Red Sapphire

[focusedheart]

Sapphire looked around the room and nods a bit. " We have a tie." She sighs quietly, sadness pulled at her. She would have to break the tie. "Shalidor do you see no other way to ensure the safety of the people? This enemy you speak of that is using the rebels...is there not a way to turn the tables back on them?"

[gravitron]

He shook his head. "Not until I can figure out who they are. But this will end up being either a battle or the beginning of a war."

[focusedheart]

Sapphire nods a little at his words. There was no other way. She looks to Matthew. How could she ask him to betray his mother who raised him? Though they have their differences, it is still his family. This decision will break his trust in her, what little he had but the people...She closes her eyes. "Prepare for a strike..."

[gravitron]

No matter what they voted for, everyone present nodded solemnly, accepting the decision.
Except Matthew.
He stood abruptly, opening his mouth before thinking better of it, and left in outrage.
"Matthew!" Alistair stepped forward, but Shalidor put his arm out.
"Let him think," Shalidor advised him. "This is the person who raised him. And he doesn't completely trust you, or any of us. He needs a moment to himself."
Hunter and McIntyre went to prepare their men.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire sat there a moment in the room. Thinking. Whoever this enemy was, they were going to pay for what they were forcing her to do. What they were forcing them all to do.

She opens her eyes and looks to Shalidor and nods slightly before moving to stand and leave the room.

[gravitron]

Not much later, Hunter and McIntyre had assembled their men, and Shalidor had assembled about as many mages. Everyone stood, awaiting the command to move in. Only one person was missing.
Matthew hadn’t reappeared since leaving.

Meanwhile, Lucifer had secretly alerted the demons, his own minions, and the rebels, and asked them all to prepare for the fight.

[focusedheart]

What more was there to say. She hated this most. She was standing nearby when she was informed everyone was ready. Were they really ready?

She nods slightly to Shalidor. "Begin."

[gravitron]

Shalidor led his mages toward the rebels' camp, accompanied by all the fighters.
When they got within eyesight, he frowned. "Okay, well, that's probably part of their plan."
Ahead weren't just rebels, but demons and something unfamiliar, too.
"Those are the servants of Hell," explained Shalidor. "Fearsome, and no two identical."
"But you can take everyone out, right?" asked Hunter. "Just, like..... Blow them up or something."
"Naturally," he smirked. He snapped his fingers, then frowned. "Oh, crap." He concentrated. "Well, that's not good.... This enemy I was talking about is strong. As in, so strong he's completely blocking my magic. And with the servants of Hell.... Guys, I think we're fighting Satan."

[focusedheart]

Sapphire gazed over the group. She heard Shalidor's words and nods a bit. " No matter what they would have attacked. Shalidor do what you can. I want this battle contained here. It must not break out to the rest of the people. Everyone be wary of tricks. This isn't just about a battle. Something is up the Devil's sleeve."

[gravitron]

"Alright, like I've trained you," Shalidor told his mages. "When magic fails, fall on staff-fighting."
People ran forward to fight the army, but in front of Shalidor and Sapphire appeared a fit middle-aged man.
"Lucifer," identified Shalidor.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire was still in her own human form. Her eyes flicker slightly as she regards the male now identified. "Always with something up your sleeve." She shakes her head.

[gravitron]

Lucifer shot Sapphire a smile but otherwise ignored her. "So Shalidor. The staff I gave you so long ago, the Staff of Death-"
'Trust me, Red,' Shalidor's voice said in her head. 'Please, stay silent and trust me.'
"You told me to hide it, because it can kill even immortals with a single strike," he said aloud. "I remember vividly."
"Well, my great apprentice, I need it now. Go fetch it for me, I'll keep the guardian busy until you return."
'Trust me, Red,' Shalidor's voice repeated in her mind.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire tensed sharply at the words. She glanced to Shalidor slightly before keeping her eyes on the devil. He wanted her to trust him? Could she really even do that. She narrows her eyes and clenches her hands at her side. 'I will trust you.' She truly hoped she could because even with all her power and strength, she could not fight the devil and Shalidor herself. She will fight though harder than ever.

[gravitron]

"No need, Master," Shalidor said, lifting his own staff. "I have kept it in good hands."
Lucifer smiled. "You see, Red Sapphire? He is my apprentice. Always has been. Always will be. Honestly, I don't know how you keep falling for his tricks- He's literally called Shalidor the Deceiver, after all. Hand it over, Shalidor."
"Well, I learned from the best. After all," Shalidor pointed his staff at Lucifer. "I just deceived the creator of deception." He shot a bolt of magic at the devil, but suddenly Matthew was there, tugging the staff away, and its aim went off. Lucifer snarled at Shalidor and disappeared, taking Matthew and all his fighters with him, to a huge strategy room in Hell's castle.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire had glared at the devil with ever intent of charging at the male. Then her eyes widen as Shalidor spoke. He had the staff this whole time.

Before she could react Matthew had appeared and send the blast off. She mutters a curse. She should have known Matthew would be against them. She wasn't angry at him though, she couldn't be. They had all planned on killing his mother. They almost had the devil.

She turns to Shalidor. "You've had it this entire time..."

[gravitron]

"Well, yeah," he said as if it was obvious, brushing himself off. "I had to be prepared. He gave it to me centuries ago to hide, and I decided it was safest with me, so I could guard it. And then I thought I might need it to kill the gods, but Lucifer took care of that. Then I joined you, and I figured Lucifer would eventually show, so I could use it to protect you." He smiled sheepishly. "Also, it's a very powerful weapon, and it's bonded with me greatly. I like powerful weapons."
All the members of the Council, along with most other fighters, had survived, and came over, confused.
"What's going on?" asked Lockhart. "Where'd they go?"
"And I didn't hear what was going on, but I saw- Matthew...." began Hunter. "He was a traitor?"

[focusedheart]

Sapphire eyes Shalidor a moment as the others arrived. Taking a breath she nods. "Th e devil himself was behind this..." she shakes her head. "Matthew...made his choice.." she looks around at everyone. "Let us return. Think some new planning must be put in place." She looks back at Shalidor. " And as much as you may not like it, you can't be on your own. You just tried to kill the devil. He'll want payment for that and he'll want that staff."

[gravitron]

"And I would've succeeded too, if it wasn't for that meddling kid," Shalidor sighed. "Matthew will pay for this. He does realize he just saved the life of evil incarnate? Now that he's expecting it, there's no way to catch him off guard."

[focusedheart]

That was going to be the hard part now. Matthew had sealed his fate in the worst possible way. She nods a bit. "He'll be expecting it and now doing everything he can to stop it and get revenge for your betrayal. He's good at holding grudges." She shakes her head then looks to everyone.
This wasn't something she wanted to let drag out forever either. No it needed to be stopped. "Get everyone back. Prepare the city. Shalidor I want you to work with me on creating a barrier around it to protect the people and then council, we will discuss what must be done." In her mind, she was already planning on calling the Devil out. She would not plan his game of tricks. She has had enough of it all. It will end and end soon.

[gravitron]

Everyone nodded and began to do as they were told, except Shalidor.
"Red," he told her tentatively, "Lucifer.... He's strong. Much stronger than me. The only reason I was able to do any magic just now was because he thought I was on his side. Now that he knows I'm not.... I'll do my best, Red, but there's nothing I can put up that he can't effortlessly remove, even if he doesn't block my magic entirely right now. Without my skills of deception, I'm useless against him."

[focusedheart]

Sapphire waited until the others had left before she looked to Shalidor. She understood his worry. After all the Devil trained Shalidor himself. "That is why we will take his focus away from the people. The barrier will be to keep the people safe from other attacks. He can play his games but I will not."

She looks to the sky, power seemed to spark in her eyes before fading. She looks to Shalidor. "You once scolded me for giving up. We are not about to do that now. You have other skills. Use them. Do not give up so quickly because of who and what he is. Remember who and what you have become. I plan on destroying this once and for all. If he had kept away and left things alone, I would never have considered my next steps but he has left me with little choice."

[gravitron]

He hung his head, keeping a tight grip on his staff, then nodded. “I’ll do everything I can. You should prepare. You’re the only one who can stand against him now.”

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit. "Lets get back with the others. The council will need to know my plan and be ready for attacks. Once the barrier is in place, I will act." She starts heading back. This was a very different level of anger she was feeling. Senseless, all of it. The devil though made clear what he wanted today. What he failed to realize though was he could kill her and keep her from coming back but the gods always had a plan. There was always a plan.

The demon hesitantly approached Lucifer. "My Lord,what happened?"

[gravitron]

Lucifer snarled. "Treason is what happened. My apprentice actually betrayed me! And for that girl, too. But no matter. There is a special item, the Staff of Death, which contains the power to permanently kill Red Sapphire. I have only to retrieve it, and this battle is over. As of now, it is in Shalidor's possession, but against me he is powerless. As soon as he is alone, I will strike, and personally take the Staff, and end this."

Shalidor followed Red away from the battlefield.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire walked back to what was home. Once there she worked with Shalidor to great a barrier that nothing could pass through and the people would be safe. Once that task was complete, she called the council together. Though she didn't want to tell them of the plan, she had to tell them some of it.

She looks to Shalidor as they waited for everyone to arrive. "In all this time...through everything...still you care for me.." it was so much a question as a statement for he had proven such when he attacked Lucifer in order to save her. What she mostly wanted to know was why? Why did he care for her so much he would go against the Devil himself?

The demon tensed and stared. The mage had gone against him? For the guardian? That was not anything any of them had planned for. Then the demon had a thought. "Lord...he has betrayed you in the worst way. Kill her before his eyes. Let him watch her blood flow. A message to the world no one can stand against you."

[gravitron]

Through all this, Shalidor looked uneasy, for the first time as if he doubted his abilities, and he never loosened his grip on his staff, protecting it with his life.

Lucifer smiled deviously. "I like the way you think. Yes, he should watch her die, preferably in pain, and learn once and for all why you don't cross the devil. But before that, I must take the staff from him. Easy enough- I taught him everything he knows, and his magic will not harm me. Still, it may be better to avoid his crush until her demise is in my possession."

[focusedheart]

She felt his unease like a blanket and wished she could ease it for him. There was no way she could truly take it from him though.

As the rest gathered in the room, she had fallen quiet. Once everyone was present, she first checked to make sure everyone was alright and hear any reports needed to be spoken.

The demon nodded. "Why not send the boy to weaken her. Shalidor won't trust him but she will still try. Her weakness is she cares for her people and has tried time and time again to not kill the boy. Even now she probably won't. Break her enough and he'll come to you."

[gravitron]

"Not bad. That just might work," Lucifer considered. "You are dismissed. Matthew!"
Matthew approached from a bit away, where he had been with his mother. "Yes, sire?"
"Can I trust you?"
"Yes, of course."
"Because last time you said that, you tried to prevent my rise."
"For that I apologize, my lord, but I will stand by mother always. That bitch launched an attack on her and our people, planning to kill them all. She'll regret that."
"Well, then, listen carefully. I have a very important job for you."

There wasn't much to report. The magic barriers appeared stable, though only time wold tell if they could hold. There were no further signs of Lucifer or his allies. Few casualties had occurred on either side.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire listened to the reports. They were all good ones considering. Taking a moment as she contemplated what to tell them and what to keep silent about. Then decided, it would be better to just get straight to the point. "Lucifer will attack where ever the staff is located at. He's also made very clear his intentions. Though now I'm sure revenge is on his mind as well, his ultimate goal is no different."

She regards everyone in this room. "I am proud of everyone here. I could never ask for a better group of people to lead." She smiles a bit. "I will be challenging Lucifer myself. He will play games in order to get what he wants. I am tired of them. Even if I must drag him from hell itself." It was what must be done.

[gravitron]

Shalidor looked over at her, worried. He seemed generally afraid for her life.
"I doubt you'll have to," came Matthew's voice, and he walked in, looking uneasily at the company, hands raised in peace. And there was a long, deep cut stretching diagonally over the entire left side of his face, making a path over his eye and through his lips. It was still red. Matthew pointed at the cut. "He, um, sends a message. Apparently he doesn't trust me. And, guys.... I wish I could say I was sorry for fighting against you, but I'm not. My mother's life was at stake."
He looked directly at Sapphire at Shalidor. "He wants to meet with you two, alone- Except that he wants me to bring you there. I don't know why, so don't ask. All I know is.... He said this would be the end. And not to make him impatient."