Song recommendation: She couldn't (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OplU67FMw5U&list=PLcHRQsBCTIkc58QSni0_BTOMUaRfZs-az&index=91)
Varseille stood over Yashtara and punched her to the ground with a triumphant laugh. The black miasma began to fade revealing most of Yahstara's men were defeated. All around devastation reared its head as thousands of demons lay dead.
"I win," Varseille declared savagely.
"You damn, coward!" Yashtata hissed bitterly.
Varseille stared down unsympathetically. He had used a few toys but it was worth it...
The next blow sent Yashtara's body flying over the edge of the crater.
Varseille followed gingerly. He peeled one of her blades from the ground as he did. He had reached her outstretched body and was standing over with blade in hand about to finish the job when a block of earth jettisoned out of the ground and hit him square in the face.
He flew back a few feet. His mask was shattered in two and lay at his feet.
"YOU!" Versailles shrieked irate.
Clover gave a wave, "Miss me?"
"I knew it!" Varseille exiled the words furiously, "I should have spilled your guts across the wasteland!"
"Should've, would've, could've," Clover replied tauntingly.
"Well there's still time," Varseille bolted toward them.
However, the moment he reached them a line of flames blockaded his way. He jumped back just in time. His eyes reached sister Rena's cold absolution just as she raised her hand and the flames encircled him. He leapt back into the air.
The moment he did, a host of demonic sphere's surrounded him. He slammed back against the ground as the magic exploded all around. Varseille managed to throw himself but not before the magic decimated one of his hands. It was charred black and still flaming as he floundered backwards.
"I'm sorry kid," Albaric said as he threw down his blade.
It sliced through Varseille's back and he fell forward with a cry.
"ARGhh!" Varseille screamed, "It burns!! It BURNS!"
Clover stared down unsympathetically, "Mmm, holy magic hurts huh?"
Varseille continued to writhe in pain. Albaric came to Clover's side. He stared down pitying.
"Let's get this over with," he sighed.
Clover ignored him and leant down, "Where is the necklace?" they addressed Varseille.
"I don't have it!" Varseille cried.
"Liar," Clover grinned. "But maybe you're not motivated to tell us, mm? Let me help you with that,"
With a flick of their wrist, a sharp spike of earth burst out of the ground and went straight through Varseille's hand. He cried out and tears began to fall from his face.
"What the fuck are you crying about?" Clover stared down with cruel, red eyes.
"I don't know where it is!" Varseille snivelled, "I really don't know! Ace wouldn't tell me,"
"I don't believe you," Clover smiled, "let's try this again,"
"Clover," Albaric shifted uncomfortably, "he doesn't know,"
Rena joined him, "I agree. We should just search his palace,"
"Fine, I'm done," Clover stood but their eyes remained on Varseille spitefully.
He let out a whimper, dragging his fingers into the ground bitterly.
"What should we do with him?" Albaric glanced down apprehensively.
"Kill him," Clover answered once.
"What if we need him later?" Rena asked.
Clover shrugged, "Then what do you suggest?"
"Why don't you let me handle that?" came a voice.
Clover and the other's turned.
Yashtara met their stares with a smile. "It seems I owe you a debt of thanks, lord of the west."
----------------------
On the other side of the battlefield, a blood-curdling scream tore through the palace of cups.
"Kalandra!!!" Michael snarled. "Get out here!"
" I was going to play a bit more but hearing you scream my name is kind of a turn on,"she appeared with a smile.
Michael stared at her with wild manic eyes. He launched at her immediately. Walls of magic flew from all sides entrapping her. At the same time, Michael's blade swung at her throat.
Kalandra pivoted, evading the strike by a hair. She ducked back, surveying him apathetically.
"That was pretty close, my love," she said.
"Not fucking close enough!" Michael snapped his fist shut and the wall of water crashed down on Kalandra.
The waves smashed down brutally as Michael stood back watching coldly. However, within moments the wall water began to recede. Kalandra stood untouched with her hand outstretched and a merciless smile.
"Impossible," Michael's breathed unhinged.
He flew forward in a rage with a fist covered in magic and took aim at her face. Kalandra caught his hand and the magic instantly displaced. Michael stared at her in disbelief. Before he could counter, she sent him back with a kick to the stomach. He doubled over as he unbalanced and his knees hit the ground.
Kalandra walked up to him with dark solemn eyes. She held his face to hers.
"Demonic magic has its benefits," she whispered, "don't you think my love?"
"You're a demon?" Michael's eyes widened.
"No," Kalandra smiled, "just something I borrowed from Varseille. Thankfully you don't have any holy magic which makes this much easier,"
She kicked him straight in the chest and he hit the ground with a thud. He scrambled to rise and to grab his sword but she stepped on his hand. He let out a grunt as she kicked the sword away. Once more she leant down. He flinched at her touch as she roughly yanked him up by the hair.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't hit you in the face," Kalandra said drily, "You know how I love your face,"
She punched him once more in the gut before dragging his face an inch from hers. The blow was filled with enough demonic magic to drain his magic entirely. Michael let out an uneasy breath. He could barely move.
In spite of this, Michael gave a mirthless smile, "Enough with the foreplay. Just kill me, Kali."
"Kill you?" Kalandra stared at him uncomprehendingly, "Why would I kill you, Michael? I love you,"
For a moment Michael just stared at her speechless, but gradually the corners of his lips curled up into a smile. He burst into a fit of laughter.
"It's not funny," Kalandra hissed, "I love you so much. You don't even get it! How can you laugh in my face, huh?"
She hit him once more but it didn't stop the laughter. He glared at her unrepentantly.
"You wanted me to love you? No wonder you weren't satisfied. You have no fucking clue what love is, do you?" he scoffed.
This time Kalandra's hand came quicker than her restraint and she slapped him across the face.
"Shut up!"
Michael continued to smile with blood on his lips.
"You disgust me," he laughed, "You dumb bitch!"
Kalandra's hand flew out and she covered his lips. It came with such force that it knocked them both to the ground. She continued to throw her arms with closed fists in a blind rage. It was only at the sight of blood streaming from Michael's nose that caused her to stop.
His face was covered in blood and he wasn't moving. Kalandra threw up her hand shakily, staring down fearfully.
"You shouldn't have provoked me!" she spat.
However the moment after she said the words, a terrible remorse took hold. She shook her head wildly then to herself murmured, "No, no. It's okay. I stopped. You're still alive, aren't you? Michael? Just answer!"
Michael didn't answer. Kalandra put her head to his chest and let out a sigh of relief. She began to hastily wipe the blood from his face with her sleeve. Michael's head fell back as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
"I told you not to talk to me like that," Kalandra whispered, "do you hear me? This is not my fault,"
Michael's head fell to one side but Kalandra quickly pulled him back to face her.
"Stop it, Michael!" she tapped his cheek impatiently.
Michael's eyes fluttered open. He inhaled sharply upon meeting her feral purple eyes. He let out a shallow cough and Kalandra dabbed the blood away.
"You're fine. You're fine," she exhaled unsteadily, "Get up. Stop playing around,"
She leant in once more with her hand to sweep the hair from his face. Her cloak dipped over him and the moment he saw the glint of metal Michael reached out. He pulled one of Kalandra's blades from under her cloak and stabbed her with it in the abdomen.
Kalandra fell back with a stifled cry. Michael pulled himself with only anger as his strength. He wrestled her to the floor and managed to stab her once more in the stomach. This time she scrambled to escape but Michael grabbed her, dragging her back. Her hands came over her stomach as she rolled back in pain. She gritted her teeth staring wildly as Michael came on top of her with the blade still in hand.
Kalandra gave a shaky smile, "I thought you didn't want to kill anyone?"
"I'll make an exception for you," Michael swayed over her weakly.
As he raised the blade over her, Kalandra giggled. "Finally, you admit that I'm special to you?"
"You're right," Michael exhaled with difficulty, "I've never hated anyone as much I hate you right now,"
Kalandra gave a wide-childish smile. She outstretched her hand but it did not reach him. It hovered inches from him, searching without relief.
"You ...know," she laughed out in anguish, "when the light hits your eyes, they shine...this colour I've never seen before... like gold and they taunt me... taunt me with the promises your lip couldn't keep,"
Michael stared down unmoved, "You'll never know what promises I would have kept, Kali."
"But I love you, Michael!" Kalandra cried out. "I love you! Please, Michael! I love you,"
"So what?" Michael replied with ferocious eyes, "That was your mistake."
Michael tightened his grip around the blade, steading it with both hands and plunged the blade down...