each one of us the information to do our tasks as needed. Also whatever information they glean while working is likewise brought back here to the central brain and all information is then processed. Its very effective and effecient. Most of your dealing where with AL1 and AL6." Marrina seemed fascinated with the conduits reaching up to touch one of the Oracles that was receiving information.
As she reached its eyes opened startling her. It spoke in the same monotone voice as the other. "Please don't do that I'm processing now thank you." Marrina mumbled sorry and Dal gave her a quick chuckle. She punched him in the arm for his troubles. There was a noise of something crashing to the floor and Marrina and Dalamar turned with incredible quickness to see only a cat. The Oracle bent over and picked him up with suprising gentleness. "This is Theodore and I assure you he means you no harm." Dal sheathed his sword "He's a big fat hairball I'll give him that. So whats this thing you have for us? Since we've arrived at just the right time again?" The Oracle smiled walking towards them, as he did he ran his fingers across the Crystal Ball causing electrical current to cascade across his hand. Theodore's hairs stood up but he seemed quite relaxed and actually purred.
"Yes about that, How is it that your timing is so precise is there something I should know. If so it needs to be stored in the collective mind...?"

[Marrina Ters]

Marrina was listening to the Oracle, although she wasn’t really hearing what he was saying, nor was she hearing Dalamar. Her attention had been diverted towards the others, including the large feline in the butler’s arms. The sensation she was getting from them was a lot more interesting than the two ‘men’ who talked amongst themselves.

Her importance in this matter was extreme but her mind was straying away from this particular conversation. She was fascinated by the electrical currents that seemed to cascade everywhere, the short bursts of lightening made the small hairs on her neck and arms stand on end.

The learning of how the timing of them arriving was wavering in and out of her mind as she watched different shades of purple blue lightening found its way to and from the other Oracles. Every once and a while her head would snap back to attention when a short strike would flow behind the robot in from of her.

She almost felt like a little girl in a candy shop; tons of distractions that proved hard to concentrate on one certain mission.

[Dalamar DeSang]

"Well no matter of the how you got here only the fact. I think it is time you meet the Master the one that has helped you for so long. Please follow me."

"Master?" Was all Dalamar said as he followed the Oracle. The Butler like machine led them down a long hall past all the other Oracles and to a door. There with deliberate care he took out an old brass key. Passing the first door. He hummed an electronic code and the door clicked opened. There before me and Marrina stood a flight of stair descending into the darkness. The vampyre's hand went to his hilt. The smell that wafed up from below was old and reminded him of something long forgotten. Dalamar could see the hairs on Marrina's arm raise. "Whats down there." Marrina demanded to know.

"Yes, Oracle where are you taking us?" DeSang demanded. "Come you must see for yourself or you will not believe." Was the Oracle's only reply.

[Marrina Ters]

Whether she wanted to or not; she had to follow the Oracle. Down and down they went. The farther they traveled down the staircase, the more the smell increased. It was pungent. Something that reminded her of the past; she could tell it was on Dalamar’s mind as well.

She observed him just as much as she observed her surroundings. There was even a moment where she felt that this was a place where she had been before. Which she couldn’t really rule out that fact due to new recent knowledge. It seemed to her that everything she once knew had nothing more to do with this universe. For the time being there was nothing she could do except follow this new path.

. . . For better or for worse . . .

[Dalamar DeSang]

There was a heavy smell of Roses and Death mixed together as they descended slowly into the darkness. The Oracle led the way and his pace was deliberately slow. The thought of someone pulling his strings or helping them seemed very plausible. Things to often seemed to work out in ways that he didn't think likely for mere luck to account for. But who could be that powerful first and second who could know all the ins and outs of there situation which involvled fluctuating timelines. Just thinking of who it could be was giving Dalamar a headache.

Suddenly he was brought out of his reverie as the Oracle stopped. Apparently they had arrived at the location down here in the darker depths of his home. They stood before a great wooden and brass door its surface was covered in arcane symbols that where carved into it in the old vampyre language. "What is this place Oracle?"

"Soon Dalamar soon, the Master would be wroth with me if I was to reveal his identity before he was ready." The Oracle opened the door to a brightly lit room A Throne of Glass and gold sat up high and lifted up behind the room as if a symbol more than a throne. Figurines sat upon a map of time and space. Warpholes and Wormholes where marked everywhere. A blackboard with massive mathamatical equations filled the one wall. Whomever was working in this room was a master in temporal redundanacies and mathamatical theory. From Rosenburgs time bridges to Shilling Billet theory they had covered there tracks. "Who?" Again Dalamar asked his impatience starting to show.


"It is I." Came a voice from a dark shadowed corner of the room. His eyes blazed and his large frame moved into the light.
"It is I the Father of all vampyre's and your creator."

Marrina and Dalamar stood stunned..

[Marrina Ters]

The scent to death was all too familiar as the trio continued to descend down the stair well. Marrina proceeded quietly behind the Oracle and her Vampyre; there was a lingering smell of something sweet. A tiny hint of a beautiful force within a horrible place; it was soothing in a way and a wonderful wave of happiness sparked deep in her heart . . . roses. The faded scent revealed a very welcomed memory, one of true happiness that slightly covered the terrible ones she had remembered as of late.

Roses, those amazingly elegant flowers were always the last thing Marrina saw as a child before she was drowned in nightmarish dreams. Those sweet, brightly colored flowers spread a thin sheet of protection for Marrina as a child; a little piece of home was what she would remember them by; the flowers that sat peacefully on her bedside night table.

She listened in continued silence as Dalamar spoke briefly to the Oracle. There was a certain tention in the air the farther they went.

Marrina wasn’t blind and she surely wasn’t unobservant; there was something uphead and whatever it was she knew she had ‘seen’ it before. A memory or a vision, something that had happened before but that something wasn’t detailed enough for her to remember.

However, the voice that boomed in the darkness was a trigger to uncover yet more of the puzzel that had become her life.

Before her was the one person she had not seen or remembered in her memory. The Father of the entire Vampyre race . . . What must Dalamar be thinking?

[Dalamar DeSang]

"But your dead?!" It was all that came to Dalamar in his moment of shock.

"3000 years has not improved your wit has it Lord of the Morning Dawn." So utterly stunned and shocked was Dalamar that he stood there stock still as the Father approached. In flowing blue, crimson and gold robes he approached his long fingers white with age nevertheless where still filled with vigorious power. He moved with deliberate slowness for the sake of Marrina? He wondered.

"Did you think that you could escape the long blackness and that your Creator could not. Do you truly think me so easily slain. I will forgive your Inpertince for you did sleep a long time even for such as us." Then he was there and even Dalamar didn't see him move. His hand softly on Marrina's cheek just a simple caress of affection. But even if it had been a killing blow he could not have stopped it. He was not a match for the Father.


Dalamar was confused. "But if your alive then the Mother?"

"No she is truly dead. The Assryian deceived the Mother and in a moment of Her weakness he killed and drank her blood. He gained her power but he did not gain mine. The Oracle, and this place was found and shaped by me and even though I had insight to his actions, Limbo is a paradox. I found out after I was dead if you can understand that. I had little time to place a believable replacement in my chambers before the alternate you and the Thrice cursed Assryian killed me.. The death of the Mother thou regretable only saved me the trouble of doing it myself. For in Limbo it was her planning of my Death that brought to my attention the actions of the Assryian. I was watching the scheming Harlot when I witness her Assasination and soon after my own. I then witnessed his manipulations of the timestream in this very same chamber. A chamber I gave him access to!" The Father turned his back on Marrina for a moment as if in thought. Still his voice echoed in the chamber

"Everyone betrayed me even you. Well the other you, I saw your true sadness when you heard that I had been slain. By no less than your alternative self. Do not feel to deeply this betrayal, the Assryian manipulated your other self heavily. General Devious has drank freely from the Mother and has grown more powerful. He sense's that the Assryian has tricked him. Probably knows it for truth but has no one and nothing else. That is why the Assryian is desperately trying to kill you and keep you two apart. If your counterpart was to learn of your existence and his manipulation it would trouble his schemes tremendously. Maybe even ruin his plans to make the reality he created form solid as he wishes and leaving me and you to rot in the Dust."

[Marrina Ters]

The sheer sight of the Father was something else, something that Marrina was not nearly prepared to see. The Father was frightening, yes, but his physique was anything but. The soft fluttering of his beautifully colored capes drew her attention and left her more unaware of her surroundings than she wanted to be. Though, his distraction was nothing to be forgotten, her mind still lingered on that fine tripwire of cautiousness and hesitation.

However much she wanted to keep herself on the defensive and be prepared; that tiny wire soon fell away when the Father moved suddenly. Her features resembled something of her Vampyre companion; shocked was something to say the least. The Father may have showed a slight sign of a smile as he touched her face; but that possible sign of happiness faded quickly . . . Marrina had locked herself in a frozen state. She wasn’t so much shocked by his nearly impossible movements; but moreover, the Fathers’ touch was highly more affectionate than she had ever thought.

Her mind was temporarily bruised with surprise, her every thought was left jumbled and broken into pieces. There was so much more to this journey that she still hadn’t learned and she was beginning to wonder how much more of this story there was.

It was frustrating in a way that she still really had very little idea of what kind of mess she was now a huge part of. The Fathers' story had only deepened the plot of what had and what will happen.

[Dalamar DeSang]

He looked at Marrina almost longingly. His breath heavy "Your Blood so...powerful. The Assryian is right to fear you. He must kill you now before you fully mature and become the threat that he knows you will grow to be."

"The Assryian thinks I am dead. I prefer that it stay that way. There is two reasons I have brought you here. The first is the more important and the second is an obligation to Dalamar my most trustworth and faithful servant."


"The Assryian has unwittingly altered time and has unknown to his knowledge has regenerated The First. The First not as a Heart twisted by Kilmores experiments but as himself a Black and Crimson armored Warrior. Even now he wanders in a forgotten section of Limbo trapped there by me and the Oracle. But that will not hold him for Long. I only tell you this because I go to confront and hopefully to kill him. I don't know if I will succeed. Someone else must know of his existence. The Oracle will inform you of my failure should it occur then it will be up to you."


Dalamar shook his head. "The First. He's unstoppable Father you've read the stories and heard the Legends. Some of which you wrote yourself!" The Father looked at Dalamar intently. "If not me who then. Out of all that I know I am the only one that has a chance."

"Help me dispose the Assryian and set the timestream right and then with the help of the whole Vampyre Nation we will go against The First!"


"A valid point Lord of the Morning and a good idea but time grows short. Even now as we speak the First is at the Nexus of Limbo and DEATH is about to be unleashed on all. No it must be me and it must be now."

He looked at Dalamar and Marrina and sighed. "No, I must go alone. But you are helping me kill the Assryian destroy his plans and join me in battle if you can.. The Oracle will know the way.."

[Marrina Ters]

There was a twinge of sharp pain that spread through her armor plated chest. A small grimace came to her features; the pain was unexplainable, it wasn’t so much hurtful but more so compacting. It was as if someone or something was crushing her. Maybe it was the way her body was reacting to what The Father had said, or maybe all these small battles were finally catching up with her small mortal form . . .if so, the why now?

Not helping the matter, her heart raced at a thousand light years per second. Sure, she was frightened; she had been for a very long time . . . her whole life possibly. But she was also ready; ready to take on whatever needed to be. She knew it was at the point where people were going to die. Oh God, so many people would die. Her heart hurt, it hurt for all those people.

The Father turned to leave but not before she was able to catch his peerless eye.

She said nothing in words, she didn’t need to. Everything that she had never shared with anyone was said through the few moments of silence they shared. It was a strange moment and it soon ended; The Father finally left her and Dalamar.

There had been something in his eyes that had said something to her; something that made the power in her stir. The Dragon inside her began to weep; The Father was leaving them now. Her words were nothing more that a stifled whisper . . .

“Goodbye, Father.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Father placed his hand upon Marrina's head gently as he left. He handed Dalamar a small silver key engraved with gold writing of the Vampyre language. Then he was gone...

Dalamar felt an interminal pain in his heart. He was overjoyed to find the father still alive only to lose him again so soon. He stepped from the chamber like a ghost and the Oracle stepped forward. "Follow me, there is more to tell you and I have always been faithful to follow the orders given me. The Father has entrusted you with more than you know. I have been given detailed instructions. Follow me and I will explain more throughly

The Oracle turned and went back up the way he came. The Vampyre Lord looked at Marrina with a puzzled expression. "What now?" Marrina shrugged her shoulders and they followed the Oracle upstairs..

[Dalamar DeSang]

He wondered as he ascended the stairs what more there was to hear. The Oracle led them back to the Main chamber where his many twins waited. He moved without hesitation his fingers flew with a liquid quickness over a gel keyboard. Images floated up before them each one old and antiquiated, times and Events from the long past of the Vampyre Nation. At last one of the Images solidfied into a door. The Oracle turned and held out his hand. "The Key please." Dalamar did as he was bid and handed over the key the Father had given him.


The Oracle opened the door into a hallway that stretched on into infinity. Doors lined both sides of the walls with intersecting mirrors across the whole length. The Oracles Monotone voice boomed across Limbo. "The History of the Vampyre Nation is now in your keeping Lord of the Dawn." At the end danced white clouds and worlds of History. Dalamar dropped to his knee's overcome with emotion his race his people where not lost. Classical music of the great Composers of that lost time echoed down the hall. Forgotten Masterpieces adorned the walls along with statues of every size and color. The Father had saved what he could It was a true treasure beyond compare. Then at the end of the hall he saw something that made his heart skip a beat. Tears fell from his eyes uncontrollably for there at the end amongst the clouds suspened in air was Mishca's body. Her hair floated above her like an angelic halo but it was obvious that is was only a shell. The Soul spark that the Assryian possesed was needed.

The Oracle put his hand on his shoulder. "The Father wanted to make amends for your loss. He saved the body of your Lover she is held here in good health. He wanted to reward you for your faithfulness. Stop the Assryian and save the Universe and restore your true love. The Father wanted me to tell you to go with his blessings and to let you know there is hope..."

[Marrina Ters]

Seeing her Lord fall to his knees sent a stinging pain straight through her heart; she knew his pain and happiness. Seeing Mischa’s body also sent a pain to and through her heart, although not of real pain but of happiness for her Lord. She was overjoyed that there was finally something good and ready for Dalamar, but yet she was deflated, she still had this unknown feeling that made her heart burn with a ferocious pain. There was a part of her that didn’t want Mischa to live, a passion that only wished that Mischa had actually died and not been kept for Dalamar.

Marrina watched as emotion after emotion flooded over the Vampyre’s features; his hopefulness brought her own emotions back into check. Who was she fooling? Her face burned in embarrassment; there was no reason for her to act this way; Dalamar deserved the universe and more for all the pain and suffering he had gone through. Her petty feelings had to be thrown and forgotten; they were useless.

Inside her head, she silently wept at her selfishness; in all her life, never had she ever behaved so carelessly. From now on and further, she would do everything in her power to reunite Dalamar with everything he had lost. She would make sure that all this fighting would pay off; she would give anything to make Dalamar truly happy; even if she had to die in order to do so.

She fixed the most sincere smile she could on her fine, velvet lips as she gently placed a hand on her Lord’s shoulder. Her eyes glazed over with fearlessness and pride; she enjoyed a few stolen moments to stand by his side.

Time was up; they needed to go. The Father was waiting for them, He was depending on them to defeat the Assryian. She gave the General a steady, but still gentle squeeze with her hand; her warm eyes now set on his face.

“We have to go. The Father is waiting.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar felt the warmth of her hand at his side it was comforting. He was so glad she was here to share this moment with him. Suddenly the hand got even warmer and the room started to light up. Dalamar turned to gaze upon Marrina who was glowing apparently unaware. She smiled warmly.

“We have to go. The Father is waiting.”

The Oracle stepped back from Marrina a look of caution covered his face. A wise choice the vampyre thought to himself. Dalamar did not understand but he to took Marrina's hands.

"Marrina are you ok." still she looked puzzled then just as suddenly as the light came, it went. "Im fine, we have to go." Marrina said. "Hmnn" Dalamar wondered but kept silent maybe her emotions got the better of her like his just did. He would not be able to tell anyway because she turned away just then and he couldn't see her face. He followed her and the Oracle up and out.

The moment forgotten he kept stealing glances at Mischa's floating body he couldn't believe it. His true love was alive! He was stunned as she floated there beautifully. He did notice something new though and it caught him off guard Mischa and Marrina looked amazing alike.. that had never occured to him before. Maybe it was because he watched Marrina grow up and the change was gradual. It was quite shocking to notice. Marrina coughed as if to say hurry up and Dal followed obediently...

[Marrina Ters]

The Oracle led them through Limbo; through twists and turns that Marrina gave up on trying to remember. Instead her mind was troubled and steadily set on the imminent battle ahead of them. What would she do? Her ‘power’ was something that she couldn’t control on her own; she didn’t know how to trigger it. Even more pressing, what would she do when she couldn’t fight with her ‘power’? She couldn’t be a burden! Would her amateur combat experience be enough to help Dalamar?

She held tight to the hilt of her sword at her side; a chilling feeling ran into her heart. There was no fear for the battle ahead, read in any of her emotions; but that didn’t mean she wasn’t afraid of what would happen after.

Dalamar would risk his life for her and she would do the same for him. If for any reason something went wrong and she was left nearly helpless, she had to make sure Dalamar didn’t throw his life away for her; especially with everything waiting for him.

Mischa . . . The Dragon hadn’t failed to see Dalamar cast his longing glances at Mischa was beautiful and Marrina was envious; the Vampyres’ true love was a lovely and lucky women, Marrina hoped Mischa would know that.

What ever her inner feelings were and whatever was about to happen, the third generation Dragon would not let Dalamar give his life away. So she turned to him; her face serious and uncharacteristically cold.

“Remember one thing, Dal, you will have Mischa.”

Her warning was hidden in the depths of her words.

[Dalamar DeSang]

“Remember one thing, Dal, you will have Mischa.” those words echoed in his mind. They brought home a hard truth, Dalamar had not expected to live thru this adventure and had come not to care if he did as long as Marrina was safe. For so long he had been a killer a weapon created by the Father. The point of his whole existence was to bring Death to those around him. Dalamar had figured whats the use. He wasn't going to be happy ever. He ceased to care if he lived or Died.

He chuckled within himself. If the Assryian had not attacked him and brought his memories back to the surface he would have probably ended his own life on his own. But then he met Marrina someone so special so innocent that she had to be protected. He would turn the Carnage that was his life towards doing something good. Then when every creepy crawly beast came out to kill them the General actually felt good. These monsters deserved him deserved Death!! The blood and the guts could be reveled in he was balancing out his life.

Justifying his existence he was saving the Saviour. He got to where he no longer hated himself and what he had become. He felt that there was a greater purpose for himself and now he had Mischa again. Another chance! How many people in this Universe want just another chance to make it right to fix things. To go back and do it differently.

The little girl before him was fast growing into a woman and heaven help the Assryian when she had reached her peak. Again his grip tightened on is swords as he imagined Daniels throat in his hands. He would Yank Mischa's soul from around his neck and restore her. Marrina would end his reign and we would all go back to our normal lives. One thing troubled him though how would he handle fighting himself? What other versions of Dalamar where running around. He was no scientist he did not know the implications of such confrontations. He would just have to use his heart to guide him and hope it worked out for the best.. “Remember one thing, Dal, you will have Mischa.”
He would remember quietly and under his breath as they walked the stairs he whispered "Thank you." To who ever it applied.

[Marrina Ters]

Whether he ment for her to hear him, she didn’t quite know, and whether or not his gratitude was ment for her; she didn’t mind if it wasn’t. All she knew was that Dalamar seemed to have gotten her intended messege. Or something along the lines of it.

The farther they traveled down the spiraling stairs, the more the air seemed to thicken and cool. A slight chill ran the length of her spine underneath her armour, but her face remained stern. Thoughts of the upcoming battle loomed in her head, what was she going to do?

No matter how much she wanted this to be over and have it all end, she knew that she had to finish fighting.

When it was all finished she only wished she could go back to her old life; the one where everything made sense. But when it would finally be over, Marrina knew she would never be able to go back to her old self. Especially, when she knew that there was so much more to the universe than she had originally believed.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Assryian is located in the New Capital of the Vampyre Nation. But first you have to enter into the Stronghold at the Edge of Limbo. Once inside in the sub Basement of the Citadel is the door back out of Limbo that leads to the alternate reality. It is the only door that I know of and it is well guarded. You will have to get to this exit point enter the Capital of the alternate reality and confront the Assryian there. Dalamar looked at Marrina and Marrina looked back. Something about that moment as they made eye contact. They Laughed. And they laughed and couldnt seem to stop. The Oracle looked at them both. "I do not understand the humor of your situation. It will be really hard to get into the Citadel and thats only the begining. Once you escape Limbo you will have to cross the Capitol and find your way to Daniel."

Dalamar looked at the Oracle. "We understand the situation Oracle its just that nothing is ever easy and we are just starting to find it really funny. Its never just go here and pick this up. Its always fight against the World."

The Oracle still gazed at them with a mystified look "Very well, some nuance's of human emotion still elude me."

Marrina with a smile on her face said "Where do we start?" The tension of the earlier moment seeming to ease for everyone.

The Oracle started moving toward a wall and again he waved his mechanical hands around in some gesture. Again the portal opened and there it loomed tall and dark like something out of a nightmare. The Citadel at the end of Limbo. Vagur memories flooded Dalamar. "I"ve been there before.." He said hesitantly. The Oracle looked at them. "You both have but that is not important, what is important that you go there now and find the doorway that leads to the alternate Universe and stop Daniel. Agreed."

Marrina and Dalamar nodded "Yes, of course we agree."

This time the Oracle smiled his robotic smile. "Step on thru to the other Side." Marrina and Dal heard some weird other wordly music and wondered what it was. The Oracle said "Its the "Doors" I thought it appropriate for your adventure."

"I will land you one mile away from the Citadel so that you will not be easily detected, Good luck."

As Marrina and Dalamar stepped thru Marrina looked back. "Thanks." she said and she kissed the robot on the cheek. Dalamar could have sworn the big guy went stiff. Nah, robots don't have feelings.

They stood on a hill next to a blackened burnt tree below them was the Citadel. They checked there gear and moved towards it.

Back in the Oracle's chambers he is checking redundancy flaws on the computer absently he keeps raising his hand to his cheek..

[Marrina Ters]

Being brought into the world so long ago, Marrina would never have thought that at nearly three decades later she would be trying to save the universe; with a Vampyre no less.

Over the distance between the Citadel and them, Marrina gazed emotionlessly at the heightening structure. She would have been frightened but she knew this place. Deep in her head she had memories of the first time she was here. She admired the black masterpiece in front of her. The sure malice-ness of it was absolutely beautiful.

It was a beacon of sorts in her head.

The smile that she had left the Oracles side with had never faded from her lips. She stepped forward down the hill, but the hesitated her second step as she turned a moment to Dalamar.

“Let’s finish this,” she spoke with intensity but also a hit of longing. Spinning on her heel, she continued cautiously down the hill. “Let’s finish what they started.”

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar could not agree more. Tightening his Harness that held his Katanas in place he followed down behind her. As they neared the Keep DeSang noted that there where no noticable guards which seemed highly unlikely. Knowing the Assryians penchant for strict security this made him even more wary, something wasn't right here. Dalamar saw Marrina noticed it to as she slowed down her pace and focused more on things around her. He was proud of her she had grown beautifully and was more than strong enough for what was ahead.

Suddenly the sky started to darken then the sky seemed to stretch. The few trees that where near started to bloom. While others farther off died and withered. The wind picked up and it started to rain lightly. Off in the distance you could hear the loud rumble of thunder as some storm was approaching. Shubbery sprung up on both sides of the path as if to mark the way. gnarled and twisted the branches of the bushes almost seemed to reach out to you. To want to grab you. Marrina pointed out on the path "Whats that?" knowing Dalamars eyes where a little sharper. Dals voice took on a spooky quality as he spoke. "Its a small boy, boy with a walking stick." he said hesitantly. They both stood stock still as they realized it was Aaron the child from the village.

[Marrina Ters]

It was like a freight train just had collided into her chest; the air in her lungs rushed out the moment she discovered who that little boy was. It was Aaron . . . little, tiny Aaron. Her mind drew back and she could see his tiny smiling face in her memories. But she also remembered how she had found him, or rather, how that little boy found her.

He was there, right in front of her, now and in her memories. That child was one of the things that dad made her strong; one of the things that had kept her from falling . . . kept her from failing. Though, she was just as much there for him as he was for her, nearly adopting him as her very own child.

She had taken him in after the death of his mother; a tragic horror that he had witnessed. She fell for that child; he was so much like her own childhood self . . . but . . .

But he had died. He died right in front of her and there was nothing she could have done. Now, in this alternate place, here he was.

Anger and sadness caused tears to form in her eyes, although her face remained stark still. As the tears threatened to fall, she turned her head away . . . Oh, god. The Assryian would pay.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The rain picked up pace and purple lightning filled the sky. The withering was more obvious now. Every where the boy stepped blackness spread from his feet thru the ground and to the roots of the nearby folliage.

The boy's little angelic face looked up. He had no pupils whiteness filled them with a milky quality that was eerie. They looked like a severe case of Cataracts. "Is anyone here." his hand reached out, his voice took on a pleading quality. "Please help I'm lost, please anyone." Marrina moved to run to him. With quickness that the Father had blessed him with he grabbed her arm. He said nothing but pointed at the ground. Marrina saw the darkness spreading from his feet. She nodded neither spoke.

Aaron smiled and stood normally. "I did not think it would work but I had to try. You understand of course." He seemed to be looking past them even though he stared in there direction. Dalamar spoke, "Aaron what have they done to you?" Only Dalamar saw what happened next. A single milky tear fell from the boys eye. Marrina was gratefully to far to notice such a small detail in the former little boys face. "I am all I wish to be and more. I have missed you both greatly." This time the voice cracked and the little boy underneath could be plainly seen. A pleading look came upon him and just as quickly was gone. Then something happened that Marrina and Dalamar will remember forever. A small evil face stretched across the skin of the child in the chest area. Seeming to want to leap from its fleshly confines. Marrina and Dal let out a horrified gasp.

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain or." He said chuckling." The demon behind the boy. His soul is deliciously innocent and tasty." The cataracts where gone and green fire filled his eyes. "Come Dragon lets see what your soul taste's like!"

[Marrina Ters]

“You bastard!”

Marrina was furious; that demon was eatting away that little childs’ soul. And it actually thought it was funny; humerous in a way. Now, that thing was forcing a fight on both Dalamar and Marrina; it was a fight that they didn’t have time for. A fire started in her blood, her Dragon blood.

It felt like she was burning for the inside out; in every limb and vein. The fire blazed hard and it hurt, it hurt horribly. There wasn’t much she could do, the anger in her mind and heart was so extreme. Aaron was being used and drained of his body and soul; nothing deserved that, absolutely nothing. She removed her sword from her hip and held it steadily in front of her.

Behind her sword, the eyes of an entire extinct race raged. She wasn’t afraid. She welcomed the power and will of her people.

She would kill that demon. But the question was, how would she kill the demon without killing Aaron? Or was Aaron even still alive, she witnessed his death. Was this really him?

[Dalamar DeSang]

A warm glow surrounded Marrina again Dalamar wisely stepped away. Moving around to the side he put himself in a flanking possesion to the left of Aaron
. His green eyes focused only on Marrina. Then with a snap of his neck like bones breaking he jerked his head toward Dalamar. "Do not think you will kill me so easily this time Dark Lord." He said the words with hot hate.

"Who are you?" Dalamar said. A slight chill went down his spine as an illusive memory of something shadowy killing many people flashed behind his eyes. "Do you think its fair Dalamar that I killed his whole town and then you save this one little boy!! All that he knew was killed by me a perfect genocide and all just to give you taste of what is to come." Milky tears flowed down the boys face. Another horrendous jerk and he again was looking at Marrina. "Your precious Aaron is still inside here somewhere so be careful now. You wouldn't want him to get hurt would you? I tell you what lay down your sword and come to me willingly and I will let the child go you have my word." Dalamar saw Marrina hesitate and her sword arm started to lower.

The Demon child formerly called Aaron smiled with gleeful hatred. The Darkness at his feet was spreading killing everything in its path. The sky was raging purple then red. Limbo was on edge waiting for Marrina's choice.

[Marrina Ters]

The light emanating from her body pulsated; everything seemed to stop just then. All of time had halted and was awaiting for her; her decision. The rage she had was nothing now, she was completely numb. Her eyes flickered to Dalamar for advice; what could she do? If she fought Aaron would die, if he wasn’t already dead.

The sad melody of a piano’s music filled her head and she hesitated; her whole being seemed to spasm and her grip faltered. Her breath collapsed out of her lungs and her sword fell to the ground. What good was she?

Mahogany eyes left the Vampyre and fell back to the Demon. She didn’t have that strength to do what needed to be done. Her eyes cast down to the quickly dying path . . . a terrified smile came to her, she knew Dalamar had the strength . . .

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar looked at Marrina saw that she was weakening her resolve warring with her love for Aaron. Dalamar looked at the Demon child. Its eyes flashing milky white. MOLOCH, he remembered the cursed demons name. With the memory an answer to what needed to be done. He would not allow himself tears it had to be. The fate of the universe was at stake. He ran at Moloch until he was at the very edge of the blackness that spread from his feet. It was slightly downhill that was good it would help. He screamed the demons name to distract him. By now the haunting music was already entering Marrina ears. He could not allow him to access her soul, for her to surrender.

He turned his eyes grew blood like mixing with the milk. He roared while Dalamar was in mid leap. Small flecks of blood and spit flew from his distended mouth now open 3 times its normal length. A scream of piercing blackness struck Dalamar and knocked him back next to Marrina. Marrina eyes glazed over just slightly.. Dalamar panicked this was going to be close.. He ran this time moving side to side as the demon spit blackness at him the poison of its very soul. He feinted to the left and the Demon unleashed a wave of sound like the grinding of the dead gnashing there teeth in hell. He leaped like he never leaped before gliding thru the air as if he weighed nothing. He swung his Katana with a killing blow to the neck but the demon was fast. He sacrificed the childs arm to protect his neck. Still his throat was cut slightly. It howled in pain as blackness poured out of his stump and throat. Dalamar landed on the dark earth and his old beloved armor started to hiss and burn as if touched by acid. His hand touched the ground to lift himself up out of the tumble that he was in.

It burned him to the bone. One sword in hand he could see the smoke rising from his boots at they walked back toward the screaming child. Aaron looked up at Dalamar not the Demon. "Please don't." he cried "Please." Dalamar walked forward never hesitating never stopping He beheaded Aaron. The body stood suspened there for what seemed an abnormal amount of time. Then it fell to the ground with a whisper and the blackness faded away. Black smoke and laughter filled the air as the demon left the body of Aaron. Dalamar didnt have time for tears he ran to check on Marrina. She lay still the milkly glaze over her eyes was fading he held her close to him. "Be safe my love please be safe." He always thought something would happen to her that he wouldnt be there to save her.

She started to stir her eyes remained clear she was herself again. The Demon Moloch had not succedded. His black astral form appeared as smoke before us mocking us laughing at Aaron's fate. Marrina stood up as if propelled from the ground. The lost look was gone. Her hand reached out and a flaming Talon like a dragons claw reached out beyond her and gripped the smoke. Moloch wasn't laughing anymore. His voice turned to one of fear he begged Marrina for his life. She again started glowing white hot he could see around her the shape of a fiery dragon. Moloch started begging for his life. "Please spare me I know things I can help you, only don't kill me."

Marrina was beautiful. She looked at me and asked me. "Well what do you think?" Moloch looked at me and started screaming. "NO! please No!"
He knew the answer in the vampyres eyes. "KILL HIM." was all Dalamar said. Marrina crushed him with a fiery burning light. The blackness faded from all around and Marrina turned to Dalamar and put her hand over his healing it. Dalamar looked at her in wonder and said. "Is there anything you can't do." She looked at Aaron with a sorrow filled face.
"Yes, bring back the dead." Dalamar pulled her to him and held her close as they both sobbed in the great emptiness of Limbo.

[Marrina Ters]

The image of the beheaded boy remained in her mind as she closed her fierce to the outside world. This was the second time she had seen Aaron die and she still couldn’t have done a thing about it. His dying was her fault; if only she hadn’t been so vulnerable. It was all because she had fallen victim to that Demon’s trance; she could have been lost forever if it hadn’t been for Dalamar.

She pulled herself as close as she possibly could to the Vampyre and gripped him tightly as she mourned for the second death of her beloved little boy. Tears welled and fell over her cheek bones . . .the after shock of her powers racked and proceeded to take a toll on her body.

“Dal…it’s so cold.” Marrina had suddenly turned fragile and she clung even more desperately to her companion; her face was deeply buried into his chest as all she could do was weep. She wept for Aaron, for her weakness, for putting Dalamar in danger, for everything.

The pain and suffering from her ancient ancestors came pouring out as she realized that the two of them were alone in the journey.

Simply, it was just her and a Vampyre.

[Dalamar DeSang]

He held her close and all he wanted was for this to be over for Marrina for her to be happy.. This life of Destiny and Death shouldn't have been for her.
He put a gentle hand under her chin. "Don't be scarred Marrina the demon Moloch deserved Death! He was long an associate of Goen T. Kilmore. Kilmore was known for being an excellent geneticist with a fondness for cloning. Remember the clone factory we seemed to stumble on in the facillity where you killed Legion? That was his work. This was not Aaron but merely a construct of his doing. Though my memories have returned they still come back in snatches. My history is long and I guess it would be unsafe for it to all come back to me at once. But Moloch stirred it and it cost him. I remember all the blackness he use to do to the prisoners in the Empire in the Father's name. He enjoyed his work to much!

He held an old grudge from those days when I stopped his filthy butchering but being the coward that he still was he never complained to my face. I guess he thought with my memories and maybe even my abilities dwindled he could get his revenge. Moloch will taint the air no longer and Goen was sent a strong message along with the Assryian. NOTHING WILL STOP US. NOTHING." Marrina and Dalamar buried the Clone in the dirt of Limbo and even though he was a construct they still struggled to hold back tears. Dalamar bit his lip until blood drippled from his chin. There was more. It was to close to burying the real thing. Way to close..

But what Dalamar hadn't told Marrina is that when he attacked Aaron he didnt know that it was a construct. The Universe was at stake. He had to make a choice. The child or everyone else. He hated his own cursed soul that he took the childs life. What hurt even more is that he knew had it been the real Aaron he would be dead now at his hands. Inside his heart was in turmoil but knowing the situation he again would not hesitate to strike him down. It took all he had for the tears not to come hot on his cold flesh....

[Marrina Ters]

It seemed like eternity. Marrina watched the grave in which they both buried the boy; it was like she expected the thing that they put in there to come back to life. It felt only natural for that to happen, especially in a place like this. The soil itself was black, the homey brown that she was used to. Everything was dark…

Everything was evil.

She was in an evil place, where even the sweetest things were turned into something horrid. In the beginning, she would have broken; her soul would have failed…would have broken. Now, her heart was ice.

Emotion was so brutally cold to her now, even the sight of Dalamar; there was no actual life in Limbo and there was nothing that she could do…except what the Father wanted her to do, what Dalamar needed her to do for his Mischa, and what she had to do for herself.

She was going to kill the Assryian.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Done with there grisly task neither of them looked back. Still the rain fell lightly and the thunder crashed loud in limbo. The Dark keep lay before them. Still there was no guards and besides the rain it was silent. Taking no more chances Marrina and Dalamar both had there weapons out. Stars appeared in the darkened sky as if they where somewhere normal instead of limbo. There footsteps resounded softly in the stillness. Wet and filled with resolve they reached the porculis.. Dalamar looked at Marrina who only nodded. She glowed and melted the gate where it stood. The pop and sizzle of the gate could be heard as the rain hit it. It cooled fast enough and they crossed thru....


The main court yard was wide and open. Standing in the center was a large man striped in yellow and black. His eyes where an uncanny yellow striped by black marking on his face. He looked at us and long yellow cannines appeared slowly out of his mouth. It was the smile of a wolf on the prowl. It was hungry and eager for the fight. Dalamar had faced his kind before. It grunted its challenge clearly to the Vampyre Lord before him. An old blood fued that had gone on for quite a long time between the Lykin and the Vampyre. "I have no fued with you Lykin only with the Master of this keep. Step aside and let us pass in peace."

The Lykin laughed a deep throaty laugh... " I heard the female BIT%@%@ had tamed you Dalamar. That you no longer where worthy of your warlord title. But I had not believed the tales told to me. Long have I waited to fight you. Long have I trained. Meet me fairly in battle face me in honor."

"My thirst for glory and battle have long been slated. I fight now only for survival of those I love." challenged Dalamar.

"Your words are honorable but I have sacrificed blood,sweat and toil and have made an aggreement of honor also with the Master of this Keep. So I apologize but you will fight me. May you die Well..." The Lykin moved to block the path leaving the vampyre Lord no choice.

Seeing Dalamar starting to move into position the Lykin Bristled and muscle upon muscle appeared upon his body his head lowered and his neck elongated and also grew thick with muscle. Hair grew on his face and head until a heady mane of brown fur covered him like a mohawk it bristled from his head and down his neck with full power. Dalamar looked at Marrina "Guard the other pathways make sure no one else gets involved. "I will handle this in the old way." Pulling his long and short Katana. He bowed on one knee. Crossing his sword in some old ritualistic way that was unfamiliar to Marrina. "Okay Lyking make your piece I'll give you your desire." Pulling his armor off he cut his palm and smeared blood across his pale face and body marking it red as the Lykin was marked in Yellow. Stripped to the waist as the Lykin he took his two swords and left everything else behind...

[Marrina Ters]

"Dalamar, wait." Marrina tried to stop him. They couldn't afford this, not with the small amount of time they had left.

She realized something, she couldn't stop him. This was something he had to do, it was something to redeem himself in the eyes of his race. Marrina bowed her head...she couldn't stop him.

It pained her as she turned. For the mean time, she would hold off the others that might come.

"Be swift, Dal, be careful." She whispered before during the corner and out of sight; a deformed creature was waiting there. Tearing her thoughts away from Dalamar, Marrina drew her sword and lunged toward the beast; her body begining to glow with intense white heat.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Sparks flew in the Arena as the two fought back and forth. The Vampyre and the Lykin where like bolts of lightning striking where ever they could. Flashes of steel and muscle. The Vampyre was impressed the Lykin was good, very good. Rarely has Dalamar found a challenge to him in regards to his sword skills. Most Vampyres had no desire to learn the dance of steel. Rather desiring to lounge away there eternity. But his people had lost a desire for many things. But if passion could be maintained! The Skill that you could attain for a being alloted with eternity would be substantial!

This Lykin was old Dalamar could see that. But his natural force had not slowed his mane was still brown and strong and his body was still fast. Dalamar's life was actually in some danger and for that alone he appreciated the Lykin. Just as he was thinking this and blocking a parry the Lykin grunts. "Better than I was told, GOOD"! the Joy of the battle was filling them both as the dance of swords took them.

Dalamar spun for a low ankle blow which brought a Lykin leap and downward attack on his head. The blades descending the Warlord did a forward roll and a back spin slicing for the Lykins unprotected back side. A small cut the Lykin didnt even flinch. They stood circling each other one marked in red and the other yellow there breathing was slow and focused.


The Lykin thrust for the head but in the same motion without stopping he pulled back and thrust toward the thigh. Dalamar moving to protect his head was caught with his guard open. The Werewolfs heavy blade bit into his inner thigh severing tendons and making him drop to one knee. Reacting to the pain he turned at the wrong moment being struck by the butt of the sword across the nose. Tossed back he rolled with it and stood as best he could with his wounded leg. Blood flowed freely and the grin of the Lykin filled his mouth with row upon row of sharp teeth. His eyes glowed a fierce yellow in the dimming light as he moved in to hopefully finish the kill. Dalamar risked a quick glance for Marrina, "was she okay?" No time he was to close the Lykin was hard and fast barely giving the vampyre time to recover short of just reacting.

He saw a light glow to the left but could not see her, was that her? Dalamar cursed himself for a fool this might have been a trick to lure them apart and if it was he had fallen for it. He had to kill this Lykin and fast. His chance was coming on yellow claws and hot breath and the beast moved forward to KILL....

[Dalamar DeSang]

He was fierce in his attack pushing Dalamar back. Man he was fast on a par with Dal himself maybe he had to admit a little faster. This was no normal Lykin. Dal said as much as they sparred. A crooked smile filled with rows of Razor sharp teeth was his only reply.

The cuts where adding up on both of them but nothing so hard as to make them stop. There fast healing bodies made almost all attacks except the most serious only minor annoyances of pain. Sword paries to fast to see to the human eye was played out as the dance of steel and flesh and blood filled the dirty area in which they fought. Dalamar would press any advantage and make some headway but then the Lykin would push back with impressive skill. Then the Lykin did a move the shocked the Dark Lord. He turned his handle out and inward in a head striking blow. Something the Death Dealers where taught to quell crowds in the long ago past. The words escaped him as they fought "Your a Death Dealer?!!

"Of course who else could master the old techniques but one of your own. But I'm more than a Death Dealer. Im the Founder." With those shocking words he put truth to the statement and did a move that Dalamar had never seen before. The Blade arced up then down in a blaze of light with such speed and skill that he could not stop it. His blade seemed to snake around his block and stab him thru the Midsection. Claws that where to fast swiped across his face, raking his flesh.

He was moving to slow he was starting to feel leaden as he put his hand to to Lykins throat, but it was swatted aside like a useless rag. Then another swipe of the claws and fresh blood hit the dirt in heavy drops. Stabbed again in his midsection he felt the heat of the werewolfs hot breath on his face the stink of death was on Dalamar.

Desperate to get some breating room he clicked on his boot blade but before he could raise to strike the wolf cut the tendons in his thigh again the armor saved him from losing his leg instantly. The Werewolf knew he had won he started dissecting Dalamar defense. Stabbing him three times in his sword arm he made Dal drop his weapon something no one had ever done before. Dalamar arm hung limply like a piece of meat only the armor kept it attached and in place.

"Pain!"
In his chest he didnt know what the Lykin had done but he was now lying on his back. The Shadow of the beast hovered over him. His skill superior he gloated over the Vampyre. "You where good I have trained many years for this confrontation. I was taken and promised a battle that would make my blood sing again and you have fulfilled my desire. Its a shame you have to die, I hate to kill an artist such as yourself."

Dalamar looked up with one good eye. The other was clogged with blood. "Go to Hell!" The Lykin smiled. "Oh I will but you first Vampyre!!"

[Marrina Ters]

The sounds of the battle raging in the next chamber over were deafening even over the noise of the chamber Marrina fought in. She pressed forward into a mass of tall, nearly giant like, monstrous creatures; it seemed that the longer she fought the more the sword clashes from Dalamar’s chamber echoed louder and louder. The Dragon descendent knew such a distraction was dangerous but she couldn’t resist picturing the other torturous battle going on.

Her mind was in a haze and it nearly cost her as well; a long katana came crashing down on her; breaking her defense but also bringing her back to reality. The familiar sting of steel meeting flesh met briefly across her cheek as she spun, last second, to the side; but she was met again by a massive spear thrust to her abdomen. A quick deflection came from her own broad sword and using the strength of her ancestors she drove upward at an amazing speed with a fatal swipe to the giant’s throat.

Upon landing, a flurry of new attacks came from all directions; there was no doubt that the more blood that was spilled the more it attracted these beasts. Her agile movements helped to her to avoid blows a normal human wouldn’t have been able to dance around. Even with her armor on she was quick; faster than ever.

The battle in her chamber raged just as hard as the one in the adjacent chamber. Her energy was high but the more she moved the harder it seemed to pick up her feet. Move after move, swing after swing, and kill after kill; the body count began to pile up and room in the massive chamber began to deplete.

Her force was incredible as her sword began to take on a familiar burning glow.

It was soon, as three more giant figures moved in along with the small Slithe emerging out of crevices that seemed too tiny for their bodies, that Marrina entire form began to resonate heat….

Her eyes changed into that of her beloved ancestors; the eyes of a Dragon. The power that came from her was immense; flame and heat tore through the air and bodies began to melt before her hate filled eyes. The intensity of the attack racked through her body; it was a miracle she, herself didn’t fall into death.

Marrina fell to one knee; bracing her sword in the floor for support. The breath rushed out of her lungs as she listened; unable to open her burning eyes. There was the crackle of burning corpses; but otherwise there was nothing…silence of the dead...

…the innocence was gone...and the new creature smiled as the smell of burning flesh came to her.

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Fetid breath bared down on his face as the teeth prepared to dine on the weakend Dalamar. He felt the jaw muscles clench around his face as his teeth dug in to his flesh. Hot saliva rolled down his cheek as the Lykin started to feed.

Weak and almost dead Dalamar had only one trick left. The Spikes that Sting had built into the wrist attachment that was like his own. A spike to the temple would hopefully penetrate and kill the werewolf. He could fill his skull start to give under the pressure of the Werewolves massive jaws. He flailed and reached trying to turn it on. It was so hard and he was so tired he just wanted to rest. He just wanted to lay down so bad. NO! no! Marrina and Mishca and others depended on him. He reached again. Missed! Blood flowed from his head he was going to die, no matter what he did.... One more try... Yes, I hit it!..

I Raised my arm to his head and fired the spike. The teeth where off him in an instant. Still all he could do was lay there, he was hurt badly. Where was the Lykin where? Thats when he noticed the line leading from his wrist! He had fired the Grapple not the spike! He hadn't killed him at all just knocked the heck out of him. Dalamar laughed a little bitter laugh and blood and bile poured from a hole in his face. Not what he had intended but it had knocked the Lykin off. He rolled back onto his back and resumed his laying there. It was all he had the strength to do. He was bleeding from many wounds and some places where bad. He needed help, he had to get up before the Lykin came to...

He was leaning against a pillar he must have blacked out, how had he gotten here? He had to keep walking. Blood flowed behind him heavily. He had not travelled far at all. "Must reach Marrina" he said to himself. Dalamar took a couple of more steps and then he passed out.......

[Marrina Ters]

The fire seemed to dim down slightly over time; but there was a certain rage behind it that made it burn brilliantly despite the “fuel” for it was depleting quickly. The heat was strangely bearably; if Marrina had been a true human there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that the skin would have melted off her very form.

There was a smirk on her lips that was very uncharacteristic for her innocence; it had felt good killing those monsters, she felt unstoppable…indestructible.

The wound across her cheek still bled steadily; however, that wasn’t the new scent of blood that caught her attention. Strange…there couldn’t have been blood from these monsters…their bodies were near complete incineration and the fluid would have burned up by now…

The Dragon part of her reached out to the smell….it was not new to her. She wanted to follow her instincts and search out this new/old familiarity. Her heart nearly stopped suddenly; aside from the crackle of inferno…it was silent. There was no more clashes, no more cries, not a sound resonating from her companions chamber…

Horror filled her and the new creature that had found its way into her faded and the young, fearful Marrina returned. Without thinking, she ran through the tunnel that led to the previous chamber…

The temperature around her dropped as the heat from her Diablo hell was left behind as she sprinted…

Stone and darkness whipped by her, she didn’t even see the next chamber emerge until she found herself in the middle of the grotesque chamber. Her horror grew; the smell, the walls, the pillars…everything was smeared with blood.

Her mind was in a frenzy! It couldn’t be…where was he?

The Dragon in her told her to calm, to find him, to not worry… Marrina whirled about, nearly missing the Vampyre’s broken body. The breath caught in her throat and tears came to eyes; she rushed to his side, using what “extra” strength she had to prop him up against one of the pillars.

She thought it the worst had happened, but no, she felt the swallow brush of his breath.

“Dal…oh, no…Dalamar.” She tenderly touched his face; his injury was ghastly, what had happened in here? She felt panic well up in her…what should she do? Oh, gods…what could she do…

[Dalamar DeSang]

He felt strong hands lift him up. He saw Marrina's worried face. He knew that he must look horrible. He felt a hole in his cheek with his toungue. Blood poured from the multipule wounds from his body. "Must get away. We don't have long."

Dalamars arm was barely attached. It would heal if he was given time. He tried to stand up and stumbled forward a little. Marrina steadied him.. "I will be fine." He lied to calm Marrina she tentavely let go of him and he started to walk, shuffle... why is the room spinning.. he felt the edges of a blackout coming. The room started to dim.

He stopped and Marrina hand again steadied him. He had no choice he must lean on her. She propped him up and they shuffled away from the arena area. They entered a burnt out area. Dalamar could smell the strong stench of burning death. He could see the Dragon part of her was growing in power. Soon she wouldn't need him anymore. "Good" The blood from his wounds wouldn't seem to staunch he was hemmoraging to death. His armor was getting slick. There was a hard copper smell. Soon Marrina would be carrying him..

They came to an alcove. Dalamar spit out weakly. "Stop, stop here I need rest.." Marrina set him down gently. He passed out when he came to Marrina was giving him water from somewhere. He drank it greedily but in his heart he knew what drink he really needed. Again things turned to black. He had no strength left....

[Marrina Ters]

Before she knew it the Vampyre was out again. He was dying and she knew it; the wounds scattered about his body were bleeding extensively. Again, Marrina felt helpless as she watched the beaten down Vampyre breathe shallower and shallower.

The thought had been in and out of her head for the past few minutes…even though he had told her never to do this…what else could she do? She couldn’t let this man die after all he had done. He still had things to do; important things…he still had, as much as she more and more hated to think of it, a woman waiting for him. After everything, he deserved to live; he was the most deserving person she knew.

Hesitation still filled her movements as she pulled her sword slowly from its sheath; the sharp edge stung as she pulled it across the palm of her slender hand.

Rich, dark, sweet blood gathered quickly and began to spill through her fingers as she hesitated again…was there anything else she could do??

Marrina drew in a sharp breath and shook herself; there was nothing else. She knelt before the fallen Vampyre and held herself steady. The blood from her finger tips dripped and mixed with his on the dark armor covering his chest…her breath still held as she cupped her bleeding palm to his lips. “I’m sorry…” She whispered, this was the only time she would disobey anything he said…

[Dalamar DeSang]

He felt the warm liquid melt into the back of his throat. So hot and refreshing to his cold, cold body. He could feel his limbs knit and his heartbeat go a little faster. Soon the muscles in his body stiffened. His fists knotted painfully. Fire flowed thru his veins renewing him. Rebuilding him. He opened his mouth in a howl of pain and power. Small lightning coursed thru his incissors and expended in ozone out of his mouth and nose. The snapping of broken bones mending made a loud crack in the dim light. Tendons reformed over torn ligaments. Bone density increased. Muscles rippled like a Lykin transformation. The veins on his face and body rose to the surface pumping the Fiery blood of the Dragons thru his body. He screamed in pain and Marrina pulled her hand away. "Dalamar, are you okay!" Marrina said with a sense of dread.

Marrina was so concerned over her fallen comrade she never saw the Lykin behind her. He struck with out mercy across the back of her head sending her into the far wall and into unconciousness. Dalamars body fell into a the hole that the energy from his body had created. He saw only the shadows of what was going on. But he could not mistake the evil laugh of the Lykin as he moved in for the kill on his Marrina.

Saliva dripped down his chest as he moved in to feast on her unconcious body.

A voice boomed from the ground "STOP!" Dalamar smoking white hand was seen climbing out of the hole. It was followed by a white mist as he rose out of the pit. He wiped a dried smear of blood off his chin "IS that ALL you got, Dog?" The Lykin growled in rage and charged the vampyre....

[Marrina Ters]

Suddenly everything was dark.

Marrina hadn’t even seen it coming; whatever creature Dalamar had been fighting must have come back.

There was still pain but her mind was dazed; she couldn’t move and the what made it worse, she didn’t know if Dalamar was alright…

Everything around her was lost. This could be the end for her……..

[Dalamar DeSang]

The Lykin was fast, earlier before feasting on Marrina's blood Dalamar would have said faster even than him. But now it was... no contest. Dalamar side stepped him. The smoke and steam from his body was still rising. Marrina's blood boiled his flesh and his skin was actually warm, The Dragons blood mixed with the magic that had created the vampyre race. Strength burned within him. Dalamar felt so powerful that when he saw a red hue he knew that his eyes where burning red coals of fire glowing in the dim light. He grabbed the tuft of the werewolfs large back. The beast let out a yelp as the vampyre yanked him around. The Lykin turned and again tried to bite Dalamar in the face.

His jaws where locked open as the vampyre grabbed his upper and lower rows of teeth. The sharp teeth made his fingers bleed as he tried to clamp down on them. First there was furious rage as he tried to snap down on the vampyrer face. Then it was slowly replaced with a fearful look as he realized his jaw was being pushed back. Further and further. He saw a smile cross the vampyre's face and knew he was about to die. With a loud crack he snapped the wolfs snout open in two. Blood and howls filled the air. Dalamar lifted the large body like a doll and tore into the wolfs throat. Blood caked his mouth and face as he fed. The attack was so fierce that he cracked the Lykins neck. Dalamars rage and blood lust where overwhelming him his hunger for the kill was almost out of his control. "Arghhh." He threw the Lykin's barely breathing body to the ground. He screamed in his bloody rage. "You'll live but you will know, you will know that your last breath was held in my hands!!" DeSang kicked him sending his wounded body flying across the floor in a broken and bloody mess. Steam still rose off his body he had never felt so strong in his entire 3000 yrs.

His extended his hand and with an unconcious thought his sword flew to him and he sheathed it. Not even noting the new found power that was his. Reaching down tenderly he picked up Marrina and carried her down the hall.

The Assryian knew he was coming he could still feel that his many eye's where watching him. But he also felt, no not felt, He knew something. They where AFRAID and the way Dalamar felt right now they had a reason TO!!!!

[Marrina Ters]

It was awfully quiet in her mind; compared to her entire life of nightmares and nightly hauntings, this was odd. No memories. No visions. Not a thing.

Marrina was conscious of what had happened, but it felt as if even her mind had been beaten down. The constant workings of her brain seemed misplaced and everything quiet. She was alone in her own mind. For once.

And for once, Marrina didn’t want to feel alone, she wanted to see the things she hated, the things she saw at night. Those were the things that really made her who she was, they connected her to this surreal and horrible world. All of it made her believe all this was true.

…in an instant, Marrina felt a spark, it wasn’t painful. Her brain seemed to have a jolt and the gears started to work again. The warm blood in her body began to circulate normally, the sudden blood loss wasn’t affecting her anymore.

She was waking up.

[Dalamar DeSang]

Dalamar saw Marrina stir and the warmth of life was flowing back into her.. So quickly? He thought to himself. She was truly growing more powerful everyday. The Assryian was right to be afraid of her. She was starting to shine like a bright star.

Dalamar set her down gently as she had just done for him. He turned to keep a lookout for her as she gained her strength. He could tell she would not need long to recover. Soon he thought to himself she would heal as fast as him. He wondered that if in the future she could even be hurt.

"How do you stop someone who can't die?!" Dalamar chuckled to himself. No wonder the Assryian wanted her dead so intensely. He knew that soon he woudn't be able to kill her. The Assryian was a fool his desire to kill her had made the prophecy come true. If he hadn't forced her to fight the Dragon side of her may never have come to dominance.

Warmth filled the chamber. It emanated from his companion

He turned and saw Marrina's skin turning a golden color. She was healing getting stronger. Dalamar saw a ghostly image of her mother cradling her, so fast was this vision that he dismissed it as just a trick of the mind. They where alone and always would be it seems.

Marrina looked up at him, Dalamar took her hand in his, feeling the warmth of a soon blooming sun. Her blood and his now mixed. The Assryian wanted the Dragon. Well now he had two and he would get his wish. It was time the Assryian felt fear and the Dragons fire..!!!