Clash of Outsiders (PsionicCuttlefish & Eternal Thrill)

[PsionicCuttlefish]

This is it, Makiel thought, as the Fiend before him stumbled and staggered from numerous accumulated wounds. The Celestial warrior brandished his holy flaming sword to blanket the corpulent nalfeshnee demon with another sheet of fire--it would not actually not do much against the nalfeshnee unless the holy power of the sword was biting into the demon's flesh at the same time, but it didn't need to. Infuriated over yet another wave of fire from his hated adversary, the demon took his attention yet again off the four adventurers assisting Makiel. Given the clear opening, they struck as one; a warrior, an archer, a spellslinger, and a holy man all unleashed a simultaneous assault on the demon from the sides and behind the incredibly resilient, but finally defeated fiend. After the lengthy battle of attrition, the once-proud noble of the brutal Abyssal hierarchy stumbled and fell to his knees, bleeding from countless wounds.

The archon of pale-blue skin and blood-red hair folded his crimson-feathered wings against his back and turned down his vengeful aura of power, reducing the brilliant light his body was putting out as he began to walk towards the gasping fiend, gazing intensely with his solid-gold-colored eyes. "Deth'Nar of the Skullhill!" Makiel boomed with a voice born of the heavens. "Your army has been crushed, your plot has failed, and you have met your match! If you surrender now, even one such as yourself may be shown mer--"

The obese demon shrieked in unmitigated rage and lunged for Makiel with a speed belied by his mass. But there was a flash of light even faster than him, and the demon halted in front of Makiel, whose arm was fully outstreached, with his angel-forged sword extended.

Deth'Nar's head fell to the ground, and his body collapsed after him. Makiel allowed himself a small sigh of victory. In truth, he only said the words he did as a formality. As an avenger archon, he never really wanted a Fiend to surrender, but the Fiends never wanted to either, so it worked out well for him. Still, he was called to the Ministry of Temperance every now and then to ensure that his intentions always remained pure; if he ever pursued the ultimate justice too far and strayed from the ideals of orderly retribution that defined the warriors of the Celestial archons, his heart could become tainted. So he always repeated the words, and never slew a foe unless it was in combat, or if the sentence had already been formally decreed.

Additionally, Makiel couldn't help but having felt a small amount of frustration with the sheer tenacity of the nalfeshnee, towards the end. Had Makiel been alone, he wasn't sure he could have bested this demon. For an awfully long time, the demon had weathered the sheer punishment the archon and the mortals together had heaped upon him and refused to fall. It was actually fortunate they had been working together; the nalfeshnee had focused almost exclusively on Makiel--the despised adversary from the Upper Planes--and ignored the mortals, allowing the damage to accumulate and keeping him from slaying one of the mortals until the Fiend's unnatural fortitude failed him.

The four adventurers gathered near Makiel and the fallen demon, and they congratulated each other and began to heal their wounds with potions while they also thanked Makiel for his assistance. Makiel looked them all over and smiled upon them. "You have done well, mortals. Today you have served a just cause and ended a great threat. Know that the heavens are grateful that you have stopped this incursion into the realm of the Material, as every victory against the Fiends is counted."

He then turned to the holy man, an elf in silver-laced vestments, who held his holy symbol close to himself as he looked up at Makiel and softly murmured prayers of thankfulness. "The spell you have used to Call me here will last for several more hours still, which is more than enough time for us all to finish searching this unholy fortress from top to bottom and cleanse it of any remaining dens of evil that may have escaped notice." Makiel declared. The mortals nodded at him, and split into two groups to take two different passageways, while Makiel himself took a third.

*****

In a particular room of the fortress, a quiet room of bare stone, a scuffling of feet could be heard from outside the door followed by some soft clicks and clatters from what must have been the door's lock. It wasn't opening right away though, and continued to quietly clatter around, as if being jiggled. Was someone...picking the lock?

There was then a very loud click as the bolt slid open, then a creaking sound as the door swung in, letting light into the room around two silhouettes, one tall and one short. As the light fell across the lone individual occupying the room, bound by rune-inscribed chains, there were two exclamations of alarm and suddenly the smaller figure's hands were each surrounded by a nimbus of glowing light, and was cupping pulsating 'spheres' of air-shimmering distortions in each hand. The glow illuminated the two figures for the room's inhabitant; the shorter one was a halfling garbed in loose purple robes, while the taller one was an unusually thin and spry half-orc dressed in a leather vagabond's outfit, who also held out a drawn shortbow that shimmered in the light with enchantments, aimed straight at the imprisoned being.

The two mortals stared wide-eyed at the being, but did not unleash any attacks yet. After a moment, they seemed confused. "It's...chained up?" The half-orc said under his breath, though said being's excellent hearing allowed her to catch what they were saying to each other.

"This is...very strange...it is a demon, we should probably just kill it, but...why would they imprison one of their own?"

"Maybe it's dangerous enough to be chained up for a reason."

"...Go get Makiel. He'll know what to do. I'll stay here and keep an eye out."

The half-orc nodded to his companion, then turned and sprinted back out the door and down the hall. The halfling stood in the doorway, with his arms still outstretched and hands ready to unleash elemental wrath in an instant as he stared at the prisoner:

A succubus demon.

 

[Thrill]

This entire situation was unfair. She had put in her time. Did all the things asked of her in the Abyss. Two centuries of hard work, torturing souls that meant absolutely nothing to her. Two whole centuries and this is where Kylyla found her self. Locked in a dirty stone room and chained to a wall. Not that she didn't find it extremely hot, but she wasn't even being put to good use. That fact was appalling and frankly unacceptable.

Deth'nar had promised a position at his side a year ago. Sure, he had offered it to others as well. Ky beat her greedy competition down though. She earned that spot. Maybe she was planning to usurp Deth'nar of his rule over the material plane. Did he honestly expect anything different. She was a demon after all. Not well known for being truthful. She was going to let him have his fun. Let him do all the hard work first. How he had found out was something she had pondered since chained to this wall. Her plan had made it a short four months, or somewhere around there. He left her in here to wither.

The bastard nearly got his wish too. She grew weaker by the day. Now she was moments away from meeting her own demise. That was until Ky heard the sounds above. Something, or someone, had broken down the main door. Destroyed the glyphs and spells warding off any that would try to destroy the minor demon. Ky suddenly had hope of escape.

She listened to the battle above, for what seemed like hours. While he was simply a minor demon, mortals would be hard pressed to destroy him alone. The booming voice that joined told her the warriors had the assistance of an archon. "This...could be bad," she said to herself. The archon would destroy anything from the Abyss. Her hopes were dashed, just as fast as they were lifted.

**********​

Deth'nar's fortress grew silent. Indicating he had been defeated. This meant she would soon be seeing the archon herself. Mere moments is all she had now. Beyond the door to her cell, she heard scampering feet. Imps that managed to hide before, were trying to find their way back to the Abyss. They knew their fate just as she did. There was no escape for them though. You needed the means and power to open a door. They possessed none of this. The succubus smiled to herself at their inevitable demise. The archon would leave none behind. Not even herself.

Ky could hear the slow and cautious foot steps of two people. They cut down any Imp that cross their path. She found it maddening, the pace in which they moved. "Just hurry if you're going to kill me," she said softly. Watching the door in annoyed anticipation. She could almost hear the ticking of a clock as the seconds passed by.

Then they were at her door. Not the celestial being, she could tell by their scent alone. They were of a pure variety. Maybe she could have just a few moments of fun before her end. The door swung open after the bolt clicked. The sound echoing into the stone room. Her head hung on her shoulders. Long white locks cascaded over her ample chest. Black leathery wings laid listless on either side of her. The spaded black tail wrapped around one porcelain hued thigh and calf. Right now she posed no threat. She looked to weak to even move. Given half the chance though she would have drained them of every ounce of energy. Ky watched them approach silently from hooded eyes. Until one decided to leave and find assistance.

Leaving the halfling alone. A much easier task to seduce just one. She didn't have the energy to spare on two. "Clearly I am no threat to you halfling. You have found me at quite a disadvantage. Surely, you can put those away" Lifting her head slowly, revealing violet eyes that searched his form. "Why don't you come closer? Let me look upon the strong warrior that brings my end." Raising her hand, she crooked one clawed finger at him. Her face becoming lustful as she continued to speak. "Your companion has left. Don't you want to touch me?" Her tail snaked it's way off her leg. Extending out towards his feet. She just needed him to take two steps closer. "I am too weak to hurt you. You can do whatever you wish with my body."

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

Kylyla extended her innate charming abilities to try and influence the halfling mage's mind, and...nothing happened. He hadn't even resisted her mental influence...somehow it didn't even hit him! The halfling even had the audacity to smirk at her for a brief moment. "Sorry, honey. This isn't our first walk around this block. I'm warded." He held up one of his hands holding a humming shell of air to show a large ring on one finger--even from where Kylyla was chained up to the doorway, it was big enough she could see the gem-set, rune-carved band of metal. In fact, while it truthfully was a magic ring, the halfling drew attention to it as a decoy just in case. His actual warding trinket against Evil magics was actually an amulet on a necklace, tucked and hidden underneath the neck of his purple robe--his group really did have experience with fiends, enough that he knew better than to actually give away potential 'vulnerabilities'. "I'll admit we weren't counting on a succubus being here, but we have done our homework." The halfling then fell silent again, keeping his magic held within his hand and ready to let loose should it turn out that the succubus was not as secure as she looked. But neither of them were waiting long, as just a moment later, Kylyla could feel his approach...and then, the halfling had to quickly move aside as the being she feared practically glided through the doorway, with a thunderously stern expression on his face.

The Celestial was unmistakably an archon to the demon's senses; he reeked of Law and Good. Not only was he her enemy on basic principle simply due to their respective existences, but he completely suffused with rigid, uncompromising order, literally radiating a field of menacing presence, repulsive to the being of Chaos. His form was somewhat interesting; his human-like body stood nearly seven feet tall, towering over the mortals who had come in behind him while giving him a respectful berth. His skin was pale-blue beneath an armored chestplate the color of white marble layered on a shoulderless, cut-off-at-the-knees bodysuit of white cloth, baring all of his lean but muscularly-toned arms and his legs below the knees, to his bare feet that hovered an inch off the ground. Two spread-open feather-clad wings sprouted from his back, in contrast to the leathery wings of the succubus, and his feathers were a bright red color, the same as the short-length swept-back hair that adorned his head. Two orbs of solid gold set into his eyes sockets stared intensely at the succubus, while one hand held up a massive sword nearly effortlessly; a sword that glinted of gold-colored metal and was almost 'two' blades side-by-side with the gap that ran down the middle, and was surrounded by two ribbons of fire twisting a double-helix along the length of the sword. He stood there, sword brandished, but seemed to be...hesitating?

Makiel glared at the succubus that inhabited the room for several moments. He felt nothing but battle-hate against the 'nude' female chained up at the wall, modesty preserved only by her own long hair spilling down her front and one thigh slightly crossed over her groin. He was more taking in her tail, her wings, her horns...he wanted nothing more than to strike her down then and there, with his sword raised in her direction. But...she was helpless. Not a threat, in the enchanted chains that bound her, keeping her too drained to access most of her own powers. And while she was a demon, and it was only the chains that kept it from happening, she hadn't actually taken action against them nor been witnessed committing sin. Thus...

Makiel slowly blinked. Slowly, he lowered his sword-arm. One of the mortals behind him, a warrior clad in shimmering armor, spoke up. "You're...we're not going to kill it?"

There was a moment of silence, before the archon answered with a voice that resonated in the air slightly. "...No. We cannot. It has not been met in combat nor sin; it does not seek to fight us, and there is no action for which we can punish." The words were steady, but internally, Makiel was fuming. He very much disliked this part of the job. While 'Mercy' was a critical boundary in his calling as an avenger archon, it wasn't supposed to come up very often. Things just had to get complicated when it did. With only a moment's hesitation that betrayed his distaste for his words, Makiel finished with "...It would be wrong of us to execute it out of hand."

The halfling's magical nimbuses snuffed out as he turned to look up at the Archon. "But...we can't just let it go. She tried to charm me--obviously it didn't work--so surely it's done something that deserves--"

"Indeed." Makiel said lowly, with his gaze still fixed on Kylyla. "...But even though she attempted to influence you, without witnessing what the outcome would have been, we don't know that for absolute fact." He turned his head to an elf standing with the other three adventurers, who was clad in religious iconography and thumbing a holy symbol in his hand for protection. "Your spell that brought me here will not last much longer, and this lair has been cleared out to enough satisfaction that I trust you to handle any remaining stragglers. With your cooperation, I can amend the conditions in your spell of the return to my home...and through it, I will bring this creature with me. It will face trial before an examination council, where all its sins will be laid bare. Then it will be executed in accordance with proper justice." The archon talked as if Kylyla weren't even there. "Let me hold your icon, I will use it to alter the spell you cast." The elf nodded and held out his holy symbol for Makiel, who reverently took it and started murmuring in the Celestial tongue over it, while said Celestial also turned to watch Kylyla again as he worked, in case she tried anything--something that would give him justification to end this farce here and now. He hoped she would try something...

 

[Thrill]

All Ky wanted, for the moment anyway, was to convince the smug little shit to release her. So she could escape what was coming for her now. Mages were such a bother with their spells though. Her blood almost boiled she was so frustrated. Crushing a small stone that had fallen from one of the walls, she growled. Violet eyes glared at him. Kylyla's tail pulled back with slight whipping sound. "How fortunate you're so well prepared little one." She spoke between gritted teeth. Her tail once more wrapped around her thigh and calf.

Ky was about to try provoking him again. But she felt the celestial beings approach, long before the halfling. Cringing against the stone wall when he enter. His presence felt like a massive weight pushing against her. Ky hissed under her breath. Trying to shift herself further away. The chains that bound her didn't allow for much. There was no where to escape. All she could do was wait to be struck down. What a time to find yourself unarmed. She couldn't even go out honorably.

Staring and watching him with half lidded eyes. Her teeth bared as if that would help. Frighten this archon away. She was ready. Ready for the sword he brandished to run her through.

Why was he taking so long though? He was just staring at her with those golden eyes. Was...was he hesitating? Why would he do that? Even the mortals that brought him questioned the heavenly being. Was he just savoring the moment?

A smile spread wide across her lips. Revealing the pointed row of teeth behind them. He couldn't kill her. His laws wouldn't allow it. She had yet to bring harm on the mortal plane. Thanks to Deth'Nar, Kylyla never had the chance to act against a mortal. Her body relaxed a little. Not much however, his presence still weighed heavily on her. Even her attempt at charming the halfling, held no malicious intent. Watching with glee, the looks of sheer disappointment take over the features of the adventurers. They couldn't understand why she still lived. Ky laughed, sagging her weak body against the wall. She didn't even care that they spoke like she wasn't present.

The smile left her face quickly. "Wait, your taking me for a trial!?" She asked, suddenly filled with worry. He was taking her to the holy lands to face judgement. They would find anything to persecute her. Her body seemed to dig a little deeper for strength. Pulling against the warded chains. She had to escape, and now. Pushing herself into a crouched position. Black leathery wings lifting from the ground. Now stretching towards the ceiling. He spoke into the holy symbol. "No, wait," with every ounce of strength Ky possessed she pulled harder at the chains. "I have done nothing," her wings pumped twice trying to create lift. The wind they created picking up and throwing debris from the floor.

Her violate eyes glowed with anger, staring daggers at the halfling. "If that orc would have stayed instead of you. I could have have charmed his simple brain to free me." She growled the words at the halfling. Then shifted to glare at the orc. "Your little brain would have given into the charms easily. You would have released me."

Her wings pumped hard in the almost too small space, five more times. Before she finally couldn't fight anymore. The leathery appendages dropped to the floor. In her crouched position her clawed fingers dug into the ground. Tail whipping like an angry cat. "Fine, they will find me innocent on all counts anyway." She didn't believe her own words. This was just a last ditch effort to make him change his mind. Watching the archon now, as he finished his chant to take him...them to his home.

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

The succubus reacted a few times as Makiel discussed things with the adventurers, but aside from keeping an eye on her to make sure she wasn't actually able to escape or try anything, he ignored her taunts and comments--though when she began to beat her wings, he did give her a much sterner look as the adventurers took combat stances, but they all stood where they were and once Kylyla tired out, the relaxed--slightly. Makiel didn't know why the succubus had been chained up here, but he was almost sad that the enchanted metal seemed up to the task of containing her; he would have liked it better if she had broken free and attacked, then he wouldn't have to bother with this anymore.

But she did not break free, and when she seemed finally tired out and her tail lashed around, she commented on how she expected the trial to go. Makiel was actually amused enough to audibly scoff, to the slight puzzlement of the mortals around him. He had to give this demon credit, she was brazen. But, moments later, he finished weaving his Celestial power on the elf divine vessel's holy icon. "The alteration is complete. One more moment..." Makiel said as he then looked distantly off into nowhere, squinted his eyes in concentration, and began to move his mouth without making sound for a few seconds. Then he turned his attention back to everyone else. "I will depart with the demon now. Continue your good work, mortals." Makiel said, as he then floated towards the succubus, his toes still an inch off the ground. His unusual sword was held low in one hand and his crimson wings were spread as he came up to the succubus' side. He reached down with his free hand to place it on her shoulder with a none-too-gentle grip (though not actually harmful to the supernaturally-tough succubus) and held his sword in his other hand out horizontally in front of her, as he extended the power of the spell that would take him home around the succubus and her chains. With one final glance at the adventurers, Makiel nodded. "Farewell."

Kylyla then felt the rushing, wrenching sensation of planar travel as the scene around her dissolved into a chaotic swirl of color and noise, like the rushing of a tunnel, and then it suddenly all snapped back into place, revealing that she was now in a new environment...one that she had never seen before, yet could not mistake. The colors were too bright, the marble architecture around her too flawless, and the very essence of Good and Law hung in the air. Surrounding Kylyla and Makiel were several other archons, gold-winged and silver-skinned, each pointing a heavy glowing spear in a low but readied combat-stance at Ky. They were already in position, too unsurprised--Makiel must have contacted them somehow.

Things were a blur from there as the other archons took custody of Ky off of Makiel's hands. She was escorted quickly into an archon-made jail cell--a marble room that, when the cell door was closed (after her chains and shackles had been sliced off), appeared to be completely seamless with no opening at all, a cubic hollow inside a single solid stone. There was no source of light in the cell, yet it was somehow illuminated just fine. It was perfectly clean--better than Deth'Nar's fortress had been--but bare, and any attempt at damaging the stone was fruitless, and all of Kylyla's powers seemed suppressed. She was left there for a few hours before several of the 'guard' archons returned to take her out of the cell. They first clapped a golden bracer on her wrist however, that--similar to the cell door--appeared to be one single piece of metal once it was closed, with no latch or seam. Once leaving the cell, she could feel the bracer selectively suppressing her mobility and offensive powers, but also any thoughts of trying to damage the bracer, she could feel being compelled to be discarded. From there, Kylyla was taken through a number of hallways, before being brought into what seemed to be an empty, dark room.

It was a very strange room, because Kylyla could not actually see through the darkness like she normally would be able to. And, despite not being able to see its dimensions, it felt like it was very large. The only light was from the open doorway from which Kylyla had been escorted in, and the light unnaturally extended forward in a straight path, ending around a simple metal chair, albeit made of gold. Kylyla was placed in the chair, and she found her arms trapped within invisible magic anchoring them to the chair's armrests. The guard archons left, and a few minutes later, she could smell Makiel entering the room as well, until he arrived near her, off to the side. Unnaturally, the illumination around Kylyla extended around Makiel.

In the next moment, nine pillars of light appeared in the darkness before Kylyla, arranged in a half-circle in front of her. Each one illuminated an archon--she hadn't been able to sense them in the dark--but now that she could, she could sense that they were powerful. The archons each stood behind a tall podium, they all wore long, loose, concealing white robes, and they all were wearing masks--very odd faceless masks of white and gold, with engravings in sun-like patterns, and no openings. The nine archons looked identical, anonymous with the masks and robes.

"This trial is called to order." A resonating voice said, but it was impossible to tell which archon it came from. It was, however, very clear that the voice was directed at Kylyla.
"We are the inquisitor archons."
"We will examine your history and your deeds, and we will render judgment based on what we find in accordance with Celestial Law."
"We do not desire this process to be any longer or more unpleasant than it must be."
"Do not attempt to resist us, or you will cause yourself unnecessary pain." There was a moment's pause.

"Do you have anything to say before we begin?"

 

[Thrill]

She hated this part. Traveling through the planes. If she wasn't a demon this would be quite painful, or so she had been told. Only experiencing the unsettling feeling once, when she first traveled with Deth'Nar. Ky was certain she would always hate it. The colors was the worst part of it. It made her sick to her stomach. The next worst part... the sudden stop on arrival. "That is an unpleasant feeling," she complained, not caring if he was listening or not. "And...I really don't like it here. Why is everything so... bright and... good?" She wasn't expecting an answer from him, or the spear wielding archons either. She was only trying to be mildly annoying.

Pouting playfully at Makiel when the others took possession of her. "What... I thought we were going to play." She didn't struggle, there really wouldn't be a point to. "Oh, I get it. You're going to let them warm me up for you. I'll see you later then handsome." Giving him a teasing wink. As the others lead her away, her taunting would be averted to them. "Only three at a time okay? That little trip was exhausting." Naturally they said nothing, quite expected though. And she was mildly pissed about her suppressed power. Though it wold help to keep her out of trouble.

Shoved into her strange white box. Kylyla sank to the floor of it. She had been putting on a good show. But truth be told, she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold out. Deht'Nar had sapped her of almost everything she had. Her antics back in the dungeon cell was the extent of what she had left. Now she would have little time left before her fate was decided. Choosing to est her weary self before they came to get her. Ky had no interest even in trying to destroy her new prison.

Hours, or maybe it was days later, Ky wasn't even remotely sure. She was awakened by the opening of the cell door. Hauled to her feet, and clamped in gold bracers. "I honestly don't think you need these, as kinks as they may be." They were meant to suppress her power too. Though with nothing to suppress, they just caused a delicious pain in her body. Set in the chair, she laughed a little. "You are all pretty vein you know? All this gold.... and you call me the sinner."

Left alone with not one small response to her taunting. Ky was fairly upset about this. They couldn't even explain their own sin in vanity. Slumping in the chair as the seconds of waiting ticked by. She drooped her head back over the chair, looking into the void of darkness. Then her good friend the archon showed up. "Oh, hey there handsome. I was wond...." she was cut off from finishing what she say.

As her judge and jury made their appearance. Faceless, but recognizable none the less. She wouldn't mistake who they were by any means. Ky put a hault to her act, and became very serious. Now was not the time for games. She was smart enough to know that. No demon that she knew of, had left here with their lives intact. "Actually, yes I do have something to say on the matter. Dig down as far as you like. I have done nothing on the mortal plane. You have, nothing, on me." She first gave Makiel a triumphant smile, before returning her attention to the council before her.

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

Makiel could never understand demons like the succubus he had captured...the ones that never seemed to take anything seriously. He had transported her to his home plane, and all she had was some rather suggestive quips to him when he handed her off to the soldiers. The oddest part was that she called him handsome, however. It had sounded joking, a little sarcastic, but Makiel had trouble wrapping his head around the idea that a Fiend would willingly say such a thing about a Celestial, let alone a demon to an archon. They were absolutely and completely polar opposites to one another in the cosmic scheme, abstract concepts made real, demons and archons were everything that the other despised.

So why, as he had gone about his normal duties until being called up for the trial, was her silly attitude stuck in his head?

The avenger archon felt much better when he received the summons for the trial. The demon would be nothing but a memory soon. Though of course she had to continue to be silly and falsely flirtatious when he entered the trial-room where she was currently held, though she did for once fall silent and stoic as she was faced with the inquisitors. Soon. Just a memory, soon. Though he did have to suppress a scoff--which would have been VERY unbecoming in the presence of the inquisitors--when she gave her again rather brazen and bold claim to the inquisitors when they finished addressing her. Soon. Then I can get back to my real duties...

The inquisitors, meanwhile, were silent for just a few short moments after Kylyla spoke, then "That is for us to determine." One of them said to her. There was another moment's pause, then...

"Begin the inquisition."

Kylyla then felt nine distinct presences making themselves known at the edges of her mind. They were formidable, inscrutable, vast. They did not smash their way into her mind the way another demon might have, but nor were they taking no for an answer. The nine presences acted as one, each demanding to step over her mental defenses from a different direction--and applied stern, painful mental force if resisted. Then they were all inside her mind, and they 'split up' while still acting in perfect coordination as they began scanning through her memories, each presence tackling a different part of her history. They were still prepared to crush any resistance, any sign that Kylyla might try to hide something from them...Kylyla could never have successfully resisted one of these beings, let alone nine, let alone nine all moving in flawless concert to keep her from being able to put up any counters or blocks. However, while it would never be anything but uncomfortable to have something rooting around inside one's mind, true to the inquisitor's words, they never did use any unnecessary force or cause any genuine pain, so long as Kylyla did not stand in the way of them taking everything they wanted.

They moved methodically, meticulously, and efficiently. In under a mere two minutes, they had finished their examination, and Kylyla felt them extracting themselves from her mind. In fact, it was the silence afterwards that took even longer than the examination itself had, though not by too much. They were motionless, completely silent, but gave the sense that they were communicating privately with each other. Finally, and quite abruptly, one of them spoke up.

"The inquisition is complete."
"We have finished our deliberations."
"We have arrived at our verdict."
"Succubus demon known commonly as 'Kylyla', our judgement is thus:"
"You are Not Guilty of any crime for which we can claim jurisdiction."

"Pardon, exalted inquisitors?" Makiel breathed out in shock that he could not hold back, as his mouth fell open. He took a few steps forward, still off to Kylyla's side but now slightly ahead of where she sat, although the faceless-mask inquisitors did not turn their heads towards him. There had to be some mistake... "I...surely must not have received your communication correctly just now. I am afraid I heard the verdict of...not guilty..."

"That is correct, avenger-rank." The uniform inquisitor voice replied, though still they all were 'looking' at Kylyla and not Makiel.

Makiel could not contain himself. "There...exalted inquisitors, she is a demon, the enemy! Surely there is something! There must be some mistake, it cannot--"

Very abruptly, all nine faceless masks turned in perfect sync to 'stare' straight at Makiel instead of Kylyla. "Are you, avenger-rank, questioning the decision of the inquisitor-rank?" The voice of the inquisitors was still calm, but this time, spoke in a very ominously firm tone, a tone that carried with it a threat of wrath that they hadn't even used with Kylyla.

Makiel backed down immediately, taking a step back and bowing as he answered "No, exalted ones." From the angle he was at near Kylyla, she could just make out the frustration in his face from the side. Meanwhile, the masked faces turned back to Kylyla.

"The subject is an exceptionally young demon."
"The subject has only participated in the torment of already-damned souls and other Fiends."
"We can claim no jurisdiction over that realm."
"We cannot punish a subject for what it is, only what it has done."
"Avenger-rank did incidentally mention a pertinent point."
"We cannot punish without cause, but neither can we simply release one who is our enemy."
"We decree that the subject is to be kept as a Prisoner of War."
"The subject is therefor not to be confined, but is to be under watch at all times and kept in decent condition."
"If the subject demonstrates sufficiently cooperative behavior, freedoms may be granted over time."
"If the subject commits a punishable crime, subject is to be brought to trial and be judged accordingly."
"We decree that, as the one to capture the subject, avenger-rank identifier Makiel is to be the subject's guard."

"What?!" Makiel couldn't help but ungracefully blurt out, which again instigated the nine inquisitors to all face him again. This...no, this couldn't be happening, this couldn't be happening! He was an avenger, this sort of thing wasn't his job, the inquisitors couldn't be serious but they were always serious...

"This council has made its decision." The voice of the inquisitors spoke 'at' Makiel, before all their faces turned one last time towards Kylyla...and she felt the invisible bonds holding her arms to the chair vanish, though the golden bracer did not.
"You are dismissed from this trial." The voice said at Kylyla this time.
"Do not leave the presence of avenger-rank, or termination is authorized."

With an emphatically frustrated flap of his crimson wings, Makiel turned and began floating towards the exit of the trial-room.

 

[Thrill]

Kylyla flinched back a little at the matter of fact way they responded. Like the archon Makiel, clearly they doubted her innocence. She really couldn't blame them she supposed. How often did they come by a demon such as herself? One that had been on the mortal plane as long as she had. Yet never even setting her eyes on anyone with a mortal soul. She should have corrupted more than a handful in that amount of time. Deth'Nar had inadvertently saved her life. The knowledge would have driven him insane. His binding of her so early turns out may be a good thing.

The succubus was surprisingly calm in her outward appearance. Ky however was anything but that on the inside. She was raging inside. Her infernal, chaotic blood coursing through her veins had her in a panic. Every fiber of her being screamed for escape. The faceless beings before her intimidated her. How they stared at her without eyes. She worried she may have forgotten something she had done. Would they find a law she broke without knowing? That was not what caused the screaming in her head though. No, it was the agonizing pureness of this plane. The sickening inherent goodness of it. The physical pain told her to fight the bonds. But she wasn't stupid. There was no escape. Only release, or final death.

Glancing at the archon Makiel. The cause of her torment and pain. Who knew one so holy and righteous could be so sadistic? He looked relatively pleased with himself. Just as sure as the faceless ones of her guilt. What would he do wen they found nothing? Ky just barely contained the smile that played at her lips.

Ky would flinch again when she felt them at the edge of her mind. Instinct told her to resist their advancement. To fight them and push against the intrusion. She had experienced someone in her mind before. Higher ranking demons and devils did so with the intent to harm. Self preservation told her to allow it. This felt different than all the other times. While they made it clear resistance would not be tolerated. They were much more gentle about moving around.

In a matter of minutes they were gone. The room taking on an eerie silence. Again they stared at her without eyes. The experience was maddening. They spoke to one another without words. How she knew this was not clear. Why was this taking so long? Why could they not just decide what her fate was to be, and be done with it. Ky's fingers fidgeted with the arm of the chair. Clawed fingers dug and scratched against the smooth golden surface. She still could not decide whom she wanted to focus on. Her judge and jury of nine? Those who would decide if she lived, died, or was returned to her home plane? Or should she focus on the smug, self assured Makiel? Watch his resolve and pride falter. In the end she chose Makiel. At least he was nowhere near disturbing. He had eyes.

The nine began to speak. Just as she knew they wouldn't find anything. They did confirm it for the archon with their own words. his smug sureness slipped from his features. Replaced with confused shock. Priceless. The smile she had been holding back broke free. It spread wide across her lips. Revealing the row dagger teeth. "Just as I told you, I never got the chance." Before she could continue, Ky was cut off by his outburst. This seemed to anger the faceless ones. They no longer stared at her. Instead they focused on him and his display of insubordination.

Feeling much joy from the anguished and frustrated look on his face. She nearly missed the decision on her sentencing. "I...wait...what," Ky could not form a complete sentence. They could not be serious? But they were, they didn't do not serious. Feeling the release of the bonds. Ky quickly followed Makiel. How far could she get from him without consequences? They did not elaborate.

"Hey Handsome, you're not going anywhere without me." She only glanced back at the nine once. "What do they mean by you are my guard?" Her own wings hung low. The tips dragging on the floor. The spaded tail wrapped around her thigh as usual. "I need this explained in simpler terms. Not in the words of the high and mighty." Reaching out Ky grabbed his wrist to stop his advancement.

 

[PsionicCuttlefish]

As Kylyla hurried out of the room and glanced back at the nine inquisitors, all illuminated by their pillars of light...the pillars of light went out, and with it, they all vanished from Kylyla's ability to sense them entirely, vanished. Likely they had all teleported, and with the coordination they had already shown, it probably wasn't too surprising.

Still a little unnerving, though.

*****

Makiel's thoughts were a chaotic storm, and this was a state the Lawful archon was very unaccustomed to. This didn't make any sense! None! She was a demon, she had to have done something wrong! But the inquisitors were very elevated in the archon's hierarchy, and they did not make mistakes like that... Begrudgingly, Makiel's thoughts turned to the times he had been called up to the Ministry of Temperance. He was an avenger archon, it was his job to slay the enemies of the heavens, but even for an avenger he was called up many times, more often than most other avengers. And here he was, wishing he could slay a demon, when his betters were telling him otherwise. Ugh. This must be some punishment or test suggested by them, surely... He thought to himself, still with a grousing expression as he floated along.

He heard the demon's voice from behind him, but did not acknowledge it, he just continued floating along, feet still hovering an inch from the ground. However, when he felt her grab his wrist, he did stop and turn his head towards her with a glare. She dares?! He thought bitterly, as he opened his mouth, as if he were about to snap at her, but then stopped, closed his mouth and his eyes, and took a deep breath. I mustn't get called up to the Ministry again. I mustn't get called up again. I mustn't... He thought to try and calm himself, before opening his eyes again. He was forced to look at her, really look at her, for the first time since coming across her at the fortress. She was still naked, of course, with only her long hair going down her front and her tail curved around her waist, crossed over her groin, and spiraling down her thigh to give her any semblance of modesty--which, ironically, due to being so revealing but hiding 'just enough', made her look even more provocative than if she had simply paraded around openly nude without a care. She did look especially shapely and attractive...and in truth, Outsiders in general (at least, not the upper-hierarchy ones) weren't all that different from mortals when you got down to their daily lives and motivations--just that Outsiders were more dedicated to whatever cosmic ideal spawned them.

Case in point, even Makiel couldn't deny her comeliness...but he would never admit that, he would never see anything but his enemy...never. Yet, he was still responsible for her now. He exhaled his deep breath in a resigned sigh as he looked at her. "They meant...well, exactly what you yourself just said. I'm not going anywhere without you now. Anywhere I go, I must take you with me. I am responsible for your behavior, as well. Though if you commit some punishable act, you yourself will be dealt with accordingly as stated, but, it also reflects upon me and my efforts to..." He made another sigh, a small one, but one that indicated he didn't quite believe the idea any more that she would, "...reform you." He paused for a moment before the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. "That said, my failure to reform you would be only a temporary embarrassment to myself, whereas on the other hand I would at least be rid of you for good. I would be net-pleased if you would end this joke of a situation for me. Preferably sooner than later." He said, with a touch of smugness in his voice.

After a moment, he then looked away. "As for right now, well, now I am to visit the armorer to get a bracer of my own to link to yours and indicate our situation. Then I suppose I will take you to my dwelling, and...well, I'll have to figure things out from there." He said, not bothering to hide the resignation to the future in his tone.