Chapter Fifteen

"So, how long should this take?"
"Not too long."
"Maybe if we killed a person?"

Petra recognized what happened at once. She'd done it herself, mostly by accident. The floor within the central ring of the circle was displaced as the fabric of space tore open. Beyond it she could see a fiery darkness, an abyss of scorched rock and dark power. Shades and demons could be ssen lurking around the edges of the portal. But the one who came through was already on their sideas the portal faded to a solid barrier.

"I am Azriak, why have you summoned me pathetic mortal?"
"To prove I am not you sevant."
The demon laughed loudly, his vast wings stretching in mirth. He flexed his taloned hands as he turned his attention to Vlad.
"Then you will soon learn that demons are not to be trifled with human."

{Vlad tells me the demon whispered 'Make it good' after this. It was still a hard fight for him in those days.}

The Demon lunged sweeping at him with his claws. Vlad rolled to the side and slashed at the netherworldly being. Had it not been for the angle the others saw it from his miss would have been plain to see. The demon withdrew his hand as though the wound had been true. Then quickly struck with his other hand throwing him back to the wall.
He may have been human, but Vlad was quite agile. He managed to spin in the air and rebounded at the demon from the wall. He twirled as he neared Azriak and the demon only narrowly deflected him. Vlad assumed a guarded stance facing the demon from across the stadium.
Azriak spread his silver-feathered wings and used their might to hurl himself at the young mage. His claws raked the tiles as Vlad lept back to avoid his blow. He struck again and tore stones from the wall. He growled savagely as he began stalking his small nemesis.

"So Chesi; feel satisfied he's not working with the demon now?"
"It's throwing the fight. A demon can use magic without energy; why wouldn't it have just killed him?"
"Alid?"
"Meh, Even if it's not fighting it's hardest it's still doing pretty good."
"He's not doing so bad either. He's doing pretty good actually. Annoyingly good."

The demon howled as Vlad connected a blow to his calf. Vlad was flung back as Azriak's wings spread in pain. The demon bellowed and hurled several small bolts of demonic energy at his foe. They were dodged easily. Vlad used the momentum of his dodge to roll beneath the fallen angel; cutting him deeply across the thigh.
"Unworthy whelp! Feel my pain."
Azriak unleashed a mass of whirrling power against the Mage before him. Vlad used all his strength and speed to avoid it's ravaging destruction. When the demonic storm subsided he found himself upon the demon's shoulder.
"Begone from this place demon; I am no pathetic weakling to bend to your will."

He plunged the sword into Azriak's brow. The demon howled as the portal below him unsealed and he was dragged down by those still trapped within.
"This won't be the last time, Vlad of Earth. Some day I shall repay you for every wound of this day."

And the portal sealed itself. Were it not for the damaged walls and floor it could never have been deduced that Azriak had even been there at all.
"Proof enough for you?" Vlad panted.