Daemon stood quickly and she took a fast step back, but he made no move to hurt her.
Instead he removed his shirt and threw it at her and she blushed, pulling it on quickly.
"The Ifrit first, then the Sphynx," Uzo said as he stood, and she found herself examining Daemon's chest and stomach as he pulled his jacket back on. At least he was able to reproduce clothing while she hadn't gotten that power.
He smirked when he caught her studying him and she slunk behind Uzo, taking his hand and they were pulled through into an area very similar to what they had found with the chimera.
It was a volcano and the heat mirage coming out of the crater was enough of a warning that this one was very active.
She was very nervous by the sight and she clutched at Uzo's hand, staring around.
The Ifrit found them only a few minutes later as he was prowling around and picking up loose chunks of igneous rock and tossing it into the volcano. He was an interesting purple-black colour and had no hair, instead he had smoke pouring up out of the top of his head. His movements opened creases in his hard flesh and caused red light to shine through, very much like lava that had a hard surface but still boiled underneath.
He looked up at them, then down to a rock and as he reached for it, their presence seemed to process in his head and he looked up again.
He was naked and the only thing that made her think he was male was the size of his shoulders and the triangular shape of him for he had no genitals to speak of. His eyes glowed a deep golden red and he looked around, confused by the sight of them and trying to tell if there were more.
"Hello!" Uzo called and the Ifrit pointed to himself in question. Uzo nodded and the Ifrit came closer, curious as a puppy.
They moved forward to meet him and he stood before them, looking between them all and she noted with a pang of nervousness that he had no mouth.
Shoving her forward, she glanced back at Daemon and she extended her hand to the Ifrit.
He reached for her in turn and as their hands met, heat flamed out from him and the world seemed to explode.
Wind scolded and burnt her, her skin red and the shirt gone, her hair was singed and she panted, glancing back to find both Daemon and Uzo gone.
Turning back to the Ifrit, she jerked back as she realised he had changed.
His skin had become a warm brown and he wore a skirt of tattered, burnt fabric held around his hips by a heavy belt.
A sword was in his hand and he was looking down at her through a mask made of stone that looked oddly like a chunk of bark ripped from the side of a tree.
Several smooth stones had been imbedded into a ring around his shoulders and chest, burning red.
"You come for my magic," he growled and she nodded as he used the handle of his sword to lift the mask up.
His eyes were still that eerie golden red and his lips turned up into a grin that showed sharp canines.
"What do I get in return?" he asked, amused by her.
"A favour from the Queen of Winter," she said and he laughed, the sound doing weird things to her stomach.
"No kitten, I need no favours."
"Then what do you want?" she asked, frowning at him.
"I get to have you for the night," he grinned and when her face paled, he laughed.
"That's out of the question," she said immediately.
He shrugged, stepping back from her. "If you wish, good luck on your journey, kitten," he had started to turn away and she gasped, fear washing through her.
"Anything else," she said, going after him and catching his arm. His skin was incredibly hot and she let go, her fingers smarting from the heat.
"There is nothing else I want from you," he said slyly. "There aren't many of us left, so will you find another of us in time?"
The sound of growling came from behind her and she turned to see a very burnt looking Daemon dragging an unconscious Uzo behind him, looking furious.
"Daemon is he alright?" she asked and she jerked as the Ifrit slid his arm around her and her skin stung.
"Uzo is fine, what is going on?"
"Your kitten was just agreeing to stay with me tonight in exchange," the Ifrit said and Daemon looked first stumped and then livid.
"Get your hands off her, we'll find another Ifrit."
The Ifrit was grinning, his chin resting atop her head and she squirmed, the heat making her sweat.
"Afraid you're running out of options and time, little demon. The Creators are getting impatient."
Daemon looked down at her and she bit her lip, begging him silently for an answer.
"There will be another way," he said and she exhaled in relief, prying the Ifrit's arm off her but he caught her again and smiled.
"Do you think you'll have enough time? You have a week at most," he whispered to her and she met his glowing eyes, panic filling her. "A week and all I want is a single night. Then you're free to run along on your quest."
He was talking low so that Daemon couldn't hear and she looked back at the demon as he crept forward, Uzo beginning to stir at the edge where Daemon had left him.
"Etani come on, we can find another Ifrit," he called.
"Find one in time? I'm the only one in this range, perhaps you can find another volcano? But the chimera have taken over so many... oh, what shall you do?" he cooed and she swallowed hard, trying to think through the conflicting information.
Daemon reached them and his hand was cool on her arm as he pulled her back, the Ifrit letting her go.
"Good luck then, I hope you can find another of us," he said, laughing at her fear.
Daemon drew her back and she stared at the Ifrit, fear making her reckless.
"How many are there?" she demanded of Daemon.
He frowned, shaking his head. "Not many, but we will find one. That is too high a price."
She pulled her arm free and turned to Uzo, staring down into his pained face.
"How long will it take to find one?" she asked as she stroked Uzo's cheek and he blinked up at her, his face relieved.
"A few days, a week at most," he said, and she looked up at him, fear ripping her heart.
"We don't have that long" she whispered, and Daemon froze, staring down at her.
"What do you mean?" he demanded.
"We have a week at most, the Creators are getting impatient."
"Etani? What is he asking?" Uzo asked and she realised he wasn't able to see her very well.
"For me, one night," she said and Uzo frowned, taking her hand.
They all knew what the risk was, and they knew time was running out, the question was, did she give in?
Without a word, she kissed Uzo's hand and pried his fingers off her, shoving Daemon with her shoulder to send him crashing to the ground and she threw herself away from them, running for the Ifrit who grinned massively, his arms outstretched for her.
He had been waiting for her and Daemon was going after her, screaming her name as the arms enclosed her and the world exploded into flames.