Now I've got you... (Methos and Tsushui)

Galenth furrowed his brow as his fingers tightened around the black ash staff in his hand. A long thick black cloak obscured his featured and allowed him to blend in quite naturally with the night around him. There was no magic to that at all, simply a certain practicality. That sombre hue suited him and the rest of his clothing of a kind. Finely made black boots , were matched with pants, a shirt and coat of the same midnight colour.

He was a wizard. It did not take any particular genius to infer as much. The presence of silvery ruins upon the haft of the staff in his hand, as well as totems, and charms around his neck and rings gracing his fingers seemed to speak to his mystical nature. But the hood did not conceal an aged, lined face with a bushy white beard as was often expected of his kind. His features remained youthful, those of a man in his mid-twenties. Dark and slightly longish hair fell to the back of his nape. Intelligent dark eyes, were set against handsome features within the shadow of his cowl. He was tall man standing just over six feet in height. While his build was upon the slender side, although it had a wiry athleticism to it.

Galenth was quite aware that his former teachers would characterize his current line of inquiry as ranging from “stupid”, “dangerous”, “foolhardy” to “meddling with dark forces” and overall would have thought it a bad idea. None the less his current study of demons fascinated him. They were intriguing and now he had his chance to study one far more closely. Talent could be both a blessing and a curse. He was one of the most powerful mages in generations, and knowledge and ability came to him with ease. Some would say that left him rather reckless, naturally he maintained he was simply capable of more than most so what was dangerous to others was not to him.

But his scrying had determined that a demon lay within this forest. Now it was simply a matter of capturing it. The wizard thus moved quietly through the forest, the smell of smoke caught his attention. After all demons and fire tended to go hand in hand, thus where there was smoke was like as not where he was to find the creature which he searched for. Thus with his staff in hand and his mind idly reciting a binding spell he searched for this wayward demon that had placed itself conveniently in his proximity.

Fire is a dangerous element and much more so if one finds themselves stranded in a burning forest. This is no exception for the young succubus but all she could do is watch. Observe quietly as the flames lick against the structure which she once called home. The smell of ash and burning flesh filled thickly in the air, depleting the area of its oxygen source. Yet, all she could do was stare and wait hoping that soon, the fiery blaze would consume her body and take her along with what was already lost.

There must be some sort of mistake. Was she such a bad child that her parents had to be taken away? It must be. They took nothing except those she loved the most. At first Alses shook with fury, searching her mind for possible suspects that might have committed the act but none came to mind. Even if there are names, there is no one near powerful enough to take her mother. She cringed at the thought of the older woman who lived in the house. Last she saw her; she only found her severed head lay next to her father’s. Her petite body shook violently again, but this time out of fear. Bringing her head towards her gloved arms, she took deep breathes and attempted to recount the happier hours of the day. Maybe she was just dreaming, a bad nightmare. What was the last lullaby that Mother sang to her before she left to explore the forest?

“London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, Falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady. “

Humming the tune in her mind and the lack of air hardly gave her enough strength to do anything else. How long has she been sitting there anyway? Nothing seems to go away as she wanted. Reaching her hands over to cup her ears away from the sounds of the cackling of burning wood, her white tresses partially hid her crimson orbs from the fiery light.

“Why did the lady watch it fall?
When London Bridge has lost its wall?
Why did the lady watch them die?
When that’s where her darling family lie?”

As she watched the consumed more of its surrounding mass, the succubus could hardly sustain any further consciousness. Pulling her knees to her chest, she settled her forehead against the dark fabric of her dress that covered her knees. As her eyelids drooped tiredly, she spotted a hooded figure from a distance. Funny, her mother once said something about a figure in a hood. She said that if all goes well, she would be taken far away and then brought back into her arms. It was a comforting thought. If all goes well, Alses would be able to see her parents once more.

Galenth wasn’t the grim reaper, though had he found himself a skull mask and a scythe he might have done a passing fair impersonation. As he drifted through the woods the spell he’d cast to seek out the demon that lay nearby seemed to direct him rather unmistakably to the woman who lay against a tree watching the forest burn. The wizard seemed to watch the creature and it seemed to barely be conscious indeed it appeared to curl up as if to slumber. Naturally he had no intention of disturbing that. So from a fair distance back he simply waited for the demon to fall asleep.

After some time was allowed to pass, and nothing appeared amiss Galenth would whisper the spidery words of magic as his fingers twitched and gestured in rather practiced fashion. At his prompting the earth around give way around her, and gleaming chains forged of the earth’s metals and magic would slowly tighten around the demon’s form seeking to secure her in place. As his chains tightened about her the wizard felt confidence to move nearer to her to examine her more closely.

The wizard trudged through the forest and drew closer to the demon. Indeed he looked at her curiously as he approached. Aside from the wings and horns, the creature actually looked rather cute and harmless. However, Galenth was rather inclined to think his eyes lied to him more so than his magic. Hence he produced a mithril collar from one pocket of his dark cloak encrusted with ruins as it was, and opened the clasp. Thereafter he sought to shove it around the demoness’ neck and snap it shut rather quickly.

“Well now that theoretically should allow me to command her.” He observed as he recited the collar’s activation spell, causing the runes upon it to glow with greenish blue magic. Somewhat nervously he fingered the ring he’s placed teleportation magic within, as he readied himself to bolt if things went sideways. Galenth had been exceedingly confident up and until this point but now came the moment of truth. After a moment’s hesitation he muttered “Ah the hell with it what’s the worst that could happen..” And with that he banished the chains which had held the demon in place.

She felt something cold and heavy tightened around her throat in an ungentle manner causing her to stir slightly during her deep slumber. Despite her exhausted state, she could sense an unnatural increase in weight in her limbs and this was soon followed by her own attempts at wakening. Straining to open her eyes, her heart sunk when she heard a strange series of words. Just as the toiling metal mass was lifted away, Alses managed to snap her eyes wide open in frenzy. Crimson orbs reflecting the ominous figure that had towered over her during her sleep.

At first, there was a slight pause that lingered between them as the succubus attempted to understand the situation at hand. Drawing a hand towards her neck, her pupils darkened when she felt the foreign contraption that was cuffed around her throat while the rest of her body tensed in alert. Clutching the device Alses gave a few desperate tugs at it in hopes that it would release itself from her but to no avail. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at the figure in front of her, attempting to rein in her initial anger to make herself coherent to the intruder. Seething under her breath, an unnatural melodious tone left her lips. “Just what in the world do you think you are doing?”

She did not wait for him to reply; her wings spread to their widest enough to lift her crumpled and tired body away from the ground. Her slender hand shot out towards the burning building while her mind directed pieces of flaming wood towards the man in question. Alses was not delicate with the idea either; she made sure every piece was well-aimed towards his lanky frame.

Not wanting to sit around and risk getting caught after initiating the first attack, she turned and took flight. The wind brushed her white tresses to the back of her head while she made her rapid escape. Despite her age, Alses was rather advance with flying. She was young, strong and desperate and it was not long before she found herself at the other end of the forest. Landing swiftly on the leafy floors, she took a moment to regain her breath as she stumbled towards a nearby river. Reaching over, she noted the stubborn collar and proceeded to lengthen a nail in hopes that it would be delicately broken. Slipping the sharp claw between the collar and her neck, the succubus gave a small wince when she felt it scrape along her skin as she pushed it against the greenish metal. After a few attempts of failure, she gave up on the idea and retracted her claw. The skin under the collar was now red and raw and it irritated her to no end. Splashing the river water against her neck, she stared hatefully at her own reflection in hopes that some other idea would come into mind.

The worst that could happen appeared to be the demon woke up rather suddenly and angrily at having been caught unawares. Galenth had been about to launch into an explanation of exactly what he was doing to her and issue his command that she be properly cooperative as befitted his new demonic slave. Unfortunately the demoness seemed to have elected not to wait for his answer and launched parts of the burning building at him. This caused the wizard to curse and then rather rapidly redirect his attention to his most immediate need to defend himself from that which had been hurled towards him. Soon a half globe of bluish light surround him and his immediate vicinity and the flaming wood simply struck the magical barrier and crumbled to the earth about him.

The collar itself having been slipped about her neck seemed quite impervious to destruction or removal. Indeed as she toyed with it simply remained there magically locked and seemingly oblivious to her efforts. Although she would hear a male voice in her mind that remarked ‘I’m not impressed. Did you really think that a few burning logs was going to accomplish much at all - I mean really I can create a magical collar to use on a demon and I’m that easily taken care of? Now return to me.’

Through the collar she’d be able to feel his irritation, as well as his curiosity. The device seemed to convey some measure of his mood, as well at the moment the overpowering urge to simply return from where she had fled more or less. Naturally she now seemed aware of exactly where he was. The fact the voice said ‘Stop playing in the stream and get your demonic ass back here.’ Seemed to suggest that he knew exactly where she was as well.

The wizard had made his way a short distance away from the fire and settled beneath the trunk of a large tree. As he reached out through the magical connection he had on the collar he simply mused “Fascinating how this things works. “ He could readily discern her agitation and confusion as to how the collar had come to be about her neck and its exact nature. Those whom had thought playing with this sort of magic unwise evidently were simply too cowardly to have a go with it. Thus far aside from burning logs being thrown at him everything was going according to plan.

Registering the stern mental warning, she jerked her body and looked around frantically for the cloaked figure. It unnerved her that her surroundings remained dead quiet when she can still hear him. Clutching her forehead, the succubus could only shake in dismay. She must be going insane. Hearing voices in the middle of nowhere. As she was about to allow her body to fall limp against the ground, the same voice issued a command for her return. Alses narrowed her eyes when she suddenly felt the need to return where she came from. Now it made sense. Scratching the collar around her neck, she got the vibe of his annoyance and was unafraid to return the favor.

Sitting stubbornly on the ground, she found it increasingly difficult to ignore the commands. Her body was fighting her but Alses persevered as long as she could. The urge increased and soon, she relented by pushing her body up, but before she can take flight, she tugged the thick vines that hung on the trees and wound herself incessantly with her powers. If her body won’t listen to her, she would just have to force it to stay via other means. Once finished, she looked up in the sky with a huff of satisfaction that she had found a temporary solution to her problem.

With a smug expression on her face, she replied defiantly, ‘This demonic ass is perfectly happy to get away from you. Thank you.’ Well if she remembered anything given those frantic minutes, Alses had at least retained her manners. Slumping forcible against the trunk, she squirmed uncomfortably as she felt her body thrash against the vines that she had roped around herself. Despite the unpleasantness, his curiosity did not escape her attention. She could feel the spark of intrigue he held for her and she would be lying if she were to deny experiencing the same lure. After all, she hardly had any contact with humans or any other creatures while living with her parents so his presence was one to be noted.

It was not enough for her to be obey him though. Alses’s mind whirled in a huge rant as she listed the mentally qualities which the man had displayed which annoyed her. He was rude and inconsiderate for taking advantage of her while she slept. His egotistical nature was unimpressive when he expected her to simply obey him when she was unwittingly pounced on. He lacked any form of charisma when approaching someone he hardly knew…and the list went on as she grinded each character flaw with passion. No doubt to annoy the hell out of the owner of the collar.