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Strange Magic [Dragonsong]

Started by Zero, August 15, 2016, 04:06:13 PM

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Zero

Joss knew it wouldn't take long to find some prey, but even he was surprised to stumble across something vile and needing attention before he even made it to an inn or tavern. Usually the demon hunter had to shake down some leads, but the shadow that broke away to follow a haggard young man definitely warranted an immediate response.

It wasn't hard to fall in behind them both, stalking the demon even as it stalked its human prey. In the dusky evening and at this distance Joss didn't recognize Calen.

Putting his hands behind his back, the demon hunter sliced his palm, shuddering softly as he felt the blood begin to flow. A softly uttered incantation produced a wicked-looking and clearly demonic scythe that was taller than him - not exactly a hard feat, admittedly. Joss kept the weapon behind his back, but it was held at the ready to strike as soon as the demon made its move.

DragonSong

A chill crept up his back, sending a tingle straight to the crown of his skull Calen froze, his breath suddenly crystallizing into a cloud of fog as it met the air. His magic reacting to an imminent danger, warning him.

"You."

A grip so cold it burned wrapped around his bicep, then dragged him back off his feet and slammed him into the shadowed alcove of an alley. A roiling shadow rose up in front of him, one tendril of darkness reaching up to circle his throat while the one on his arm moved to clamp over his mouth and nose. The cold invaded his senses, all he could feel, breathe, taste, it was like a weight in his lungs.

He knew cold, he worked in cold, ice. He'd never felt anything like this. It was like his very essence was being dragged from his body.

"You were marked, little human," the shadow demon hissed. The quavery hands he'd wrapped around his mouth and throat suddenly grew claws that dug into Calen's skin. He choked, eyes wide as he struggled feebly against the creature's grip.

Zero

When the demon made their move, so did Joss. The moment he saw the man being dragged into a shadowed alley, the demon hunter sprang into action, sprinting towards where the pair had disappeared. He rounded the corner just in time to hear the icy voice of the demon claim that the human had been marked.

There wasn't time to really look at the man pinned against the wall by his throat. Joss couldn't think, only react. The scythe swung around, slicing through both air and flesh causing its cold blood to be splattered on the pavement.

"Let's dance, you ugly son of a bitch." Of course Joss couldn't resist taunting the damn thing.

DragonSong

Calen sank to the ground, gasping, as the shadow demon whirled and hissed at this new attacker. It had no defining features, but something about the way it flickered and loomed suggested an almost smug sort of air.

"You have no purpose here," it crackled, its voice like dry ice giving way under the weight of a heavy boot.

Still collapsed to the ground, Calen struggled to make sense of his fuzzy vision. "Y-you..."

Zero

"Yeah, neither do you." Joss informed the demon casually, speaking almost as if he were bored and not about to face down a creature of pure evil.

Red-flecked grey eyes cast down for a moment on Calen's face, familiarity flickering in his eyes as the ice mage tried to speak. Well fuck him sideways, what a stroke of luck. They hadn't exactly parted on great terms, but despite finding him insufferably annoying, Joss wouldn't have wished ill on the overly cheery man that he'd briefly known months ago.

It was all the more reason to send this hell spawn back where it belonged.

That had only taken a moment, taking in Calen's face and realizing he knew the demon's intended victim. Joss felt a surge of power and flames flickered along the blade of his scythe as he ramped up for this showdown. Not that he expected much of a challenge.

With a quick motion his weapon was twirling through the air again, flaming blade flashing again and again as he attempted to strike his opponent.

DragonSong

The demon hissed and wheeled back, spreading ice in its wake. Trembling, Calen forced himself to his feet and tried to stumble toward Joss.

"GEt-- get out of here," he panted. "That thing'll kill you..."

Zero

"It wishes." The spread of ice was met with flickering flames, the heat radiating from the scythe. Joss cast a smirk in Calen's direction and stepped forward, attempting to put himself between the demon and the mage. He was far more confident in his ability to handle this monster than in Calen's ability to do so.

DragonSong

Calen shook his head, but until his breath returned he could do little more than erect a weak barrier of ice around the two of them-- though judging by the creature's abilities, he doubted it would do much good.

Zero

What was this shit?

"That's in my way." Joss arched a questioning brow at the ice barrier. The scythe was hung next to him, the weapon suspended in the air as he pulled out his grimoire. Pages flipped rapidly by themselves as he released the spell book, it also floated in front of him. A ritual of banishment was where the pages fell open, black flames engulfing the tome. "Let's send this thing back to hell."

Calen was only going to be in his way, Joss didn't have time to toy with the demon if there was this big of a risk to another person.

DragonSong

"Gods!" Calen recoiled from the black fire, as did the demon. Well, that was a plus, at least. "What the hells is that?"

The demon hissed again and roiled away, tendrils of shadows flickering out like flames themselves. "I'd very much like to see you try, little mortal."

Zero

"Black hellfire." Joss answered off-handedly, not taking his eyes off the demon in front of them. He was pretty sure he had told Calen before that he was a demon hunter. Well, the mage had probably never seen this kind of magic before. Most humans didn't use the powers of demons.

More flames danced from the book as Joss began speaking softly in a demonic language, the fire leapt to the ground, igniting a circle around the demon. The ring of fire glowed ominously as it created a magical barrier and seal – nothing demonic could cross that circle, not to get in or out. "Calen stay back, when this magic releases it will be a bit violent."

DragonSong

Oh. Black hellfire. Of course.

As one does.

Feeling a little lightheaded, the ice mage nonetheless attempted to add his own power to the fray, reaching out and blasting a weak but still chilling wind toward the shadow creature.

"Stay back?" He blinked at Joss. "Wh-- where exactly am I supposed to get back to?"

Zero

 "Well you could have run." Joss thought that Calen might have been able to dart out of the alley, if he was so inclined, but it was too late. The incantation had been finished, and the seal blazed to life, a column of fire rising from the circle above the rooftops as it consumed the demon within.

The power radiating off the seal was strong enough that Joss had to take a step back, raising an arm protectively in front of his face as the magic currents whipped about them violently. The fire pulled back through the seal and puttered out, leaving nothing behind to give evidence of what had just happened. His grimoire also slapped shut, extinguishing the flames that had pulsed around it moments before.

"That was a fun way to be welcomed back to the city." Joss mused as he reached out to pull his spell book from the air, tucking it back where it belonged at his side. The scythe faded back to nothing now that he no longer needed it. 

DragonSong

Calen reeled back from the burst of magic, instinctively erecting another ice barrier to shield himself.

He was weak though, drained, and the ice quickly melted. Luckily, the demon was already gone, and Joss was gathering up his spell book as though he'd just done nothing more exciting than swatted a fly.

The ice mage blinked, then smiled a little shakily. "Well, hey. Fancy meeting you here," he mumbled-- well, slurred actually.

Was the ground moving?

Before he fully realized what was happening, his knees buckled and his head cracked back against the stone wall behind them, making him wince. "Ow..."

Zero

"Small world." Joss smirked, but it was short-lived. Calen collapsing and hitting his head against the wall was not what he expected to happen. Of course he hadn't expected to ever see the irritating mage again either, but what could you do?

He kneeled down in front of him, looking the man over to see how badly hurt he might be. Aside from smacking his head and maybe being really tired or maybe drunk with the way he slurred his speech, he didn't look hurt. "Hey man, are you okay? I don't know what you did to piss off a demon; but seriously, you should leave those things to the professionals."

DragonSong

"I-- I'm fine." Contrary to his words, Calen's eyes were clenched shut, his breath rasping slightly. Dark, bluish-purple bruises were beginning to form around his throat, and he couldn't seem to stop shivering.

"Gods, is this what normal people feel like in the cold?" he grumbled, almost petulant, rubbing his own arms as gooseflesh rose over his skin. He blinked, seemingly a little dazed, and glanced up at Joss. "I...don't get cold. I mean, ever. Why am I cold?"

Zero

"Probably." Joss had no idea what exactly Calen was feeling, so couldn't be sure, but it was as good an assumption as any, especially the way the mage was shivering and rubbing at his arms. Being a little chilly wouldn't kill him, but those bruises around his throat were nasty. He was lucky he hadn't had anything important crushed. The demon must have been playing with its prey.

"Well I'm sure demon cold is different than regular cold. Come on; let's get you up and inside somewhere warm and safe." Joss stood back up and offered Calen his hand.

DragonSong

Biting back another groan and complain about the unnatural chill, Calen reached out to take the offered hand and staggered to his feet. "Yeah...thanks," he mumbled, still sounding a little dazed.

Zero

Joss frowned as he helped pull Calen to his feet. The mage seemed unsteady and really shaken up, but he supposed he couldn't blame him. A demon trying to kill you was probably pretty terrifying if you weren't used to it.

"Come on, let's go to that one place you took me before." He gently put a hand on the other man's back and tried to guide him. Joss thought he remembered that place they had slept before, and he didn't know where else to take him. Calen had seemed to have friends in that place, and right now that was probably just what the mage needed. Friendly faces and a warm bed.

DragonSong

"Uh, yeah. Okay. Thanks." That seemed to be all he could do for the moment-- offer affirmations and vague gratitude. He looked blearily over at Joss, blinking as he tried to focus, and a lopsided, tired smirk tugged at his lips.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say it was fate or somethin'. Us meetin' like this again."

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