0 comments/ 5818 views/ 0 favorites Between Armageddon & a Hard Place Pt. 02 By: Cyberpawz Introduction: You know the generic information; if under the age of 18, don't read the bloody thing. Like that has stopped kids in the past in the first place? Anyhow. This starts with a good deal of sex, but tames down some, because it has an actual plot to go along with it too! Imagine that, a story with a plot? Well anyhow, it has a mix match of several types of groupings to be bunched up all into one. I'm not going to list them just yet since they will probably be too numerous to count, or at least I hope so. If you got past this without rolling your eyes once, or skipped over this in the first place, then you missed a poorly written triad about nothing except you've been warned. ~Cyberpawz~ Chapter 3: A Dammed Angel's Request Sam looked at David with a critical eye; he hadn't really changed much in when she last saw him. If the smell of an angel didn't tip off people that they were such, and was mistaken the smell as aftershave or perfume an angel could always be recognized for the near perfection that they extruded when they were in human form. This aura as some people called it would occasionally effect other people or things around them, making it nearly impossible for bad things to happen around them. David was the epitome of this perfection, it wasn't that Sam hated him for it, but loathed that he allowed his human guise to boast this perfection so magnificently; it was as if he didn't care what was happening around him, or the attraction that he sent his own way. This was dangerous because angels were prized in the world they played in, either as willing participants or not, and if anyone knew that David was there, she would be in a whole lot of trouble, and the last thing she needed was her life to be turned more upside down just because he was here. Sam always hated the confidence and ego that an angel had, since most of them haven't the ability to protect themselves as well as David does she has found through her life that if angles didn't take it cautiously here, they would end up dead or corrupt like any other being. The only things that changed that she could tell of since the last time she saw him was that he had short, straight golden blond hair, but now it was more reddish, but still straight, fine, and near the small of his back, with a frazzled look to it, not a perfect as it was once long ago she amused. His body, out of what she could see, reminded her of some of the centurions back during the Roman era, fit and strained ready for an attack from any direction. His face and personality pretty much had stayed the same though that should be expected in a way, since the only sin angles probably have to their name, and unknowingly so is pride. They take pride in their looks, as well as knowing all that is happening at any given time because of their ability to see the past and future simultaneously if needed. The only thing that looked out of place on him was the suit. It was probably a Giorgio Armani suit out of what she could tell of it, and the Casco Bay cloak. Her guess was that it was all part of the act that was going on now, but she wanted to know what was going on, so she decided to go with the farce for now. Ever since Sam changed and escaped from the town, she had been looking for the wizard to find out what exactly happened to her, and how to end the life she had, for although finding she was immortal had it's benefits, she quickly got tired of watching her friends grow old, die, and their children, and their grandchildren, and so on while she never seemed to get old, except by changing her physical appearance as the years pass. Through the centuries creating new identities and not getting caught has been easy, but for the last 200 years it has become more and more difficult since the advancement of technology has exceeded anything she could ever dream of. Eventually, she would be found out, but as it looks now the world isn't ready to know that immortals do exist, and in truth may never really be ready. Sam was hoping with Armageddon she would be able to hide for another thousand or two thousand years or so, especially with how if everything went as expected, the knowledge to create technology would go back to a new dark age and she would be able to live as she did back during the times of the Romans. She had plans to prepare and put into place before that ever happened though, but now the wizard had to go and ruin them, like her life which as a normal human being ended so many centuries ago. She was now asked to stop the one person who could set her free from that life; the problem she found with helping angels at all is that when they wish to eradicate, remove, or stop evil, they don't normally even leave the soul of the being they want to stop for reincarnation. It is a one stop to oblivion if you get on Heaven's Shit List. Helping the angels may put Sam in good standings with Heaven and put a boon towards her, which would allow her to become human again, but there are always stipulations doing so. What both Heaven and Hell want her to do as she found out was to choose a side, which is something she is not willing to do, at least not until she has a reason. So she is dammed pretty much by both sides for eternity, or until she gets the wizard to change her back, which by the looks of it shan't happen now. "You know, I have been looking for him for several millennia, why should I help you? I have my own problems, with that being said why should I worry about the rest of humanity, I left that club a long time ago." Snarled Sam, her eyes turning green, and never leaving David's. David sighed, "The wizard, or as he is known now as Meldrich, had been employed by some powerful, yet misguided fools. Meldrich had been playing their fears and twisted their causes, as was his intent in the first place, and as history would have shown that he would have become their leader, and you would have found out about him through the disruption that they would have caused, but for some reason things went askew and the group instead of falling in line, and becoming his puppets as was expected, they turned on him and killed him, unprovoked, or as far as we could see." Sam interrupted because she hated how angels talked in past and present content always in the same sentence, because to them there was no time line, and they could see what was to happen, or what should happen, and what has happened all simultaneously in the time line they were in, "So the old goat is dead, let him rot in hell." Sam realized that the problem with this scenario would be she could never become human unless she chooses a side, which she refused to do. So in the grand scheme of things she would be dammed for all eternity as she put it, at least to those who know about the game that heaven and hell plays with mortals. David grew angry as Sam's ignorance, "Have you no clue what someone like Meldrich can do to empower hell if given the chance to do so? Meldrich wasn't supposed to die for another two hundred years, by your hands after he made you human again, well after Armageddon had played its part. Now..." "What! You kept the knowledge of when I was to become human from me, you bastard! I swear you know it all, meddling hypocrites! How dare you play me for a fool, get the hell out of my sight before I rip your throat out where you stand, as I threatened to do to you the last time I saw you. Damn you to hell, and I hope this time it sticks!" Sam yelled in a rage, her body gaining mass as her rage grew, her already tight clothes starting to give out as rips started to form in them as her muscles started to swell in size, as her stature became massive compared to the now small angel. Her hands started to grip what looked at her viewpoint the ever-shrinking desk in a rage, its wood cracking under the force of what she was putting it under. Sam's figure nearly nude, except for a few strands of what were her clothes was still upon her shoulders, and hips as her breasts broke from their bonds, she let out a moan as the release of the pressure her tormented sports bra was putting her breasts under finally broke. During this time David never moved, but watched Sam's transformation, angels although very powerful fighters tend to be sometimes slow, or seemed to be slow, because of their confidence in getting out of any situation, because "God" was on their side. Sam knew this, and was expecting David to not act any different from any other angel she had seen in her life. Sam jumped over the desk, and toppling David from the chair, pinning the angel to the ground by his wings she straddled his waist and hissed in David's ear, "I should end your life here angel, you bastard. You deserve nothing more or nothing less than that, by my hands. Especially after all this time you have kept the one thing from me that would have made my life so much easier to cope with and that was hope!" Sam stood up and grasped David by one of his wings and threw him across the room, the door shuddered in the force of David hitting it. "Get out, damn you, I don't care what you have to say, get out, and let the hounds of hell follow you till you die a painful death, and you should pray that I don't find you outside this museum." "But..."Said David. "Get Out!" Yelled Sam, her anger getting the better of her. "I'm already dammed." Said David his broad shoulders sagging as the strength from his voice left him. "I don't care if you are Mother...what? Hold up, what did you say?" Asked Sam quietly as her anger dissipated into curiosity with a twinge of shock. The speaker on the phone that was now dangling off to the side of the desk went off, and Lauren on the other side asked, "Are you ok Mam?" Sam picked up the phone and pressed the response speaker and said into the phone, "Candle all my meetings till 1:00, take the day off too Lauren you will be paid for the full day. I don't want any more interruptions till then. You can come back for the wing opening later if you so wish." The speaker squawked back, "Yes Mam." Sam not brining her full attention to David said flatly, "Sit." David said as he straightened his jacket regaining some of his composure, "I'd rather stand if you..." "Sit I said, it is not a request, you want my help you better start cutting me some slack." Sam said as she pointed a clawed hand to the fallen chair on the other side of her desk. Before David could start, Sam turned around and started walking to a dresser that was near one of the corners of her office, David realized that her office was also a secondary room to some extent; it had a bed, two dressers, an armoire, a hope chest, her desk, several generations of armor, and weapons and several other amenities that meant she stayed there late some nights. Doing what he really didn't care but it was unusual for someone in her position to actually live a life or attempt to live a normal life. Sam started to will herself smaller, back to normal, or whatever that is for her she mused. She then realized that she felt a little sexual attraction from David as he gazed her body. Sam decided to play this up a little, and increased her hip movement as she moved, sauntering to the bureau. She placed her hands on the top of the bureau and leaned forward letting her breasts hang down as her ass was swaying back and fourth in what she hoped would be considered to any onlooker as an unconscious act. Sam felt David's lust rise a little; she loved played games like this, especially to pompous and self-righteous people or beings. As she picked out some clothes she shimmied out of the scraps that were around her body, as her claws became hands again. Sam put on a simple kimono, and let her breasts breathe a little, the fabric was tight around her bust but it let an ample amount to be seen to anyone willing to be caught staring; she loved the attention she was getting from David's eyes, although the rest of his body was immovable. David sighed, realizing he was being played; he sat in the chair, realizing that he was now in no real position to ague with Sam and started to speak. "Before I tell you why I am dammed, let me explain why Meldrich is still a problem." Sam nodded and sat down in a chair she picked up from the ground and leaned backwards watching David intently, but her mood, even after the slight bit of teasing on her end, hadn't really changed. David gave a weak smile and began, "Meldrich, when he died went to hell, as was expected, especially with all he did in his life as we know, he didn't go quietly though. As he arrived in hell, his soul was highly prized since it was so powerful and corrupted. The normal method of such a soul would be to place it in a soul stone and that stone would then be used as a weapon or a power supply for the engines of hell till the spirit was drained that the crystal ultimately destroyed. The reason for this was simple and for those who appreciated it, ingenious. Lucifer didn't want demons collecting and using souls for themselves. Lucifer was powerful, but a demon with enough souls could be temporarily problematic. Meldrich's soul was placed into one of these stones and was placed into one of the engines of hell as was customary for one so corrupt, but it was found that the stone wasn't being drained of power, but slowly gaining power from the engine it was in. Out of what I know, it was attempted to remove Meldrich's soul stone from the engine itself but all those who touched it got absorbed into the crystal. Lucifer's generals were told to take care of the issue by any means necessary, as we know now, they ultimately failed in their task. We were keeping tabs of the situation till two moths ago, for this was putting back any real production of hell temporarily and we wanted to see what the result would be. As I said, we were keeping tabs till two months ago, then something we can't explain happened. Hell seems to of gone quiet, and Meldrich is back on Earth in a body of his own with a very powerful if not the most powerful soul stone we have ever seen placed into a mortal's hands at any time in the past or future. It has been suggested through council that somehow Meldrich gained enough power from the engines that he could usurp Lucifer himself, and that the stone not only has Lucifers soul in it, but that of any demon that attempted to stop him from leaving hell. That means Lucifers generals, and any other demon stupid enough to attempt to confront and stop Meldrich, or to take the soul stone from Meldrich. The problem is somewhat obvious I hope by now, we don't know whether the stone with all that evil inside it is controlling Meldrich or that he is controlling it. Either way that stone can't be allowed to exist on this plane of existence. What we expect will happen if anyone touches it that doesn't have the ability to keep the evil from taking over their own soul, will be that the soul stone will not only corrupt the person's soul but body and it will be twisted by the perversion of evil. Now the reason I am dammed, and neither allowed to be in heaven or hell is that I wanted to send our best troops to take care of the issue, I was denied. It seemed that even God was willing to sit back, "For humanity is strong and will survive." It what I was told, but humanity would be dammed if this was to continue unabated. I was told not to interfere, so instead of listening I came down to you, for I knew you knew of the wizard, and with your traits you may be able to defeat him. If not alone I know, you've found others like you that may be willing to help. Because I obviously ignored the law or rule of God I was expelled, and if I am ever killed hell will not take me either, because I am an angel and I can't be trusted So you can say I sacrificed my place in heaven to save humanity. So are you willing to help? It would possibly give the leverage needed to have heaven change you back to being mortal, and living a normal life again." Sam never took her eyes from David as he said his story. Sam let her head fly back and let out a melodic laugh tears nearly went down her face as she was laughing so hard, as she regained control of herself her face went to a stony rigidity and said, "Like hell I will." Sam pressed the intercom button on the desk, and when no response met her she sword gently. She really needed something strong to drink right about now to control her nerves, which were not only frayed, but her anger was getting the better of her. Sam got up and went to a counter that was behind her desk, pressed a button that was hidden and a glass, several bottles and a black leather bound book came into view. She picked up the glass which was a generic shot glass with a bottle that was half-empty already. A red wax seal was on the front, and other on top to keep the freshness of the drink inside with the date 1424. The bottle maker was unknown, but the bourbon that was inside was given by a smitten young boy, attempting to get her into his bed. She already decided that night to take him to bed to have the night of his life, when she saw him, but the bottle was an added bonus in her mind. As she uncorked the bottle, the rich aroma wafted up her nose and sent shivers through her spine. She poured a small amount into the glass and shot it back, a breath of air got trapped as the liquid went down her throat. As she regained her breath, she started to cough. She really wasn't an alcohol drinker, but there were times she wished she could handle it better. Through another drawer she removed a red candle, light it, and re-corked the bottle. As the candle wax started to liquefy, she poured in on top of the cork to seal it. Just as she blew out the candle, a bit of wax hit her finger and she looked at it. It was only wax, but with all the things that were happening that day she really didn't know what to trust any more, for a second she thought it was blood the way it fell on the skin. The only thing that made her realize it was wax was that it burned her finger ever so lightly. She put the bottle and glass back, and placed the discarded wax into the trash and sat back down at the desk, and then a knock came at the door. Sam growled, she really didn't want to be bothered today. The knock came more strongly, Sam was hoping with her ignoring it, the person on the other side would get the hint and go away. Sam heard footfalls slowly fade away. "Leave David, I have nothing more to say to you, this conversation is at and end, and if I ever see you outside this building after today, I will send you to limbo. Now leave before I change my mind, and I can get on with my life." David's head bowed, and he started to walk away. Just as it seemed he would leave the normal way by opening the door, he faded into nothingness, leaving only the sent of roses in his place. Sam cursed, she hated when he did that, and the smell will be there for hours. With that negative thought in her mind, she remembered the speech for later on today. She still hated using computers, although they were amazing machines, but letter writing was so informal on the computer compared to the handwritten letters she used to write and receive in her past lives. As time went by she realized she had barely written a paragraph, today was really getting to her, and not for the better. The entire conversation with David was intruding on her thoughts, and she really just wanted to forget it all. She was also getting hungry, it was only 10:30am but it felt like 3:00pm in her mind. She got up and started to go to the door, and something felt wrong, not a physical wrong, just a feeling wrong. Sam opened the door slowly, and a letter fell from between the door's gap. Sam was bothered by this, she never heard the letter sliding into the gap yet she could hear the mice in the air ducts above. The letter was addressed to, "My immortal slut." Between Armageddon & a Hard Place Pt. 02 Sam growled again for the second time today, and it wasn't of passion, which annoyed her even more. This letter wasn't funny, sure she was practically immortal but that damned wizard tricked her into what she was now. She didn't love sex like most women, yet the act itself was pleasurable, but needed it to survive. Sam ripped open the letter and started to read the flowing script. The letter was insane, or the author was on the cusp of insanity, but she knew who the author was before finishing. As she read the letter talking about his flight from hell with the aforementioned stone, and how proud he was of her survival through the millennia, he wanted to make it right between them, and after their meeting they would never need to see each other again. An address was left on the bottom of the letter, this was probably his hope she would arrive to the conclusion that he did his twisted mind, and that was she would forgive him, and not kill him on their next meeting if he promised her to set things right. This was going to be dealt within her own time later, for now she was hungry, and the museum cafeteria food wasn't what she wanted she wanted to eat alone, or at least with friends she could talk to, and anywhere but here would be good. One of the few places she knew she would be left alone was Damien's. It was neutral ground for people like her, or people which knew of the other parts of life that mere mortals knew nothing of. She and Damien had fling for a while, but when he "died" it had to end, so they were friends in this lifetime. Thankfully Damien's was close enough to walk to, which with some forward thinking on her part was set up a long time ago. She owned the property that Damien's resided in, so when Damien came into town looking for a place to crash, she was assured he was situated close to her so she could keep an eye on him, for although friends he liked her didn't cater to either side, but unlike her found himself in more trouble than he could handle sometimes. Damien was different though, although he was not cursed like Sam to roam the Earth for all eternity, he was immortal in another sense. He was dead, he didn't breathe and didn't have a heartbeat, and didn't need to eat food, although he found if he wanted to be presentable to most of humanity, it was a good idea to keep those things in proper order. Damien died around 1240 in combat, but for some reason death never got around to take him. Sam guessed death's quota was filled that day, so Damien has been living in his body since then, his biggest complaint though about being dead was that he sometimes had to remind his body how some parts of him actually functioned. He had a lanky build, but was unnaturally strong for his physical structure. His hair either a mix between an Auburn and red, depending on the season, was about mid back length, normally in a pony tail. He had a kind face, or at least as kind as one that someone who was dead could muster at times, he was never afraid to smile; it just didn't come often because of the type of people he catered to in the pub. His normal garb was a tux, or a very attractive silk suit either black, red, or a mix of both together. He was normally seen wearing glasses, and having a cane in hand somewhere along his body. With the ability of the building Damien had become wealthy this lifetime, and didn't have any fear of flaunting it either. It was one of his vices, since his life was taken from him at a somewhat young age it was very hard for him not to show his wealth when he had any since it was rare for him to ever stay one place for long, and because he never knew the lap of luxury that most royalty did during his lifetime either. Damien realized when he awoke from being what he would conceder being dead, was being buried way back then that he was still in his own body, and quite alive. He was a prince, and because of that he was to be given a proper burial, which for his family customs meant burying the body, in a coffin, and lets be realistic, he didn't want to be buried, at least since he realized then he was alive to whatever extent that was he couldn't tell cause it was dark in the coffin. Damien forced the coffin door open and realized he interrupted the priest's eulogy, and from that point forward Damien liked to say he raided the coffers, for just as he arose and started to get out of the coffin his mother feinted, his father attempted to kill him after the priest claimed Damien's body was possessed by the devil, and had holy water thrown at him to no prevail, but that wasn't saying the priest didn't try, for the next instance as Damien finally got the water out of his face the priest and has father both were coming to assure Damien stayed dead this time, Damien's father with a sword, and the priest with a steak and hammer. Damien never did figure out where the priest did hide those things. Damien ran out of the church, grabbed the closest horse, rode to the castle, and got whatever equipment he could, and this was all while chaos trailed in his wake, for a dead prince is not supposed to be back among the living. Damien went to the castle's coffers, grabbed two medium sized bags of gold, went to the throne room and grabbed his father's crown went down to the castle's stables and grabbed his father's prized war steed and bolted out of the castle like a thief in the night. Well maybe not the night as Damien would say, but a bat out of hell would be more suited, for it took two weeks to loose his father and the hunting party. Sam found Damien a while later not only scared, but not coping to immortality all that well, with a little bit of help from her, and some time, they had become good friends, and nearly inseparable allies. What attracted Sam to Damien were his eyes, and the lack of real body temperature. Damien's eyes after coming back to life looked like black star sapphires, they intrigued her, and have even till today, Damien had no clue why they are as they are, but as long as he can see out of them, he would like to keep them intact. It is another mystery that can't be explained. Chapter 4: Damien's Damien's is where the innocent that entered almost never stayed that way when they left. It is where a person's desires, or needs can and normally are met no matter what they are, and that includes the ones that don't even know what their deepest or darkest desires are. Through some unique magic the building was much larger than the outside, and the rooms in the upper hallways seemed to continue longer than what was physically possible, and through these rooms any person could find what their innermost desires required to be fulfilled. That is if Damien's could be found at all, for it was one of those buildings that unless you knew it was there, would never be seen. This was probably because of magic too, but Damien never acknowledged it or not. As Sam reached the building she noticed an old pub sign with the words Damien's written across it, a beer flagon and a roasted pig's leg on a silver platter underneath it. On the archway frame in a language long forgotten, at least by mortal man was etched, "Those who pass this archway leave all grudges behind, for thou enters neutral ground, and three fold will ye receive in punishment for placing unwanted harm against another within." The outside of the building is made of sandstone, and has engravings of magical wards all through the building. It was a fortress for all intended purposes when Armageddon came, this place would be the magical equivalent of a bomb shelter on steroids. Sam's hand reached for the door, and it opened on its own. This was a trick Damien liked playing on people it made the building seem more alive than it really was. Sam heard unusual sounds coming from within, and smells that normally didn't creep through the doorway till midnight. The place was packed, but it was only noon, and it usually didn't get packed till at least 8:00 at night. "What the hell is happening." Thought Sam as she slowly touched the door and opened it wider so she could enter. As Sam entered the room slowly became quiet, and just as slowly all eyes went to her as her body entered the doorway. Although she was known there, this had never happened to her, even when she came in there for a stud to find for the night, this unnerved her. Damien pushed through the now nearly silent crowd ashen faced and pulled at her to his office. Just as they entered Damien's office, Damien asked, "What the hell are you doing here, you know you are marked for extermination? Half the people here are bounty hunters, or worse, looking to fill their pockets with gold by taking you in, dead or alive...and by the sounds of it preferably dead. This was probably the worst time for you to come here, most of the bounty hunters aren't lightweights either, they scare even me, and you normally know the type we get here too." Sam looked around the room, and many wards were glowing brightly. Damien's office was a lot like Sam's except he had a full knight in armor on top of a horse in the same style armor in the room. The knight with a crown on his head was holding a javelin and both knight and horse looked as if they were in mid joust. The armor of you looked behind that it had holes where arrows punctured the armor and killed its wearer. Sam smiled realizing how much alike they were, although he was technically royalty, and she was a commoner. Just as Sam was planning to answer him, the door slammed open, Damien was thrown to the side, where she heard a crunch and a sickening impaling sound. As Sam was ready to go into a defensive posture lighting bolts struck from the defensive carvings around the room struck whatever was in the entrance way. "Sonuvabitch!" Yelled Damien, "You know how long it will take me to heal; I'm dead for God's sake!" Sam laughed, she knew whatever was at the doorway when the lighting struck was deader that Damien, and helped him down as she let her defenses down and helped Damien down from the javelin. "That wasn't the welcome I was expecting my slut." Said the voice in the doorway as Damien's feet touched the ground. Sam froze and slowly turned around; she saw the old wizard at the entranceway grinning an evil and malicious smile. "You dammed.... Said Sam as her clothes ripped from her body as she lost control of her rage and her wrath transformed her physical body into a she-demon which launched herself towards the wizard, not caring or thinking about if she lived or not. Sam don't!" Was Damien's response to her quick reactions as he was let go by Sam. Sam stopped in mid air, not by her own volition, "We...I mean I can't have our little friend hurt, now can we Damien?" The old wizard asked looking at Damien. Sam was hissing and struggling against her invisible bonds. "Now, now...Sam is it what you go by now? All I wanted to do was to talk, and you attacked us...me." Sorry with the power the gem gives me, and whom it holds inside, I am not together as we...I should be. Eventually, you will have to stop us." Said the wizard flatly" Sam looked at Meldrich and realized that time and hell have not treated him as well as most immortals or creatures of suspected immortality has fared. His once jeweled and rune scribed clothes were burned and tattered, his beard once white and pure were bare in some places and ragged it others, the white was still there, but it didn't shine as much as she remembered it. His hat was also gone, but his staff, the simple wooden one was replaced by a black staff with a blood red gem on the tip, and it ebbed and flowed with power circling it, and occasionally the head and arm of the wizard himself. The once fat face of Meldrich was drawn, and haggard his breathing was ragged as well, his eyes on first glance were sunken in, then Sam did a double take, and realized his eyes were sympathetic, and almost pleading begging for help without saying a word, then in the next instant they became hardened as he walked to her. "Such a pretty specimen." Said Meldrich as he went over her shoulder to her back with his hand. Sam's tail was twitching with anger and annoyance, but it was barely visible to the wizard, her body started to react against her will though. "Ever wonder why your body is more responsive and out of control more than normal?" Asked Meldrich as his hand went between Sam's ass and gently caressed her pussy. Sam against her will tensed up, and her nipples hardened. Meldrich took his hand away and gently placed his cum coated fingers under Sam's nose, Sam moaned involuntarily then quickly stopped as she realized what she was doing. "Meet me where I requested and then things will be explained there." Said Meldrich. He rose a hand, and Damien rose in the air and his wounded chest was healed from the inside out. "I will be at the meeting place in five hours, meet me there or your life will be more forfeit that it already is." Meldrich disappeared from the room and all was quiet for a minute. "Well that answers almost nothing, what the hell is happening Sam?" Asked Damien. "I don't know, but he wasn't himself that was obvious. Now I got to get going to open a museum wing and to this meeting, you know whom to call if I don't appear in a few hours after the meeting." Said Sam. "But." Said Damien. "No buts." Said Sam sternly as she walked out of the door grabbing a cloak and wrapped it around her body as she changed back to her form in this lifetime. Damien shook his head then remembered in shock that Sam was waking into a viper's den below. As he placed his hand on the door, the floor shook, and the sound of thunder echoed through the halls as something down stairs was happening. Damien flew down the stairs to the balcony that overlooked the floor below. Damien made out in the middle of a circle of people Sam transformed back into the she-demon form, the cloak ripped in a few places, blood going down her right leg, and snarling as she stood hunched over several bodies under her feet. Damien noticed that there was smoke coming from the bodies, and the look of anger was still in their faces. His wards have done their jobs just as they were meant to. Just as Damien was ready to say something in hoping to break the stalemate and regain peace in the room one person in the crowd screamed what sounded like a battle cry, and lurched forward. The rest of the circle through reaction did the same. Sam was lost to Damien's sight, but it looked like Thor the God of lightning decided to have a tempter tantrum in his pub. Lightning bots struck the mass of people swarming to Sam, and was thrown backwards as the lightning hit them from every direction. When the smoke cleared Sam was clasped hand in hand with what only could be considered a giant, or at least a giant half-breed. Sam was on her knees as the giant's hands were clasped around her own, and Sam's hands were being crushed as the giant was grinning downwards in triumph. The creature or half-giant was not as large as a normal giant but still had many of its traits, the size and girth being the most evident. Half-Giants more than giants normally don't show their face in civilization for their looks and abnormal size makes them prime targets for any person willing to get fame added to their name. That and that half-giant is normally shunned by humans and giants alike, seeing one in public is rare. This half-giant was the stereotypical looking dullard, but looking more closely some people may see that this one seemed to have the above normal intelligence that giants normally aren't graced with, which meant that in a human's level of intelligence this being had the intelligence of anywhere between a 7 to 10 year old. The clothes this half-giant was wearing was seared, it looked as if it were unfazed by the original lightning strike, and was willing to take more. The pants were the only thing recognizable, they were made of a heavy leather which looked like a mix between old elephant skin and dragon hide. The smell coming from this creature wasn't much better either, it was either the mix of charred flesh, or bad body odor, either way how Sam was dealing with the smell was well beyond what Damien even was willing to think about then. The half-giant stretched out Sam's arms and heard her scream in panic and pain as the half-giant's mouth went to Sam's neck and bit down. A massive arch of electricity from the runes went through the giant and Sam simultaneously. Both the half-giant and Sam collapsed in a smoldering heap; the aroma of charred flesh fumigated the air as Damien ran down the stairs. "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" Was all that was heard as Damien ran down the stairs and stood in front of the two bodies, Damien lifted with great effort the half-giant off Sam's body. Sam was bleeding profusely, smoke pouring from her mouth and eyes, and wasn't breathing or had a noticeable pulse. Sam was for all intended purposes dead. "So much for the wing opening." Said Damien smirking. All the sudden a flash of light blinded the area, and a voice from the light bellowed, "What the hell happened!" Just as Damien was going to answer Sam groaned, Damien shook Sam in complete shock that she was somehow alive. "Sam get up, hell get healing; I can't stop the bleeding!" Said Damien in a slight panic. As Sam's eyes shot open, her hand closed fisted connected with Damien's jaw and dislocated it. Damien grabbed Sam's wrists and pinned them above her head, and held on for dear life as Sam was struggling under him. Damien looked at the figure that arrived and realized it was a wizard from the Magic Council, "Ne lus hap wi deic." Said Damien, trying to control Sam with all his might, and his jaw still attached by flesh only to his face. The wizard raised his hand, and Damien realized Sam stopped struggling under him. When he looked at her, she was asleep. AS Damien got up he grabbed his jaw and with a sickening squelch and a pop Damien's jaw was put back into its socket. The wizard asked, "Now what did you say?" Damien glowered at the wizard and said, "I asked, could you help me. It is hard to talk with a dislocated jaw, and a person struggling underneath you, you know. By the way, what is happening here, why is there a bounty on her head? I don't really like cleaning up a mess like this, you know the mortals don't understand stuff like this, and it is such a pain in the ass getting rid of the bodies." The wizard stepped over several bodies and looked at Sam, "The new dukes of hell put the bounty on her head, for she is the only one that could stop Armageddon, and they don't want that to happen." Damien noticed Sam was healing and transforming back to her old body again. This time clothes like the one she wore before coming to the pub were materializing around her body again. "So what happened again, I thought this place was neutral ground?" Said the council wizard. Damien said, "It is, if you haven't noticed yet the clientele weren't around from here, or is your vast knowledge only in magic, and not used for observation? Damned wizards have no street smarts sometimes." The wizard ignored the pot shot and stated with a frown as he looked around, "Well we will clear this up, but keep her safe." Damien was ready to say something but realized the wizard was already gone. Sam awoke and jumped up staring at Damien. Damien just shook his head and told Sam, "Leave, and go open your wing, I'll explain everything later with what happened." Sam would argue, but Damien walked away sighing and slumping his shoulders as he looked at the mess he had to clean up. Sam shook her head, all she wanted to do was to get away from everything for a while but all she had ended up going to was from one mess to another, and no one was willing to give her a straight answer on what was happening. The fact was she knew less after leaving Damien's than she knew coming in, and it wasn't a feeling she liked having. Between Armageddon & a Hard Place Pt. 02 Damien had to clean the mess up, at least the mess that the Wizard Council would not. He was impressed by Sam's shape changing at will, especially since he could remember when it took a lot out of her to do it so quickly about 500 years ago. He was amused that she would take a demon form though, especially with what she could do alone without the need of body transformation. The wings, tail and claws were tasteful at least, he wondered if she would use that form on him one time for old time sake in bed. Damien shook his head, if she lives though what seems to be coming it will be a tempting suggestion, but even he doubted Sam's abilities to survive, especially if she were to stop Armageddon completely. Chapter 5: The Wizard Council The Arch-Chancellor of the Wizard Council reappeared in his study, he knew dammed well that Damien couldn't contain the situation or Sam, but it was the best that he could do for now in the circumstances, and it angered him to feel for all intended purposes helpless. Meldrich, or if that is what he goes by now, what was to of died around two centuries from now, even Meldrich knew that, but for some reason things changed, and now everything was on a truncated time table, which was far from the point he wanted to be at right now. Meldrich was stronger than he was ever meant to be, hell's power structure had been usurped, a new one was put in it's place and now the council has to get involved, especially since Sam wasn't powerful enough to take on the responsibilities that were meant to be given to her when Meldrich changed to what she was without her knowledge. The Council approved of the change of a mortal to a guardian, but something went wrong, the council still doesn't know what happened, but Sam is now a creature melded with the magics of both worlds, and she has no clue how to use even an inkling of what she has in her possession. Meldrich was to be her tutor, but fear gripped him by what happened and fled from his responsibility. The Council and Sam for two different reasons were after the same man. The council inwardly prayed they got to Meldrich before she did. The Arch-Chancellor sat heavily at his desk and opened a grimoire that had no title but belonged to one of the most powerful wizards in several knows worlds. He delved deeper into both the Arcane and nature magics, but the author also mentioned in passing a few times another branch of magic, which the author didn't get into because in the author's view it was too dangerous and unpredictable. It was called Chaos Magic. Unlike Arcane and Nature magic, Chaos magic didn't have to follow the laws of magic to make something happen. In theory Chaos magic could make a grain of san into a diamond, or a mountain, but controlling such magic is not only dangerous but potentially lethal to the caster, for the change of backfiring into the face of the caster could be potentially devastating to the surrounding area. The more the Arch-Chancellor thought about it the more he thought that Chaos Magic was involved either voluntarily or by complete accident, it was used or invoked into the spell that transformed Sam originally, but he had no proof and wouldn't ask Sam for help now to sate his curiosity. There was a good reason for this too, Sam didn't trust wizards, especially after what happened to her. The Arch-Chancellor sighed in resignation as all ideas that were open to him were found shut. Just as the Arch-Chancellor was going to resign to the lounge for a mental rest there was a knock at the door. "Come in." Said the Arch-Chancellor. One of the senior wizards which went by the name of Brian Wildfire was seen opening the door and asked, "So Thomas, did you see your brother?" The Arch-Chancellor shook his head no. "Well it is time for our meeting, lets get going." Said Brian. Thomas nodded and got up from his chair and looked at Brian. Brian Wildfire was the type of person you would expect to find sitting at the mall in a Santa suit having children tell him what they wanted for Christmas. He was the type of man that you would expect nothing serious could ever happen to because he was a happy go lucky guy with no enemies. As Thomas has found out though that is far from the truth, Brian was semi-immortal, and through this pseudo immortality at least for limited times Brian has had some very destructive and dangerous enemies. Though the experience of time, Thomas realized that the simplest of things could be dangerous if underestimated, and Brian was no exception to the rule, his ability with magic, and hand-to-hand combat when he was thinner was nearly unbeatable, now he has the jolly old paunch happening, his magic is what he uses to keep enemies at bay, and quite successfully Thomas might add as well. Then Thomas inspected the mirror and saw his own reflection. Thomas stood up straight and inspected himself, his hair full and brown was pulled back into a ponytail by a leather strap, his beard was also brown, but it went a few inches past his neck. He kept it trim so it wouldn't get in his way, he refused to wear the stereotypical wizard's hat instead he had the staff, it was a red wood staff, possibly made out of dragon heart wood. It was adorned with symbols, but mainly it was for show, it was nothing more than a walking stick to Thomas. His face was drawn a little, probably from the lack of sleep, the rest of his body was like his face though, thin and drawn out, as if he were stretched. His body didn't really complement his voice, was somewhat deep, but commanding all the same. He sighed as he looked from the mirror because he knew that although he looked young, it didn't make life any easier. Thomas hated these meetings, it was one of the few things he hated about the job itself, for getting with other wizards that have their own views and opinions of the world and how things should be, and getting nothing done in the process annoyed Thomas, since the Council was meant to be an entity to take care of any situation that may occur and threaten either the magical world, or the world of the mortals. As Thomas walked down the hallway, he realized how many things have changed since he first started training as a wizard. He looked and realized that although he was mortal eyes, immortality made him cynical. For, what once would be considered the world ever-changing it really hasn't. Sure in each millennium that had passed he noticed that history, no matter how much the present at the time re-learned about the past, humanity never really learned enough to protect it from the mistakes it made prior. As a modern day youthism that he had heard, although vulgar, it was accurate, "Same shit different pile." Which in his mind was true, weapons changed, but the present never learned from the past fast enough to escape entropy. That last true superpower before this age was Rome, which like this era did not learn from its predecessors. Sure people could argue that France, Germany, and even England was a superpower in their time, but none really lasted the length of time Rome did. Before then was Thomas' world, a city, and empire that were created well before Rome, and lasted nearly twice as long. The only remains were just being discovered off Japan back in 2006-2007. His life sank beneath the waves, it befell the same as all after it, entropy through corruption. Similar to Sam, Thomas had changed guises as life passed him by. His last noted reincarnation was Merlin, history got it wrong though, he didn't life backwards, he was old enough by then to realize that life had a cycle and through observations realized when key players would or could be influenced to induce change. All actually was going well during that lifetime except another immortal interfered, and caused the fall of another great power through corruption. Thomas hoped this time he could stop it from happening again, this time he hoped to save the world, but if things don't start going well soon the world through every fault of its own would see another dark age, and this time Thomas didn't know whether the world could survive it. Thomas came to the council chambers and opened the door. The room outwardly was nothing amazing, it was about forty feet long and nearly as wide, it was light by candles and some old lanterns, giving the room a dark and foreboding look. The table was the original table that the original council used when Thomas was young, the table is now so old that it has nearly fossilized, even if someone wanted to nail a hammer into it, they would have to drill with similar to a concrete bit to even dent the wood now. Old wizard portraits hung around the room with names and dates transcribed into the brass or gold under each one. Their staffs and hats were next to each picture if one were available. There was powerful magic in this room, the runes in the room were quiet today, but they were there ready to do their job if required. He saw the usual faces, but realized the council had been diminishing in power for quite some time, and it also looks as if another seat is empty. "So what happened?" Asked Thomas. "Nothing more or less than your brother." Said a raspy and hollow voice as Thomas realized that William Small was the one speaking. Both William and Thomas had a history, which neither spoke of openly, but everyone knew the hatred for there was there, and it ran deeper than most could phantom. Thomas waved his hand in attempting to dismiss the subject of another wizard that was killed by his brother again, but William would not hear of it and slammed his fist down upon the old wooden table. Thomas realized when looking at the frail old man named William that looked as if you sneezed to hard in his general direction he'd fall apart that although he, Thomas had found immortality through spells, some of not all the wizards there had not, and although many as William found a way to extend their short lives, they couldn't as of yet stop their own deaths. It would be a matter of time before William was dead and replaced again, just as William did about a hundred years ago. Thomas sighed, "Yes William?" "Don't yes me Thomas! Your brother has killed another council member. How many is that now? I am sure you keep track." Said William in as much as a lethal voice as his worn and hollow sounding voice box would allow. "He has killed forty-two wizards stupid enough to face him this century, he has killed in self-defense four hundred wizards, and has killed in first stroke only fifty now..." Said Thomas. William interrupted waving his arms in the air in exasperation, "Now nothing, we have been patient Thomas your brother has hilled in his glorious career over five hundred wizards. I don't care how or why, but he needs to be stopped, so what are you, or we as a council going to do about it?" "Nothing." Said Thomas. The entire council looked at Thomas as if he has lost his mind. Thomas raised his hand as it looked as if everyone were to chorus their complaint simultaneously towards him. "Nothing." Said Thomas again. He took a long and steadying breath and continued, "The council as a whole is neither young our powerful enough to take on my brother. I am, but the rest of you would be a liability." Thomas knew that the council had no leg to stand on, but they would try. Brian was the only other immortal-like person on the council, but even with his pseudo-immortality like ability it would be a far cry to say he would be able to stop Meldrich. He could last possibly a few minutes against either Meldrich or himself, but that would be all...for Brian although powerful was not impervious to death, and Meldrich played dirty. Brian was alive during the time Sam was created or transformed into what she was now, and was probably Thomas' only real confidant, so through life, and experience they tended to see eye to eye about many things, especially since experience was a cruel teacher, and who better to have a friend to keep you grounded through the millennia than someone who is practically immortal. The council as Thomas expected erupted into a din of noise that even Thomas couldn't tolerate, "Enough!" Yelled Thomas. Although he was expecting this, it didn't mean he had to tolerate the volume or discord that the council was producing. The council quieted down as Thomas looked over it with disgust. "Don't you realize that none of you, even in your prime could deal with a wizard that has in the past successfully used Chaos Magic? The reason nothing has been done was that the one that was to become the next guardian isn't ready for her duties. Unthankfully my brother's mistake made sure that was possibly never going to happen, and it really doesn't look as if it will in the near future. Even heaven won't get involved which may be a boon for us." Said Thomas with a well practiced steady tone. William with undisguised disgust in his aged voice said, "You mean that succubae slut wannabe...what's her name now? Ah yes, Sam. What is she going to do? Fuck your brother to death? He is obviously immortal too, so we know that isn't going to work." Thomas said, "No, but you know there can only one guardian a..." William interrupted irritably, "And that even the process was screwed up with Chaos Magic, she is the only one and the mantel of guardian can't be passed till she dies which as it sounds, and looks through how she lives, may be never. How are we to stop your brother when the only one that may have the ability to do so is shirking her duties and slutting her way though infinity?" "That problem had been discussed though older and more powerful council member than yourself William. The only way to make her help us would be by asking, then having her catch up on nearly two thousand years of training. I would have no problem asking her, but she has a knack of recognizing wizards, just as the guardian should. Not to mention her past experience with our kind really isn't that good either. So instead of blaming me for this, I shall put the question to you, how do you propose to make it possible? If you break her mind or spirit those things that would make her an effective guardian would be lost forever, and she wouldn't lat ten seconds against our weakest wizards, let alone my brother. " The council became silent, not because they knew Thomas was right, but because no one ever seemed to think that far ahead, at least when it came to things beyond their control. The average wizard council member never worries about those things for the council's concept of dealing with problematic issues was break it, mend it, and use it. Which is why Thomas hated these meetings, for as educated as the council was compared to everything else that humanity used to negotiate with, it still failed to get beyond the general flaws of humanity. "What if we used a doppelganger to earn her trust? Have it be a younger form of us, but none of our magical power? Make it take direct orders from us but have it could make decisions, on its own as long as they don't interfere with our greater plan so it would never exceed out control?" Asked one of the younger council members by the name of Daniel Underwood. He was smart but still naïve in the ways of the council and its inner workings. Daniel always attempted to find the hopeful ray of light in every dark cloud. Thomas wished more were like him, or at least stayed like him as they got older. "As much as I'd like to say that idea has been done before it hasn't. The reason is that Sam could tell in a way what a person is thinking, and any thought of the sort to fool her would be known the second they were left unguarded. Said Thomas reluctantly." Although it did give him an idea, but it would be to be planned right to work at all. "We will break for an hour, then debate about a replacement for the lost member. Samuel, I need to see you in my quarters please." Said Thomas as he got up from his chair. The rest of the council minus Samuel and Thomas didn't get up from their chairs and watched the two elder wizards leave. As Samuel closed the door behind them he heard the council bellow in argument. Samuel smirked as they walked away from the din the wizard council was producing, "You like doing that don't you? Pissing them off and then leaving to let them stew." Thomas grunted and said to Samuel as he opened the door to his study chambers, "I have an idea." ~To Be Continued~