Ska, turned to face the ritual site. Blood still covered the land, tiny waves crashing against his feet.
This was the first time he had seen a ritual site at such close range. Safe to say, he would not volunteer to see another. The vacant eyes of cruelly taken lives, stared back at him.
"oh!" a voice came from behind him, startling him. "I didn't think anyone else came through the portal in one piece." It was a man donned in golden robes, the silken cloth soaking up blood from the ground as the he walked. This was Isnu's father in the earth realm.
"Yea, no one should survive a portal like that," Ska said looking at the man who would create rivers of blood to please his lords, "So, I'm curious. How did you?"
"I am the Aggeregaror," he said, expression smug as he held out a hand towards Ska.
"I know who you are and what you are." Ska took a step back, silently drawing a symbol in the air, with his finger.
"then maybe," the man's neck cracked to one side. "I should, drop this act" he said, limbs contorting in impossible ways, muscles bubbling and transforming till he was now a much taller and bulkier demon
"mmmm," it said, its voice a garbled mess," that's better. It's much less painful to transform while I'm in this realm."
"Human vessels are so constricting!"
"I suggest you make a formal complaint then"
"You know how it is for us lesser workers. All work, work, work and no real compensation, "it whined,
Ska smirked, "I'm afraid I can't relate," he said as the demon turned its head to look at him.
The demon slashed as Ska. Its long nails were blocked by the shield Ska had conjured up seconds before. It snarled and slammed its hand down on to where the ritual circle would have been, splashing blood everywhere. The circle activated, the humans standing within it, groaned as they began to move, unnatural and sluggish. Ska watched as they all moved towards him. The one closest to him ran at him suddenly full of energy, and slashed at him with the dagger in its hand. Ska was taken by surprise but reacted quickly deflected the attack with the shield. He reached in and brought out his own sword. The people were all like zombies. Their eyes were still glazed over. There was nothing in those vessels. Ska knew, as he cut down one man after the other, this was Dor-dha, the puppeteer he was dealing with.
The humans threw themselves at Ska, stabbing at him. He kicked one pushing him away and held another at bay with his shield. The sheer strength these puppets had for being empty vessels was incredible. Ska had fought the entire battle mostly on the defensive, just trying not to get himself stabbed.
A tall muscular looking man came right at him, his hand catching Ska on his throat and slamming him to the ground. The man's face was inches away from Ska's and his milky listless eyes stared right into his.
"Now, "Dor-dha's garbled voice spoke through the man's mouth. "You can hand over the Priestess and walk away and no harm will come to you!"
Ska tried pushing the man away with all his strength, but it was futile. The man in the gold robes was back. He walked next to Ska and ta on his haunches.
"let me guess." He said, smiling, "you won't cooperate."
"Typical" he said, sounding bored.
"Ok," Ska managed to say as the larger man choked him.
The Priest, Dor-dha, rushed back to Ska's side feet splashing through the blood, He crouched down once again, "What?" he asked, out of breath, , "What did you say?" he asked again, with glee a child might have at the mention of ice cream.
"o—, "Ska manged before he had to cough. The priest's face fell. He looked as the large man choked Ska with new vigour and smacked him on the back of his head, "Stop that! Idiot!" The man let go immediately and moved away leaving Ska gasping for air, "Ok," he managed to say while trying to tame his gasps and fits of coughing.
"Seriously!" the priest smiles showing his crooked yellow teeth.
"Sure," he said, putting an arm around the priest's shoulders, like they were college buddied "we will trade. I'll give you the priestess and you will give me that baby on the altar."
"t-that is not possible" the priest sputtered, "that spawn is to be the seed for the chaos tree that we will form here."
"see here now, if you go tell your boss you let a priestess get away, it will be bad news for you. On the other hand finding a new seed is not a big deal, right. I'm sure you have done this so many times by now. You are a pro at it!"
The Priest practically blushed, "yes you are right."
He gave it another thought and said "it's a deal! Please get the priestess"
Ska shook his hand and walked away to retrieve Isnu.
He entered the tower and was met with his entire team staring at him. "What?" he asked as he walked up to Isnu who was with Kami, seated in her hip. The girl was still trembling as Kami stroked her hair. "come on Is- aaa Rumi. We have to go."
"Go where?" Kami moved away as Ska reached out to take her.
"I have told that moron, I'm going to give her Rumi and in exchange he will give the baby to me."
"you made a deal with a demon!" Kami shouted, almost making the tower rattle. Isnu began crying.
Vara stood between Kami and Ska, "are you sure we you can save both?"
"As long as Chi is working on getting Raphael back here"
"ok, Stall him till the angel gets here."
"that's the plan."
"Isnu, come now. I wont let that blubbering idiot take you"
"I kn-ow Sk-a," the girl managed between sobs, to everyone's surprise, she had actually recognised Ska, "but I a – am scared,"
"I know you are scared Isnu, I promise ill bring you back."
Isnu clung tighter to Kami who instinctively rubbed her back.
"Will it help if Kami came along?" kami's eyes went wide and Isnu nodded a yes wiping her face on Kami's tunic.
"Okay then!" Ska smiled at Kami.
"I'll haunt you if I die out there."
"oh, they wont kill you right away" Ska said casually as he placed one of the blue gems on Kami's forehead.
"I wan one tooo" Isnu fussed and Ska placed one on her forehead too, smiling fondly, as a bright smile took over the Isnu's face.
They left the tower, making their way to where the Dor-dha was standing with the baby cradled in his arms. The infant was gravely wounded but seemed to be in a deep sleep.
"I weave a spell in the blade of the dagger before I stab them. It puts them to sleep instantly." Dor-dha said with pride like it was some kind of an achievement , "their crying is physically painful to me, otherwise. its downright annoying!" he said, every word laced with disgust.
"Smart choice" Ska smiled as he tried to keep the fury out of his voice.
"I see we have an extra guest," Dor-dha said as he finally noyiced Kami., "hm, whatever"
He abruptly turned to Ska "Let's trade then?"
Ska walked over to Isnu, "come Isnu. Time to go," Isnu clung closer to Kami and trembled," I need to get that child from that moron Isnu. I need your help." At that she reluctantly let go of Kami and slid down, running around to stand next to Ska.
"I promise you Isnu," He whispered to her, as she held one of his fingers. The three of them walked over to Dor-dha.
"Child," Ska demanded and Dor-dha stepped ahead handing the infant over to Kami who went pale at the site of the child. Ska looked down at Isnu who was looking up at him, unshed tears brimming in her eyes.
Ska swallowed hard and placed her tiny hand in Dor-dha's hand, who yanked her close making the little girl gasp in surprise. "I told you to knock it off, stupid girl", he said through clenched teeth and slapped Isnu across her face, leaving a red mark on her cheek, those tears Isnu had so bravely held back, fell.
Ska fumed but managed to force a smile when Dor-dha looked up at him.
"hey," he said "can you teach me that sleep spell? sounds like it will come in handy."
"of course!" this time Dor-dha put his arm over Ska's shoulder. "I have created that spell myself!" he gloated. "You have to hold the dagger with its blade pointing downwards, it's very important to clean the blade before attempting this …" Ska tuned out the rest of Dor-dha's meticulous instructions becoming blabber in the back of his mind. He frantically tried to catch Isnu's attention while pretending to be listening to Dor-dha intently. He felt Isnu place her tiny hand in his and he knew this was his chance. He slid out from under Dor-dha's arm. The man looking completely surprised.
Ska took the chance and kicked him squarely in his chest. Dor-dha went flying back.
He handed Isnu over to Kami, "go back to the tower," he said bringing his sword out.
Kami ran back Isnu in tow. Ska brought his attention back to Dor-dha who sat bewildered. He watched as bewilderment turned to recognition and then, to rage.
"I don't think I've ever met a demon dumber than you," he mocked Dor-dha. "you are supposed to be the master of manipulation," he scoffed, "how does it feel to be on the other side?"
Dor-dha roared in rage and his body started contorting again.
"Yea. No," Ska said as he stabbed him in the heart. "You know, I am excellent at multi-tasking," he said as he watched Dor-dha's eyes droop. "I wove that spell into my blade just now, I'm still new to this so I doubt you will be completely knocked out. But at least you will shut up!"
Dor-dha was now just an odd mangle of limbs, too out of it to complete his transformation. He looked up at Ska who had his blade pointed at the demon.
"I call Judgement!" Ska said, his voice echoing through the empty plain, Dor-dha's eyes shot wide open, mouth mumbling pleas that were lost in the chaos that followed
A swirl of dark clouds formed above them and a beam of yellow light shot down and Hit Dor-dha, completely obliterating him. A gushof wind rushed past Ska when the beam hit, but he stood his ground. And just like that, the beam was gone and it was all quiet again.
Raphael appeared next to Ska "Did he steal your lunch or something?"