Just as Yuumei lunged forwards, Yuira shrieked and her
paw snapped out, as she threw a handful of sparkling dust into the serpent’s
face.  Yummei screamed and thrashed about, his serpentine body smashing
the table and chest, sending old dusty
tomes and clothing in all directions, as he screamed, the powder burning his
eyes. Ducking under a wild slash, Yuira turned and fled through the door, slamming
it behind her.

 ~ You will not escape my wrath Yuira ~ His voice
seared in her mind.  ~ I will kill you for your insolence ~

Yuira gritted her teeth and fled down the stone stairs,
her footpads slapping on the stone, as she fled the destruction that was being
raged in her chambers.  Bursting into the main room at the base of the
tower, Yuira spun and slammed the heavy iron bound door closed, then fled down
into the main chapel at the foot of the tower.  Running across the main
chapel, scattering the faithful before her like leaves, Yuira froze, as there
came a shrieking screech of twisting steel, then the doorway exploded as the
great serpent pushed his way through the shattered door.

  ~ Heeerreeee’s Yuumei! ~

 Foolishly, Tai’far warriors leapt to the defence
of their Queen, and without a visible effort, Yuumei blasted them from existence,
as his scaled bulk slithered through the door and he paused, as Yuira turned
to face him, her muzzle etched with her hate and loathing for the demon.

 ~ You can run Yuira ~ Yuumei glared at her. 
~ Yet you can not hide ~

 “I’m through running Yuumei – you want me? 
Here I am.” Spat Yuira, as she threw her robes off, revealing a tight fitting
gown, the wrist-talons strapped to her left forearm.

 Yuumei paused, as his tongue scented the air, and
his eyes narrowed as he looked at Yuira, who glared back at him with cold, emotionless
eyes.  Involuntarily, a shiver rippled through his great bulk, as he continued
to stare at her.

 Yuira has grown powerful – Yuumei’s mind whispered
its dark thoughts to itself, as he continued to stare, feeling the immense power
within her.  She is powerful indeed – but I am the Lord Yuumei – all who
have opposed me have fallen over the millennia! I am immortal – whilst this
– this thing is mere flesh…
 

 “Are you going to fight Yuumei – or continue to
pet your fragile little ego?  I can read your thoughts Yuumei – such sad,
pitiful things that they are….”  Yuira growled quietly, as she stared back,
her eyes seeming to bore into his dark soul, reading him like an open book.

 ~You will know such unending agonies – that only
I can devise – even the legions of hell will tremble at what wrath I shall bring
down on your head Yuira ~

 Yawning with boredom, Yuira snorted and raised
an eyebrow mockingly at the enraged demon.  “Oh – please Yuumei – spare
me the boring speeches.  Are you trying to kill me through such – rhetoric?”

 

 Angrily, the serpent rose, his hood unfurling as
his fangs extended – tiny drops of his acidic poison dripping and sizzling on
the floor, an acrid smoke rising from them as they began burning their way into
the stone floor.  As he swayed and glared at Yuira, the torches on their
sconces guttered – then exploded into incandescent sparks and hot ashes, that
streaked down like pyrotechnics, burning through fur and flesh of the Tai’far
faithful, their screams ringing off the walls of the chapel, as the cinders
burned through their fur and flesh.  Yuira stood impassively, and then
her hollow, mocking laughter rang out as she looked at the seething serpent.

 “Oh – most impressive – ” Yuira sniggered sarcastically. 
“Is that the best you got Yuumei?  Want a shot at the title now?”

 Yuumei’s body shimmered, as he drew the very wrath
of the hell’s into his body, an ebony flame erupting around him as he screamed
and gave himself to the power, feeling the power build in to a frightening visage.

 Watching on, Yuira took a step backwards, and a
split second of fear shone in her eyes, before she reasserted her control and
her laughter pealed forth again – but Yuumei had caught her momentary slip of
control – and seen the fear in her eyes.  It was all the encouragement
he needed –
 

 With a move that defied his great bulk, he twisted
and his tail slashed out like a whip and smashed into Yuira, slamming her back
against the wall with a sickening crunch.  Yuira shrieked a vomited up
blood, as she slithered to the cold stone floor, retching and choking.

 ~ Like that Yuira?  I have not even started
to get my blood hot yet ~

 “Not – ” Yuira gurgled, as she fought the sickening
pain, and staggered to her foot-paws.  “Not…bad – “
 

 Yuumei blinked, as she pulled herself back up off
the floor, then his black eyes widened as she wiped the blood from her muzzle
and a weak, choking giggle came from her throat.

 “Try again – ” Yuira gasped.  “That tickled
– “

Enraged by her insolence, Yuumei’s tail flicked out again
– and it punched through the thick stonewall where she had been standing but
a second before.  There was a whistle of wrist-talons, and then Yuumei
screamed as the talons ripped through his
host’s body – cutting through scale, flesh and bone with ease.  Black ichor
oozed from the deep wound – but the pain of the host only added to his rage,
and he squashed the host’s thoughts and feelings, as he twisted and writhed,
his great head snapping around and only through the luck of her skill, did Yuira
flinch away as the deadly fangs ripped through her gown.

 “Oh – that was so close – ” Yuira taunted him.

 ~ I will enjoy making you suffer Yuira ~ Yuumei
shot back.  ~ You have no idea of what agonies I have planned for you ~

 

 Again, the talons whistled and Yuumei screamed
again, as they ripped through his back, the blades caressing the host’s spine
– sending such pain through him that Yuumei hissed in his own real pain. 
Snapping his body, he sent Yuira to her knees,
then he grinned and his heavy tail smashed down, intending to crush Yuira beneath
it – but once again, she somehow managed to slip like grease, his tail shattering
the flagstones of the chapel floor.

 ~ Stand and fight Yuira – or are you truly a coward?
~

Yuumei heard the hiss of her anger, as his taunt cut
deep.

 ~ Yes – you’re a coward – just like your mother
was.  Oh the ‘All Powerful Tai’far Queen’ – bah.  She was nothing
Yuira – do you hear me?  Nothing…just like you are – you are nothing to
me, than an annoying insect that I will crush in my coils.  You

did me a service Yuira – wether you knew it or not, when you murdered your own
mother in cold blood ~

 Yuira paused, shaking as her rage built within
her.  “I did not kill her for your amusement – or – your…service. 
She stood between me and what I wanted – power!”

 ~ Power?  Pah – you know nothing of true power
whelp – I arranged for your birth Yuira – as you were my tool, to achieve my
goals.  Your mother was too shall I say – weak – to achieve what I desired. 
Yes Yuira – you owe your entire existence on this insignificant world, to my
whim.  I used you to further my own goals – but you – like your mother,
have now…outlived your usefulness to me. ~
 

 Catching Yuira off guard, Yuumei swept forwards,
then his jaws went wide, as his sank his envenomed teeth into her stomach, as
he pulled her close and began twisting his coils around her body.  Yuira
instantly went stiff as she felt the agony of the fangs punching through her
flesh, but what was worse was the sickening feeling of that venom – it burned
through her bloodstream like the fires of hell, yet she could not cry out –
could not even breathe, as the coils looped around her, then began inexorably
squeezing – and Yuira felt her bones creak and snap, as Yuumei’s mocking laughter
pealed forth in her
mind….

 Diane glared at Savrin, whose face was set as stern
as a statue.

 “He’s going to kill you for that Savrin – ” Diane
sighed.  “That hemlock in his drink was not very nice.”

 “Sable can do as he pleases after I tear out Yuira’s
black heart – ” Savrin growled quietly.

 “Savrin – listen to reason! Sable’s plan was a
good one – you’re acting out of anger and hate. I understand that – I do, but
this…this is foolhardy!  You’re going to get the lot of us killed!” 
Abbalion grunted.

 “Then walk away – now!” Savrin seethed.  “I
can take Yuira myself…”

Diane looked at Savrin, and then at her friends, then
she suddenly froze, her ears perking up as she heard a distant clatter.

 

 “What the – ” Diane breathed.

Zephyr cocked his own ears, and he frowned, as his heightened
senses heard much clearer the clattering of hundreds of footsteps…but these
were no normal footsteps….

 “Great Mother!” Abbalion gasped, as his paw shot
out and he pointed down the trail.

Heading towards them, were over a hundred shambling skeletons,
amongst them were half decomposed rotting corpses, and other undead – two of
which were vague, ghost like smoky images.  Many of the undead skeletons
were of the Tai’far, but there were
more than one of the Wildtra tribe, including one that chilled Savrin’s blood,
as a half-rotted corpse lurched forwards, its one good eye burning with an unholy
blue light.

 “Quivas – NO!” Savrin shrieked, as he seen the
rotting fur and flesh – recognizing his old friend.
 

With an eerie silence, the undead army paused, as the
two ghostly figures at the back seemed to confer with each other, then at a
silent command – the army surged forwards – their rusted and broken weapons
bursting into a sickly green light as they
charged….

 Tightening his coils, feeling Yuira’s spine snap
under the relentless pressure, Yuumei grinned, as he pulled his fangs from her
body and watched her suffering.

 ~ It hurts – does it not? ~ Yummei’s thoughts caressed
her mind.  ~ You were a fool to try and betray me Yuira ~

 Yuira tried to scream, but only a faint, gasp came
from her, as she went limp, then shuddered.  Yuumei blinked slowly, as
a cold, chilling feeling swept through him – and before he knew what was happening,
Yuira pressed her paw against his chest –
and gave him what she had intended all along….

 Yuumei screamed in unimaginable agony, as her paw
seemed to melt into his chest, the black ichor of his blood pouring from it. 
At a single thought, the poison within her and the crushed bones were healed,
and Yuira grinned.

 “No Yuumei – it is I who used you – now, it is
you who have outlived your…usefulness – to me.  Goodbye Yuumei – “

 As she gritted her teeth, Yuumei began to writhe
and scream, as she slowly – and incredibly painfully, began sucking the soul
from his mortal host – as well as draining his own incredible powers.

 ~ Yuira – no…stop! ~ Yuumei shrieked in her mind. 
~ Stop this – ~
 

 Yuira pressed her paw deeper, then began to convulse
and writhe against him, as she shrieked in abject agony, his powers flooding
her body and mind, filling her beyond her comprehension, yet she pressed her
paw deeper and sought out the cold, black heart in his chest.

  ~ Yuira – I’ll give you anything…anything…~ Yuumei
screamed, as he felt his powers being sucked dry – his very immortality draining
away like blood from a sacrifice.  ~ I’ll do…anything you ask! ~

 Pausing, Yuira felt the coldness of the host’s
heart, as she touched it with her bloodied fingers, feeling it pulsing with
the pure evil that filled it.

 “Anything?”  Yuira purred, as she looked up
at the reptile, seeing the unimaginable realisation spread across his scaled
snout.  “Then do this – die Yuumei!”
 

 Yuira shrieked in triumph, as she tore the black
heart from the reptile’s chest, feeling it suddenly convulse and collapse lifelessly
to the floor.  Stepping from the lifeless reptile, Yuira held aloft the
dark heart and smiled, before she squeezed it, crushing it in her paws and feeling
the black ichor dripping and sizzling on the ground, as she threw the destroyed
heart to the floor – then crushed it under her boot.  As she looked up,
she seen the faint, wavering outline of the serpent demons true form materialise
before her, and she snapped her paws out and locked then around its incorporeal
throat – then grinned.

 “Yuumei?  Do me one last favour – ” Yuira
smiled sweetly, as she suddenly snarled and sank her pas into the ghostly neck,
sucking the very essence of him dry.  “Tell the others – that Yuira sent
you – “

 Helpless – the spirit of Yuumei could only writhe
in her grasp, as it grew fainter and fainter, as she squeezed tighter, and finally
– sucked his very spirit dry of every last ounce of its existence.

 Wiping blood and ichor from his face, Zephyr looked
at the wounded and exhausted companions. They had fought like demons, using
every ounce of their strength to overcome the undead – and their wounds were
not mortal – but they had to take a moment to pause and regain their breath
and bandage their wounds.

 “That was – educational – ” Zephyr grunted.

Abbalion. Savrin and Diane snapped their gaze heavenwards,
their expressions turning to one’s of stunned horror.

 “What?” Zephyr shrugged, as he too looked up, then
his mind fell away, as his jaw sagged open.

 Above their heads, the sky had turned as red as
blood, the clouds black and foreboding, dark lightning streaking from the heavens
with reckless abandon, blasting the countryside with destructive bolts of unholy
power.  Everywhere, the landscape twisted and turned dark, the trees themselves
warping and mutating into evil caricatures, as a sickly grey fog descended…and
shadowy shapes of the twisted animals roared and screamed, as they turned on
each other in a frenzy of bloodthirsty
carnage.

 “Oh Great Mother – ” Savrin moaned.  “We’re
too late – “

 “No – ” Diane whispered, her voice quavering. 
“Coral’mi still lives – only just.  We have got to stop Yuira – now!”

 

Ignoring the agony and the weakness, they ran down the
path and headed into the valley, in which the black, twisted Tower of the Tai’far
lay – their hearts growing heavier with each step – as they fought their way
towards the confrontation with
Yuira, each of them drawing strength from the other – praying they would be
in time to save Coral’mi’s life….

 Yuira slowly pulled herself up from the cold, bloodied
flagstones, her entire body burning with the powers that she had stolen when
she destroyed Yuumei.  Everything – right back to the birth of the Universe
itself – unfolded before her eyes, and she became – a part of the all – only
one thing remained, to seal her status as a Goddess – the murder of the water
horse – Coral’mi.

 “Guards – ” Yuira snarled.  “Bring that equine
to my personal chambers – it is time she met her…demise.”

Bowing, two Tai’far warriors fled to obey their Queen’s
directives.  Yuira shuddered and ran her shaking paws over her silky black
fur, feeling the incredible power she now wielded intoxicating her.  Jauntily,
she made her way to her chambers, where she sprawled over an opulent throne,
waiting patiently.  It was not long before the two Tai’far dragged the
weakened Coral’mi in, and then released her.  Coral’mi gasped and sagged
to the floor, barely alive – but aware of her surroundings.

 “Ah – my dear, delicious water horse – how nice
of you to come…” Yuira purred, as she licked her lips.

Coral’mi raised her tear-streaked eyes and coughed up
blood, then crumpled to the floor at Yuira’s paws.  Yuira smiled cruelly,
then sank her claws into Coral’mi’s shoulders and dragged her to her knees.

 “Mistress Yuira!”  Kar’eesh panted, his semi-naked
body soaked with blood and sweat.  “My queen – intruders have broken through
into the Chapel!”
 

 With an exasperated sigh, Yuira snapped out her
paws and Kar’eesh’s mouth dropped open, as he felt the crushing grasp of her
magicks seize him – squeezing his entire body in its merciless grip.

 “You have displeased me – ” Yuira spoke calmly,
her eyes blazing with hate.  “For the last time Kar’eesh….”

He gurgled, then went limp as every bone in his body
was instantaneously pulverised, blood erupting from his pores.  With a
snort of contempt, Yuira threw the jelly-like corpse against the far wall, as
she turned her attentions back to Coral’mi – then smiled.

  Coral’mi uttered feeble croak, as she felt Yuira
pull her savagely forwards, then the sharp fangs puncture her jugular – and
the sickening sensation of her blood being drained…along with her very spirit. 
Unable to fight the dark queen, Coral’mi wept and began to convulse, as her
very soul was being sucked from her body, along with her last residual powers
of the Water Furmental.

 As the door to her chambers exploded into flying
shards, Yuira’s eyes snapped up and she bit down on Coral’mi’s throat tighter
– then let the body of the water horse slither to the floor.  Licking the
blood from her lips, Yuira rose and smoothed down her paws, as she seen her
sworn enemy staring horrified at the pale, withered water horse who lay motionless
on the floor.

 “Mother – ” Savrin squealed.  “Noooo – “

 As the others burst in, Yuira raised an eyebrow
and threw back her head, then spoke, her voice cracking with power.

 “You’re too late – I have fulfilled the legends
– and now – witness the true power of the Goddess Yuira!”

 Yuira’s paws snapped out, and ebony lightning ripped
into Abbalion, Savrin, Diane and Zephyr, smashing them against the wall, as
Yuira shrieked in cruel laughter, her eyes burning with the hate that fed her
powers.  Just as their bodies would surely boil, Yuira stopped the deadly
lightning and looked at the smoking bodies before her, hearing their anguished
gasps and moans.

 “Now – my foolish youngsters – my patience with
playing with you is at an end – pray to whatever God’s you must – for now –
you will die….”