Spirits of the Earth

Kirnardaz had spent ages searching for this person. He had found after enquiring and hearing rumours that this Daerian was supposedly very mysterious and powerful. It had piqued his interests, and as such, he skulked around looking for someone matching her description.

In his head he finalised what he thought she would be able to do for him. He thought she would be able to provide him with all the power he desired from the rumours he had heard, and he was desperate to try it. Really desperate.

Eventually, he spotted her, riding what he considered an abnormally large horse around the market, examining what she pleased. He decided that one measly man would not attract her attention, and neither would she desire the attention of a full blown demon prince in a market place filled the those who feared and hated magic.

So instead he opted for a slightly less problematic approach.

He approached a nearby horse selling stand, placing a hand on one horse, projecting his entire corruptive field into the horse, enlarging it, and turning it into a giant lizard, the saddle shaping itself in the field accordingly.

He simply gave the owner of the horse the amount of coin requested and left with the lizard, eager to catch Daerian. When he finally caught up with her, he simply made the lizard hiss to part the crowd, and strolled up beside her.

"Greetings Miss Daerian..." His voice faltered towards the end of the sentence as he felt her powerful aura wash over him, and noticed just how beautiful she was. In all great truth, he was slightly stunned by her beauty.

"I am interested in the services I have heard you provide."

Daerian raised a brow as her bright eyes met the rider on a rather unusual mount. She pulled the reins of her horse back, ordering it to stop, and turned towards him.

"With whom do I have the pleasure, sir?" she asked. There was nothing unusual about her tone - only a bit of curiosity. But that grew as she aimed her attention at the rider. She sensed a dark, twisted power within what seemed but a noble mortal, of a kind not far from her own. It seemed almost tempting to her... There was blood, ancient blood, and she could feel it. Powerful blood.

"And where did you learn my name from?" this time, she sounded almost amused. There was hardly something in Connlaoth that would surprise her, but a man, riding a lizard, was an unusual sight, and not one she would have met with before. She was not very well-known, even among Connlaothians, and only a few knew her name...

She spent her life hiding herself from the eyes of the world. In darkness and shadows. How did he know about her? And what more did he know?

"I have heard about you in mere rumours milady. Of course, as usual, rumours do nothing to capture a person's true appearance. I must say you are more beautiful than the rumours tell of. And I have other resources." Kirnardaz realised he wasn't actually letting her get the full picture. So he widened his sphere of influence, weakening it, but proving that he had strength to do that.

"My name is Kirnardaz." He opened up a peek at his soul, allowing those in his sphere of influence to experience the dread sensation he emanated. It sent a clear message that he was no mere mortal by any means, and that he was powerful. Or that he used to be powerful.

"So. Would you like to go somewhere away from prying eyes and ears to talk?" Kirnardaz was referring to the people who he could see stood by stalls who looked on with the eyes of predators. Kirnardaz let his dread influence spread to them, so that they would feel the danger of his presence.

Daerian smirked, but on her lavender lips, even such a distorted, twisted grimace appeared beautiful. He appeared like a diamond amid a mountain - a demon! In the middle of a crowd! Power was searing from him like heat from a fire, intense, dark and twisted, but to her wonderful and awe-inspiring by all means.

"Gladly. I was about to suggest it myself... Kirnardaz." she replied in a soft, low voice, but showing her confidence, grace and charm. She spurred her horse towards him. There was no need for lowly mortals to witness them, or any conversations they could hold.

"Follow me." she gestured towards him as she passed by, her long white skirt brushing against his mount. "North."

Towards her fortress. No ear and eye ever got inside to witness her secrets and escaped with a living mouth to tell about them.

Kirnardaz waited until they were moving to alter his appearance to something more evil. He chose to adorn himself with all his armour except his helmet. He hoped none of the mortals would pay attention, and that the guards would simply accept that as a foreigner, he had practiced magic. But there were no guards in sight, and with his dread influence, it was clear he was something powerful, so he felt comfortable.

"I recently lost hold over a very large amount of distant land, and have been searching for ways to get it back." He psychically commanded the lizard to move at her pace, and realised that she was within a psychic range as well.

Miss Daerian? Perhaps our true conversation best stay here, as a psychic one, until we reach our destination? Kirnardaz didn't try to invade her mind, simply sending the message as if it were a letter through a door. It held the same essence as most of his former power, but with much more soul in it.

I suppose it would be the best solution. I don't want any mortal filth to listen to very personal conversations... Daerian replied in the same way as he did. It was not possible for her to communicate like this with mortals, but another demon was a different thing.

Do you need ammunition or weaponry to get your land back, Sir Kirnardaz? Her weapons were well-known through Connlaoth for quality and toughness, lasting longer and dealing more damage than of other make. The fire that melted the ore was hotter. The hammers, pounding onto anvils, were heavier. And together with Daerian's knowledge about weapons, they were perfection when compared to creations of ordinary blacksmiths.

It didn't escape her that he changed, shifting to a more evil, but powerful-appearing form. Her lips twisted into a smile - that for was much more likable to her. However, she didn't turn into her fierce form, which would cause too much fuss and attention. Besides, wings would rip her clothes.

My thoughts exactly. If I had my way, they would be piles of ashes on the floor, mere shadows of their original, miserable selves. He could feel the power and darkness behind every message, powering them through the rather small distance between him and her. To him, such power intoxicated him, almost wooed him into a sense of desire. He found that instead of wanting whatever power was contained in her, he wanted her. He wanted her companionship, her alliance. Not allegiance.

Unfortunately I was speaking in mere simpletons terms. I need energy, power to return to my realm, and make it my own again. As soon as I return, I will pay the debt to you tenfold. Kirnardaz was trying to keep himself strictly business with this woman. She could most likely hurt him exceptionally badly, and he didn't want to jeopardise his chances by insulting her. He had no desires to grovel as well as apologise.

I ask if you might have ways about that? Kirnardaz waited until they were clear of the city gate to fully change form, out of eyesight and earshot of the gate guards. He burst into flame, revealing his crimson skin, his now black eyes, and his armoured wings, decorated in the same armour as his body, with his helmet now riding on his lap.

"Much better."

Daerian grinned, revealing her sharp teeth. They'd be the blood in a pool for me to bathe in. She didn't want to be left behind, and nobody would surely watch when going through the countryside...

A pair of great dark wings spread from her back, ripping the corset and comfortably folding behind herself. Her irises turned from violet to dark crimson, as red as blood, and claws like iron were suddenly holding the bridle. Her teeth appeared even sharper and longer like this.

"Yes, it's more comfortable to be natural." she uttered.

You need to enhance your powers? Receive new abilities, or make your old ones more powerful, if I understand it right? Now this was definitely someone to make business with. Dark. Strong. And with the same desire to destroy... With a bit of luck, courtesy and the right actions, he could be a powerful ally. A perfect weapon, just like herself.

I need to enhance my ability to gain power. The tale is long and rather frustrating, best told over a meal in my opinion, although please don't take that as a request, I can gift you the memories now if you desire. Kirnardaz honestly didn't want to have to tell the story of how he had planned the apocalypse, and it had all been ruined by some unseen force that was denying him access to his realm.

"It is a nice form. It suits you." Kirnardaz was slightly more entranced by this form than her normal elven form, and physically she looked terrifying, and to him, downright sexy. He slapped himself mentally, reminding himself yet again that this was strictly business.

I have retained most of my former, rather limited set of natural abilities. It was the additional spells and magic that I have lost, and wish to regain. I simply need to be able to hold more power, and to acquire more. Kirnardaz decided that she would only be able to help if she knew what she was actually doing. And he felt that lying to her would not be smart.

Daerian nodded slowly. I think I know what you mean... She glanced over his shoulder and stared into his black eyes.

However, it is complicated, and I am unsure whether it works at someone beside my own self. I can guarantee nothing. The chance that it would be lethal is incredibly low, but I cannot say whether it will grant you your former power, or what amount of it it will enhance. I do not need the memories now... It will be safer inside the walls of my fortress.

Her hand arose and pointed at the high walls, shielding a fortress in the distance. They appeared thick, sturdy and impenetrable, fearfully shadowing the lands underneath. The hard grey stone mirrored the intention of its owner exceptionally well.

And we are soon to reach it. I would be honored to consider you my guest.

She returned back to her peaceful form, not intending to let even the guards that watched over the gates of her own residence see her true nature. The only thing that could tell of it were two holes at the back of her dress.

Kirnardaz let himself return to a human form, the wings crumbling to black smoke that simply spread through the nearby forest. As he entered the shadow of the fortress, he simply found himself scared. He felt mortal, even if just for a few minutes. He felt weak.

We shall continue the conversation inside? Kirnardaz decided that a break from the conversation was appropriate, for the sake of his dignity and pride, as he could feel the shadow of the fortress affecting him ever so slightly, a change that would be noticeable through continuous psychic conversation.

"It is an impressive fortress Lady Daerian. It looks nigh on impenetrable." Kirnardaz stated bluntly that it was no doubt not impenetrable, but only in an implicative fashion. It would no doubt crumble under his former power and armies, but he would not mention that.

"When we get inside, we can continue discussing business?"

Daerian grinned again. "It indeed is almost impenetrable. Anyone who got through the gate without permission..." Her hand made a quick slashing move. "Didn't see the next sunrise." No army ever tried to attack it, but it was a fortress of death for thieves and those that were too curious.

"Yes, we shall continue discussing inside." Their mounts crossed a bridge over the deep ditch, surrounding the fortress, and the guards, standing by the gate, pulled their spears back at the sight of their mistress. They rushed through the gate and arrived into a great courtyard with several  doors on each side, every one with a great number of iron bars crossed through the wood. The courtyard itself was dark, shadowy and cold, not different from the exterior of the walls that shielded the fortress from the outside. 

She sled off the saddle and gestured Kirnardaz to do the same, letting a couple of servants take care of their mounts. "We may now head to the dining hall... There is some food prepared." Even though we need naught of it, it's a pleasure to feast on delicacies. She winked at him and pointed at the door in front of them.

"If you could, go forwards as you enter the gate until you come to a door with iron bars, resembling a tree, and wait before it. It will only be a short moment for me to get there as well." she said, smiling softly, and rushed towards one of the smaller doors to the right.

A lady like her could in no means hold a formal dinner in ripped riding clothes - that would be a shame for her. In the end, it doesn't take long to change into a more exquisite gown.

Kirnardaz followed her across the bridge, impressed with ditch that would have been beaten only by a lava moat or chasm.

When they reached the courtyard, he dismounted, and let the servants take the beast he considered his now, and was wary that they didn't abuse his new mount. He needed Ceerbaro back.

"Of course, I will go and wait." He decided to take his time getting there, taking one or two detours, but ending up where he was supposed to go. He was curious as to the layout of the castle, but he felt rather awed by the atmosphere.

When I get my power back, I would like to make this my fortress. Fill it with daemon-guards, and have mounts that are not warped mortal creatures. Dragon mounts. And perhaps strengthen the walls with rock from my home. This could be my residence. Crimson or black fires, shadow beings for servants, the likes. It would make a fine home for me. Kirnardaz let the armour disintegrate, for a brief moment, revealing the muscular body beneath it, before it disintegrated as well, reforming as a slightly altered version underneath robes of nobility.

Daerian saw him, standing before the door, from afar. She was rather fond of wearing one of her best gowns, with layers of snow-white silk, embroidered with threads of silver, and a large cut at her back, allowing her to spread her wings without tearing the dress. For this time, she had no gauntlets nor gloves, only a pair of wide, long sleeves, tight to the elbow, then falling back, almost reaching the ground. Instead, she wore a couple of bracelets, adorned with crimson rubies. A similar jewel was on her neck, set in twisting strands of silver, and three red stones were on the circlet, set on her white hair.

"Shall we dine, sir Kirnardaz?" she smiled, and with a single push of her white hand, the door opened, revealing a great hall. The walls were lined with seven tall windows, made of colorful glass, laid into the stone in complicated patterns. A single long table was placed in the middle, surrounded by chairs, all furniture carved into complicated patterns from dark wood. At the other side of the hall was a great fireplace, formed from the figures of three stone dragons.

Daerian led him towards the high end of the table, where a couple of thrones, covered in black furs, stood. There was already food placed upon the table - silver plates filled with meat and salads, fruit and cakes of all kind, and all finished with jugs of red and white wine. She sat down into one of the thrones and gently gestured him to do the same.

"I am honored to welcome you in my humble residence. My apologies, for it is not the best of food I could offer, but over such a short period of time, I was unable to provide any better. Please, sit down. I made sure that not a living soul will disturb us."

"Of course Lady Daerian. And I must say you look stunning." He slipped in the flattery to try and aid his own cause, although he spoke the truth. He walked with her and sat in one of the thrones, sprouting his wings and changing into his true demon form again.

"I thank you for your generous hospitality. And I understand completely. When I was the ruler of my realm, I often had visitors over so suddenly that they became the very meal I offered to give them. Of course, those days are behind me, unfortunately." Kirnardaz waited for her to begin eating, not desperate to eat as it provided less sustenance than a soul did to him.

"That's funny, because the souls of the living are good food to me." Kirnardaz mused out loud, knowing that for all the sustenance they provided, they no longer gave him power, even if he cast the spell.

"It's disappointing, as souls used to provide me with the energy to perform new, more complex spells."

"Oh, thank you!" She covered her mouth with her hand as she chuckled silently, but her body changed into its natural form again, with wide wings folded behind her back.

"Well..." Daerian's fingers grabbed a small piece of meat and she begun eating straight from the plate, "Maybe there is something we could do about it..." She laughed playfully, staring at the plates. "Food offers little past the pleasure to me. But I don't consider intruders pleasant... And it's difficult to find reliable staff. They cringe in fear every time I walk past, anyway."

For a while, she only slowly picked food from the plates and ate a bit of everything in silence, then proceeded to pour herself a goblet of red wine. "It isn't as... Alive as blood which I devour. But it is sweeter still, though it doesn't affect me a little." she uttered.

"I have enhanced my abilities many times over complicated rituals and binding higher powers to my will. The effect is permanent and cannot be undone by any natural cause. Not even magic is able to eliminate it. However, it is questionable how would it affect a being of a different kind..."

She knew very well what his business was. Now she did - he wanted power. Tenfold the power he wielded now... And she may be able to grant him that.

Kirnardaz began to eat as well, catching a rat in his eye. A living soul, weak enough to crush for sustenance. He felt every primal urge in him take over, and he threw a black fire ball at the rat, leaving it's corpse glowing, at which point he rose to his feet, a white light streaming to him from the rat, and he began to glow, his power rising momentarily as he consumed the soul before returning to his original state, just slightly less hungry.

"See that. I should have gained even a minute amount of power, but it is only there for a second. I need to find out how to capture it. I am immortal, so do not fear for my health. Do as you wish. I simply want power again." Kirnardaz sat himself back down, letting out a sigh which left a flame hanging in the air, which weaved around, creating intricate symbols in the air.

He continued to pick at the food, eating enough so as not to seem rude in front of his host.

"I want to summon armies again, Daerian. To flood these lands with our kind, to rid the land of petty mortal sin. There would be peace, lawlessness, no countries, just a realm of demons under the rule of a king and queen."

Daerian narrowed her crimson eyes. "We share a common desire." she whispered.

Light faded behind the windows. Wind begun wailing outside the windows, and the sound of thunder behind the walls shook the glass. In only a short moment, the sound of raindrops, fiercely hitting the windows, echoed through the vast hall.

"Is this the power you desire? The power to bend the very reality to your will? An infinite supply of energy to shape the world by your will?" she whispered. Her head slowly bent back. Her bracelets let out a loud thud as she dropped her hands onto the table. Laughter, at first silent, but growing louder, emerged from her mouth. She laughed, but otherwise didn't move a finger, like a mad maniac.

"I can grant you that, if you are only willing to risk. If you are willing to risk unleashing great powers into this world, I can bind strength greater than any to you." Her hand clenched around his wrist, and she opened his mind, showing him the vast power he could possibly achieve, if she succeeded.

A single chariot crosses a barren wasteland, soaked in blood and smoke, rising from piles of ash. Lightning illuminates jagged silhouettes of mountains on the horizon, and dark fire springs from the ground.

"Indeed, what else does this world deserve..."

As quickly as a striking lightning, she turned back to him, and suddenly was back in her original position. "Yes, I could attempt to grant you that. Those ways worked on myself, and made me powerful, more than I would ever expect myself to be. It is only what you are willing to trade - humanity... Pity... Mercy... Everything comes with a price. I ask naught of you, but what are you willing to sacrifice of yourself to regain your powers?"

Everything comes with a price. She gave everything that was in her way to become what she was now. There was hardly anything human left inside her, but she believed it was for greater good of herself - she wanted to rule, and rule with great might forever. It didn't matter what she had to give up, only what she could gain...

Kirnardaz felt the energy coming from her, and actually began to feed off of it, creating a power void around himself, finding himself storing the power as it was consumed, even if it were to just return, and for a minute after she had sat down, he used the power she had allowed him to take to show his potential.

Around him reality literally warped as the floor beneath him turned to brimstone and the air around him became black and heavy with smoke, demonic faces imprinting themselves in the smoke. His armour appeared on him, forming around him from the smoke, and his voice altered itself.

"I feel powerful again... You have done me a great favour, giving me a taste of what I long for, Lady Daerian." Kirnardaz's armour began to change, the faces carved into the metal beginning to twist and laugh as shadow beings formed around the demon prince, the huge, hulking figures (http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110830094952/monster/images/0/00/Shadow_Demon.jpg) moving around him as if he were a god. For a few moments, he felt like he had never lost his power.

But then his dream faded, the shadow beings dissipating and his armour disintegrating.

"I would make you my dark queen, my equal in a world where we are gods, and everything falls under our power. I would give you anything you desire..." Kirnardaz put his corruptive powers to work, tempting her with offers of power and rulership.

Daerian smiled. It was not a soft, beautiful smile like before, but a terrifying, dark grimace, mirroring her true nature.

"Yes, I would grant you that. I could possibly return you your power... But under one condition." she pulled herself closer to him, "And that is that you would never attempt to strip me of my own power, attempt to get rid of me, or in any way try to get me out of the way. I will keep gaining power with every drop of blood, shed upon this earth. I will get stronger with the horrors of war. I guarantee that."

Her eyes flashed with fire as she begun shifting further towards the dark, inhuman depths of her fierce form. Her claws grew, and wings became wider, stronger than before. The sharp teeth resembled a wild animal, rather than a human.

"I can grant you power, but you will have to swear that you will not try to fight my own, and I will take the same oath. Allies, not enemies." Her voice echoed between the walls, deep and terrifying.
"I know what you are capable of, I can feel it. I am fully aware of your powers, may they be unleashed."

"Now why would I ever try and do that, my queen?" Kirnardaz knew that being referred to as a royal was one of the most seductive word constructs he had ever used, and many had fallen prey to it, human and demon alike.

"How about I give you something more than me swearing. I have no power to use offensively or creatively, but to bind myself to others, I can do. To possess, and swear magically is still within my ability." Kirnardaz knelt on one knee, preparing the agreed terms with her in his ancient language.

"I swear, upon the wrath of Ira herself, that I will not attempt to fight or strip you of your power, that in a contract, bound by blood, I will not try to dispose of thee, or usurp thine throne, lest I be stripped of my power. And in reciprocate, I bind thee to the same terms." A symbol appeared above his head, showing that his side of the contract was drawn up. All she had to do was repeat him, and he sent a psychic message saying to her to repeat after him.

Daerian's grin appeared wider and wider with every his word. She knelt opposite him, and repeated his words exactly like he did.

"I swear, upon the wrath of Ira herself, that I will not attempt to fight or strip you of your power, that in a contract, bound by blood, I will not try to dispose of thee, or usurp thine throne, lest I be stripped of my power. And in reciprocate, I bind thee to the same terms."

A circle of flame appeared around her for a short while, disappearing into thin air right after. The only sign that it ever existed were the singed edges of Daerian's gown.

"So be it. Do you wish to proceed to the ceremony as quickly as possible? My dungeons are always ready." The deep caverns underneath the ground were prepared for Daerian's ceremonies at all times, and she had all resources for them ready.

They were now bound by an oath that could not be broken, but even if not, she did not mean to deceive him in any way. She only ever betrayed her pawns - and he wasn't that. From now on, he was an ally.

"Of course. When I have my powers, I can summon and create more reliable staff if you so desire. They will be of the demonic kind, but I will alter them, make them utterly obedient, and completely subservient to you." Kirnardaz had automatic control over every being he created magically, so these servants would naturally serve him, but a small alteration would make Daerian their mistress as well.

Kirnardaz beckoned for her to show him the way to her dungeons, eager to gain the power he so eagerly desired.

((Really short, tired post, sorry...))

Daerian stood up, and leaving the majority of food behind, begun walking towards the door, gesturing Kirnardaz to follow. She led him through many corridors, spiraling stairs and thin passages, until they reached the underground.

"I will need several things... My special ceremonial outfit... Blood goblet... A black diamond... A dragon's claw..." she begun counting as they walked. "I have majority of the supplies, and the missing... Are obtainable on the spot, to say it like that."

They got to a dark place before one of the doors. "Wait here and don't go anywhere till I return... I cannot enter the dungeons in this dress. It's not safe. I will be back in a matter of few moments." she informed him, and disappeared behind one of the doors again.

Kirnardaz followed and listened curiously. Whatever procedure was going to occur sounded authentic. A blood goblet though? For what blood would she need, as she hadn't heard her list any blood. Perhaps just a drop of blood? Although one would not need a goblet for a small amount of blood.

"Of course." Kirnardaz was beginning to suspect trickery. Surely she would be fine to perform the ritual in that clothing? Her power was not dependent on fashion after all, so why change?

He stood in place, and felt a fraction of power occur to him, before disappearing again. Although in it's brief existence it created a bright spark of white in front of him. It was annoying, the curse Senka had placed on him. It left him weak.

And for that he would kill Senka.

Daerian returned shortly, bringing all her needed supplies on a silver tray. There was a long black claw from a dragon, a dark, unpolished and uncut gem, a dagger with a wide blade, and a goblet, adorned with rubies. She herself was clothed in silver pieces of armour, which however only covered what was necessary, and left majority of her white skin bare.

"I am honestly sorry for all the inconveniences. However, I am not able to perform the ceremony in my gown - it would get caught on fire and completely destroy the runes. And that would ruin the ritual. I am speaking of my own experience, and it is all because of purely practical reasons." she explained, and threw the door open.

A great hall was before them, dark, only a few lanterns with dim green glow hung from the walls. There was a waterfall on the other side, streaming seemingly from nowhere at all, and the dark flow of an underground river was divided into two streams, flowing around the edge of the hall. In the middle was a great circle, carved in the black stone of which the whole hall was made. The air was cold and damp, with an ancient scent of death surrounding everything... Daerian led Kirnardaz to the center, but held him back before he entered the circle. The door banged loudly as it closed behind them. No other sounds but their steps and the flowing water could be heard.

She put down the tray. "Now, I should explain you what will have to be done. I now have all the resources ready - except two. Since my power comes from blood, this ceremony also needs blood. Only yours, though. For that is the dagger. You will enter the circle and wait without moving, whilst I will write runes in blood around its corners... And then perform the ceremony itself. Your own blood is needed, for it serves as a bond that will channel the powers into yourself, instead of your surroundings." She smiled softly. "There is no risk, except that it might only return a part of your powers. At the worst, power would be released into air, and disappear. There is nothing to be afraid of. Again, I speak from my own experience."

Kirnardaz saw her new outfit and was actually tempted to just become subservient, even if only for a brief second, before remembering he was their to rule beside her, not become her personal toy.

"Very well. I will not bleed through my arms or legs, only my throat and heart are capable of bleeding. It is an advantage that allows my kind to play dead. We can appear dead, and not be dead. It is useful." Kirnardaz let his breastplate disintegrate, and turned into his demon form, where wounds he took would not scar or simply remain.

His chest was muscular, the crimson skin shifting as muscles tensed and released when he took every breath. His pentagram tattoo was as black as night, positioned right over his heart. He felt powerful like this, his raw flesh beginning to corrupt the air around him.

"Aim for the centre of the pentagram or my throat. Do not fear, I cannot feel pain there." Kirnardaz knew she probably wasn't afraid of hurting him, but he felt he needed to reassure her nonetheless.

Daerian shook her head and handed him the dagger and goblet instead. "No, you should do it. Fill it under the edge, then carefully lay it down." she corrected him, and begun preparing the rest.

As she grabbed the gem, she shifted back into her fierce form. Wide wings sprung from her back and her claws like iron crushed the diamond into shards and dust, which she spread around the edges of the circle. Even such a stone, hard enough to carve scratches into steel, couldn't withstand such grip, into which she put all her strength.

Her eyes flashed with fire as she saw Kirnardaz in his demon form, which she found more fitting than the human-like body, but she kept her thoughts to herself. Only her lips twisted into a slight smile, and she continued preparing the circle.

"After you're done with the goblet, put both it, and the dagger onto the tray, and carefully step into the middle of the circle. There, stand still, and don't step out. The ceremony shall not be interrupted, and if it may, any intruder will pay with his life. As long as you keep inside the circle, nothing bad can happen." 

Kirnardaz examined the knife carefully, before deciding that the pentagram was the best option. He pointed the blade towards his chest, and plunged it into the centre of the pentagram, blood pouring from the wound and into the goblet.

When the goblet was nearly full, he removed the knife and as the wound stitched itself closed, the last drops of blood filled the goblet perfectly. He put the goblet and knife onto the tray and walked calmly into the centre of the circle.

For a minute, he sensed a soul moving outside, but it seemed to disappear to him, and he merely though of it as an insect.

"I am ready now Daerian."

Daerian straightened her back and stood before him.

"Keep still. Do not step out of the circle, and don't pay any attention to what is appearing outside the circle." she informed him calmly, and picked up the goblet.

Her voice sounded cold and hard as she begun reciting verses in an ancient language, walking around the edge of the circle. She held the dragon's claw in her hand and dipped it in the blood, and made three circles around till she bent and begun writing sharp runes along the edges. The words echoed between the walls, and she kept walking, slowly, while drawing the runes with long lines of blood. There was not one space left on the edge when she finished, but she kept walking, even while she put the claw and empty goblet down.

Green flames, similar to those, burning in the lanterns, appeared at the edge of the circle. Daerian was unmoved by their moving shapes, and her voice was growing louder. Her hands arose to her head, and she crossed them, holding her shoulders. The shards of the diamond around the outer edge of the circle were flashing with bolts of lightning around, and the fire was getting bigger.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning stroke from thin air, hitting the inside of the circle. Others followed it, crashing with loud thunder, and Daerian didn't stop. Dark shadows started rising from the runes, reaching after Kirnardaz. They were getting bigger, until the circle was shielded by a wall of fire, shadows and lightning.

Wind started blowing from seemingly nowhere, turning around the circle. Daerian was already screaming the verses, slowly walking around. All of a sudden, a single great lightning hit the center, blinding and bright. All fire, shadows a and wind disappeared, and a sole great shadow rose from Kirnardaz's figure amid the circle. Daerian kept shouting, as loudly as she could, as she fell to her knees, bending her head back and staring at the ceiling. Last few words and the shadow covered the demon lord were just indistinguishable wails and screams.

And then it was all gone.

The hall has gone completely silent, and there was no sign that any runes, diamond dust, fire, or lightning ever appeared between those walls.

"It is done, my lord." Daerian whispered.

Kirnardaz revelled in the spectacle around him, and saw that she truly was a master of magic. He felt the soul outside move again, but could see nothing.

Then suddenly the flames and everything else stopped. For a second, all was quiet.

Then he began laughing, and the pentagram over his heart began to release crimson smoke, which wrapped around him, twisting and weaving intricate patterns as the picked up speed, before they began to create a twisting vortex around, creating gales outside like she was stood next to a tornado.

The smoke began to recede, and he breathed the smoke in, feeling the power go to his head.

Suddenly there was a loud crash as a white robed man kicked the door down, pointing a staff at Kirnardaz.

"Demon Prince, I, Archangel Uthrial, condemn you to the hell from which you came!" A bolt of white light flew out of the end, and hit Kirnardaz, clearly not affecting him. Kirnardaz simply just walked on as bolts of white light struck him endlessly.

When he was face to face with the archangel, he simply smiled.

"NEVER, ANGEL-SCUM!" The angel began to disintegrate into black dust, flowing into Kirnardaz's lungs just as the smoke had, the agonised screams of the angel almost as loud as Kirnardaz's maniacal laughter.

And just like that, the angel was gone.

Daerian only watched him in awe, still kneeling on the ground. When the figure disappeared, she quickly sprung to her feet and rushed to Kirnardaz. Her claws clenched around his shoulders and her crimson eyes were glowing with wonder and excitement.

"Did it work? Do you have your power again? Did it work?"

The demonstration of his power was not enough for her - she needed to know how he felt, if the ceremony really returned him his former power, at least partly. She summoned great deities from worlds of shadow and darkness, bind their vast powers to him, to return him the glory he showed her. It was complicated, although it didn't seem that difficult...

...And she now hungered for blood, to give her back the energy she lost.

The archangels power resonated inside Kirnardaz, remaining there, but still slowly dissipating. But he could put this energy to use. He felt some of his bonds break, and some of his restrictions falter. This energy would remain with him for a long time.

"You have done me a great service Daerian..." Kirnardaz caressed her face with one hand, letting energy flow throughout him again. "Through you, I am strong... I can begin to rebuild my armies and my realm... And you will be my dark queen, terrible and beautiful as the dawn..." Kirnardaz tilted his head to one side, exposing his neck.

"I'm sure you are thirsty my queen, so take as you please... It's all yours..." Kirnardaz's voice was seductive and full of temptation.

Daerian caressed him with her white hands as her sharp teeth skewed into his neck. "My lord, it has been a pleasure to offer my service..." she whispered.

She felt his blood flow, and regained her strength from it. There was no need for her to actually consume it, only be in contact, and absorb the leaving energy. "A great pleasure... There will be an eternal rule of a king and queen in darkness... And it will last... Forever."

Soon, she felt even stronger than before, satisfied that her effort was not in vain. "Is there anything else you would need? My lord, what do you ask next?"

"I feel slightly different than before, less powerful than before I lost it all, but I feel another change. I would like to test my new abilities." The sensation of her drinking his blood felt akin to receiving a love bite. And he quite enjoyed the sensation.

"And I would ask that I could have a place to stay?" Kirnardaz smiled at her, glad she was happy with her meal.

"My fortress is fully available. I have more rooms than I can walk through in a day... You just have to choose which one you'd prefer..." she replied silently, and shrugged. It was a vast building, and most of the bedrooms were empty.

"Feel free to test your power on anything that flashes by. Staff. Wildlife. Anything." Daerian returned his smile, and led him out of the hall. "Every thing, alive or not, is at your command. As long as the walls are kept intact, I don't mind storms, fire, or bloodshed."

"I think I will take a solitary wander, and search for a room to make my own. I'll find you when I do, let you know where you can come for a midnight snack..." Kirnardaz let his armour disintegrate, smoke composing around him to form demonic robes of royalty. And when that was complete, he left the room.

When he exited the dungeon, a guard accused him of sneaking around, and simply got obliterated, before being turned into a shadow demon, like those Kirnardaz had summoned earlier.

"Convert others to our cause..."

"Surely... Do as you please." Daerian replied, and headed straight into her own room. She didn't want to follow Kirnardaz around like a shadow, but she found him strangely fascinating...

Attractive, that would be the word.

She giggled at the thought, throwing herself into the pillows and blankets from dark velvet and satin. Even the bed itself, carved from dark wood, shook a little.

Only the sound of raindrops, beating at the glass of four dark windows in the big chamber, echoed between the stone walls and hanging tapestries. Her entire fortress seemed to be in a deathly slumber, just like it always was, and she herself, although without any physical need to sleep, found her eyes closing.

Before Daerian realized it, she was sleeping, deep in the dark dreams where she was the queen and the world was under her reign.

Kirnardaz eventually found himself a room for now. Until he had wooed Daerian it would do, and felt his power drop every time a new shadow being was created. He knew that when 20 or more existed, they could survive alone however, and after the 20th drop in power, he didn't care anymore, letting them self sustain and become intelligent as their hive mind grew. Eventually, every other being in the fortress except for him and Daerian were these shadow demons. They could be upgraded and specialised at a later date.

He made a conscious choice to reach out to the only person he could taunt, his entire opposite. Guinevere. He decided to reach out and speak to her.


The conversation continued throughout the night, Kirnardaz not desiring sleep, instead leaving his new quarters to test his powers. He found he had an entirely new set of abilities, mostly revolving around vortex's and voids.

In the middle of night, Daerian awoke, completely alone in her chamber. She yawned.

"That was a wonderful bloody dream..." she whispered to herself. "If I'll keep trying it will be real - one day."

She didn't desire rest or more power... Now, she hungered for company.

Her white figure rushed through the corridors and staircases, now passing shadows instead of the mortals that served her before, what she was pleased by, following the direction in which she sensed Kirnardaz. The storm still didn't stop, thunder was beating in the distance, with an occasional flash of lightning. It often happened after her ceremonies and rituals.

She silently knocked on his door and stood before it, like a ghost in her white gown, waving in the wind, passing through the corridor, and patiently waited for him to answer. It was a long time since she met someone whose company she would enjoy.

Kirnardaz had spent most of the evening conversing with Guinevere, mostly spiteful insults before Daerian came knocking.

"Excuse me Guinevere, my queen has come knocking. I bid you a goodnight." Kirnardaz cut the conversation off, walking to the door, opening it to a pleasant sight.

"Ah, my queen. Please, come in..." Kirnardaz had been practising some demonic magic which required significant blood to be spilled, and as such he was shirtless in his quarters. Kirnardaz didn't bother to materialise a tunic for himself.

Instead he sat down in the chair by the small fireplace, and invited her to come and sit opposite him.

"Might I ask why you are here? A midnight snack? Or just some midnight company?"

Daerian sat down onto his bed, with the grace so characteristic for her. The edges of her gown, sewn from flowing layers of snow-white silk, dipped into the blood and begun taking its color, but she didn't mind.

"Only company... I am glad to see you've found a room that you like, and already started trying your powers, as I can see. Especially on my staff. I must thank you for that... It's a relief, not to hear whispers every time I pass." she chuckled lightly.

"I feel alone in my chamber. I came to talk. The fortress is vast and there is no one but ghosts and shadows of my past... Meals. However, having a visitor, my situation is completely changed. To my pleasure, I must admit." Her voice was silent and soft as she bent over her knees towards him.

"I did mean to ask... Might I be allowed to take up residence here? A king needs his fortress after all. Somewhere to live in safety with his queen." Kirnardaz had set his persuasive ways into motion again, seeing if he could gain residence permanently. She would no doubt enjoy the company as much as he would.

"When I have more power at my disposal, I will upgrade the current staff, and begin to differentiate between roles. Right now, while our defence is generally strengthened, they are certainly not the most effective killing machines I have created yet, and if I can begin to differentiate, everything will be more efficient, with more integrity and loyalty than before." Kirnardaz sounded like a lord, commenting on how to improve his army.

Kirnardaz put a hand to the floor, and the blood turned to black smoke by evaporation, and flowed towards the pentagram tattoo, simply being absorbed by the black shape.

"I would be honored to share my fortress with you, my lord. Its chambers are numerous, its halls vast and its walls thick." she replied, slowly moving towards him. Her arms entwined around his chest, and her head appeared above his shoulder.

"The possibilities we could have if we would work on our staff together are endless... I may need your knowledge about them, but without a little research and experiments, I may be able to enhance their abilities and obedience beyond their previous limits. We could achieve perfect servants, powerful, but fully devoted to their masters. Weapons of war..."

She sprang to her feet and begun explaining her visions, gesturing wildly. "I could give them powers yet unheard of, but could manipulate them with pure will and thought. I could fuse them with other beings, give them the strength of a wild beast and speed of an eagle, mend their flesh with iron and create living weapons. The battalions of darkness will march, and fill the earth. There aren't any boundaries that could stop us. There's nothing... Absolutely nothing to stop us, only the limits we set ourselves! And I have naught of that!"

A striking lightning illuminated her figure, standing before the window.

"And so could be our own power. I held back, hiding in the shadows from that religious Mordecai filth. But I no longer shall."

"I appreciate your hospitality, my queen." Kirnardaz listened to her proposal, enjoying the prospect of every single servant being unique, a complete blend of predatory attributes. Perfect killing machines. Engines of war.

"We can fuse demon soul to war engine, create catapults that fire on their own, swords imbued with powerful souls of demons we have warped and manipulate, crossbows linked to their wielder, with eyes of their own, allowing them to see round corners, to warn their wielder of threats. We would have an army worthy of the true end of this world, utterly obedient and living in pure chaos amongst themselves." Kirnardaz stood, his eyes wide with inspiration.

"Of course... Without you, none of this would be possible... My beautiful, terrible, fearsome queen..." He walked over to her, caressing her cheek, before moving to kiss her.

"This world is ours... And nothing will stop us..."

If something dared to try, it will burn in the flames of our power...

Daerian pressed her lips onto his, and kissed him, fiercely, but with her usual hypnotizing grace. Her arms were twisted around him, and she could feel the heat of his body, like living fire.

"My king... My dark lord..." She whispered.

Together, they could rule with iron fists, above the barren battlefield, and cover it with darkness that they desired. There would be only them, forever and ever ruling the scorched earth, she could see shadows walking through the endless fields. 

They would be eternal. Their dark rule would never end.

Kirnardaz awoke the next morning to the site of a truly beautiful face next to him, and for the first time in a while, decided to try and go back to sleep. But the more he looked at her the more he knew who he would spend the rest of his life with. She was the woman for him. His perfect queen.

He laid in bed, letting power simply radiate from him as he laid there, not really realising that in his sleep, his power had restored itself.

He only really realised it when a demon servant that he had wished was there had come at command, carrying the desired items.

Breakfast.

A two humans, gagged, screaming for help.

"Daerian, my queen... Wake up... I had breakfast brought to us..." Kirnardaz kissed her neck, materialising his armour, choosing the weaker looking human, but the one with the most courage. The other one seemed confident enough to break free of his bonds, and took the gag out.

"Get off my son, you freak!"

Daerian yawned and reached after Kirnardaz. "Ah, left the breakfast for later... And come back to sleep. I had a wonderful dream... You were there, too." she whispered to his ear, and gently pulled him back.

Only when she actually heard the humans screaming, she awoke. Both of them looked tasty enough...

"Souls to you, blood to me?" she asked, tilting her head aside. She didn't bother with shifting into her fierce form - the strength of her body alone was enough to break a neck. Her eyes flashed with crimson, and she rushed to the couple.

Which one first?

The man who was older took Kirnardaz's blade, and ran Kirnardaz through with it. Kirnardaz simply smiled, before kicking the man to the floor, the sound of crunching ribs a perfect indication of his physical strength.

"No. Daerian. Let me try something..." Kirnardaz drew the soul out of the young boy, the white orb floating in midair, as Kirnardaz put the hollow shell back down, the figure standing and turning his head to noise.

"All yours my queen. Feast..." Kirnardaz put a foot on the downed man's ribs, causing him to scream in agony, as Kirnardaz let the soul float down to the man's own.

"Can you hear your son screaming? Frozen in his last state forever? Can you feel his fear?"

Daerian's hand just took one of the daggers, mounted above the fireplace, and slashed the younger of the humans with it. She was too fascinated by Kirnardaz's experiment, and didn't want to cause any mess. Her white hand, covered in blood, quickly drained all strength from the body, and left nothing but a withered shadow of what was once a young man. She felt strong, relieved, full of life, she felt it pulsing in her veins.

It was like a fountain of life in this death.

She moved towards the other man, but didn't take him just as well, instead watching him stare in horror. Her lips twisted to a smile, as her hand clenched around his neck, and she could sense all thoughts and emotions, going through his mind.

"An interesting idea... How many souls do you think can a human mind bear before breaking in agony and falling to insanity?"

Kirnardaz knelt down, and his armour began seeping with black smoke, and the tendrils filled the man's lungs and entered every opening on his head.

"Connect with my mind Daerian. Watch me show him horrors. Watch me break him..." Kirnardaz let himself possess the man partially, gaining a solid foothold in the man's mind.

Feel my void... You are a slave to me, mortal... See what your world will become... See your family... Your life... Become nothing under me... Kirnardaz projected images of Vorax's "golden age", where torture, and murder, and horror was rife, demons experimenting on captured souls, fusing and mutating humans with each other and animals. Sick experiments conducted out in the open, with people being devoured by mere children.

This is where I will send you...

Daerian's mind joined with his, and she projected her own images into the man's mind. Endless battles with nothing but defeat for humankind, shadows feasting on blood.

There isn't any escape. You will only watch, frozen in terror as the cowardly human race falls.

"There will be no way out, and no end." she whispered.

She observed the horror, reigning in his mind, but it was slowly getting boring... There was yet one thing to show him. The tip of the blade pierced his skin, and blood streamed out. Daerian didn't end it instantly, instead slowly drawing the life out of him, and letting him watch as his body dies, but mind keeps alive.

It was the true horror.

Kirnardaz drew both souls out of the man's body as he died, taking them in one hand, and crushing them, the light turning red and flying into his armour, making it glow brighter.

"I found a use for sleep. I can restore my previous energy states through sleep." Kirnardaz clicked his fingers, and the shadow being took both bodies out to the courtyard, feeding them to his comrades.

Kirnardaz swapped the armour to a royal outfit, fit for a king.

"I suppose I should mention, I have a son. He's every bit of me, but less experienced. Born through manifestation. I need to find him, and as such, I will spend some time away, searching for him. I expect I will be anyway. I should be able to locate him by his energy."

Daerian raised a brow. "A son? Interesting... Do you think he would like me? I could help you track him through strands of energy that beings like us leave in this world..."

She shrugged. "More allies mean more power. Actually, it's a pleasing fact that you have a son." she admitted. "I never had children... Creations, yes. Children, not."

The only thing that she wished was for Kirnardaz's son to like her. She would treat him like an ally and friend, if it would come to that...

"If you'd return with him, I'd greet you with fresh blood..." she uttered with a dreamy look on her face, and smiled slightly.

"He is like me, only really needs to feed on souls, although since the incident, I do not know how he was affected." Kirnardaz felt that children were no longer a creeping threat to him. He might actually be able to spend quality time with his son. Even if it was hunting humans for sport.

"I imagine he would have no issue with you. Hmmmm...." Kirnardaz tried to open up a psychic connection with Ardeadai, but found he could not for some reason. He did, however, get an echolocation from the psychic message bouncing.

"I have located him. I am sure I will be able to reach him..." Kirnardaz would love the company, but he felt this was best done on his own.

"Besides... If you're with me, won't leave you anything to look forward to when I get back... While I am gone, study the shadow beings, their strengths and weaknesses. I have given you unbroken control over them. They will obey as if they were dogs waiting for a meal." Kirnardaz smiled.

Daerian smiled softly. "My lord, I will await you wish fresh blood and souls..." she whispered. Her hands once again bent around his chest and she pressed her lips on his face.

"I won't disappoint you in the research... I promise. You shall return to stronger, better soldiers, and maybe also a stronger lady..." she chuckled a little. The shadows may be good tools to bind to herself and increase her own power.

"But return soon... I will be waiting, my dark lord."

"Of course... Don't want to keep you waiting too long..." Kirnardaz kissed Daerian back, enjoying it so much more than he had planned. He didn't want to go now.

"I'll make sure to fill Ardeadai in on the way back." Kirnardaz wanted to say one last thing before he went.

"Verkt nuig darph, Daerian." Kirnardaz left her with a rather ambiguous demon message, in his home language. She would have fun deciphering that no doubt, only to find it was a unique word combination, with no translations possible.

Then with those words hanging in the air, he left, using the energy he gained to turn his lizard mount into a small, fireless dragon mount.

Daerian watched him leave, and only turned away when he was but a small point on the sky. She was planning to begin her research immediately, and nothing could stop her from it. Let the mordecai come... I'll rip them to pieces and let my servants feast on the remains of their corpses!

The dungeons were safe and secure. And even if she would be accidentally revealed in them, no one ever left the walls of her fortress without her permission. No one ever found the bones, too.

When Kirnardaz would return, he would find a preparing army of shadows. Their own perfect weapons, ready to flood the world.