Velentham landed and had his clear view of the beast that stood drooling in anticipation before him. He would make quick work of this one. He used his speed to get around behind Colin and shoved him as hard as he could. He did not anticipate Colin having speed to match, and he found himself beneath the muscle-bound man, his head meeting with a skull- shattering blow delivered by Colin's. He was only momentarily shaken before recovering.
Out of nowhere, roots and vines burst from the ground, pulling both of the men apart. "Stop... please..." Sanria said, walking between the two of them. "When the eyes are normal... I will continue." Velentham was able to calm himself by degrees as the woman turned to him. "I'm not going anywhere with you. Do you understand me?"
"You are going to come with me, Sanria. I came all this way and you WILL come."
SLAP! The sting from her small hand shocked Velentham. "I don't care how far you came or how far you have to go to get back. What you've done here is unacceptable and inexcusable. You will leave and go away and never come back."
Velentham scowled openly as Sanria walked away from him. She was kneeling beside the animal she called a husband and it drove Velentham insane. How could she choose that? He began to whisper, his incantation melting the vines and roots away. With nothing to hold him back and all other parties not paying any attention, he rushed forward and gripped Colin's head in his hands.
Velentham chanted hard and loud, seeing Colin's mind like a map. He pressed with his full mental weight, a prowess trained for such maneuvers, and shoved Colin's memories of his family and Sanria deep down. So far there would be little chance of his ever recovering them without a very skilled caster.
He was knocked off his feet by Sanria, who screamed out, "Velentham! What did you do!!!"
"I fixed it so that he knows what it feels like to not remember," he said as he watched Colin go limp within his root confines.
Fury unleashed
Colin glared at Velentham as icy darkness gripped his heart, surrounded his body, and created a tunnel in his vision focused on the celestial. If it hadn't been for the presence of Sanria between them and the happiness that they had shared over the past 5 months Colin would have lost complete control of his sanity in a berserk rage. Even as it stood, the fury within him was barely held in check as he moved side to side, trying to gain an angle past Sanria to reach his target.
The bit of rational thought still within Colin sunk as Velentham suddenly scooped up Sanria and streaked skyward. Colin felt certain he was going to take her away, just like that. Yet he didn't leave with her, instead choosing to deposit her on the mountainside and then slowly drift his way back down toward Colin.
With Sanria now out of his sight, the darkness within Colin surged as he watched the slowly descending celestial. Sanria's shouts for him to es- cape didn't even register. Colin sunk to the ground in a ferral crouch and saliva trickled down his chin. He didn't need any weapons. He was going to rend this bastard limb from limb with his bare hands and then grind the pieces into a bloody pulp in the dirt for what he did.
Velentham's strike came with blinding speed as suddenly he was behind Colin, plowing into him in an attempt to drive him into the ground. Colin's rage-enhanced reflexes were the only thing that partially saved him. Spinning at the last moment, he grabbed a fistfull of Velentham's shirt, driving him down to the ground with him.
They tumbled together, coming to a rest with Colin on top of Velentham. He had only the briefest of moments to look down upon Velentham with murderous rage before he was hit with an intense blast of pure white radiance from the celestial. The black makou within Colin burned like fire throughout his whole body and he howled in pain. His head was thrown backward as the blast continued to pummel him but there was no way Colin would relinquish his grip upon the man below him. As pain, rage, and icy darkness completely consumed him, Colin clenched his jaw and used all his strength to drive his head straight down toward Velentham's face.
The bit of rational thought still within Colin sunk as Velentham suddenly scooped up Sanria and streaked skyward. Colin felt certain he was going to take her away, just like that. Yet he didn't leave with her, instead choosing to deposit her on the mountainside and then slowly drift his way back down toward Colin.
With Sanria now out of his sight, the darkness within Colin surged as he watched the slowly descending celestial. Sanria's shouts for him to es- cape didn't even register. Colin sunk to the ground in a ferral crouch and saliva trickled down his chin. He didn't need any weapons. He was going to rend this bastard limb from limb with his bare hands and then grind the pieces into a bloody pulp in the dirt for what he did.
Velentham's strike came with blinding speed as suddenly he was behind Colin, plowing into him in an attempt to drive him into the ground. Colin's rage-enhanced reflexes were the only thing that partially saved him. Spinning at the last moment, he grabbed a fistfull of Velentham's shirt, driving him down to the ground with him.
They tumbled together, coming to a rest with Colin on top of Velentham. He had only the briefest of moments to look down upon Velentham with murderous rage before he was hit with an intense blast of pure white radiance from the celestial. The black makou within Colin burned like fire throughout his whole body and he howled in pain. His head was thrown backward as the blast continued to pummel him but there was no way Colin would relinquish his grip upon the man below him. As pain, rage, and icy darkness completely consumed him, Colin clenched his jaw and used all his strength to drive his head straight down toward Velentham's face.
Battle Scars
No sooner than the two men let go of her than Sanria scrambled, scooping Leandra in one arm and Orn in her other. The little boy fought hard against his mother, "Papa! Help Papa!" Sanria got to the door and looked at Orn, her eyes holding a seriousness not lost on the child.
"I'll help Papa, please, you have to help Leandra."
Orn set his jaw, a Colin in miniature, and nodded in agreement. Sanria whisked the children into the house and raced back outside and positioned herself between Colin and Velentham. "Stop this. Please. Both of you, I'm begging you both... stop."
"I'll stop when you agree to come with me and this beast knows his place."
"No! You will pay!"
Sanria turned to face Velentham, certain to keep in the dead center of the two men. "I can't go with you... my children are here, as is my hus- band. Please... understand."
"I will let you bring the children with us, my love."
"Sanria, move. Let me take care of him."
"No. No to both of you. Stop. You're both acting like animals. I am not an object and I will not be treated as though I don't have a choice!"
"Sanria, you had a choice and you made the wrong one. I'm here to fix that. They took you away from me, I'm only here to finish what we started."
"She said no Velentham. No!"
Velentham's glowing eyes locked on Sanria and she felt the pit of her stomach drop. He rushed forward, lifting her from her feet with the same speed he displayed before. He carried her high into the air, setting her on the side of the mountain that housed her cavern. He drifted back down as she clung to the side, balanced on the sliver of ledge where he placed her.
Far below she could see Colin glaring up. She had to get down there. Fast.
"I'll help Papa, please, you have to help Leandra."
Orn set his jaw, a Colin in miniature, and nodded in agreement. Sanria whisked the children into the house and raced back outside and positioned herself between Colin and Velentham. "Stop this. Please. Both of you, I'm begging you both... stop."
"I'll stop when you agree to come with me and this beast knows his place."
"No! You will pay!"
Sanria turned to face Velentham, certain to keep in the dead center of the two men. "I can't go with you... my children are here, as is my hus- band. Please... understand."
"I will let you bring the children with us, my love."
"Sanria, move. Let me take care of him."
"No. No to both of you. Stop. You're both acting like animals. I am not an object and I will not be treated as though I don't have a choice!"
"Sanria, you had a choice and you made the wrong one. I'm here to fix that. They took you away from me, I'm only here to finish what we started."
"She said no Velentham. No!"
Velentham's glowing eyes locked on Sanria and she felt the pit of her stomach drop. He rushed forward, lifting her from her feet with the same speed he displayed before. He carried her high into the air, setting her on the side of the mountain that housed her cavern. He drifted back down as she clung to the side, balanced on the sliver of ledge where he placed her.
Far below she could see Colin glaring up. She had to get down there. Fast.
Confronting the Beast
Velentham watched Colin as his eyes snapped to him. The big man had a bit of a problem, a black darkness that seemed to grow around him and within him. The activation of the darkness had an immediate affect on Velentham and his vision began to grow white, outlining his target in perfect detail. Still, thanks to the amulets he still wore, he was able to remain in some control of his faculties. "I'll show you who's finished!" Colin yelled.
"Sanria. Let's go."
The couple were more concerned about their child Orn who stared open mouthed at his father. Colin dropped to his knee to console the child as did Sanria, and it infuriated Velentham. He walked over and grabbed Sanria by the arm, pulling her to her feet, but before he could move away with his quarry, Colin was on his feet, holding her other arm. "You let her go. Now!" Colin growled.
"I've never in my life hesitated to get rid of evil, and you reek of it. I will slay you where you stand. Let go of her, she's coming with me, as it should have been and will be."
The squalling of the infant barely registered in Velentham's hearing. Sanria's pleas for them to stop were barely heard. Velentham's full focus was on the large man in front of him and his near inability to keep himself sane. From mid-air he pulled his sword, still holding on to Sanria with his other hand.
With a roar, Colin latched onto Velentham's wrist, squeezing as hard as he could. While it hurt, Velentham was not to be deterred. He sent a blast of radiance into Colin's body, a blast that would have disabled any normal demon, but Colin merely howled in pain. The big man aimed a punch, forcing Velentham to release Sanria and move out of the way. He couldn't understand how this beast of a man was able to withstand his radiance, but as he stepped deeper into his Celestial nature, he was positive he'd put an end to Colin.
"Sanria. Let's go."
The couple were more concerned about their child Orn who stared open mouthed at his father. Colin dropped to his knee to console the child as did Sanria, and it infuriated Velentham. He walked over and grabbed Sanria by the arm, pulling her to her feet, but before he could move away with his quarry, Colin was on his feet, holding her other arm. "You let her go. Now!" Colin growled.
"I've never in my life hesitated to get rid of evil, and you reek of it. I will slay you where you stand. Let go of her, she's coming with me, as it should have been and will be."
The squalling of the infant barely registered in Velentham's hearing. Sanria's pleas for them to stop were barely heard. Velentham's full focus was on the large man in front of him and his near inability to keep himself sane. From mid-air he pulled his sword, still holding on to Sanria with his other hand.
With a roar, Colin latched onto Velentham's wrist, squeezing as hard as he could. While it hurt, Velentham was not to be deterred. He sent a blast of radiance into Colin's body, a blast that would have disabled any normal demon, but Colin merely howled in pain. The big man aimed a punch, forcing Velentham to release Sanria and move out of the way. He couldn't understand how this beast of a man was able to withstand his radiance, but as he stepped deeper into his Celestial nature, he was positive he'd put an end to Colin.
When Worlds Collide
Sanria went outside the cavern, expecting to have time to collect herself, but found Colin sitting with the children. She couldn't tell him what Velentham had done to her. She wouldn't crush him with the news. She would wait until Velentham had gone, and he'd have to leave now. There was nothing more left for him to want.
Though Colin was concerned, Sanria kept the story from him. She had only moments before Velentham was there. Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? "Velentham. What's going on? What did you say to Sanria?" Colin asked, and Sanria felt dread in the pit of her stomach.
"You want to know?"
"Please... stop it," she begged, knowing what was coming.
Sanria started as Colin smacked Velentham's hand away from his head. There were rare times indeed that Sanria got the opportunity to see the speed that Colin possessed and the strength. There just weren't many problems to be had anymore. But as he leapt to his feet she knew she had to stop him before the black makou in him took over, a reality fast intruding as his eyes grew darker.
She got up quickly and stepped in front of Colin. "Please, don't do this... there's no need, Velentham will be going."
"What he did to you. No. He will pay for that."
"I am going to be leaving," Velentham said from behind her.
"We have business before you go Velentham."
"Is that so?"
Sanria could feel the chill aura as it began to surround Colin. She reached up and took Colin's face in her hands. She was desperate to prevent what would happen. And what would happen? A Celestial, born to end evil, and a man filled with a substance that some would consider the root of evil itself. "No. No no no... Colin!"
Colin came to only for a moment as he looked down at her, his eyes teary. "Sanria... what he did. He can't just get away with that."
"Colin... I am a big girl and I can deal with it. I won't see you two in a fight. Not here, not now, not ever."
"Are you finished, Sanria?" Velentham asked.
The words were all it took for Colin's focus to be drawn away from her. Sanria felt nearly helpless as Colin began to close the gap between himself and Velentham.
Though Colin was concerned, Sanria kept the story from him. She had only moments before Velentham was there. Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? "Velentham. What's going on? What did you say to Sanria?" Colin asked, and Sanria felt dread in the pit of her stomach.
"You want to know?"
"Please... stop it," she begged, knowing what was coming.
Sanria started as Colin smacked Velentham's hand away from his head. There were rare times indeed that Sanria got the opportunity to see the speed that Colin possessed and the strength. There just weren't many problems to be had anymore. But as he leapt to his feet she knew she had to stop him before the black makou in him took over, a reality fast intruding as his eyes grew darker.
She got up quickly and stepped in front of Colin. "Please, don't do this... there's no need, Velentham will be going."
"What he did to you. No. He will pay for that."
"I am going to be leaving," Velentham said from behind her.
"We have business before you go Velentham."
"Is that so?"
Sanria could feel the chill aura as it began to surround Colin. She reached up and took Colin's face in her hands. She was desperate to prevent what would happen. And what would happen? A Celestial, born to end evil, and a man filled with a substance that some would consider the root of evil itself. "No. No no no... Colin!"
Colin came to only for a moment as he looked down at her, his eyes teary. "Sanria... what he did. He can't just get away with that."
"Colin... I am a big girl and I can deal with it. I won't see you two in a fight. Not here, not now, not ever."
"Are you finished, Sanria?" Velentham asked.
The words were all it took for Colin's focus to be drawn away from her. Sanria felt nearly helpless as Colin began to close the gap between himself and Velentham.
Reflection
It had been several months, five, Claire reminded herself, with no word from Gilean at all. She stayed at the cottage, afraid to leave in case he returned, but she longed to go in search of him. To find someone who could help her locate her lover.
The idea of retrieving the necklaces and finding Kaliadra to traverse the planes crossed her mind more than once, but what if he didn't want to be found. Perhaps he had gone back and decided to stay. In the grand scheme of things, she didn't mean too much. Regardless, Gilean's absence was hard for her.
She spent her hours trying not to count her hours, reading spell books, gazing on the flowers Gilean had given her when he told her how he felt. Often times, she'd find herself crying - the purple flames that burned so brightly on her skin nothing more than a dull simmer.
It was difficult to admit that maybe, just maybe, she would never see him again. She would reach out, hopeful that she might be able to feel him with her mind if nothing else. The stillness that came back to her left her soul chilled.
The idea of retrieving the necklaces and finding Kaliadra to traverse the planes crossed her mind more than once, but what if he didn't want to be found. Perhaps he had gone back and decided to stay. In the grand scheme of things, she didn't mean too much. Regardless, Gilean's absence was hard for her.
She spent her hours trying not to count her hours, reading spell books, gazing on the flowers Gilean had given her when he told her how he felt. Often times, she'd find herself crying - the purple flames that burned so brightly on her skin nothing more than a dull simmer.
It was difficult to admit that maybe, just maybe, she would never see him again. She would reach out, hopeful that she might be able to feel him with her mind if nothing else. The stillness that came back to her left her soul chilled.
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