The sight of Korban, transforming into a demonic creature, left everyone stunned and barely able to comprehend what they were seeing… The phoenixes gaped, unsure if they were even looking at the same person anymore, having seen Korban sprouting elongated fangs and bat-like wings like some hybridization.

Worse yet, the sense of dread emanating from him sent shivers running up and down their spines even with the intense heat that had accompanied Korban’s transformation. To all of them, it was a horrifying sight, but even more so to Volcan, as the dark power he felt from the transformed Korban felt all too familiar to him…

“Is… Is that really Korban?” Tsumé asked.

“I have no idea,” Vinge replied - four consecutive words that had never left his beak before in his life.

The wounded Lighris, having staggered to his feet, was as surprised as the rest of them. “I thought he said he was only a half-blood… What is going on?” he demanded.

Separate from the phoenixes, Kieran, Avelyn and Buniq were likewise surprised at what they had witnessed.

“What… has happened to him?” Buniq asked, the primal instincts of her werecat form leaving her struggling with a fight-or-flight response evident in the shifting of her feet and the flexing of her claws as her instincts tried to force her to turn and run as far and as fast as she could.

“I have no idea… I just hope he’s still on our side.” Avelyn remarked, readying herself as she looked between the two demonic brothers, her eyes drifting back and forth between them not sure who to face. Making a decision, she got hold of Kieran and Buniq and ushered them back, moving away from the pair despite Kieran’s protests.

Korban was still hunched over with smoke trailing off his body, breathing heavily for a bit before he lifted his left hand to grab at his head as if it were in pain. Sash, however, was smirking, either out of pride or expectation no one could tell, but either way, he seemed satisfied with the outcome.

“Perhaps things might be more interesting after all…” He remarked, then lifted his hand and beckoned his brother with a finger. “...Come.”

Korban slowly lifted his head to glare at Sash, and the sergal immediately lost his smirk at what he saw. Korban’s eyes were completely red and glowing, and a twisted grin started to cross his features before his wings fanned out, and he launched himself at Sash at breakneck speeds.

Sash barely had time to react, holding his sheathed blade in front of him to block Korban’s sword as he tried to thrust it down at him. The strength of the initial attack was almost overwhelming to Sash, as he immediately was forced to one knee as he fought to keep Korban’s blade from slicing him in two.

Eventually Sash managed to maneuver out of the way of Korban’s attack, zipping behind him and slicing along Korban’s back as he retreated, frowning heavily at the demonic husky. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Korban’s wound heal almost instantly, and then flinched when he saw his blade was now engulfed in red hot fire as he turned and swung his blade, discharging a massive fiery sword wave that left a trail of destruction behind it as it moved.

“How in the-?”

That was all he could utter before being forced to dash out of the way, watching the fiery wave cut down tree after tree and set everything on fire until it dissipated. He looked back at his brother and took note of the crazed grin on his face, and he frowned slightly. “...It seems you’re not even yourself anymore… You can’t control your true power,” he muttered. “How unfor-”

In the midst of Sash’s words, Korban vanished from sight, causing Sash to tense with surprise before he looked up and saw Korban coming down at him with another fiery attack from his blade, laughing maniacally as he did. Sash had to move out of the way before the attack connected, skidding to a halt and counter-attacking with the same water spell he conjured against Volcan.

Korban only continued to laugh as he swung his blade twice, launching two more fiery sword waves in retaliation. The first cut right through the water and even evaporated it, allowing the second one to travel unhindered toward its target. Sash tried to step back, but he jerked when he felt a hand on his back, looking over at his shoulder to see that Korban had instantly moved behind him to hold him in place, still cackling like a man possessed by madness.

“Damnit!!” Sash exclaimed, unable to push Korban out of the way and dodge the attack at the same time.

The sword wave nailed Sash dead on, a cry of agony heard from within the explosion of the attack as he was assailed by the hellish flames Korban had conjured. When the flames finally subsided. Korban was in front of his brother, still having that crazed expression on his face, while Sash had a long gash that ran down his shoulder to his waist, his coat and fur singed even as the wound started to heal, with the sergal panting breathlessly as he glared back at Korban.

“Holy shit…” Kieran breathed softly as he and the other watched the scenario unfold before them, then he instinctively smelled the air and his ears perked up, causing his eyes to widen a bit. “...That’s not ordinary fire…”

“And that is not Korban anymore,” Buniq added. “Something else has taken hold… Something far more violent and evil.”

“...Is it too soon to think he may be too far gone…?” Kieran asked. “Cause… I really don’t wanna be the one that has to put him down…”

“I am not so sure we even could,” remarked Buniq.

Korban was still laughing like a maniac as he stared Sash down, licking his lips in a hungry manner as he slowly began to stalk toward his brother. Sash raised his own blade to prepare for another fight, but as Korban got closer, the husky noticed a glint near Sash’s feet that caught his attention, making him stop and look down at it more intently.

It was the cross that he wore before Sash had taken it, right before he ‘died.’ The red gem at its center glinted brighter as Korban continued to gaze at it, then his eyes widened as he suddenly lurched as if he had been hit in the head, followed by another distorted roar before he dropped his sword and grasped at his head, shaking it heavily from side to side.

Slowly he fell to his knees as he kept grabbing his head, and it was then that his fangs started to recede back to their normal length, and his wings began to curl up and shrink down in size before returning inside of Korban’s back, with sickening cracks being heard as he transformed out of his demonic form and back to normal. The red glow in his eyes was the last thing to go, reverting back to their usual blue and green before he finally relaxed, and then fell flat on his face unconscious…

Sash blinked as he watched his brother transform back to normal, then glanced down at the cross at his feet, internally connecting the two to this strange phenomenon. He absently reached up and rubbed his own cross hanging around his neck before scoffing and kicking Korban’s cross back toward him and sheathing his blade.

“...So be it.” He growled. “Defeating you like this would be pointless anyway… I want you to be of sound mind when I finally deal with you for good…” He added as he started to turn away. “...Lick your wounds, little brother. Get stronger. Once you do… then we will settle the matter.”

With that, Sash vanished from view, disappearing without leaving any trace of his presence, aside from two impressions in the grass where he had been standing.

“Where’d he go?!” Tsumé asked, alarmed. “I don’t sense his movements…”

“I don’t see him either,” Volcan called. “Is he gone for good now?”

“Who cares about him? We gotta get Korban outta here!” Kieran shouted, already sprinting to his fallen partner and gently rolling him onto his back. “Someone gimme a hand with him!”

“I’ve got him,” said Buniq as she came over, carefully sliding her hands under Korban so as not to pierce him with her large claws. With that, she easily picked him up and started carrying him back to the motorhome.

“I’ll have to fly to the nearest town and get some replacement tires for the RV,” Volcan said. “In the meantime, take him into the bedroom and treat him there - my brother too!”

“Don’t gotta tell us twice!” Kieran answered, already moving over to help get Lighris back to the RV. He stopped halfway there though, glancing at the cross that Sash had left behind and went to go and grab it, pocketing it before returning to help Lighris.

Lighris of course was trying to move on his own, but the extent of his injuries slowed him, forcing him to accept Kieran’s help as he was led back to the RV. Buniq, being too large to get through the door, had to shrink back to her anthropian form and accept help from Avelyn to get Korban inside, while Vinge and Tsumé watched for any sign of Sash coming back again, only entering once everyone was inside.

They brought Lighris to the bed and sat him down, while they put Korban on the couch instead, as of the two he didn’t seem injured despite having lost consciousness. Tsume and Kieran stayed with the husky while Avelyn and Volcan tended to Lighris, who despite the considerable damage he had taken remained conscious.

“Damn, there are so many cuts,” said Volcan. “Wh-Where do we even start? Should I cauterize some of them?”

“Be sure to warn me before you start burning me,” Lighris bade.

“That won’t be needed…” Avelyn replied, parking her suit and climbing out of it to tend to Lighris more effectively, moving in to check him. Her expression darkened as she studied the cuts, seeing how clean the slashes were, indicative of an extremely sharp sword. “...if he wanted to kill you, I don’t know why he didn’t just cut you in half… He seemed perfectly capable of doing that…”

“I get the sense that he definitely could have,” agreed Lighris, “Might’ve just been meant to teach me a lesson.”

“Like what - that he’s a sadistic bastard?” Volcan asked, crossly.

“That, and he could’ve killed me without even trying,” added Lighris.

“Could have killed all of us without trying… He’s toying with us…” Avelyn commented tapping his side, “You seem to be off on your side… Volcan, can you get me some clean towels and lay them over the bed, please? They will be the easiest thing to replace.” she said looking over at his brother, before turning her attention back to Lighris, “I want you to lay on this side. I’m going to have to clean up the wounds… and then do a hell of a lot of stitching…”

Lighris groaned, but did as he was asked, while Volcan went into the washroom at the back to find the towels. Fortunately, in their rush, he had bought really cheap ones and didn’t care that much about what happened to them as he brought them out, putting the stack of four folded white towels on the bed in Avelyn’s reach.

“What else can I do?” Volcan asked worriedly.

Avelyn laid the towels down on the bed so Lighris could lay across them on his side before producing her first aid kit, pulling out some sterile wipes, counting them before dismissing it, “I’m not going to have enough here… are you…” she paused, “are you able to get me any water? Bottled? Cleaned tap water in a jug?”

“I can, so long as I don’t let it touch me… But, if you’re going to touch Lighris with it, you’re going to need insulated gloves, otherwise he-”

“I can’t hurt her, Volcan,” Lighris cut him off. “My powers work just like yours;  I’ve known Avelyn long enough to trust her.”

“Right, sorry,” said the younger brother before he stepped out of the room, heading to the kitchen to get water.

As he did, he noticed the others still on the couch and addressed his next question to Kieran. “How’s he doing; any changes?” he asked, referring to the comatose Korban sitting between the cat and Tsumé.

“None so far. He’s completely out cold,” Kieran answered. “His wounds have all healed up though and he’s got a steady heart rate, so at the very least he’ll be okay after a lotta rest.” He added.

Volcan nodded, turning on the faucet as he grabbed a bucket from the cupboard. “Don’t suppose you have any theories as to what the hell we just saw today?”

“Not really, but there’s one thing I can tell you about what happened,” Kieran said, glancing back at Volcan. “That fire that he was commanding while fighting Sash? That wasn’t ordinary fire. Every time he discharged it, I caught a whiff of brimstone coming from the smoke left behind by the attacks.” He explained before looking directly at Volcan. “That was hellfire he was wielding.”

Volcan looked over in alarm. “I knew I sensed something wrong about it… But, Hellfire? Like, he was generating the same flames found in the underworld?”

“How is that even possible?” Tsumé asked.

“I’m still tryin’ to wrap my head around that myself,” Kieran admitted. “It’s almost as if his elemental affinity changed when he entered that… well… Demonic transformation for lack of a better term.” He then stood up and grabbed his spellbook. “I’m going out there to see if I can gather some more information about those flames and see if I can figure out a connection between them and Korban.”

“Be careful. Those flames…,” warned Volcan. “I can sense them, like any other fire, but…” he shook his head. “It’s hard to explain… But I got the same sense with that ring of fire Sash tried to use on Vinge. They felt… Wrong.”

Kieran narrowed his eyes at Volcan curiously. “...In what regard are we talking here?” He asked.

The bucket was full, and Volcan had to shut off the water before it could overflow. “I felt the heat they generated, and I could feel them consuming fuel just like a normal fire… But it seemed as if they wanted to consume something else; I can’t describe it any better than that; it’s as though those flames carried the intent of the one who cast them with them - the intent to cause pain and suffering.”

“...Flames that carry the will of the caster…” Kieran repeated, rubbing his chin. “...Where have I heard about that before…?” He asked himself, tapping his foot a few times before shaking his head. “I’ll figure it out after I get a sample. Be right back.” He said as he moved toward the door, exiting the RV quickly.

As Volcan reached for the bucket to carry to Avelyn, Korban - very suddenly, sprang awake, scaring Tsumé half-to-death and alerting Vinge and Buniq, seated up front, of the husky’s awakening; they turned in their seats to look back. He had awakened with a sharp gasp, almost like he had held his breath for a long time without even realizing it. His hand felt all over his chest as if he were looking for something, only to stop when he finally realized it wasn’t there and looked down at where he thought his sword was, then at Volcan and Tsumé.

“...The fuck happened?” He asked suddenly, then looked around him quickly. “Why are we back in the RV? Where’s Sash?”

They all stared at him, blankly, a long, uncomfortable silence filling the interior of the RV. Eventually, Volcan was finally the one to break the silence. “You… Don’t remember?” he asked, setting the bucket back down again.

Korban looked at Volcan with an arched eyebrow for a moment, then at the dresser next to him and noticed his cross lying there, instinctively reaching to grab it and look at it for a moment. “I… remember fighting Sash for a while, until he pulled a fast one on me and stabbed me with my own sword…” He replied, then closed his eyes as he tried to remember anything after that, but sighed and shook his head. “That’s about it… Everything’s all blank after that.”

Volcan shared a look with Tsumé, silently debating between them what to say… When Korban finally looked around for his sword. “...Anyone seen where my blade is? Last time I checked, it was impaled through my chest, so… I’m gonna assume it’s outside or something?” He asked plainly.

“It, uh… Well, you dropped it, after you…” Volcan hesitantly tried to explain. “It… Should still be outside.”

Korban shot Volcan an odd look, narrowing his eyes slightly before he slowly began to stand up. “You’re hiding something from me,” he pointed out. “If you got something you wanna say, out with it already.”

Volcan let out a sight, and looked at Tsumé. “Do you mind taking this water to Avelyn?” he asked.

“Sure,” she said, rising from the couch.

“Vinge, Buniq, you guys coming?” Volcan asked.

“You saw all that we did… I imagine you can explain just as well as either of us,” replied Vinge.

Volcan nodded, and looked at Korban. “Can you walk?” he asked.

“Yea, just fine.” Korban answered, kicking his legs out a bit. “Accelerated healing factor, remember?”

Volcan grimaced at that, as though wanting to comment but not having the words to say. He led Korban to the door, leaving him outside to the scene that awaited them. Korban was still confused as to what had Volcan so riled up, but once they exited the RV and headed behind it, Korban froze on the spot when he saw what remained of a scorched battlefield, with small gouts of fire still burning in select places, one of which Kieran was kneeling next to with his spellbook in hand.

Out in the center of the destruction was his sword, but when the husky laid eyes on it he looked confused, trying to make heads or tails as to what he saw before pointing at it.

“That’s… not mine,” he remarked. “And… I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that all this destruction is what got you all startled.”

“No to the first, and yes to the second,” replied Volcan. “That is, or… Was your sword, and all this scorched earth… That wasn’t me, or Sash.” He pointed to Korban. “It was you.”

Korban stared at Volcan in silence, stunned at the supposed accusation, blinking a few times as he registered what the phoenix was saying. “But… that’s impossible.” He returned, scoffing in disbelief. “Bro, I can’t manipulate fire. I’m a Cryomancer, not a Pyromancer. And besides, even if I was, there’s no way I would cause this much destruction.” He reasoned. “Sure it wasn’t my bro? I know he’s got some fire spells up his sleeve that could do this kinda damage.”

“I was right here, Korban,” Volcan stated, pointing at the ground. “Sash didn’t do this, and neither did I when I cut loose on him. You… Transformed, somehow; you had fangs and wings. All of us saw it; hell, Avelyn’s suit probably recorded it. I don’t know how you forgot it happened, but we can all confirm it.”

“But…” Korban muttered, still in denial about the whole ordeal. He glanced at the sword for a moment before slowly lifting his hand toward it, and hesitantly snapped his fingers.

The sword suddenly shot up and spun toward the husky, the hilt landing right in his grasp with such force that it made even him stumble from the recoil. He looked at the overall shape of the blade. It… felt like his sword. It had the same weight and overall length, but it was completely different from what he remembered. He glanced over it from hilt to blade tip, taking in its more aggressive features and the demonic-looking guard that seemingly stared right back at him before he lowered it and stared at the burning wasteland once again.

“...I really did all this…” He muttered softly, seemingly coming to terms with what he was looking at.

Volcan nodded slowly. “You did…” he said, lifting a hand to rub the back of his neck and peering away. “I don’t know how to explain it to you, man… But this was all you.”

At that moment, Kieran had returned, shaking his other hand as he held his spellbook in his left. “I managed to get a sample of the fire… Damn near burnt my hand off trying to do it.” He said, then noticed Korban and his ears flattened a little. “Uh… Hey, Korb. Ya feelin’ alright?”

Korban didn’t answer. His mind was racing with thoughts as to how he could have caused this kind of destruction without even remembering it. His gaze drifted to his sword again for a moment before he hoisted it up and clipped it onto his back.

“I’m… gonna need a minute…” He remarked softly. “You guys uh… You guys wait in the RV… I’ll be back in a bit.”

Volcan nodded, respecting Korban’s need for some privacy as he motioned for Kieran to follow him back to the RV. They left Korban and stepped aboard, but Volcan stood in the kitchen to watch Korban out the window, keeping a step back so that Korban wouldn’t know the phoenix was watching him.

Kieran found himself a seat at the dinette and opened his spellbook, turning to the page where he sealed the sample of hellfire he had collected and began mulling over it, resting his head in his hand, his finger tapping his cheek as he studied the page carefully. Korban hadn’t moved from his spot outside, looking almost like a statue from how still he looked, the occasional flick of his tail being the only sign of movement he gave as he just stared ahead…

From his spot at the window, Kieran heard Volcan speak - and knew the words were meant for him. “He’s not looking good,” said the phoenix. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so distraught…”

“He’s probably imagining what kinda horrible transformation he underwent based on what you described and is most likely comparing himself to all the demons he’s killed during his career,” Kieran answered, keeping his eyes on his spellbook. “I don’t blame him, really… He hates demons with a burning passion. If he feels he’s becoming more of a demon than he already is, I wouldn’t put it past him to start distancing himself from everyone…”

Volcan frowned at that, his gaze falling to his hands resting on the counter. “...I know that all too well,” he said, mostly thinking aloud, but in the quiet of the room Kieran heard him. The statement caused Kieran to perk up and look away from his book, glancing at Volcan for a moment before realizing what he meant.

“...You did the same thing, didn’t you?” he asked. “After you got that demon exorcized out of you and recovered from the possession… you hid yourself away because you thought you were a threat to everyone else…”

“Something like that, yes,” Volcan admitted. “On top of that, I felt guilty because I hurt so many others… I may not have been in control, but I caused a lot of damage… I burned down Ordagova’s home, injured him and Tsumé, and that monster kept whispering everything else he was going to make me do.” He shook his head side-to-side, grimacing as he tried to focus on something other than the haunting memories. “I still can’t get any of it out of my head, losing myself to that thing.”

“If you went through the same thing that Korban’s going through right now… then you’re the best one to be there for him in his time of need.” Kieran said, getting up from his seat and pacing toward Volcan. “I dunno what happened. I wasn’t there, but it sounds like both you and he went through some similar dilemmas… He’s gonna need someone who knows what he’s going through to bring him back from this funk and become the arrogant, cocky shithead we’ve all come to respect.”

“I know…” replied Volcan. Then, he gave a snort of laughter, shaking his head again. “Who’d have thought it’d come full circle… He pulled me back from that funk, and now it’s my turn to do the same.”

“Cruel irony at its finest.” Kieran added, patting Volcan’s shoulder before turning back and returning to his spellbook, mulling over the page he was on.

Volcan waited only another minute before he headed to the door, stepping outside and waiting for a moment to approach Korban. Eventually, he made his way over, and spoke the husky’s name to get his attention.

“Dare I ask how you’re doing?” The phoenix began.

“I’m on cloud fuckin’ nine,” Korban answered right away. “How does it look like I’m doing…?”

Volcan resisted the urge to say, ‘about as well as me not so long ago’, knowing it was the wrong thing to say at that moment. He tried to think of something to say, but he was struggling, and so could only wait to see if Korban had more to add.

“I know what you’re thinking right now…” Korban remarked, still keeping his eyes forward. “Yer thinkin’ that I just went through something similar to you, that I was… I dunno, possessed or something, by some random demon or whatever. That you know exactly what’s goin’ through my head right now… That about sum it up?” He asked rhetorically.

“All except for the possessed part,” said Volcan as he came to stand beside Korban. “Speaking from experience… That’s not what I saw. I don’t imagine it’s the same for every demon but what I saw… It just didn’t look or feel like possession.” He looked at Korban sidelong. “Just the same, though, the results were not that different… Losing control, to another will,” he sighed. “That, I do understand.”

“Well, here’s the kick in the balls, then.” Korban shot back, turning and looking straight at Volcan. “You were possessed when you lost control… Now that that demon’s outta you, it’ll never happen again,” he laid out the facts. “Me on the other hand… If it didn’t look or feel like a possession, then what’s to say it won’t happen again?” He asked pointedly. “If I’m backed into a corner like that again, who’s to say I won’t lose control and accidentally kill one of you, if not all of you?”

“Because you didn’t,” stated Volcan, not stepping back. “Whatever took control of you may have been wild, but it still knew where to direct its fury. What was inside me,” he pointed at his chest, “had a will all its own, and it wanted to cause suffering. Whatever’s in you, though, it just wanted to fight and turned all of that on Sash alone; it’s like the rest of us weren’t even here.”

“Pure dumb luck.” Korban countered irritably. “Whatever stopped me before I finished Sash off might not kick in next time, and I might turn on you before it eventually does!” Korban stated, his tone rising in both anger and despair. “Nah… No way in hell I’mma let that happen…”

This time, Volcan did scowl. “Will you listen to yourself?” he demanded. “Pure dumb luck? Luck had nothing to do with it. You changed back, of your own volition; you took back control. I can’t explain how, but you did. You stopped yourself; doesn’t that mean something?”

“I don’t remember any of it!!!” Korban shouted angrily at Volcan, even going so far as to push him back. “I was blacked out!! I don’t remember taking back control!! Hell, I don’t remember anything between fucking DYING and waking back up in that RV!! You call that changing back of my own volition??” He demanded angrily. “Stop being fucking delusional, Flamie! What happened was pure dumb luck and you know it! If you’re tryin’ to convince yourself otherwise then you’re even denser than I imagined!”

Volcan opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it again, realizing he had no idea what to say to that. “So much for me trying to return the favour,” he said, downtrodden. “Then what the hell did make you turn back? You saw something Sash was carrying, you flipped and then passed out. After that, he just left. I’m trying to understand here but I wasn’t close enough to see what it was.”

“I don’t fucking know!!” Korban shouted, throwing his arms up and turning to pace in a circle for a bit. “What part of ‘I was blacked out’ isn’t clicking with you??” He asked while pointing at his own head. “I keep telling you! From the time I got stabbed to the time I woke up is all blank! I. Don’t. Fucking. Remember!!”

Volcan could do nothing but watch the husky for another moment, and then put up his hands. “Alright… We can still figure this out. But I think we’ll need some help,” the phoenix stated. “Let’s see if Avelyn’s done patching up my brother yet.”

Korban let out a sigh, running his hand through his hair before shrugging helplessly. “Fuck it… Not gonna accomplish anything just standing out here…” he remarked in a dismissive manner, but nodded to Volcan all the same.

~~~~~~

Avelyn was just finishing up cleaning the wounds on Lighris and stitching them closed on the king bed, her hands bloodied and peppered with fibres from the electric blue feathers they combed through. She took a wet cloth and dabbed at the stitches, cleaning up the remaining blood. Though there wasn’t any discomfort for her, she still felt a light tingle from Lighris’ electrical currents; thankfully not enough to affect her hands, which would’ve left her unable to stitch him properly.

“That should be it…”  she remarked, stepping back, “Don’t go moving too much, otherwise you could rupture the cuts again and make them worse.”

“Right,” Lighris agreed with a nod. “Thanks, Avelyn. I owe you one.”

“I should give my brother an update before he throws up a fuss for not telling him when he asked,” she remarked, and picked up her phone as she stepped out of the bedroom, dialing Avory on speaker phone while washing her hands in the sink.

The male raven answered in moments. “He showed up, didn’t he?” He asked, not even bothering with ‘hello’.

Avelyn rolled her eyes, suspecting A.V.I had probably alerted Avory the moment the Blue Lightning armour was in battle.  As she scrubbed the dried blood from her talons, she spoke, “He did and he was dealt with, got away though. But I think he’s the least of our problems; Korban got the better of him and we might have another ‘Emergence’ situation.”

“I see…” Avory replied, his tone. “Shall I knock for our Egyptian friend? I’m just around the corner right now.”

“You can’t be serious, brother,” Avelyn chided him, flicking the water from her fingers before grabbing a hand towel to dry them properly.

“I’m not. But if it’s anything like last time, we might not have a choice. I doubt he will be so nice the second time around,” Avory remarked, “Talking of that… I managed to find a trace of our friend’s energy signatures around the Aswan Dam. CCTV is poor there but it looks like he gets in through the water supply. All goopy and shit.”

“Did it find a new host?” Avelyn asked, concerned.

“No clue… I tried to follow its trail further but it seemed to stop by a ferry pier. Must have got onboard and went down the Nile.” He let out a sigh. “At this point, the trail is cold… I don’t know where it could’ve ended up now.”

“Avelyn?” Volcan’s voice suddenly called from the door as he peeked into the RV. “Are you busy right now?” he asked.

“One moment, Volcan,” She replied, “I assume we’ll see you back here in a few hours then, Avory?”

“I was just about to bring up the footage from your suit first… See if it’s worth me staying here if it’s anything that will garner the attention of big, tall and handsome…” Avory replied on the other end, “These readings at least are off the chart. Bigger than Volcan’s were… Wait… This was Korban? He was the source of all this?”

“Is that Avory?” Volcan asked, stepping further into the RV to see that Avelyn was on the phone. “Ah. Is it possible we can see that footage too?” he asked as Korban slowly entered the RV behind him.

“Hey, Volcan. It is,” Avory replied over the phone call. “...Wow… that’s… a… that’s a new look.

Avelyn looked over to the TV behind them, walking over and turning it on, connecting her phone to it, “A.V.I. bring up suit visor footage from an hour ago on the device I’ve just connected to.”

The Blue Lightning suit seemed to wake up and talk back in A.V.I.’s robotic voice, “Replaying requested footage now…”

The screen seemed to light up with a shaky helmet camera of what Avelyn witnessed earlier. On her phone she fast-forwarded it ahead to just after she impacted into Sash - bypassing the defeat of the phoenixes and how powerless they had been against Sash, and held him under foot, before jumping out of the crater and going over to Korban.

Korban watched the footage, grimacing heavily at the sight of his dead body with his massive sword running through his chest. His gaze became more stunned when the footage turned to see Sash slowly stalking out of the crater, his wounds healing from Avelyn’s assault, then to shock and utter horror when he watched himself undergo his demonic transformation soon after, watching as he grew longer fangs and a pair of wings, with his sword changing into what it was now.

He continued to watch the footage in dead silence, all the way until he managed to nail a clean hit on his brother before flinching, recoiling and reverting back to his normal state. Once the footage ended, the husky then narrowed his eyes and pointed at the screen.

“Hold up… rewind back to just before I started changing back,” he stated.

Avelyn nodded softly and skipped back to when Korban stopped attacking Sash, and let it play through again. Korban watched for a bit before pointing at the screen again. “Right there. Pause.” He demanded. When the feed paused, Korban stepped up closer to the screen and looked more closely at the scenario. He noted the direction his possessed form was looking before transforming back, taking note of the glint on the ground before stepping back and subconsciously rubbing the gem on his cross between his thumb and finger.

Afterward, he scoffed and turned away from the footage. “Just like I thought… Pure dumb fucking luck,” he growled.

“That was not luck, Korban,” came Vinge's cold voice as he came over, his cold glare fixed on the husky. “You saw that cross, and it acted as a trigger to make you regain control of yourself; fighting those urges takes far more will than just resisting them, and it proves that your will was stronger than the destructive urges of that demonic form. Take it for what it was.”

“That’s what I was trying to say,” added Volcan, exasperated.

“It is not so different from my transformation,” added Buniq, standing beside Vinge. “The instincts can be hard to resist, especially the first time. It takes a strong will to do so, even more so if they have already taken hold as they did there. What that does mean, however,” she pointed at Korban, “is that they can be controlled… If you aren’t afraid of them,” she emphasized the word afraid.

At that, the husky scoffed, looking between Vinge and Buniq with scathing glances. “Being afraid of demons, and hating demons are two completely different beasts,” he growled before shoving past them. “I’m going out for some air… Follow me and I’ll bust a cap in your knee.” He threatened, stepping out of the RV and slamming the door behind him.

Volcan threw out his arms and groaned. “Jeez, it’s like he wants to be depressed!” he exclaimed. “Is that what I was like after that freaking thing came out of me?”

“Yes!” came Lighris’ voice from the bedroom; apparently, he had overheard everything.

“...Shit,” muttered Volcan.

“I know I said you ought to help him, but… I think this time we should actually give him a bit of time,” Kieran suggested to Volcan. “He won’t admit it outright, but… what you said pretty much nailed it, Buniq.” He added, looking at the werecat gently. “He is afraid of what he’s become, or at least what he thinks he’s becoming. He just needs gentle reminders and the right push to show how wrong he is.”

Volcan let out a sigh. “I guess all we can do is wait then… But, I still need to go get the new tires or we’re stuck here. I think I saw a tire shop in that town we passed through a few kilometres back. Anyone coming?”

“I don’t think any of us could keep up with you, Volcan,” said Vinge, “except for Avelyn of course, but that might draw attention.”

“I don’t need the suit to fly,” Avelyn rolled her eyes before glancing at the ice phoenix.

Volcan nodded. “Right… Okay, I’ll be back in a bit - just need to get the tire sizes,” he said as he headed to the door.

“I’ll be out in just a sec,” the black and blue bird called back as she disconnected her phone from the screen. “Avory, I’ll see you back here later.”

“See you later sis,” Avory replied over the phone, having watched and listened in the whole time.

Volcan stepped out of the RV. Before he was even fully out the door, Volcan held up his hands as he stepped out, not looking at Korban who he knew was glaring at him, assuming the phoenix was coming out to see him. “Relax! We’re just out to get the sizes on those tires we lost!” he called as he walked alongside the RV. “We aren’t going anywhere until I replace these!”

“Whatever. Take your time, but step even an inch too close…” He responded, then pointed a finger at Volcan’s leg, pulling it back in a gesture to suggest a gun being fired.

“Spare me the empty threats, moody,” Volcan muttered, kneeling by the tires and looking at the lettering etched in their sides to get their measurements.

Korban scoffed. “Hey kettle. Name’s pot. Surely we’ve met before.” He countered.

Volcan went still, his eyes no longer on the tires as Korban’s words registered. He felt a twitch under his eye, before he looked over his shoulder. “Touché,” he admitted as he stood up, finally joined by Avelyn, who intentionally kept her eyes off the husky.

“How many did he get? All four?” Avelyn asked, trying to bring the conversation back.

“Looks like it, yeah. Slashed all four in the blink of an eye; damn that fucker was fast,” said Volcan, shaking his head. “Size reads 275/70R22.5; if I remember Lighris’ lesson correctly, that’s a thirty-eight inch. We may need to rent a car to help us bring them out - no way I can carry all four of those without drawing attention.”

She rested her hands on her hips looking at him incredulously, “I can help. I might not be able to do two, but I certainly can do one.”

“That still leaves three for me to-”

“I can take one,” came Vinge’s voice as he poked his head out. “Between the three of us, we should be able to carry all four tires. Do you have the tools to replace them?”

“Yeah; the RV came with a jack and iron; they’re in that compartment under the back window,” replied Volcan. “I do like how a lot of dealerships do that now,” he added.

“Then we better get going; it’s going to take us a few hours either way, so, the sooner we get started, the better,” added Vinge.

Volcan nodded in agreement. He cast one more look in Korban’s direction, his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned to step away. “Let’s go,” he said, with a slight urgency in his voice as he spread his wings.

One after the other, the three avians took to the air and flew back in the direction they had been coming from before Sash’s ambush. Korban watched them leave until they were out of sight completely before turning his gaze down again and tapping his foot a bit a few times.

‘Fuck do they know…?’ He inwardly thought, rolling his eyes a little. ‘Afraid? The fuck does that overgrown feline think she is, an oracle? I ain’t no bitch… I ain’t afraid…’ He continued to think inwardly, rubbing his gem again while his expression softened. ‘...I… I ain’t afraid…’

~~~~~

Port of Halifax, 17:57

Amethyst eyes opened wide as they felt the sensation coursing over them. A thrill, like they had just ridden down a zipline over open space, coursed through their body. The dark, winged form rose sharply, staff gripped as though he expected to find an enemy venturing into the container he had chosen as his temporary home. But it was only himself in there… The door remained closed - not locked, but closed just enough as to not draw attention.

However, he did notice that the ship was no longer moving. They had made port at last; after what felt like an eternity at sea, they had finally arrived.

He walked over to the door and pushed it open, taking in the sights of the busy port ahead. He saw the cranes working to unload the cargo of the ship, with his container not far away from being chosen; he had awoken at a good time, it seemed.

The winged figure looked across the harbour, searching for anything that stood out to him - something to explain that strange sensation he had felt. But it quickly became clear that what he sought - what he had sensed, was not there… He had felt it from afar… But where?

He closed his eyes and waited, reaching out with his senses. He could still feel that sensation, faintly… The source seemed to be coming from the West; he could feel a slight pull in that direction. Far, far away…

Most of all, the presence felt familiar to him.

He opened his eyes, half-lidded as he considered the implications. ‘Could it just be a coincidence?’ he thought. ‘Or could it be something has happened to-’

The winged figure’s thoughts were interrupted when a voice reached his ears. “Hey, you! What’re you doing up there?!”

He had been discovered.

The dark avian looked down where he heard the voice, seeing two men looking up at him. Two dock workers down on the pier, dressed in hard hats and reflective safety vests. Their shouting did not go unnoticed either; multiple dock workers could be seen running over, their collective voices rising to throw a variety of incoherent curses at the avian.

‘Oh well… I suppose my time here is over,’ he thought, shrugging. ‘But, I can’t really leave witnesses now, can I?’

~~~~~

Unity Falls…

So much had happened in but a few short days, it felt like it had been forever since they had seen it. Certainly, Volcan was glad to see his hometown approaching, growing closer as the minutes passed… And as though fate itself had a sense of humour, the lyrics on the song playing from the stereo - the song ‘Wasted Years’ by Iron Maiden, seemed to reflect the moment perfectly.

‘I close my eyes

And I think of home!

Another city goes by

In the night!

Ain’t it funny how it is?

You never miss it ‘till it’s gone away!

And it makes me want to cry…

And throw my hands up to the sky!’

Volcan couldn’t help but laugh. From the driver’s seat, Tsumé looked over at him curiously, and he pointed at the stereo, to which she nodded, seeing what had amused him so.

“Yeah, it does feel like it’s been a while since we were here… But yeah, this city is home to us,” she agreed.

Volcan smiled and nodded. “That it is… Though, isn’t it funny how we all found each other here?” he asked. “The largest border city in Canada and the United States, sitting as a perfect parallel to the cultures of both yet not leaning toward one or the other… Doesn’t that just summarize all of us?”

Tsumé looked sidelong at him. “How, exactly? None of us are American… Well, except for Kyle and ‘Sid, but Kyle’s descended from Africa - even he doesn’t know where from, and Obsidian’s parents were Japanese. But Avory and Avelyn are British - so’s Pavan, but he’s also half-Indian…”

“And I’m half-Scottish, Vinge is half-Norwegian, and you were born in Paris but raised here in Canada, plus you told me once your mother was Rwandan so you’re half-French, half-African,” Volcan went on, nodding again. “I more meant just the mix of ethnicities. Canada and the States are both technically multicultural, right? Yet it’s really apparent with us; most of us were born in Canada, yet can trace our ancestry back to other places only a generation or two apart.”

At Tsumé’s curious look, Volcan shrugged. “Maybe I’m overthinking it. But, just something that came to mind. We belong to no single nation, and we’re living in a city now that also belongs to no single nation.”

Tsumé shrugged. “I suppose I kind of get that,” she agreed. “Anyway… Now that we’re back in town, where are we heading?”

“Good question,” said Volcan. “I didn’t really rent a place to park this thing yet… And, as Avelyn said, I probably shouldn’t until she has time to speak to that friend of hers.”

“You can park it at ours until you sort out the paperwork,” Avelyn called out just in earshot of the pair.

Volcan looked back at her. “If that’s okay with you?” he asked for clarification,

“Probably for the best. It’s private property and if anyone comes knocking, I can explain it away; how you came across with the money,” Avelyn replied, looking up from her phone as she spoke to Volcan.

“Alright. We head for the Lo’Raven mansion then,” said Volcan as he turned back in his seat to look ahead again.

“I’m on it,” replied Tsumé.

~~~~~~

Avory was tinkering in his workshops as his computer ran through the data collected on Korban and Sash provided by Avelyn’s suit. The artifact he was working on was a blue aqurum crystal collected from the market in Jaffa, trying to wrap the tungsten coil around it gently for his new suit module.

A little while later, A.V.I. spoke up, alerting him to the arrival of Avelyn and their friends in a large vehicle pulling into the premises. He stood up from his work bench, taking a quick look at his computer screens before walking through the garage to the side door, opening it up to see the large, Class A motorhome coming up the driveway toward the house, crawling up the incline from the lake and parking on the gravel just outside.

Avory wasn’t surprised to see the vehicle, having seen it in the footage provided by Avelyn’s suit, but was surprised to see Tsumé behind the wheel. He gave her a little wave before walking over the crew that started flooding out of it.

“Hi, Avory,” Volcan was the first to speak as the occupants exited, one after the other. “Sorry for just dropping in like this… Avelyn said to come here for the time being.”

“Oh? What do you mean time being?” Avory asked, confused by the phasing he used.

“It’s… Complicated,” said Volcan, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. “Sadly, more so than I understood… I didn’t know that a gift from Korban would come with so many unfortunate implications. I’ll fill you in once we get inside.”

Avory took that opportunity to see everyone else who came out of the RV. His eyes immediately fell on Lighris, who Vinge was assisting to exit the RV and descend the stairs, seeing the extent of Lighris’ injuries and the amount of gauze wrappings covering his body; he wasn’t even wearing a shirt, yet the bandages covered enough that he did not require one for modesty’s sake.

“Lighris! You look awful!” Avory blurted out as he quickly went up to the pair of phoenixes, “Do you need some help?” he asked, ready to take the weight off his other side.

“The way I feel right now, I certainly won’t say no,” he replied, tiredly.

“I’ll get the door,” offered Volcan.

As Vinge and Avory helped Lighris toward the house, the ice phoenix looked across his charge to give Avory a wry smirk. “I did not expect this to be how we would meet up again,” he remarked. “I hope you’ve been having a better time than us, Avory.”

“Well… did some shopping, sold some air defense systems, relaxed in the Dead Sea, a bit of partying, completely failed at golf, survived an assassination attempt, twice, and then fended off a load of Russian henchmen in the holiest city in the world.” Avory recited, “The usual stuff on a business trip.”

At the mention of an assassination attempt, both Vinge and Lighris were already looking at him, alarmed, and let him finish explaining everything he had endured in their time apart.

“And I thought we were having a full week with demons and werewolves,” Lighris joked.

“Sounds like we both have a few stories to share,” added Vinge.

Ahead, Volcan had reached the front door, and held it open for the trio as they approached. He was joined by Kyle, who needed no explanation when he saw the injured lightning phoenix being brought inside and guided them to the nearest couch where they could sit him down, leading them into the main living area across from the television.

“Damn man, you look like shit,” Kyle remarked, not even trying to soften the blow.

“I feel like it too,” agreed Lighris as Vinge and Avory sat him down.

The rest of the group entered the mansion one after the other, with Volcan the last to step in and close the door behind them. His gaze lingered on Korban for a moment as the husky passed, but he wisely refrained from speaking - he didn’t think Korban was ready to talk about what had happened yet.

One after the other, they gathered in the main living area, and Buniq was brought over by Avelyn to be introduced to her brother. Buniq looked between the two quizzically. “Goodness. You two could almost pass for each other,” she remarked as she held out her hand to Avory to shake.

“Yeah, we do. With a bit of blue makeup on we have done that before.” Avory revealed, taking the feline’s paw to shake it, where he was treated to a strong grip from the lioness as she grasped his hand. “Wow… ouch…” he flinched but still smiled at her, “You’ve got a very strong handshake there!”

“Sorry,” she said, loosening her grip on his hand. “I guess I don’t know my own strength, even in this form.”

“Right. Avelyn already told me about you.” he remarked remembering what she meant by ‘form’. “I’m no longer surprised at what else this world can throw at me.”

“Yes… When your sister saw my other form, she did not even seem alarmed,” remarked Buniq, once again casting a curious look at Avelyn. “It sounds like you two have had a storied life.”

“You could say that,” Avory replied, before Avelyn spoke up.

“Hey, I was definitely alarmed. But because of what everyone else said, I wasn’t too afraid of you,” Avelyn interjected.

Buniq nodded. “Fair… You certainly reacted better than that wind phoenix did,” she remarked with a wry smile.

Elsewhere, while the twins continued their conversation with Buniq, Volcan took a moment to check on his brother. Lighris sat contentedly on the couch, offering multiple assurances that he was fine. With that, Volcan shifted his attention, searching for Korban.

The husky stood on the back deck, leaning against the railing, staring out at the distant horizon in quiet contemplation. His tail flicked absently as his thumb traced over the cross he wore around his neck, a subtle motion that spoke of his inner turmoil.

Volcan knocked gently on the doorframe before stepping outside, moving cautiously as if to give Korban space in case he wanted to be left alone. When no objection came, the phoenix stepped fully onto the deck, offering a soft question.

"So… Doing any better?" His voice was tentative, hoping to avoid the tension that had marked their earlier exchange.

Korban sighed, his ears flattening slightly as he turned his gaze to meet Volcan's. "This stays between us, alright?" he said, his voice low.

"Of course," Volcan replied, his tone steady. "I just want to say… I was trying to help. But, I guess what happened… It’s not exactly like what I went through." He let out a breath, feeling the weight of the words. "I’m sorry if I came off hostile."

"Nah, man..." Korban shook his head, his expression softening. "You were just tryin' to help in your own way, same as I did when you were in the same place." He hesitated before continuing, the words heavy on his chest. "Thing is… that Buniq girl’s right. I’m afraid of what I might be turning into." His eyes darkened slightly. "What I saw on that feed… That wasn’t possession. That was a transformation. I became the very thing that took my ma when I was just a pup..."

Korban's gaze dropped to the cross resting in his hand, his fingers lightly tracing its edges. A sad sigh escaped him. "...This is the only thing I have to remember her."

Volcan's eyes lingered on the cross, his voice soft. "Your mom... She gave you that?"

Korban nodded, his fingers tightening around the pendant. "Yeah. I guess, thinking back on it, that's why I came back to myself. Seeing this probably reminded me of her… maybe brought me back to my senses." He gave a small, rueful smile.

"That’s what we figured, too," Volcan murmured. "Some kind of trigger." He paused, searching for the right words. "I guess I understand now how scary that must’ve been... to lose yourself like that. To become something or someone else…" He shuddered, the feeling of cold creeping up his spine.

Korban exhaled slowly, a deep sigh escaping him. Without a word, he reached behind and unsheathed his sword, examining the weapon in his hands. The blade’s aggressive, demonic design was a stark reminder of the transformation he had undergone, one that seemed permanent for now. He frowned at it, his thoughts darkening as he stared at the weapon.

"...I ain't gonna let this mess with what I do," Korban muttered, his voice low but resolute. "I got a new sword, new powers, and I gotta learn to control ‘em... without letting it take me over again." He slid the sword back into its sheath, then glanced over at Volcan, his eyes steely with resolve. "I think I know where to start."

Volcan opened his mouth to speak, to offer some words of encouragement, but was interrupted by the sudden vibration of his phone in his pocket. The ringtone blared, sharp and insistent. With a sigh, he pulled it from his pocket, already bracing himself for another unimportant call. But when he glanced at the screen, his scowl softened.

"It's Sid," he said, looking briefly at Korban, who gave a casual wave of his hand. Volcan nodded, accepting the call as he pressed it to his ear. "Hello—?"

He had barely even said the greeting before Obsidian’s voice practically exploded through the speaker. “Volcan! Where are you?!” The dragoness’ voice was so high that even Korban heard her question - and the near-panic in her tone. It was loud enough to overload the speaker, her words accompanied by a crackling sound that forced Volcan to pull his phone away, a pained expression on his face.

“Yeow!” Volcan exclaimed before tentatively bringing the phone back to his ear. “Damn it, not so loud! I’m over at the twin’s place, why?”

“Then who the hell am I seeing on the news right now?”

Volcan’s expression blanked. “On the news? What’re you talking about?”

“Turn on the T.V. to CBC news, hurry!” the dragoness practically commanded him.

Volcan shared a quizzical look with Korban, but did as asked and re-entered the house, asking Avory where to find the remote for the television. Once he located it, he turned on the T.V, and asked them how to find CBC News; Avelyn then simply spoke up in the room:

“A.V.I. turn on CBC, please.”

“Turning Television to CBC now,” the robotic voice called out as the TV changed channels to the breaking news.

Unfortunately, they had apparently missed what Obsidian had wanted them to see. Volcan spoke briefly into the phone, about to mention the issue when the network abruptly switched to a playback. On screen, a massive fire raged at the Port of Halifax, with the newscaster grimly listing the casualties, numbering in the dozens. The damage was catastrophic, and the fire's cause still a mystery, but then the footage shifted.

The newscaster's voice grew more intense as they introduced a figure, the arsonist suspected of causing the destruction. Volcan froze, his hand trembling as he nearly dropped the phone.

On the screen, a dark, winged figure passed by a CCTV camera, the flames in the background casting a ghastly glow over the scene. The figure’s silhouette was imposing, large and muscular, with massive wings spreading from their back. The avian shape was unmistakable.

The wings were all black, save for the purple highlights that tipped the lower feathers and painted a wide stripe across their face, framing a sharp, gray beak. The figure's golden cuirass gleamed in the firelight, and in one hand, they carried a staff, tall and adorned with an ankh at its tip. The staff was held in a battle-ready grip, poised as if the figure had just emerged from the heart of the chaos, prepared for more.

Then, the figure turned its head—first right, then left—and in that moment, the face was fully visible.

It was Volcan’s face.

A sharp gasp echoed in the room. Eyes turned to Volcan as the horror of the situation settled over the group. He felt a chill creeping over his body despite his fiery feathers, his heart thundered in his chest, seeming deafening compared to the silence. Everyone else stood frozen, staring at the screen in a mixture of disbelief and dread. Some were looking between the televised figure and Volcan, seeing exactly what Volcan was at that moment.

Volcan’s face paled as he recognized the figure on the screen—his own, twisted and corrupted. He could feel his scar burn with phantom pain, a cruel reminder of what had once possessed him, now seemingly taking on a form of its own. His form…

The room was silent, save for the faint hum of the television, but the tension hung thick, suffocating.

"It’s come back…" Volcan whispered, his voice trembling, barely audible. The terror in his words echoed in the stillness, matching the disbelief on the faces around him.

No one spoke. The group was paralyzed, each of them grappling with the same horrifying realization. But none of them were as terrified as Volcan, who knew exactly what this creature was—and what it could mean for them all.