Reawakening [Open]

[mriswith]

Ishiyo Sasaki

Ishiyo stood before a man's house, a small pouch resting in her outstretched hand. Slowly closing her fingers about the bad, the coins inside rustled as they rearranged themselves to fit in the palm of her hand. The man was thanking her, again, for helping him over the past few days. His tailored, clean clothes gave off the appearance of a well-established merchant. Such riches might not be possible had his latest caravan of supplies not made it to the city; even a man of his success could only bear the loss of so many shipments before debts began to accrue he could no longer afford.

The money he offered in exchange for her services in ensuring the delivery of this last shipment wasn't all he could afford, but then Ishiyo rarely bartered for more than the initial offer; provided the initial one seemed fair for the risk involved. A shrewd merchant, the man had the foresight to know you got what you paid for; in this case she felt confident he'd spent his money well.

"Any time," she replied to his farewell, giving him a slight nod before the door to his residence slowly clicked back into its frame. It hadn't been an unseemly deal, but demonstrating his desperation out in the market might embolden his competitors. For that matter there was no telling whether one of them managed to strike a deal with the beasts out in the wilds to stage the attacks in the first place. Meeting at his house, out of sight, had been the prudent choice.

She turned and drifted back on to the clean street running outside of his well-to-do, but not extravagant, abode. Her red eyes cast up toward the fading sun as she headed to her own place of refuge. The sun was a beautiful thing and as an Elf she'd not hold any grudge for it giving life and light to the world; still, as a woman that enjoyed dark colored clothes its radiance at times could be mildly uncomfortable.

The bag slipped into an inner pocket of her leather coat. There were thieves bold enough to try to take money even from someone armed like herself. The long sword hung at her hip dissuaded those not bound in oath to one of the organizations roaming the lands. Not that they had their bases in Ilirea itself, but it was never wise to underestimate their greed. Agents of every sort inevitably tried moving in to even the most hostile of territory.

As she walked, Ishiyo began to think about getting something to eat. There were several places on her way home she could visit. One, in particular, she liked on one of the main roads. A place she could get a fair view at the Citadel. Since that dream--one not reflective of that night twenty years ago--just several days prior Ishiyo suddenly found herself yearning to return to that place of magnificence. The dreams of a child soaring with the dragons. Was she too old to dream of such things? Surely there was a way and so long as one existed it was no childish fancy.

Yes, she turned down a side street to make for one of the main arteries of the city-state. She had a great deal to think about regarding her future.

[mriswith]

As Ishiyo sat there slowly lifting a few noodles to her lips and sucking in their warmth, she felt the day had certainly gone well and in her favor. It was growing late, though she was in no hurry to finish her meal having nothing else planned for the day. It would be nice to get some rest after all of the walking. Her feet may be strong and sturdy on the road, but she could appreciate a nice rest every now and then.

The clack of horse hooves sounded down the main road, drawing closer. There were many such beasts coming and going. Some carried goods for merchants, some goods for the Citadel, and others passengers. There was no need for her to pay them any special consideration. Ishiyo noted that they were armed, however, and their rhythm well-trained. Probably not merchants then. Guards of some sort.

As they drew closer it felt as if the air over her shoulders had grown heavier. She settled back in her seat, letting her utensils slowly drop into the bowl before her. The ominous presence grew stronger like hands pressed upon her; too intimate was the feeling for her taste and she was suddenly alert as though expecting an attack at any moment.

Leading with her head, Ishiyo began to turn in her seat to look at those passing at her back along the road. As they came in to view they were all ready beginning to move up the road. Her red eyes fell on a man sitting tall on his groomed steed. The man had long, dark hair that flowed over his back. As if sensing her gaze he turned his head to the side; the corner of his mouth drew up as a long, red eye fell on her.

As she rose to her feet, Ishiyo was aware of the presence about her shoulders was fading and the man that'd held her attention was retreating with the rest of his troupe. He'd turned forward again without a sound, leaving the Elven woman behind to contemplate the strange encounter.

Without a word, she set the proper amount of coin down for the merchant in payment for her food. Ishiyo turned and made for her home in the city, putting distance between her and that man. It set her ill at ease. The presence had been familiar somehow; one that put her on alert.

As she carried herself swiftly down a side street, yards from her door, the young Elf came to an abrupt halt.

The wind died. A lone bird took to flight above. A sharp ring sounded as Ishiyo's boot ground over the paved surface, sweeping her body around to the right. Her right hand snapped to the grip of her blade and drew it in a single, fluid strike across the belly of the figure dressed in black that'd emerged from the shadows.

Only the dead thump of the man's body echoed between the buildings to either side; it faded as quickly as life extinguished from her assassin.

As Ishiyo began sliding the slender, silver blade to rest at her hip she convulsed; her red eyes shot open and she fell to her knees just as suddenly as the lifeless corpse had to the ground. A choked sound came from her throat as pain seared itself throughout her body. "Nnrgh." Had she any control she'd have refrained from such show or sound, but the blow had come on such swift wings it left her no chance to defend against it. Her head jerked back before she doubled over, still propped up on her knees with an arm about her abdomen; her fingers clutching the grip to her sword, unable to release it.

"After all these years. Tch," a male's voice sounded back the way she'd come from the main thorough fare. "Twenty long years. It hardly seems enough. A blink of an eye to us."

Finding it difficult to breath, Ishiyo slowly lifted her chin in defiance to look upon her enemy. She felt a hand--or was it a claw?--about her heart. Colors were beginning to blur together as she fought to focus on the figure standing ten feet away from where she'd fallen.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten," the man's voice was dripping with humor warmed by the heart of Winter itself. "That night so long ago. You kill two people that night. Were you too blinded by hate to remember what you felt?" The oppressive weight fell on her shoulders, the invisible hands crushing down upon her as if to force her face to the ground.

Ishiyo clenched her mouth shut. The red rings fell behind the curtains of flesh and water. She could barely discern the man from his surroundings.

"Well, now we have you. It is so nice to tie up loose ends."

"Du Súndavar Freohr," Ishiyo ground between her teeth as her left knee rose from the ground. Unsteadily she planted her left foot forward. Sweeping the sword free of its sheath once more, she launched herself back to her feet at the blurred image of the man standing there, "Vindr abr aldrnari flytja thornessa myrkr." An inferno of heat and flame fanned out from the blade, sweeping through the street and sucking it empty of oxygen as it reached out with hunger for the dark haired man standing there.

The tide of fire died as it passed through where the man had stood. As he vanished so too did the oppressive weight on her shoulders.

Ishiyo heaved in several breaths as she stood in the street, the tip of her sword pointing toward the street to her right. Drained, her right leg almost buckled beneath her weight before she caught herself and straightened back up.

Carefully she turned and stepped up to her door, opening it and stepping inside. The hilt of her sword slid over the wood as she squeezed within the dimly wit house in the city.

Safe at last, Ishiyo slid the door shut and then gently pressed her back up against an adjacent wall before sliding down to rest on the floor. Had it been fire or lightning that'd run through her body? Perhaps both, or neither. It'd been magic, whatever elements or torture it was meant to mimic.

Only when the pain began to clear could she begin recalling and considering what the unnamed figure had said. Two decades. So her paranoia remain as justified today as it had then. It hardly seemed long enough; and their retribution was no less dull for their time parted. Those responsible for what happened to her sister were returning. This time Ishiyo would not run from them; she would end them.

[dantieduurden]

Levithan once again was thrown out of Pele's presence and like always annoyed that he let her do this every time. " Better her killing someone else then me, then again." Levithan thought as he walked the streets of Ilirea in his mostly human form. As he walked he felt the effects of Sorcery all around him and his belly rumbled for the pain it would cause, the misery, and the sorrow. Quickly Levithan made his way, following the trial of darkness, savoring the taste of all the hatred inside of it. As he followed the trail his demonic features began to show slightly more. It started with two demonic horns extending from his head, then his feet became claw like. Lastly his wings came out, leaving his armor wrapping around only his legs, exposing his chest and all its muscles.

When he finally got to the source though he was disappointed, he had been foolish and given his prey just long enough to stop him from being able to attack, and as a great amount of fire slammed into his body he was rejuvenated with power, and a thirst to find out where this new source of food had come from. He was surprised when he found the girl who had just banished the shade away standing, sword glowing, looking extremely appetizing in with all the fear coming off her. Slowly like a snake he came out of the shadows and walked up to her, though her back was turned to him. As she walked inside the house he materialized inside it, like an angel appearing to save someone, though he was not here to save, nor an angel. " May I help you? I saw what happened." Levithan said as he looked at the women calculating his next best course of action. As he did this he looked her up and down. Black hair is what he saw first, that led to deep red eyes, eyes of killing and death, Levithan thought as he continued the rest of his admiring, all the leather and spikes were making her look less like a mortal and he was beginning to wounder if she was half demon, for she did have an appealing look to her, then again so did Pele in his eyes, The undead Queen of misery, o how he loved feasting on her.

[mriswith]

Gears whirred into motion as Ishiyo's body sprang up from the floor, blind and numb to the pain that'd been burning throughout her body and left her drained moments ago. The tip of the silver blade spun about, the dull edge racing up the length of her forearm; the Elven woman thrust the sword out at the intruder's throat. The palm of her left hand pressed against the butt of the sword's pommel to add a little more thrust behind the stabbing motion if she followed through. The blade wouldn't pierce the man's body, however, whether he reacted or not. As much as she found the thought prudent, not at her peak from being attacked so viciously, she didn't like killing in cold blood if it could be avoided--even if the man was invading her home.

"Who are you?" The dim light from shuttered windows gave a diffuse, pale glow to the furnishings inside and the beast's inhuman body. The man's appearance did not inspire trust in Ishiyo; even his very presence hummed with foreboding as they stood in the relatively cramped entrance to her humble dwelling. As a woman that'd not wanted to draw attention to herself, and being out on the road so often, anything more lavish had never appealed to her.

It hurt to breathe; her lungs still felt like embers of a raging fire. Each breath seemed to stoke the dead flame silently burning inside her. Arid. Her throat was parched. It was an achievement her tongue wasn't latched to the roof of her mouth. Being caught off guard by a powerful creature like the Shade, or agent of a Shade she wasn't sure yet, should have killed her; would have if the man hadn't been busy taunting her.

"How do you want to help me, intruding into my house?" Ishiyo wasn't in the business of trusting men like Levithan. There was no small amount of signs indicating he was the wrong 'help' someone like her could pursue. Could she kill him? It was hard to think if there was a banishing spell for such an occasion. If he was as she thought then holding a blade to him was more a show of strength than a threat; Ishiyo wondered how nimble she could be dehydrated as she was.

[dantieduurden]

Darek smiled as he felt the fear radiating off of her as she thrust the blade at his throat. She already knew it would not help her against him, and he relished it. Her parched throat only added to her discomfort which only added onto her fear from which he fed. " I offer many forms of help..." Levithan said as he let one finger go up to the blade at his throat and push it aside. " All depends on what people are willing to pay...most do of course, but not all." Levithan chuckled as he lazy walked over to a chair in her house and sat himself down in it.

Once seated he patted his lap as he looked at Ishiyo and with a smile said, " Come now child, there is nothing to fear. If I wanted you dead I would not have shown myself to you now would I have?" Levithan asked as he waited for her to join him, in truth he real did have no intentions of hurting her, she was almost in as much pain as Pele caused in a day. It was unbelievable to behold. " I offer you a proposition. One time deal, but you must come sit if you wish to hear it. Once you hear it though, your life shall be changed." Levithan commented as he held his powers back show that her nightmares would not be revealed just yet.

[mriswith]

Ishiyo narrowed her eyes at the creature even as it casually dismissed the tip of the blade pointing at its throat. As he moved away she let the tip drop, spinning it around in her hand before sliding it back into the sheath with a click. His confidence was bothersome, but she ignored it. Such a dark creature in her house. She might as well be dealing with the Shades. This did not please her.

The Elf remain standing where he left her while she watched him make himself comfortable. When he patted his lap she drew her head back. She moved into the main room without replying, moving to stand before him, but no further. Even if the blade wouldn't kill, she was prepared to fight him with sword or bare hands if it came to blows; she'd die fighting when it came down to it.

"Your help comes at a price," Ishiyo stated simply, not fooled by how kind he was being at the moment. Perhaps he was old enough to think her barely newborn; whatever his age, however, she wasn't as ignorant as he might hope. Demons did not strike bargains out of the goodness of their heart. "Why are you here?" Presumptuous to demand answers? Not half as much as the man appearing in her home, sitting in her chair, and asking her to sit in his lap like a familiar child to be taught wisdom of her elder.

She turned to drift over to the kitchen, listening to what he had to say if he had anything to say. Maybe he'd simply glower at her expecting obedience. If it were that easy the Shades would probably be wearing her as a puppet. Besides, they weren't going to have a very fulfilling conversation if she couldn't speak or remain conscious; some water would at least be a step in restoring her natural balance.

[dantieduurden]

For a split second Leviathans eyes turned blood curdling red as she disobeyed him, but just as quickly they disappeared back to there normal shade when in disguise. Slowly he got up and grabbed her, not in the mood for intolerance, and as he did so he called upon his powers and let some of his energy flow into her as he looked at the chair again, " I asked you to sit if you wished to hear my bargain, not stand before me, nor to go into the kitchen." Levithan said as rows of razor sharp teeth looked out to her as he spoke. Levithan hated being ignored. If he were to treat you as an equal, or more he expected you to listen. Over the years only Pele had infuriated him as much as this one had, and yet he loved it. Yet again she showed that in her ignorance she fed his never ending hunger.

Slowly he let her arm go and looked into her red eyes, as he went and sat back in the chair, once again patting his legs. " Please come sit. The price for this will only be the time it cost us to speak." Levithan stated as he once again had a calm exterior come over him. Then in the ancient language he stated, " As long as no harm comes to me as we speak, none shall befall you."

[mriswith]

Ishiyo turned when the demon took hold of her, forced to stare into his eyes as he all but snarled at her. Clenching her teeth she met his gaze, not saying a word at him grabbing her or demanding obedience. She was worn out from what she'd all ready suffered; and on top of that she was beginning to buffer herself with a single thought against the fiend she was sure would try something sooner or later. A thought that she was waiting to be impressed. Leviathan might be handsome in a quasi-Elven sense, strong, ageless, immortal, and powerful, but she wasn't going to bow at his feet because he threatened to rip her throat out. Ishiyo got enough death threats doing her job.

She didn't move even when he returned to the chair and bade her approach once more. Even his promise in the Ancient tongue did not sway her mind that the fiend would do whatever it took for whatever it wanted from her; there was no oath Leviathan would give that would mean anything. Well, not entirely true. He could give her his True Name. You could typically trust anything whose True Name you knew for the simple fact all it'd take was a thought to disarm them of any threat.

Falling back on her training, Ishiyo moved toward the demon. A small smile spread over her lips as she approached. Slowly she settled down as the fiend so politely "requested." Just a little talk between Demon and Elf; quite the common occurrence, no need to fret. Was he going to ask her to place a hand on his rock-hard chest too? Just how far would he press his luck (or would it be her luck)? "What should I call you?" she asked evenly, though only barely able to keep the weariness out of her voice as she spoke.

[dantieduurden]

As Ishiyo sat down he smiled at her and said " Smart woman you are,asking what you should call me instead of my name." As he placed his arm around her shoulders as he would an old friend he said calmly and precisely " You may call me Levithan as many have in this life time. Now as to what I originally came here to speak with you about." Levithan smiled as he let all the images he had been holding back of her fears, and her nightmares flood the room. " I have the power to make all you fear...disappear..And all I ask in return is that you fed me every day. Not with blood or even with your soul. Just simply fed me, and I shall grant you my services for as long as you do this. Many would be rulers have come to power for accepting this, of course they fell when they thought to much of themselves...but lets not think about that. I do not think you are as dumb or nigh eve as they were." And with that Levithan held out his hand to her. " If you accept and refuse what you have sworn know that I will have my revenge though. I am a demon after all and thus not merciful." and with that Levithan waited for her answer to him.

[mriswith]

Ishiyo's red eyes met his as she sat on his lap with his arm around her shoulders. This was not the intimate sort of company she liked keeping. Some rather misguided people out there might find this exciting, but Ishiyo was far more concerned about the ramifications of what he wanted than some idle fancy.

Leviathan, was it? At least the fiend didn't have the audacity to say something like "Master." Did that imply the thing had taste, or simply an ego that hadn't exploded after being fed too much pompous self-worship?

Then the room began to shift. Ishiyo turned to look at the images the fiend conjured for its amusement. A 'demonstration' of what it could do for her, making all of it disappear. She'd seen some of the fears develop over twenty years every time she slept. Seeing them in person was unnerving, but didn't send her flying into the demon's arms. One, in particular, involving two other Elven women caused Ishiyo to steel the mental barriers she held over her mind and in one part of her memory in particular. That was one nightmare she did not wish to share with the demon; no names, no places, nothing.

When she turned her eyes back to the demon, the smile was gone and her eyes had lost a great deal of the exhaustion. "How would you get rid of them?" She ignored that haunting image of herself a Shade puppet, filled with the twisted souls of darkness, at her back. Just what was it Leviathan was promising her? "What is your cost?" She didn't even reach for his hand yet. If he was as impatient as he was temperamental it'd be his loss; but Ishiyo wasn't agreeing to his demands until she knew what it was he was demanding.

Even if the deal sounded mutually beneficial the fiend was still that--a fiend. How many people did he get leaping in to his arms just for an easy way out?

[dantieduurden]

" Why I have already told you the cost. Fedding me, nice simple and easy. Nothing difficult in the least." Levithan said as the images dissipated. " I can make them disappear by destroying them. Simple and easy. I destroy fear, and I also bring it. I am a demon of Misery, Pain, Hatred, Fear. Like all of my kind really. But unlike them I do enjoy working with other races. For muetreal benefit of course. I can make your fears disappear by not letting fear get to you. Nice and simple, I shall also offer my protection to you from harm. Is this real so hard to pay for a simple thing of feeding my hunger, and not even of the flesh.
" Levithan smiled at her. " That is one thing that dose not interest me." Levithan said as he looked at her leather covered body. " Though for once a mortal dose have something string in me, still haven't figured what it is yet though sadly." Levithan quirked as he went back to looking into her beautiful blood filled red eyes.

[mriswith]

"Feeding you," Ishiyo echoed, finding his lack of detail unhelpful in this matter. The demon must be being deliberately obtuse in his replies. As for nothing difficult she wasn't much concerned about; her jobs were often difficult. What concerned her were the unintended consequences of allying with a demon. Had there ever been a Mortal-Demon alliance that ended well? Could you really say making a demon happy could ever be a good thing? Even if Leviathan could act suave and patient, his infernal natural was boiling just under the surface.

"Destroy it?" Ishiyo narrowed her eyes. "I don't run from my 'fear,' Leviathan." Not any more. Though she hadn't really been running since she first lead back to Ilirea; the mercenary simply hadn't done anything about being mistaken as a murderer rather than... The barrier loomed, not wishing that subject to be consciously or unconsciously raised.

Looking into his eyes, she suddenly found herself very curious about the beast before her. How many people spoke to demons and lived? "Have you ever found a creature you respected, Leviathan? Could you respect them if you were the one that gave them strength?" Just how did demons perceive the world? Obviously they didn't think themselves "evil." Did they even have a philosophical understanding of their own existence?

Then he explained what it was he liked. Ishiyo finally got a glimpse at what he "fed" on. What a pleasant outlook on life. So he'd been drawn because a Shade had been trying to slowly crush the life, or soul, out of her? Should that be intellectually interesting? Weren't demons often just Chaos manifested in the world? There shouldn't be much of interest in blind chaos, but Leviathan was suggesting he had... acquired tastes? And flesh wasn't one of them (necessarily).

Her angular eyebrows rose slightly as the fiend looked over her leather-covered figure sitting in his lap. Something stirring, but he didn't know what? Was she suppose to be flattered, disgusted, or were they both equally oblivious to the plight of a demon trying to come to terms with having never... Demons could be...? How dangerous would it be to ask, she wondered?

"If someone accepts, how often do you 'feed?' Do you feed any time they feel one of those sensations, or do you show up and invoke it in them?" As strange as it was sitting in his lap, which his arm around her, while he projected her fears out into the room, Ishiyo was finding it less awkward as she tried understanding Leviathan. She was having a conversation with a demon. Admittedly, more of a one-way conversation since he was fixated on feeding, but they were talking all the same.

[dantieduurden]

Levithan let a full fledged laugh escape his maw as she stated that she did not run from fear. " No you hide it deep inside. You are much stronger then most because of this as well I must admit." a small admittances that he did admire her bravery.

As Levithan though of an answer to her question he looked around her house, the simplicity of it, did mortals not like to have trophy's of there victory's?" I have indeed respected someone and still do. She is one of the few who can make me leave when she is to angry...she is quite powerful, and that is without me. She did not accept, i just fed off of her to make her more angry, thus making it more enjoyable. Until of course she begins to use her wicked magic." Levithan spit on the floor at the thought of her flinging ice at him. His spit began to melt the floor and quickly he whipped it up before it could do more damage. " And as for respecting someone I give power to, I do not crave respect. I demand equality. But tell me, what do you believe power is, that it can be given. For power can not be given you are either born with it or not." Leviathan said as he looked at her. " If I demand respect would I have you so close to me now? No I would have a group of worshipers on my tail." Then as an after thought he added " I hate worshipers, they are a waste of my time and are better suited dead. But that's just my opinion." Levithan smiled as he answered her questions.

"If someone accepts, how often do you 'feed?' Do you feed any time they feel one of those sensations, or do you show up and invoke it in them?" A glint in Leviathans eyes was the only indication that he enjoyed her intelligence. " I feed when I want, I have been feeding on you since the shade came, and before you on him. " Levithan stated perfectly at peace with his answer seeing nothing wrong with it. And i do not make you feel these emotions, that would be counter productive, and thus a waste of time. And though I have the most time in the world, I do not like wasting it for you mortals do die." Levithan answered.

As he spoke to her a calm feel over the room and all the images faded away back into the abyss of his mind. " So do we have a deal my sweet? Because your clothes are telling me do as well as your eyes." Leviathan said with a wicked glint to his eyes. Ishiyo's house was once again her own and they were in a plain room, surround by normal things from the mortal world. All of which meant something to the woman before him.

[mriswith]

It did not amuse Ishiyo as much as it apparently had Leviathan at how she dealt with her fear. Mastery of fear? Did she have that or was she refusing to face it? Her fears weren't unique, per se, though the faces they took were those of her own making. Many were universal. Who wouldn't be afraid standing up to a Shade? More personal, perhaps, but not special. Now those involving herself or her sister few were unfortunate enough to suffer.

When the fiend began to speak of respect, the Elf listened. Could he be lying? It wasn't beyond the realm of possibility. Still, she found it increasingly captivating. Ishiyo should later go to the Citadel to see what books there were on demons and compare it to this one whose lap she sat in.

"You offered to take away my fear," Ishiyo replied, finding she could speak easier now though she still felt brittle from lack of fluids. "Without fear some people are capable of things they never thought of before; in essence they become stronger because of you." the Elven woman gazed into his eyes, still not afraid of being so 'bold' as the fiend craved equality, "It was just a question," she said, letting it go with a small smile. The demon didn't want to be worshiped nor did he care whether someone had his respect or did not; so long as they fed him what he wanted and didn't challenge him nothing else mattered.

One of the last fears Leviathan may have conjured was that of Ishiyo being rejected as a Rider, though the mercenary in her refused to acknowledge having seen that visage in her mind's eye. Even with her back to Leviathan's outward display she could feel what strings in her he was putting on display.

Light slipped around the edge of her red eyes as she stared at the 'monster' in her house. Presumptuous beast. Her clothes and her eyes told him she would accept his deal? "One more question," her wide, soft lips curled up once more though mirth was lacking elsewhere, "about 'refusing.' You threatened if I reject you after I accept you, you would kill me. Being a merciless and strong creature capable of killing men and women in many, creative ways," Ishiyo let a little ego-stroking slip into their conversation, curious if violent emotions were the extent of Leviathan's interest after all. "How does someone reject you, if you can feed without their permission? Do they learn to control their emotions, or do they no longer masquerade as you being their equal?" Well, if a girl was going to agree to something she was going to know how a person entered an agreement, how they abide by the agreement, and how they broke that agreement (seeing how breaking it would mean death).

[dantieduurden]

Levithan enjoyed the mortals understanding, or should he say lack for the understanding of power. " Strength fades over time for mortals, and only gets stronger for us emmortals. Power dose not fade and can not be taught, you are either born with it or not. The questions you ask prove you have power for you use that power every time you ask another question through the fear inside you makes you question asking it." Levithan said as he finished explaining what power truly was, hopeful she would understand this time.

Levithan saw it the moment she had made her decision, he had her, but was surprised that even though she had come to a decision, she still had mote questions. " Do you mortals ever use your very own brains. You answer your own questions. I can fed from what I want when I want. I take what I want, and I do what I want. Equality is all I ask for, and those who have gotten to high and comfortable on there mortal strengths and thought they could defeat me I can assure you have regretted every agonized second of there life since in my home. But you will have a very special torture if you defy the bargain, that I promise you." Leviathan said making it very clear that he meant what he said to her, as his face became level with hers. " So my dear what is your decision? Shall you make a deal and begin your path to power, or shall you drop low and live in fear for the rest of your life? The choice is yours, live a life worth living, or die an unknown person." and with that Leviathan went silent happy with himself, until he heard a bird chirping which he threw a fireball at which consumed it until dead.

[mriswith]

A faint trace of mirth rose from her lips to her eyes as she stared at the demon. "Prudence, Leviathan. You 'immortals' never say what you mean, and if you do you never say everything. I admit," the hundred-something Elf said, letting her eyes close just a moment, "I have not met one like you before, but I grew up in the Citadel. I had more than enough time to read of many strange and wondrous things in our world. Almost every time something, like you, appeared it said just enough to get its agent on the right path."

She turned her head so she could look back at where the fiend had cast his ball of flame. Was that out of annoyance, or was his assurance 'the flesh' wasn't one of his priorities--that being death. War must be something he loved, however. Plenty of anguish, fear, and hate in war.

"I don't want you to remove my fear," Ishiyo turned back to Leviathan. "Devoid of fear I might become what I fear." Again, she met his eyes, unflinching. If he was going to kill her before she finished so be it; she could throw every spell she had at Leviathan, but he would return even if she was victorious for a day.

Likewise, the demon could "feed" from her whether she agreed or not--he'd all ready said and confirmed as much. Permission was not required. So, then, what was the deal for? To allow him the power to grant her a wish? To lack fear, as he suggested before? "As an equal, we can make a verbal agreement. I won't try to kill you, you can 'feed,' and--as you deem fit for how full you've fed--you can come when I need your strength in battle. An agreement I wouldn't abuse," she swore. Summoning a demon to even a desperate battle? Imagine the consequences if anyone else was there? Wasn't exactly something you summoned lightly.

Lifting her right hand, bound in a leather glove, she lay a finger over his lips for just a second long. "I intend to prove myself worthy of being a Rider, Leviathan. If I have to fight you, or die by your hand, in that effort I will. I won't have a magic bond or spirit pact that they will sense." The explanation set before the fiend, she removed her finger from his lips. Control of their discussion was now back in his hands. Ishiyo was apprehensive about what he would do, even if he'd promised no harm to her if she gave no harm to him. A fearless person would leap into this arrangement and foolishly ignore unforeseen complications. She, at least, had a plan that should sate the demon unless there was more to his deal than he'd been willing to let on.

[dantieduurden]

" We demons don't speak in riddles, you mortals beat around a bush instead of going to its center." Levithan said as Ishiyo layed one of her leather covered fingers on his lips. " Do not tempt me, you will not like the outcome child." Levithan said as his voice changed to one more evil and demonic in nature, letting lose the illusion of being any part human in nature.

Then when she spoke of the riders his face snarled up and his maw opened as he spoke. " The riders are not as wise as they believe they are. They hunt my kind thinking we are the villains when we give people more free will then they themselves give. Is it so wrong to let someone know all the paths layed before them? I do not believe so, it is letting them choose. Free will. The riders wish for all to believe as they do, and use the dragons might to do there bidding, its why the free dragons are more powerful then those that are tamed by the elves magic." Levithan said as he remembered the days of hiding from them. " They know nothing of my kind and choose to hunt us like the humans and elves once did with one another. All because we see things differently. Your deal shall have no effect on your spirit or no mental bond the riders will be able to trace or sense. I am an entity even beyond some of there powers." Levithan said not to gloat but to make a point.

" And I do not come like a dog when I am called or beckoned to, I come when I wish. We are equals, remember that if you agree to this. Everything you expect me to do, I shall expect the same from you. Whether you are capable of doing so or not, is not of my concern." Levithan said as he closed his maw and went back to a more civil tone of voice. " Now decided, my time and patience is wearing thin and soon you will not have the choice." And with that Levithan took her hand in his, a fiery red aura now surrounding both of there arms, though it caused no harm, it did illuminate things in a red glow. " What is your choice Ishiyo Sasaki?

[mriswith]

Tempt him? The muscles of her jaw worked as she stared at the beast's true form. Did he think to frighten her now with this revelation? Perhaps he wanted her to show some measure of revulsion. She'd sat in his lap long enough with him in some sort of quasi-Elven form to not care what he looked like. She'd seen enough and knew enough of Leviathan to suffer the monstrous appearance. Was she afraid? Only fools wouldn't be. Was she witless in fear? They were too far down the path for that now. If anything his 'demonstration' was the same sort of slight he took her touch to be; an intrusion on an otherwise amicable discussion.

Seemed Leviathan didn't like Riders. That would make an agreement somewhat turbulent wouldn't it? Seeing how she wanted to be a Rider. How accurate was his own portrayal though? Free will, was it? Perhaps too free. Free of fear, free of pain, free of conscience. What deals did he offer others and did it truly make them free, or was it the first brick in their road to hell? That was what Ishiyo found most troubling about Leviathan's offer to dismiss her fears. If she wasn't afraid of Shades, of how they came to be, could she walk into the same circumstances that'd led...?

"The terms stand. You feed, but you do not remove my fear. I will not become one of them out of reckless disregard," Ishiyo responded, equally as riled as the demon beneath her. Fear was a tool to be used under proper circumstances. It kept you on your guard. Cautious. She wouldn't let the demon strip it from her entirely.

"Leviathan," Ishiyo's fingers curled about the demon's hand, "I will become a Rider. If we are equals, and you truly only want to set people free, we can remain equals. We will see what the future holds from there." Equals that might seriously disagree on fundamental philosophical matters, but the same was true of two Elves not of agreement on any number of topics. On the other hand, if he was lying to her or misrepresenting what he or his kind wanted to do, equals or not, Ishiyo would live or die throwing her sword against Leviathan. If his words were true, then hopefully the man wouldn't hold it against her if she had to kill those he had arrangements with if they lost all sense and began murdering anything that moved so he could feed on their rage. Leviathan would, of course, hold himself blameless for the actions of those he bound; he was, after all, simply giving them freedom to choose.

As for him boasting about his abilities? Ishiyo heard the word 'some' in there. Having made an oath to herself it would be very unfortunate for them both if he was wrong. Very unfortunate. Perhaps he should have asked her old tutors just how devoted to something she could be; and how dangerous such a person set to task in learning how to slay a demon would become.

"I accept under our terms," Ishiyo replied at last, making it clear Leviathan's demands weren't the only binding ones between them. A girl could never be too cautious when it came to something like this. Don't leave out details they could come back to haunt you. As for the fine print... Leviathan better hope he wasn't tacking on secret details.

The reason for her acceptance went behind a wall. They were equals, but that didn't mean she was going to leave herself an open book before a creature that had no compunction about killing her or leaving her to die if it suited him. If she had anything to say about it she'd make her defenses stronger so he wouldn't even get half of his fear-show he'd projected into her home earlier; but at least the most sensitive things of who she was remain locked away.

[dantieduurden]

Levithan was pleased when she finally accepted his terms. " You are to smart to waste your time becoming a rider my dear, but if that is what you wish I shall not do anything to diverge you from that path. Though i shall inform you of there underhanded attempts at things you would think me in the wrong for." Levithan smiled as he finally got more comfortable knowing she would be with him, for the time at least. " So what our your plans for tonight Ishiyo? Shall you trust a demon at his word and sleep peacefully or shall you keep a dagger under you pillow? Truthfully now, after all there is no solid foundation if there is no trust, but if there is to much trust one ends up dead." Levithan laughed as he felt her fingers against his once again mortal hands. " You know if you would have said no I would have of course had to ally myself with your enemy and crush you. I would do so by myself but then I would have the riders on my tail yet again. And I must tell you it is quite boring being chased by someone who understands you just as easily as you understand them. Its like playing chess, you have played chess before I hope." Levithan said as he decided he was uncomfortable and so lifted Ishiyo up into his arms and looked for a window. " Its to clusted in here." Levithan said as he found a window big enough for him to jump out, and stretching his wings he did so, flying up into the sky with her in his arms until he landed on her roof top. " This is much better. You mortals, do you not like looking at the beauty of the night sky. Or are you all afraid of seeing the great expanse of nothingness." Levithan asked as he let her out of his arms and sat down letting his clawed legs hang over the side of the house, letting her choose this time where she wished to sit.

[mriswith]

Ishiyo listened to the demon, considering his words. Underhanded attempts at things she'd call Leviathan out on? What, exactly, could that mean? It could mean a great host, and yet just enough to fit into the palm of her hand. Was he offering to keeping her informed of things she might not be allowed to hear, or be told of what had once been done?

Leviathan turned to more pressing matters of their present relationship. He seemed interested in knowing where they stood now. Honestly, Ishiyo didn't feel they stood any closer or further apart. True she'd heard more of his kind, and how he did deals, but little about himself. He fed on negative emotion--hardly the basis for a good understanding. Liked 'freeing' people. Noble. Still, "Trust, like loyalty or respect, is earned, Leviathan," she replied calmly, finding his mortal-like hand unexpectedly familiar compared to his demonic self. She looked up into his eyes. "If we were not equals we might not even think to try earning it."

The Elven woman paused, then smiled. Leviathan might like an answer to his question, though; being the direct sort of demon-man he was. "I sleep with my sword in reach of my bed, Leviathan. You are a mighty and fierce demon, but like you said you're not my pet. I still need to protect myself. That is," her red eyes regarded him for a moment, the anguish from before continuing to fade as she'd focused on their banter, "unless you're making another offer." Small joke. Leviathan had better things to do, after all. Maybe he would protect her, if he felt like it; of course he'd expect her to do the same. Ishiyo would find herself in more sticky situations than Leviathan; well, perhaps she underestimated the risk to him, but he certain came off as a man confident little could truly oppose him.

She listened patiently as he described how he would have teamed up against her if she hadn't agreed to his offer. That didn't surprise her much, though the thought brought little amusement to her countenance. Hell, apparently he'd thought about just killing her himself. Pleasant thoughts of the Abyssal, right? Seemed he didn't feel she was worth the trouble. Nice backhand there. Fortunate for her he thought enough of her to think the Riders would chase him in force; maybe they would just because Leviathan was a demon. They hadn't detected him so far, however, and if they'd only know after the fact he must be capable of putting a fair distance between him and them by the time they appeared. Something she wouldn't share with Leviathan. Nothing personal, but talking about how best to kill one's self couldn't bring anything good.

Suddenly Leviathan put his arms around her. The Elven woman's red eyes widened at how close they were now. He growled about it being too confining while his eyes scanned the perimeter. Ishiyo put her arms about the fiend just a moment before his wings threw them out into the open.

With several thrusts they swept up to the roof. The half-demon looking figure released his arms, signalling she should do the same, as they stood there. Ishiyo blinked and watched him move over to the edge. She'd never thought... well, she'd never thought she'd meet a demon, let alone one that was willing to simply talk or take her for a quick flight.

After a moment, Ishiyo drifted closer to the edge as well. Lowering herself down next to him, still wishing she could pass out in bed and let the aches pass until morning, she looked out where Leviathan's gaze rested. "Nothing?" She turned her eyes up toward the sky. "Are those lights in the sky nothing?" Maybe Elves didn't believe in Gods, but she couldn't think of all that... space being empty. There was something up there.

She turned her head and looked over at Leviathan, "I'm not afraid of what is up there. What I don't know. Though," the mercenary leaned forward slightly to look down at the street below where the assassin preceding the Shade had fallen, "my simple living doesn't seem to have done me as much good as planned." Straightening her back she gave Leviathan a whimsical smile. "You think my next dwelling should have an open ceiling? You aren't the type to be stopped by a skyless roof." Seeing how he didn't even need to use the door; a landing place hardly seemed necessary. Unless there was something he'd like to tell her.