Red Sapphire

[focusedheart]

Sapphire turned and looked to Matthew as he approached. This wasn't what she has expected. At least not so soon. She regards him carefully as she sees the cut. "The devil was never a grateful one..." she says in comment to the wound.

She arches a brow. " He shouldn't be so demanding." She felt Shalidor's worry like a blanket around her. Did he really doubt her abilities that much? No she couldn't doubt herself. Not now. Doubt was what would cause her to fail.

Turning her eyes to the council, she saw the mixture of emotions that covered their faces. "In my absence I know you will keep the people protected." She smiles a bit then looks to Shalidor. "Do not worry so much. It will be alright but I want you to stay here. He wants that staff but only you can hold it. So long as he doesn't hold that staff, I can return. Though the gods were not fools before their death." She smiles a bit.

[gravitron]

Matthew looked uncertain. "Are you sure you're in a position to deny him? Whatever defenses you have set, they won't hold. If Lucifer wants you both...."
"Red, I will do as you wish," Shalidor told her. "Always. That's why I'm here. But consider wisely, this goes both ways. Lucifer can not be killed by conventional means. In fact, this staff is the only known way to end him. If you attempt to face him without it...."
"Hang on," McIntyre interrupted, standing up. "Why should we even trust Matthew? He is a known traitor. This is presumably a trap worthy of the devil, with Matthew's assist. It's not safe."
"He's right," Lockhart agreed. "It would be unwise to trust him. At least take a lookout, kept secret."
"And honestly," Hunter added, "if you did take a lookout, Shalidor would be the most fit."

[focusedheart]

She arches a brow as she regards everyone. Then she nods. "I believe I've been out voted." She smiles softly and nods. "Shalidor you will go with me." Then she turns and looks to Matthew. "Understand right now, the only reason you are still alive right now is because I understand why you did what you did. I truly hope for the sake of this world, you never have to learn the pain of the devil ruling it. If you think my decisions were monsterous...then you will be her frightened of his because he is the very monster." She smiles a little again. "I feel the looks I'm getting but I stand by my words." She nods. "I am ready if you are Shalidor?"

[gravitron]

Matthew could ignore the looks of disgust and mistrust he was receiving, because they had gotten her to bring Shalidor.
Shalidor nodded, then looked her in the eyes. "Just in case, I need you to know- Red, I will always love you."

[focusedheart]

For the first time in all her life, sapphire actually blushed. His words had caught her off guard. She smiles softly to him. "Never gave up did you?" She nods then looks to everyone. "Keep the people safe." She turns and looks to Matthew. " let's go."

[gravitron]

"It's like you said- giving up, it's not in our nature. "
"About time," Matthew said when she gave the order. "I need this to end already." He led them out of the House and away from the city.

[focusedheart]

Matthew wanted to get this over with? He was not the only one. She followed after Matthew as they walked. Her alertness was on high. There was more to this meeting, she could feel it. The devil wanted something more than to settle this. The trick was figuring out exactly what he hoped to do with this.

[gravitron]

Eventually, when they were in what looked like an empty field, the devil revealed his trick.
Matthew lashed out without warning, suddenly punching Shalidor in the face, who stumbled back in surprise.
Immediately, Lucifer appeared in front of Sapphire, smirking, and sent a wave of flame toward her before appearing again a little bit away.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire saw Matthew's movement but before she could do anything, Lucifer appeared. As the flames were sent, she moved her hands sharply. Part of the flames being blocked by her own power but some got pass it and singed her shoulder.

Her eyes flicker and she turns her gaze to the devil as he appeared again. "Will this be about tricks all day?" She asks, arching a brow. The singed skin was already knitting itself back together and healing.

Then she moved suddenly with speed as she appeared before the devil. She struck hard with her own power blast at close range, aimed at his chest.

[gravitron]

A magical shield appearied in front of him, blocking the attack before breaking from the effort.
"Not tricks, Red Sapphire- Strategy. Magic, like what I told the traitor, but more, and much more powerful." Suddenly he was behind her, aiming a knife at her back.
At the same time, Matthew managed to knock Shalidor to the ground, as Lucifer had been apparently blocking his magic.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire felt his power and turns sharply around. Her hand catching his own before the blade could sink into her back. "Only a coward attacks from behind." She growls then steps forward suddenly as she pushes back on his hand and brought her other hand up and sent a blast towards his gut. She tenses as she saw Shalidor on the ground. "Shalidor!"

[gravitron]

Lucifer deflected it with his hand, wincing slightly as he did so, then threw a punch at her face, catching the staff with his other hand as Matthew threw it to him.

[focusedheart]

Seeing Lucifer wince from her attack despite blocking it gsve her confidence. She was forced to let go of his hand as he threw a punch at her face. Leaping back sharply to get out of the way. Then she tenses as she saw him catch the staff.

She lunges forward swiftly and took hold of the staff to try and get it from him.

[gravitron]

Matthew was already there, though, and pulled out his dagger, attempting to stab her in the neck.

[focusedheart]

She tenses as she saw Matthew. She leaps back again to get out of range of the dagger. The blade slicing her arm as she moved. She growls and let's her body change to her dragon form. A rumbling growl leaving her throat.

She lunges forward sharply at both Matthew and Lucifer. Her tail swinging sharply to strike Matthew as she snaps her jaws at Lucifer.

[gravitron]

Lazily, Lucifer lifted the staff, the tail connecting with it but not damaging it. Matthew jumped back and looked to Lucifer with urgency.
Shalidor began to stand, quickly assessing the situation, as Lucifer pointed the staff to Sapphire and- Suddenly Shalidor was there, jumping at Lucifer and grabbing the staff, the two beginning to wrestle for it.

[focusedheart]

Sapphire growls and lunges forward again. Shifting back to her human form and taking hold of the staff with Shalidor to try and get it away from Lucifer. Her attention on getting the staff back under control.

[gravitron]

But Matthew was back again, aiming his knife this time at her spine.

[focusedheart]

She sensed the movement at her back and turned sharply to catch his hand. The blade tip managing to sink into her shoulder a little before she was able to push him back. Then she aims a blast at his gut.

[gravitron]

The blast hit Matthew full on, and he landed on the ground, holding his gut and struggling to stand again.
The damage was done, though. Lucifer tugged the staff away, pointed it at Sapphire, and got immediately decked by Shalidor, who took the staff and shot Lucifer with it. Lucifer's body incinerated, leaving nothing, just as Matthew managed to stand fully again. He looked to the spot where Lucifer had been, looked to Shalidor holding the staff, and ran at top speed away from the two.

[focusedheart]

She turned just in time to see Shalidor take the staff back and destroy Lucifer. Then she looks to Matthew and watches as he takes off. She had meant her hit to be none fatal but had no idea he wouldn't be able to dodge it. Her eyes flicker and she presses a hand to her shoulder. She was tired.

Looking to Shalidor she smiles a bit and nods. "We should get back to the others...." She pauses as she gazed at him. "Thank you."

[gravitron]

"Could hardly let you die," he shrugged. "Yeah, we should probably let the others know."

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit and moves to him. For the first time since they have known each other, she hugged him.

[gravitron]

He just stood there for a moment, stunned, before recovering his wits and hugging her back. How he wished they could always be like this. How he wished they could be something more....
He pulled away and looked her in the eyes, considering carefully how to proceed. He settled for a teasing smirk, though it didn't work out quite as well as usual. "So what was that for?"

[focusedheart]

She gazed at him. "If anyone deserved that hug, you did. You saved me when you didn't have to. You've cared about me despite how I've been to you. I'm sorry for that." She smiles a bit.

[gravitron]

"Hey, what are friends for if not saving your life? And you had every right to mistrust me, so don't apologize. I earned the title Shalidor the Deceiver. But, so you know, betraying you.... It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

[focusedheart]

She nods a bit at his words. Smiling a little. "Yes, I could see it in your eyes." Then she nods again as she gathers herself. "Suppose we've let everyone wait long enough. Want to walk or teleport?"

[gravitron]

"Never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually feeling a walk."

[focusedheart]

She arches a brow at him. "That is different for you." She smiles though and nods as she she starts walking with him back.

[gravitron]

"How the times have changed," he told her. "So may centuries I have been Lucifer's apprentice, learning all that he would teach me. And now.... I've killed him. I can hardly believe it."