Bjorn gazed at the bar's ceiling, silently suffering as he listened to the cries of the Zelak's newborn babies. All the while, Zelak and Falaz frantically looked for ways to quiet the children down. It was only after they were allowed back on Bretta's soft body that they ceased and finally slept.
"
"
"
Bjorn turned to Zelak."
"
Zelak slowly approached Donovan's door, tired. "
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"
********
Donovan's hands shook. He felt a deep tension build up as he clung tight to his pipe. He tried to ignore the feelings that were all too natural to him and firm up his resolve as he narrowed his eyes at the two succubi.
The ponytailed succubus giggles, watching, knowing his true feelings with her pink eyes, along with her two-skinned ally.
"Those two… I think I've seen them from that group of other succubus…"
"" the ponytailed succubus said.
"
"
"
"
Donovan's brow raised sharply. "They mentioned Charla… They must know where she is… But is Charla…" He tensed, preparing himself. "I doubt I can get any answers from them… at least I know one thing for certain. For whatever reason, that Sucubus friend of Zelak's is involved. But whatever they want, I won't let them have their way!"
Their eyes brightened. Suddenly, throwing Donovan off guard. He moved to black their gaze, only to find moments later that they've vanished as before.
"Did they- NO!" Donovan gripped his piped and surged a magic into it. Fire spewed out, and as before, the illusion broke, revealing the two women, evading the fire.
"Tch!" Pirna passed a glare at Swissa, who looked on just as surprised.
Still spewing flames from his pipe, Donovan eyed Pirna, the closest of the two. "These succubus probably plan on using their spit on me." He wrestled his fire-spewing pipe, aiming it at Pirna. "They're fast, but if I can take out one now-!"
An unexpected cut formed on his arm. "Shit!"
He glanced back in time, seeing Swissa dashing headfirst at him. Left with no option, he turned his pipe, warding off Swissa's attack. The two women quickly back off, giving Donovan room to breathe. He ceased his fire and glanced at his wound.
He gulped and, with some hesitation, conjured fire within his hand and pressed hard on his cuts. He winced and grunted from pain, feeling the intense heat of the fire as he stayed vigilant of the two demons' movements.
"
Finished, Donovan pulled the fire away, leaving a burnt cut on his arm. "Hopefully that keeps them from using their power on me." With a growing determination, he aimed his pipe and fired at the two succubi, forcing them apart.
Divided, the two women threw knives and a dagger, scratching and cutting at Donovan like a hurricane of needles.
"CR-crap! S-stay away!!" Balls of fired shot from Donovan's pipe in a panic, with all marks completely missing. Undeterred, the two women ran circles around him, forcing him into a corner on the edge of the roof.
A flash caught his glimpse. Panicked, He blocked the attack set by Pirna. A subtle reflection rose in her blade, drawing his attention to behind.
"Crap!' Donovan dodged, evading her grasp and regaining his footing.
Preparing to attack, their eyes flashed a pink, warping and distorting Donovan into a black void. His foot fell loose and pushed him up, as if gravity itself disowned him.
Donovan gritted his teeth and, with a fervor, surged his magic into the pipe, releasing a large wave of fire.
The illusion broke into pieces, returning him to reality. But with a pink flash, he was just as quickly warped into a dark alley surrounded by giant black slimes. "I don't think so!!"
Pouring more magic, he released a new torrent of fire into the walls and slime around him, once again revealing the women evading his attack.
Growing tired of the charade, Swissa pushed him, swiping at him with a deepening intensity as he barely blocked and evaded her attack, eventually forcing her back completely.
Swissa pointed her feet and readied ot attack, only to be met with a pipe to the face. Panicked, she pushed the barrel away from her, nearly avoiding the blaze. Her eyes snapped her eyes to Donovan, flashed her eyes, and distorted his worldview again, transporting him into the middle of the water.
Donovan, now trapped within an illusory prison, looked up in silent utter shock, drowning in the illusory water. His hands shook. And a horrible memory replayed in his mind, over and over again like a never-ending nightmare. But with a clawing determination, he clenched his fist. "Get a hold of yourself, Donovan!!
He prepared his pipe and spewed fire all around, hoping to catch at least one of the women.
The illusion broke, and to his disappointment, they both evaded his attack again.
The two, once again at either side of him, winced, with Swissa even feeling her eyes.
"I wonder if they can only use that power of theirs so many times before it exhausts them…" Donovan glanced at his trembling, dry hands, grimacing. "Either way… Those illusions… They feel too real. I thought I was going to drown."
A sudden pink flash from Pirna blinds him. Once again, the two women disappeared. "This again!?"
Sensing something from above, Donovan glanced up and blocked. A familiar fiery chain sword met Donovan's pipe head.
"Just give up, human," Zelak said. He smirked smugly, putting more effort into his attack.
Unexpectedly, a crack formed on the pipe's handle. Left with no choice, Donovan conceded and jumped from Zelak.
"I don't have time for this!" Donovan spewed fire all around him. But to his surprise, nothing changed. "What the…" He aimed his pipe and shot at Zelak, only to watch as it passed through him like a phantom.
Zelak laughed, amused by Donovan's attempt. He whipped his sword into its chained strains and whipped Donovan's pipe from him.
"No more defending yourself!" Zelak exclaimed.
The pipe flew across the buildings, landing at the edge. And with Donovan disarmed. Chased at him with his chain sword at the ready.
The sword whipped like a bullet, nearly nicking Donovan's cheek. "Crap! I need to find those succubi fast! The last thing I need is to be beaten by him."
A strong punch struck Donovan in the gut. He belched out blood, shocked by the sudden blow.
"Where did all your focus go, Human?"
Donovan went to clutch Zelak's arm, only to find a misted illusion of him.
"Hah! Even at your most cunning, you can't even touch me!" Zelak kicked Donovan in the chest and watched as he faltered to the edge of the building.
Trying to catch his breath, Donovan stared across the building, seeing his pipe getting on the other end of the building, ready to fall at any moment.
With a burning determination, Donovan manifested a fire in his hands and blazed it at Zelak. All the while, Zelak continued to taunt him.
Through the fire, Zelak's chained sword whipped around Donovan's neck and dragged him, and kicked across the roof.
"I don't know why a human like you even bothers looking for our champion. You should give in and enjoy your night. I'm sure Charla would enjoy your presence," Zelak said.
Donovan's eyes widened at once. "Champion? Wait. Is this about Kalika?"
Mustering up the strength, Donovan stumbled to his feet, glaring at Zelak. "So both of you are trying to keep me from Kalika, is that it? And I bet at least one of you understands me, otherwise all the flaws I pointed out wouldn't have been fixed, would they?"
Zelak's grin deepened. "And why does that matter?"
"Because that means you can tell me where Kalika and Charla are. So where are they!!?"
A sudden whisper slithered into Donovan's ear. "Come with us quietly, and we'll take you to that Succubus slave."
Donovan scrambled away, holding his ear. He whipped around, finding no one behind him.
"That and transfer control of her to us." Zelak continued. "We prefer not to kill you. But the mistress said nothing about that Charla woman. Kalu already plans on killing her if we arrive without the next… Mmm… A couple of hours, I think."
Donovan glared straight at Zelak. "Y-you bastards."
"So what will it be?" Zelak prepared his chain sword.
"Damn it! I knew something wasn't right. Kalika must be going on the deep end again. If I don't do something, there's no telling what will happen! But Charla… She has nothing to do with any of this!"
"Tick Tok Human. Times, wasting away!" Zelak, with a wide grin, whipped a sword at Donovan.
He braced. "Damn it all!"
Suddenly, the illusion evaporated into a mist, shocking Donovan. "Huh?"
Pirna slammed hard into the room, in front of Donovan, with fiery red chains wrapped around her body. She coughed blood, and before she could react, she was hurled onto another roof.
"What the hell did you get yourself into this time, Human?"
Donovan turned, to his surprise, Zelak stood with his chain sword hanging over his shoulder as he glared at Swissa.
"Z…Zelak?"
"Who else would it be. Bjorn sent me to check on you when we found you, Charla, and Kalu gone. I'm lucky you weren't too far."
"But how did you find me?"
"I took a peek with my clairvoyance. But only because Bjorn threatened me, so you owe me. Now, are you going to tell me what's happening or not!?" Zelak questioned.
Donovan grew serious, gazing at Zelak's back. "They kidnapped Charla and probably Kalika, too. I don't know exactly where they are, but these two succubus's seem to know."
"Is that so…" Zelak, in deep thought, looked from the now unconscious Pirna to Swissa, who stood on guard. "
Swissa grimaced. "
"
"
Zelak glanced at Donovan, unsure. "
"I made a promise, and I intend on keeping it!" Donovan retorted.
"And to whom?"
"Tilus! He... He was my... A-and Kalika's teacher. That's who!"
"So another human?" Zelak sneered, annoyed by Donovan. " Whatever your getting yourself into, your on your own... But with that being said, I'm going to get Charla, then return to the inn. And whatever happens to you happens. So don't blame me if you die."
Donovan scoffed. "Like I need your help, anyways."
Zelak quickly jumped to Pirna, grabbing and throwing her body over his shoulder.
"
"
Swissa's eyes flashed at Zelak. He stumbled, but his blue eyes glowed just as quickly, and he regained his footing."
A surge of fire erupted from Swissa's side. She glanced back with a cold sweat, watching as a burst of flames was mere inches from her face.
The fire completely consumed her at once.
From the fire, Swissa jumped out, with her robe partially singed. She landed on the other side of the building and saw Donovan rearmed with his pipe. She glanced back at Zelak, only to discover his absence "
Swissa pulled her knife from her hood and stared back at Donovan with a hint of disdain. "
Donovan quickly turned his gaze from the woman, seeing her leer at him with her eyes. He took a deep breath and, with some hesitation, pulled out a pure white cloth from his pocket. "As long as our eyes don't connect, maybe I can beat her."
Swissa, standing across from Donovan, watched in surprise as she saw him tie the white cloth over his eyes.
"
The knife slid across his face, startling Donovan.
"
Pressure mounted, with his heart beating a hundred miles a second. He took a deep breath, focusing on trying to locate the footstep and the next sudden direction they'd take. His shaken hands firmed with a clear resolve.
"Get out of my way."
Swissa lunged and sank her knife into Donovan's pipe, surprising him. she inched closer and closer to his face, tongue ready to bewitch him with her powers. "
Suddenly, Donovan pulled free, dodging her tongue. He aimed his pipe at Swissa, forcing her to dodge the fire of his magic. Donovan followed the sound of her feet, releasing fire attacking like a never-ending flame thrower, trying to engulf her in the flames. "There!"
The flames ceased.
Confused, Swissa glanced back at Donovan and saw him holding a glowing white crystal, puzzling her further. "
A sudden burst of air pushed Swissa. She could only watch in shock as she sank deeper than the roof, finally realizing that she was just blown over the edge of the building. "
A loud crack filled the air. Donovan stood stunned, ready with his pipe to fire again. "D-did she…"
Although reluctant to take the cloth off his face, he quickly conceded to his curiosity, hearing a silence in the air. He looked down at the building, finding Swissa staring up, still in shock. "I didn't… No. I did what I had to."
Donovan looked around, and seeing no one else in sight, he turned to the castle. Remembering the bodies and the identities behind them, Donovan could only think of one place to look. "She wouldn't… would she?"
With a new destination in mind, Donovan dashed off and accessed the buildings, looking for a new way down as he did. "I'm sorry, Charla, but Zelak's on his way to help you, and I can't afford to let Kalika hurt herself more than she already is!"
********
From afar, Zelak watched as Donovan descended the building cautiously. He scoffed at the display before turning his gaze directly on an unconscious Pirna.
"