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Conquest

Part 1-Conflageration

By LeCount

Featuring Character by LeCount and Tamashi

Night had fallen over the small mountain village. The nightly chill had started to creep through the streets causing most of the residents to retreat into their houses, taking comfort from the warm fires that burned in their hearths, which left the streets mostly empty, filled only with long, dark shadows. But, at the edge of town, something unnatural began to creep through those shadows.

The creature was a demon. He was small for a demon, only just barely six feet tall. His torso was covered in dark greenish-gray fur, except below his knees and elbows where the fur gave way to midnight black scales, similar to those one would find on a reptile. The same scales covered the long, forked tail that flicked behind him as he made his way closer through the village. The most striking feature about him, however, was the fact that instead of a face of flesh and blood, his was only bone. The skull was a mixture between canine and reptile and extended for most of his face, stopping just above his forehead, where it melded back into fur and flesh. He had four empty eye sockets, and four long horns wrapping around his head, two of which jutted into the uppermost of the eyes.

Just as he did every night, the demon began to creep through the darkness, his form almost seeming to flow like a liquid between each shadow as he moved down the road. A door opened and he startled. He pushed up against the wall and his body dissolved, melting into the deep shadow and disappearing entirely.

Two dogs ran out the door. They stopped for a moment to sniff warily at where the demon had been standing only moments ago, before they ran down the empty street towards the forest outside town. The street remained silent and empty for several minutes before the demon reformed--the shadows solidifying back into his form as he continued his slow creep into the town.

Finally, he reached his destination. He peered inside the dark window of the house he stood in front of. A small girl lay in her bed, shivering--she was deeply afraid of the dark the night brought. The demon had been visiting her for several nights.

His skull face somehow twisted into something resembling a smile as he flicked his clawed finger towards the window. The shadows cast by the fire behind the girl's door began to twist and writhe, climbing themselves and solidifying. The girl sat up and watched, her eyes wide as she gripped the blankets closer around herself for protection.

The shadows coalesced forming a creature. The girl gasped as a small house-cat made entirely of darkness jumped onto her bed and curled up in her lap. She let out a small giggle as it flipped onto its back as she began to pet at it. The demon outside chuckled with joy as well as he pointed as several other shadows in her room. Soon, the bedroom was filled with birds and butterflies and fairies. The girl looked around, her eyes filled with joy. Once again, as it had been for the last several nights, the darkness that terrified her had suddenly become comforting and magical. She felt herself struggling to stay awake as the fear gave way to tiredness. The demon watched as she lay down on her bed, holding the cat close, and fell asleep. He pointed one last time in the window and the shadow creatures melted, their forms falling to the ground and returning to their original positions.

The demon turned and walked away, heading back towards the forest. He'd only been living in the small cave just outside town for a few weeks, but already he was sure he'd finally found a place to call home. Ever since he'd left Hell, he'd been wandering the mortal world, looking for somewhere that would accept him. Unlike many demons, this one desired peace with the humans. He found it far more satisfying to use his powers to bring joy to these beings that were weaker than him. Sure, his control over shadows couldn't do much, but still he was able to bring some small amount of happiness to the lives of these people. He had even chosen his name, "LeCount," to be far less terrifying sounding than other demons for this reason. He reached the edge of town once more and stopped.

A shiver went through him as he felt a wave a dark magic cascade out from the center of the village. The smell of smoke and brimstone washed over him--the smell of home. A portal had opened and another demon had arrived. He turned and rushed back into town. This time, he ignored the shadows and simply ran as hard and as fast as he could.

The closer he got to the center of town, the greater the smell of smoke became. And, as he reached the square, he saw why. Large flames billowed in a small hurricane, growing larger and larger by the second. In the center, he could make out the vague form of something, probably the demon that was casting this spell. It had to be a powerful one too judging by the intensity of this magic.

The flames reared back and started to billow outward, engulfing the village.

LeCount, unable to stop them, was only able to wrap himself in a veil of shadows to protect himself before they engulfed him.

An hour later, the flames finally subsided. The screams of the people in the village burning had subsided long before then, but the demon in the center had kept the spell going, seemingly wanting to leave nothing standing. LeCount, exhausted by the effort, let his barrier drop and turned to look at the monster that had done this.

The demon that stood in the center of the ashes was clearly one of great power. He stood a little higher than eight feet tall. Unlike LeCount, this demon was almost entirely draconic in appearance. Dark purple scales covered his body, occasionally giving way to patches of fur in a slightly darker color. Sharp, scales protruded from his back, almost fin-like in appearance, leading down to a long, draconic tail that whipped behind him, the razor sharp tip whistling as it moved through the air. One of his ears flicked and he turned and looked at LeCount, his eyes a burning yellow color surrounding a thin black pupil.

The lesser demon was suddenly gripped with a sense of terror. He turned and ran.

"Interesting." The greater demon, Vanyx, hissed, watching his kin run away. He waited for a moment, finding himself intrigued, before he decided to pursue.

LeCount rushed through the trees and underbrush. He had to get away. The village was gone and nothing would live in a place scorched by demonic fire. If he could just get to his cave he could cast wards, hide himself, and start on the process of summoning a portal. He saw the mouth of it just ahead of him.

Then something jumped out of the brush beside him and tackled him to the ground.

He stared up at the greater demon staring down at him, a wicked smile on its face. Up close he could see the demon's muscles rippling underneath the creature's skin--skin that was covered in scars, some of which were oozing black blood.

"You gave me quite the chase," Vanyx spoke, his voice deep and rumbling, "but did you really think you could escape from me?" He got to his feet and let the lesser demon stand. "Now, you're a demon. One quite fit to serve I'd say. Why didn't you assist me in burning down that village of pathetic humans? And furthermore, why did you run from me?"

LeCount turned and tried to walk away. "It's none of your business. Leave me alone."

He felt a clawed hand seize his arm in a vice-like grip. "I asked you a question. Answer."

LeCount clawed at the arm holding him, but no matter how much blood he drew Vanyx didn't seem to care. "They were peaceful and kind!" He spit at Vanyx. "All you greater demons care about it killing and burning as much of the world as you possibly can. Now let me go."

"You would sympathize with these insects?" Vanyx laughed. "Well, you've got my interest, which is quite hard to do. Unfortunately, I can't let you go now." He reached up and slammed his fist into the smaller demon's head. LeCount crumpled to the ground unconscious.

"Now," Vanyx muttered to himself, "let's get you back to my palace and see what fun we can have."