Part 2

John stood on the bridge and looked into the trees. He had been here a few weeks now and no one seemed to be able to tell him how or when he could go home. Scratching his shoulder he grimaced, these clothes were awful, so uncomfortable and itchy, he longed for his pure cotton and silk. Calista joined him “Are you alright?” she smiled warmly “You seem despondent” He looked sad, damn right, his job…gone, his wife…gone and now this! Calista took his hand “Come I want you to meet someone” leading him along the bridge she stopped at a hut and called out “Maleah” The sound of an old sewing machine stopped and a young voice called out.

He stared at the woman before him; these people were all beautiful but this one Maleah made his heart skip a beat. “Maleah this is John” Maleah curtsied “I trust you are adjusting to life in Jajij?” John mumbled something about it not being like home. “John, Maleah will take care of you and show you the way we do things” John looked at Maleah nervously, his hands were sticky with sweat and his heart hammered like a herd of wild stallions pounding the earth in full gallop “You’re not….?” He turned to Calista. “I am afraid not, there is plenty I must do as it is, Maleah is very patient and will teach you what you need to know” With a wave she was gone leaving John alone with her.

Maleah listened with delight and horror as John told her about his home. Sitting here surrounded by trees and the heavy scent of wild flowers he started to feel a little homesick. “You miss the place” John nodded sullenly. Taking his hand she looked into his eyes and smiled “You are here because you are needed, when the time comes you can return home” John stared at her, needed in what way, why? Christ she was beautiful, he had never seen skin as creamy or hair as black as coal “Are you married?” Maleah looked at him her blue eyes seemed to look into his very core “What’s married?” John looked round “You mean no one here is married, what about children?” She tried to understand what he was saying “Married, children”

Lifting his hand he showed her his wedding band “When two people love each other they sometimes marry and then have children, marriage is a ceremony that tells the two they love each other and….” Maleah started to laugh “You mean join” she nodded “We join, no ceremony, no ring, we love each other that’s enough” she looked at him with a shy smile “To answer your question, no I am not ‘married’” John smiled back maybe it wasn’t so bad here after all. Taking a walk outside Maleah looked up at the sky and took a deep breath “Can you smell the air, trees flowers the salt of the ocean it’s all combined, I love it here, it’s beautiful” John looked at the ground “Not as beautiful as you” he murmured to himself.

With her stomach full and her body recovered Kelsa was her old self again. She despised the castle and its cold damp walls, it was like being back in the prison, she missed the heat of her home, the intense light from the liquid fire and most of all she missed her family. Something told her she was here for a reason, as the strange woman had said 'pulled by an unseen force'. She sensed a great battle would be held here and she for one would not miss it. Standing in the hall she swung her sword, the sword that had killed the Hellion, looking at it for the first time she noticed it was remarkably light and after a few swings she decided to put it through its motions.

Lykaios watched as she swung the sword over her head, her body moved with fluid motion as if she and the sword were one. He was impressed, studying her he found she had no real weakness; to go against her would be challenging if not foolhardy. Kelsa felt his eyes on her; felt him studying her ways, if he wanted to try then so be it. Sensing she knew he was there he moved into the light “You are very good… what are you?” Stopping she turned to look at him “I am Quella” her tone more of a statement than an answer. Lykaios moved closer “What is Quella?” He watched as she seemed to search for an answer “Quella is strong” Lykaios drew closer till he was inches from her “What is Quella?” Kelsa looked up at him with pride “I am Quella” 

Was she as young as she looked; her pale blue skin seemed as if it were coated in ground sapphires which shimmered in the torch light and her eyes were the colour of molten amber. His eyes travelled down her body her skimpy clothing left nothing to the imagination “By Orean” he mumbled to himself. They stared at each other, Lykaios tried hard to read her mind but the wall still stood, Kelsa stood in defiance, glaring into the red eyes of the Eclipse Demon. He reached out but to his surprise she backed off, fear clouded her eyes briefly then passed as she gained control of her emotions.

Vega crossed the floor “Well Lykaios, I take it you have found your new toy!” Lykaios growled “Fuck off” Staying where she was Vega looked at Kelsa with disdain and chuckled “Really, I thought you had better taste than this child” A low snarl escaped Kelsa as she watched the female Demon with hate. Vega ignored the sound and Kelsa “My dear Lykaios if you are looking for something to pass the night there are other ways than to play with toy warriors” Kelsa lifted her sword with a scream and charged towards Vega. Lykaios leapt towards the Quella and in one fail swoop lifted her off the ground and held her tight “Get out Vega” he roared. Visibly shaken Vega turned and quickly left. Kelsa screamed and snarled as she tried to get free but his strength was more than her own.

Hearing the commotion the others ran into the hall to find Lykaios holding an irate Kelsa “What happened?” Lykaios lips curled in anger as he told them. “VEGA” Cailean roared with fury as he stormed out the room in search of the troublesome woman. Throwing the squirming girl over his shoulder Lykaios backed out the room. “Do you want some help?” Eirene asked. “No” She watched as Kelsa fought to get free but was held fast. “Lykaios, be gentle” she called out. Shoid whistled “There’s always something happing these days” he said to no one in particular. Eirene nodded and it would only get worse.

Cailean held Vega by the throat “What have you been saying?” Vega growled angrily at him and snarled “Nothing” her eyes burned with rage. “Lykaios says…..” He was beginning to regrette the day he let her stay…. “Lykaios is a fool” Vega laughed. Cailean smiled “So my brother turned you down!” Looking away she refused to answer but the humiliation was written all over her face. “I warn you Vega…..” Her head snapped back, her eyes locked with his “Or what?” Cailean’s fangs sank into her neck then just as quickly withdrew, letting go he wiped the blood from his mouth as he watched Vega drop to her knees “Or I’ll drain you myself” he snapped. She watched him walk away; back to that mongrel….he would pay….they all would.

Joining Part 1                                                        Part 3