Renquist had walked a half-circle about them now and stood behind Ramir, quite smugly pleased with the lad being transfixed. He leaned close and lifted a hand as if to touch Ramir, but hesitated, waving it over his shoulder instead. He didn't quite reply to Ama, which surely couldn't help her make sense of what the hell was happening.
"Mm. A pup, without claws. I thought your teacher would have better prepared you. Why..."
Renquist walked passed Ramir's shoulder and away from them both now, approaching the stairwell they'd left a moment ago. He slipped his hands into his jacket.
"... it seems rather neglectful of him. How should you act in his stead, without claws?"
Renquist laughed then and enlightened them both as to what a depraved, twisted sound that could be. It was perverse, as laughter should never cause anyone to feel so suddenly ill.
Ramir scowled again and looked closer to boiling. He was still lost though, as there was simply no reassurance that they could run. This thing seemed to be toying with them, baiting them with words.
"I have talons, shadow. Rest assured, I'm quick to kill."
His threat was half-assed and snapped out, lacking the punch he would have liked. It seethed with fear and anger though, Ramir wasn't enjoying being toyed with. What's more, Ama was here and that seemed unnecessary. He'd not thought this encounter might happen so soon, if at all.
And still his body screamed with the urge to run. Run and don't look back. He couldn't as he wouldn't risk Ama's safety. He shot her a look that was frightened, fearful and concerned for her. His eyes darted at the door, beckoning for her to flee.
As the stranger moved about them, Ama couldn't help feeling like a rabbit caught in a snare. She hated the feeling, and all this talk of claws and talons wasn't helping. She saw the look on Vandal's face and it scared her. Who was this man and how did he know Van? Why did it sound like he was trying to goad a reaction from him?
When her friend looked towards the door, she knew he was trying to help her but she shook her head in defiance. She would not leave him. Could not! Vandal was now a friend and the young demoness DID NOT abandon her friends. It made her a little angry that he would want her to go, but more angry at the guy who just wandered in and interrupted their sleep.
Ama reached deep down inside of her, past the fear and despair, and found a spark of courage. The man's laugh cut through her like a knife, but she took a step toward him and braced herself.
"I don't know what's going on here, or what your plan is, but you...you should know this. I...I won't let you harm my friend."
Ramir didn't falter in the face of her defiance either. His hand slipped to Ama's shoulder and with a sudden smile that seemed brought on by that touch, he stepped beside her, shoulder to shoulder. When she looked to him, he winked and then took a deep breath.
With a nod, he turned his eyes on Renquist and barked his words.
"Same goes for me. You keep her out of this.... whatever it is."
He hoped that he'd sounded sure of himself. Somehow, he felt more confident having said something so brazen. Part of him thought it romantic, should he be slain in such a stand off. Of course, there was a pretty girl involved.
Renquist's laugh suddenly and abruptly halted. He brought his hands out from the folds of his clothing and deposited an ornate, silver tube on the banister. He rubbed at his chin then, as he looked to Ama once more. He wasn't phased by their stubborness, but seemed to be thinking.
"And something for the girl. If only I'd known. Ah well, this shall have to do."
Renquist tugged something from his neck. It seemed harmless, a simple chain with a tiny flower pendant upon it. It didn't seem all too valuable, should you consider it for worth, but he carefully placed it atop the tube.
When he next took a step, he dissipated in an ebon smoke, only to re-materialize behind them, before he approached the door. His hand found the knob and twisted it.
"Well then. I suppose this is farewell. Should you see sunlight, I hope you'll think of me fondly." The absurdity of his words, the mocking tone he used so proficiently were lost in what happened next. The door opened onto an elsewhere that was not the night they had left outside and through it, poured four shadow clad minions, strange and murderous things that chittered and clacked unseen tooth and claw.
The nightmare lord stepped through and with a clap of thunder, the door was shut. Suddenly, the rain took dominion over the other noise and their immediate threat, the four mock-horsemen, closed in on them.
Ama was left perplexed by the mysterious intruder's final performance; from the ornate tube and necklace, to the doorway that lead not outside but to some other realm. She would have been glad of his departure if not for the four shadowy figures he'd let in.
Ama's body tensed further - if such a thing was possible - and she found herself taking a step back. The sight and sounds of these new threats was enough to knock back the confidence she had just dug up.
"More friends of yours?" She directed at the friend that stood at her side.
The young demoness raised her dagger, once more, and waved it back and forth as a warning for the shadowy quartet to stay back.
Ama's hesitation wasn't met with consideration. Luckily, Ramir wasn't predisposed to wait for an attack that, to his mind, seemed a certainty. A good thing too.
Ramir's hands slipped into his jacket and to the small of his back and as, at that very moment the closest of the night-things launched toward the pair with a vicious screech; Ramir spun out and low, the trail of his two, tiny blades dancing in the moonlight. Yes, he did indeed have talons.
"Take them down!" he yelled as the first of the opponents reeled past, screeching in a new manner that smacked of pain. It was past Ramir now and on one knee, much closer to Ama. Ramir stepped back and his hands came up, the curved blades of his karambits protruding under his fists, the rings locked about his fingers.
He was growling, albeit quietly. Now was Ama's moment.
Vandal's words were like fuel over a dying flame, kickstarting the fires of her fighting spirit. This was THEIR refuge now. She wasn't going to let a cluster of shadows run her out, no matter how scary they might look or sound. Hadn't she just said she wasn't going to let anyone harm her friend? Well then, now was the time to let her actions speak louder.
It appeared Vandal couldn't help but be a gentleman, as he had set up her first target. The dark figure was down on one knee, probably injured and conveniently close to the young demoness.
Without wasting another second, Ama rushed the first assailant and aimed to bury her dagger into its neck - or somewhere thereabouts, before dropping down low to sweep the legs out from beneath their next victim.
Ama dispatched the prone enemy with ease, it didn't have time to process it's predicament, let alone react and defend itself. She was quick too, wound like a coiled cat and before the next attacker could harm Ramir, he was toppled by Ama's sweep.
Ramir grabbed out and clasped the creatures head, coiling his arm about it's neck His hand twisted as he turned and without looking at the hapless mark, he'd launched a deft kick into the knee of the third. His arm released and the knife severed the life from it's throat, finishing the enemy Ama had taken down.
The third attacker, screeching as it flopped onto it's side and clutching madly at it's shattered leg was further away. The fourth was across from it, leaving both Ramir and Ama in between. His hands twisted his knives expertly, switching them on end, the curved steel now held more 'conventionally'.
"Ladies first, Ama."
There was a cool malice in his eyes. Might he be enjoying this predicament?
Vandal's look of cool malice could be seen reflected in Ama's purple eyes, the corner of her delicate mouth twisting up into a smirk. It was rare for the young demoness to be fighting as part of a team, she was more used to one-on-one situations, but this was not to her disliking. It helped, too, that Van made a skilled partner.
Ama flipped her dagger, so it was hilt first, then bent her knees and spread her arms out as if she were about to take flight. Her bare feet pressed against the floor, the cold of the wood no longer a problem as adrenaline coursed through her body, and she pounced.
As she closed in on the last dark figure's side, seemingly poised to attack above the victim's shoulders, Ama dropped to one knee in an attempt to avoid any potential swing of a shadowy arm or claw. In doing so, the blue-haired brawler went in for the old one-two, with dagger-hilt and fist, to - what was hopefully - kidney and abdomen.
Ramir had himself rolled across the floor and as he rose, his hands wound one over the next, slashing tiny cuts up the side of their injured-knee abomination. As he rose to his full height, those knives crossed in, paused and then out, raking the face and then tearing deep through whatever amounted to a throat. His enemy collapsed backward, gurgling and bubbling, a horrid hiss escaping the ragged wounds.
He turned as Ama staggered her foe, the blows from her attack clearly striking something tender. The demon-thing hissed and groaned, lashing it's claws outward but missing as it stumbled with agony. Ramir stepped closer, immediately behind Ama. He grinned.
"Finish it."
There was some satisfaction in his words, his voice smacked with lust for either combat, or their pending victory. The creature's defenses were down and Ama was perfectly poised to end this skirmish in an instant.
Ama took great pleasure in seeing her foe stagger and hiss in frustration, but she knew it wasn't over just yet. The remaining shadowy being lashed out with its claws but the young demoness dodged the attempt, positioning herself in front of the dark figure for the final blow.
Ama spun her blade around and, with both hands wrapped around the hilt, brought it down right between the ribs, with all the force she could muster.
The creature's cry of pain died on it's lips and a moment later, it shook violently before bursting in an inky, gelatinous mess.
Of course, Ama was terribly close. Much of the mess fell to the floor, but an errant glop... or several, spattered down her front.
Ramir was lucky the roll of thunder overhead smothered his fit of laughter, when his yell of satisfaction turned at the sudden sight.
No, it was no laughing matter, but it did appear they had both escaped unscathed. He truly wondered though, should it have been quiet so easy. Feeling as though they had only been toyed with, he approached Ama with a look of praise and admiration.
"Wow. I thought I was quick with a blade, but watching you..."
Ramir stalled on his words. He thought for a moment and a large grin stole onto his face, his eyes lighting up with mischief.
"You know, I just bet you're a regular heartbreaker."
Ama was just glad she'd kept her mouth closed as the shadows burst into a shower of black ichor. Thankfully, the young woman didn't care so much about getting a little dirty, especially if it meant keeping herself alive.
She looked her friend over, making sure he'd suffered no injuries. But he appeared to be okay. She accepted the compliment of her fighting skills, and returned a smile as she wiped a spot of black gloop from her cheek with the back of her hand.
"Oh, behave yourself. I've only crushed a handful of hearts...or so." Grin. "Anyway, your skills with those blades was far more impressive. You've clearly had some professional training."
Ama remembered that the intruder had said something about a teacher. There was something Van had yet to reveal about what happened here, but she didn't want to press the matter any further.
Ramir had already hidden his blades once more, as small as they were. He looked about the room, finding black remnants of their battle that were now dissipating into nothingness. Memories.
It was then that he sighed. Ramir was a bit lost presently, he was quite angry at what had transpired was not willing to let it get the better of him. Instead, he was looking to at least seem in better spirits, as he had a newly acquired friend to consider. Really, she seemed quite un-phased by the ordeal.
"Perhaps. Training or no, it seems we've both earned our prizes. That begs one question."
Ramir had moved to the stairwell and retrieved the items. He presented the necklace to Ama, quite curious. It seemed altogether harmless.