a tale of finding inner peace( mature )

He laughed at Leila."theres so much you have to learn about the real world" he sniggered." let me put it into an example...lets say Wolf brought to me a woman in her mid twenties...My deal with him was equivelent to saving over 200 lives...I would take her youth..thus she would be nothing but dust..." he said trying to eplain about the deals he makes." and lets say you make this deal with me...you will age, thus your beauty will turn to old age...a very harsh deal, but I'm very hungry" he retorted

Leila blinked at him, understanding flooding her mind, the understanding tinged with anger.

And there is nothing else that can be traded for his soul?

She was walking a dangerous line here, she could feeling herself about to plummet off the edge... But she could notlet this demonic man kill Wolf. She couldn't live without him.

he shook his head." thats my price...but I will tell you of a place you can get back your youth after this is done...A god like me wouldnt lie...I promise you" he remarked looking straight at her." have you come to a decision?" he asked walking closer to her

She resisted the urge to spit in his eye. She wanted to back away. He smelled awful.

Yes. I have. My decision is that you can go to hell where you belong, you monster.

With that, she stomped on his foot with her heel and turned to fly high up and out of the temple, back to where Wolf lay with Rai.

She yelled before she was completely to them, We've got to go. NOW. I think I just pissed off a god.

Rai then immediately placed Wolf on his shoulders and sprinted away from the temple." pissed of a God?" Rai then looked at the temple, it completely shrouded in darkness."you little worm!" he shouted, his voice was like thunder. a huge shadow like bird rose from the temple, his face not changed at all." you will regret hat you have down!" he flew above them summoning his creatures, as they tried to slowl there escape

Leila cursed again and flew faster, smacking at creatures left and right. One of them bit into her left arm, slicing the skin deep down to her bone. She screamed bloody murder in pain and shook the creature loose of her arm. She was trembling in pain and rage. She screamed,

I hate you! Do you hear me? I hate you! I won't let you take the soul of the one I love! I don't care if it kills me!

Holding her arm, she weaved in and out of the creatures that were attacking them, batting at them.

Rai looked behind, noticing that the god was growing bigger" damn Stupid deities...never give up" just then Rai tripped over. Wolf fell foward, rolling into a pack of shadow creatures, they quickly gathered round him

Leila screeched and flew downward toward where Wolf was surrounded by the little creatures. She landed outside the huddle, batting them away from Wolf's uncoscious form. She took his arm and slung it over her shoulders. She tried to lift herself into the air to fly but Wolf's weight was too much for her to bear. She fell down to her kness again

the creatures held down Rai, he tried to break free but failed. scairos laughed devilishly, slowly aproaching Leila. the creatures huddled and restrained.Scairos held her face, his hands were pitch black claws, cold as winter, as rough as sand" now about our deal" he whispered. with his other hand, he lifted Wolf in the air, slowly ripping his soul out of his body

Leila's eyes grew wide.

STOP!! Okay alright alright!

She sighed in relief as Scarios stopped ripped Wolf's soul out

Scairos smirked." then say it" he looked closely at her, his eyes were as black as his claws

Leila glared at Scairos.

I give my youth ion exchange for Wolf's soul. Because I love him. Love. A concept that you could never grasp, you demon.

Her words were like the blows of a sword as she braced herself to lose her youthful beauty

"your deal...has been answered" he then backed away from her. placing his hand forward he then started to absorb her youth.
Rai tried to break out" You demon!" he shouted. thus he did break out, but many more creatures appeared, Rai tried to fight them off, all the while trying to move closer

Leila screamed as her youth was sucked from her body.She wanted it to stop... Or maybe she wanted him to keep going. To suck her dry until she was dead. Anything to end this flaming torture. Her perfect skin turned ashy and wrinkled, her hair turned brittle and grey. Her young woman's body--perfect chest, small waist, youthful legs--turned old a wrinkled. She hunched over under the weight of the years she had not lived. She sobbed out loud.

he then was finished with her"now now my sweet...there is a small cavern to the west...it will take you a few days to reach it...but it will retore your youth...no one escapes me...you learned the hard way my dear." Wolf dropped to the floor, he slowly opened his, he looked at leila, he was in shock."leila?..what happened?" Scairos then dissappeared,rai breathed heavily

Leila covered her ruined face with her withered hands, sobbing.

How can he possibly love me now? I'm hideous. Get a grip, Leila. Look up at him. He's waiting for an explanation.

She looked up at him, her eyes still as big and blue as ever, despite the aging to her face. In her craoking old woman's voice, she said,


He... He stole...my youth... In exchange...for your soul...

Wolf stood up and walked over to her."I'm so sorry...I never meant this to happen." he said as he held her close. Rai looked around and aproached them."what he said...I know the way.." he said taking his robe and handing it to Wolf, in which he wrapped it around

Leila's tiny withered frame shook as he held her close to him. Her eyes snapped open when Rai said he knew the way. She felt foolish for feeling so desperate. But she wanted her youth back as soon as she could get it.

So I won't be this hideous old hag... So I can be me again.

She looked up at Wolf.

It's not your fault. I made my choice, knowing it could be reversed. But you couldn't get your soul back. I did what I had to do.

Wolf smiled and kissed her forhead."I will make this up to you...I promise"he said as rai got out a small map and looked around

Leila blushed as Wolf kissed her forehead. She blinked a couple times and then watched as Rai and Wolf planned where they would go to get to the cave Scairos had spoken of.

Ths had better not be a trap, dammit. Now I'm even more fragile and useless than before. I won't be able to help at al.. Which reminds me...... Wonder if my wings still work. Or if they're even there anymore.

She flexed the muscles in her back around where her wings were supposed to be attached. She felt them there, but they felt different somehow. She saw a small puddle of water nearby. With some effort, she got to her feet and hobbled over to it. She turen to inspect her wings and saw that they were indeed still there. But they had grown. They were now twice the size they had been before, and more beautiful.

Well I guess not all of me is old and haggard.

She smiled to herself.

Wolf looked at the map too, he noticed that it was near the ruins of his home, he could see that balthazar would be waiting for him."he will be there...no question about it" sighed Wolf, Rai looked at him, almost frowning."this is your chance to face your fears...you need to do this"Rai replied and looked at leila. he was stunned. he tapped Wolf and motioned him to go to her.Wolf walked up to leila, noticing her wings" Your beautiful"

"Master...can't we just kill some wanderers...we starving" said the Reptilian.Balthazar smirked." everythin is coming in place...unless you dont want to feast on a fairy and an elf..by all means go ahead. the Reptillian soon backed up and layed down on the floor.

Leila turned to look at Wolf. She half-smiled.

Thank you, Wolf. I guess that monster didn't take all of my beauty.

She glanced at Rai.

When will we be able to go to this cave? And what is the danger involved?

Rai looked at Wolf."these are your demons Wolf.." Rai walked off"I'll scout ahead." Wolf looked at rai, then back at Leila" that cave...WE hae to go through my home land to get there...whats left of it anyway" said Wolf, not wanting to continue, but he will if she asked about it

Leila nodded. She sensed he didn't really want to talk about it so she didn't press the conversation any further. She took his hand.

Scairos said it would take us a few days to get there. We should probably get walking. It will probably take me longer with these old legs.

She smiled in spite of herself. Then an idea sparked in her mind.

Or we could always fly. It would probably take less time that way!

"sure..but my wings are not as beautiful as yours" he smiled

Rai was in town looking for clues as to what balthazar has planned. he sniffed the air looking around