The Keeper of the Door laughed at the comment. "It's like having children who all have man-eating pets! I wonder just how much of my mansion they're going to destroy!"
The mansion groaned in reply.
She sipped her tea as Prince gave her a silent goodbye, leaving with three of the contractors. She knew where the location was however, so if the others needed to join she could send them there.
She continued her conversations with her sister, "Do they tell any good stories?"

The carriage started and Gwyn nearly fell forward but he jerked upright. As he waited for So-So to begin, he also glanced out the window at the passing scenery before turning most of his attention back to the other two. The clip clop of hooves filled the air as they bounced along the road.

When the carriage stopped and the Prince explained how to fight, Gwyn nodded. He felt Arian stand up straight in his mind, eager for the hunt. "Finally some prey," she said gleefully. Unseen by the others because of the hood, Gwyn closed his one "real" eye and glanced around for a moment.

"I thought you wanted to be careful." He opened both eyes normally again.

"Might as well get this over with." Arian grinned ferally. "I haven't had a good fight in a while."

Gwyn glanced at the other two. "Are you ready?"

An evil grin spread over the So-So's faces. "Good choice." they both said together as they steped out of the carrage. -Snap- the So-So's where one again but the grin was still stuck on his face.
"Let me set the mood. The dark festering pit of the Abyss, it was about an hour after my last devouring and I had gotten a bit bored. By that time Dodado and I had begain to talk inbetween maulings and we noticed a certain beast we both despised. It was what looked like a large emaciated lizard mixed with a bear."
"Alright weaklings," it shouted, "I'm here looking for fun, who wants to be my punching bag for a while?"
"Now the perticular group he had chosen was a considerably pathetic one. They had been the group to kill me that time, but only after hours of chasing me to exaustion. He didn't wait for an answer and simply proceded to attack them with out any restraint. Dodado hated him because they were always seeing things diffrently and argued alot. I hated him because he was FUGLY!!! So we decided to mess with him...alot. We jumped down to his area to start our little performance.
"You know," I started, "If your really supposed to be strong why do you pick on these guy's when your so obviosly stronger? You low self esteem or something?"
"Ha, your lucky I'm not hungry human, leave before I tear you apart instead."
"Oh no, the big furry iguanna is gonna hurt me. I have a theory for you: I can shatter your will power without you ever touching me, want to test it?"
By then he was increadably pissed so he yelled, "Alright meat bag I'll make sure this is the most painfull death you'll have in the Abyss!"
He ran twords me like a bull twords a man in a lobster suit. Now the way Dodado's illusions work is I imagine and he makes it so. I snapped and said "Bleeding Cross."
The illusion took effect: chains came down and rapped around his legs and lifted him into the sky, a long spike going through one hand and out the other holding him in place, thorns and barbed wire spun around his body ripping his flesh and causing him to scream unendingly.
It lasted for five minutes, but was the longest five minutes of his life. When he was released his eyes were galzed over and he fell onto the ground his head falling onto my foot. Then I looked at what was left at him and said, "I was wrong, you did touch me in the end." I laughed like mad and simply walked away from the pitiful excuse for a beast that was left behind.
"That's the end, what do you think of my story?"

"That was actually a very good story, well to me it was, i have this......"thing" for horror sort of speak, i can't explain, i just like to get scared." Red said nonchalantly before looking over at Gwyn, "Yes , i'm quite ready." she head, slightly nodding her head towards him. Daemon giggled softly, "Not until you ask So-So here if he ate the beast."
"no, i'm not going to ask him that."
"Oh come on, just ask him, i'm dying to know."
"You already are dead if you haven't noticed and what is it with you and wanting to eat the flesh of humans?"
"Why do you like to get scared?"
"Touche."
Red ran a hand through her hair and sighed, "it may take a while till we find who were looking for........." she said, Daemon frowned and crossed her arms, knowing she obviously wasn't going to ask the question for him.

"He appears with out a word,
just with a form that seems to be blurred,
he takes what is left of you sanity,
and turns you into a form of inhumanity,
grasping you in his black and clammy fists,
leaving you surrounded by dark and suffocating mists,
your fears become real and tear you limb from limb,
leaving you in a state most grim,
he never leaves,
but he never stays,
and is always reoccurring,
he is my sweat little nightmare,
And i am the only one who treats him with care."

Daemon smirked, "fine, i'll calm down, but only because i like you." Red rolled her eyes, like was the extent of anything he would and could say about that emotion. anything else you kill him.

"Pitiful monster," Arian scoffed. "He was right to make it suffer." Gwyn shrugged indifferently. It didn't matter to him if any of the demons suffered in the Abyss.

"Interesting story," he said to So-So with a small smile. "You'll have to tell me more of them next time."

He heard Red sigh. "It may take a while till we find who we're looking for..."

One hand reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair back into the hood, away from his eyes. "I'm not sure," he said. "I think we're pretty close. Arian says she can sense Doldum. Maybe if all three of our demons try to focus, we can narrow down where he is."

"If ever you wish to hear any more twistid tails don't wait to visit old So-So," he said ecstatically.
"Oh, right the girl and......thing...Dodado you have any clue?"
"Hmmm...maybe," his gruff voice sounded, "I might be sensing something but I can't tell what or where. It's probably within a mile, give or take...I'm up for focusing with the other two."
"Well you heard him," So-So exclaimed, "Let's start us some focusing!" After which, he promptly sat down and started watching.

Gwyn laughed at So-So's actions. "Thanks for your support and help." He turned his attention inward for a moment. "Hear that, Arian? Try to hunt down that demon."

Arian's ears perked up as she lifted her head arrogantly in his mind. "Don't think you can boss me around too much, boy." Gwyn felt her mind drift off from their conversation as if focusing on something else. As she concentrated, he turned to see what Daemon was doing. He absently ran a hand along the sword handles sheathed at his waist as his eyes glanced at Daemon and then at the surrounding area.

"Where are we anyways?" He asked as he waited.

Swirls of black smoke billowed out from Red's neck and gathered together until Daemon stood in its place, finally coming out of his talisman form. He out a hand on Red's shoulder and gave her a slight smile, "You know what i need to find this guy." Red slowly nodded her head as Daemon made a small slit in her shoulder, crossing over many scars from when he had done the same before. Red calmly watched as Daemon leaned in close and slowly lapped up as much as he could get from her.

When he was done he lifted his head slowly and inhaled deeply, his sense had been sharpened and his mind made clear, he could help the others now. Still facing Red, Daemon looked out of the corner of his eye at Gwyn who he caught starring at him for a second before moving his eye to the rest of the area around them. Daemon smirked and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, "You know, in any other circumstance, i would have just eaten her whole, but a contract is a contract, so until its over, blood is all i can take. But you don't mind, do you Red?" he said silkily, lifting Red's chin with his finger until they made eye contact.

Red's eye were cold and piercing as she ruffly pushed his hand away, "Stop being a smart a** and just help us us find this guy alright." she said softly while hidden behind her hair. He shrugged and sat down next to So-So and closed his eyes. His mind traveling farther than he could see with the help of the other creatures. He smirked, "Oh yeah, he's close alright." He said nonchalantly. He kept his eye closed and concentrated on Doldum, waiting for the rest to see it and confirm it.

-----------------------------------------------------------
{OOC: Daemon is not a vampire. For him, blood and flesh are like an highly addictive drug for him. It clears and heightens all his senses. He likes the feeling and the fact that it helps him perform certain tasks better is just a small bonus to him. nothing more.}

A little girls voice rings out "Would anyone like to buy a flower?" Her hands are shaking as she holds out daises and tulips, she has a box sitting next to her filled with the flowers. She wears a simple red dress, and a hooded shawl. The wind threatens to blow her away as it gusts, taking some of the flowers from her hand. She throws herself onto the pavement to pick them up, tears rolls down her face, "Why won't anyone buy my flowers?"
At the sound fo Deamon's voice, she whips around, and spots them the street over, through a dirty little alley way.
I want that one... He deep and sinister voice rings through her mind.
"Yes master..." her eyes glaze over and her body snaps as she walks, almost as if she is being controlled by puppet strings, as she makes her way through the alley way.
The seal on her back begins to burn, and she winces, as Doldum begins to take his shape in the shadows. The pain spreads through her body, and she begins to cry as she collapses on the ground.
"O no you don't," the creature says as he lowers his wispy head to her level, a devious grin forms across his lips as he thrusts his arms into the air, and the girls limp body follows suit, "We don't have much time left...if you want to save your daddy, you will get me that chain!"

So-So's eyes suddenly widened and his cruel smile streatched across his face. "You can stop looking for her now," he said standing up, "I can feel an intense bloodlust. It's a feeling I now very, very well. Judging from how close it is I can safely say instead of us finding her," He turned and looked tword the alley, "She found us."
He snapped his fingers and a scyth appeard in his hand as if it had been made with pure silver. "Now then," He continued, "Let us raise the curtain and reveal Act I of this sick little play of ours, shall we?"

The girl walks out of the alley, her limbs jerk as if moved by strings. Her body is limp as she wobbled out into the alley. A voice calls out, but it does not match the little girls, "Let it roll...drip...and flow across the soil and filth." Her hand shoot up to reveal a dagger, her head rolls to reveal two red eyes from behind the hood, a wicked smile forms across her innocent face, as blood drips from her eyes.

The Prince strolls up behind the group, "If you kill her, Doldum will be free to choose another contractor. He will be controlling her not far from here." he notices the blood pouring from her eyes, "It seems her time is just about up..."
He calls out to the girl now, confident and calm, "Hello Doldum, what a pretty little puppet yo have found. What a shame, you have wasted away her body so cruelly.No worries, both of you will die today."

The voice calls back, "Prince, how long its been. Shall we play a game? Can you find me, before she kills your friends? Will you find me before I make her slit her own throat?" the girl laughs a maniacal laugh as her hood falls off. Her lips are wide and crazy, but her eyes are shooting back and forth, desperate and afraid. A puppet trapped in her own body. The brings the blade up to her throat and teases the contractors.
"You won't be sending me back today."

The Prince looks over to the group, "Try not to hurt the girl too badly, she must live until Doldum is found." He takes a step back to watch his new team.

((Oky Doky its all you guys now, but stop right after the finishing blow so I can give you some more info))

Red smiled and snapped her fingers as well, "It seems as though we skilled with the same weapon." She said, a scythe appearing in her hand. The two blades blazed with blue fire as she twirled the weapon around her. Daemon smiled and moved behind her his own hands erupting in blue flames.

Red watched as Doldum taunted them and scowled at him before the prince told them to try and not harm the girl. Red sighed, "we'll try." she said, tightening the grip on her scythe.

"I sense them, they're coming-"

"Let it roll...drip...and flow across the soil and filth," the voice calls from the girl's body.

"-here." Arian finished. As the Prince walked up and gave his orders, Gwyn reached out to his belt and pulled out both of his swords, one in each hand. He spun them around, loosening up. His sight from his right eye flickered and then vanished as the eye and skin looked as if it was melting off, sliding away and to the side. Then Arian stood beside him, her fur flowing back. "I will try not to kill the child," she promised, smirking.

"I think some of us should stay and deal with her," Gwyn said. "To keep her from killing herself or anything. The others should hunt down Doldum and try to get rid of him as quickly as possible."

"Just knock her out and tie her up. It can't be that hard," Arian suggested. "Either way, I will hunt Doldum down. I want to see just how good he can fight." She grinned savagely.

"We have to decide fast and go now," Gwyn said, glancing at the others.

The little girl, being pulled by the stings dashed toward them, her voice calling out, "It's impolite to talk about someone," she says swinging her the knife centimeters Red's throat before being yanked back, "When they are standing right here...so to say. Doldum made her dance the hokypoky, teasing the group. His laugh dripped with sadism as he made the girl slice her own arm. "Come and get me!"
He tightened the strings foe better control, and her movements became precise and fast. From his hiding place he watched, making the girl dance with his fingers. Crimson blood dripped down her arm, and tears rolled down her face.

Gwyn growled at the sight of the poor girl, caught under the sadistic strings of Doldum. "Arian, find Doldum. I'll try to keep her from killing herself or anything while you do." And I can't use my swords, he realized. The swords slid back into place.

Arian nodded, crouching for a moment. Her fur bristled slightly and flashes of lightning began to flare around her fur. Arian's long, sharp ears perked up and her eyes flickered around the surrounding area, searching... searching... She was only bent for a few seconds before she was leaping forward, blurring into motion. A small shockwave of sound thundered through the air.

Gwyn leaped forward as well, a dark moving shadow that reached towards the knife in Marline's hands, moving to clamp around her wrist. Gwyn prepared to pull and keep the knife away from both him and the girl as well as position himself so he could catch the girl in a lock.

Red didn't move a muscle as the girls blade barley touched her neck. She swallowed and shook her head, regaining her composer and slamming her scythe into the ground, causing a line of flames trial across the ground and following Arian to the shadowy figure as Daemon appeared next Gwyn.
--------------------------------------
[writers block]

Marline's head rolled back to look Gwyn in the eye, a wicked smile forming on her face, "Gotcha"
The strings attached to the little girl begin to attach to him, threatening to make him Doldum's puppet as well.

A booming laugh can be heard from the bridge above the alley, as a wisps of black smoke rise from behind the stone walls. Flashes of silver reflect in the moonlight leading down to the girl, and dropping onto Gwyn.

[That sucks, LoveHate... I hate writer's block. XP And Chloe, does that mean Doldum can control multiple people at once? Just want to make sure. And how tough are the puppet strings to break?]

Gwyn hesitated for a fraction of a second. Stay and get caught or escape but put the girl at risk of killing herself. The demon controlling her seemed cocky though, and probably wouldn't go for that... yet. Gwyn, deciding not to risk getting the girl killed and freeing Doldum, whirled, letting go of his half-lock but keeping his right hand on the wrist and hand holding the knife. He was in front of the girl again and he stepped away from the strings, following up with a tug on the girl's arm, hoping to make her lose her balance and stumble forward towards him.

Arian leapt at Doldum, like a spear, which blazed, releasing bolts of lightning into the other demon as she aimed to claw of his face.

[Doldum can control up to 2 people at a time, The strings can only be cut by one's will if it is strong enough. Im a let Red and hopefully So-so get in here before I post again.]

So-So stood there watching tapping the side of his face.
"...Should we do something?" he asked Dodado.
"...Probably..." he replied.
"...Yeah, I guess so...all right then. Illusionary Fog." -Snap- He took a deep breath and then breathed out a dark grey fog around the surounding area, "Hehehe, now then, that should at least clear up one thing. Hey! This illusion only takes effect up to one-hundred twenty-five feet diameter. If the girl can still fight as well as before, he's watching from a farther distance."
(Sorry brother was sent to ER yesterday, he's fine now)

Red ran forward, cutting through the fog So-So had created and swung her scythe, trying to slice through the almost invisible strings that were attached to the girl, "RED YOU STUPID GIRL!" she heard daemon yell at her, she looked back at he scythe and gasped, the strings that were going after Gwyn earlier had detoured, attaching themselves to her scythe and running towards her and reaching her hand. Red tugged furiously at the string connected to her hand, but it stayed, she set her arm a blaze, preventing any more to attach to her but her hand was still stuck.

A thick dark voice creeped into Red's head, "Welcome to the puppet show," she feels her arms and legs move on their own, and a grin is forced across her face. Try as she might she can't move now that the strings had taken over, and her body moved with precision as Doldum made her swing her deadly weapon at her own partner.
The little girl came swooping after her, coming at him from the opposite direction, the voice calling out to him, "Don't hit her, or she will die," she giggled as she swung her blade at Daemon.

Doldum laughed from above, a thick wicked laugh.

[Sorry for the late reply, but that's great ShadeLord. :)]

Gwyn growled and decided to tackle Red, trying to divert her from her attack. Daemon seemed more than enough to deal with Marline. Red would be a lot tougher and since she was Daemon's Contractor... Gwyn came at Red, his speed boosted so he became almost a blur. I hope this takes her by surprise, he thought fervently in the brief moment before they clashed. I'm still idiotically barehanded. Then If I survive this, Arian'll kill me.

Meanwhile, Arian flipped to her side and turned, coming to attack Doldum from behind.

Daemon growled at Doldum, changing into he real form and attacking him with his claws sinking into him, "Let her go. Someone how hide behind little girls for protection is just weak and cowardly." Daemon liked his lips, "you'll taste simply divine actually." he said, remembered who the weak always tasted better to him. Daemon let go of Doldum as Arian attacked him from behind and returned his attention to the other girl. "How do you attack something you cant touch...." Daemon thought to himself before smiling and looking around for something...