It is still colder, more shadowy and the sky is redder somehow. The wind is blowing red dust everywhere. We are caught in a violent storm of sorts or atleast that is what it looks like.

Black lighting is striking but at most frequency at what looks like the centre of the storm in the distance where a mass of dark clouds are concentrated. The inhuman shrieks are loudest there too.

There is no one at the camps so they must be there and if all the troops are there then something major must be happening.

"Temi, if you please."
She nodes curtly and takes my hand a portal swirling at her touch at nothing. We all walk through.

Right into the middle of the battle field and we are loosing. A lot of us, well those intact are littering the ground. Others are scattered in bits and pieces.
A huge wall like sixty feet upwards and spanning as far as my eyes is can see stands before us punctured with littering holes here and there.

Breaches have been made through and more are still being made by a huge serpentine monster. Basically a huge black snake with a powerful tail easily towering over the arena demoslishing.

If memory serves me right this arena was built to contain the monsters and demons and it easily spans three major cities. Many people died for this cause. Magical enforcement spells from the secret siren have held out.

There is a thin line of defense holding out the escaping demons and the troops are being overwhelmed by the numbers.

The demons and monsters spot us and come charging from all directions as if responding to our prescence. The kids behind us look grim but firm, clearly they prefer dying in a fight.

The reinforcements will never get here in time. The black lighting cracks across the red sky above us rousing me from my thoughts. I unsheath my sword and raise it planting it firmly in the ground.

A shimmery white barrier erupts encasing us and the kids in my vicinity within. The demons and monsters knock against it and they immediately turn to ashes.

"Well now let's get down to business." I turn to the battered teenagers who are visibly shaken huddling away from my barrier.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." I try to smile but my muscles feel tight. I give up. Artemis turns to me after longingly looking at the barrier and determining it won't fail. Am in control.

"Sheila step forward." A girl a bit older than us but surely beat and grim steps forward.

"Report" Temi's voice carries authority.

"They are all all dead ma'am. All the sentries of the watch towers, the guards at entry points, first line of defense, second line, third line and fourth line. We are down to fifth line and scouts. When the reinforcements arrive we shall be to the last line of defense and third chain of command."
That is alot of dead people.

"How did that happen?"
I don't think Temi has considered the giant snake that looks like it's enjoying pummeling the walls and coating them in acidic venom.

"The sentries reported a huge spike in activity. We got here as those massive dark clouds gathered and the portal blew wider and all sorts of new atrocities started climbing out." The girl eyes the gigantic snake that surely is the trump card.
So the lighting is excess energy coming off the portal from the gift box of unpleasantness from Nyx. Am disappointed.

Karim has been eyeing me this entire time. I can't quite put my finger on it but he is different. Emmeline and Shen are flanking him.

The barrier is completely encased in ashes as the demons and monsters keep pummeling into it obscuring my view of the giant acidic snake.

Scream, screeches, growls and all sorts of noises keep going on around us.

"Can you keep a portal going?" We need to evacuate everything outside the wall. Am sure whoever was inside the wall is dead or soon will be.

"Yes. But you must keep contact with me." Well am an endless supply of her portal energy.

"Who will keep the monsters and demons at bay then?"
Obviously they'll come at us.

"We may be able to cover a three metre radius if you guys help"
Shen turns to the teenagers. They all nod grimly holding onto their weapons. He pulls out his alminium tonfas ready.

Temi places her hand into mine holding tightly as she creates a portal cackling with blue electricity. I lower my barrier plucking my sword out of the ground bathing us in ashes and dust.

The black lightening cackles as everyone scatters in different directions to try and rescue whoever they can. I feel impatient. Am itching to blow off some steam.

The monsters and demons don't seem to stand a chance against Emmeline and Karim's dual assault. They move as once. But that doesn't phase me. It's the way Karim moves around Emmeline, his fighting looks honed. He has skills that come from long hours of training yet I know, he has never achieved that training.

Those who can still move carry their injured comrades as they fill into the portal to the pocket realm. The way he is poised as he fires his arrow...... Karim somehow isn't Karim yet he is the same. I remember what happened to him when we encountered the blood fae, how his eyes looked so darkling like and somehow I feel I ought to remember something.

I may be currently disconnected from my emotional self but I still have the important one, I still love and protect those dear to me.

"That is everyone around alive in our vicinity.
Shen joggs over shouting over the wind and lighting. Temi closes the portal. I look at the littered dead ones once more and pray they rest in peace.

The demons and monsters start charging at us once again from all sides.

"Shen and Emmeline flank Artemis. Artemis cover me. Karim you come with me. Flank me."
They all shake their heads curtly.
The wind whips my hair around my face.

Artemis hands me a hair tie and I quickly collect my short hair in a bun trying to not think about Jake.

She hold my hand and opens a portal. She jumps in with the others appearing at one of the towers.

I turn to Karim. He wraps his arms around me and we let our silence communicate. I hold him tight with one hand not caring about the demons and monsters. Somehow, am not afraid anymore.

"Let's finish this" He brushes a strand of red off my cheek and I bury my face in his palm. I shake my head and I feel the telltale shift as we teleport onto the top of the wall.

I squint my eyes in the wind as we kneel with Karim. He has his now already strung shooting at the monsters coming at us. I aim for the snake's head. It seems to sense for my gaze and it ceases pummeling the walls and turns to look at it.

I tighten my sword and teleport to its head. It's very slippery and I can't get my footing. I start sliding off as the snake shakes me off. Arrows fly over my head into it's soft underside. It lowers it's head to protect it's vulnerable under side from the assaulter.

That gives me enough ground to poise myself. I give Temi a hands up as I raise my head and bury it in it's skull will little force. It feels like sticking a tooth pick in soft butter. I love this sword more and more.

It tries to shake me off but I hang on burying the sword deeper till the entire blade is inside its head. It writhes around. Am gleeful. It's pain makes me feel good.
It spews acidic venom everywhere.

"Burn" I watch as my flames wrap from the sword engulfing the giant snake. It falls and mini tremors reverberate in the arena.
I pull out my sword as the last of the flames turn it into flames.

I look up to see the demons and monsters retreating from Karim. The snake must have been their big gun. It was even barely a work out.

I teleport to him and bring him back down with me. The ground is packed with heaps of dead people. The reaper must be having a field day. I feel sorry they had to die in such terror, all those battalions of promising young souls. Like my brother. I shall end this.

Temi, Shen and Emmeline step out of a portal. They look around their from faces speaking volumes. The wind peaks more.
The demons and monsters are keeping their distance circling but I doubt it'll be long till they charge again. We have to close the hole they are crawling from.
I reach into the nothingness. It has to be here. My hands wrap around a small bottle.

It has a swirling mist inside. You have to be kidding me. Something that small can plug up the hole that is rousing such a storm? I sigh and put into one of my trouser pockets.

We start running to the centre of the storm passing death everywhere. We reach the portal out of breath. There fifteen feet away from lies a gaping hole in the ground that is spewing demons and monsters.

The black lightening is originating from deep within it as it disperses into the dark clouds above it. There are no bodies littered here. Just heaps of organs, bits of flesh, bones, severed parts littered around. A few head with crushed skulls. I hear slurping sounds but I don't turn. I know I won't like what I see but it's more likely some monster chewing on someone's head or whichever part.

I start towards the portal brandishing my sword ready to end this mess here but am stopped by footsteps and enchanted laughter followed by applause. I stop short. I know that laugh.

Laden comes into view with a devil may care smile. Before I know it, my legs are carrying me to him.