Ignite: The Archangels Chronicles

A Slender man with periwinkle hair tied at the nape of his neck, instantly marking him as a Warlock, stepped though the now obedient crowd.

His finely made jacket was a heavy green velvet with gold trimmings that looked simply oppressive in the heat. His outfit fit him perfectly, completely tailored to his arrogant physique. Not a hair out of place, not a shadow of stubble. "Ah so your the ones making all the fuss." The gave a wide elegant jester to our group. You could hear the ego in his voice. Azreal knew this man was a cruel one. "My name is Jasper VanGuan, and I am the ruling disciple in this city. May I ask you what you might be doing in my domain?" His pretty words didn't fool her.

After being on her own for so long at a young age, Azreal knew how to sort the truly cruel from the mildly intimidating men. And this man, was no exception. She could see it in his sneer, in the way his eyes hungrily passed over her every curve, and up to her smooth porcelain face.

"We are just passing through, only seeking shelter for a few nights." Azreal knew she didn't have to bring up the fighting pits, this man would do it for her.

The mans eyebrows pressed up slowly, and he tilted his head down a bit so he could pointedly stare at her, then all her tired, ravaged people. "Your going to have to find an entire village to sleep this many people.." he trailed off. Azreal resisted clenching her fist, knowing where he was going to take this.

Even though Azreal needed the fighting experience, she hate the thought of this man making money off her, and so many others blood and pain.

Jasper mockingly pinched his chin between his fingers in pretend thought before cutting them a razor sharp smile and saying "Ah! Ive got it! Someone as clearly powerful as yourself would be a spetacular addition to our main arena, The Colosseum. I would love to sponsor you for a few days.. if you can last that long." He pridefully announced as if he didn't just offer her a swift and brutal beating.

Cameron on my right started to bristle, but Azreal lightly bumped him with her shoulder. She had to do this even if she didn't plan on facing The False King, her people needed a proper shelter and food. This was the only way she could provide it for so many people. Her planting craft wasn't built up enough for her to feed and shelter two hundred people.

Cameron was looking at her like this was a bad idea, so she gathered up her courage and rolled her eyes at him and with a nonchalant shrug Azreal replied "As long as you have an opponent worthy of my status, I wont be caught fighting children and street vermin." She said that last part as a dig, knowing that there had been rumors about the fighting pits becoming nothing but a gaggle of sissy's throwing hands at each other, and the illegal act of making slaves fight vamirs and other disgusting creatures in a practice that is considered 'low class'.

Jasper caught the dig and it wiped his blades smile right from his face as he out right sneered "Oh you have a mouth on you. We will see what's left of you after a few rounds in the pits." He went back to his mock thinking, with his chin pinched between his boney fingers "Then, I suppose, your people will be forfeit, and since they are in my city, they will become my property."

It was Camerons turn to nudge me this time. Azreal was getting sick of his protectiveness and all around stubbornness that she blurted "Ahh I wouldn't suppose I could just fight you in the pits for rule over "your" city?"

Azreal mentally kicked herself. She was supposed to be keeping a low profile. Even a whiff of her presence would send Death Dealers this way, and here she was antagonizing Langu's head disciple.

Jasper cackled loudly "Only if things could be so simple, child." He snickered "I do have quite the opponent, We call him Deaths Reaper. He should be back sometime this week. If your as powerful as you say you are you should have no problem lasting until our aim event is back in town." His arms were crossed, shoulder tense awaiting my response.

Azreal knew if she accepted this horrible deal she would have to keep her people here and continue to fight until the 'Deaths Whatever' guy shows up. This was their bet chance at keeping a low profile and everyone fed and not sleeping on the hard ground.

Azreal looked into this weasels eye knowing she was about to make a very horrible deal that would haunt her for the rest of her immortal life said "My fellow traveling companions are to be treated with respect, they will have three full meals a day, and proper lodging as close together as you can."

Azreal made sure to list out all her terms very clearly so there was no wiggle room on Jaspers part.

Assuming she had little fighting experience and would die quickly, it would allow him to gain quite a few so slaves with little payment. He rubbed his hands together greedily at the thought and said "It seems we have a deal Mrs...?"

knowing she couldn't use he real name in front of this snake of a man, Azreal blurted the first thing that came to her mind, "Raven, you can call me, The Raven."

One of Jaspers eyes shot up. "Okay, The Raven. Quite mysterious. With no surname how will I alert your family of your death?" The c.o.c.ky bastard wasn't satisfied, he wanted to know who she was.

'The only family I have is right in front of you, should be easy enough. Now, are we going to stand here all day, or are you going to hold up on your end of the bargain? We have had a long journey."

Jasper was reluctant to give up so quickly, but decided to show them to their lodging.

"Right this way" As Jasper VanGuan snickered and gestured for everyone to follow him the fine hairs on the back of Azreal's neck stood on edge. Something was about to happen, she could feel the charge in the air..