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 Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:12 pm
"You're right," He replied calmly, making no move to release her, "They're going to pay." Giving his wings a powerful flick, he lengthened the glide, whirling around to fly in a more natural position. Flapping harder, the silver-haired youth clenched his jaw, struggling to keep the gap between his legs and the Horun, and close the partition between his head and rapidly closing hallowed ground.
"However," He added, kicking his leg up as a flaming green cracked out near the ankle of his pointed steel boot, "Throwing your life at them won't do you, or any of us any good. They're a Death Squadron; Which makes them untouchable to us." When killed, a Horun, the mount of a Deathknight of the Death Squadron, burst into toxic flames which flayed the flesh from the living and the unliving alike like acid. An inner core within the clockwork mounts, exposed to air, would then explode, scattering the rusted steel parts of the twisted horses like a fragmentation grenade.
The Death Knights had given up any semblance of life. Carve as one might, weapons met only empty armor. Should one be lucky enough to cleave off a piece of that armor, that piece would quickly reiterate itself into a new body, two springing up at full strength where one had fallen to weakness.
Twisting his flexible body around another of the undead knight's whips, Matthew's straight path never faltered. While a designated leader lashed out with his whip at the retreating duo, the other six alternated between turning their cruel weapons on their mounts, gaining a lead, and then taking the oppressive angle.
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:37 pm
"Us...,"she chuckled darkly at this statement and looked up at him and whispered cryptically,
"So now its an 'us'." She watched the Death Squandron approach twice as fast as they were getting away. She could feel the dark auras inside of them pulse with the desire to kill and the desire to do evil. It made her own energy turbulent with rage. She felt like she was burning up from the inside-out, and she looked up suprised Matthew didn't feel the intensity of these energies.
"You know," she managed to get as they jumped out of the way of the toxic whip,
"It may be easier if I fly myself because as it seems," she looked up and out at the intermingled flesh and machinery of the Horuns body as it came every closer she could gradually make out the tiny details of their body: the decomposing flesh which was held together by strategically placed machine parts,
"I think they're getting closer."
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:26 pm
Turning his head, Matthew's eyes widened as though noticing the onrush of Death Knights for the first time. "My word, I do believe you're right..." Folding his wings, the youth flicked out his silver mane, landing in a graceful run as he set the seething woman to her feet on the cobbles underfoot.
"Why, my lady, are you breaking up with me?" He chuckled, pulling a fresh black glove over his bare right hand. Hitting the entrance of the Guild Hall in a smooth diving flip, the Lord flipped his body about face atop his palms, landing in a readied kneel, left arm braced by his right as his lips moved in the unearthly dregs of a fresh incantation.
Steel fangs snapping sharply together a hairsbreadth from the Lord's heels, a Horun tested its luck one step too far. Slamming into the open portal as though the open gates were an illusion over a brick wall, the creature's hapless rider gave a grunt of fear as it was thrown bodilly through the silver shimmer of the hallowed ground.
Instantly steam erupted from every facet of the Knight's armor and bindings, setting the black figure into agonized convulsions moments before the armor groaned and fell to pieces on the marble floor.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:41 pm
As soon as she was placed on her feet again she ran behind him, deciding for the moment to not go against his wishes and let loose her fury on this denizens of hell. Furling her wings close to her back, she didn't respond to Matthew's little comment; she would not allow herself to fall for his charm. Diving over his crouched form, she twisted her body in midair so that when she landed she was facing the direction of the Death Knights. Landing in a crouch she silently mouthed an incantation, ready to let it loose if such was needed of her. She watched in cold detachment as the Horun and its rider convulsed in silent agony as it hit the open portal. The rest of the Death Squandron stayed a few feet back, warily watching the open doors of the Guild Hall and not even caring to look at one of their own as its armor fell to pieces on the floor.
"So, are we to just wait here until they leave?" she asked him quietly, not trying to think how she was getting along with her enemy; the man who had stood quietly by as she had been punished for crimes she had never committed because thinking about it gave her an uneasy feeling that this new alliance they had made would be severed by her vengance.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:57 pm
Sealing his own incantation with the sign of the cross, Matt sighed, letting his head bob for a moment before snapping his wintery mane back up. "No, they won't leave until the noon tide sun strikes them. For now though," He added, clearing the last vestiges of bloody mucous from his throat, launching the crimson projectile from his mouth at the feet of the stunned Horun, "I will not be known as the last man who attacked a Death Knight under the moonless eve."
Rising slowly to his feet, the young angel began unfastening his white trenchcoat, tossing the garment to rest on the grand guild table. Dragging his fingers through his filthy hair, Matthew took a precursory glance around the interior, icey blue eyes memorising each and every shadow.
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 pm
She silently watched him, and moved to go towards him when a dull clang got her attention. Looking down she growled in mild discontent; she had almost forgotten about the twelve inch-wide black band of iron around each of her ankles. Sitting down on the marble floor, she brought her left foot up and examined it with a grimace. The bandages that were around her otherwise bare feet were starting to come apart; she rewound those quickly and as efficiently as she could. Then turning her attention on her shackles she hesistantly grasped it with each of her hands and tried to pul it off. She bit her lip in silent pain as the bolts of power shot through her when she touched the black bands, refusing to let go as she only pulled harder. The bolts of energy got even more jarring as they went through her whole body succeeding in only making her bite her lip harder. It was at the point where she didn't even notice the small drop of crimson run down her lip.
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:32 pm
Nostrils flickering for a moment, time seemed to slow around his body as Matthew whirled on the woman, right hand snapping out to catch a crimson teardrop in midair whilst his left thumb caressed across her pert lips, wiping away the wound as though it was little more than paint running down her red lips. As gravity reasserted itself, the Lord planted his heels into the smooth carpet underfoot.
"How long?" He brothe softly, rubbing the small droplet of blood between his thumb and forefinger until the smear colescated into thick steam, brushed away into nothingness on the air. 'So, she's the angel slayer... Lucifer, what else would you throw at me today?' He sighed inwardly, turning to test the fringes of the Shimmer with his mind. Although they appeared safe at the moment, a gnawing unease had begun to build within his chest. 'They're coming...'
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:51 pm
She stopped with her seemingly unsuccessful attempts to get out of her bindings as his thumb gently brushed against her lips; her traitorous body shuddered with the movement but not in fear. Standing up on her two feet unsteadily, she blinked rapidly and stood up a little straighter and looked him in the eyes, her own silver irises showing more emotion that she had shown since the time of her banishment.
"So you remember?"she said softly, more of a statement than a question she sighed then laughed,
"It's kind of ironic, wouldn't you agree? Us holed up in here together, so how is old Belial doing?" her gentle voice changed just slightly, tinged now with years of being alone in the darkness, chained and bound.
"You don't hear so much down there but I knew enough that the war was getting worse," she looked away from him and out at some distant memory, her ice blue hair gleamed as she looked down at the ground,her bangs shadowing her eyes. Time in her mind seemed to stop and she felt like she didn't have to breathe as she waited for him to say something.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:22 am
"I'm afraid all that I remember was that you were the one case Belial forbade me to take up." He sighed. Sitting against his palms, Matt leaned against a pew, favoring the angel with a grin, "I don't suppose you brought the secret of Lucifer's plan, and the key to uncorking hell's drain plug?"
Leaning farther back, elbows resting into his sides with an automatic grace, the young Lord stared up into the stained glass of the ceiling. Outside he could hear the impatient Horun snuffing at their riders, whom finally surrendered to allow their creatures to pace the perimeter of the building.
As the Death Knights cleared the door, Matthew rose two fingers to his eyes, gesturing towards the far back door, and waved his index finger in a spiral, send two of his Lieutenants into patrols covering the entrances. Tapping the pommel of his sword, he then held up four fingers, pointing up to the crystal ceiling and its four balconies. Without hesitation, four more of his men drew their weapons, leaping away from the clean marble floors to snap open their wings, quickly perching up out of sight. Finally, to his last brother in arms, the silver-haired youth drew a glyph in the air, which was promptly followed up as the Lieutenant headed into the small Chapel to prepare the night vigil.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:25 pm
She smiled grimly at his words and watched in silence as the angels responded promptly to their commander's orders. The sunlight glinting magnificently off their white wings, light bouncing off and throwing prisms of color onto the marble floor. Her own ebony wings stood out a little straighter almost as if it was in a contest with the formers' wings. Her answer to his jokingly asked question was going to determine what happened next. Sighing she turned towards him:
"Unfortunately I have no such news for you and even if I did," her silver eyes hardened, her next words sharp and stabbing like daggers,
"I don't think I'd be so eager to tell you or Belial. I've come back for my own means and to settle my own scores," she chuckled yet the humor didn't reach her eyes,
"Hmm sent them away so you could have me all to yourself?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:49 pm
"Ah, but my love," He chuckled, completely unfazed by her declaration. Reaching out, he flicked the air in front of his face, "You've broken up with me, leaving me naught but an empty shell." Tossing his hand to his brow, Matthew gave a light swoon, leaning against his heels as he peeked between his fingers with a smile. "I've been wounded beyond a woman's repair."
Poking his head out of the chapel, the seventh Lieutenant cocked at eyebrow at his superior. "Sir, shall I tell the men that our beloved Captain has been felled by the lady's cruel heart?" He called out, stifling his laughter behind a sad frown. Pressing hands to lips, the others took up looks of stricken grief.
"Aye! Thou hast... always been kind to me... my... broth...ers... Ugh..." Matthew replied, twirling dramatically on the balls of his point-toed greaves before collapsing to the soft carpet below, clutching at his heart much as he imagined a man who'd lost his one and only love might.
Outside, the dull sniff of a Horun was followed by a sharp smack and an indignant yelp.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:20 pm
Her eyebrow raised in mild amusement at Matthew's actions while no smile played across her face. She wasn't sure if she was angry about Matthew's inability to take her seriously or to be happily relieved and to join in with this merriment; this naivety. She decided to settle for a mixture of anger and amusement for she could not even fake the naivety she had before her banishment. She sank onto the soft carpet beside him and as she sank she spinned slowly and gracefully as if acting out some elegant dance. She kneeled beside him, she reached out and with her index finger and tilted his head to look her in the eyes. Her words was gentle not tinged with malice yet sobriety,
"I do not jest with this Matthew,"her words were quiet so only he could hear,
"Do not take this all as a joke for it isn't at all," and her voice changed so that now everyone could hear and they believed this is what she had been talking about all along,
"My love please forgive me," her voice had a theatrical flair to it and her eyes lighted up behind this mask that acting gave her,
"For I love you but I cannot let you be hurt and alas," she pulled his face closer slowly and now her own was only mere inches away, "I must leave you with this last gift," her voice dropped to a soft whisper as a hush fell upon the room as their faces got increasingly closer,
"My name is Hitomi, Matthew,"she said, the tone of her voice changing from one of dramatic romance to one of urgent importance,
"And you may not want to get too close or you'll have people after you as well," she didn't know why she added this last part, why did she care exactly about this man who had watched her be banished and yet barely remembered as if she was of no importance to him. She decided that that she didn't care she just didn't want him to die until she had acted out her own vengance.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:32 pm
"You seem to forget, Hitomi," He chuckled softly, not bothering to open his eyes, "I'll always have people after me; It's in the job description." Taking her chin gently between thumb and forefinger, Matthew turned the woman's face, kissing her lightly upon the cheek before rising back to his feet, dusting off his sleeveless shirt.
"My only complaint is that I have no control over the days I get sent out on 'business' trips..." He sighed, heading towards the readied Chapel with a stretch of his wings. Dismissed, the Lieutenant within strolled back out to the main door, resting his forearm on the pommel of his rapier as he leaned against the door frame.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:20 pm
The kiss had surprised her, to just put it lightly. As soon she had felt it though it seemed like it was already gone, Matthew already up on his feet and walking away. She raised herself up in one smooth fluid motion and found herself touching her cheek gently and with a feeling that resembled disappointment.
'But why would I be disappointed?' she thought bewildered and then shook her head as if trying to shake loose her hidden thoughts.
"Maybe I don't want to know what I'm thinking... or even feeling..." she said quietly to herself,
"Because it would only serve to further complicate things in the future." She looked at the entrance of the Chapel with hesistation; she wasn't so sure she was allowed in or not and she wasn't so sure she wanted to be alone with him not when her feelings were so muddled. Breathing out in resolve she set her face so it was expressionless and so not even her eyes expressed her true feelings.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:33 pm
Taking a steady breath, Matthew held his hands palm down over three small dishes of water. Each disc was no bigger than the flats of his hands, and he the youth cleared his mind, the fluids in each of the small bowls rippled. With a silent prayer, the angel called down the blessings of the Father until the water began to shimmer with the reflection of direct sunlight in the dark room.
Dipping his fingers into the water, the silver angel drew upon the chilled liquid like many hours of much needed rest. Drawing aside the third dish, the Lord took it between his white-gloved palms, sipping lightly before washing away the grime from his face from the dishes that mysteriously never ran dry.
Pouring the remainder of the water into a single wicker dish, Matthew respectfully wiped away the remaining beads of moisture that clung to the material before exitting the chapel, dish in hand. Flocking to their Captain, the collective Lieutenants bowed their heads for the Night Vigil.
((Sorry, I'm in a rush. I'm going to have to take off soon, but I'll reply when I get back on later tonight.))
sweatdrop
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