Seeing My True Form In The Darkest Light

What is happening with Keira?! She said she was non-magical she has always told me that! I was so enraged and horrified when the gulper snake eat her! I wanted to kill it even if I couldn’t save her yet she saved herself and nothing makes sense anymore. She even saved the vampire which surprised me as they don’t get on at all, yet she took that moment to be braver than I would have been. I was out of time and slow and I didn’t act fast enough.

Now she just won’t stop vomiting all this purple liquid up, as we both lay her down on the grassy floor near the village. Its night now, but it’s not quiet in the village, lots of shouting is going on in the distance but it’s too far for my ears to hear. Plus I can’t concentrate, I’m picking up such weird magic and my whiskers won’t stop twitching as its coming off Keira. I took off her weapons and strapped them to my back for now. I watch as Elysande tries to pull her shoulder armour off where it’s bleeding, only to have trouble, which surprises me as it should come right off.

Elysande pulled on the armour plate again, she had undone the ties so it should just come free! An armoured hand came up, grabbing hers as the other woman’s green eyes shot open, glowing pure green in the darkness as she suddenly coughed up blood before looking at her. “I am dead!” Bastian pushed her down. “No you are not dead. You will be though if you don’t relax, you foolish idiot.”

He moved to her shoulder trying to get her plated armour off. “Tell us how to get your armour off? We can’t get your shoulder plating free.” Keira didn’t think as she stood up, shoving them both off with force. “Get off me!” Bastian breathed in, in surprise he turned helping Elysande up who now just looked concerned and frustrated. “You’re bleeding internally as well as on your shoulder, you need us to help you or you could die!” Keira turned, spitting more blood out. “Don’t touch me!”

Elysande breathed in deeply. “You need to calm down Keira…trust me I know what you’re going through now, being angry makes it worse.” Keira stumbled back hitting the nearest tree, back first, breathing in deeply and slowly. “You don’t know shit about me lady, you're just a rich asshole with gold.” Elysande moved a step closer. “No I know a lot about you Keira, more than you realise, and regardless how you feel about me, you need to stay calm as you can’t control your magic right now. That’s why you're feeling so sick.”

Keira eyed her in disgust. “Did Titus send you? To bring me in…” Elysande shook her head. “I don’t know this Titus you speak off.” Keira felt her hand form a fist, she had no idea where her weapon were. “You're lying, he sent you to capture me to bring me back to the capital so the Mages can finish what they started!” Elysande watched as the other woman’s chest started to glow again as blue and red light waves started to surround her body. “I don’t care about anyone from there Keira.”

She breathed in looking at Bastian. “You need to run. I can't stop your friend but you need to get away now.” Bastian eyed her. “No, I'm staying! She might be an idiot and an asshole who has magic but she is still my friend plus I had to help you drag her, her fallen weapons and her pack out of there. I want answers.” Keira eyed them as the light got brighter around her and pulsed faster. She now felt really unwell her heart was pounded faster, so much so that she could feel it in her chest. “I will die before I give myself up to some assholes who want to cut me open!”

Elysande breathed in knowing it was now too late as the light became purple flames engulfing the other woman. She had hoped it would not be this way, but now the time of choice was over as she felt the green light start to surround her own body. Bastian watched in horror as the purple flames grew higher letting off a massive shock wave only for a huge dark red fur coloured hand to slam into the grass burning it. What could only be described as a demon dark furred werewolf with wings stepped out, its eyes glowing pure purple.

Its huge jaws opened, roaring into the night as its huge wings opened fully. It had bone spikes going down its back right down to its tail and its huge demonic horns could be seen in the moonlight. It was also massive, much bigger than any normal werewolf as it rose up onto its hind legs. Its mouth was drooling with saliva and blood, even stranger the left eye was scared up badly with what looked like a long claw mark and the red colour was also darker than the light red his friend's hair had been.

He breathed in only to watch as the same green fire engulfed the vampire, sending off a similar shock wave only for it to fade as a huge bat creature with wings hit the ground it was nothing like a normal vampire's form. It had glowing red eyes and a huge bat-like face as well as huge bat ears and was a similar size to the other creature. It had dark black fur all over and a long whip lash tail which had barbed bone points like a mace.

Vampires looked nothing like this. They normally looked more human and they weren’t this big. The huge bat-like creatures clawed hands and feet dug in as its long dagger-like teeth shone in the night as its opponent started to snarl. The vampire bat creature's head suddenly turned to him as it spoke and Elysande's voice came out with a boom. “I said run, she will see you for dinner now since she has no self-control!”

The demon werewolf turned eyeing Bastian, coming at him mouth wide open the huge bat-like creature slammed in to it knocking it to one side violently. He found himself running with all his might trying to get clear as both huge beasts started to bite and claw at each other violently causing red blood to run free. Though the bat’s blood was a much richer glowing red, unlike the demon werewolves which looked more human was dark red.

They clashed again against the trees with enough force to shake them violently. Elysande breathed in, feeling the claws dig in as Keira pushed violently against her, though she wasn’t in control at all; the glowing purple eyes were proof of that. Her magic wasn’t synced with her emotionally, only physically, so it was both violent and out of control. Now she had no choice but to wear her down until the woman collapsed, as only then would she return to normal form, and one that was no longer hidden by suppression magic.

She moved her head, narrowly missing the bone tail, as it came very close to her face. Nine long years of being alone, of feeling that she was the only one. Nine years of searching for someone like herself, someone who had survived the merged stone transition. Who wasn’t dead, who wasn’t a burnt corpse and now here she was desperately trying to fend her off as the woman in question was in a deranged and animalistic mode, which was both wonderful to see and yet so frustrating.

All that raw magic power, yet so mismanaged and unfocused. She felt the pain as the claws sliced her back, as they both collided again, though this time she slammed her long teeth down into the demonic werewolf's shoulder, causing it to roar in pain letting her go as more blood ran free. If she was a vampire she might have worried about blood loss, but the reality was like this woman who wasn’t a normal werewolf, she wasn’t a normal vampire, she was a mix of two things.

She sliced her claws across the werewolf's face sending the huge demonic being tumbling back, though she had to move back quickly to avoid the tail end with its bone points, noticing something… For all that raw power there was a lot of strategy there; she’s seen that with Keira in the mines. Which made her think she was a warrior of some kind, not a seasoned one but one who just needed much more training to reach their real potential.

The demon werewolf’s head suddenly turned as it lost interest in her, instantly turning on all fours, running away from her straight towards the village, much to her horror. She found herself running after as fast as she could go in this form, trying to catch up even though the other woman was much faster, since she seemed to have better control of her other form. She could hear the commotion even from outside the village and she had to stop her now as she could kill someone and not know she had done so!

Agomais carried on running, seeing that the Paladins were gaining on him even though he was now close to the hill. Their Mage kept on shooting ice to freeze him but they were missing. He ran up the hill he was so close now to getting away; he just needed to get a little further! He stopped dead in his tracks as a huge roar came from the forest tree line and the sound of something huge crashing through.

The next moment turned to pure pain as a dark red furred being smashed into him, almost knocking him over. Only to land on his other side as it started snarling and growling at the Mage and Paladins whose look turned to pure terror, as it raised itself on to its hind legs opening its huge wings, its jaws foaming and eyes narrowing. The Mage who was panicking sent out an ice beam hitting its tail freezing it end in a heavy ice block, only for it to swing its iced up tail around smashing it into the Paladins, sending them flying down the hill. Their armour crashing as they hit the bottom crying out in pain.

The huge tail smashed down breaking the ice off as its point came up towards the young Mage who was now frozen in fear. Agomais eyed the huge creature as he moved, tapping it back. “Hey! No need to do that to her, you saved me.” The huge being turned its horns gleaming in the moonlight as it turned to look at him directly. What was it? It looked like some kind of demon with fur and glowing purple eyes. “See now, let's not be rash.”

The next moment turned to blinding pain, as its clawed hand grabbed his horn, yanking him sideways only for a horrible cracking sound to hit the air, which caused him intense pain as he was tossed over slamming into the floor. The huge being moved towards him on his hind legs, it was holding part of his right horn in its clawed hand which it threw aside. Its mouth opened as red and blue fire formed in it burning like a hot furnace. He pulled his clawed hand up trying to create a protective shield only to find he couldn’t as it kept sparking up and vanishing.

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He felt his breathing heighten in fear, only for the red wolf-like being to be smashed sideways, as a huge vampire bat looking creature with a long mace-like barbed tail appeared at the last second, knocking the werewolf demons head sideways. The Mage was running away, as were the other Paladins as the huge ball of blazing blue red fire flew up into the air only to come crashing down miles away, hitting one of the mills, lighting it up in purple flames causing screaming and terror from the villagers. Who started to run around trying to put it out magically along with the other Paladins guards.

Bastian moved to his pack, grabbing the yellow liquid bottle as he dipped his tail end dagger tips into it. He had to stop this now before it got any worse! He moved running on all fours as fast as he could. Jumping out of the forest, seeing the utter commotion as Keira and Elysande carried on fighting, though he could see Agomais getting up though his right horn long tip had been smashed clean off and he looked scared even for a big Minotaur.

He ran harder knowing this was very dangerous but he had to stop Keira, he leapt with all his might landing on her back, only for her to go down on all fours roaring in anger, trying to throw him off only for Elysande to instantly realise what he was doing and came in hard biting the demon werewolf other shoulder, forcing her sideways with her whole weight to distract her. Bastian moved his tail up only to jam it three times into the other side of Keira’s neck, only to be thrown off.

The huge demonic werewolf forced the vampire off as it got up on to its hind legs, its mouth opening only for it to stop suddenly. Its face turning to confusion as it started to stumble sideways. Its clawed hand moved to its neck as the purple eyes started to flicker and they started to turn glowing green. It moved away from them all going back down on all fours as it started to move back into the trees hitting them as stumbled trying to stay on all fours.

Bastian eyed Agomais as the huge bat creature followed it. “I wouldn’t stick around, we are all in deep shit!” Agomais scrambled to his feet. “I was already in deep shit! You people just made it ten times worse!” Elysande moved through the tree line, seeing Keira who had now stopped at the camp, each breath getting heavy her glowing green eyes could now be seen. She looked terrified now despite her form as she turned to look at her, swaying slightly as the Aspen’s effects slowly hold.

She slowly sat close to her not attacking her just watching as their eyes locked as she spoke gently. “It’s okay I won’t hurt you.” She raised a clawed bat hand running it gently over the huge mane of fur. “You’re safe.” She watched as the others appeared as she raised her huge wings stopping them moving any closer. “Stay back, she will turn back.” Agomais turned recognising that voice instantly despite the growling edge that was Elysande the vampire. “I want an explanation, what even the fuck are you?!”

Elysande turned eyeing him. “I’ll explain later right now I need you to be quiet. She is about to turn back and show her real form.” Agomais eyed the vampire bat creature. “She? Who is she?!” Bastian eyed him. “Keira, now be quiet.” Elysande watched the demonic werewolf sway again trying to fight the magic drug, as its ears lowered along with its tail and it suddenly began to look sad and miserable in the face, as the purple fire started to slowly surround it.

She moved back slowly as it faded away, revealing Keira’s human form as she grabbed a tree, though it was still her fake one. She watched as a long scar made demon claws appeared on her left eye and her light long red hair slowly turned a more deep dark red. Magic patterns appeared on her neck glowing brightly as her silver armour colour faded away, turning black with a deep purple hue and the magic purple patterns moved through it, lighting it up.

She hit the floor on her knees as she looked at them all, they could all see her glowing green eyes now and the long canine teeth on her upper and lower jaw like most werewolves had. Her voice came out but it was meek and afraid as she spoke. “Please don’t turn me into the Mages.” Elysande watched as the other woman collapsed sideways passing out leaving the others in shock for a long moment.

Agomais’s voice suddenly broke the long silence. “She’s a fucking Paladin! Look at the glowing symbols on her armour and neck!” Bastian moved over to his long term friend looking at her realising that this was a true face, her true armour. The face he had known all those years had never been his friend's real one, he turned as a clawed winged finger touched his back gently as Elysande spoke softly. “I’m sorry it’s taken this long for you to see your best friend’s true face.”

Bastian turned to the bat creature with her red glowing eyes as he spoke bitterly. “I want answers.” Agomais eyed Elysande. “So do I! What even are you two?! I have never read or seen anything like you?” Elysande heard the commotion from the village which had now just managed to put out the purple fire on the mill. “We need to leave now, they can’t find us.” She eyed them both. “I need one of you to carry her as I can fly us out of here, but I can’t hold her and you both with my feet and one of you needs to fly on back.”

Agomais grunted as he turned picking Keira off the floor as he grabbed Bastian who had just picked up all the packs and weapons from the camp, tossing him on to the bat creatures back much to his annoyance. “Get us out of here!” Elysande moved, jumping and grabbing his armoured shoulders. “Hang on both of you!” She started to beat her huge wings forcing herself fully into flight. She didn’t have the strength to take them out of this region; she could only take them a huge distance away.

She did know a place here that was safe, from years back; she just had to hope it was still there and that the spider she had run into eight years ago was still friendly and remembered her. She was exhausted and her wounds needed to heal overnight as did Keira’s when they landed. They should now be able to get the other woman’s armour off as her suppression magic had bonded it to her in a dangerous manner, and her powers should now kick in and start to heal her as she was part werewolf after all.

8

Romulus looked out over the huge white city of Rein Strand as he ate his food with Odessa who was looking down at the city streets below. They were on one of the building's balconies eating food made by the servants. Tomorrow they needed to head out to where those bodies had been burnt but for now they could enjoy the view. At they were packed and ready to go and had hired raptor steeds to ride on. The Lizard people breed them so well and they were better and faster than Orcs huge boars.

The Pegasus were only used by the higher Mages of the council of the nine, anyone under them was banned from riding them. Stealing one was considered a crime, along with unicorns though no one rode those, as they were considered too beautiful and divine, but weren’t viewed as godly like the elder dragons. There were also regular cheap pathetic horses that used magic hooves for fast travel, but it was mostly humans, rat people and dwarfs that used those, though the dwarfs had a small pony version.

The other races preferred heavy steeds to carry their weight, Minotaurs used boars and his race it was a mix of boars and raptors. All mounts could be armoured up for battle if needed by the armies. He carried on eating his food enjoying the flavour, as Odessa toyed with her food looking over the scrolls opposite. “Something on your mind, beautiful?” Odessa breathed in deeply. “Just pathetic complaints from all over the Moss Tempest region, they have all their own low level Mages, Paladins and Clerics to deal with this.”

Romulus smirked. “We have to listen to the peasants and humour them from time to time.” Odessa breathed in deeply only to see a bird made of ice flying in its long tail, feathers sweeping in fast as it dropped a scroll right on the balcony before vanishing in a blast of ice. Odessa eyed the scroll. “Do they think if they make the bird more beautiful that we’ll care?” She picked up the scroll with its blue village seal cracking it, opening it slowly. “It’s from the town of Ramstad…”

Romulus raised a clawed finger. “Probably complaining that they can’t make enough grain this season, they’ve had issues the last three seasons. The other grain towns and villages are doing fine. I blame it on the fact they like Spice too much as they do more festivals than work.” Odessa’s eyes scanned the scroll and its sketches as she turned it towards him, the shock in her face. “I think you need to read this.”

Romulus slowly took it from her hands, reading carefully as it wasn’t that often that Odessa was ever shocked or surprised by anything anymore. He eyed the words and the two sketches that had been put into the scrolls, feeling the shock hit him, followed by joy as he looked up. “Finally, after all these years, our demon werewolf set fire to a grain mill last night. I can finally do something more interesting than look at carded dead bodies with melted and cracked crystal stones!”

Odessa breathed in realising that he had not looked at something very important. “You need to keep reading, you're missing the best part.” Romulus’s eyes moved down as it dawned on him what she was talking about. He eyed the two sketches in more detail side by side which the lower rank Mage had sent them. “There were two of them!” He carried on reading. “They witnessed a huge vampire bat-like creature with a mace of bone for its tail, both were fighting each other.”

He lowered the scroll; the higher Mages had always said if he or anyone could bring in one of these abominations alive they would be given vast wealth lands. As well as a lesser position on the council a lower seat from the ten places they had. “This is our chance Odessa; we can finally catch that thing or the other one and move up the ladder.” He eased the scroll up. “Tell that horned Seer rat woman Calliope and her human boyfriend, Cleric, whatever his name is that she can go check on those dead bodies because we are doing this and we are taking our personal guard with us!”

He paused. “We can use the mounts to get there, shouldn’t take too long and then we can start tracking them both down depending on who lived.” He breathed in grinning through razor teeth stomping a roof on the decorative tile floor as his goat tail swing. “We finally get to finish this, it’s been far too long.” Odessa nodded smirking slightly. “Of cause we will need better chains this time, much stronger ones. I have been pushing the dwarfs black smiths to design something much better for this instance; the elves were against it as they consider all life sacred.”

Romulus snorted in disgust. “I hate elves and half elves, pretty looking men and women with no substance, who claim they saw the great and powerful elder dragon, Eleshaain once and that she blessed them to protect life along with the tree folk aeons ago.” He eyed the window looking below at the hundreds of races going about their daily lives. “Their role is to serve us and do as they are told.” He felt a cols smile form. “To go against us is to go against the higher Mages whose word is law.”

End of part 8

Silvermoonlight