I'll always be there to protect you

Drayce then noticed the small cross branded on the side of Simon's neck. He was a Crusader. No wonder he knew of demons. Fiona once said their order was old, spanning many centuries. Apparently, she was not mistaken.

"I'm so sorry!" Rosa said, trying to comfort him. "Your brother was a good man."

"He was always trying to prove he was better than me, especially since we were twins. We sparred all the time, training ourselves to the limit. It's how he got that scar across his left eye. I swung my sword too fast and it grazed him. I felt so bad about it, but his vision turned out to be fine. He shrugged the incident off, said the scar served as a reminder to always train harder."

There was a long period of silence. Rosa held her lover tightly in her arms, loathing to let him go. "I was worried you wouldn't return. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."

Simon lifted her chin. "Do not worry. We will be married soon and I will take you far away from these tainted lands. I'll always be there to protect you. I love you, Rosa, with every fiber of my being."

Drayce watched on as the two lovers engaged in a slow passionate kiss. He could tell it was pure genuine love by the fiery look in their eyes and the hunger behind their lips.

Rosa... Just who was she? Her resemblance to Fiona could not be purely coincidental. He was drawn here by her voice, as if someone or some thing intended for him to see this.

The three of them jumped when a loud boom shook the very ground they stood on. Simon held Rosa close with one arm, his other ready to draw his sword. Another earth shattering boom sounded seconds later, striking fear in their hearts.

Simon and Rosa peered over the edge of the cliff.

"The village!" Rosa screamed.

Drayce looked down. The quant village below was no longer silent, stirred by fire that engulfed several homes. Boom blared again as a flimsy shelter exploded, sending fiery debris through the air.

"The demons!" Simon shouted. "They must have followed us back to the village!"

Simon quickly mounted his horse. Rosa cried, "Simon! What are you doing?!"

"Whatever I can! Stay here Rosa, it is far too dangerous elsewhere. I'll come back here after we drive them off."

Rosa's face was full of worry. She knew she would not be able to stop him, no matter how much she begged. "Please be careful, Simon!"

Simon nodded. With a loud "Yah!" and a stinging of spurred heels, the horse took off like greased lightning. Rosa watched him vanish down the small path and out of her sight.

She turned towards the cliff edge and fearfully tried to discern what was happening below. The village was ablaze with smoke thick enough to obstruct her view. She paced nervously, uncertain of what to do.

That was when Drayce's brain sparked with realization. He had seen this exact scene once before. The painting in Fiona's lair that seemed suspiciously out of place. This was not some trip back in time, or a random dream. This was Fiona's memories. She must have wanted him to see this. But, why?

Rosa was unable to stand idle any longer. She sprinted down the path after Simon. "Wait!" Drayce shouted, running after her. She ran as fast as she could, dodging tree limbs, jumping down stairs of rocks. Drayce struggled to keep up. She obviously knew this path like the back of her hand.

They reached the bottom. The village was only a short distance ahead. As Drayce chased after Rosa he could hear the screaming of the villagers and the roaring of the fire. Amongst the chaos was also the clanging clatter of steel hitting steel; a great battle was taking place.

With no regard for danger at hand, Rosa dashed past the burning front gates. Drayce chased after her but lost sight of her form as he chased her into the burning maelstrom. Everywhere he looked was either engulfed in flames or blocked by soldiers battling fearsome winged demons.

Winged demons that resembled Fiona.

Even though the soldiers appeared to have greater numbers, they were no match for the powerful succubi who easily controlled their minds, forcing them to fight against each other.

A single open roadway remained unobstructed. She must have gone that way. He sprinted to the path leading to the town square, the community's center.

The area was thick with succubi, as well as their male counterparts: incubi. Fiona never spoke of them but Drayce had learned of incubi while researching myths and legends about succubi. According to the legends, incubi possessed the same powers as succubi. The only difference was incubi sought to corrupt women, while succubi hunted men.

Drayce reached the edge of the town square. He noticed several crusaders taken prisoner. Among the captives was Simon, forced on his knees with his hands tied behind his back.

Drayce marched closer. He saw Rosa standing before an intimidating winged demon riding atop a skeletal horse. Nested between the grey skinned silver-haired demon's curved horns was a grim crown formed from twisted finger bones of humans. The demon's eyes glowed a dark tone of purple; his bare chest was pristine with toned athletic muscles. The creature projected a vibe that screamed of absolute evil.

As intimidating as this creature was, Rosa was undeterred. She recklessly approached the powerful incubus, the leader of the demons attacking her village.

"Please!" Rosa pleaded, "Leave them alone! I beg of you!"

The demon turned to her. His violet eyes turned black as night as a gleeful grin stretched across his face.

"Well, what do we have here?" The demon spoke in a eerie sinister voice. "A pure soul and a virgin! This is a rare treat indeed!"

"Rosa's soul is pure? Like mine?" Drayce pondered.

The demon leapt high into the sky, then plummeted to the ground, landing behind Rosa with great force. Startled, she quickly spun around to face the tall incubus invading her personal space. She now had his undivided attention.

"It takes a substantial amount of courage to approach the Aspect of Lust so boldly. I am Asmodeus, and to whom do I owe this honor?"

"R-Rosa," she trembled. "My name is Rosa."

Asmodeus stepped forward and gripped her chin in his hand. "Rosa. Such a beautiful name."

She jerked away, uninterested in his charms. "Please stop this!"

He crossed his arms, "And why would I do such a thing? The souls of your friends are so delicious!" He raised his hand. A nearby crusader cried out in agony as his body shriveled into nothing, the victim's soul drawn to Asmodeus' body.

"Stop!" Rosa cried. "I'll do anything if you'll just spare everyone! Please!"

Asmodeus was intrigued by her proposal. "Anything?" he smirked.

Rosa gulped. "Yes. Anything."

Asmodeus clicked his fingers. All of his minions obeyed his will and stood down from combat. They gathered around him and Rosa.

"As you can see, I am capable of mercy. However, such kindness from the Lord of Lust does have it's price. Submit your body and soul to me, Rosa, and I will spare the lives of your friends."

"Don't do it, Rosa!" Simon shouted.

☆