Gods of Blood: Volume One

[Jhuton]

The castle court yard was immensely large. Surrounding the entire building was a large iron gate standing seven feet tall. Their was a huge double door at the front of this which served as the only entrance as well as the only exit. The entire courtyard was being constantly patrolled by the guards, as was the case everyday at Castle Inti. There was a large roadway leading from the gate to the castle upon which carriages and horses could approach the castle. Anyone moving about in the courtyard would have been greeted by water fountains, neatly trimmed hedges, flowers of all colours and finely tended grass. Moving closer to the castle persons would find themselves slowly moving further up the hill upon which the city was located. The moat which surrounded the castle denied access unless by a drawbridge which had to be lowered. The castle was so far up. So far removed from the city which it had a perfect view of below. Amara, standing on the very roof of the ten story stone building mused over the wonder of it all. The high priest had claimed the castle was built on holy ground and she was bring tempted to believe him. No smoke from the factories below ever clouded the sky above it, no drought or flood ever caused any damage. It almost seemed as if Amara was standing in heaven looking down at Earth. Only Kurogari, royals, priests and thoroughly cleansed guards were ever allowed to enter the castle, and at moments like this, before embarking on a mission, she was glad she was one of the few who could be here. She turned to look at Daremo. "Now, we go." She uttered simply

 

[Heron]

Rin bristled angrily. "These peasants are loyal followers of the Church, and yet you treat them like scum," she growled. She managed to compose herself, banishing the fragile glow that had begun to emanate from her finger tips, just as another member of the church walked up to them. Visibly relaxing now that there was possible backup in case of an attack, she turned towards the newcomer and dipped her head. "I am well, thank you," she replied. "I was interrupted by a slight commotion, that is all. Would you please escort Shiko back to the cathedral?" she continued, feeling a bit bolder now. "Justice must be fulfilled, but unfortunately I'm in a bit of a hurry."

The strange demon creature was coming back towards them and Rin reached for her dagger again under her cloak. She should not have left her sword at home, even though it would be a bulky hindrance on her mission.

 

[Roxshi]

"I will escort her back as per your request. " Glancing at Shiko, Tsuji could see that she had started a conversation with the red-eyed faerie. He would have to wait to bring her back to the Cathedral. The townspeople had calmed down a little since that blue-haired man left with the injured man. Even now, there was a little bit of opposition towards the newcomer. One man spoke in anger towards the elf, showing his emotions of bitter grief. Tsuji smiled as he observed the red-eyed elf tending to the wounded man. How thoughtful, coming from an unknown place and already trying to avoid quarrels? This is interesting. He decided to wait for them as Tsuji walked around letting the people know there is nothing going on and that the Saints will take care of any risk.

 

[Temm]

Miles stretched, the arms of both the blind and the deaf serpent raised but only one mouth opened to yawn. He looked up at the sky, seeing that everlasting industrious fog which enveloped the sky each morning as the other took a sniff, sighing as the two's stomach rumbled. He looked around, the other laying back on the two's joint tail as he waited, letting the other do his thing. The mute serpent suddenly darted forwards and pounced on a group of rats, the other rapidly swung off their tail, face firmly falling into the ground as his nose was filled with the scent of dirt and his mouth with the muffled complaints.

The mute scooped up several mice with ease into his arms and turned to the other, a muffled chuckle held back by the stitches across his mouth as the other lifted himself up, front covered in dirt as he shook it off, the dirt sliding off his scales with ease. "What the hell was that for?!" he exclaimed, the other slid over and held the rats before his nose, the smell rising into the other's nostrils as he could almost taste them. "Oooo~ Good call~" he chimed then opened his mouth. The other looked down at his full hands and shrugged, unable to feed the other one by one he simply shovelled them all into the other's mouth.

The blind serpent harshly closed his mouth with surprise and gulped down the wriggling mass of rats as the bulge travelled down him until it reached their now moving middle. He laid back, tongue hanging out of his gaping mouth as a sigh of contentedness escaped it. The other moved over and laid on their tail, head resting on the wriggling bulge with his arms gently rubbing it, he knew how his 'brother' enjoyed the feeling even more than he did.

Their moment of contented bliss was soon interrupted as the bleating of hundreds of sheep filled the air. The mute's eyes looked up curiously and moved to the other, pulling him up then sliding over to a corner. The blind went a little further than the corner before being pulled back into the alleyway. He looked at the crowd of church-goers and squinted at a small group of people at the back, well, one looked a little less 'person-esque' than the others but Miles wasn't exactly in any position to judge. Instead he decided to watch from the edge of an alleyway. The other simply laid back down on their tail, head resting on the new squishy cushion formed in the middle.

 

[Temm]

Abel looked about on the rooftops, peering down as he saw a boy run away with a loaf of bread. The ever common word 'thief' echoed in the sky as the cloaked boy jumped from building to building to keep up. A pale blue figure floated behind "should we help?" the ghost said, Abel looked back and shrugged as he continued to run. He simply wanted to watch as this petty thief who Leon considered more a jester with the amount of laughing and dancing the boy was doing. "He seems to be doing just fine." Abel said "though I've seen the guards of this city fooled by a little girl before so I wouldn't consider him in any trouble if he stood still." he added. The scent of smog filled his nostrils as a nearby chimney let out a steaming fountain of ash and smoke, he quickly jumped to the next building to avoid it but by then, the bread thief was gone.

"I hope he's okay." Abel murmured, he had a common sympathy for other thieves like him, having to live off the prosperity and stupidity of others. He looked up as he noticed the sky began to darken, the smoke in the air didn't make it any easier but he saw as lights began to turn out. He sighed "time to get a bed for the night." he said then hung off the side of a roof, looking into a bedroom. "Not here" Leon said, floating beside him, he shrugged and climbed over to another window. "This will do." Leon said and the boy swiftly opened the window from the outside and swung in quietly. He closed it without sound and climbed into the bed, next to the two owners without disturbing them.

He held his hand up and the ghost's hand met it. "Goodnight Leon." he whispered, the ghost smiled back at him "goodnight brother" he replied and faded away into the boy's body. He always found some comfort in sleeping in a bed with others, so regardless of the danger he would always strive to do it. Thankfully Leon had a way with detecting other's thoughts, emotions and personalities, meaning he could detect whether Abel might get killed or simply shouted at in the morning, this couple was a little different however. He shuffled his robe and some of his uncomfortable articles of clothing off and laid there in his shirt and trousers, looking up at the ceiling before his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.

In the morning he found himself being hugged by a woman from the behind, who was sound asleep. The boy smiled as a yawn escaped his mouth, the father was nowhere to be seen. Leon floated out of the boy's body "a godsend, no?" the ghost whispered, Abel nodded "I love these kinds of people." he murmured back. The man soon came into the room and placed his hand on the woman and the boy's shoulder, unable to notice that he was awake or even see the ghost. Abel feigned waking up, fluttering his eyes sleepily and stretching, however he soon perked up as a delicious smell filled his nose. "Scones and tea?" he murmured, sitting up and rubbing his eyes as he looked up at the smiling man.

"You must be one of those alley dwellers right?" the man said, the boy pressed his fingers together and nodded. "Well, we always enjoy more company!" he said with a chuckle "maybe ask next time though." he said, the boy nodded apologetically with a "sorry" followed by a "thank you" when he was given breakfast. The woman sat up with a smile, sitting in a silver psuedo-silk nightgown. Abel soon scoffed down the scone and drank his tea as he heard a loud smash from a nearby room. "Edward!" the woman screamed, jumping to her feet as Abel swiftly placed his tea and plate down and ran out the room with the two parents, into the source of the noise.

"Abel, don't!" Leon cried as the young thief burst into the other room, a bullet fired in his direction but was swiftly evaporated by the ghost's blade. Two men stood in the room, one trying to quickly re-load his flintlock pistol while the other took a baby from it's crib and held a gun to it's head. Crying filled the room as the woman and child both screamed and wailed, the father attempting to comfort his wife. "Give us all yer money and valuables or the kid gets i-" he said, interrupted as Abel swiftly moved, slicing at the man's hand, forcing him to drop the gun. Leon moved over and began to invade the other's mind, causing him to be immobile but unharmed. Abel swiftly grabbed the baby and had to gently throw it at the father who managed to thankfully catch it.

"Leave or die!" Abel shouted, the man looked over at his partner who seemed to be having a seizure, his eyes glowing a light blue. "Leave!" Abel repeated, the man, now fearing for his life as a pale blue figure began to come into view. He leapt out the window, not quite realising the height of this terraced house as he landed on his head, breaking his neck instantly as a smear of blood covered the ground. Abel then grabbed the paralysed man and easily pushed him out the window to join his partner. The boy hated being thanked, rewarded or really, anything so he ran past the two parents, grabbed his clothes and the cup of tea and swung out the window onto the roof.

 

[UnsightlyTEAstain]

Though already healed of any bruises, Jack warily rubbed his jaw in pure instinct. He swore this had been the eleventh accident concerning his physical health whenever he tried and failed to wake Sora up peacefully. Causalities were always inevitably occurring around the girl that he was sure she would be the death of him one day or worse. He could be the death of her. But for all his warnings and fake, thinly veiled threats, she still stubbornly stood by his side. Jack had long since abandoned "threats" however as it only succeeded in making Sora laugh as if he told a private joke and had not foretold the dangers of being around him. She was a peculiar girl that was for sure and it secretly amused him to no end. A sigh escaped his lips before he allowed a small smile to form as he watched her clumsily retie and tighten the blindfold back around her eyes. Jack was curious as to how she had lost her vision but hadn't yet asked. He had a feeling that she would tell him when she felt comfortable in sharing just as he would be comfortable in waiting.

"I'm glad you did. I couldn't handle a whole day with you cranky from lack of sleep again," He joked, lightly ruffling her hair in familiar gesture,"As for our current location, it seems that we've finally made it to the neighboring town of Umbridge and in only two days time thanks to my amazing charisma"

Just as he had finished his sarcastic self praise the wagon's back curtains were pulled open by the elderly man who had steered it there. His eyes traveled along the rows of fruits and vegetables before shining up like a new quarter pence. A thankful grin spread across his face as he nodded towards the two.

"I don't know how I can thank you both! Ya saved this old man a lot of back ache with your help," He exclaimed, "Ya need a favor done around these parts ya let me know"

Jack smiled but shook his head. "There's really no need. The ride here was equal payment enough"

The old man raised an eyebrow before responding. "Let me tell you son, around these parts a favor is re-payed ten times around. So lemme ask do you gotta place to stay tonight?"

"Well no-"

"Then that settles it! I'm good pals with the Inn Keeper not a tick away from here and can get ya a free room for however long you're planning stay"

Jack was about to open his mouth in protest but the stern and warning glance of the older gentlemen made him decide against it. Instead he smiled in thanks before turning to Sora. The old man tipped his hat before walking around the wagon to gather up his things and to give the two some privacy.

"It appears as though my charming looks knows no bounds"

 

[Pyralithia]

Living Inferno, blue

Wiping a few beads of sweat from his chin Styxx grins, glancing behind him 'Looks like I lost em, finally.' Looking up he sees the Cathedral in the distance, the sight disgusted him making his lip curl slightly. It wasnt that the building wasnt beautiful, it was the "humans" that inhabited that made him want to see it burn. Of course after evacuating any innocents nearby, Katagari not included. Sighing softly he walks into an ally resting his back against the cold stone wall before slowly sliding down it to sit on the dusty ground, it wasnt the nicest spot to eat his meal but he wasnt gonna complain, least nobody was trying to gut him...Yet. Taking out the now beat up loaf of bread his mouth starts to water just at the sight of it, his stomach letting out some insistent growls proving his last meal was far too long ago.

Just as Styxx goes to dig into the sweet loaf he freezes, his mouth still open about to take a bite. But his keen azure eyes spotted a figure further down the dark ally. Frowning he closes his maw lowering the bread as his eyes narrow on the small silhouette. Suddenly it moves away in the process bringing itself into a patch of light. It was only a kid, a girl no more than 1 score old. The poor thing had nothing on but a dirty ragged old white linen dress, her tiny feet were caked with dirt, her legs were riddled with small cuts and bruises, it was obvious she hadnt been indoors for a long while.

Swallowing hard his eyes make contact with the little girls big brown ones as she looks back at him in fear. Looking back to his loaf of bread he sighs as another low growl comes from his belly. Standing up the girl goes to dash away but he waves his hand in "dont go" gesture. "Wait wait! I'm not gonna hurt you lil lass, here take this." The girl hesitantly stops watching him with wary eyes, like she was waiting for him to attack. Giving her a small, warm smile he slowly and gently tosses the loaf of bread toward her.

She eagerly catches it holding it to her like the most sacred thing she has before looking back up at him with confusion. Styxx just smiles "You can have it lil bit, go ahead its yours." His voice is soft and a bit husky. She looks to the bread then back at him repeatedly before hesitently biting into the soft bread. Instantly a light comes to the girls eyes as she starts scarfing down the loaf, a slow smile coming to her lips. Happy he could do some good, Styxx walks over to her slowly. Leaning down he waits till shes done eating before softly patting her head "Wheres your mum darling? Your pa?" Her eyes look down with sadness and that gave him all the answer he needed. Sighing softly he runs a hand thro icy blue air before straightening up.

"What do you say to a hot bath and a full belly, huh?" Her head snaps up as she blinks in disbelief "Really? I can??" Her childlike voice finally sounded. Smiling Styxx nods as he hold out his massive paw of a hand for her to take. Looking to it she takes a few moments before slowly sliding her hand into his, hers was so small that it barely covered his palm. He holds onto her hand gently but with hidden strength before walking out of the ally with her at his side, toward a Inn