Guardian's Redemption

Chapter Forty Five

They watched the entire battle unfold from the Inner Sanctum's spire; Ashley was so horrified at Ben's transformation that she was on her knees with tears rolling down her face. The Highlord's were stunned at the sudden transformation that the man had taken. It was believed that the cruel, evil souls of men and women could and would become hellions. This scale of power was nothing ever heard of. Ben's companions on the other hand stood their calmly, as if they had been waiting for this to happen.

"His eyes..." Ashley said in a whisper as Dyrune knelt beside her. The man was trying to comfort her but it wasn't working. "His eyes are red, aren't they?" Dyrune looked away not wanting to say yes. "I used to see those eyes in my dreams, but I didn't know who or what it was." Ashley burried her face into her chest. All Dyrune could do was wrap his arms around her trembling frame as she wept.

Jessica had finally regained her consciousness and was leaning on Ajax. She was watching the last of the fight. "It's not possible," tears rolling down her face as well. Jessica hadn't really shown any emotion for Ben since they had known him, it was true that she had been around Ben and Ember for a long time. Then the  woman had just stopped.

Ashley saw how her sister had a growing hate for the man the longer she was around him but she didn't understand why. She was wrong about Jessica's hate. It didn't matter how angry they were at one another, there was still a caring portion there. Had the woman secretly loved him like a brother or was there a jealous thought that Ember had stolen the man from Jessica .

"Highlords I ask you one thing at this moment." Azrael said breaking the silence and Ashley's running thoughts about Jessica. "Protect the girls here and protect the city for the sake of humanity. You still have a demon army on your front porch."

"Time to go to work boys!" Xavier was cheerfully hefting his giant blade and disappearing from sight.

"Make sure Pockets is notified and gets here." Dyrune rose for the ground, smiling at Ashley.
"Man, I hate being the decoy. Please don't make me the decoy." He took a step then disappeared from sight as well.

Dyrune reappeared next to Xavier way outside the Sanctum's walls. Both men were watching Ben's growing demonic form. Ben had begun to sprout four black wings and a wicked tail, his once elegant katana was still that corrupted form that kept leaking out even more malevolent soul power. The power of this creature was truly immense and it was hard to breath just being this close to him. Dyrune gave a sigh at that sight of his friend. The assassin drawing his twin scimitars and summoning his element.

"Vorca, Reign, bare with me." the assassin said to his twins.

Air went swirling around Dyrune's blades, looking as if the man was holding two tornadoes that were vortexing around the metal. He sprang away to the right, running with all his speed, seeking to flank. Xavier on the other hand ran straight for Ben, the large man jumping into the air with fire roaring about his blade as it came to slam against Ben's dark weapon. The fire was stuffed out instantly.

"You are weaklings!" The Hunter spat at the large brute. "You can't seal me again fools."

Thus came Ben's own onslaught. The man swinging his corrupted blade madly like a wild animal in a corner. Xavier was forced on the defensive and even with his best effort; the demon began inflicting numerous small cuts on the big man's arms and shoulders. These were only shallow wounds, but even a large dam with enough holes in it will burst. Suddenly the Hunter was knocked of balance, hitting the ground with a resounding crash. In its place stood a grinning Dyrune twriling his swords.

Even as Xavier stepped forward to deliver the coup de grace, a flood of dark energy erupted from Ben. This sent the big man flying away like a rag doll as Ben rose to his clawed feet. Malice emitting from the Hunter as he cracked his neck.