Kage Riku 7/?

Thanks goes out to all those who keep writing to me and telling me how they love the story. Thank you all. And this is dedicated to each and everyone who wrote me. Thanks again. But going on, I want to thank my friend for translating some things from the show for me. Thanks to my friend for translating some of series for me. . .

Notes: <<speech in this denotes it ain't in English>>

/threatening words/
_words with emphasis_
I AM SHOUTING
~~"I am repeating words in a flashback"~~
//flashback//

Special Note of thanks. . . Thanks Sapphire Rose-san!!!! ([email protected]) for beta-ing for me!!! Yatta!!! And another thanks to Cheshire-san ([email protected]) for beta-ing and proofreading!!

Kage Riku [The Shadowed Lands]

By: Kc-chan

Chapter 7/?

Velle, somninare, et moribuna supplicationis. . .<1>

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

Silence had ended the meeting. They promptly dispersed without a word, leaving their master alone in his thoughts. Duo retired to his room to think and try to make sense of the roller coaster in his mind. . .. Hoping Trowa was able to save his love.

He didn't know anymore. He had no clue how to fight her. . . and if Vrita was ever going to come back to him. . . Every time he got even close, the other boy froze in fear.

He laughed out loud. It was a complete joke, a daemon that loved. . . pathetic. . . and hopelessly in love with the light in that boy. . . And why. . . why did he always have to fight with tooth and nail to keep his love?!?

A knock on his door pulled him from his reprieve. "Come in," he called out.

Heero opened the door and peeked in. "Sammael?" he asked.

Duo sighed. Heero obviously had something on his mind. . . "Yes?"

Heero entered half way then started to back out. "Gomen, Master. You seem to want to be alone with your thoughts. . . I'll come back later. . ."

Duo stood and gestured for the boy to enter. "No, it was nothing. What is it?"

Heero sighed, where to begin. They were all afraid of dying. . . losing to those witches. . . but without the last advisor they were doomed to failure. . . "Wufei wouldn't. . ."

Duo sighed. He knew Heero would ask him sooner or later about that. He knew his advisors would be worried, for without Vrita, they couldn't win. Vrita replaced Exael when he had betrayed them. Vrita took on the role well, and earned his comrades respect, possibly even acceptance after a while. . . Duo returned to the boy's question. "He has his own way of living. No one can force him otherwise. . ."

Sammael was silent for a while, then whispered, "But, Asmodeus, I'm just grateful that you came. . . and I am sorry to demand so much trust from all of you. . . I thought. . . I thought it would have been easier to bring him back. Perhaps I should just search for a replacement. . ."

Asmodeus smiled a bit. "I don't think I'm of much help on that. . . as much as I disliked him, Apaosa was an extremely powerful ally. . .."

Duo slumped back into his chair, feeling like the weight of the world rested upon his shoulders. "Was. . . _was_ Asmodeus. He _was_ a powerful person to have on our side. . ." He half-heartily cracked his infamous grin. "Sure can pick my right hand general, huh?"

Heero looked through muddled bangs, imperturbable eyes observing his master. "You are serious, aren't you?" He didn't believe it. He never would think his master would disregard the one he so desperately loved. . . just to save the lives of the world and his advisors. . .

Sammael's grip on his chair tightened, knuckles going to pure white. "Yes. I am serious." His hard eyes looked over at his left hand general. "Deadly serious. You are all more powerful when you are a group, your power circle complete. . ." he chuckled grimly. "Damn me and my ideas. . . who's ever heard of connecting your daemon generals' power?!?"

Heero winced at his master's self-depreciating tone. "We never think that. . ."

Duo snarled at the window, "But I do. . . I don't want to think about losing another one of you. . ."

Heero blinked. . . another one? To his knowledge Exael was cast away and was replaced by Vrita. That was all. . . Granted, it was a painful break away for their master. . . just to loose all that power. . . but. . .

"Never mind. . ." Duo whispered. And looked to the moonlight. "Seems peculiar these days. . . so many people live and work and continue with their normal lives, not caring about this war until they are hurt by it. . . then everything must be done. . . So different from when Rome invaded, whenever anyone invaded, the country felt the pain. . . now. . . no one feels anything. . . a bunch of emotional less husks. . .searching for nothing. Sometimes I wonder why I try. . . like they would even find peace. . ."

Heero smiled at his master. "But, even so, I feel quietude being with you. . . and I know the others do as well. . ."

Duo chortled. Heero was delighted that his master's eyes had some of their life return to them. . . Sammael turned to the youth and smiled. "Thanks for coming along. . . Gods know what I would do with out my sanity to scold me and show me the reasons I still fight."

Heero smiled at his master. "No, I'm the one who has to thank you. . . and, master?"

Duo looked over at the boy. "Yes?"

"We will win."

"A bit too sure of our self, Asmodeus?" a light taunt.

Blue eyes danced and lips twitched into a smirk. "We have you." And flitted away from the room.

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

Hirde stood on the roof in the now defunct and smoldering Sanc Kingdom. A small woman, short hair flickering with the colours rising from the inferno around her. . . "Autonomy and amity. . . Really, what is it with everyone?" she sighed, eyes surveying through the town.

The onslaught of mobile dolls that took place earlier that day had left hours ago. Leaving the city in flames, to serve as a warning to others. She sighed and lowered the mask of her cape, draped around her. "I imagine I was like that just a while back. . ." she finished and peered to her side.

"Good evening, Aka Manah. . . Come to enjoy my barbecue? I do hope you brought some marshmallows, for I am afraid I am all out. . ." Hirde smiled.

"Get out," Noin replied, glaring at the smaller goddess. "You are not welcome here."

Hirde strut over to Noin and slinked her arm over the taller woman's shoulder. "Aka Manah, don't be so mean! I'm sure Meiren will let you be part of our little femme fatale assemblage!!"

Noin's lips pulled back in a cautioning snarl and she shrugged the offending arm away. "I've got nothing to say to you nor your "cherished" bitch of a leader. . ."

Hirde feigned a pout. "You are always mean to me, Aka Manah!!" Then, with the sleekness of a cat, she purred, "If you're not going to help us, we have a plan, too. . ."

Noin scoffed at the girl. "Oh, yeah. You think I'm going to fall for that trick? Not today, little brat. This is your last warning, get out."

Hirde eyes flared, but her nasty grin held firm. "Perhaps you don't understand. . . we needed the Gundam as our symbol. . .and that we have. Meiren will crush you so easily. . ." She looked out over the fire, cooing to the flames as they caressed her cheeks. "It's a damned shame that Duo Maxwell. . . that Sammael has become an enemy. . ."

"If you want to stay alive, don't make me angry, brat." Noin hissed, her patience being pushed.

"I will not be told what to do!! With OZ and White Fang on _our_ side we will drive you and your precious "master" into the dirt!!! " Hirde hissed over at Noin. She stood rather suddenly and glared at the woman standing near her.

"Listen, Hirde, you can't trust her or the White Fang! They smell the same as OZ did a little while back. . .. You'll never get anywhere. . ." Noin reasoned with the girl, not really looking at her, but the damage the brat had caused.

"But you're not getting anywhere, either, Aka Manah. . . we have made much more progress than you. . ." She grinned wolfishly at the banged warrior. "If you join White Fang you'll be treated as a hero. . . you'll be given the praise you once had back. . . Wouldn't that be nice?"

Noin turned to look at the girl straight in her eyes, hazel eyes glaring hard at the girl. "I'm not interested in that. I want to be with death to the end. . ."

Hirde shrugged and glanced away, uncomfortable in that glare. "It's a lonely battle. . ."

"That's the path we chose. We can't drag the Colonies or the Earth into war. That isn't right. Wouldn't your precious Meiren agree to Justice, or did all those years surrounded by the Order not rub off on her?"

She chose to ignore the last remark, Aka Manah was only trying to make her angry, and she wasn't going to fall for it. "You're too kind." She looked over at Noin and sighed. "All of you."

"That's why I can go on living, because I am not some murderer hiding under the pretence of false divinity. I don't live the embodiment of a lie everyday of my life."

"I am NOT living a lie!" Hirde retorted, seething.

"Lately, that isn't unusual for you. . . Meiren, Dorothy, the late Bean Si, even yourself. . . lies. . ." Noin replied evenly. She watched the once picturesque city in flames, granted she had done a small part, but the true blame for the obliteration of the entire city lied in Hirde. Noin sighed. "Utter butchery. . . what a waste. . ."

"The former United Federation brought arms into Space. Former OZ tried to make the Colonies produce arms. The Romefeller tyrannically ruled the citizens. And this time the White Fang revolt. . . if all of this was because of a seed Earth sowed. . . An era that is tainted by its situation is too pitiful. Mortals are pathetic. . . they breathe for destruction and devastation. . . they love their self pity!" Hirde spat out making the flames swallow up the city faster. Her rage fueling the flames.

Aka Manah allowed herself a small chuckle, she was definitely pulling the right strings tonight. "Then who, dear little innocent Hirde? Who is going to pull the weeds out? You?"

"Meiren gave herself up to Romefeller to do just that. We have become her warriors!! We will make these mortals slaves like they should be!!!" Hirde screamed at Noin.

Noin began to laugh. . . "A little confused, Mastema, honey?" <1>

"Who are you, Aka Manah, to dare talk to me as such!!! You, sister, were so powerful!! So Gods damned powerful!! You lead _the_ Order!!! You had so much power and you gave it all away. . . your title. . . your fucking power and position to be some. . . some. . . whore!!!" Hirde hissed at Noin, a dark aura crackling around her, barely contained as her anger flared up.

Aka Manah blinked and pretended that the last comment didn't bother her, "I led a lie. _That_ to me was worse. . . Lying there with men, pretending to be holier than thou to mortals. . . playing with the political structure, over all it was just the name that separated us back then from the daemons. . .. We were worse then they were."

Hirde snarled threatingly, "You _destroyed_ your Order, Aka Manah!! You didn't care about all that power!!!!"

Noin smiled over at Mastema. "Jealous?"

Mastema grinned ferally. "Not anymore. When you left Belphegor, you left everything. What could you do now, you little /whore/?"

Noin flipped around and stormed towards Hirde. /That/ had pissed her off. She was by no means a whore. Grabbing the girl's throat and lifting her off the ground Noin spat out, "I am _not_ a whore! I am a succubus!"

Hirde chocked a bit and struggled free, gasping for air she snarled, "Could have fooled me, Belphegor!"

Noin glared and pressed herself to calm down, she would make mistakes if she lost her temper. "Well, it's nice to see you calling me that again, Mastema. For a while I thought you forgot. . ."

Hirde slowly stood up, head turned away, bangs hiding her eyes, but the flame's light dancing over her body. Her fists clenched at her sides and in an all too calm voice she whispered. "But then again you never cared. . . You had everything! Everything handed to you on a fucking silver platter!!! And you dropped it. . . _destroyed_ it for some daemon fee!! Who, might I add, never gave a fuck about you!!! You dropped your position, title, and Order your family!"

Noin was taken aback, she wasn't expecting Hirde to say that. . . "They were lies. . ."

Hirde snapped, she flipped her head to face Noin, eyes burning in hellish rage. "Lies? So all I am to you. . . is a lie?"

Noin bit her cheek. Shit. . . she didn't mean it that way. "I never said that. . . I was saying that-"

"I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE SAYING!!!!" Hirde screamed, flames engulfing the city for a five-mile radius. Noin was relieved she was able to pull up her shield quickly enough, and it wasn't a powerful attack. . . just Hirde releasing anger. . .

"Calm down, Mastema. . ." Noin said, slowly approaching the girl.

"CALM DOWN?!?!? Do you stop to think how _we_ were treated after _your_ betrayal!?!?! Do you dear sister!?!?!" words of venom as Hirde shrieked and launched herself at Noin.

Aka Manah was caught off guard at those words and barely stopped her sister's blade from piercing through her side. "Stop it! You don't even understand my reasons!!" Noin shoved the girl off her and summoned a blade to her hands.

Hirde lifted herself off the ground and spat blood from her mouth. "You couldn't begin to understand the pain I went through!! Meiren was the only one who ever understood me!! She at least _loves_ me!!!"

Noin staggered back. . . Hirde. . . Hirde didn't think. . . "That isn't true. . . I left. . . I left. . ."

"Because you were some stupid and spoiled wench!!" Hirde screamed, summoning a large ball of fire to her hands and launching it at Aka Manah.

Noin dove and tumbled out of its way, digging her nails into the brick wall as she launched off the roof. She gritted her teeth as her fingers clawed their way into the damaged wall, stopping her fall.

Hirde walked to the edge of the roof and looked over. The fires silhouetting her, except her eyes. They glowed in hell and brimstone hate. "A thousand years ago I would have never even got you. . . How utterly pathetic you have become, dear sister."

Noin grunted, grabbing the drainpipe and sliding towards the road.

"You can't escape me!!!" Hirde screeched and leapt off the roof, landing like a cat upon the gravel and stone street. "You are nothing but some pathetic whore, Belphegor!!"

Noin snarled and summoned a circle to her.

Hirde smiled. "You can't do anything to me, sister, sweetest. I am an angel. . . and you. . . you are nothing but some mongrel succubus. Pathetic. . ."

Noin smiled and looked at her sister, ensnaring her in a devious look. "You are still as dumb as ever, Hirde."

Hirde narrowed her eyes, just in time to notice the hellhound that leapt at her. It brought her slamming into the cobblestone road, she barely suppressed her scream of agony. The hound dug its teeth into her flesh. She kicked at it, until it finally ripped away, taking with it a piece of her side.

She couldn't even pull herself to a kneeling position when two more hounds attacked. Noin watched, with a look of sadness touching her eyes. Watching her hounds rip the meat and flesh off her sister. . .minutes waged war on her conscience. . .

"Stop." Her voice echoed over the flames and fires.

Hirde's world was a blistering abyss of agony. . . she couldn't feel her arms. . . legs. . . she coughed. . . blood. . . Gods. . . she could feel it in her lungs, slowly drowning her. . . her sister. Her own sister. . .

Noin knelt before her sister, beaten and battered and torn so easily. She never wished this upon the girl, but she had brought it upon herself. Survival of the fittest one could say. . .

"Why. . . how could you give up what you had. . . you had everything. . . Order of Principalities. . . patron. . . a fucking angel. . . how could you. . . sister. . ." Hirde gurgled out. . . tears of blood trickling down her cheeks. . .

Noin ignored the wetness on her own cheeks and lifted what was left of her sister onto her lap. "Meiren never told you. . . she lead you into a trap. . ." She brushed at her sister's black hair, so much like her own. "You trusted her. . . and she delivered you to your death. . ."

". . .Ho. . .How?" Hirde struggled to remain breathing. . . so cold. . . so very cold. . .

Lightning split the sky, purging the fires, slamming down in sheets, soaking the girls, Noin brushed the red tears off her dieing sisters cheeks. "I am Aka Manah, general to Death. General to. . . Sammael, little sister. . . you would never beat me. . .."

Hirde coughed up more blood. . .She could feel the liquid so heavy within her lungs, but she had to know. . . "Why. . .?"

"I loved him, Mastema. . . I love Mephistopheles and Asmodeus with every inch of my soul. . . I wish we could be closer. . ." Noin could barely repress her sobs. . . she had killed her own sister. . . "Let me heal you. . . let me be your sister this time. . ."

Hirde's vision clouded with red, yet her sister looked heavenly, she always did. . . "No. . . give me my peace, sister. . .." She coughed up more blood. . . crawling into her throat, "You. . . you always looked beautiful. . . angel. . . daemon. . . so beautiful. . . Belphegor. . . Aka Manah. . . Noin. . ."

"Hirde. . . Mastema. . ." Noin chocked out through a sob. "I will honor your wish. . . "

"I thank you. . . from my heart. . ..from the bottom of my heart. . . I love you. . ." Hirde chocked out. . . so hard. . . so hard to breath. . . death seemed so warm now. . .

Noin smiled and hugged her sister. "Don't get your hopes up too high, little sister. . . Given my nature, I'm prone to having affairs. . ."

Hirde didn't reply. . . first time in her life, her sister was silent. . .

She never replied. . . she couldn't even say it to her sister as she died. . . that she loved her. . . that she. . . Gods she. . . she. . . Tears falling freely as she screamed to the unrelenting rain, echoing for miles, "MASTEMAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

Sedichi stormed around his quarters in space, hissing and thrashing, trying to release his anger. "World Nation, my ass!! Who does that wench think she is?!?"

The solider looked at his Colonel and shrugged. . . He was rather scared for his life at the moment.

"Did you think you could fool us with that, 'Queen' Meiren!??! BITCH!!!" Sedichi spat out throwing his fist through the screen with her image on it, smiling at the public.

The soldier swallowed and tried to calm his superior down before he would be killed in the process. "But Colonel Sedichi, Meiren Chang is said to be a true visionsary, a true bringer of Relena's peace. . . "

The older man snorted with laughter. "Ha! That spoiled brat doesn't have any power! Not like we have!"

The soldier trembled and stuttered out. "They are Romefeller and that means OZ. Trieze has offered OZ to Meiren. . . Don't forget the fact that they have oppressed us for so long. . ."

Sedichi stopped and stared calmly at the screens. . . well, the one screen remaining. "Yes. You are right. . .Our Colony is an independent state. We must complete this ship as soon as possible to make Earth understand that." He turned and looked at the trembling soldier. "How is the Moon base we took over doing?"

"Sir. Weapons and parts left in Tsubarov's Mobile Doll factory are being used to upgrade our White Fang troops."

Sedichi grinned evilly and turned to look at the screen. "Good. . . Meiren. . . I promise you will feel my power. . ." <2a>

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

Quatre stood slowly. He saw the shadow on the ground, cast from the sun. He also realized she was "hiding" them, so to speak from the mortals. . . probably on Meiren's orders. It wouldn't be a good idea for Meiren's right hand gal to be seen terrorizing another person. That wasn't in the structure of pacifism. . .

"Dia duit tu beag diabhal." Catherine hissed, from behind Quatre. <3>

Quatre turned slowly, ready to call a spell as soon as he needed. He was not going to fail. . . he was going to beat her. . . and he wasn't going to pull the first punch. . . She was the starter of this fight, not him. . . "Saba'a AlKair, Kaifa Halok?" He smirked. If she didn't want to speak a language he understood, fine by him. He had a hand full of languages up his sleeve. . . <4>

"Impudent pig!" Badhbh snarled, launching a large sphere of energy at him.

Quatre dodged and brushed himself off, looking rather annoyed at her. "Badhbh, could this possibly wait? I am trying to meet Dumah for breakfast."

_That_ got her full attention. Quatre sighed. . . he never did know when to leave things be. . . his mouth did tend to get him in trouble. . .. He was good at hand-to-hand combat, assassination. . . things along that nature. A majik fight was never his forte. . . especially against the woman who had wiped the earth with his ass twice. . .

Catherine summoned another large sphere of energy and hurled it at him. He dodged, but this time he felt the heat graze by him. . . and barely had time to keep dodging the spheres. . . "Damn. . ." he hissed. "Gods, Catherine, you act like you hate me!" Dodge, run, jump, and dive. . . it was getting rather old very quick. . .

"Little brat!!" She threw another lot of spheres at him.

He winced as one actually connected. . . this wasn't good. . . but if he used his majik he would be down for the count for days. . . He was slammed through a cement wall as another sphere connected. . . but if he didn't do something. . . he would never see his love again. . . That was the one thing he cared about. . .

Catherine snickered, it wasn't fair. . . he didn't really have majik. . . and she was just toying with him. . . she was going to take her time. . . torture him for a while. After all, that was how he killed Relena, in pain. . . and for stealing her lover, for that he would pay with his blood. "Come out, little brat! I only want to play!"

"Play with this, you whore!" She smiled as she saw him walk out of the hole he created in the wall with his impact, which was, until she saw what he held in his hands. . .

"Pyros tou!!!" He screamed, both hands jetting in front of him and within seconds a spell flared to life. She wasn't prepared for the large sphere of fire shooting at her. <5>

"What?!?" Badhbh screeched, rolling and barely missing the attack. She stood slowly to look at him. Lightning flickered around his arms. . . narrowing her eyes she could make out the silver bracelets with the six jewels imbedded in them. "So. . ." she mused while sizing him up, "it seems he does have a few precious tricks up his sleeves. . ."Six jewels meant one form of majik, daemon elemental. She smiled even more. It was rare to see a daemon know and possess such knowledge of those spells. . . even more rare to see one successfully use them. . .

"Teichos to chrysous pyros taou fthano!!" Moloch yelled, concentrating. He was wondering if this would work. His majik was something that relied heavily on two things, his reserves and his followers' astral essences. Since he lost the latter, he was wondering how long his personal majik reserves would last. . . <6>

Badhbh winced as she held up a windshield against the blazing wall. Encircling her sphere of protection, trying to get at her. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. . . she could feel the force it was pushing at. . . Hopefully the boy would deplete of his reserves quickly. . .

"Ego diesteilamin pyros tou afxano kafsonas!!" Moloch muttered, eyes watching the spell surround and intensify its heat. He could wait and go in for an attack. . . he couldn't continue to fight her with just majik. . . he would have to force her into an actual fight. . . <7>

Badhbh winced and trembled as the temperature intensified rapidly. Was the little brat trying to cook her to death?!?! Sweat curled its way down her forehead; she could taste the saltiness of it as it hit her lips. . . "Uisce. . ." she muttered pushing herself to concentrate. . . <8>

Water surged around her, the droplets feeling more than divine on her cooking skin. Moloch's fist was the first thing she noticed when the water cleared.

His fists and claws swung at her, the first lot connecting. He smiled a bit. He would attack until she could retaliate then he would retreat and strike again. . . it was a game of cat and mouse, only he was the mouse. . ..

Catherine hissed slightly as razor sharp claws made a nauseating slit through her flesh. . . how obtuse could she have been?!?! He was waiting for her to counter spell and use water to cause the steam that blocked her view. . . and here she thought he was dim-witted. . .

Moloch winced as her knee connected with his stomach. He tasted metal in his mouth. . . small bits of blood, nothing too bad. . . He swung hoping to just scratch her for the moment. Anything to help him out. . .

This was getting old, very quickly. The little dog was fast. . . quick to dodge her moves. . . She never realized he possessed a talent for fighting. . . it was a major point she overlooked. She had let her ego and pride get in the way, but it wouldn't be a deadly mistake. . . not with him. . . as quick and as fast as he was, he could not stand against her power. . .

"Tintreach!!" She summoned, and with a quick and blunt attack she slammed the energy sphere into Moloch's stomach, causing the smaller and lighter daemon flying back.

Quatre balked. . . that was the second wall he had taken down within the last ten minutes. . .with his body. And he was starting to think he was lucky he lasted this long. . . she just used it to push him back. . . no real damage was caused. . . He dodged as energy spheres flew at him again. . .

He dodged behind the walls and took a moment breather. . . "Damn. . ." he muttered, and concentrated. . . beads of sweat formed along his brow. . . his breathing became uneven. . . He threw three thoughts to his master. "Help. . . Now. . . Badhbh. . ."

He released his breath and gasped for air. . . Oh, that had hurt. . . a lot. . . this majik thing was definitely not up his alley. . . so not up his alley. . . He looked at the sky through the hole in the roof and wondered silently, "How the hell am I going to beat her? Come on, Dumah. . . get her!! I need you, beloved. . ."

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

Trowa ran through the narrow streets. . . he was desperate enough to consider taking to the air. . . True, that would scare a few civilians, seeing an "angel" flying through the air. . . but he had to make sure his love was still in the land of the living. . .

The look on Duo's face. . . Quatre probably attempted to send his thoughts to their master. . . Moloch was a fighter. . . not a user of majik. . . for Gods sake he barely had any!!

Well. . . he wasn't sure on that. . . He never _saw_ his love use majik, so it was possible the little daemon had some majik. . . just not to the degree Badhbh had.

He would be well pressed to beat Badhbh, and even then it was luck and her "emotions" and lust for him that gave him the upper hand.

He plowed through the market crowds. . . stopping from just screaming out the daemons name. . .

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

Badhbh stormed down the street. . . little brat was hiding. . . She was going to drag him out even if it meant tearing down the city to do so. She would show him something to fear. . .

Passing through the markets she narrowed her eyes in search of the brat. . . he was here. . .. Somewhere. . . sharp eyes catching everything around her. . . pressing through the shoppers she searched the crowds for his face. . .

She couldn't pick up on his astral nor physical presence. . . that should have meant the dog was finally dead. . . but her experiences had taught her never to assume till you ripped off that person's head with your bare hands. . . feeling the life slip from the husk of flesh. . .

A movement on her left flank caught her attention in a distraction. . .

Him.

Dumah. . .. She almost spoke it out loud. . . he was here for the brat, she was sure of it. Well, if she wasn't going to win him back. . . she was going to kill them both. _that_ angel would not dishonor her.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Moloch trembled behind the wall, eyes screwed shut, and trying to concentrate on masking his astral and physical presence from her. He coughed and placed his hands on the ground calling his circle forth. . .

Sensing it was up, he released a sigh in relief. It would hide any of his presence till he figured out how to kill her and quickly. He could feel the headache forming in his temples. If he survived this, and that was a seriously large _if_ in his mind, he would be out for days trying to regain all his majik stores. . .

She was wrong, though. Badhbh was dead wrong about his majik. He knew she suspected it was daemon elemental, and for the life of him he wished it was. . . that would have made it easier. . . he would feel _pain_ every time he casted anything.

"Gnome. . . Dryad. . . Undine. . . Salamander. . . Sylphid. . . Yundao. . ." He fingered the jewels along the silver bracelets or more cuffs around his wrists. He didn't think he would ever be grateful for this curse.

//He glared up at the mages surrounding him. He couldn't believe they found a way to actually summon him. Summon him! They were too damned powerful for humans, weren't they? And on that thought. . . Why him?!? He brought human suffering to everyone. Moloch was not the kind of daemon some one would _want_ to summon. . . even if they were insane.

'Okay . . . it's just been one bad week now. I have lost half of my people, lost to that fee brat, Asmodeus . . . and now I get summoned. By mortals. . . Wonderful. Could my week get any worse. . .?' He bemoaned privately. He would never live this down. . . summouned by humans. . . even lesser daemons were rarely summoned. . . pathetic. . . that's what he was. . . <9>

Moloch barely suppressed a growl. . . moreover the tight and spiked collar around his neck prevented him from the noise as Asmodeus walked in from the shadows. . .

"Awake, I see. Feeling better?" Asmodeus asked, sweet tone circling around the room. It was enough to make Moloch sick. He had already endured enough from this brat this week, did the fates think he needed more?

"Fuck you." He managed to spit out at the incubus brat standing before him. He winced as a Holy whip slammed against his back. White streaks of pain forming quickly, reminded him of his place. 'Where a daemon gained the ability to wield a Holy weapon is beyond me. . ." Moloch thought, wincing as one last lash ripped down his flesh.

"Leave us. Master would like to see him. . ." Asmodeus purred as the guards quickly ran.

Moloch gulped trying not to look upset. . . master meant only one person. . . and he really, really didn't want to be right on who it was. . .

Black seemed to circle the room sealing off any outside light. . . Asmodeus called a flame to his hand providing a morbid light source. . . Moloch gulped as he heard the whispers of children call out from the shadows. . .

Sammael grinned as he felt the emotions swirling in the 'little daemon brat' as Moloch was oft called. He understood where the name came from. . . Moloch was an old daemon, looking young and not having the power he use to. . . when the Canaanites ruled. . . Oh, that was a glorious time for Moloch! Now he was a whisper of a shadow compared to his former grandeur. . .

Moloch's eyes flickered nervously. . . he didn't know what they were doing but it scared him. Terror scurried along his spine. A cold sweat formed on his forehead. He was really wondering what he did do to get the attention of the prince of daemons himself. . .

He had lost to more daemons today. . . his people had steadily disappeared or were killed yearly. . . they were not even a glimmer of what they once were. . . he wasn't as powerful. . . maybe they would just kill him? That would be nice. . . very, very nice. . .

"Welcome, Moloch!" a chipper voice rang out through the dense shadows. They parted and let their master through. . . Red hair shoved into a tight braid. . . violet orbs dancing. . . One would mistake the prince of darkness for an angel if they weren't careful. . .

Moloch just blinked. . . he didn't know what to say. . . nor do. . .

Sammael practically skipped over to him, dancing here and there. . . grinning as morbid as one could expect death to. Sammael gestured to the black ink swirling around them. "Welcome, Moloch! How are you feeling? I do hope those cuffs do pull your sockets from your shoulders! I know you think them as an inconvenience, but really. I think you may begin to enjoy them!"

If he had the guts Moloch would have moaned at the sheer corn of this daemon's jokes. . . but his attentions were being drawn to the moving blackness. . . he swore. . . he swore he could hear echoes of faint laughter and song. Strange considering that the shadows were not of dead spirits. . . Well, as far as he knew.

Sammael leaned forward. Yes. . . this daemon would be nice to bring into his services. What he lacked in dealing with daemons, he more than made up for in executing humans. Moloch was a top class assassin by any standards. From mortal armies to singular people, Moloch would bring him a talented paradigm to his side. . .

Asmodeus smiled slightly. Moloch was every ounce as beautiful as they had described him in legends. Platinum blond hair, paler than the sun's light. . . gleaming turquoise eyes, so perfect in themselves. . . fair white skin. . . all set off by jet black wings with reflecting blues and greens in their scales. . . those claws. . . sharper than anything. . . Cute. . . One would say child-like face to contrast the severity and adult gleam of those eyes. . .

Moloch steeled his words, "What do you want?" Okay. . . it probably didn't help that he put it that way. . . but he knew the perfect angel to meet up with this little brat. . . two that would compliment the other. . .

Sammael smiled more, if it were even possible and purred to the suspended daemon, "You."

Moloch blinked. And blinked again. . . he was shocked. . . what would a top class daemon like Sammael want with someone like him? He was nothing. . . not even worth mentioning to the daemon prince. . .

Asmodeus laughed. . . the look of sheer shock that crossed the daemons face was priceless. . . the little brat obviously didn't have a significant sense of self worth. . .

"You. . . You. . . You!" Sammael giggled. He walked around the daemon looking at him. . . "I want you to help lead my armies. Simple, ne?"

"Me?" Moloch asked completely deadpan. Fate was a harsh trickster. . .

"Yes! You!! Simply marvelous way you deal with mortals. . . I could use someone like you." He turned to Asmodeus. "Leave us."

Asmodeus bowed slightly and with a smile disappeared through the shadows. . .

"Now. . . before you even tell me on the pure idiosyncrasy of me making you my general. . . I have another reason. . ." Sammael paused as if thinking how to approach the matter. After a long pause he continued, looking Moloch directly in the eye.

"You are a rare breed, indeed. Majik comes in so many forms. . . some rather easy to master. . . others lost. You have, by some reason, the ability to cast elemental majik. . ." Sammael smirked, waiting for a certain reply to rise up. . .

"Humans. . . anyone can cast elemental majik. . ." Moloch whispered back, avoiding those piercing orbs as much as he could. . .

Sammael rolled back on his heels laughing like a mad man. . . "Simple spells. . . certain areas. . . not you. . . you have any of them. . . _all_ of them!! That's why I want you!"

Moloch blinked. At this point heaven could have collided with him and he wouldn't have noticed. Did Sammael. . .?

Violet eyes were abruptly next to his. . . "You have such power. . . of course. . . it may hurt to awaken it in you. . ." An evil grin, "But what's it really worth if there isn't any pain involved?"

Moloch couldn't even begin to scream as raw energy released itself from every cell in his body. . . his mind just went directly to numb. . . eyes flew open in agony. The only sound he could muster was a gurgle of pain. . .

Sammael watched for hours as information flooded through Moloch. True, it would knock the daemon for a loop every time he actually used the power, but he was damned if he didn't take the chance to at least release it. . .

After a long time. . . the power slowed and Moloch was allowed a raw scream of pain. . . Sweat covered the boy. . . matting down his blonde hair. . . turquoise eyes glossed over. . .

Sammael strolled over and lifted the boy's chin to look into those glassy eyes. . . with a look of triumph he had his shadows release the chains holding the daemon brat up. . .

Moloch made a sound of slight discomfort and slowly pulled himself off the ground. . . Sammael opened his hand and twin jewels of an assortment of colours drifted up. . .

Moloch backed up slightly as they circled the silver cuffs on his wrists, "Wha-?"

The green jewels sunk into the silver cuffs. . . followed by the amber, ice blue, fire red, white, and after they had formed a circle a silver bump formed in the middle. "Gnome. . .Dryad. . . Undine. . . Salamander. . . Sylphid. . . Yundao. . ." Sammael smiled and flitted away leaving the daemon to ponder what had just happened. . .//

Quatre blinked and shook his head. He had to keep focused right now. His eyes narrowed as he heard Badhbh walk past him. As soon as she was past he released the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. . .

Carefully, he stood, and keeping a distance behind her. . . followed. He could keep her in sight till he could cast another spell. . .

Badhbh sighed and stiffened for a moment. . . she swore. . . turning she only saw the crowds. . . nothing. . . but it didn't matter about the brat. . . she had a new hunt. And there he was. . .

Dumah rounded a corner to end up practically nose-to-nose with someone he didn't want to nor expect to see. . . Badhbh.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Wufei blinked. . . how long had he been sitting there? His head hurt. Gods!! He felt torn in two- good and evil. . .

~~"You know, I am seriously starting to think you do this on purpose to get my attention. . ."~~

He shut his eyes. . . Gods. . . again. . . All he could ever hear is Sammael's voice in his head. . .

He wasn't. . . he breathed in and out slowly. . . he didn't do anything to get that daemons attention! He didn't want it. . .

~~Warmth of being curled against that chest. . . his hands on your back. . ..~~

Wufei choked. . . "Where the fuck did that come from?!?" he muttered in surprise. . . Sure, he had meditated to "speak" with himself. . . but it had never actually _reasoned_ with him before. . .

~~"You could tell her the truth?"~~

Again. . . why did he have to have his mind tainted by that thing?!?! Why couldn't he pay off his sins? He was forever damned for his actions. . . he knew he should have never joined Sammael. . . he should have never let Maxwell have him. . .

And he couldn't tell Meiren the truth. . . he was her husband. _Husband_!!! How could he explain to her that he had let another person. . . another _male_ touch him. . . _claim_ him before she ever did?!

~~"How come you always cut out the real memories of her?" ~~

He didn't though. . . she was the very goddess he made her out to be! She was. . . she. . . He would prove it. That's all there was to it.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Exael smiled. . . looking over the ruin ashes of the once proud city of Sank. It wasn't the only city tonight. . . Cities across the globe were meeting their demise tonight and there was nothing his former "master" could do about it. Reports were in from Washington DC in America to Paris to Venice to Istanbul to Hong Kong. . .

He smiled running his hands along the glass, did she really know? Probably not and probably never but she understood more than that whelp did. To think Sammael replaced him with some whiney cock-sucking bitch.

To think that whelp was once the heir to Mai Ran's kingdom.

He shook his head. This wasn't the time for that, it was time to deal with more important matters. He watched those graceful limbs soar through the night to think he help spur that creature so many years ago., truly beautiful and once he had hoped that his son would have achieved higher things...

Glass jiggled onto the carpet as the winged figure spent his power forth to shatter the twenty-foot windows. Exael only smiled letting the glass fall like crystallized snow around him. . .

The winged figure glide past him to land quieter than any cat on glass fragmented carpet.

"You always knew how to ruin a good oriental rug, didn't you?" Trieze smiled, turning around to face his winged death.

Silence responded.

"Talkative as ever I see. . . So, how goes your side? Not well, pity? Well, I suppose that is why you actually came tonight. . . " Exael grinned. "Please do step into the light, I would like to _see_ my work."

"You fucking bastard. You have no right to call me that." A soft voice hissed. Moving forward to let the moonbeams kiss his face. "You lost that right when you left my master. _You_ are in no position to talk down to me!!"

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Moloch watched in sudden fear as a chill ran up his spine. . . Dumah. . . Catherine and him were . . . Gods, they were. . ..

Dumah blinked as her mouth clamped onto his. . . her tongue invading his mouth. . . her hands drifting along his body. . . warm and soft. . .

Catherine smiled. Dumah was hers. Always and forever and she could make him forget and he could be hers. She pressed her tongue into his mouth exploring him centuries apart forgotten.

Quatre's fists clenched so tightly blood seeped out and onto the ground. How dare that bitch? How dare she?!?! And how dare his love kiss and hold her?!?!

Trowa pulled back from Badhbh slowly. He had forgotten how soft her touch could bem, nothing compared to Quatre's, nothing compared to his angel of the night. . . "Stop," He whispered, placing his fingers on her lips.

Moloch's vision turned red, red and deadly. She would die. She would die for touching what was his!!

Badhbh blinked and felt a surge of energy spread around them. Dumah gasped.

Power surged around the child blonde swirling around them curling almost protectively around him. Quatre's eyes were glowing white none of his beautiful turquoise orbs shining through.

Badhbh gasped in shock. This couldn't be the brat!! It couldn't be! Not this power!! Not. . . She pushed past Dumah and took to a sprint. She had to escape. . . she had to-

"Stay away from _my_ lover!!"

Dumah's eyes widened as he watched the power surge from Moloch, ensnaring Badhbh. She screamed and clawed at the ground as it ripped at her flesh, eating through her skin like it was tissue. Involuntarily backing up, a hand covering his mouth. Moloch just continued to let his power surge through her, literally eating through her. A smile creeping across his face watching in glee as she convulsed and screamed and tore at the ground till there was nothing but ashes.

Then the majik filtered away letting the daemon drop. . .

Dumah dodged forward to catch the daemon as turquoise orbs returned, glassed over. . . "Come on baby. . . Talk to me. . ." He nuzzled the collapsed daemon, cuddling him, pressing butterfly kisses along that angelic face. . .

"Please. . . Moloch. . . come on. . . Show me you're okay. . ." He pleaded with the unresponsive boy. . .

Quatre blinked. . . "Dumah. . ." he whispered, cuddling into the warmth surrounding him. . .

"I'm here. . . shhhhh. . . she's gone. . . thank you. . ." Dumah repeated, still in shock at the massive display of power his beloved showed. . .

"Mine. . ." The boy whispered, nuzzling into that broad chest.

"Always. . ." Dumah whispered, with a smile and lifted the boy into his arms. . . His little love needed some well-deserved rest. . .

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

Exael clicked his tongue feigning offense. "Words. . . always words. . . such harsh things to say, Asmodeus. . ."

Heero bristled. "Kisama. . ." He hissed warningly at the older man.

"Yes, how is your mother? Still in that coma? Pity. . ." Trieze continued, circling the boy like the prey he was. . .

"Kisama. . .." Asmodeus hissed, ice eyes watching the man circle him.

Trieze stopped behind the boy, draping his arm along his shoulders. "Such a pity you actually answered. . ."

"Wha-?!?" was all Asmodeus could say as power surged through his body and blackness consumed him. . .

Trieze stood and looked down at the boy lying on the glass-covered carpet and sighed. "Really, Asmodeus. . . you really turned out to be a pathetic son. . . and I once held such high hopes for you. . . I even fucked that cute lil hell bitch Lilith to spawn you. . . such power I had hoped for. . ." He sighed and picked up his glass of wine to finish. "Come in."

Meiren walked through the doors. "Always a step ahead, dear. . ."

Exael laughed and bent down to press his lips against hers. . . "So delightful to see you, my dear. . ."

Meiren wrapped her arm lazily around his waist while her other treated Exael to a handful of personal special effects. . . "It's almost poetic seeing the brat lying on broken glass. . . Trap ready?"

Exael moaned and shoved his tongue down her throat engaging her in a steamy kiss. . .

Meiren gasped as she pulled back. . . "Later. . . " She whispered attempting to catch her breath. . . "Later. . . deal with him now. . . Then I'll show you a reward. . ." She said, her voice husky and sultry.

Trieze smiled and licked his lips, eyes running down her body. "You, my dear, are always an award. . . Am I only looking at my prize. . .?"

She grinned, nipples hardening in the soft cool breeze wisping through the broken window, peeking through the lacy bit of nothing on her. "Looking, now. . . you can claim it later. . . Take him to the cells I have prepared. . ." She smirked as Trieze flung the boy over his shoulder. "I have a phone call to make." And with that she left the room. . .

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~

to be continued. . .kc-chan

Notes:

<1> Mastema: accusing and condemning angel.
<2> Belphegor: she enjoys a good party. Appears in the form of a beautiful woman. Originally was the ruler <prince> of the Order of Principalities.
<2a> snagged some lines from the translation of the series. not much, since i rewrote them mostly anyways.
<3> Hello you little dog. Gaelic.

<4> Good Morning, how are you? Arabic

<5> fire. Ancient Greek

<6> Wall of gold golden fire come! Ancient Greek

<7> I command fire to intensify heat!! Ancient Greek

<8> Water

<9> fee is another way of spelling the Sidhe or faery, fairy, fae, fey. . . and the list continues.