Rith walked across the cool sand. His purple eyes stared coldly. at the sea. He was ready to move to phase two of his plan, but there was still something missing. This something was something he needed vitally. He could not move to phase two until he had a person he could trust. "Are you sure there are none you have gotten to that would care little for Ace.....Wait there is skorne. I effectively altered his mind. This can be done again if needed.....Do you know where he is?..... Somehwhere on his quest to find and kill hmself. I did mark his mind so that I could find him easily," Draco and Rith said inside of Rith's thoughts. Rith then put two fingers to his forehead. He closed his eyes in concetrations. His mind's eye blurred over the Landscape searching for the victim of Draco's magic. He could not see skorne or his location, but knew he was in the abyss. "He's in the abyss. How exaactly are we going to get him out?.....That is a question with a simple answer." "Terror, disguise me before I begin," Rith called. A purple wisp of light appeared seemingly out of Nowhere and orbited faster and faster around Rith. The wisp wound a greater illusion around the child. Rith no longer seemed a child he was now taking the form of Skorne's made up mother. Rith now began casting a spell of his own. A large portal appeared before him. "Skorne, Your services are called upon," Rith roared.

Skorne battled fiercely against the dark shape before him, stuck in one of many life or death struggles that had taken place since he had arrived in the Abyss. He swung his sword upward, bringing it down with all of his strength into his foes head. The demon slumped to the ground, dead, and he was immedietly torn at by scavenger demons that were always looking for food. Skorne turned away in disgust, he abhorred the scavangers, they were weak pathetic excuses of a demon. He felt a sudden call, like someone was looking for him. A dark portal opened before him, and he knew he was being summoned.

He stepped through quickly, eager for an escape from the land that had become a prison. He blinked in the sudden brightness that came with the real world, the Abyss always seemed to have a cloud of darkness that lingered near, preventing any light from coming through. When his eyes adjusted, he saw the figure that was standing in front of him. It was his mother! He took an impulsive step forward, until he remembered the memories he had recovered while in the dark recesses of the Abyss. This elf was not his mother, he was not even an elf truly, so whoever was hiding behind that illusion was trying to get Skorne to trust them.

"Who are you, that you would call me from the Abyss? For I know that you are not whom you seem to be, for I have recovered what was lost to me while trapped in the hellish prison that is the Abyss." Skorne kept his sword drawn, glad that he had it's power to aid him, he didn't know why someone would call him to this world, but whoever did had enough power to open a portal between dimensions.

A grin appeared on the elven woman's face as Rith quickly ran through Skorne's mind. He had navigated and even manipulated it before. Within the seconds that Skorne spoke he had accuired all important details of his life after Draco had altered it. "Yes, I know...I know. I wish to complemet you on your work. I have been watching, studying and testing you. This form was merely to show you that I am the cause of all of this. I am the only one who knows this nonexistant image would have any effect at all on you," Rith said in a deep voice unlike his childlike voice and unlike the voice of Skorne's false mother.

Rith turned around and The purple wisp whirled about him once again with incredible speed. His figure was now lost in darkness. "Your ablities have increased greatly. You have passed all of your tests, but the next time you feel a need to challenge the god of Day let me choose the location, I would hate to save your skin an addition time. You stand before me because my ablties are incredible, but my current form is weak," Rith said as the darkness began to shift away from him. When Rith had finished speaking his childish form was revealed. Rith's purple eyes stared almost coldly into Skorne's.

"As such I wished to call upon the aid of one I could trust. One who would always obey me. I needed this before I could could further my goals. This is why you stand before me. You and you alone have passed all of my tests," Rith said as his purple eyes began to glow with a dark light.

"In return for your services I will offer my own to you and power beyond what you have and could accuire on yur own. You have no choice, but to accept my offer, unless you wish to return the hellish prison of your birth. As such my terms are very kindly." Rith smiled. He Had not yet told his name, but that would come in time.

Skorne didn't like the situation, he didn't like it one bit. This child had him in a position that he could not get out of, and he knew it. He loathed the idea of serving anyone, but the alternative would be to return to the Abyss. He could not allow himself to be taken back there again, he was out, and he intended to stay that way. "It seems I have no choice but to accept your terms. So you summoned me from the Abyss to be your bodygaurd, is that basically what you are saying?" Skorne sheathed his sword, and rested his left hand on the hilt, waiting to see what this strange lad would say. Skorne had indeed changed over the past few weeks, his travels through the Abyss had hardened him, and made him stronger than before. He had also aquired some items of value that would help him, although it had pained him to lose his fire scimitar.

Skorne waited patiently for the child's answer, looking straight into his eyes. This boy held power beyond his years, power enough to open a portal to the Abyss, and Skorne didn't want to anger him. He would help, if it meant that he could reach his own goals, and there was one that was top in his mind, to hunt down and slay Astra once and for all. She had evaded him before, and once he had even spoken to her, when he didn't know who he was. She would not escape him again, she had lived to long. What he needed, was to find her weakness, and exploit it. Force her to duel him in an isolated area where she had no hope of being rescued. His eyes glowed at the prospect of accomplishing this, they had turned their original blood red during his stay in the Abyss.

edit: I really need to stop doing this. This is the 3rd time in 2 days I have posted with the wrong account. ::bonk:: Just don't post until I get this post deleted, I will then repost it with the right account.

Skorne didn't like the situation, he didn't like it one bit. This child had him in a position that he could not get out of, and he knew it. He loathed the idea of serving anyone, but the alternative would be to return to the Abyss. He could not allow himself to be taken back there again, he was out, and he intended to stay that way. "It seems I have no choice but to accept your terms. So you summoned me from the Abyss to be your bodygaurd, is that basically what you are saying?" Skorne sheathed his sword, and rested his left hand on the hilt, waiting to see what this strange lad would say. Skorne had indeed changed over the past few weeks, his travels through the Abyss had hardened him, and made him stronger than before. He had also aquired some items of value that would help him, although it had pained him to lose his fire scimitar.

Skorne waited patiently for the child's answer, looking straight into his eyes. This boy held power beyond his years, power enough to open a portal to the Abyss, and Skorne didn't want to anger him. He would help, if it meant that he could reach his own goals, and there was one that was top in his mind, to hunt down and slay Astra once and for all. She had evaded him before, and once he had even spoken to her, when he didn't know who he was. She would not escape him again, she had lived to long. What he needed, was to find her weakness, and exploit it. Force her to duel him in an isolated area where she had no hope of being rescued. His eyes glowed at the prospect of accomplishing this, they had returned their original blood red during his stay in the Abyss.

"Good. In a sense you are correct, though there is much more detail involved. I will not require your services at all times. As long as you obey me and do your best to protect me then you will be free to do as you wish. I shall bind you to your word and bestow upon you the abilitly to call upon my aid, but this is not something that can be done here. I shall give you directions to our meeting place. Come as quick as you can," Rith smiled as he implanted the directions to his dark castle into Skorne's mind. Rith was pleased with the impression Skorne had of him. Rith had always seemed to have more power than he actually had through his mind games and illusions, but that would soon change. He would soon have tangible power, beyond his current talent and skill. Rith now had all needed to implement the second part of his plan. He would Skorne would not be the only one on his way to the syndicate of whispers. Rith's thoughts returned to Skorne's as the demon now thought of Astra. He ran his mind through the possiblities. Astra held a certain diplomatic power in Talas and would have the chance at much more. Rith doubted she would easily be swayed by intimidation, bribery, or diplomacy. An assassination would be a nice way to get her out of the way. Rith's mind now started taking notes of how to work the assassination cleanly and get a profit of some sort from it. "I am Rith, Lord of the Whispers. Rember that name well," Rith's words echoed in skorne's mind as he vanished in the shadows. He finish preperations for his guests.

Astra kicked loose rocks without reason as she aimlessly walked down the rocky shore. She muttered angrily to herself as she wandered to the North, hoping Talas would soon appear before, well aware it was impossible. Unless she wanted to swim, she would not reach Talas by her own means.

She could not believe she was tricked into thinking that incompetent Captain knew his trade. He had assured her on multiple occasions during the short voyage that she had made the right decision by venturing to Talas by ship. “It would cut days off of her journey.” were his exact words.

Snorting softly with rage, she pushed a lock of her rebellious silver-white hair behind her ear and smoothed her dark purple, pleated skirts. She could clearly visualize the piece of parchment that had gotten her into this mess.

Moonchild, you are called upon. The Rose wilts. Haste….Please haste…..

She rubbed her left arm absent-mindedly, she could almost feel the pain of the wound that had nearly ended her. Thoughts of the wound inevitably lead to thoughts of the strange man that had helped her. She wondered if they would ever cross paths once again, she hoped that they would.

“Light! There better be a ship on the other side of the island, or I will track down that Captain and hang him from the mast by his ankles. How dare he herd me off of his ship and point me in a vague direction as he mentioned a row boat used to carry passengers the rest of the way to Talas at a dock on the opposite end of the island. A lot of good I will do her Majesty stuck on this light forsaken piece of land!!!”

Grumbling, she continued to walk, her rage making her almost completely oblivious to her surroundings.

(OOC: Sorry for taking so long to post. I hate homework! ~growls~ I'll try to post everyday, but the worse case scenario is every couple days.

Skorne decided he had better hurry to the place that Rith had told him about. He wanted to get there soon so that he could see what all Rith had in store for this guild he had planned. He turned abruptly and began walking in the direction of the castle that he had seen, wondering where exactly it was. He had been walking for a short while when he caught sight of a shape coming out of the darkness ahead. His hand instantly went to his sword, he was still used to the abyss, where an unknown shape could mean death to anyone.

His keen eyes soon picked out the shape of this person, he could tell it was a girl fro mthe build and the way she walked. There was something familiar about her, and he strained his eyes to get a better look. It wasn't for a few more seconds that he realised it was Astra. The realization hit him like a thunderbolt. The girl that he had been searching for all this time just suddenly appears in front of him. Even better, she thought that he was another person that was haunted by the demon Ertai. He oculd use that mistaken identity to his own advantage.

Astra muttered to herself, still kicking loose rocks as she walked. She could not believe the disrespect that captain showed towards her. She knew if she revealed herself as a High Lady he would have been blubbering over himself with, “Is my Lady comfortable… Would my Lady like some refreshments…” For Light sakes he would have chartered her right to Talas, despite his previous route that he had planned.

It sickened her that a title would give her more respect than simply being a living being. In Astra’s mind Blacksmiths, High Ladies and Lords, Thatchers, Scholars and Kings and Queens alike should have respect from everyone else. She understood that with Royalty certain protocols had to be followed, but all beings should have some mutual amount of respect. Not to be herded off a ship like cattle onto an uninhabited island.

A very welcome cool breeze stirred Astra’s silver-white hair and dark purple pleated skirts. She lifted her gaze from the ground, and was first startled and wary when she saw a figure, but smiled warmly when she saw it was Skorne. She had met him when she was training at the Academy. He had the misfortune of running into the Light Forsaken demon named Ertai, as she had some time ago in Taras.

She lifted her skirts slightly with her hands, so they would not drag in the sand and she began to rush towards him, lavender eyes sparkling.

She called out with her crystal voice, “Skorne! Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to see you! Do you have any idea how to get off of this ruddy piece of land?”

Skorne waved at her when he heard her shout. It seemed that she still remembered him as a good creature, one who was troubled by the demons of his past. This would help him out greatly in the time to come. "No, I don't know the way out of here. I am afraid that I am lost, then again, I had planned on spending the day relaxing, so I haven't been searching that hard." Skorne watched her as she approached, plans already forming in his mind about how he would deal with the situation he was in. He would help her find a way off the island, and gain her trust even more.

Skorne stopped and waited for her to get up to him. He spent the time watching her, she seemed to have changed some since he last saw her. From the tone in her voice, she seemed to be in a hurry. It would help his plan even more if she was in a hurry, she wouldn't pay as much attention to him. "Do you need some help in finding a way off the island?"

In a few moments she found herself before him, and began to smooth her now rumpled skirts. She felt a flash of embarrassment imaging herself jogging toward Skorne, her skirts hiked up to her knees. She was not embarrassed at all in showing a little leg. For light sakes, the outfits her Father had her walking around Taras in were far more than simply scandalous. She was not embarrassed, but did not like showing herself off for all to see. The reason she was suddenly self conscious was the idea of her charging toward him, she usually was not so forward, especially with one she had only met once.

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. If she were not so flustered with her sudden forwardness and being in such a rush to arrive in Taras she probably would have noticed the strange gleam in his eyes, a glimmer that would have normally made her quite nervous.

But alas, she was anxious and frustrated at being so close to Taras, yet so far away she did not notice this little warning sign.

Now sufficiently composed she met Skorne's eyes and smiled as she began to speak with a crystal, melodious voice, "I would truly hate to ruin your day of relaxation, but it would be wonderful if you could point me in the general direction of a ferrying dock to Taras or something of the sort."

She waited for his response in anticipation. He did say he was lost, but then he did ask if she needed help. Maybe he had a general knowledge of this island.

Skorne looked back the way that he had come, acting as if he were thinking about which way was correct. He turned back to look at Astra, pleased that she was to busy to see what he really was. "I am pretty sure that the dock is that way, but I don't know the direct route. I would be a bit cautious about going there though, the way has many daners. Please, allow me to accompany you and help protect you from any harm that might befall you." Skorne wasn't exactly lying when he said the way was dangerous, if she traveled with him, she would indeed be in danger.

He eagerly awaited her esponse, although he knew what it would most likely be. She would probably accept his help, it would be the most sensible choice. The way was dangerous, and two people could protect themselves better than one. Common sense dictated that she agree to his offer. Though common sense sometimes took the day off.

A smile of relief appeared on Astra’s rose lips, as she thanked Skorne immensely, “Oh thank you, I accept your offer gratefully. I am so happy that I came across you on this island. I’d be wandering aimlessly with no idea of where to go if you hadn’t so helpfully appeared. It seems fate sometimes does help out once in a while, instead of always throwing obstacles in the way.”

Oh, how ironically wrong was she. So blissfully unaware of what she was ignorantly stepping into.

Striding off in the direction Skorne had pointed in, she absent-mindedly pushed a lock of rebellious silver hair behind her ear. She then began speaking melodiously once more, “What have you been doing since our last meeting at The Academy? Have you had any luck with retrieving your lost memories?”

She shudder slightly at the thought of why his memories had been supposedly lost, Ertai. That demon still haunted her nightmares, although she was much more equipped to handle herself than last time. She still felt disgusted at the role of helpless and dull-witted Lady she had to play in the Taras Library to protect herself, when she did not have any battle skills.

A smile still holding on her lips despite her dark thoughts, she waited for Skorne’s response.

Skorne walked beside Astra, barely managing to contain himself. He had to wait for the exact moment when it would help him the most. Until then, he needed to continue acting as he was. "Yes, I have managed to recover some of my memories, though I would have been glad to keep them lost compared to how I regained them." Skorne was basically telling the truth for a while, he just altered a few small details here and there to keep the suspicion off of him. "It occured when I was caught by Ertai, and was forced to fight him. During that fight, Sargoth banished him to the Abyss, however, when Sargoth used his magic, I had jsut attacked Ertai, so I was caught in the blast. I ended up in the Abyss for a while. It was there that I regained my memories."

Skorne shuddered, continueing to play the part of the kind elf. "I hope that I never end up in that place again. It was a constant battle against demons of every kind. I almost gave up hope several times, but I managed to push on." Skorne navigated the rocky ground that they had reached, he needed to find the best terrain possible to have his attack occur. Skorne kept one hand on the hilt of his sword, he wasn't worried if Astra asked him about that, he could always say that he wanted to be ready for any wild creature that might attack.

Astra's eyes widened with shock and she turned her head almost violently toward Skorne as she walked, silver hair fanning out around her. Her crystal clear voice echoed out through the now rocky terrain, "Light! You encountered Ertai again? What a horrible wretched creature he is! I did not tell you this at The Academy, but Ertai was hired for my attempted assassination! Sargoth, light bless him, was the only reason I survived. It seems he tried to save you as well, but the intention went askew."

Astra swallowed, the words of Ertai echoing in the crevasses of her mind, he had promised he would finish his job, he had sworn he would take the breath from her lips once and for all.

Shuddering and biting her lower lip, she realized she had revealed more than she wanted to. She preferred to keep situations very impersonal, but it only seemed right that this man should know that the horrible demon had touched her life with his darkness as well. She had not told him at The Academy, because she had a very strange feeling, most likely paranoia. She had been very on edge after struggling and fleeing blindly from assassins she knew were on her trail.

Her lavender eyes filled with compassion she spoke softly once again, "You poor man. I have never heard of The Abyss before, but it seems like a horrible, frightening place to say the least. I hate it! Hate it when bad situations befall good people."

Astra smoothed her slightly rumpled skirts absent-mindedly with one hand. She wore simple garb, a plain dark purple dress and a backpack slung over one shoulder. A seemingly harmless adolescent, seemingly.

Skorne watched her reactions carefully, trying to get her at the point of greatest weakness. It would make it easier for him to kill her if she was extremely emotional. He lowered his eyes, playing the part of someone remembering a painful memory. "Thank you, I am just glad that I was able to escape. Skorne rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, watching the horizen with a far away look in his eyes. "Ah, the Abyss, my you hope that you never experience anything like it. An almost uninhabitable terrain, crawling with demons and worse creatures. I was lucky to escape. Skorne walked steadily on, scanning the area around him for the signs of any life. As far as he knew the islands were uninhabited, but he didn't want to be caught by any thrill seekers.

Skorne stopped where he was, turning to look at Astra. "I suppose that you were at the academy so that you wouldn't have to worry about defending yourself against an attack if Ertai ever comes back?" Skorne stood relaxed with his eyes practically drilling holes into Astra's head. He had made his decision, he was tiring with this game. It was time to end this charade. "Let me tell you something Astra, this is extremely important, so I want you to listen carefully. I am, and have forever been, Ertai. The only thing that saved you at the academy was that I did not remember who I was. It is time for me to fulfill my promise, I hope that you had plently of practice at the academy."

Astra’s heart stilled and her first thought was to flee into the forest where she may hide, but once her initial shock had worn off, which took only moments, her mind was capable of sensible thought once again. “Him… Ertai… Oh Light!!! This cannot be true, he does not look like Ertai, but maybe this so called Abyss has strange powers, or was that a lie as well?”

Astra stopped midstride and stared at Skorne… Ertai… Whoever was standing beside her as she spoke in a soft, slightly strained but still crystal voice, “If this is some sort of sick joke, or stab at humor, I am not amused and I suggest that your retract and apologize for what you just have said immediately.” Astra then placed her hands on her hips and her usually glowing, rebellious lavender eyes seemed to freeze and her next words were obviously strained. Her usually melodious voice had the sound of a discord and her words will filled with venom, “If you are not joking, I would just like to tell you how low of a creature you are. You sicken me to my very core! Do you even know who I am or what I am trying to achieve, or did you just take the money for my assassination without another thought? If you kill me, you are killing hundreds, maybe thousands of people, but not like a soulless like yourself would give a thought to others. How dare you take my sympathy and caring, how dare you play the role of a sweet creature, blood and ashes, may the light forsake you!”

Astra’s voice was a mere whisper, but was more affective than if she had been shouting. Her frozen eyes were filled with disgust rather than fear. She had stopped fearing for her life long ago, accepting that death was part of life. But, she would not give up so easily, she was fully aware of the four throwing daggers strapped to her arms, the elvish dagger on her ankle and the strange sword she had acquired from some Tinkers attached to her hip, hidden by her violet cloak. If Ertai did attack, he would not be facing the same helpless Lady he had met in the Taras Library nearly half a year ago.

Skorne watched Astra's reaction with a smile, he hadn't thought that she would react in such a way, it appeared that she had been busy while he was gone. She had aquired some courage and apparently had a way to defend herself since she sounded so confident. Yet she was still more concerned about others than herself, that was her flaw. "Let me ask you something, do I look like I am joking? I am dead serious. When I first met you, I was assigned to kill you. I was killed in a fight, but some fool saved me. Yet it was a mockery, I had been changed into an elf. Also, my memory had been changed."

He unsheithed his sword, and hefted it in his right hand. For the moment, he was ignoring Astra, he hated the memory that had been given to him. "That was when I met you again. Later, I challanged Sargoth to a fight, but I made a slight miscalculation, he was a god. I was banished to the Abyss, where I regained the memory of who I really am." Skorne took a few steps away from Astra, before turning to face her once again. He swung his sword a few times, before speaking again. "Well, let's see just how much you learned at the academy. I will even give you my promise. If you can defeat me, then I will leave and never bother you again."

Somewhere, deep inside, Astra was panicking. In the recesses of her mind there was a very frightened, sixteen-year-old girl sobbing and pleading to flee. But, it surprised Astra that she could lock those fears and that part of herself away. “No one to save you now.” Astra thought rather pleased rather than sad, no one to risk their life for her again, she would have to save herself, be independent and disconnected as she tried so hard to be.

A small, cold laughed erupted from deep in her throat as her unharmonic voice sang out once again, “Sargoth a God? I did not know that, but I’m sure he barely had to flinch to defeat you!”

Astra let her hands fall from her hips, but she did not make any reach for a weapon. Her slender fingers twitched slightly, but that was the only movement she made. Gazing coolly at the assassin before her, “Apparently, you do not pay attention to my words, or you simply chose to ignore what has the potential to make you feel some sort of guilt, if you are even capable of that emotion. I warn you, I am not living for myself, but for others, and I have an oath that I will fight for. I am DEAD serious about what I am sworn to as well.”

Astra’s cold voice put a slight emphasis on “dead” implying many different things. She still did not flinch, her total focus on the elve before her. Her eyes did not thaw, only appeared to grow more frozen with each passing second.

Skorne laughed at her, enjoying this moment. "You are quite right, it took Sargoth little effort to beat me, yet if he hadn't beat me, then I wouldn't have regained my memory, so I should be thanking him. Still, I have a friend that will help me even the score in our next confrontation." Skorne's eyes hardened instantly, he felt his anger building up, but he kept it in check. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword until he thought he would break his own weapon. "You would assume that I am some thing, without emotion, without life. To assume that I have no emotions is veyr cold indeed. You turn yourself into the monster that you have called me. I do feel regret, about more things than you can count. This is my life, one of regret and hatred. Do you know why I was driven to this existance, because of people like you. You assume that because I am a demon, I have no feelings of my own. The world turned it's back on me, so now, I get revenge for a lifetime of hatred." Skorne slashed the air angrily in front of him, his eyes burning with hatred and rage. It was time that this girl realized the full extent of who he was. She would be killed for a deeper reason than the fact that it had filled his money bag.

"Let me tell you something Astra, these people that you are trying to save. You claim that if I kill you then they will die, well, they will be getting what they deserve. You see, I did journey to Talas long ago, before you were even born, and I was met at the gate by an armed force. They had assumed that I meant them harm because I was a demon. Your own people that you seek to protect tried to destroy me. They were blind to who I was and why I was there. Now, they will know what it feels like when their past comes back to haunt them, and know one will know what ever happened to you. Yet still, I give you a chance to save them, defeat me, and you will be left alone." With those words, Skorne launched himself at Astra, swinging his sword powerfully at her midsection.

Astra listened to his fallacy filled speech, her disgust growing more plain. She felt pity for this man who seemingly turned to darkness because of a hard, sorrow filled existents. “Czarrov’s life was filled with sadness as well, but he did not start killing for sport. This man deserves some of my pity, but his judgment and conclusions are flawed. That I do not doubt.”

Astra was ready as she saw Skorne lurch forward, in a mere second her hand flew to her hip and she drew out her strange weapon, whose powers were unknown to her, causing her violet cloak to dance violently around her slender figure. Astra positioned her weapon to meet his to stop the deadly flight of his weapon and then taking a side step, Astra turned her body so she could see Skorne’s profile, as she held the hilt of her weapon with both hands, the blade pointing heavenward.

One of her fingers anxiously rubbed the large sapphire embedded into the hilt of the strange weapon, the only outward sign of the torment she felt within. If Astra knew the powers of the strange weapon she held in her hands, she most likely would have tossed it aside, knowing the extent of its dark powers. The blade was one of the four fabled Swords of Murder, crafted by assassins. The weapon had more than the ability of merely slicing flesh, with every would it would slowly drain the victims life force, adding it to Astra’s own.

Astra spat, angry finally creeping into her voice, “People like me!! You are more of a fool than I first thought! It was you who sought me out in the Library! You who tried to kill me!!! I would have done you no harm! I have no prejudice against demons, for a demon saved my life! Without that demon I would not be breathing, he too has had hardships, but he has not been filled with the slime and hatred that obviously has topped you off! I feel pity and sorrow for what happened to you, but one does not inherit the sins of their forefathers! The people living now did not commit the injustices of which you speak, and you have no right! Absolutely no right, to take their precious lives!!”

Astra took an agile stance, rocking on the pads of her feet. She still did not feel ready to attack this demon yet, although anger boiled through her veins, but she would not strike first, she would only kill to save her own life.

Skorne scoffed at what Astra said, brushing aside her points like water dripping off his cloak. "So, do you think the people of you town would accept me, if they could see my true form? Do you think they would welcome me with open arms to their city, would they sleep easy knowing there was a demon among them? I don't think so, and deep down, you know I speak the truth. Demons will forever be hated, but I will not be destroyed by humans. Would you have met me without fear, talked to me, if you had seen who I really was to begin with?" Watching the way she moved, he could tell that she had greatly improved, she was much better than she had been when they first met. All the more fun for him when he finally overcame her. "What makes you think they have a right to save their lives? I would be doing you a favor, you wouldn't have to worry about their miserable lives anymore. The people of your city as just as corrupt as always. It is human nature to hate what it fears, and humans fear demons." Skorne circled around, watching Astra with cold, calculating eyes that seemed to shine with anticipation.

Skorne swung his sword around, warming up for the fight to come. The first attack had been a test, to ascertain how much she had improved, now the real battle would begin. Smiling at her, Skorne continued to circle, looking for an opening. "So Astra, are you ready to battle for the lives of countless people? Remember my promise, all you have to do to save them is defeat me." Skorne was unswayed by her accusations, he had been called much worse than that. He almost laughed at their curses now. The curses of a human, they mattered little in the grand scale of things. His time in the Abyss had been well spent, he knew many ways to overrun an opponent and finish them off. He knew just the type to use on Astra, his greater weight and strength would help him overpower her.

Astra wrinkled her nose in disgust as she grasped the words that were flowing from the despicable assassin’s mouth. “How about you don’t try to do me any favors. I would prefer that much more. ” Astra responded sarcastically.

As the man circled her, she did not attempt to turn around in circles with him like a fool for the motion would throw her off balance. Instead she relied on her sense of hearing, listening for his next lunge.

Turning her blade so the edges of were parallel with her body, Astra then continued to speak, “What if I wanted to live with demons? Would they welcome me with open arms? I highly doubt they would. All races have flaws, but that fact does not allow you the right to try eliminate them. You are not the Creator.”

A slight breeze began to stir, rippling Astra’s silver-white hair around her shoulders, but she barely noticed. This seemed to be Astra’s luck, or lack there of. Dumped onto an uninhabited island, a half a days journey from Taras, the city that had filled her mind for endless days, only to come across the assassin that was obsessed with killing her. Then Astra began to feel an emotion she never had felt before, the want to kill, the need for revenge. Some small piece of her was scared at feeling this way about taking another’s life, but this man had hunted her and tricked her and she would be just as hard. Unmerciful.

A mocking smile curled the corners of her full lips, “I am ready my dear Ertai, Skorne, whatever you are called you foul creature. The question is, are you?”

Skorne laughed at Astra's question, not the laugh of a happy person, but the cold, ruthless laugh of a madman. "So, it seems as though you have developed some backbone since I saw you last. You, have indeed changed from that day long ago at the Taras library." Skorne stood directly behind Astra, watching her carefully. She was smarter in the ways of battle to, she knew that if she tried to turn now, he could overwelm her. So, she waited for the attack, ready to react when it came. This would indeed be an interesting fight, and with so much on the line, Astra could not afford to lose. The sky above was overcast, without a ray of sunlight penetrating the clouds. It showed all the signs of a large storm, and once that hit, all travel to and from the island would be stopped for the moment, meaning no escape for Astra.

Skorne continued circling to the right, not stopping until he was in front of Astra. "It really is a shame, that one as beautiful as yourself has to die, but such is fate. You may not be accepted into a demon's home, but let me ask you this. Have you ever tried? I tried, I did, but still they rejected me. Now, it will be their children and all men that suffer the consequenses of their actions." Skorne shifted his sword from his right to his left hand, still confident in his fighting skills. It was time to begin and end the fight, it was just a shame that it wouldn't last long enough to be any real fun. Skorne suddenly rushed Astra, swinging his sword in a sweeping motion from left to right, hoping to prevent her from sidestepping again. Skorne was already planning his next moves, coming up with endless strategies and ways to try and defeat Astra once and for all.

Astra's first reaction to Skorne’s compliment of her beauty was a mixture between gagging and wanting to take a bath so hot that it nearly boiled her in the attempt to rid herself of the feeling of being submersed in slime. She retorted viciously back to the demon. “I’ve always had backbone, I was just smart enough to know I was no match for you in the Library. Now I have the brains and the means to rid the world of you, foul Light forsken monster!”

Hidden away deep in her being was the chaotic blend of fear, exasperation and rage. She new she boasted of great skills, but she was not sure if she was any match for a demon who made his living on death, but she had the power of the Creator and hopefully destiny on her side. She was exasperated at being so close to Taras she could almost touch the city, and rage at the creature's disgusting attitudes and beliefs.

Astra noted the darkening of the island, a storm approaching, how lovely. “Perhaps destiny is not on my side, but when has life ever been easy for me? Oh Czarrov, where are you?” Now, confusion was added to the swirling feelings in her soul, why in the world had she thought of Czarrov?

She had no time to ponder her strange question for the man that had appeared in her life one night, and disappeared the next morning because Skorne’s blade was on a direct course to chop her in half horizontally. With the grace of a cat she dropped into a squatting position to avoid the blade that was directed at about her waist level. A quick flick of her wrist and she had a throwing dagger in hand which she immediately sent on a flight to Skorne’s chest, then with a twisting motion of her waist she slid out of his path causing her Sword of Murder to swing towards Skorne’s calves from behind.

Skorne was surprised at the speed that Astra showed, he would have to watch out for that. Jumping to his left(your right) in an attempt to dodge her sword, he swung his own sword to knock her throwing knife away. Landing lightly, he spun to face her, switching his sword back to his right hand. Smiling wolfishly, he walked forward slowly, stalking Astra carefully. He knew she was speedy, but he could find a way to turn that to his advantage, let her become overconfident, that was the trick. He would have to take his plan slowly, if she suspected what he was trying to do, then it wouldn't work. Let her win for a while, build up her confidence, then strike back with everything he had.

Waving his sword through the air, he continued to stalk her, watching the way she stood, how she held her weapons. Analyzing everything about the way she fought. The key to defeating her would be given to him by her. She would provide him with what he needed to beat her. The best part was that she didn't even know that she was helping him. Watching her sword, he had an uneasy feeling. There was something about that blade that bothered him. It hid something, he had felt that feeling before. Shaking his head, he ignored the blade for the time being, concentrating on Astra. It was time to begin his plan.

Skorne walked forward, getting within ten feet of Astra before stopping. Smiling at her, he charged once again. This time he swung his sword at her left arm, then, he suddenly swerved the blade down at her leg. It had been a feint, trying to get her to raise her blade to protect her arm. It would leave her legs unprotected, and if he could strike her legs, he could cripple her. Still, if it didn't work, he wasn't that concerned. It would only aid his long term plan.

A faint whisper was urging to be heard at the very back of Astra's mind. Straining her mind to listen momentarily her own thoughts became apparent, "He is supposed to be a trained assassin, as fluid and crafty as death itself and yet he stalks and charges like a mad bull. He is hiding something. Careful, take heed..." That was one problem with taking on a icy state, Astra reacted instinctively. She turned down the volume on the analytical part of her mind and it took a great shift of will to listen to it once more, but she was glad she had, it was obvious, he was restraining.

Normally Skorne's feint would have worked, but Astra noticed a slight shift in his eyes that gave away his true intentions. She kept her sword parallel with her body until he struck. As she had hypothesized, his blade suddenly shifted toward her legs and she quickly jumped shifting to one side, folding her legs to her body. In the same moment she swung the Sword of Murder at his exposed shoulder.

With her free hand she retrieved another throwing dagger, but left it clutched in her fist. She had to few throwing daggers hidden about her, and she couldn't afford to use them needlessly. She had to wait for the right moment when the probability of a strike was high. Landing nimbly, quite out of reach of Skorne's blade, her swing toward his shoulder continued. It was strange, the whole of her reaction took less than seconds yet every movement seemed to be slowed down, as if time was passing at a different rate.

Skorne reacted on instinct alone, unsure how he was able to do what he did. Using the momentum of his swing, he spun all the way around, bringing the flat side of his blade to block her sword. He jumped back a few feet, watching her with cold eyes. She now had two weapons, while he still carried only one. He would have to be more careful, she was far more skilled than she had anticipated. Apparently she had been preparing should they ever meet again. Still, she was only human, and he had defeated many demons in the Abyss that could have easily overwelmed her. He would not be beaten again, he refused to be beaten again. Skorne came forward slower this time, taking his time in starting his attack, slalking her as a predator stalks it's prey. He watched her carefully, the way she stood, the way she positioned herself to block his attacks. All of this knowledge gained would be her downfall later on. Skorne lazily swung his sword from left to right, seeking an opening, a way past her defenses.

Skorne came to within 6 feet of her, then stopped, watching for any sign of where she would move. With an untrained person, a shift in their weight would give away a coming attack. Astra obviously was more trained than most, for she was giving nothing away. That was fine with Skorne, only meant more of a challange for him. Skorne continued to take his time, never blinking or taking his eyes from Astra's face. He walked around on cat's feet, balanced and ready to move at an instant.

Skorne came forward quickly, swinging his sword diagonally from Astra's right leg to her left shoulder. He would try a few more tricks before he attacked with all that he had. Still, he musn't take to long, or she would discover what he was up to, and that would ruin everything.