A Night of Doubt
Legend of the Crimson Lucario
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. Only the idea and OC's.
Author Notes:
-- This will be used for scene breaks and for when the story switches to another character, but it does not mean that a new section of the story has started.
xXx This will identify where each paragraph breaks.
'Poketalk'
(Character Thoughts)
Disclaimer: Don't own Pokemon, never have, never will. Only the idea and OCs behind the story are mine
Beta reader: Catsithx
xXx
Chapter 9: A Night of Doubt
Ruby helped Hellstorm back to manor as Victor took extra care to make sure they were not followed. Once inside, Hellstorm seemed to slightly come back to his senses and supported himself.
"Ruby, what happened?" Anna walked up see Hellstorm who was lost in his thoughts.
"Have the others returned yet?" Ruby asked. She had given most of her staff a few weeks off when she left for the castle thinking that she was going to be staying at the castle a while longer.
"Not yet, it's still just me, Heather, and Joey at the moment. Akara has chosen to head to bed early tonight. The others should be back in two days time. Now, what has happened?" The small Kirlia was impatient to find out what had happened.
"We were attacked by a demon. Apparently, something it said got to Hellstorm." Victor looked at Hellstorm who had moved. He took a seat on the couch staring down at the floor.
"Hellstorm, are you alright?" Ruby asked taking a seat beside him.
"That demon had a point." Hellstorm told her without even looking at her.
"Come on; let's head to the bed rooms. You haven't slept in two days. I think some rest will do you good." Ruby whispered something to Anna before she made her way down the halls beside Hellstorm.
Ruby opened the large double doors to Hellstorm's guest quarters. The room had been redone slightly since the assassin attacked, but it looked good as new now. Hellstorm took a seat on the bed with Ruby beside him.
"I look back at the time I've spent here and the more I think about it, the worse it looks." Hellstorm leaned back closing his eyes.
"What do you mean?" Ruby was starting to get concerned. Something that demon had said to Hellstorm seemed to effect him on some very deep levels.
"I'm becoming a monster, no better then they are." Hellstorm told her.
"You're nothing like the demons that attacked your pack." Ruby quickly replied.
"You saw what I did to that demon. I was ready to tear him limb from limb. I enjoyed watching him suffer as he made my pack suffer. I used to hate the thought of combat. Now, I enjoy it. With that kind of mind, what do think will happen once I make back to my time with the power of the elemental orbs behind me?" Hellstorm shot up and looked her in the eye for second before turning away. "I'm going to wash this blood off before it stains my fur. I'd do the same if I were you before that blood stains your hands." Hellstorm got up and made his way to the door that leads to the private bathing area. Ruby looked at hands and saw that she did a small amount of demon's blood on her hands and some on her dress from helping Hellstorm back to the manor.
She got up and followed Hellstorm.
Once in the room, Hellstorm chanted a spell to light one of the torches by the water and then quickly discarded his shorts. He set them down in a small basin of water to soak so that blood wouldn't set in. He wasted no time in getting into the water resting back against the side of the pool that was the tub.
Ruby took a little longer to get undressed, as she had to remove the dress and her undergarments before she could get in.
The full moon was high in the sky and just barely visible through out the windows high up on the wall. Ruby could see Hellstorm staring straight at it.
"What is it?" Ruby asked.
"Sora once told me that vampires pick their mates under the light of the full moon." Hellstorm replied. "She would have turned seventeen tonight if I was still in my time."
"You must miss her." Ruby scooted over closer to Hellstorm, the looked of mixed emotions that had once painted his face seemed to have finally faded to be replaced with a look of deep sadness.
"She was the only one who accepted me as a whole. She didn't accept me for my powers to defend the pack or shun me for dark gifts. She accepted me as me." Hellstorm told her. "She always reminded of who I was. I owe her my life several times over."
"She meant a lot to you." Ruby put an arm around Hellstorm as his head dropped.
The two of them sat there for a while. Ruby felt it was best to stay but remained quiet to left Hellstorm think in peace.
Ruby stayed there with Hellstorm for a while as the moon rose higher into the night sky. Hellstorm's ears shot up homing in on a strange sound. Chanting a spell, he looked toward the windows. Bearing his fangs, he jumped straight toward them. In mid air, he swung his left leg out at some unseen object. Once Hellstorm's foot connected with whatever it was, it flew into a corner of the room. A man wearing black leather armor climbed up out of plants that had lined the room, a black mist coming off of his feet.
Hellstorm landed hard in front of the man. He raised his paw charging an Aura Sphere while Ruby quickly grabbed a towel to cover herself before getting out of the water.
"Who are you?" Ruby walked over to Hellstorm in the wet towel.
"Hold it. I've been ordered to come here by the Hunter of the Winds." The man stood up, the black mist would randomly flow over his body.
"That man tried to assassinate me. If you work for him, why shouldn't I kill you?" Hellstorm demanded, his fur already turning red.
"I may be an assassin but I've not come here to kill you today." The man drew a knife from his belt slowly making sure that Hellstorm could see the action. "I only come bearing a message. It needs your blood to activate the spell on it."
"How do I know this isn't some trick?" Hellstorm shouted.
"Because my master wishes to kill you himself. He owes you for the scar you gave him." The man said as he held the knife out. "However, I was ordered to make sure you got the message." The man charged forward and made a shallow cut on Hellstorm's arm, just large enough to spill the slightest amount of blood onto the knife. Hellstorm launched a counter attack sending a fireball into the man's arm. The resulting blast sent him flying across the room holding a badly burnt arm. The knife began to glow.
Hellstorm charged over to the man a large Aura Sphere growing in his paw. A look of rage filled his eyes only to be replaced by something else before he could fire the attack.
Hellstorm's crimson fur went blue again. "Leave now if you value your life." The man didn't waste anytime jumping up in a large cloud of black smoke that flew out the window.
"Huh? Why did you let him go like that?" Ruby asked.
Hellstorm held up his arm to show the small cut the man had made. "He didn't try to kill me. Besides, Sora would have given him a chance to run." Hellstorm picked up his shorts and set them on one of the benches to dry. He took a towel and dried himself off leaving the knife to glow. Once he dried himself off, he wrapped his shorts up in the towel and went over to the knife.
Ruby traded her wet towel for a dry one and began to dry herself off. Hellstorm touched the knife and it floated up into the air. A phantom image of the Hunter of Winds appeared.
"I see you got my message and still happen to be alive. That's good, although I hope my messenger made a mark to remember him by. I challenge you to duel five days after the next full moon at the old temple a little to the south east of Sectoria. I believe you've been there once. I'd meet you sooner, but I have some loose ends to tie up first. Oh and to ensure that you show up, I'll send my entire clan of assassins to raid the town if you're there by dawn the next day. If you're even half the hero the stories say you are, then I'll be waiting for you under the stars that night." The ghostly voice vanished as the knife fell to the ground.
"I'd hardly call a trap like that a duel." Ruby said as the knife fell the ground. She was now wearing a light red robe.
"I've no choice but to go." Hellstorm said as he removed his shorts from the towel he had wrapped them in and then put them on.
Hellstorm returned to his room and looked at the teapot full of now cold tea. He walked over placed a hand on the side of the teapot. A single word seemed to boil the water in the teapot as steam once again rose from the top of it. Hellstorm picked it up and poured himself a cup before returning to the tray it was on. He walked back over to the bed sipping the tea as he went. Ruby came out a few seconds later to see Hellstorm sitting on the bed with the same look of sadness he had before the assassin delivered the message.
"I'm going to sleep. I'll see you when I wake tomorrow." Hellstorm walked over to where the tray for the tea was and placed his cup on it before chanting a quick spell to douse the fire the some leaving a few large embers to burn. The only real light came form a lamp on the dresser.
"I'll just sit here with you for a while then." Ruby said as Hellstorm sat against the headboard to the bed closing his eyes.
"That is your choice." Hellstorm took a deep breath to try and clear his head as Ruby scooted over next to him.
As Hellstorm had been up since yesterday morning, he quickly drifted off to sleep with Ruby sitting there next to him. A short while after he had fallen asleep, he shifted just a bit and leaned over in the process, he head landing on Ruby's lap. He shifted his body just a bit moving on to his side before he finally found a comfortable position. Ruby sat there with a smile on her face. There was much more to Hellstorm then the stories had said and she was glad that he had decided to show her this side.
Rather then leave, Ruby fell asleep with Hellstorm's head on her lap.
xXx
Early the next day...
The sunlight finally covered the entire city of Sectoria. A man walked up to the manor wearing the robes of preacher. He stopped at the door and knocked before the looking around. The door opened a minute later and Anna looked outside.
"Greetings Father Luis. How may I help you?" The Kirlia curtsied as she greeted the preacher.
"I come to see Princess Ruby. I've some news for her. Is she up yet?" The preacher asked.
"Yes, she should be. I haven't gone down to her room yet though. I was in the middle of making breakfast." Anna told his as he entered.
"Very well. I'll go to see if she has woken up yet." The preacher started down the halls while Anna returned to kitchen. The preacher stopped outside the two sets of double doors looking back and forth between them.
"I do believe this is her room." The preacher knocked on the door on his left side.
Ruby was still sleeping, but upon hearing the knocking at the door, she woke. Hellstorm was still sleeping peacefully his head upon her lap. "Enter." Ruby said loud enough for the person to hear her not knowing who it could be.
"Ah, good. Princess Ruby..." The preacher walked in and saw Hellstorm's head on Ruby's lap sleeping soundly. "I do hope that this is just one big misunderstanding." The preacher had a seriousness look of anger upon his face.
"I can assure that nothing has happened. We were attack last night by a demon." Ruby got up slowly.
"I'll take your word on the matter, but let me remind you that the church will not put up with a human who shares a relationship with a beast on level higher then friends." The preacher said with a strong look of anger on his face. "Do not let me hear of another event like this or it will be your father who will talk with you."
"I knew very well the rules of the church, father. Now then, if you have something to say please say it." Ruby did her best to keep herself in check as she slowly got up.
"I've come to tell you that church appears to be in need of a few repairs. I was hoping that you could get some carpenters down here to fix the roof before things get worse. Now then, I'll take my leave. Do not forget what I have said." The preacher turned and left closing the door as he along.
Ruby headed to her room to change before heading down to her study.
--
Hellstorm awoke a while later; sun light was cast brightly through the windows in the room. He wore a similar look of sadness on his face as the night before, but not as strong. He rose and looked upon his room looking everything over. The night of rest had done him good as did his dream. In his dream he was sitting on the edge of the plateau that he had once called his home. There beside him was Sora. They talked about a great many things all night under a full moon. What separated this dream from others was that Sora in the dream was not a sub-conscious copy of someone, but the real thing.
About a year before the demons attacked Hellstorm's pack, Sora had cast a spell upon Hellstorm's wrist spikes. This spell would allow Hellstorm to talk with a spiritual version of Sora in his dreams whenever he truly needed to talk with someone and there was no one around for him to talk to. Sora knew that she would not always be there to help him, as she would always go off with the hunting parties whenever the Sandworms had returned. It was their blood after all that kept her alive and she went to ensure that she would have a supply of blood on hand to feed off of rather then feed off the pack. These dreams played a major part in Hellstorm's survival when he first landed in the time he was in. If not for the spiritual Sora to talk with at times, he would have given up long ago.
Hellstorm talked with Sora all night on the plateau under a full moon. They talked about a great many things. They talked about Hellstorm's past and the times they had shared. They talked about what would happen once Hellstorm had collected the elemental orbs. They had even talked about Hellstorm and how he had changed.
Hellstorm clearly remembered the talk with Sora in the dream as he started to move. He stretched a bit before leaving the room. He headed for the den searching for Ruby. After searching the living area, he heard voices down the hall coming from Ruby's study.
Hellstorm knocked on the door and entered upon hearing giving him the okay to come in. Hellstorm opened the door to find Ruby talking with two people. The first a man in his early twenties, he had a light beard like it was only just starting to grow. His brown short hair was well combed and he had a basic set of work clothes. The girl beside him had the same hair as him, only much longer and wore similar clothing. She looked to be in her mid to late teens.
"Hellstorm, this is Eric and his sister Amy. I do believe I've mentioned them before." Ruby held you her toward her guest.
"Yes, you stated that Eric was the carpenter in charge of keeping your manor in good shape. You also said that he was a craftsman. Amy is his little sister." Hellstorm said. "I assume that Ruby has said a lot about me if she has told my real name."
"Yes, she has. I still find it hard to believe that you are the famed Hellstorm though. Then again, looks can be deceiving." Eric bowed his head, his arm over his waist.
"Are you really Hellstorm?" Amy asked not too sure about the matter.
"Amy, I would take Ruby's word on most matters. I've done some studying of the books Ruby has here and I would have to say that those Crimson spikes of his are proof enough to call him a Crimson Lord. No, that's not right. What did you call them?" Eric turned toward Ruby.
"Crimson Warriors." Ruby informed Eric. "And yes, Hellstorm is very much the one of that the stories tell of."
"I come to tell that I'll be walking around the town for a while. I just need some more time to think things over." Hellstorm said as he went to leave.
"Wait up. I've got something for you." Eric got up and ran over to Hellstorm with a very thin metal bar in one hand. "This collar will mark you as Ruby's new servant and should negate any problems with the town folk."
"That is no collar." Hellstorm pointed to the metal bar.
"I needed you here so I could craft it to the right size. Would you like around your neck or on your wrist?"
"A collar will do just fine around my neck." Hellstorm said.
"Just lift up your head and hold still for a second." Eric placed the metal bar on Hellstorm's neck and gently bent it back. Magic kept the bar from touching is neck as Eric rolled it around. Finally, the bar began to overlap onto itself. Eric chanted a spell to break off the excess metal and then chanted a second spell to fuse the metal together. "It's sealed by command word. Just say, Ketjo." The bar went from a collar back to the bar it once was, only a bit shorter. "Say it again while holding it near your neck and it becomes a collar again. The runes on the outside of the collar will mark you as one of Ruby's servants." Eric explained as he took a seat.
Hellstorm held the bar by his neck. "Ketjo." The bar returned to its collar form with a set of runes on it. "I thank you for concern. Now I won't have to use any magic to keep a human body." Hellstorm bowed in thanks.
"Akara went to go do some shopping. I've already informed her to keep using the name Varwaz for a while when talking with you."
"I'll see you when I return." Hellstorm headed for the main door and down the hill. He mostly just wandered about. A few people gave him looks as he passed, but no one seemed to get in his way upon seeing the collar he wore.
He passed through the market area just looking around. Not one merchant seemed to show any interest in him and he was glad for this. He hadn't even gone a block into the city when he a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"Varwaz, how are you?" Hellstorm turned to see Akara there beside him.
"I am fine for now, Akara." Hellstorm told her as she looked at his collar.
"It looks nice on you." Akara said as she rubbed her hand on it.
"Eric, the craftsman Ruby has hired constructed it." Hellstorm looked off to the side finding a stand that sold fruit. Hellstorm went to reach for his moneybag only to realize that he had no such thing on him.
Akara saw him looking at the fruit. "I'll pay for it. Ruby gave me a small sum to spend." Akara told Hellstorm.
"You have me thanks." Hellstorm walked to the cart and picked up a nice large ripe pear. The vendor turned to see Hellstorm holding his fruit.
"Hey, put that down. I'll not have you taking my fruit." The vendor raised his voice.
"I'm paying for it." Akara pulled out the small moneybag Ruby had given to her.
"Oh, my mistake. I didn't see your collar. The two of you must be guest of the princess." The vendor calmed down as Akara handed the vendor a few copper coins.
"I am Ruby's new guard. I've come to check out the town and learn where everything is." Hellstorm said before taking a bite out of the pear.
"I'm just a guest for the time being. Well, we'll be on our way." Akara said as she walked beside Hellstorm. "Hellstorm, is there anything you want go looking for right now. I've already walked around the town once today."
"I'm just looking for a place to walk around. I'll meet up with you later by the tavern." Hellstorm said as he walked on.
"I'll meet you there in a while then." Akara returned back toward the market area while Hellstorm headed to western end of the city.
After a short while of walking, Hellstorm found himself walking past the church of the town. It was a large building that was mostly empty today. The preacher, Father Luis walked down the path with a bible in hand. He saw Hellstorm and turned away in disgust. "Such a foul creature."
"Excuse me?" Hellstorm stopped to look at him.
"I saw you sleeping upon Ruby's lap this morning. Do not think that I do not know what you really wanted from her." His voice was raised.
"I can assure that I fell asleep against the head board of that bed. She choose to stay there and make sure that I was going to be alright until I was go drift off to sleep. If she stayed any longer then that, I know nothing of it." Hellstorm said.
"You are a liar. The two of you were asleep next to each other. I wouldn't have thought as much of it had I caught this in one of her lesser rooms, but to find the two of you in one of the grand bedrooms." The preacher spoke to Hellstorm with utter disgust in his voice.
"She offered that room as thanks. I've already killed two demons in this area." Hellstorm hated how closed minded the people were in this time.
"You killed two demons. Ha, how many demon hunters were there with you?" The preacher grew angry by Hellstorm's claims.
"I killed the first one by myself. The second one was finished off by Victor." Hellstorm said as he moved in closer.
"Lies. One of your kind could do nothing of the sort." The preacher grew even angrier.
"I was trained by Hellstorm himself. Do not doubt my abilities because of what I am." Hellstorm now raised his own voice.
"More lies. Hellstorm is grand hero who travels alone. He has no need for others." The preacher was about to take his book and slap Hellstorm with it when a man pushed the two of them a part as he ran by. A woman charged behind the man.
"Thief, thief." The woman shouted as she ran.
Hellstorm looked on and took off to catch up to the thief. He quickly caught up to him and jumped onto his back grabbing the back of the thief's hood. As he used the thief's back as spring board, Hellstorm jumped up sending the thief to the ground landing in front of the thief as he stopped sliding to the ground. He picked up the purse he had as the woman caught to him.
"Here you madam." Hellstorm handed the woman back her purse only to have her hit him with it.
"You worthless creature. I don't care if you do work for the princess. I'll not have you touch my things." The woman shouted at him.
"I don't have to take this." Hellstorm shouted as he walked off. "Worthless humans. They show no respect for what I do for them."
Hellstorm walked towards the nearest city gate. The guard went to go block his passage.
"I wish to explore the grounds around the city." Hellstorm said as approached the gate.
"Hold your tongue." The guard snorted. "Who left you to wander alone?"
"I am one of Ruby's servants. Just let me pass." Hellstorm drew closer to the gate.
"Alright, but you'd better show some more respect." The guard moved aside to let Hellstorm pass.
xXx
Hellstorm headed deep into the forest around the Trade City. He thought it best to blow off some steam out here where he was alone rather then in town. His fur went red as he threw his fist into a tree. The tree splintered under the force of the attack.
--
The winds blew lightly across the desert plateau. The only light came from the full moon, which was very close tonight. Two figures walked to the edge of the plateau in the moonlight.
Hellstorm walked along slowly with Sora on his right side. She wore the same demonic dress she had met Hellstorm in. She was about eight inches taller then Hellstorm. Her skin pale during the day, but in the moonlight it radiated with a unique glow. Both took a seat on the edge of the cliff before them.
--
Hellstorm threw his left foot out into the side of another tree creating a sizable dent in the trunk. His eyes were just as red as his fur. All thoughts of the words told to him that day echo through his ears.
--
"It's such a nice night tonight." Sora smiled, the points of her fangs sparkled in the silver light of the moon as her blood red eyes looked up. "Its night's like this that I enjoy the most."
"I wish it were real though. There is so much I miss from our time." Hellstorm looked up at the moon, then at Sora. Her smile brought a smile to his face as well.
"You'll get back here one day." Sora scooted over closer to him wrapping a comforting arm around Hellstorm.
"I know, but one of the demons made through time. It attacked me last night just after the sun had set." Hellstorm told Sora resting his head against her.
"If you're still alive, then you must have dealt with it." Sora had a slight look of concern on her face.
"It called me a monster. I now question if it was right." Hellstorm informed Sora.
--
Hellstorm charged into another tree, the trunk cracked as the tree began to lean over some from the shoulder slam it had suffered. The words "You worthless creature" ring through the air with the beating of the tree.
--
"You're no monster." Sora shook her head. "You just not like everyone else. You've always been different."
"I felt joy from attacking him." Hellstorm admitted to his only true friend.
"No, Hellstorm. It was your anger that felt the joy." Sora corrected him. "You mustn't let your anger control your actions."
"You speak the truth." Hellstorm looked behind them and chanted a quick spell to start a fire to warm them in the cool night air.
--
Hellstorm's anger lessened the more he recalled his dream, but he still continued to attack the trees around him.
--
"Hellstorm, you were never a monster. You were my angel. You were a hero to me and will become one to many more. It was not a life you wanted, but it is your life." Sora explained. "You may be called a monster by many, but you are far from it. People of this time just don't understand things like we do know them, but let's not talk about that right now. You need to clear your mind and relax." Sora's voice stayed calm and kind no matter what she discussed.
"Of course. I did come here to relax." Hellstorm looked back at her face. Her gentle eyes brought peace to Hellstorm's troubled mind. "Tell me, if you were still alive, what you want for your birthday."
"Tonight, I would have turned seventeen. Such a lovely night to celebrate." Sora looked to sky and to countless stars in the sky.
"Tonight would have been a perfect night to celebrate." Hellstorm couldn't agree more.
--
Hellstorm's red aura died down as he managed to knock over the tree he had been attacking. He jumped up and took a seat on the fallen tree looking to skies.
--
"There is not much I can ask for. I already have almost everything I could want." Sora looked to Hellstorm and kissed him on his neck.
"If you want a drink, then you may." Hellstorm tilted his head to side exposing his neck. There was already a pair of small scars from where Sora's fangs had entered his neck a few times before.
"No, not tonight." Sora said as she tilted his head back toward her. "Tonight, I just want to spend my time with you."
"All you must do is ask if you grow thirsty." Hellstorm said.
--
Hellstorm ran his hand over the side of his neck. In a strange way, he missed the feel of Sora's fangs in his neck. He missed everything about her. A tear wells up in his eyes as he looks down to continue recalling the dream.
--
They two of them sat there all night talking and talking. Hellstorm didn't hold himself back and spoke his mind with Sora. The talked about everything he could think of. The two of them watched as the sun rose. Sora worried not as in time where Hellstorm had come from, vampires had long since out grown their weakness to the sun.
The two sat peacefully in the morning. Sora got with Hellstorm at her side. They walked back to the center of the plateau.
"You never told what kind of gift you want." Hellstorm said as he let Sora walk back toward the caves.
"Hmm. I want a silver necklace with a Crimson gemstone. Something to match your eyes and fur. And I want you to hang onto it." Sora said as she faded away like a ghost.
"I'll do my best to find one." Hellstorm said as he watched Sora fade away.
He closed his eyes as the dream ended and he remembered waking up.
--
Hellstorm looked on at the sky. It was slowly growing dark. He hurried back to gates where the same guard as before greeted him.
"May I enter back into the city?" Hellstorm asked as the guard blocked his path.
"That was better. Now go on hurry up. I'll be closing this gate soon." The guard said as Hellstorm walked past.
As Hellstorm walked back to tavern, he kept his eyes open to every jewelry tray he could see. He arrived to see Akara there waiting for him by the tavern door.
"Akara, can you do me a favor?" Hellstorm asked as he came close.
"What is it?" Akara asked.
"I need you to buy a necklace I saw. I've a promise I need to keep." Hellstorm explained. "I'll tell you about it once we get back to manor."
"Fair enough. Lead the way." Akara nodded her head.
Hellstorm lead her back to a small stand and pointed out the silver necklace he had seen while walking to the tavern.
"Excuse me sir. How much for this silver necklace?" Akara asked as she pointed to necklace that Hellstorm had shown her.
"What? A lady like you deserves much better." The man pointed to a set of golden amulets with large emeralds in them trying to make a better sale.
"I just want this one." Akara told the man.
"Are you sure? The gems on that one are low and poor. Now these are much better." The man was persistent to say the least.
"I've already made my choice. It's to keep a promise I made." Akara explained.
"Oh very well. Its eighty-one silver coins for that one." The man said as he picked up the necklace.
Akara dropped the moneybag by mistake and Hellstorm picked up a gold coin.
"Just give him a gold coin for it. It means far more to me then you think" Hellstorm whispered after seeing how few silver coins were in the bag.
"Here, keep the extra." Akara handed him the coin and man looked on in surprise.
"A gold coin. Thank you very much." The man bowed and handed Akara the necklace who handed it to Hellstorm. Hellstorm wrapped in around his wrist a few times making sure that he wouldn't lose it as they two of them headed back to the manor.
Just like Hellstorm had said he would, he explained his reasons for the necklace to Akara as they walked up the hill.
Hellstorm opened the door and met with Eric and his sister Amy as they were leaving.
"We shall talk to some other time. For now, we must return to home." Eric bowed as he moved past Hellstorm. Amy gave him a quick hug as an apology for doubting him earlier. Ruby must have explained some things to them while he was exploring the town.
"Hellstorm, I hope you are feeling better." Ruby greeted both Hellstorm and Akara as they entered the house. "Anna is already working on a quick meal for dinner."
"Thank you. I feel much better." Hellstorm bowed his head as Ruby noticed the necklace.
"I would not have thought you would have jewelry." Ruby held up the hand that held the necklace.
"Sora requested a silver necklace with a Crimson gem stone. This was the best one I could find." Hellstorm told her. "Before you ask, let me explain." Hellstorm gave Ruby a slightly more in depth explanation that he had given Akara.
"I never knew such a spell was possible." Ruby exclaimed.
"While her body and soul may be gone, a portion of her spirit resides in me. In all senses of the phrase, she lives as a separate conscious in my dreams." Hellstorm explained removing his collar. For the first time, Ruby saw the two small puncture wounds on Hellstorm's neck.
"Hellstorm, what happened to your neck? I see a pair of small bite marks." Ruby asked out of concern.
"I've offered my blood to Sora on more then one occasion. These are the marks left behind to remind me of her." Hellstorm told her holding the side of his neck. "It is strange, but I even miss her fangs in my neck at times. Perhaps I am still the same caring person I have always been." Hellstorm smiled. "You have my thanks for reminding of them as you did." Hellstorm walked off towards the room he had been given to relax.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. Only the idea and OC's.
Author Notes:
-- This will be used for scene breaks and for when the story switches to another character, but it does not mean that a new section of the story has started.
xXx This will identify where each paragraph breaks.
'Poketalk'
(Character Thoughts)
Disclaimer: Don't own Pokemon, never have, never will. Only the idea and OCs behind the story are mine
Beta reader: Catsithx
xXx
Chapter 9: A Night of Doubt
Ruby helped Hellstorm back to manor as Victor took extra care to make sure they were not followed. Once inside, Hellstorm seemed to slightly come back to his senses and supported himself.
"Ruby, what happened?" Anna walked up see Hellstorm who was lost in his thoughts.
"Have the others returned yet?" Ruby asked. She had given most of her staff a few weeks off when she left for the castle thinking that she was going to be staying at the castle a while longer.
"Not yet, it's still just me, Heather, and Joey at the moment. Akara has chosen to head to bed early tonight. The others should be back in two days time. Now, what has happened?" The small Kirlia was impatient to find out what had happened.
"We were attacked by a demon. Apparently, something it said got to Hellstorm." Victor looked at Hellstorm who had moved. He took a seat on the couch staring down at the floor.
"Hellstorm, are you alright?" Ruby asked taking a seat beside him.
"That demon had a point." Hellstorm told her without even looking at her.
"Come on; let's head to the bed rooms. You haven't slept in two days. I think some rest will do you good." Ruby whispered something to Anna before she made her way down the halls beside Hellstorm.
Ruby opened the large double doors to Hellstorm's guest quarters. The room had been redone slightly since the assassin attacked, but it looked good as new now. Hellstorm took a seat on the bed with Ruby beside him.
"I look back at the time I've spent here and the more I think about it, the worse it looks." Hellstorm leaned back closing his eyes.
"What do you mean?" Ruby was starting to get concerned. Something that demon had said to Hellstorm seemed to effect him on some very deep levels.
"I'm becoming a monster, no better then they are." Hellstorm told her.
"You're nothing like the demons that attacked your pack." Ruby quickly replied.
"You saw what I did to that demon. I was ready to tear him limb from limb. I enjoyed watching him suffer as he made my pack suffer. I used to hate the thought of combat. Now, I enjoy it. With that kind of mind, what do think will happen once I make back to my time with the power of the elemental orbs behind me?" Hellstorm shot up and looked her in the eye for second before turning away. "I'm going to wash this blood off before it stains my fur. I'd do the same if I were you before that blood stains your hands." Hellstorm got up and made his way to the door that leads to the private bathing area. Ruby looked at hands and saw that she did a small amount of demon's blood on her hands and some on her dress from helping Hellstorm back to the manor.
She got up and followed Hellstorm.
Once in the room, Hellstorm chanted a spell to light one of the torches by the water and then quickly discarded his shorts. He set them down in a small basin of water to soak so that blood wouldn't set in. He wasted no time in getting into the water resting back against the side of the pool that was the tub.
Ruby took a little longer to get undressed, as she had to remove the dress and her undergarments before she could get in.
The full moon was high in the sky and just barely visible through out the windows high up on the wall. Ruby could see Hellstorm staring straight at it.
"What is it?" Ruby asked.
"Sora once told me that vampires pick their mates under the light of the full moon." Hellstorm replied. "She would have turned seventeen tonight if I was still in my time."
"You must miss her." Ruby scooted over closer to Hellstorm, the looked of mixed emotions that had once painted his face seemed to have finally faded to be replaced with a look of deep sadness.
"She was the only one who accepted me as a whole. She didn't accept me for my powers to defend the pack or shun me for dark gifts. She accepted me as me." Hellstorm told her. "She always reminded of who I was. I owe her my life several times over."
"She meant a lot to you." Ruby put an arm around Hellstorm as his head dropped.
The two of them sat there for a while. Ruby felt it was best to stay but remained quiet to left Hellstorm think in peace.
Ruby stayed there with Hellstorm for a while as the moon rose higher into the night sky. Hellstorm's ears shot up homing in on a strange sound. Chanting a spell, he looked toward the windows. Bearing his fangs, he jumped straight toward them. In mid air, he swung his left leg out at some unseen object. Once Hellstorm's foot connected with whatever it was, it flew into a corner of the room. A man wearing black leather armor climbed up out of plants that had lined the room, a black mist coming off of his feet.
Hellstorm landed hard in front of the man. He raised his paw charging an Aura Sphere while Ruby quickly grabbed a towel to cover herself before getting out of the water.
"Who are you?" Ruby walked over to Hellstorm in the wet towel.
"Hold it. I've been ordered to come here by the Hunter of the Winds." The man stood up, the black mist would randomly flow over his body.
"That man tried to assassinate me. If you work for him, why shouldn't I kill you?" Hellstorm demanded, his fur already turning red.
"I may be an assassin but I've not come here to kill you today." The man drew a knife from his belt slowly making sure that Hellstorm could see the action. "I only come bearing a message. It needs your blood to activate the spell on it."
"How do I know this isn't some trick?" Hellstorm shouted.
"Because my master wishes to kill you himself. He owes you for the scar you gave him." The man said as he held the knife out. "However, I was ordered to make sure you got the message." The man charged forward and made a shallow cut on Hellstorm's arm, just large enough to spill the slightest amount of blood onto the knife. Hellstorm launched a counter attack sending a fireball into the man's arm. The resulting blast sent him flying across the room holding a badly burnt arm. The knife began to glow.
Hellstorm charged over to the man a large Aura Sphere growing in his paw. A look of rage filled his eyes only to be replaced by something else before he could fire the attack.
Hellstorm's crimson fur went blue again. "Leave now if you value your life." The man didn't waste anytime jumping up in a large cloud of black smoke that flew out the window.
"Huh? Why did you let him go like that?" Ruby asked.
Hellstorm held up his arm to show the small cut the man had made. "He didn't try to kill me. Besides, Sora would have given him a chance to run." Hellstorm picked up his shorts and set them on one of the benches to dry. He took a towel and dried himself off leaving the knife to glow. Once he dried himself off, he wrapped his shorts up in the towel and went over to the knife.
Ruby traded her wet towel for a dry one and began to dry herself off. Hellstorm touched the knife and it floated up into the air. A phantom image of the Hunter of Winds appeared.
"I see you got my message and still happen to be alive. That's good, although I hope my messenger made a mark to remember him by. I challenge you to duel five days after the next full moon at the old temple a little to the south east of Sectoria. I believe you've been there once. I'd meet you sooner, but I have some loose ends to tie up first. Oh and to ensure that you show up, I'll send my entire clan of assassins to raid the town if you're there by dawn the next day. If you're even half the hero the stories say you are, then I'll be waiting for you under the stars that night." The ghostly voice vanished as the knife fell to the ground.
"I'd hardly call a trap like that a duel." Ruby said as the knife fell the ground. She was now wearing a light red robe.
"I've no choice but to go." Hellstorm said as he removed his shorts from the towel he had wrapped them in and then put them on.
Hellstorm returned to his room and looked at the teapot full of now cold tea. He walked over placed a hand on the side of the teapot. A single word seemed to boil the water in the teapot as steam once again rose from the top of it. Hellstorm picked it up and poured himself a cup before returning to the tray it was on. He walked back over to the bed sipping the tea as he went. Ruby came out a few seconds later to see Hellstorm sitting on the bed with the same look of sadness he had before the assassin delivered the message.
"I'm going to sleep. I'll see you when I wake tomorrow." Hellstorm walked over to where the tray for the tea was and placed his cup on it before chanting a quick spell to douse the fire the some leaving a few large embers to burn. The only real light came form a lamp on the dresser.
"I'll just sit here with you for a while then." Ruby said as Hellstorm sat against the headboard to the bed closing his eyes.
"That is your choice." Hellstorm took a deep breath to try and clear his head as Ruby scooted over next to him.
As Hellstorm had been up since yesterday morning, he quickly drifted off to sleep with Ruby sitting there next to him. A short while after he had fallen asleep, he shifted just a bit and leaned over in the process, he head landing on Ruby's lap. He shifted his body just a bit moving on to his side before he finally found a comfortable position. Ruby sat there with a smile on her face. There was much more to Hellstorm then the stories had said and she was glad that he had decided to show her this side.
Rather then leave, Ruby fell asleep with Hellstorm's head on her lap.
xXx
Early the next day...
The sunlight finally covered the entire city of Sectoria. A man walked up to the manor wearing the robes of preacher. He stopped at the door and knocked before the looking around. The door opened a minute later and Anna looked outside.
"Greetings Father Luis. How may I help you?" The Kirlia curtsied as she greeted the preacher.
"I come to see Princess Ruby. I've some news for her. Is she up yet?" The preacher asked.
"Yes, she should be. I haven't gone down to her room yet though. I was in the middle of making breakfast." Anna told his as he entered.
"Very well. I'll go to see if she has woken up yet." The preacher started down the halls while Anna returned to kitchen. The preacher stopped outside the two sets of double doors looking back and forth between them.
"I do believe this is her room." The preacher knocked on the door on his left side.
Ruby was still sleeping, but upon hearing the knocking at the door, she woke. Hellstorm was still sleeping peacefully his head upon her lap. "Enter." Ruby said loud enough for the person to hear her not knowing who it could be.
"Ah, good. Princess Ruby..." The preacher walked in and saw Hellstorm's head on Ruby's lap sleeping soundly. "I do hope that this is just one big misunderstanding." The preacher had a seriousness look of anger upon his face.
"I can assure that nothing has happened. We were attack last night by a demon." Ruby got up slowly.
"I'll take your word on the matter, but let me remind you that the church will not put up with a human who shares a relationship with a beast on level higher then friends." The preacher said with a strong look of anger on his face. "Do not let me hear of another event like this or it will be your father who will talk with you."
"I knew very well the rules of the church, father. Now then, if you have something to say please say it." Ruby did her best to keep herself in check as she slowly got up.
"I've come to tell you that church appears to be in need of a few repairs. I was hoping that you could get some carpenters down here to fix the roof before things get worse. Now then, I'll take my leave. Do not forget what I have said." The preacher turned and left closing the door as he along.
Ruby headed to her room to change before heading down to her study.
--
Hellstorm awoke a while later; sun light was cast brightly through the windows in the room. He wore a similar look of sadness on his face as the night before, but not as strong. He rose and looked upon his room looking everything over. The night of rest had done him good as did his dream. In his dream he was sitting on the edge of the plateau that he had once called his home. There beside him was Sora. They talked about a great many things all night under a full moon. What separated this dream from others was that Sora in the dream was not a sub-conscious copy of someone, but the real thing.
About a year before the demons attacked Hellstorm's pack, Sora had cast a spell upon Hellstorm's wrist spikes. This spell would allow Hellstorm to talk with a spiritual version of Sora in his dreams whenever he truly needed to talk with someone and there was no one around for him to talk to. Sora knew that she would not always be there to help him, as she would always go off with the hunting parties whenever the Sandworms had returned. It was their blood after all that kept her alive and she went to ensure that she would have a supply of blood on hand to feed off of rather then feed off the pack. These dreams played a major part in Hellstorm's survival when he first landed in the time he was in. If not for the spiritual Sora to talk with at times, he would have given up long ago.
Hellstorm talked with Sora all night on the plateau under a full moon. They talked about a great many things. They talked about Hellstorm's past and the times they had shared. They talked about what would happen once Hellstorm had collected the elemental orbs. They had even talked about Hellstorm and how he had changed.
Hellstorm clearly remembered the talk with Sora in the dream as he started to move. He stretched a bit before leaving the room. He headed for the den searching for Ruby. After searching the living area, he heard voices down the hall coming from Ruby's study.
Hellstorm knocked on the door and entered upon hearing giving him the okay to come in. Hellstorm opened the door to find Ruby talking with two people. The first a man in his early twenties, he had a light beard like it was only just starting to grow. His brown short hair was well combed and he had a basic set of work clothes. The girl beside him had the same hair as him, only much longer and wore similar clothing. She looked to be in her mid to late teens.
"Hellstorm, this is Eric and his sister Amy. I do believe I've mentioned them before." Ruby held you her toward her guest.
"Yes, you stated that Eric was the carpenter in charge of keeping your manor in good shape. You also said that he was a craftsman. Amy is his little sister." Hellstorm said. "I assume that Ruby has said a lot about me if she has told my real name."
"Yes, she has. I still find it hard to believe that you are the famed Hellstorm though. Then again, looks can be deceiving." Eric bowed his head, his arm over his waist.
"Are you really Hellstorm?" Amy asked not too sure about the matter.
"Amy, I would take Ruby's word on most matters. I've done some studying of the books Ruby has here and I would have to say that those Crimson spikes of his are proof enough to call him a Crimson Lord. No, that's not right. What did you call them?" Eric turned toward Ruby.
"Crimson Warriors." Ruby informed Eric. "And yes, Hellstorm is very much the one of that the stories tell of."
"I come to tell that I'll be walking around the town for a while. I just need some more time to think things over." Hellstorm said as he went to leave.
"Wait up. I've got something for you." Eric got up and ran over to Hellstorm with a very thin metal bar in one hand. "This collar will mark you as Ruby's new servant and should negate any problems with the town folk."
"That is no collar." Hellstorm pointed to the metal bar.
"I needed you here so I could craft it to the right size. Would you like around your neck or on your wrist?"
"A collar will do just fine around my neck." Hellstorm said.
"Just lift up your head and hold still for a second." Eric placed the metal bar on Hellstorm's neck and gently bent it back. Magic kept the bar from touching is neck as Eric rolled it around. Finally, the bar began to overlap onto itself. Eric chanted a spell to break off the excess metal and then chanted a second spell to fuse the metal together. "It's sealed by command word. Just say, Ketjo." The bar went from a collar back to the bar it once was, only a bit shorter. "Say it again while holding it near your neck and it becomes a collar again. The runes on the outside of the collar will mark you as one of Ruby's servants." Eric explained as he took a seat.
Hellstorm held the bar by his neck. "Ketjo." The bar returned to its collar form with a set of runes on it. "I thank you for concern. Now I won't have to use any magic to keep a human body." Hellstorm bowed in thanks.
"Akara went to go do some shopping. I've already informed her to keep using the name Varwaz for a while when talking with you."
"I'll see you when I return." Hellstorm headed for the main door and down the hill. He mostly just wandered about. A few people gave him looks as he passed, but no one seemed to get in his way upon seeing the collar he wore.
He passed through the market area just looking around. Not one merchant seemed to show any interest in him and he was glad for this. He hadn't even gone a block into the city when he a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"Varwaz, how are you?" Hellstorm turned to see Akara there beside him.
"I am fine for now, Akara." Hellstorm told her as she looked at his collar.
"It looks nice on you." Akara said as she rubbed her hand on it.
"Eric, the craftsman Ruby has hired constructed it." Hellstorm looked off to the side finding a stand that sold fruit. Hellstorm went to reach for his moneybag only to realize that he had no such thing on him.
Akara saw him looking at the fruit. "I'll pay for it. Ruby gave me a small sum to spend." Akara told Hellstorm.
"You have me thanks." Hellstorm walked to the cart and picked up a nice large ripe pear. The vendor turned to see Hellstorm holding his fruit.
"Hey, put that down. I'll not have you taking my fruit." The vendor raised his voice.
"I'm paying for it." Akara pulled out the small moneybag Ruby had given to her.
"Oh, my mistake. I didn't see your collar. The two of you must be guest of the princess." The vendor calmed down as Akara handed the vendor a few copper coins.
"I am Ruby's new guard. I've come to check out the town and learn where everything is." Hellstorm said before taking a bite out of the pear.
"I'm just a guest for the time being. Well, we'll be on our way." Akara said as she walked beside Hellstorm. "Hellstorm, is there anything you want go looking for right now. I've already walked around the town once today."
"I'm just looking for a place to walk around. I'll meet up with you later by the tavern." Hellstorm said as he walked on.
"I'll meet you there in a while then." Akara returned back toward the market area while Hellstorm headed to western end of the city.
After a short while of walking, Hellstorm found himself walking past the church of the town. It was a large building that was mostly empty today. The preacher, Father Luis walked down the path with a bible in hand. He saw Hellstorm and turned away in disgust. "Such a foul creature."
"Excuse me?" Hellstorm stopped to look at him.
"I saw you sleeping upon Ruby's lap this morning. Do not think that I do not know what you really wanted from her." His voice was raised.
"I can assure that I fell asleep against the head board of that bed. She choose to stay there and make sure that I was going to be alright until I was go drift off to sleep. If she stayed any longer then that, I know nothing of it." Hellstorm said.
"You are a liar. The two of you were asleep next to each other. I wouldn't have thought as much of it had I caught this in one of her lesser rooms, but to find the two of you in one of the grand bedrooms." The preacher spoke to Hellstorm with utter disgust in his voice.
"She offered that room as thanks. I've already killed two demons in this area." Hellstorm hated how closed minded the people were in this time.
"You killed two demons. Ha, how many demon hunters were there with you?" The preacher grew angry by Hellstorm's claims.
"I killed the first one by myself. The second one was finished off by Victor." Hellstorm said as he moved in closer.
"Lies. One of your kind could do nothing of the sort." The preacher grew even angrier.
"I was trained by Hellstorm himself. Do not doubt my abilities because of what I am." Hellstorm now raised his own voice.
"More lies. Hellstorm is grand hero who travels alone. He has no need for others." The preacher was about to take his book and slap Hellstorm with it when a man pushed the two of them a part as he ran by. A woman charged behind the man.
"Thief, thief." The woman shouted as she ran.
Hellstorm looked on and took off to catch up to the thief. He quickly caught up to him and jumped onto his back grabbing the back of the thief's hood. As he used the thief's back as spring board, Hellstorm jumped up sending the thief to the ground landing in front of the thief as he stopped sliding to the ground. He picked up the purse he had as the woman caught to him.
"Here you madam." Hellstorm handed the woman back her purse only to have her hit him with it.
"You worthless creature. I don't care if you do work for the princess. I'll not have you touch my things." The woman shouted at him.
"I don't have to take this." Hellstorm shouted as he walked off. "Worthless humans. They show no respect for what I do for them."
Hellstorm walked towards the nearest city gate. The guard went to go block his passage.
"I wish to explore the grounds around the city." Hellstorm said as approached the gate.
"Hold your tongue." The guard snorted. "Who left you to wander alone?"
"I am one of Ruby's servants. Just let me pass." Hellstorm drew closer to the gate.
"Alright, but you'd better show some more respect." The guard moved aside to let Hellstorm pass.
xXx
Hellstorm headed deep into the forest around the Trade City. He thought it best to blow off some steam out here where he was alone rather then in town. His fur went red as he threw his fist into a tree. The tree splintered under the force of the attack.
--
The winds blew lightly across the desert plateau. The only light came from the full moon, which was very close tonight. Two figures walked to the edge of the plateau in the moonlight.
Hellstorm walked along slowly with Sora on his right side. She wore the same demonic dress she had met Hellstorm in. She was about eight inches taller then Hellstorm. Her skin pale during the day, but in the moonlight it radiated with a unique glow. Both took a seat on the edge of the cliff before them.
--
Hellstorm threw his left foot out into the side of another tree creating a sizable dent in the trunk. His eyes were just as red as his fur. All thoughts of the words told to him that day echo through his ears.
--
"It's such a nice night tonight." Sora smiled, the points of her fangs sparkled in the silver light of the moon as her blood red eyes looked up. "Its night's like this that I enjoy the most."
"I wish it were real though. There is so much I miss from our time." Hellstorm looked up at the moon, then at Sora. Her smile brought a smile to his face as well.
"You'll get back here one day." Sora scooted over closer to him wrapping a comforting arm around Hellstorm.
"I know, but one of the demons made through time. It attacked me last night just after the sun had set." Hellstorm told Sora resting his head against her.
"If you're still alive, then you must have dealt with it." Sora had a slight look of concern on her face.
"It called me a monster. I now question if it was right." Hellstorm informed Sora.
--
Hellstorm charged into another tree, the trunk cracked as the tree began to lean over some from the shoulder slam it had suffered. The words "You worthless creature" ring through the air with the beating of the tree.
--
"You're no monster." Sora shook her head. "You just not like everyone else. You've always been different."
"I felt joy from attacking him." Hellstorm admitted to his only true friend.
"No, Hellstorm. It was your anger that felt the joy." Sora corrected him. "You mustn't let your anger control your actions."
"You speak the truth." Hellstorm looked behind them and chanted a quick spell to start a fire to warm them in the cool night air.
--
Hellstorm's anger lessened the more he recalled his dream, but he still continued to attack the trees around him.
--
"Hellstorm, you were never a monster. You were my angel. You were a hero to me and will become one to many more. It was not a life you wanted, but it is your life." Sora explained. "You may be called a monster by many, but you are far from it. People of this time just don't understand things like we do know them, but let's not talk about that right now. You need to clear your mind and relax." Sora's voice stayed calm and kind no matter what she discussed.
"Of course. I did come here to relax." Hellstorm looked back at her face. Her gentle eyes brought peace to Hellstorm's troubled mind. "Tell me, if you were still alive, what you want for your birthday."
"Tonight, I would have turned seventeen. Such a lovely night to celebrate." Sora looked to sky and to countless stars in the sky.
"Tonight would have been a perfect night to celebrate." Hellstorm couldn't agree more.
--
Hellstorm's red aura died down as he managed to knock over the tree he had been attacking. He jumped up and took a seat on the fallen tree looking to skies.
--
"There is not much I can ask for. I already have almost everything I could want." Sora looked to Hellstorm and kissed him on his neck.
"If you want a drink, then you may." Hellstorm tilted his head to side exposing his neck. There was already a pair of small scars from where Sora's fangs had entered his neck a few times before.
"No, not tonight." Sora said as she tilted his head back toward her. "Tonight, I just want to spend my time with you."
"All you must do is ask if you grow thirsty." Hellstorm said.
--
Hellstorm ran his hand over the side of his neck. In a strange way, he missed the feel of Sora's fangs in his neck. He missed everything about her. A tear wells up in his eyes as he looks down to continue recalling the dream.
--
They two of them sat there all night talking and talking. Hellstorm didn't hold himself back and spoke his mind with Sora. The talked about everything he could think of. The two of them watched as the sun rose. Sora worried not as in time where Hellstorm had come from, vampires had long since out grown their weakness to the sun.
The two sat peacefully in the morning. Sora got with Hellstorm at her side. They walked back to the center of the plateau.
"You never told what kind of gift you want." Hellstorm said as he let Sora walk back toward the caves.
"Hmm. I want a silver necklace with a Crimson gemstone. Something to match your eyes and fur. And I want you to hang onto it." Sora said as she faded away like a ghost.
"I'll do my best to find one." Hellstorm said as he watched Sora fade away.
He closed his eyes as the dream ended and he remembered waking up.
--
Hellstorm looked on at the sky. It was slowly growing dark. He hurried back to gates where the same guard as before greeted him.
"May I enter back into the city?" Hellstorm asked as the guard blocked his path.
"That was better. Now go on hurry up. I'll be closing this gate soon." The guard said as Hellstorm walked past.
As Hellstorm walked back to tavern, he kept his eyes open to every jewelry tray he could see. He arrived to see Akara there waiting for him by the tavern door.
"Akara, can you do me a favor?" Hellstorm asked as he came close.
"What is it?" Akara asked.
"I need you to buy a necklace I saw. I've a promise I need to keep." Hellstorm explained. "I'll tell you about it once we get back to manor."
"Fair enough. Lead the way." Akara nodded her head.
Hellstorm lead her back to a small stand and pointed out the silver necklace he had seen while walking to the tavern.
"Excuse me sir. How much for this silver necklace?" Akara asked as she pointed to necklace that Hellstorm had shown her.
"What? A lady like you deserves much better." The man pointed to a set of golden amulets with large emeralds in them trying to make a better sale.
"I just want this one." Akara told the man.
"Are you sure? The gems on that one are low and poor. Now these are much better." The man was persistent to say the least.
"I've already made my choice. It's to keep a promise I made." Akara explained.
"Oh very well. Its eighty-one silver coins for that one." The man said as he picked up the necklace.
Akara dropped the moneybag by mistake and Hellstorm picked up a gold coin.
"Just give him a gold coin for it. It means far more to me then you think" Hellstorm whispered after seeing how few silver coins were in the bag.
"Here, keep the extra." Akara handed him the coin and man looked on in surprise.
"A gold coin. Thank you very much." The man bowed and handed Akara the necklace who handed it to Hellstorm. Hellstorm wrapped in around his wrist a few times making sure that he wouldn't lose it as they two of them headed back to the manor.
Just like Hellstorm had said he would, he explained his reasons for the necklace to Akara as they walked up the hill.
Hellstorm opened the door and met with Eric and his sister Amy as they were leaving.
"We shall talk to some other time. For now, we must return to home." Eric bowed as he moved past Hellstorm. Amy gave him a quick hug as an apology for doubting him earlier. Ruby must have explained some things to them while he was exploring the town.
"Hellstorm, I hope you are feeling better." Ruby greeted both Hellstorm and Akara as they entered the house. "Anna is already working on a quick meal for dinner."
"Thank you. I feel much better." Hellstorm bowed his head as Ruby noticed the necklace.
"I would not have thought you would have jewelry." Ruby held up the hand that held the necklace.
"Sora requested a silver necklace with a Crimson gem stone. This was the best one I could find." Hellstorm told her. "Before you ask, let me explain." Hellstorm gave Ruby a slightly more in depth explanation that he had given Akara.
"I never knew such a spell was possible." Ruby exclaimed.
"While her body and soul may be gone, a portion of her spirit resides in me. In all senses of the phrase, she lives as a separate conscious in my dreams." Hellstorm explained removing his collar. For the first time, Ruby saw the two small puncture wounds on Hellstorm's neck.
"Hellstorm, what happened to your neck? I see a pair of small bite marks." Ruby asked out of concern.
"I've offered my blood to Sora on more then one occasion. These are the marks left behind to remind me of her." Hellstorm told her holding the side of his neck. "It is strange, but I even miss her fangs in my neck at times. Perhaps I am still the same caring person I have always been." Hellstorm smiled. "You have my thanks for reminding of them as you did." Hellstorm walked off towards the room he had been given to relax.