blaze-sets-fires

[blaze-sets-fires]

"Mmm...perhaps." He conceded admiring the empty glass with an appraising eye. At Erebus' comment he tossed his head back with a laugh. A true one. "Funny...you assume I meant me." He teased, walking his fingers accross the vampire's chest. When Erebus' eyes roamed over him, Blaze bit his bottom lip to keep from smiling. It was always nice to be appreciated. Even if only for rather shallow intentions. "Well..." He drawled, forcing himself to break eye contact. "I'd offer you a bite but..." Absently, he circled his fingers around Dante's bite mark hidden by the lapels of his jacket. "I would like to keep some of my wits about me. Did you know there's a vampire centric bar? They serve blood in these little flutes. Which I'm sure are disgusting. Warm blood is always the way to go." Biting his lip again he considered his options. He hadn't bothered with any blood replenisher potions. They were a staple for people who liked blood play. Sighing a bit, he shrugged his shoulders. "I guess that leaves a good fuck in a bathroom stall? Or are you feeling like an exhistibisher tonight?"

"If you don't like Scotch I'm afraid it's you who has terrible taste," he replied lightly, his tone remaining even despite his muscles tensing when the warlock decided to wriggle on his lap. Erebus narrowed his eyes at the in so many ways comment. "Did you just insult yourself?" he asked with a note of amusement. Though most of his focus had pulled to the change in nature of his smile. His gaze moved, slowly, up to his eyes from his lips. A rather knowing smirk on his own lips now too. "And what exactly did you have in mind?"

[blaze-sets-fires]

Being grabbed from behind startled Blaze. The swallowing darkness seeming to churn. Almost alarmingly so. The hand around the front of his neck wasn’t violent in a sense Blaze would expect it to. It was more to hold him against the body of his assailant. The immediate reaction was to break away. But the familiar breath against his ear, the sharp tip of a fang just barely enough to draw blood. More a tease than anything else.

“You look well…for a ghost.“ Dante’s voice said.

It was difficult to pull out of the vampiric allure being so carelessly thrown at him. But he managed, and the vampire let him move away.

He turned to face the vampire, slowly. Jerky movements tended to excite them. And Blaze didn’t fancy being dinner. At least not to Dante.

Dante stood still as a statue as Blaze gave him a once over.

Cocking his head, Blaze’s lips twitched a bit. “Same to you. Not even crispy.”

The two stood there for a moment, sizing each other up. Neither sure what was happening. Finally it was Dante who spoke first.

“I almost didn’t recognize you.” He said with a sweeping gesture of his arm. “No feathers.”

The familiar phantom pain of his wings made him stiffen. But his smirk was cold as ice. “I downsized.” He replied.

“Evidently so.” The vampire mused, moving to circle lazily around Blaze. Then he huffed. “Always so damned pretty. Vlad never did appreciate true beauty. Until you.”

The instinct to wince was difficult to ignore, but he managed. His eyes narrowed though, once Dante came back into eyesight. He frowned. “You weren’t there.” He realized. “That night…with the nephilim.”

Dante’s lips twitched into a feral smile. “Well color me surprised. Guess you aren’t just a blood bag.”

“You weren’t there.” Blaze repeated, not taking the bait.

“Neither were you.” He replied cooly. “Not when I got there. Funny how you ran. Once things got messy. I never did understand why Vlad kept you.”

Blaze blinked, pressing his lips together. He often wondered the same damned thing. But the accusation in Dante’s eyes. That wasn’t right. “That wasn’t my fault.”

Dante laughed, though it was anything but a happy sound. “Which part? The fiery inferno or the death by nephilim?”

His throat went dry. “Neither.” He said softly. “I didn’t…I wouldn’t.”

The vampire stepped closer then. Blaze could see the darkness in his eyes. “Wouldn’t you though? A warlock in a seethe of vampires? Didn’t you ever wonder why you were never turned? Why none of the stronger vampires were allowed to feed off you? You were Vladimir’s little puppet.”

“I was not.” Blaze snapped, squaring his shoulders to try and look bigger than he was.

“Found by chance. Kept by necessity. He needed your power. And he needed it to be unharnessed. To do the most damage.”

“For what?” Blaze asked, his voice cracking slightly as his nerve seemed to fade away.

Dante shrugged. “Whatever he wanted I suppose. Let’s be real here…warlocks are the only downworlders to strike fear into the hearts of nephilim. Magic.” He snapped his fingers and made a sweeping gesture. “Poof! Up in flames.”

Blaze shook his head. Whether it be the alcohol he consumed or the conversation, something felt off. Very off. “I don’t understand.”

“Do you ever wonder why vampire seethes like ours move around? And others like the ones here in Chicago stay put? Chicago has Magnus Bane. A warlock. Protecting all of the downworlders here. Not only the vampires.”

Dante watched Blaze lazily for a moment, though his dark eyes were calculating. Blaze’s teeth clenched threatening to chatter.

Dante took that as a cue to keep going. “The real feud is between the nephilim and the warlocks. We vampires? “ He shrugged. “We survive like the leeches we are. You being a vampire wouldn’t make much sense. You can’t control your power. There are crossbreeds. But they don’t tend to last very long. Not on their own.”

Blaze shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you though?” Dante snapped. “I sent the nephilim after you. I told them you caused that fire. Vlad only had to let them have you. Instead… his head ended up on a pike. And you ran like the little rodent you are.”

Flame sparked in Blaze’s eyes. The chattering in his teeth sounding like crackles of fire. “You… that’s why you weren’t there? Because you betrayed us? “

“Us? That’s cute. You aren’t a vampire. You aren’t really a warlock either are you? But you brought the nephilim on our heads. Multiple times. And you continue on… and my family is dead. Just like yours.”

Blaze blinked back raging tears. “The nephilim were…”

“The nephilim came to your village because someone told them about the young warlock there. They didn’t lay hands on you that night. Thanks to us.”

“I killed them.” Blaze replied. His anger continuing to simmer just below the surface. “The ones that you sent after your family. Every last one of them. What’s keeping me from doing the same to you?”

Dante’s lips twitched into a chilling smile as the shadows started to lick up around him. “Another thing about vampires.” He said as he disappeared into the darkness. Only his voice echoed. “We aly ourselves to someone stronger.”

Blaze gasped suddenly, taking a step backwards into Dante who had appeared behind him. This time when Dante caught him by the throat, it was to jerk him closer to his bite.

[blaze-sets-fires]

Blaze lost himself somewhere in the conversation. The sounds of the party starting to fade a bit, being replaced with the sounds of screams and roaring fire. It threatened to consume him until Erebus spoke. Congratulated him for surviving. Because...what was the point in surviving all of that? To live his life on the run? To never be able to find a safe place to be? He heaved a sigh, shaking his head a bit to clear it. The vampire did sound sincere though, which confused Blaze. Even more than him actually offering up any information about himself. He settled on a dismissive shrug. "Six to one, half dozen to another. I'm not actually sure it was a good thing."

At the tease though, his lips twitched a bit. Much happier for lighter conversation. He popped his lips, licking the remains of the drink off them. "You really do have terrible taste." He told him, wiggling a bit on his lap to make sure he remembered he was there. "In so many ways." The twitch on his lips turned a little feral. "Maybe I could offer you something a little more tasty."

The warlocks warms fingers tracing patterns over his chest had a shiver running through his body. It was funny how warmth could do that to him the way cold could have when he was human. Erebus studied him then. He was certainly an intriguing sort. Had been from the start. But that hadn't changed the longer they'd known each other.

Erebus frowned too, but at his drink being stolen. To forget. That was something he could relate to. With so much of his life, both side of the change. He tried to think about it as little as possible. No point dwelling he thought. What a pair they made. Both trying to forget about things. To run away from things they'd rather not deal with. Or maybe that last part was just him. "Good for you," he said when Blaze said he'd saved himself. He sounded like he meant it too. Which he did. But his tone had become less serious when he added, "I'd toast you but it appears someone stole my drink,"

[blaze-sets-fires]

Blaze let his fingers dance in time with the music, making circles accross the vampire's chest. His skin was cold beneath the fabric of his shirt. It was interesting to Blaze how it was cold to the touch, but when his arms wrapped around him he was anything but cold. "Well..." He murmured softly. "I suppose its partly you. I've always found a bite particularly soothing. Which is amusing."

At Erebus' comment, Blaze frowned. He swiped the drink from the vampires hand and downed it. He didn't care what it was really, didn't even taste it. But it burned on its way down, which was what he was going for. The familiar ache between his shoulders blades, where his wings once were, shocked him a bit making him shiver. "I try to forget, mostly." He admitted, then made himself comfortable propper on Erebus' chest. "I was saved once, then twice, then...I saved myself. Lots of saving, very little sex. I didn't think you'd want to hear about all of that."

Erebus stretched his arms out along the back of the sofa, drink still dangling from one hand, as Blaze seated himself on his lap. "Ah so it's not me, it's just the bite. Got it,"

He raised an eyebrow. Him being raised by vampires made a certain amount of sense knowing him. And of course it wasn't unheard of. There was even a seethe in the city that had warlocks and fae amongst it's ranks. Still, it was unusual. "You've not mentioned that before," he commented.

[blaze-sets-fires]

Blaze squinted at him. Studying the vampire with a lazy smile. “I suppose I do.” He said eventually, moving off his stool and inviting himself to Erebus’ lap. He sighed, and it seemed to roll all the way down his spine. “That’s the problem with vampires. One bite and you are doomed to a life of servitude and pining.”

He propped himself up on his elbows so he could rest against Erebus’ chest. “Although. I do believe I’ve grown immune to all that nonsense. I was raised by vampires you know…” he popped his lips. “No. I guess it’s just you then.”

“See now that would require me to actually care,”

[blaze-sets-fires]

"Well...I admit Chicago is the first place I've gone where such a thing exists. But then again...there are more progressive master vampires here."

“Sure it’s the norm, but not all seethes are exclusively vampires,”

[blaze-sets-fires]

“Agreed. Granted i haven’t officially met him. But I hear he’s a grump.”

Blaze sat quietly in the corner, his drink relatively empty at this point. He contented himself watching the line of suitors approach Xypher who sat gloomily on the obnoxiously bright throne. Blaze smirked, leaning bit into the person beside him. “20 bucks he ends up with a vampire.”

[blaze-sets-fires]

“Isn’t it though? I’ve always enjoyed the company of a vampire. Especially when they make a snack out me.”

Blaze sat quietly in the corner, his drink relatively empty at this point. He contented himself watching the line of suitors approach Xypher who sat gloomily on the obnoxiously bright throne. Blaze smirked, leaning bit into the person beside him. “20 bucks he ends up with a vampire.”

[blaze-sets-fires]

“Well…yes.” He said in a tone that indicated he knew that quite well. “A play on his own eccentricities. And… it was meant to be funny.”

Blaze sat quietly in the corner, his drink relatively empty at this point. He contented himself watching the line of suitors approach Xypher who sat gloomily on the obnoxiously bright throne. Blaze smirked, leaning bit into the person beside him. “20 bucks he ends up with a vampire.”

[blaze-sets-fires]

“Hmmm…” He hummed. “Guess that just makes me a masochist. That or the sex was just that damn good. But I won’t commit to either of those things just yet.” He decided. He eyed Erebus’ lazy position and smiled a bit. “Definitely the sex.”

“See now that would require me to actually care,”

[blaze-sets-fires]

"And you don't care." Blaze replied with a sniff as he rested his chin on a hand. "I do believe we've established that."

“See now that would require me to actually care,”

[blaze-sets-fires]

Blaze sat quietly in the corner, his drink relatively empty at this point. He contented himself watching the line of suitors approach Xypher who sat gloomily on the obnoxiously bright throne. Blaze smirked, leaning bit into the person beside him. “20 bucks he ends up with a vampire.”

[blaze-sets-fires]

Blaze blinked dumbly at her response. "Huh? What?" He still wasn't sure he'd heard her right until she was in front of him. "No..." He said carefully, not in any hurry to leave his warm little cocoon. "I'm alright, really. I do this all the time." Then he realized how that sounded and winced. "Don't tell the nephilim that. Or the High Warlock. Or anyone. Please? I'll be gone in the morning. I promise."

Bri shook her head after listening to the reply. As if she didn't accept his answer. Which she didn't. "No, not good enough," she walked the rest of the way over to him. "Come on, up you get. You're not spending Christmas on your own out here on my watch. I'm off to my friends pub and you're coming with me,"

[blaze-sets-fires]

Blaze straightened importantly. "After I follow these 12 easy steps I shall too become a creature of the night who charms the panties off ...well everyone I suppose." He said in mock seriousness. "But really...I've only managed one or two. I think I want my money back. Are your undergarments still in tact?"

Blaze flipped a few more pages, turning the book upside down and rightside up just to be ridiculous. "Well..." He said thoughtfully. "Erotica? Maybe? Too frumpy. Maybe..." He ever so carefully set the book on his bedside table now before turning back to the vampire. "Horror?" Rolling over so he was on top of Erebus, he grinned down at him. "Oh wait....pirates. In their frilly billowy shirts. Isn't that what all vampires dream of? Fucking Johnny Depp on the under belly of the Black Pearl? Only I wonder...is he the top or the bottom?"

"Well if you work really hard you can be as promiscuous as me too one day. Don't give up," he used a tone of voice and motivational coach would be proud of.

The complement made him smirk. Because he always enjoyed being told he was nice to look at. Who wouldn't. He watched the warlock closely as he came over and joined him on the bed. Quirking an amused eyebrow as he leaned over and stole his book. The movement filled his nose with the warlock scent. A scent currently mixed with the familiar smells of his own toiletries. There was something delightful in having the warlock smell like him. Having him wearing his pyjamas. A delight that felt a little territorial.

He leaned his weight into one side of his propped up pillows so he could half face the other man. Watching him as he examined the book. "And what type did you take me for?"

[blaze-sets-fires]

Blaze's lips twitched a bit at the vampire's reaction. "Huh..." He said, "Then you've tried all variations and positions? I'm impressed. You are far more promiscuous than I am."

Tilting his head as they finally met eyes, he wrinkled his nose a little. "Well..." He replied. "It's a nice view from here." But he did, eventually move forward. Regarding the covers for a moment. "Hmm..." He hummed to himself before flopping down on the bed, reaching over Erebus to thieve the book for further investigating. Settling back on the bed next to the vampire, he tapped the book against his lips before flipping through a few pages. "Interesting. I didn't take you for a fantasy type. Must be part of the vampy allure or something." He wiggled his eyes at him from over the side of the book.

Erebus was aware when the warlock reentered the bedroom if for no other reason than the steam that accompanied him. He didn't look up from his book though and didn't really acknowledge him till he spoke. The book he was reading was at a particularly interesting part.

"Exactly that, and only that. Gets a bit dull after the first few hundred times," he replied, still not looking up from his book. In fact he didn't look up till he'd finished the page. When he did, he frowned. "Do you intend to just stand there all night?"

After inserting his bookmark and closing the book, he twisted to place it down on the night stand. Then he pulled back the covers on the other side of the bed and watched the warlock to see if he'd join him.

[blaze-sets-fires]

Something sweet...

Blaze hadn't realized just how tense he'd been until the hot water of the shower hit him. Then, just because it was ironic, he turned it even hotter. He braced himself against the wall of the shower and let it just beat over him for a while. Washing away so much more than the mere grime that was there.

The bathroom was effectively filled with steam by the time he'd actually bothered to wash himself. The sent of Erebos' soap was interesting in a familiar sort of way. Like he'd smelled it before but not sure where.

There was a pair of pajamas waiting for him, and he smiled a little at the gesture. Not having been terribly used to that sort of domestic thing. But he put them on anyway, they were a little big, but somehow made him content in it. That he might somehow exist in someone else's world? Then he laughed a little at himself, bringing one of the sleeves up to his nose to inhale the fresh scent. Another thing Blaze had learned wasn't always typical.

He stopped to stare at himself in the mirror. Finding the amber color of his eyes interesting, only because he'd never known what color they actually were. Since they tended to lighten or darken. If he looked very closely he could almost see the flickering of flame in his irises. He didn't stay like that long, figuring if he spent any longer in the bathroom the vampire might come looking for him.

He emerged from the bathroom in a puff of steam to find Erebus already in bed reading a book. Standing idly for a moment he considered him. The after the shower events hadn't occurred to him until now. Biting his lip, he asked idly. "What do vampires read? Kama sutra for carnivores? Maybe?"

@erebussdarkdesire

[blaze-sets-fires]

And they saw FIRE...

The only thing Blaze could remember about his childhood was that it went up in flames. His birth parents were afraid of him. Could have been his large black wings or the way things would spontaneously combust around him.

He could remember vividly when his home went up in flames. He didn't know if he had caused it or not. If it had been the vampires. Or the nephilim. Or warlocks. It could have been any of them. The fact was, it did go up in flames. Torching everyone inside, except for him. Because for whatever reason, flame never seemed to bother him. But the smell did. The dark did. The soot and the rubble did. The coughing, the inability to catch his breath. All of those things he remembered.

He even remembered when the piece of the roof that had fallen on him was removed. Violently so. He'd been maybe 10? He didn't really remember. But the silhouette was on fire. A being that seemed to glow in the dimness.

"It's a warlock." A smooth voice said in the darkness. "A little one."

Vampires he later learned, had ransacked the camp. They'd basically killed all the inhabitants. But, Blaze didn't really care much about that. He didn't have any affection for any of them. Which later, would bother him a little. Who doesn't hold affection for their own parents?

The vampire pulled him from the rubble, cooing over his wings. The cool touch on his inflamed wings felt good, almost comforting. He was hoisted up into his saviors arms. Seeming to curl in. His winds wrapping themselves around the both of them. But he was very small, having never been properly nourished, so the wings didn't make it all the way around him. But the vampire cooed none the less, petting him. Like he was a small dog or something of the sort. Which Blaze found interesting. Because no one ever touched him like that before. Like they weren't afraid of him.

"What are you going to do with it?" The second voice asked.

The vampire holding him murmured something. Blaze didn't catch it, because he was falling into the oblivion of unconsciousness.

It was strange, growing up amidst a seethe of vampires. He never learned most of their names. Vladimir being the only one. But Blaze didn't even know if that was his actual name, just what he told him to call him. There were many humans that came and went throughout the years. Blaze learned never to befriend them. Because they'd likely just disappear anyway.

He spent the majority of his remaining childhood being a sort of revolving meal? Sometimes he fed the vampires, sometimes they fed him. It was very much a give and take. Which made so much more sense to him than anything else.

The majority of the time though, he spent curled up beside Vladimir. Vladimir as it turned out was the master vampire incharge of all the lower vampires. He ruled with an ironfist. There being a code to how the vampires survived. And if one stepped out of line, they were taken care of rather quickly. The first few times Blaze watched a beheading, or a staking or really whatever way Vladimir decided needed to happen. He cried for days.

They moved constantly, never keeping to one place very long. Blaze eventually learned that was because of the size of the seethe. They had to eat. The few humans there never seemed to be enough. And Blaze was at times off limits to them. Which was funny. Because Blaze considered himself as much more of a sheep than the prize Vladimir seemed to think he was.

Blaze had a fiery temperament that amused Vladimir to no end. He'd get riled up about something or another. And Vladimir would merely scoop him up and carry him away to some dark cool place. He would very gently sink his fangs into Blaze's neck, sometimes his wings, it didn't really matter where. Blaze never fought it. Mostly because the feeling of being fed from took the heat away. Leaving only cold in its wake. Blaze much preferred being cold to being hot.

On the last evening Blaze spent with the vampires, they were having a party of sorts. A blazing bonfire. Things being burned. Bodies perhaps? Weapons? Blaze didn't know. He'd grown not to care about such things, or ask too many questions. He was lounging with Vladimir. Curled up against him, his favorite spot. The master vampire gently stroking his hair, the coolness of his touch soothing, as it normally was. Sometimes Vladimir would talk. Other times they lay in silence. But tonight, he was apparently feeling chatty.

"You should have seen..." He was telling Blaze, his fingers sliding down the back of his neck. "The glory of it. The nephilim never saw it coming. It was a bloodbath."

"Nephilim?" Blaze asked sleepily. He'd never seen one. They were according to Vladimir barbarians that swept through seethes, murdering all the vampires. It seemed far-fetched. But Vladimir never lied to Blaze. Not that he knew anyway.

"The angel's children." Vladimir murmured, his fingers slipping down the back of Blaze's shirt to rest between his shoulder blades. He ran them up and down the soft feathers of Blaze's wings. "Do you know why I named you Blaze?" He asked, the change in subject a little strange, but Vladimir tended to do such things.

"Because I set things on fire?" Blaze asked, only partly paying attention. His eyes watching the dancing vampires, almost mesmerized by them.

Vladimir's chuckle vibrated through him. He took a breath to speak. "Partly. And a temper to boot." He pulled Blaze tighter against him. "But...you don't burn me." He said, his cool lips against Blaze's temple. "No...I'd say you are a well kept pet. But I know what you really are."

Picking up his head, Blaze peered curiously at him. "What am I?"

It was the first time and only time Vladmir ever kissed him. Really kissed him. Perhaps because he was older now. Blaze found it rather strange though. Because a kiss from a vampire wasn't nearly as cold as he expected it to be. "My avenging angel." He said when they parted. His fingers sliding over one of Blaze's wings.

Blaze's lips twitched, a teasing smile on his face. "An angel? I'm hardly that."

"No. Not the heavenly kind." Vladimir told him. "The kind that will set the world on fire."

Blaze considered that. He opened his mouth to speak when all hell broke out. Suddenly there were people everywhere, screaming, the sound of metal clanging, sinking into flesh. Blaze was used to such theatrics, but something was different this time. Vladimir suddenly grabbed the side of his face, pulling him against him. "Don't look." He cautioned.

What he was not to look at, Blaze wasn't really sure. Because the familiar panic started to rize in him. The smells the sounds. It was like being trapped in rubble again. He felt Vladimir's fingers curl around his face. He leaned in, pressing his lips to the side of his mouth. "Run." He whispered, before shoving Blaze away.

Blaze didn't move. He was too shocked too. He couldn't have moved even if he wanted to. So as the vampire camp went up in flames, Blaze would only watch. Mezmirized by the licking fire as it consumed everything in its wake.

The only thing that did move him, was when Vladimir cried out. Because Blaze had never heard him do so before. He tripped over bodies as he tried to get to him. There was so much chaos happening around him. He could feel it start to boil in him. That panic.

Hands caught him, pulling him backwards. The slick feeling of blood seeped through Blaze's shirt, coating his wings with it. He cried out but a hand clamped over his mouth. "Quiet." The voice ordered. It wasn't Vladimir, but another of the vampires. He didn't have much time to consider that before the familiar prick of fangs into his shoulder made him gasp in pain. He felt it then, the way the vampire pulled blood from him so urgently. The vampire, was dying.

There was a slick sound behind him. It took him a moment to register that the pain had stopped. He gasped as another rush of blood came over his shoulder as the head of the vampire toppled over him. He spun around in time to see what he could only describe as death. Glittering. Holding a sword above him. But he was too weak to even raise a hand to defend himself. The blow never came though.

"It's a warlock." Came a confused voice. Murmurs came from all around then. Amidst the shouting and sounds of battle.

Blaze was disoriented as rough hands caught him by the wing, lifting him up off the ground.

"What's a warlock doing in a vampire camp?" Came another voice.

A battle cry sounded from somewhere. Blaze was too hazy to know from where exactly. But suddenly Vladimir was there. Spearing the person holding him through the middle.

Blaze fell hard onto his shoulder as Vladimir stood over him. His voice sounding like it was thundering from the heavens. Blaze's uninjured wing covered his head and side of his body as the battle ensued. More cries, more blood, just more everything. It was all too much.

At the end though, amidst the carnage, Blaze sat, curling over Vladimir's head. Only his head. The rest of his body fell somewhere else. He was shaking. Barely able to hold onto it. And the shaking was something he couldn't pinpoint. If it was rage, or shock, or blood loss. Tears flowed openly down his cheeks. Tears for so many things.

Something sharp and metallic pressed against his neck, turning it assessingly. "Was he a prisoner?" The voice holding the sword asked.

"Token warlock?" Another voice said, amusement in his tone.

"The wings are pretty." Added a feminine voice.

His injured wing was caught then, sending a wave of pain through him that made him scream.

"Take them."

Then there was so much pain. So much screaming until he was hoarse. It was later that he realized it had indeed been nephilim. In retaliation for the raid the vampires had done the night previously.

For some strange reason, the nephilim didn't kill him as they did all the vampires. Instead, the took him. To wherever Nephilim gathered. He sat, freezing, teeth chattering. Voices coming from all around him.

"He was with the vampires." Someone said.

"A hostage?"

"Not likely, by the look of him."

"Doesn't look like much anymore."

Blaze finally seemed to come back to himself, squinting into the light. He should have kept his eyes down. It would have been so much easier. He was in a trophy room of sorts. There were things around him, mounted on the walls. Horns, hooves, things like that. Even an eyeball that made Blaze shudder. Valdimir had told him a story of such a place, a long time ago. A nephilim trophy room. The trophies being warlock marks. And by the look of the place, the had slain many, many warlocks.

It was then that Blaze realized he was clutching his severed wing. It was slick with blood. The radiating pain having lessoned just a bit. But still very hot, searing.

Somewhere deep inside him it started to boil. In his blood, through his blood. A slow moving lava. The nephilim continued to chatter around him. Like he wasn't actually there at all. It wasn't until the fire had wound like a ball in his core did they notice there was steam billowing around him.

It was all consuming, red hot, seeming to spark from his finger tips. His throat was parched, dry as the desert. But hot like it had been baking under the sun. When Blaze opened his sight, all he saw was flame. It engulfed him completely. The fire licking up his limbs, burning away the clothing but not somehow burning his skin. It also didn't burn his wings. They lay torn and limp in his arms.

"He's a pyro!" One of the nephilim shouted as the room filled with smoke.

There was movement all around him. The clanging of weapons that sparked as they tried to strike him, but the flame continued to rage and no actual harm came to him. Eventually the sounds faded out until all he heard was the roaring in his ears. The engulfing heat of his magic. And it was his magic he realized. The magic Vladimir had quelled in him so easily up until now.

Blaze slowly got to his feet, his legs trembling from under him. His eyes held dancing flames. His skin a sheen of sweat though it sparkled in the dim light. He let his severed wings fall to the floor, they were useless to him now. "Burn..." He hissed through his chattering teeth. "Burn..." He said again a little more forcefully. The flames rose all the way to the ceiling, creeping along it, the tapestries bursting into flame. The trophies sizzling and disintegrating. "Burn..." He said one last time before the room burst. He didn't care about the screaming. He didn't care that the building crumbled around him. Didn't care that was standing naked, engulfed in flames. He didn't care about anything. Just the death of the nephilim. Like an avenging angel.