"The man in black?"
"You may call me Otis, Lance." He smiled.
Alphine crossed her arms angrily at Otis who gawked back at her , his brown eyes wide with awe. She was a tall young woman with platinum blonde hair and dark almond eyes framed by long lashes that were so dark they blended into the rest of her complexion making her appear almost like one of those vampires on TV.
"Lance...please tell me why you are so scared?" Otis asked.
Lance shifted uncomfortably on the ground. It seemed as if he hadn't been listening to him after all.
"I'm just...scared," He muttered.
Otis frowned. The boy had never been this nervous around anyone else but his father. He sighed. "Okay Lance, I promise I'll be gentle with you okay, but you got to try this time."
He nodded.
Otis kneeled down so that he was eye level with Lance. The young boy was very much afraid of his father and his new reality set out before him. He didn't know if he was ready for such drastic changes yet. What if he failed? Or what if he did something wrong? He felt tears start to well up inside his eyes.
"I am a seraph leader and you have my guidance, Lance." He affirmed.
"What will that mean for me?" Lance questioned.
Touching Lance's forehead lightly with his fingers, a pair of blue wings embedded a sigil quickly fading away and leaving only faint outline of the sigil behind. Otis looked up into Lance's face again.
"You'll have to trust me…wake up!"
With that said Otis stood abruptly and turned around. Turning his attention to the other seraphs watching curiously from the shadows. His voice raised in power causing them to tremble and fall silent.
"We've found another human," Another seraph shouted.
Lance woke up gasping for air as he pressed his hand against his chest to feel his heart hammering furiously in his chest. He could feel sweat forming upon his skin as it soaked through his clothing. He took a few deep breaths attempting to calm himself down.
"I am healed…" He muttered.
[But the fight is still on…time for your your turn, Lance]
Coy still enraged battering Shay left and right in their mutant and deformed forms fighting hard pushing into each other angrily . They had decided not to use magic to fight each other as they both knew their powers were stronger in terms of muscle.
Shay's form changed first becoming more muscular in shape with more fur gathering along his body. His claws grew longer and more menacing.
He lunged forward and raked his claws across Coy's neck. Coy roared with rage as he threw himself at Shay, claws extended, ready to rake against Shay's skin. 'He really is a beast!' Coy thought.
'I need to keep my cool until…I knew Shay was strong, but I had no idea how!'
As soon as Coy was distracted Shay pounced onto him and bit down onto him shoulder viciously sinking his teeth into Coy's flesh. Coy yelped in pain, dropping the sword Shay had stolen when they'd fought.
With a quick flick of her wrist Shay tossed his sword aside where it clattered to the floor. Coy grabbed Shay by the throat as he thrashed about trying to get loose. A sharp pain shot through his skull which caused his head to snap back. Her grip loosened and she fell backwards onto concrete floor with Shay falling atop him.
Coy groaned feeling the weight of Shay crushing his windpipe. With his free hand, he grabbed hold of the scruff of Shay's neck and pushed upwards forcing Shay off of him. He rolled over onto his stomach coughing roughly as he sucked for breath.
[Lance, this is your life now and if you don't get with it you will be killed again]
Lance stood there in shock holding tight to the weapon given to him. He could feel the blood congealed to his body , the warmth soaking through his shirt, staining the white fabric. The world seemed to tilt dangerously. He gripped the hilt tighter, refusing to let go.
[Your father won't kill you, Lance as people like Shay and Coy will]
His grip faltered and Shay lunged at him once more, clawed hands reaching out to rip out Lance's throat. Lance stumbled backwards towards the wall as he raised the blade to block his attack. Their swords clanged together making him wince.
[Don't give up!]
"Gahh! You're killing me!" He choked out.
[You want to stay alive?]
"Yes! I won't leave her here alone!" He cried out as he continued to struggle for his life.
[Then listen to me, Lance. Come on! Your father is a strong fighter but you're better than him, so come home with us once you have become more!]
He felt body become hot, his eyes started to turn red bleeding down the sides of his eyes as he stood up with new found blood lust. His sword arm began to burn, he could feel fire engulfing his hand, scorching and devouring everything that touched him.
[Yes…Lance, but you accepted more than just life…]
Lance just like Coy became possessed enraged and angry thrashing at Shay . Shay tried desperately to dodge the blows but Lance kept slashing at him without mercy.
[We seraph will guide you in our glory if you rule]
"Shut up!" Lance growled.
[The seraph own your heart and now forever you will be re-birthed in an endless cycle of death and rebirth under our command! You will be above the Crimson Crow]
Lance slashed wildly at Shay knocking her back several steps. Shay snarled at him, his yellow eyes burning a bright fiery orange. He backed away clutching his burning arm, blood seeping between his fingers as it dripped to the floor.
Shay was frightened, he could see that from his expression. He wasn't the same Lance anymore. He was furious and desperate, a feral animal latching onto any creature it came across, whether it be an enemy or an ally, even humans. He knew that Lance had lost his sanity a while ago and that this was how it would end.
[Come on Lance, you can do this]
His system encouraged. He swung the blade at him again, he dodged but it missed cutting into her tail. He swiped at his leg but Lance managed to sidestep and swipe at the side of his neck. He screamed in pain as the sword dug deep into his side. The wound instantly began to fester with infection.
[Come on, Lance! Fight for yourself!]
A loud shrieking filled his ears as Lance fell to the ground screaming in agony clutching his head and struggling to breathe. He could only feel rage coursing through him, the desire to tear her apart.
[Lance! You are now a mighty seraph deep inside]
Suddenly there was a burst of energy and then everything went pitch black. Lance could hear nothing but silence, his hearing muffled. His vision became blurred for a moment and then suddenly it snapped back into focus as he gasped for breath.
He blinked rapidly in surprise as he saw that everything around him was coated in thick red, blood covered dirt and rock. Slowly he lifted himself up and staggered towards Shay who laid on the ground writhing in agony. Blood oozed from his wound.
Lance dropped the sword and bent down beside him grabbing a handful of her fur. Suddenly Shay opened his amber colored eyes staring directly into his green eyes. There was a slight glint of hope in his eyes as he reached up and held his trembling hand with hers weakly gripping onto his hand.
"Help me…" He whispered. "Please…help."
Hearing that Lance did not care ready to come in for the kill but before he could raise the sword above his head he fell unconscious, lying limply beside Shay.