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by
Tao raced through the forest heading for the cave under the falls. He knew that he didn't have very much time left if he was going to get Dar back in one piece.
*Damn you Tavenian!* he thought venomously.
*Why did you have to show up now? Just when I get everything going right with Dar,you have to show up and ruin it all. Stupid, fucking demon! Just can't keep your nose out of my buisness can you?
Damn you to Hell you meddling little pest!*
Tao finally reached the cave and ducked inside. Wasting no time he quickly walked over to the back wall. Pressing his hand against the carving in the middle of the wall he opened the secret passageway. Stepping inside he took a second to look around.
The small cave was filled with ancient Eiron armor. The pieces of metal gleamed in the soft light that drifted down from a crack in the ceiling above. In the center of the room stood an altar. Upon it rested a single sword. The sword was made of black steel and had ancient symbols etched into the blade in red. A small ruby glowed in the center of the hilt. A black leather sheath lay beside it. Behind the altar stood a breastplate also made from black steel. The sheath and breastplate were decorated with red flames.
Tao walked over to the altar and picked up the sword.
" Well old friend,are you ready to help me once more?"
A soft lilting voice filled his ears with quiet mutterings. It spoke of death and destruction. The voice grew until it sang in his ears. It sang for blood, demon's blood. It screamed for vengence. Tao grinned and picked up the sheath.
" Easy old friend. Your vengence will come."
Tao sheathed the sword and laid it back down on the altar. He quickly replaced his cloth shirt and pants with the leather ones that lay beside the sword. Finished he reached over and picked up the breastplate. It too sang , it's song the same as the sword's. He put it on then picked up the sword and strapped it around his waist. Pausing for a moment he knelt down and offered up a prayer to those that had gone before him.
" Please give me the strength to endure this battle and save the one I love."
Tao got to his feet and left the secret chamber. Once he was outside he started running again, this time in the direction of the demon's lair. Night had fallen by the time he had reached the cave sat high in a sheer cliff. The cave was the back entrance to Tavenian's main lair. Tao had no problem using it to launch a sneak attack against Tavenian. The bastard deserved what was coming. He shouldn't have taken Dar.
Tao paused to catch his breath and to steady himself. Once he was ready he entered the cave. Darkness pressed in around him and he conjured up a small globe to light his way. The globe bathed the walls with a soft blue light. With the globe lighting his way he slipped deeper into the cave. He knew he was getting closer when he felt the ground begin to slant upwards.
A faint scream sounded in front of him and he quickened his step. Reaching the last curve in the wall he slowly inched his way forward until he had a clear view of the inner chamber. What he saw made his blood boil with rage.
Tavenian had Dar tied down to an altar. Bolts of white-hot lightning streaked from the demon's fingertips and encased Dar. Dar screamed and writhed in agony. The lightning intesified causing Dar's back to arch in pain. Tao's name ripped it's way from Dar's throat in a hoarse, choking scream. Tao flinched as he felt Dar's agony slam into his chest.
The bolts died away and Dar slumped back down on the altar.Tavenian sneered at him.
" Why do you resist? That worthless little shit isn't coming to save you. He left you here and ran to save his own hide. Give up Beastmaster! You now belong to me."
Dar said something but the words were too soft for Tao to hear. Whatever it was he said pissed the demon off. Tavenian's fist whipped out to connect with Dar's mouth. Dar's head slammed to the side and Tao could see the blood start to gush from Dar's bottom lip.
A deep burning rage filled Tao's heart and soul as he stepped into the chamber.
" That will be quite enough Tavenian!"
The demon was in the act of striking Dar again when Tao's harsh command came from the doorway. On the altar Dar's head whipped around so fast that Tao wondered if Dar gave himself whiplash with that move. Dar's eyes widened in shock when he saw Tao standing there in black leather and the breastplate. Dar quickly looked back up at Tavenian.
The demon's face was a mask of complete suprise. His fist was still poised to deliver the blow. From the doorway came Tao's soft chuckle. Dar looked back at him just in time to see him raise an eyebrow and give the demon a mocking look.
" What's wrong Tavenian? Didn't expect me to come back did you? Did you think I would give him up that easilly?"
Tavenian stiffened in anger at the mocking tone in Tao's voice. He took a step closer to Dar but stopped when Tao moved further into the room. The mocking look was replaced by one of pure hatred.
" Well if that's what you thought then you still don't know me very well do you? You should know by now that I don't leave my friends behind. I only left to go get this."
Tao unsheathed the sword and dropped into a fighting stance. Dar gasped as a lilting voice started to sing in his ears. It sang a song of death and Dar shivered at the sound of it.Tao moved closer and Dar got a good look at the sword. He could clearly see the markings on the blade. Some of the markings looked familiar.
* Where in the hell did he get that at?* he thought.
The song grew louder and the blade began to glow with an eerie blue light. The light grew stronger as it flickered up and down the blade like flames. The blue flames reflected back from Tao's dark eyes giving him an evil look. His lips pulled back into a snarl and a hissing growl came from between his clenched teeth.
" Dar will never belong to you. At least not while I'm alive!" Tao stalked into the room and Tavenian retreated with each step Tao took.
" What's the matter Tavenian? Don't want to play now that the rules have changed?"
Tao's mocking remark made Tavenian hiss and stiffen in anger but he made no move towards Tao or Dar. Tao brought the sword up a notch when he heard the hiss. Tavenian flinched back in fear. Suddenly Tao jumped forward causing Tavenian to lunge backwards away from the sword. Tao laughed and the hair stood up on the back of Dar's neck at the cold, chilling sound. Tao jumped again and Tavenian ended up on the floor cowering in fear. Tao sneered down at him.
" That's right you fucking coward. Be afraid. Be very afraid. You face a DemonSlayer now, not the Beastmaster."
While keeping one eye on the demon Tao walked over to Dar. Glancing down he took in the damage done to Dar's body. His rage grew stronger as he took in the gashes and burns that covered Dar's legs,chest, and stomach. He quickly untied Dar and helped him to his feet.
" Can you walk?" Tao asked Dar.
Dar nodded and Tao started shoving him towards the entrance to the inner chamber.
" Go then. You can't stay here. Tavenian and I have some unfinished buisness to attend to."
Dar dug in his heels and refused to move any further. He grabbed ahold of Tao's shoulder to keep Tao from shoving him again.
" Don't do this Tao." Tao shook off Dar's hand and shoved him again.
" Stay out of this Dar. you're only going to get hurt again."
Dar shook his hear and again refussed to move.
Tao sighed and let go of Dar.
" Fine. Just stay out of my way."
Dar opened his mouth to say somthing but quickly snapped it shut when Tao turned and Dar found himself staring at the tip of the sword.
" I said don't interfer!" Tao hissed at him.
Dar raised his hands in surrender and quickly backed down. A flash of movement behind Tao caught his attention. Before he could call out a warning Tao turned. The sword flashed up and an unearthly wailing filled the room as Tavenian fell back holding the stump of his left arm. Tao lunged forward but staggered back when the demon threw some kind of powder in his face. While Tao was scrubbing at his eyes Tavenian fled the room. Once his eyes were clear Tao snarled then raced after him.
Dar followed, calling for Tao to stop. The response he got was not what he had expected. Tao stopped and turned.
" I told you to stay out of this!"
Tao raised his hand and let loose a bolt of blue lightning. The bolt hit Dar in the chest and froze him where he stood.
Dar could only watch as Tao disappeared up the steps. He tried to move but found that he was completely frozen. His mind whirled as he tried to piece together what was happening. Nothing made any sense to him and questions filled his mind.
* How did he do that? Tao doesn't have that kind of power. Hey stupid! Yes he does! He froze your ass didn't he? Shut up! Where did he get that sword and who was singing? Why did he freeze me?
I was only trying to help the little runt. Who the hell does he think he is? Better yet what the hell is he and why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to like the answer? Would someone please tell me what the fuck is going on here?*
Of course no one answered him. Letting out a snort of disgust he had no choice but to wait. His anger at Tao grew with each passing moment. He muttered an oath of revenge under his breath.
" When I get out of this, someone is in some seriously deep shit!"
Suddenly from above him came the most bone-chilling screams he had ever heard. They echoed off the walls,doubling the sound. Dar felt as if his eardrums were going to explode as the screams turned into nerve-searing shrieks of immortal agony. The ground beneath his feet began to throb and roll. Unable to move Dar swayed with each rolling wave. Cracks appeared in the walls and ceiling.
Dar silently prayed that if the ceiling came down it wouldn't land on him. The shrieks dwindled then ceased all together. A wailing howl started but was abruptly cut off. A noise in the stairwell drew Dar's attention. He watched the stairs expecting Tao to appear. What he got instead turned his stomach into a lump of ice.
A wall of fire rushed down the stairs and raced down the hallway at him. Unable to close his eyes he could only watch in terror as it came at him. At the last moment the wall parted and the flames streaked by on either side of him. When the wall had passed by Dar found that he could finally move. Taking the stairs two at a time he raced up to the top floor. When he reached the top step he stopped and stared in horror at the scene before him.
" Oh Gods Tao! What have you done?"
The top floor cosisted of one long room or what was left of it. Huge gaping holes were blown out of the outer walls. The windows were shattered and glass was scattered everywhere. The walls, floor, and ceiling bore huge scorch marks. What little furniture there was lay shattered and splintered around the room. Blood was splattered everywhere, even on the ceiling.
In the middle of the room lay the mangled and torn remains of the demon. Dar's stomach rolled when he saw that the demon had been almost hacked to pieces. What wasn't shredded was burnt. Beside it knelt a blood-soaked Tao. Dar could see that Tao was holding something in his left hand. In his right hand was the sword. Blood still dripped from the blade.
Tao stood and turned to him. Dar got a good look at what Tao was holding and gagged then threw up. The demon's head dangled from Tao's fist by a lone swath of white hair. Half of it had been blown away, the other half was burnt and the skin peeled off in strips. It's remaining eye bulged from it's socket and dripped a yellowish ooze down the cheek.
Dar had to leave the room, the stench was overwhelming. Once down the stairs he stumbled to the nearest window and flung it open. His stomach betrayed him again and he found himself on his knees as he emptied what was left in his stomach out the window.
Tao appeared beside him carrying a cloth wrapped bundle. Dar caught the scent of burnt flesh and threw up again. Tao quickly backed away then moved over to the stairs leading down to the main level. Dar slowly got to his feet and followed him down the steps. The bundle Tao carried left a trail of blood on the floor. " Tao what are you carrying?" Dar asked
" Tavenian's head." came the short reply.
" What are you going to do with it?"
" This."
Tao threw the demon's head into the fire and a horrible stench filled the room. Dar gagged and raced for the door. once outside he fell to his knees gasping for air. He looked back over his shoulder when he heard someone approaching from behind. Tao appeared in the doorway. He walked over to Dar and stood beside him.
" You're probably wondering what's going on huh.
I can't answer you right now. We have to leave here. Tavenian has a mate and if we're here when he returns we'll both die. I can't fight another demon right now. I'm too weak. Come on Dar, we have to go. I'll answer your questions when we get back to the sanctuary but right now we have to go."
Dar got to his feet and stumbled after Tao. He was still in shock by the time they had reached the cliff. Tao helped him climb down. When they reached the bottom Dar jerked his arm out of Tao's grasp and pounced on him. Too weak to put up a fight Tao went down.
" What the fuck are you Tao? Why did you do that to me? I thought we were friends. You don't do that to your friends....
Dar's outburst was cut short by a scream of pure rage. The scream sent chills down Dar's spine. Tao shoved Dar off of him and climbed to his feet. The sword appeared in his hand as he stepped up beside Dar.
" Fucking hell! He came back sooner than I expected.
Come on Dar we're leaving right now!"
Tao reached down and hauled Dar to his feet. He started pulling Dar towards the forest. Dar had no choice but to follow. The scream sounded again sending both of them crashing through the woods in a flat out run.
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