Reuniting A Kingdom Part 2: Tundra Tussle (OPEN)

[Deleted]

Minerva couldn't do much besides staring at her mother, at the woman that had just come to their aid like it was nothing. She knew it wasn't nothing and that she too must have felt the connection between them. That still didn't mean that it was the most normal thing that she showed up, or that it hadn't been way too long since she last saw her. She too seemed to realize that she was staring, at the same moment as her mother seemed to. "Don't say that." She said, as she looked down at Isolde for a moment. She then looked up again, with determination clearly visible in her eyes. She wouldn't have it that she spoke so lowly of herself. "You didn't do 'nothing' and I am very grateful for what you did. I am sure Isolde would too, would she be awake." She said, with a warm smile.

She quickly enough noticed how the woman helped her with carrying Isolde and looked at her with a smile, though for just a second, her eyes were sad. This was quickly hidden though as she looked in front of her with a look of determination. "I have no home any longer, my home is wherever my journey takes me, I think that in it's own is a good thing." She spoke, recognizing it very well that Lidija was trying to be positive. She put an arm around Isolde better and looked back up. "For now, I think one of the tents should be safe enough." She finished. She watched in horror at the fight that happened, having spotted Samael moments before. When she saw what happened to Marina, it felt like someone knocked the air out of her lungs. She always hated it to see an angel fall like this. It was unnecessary. She watched as her father ran towards them, kneeling before Isolde to inspect her. She watched how he cradled her head in his arm and stepped back a little to give him the space he undoubtedly needed.

She watched as he pulled his leather canteen from his side and opened the top. She watched how he poured the water down Isolde's mouth, following every action with some attention. She really hoped that this would do the woman some good. She closed her eyes briefly when he said to his sister that she would live, being called to attention immediately as anyone would, or should be. She already knew he was worried, he couldn't not be. She listened to his words and opened her eyes again moments later, to look at him as she swallowed. Her attention was then pulled by the two people who came closer. Seth... Sienna... Suddenly, a dizziness took over and she stumbled a few steps, before finding her footing again. This was almost too much for her to bear right now. With everyone here, everyone she loved present... It seemed like a dream.

She watched as Seth bowed down before Samael and introduced himself to him and saw how the woman did the same. She heard her words, "And I am Sienna, an angel, my lord." She heard the woman saying. She listened to Seth's words, as a dark shadow clouded her eyes for a moment and she watched in the distance for a moment. Of course he would join, things were all starting to come together now, slowly, bit by bit. There was nothing to be done about it. All she could do now was wait. "Ful, nii gon." She spoke softly, to no one in particular, that was present here.

[Teodora]

The events on this battlefield today showed her that the next fight would be far more savage than she could have imagined. Even though she was not nearby when the killing blow was struck, she felt that pain that washed over the field instantly. It was nearly crippling and even Samael's emotions were more than she expected to take in all at once. The dragon needed no report to assume what had happened then, a tragedy had befallen the field and one that was unforeseen at that. If it wasn't so cold her tears would have flowed more freely from her, instead they simply froze and left her cheeks red and puffy. All of this was happening because her people refused to help them, refused to interfere with fate.

Returning to the here and now, the words "Still cold" registered to her as she pulled Agatha against her own body. "Come here." she said gently, holding on tightly. The two of them would then become surrounded by a flame that would protect her from the biting winds. Eventually they needed to move but now was simply not the time, she wouldn't last long even after the storm winds died down. Agatha was fading rather quickly before hand it seemed and so all she could do was remain here and tend to her. Teo never received an answer as to why she was out here at all but then she realized that for now it most likely did not matter.

"You're going to be alright. It seems the day is over, my people won a rather shallow victory.." she said with sorrow apparent in her tone. Even now she could feel Vlad's vile energy creeping into the spiritual nexus her kind used to move between the two worlds. His power was great and for a time he could truly make good on the promise he made Samael. She had no idea what was said down there but the things she felt right now almost painted the entire picture for her. There would be much to discuss in the coming days, her role would become more of an active one on the field along side the brave soldiers of fire forge.

As she warmed the woman, she rest her cheek against Agatha and her body gently shook. They were not even her own emotions but if she did not release them they were harmful. It was clear that Teodora was weeping, for those on the field and for those who fell due to the inaction of her kin in this fight.

[Deleted]

If Agatha her body had any more energy, it would still be working at a hundred miles per second almost, as there were still plenty of thigns running through her head, but right now, with the cold and heat fighting against each other, as Teodora held onto her to warm her up, it was harder and harder by the second to not just fully focus on that, and on the woman that had come for her. If it kept working, it would actually be a bit nice to at least for a few minutes, or seconds, or whatever, manage to forget everything that was going on. But, she knew well enough that the truth wasn't going to let her, and the harsh reality of this battle, all the deaths, and her feeling of having failed herself, wasn't something she could really avoid or escape.

As soon as her words has registered with Teo, it did change the situation quite a bit as she held on tightly and the flame that surrounded them, already helping in Agatha feeling more of the warmth flowing over into her body, instead of mostly the cold itself biting at her body and energy. It wasn't that Agatha wanted to keep secrets or lie to Teo, definitely not actually, but she hadn't been able to think of a good answer when she had asked her what she was doing here in the first place, and she also wasn't exactly sure what she'd think about what she had tried to do here and how she had got hurt.

Agatha slowly opened her eyes again, looking at the otherw oman holding her, biting her own lip on the inside softly as she thought about what she heard Teodora say about the shallow victory her people had won. A sigh escaped her, one that was kind of guilty since she did definitely feel herself that way right now. "I failed... I thought I could p-postpone this, but instead... I got too distracted by the fear of what this will do to the greater good..." She admitted softly, her voice still shivering, although itwas starting to become less anfd her voice slowly but surely stronger again.

When Agatha suddenly shook up out of her own thoughts and guilt and sadness, she suddenly noticed with Teodora's cheek against hers, that she was weeping, holding on more tightly to her herself, looking closely at her. "You're going to be okay too... We'll get through this, together... If you want." Agatha said softly eventually after she looked at her silently for a little while, then couldn't help but say what she was thinking as she looked up at her from this up-close and holding her and being held.

[Katya Drăculea]

It was all like a dream it happened so fast. One moment their mother was there with them, trying to find her father, the next she was done. The very moment she disappeared from their presence Katya knew that no good would come of it. Despite all that she said, Marina was the one person she cared about in any way at all. If her plans had been ideal to perform right now, she and Marina would be the only two of the family to make it off of the battlefield. Yet she was not strong enough to take her father down now, if she had been the next action would not have come to pass. Like her brother she too was in disbelief, frantically searching for her but deep down she knew somehow.

As Katya shifted towards the battlefield, her eyes fell upon the fated moment right as it was about to happen. The funny thing about being a vampire, her mind was able to slow the whole thing down, yet she was not fast enough to intervene. "Mama prost.." she whispered to herself as she closed her eyes. She could not watch what came next, but she could hear every inch of the blades path as it sunk into it's new mark. When it was over she stood stark still with her eyes closed, afraid that if she opened them this entire thing would become a reality.

After Ingeras blame and his departure her world would finally resume. It was as if everything hit her all at once the moment he spoke to her. As he turned and left she fell to her hands and knees. The last time she felt like this she had lost her childhood friend to the wolves of Arnul just to send a message to her kind. Her body shook with the silent cry that escaped her, so stricken with grief was she. Yet despite her sorrow she could not bring herself to grieve aloud for fear of who might see her. At first she was a willing ally to the dragon people in this war but with a single action she too turned against them.

While the rest of the war host from Sylthanus crumbled or fled the field she remained. Until she was able to pull herself back together she would never be able to move from this spot. The moment she left was the moment she accepted what she saw as truth.

---

Mama prost - "Stupid mother"

[Lidija Ahlgren]

Lidija smiled at the girl giving off a calm aura which she often did before her village went up in flames. It was what she used to be known for, she was calm and comforting to those in her presence. She was about to say something else when she noticed that Minerva sway as if she was losing her footing. Moving to her side, Lidija placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her before looking out at the field before them. There were bodies everywhere and some poor fool would have the unfortunate job of scrubbing this field clean. "Easy now, it's been a long night for everyone. Rest now." she said as she watched Samael with his sister.

She hated how she felt right now, useless as she could do nothing to aid Isolde. After that spell that Samael did earlier, she could feel his fear. This was the only time she had known his emotions beyond the rage he showed on the field. Yet she felt every single ounce of it as if she were him and it was stifling. What was this magic that he had used? Why did she still feel it's effects even now after the spell had ended? There was an urge inside of her now that she never thought she would feel; she desired to be near him. She could feel his pain and her presence she felt might do some good in defusing the emotions that surrounded him. Yet she remained in her place, unsure if now was the time for such silly feelings.

Their attentions shifted to the new comers on the field, a man who seemed rather dirty and beaten. Beside him was a woman who was absolutely radiant like nothing she had ever seen before. She was unsure what to think about her but for now she seemed to be the least threatening thing that remained. It was the man she had a bad feeling about, he seemed to be familiar, at least the look in his eyes. They reminded her of someone she had held on to every single day of her life, the old flames that sought to destroy this person. Yet she did not wait long for Seth to state his name, intentions and most of all where he had come from.

"Your pledge can wait, what do you know of the monster who butchered my people?!" she shouted suddenly. She moved away from Minerva like a shot, stopping just short of Seth with a new fire in her eyes. Son of Astroth? The last time she had seen him she thought he might never recover from the damage she had done to him. Yet here before her stood his offspring, her kin and she was unsure what to think. Instead of focusing on her feelings about this, she decided to focus once more on her vengeance. It was what kept her warm, kept her fed and she needed the closure it might bring her. She heard what he said but she did not make it known that it even mattered to her that he was of her blood. Right now he was a stranger and she had more important things to focus on.

"While I have done wrong by Astroth, this better not be some sort of trick." she said, narrowing her eyes. Her gaze showed that she was in no mood to deal with any sort of tricks, bargains or traps. Lidija was as weary as the rest of them despite her short work on the field, fighting an ancient lich dragon was not exactly easy work.

[Seth]

Seth was taken aback by the blonde girl, who suddenly turned hostile towards him when he made mention of the village, but when she mentioned that they were her people, he stood calmly and raised one hand slightly in peace. “After my father returned, half-dead from fight with an assailant, I took it upon myself to travel in search for who destroyed the village, and found evidence that the magics used were demonic in nature. I found traces of sulfur upon anything that was touched by the fire, but importantly, I found evidence to begin with. Dragon fire wouldn’t have even left ash, let alone any evidence behind.” Seth reached into a side pouch and pulled out vial with bits of dried blood within, “I used a bit of my strength to use a spell to help me find this, but if I did the spell correctly, then this blood came from the source of the sulfuric fire. I could potentially trace the person behind all of this.” Seth tossed the vial to Samael, who looked at Seth with intrigue on his face as he caught it, mid-air.

“Interesting theories, son of Astroth,” Samael said to Seth solemnly, “your abilities are indeed astounding. One’s skill could prove valued among my own, but tell me, have you heard word from Astroth?” Seth went silent, looked at Samael for a moment before speaking again, “His opponent was indeed the better, and I fear he’s not long for this world. He chooses to leave honorably, and chooses not to dull the pain. He would not tell me much of the assailant.” Seth noticed the Hun’Drog’s face as he went silent, but before Seth could ask if the King held any knowledge on his father’s assailant, the blonde survivor of the village spoke again of Astroth, taking Seth’s notice.

“Do...do you know Astroth?” Seth asked, leaning in to meet the blonde’s gaze, wondering what her relation to him was, “I know that he held a particular interest over the village, my mother was from there, but she left with him for me to be born in Firegorge Mountain, but he spent most of his time there. How do you know him?” There was something about the girl that seemed vaguely familiar, but he could not pinpoint it. Seth then realized that she was allied with these dragons as well, and suddenly a massive puzzle piece fell into his lap. “You’re…” he tried to say before falling silent.

[Teodora]

Despite her size, she was stronger than she looked. Lifting the woman from the snowy tundra around them, Teo carried Agatha down the mountain side. As she did she tried to regain her composure as she knew that was what was needed most. She had no idea what Agatha had done but she made for one of the few remaining tents in the encampment that she could better use to save this woman. Sure her strength was returning, as was the color in her skin, but she had to be sure that she hadn't suffered any other adverse effects from the cold. Her footing was careful, confident and it seemed like she had made this journey before as it seemed like she was moving rather quickly.

"I will take you down to one of the tents. There we can focus on getting you back on your feet. No harm will come to you with me around." she said softly. Once more she could only assume that Agatha got caught in the battle on the wrong side of things. Luckily for her Teodora did not truly wish to choose a side, she felt for all involved in this senseless violence. There would only be more to come once Samael was in possession of the stones energy. This was only a minor tornado before what would be a mighty hurricane that would destroy them all.

Shaking her head, she did all she could to comfort Agatha. It was her turn to prove her worth to the girl, Agatha had done a lot for her previously. "You did what you could but mad men do not listen to reason. That is what they are, they will claim more lives with their violence and no one can stop it." she said. Her tone started to shift from sorrow to anger as she thought about the future souls that would be stomped out by this war. Never before had the vampires over stepped their boundaries as they did today. Yet they were provoked simply because they were in allegiance with the demons. No one could directly strike at the demons and so they were the visible scapegoat for all of this.

"I'll be alright once we stop this. You and I will end this once and for all, I promise that much. I am on peaceful terms with Samael, though reasoning with him is nigh impossible. There are other ways we might stop this though but I need access to someone," she started to explain. "..I need to gain an audience with Commander Lovelace. Only she can help us bottle all of this up." she explained. Teo had no idea of Agatha's connection to the woman or what she honestly did- as far as she knew none of this actually made much sense to her. As they approached the tent, Teo swept the door and placed Agatha on a cot inside.

"Do you know how I can gain access to the brigade? I tried to teleport in but the magic surrounding the place is ancient and strange." she explained.

[Lidija Ahlgren]

It was as if the world was playing a cruel joke upon her. Not only was she fooled into ravaging her own father by demons- he was going to die of his wounds. Apparently nothing in the land was able to stop or else he did not choose to let someone heal him. Perhaps she had wounded more than his pride that day, her actions struck beneath the beasts mighty scales down to the heart. Destroyed by your own child who refused to trust in your words- she could not imagine the hurt he must have felt. It was as if someone had ripped out her heart and thrown it to the ground in this moment yet she could not let herself be defeated by it now.

"He was my father as well. It was I who cast him down from his mountain, tore his wings and removed his pride." she said. Before her words would have held pride but now one could almost feel the regret in her voice as she spoke her greatest shame. She took from the dragons a member of their brood and it was a mistake she could never undo. Even worse she took from someone else a parent, much like she had lost her mother, so too did he now lose a father. There were no words she could say to justify her actions.

Nodding slowly, she let out a heavy sigh. "I am Lidija, Dragon-slayer. Ironic title considering I just helped save two." she said. It was with a heavy heart that she even stated the title she had been given by the humans of Mythregal. Yet if he was to know her then he needed to know all of her and that named followed her like a badge of shame now. Yet she hoped beyond hope there was room for forgiveness one day if he did not intend to claim her life. By all rights he could challenge her to combat and she could not refuse for to do so would take whatever honor she had left and trample it for eternity.

Even Samael could most likely feel how she felt, that if the fates willed she would surrender her life to him. If it could even help ease a fraction of the pain that man was going to feel from his loss, she offered her neck to his blade. "I cannot blame my actions solely upon the demons deception. I chose in the end not to trust him, they did not force my hand at that point." she said finally.

[Seth]

Suddenly, Seth had to wonder if he had actually survived the assassin’s poison, and was somehow living some limbo nightmare, but he knew that he was wide awake. The woman before him had declared that Astroth was also her father, therefore Seth’s sister. Furthermore, it was her that had defeated Astroth, her description detailing every wound and injury he had sustained. Acknowledging that she now knew the truth, and had already worked to save two dragons, it told Seth a lot about her. Still, he stood before his father’s attacker, and as angry as he felt inside, as much as the fires of rage burned hotter in him than the flames of a dragon, he simply sighed softly and looked her calmly in the eyes, containing the inferno within that felt as if it were consuming his heart.

For the longest time, Seth had always known what to do to comfort others in similar situations, yet he was more confused than ever as to how he would go about reacting to Lidija. His eyes shifted to Sienna for support before shifting back to Lidija, and then to the dragons she had saved. Ironically, it was the same girl that he had saved from a Lich earlier. “Fate shines upon you again, Youngling.” Seth spoke to Minerva, nodding respectfully to her before looking towards Lidija again. “Whatever...happened, we’ll ensure that the right people pay for what has happened.” Seth finally said, but said nothing more as he walked looked out ahead at the surviving soldiers regrouping and gathering together.

It appeared that with all things said and done, it was over for now. Seth knew now that he was meant to be here. Whatever the future held, he knew that he would not have to face it alone, and although he still did not know where he was with Lidija at the moment, he knew that her help would be necessary in the long run. “It’s a long walk to Firegorge Mountain, I would see my feet to destination as quick as possible.”

[Deleted]

Most of the way that Teodora carried her down the mountain, Agatha closed her eyes, mostly actually kind of enjoying the feeling of even with her size, Teo being able to carry her like this and the way she was taking care of her. There still were barely any people apart from her and Adele probably that she'd trust with herself as vulnerable as she was right now, she justh oped that it didn't make Teodora think any less or differently of her. She also couldn't help but think to herself that if her own footing had been as careful and everything as Teodora's was now, she wouldn't have fallen like that, but there was no point in hindsight now.

She nodded when she heard what she told her about taking her down to one of the tents, thinking it sounded good and that it would hopefully indeed help her getting back to her feet more, as she still felt weak, even with getting her strength back slowly but surely. "If I wasn't this weak right now, I would have said the same thing to you." She said softly and with a short smile, to let her know that if the situation had been reversed, she would basically have made the same promise taht she would not let any harm come to her as lon as she could do something about it.

A sigh escaped her, Teo having a point with what she said about her having done her best, but it still didn't make her feel too much better actually, the whole thing still stung, just like how the only thing she had really accomplished eventually, was hurting someone she hadn't really wanted to hurt. She closed her eyes and sighed again, biting her lip softly as she thought for a moment. "Maybe I shouldn't have been so stubborn, maybe I shouldn't have come alone..." She said, before she looked at Teodora again.

Agatha's attention was quickly drawn even more to her when she heard her promise of them stopping this together, then looked surprised when she heard who she needed access to, not to mention how that instnatly made her realize that Toe still didn't know about her yet. "How do you mean, bottle all of this up?" She asked her, for once her being the one that wasn't exactly sure how she meant that entirely. Once she felt her back hitting the cot, she relaxed some more, for a few short seconds, before opening her eyes and looking seriously at Teodora when she heard her question. "Yes, that's kind of the point of what we try to accomplish..." She said dryly for a moment with a slight smile. "I can get you in, since the truth is..." She started saying, focusing her hearing for a moment if they were truly alone. "I am the Commander of the Assassins division, and Commander Lovelace is a friend of mine." She told her, although her look was a little bit nervous for what Teodora's reaction would be to this.

[Deleted]

Micah

Micah stood motionless and calm as the battlefield cleared. As Vlad moved the body to Sythanis and left and Samael moved to cater to his kin Micah stood staring at the ground which his mother once lay. He stool silent as he closed his eyes and prayed for guidance. He pleaded to Raphael to help him see the meaning to this as he once had so long ago. He asked Michael for the strength to move on. He begged the Creator for a reason he allowed this to happen. But when no answers befell onto him Micah looked to the directions of Samael and clutched his spear in his hand ready to exact his vengeance upon the dragon. But as Micah took a step towards Samael his mind was cluttered with a message from Raphael Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of the Creator, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Creator.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Micah froze in his movement, he dissolved his spear, and he stepped back with a smile on his face. He was not forsaken and this was not a punishment. It was not his place to punish Samael and he must not waiver in his faith and believe in the heaven that he served. Whether by Vlad, his own gods, or heaven Samael would have a reckoning for his sins as all beings do but so would Vlad as well if he did not turn to the light soon enough. 

Sedaiyus

Sedaiyus raised a brow as Marina addressed him. Sedaiyus didn't buy into the whole Lucifer made demons how he wanted them. Sedaiyus made his own path as far as he was concerned.  And besides his mother being his concubine and matriarch of the fallen Sedaiyus held no connection or interest in Lucifer. As far as he knew he was just another feathery nut job as the rest of the angels set out to disrupt his fun. As Marina wisped onto the battle field  of Vlad and Samael and was impaled Sedaiyus looked on with a puzzled expression. What was the purpose of that he wondered? Sedaiyus frowned as another piece of beauty this world held faded away from the destruction of war and the ugliness of the heart of those who orchestrated it. What a waste. But it was of no consequence to Sedaiyus, it would not be pleasing or meaningful to dwell on such a dreadful event. When Sedaiyus turned he saw the distress in Katya though. He wasn't sure why, he knew she hated her father, but as far as he knew she wasn't a fan of her mother either. But here she stood full of pain and sorrow. Sedaiyus watched as Ingeras left upset with Katya. Sedaiyus turned back to Katya who had now fallen to her hands and knees.  

Sedaiyus sat down next to her looking sympathetically at her. "Oh Katya, it kills me to see you in pain like this. I don't know much about angels but maybe there is something we can do. I could turn myself over to my brother and in exchange I am sure he will help, I think he has dealt with situations like this before, just say the word. Please smile again Katya, this is not the end if you don't want it to be, there is always a way. I could help alleviate your pain if you desire. Just tell me what you need me to do and I will do it, I will be with you for as long as you need me, I promise." Sedaiyus noticed a figure standing before them. He looked up to see Micah. Quickly Sedaiyus arose putting himself inbetween Katya and Micah. "Haven't your kind done enough? Or more accurately nothing at all. So quick is my kind judged when it is the angels that cast their so called miracles then disappear when things get tough. So quick to stand by as everything falls apart and do nothing. Then when everything you know and care about is taken you have the audacity to chalk it up to the great plan of the creator. Everything will work out how it is suppose to right? News flash tinkerbell, there is no plan. You have drank the juice of the finest occult to ever be created in the universe, its a lie to keep you all sub servant to a absentee being that cares nothing for you. You are not his warriors, followers, or servants. You are his toys to play with and toss aside when it suits him. Katya doesn't need someone like you to help her so what ever you are here for just leave."

Sedaiyus eyes began to glow a bright blue, his ears became more elfish, his hair slightly grew. His skin began to grey a bit. A true demonic form only barely halted by what humanity remained in Sedaiyus. Dark markings appeared on his face and he stood unafraid of the angel before him.

Micah 

Micah stood in front of his sister and Sedaiyus. He was not really in the mood for the taunting of the silver tongued devil before him. "Your evil has no place in my family." Micah said calmly and then with a snap of his fingers Sedaiyus was engulfed in holy fire. The demon cried out for but a moment before he burst into ashes. "Do not be upset sister, in time, you will thank me. No demon is ever a friend or companion, they are beings who can only ever be evil and manipulate great destruction and tragedy. He cared nothing for you, he was just using you to his own end. This family has been manipulated by demons for long enough. Neither you or Ingeras will have anything to do with them, it is what your mother would want, to rid you of the same evils that have corrupted and fooled your father. I came to let you know that I plan to watch over you and your brother until things become clearer. I am here for you Katya and there is a light inside of you more powerful than any darkness you have held. You are part angel and with that comes a force of light that can overcome even your father should you need it to protect yourself. But you have a responsibility to live in a manner that is noble and pure. If what you seek is to surpass your father and brother then you cannot do so by turning to darkness and evil. Evil cannot overcome evil, only good and overcome evil. I can give you wisdom few mortals will ever know as the great ArchAngel Raphael had bestowed upon me once. It helped me in a similar time when I lost my father and blamed your father for it, when I thought I had lost my mother too, and could think of nothing of revenge. Let me help you and your brother Katya."

[Adam]

Samael watched what happened unfold before him. This was Astroth’s son that he had spoke of when he had visited the wounded dragon about Lidija. Between Lidija and himself, he could feel every speck of emotion, every ounce of regret and pain. His features softened some, yet as much as a warrior, who has killed and tortured countless in combat, in the name of bloodshed, wanted to tell this remorseful woman that it was not her fault. As much as he wanted to, he stood his ground. There was no room for emotion now, not on this battlefield claimed by Death, in one way, or another, whether wanted, or not. As the surviving forces amassed, they came wounded, and confused as to what had happened. Although prepared for the hordes that they expected to fight against, they never thought to see the tyrant-king Nergal return as a demonic spectre of his former self.

Samael looked at his survivors, and the looks on their faces, the wounds on their bodies. Every injury sustained, every look of pain in their eyes. One dragon stepped forward, a Captain within the Auxiliary by rank, the look on his face was the same look that Samael had saw many times before in war, when dragons met with death for the first time, and finally knew what it meant to truly embrace death like a wanting lover in combat. He unsheathed his sword, and though he did so, Samael stood still, deserving of his wrath if it came to it.

Instead, he knelt before the Hun’Drog, as did his command, as did the survivors soon after. “My Lord, it appears all surviving enemies have retreated. The rest have fallen dead.” He said aloud, “We await further command.” Samael looked at the dragons amassed before them something landed gently near them. It was a massive Frost Dragon, who quickly turned into Elder Fo. Bowing respectfully before the dragons, he said softly, ”We have done what we could for now against the dragons. This attack was a surprise to even us, as not even our Seers saw it coming. Then we saw what Vlad was. Look past the veil, and when we realized what you have gone to war with, we realized that we made a wise choice to ally with you. If Vlad could find us, even if we did not join, it would have been a matter of time before he came after us. This is not to say we are not reluctant about this ordeal. A number of us still believe that you played our hand in this, but nevertheless, we are entwined within this union for all time now, and we will see your Kingdom rise with intellectuals of the draconic arts. I have been appointed as your Councilman.” The Elder stood before Samael prepared to assist where necessary.


Samael directed the Elder to his side, and then directed the captain and the guards towards assisting Isolde. He wanted any and all surviving vahraniiks assisting her, cleaning and healing her wounds. When he inspected her, he had not seen any bite marks, and hoped none would be found by the healers. It would be a long trek, but all that was left now, was to return to Firegorge Mountain and complete the reunification with the final two Clans: Earth and Fire. Samael had chosen to ally them last, as he knew they would assist as necessary in the meantime, but wanted to show strength in reunifying the Air and Ice clans under his command. Now that he had done so, he would return to Firegorge to complete the unifying of Clans into a single Kingdom and Nation. Samael looked back at Lidija with remorse within his eyes, and as Seth left ahead, towards Firegorge Mountain, he looked back to Lidija, and as the rest of the soldiers marched, carting Isolde back as they marched, Samael stepped behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “We will find the demon responsible, and you both will have honor in killing him.” He said softly. As he went to walk back, he looked and saw Micha standing in the distance, still where his mother fell. He was looking Samael in the eyes and the dragon could not begin to understand what pain the angel may have felt, or what wrath he may try to take upon Samael later. He glanced a sorrowful look towards the angel and then looked back towards the army, walking with them, on the long, hard march back to Firegorge.

[Katya Drăculea]

Even if she had the strength to reply to his foolish plan, she could never ask him to surrender his freedom. It was the one thing in the world that meant the most to him. Every ounce of her wanted to try something, anything, but this was not the answer she sought in the long run and she knew it. What happened on this field was irreversible, this skirmish could have curved an all out war before that fateful strike. Yet now both sides knew that there was no going back and this would not end until the other side was in total ruin. Katya continued to shake silently, though after a while her silent cries turned to laughter. Perhaps she was finally losing her mind after all. This was a test, the angels were fond of them and they were all cruel.

"I could never ask for your freedom." she replied. She did not get to say much else however before Micah arrived. It was clear that his anger was being worn on his sleeves as well. With a simple snap of his fingers he set her friend ablaze which at first caused her to stare in terror. Yet as quickly as that terror washed over her the feeling was replaced with sheer, uncontrolled and terrifying rage. Who gave him the right, after all the lives taken today, to snuff out yet another one regardless of what he was? Standing now and holding herself with confidence her dark wings appeared fully spread as her eyes glowed a bright silver.

"He was the ONLY thing I had left," she exclaimed, taking a step towards Micah. "..you really should not have done that." she said, her voice laced with venom. As she walked towards Micah she drew a stray blade from the ground, a black aura seeping from her hand to surround the weapon. With this she would be able to harm him if she so chose and right now there was nothing hold her back. No mother to scold her, no Sedaiyus to guide her through her rage. Despite what they thought, somehow Sedaiyus was a better guide than anyone she had in her life. The things he said to her made sense, never once did he scold her for her thoughts.

When she stopped, she looked ready to take his head off even if she made no move to. "You destroyed the only friend I had in the world. Your words mean nothing to me, I have no obligation to anyone. You have chosen a very poor path to my trust, I'm afraid it is one you will not find you way back from." she said. Katya had a history of loss, now two in one day left her feeling quite unhinged. Perhaps instead of merely seeking to create a safe place for her kind, she would wipe this world clean to do so.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't send you back to meet your maker." she demanded.

[Deleted]

As Katya shifted her form, her dark wings sprouting and her eyes glistened silver Micah stood calmly. As Katya reacted predictably and took up a blade against him, Micah stood unflinching and unphased by the threat before him. “The only thing you had left?” Micah questioningly repeated to her. “You had more than you could ever want. But it was your choice to ignore it. And here you face a consequence of those choices and instead of living up to the person you want to be perceived as you continue to act only as a child would.” Micahs tone was stern though not harsh as he went on “I have spent millennia without my mother, lost to me, an intangible love always out of reach. An eternity compared to the blink of an eye she has been gone from you now. Yet you had her every day to love and learn from, to talk to and laugh with and grow. Ask yourself, did you take advantage of that gift Katya or were you too busy frolicking with a dreamy eyed devil? The greatest of evils are not the darkened death that you saw today on the battle field. The greatest demons are the ones you cannot see any harm or darkness within, the ones that wish to aid, the selfless oddities. But what was the reality Katya? How precious is that time now that our mother is gone? You cannot begin to fathom the depths of evil. You think your father is even on the same scope of what I have dealt with and seen? I would give anything to have the time you let that demon squander with our mother that you had.”



Micah stepped towards Katya holding his arms open to make it easier for her to end him if she wished. “You say he was your friend but no true friend would ever push someone away from the people that loved them. Would ever encourage them to endanger themselves for amusement. A friend he was most certainly not. And you had an obligation to your family. But you spent your time undermining half of them and trying to kill the other half. You had an obligation to be a loving daughter to a loving mother! Her true name was Zadikiel and she was an angel of mercy and bearer of the standard of the great ArchAngel Michael. She lived over two millennia and have seen and endured evils that make this battle look like nothing more than a dreary picnic on a rainy day. She loved her family more than her own life as she has no doubt proven time and time again despite what you chose to see and certainly has proven it here now. But if you wish to dedicate your life to terminating the family she gave her life for, the family she literally loved to death, I will not stop you. Because it is you that will have to live with that.” Micah turned to look where Marina had fallen. He looked up to the sky as if to pierce into the heavens themselves then chuckled lightly as he lowered his gaze back to Katya, his face streaming with tears.



“You think your father so evil, you have seen how us angels deal with true evil. If it was a fact, we would have never of allowed vampires to exist let alone one of our kind to remain with one. With the power your father wields now, he would stand no chance if the ArchAngel Michael came down with the power of heaven behind him to retrieve his faithful bearer and his might is nothing compared to the Creators. So you honestly think he would have had a chance as a vampire even as old as he is? Your mother remained because it was allowed regardless of what your father thinks. And it was allowed because there is hope for your kind and it had a lot to do with you and your brother. You are both proof of the light that remains in all vampire. I will tell you a story of your merciless father before you killed me. More than two thousand years ago an undead incursions began wreaking havoc upon the lands your mother was traveling. My father sacrificed his life to protect her, for she was with child, myself. But he was not enough. A vampire with nothing to gain from helping a woman let alone an angel came to her aid anyway.”



Micah continued recalling the events that was revealed to him by Raphael. “This vampire was a king whoes people held expectations and a king with many enemies. Harboring an angel would have been enough for him to lose his thrown and perhaps his life. But instead of doing what was in the best interest of himself, he aided this woman, and in the process he fell in love. Truly a selfish monster wouldn’t you agree, to risk everything as he did?” Micah said sarcastically. “But it didn’t end there, the angel was pregnant. A baby angel had no place in his lands, in fact even if cared for without a connection to heaven, it would no doubt die. On top of that it was proof that he was harboring and later marrying an angel. Likely to kill it or leave it to dead wasn’t it for the feared Vlad the Impaler, no? At best sneak it away to a random home for someone to take care of. But this king instead returned the child to heaven risking his life and risking having the angel he now fell in love with from being taken from him.” Micah sighed and added “I hated your father for longer than you have. I wanted him dead and I planned to kill him. He was the man I saw responsible for my fathers death and the man that kept my mother from me. But there are things we cannot see as children until we grow up. I owe my life to your father, he is not the best father, best king, best husband, but he tries more than you choose to see. I never got a chance to know my father. I never got a chance to help change his heart if he ever waivered as your father had. I would again give anything to be in your place Katya.”



Micah walked so that the bade was but inches from his chest his arms still out and eyes watery. “If you need someone to blame then go ahead and blame me. Take everything you feel and unleash it upon me until you feel better. If you need me to be that outlet I will. But when you are finished I only ask that you leave the last of your childish ways with me and grow. I do love you Katya despite what you choose to believe. I will die gladly to extinguish but a small portion of the pain you feel because I have that pain also, I feel it too, and I do not wish it upon you dear sister. Open your eyes to the truth and realize you can change more than you think without having to destroy everything around you. I wasn’t just like you when I was your age, I pretty much was you so as little as you choose to believe I know exactly how you feel, angels looked at me as the son of the angel that left heaven for a vampire, I was an outcast to so many who didn't know any better. But I didn’t surrender to that pain and judgment and here I stand thousands of years later. You have nothing to fear you see, because you have the potential to be more than I ever could hope to be. So let your hatred go, let your regrets go, and find forgiveness for once in your life and take a real stand. Piece your family back together, recognize the broken man your father is without your mother, how much pain both he and your brother are in, and as the matriarch of the great Draculea now show them why you are the true heir and deserve the thrown. Show them something neither of them are capable of. Because they are both able to murder, deceive, and destroy. But can they as your mother show mercy, forgive, and more importantly love. Your family needs you, lead them, you don’t need a crown or throne or recognition to do it. Go home and lead them now, your family and people need you more than ever, you just couldn’t see it.”

[Teodora]

None of what happened was Agatha's fault yet she seemed to think things could have been different. Unfortunately given the circumstances the events unfolded the best they could. She only thanked the heavens that Agatha was inside that cave and not out here with the undead abominations roaming about. The idea of losing her to them struck a nerve within her, something she never felt before. Staring at her long and hard she did her best to try and figure out why that was. Often her people were neutral, they let things fall as they may yet now more than ever she was determined to interfere. Perhaps because their was one life at stake above all else that she felt sworn to protect.

"You should have brought back up for sure. A war-zone is the worst place to be alone. You could have died.." she said softly as she placed a hand on Agatha's. It was clear that Teodora cared for her with the way she spoke, with the way she looked at her. Sometimes it just took a terrible situation for the feelings to be shaken loose and kicked to the surface. As a Celestial she had no idea how to deal with such a thing as she was not always allowed to remain in this plane of existence. "I will always be around to pull you out of the fire just," she started, biting her lip.

"..just be careful please." she finished.

Of course her plan did not make sense to anyone else without first being explained. "When I mentioned bottling this up I meant that we need to use the portals. We need to banish them from this world so that they can harm no one else." she said with a frown. She hated the idea of going to such extreme measures but this was unforgivable, what the two of them had done. Even though she was allied with Samael she had a greater obligation to save the world they lived on before giving loyalty to a man. "That is why I need Commander Lovelace." she finished before looking at Agatha with astonishment.

Clapping her hands together loudly out of excitement, Teo let out a happy shriek. "For once a plan comes together, I am indeed in the right place!" she exclaimed. Leaning towards Agatha she smiled, "Then do you think you can get me inside so I can speak with her? Our world hinges on this." she asked. In her excitement she forgot the personal space thing that she was taught, hovering only a mere few inches away from Agatha's face out of excitement.