< Gaide's Reign


Chapter Eleven: Pain Will Not Part

Skylar looked around, as relief filled his heart. Melody spat on the ground outside the gate, and walked slowly,"Yay...we're outta that hell hole."

Dimitri nodded "Mmm..." he sighed looking around at the familiar trees 'One bloody circle...'

Dalamir looked to Skylar,"...where to?"

He paused, and gestured eastwards, smiling,"You guys need a place to stay for a while?"

"Depends on where it is," Dimitri mumbled, glancing him.

"It's not too far. I'm guessing you people have walked long enough distances to consider this rather close. It's only a mile away."

Rayan sighed,"A mile can seem like forever at times..."

Dimitri nodded in agreement "Well, I suppose the faster we get there the better,"

Skylar smiled, and started walking,"Good." he said, while pacing ahead,"We'll be able to help you with your injuries there." he added

"Why do you think I'm agreeing?" he growled, pacing unnaturally off kilter.

"I don't," he replied, looking to him for a while. Skylar eyed him for a while, then turned ahead to lead again.

Melody blinked up at him, and walked over by Dimitri,"He's a weird guy..."

Dimitri nodded uneasily "I think we have to stop trusting every other person,"

"All we can do is trust him right now...we're not in a position to do otherwise."

"Go figure," Dimitri sighed, pain already taking him. "Mile..."

"Meh, you'll live." she gave a reassuring smile, and looked to Dalamir, looking as dark and snide as ever,"What's wrong? Don't like the spotlight taken from you, huh?"

Dalamir looked up to her, and snarled,"Shut up."

Dimitri blinked, face taking on a blank expression "What?"

Rayan laughed a bit,"Dalamir's used to leading...he hates taking orders."

"That much is apparent..."

A grunt and a glare came at Melody's way for the comment, as she fell silent.

"...Ahhhh..." Dimitri allowed himself a slight smirk, glancing Dalamir.

"Leave me alone," Dalamir muttured.

Melody rolled her eyes,"And you think we're juvenile, sheesh!"

"He's not being juvenile," Dimitri protested half-heartedly "He's being independent,"

Rayan smiled,"Independent in a very juvenile like way---"

"Okay, okay, I get it..."

"Yes, we'll leave you alone now," Dimitri grinned a bit.

"Thank you," he sighed, and stormed on ahead, beginning to engage in conversation with Skylar.

Rayan chuckled on after him,"Ah, I love when he gets flustered."

Leerah stood off by herself, thinking. what have i gotten myself into?

---

'What the--'

Morgan sighed, watching the body fall to the ground in a heap of blood. Stooping down to search the man's pockets she gladly found herself with a new fifty dollars.

Shoving the wad of bills inot her pocket she glanced around curiously at the area. Her ears twitched and her eyes narrowed as the heavy scent of blood mingled with rain wafted into her nose.

"Bit too much..." she mumbled, slipping a long kept feather into her other pocket. She set out to find the source.

The fallen vampire trudged heavy through the mud and rain, cursing under his breath. Kaine growled to himself, as his matted hair stuck onto his wet face, clutching onto his bleeding arm.

"...Kaine?" Morgan blinked, standing a few metres afront him, eyebrows sliding downwards "..What happened?"

He glanced up at her, and froze. After a few silent moments, Kaine walked to her warily,"Dimitri..." he spat out the three syllables with as much contempt as possible.

Her eyes widened slowly, feeling blood drain from her neck and face. "What did he do?" she stepped up to him, taking hold of his shoulders to support the vampire.

Kaine panted heavily,"What does the guy usually do." he mumbled,"And then my plan backfired and the filth and myself ended up in jail..."

She blinked stupidly "Jail?" she sighed "...Well, how did you get out?" she mentally smacked herself for bombarding him with questions.

"This jackass 'outta no where came out and set us free...we made a run for it, then I split from them as soon as I could." Kaine explained with a monotone voice.

"Mm, a total jackass, I mean, getting you out of jail like that... what a guy," she said sarcastically, lifting a hand to push some matted hair out of Kaine's face "Well, come on, we can't have you getting pnemonia(sp?) out here,"

He sighed, and nodded, beginning to limp forward. Kaine pressed on the previous subject further,"He was a jackass;he treated me like filth. Don't blame him though..."

"I suppose he would consider anything in jail filth..." she replied apathetically, "Why d'you get thrown in jail anyways?" she asked curiously.

"Well, Dimitri became violent and threatening to this little skanky girl...so I turned him and his 'accomplists' in. But of course, to get into the city in the first place, I had some killing to do...and once they found out, they took me in as well." he claimed, spitting on the ground.

"So I come back to the question of what did Dimitri do, cause basically it sounds like only the police and this jackass gave you hell," she sighed, glancing around. They past the man she had murdered ealier and she kicked the corpse aside into the bushes as she walked.

Kaine watched the corpse lay lifeless through the evergreen, and arched a brow,"He shot me." he replied, turning back to her.

"Mm," was her bland answer.

He stared at her, and ran his tongue over his front row of teeth,"I appreciate the concern." Kaine said sarcastically.

---

Leerah, seeing the attention was away from her, began to depart. Seeing as Im not needed here.

---

She sighed, stopping and turning to look at him "I just don't see why you're so dead set on him," she cocked her head to the side "The worst he's done to you is shoot you in the arm, twice." she blinked "That's it."

Sighing agains he relaized she sounded apathetic, "Not that it doesn't concern me, it just seems like you're wasting your time trying to kill him,"

Kaine grunted lowly,"I'm not wasting any time, Morgan. I have to--" the pounding thing beneath his chest has been longing to tell her what was really going on, but he refrained from it. Promises with Him came before everything-even Morgan, though it pained him. After a long and thought out pause, he shook his head,"...take care of some buisness."

She raised an eyebrow, eyes darkening "So it's for money?" she asked unknowingly.

He laughed bitterly,"A bit more than that."

---

Dalamir blinked to the departing Leerah,"Where're you going?"

Leerah turned around. "Im not needed here, so I thought Id leave."

---

Her eyes narrowed, glaring at him deeply "And this is worth it?"

"Entirely." the word rolled off his tongue slowly and sharply.

---

Dalamir arched his eyebrow,"And where exactly do you intend to go?"

Leerah pondered this for a whilw. "Im not sure. I havent had a place in mind to go for a long time."

---

Morgan sighed, turning on her heel and continuing forward, taking care to stay ahead of the vampire.

Kaine watched on after her silently. The beast in his chest roared for her, and he sped him his pace. He pulled Morgan into a gentle hug,"...sorry..."

She sighed, leaning her head against jhim, breathing out silenetly "What is he making you do?" she asked quietly, not expecting an answer.


Silence filled the moist and murky air, as Morgan has predicted. Kaine breathed heavily, and leaned his head forward against hers, and the scent of her hair filled his nostrils,"I promise to tell you. Just not now...trust me, okay?" he crooned gently.

Morgan sighed, eyelids dropping slowly. She nodded shortly "Kay... I trust you," she side glanced the wound in his arm, noting the blood loss "Come on," she took hold of his hand, continuing forward again "You'll die at this rate of we don't get you fixed up,"

Kaine smiled gently,"Alright...thank you, Morgan."

---

"Well, then you have nothing to loose tagging along with us, am I right?" Dalamir asked Leerah sternly.

Leerah sighed. "I guess you're right. But I dont think your angel friend likes me to much." He's one I dont seem to get along with.

The older elf chuckled lightly,"Dimitri doesn't take kindly to many...including myself." he said pointedly, sending a sharp glance at him. His gaze returned softly to Leerah,"Don't worry about it."

"Alright, I guess Ill stay with your group for a while." Leerah said, sitting on the ground. "Atleast until morning." If I stayed with them longer Id have to try and catch up with them all the time after the day.

Dimitri returned the hateful look to Dalamir, hobbling along angrily.

Dalamir smiled a bit, and looked on ahead.

---

Time Jump...

Skylar sighed, as they stood before his somewhat small house located somewhere within the woods,"'Ere we are."

"Finally," Dimitri scanned the house, breathing out heavily "Okay..." he started into the house without permission or asking.

Melody blinked on after him, and laughed a bit, twitching her ears.

Skylar sped on ahead, and unlocked the door before Dimitri reached it, opening it for him,"Come in." he smiled genuinely.

"That I shall," Dimitri growled as he past Skylar, sounding none too polite.

Leerah's eye darted about her. She wasnt sure if she should enter, or not.

Alegora wearily entered after Dimitri, too tired too be polite and stepp aside for the others. Her hand clutched the doorhandle as she supported her leaden legs, and pushed herslef along.

A slightly annoyed glance made way to the back of the angel's head, but Skylar supressed any dirty words that could've exploded out of his mouth. His smile wavered, but never faded, as the last of the tired group made their way inside.

Rayan blinked tiredly, and looked around,"Nice place,"

"Thank you," Skylar replied shortly.

Dimitri flopped painfully onot the ground, not bothering to look around for a couch or chair. Sighing he glanced up at Skylar, feeling obliged to thank him "Thank-you, Skylar, for all of this," he said in the most genuiune tone he could muster.

He looked down to him, and sighed. Skylar grabbed a pillow from the couch, and threw it at Dimitri,"No problem...if you're gonna crash on the ground, at least have a pillow or something."

Dimitri surpressed a curse when the pillow colided with his face. Too tried to move it in any sort of postion he fell onto it lazily, wings folding awkwardly.

Their host snickered, and pet him lightly on the head,"G'night, kiddo."

He looked up to the others, and smiled,"Sorry I don't really have anything prepared...um, just crash whever you want. There's an extra bed upstairs, but I guess the rest of you'll have to take the carpet or couch." Skylar waved,"Bai bai!" and with that, he left.

Dimitri, despite the situation, felt his face flush a deep shade of red never seen before on his visage. He growled deeply turning over onto his back, causing him great pain.

Rayan and Dalamir side glanced each other for a few seconds. The hanyou heaved a sigh, as both raced for the couches, plopping onto them uselessly.

"You two are such gentlemen." she muttured, grabbing a blanket hanging off of the couch were Rayan rested upon before he got the chance to. She gave him a smug smile, and sat herself down, blanket in her lap. With a twitch of her ears she looked to Dimitri,"You okay?"

Dimitri glanced up at her, mentally cursing his blood flushed face. He nodded "Yeah. Fine,"

She eyed him worrdily for a while, and fell back onto the carpet,"Whatever you say." Melody said with a yawn.

Dimitri sighed, staring up at the celing 'This gonna hurt in the morning...'

Dalamir looked at him from his confortable spot idly,"You should really do something about those wounds."

"What do you propose?" Dimitri asked, glancing up at him wearily.

"Rubbing oil or something...asprin...pain revliever..."

"I would," he replied, pulling himself to a sitting position "But our host has left and I don't know where the drugs are,"

"You're on the verge of excrutiating pain. I'm sure our host won't mind if we rummage through his cabinets a bit." he smiled slyly.

Dimitri grinned loosley, forcing himself to a painful stand he stumbled to the wall for support. "Where should I start?"

Melody got up to help in search for the medication,"Kitchen, I guess..."

Dimitri stumbled over to the door he guessed led to the kitchen and entered. Glancing around he sighed. "Alright..." he walked over to the nearest cupboard and opened it scanning through.

The hanyou briskly opened the top few cupboards, nosing her way through all the canned foods,"Sheesh, how much does this guy eat?!"

"I'm guessing he doesn't go to the grocery store very often..." Dimitri mumbled, opening another cupboard to find two pill bottles. Neither pain killers.

He cursed loudly slamming the cupboard door shut out of both pain and anger.

"AHA!!" Melody gave a victorious smile,"I found some rubbing alchohol, if you think that'll help..."

"Right now I don't care about anything excpet pain killers," he growled, slamming closed another door "Thanks anyways,"

Her ears drooped slightly, a bit dissapointed. Stupid fantasies about rubbing the solutions onto his bare back filled her mind...

Of course, it was short lived, as she turned red, and continued her search,"Sheesh, when you need something really badly, it's never there..." she commented, pushing a jar of peanust butter aside.

"SKYLAR!!!" Dimitri bellowed finally, hand resting in his only support against the counter.

A loud bang was heard, and in due time, he came rushing down the stairs, baggy eyed,"What's wrong?!" he said, worried something had happened.

Dimitri felt a sudden pang of guilt, or maybe it was the bullet wound. Either way he ignored it "Where in bloody hell are your pain killers?!"

Leerah sat cross-legged outside on the ground. She didnt feel like she belonged. She was different from the others. And she really didnt like the angel. Her thoughts were interupted when the angel bellowed. She snickered.

Alegora's head popped out of the tiny bathroom's door, wiping her face with a towel. "Think I found them. Though they don't seem to be the same as the hospital's ..." She went back in and examined a few bottles and pills suspiciously, muttering under her breath.

Dimitri shifted so he could peer out at Alegora before looking back at Skylar, waiting somewhat impatiently.

Skylar descended, and walked over to them. He peered over Alegora's shoulder, and nodded,"She's found them." he looked to Dimitri, and stared hard at him, before making his way to another cabinet,"Here's some water." as he did with the pillow, he flung the bottle at Dimitri.

Dimitri grunted lowly, when once again his reflexes were short, the bottle colided with his forhead, tumbling to the floor. He stooped down to the floor, grabbed the bottle, and stumbled towards the bathroom to grab a bottle of painkillers.

He glanced over at Skylar, once again feeling obliged to thank him "Thanks again," he grunted, downing some seven pills shortly after, washing it down with water.

Rayan looked over at Dimitri, and gave an awkward smile,"Wouldn't you call that 'overdosing'?"

Melody laughed shortly,"Who can blame him, he's hurting like hell."

"I know my limit," Dimitri hissed, sliding the pill bottle into his pocket. He glanced up at Skylar "Can I keep these?" it was a rude question, but he couldn't help but ask.

"Ah, why sure." Skylar nodded,"No problem."

Dimitri nodded grimly "Thanks," stumbling back to his spot on the floor, he collapsed again, shoving the pillow under his head.

"Don't mention it..." muttered Alegora, who's hands were itching to tie up the now loose bandages, clean the bullet wound and get rid of all the smeared blood and dirt. If Dimitri continues like this, an infection is sure to spread.... She decided to clean her own littles scraps and bruises instead, not that they really needed it but her medical training was somehow taking over. She sat down at the edge of Rayan's couch, thinking he was the least likely to grumble about it.


Leerah grew tired of sitting on the cold ground. She stood up, and entered into the house quetly, slipping into the living room, standing in the shadows.

Rayan sat back down on the couch which he had called earlier. He blinked over to Alegora, and shifted over a bit,"You want more room?" he asked politely.

Alegora smiled back "Uhm yeah please, thanks." She turned around and noticed a darker shadow amongst others in one of the corners of the room. She frowned while absently opening a box of plasters, and spilt them all over the ground. "Shit" she cursed, withdrawing her attention from the strange shadow.

Leerah emerged from the shadows, and helped to pick them up.

Alegora backed away, half-expecting a demonic spawn of hell to jump out and slit her throat. Well it is a demonic spawn of hell I guess... Except that she's helping me pick plasters up. At least the killing seems to have stopped for a while. She bent down and muttered a thankyou before sitting back on the couch. "So, she breathed out, what are we doing now ?".

---

She huffed, taking no time in appraoching Kaine. Having finnished the preparations, Nightshade needed to come into contact with the vampire.

"Where the hell were you?" She growled, digging into her pocket. A dark feather drenched with what appeared to be gunpower came to light. She held it out to him carefully. "This'll take care of your angel problem."

Kaine turned to her with an annoyed expression. His eyes traveled down to the feather, and his bland face began to twitch into one of interest,"Oh?"

Morgan peered around the vampire, blinking. Making no attempt to introduce herself, she just clicked her tongue, guessing best to just stay quiet.

Kaine sideglanced Morgan, and sighed looking to Nightshade,"Explain, please. Your last attempt to get rid of someone did have it's rewards...but of course, the main task was not completed."

"Good things come in time," Nightshade muttered, sizing up the prostitute, "It's precise work, killing an angel. Explain? I'm basically make your jobs easier by eliminating the middle man for cash. Dimitri, right? Kaine, all you need to do is get this feather back into his wings and the rest will be history. It's well...you'll definately see the effects."

The vampire reached out to the feather with a gloved hand, and plucked it out of her grip. He eyed the object carefully, then looked back to Nightshade,"Thank you," Kaine gave a genuine smile.

She smirked, shrugging her gaping black wings slightly. A glaze swept over her violet sights for a moment. "Don't mention it. As long as I get paid is all I care for. Besides, I have a special thing with angels."

"So I've noticed." Kaine slipped the covered feath into his pocket, and leaned back a bit, eyeing Nightshade up and down,"I"ll pay you once some results start rolling in...kay?"

"Like you need to be bribed to kill that guy..." Morgan muttered, eying the demon up and down. She clicked her tongue once more, flashing a fake smile before taking a sudden interest in the trees.

Kaine looked to Morgan, and gave her a look that read 'shut up', but at the same time,'that's ol' Morgan'. He refrained to a sigh, and waved dismissivley to Nightshade, before continuing his way again carelessly.

The assassin raised an eyebrow to the half-wolf, observing her behavior. She snuck a slight glare to Kaine. Nightshade was not known to like being treated as a subordinate. She was a leader. "I'll need half now. Or no deal."

Kaine stopped, and sighed, pulling out an insane amount of green cash, as if his pocket was a minature bank. He strode back to Nightshade, and slammed the money in her hand,"Happy? Sheesh, people these days are so demanding, I swear..."

"Way of the world," She cooed, her claws breaking the bills' surface, "Besides, it's either payment in paper or blood. Sometimes both..."

She smiled slightly, on her way out, taking flight, "Have fun."

'Smart ass,' Morgan grimaced, eying her fly away before turning promptly on her heel and striding along, not waiting for Kaine in the slightest.

---

Their host gave a loud yawn, then made his tired way up the stairs,"I'm gonna hit the hay again...if you need anything, just call." Skylar gave another smile, and dissapeared up the stairs.

Melody collapsed on the floor, and stared up at the bland ceiling, blinking with her eye. She found the feeling weird, only being able to blink eith her single eye, seeing as blinking was a very bad habit of hers. She shook it off, and sighed.

---

Chewing off of his pen, the spawn of all things evil stared at several contracts idly, reading over the fine print,

"This war is getting complicated..." Kuroi shook his head, and sighed, signing another contract,"Well, nothing turns out like it seems."

He glanced to a fancy glass case on his desk, and smiled slighty,'Kaine, you better not mess up...what am I worrying about, he won't.' he tapped the clear and glowing case lightly,'After all; his brother is at stake here...'

Kuroi's smile turned into a smirk of malice, as he poked teasingly at the case.

His hollow laughed choed throughout the building.

---

Dimitri blinked at the glaring light "Hate to sound uhm... bitchy but could someone, ya know, turn out the light? Or I'll sleep in the bathroom either one,"

"It's fine." Dalamir said simply. He ran over to a wall, and flicked the light out, returning to his humble place on his couch,"G'night." he said finally, before dozing off suprisingly fast.

Dimitri glanced up at him, glowering 'Lucky jerk...'. "Mm, night," was directed to anyone and everyone.

---

Leerah retreated to her sahdowy corner, and leaned against the wall, her head hanging down slightly.

---

And thus, the night passed and dawn glew...

---

Leerah lifted her head quickly, a soft, low, hissing sound coming from her lips. She walked quickly and alittle to loud to a small room she found, that had a closet. She quickly moved to the back of it, and shut the door.

Melody opened her eyes from her feign sleep, and watched the vampire move across the room. She watche dher for a moment, and a pang of sympathy struck her briefly. Sitting up, she looked over the other dormants in the room.

"Good morning,"

Dimitri lay in the same postion he was in the night before, eyes staring and unblinking at the ceiling. He clucthed the pain killers in his hand tightly.

"Have a nice sleep?"

She flinched a bit, suprised by the sudden reply. Melody looked to Dimitri, and shrugged,"Not really...but it's better than nothing. I take it you didn't get much or any at all?"

"None," he replied stiffly, popping the lid off the bottle and downing two more pills, all done very slowly.

The hanyou got up, and stretched. The rays of sunlight soon fell on the human and elves' faces. She ran a tongue across her front row of teeth, and started pacing,"Want breakfast?"

Without waiting for an answer, Melody was already beating eggs and chopping up onions.

"Didn't know my opinion mattered," Dimtri grumbled sarcastically, listening to the sizzling of eggs.

She laughed lowly, watching steam rise from the food as they cooked in the oil,"Sorry, I'm just a bit hungry, ya know? I haven't eaten since...God knows when."

"Stuff yourself, I don't care," he popped another pill, once again taking on the task of counting the number of times the light would ring in a minute.

"Nyehhhhh..." The girl quickly placed the huge omelet onto a plate, and sighed, letting the stove cool down. She cut up the omelete evenly, and placed it on the counter.

"DIMMY!" Rayan tried his best to contain himself from squishing Dimitri and causing him more pain, by giving him what appeared to be a light glomp.

Leerah hit the back of her head against the wall. She slide down til she was sitting with her knees breought up to her chest. What I wouldnt give for some blood right about now... She bgan to think as she licked her lips. No! Im not like that...

Dimitri's eye twitched a considerable amount, face flush a deep crimson "...Dimmy?!?!"

Rayan blinked, and scratched his name,"A little nickname never hurt anyone." he gave his usual smile.

Dimitri turned his head wearily to look up at the elf, grinning slightly "If your already used nickname didn't end in 'y' I'm sure I could up with something just as well,"

He chuckled, and sat up, looking over to the remaining people. With a sniff, Rayan's head turned shraply to the kitchen, and he grinned insanely,"Yay, food!"

"Don't get your hopes to high," Melody said, shaking her finger mockingly,"It's not anything fancy." she yawned, and made her way upstairs,"I'll be back-- bathroom break." she dissapeared up the flight of stairs. From the upstairs hallways,"Rayan, you better not eat it all!!" echoed.

Said person's ears drooped,"Awww..."

"Is there any water in that kicthen?" Dimitri asked absently, closing his eyes against the glare.

"I'd imagine so." Rayan claimed, walking onto the kitchen tile. He poked at the egg, and swpied out a fork from the cabinet. He smiled, as the taste melted in his mouth,"Mmm!"

Dimitri groaned loudly "Could you get me some?" He hated being inept.

He nodded suite, and bent over to where he saw Skylar fish out a bottle of water the night before. Rayan walked over to Dimitri, and gave another smile,"Here you go, Dimmy." he teased, dragging the two sylybles(I can't spell...) of his nickname out.

He once again flushed deeply, no doubt the remainder of his blood rushing to his neck and face. He grimaced "Thanks," he then started downing the water, making no movement to stop until the bottle was finished.

Casting the botle beside him he peered over at Rayan "I'm really sorry but... do you think you could grab the bandages... I think it's about time I wrapped the old bitches up,"

Leerah listened to the conversation in the other room as best she could. The thought of food made her even hungerier. I wish I ate actually food... She thought, longing for just a small taste of blood. She sighed loudly and moved to an even darker part of the closet to sleep.

"Aha, you read my mind," Rayan nodded, and reached over to Melody's bag, fishing out some bandages,"Took you long enough..."

Dimitri frowned gravely, glaring across the room at him.

Rayan looked up to him, his usually bright eyes darkening suddenly,"Last time I checked,spitting out smart remarks and dark humour wasn't illegal."

Dimitri winced slightly, face tinting red. He dropped his head back to the ground, giving Rayan his silence. Sighing mildly, he rested his head under his head "Sorry, Ray,"

He watched his out of character actions, and smiled a bit, handing the bandages to him,"It's fine, Dim."

Dimitri once again painfully pulled himself to a sitting position "Yeah well, it's okay. I'm not exclusive to black words. I just didn't expect it from you," he tried in vain to smile slightly, proceeding to unroll the bandages.

"Oh, I can be just as cruel as any of you." Rayan chuckled lowly, and took a seat on the floor in front of Dimitri. He swayed a bit, and pulled his hair band out of his hair, letting the massive wave of midnight blue free. He smiled, admiring his own elven hair.

Dimitri blinked, bandages dropping from his grip "Holy shit!"

Rayan returned the blinks, and cocked his head, long hair swaying to the side along with his head,"Wha?"

Dimitri's hand reached up and yanked a strand a little too hard, by accident of course, and pulled it close to his face to examine it. "It's so..." his eyebrows rose upwards "Pretty!"

Rayan looked dumbfounded, but burst out laughing,"Yep, my elven pride in all it's glory." he gave a cheesy smile, and twitched his ears. After several moments, the young elf snatched his strands of hair back, running his fingers through the sea of blue slowly,"Be careful with this, Dimmy..."

Dimitri grimaced, astonished expression dropping instantly. His fist cracked audibly at the nickname "Why? Afraid it'll break off if it gets too cold?" (Couldn't help it ^^;)

(Aha,^^;)

"Hmpf." Rayan sneered,"...well, yeah. It does that." he smirked slyly,"At least my hair's all natural and not cheaply dyed..." he laughed another while,"But of course, that's not your fault, so I won't drag out the matter further. Anyways, hurry it up with the wrapping." he got up, and kicked the roll of bandages towards him,"Time's-a-wastin'."

Dimitri watched him a little while, grimace remaining on his face before he stripped his shirt and continued unrolling the bandages.

"Can I braid it?" he asked, in the middle of wrapping the rolls around his stomach "Like, after?"

The elf froze, and stared wide-eyed at the angel. He burst out into melodic laughter once again,"Hell, why sure."

Dimitri, whose excessive arm movements was starting to weigh on his colarbone and spine, swallowed the loud painful curse threatening to be spilled, and instead pulled his mouth into a faked grin "Cool, thanks,"

"Anytime, I guess." Rayan looked across the room to his still sleeping brother, and grinned,"I'll be right back."

After several seconds of getting beat by a pillow, Dalamir grabbed the weapon of offense, and hurled it at Rayan,"Damn you!!" he snapped.

"Stop whining Dalamir, rise and shine, good morning, up and at 'em! The day is young HELLO SUNSHINE!" Dimitri called many varieties of good morning, finsihing the job around his shoulder.

"Okay, okay, I get it." Dalamir mumbled, stroking his hair back. He sat up, and noted Rayan's loose hair,"Well, that's a change. I swear, it looks like that stuff growing out of your head is gonna swallow you whole."

Rayan stuck his tongue out childishly,"You're just jealous."

Dimitri sighed, pulling himself to his feet. Legs stiff from lack of use in the past twelve hours, he cursed. Though after thinking about it, twas a relief for them to be in 'lack of use'.

Tossing the roll of bandages over to Melody's bag, he stumbled into the kitchen, cursing as he sat heavily onto a chair.

Some grubling and a bumping noise could be heard from the closet as Leerah rubbed her head after hitting it.

---

She hovered, making a smooth landing ontop of the roof, sharp senses having trailed their scent. Retracting her leathered wings, the demon perched precariously, absently admiring her claws. 'I wonder how the little bitch's making out,' Nightshade thought with a smirk, 'I know I had fun.'

A dagger came hurling past the perched demon, digging istelf into a tree's wood by the house.

Her eyes flickered, tracing the weapon to the surrounding forestry. She smirked, taking it was her own. "You missed."

"Never again, bitch." the offender hissed each syllable with as much disdain as possible, through her gritted teeth. Melody stood erect on the other end of the roof. The expression on her face cleary read 'fuck off', not to mention the finger standing out of her balled fist which hung loosely by her side,"What d'you want now?!"

"Wow, someone's PMSing a bit much," She grinned, "Nice eye."

"Oh, really? If you like the look so much, maybe I can help!!" Melody lunged towards her, flinging another throwing dagger towards her head.

---

Dalamir looked to the closet where the noise came from, then to the roof, where some banging and other likewise noises began to rise,"Ack. I swear, I'm gonna go insane around you people..." he whined, burying his face in the pillow again.

Dimitri didn't lift his head from where it was resting on the kitchen table "What is that?" he asked angrily, the thumpings growing increasingly annoying.

Rayan shrugged, staring at the ceiling. Whatever the hell was up there began to become persistant and even louder,"I dunno...maybe some squirrel landed on his roof." he blinked idly.

"A squirrel?" Dimitri raised his head for the sole purpose of giving Rayan a look "It sounds more like two rabid bitches high off PMS,"

Rayan chuckled, and slouched a bit,"Maybe we could send Mel after them."

"Yeah that'd be a good ide..." his eyes widened "Oh shit."

The elf looked stupidly to Dimitri,"Wha?"

Dimitri pointed annoyingly at the ceiling.

Rayan looked up pointlessly. His face dropped like a heavy rock,"...Oh God."

"Well go!" he growled, clearly annoyed at his own ineptness.

Rayan stumbled up, clumsily stepping across the room,"Right, right...sorry..."

Alegora woke up with a groan as her head peeked from under the covers. "Who wah emmmmm uhh ? Aheu nuhuh ..." was what she grumbled before lazily getting up and stumbling towards the bathroom. She seemed oblivious to the loud banging coming from the ceiling, and only vaguely aware of the rest of her surroundings.

Dimitri sighed, watching Rayan go "And bring something you can use to defend yourself with," he added lamely.

"Right, right..." Rayan staggered back into the kitchen, and grabbed a butcher knife, and stumbled back to the door,"Okay..." he looked to Alegora and Dalamir,"I suggest you all stay i-inside..." he swallowed, and headed out.

Dalamir watched him leave, and rolled his eyes. he got up and followed,"The coward is gonna get himself killed..."

Dimitri then watched Dalamir leave and sighed, getting up to follow "Sure, make me feel like some kind of immobile...potato..." he mumbled angrily, wobbling along like a person three times his age.

Dalamir glanced at Dimitri, and left the door open for him.

Rayan squinted at the house's gutter, and whined,"Aww, I can't see..."

Melody's familiar, loud, and bitchy grunts echoed through the tree tops.

Dimitri stumbled beside Rayan, peering up "Yeah, I was right..."

Dalamir's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance,"Dammit, not again. We got no idea what's going on up there."

Dimitri growled "I bet she is fighting a squirrel or something..."

Rayan laughed a bit, and looked up,"You never know with Mel...but I guess we should check." he looked to Dalamir, and shoved him into a tree,"You go check." he smiled sheepishly.

Dalamir grunted, and sighed,"Fine." he mumbled something darkly, and gripped onto a branch, pulling himself up.

Dimitri grimaced, watching Dalamir ascend the tree "He work out?" he asked Rayan off-handedly.

Rayan watched his older brother climb, watching some of his muscles press out of his arms and legs. His eyes narrowed, as he began to become a bit envious,"Yes." he mumbled.

Dimitri grinned at Rayan "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think you're attractive,"

"Ahaha," Rayan smiled a bit, and looked to him,"Your opinion means the world to me."

Dimitri returned the expression before glancing up at Dalamir. The bitchy grunts getting to him "Hurry up, Elf!"

"I'd like to see you try climbing this bastard, Dimitri!!" he hissed, pulling himself up. Relief filled his heart, as he was now at the same level as the lower edge of the roof,"Almost there..."

Dimitri smiled slightly to himself at the thought of shooting at the Elf's feet to make him go faster. He shook his head, nodding shortly after. "Ya think Skylar or whatever his name is would've heard something."

"Honestly." Rayan looked to the house,"I think I'll go get our little host. Be back in a bit." he rushed into the house.

Dimitri watched him go then turned his head to look up at Dalamir "Well?"

"I see her feet and--HOLY SHIT!!"

"God dammit Dalamir, WHAT?!"

Dalamir hurried down the tree. Dangling off of a branch nearest to the ground, he replied,"It's the Nightshade bitch again!!"

"..." Dimitri's face fell a considerable amount, wings twitching in inane aggravation "...what..?"

"I know, it's crazy...Mel's gone hay-wire."

Dimitri collapsed enirely, groaning very loudly. Cursing and cussing he crawled back into the house, retrieved his gun and returned outside, this time on a stand "I... hate... this..."

Her eyes flashed to the audience below, the demon bearing her fangs in a wild grin. She ignored Melody for the moment, holding the dagger like a familiar friend in her embrace as she propelled towards Dimitri. She then smirked playfully, "Miss me?"

Dimitri cursed his immobility, side-stepping clumsily against the house. "Hardly,"

Alegora chose this moment to walk out into the early morning sunshine, looking more alive after a brief wash. However, her mind was still in the deep realm of pink elephants and candyfloss clouds. "What the hell is going on, I can't even ..." She stopped in mid-sentence, absorbing the strange scene with some difficulty.

Nightshade plunged downwards, from those on the ground it must have appeared that she was plummeting head first as her wings folding shut. Twisting her body, Nightshade slammed into the angel, disarming him as they hit the ground. Her body trapped his, and at this the assassin laughed. The barrel dug to the sides of his skull.

Dimitri cried out a loud curse, pain surging through his being as his body slammed into the ground. He swallowed the blood threatening to pour from his throat as he glared up at her, wounds re-opening. "Well, God dammit,"

Melody ran over to the edge of the roof, and cursed. She swung herself to a branch, then landed on the forest floor,"Shit!!" she cursed as her ankle twisted painfully. Nonetheless, she propped herself up, and ran towards Nightshade. The tip of her blade rested against her forehead,"What the hell do you want?!" she hissed. Her eye glazed over with a layer of fury and broken insanity,"Fucking Kaine already screwed all of us up, we don't need anymore God damn bullshit from bitches like you!!"

Whats that noise out there? Leerah asked herself, hearing much noise outside. And it doesnt help that I cant leave this closet... She thought, wondering if the girl she had 'fought' with in the forest was back.

"Such profanity," Nightshade grinned, voice teasing. She pushed her head foreward slightly, into the blade. Blood dripped past her lashes in a mock tear. "Melody, dear half-breed. I can pull this trigger faster then you can ever hope to shove that into my brain. Now back off."

Subconsciously, one hand trailed through Dimitri's hair.

'Dimitri glared at her, "I was not crying, I was shaken." he replied angrily, fingering his hair.

Pfft, soft....

The demon shook her head slightly at the images, creating a slash across her hairline. She smiled.

Melody's eyes furrowed in anger and confusion, and the grip on her weapon tightened a bit. This eerily familiar feeling filled her, envy biting down on herself as she bit on her lip.  She lowered her sword an inch, watching the opposing demon bleed with slight pleasure,"Get off of him..." she growled. No morphine or pill could kill the kinds of emotions uddenly flowing through her, or the insanity with every passing second which began to consume her entirely.

Dimitri blinked slowly, new blood overflowing his weak throat as a trail poured over his lip. His brows were the only indication of the emotion he was feeling as they were slid downwards in a dark glare. His eyelids drooping, vision going black from the corners of his ebon eyes. A curse whirled through his head, but didn't get pass the blood that blocked it. Their voices were slurred.

Alegora retreated against the wall of the house, eyes darting desperatly around her. She wasn't very strong with or without a weapon, and she knew it. She was breathing in shallow gasps, and her head was spinning as she was trying to find something - anything she could do.

"Hey@!!" Leerah shouted as she banged loudy on the wall. "Whats going on out there?"

Melody's ears twitched at Leerah's voice, as she stared down in horror at Dimitri, and felt her bottom lip tremble slightly,"Get off of him, Nightshade..." she repeated, voice lower.

"Oh, I'm sorry, have I upset you?" Smile spread throughout her scarlet features, tracing the angel's jawline as she watched Melody, "Too fucking bad. I don't take orders."

"And I'm not gonna stand by and watch you squeeze the shit outta him." She nearly lowered her weapon,the urge to jab the sword through her head rising. Melody's eyes turned to the gun within he grasp, and she fingers tracing down his visage. She felt something get caught in her throat, and tried in vain to get it out.

"Screw off, creep!!" Rayan stood nervously a few metres beside Nightshade , trembling a bit. He swallowed, and shut his eyes, and rammed into her,trying to knock her off of him.

She growled, holding her ground, manuvering the elf's attack to her advantage. Twist. Push. Throw. The assassin knocked Dimitri with the base of her weapon, and finished Rayan. Claws extended, she sent him above, sailing into Melody's sword. Slice.

Melody's eye widened, even though she tried to pull her sword away, Rayan's strangled cry filled her ears. The elf whailed, and fell into a heap before her, gasping for breath. He held his shoulder, as the deep wound took the best of him,

"Sh-Shit...!!"

"RAYAN!!" Dalamir yelled, running to his aid. Skylar ran out of the house, and looked around, eyeing the current situation. Slowly calculating his surroundings, he knelt beside Rayan and swore,

"Crap...Dalamir go help them. I'll take care of Rayan."

"But--"

"God dammit, do you want us all to die?!"

Dalamir stared at him, and nodded, running off with his crossbow.

Skylar looked to the bleeding elf, and sighed, picking him up amongst the commotion,"Stay still." he said lowly to the whining elven, dragging him away from the choas.

Melody still stood, staring at the elven blood which dripped from her blade. Her eyes narrowed, and out of the emotions controlling her, threw it to the side,"I'm gonna kill you with my bare hands!!" she screamed at Nightshade, claws bared. She chraged towards her blindly.

She swore on impact, the hanyou knocking her to the ground. Away from Dimitri. She's getting on my nerves. Half-breed. Nightshade rolled with her force, landing on top of Melody. "I'll take your other eye!"

"Ack!!" Melody grimaced into the familiar position, and raided her hands, swiping her class across Nightshade's face,"Not before I rearrange your head!!"

The cuts burned, but only for a moment. She leaned back, gripping the hanyou's head between her knees and propelled her into the sky. Retracting like a serpant, Nightshade spin-kicked Melody, molding her into a ragdoll. She landed back, solidly, looking to Dimitri.

With a silent scream, Melody crashed into the dirt. As the dust settled, she lay uselessly in the ground, strangling for breath while a pain and numbness surged through her being. Curses threatened to escape from her lips, but the heavy wheezing and breathing supressed the profanity.

"You haven't won yet, demon!!" Skylar hissed through gritted teeth, charging out from behind a tree. He fired three shots with each of his two guns.

Dalamir looked over to him from a bush,"Is he okay?" he asked through the chaos, drawing an arrow from his bag.

Skylar sighed,"He promised he would be fine...this Rayan is a man of his word, correct?"

The elf bit the side of his cheek, and nodded bitterly,"He better be okay," he muttured, mounting an arrow onto his crossbow.

Alegora ran back inside, and frantickly (sp?) emptied the medical draw in the bathroom. Holding as much as she could carry, she ran back outside and knelt next to Rayan, tring to ignore the fighting that was taking place just a few meters away from her. She pressed her hand on the wound to stop the blood from gushing out, unrolling a bandage with her other hand.

Rayan grimaced, as the pressure got to him. he looked weakly up at Alegora,"It hurts..."

Dimitri was already on his feet, glaring daggers at the demon. His body was lopsided, faintly resembling a broken mannequin, and every part weak with exhaustion and injury. But his eyes bruned, the black depths glowing like coal. He lifted his now retrieved gun and fired at Nightshade, every ounce of hatred going into each bullet, as they sliced the air with his anger "Die."

Flesh ripped, her wings spreading as a shield around her. Nightshade smiled, soaring upwards in calculated, arcing movements. 'I hate...angels.' A swift turn, air gusting through the duel bullet scars in her wings. It did not matter though, they would heal soon. Angling her blade, the assassin plunged towards Skylar, its jagged ege tearing through him. A crazed look entered violet eyes, slits contracting. She twisted, knocking the angel's arm to his side. Sinking her claws, Nightshade gripped him, bringing Dimitri sailing towards a dismal sky.

As he was carried in her deathly grip his hand slipped into his pocket, retrieving a knife. In a swift movement, his own crimson fluids spraying from inside him, he wrung his arm out of her grip and drove the blade into her side.

"Shit--" She fumbled, trying to pull the ache away to no avail. Screeching, she reluctantly relased her prey, or else be brought down with him. As she disappeared, a dark trail trickled from her, a rain of corruption tainting the earth. Thrusting her wings, the demon called after her victim in a strangled cry. "DIMITRI!!!"

Dimitri blinked, a for a moment he was suspended in mid air. The world became quiet, any voices that echoed or winds that raced he did not hear. He was deaf, numb, blind. The pain was gone for only a second, before his suspension broke and his body propelled towards the hard ground.

Melody watched the heavenly creature descend rapidly from the sky, and screamed his name like an extra echo to Nightshade's cry. She ran on towards the small dot in the sky desperately,"DIMITRI!!"

A mass of black feathers whizzed past her, soon leaping off the ground and into the air. He raced towards the falling angel, and cursed, snatching him by the arm. Skylar sighed in relief, as his dark feathers subsiding into trees and earth ,"God dammit, stop looking so hopeless...it's very out of character." he grinned toothily.

Dimitri blinked again, but saw nothing. He tried to hear who was talking but it was just a vibration close to him. He tried to speak but couldn't, the blood still a dam in his throat.

Skylar's brows furrowed at the lack of reaction, and landed softly on the ground.

Dalamir gaped at them, blinking confused,"What the fu--...?!"

With a sigh of relief, Melody ran over to them, soon followed by Dalamir. Skylar placed Dimitri on the gorund, and sighed, running a finger through his thick black hair,"Whew, that was close..."

Melody swallowed,"D-Dim.."

Dimitri blinked again, his ebon eyes becoming nothing but lacklustre orbs. He once again attempted to speak, feeling the vibrations of people around him. His voice was swallowed by it's blocker, and he grew thoroughly angry at this. Rolling over to the side he coughed out the blood, not feeling the pain it caused nor the warmth it spread down his chin and neck. His voice finally escaped it's cage, coming out as nothing but a ragged croak "...Is Rayan okay...?"

A wave of guilt fell over Melody, as her ears drooped,"I don't...know."

Dalamir looked desperately to Skylar for anything postive. He replied with a tired groan,"He said he'd be okay...I only hope he's right." he looked worrdily over to Rayan and Alegora.

The elf smiled weakly at them, and gave a simple thumbs up.

That he heard, but only as a faint, muffled echo. "Kay," Dimitri mumbled as more blood flooded his mouth. His hand let go of he dagger he'd been holding and went limp, fingers twitching lightly. He tried blinking again, but everything was so weak. His senses were dead. Numb.

Melody watched the crimson flow out of him, and nearly gagged,"We're gonna get you and Rayan inside so you can rest...okay?" she said softly, watching him tiredly.

He forced himself to blink, the only response to whatever Melody had said he could give.

She nodded, and helped him up, throwing his arm over her shoulders. Melody looked to Dalamir with an apologetic expression,"Go help your brother."

Dalamir stared at her for a while, then left off to go help Rayan. He looked to his struggling brother, then to Alegora,"Thanks for helping him...means a lot." he said with a half smile. He helped him up, and made his way into the house.

Melody kept at a slow pace, worried Dimitri would collapse at any given moment. Skylar looked over to her, and smiled,

"He and Rayan are lucky to have such good friends, no?"

She smiled faintly,"Heh, I guess so." Melody's eyes travelled to his back, and widened at the sudden absence of his once massive wings,"...exactly what the hell are you?"

Skylar smirked slyly,"I'm one of a kind, Meli."

With a defeated moan, Skylar let them all back into his abode.

The choas subsided...for now.