"Miss... this boy... he calls me Papa."
Sanria looked over at the large man holding Orn. She knew Orn, but her mind trembled when it looked at Colin. "Yes... I don't... know why. He's my... son."
"And mine. He's just misbehaving. You know how children are," Velentham interjected.
"You, just just shut up for a minute," Colin said.
"My love," Velentham said, handing Leandra to her. "Why don't you put Leandra to bed."
"And miss... who am I?"
Sanria looked over at the big man and let her mind relax. The answer came without fighting it. "You're Colin."
"Colin... And you are?"
"Your wife."
Sanria started slowly up he stairs. "She's a little confused," Velentham said. "Why don't you hand the boy over and you can get going."
"I don't think she's the only one, but you. You seem to be trying to convince everyone of something here. And, to tell you the truth, I just don't like you. Miss," Colin called up after her. "do you want this guy to be here?"
Sanria felt a wave of - something - in her mind. "I... yes... he's alright."
"You see? Now, why don't you go ahead and hand my son to me and get on the move."
Sanria walked into Leandra's room and put her into the crib. The baby was smiling gently... smiling... Sanria caught a wisp of danger in her thoughts. Something was wrong. She rushed from the room and started down the stairs only to find her mind sinking back into the sluggish fog. She couldn't remember why she was rushing. She walked slowly to Orn and held out her hands.
"I want to stay with Papa. I don't want Papa to get hurt again." Sanria watched Orn with a mix of curiosity. She heard the little boy's whisper into his father's mind, "He touch you too. It made Mama sad."
"Miss... what's your name miss?" Colin suddenly asked.
"Sanria Stone..."
"Tell me Sanria... think... what's going on here?"
"I love... you. I couldn't... stop..."
"That's enough," Velentham growled. "OUT!"
"Sanria... why cant I remember any of this?"
"He... took... your memory away."
"You're fortunate that I'm tired," Velentham growled. "I can't keep this up."
On Losing Ground
Time. That's all he needed. Velentham had subdued Sanria's mind, now all he needed was time with her to go into her mind and bend it to what he wanted. He had tried to do things the right way, but all of that had fallen apart. Now, he would influence her until so much time had passed that what he placed into her brain would be her reality, and that meant she would be with him forever. He just hadn't counted on the little boy being the thorn in his side that he was turning out to be.
"Papa, papa... don't let him take Mama and Leendra. I don't want him in our house." Orn had found his way into Colin's arms, and Velentham was pissed.
"That's enough, Orn."
"Papa? I'm your... You think I'm your Papa?"
"Yes. Yes Papa. I don't want him to be my Papa."
Try as he might, Velentham couldn't manage to keep Sanria's mind in as much of a fog and work on the boy's mind. "He's confused. That was part of our disagreement, you see. He fell down and hit his head, my wife let him outside without supervision."
"You know, you've been doing a lot of talking here buddy."
"That's because this is my family, friend," Velentham tried to walk over to put his hands on Orn. If he could just send some of his radiance into the child, he might be able to silence the boy. Colin pulled him away.
"How about you let the lady and kid talk for themselves, ok? And maybe you should keep your hands to yourself for a little bit," Colin said.
"How about you put my son down," Velentham replied, growing irate.
"Do you want me to put you down," Colin asked the boy, and Orn shook his head and buried it in Colin's neck.
Velentham had had enough. He turned and walked into the house, leaving Colin and Orn ouside with the parting words, "If you want the boy you can take him." Within the house he found Sanria and walked over to her, still holding Leandra in his arms. He had time enough to put a hand on her shoulder and begin the process of turning her mind before Colin burst in the door. The man was fast becoming a nuisance. "Can we help you?"
"I don't think you're helping anyone here. Now why don't you just step away from the lady."
"I'm... I'm fine," Sanria replied.
"I'm sorry, but you don't look too fine. Why were you crying out there?"
"I... don't really remember. I must have just been sad."
Then the little voice, the voice that was Velentham's bane. "Papa, help mama. Make the tall man go away. Please. I don't like the tall man."
"Papa, papa... don't let him take Mama and Leendra. I don't want him in our house." Orn had found his way into Colin's arms, and Velentham was pissed.
"That's enough, Orn."
"Papa? I'm your... You think I'm your Papa?"
"Yes. Yes Papa. I don't want him to be my Papa."
Try as he might, Velentham couldn't manage to keep Sanria's mind in as much of a fog and work on the boy's mind. "He's confused. That was part of our disagreement, you see. He fell down and hit his head, my wife let him outside without supervision."
"You know, you've been doing a lot of talking here buddy."
"That's because this is my family, friend," Velentham tried to walk over to put his hands on Orn. If he could just send some of his radiance into the child, he might be able to silence the boy. Colin pulled him away.
"How about you let the lady and kid talk for themselves, ok? And maybe you should keep your hands to yourself for a little bit," Colin said.
"How about you put my son down," Velentham replied, growing irate.
"Do you want me to put you down," Colin asked the boy, and Orn shook his head and buried it in Colin's neck.
Velentham had had enough. He turned and walked into the house, leaving Colin and Orn ouside with the parting words, "If you want the boy you can take him." Within the house he found Sanria and walked over to her, still holding Leandra in his arms. He had time enough to put a hand on her shoulder and begin the process of turning her mind before Colin burst in the door. The man was fast becoming a nuisance. "Can we help you?"
"I don't think you're helping anyone here. Now why don't you just step away from the lady."
"I'm... I'm fine," Sanria replied.
"I'm sorry, but you don't look too fine. Why were you crying out there?"
"I... don't really remember. I must have just been sad."
Then the little voice, the voice that was Velentham's bane. "Papa, help mama. Make the tall man go away. Please. I don't like the tall man."
Hostile Takeover
Sanria released the roots and rushed to Colin's side. She shook him, begging him to wake up. "Papa! What did you do to papa?!" Orn burst outside, pointing his stick at Velentham.
"Cute kid," Velentham said.
Sanria finally took notice and grabbed Orn to her before anything could happen to him. She didn't see Orn call for the little squirrel that suddenly burst from the tree to attack Velentham, but she watched as the Celestial stomped the little rodent into nothing. "That was good, kid."
"You go! You go away!" Orn yelled.
Velentham turned toward the cavern and Sanria knew he was headed for Leandra. "NO!" she shouted and turned to Colin, shaking him furiously. "Colin, please hurry. He's going to get Leandra."
"What? Where?" he said, waking as though from a deep sleep.
"He's in the house."
"What's going on?" Colin asked, looking up at Sanria. "Who?"
The look on Colin's face confirmed Sanria's worst nightmares and she stared at Colin. Velentham came from the house, holding Leandra. "He's awake. Hello."
"No..." Sanria began. "No no... you fix this. You fix this now."
"Welcome to our home," Velentham said, holding his hand out to Colin. The act made Sanria sick to her stomach. How could he possibly expect this to work?
"Colin... please tell me you remember... oh Gods..."
Sanria watched as Colin struggled. He could see something wasn't right and even through his imposed fog, he wanted to protect them. "Are you ok? Do you need help?" he asked her, and Sanria let out a sob. At Velentham's sudden grip on her arm, Sanria's mind began the familiar submersion. It was growing harder for her to say anything, harder for her to focus on Colin's questions. She was losing the ability to defend herself against anything, and she gave an inward scream before her mind settled down into a peaceful quiet.
"Cute kid," Velentham said.
Sanria finally took notice and grabbed Orn to her before anything could happen to him. She didn't see Orn call for the little squirrel that suddenly burst from the tree to attack Velentham, but she watched as the Celestial stomped the little rodent into nothing. "That was good, kid."
"You go! You go away!" Orn yelled.
Velentham turned toward the cavern and Sanria knew he was headed for Leandra. "NO!" she shouted and turned to Colin, shaking him furiously. "Colin, please hurry. He's going to get Leandra."
"What? Where?" he said, waking as though from a deep sleep.
"He's in the house."
"What's going on?" Colin asked, looking up at Sanria. "Who?"
The look on Colin's face confirmed Sanria's worst nightmares and she stared at Colin. Velentham came from the house, holding Leandra. "He's awake. Hello."
"No..." Sanria began. "No no... you fix this. You fix this now."
"Welcome to our home," Velentham said, holding his hand out to Colin. The act made Sanria sick to her stomach. How could he possibly expect this to work?
"Colin... please tell me you remember... oh Gods..."
Sanria watched as Colin struggled. He could see something wasn't right and even through his imposed fog, he wanted to protect them. "Are you ok? Do you need help?" he asked her, and Sanria let out a sob. At Velentham's sudden grip on her arm, Sanria's mind began the familiar submersion. It was growing harder for her to say anything, harder for her to focus on Colin's questions. She was losing the ability to defend herself against anything, and she gave an inward scream before her mind settled down into a peaceful quiet.
Checkmate
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.
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.
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