“Redemption,…The Final Act” Part Two

[Lord Soth]

Part two of: Rage vs. Revenge..Served Best on a Cold Platter (Soth)

http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31951&perpage=20&pagenumber=3



The very next evening after the dule suns accursed light simmered below the horizon line on Roon in a blazing bath of orange hues, the glossy black Lambda set a course for Roondin some seventy five miles away from the Shrine Keep. Soth’s Imperial shuttle lifted into the night sky with a graceful ease as its inverted wings stretched to their full length and the craft positioned its self on a trajectory course for the city where Redeemer awaited him.

The Death Knights thoughts were on the confrontation that would inevitably come in the Dead Forest that now lay behind him. His intentions were to immeditly locate the blonde he had met the night prior, and then whisk her back to the ancient temple, Emronokin, deep within the heart of the forbidden forest…Once there, Soth would summons the wicked Lich, Wraith Soul, with the bond-amulet that he now wore about his neck...The Death Knight was also fully aware of the fact that this meeting was not one to be underestimated by no means…His seneschal had grown extremely powerful and deadly over the last fifty years in his service, proficient in the ways of the dark arts and a accomplished master in his own right as an illusionist…

“Sir, your shuttle is clear for docking bay seventeen…I have arranged an await team once you’ve landed m’lord,...” The docking engineer instructed in a flat voice over the com-system in the Lambda’s cockpit as Soth hailed the man at the other end of the transmission.

“Very well…I will inform you though commander…My stay will be brief…I do not want any unnecessary delay’s…Is that clear?” The Death Knight snapped back in a cool, yet deadly tone as if he was standing in the mans face.

“Yes sir…As you wis,..” The dock commander replied in a respectful tone right before Soth rudely switched off the com-system on him in mid sentence.

Not long after, the ebony shuttle landed and Soth hurriedly made his way to the Roon Stone Inn where Redeemer awaited patently. The night air was crisp and damp from the storm that blew in from the night before, yet the dark cloud’s continued to hang over the Roon landscape in a foreboding manner as if their vengeful battle was not quite justified or complete. In the distance beyond the city limits, flashes of thin crooked lighting periodically streaked across the inky back drop, lending an ominous feeling and presence to the inhabitants below…


“Where is she barkeep?” Soth questioned the slender man behind the oaken counter as soon as he entered the lavish taveren, his endless eye’s boring into the man’s own as if he were reading his very thought’s.

[Redeemer]

Redeemer took her time dressing that evening, her mind on Soth and what was to come. She pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck and tied it carefully with a strap of thin leather.

Reaching for her bag, she chose to forgo her usual cat suit and reached for the black leather pants that sat low on her hips and the matching leather halter top. She slid her boots on, buckling them slowly. She sat on the bed, her mind drifting to her thoughts the evening past. She had begun to not only find Soth extremely attractive, but she found she was starting to admire his cold demeanor, his aloofness.

The pain of losing Ice was beginning to be too much to bear for her and she had made the decision to become more like Lord Soth. No more would she give herself emotionally to anyone. If she wanted a warm bed partner for the night, then that's all they would be, nothing more, nothing less.

Redeemer slid the sword into position onto her back and then grabbed her trench coat. It was time, she could feel it. Walking out of the room, she made her way into the main part of the tavern and she could hear Soth at the bar, demanding to know where she was.

"I am here, Soth." Redeemer called out, the heels of her boots echoing in the tavern as she made her way to his side. She placed a hand on his armored arm and she let her eyes travel hungrily up his arm to his neck, momentarily stuck there as she fought the over whelming urge to sink her teeth into that pale skin and then turned her gaze up to his face.

"I am ready."

[Lord Soth]

Soth turned slowly from the bar area as Redeemer’s soft inviting voice fell on his ears. The Death Knight eyes did not hide the fact of what he saw as they ran the length of her shapely form. His piercing blue eye’s seemed to ravage her from head to toe as she neared him. Reaching out a methodical pale hand, Soth took Redeemers own and slowly brought it to his lips where he placed a gentle kiss upon it.

“M’lady,…I see you’ve rested well.” The Death Knight words were suductive, yet carrying a curtain charm that held a noble quality about them.

“My ship,…It awaits us not far from here…Please, let’s waste no time…I will explain my plans further once were aboard.” Soth gestured to the Inns doors, intentionally letting her take the lead for his own personal viewing pleasure.

After arriving back at the hanger, Soth and Redeemer boarded the Lambda and set a due course back to the Dead Forest some five miles from the Keep of the Damned. Soth explained to Redeemer in detail what they would possibly face once he called upon his unfaithful servant, Wraith Soul, using the ancient bond amulet. It was his intention to draw the Lich into the temple of Emronokin, there Redeemer would stay hidden until Soth’s seneschal appeared…

“You will take him from behind while I keep him preoccupied from the front…This may prove to be the only way to make a quick and decisive victory in our behalf.” The Death Knight finished smoothly as he pointed out the window of the Lambda to a small clearing some distance away from the edge of the haunted forest. They would have to walk from that point and make their way deep into the tangle of trees and undergrowth if they were to ever reach the ancient temple ruins.

[Redeemer]

Redeemer leaned against the wall as Soth prepared the ship for take off. She took off the sword and placed it on a chair as she rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck. She reached up to touch the black choker around her neck, fingering the intricate designs on it as she thought of Soth's plan for this Wraith Soul.

She turned to look at Soth at the helm, her eyes going over his silken black hair. Walking up to him, she gave in to the urge to run her hand over his hair, letting the soft strands fall between her fingers. Redeemer bit back a moan and closed her eyes as she took a calming breath. She had so badly wanted to yank his head back, exposing his neck to her and drink greedily from him. She walked past him, letting her crimson painted fingernail trace along the outline of his hard jaw as she did so.

Taking the seat next to him, Redeemer turned desire filled eyes upon him for a brief moment before they turned white with anticipation from Wraith's slaughter at their hands. She could not wait to see the look on the Count's face when she dropped the head of Wraith Soul onto his desk. She may be punished for disobeying an Elder, but it would be worth it. She knew Dante would have her back on this and she let a sadisctic smile play on her lips. She was doing this for Dante.

[Lord Soth]

The decent into the Dead Forest was less then romantic. Wicked looking branches tore at both Soth and Redeemers flesh as they made their way through the dense brier bushes and old ancient oaks. Low groaning creeks could be heard far overhead as the northern wind gently swayed the endless canopy above them. Strange eerie noises resounded all around them as they pressed on ward’s towards the ancient ruins of Emronokin, a temple of evil that had existed from a time the when Roon was still young and unmolested by any off worlders.

“Stay close m’lady…There are many foul beings that roam freely about theses accursed wood’s…Despicable creature’s that crave the flesh of the living,…As well as the undead.” The Death Knight warned her in a firm voice as he held aside a thick over hanging branch so that the blonde could pass unscathed.

“We should be there within the hour…The temple ruin lays within the heart of this god forsaken forest…There I will summons the spirits of the dead to aid us.” Soth finished smoothly as he casually unclipped his dule saber hilt from his waist. Chances were they would more then likely have an unwelcome encounter before they both reached thier destination.

[Redeemer]

Redeemer walked behind Soth as they made their way through the brush. She barely noticed the biting scrapes of the branches that tore at their skin. Her senses were on high alert, her eyes white and fangs bared as she anticipated what would come next.

She caught Soth's movement infront of her and she reached back to unsheath her sword, smiling to herself that it will be Ice's sword that will kill this Wraith monster. She spun it around in her hand a few times, her eyes taking everything in.

"Why Soth, such a beautiful place to bring a date. You must have women throwing themselves at you when you bring them here." Redeemer murmured, finding herself actually laughing right then. "You do know how to treat a lady, don't you?"

Soth turned back to look at her and she winked at him, a smile appearing on her lips. She wiggled her eyebrows at him and then went back to watching the brush carefully, her moment of laughter gone.

[Lord Soth]

"Why Soth, such a beautiful place to bring a date. You must have women throwing themselves at you when you bring them here." Redeemer muttered softly as a playful laugh escaped her. The blondes emerald green eyes seemed to sparkle and dance as she considered the Death Knight's noble chivalry, stepping past the low branch that had once blocked their path. "You do know how to treat a lady, don't you?"


The Death Knights eye’s narrowed in an unsettling blaze of orange that stood out in stark contrast to the dark murky surrounding’s about them. Redeemer could faintly make out his sharp ivory fangs as they glistened in what little light the moon offered as it spilled feebly through the tree tops above. She had seen the Death Knights anger before, however. This time it bore into her very soul, a searing heat that caused Redeemer to reflect back on what she had just said to him…

“This is no game woman!…I have witnessed first hand the horrors that lay beyond this point. Your idle word’s put us in grave danger…Attune yourself to what surrounds us now and then you will know fully of what I speak of.” The Dark Master snapped in an unfeeling voice, his inflamed words were just above a controlled whisper as he glared at her intently. As Redeemer instinctively reached out to her surroundings, she could sense the eye’s and multiple signatures of thing’s or beings watching her, yet her acute abilities denied her the exact location of those who spied hers and Soth’s position…He was right, they were not alone…

“And know this…Here, on this hallowed ground we are fair game m’lady,…Even as vampyre!” Soth finished in a cold flat tone as he turned from her abruptly, quickly disappearing into the inky folds of darkness just feet from her…

From this point on, they would no longer have the luxury of the moon to guide them, they would have to come up with a better way to see past the dark veils that shrouded the Dead Forest. The dark-side of the force was their ally now if they were to successfully navigate through the tangled wasteland from here on out…

Only then did Redeemer realize that their power’s as creatures of the night were limited here. Oddly, her heightened sight and innate senses as well as his were now reduced to a notch just above what a mere mortal would possess. Indeed, in this place they were no longer the predator’s, they were simple travelers in a no mans land of strange magic’s and ancient curses that had never been tamed. Perhaps this remote location and the temple that Soth selected had something to do directly with why he would summons the Lich here. Maybe it would make for an even playing field…If this were so, the thought of that alone forced Redeemer to raise the disturbing question in her mind next...How truly powerful was this being they both would inevitably face…Why here of all places and not somewhere else?...

[Redeemer]

"Oh, someone needs a personality!" Redeemer hissed at Soth, another smile cracking on her lips. Another brooding male, just like Quinlin.

'Juuuust peachy.' Redeemer thought to herself, wanting to smack the scowl her wore off of his face, yet oddly enough, still wanting to sink her teeth into delicious neck. 'With men like him, no wonder the females of our kind seek out mortals for play'

She shook her head in amusement and then let the feelings of not being alone surround her as she gripped her sword even tighter. Redeemer had the distinct feeling they were not going to get to the temple without a fight.

"We are not alone." Redeemer whispered, more to herself, as they were surrounded in total darkness. She heard movement to her right and stiffened for a moment. Her hand reached out to Soth in the darkness, finding his cold armor infront of her.

The sound of rustling, of movement seemed to surround them and they stopped walking. Redeemer turned around, her back to Soth's as she stared blindly into the darkness, waiting for anything to happen. With her other senses, she was accutely aware of the eyes upon them and they danger they were in.

The rush of feeling came at once and Redeemer knocked Soth out of the way on instinct before she was knocked to the ground with a thud. She jumped back up to her feet, her sword at the ready infront of her. She felt a rush of cold air sweep by her and she turned around, her eyes wide.

"Wait a minute." She muttered to herself, closing her eyes and taking a calming breath. She would have to rely on her senses to get through this. Opening her eyes, she spun the sword in her hands a few times, taking a few steps forward when she was literally knocked off her feet and onto her back.

'Soth! What the frell is going on?' She sent out to him, stumbling to her feet with the help of her sword.

[Lord Soth]

The Death Knight inner senses rang with the assurance of danger as the immediate area around the two Vampyre’s broke into a mass of chaos and mayhem. Unearthly growl’s and blood curdling shrieks broke the silence of the night as Soth ignited his twin sabers instinctively. Their sickly green light revealed the heinous creatures that stirred around them…

To Soth’s right, the soft soil erupted upwards as multiple beings jumped to their feet, clawing and gnashing at the air in front of him in a display of utter defiance. There was another, followed by three more…The Death Knight’s eyes blazed with a fervent heat that resembled two hot coals as he looked on and growled back at the attackers. They were surrounded by Wight’s! Foul chaotic creatures of evil who’s thirst for fresh blood far out weighed any vampyre darkling. Their hunched over muscular gray forms rippled and tensed with excitement as they lurched forward in random patterns. Long oily waist length hair hung loosely about the creatures detestable features, concealing their needle point teeth and soulless black eye’s that caught every subtle movement in the shadowy woodlands. One bite or a vicious slash of their six inch claw’s and the vampyre’s would be drained of their precious stamina, leeching from them some of the life force that flowed through them. Theses ferocious entities were true life stealers!...

The Death Knight reached down and pulled Redeemer to her feet while he kept his eyes trained on the Wight’s that now encompassed them. Fortunately for Redeemer, she had only been knocked down for the time being, narrowly evading the life steeling touch that would have sent her into writhing agony...

For now, Soth’s deadly luminous blades seemed to keep them at bay, however. That would be short lived as the Wight’s numbers increased dramatically. As Redeemer and Soth slowly rotated in counter clock wise motion, they could easily count fifteen to twenty Wight’s about them…The odds looked grim for the two woodland intruders…Indeed, this would prove to be a climatic fight for their very existence…

“Keep to my back side Redeemer…We’re greatly out numbered here as you can see…And at all cost,...Avoid their claws and bite,…” Soth was cut off mid sentence as three of the dwarf like creatures sprung at him. The Death Knights blades hummed into action, cutting the closest Wight in two while the other green blade easily crossed through the head of one and out the other side of the third…

[Redeemer]

Redeemer's eyes widened at the hideous creatures surrounding them. She had heard of these fabled Wight's and knew of their abilities. She kept her back to Soth's, her sword out infront of her to keep the Wight's at bay...she hoped.

"We get out of this alive, remind me to get one of those." Redeemer muttered, referring to Soth's lightsaber. Epona would have a blast teaching her to use one.

A low growl erupted from Redeemer as she hissed back at the creatures, her fangs lengthening. Her eyes had turned pure white then and glowed in the faint light from Soth's saber.

“Keep to my back side Redeemer…We’re greatly out numbered here as you can see…And at all cost,...Avoid their claws and bite,…”

Redeemer moved the same time Soth did, striking out at the Wight's as they attacked. Her sword may not be as effective as Soth's saber, but she would do her best to protect them both and get them out of their alive. She had a mission to complete and she would do it, even if it cost Redeemer her life.

She turned the sword in her hands, then swung upwards as a few of the Wight's jumped at her, slicing them quickly in half. Redeemer found herself away from Soth, surrounded by the Wights. She looked over at Soth quickly to find him in the same situation and she knew they had planned this. Seperate them and take them down at the same time.

"Nice plan, but it won't work." She hissed at them, letting out a yell as she charged into the Wight's, her sword singing in the air as she hacked away at them.

[Lord Soth]

Bone chilling screams and bloodless yelp’s resonated throughout the forest as Soth and Redeemer fought for their very lives. The unsteady hum of the Death Knight’s twin blades crackled, sizzling as they passed effortlessly through gray flesh of the attackers. Severed limbs and other body parts dropped unceremoniously to the moist ground with a sickening thud as the battle pressed on.

Soth managed to create a small perimeter around him self as his saber’s hit their mark with lethal precision, yet he could no longer see Redeemer from his vantage point due to the creature’s success at separating them for the time being. In rapid secession, three more of the hideous creatures dropped, falling victim to Soth’s relentless assault, followed by two more that attacked from behind as his blades whirled masterfully around him in full circumference. Nevertheless, the Wight’s ranks were quickly filled in by other awaiting beast’s that hungered for the vampyres flesh. The Death Knight vowed to save his arcane powers for the confrontation that lay ahead at Emronokin, yet the unexpected encounter with the Wight’s was quickly swaying out of their favor and into theirs…

With only a millisecond to spare between the vicious melees, Soth gestured with a freed hand, splaying it outwards towards a flanking group of Wight’s that hesitated to Soth’s relief. Swirl’s of the hot orange flame quickly formed around the Death Knight’s mailed hand until it escalated into a brilliant ball of magical fire where it was then released outwards in a mesmerizing fan like pattern. Redeemer could feel the scorching heat on her livid face and exposed flesh from were she stood locked in combat, Soth unexpected attack momentarily distracting the creature’s around her as she desperately fended them off...

Once again, howls of pain and ghastly streak’s filled the night air as another napalm like sphere erupted in front of Soth and engulfed a row of Wight’s in it’s searing blaze. The near by tree’s burst into flame as the Death Knight dropped back from the writhing foe’s...

Glanceing back to Redeemer, Soth could see numerous Wight’s around her, trying in vain to press the blonde further from area and deeper into the shadowy folds of darkness. As Soth cut a path to Redeemer, he clipped a beast mid air as it sailed at him with its slashing claws. Two more quickly latched onto him from behind, their sharp ferocious teeth searching for his tender flesh that lay just below his armored form. The Death Knight growled as he spun in a half turn, flinging one of the beings to the ground as his saber pursued its fall. The sickly green blade passed through the Wight’s thick skull until it struck earth, but not before the other bit down on the exposed back part of Soth’s leg…

Racking pain tore through Soth’s mind as the life stealing bite from the Wight gripped him, slowly robbing him of his life force with each passing moment. Ripping the beast from behind him by the hair, the Death Knight twirled the Wight to the front as his saber greeted its rotation and cut the creature in twine. Soth’s form slumped visibly from the sapping wound. Nevertheless, he wasted no time as he engaged the Wight’s surrounding Redeemer…

[Redeemer]

Redeemer glanced back at Soth just in time to see him get bitten by one of the creatures. She felt one grab at her pony tail, as if trying to yank her down to the ground. She whirled around, cutting the Wight in half and taking a moment to smile in satisfaction as it fell the the ground.

She swung at two that came at her, hissing and claws extended. They just barely missed her shoulder as she cut them down, but she did not see the one come up her right side, knocking her onto her side, sending her sword flying out of her hand. She reached for her twin blasters at her thighs just as a Wight jumped ontop of her, sinking it's teeth into her shoulder. Redeemer cried out in pain, bringing her blasters up and firing off two shots into the Wight's stomach. It released her and slumped ontop of her and she groaned, pushing him off of her.

Redeemer's eyes grew wide as three more Wight's came at her while she was still on the ground and as they jumped, thinking they were going to kill her, she fired her blasters at the same time, hitting each one in mid air. She rolled out of the way as they fell to the ground and crawled shakily to Soth's side. The pain in her shoulder was too much to bear and she looked down, seeing it bleeding profusely. Whimpering in pain, she brought her blasters up to cover the two of them as they stood back to back again.

"Soth, we cannot win. We must run." Redeemer said, spying her sword lying just off to the right of her. She would not leave it behind. It was the one weapon she would end Wraith's life with.

[Lord Soth]

As the Death Knight blades easily dispatched a few more of the Wight’s between himself and Redeemer, he caught a glimpse of her sword careening through the air as she was suddenly knocked down by one of her attackers. As she rolled, the blonde managed to un-holster two deadly looking blasters at her thighs, ripping off three well placed shot’s that killed the mid air creatures before they even hit the ground near her…

"Soth, we cannot win...We must run." Redeemer warned in a firm voice as her eye’s trailed over to her family heirloom.

Soth’s eye’s narrowed at Redeemers sword that was just feet from him. Instinctively, the Dark Knight called the ancient weapon to his own hand as a lone Wight rushed in from his left flank, Soth using the momentum of the sword to lob off the top portion of the creatures head as it arced around. Again, Soth felt the presence of more Wights closing in from behind him as he feigned forward only to quickly turn in a half circle with his dule saber’s, mowing down the advancing perpetrator’s in a sickle like motion.

Red sporadic tracers zipped past Soth as he continued on towards Redeemer who was covering him, Soth periodically stopping only to down a stray Wight that managed to escape the lashing laser bolts.

“I cannot!…Go,...And use your speed to out distance yourselves from them!...I will meet up with you later.” Soth growled in protest as he sent his message telepathically to her, Redeemer noting the frustration in his words. The Death Knight was not one to flee from any battle he faced,…Ever!…He was too proud for that… It was his code of honor even though he was a fallen knight from his ancient order, he was still bound to its measure and law…

“Don’t be a fool Soth…What are you going to do?...Stay here and fight the whole frell’en forest by yourself!” Redeemer snapped back through clenched teeth as she leveled a Wight at point blank range, splitting its head like a canoe in the process…

She was right…Not only was it a foolish endeavor to think as much,…He was responsible for the her well being and safety by the very same code…And in such cases, he was relieved from the "duty of the code" if a life in question were to be compromised in his behalf or if it could result in a life and death situation on their part...He was forced to concur with reason...There was no other choice...

“Then let us make haste woman and leave this place!” Soth fired back in a heated tone as Redeemers enchanted sword connected to the face of another Wight with a sickening splat.

[Redeemer]

“Then let us make haste woman and leave this place!”

"Don't have to tell me twice." Redeemer laughed, firing off a few shots as Soth turned to plow an escape through the brush.

Redeemer kept watch over Soth's back as they ran quickly through the Dead Forest, ignoring the scrapes they were recieving from the brush. She noted the limp Soth was now sporting from the bite recieved from the Wight and her own shoulder was on fire and still had yet to stop bleeding.

She was tempted to yank Soth's saber out of his hands and use the blades to carterize her wound. The hideous teeth marks in her skin made her sick to her stomach and she turned her head back to watch behind them. Redeemer breathed a sigh of relief as they seemed to have lost the Wight's.

Redeemer did not know how long they had been running, but they were starting to get more light from the moon the deeper they went into Dead Forest. She slowed her pace for a moment, taking in their surroundings and she realized Soth had stopped as well. She walked up to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder before kneeling down to take a look at his leg. She grimaced, reaching up to yank off a strip of her leather shirt from her waist and tied it around his leg to try and help the bleeding.

As she stood, Soth turned and their eyes met for a moment and then they both looked away, their gazes drawn to the same place. Redeemer gasped and took a step forward.

"Is that the temple?" Redeemer asked as Soth walked past her. She caught up to him, watching as the temple was slowly revealed to them as the moon rose higher and higher into the sky.

[Lord Soth]

Soth cocked his head to the side as Redeemer dressed his leg wound, pulling his black raven hair to the side with one hand as he watched her. As she bent down he noticed the vicious gash on her shoulder, it oozed down her flawless skin and Soth’s mouth watered to taste it...

As she stood to her full height, Soth eye’s trailed with hers to the magnificent temple of Emronokin. Tendrils of bluish moon light illuminated the ancient architecture in cool gray tones and earthy browns. Large spires and sturdy looking pillars adorned its mammoth entrance, yet much of it now laid in runes. Jungle like vines and dense foliage coved most of the abandoned structure, and the countless years of decay and decadence had left the once beautiful temple in disrepair…It was now only a mere shadow of its former self.

“The great temple of Emronokin…Some historians claim that it is over seven thousand years old. Its days of glory recorded s far back as the Nar’Kosh dynasty. And ancient and wicked place where cleric’s of old preformed human sacrifices and other forms of debauchery.” The Death Knight informed her in a flat tone that seemed to make the place a bit more foreboding and creepy in its ghostly appearance.

Soth’s blue eye’s then trailed back to Redeemer then to the fresh wound on her shoulder. He knew she had lost a great deal of blood and she could not confront the Lich in this condition.

“Permit me to stop the bleeding on your shoulder m’lady…Your color has faded greatly.” He said coolly as his hand moved slowly to the gash on her shoulder. As the Soth’s hand neared Redeemers wound, the metal talon like finger tips began to glow a hot orange as if they were taken from a furnace.

“This will hurt some,…But it will have to do for now,…” Soth hesitated intentionally as he looked once more into her emerald eye’s to see if there was any trust registered therein.


“If you do not wish to watch,…I suggest that you turn your head now.”

[Redeemer]

"..cleric’s of old preformed human sacrifices and other forms of debauchery."

She looked at Soth as he said that, feeling herself shudder at the very thought of sacrifices and what ever else went on inside the temple.

"It almost seems fitting that it should end here." Redeemer murmured to herself.

Soth had turned to face her and she noted the look on his face as his gaze was drawn to her shoulder. She had given him that look numerous times. Her shoulder was throbbing and she was steeling herself to keep her mind from growing dizzy from the loss of blood.

“This will hurt some,…But it will have to do for now,…” Soth had said. Redeemer's eyes went to his taloned hand for a moment, watching it glow and then she turned her eyes to stare into Soth's. It could not hurt more than what she was feeling already.

"Do it." She whispered, her eyes never leaving his.

As Soth's hand neared her shoulder, she could feel the heat eminating from it and she took a deep breath, readying herself for the pain that she knew was coming. Soth placed his hand over the wound and Redeemer felt like she had just been hit with a thousand hot pokers. She took a step back and Soth steadied her with his other hand, pressing the one on her shoulder even harder. Her eyes never left his, even as she wanted to give in to the darkness threatening to engulf her. The pain was wracking her body and she collapsed to her knees.

Soth had followed her down, kneeling infront of her as he continued to try and heal her. Redeemer took a few deep breaths, gasping for air as she closed her eyes and tried to focus her attention away from the pain. The smell of their blood filled the air and she felt her incisors lengthen instinctively. Her eyes were drawn to his throat and she let out a groan, one she hoped Soth thought was from his healing and not one of hunger for him.

[Lord Soth]

"Do it..." She whispered softly as she held his gaze intensely…Redeemers eye’s immeditly conveyed the sting of his touch as Soth braced her downwards slump to the woodland floor. The awful stench of burning flesh lofted on the cool night air as she let out a subtle gasp. The worst part of it had finally past…

Soon after, cool relieving waves flowed and washed over Redeemers form as the Death Knight’s hand remained over the cauterized wound. His talon’s cooled to an almost freezing point as he controlled the molecules of the metal appendages via the dark-side of force. No longer did she feel the incredible burning pain as it quickly dissipated and subsided from her mind…It was curtain now that her innate regenerative properties as a Vampyre would take over from here…In time, her marred skin would show no outwards signs that a wound had ever existed at all… Redeemer was now in the clear…

As Soth looked back into her emerald green pools, he noted the hunger lust therein. It was also evident that she too could see the same look in his own…For the briefest of moment’s, they both devoured the thought between them before Soth pulled her back to her feet. The Death Knights right hand slipped around to the small of her back while his other hand rested on Redeemers upper shoulder from behind, drawing the blonde in slowly to his awaiting lip’s where he then kissed her deeply. Soth ruby lips trailed to her neck as his ivory fangs extended to their full length, lightly brushing over her fair skin as he followed its supple curve. Soth paused then stepped back from her slightly, his pale blue eye’s meeting with hers once more.

“M’lady,…We will have our time together…But not here,…Not now…Let us once and for all finish this entire task that lays ahead of both you and I…It is the proper course for now.” Soth words were soft and silky as the back of his hand gently caressed Redeemers cheek. He knew there would be a time and a place for such thing’s…Nevertheless, this was neither one of them…At least for now it would seem. A dull mind filled with passion was not only foolish, but a deadly venture under the circumstances they both now faced…

Leaning down, Soth retrieved Redeemer’s long sword and placed it in her hand. She knew he was right, their minds would have to remain clear and sharp if they were to defeat the Arch Lich together…The confrontation with the Wight’s had already left them both at a slight disadvantage and the last of Soth word’s alone told her that the battle ahead would be no easy feat…

“Come,…There’s something I wish to show you Redeemer.” The Death Knight finished smoothly as he broke his gaze with her…

Taking her hand in his own, Soth turned for the temple of Emronokin and led the way to the massive entrance a few hundred yards away from them…Undoubtedly, it would require the aid of Sith magic to open the monstrous iron clad double doors that he already knew would bar and block their way if they wished to gain access into it’s inner working’s…From there, if they were successful in countering the powerful magical ward’s, Soth would lead them both up a seemingly endless winding stair’s case to the upper most tower of the temple compound…Atop the circular spire peak rested a single room that was known as the Cleric’s Perch …This would be their final destination.

Legend had it, that this was the very room where the evil priest’s of old preformed their daily rituals and sacrifices to their pagan gods…A highly vaulted chamber where the wall’s were rumored to be stained crimson with the blood of countless unfortunate victims and the hated enemies of the once legendary priesthood of Emronokin. Ancient lore also spoke of this ritual room within this particular tower as an observatory of sort’s, sported floors of the purest black obsidian that were inlayed with strange golden symbols and countless precious jewels that represented Roon’s constellations...

However, this tale was still yet left to be seen…

[Redeemer]

Redeemer shivered as Soth pulled away from her. Her eyes showed the anticipation of their 'time' together that they would have and she smiled when Soth bent to pick up her sword, placing the cool metal in her hands. She gripped the sword tightly, feeling the sharp blade bite into her skin. Redeemer ran her fingers over the blade lovingly, then slowly slid it back into it's place on her back. She replaced her blasters in to their holsters and then took the offered hand from Soth.

“Come,…There’s something I wish to show you Redeemer.”

For a moment, she felt her mental walls slip and was assaulted with emotional pleas from her friends to take care of herself. She hurriedly replaced the walls, but not before one in particular reached out to her, wrapping itself around her heart. It was a voice she had not heard in a long time, one she could barely remember.

Redeemer shook her head to clear her thoughts, her emotions and focused her mind back to avenging Ice's murder. Her hand momentarily gripped Soth's taloned one and for a moment, she let the thought wonder in her mind how it would feel to have tose taloned hands upon her naked flesh. A smirk played on her lips for a moment before she wiped it off, her features growing stone-like as they neared the Temple.

'Soon, Redeemer, you will have the distinct pleasure of offering the Council Wraith's head.' She thought to herself, trying to picture the look on Count Fulkrehm's face when she did.

[Lord Soth]

Like two monolithic giant’s, the imposing dule bronze door’s at the temples entrance stood in defiance to anyone who even dared to approach them. Their sheer size alone seemed to mock the two vampyres stature as they ascended the short flight of stair’s up to the flat at their base...

As Soth eye’s slowly trailed over their brown dingy like surfaces, he noted nothing out of the ordinary at first…Only the dry green water streaks of corrosion that trailed down their length due to the rain and other unforgiving element’s of the forest setting…A closer inspection revealed nothing either, no visible glyphs or carved symbols on them that would indicate any magical ward’s or accursed incantations…However, the Death Knight knew better…What he knew was inscribed thereon remained invisible and undetectable,…Even to both his and Redeemers vampyre eye’s. Like long forgotten predator’s, they patently awaited any who strayed to their threshold. Unlikely guardians that stood throughout the countless centuries waiting for someone’s foolish and unwary hand to set off the magical traps that could kill or maim by even the slightest of touches.

“Theses doors still hold their sting M’lady…We cannot pass beyond this point until the spells are dropped and thwarted.” The Death Knight whispered as he stepped back a few paces, using an outstretched arm in front of Redeemer to gently take her aback with him.

As Soth considered the double door’s entirety once more, his talon hands slowly arose in front of him. A strange and indiscernible dialect escaped the Death Knight as he began to chant softly…As the Sith Magi continued his incantation, his voice grew louder at each passing moment as if he were commanding the doors to give up their ancient secrets. The dry leaves that blanketed the immediate area around the ancient structure began to stir and whirl about them as an unseen wind picked up suddenly. Soth's outstretched hands began to glow and ebb with an unnatural blue aura, shimmering to a brilliant white point until the magical light reached its zenith...

As Redeemer looked on, she could see the once hidden glyphs on the bronze doors appear then faintly glow to life. Slowly at fist, then more pronounced as Soth repeated the spell over and over. After a few passing moment’s, each deadly line of the magical ward’s seemed to lift from the tarnished doors surface, spreading outwards until they dissipated into thin air and were no more…

As Soth lowered his hand’s, Redeemer noted the weary look on his face…Whatever it was she had just witnessed Soth do, evidently somehow taxed him to some extent. However, Redeemer felt as though there was something more elusive happening here…It was as if the very forest was taking its toll on him, leeching and sapping his precious energy that flowed through him…Soth eye’s caught the concerned look on Redeemers face as he stepped backwards from her, his movement seemingly unsure as he did so.

“I’ll be fine m’lady…I just need a moments rest.” Soth said to her in low tones as his back came to rest on one of many massive pillar's behind him.

Without warring, the dule bronze door’s cracked open with a tremendous resounding groan. Within the same moment, Redeemer could hear the multiple squawks from a large group of forest ravens high above in the trees canopy as they took immediate fight from the noise that disturbed them. Stagnant air and ancient dust rushed past both vampyres as the giant doors opened slowly on their massive axis then finally came to rest against the walls behind them…They were then greeted with complete and utter darkness as they peered into the mouth of the accursed temple...A shadowy veil of evil, an unseen presence that seemed to shun even the likes of their kind…

[Redeemer]

If Redeemer did not realize how powerful Lord Soth was before, she glimpse it then. She stepped back, her eyes wide in awe as she watched him chant the Dark words. Her gaze fell unto the doors as the words began to glow to life, then seemingly disappear into mid air.

She glanced at Soth, obviously weakened by the effort and walked to his side as he leaned against the pillar.

“I’ll be fine m’lady…I just need a moments rest.” He replied to her concerned look.

"Does not mean I cannot worry, Soth." She whispered with soft smile, reaching up to cup his cheek with her palm.

The doors began to creak and she turned around just as the stone beneath them began to shake. The doors slowly opened for them and Redeemer got an over whelming rush of evil wash over her. Instinctively she stepped infront of Soth, her hand ready to go for her sword as the doors groaned to a stop, leaving the black, gaping opening for them.

Redeemer's sensitve eyes searched the opening for any signs of trouble as she took a few steps forward. Noting nothing out of the ordinary, she walked backwards to Soth, her eyes trained on the opening.

"We procede only when you are strong enough, Soth." She said, turning her green eyes upon him with concern.

[Lord Soth]

When Redeemer held Soth’s gaze, cupping his face in her hand, she found herself standing once more at the gate to his soul. What Redeemer sensed inwardly seemed as wicked and evil as the opened bronze temple doors behind her. An endless darkness that dared her closer, enticing her to look where few had wandered…Perhaps it was his weakened state that allowed her to see into the abyss and beyond or maybe it was Soth himself challenging her to do so…Nevertheless, there was an ageless knowledge of corruption there, one that was littered with a past of death and utter despair…Even if the blonde were to take up the Death Knight’s subtle invitation, the toll of it’s enormity for roaming such a place would inevitably cost Redeemer her sanity…Even for the most sturdiest of minds…

Soth slowly diverted his eyes from her as if he were shamed by what he saw registered in Redeemers own…The curse within him was now known to her…A retched curse that had always mocked him from the time of his fall…

“I would spare you the knowledge of such things m’lady…But it is a past that even I have no control over…It is simply my fate.” The Death Knight replied softly as took her hand in his and kissed the inner part of her palm. As Soth began to move past Redeemer, he paused in his stride beside her. His eye were now affixed on the darkened doorway that led directly into the ancient temple of Emronokin…Time it’s self seemed to stand still before the Death Knight spoke, never turning to look at her as he did so.

“I’m ready when you are...Come,…We are both running out of time.” Soth’s voice seemed hollow and flat as he finished. Moving past her, Soth entered the temple structure first without another word.

As the two vampyre cautiously broke the shroud of darkness, Redeemer immeditly heard and saw Soth’s twin saber’s ignite to life once more. The eerie green light from them would serve as a light source for now until one of them could locate a torch. The magical darkness inside the temple seemed as dense and impenetrable to their eye’s as it was when they first entered the Dead Forest’s border…

Elaborate murals and strange symbols adorned the short passage that led directly from the entrance. Coiled serpents and legendary creatures from Roons distant past were depicted here. On the other adjacent wall, there was a scene of black hooded being’s in some sort of ritualistic precession. What all this meant mattered little to the Death Knight as he moved past them without a second glance…

Not long after, the hall opened into what appeared to be a large chambered room. Neither Soth or Redeemer could make out the edges of the room as their foot fall echoed beyond, signifying that whatever they now stood in was immense in sheer size. Both darklings strained their eyes to locate any further details or any other possible routes they could take, yet they were denied the visual luxury as before. Silence seemed to be the only occupant of the temple fortress now…At least it would seem.

“I feel a presence m’lady…We are not,… Alone!” Soth’s sabers flew up in front of him as he took a defensive stance, his other hand staying Redeemer to the side of him as a translucent ghostly figure emerged some distance away from them. Redeemer reacted as well, her sword crossing in front of her as she eyed the being suspiciously…

“You and your companion are not welcomed here death lord!...Leave,…For theses are sacred and hallowed grounds on which you both stand!” The ghostly cleric hissed in a slow deadly voice, his facial features hidden by the heavy hood that he wore. An unseen wind seemed to billow the ragged and frayed robes about the being’s floating form as it methodically approached. A light rhythmic tapping noise of his staff could also be heard as he finally came into full view…Soth intuitions were correct…It was the specter of a cleric high priest of Emronokin!...

[Redeemer]

Redeemer felt her skin crawl as they entered the Temple, something she did not feel all that often. She had never been one to be 'creeped out' by things, but this was getting her there.

She looked over at Soth, watching his profile as he ignited his twin saber. For a brief moment, she wished she knew why Epona disliked the Death Knight so much. He has not shown her any reason to distrust or dislike him. What she saw in his eyes only moments ago only drew them closer together. She may be a Pure One, but she knew his pain.

Redeemer shrugged her shoulders, opening her mind for a moment to find that she could not reach anyone on or off Khar Sian. Her eyes flickered back to Soth. It must be the Dead Forest keeping her from reaching anyone and vice versa. She sighed, being relieved that she did not have to keep her mind blocked for the moment.

"...We are not,… Alone!”

Redeemer felt Soth bring her closer to him and she reached back instinctively to grab her sword, the 'schink' of the metal as it was drawn echoing in the huge cavern of a room. She held her enchanted sword infront of her, her eyes narrowing as what seemed like an appirition appeared infront of them.

“You and your companion are not welcomed here death lord!...Leave,…For theses are sacred and hallowed grounds on which you both stand!”

"We will not!" Redeemer hissed back. Nothing would stop her in her mission. They were too close to be stopped now.

'Death Lord?' She thought to herself as her eyes glanced back to Soth for a quick moment before turning her attention back tot he ghost hovering infront of them. A wind began to pick up she moved closer to Soth, unsure of what was going to happen.

Torches along the walls began to ignite themselves, revealing to the two vampyre the immensity of the room they were in, as well as the five other robed clerics hovering infront as well as behind them. Redeemer turned around, her back once again up against Soth's as she raised her sword to them. Her ears picked up on the light tapping noise that was growing louder as it seemed to approach them.

"What do we do now, Soth?" She whispered, her eyes never leaving the clerics.

[Lord Soth]

Soth felt Redeemers back easy against his own as he turned his head slowly to view the other’s that seemingly appeared out of then air. Theses others were undoubtedly the underlings of the high priest him self. They too bore the same resemblance of their long dead master. Some were robed in flowing attire that no longer bore any visible signs of color to the naked eye, pale and dismal at best. Out of the ten, four of them wore ancient armor that even predated the Death Knight’s own. Theses four also brandished morning stars and iron tipped maces with lethal looking spikes that ran in circumference to the weapon…The other’s six disembodied cleric’s wielded similar looking staffs much like the high priest…

"What do we do now, Soth?" Redeemer questioned the Death Knight as she jousted her sword outwards towards the clerics behind her in an attempt to keep the distance between them and her. What Soth said next to Redeemer caused her eyes to widen, catching her even more by surprise as she felt his tensed form relax and his dule saber’s disengage…

“We do nothing for now…” Soth finished coolly as he stood to his full height and eyed the high priest of Emronokin. A sense of urgency and panic washed over Redeemer’s mind as she felt Soth’s armored back leave hers suddenly... “Was he frell’en crazy?...What the hell was going through that mind of his!” The blonde found herself thinking as she quickly slashed the Sith long sword in front of her once again, staying the clerics advance for now as they stood on the ready.

“You will do as I say priest…You have no other choice.” Soth demanded in an iron tone that resonated throughout the immediate area...

Just then, one of the spectral minions lunged outwards for Soth, his ghostly mace swinging rapidly at the Death Knights head with a blind speed. Redeemer could hear the High Priest laugh in a sinister tone…However, that quickly turned to a hissing gasp as Soth caught the cleric’s splayed arm by the wrist! Both combatants seemed to hover in a clenched embrace as Redeemer glanced back and fourth to see what was taking place. It all seemed serial to her…How was this Death Knight able to touch the untouchable, to meld the physical realm with that of the spiritual?...

The armored specter roared in defiance as the Death Knight rotated the cleric’s weapon arm downwards with one sudden fluent motion, spinning him around until Soth’s powerful arms found there mark around its helmed head. An audible cracking noise quickly ensued, filling the chamber with its awful sound as the cleric’s head twisted backwards toward Soth. The translucent being immeditly dropped to the dusty floor at Soth’s feet, moaning as it tried to feebly drag it’s self away from the Death Lord…It’s head hung limply to one side as it clawed at the floor in vain.

“You shall both die for this outrage…Death Knight!” The high priest hissed in a poisonous voice, thrusting his staff in front of him. Swirls of spiraling light appeared around the master cleric’s staff as he began to gesturer complex symbols of power with his freed ghostly hand. He would try to turn both vampyres, a potent ability their kind was capable of…However,…This too would prove worthless and to no avail.

“Your piffle parlor tricks hold no authority over me or my companion fool!...Did really you think I would come unprepared!” Soth snapped back as he approached the high priest with a bold stride in his step. The high priest drifted back wards as he mumbled words of protection and warding, but his words were cut short as the Death Knight snatched him up by the neck.

“Your outdated old fool…The times have changed on the outside while you and your incompetent seneschal’s have remained locked up in this retched tomb you call,...Home.” Soth purred in a dangerous voice as he violently cast the spectral priest to the floor in a heap. The Death Knight now stood over the cowering priest, Redeemer could see his hands tremble with fear as Soth kicked him were he lay…The other clerics around her hissed and writhed at their master’s demise, slowly backing away from the blonde as they did so…

“I should send you all to hell were you belong…But even that,...You are unworthy of.” Soth booted foot quickly found the hollow on the cleric’s ghastly neck, press his throat until he gasped and clutched at the Death Knight’s armored leg. Soth paused as he looked about the lavish confines of the room…Pristine marble statues lined the mosaic walls in small alcoves while priceless tapestries and golden vases adorned the areas between them. Central to the chamber, dule marble stair cases with mahogany banister rails ran upwards until they disappeared beyond to the next level. Indeed, this place, the temple of Emronokin, stood as a stark reminder and testament to the immense wealth that the evil cleric’s had underhandedly accumulated over their long and wicked past…


“Perhaps I can think of a better fate…” Soth’s steely tone had now chanced to that of a mocking one as his piercing gaze narrowed at the helpless priest underfoot.

“Ah yes,…This precious temple of yours…What purpose would it serve if I gave the order’s to have it pummeled to dust priest?…Leaving you to wonder the Dead Forest for all eternity without it?...What do you think Redeemer…Would that suffice you for a fitting end?” Soth casually glanced back over his shoulder to the blonde who still wore a look of astonishment on her comely face...

[Redeemer]

The evident look of astonishment turned to wickedness as she looked back at Soth, her sword still extended outwards towards the cowaring Clerics, their eyes glued on Soth.

"Do you even think that is worthy enough for them, Soth?" Redeemer asked, her eyebrow arching as a smirk played on he rlips. "If it were me, I'd kill them all and then level this hideous place."

Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she turned her head to look behind her in time to find one of the Clerics anxiously moving from side to side in the air. Redeemer narrowed her eyes and watched him carefully, as if knowing he would be the idiotic one of the group to try and do something.

And she was right. He charged her with a howl that would deafen a mortal and she grinned, turning on her heel to slash at him, watching as the cool metal blade cut him in half from his head to his groin..if he even had one. He fell to the floor, writhing in agony as her sword seemed to 'hum' as she twirled it in her hands. The two halves of the cleric crawled their way towards her and she let out 'scoff' and thrust her sword into the area where the Cleric's heart should be. His body violently shook and then went still before slowly eroding into a pile of dust.

Redeemer, head down still, turned and looked back at Soth, winking at him in victory. Turning her head, she glared at the other Clerics, daring them to attack.

[Lord Soth]

"Do you even think that is worthy enough for them, Soth?...If it were me, I'd kill them all and then level this hideous place." Redeemer’s emerald eyes locked playfully with Soth’s own, both meeting with a curtain understanding of one another...

Soth shot the blonde a wiry smirk of approval before his eye’s trailed from hers then leveled to the downed priest once more. The Death Knight’s intended design had changed considerably now due to the fact that he had the evil cleric at his bidding…This wretched being would now be the one that would stand central to his new plans, summonsing the Arch Lich while Redeemer and Soth attacked from a different location. The Death Knight wanted access to the upper Clerics Perch, the mystical room of legend where his own Sith Magic would be unaffected and undaunted by the unseen forces that plagued the Dead Forest around them…

“Did you hear that fool?…A woman’s scorn never sounded sweeter…Her appraisal of the situation brings true warmth to my cold heart.” Soth said through clenched teeth as his boot pressed tighter against the specters neck.

“I implore thee Death Knight…Spare my temple and its hosts…I will do whatever it is you ask of me…I give you my word.” The high priest begged as he managed to complete his sentence in labored tones.

“Good,…I thought you would see it our way…Now take me to the Tower of Blood so that our contract may be fulfilled,… Priest!” Soth conveyed his point as he thrust his iron clad boot once more into the cleric’s throat before stepping back from him…

Not long after, the high priest waved his spectral minions away, back to the neither realm from which they came. He then graciously led the two darklings up one of the two massive stair wells to the levels above them. Endless corridors seemed to pass them by before they reached the base of the winding stair case that would take them to the upper most part of the Clerics Perch...

The end was now in sight…

[Redeemer]

Walking up what Redeemer sensed to be the final stairwell to their destination, she kept her eyes on the chattering Clerics behind them as Soth kept his grasp on the Priest himself. The chattering was beginning to grate on her last nerve and she swung around to growl at them, shutting them up immediately at the sight of ther pure white eyes and dripping fangs.

Turning back around, Redeemer grinned at their reaction and then her mind went to that of what was to come. Her hand tightened on the hilt of her sword, her knuckles turning white as she anticipated this final battle. She yanked on the leather strap that bound her hair at the back of her neck, letting her blonde mane fall around her shoulders.

As the stairs seemed to go up and up, she placed a hand on Soth's back, the coolness of his armor reassuring to her as she looked back at the Clerics.

"We are here." The Priest choked out.

Soth and Redeemer turned to look at each other, time standing still as they knew this was it. It was now or never.

"May the Dark Force help us." Redeemer said with a softness she had not shown Soth before. With a respectful bow of her head, she took a step back to let Soth and the Priest do what they needed to.

Redeemer's mind went to Ice, closing her eyes in silent prayer that she would do him, do Dante and all of Khar Sian proud by bringing their kind of justice to his killer.

[Lord Soth]

Numerous torches that rested in their iron sconces lit the large spiral stair case that led to the top room known as the ‘Cleric’s Perch’. Periodically, Redeemer and Soth found themselves batting away the thick dusty cob-webs that obstructed their way skywards. Indeed, it would seem that the eerie temple of Emronokin had been left undisturbed for eons, giving the place an overwhelming feeling of a tomb that had been encapsulated in some distant past.

After what seemed an endless ascent upwards, the three reached a small landing that was blocked by what appeared to be a simple iron banded door. The ghostly cleric led the front of the small group to this point, his transparent hands clasped in a steepeled position as if he were in some sort of meditation. Shortly afterwards, a low indistinct chanting began to emit from the high priest, his hand’s now gesturing strange symbols in the air as he paused at the entrance to the infamous tower room. Soth’s hand instinctively reached for his twin hilted sabers where he then ignited it behind the priest.

“It would be unwise and foolish on your part to try something priest…The door,…Open it now!” The Death Knight ordered in a lethal voice as the priest’s hood turned slightly to one side.

“No,…Of course not m’lord…As I have told you,…I have given my word.” The cleric replied in a subdued tone as the lock within the iron clad door clicked, then creaked open on its rusty hinges.

There was another short flight of stairs that the three had to climb before they emerged at the floor level of the Clerics Perch. As the three rounded the stairs, the high priest uttered a word of command and immeditly the massive circular room illuminated with light, however. Redeemer and Soth could not detect where the ambient light source was coming from. Indeed, the room of legend lived up to its name at first glance. Its smooth plastered walls were streaked and smudged with what looked to be human blood. Stranger yet, the blood appeared to be fresh as the day it was put on! In some areas of the wall, the crimson stain looked as though it ran freely down the vertical length where it then seemingly seeped into the floor its self to an unknown location below…

As Soth took in the room’s surroundings, he could see countless multi faceted inset jewels that adorned the highly polished obsidian floor beneath him as well as the domed ceiling that loomed above. The different colored stones were meticulously laid out in intricate patterns that represented and made up the celestial bodies in Roons planetary system, glinting and shimmering in the strange light that appeared to have no source.

Within the center of the inky looking floor was a single blue sapphire that was encompassed by thirteen spaced platinum rings that spread outwards from precious stone. The silvery rings thickness ranged from one inch and ended with the last one being as think as the number it represented. The same glyphs and symbols that Redeemer and Soth noted at the temples entrance were also inscribed on each of the splayed rings that circled the fist sized blue stone….What they were or what there function was, Soth and Redeemer could only guess…


A moment later, the cleric waved his livid hand in front of him and the light of the room dimmed considerably. The colored gem stones about the room sparkled and ebbed to life as thin holo graphic like rays of light shot upwards until small visible planets and stars appeared in orbit around the circumference of the room. The planets themselves began rotating on their axis as they passed slowly before the three onlookers. It was simply breath taking and dazzling to behold…Nevertheless, Soth was less then amused as he glared at the beautiful constellations displayed before him and Redeemer. With an almost blinding speed, the Death Knight quickly whirled to face the cleric who was now standing in complete admiration of his earthly creation. Soth dark blue eyes began to glow with a fervent inner heat, peaking to a hot orange hue as they bore down on their intended target.

“We did not come all this way to see a light show fool!…The portal,…Where is it!” Soth snapped in an iron tone as the back of his mailed fist connected solidly to the high priests head. The powerful blow from the Death Knight was so violent, it sent the robed figure air borne until his ghostly form seemingly thudded against the crimson wall behind him…

[Redeemer]

Redeemer had been content, for now, to stand back and watch Soth use his subtle ways of persuasion on the Priest. A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she fought the urge to lean against the wall and smile.

They had come to the place, she knew it. Her attention was distracted for a moment and when she looked back at the Priest, her eyes went wide at the spectral light show infront of them. It was one of the most beautiful things she had seen, the colors, the formations...Redeemer blinked her eyes and moved her gaze to rest on the dangerous vampyre next to him.

“We did not come all this way to see a light show fool!…The portal,…Where is it?” Soth hissed.

"Portal?" Redeemer whispered in question, watching as the Priest went smashing against the wall from the Death Knight's fist. She raised an eyebrow and watched with even more interest. She knew not to get involved right now. What needed to be done, Soth had to do it. He was the Master of the Dark Magic, something she knew nothing about.

[Lord Soth]

The Death Knight stood over the cleric like a man completely possessed, his fangs salivating as he glared at him through eye’s that burned as hot as hell. The downed figure held up a shaking hand as if to stay any further wrath from the dark lord. A moment later, the room’s beautiful planetary display dissolved and vanished, leaving the chamber in the same state as it was when they had entered.

“Do your magic priest,…Show me the portal we seek...Now!” Soth ordered in commanding tone, his hollow voice seemed to shake the very foundation laboratory as he spoke. Soth retreated a few paces back, far enough to give the ghostly cleric room to stand on his spiritual legs.

“Yes,…At once my lord…My sincerest apologies for my thoughtlessness.” The high priest stammered as he shimmied to the side of the Dark Knight with a respectful bow. Soth’s gaze never left the vile being as it floated near the center of the room, stopping once it approached the outer platinum ring.

“Wait…What lays above this chamber we now stand in priest?” Soth questioned firmly, glanceing up at the domed roof as if he were searching for something.

“Only the Perch m’lord, nothing of consequence I assure you.” The priest muttered in a low voice as he turned to Soth, his translucent hood diverted to the polished floor. The Death Knight turned to the priest once again, his talon finger pointed at him in an accusing manner.

“There is an access point to the roof,…Correct?” Soth questioned with a tinge of steel in his words, studying the specter intensely as he took a step closer to him.

“Why of course my lord…Allow me to show you both the way.” The cleric’s right hand rose in a signed gesture towards a wall near Redeemer. Suddenly, two fine lines appeared in one of the blood stained walls. Slowly the secret wall heaved inwards then turned, flipping until it became a set of stairs that could be seen running upwards to the outside of the tower its self...

Without any hesitation, Soth advanced to the new opening, pausing at the mouth as he looked up the short narrow passage. His head then trailed to his immediate right to another narrow passage, wide enough to fit a single individual, its tight inner corridor running in circumference to the tower until it came full circle to Soth’s left side. It seemed in life, the clerics that once lived here had many escape routes amongst many other unknown and well hidden secrets that remained with them all the way to the grave.

“Perfect,…You shall hide here for now Redeemer, until the priest summons the Lich through the portal. I will take the stairs inside the observatory. We will allow the priest to weaken my servant, and then we will attack him from both sides as planed.” The Death Knight finished smoothly as he glanced over to the cleric.

“M’lord, This was not part of our agreement…You said nothing of an encounter.” The priest reiterated in a somewhat protesting voice.

“You will do exactly as I say fool!…And pray I don’t alter our agreement further!...The portal,…Activate it now!” Soth snapped as he pointed to the center of the room.

Without any further word’s, the high priest turned from the two and did as the Death Knight commanded. His staff outstretched, the cleric chanted his words of summonsing as the central platinum rings and their symbols reacted to the cleric incantations. Not long after, the thirteen silvery rings began glow until they reached a hot white hue. Each ring spun slowly in the opposite direction to one another until a brilliant shaft of light shot to the ceiling above. The luminous column then turned a vibrant blue color as Soth and Redeemer took their places, Soth chanting his own protective spells only moments before the Lich was to appear…

[Redeemer]

Redeemer watching intently, her eyes going between the Priest and Soth as they chanted their own spells. She turned her full attention on to Soth, feeling herself being drawn to him. Her eyes slowly closed, letting his deep voice surround her, delve into her mind and wrap around her, opening her up to a new world other than just being a vampyre.

She felt a wind against her cheek and she opened her eyes then, watching as the room darkened, the glow of the crystals illuminating them all. The soft wind began to blow harder and her hair whipped against her cheek. She looked around the room and then stepped further behind the wall, out of sight. Shadows from unseen bodies danced on the walls and howls erupted as the wind began circling, a vortex being born as the Priest’s chanting grew louder and louder.

Redeemer’s eyes widened as in the middle of the vortex, a form began to take shape. She took a step back, her hand going to the hilt of her sword over her shoulder. Robes began to appear and wrap around the being. Pale hands appeared, reaching out for the Priest instantly, but not being able to reach him. The Priest continued to chant as Redeemer was glued to the Lich in the middle of the vortex.

Images of Ice lying on the couch, lifeless, flooded her and she gripped the sword, slowly unsheathing it. Her blood pounding in her ears from the hatred, the blood lust she began to feel all over again for this ‘thing’ that had killed her lifemate. Her eyes grew pure white and her fangs dripped with saliva in anticipation of this creature’s demise.

“You are mine.” She whispered, her voice dripping with acid.

[Wraith Soul]

The violent wind that churned and whipped within the Cleric’s Perch reached a point that threatened to tear down the very stone walls it was housed in. Redeemer and Soth could feel the air leaving their lungs as their bent forms fought against the vacuum of the room, pulling then inwards as countless years of dust and debris rushed past them…

Erie voices of disembodied spirits of evil echoed with laughter and foreboding taunts emanated from places unseen as the Liches decomposed hand and his knurled staff broke the light spectrum of the portal. Tendrils of lighting coursed and leapt from the necromancer’s rod and jeweled knuckles as he stepped forth, his ruby colored robe lashing about him as his blazing red orb’s narrowed on the king priest of old. As Wraith Soul entered the confines of the legendary room, he was well aware of the Death Knight presence and his female companion near by. He could also feel the drawing beacon of power, the ancient amulet that Soth wore about his neck, calling to him as he yielded to its magical constraint. Nonetheless, he would deal with them both soon enough…

“Infidels!...You shall all drown in lakes of blood!” The Arch Lich hissed loudly as a thick dark blue bolt of lighting ripped from his staff and tore through the cleric’s form.

Shards of black obsidian exploded from the floor as the deadly luminescent trail arced then past through the clerics ghostly form and connected with one of the blood red walls behind him, the dense stone masonry finally succumbing to the powerful blast until it gave way and collapsed outwards from the high tower. Once the Lich quickly realized that his spell had little to no effect on the specter, he called fourth an incantation of dark energy. The multi faceted jewel atop his stuff began to ebb with a pulsating light until it burned a hot white, however. The evil sorcerer would not benefit from its onslaught until the high priest had his way first.

“Vash-Nomanay Devenos!” The high priest shrieked as his splayed translucent hands came together in a sudden clapping motion that sent the Lich spinning backwards in a heap against one of the near by walls. The ear piercing boom roared throughout the chamber and the temple of Emronokin, blowing Redeemer and Soth aback as the destructive electromagnetic wave shot past them. The Lich howled in pain as his intended incantation dissipated from his leathery lips…

Only milliseconds had past before the Lich had regained his complete composer, his staff slashing outwards in the direction of the cleric as he stood in a simi crouched defensive stance. A silvery ethereal blade raked then spun sideways through the air in a colorful scintillating pattern, much like a loose scimitar in mid flight, as the Liches instantaneous spell hit its mark true. The spectral blade hummed and whined as it tore through the cleric’s ghostly form, severing the cleric priest in twine and causing him to vanish in wisps of grayish smoke as it exited. The Blood Priest had been banished for the mean time and the Liches full attention now fell on the area where he knew the Death Knight to be…

[Redeemer]

Redeemer watched with hate filled eyes as the thing that murdered her Ice, her lifemate, did away with the Priest right before their eyes.

Her hand gripped her sword tighter and tighter as she fought the urge to bolt out of her hiding spot and seperate the Lich's head from it's body. She could feel her hatred for that monster growing in leaps and bounds. Redeemer could feel it swirling inside of her, wanting to be unleashed.

Her eyes sought out Soth as it seemed the Lich was seeking him out. His eyes skimmed over her and she knew he detected her, but not where she was hidden. She breathed a sigh of relief as the Lich stepped out of the circle it had been trapped in. High pitched screams began to echo in the room and Redeemer closed her eyes, steeling herself against the horrid noise. She would not let herself succumb to the pain this time.

'Soth, be careful.' She sent, knowing it was not needed, but she felt she had to just the same.

[Lord Soth]

The moment of truth had filially arrived, the stage was set, and all the combatants were now in place to determine the climatic ending to this fateful drama. However, rage against revenge would be the infamous hallmark that would scar the very fabric of this accursed place throughout all eternity...The epic battle that ensued would demand a high price if it were to be penned and inked in the books of lore and legends…Indeed, someone would have to surely die this day…

The Death Knight could opt to easily destroy the Lich by merely crushing the ancient relic jewel he wore about his neck, however. That would be to simple an end for his unfaithful seneschal. Soth wanted his servant to suffer, to know and understand the true meaning of defeat before his demise was sealed permanently. Redeemer would have her revenge at last, the sweetness and awful sting of its recourse glistened on her deadly blade…And Soth would make damn sure of it that her great loss was to be justified by her concluding stroke.

Soth slowly emerged from the stairwell that led up from the lower temple. A faint violet prismatic sphere enveloped his armored form as his vicious eyes bore down on the being he abhorred. His talon hands glowed with power, the razor claws splayed apart as the spell he summonsed prior begged him for its release.

“Today is the last day of your pitiful existence fool. You will now reap the rewards for the vile sins you’ve committed against my kind!” The Death Knight retorted in an almost hissing tone as he carefully circled and rounded the chamber, his vampyre eyes watching every movement and subtlety of the arch-lich in front of him.

“You are nothing lord Soth!…” The necromancer hissed in a vehement tone, pointing an accusing knarred and boney finger at the Death Knight before he went on.

“I have mastered the dark ways of the forbidden book of Skellious...Yesss,...I am now even greater then you Soth…More powerful then you could ever imagine!…Today, the servant will become the master!” The Lich snarled as he quickly trusted his staff outwards towards Soth...

Warping waves of unseen energies expanded from the tip of the Liches rod at sub-sonic speeds, its suddenness leaving no time for Soth to react as they clashed and arced off the sphere he had erected earlier. A tremendous noise resounded throughout the chamber, like a sudden clap of thunder that shook the tower once again. The prismatic sphere around Soth instantly evaporated in a magnificent display of showering sparks, shattering stones and the inner wall across from where Redeemer was as its force impacted. Nevertheless, the Death Knight stood firm, unharmed yet now unprotected…The defensive spell had done its job…

Soth quickly clasped his luminous hands together as the potent spell from the Lich erupted around him, blocking the spiral stairs case below as tons of rocks and other debris collapsed down its opening. There was no escape now...

A fiery lance shot forth from Soth outstretched hands, his fingers steepeled together as the deadly trajectory hit its mark. The Wraith let out a painful howl as the barbed trident solidified physically then tore mercilessly through his robes and ripped out the other side of his skeletal form. Without any hesitation, Soth called another spell to mind as the Lich spun away from attack and the iron lance imbedded into the wall behind the sorcerer, however. Before the Death Knight incantation formed on his lips, plumes of the whitest smoke engulfed the Lich from his feet upwards. When the magical wall of smoke began to dissipate, Soth could see that his unfaithful servant was nowhere to be seen. It was as if he had vanished into thin air!...

Redeemer felt a sudden rush of wind pass her and what she thought to be up the narrow stairs to her left. Darkness fell over the massive round room as Soth turned to the spot where he thought Redeemer was…The dark side of the force told him she was in immediate danger, however. His telepathic thoughts to the female warrior were not quick enough to warn her. Redeemer felt the stunning blow of something hard connect to her cheek and lower jaw, splitting the tender flesh of her face as she fell backwards into the inky shadows of the narrow hall she once hid in. The webs of unconsciousness were now a threatening foe she would have to contend with…

“Redeemer...Get out of there!” Soth cried out as he seen the dark silhouetted form of the Lich standing over the downed vampyre, his hideous appearance now that of a translucent Shade.

[Redeemer]

Redeemer groaned, shaking her head to clear the cobwebs the blow caused in her mind. She pulled herself up on her hands, looking around as her hair fell in a blonde curtain around her face.

“Redeemer...Get out of there!”

Her eyes went wide as the Lich slowly appeared, hovering over her. She looked up, her hand quickly grabbing her sword back into its grasp. The Lich screamed and slashed a hand at her and she pushed herself out of the way just as long, talon like nails passed by her face.

"You will die just like your lover did, Whore!" The Lich hissed, moving to lean down towards her.

Redeemer waited for the right moment and when the Lich stood fully over her, she swung out with her fist, connecting it with his skull like jaw. Stumbling back a few steps, the Lich let out a low hiss, his eyes glowing with intense hatred.

"That was a big mistake."

"Not big of a mistake like you pulled killing my life mate." Redeemer spat, standing up. She knew the steps to the rampart above them were behind her and she took a step closer to them. She saw Soth making his way towards them and the Lich whirled around, bringing his hand up to Force push Soth, flinging his body like a rag doll across the room. Redeemer watched in horror as Soth landed against the wall, crumbling it under his weight. She heard a sickening 'crack' as he fell to the floor with a thud.

"SOTH!" She screamed, wanting to go to him as she waited for him to move. When he didn't, she screamed his name again and then gasped, taking a few back on the stairs as she saw a crimson pool of blood appear from the back of his head.

"Oh no...." She whispered weakly, a trembling hand coming to cover her mouth to keep her from crying.

The Lich turned to face her and she lashed out at him again, her eyes turning white from the highest level of hatred she had ever felt for anyone. She turned and fled up the stairs, tears falling down her cheeks as the image of Soth lying there in a pool of blood haunted her.

She ran up the stairs till she felt the cold, crisp air hit her and she realized she had made it to the rampart that was above them. Finding herself in the middle, she whirled around to face the opening from which she came, bringing her sword up infront of her, clasping it with both hands.

Redeemer stood there, blood oozing from the cut on her cheek, her white eyes glowing as she waiting for the Lich to appear. As if on some weird cue, thunder clapped and lighting struck above her, as if knowing an end to a devious soul was about to happen.

[Wraith Soul]

A sinister laugh echoed from the darkened stair case as Redeemer awaited the Lich above. Lighting lashed across the sky as boiling clouds grew increasingly dark with each passing moment. What seemed like an eternity had passed before the Sorcerer emerged from the observatory below. His movements were spectral, yet arrogant and intentional as his eyeless sockets fell on his lovely prey. Two thin orange specs burned from underneath the shadowy hood as he came into Redeemer view. She could see the horrendous wound that Soth had delivered, a gapping hole on the Liches right flank where his ribs should have been…Nevertheless, the necromancer seemed unaffected by it as he neared her slowly.

There was now a powerful magical barrier that blocked the lower staircase, cutting off the direct route and only path that the Death Knight could take for the time being…That’s all the Lich needed, a few brief personal moments alone with Ices lover…Nevertheless, Wraith Soul would toy with his intended quarry before he sent her as well to the abyss where her life mate helplessly resided.

“You foolish little woman,…Before I destroy you, shall I tell you how you lover died?” The Lich hissed in a mocking voice, pausing intentionally, adding to the effect of his words before he went on...

A gush of wind blew over the castle like spire atop the Clerics Perch. The sudden wind created a low eerie howl that admitted between some of claw like hallows and stony partitions as the evil wizard approached then stopped approximately ten feet from the female vampyre. The Lich watched in amusement as Redeemer distance herself from him on the massive rampart. Wraith’s ruby robe rippled effortlessly as he eyed the woman with scrutinizing eyes…Perhaps she would give him a better fight then her lost counterpart…

“Your brave and noble lover was nothing of the sort…He died like a sniveling woman who had lost her precious child…It was quite pathetic to witness I can assure you...Less then what I expected coming from a,…How shall I say,…Ah yes,…A superior race such as yours...Yet that matters little now,…Wouldn’t you say?” He scoffed gleefully as a protective ring of fire quickly erupted in a counter clock wise circle that fully encompassed him.

[Redeemer]

The wind howled up on the rampart blowing Redeemer's hair, whipping it around her face. She barely felt the stings on her skin that her hair caused as she watched the monstrosity make his way to her. As he approached her, the wind picked up his robes, revealing his skeleton self and Redeemer shuddered inwardly.

“You foolish little woman,…Before I destroy you, shall I tell you how you lover died? Your brave and noble lover was nothing of the sort…He died like a sniveling woman who had lost her precious child…It was quite pathetic to witness I can assure you...Less then what I expected coming from a,…How shall I say,…Ah yes,…A superior race such as yours...Yet that matters little now,…Wouldn’t you say?”

Redeemer lifted her head and let out a sarcastic laugh, shaking her head at his words.

"I do not think so, Lich." Redeemer hissed, her fangs bared and dripping with saliva. "Ice would never act like that. You played mind tricks on him to weaken him and then took advantage of the state he was in. You think yourself all powerful when you cannot even take on a man without using your parlor tricks, you monstrosity!"

Redeemer moved back as Wraith was encircled by a ring of fire and her eyes narrowed at him, taking in everything she could about him. Slowly twirling her sword from side to side, she began to walk around Wraith, never taking her eyes off of him.

"It will be my pleasure to sever your head and then lick your blood from my sword." Redeemer hissed with a smirk upon her red lips.

[Lord Soth]

Soth had lost all sense of time as he remained slumped against the crimson wall of the observatory. Eventually, he rolled to his right side, propping himself up with one arm as his dazed mind was greeted by the dark surroundings of the circular chamber. The Death Knight’s head throbbed with pain and his ears pounded as he ran his freed hand over the nasty wound to the back of his scalp. A wash of fresh blood matted his long raven hair as felt the soaked area…The jagged wound would heal in due time, his regenerative properties as a vampyre would see to that.

Anger engulfed the Death Knights thoughts as his fiery gaze fell on the small opening across the room. The light that trickled down the narrow passage from outside the tower offered little to no light as he looked on. However, Soth could faintly make out a murky shadow that passed over the obsidian floor at the base of the stairs. This was an indication to him that Redeemer and the evil Sorcerer were now atop the tower rotunda alone.

With great effort, Lord Soth heaved himself from the spot. Strangely, his body felt heavy in that moment as he did so. It was if he were encumbered by led bags, his shoulders laden with unseen hands that held him fast, pushing back to the floor where his own blood had pooled. It became quickly apparent to Soth that his powered armor was damaged. Its intricate circuitry compromised from the tremendous blow it took when his back had slammed backwards into the stone wall…Nevertheless, the ancient attire would still serve to offer him some ample protection for now. His only concern was to get to Redeemer.

A few moments later, Soth slowly neared the mouth of the opening with careful and silent steps. He could hear Redeemers agitated voice coming from somewhere above. The Death Knight also determined that the accursed Lich was in closer proximity to himself, possibly at the flat near the top of the stairwell. A soft sigh of relief escaped him as he cautiously peered up the narrow shaft…At least she still lives,…” he thought to himself…

“M’lady,…Be wise in your dealings with him…He is no fool. I’m going to take him from behind…So keep you’re,…” The last of Soth’s telepathic message to Redeemer was cut off before he could finish…And for good reason…

The Death Knight was about to carefully step into the small alcove that led upwards, unclipping his dule saber hilt at his side as he slowly moved into place. Immeditly his keen senses warned him of the unseen force barrier that he was about to blunder into. His right hand reached out slow, hesitating as it hovered within inches over the invisible spot of the low humming screen that started at the first step upwards to the ceiling. He could feel the electrical energies resonating from it…He knew the spell well, deceptive to the untrained eye as well as lethal to any unfortunate fool who touched or wandered into it unaware…Indeed, his way was blocked…

Soth glanced over to the staircase they had taken earlier with Redeemer and the phantom high priest to the room he now stood in. It too was now obstructed by tons of rubble…It would literally take weeks to excavate through it…Obviously that was out of the question. It seemed that Soth was essentially trapped, entombed in the round room with no way out…Only one choice remained, he would have to attempt a difficult neutralizing spell to lower the force barrier that the Lich created. Precious time would be wasted, time he knew he couldn’t afford at this point...Yet, the latter alternative made the choice of what he now faced a decisive one…Soth only hoped that Redeemer was resourceful enough to ward off or perhaps preoccupy the wizard until he could offer her further aid.

“Nae voz dul-envea’ negatetos,…Nae voz dul envea’ negatetos…” Soth whispered in low chanting tones as his left hand gestured symbols of power on the open air.

[Redeemer]

Redeemer and Wraith stared at each other as they encircled one another. Her lips curled back in a sneer as she brought up her sword as if to swing at him when she suddenly froze, hearing Soth’s voice in her mind.

“M’lady,…Be wise in your dealings with him…He is no fool. I’m going to take him from behind…So keep youre,…”

’Soth!’ She called out to him as relief washed over her. Soth was alive and from what she could tell, badly injured. As much as she wanted to take out Wraith on her own, she knew she would need Soth’s help, his magic. And then she did something she rarely did, she admitted her weakness. ’Soth, I need you to help me.’

Redeemer kept her eyes glued on the Lich as she realized he seemed to detect Soth’s movement below them. He had began to turn towards the stairwell, as if to go back after Soth and Redeemer reacted without thinking, she grabbed one of her throwing knives from her biceps and threw it at him, watching as it sunk into the back of his skull.

The Lich let out a high pitched scream, making Redeemer stagger backwards a few steps from the painful noise. He slowly turned back around to face her and she decided to keep him distracted from Soth to buy him as much time as he needed.

“Come on you cowardly freak!” She yelled as the wind howled around them, picking up speed. “Not confident enough to fight a woman, but have to go after a man when he’s down? C’mon, show me more of your parlor tricks…show me how you killed my lifemate…”

[Wraith Soul]

A contorted smiled framed the Liches hideous face as the silent messages between the two darklings were exchanged. His form rotated slightly as if anticipating the Death Lord from behind, however. He knew that Soth would be detained with the complexity of the force barrier. It was obvious to the Magi that his former master had not foolishly stumbled upon it…The searing cry to the ears had not sounded as of yet.

The razor sharp blade that Redeemer threw whizzed through the air, sinking deeply into the back of the Liches cranium as it hit with a sickening thud. The spectral being stumbled a pace forward from the sudden impact then whipped around quickly as his livid form arched in anger. To any mere mortal, this lethal attack would have killed instantly. However, Wraith Soul was no mere mortal,…He was a spawn of the foulest of creations. An evil abomination that was conceived by the Death Knight himself and no longer subject to the mortal coils of the living...

“Come on you cowardly freak!” Redeemer shouted above the howling wind as its forceful gale threatened her balance. “Not confident enough to fight a woman, but have to go after a man when he’s down? C’mon, show me more of your parlor tricks…show me how you killed my lifemate…”

“Your pitiful little toys are no match to the powers I command wench!” The Arch Lich spat in a venomous voice, his full attention was now on the female once again. Wraith’s freed hand clawed and lashed out at Redeemer as if she was in striking distance, cutting her viciously across her upper chest and mid-section as he raked the open air with his long finger nails. Fresh blood washed effortlessly down the front of her torn garments, staining them red as she felt the painful brunt of an unseen hand shove her backwards. The female vampyre barely caught herself as she fell between two of the rampart protrusions, forcing her to observe the sheer two hundred foot plummet to the bottom of the tower.

“Tonight my dear,...You will join him in hell!” With a slow and methodical movement, the Lich reached back to the base of his skull and yanked the steely dagger from its place. A clanging noise filled the air as Redeemers blade dropped harmlessly to the ground as boisterous laughter followed in close pursuit. The wizard hunkered form leaned low as his staff arm splayed to one side. His hypnotic movement was fluent and smooth, much like a mesmerizing dance of a possessed man. Once again lighting flashed over head as the Lich stood to his full height. His snarling face illuminated by the brilliant light above them as it strobed eerily.

“Behold,…And tremble woman at the magnificence of the dark side!” Hissed the necromancer as the butt of his staff smote the tower stones to his left. There was a simultaneous clap of thunder as the ancient rod hit the thick masonry...

...A blinding blue bolt of lighting crackled and sizzled as it reached down from the heavens at Wraiths command. Its deadly tendril instantly struck the clear, fist sized jewel atop Lich’s staff until it coursed through its length to the golden tipped base with fleeting accuracy. The lofty tower shook and heaved violently under Redeemer’s feet as a splitting fisher rapidly extended towards her. The rugged crack grew wider until she felt the very stones below her buckle and begin to give way…The whole eastern side of the ancient tower on which Redeemer stood was now collapsing from underneath her at an alarming rate…She would have only milliseconds to react, or her stony grave marker would be sure under countless tons of blocks and rubble…

[Redeemer]

“Tonight my dear,...You will join him in hell!” Wraith hissed at her. “Behold,…And tremble woman at the magnificence of the dark side!”

“If hell is where I am destined to be, then so be it, Freak!” Redeemer yelled, grasping onto the stones to keep from going over the edge.

She slowly pulled herself up, the slashes on her chest and stomach burning and bleeding as she did so. Redeemer grimaced in pain, coming to a stand. She was suddenly blinded by the white blue light, bringing her arms up to block her eyes.

Redeemer felt the stones beneath her begin to shake and she looked down, then behind her to the vast blackness that would greet her should she topple over. A groaning noise greeted her ears and she looked back down to find the stones separating from one another.

Redeemer looked back one more time, seeing the tower collapse behind her and she leapt out of the way, landing with a thud on the other side of Wraith near the stairwell. She watched in horrid fascination as the spot she had just been standing on gave way and fell hundreds of feet to the ground below. She swallowed her fear and stood up, her back against the wall.

“You do not scare me, Lich!” Redeemer hissed. Blood seeped from her chest, the wounds she suffered not healing as quickly as they should. “Is that all you got, Lich? Some all powerful being you are.”

’Soth, he’s weakened me. I need your help.’ She sent to the Death Knight.

[Lord Soth]

The negation spell that Soth mumbled was about to go off when the Cleric’s tower shook violently. The massive rocks groaned and shattered as the Death Knight felt the floor beneath him sway and tremble. Soth could hear the fizzling sound of electricity above on the ‘Perch’ just as the huge circular wall to his immediate left collapsed and disintegrated to the forest floor. A gapping hole was all that was left, the spell that his seneschal had preformed had also taken a good portion of the upper turret as well.

Forsaking his efforts with the force barrier in front of him, the Death Knight hurriedly made his way to the mouth of the new opening. The light pitter patter of rain began to fall on his face as he sized up the distance between himself and the rotunda where Redeemer and the Lich were now locked in combat...

Unclipping his dule sabers, Soth force jumped with cat like ease, somersaulting right as he passed the jagged area of the roof line. The Death Knights left talon hand fanned outward towards Wraith Soul as soon as he came into Soth’s view. A fiery ball of magical light erupted, its rapid trajectory in a straight bee line towards the necromancer who turned to greet Soth with a wicked grimace etched on his rancid face, however. The Lich had no time to react to the instantaneous spell as it engulfed him in a blazing caldron of scintillating blue hues. The mere blast alone sent the Lich reeling backwards until he slammed hard into one of the stony spires. There was a shriek of agonizing pain that emanated from the spectral Magi like no other that Soth or Redeemer had ever head before…Yet, what ensued afterwards sent chills up and down Redeemers spine, startling Soth somewhat as to how the Lich could seemingly shun such a powerful attack...

...Mocking laughter echoed over the tower as the sorcerer swung his enchanted staff in front of him, the large clear jewel atop his knurled staff pulsated in an erythematic strobe.

“Is that the best you have,… Master !...I’m disappointed in you!” Wraith hissed as his malevolent eyes slowly lowered at Soth, his very word’s dripping with blood as he stepped forward in a lurching motion. A thick white beam shot forth from the Liches rod, its brilliant ray aimed straight at the Death Knights breast plate. Soth spun to the side as the stones behind him splintered into a thousand shards, the bone jarring concussion sending him sprawling to the ground as he narrowly managed to evade the sudden attack…

[Redeemer]

Redeemer watched with wide eyes as Soth attacked, breathing a sigh of relief as well. The Lich turned to attack Soth and her breath caught in her throat, watching as the Lich's attack seemed to happen in slow motion infront of her.

"Soth!" She screamed, watching as the Death Knight leapt out of the way before he could be bested by his servant.

Redeemer looked down at her sword in her shaking hand and she suddenly wondered if she could do this like she promised Dante. Self-doubt had never been a problem with her and to have those doubts now...she knew something was wrong. Hot, crimson tears fell down her cheeks as she let her sword fall from her hand to land with a 'clank' on the stones next to her feet. Bringing her hands up, she wiped at her tears, smudging them on her cheeks. She slid down the wall, wrapping her arms around her knees. Wraith was very powerful and if he could knock around the Death Knight like he was, there was no way she could take him out.

Her tear filled eyes sought out Soth as the Lich slowly walked towards him, words of spell spewing from his mouth. The two battled each other, neither one of them gaining any ground. Letting out a shaky breath, Redeemer turned her now green eyes up into the night sky, letting the harsh rain wipe her tears away. She closed her eyes, letting the memories of her short time with Ice flood her. The happy times, the sad, the angry...the look on Dante's face when he learned of his only son's death. The image of Ice as she found him there before her eyes as she opened them.

Looking down at Ice's sword next to her, she let her fingers run over the blade, watching as it began to glow softly. She grasped the hilt tightly, bringing it up to look at it.

"I will keep my promise." Redeemer whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, they were again white and her fangs lengethened in anticipation.

Redeemer stood, the sword held out to her side as she walked slowly towards Wraith as he grasped Soth by a taloned hand around the neck and lifted him up into the air.

"Wraith Soul!" Redeemer yelled out. "Turn around and meet your fate."

The Lich dropped Soth and turned around, raising his staff up as if to strike at her. Redeemer hissed and swung her sword up, watching as his staff broke into and went flying over the side of the tower. Wraith turned a surprised look and Redeemer grinned at him, bringing a hand up to motion for him to come get her. He let out a whail and rushed her. Redeemer side stepped him and his nails scraped her arm, tearing out flesh as he did so. She cried out in pain, whirling around to bring her sword up to lop off the hand that touched her. Wraith bellowed and clasped his hand to his chest, his eyes glowing hotly as he let out a low pitched hiss.

"You will pay for that, Whore!" Wraith spat out.

"And you will pay for taking Ice's life and any other innocents you have stolen." Redeemer growled.

Redeemer brought her sword up infront of her, holding it with both hands, an evil smile playing on her lips. Wraith and the female vampyre stared down each other in what seemed like breathless minutes. Both let out yells as they charged each other. Redeemer swung her sword at her side and just before the met, she lept into the air and twirled around, her sword coming down to slice through Wraith's neck. She landed softly on the stone on one knee and looked up to find Wraith staring at her. She watched him for a moment and began to wonder if she had even touched him with the blade when Wraith fell to his knees. His head slid from his neck to land with a sickening thud on the stones.

Suddenly the rain stopped, the thunder, the lightning...no more. It became eerily silent. Redeemer came to her feet, looking down at the head of Wraith when she was suddenly knocked across the tower, landing against the wall as shockwave after shockwave hit herself and Soth. She looked at the other vampyre to find him holding onto a crumbled part of the wall, his own eyes on the body of his servant. A gust of wind blew up and rays of blue and white light erupted out of the neck of Wraith's lifeless body, lighting up the pitch black night sky.

Redeemer pushed herself away from the wall, the shockwaves weakening as the lights from Wraith's neck dimmed. She came to his still kneeling body and brought a booted foot up to his chest, kicking it over onto its side.

"Die already." She hissed, twirling her sword and then bringing it down to sink it into his chest just in case.

Sinking to her knees, she pulled out her sword and looked at it. She had told the Lich she would lick his blood from her blade when he was dead and that is exactly what she did. She placed her tongue against the cold blade and slowly ran it over the blood, the rancid taste of it making her shudder. Redeemer let the sword fall from her hand to her side and she turned tired eyes upon Soth, watching as he knelt on his own knees, watching her.

"We did it." She whispered to him, making her way to him on her hands and knees. She suddenly laughed, her eyes turning back to their green ones as she realized the two of the must look a fright, bloodied and torn to shreds. She collapsed against Soth's chest and let out a deep sigh of relief.

Redeemer's eyes went to Wraith's head, suddenly excited about walking into the Council's chambers to present Dante with the head of Ice's murderer. The look on the elder vampyre's face was going to be worth all the pain this mission had caused. He deserved to be gratified and she was happy she would be the one to bring it to Dante Imoralia.