The string of terrifying, blood-curdling screams finally came to the end resulting in a deathly silence descending upon the forest clearing. Cold beads of sweat streamed down the face of adept and bandit alike as they display a complexion akin to that of a marble statue.

The only exception to this was Claire as she revealed a radiant, beaming smile as if she had been reunited with a long-lost family member. While she scanned the surroundings looking for Mors, she wiped the tears she had shed away.

The hopeless situation, coupled with the vile threats of Athor and the traumatic past of the lamia twins, had caused Claire's mentality; that was already extremely fragile to break down. Mors' appearance, even if it was only the familiar feel of his ability was like a beacon of hope which she grasped onto and subconsciously elevating his position in her mind hugely.

Coincidentally due to this, she had discovered something about Mors' abilities that even he did not even know. At this moment, due to having absolute faith in Mors, his passive abilities effects had been reversed. Instead of feeling terror at his approach, she was profoundly strengthened. If Claire was to look at her status plate; she would be shocked to the point of fainting. Not only would she see a new title, but a multitude of buffs increasing her stats and abilities as well as a new skill.

Even though Claire did not have the affinity, her depleted core vibrated noisily as her body greedily absorbed the darkness energy, strengthened by fear, in the surrounding air, causing wisps of black flame flickered towards her.

A dragons unyielding, unbreakable personality as long with the ruthlessness and blood-lust of a demon reinforced her mentality, warmly welcomed as they whispered sweet promises of protection and vengeance.

The only problem was that even though she had the mana, as it was of the darkness affiliation, Claire couldn't use it to heal the multiple injuries on her body. The initial blast from Athor as well as the spear that penetrated her tail were amongst the heaviest injuries sustained and it was unlikely she would be able to move much until treated.

"REGROUP NOW!" Bellowed Athor as he finally regained some of his sense, wiping the cold sweat pouring down his face he looked around for Hal and Jan. "What is it? where is it?"

"THE FUCKING DEMON I TOLD YOU NOT TO ANGER!" yelled Jan as his eyes darted about nervously as if expecting the shadows to come alive and attack him. "Why didn't you listen to me! It obviously has some interest in this group; we might have even got away with it if you killed them quickly but it seems your little game of pin the lamia has backfired."

Upon hearing their leaders command, the bandits that had been sniping from the northern forest poured out onto the roadside clearing and started to form disorganised groups.

"Footmen to the front, archers to the flanks and mages to the rear." Ignoring Bruce and the rest they formed up around their leader, unintentionally surrounding Claire. Realising they couldn't do anything against the bandits, Bruce and Alec dragged back a resisting Alice until they were well clear of the rallying bandits and were about to flee into the forest.

Alec, frustrated with the struggling Alice slapped her hard on the face before pushing her towards Bruce. "We can't rescue her as we are... and if we draw their attention we are going to get ourselves killed real quickly. All we can do is hope that thing out there is Mors, and he is still on our side or at least, hers."

Screaming in a fit of fury, Jan only just realised that they were rallying on top of the demons likely target. "IDIOTS! FUCKING IDIOTS!"

The bandits were already beyond nervous and likely to break rank and flee at any moment, making Jan's words much more devastating to their morale, causing Athor's temper to snap. "SHUT UP NOW OR OLD FRIENDSHIP OR NOT I WILL GUT YOU WHERE YOU STAND!"

Jan looking like he had lost his mind, burst into maddened laughter before dropping everything he was carrying, even his polished sword to the floor. "Not again, I will not stand between a demon and its prey. I wish you the best of luck Athor... try and give me a decent head start and whatever you do... do not kill the lamia and some of us might make it out alive." Without another word he turned and like a flash, began sprinting down the road and round the bend as fast as he could. "Please, please, please, please, let it be more interested in them than me."

In the distance, the mad ravings of Jan could be heard causing many to grimace. Jan was well respected amongst the men and for him to lose it like this did not bode well. A maddened laugh erupted."You're going to have to work for your food demon, and I hope I give you a stitch."

Just as a few of the weaker willed bandits were about to join him, Hal smashed his sword on his small round shield. "Hold your ground! The the only reason the demon hasn't attacked head on is that we can beat it together. If you run it will pick you off one by one."

"That's right! together we stand, alone we will fall." Athor nodded his head. -"At least I have some competent men."

An absolutely agonising scream cried out from the direction that Jan had been running causing Hal to smile sadly. "Good plan my old friend, the only reason I didn't join you was because it was more likely to attack an individual than the group. Plus when have you ever known a demon to let its prey escape willingly."

As the men came to terms with the realisation that if they wanted to leave this place, they would need to kill the demon, a broad range of emotions crept over them. Some grimly nodded and hardened their hearts while others began quietly weeping where they stood. From a young age, nearly every race's young were brought up fearing demons, fused with Mors' aura, most were on the verge of panic.

Apprehending the situation needed to be quickly resolved before moral could further fall, Athor gave a bittersweet smile and looked at Claire, frowning at her smiling, carefree attitude. -"I hope Hals right and it is weaker than us as I am about to kick the hornet's nest."

Reaching down, Athor grasped Claire's neck and lifted her up causing in her letting out a cry of pain as her body slowly slid up the staff of the spear that was embedded into her tail. Once she was hoisted high above the bandits, he let out a brave shout. "DEMON! It looks like this girl is precious to you. Why don't you come out and make a deal before... something unsavoury happens."

To emphasise his point he dropped his Warhammer by his feet and with his newly freed hand grabbed Claires left breast, nearly crushing it with his enormous strength. Claire's high pitched shriek echoed out before turning to a torrent of abuse as she tried to reach backwards and claw at Athor's face. Although the buff's she had received from Mors did nothing to block the pain, it tempered her reaction. "I WILL FUCKING EAT YOUR HEART YOU PIECE OF FILTH!"

Dark, tyrannical laughter roared out of the forest accompanied by a white mist that rolled out across the road as if paving the way to the underworld. "BWHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH.... Ahhhh now that is the best thing I have ever heard you say. Suddenly I am feeling much better about deciding to keep you alive."

Slow, methodical footsteps crushed twigs as they approached the forest edge. Each step caused the bandits to wince and their heartbeats to quicken as their eyes strained in the moonlight, looking for any sign of movement.

Blazing red, reptilian eyes burst through the darkness and locked onto Athor causing him to subconsciously take a few steps backwards and forget to breathe. "However, even though I am impressed, I am afraid that you will have to relinquish that privilege as a small amount of the payback for the inconvenience you have caused me. His heart... is mine."