Monsterhearts:Avarada

Monday August 25th, 2:15 AM
Wildomar, Chris's House

**Chris, Luana, and Liam have gathered in the ballroom. The large windows have all been shuttered and locked. The doors and exits locked tightly. Agatha and Orion have been sent out of the house to stay the night elsewhere. After a long conversation with Luana, Natalya has resigned to allow her to handle the ritual in her place.**

**Luana**: **She has been directing Liam for the last few minutes, setting up the materials for the ritual. She gave Liam the bag of salt a moment ago.** Now throw it all over the floor, evenly as you can.

**Liam**: **He rips open the top of paper wrapping.** ...I can't see... How am I supposed to know where to throw it, or how... Even it is?

**Luana**: **She shakes her head in silence, and then speaks in an annoyed tone.** I said as *Evenly as you can*! **She mutters something to herself.**

**Chris**: **He walks in carrying a large bag of about fifty candles and some other stuff.** I wasn't sure what size the candles should be, or if they should be a specific color, so I just bought everything they had at the store that day. **He opens the bag.**

**Luana**: Size and color don't matter.

**Chris**: So... Should we use these candles with the creepy pictures of Jesus on them?

**Luana**: *No*. No religious imagery... It upsets my stomach. **She grabs her wrist and cracks it loudly, then does the same thing with her fingers, like someone would crack their knuckles. She lets out a quiet sigh and mutters something again.**

**Liam**: **He shakes his head as he spreads the salt, thinking that not having a belief in God might be what got him into all of this mess in the first place.**

**Chris**: **He takes a deep breath, digging through the bag.** I guess this exorcism is going to smell like scented spring rain by Glade Candles then. **He starts pulling green candles out of the bag one by one, until there's seven of them.** Where do they need to be.

**Luana**: Place six of them, evenly spaced in an oval shape, around the salt, then the seventh in the middle.

**Chris**: **He bundles the candles up in his arms and walks around the edge of the salt, placing each candle down one by one.** So how are we going to get Shane... Or the demon, here?

**Luana**: I will summon him.

**Liam**: **He gulps as he spreads the last of the salt. He rubs his hands together to get most of it off his palms.** You can do that?

**Luana**: I have a doubt that there is a limit to the things I can do...

**Chris**: ...If that's true, couldn't you just... Use you powers to save Shane, and forego this ritual altogether?

**Luana**: Your mother and I have come to an agreement. This is to prove your strength and resourcefulness, it's not about saving your friend.

**Liam**: What if we fail... Will you save him?

**Luana**: **She lets out a raspy cough.** From what I've heard, this boy's life has been so ruined by this demon, that his death may be a release.

**Liam**: ...Please don't say that... **He frowns.**

**Chris**: Don't worry Liam. We didn't come this far to fail... **He looks at Luana with a bit of annoyance.**

**Luana**: **She clears her throat and leans forward. She blows air from between her lips, and a light breeze picks up. The salt spread across the ballroom floor shifts and begins to flow, shaping into two circles that line up with the six candles, and intersect where the seventh is placed at the center. Each of the circles is also lined with small rune-like lettering. The candles suddenly spark with light and flames flicker into being at their wicks. After a moment a third circle forms from the remaining salt that was blown outwards, into a larger ring that encompasses both of the smaller ones, and the three of them.** Get the sage and the snake venom, and I will explain what the two of you will have to do.

**Chris**: **He reaches into the large bag and pulls out a glass jar of venom. from his other pocket he pulls out a bundle of sage sticks wrapped in plastic.** Got'em.

**Luana**: **She holds her hand out towards him.** Venom.

**Chris**: **He walks over and hands her the venom.**

**Luana**: Light the sage and throw it into the circle closest to me. **She holds the jar up to her ear and shakes it several times.** This ritual is older than I am...

**Liam**: **He scratches his arm uncomfortably, unsure of what she means by that.**

**Chris**: **He lights one of the sticks of sage with one of the candles and then tosses it into the circle in front of Luana. The fragrance quickly begins to fill the area around them.**

**Luana**: It's a simple ritual. The circle farthest from me traps the demon, the circle before me keeps the boy safe from become possessed by it. When the possessed appears, you must move him into the farther circle, then push or pull him, into this one. That will rip the creature's presence from his body and keep it from jumping back into him. The largest ring will protect the three of us from the demon's harm. **She lets out an irritated sigh.** I shouldn't have to tell you that the demon will not willingly enter any of these circles, so you much force him in, in one way or another.

**Liam**: ...What do I have to do?

**Luana**: The three circles do nothing on their own. You must pour your will into the circle nearest to you, else the demon will not be held by it. **Her voice is become more and more annoyed. It seems that she hates explaining all of this.**

**Liam**: What do you mean? **He sighs.** And I can't even *see* the circles.

**Luana**: **She flicks her hand. The two circles of salt suddenly flare bright white into Liam's sight.** ...Do you want to save your friend or not?

**Liam**: **He blinks several times as he can suddenly see the glowing outlines of the salt.** Yes... More than anything.

**Luana**: **She lets out a raspy sigh.** You're a witch! You want something bad enough and you have a means to channel that want, it'll happen... The ring is such a thing, channel your will and spirit into *wanting* it to hold this demon, and it will be unable to escape! it's that simple!

**Liam**: **He winces slightly at her tone, but builds up his resolve and takes a deep breath. He holds his hands out and down towards the ring, making it almost look like he's trying to warm them at a campfire. He concetrates on what he wants.** I think I understand...

**Luana**: **She holds the jar of venom up to her mouth and whispers something at it, after a moment the venom roils and bubbles. She holds it out to Chris, the venom inside still bubbling.** Break this on the creature to stun and weaken it.

**Chris**: **He grabs it from her.**

**Luana**: Now I'm going to summon the demon. Once it is here the two of you will be on your own, I will not help you subdue it. All of my concentration will be on maintaining the ritual.

**Chris**: Fair enough I guess... **He takes off his jacket, and tosses it away. His human skin and facial features dissapear as green scales cover his body and his face shifts. Unlike previously, his muscles also bulk up beneath his scaly skin, becoming slightly larger and more defined. His tail is also longer than it was, but he doesn't notice these changes, too focused on what's going to happen and not familiar with this alterante form anyway.**

**Luana**: Invoco *Avarada*! **The whole huge house trembles slightly, and it seems to shift weight as all the walls strain and let out a creeking sound. The chandelere above begins shaking, the crystals in it jingling lightly. Luana narrows her eyes and then suddenly tightens her hands into claws, her knuckles cracking loudly.** ...*Invoco a prole diavo Avarada!*

**Chris sees Shane standing in the far corner of the ballroom for a split-second before the lights immediately die. The air becomes sickeningly warm and the scent of the candles seems to vanish, replaced with a smell of something like dust and burned hair. It's like the entire atmosphere of the room shifts in an instant. After a moment there's a tone from the piano, and a song starts playing in the darkness. Even the candles don't cast much light beyond the outer ring of salt.**

**Shane**: **His monotone voice, the voice that Chris heard, but somehow pushed from his mind weeks ago, creeps through the air. It sends chills down Liam and Chris's spines.** *So it all comes down to this night.* **There's a heavy thumping that shakes the floor beneath Chris's feet and the song being played on the piano becomes off-key, hauntingly so, and he melody turns strange and warped.**

**Chris**: **He looks to where he knows the piano is, in the far corner.** If you're in there Shane... Resist him as best you can cause we're saving you tonight! **He stands as ready as he can.**

**Shane**: *Shane is here. Watching quietly. He has learned his role in this.* **The tune on the piano turns deep an omnious, but his monoton voice is somehow audible with clarity.** *This is the end of the line for the three of you. The culmination of all the wrongs that can't be made right.*

**Liam**: Say whatever the hell you want, you can't make me feel any worse than I already do. **He stands defiantly still, despite being terrified.**

**Shane**: *Why don't you make one last wish Liam...* **A twisted taloned hand points forward from the darkness to Liam's left, just outside the outer ring. Liam can see it even though he's blind.** *The Ill-mother is frail and weak. Help me take her and I will undo all the horror you've caused. Shane will once again have his innocence, he will have his parents. All your friends will stop secretly hating you. You will have your sight. There will even be more chances for a boy to compress you between himself and that locker again.*

**Liam**: **He gulps.** Fuck off, I'm not falling for any of your bullshit! **He gulps again and trembles.**

**Shane**: *Let it never be said that you did not hold all the power within your grasp, Liam.* **The mutilated hand drops and vanishes.** *Then let us start.* **The piano stops playing, and a piercing golden light splits the darkness before Chris, shining down upon a single blonde-haired boy. Odie. He's shackled in black iron chains, which smoulder with wisps of smoke, and burn away at his wrists and ankles. His hair hangs in sweat-drench strings from his head, hiding his face face. His shirt and jeans are slashed in some places, and blood stains the edges of the tears.**

**Chris**: Odie! **He stumbles towards the edge of the ring.**

**Shane**: **The mutilated hand reaches from the darkness and clasps onto the top of his head, pulling it back so that Chris can see his face. He looks mostly unharmed, but not fully conscious.** *I will make this simple for you, little snake. You give me Liam, and I give you your friend.*

**Chris**: ...Odie... **He gulps and shakes his head, holding the jar of snake venom in his hand firmly.** Fuck no! I'm not making any deals with *you*!

**Shane**: **A second light shines, revealing Agatha, unconscious as well, with her face bloodied and beaten. Then a third, Orion, chained to a car seat and with his mouth wrapped tightly shut with what looks like a seatbelt.** *What about now? Three lives for one. I will even throw in Shane to make four. Take the deal. No one would think any less of you for it... You said it yourself...*

**Chris's own voice echoes through the darkness.** "There are no heroes... I didn't make my choice because it was the *right* one... I made it because... I love Agatha... I love my uncle... Good or bad... Right or wrong... Selfless or selfish... It's the one I made..."

**Shane**: *Push Liam out of the circle, and I will give you each of them. I will even throw in your friend, Shane.* **The taloned hand clasps down on Odie's head and lifts him up a good eight feet into the air.** *The life of a traitor for the lives of friends and family..*

**Chris**: **His reptillian eyes go wide as each of them is illuminated.** ...No... No... No way...

**Liam**: Don't listen to him Chris! It's a trick!

**Shane**: *Listen to the scared little Judas... What do you owe him? What has he done for you? All that has happened, has happened because he is stupid and selfish... Give him to me and he will pay for what he has done... If there is any justice in this world, then you know this is his fate...*

**Chris**: **His eyes dart to each of the three of them.**

**Shane**: *Still you hesistate... So let me sweeten the deal...* **A fourth light shines down, opposite of the others, and illuminates Karen, still in her black nightgown from earlier, she looks broken and beaten, her gown torn up and splatters of blood covering her attire. She's laying on the floor, her hair covering her face entirely.** *...The unfortunate Totenkopf dynasty... Their legacy becoming nothing more than infernal fuel for the flames of hell...*

**Chris**: **He closes his eyes and bites the inside of his lip, his sharp teeth cutting into it.** I'm sorry Liam.

**Liam**: **His voice cracks with a shriek.** *What*!?

**Chris**: **He opens his eyes and looks to Liam.** What am I supposed to do? You're the sole reason why this is even *happening*. Giving you up seems like the best course of action.

**Liam**: **He starts trembling.** ...Chris... You can't... Don't believe him... Please...

**Chris**: **He looks from Liam to the arm holding up Odie.** Liam for Odie, Shane, Agatha, Orion, and Karen's lives... That's the deal, nothing more, nothing less.

**Shane**: *Yes...* **Odie is suddenly set down.**

**Chris**: How do I know you'll keep your word?

**Shane**: *A demon has nothing else...*

**Chris**: **He shakes his head.** I'm sorry Liam. **He looks to the darkness in Odie's direction.** We'll shake on it... That way I know you'll be true to your word.

**Shane**: *If that's what it takes...* **Shane's right hand reaches from the darkness towards Chris. It's hooked golden nails sizzle with wisps of smoke as they reach the threshold of the protecting ring.**

**Chris**: **He walks to the edge of the ring and reaches his hand out.** I want to see Shane first. I want to see what the hell you've done to him.

**Shane**: **A golden light shines down on Shane's form suddenly. He looks like he's been stretched taller, and his clothing is shredded and ripped. His face looks normal, but his eyes are twin orbs of gold. A pair of golden wings spread from his back, and from the feathers hang chunks of skin. Liam can't see Shane, instead seeing the tall golden silhouette of the humanoid bird-like creature that initially appeared to him.**

**Chris**: ...What the hell have you done to him?

**Liam**: Chris... Please don't do this...

**Shane**: *I will return him to his normal, untainted state, all that is required is Liam...* **He thrusts his right hand forward more, and the skin starts to sizzle and bubble.**

**Chris**: **He reaches out and grabs the demon's hand firmly.** You better keep your word...

**Shane**: *I fully intend to...* **His golden eyes dart to look at Liam, and a soft smile spreads across his face.**

**Chris**: **His tail suddenly whips around hims and slams the jar of venom down onto Shane and he grips the dark hand with both of his tightly, pulling the demon into the circle.**

**Shane**: **He lets out a roaring shriek and despite Chris pulling with all his strength, Shane pulls his arm backward and rips Chris over the threshold of the circle.** *YOUR TONGUE IS FORKED!* **He throws Chris across the room and into the darkness, sending him slamming against a far wall.**

**Chris**: **He slides down the wall and lands on his feet with perfect balance. He coughs, but shrugs off the pain of having been thrown into the wall.** Thought you'd like a taste of your own medicine. **His eyes form into slits so he can see slightly better in the dark.**

**Shane**: **He shrieks in agony as the venom seems to be burning him like acid. As he does the forms of Karen, Odie, Orion, and Agatha slump over and turn into nothing more than the chairs and sheets from the tables that are sitting in the ballroom.** *You will pay with your BLOOD!*

**Chris**: **He runs towards Shane quickly like a linebacker, and slams into him full-force to tackle him into the circle.**

**Shane**: **He turns as Chris runs at him, and before he's able to reach him he throws out his left hand and parallel golden beams tear forth from his mutilated fingers and scream through the darkness towards Chris.**

**Liam**: **He lets out a yell, and a blast of wind slams into Shane's outstretched hand, causing the beams to miss their mark as they streak harmlessly away from Chris.**

**The beams cut through the far wall and then blast it apart. causing the house to shutter and tremble.**

**Chris**: **Despite having slowed for a moment when Shane raised his arm, knowing what would come next, he leaps forward and picks up speed, slamming into the demon and pushing him into the circle nearest to Liam.** Hold him Liam!

**Liam**: I got it! **He holds out his hand and pour all his will and anger into the ring.**

**Shane**: **One of his wings whips out and knocks Liam's legs out from under him, breaking his concentration. The venom is really starting to seep into his body, and the feathers all over him seem to be flying off in a flurry of golden pinions. He immediately pushes himself to his feet and grabs Chris, pulling him up and then slamming him down into the ballroom floor at the center of the circle.** *You could have taken the deal, even if it was a farce, and saved yourself a great deal of blood shed.* **He then leaps from the ring and away from its binding influence and throws Chris across the room.** *You want to see real magic?!* **He throws out his left hand and gilden beams tear forth towards Chris again.**

**Liam**: **He sees what Shane is going to do, and again releases another blast of wind that slams into the demon to throw his aim off.**

**Shane**: **Again, the beams rip through one of the far walls of the house and another golden explosion follows. He quickly slams his foot on the ground and a pulse of golden light rips through the floorboards, across the ballroom towards Chris.**

**Chris**: **He gets to his feet as quickly as he can, not feeling so well after being throw twice in under a minute. He leaps out of the way of the pulse of light and tumbles to the floor, rolling to his knees.** You'll have to do better than that!

**Shane**: **The pulse of light keeps going and crashes into the wall. There's a dull thrumming sound, and the house shakes again.** *Taunting me? ...I am going to rip that arrogance from your broken bones before the night is done...* **He leaps into the darkness and vanishes. As he does, south-east tower of the house suddenly collapses and falls inwards into the ballroom, towards Chris.**

**Chris**: Shit!- **He gets to his feet and runs foward towards the center, jumps back into the protective circles.**

**Shane**: **The huge crystal chandelier above them begins to glow with golden light and then suddenly flashes, falling down towards the ritual rings. It slams into an invisible barrier, and then blasts apart into pieces sent at opposite ends of the room.**

**Luana**: **She coughs lightly and just shakes her head.**

**Shane**: *It was worth a try...*

**Chris**: **He's breathing heavily, but lets out a sigh of relief, before looking back into the darkness.** I thought you said the snake venom would weaken him?

**Luana**: He *is* weaker.

**Chris**: Heh... **He shakes his head and rubs his back and cracks his neck.** You fuck'n kidd'n me? **He coughs and pats some dust off of himself from the fallen tower.** Can you see him Liam?

**Liam**: **He turns and looks up at the ceiling, then looks around the room.** Umm...

**Liam sees the bright golden silhouette slowly stomping around a few feet outside the ring.**

**Liam**: **He boils up all his anger towards this demon.** I see him... **He throws out both of his hand and a tunnel of wind vacuums Shane towards him suddenly, to the edge of the circle and into the light.** Grab him!

**Chris**: **He leaps forward and grabs Shane, and pulls him back into the ring, then pulls his leg out from under him with his tail to keep him off balance and throws him into the ring in front of Liam.** You got him!?

**Liam**: I do this time! **He pours his rage into the circle and a slight vortex of wind rises up at its edge.** Push him!

**Chris**: **He throws himself into Shane and tackles him down into the next ring in front of Luana, with all his strength.**

**Shane**: **As he stumbles into the second ring, pulling Chris with him, there's a suddenly surge of golden light that rips from his body, seeming to literally tear all the mutilated changes out of Shane as he stumbles into the next ring. He immediately slumps to the ground limply.**

**Avarada**: **The golden light shifts until it forms into a hunched twisted humanoid with golden feathers, holding a gnarled wooden staff and a large tome. The form keeps an almost ethereal appearance, being almost invisible, like golden light glinting off of water. His monotone voice rings out.** *Now what are you going to do? Stare me down... Hate me to death...* **His form shifts to looks like a smoky version of Liam with a pair of glowing golden eyes that peer level to Liam's.**

**A dark voice, terrible and chilling, echoes through the house. A deep rumbling hum, like a great stone being slid over bare rock accompanies it.**

**Xephonsacul**: **Our golden bird, with wings still clipped.** **A bright crimson jack-o-lantern smile appears in the darkness.**

**Beliruy**: **A second smile appears opposite that one.** **I take half and I take half... That way we each a whole half for me...**

**Despite there being two apparent demons present, Liam can't see anything other than their crimson grins in the dark.**

**Xephonsacul**: **A fair compromise...** **A hundred glowing crimson chains tear from the shadows and stab into Avarada, they weave through his body like a hundred needles through cloth, and then blast out the other side towards the smile opposite of them. Avarada drops his staff and book, both go clattering to the floor as he grabs at the chains trying to tear them out. After a moment the chains pull taught, and Liam's shadowy doppelganger's top half is ripped away from the bottom and pulled into the shadows, screaming.**

**Beliruy**: **He lets out a ear-piercing sigh.** **I wanted the top half so I could hear it *sing*...**

**Xephonsacul**: **I'll make him sing loud enough for you to hear... All the way over there...**

**Beliruy**: **He lets out a deep sigh.** **I'm going to hold me to that promise...** **The two smiles vanish, and the lights flicker back on as soon as they do.**

**Luana**: **She's sweating, and coughs several times as she walks over to one of the tables to take a seat. It's obvious that this has tired her out quite a bit, despite her earlier claims of being limitless in power.**

**Shane**: **He's laying in the ring, most of his shirt ripped to tatters.**

**Taylor**: **Rolling 1-6 for Shane's state of mind: 2.**

**Illiadius**: **Rolling 1-6 for Shane's state of mind: 6.**

**2 + 6 / 2 is 4**

**Liam**: **He rushes to Shane's side, grabbing onto him to make sure he's next to him, since he can't see him.** Shane?! **He shakes him slightly.**

**Chris**: **He walks up to Shane, looking down at him.** ...Shane?

**Liam**: Hoes does he look?

**Chris**: ...Surprisingly normal...

**Shane**: **He opens his eyes, looking to Liam. His face remains stern, and after a moment he grabs Liam's shoulder and pulls himself up. He's breathing heavily, and he looks tired, with dark rings around his eyes.**

**Chris**: Shane are you... You? **He's still in reptilian form.**

**Shane**: **He lets out a deep sigh.** ...Yeah. **He looks down at his hand and balls it up into a fist.** ...Yeah... I'm me.

**Liam**: **He smiles and pulls himself up.** We did it! **He grabs Shane's shoulder and pats him on the back.**

**Shane**: **He turns and immediately sends his fist crashing into Liam's face, knocking him clean out, with a single punch, sending Liam bouncing to the salt-covered ground and into one of the candles, knocking it over. He turns and looks at Chris, with smoldering fury.**

**Chris**: Shane?

**Shane**: **He shakes his head and takes a step towards Chris, then pauses, turning and walking towards the massive hole in the wall.**

**Chris**: Shane?! Where are you going!?

**Shane**: You... **He looks back at Chris, continuing to talk.** STAY THE FUCK *AWAY* FROM ME. **He climbs over the rubble, and down over the other side.**

**Chris**: **He furrows his brow, not entirely sure what he expected from Shane after what he'd been through.** Well I can't say I expected gratitude. **He turns and looks to Liam and sighs.**

**Luana**: I've never seen a boy get up and walk away from something like this. **She lights a cigarette and puts it to her lips.** They're usually screaming... Or crying... **She shrugs.** ...Or pissing themselves.

**Chris**: **He looks to Luana as she speaks, and then to Liam. He walks over and pats Liam a few times, lightly slapping his face.** Hey... Liam... C'mon... Wake up Liam...

**Liam**: Uh... **His eyes open after a moment.** ...What... What happened?

**Chris**: Shane cleaned your clock... Guess as revenge for what's happened...

**Liam**: **He sighs.** Is he ok? Shane?

**Chris**: He walked off, I don't know where to...

**Liam**: ...What? After all that he just left?

**Chris**: Considering what he's been through, I don't really blame him. If I were in his place I'd have done the same thing... **He helps Liam up.**

**Natalya**: **She's suddenly standing before the two of them.** It appears you passed the trial... **She glares down at Chris.** ...Though I would've like to devour that demon. **She looks to Luana.**

**Luana**: He's where he belongs... **She puts her cigarette to her lips.** ...Perhaps one day you'll eat the demon that took him.

**Natalya**: **She narrows her eyes, and then looks to the crumbled section of the house.**

**Chris**: Guess we can't have that party now that the house is falling apart...

**Natalya**: I'll have Agatha call a contractor. It will be fixed by the week's end... We need to make a show of our wealth... We'll say that it's merely a renovation. **She looks to Chris.** I am impressed... Well done, my son... Seek your rest... Tomorrow is another day. **She turns and walks off.**

**Liam**: Well that's probably the nicest thing I've ever heard her say... **He pauses.** ...She left right?

**Chris**: Yeah. She left. **He shifts to human form and shakes his head.**

**Liam**: ...I'm still worried about Shane.

**Chris**: **He sighs.** He got up and walked off... I'm sure he can take care of himself if... He's literally *walking off* a demonic possession...

**Liam**: ...I hope so.