Cry Havoc (Open)

[Validus Recubo]

Night had finally come to claim the world within its soothing embrace once again. The stars widely spread across the heavens, taking their rightful place upon the empty void that was the sky, illuminating the dampened ruin. Silence reigned the streets of this once grand metropolis, and the only anomaly to this otherwise blissful existence was the howling of the Arctic zephyrs bashing against the many structures as well as its other worldly inhabitants. One could clearly see swarms of demons scurrying around the edges of the street, some gaining high ground… others simply stalking the steps this figure whom had intruded upon their realm, and it was all to clear to them who it was that walked the streets of this icy pit, his emerald gaze barely tilting to the side as sounds of several of the fiends hissed in awe and hatred of his presence… ‘The Despaaiiiirrr….you are not welcome here white devil’ And so… this seductive stillness, finally broken.... as screams gripped the cold evening air.

Agonizing roars of pain stemming from the surrounding creatures began to grow steadily as the lone figure continued his stride through the streets.. soon filling the entire city block, as even the stone structures covered in ice and snow all around the shadowy figure seemed to slowly waste away by some unnatural means. Despite the rapidly ensuing chaos, some of the devils managed to stumble unto the streets, a hopeless attempt to escape it... and in the end it was all for naught. To the horror of all bearing witness, the true nature of this madness thus became painfully clear. The very form of the creatures, was being eaten away piece by piece, as if slowly rotting away... until at last the sickening cries stopped... and all that remained of the gruesome scene… was ash... along with the entire area... the buildings, the devils... all that remained was dust and ash. Everything... was gone.. and there… in the aftermath of the chaos, stood the lone figure cloaked in white, still continuing down the ruined street…as if following a path that only he could see.

His steps echoing loudly throughout the ash ridden ruins, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his white hakama, with the moon dancing in perfect symmetry with his immaculate porcelain skin, bearing straight blackened lines upon his visage, guiding one to his emotionless emerald gaze... a gaze as calm as it was terrifying. There the creature walked… his posture, pace, everything about his presence, seemingly completely unaffected of what had just transpired… and with the expression upon his immaculate features serving as a testament to the cold and ruthless nature of the white devil… as he was thus seen ceasing his path, taking a moment to gaze up at the moon.
There he stood… the winds once so vicious in nature had all of a sudden ceased their onslaught, there was silence… and the only clue as to what had been, was ash… leaving the ruined city block with a horrible memory… no not a memory, but a nightmare.

[Amoura C. Ethelia]

The scene was beautiful in its disaster, almost like walking through a dream with the ash billowing around with the winds that picked up. Amoura found herself staring at it all with a sense of wonder, if not fascination, allowing her form to be covered in the substances. Perhaps she was sleeping? Would there be answers within this dream to returning home?

However, the cries that pierced through the night disturbed it all together; and Amoura snapped out of her relaxed state.

Ever since she came to this reality, thanks to Tajna, everything had been terribly confusing. One of her many siblings, perhaps more, was fighting against her father while she was helping him. At least, the other her.

This place brought many surprises-some good, some bad. Of the many things Amoura expected in this world, she did not see a discomforting deja vu heading her way until a familiar figure showed itself through the ash storm.

Brown eyes widened in surprise and fear at the sight of her killer. How the hell did he get here?! Did Tajna send him to fully finish off Amoura to pick off another ally against their forces?

The hybrid took a few steps back, quietly, hoping that he didn't notice. If he did, will it be her end?

[Validus Recubo]

There was and eerie peace to be found within this gruesome scene. Where once there was chaos, order now reigned supreme... where there was once brutality.. a sickening serenity now claimed dominion over the city... all due to the very presence of a singular being... still standing with his tall slender posture, hands tucked lightly within the pockets of his white hakama... and with his emerald gaze firmly locked upon the moon... pondering the similarities of this world to the other one.. such striking resemblance.
Alas it would appear that he was not alone, as the white devil was well aware of the intruding creature of the night. A vampiress... with such a familiar scent... the feeling of both demon and vampire blood mingling in her veins, and with the presence of the Prince of Darkness oozing off her very being... the emerald eyed demon knew all to well who it was... a ghost from the past.

Thus... as the hybrid took but the first step backwards in hope for retreat, she would find the haunting visage of the white devil was already upon her... his slit pupils boring deep into her eyes even through the whirling ash and dust.... as he began his stride towards her.
His immaculate melancholy features remaining unmoved even in light of her presence here, hands still resting comfortably within his pockets... Validus drew ever closer to the child of Mundus.... her eyes telling a story that words could only hope to aspire to, the unmistakable look of fear... and despair.

[Zira Firestone]

Cold was an understatement.

Every time Zira ventured into this part of the city she made damn sure to wear extra clothing. Joining her usual sleeveless black shirt and jeans was a black sweater, gloves, a lavender scarf around her neck complete with a black jacket and a hood over her head. On Zira’s feet were boots made perfectly to travel across the thick snow in these parts. Ebony and Ivory resting inside each pocket of the jacket respectively. Force Edge attached to Zira’s waist as always.

Cries of pain soon filled Zira’s ears and she quickly changed course to follow the sounds of screaming. At her destination she was blown away at the ruins before her. It was only one week ago when she passed by here and now all of it was gone. Obliterated without mercy. What power could have done this so easily? That question would be answered in an instance as her eyes found the man in white, now pursuing yet another target in the distance. A target she recognized from the Castle of Sorrows. Zira was quick to draw Ebony but not as quick to fire. Showing caution Zira aimed the firearm at the man in white and called out to him.

“Hold it right there!”

[Amoura C. Ethelia]

His eyes were on her; and Amoura had no choice but to stop her slow, careful retreat. Why must history repeat itself in such ways? It was just one nasty turn of events after another!

Sparda, Ranka- everything you taught me may be put to the ultimate test today if it must come down to a fight.

The thought of dying and never seeing the ones she held so dear again melted the fear that began to grip her. Instead of running --a lot of good that will do right now--, Amoura narrowed her eyes and stepped towards Validus.

Fighting him while in vampire "mode" may prove to be useless considering the last encounter, so, she'll have to find some way to use her demon form. Somehow.

“Hold it right there!”

Losing eye contact with the opponent always proved to be fatal, so, Amoura didn't even cast a glance her way when she threw her hand out in her direction. The ground in front of her sibling cracked, and large walls of solid stone shot forth, blocking her from getting closer.

"Zira, you don't know what you'll be getting yourself into," she hissed, though, she may not hear it.

And now, for the cliche pick up line.

"So, we meet again, Validus."

[Validus Recubo]

There was a vague sense of interest to be found within the eyes of Validus, as the spawn of Mundus at last accepted the inevitability of her situation. That fatal moment in which she suppressed her doubts and fears, and began her march towards the white devil... stubbornness.. such a human quality for one so far from it.
Alas for all her bravado... he knew.... that in the dark corners of her mind, she still felt his icy grip tightening around her heart... moments before he snuffed out her existence so long ago.

Coming to a halt directly before her, the slit emerald eyes of the devil never left hers for but a moment... until he heard the shouts of yet another one who had arrived to this delightful barren field of ruin. From the looks of her, her scent.. . it seemed yet another daughter of the Prince of Darkness had come to this frozen wasteland.... and just before Amoura's petty attempt to block her form his sight Validus caught her eyes, eyes so innocent and fair in their own right, met with a gaze as chilled and devoid of emotion that even the blistering cold of this place cold not hope to match it.

Hearing the words of the raven haired vampiress... the creature spoke in kind, his eyes still fixated upon the location of her sister... with his tone, blunt and cold which only seemed fuelled by the bite of these frost ridden winds.

"Love for a sibling... foolish"

Returning his gaze to her yet again, the unwavering emotionless visage of the white devil remained steadfast... as he spoke to her yet again, his words still as blunt and cold as ever... and yet the nature of them, was obvious.

Tell me... are you even capable of emotion since I ripped out your heart?

[Zira Firestone]

That cold glance with eyes acting like daggers piercing into her heart would be the last thing Zira sees before walls rose up all around her. Zira wasn’t paying enough attention, too captivated by the glances of the man in white to know it was Amoura and not the enemy of the hour.

“Damn!”

Zira pulled back her arms, enclosed her fists and began punching the walls as hard as she can but to no avail. The second thought to come into her mind were to whip out Ebony and Ivory, open firing on the wall but again the results were the same. After that, Zira took out Force Edge and unleashed a fury of combos against the wall in hopes to break it. Nothing.

Frustrated at the situation Zira took a quick glance around her surroundings. Looking from one wall to another and the way they were positioned Zira bounced off one wall and then the other, repeating this motion until she was high up enough to pass the top, underneath the sky but for a moment before falling back down onto the ground, feet first like a cat, Force Edge’s hilt in her clenches.

[Amoura C. Ethelia]

"Love for a sibling... foolish"

Amoura shrugged, "Maybe to you, but we're on the same side. You protect your allies sometimes, do you not?"

Those walls should provide enough of a challenge for Zira to give up, but if the same stubborn streak was weaved into her behavior, she won't.

Tell me... are you even capable of emotion since I ripped out your heart?

Amoura cocked her right eyebrow at Validus' words, and found herself chuckling while shaking her head. Someone took the whole heart deal a little too seriously; or perhaps, he didn't understand. It was time for an explanation regardless of the situation, and a cliche and cheesy one at that.

"You really think that just by tearing that out is enough to render me unable to feel emotion or express it? What you tore out was just an organ meant to pump blood through my veins. The 'other heart' is not seen. Just because something doesn't have a physical manifestation doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Why must people have to see in order to believe? Seems he's one of those skeptics. Mentally, Amoura smacked her palm against her forehead.

"You don't understand emotions because you can't feel them. More's the pity..."

Amoura, this time, dared to break eye contact with him to see her sibling succeeded in scaling the blockade. All the hybrid could do was sigh in frustration.

[Validus Recubo]

As the raven haired vampiress began her little speech, Validus merely closed shut his emerald gaze and continued his stride, walking straight past her... coming to a halt, as they were nigh back to back. A careless move which went against his nature, not even bothering to monitor his surroundings as he often did... and act which on its own told a tale clearer than words ever could.... the white devil did not consider either of the two daughters a threat... not in the least.
Still... dull as her parading self righteous drivel was, the vampire did stumble upon a rather interesting, and albeit foolish notion... the mention of this 'other heart,' unseen... intangible... the continuing concept of this 'the human soul,' a thing of ethereal matter meant to be felt and channelled trough all mortal beings.... ridiculous.
To the emerald eyed creature... these were little more than words lost upon the howling winds of winters night, after all... that which his eye cannot see, cannot exist.

Saving those who cannot save themselves is a waste of time, in doing so you merely open the door for them to fail you yet again... at a more critical moment in time.

With these cold and calculative words left hanging in the cool evening air of the icy wastes, the white devil thus opened his eyes yet again, as they immediately fell upon the second daughter of Mundus.... with her sword at the ready, he knew it was only a matter of time before she would provoke a fight... a fact which Validus had in fact counted on all along
Thus the white fiend spoke to the raven haired vampiress yet again.

Perhaps I will need to demonstrate....

As he uttered the last word of his sentence, not a second passed before the raven haired devil would make good on his threat. In an act that defied all possible laws of nature and physic's, the snow covered ground from underneath the wielder of the Force Edge thus erupted in a storm of razor sharp spikes of rock and stone threatening to impale the fragile form of the girl.

[Zira Firestone]

You couldn’t even trust the ground you were standing on these days.

Zira charged straight ahead for the man in white, merely seconds after the ground where she was standing erupted. Those spikes only going through air now as Zira was already fast approaching Amoura and Validus’ position with that attack now behind her, literally. At first it looked like Zira was going straight for Amoura but that was proven untrue as once close, Zira used the flat end of the Force Edge and her strength to smack Amoura away from the scene.

Now up close and personal to the back of Validus Zira performed a three-hit-combo against him in her effort to give Amoura enough time to get away.

[Amoura C. Ethelia]

Perhaps I will need to demonstrate....

His demonstration proved to be ineffective since the target moved from the danger zone. The hybrid rolled her eyes and clapped, clearly unimpressed.

"Beautiful," Amoura stated sarcastically, "if she didn't move in the first place, it might have been affective!"

Zira just had] to play the hero by trying to push her away, but that didn't happen, since she moved from the attempt. There was no way in all the nine hells will she leave this place while she continued to foolishly attack him. Didn't the barrier from earlier become an obvious sign?!

"ZIRA, GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! NOW!" She screamed. Why oh why did she have to do that?! Still, a part of her couldn't help but find amusement in this since she was, once upon a time, like that. Ever the hero; ever the defender.

[Validus Recubo]

His attack was swift, precise and without hesitation, and she... just as fast and agile as the white devil predicted. The strike against the girl had served its purpose well, as she now went on the offensive ignorant that all the while she imagined that her foe would fall to her blade, she played further and further into his hand.... the game was set.

Dismissing the words of the vampiress as quickly as they were spoken, as she clearly could not fathom the true intentions of the raven haired demon, he had planned to get her close from the start.
Thus he stood, firm and steady as the Force Edge was brought down in a swift strike to his back, he did not even turn to face his foe until the very last moment... as she would now learn the futility of her actions first hand.

Unveiling his left hand at last, slipping it out of his pocket, he turned just enough to catch her blade upon his wrist... with his deathly gaze of chilled melancholy staring directly at her... as he effortlessly blocked her first strike.... turning fully round to face her as the second blow was dismissed with an equal ease... not a mark was left, not even a scratch was dealt to his white porcelain skin... then came the third.
Completing his mocking display... the white devil ceased the very blade within the palm of his hand... halting her strike completely, instantly throwing it out of his way to the side, as he took a step closer to her. His right hand having been let loose as well was thus brought forth, as it now closed around her throat... lifting her up into the air... with his icy grip tightening with every passing second... his emotionless gaze still fixed upon her... as she was left at his mercy, slowly suffocating.

Speaking aloud once more to the raven haired vampiress, his tone unchanging as ever... matching calm icy demeanour.

What do you think Amoura..... should I snap her neck and be done with it, or wait as she suffocates.... or perhaps... see if you two have the same heart....

[Zira Firestone]

If only she had listened. If only she had taken the hint and ran away.

But she didn’t.

He parried all her attacks with just his bare hands. Not a single strike did anything against his flesh and that gaze of his only increased his overall intimidation as Force Edge was dismissed entirely and she felt his hand wrapping around her neck, slowly squeezing the life out of her while being lifted up off her feet. Struggling just to breathe Zira dropped Force Edge and brought her hands to his wrist, attempting to pry it from her throat to get even the tiniest bit of air out of it.

In the midst of this struggle the only hope that remained was in the form of a sister.

[Amoura C. Ethelia]

If anyone asked Amoura how she did what she's about to do, she wouldn't be able to describe nor understand it. Much like the first time she accessed her Devil Trigger, it was done subconsciously and at the spur of the moment.

In a frantic attempt to save her life, she stretched her hand out, fingers splayed; and a soft, white light surrounded the exposed limb. Zira's body collapses, freed from Validus' grasp, into a pile of ivory dust and blows to Amoura's direction. The seemingly useless composition circulates in a pillar shape, and her body reassembles from the feet up. The worst she would have felt was pins and needles coupled with a loss of memory of what just occurred.

...and Amoura could only stare at her hand in shock.

(There. You rushed me, you get a horrible post =/)

[Validus Recubo]

This was the end.... the white devil began to tighten his grip around the soft vulnerable neck of his victim in an attempt to snuff out her pointless existence. He could feel the life leaving her, her struggles to break free of his clutches dampening as rain before sunlight.... and just as she neared the brink of oblivion, her sibling.. at last made her move.

From the corner of his eye, Validus clearly saw the peculiar transformation occurring right before his very eyes... as the fragile form of the girl within his hand now dissolved into the purest white dust.. as if becoming one with the falling snow, swirling around the form of the white devil before returning to the origin of this power. Thus he stood... slowly turning his hand back and forth... as if to study it in the aftermath of this peculiar phenomenon, with his gaze soon returning to the one who had just performed this minor 'miracle.'

With his left hand returning to comforts of his pocket... the right slowly returning to his side, the piercing gaze of emerald eyed demon was firmly locked upon Amoura once more after a brief interruption of his eye lids closing shut these the gates to his soul... and it was clear that from the look of intrigue to be found within his slit pupils... Validus had in- fact counted on this from the start.
This was the true intention behind the attack on her sister.... the meaning behind her impending torture and death, to provoke, to force the raven haired half-breed to evolve... to force her to act without thought or according to some pre-made plan or course of action... this had been an act of pure and utter instinct.. upon which Validus had gambled everything.

Once more the cold emotionless tone of the white devil was heard, as if trailing out into a soft but clear whisper... with one distinction. There was a vague but certain sense of interest to be found within his words that time... proving once and for all his lingering hypothesis of her ever since the first time they met... this hybrid was indeed far more than meets the eye.

You're a strange creature.... aren't you...