FSE

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The windowless chamber of dark stone looked almost like a dungeon, save for the warm, cheerful light cast by the candelabras in the ceiling and brackets about the walls. It was Spartan but well appointed, with its old threadbare runners and rugs having been replaced with thick fur and heavily knitted rugs beneath the freshly polished furniture. The bookcase lined walls held all manner of tomes, from thick, gothic looking leather bound volumes to thin parchment pamphlets to scrolls, some yellowed and musty with age. Glass-faced cabinets dotted the cases, holding all manner of curio; glass objects, ink wells, quills, small ornately carved boxes, bottles and a number of crystal points and orbs, sitting on stands or cushions, along with perfectly mundane looking stones and pebbles.

There was a loud bang and a cloud of purple smoke sent the pair of figures sitting cloistered around the square dining table in one corner into fits of coughing, waving their arms to clear the haze. The shorter of the two, with a long, banded tail of black and white, sneezed loudly and rubbed his muzzle fitfully, his bright blue eyes watering at the stink left in the air. He rummaged on the table, his fingers closing on the small metal gear that had seized up and sprung out onto the table, "Damn it, I think it's melted."

"Too tight." He sighed and tossed the little gear that now resembled half a gear, half a melted glob of wax into the nearby box, "Pewter can't take the strain. Hand me the zinc one."

His taller, spotted companion handed him a small, bluish-white colored gear, which he rotated in his fingers and bent back to the opening in the oblong contraption they were both hunched over, "Do you think we're putting too much tension on the main spring Lyiko?"

The slender ringtail wrinkled his nose, stuffing his long strawberry hued blonde hair behind his large bat-like black and white ears once again as he bent into the open panel, his clever fingers rotating the little gear around till he felt it slot onto the peg, pinning it in place with a tiny pin that looked like someone had cut up a needle. He grunted, looking to his feline companion, the lean cheetah male gazing at him with slate gray eyes, "Try it again Kiyo."

The spotted feline leaned back on reflex, slotting a large key into a hole in the side of the body of their project, biting his lip as he gave it a twist, hearing the muted click-click-click of ratcheting as Lyiko watched the clockwork innards intently. The ringtail waved his paw, gesturing the feline to keep going as the gears and springs under his gaze turned and kept the tension. Kiyo stopped turning as he felt the key begin to fight the rotation. Both of them held their breath as the cogs and wheels held together, the ringtail gently rubbing his fingertip over a tiny switch and jumping as the oblong contraption whirred, then gave a loud click and spasmed in his grip like a flailing limb.

"Kiyo! Hold it while I adjust the tension!"

Lyiko dove forward as the cheetah male subdued the twitching machine, adjusting the springs and gears with a twist of a screwdriver, making the wild gesticulations slow into graceful, fluid movements. He snapped the panel closed with a sigh, switching it off again as he wiped his brow and sat back in his chair, "I think that'll do it."

The feline nodded, his muzzle smudged with grease as he wiped his paws on a towel. Lyiko stood, tense with the need to see if it worked, "If this doesn't get us top marks, I'll eat my robe."

Kiyo giggled at the thought of the lean ringtail naked, following him across the room to a cloth covering something just shorter than both of them, with a vaguely humanoid outline. Lyiko drew the cloth away with a flick of his wrist, almost like someone doing a magic trick, revealing their handiwork. What looked like half a person stood, made of matte metal, missing an arm, the legs fused into a pedestal of sorts, worked to look like a carved plinth, meeting the torso above it at the waist where bands of metal covered a large spring and rotating socket. A slightly thick, almost barrel-shaped chest was covered in finely filigreed and hammered metal skin, dotted with rivets and seamed with joints where it moved. One arm hung lamely off the side of the mechanical torso, matching in mirror the arm that dangled from Lyiko's grip, the waiting socket gaping in its shoulder. A smooth, rounded head topped the entire affair, the skull of which was the same matte metal skin but the face of which was a finely detailed and painted porcelain mask, fitted with a hinged jaw and delicate eyelids that opened and closed, though were closed as if in sleep.

Lyiko grunted as he fitted the mechanical arm into its slot, hearing it catch crisply and he secured the rotating joint, moving the dangling arm and finely wrought fingers experimentally, feeling them rotate and flex smoothly. He stepped back and looked to Kiyo, "Should we?"

"I expect so. Best to get it over with."

It had taken the pair a month and a half to build the clockwork statue, calling in many favors for the delicate components and skillfully worked skin and mask. Lyiko pointed to a nearby bookcase cabinet, "Fetch the last piece please Kiyo, it's in the gold box there in the cabinet."

The feline male turned with a fluttering of his plain black robe, the color offsetting his bright amber and black spotted fur, his long chestnut hair tied into a tight braid as he flicked it over his shoulder, opening the cabinet specified and retrieving the pretty golden box. He handed it to Lyiko, watching as the ringtail pressed on a shield-shaped portion of the chest and it popped open revealing a small cavity about the size of a fist. He exhaled, flipping the box open and withdrawing a stunning pink gemstone the size of the palm of his paw, smooth and glittering, with a bright, clear asterism piercing its center. The ringtail gingerly pressed the large stone into the fitting they had prepared within the chest cavity, feeling it seat itself almost as if it were drawn into the body of its own volition The star ruby glowed faintly in the shadowed recesses of the mechanical chest as Lyiko shut the panel once more with a click, glancing to Kiyo as he fished in his pocket for an elaborate key.

The key was the length of a finger, with a large, almost heart-shaped loop at one end and a paddle shaped, blocky-toothed head at the other. He gently slid a circular panel aside on the half of the chest opposite where the gem had been inserted, slotting the key into the specially cut hole there. Lyiko swallowed and turned the key slowly, hearing the clunking and whirring tick-tick-tick as the cogs and gears wound the internal springs, the tension building slowly till the ringtail ceased turning the key and withdrew it, pocketing it once more and looking to his feline companion who reached up and tapped the automaton's forehead. They both jumped, as there was a loud click, stepping back as the mechanical creation began to tick loudly like a clock.

As they watched the porcelain face lifted, the head rising elegantly and the delicate eyelids slid upward, revealing bright, sparkling jewel eyes, shimmering violet that slid back and forth as if gazing around. The long, finely articulated arms flexed gently and lifted, the wrought fingers easing open and closed. They ticked as they rose, the head tipping gently to one side as if wishing to embrace them. A soft, clear, sweet musical tone began to build in the chest of the mechanical being, rising and falling, the pulsing beat of its gemstone heart as its fingers moved gently, almost as if playing a musical instrument. Lyiko watched as the panels on the torso and arms began to shift and rotate, slotting themselves in, out and around like a puzzle-box, letting the shimmering of its gem heart and eyes glow through its infrastructure.

The panels on the back shifted and ratcheted gently, and a pair of delicately wrought wings sprang to life slowly from each shoulder, a skeleton of silver with shining strings strung to tension between them, tiny, concealed picks and hammers making the strings vibrate and sing as the musical notes swelled like an orchestra. Kiyo closed his eyes as he saw the delicate hinge of the jaw flex and the clockwork angel began to sing; a single shivering note swelling into two, then three, then branching into several voices of a choir at once as the sweet, flowing music played. There was the brassy shiver of an alto, the deeper, thunder-like rumble of a bass, with soprano lilts, all mingling into a harmony as they mechanical being shifted and moved, flexing and relaxing, it's body flowing like a sculpture, song channeling through it like energy, enchanting both males who stood transfixed at what they had wrought.

It might have been a minute, an hour or a week the song swelled and flowed, waxing and waning with song before the gentle ticking slowly wound down, the song finishing with a ringing note and the beautiful angel gently folded back into itself, it's eyes slowly closing once more as it's head dipped back down. Lyiko breathed softly, nodding as he smiled at Kiyo, "That was beautiful. How many songs can it play?"

"Feasibly anything was a tricky bit of charm-work on that stone. It'll absorb music and learn new songs each time it's awake."

"Just need to shrink it a bit and it'll be finished."

Lyiko tossed a small towel to Kiyo, watching the handsome cheetah male scrub his face as he flopped down on the lounge that had been added to the thickly padded armchair. Kiyo sighed and unbuttoned the front of his long robe, letting it drop to the floor and stepping free of it, left clad in a pair of short, cream colored breeches, "It's warm in here."

The cheetah stretched, his slightly barrel chest expanding and contracting with its thick ruffle of fur along his breastbone. He had a nicely developed set of abdominal muscles and a narrow waist, his long, thick thighs, strong calves and broad, stable feet belied his heritage, along with the thick black spotted amber pelt. The dual slashes of black on either side of his muzzle leading from the corners of his eyes to the corners of his mouth. Lyiko smirked at the feline, "Taking your clothes off in the hopes of cooling off around here?"

"Well, he's not around at the moment, is he?"

The ringtail chuckled at the feline, "Could be fixed."

Lyiko leaned his head back, inhaling then exhaling in a rush, "Inuus!"

There was a moment's ringing silence before there was a faint pop and a rush of air along with a billowing cloud of vapor that stank vaguely of sulfur, a tall, broad body materializing out of the smoke as Lyiko waved his paw, coughing gently. Inuus swept into the room with a swirl of his long plum colored hair and tuft tipped tail. His thick, soft fur was silvery blue, coating his thick, solid muscles beautifully, his bright silver eyes taking in Lyiko and Kiyo sedately, grinning and showing his long, pointed fangs, "Little master. You called?"

The seated ringtail huffed in exasperation as the only thing the towering male was wearing was a flowing loincloth and a pair of armlets and soft leather cuffs around his calves, "Inuus, adjust your loincloth please."

The tall male's loincloth was bunched to one side, making Kiyo stare open-mouthed at the heavy sex exposed. Inuus huffed and yanked the cloth covering of his loins back into proper drape; he leaned down over Lyiko, his horned head about a foot over the ringtails own. Lyiko kissed the horned male teasingly, making him rumble, "You smell like bread. Have you been skulking around the kitchens in nothing but a loincloth?"

"Perhaps." Inuus shrugged, stretching idly as he shifted his gaze to the shirtless cheetah staring at him, "Hello Kiyo."

"Hi..." The cheetah uttered a squeak as he cleared his throat, his face and ears burning as he looked at the demonic male's body.

Lyiko shook his head at the feline's fixation; "Inuus has been spending a lot of time down in the kitchens lately. I think he fancies that elf boy."

Kiyo cleared his head with a shake, "That skinny one with the long white hair, extensive thighs and swims naked in the eastern fountain? Who doesn't fancy licking those long ears...?"

Inuus nodded, flinging himself back onto the massive, thickly pillared 4 post bed that Lyiko had bought for them both, making his hair and loincloth go flying once more, "Talen likes to feed me."

"Oi, you'll follow anyone who feeds you around. It's cute for a fully grown Incubus."

"I am not cute. I am majestic, god-like in my beauty!"

Inuus looked affronted, wrinkling his muzzle as Lyiko was reduced to transports of giggles and Kiyo just flushed harder. The slender ringtail shook his head as he unbelted his robe, cooling himself as he stripped down to just the cloth wound around his waist, "You've been stoking the fires too high Inuus dear."

"It gets so cold in here at night my little master."

The reclining Incubus didn't fool anyone as he gazed alluringly at Lyiko, his arms and legs lying loosely as Kiyo stared openly. The broad horned male flexed his chest and belly teasingly, making them stand out tautly, making Lyiko tut, "Inuus you're going to make Kiyo melt."

"I am a being of sexual, carnal and visceral pleasure. The art of seduction is second nature to me my little master. Surely you knew that summoning a magnificent Incubus such as myself would make you enviable and myself coveted."

"Your ego could still use a shrinking charm Inuus." Lyiko needled the towering Incubus playfully. In the month since he had summoned the horned male into his service he had grown fondly amused by the bursts of egotism the plum haired male spouted whenever he knew someone other than Lyiko was entranced by his beauty. Kiyo was shifting from foot to foot where he stood, almost as if the flagstones beneath his footpads had grown hot. The ringtail sighed in mock resignation, "Here I thought dinner would be pleasant, but you're giving Kiyo all he can handle laying there like that."

The slender ringtail pondered telling the horned male to cover up, but living with the demonic male for a little over a month had worn away at his sense of modesty and Inuus was pleasant to look at if nothing else. He settled with bossing the spotted feline about a bit, "Kiyo darling would you cease dancing on the spot and sit, or go lay down to relax your nerves..."

The cheetah gave a little chirp as he gazed sideways at the giant bed where the horned male sprawled. Lyiko rolled his bright eyes softly, gesturing to the reclining male who grinned broadly as the slender ringtail pointed to Kiyo languidly. The tall, broad male levered himself upright, sliding off the bed and crossing the chamber in a handful of strides, making the spotted feline jump as the horned male's paws gripped him gently. The towering Incubus grinned slyly as he scooped up the lean cheetah as if he weighed no more than a feather, holding him over his shoulder as he strode back to the bed and deposited the spotted feline onto his rump, Kiyo still looking stunned as he gave a tiny oof, then jumped once more as Inuus pulled him around. The horned male seated himself behind the feline, cracking his broad, strong paws once with a loud report then flicked the cheetah's hair away from his nape and began kneading his shoulders.

Lyiko watched as the surprise melted from Kiyo's spine as quickly as hot wax, Inuus' strong paws squeezing and kneading the spotted feline's back, neck and shoulders expertly, pressing and rubbing here and there. The horned male made the feline squeak in a rough chirrup as he seized him by the nape of the neck then thrust a paw into the small of his back, pushing one way and yanking in the other. Lyiko winced as there was a soft series of muted pops, before they could finish reverberating in the still air he had seized the cheetah on either side of the skull and with a see-saw motion twisted Kiyo's skull back, then forth, then tipped it sideways in both directions, resulting in a quartet of sounds not unlike someone trodding on walnut shells. The spotted feline's bright eyes rolled up in his head as he uttered a sigh of bliss and slumped back against the solid wall of the horned male who still kneaded his shoulders.

The seated ringtail stretched, grinning at the feline who was groaning, his head rolling on his shoulders, completely relaxed against Inuus, "He's got magic paws doesn't he?"

Kiyo uttered something incomprehensible as he gave an easy grin, prompting Inuus to give his rumbling, throaty chuckle, "He's remarkably relaxed now little master."

Lyiko glanced over with a nod, "Well, parts of him anyway."

The lolling cheetah's breeches were now pulled tight across his crotch and hips, making Inuus rumble softly, "Close proximity to my kind tends to have that effect."

"Well, I think that's a given." The ringtail swept his long hair over his shoulder as he flicked a finger and his robe fluttered to him, sliding his arms into it before belting it about his narrow waist, yawning as he gazed at Inuus, "Do what you wish with him Inuus, I'm starved."

The horned male smiled, exposing just the tips of his canine teeth as he continued to massage Kiyo, "Shall I fetch you something my little master?"

"No, no... I'll go visit the dining hall."

"As you wish Lyiko."

Inuus bowed his head and neck, grinning as Kiyo stirred from his stupor. The lean cheetah sat up a bit, looking to the ringtail as Lyiko opened the door to the corridor outside, "Lyiko? Where are you going?"

"To eat Kiyo. Inuus has graciously agreed to continue massaging you in my absence. Have fun."

The cheetah male tried to sit up farther, but the horned male's paws restrained him from standing, making him chirp loudly, "B-b-but..."

Lyiko stood with his paw on the latch to the door, "He won't hurt you Kiyo. I expect you'll have a wonderful time."

The ringtail grinned as Inuus pulled Kiyo onto the bed, laying him flat on his back and shucking his beige breeches down and off to the floor as the cheetah male sputtered, then groaned, feeling the solid form of the horned male against him, massaging him in very tender place. Lyiko watched Inuus as the Incubus moved his strong form, admiring the view as the horned male tugged off his loincloth and tossed it languidly away before bending over Kiyo. The horned male's gorgeous, smooth and dimpled rump made Lyiko grin softly before he stepped through the doorway, "I'll probably be about 3/4ths of an hour Inuus. Don't leave any marks, but have fun."

"Yes little master!" Inuus' voice came ringing through the swiftly closing gap between door and frame as Lyiko closed the door, chuckling softly to himself. Inuus had already earned himself quite the reputation as a stud through the school, so the ringtail saw nothing wrong with letting the rumors flourish a bit more. Lyiko strode leisurely down the subterranean corridor, climbing the stair to the base of the tower under which his dormitory rested, turning the corner and meandering toward the center of the campus, through the covered walkways. He heard the massive clock tower at the very center of the campus ringing faintly to announce the quarter hour, gazing up at the other looming towers that ringed the main body of the campus. Each tower was smooth and spindly; holding a large faceted jewel at the tip, nestled in gigantic wrought metal cages. They caught the slanting sunlight and glittered, reminding the ringtail of sunlight on water.

He passed one of the enormous fountains that stood in each of the 4 large courtyards that quartered the grounds between the walls of the campus and the inner towers and central buildings. The lawns and hedges were green and lush, dotted with statues and bits of masonry, veined with walkways and benches that allowed students to savor good weather. The sky above was starting to tinge a deeper blue as afternoon slipped inexorably into evening, a scudding of white clouds speeding their way across the cerulean expanse over head. The ringtail exchanged greetings with several other people he knew, a few of them seeming disappointed his demonic charge was absent as they passed. He spied Regani in the distance across the courtyard but the stocky fox didn't make eye contact, hustling off to one of the covered corridors with his own horned servant in tow. The winged Succubus cast a withering glance in Lyiko's direction with her bright pink eyes before shaking her wings and hurrying after her short master.

The ringtail grinned as he put his paws to the pair of large wooden doors marking the main dining hall and pushed, the thick doors parting to allow him inside. The hall was cavernous, a full 60 paces across and almost 100 long, with the ceiling high overhead, made of diamond shaped panes of glass that showed the sky above and the spires of the surrounding towers. One half of the room was taken up by 5 long, massive wooden tables, segments of benches on either side of them, with smaller, square and rectangular tables, flanked with wide seated stools. At the far end of the room a long table was where the staff of the academy normally took meals, though it was empty as Lyiko wound his way along the smaller tables, about half of them populated, as were the longer main tables. He attracted waves; shouts of greeting and a few jealous looks from other students that had chosen to have their suppers early.

The slender ringtail strode to the side of the hall where the long, tall windows to the kitchens were lined with a counter, handwritten parchment notices of the daily menu tacked every 10 feet or so. He bounced on his toes as he gripped the counter, grinning at the stocky, grizzled looking older male who banged a wooden tray down in front of him gently, "Hi Addaz."

The stocky feline who wore an eye patch over one of his bright brown eyes, dressed in white breeches and tunic smirked at him, "Lyiko. Got bored of taking meals alone with your new horned stud and came crawling back eh?"

"He's busy helping Kiyo relax after we finished our project for mage-craft."

The ringtail grinned unabashedly meeting the feline's eye, making him snort, to which Lyiko giggled, "I hope Inuus hasn't been causing problems in the kitchens?"

The stocky feline squared his shoulders, "Nah, he behaves himself well 'nough. Can't say as I mind a bit of eye-candy now and again, but he gets the younger lads and lasses in quite a tizzy with those charms of his kind."

"I hear he's gotten charmed right back by one elfin boy in particular."

Lyiko leaned on the counter conspiratorially, grinning softly, "Seems quite fond of him."

"Aye." Addaz jerked a finger over his shoulder to where a slender, white-haired elf was busily stirring a gigantic pot that was steaming and giving off a wonderful aroma, "Talen there. Long limbs that boy, giggles a lot, but works hard. I don't think he fancies the academic life, that one, which is queer for an elf. Ask me, I think he has some nymph in him; prob'ly why your boy gets his head turned 'round him almost as much as everyone does with 'im."

Lyiko grinned, nodding as he sighed, "He is beautiful. Wouldn't mind him feeding me."

The ringtail winked, making the feline snort, "You 'an ev'ry one else laddie buck. Now what'll it be as we're flapping our muzzles anyway."

"Whatever he's stirring smells delightful..." Lyiko pointed to the elfin male and Addaz grunted, nodding, "Aye, and some bread. You could stand to gain some weight."

Lyiko giggled helplessly, "I've been attending school here for 6 years and you still sound like my mother."

"Aye and I'll switch your ass like a father if you gimme any more lip."

The older male snarled good-naturedly at the slender ringtail, a smile wrinkling his eye as he smacked a long heavy wooden spoon into his paw threateningly, prompting Lyiko to pat his hip and look wounded. Addaz shook his head as he rounded back into the kitchen, "I'll have it send out to ya."

"Thank-you mother! See you later!"

Lyiko giggled then yelped dodging the wooden spoon as it swooped from the kitchen and took a swipe at his hips before sailing back over the counter and out of sight. The ringtail dashed off, making the students who had seen the exchange laugh and wave before he selected an expanse of the long wooden table nearest himself and folded himself down on the solid wooden bench, gazing around at the amazing array of students seated around him, some buzzing with conversation, others eating in relative silence. The female student across the wide table from Lyiko was eating in silence, a thick, leather-bound textbook open and hovering before her high enough clear of the table to avoid any contamination from food, her fork occasionally giving a languid flick to turn the pages. Her amber eyes lifted to Lyiko's face for a moment, she nodded in a sociable way before her gaze resumed skimming back and forth.

Lyiko stretched as he sat, rubbing the glossy table-top with his paws, watching the activity as a broom wobbled back and forth across the dense flagstone floor, sweeping diligently with no obvious source of locomotion, a dustpan skimming along an inch above the floor, bobbing in its wake as they patrolled for dust, dirty or dropped food. The ringtail recalled a memorable breakfast where a pair of the charmed brooms had gone berserk for no apparent reason and had begun whacking people's shins and knees till half the dining hall had been standing on their tables before order had been restored by a trio of the caretakers. He moved his elbows as a folded square of cloth skated down the table, wiping the wood surface, watching it glide away busily. The ringtail sensed someone behind him before they could startle him, tipping his head as the handsome snow haired elf approached, carrying one of the wide, thick wooden trays in his long, nimble hands.

The smiling, long eared male placed the tray on the table; "Addaz said I could take supper, so he asked me to bring you your food."

Without preamble the skinny elf male folded himself onto the bench, almost sitting in the abruptly blushing ringtail's lap with a bright, friendly smile, "You're master Lyiko, aren't you?"

He gingerly slid one of the two bowls in front of Lyiko, picking up the loaf of soft, warm bread that had accompanied them and tore it in two, dividing it for both of them into smaller chunks, "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance master Lyiko."

"Just Lyiko, please. You're Talen, are you not?"

The skinny elf nodded, smiling brightly as he pressed a spoon into Lyiko's fingers, seeming very pleased to be spoken to in such a casual manner, "I am Lyiko sir!"

"Just Lyiko, please." The ringtail grinned softly, flushing softly again as he watched the long eared male eat eagerly, "Inuus speaks of you."

Talen swallowed and looked shy, his long pointed ears blushing gently at the tips, "He is your servant, is he not?"

"Servant, companion, bed-mate, familiar."

Lyiko fed himself idly, paying more attention to the slender elf, gazing at his waist length white hair, bright gray eyes, soft, smooth pale skin and nearly naked body. Elves as a rule tended to disdain clothes that bound or confined, as well as shoes, preferring soft, breathable fabrics and loose fitting or revealing articles and tended toward sandals or nothing upon their delicate feet. Talen was dressed in a pair of short breeches, a loose, sleeveless shirt that was unbuttoned all the way down and wore nothing but a pair of copper anklets below his knees. His clothing was much plainer than your average city dwelling elf's tended to be, but it was well cared for. Lyiko gazed at the elfin male's long, toned arms and legs, snapping out of his carnal thoughts as he realized Talen was staring at him, "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

The elf giggled under his breath and nodded, "Yes. I've seen Inuus watching me bathe in the fountain pool before. He comes and goes so silently he should be an elf, but he's so..." he paused, blushing brightly for an instant, "So large..."

Lyiko chuckled, noting the bright, intense curiosity of the elfin male as well as his obvious intimidation from the Incubus male. The ringtail and the elf reached for a piece of bread at the same instant, Lyiko's paw closing over Talen's hand, making them both giggle softly as the elf took the piece and ripped in half, offering one of the resulting pieces to Lyiko who took it, "You bathe in the fountain?"

The ringtail perked his ears as the young elf nodded, slightly self-consciously, "Yes master Ly- I mean Lyiko... My wages are not large, but Addaz allows me to sleep above the kitchens next to his own chamber."

Lyiko gaped gently, "There are communal baths Talen..."

"For students, sir..."

The elf blushed brightly, fidgeting with his spoon, "Addaz gives me meals, but I do not wish to cause trouble for him anymore so than currently."

Lyiko shook h is head, "You cannot afford lodgings?"

"Not as of yet, sir, er, Lyiko. I only began this job this semester."

Lyiko grunted, idly stroking the bridge of his muzzle, "Would you like to earn more gold?"

Talen nearly dropped his spoon as he looked at the ringtail with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, "M-more wages?"

"Yes."

The slender ringtail suppressed his first thought, smiling gently, "Inuus seems to like you. I'm sure he wouldn't mind help with his duties for me when you're not working in the kitchens."

The skinny elf blushed, hiding his lower face with his hand, "Oh... I, um..."

His flustered response made Lyiko chuckle, "It sometimes takes me hours to convince Inuus to go shopping or clean if he's feeling stubborn."

The ringtail tipped his head; "If he had a companion or friend he likes helping me persuade him rather than ordering him about it would be less of a headache for me."

He placed his spoon down, "Ask Addaz first, to make sure, but I hardly think he'd mind you making a living wage helping me personally. What's fair...? How much do you earn now Talen?"

The long eared male almost seemed ashamed as he lowered his voice, "15 silver pieces a week..."

Lyiko uttered a scandalized grunt, "No wonder... Half a gold piece a week is barely livable."

The ringtail snapped his long banded tail with a nod, "Alright, 3 gold pieces a week to start, no arguments. More, depending on how docile or stubborn Inuus is. Does that sound good?"

The elfin male's ears twitched in surprise, their tips trembling a bit as he looked abashed for a moment, then met the ringtail's steady gaze, nodding, "Yes'sir."

"I'm positive we can find other dormitory rooms for you to clean as well."

Lyiko placed his empty bowl and spoon onto the tray, pushing the last quarter of the loaf of bread back to the elf that blushed pink through to the tips of his ears, "You take it, and you can start tomorrow. Ask Addaz how to get to my dormitory."

"Y-y-essir..."

The slender elf looked as if he were at a loss as to what to do or say next when there was a soft, clear chime from within the kitchen and he startled as if scalded, "I must get back Lyiko sir... I-I..."

"You're welcome. See you tomorrow."

The elfin male nodded gratefully at the ringtail finishing his thought before leaping up and dashing back into the kitchens with their tray in his hands. Lyiko breathed out in a huff, jumping softly as a gruff voice sounded from behind him, "That was a nice thing for you t'do."

Addaz smirked at the ringtail as he slouched past with a sack of flour over his shoulder, winking with his single eye at Lyiko who nodded, "The poor thing could use some help."

"Aye. I'm sure you'll give it."

The feline's remark was said in a smoothly neutral tone, but Lyiko smirked at the undertone, snorting, "Perhaps, perhaps not."

"Sure."

Addaz chuckled and pushed into the kitchen, leaving Lyiko sitting and gazing at the swinging doors. The ringtail sighed, shaking his head as he slowly got up. A soft noise caught his attention as a murmur of whispers rose in tone around him. He glanced around and spied the cause of the conversation. What appeared to be a pumpkin sized red paper lantern was hopping down the aisle between tables suspended from a hook on a long, curving wooden pole, ending in what looked like a carved wooden foot. The softly glowing lantern was bouncing deftly, almost noiselessly save for the creaks of wood and rustle of paper. Lyiko watched the bouncing lantern come closer and closer, wondering who the messenger could be seeking till it hopped directly in front of him and came to a halt, the red lantern swinging gently from its hook. He glanced down at the motionless lantern, "Who're you after?"

The curved wooden pole gave a flex, almost as if it were bowing, and the paper lantern above shifted and swung softly, a small bright violet paper butterfly popped from within it and fluttered impatiently in front of the ringtail who caught it deftly and looked down at the messenger that bowed once more before turning on its heel and bouncing back the way it had come. Lyiko grunted, holding the gently fluttering piece of folded parchment that grew still, then unfurled into a note before his eyes. The ringtail ran his bright blue eyes over the neat scrawl of silver ink:

Dear Lyiko,

Please come up to my office once you have finished

Your meal.

With regards,

Headmaster Theanon

Lyiko switched his long banded tail gently, re-reading the summons before gently folding it and placing it in his pocket, sweeping his long hair and robes as he strode from the dining hall and took a new path rather than the one back to his dormitory. He rounded the corner, following the sweep of the solid stone wall around, and then cut across the pathway and into the tall, rounded building opposite the clock tower, pushing open the gigantic bronze and wooden doors that opened and closed themselves obligingly, being much too heavy for a single person to operate without magical assistance. There was a wide, sweeping marble staircase that wound in and around itself up through the short tower leading to the headmaster's office. The stair was wide enough to march an advancing army up and the vaulted archway above his head could have fit a small ship without scraping its mast. He arrived before a gigantic vaulted corridor, made of polished marble that sparkled and caught the light of the glowing orbs that bobbed near the ceiling. Another pair of massive doors ended the corridor, with gigantic knockers shaped like dragons set into their faces. Lyiko raised one of the knockers with some difficulty and let it fall, hearing the boom reverberate both behind him and through the door.

The massive doors swung open at the knock, revealing the headmaster's office. The giant round room that Lyiko strode into looked for all the world like a shady grotto, with small grass covered hillocks ringing the towering room, with trees and plants that masked the stone walls and a deep, clear pond filling the center of the space. A waterfall poured down the far wall of the room, sluicing out of an opening that looked like a giant dragon's head, the churning water falling into the wide pond, creating a soft, rushing roar that was almost soothing. A thick, pearly mist floated through the chamber, flowing from the waterfall. It was cool on Lyiko's face as he walked slowly onto the nearest grassy hillock dotted with beautiful white flowers. The lawn was cool and soft beneath his feet as he inhaled the sweet, almost earthy scent of the mist and spray of the waterfall. The tower above him was ringed with gigantic open windows, letting the breeze waft down and giving a view of the sky as they were canted inward with the pointed vault of the tower itself.

A soft, clear, friendly voice floated to the ringtail, "Come in Lyiko, come in. Make yourself at home."

The slender ringtail strode gently to the next hillock which was flat topped, it's face floored in more shining marble, covered with a delicate almost umbrella-like gazebo of clear glass. A small desk stood beneath it, with a comfortable looking pair of chairs, one behind the desk, scattered with odds and ends; an ink and quill set, paperwork, several beautiful curios of crystal and silver that rested on the light wood of the handsome desk. The ringtail did not sit, but rested his paw on the back of the chair nearest himself as the waterfall seemed to ripple, it's flow abruptly interrupted near its base by a gigantic head on a long, sinuous neck that stretched out from the water. Lyiko watched as the headmaster emerged from the comfortable cavern behind the waterfall, his wide, arch-backed body and massive wings folded against his flanks as 4 thick, powerful legs held him upright and a long, tapering tail slid from the spray last of all.

Headmaster Theanon stretched his wide silver wings, his bright, gigantic powder blue eyes gazing down at the slender ringtail. Lyiko smiled, gazing up at the wide, wedge shaped head towering nearly 30 feet above him, with massive jaws, a curved snout and a frill of ridged spikes at the back of the gigantic skull. The headmaster's hide was smooth and bright, like mercury, with a brighter sheen, showing the flash and glitter of individual scales shining like polished silver leaf. The towering silver dragon stepped lightly for its gigantic size, making the still; deep pools of water ripple gently as Theanon walked across the water's surface as if he weighed no more than a feather. The massive wings upon his back shivered softly as he ruffled them, then folded them in a graceful arching curve over his back, glinting like polished steel.

The massive dragon settled himself on his haunches, his forelegs resting against his underside in repose as the long, sinuous neck and wide wedge shaped head curled down and came to eye level with the slender ringtail, their bright eyes meeting as Theanon's surprisingly cool breath stirred Lyiko's hair, the crisp, fresh scent almost like ice or snow on a cold morning laced the dragon's breath. Theanon's wide tooth filled maw didn't shift into any particular expression, but his gigantic blue eyes were warm and welcoming, almost soothing, "Welcome Lyiko. It is good to see you again, please, sit, I wish to speak."

The ringtail glanced at the chairs near the headmaster's desk for a moment before simply folding himself down onto his rump on the sweet, soft grass of the hillock on which he stood. The towering dragon male nodded and closed his bright cornflower eyes, seeming to waver before the ringtail's vision, shrinking down upon himself as his bright silver coin skin dulled to a matte sheen. The 50-foot dragon male melted away as Lyiko watched, his silver form shifting like quicksilver as it shrank to almost 2 meters tall, standing on two legs. Lyiko had witnessed the dragon headmaster's transformation before, watching as the towering sinuous body turned almost elfin, with pale almost pearly gray skin, a nicely broad musculature that was almost as defined as Inuus' with long, agile hands and fingers, and broad feet at the end of his lean legs. Theanon's face was high cheeked, aristocratic and handsome, with a firm jaw, fine lips and startlingly white, sharp teeth.

A ridge stretched down the bridge of his nose from his forehead to just above the point of it and his long, elf-like ears had similar ridges, almost fan-like along the auricle, nestled in long whitish-blonde hair that swung in a cascade past his waist. The headmaster's eyes were the same, bright, piercing blue, with slightly oblong pupils. Theanon swept his hands over himself, a long draping gown-like robe flowing over his handsome body as he smiled warmly at Lyiko and seated himself in front of the ringtail, now looking like a slightly over-large elf rather than a towering silver skinned dragon. The draconian male clasped his long fingers in his lap, "I have heard from all your teachers that your performance this past and current term is exemplary Lyiko. Very good marks and you're helping Kiyo bring up his average."

"Thank-you sir. That's very kind of you."

"Your father corresponds with me regularly, at length, about your well-being and performance. I've assured him that your Demonological studies are coming along quite well."

The draconian male tipped his head, and Lyiko smiled, nodding softly, "Perhaps better than some were hoping? If I've done something I ought not to have Headmaster, I can assure you-..."

The taller male shook his head easily, waving a hand almost lazily, as though it were nothing of consequence to have set a major demon loose on school grounds, "Don't misunderstand me Lyiko, in a purely academic sense your achievement is nothing short of astounding. It must have taken months of preparatory work and gathering of components, and your binding work seems to have been flawless."

Theanon arched a delicate brow as he tipped his head, "Now from a standpoint of neutrality and in concern for the security and well being of my students and campus, summoning a Class VI demonic transcendental being was dangerous, doing it alone almost suicidal, and information of that level of expertise should have been restricted to anyone below 7th year."

He paused, a soft smile perking his lips, "Where did you get that book, by the way?"

Lyiko perked his ears, his expression remaining wonderfully neutral as he gazed into the draconian male's bright blue eyes, "It was part of Professor Veril's private library. When he retired the books were transferred to the storage vault in the 8th floor corridor. Professor Ti'ma needed a text on shadow transfiguration and while I was searching for him I happened across said tome."

Theanon chuckled, giving the ringtail a reproving look but smiling, "And you "borrowed" it?"

"Yes'sir."

Lyiko's expression wasn't in the least repentant; he resisted the urge to shrug as he smoothed his robes, watching his tall headmaster as those blue eyes seemed to scan his own. The moment's silence seemed to stretch before the draconian male shook his head gently, snorting a soft chuckle as he leaned back on his long, lean arms, surveying the ringtail's unabashed posture, "Curiosity isn't a sin Lyiko, but next time you feel the need to expand your inquisitive nature to anything over a Class IV being perhaps you should engage a teacher or myself in a purely advisory nature, yes?"

"Yes'sir."

Lyiko relaxed a bit, getting the feeling his lecture was over for the moment as Theanon tugged a long white-blonde forelock, "You've become quite the point of interest in recent weeks. Your tame Incubus is garnering a lot of interest, and is making a good many of the lower class summons on campus nervous. Incubi are terribly territorial by their very nature."

The slender ringtail nodded, "Inuus wouldn't hurt any of them, I've forbidden him to outright attack any inter-dimensional beings since he nearly strangled my exotic biology mid-term."

"A Zuati was it not?"

"Yes'sir. It's currently living under my armchair."

"They are cute." Theanon gave a knowing nod as he snapped his fingers and a tray bearing a teapot and a pair of cups appeared with a puff of white mist. The draconian male poured measures of the slightly green liquid for them both and handed Lyiko one of the rounded mugs, "Ti'alik tea, it's very good this year, not too much rain in the province."

They sat in silence a moment before Theanon shifted, giving the ringtail a scant moment's warning before the draconic male plunged back in again, "I'd like to meet Inuus."

Lyiko swallowed a hot measure of tea, hiding the soft cough well as he wondered if Inuus had finished with Kiyo, nodding as the draconian male watched expectantly. The ringtail lowered his cup, mentally wishing before he called, "Inuus! Are you done?"

The accustomed rush of air and cloud of brimstone-laced mist heralded the broad Incubus' appearance, much to Lyiko's relief, alone and looking wonderfully groomed. The horned male's brilliant silver eyes were bright and haughty as he stepped onto the hillock on which Lyiko and Theanon sat, his thick, silvery-blue pelt shining and sleek, as was his deep plum colored hair, sweeping around his shoulders as he surprised Lyiko by sweeping an arm back, tucking the other to his chest and bowing low to both of them, "You summoned me little master?"

The ringtail nodded, watching as the tall, horned male folded himself down onto his haunches, his long loincloth once again around his hips dipping to brush the grass. Lyiko touched the horned male's proffered paw, blushing as Inuus kissed it. The demonic male was going all out, Lyiko wondered idly who had tipped the Incubus off as to with whom he was meeting. Inuus caught his eye and raised a brow, smirking a bit as the horned male mouthed the word "elf" as if he had sensed the ringtail's question, turning his attentions back to the draconic male sitting across from them. Lyiko raised a paw, "Inuus, this is headmaster Theanon."

The handsome male tipped his head, slowly lowering himself to sit on his heels, folding his strong paws in his lap, while his long, sinuous tufted tail curled and twitched gently over the cool grass. Lyiko noticed Inuus' broad nose was working, nostrils flared as the horned male stared steadily at the broad elfin shaped male. The horned male tipped his head as they surveyed one another, "It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance master Theanon, I have heard so very much about you from those in the school and my own lovely Lyiko."

While the Incubus' posture was relaxed his ears and tail were stiff, the latter giving little jerks back and forth, curling gently at the tip before springing back out to full length. Lyiko idly felt the horned male's excitement, the emotion bleeding through the link of blood and flesh they shared. He had noticed the link between himself and the demonic male getting stronger the more time they spent in one another's company, they could often guess one another's moods and proximity, even seeming to sense images or sparse words passed between them without speaking. Inuus' posture and scent seemed to ripple, shifting ever so slightly as his fingers opened and closed, his coin bright eyes coming to rest on the headmaster, "You're a dragon."

"So I've been told from time to time."

Theanon sounded amused as opposed to insulted, sweeping his long hair as he gazed levelly back at the horned male. Inuus sniffed intently, his bright eyes narrowing as his pupils expanded and contracted, "3... No, no..." he paused, inhaling deeply, "4,000 years old, give or take a century."

Theanon chuckled brightly, nodding, "Give or take. You yourself must be millennia or two, or 3, perhaps."

"Old Incubi are rare, and very powerful. They tend to gain their power from killing their younger kin."

Inuus shrugged gently, "If they try to take our territory they either win or lose."

The demonic male gazed with a grin at the draconic headmaster, "If you were a bit younger and I a bit older the battle would be glorious. They would sing songs of it for centuries."

"I have no doubt the battle would demolish most of this campus."

Theanon looked highly amused, "Once the several hundred other magic users living here got involved no doubt."

Inuus looked bored at the response, but nodded grudgingly anyway, shrugging, "This is true enough."

Theanon glanced to Lyiko, "You have an Incubus here that's almost as old as I am Lyiko. Your spell work was even more impressive than I initially thought."

The draconic male glanced at Inuus, "Why did you allow yourself to be so easily caught? You could have easily freed yourself from almost any circle of binding."

"Curiosity." The horned male shrugged, smoothing his silvery fur as he continued to gaze at the tall draconic male, "This material plane is much more interesting than any I've come from before. And Lyiko offered to bargain. My people have an interest; you might say weakness for bargaining with mortal beings. It's very entertaining."

"Demonic bargains are almost unbreakable. The pleasures of a material realm must have been very attractive for you. You are an Incubus, your powers and strengths lay in persuasion and manipulation of emotions, someone who seemed to resist both must have been irresistible."

"Plus he was a virgin."

Inuus' tone was conversational, matter-of-fact and almost without inflection as Lyiko felt his ears flare scarlet. Theanon chuckled, his low rumbling laughter echoing gently with the hissing and tinkling of the waterfall. The draconic male leaned back in a relaxed posture, still chuckling under his breath as Inuus inflated his chest proudly, making Lyiko rub his face and muzzle with his paw. Theanon looked amused as he stroked one of the ridges over his upper nose, "Yes, there's been much talk about that as well. You've been giving away samples of Incubus semen, alchemically related and otherwise."

The tall draconian male's expression turned serious for a moment as he regarded Lyiko, "Demon seed can be very powerful Lyiko. Its aphrodisiac nature is well documented, and it can be highly addictive under the right circumstances."

The ringtail blushed harder as he plucked gently at one of the longer blades of grass beneath him, clearing his throat, "I did take that into account headmaster, the flesh binding should have negated those effects to some degree."

"Oh, I have no doubt you've the physical and mental faculties to withstand the stronger effects, but please be cautious with anyone else Inuus comes into intimate contact with."

Lyiko nodded, "Yes'sir it can cause severe intoxication." He paused, "In significant enough doses. Thus far no one other than myself has come into contact with Inuus on a regular basis."

The horned male rumbled, seeming offended at the insinuation, "I would never harm anyone befriended to Lyiko, nor my little master himself. I can control my abilities with absolute finesse in this form."

"Oh, I mean no insult Inuus. You're one of the finest specimens of Incubus I've ever seen in my long, prodigious life span. Lyiko did well, as you seem well disposed to other sapient species, and mortal species. Rather than resent your relocation, you appear to be enjoying it."

Theanon shifted gently on his heels, smoothing his gossamer like robes about himself as he inhaled and exhaled, a pair of tiny wisps of mist curling from his nostrils as his fan-like elfin ears gave an odd fluttering contraction, "I've called you both here not only to meet Inuus, and express my pleasure at the ever expanding experience and knowledge you're gaining Lyiko, but I did have an ulterior motive."

The ringtail felt the horned male beside him tense rather than noticed it, his own spine arching as he flattened his ears a bit before perking them, nodding, "Did you Sir?"

The draconic male abruptly stood, almost making Inuus spring to his own feet if not for Lyiko's well timed grab to the taller male's tail, holding him still for that moment. Theanon paced the hillock gently, not even noticing when his feet took him over one of the smaller pools of water surrounding his misty grotto and waterfall. There were ripples around the tall male's feet but he sunk the barest increment into the water as if striding across a sheet of glass covered by a scant layer of water. The elfin male tugged his chin, looking at the seated pair as Lyiko looked to him expectantly, "I realize you're only a student Lyiko, and not even in your last year here, but you've shown prodigious advancement and utilization of magics and their components and companion subjects. You're arguably the top of your class in your major which is why I've elected to call you here to both ask a favor of you and to pose a proposition."

Both seated male's ears perked at the word "proposition". Lyiko's sense of academic interest was piqued and Inuus bared his long canines as he grinned, hissing, "A bargain? Two bargains with mortal and semi-immortal planar beings in less than a year for a demon would be close to a record."

Theanon chuckled once more as he strode back toward them, his feet planted on grassy ground once again, "You no doubt possess some interesting insights into inter-planar interactions and politics. Which is somewhat why I've asked you both here."

The draconic male stretched, reseating himself onto his heels as he spread his long, elegant hands open on either side of himself, feeling the soft grass, "As this academy is so intertwined with the city within it rests, the Elders who guide the city councils have asked a special intercession on my part as headmaster. They seek someone who is skilled in the more subtle of the magic arts, what some see as the darker side of the arts taught herein but that play a pivotal point within our daily lives none-the-less."

Theanon looked to Lyiko, "I have followed your career here within these halls with much interest Lyiko. As you study Necromancy and Demonology both, yet have retained your mental and spiritual discipline and have resisted some of the more baser and visceral urges quite common to both schools of magic nor have you become more or less a hermit as so many of Necromantic sages do, preferring to reside with the dead and dark than with the living beings and companions of the world at large, you stood out to me as someone with whom I could entrust this task."

The draconic male fixed a pleasant gaze upon the horned male crouched next to Lyiko, his voice rising into a paternal alto, "You've far outstripped your peers, magically. I sincerely doubt anyone, even Regani would have been able to summon a Class VI variable demonic incarnation into their presence without being slaughtered in no doubt creative ways."

"I personally enjoy the upper thighs and tongue, seared slightly before removing them. Very tender. Though some say start with the eyes."

Inuus' words were said with almost incongruous matter-of-factness, making Lyiko cover his muzzle in his paw, the larger Draconic male uttering a scandalized sort of hiccupping chuckle. The slender ringtail rubbed his nose as he felt his ears warm, "I wondered why you seemed so pleased when you ate those Tark haunches out of the school pantry..."

There was a pause as Lyiko abruptly realized something more, "And when the jars of salamander tongues and toad eyeballs go missing from my apothecary supplies."

Theanon coughed delicately, rubbing along the point of one of his fan-like ears, "Oh... Yes, on the subject of exotic gastronomy, Professor Lightfang wished me to speak to you about the depletion of certain ingredients of the 3rd potion making classes' adjunct supply cabinet on the 7th floor. She doesn't mind the occasional snack, but will regretfully need reimbursing for a black ooze that went, well, missing, from it's enchanted jar."

Lyiko's ears perked as he rounded on Inuus, "You Ate a black ooze?!"

The horned male didn't seem the slightest abashed as he nodded, "Yes master, a small one. They wriggle so nicely when swallowed."

"Ah-yun toy shee madrek!" The ringtail spat with vehemence, balling his paws into fists for a moment before breathing deeply through his nose, "Inuus, is there anything an Incubus can't eat?!"

The silver eyed male shrugged deferentially, "If it is organic matter little master, I can normally digest it without too much difficulty."

"Well, we won't find him gnawing the masonry work, at least."

Theanon laughed softly, adding, "But if you recall your basic demonic bestiary chapter 25, paragraph 14, regarding Incubus and Succubus physiology and predation habits in their natural environment they are opportunistic feeders, not totally disinclined to cannibalism or carrion feeding."

The draconic male's nose added an extra ridge as he mentioned cannibalism and carrion but he looked to the horned male for verification. Inuus nodded, patting his stomach with a shrug, "Food is food."

Lyiko shook his head, his muzzle wrinkling, "I'm not having this conversation about someone frequently kissing me. Please Headmaster I beg you continue with your former topic..."

The fan-eared male laughed again, "Lyiko, you're a Necromancer, you deal with carrion and offal of all kinds constantly..."

"Yes'sir, but we don't eat it!"

The ringtail added a semi-polite cough at the end of his statement to reduce the vehemence. He smoothed his robes, stringently ignoring Inuus who was grinning at him, having transfigured all the visible teeth in his jaw into long, white dagger-like fangs just to amuse himself. The Incubi species' known disposition for flightiness and boredom was asserting itself so Theanon regained control of the conversation once more, "And Inuus, as you no doubt are itching to know what role you might play in this meeting; you have knowledge of your kind and their practices even more than our best sages do. You know the intimacies and intricacies of a demonic life and how demonic influence can affect mortal beings."

"I do."

Theanon rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he nodded, gazing at the seated pair before he simply shrugged and leaned back on his outstretched hands once more, "In the ville there is, we believe, a sect who is violating the pacts of Shando and Jarrao'n."

Lyiko uttered a strangled cough as he inhaled a small sip of tea and began to choke as Inuus growled gently, his fur color shifting slightly darker as his bright eyes flashed, his voice hoarse as he grated, "The Eternal Accord must not be broken! The destroyers of the High Heavens and Lower Depths would annihilate us all, sterilize this world and seal all portals forever."

For the first time in his expansive memory the horned demon felt a light trickle of fear slide, slippery and cool down his spine, his body shifting and transforming in his absolute distraction and anxiety. Lyiko nearly dropped his cup as he wiped his tea sprayed muzzle with his sleeve, not caring about the stains blooming across the cloth as he gazed at the silver skinned headmaster with terror in his wide eyes, "They seek the unmaking of this world? They violate the first law?"

"We believe they seek to, yes."

Theanon's strong cheek-bones raised slightly, pivoting as he squinted softly, stroking the ridges of his nose, glancing at the pair with his luminous eyes, "The Council of the Three and the Nine have accessed this as a reasonably minor threat, but have called a gathering nonetheless, the representative of the High Heavens, a representative of the Mage's circle and a representative of the Lower Depths are called."

The draconic male extended his arm, pointing his long, tapering finger toward Lyiko, "You shall stand as one of the voices of both the Lower Depths and of this school, as a neutral observer, and as an expert in the fields of necromancy and demonology. As Inuus holds a higher rank than any other demon on these grounds, I request him specifically."

Lyiko felt his jaw swing loosely, feeling his veins congeal for an instant before he found his breath again, still light-headed as he dropped his teacup from lax fingers, "I?"

"You."

The statuesque elfin male nodded, "Yes, both of you. You go as the eyes and ears of this school and myself. With these threats, however slight, I myself must stay here to guard the academy so I send you in my stead."

A soft glower screwed up the draconic male's normally smooth features, making his face darken slightly as he leaned back onto the tufts of grass, "I cannot impress upon you the importance of this task, I don't undertake lightly, appointing you my proxy. Please do not disappoint me. I place my trust in both of you, despite the fact that Inuus owes me nothing in such a bargain."

The draconic male gazed levelly at the crouched Incubus who seemed to shift his spine into a stance of superiority without shifting the rest of his body, making Lyiko open his muzzle part way till Theanon waved a long fingered hand, "Of course, a bribe never hurt the diplomatic process either."

The seated ringtail perked his ears, shifting his bright blue eyes back and forth between Theanon's own cool gaze and Inuus' coin bright eyes, drinking in the subtle changes of posture and scent as the tall headmaster brought his fingers together in a click and a puff of white frost billowed across his open palm, an ornately carved square box fashioned of a single slab of a glittering mineral Lyiko didn't recognize with burnished hinges and a hasp dropping into his waiting grip. Inuus' silver eyes narrowed as he shifted on his dense legs, watching the draconic male loose the clasp on the box lid and raise the smoothly carved lid, exposing a satin cushion. A small, vaguely diamond shaped wafer of what looked like hammered metal sat in the center of the cushion, only when the headmaster tipped the box to an angle did Lyiko see that the skin of the thin chip glittered black like heavily tarnished silver.

Inuus made a sound somewhere between a growl and a gasp, half standing till Theanon snapped the box shut with a loud click, pulling the case back away from the horned male's outstretched fingers. Lyiko perked his ears as he took in the Incubus' look of almost covetous desire, his bright silver eyes glittering as the demonic male clicked his fangs together almost disdainfully. Theanon smoothed his flowing robes as he adjusted his posture, smiling congenially at the horned male, "So, I happen to have a souvenir from my days as an impetuous youth roaming wide and free on the winds. Do we have a bargain?"

Inuus sucked one of his long, pearly fangs as he rumbled, piqued by the draconic male's use of the word "bargain", his tail flicking slowly to and fro as he deliberated, his eyes squarely on the case resting in the elfin male's palm. The horned male's face contracted as he chewed his fangs for a long moment, aware of the draconic male's as well as his own master's bright eyes on him, sighing gently, exhaling a tiny gust of brimstone laced smoke as he slouched on his haunches a bit, "Very well, deal."

Theanon nodded, snapping his fingers again, making the horned male scowl before sliding the box back under Inuus' nose and raising the lid once more. The Incubus inhaled and exhaled softly, reaching tentatively out and touching the glittering black token with his fingertips, then snatched it from the box as though half expecting the headmaster to renege on his word. Lyiko gasped as the horned male uttered a triumphant growl and promptly stuffed the palm-sized wafer of metallic ebony into his muzzle, "Inuus! Spit that out! You can't eat metal!"

Theanon reached out gently, restraining Lyiko as the ringtail tugged at the horned male's muzzle, the Incubus' teeth locked together as he uttered a hissing growl and twisted his jaw in the slender male's grasp. He pulled Lyiko's paws away, leaving the bright eyed Incubus to have his prize, and before the horned male had a chance to snap at the youth's fingers. Lyiko huffed, smoothing his hair as he looked at both larger males, till the headmaster waved his fingers dismissively, "It's not metal Lyiko."

As if to confirm the fact there was a soft, brittle crunch from Inuus' muzzle as he ground his fangs down on the wafer of metallic black, making it splinter in his maw. It sounded as though the demonic male were chewing shards of porcelain as he leveled his gaze at Lyiko and muttered thickly, spitting out something that sounded like "Bick Saggin Pail" through his mouthful of clinking shards.

"What the devil does that mean? Bick Sagging Pai?"

Theanon sounded half amused, half exasperated, "He's eating a scale, Lyiko. They're hard to chew."

Inuus nodded in confirmation, grinding loudly before he grumbled and bared his teeth, making Lyiko scoot several inches back as he uttered a disgusted squeak, watching pitch-like drool ooze through his horned servants muzzle. The saliva looked like tar, making a fizzling, bubbling sound as it coursed through his teeth and the air was cut with the scent almost like ammonia. Where the tiny bubbles clung around Inuus' long, sharp teeth and lips it made a bright green slather, giving off an acrid, acid-like stench as he ground the scale down farther, his muzzle hissing and popping as the sticky black saliva dissolved the shards of metallic skin.

Lyiko coughed, scooting on his rump as he waved a paw before his nose, "That stinks! Inuus, what are you doing?"

Theanon pinched his own nose demurely, before he flicked a finger and a breeze struck up stiffly, swirling the mist around the waterfall and freshening the air, "He's using the enzymes he absorbed from the black ooze to break down the scale enough to swallow it."

"He ate a black ooze, so now he's well... oozing?"

"Incubi are very adept predators Lyiko, they're shape-changers, mimics and if they consume something they can reproduce it's inherent properties within themselves, but only if it's organic. Incubi eat to gain power, that's why cannibalization isn't uncommon if the offending demon has an ability they covet."

Inuus tipped his head back as the fizzing and popping within his muzzle died down, giving a tremendous swallow, letting both headmaster and ringtail watch the bulge slide down his throat before he uttered a satisfied belch, grinning at his slightly queasy looking master, "Not as good as the flesh, but a worthwhile appetizer."

The horned male grunted as a sudden fire stoked in his belly, shivering as he flexed his paws, looking down at them. His fingers twitched as they abruptly turned black, his silvery fur dimming to black, tendrils of shadow snaking up his arms and over his chest and belly, making Lyiko utter a startled gasp. Theanon gripped the ringtail's arm and gently pulled him back a few feet, "This is normal."

Inuus thudded onto his knees as his body twisted and crawled, his muscles bulging and flattening as his fur turned that inky black. He hissed, the burning in his trunk and the tendrils of darkness snaking through his fur and skin speeding up till he was covered from head to foot in sable fur, eyes glowing their original pinkish red and his large wings unfurled from his shoulders with muffled popping, cracking sounds of remaking flesh. The horned male's muzzle twisted as he grumbled softly, a ridge of overlapping black scales running down the bridge of his muzzle from his forehead now, and his fingers tipped with half foot long, wickedly pointed black talons.

Theanon nodded appreciatively at the transformation, "Magnificent, isn't it?"

"And frightening."

Inuus flexed his solid form, hearing his tendons and muscles creak as they worked, a tiny froth of acid green saliva on his gums as he roared lustily, stretching his wings and flapping them with a whoosh of displacing air. Lyiko looked ready to speak but the horned male relaxed, turning to him with his shining red tinged eyes and grinned brightly, "I am stronger now for you little master!"

Lyiko chirruped softly, gazing to Theanon, "Was that a good idea Headmaster?"

The draconic male shrugged affably, "Black dragons I know how to defeat. Besides, he's now completely impervious to black and shadow magics, acid and poison."

The headmaster added almost innocently, "The latter two he is now capable of spitting as well, I feel inclined to mention. Be wary with eyes."

"You gave him two breath weapons..."

The tall elfin male shrugged once more with an expression exaggeratingly suggesting, "you wanted him" but added, "He'll be useful in the next few days, I'd wager."

Inuus was shrinking and readjusting his colors once more as Theanon reached into the sleeve of his robe and withdrew an odd, oblong rod nearly the length of the ringtail's forearm, and slightly thicker than his finger. It seemed to be made from alabaster, though it's whorls, bumps and ridges looked more organic, with a wider, ornately carved handle and a pointed tip. The draconic male offered the rod to Lyiko, "I gave a gift to your servant, so I thought you might enjoy this as well."

Lyiko took the thin wand into his paws, rubbing it with his fingers before he realized what it was, "This is bone!"

The long, white rod was dense, almost feeling like metal or dense ceramic to the fingers, with a smooth polish. The ringtail gazed at it with almost reverence as Theanon nodded, "It came from my great-grandmother's wing. In the hands of a necromancer, it should be quite useful."

Lyiko stammered cutely, clutching the bone wand in his paws, though it gave no signs of flexing with his grasp. He knew that the bone itself would be almost indestructible, a weapon of exquisite power and finesse in the hands of an experienced necromancer or sage. Imbued with a portion of the life essence of the beast that had borne it, with skilled handling the dragon bone wand could work magic of the highest order, especially those dealing with the aspect of the dragon breed of which it had belonged.

"Headmaster, I couldn't even begin to-..."

Lyiko stammered to a halt at Theanon's held up hand, "Don't worry about thanking me Lyiko, just use it well, your necromancy should be a thing of wonder from now on. You should do the school proud quite handily, I should think."

The tall headmaster glanced at Inuus who was busily grooming himself, casting glances at the long, slender bone in his master's fingers, "And it is not for eating."

The horned male uttered a grumbling grunt of acquiescence bowing deferentially to the draconic male. Theanon clasped Lyiko on the shoulder, steering him around and toward Inuus once more, "Tomorrow, at the noon bells. You two will be at the Great Citadel. Do try not to be late, or embarrass yourselves. We'll speak at the end of said calling of council."

The tall, elfin male swept his robes majestically as he spread his fingers, then smiled to Lyiko, "Now, go get some rest. If you can."

As the slender ringtail opened his muzzle to reply Theanon swept his hands toward the pair of them, making a sudden rush of misty, cold tinged air swirl at them from the waterfall. The pillar of twisting mist wrapped around and between Inuus and Lyiko, spinning like a waterspout before it closed on them and then vanished with them in a burst of mist. The ringtail had just enough time to register vertigo as the grottoed office faded around them and then the dark stone passageway of the dorms sprang up on all sides. The teleportation spell had deposited the pair back in front of the ringtail's own door, the solid wood glinting faintly in the everlasting torch-light of the corridor.

Lyiko rubbed his muzzle as the faint swimming in his head passed, huffing gently as he laid his paw on the knob of his door, noticing there was something stuck between the planks of wood just beneath the golden number of his chamber. Inuus issued an inquiring rumble as Lyiko plucked out what looked like a broad, glossy oak leaf that had been partially slipped between the smooth planks of the door. The ringtail looked at the leaf between his fingers, turning it over, spying a swirling mark inked on it in shining gold. As he ran his finger over the fluid script the leaf gave a subdued quiver in his fingers and curled in on itself. The slender male caught the leaf just in time as it collapsed into itself then burst into a plume of silver smoke, leaving a small golden acorn in his palm.

Inuus sneezed at the vapor that wafted over them, scented strongly of autumn leaves as he gazed at the gilt colored acorn nestled in the ringtail's palm, "A summoning talisman?"

Lyiko turned the acorn over in his fingers, watching tiny, shimmering letters scroll around it's circumference, the miniscule golden letters flickering as he stopped tinkering with the acorn, nodding, "Yes, looks to be a summoning charm from Talen."

His horned companion perked his ears, licking his lips lightly with a sly grin, "That elvish boy little master? He's wasted in the kitchens."

Lyiko prodded the Incubus in the side gently as he swept through the wide doorway, still rubbing the golden acorn idly in his fingers, huffing at the expression on Inuus' face, "He works Inuus. The poor thing seems to be all on his own here in the city though. I don't see why, elvish folk normally have quite large families."

The hearth sprang into a cheery fire as Inuus waved a finger lazily at it, then pointed to the overhead lamps and tapers, watching his little master shed his robes down to his simple waistcloth. He uttered a rumbling purr as Lyiko passed him, stroking his broad, blunt muzzle affectionately, "I know why he's so poor little master. His magic smells different than most elves."

The ringtail pressed the little acorn between his palm and fingers, frowning gently as he glanced to the horned male, "It does seem a trifle more tribal then most elvish magic."

Inuus shrugged, abruptly losing interest in the game of speculation, as he was wont to do, making Lyiko scowl more sharply, "You know, but you're not telling, eh?"

"Oh, information is seldom free my little master, but perhaps you should ask him yourself when next you meet, hmm?"

Lyiko gave a snort as he flicked his robes out with a snap, making the dust and wrinkles relax free of the fabric, letting them go off of their own accord to drape themselves across the back of his armchair. He ran the long, smooth bone wand through his fingers, giving Inuus a side-long glance as he gently placed it within one of the glass fronted shelves next to his books, "No touching."

He ignored the tiny sound of indignation and the subtle rolling of the tall Incubus' eyes before giving the tiny acorn a flick with his finger, sending it skimming across to settle on the top of the small table they had moved to the bedside. The slender ringtail turned, watching Inuus settle naked on the large, thick fur rug in front of the hearth, his nose wrinkling softly, "Are you intent on basking all afternoon and evening my dear Inuus."

"Mayhap little master, it does get chilly down here in these dungeon dormitories."

Lyiko heaved a sigh and lowered himself down into his thickly stuffed armchair, casting a sharp glance at the horned male, "My servant serves in his own good time, what would my mother say..."

He rubbed his muzzle as he gazed down at the sprawled Incubus, the sly smile on the horned male's muzzle making him narrow his eyes, "You're simply intent on forcing me to summon that elvish boy to ogle while you're being obstinate."

"Mayhap my little master."

Lyiko lifted his paws helplessly to the ceiling before letting them come back down on the arms of his chair, "My servant needs a servant."

Inuus lifted his head a fraction, inching open one bright silver eye, "May I have him little master?"

"No!" Lyiko snapped, scowling sharply as Inuus' head sank back down once more, "You may not have him, otherwise I would never get any work out of you. That long eared boy would do all of the work just to please you for a scrap of gold. But seeing as I'm not likely to get any supper or dinner with you being obstinate I suppose I have no choice..."

The horned male couldn't help a ghost of a grin as he shifted, exposing his strong back to the fire, stretching out luxuriously. His thick blue-gray pelt rippled as he settled, shining gently in the firelight. Lyiko heaved a sigh as he watched the Incubus bask in the warmth, "I need to keep insisting this was worth it."

"Oh, but I am worth it little master."

Inuus' voice was slightly muffled as he rested his muzzle on his arms, grinning, flipping his tail gently as he knew the view of his back would be nicely illuminated.

Lyiko rubbed his forehead, "It explains why your genitals are so large, all the extra ego has to go somewhere..."

"Could be worse my little master."

"Of this I have oddly, little doubt."

Lyiko heaved himself upright, stalking to his bedside table and plucking up the golden acorn, turning it over in his fingers 3 times before giving it a strident bang between his palms. The stream of silver vapor flew from his fingers, swirling across the floor to the doorway before billowing out with a subdued pop. Talen stood on the flagstone floor, looking half startled as he settled onto his delicate bare feet. The elf's pale skin was smudged with soot as were his scant clothing, his long hair bound up with a length of cloth as he gripped another wadded piece of cloth in his hand, his eyes widening as he uttered a half squeak and dropped into a bow, "M-master Lyiko. I apologize, I was just finished cleaning the ovens when you called. My appearance is..."

"Filthy, but understandable."

Lyiko smiled warmly, gazing at the pale, slender elf's grime streaked limbs, "I'm sorry to call you away so suddenly, I know I said I would call tomorrow at the earliest, but situations being what they are..."

The ringtail looked sharply at the lounging Incubus who offered an apology by way of a sizeable yawn. Lyiko pinched the bridge of his muzzle, flicking a finger at the fire, making a sizeable blob of tar explode with a tiny crack and emit a shower of sparks and embers. Inuus shifted as the shower of sparks plumed outward, catching some of the fall on his tongue and closing his muzzle, making them sizzle and exhaling a plume of smoke through his nostrils. He shot Lyiko a smirk before settling down once more; running his paw across the smoldering embers on the rug, extinguishing them and making the scorched fur fluff back up.

Lyiko sighed, gazing at the hopelessly embarrassed elf standing on one foot on the flagstone floor. Talen's foreshortened jacket was stripped down to his waist, showing a plain gray tunic around his torso, streaked with grease and soot from the ovens in the kitchen. His low slung short breeches were rolled up to his thighs, one cuff sprouting a tangle of loose weave, leaving his long, slender legs bare save for his pair of tinkling brass anklets. The blushing elf's long ears twitched as he tugged the knot of the scarf binding his hair back and up from the nape of his neck and shoulders. The long, slim fingers clutching the black rag absently rubbed at his face, leaving streaks of grime along his high cheekbones.

A high, pink flush highlighted the elf's features as he squirmed under the languid gaze of the Incubus laying prone on the floor and the bright-eyed ringtail. Talen uttered a high-pitched titter as his nerves swelled to almost frantic fluttering at the base of his spine. Lyiko finished scanning the nervous elf, "Those clothes will never do."

Talen seemed taken aback as he brushed at his slightly dingy shirt, biting his lip as he slid his gray eyes toward the ringtail, "Forgive me Master Lyiko, my other set of clothing is more suited to colder weather. Not suitable for working in the kitchens..."

He swallowed, rubbing his chin gently, his long ears drooping slightly as he gazed at the ground near to his feet. Inuus issued a rumbling chuckle, easing his silver coin eyes closed as he basked in the warmth of the fire. The horned male eased his muzzle against his crossed arms, his long, tufted tail flipping in a long lazy sweep as he endured a soft nudge to the side by Lyiko's bare toes. The ringtail set off across his chambers, working the latch on one of the storage room doors and sliding it aside. The closet was large enough to store extra furniture, shelves full of personal effects and stacks of clothing the ringtail and his horned consort had acquired.

Lyiko pulled a long, almost see-through dressing gown of delicate lavender and cerulean, draping it over his arm and taking up a heavy, oval shaped bucket of banded wood. He shifted the bucket in his grip as he snatched a tall, round bottle of crystal, stoppered with resin-coated cork before he emerged back into his chamber, aware that the slender elf hadn't moved. Lyiko gestured with his arm full, "Talen dear, move that rug there out of my way please."

The long eared male gave a nervous startle, then strode lightly across the stone floor, plucking up an end of the thick, woven carpet and folding in on itself, rolling the length into a tight cylinder against the wall with his nimble hands. The elf nearly dropped the crystal decanter as Lyiko handed it to him, the ringtail draping the long robe over his nearby chair, then withdrew a lead stylus from a drawer along with a piece of vaguely green tinged chalk. The wooden basin thunked dully as the ringtail placed it down on the floor. He gently sat the lead pencil on the floor, balancing it on its tip and waving his arm in a smooth circle. The stylus swept around the bucket in a wide circle, leaving a trail of dull silver in its wake, simply staying upright in place when it met its own trail.

Lyiko nodded curtly as he took the stick of chalk and marked several symbols on the edge of the basin, then extended his paw and traced several characters over his palm, spitting on his upturned paw, then slapping the side of the wooden bucket. With a slightly adhesive noise the chalk peeled from his palm onto the wood and the basin gave a jolt on its base. Lyiko took two paces backward as the oval bucket groaned alarmingly, the creak of metal and wood making Talen jump as the banded basin abruptly grew in dimension outward in all directions. The wood bottom of the basin scraped flagstone as it expanded, then settled with a creak 10 times its normal volume, the size of a bathing tub.

Lyiko retook the decanter from the startled elf and gingerly tipped it, holding the mouth of the neck above the wooden tub and easing the cork from it. The clear water within the bottle sloshed and then came rushing from the bottle like a hose, bubbling and foaming into the basin in a sluice. Inuus glanced up from his pondering of the fire and nodded, "Impressive little master."

The ringtail shrugged demurely, "The hard part wasn't the endless water..."

The half full tub burbled as the rushing water crept up its sides, giving off a faint shimmer of steam as Lyiko held the bottle in place, "Now getting it to hold its heat, that was a trick."

"A hot bath in a bottle."

Talen sounded impressed as he shifted on his long, agile feet, peeking over the lip of the tub, "I could use one of those."

The long eared male blushed at his own forward tone, making Lyiko chuckle softly, nodding, "I figured you could use a bath, regardless."

The slender elf blushed harder, his long, pointed ears turning pink as he shifted his feet, gazing longingly at the steaming tub, glancing around as he looked between the supine Incubus and ringtail, the grimy cloth still clutched in his hand, "My clothing is dirty, I don't wish to get ashes or grease on your fine furniture..."

Lyiko waved a paw dismissively, "There should be a basket there by the fireplace. You can place your clothing in there."

The ringtail looked at the nearly black cloth in the elf's hand, "That however might do better to just go in the fire Talen. It looks too dirty to be cleaned."

"Y-y-yes Master Lyiko."

"Give it to me, little elf."

Inuus offered his paw, smiling disarmingly up at the slender elf, his silver eyes twinkling as he shifted in his angle on the floor, resting his horned skull on his arm. Lyiko watched Talen step toward his grinning Incubus lover, watching the demonic male's eyes dart upwards before snorting gently, rubbing his own muzzle in exasperation, "Talen, he only said that to give himself an opportunity to look up your tunic..."

Inuus grinned harder as the elf took a half step backward and uttered a tiny gasp, blushing hard once more as he clutched the hem of his tunic and stared down at the laying Incubus who shrugged, stretching his proffered paw upwards, gingerly taking the grimy rag from Talen. Lyiko shook his head, sweeping over to a cabinet and selecting an oblong lump of soap for the elf's bath. He stiffened, not looking back at the Incubus, "Inuus, don't you eat that..."

The horned male tucked his ears, spitting out the corner of the grease coated rag, glaring at the slim ringtail before tossing the blackened cloth into the crackling fire. It crinkled as it shrank in the flames, spitting gently as the blackened grease caught fire, smoking fitfully before burning down to ash amongst the logs. Lyiko eased up behind the elf male, placing his paws on Talen's shoulders, making him tense softly. The ringtail smiled brightly as he stroked the elf's shoulder, "You should get out of those dirty clothes Talen."

The lean elf covered his mouth with a hand, his ears flicking gently as they pinked. He giggled softly, the nervous titter making him pink more and shuffle his supple feet as he slowly started to shrug out of his short jacket. He let the material drop down into the basket that Inuus scooted toward him, slowly unlacing the sides of his tunic. He glanced at the grinning Incubus and genially smiling ringtail, biting his own lower lip as he wriggled the woven cloth up over his head, dropping it beside his jacket. Talen's bare torso was pearly white, his slender chest heaving gently with his nerves as he shifted.

The slim elf's bare arms were lean, almost skinny, and pale with his wider shoulders. His softly rounded chest was framed by his pink tinged nipples, leading down to his smooth, flat belly, a small indentation running down along his breastbone. Talen's low-slung breeches exposed the sweep of his narrow hips, his fingers gently tugging on the cord lacing the front of them as he untied the knot sitting against his lower belly. The elf cleared his slender throat, loosening the laces of his breeches, slowly letting them drop down to his feet before stepping out of them. Inuus uttered a rumble, his coin bright eyes roaming the now naked elf's body, taking in the soft, smooth, hairless expanse of pale white skin, long, lean limbs, his eyes drawn to the pointed eared male's lower body. The elf's pearly alabaster skin went all the way down, his smooth hips, down along his lean, strong thighs and long legs and across the heart-shaped expanse of his rump.

Talen glanced back at the horned male, blushing brightly as he lowered himself down onto his haunches to pluck his breeches from the floor instead of bending down. Lyiko gazed at the lean elf, feeling a pang as he saw the pale male's grime streaked limbs and the ripple that extended down his chest on either side, showing where his ribs were raised against his skin. The skinny elf looked underfed as the ringtail gently took his elbow, guiding him to the tub, glaring at his leering horned consort, "You could use a few decent feedings Talen."

"Y-y-yes... Not that I wish to speak ill of Master Addaz... He does feed me and give me shelter..."

Lyiko smiled, reaching up and tugging the elf's hair loose, letting it tumble down his back, stroking it gently, wrinkling his muzzle as he leaned in to take a closer look at Talen's lower back. Above the elf's smooth, tail-less backside a small mark showed starkly in contrast with his pale skin, "You have a mark on your back Talen..."

He leaned down, almost to eye-level with the coin-sized red mark, squinting at it, the pattern of the ink seemed to shift and waver under his eye, making it hard to focus on, "It looks like a rune-mark..."

As the ringtail brushed a fingertip across the tattoo of ink on the elf's back Talen stiffened, uttering a gasp and a crackle shot up Lyiko's arm, making his fur stand on end and his paw go numb, tingling wildly, "OUCH!"

"I-I'm sorry Master Lyiko!"

The slender elf stiffened, his stormy gray eyes wide as Inuus was on his feet almost instantly, growling loudly as he swept to the pair and seized the pale elf around the upper arm and jerking him almost bodily from the floor and away from the hissing ringtail, making Lyiko bark, "Inuus, down! Put him down please..."

Lyiko sucked his singed fingertip softly, looking at the shivering elf that was cowering in Inuus' shadow, "It's ok Talen. You didn't mean to do that, it's something in the mark itself."

The slim elf turned his head, arching as he attempted to gaze down his own back till Inuus hefted him back up straight again. The horned male wasn't letting the slight to his slender master go quite so easily rumbling as he made Talen squeak in surprise by turning him and bend him over slightly, peering down at the now fully exposed crimson mark. The ringtail's own magic had disrupted the camouflage hiding the runic tattoo with the eruption of energy. Both furred males gazed intently at the round, swirling rune mark, the tiny lettering and symbols bright against Talen's pale skin. Lyiko soothed the whimpering elf, stroking him between the shoulders, "Hold still Talen. You have a runic mark here. You know nothing about it?"

The long eared male slumped softly, his ears dipping limply as he chewed his lip, "M-m-my father made the mark. Many years ago."

Lyiko perked his ears, "How old are you Talen?"

"F-f-forty-five of your standard year cycles..."

Lyiko's muzzle dropped open, gazing at the slender elf that looked no more than two decades old, his bright blue eyes widening. He glanced at the stately postured Incubus, Inuus' silver eyes giving away nothing as the horned male relaxed his grip on the elf male. Talen uttered a desperate sigh, his smooth back curving as he slumped against Lyiko, "M-master Lyiko... I-I can explain..."

"You're almost fifty years old Talen, but you look younger than I am and you have this seal on your back... Why?"

The ringtail stood back up abruptly, "Does this have anything to do with the fact that you don't use arcane magic?" he paused thoughtfully, "Or because you can't use arcane magic..."

"It is forbidden Master Lyiko..."

The slender elf's eyes were pleading as he gazed at the ringtail, clutching his robes, "I am forbidden from using arcane magics by my clan."

"Why?" Lyiko's ears twitched as he raised a brow, looking at the dejected elf, still stroking his shoulders gently.

Talen sighed gently, holding the ringtail's robes loosely, "My grandmother was a Selani..."

The ringtail gaped again as he held the slim elf at arm's length, "The Selani..? Good Gods."

Inuus rumbled as he gazed at his slender master, "What is a Selani little master?"

"The Selani are an ancient race. They were thought to have died out thousands of years ago but they merely moved deep into the forests on the southern island continent of Dn'rakani. There's been no contact with them for almost 4 centuries other than ambassadors to the mage conclaves. Felines, vulpines, mephits and the greater races of elves are descended from the Selani, though the elves would never admit it, normally. Interbreeding between Selani and elf is normally taboo, punishable by exile. No one knows why the elves detest their ancient cousins to such a degree, but it's known that Selani normally eschew arcane magic, in favor of elemental and druidic magics."

The horned male nodded, "I believe I now recall some legends of the Selani, long ears, tail-less, large eyes, bright fur with spots..."

"Yes Masters."

Talen nodded miserably, "The mark denotes my status as an outcast. My family was denied the use of arcane magics and status within our clan. This is why I chose to travel outside the Elven lands, to mix amongst your furred races, you are normally more accepting of mixed-breeds then are elves..."

Lyiko bristled softly, "The mage clans would support those laws within the cities, as they wouldn't wish to pique their elvish constituents but I have a hard time believing Addaz and Theanon would hold to those antiquated grudges."

"Master Theanon and Master Addaz are aware of my shame Master Lyiko... They agreed to take me in with as little as I may offer in return."

Talen sniffled softly, looking up at Inuus and Lyiko with wet eyes as he hung his ears limply, "They agreed to tell no one of my condition and allow me to work with as much discrimination as possible. Telling others I am simply blind to arcane magics."

"But you're not. They're simply blocked from your manipulation."

Lyiko sighed, rubbing his muzzle as he stroked the elf's long hair, "You should have been raised amongst the necromancers. We have no such notions of interbreeding."

"Nor do demons."

Inuus rumbled, frowning softly as he laid a paw over the dark red mark, making Talen stiffen as Lyiko squeaked, "Inuus don't meddle with that mark, it may have further protections."

"Feh, such things are a trifle to my kind little master."

The horned male set his muzzle as he gazed down at the elf's lower back, growling as he felt the accustomed heat flowing through him. Talen yelped as his pale skin burned, arching hard as he tried to pull away from Inuus. There was a stink of ozone and sulfur as the ink mark rippled and burst into ruddy flame, crackling loudly before one of the rune letters ringing the swirling mark vanished. Talen whimpered as his entire spine felt as if it had been set ablaze then the pain evaporated, his pale skin fading back to it's normal pearly white. Inuus threw his shoulders back haughtily, fanning his violet hair as he nodded, thrusting his muzzle out with a satisfied smirk, "There. The seal is weakened but still in place. His own kind will notice nothing, but arcane magics are no longer completely cut off from him."

Lyiko gazed at his horned consort, an impressed sounding huff uttering from his muzzle as he nodded, "Impressive Inuus. You broke the seal just enough to weaken it, allowing Talen to sense and manipulate magics, but slowly and the remainder of the seal will erode over time."

The slender elf shivered, "I feel funny."

"You probably feel as if you've regained a sense long lost to you. It will take you time to adjust properly, but you will find your affinity for magic will be considerably strengthened from now on."

Talen nodded, gazing up at the tall, horned male towering above him, "Y-y-you did this for me Inuus?"

"Yes, I did this. Your people's fascist ways are of no interest to me, but in depriving you, they offend me."

Lyiko giggled gently, "For being a powerful demon, you're awfully sentimental."

Inuus' silver gazed flashed in irritation as he gingerly grasped the skinny elvish male and lifted him from his feet, making him gasp softly. The horned male carried the elf easily as he was even lighter than the slender ringtail. He eased Talen over the lip of the waiting washing tub, lowering the alabaster skinned male down into the warm water. Talen smiled up at the broad Incubus, kissing his cheek softly as Inuus settled him down into the embrace of the steaming water, making the horned male rumble softly. Lyiko handed the demonic male the bar of soap he had carried, "You didn't even grope Talen. Aren't you feeling well?"

"Bathing another is pleasurable little master."

"As if good deeds are their own rewards, eh Inuus."

The horned male slowly lowered himself to his knees at the lip of the tub, thrusting his arms into the bathwater as he dampened the soap, lathering it between his paws as Lyiko had taught him, making the suds spring between his fingers, smelling of fresh lilac flowers. The ringtail fetched a shallow basin, dipping it into the bath as he shrugged himself free of his own robes, not wishing them to get wet. Lyiko slowly ladled warm water over the elf's pale skin, watching Inuus run his soapy paws over Talen's shoulders and back. The shy elf blushed gently, running his dirty fingers through the soapy swaths of Inuus' paws, "I should be washing you, masters, not allowing you to wash me..."

Lyiko huffed softly, "Nonsense. You're filthy. Just relax and allow us to help you."

The water splashed gently, running down Talen's shoulders, back and chest, carrying the soapy suds and dirt from the pale elf's alabaster skin, leaving it smooth and clean. The only mar on the elf's almost glowing skin was the small crimson mark on his lower back, as Inuus gently helped the pointed eared male to stand on his feet in the tub, washing the elf's lower half slowly. Lyiko watched the soap suds cling to Talen's flat belly, sliding down over his crotch and inner thighs. The elf's genitals were different than the ringtail was accustomed to. Talen's cock wasn't contained within a sheath in its flaccid form, merely naked against his crotch, pale and pink tinted, with its glans hidden in a loose tube of skin. The elf's testicles hung loosely with the warmth of the water and crackling fire, as pale as the rest of his skin, without the velvet fur that his own testicles had within their sac.

The ringtail poured water across Talen's hips, watching it sluice down, clinging to the elf's smooth, soft skin. He glanced up at the standing elf, seeing his lips compressed softly, Talen's slate colored eyes looking back down as the slender male felt both sets of paws, one against his front, the other against his back. The long eared male uttered a tiny nervous giggle, blushing as he leaned back into Inuus' strong paws. The elf was enjoying being doted on, trying not to enjoy it too much and feeling his cheeks and ears flushing brightly as he felt the proximity to the other two undressed males.

"He's shy. How cute."

Lyiko gazed up at the elf and Inuus, now standing behind the long eared male, smiling as he watched his horned consort wash the elf's pale skin. Clean Talen was pretty, his long bright hair matching his alabaster skin and deep gray eyes. The elf's pale pink lips, nipples and genitals contrasted his skin, making Lyiko giggle as he watched Talen chew his slightly pouting lower lip with his blunt, white teeth, "You're pretty for a smooth skin male, isn't he Inuus?"

"Yes little master. He is beautiful."

Talen blushed again, shaking his head, making his long, pointed ears flap back and forth comically, "Noooo..."

The elf slid his hands down, covering his crotch as the attention of the furred males made his resolve waver. He bit his lip harder, shivering as Lyiko giggled, then yelped softly as he felt Inuus' strong paw caress down his lower back and rump. Talen shivered more, stiffening as he clasped his own crotch harder, feeling his body immediately respond. His idly stirring erection sprang to attention, making his face flare with heat. Lyiko stood once more, smoothing his fur with his damp paws, "Inuus, I think we seem to have given Talen something of a problem."

Inuus rumbled in his accustomed way, nodding sagely as he gently grasped the flushing elf beneath the arms and lifted him easily from the now slightly dingy water, allowing Talen to drip for a moment before setting him down on the thick fur rug before the hearth. The crackling fire cast a warm shifting glow of orange, yellow and pink across the elf's pearly skin and making his drying hair glow with the firelight. Talen gingerly flexed his toes in the thick, warm rug beneath him, looking at the pair of furred males, blushing with a coy smile. Lyiko shook his paws to dry them, grinning at Talen and Inuus, "Who wishes a drink?"

"Yes please little master."

Talen shook his head, making his ears wave through his long hair, "N-n-no... You needn't give me anything Master Lyiko..."

"I asked you if you'd like a drink Talen. Not whether or not you felt you deserved one sweet elf."

The ringtail pulled a dark green bottle from a nearby shelf, sending a pair of short, wide glasses across the room. Talen's glass hovered in the air before him, spinning end over end slowly till the shy elf released one of his hands and gently took the vessel from the air. Lyiko brought the bottle and his own glass back to the thick fur, slowly lowering himself down into the padding of the swath of fur, gesturing for the other two males to join him. Inuus folded himself down, holding out his glass eagerly, smiling at Talen as the skinny elf demurely lowered himself to the fur rug, folding his long legs shyly to mask his still firm sex before extending his own glass hesitantly.

Lyiko popped the cork from the bottle with his teeth, pouring out a long measure of bright green wine into all three glasses, hoisting his own glass with a grin, "To good wine, a comfortable fire and fine company."

"Yes."

Inuus drained his glass in one long gulp, refilling it himself as Lyiko sipped the sweet, slightly thick wine, basking in the warmth of the cheerful fire. Talen raised the glass to his lips, savoring the warmth that slid down his throat, making his already warmed skin blush a pale pink. He favored the ringtail with a smile, "It has been a long time since I had good wine."

"A long time since you've had a great many things, unless I miss my guess sweet elf."

"Yes..."

The slender elf slowly relaxed, finding himself shifted up against the broad, muscular form of Inuus on one side, with Lyiko seated on his other. The wine and fire was making him less anxious, relaxing him as he in turn relaxed into the embrace of the lounging Incubus. The fur beneath him cradled him softly as Inuus' strong paws glided across his pale, sensitive skin. Talen shivered, his alabaster skin prickling into gooseflesh as Inuus' claw tips caressed along his spine. The tickling sensations made the slender elf giggle, smiling shyly as he leaned into the horned male. Lyiko's long, thick ringed tail flickered back and forth, brushing over the pale elf's legs, "I think someone's ticklish."

"Elves have sensitive skin."

Talen hid his mouth as he shivered harder, giggling, his long pointed ears flushing once more, the drink making the warmth come easier. He wriggled, attempting to pull his long legs away from Lyiko's fluffy tail, but the ringtail grasped his ankle gently. The chamber seemed to be getting warmer to the reclining elf, biting his lip as he tried not to press any harder back against the broad-chested Incubus. Talen arched his back as he felt Inuus' strong arms criss-cross across his chest, the rumbling demonic male clasping him close. He bit his lip, shivering again as the horned male rubbed his muzzle up and down in the crook of his slender throat. Lyiko smiled as he watched the demonic male nibble along Talen's throat, The Incubus was laying it on thick; even the ringtail could feel the throbbing lust building around the horned male.

The slender elf felt his head swim, the sensation having nothing to do with the alcohol, tingles of warmth building in his flat belly. The alabaster skinned elf slowly leaned his head back into Inuus, stroking the horned male's strong arms idly as they encircled his torso. Lyiko flicked his long ringed tail up and down the length of the elf's legs, feeling them shiver, gently stroking between Talen's thighs with the tip of his appendage. He grinned as the pale elf tried to hide his crotch once more, but had difficulties with Inuus licking and nibbling his throat and stroking his flat belly, "No need to cover yourself up sweet elf."

Talen blushed, squirming as he felt his body stirring once more, his naked penis lengthening and hardening between his strong thighs. Lyiko and Inuus watched the elf's body swell in fascination, the sheath-less cock springing to attention, his foreskin slipping back to expose the tapering, and pink tip of his cock. The long eared male's smooth, furless sex was the length of a hand, two fingers wide, angling up in its stiffening arousal, crossed with a network of tiny blue veins. Lyiko watched the elf's sleek cock twitch softly in time with his accelerated heartbeat, gazing down at the twin orbs of Talen's sac shifting and pulling up slightly with his arousal.

Talen panted gently as he squirmed against Inuus, feeling the horned male's muzzle wander upward and nibble one of his long, pointed ears, "M-m-masters... You shouldn't... I'm not..."

"Oh hush Talen. Inuus has wanted to bed you for a long time. You're very cute."

Lyiko slowly slid up to the reclining elf, trailing his own long fingers over the long eared male's thigh, watching Inuus run his tongue over the tender length of Talen's ear. The long brushing strokes of the demonic male's long, agile tongue were making the elf's body tremble and tingle with heat. The elf panted a bit, rubbing back gently against the horned male, feeling those big, strong paws caressing him lower, gripping him loosely. Talen groaned loudly, all pretense of shyness shedding from him like a skin, his body responding to Inuus with a shiver.

"How long has it been since you last indulged in carnal desire Talen?"

"Uhhh..! Last Solstice, I laid with one of the stewards for a few pieces of coin..."

"My goodness, that was months ago. You poor thing."

Lyiko coo-ed softly as he stroked the elf's slender arm, running his warm paws over the smooth, naked expanse of his flat chest. He marveled at the softness of the furless, pale skin, feeling the gentle curve of the long eared male's pectorals. The subtle cleft of the elf male's breastbone, leading down to his flat belly, tantalizing the ringtail as he stroked the tips of his fingers down and back and forth, teasing the indentation of his navel with a languid fingertip. Talen shivered, arching with a tiny gasp as Inuus' broad paws slid up along his sides, caressing over his tender skin and easing over his chest. The demonic male's elegant fingers slid over his pale, pink hued nipples and started to slowly stroke them, flicking over them and rubbing gently. The slender elf's nipples perked, contracting and hardening to pert bumps of tender flesh under Inuus' flexing fingers, making him moan softly, leaning back into the broad expanse of the Incubus' ridged belly and hard pecs.

Lyiko gazed up at the shivering elf and his horned consort, smiling as he brushed his dusty pink nose over Talen's flat belly, inhaling the long eared male's swiftly shifting scent, the citrus-like musk of his growing arousal making his nearly floral bouquet sharpen. The ringtail flicked the tip of his warm tongue along the indentation of the elf's flat belly, licking slowly, tasting Talen's smooth, pale body. He ran his tongue down, slowly running the tip around and into the circular cavity of the elf's navel, making him arch and shiver. Inuus' gently tugging and squeezing of the elf's nipples paired with Lyiko's probing tongue was making him moan and whimper gently, the pale elf's eyes rolling up in his head for a moment as he felt the horned male's own long, agile tongue caress over one of his pointed ears.

Lyiko giggled, the elf's sleek, straining erection nearly bumping up into his chin as Talen's hips started to move gently, bucking and grinding slowly. He shifted his muzzle, inhaling the sweet, sharp scent of the elf's diamond hard cock, savoring the aroma of Talen's musk mingling with Inuus' shifting, alluring scent. The demonic male was concentrating his subtle control of his pheromones and the innate energy of his touch to drive the slender elf to the edge of distraction. The ringtail's horned consort was skillfully plying his natural trade, basking in the primal emotions and lustful energy flowing through and around them tangled on the thick fur rug. Inuus suckled gently on the tip of Talen's long, pointed ear, making the slender male shiver harder and press back into his broad body.

Inuus' coin bright eyes were watching his own ringtailed master intently as Lyiko brushed his tongue over the bright pink tinged tip of Talen's cock. The bright flush in the elf's pale skin burned brighter as he arched, gasping loudly at the almost electric touch of Lyiko's warm, wet tongue against his tapering glans, flicking it slowly, drawing back and forth, then swirling gently around and around. The sight of the ringtail and the feel of the pale, shivering male grinding back against him was intoxicating to the horned male, his own body pressing tightly against Talen's smooth, heart-shaped rump, twitching there, the slightly odd feeling of the elf's tail-less, furless ass pressing flush into him.

Talen's head was lying limply back, pressed into the crook of Inuus' throat and shoulder, exposing the elf's slender, alabaster neck, tantalizing the horned male. The Incubus nibbled slowly over the elf's exposed throat, tugging it softly, watching the pale skinned male's pearly skin erupt into a pink flush. With a smile the horned male drew his tongue over Talen's throat, licking up to his chin, making the elf utter a stifled grunt as their lips pressed. Kissing the muzzle-less male was a new sensation, but the demonic male swiftly adjusted, angling his own jaws to kiss the elf heatedly, feeling Talen reciprocate just as lustily, their lips pressing, rubbing and parting, allowing their tongues to dance back and forth. Inuus rumbled eagerly as he felt the pale elf seize his own tongue gently with his teeth and suck on it hard, twining their warm, wet appendages in aroused desire.

The slender ringtail was busily amusing his own hunger, lapping slowly and deliberately over Talen's straining cock, suckling the now copiously leaking tip. The warm, slick droplets of clear pre-cum were sweet and salty, coating the ringtail's tongue as he sucked on the elf's cock, bobbing his muzzle up and down a few inches at a time. The ringtail put the techniques he had mastered with Inuus' mammoth cock to good use, easily manipulating and teasing the slender elf's smaller, sleeker erection till he could feel the pale length throbbing dangerously between his lips, the peak of Talen's arousal threatening to overtake him. His horned consort lifted his lips from Talen's long enough to rumble out a warning, "Careful little master, you'll make him climax before we have had a chance to show him the true depths of pleasure available between us."

Lyiko giggled, uttering a longing sigh through his nose as he gently pulled his muzzle back, just holding the elf's cock by its base, squeezing it to hold him at breathtaking arousal, but not risking pushing him completely over the edge. He gazed up at his horned consort, smirking gently, "I think you seek to plumb Talen's depths all right, with your every inch, since you first saw him."

"I would be lying should I say you were incorrect my little master. He desires us both as well. I can feel it, see it, taste it and smell it."

"Y-y-yesss..."

Talen's quavering voice was husky, panting gently as he pressed himself against the pair of furred males flanking his front and back. He licked his now damp lips slowly, tasting Inuus on them as he tangled one hand through Lyiko's strawberry blonde hair and the fur on his nape and arched his other arm back and over the rumbling Incubus' neck. The shivering elf felt his mind and body swamped with desire, wanting to indulge every fantasy with the pair of furred males that made him tingle and tremble with need. He could feel Inuus' lust pressed hotly against his backside, and his gaze drank in the kind ringtail between his pale legs, his stormy gray eyes drawing inevitably down between Lyiko's own spread thighs, glimpsing the ringtail's sex, pert and erect as well. The slender elf slowly brought his legs together, rolling his hips wantonly against Inuus as he levered himself onto his knees, between both furred males.

Talen gingerly reached back, finding Inuus' long, thick erection, gripping it and rubbing slowly. The demonic male's dusky cock was the largest the long eared male had ever encountered up close, feeling little shivers of lust tinged anxiety coursing through him as he squeezed it, stroking gently. Lyiko smiled, kissing the slender elf, caressing his lean, alabaster body as Inuus rumbled. Before the kneeling long-eared male could object the Incubus seized him gently around the waist, hefting him easily once more, holding the elf against his chest and supporting him with a strong paw on his smoothly curved ass as he stood. The demonic male seized his ringtailed master by the wrist, tugging him as he strode across the warm, musk charged chamber to the enormous bed and thrust both slender males down onto the soft, silk covered mattress.

Talen felt his shivering body sink down into the soft mattress, moaning as Inuus pulled Lyiko onto the bed after him. The strong, broad Incubus flared his chest out, tensing his muscles majestically, as he gazed at the pair of slender males with bright lust smoldering in his bright silver eyes. Inuus felt his loins surge as he gazed at his impending conquests, following both his slender master and the blushing elf onto the wide, soft bed, kneeling and sitting back on his strong haunches and pulling Talen close, pressing into the pointed eared male's back and heart-shaped rump, sliding his mammoth erection down and into the cleft of the alabaster skinned elf's ass. Talen uttered a loud, trembling gasp, feeling the Incubus' long, thick, blunt-tipped cock slip home into the cleft of his ass and press tight against the tender ring of pale pink skin marking the entrance to his body.

Inuus growled in desire as he locked gazes with his slender master, his silver eyes holding the ringtail's bright blue ones, almost challenging Lyiko as he arched his wide hips and guided his blunt cock tip to the tender ring of flesh beckoning him, pushing his hips forward and up, "You are not a virgin little elf, but this will be most satisfying nonetheless."

Talen groaned sharply, his spine arching hard against Inuus as he felt that blunt cock-tip press home, his own slender body's resistance lasting barely a moment before the horned male's broad glans was within him with a jarring jolt. A dazzling burst of discomfort galvanized the elf's spine for an instant as Inuus' damp cock-tip pushed past the tight ring of muscle leading within his body, spreading him open wider and wider with each diamond hard inch, impaling him slowly. The long eared male bit his lip to stifle himself, desperately wriggling his hips as his body clenched, attempting to adjust to the sudden invasion of that mammoth cock. The discomfort passed slowly, the heat turning into a nagging sensation of fullness within him, the demonic male's length sheathing into his body to the hilt. Talen moaned as his own weight pulled him down into Inuus' lap, seating him completely onto the thick cock jutting from the demonic male's body.

The elf's slender body twitched and clenched, rippling around Inuus' thick cock, swiftly adjusting to it within him as the demonic male gripped his narrow hips, thrusting slowly and gently at first. Talen's slate colored eyes rolled back into his head as he felt Inuus begin to move against him, feeling the Incubus' mammoth cock filling him and moving within him, loosening and spreading his body as it thrust. Inuus growled in satisfied need as he bucked his broad hips, thrusting slowly and deeply, savoring the smooth, furless body wrapped around him like a living glove. Lyiko watched his demonic consort thrust and buck smoothly into the pale elf's slender body, taking him with almost animalistic intensity. It was the first time the ringtail had been able to witness the Incubus indulge his lust from an independent perspective and his own slender body tingled with arousal as he watched the rutting unfolding before him.

The grinning ringtail slowly stood, balancing himself on the soft mattress, his feet spread as he leveled his hips before Talen's face. The moaning elf raised his arms, gripping Lyiko's softly furred hips as he bucked up and down smoothly on the thick erection slipping in and out of his body, riding Inuus' throbbing length with hard, jolting thrusts. Talen thrust his flushed face into Lyiko's crotch, inhaling the sweet, musky scent pouring from the ringtail's dripping cock. He opened his mouth, engulfing the ringtail's sleek erection without preamble, wrapping his pale lips around its tapering glans and sucking hard. The exquisite suction of the long eared male's mouth was breathtaking; taking Lyiko's cock and wrapping it in warm, wet bliss.

Lyiko rested his paws on the slender elf's skull, caressing his long pale hair and pointed ears, groaning softly as he thrust into Talen's mouth at the same time as the pale skinned male's hips hammered back into Inuus' slamming thrusts. The only sound within the chamber was the muffled sound of furred flesh slapping bare skin, rasping, ragged panting and growling rumbles of breathless desire. Lyiko's long fluffy tail was jerking back and forth as he moved his hips, thrusting his slick, twitching length into the pale elf's mouth. His cock was wet now, slipping easily between the long eared male's lips, his balls tensing as they ground against Talen's chin.

The shivering elf's body was swamped with mind-numbing bliss, wanting to feel both furred male's seed within him as he moved against them. The tension was almost palpable as Inuus and Lyiko neared their climax, the roaring lust punctuated with grunting, moaning cries and the wet squelch of the pair of erections invading Talen's body from both ends. He shivered, clenching down around Inuus as the demonic male leaned heavily against him, gripping him tighter, the horned male's mammoth cock sliding easily as it's pre-seed lubed the smooth, jerking thrusts impaling him. The incubus uttered a loud snort, growling in expectant lust, clutching Talen tightly to himself and biting the moaning elf's throat gently. Lyiko recognized the Incubus' sounds of desire, shifting his own hips as he pressed closer to Talen, knowing it wouldn't be long as Inuus bucked hard, humping into the clenching elf before the demonic male groaned breathlessly and slammed his mammoth cock home, all the way into the pale skinned male's body to the hilt.

Talen gasped around Lyiko's throbbing cock as he felt the bursts of liquid heat explode into his body, Inuus' demonic seed flooding him as that mammoth cock twitched and jerked within him. The strident moans from both slender elf and his own horned consort paired with the almost desperate movements of the long eared male's skull made Lyiko stiffen and groan, his twitching cock spraying pre-cum in thicker spurts as he peaked into his climax. Talen was taken by surprise, still swamped with tingling waves of heat throughout his body as Lyiko's slippery cock burst into his mouth, filling it with hot, slick, sticky semen. The slender elf swallowed as quickly as he could, savoring the sweet, salt tang of the ringtail's cum, but some still dribbled from his lips, sliding down over his chin and throat to dapple his chest. All three panting males clashed against one another for as long as possible before they were forced to stop to regain their breath.

Inuus rumbled, his silver eyes slitted in bliss, "Magnificent."

The demonic male pulled the elf male to his chest and belly as he slowly lowered himself down onto his back, keeping Talen impaled on his throbbing ebon cock as the whimpering slender male wriggled his hips and panted over Inuus. Lyiko dropped to his knees on the bed, his still dripping cock brushing the silk bedclothes as he kneeled between both sets of spread thighs and closed both paws around Talen's throbbing length, now coated with copious dribbles of pre-cum, dropping his muzzle down and taking the elf back into his muzzle, resuming his earlier work. Inuus rumbled as the touch of the ringtail's hot, wet muzzle made the slender elf clench like a vice around him.

The panting elf was teetering on the ragged edge of his own release, gasping and panting as Lyiko sucked hard, bobbing his muzzle swiftly up and down the already slick and sticky length between his lips. The pale elf's smooth, naked balls were pulled up tight, aching as Lyiko kneaded them, spurring Talen harder and faster. The thrusting ringtail's muzzle engulfed the elf's thrusting cock all the way, making him utter a ragged, panting scream of pleasure, climaxing hard into Lyiko's muzzle. The jets of thick elvish seed pumping into the ringtail's maw was musky, tinged with salt, coating Lyiko's tongue as he swallowed greedily, milking the thrashing pointed eared male's length till it ceased pumping and just strained between his lips, diamond hard.

The strident sounds of pleasure died down as the trio of spent males slowly relaxed, Lyiko slipping up against the pair still coupled to one another on the bed. He smiled, stroking Talen's chest as the elf closed his stormy gray eyes, still panting raggedly. Their frantic, almost feral rutting hung in the air of the chamber, its intoxicating musk lingering as Lyiko kissed Inuus gently, then Talen, stroking the elf's pale, sweat damp chest, "That was wonderful."

The long eared male murmured sleepily, basking in the afterglow of their coupling. He felt warm and tingly all over, shivering gently as he felt Inuus' slowly shrinking cock slip from him with a wet pop. Talen relaxed, feeling the fresh warmth from the demonic male and slender ringtail within him. The feeling of the soft silk covered mattress beneath him paired with the solid, warm and thickly furred body behind him was lulling him into blissful relaxation, the steady rise and fall of Inuus' chest against his back soothingly. As the elf and Incubus rolled gently over onto their sides, Lyiko slid up against Talen's front, kissing his smooth chin and stroking his pale chest gently.

The ringtail mmm-ed as he felt Inuus' strong arms drape across both himself and Talen, holding them as the horned male's silver eyes slipped closed. Lyiko pressed into the pair of blissfully smiling males, relaxing into them and resting his muzzle on Talen's smooth, soft chest. The long eared male issued a sigh of contentment as he burrowed deeper between the soft, silky furred bodies, smiling as he stroked Lyiko's warm back slowly. He felt warm and comfortable, drifting off into a twilight doze between the pair of furred males, his last thought before sliding deeper into slumber was that he could most likely get accustomed to assisting the handsome ringtail.

Lyiko uttered a pleasurable sigh as he leaned back in his chair, feeling his stiff bristled brush glide through his long hair, smoothing it and ever so gently easing through any remaining tangles in the reddish-blonde locks. He tipped his head, feeling Talen's long, slender fingers run through his hair, separating bundles of it and braiding them into complex plaits. The lingering dampness in the ringtail's hair and fur was drying swiftly as he let the slender elf braid and smooth his long, soft locks. Talen finished his work and smoothed his fingers over the ringtail's long, broad ears, stroking the black fur covering them the large white spots on their backsides. The elf giggled gently, "You should get some earrings Master Lyiko. They would look so pretty on your ears."

The slender, long eared male swept from behind the chair, bouncing sprightly on his bare toes over the roughly hewn stones of the floor. The pale elf was dressed in a long, almost see-through robe of lilac silk, with cerulean cuffs and hemline that danced around his calves, tied loosely around his waist, leaving his chest exposed. Talen had bathed with the Incubus male and ringtail, breaking his fast with them before he had begun grooming the slender ringtail, giggling as Inuus perched on the gigantic bed, watching them. The delicately built elf seemed happier than Lyiko had ever seen him, bustling about with clothes and brushes, offering more wine to both furred males as he smoothed and brushed off Lyiko's clothes. He called to Inuus, giggling madly as the tall horned male swept him up with his strong arms, cradling him into his soft, thick bluish-gray pelt.

The demonic male placed the slender elf on the edge of the bed, seating himself next to him. He perked his ears curiously as Talen shifted, kneeling on the wide bed, brush held in one hand as he smoothed and caressed his long, thick mane of plum colored hair. The pale elf brushed the horned male's hair slowly, gently easing any tangles or snarls that fought the brush as he went. The Incubus' waist length hair relaxed over his shoulders, shiny and sleek as Talen moved onto brushing along the demonic male's thick pelt, smoothing it and making it glossy. Inuus rumbled as the elf accidentally grazed one of his nipples with the brush bristles, jumping gently in surprise.

Talen gasped softly, "Oh, I'm sorry Master Inuus!"

The slender elf pressed his fingers to the Incubus' nipple, rubbing it to try to soothe the sting of the bristles. He gasped as the horned male arched his back, thrusting his broad chest out and then ducked his blunt muzzled head, nipping him on the ear. Talen blushed as he heard Lyiko's voice, "Careful Talen. Demonic foreplay usually involves mild pain to tender parts, he might think you're initiating something."

"This is possible."

The rumbling Incubus grinned broadly as he hefted the wildly blushing elf into his lap. He gazed from the wriggling long eared male to Lyiko who sat, sipping his wine idly, "I enjoyed last night very much. May we keep him little master?"

Lyiko snorted into his goblet, rubbing the stem of the glass between his fingers slowly, "Does Talen wish to be kept, that is the question Inuus. He already has a position in the kitchens under Addaz, but would he wish a new position under you."

The smirking ringtail made Talen blush harder, biting his lip softly as he felt the enticing, warm, broad and strong form beneath his own. He twitched his long ears, grunting softly as Inuus' agile tongue brushed against one of them, tickling the tender auricle down to the tip. The slender elf shivered as he felt the horned male's body perk beneath him, the long, thick, hard lump prodding him less than demurely. Talen squirmed, feeling warm all over as he vividly recalled the events of the previous evening, trying not to give in to the rush of longing he felt, "M-master Inuus, we will get all messy again..."

Lyiko chuckled, "He's correct Inuus. There's no time for rutting this morning. You'll just have to wait."

The ringtail slowly wound a long bolt of silken black cloth around his waist, tucking it securely into a kilt. Once he was done he shrugged into a long flowing robe of vivid purple, almost as dark as Inuus' hair, with delicately embroidered, tiny stars and suns lining the cuffs and pockets. He sat on the edge of his chair, lacing a pair of black suede sandals over his feet and calves, smoothing his robes back over them as he knotted the golden sash about his waist. The slender ringtail eased a mantle of shimmering black silk across his shoulders, the fringe lined with long, glossy black feathers, clasping it at his throat and easing the short cloak draping from the mantle down his back. Lyiko snapped his fingers, making the nearest glass-fronted case spring open and a broad, square case glided toward him. He eased the shallow case open and withdrew an ornately wrought circlet from its cushion within. The delicate headband was a burnished platinum color, thicker across the forehead with a deep purple gem, teardrop shaped fixed in a setting in its center.

Lyiko nestled the circlet around the top of his skull, letting the cool metal rest around his forehead. Talen deftly extricated himself from Inuus' groping paws, arranging the ringtail's braided hair around the circlet, gazing at the finely crafted jewelry with longing, "It's so beautiful Master Lyiko."

The ringtail stroked the slender elf's cheek, making him tip his head, closing his eyes as he pressed into Lyiko's caresses, "Elves are fond of jewelry and fine clothes. You need to be indulged sometime sweet elf."

Talen blushed, shaking his head shyly, "I cannot afford such things Master Lyiko. A kitchen servant has no need of them..."

"Oh nonsense... Do you wish to be a kitchen assistant all your life Talen dear?"

Lyiko gazed back at the slender elf as he returned the shallow case back into its cabinet, rummaging further and withdrawing a pouch of satin from the shelf. The stately ringtail loosed the cinch holding the pouch open and withdrew a long silver chain, a smooth rounded chunk of pearly pink gemstone dangling from it, shot through with milky swirls of white. He gently draped the long chain around Talen's throat, freeing his long platinum hair from beneath it and letting the pendant drop down to rest against the pale elf's smooth chest. Talen blushed furiously as Lyiko adjusted the silver chain, "M-master Lyiko, I cannot let you..."

"Oh be silent Talen..." The ringtail smirked mildly, shushing the wide-eyed elf with a finger, "Do you wish to be a kitchen servant all your life? Or do you wish to become my servant, to assist the stubborn Incubus when he is too lazy to fulfill his own duties?"

"I would no longer have to scrub out ovens and sleep above a pantry?"

The long eared male shivered softly, biting his lip, feeling ashamed to even ask any questions about increasing his own station. Addaz and Headmaster Theanon had been very good to him, he had no wish to disappoint either of them or make either of them feel betrayed of his confidence. Lyiko shook his head, stroking between the elvish male's long, pointed ears, "You would have to keep the chambers here clean and swept, wash clothing, fetch supplies and meals and perhaps some idle shopping and of course assist my bathing and dressing, when you wish to. Kendi, Toki, Kiyo and a few others in this dormitory wing may wish their own rooms cleaned, but they'll have to pay you themselves."

The ringtail swept his gaze around the large vaulted chamber, "And if you don't wish to sleep in my bed, the largest storage closet could be fitted with a bed and lamps."

He smiled, kissing the slender elf gently, "And primarily, no more bathing in cold fountains."

"Y-y-yes Master Lyiko. Thank-you."

Talen blushed, kissing the ringtail back warmly, feeling a surge of affection and warmth for the furred male as he spun on his heel, dashing to help Inuus dress, "It pleases you as well Master Inuus?"

"Yes little one. This pleases me greatly. Two beautiful, doting males to share my bed. The mating will be memorable."

"And whose chamber is this to begin with? Egotistical demon. Seducing both myself and poor Talen with your infernal charm."

Lyiko perked his ears abruptly, "Speaking of. Inuus, you'll have to assist me in brewing an antidote potion for Talen to take."

"Yes my little master."

"A-antidote...? Masters...?"

Inuus rumbled, grinning broadly as he played with Talen's long, pointed ears, looking to Lyiko as the ringtail chuckled, "An antidote for Inuus' semen sweet Talen. Demonic seed is highly addictive in large quantities, which is primarily the only way Inuus administers it."

"I see..."

Talen giggled faintly flushing as he shook his head, batting gently at Inuus' strong paws, prying them away from his backside, resuming his task of helping the tall horned male into a long loose robe of black over a flowing, knee length loincloth knotted around his strong hips. The demonic male refused shoes once more, allowing Talen to clad his calves in simple leather wraps that laced up. The Incubus' clothing was simple, but made elegant from his bearing, with his broad, densely muscled torso and hips, strong legs and arms, with his wide shoulders and flowing, leonine mane of bruise colored hair.

Lyiko tied a pouch to his sash, hearing it clink with an amount of gold, removing the long, and slender bone wand from its resting place and slipping it into his sleeve. He stroked Talen's hair as the shy elf brushed past him, watching as the long eared male toyed with the moonstone pendant against his bare breast. Having the eager elf about would be pleasant, as Talen seemed less inclined to balk at menial tasks that Inuus normally thrust his nose up at doing. He couldn't help but wonder if perhaps Addaz had orchestrated their meeting by stoking Inuus and the slender elf's interest in one another. The older male knew Lyiko well enough to be almost certain he would be inclined to help the outcast elf's position of difficulty. As a necromancer, the ringtail was familiar enough with being ostracized himself in some circles of civilization, though those who specialized in summoning and dwelling with demons were at times harder off.

Lyiko opened a box on his desk, withdrawing a long, slender rod of gold, weighing it in his open paw as he watched Talen stoke the fire, shoveling spent ashes away from the glowing wood. He smiled, waiting for the slender elf to stand once more before he pressed the ingot of gold into his hand, hearing Talen gasp and almost drop the buttery golden metal rod, "Here, this is for shopping."

"B-b-but Master Lyiko, I've never handled so much gold before! I would hardly know its worth..."

"It's simple Talen. The gold rods Inuus fashions are worth about 25 gold pieces whole. That one is a bit shorter, so it's probably nearer to 20. I have a feeling it will be a long morning, so I'll be wishing wine and food. Soup or stew would be nice, but anything without fish or onions will suffice. Fresh bread of course, but we still have some nice cheese in the cold store cabinet. Inuus normally only eats meat, raw or very rare, so keep that in mind as with the fact that he eats much more than you or I. They'll tell you how much it is, so just allow them to take what they need and give you back the remainder."

The ringtail looked at the borrowed robe the elf male was wearing, "You can keep that robe, but you'll need to buy yourself some clothing. Try to keep it tasteful, but select what you wish and purchase yourself food that you enjoy yourself for when it's not mealtime. You can spend all the gold if you wish. Inuus can make more easily."

Talen nodded, swallowing gingerly as he held the gold ingot hard enough to make it flex in his fingers, blushing softly, "It must be wonderful to be mated with someone who can do such alchemy..."

Lyiko paused, glancing back at Talen and Inuus, "Mated?"

"Oh! I apologize! I forgot myself for a moment Master Lyiko... You and Inuus are simply so... Affectionate with one another, more like a mated pair than a servant and master..."

"Bah..."

Lyiko snorted softly, "Don't encourage him Talen my sweet. His ego is large enough without him forgetting his place."

The ringtail's cold tone was offset by his playful smirk, threading his fingers through the elf's long blonde hair before he turned to Inuus, "We should go Inuus, we mustn't be late."

Talen bowed as Lyiko and Inuus swept past him, smiling shyly as both kissed his forehead, "Be safe masters... and friends."

"We shall Talen. We shall return as soon as we can."

Lyiko shut the studded door behind himself with a gentle boom, sweeping his robes around himself as he fell into stride next to the towering Incubus. The statuesque horned male clasped his paw around the ringtail's elbow, rumbling gently as they strode down the torch-lit corridor, passing several bleary-eyed students as they passed to their classes and dormitories. Lyiko nodded and smiled at several people, grinning as his friends gazed at the broad chested Incubus, winking as he passed a stocky raccoon male who's eyes were focused on Inuus' flowing loincloth. The other ringtailed male blushed, giggling and slinking down the corridor as Lyiko teasingly slid his paw down and twitched Inuus' loincloth aside, giving the raccoon a brief flash of bare thigh and crotch before he tugged the horned male away, letting the flowing cloth drop back down.

The Incubus huffed, smirking at his slender master, "I see my body gives you a source of amusement as well my little master."

"Oh, I'm just teasing them."

Lyiko grinned, kissing the towering Incubus, grunting as the demonic male gripped the back of his head and presses his tongue between the ringtail's teeth, kissing him deeper and harder. The ringtail shivered, feeling Inuus' other paw settle on his ass, squeezing. He gave the horned male's tongue a gentle nip, sucking it softly before he pulled back. Inuus licked his slender master's chin, thrusting his broad chest out, "I do not savor the prospect of exposing you to other demonic entities. They may wish to usurp you for their own."

"I sincerely doubt that. But you're sweet for worrying, if somewhat jealous."

The ringtail leaned into the Incubus' strong arm, "This will be your first trip into the city. You should enjoy it."

Inuus perked his ears as they emerged into the golden sunlight of the courtyard, gazing about with his coin bright eyes as he searched for any other demonic entities that roamed the school. He gazed down at his slender master, "Have we not been into the city when we were shopping little master?"

"Oh, technically that's still within the school grounds. You'll see."

Lyiko giggled and guided the horned male though the campus, waving to Kiyo as the spotted male dashed over the grassy commons, chasing a small leather bound ball as it zipped through the air, staying just beyond his reach. Inuus flicked out his paw, catching the sphere as it attempted to glide by, holding the wriggling ball as Kiyo skidded to a halt before them, panting softly, making his broad chest heave. The cheetah male's eyes skidded over Inuus as the demonic male offered the ball, his rounded ears bursting into a bright red as he opened his muzzle, but only a rasping clicking sound came out.

"Hello to you too Kiyo. I see you had a good time with Inuus yesterday from your abrupt inability to speak while staring at his crotch."

The spotted male gasped idly, swallowing as he flicked his eyes from Inuus to Lyiko, fumbling the small ball that took it's opportunity at freedom and darted away again, "Buh, I-I-I, well, but, he, and, buh..."

"Yes, he does have that effect."

Kiyo blushed harder and simply dashed off after the ball, leaving Lyiko to wave after him bemusedly, "See you later Kiyo! Remember we have to finish that project for botany!"

The ringtail glanced sideways at his grinning Incubus consort, "How hard did you rut with him? I've never seen him so flustered he's lost the motor-control to speak before."

"I indulged him expansively my little master. Several times before you summoned me. His stamina leaves something to be desired however."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Lyiko shuffled his sandals through the warm grass of the courtyard, feeling the longer tufts tickles the sides of his toes. He swept along next to Inuus as they reached the massive gates leading out of the academy, smiling to the males standing on either side, swinging the heavy gates open for them, then closed behind. When they were walking down the wide, winding boulevard outside the school's grounds Lyiko led them in the opposite direction than their favorite shops and taverns stood, in a direction the towering horned male had never been in before. The tree-lined pavement was warm as they strode toward a large, arched structure, with towering, vaulted doorways leading within. Large, ornate stained glass windows shone with the morning sun, casting shimmering rainbows across the smooth stone walls.

Lyiko led Inuus into the cathedral-like building, which was open, with giant windows set along it's two parallel walls. The far end of the massive building with it's towering ceiling was wide open, with a gigantic fountain filling the section of floor that opened out into the air beyond. The tall, tinkling fountain was filled with bubbling blue water, sending a fine spray of mist across the pair as they approached the sparkling jets of water. The ringtail smiled, tugging Inuus' sleeve, "This is the way down."

"Down..?"

"Down into the city, silly."

Lyiko pointed to the wide, airy exposed platform that held the fountain at the rear of the building in which they stood. As the horned male peered closer he could see a stream of water from the fountain flowing out and through a channel where it vanished over the edge of the stone floor. He strode to the end of the channel, gazing down over the edge of the floor, immediately stepping back as his stomach gave a reflexive twist. Past the edge of the channel the floor dropped off into space, where the water plunged off and away into a fall, breaking up into a rainbow spray. The open space below them was filled with a network of buildings, gardens and wide streets, a city below them stretching away in all directions the Incubus could see. He instinctively gripped Lyiko's arm, the ground far below them, "H-how high up are we?"

Lyiko perked his ears, his bright eyes going wide as he heard Inuus' rumbling voice waver for the first time since he had summoned the horned male, "Oh, about 600 feet, give or take?"

The horned male adjusted his shoulders, clearing his throat with a heavier rumble as he gripped Lyiko's arm, holding his paw tightly for a moment, before relaxing, "Only that high?"

"Yes, now hang on."

"To what?"

The horned male looked about, hearing Lyiko chuckle as he fished in his pouch, withdrawing a silver coin and flicking it deftly end over end. The bright coin splashed into the splashing fountain, making a bubbling ripple leap up where it struck. Inuus stiffened as a bubble expanded from the ripple, heaving upward where it bounced on the water. Lyiko gently squeezed the horned male's paw, "Just relax, it's perfectly safe."

The slender ringtail watched the approach of the sphere of rainbow light, "We wish to go to the Citadel!"

"Where I come from few people have the privilege of coming and going by bubble..."

"Just relax."

"Easy for you to say my little mast-ERK!"

Inuus uttered a small yelp as the roiling bubble abruptly burst from the fountain and bounced into the air, diving toward them. The horned male set his teeth as the bubble wrapped around them, it felt as if a burst of cool air rushed by them as the rainbow skin of the expanding bubble engulfed them. Lyiko giggled, tugging Inuus' paw, making him open his eyes again as the bubble settled around them, making the world look like it was glimpsed through a wide lens, or from beneath water. The rainbow skinned bubble shifted around them as Lyiko pushed gently against the enchanted membrane surrounding them, making it extend around his finger. He prodded the shimmering skin with his claw-tip, making Inuus jerk his paw back, "Please refrain from doing that little master..."

"Oh relax..." Lyiko smiled brightly as he felt his weight being held firmly, if slightly spongily by the gently bobbing bubble. The slowly snaking tether of water that held the bubble moved sinuously above them as the large membrane of magic water shifted around them, carrying them toward the channel carved into the edge of the fountain. Lyiko glanced at Inuus as the horned male gripped his arm again, "You may wish to shut your eyes for this part..."

The bubble touched the flowing water, giving a tiny jerk of speed as the flowing channel caught them and swept them toward the edge. Inuus gave a tiny clicking sound deep in his throat as they barreled toward empty space, then dropped over the edge of the platform into the open air between the cathedral floor and the city below. Lyiko giggled loudly as he felt the rush of his stomach jerk upward, Inuus' paw twitching around his arm tightly as the horned male uttered a little groan, "I do not like this method of travel little master..."

"Don't look at the ground, just look outward."

The ringtail promptly ignored his own advice, eagerly watching the ground rushing up toward them as the tether of water slowly lowered them down along the path of the falling water. The academy behind and above them was thrown into stark relief, making Lyiko nudge Inuus, the horned male squeaking softly as he opened his eyes once more, gazing in silence at the towering plinth of bright stone standing behind them. The Incubus could now see that the academy and the surrounding village square sat atop a giant plateau of sculpted stone in the center of the city below. The wide-topped plateau that held the academy and the catacombs and dormitories beneath hung above the narrower column of stone that stretched between it and the wide, deep bowl of water beneath it, almost half a mile wide, forming a shallow artificial lake in the center of the city.

The smooth white stone that supported the plateau was carved in sweeping arches and rings, almost organic looking as the channels of water above flowed down into the basin below. The entire massive structure of the stone column almost resembled a fountain itself, with cascades and trickles of water flowing down the shimmering white stone. Lyiko could see the canals and channels of water leading from the wide, deep basin below as they dropped down toward one. He pointed to a towering, round tower in the distance, almost as tall as the academy itself, "Look, you can see the enclave tower there."

As the Incubus looked to the tower, then looked back at the proud spires and towers behind of the academy behind seeing a flash of silver at the top of the tallest tower. Just before he lost sight of the headmaster's tower a large shimmering pair of silver wings flashed in his vision, making him grunt, "I see now why your headmaster enjoys having his own tower in the academy grounds."

"Well, if you flew for relaxation, wouldn't you prefer to be among the sky and stars?"

As their rainbow skinned carriage dropped the remainder of the distance to the ground the horned male could see the city proper surrounding them, filled with sentients of all sorts and races going about their business. The deep, wide canal flowed beneath them as their bubble splashed down gently, bobbing as they were carried toward the round, slender-topped toward in the distance. The citadel of the enclave was immense, with a wide, sweeping base, sweeping upward into a delicate crystal topped spire, dotted with wide circular windows and balconies, all of it surrounded by gardens and fountains arranged in concentric circles. Lyiko stroked the horned male's arm, "We're expected, so we shouldn't find too much standing in our way at the gates."

"Yes little master."

The towering male rumbled as he nodded, squaring his shoulders and smoothing his long robe as he shook off the last remnants of the discomfort of the ride down, arching his back and gently gritting his teeth as his large, leathery black wings sprouted from his back, rustling softly in the confines of the bubble. Lyiko stroked the thin, living leather of the demonic male's membranous wings, feeling the warmth of the black skin. The Incubus seldom showed his wings, preferring his horns, as his demonic kin were forced to show either their horns or their wings, if they didn't wish to keep both exposed. The confines of the bubble kept him from stretching his wide wings, making the ringtail giggle, "Patience Inuus, you can stretch them when we arrive."

"I would rather use my own wings if we choose to return to the academy via air, little master..."

"Yes sweet Inuus."

The bubble bumped below them as they reached the end of the wide channel, the sloped ramp leading up from the water taking the bubble easily as they rolled onto the smooth stone of the courtyard surrounding the main gates of the towering citadel. With a tiny pop and a spray of mist the large bubble popped, depositing them onto the smooth white stone underfoot, making Inuus shake his wings and rumble, glad to be free of the watery confines as he flexed his spine. The horned male clasped Lyiko's paw gently, thrusting his chest out as he stretched his black wings, letting them unfurl to their full length on either side of his shoulders, his wingspan almost 20 feet in total as his bat-like wings swept through the air majestically. Lyiko giggled, feeling the warm morning air blown across his face as Inuus moved his wings slowly, then let them snap back against his shoulders.

The sound of gentle applause made both males turn, seeing a slender, short fox male clapping his paws softly, "Beautiful. Greetings gentles. You are the delegation sent by Headmaster Theanon?"

"Yes."

"Please come with me gentles. The reception area is this way. You're one of the first delegation parties to arrive."

The robe-clad fox led them within the towering monolith of stone, guiding them into the grand hall of the citadel. Lyiko felt his muzzle gape open gently as he gazed around at the cavernous chamber. The white stone of the citadel was present, cladding the walls, but the floor was glistening white marble, veined in lavender and blue with silver lining the joints between the interlocking tiles. Thick pillars of the same stone stretched up to the vaulted ceiling, with chairs, benches and tables scattered about them, in light, delicately polished and buffed wood. Hangings of silk and satin dotted the walls, emblazoned with bright colors and the insignias of the various mage clans and sigils found amongst the well-known politicians and sages. A wide, curving staircase filled one side of the great hall, with a thick purple runner down its center swept to the next levels, deeper into the great tower. The slender fox led them up this stair, smiling as he guided them into a smaller chamber beyond the massive main doors. The smaller receiving chamber was almost identical to the great hall save for thick carpeting that covered the floor and wide granite fireplaces lining the walls.

The guide led them to a table, already set with a pair of wine bowls and a large decanter of amber wine, "Please, sit, relax and enjoy yourself. The council will convene with the arrival of the other delegations. Please remember, this is sacred, neutral ground of the mage clans, combative use of magic, teleportation and invocation of certain languages is strictly frowned upon."

Inuus and Lyiko folded themselves into the thickly appointed chairs, nodding to the perpetually smiling fox as he swept away. The ringtail picked up the decanter, glancing to Inuus, "Table manners, please. Don't stain your-..."

"LYIKO!"

The slender ringtail almost dropped the wine as a voice boomed across the chamber. His bright blue eyes went wide as he recognized the owner of the voice, "Oh no... Oh, not here..."

Inuus twisted his head, starting to rise from his chair as a taller, stockier version of his ring-tailed lover swept across the chamber to them, with darker fur, longer hair and darker, silken robes swirling along with their longer widely banded tail. Lyiko looked stricken, setting the wine decanter down with a bang as he braced himself, pasting a smile onto his muzzle that looked more like a grimace, half standing before he was bodily jerked from his chair, making Inuus growl. The towering Incubus paused, blinking as his nose caught the scent of the taller ringtail now hefting Lyiko, protesting loudly from his chair. The horned male gazed back and forth between the ring-tailed males, seeing the bright blue eyes of both of them as Lyiko sputtered, "Riso! Father... Father... Father..! DAD!"

The larger ringtail paused briefly from nearly throttling Lyiko, squeezing him in a crushing embrace, "Lyiko, my sweet, Theanon said you'd be here!"

The slender ringtail screeched something that vaguely sounded like "I'llkillhim!" as his sire hefted him around the middle once more, cutting off the younger male's air again, making him gasp, "Father... Release me!"

Lyiko smoothed his robes, his bristled tail puffing out behind him as he gasped, rubbing his sore ribs, "Father... Had I known you would be here this morning I would have-..."

"Found some way to avoid your dear father, no doubt."

Riso took on a hurt, pouting air, tapping Lyiko on the nose with a silk folding fan, making Inuus stifle a snort. The taller ringtail started as he noticed the tall, broad horned male, his bright eyes widening, "Is this him? It is isn't it?"

Inuus' bright silver eyes widened as the whirlwind of ringed fur was abruptly upon him. Before he could open his muzzle he felt the older ringtail's paws on his muzzle, chest, crotch and backside, then fondle his horns as Riso smiled brightly, "Oh Lyiko, he's magnificent! I'm so proud!"

The older ringtail rubbed the bemused Incubus' wings, "Daddy is so proud, I wish your mother was here... Illesa, Tamin, come, come now!"

Riso snapped his fingers, waving to a pair of males hustling across the wide chamber, each one burdened with a case and several bags bulging at the sides. Lyiko recognized his father's personal servants, groaning inwardly as he remembered the delicate horns gracing Illesa's temples. To his surprise Inuus merely rumbled at the pair of males, giving the shorter, more slender of the two a hard stare as Riso plucked one of the bags from Illesa's hand. Tamin was a ruddy furred fox, similar to the slender example that had showed them in, with shorter hair and a stockier build, dressed in a demure robe of ocher. His shorter, more slender counterpart resembled an elf, similar to Talen, with darker skin, shoulder length black hair and similar pointed ears, though not as long as a real elf's. A pair of smooth, pearly gray horns graced the slender male's temples, belying his demonic heritage, making him glance nervously at the towering Incubus.

Inuus sniffed at the slender male, "You're the result of demonic breeding. Not one of my kind."

"Yes, yes. His mother was a Succubus serving my brother."

Riso waved his paw dismissively as he plucked out a smooth, palm-sized crystal from his case, aiming it at Lyiko who slitted his eyes as the stone issued a bright flash of light, "Oh father, must you?"

"Oh hush little Lyiko, your mother will wish to see how you've grown!"

He paused and aimed the stone at Inuus, "And who you've grown with!"

The horned male squinted as a series of bright flashes popped into his face, growling softly as Riso tucked the smooth crystal away again, "Your studies have been going well, from the looks of things my sweet. You've done well."

"Thank-you father."

Lyiko exchanged weary glances with Inuus, smiling at Illesa and Tamin gave him sympathetic looks. He had known Illesa since he had been a child, as the elfin male was much older than he looked. His father had hired tamin just before he had joined the academy, but Lyiko had become familiar with him in the times he had spent with family on holidays. The fox's sympathetic smile grew as Riso kissed the younger ringtail and squeezed him hard, "I'm so sorry Lyiko, I can't stay as long as I'd like. I need to get across to the trade guild headquarters. They're renegotiating their contract with the Undercity Litheka."

"Don't allow me to keep you father. Give my love to mother and Dimas."

"Dimas misses you. You should visit your brother more often."

"He should visit me more often. I've told him so."

"Boys will be boys. Take care my son. I shall see if I cannot make time to see you again soon."

Riso kissed Lyiko again, making the ringtail grunt and push his father's muzzle away as he sputtered, "Don't be perverse father.."

"Yes yes. Goodbye my son, and his lovely new servant."

Inuus huffed gently, watching the older ringtail sweep away with both servants in tow, "Servant?"

"He assumes you must be."

Lyiko uttered a weary sigh, lowering himself into his chair once more and pouring himself a long draft of the wine, gulping it down. He smoothed his hair, "Once my father makes an appearance the day cannot possibly be more difficult."

The ringtail juggled his glass briefly as there was another booming cry across the chamber, "DEMONSPAWN!"

Inuus stood up so quickly his chair squealed back and toppled to the floor, ducking as a glass flask flew across the chamber and smashed onto their table, missing the horned male by a mere foot. Had the Incubus not moved the glass bottle would have smashed into his skull, but it detonated across the table, making the decanter explode into a spray of glass and wine. The flying droplets of liquid sprayed across Lyiko and Inuus, making the ringtail look puzzled till the horned male uttered a sharp hiss of discomfort. Where the fluid had sprayed the Incubus it left hissing droplets that sizzled in his silvery-blue fur, making wisps of smoke crawl up his chest, belly and legs. Inuus growled, his silver eyes flashing pink as he flexed his paws, his long black talons sliding from his fingertips, baring his teeth as he stood to face the broad male now charging across the room at them, brandishing another flask of holy water and a thick book chained to a manacle encircling his wrist.

The new male was dressed in light armor of metal mesh, covered in bright white robes, emblazoned with dark blue slashes, a large star across his chest. The wolf male snarled, his dark hair flying as he lifted the flask in his paw again, but Lyiko beat him to it, snatching the long, slender wand from his sleeve he flicked it at the bottle, making it explode in the wolf's paw as it instantly solidified into a block of ice. The explosion of glass distracted the charging lupine long enough for Inuus to reach him, the horned male growling deeply as he seized the shorter male around the throat with his taloned paw, hefting him into the air like a rag doll. The demonic male hissed loudly like a kettle as he bared his fangs, opening his muzzle to snap at the thrashing wolf, "You dare to attack me little wolf?! To splash me with the bottled Piss of your whore goddess?!"

The thrashing wolf attempted to batter the hissing demonic male with the thick book, but Inuus grasped his wrist, squeezing. The lupine uttered a howl as his arm snapped with a sound like someone trodding on a twig and Inuus pulled harder, attempting to wrench the wolf's arm from its socket as Lyiko raised his paws, "Inuus, NO!"

The horned male slowed, his muzzle wide, fangs hyper-extended like daggers from where he was forcing the wolf male's head to one side, preparing to tear out his throat as he continued to squeeze the lupine's broken wrist. Lyiko raised his wand once more when a burst of white light froze the tableau, "HOLD!"

The ringtail fought his suddenly frozen muscles, struggling to turn his head as a small group rushed into the chamber through the booming doors. A tall, broad feline in bright violet robes sprinted along with three other beings, one dressed as he was, one dressed almost identically to the thrashing wolf save for carrying a long, spindly staff, another male, this time a bat, spindly with large white wings and silvery fur, dressed in ebony robes and above them a robed being with wings larger than Inuus', only feathered and silver floated almost above their heads, their bare feet skimming in open air. The violet robed male skidded to a halt, his blue eyes blazing as he growled, "This is a sacred place, why does the delegation from Theanon representing the underworld and his academy show such disdain for our rules?!"

Lyiko's jaw popped as his body relaxed as if he had been suspended by strings that had been cut, "We were attacked!"

Inuus growled, still holding the gasping wolf by the throat, "This piece of filth attacked us in the name of his whore god, he should die for his transgression!"

Lyiko tucked his wand back away, glaring at the group standing between Inuus and himself, "He broke your rules about combat, let him be judged or allow Inuus to kill him."

"There will be no deaths here youngling."

The violet robed feline glared at Inuus, "Drop him demon."

The horned male growled, tightening his grip around the sputtering wolf's throat in challenge, extending his wings as he hefted the thrashing male higher off the floor, "Demon I may be, but not yours mage."

"Inuus, please drop him."

Lyiko pushed through the group, his ears almost brushing the feet of the angelic being floating above them so serenely but for the bloodshed about to be committed. The ringtail stroked the panting Incubus' throat, gazing at the still smoking holes in the horned male's pelt, the angry red welts raised on his skin showing brightly, "Inuus, release him please."

With a spit the horned male opened his paw and allowed the armored male to drop to the floor with a crash, landing on his broken wrist with a strangled howl. The Incubus growled deeply in challenge to the group, arching his back and flicking his talons in and out of his fingertips, his wings shivering with his tension. Lyiko ran a soothing paw over the horned male's muzzle, feeling it twitch beneath his fingers, "He wounded you Inuus. The holy water needs to be purged before it scars you."

"The pain has somewhat abated little master."

The growling Incubus curled his wings, holding the slender ringtail protectively against his side as he glared at the assembled group. Lyiko got a good look at the angelic representative as they dropped closer to the floor, but remained hovering with their toes suspended several inches from the glass covered carpeting. The silver winged being was neither fully male, nor female, with high, delicate cheekbones, luminous golden eyes, with their bright fur and brighter wings, draped in a long, flowing robe of powder blue, almost matching their fur that seemed to shift color between white and a medium gray ringed with blue, similar to Inuus' own pelt. They gazed at the standing armored representative, "You were directed to bring no zealots Akkani. An unprovoked attack upon neutral ground is not a good way to parlay with allies."

Inuus spat something in a growling inflection, "We are not your allies angel beast."

"We are cousins, you and I. I have no wish to see you wounded, nor any companions harmed here by those who my representative brought."

Lyiko rubbed Inuus' muzzle softly, soothing him as he fished in his small waist pouch, pulling a small jar of bright green paste from it, "We were attacked with no provocation. My consort will be tense."

The taller, armored wolf curled his lip at the word consort, "You choose to sully yourself with demonic taint? With one so young-..."

"Be silent Akkani. None of us here are interested in your views on inter-species breeding."

The violet robed feline cut across the wolf dismissively, waving a paw, "Take your student and be thankful the ringtail did not allow his demon to eat him."

"He would have torn him limb from limb. You saw his claws Detan."

The smirking albino bat watched the armored wolf haul his limp student from the floor, hauling him upright. He fluttered his own wings, shaking his head, "Ignorant little priest bit off more than he could chew. He should have known better than to try a full grown Incubus."

"You would be the expert Traz."

The male bat smirked harder, taking a small corked bottle from his robes and pressing into Lyiko's paws, "Here, make him drink this."

"What is it?"

"A little elixir of my own design for our demonic friends. Mostly blood."

Lyiko handed the bottle to Inuus who growled suspiciously, making the albino bat chuckle, "I have no interest in harming you my horned friend. Like your little master, I enjoy the company of your kind."

Inuus downed the contents of the little bottle, tossing the empty container into the refuse already present on the thick carpeting as he felt the liquid burn down his throat, warming him, combating the stinging and burning of where the holy water had scorched him. Lyiko busied himself dabbing the acid green paste onto the small wounds marring Inuus' pelt. The medicinal paste hissed softly as it contacted the burned holes in the horned male's fur. The ringtail stroked Inuus' muzzle as the demonic male hissed softly through his teeth, "I'm sorry."

Lyiko smiled softly as the albino bat male took the jar from him, "Here, let me give you a hand."

Traz whistled softly, making Lyiko jump as the bat male's robes rustled, tendrils of what looked like solid shadow spreading from the sleeves and hem of his robe, "Here Xzziz, you can do this faster."

"Yezzz Mazzzzter."

The albino male placed the squat jar into the largest of the tendrils, which slithered out and down, collecting around the albino bat's feet in a clot of shadow. Inuus perked his ears curiously in spite of himself; the source of the buzzing, hissing voice was a species of demon unknown to the horned male. He allowed the writhing tendrils to touch each of the wounds on his sore body as they dipped themselves into the green medicine, completing the job in almost no time as the small scalded welts hissed, but went down immediately. Lyiko took the jar from the waving tendril, recapping it as the buzzing voice whispered again, "I amm finizzzzhed mazzzters."

"Good boy."

Traz hefted the seething mass of shadowed tendrils into his arms, allowing them to wrap around his shoulders and touch his face affectionately, "This is Xzziz, by the way."

"I'm Lyiko, this is Inuus."

Lyiko touched the albino bat's paw gingerly, "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"He's magnificent. You summoned him yourself?"

The bright pink-eyed male gazed at Inuus fondly, his eyes skimming up and down the horned male and Lyiko himself who flushed at the tips of his ears, "Everyone always asks me that as if they disbelieve I could."

"No offense meant little one. But he's absolutely magnificent."

"You wizzzzzh to replace me my mazzzzzter?"

The petulant tone of the writhing mass of shadow was almost comical, if the demon itself had not looked almost like a pulsating organ coated in tar. Lyiko fought the urge to bury his nose in a large book currently digging into his hip where it was crammed into a pocket in the lining of his robe, but he resisted, knowing that if he had never seen an entry for the shadow demon in any of his standard texts, there wasn't likely to be one. The albino bat was obviously a summoner of strength as he handled both the seething shadow demon and Inuus well enough to express confidence in making no errors in judgment. The male's pink eyes flashed as he stroked the flexing tendrils affectionately, "No, no. I was simply commenting on a rather advanced piece of ritual work for one so young. I've never quite had the gall to take on any Incubi myself. But I have no wish to give up my career so soon. I'm only a hundred and seven."

Lyiko chuckled softly as he recalled one of the tenants of his demonic summoning and control courses, "There are old summoners and bold summoners, but no old, bold summoners."

The ringtail busied himself checking Inuus' broad, cabled body for any remaining wounds left by the holy water, but found none untended as a long, thick handled broom came sweeping through the chamber of its own accord, followed closely behind by a dust pan, the stiff bristles knocking their ankles, and calves till they vacated the half demolished chamber to seek fresher ground with the rest of the glowering attendees. Traz guided Lyiko along with him, feeling some kinship with the slender academic, at least more so than with the other delegates. The holy attendants felt no love for him or his kind by virtue of his association with the occult and diabolical, the mage enclaves felt no kinship to him by virtue of his study of necromancy against their own elemental endeavors. Even the other representatives of the lower depths oftentimes disdained one another from pure spite or malice between the demonic or diabolical charges or clans they came from.

The albino bat lamented these disparities in the council at length to Lyiko as the younger male slowly sipped from a wide bowl of wine, seated comfortably across Inuus' lap as he leaned into the horned male's chest. The ringtail nodded, gazing about the chamber to the others of their motley congress, the violet robed trio of mages sent from their own conclaves, looking dour and reserved, resentful of being forced to loiter in the presence of what they viewed were outdated, archaic and unnecessary models of virtue versus vice. The old ways of the gods and cosmic beings, angels and devils were long seen by those who supported logic, science and the refinement of magic and enchantment as tedious and flying in the face of those who held themselves to the higher ideals of harnessing and taming life through magic.

The mage clans and enclaves felt resentment at being beholden to any higher powers, as they viewed themselves apart and above such petty bickering over morals and the nature of chaos versus order. Having imposed their own order upon the natural world, mind and spirit through the sheer will and manipulation of the forces those of a cosmic nature normally held "above" such lesser beings as mortals the mages of the world felt they deserved as much deference as any immortal being. The mages felt as though their ages of study, refinement and application of the arcane arts had elevated all mortal beings from peasants to kings past the archaic need for order or chaos pressed upon them by beings of other planes of existence. Their long petition for the cloistering of mortal races and breeds from their celestial "betters" had been a sore point of contention amongst both higher and lower orders, as none could admit the need of the other without also expressing their own vulnerability at facing a crisis of their very existence and self identity.

The representatives of the higher celestial order could not fathom the mortal beings' desire to turn away from the imposed order of the high heavens to their own artificially designed existence. They viewed the mortal mage's arcane meddling in the natural order of the world and their own evolution as spurious in the extreme, that the mage clans were simply deluding themselves that they had no need of the guiding hands of their higher brothers. This skewed view of the natural order of the universe both chafed and bewildered the angelic hosts, viewing this as a turning away from the perfect love and order of the gods to imposed exile and stagnation at the hands of their own arcane corruption of the world. The mage clans disdained the notion that they were in need of handholding and guidance to the extreme degree that the high heavens seemed all too ready to keep them sheltered and compliant away from the risks and enlightenment of self-discovery.

For their own trouble the denizens of the lower planes proclaimed to have no misgivings about allowing the mortal realm to explore and evolve at its own chosen pace. They held no condescension in giving knowledge or wisdom that would enhance these endeavors, providing that the lower races did not forget to whom they owed their evolution and allegiances. In spurning their own cousins of the high heavens so long before the races of the lower depths had given themselves over to the singular purpose of passion and chaos, for they proposed that nothing was more efficient in fueling evolution than chaos. The lower depths had a vested interest in mortal races for the unending variety and glorious myriad of passions and emotions that the lower beings indulged in so regularly. Whether this was construed, as debasement to the mortal races mattered little to their diabolical brethren, merely the pursuit of tangible, gratifying passion to be experienced and fed upon without the tedious meddling of their higher cousins.

For all the baseless accusations between both sides of the battle raging concerning the fate and purpose of the mortal races, the definition of order and chaos, or good and evil was seldom as straight-forward as the zealots of either side made it seem. Such was the argument of the mage clans, self-appointed spokesmen of their mortal brethren, that for all their usefulness and dedication to the well being of the corporeal beings in their care, the higher beings single-minded preoccupation with each other was stifling and led to too many instances of bloody uprising in the name of the pursuit of either passion or temperance. Traz gusted a sigh as he outlined his personal exposure to the longwinded and usually venomous filibusters that were normally seen from all sides in the eternal debate as to the self-sufficiency of the mortal races.

Lyiko wrinkled his nose, "It's amazing in the extreme how discussions of philosophy end up seeming so much like little more than thinly veiled politics."

The albino male barked a laugh, shrugging theatrically as he gazed at his fellow delegates, "Each needs the other, but so much like feuding siblings they cannot come to compromise till a circumstance emerges that would threaten all their livelihoods."

He leaned in conspiratorially, "Frankly, most of these dunderheads combined with the Lower Houses and Council of Commons wouldn't know compromise in the face of disparate philosophy if it bit them on the balls..."

The albino male gesticulated to the angelic being that had stopped the conflict between the pair of delegations before, "I know it sounds bizarre from a member of your own folk, but that one there has the most sensible leaning, for all his...her... their, pomp and circumstance."

Inuus rumbled down in his throat, fussing with his steely blue fur as he coaxed it back to its full length and sheen, narrowing his eyes at the same time as Xzziz intoned a buzzing rattle, making Traz's sleeve billow where the sentient clot of shadows was curled about his forearm. Having a familiar formed of corporeal shadow had its compensations, including stealth, but the seething demon disliked direct light to the extreme, only showing himself when necessary or needed. The bat plucked at his robe, making it shift as he shrugged half-apologetically, "You two hush, it's just hardwired into you, if you see something angelic you want to gnaw it's pinions off. But they do have their graces, and when not surrounded by brainless fanatics they're almost pleasant."

Lyiko perked his ears, gazing at the softly glowing celestial being, the angelic delegate neither fully stood nor fully sat, no chair in the citadel being spindly enough to hold them properly so high above the floor. The awkward, hunched posture that they affected made Lyiko's spine ache in sympathy, but he reminded himself that the angel probably had no spine to speak of, not that this fact would have dissuaded Inuus from attempting to find one in as bloody and direct fashion available, "What's his name?"

Traz shrugged, leaning back expansively in his chair, making his robes shift about him and drape like sluggishly melting tar dangling down, "They have no names, none that we'd be able to pronounce anyway, no gender either, not that you'd ever get the chance to have a peek, come to ponder it, the winged avatars of the celestial choir aren't really here in a corporeal form... The high and mighty muckety-mucks from the mage's clan would be able to explain it better than I, having never studied any of the arcane delights and higher bodies. Just the lower ones, and those I can ply with enough alcohol."

He chuckled, grinning toothily at the younger male till Lyiko rolled his cobalt eyes gently, "Ah well, was worth a try, but as I say, Fala, as he's called in mortal terms doesn't really exist as we see them, this is merely a protrusion of elemental matter into our dimension, an automaton wrapped around a bundle of energy sent from the high heavens to parlay with the rest of us little folks. We're not even conclusively sure it's the same angel every time they manifest. It's difficult to tell them apart as they're all cut from the same cloth celestially speaking. They don't make much fuss over individual identity and function as we and our bedeviling chums do."

"Mindless drones of the higher gods..."

Inuus growled as he picked up a wine carafe and proceeded to drain it, swiping the back of his paw against his lips as he glowered across the spread of tables to where the high heaven's proxy sat and floated suspended. The thick-headed lupine that had attempted to assassinate Inuus sat with his arm bundled into a sling, speaking in the barest of hoarse whispers from where his still swollen throat had been gripped like a vice. He was in conversation with the older member of his order, in addition to their floating angelic avatar they had been joined by an older male, dressed in austere robes of a monk, with a gray flecked muzzle, ragged ears and sharp, flint-like eyes of nearly black that scanned the assembled tables as he spoke, stridently avoiding the table where Lyiko and Traz sat. The bat snickered meanly, "It's about time someone finally showed the praying boys their shit isn't as well tolerated on neutral ground as they'd feel entitled to it being."

Lyiko leaned on his arm, shifting as the long rod of bone in his sleeve prodded him. He rubbed his elbow and withdrew the bone wand, placing it on the table with an air of disaffection as he noticed the eyes from the celestial table and a few from the mages shift in his direction. Traz whistled as he leaned over the table, "Is that what I think it is?"

"What do you think it is?"

"Bone, obviously, and it's giving off an aura like I haven't seen since I was a wee little fledgling. My grandmother had an old bone and yew wand. It was mostly wood, with just a large sliver of bone, but it was powerful and damn near unbreakable. The bone came from a dry old wyrm from out in the wastes near the Open Tombs."

Lyiko shrugged idly, "You'd be correct. It's the tip of a wing bone from a silver dragon matriarch."

"Good Sweet Guluk... That's the full bone of a metallic wyrm? That's worth half of an Imperial township. But the only way to get one of those is from a dragon that it was blood to, and if it was given directly into your paws you're the first non-dragon to touch it, so it won't work for anyone else."

The albino male sighed at the injustice of it all, "Those crafty winged devils have blood magics the likes of which the necromantic clans have never fathomed..."

"Considering what a few less rational Knyaz' did with the remains of the dragon brood's late kin during the wars, it's no surprise they haven't shared their more potent blood work with us."

"Fair and true, I fear."

Traz shrugged theatrically, making his white wings flap slightly. He stretched, gazing around the room, "Once all our gentle peers are in attendance this comedy of errors can commence."

"I'm not privy to all the details. Merely that another de-facto end of the world cult has set its teeth into making trouble again."

"That is the gist. Uh-oh. Something wicked this way comes."

Lyiko glanced to the doors, lost for a moment till he saw them swing shut once more, moving his head to see past the other tables clogging the chamber. He spied a short, unremarkable looking lapin male, seemingly of indeterminate age, looking dapper in a closely tailored suit of rich deep emerald. The short male, barely four foots length high, gripped the flap of his waistcoat pocket, embroidered in bright gold, making the long chain of his watch and seal jingle brightly. A half cloak draped across his shoulders, lined in a dark blue satin, thrown back over his arms as he walked. The rabbit's long, drooping ears were secured behind his head with a golden thong, holding his fall of chestnut hair away from his face. His dabbled coat was an earthy brown, with cream highlights and a swirl of darker coffee coloration across his muzzle and circling his eye.

It was the short male's eyes that made Lyiko pause, they were sharp, bright, cunning and blood red. Their slitted pupils lent a cast of the demonic to the unassuming male, and Lyiko noted that the vaulted chamber had fallen almost silent in the presence of the short, slender male. The ringtail glanced back at Traz, noting the bat male was gazing at the rafter high overhead, his sleeves billowing as Xzziz hummed something dirge-like in an undertone. Inuus seemed unimpressed, gazing levelly at the approaching lapin, stifling a yawn with the back of his paw. The subtle tableau was broken as the dapper rabbit sank into a chair at the table with the necromancers, gazing at them with amusement in those sanguine eyes.

Traz stifled a grunt, "Fashionably late, as ever Qhoyre."

"I can never resist a good exhibition on the Ceralis Masters. The brush-work and dynamic of color, could bring a male to tears."

The rabbit male hefted himself deeper into the chair, making Lyiko snort on a sip of his wine as he barely came up to chest height at the table, his finely clothed feet and legs swinging almost comically in mid-air. Qhoyre tapped his polished shoes together at the heels, shrugging gently as he accepted a wine bowl from Traz, "I know my stature hardly befits someone of my title."

The slender ringtail shifted his ears back and forth, leaning more comfortably back into Inuus' broad chest. The horned male rumbled contently, forgetting the company of the others as he rested his strong paws on his ringtailed master's hips, making Lyiko blush gently. Qhoyre chirruped softly, smiling as he shifted in his seat, "Ah young love, though I doubt your consort is young by any scope of the imagination."

"Neither are you Qhoyre."

The lapin male tsk-ed gently, "It's impolite to remark on someone's age in public Traz. You're past the century mark yourself."

"I feel somehow juvenile in the midst of such venerable progressives."

Lyiko twitched his fingers, making the rod of bone lying on the tabletop jerk in a lazy circle. He extended his paw, palm-pad down and the wand jumped into his grip, the slender length of bone feeling cool in his paw, vibrating with a gentle inner energy he was still growing accustomed to. Inuus' long fingers slid up over his arm and stroked along the length of the bone wand almost sensually till Lyiko pulled it away and rapped him on the knuckle with it, "Not for eating."

Qhoyre snorted into his drink in amusement, "Must be advantages of being young and cute, to keep an Incubus so docile otherwise most having chastised one would been in need of a self-help scroll on how to reinsert their major organs in the proper order."

"He isn't as docile as he seems Qho, you missed out on the fun of him attempting to bite the head off of Akkani's latest acolyte."

The rabbit male lowered his goblet slowly, looking mortified, "Oh dear... Were this not technically an emergency session of the council this would be Akkani's last warning before sanctions were levied against his province."

He stole a look around at the huddled group, "I wondered why the bishop seemed more chastised than usual today... Poor thing."

"The violet robes are still livid. They still haven't forgotten the last time when one of the bishop's people almost killed that vintner from Lovres Country..."

Lyiko glanced at the table holding the bishop and the rest of the retinue, looking scandalized, "They attack people often in suspicions of consorting with demons?"

"Well we do consort with demons, obviously, but they mistook him for having horns, of course he did have horns, but the poor old thing was a half senile goat and the only spirits he consorted with came from a cask."

Traz's nose wrinkled in recollection, "They destroyed a half a rundlet of good dry Pierets '42. He ought to have been excommunicated just for that."

"And they insinuate us of being evil."

Both older males were startled from their giggling by a low, sonorous chime that set the teeth on edge. Lyiko gritted his jaw, shivering as his banded tail bristled, setting his glass down as Traz' robes paunched abruptly around his middle where Xzziz sought shelter from the nearly subsonic note that hung in the air. Qhoyre snapped his short cape about his shoulders as he dropped deftly to his feet, sighing and smoothing his waistcoat, "Well, about time. Nothing so time consuming as waiting for an emergency convocation to be convened, eh?"

"Best get it over with."

Traz drained his own glass and Qhoyre's in quick succession as Lyiko squirmed to his feet and stood with his own respective delegation, looking politely puzzled as to where to go next. No one seemed to be in a hurry to vacate their standing places, but the ringtail noticed that the angelic delegate had dropped lower toward the floor, his fur and wings flashing a more subdued color. Inuus gripped Lyiko's shoulder, watching the violet robed males as well as the angelic contingent. The short rabbit male shifted in his shoes as he sighed, "We're not in the usual waiting chamber, I guess it's taking them more time to ready the stairs than usual today."

As if on cue a rounded section of bare floor tiled with bright blue slabs of granite tile gave a grinding rumble and irised open into a wide circular stair leading downward. Lyiko perked his ears, gazing at the slowly rotating stairs, watching as the spiral stair turned around and around on itself, forming a moving step platform that would carry one group at a time down beneath, "Why bother building a tower if you're going to call a convocation below?"

"Makes about as much sense as anything else any congress or council makes up their minds to."

The violet robed grouping and Lyiko's fellow delegates glowered at the religious enclave till they positioned themselves on the stair first and sank out of sight, save for their winged escort. Lyiko was about to ask how a being that disdained touching the ground could make their way beneath it when the winged being vanished in a soft pop and a burst of sweet scented smoke. The mage conclave took their places, then Lyiko and Inuus stepped gingerly onto the moving stair, feeling slightly giddy as the cool granite steps funneled them downward. The torch lit passage below was bright as a cloudy morning, showing a massive pair of double doors, thrown wide, leading into a wide, dome shaped chamber, with a vaulted ceiling, crossed with smooth white stone rafters.

The stone floor echoed softly as Lyiko followed his more experienced fellows into the perfectly circular meeting chamber, his feet whispering across the flagstones, chasing him into the hall. A mammoth table of light, highly polished wood sat in the center of the space, shaped as a 3 lobed affair, almost like a clover with 3 leaves. At each extremity of each outer arc sat 3 chairs and a single chair sat at the joining where each lobe intersected the next. For ease of seating 4 of the chairs sported thick velvet cushions of a deep ruddy scarlet, 4 a violet the same shade as the robes the mages sported and 4 a light silvery blue. The chairs at the cleft of the three sides were more ornate and higher backed than the 3 at the outer sweep of the table's sides, more throne-like. Along the length of the table trays and chargers sat with glasses and goblets, along with bottles of various wines, spirits and juices.

Lyiko immediately noticed that the chair denotating the mage's 4th delegate was across the table from their cluster of seats, effectively keeping the representatives of the high heavens and lower depths separated from one another. He glanced at the trio of chairs then at Traz, Qhorye and Inuus, noting they were one over the places sat for 12. He shrugged softly and ushered Inuus into the outermost seat between to the other two and then draped himself into the horned male's lap as he had done in the reception area. The seating arrangement meant that the lone mage representative was at his right paw, the trio of them at his left, beyond the single seat that shared their own crimson colors, with the lone angelic seat directly across the table from him and their trio to his right paw beyond the solo mage emplacement to buffer the two opposed groups from one another.

Once the other groups of three had been seated the trip of lone representatives from their respective circles ventured to their seats. The bright angelic Fala hovered just above his own seat, while a slightly stooped male of an indeterminate canine variety slowly eased himself into the violet chair, his dark robes of neutral slate gray rustling as they slid around him and over the arms of his chair. The canid's slightly baleful eyes had a fine web of white lace across them, masking their gingery brown color that must have been sharp as a blade in his youth. His pelt was shot with silver and white, as was his beard and leonine mane of hair. Traz leaned ever so slightly in Lyiko's direction and hissed in his ear, "The head of the council of the 3 and the 9, Prafalen Din, sage of the Citadel libraries and chief representative of the neutral enclaves, those who don't use magic, or merely those who do not use arcane magics. He's been elected guardian of the public trust three times now."

Lyiko nodded, casting his gaze about for their own chief advisor, when he made his presence known by simply walking out of the gigantic hearth standing along the wall behind his own chair. The ringtail jumped, feeling Inuus' body language shift beneath him as the mammoth, almost slightly grotesque chief delegate of the lower depths shed ashes and embers onto the bare flagstones of the floor, brushing out his long robes the color of coagulated blood. He was tall, and spindly of leg and arm, but massive along the shoulder and hip, with a thick, scaled neck and ragged, leathery wings nearly half again as large as Inuus', set with deep reddish black scales that overlapped and tipped his wings at the joints and terminate points like talons of horn. The towering male looked like a hybrid of dragon and wolf, with brindled tufts of fur interspersed with more thick scales across his body and neck, which was longer than it was wide on his shoulders.

The delegate's skull was large, broad with a muzzle thrusting from it that seemed like a wolf's but filled with long, dagger-like black fangs, thin ruby lips, no nose to speak of, merely slitted nostrils that blew small curls of black smoke. His high cheeks were set with ridges of horny scales, as was the bridge of his muzzle that fanned up and out, across his forehead and brows, accenting the pair of gigantic black horns that spiraled from his temples. They had no hair to speak of, and a pair of glowing, red eyes, but Lyiko could see no pupil or iris, just molten red as if the twin orbs were made of slowly cooling lava filling the sockets of his skull. Spindly arms, with spikes at elbow and wrist gripped the arms of the throne-like chair with hands of massive, twisted fingers, tipped in obsidian horn. Lyiko's throat worked, producing a tiny clicking sound as Traz whispered conspiratorially again, "Prince T'zol Tyrenat Bonegrinder, not one to fuck about with... This is only the second time I've ever seen him appear in person to convocation, wily old campaigner that he is. He's almost at the end of his tenure, as demons go, I'm surprised one of his offspring hasn't done him the honor of eating his heart yet, but word has it, he keeps as far from them as he can. Turns up in times of trouble to reassure the public at large that he and his ilk don't want to tear down the world, just continue feeding off it."

The bat's bright eyes flicked to Inuus, "Present company excluded, of course."

The horned male rumbled softly, his coin bright eyes still sizing up the gigantic demon, "My great grandsire was one of his retainers in the second war. Bit off one of the prince's fingers for his troubles."

"I hope it tasted good. I can't imagine he lived long thereafter."

Qhorye shushed them with a drawn out hiss, noting the way the seated sage shifted restlessly. The old sage, ancient for one who possessed no magic about him to speak of, looked every moment of his century and a half, Lyiko mused he could almost hear the old canine's bones creak as he moved, but his voice was surprisingly strong, a pleasant resonate tenor, "I presume you all know why you've been called here. Nothing spreads so quickly as a state secret."

Prafalen rested his gnarled paws on the smooth table-top, his knuckles swollen with arthritis as they splayed, making his nails click on the wood, "This emergency meeting of the council of the 3 and the 9-..." he paused, his brown eyes sliding around to where Inuus and Lyiko sat, "Plus one. Fitting a conundrum would bring to bear thirteen of us, a most powerful number."

Lyiko glanced back and forth from his own companions to the old dog, doing his best to retain a regal air, despite how young and inexperienced he felt. The sage coughed softly, knuckling his chin as he gazed at the younger male, "Theanon sends a whelp as his chosen proxy, but your reputation precedes you Lyiko, son of Riso Thiar, sons again of the clan Thiel of the Undercity of Rootdowns. A fresh necromancer and tamer of demon-folk, best to watch your step T'zol you could be washing stockings at a school rather then enjoying the repose of old politicians."

Lyiko's jaw locked as he felt Inuus twitch beneath him, hearing both Traz and Qhorye utter stifled snorts of slightly strangulated giggles. The rest of the council remained respectfully stone faced as the older demon creaked in his seat, his nostrils puffing out a stream of sparks and tar-black smoke. The arch-demon's voice sounded like the settling of a frost-riven boulder mixed with the crackling pop of burning pitch, "It might be a better existence than politics old friend, at last I heard the styles of clothing in the younger generations were tending short and sweet."

The darkly scowling bishop across the table was chewing the inside of his muzzle with a glazed sort of stare, keeping his mouth shut in light of his delegation's ill behavior, not wishing to call attention to it if at all possible but still needled at the airy needling of the pair of senior senators. The subdued click of Prafalen's curled nails shifted as he glanced to the celestial side of the table, "We'll be to you soon enough Dar. Hold the patience your order is supposed to be so known for."

The canine cracked his swollen knuckles pensively, the weight of his gaze pinning Lyiko once more, "We called you three necromancers here, two of our rank, and a ranking student from Theanon, sent in his stead, to make up for an astonishing amount of cheek, as I hear it."

The ringtail's ears instantly went red, feeling needled by the stares of the male's flanking him. Even the old demon T'zol tipped his great head over and examined the young male with the better of his baleful eyes as Lyiko shrank into his own robes, attempting to burrow into Inuus as the horned male feigned ignorance of the proceedings around him, holding his muzzle for once since the ringtail had known him thankfully. Lyiko swallowed as the old sage's stare almost bade him to respond, Prafalen's silver muzzle twitching in an almost lopsided smirk, "I take it, boy, that the evidence of Theanon's exasperation, however mild, the sentimental wyrm he is, is seated beneath you in your chair, eh?"

"Yes'sir."

Lyiko's initial squeak smoothed out as he swallowed, gripping the chair's arms for support as he bore the weight of the assembled convocation, including the amused stares of his compatriots. The old sage uttered a creaking sort of huff, "More respect than you usually show for authority. Refreshing I suppose. We know your father Lyiko, and your grandfather before him was one of our numbers before Traz came on. Your father shows a consistent lack of grace and seems more interested in fostering trade contracts than working for a common good, but you seem to show more of your grandsire's mettle in power and manipulation of the arts. They say talent skips a generation, so perhaps you have more potential than your father for being a true necromancer."

"Yes'sir... Thank-you."

"I have no reason to doubt you wrestled down a demonic escort yourself, but you show decent temerity as taking him more as a bodyguard and consort than slave."

"I had no wish for a slave. I was merely lonely, and thought perhaps a student could benefit from the wisdom of centuries worth of life."

"Fair enough spoke. You show the true streak of a necromancer, preferring the company of the arcane over your own kind."

The old sage seemed amused again, making Traz and Qhorye glance at one another with a shrug. He shifted in his seat again, rubbing his silver muzzle, "Fitting that we should have a trio of necromancers and demonic scholars with us, for it's their wisdom we will have to rely on in this particular session."

Prafalen sighed, almost feeling the weight of his years on his shoulders, "A cult of necromancers and demon pledged summoners has joined forces and set up a, we hope, reasonably small enclave in the outskirts of the Falar Foothills just to the south of the city. There have been some instances of missing person or persons and beings, according to our best investigations thus far with the constabulary of the mage clans. This may point to sacrifice, possession or the raising of unlife beings, all of which are strictly regulated under the guidelines of the Treaty of Las-Fel in the year of 2253 under Tirioz.

"Normally, the minor nature of these infractions would warrant nothing more than an inquest, disbarring of their group and incarceration with suspension of magical and arcane abilities for a determined amount of years. But recently from the northern province we have received reports of a reliquary stolen from one of the Demonology enclaves by person, persons or beings unknown. Taking these two instances in tandem with the nature of the reliquary has given us some cause for alarm."

Qhorye raised a paw, "This is the reliquary of the Unnamed God?"

Prafalen nodded, making a burst of whispered conversation ripple through the chamber. The angelic councilor bobbed higher into the air and T'zol shook his wings a bit harder than was necessary, taking a gouge from the seat of his chair. Lyiko cast a semi-puzzled glance at Traz who gestured for him to keep silent and listen.

"The reliquary of the Unnamed God has existed since time immemorial for the lesser races. It comes from the ages before magic was mastered when the churches ruled. The eras of the wars between the High Heavens and the Lower Depths were long and bloody ages, before the Eternal Accord was reached. The pacts of Shando and Jarrao'n were adopted to broker a peace between the long warring High Heavens and Lower Depths so that we mortal races could hope to take a hand in guiding our own destiny. The ending of the wars of sin and avarice ushered in new eras of peace, understanding and prosperity for all sides-..."

The drably garbed bishop banged his paw on the tabletop, garnering no surprise from anyone as he barked hoarsely, "Those peaces brokered destabilized the churches! Sapped them of their hard-won power and opened the way for the pagan practices and rise of the abuses of arcane powers! Mortals were never meant to twist the cosmos to suit their own selfish needs, the wanton manipulation of life and spirit offends the Gods!"

The violet robed Detan slapped the tabletop with his own paw, waving it vehemently at the bishop, "Be silent Dar! Your words tinkle like broken glass upon stone, meaningless and shrill... You and your power mongers in the churches merely regret giving up your thrones to share power over the land with the magi and your demonic cousins. We magic users liberated many from ignorance and poverty, giving them choices in life and the world rather than mindlessly following the words from on high!"

Akkani stood, his chest flared in a posture of feckless defiance, thrusting a finger at the seated mages, "You make it seem as if we held the peoples enslaved Detan! We did no such thing, merely brought them the good will of the Gods and freed them from the corruption of the pleasure faiths and demonic entanglements."

Lyiko jumped as Inuus, Xzziz and T'zol all growled in insult nearly as one, the elder demon raising a finger as slamming his grip onto the table would have likely cleaved it through, "Objection! How many centuries untold must my kind and I stand the abuses and slander of the church?! Have we not made amends and shared our knowledge and embraced the even the servitude pressed upon the lesser of our own races by the mortal kinds? Yet the churches continue to hound us and practice their tortures of our kind, the denigrations suffered at their hands, the attacks ceaselessly suffered, even here by their mindless zealots!"

The tumult raised made Lyiko's head ring, he had never suspected such a small group of people capable of so much noise till that point. Even Inuus was making sounds of discontent at being removed from the fray by his master's slender weight as Lyiko restrained the horned male from getting too excited and overstepping his bounds. The only other silent person was Traz who looked bored by it all, whispering into his sleeve and relaxing back into his chair as a half dozen of Xzziz's tendrils snaked down around his fingers and flared like bells. Lyiko's ears attempted to crawl halfway down his back as the shadow demon issued a whistle of 6 separate tones, overriding all the sound and fury in the room for an instant and giving way to a ringing silence. Lyiko worked his jaw furiously, attempting to make his battered ears pop to regain his hearing as Traz calmly removed the plugs of cotton fluff he had inserted in his large ears before entering the chamber. Qhorye looked scandalized as his ears were even larger than most, shifting on his comically raised seat and inserting a fingertip into the depths of one of his trailing ears' canal, jiggling it madly.

Prafalen looked nonplussed as he nodded to the albino bat, "Peace, the lot of you. Akkani's pupil stands in judgment of his stupidity. Fala has handed down a punishment of suspension of his studies for two seasons, Irruk will serve here in the Citadel as an aide to the dignitaries of the Lower Depths."

Traz and Inuus snorted almost in tandem before the old sage skirted a glance their way, "Should any further reimbursement be required by the master of the damaged party in question, he should speak now."

Lyiko pressed his paw up over the end of Inuus' muzzle as he felt the horned male ready himself to say something grandiose and unrelated to the charges at hand. He arched his back and squared his shoulders as he inhaled softly, "I already have a demonic consort and guide and an elfin servant so I have no need of another errand boy."

The chastised lupine across the table clenched his undamaged paw, his shoulders sloped in being talked about thusly whist still present, but he kept his tongue. Lyiko sighed gently, gazing at the bruised wolf, half from pity and half from annoyance at the young male's lack of control. He shrugged, "I know Theanon will have need of a new kitchen boy to fill a recent departure, but lacking that my personal needs are met, and I have no inclination toward revenge."

Qhorye sniffed delicately, "You're too young yet to see the full scope and range of the pompous grandiosity these church fools idiocy entails, but your forgiveness is refreshing even if he doesn't deserve such clemency."

Lyiko waved a paw, stroking Inuus' chest fur in a way he knew would rile the more pious-minded in the room, "He's a boy, as I am. Stupidity is for the young as fine wine is for the old at times. I can forgive him his transgressions as he only pelted me with holy water, such a thing did me no damage at all and merely annoyed my companion at the worst of it. I can contend with the fact that if he had attacked a full grown demon with nothing more than holy water in any other venue he'd have ended up dismembered rather than battered and ashamed."

Inuus wriggled his nose past Lyiko's ears as he grinned, "I would have taken great pleasure in fucking his skull-less corpse before eating it after I'd twisted off all his limbs."

T'zol's broad skull bobbed as his laughter echoed like thunder across the chamber, making the elder demon's nostril's curl with brimstone laced steam. He held his barrel-chested side with a twisted hand, gnashing his long fangs in amusement, "I like this one. He reminds me of myself in my youth. A worthy consort."

Traz was snickering helplessly behind his paws as the celestial assembly looked aghast, the mages merely trying not to show their amusement as Lyiko nodded at the praise, "Your health ambassador."

"Yes, well. If we might..."

Prafalen harrumphed gently as he smoothed his aged muzzle back into a neutral cast, "The reliquary of the Unnamed God falling into the hands of a rogue cult is more dangerous than any of us knows. That which is unnamed and forgotten is unmade in the world, but that which is named can be remade into existence. If this reliquary contains the remnants of one of the elder ones of chaos, killed and subdued in the Great War when both angel and demon fought together to free the world from pandemonium if it were to be revived, by either party, it could dissolve the pact of peace. I scarcely need to say what the inevitable conclusion to this would be..."

The old sage sighed, raising his paws in a "there you have it" gesture and Detan took it upon himself to finish the old dog's unfinished statement, "And with the zeal the High Heavens and the Lower Depths have shown in attempting to kill one another in the past, I have my doubts whether or not any would survive as neutral parties should war break out again."

Qhorye tsk-ed softly, "I'm an unrepentant pacifist and hedonist of the highest order. I have no interest in fighting some war 200 centuries out of date."

The chastised church males kept their silence as Traz exchanged glances with Lyiko. Prafalen rubbed his sore paws, "T'zol and I are too old to take up sword and banner for our lives. The younglings here have never known war. The mage clans would cloister themselves together but those beyond would suffer most terribly."

The old sage stretched his hunched back as he rumbled hoarsely, "This is why the keeper and magistrates of the city have asked us our assistance in helping discover these cultist fools and recover the reliquary if needs be. Necromancy and Demonology are both highly specialized branches of magic, both somewhat removed from the arcane and elemental spheres of study, this is why Theanon's help was called upon. His school hosts both avenues of study and mastery, and several family names of long association with both."

Lyiko squeaked miserably, "I suppose this is where I volunteer myself to confront danger and death..."

"Death holds little meaning for a Necromancer."

Traz smiled helpfully, quailing under the ringtail's glare as Lyiko set his shoulders and jaw. Prafalen pointed to the young ringtail, Inuus and to the albino bat's chagrin, himself, "The delegates from Theanon, our own esteemed Trazel as well as Detan and an a contingency of the Citadel shall accompany the magistrate general and his squadron on the morrow, to quell what unrest they may find, reclaim the reliquary of the Unnamed God if it exists there and bring their findings to us. It is the decision of the Elder representatives that Dar and his followers will be held in reserve for the time being, to ponder their rash activities. Fala has agreed with this resolution, and will give his blessing to those who go in his stead."

Qhorye winced softly, smiling in gentle resignation as Traz stared daggers at him across Lyiko. The albino bat tugged at the throat of his robe, "Looks like it'll be just you and I boys. The little runt begged off again."

Prafelen tapped the table gently, "These are the findings and resolutions of the council. We stand adjourned for the time. Those delegates chosen will meet at the upper city Magistrate's offices tomorrow no later than 9 bells. The Enclave values your service, go in peace."

"And hopefully not to return in pieces..."

Traz heaved a sigh as he levered himself to his feet and patted Lyiko's shoulder in passing, "See you tomorrow lovelies, I need to go get quite drunk."

Qhorye jumped sprightly to his feet, adjusting his vest as he grinned to Lyiko as Inuus hefted both of them to their feet, "I shall go join the poor dear and take his mind off of it. Perhaps his trousers as well."

Lyiko rubbed his muzzle gently as he walked silently to the upper stair, gazing at Detan as the violet robed male swept nearer, "Do you have any advice for preparations for those of us acting as magistrates on the morrow young necromancer?"

"I can write up a short list, if you wish and have it sent this evening Detan..."

The feline nodded, grasping the ringtail's paw good naturedly, "If you wouldn't find it too much of an inconvenience, it would be appreciated to know what things we should have in readiness for things such as poisons and the like."

He nodded to Inuus as the glowering Incubus flattened his ears, "No hard feelings for earlier as well I hope. Now that Dar's happy bunch has been properly chastised, I can be freely disgusted with them."

"None to speak of."

"Good."

The violet robed feline handed Lyiko a small card of parchment, "I shall be there all evening. See you both tomorrow."

The ringtail sighed softly as they swept to the doors of the Citadel, "I fear they're all mad... I'm never advancing to politics, ever... Oh what now..."

Another of the short, ubiquitous attendants was padding intently toward them, waving a roll of parchment, "Master Lyiko, this came for you whilst you were in chambers."

"Thank-you."

Lyiko leaned against Inuus as he peered at the scroll of familiar purple parchment, tied with a long silver ribbon. As the ringtail untied the scroll and let it unroll a bit a stiff waft of silver mist burst from the confines of the paper, swirling about both of them and giving a cold skittering of air all over them both. The ringtail barely had time to register the surprise before his feet jarred onto the cool, rough flagstones of the passage beneath the school outside his own chamber door. The slender youth waved a paw, swirling the sweet mist and making it disperse as the parchment simply dissolved into thin air, but the long silver ribbon stayed twined between his fingers. He sighed, "I suppose Master Theanon wished us to return home with the least amount of fuss."

"I think it's well into early afternoon. I had no time to consult the sky before we were shanghaied."

Lyiko banged the lever of his door, dispensing with the lock as he heaved the door inward, wanting more than anything to be rid of his ornate clothing and wash away the proceedings of the body politic. He jumped at the gentle squeal that greeted him, completely having forgotten Talen would be waiting for them upon their return. The slender elf nearly bowled them both to the floor as he greeted them, "Masters, you return finally, things went well, I do hope."

Lyiko scarcely had time to breathe before the door was banged shut and he was surrounded by a bleached whirlwind. Before he could register that he was thrust into his favorite chair the ringtail was stripped naked to his loincloth, his clothing rehung, jewelry tucked safely away, wand replaced within its cabinet and a tumbler of wine pressed between his fingers while Talen fussed with Inuus. The tall horned male stood still as he was undressed, the long-eared male tutting at the series of holes in the Incubus' robe, stripping him down completely as Talen pondered out loud the odd sticky patches in the horned male's fur. The elf gently wound a soft bolt of cloth about the Incubus' waist, "Master Inuus, your wings are magnificent, you should wear them more often."

The horned male let his broad paw drop between the elvish male's ears, rubbing as the pale youth dabbed at the matted spots on his silvery blue pelt, "I don't think this will come out without a bath..."

Inuus raised his head, noticing for the first time the scent of blood in the air, "Food... Food first..."

Talen squeaked, "Oh yes, I did some shopping Master Lyiko, as you bade me."

He wrapped both of his lithe hands about the Incubus' forearm and tugged, doggedly pulling the amused Incubus to the dining table, formerly empty, now groaning beneath a spread of packages, boxes, bags and baskets. Lyiko took to his feet, gaping at the jumble of food and drink crammed onto the table, "Talen, there must be a week's worth of food here, how did you carry it all yourself?"

"One of the grocer's assistants was so friendly, he offered to assist me home for a kiss."

The pale elf giggled throatily as he tugged Inuus to the table and proceeded to begin to unwrap parcels, "He was so pretty, a young cat with sleek black fur and green eyes. So I gave him a kiss on account and two for the help."

The blushing elf stood back as Inuus reached across him and began tearing into a waxed paper wrapped bundle, unearthing a stack of slabs of meat, inches thick, deep red with silvery white veins shot through. With a hissing rumble the horned male set into the meat, staining his fangs pink as he busied himself with a raw flank. Talen let the horned male work, watching him rend and chew with a half lowered jaw, till he shook himself away and unlaced a basket, taking out a pair of freshly baked pastries, redolent of cinnamon and sugar, drizzled with dark honey and handing one to Lyiko eagerly, "They looked so good Master Lyiko."

The ringtail hadn't realized how hungry he was till he bit down into the honeyed roll, recalling he hadn't eaten anything since before they had left that morning. He reclined on the thick fur rug before the cheery fire that Talen had taken pains to prod back into life, his head in the slender elf's lap as he sighed contently, taking the slices of fruit and berries the long eared male offered to his muzzle. He waved the goblet of wine away, but allowed another slice of apple as he glanced toward the Incubus, "Don't stuff yourself stupid Inuus. That's far too much for one sitting."

The rumbling Incubus swallowed thickly, wiping his muzzle with his paw as he flashed his crimson stained fangs to the ringtail and proceeded to snap the neck off a bottle of wine nearby as he stood. Inuus threw himself heavily to the rug beside the reclining youths, draining the bottle neatly as he watched Talen delicately drop berries into Lyiko's muzzle with his slightly sticky pearl skinned fingers. As he relaxed into a satiated heap the demonic male belched, offering only "T'was good." by way of an apology as he basked in the warmth of the firelight. Talen giggled softly, shaking his head as he dabbed at Lyiko's slightly blue stained lips, blushing as he felt the ringtail's tongue brush his fingers. Lyiko grinned, "You still taste like honey."

The reclining ringtail still had a slightly sticky ring about his lips, making Talen lick his own finger as he dabbed at it, "As do you."

The elf gently placed a red berry between the ringtail's lips, jumping as Lyiko manipulated his muzzle and gently exhaled, delicately expelling the berry up and over where Inuus caught it with a snap of his teeth. The ringtail snaked his tongue out and snared the elfin male's fingers, sucking them gently, tasting the remains of honey, cinnamon and wine on them. Talen blushed hard, stroking the ringtail's warm, wet tongue, making Lyiko chuckle gently as the back of his head was abruptly banged with something hard. The elf hid his lips with his other hand, flushing desperately as he couldn't move his hips from beneath the ringtail's skull without unceremoniously dropping it to the floor.

Lyiko shifted his head a bit, gazing up at Talen, using his free paw to gently caress the slender male's smooth, pale face, teasingly rubbing his finger over Talen's lips, feeling the tip of the elf's tongue brush over his fingertip. The long eared male gently shifted, slowly letting his robe drop over his shoulders, shrugging it off and back, exposing his lean chest and belly to the waist. Lyiko found himself grinning appreciatively at the sight of the slender elf's alabaster skin, obligingly shifting so Talen could demurely unfold the thin robe from around his waist and hips. He watched the elf shift his hips first one way, untucking the flimsy material, then the other, casting the thin robe away with a soft flick of his slender wrist.

Talen blushed furiously, slowly laying into the embrace of the thick fur rug, casting his storm gray eyes side-long, coyly folding himself onto his side, pillowing his head with one arm as he rested the other on his hip, keeping his long, lean legs folded slightly canted against one another. His cascade of silvery hair framed his face and ears, almost covering one of his eyes as the elf's lips pouted softly, his darting tongue moistening them. Lyiko yanked the knot loose of his own loincloth, unwinding it and tossing it away as he looked to his grinning Incubus consort, then fixed his eyes on the coyly pouting elf, "I think Talen is trying to seduce me."

"Does he need to try, my little master? It would seem to have succeeded either way."

The ringtail nodded, pushing himself against the slender elf, hearing Talen utter a breathless little sigh as the lean elf folded his arms about the ringtail's waist. Lyiko inhaled and exhaled, his breath stirring the hair against Talen's face as the elf pushed against him longingly, he could feel the elf's erection digging into his fur, prodding him wantonly. He slowly dragged his tongue over Talen's throat, kissing it and nibbling it gently, making the elf wriggle gently against him, whimpering adorably. The slender elf bit his lower lip cutely, running his fingers through the ringtail's soft mocha and cream fur, "M-m-master Lyiko, would... would you do me the honor of, taking me, t-this time?"

"Of course lovely Talen. The pleasure would be all mine."

Lyiko lowered his face to the elf's, kissing him, feeling Talen's honey and cinnamon laced breath caress his nose as they pressed their lips, twining their tongues tightly. He gently caressed the elf's slender hips, feeling his long, lean thighs twitch and shiver as they parted slowly. Their tongues danced around one another as Lyiko pressed his paw down, slipping it between the elf's thighs, caressing the curve of his backside and then sliding into the vee of his rump, spreading him gently, exposing the tight ring of pink flesh. Talen shivered and arched into Lyiko, moaning into his muzzle as the ringtail's fingers probed his body, rubbing, tickling that entrance into his slender body. The ringtail pressed the slender elf flat onto his back, gently lifting his knees and pressing his own hips between them, laying over Talen as the slender elf shivered, moaning in longing.

Lyiko ran his tongue over Talen's throat, kissing and nipping it softly, lowering his muzzle to the hard, pert bumps of flesh of his pale pink nipples. He gently licked the elf's nipples, hearing him moan, sucking on them back and forth. The slender elf uttered a high squeal of surprised pleasure as he felt the ringtail's sharp pearly fang gently tease his nipples, grazing over them and tugging them gently. Talen's hands balled against Lyiko's back, gripping his fur tightly as the elf moaned deeply in his chest, heat swamping his senses as he thrashed against Lyiko's lean body. The ringtail mmm-ed gently, smiling as he shifted to his knees and lifted the pale elf's legs, pressing between his spread thighs. He groaned himself as he pushed against the grunting elf, hearing Talen give adorable little hiccupping pants. Lyiko made Inuus grin softly as the ringtail uttered a heated rumble, slipping his now wet-tipped erection into the cleft of the elf's pale backside, spreading his smooth, soft rump-cheeks and pressing himself into that tight, warm ring of flesh.

Talen wrapped his legs around Lyiko's waist with a shrill gasp as he felt the ringtail's sleek cock press against him, seeking purchase as Lyiko's hips arched and sank forward against him. The resistance was short lived but exquisite as Talen's slender body fought the intrusion for a moment, a flare of discomfort making him whimper before the tightness of his body gave way to Lyiko's hard lust. With a grunt and a sigh the lean ringtail slowly sank into Talen, his eyes flickering in bliss as the elf's hot, tight body engulfed him to the hilt, squeezing and fluttering around him breathtakingly. Lyiko was barely aware of Inuus' words as the grinning Incubus spoke, "His body is exquisite, is it not little master? So tight and so warm, and skilled."

"Mmmm, yesssss..."

Lyiko bucked his hips, pulling them back, slipping his cock from Talen, then pushing forward, sinking into him to the hilt once more, reveling in the hot, clenching fist that seemed to be stroking his cock. Talen's legs squeezed his hips, his heels prodding into his tailbone as the slender elf spasmed and bucked against him, moaning in passion. Lyiko grunted, hissing between his teeth as he sped up, impaling Talen over and over. He could feel the slender elf tremble and twitch as he bucked beneath him, craving the sweet, hot release soon promised. Lyiko looked up as he heard Inuus shift, the broad Incubus kneeling with his knees sinking into the fur rug on either side of Talen's skull. Inuus' mammoth, ebony skinned cock jutted, throbbing magnificently and wet-tipped as the horned male lowered his blunt glans to the elf's parted lips, rubbing his warm, crystal pre-cum over them as Talen panted.

The long eared male groaned, promptly pursing his lips around the blunt tip of Inuus' thick cock and sucking hard, flushing as the demonic male's pre-seed tingled on his lips and tongue. The sweet, sharp musk of the horned male filled the elf's nose and mouth, making him tingle, his head swimming as his entire body felt hot, flushing pink as the Incubus' pheromones did their work within him. Talen moaned, muffled by the thick, ebon cock in his mouth, bobbing his head as much as he was able with the jolting bucks of his body from Lyiko's thrusts between his thighs. Inuus assisted the slender elf by leaning forward, slipping more of his mammoth cock into the elf's mouth, rumbling as Talen sucked greedily. Their coupling was frenetic as Lyiko thrust deeper into Talen, pressing his sleek cock into him deeply, angling his hips to draw his length over the elf's internal pleasure spot, making him shiver harder, leaving a long wet furrow in Lyiko's belly fur.

Lyiko felt the familiar fire begin to blaze at the base of his tail and in his belly, spreading out into his hips and thighs as he shivered, his balls pulling up tightly in signal of his impending climax. He slammed his sleek cock home, balls deep into Talen and groaned loudly, his twitching length erupting into jets of hot, wet seed within the clenching elf. The alabaster skinned elf could barely moan out his pleasure at the feeling of the ringtail's cock spurting its seed into him as his mouth was stuffed with the mammoth ebon length twitching between his lips. Talen groaned his pleasure, arching into the bucking ringtail and clenching down like a vice to milk the spurting length within him. He shivered, reaching with a shaking hand to manipulate Inuus' heavy, swollen balls, kneading them as the thick cock in his mouth gave a twitch and spurt of pre-cum.

Lyiko panted raggedly, bucking his hips in short, deep humps, pounding against Talen as the slender elf sucked Inuus wildly, the elf's hand squeezing and tugging the horned male's balls, wanting his seed desperately. The ringtail slipped a paw down, tugging the elf's straining cock, making him arch in a shuddering buck, clenching down almost tight enough to trap the sleek cock within him immobile. The already over stimulated elf's eyes rolled up as he shivered wildly, exploding in Lyiko's paw, spraying wildly between them, coating their bellies and chests in his pearly seed. Talen uttered a tiny gagging sound as Inuus snorted like a bull and grunted loudly, throwing his chest out, his belly rippling as his mammoth ebon cock pushed into the elf's sucking mouth almost to the hilt, then pulled back and blew, erupting with enough force that it's twitch yanked the tip from the elf's mouth, drenching his face and chest with an explosive burst of hot seed. Talen clamped his lips back around the Incubus' glans, sucking hard, wanting as much of the musky demon essence as he could swallow.

Talen gulped greedily around the horned male's cock, swallowing the almost scaldingly warm seed, feeling it burn down his throat and settle into a warm lump in his belly, making him tingle and flush all over. Inuus uttered a rumbling pant as he prized his cock away from Talen, making the shivering elf whimper, standing and gripping Lyiko by the nape as he thrust his still twitching length into the ringtail's muzzle, making him grunt in surprise before he sucked hard around the dusky length shoved between his lips, swallowing the dwindling jets of seed as Inuus' length drained its last into Lyiko's muzzle. The horned male growled gently, "My seed should keep you both nicely aroused. If we should join in battle tomorrow, I wish to rut as much as we can tonight."

Lyiko felt his ears burn and shuffled his sandal clad feet deeper into the lush emerald turf as he heard the call across the small open courtyard, "Captain, we have a problem here!"

The white robed healer was wrinkling his muzzle in consternation as he waved a length of crystal back and forth in front of Lyiko as the ringtail stood shrinking into himself. The wand of crystal glowed fitfully, wavering between colors and sparking a bit as it crossed into proximity of the ringtail's own energy field. Inuus stood by near the two, with Traz seated on a short stool near the small knot of constables that had been conscripted to accompany them. The scarlet robed males were all older than Lyiko by almost a decade, all organizing and reorganizing small packs of supplies draped over their shoulders, fingering a variety of weapons with a nervous energy as they waited their turn. A taller, slightly grizzled older feline stalked over to the healer in his pristine robes, running his paw through his cropped, silver streaked hair, "What's the problem Tria?"

The auburn haired healer gestured to Lyiko with the crystal wand that sputtered out a flare of emerald sparks as it jabbed toward him, "Theanon's student sir. His mental contamination is off the scale. Jiiri wouldn't be able to teleport him 5 feet in this condition, much less anything near close enough to the drop-off site. Too dangerous, much, much too dangerous."

The grizzled old campaigner leaned over Lyiko with a raised brow, "What's the problem son? Nervous jumper?"

Lyiko scrubbed his paws together, shrugging as he chirruped unhappily, his stomach doing little flips and squirms, bouts of discomfort flaring through him, making his tail thrash and coil fitfully, "I've... never done well with teleportation sir. I failed the courses on self-teleportation, makes me nervous as hell, I don't know why. I can't focus enough to make the transition."

The older male uttered an unhappy rumble, gesturing to Detan who was standing with a pair of his violet robed battle-mages, "Detan, how in the hell are we supposed to get this boy to the drop-zone if he won't be teleported?"

The feline mage rubbed the bridge of his muzzle, patting Lyiko between the ears comfortingly as Traz stood and stretched his long, lean back, "I take it there's no chance of simply using a gate?"

Detan shook his head, "No. There's no beacon on that side, and they'd be able to sense it opening and closing. We can't use standard personal or doorway teleportation, so we have to jump. Jiiri!"

A swirling blast of wind made everyone's clothing swirl as the teleporter dropped down from the tree he had been standing in, landing as softly on his feet as if he'd done nothing more than step down from a curb. He was a tiny feline, barely scraping 5 foot-lengths to the tips of his ears, with brilliantly yellow fur and hair, and precocious yellow-green eyes, dressed in a loincloth and not much else. Jiiri twirled the golden ribbons wrapped around his wrists and elbows idly, letting them rustle and ripple in the breeze. The elfin feline seemed to weigh nothing at all as he danced on his toes and spun, always moving, sliding around Lyiko and prodding his chest, uttering a scandalized huff and shaking his head wildly, "Nononono! Can't carry him. He's too heavy. Too head heavy..."

The slender teleporter looked to Detan miserably, "Could kill, could maim, too difficult. Too heavy."

Tria clucked softly, twirling his crystal wand idly, "Too much mental contamination. I said so!"

The healer huffed and strode off to check over the quintet of armed males assigned to them and the pair of staff wielding mages. Lyiko looked decidedly miserable at the scrutiny, "I'm sorry Detan... I've never done well with teleportation without doorways or dedicated waypoints."

"It's not your fault lad. You're just too well grounded to transport easily. Your mind is so fixed in one point in time and space it just won't let you dissociate enough for a jump. You'd make a wonderful mage. You're probably damn near immune to polymorphic and transfiguration effects as well. It'd be damned difficult to control you or influence you via magic in any way."

The violet robed feline rubbed between Lyiko's ears soothingly, "I can see why Theanon chose you."

Traz adjusted his hair, showing gleaming white against his dark clothing, "I may have a suggestion, if Lyiko, Inuus and Jiiri will agree to it."

"What's the suggestion?"

Lyiko perked his ears curiously as Jiiri hopped one and a half his own length into the air and perched himself comfortably on Inuus' shoulder, making the towering Incubus glance up as the golden furred teleporter played with his horns idly. Traz perched a pair of small dark spectacles onto his muzzle, shielding his pink eyes from the golden sunlight of the day as he glanced to the Incubus, "Well, demons have their own... brand of magic, so to speak. Works almost exactly like mortal magic, but different vibratory frequencies and other complicated such nonsense, including teleportation. Demonic, and angelic for that matter, teleportation uses a dimensional shunt to do the job. Just a quick pop through a higher, or lower dimensional plane bridging two distances here in the physical plane quicker than just traveling in a straight line."

The albino bat shrugged, "Now, strictly speaking, mortals aren't supposed to travel via this method of teleportation, it's dangerous, can cause aphasia or insanity. Risky, yes, but with Lyiko's mental block against actual teleportation and his obvious tremendous mental and psychic shielding against the types of things he's likely to experience with a dimensional hop, with Jiiri guiding Inuus, the Incubus himself could teleport himself and his master to the drop-zone."

"Is there any risk to Jiiri?"

The golden furred feline nodded with Detan's words, shifting his hips on Inuus' shoulder, making the Incubus hold him still with a strong paw. Traz wrinkled his nose, rubbing over a small ruffle of fur at the tip of his chin as he pondered the question, calculated the odds and gazed at Lyiko evenly, "He's an experienced teleporter. He's used to the strains of defying time and space, risk should be minimal if he keeps his eyes shut and ears plugged."

Lyiko twitched his ears nervously, looking up at Inuus as the towering Incubus showed no outward sign of either approval or disapproval of the plan. Jiiri wriggled his nose gently, rubbing his golden hair as he nodded softly, mulling the information over as he swayed gently on Inuus' shoulder. Lyiko glanced at Detan and Traz, swallowing gently as he stepped toward Inuus and slid his own paw into the horned male's strong one, gazing into his bright silver eyes, "Do you think it could work Inuus?"

"I do not see why not little master..."

The horned male shrugged a little lopsidedly, making Jiiri squeak as his shoulders shifted. He looked down at Lyiko, gently encircling his waist with an arm and hefting the ringtail off his feet, holding him against his broad chest, "You should be safe, little master. But you may wish to close your eyes."

Lyiko nodded, looking in mild panic at Traz and Detan as the pair backed away to about 5 paces away, giving them room to depart. He squeaked softly as Inuus gripped him tightly, the Incubus glancing up at Jiiri, "You may wish to hold around my neck, keep a good grip, I will need you to guide us."

"Yes, yes..." The golden furred teleporter sounded vaguely nervous, slipping down and around, adopting a piggy-back position on Inuus' back, hooking his long lean legs around the horned male's waist and under his arms as he encircled the Incubus' neck with his slender arms. Jiiri set his blunt muzzle as he focused, his eyes shimmering softly in the crisp sunlight as he focused his mind on their destination, "Ready ready."

Detan lifted a paw, saluting, "Good luck!"

Inuus bowed his head an increment, inhaling and exhaling deeply as he gripped both Lyiko and the slender teleporter tightly with a paw and he channeled his demonic energy inward, turning lightly on his feet as there was a pop and a blossoming cloud of brimstone laced smoke and the trio vanished. Just before darkness enclosed Lyiko's mind he took a deep gasp and held his breath but the sudden pressure surrounding him almost squeezed the breath back from him. The ringtail felt as if someone had slammed him bodily against a thin wall of heat and there was a terrible sensation of pressure surrounding and gripping him, squeezing him hard against Inuus. A dull whistling roar filled the ringtail's ears as he tried to fold them shut, but it just made the screeching moan sound duller and more breathless, almost like the screams of a roomful of people. A dizzying rainbow of darkness and light whirling around him, laced with sulfurous yellows and deep, sanguine reds before he snapped his eyes shut on it and clung to Inuus who gave him a reassuring squeeze. He felt three times too heavy for his body, then weightless by turns, his brain giving a funny jolt as random images flitted through it, almost seeming to sense the chaos around him through his eyelids. Just as his lung were aching with the pressure and need to inhale the whirl of sensation and sucking vacuum was gone and he was jolted as if something had yanked him tail-first through another barrier and Inuus' gave a twitch as he landed heavily on his feet.

Lyiko opened his eyes, but everything was awash with whirling afterimages, flashes of color and light and his head swum sickeningly, matched by a nausea that sprung up in his belly as he shivered. Jiiri was hiccupping stridently as he hopped down from Inuus' back and staggered, falling against the broad Incubus who caught both smaller males, "There will be some after-effects. They should fade swiftly."

"Gods I hope so."

Lyiko wobbled against Inuus, his vision slowly coming back as he breathed heavily through his nose, trying not to be ill all over himself, his head still swimming sickeningly. Inuus himself seemed a little green around the ears and lips, the effects of the normally trivial teleportation making him feel drained and a little woozy. Jiiri coughed softly, giving a tiny gag as he rubbed his muzzle furiously, regaining his composure as he shook his head, "Don't wanna do that again... Ever..."

The slender feline looked to Lyiko almost accusingly, "Jumping you is like trying to fly with lead feet... Hard, heavy, difficult... Don't wanna do it again..."

The golden furred feline uttered a final tiny hiccup and vanished with a swirl of his amber fur and silken clothes, leaving no trace as Lyiko leaned panting against Inuus, looking around at their surroundings. They seemed to be at the edge of a sparsely wooded glen, with a few wind ruffled trees surrounding them, the rest of the open space that stretched off away to the foothills beyond was filled with calf high grass of green and brown, with golden tops that swayed and riffled in the breeze. A towering stone structure stood at the far end of the glen, crumbling and weathered, with fallen stones and broken windows dominating its faces. A tall, spindly tower-like cupola topped the gigantic structure, half caved in, surrounded by shingles shed by wind and rain. A wall surrounded the massive cathedral-looking structure, barely 5 foot-lengths high and crumbled down to the ground in sections, weeds and grass clogging the gaps in its length. The entire grounds had an air of ominous neglect, time and weather with a lack of maintenance had taken its toll, dragging the masonry and statuary back down to the cold ground that had birthed it to begin with.

Lyiko perked his ears, "It looks like an old cathedral, or monastery..."

"I think it has been both, in its time."

The new, unfamiliar voice was soft and not unfriendly, but it made Lyiko yelp in surprise none-the-less as he whipped his bone wand from his sleeve and pointed it at the shadow standing behind them between a pair of the wind-blown trees. The figure chuckled and shifted more into the sunlight casting half of their face into the golden illumination casting down through the branches, "Detan sent me ahead with Jiiri to have a look about."

The newcomer was neither tall, nor short, neither slender, nor stocky, they appeared feline, but with slightly elongated features akin to a fox. His fur was short and bright silvery white, speckled with spots on his face and stripes on his throat and chest where it showed through the neck of his tunic. The smiling male had long, waist length hair of white, slashed through with black stripes, bundled together in a long, thick plait that was braided with beads and feathers dotting its length. His eyes were wide and almond shaped, one a bright emerald green, the other a light violet that sparkled in the dappled sunlight. A leather band held his hair back from his face, inscribed with runes and sigils, some of which Lyiko did not recognize. His clothing was unprepossessing, a simple dun colored tunic, with a wide, woven belt, dotted with pouches and bags, a pair of darker breeches, with his wide, strong feet bare save for a woven loop around each ankle. The reason the new male had been so hard to see was clear as he loosened his hooded cloak; it was a dark, hunter green, covered with what looked like living tendrils of ivy that waved to and fro gently despite the fact that there was no breeze between the shade trees.

"You must be Lyiko."

The feline gazed at the ringtail with his mismatched eyes, holding out a rough padded paw. Lyiko tucked his wand away, grasping the other male's paw and wrist gently as Inuus rumbled softly, "And this must be Inuus. Our specialists on this little mission."

"I-I suppose we are."

"I'm Talus."

Their greeting was cut short as there was a faint pop and Traz landed between two trees to one side. The albino bat sneezed loudly as he stepped deftly toward Lyiko, Talus and Inuus, "You might want to ah, move. The others will be here any moment."

He flicked his wings as he shuffled back farther into the tree-line, watching as Inuus hefted Lyiko and carried him, wriggling, along, followed by Talus, the feline's ivy covered cloak making him almost seem to fade into the trees when he stopped moving. Lyiko had a keen idea there was a slight stealth charm on the cloak, watching in fascination as Talus' cloak seemed to blur around the edges as he ceased moving. There was another drawn out series of muted popping and the other members of their party appeared at the edge of the clearing in staggered twos and threes. Detan smoothed his robes, flanked by the pair of battle mages, still clutching their staves. The quintet of constables in their red uniforms appeared next, each one brandishing a cudgel as long as their forearms, carved from an ebony wood and tipped in metal, in addition to their own personal weapons dangling from their belts.

Talus wrinkled his nose as he gazed at the peace-keepers, "I don't see what use those weapons will be here."

"Simple stun batons. Enchanted to incapacitate, not lethally wound."

"They've also been blessed. As a precaution."

Detan gazed at the faintly scowling feline, "The Magistrate did the best he could. With no holy magic users able to get within a half mile of this place without alerting the enemy to our presence, you're technically the closest thing to a spiritual warrior we have here Talus."

"I'm a druid Detan... I volunteered to come to help protect the necromancers, though my kind... disagrees with their views and ways. They have the least amount of combat experience amongst us all."

Lyiko glanced up as another pop sounded and the harried looking captain of the constables landed with a faint thump in their midst. The grizzled older feline smoothed his thick tunic and adjusted the short sword belted around his waist as he raised a paw in acknowledgment of his red uniformed men, "I apologize for the delay. Jiiri came up slightly nauseous after the last couple jumps."

Lyiko tucked his ears as the older male glanced his direction, but the captain glossed over the delay by gazing evenly at Talus, "Have you anything to report Talus?"

The druidic male nodded, lowering himself onto his haunches as he rubbed a finger through the soil at his feet, "Yes captain. I can sense catacombs beneath the monastery, they go deep. There are powerful enchantments in placed here. The earth is tainted, it feels dark, it tastes foul. The air smells bitter."

"Are there living beings in the cathedral?"

"Yes... It's difficult to see. But my roots are picking up nearly a score of living beings. Whether all are sapient, I cannot say."

The captain nodded, rubbing the ruff of fur on his chin as he looked to Traz and Lyiko, "Now, necromancers, it's your turn. Do you sense undead?"

Lyiko perked his ears, glancing at Traz as the albino bat looked thoughtfully at the sprawling monastery grounds. The ringtail shifted his gaze, staring at the towering cathedral as if trying to peer through its walls of bleached and crumbling masonry. He stretched out his senses using his mind, as he had been taught since he was a kit, searching for the telltale signs of shamanistic magics and the familiar deadened, dense spots that undead and ghouls left in the fabric of reality. Living beings shone in second sight, like beacons or living flame, with their life-force and the energies of magic and the soul within them, whereas the undead showed like spots of shadow, voids in the background field of living energy, only the residue of the magics that reanimated, controlled and sustained them showing like bright flashes of light showing around the penumbra of shadow in an eclipse.

As he focused, his mind slipping into that state of half awareness he could see them, the rippling and shifting voids of shadow between the curtains of life-energy. In the depths of the monastery and catacombs he could sense and see the restless movement of the reanimated dead, the flashes of their magic life flickering in and out of focus as he allowed his mind to flit in and out of the visible world. Traz moved restlessly beside him as they both gazed into the heart of the crumbling cathedral, Inuus shifting on his feet as he lifted his broad nose to the air and sniffed deeply, "I smell demons."

Lyiko nodded, shifting his perceptions ever so slightly and picking up the deep, rippling flashes of orange and scarlet of demonic energy scattered amongst the shadows of the dead, "There are demons, almost a dozen, but half of those are weak, barely showing against the stronger of their kin within the monastery. There is nearly a score of undead. No ghouls, nothing stronger than class 3."

Traz nodded, his pink eyes glittering as he picked at his fangs with a claw, "Yes. I agree, to both. The demonic signatures of half a dozen of them are very weak, I doubt they're corporeal, if they are, they're of no real threat, probably just possessed items."

He looked to the captain, "The undead seem to be mostly class 2 and 3. Zombies and humanoid skeleton, unless I miss my guess, perhaps some crawlers as sentries..."

The grizzled feline squared his shoulders, nodding, "Very well."

Talus pushed his cloak back over his shoulders, wrinkling his muzzle softly, "Captain, in light of so little opposition, I renew my offer to simply collapse the entire cathedral and have done with it."

"I thank you Talus, but the council needs to know if the remains of the lost reliquary rest within. If it can be recovered, it must be."

"I sense nothing of any particular power within the catacombs."

Detan shrugged gently, looking to his mage companions who both nodded their support of his senses. The pair of battle mages hefted their staves and looked toward the forlorn monastery, waiting on Detan to give their orders. The feline captain squared his shoulders, squeezing the grip of his sword as he took a step forward, heading from the tree line. Traz gave a nervous chuckle, shrugging as he patted the front of his robe where a tendril of dense shadow waved idly from his collar, "Let's go Lyiko."

Talus picked his way cautiously from between the trees, his paw toying with the wide belt at his waist, "I don't like the feeling of the flora here... The closer we get, the more tainted it feels. The darker it feels..."

"Wouldn't surprise me if we found a necromancer's garden near the entrance..."

Lyiko gazed at the black and white feline who nodded, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly, "Stay close to Traz, Inuus and myself Lyiko. We shall keep you safe here."

"I take it you don't trust the skills of the peace keepers."

Traz lowered his voice as he fell into step next to Talus, who was walking within arms-length of Lyiko, keeping the young ringtail between himself and Inuus who was growling faintly, the Incubus' large bat-like wings slowly unfurling from his back.

"Expecting trouble big guy?"

Traz looked to the horned male who lifted his broad shoulders in a shrug, "I look forward to it. Battle with my own kind to protect my master would be pleasing."

"Hopefully it will not be as dramatic as all that my demonic friend."

Detan was moving his paws and arms idly, speaking quietly in an almost singsong voice as he moved through the group, casting protective enchantments and spells around them. As they moved through the ruined yard surrounding the cathedral the red robed constables shifted around them, forming a loose ring around Inuus, Lyiko, Traz and Talus, with the pair of battle-mages falling farther to the front on either side, with the captain and Detan taking the fore, leading them slowly. Inuus kept Lyiko within the curl of his wing, his bright silver eyes roving ceaselessly all about them as he sniffed and listened intently. Talus reached to his belt, withdrawing a pair of large golden oak leaves from a pouch and touching them to Lyiko and Traz's backs, where they clung to their robes. The large leaf left a tingling sensation down Lyiko's back as the druidic male explained, "In case of emergency."

As they entered the shadowed courtyard of the cathedral, the sun being on the opposite side of the massive monastery structure, Xzziz showed more of himself, flowing around Traz's throat and shoulders. The little demon's buzzing voice was low, "Mazzzzzzzter, I zzzzzzmell zzzzzomething, close, nearby."

Inuus nodded, his broad nostrils flaring as he glanced about, "Yes... Very faint, but I smell it too. That way, toward the garden..."

Lyiko pointed to the walled garden that lay near the massive doors to the cathedral, "They say in there. Be careful."

"There are probably guards or look-outs stationed in the grounds."

The captain of the constables stepped toward the dark looking garden slowly, peering into the archway of the large plot of sickly looking plant life. Talus gritted his teeth as they approached the garden, opening and closing his paws restlessly as Lyiko patted his shoulder. The ringtail looked about as they entered the enclosed yard, the stunted trees, the short, almost leprous looking grass that had rough, almost sharp edged blades that bit at their feet, exchanging glances with Traz, "Everyone stay on the pathways... These plants are dangerous."

As if to punctuate his words a low, black leaved shrub almost like a rose-bush gave a shiver and a long, whip-like tendril covered in wicked thorns whipped out and slashed at the youngest constable that had strayed too close to it. The canine male yelped, clutching his arm as the thorned cane tore his robe, wrapping itself around his arm and attempting to yank him off his feet. The grizzled captain leapt forward, his sword half from its sheath before Lyiko grabbed his elbow, whipping his wand from his sleeve with his other paw and whipping it at the menacing vine, "No, don't cut it, the sap is toxic!"

A burst of ice-cold sleet battered the short bush, making its dark leaves frost almost instantly as it shook and jiggled, attempting to pull itself away from the blast of arctic air. The tendril immediately disengaged from the young canine, whipping back into the shrub as the black foliage withered back from the dousing of ice. Talus withdrew a long bandage from his pouches, swiftly winding it around the young peacekeeper's arm, "The thorns aren't poisonous. You'll be fine."

A patch of shivering blooms, the flowers snapping open and closed like castanets brandished themselves threateningly at the kneeling pair till Lyiko aimed his wand at them, blasting them with cold air, making them snap shut and withdraw. He turned and barked at a pair of the constables that had backed away from the menacing flowers, "Get away from that tree!"

They had almost brushed against a tall, spindly tree with branches that resembled bleached bones and dark reddish brown needle-like leaves that wept a thick, sticky tarry ichor. Bloated purple and red fruits dangled from the tree, looking like diseased peaches. Inuus reached up and deftly plucked one of the soft fruits, "They're poisonous to mortal humanoids, but not to demon-kinds."

Talus made a tiny disgusted retch as Inuus bit into the soft-pulped fruit, which dripped red and brown like clotted blood. The horned male swallowed the entire fruit in two bites, wiping his lips as he took another, "Blister fruit..."

"Blood berries and corpse-root over here. Caprican yew. That looks like a death apple. Tangler roses. Hangman's vine. Lava leaf, with fruit, those are good for making portable fires. Death sickle, Leper's hood, Raver's tongue. Heart of the martyr. Barbed venom tongue. Demon's tail. That's a scarlet weltwood. This place reads like a necromancer's apothecary..."

"It's blasphemous..."

Talus bristled softly, his mismatched eyes glinting as he cast disgusted looks at the dark, demonic plant-life, "These should all be destroyed. Some of these plants aren't even native to this realm of existence."

Inuus belched softly, grinning at the druid as he tossed a half eaten fruit to the ground, watching it burst, withering the stunted grass as the sticky juice within it dripped. The nervous looking constables were exchanging glances between keeping an eye on the malevolent plants surrounding them. Lyiko uttered a shrill squeak as a nearby shrub rustled and the battle-mage nearest them whipped his staff down and unleashed an arcing blast of deep purple lightning into the plant, making it's leaves shrivel back instantly as a body came toppling from the bank of shrubbery, landing with a thud on the paving stones where it lay smoking.

Lyiko and Talus both gasped at the smoldering body, it was short, and slender, looking for all the world like a juvenile elf boy, with long, flowing raven hair and pale skin, scorched and bruised by the blast, dressed in a long kilt and sandals, with pale red eyes rolled up in his skull. Lyiko felt a jolt through his stomach as he dropped to his knees, frantically waving his wand over the burns and scorch-marks, "By the 13 prophets, don't let him be dead!"

Detan looked stricken as both Inuus and Xzziz gave of funny hissing sounds. Traz dropped next to Lyiko, his pink eyes wide, "What is one of their kind doing here?!"

Talus and the constable males looked puzzled till Lyiko looked up from where he was pushing on the slender bodies' chest, "It's a member of the clan of S'sivreen, a clan of demons from the border-lands of the lower depths! We must save him!"

Talus plucked a pouch from his belt and elbowed Traz to one side, emptying the small sack of dirt around the still smoking demon in a ring, clapping his paws together sharply and laying them on the scorched skin of the demon's chest, intoning to himself as Detan and the battle-mages stood guard around them. The druid closed his mismatched eyes, his muttered spell growing in intensity as the ring of earth glowed a bright blue and erupted into silver flames, racing around the circle and casting their pale light across the prone body. The burns and scorch-marks were shrinking, their bloom across the delicate skin fading as Lyiko performed a complicated pattern in the air over the unconscious demon, his wand expelling tiny puffs of cool mist as he worked. When the pair sat back on their heels, wiping their brows Detan spoke, "He is a demon, here, is he not working with this cult intent on their breaking of the Law of Laws?"

Lyiko's blue eyes flashed as he looked up, "The S'sivreen are demons, yes, but they live on a plane that is between the lower depths and the high heavens, a limbo realm. They are a pleasure clan, demonic pacifists, for all intents and purposes... They do not kill. This proves that the cult of necromancers operating here is working with summoners, and expected an attack from the church."

Detan scrubbed his chin as the captain gazed between them, "The church?"

Traz took over Lyiko's train of thought, "The S'sivreen do not oppose the high heavens. If they work with this cult, they have been deceived, stationing them as the outer-most sentries almost ensures they would be attacked, and killed. If the S'sivreen thought the Church of the Light had attacked and killed one of their own, they would turn against their non-violence pact and side with the lower depths, playing right into the hands of those seeking the Unnamed God's rebirth and sowing more strife between demon and angel."

Lyiko, spotting the look of utter loathing crossing Inuus' face at the mention of the word "angel" made a tiny noise of exasperation, "It's not exactly hard to make strife between them. Most angels and demons loathe one another on principle."

The ringtail was massaging the tiny demon's wrists as he stowed his wand between his arm and chest, watching Talus uncork a flask and tip it over the S'sivreen's slightly parted lips, pouring a measure of amber liquid between them. The pale demon shivered and uttered a sputtering cough as his large red eyes flickered open. Lyiko perked his ears, "What was that? Enervation potion?"

"Whiskey." Talus offered the flask to Lyiko who shrugged and took a sip, coughing as it burned his throat. He passed the flask on as he helped the pale, long eared feline help the small, shivering demon into a sitting position. The slender demon looked between them, distrust burning in his red eyes, "Why did you attack, then save me, mortal-kind?"

"You surprised us. We didn't mean to harm you; you're of the S'sivreen. You're a peaceful clan."

The demon male looked suspiciously at the ringtail and druid, "You are not of the church?"

Lyiko snorted, shaking his head, "We do not represent the church, we're here on behalf of the Citadel Mage Clans. Don't try to stand, your wounds are still knitting."

"What do you want, if you're not of the church, mage?"

"I'm a necromancer, so is he."

Lyiko felt his ears color a bit as he pointed to Traz, "We have demon companions of our own, see?"

Xzziz shifted around Traz's neck, shifting his long waving tendrils, as Inuus stood up taller, thrusting his chest out and gazing down at the prone demon. Lyiko gestured to Inuus, "He is my companion and consort."

One of the demon's large almond shaped red eyes stayed on Inuus' horns and wings as the tiny demon glanced to Lyiko, his posture relaxing slightly, "You hold an Incubus as a consort? One so young? You must be a powerful necromancer, I apologize for insinuating you were of the church then youngling."

Lyiko offered his paw to the sitting demon, "What is your name?"

"You know I cannot reveal my true name to you, necromancer, but you may call me Riva."

"Riva, I'm Lyiko, this is Traz, Talus, Xzziz, Inuus, Detan, with Fili and Rema, the one who wounded you, I apologize... And I'm sorry captain, I didn't catch your name?"

The grizzled feline grunted, "Captain Marius, with constables Knizik, Colbi, Valin, Albon and Dari."

The small demonic male gazed at each of their party in turn, his eyes narrowing at the battlemages somewhat haughtily as he staggered to his lean feet with difficulty and a helping hand from Lyiko, "Why are you here, with peace-keepers and mages trained in battle?"

Lyiko saw no reason to attempt to lie to the little demonic male, who's red eyes were focused as sharply as lasers on his face, watching intently, "We were sent here to investigate whether or not there is a cult in residence, and if they threaten the Law of Laws. We suspect they seek the resurrection of an Old One. A reliquary possibly containing the remains of an Old God was taken from a place to the north, we believe it is here."

Riva had startled at the mention of the Law of Laws and the Old One, his hands rubbed over his face as he stared at Lyiko, a look of horror on his face, "An Old One? They said the reliquary was a relic of the fallen one Tyrianus, they sought his return as a prince of the 6th circle of the lower depths! They made no mention of any Old Gods!"

The slender demon was shaking as he grasped Lyiko's arm, "We had no sense of it. Had we S'sivreen known about any plan to bring apocalypse to the world, we would never have... I must warn my clan, immediately!"

Lyiko caught the small demon's arm gently, "Are any other of your kind here as guards? Are there other defenses in place inside the catacombs?"

"Y-yes... I shall call the rest of my kind away at once! We demon-kind can pass through the cathedral, monastery and catacombs unheeded but against other mortals and especially against any members of the church there are wards, enchantments and curses set against outsiders, watch the shadows, be cautious, if you wish to find what you seek necromancer... I must go now, the rest of my kind must be warned from this place..."

He paused, half turning, "No other of my kind shall oppose you in this place, but beware the feral-kind of demons, they may be loose within the catacombs."

The slender demon pulled from Lyiko and dashed away, vanishing in a burst of acrid smoke before he reached the edge of the necromancer's garden. Talus watched the tiny demonic male go, drawing from his flask before stowing it once more beneath his cloak. Inuus rumbled gently, resting his paws on Lyiko's shoulders, "I believe we can trust him, little master. I sensed no deception from him."

"We need to be careful. There's no telling what kind of curses and traps they've set up around the cathedral..."

Traz cast a wary eye toward the towering doors of weathered wood and iron that led into the heart of the massive monastery cathedral. As he took a step forward Detan restrained him gently with a hand, "As we're about to enter their main hide-out, you and Lyiko, and you captain and your constables, listen to me. If this encounter at any time gets out of control, I expect you to obey my or Talus' commands. You may fight, you may do whatever you must to protect your own life and the life of the others here, but should I tell you to hide, you hide, should I tell you to save yourselves, you save yourselves, should I tell you to flee, you will flee. If this goes badly for us, I have orders for either Talus or myself and my mages to destroy this place, to destroy the reliquary if we must, to collapse the entire monastery and catacombs, if needs be, to prevent another war... Do I make myself clear?"

Lyiko swallowed, nodding gently as he gripped his wand tighter, grasping Inuus' large paw, making the demonic male squeeze it softly, "I will protect you little master."

Detan nodded, "Now, we follow the Necromancers. They will know the tricks and traps of their own kind."

"Your confidence is novel, Detan, let's hope it's not misplaced."

Traz looked wearily at the towering double doors of the cathedral's entrance, squaring his narrow shoulders and flicking his wings gently as he strode toward them cautiously, his paws feeling the air before him, with Lyiko and Inuus in tow. Talus followed just behind with Detan, his battle mages on either side with the captain and his constables taking up a rear-guard. Lyiko fished a long, slender crystal rod from his pocket, holding it before himself and watching it intently, feeling it in his grasp for the slightest sign of change. He swept the finger thickness of crystal back and forth before the doors, shaking his head gently, "They're unenchanted, not even locked."

"I somehow doubt that'll last long."

Traz's voice was darkly meaningful as he gingerly tugged the massive door handles and pushed gently. The two towering doors slowly creaked back away from them on their large hinges, exposing the massive, wide, high vaulted remains of the cathedral to them. The floors were stone, with the rotting remains of wooden benches and pews lined up in long, uneven rows stretching between them and the large, wide, raised altar at the far end of the arched vault. The standing piles of wood and stone from the crumbling walls and tiles from the ceiling high above were mixed with fragments and shards from the large mullioned windows, allowing the narrows beams of sunlight from outside to pierce the gloom of the rotting cathedral. Lyiko wrinkled his nose at the heavy scent of dust, rot and mildew, overlaid with faint whiffs of smoke and what smelled like rancid meat. As he walked gingerly across the rough flagstone floor he uttered a tiny gasp as he caught sight of the ruined altar at the dark end of the cathedral. The raised platform was crowded with broken heaps of rotting furniture, decomposing tapestries, decaying books and scrolls and sheaves of parchment and papyrus all thrown against the far wall, bearing scorch-marks and smoke burns where someone or something had tried to fire the lot of it. Even the heavy wooden beams enforcing the stonework walls of the cathedral showed through the wall like a skeletal framework, several of them jutting from the wall, their jaggedly splintered ends draped with cloth so rotted it looked like lace.

The scorching marks were mixed with blood smears and large long since clotted and dried blots where inkbottles had exploded like water bombs amongst the mess. There were bundles of rags and peeking here and there amongst the debris were small bleached bones, some still sporting fur. As he crept closer the ringtail could see signs and sigils and other blasphemous symbols daubed, scratched and even burned into the walls, floor, the rotting furniture and inscribed into a wide circle around the ransacked altar. Only a queer length of bright red carpeting seemed untouched, stretching down the remainder of the aisle between the heaps of rotten pews to the altar where the end of the rug crossed the crude rune circle. Lyiko was beginning to open his muzzle when the red robed constable Knizik was assisting the wounded Colbi in adjusting the sling around his arm stepped onto the trailing edge of the carpeting without realizing it.

Lyiko screeched in shock and Inuus yanked him bodily back as the scarlet ribbon of carpeting came alive with a snap, curling around the helpless constable and lifting him bodily. Before anyone could move to help the cursed carpeting smashed the vulpine peacekeeper to the floor with a deep, sickening crunch and rolled in on itself, flinging him across the expanse between the front of the altar and the far wall. Lyiko closed his eyes, whipping his head away as he heard the wet, almost hollow smack of the constable's body against the far wall, the meaty thump, the unmistakable crackle of splintering, smashing bones and the sound of splattering blood. Detan and Talus cursed at the same instant, the violet robed feline and his battle mage companions whirling on the menacingly flailing carpeting, all three of them sending gouts of blue fire blasting across the open space, charring the cursed length of runner to ashes in an instant.

Marius looked stricken as he gazed at the last flailing snap of the carpeting before it burst into ashes, his gaze lifting to the far wall where the corpse of his constable was pinned against the wall, hanging there by the foot of jagged timber that jutted from the stone where the young fox had been impaled. The vulpine's skull had been burst apart by the impact against the floor, his limbs dangling limply, obviously broken, as there were shards of white visible amongst the now even redder expanse of his robes, sodden through with deeper scarlet as it pooled on the floor beneath him. Lyiko uttered a tiny gag as he watched the young constable's blood run down the wall to puddle beneath him, but his stare was interrupted by Traz shaking Detan, "The priest's amongst the zombies now, they'll know we're here soon, if not already."

The violet robed male nodded, his teeth squeaking as he squared his broad shoulders, "The time for stealth has passed, I think. We go in, now."

Both battle mages banged the metal ferrules of the staves on the floor, causing their tips to ignite into a bright purple-white fire that crackled with tiny sparks of energy, but didn't seem to cast any heat. Captain Marius unsheathed his sword and his remaining constables pulled out their long truncheons and muttered over them, watching as they glowed softly, seeming to shimmer like light over water. Colbi seemed to have trouble holding his weapon, still staring at the remains of Knizik dangling against the wall with a glazed look. Talus swept closer to the young canine male, uncorking his flask and pouring a measure of the strong amber liquid down his throat, making him sputter. Lyiko fetched a small, marble sized glass orb from his robes and waved the tip of his wand over it, muttering, "Solis." And tossing it lightly into the air, where the orb lit up like a miniature sun, casting a strong golden glow all around them.

Traz cracked his own paws and muttered softly to Xzziz, the formless shadow demon flowing down across his master's shoulders and torso like a short cloak of living darkness, shifting and snaking his long tendrils as they whipped to and fro like fronds of sea-grass. The albino bat withdrew a long, needle pointed stiletto from his sleeve, the double-edged blade glinting in the multiple glows, showing it had a handle carved from bleached bone. He set his jaw and nodded to Lyiko and Detan as the violet robed male flicked his arms out and uttered a short, powerful, guttural enchantment and twin orbs of shivering, silver flame burst into his paws, gloving him to the wrists in flickering star-fire. He strode toward the nearest door to that seemed to lead below, pointing one crackling pawful at the rotting door and it was blown from its hinges with a gouting jet of silver fire.

The wide, crumbling set of stairs that led down yawned before them as Talus took one of his pouches from his belt and threw it against the door at the opposite end of the altar platform. It burst as it hit the door, erupting into a massive tangle of writhing vines that crossed the door back and forth, swelling and thrusting their tendrils into the stonework around the arched doorframe till the door was hidden behind the wall of menacing, thorn covered green vines, blocking it immovably as they pulsed and swayed threateningly. Detan gave a nod of approval, as their own doorway was now the only entrance or exit from below from the cathedral as he jerked his head and led the battle mages headlong down the stairs, followed by Traz, Lyiko and Inuus in the middle of their group, with the remaining peace-keepers headed by Marius bringing up the rear, their weapons glowing brightly.

The deep shadows melted back away from their passage, Lyiko's miniature sun bobbing in his wake, casting sharp shadows and bringing the crumbling ruins of the catacombs around them into stark relief. There were piles of dust and earth, with clots of bones scattered everywhere. More smashed furniture sat discarded in the corners of the passages and wide stone tunnels, with wider chambers dotted along their way. They passed doors, but all hung open onto shadow choked rooms, illuminated by the glare cast from the staves of the mages and Lyiko's light orb hovering above their heads. Traz darted his eyes to and fro as they proceeded, "Remember what the little demon said, beware of the shadows."

Lyiko gazed about, casting his eyes over the rough stone hewn floor, his eyes immediately drawn to the pool of darkness beneath the constable Valin's feet. All of their assembled party cast a distinct shadow, quite sharply upon the floor an oblong dot of darkness directly below their feet, depending on how close they stood to Lyiko's glow orb. But beneath the stocky otter constable's feet another shadow seemed to ripple like a pool of tar next to his own shadow. The ringtail spun, pointing his wand, "Valin, look out!"

Just as a burst of ice shot from the tip of the ringtail's wand the stocky peacekeeper moved his feet, one stepped beyond the unnatural shadow, but his other foot abruptly vanished as if he'd stepped into a hole. Valin shrilled as he fell off balance, his leg sinking quickly, it had vanished up to the knee as the shadow expanded to engulf his other foot and ankle. Lyiko snapped his paw toward the glow orb, then flicked his wand to the struggling peace-keeper, but the otter male gave an anguished howl as he was yanked down-ward, his hip dislocating noisily as he collapsed to the ground, scrabbling at the hard stone floor with one paw as he thrust his glowing baton at the tar-like shadow beneath him, the tip of his truncheon flashed and sparked, but the shadow beneath him gave no sign of giving up as he sank farther down, his broken leg now almost perpendicular with his hip as he was pulled inexorably into the void beneath him.

Talus kept a protective grip on Colbi as Detan and his mages spun, casting the angry glow of their staves and flame across the chamber. Inuus caught Valin's wrist and heaved, but the brown furred male merely shrieked as the living shadow pulled him into itself up to his hips, his wrenched foot thudding against his abdomen as the stocky otter's eyes rolled up in his skull and he began to thrash and twitch, his muzzle opening wide with a spray of blood, large bloody bubbles cascading from his nose. Lyiko felt the fur on his body stand on end as the blood pouring from the peacekeeper's mouth and nose was replaced by what looked like ink, running over his face and splattering down onto his sodden clothes. The living shadow had consumed him to the torso, forcing its way into his body from beneath and within, the black pouring from his silently screaming muzzle turning thick and tarry as it bubbled over his features, consuming them, pulling him down faster into the otherworldly shadow. As Valin vanished from sight into the spreading pool of shadow Traz thrust his paw into his pocket and yanked a large pouch free, ripping it open and pouring a stream of glittering powder into the now thickly bubbling shadow.

The black pool heaved and twitched madly, abruptly exploding into a mass of black and red smeared bones and entrails that heaved into a pile on the floor. The albino bat heaved the pouch in his paw, flinging the glittering contents around them all in the corridor, making Lyiko sneeze loudly, but he nodded, "Powered silver."

Marius looked livid, his eyes wide in shock as he pointed at the steaming pile of what looked like tar covered bones and shredded entrails, "What in Freyan's Eyes was that?!"

Lyiko snapped his muzzle shut, finding his voice again, "Salician nox... It's a living shadow. A blood feeder."

He jumped as Xzziz uttered a high pitched buzz and leapt from Traz, his flowing form snaking past all of them to pounce onto a spot of darkness that had been creeping along the juncture of floor and wall. The shadow demon elongated into a series of sharp points, thrusting himself into the body of the vampiric shadow that had been skulking up behind Talus and Colbi, tearing into the other shadow demon with a high pitched whine. The shadowy masses fought furiously for a moment before Xzziz expanded and retracted his spiked tendrils, ripping the pool of shadow apart. It uttered a tiny shriek as Xzziz flared like an umbrella and engulfed the tattered shadow demon, seizing it and curling around it as he consumed it, flattening and slithering back to Traz, climbing back up to the albino bat's shoulders with a satisfied sounding rattling hum. Traz smiled slightly stiffly, patting the pulsating mass of shadow draped across his shoulders, "Good boy."

Detan kept his eyes on the floor and ceiling of the passageway, "We seem to be running out of peace-keepers Marius, I told you, your men shouldn't have come."

"This is our fight just as much as anyone else's Detan. My men are brave and capable, but fighting demons isn't the same as chasing down a common thief!"

The grizzled feline's sword dangled limply at his side as Inuus growled and spun, his talons flashing as he opened his muzzle wide and spat a large glowing lump of what looked like lava onto another pool of shadow drifting toward them along the corridor floor. The vampiric shadow shrieked as the glowing lump of liquid fire struck it and stuck, burning, making the surface of the shadow bubble and smoke, billowing acrid steam as it thrashed and attempted to flee back down the corridor. Lyiko flicked his paw, making the tiny glow orb plunge from the air and dive directly into the roiling pool of sizzling shadow. It vanished with a crackle before the vampiric shadow exploded from within, sizzling into a pile of ash as the glow orb zoomed back into the air above their heads.

The young ringtail exchanged glances with Traz, "We have to keep moving, others will be here soon."

As their tightly clustered group moved down the corridor, deeper into the heart of the catacombs Inuus and Talus heard the faint shuffling scrape first, hissing softly, "Zombies!"

At a three way junction in the passageway a cluster of limping forms and clattering skeletal bodies was charging toward them as quickly as their rotting forms would allow. Detan snapped, "Rema, cover behind, Marius, assist him, Talus, keep a watch on Colbi and Lyiko!"

Lyiko glanced sidelong at the older male before he extended his wand to the passageway and a long jet of freezing sleet sprayed the stone floor, coating it in a thin but immensely slippery skin of ice. As the first of the shambling undead reached the frozen patch they slid in their halting gait and went crashing to the floor, followed by a tangle of the skeletal bones. The ringtail nodded to himself as he pointed to Inuus, "Inuus, now!"

The towering horned male nodded and his chest expanded as he inhaled, clicking his taloned fingers before his muzzle and exhaling with a gust of air that ignited in the midst of the undead, forming a massive, blossoming fireball. The fiend-fire bloomed, scarlet and deep flickering orange as it flowed about the struggling tangle of undead, making their rotting, withered flesh burst into sickly flame. As the jet of enchanted fire swept back and forth across the cluster of the undead they thrashed and tried feebly to rise, even as they were slowly consumed down to charred bone and ash. Inuus snapped his muzzle shut with a click as he watched his fiend-fire cling to the walls and floor of the passageway, the writhing tangle of zombies, alight with dancing flames collapsing slowly, their putrid flesh burning like tallow. The already skeletal forms of enchanted animated bones of the skeleton soldiers dropped away into ashes as the enchanted fire seared them, their zombie brethren slumping down as their burning flesh sputtered and spat, charring and dropping apart. The waves of heat that washed back up the corridor made Lyiko's hair stir on his head as he flicked his wand and a gale of ice cold wind swept the swiftly burning corpses and flung the charred remains against the scorched stone wall, making them shatter and explode into bone shards and chalky white powder, the magic holding the reanimated corpses dissolving before the double onslaught of bewitched fire and ice.

Detan grunted as he grasped the skull of one of the stragglers between his paws alight with its shivering silver fire and squeezed, making it burst between his palms, throwing the body away as he extended his arm and blasted a rattling skeleton into bits of bone and sinew. Marius chopped down a lurching undead from behind them, severing its head nearly as the stump of its neck spewed ichor. Traz darted in with his long wicked dagger, neatly jamming it into the eye-socket of the nearest corpse and twisting his wrist, withdrawing his knife and then removing its head with a backhanded swipe. Talus was soothing the injured Colbi as the canine swung his glowing truncheon down onto the skull of a skeleton crawling resolutely across the flagstones to pluck at his ankles. As the druid looked behind them he withdrew his paw from his cloak, clutching a flask of water, pitching it overhand into the corridor behind them and shouting a guttural incantation. The flask burst against the stone floor, where the water erupted into a wall of searing blue flames that raced down the passage, filling it for a distance with bright blue fire.

"The sacred fire will block the way behind, should anything attempt to ambush us."

As they proceeded Inuus drew himself up to his full height and bellowed a challenge as a pair of glimmering red eyes blinked from the ceiling, a scuttling demon crawling toward them swiftly across the roof of the vaulted passage. The Incubus flared his wings, brandishing his talons as the other demon, appearing to be a blasphemous mixture of wolf and reptile leaped from its perch and flew directly at the horned male, screeching murderously, a long barbed tail thrashing and long, hooked talons stretched before it. The smaller demon flew bodily into Inuus as the Incubus caught its wrists and squeezed, wrenching the things arms from its body at the elbows and then growling murderously as the thrashing demon's fangs sank into his shoulder. He gripped its throat and tore it away, bright blood jetting from the bite wound in his own shoulder. Inuus snarled as his own muzzle opened wide, exposing his hyper-extended dagger-like fangs as he released his grip on the creature's throat and caught it around the shoulders. The horned male bit down on the other demon's throat, a sickening crunch filling the passage as he ripped the other demon's throat out and flicked his muzzle, flinging the ragged bundle of flesh away as black blood sprayed in all directions.

The thrashing demon kicked and spat at Inuus, leaving deep gouges on his belly as the long barbed tail flashed forward and arched, but Marius swung forward and with a flash of his sword lopped it free, severing half of the screaming creature's tail to drop to the floor of the corridor. The Captain swung back around to fend off a fresh attacker, this time a dwarf sized imp with charcoal black skin and smoking red eyes. The battle mages brought their staves to bear and a duel stream of purple-white lightning caught the tiny demon in the head and chest, making it crumple as Inuus finished his grisly work. With a growl of triumph the horned male bit through the screeching demon's throat, making its reptilian head spin off into the shadows. Inuus raised himself to his full height as he gripped the headless body and raised it high, then brought it down over his knee, snapping the lifeless spine with a strident crunch of bone and sinew. The broken, decapitated corpse thudded off the wall as he flung it away, roaring in challenge as he arched his wings, turning to a pair of new attackers charging toward them.

The Incubus's fur rippled as he growled, shifting to a glossy black, his eyes glowing a shimmering green as Lyiko shouted to the rest of the defenders in the fray, "Away, back away!"

Inuus waited till the pair of sleek, horned demons were within springing distance before he opened his muzzle and exhaled a plume of faintly glowing, neon green gas that shot toward the attacking demons and engulfed them in the sickly phosphorescent mist. The acrid smell was nothing to the ear-splitting shrieks that emerged from the cloud of acid that Inuus had expelled. Talus looked up from stomping on the skull of another imp, his foot smeared with a sickly grue of blood and pink matter, "By the gods... He's got a breath weapon..."

"Two of them, as a matter of fact."

Lyiko's voice was muffled by the neck of his robe pulled up over his muzzle, his bright blue eyes watering at the stinging stink of the cloud of acidic mist. The attacking demons were thrashing on the floor of the corridor, their black carapaces bubbling and sloughing from their flesh as they melted where they lay, their shrieks cut off as the organic acid collapsed their lungs and dissolved their throats and muzzles. Their glowing eyes had burst, running down across their bubbling faces, mixing with the gruel of blood and acid as they collapsed into vaguely humanoid shaped puddles of dark, sickly ichor. Even the stone walls were pocked and chewed by the acid cloud as it slowly faded, leaving the stretch of passageway coated in an acrid, stinging wetness.

The blasts from the battle mages was abruptly halved as Fili suddenly screamed, clutching a long, wicked barbed spike that had sprouted from his chest as if by magic. Detan and Marius whirled, pouncing on the snarling, scaled demon that had killed the violet robed mage, the silver fire burning it as Marius hacked and stabbed in fury, reducing the thrashing demon to bloody shambles in revenge. They had no choice but to leave the fallen mage's body where it lay, though Talus plucked a long, rough spike of a silvery looking wood from his robe and with an anguished cry drove it deeply into Fili's still warm chest, "The rowan will ensure his body cannot be turned, we must finish this!"

Detan's muzzle was set, dappled with blood from a dozen shallow scores across his face, "We have lost almost half our number. We must finish this now."

Traz wiped a trickle of blood from his muzzle, "We are close now, I can sense it."

Lyiko and Talus both nodded in their agreement, "There's a void of darkness near... It's close."

The ringtail adjusted his robes where part of his sleeve had been torn away, snorting in annoyance as he just gripped the fabric and tore it away to flutter to the floor, leaving him with one bare, scratched arm. His blue eyes widened as he raised his wand and spat floridly in a language only Traz and Inuus seemed to recognize. The great gout of shivering silver-blue fire that shot from his raised wand caught the tall, spindly form that had come scuttling down the wide corridor at them in the torso. There was a flash of flame and the rattling construct of wood, metal and cloth was illuminated fully. The large, dully glowing red eyes set into a wide, horned skull of some large animal sat stared balefully at them, as Lyiko took in their attacker, "It's a tatterdemalion!"

The demonically possessed construct was almost as tall as Inuus, but skeletally thin, rough lengths and limbs of timber were bound together in a vague humanoid form beneath the ragged, rotting robes and clothes that gave the golem its name. The scarecrow-like construct had long, twitching limbs of wood and rusting metal, bound together with leather and flax cords. Rusting claws stretched from the stump ends of the creature's arms, knives and long jagged spikes lashed together in a mocking semblance of a hand, dappled with dried blood as they clicked together menacingly. The quaking shiver that wracked the tatterdemalion's animated body made its long bleached bone and wooden legs stumble and stutter across the stone floor. The construct's steps were becoming lurching strides, like seeing a drunken male stagger across an avenue, the magic binding the wood, metal and bone together slowly breaking apart as the star-fire burned into it.

Inuus spat more molten globs of fire at two more of the creaking, eerily twitching scarecrows that scuttled toward them. One struck one of the pair directly between it's hollow, glowing eye-sockets, leaving a smoking hole where the fire flared within, making the entire skull glow like an obscene jack-o-lantern as it shuddered towards them. The possessed conglomerations of refuse clattered and clicked closer as Traz barked to the remaining peacekeepers, "Smash the skulls!"

Colbi, Albon and Dari darted forward, followed closely behind by Marius swinging their weapons high as they danced away from the wicked, rusted claws that swiped and flashed at them. Colbi uttered a stifled gasp of pain as one of the tatterdemalions pierced his shoulder with one of its hands, made from the remains of an ancient pitchfork. With a savage snarl, fueled by rage, pain and fear the young canine jerked the tines from his flesh and lifted his truncheon high, smashing it down against the enchanted skull. The bleached bone exploded, scorching the snarling canid as the skeleton of wood and cloth crashed down, twitching with residual magic. Detan lifted both paws and blasted away another of the horrors that had swung up beside the panting canine, pulling the blood spattered peacekeeper away as the remainder of the skittering constructs was smashed to the floor, burning and bludgeoned.

The violet robed male passed the panting canine to Talus who passed his long, elegantly fingered paws over the gaping wounds of Colbi's shoulder and throat, uttering a song-like incantation. The wounds closed immediately, staunching the flow as the druid stroked the glassy-eyed canine's muzzle, whispering to him as he laid his paws on the young peacekeeper's face. The gentle invocations soothed the battered canine, his eyes clearing slightly as he ceased shivering so violently, gripping the druid's arm tightly. Lyiko gazed at the length of the corridor scattered with smoldering wreckage, wiping his muzzle where blood was trickling down the side of his nose, jumping as Inuus laid his broad, blood smeared paw on his nape, "Have faith little master."

Marius rumbled softly, "Funny words from a demon, faith..."

Lyiko flashed the grizzled feline a glance, "None of us wishes to die down here, not even those whose kin we battle."

The corridor curved away from them, Traz whispering to Xzziz and the shadow demon slithered down from his master's shoulders, flowing almost flat to the wall and curving around the bend in the path. His mass of shadowed tendrils wavered softly, then carried him back to Traz's arms, "I zzzzzzense zzzomething in the air ahead mazzter. They erect a barrier, a ward to bar us entry."

The albino bat muttered a curse as they swung around the curve of the tunnel, a faint, wavering haze shimmering dimly in the air across the corridor. Large, thick, crude runes were inscribed across the flagstones from wall to wall, painted in blood and ash. The faintly glowing barrier shifted like mist, thickening as they approached. Detan and Talus scowled, venturing no nearer than a dozen paces as they peered at the small, glowing urn on the other side of the barrier. Traz tossed a small bone from one of his numerous pockets at the shimmering wall of force, wincing as it exploded into powder. Lyiko shifted from foot to foot as Detan, Traz and Talus all stood well away from the barrier but probed it with their various skills and senses. The albino bat's shoulders seemed to hunch farther and farther as he shook his head after nearly a span of five full minutes, "I don't think it can be crossed, not without the proper sign, or key..."

Lyiko stepped forward, gazing at the blood runes, feeling Inuus' broad paw restraining him gently. The ringtail stretched out his paw, lightning fast before any of the other of the company could stop him and prodded the barrier with his finger. There was a sizzling pop, making the slender ringtail curse but nothing more. He wrinkled his muzzle, ignoring the florid curses and looks of startled amazement from the older of his fellows, "I... think I know..."

He cast his mind back to the thick, ancient, yellow paged and leather bound tome he had read before his ritual of summoning that brought Inuus into his life, recognizing many of the runes and their patterns. Setting his jaw Lyiko pressed both of his paws flat against the shimmering barrier, hissing as the crackling of energy stung him, but nothing more. He pushed, gritting his teeth as he shoved against the crackling wall of force, the others uttering gasps of amazement as the barrier flexed beneath the ringtail's application of pressure, stretching against his paws. Lyiko found himself immersed into the shimmering wall of haze almost to the elbows before the resistance overcame his strength and he was shoved backward into Inuus' waiting arms. He panted gently, shaking his tingling paws, feeling the energy buzzing up along his arms, "Yes, yes, I know now."

Traz's strained voice was hoarse, "Don't keep us in suspense laddy."

"One must be blood bonded, possessed to or of a demon to cross. A blood breed necromancer. Only those who know old, ancient blood magic could have erected this barrier."

The slender ringtail squared his shoulders, bright blue eyes flashing, "It must be me to cross."

"No!"

"Unthinkable!"

"Don't be a fool..."

Lyiko shook his head violently at the protests of the older males, but Talus, Inuus and the still shaken Colbi looked at him steadily. He waved his tingling paws, "It has to be me. I share a blood bond with Inuus, I carry his essence and his mark..."

The ringtail shoved up the remainder of his torn sleeve, exposing the patch of his fur where his horned consort had bitten him, seeming like ages ago in the jarring stretch of time since they had entered the tunnels beneath the monastery. The dark mark where Inuus' venom had scarred his flesh, invisible to all but others of his kind now burned with a faint prickling sensation, showing sinisterly through his fur like a tattoo of living ink. Traz gaped openly as the others fell silent, "You took a demon mark? You have bigger testicles than Theanon spoke of Lyiko."

The ringtail flushed automatically, "I bear Inuus' mark and he mine, I have his essence in my veins, making me more than mortal, less than demon-kind, the process of metamorphosis can be reversed, by one skilled enough."

Lyiko's voice held a hopeful note despite the expression of grim determination on his young features as he turned to Inuus and gripped his broad paws, "Inuus, it must be me to get us past this ward, no one else can do it. Will you give me blood?"

The towering demon's bright silver eyes were surprisingly soft as he caressed Lyiko's paws, he nodded slowly, "Yes little master. Few of your kind have the courage to go so far to risk themselves in what you ask, but I will do as you bid me, for all our sakes."

The Incubus lifted his thumb to his pink fanged muzzle and bit down, making a large, bright deep scarlet drop well from his flesh, offering the quivering crimson life-blood to Lyiko. The ringtail took a deep breath and glanced at Traz, "You and Theanon had better be able to reverse this..."

"So long as it's within 3 days' time. But there have been cases of those so changed being stuck with horns for the rest of their lives..."

The crack of a smile on the albino bat's muzzle made Lyiko feel a wave of gratitude quell his fear as he gingerly snaked his tongue out and swept the ruby droplets of Inuus' blood into his mouth, feeling it burn his gums immediately. He swallowed as tears sprang into his eyes, fighting the urge to retch as his entire throat seemed to seize up and revolt against him. Lyiko collapsed against Inuus' broad form as his entire body seemed to catch fire from within, making him only vaguely aware of Traz thumping him hard on the back, "Breathe lad, breathe... It'll pass."

Lyiko clamped his eyes shut as the fire turned to cold sweeping through his veins like ice water, making him shudder and twitch. He could feel his flesh jumping and twitching, flexing of its own suddenly traitorous accord. He gasped at the nova of pain that shot through his skull, realizing a pair of short horns had just burst from his temples. As the slender ringtail fought to open his eyes he felt his paws twitch and crack, knowing they now carried wicked talons, his feet too would be changed. With a jolt Lyiko wondered if his long, ringed tail would be changed too as he forced his stinging, watering eyes open and gasped at the expressions on his companion's faces. Only Traz and Inuus didn't look shocked or vaguely repelled, the towering Incubus even rumbling softly, "You make a magnificent demonling my little master."

Lyiko gazed as his own distended fingers, horn tipped, his usually cream and mocha fur now swirled and daubed with vivid black where the demonic mark had spread all over his reshaped body from his shoulder. He realized with a gasp that his eyes now shone faintly pink as he looked at himself reflected in Inuus' gaze. A new, unfamiliar sensation was pounding through him, a flooding heat, foreign and animal desires flitting through his mind and body. He felt as if he could break the barrier shimmering mockingly before him with the barest touch, a maniac grin parting his now sharp fanged muzzle. Lyiko gazed up at Inuus, now slightly unsettled by the sight of a pair of curved steel gray horns poking into his field of vision from either side of his skull, "I may only get one chance to do this."

The ringtail seized his tall, broad Incubus consort with his metamorphosed arms and paws, feeling the raw power in his form now, nowhere near as potent as the towering Incubus' own, but startling none-the-less. With a growl of sheer, unbridled zeal Lyiko kissed Inuus hard, allowing the new demonic tinged senses coursing through him to connect with his horned consort, linking them in a completely new, almost soul-deep fire as they kissed. He felt Inuus' surprise flash through for an instant, then the demonic male's own strength meet and match his own. Ignoring the stares from their companions and Traz' muttered, "I know it's exciting lad, but is now really the time and place?" as he let himself course through his horned lover with a wild abandon before pulling back and then leaping head-first at the barrier before anyone could restrain him.

The haze of energy fought him for an instant, attempting to buck him back and away, but then with a crash of sparks the ringtail was through, standing panting on the far side of the barrier. Lyiko fought past the dizzying wave of nausea and the stench of his own scorched robes as he swept up the glowing urn and crushed it between his paws with a triumphant exhale of breath. He smashed the now lifeless ruins of the urn to the floor where the runes' glow flickered then died and the shimmering wall evaporated into nothingness. The softly rumbling ringtail was suddenly surrounded by his companions as they swept him up and along, Inuus taking his arm as they passed, hurrying onward toward the deep, dark heart of the catacombs. Lyiko and Inuus passed ahead, crashing through several more wards and curses with almost frightening ease with their demonic energy flowing like living fire within them.

As he ran Lyiko focused all his strength inward, biting his lip with his new, long, sharp fangs till a double bead of blood oozed free, forcing himself to change, reaching down deep and bringing his body back to as close a semblance of its unaltered self as he could manage unaided. The demonic mark shrank back, his paws relaxing once again around his smooth bone wand, lacking their long talons and the faint pink shimmer faded from his eyes as they regained their bright cobalt hue. Only the horns refused his commands, stubbornly staying on either side of his skull, though shrunk slightly. Inuus looked slightly disappointed as Lyiko's body diminished slightly in its demonic glow, but kept his tongue as they charged deeper down into the winding abyss of the catacombs.

The undead dwindled as they were charged, smashed and burned down, the lesser demons now fleeing from their campaign as they neared the beating heart of darkness. The shadows grew thicker, repulsing their light, the stench of death and decay rising till it was almost palpable in the still, unnaturally silence. The dark aura seemed to almost pulsate, dragging at them, gnawing at their fears and making them shiver with numbness the closer they approached. As they burst into a room, past thick, rotting oaken doors a new, arresting sight met them. A half dozen figures, cloaked in black, hooded and standing silent as sentinels awaited them. Lyiko growled loudly, surprising himself as he moved with his enhanced speed, jerking Albon and Rema to one side, Inuus, Traz and Marius diving out of the way and Talus sweeping Colbi away with a billowing of his living cloak as the handful of darkness cloaked figures flung and aimed bursts of red and green light and energy at the blown-in doorway.

Detan was illuminated by the jets of emerald, his own shield spell springing up to repulse half the curses aimed at him. The mage crashed down, unmoving, but gasping in pain as his robes smoldered around him, the flagstone floor beneath him cracked and burned by the arcane energy skimming around him. Lyiko howled in rage as Dari, the handsome, rangy feline peacekeeper slumped to the ground, wreathed in scarlet fire as the energy of the assembled attacker's curses slammed into him. The peacekeeper's blank eyes stared at the vaulted ceiling as his body relaxed into death, his weapon clattering away and smashing into the wall. Forced to ignore the crumpled arch-mage and before the group of black cloaked assailants could shift their focus Inuus was amongst them, followed swiftly by Xzziz, ripping and tearing, casting hoods and cloaks away in shredded tatters, soaked in blood.

Lyiko could see the forms of half their attackers clearly now, their mortal, living humanoid assailants. As he pounced on one of the nearest robed males, thrusting his wand like a dagger into his chest he screeched, "We've found them! Necromancers!"

Another hooded figure spat a stream of crimson at the slender ringtail as Lyiko ripped his wand from the screaming cultist beneath him, "Necromancer yourself, blood-traitor!"

The ringtail snarled, snapping his wand down and slamming it down on the top of the head of the thrashing and screeching necromancer beneath him. With a crackling snap the screams ceased as his entire head froze in a flash, frost riming his wide, popping eyes and screaming lips. Dropping the now lifeless body beneath him, its head smashing into shards on impact with the stone floor Lyiko swept after the taunting assailant, "Traitor?! You dare call me a traitor! I seek not the unmaking of the world as your lunatic band does!"

"Not unmaking, rebirth whelp!"

The leering necromancer; tall, whip thin and pale, seeming like a mix between fox and canine flicked another burst of red energy at Lyiko who lashed it aside with his red stained wand. Again and again the hybrid tried, his leer turning into a rage filled snarl as the slender ringtail parried every curse aimed at him. Lyiko swept his arm, making the tip of his wand dip for an instant, casting a patch of ice beneath the hissing hybrid's feet and watching as the taller male slipped and toppled backward. With a scream that died halfway from his lips the pale hybrid crumpled as Lyiko's jet of silvery-blue light struck him in the center of his chest. The ringtail whipped about in a whirl of his torn robes as one of the robed attackers made a mad dash for the massive iron-shod doors at the far end of the chamber that the knot of necromancers had been guarding. He lashed his bone wand like a whip, a coil of silver catching the fleeing cultist around the knees and dragging him back as if reeling in a fish. As their hood fell away Lyiko saw the panicked face of a slender, dark furred female twist in terror as Marius fell upon her with his sword, cleaving through her neck with a massive explosion of scarlet.

The grizzled veteran avoided the pumping spray with a side step and nodded to Lyiko, "Nice catch son!"

Rema and Traz stood side-by-side casting tandem streams of energy at the remaining necromancer. As the tall, gaunt wolf male stood firm, blocking and reflecting their pulses of focused energy Talus appeared behind him, the black and white druid's cloak seeming to lift from his shoulders as the tendrils of leafy green shot from the folds of the drapery and coiled around the snarling cultist, binding him tightly. With a look of supreme satisfaction the druid male looked down at the struggling lupine, his mismatched eyes glinting with hatred as the living tendrils of his cloak rustled, squeezing like a fist. Even Inuus looked up from the body laying limply in his taloned paws as the entangled lupine nearly exploded from the simultaneous flex of the hundreds of thorned vines digging into his flesh.

"Holy shit..."

Traz's jaw hung loosely as he watched the hundreds of barbed tendrils unfurled, dumping the shredded gobbets of flesh, fur and cloth onto the stone floor and relaxed back around the glowering druid where they rustled and whispered like dry leaves caught in an autumn breeze. Talus stepped deftly through the contents of an abattoir that had been dumped at his feet, trodding deliberately on what remained of the top of the utterly annihilated lupine's skull, making it crack like twig snapped between fingers. The blood splattered druid threw his shoulders back, drawing himself up to his full height and gazing at his companions as if daring them to challenge the havoc just wrought, but Traz merely muttered once more and turned to Xzziz who was busily gorging himself on the lax body he had engulfed like a fluttering black sheet thrown across a corpse.

Once all the blood had been drained from the broken, slashed cultist the shadow demon slithered back to his master, draping languidly across his shoulders and back. The engorged shadow demon hummed contentedly as Traz stroked over the buzzing tendrils surrounding his shoulders and chest. Lyiko knelt beside Detan, hefting the violet robed arch-mage onto his back with some difficulty. He squeezed the feline's throat at the crook of his shoulder, feeling desperately for a pulse as he called, "Talus!"

The druid was at the ringtail's side in a rustling of his living cloak, gently kneeling and resting his paw over Detan's forehead and eyes, closing his own mismatched gaze. The tiger striped male frowned softly, then cursed floridly, gingerly pulling his paw away and shaking his head, "I'm sorry."

Talus rested his strong paw on Lyiko's shoulder as the slender ringtail snarled, feeling his throat click as his stomach twisted and burned within him. He knew the druid was correct, his newly enhanced demonic senses could see the bright threads of purple-blue light lining the fallen mage's body fading as they knelt beside him. Detan's life force flickered brightly once, before Lyiko could see the rush of darkness engulf him. The ringtail slowly lowered the fallen mage to the cold stone floor, levering himself to his feet and gazing at the massive iron shod doors, "We can't stop, we have to keep going."

Rema, the last surviving violet robed mage looked stricken, squeezing his staff hard enough to make the polished wood crackle in his grip. Talus swept the mage into his cloak gently, forcing a long swallow of his enchanted liquor down his throat and chafing his muzzle between his paws, "You must keep going. We all must. This must be ended."

Lyiko gazed to the remaining mage, now supported between Colbi and Albon, the remaining peacekeepers. Traz and Inuus stood near Marius as the grizzled feline scrubbed at his face, the swiftly clotting and drying blood making him look as if he'd walked through an abattoir. Blood, offal, char and slime caked them all, their robes and uniforms torn and charred. Lyiko watched Albon attempt to pry a matted clump of bloody bone and gristle from his cudgel, throwing the clot of diseased flesh to the floor in disgust. The ringtail looked to Traz briefly, seeing the grime and blood streaked bat nod grimly. Lyiko gripped Inuus' strong paw, gazing up fondly into the towering Incubus' silver eyes, "Inuus, from now till the conclusion of this mission... I dissolve the limiter binding spells holding you. Kill everyone and everything that stands in our way, by whatever means necessary, by any means you deem fit..."

The ringtail's fur and hair was ruffled by a cold breeze that snapped at him as the horned male's paw twitched around his own, squeezing tightly. The horned male's muzzle slackened in shock before his eyes blazed up, shimmering red once more, as they had done when Lyiko first summoned him. Inuus rumbled, arching his back as the familiar feel of liquid fire danced along his spine, his full demonic abilities flaring back through him, his arms and legs creaking softly as he felt them thicken and knot with renewed strength. He grunted as his small black horns twisted, shooting out with a crack of bone, twisting around on themselves and curving at the tips as the Incubus roared, his wings beating the dusty air in the chamber, whipping it into an ice cold wind. Lyiko could feel his demonic lover's claws dig into his flesh as Inuus growled, the sound echoing in the dark catacombs like the distant rumble of thunder.

Traz and Talus were staring hard at the slender ringtail, the albino bat's jaw snapping closed once more as he shook his head gently, "I hope you know what you're doing kiddo."

Inuus' head snapped around, his dagger-like fangs shimmering in the dusky gloom, his bright red eyes flaring, smoldering like fire, "How dare you insinuate that I would turn on my master!"

The demonic male's full Incubus status restored to him, his vanity and ego flashed to the surface in an instant, "You may not trust your own servant enough to allow him free reign in the face of death, but Lyiko is no coward!"

Lyiko ran his blood stained fingers over Inuus' muzzle, feeling a swelling of pride and warmth rushing along his belly and thighs as he gazed up at the handsome horned male, "Peace Inuus. Traz means no offense."

Traz's muzzle was set in a grim line, matching Talus' expression as Inuus' fury seethed back to just below the surface, the horned male rumbling as he lifted Lyiko's paw to his muzzle, kissing it with relish before Lyiko pointed to the looming doors, "Now, we move!"

Inuus stepped to the massive doors, flexing his wings, that rippled and cracked as they melted like wax, reforming into a pair of giant battering fists, swinging of their own accord and slamming the iron-studded doors right out of their frames, splintering wood and stone as they flew down the corridor, mowing down everything in their path till they crashed to the flagstones, their murderous energy spent. The Incubus' wings flowed like quicksilver, blossoming into long, wavering, barb-tipped tentacles that writhed from his shoulders, framing the red-eyed male as they swept past the ruined doors. Lyiko grinned after Inuus, speaking before he realized he was saying anything, "Isn't he magnificent?"

The slender ringtail tried valiantly to control the shivering ball of molten heat beating behind his breastbone, the fire of the demonic threatening to overwhelm him and flow throughout his body once more as he watched Inuus dance a whirlwind of destruction in their path. Talus was at the ringtail's shoulder with the whisper of leaves, "It sounds as if you're falling in love youngling."

Lyiko flushed, glancing between the druid beside him and the Incubus striding before them in full demonic glory, "Does it?"

"One never quite knows, does one?"

The druid's mismatched eyes held an almost mischievous glimmer, "Love can be strange. It can blossom even between the most unlikely of pairs."

Before Lyiko could question the tiger striped male they halted at Traz's giant, twitching ears swiveling like radar dishes atop his skull, "Shhhhh!"

"Do you hear that?"

Inuus glared at the wide, high vaulted corridor ahead of them, as Lyiko's own ears picked up a faint sound, as if metal scraping across stone in long, uneven strokes. Talus' black and white ears, which Lyiko noticed were larger and more pointed than a feline's usually were perked as well, "It sounds like someone... dragging something. Something heavy..."

They cast their light sources ahead, illuminating the already palely glowing ruins as the scraping became louder, more frequent, approaching them slowly, but steadily. The long, low, rumbling scrape echoed, bouncing between the walls, advancing on them. Talus shivered at the grinding, scraping noise, the grating making cold fingers dance along his spine. His cloak gathered itself closer around him as he took Colbi's arm, gently guiding the limping peacekeeper to the closer of the walls surrounding them. He didn't know why he adopted the defensive posture, but the others copied him save for Marius, Inuus and Albon who stood their ground in the center of the corridor. Lyiko held his wand aloft, the glowing orb bobbing in his wake shining more brightly as he stepped side-by-side with Traz and the chittering Xzziz. The shadow demon shifted, his tendrils coiling restlessly, "Mazzzter... I feel, zzzomething wrong."

"Yes. I can feel it. Something nearer, and nearer now. Coming closer."

Traz shifted his grip around the hilt of his stiletto, letting the needle tip weave before him. Rema hefted his staff higher, widening his stance as the slow *scraaaaaaaaape clunk scraaaaaaaaape* grew closer and closer. The dancing shadows cast in the corridor seemed to flicker and swirl more densely as a pale shimmer crept into the circle of their light. Lyiko gasped in spite of himself, the tall, hunched pale figure limping toward them. The pallor of the tall, slumped male that strode unevenly toward them was like moonlight, casting it's own deathly glow. Lyiko couldn't tell what species the towering male was, or what he looked like, wrapped in a tattered cerecloth that hung like gauze from his gaunt form. Bone peeked through the ragged fur, their loose, quivering joints and limbs straining with the weight of the burden dragged behind it.

Lyiko felt the fur on his back and nape lift as the limping corpse lifted its ragged skull, showing a limply gaping jaw, exposed skull showing through, with a black eye socket on one side, a pale, milky blue orb on the other that stared at them, goggling, wildly fixated on them. The weapon the corpse was dragging stood nearly half its own height, a massive, rectangular shaped, stout handled maul, wrought from black metal, the source of the unearthly scraping sound as it was inexorably pulled along in the dead male's wake. The ringtail took a step back as his ears picked up a soft, almost unintelligible whispering, a ragged, rasping panting that issued from the corpses' loosely waggling jaw. The hissing whisper wasn't distinguishable, merely a seething, rage filled, raw and despair laced ramble.

The gigantic maul scraped to a stop as the stooped corpse came to a halt at the far end of the corridor. Marius' deep, growling voice was almost unrecognizable as he gasped in sudden realization, "...No..."

The grizzled feline raised his sword, flinging his arm out at them, "BACK! Get back away from it! NOW, away!"

The hissing rasp of a voice raised into an eerie wail of hate and rage as the gaunt corpse lifted the gigantic maul and swung it in a weak arc, letting the weight of the massive hammer bring it crashing down before the tattered male, thudding into the stone of the corridor with an explosion of deep, black tinged purple fire that blossomed outward. Lyiko screeched as he was bowled off his feet, he, Traz, Rema and amazingly Inuus were swept off their feet and slammed into the walls of the corridor, only Talus, Marius, Colbi and Albon remaining on their feet, though Talus and the pair of peace-keepers were staggered, suddenly seeming too heavy for their own frames to support. The explosion of bruise colored flame billowed, engulfing the towering corpse, swallowing it in a tangled mass of black smoke.

The pillar of smoke writhed, collapsing in on itself and the ragged corpse, forming a cocoon of darkness that burst outward again, vanishing, revealing a massive, armor clad form, covered from head to foot in dull, shadow clotted black metal. The armor clad corpse stood tall, all vestiges of weakness gone, the spiked armor glittering menacingly, covered in deep blood colored sigils and runes, some of which Lyiko recognized immediately. The gigantic maul lifted, raised in one of the titanic gauntleted paws, wicked spikes now framing the massive squared head. The slit in the lowered faceplate of the gothic-spired helm glowed a fiery red, casting its hellish gleam off the curve of the massive breastplate. The scattered group was regaining its feet as the hellish titan took a step toward them, making the flagstone floor tremble with its sheer weight.

Marius raised his sword high, his eyes never leaving the dark titan towering in the corridor, "It is a black paladin! A fallen holy knight! The last guardian of this holy place raised and defiled to do their bidding! Magic will not work against him, and he can cast back demons and the dead!"

Lyiko staggered to his feet, raising his wand, helplessly feeling the waves of dark energy battering him like waves of sound, "Marius, you can't face it alone!"

The grizzled feline looked foolishly small and fragile compared to the hulking beast set before them. His sword a mere silver splinter against the massive demonic hammer raised before them. Marius spat at the floor and lifted his sword in both paws, roaring in defiance as he charged at the towering dark warrior. The first clash of sword and hammer erupted like a deafening voice of a cracked bell, throwing sparks as Marius swept his sword against the massive maul. The silver muzzled feline screamed as he whirled against the ponderous dark paladin, swifter and more agile than the heavily armored warrior. His sword flashed again and again as he growled and spat, shouting at the hellish knight, "Fight it you bastard! You were a warrior of the Light once, fight them!"

The ringing clash of metal on metal pealed through the corridor as the paladin swept the hammer, throwing Marius' sword away, making the grizzled feline step back. The eye-slit of the armor glowed brighter as a guttural, thick voice rang out, "Stand aside and die swordsmale! Your companions must be slaughtered for the rebirth of the world through the renaming of the Old One! I was brought back, torn back, ripped and wrenched and DRAGGED BACK! From the light, from the peace, through the abyss and darkness, down into the flame and the fury, wrenched back into my body after so many scores of years."

The insane rage built as Marius danced just out of reach of the slamming hammer, flicking his sword at the armored knight more as a distraction than as an offensive attack, "They... He... He! HE brought me back! Baaaaaaaack, into the diseased flesh, into the necromancers, torn and ripped and burned and mangled... You must die, you must be slaughtered, you must be torn and ripped and flayed and killed, or I cannot rest, they will not let me rest, HE will not let me rest!"

Lyiko stood aghast at the raging, insane tirade, watching the whirl of steel, the clashing of blows, the unfathomable strength of the grizzled feline as he dodged the giant maul and clashed his sword again and again against the fel steel armor. As Inuus and Traz took a pair of tottering steps forward the armored knight raised his fist once more and again they were flung back, as it bellowed, "Demons and Necromancers and beasts! Look what you've done to me! Look what you're DONE!"

Talus and Rema were shoved roughly by the burst of dark holy power, the druid baring his fangs as he fought the smothering embrace of the strangling power that held those imbued with magic or demonic power at bay. The shamanistic nature of the tiger striped male's powers lessened the blow against him, but he still felt as if he were attempting to walk on slowly dissolving bones. He gripped Rema's shoulder, pulling Lyiko to his feet as he bellowed over the clash of metal, "We must help Marius!"

The grizzled feline's sword was growing hot in his grip, glowing faintly as it clashed again and again with the weapon of pure darkness, hammered by the blasphemous power of the corrupted holy powers driving both it and its master. The silver steel was crossed with fine, glowing veins, showing it was close to cracking under the strain. Lyiko felt seething hatred rise within him, the need to rip and rend and tear almost overwhelming him as the demonic taint within him struggled and fought the dark holy power buffeting him. The ringtail reached to Traz, plucking the silver stiletto from him and thrusting it into Talus' paws, "We cannot harm the dark one directly with magic, but we can bewitch."

Lyiko lowered his humming wand to the bone hilt of the blade, feeling it resonate with the living nature of the weapon, willing the grace and power and might of the former life of his magical focus to share its energy with the already enchanted blade. Talus and Rema muttered, casting signs and sigils over the long, thin blade, pouring their respective energies into the stiletto, watching as it glowed and flashed of its own accord. Talus reached out with his living cloak and gently pulled Colbi to them, caressing the young canine's muzzle, "We must ask more courage of you young one. If your master is to live, you must both strike the beast when we hold it."

The druid's mismatched gaze held the young peace-keeper's own eyes as Colbi closed his stronger paw around the bone hilt of the stiletto and nodded gently, setting his muzzle in grim determination, "I understand master druid... Marius must live."

Talus nodded to Rema and Lyiko, then kissed the young canine's cheek, weaving a complex enchantment down his spine, "We can only hold him for a moment. Be swift brave young one."

Marius roared another challenge as he threw his weight behind his sword, clashing against the dark paladin as the black armored knight bellowed, smoke and fire hissing from his spired helm. Colbi crouched, slowly dragging himself to the edge of the clashing fight as Marius' sword chimed, the steel ringing again and again. Talus wrapped one paw around Lyiko's and one paw around Rema's as he glared hatefully at the dark paladin, "The unholy holy one must die again."

The druid's bright eyes glowed as he yelled, "Marius! Strike! NOW!"

The tripled power of the ringtail, druid and mage all sang as one, flaring bright in the dark corridor as the very stones of the catacombs rose up and clashed against the dark armor, striking it and wrapping about the heavily shielded limbs, holding them fast as the dark power rose like a maelstrom and tried to repel them. Frost sprang up on the sigil marked armor, locking the joints at the stone arms held tightly. Rema's blue lightning flashed, encircling both Marius and Colbi as the peacekeepers sprang as one, sword and blade striking, flashing with a silver fire. The canine's aim was true as the bewitched blade plunged into the fiery gap of the helm's eye-slit, sinking in to the hilt as Marius' sword struck, cleaving the spiked head of the titanic maul, splitting it down the handle and into the massive armored arm of the dark paladin.

There was a howl of rage and unholy terror as an explosion of black and purple fire swept the corridor, lashing the companions as they clung to one another, the maelstrom tearing at them as the unholy power of the fallen knight rushed from the armor like a flood, tearing chunks from the walls and ceiling, knocking debris flying, sweeping away and over the group of defenders as the black armor crumpled, imploding in on itself with a horrible wrenching squeal of metal, blowing Colbi and Marius back, shattering both their blades, leaving the young canine clutching a blackened hilt of bone and the grizzled feline gripping half a sword where the blade had cracked in two midway down its length. The unholy armor slumped to the corridor floor with an almighty clang, smoking and bubbling as it curled on itself till nothing was left but a twisted lump of black slag.

Lyiko lay gasping against Talus as Albon sprang to his feet and rushed to Colbi and Marius where they lay thrown against the stone wall. Both youth and elder males were breathing, panting as the billowing clouds of dust and smoke slowly cleared. Traz wobbled as he pried himself from Inuus where the horned male had sheltered the albino bat and his own demon servant. Talus struggled to his feet, almost falling once more as he lifted Rema, then Lyiko from the smoking flagstones, "We're all still alive..."

"Speak... For yourself..."

Traz groaned, weaving on his feet before stumbling to the junction of wall and floor and vomiting noisily over the stones and his own feet, bringing fresh bubbles of blood from his nose as he panted stridently, "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

As Talus tended to Colbi and Marius, humming and singing gently in his strange tongue, Lyiko helped Traz to wipe his face and muzzle, holding a small flash of water to the albino bat's lips, letting him wash out his muzzle. The ringtail swabbed the threads of bright blood from the bat's nose, running his wand-tip over a large gouge taken from Traz' ear where a stone shard had whipped past his head. He wiped stubbornly at the albino male's blackened and stained fur, "We're necromancers. Life, death, fatigue, all these things are meaningless and one and the same for us."

"You're young and stupid... It would be cute, if we weren't in a situation where we could all be killed in a moment."

Lyiko clicked his teeth together, shaking his head as he sighed in exasperation, "You complain far too much. And you forget, I'm currently brimming with fresh, demonic energy."

The ringtail smirked, catching the albino male's muzzle and kissing him, making both Inuus and Traz himself stiffen in shock as Lyiko loosened his hold over the demonic lust raging through him and forced a trickle of the raging fire into the lanky bat male. Traz stiffened, feeling as if someone had lit him on fire from the inside out as most of the smaller wounds on his body knitted over instantly, the soreness and fatigue slammed into every fiber of his body easing as the muzzy-headedness of pain and fear slowly dissolved into Lyiko's embrace. The slender ringtail pulled back, licking his lips less than demurely, "There, better?"

"Much... I think..."

Traz hiccupped softly, wiping his muzzle with his paw as he tried to ignore the fiery glare from Inuus. He distracted himself by reaching into one of the unnaturally deep pockets of his robe and withdrawing a fresh blade, this one shorter, with a wrought silver handle, tipped with a wicked hook almost like a claw, "And be glad I don't charge you for that blade you destroyed. That was an old family heirloom."

"In necromancer families they're all old family heirlooms."

Traz shrugged as he clapped Colbi on the shoulder, making the young canine jump, "Bravely done peace-keeper."

"T-t-thank-you..."

The young canine nursed his bound arm, having jarred it once more, despite the magical protection when he had been slammed against the wall. Had Rema's barrier spell not worked both he and Marius would likely have been a fine bloody smear across the corridor for a few hundred yards. The grizzled peacekeeper was standing in silent repose, staring at the splintered tip of his blade, mourning the loss of one of his oldest and most trusted possessions. Albon was hovering nearby consolingly, "It can be reforged Captain..."

Talus dabbed at Colbi's bleeding nose as he gazed at the foreshortened sword, "You should be cautious of how that blade is reforged, it's absorbed a lot of dark energy..."

The older feline said nothing save, "We need to move."

He swept into the lead with Inuus, recovering by the second right behind him, swiftly passing down the corridor from whence the dark paladin had come, the dark depths winding farther and farther down and around in on themselves till they felt they might emerge down into the depths of hell itself. Inuus growled loudly, his wings shifting restively, "I can smell demons... and mortals..." he paused, vaguely puzzled, "And something else..."

"Something else?"

Lyiko perked his ears as they flew down and down, emerging into a wide corridor, stopping abruptly as the walls were no longer cold, dark flagstones, but dark, nearly black blocks of roughly hewn stone that glowed faintly scarlet around their edges, veined with flickering threads of sulfurous yellow and ochre. Traz peered closely at one of the stones, noting a fine pattern of sigils that glinted across its surface, "Well, this is new... We're not in Alzsalam anymore kids..."

The glowing, flickering stones cast a queer, reddish wash over everything, making Inuus' eyes stand out even more in the deeper shadows, "This entire place feels wrong."

"I think this is the deepest level of the catacombs. It's been... altered... shifted somehow... I think to hide it."

Talus shivered as his link to the earth and stones around him and the world beyond was dulled, muted and partly deafened by the darkness and corruption that seeped through the deepest level of the catacombs. It was as if suddenly going half blind or partially deaf, losing a sense of depth and rational logic as the fabric of reality was being warped and twisted around them. The dichotomy was almost painful for the rangy druid male, forcing him to close down his sense of the earth around him almost all the way. The pressure of the darkness and chaos seeping into the cold stones and packed earth around them was cloying, "This festering taint is the reliquary... Without barriers and wards to keep it in check, the chaos seeps into all around it."

Lyiko brushed his paw over the black stone wall, his demonic senses tingling with the almost palpable air of corruption infusing the lowest catacombs, "The influence of the Unnamed God is growing stronger down here, away from light and life, steeped in death and cold and darkness. If it's not stopped the cult could breed more powerful monsters and mutants... The chaos seeping from this place could taint the land for miles around, given enough time."

Rema let the glowing tip of his staff weave across the wall, watching as the glowing veins dimmed, then sprang back into their glimmering twinkle when he relaxed his grip, "The peace-keepers and the druid will be most affected of us. I can feel this place working to spread its warping influence into our minds..."

Colbi glanced around in nerves, he and Albon exchanged gazes, each could see the strain on one another's faces as they hung closer to the magic using members of the party. Talus patted the canine's forearm comfortingly, squeezing his paw, "You boys have been so brave thus far, coming all this way. Just a bit longer pays for all."

The young canine seemed to relax, slightly, holding the druid's paw, his other paw tight around the grip of his truncheon. He nodded, clearing his throat as Talus stroked his muzzle gently. The tiger striped male's touch was electric, but held soothing, warming tingles, easing the aches and stinging pains that had been inflicted on the young peace-keeper. Marius grunted softly, till holding the charred and splintered length of his sword tightly, "This ends or we do, one way or another, within the hour."

"Cheerful, really... I should have asked for more gold..."

Traz sighed as he rummaged in his robes, unearthing a small vial of violet colored liquid, pulling the cork with his teeth, he took a sip, then passed the small bottle around, "Moonstone and phoenix blood tincture, should ward off the psychic contamination for a few hours, wouldn't recommend longer than that, however."

The convoluted tunnel was widening as they walked, carefully, passing and sealing any side passages they came across. Rema fanned his muzzle, wrinkling his nose as the scent of corruption and decay grew stronger and stronger the deeper they went. Lyiko dabbed a touch of bitter orange paste beneath the mage's nose, almost dropping the tiny tub of balm as they came around a winding turn in the corridor and came face to face with a doorway nearly 7 paces wide, stretching to the ceiling, made of the same dull, almost stone-like black metal, studded with bone, twisted and contorted into spikes and whorls, the face of the dark door crackling with tiny veins of purple energy.

Inuus growled, ramming his fist against the double doors, making them shiver in their jamb, but otherwise didn't budge, "Locked."

Lyiko scanned the runes and wards surrounding the doors, running his finger over one of the sigils that crackled with the skittering bruise colored energy, wincing as the touch made his paw transform back into the long, vicious, talon-tipped demon clawed grip of the demon blood, "It won't open without the black speech."

Traz inhaled softly, "It'll have to be you or Inuus... I failed black speech, I only know a few short phrases and foul words."

"They're all foul in the black tongue..."

Talus, Rema and Marius wore almost identical expressions of distaste, gazing steadily at Lyiko who cleared his throat and braced himself. The ringtail felt his throat twitch as he uttered the dark, growling, guttural tongue of the ancient demons, "Open!"

His throat clicked again as he coughed and spat, feeling his lungs burn softly, his body giving a twitch of demonic energy at the foul tongue reverberating through the passage. The skittering purple energy faded from the towering doors, the lock and latch clicking loudly as they fell open a gap with a sepulchral creak like a coffin lid being thrown back after years buried. Inuus shouldered the doors, slamming them wide, exposing the gigantic chamber within as everyone sheltered on either side of the jamb, wary of ambush again.

The wide, high arched chamber resembled the ruined cathedral above, only lined with the same fiery veined black stone, cut with gothic and grotesque bas reliefs of demon skulls and bones, dotted with foul runes and symbols. There were no windows, but one might have expected any to look out upon the burning fields of the lower depths themselves had there been. Instead of furniture or smashed piles of wood the chamber was strewn with bones and decaying corpses, scattered or laying jumbled in heaps and piles. Skulls, some humanoid, some not, mixed with ribs, femurs and other assorted bones crunched underfoot as the giant doors finished booming back.

The raised platform at the far end of the cathedral held a dais and atop it sat an ancient, crumbling, cracked and weathered casket, shaped almost like an urn, carved from white stone long since stained and pitted, dotted with patches that looked almost like leprous fungus with black stains streaking the sides. The elegantly crafted reliquary gave off an aura of cold, a radiating sense of darkness, chaos, insanity and seething, almost crazed hatred. The white stone seemed to give off its own light, shimmering and translucent, like moonlight, but deathly and unsettling. A dark, smoke-like mist floated through the gothic chamber, stinking of decay, swirling around their ankles and pouring out through the wide doors.

Lyiko almost didn't notice the cloaked figures kneeling in a rough circle about the raised dais, their black robes almost hiding them in the gloom till one of them shifted, slowly gaining its feet and turning to the assembled companions. Two tall, spindly candelabras set with half melted black tapers flared into flame, but they were shivering blue flames, seeming to radiate cold and throwing hardly any additional light into the gloom. The robed figure was somewhat short and stocky, raising an arm to gesture at the group, though it was neither welcoming nor menacing, "Welcome."

Lyiko felt as if someone had struck him in the gut, his insides twisting as he recognized the sibilant voice, his growing horror redoubling as a hood was thrown back, "Regani?!"

The short, stocky red vulpine was wearing a cold, hate filled expression as he gazed at his school companion, "Lyiko, you always were a meddler... We had no idea that fool of a wyrm would send you of all people with your damned demon to the council meeting, then here to reclaim our trophy... Always the show-off Lyiko, proud and determined to embarrass all your school-mates with your genius."

The slender ringtail recovered from his shock swiftly, anger swiftly building in him, searing through him like a flame, "Poor little Regani, always the poor cousin, I know, but did you have to degrade yourself to this?!"

A flash of anger flickered in the fox's hazel eyes, "This is the future for our kind Lyiko! Re-made to suit the necromancers, always the shunned and suspected of the magic users, unaccepted of the shamans, they distrust and despise us Lyiko, the mage clans, the druids, the shamen the so-called great religion of light, the elves and their forest and moon gods. They all hate us and you know it!"

Lyiko scoffed, his eyes flashing pink as he glared at the stocky fox, "We're no longer shunned or hunted, it's not a millennium ago Regani! Our clan leaders lead us and we hold a place in the council. I've been shown no scorn in my time at school or in the cities."

"Gifted, spoiled little Lyiko. You could never see things from the proper perspective... I'm sorry Lyiko, that Theanon sent you on this fools errand, I truly am, you've lost half of your number since setting out, you're battered and weary. You cannot hope to stand before the might of the lower depths and this band of those dedicated to the rebirth of this old one, the Unnamed God."

"Your taste in school-yard chums leaves something to be desired Lyiko."

Traz spat venomously to the stone floor, raising a sneer on Regani's muzzle as the albino bat flicked his wings softly, "I'm ashamed to say we've deceived you somewhat in bringing us with you Lyiko... Theanon suspected a traitor in his midst at the school, I fear he thought it might have been you... But seeing what we've seen and finding this little toe-rag I apologize on all our behalf."

"Theanon's time will come, once you've all been disposed of. You've come this far, no farther."

Regani snapped his fingers, the kneeling figures surrounding him rose as one. The cluster of robed cultists all gazed at the companions with shining, glowering red eyes, making Talus hiss softly, "They're possessed."

"Quite right, no one notices the disappearance of the odd vagabond or down-on-his-luck merchant. Their corpses come quite in handy as vessels for those emissaries from the lower depths, of course, they don't last long..."

The stocky fox gestured to the mounds of bodies and skeletal remains heaped around them, "The dispossessed of the lower depths flock to us, ready, waiting, ravening to do our bidding, eager for a chance to help bring the downfall of the stale, bureaucratic systems of the mage clans, to rebirth the world in flame and darkness."

Lyiko couldn't help himself, the flaring emotions wrangling within him for dominance fighting one another till he settled on a hoarse, barking laugh, the pink glow of his eyes growing brighter, "You're insane, you're diseased in the head Regani! You're as dense as a troll, to be this stupid! We've killed far more than half a dozen of your followers and minions getting here, you don't have many left for us to put out of our misery Regani..."

The short fox glared at the chuckling ringtail, the bright pink gleam making him step back, "You've corrupted yourself with demon's blood as well, to get here Lyiko? My gods, even by the basest standards, you've let yourself revel in the depths of perversion."

"You're one to talk Regani! Everyone at school trusted you, but that could be they simply carried on ignoring you! A pathetic non-entity, with no real talent, no heritage, no class, I was amazed you'd managed to summon even a Succubus..."

Lyiko felt Traz's paw on his arm as he grinned viciously, needling the vulpine mercilessly, watching Regani's muzzle twisting, "I could see where these insane dreams of glory and dominance would turn your head Regani, the things you never could have sleazing around school, you are just enough of a suck-up to prosper in the depths of some pit!"

The ringtail spat, aiming high and arcing the wad of saliva so it landed at the base of the steps leading up to the raised platform, trying to ignore his own astonishment as the fluid sizzled, eating into the stone like acid. He wiped the smoke from his muzzle, feeling the horns sprouted from his skull spiral outward again uncontrollably, his fur swirling as it darkened, dotted with the demonic markings. He shook off Traz, growling as he hefted his red streaked wand, "This ends, now!"

"Couldn't agree more Lyiko."

Regani clapped his paws together, leering with glee at the assembled companions, "You won't leave this chamber alive, we have powerful allies..."

As the glowing-eyed figures ranged themselves the stocky fox withdrew a dark flask from his robe, smashing it at the base of the stairs, "Come Vilha, and bring our champion!"

Inuus hissed loudly as the short fox's horned, winged Succubus appeared in a burst of cloying sulfur laced smoke, her mingled, hybrid-like features contorted with hatred as she flared her wings and uttered a short grunting shout in the black speech. A ring of flame burst from the dark stone floor, widening as the stones bubbled and smoked, warping and slowly caving in on themselves as a hole opened up in them. Molten fire burbled up from beneath, giving off stinking black clouds of smoke and bright sparks as the portal writhed and churned, disgorging a long, reddish brown arm, tipped in gigantic, dagger-like talons, covered in spike-like scales and patches of ragged fur, gripping the edge of the portal to hell and heaving itself upward. Lyiko didn't focus on the summoning, instead aiming his wand at Regani and sending a burst of sparkling blue and white ice shards soaring across the chamber as Inuus, Traz and Xzziz bore down on the growling and spitting Succubus and the others grouped defensively, heading toward the small knot of possessed cultists.

Talus whirled through the peacekeepers and lone mage, "Aim for the eyes, the head, the heart, nothing else will send them back!"

The druid's paws alit with his crackling flames of silver, tinged with deep emerald green, the geo-fire making the possessed corpses shy away. Marius plunged his broken sword-tip into the forehead of the nearest one, barking in shock as the possessed one's skull exploded like a ripe apple stamped underfoot. His charred sword hummed in his grip, the steel dripping with ichor and blood, with tiny dancing lines of crimson light illuminating the blade to the hilt. Rema paused long enough to remark, "Your sword's become a blood-drinker. The dark power it imbibed is being channeled through it now, be careful with it, it won't tell friend from foe!"

Lyiko took note of another titanic hand gripping the portal's edge as he watched Regani throw himself clear of the whirling shards of ice. The stocky fox growled deeply and gestured over his shoulder at Lyiko, but the ringtail blocked the venomous jet of green energy easily, advancing across the chamber in a trio of bounds, his spine slouching as he thrust his muzzle out in a screech of rage and hatred, feeling his body ripple and contort as it regained its demonic features, the sanguine strength flooding him, making him try to focus on using his magic instead of giving into the feral impulses. As he crashed to all fours next to the wildly scrambling vulpine Lyiko shook his head, trying to dispel the misty red haze of murderous rage that fogged his vision and mind, knowing it was just the influence of the reliquary so close, undiluted by any barrier.

He grunted as regain aimed a kick to his muzzle, but the blow didn't register any pain that Lyiko could feel, merely made the stocky vulpine howl in pain as his smaller toes splintered. Before he could stop himself Lyiko opened his muzzle wide, feeling his fangs grow long and curved, snapping down on Regani's ankle, hearing it break with a nasty wet-crunch as he snapped his head from one side to the other, reveling as the fox let loose of a shriek like a siren and wrenched his leg away. Lyiko felt the warm, bloody meat jerk from his muzzle, growling as he drew back and attempted to leap upon his former classmate, the fox's hot, salty blood making his senses reel with almost painful conflict of desires. Part of him wanted to gag, to spit the blood from his muzzle and scrub it from his face, but the demonic half in full blown glory wanted to snap and rend and grind bones between fangs and drink the sticky crimson elixir of life pumping from the deep bite-wound circling the fox's lower calf where Lyiko's distended fangs had plunged into the meat of his leg.

In the back of his head he heard Talus and Traz scream his name, but the ringtail was too focused with his struggling, screeching prey. He lifted his bone wand like a long, thin dagger and plunged it into Regani's thigh, feeling it slide all the way through the thick muscle and penetrate out the other side, biting into the stone beneath them and pinning the fox like a fly on a pin. The vulpine screamed like a gelding under the knife and lifted his fist, bringing it down on Lyiko's skull, making the ringtail see stars for the briefest of instants before he flicked his head and tore the vulpine's forearm open with his horns, hissing like an over boiling kettle. Lyiko thrust the vulpine's battering arms away with a flick of his wrists and pounced onto the screaming fox, catching his throat between his talon-tipped paws and squeezing. He grinned in triumph as he saw the terror in Regani's face, the fox's wide hazel eyes popping as his ears went ruddy, then purple, a trickle of blood worming from his nose. Lyiko opened his muzzle to tear the fox's face from his skull with his teeth when he was rocked by a stunning blow, grunting as he was flung from the gurgling fox and crashed into the stone floor with a crackling of silvery green fire, making his head spin, snapping him back to his senses.

Talus lowered his paw as he watched the bolt of geofire slam into Lyiko, glancing off the young ringtail and throwing him off the thrashing fox before those long, demonic fangs could be brought into play again. He turned, watching Colbi, Albon, Marius and Rema forcing the possessed ones back, bringing them down one by one. The druid heaved a sigh as he watched the top half of the monstrous demon summoned through the portal to the lower depths squirm and thrash in the embrace of the gap in reality. It was a hulking abomination, nearly three times the height of a humanoid male and 5 times as massive, with long, scraping, grasping arms, tipped with it's spike-like fingers, an armored chest, scaled and horned, glimmering with heat, a thick, cabled neck ridged with scales and a horrific face. The broad, horned skull was a mass of clicking mandibles and gaping, fang-filled maw, smoking, slit-like nostrils and gigantic, glowing yellow eyes, filled with hatred, slitted and staring. Talus slammed his fist into the floor, feeling it sink into the stone up to the wrist as he struggled to contain the ravening beast, making the stone of the chamber and the earth below constrict around the portal, attempting to disrupt it. The tainted stone and warped earth fought back against him, making him strain harder, a bright bubble of blood bursting as it bloomed from his nose as his head ached.

Traz danced at arms length of the spitting Succubus as Inuus circled around behind her. Xzziz snapped his tendrilous mass, catching the horned female's wrist as she aimed a sharp clawed blow to the albino bat's shoulder, throwing her off-balance just long enough to slow her lightning fast frenzy of arms, wings and snapping jaws. Inuus roared as he seized the of-balance Succubus from behind with the long, barb-tipped tentacles of his wings, yanking the horned female bodily away from Traz and into the air. The towering Incubus rumbled at the struggling, biting Succubus, his silver eyes blazing in the gloom, "The first time I saw you, horned bitch, I knew I would get the chance to do so many, many, terrible things to you."

As he proceeded to slam the screeching horned female against the wall, stabbing his venom-tipped barbs into her flesh he turned to Traz, "Help the others, I will not be long..."

Inuus grinned, his scarlet tipped fangs showing dazzlingly as he reeled the Succubus into his embrace, clamping her shoulders with his strong paws, "Suffer... For your crimes."

With a crackling crunch the horned male crushed the struggling Succubus' shoulders in their sockets, making her screech in a register that made Traz wobble on his way to help Talus. The feel of demonic flesh, not truly bound to the mortal, physical realm, but satisfyingly solid none-the-less, crunch and crackle under his paws, the burst of black blood as he slowly twisted the Succubus' arm around and around and around and around in it's socket, holding her fast with his wings. The fingers popped with the pressure of the black blood in her veins, bursting from beneath her talons as Inuus twisted, wrenching on the dislocated joint, feeling the bones crumble beneath his grip, the strong, cabled flesh turning pulpy and mushy as he squeezed here, pinched there, breaking every bone before merely tearing first one arm, then the other from the screaming Vilha, moving on as his acidic venom weakened her, slowly, lovingly caressing the leathery bat-like wings of her back before he gripped the tough membranes and wrenched them from the bones, shredding them and snapping the jointed limbs of raw sinew, cartilage and muscle from her back.

Inuus licked his lips as he held the Succubus' head in his paws, squeezing just enough to make her scream, pushing his thumbs into her temples, grunting in satisfaction as the pressure was enough to force black blood from her nose and mouth and make her brilliantly glowing yellow eyes pop from their sockets, dangling like hellish earrings against her black clotted muzzle. With a gentle jerk of his paws the horned male popped Vilha's neck, separating it from her spine so her thrashing, taut body went limp against him, proceeding to throw her to the floor and grip her ankles, one in each paw, pulling them apart, hard. There was a resounding crack as the Succubus' hips and pelvis pulverized, sending her legs into spasms as the Incubus planted a broad, long-toed foot onto her belly and began to twist and wrench, separating each long, lean leg neatly at the hip and tossing them away into the piles of heaped corpses.

Inuus leaned, pulling the limbless torso and head back up into his embrace, grinning as he whispered into the still twitching Succubus' ear, "So delightful, so absolutely delightful, I wish we could play for an eternity my little horned whore, but alas, I must go assist my master in the evisceration of your little master... Give my regards, to oblivion."

Inuus gripped the loose ruffle of fur clad skin at the base of the dangling Succubus' neck, taking her ruined skull in his other paw and yanking them apart with a flex of his cabled arms, feeling black blood fly as he simply wrenched the pelt and skin from the horned female's body, tossing her flayed torso to the floor and bringing his foot down on her skull in a spray of blood, bone and brains, hearing the Succubus' horns splinter against stone. As he looked up from his business the Incubus stared at Traz who was frozen, gripping Talus's shoulders, all the blood gone from the albino bat's ears, nose and lips as he glanced from Inuus' bright silver eyes to the blood soaked pelt clutched in his fist. He smiled, squaring his shoulders as he turned to gaze at the gigantic demon struggling, wedged in the portal at the waist as Talus panted raggedly, "Let it loose druid... Let us see how a Margrave of hell stands against me and my master."

Talus' mismatched eyes flashed as he relaxed, wrenching his smoking paw from the stone floor, watching as the fiery portal swelled, fighting loose from the druid's grasp on the stones and earth below and the towering terror pulled itself free of the gaping doorway to hell. He slumped against Traz as the albino bat hauled both of them away from the horror unleashed, almost trodding on Marius, Colbi and Rema as they rushed to his aid. Traz looked for Albon, but saw the grim, set expressions on the grizzled feline and young canine's faces, a glance showing him another crumpled, red robed form to add to the tally. Colbi wiped his muzzle with the back of his arm, "He was a good friend, and I'll miss him."

"I'm sorry lad... Where's Lyiko?"

Lyiko grunted as he shook his head, the demonic rage fading as he levered himself to his feet and spun back to Regani. The ringtail snarled as the fox succeeded in wrenching the bone spike impaling him to the floor free and pointed it back at him, "Fool, do you honestly think my wand won't recognize its owner?"

Regani shrieked as the slender bone wand twitched in his grip and a blast of frozen air engulfed his paw and forearm, numbing both instantly. With all sensation in his paw gone, the stocky fox fumbled the wand directly into Lyiko's waiting paw, moaning in fright as the ringtail bore down on him once more. He spat a curse directly at the slender ringtail, but the spell went wide without his aim. The fox backed away as quickly as his shattered ankle would allow him, lurching away from Lyiko with a snarl. The slender ringtail was hot after him as they stumbled across the raised platform, "See Regani?! Even here, at the end, you're out of protectors, out of minions, your demonic slut has been gutted like a fish and now my beautiful Incubus will do the same to your overgrown terror there... You have nothing Regani, just like in your life, in school! You would destroy the world for your own greed and jealousy, now reap what you've sown. Bastard traitor..."

"Get away from me!"

Regani stumbled down the raised stone steps, almost falling headlong into the glowing, molten portal that had released the towering demon as it clashed with Inuus. Lyiko held his wand low, following the fox down the steps as he laughed hollowly, "Get away from you Regani? You pathetic little bastard..."

"M-my master will still destroy you all..."

The stocky fox gasped as he stumbled, falling heavily as he watched Lyiko's glittering eyes narrow. The slender ringtail shook his head, "No master will save you Regani... No threats, no pleas, no nothing! You betrayed us all, you betrayed me, you make me sick Regani..."

Lyiko dropped his wand as he leapt upon the struggling fox, hearing him scream, gripping him tightly as he hauled the vulpine to his feet, not caring as he heard Regani's broken bones grind, "You wanted to rule in hell Regani?! Then GO THERE!"

With an almost graceful sideways pirouette the slender ringtail hefted the screaming vulpine off his feet, the demonic strength surging in him as he lifted the thrashing, battering Regani and shoved him bodily directly into the crackling, fire filled portal to the lower depths. The roar of flame was almost deafening as Regani struck the mouth of the hellish gateway, his body wreathed in liquid fire as he plunged down, vanishing with his scream still echoing in the ears of those assembled. Lyiko twitched his fingers, making his wand leap back into his grip as he deliberately turned his back on the fire belching portal, not watching the remains of his ex-school-mate's departure as he shouted to Traz and the others, "Help Inuus, bring the beast down!"

The whirling fight of flame and deafening noise was peaking as Inuus bellowed tauntingly once more at the towering demon before him. The Incubus was bloodied and burned from the half dozen blows the Margrave of hell had managed to land on him, flaring and expanding his wings back out to their full splendor, their black membranes now hard as steel, edges razored as he ducked the larger demon's whistling blow and brought the edges of his wings together in a sweeping arc, feeling and hearing them crunch through red-hot flesh and bone, severing the towering demon's arm at the elbow, making it bellow loud enough to shatter crystal. The titanic demon was staggered as it was struck by twin handfuls of glowing silver and purple-blue fire, Talus and Rema striking in tandem as a jet of jagged ice shards as long as a finger and needle-pointed thudded into it's back, sinking deep into its hide and leaving great scorching, sizzling holes.

Traz pulled his dagger from the black and green blood gushing from the stump of the great arm laying on the stone floor, flicking it through his fingers and hurling it at the great beast, watching as it sunk into the towering demon's chest and began eating into it's flesh, its own toxic blood breaching the armored scales when mixed with the albino male's own poisons. Colbi and Marius stood, weapons raised as they watched the furious battle, the young canine squaring his jaw and darting in to land a crushing blow on the end of the forked tail that thrashed back and forth menacingly. He yelped and ducked as the towering demon swung a huge fist at him, scrambling back and simply hurling his weapon at the raging beast's head. Marius nodded, casting his arm back and throwing his broken sword in a sweeping, scything arc where it slammed into the demon's thigh, almost severing it in two and sticking, deeply wedged against the dense bone, glowing brightly.

Talus threw another double-pawful of geo-fire at the hulking beast before he flexed his paws, making several blocks of stone from the dark walls around them hurl across the chamber and slam into the roaring demon. The impacts staggered the raging beast, along with the other blows raining down upon it from every angle, giving Inuus an opening as the towering demon tried to shift on it's crippled leg and stumbled. Lyiko's voice was ringingly loud over the tumult, "Cut off it's damned head!"

Inuus snarled, giving a bellow at his master's words as he charged, leaping directly at the maimed horror, his wings flashing as he plowed past the hulking demon's massive fist and the stump of its arm and slammed his wings closed on the thick trunk of the hellish beast's throat, tearing at it's belly with his long talons. The hollow thunk and steel-like clash of the Incubus' wings were deafening as the Margrave's head twisted, then toppled backwards off its neck, crashing to the ground and rolling, coming to a stop at the edge of the molten portal to the beyond. Inuus gave a great cry of battle as he heaved the gigantic, suddenly slack body of the great beast onto its back, flaring his wings and arms out in victory as Lyiko uttered a tiny sigh, slumping down against Traz.

The only thing keeping the slender ringtail to his feet was the demonic strength still pumping through his veins. He looked to Talus, Traz and Marius as the grizzled feline growled, wrenching and tugging on his sword, freeing it from the demonic corpse with a satisfied grunt, "What do we do now?"

Talus tipped his head toward the blasphemous reliquary sitting atop the crumbling dais, "It must be contained once more. The council will-..."

"The council will do nothing... Silly druid."

The subdued flutter of wings echoed through the gothic chamber as a hole into nothingness flew open and admitted a tall, slender, being with pale fur, bright eyes and large, white-feathered wings. Traz gasped aloud at the sudden appearance of the angelic being, "F-Fala?! What are you doing here? The council-..."

The pale-eyed angel flicked his paw as he floated gently above the floor, silencing Traz, "Shush necromancer... The council will do nothing. If they had not sent you meddlers to begin with, things would not have to be so difficult."

Inuus and Xzziz both made noises of hatred as the winged male bobbed to a stop before Lyiko. Fala glared down at the slender ringtail, his bright fur and eyes alight with malice as he reached out and touched Lyiko's cheek gently, "And you, little one. Fallen to the demon-spawn... You killed your little class-mate brutally, you'd have been so much better in his place, but I knew you would not be so easily manipulated with visions of power and lust."

Lyiko recoiled, stepping away from the winged male as Traz sputtered, "Fala, what the hells are you talking about?! What do you, of all people know about these deranged goings-on?"

"Oh, Traz, you haven't even realized yet that everyone on the council has been as manipulated as the poor dead fools you've stocked these catacombs with. I just never expected you to make it this far... Vanity always has been one of my people's downfalls I fear."

Fala smiled, the gesture falling nowhere near his icy eyes as the winged male gently lowered his feet and came to rest, standing on the stone floor of the tainted chamber. He twitched, shuddering as his pale fur was swept with whorls of black, his bright eyes fading to a dark, stony coal color as the corruption spread out, his brilliant, majestic alabaster wings turning black like a piece of cloth slowly charring. Traz stumbled back a handful of steps, raising his paws as he looked to the angelic male as Fala's waist length hair ruffled as if in a stiff breeze and slowly turned as black as his wings, "My gods... Fala, you've fallen from grace..."

"Don't mention gods little necromancer... For that is what this entire, blasphemous endeavor has been about, has it not? Now, we can't have any of you interfering again, can we?"

Inuus was in motion before the winged male could finish his statement, but the winged male snapped his fingers, a black mist springing from the walls and floor quicker than the Incubus could reach the angelic male. The mist flung them all away from the winged male, slamming them into the walls and holding them tight, immobile in its crushing grip as Fala chuckled, a dark, humorless sound in the silent crypt, "Sadly, the only one who might have been a match for me was Detan, and he, quite luckily fell. None of the rest of you poor, tired, exhausted dears have the strength, though I don't doubt you'd be willing to try..."

The fallen angel's eyes gleamed maliciously as he gazed evenly at Inuus, the spitting Incubus thrashing against his bonds, "The more you struggle, the weaker you'll get, demon."

Fala sighed theatrically, looking at his now inky black wings and hair, "Though I suppose I now have more in common with you than with my own brothers still in grace. I do not do this thing lightly; giving up my own place in the high heavens, you must understand this... I do this for my brethren. The only way they can ultimately rule the world again is this way, if a cult of necromancers and demon worshippers were to bring one of the unnamed Old Gods back from its eternal slumber. To bring the chaos of the old gods back, as before, when angel and demon fought side by side. Only then could my celestial brothers attempt to truly bring everyone and all back into the grace of the light."

He swept his long hair, looking with disgust at the gloomy chamber, "The ones like these disgusting workers of the dead could never understand the grace of the light, much less desire it, they were all too eager to attempt to topple the establishment of the mage clans and the church... All too happy to pilfer and steal and murder for their vaunted cause of darkness and decay. They reveled in it, worshipped it, gleefully set about to do the most unspeakable things to body and soul at my commands, of course, none of them knew of my true nature."

Fala strode toward the darkened reliquary, "The only poor soul who recognized me for what I was, was the paladin the necromancers brought back to the body at my direction. He saw me, and he too fell. It made him much, much easier to control, and more powerful, the rage, the bitter hatred for me though he could not strike at me, I fear I forced him to take out his anger on all of you. But sadly, you lived."

The fallen angelic male sighed again, glancing over his shoulder to the black mist clinging to the companions, "But not for much longer, I can't have you meddling again. Not when I'm so close... So close to completing my task..."

He turned back, striding slowly, step by step up to the dais, his legs wobbling gently, as walking was a new sensation to the former celestial. He felt heavy, leaden, the sensation and taste of the foul air and darkness-tainted chamber seeming to close in around him as he stood before the stained and crumbling reliquary, "Now, for the close. Now to reunite the world under the banner of the light, by giving you something very real, and very powerful to fear..."

Fala could feel the shadows and clinging cold swirling close about the stone urn, the slow, almost imperceptible beat of the heart of darkness within ringing in his ears as he laid a paw on the icy stone and closed his eyes, smiling blissfully. Lyiko gasped in the clinging embrace of the cold, black mist holding him frozen as the former celestial's paw touched the stone urn, the feeling as if someone had stabbed him between the eyes with a spike of ice making a nova of pain burst through his head. Talus and Traz groaned softly as Rema bit his lip, the swelling of darkness clutching at him. Inuus and Xzziz both thrashed in silence as they watched the fallen angelic male, raging impotently against their bonds as Fala laughed softly.

The shadows that grew and swelled, pulsing and seething around them gave an odd lurch as Fala's muzzle snapped closed hard enough to splinter his teeth. The angelic male's paw gave a sizzle, the faint crackling pop of frost gluing his flesh in place as it was stuck fast to the stone urn and his body was shaken with cold fire. He gasped, trying desperately to wrench his grip from the reliquary, but it held him fast, burning into him with darkness and cold, "N-n-no... It's t-t-oo much! I can't-...! It's too-..!"

The winged male bristled as the stone urn burst into a deep black fire, tinged with purple-violet. The black fire raged up his arm, making his glossy fur burst into flames that glowed blue and cold, consuming him as they spread. Fala twitched and shuddered, his muzzle gaping in a silent scream, his once magnificent wings flapping spasmodically before they too burst into cold fire. The black mist binding the companions to the wall vanished like fog before the morning sun, dumping all of them to the floor as the raging black fire consumed the angelic male, crumbling him to scorched dust on the crumbling stone floor. As quickly as it came the dark fire vanished, taking the seeping cold and darkness with it, leaving the fall celestial's final, ringing scream still echoing through the chamber.

Traz panted as he struggled to his knees, "Fala... Oh poor Fala... Not even he deserved that..."

"Is there any danger?"

Lyiko heaved himself up with difficulty, stumbling for a half pace before Inuus caught him easily. The horned male shook his head as he rumbled, "I sense no further mischief..."

"He's right. I sense no further stirrings from the reliquary..."

Talus sniffed gently, jumping as a pale Colbi stumbled into him, gripping the young canine's arm softly, "It's over..."

Traz spat on the stone floor, patting the twitching Xzziz as the shadow demon draped over his shoulders once more, "I think, I speak for all of us, when I say, let's get the hells out of this crypt... Talus, you may do as we discussed, bury this place..."

"Let the earth bury it forever, let it be hidden and safe down in the depths, lest another someday be tempted once more... Let the earth seal the corruption and taint, down where it can trouble us no more."

The cold, seeping darkness fell back slightly as Rema unearthed a small crystal from his pocket and wedged it into the splintered end of his staff, waving his paw over it and making it glow with a gentle golden light. Marius squared his shoulders, absently attempting to sheathe his splintered sword, sighing as the broken tip wedged at the mouth of his sheath. He looked at the battered, dulled, nicked and chipped length of charred steel with a scowl of distaste before simply thrusting it through the strap of thick leather crossing his shoulder. Traz offered the grizzled feline a grimace-like smile as he massaged his own aching ribs, "Well, it'll be something to hang on the wall and remember fondly, eh?"

Marius spat on the stone floor, wiping his muzzle with the back of his paw before remembering the clotted grime and blood there, "The only thing I will remember fondly currently is getting the scent of this place out of my nose..."

Talus glanced back at the silver muzzled feline with his mismatched eyes, one of the tendrils of his cloak darting free and wrapping itself around the broken leather strap holding the older male's chest-plate in place. The end of the tendril twitched and burst into a bright blue flower, almost touching the ruff of fur sprouting from Marius' strong chin. As he passed the tiger striped druid used his fingers to snip the end of the tendril off, leaving the flower swaying beneath the grizzled feline's nose. Marius uttered a snorting grunt, "Better than nothing, I suppose..."

Lyiko leaned against Inuus as the towering Incubus gripped his arm gently, "How are we going to retrieve the bodies of the fallen?"

Marius grunted softly, "Detan, Albon, Dari, Valin, Fili, Knizik... Poor lads..."

Lyiko rubbed his forehead, feeling an odd mixture of sensations flowing through him. The emotions normally associated with grieving were distorted and numbed as he gazed at the carnage surrounding them. He glanced at Inuus as the horned male leaned over the slowly dissolving corpse of the mammoth demon Margrave. Innus withdrew his paw from the gaping wound on the demon's body, lifting his fingers to his muzzle and slowly lapping the sickly greenish ichor from them, chewing one of the tough scales from the bestial demon's corpse, "Inuus... That's disgusting!"

"Oh, let him have it Lyiko. At least he didn't go for the head..."

Traz shrugged as Inuus moved to the torn body of the fallen Succubus slain by his own paws. The horned male grinned, tearing a piece of the ripped flesh from the still warm corpse, offering it to his young master who felt a nasty twitch roll through his stomach as he felt both nauseous and hungry at the same time, feeling the demonic blood flaring back up within him. The ringtail waved his paw, turning from the sight of his horned consort consuming the flesh of his slain foes, taking their strengths for himself. Traz patted the younger male's back gently, "I know, half disgusting, half alluring in your current state."

The albino bat stroked Xzziz's gently twitching form, "Though, speaking of bodies, I believe I have a suggestion..."

He glanced to Marius, as the grizzled feline was the ranking member of their party with the death of the arch-mage, "If you wish Marius, Xzziz can gather the bodies of our comrades, he's stronger than he looks, and being well... fluid, in his shape, he can carry them delicately enough at once."

The older male twitched his ears as he pondered the possibilities, as Traz tapped Xzziz's flowing tendrils, "Be gentle. No blood sucking. No tasting, they were friends, savvy little pal?"

"Yezzzz Mazzzzter..."

The shifting mass of shadowed tendrils flowed down Traz's shoulders and back, falling to the floor with a soft fwump before the shadow demon spread himself out like a carpet, his tentacles thickening. Xzziz flowed with a swift fluidity, almost gliding across the chamber, gently wrapping his appendages about Albon's limp form, lifting him gingerly and enfolding the fallen peacekeeper into his own shadowy flesh like a cocoon. The rippling, almost tar-like effect of the bundled demon sliding silently across the chamber was unnerving, making Rema and Colbi look more unsettled than relaxed. Colbi jumped gently as Inuus brushed past him, licking his own long claws sedately, making the horned male rumble, "Peace youngling... You still live."

Inuus gazed at the young canine with his coin bright eyes, "The shadow demon has no need to enfold you in his clutches, nor do I..." he made Colbi stiffen with a squeak of shock as the horned male's strong paw slid across his hip, "Unless you were interested in a night of pleasure unmatched in your short life."

The canine stumbled against Talus gently as Inuus passed to walk next to his young master once again, "I don't... Think I'm in any shape c-currently..."

The druidic male chuckled gently, shaking his head in bemusement, "Typical demon... Chaos, disaster, destruction, dismemberment... And horny as their skulls in the aftermath."

Genuine amusement tinged the tiger striped male's voice as he gently gripped the young canine's arm, steering him along, not letting his gaze wander back to the slithering bundle of shadows trailing them with Marius. Talus glanced to Lyiko, "And you, Lyiko, I'm sure, are feeling conflicted."

"I... am not entirely sure of what I feel at the moment Talus... Other than I'm desperately in need of a bath, some food and perhaps a week in my bed."

Lyiko sighed wistfully at the thought of hot water, cool wine and his soft bed, "I wonder what dear Talen has waiting in the larder... Just how long have we been down here... It feels like it's been weeks..."

Talus' mismatched eyes flashed as he nodded softly, "It cannot yet be much past full darkness. We've been down here half a day."

The druid let his mind wander idly as he walked, "I can feel above us more clearly now. The taint is lessening as we draw farther from the reliquary. Darkness has fallen, but merely an hour or two past sun-down now, the night should be pleasant enough."

"I don't think I want to be underground again, for a long time."

Rema gripped his glowing staff more tightly, not looking as Xzziz gently enfolded Detan's body. The young mage licked his lips gingerly as Marius squeezed his shoulder in sympathy, the older feline inhaling and sighing slowly through his nose. As they came to the twisted, blackened lump of coal black steel slag in the cracked, scorched corridor where the fallen paladin's remains lay the grizzled feline grunted, "I know no words of faith, none here are of the church... I suppose the only thing we can say for the fallen guardian is to hope he is back at peace, resting again once more."

"As good as anything, I think."

Lyiko nodded, turning from the charred remains, "All life, and unlife has fled from this place. I think they know what's coming."

The dark cathedral was still and silent as they retraced their steps through its ruined chamber, the ragged body of the first of their number to be slain safely contained in Xzziz's gentle grip. Traz looked at his demonic familiar, the shadow demon's fluid body bloated like a grotesque body bag, though he carried the weight of the fallen easily enough, "I'm glad this is almost concluded, you're beginning to look a bit ridiculous Xzziz dear..."

The shadow demon uttered a chirrup as they passed for the last time through the ruined doors of the cathedral, into the darkened grounds beyond, into the cool night air, "Zzzzzzzzzzo full of good frezzzzzzh meat Mazzzzzzzzter, why do they wizzzzzh it to go to wazzzzzzzzzzte?"

Traz's muzzle wrinkled gently as he sighed, "They were our friends Xzziz. We don't eat fallen friends, we treat them with respect."

"Yezzzzzz Mazzzzzzzter..."

As they passed the loathsome garden there was a rustle of the long dank grass and the faint scent of brimstone, making Lyiko whirl, his wand already pointing toward the pair of bright pink eyes that now shone from near a gap in the wall. The short, slender demon male gazing back at him with his hands raised submissively almost smiled at the sight of the ringtail, "You live, this is good, and you stopped the cataclysm of which you spoke. This is good also."

"Riva... I almost blew your head off..."

Lyiko sounded faintly winded as he tried to unlock his muscles, his fingers still twitching from the surprise at the sudden appearance of the small demonic male. The demon's brightly shimmering red eyes traveled up and down Lyiko's form as the short male strode up to him, oblivious of the wary gazes of the rest of the party save Traz and Inuus. The tiny demon male pursed his soft lips in a smile as he sniffed the ringtail, "Demonling now. Much better than mortal mages, but you will reject the demon blood before the sun sets thrice, will you not Lyiko?"

"I think so, yes, being half demon is an acquired taste I think I need more than 3 days to get used to Riva."

"Pity, pity. But still good, I think."

The raven haired demon lowered himself to one knee before Lyiko, the tips of his long pointed ears barely coming past the slender ringtail's thighs as he knelt, gripping Lyiko's paw and kissing it, "My clan, the S'sivreen and I owe to you and all here a debt... We would have all died or gone to battle in the name of deception."

Those shining ruby eyes gazed up evenly into Lyiko's, "You saved this one's life necromancer and the druid... A blood-debt we have now. My clan and especially I will serve if you have need of us."

Lyiko rested his paw gently against the kneeling demon's cheek as he smiled softly, "I would have done the same for anyone, so long as they weren't trying to kill me. Besides, an entire clan of demons attempting to serve me, people will talk, Inuus will be jealous..."

The towering Incubus shrugged softly as he gazed curiously at the slight elfin demon, "He seems limber little master... And he looks like an elf... Perhaps he could visit once... or twice?"

Lyiko couldn't help but chuckle tiredly as he gently tugged Riva to his feet, admiring how the short, slender demon male bounced gently on his toes, "I begin to think you have an elf fetish Inuus. Bare skin and long ears and you simply wish to keep them."

The ringtail shook his head gently, mock-exasperation tingeing his voice, "But if we must uphold our end of the debt, then we must. If only for the honor of clan S'sivreen, correct Talus?"

The ringtail's playful question made the tiger-striped druid bark softly in laughter, holding his side as his ribs twinged, "Ouch, don't make merry with me at the moment Lyiko. A druid in the company of demons and necromancers..." Talus paused, glancing at Colbi who shrugged gingerly, mindful of his shoulder, sighing softly with a tiny grin, "What fate has in store for me with strange company, I have no idea, but perhaps you'll go a long way in changing my kind's ideas of necromancers and demon-kind."

"You shall see me again, this I promise!"

Riva bounced on his toes as he bowed with a fluid motion, then vanished with a swirl of his long raven hair and kilt, making Marius cough softly, "I don't mind the company of demons so much, but must their coming and going reek of sulfur smoke?"

"You get used to it eventually I fear, but it's an unfortunate side-effect of the company, entertaining as they are."

Lyiko inhaled and exhaled deeply once the breeze had carried away the last whiffs of brimstone, the spent match scent whirling away to leave a crisp, clean, cool scented air that cleared the stench of decay and corruption from the lungs, "So what now?"

Talus gently disentangled himself from Colbi, pushing his torn sleeves back as he gazed at the ruined hulk of the tainted monastery, "We finish this."

"Are you up for it Talus?"

Traz looked concerned as he watched the tiger striped druid plant his feet firmly. Talus nodded, setting his muzzle in grim, almost haunted determination as he squared his shoulders and lifted both paws toward the dark night sky. The sickle moon shone brightly on the horizon as they watched the druid, Talus' living cloak rustling as it shifted restlessly about his shoulders, "Let the earth swallow this wound. Let it be cast down into the stone and the fire within the planet, to be purged... Let this thing of evil be buried forever where none can reach it again."

Lyiko took a stumbling step backward as the earth beneath his feet trembled, shivering as it bucked like the passing of a ground-quake. The trees around them quivered as there was a titanic groaning, a deep bass rumble, building all around them. Talus set his teeth, baring his fangs as he clenched his paws into fists and raised them, his mismatched eyes glowing brightly a silvery-green. The roaring rumble built around them till it seemed to shake the marrow of their bones with the booming bass crescendo as the ground beneath the towering monastery heaved, slowly sinking and making the ruined stone hulk begin to topple in on itself. The groan and crackling reports of masonry, stone and wood breaking apart was deafening as the cathedral and monastery crashed down upon themselves, breaking down into the gaping black cavern of the catacombs below. The collapse of the cathedral and catacombs as they sank down was nothing to the heaving rupture of earth and stone all around the perimeter of the old grounds, the earth itself cracking open wide, taking the entirety of the crumbling ruins down into it's swallowing maw.

The crack in the earth like a meteor crater swallowed the ruins, drawing them down deeply and swiftly as Talus lowered his fists in a violent gesture of furious banishment, making torrents of raw earth gout into the night air with a rumble like an erupting volcano. The slender ringtail was awestruck at the sight of Talus, his connection to the earth and stone foundations of his powers restored fully from the muffling taint of the corrupted catacombs raging as he channeled the raw fury of the world spinning beneath them. The druid plunged the crumbled towers of the cathedral deep, deep into the earth below, a gaping maw swallowing the catacombs, crypt of the reliquary and cathedral monastery whole, dragging it down, hopefully never to be disturbed again. The wide, unblemished stretch of freshly turned soil was all that remained of the cursed stone edifice as the raging earth fell back, slumping back to fill the gaping void, leaving them standing in the quiet, breeze-ruffled glen with the bodies of their fallen comrades.

When the moment was right Colbi hurried to the side of the panting druid as Talus slumped with his paws on his knees, making Lyiko marvel as the tiger-striped male's feet had sunken into the soft earth several inches, as if he had for a moment carried the weight of all the earth and stone he had commanded on his shoulders. The slender ringtail cleared his throat delicately, "How are we to get back to the Citadel?"

"We send up a signal."

Rema lifted his staff, making the crystal dim slightly as a burst of bright violet sparks shot from its tip skyward, rising like a shooting star where they streaked across the sky briefly before exploding into a bright nova of light, "They'll see it."

"They?"

Lyiko perked one of his ears as he watched the bright sparks drift slowly, fading as they left tiny dancing spots of color through his vision. The young mage nodded, "The rear-guard was set to watch. If they saw no sign of us by dawn, they were to move in in our place."

"And do what, exactly?"

"Raze the cathedral, destroy this valley if necessary."

Lyiko's eyes were jerked upward once more as a bright burst of silvery-blue fire erupted far over their heads in the starry night sky. He thought he glimpsed the momentary flash of silvery wings before Marius' growling voice barked beside him, "Here they come!"

Traz pointed to Lyiko, "Inuus, quickly, grab your little master and hold on tight!"

The slender ringtail winced as Inuus' strong paws gripped him about the shoulders, "Ow, Wh-...!"

His words were drown out as a swirl of rainbow color streaked across the open ground toward them and they were caught up in the coruscating burst of dazzling light. Lyiko felt that jarring sensation of motion without moving once more as he held his breath and jammed his eyes closed tightly, being jerked off his feet and jostled solidly against Inuus' broad form. The sensations were gentler the second time as the ringtail felt his feet land softly once more onto grassy earth. He jumped as there was suddenly a third steady grip on his shoulder and warm breath stirred the fur on his face gently, "You did well Lyiko. It's time to rest now."

Theanon's voice was gentle as he released Lyiko's shoulder, as Lyiko opened his eyes he heard Traz, "See you again soon kiddo. Get some sleep."

The tall, long-eared headmaster was towering before Lyiko as Inuus was against his back. Theanon waved his hand gently, making a cool, sweetly scented mist spring up, enfolding the ringtail and Incubus, "I shall come see you when we're done with letting the council know what transpired Lyiko. For now, go home..." the draconic elf smiled as his ridged nose wrinkled even more than usual, "You really need a bath..."

The cool fog swept them up once again, making Lyiko sigh as it caressed his battered body, the mist depositing them at the entrance to the underground corridor to the dormitory at the school. The slender ringtail couldn't help but chuckle as he leaned heavily against Inuus, "We're underground again..."

"I know little master. But we're almost home."

The latch to their door clicked loudly as the heavy door to his chambers opened with a creak, Lyiko letting go of the handle and stumbling into his rooms. Talen's shriek and the crash of splintering glass hit Lyiko like a physical blow, making it feel like someone had attempted to insert his eyeballs into their sockets an inch too far as he reeled. The lean elf was standing in a spreading pool of red wine, his alabaster feet and legs dappled with it like bright blood droplets, the bottle and a glass laying in ruins on the floor as his stormy gray eyes were wide. Talen was even paler, if it were possible, his snow white skin bleached of any little pink it held as he gaped in horror at the ringtail and Incubus, coated from head to foot in unspeakable substances, reeking of blood and corruption, their clothing in rags around them, "By the Prophets! You look as if you've been in a war!"

"Just a small one..."

In his shock the lithe elf lifted his foot to step forward but Lyiko's body surprised its own master once more as he darted forward in the blink of an eye and seized the pale elf, "Talen, the broken glass!"

The sudden movement and Lyiko's bark made the long-eared male shriek again as the ringtail's stronger than normal paws clamped around his arms, the noise making Lyiko wince as his body flared with discomfort, his sore head throbbing, "Talen... Please cease screaming..."

Inuus swept the broken glass away with a jerk of his wing, making it rattle in the fireplace where it was at least safe from under foot as he gently separated Lyiko and Talen, "You've bruised the poor elf little master..."

"Oh gods... Talen, I'm sorry. I don't know my own strength at the moment."

Lyiko sighed as he saw the livid marks rising on Talen's pale arms, the slender elf whimpering gently as his arms and hands had momentarily gone numb from the pressure and tingled with the returning circulation. Talen trembled with the shock of seeing his two masters so horribly dirty and covered in blood and substances best perhaps left to his imagination. The dark marks blooming against the elf's alabaster skin diminished as Lyiko stroked his fingers over them, "I'm so sorry Talen... It's been a very, very long day."

"I'm sorry master Lyiko. You merely shocked me... You're all covered in... blood, a-and... Well, blood."

"Best to leave it at that sweet Talen. You're all covered in wine..."

Lyiko pushed his tangled hair back from his face, sighing as he laid his slender wand on the table, looking at Inuus as the towering Incubus was grimacing, his leathery wings shrinking back into his shoulder blades, "I think we could all use a bath..."

He sighed, "I don't feel like using the public baths, I doubt anyone would appreciate all this grime in the school tubs either..."

Talen looked up from where he was brushing up the last of the broken glass and attempting to mop up the spilled wine where it had soaked into the stone floor, "I can prepare the tub master Lyiko."

"You've gotten adept at using the tub master elf."

Inuus grinned as he stripped off his ruined clothes, bundling them into a pile on the floor. Lyiko absently fingered the tears and rips in his robes, sighing before he slipped them off, throwing them into the pile and tossing his sandals and waistcloth on top of the bloodstained mess. He wrinkled his muzzle at the scent of the pile, "I think these should be burned. Just to be safe."

The ringtail flicked his finger at the dark wine stain and watched it fade away, hearing the rush of water as Talen uncorked the flow and let loose the enchanted stream of hot water. He tried not to spread the mess from his hair and fur as he tapped the side of the wooden tub, "I think this will need to be a bit bigger tonight."

The oblong washtub swelled as the bottle balanced on its lip continued to gush steaming water into the basin, expanding to twice its normal size, allowing enough room to fit two in reasonable comfort. The hot-tub sized basin filled swiftly, splashing merrily as Talen fetched a basket of soap and oils. Lyiko pointed to the second storage closet set into the stone wall, "Talen dear, go into the second chest on the left in there, there'll be a bright red bottle and a small gold jar, bring them here, please."

"Yes Lyiko."

The lithe elf bounced on his toes as he swung the thick door open, the lamps within the walk-in closet lighting themselves to illuminate the trunks, chests and shelves. Lyiko recapped the enchanted flask before the tub could fill too full, accepting the bottle and jar from the lean elf. He uncorked the small bottle, sniffing it and sneezing gently at the astringent scent of the powder within it, "Oof, stinks..."

Talen giggled softly, "What is it master Lyiko?"

"Powdered marrow-cap fungus. It's a wonderful analgesic. Put a pinch in a bottle of wine, would you please? Not too much, it's narcotic, but at higher doses it can be hallucinogenic and I've seen enough twisted things to last me several decades today."

"O-of course... I've had moon-dew before. I spent the night with a few males from the Highwind Mountain tribe, they were so stoned by morning..."

The giggling elf shook his head as he fetched a bottle of a pale lilac wine, adding a careful dose of the glittery pale silver powder. Lyiko stretched, sighing softly as he hefted his leg over the edge of the washtub and eased himself into the hot water. He groaned in bliss as the steaming water cradled him, soaking his matted fur through and the water turned almost instantly black, "Hmm, this may need a few purifications..."

The ringtail ducked his head as Inuus stood next to the wide tub, trying to get as much of the filth out of his hair and fur as possible before he languidly waved his paw over the water, making it bubble and clear almost instantly. He scooted to one side as Inuus' thick leg swung up and over the wooden lip of the tub and the towering Incubus eased himself into the tub, making the water level surge up almost to the edge, but receded back. Inuus issued a long, deep rumble, relaxing into the water and easing up against Lyiko, "I had my doubts about this bathing ritual, but I find it very pleasant in the end."

"Masters."

Talen smiled as he offered a cup of wine to Lyiko and a wide bowl to Inuus, dragging a chair to the side of the tub and kneeling on the wide seat as he held a deep handled jug, watching Lyiko clear the water once more before plunging the pitcher into the tub, filling it. The slender elf lifted the brimming pitcher and slowly poured the steaming water over Inuus' long bruise colored hair, rinsing it out. The horned male closed his eyes as the pale elf poured the hot water over his hair and face, rinsing them of the matted blood and slime. Lyiko took the jug from Talen as the elf plucked up the large bar of soap and dunked it, wetting it and rubbing it between his lithe hands, working up a lather. Lyiko grinned as he watched the long eared elf slowly, gently scrub the Incubus' long dark hair, lathering his ears so they looked as if he'd sprouted thick white tufts from his ears. The horned male snorted gently as Talen gently scrubbed his face, keeping his brilliant silver eyes closed. As Talen stroked his soapy hands down the Incubus' throat and upper chest Lyiko smirked at the languid grin on the demonic male's face, unceremoniously upending the jug of water over his head, splashing all of them.

Talen squeaked as he was splashed, the warm water running down his bare chest and belly, making him giggle softly. Inuus spat some sudsy water over the edge of the tub as he smirked, making Lyiko shriek softly as he seized the ringtail's leg underwater and yanked gently, submerging him to surface sputtering and coughing. Lyiko spat out a muzzle-full of soapy water, "You made me drop my wine..."

Inuus handed the wine cup back to the ringtail, now filled with the dingy water, making Lyiko snort and pour the water over the Incubus' head. With a roll of his bright blue eyes the ringtail waved his paw once more, clearing the water, Talen helpfully refilling the cup for Lyiko to drain as the elf resumed washing Inuus's steely blue tinged fur. The slender elf smiled, "Would you stand up for me... please master Inuus?"

"Mmm, of course sweet elf."

The sodden Incubus slowly stood, taking his time as he stretched luxuriously. Talen blushed along the length of his long, pointed ears as he gazed up shyly at the dripping horned male, slowly rubbing his soapy hands up and down over Inuus' arms and sides, scrubbing his broad, sculpted chest. Inuus rumbled in contentment as he felt Talen's long, agile fingers scrubbing through his thick fur, rubbing slowly over his broad chest and down the rippled ridges of his belly. The pale elf giggled self-consciously as he stroked his sudsy fingers over the Incubus' wide hips, making Lyiko chuckle, "Careful Talen, he's tired, but you're about to start washing his favorite areas."

"I-I can stop..."

Talen flushed more, his milky skin fairly glowing with pink as he stroked through the thick fur lining Inuus' strong thighs and down to his knees barely above the level of the water. Inuus shifted, grinning as he turned, exposing his back to the elf, lifting his long, sodden hair to one side to allow the long eared male swishing his long, tuft-tipped tail through the water languidly. Talen ran his hands down Inuus' strong back, biting his lip gently as he scrubbed down to the base of the horned male's tail, feeling it flex. Inuus glanced back as the slender elf gently caressed over the wide, curved, beautifully outlined expanse of the Incubus' backside, caressing it slowly. Talen's fingers slid through the horned male's thick, sodden fur, rubbing and stroking his tightly muscled rump, making Inuus rumble idly. Lyiko shook his head as he scrubbed his own hair out, smirking, "I think it's washed Talen."

The slender elf looked sheepish as he slipped his hands down Inuus' thick thighs, inhaling as the Incubus turned back around to face him, gasping gently, "Oh Goddess..."

"I did warn you."

Inuus' thick, blunt tipped maleness was swollen free of its velvet furred sheath as he turned back, jutting beautifully from between his thickly cabled thighs. Talen uttered a breathless squeak as he gently touched his soapy fingertip to the blunt end of the horned male's thick glans, stroking the pink tinged ebony flesh gingerly, making the Incubus inhale and exhale slowly. Lyiko chuckled as he gazed at his demonic consort's proudly jutting cock, feeling a swelling flash of desire battling his fatigue and hunger, rinsing his hair with a duck of his head, "Mmm, boys, no fucking before food. It's been a long day and I'm hungry."

Talen pulled his hands back as if he'd been scalded, making Inuus wrinkle his muzzle as the horned male huffed, "I'm hungry too little master."

"You've been surrounded by death and destruction all day, I've no doubt you're in the mood to eat and rut. But eating first, once I've finished washing."

Talen blushed harder as he shifted, helping the ringtail soap his back and shoulders, the slender elf leaning over to reach Lyiko's chest when he gasped, "Master Lyiko! You have... Are those... Horns?!"

With the ringtail's strawberry red hair sodden down and clean, the tiny horns sprouting from his temples were visible against his fur now. The ridged, steel gray protrusions of horn caught Talen's deep gray eyes as he stared fixated, brushing the small pointed growths with his fingers, feeling their sharp points. Lyiko sighed as he felt the elf caressing his face, "It's... a long story Talen..."

The slender ringtail relaxed, feeling his entire body burn and tingle as he loosened his grip on the demon blood in his veins, letting it flow freely once more, spreading its energy and influence again. The chair clattered over as Talen jumped to his feet with a tiny cry, his stormy eyes wide, staring at his ringtailed master as Lyiko's fur rippled, streaking and swirling with the dark, smoky whorls of black that spread from his shoulder, his eyes glowing from their normal bright blue to eerie pink, shimmering in the glow of the lamps and fireplace. The tiny horns sprouting from his temples lengthened, curving inward as they crackled, making his forehead ache. Lyiko lifted his transfigured paws, gazing at the long, wicked talons tipping his fingers and wriggling his toes, now similarly adorned. Talen nearly fell down as he tripped on the chair, banging his chin on the edge of the tub as he slid, making Lyiko reach for him before stopping himself, his pink eyes darting to the bruises already on the elf's arms, "It's alright Talen, don't be afraid..."

"M-m-m-master Lyiko...?"

Talen trembled as he gazed at the ringtail's familiar, but now somewhat sinisterly transfigured body. Lyiko seemed more angular, his features sharper, the steel colored horns and claws, his normally cream and mocha fur streaked with swirls and streaks of black almost like tribal tattoos. The glowing pink eyes that still held the ringtail's warmth and clarity made the slender elf shiver, "Master Lyiko, you drank... demon blood?"

"It's alright Talen... I'm not going to bite you."

Lyiko smiled softly, extending his paw gently to the twitching elf, the movement of his muzzle ironically exposing longer, sharper fangs, "I had to mix my blood with Inuus' while we helped the council. This won't be permanent, I'll get an antidote from Headmaster Theanon before the three days' time is up."

Still fixated, the trembling elf gingerly curled his fingers around Lyiko's clawed paw, feeling the strength in it, warily drawing closer as the ringtail stood in the tub. Lyiko pulled the long-eared male close, gently stroking his back with his free paw, making Talen shiver as he felt those claw-tips softly caress his smooth skin. Talen could feel the heat and power radiating from his slender master's form, pressing gently against him, "You're still master Lyiko..."

"Mmm, yes. Though our master's libido, strength and hunger will be increased for a week or so, even with the antidote administered. His horns may take some time to fade as well."

Inuus stood dripping next to the washtub, drying his thick fur as he grinned, watching Lyiko stroke Talen's back comfortingly. Lyiko glanced back, smirking, "Not that you'll be complaining, I'm sure, Inuus. For now, would you be agreeable enough as a servant to fetch us all some food?"

The towering Incubus slung his towel around his throat, stretching slowly, making his slightly sore body crackle and pop as he released the tension from his taut muscles, shrugging and turning toward the pantry. Lyiko stared open-muzzled after the towering Incubus, "Not even a complaint... He must be fatigued and hungry..."

The ringtail giggled, making Talen smother a tiny giggle into his shoulder, smiling as he stroked the elf's long platinum hair, sliding his claws through the shiny locks, "Your feet and legs are still stained with wine Talen, come sit on the edge of the tub..."

The lithe elf gently straddled the lip of the tub, balancing his hips and rump on the thick wooden edge, sitting lightly as he dipped his legs into the warm water. He blushed as Lyiko lowered himself back into the water and lifted the soap, supporting one of Talen's feet balanced on his own thigh as the elf gripped the edge of the tub and leaned back. Lyiko gently scrubbed the dark streaks of wine from the elf's feet and legs one at a time, making Talen blush furiously as he stroked the insides of his long, lean, smooth thighs. Talen rubbed his hand idly between Lyiko's ears as the ringtail washed his legs, blushing as he gazed down at his now pink-eyed master, "You're still quite beautiful master Lyiko... E-even with such fearsome claws..."

"Claws are only dangerous if they're made to be sweet Talen. If one caresses gently, they aren't sharp."

The ringtail made the slender elf gasp as he demonstrated by running the tips of his claws down the inside of his thigh gently, just barely caressing the smooth skin. Talen shivered, biting his lip as the front of his waistcloth twitched. Lyiko grinned gently, "Yes, we will have to be careful, the demon heat will be doubled for the time being. We don't wish to hurt you via overindulgence."

"I-I uh, I don't think I've ever had the opportunity to overindulge myself in anything master Lyiko..."

"I find that hard to believe little master elf. That's what elves live for, that's where elves' heart and souls are, in overindulging themselves horribly in anything that strikes their fancy."

"I've never had enough money to overindulge many fancies L-Lyiko..."

"Well, that can be fixed."

Lyiko caressed up Talen's long, lean thigh as he stood once more, grinning at the slender elf, "I feel very much like overindulging tonight. Overindulging in anything and everything, to make me forget the day... What almost happened, the loss of several good males... I think we should definitely overindulge in their names tonight."

Lyiko stood patiently as Talen insisted on rubbing his hair and fur as dry as possible, smiling as the slender elf jumped, gasping as Inuus spanked him on the backside gently in passing. The towering Incubus was carrying a laden tray to the fireside, then carried an armload of thick, silken blankets and pillows to the dense fur rug laying before the hearth, scattering them into a comfortable nest before sinking down with a rumbling sigh, gazing expectantly at Lyiko and Talen. Lyiko grinned, slinging his towel over the back of the nearby chair as he walked evenly along to the silken, thickly padded nest before the sedately crackling fire, "Looks comfortable."

He made Talen inhale stridently as he gripped the elf's waistcloth and unwound it deliberately, "And I don't think you'll be needing this, dear Talen."

Inuus gripped the elf's slender wrist and tugged him down to the pillow-strewn floor, pulling him close and then pulling Lyiko down. The horned male rumbled in satisfaction as he pressed into the pair of slender bodies against him, running his broad paws over Talen and Lyiko's lean forms. Talen sighed softly as he rested his head in the crook of the Incubus' throat, his ears twitching against the horned male's fur and deep purple hair. He giggled as he felt Inuus' broad, warm nose rubbing into his shoulder and throat, inhaling at the tough of the demonic male's tongue as Inuus licked his smooth skin.

The long eared male squirmed softly, wriggling his feminine hips back and forth as he felt the scrape of the Incubus' teeth on his throat. He could feel Lyiko pressed into his back, rubbing his sides gently. Talen wriggled harder, whimpering gently into Inuus' shoulder, "I-I thought you wished to eat...?"

"I changed my mind..."

Lyiko mmm-ed gently, burying his muzzle into the elf's long, platinum hair, inhaling the alabaster skinned male's sweet, almost honey-like scent. He moved his muzzle back and forth slowly, lifting his face, running his lips along the long, pointed length of Talen's ears, kissing them softly. Talen moaned breathlessly as Lyiko kissed and licked over his exquisitely sensitive auricles, dragging his warm tongue down to lap at the elf's earlobes, nibbling them, scraping them with his sharp fangs almost imperceptibly. Lyiko ran his paws all over the slender elf as Talen shivered and wriggled, grinding himself against Inuus and back into the ringtail as Lyiko slid his agile fingers and paws all over his swiftly flushing body, stroking and caressing.

Lyiko could feel the tingles and washing rushes of heat coursing through his belly and thighs, the growing lust building in the chamber overwhelming any soreness or fatigue. He gazed at the slender elf's lithe, alabaster body, grinning to himself as he slid his paws down, gripping Talen's smooth, heart-shaped backside, flexing his fingers and squeezing softly, but with a firm insistence. The long eared male inhaled, shivering as he cried out at the feeling of Lyiko's long fingers pressing into his ass, making him press harder into Inuus. The horned male nibbled along the elf's throat, kissing him with increasing intensity till their lips met. Talen uttered a tiny grunt as his pink tinted lips pressed to the horned male's dusky ones and Inuus' tongue slid between his teeth.

Talen squirmed his hips as he sucked on the Incubus' long, broad tongue, his hands gripping the horned male's wonderfully defined chest, whimpering into Inuus' muzzle as they pressed their tongues back and forth, swirling them. Lyiko grinned as he slowly lowered himself down onto his side, gaining a beautiful view of Talen's wriggling ass and milky, lean thighs, thrusting his paw between them and fondling the whimpering elf. The pale elf almost bit down on Inuus' lip as he felt Lyiko's strong paw wrap around his warm balls and heft them in his palm, squeezing them softly. Lyiko giggled lustily, "These feel full Talen dear..."

All the slender elf could do was whimper and grunt helplessly as he arched his back, making his beautiful backside and hips thrust toward Lyiko, pressing himself into the dense, almost hot form of Inuus before him. Lyiko licked his lips as he stroked the lithe male's balls, feeling Talen's cock twitching, diamond hard with arousal bobbing as it jutted freely. The view of the elf's wildly grinding ass was tantalizing, the alabaster curves, smooth hairless, furless skin without any tail, the only mar against Talen's porcelain complexion being the bright red mark on his lower back. The arcane mark drew Lyiko's gaze downward, into the plunging vee of Talen's rump, a rogue thought seizing him as he slid both paws back, gripping the elf's heart-shaped ass and spreading it wide, revealing the smooth, tight, tender ring of flesh leading into that slender, heaving body.

Talen almost shrieked as he felt Lyiko's hot breath caress his ass a bare moment before the ringtail's long tongue darted out and caressed the entrance to his body. He arched like a bow, his clear gray eyes half rolling up into his head as he moaned stridently. Inuus rumbled loudly, grinning as he watched his little master's slim muzzle work up and down in the cleft of the slender elf's ass, licking slowly, "Mmm, Talen is being a noisy little elf... He needs something to muffle him."

"Yes, plug his mouth with your cock Inuus."

Lyiko looked up long enough to grin, before resuming his ministrations, lapping around the tender skin of Talen's back door, his paw tight around the shivering elf's diamond hard, twitching cock. Inuus nodded, shifting, leaning back and exposing his mammoth ebony cock to Talen, gripping the elf's slender nape and pulling his platinum haired skull down into his crotch. The grinning Incubus moved his hips, making his thick, blunt-tipped cock slide against the smooth skin on Talen's cheeks and chin, even rubbing it into the hollow of his slender throat. Talen whimpered loudly, his entire body clenching and shuddering with heat, his cock and balls so tight, tingling with a maddening intensity as he was trapped between both demonic powered males. The feeling of Lyiko's hot breath and warm, wet, snaking tongue on his ass and the ringtail's paw stroking his own pink tinged cock so tightly was making him dizzy with desire.

The teasing was driving the slender elf crazy as he felt Inuus' wet-tipped cock grinding against his face, struggling to catch the horned male's length between his lips. Lyiko grunted as he gazed up at the slender elf trying valiantly to intercept the Incubus' throbbing ebon cock as it dribbled crystal, blood-heat pre-cum over his face, "Don't tease him to death Inuus, let him catch it."

"Yes, little master."

Inuus stopped moving his hips just long enough to allow Talen to wrap his pale lips around the blunt glans of his cock, grunting as the long eared male sucked hard. The magnificent suction from the pale elf made the towering Incubus' cock twitch, his heavy, velvet-furred balls shifting in their sac as he bucked his hips slowly. Talen's whimpering was muffled as he bobbed his head up and down, shivering as Inuus' paw settled between his ears, guiding his skull up and down, brushing lightly up and down his ears. His shivering hips bucked into Lyiko's grip as he twitched hard in the ringtail's paw. The elf's sleek, freely dripping cock slid in and out of the ringtail's fist, Talen's hips moving of their own accord as he felt the ringtail's hot tongue caressing him harder and more wildly.

Talen panted through his nose as he took Inuus' thick, blunt-tipped cock deeper, almost choking on the ebony length, his throat spasming as he shuddered, his slender body burning with lust. Lyiko felt the long eared elf shiver hard, Talen's sleek cock jerking in his paw as he felt it straining, taut, its tip giving a squirt of pre-cum. He slid his other paw around, pressing his muzzle tightly into the cleft of Talen's ass as he licked, cupping his paw around the wet tip of the elf's cock, pumping him hard. Inuus growled out loud as Talen moaned around his cock, pushing his head down around the demonic male's length till it was prodding into his clenching throat. The slender elf's moan was silenced, but his orgasm still came to a raging head, his sleek, diamond hard cock exploding in Lyiko's paws as Talen's body clenched hard, shuddering.

Inuus gripped Talen's slender nape tightly, uttering a guttural growl as he tensed, letting his body be engulfed by the shuddering elf's mouth and throat, those clenching, spasming muscles squeezing him till he howled softly. The Incubus' blunt-tipped cock twitched, erupting into a hot, milky torrent down Talen's throat. The long eared male choked softly, making Inuus pull back, just letting his gushing essence fill Talen's mouth, spilling out to drip down over the elf's chin and throat. Lyiko watched the dual orgasms with a grin, resting his muzzle on Talen's still bucking ass as he looked up at Inuus' blissful face, the demonic male's silver eyes closed and his muscles thrown into glorious relief as he tensed, chest thrust out, rippled belly taut, arms holding Talen's long ears.

Lyiko milked Talen tightly, stroking his cock, caressing the still twitching length with his cum-coated fingers. His paw was coated and filled with the elf's warm, slippery liquid silk as he pulled away from Talen, grinning. The shivering elf gasped as he pulled his mouth from Inuus' ebon cock, panting raggedly, his face, throat and chest dappled with the Incubus' seed, barely visible against his alabaster skin. His normally bright gray eyes were glassy as he panted heavily, feeling a delicate worm of Inuus' semen even dripping from his nose as he relaxed, then stiffened with a squeak of shock. Lyiko rumbled, slapping his seed-filled paw against the slender elf's rump, smearing the silky essence down, letting it coat Talen's tight, tender entrance. He bit his lip, slowly rubbing the slick-coated tip of his finger around and around, caressing Talen, making sure the elf's own slippery seed was well coated over his skin before he shifted onto his knees, rubbing the remainder of the elf's cum over his own hard, wet-tipped length.

Inuus rumbled his approval as he watched his slender master grip Talen's hips and press himself against the long eared male from behind, "Yes, take him little master. Show him what the demonic lust of our kind can do."

The demonic fire spreading through Lyiko's loins was making him dizzy with lust for the slender elf, his sleek cock diamond-hard, slippery with his pre-cum mingled with Talen's fresh seed, taut in his paw as he leaned over Talen's back, aligning their hips. With a sharp thrust of his hips Lyiko guided himself into the panting elf, making him jolt forward against Inuus with a shrill moan. Talen gritted his teeth, pressing his sticky face into Inuus' chest as he felt Lyiko's wet cock-tip prod against the tender ring of the entrance to his body, spreading him open. The burst of discomfort made Talen shudder, the sensation of the ringtail's breathtakingly hard cock entering him inch by inch, letting him feel every bump, vein and contour. Lyiko used his grip on the slender elf's wide hips to pull him back, groaning himself as his length slid into Talen all the way, sighing as he settled his weight onto the smooth back beneath him, pressing the long eared male into the bedding under them.

The discomfort of the ringtail's taut cock impaling him passed as Lyiko paused briefly, feeling Talen's muscles clench and relax wildly, adjusting to the coupling. A nagging full sensation built in Talen's belly as he pressed back into Lyiko, grinding his smooth ass back and forth into the ringtail's crotch, moaning heatedly into Inuus' chest. The moaning got louder and sharper with Lyiko's first deep, banging thrust, pulling his hips back and slamming them forward once more, sheathing himself deeper, his swollen balls grinding into Talen's own warm, furless sac. Lyiko grunted, hissing between his teeth as he licked over Talen's shoulder and throat, biting his smooth, naked white skin hard enough to leave pale pink marks. He banged against the wriggling elf, blissfully sinking into the clenching rump beneath him, feeling it squeeze and tug him like a warm, slick fist. His raging erection was already dribbling and squirting pre-cum with abandon, Talen's tight body dragging him close to orgasm as they clashed together.

The two slender male's wild coupling brought Inuus' ebon cock back to it's full, magnificent glory, fresh pre-seed dripping down from it's blunt glans. He caressed Talen's long, pointed ears, making him shudder harder, watching his ringtailed master's bucking, thrusting form. The tip of the demonic male's cock brushed back and forth across Talen's belly as it twitched, leaving great swaths of crystal pre-cum. Feeling discontent with watching the clashing union Inuus gripped Talen's shoulders, gently pulling him upright and grasping him around the torso as he took advantage of the slick silken sheets to slip beneath the shivering elf, slipping his legs between the long eared male's spread thighs. Inuus slipped himself beneath Talen, pulling the moaning elf into position straddling his hips, grinning up at Lyiko as the ringtail grasped his intentions, slowing his bucking thrusts, allowing his towering demon consort to slip his own mammoth ebon cock up between Talen's sticky backside and his crotch.

The whimpering elf cried out softly as he felt Inuus' thick, blunt tipped cock touch his ass, "M-m-masters...?! I-I... My... M-master Inuus, y-y-you'll never be able to...!"

Lyiko grinned, biting the side of Talen's throat softly as he spread the elf's rump wide, stopping his own thrusts into his shivering body, keeping his twitching length within him as he felt Inuus' massive cock probing against the back of Talen's balls, pushing upward, seeking purchase in the sticky mess surrounding the elfin male's already filled back-passage. Lyiko reached down, helping to guide the Incubus, biting his own lip as he felt that ebon cock press against the base of his own length, then push. Talen's glazed eyes opened wide as he uttered a tiny screech of discomfort, feeling Inuus' blunt cock-tip pressing, seeking, using Lyiko's member as a guide. Talen arched almost painfully, jerking his hips as a burst of pain flared up his spine, making him cry out once more, the alien sensation of one cock already within him suddenly joined by the tip of another, stretching him open wider. He thrashed between both males, tears sliding down his cheeks as he bit his lip hard enough to bring a drop of red to them, the discomfort building till he thought he was being torn in two.

Talen gave a small sob as he shuddered, the pain slowly fading as Inuus' thick cock joined Lyiko's within his body. He panted, reeling with shock at the sensation of both thrusting members within him, hard, wet, dense and throbbing. The scent and feel of both males pressing against him from front and behind threatened to overwhelm the pale elf as he clutched against Inuus, his fingers digging into the Incubus' back, "Oh... Gods... Oh gods... M-m-masters!"

"Hush Talen..."

Lyiko rumbled gently into the elf's long ear, kissing his throat, wrapping his arms around Talen's slim waist as he slowly moved his hips once more. The result was spectacular as Talen uttered an ear-splitting moan and his body clenched on reflex, jerking back and forth, making both Lyiko and Inuus inhale and grunt. The slow in and out rhythm of both of those diamond hard cocks within him made Talen's eyes roll up white for a moment as he nearly fainted, whimpering deep in his throat. The pain had faded, leaving the heated, stomach twisting passion as the slender elf was torn between amazement and just giving in to the raging lust rising and falling within him. His own length had flagged briefly at the discomfort of being penetrated a second time, but sprang back, digging into Inuus' ridged belly, dribbling copiously as Inuus and Lyiko took him in tandem, alternating their grunting thrusts.

The horned male's blunt tip was rubbing mercilessly up and down across the slender elf's internal pleasure button, making him thrash and clench wildly. Another orgasm built within Talen, peaking as Lyiko bit his slender nape, tugging the sensitive skin there softly as the ringtail growled with yearning. Talen's seed burst all over Inuus' ridged belly and broad chest, splashing and coating his own torso, the hardest jet hitting his own chin as he shuddered hard. The elf's vice-like clenching made Lyiko groan loudly, his sleek cock getting squeezed against Inuus' longer, thicker member. He ground his hips into Talen's jerking ass, feeling his own belly tingle, the heat spreading down his thighs and up his spine. Lyiko arched hard, jamming his cock into Talen as deeply as he could as he orgasmed, his heat spilling into the elf's wildly clenching body in hard jets.

The twin climaxes drove Inuus to his own peak, even as he strove to hold out longer, feeling Talen's muscles milking Lyiko as the ringtail's hot seed rushed against his own blunt, throbbing cock. He uttered a ragged, deep howl, arching up into Talen and sending his own demonic essence bursting into the elf's body, his ebony length pumping in short, hard spurts. As he relaxed the horned male could feel his slick seed drooling from Talen's rump, sliding down over his own tight balls, mingling with Lyiko's cum as they stuffed the shivering elf full, burying their essence deep, driving it into the core of the pale body grinding between them.

"Ohhhh gods..."

Lyiko slumped down against Talen as he panted, letting his sleek cock lay within the elf, squeezed against Inuus' member till it ceased throbbing, his climax spent. He slowly eased himself from Talen, the alabaster skinned elf whimpering shrilly as the ringtail's slick length slid from him with a wet pop. The elf shuddered as his body relaxed, his muscles aching gently as they eased around only Inuus' mammoth erection, that ebon cock having not flagged an inch, even with his orgasm. The horned male growled as he moved his hips, making Talen moan raggedly as his deep gray eyes flew wide, "M-m-master Inuus... Please... Not again, s-so soon..."

Lyiko groaned as he gently stroked Talen's back, rolling off of the slender elf and easing down onto his side, panting as he gazed at Talen and Inuus, "Mmm, Inuus, have mercy on poor Talen."

The towering demonic male looked disappointed, rumbling as he slowly eased himself free from Talen's aching ass, gently cradling the slender elf and rolling him onto his back, laying him down on the now slightly sticky silken bedclothes. He gazed at Lyiko with his bright silver eyes as he stroked Talen's sticky cheeks, "Mmm, then you come please me, my demon tainted little master."

"Oh hush up Inuus."

Lyiko twitched his tail at the imperious tone of the rumbling Incubus' voice, "I should come over there and fuck you for good measure for making demands of me so casually."

He smirked, pulling himself upright with some effort, leaving Talen to lie panting as he not so gently pounced onto his towering demon consort. Lyiko straddled Inuus' broad hips, gripping the horned male's arms tightly, allowing some of the demonic strength raging within him to come into play. Normally, under any other circumstances the slender ringtail couldn't hope to match or even come close to the horned male's raw power, but transformed as he was with the Incubus' blood he had at least twice his normal strength. Inuus easily flexed his arms in Lyiko's grip, grinning broadly at the ringtail's test of dominance. The wild abandon of the ringtail's pink gaze and the entangling of their limbs made the towering demon male growl in pleasure, "I shall take you for myself, little master."

"Don't you usually?"

Lyiko growled back at his horned consort, thrashing against the Incubus' grip, making his slender body rub and grind against the broader male. He knew the horned male was enjoying himself immensely at the feel of the rock-hard cock pushing against his ass as they fought one another's grasp teasingly. Inuus grinned, flashing his pearly fangs as he gripped Lyiko's taloned paws, not letting his ringtailed master pull away or gain any leverage. To gain any force against the strong Incubus the ringtail would have to press back against his cock and Lyiko attempted to grip Inuus' hips with his knees and feet. Out of the corner of his eye Lyiko glimpsed Talen, lying panting, watching their exchange with interest as he basked in his own afterglow.

Inuus gripped his master's paws tightly and heaved himself up, making Lyiko shriek softly as he was heaved about and slammed down onto his back, winding up with the growling Incubus atop himself. The ringtail thrashed impotently as Inuus gripped his wrists above his head and grinned down into his face. He pressed his thighs together, squeaking as Inuus yanked them apart, holding him down as the horned male kept his lean thighs spread with his own hips. Lyiko thrashed his tail as he arched, wriggling against Inuus as the Incubus pressed their muzzles, kissing him hard. He grunted, biting the horned male's lip, hissing at him softly, the bite only making Inuus rumble more passionately, holding him down bodily and thrusting his broad tongue between his lips.

Lyiko inhaled through his nose as he glared into Inuus' silver eyes, his grunt muffled by the horned male's tongue and muzzle as his hips were held and Inuus' sticky cock pushed against him. The ringtail wriggled harder, flexing his claws against Inuus' grip as he arched, his breath catching in his chest as the demonic male's ebon cock was suddenly within him, spreading him open wide. Lyiko clenched his eyes shut, his already pleasure flooded body only registering the barest discomfort as that mammoth erection was shoved into him to the hilt, pinning his hips down before the Incubus released his muzzle. He groaned loudly as Inuus let him breathe once more, opening his muzzle and biting down on the horned male's shoulder hard, partly as revenge for holding him helpless and penetrating him, half to muffle himself.

The room was again filled with grunting moans as Inuus wasted no time, bucking his broad hips swiftly, impaling his ringtailed master deeply, rocking him with his slamming thrusts. Inuus released Lyiko's paws, making the ringtail hiss softly and run his new wicked claws down the horned male's back, leaving a series of wheals beneath his steely-blue fur. The bite of the ringtail's claws made Inuus growl loudly, grinning as he retaliated with a savage thrust of his hips, making Lyiko cry out. The feral rutting almost radiated heat, making Talen sit up woozily staring in naked lust at his two masters wild coupling, his aching body forgotten for the moment. The slender elf scooted closer, moaning softly to himself as he gingerly touched Inuus' wildly flexing rump, feeling the dense muscles clenching and relaxing as the horned demon plowed into Lyiko almost ruthlessly, making him moan breathlessly.

Inuus grinned between his grunting pants of pleasure, "We seem to have revived little Talen master."

He glanced to the fixated elf, "Come closer to watch me fuck master Lyiko raw, sweet elf?"

Talen blushed as he pressed down against Lyiko as the growling Incubus bucked harder, watching their coupling as he groaned to himself. The slender elf licked his lips as his pale hand crept down and squeezed himself almost absentmindedly, watching Lyiko moan and buck against Inuus heatedly. Inuus raised himself up, gripping Lyiko's hips and wrapping the ringtail's legs around his own waist bodily as he thrust, feeling himself grow tauter, "The little elf is aroused by our mating master Lyiko. Perhaps he should pleasure himself all over you my master."

He grinned at the slender elf, "Come little elf, so you can cum, little elf..."

Lyiko grunted as Talen kissed him almost tentatively on the lips, reaching and gripping the slender elf's nape as he kissed back. The ringtail could taste Inuus on the elf's tongue and lips, groping between the pillows they were squashing and pulling out a scrap of linen from the upset tray next to them. Lyiko wiped his sticky cock, tossing the cloth away as he released Talen, pulling the elf's hips, trying to focus long enough with Inuus bucking his hips teasingly not being easy. Talen moaned softly, nodding as he shifted, laying half over Lyiko as he thrust his head down into the ringtail's crotch, taking his sleek cock into his mouth and sucking as he stroked his own length against Lyiko's muzzle.

Inuus watched the slender males, pushing Talen's head down teasingly on Lyiko's sleek cock, making the elf's ears twitch, "Suck the the little elf master. Make him cum again."

Lyiko curled his tongue around Talen's smooth, pink tinged cock, tasting the elf's sweet musk, sucking hard as he moaned out loudly, feeling Talen's wonderfully talented lips and tongue caressing his own length. As they lay tangled together Inuus rumbled, bucking harder, purposefully clenching his own muscles to hold off his orgasm, deliberately prodding the ringtail's internal pleasure spot with his ebon length. Talen bobbed his head wildly, taking Lyiko's sleek cock deeper and harder, sucking hard as he squeezed himself, shivering as he felt the ringtail's tongue caress him. He whimpered his body coated in sweat, pre-cum and seed from all three of them as he took Lyiko deeper into his mouth. The ringtail moaned, feeling his own cock slide into Talen's mouth all the way to the hilt, his glimmering eyes rolling up as he shivered. The swiftly bucking Incubus urged both of the slender males on harder, slamming his ebony cock deeper into his moaning ringtailed master.

The two slender males bobbed their heads, sucking hard, both desperate for their release, growing tight, taut and throbbing. Talen was the first to crest the peak of orgasm once more, his hips bucking against Lyiko's sticky face. The ringtail grunted as his muzzle and throat were filled by the elf's spurting cock, swallowing hard to keep Talen's seed from dribbling out past his lips, panting hard through his nose. He allowed the shivering elf's balls to drain once more, sucking hard before releasing Talen's pale cock, panting raggedly himself as Inuus jabbed his internal trigger. Lyiko didn't have the breath to cry out as he simply clutched Talen's nape, the elf's wonderful suction toppling him over the edge. He exploded into the elf's mouth, riding the crest of his climax, his muscles squeezing down tight around Inuus as the demonic male rumbled.

Inuus panted, slamming into Lyiko as his length was squeezed like a vice, his ebon cock jetting more of his liquid heat into his little master's body. Before his orgasm could subside the horned male yanked his cock free of Lyiko's body, letting the last of his climax spray over both ringtail and elf, dappling them with demonic essence. As they panted the Incubus slowly eased himself between the two slender males, collapsing onto his back, basking in the wonderful afterglow of multiple orgasms. Talen lay breathing heavily, slowly heaving himself upright and then down against Inuus, panting into the horned male's chest. He closed his eyes, feeling the Incubus stroke his back gently, "That was..."

"Yes... It was."

Lyiko nodded, sighing, as he felt sore, hot and sticky all over, but supremely satisfied. He rested his head on Inuus' chest, feeling it rise and fall steadily and deeply now that the horned male had spent himself so thoroughly. The room hung heavy with the scent of lust, sex and freshly spilled seed, making Lyiko chuckle gently, "This is a much better smell than the one we came in with."

"Y-yes master Lyiko..."

Talen rubbed his sore backside gingerly, making Lyiko stroke his cheek softly where it rested on Inuus' shoulder, "Careful Talen, or Inuus will be after that again. Have some more wine, it'll make you feel better."

Lyiko wrinkled his muzzle as he rubbed the giant sticky spot on Inuus' chest and belly, "I think we all need another bath... and to actually eat, rather than just say we're hungry, then fuck..."

"You do speak truth little master..."

Lyiko rested his head back against the trunk of the warm oak tree, feeling his still sore body relaxing in the golden morning sunshine as he sighed gently. Almost 5 days had passed since he had ventured down into the cursed catacombs, and it had been almost 4 since Theanon had appeared the morning after the sanity taxing adventure with a softly smoking goblet full of the most disgusting potion Lyiko had ever laid eyes or nose on. He had almost vomited after choking the foul brew down, Theanon thumping him solidly on the back as he had hiccupped helplessly. Inuus and Talen almost seemed sorry to see the talons and glowing eyes go, but the ringtail himself didn't think he could handle much longer under the influence of every carnal and feral desire that popped through his head over the several days it took for the demonic influence to slowly purge itself from his system. Lyiko ran a finger over his temple idly as he sat, feeling only the remnants of the curved horns that bracketed his forehead. They were barely an inch long and fading, Theanon had predicted another week at most till the tiny horns subsided completely.

Lyiko had been too tired to argue with the small army of mages and peacekeepers who had come to call or who had summoned him in the days immediately following. He knew the city magistrates; the council and all the mage clans were in an uproar, the church disbelieving and resentful that one of its own trusted representatives had been the one behind the barely averted catastrophe itself. To his credit Theanon had shielded the battered ringtail from the worst of these endless meetings and conclaves, only allowing Lyiko to be questioned in due time and on his own terms till the mage's council and the council of the three and the nine, now two members short, were satisfied. Traz had left Lyiko at the close of the last meeting with an ironic grin, "There'll be hell to pay here for someone, I'm sure...but thankfully, not us."

Once the burials and ceremonies had been concluded and the din surrounding the happenstance of one of the school's own students had died back down to a dull roar Lyiko had been released to his own recognizance and allowed to wander freely once more. Other than being pelted with questions wherever he went, people had thankfully left the slender ringtail alone, save for the infrequent visits of Traz, Talus and Colbi, who seemed to think themselves indebted to Lyiko for reasons he couldn't quite fathom. Traz himself had requested the ringtail meet him, without entourage, in the small park nearest the school grounds, so Lyiko had disentangled himself from Inuus and Talen who seemed almost maniacally determined to pamper and cosset the ringtail back to his full strength.

He opened one eye languidly as Traz nudged him gently with a foot, "Hey kiddo."

The albino bat was dressed as always in his dark robes, smiling, with Talus at his elbow and Colbi, one arm still wrapped in a sling gripping one of the druid's paws in his own good one. Lyiko stretched gently, feeling his back twinge as he winced, making Traz chuckle, "Yea, I'm still feeling it too, but these two put on a good show of not admiring my pain."

Colbi snorted into his sling as he gingerly sat beside Talus, Lyiko had heard the canine had resigned from the peace-keepers, offering to assist Talus as the tiger-striped druid traveled around the city and outside its limits. As he got a good look at the handsome canine Lyiko grinned softly, Colbi's features were smooth, though he would have a scar or two from his injuries in the catacombs, his gray and white pelt showing a few rough spots. The canine's cheerful blue eyes were clear as he gazed back into Lyiko's own sky colored ones and his charcoal hair drifted around his face and muzzle with the breeze. Colbi's shoulder and leg were still stiff, but Talus expected he'd make a full recovery eventually.

Traz winked playfully at Lyiko as he jerked a thumb at the canine's paw wrapped around Talus' and made a tiny gagging sound, "Young love, disgusting isn't it?"

"I usually settle for young lust, myself."

Lyiko grinned, seeing a momentary flash in the seated druid's mismatched eyes, but Talus shrugged and said nothing. Traz passed the ringtail a large pouch, "It ain't much, but it's a start, and even that old coot Prafalen says you should come see us boring old politicians sometime. High praise indeed. Qhorye asks you to come to a nice wine drenched dinner with your tall, horned paramour next week, if you can make it. He seems to think you have a future on the council, replacing me as I'm an incompetent jackass, or so he said, but I'm paraphrasing."

Lyiko hefted the large pouch, peeking into it at the assortment of brightly cut gemstones, tucking it into his robe as he nodded, "Talen might feel ignored for an evening, but I think I can persuade him to enjoy a night off."

Talus shifted next to Colbi, "Perhaps he'd enjoy a night out as well, his half-brother is in town and they have a lot of catching up to do."

The lean tiger-striped male grinned mischievously at Lyiko and winked his mismatched eyes, "I had been meaning to speak to you sooner about taking in and caring for my little brother Lyiko, but seeing as we'd all been so busy..."

Lyiko banged his head back against the tree-trunk as he sat forward with a sputter, "Brother?! You're Talen's brother Talus?? B-but you're..."

The druid chuckled softly as he disengaged himself from Colbi gently, taking Lyiko's paw and pressing it to the base of his spine where the slender ringtail could feel beneath the tiger-striped male's cloak he had no tail, despite his feline features, "I'm half elf... With some feline, and the other part... Well, you know."

Talus settled once more as he patted Lyiko's arm, "I had come to the city to check on Talen after his last letter. I spoke to Theanon who said my brother had gone into your employ and that you were showing him rather a good time. I know we shamanistic males and necromancers seldom see eye-to-eye, but you took him in knowing he was an exiled half-breed, so I wanted to thank-you. When I heard you had been chosen to go along with the council's envoys, I volunteered, just to make sure I stayed close to you."

Lyiko flushed brightly as he sat back with an exhalation of breath, still feeling slightly stunned, "I promise to take good care of Talen for you..."

"I have no doubts of that Lyiko. I've decided to stay in the vicinity for a while, but I will try to not make too much of a pest of myself, I promise."

"I doubt Talen would mind seeing you... I doubt I'd mind seeing more of you, myself..."

Lyiko snapped his muzzle shut with a cough as he blushed, his strawberry hair covering it up almost convincingly as Traz snickered good-naturedly. The albino bat shook his head, "I suppose there are some things you just can't walk away from without making friends, barely surviving a cult full of blood-thirsty apocalyptic demon-worshippers would be one, I guess..."

"Well, don't let anyone hear you say that or they'll all be wanting to be our friends. And some of us worship demons in our own special ways and times."

Talus shook his head, smirking, "All night, I'd wager, between him and my brother it's a minor miracle you attend any classes Lyiko."

"Well, Theanon was willing to waive my end of term examinations, in lieu of a thank-you and apology for his suspicions, so I've had lots of free time lately, and will for a few weeks yet. Plenty of time to be getting on with, I suppose."

Traz chuckled, shaking his head and making his white hair ruffle, "Lots of time to be getting off with, more like it. I was your age once too, you know."

Talus smirked softly as Colbi stifled a chuckle. The younger canine glancing at the tiger-striped druid with a careful shrug, being cautious not to over-exert his arm or shoulder, the still healing wounds tended to pull at the least opportune times.

Lyiko shrugged, grinning impishly as he relaxed again, "Should be fun, I think."

Fin