(CLOSED)A Second Battle, or Lady Luck's Gamble?

[Seigmand Dezmar]

The hot sun seered the white moving landscape outside Las Vegas. While tourists drove past the plain desert awaiting the sights and sounds of the neon paradise, a truly amazing sight laid just off the highway only a mile from the road. Above a dune no different than any other a vortex grew slowly from nothing, crackling with whatever mysterious forces gave birth to it.

From it Seigmand tumbled haphazardly out into the waiting sand. Falling several feet before gaining his bearings, he slapped his hand out against the shifting hill and conjured a cushion to catch his fall. With a quick uprighting and dusting off of his clothes, he glanced towards the hole that stared back at him from the sky. It served as a silent messanger that he wasn't the only one coming through, as it would have closed by now otherwise.

Drawing out his staff he slammed down on the ground and hardened the cushion into a smooth platform upon which he watched and waited. Foe or friend, he'd be ready for them.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

*No less then thirty seconds later Mark came falling out of the portal head first into the dune he jerked his head away from the sand and started coughing.*

Mark: Not that coolest entrance... *Mark sighed pushing himself up and looking around, he then saw Seigmand, he rubbed his nose and took a step forward.* Funny, I didn't expect to see you here.

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand looked the golden haired angel over and pulling out his compendium from his backpack kept his attention loosely between both it and Mark.

"Hello Mark, it's been some time. I must admit I was interested to see who fate would band me with in this wasteland. I guess as far as Heroes go I'd consider myself lucky it's you. So have you given my question any thought there Mark? After all, I'd love to know what an angel like yourself fights for."

Seigmand stood peacefully, his staff slung leisurely over his shoulder while he glanced over whatever notes he had written about the boy. "You know I must admit when I asked Trucido if he knew anything about the Heroes I got very little from him. Except in your case. Have you tangled with the devil in the long rimmed hat too? He knows an awful lot about how you fight."

[Mark Angelus Fri]

He knows?

*Mark thought when he said the word' angel', but his thoughts were soon answered.*

Mark: Devil with the hat? I assume you're talking about Trucido, well of course he would know being my brother and master. *Mark said sitting down on the dunes, he didn't plan on attacking just yet so catching a breather might help.*

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Well well, that is interesting. This could work. But before I go further I have to be sure of who he is.

"My Mark, he was your teacher and a relative? Then why the hate? You seem pretty venomous towards a man you clearly once respected. Perhaps you really are one of the Sumata hmm? I dare say the idea of an inside man that not even I knew of would be clever." Seigmand closed up the small pocketbook and slipped it back in his pack, leaving his full attention towards Mark.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

*Mark narrowed his eyes.*

Mark: Don't compare me to you Sumata scums. *Mark snapped,* this world, I have people I love living on this world and he wants to recreate it... besides, my reasons do not concern a mere human like yourself!

*Mark was surprised at his own words, not once has he ever acted superior to humans, he fell in love with one.*

Mark: Forget that... you humans seem to be doing a better job then us Angels, anyway. *He said with a slightly apologetic voice.*

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand covered his hand as he chuckled softly. "Don't worry boy. Nothing by it, but you're not a good enough actor and Trucido isn't clever enough to make something like that work. No, your a honest person who fights for good and the people you want to protect right? That's good Mark, but do you have the conviction to kill for your goals? Can you stain your own hands and sacrifice yourself to truly protect what you love?"

"I ask because that's what I need Mark. I need someone who will be willing to commit that sacrifice, and has the power and strength to ensure that Trucido fails in his plan in every step of the way. Do you understand?" Seigmand stood still with a simple smile. There was no playful glare, no hint of sarcasm or anything twisted in his tone or expression. He'd seen the boy fight, and knew that he more than anyone would know how Trucido thinks. Maybe even better, the boy could know of a weakness.

[Mark Angelus Fri]

Do I have what it takes to kill...?

*Mark closed his eyes on that thought, only for his memories to be stained by the faces of young people as he and his battalion slaughtered why looking for Trucido, or the faces of the troops he killed when he sided with Santo-Luce, and then was the faces of the people he blew up... including his wife. He kept his eyes shut afraid to show any sort of sadness or weakness.*

Mark: My hands are already drenched in blood. *he said in a lower tone.* but your goal? It sounds the same of us 'heroes' what's the difference?

[Seigmand Dezmar]

"The truth is that the Heroes are weak Mark, at least if Andy is any indication of what their mentality is. Like you, I have many people I hope to protect. I am a king first Mark, and I have not forgotten that. To ensure the safety of my people I joined Trucido, knowing that I could do more harm to his plans in subtle resistance from the inside than I ever could from direct confrontation."

Seigmand began to walk uphill towards Mark, his eyes scowering the area in the unreasonable fear that someone was watching them. "Yet Trucido has begun to take matters into his own hands, and my efforts have had to get more brazen in order to slow him down. It won't be long before I'll be able to do nothing but watch as he claims the relics for whatever machinations he has hidden from us. I need someone that I can count on, someone who is willing to trust me and is able to ensure that we'll all be safe from that man when the time comes. Can you do that?" He neared Mark, his tone getting darker and quieter till they were nearly face to face.

"Be honest. This is no fairytale, no silly fable about being better than the bad guy. Kill, or die Mark. He kills, we kill. Someone tries to stop you, you take care of them till the job is done. Can. You. Do. That?"

[Mark Angelus Fri]

Mark: You're wrong about something, Andy and the heroes are not weak more powerful then any of the Sumata and they will overcome them. *Mark stood up facing him,* I can fight, but I'm not about to trust someone who plans to back stab his leader. *Mark smiled.* If anything you can give the heroes credit about being trustworthy, I wouldn't have anyone watching my back but them.

Mark: So to respond to your question- I don't trust you, and I've had enough with groups that will use my power for meaningless slaughter. Although I hold my hand out to you, join us we could use your brains.

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand only looked at Mark in disgust. Pushing his hand away he grunted, his exhale thick with annoyance. "I'm tired of that response. You're far older than me Mark, and so I had hoped you would have gained the wisdom to know that line of thinking is naive. He's not my leader because from the very moment I joined him I intended to stop him in my own way. Just because I don't stand in front of Trucido sword bared like a big damn hero doesn't make my efforts any lesser than yours."

Seigmand turned with a swift pivot of his foot, splashing sand out against the boy in a tempered outburst of his geomancy. "You ask me to join because of my intelligence, yet you deny my plan, calling my calculated intentions 'meaningless slaughter'? I admire your commitment to your beliefs Mark, but I shall not have my plans bogged down by your naive idealism and weak mercy. Good bye Mark. I shall send a prayer for your soul when you and your allies are struck down, able to hold onto nothing but your precious beliefs."

Seigmand moved slowly down the dune, his mind racing. Foolish man. I was right to call him boy, despite his age. If only I had some way of controlling him. Some way of forcing his hand to follow my efforts despite him wanting to... He stopped, realizing exactly what he needed to do. "You know Mark, that little show that Andy put on right before we all went into the portal was interesting." His neck cranked around to reveal his sly and plotting expression. "I could feel his urge to kill. Andy might be weak, but that thing that made him act that way, oh he could do just fine. I don't need you Mark, I'll train Andy to release the power of that personality and ensure this conflict ends period."

[Mark Angelus Fri]

*Mark expected his reaction to his hand and at the moment he took a more offensive stand Mark summoned his blades.*

For such a great mind he freaks out easy, he's not in any place to lead an army much less a group.

*And then he heard him talk about Andy.*

Mark: Andy wouldn't join you for nothing, *Mark didn't like how he went from aggressive stance and then back to normal.*

[Seigmand Dezmar]

"Oh but that's where you're very wrong Mark. You see, Andy isn't strong enough to beat Trucido at full power yet. And whether or not he'll admit it, he knows it to be true. All I have to do is convince Andy to control the power that lies dormant in him and tell him it will give him what he needs to beat Trucido in the end. That's because it will Mark, and he'll do more for this world in one act then I'll bet you've done in your entire existence."

"After all, I find it rather interesting how you said you're tired of groups convincing you to perform slaughter Mark. How many people have you hurt in your long life? Why I bet you've even had Trucido rub off a bit on you. Hmmm, maybe that's it? Maybe you're afraid of being even a little like Trucido. Maybe you're afraid that if you murder even one person in the name of some ideal you'll be just like him. Is that right boy?" Seigmand was enjoying taunting Mark. Feeling better and more composed than moments ago, he was reveling in his chance to bother the supposed "Hero".

[Mark Angelus Fri]

Mark: As smart as you are you have no freaking idea how to train that power. *Mark snapped,* it would eat you along with Andy if you try.

*Mark's anger was growing, the idea of burning his skin off became more and more appealing as this conversation went along.*

Mark: And you say I'm afraid of hurting people?! You don't know shit! You act as if it's so easy to take a life but you haven't really have you? Well I'll tell you something, how would you like to see their faces every single time you go to sleep!? Their pleads for mercy echoing through your brain?! *Mark said his hand catching fire with light.* Or how about when you feel so frustrated you let yourself loose? You know nothing about killing, you say I'm afraid of becoming Trucido? WELL I AM HIM, AND I WILL KILL YOU!

*He touched a bad subject Mark's anger was starting to get out of control, this guy was getting under his skin and he was going to break any moment now.*

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand could see the rage seething out of Mark as the light flickered rapidly. Yet he wanted to push the boy. He'd guessed the button, and having found it was dead set on pushing it. Seigmand set up a hardened platform of sand beneath him to secure his footing as he continued.

"Oh you can hurt people Mark, I've felt your ability to do that. But you're conflicted boy. One second you can't even commit to killing the most dangerous man in our world and the next you threaten to kill me. You've claimed you're good, and thus better than me. Now you're claiming you are Trucido? Quit the pathetic flip-flopping and at least be truthful about your faults instead of hiding them behind rageful outbursts and boasts."

"I've killed many, and all for the sake of myself or my people. I've regretted none of it, because I've always controlled my path. I know you can't say the same. You're as weak as Andy and when the chips are down you'll fail because of your silly notions."

Seigmand twisted his staff in his hands slightly, each time an end swept across the sand a bit gathered, forming a heavier rounded orb on one end. Holding it playfully in the palm of his hand he looked and waited for Mark to let loose.