[center][h3][b]The Master and his Son[/b]
[i]Kenen - Darius' Mansion Early Morning[/i][/h3]  

[i]Collab: Fallenreaper, yoshua171, Lucius Cypher, and Slade.[/i]
[hr][/center]

Darius had been caught by a few stray bullets, his suit's chest and jaw side caught in the crossfire. The tissue had been ripped through and now it was left unhinged as it hung there, bleeding. He hadn't bothered to bandaged it. What was the point when his muscles knitted themselves and it was just as it had been before. Even while he had mildly thought about it, his regeneration was already at work and by the time he arrived on scene it was already healed completely. His surprise was brief when it flickered across his face. Then it vanished. His eyes flickered in intensity and washed over the scene's chaos.  

The bodies that once littered the ground had all vanished, including the Kitsune which had been spotted wrecking hellish damage across his yard earlier. Chasing Juan naturally. Though he hadn't seen the result, he noted the chaos around and could draw his own conclusions which weren't very favorable. It would be rather clear his pact holder would note the conflict of  emotions stirring within him. A unique sensation he hadn't felt since his early years with Szayeis. Even now he was trying to puzzle what he should feel for the Lord. Hate, hurt, or relief were all on the top spot of the list, fighting for his attention. He tightened his leash on his emotional conflict and hoped like hell he could keep it that way.  At least until Szayeis vanished again.  

His legs cut the distance between him and the current figure he was approaching. Shoes clipped clapped hard on the surface with each step until he was nearly there, all the time something... filled him. A terrible familiarity he felt rise in his body like the years he served the Western Lord so long ago.  A slight longing, mixed with his own fear, including a flicker of standing in hell with the Citadel's image in the distance and staring at with a sorrowful sensation before he shook his head. The image scattered from his thoughts.   

Just short, Darius stopped before the Western Lord and instinctively bowed. Though his mind was sharp and focused, his body wanted to tremble and quiver in fear. He quickly snapped upright to look at Szayeis. “Long time, no see Szayeis.”  

About one hundred and fifty years to be exact.   

Even as Darius arrived and surveyed the chaos ridden situations, Szayeis decided to listen to Kasain, small shadow replicas of himself, in actuality puppeted forms, driven by the essence of one of the many he had devoured in his life time, searched the mansion. When Darius approached and bowed, Szayeis glanced at him a moment, taking in a deep breath, his form solidifying and taking on shape and meaning. It was in this moment that he took on his favored [url=http://i60.tinypic.com/21buez7.jpg]human guise[/url]. stretching slightly and twisting his head from side to side as if to situate all his muscles properly. [color=#00001A][b]"Yes, it [I]has[/I] been far too long, Darius,"[/b][/color] the lord's eyes gleamed, their irises white despite his otherwise human form. They remained just as piercing as they had been in his shadow state. He snapped his fingers and some of Darius' minions which had vanished upon his arrival, pulled into shadows, emerged from said shadows once more. Many of them were in a state of shock, though some remained unaffected by their time within the lord.

His eyes turned back to Darius, [color=#00001A][b]"Shall we relocate? It is awfully uncomfortable here, and I imagine just as frustrating for you to look at the state of your abode,"[/b][/color] he said, not caring a terrible amount, but still preferring to regain his energy more before staying on his feet for long. He may have managed to extricate himself, but that did not mean he was back at the peak of his strength. Far from it, he knew he was vulnerable, but he would give no hints of such. Nonetheless, there were few safer places in the human world than with Darius, at least for one such as he, and for the moment he needed that safety--for no matter the amount of bravado he could use, his true status would not change. All that he could do was give the illusion of strength and hope few would notice.

Darius watched with impassive eyes, his mind trying to slip back into old and forgotten habits. A difficulty when his mind kept flickering back to his nightmares. His head never moved from when Szayeis shifted into a familiar human guise, taking a moment to stretch out the kinks and rotate his muscles into working once more. Darius' eyes narrowed in suspicion for a moment then seemed to melt away. If there was something odd about the Western Lord, Darius didn't give any indications over what it was or seemed to have acknowledge it out loud. He had been raised for thirty-three years by the demon before him and learned a few things. 

When Szayeis spoke, Darius nodded in agreement. He stepped back and gestured Szayeis toward the mansion, ignoring the blunt hole created by Rhett, then discarded those few spared by his current guest. He had learned a long time ago to avoid Szayeis' attention was never to interest him. There was rare occasion and people he would risk his life willing for.  

The moment before they entered, Darius moved up front as he escorted Szayeis into the main entrance. He kept his stone like vision the whole time. It seemed some habits didn't die as easily, or merely took less time to slip into then he had considered originally. It didn't take much to instinctively allow his mind to drift into the forgotten numbness. Darius knew Szayeis would note the knick knacks on the tables. Pictures and images frozen in time of his life since coming to the surface, mostly pictures about Olivia, Aeris and himself were dominate. A few scattered and less impressive ones featured Emmet but those were merely for Olivia's sake and request. In moments he came to his office which he opened and shoved the shades into place. Immediately, almost complete and utter darkness surrounded the pair...leaving Darius' heart thumping rapidly. 

Ah, the smell of fear was potent, that was one thing he had always enjoyed about Darius, it was something he had cultivated in the boy. It made him smile slightly as he followed behind his adopted son. He began to hum lightly as they entered the mansion, his eyes scanning about so as to assure that he was aware of his surroundings. He saw a menagerie of pictures, the individuals within them mostly unfamiliar, except for one.
 
[I]Aeris[/I].
 
He noted the presence of two others, two whom looked related. However, he took particular interest in the young woman who was in many pictures with one of his favorite little playthings. While he, and the world, were on a timer, he did not intend to miss out on any fun that he could. Such was his way, as deranged and backwards as it may have seemed to most. He made a mental note so as to remember.
 
When the two arrived in the Kitsune's office, and the shades were drawn, Szayeis' eyes were the only source of light for a moment. He chuckled lightly, his enhanced senses easily detecting the fox's heart rate, inducing further amusement in the lord as he took a seat on one side of the desk. [color=#00001A][b]"You're awfully quiet Darius, why is that...are you perhaps [I]afraid[/I] of something?"[/b][/color] He laughed again, this time somewhat louder before one of his shadows flicked on a source of light. As amusing as it was to bathe others, especially those close to him, in fear, he had business to attend and fear helped none when it came to mental clarity and apt prescience.

Darius stood motionless. His body stiller then death, voided of any emotion he could manage on the outside. He knew it was impossible as Szayeis knew better and would feed off his inner fear, a fact that was a repeated factor in his life while under the demon's care. His golden eyes stared back to the twin sources of light within the room with a bravo of calm. Darius' hands tightened behind his back, hidden at how white they have become, while he tried to clear away the fear. Then again, Szayeis had proven repeatedly there were things worse then death. Much worse. 

His ears flickered and quietly watched, though the only light was Szayeis' eyes. He flinched when Szayeis' laughter seemed to echo around him, louder when Darius caught the sight of something stir at his left. He allowed a longer pause then spoke. “Isn't that what you taught me to be? Afraid? I believe that is very likely the only reason I live to this day. Why you didn't kill me or allow me to break the pact in my youth, giving you something to feed off and...“ Darius closed his muzzle. His eyes narrowed on the Western Lord before him. 

The lord's smile did not fade as Darius spoke and he made no immediate response, though his eyes did seem to gleam slightly even in the now lit room. Darius knew Szayeis well enough to tell what the look meant. It was perhaps the closest thing the demon could be to proud of someone else. It was a form of satisfacation, and given its source, it was a twisted sort. He truly had sculpted this one well, as he had many others, though perhaps somewhat less sucessfully. Then again, he had molded them in different ways and thus had not expected the same results. After all, he wasn't insane, just utterly beyond human reason.

[color=#00001A][b]"So, I presume you're curious as to why I have been gone so long, yes? Don't answer that,"[/b][/color] he stated, glancing away a moment as he no longer cared about the fox's response. Gathering his thoughts a moment and turning his eyes back to Darius, a serious look came about his face before he continued, his tone matching his expression, [color=#00001A][b]"Moving on, do you recall what I told you all those years ago in regards to a certain Tyrant: The Chimeric Lord?"[/b][/color] Szayeis' white eyes were steady, watching the Kitsune, waiting for a response.

“I know you well enough to know you never do something without a reason. Rarely, sadly, is that it's ever clear,” Darius answered, softly, though he knew the Lord had moved onto the next question. He went silent when he noted the glowing eyes look on him again, his defense once more his strength as he bore through his lingering fear. His head nodded. “Both the one watered down version you told me as a boy and the one before your departure. Something has changed, that much I'm very aware of, and since you've brought this up, I assume they are connected?” 

He nodded, acknowledging Darius' response. His eyes roved about the room a moment before settling on his hands, and then glancing slowly back up to the demon as he spoke. [color=#00001A][b]"The Chimeric Lord has another name, two really. The first is Inaniae...and the second,"[/b][/color] his white eyes met with Darius' own, cutting through him. There was not a shred of amusement or pleasure in Szayeis' voice, as if he were bereft of emotion, [color=#00001A][b]"...is Void."[/b][/color]

Darius' eyes held their place, though he was sure his sockets were stinging, when he heard the word uttered from the Lord's lips. His heart twisted and jerked to a halt for a moment when none of the earlier amusement was present. It was cold and blank, like a wall staring back at him. “And he's the one that was...”  

He let it trail off. This was becoming a habit he wasn't use to or enjoyed, his teeth gritted against his jawline while his mind tried to absorbed the thoughts. When he was first told the story, he was young and the story gave him nightmares while he mended. Now those nightmares had become far worse...

Darius tightened his spine, his eyes never moved, then spoke. “What changed and how?”   

He was sure, however, the struggle to control his fear was palpable.  

For once, the lord's look softened, and an uncharacteristically gentle smile formed on his features. The strangest thing about it was that it was that the expression held no deception, it was honest. [color=#00001A][b]"Nothing changed, this is how it has always been, I just felt no reason to tell you. I thought I could win on my own, but it seems time is something I no longer have a wealth of,"[/b][/color] the smile slowly melted from his face, replaced once more with a serious gaze. There was an almost sad look in his eyes and to Darius, who knew him so well, there would be the slightest hint of anger at a battle lost. [color=#00001A][b]"I managed to separate myself from Inaniae, though it is hardly a permanent solution. This will give us some time to prepare, for he will rise, and we must stop him. I may have to call on those who would otherwise wish to destroy me simply to prolong this world's existence."[/b][/color]

Szayeis put his face in his hands, pushing his hair back with them as he did so. He let out a long sigh.

This was no trick, Szayeis did not intend to feed from this fear, for it was not fear he had created, but a fear deeper than anything he might muster. One could say there were worse things than death, but what was worse even than those things was the destruction of everything. The realization that not only were you going to die, but that every trace of your existence, every mark on the world, and every memory in those whom you knew, or who knew you, would be gone.

Existential annihilation on all levels. If Inaniae got his way, that would be the result. Should they be unable to stop him, there would be no pain, no pleasure, no life, and no death. There would only be Void...and perhaps the gods if they were lucky.

[color=#00001A][b]"I can smell your fear, and sense the tension in your bones. I do not care today. Today you may show weakness and I will not punish you for it,"[/b][/color] he knew that the boy would not believe him, but he said it all the same.

For while he did not show it, he had the same fear that anything did.

He feared not existing.

Darius' ears pinned back slightly, though he was surprised they didn't jerk in reaction to Szayeis' words. It was times like this that he had difficulty telling which side was real. The Szayeis staring back at him today or the demon from his memories, both which seemed to have shifted back and forth so wildly that even he had trouble determining the answer. For several moments he stood there. Letting the fear and tension settle before he dared to summon a fox. The creature melded from the shadows then stalked forward, its teeth reached for a chair back and then dragged it forward, coming to stop at Darius' position. He absentmindedly patted the creature's head while he took a seat.  

He had to make his body stop the habits he had grown up with. Without considering the future conflict and problems his actions were about to incur, he let his mind think over what would happen and his next move. Part of him wanted to toss a fit about the room, shattering glass and tear the place apart until it looked like a tornado hit but that only wasted time and energy. Factors they didn't have, he reminded himself.  

Inhaling a slow, long breath he raised upright in his seat. He had barely noticed his head had slouched down and nearly into his knee, his mind trying to wrap about the dread filling him inside though bitterly it wasn't from Szayeis. “Do you know how to beat him?” 

A small smile formed on his face, just one of amusement, there was no real malice there, [color=#00001A][b]"Right to the point I see,"[/b][/color] he chuckled lightly, but his smile soon faded and he began to stare at the floor in front of him as he contemplated the problem. [color=#00001A][b]"He is too strong for even I to face alone and triumph, I admit..."[/b][/color] there was a frown on his features, indicating his dislike of the thought. [color=#00001A][b]"A certain hunter knows as well, and I'm sure has already begun mobilizing some kind of plan."[/b][/color] Szayeis looked up, meeting Darius' eyes as he continued, [color=#00001A][b]"However, merely destroying him will not be enough, he must be banished from this realm, or he will merely return again. To do that...the part of him that dwells in me, and any remaining fragments of his essence, must be removed."[/b][/color]

He smiled slightly and shook his head, glancing away once more. His behavior would seem strange, uncharacteristic, but then again the entire situation was odd, now wasn't it?

Darius didn't like the fact Szayeis seemed to be at peace with this situation, a matter that stirred something he wished was gone. Loyalty. Something the Kitsune thought had faded when the demon vanished and realize the bitter truth had been far from it. “Sadly I've never been one to sit idle and let a problem slip away, unsolved that is. At least not since after Judas' War, after you took your absence. ” 

His reference was to what Szayeis had witness, though the hint was subtle enough. Darius would've have ever considered getting close to anyone again if the Western Lord had watched over his back and it was because of his family, he began to care that the world ended. Again he pushed his mind into the problem as he had done many times before. “Extracting what pieces are you and what are... [i]him[/i],” Darius said in a low, acidic tone, “will take a lot of energy from you. More then you likely have since separation.” 

The Kitsune placed his muzzle in his hand, fingers folded and cradling his chin. He seemed to be conflicted with himself over his next decision until reason finally won out. Darius knew he would suffer the consequences later. “There is something I can do. Something I think might help, both in boosting your power and anchor you here possibly. However,  there's something that must be done first before I can use it...”

Abruptly, Darius rose from his chair and approached Szayeis until he stood reasonably close. Part of him was screaming at his stupidity, risking his life and existence on a pure chance the Western Lord wouldn't simply consume him. “It needs to be activated by touch. As well as it requires...trust.”

With that said, Darius held his breath while reaching out his hand toward Szayeis.

The lord's eyes rose to regard the demon that was, for all intents and purposes, his adopted son. It was an odd feeling seeing him there, alive and well. Offerring his help, his loyalty, despite the likelihood that he could be deceived, or simply destroyed by the very one he now offered his help. This was true loyalty, and it made him smile somewhat, it wasn't a grin though, more of a gentle expression rather. It was in this moment that Szayeis realized that some part of him valued Darius. He would continue to use him, it was his way, but the demon was beginning to tread in grounds that very few beings ever had. Perhaps if they survived this, given another hundred years, they could be friends...like he and Kasain...or perhaps not.

Szayeis reached out and grasped the fox's hand with his own, as if to shake it, and his smile twisted slightly, the look in his eyes filling with a sort of sick amusement, [color=#00001A][b]"Why thank you, [I]son[/I], you are truly a loyal one. I value loyalty,"[/b][/color] then, seeming to take into mind intuitively what he must do, Szayeis accessed that which linked them, and pulled. First it was a harsh sensation that Darius would feel, giving Szayeis a fair chunk of pure essence, before it let up and became a slowly trickling stream. The lord squeezed Darius' hand and shook it once, then disengaged, smiling slightly. [color=#00001A][b]"Don't worry, I have no intention of killing you. Not any time soon,"[/b][/color] he said, rising from his chair once the demon backed off. The essence had helped, but he would need to hunt, and doing so would attract attention.

He didn't care.

Darius felt his heart stop, literally. Its beat went silent in his head and chest, his body locked in place while Szayeis' smile bore through him like a drill into wood. He felt like a nail shoot through his head as Szayeis reached for his essence storage in his cells from over the years. Fear soaked his mind and body yet he fought it, resist the notion to rip himself from Szaeyis' grip with all the will he had inside himself. Slowly the headache setting his insides on fire dulled into an empty, numbness making him relax. He felt the Lord break the connection when and feverishly hoped his trust wasn't misplaced. For all their sakes. 

He managed, in some fashion, to remain standing while the Western Lord spoke words that rattled in his ears. One which brought mixed feelings once more, both pain and relief, as he eyed Szayeis rise to his feet. He knew their business had concluded and in the back of his mind, Darius only prayed the world would survive. Under his breath, a familiar phrase passed softly in his muzzle and the truth he was forced to accept. “A tool is only as good as long as it serves its master, a lesson I've learned well enough.”

In response, Szayeis chuckled, clapped Darius' on the shoulder, then turned and exited the office, calling back [color=#00001A][b]"Even a tool can become a person, whether that is wise or not is however, for you to decide."[/b][/color]  He began to hum to himself as he exited the mansion, small black wispy creatures emerging only from nearby shadows as he exited. One brought him a book, which caused him to raise an eyebrow and laugh slightly. [color=#00001A][b]"Ah Kasain, you never fail to amuse me,"[/b][/color] the lord said with a smirk before absorbing the book into his body, and vanishing into the next shadow.

While he had pulled off returning for reasons entirely related to his, and the world's survival--though entirely for his sake--that didn't mean he intended not to enjoy himself.

Besides, who said you couldn't have fun on the job?