Topic: The Things We've Lost: Dreams and Actions

Zynn

Date: 2015-12-18 18:28 EST
The New York streets were crowded, beside her, her mother, Meredith walked beside her, hand on her jacket. The both of them had various bags hooked on their arms, as if they had been shopping. The warlock was leading the way back to her apartment in the city, and they were animatedly talking about random things. The stuff they had bought, the holiday coming up, and various other things that avoided the painful subject of her brother and how he most likely would not be spending the holidays with them, given Beleth was still parading around in his body. They walked like that for a long time.

As she rounded the corner that led to her apartment... she realized that the pressure of her mother's hand was gone, and that at some point her voice had faded away. She came to a stop, and turned on her heel. "Mom?" The words fell on the empty alley, and a panic began to rise within her. Without hesitation, she darted back out onto the once busy street to find it completely empty, devoid of anyone.

"MOM." The yell echoed through the street, falling on nothing but food carts that still stayed where they had been, and trash that littered the street. An eerie silence was the only response she received.

"Mommy!" Suddenly the buildings seemed to stretch far above her, perspective skewed in almost a cartoonish manner. Her voice sounded younger, smaller. The atmosphere seemed to change, from normal blue winter sky, to dark and looming, ominous clouds. She was no longer a woman of 23 years, but instead a girl of 5. Panic raced through her, making her heart rate fast, and her feet race faster across the empty desolate road. Her mommy was gone, with no one around to ask for help. It was terrifying. Finally as she ran. She slowed, and ducked down an alley, where she paused a few paces in. It was dark, scary and she didn't want to go any further.

"Zynnara!" Her name echoed through the alleyway, in her mother?s voice. She jerked, sharp little cat's eyes searching for the source. "Zynnara, listen to me okay? Are you listening?" The words echoed around her, she felt Phantom hands on her shoulders, shaking them. "Mommy!" Confusion blossomed across her face as she stretched her hand out in front of her, searching for someone she could not see. She grasped at empty air for several seconds before she realized that it was such. ?I need you to stay here, okay? Stay here, Don?t move. Mommy will be back in a few minutes, okay? Don?t move from this spot, okay?? With that, her mother?s presence faded away, as did the pressure on her shoulders.

When she glanced up, she was elsewhere. An alleyway. The walls stretched and loomed, and there was a dumpster that looked like it was hungry and would swallow her whole.Her mommy was gone. Where was she? She slowly inched her way towards the dumpster, ever cautious. A couple moments later her attention was caught by something on the ground. Closer inspection revealed it to be someone, with bouncy black curls and pale skin. Blood pooled beneath her. "Mommy?" Her voice was small, terror laced it. She knew which mommy this one was... it was the one that she did not search for. Distant thoughts tugged at her mind, and she shook her head to clear them. And when she looked again, her brother, Rinn was looming over Imogen's body, a wide smirk pulling at his face. She took half a step back, and looked back to the woman on the ground, only this time the features had changed. The black curls were nothing but slight waves, and her frame was thin, worn down.

The terror that flooded through her felt like it swallowed her whole. "MOMMY!" The word came out in a strangled shreik, before her little limbs carried her towards the form, and she dropped to her knees. She stretched to pull her so that she was on her back. There was no rise and fall of her chest, no sound of breaths. Her skin was still warm, but there was no life in her peaceful bloodstained face.

"Mommy."

Silence.

"Mommy please. Wake up. Please wake up." This time the words were sobbed in that heart wrenching manner that only kids were able to achieve. Her grief was raw, and poured down her cheeks in salty trails. She shook the woman and her head lulled with the motions.

"They're both gone little witch. They are dead. And I will keep coming after everyone that you care about. I will kill them one by one, until you are able to make my existence on this plane cease." Her face tilted up to peer at the demon inhabiting her brother, the yellow in his eyes foreign and unfamiliar. "But... but why?" The word was laced with a tone that was very much 'that's not fair.'

?Because I can. Because It?s fun, watching you wallow in misery. I can keep going here.? He twirled his finger in a circle, and she blinked. In place of the older Rinn, was one about the age she was. He stood before her, with wide solemn eyes. ?Zynnie. Help me. Please. He?s coming for me.? She paused, and stared for a moment. ?Rinn! I?m here. I?m here!? And with that, she stretched reached out to grab him. But instead of accomplishing this, she fell into blackness that swallowed her up.

December 18th, Early Morning- 3 am.

She bolted up in bed, her heart pounding, her breath coming in ragged sobs. Sweat drenched her, there was a static charge in the air, and a panic that settled deep within her, that the dream was not just simply a dream, but a warning of something that would come about.

And she was at loss with how to stop the demon, before he started taking people from her, one by one.

Zynn

Date: 2016-01-06 16:33 EST
Monday, December 21st. Late Evening- 11:37 pm.

The Hawaiian night was warm, the breeze heavy enough to make the palm leaves sway. Behind her sat the cozy beach house that belonged to Gothrak. High up in the sky was a full moon, that illuminated the beach, and reflected off of the water. The sound of waves crashing on the shore was gentle, but loud enough to be heard. And sitting in the sand, still warm from the sun earlier that day, was the warlock, her knees drawn up to her chest, toes just out of reach of the waves that lapped at the shore. Her head was tilted back, eyes closed as she simply enjoyed the quiet, along with the energy that poured from the full moon.

She had lost track of how long she had been out there, but at some point there was the scent of lavender and rosemary on the breeze, foreign and familiar, all in the same. At first, she didn?t think much of it, but then-

?Lightning Bug.?

The words were soft, and her attention turned in the direction they had come from. Sitting beside her, about a foot away, was another woman, with black curly hair, and piercing blue eyes. Her frame was slight, and there was a kind smile on her face. She looked transparent, as if she could wave her hand through the woman. She recognized her from the various images she?d seen lining the inside of her adoptive mother?s apartment. The nickname she spoke tugged at distant memories, things that were just out of reach of recollection.

She found her mouth twisting into a frown, her brows pulling down with confusion.

?I thought you were dead.?

The woman laughed.

?My darling daughter, death is just another stage of life. Another adventure. You?ve been through a lot since my death. Haven?t you?"

The younger warlock paused, her fingers moving to dig down into the sand, as she drew in a heavy breath. "I ah... yeah. What I remember sucks. Most of it anyways."

The other woman was quiet for a while after that, her attention focused upward towards the moon. "I am sorry. For everything. I should have- I was not the best mother. I should have taught you instead of shelter you from the world. I should have showed you the joy that comes with the electricity you wield. The careful nature you have to adapt when brewing potions and the finessing that comes with getting a spell right."

Both women were quiet for several moments after that, Zynn, her mind dancing over what ifs and the like, while Imogen was going over other various regrets. It was her that finally spoke again.

"I'm sorry that you have to clean up my mess. And that your brother is possessed and your mother is suffering. That Half of Terry?s life was with him trapped in his own mind as that demon paraded around in his body, hurting those he cares about."

Zynn was quiet for a couple more minutes before she drew in a deep breath. "It is in the past now. It happened, and there is no changing it... no matter how sorry you can be that it has happened. I've learned that lesson the hard way." Pause. "I think apologizin' just makes someone feel better about themselves, what they caused, smoothes out the tension. But someone still did the thing that they are apologizin' for and that is never gonna change. You can't go back into the past and change it. Things don't work that way...But I forgive you. But I?m not the only one you should be apologizin? to here. But then again it?s hard for you to actually accomplish that, ain?t it?? For some reason, she sounded bitter.

Imogen was silent, contemplative as the younger warlock spoke, before finally, her face twisted into something that resembled sorrow and pride. Her words rang true, and she realized in that moment just how lovely of a young woman Zynn had turned into. ?You are right. I should be making these apologies to not just you. But you, I was closest to. I am not sure if I could manage to appear to them and apologize. I wish I could." The older warlock fell quiet for a few moments. "I made so many mistakes in my lifetime. I hurt people. More than just Meredith, and Terry."

"Try then. If you can't, you can't. At least you tried." She waved a hand, as if she were dismissing the rest of the topic. Then she was quiet for another moment.

"I found your letters. I haven't read anymore of them in a while. It's... well it's hard." Another pause. "You write of Beleth in them. Do you possibly know of his true name? I've searched through your apartment for more information on him but I can't find even a notebook full of notes. I have to figure out what kind of demon he is. Lesser, or greater and if the latter, then whatever the hell his name is."

Her hands dropped to the edge of her hoodie, and worried it. ?I need it. So Cane can get Beleth out of Rinn. I can?t let him ruin anyone else.?

Imogen was silent for a long while, before she reached out to ghost her fingers across Zynn?s forehead. ?There is a box, should be in the back of my closet in the apartment. In the box, there is a book, A journal of sorts. It?s in a false bottom, I think there are old papers in the box. The book has everything you need to know about him.? She nodded once, and her shoulders slumped a touch. ?I am sorry that I can not fix this mistake. I caused pain and trouble for you that you never should have experienced. I ask you of one thing, though I have no right.?

Imogen leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. It felt like a phantasmal tickle. ?Keep going, baby girl. Stop working on that memory spell. The time to remember will come, yeah? Correct my mistake and protect your family. Be strong. I love you.?

By the time Zynn opened her mouth to respond, Imogen was gone, leaving her in the quiet of the waves crashing up along the shore.

?Mom-....I don?t know how to. I can?t.? The words fell on empty air, and she knew they did. How was she going to even remember anything, if she didn't make an effort to? Was she going nowhere with the spell? Had her mother been watching, and knew her formulas were off? That there was some component missing that she couldn't place?

Feeling more desolate than she had been before, she pushed to her feet in the sand, and stalked back towards the portal she had built to come here. She was so intent on leaving, she didn?t even realize that she was stepping through the portal with bare feet.

And despite the fact that she knew where the information she needed to stop Beleth was, she still couldn't shake the feeling that her mother was going to die.

Zynn

Date: 2016-01-26 20:06 EST
?...our impulses are too strong for our judgement sometimes?
― Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D'Urbervilles

December 23rd, 3015. Late Evening- 10 pm

Wrought with worries and thoughts, the warlock had slipped out of her greenhouse. Sometimes there was only so much she could distract, and immerse herself in, before even that didn?t work. So she left, with the itch to watch something? well she wanted to watch something burn. People had insurance, so what if a few things went up in flames, right? Christmas was almost there, all the important things were already gone. Or at least that was her line of reasoning as she weaved her through the labyrinth of streets and alleys of Rhy?din, a cigarette hanging loosely between two fingers.

By the time she reached the outskirts of dockside she had smoked two cigarettes, the last of which she had just finished up, the butt flicked aside. Then she tugged up the hood of her hoodie, hiding away her facial features in shadows, only enhanced by the darkness that had come with night. A couple more turns after that, her feet were thumping against the boards of the docks. A couple more turns after that, before she found herself wandering through the myriad of warehouses that called dockside home.

Beleth had been amused by Zynn?s reaction to his gift and absently wondered how Terrance and Meredith had enjoyed theirs. Perhaps he would have to locate Zynn and ask. It was what he was up to now, tracking down the warlock?s usual haunts. He steered clear of her apartment, the last time he had been near there he had gotten the scent of another demon and didn?t feel like interacting. While the greenhouse still had the indications that demons had been in there too, it wasn?t as strong so he hung out around there until he spotted her and followed.


He waited to approach until she was roaming along the docks, ?Heeey Zynny.?

She had been unaware of the fact that she was being followed. She never was, so why worry about something like that? So when the demon parading around as her brother made his approach, and spoke? She flinched, then turned a heel to face him. Cat?s eyes moved to roam over her brother's body, from head to toe, before a scowl slid onto her face, and almost angrily, her hands were thrusted into the pockets of her hoodie. Her brother shouldn?t be stuck with the demon controlling him. No, he should be back at the apartment with their mother, playing videogames and stuffing his face. He should be looking forward to the fast approaching holiday.

Finally she just sucked in a deep breath, and reached up a hand to run it through her hair, pushing the hood back off of her head. ?What the f*** do you want?? Her tiredness was evident in the words, her fuse short already.

He chuckled, ?Aww...poor Zynn, you sound stressed.? Rinn smirked, ?You should be happy, Christmas means presents. Didn?t you like mine? I sent similar ones to mommy and daddy. Think they liked them?? Beleth thought it was all a fun time, tormenting the family.

His words made her frown, and for a moment, she almost protested and mentioned that Terry was not actually her father. He?d have to be a demon for that to be possible, and well? he was very very human. ?I?ll be happy when I have my brother back, yeah? So maybe you should just make yourself scarce and give him back. I?d be even happier if you?d go back to whatever hell you clawed your way out of, or go and make someone else miserable. Certainly there?s someone else you?ve got a grudge against. I can?t be the only one that?s pissed you off lately.?

?Lately? Yeah. Technically you?re still being punished for Imogen and good ol? Terry?s decisions. Sins of the father...well...I suppose in your case, mother.? He smirked and folded his hands behind his head, a habit that Rinn would do...another slap to the face and a reminder that he had access to all of Rinn?s memories and thoughts, ?How?d they like them though? I?m curious.?

?But that has nothing to do with me. Or Rinn. My Mother, Merideth has nothing to do with this. Neither does Rinn. You?ve already killed Imogen, didn?t you? Why can?t you just be happy that she?s dead.? The words were more grumbled than actually spoken fully. She watched as the demon shifted, and folded his hands back behind her head. For a brief moment, she wanted to burst into tears, as it reminded her just how much she missed her brother. ?Why don?t you go ask yourself.? The words were sharp, snapped at him as her irritation built. The suggestion wasn?t serious? or maybe it was, as both her apartment and her mother?s were laden with more than enough wards that would keep him out in painful ways.

Her comment about it having nothing to do with her made his grin fall as his mood shifted and he snarled, ?It has just about EVERYTHING to do with you, child. Why did Terry go to your witch mother? Because he wanted to help Meredith and her little brats. You.? He sneered, ?So, as I see it, the only innocent one is Rinn. A shame really, but hey, thems the breaks, right?? Beleth snorted, ?I would go see mommy dearest but unfortunately, I get a headache amoung other things when I get too close. I almost couldn?t drop my gift off...that would have been a real shame. Rinn worked hard to get that for her after all.?

He snarled at her. It was enough to earn him a downright nasty growl in response. ?He wanted to protect his family. My mother included, because you wouldn?t stop sniffing around her.? There was an accusatory finger pointed in his direction as she started to edge closer to him, like a cat stalking prey. ?I didn?t know any better. I didn?t know anything. I was only four at the time, innocent. And a year later you made her get rid of me. You?ve robbed me of everything. I grew up not knowing my family. You killed Imogen. You- You-? Whatever thought she had must have died, because her words faltered. Her fingers were trembling in her anger, the air was alive, humming with static. ?You ruined everything for me with your goddamned petty bulls***.?

Though her scowl was heavy, she couldn?t help the smirk that pulled a corner of her mouth upwards. Though, the last bit made it short lived. ?Good. It means the wards work. Maybe if you don?t want another headache, you?ll keep the hell away.?

?Aw, poor baby.? He mocked her and his upper lip curled as well in part growl part smirk, ?She can?t stay in there forever?? Beleth snorted, ?One day, when she thinks it?s safe to come out, I?ll be there...and Rinn will get to feel what tearing out a heart feels like.?

Maybe it was the mocking, or maybe it was his promise that Rinn would know what tearing a heart from someone?s chest would feel like, but something he said had her closing the already short distance between them. She moved quick on her feet, and when the distance was closed? She shifted, hips turning as she put everything she had into a punch that was aimed right for her brother?s face. It was probably well enough to break His nose...For a moment? she had forgotten that the body belonged to her brother, thanks to her anger, and the frustration that had had been building up the past few days.

He had been too surprised to do anything about it. His hands still behind his head, her fist cracked him hard and sent him reeling for a moment. His hands went to his now bloodied nose more out of shock than of pain. Rinn pulled his hands away from his face and looked down at his own blood...probably somewhere inside his mind, the teen was freaking out at the sight but on the outside, Beleth snarled at the Warlock when he shifted his gaze to her. His eyes gleamed yellow a moment before he growled, ?Maybe he?ll learn that today with you instead.?

After her fist had connected with his face, she dropped down to avoid any kind of swinging retaliation that he may come at her with, which ended up being none. Thankfully. She glanced up, watching as the demon brought his hands to his face then pulled them away, and for a moment she felt satisfied. The flash yellow in his eyes, his words made her snort, before wordlessly she moved again, this time to aim to drive an elbow into his gut with a snarl of her own. ?You?re gonna have to catch me first, you f***er.? Whether or not she had succeeded in driving her elbow into him, her leg moved to hook his by the ankle, and give a yank, in attempt to pull him off his feet. Then she skittered back from him a few feet, then turned, and ran.

He had twisted to avoid the elbow but got tripped up by her leg hook and was sent sprawling. It would give the warlock time to bolt and get some distance between the two before he let out a string of curses and got up to pursue.

She kept running and didn't look back. She was too focused on the ground before her, not wanting to trip over something, and to put more distance between the demon in her brother?s body. She ran? well she ran for a while, before she ducked down another street and skittered to a stop to pull out her phone. It was time. Time to act on the plan that her and Mach had discussed. Sealing off the demon?s powers and trapping him within her brother until she could get ahold of Cane to perform the exorcism. It was the perfect opportunity, as she had already thrown him off with a punch to the face, and knocking him off his feet.

Quietly she leaned up against the outside of one of the warehouses, and sagged a bit as her chest heaved with every desperate breath she pulled in. Then she brought the screen to life with a button press. The light from the screen cast an eerie glow on her features as she started to type out a frantic flurry of messages, all for a certain hunter she knew.

Text to Mach: plz tell me youre not busy
Text to Mach: i pissed beleth off hes after me
Text to Mach: now is as good a time as any to catch him and seal the demon
Text to Mach: hes angry has no clue about you if you show up take him by surprise
Text to Mach: i'm at warehouse 34 at dockside

Somewhere in the near distance she could hear the demon calling her name, and promising cruel and painful things should he catch her. With a muttered curse of her own, she tapped out one last message to shoot off to the hunter.

Text to Mach: hes close will text update location

And with that her phone was crammed back into her pocket and she took off, trying to keep her steps quiet but quick.

Zynn

Date: 2016-01-30 09:09 EST
?This is how sudden things happened that haunted forever.?
-Daniel Woodrell, Winter's Bone

December 23rd, 3015. Late Evening- 10:36 pm

Mach blew warm air between his hands, a mild mutter escaping him as he wandered down that lonely street clad in a heavy leather trench coat. Blue eyes blue wandered about, looking for sign of Zynn after that rather ominous flurry of texts he got that screamed 'it's time, grab your stuff and meet me down at the docks!' And so here he was, in that abandoned street, armed to the teeth with hardly a clue as to what was about to go down.

It had been by chance that she had happened across the demon, when she had simply been looking for some other warehouse to watch burn as she pent out her frustrations on the insides of it. For a moment, she had been quiet, then he had opened his mouth, provoked her into throwing a fist in his face, and an elbow in his gut, before she darted away, and texted Mach a jumbled mess of words before she ran. She had yet to even tell him of her dream, and the heavy dread that had come with it. Once she had gotten what she hoped was a good stretch of distance between him and her, she ducked into an alley, to text Mach once more. Briefly, her head peeked out to peer up at the warehouse number, before she ducked back in, and texted 'Warehouse 41'. Once that was done, she leaned back against the thin metal shelling, and sucked in deep breaths, in an attempt to catch it.

For the moment, she'd surprised and incapacitated the arrogant body snatching demon but when the shock had worn off, the anger had replaced it and he started tracking the brat of a Warlock while wiping blood from one of his nostrils.

A lazy sigh, another puff for his hands, and he'd drag out a ciggy now. Sure, it was a hunt.... but that didn't mean you couldn't smoke! Beside, made him look natural... or something. Lighting up the man took a drag as his pocket rattled once more, the slip of tech pulled for and glanced over noting the new directions. "Hmm..." A mild tone before he made for a quick pace that direction, hand tucking into the heavy trenchcoat to grab hold of his caster, thumbing off the safety as he moved. Focusing on that spell he'd already drank down for his vision he made note of someone in the distance, a squint and he'd make a beeline for Zynn wordlessly as she looked like she'd been running.

She had heard foot steps, and immediately, her fingers and hands had jumped with blue electricity, that cast an eerie glow in the alley. Then she realized it was Mach, and it died as quickly as it had jumped to life. Relief that it was him, and not the demon, washed over her face, and she leaned in against him in greeting once he had reached her. She was silent for a few more moments, other than her heavy pulls of slow breaths. "I... I don't know where he is. But he's pissed. I punched him. And knocked him on his ass." The words were soft, barely loud enough to be registered as a whisper.

The demon had lost her trail for the moment and looked around with gleaming yellow eyes before he let out a shout to the relatively empty warehouse area as he continued moving, "Hey, Zynn!" He waited a moment though he doubted she'd respond, "That wasn't very nice. Treating your brother so harsh!" He snorted and scanned the various alleyways as he walked, "You could have really hurt me, you know? Well...Rinn anyway."

Mach closed and caught the woman in a... well, lean. There was something hard about the man that she'd likely never seen before, a seriousness that seemed so at odds with the very concept of Mach. As he stepped away his free hand would snake into his coat to snag a few potions which he began throwing back like shots at a frat party, each one causing his breath to steam more and more. "So you hurt him physically... and it pissed him off?" Information taken in as he scanned about quickly, taking note of their surroundings before he snagged Zynn's hand and started leading her into an alley where they may well be trapped... or perhaps could trap Rinn in turn.

She watched close as he tossed the potions back like he was chugging a train of shots at a party. Watching this, made her realize that she had none of the ones she had been saving for this exact scenario. She muttered something about it to herself and rolled her shoulders, "Because I hurt his pride more than anything." The words came in a rushed whisper as he dragged her down further into another alley. One they could get trapped in. "He is petulant."

Somewhere, off in the distance she could hear him, and for a moment, she bit down on her lower lip. She hadn't really thought about her brother when she threw her hits, she had just been focused on the demon. But Rinn would survive. He's had a busted nose before.

Petulant was a good word for the volatile creature that inhabited her brother currently. The demon continued to stalk along the warehouses and spotted her turning a corner, still unaware that she was with anyone, he gave a wicked smirk and followed, "Where you goin', sis? I wanna talk. And by talk I mean beat your head into the wall until you stop making noise." She'd hurt the demon before, while he was in Terry's body, having exploded his hand though it had healed somehow rather than leave the poor man maimed for life.

Releasing her hand the man dug into his coat to produce a gambit of potions for Zynn as well, each one one that they'd worked on before so she'd know exactly what they would do and what sort of affects and detriments each had. Hey, she said 'It's time', that meant 'Grab the kitchen sink' to the schmooze! If she wasn't quick to grab them they would be forced on her as he snagged some cantrips now before drawing his caster. "Pride.. hmm.. useful. Think you can lure him into this alley and keep his attention?" Looking about now the man was obviously planning something, a few of those cantrip sticks tossed in what seemed like random directions.

It was when Mach shoved an array of potions her way that she heard her brother?s voice call out words that her brother would never say. Her grip tightened briefly on one of the vials, before she hurriedly took the rest of them from him. As he talked, she took stock of the vials, and made note of what she had. Then carefully, she shuffled all but two of them into her purse. One was to augmented her powers, make them flow a little easier. The second was a healing potion. She nodded to his words. "Ah yeah. Shouldn't be hard." Her eyes follows the cantrip sticks he threw, before she offered an uneven grin. "Do you want me to do that now? Or give you a moment?"

Rinn's voice called out in sing-song tones, "Where arrre you, Zynny?"

The man cast her a wry look as he holstered that caster. "Give me a sec and then let the fun begin..." And with that he took a running go for the wall, a hop, and kick, and he'd round the rail of a fire escape in what could only be called one helluva impressive display of parkour! It was a skill the man found was very useful in his line of work... which involved a lot of running. Squirreling up the fire escape the hunter would vanish into the shadows of the rooftops leaving Zynn alone.

"Ah, alright." She nodded twice and looked like she was going to say something else, but then he was off! She watched, astonished at his nimble display. That was unexpected, but it made her grin. Then she pulled the cork on the spell augmenting potion, and tossed it back. She rolled her shoulders as she felt it's thrum, and followed with the healing one as she knew it would heal until it ran through her. Then she tossed both vials aside, and started for the mouth of the alleyway. "Hey. I'm over here. You wanna bash my head in you gotta catch me first, yeah? "

He had been close to there and when he saw her, he smirked. A dark look on his face that promised cruel things should he actually catch her, "More games? Aw, sure." With that, he charged toward her location intent to do as he had promised.

Mach started dropping his own mixture of potions, each one taken methodically with a shutter and steaming exhale after each... the joys of drinking stuff nearly five times as potent as what the warlock just downed. Resisting the urge to pop his neck he simply closed his eyes, working to analyze the aura of that which resided in Rinn while he blindly pulled his caster from it's holster holding it at the ready, waiting.

She had been expecting nearly anything, so the movement of his form drew her attention immediately. She saw the promise in his eyes, and it sent a chill of fear down her spine. As he moved forward for her, she twisted and stepped to the side. Just as efficiently, she swung out a leg to trip him up, before she scrambled, aiming to gain distance between her and him. She had no urge to let him get close enough to even giver her a concussion again.

Rinn stumbled at the rather well timed trip but he didn't go careening into the ground as she had hoped. After he regained his momentary lost balance, he was bolting after her. Rinn was just a little taller than her but he wasn't as fit or athletic really, more used to playing video games and eating cheesies. Even so, with Beleth at the wheel, he could force the boy's body to go beyond it's limits and until collapse if he wanted, even continue to keep a body animated a short time after death too but hopefully, she wouldn't have to discover that.

Mach watched the information that displayed as an array of colors and values in his mind, information that told him things if not so very useful for how to push the demon out short of the 10 cal backup plan he kept in the small of his back. "Come on..." Mouthed words as he watched the two moving into the alley, the grip of his caster groaning a little under the squeeze. "Make it to the trap..." There was that note of too short of distance between the two that was... going to be problematic. There was some hope that Zynn could open that before they were in position but... yeah, Mach was already working the problem as he drew that second, smaller caster; blue eyes blue snapping open as he moved to position to take a shot.

Well she had tried, and that's what counted, right? She was certain it was, especially with Beleth. At some point she glanced over her shoulder, and noted the short distance between them. Alarmed, she put her head down, and ran, ran like her life depended on it. Though that may have been the case. Though she could only run so fast... and it might not be fast enough.

The demon possessed boy didn't seem to realize it was a lure or that there was another party used to dealing with his brand of monster ready to take a shot at him. Blinded by arrogance and hate, he continued to chase after the warlock, not gaining on her any further but not falling noticeably back either.

Distance, either of them... crap. The man bit back a curse as he ticked the cylinder over two and popped the safety. The demon... belly something or another... was at the helm... but he was at the helm of a human body. And from what he could glean and what Zynn had told him... well, it was still just that. "Sorry pal, no hard feelings..." A whisper of an apology as he snapped the trigger on the hastened spell. A sharp whiz, a pop, and in a flash a bolt of lightning arced from the tip of the barrel straight to Rinn's face. This wasn't a stun gun or taser sort of jolt, this was a full body screw with every nerve sort of jolt that would drop pretty much anything not expecting such like a sack of mashed potatoes.

She kept running, as fast as her legs could carry her, then she heard a pop, a crackle of electricity. Her steps faltered, and she almost tripped and face planted into the cobbles. She hopped and stumbled, before righting herself. She felt the electricity that hummed, tasted it on the air, and felt it in the way all the hairs on her body stood on end. Then she turned on her heels to face the alleyway behind her.

That was certainly effective and caught him full force in the face as intended. It snapped his head back from the force and pushed the rest of his body with it, kicking his legs out from under him as the sudden change in direction occurred. Rinn's form crashed to the ground and rolled a bit with the momentum before going still practically at her feet on the cobblestones.

"KEEP MOVING!" A yell down to Zynn as he snapped that other caster up and snapped the trigger. This one was a low whir that built up into a charged scream that hummed with the air around the downed Rinn, dangerous and sickly in it's churn. "Come on, come on..." He hated the time it took for binding spells to cast off a caster, the time it took to charge, the toll it took on him as nose dribbled at a constant rate from his nose. He'd keep the second caster ready to jolt Rinn again were they to try and get up while that spell charged until finally a bubble of brilliant gold light shimmered to life around that particular bit of alley. It was beautiful in the way it glistened until, like a bubble, it simply popped... or in this case rushed in to try and catch the demon possessed man in the worst feeling hug of his existence.

"Rinn!" Her brothers name came as a reflex, from the part of her that wished deeply to protect him. Then Mach was yelling, and she remembered that Beleth was within her brother. Keep what? Moving. It clicked just as she cast a glance upwards. She had no issues with that suggestion, so, with one more glance cast to her brother?s limp body, she turned. The she ran, one foot in front of the other for the end of the alleyway. And she would continue to,until she reached the end of it. Or until Mach had her stop, either way.

Rinn had groaned when the shock of the blast tingled along his limbs, making it hard to move and concentrate though he had more of his senses returned when the bubble constricted against his body. The demon growled and struggled in the magical bond, flopping like a fish. When he found it no use, he went still and snarled, "Release me!" The angry shout came from the entrapped beast.

Mach sort of grunted as the demon/man writhed in that binding. It wasn't complete by any means and so he was working fast to try and do such. Bindings were easy, rope worked as a binding against a person. Seals were where the real magic was. Leashing that bind spell effect he shoved the caster in holster as he clambered back down as quickly as he could back to the alley floor. "ZYNN, gonna need some juice here in a minute!" Shouted over his shoulder as already he moved in on the man, a bevy of paper wards, sharp implements, and a few circlets drawn from his coat.

The warlock had kept moving, before the shout of her name from Mach cut across the alley, and had her skittering to a stop so she could turn on her heel and face them. She took a moment to listen to her pulse as it thudded in her ears and pull in a couple of deep breaths, despite her burning want to suck in and gasp for air. Her eyes danced from Rinn to Mach, and back and forth a few more times, assessing. With another couple of deep breaths, she started that way at a brisk jog, and slowed to a stop when she neared them. The demand the demon made had her giving him a rather wry look. ?Mmh. No release for you, yeah?? She wanted to goad him?. but figured maybe it would be best to do so once Mach had finished putting the seals and bindings on him to do so.

When Zynn got close again, the struggling efforts resumed and growls, ?Release me and I?ll have some leniency on you and your friend here. He has more skill than you do at least.? Beleth snarled and flicked his eyes to Mach, ?She?s going to get you killed, boy.? The demon sneered a bit, it was an odd look for the boy to have.

The hunter sort of skittered a bit around the downed boy making demands and snarling like something akin more to a beast than a man. Taking a breath to steady himself he started slapping those sealing wards about Rinn?s body, getting all the Chakra points and then some in a chaotic yet oddly organized pattern. At the threat to himself Mach just sort of snorted out a laugh while he worked. ?She, just like you, are going to have to take a number for that? think I?m serving thirty something next and your number is in the nineties?? Wry humor in his tone as he manhandled the young man's arms into position so as to handcuff them behind their back, cuffs applied to ankles too just in case running became an issue once more since he was just sort of flying blind on this. Better skilled, right... more like larger arsenal to draw out of his butt! Still, this sort of thing was his bread and butter or at least more so his than Zynn?s.

Moving on to those sharp, pointy things the man began jabbing one through clothing and into the flesh of each limb. It was a brutal and nasty business but it was also faster and safer than trying to strip the demon possessed man down so as to put the compliance bands directly on skin. Of course where he could easily get at skin he would strap on the metal bands, particularly that last circlet which was slipped on the man?s head and snugged up with the turn of a knob on the back. ?Alright Zynn, I need you to channel energy into my back, yeah? Like a battery? just feed it in but be ready to zap this one if they get squirrely because I?m going to have to drop the binding spell so I can cast the seal.? Which mean he really hoped those cuffs and the jolt he gave earlier lasted as he already moved to grab those two casters once more, thumb on the release waiting till he felt that energy from the warlock before he?d break the leash letting seal cage collapse.

?Hey. Dearest brother, shut the f*** up, yeah?? Those two words dripped with sarcasm, as she rolled her shoulders, and straightened a little, a line of tension drawing at her shoulders for a moment. His comment to Mach. The one of her getting him killed, had struck a nerve, but she didn?t say anything else, even as Mach shot back a response.


In fact she didn?t respond again, until Mach started jabbing her brother with sharp pointy things, She couldn?t help but flinch, and resist the urge to turn her attention elsewhere. When Mach spoke to her, her attention slipped away from her brother towards him before she nodded, a set determination setting across her face. ?Alright.? She pulled in a deep breath, and rolled her shoulders, working to release the tension that had crawled into them.

When she stepped towards Mach, settling somewhere behind him, it was gone. Without hesitation she reached up to let her hand rest on his upper back, while the other lifted to be at the ready for Beleth, should he start to act out. A couple seconds later, she took another deep breath, Her hand would start to glow blue, and energy would start fueling whatever Mach was doing.

The demon growled, not really understanding what Mach was doing but he knew he didn?t like it. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and went still. No more struggling or spitting curses, just eerily calm and quiet. He was concentrating and preparing himself for one last burst of energy. He could guess that this was an exorcism attempt and he would have none of that.

As Zynn began pumping her energy to fuel Mach?s magic powered battery, she could feel similar power building in Rinn. She could also feel the horn blade at her hip shake in its sheath a moment before it was ripped free from its home and snapped to Rinn?s hand. With one yank, with the concentrated powers for the one action Beleth could fight against the seals and counterspells with, lifted Rinn?s arm and plunged the sharp dagger into his own chest.

His eyes opened and he smirked, blood bubbling out from the deep self inflicted stab wound as soon as the blade was withdrawn, ?...Release me...and I?ll leave the boy?.so you can get him aid. Keep me bound?.and I?ll wait until he?s cold and dead?.?

Zynn

Date: 2016-04-20 09:25 EST
?There must be a few times in life when you stand at a precipice of a decision. When you know there will forever be a Before and an After...I knew there would be no turning back if I designated this moment as my own Prime Meridian from which everything else would be measured.?
-Justina Chen, North of Beautiful

Mach flicked the release on the caster, the binding spell crackling out just as he snapped the trigger back again setting the cycler whirring back to life though it?s tone was different, the pitch and crackle shifting noticeably as the spell being woven switched gears. The hunter focused in on that spell as he envisioned it, envisioned the matrix of forces and energies running through the young man?s body before him, envisioned how those wards and this spell would effectively cut off and contain those forces, disrupt the free flow and manipulation of energy in this vessel. This? wasn?t easy to say the least. It was, honestly, very hard indeed as even with all that excess energy from Zynn, that processed magic she pumped into his mana processing center he was still dribbling blood from his nostrils as the spell grew and grew in complexity.

It may well have been for this reason that the man did not notice the shift in energy from the captive, the concentration and focus of it all into one limb. If he had he would have told Zynn to zap that rig of daggers the hunter stabbed into her brother, to disrupt the body and totally scramble the mind long enough for the hunter to complete his ritual. Instead all that held the young man contained were those military grade handcuffs, and while they wouldn?t give? the young man?s hand did. Buckling in a grotesque manner Mach only had an instant to see how everything went horribly pear shaped as that dagger sailed past and into a broken hand forced to operation by a will that did not care about the screams of the body. ?Fuck, NO!? He reached with his other hand but it was already too late, the young man rolled and blue eyes blue watched as that blade sank into Rinn?s chest.

Damn it? DAMN IT! Teeth ground as he reached but already the blade was drawn out, blood bubbling from the wound. An angry sneer held to the schmooze as he quickly reassessed the situation, making up new parameters and plans on the fly. Think Mach, think! Keeping a hold on that trigger, continuing to compile that spell he cobbled together a plan. Grappling that broken hand with the dagger the hunter all but growled in Rinn?s face. ?Right? if you wounded this vessel too grievously you?d have nothing to bargain with demon? I think you?re just desperate not to be sealed??

Without looking back he pushed the crunching of that complex spell algorithm. ?Keep feeding Zynn? we can seal the demon in Rinn, bind it?s power, and then give aid to your brother when the demon is bound? people? people are resilient? but if we let this dickbag go it?s just come back at you? at you, at yours, at Rinn? this is our best shot to end this, to stop Beleth here and now.? Calm, cold words spoken from the man, the hunter focused on the mission, ready to push the edge to get what needed to be done done.


The warlock hadn?t noted the power building from the demon, until she felt her blade trembling at her hip. Most of her focus was on fueling more and more energy into Mach, which never flagged or wavered. Fingers moved to check it just as the blade sailed through the air. She watched as it snapped into her brother?s hand, and with a sinking feeling she realized what he was doing. ?She twisted, moving to step around Mach, and towards her brother, before she stopped, watching in horror as the demon plunged the dagger into her brother?s chest. ?No! Rinn-? The words rolled out of her, laden with her rising panic, her terror. The only reason she didn?t move any closer to him yet was because the demon was still in her brother. Still a threat.

The words the demon spoke were panic inducing, and the words that Mach followed up with? Well they had her turning towards him, tears welling and threatening to spill over. ?N-No. You can?t- That?s.? She paused, and gritted her teeth, eyes dancing from Rinn, to Mach, and back again. ?I can?t do t-that. You can?t ask me to risk my brother?s life, Let ?em go. Please? W-We?ll figure it out later, just let me take care of him, Call an ambulance. I?m n-not the best at healing.? Her voice was heavy with panic, her fingers wringing at the edge of her jacket. The tears that had welled were finally spilling over. ?I told him. Promised t-that I?d keep him safe. He?s gonna d-die if I don?t help him. Catching Beleth right n-now isn?t worth it if Rinn?s d-dead in the end. Please.?

As she spoke to Mach, She kept shooting glances towards the wound that was bubbling blood from her brother?s chest, her mind playing out every worst scenario before her. And the more she spoke, the more the static in the air seemed to hum, live with the energy that was rolling over the warlock now that panic had set in, and her mind was a roiling sea of emotions.

A wide grin split Rinn?s lips in a sadistically amused look generated by the demon still controlling him. Zynn knew the boy?s tolerance for pain was practically zero and that he would be in a great deal of pain should Beleth vacate. But at the same time...she knew the monster would keep to his word. He would hang on, cling to Rinn?s body and use him as a vessel until the boy was no longer among the living. Even with Mach?s unique skill set and techniques, time was short.

?Tick?.tock.? He chuckled, a cough and wheeze as blood oozed. The demon once again bound and still, the energy all used up in his last ditch attempt of a threat, ?Decisions?.. decisions?. keep me locked in here and have little brother die...and possibly me with him in time...or release me, get little brother some aid...and always look over your shoulder.? The demon sneered and set his eyes on Mach, ?...I have quite the list?.?

Mach ground his teeth as he tried to push that spell faster, to align and calibrate everything. Too little in one ward and the seal would not hold, too much and he could kill the boy though his actions regardless may well do such. There was a bit off curse as he heard Zynn breaking down behind him, the possessed man mocking him before. Why didn?t this cast faster! Because such wasn?t his forte? because he was helping Zynn with this knowing he was out of his depth but damn it, that?s just what he did!

The blood dribbled from his nose, the blood dribbled from that hole in Rinn?s chest, the tears spattered on the ground from Zynn? all of it just worked in the man?s mind. ?If Beleth gets away he could just come back and kill you later Zynn? probably kill Rinn first and a few others just to screw with you!? Mach sneered as he heard the demon taunting him but such was crushed by the pleading voice of the warlock behind him. ?Damn it?? A growl, his knuckles white upon the handle of the caster. She was right? he didn?t have the right to force her to choose her brother over what he knew was the right call, the sacrifice that was best to be made to prevent further tragedy. That would be the tough call he?d make? but this was not a decision, a call for him. This was her family and as much as he wanted to just browbeat her he knew how this could crush her. She wasn?t like him and perhaps that?s why she shouldn?t have been making the decision? or perhaps it was for that reason that she should have.

?This has all the potential to go tits sideways Zynn? are you sure you just want to let this thing go? Knowing that it?ll just come back at you? at yours as an unknown force? An unknown individual? It?s pretty fucking miserable to live in that constant fear? paranoid of where a threat may come from. Believe me? I know.? A gentle tone to his voice as he said that, the words confident with experience. He was a hunter after all and there was a very good reason why his apartment was so heavily warded and barriered and illusioned.

He looked back to the woman, blue eyes blue seeking out that green eyed gaze. His expression was obvious - if she told him to release the demon he?d release that trigger right then and there and if she didn?t then? he was so very, very sorry.

The demon was cruel, yes, but she felt just as cruel, begging to bring her brother back to a body that was broken, dying. He was a wimp when it came to pain, but it was either that, or let the demon kill her brother. She was certain that should Rinn live, he?d eventually forgive her?.right? She stayed where she had stopped herself, a few inches behind Mach, and off to the side, fingers wringing at the edge of her hoodie as Mach spoke. He was right. His words were right. If she let the demon go, she?d be looking over her shoulders until he finally surfaced again. Constantly worrying about her mother, and everyone else she cared about. But then, truth be told, she already did that.

?I don?t care, yeah? If it means my brother gets to walk away from this, himself again, I don?t care. The bastard gifted my mother and I both severed hands for Christmas. Terry got one as well. Rinn. Rinn had to be there for that. Rin had to listen to the women scream as he took those hands. I can?t stand the thought of him seeing anything else like that, Having to live with the fact that it was his hands that did it, Yeah? Or say Beleth were to kill me or my mother in his body. He would have to live with that, and I can?t let that happen. I can?t let him hurt anymore than he already has. Terry?s a mess. He?s a shining example of what happens to people trapped in their own heads with no control of their bodies.? There was a line of tension in her voice, an edge that was set with determination.

When Mach asked her if she was sure, she pulled her eyes away from her brother?s body and the wound bubbling in his chest, and narrowed them on him. ?If that was your brother, would you ask yourself the same thing? Would you risk his life?? She rocked on her feet, tears still spilling over, staining her cheeks with glistening streaks. ?I?ve lived in constant fear since the day I?ve lost my memory, Mach. A little longer is no big deal. Let the demon go. Please. I?ll figure it out as I go along. A little longer living in fear is nothing compared to what will happen if my brother dies tonight. Then that?s on me. On you. I don?t want that. For either of us.? The last bit was softly said as she moved to step around him.

When blue eyes blue met her bottle green cat?s eyes, his expression quietly asking what she wanted to do, she swallowed. ?Let him go. And call an ambulance.?

With the command given and if Mach was true to his intentions, the demon would be set free. When the seals were dropped, a foul smelling miasma billowed out of the orifices of the teen?s face. Rinn?s body arched off the ground and trembled a bit until the last of the demon drifted out of him and into the night air.

When it was all gone and the boy was no longer possessed, he let out a sob and series of coughs that produced some blood before he curled tightly into a ball and trembled. His breath came in short laboured gasps as his injured heart pumped harder, no longer being kept slow and steady by the cruel demon but fueled by Rinn?s terror that he was going to die.

Mach hated this. He could only see misery stemming from this decision, could only see Zynn getting hurt more by the consequences of this night's actions, of rash decisions fueled by emotion rather than logic. And he hated the fact that when it came down to it, he was the vicious monster that sacrificed others cold and callously. Some said the difference between a hero and a villain was the actions that they took, but in reality it was merely the decisions they had been forced to make along the way and how others viewed their particular shade of gray. Such was the thought that had the man shaking his head when Zynn asked him if it were his own brother in this situation, if he would risk sacrificing Mike or Jon or Matt for the greater good. ?Don?t ask that Zynn? you? you wouldn?t like the answer.? The words strained as, frankly, he didn?t like the answer either.

And finally when she told him her answer he couldn?t help but shake his head in disappointment; not really at her, but at himself. At how he let this situation occur, at how he pushed her against her own brother, and simply at his own failure to help her. But regardless of any of that loathing and anger he still remained to his word, to that silent promise as his finger eased off the trigger, the warble and whir of his caster dying down. It would take a moment before there was a definite ?snap? in the air, that bubble of tension popping releasing the boy? and the demon within. His hand gripped that second caster, ready to shake and bake at the slightest provocation but all that there was was that miasma that billowed out from the youth, dissipating into the night leaving the broken young man to weep on the ground.

?DAMN IT!? Teeth bared in a growl as the man pulled the trigger on that secondary caster, a bolt of lightning searing it?s way out into the night?s sky after that cloud in impotent rage. A few more words fell from the man?s lips in a tongue foreign and unknown as he slammed the butt of that caster into his own thigh, the ire evident giving the man an almost feral look. But just as quickly had such risen did it fall again, the hunter and the schmooze gaining control once more as he bitterly shoved that primary caster into it?s holster, his cell snagged and the quick key EMS call beacon activated before that too was cast aside. They had Rinn back? but without some quick action they may well not even have that in the end. Falling back on training, Mach already started to pull those points that would be useful in treat such a grievous wound from his belt before unbuckling and pulling that tactical field first responder kit from the small of his back. ?Zynn, can you do any healing? Maybe at least stop or slow the blood? We need to keep him stable until emergency response arrives.?

When Mach answered by telling her she wouldn?t like the answer, she seemed to pause. Very briefly, she seemed to consider him in a light she hadn?t before, then just as quickly, the look was gone, and she rolled her shoulders. The subject, she seemed content to let die with that, as she said nothing else, or tried in any way to get it going again.

Though that silence was short lived as Mach released that spell, and the miasma rolled out of her brother. The second it started to dissipate, she was dipping forward, the drop from her feet to her knees beside her brother graceless. ?Rinn. Rinn. Look here, yeah? You?re not gonna die. I promise.? She stretched, moving to pick up her dagger from where ever it had ended up. ?I got you.? she rocked back, moving to catch his shirt with her blade and cut all the way up the center, and pushed both sides back so she had a clear visual on his chest wound. Mach?s question had her eyes cutting up his way. ?Maybe enough to stop the bleedin? yeah? I need- Is it safe to leave those in there?? She gestured to the various daggers Mach had rigged her brother up with ?Are they essential. I mean.? She flapped a hand, and gave up, figuring that he would know what she meant.

As she spoke, her hands moved, searching for any other wounds and the like, before she settled on the fact that the immediate importance was just the one that bubbled and oozed from his chest. ?Hang on, okay? Pay attention here.? She spoke sharp and quick, hoping to keep him alert and focused on her. Meanwhile her hands were moving to cover the chest wound. With little effort, her hands were to quickly become stained crimson.

The boy trembled and his eyes were wild with panic as he hyperventilated between ragged coughs. Zynn could hear him wheeze and see how pale he was getting. He was losing a lot of blood. He grabbed at her tightly with his good hand, giving a whimper, the fear not allowing him to form proper words. Even with the warlock?s minor healing, he was losing more blood than she could keep in him and was fading.

After a few moments, Rinn fainted; either from pain or blood loss, it was hard to tell.