Evil" Nah. Not him. Not the demon. Not Damien. He's a nice guy. He can help you with your problems. For the right price of course, and that's assuming your problem has a consciousness. There has to be some sort of hunt involved ya know. If it cant fear him then he's wasting his time, there's just no fun in that. And if it doesn't fear him' He will be certain to teach it the error of its ways. Just ask him how it feels to have that warm blood, that warm life force, pouring over his hands, as he watches the spark leave his marks eyes. You may just be revolted, disgusted, and thoroughly appalled, by the descriptions of utter bliss that rise from his thin lips. Nothing more than an crooked smile and a perverse gleam in his eyes, as he regards the look on your face. He enjoys it all too much. Now, do people think that he is scary' No. Do they run away when he shows up" Again, no. But, do they feel uncomfortable" Most of the time. He is what he likes to call subtly evil. Mildly untrustworthy if you will. Not just evil" Mischievous and sly. Shallow and grim. An evil grin upon his devilish face the entire time. Service with a smile. Feel like your being watched" Yeah, that's him. Feel like someone's following you? He probably is. Feel like he is being genuine as he speaks to you? Don't do it. He likes to play. He revels in his games. Emotions belong to him. No, he doesn't have any. Though he will take yours. Its almost his sustenance. Better yet it's a buzz for him. His high. His pleasure.

A sigh. Not very demon like yet he was doing it a lot lately. Would he become a good guy. Not likely. I mean it was not to say he wasn't a good guy, at least in the meaning they would see, yet he was far from it. Still a hunter, an assassin, a killer, and a very, very good one at that. His senses were still trained to smell blood, to hear it coursing through his victims veins, to be able to feel its pumping motion through even just the air from ten yards out. His shoulders sunk slightly at the thought. He had been meaning to give up the life for so long yet it still held tight to him. Took his thoughts at times to the point the would be lost. He wanted to be what she wanted, he would try to be? he would. Yet promises" He was far from making any. Even now he sat above the inn as she slept, daring one so brazen to defy him. To defy words not spoken, yet ones that should have been readily realized. "Pain." The word was spoken from the icy roof as the dire wolf paced silently back and forth over the inn. "Torment." Another was to follow. "Sorrow." He knew them all too well. Perhaps that was the reason they stayed with him so. Perhaps that was the reason he was yet to shake the feelings he felt all too often. "Love." He couldn't. "Care." Could he" "Feel." Was it possible" If not then where did the words come from' What caused them to be thought' He was as of yet still unsure. He knew he was not liked, not cared for, not welcomed. Would it bother him' Did it' No' that was the simple answer. Sure it killed him, fought to destroy him, tore at the shadows of his soul. Yet he would not fail in his strength. That was his, and his alone. None would be able to take that from the demon, try as they might, they would fail, and of this he was sure. He held a soft spot for Jade. This was true. He would not hurt her, would not, could not bring himself to. Yet they saw something different. Perhaps something he was unable to see for himself" It was altogether possible. He was not even the nicest of demons, and that was saying something for his attitude at this point. He felt to be the most humble, caring, and decent' okay maybe not decent, gentlemanly was far enough. Yes he was well spoken, yet it seemed to them to all to be a ruse. As if he were raised improperly in some way. Demons had class, loads of it, he would be sure to convey it to all. And if they couldn't see it?" He would kill them. Did that defeat the point' He was so lost in all of this. He was not supposed to feel, or care, or love, or cherish, or die for a feeling, yet he was willing to it seemed. "Not much of a demon." He muttered to himself again. "Your father would?" His fists clenched to that, his teeth clenched as well, it seemed as if every muscle in his body would tighten until they popped from his bones. ?" kill you given only the chance to do so." His head sunk, and shook side to side, in a manner of defeat at that point. "He would kill your little brother to keep you in control." It was spoken. It had been done. He was forced to watch as his demonic little brother had his life taken away' stolen at the hands of his older sister. He would never forgive her for that. Never forgive any of them for that day. They killed him, not his brother, no him. They had taken all he cared about for what?" Tradition' He had no care for it all. They would pay. Perhaps that was where the hate in his heart came from. How could in not be? Yet again, how could he be sure" No' now he was sure. He would make a trek to the ninth layer, the worst of the abyss. They would scream as he chose for them too. There would be no pity this time. No remorse. No caring left in his soul. Not for those people, not a single one. If he had to destroy his entire plane he would. He would leave it in the shadows if it meant losing all control over them at all. He cared not for them now, yes" Yes, they would pay dearly. They would know the wrath that is Damien and fear it every day of their lives even if he did not succeed. "Kill them." The words came from a very, very deep place. One he did not know that he possessed. "Kill them." Of course. It must be done. They must repent for their" sins" No he cared not of sin. They would repent for what they did to him. For how they cast him away and how they betrayed the demon. "Life is short. And shorter still at the end of my blade" My father" My king" you will bleed for what you did to me?"???"...I promise this to you now and forever.?

The cloth was pulled back to reveal the dark crystal ball. The shadows swirling within seemed to speed up and begin a dance upon seeing the demons face. A purple light shone on his face, bathing his piercings in an eerie glow.

"I do suppose it has been several days since I last spoke to you pretty." Dragging his ashen hand across the ball, his pointed fingernails would tap upon the spheres surface. "There have been some things of interest that have taken place since then. Where do I begin" Well since the other night when I was needed to carry Skid home to the abyss Hina has become increasingly nice to me, even referring to me as a friend. Funny I know. Tis a far cry from the first time I met her and struck her simply for being an angel. Lets just say that I have learned many things since arriving in Rhydin and I have found that good and evil have a strangely blurred boundary in this place. But I am veering from the point. I have been spending more time in the company of Hina and Storm and even Skid and several others. There is a story I am trying to get to yet I do not know how exactly to lead you into it, so I will simply get on with it."

Damien chuckled at himself for that. At most times he had such a way with words. Yet now with no real person in the room the proper words seemed to hide from him. "Late last night or early this morning I met someone I had met in passing several times yet had never actually spoken with. I found out later her name is Renna, and I guess I am lucky to know that as I had to call her "no one important' for quite a while until she finally tired of it and shared her name with me. Again I find myself guided further from the point. While I was speaking with this woman my attention was drawn toward Hina and a conversation she seemed to be having with one known as "SingSong" who seems to have some sort of control over her, or some kind of link to her. He even cut his own hand and the wound appeared on Hina as well. I would say it was strange yet I have seen to many things in my years that have been labeled as such. Now usually I am happy to let thing progress in their natural, or unnatural order, yet I know that Hina is carrying the jester Skid's child. Now I will surely never see any harm come to a demon child, even if only part in its lineage. Not again I wont. I had thought about getting involved yet I managed to hold my composure. Something I must admit I am quite amazed and proud of. During that time Hina, a woman named Bree, and an odd creature named Stitch managed to force this "SingSong" to retreat, or should I say he seemed to choose to leave at that time. Needless to say that was the end of my "fun" for last night."

Still looking into the swirling orb his hand blindly found his bottle of whiskey beside him. He took several sips from the bottle before he continued in a hushed tone. "Now tonight when I arrived at the inn Hina told me the story of how she had met this creature and several theories as to how they were connected. After looking the angel over I noticed the two puncture marks that had healed on her neck. I also met a woman named Rena who had met a similar fate yet I was unable to verify. From what I understand there is one or possible two others in this chain of connection, bound to this vampire. Later on I spoke with Skid about it, yet only in passing. Rena suggested I talk to a man named Tass and he may have an answer to the problem. I have also decided that I will speak with Jade given she knows quite a bit about vampires I would think. Unfortunately I have not seen her in a couple of days now. I do in fact want some answers to this riddle, yet I would like to simply see her even more. Is that wrong" Have I gone soft' Am I the demon I was meant to be? No, that is for sure. I was meant to be a nondiscriminatory killer. A harbinger of sorrow. Now I do not ever claim to be the nicest person or demon in this land, I am by far not the worst. I have friends now, and a love even. These things are more important to me than appearances or reputations."

He thought about that and sat silent for many long moments before he continued. "Oh yes, I almost forgot, I participated in the duels for the first time tonight. I lost 5-3 to a man named Tex who smacked me around with a 2x4. If only I had been able to use my skills within the shadows I would have easily won. Ahhh, I guess rules are just not my thing. It does seem like an excellent exercise to hone the battle skills should I ever find myself unable to use my powers. Yet everything has a shadow so I see not how, yet it never hurts to be prepared. I know not what will come tomorrow, yet for now I must get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day should we have a meeting about this vampire as Hina suggested, or perhaps if we do not I will see my vampiress. I do hope that is the case, but for now" Good night pretty. I will see you another eve.?

The cloth was thrown back over the orb, and the demon searched out his bed, and the sleep he was so desperately hoping to find.

"So I finally got to spend some time with Jade tonight." He said it softly as the cloth was dragged from the purple crystal ball. "She made a biiiiiiiiig mistake this eve. She told me not to behave. And I was doing so good too." He could not hide his laugh to that. "So she got what she requested, and unfortunately so did everyone else."

His soft laughter continued, turning into all but a healthy laugh. "Let us say I did several inappropriate things in the wake of her request. Yes I was allowed to be me for a while, The dog boy Dorin received the brunt of my wrath, while Jade was allowed the exciting truth of who I can really be. I cannot be certain yet, though I think tonight will be our night."

He sipped at his glass of whiskey, having brought it home with him before he headed to the sorority house. Just a quick pit stop to get refreshed before he went to see her. "Through the shadows it is but a moment." He thought.

"Perhaps she will be ready for a demonic" possession , for lack of a better word." Yes he was chuckling again. "Perhaps that would be the best way to put it. Yes." He agreed with himself. He almost put cologne on before he remembered he didn't have any, and that he didn't need it with just the way he was. Even in thought that was the furthest he would go.

"Be ready love" be very ready." He wasn't truly sure what was going to take place when he arrived in her room, though that was all he could think about. The thought brought a smile to his ashen face. He even cracked his neck both directions. "You will see love" you will know."

He could not hide his purplish smile as he covered the crystal ball with the cloth again. "Do not wait up." He said to the bulge under the cloth. "I may be a while."

He stepped into the shadowed corner of his darkened room and disappeared, silently on his way to her room. "Tis sure to be a welcome surprise.? His mumble echoed through the room as he vanished.

He would rise from the darkness, head between her ankles, and a perverse gleam in his eyes. "I wish you could remain so innocent." He chuckled, knowing he was about to defile a defiler. It made him extremely happy to think of it.

A New Beginning - The Demons Plans



"So I take it that it is finished now?" The demons "right hand" Malzeus, spoke in a hushed and raspy tone as he moved around the dark room, lighting candles here and there bringing a small amount of light into the room. It was what the two considered bearable light. True enough Damien had spent enough of his years outside of his plane and had grown accustomed to, and even appreciated the light and what it did for him, yet the minions on his home plane were still quite sensitive to its brilliance.

"Oh who knows Malzeus. Women are such fickle and demanding creatures. Who is really to be the judge of such things?" Damien's tattooed shoulders lifted in a shrug as he went about pouring two goblets of the thick black liquid, steam rising from the drinks as well as the several drops that splashed unceremoniously on the table. Demons blood if you must know. Not of the kind that he himself was, no this blood belonged - or had at one point - to a demon of a lesser caliber.

"You are right as always m' lord, how foolish of me to question you. I was merely wondering if the wedding had been called off as of yet?" With the last candle lit the impish creature moved to join his master at the round stone table, the main focus in the center of the small meeting room. His hand reached out for the goblet, but was quickly pulled back as he eyed Damien. He would not dare touch his drink before his master had allowed it, or at least taken his own.

Damien was laughing as he watched and listened to his squire of sorts, amused by the fear and admiration that was shown. "Malzeus" friend, do not be so simple headed and fearful. I bring you to my chambers for your company, not to show my power over you. Drink up my friend." He motioned to the glass first, the imp still shying away, and finally the demon slid the goblet in front of him, silently urging him once again to drink. "And as for your inquiry, I would have to assume that the wedding has been cancelled. I cannot be certain for I did no such thing, however when I was accosted by the vampiress??" He looked upward to the ceiling, his finger trailing the rim of the goblet, as he searched for the proper term. "I can only assume they imagined that they were being "friends" I suppose" When they spoke to me they made many mentions that I HAD to marry her."

This time it was Malzeus" turn to let out a raspy cackle of his own. "As if the ruler of Shadow and Pain HAS to do anything lord. How foolish were these two you speak of?"

"You know exactly how foolish they were my friend. I know you were watching over me just after they approached." A pierced brow raised in a questioning manner to his squire, as his finger stopped its tracing motion and he lifted the goblet to purplish lips.

The imp had been finally brave enough to reach for his own drink, yet at his masters accusatory words he fumbled, knocking over the goblet and spilling the brackish liquid across the table. Bubbling and hissing it went, trailing down the edge of the table to pool on the floor at his feet. "I am sorry m' lord. Please forgive my foolishness, in spying and spilling of course. I meant no harm. I only meant to?"

Damien waved him off dismissively as he reset the goblet in front of the beast once more. "I know what you were doing Malzeus. You think that I need someone to watch over me. I understand that. You believe since I am not the same demanding, degrading, and deranged man that my father was, that I am somehow less fit to rule and protect myself." Malzeus started to protest, to beg for forgiveness again when he was cut short once more. "Do not fear it my friend. I am not angered with you. It may be true that I am not as well cut out for this position, and your concern is welcomed." Damien nodded to the now empty goblet in front of the imp, implying him to fill his drink once again.

With a shaking hand the lesser demon reached out for the ewer, splashing more of the black liquid around as he nervously filled his drink. "I am sorry master. I do not think that it is necessary to watch over you. I do it out of duty and service to you so you shall always be safe be you in our realm or another." Now using two hand Malzeus brought the goblet to his mouth, drinking heavily of the steaming liquid, a delicacy he was just starting to get used to. The glass was returned to the stone table, and the imp used the back of his wrist to wipe at his lips, leaving a black smear among the wiry hairs that stuck out all over his pale green skin. "So m' lord, it was she who called off the wedding" Is she not the one who brought these events upon herself?" The imp cringed as the words left his toothy maw, fearing he had overstepped his boundaries in speaking ill of his former future queen.

The demon bit back another laugh at this point, quite amused at the terror he brought out of this diminutive creature, somewhat pleased to know that he was not regarded here as he was in Rhydin. Of course his subjects new him better. Knew of what he had done and the vile acts he was still capable of committing.

"Yes I believe it was she who called a halt to the preparations." He was nodding slowly as he spoke, raven hair falling forward to catch on the point of a horn. "And yes, the events that took place were her doing and hers alone. So many times I had wanted to ask how foolish must she have been to find herself so weak" so controlled, yet I fear I must first ask of myself how foolish it is to be wrapped up with someone such as that. Do not contradict me in this my friend. I see the error of my ways now and it shall not happen again I can promise you that."

"So you do not miss her m' lord?" It seemed a simple question and the imp had been growing more and more confident with himself each time these meetings had taken place. He knew better than to not show his master respect, yet was finding it was just as easy to raise his ire by appearing weak and terrified.

There was another drink from the goblet and the demon paused, formulating the words in his head before he spoke. "No friend I do not miss her. Sure I miss some of the times we had together?" His thin lips curled up into a smirk as he looked knowingly to his squire. "Though her weakness would have only brought out the same trait in me I fear, given the proper time to run its course." He peered down into the goblet, looking at his reflection in the dark pool, steam rising around as if his mirror image were lost in a land of smoke and fog.

Malzeus was quiet, letting his masters words float over him to better understand the trials of relationships, and dare he say "love". "What do you plan to do now sire" I have seen the way those two harlots came after you, and I am sure you are aware that I also witnessed the attack perpetrated by your former love's brother. You know I fear?" Catching himself in mid sentence the imp coughed loudly before he continued. "You know that I am concerned as to what may happen in that realm where your subjects cannot so readily provide support."

He was nodding again as he looked up from his reflection in the drink, slowly narrowing his eyes on the imp but for a moment. "I am not certain my friend. I am in no way in any kind of danger I assure you of that. Even if they were to draw out enough rabble to destroy me" For one I cannot be killed in that realm, and secondly you and I both know damn well I could never be caught by such simpletons. However, and here is where my dilemma begins and ends. If I were to be beaten, or chased away it would do nothing but show my weakness in their realm. I believe I will have to seek out assistance in some form, be it a cohort or underling such as yourself."

"I could go with you sire. I would assist in any manner, much like I do here." The response was too swift and too eager he knew, but the imp would do anything for his new master. Anything to raise his standing in what he considered the 'rebirth' of the lower layers of the abyss.

Damien shook his head, dismissing the thought as quick as the words left his minions mouth. "That is precisely why I will not take you with me my friend. You are far to valuable to me here Malz. Far too intricate in my plans for our next take over. Shadow has always been mine, even when I was away from our realm. Pain has been taken and has now become fully controlled under my grasp. However, Loathing will be a large task. It may take years to conquer. Never underestimate the power of unbridled hatred and how deep it can take root in a soul, let alone a realm based on such an emotion." A devilish smile was forming on the demons face as a plan started to come together in his mind. The gears of war, of promise, turning behind violet hues as he grew closer to the completion of his plans. "No my friend, I must find someone in Rhydin to bend to my will. Weather they are aware of the fact matters naught to me."

"I understand m' lord." The imps scaly head lowered for a brief moment, rising once more as his masters words settled in his mind. He would be important here. Of course that was all he really wanted, and he vowed to make certain that Damien's plans, however handed down to him, were completed without failure. "Perhaps I could aide you in searching out this otherworldly minion. I could peer across the realms and into the souls of these 'simpletons" as you call them, and find one easiest to bend to your will."

"No Malzeus, this I must do on my own." He drained the last of the black blood from his goblet and made like he was going to stand. "I do not doubt your prowess and command of your scrying abilities, however I do not think that anyone weak enough for you to corrupt from here, would do well enough in assisting with my protection or plans that I have for Rhydin." And he did stand, taking several steps away from the table, his heavy boots thudding and scraping along the hewn stones of the floor.

"And what of this new woman master" What part does she play in all of this?" He peered over his own goblet as he drank, his yellow eyes locked on his masters back. He was awaiting the answer not just to see what her part would be, but also for his own curiosity and understanding of his newest lord.

"Bree." The word left his lips barely above a whisper. Her name alone bringing a flood of thoughts through his unstable mind. "Do not concern yourself with her my friend. She is not a part of my plans. Not these plans anyhow. She is mine and mine alone to consider, do not doubt me. Should I find that you have been watching over her, or attempting to search my soul for even a wisp of a thought or feeling of her?" Evil laughter left the demons body now, causing Malzeus to shrink back into his chair as the demonic melody met his pointed ears, striking fear and awe into the lesser demon. "Should I find you doing something so foolish as to meddle in my happiness" Then I shall cast you into Pain and allow the minions there to show you the true definition of the sensation. Have I made myself clear?" Damien did not turn around, did not look at the beast, as he was able to feel the aura of terror he had let loose upon the room.

"No m?"" The words caught in the imps throat. Was Damien causing him to feel as if he were choking" Was it intentional, or was it something that the fright in him was doing to his poor constitution' Malzeus swallowed hard, audible even though the demon was ten paces away now, trying to get his voice back under his own control. "Never would I go against your wishes m' lord. I do not need to search your soul, nor would I ever dream of doing such a thing." He paused again, hoping his next words would not be his last. "I can see it in your eyes sire. Divining is my true charm that is true, however magics are not always needed to do so."

This did cause Damien to turn around half way. He peered over a shoulder to the imp, who cowered even more so under his steely gaze. There was a hint of a smile to this lesser demon. He did not lie when he called this creature "friend". The imp was perhaps the only person in all of his realms for which he could give that title. Turning towards the door swiftly caused his raven hair to fall around his shoulders in a swaying dance as he headed for the door. The heavy stone slab slid open with a stone on stone grinding sound as Damien stepped out of the room. There was a momentary pause before he looked back on the room and the imp for the last time this night. "Clean up your mess and make sure the candles are out before you leave Malzeus. Everything must be in order in the coming days. Soon we conquer Loathing, and next"...Rhydin will be ours."

"I will be certain to?" Malzeus cut his words short knowing that the demon was already gone. When his fear had subsided and his limbs would follow his orders once more, he stood, moving to clean up the spilled drink from before. "I will be certain to make sure everything goes according to plan master. I will not disappoint you, of this I swear."

The Blacksmith's Shop - The Morning



"Mmmm, Bree." Rolling halfway over he reached across the bed, his hand finding cold sheets where a hot woman should have been. "Huh?" He leaned up slowly to rest on an elbow, rubbing his eyes with his free hand as they adjusted to the light. It was much brighter in here than he kept it at home, then again there was no sun where he resided.

"Must have gone out early." A soft chuckle shook the rasp from his voice as he sat up in the bed now, stretching his arms out over his horned head as he "greeted" the day. A look around had him wondering how he had not made note of the room the night before. The sheets were obviously satin as he could feel them wrapped around his waist. His eyes scanned over the dresser and random weapons from behind the mosquito netting that hung over the bed. His eyes stopped on the mirror, catching a view of his tattooed frame shifting as he looked around.

In a minute he was dressed and walking to the window. With a look outside he wondered exactly what time it was. I was already a bustling frenzy outside, the marketplace ripe with life so it had to be nearing the noon hour. Several steps toward the door and he had a thought. His sister might be in the neighboring shop and he didn't feel like answering her questions right after waking up.

Pulling the curtains closed brought a bit more darkness to the room and allowed him an escape route. Making his way over to the corner he stepped over an axe, two swords, and an assortment of smaller bladed weapons on his way. He searched about for a moment to find a cloth to cover the weapons as he piled them together, making sure the light they reflected would not hinder his exit at all.

In a matter of moments he was gone, nothing more than a wisp of smoke in a corner as he was already back on his own plane, heavy booted steps ringing through the stone hallway as he made his way to the planning room, to make sure the rest of his takeover was in progress.

"MALZEUS!"!" In the next room the imp could be heard stumbling over himself to answer the call of his master. Big plans were in the works" soon he would rule it all.

The Demon Lost - A New Beginning

The demons blade snapped swiftly upwards cutting a smooth line of crimson across pink flesh, decorating his ashen face with a spray of blood. The blade was quickly tossed into the tall grass as it took both hands for Damien to hold down the convulsing form pinned under his lithe frame. His arms tensed, his teeth clenched tightly, the muscles flexing under pale skin showed signs of the hard labor he had put himself through in the long weeks since he had left. The blood droplets had turned from small dots to long streaks running down his face as the creatures jerking and flailing shook his body intensely as he held it down against the ground. "Go to sleep now." His voice was quiet. Almost a whisper as he leaned down, the convulsing now slowing to no more than a shudder. "Shhh. Go to sleep that's right." His words were soft, not the words of a hardened killer like him. Gently he rolled off to the side of his kill resting on his knees as he retrieved his knife and wiped the blood from the shining blade across his apron. "Must they all quake so' Things are damnably strong." He shook his head in disbelief as he smeared crimson across his forehead with the back of his hand. Before him on the ground was a pig, freshly slaughtered by the blade he was tucking into his belt as he pushed himself up off the damp grass. Looking down as he stood over the lifeless animal and the maroon pool of blood mixed with earth that had drained from its throat, his mind began to wander back to the old images locked deepest within. Things he had seen. Things he had done, and the people he had done them to.

"Not anymore." Damien shook the images away and took a deep breath as he leaned down over the pig. Straining his legs and back he threw the large beast over one shoulder and turned away from the gruesome site of the kill, to carry his load and the family's dinner across a small field toward the barn. Winding his way up a small path between a chicken coop and a goat pen he passed a young girl in a yellow dress skipping down the path bucket in hand. "Hello Isabell." The demon greeted the girl with a polite nod and continued toward the barn with his burden.

"Mr. Crowe?" The girl's shy voice called from behind him. Damien stopped in his tracks surprised and more than a little confused. In all of the months he had spent with this family on this little farm Isabell had never even made eye contact with him let alone speak to him. As a matter of fact his first three weeks on as the family's farm hand she had ran in terror or hid behind her mother when he approached, and now out of the blue she was speaking to him' Slowly the demon turned making sure the terrible sight of the pig arced away from the little one though his face was still dotted and streaked with its blood. "Yes child" What can I do for you today young lady?" Damien did his best to give a smile to set her at ease. No easy task given his current appearance.

Isabell held the bucket behind her back, both hands firmly grasping the handle as she dragged a bare toe across the ground, looking down intently as if drawing something in the dirt of the pathway. Drawing her gaze upward the sunlight caused her green eyes to sparkle as she regarded Damien, somewhat of a smile on her face. "I wanted to tell you something Mr. Crowe." Damien let the pig down from his shoulder slowly and lowered it to the ground as he took up a crouch a step or two away from the animal. With a soft smile and gentle tone he replied, "Damien....please Isabell call me Damien." The girl shook her head as she brought the bucket out in front of her with one hand and back behind her in a circle with the other. "I can't. You are Mr. Crowe, mom and dad say so. They say you a man who doesn't ask for respect but deserves it all the same. Now I don't know what that mean, 'cause I'm just a kid..." She looked at him very matter of fact-ly. "But I been thinking "bout it and I do know one thing....You a good man. A nice man. I like you Mr. Crowe." Without another word the little girl spun in a circle and took off running down the path, the bucket bouncing against her legs as she headed full speed toward the river.

Damien stood awestruck for several moments as he watched the girl run off in the distance and disappear around a bend in the path. A soft, "Thank you...? was choked out before his smile returned. As he retrieved the pig and tossed it over his other shoulder his steps lightened and a smile spread across his pale features as he headed toward the barn again. Perhaps his time on this lost little plane of existence was coming to an end. If he was ready for it.