Holy High - IC 2 - Open

[Charlia]

"You can try to destroy us, but you will only destroy the one you wish to 'save'... We won't leave her alone. We promised her we'd never leave her alone again. She doesn't have to feel alone anymore, not with us. We will always be here... we will do what you would not. We will stay with her, forever. We will be here when she feels afraid or sad or alone. We will comfort her and give her weary soul rest. We are the only ones who truly care for her. Not any of you. We will stay here, in her... for all eternity..."

"She is not alone! We do care for her! I want to save her, because I have been trying to save her from her pain, because I do not want anyone to suffer as I have! Charlotte! You know this! You know we love you, that we care for you and we want to heal your pain! Please, if you can hear me say something! Anything!" he persisted frantically.

Arael stood nearby, watching and waiting to see if Charlotte would finally break free.

She opened her mouth as if to speak.

"L-Lux?" she whimpered. "...it hurts..."

The voices intertwined themselves into her voice, and before she could speak again, it was as if her voice was strangled by theirs.

They created a sound of pure pain and exhaustion.

A sound that told of how it felt to live with such agony.

How it felt to feel so tired, so weighted down by sorrow and fear and pain, that every step felt as if it would shatter the earth.

How it felt to open your mouth to speak and find that the only thing you could do was cry, because the emotions were so powerful.

How it felt to be so overcome by crushing sadness that you lost all desire to speak, to move, even to breathe.

How it felt to fall into bed at night and pray that you wouldn't wake up the next morning.

How it felt to wake up and feel the pain consume you again, and how it felt to have to force yourself to get up and not to just lie there for the rest of your miserable life.

How it felt to embrace light, and yet to know that you will never truly live in the light, because the darkness is always waiting to drag you down again.

How it felt to see no point in enduring any longer.

How it felt to pray and hear no answer, to have your prayers seemingly bounce off the ceiling.

How it felt to be in a crowd and still feel alone, how it felt to be more alone the more people surrounded you.

How it felt to feel abandoned and forgotten by the One who was supposed to care about you more than anyone on the earth ever could.

How it felt to lose hope, to lose faith, to lose yourself.

How it felt to finally, after years of suffering and heartbreak, to just give up.

[Theocretes]

Ianar watched the angel decend towards him
"Im guessing you are a friend of Thanas? You look the type..."
He stood up and dusted himself off
"well, come on...do what you came here to do...whatever it is.

Zeruel floated down into Tharzidun's palace and landed, tall and majestic, in front of Ianar. Unlike Joaquin, Rosalie, and Arael, all of whom were rather fragile by comparison, he had the appearance of a seasoned captain, in his military uniform and with his long, falcon-like, mint-green wings. His eyes, which were a sharp lime-green, like his hair, eyes Ianar sternly."I am no friend of the Death Mage. I am Zeruel, an Angel of Oblivion, and my loyalties lie only with the God of Birth and Rebirth, the Oblivion Himself, Adam. You should be honored that he has sent me to bring you to him. Now you will follow me, or you will die," Zeruel answered sharply, holding out his hand to the god.

Ianar tripped him to the ground in one fluid motion
"You threaten me?!? Fool, either I follow you or I dont! Im almost certain that your master did not include "kill him" in his orders if he told you to retrieve me. Regardless, I shall come with you, but remember your place angel."

[Luminesa]

"She is not alone! We do care for her! I want to save her, because I have been trying to save her from her pain, because I do not want anyone to suffer as I have! Charlotte! You know this! You know we love you, that we care for you and we want to heal your pain! Please, if you can hear me say something! Anything!" he persisted frantically.

Arael stood nearby, watching and waiting to see if Charlotte would finally break free.

She opened her mouth as if to speak.

"L-Lux?" she whimpered. "...it hurts..."

The voices intertwined themselves into her voice, and before she could speak again, it was as if her voice was strangled by theirs.

They created a sound of pure pain and exhaustion.

A sound that told of how it felt to live with such agony.

How it felt to feel so tired, so weighted down by sorrow and fear and pain, that every step felt as if it would shatter the earth.

How it felt to open your mouth to speak and find that the only thing you could do was cry, because the emotions were so powerful.

How it felt to be so overcome by crushing sadness that you lost all desire to speak, to move, even to breathe.

How it felt to fall into bed at night and pray that you wouldn't wake up the next morning.

How it felt to wake up and feel the pain consume you again, and how it felt to have to force yourself to get up and not to just lie there for the rest of your miserable life.

How it felt to embrace light, and yet to know that you will never truly live in the light, because the darkness is always waiting to drag you down again.

How it felt to see no point in enduring any longer.

How it felt to pray and hear no answer, to have your prayers seemingly bounce off the ceiling.

How it felt to be in a crowd and still feel alone, how it felt to be more alone the more people surrounded you.

How it felt to feel abandoned and forgotten by the One who was supposed to care about you more than anyone on the earth ever could.

How it felt to lose hope, to lose faith, to lose yourself.

How it felt to finally, after years of suffering and heartbreak, to just give up.

Now it was Lux's turn to run to her and to hold her. If the demons would not leave her alone, he would make them. "Charlotte, please keep fighting! Please! Do not give up! We heard you! We heard you!" he called to her. He felt all the pain of that scream, and while it shocked him, he still held on to her.

[Luminesa]

Zeruel floated down into Tharzidun's palace and landed, tall and majestic, in front of Ianar. Unlike Joaquin, Rosalie, and Arael, all of whom were rather fragile by comparison, he had the appearance of a seasoned captain, in his military uniform and with his long, falcon-like, mint-green wings. His eyes, which were a sharp lime-green, like his hair, eyes Ianar sternly."I am no friend of the Death Mage. I am Zeruel, an Angel of Oblivion, and my loyalties lie only with the God of Birth and Rebirth, the Oblivion Himself, Adam. You should be honored that he has sent me to bring you to him. Now you will follow me, or you will die," Zeruel answered sharply, holding out his hand to the god.

Ianar tripped him to the ground in one fluid motion
"You threaten me?!? Fool, either I follow you or I dont! Im almost certain that your master did not include "kill him" in his orders if he told you to retrieve me. Regardless, I shall come with you, but remember your place angel."

Zeruel got up and glared darkly at the god, before he continued as though nothing had happened, "My God does not care if you live or die. He does not, in fact, care if any of you deities live and die, for he will soon recreate everything. Now come with me, my God requires you are there," he told him. He grabbed Ianar's arm and they teleported to Oblivion.

However, when they arrived, Ianar did not get to see Oblivion face-to-face. No, instead he reappeared in a dimly-lit bronze room, which was quite warm-but-eerie. Like Thana's room, this one was meant to keep him asleep, and so when Ianar arrived, he instantly began to feel tired.

"Behave yourself. My God will come to check on you soon," he ordered him. He then flew away to go find the coming visitors.

[Charlia]

She opened her mouth as if to speak.

"L-Lux?" she whimpered. "...it hurts..."

The voices intertwined themselves into her voice, and before she could speak again, it was as if her voice was strangled by theirs.

They created a sound of pure pain and exhaustion.

A sound that told of how it felt to live with such agony.

How it felt to feel so tired, so weighted down by sorrow and fear and pain, that every step felt as if it would shatter the earth.

How it felt to open your mouth to speak and find that the only thing you could do was cry, because the emotions were so powerful.

How it felt to be so overcome by crushing sadness that you lost all desire to speak, to move, even to breathe.

How it felt to fall into bed at night and pray that you wouldn't wake up the next morning.

How it felt to wake up and feel the pain consume you again, and how it felt to have to force yourself to get up and not to just lie there for the rest of your miserable life.

How it felt to embrace light, and yet to know that you will never truly live in the light, because the darkness is always waiting to drag you down again.

How it felt to see no point in enduring any longer.

How it felt to pray and hear no answer, to have your prayers seemingly bounce off the ceiling.

How it felt to be in a crowd and still feel alone, how it felt to be more alone the more people surrounded you.

How it felt to feel abandoned and forgotten by the One who was supposed to care about you more than anyone on the earth ever could.

How it felt to lose hope, to lose faith, to lose yourself.

How it felt to finally, after years of suffering and heartbreak, to just give up.

Now it was Lux's turn to run to her and to hold her. If the demons would not leave her alone, he would make them. "Charlotte, please keep fighting! Please! Do not give up! We heard you! We heard you!" he called to her. He felt all the pain of that scream, and while it shocked him, he still held on to her.

She lifted her hands, slowly, as if they were shackled to heavy weights.

Then she pulled away--was pulled away, would be a more accurate description. Her head snapped back as if some invisible hand was pulling her head back by the hair, and she was tossed through the air like a marionette whose arms and legs were shackled by invisible chains, controlled by an insane puppeteer. She collapsed in a heap on the ground, a broken doll thrown away and destroyed.

[Theocretes]

Ianar tripped him to the ground in one fluid motion
"You threaten me?!? Fool, either I follow you or I dont! Im almost certain that your master did not include "kill him" in his orders if he told you to retrieve me. Regardless, I shall come with you, but remember your place angel."

Zeruel got up and glared darkly at the god, before he continued as though nothing had happened, "My God does not care if you live or die. He does not, in fact, care if any of you deities live and die, for he will soon recreate everything. Now come with me, my God requires you are there," he told him. He grabbed Ianar's arm and they teleported to Oblivion.

However, when they arrived, Ianar did not get to see Oblivion face-to-face. No, instead he reappeared in a dimly-lit bronze room, which was quite warm-but-eerie. Like Thana's room, this one was meant to keep him asleep, and so when Ianar arrived, he instantly began to feel tired.

"Behave yourself. My God will come to check on you soon," he ordered him. He then flew away to go find the coming visitors.

And Ianar did feel sleepy
Yet he resisted the urge, he turned invisible after the freaky green angel had left
And explored outside of this room
what have we here?
He was looking for oblivion, because although the angel told him that oblivion was going to meet him
Ianar like usual was looking for things on his own terms

[Luminesa]

Now it was Lux's turn to run to her and to hold her. If the demons would not leave her alone, he would make them. "Charlotte, please keep fighting! Please! Do not give up! We heard you! We heard you!" he called to her. He felt all the pain of that scream, and while it shocked him, he still held on to her.

She lifted her hands, slowly, as if they were shackled to heavy weights.

Then she pulled away--was pulled away, would be a more accurate description. Her head snapped back as if some invisible hand was pulling her head back by the hair, and she was tossed through the air like a marionette whose arms and legs were shackled by invisible chains, controlled by an insane puppeteer. She collapsed in a heap on the ground, a broken doll thrown away and destroyed.

Lux gasped, as he saw what was happening, and Arael stared in horror as well.

"I have never seen...anything like that...What do we do?!" Arael questioned, horrified.

"We must keep going," Lux answered sternly. He rushed over to Charlotte, held her down, and began to pray the Saint Michael Prayer in Latin again, and Arael actually joined in. The latter had rejected Adam as his God, though not as his Creator, and so he was praying to the Christian God, that He would free her.

[Theocretes]

Ianar got quickly bored of wandering...and he was convinced at this point that he would get himself lost
So he just went back, and sat outside the door of the strange room
No way was he going back in there, something was obviously wrong with the entire room

[Charlia]

She lifted her hands, slowly, as if they were shackled to heavy weights.

Then she pulled away--was pulled away, would be a more accurate description. Her head snapped back as if some invisible hand was pulling her head back by the hair, and she was tossed through the air like a marionette whose arms and legs were shackled by invisible chains, controlled by an insane puppeteer. She collapsed in a heap on the ground, a broken doll thrown away and destroyed.

Lux gasped, as he saw what was happening, and Arael stared in horror as well.

"I have never seen...anything like that...What do we do?!" Arael questioned, horrified.

"We must keep going," Lux answered sternly. He rushed over to Charlotte, held her down, and began to pray the Saint Michael Prayer in Latin again, and Arael actually joined in. The latter had rejected Adam as his God, though not as his Creator, and so he was praying to the Christian God, that He would free her.

A low whistling filled the air, sounding almost like a moan the louder it grew. Pain would fill their minds, and the air around them grew cold. Something wet brushed against their skin as a dark, shadowy creature, looking very much like a little girl, exploded out of Charlotte's body and flew at them. Then she formed into a solid girl, a younger version of the girl lying on the ground, and they could see her face. She was puzzled, confused, and very, very frightened. Meanwhile, Charlotte sat up unsteadily. Seeing the girl, she looked at her younger self with tired, sad eyes and reached out her arms. It was an offer of help, of comfort. At first the girl resisted, afraid to come near. But Charlotte waited patiently, making it clear that she was there to help.

At last, the little girl took a tentative step towards the older one. Charlotte smiled broadly. Encouraged, the girl stepped closer. Then closer again. Another step, and then another, until she was standing directly in front of the other girl. With great tenderness, Charlotte reached out and wrapped her arms around the helpless child. There was no missing the gentle affection. Charlotte changed so often, her shattered mind never quite sure who she was, but there was one thing that always stayed constant.

She cared for the lost and the abandoned. She was there for the lonely. She wanted to help those who couldn't help themselves.

And all of that had started because no one had helped one little girl.

A once-innocent child who was defiled and abandoned, left lost and lonely, forsaken and forgotten.

The little girl that Charlotte wept for every night, the one she couldn't ever help, no matter how desperately she wished to save the child.

The little girl who only wanted to hear one thing:

'You are not alone.'

The same message that Charlotte's wordless gesture of comfort was telling the frightened and broken child.

'Never alone.'

Charlotte looked over to Lux and smiled.

But the smile froze. Her expression turned from joy to surprise... and then to horror. There was a tearing sound, and Charlotte screamed, falling back from the girl.

The child turned to Lux and Arael, confused, afraid, and looking very helpless. But in her hands was a pool of blood.

She looked down at Charlotte with deep pity... and confusion. Then, without warning, she leaped on the older girl and began beating her with powerful blows and clawing at her with suddenly razor-sharp fingers. Charlotte screamed again and tried to protect herself, and managed to pull herself free of the girl. Her eyes found Arael's, and she gasped, "Help me."

The little girl lifted Charlotte as easily as if the older girl were a stuffed doll, and flung her through the air. The little girl looked puzzled over what she had done, as though confused at her own powers. She was sobbing now. Helplessly. Uncontrollably. A scared little girl who didn't understand what she was doing.

[Castle Crashers]

Lux gasped, as he saw what was happening, and Arael stared in horror as well.

"I have never seen...anything like that...What do we do?!" Arael questioned, horrified.

"We must keep going," Lux answered sternly. He rushed over to Charlotte, held her down, and began to pray the Saint Michael Prayer in Latin again, and Arael actually joined in. The latter had rejected Adam as his God, though not as his Creator, and so he was praying to the Christian God, that He would free her.

A low whistling filled the air, sounding almost like a moan the louder it grew. Pain would fill their minds, and the air around them grew cold. Something wet brushed against their skin as a dark, shadowy creature, looking very much like a little girl, exploded out of Charlotte's body and flew at them. Then she formed into a solid girl, a younger version of the girl lying on the ground, and they could see her face. She was puzzled, confused, and very, very frightened. Meanwhile, Charlotte sat up unsteadily. Seeing the girl, she looked at her younger self with tired, sad eyes and reached out her arms. It was an offer of help, of comfort. At first the girl resisted, afraid to come near. But Charlotte waited patiently, making it clear that she was there to help.

At last, the little girl took a tentative step towards the older one. Charlotte smiled broadly. Encouraged, the girl stepped closer. Then closer again. Another step, and then another, until she was standing directly in front of the other girl. With great tenderness, Charlotte reached out and wrapped her arms around the helpless child. There was no missing the gentle affection. Charlotte changed so often, her shattered mind never quite sure who she was, but there was one thing that always stayed constant.

She cared for the lost and the abandoned. She was there for the lonely. She wanted to help those who couldn't help themselves.

And all of that had started because no one had helped one little girl.

A once-innocent child who was defiled and abandoned, left lost and lonely, forsaken and forgotten.

The little girl that Charlotte wept for every night, the one she couldn't ever help, no matter how desperately she wished to save the child.

The little girl who only wanted to hear one thing:

'You are not alone.'

The same message that Charlotte's wordless gesture of comfort was telling the frightened and broken child.

'Never alone.'

Charlotte looked over to Lux and smiled.

But the smile froze. Her expression turned from joy to surprise... and then to horror. There was a tearing sound, and Charlotte screamed, falling back from the girl.

The child turned to Lux and Arael, confused, afraid, and looking very helpless. But in her hands was a pool of blood.

She looked down at Charlotte with deep pity... and confusion. Then, without warning, she leaped on the older girl and began beating her with powerful blows and clawing at her with suddenly razor-sharp fingers. Charlotte screamed again and tried to protect herself, and managed to pull herself free of the girl. Her eyes found Arael's, and she gasped, "Help me."

The little girl lifted Charlotte as easily as if the older girl were a stuffed doll, and flung her through the air. The little girl looked puzzled over what she had done, as though confused at her own powers. She was sobbing now. Helplessly. Uncontrollably. A scared little girl who didn't understand what she was doing.

"Charlotte!" Cade cried, running to catch the girl as she sailed through the air. When the bloodied girl landed in hid arms, he held her tightly. "Why is that..?" He asked her gently, but anger singed his voice. He would not, absolutely not put up with this treatment. If killing that little girl was needed to protect Charlotte, he would. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her any longer.

[Charlia]

A low whistling filled the air, sounding almost like a moan the louder it grew. Pain would fill their minds, and the air around them grew cold. Something wet brushed against their skin as a dark, shadowy creature, looking very much like a little girl, exploded out of Charlotte's body and flew at them. Then she formed into a solid girl, a younger version of the girl lying on the ground, and they could see her face. She was puzzled, confused, and very, very frightened. Meanwhile, Charlotte sat up unsteadily. Seeing the girl, she looked at her younger self with tired, sad eyes and reached out her arms. It was an offer of help, of comfort. At first the girl resisted, afraid to come near. But Charlotte waited patiently, making it clear that she was there to help.

At last, the little girl took a tentative step towards the older one. Charlotte smiled broadly. Encouraged, the girl stepped closer. Then closer again. Another step, and then another, until she was standing directly in front of the other girl. With great tenderness, Charlotte reached out and wrapped her arms around the helpless child. There was no missing the gentle affection. Charlotte changed so often, her shattered mind never quite sure who she was, but there was one thing that always stayed constant.

She cared for the lost and the abandoned. She was there for the lonely. She wanted to help those who couldn't help themselves.

And all of that had started because no one had helped one little girl.

A once-innocent child who was defiled and abandoned, left lost and lonely, forsaken and forgotten.

The little girl that Charlotte wept for every night, the one she couldn't ever help, no matter how desperately she wished to save the child.

The little girl who only wanted to hear one thing:

'You are not alone.'

The same message that Charlotte's wordless gesture of comfort was telling the frightened and broken child.

'Never alone.'

Charlotte looked over to Lux and smiled.

But the smile froze. Her expression turned from joy to surprise... and then to horror. There was a tearing sound, and Charlotte screamed, falling back from the girl.

The child turned to Lux and Arael, confused, afraid, and looking very helpless. But in her hands was a pool of blood.

She looked down at Charlotte with deep pity... and confusion. Then, without warning, she leaped on the older girl and began beating her with powerful blows and clawing at her with suddenly razor-sharp fingers. Charlotte screamed again and tried to protect herself, and managed to pull herself free of the girl. Her eyes found Arael's, and she gasped, "Help me."

The little girl lifted Charlotte as easily as if the older girl were a stuffed doll, and flung her through the air. The little girl looked puzzled over what she had done, as though confused at her own powers. She was sobbing now. Helplessly. Uncontrollably. A scared little girl who didn't understand what she was doing.

"Charlotte!" Cade cried, running to catch the girl as she sailed through the air. When the bloodied girl landed in hid arms, he held her tightly. "Why is that..?" He asked her gently, but anger singed his voice. He would not, absolutely not put up with this treatment. If killing that little girl was needed to protect Charlotte, he would. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her any longer.

The whistling sound grew louder, sounding like a muffled cry--as if someone was trying to scream, but was being smothered.

Slowly, faint outlines began to waver and shimmer around him, hundreds of them. The images grew brighter, more solid. They averaged between two and three feet high, with misshapen, twisted bodies--some hunchbacked, some gnarled and knobbly, most covered with fur or hair. Their faces were equally grotesque--bulging eyes, pig snouts, gaping fangs, a few had horns.

They stared at him, snarling, growling, snapping their teeth, and began taking threatening steps towards him.

[Castle Crashers]

"Charlotte!" Cade cried, running to catch the girl as she sailed through the air. When the bloodied girl landed in hid arms, he held her tightly. "Why is that..?" He asked her gently, but anger singed his voice. He would not, absolutely not put up with this treatment. If killing that little girl was needed to protect Charlotte, he would. He wouldn't let anyone hurt her any longer.

The whistling sound grew louder, sounding like a muffled cry--as if someone was trying to scream, but was being smothered.

Slowly, faint outlines began to waver and shimmer around him, hundreds of them. The images grew brighter, more solid. They averaged between two and three feet high, with misshapen, twisted bodies--some hunchbacked, some gnarled and knobbly, most covered with fur or hair. Their faces were equally grotesque--bulging eyes, pig snouts, gaping fangs, a few had horns.

They stared at him, snarling, growling, snapping their teeth, and began taking threatening steps towards him.

He scowled, keeping Charlotte safe against himself as they approached. Electricity began bouncing off his skin, static filling the air as it did. He made sure that none of the rather harmful strands of energy hit Charlotte, making sure the only thing she felt was simple static. The creatures that stepped too close would soon find themselves being struck by over a thousand volts of electricity.

[Theocretes]

Stranded in the newr empty hallway outside the suspicious room
Ianar had time to himself, time to think
Something which had not happened in a long time
He got to think about what he was doing...what side he was on
Was he right or wrong or would it even matter if he was either?
Was he going to allow these thoughts to brew and refine?
To eventually consume him?
His thoughts wove in and out of his mind, pondering everything that had happened so far
One thought that ached Ianar a thought that threatened to tear him apart...was there
Does anyone care anymore?
Or am I a shallow meaningless thrall
Meant to perish by the hands of Raven, the claimed god of this reality
Or...is anyone he has ever met truly god.
Is there anither realm above us
Meant for the true god?
Or is there a realm above that?
Ianar shut these thoughts off before they could fuse to his mindset
He ached for his mother.....

[Charlia]

The whistling sound grew louder, sounding like a muffled cry--as if someone was trying to scream, but was being smothered.

Slowly, faint outlines began to waver and shimmer around him, hundreds of them. The images grew brighter, more solid. They averaged between two and three feet high, with misshapen, twisted bodies--some hunchbacked, some gnarled and knobbly, most covered with fur or hair. Their faces were equally grotesque--bulging eyes, pig snouts, gaping fangs, a few had horns.

They stared at him, snarling, growling, snapping their teeth, and began taking threatening steps towards him.

He scowled, keeping Charlotte safe against himself as they approached. Electricity began bouncing off his skin, static filling the air as it did. He made sure that none of the rather harmful strands of energy hit Charlotte, making sure the only thing she felt was simple static. The creatures that stepped too close would soon find themselves being struck by over a thousand volts of electricity.

They stepped back, and began scurrying over to the little girl, leaping into her, creating her very being, her substance. As each one entered her shadow, it became a part of her body, making her just a little larger. Her height rose four, five, six feet, and still the creatures poured in--by the time it was over, she towered over ten feet tall. Once her form was complete, she turned to Charlotte, who instinctively huddled closer to Cade, hoping somehow his presence would help.

It did not.

The girl raised her hand and pointed at Charlotte. She spoke, her voice low and guttural.

"You!"

Charlotte was trembling. She was terrified and she hated herself for it, but she had been through too much, seen and felt too many things. She was exhausted.

The shadow smiled maliciously, and started to approach, the electricity not seeming to harm it at all.

"This is your doing."

She couldn't respond. She drew even closer to Cade.

All this suffering--because of you."

She shook her head, trying not to listen. But the voice was powerful and persuasive, as were the creature's eyes. As she watched it approach, she found it more and more difficult to resist and look away.

"It is your fear, your weakness that has created this."

She tried to block the voice from her mind, but it was already inside her head. And the closer the girl approached, the more it all made sense.

"Your arrogance has led to this suffering."

Her eyes started to burn with tears. Deep, heartwrenching sobs shook her body. She didn't have to open her eyes to feel the thing towering above her. But she no longer cared... she no longer had the energy or the will to fight. Whatever happened next, it was what she deserved.

It was time to end it. Time to stop hurting herself and others, and give in.

The closer the thing bent towards her, the more she could feel her will and determination drain away. All she wanted was to sleep. To stop fighting, to give in, to let the creatures take control again and stop the pain forever. She would sleep for all eternity. Maybe she would simply die and wake in heaven. Who was to say? Either way, she wouldn't feel the pain anymore. And it wasn't just for her sake.

Everyone would be happier without her dragging them down, and she would never harm another living soul again.

The faithless daughter of God would be gone forever, a shadow removed from the lives of the ones she cared for, and she would never feel alone again.

[Luminesa]

He scowled, keeping Charlotte safe against himself as they approached. Electricity began bouncing off his skin, static filling the air as it did. He made sure that none of the rather harmful strands of energy hit Charlotte, making sure the only thing she felt was simple static. The creatures that stepped too close would soon find themselves being struck by over a thousand volts of electricity.

They stepped back, and began scurrying over to the little girl, leaping into her, creating her very being, her substance. As each one entered her shadow, it became a part of her body, making her just a little larger. Her height rose four, five, six feet, and still the creatures poured in--by the time it was over, she towered over ten feet tall. Once her form was complete, she turned to Charlotte, who instinctively huddled closer to Cade, hoping somehow his presence would help.

It did not.

The girl raised her hand and pointed at Charlotte. She spoke, her voice low and guttural.

"You!"

Charlotte was trembling. She was terrified and she hated herself for it, but she had been through too much, seen and felt too many things. She was exhausted.

The shadow smiled maliciously, and started to approach, the electricity not seeming to harm it at all.

"This is your doing."

She couldn't respond. She drew even closer to Cade.

All this suffering--because of you."

She shook her head, trying not to listen. But the voice was powerful and persuasive, as were the creature's eyes. As she watched it approach, she found it more and more difficult to resist and look away.

"It is your fear, your weakness that has created this."

She tried to block the voice from her mind, but it was already inside her head. And the closer the girl approached, the more it all made sense.

"Your arrogance has led to this suffering."

Her eyes started to burn with tears. Deep, heartwrenching sobs shook her body. She didn't have to open her eyes to feel the thing towering above her. But she no longer cared... she no longer had the energy or the will to fight. Whatever happened next, it was what she deserved.

It was time to end it. Time to stop hurting herself and others, and give in.

The closer the thing bent towards her, the more she could feel her will and determination drain away. All she wanted was to sleep. To stop fighting, to give in, to let the creatures take control again and stop the pain forever. She would sleep for all eternity. Maybe she would simply die and wake in heaven. Who was to say? Either way, she wouldn't feel the pain anymore. And it wasn't just for her sake.

Everyone would be happier without her dragging them down, and she would never harm another living soul again.

The faithless daughter of God would be gone forever, a shadow removed from the lives of the ones she cared for, and she would never feel alone again.

Arael and Lux looked at each other, after seeing that the demon was free, and they nodded, as though they instinctively knew what to do.

The latter summoned his huge Soul-Self and picked up the demon. Meanwhile, the smaller angel-form continued praying in Latin, his quiet voice a soothing sound in the midst of the turmoil.

The former aimed his light powers at the demon and began to tear it apart, though it was already being torn apart by the prayers and by being held in the hand of an Archangel. Yet this was the last touch the demon needed, and finally it was gone, in a puddle of black blood and smoke.

[Charlia]

They stepped back, and began scurrying over to the little girl, leaping into her, creating her very being, her substance. As each one entered her shadow, it became a part of her body, making her just a little larger. Her height rose four, five, six feet, and still the creatures poured in--by the time it was over, she towered over ten feet tall. Once her form was complete, she turned to Charlotte, who instinctively huddled closer to Cade, hoping somehow his presence would help.

It did not.

The girl raised her hand and pointed at Charlotte. She spoke, her voice low and guttural.

"You!"

Charlotte was trembling. She was terrified and she hated herself for it, but she had been through too much, seen and felt too many things. She was exhausted.

The shadow smiled maliciously, and started to approach, the electricity not seeming to harm it at all.

"This is your doing."

She couldn't respond. She drew even closer to Cade.

All this suffering--because of you."

She shook her head, trying not to listen. But the voice was powerful and persuasive, as were the creature's eyes. As she watched it approach, she found it more and more difficult to resist and look away.

"It is your fear, your weakness that has created this."

She tried to block the voice from her mind, but it was already inside her head. And the closer the girl approached, the more it all made sense.

"Your arrogance has led to this suffering."

Her eyes started to burn with tears. Deep, heartwrenching sobs shook her body. She didn't have to open her eyes to feel the thing towering above her. But she no longer cared... she no longer had the energy or the will to fight. Whatever happened next, it was what she deserved.

It was time to end it. Time to stop hurting herself and others, and give in.

The closer the thing bent towards her, the more she could feel her will and determination drain away. All she wanted was to sleep. To stop fighting, to give in, to let the creatures take control again and stop the pain forever. She would sleep for all eternity. Maybe she would simply die and wake in heaven. Who was to say? Either way, she wouldn't feel the pain anymore. And it wasn't just for her sake.

Everyone would be happier without her dragging them down, and she would never harm another living soul again.

The faithless daughter of God would be gone forever, a shadow removed from the lives of the ones she cared for, and she would never feel alone again.

Arael and Lux looked at each other, after seeing that the demon was free, and they nodded, as though they instinctively knew what to do.

The latter summoned his huge Soul-Self and picked up the demon. Meanwhile, the smaller angel-form continued praying in Latin, his quiet voice a soothing sound in the midst of the turmoil.

The former aimed his light powers at the demon and began to tear it apart, though it was already being torn apart by the prayers and by being held in the hand of an Archangel. Yet this was the last touch the demon needed, and finally it was gone, in a puddle of black blood and smoke.

"You're funny," the demons hissed, reappearing shortly after their supposed 'death'. "She is the one who brought us here, and only she can send us away. Fools."

[Luminesa]

Arael and Lux looked at each other, after seeing that the demon was free, and they nodded, as though they instinctively knew what to do.

The latter summoned his huge Soul-Self and picked up the demon. Meanwhile, the smaller angel-form continued praying in Latin, his quiet voice a soothing sound in the midst of the turmoil.

The former aimed his light powers at the demon and began to tear it apart, though it was already being torn apart by the prayers and by being held in the hand of an Archangel. Yet this was the last touch the demon needed, and finally it was gone, in a puddle of black blood and smoke.

"You're funny," the demons hissed, reappearing shortly after their supposed 'death'. "She is the one who brought us here, and only she can send us away. Fools."

"Do not think this means you win. You are still in my hands," Lux replied. He then turned to Charlotte urgently. "Charlotte, please tell it to leave. We love you and we want to protect you. You are not alone...Please, you must command this demon to leave!"

[Castle Crashers]

Arael and Lux looked at each other, after seeing that the demon was free, and they nodded, as though they instinctively knew what to do.

The latter summoned his huge Soul-Self and picked up the demon. Meanwhile, the smaller angel-form continued praying in Latin, his quiet voice a soothing sound in the midst of the turmoil.

The former aimed his light powers at the demon and began to tear it apart, though it was already being torn apart by the prayers and by being held in the hand of an Archangel. Yet this was the last touch the demon needed, and finally it was gone, in a puddle of black blood and smoke.

"You're funny," the demons hissed, reappearing shortly after their supposed 'death'. "She is the one who brought us here, and only she can send us away. Fools."

Cade scowled. "She can't send you away when you keep twisting her train of thought and make her hate herself!" He growled before looking gently down to Charlotte whom still lingered in his arms. "What they say isn't true, none of it is...you're beautiful and innocent and unresponsible for this...none of this, none of anything that happened was your fault..." He said softly. "Nothing they say is true..."

[The Dystopian Isles of Frisct]

Cyrek had heard some rumors. Rumors about other people-who he assumed were gods as well-who had powers similar to his own. There had been tales of a fight between dragons not too long ago, a barely stopped zombie apocalypse, and various other things in those kinds of categories. Cyrek had obviously known that there would be other beings similar to him, but he didn't expect them to be so active in the world. Oh well, he was active all the time because of his duties, so he couldn't say much.

Cyrek was wandering around the world, searching for where they were based, and gathered a lot of information from strangers along the way whenever he could. From what he could deduce, the other gods were in some kind of high school that taught them how to use their powers correctly, or something like that. He discovered its whereabouts a while ago, but had to get rid of all evidence that he had been anywhere, which took up quite a bit of time. With his powers though, he could travel faster than teleportation, so it took a lot less time than it should've. He came out from between two trees, looking at the large building that was prevalent past the forested area he had had to go through. He walked up toward the front steps, wondering where everybody was.

[Ranoria]

Cyrek had heard some rumors. Rumors about other people-who he assumed were gods as well-who had powers similar to his own. There had been tales of a fight between dragons not too long ago, a barely stopped zombie apocalypse, and various other things in those kinds of categories. Cyrek had obviously known that there would be other beings similar to him, but he didn't expect them to be so active in the world. Oh well, he was active all the time because of his duties, so he couldn't say much.

Cyrek was wandering around the world, searching for where they were based, and gathered a lot of information from strangers along the way whenever he could. From what he could deduce, the other gods were in some kind of high school that taught them how to use their powers correctly, or something like that. He discovered its whereabouts a while ago, but had to get rid of all evidence that he had been anywhere, which took up quite a bit of time. With his powers though, he could travel faster than teleportation, so it took a lot less time than it should've. He came out from between two trees, looking at the large building that was prevalent past the forested area he had had to go through. He walked up toward the front steps, wondering where everybody was.

In front of the doors was probably one of the last things he'd have expected. A turtle.

And not just any turtle. This was a quarter ton, massive specimen that looked at him with dull, uninterested eyes, his orbs seeming to be a window to an endless abundance of wisdom and knowledge.

[The Dystopian Isles of Frisct]

Cyrek had heard some rumors. Rumors about other people-who he assumed were gods as well-who had powers similar to his own. There had been tales of a fight between dragons not too long ago, a barely stopped zombie apocalypse, and various other things in those kinds of categories. Cyrek had obviously known that there would be other beings similar to him, but he didn't expect them to be so active in the world. Oh well, he was active all the time because of his duties, so he couldn't say much.

Cyrek was wandering around the world, searching for where they were based, and gathered a lot of information from strangers along the way whenever he could. From what he could deduce, the other gods were in some kind of high school that taught them how to use their powers correctly, or something like that. He discovered its whereabouts a while ago, but had to get rid of all evidence that he had been anywhere, which took up quite a bit of time. With his powers though, he could travel faster than teleportation, so it took a lot less time than it should've. He came out from between two trees, looking at the large building that was prevalent past the forested area he had had to go through. He walked up toward the front steps, wondering where everybody was.

In front of the doors was probably one of the last things he'd have expected. A turtle.

And not just any turtle. This was a quarter ton, massive specimen that looked at him with dull, uninterested eyes, his orbs seeming to be a window to an endless abundance of wisdom and knowledge.

Cyrek appeared quite surprised by the large turtle just sitting there. "Well then...do you know where all of the other people are? There should be a lot of gods here right about now."

[Theocretes]

In front of the doors was probably one of the last things he'd have expected. A turtle.

And not just any turtle. This was a quarter ton, massive specimen that looked at him with dull, uninterested eyes, his orbs seeming to be a window to an endless abundance of wisdom and knowledge.

Cyrek appeared quite surprised by the large turtle just sitting there. "Well then...do you know where all of the other people are? There should be a lot of gods here right about now."

"well there are some of us left.."
Hachiman spoke, as he snuck up from behind the other god and a.....turtle?!?

[Ranoria]

In front of the doors was probably one of the last things he'd have expected. A turtle.

And not just any turtle. This was a quarter ton, massive specimen that looked at him with dull, uninterested eyes, his orbs seeming to be a window to an endless abundance of wisdom and knowledge.

Cyrek appeared quite surprised by the large turtle just sitting there. "Well then...do you know where all of the other people are? There should be a lot of gods here right about now."

Bo, being a turtle, was unable to respond vocally, and so instead extended one of his flippers, waiting for Cyrek to grap it.

[The Dystopian Isles of Frisct]

Cyrek appeared quite surprised by the large turtle just sitting there. "Well then...do you know where all of the other people are? There should be a lot of gods here right about now."

Bo, being a turtle, was unable to respond vocally, and so instead extended one of his flippers, waiting for Cyrek to grap it.

"Well, it looks like you want me to grab your fin, so I guess I'll do that then." He extended his hand and grabbed the tip of his flipper.

[Ranoria]

Bo, being a turtle, was unable to respond vocally, and so instead extended one of his flippers, waiting for Cyrek to grap it.

"Well, it looks like you want me to grab your fin, so I guess I'll do that then." He extended his hand and grabbed the tip of his flipper.

And with that, Cyrek was transported into the desert, where Ryujin was battling Raven, lots of people were everywhere, and general chaos seemed to rein supreme. On the other hand, Bo hadn't tagged along.