The Demons Inside Us.

[Skelo10]

Sun's pupils danced around his eyes in frustration. Sand whirled around his wrists. "Raven, please get back." He wrinkled his nose as he smelled blood and burned fur. He squinted, looking out of the cave, hearing the footsteps getting closer by the second.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Brushing what he said aside, Raven stared at him, her normally clear sapphire eyes now dark deep swirling oceans. The sound of panting ripped her attention from Sun, her eyes falling on six white-furred foxes. Their glowing blue eyes made her skin crawl, the stench only adding to the unpleasant encounter. Raw skin, cracked and oozing blood, was seen in large blackened patches along their slithering bodies.


Long talons protruded from Raven's fingertips, her nose scrunched in a similar snarl. Thick dark brown thorns had begun to grow along her arms and down her spine, almost like the horns that Wren had grown in the flames. Although, Wren's were natural-born, and Raven had taken up a similar ability using roses. Not as strong or thick as her eldest, but still very effective.


The youngest soul focused quickly on her breathing, each inhale bringing the shadows in closer. If her assumptions about Sun's ability to sense heat were correct, there was a good chance they could survive.


She inhaled sharply, all light resisting to exist within the narrow cavern. Not even the spirits eyes were bright enough to penetrate the blackness.

 

[Skelo10]

Sun held his hand up towards Raven, signalling her to stop anything she had in mind. He took two careful steps forward and hissed, sensing the stranger-souls getting closer. "May I help you?" Sand dripped from his fingertips and it trickled onto the ground, making a large circle around him and Raven. His breaths were calm, but he knew his leg wouldn't hold up for long.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

A low growl erupted from the centered fox's chest. Raven held her breath as the deep voice echoed off the slick walls. "Where is the Eldest"

 

[Skelo10]

"I killed him, you got a problem with that?" Sun lied. He knee this was going nowhere so he flicked his wrists and sand erupted from his palms and blasted straight towards the spirits. He nearly collapsed from the energy it took, and his wound was already started to open up again.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The foxes howled, sand blinding them as they fell back in the darkness. Raven quickly grasped onto Sun, her arms wrapping around his body. She let go of the breath she was holding, the darkness fleeing to allow light to shine through. Blue eyes closed and she inhaled again deeply. A gust of wind blew in and suddenly they were at the bottom of the cliff, the cavern meters above their heads.


A blur of grey came sprinting towards them, almost passing the two young souls.


Selix paused, glancing from Kat, to Sun, and then back to Raven. A sharp snarl kept the shark-soul's mouth shut, his black eyes meeting his sister's dark-ocean stare.


"Raven grab him and go. Let's find Don and Piper." He said quickly before giving anyone a chance to argue.


The youngest nodded, unfolding her wings and allowing the wind to catch her as she sped off, the snake-soul in her arms. Her muscles worked hard, her back straining to carry the both of them. The feeling of weightlessness made her hues lighten again, but the burning of her now open wound made her arms shake. "I'm sorry I have to carry you. I know how much you hate receiving any help. Just don't argue with me." She said softly, black hair whipping around her face.

 

[Skelo10]

Sun grunted but turned his attention to Selix. I'll kill you if you hurt my sister. Realization spread across the snake-soul's face. "That's how you feel to, huh?" he said to no one in particular.


Donovan had filled both baskets of water quickly and carefully and hefted them upon his shoulders. "Maybe we should bring these back before going out again?" he said, looking at Piper with a calm expression.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Piper nodded, her eyes meeting his. She continued to stare at him, trying hard not to analyse their ashen surroundings.


The sound of heavy wings and quick footfalls tore her attention away.


Selix had run as quick as he could, his lungs burning as he paused at the treeline, gaze taking in the scorched remains. He felt his chest sink, gently letting Kat on her feet, but keeping his arms wrapped around her loosely. "We have to go." He panted to Donovan, taking deep breaths.


Wind whipped around them, thick feathers from. The raven-soul flinging up dust and bone fragments. Raven let Sun down on the ground gently before collapsing into the ash, her shoulder bleeding heavily. She lay there for a few moments, heavy breaths blowing pale grime around her face. She closed her eyes, chest rising and falling at a quick pace. She didn't speak, and didn't move, only stared at the ground. She could feel the spirits lick her ribs, multiple phantom hands reaching up through the ground and grasping onto her body. She felt the cold roll over her, skin turning to ice as the frozen fingers traced the inside of her skull. The fact that no one else could see the dead doing this made her whimper slightly.


Selix grittes his teeth. "She can't be here." He said softly, leaving the feline's side to kneel next to the youngest. He didn't dare touch her, for fear of angering the invisible lives that caused the air around Raven to feel bitter and icecold.

 

[Skelo10]

Donovan's face straightened and his figure seemed to bulge. "You can go then, bring Piper with you. Myself, I am going to find better medical supplies for Sun and Raven. If we keep carrying them around like this, they'll be dead by the end of the week.. and you're not changing my mind." Sun looked up at Donovan and turned over to Selix in amusement.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Selix stared at the Bharal-soul with disbelief. There was a flash of grey, and suddenly the shark-soul was standing face to face with the taller man. He bared his teeth, each one sharply pointed not unlike his spirit animals. "Fuck you. I'm not leaving my sister." The grey-skinned male breathed, face stoic and expressionless. Blood around him, along with hunger and adrenalin had continued to allow his eyes to stay black. "Don't touch her."


Inside her mind, a thousand souls screamed their untold stories. The swarm of voices made her open intensely silver eyes, tears uncontrollably dripping down her face. She wasn't sobbing, her breathing however was quick and sharp, as if she was running. If anyone touched her, there was no saying what could happen.


"This has happened before." Her brother spoke. She could hear every word of their conversation, but gnarled rotting fingers grasped hold of her whole body. Securing her into place, wrapping her body in a frozen putrid blanket.

 

[Skelo10]

Donovan smiled but their was something odd about it. "Were you trying to threaten me? If you want to try fighting me, go ahead- but I appreciate personal space." He turned around and calmly started walking to the nearest house.. or what was left of it. Sun chuckled and watched Donovan leave. "What a character." His attention quickly snapped to Raven, watching her oddly. This is new. He bent down on one new and gently tried to pull Raven up, unsure of what was going on.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The sudden movement from the snake-soul had caught Selix off guard, especially after the potential threat he'd just posed against the tallest of the group. He glanced sideways, only to see the snake-soul disobeying the only order given. Don't touch her.


Stories known only by the dead spoke freely on the raven-soul's mind, the feeling of dead flesh on her face making tears flow even quicker. Hands grabbed at her arms and legs, wrapping loose fingers over her lips. The trembling of her body only added to their intense hold, nails sinking into her flesh. Threateningly dark spirits continuously hissed in her ears.


Your body is mine.


Please help me


You have beautiful skin


I wonder what you taste like


Please


Come with me


Touch her touch her


Come with us


Blood and skin


Bone


Hate





Sun's sudden physical contact set the unrestfeul dead into a chorus of shrill cries and sickening laughs. Her ribs groaned as something unknown pressed its cold mangle fingers into her mouth, digging sharply down her throat.


She felt a burning sting rake down her insides, ripping her from the strange unmoving state. Vision focusing, she glanced up at the Snake-soul, eyes so blue they almost looked silver against her pale skin. Lids wide open, her breathing slowed, her body finally cooperating. "Sun?" She questioned, her hand grasping hold of his arm tightly as she tried to regain her composure. She could feel something twisting her inside her organs , making the shadows under her skin dance wickedly. She stared into the other's yellow eyes, trying hard to get a grip on reality. "I don't want to be here." She whimpered, her brother barely able to contain his anxiety. He had been pacing, knowing well something terrible would come of this. Just like when Ma and Fa had died.

 

[Skelo10]

Sun's eyes darted all over Raven, his face full of dread. Worry lines came across his face and he quickly hissed. "Neither do I Raven, neither do I." He slowly- but carefully picked her up and held her in a cradling fashion. He grunted as the extra weight added pressure to his leg. He looked at Selix, expecting a mouthful of 'rules.' "We'll have to start without Donovan. We're getting out of here now, and I don't care what you have to say about it." He flipped Raven onto his back like she was on a piggyback ride. He started walking towards the shore where he and Donovan were before all of this happened.


At that moment, his will was stronger than his physical body was. He firmly kept his hands under Raven's leg for support. Is this what they call 'love?'

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The sudden affection showed by the snake-soul made Selix's eyes narrow. He was about to speak, but let his mouth hang open as Sun began to talk. He watched them walk away before he had a chance to say a word, his heart racing with anxiety and anger.


Raven rested her chin gently on the snake-soul's shoulder, her soft black curls bouncing around then as they moved. Something tugged at the back of her throat, but she was too exhausted to act. Her lids had started to droop, taking in Sun's scent of pine needles and sand. "Sun?" She asked once more, her voice quiet and tired. "Why are you carrying me?"

 

[Skelo10]

Sun crinkled his nose and kept walking. "...Because I care about you." He didn't bother to look up to see her reaction, as his faced was tinged with light red.


Kat frowned and stood beside Selix, patiently. "I told you not worry. Knowing him, he'll protect her with his life.. Do you not trust me?"

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Eyes now drooping slightly, the dark-haired girl felt her body slipping in and out of consciousness, making the darkness hidden behind her ribs wriggle impatiently. She had barely caught his words before slipping from his grasp.


Wind flung from her teeth, her body colliding limply with the ground. She felt her spine groan, her fingertips tingling as she lost consciousness.


The spirit took its opening, ramming its hands into her brain and tinkering until it had full control of Raven's body. Her eyes shot open, hues glazed over as a sickening smile crept over her face.


Selix glanced sideways at Kat, his mouth presses in a tight line. "I'm worried about both of them." He almost growled, but recoiled at the realization of who he was speaking to.


"Neither of you have any idea what Raven can do, do you?" He asked trying to strain his vision beyond the fog.

 

[Skelo10]

Kat crossed her arms and pouted. "You're going to tell me, either way aren't you? But I'm guessing-" She lifted her arm to point at the odd looking raven-soul. "That happens?"


Sun's eyes flicked all over Raven's face and he took two large steps back. "Who are you? Your presence is unfamiliar." Sun was mostly worried about the soul in Raven's body more than what it would do to her. He wouldn't be able to hurt her, that is certain.