"SHIT!" Jason glanced back over his shoulder to see the five demons still chasing after him. He turned back to see where his panicky fleeing was taking him. "Shit shit shit shit shit." Haste spells only lasted so long, and already the windian's legs were beginning to give out on him. It didn't help much to notice that the adrenaline that had been coursing through his body was beginning to let up now that he was running. "Shit shit shit shit shit." Jason could just see where the wall of the city broke off into the main entrance. He hadn't meant to run outside of the town, he had just headed that way. For an instant he considered whether to turn and head back into town or to continue his mad dash outside. That decision was made for him when a rather large shen in changed form burst around the corner of the town's wall and charged in through the gate, claws out and mouth open in a scream as it made it's way straight for him.

"SHIT!" Jason barely pulled the 90-degree turn as he shot off to his right, his legs almost giving out from under him as they struggled to keep up with his will to run. "Shit shit shit shit shit." Jason looked behind him again to see that one of the following demons had detached itself of the group and was following the sixth shen on its journey towards the Inn. The remaining four were catching up to him.

"Shit!" That was about the last thing Jason managed to get out of his mouth before his foot hit the loose rock that had been sitting right in his path. His legs gave out from underneath him, and the windian tumbled to the ground, landing hard on his elbow and skidding a bit across the ground. With a groan, he managed to pull himself up into a sitting position in time to see one of the demons leaping at him. With a heaved sigh, he could only watch his attacker helplessly.

"Oh shi-" his voice was dulled out by the loud scream of the demon as it fell backwards from some unseen force. With a startled look, Jason watched as the demon writhed about in the air, slowly transforming back into its maiden form, before finally dissolving into the night with a loud cry. The three remaining shens seemed paralyzed as they stared at the spot where the fourth once was. Shortly after, another shen fell backwards in pain, its movements mimicking the death-throws of the previous demon. The last two shens turned towards the Inn and raced off. Jason stared wide-eyed as the demons retreated back into the darkness, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He noticed he was shivering, and soaked from sweat, but he didn't care. He fell backwards onto the ground and stayed there, feeling the rapid pulsing of his heart in his temples as he tried to regain his breathing. Too fucking close.

"They're coming back." Brandon stepped away from the window and around the third flaming form as he made his way out of the door of the room and across the hall to the fourth and final locked door.

Janet followed him, rubbing her hands. "Wish that idiot Jason hadn't bolted like that. All this casting is really starting to drain me."

"If that idiot Jason hadn't bolted, you would have had a lot more to deal with them just some simple casting." Brandon quickly unlocked the final door and opened it, glancing into the darkened room. "Glad to see they're not here yet." His eyes trailed around the room. "Maybe we can get this done before they get back."

"I can't wait till this is over with and I can get some sleep..." Janet sighed as she worked up another flame spell. Brandon shrugged.

"If you can sleep, you mean."

"Good point. I don't think I'll be able to close my eyes without seeing one of these things for a long time to come. Flame!"

A shriek was heard nearby just outside the Inn as the form in front of Janet lit up.

"You know," Brandon glanced outside the room and down the hallway. "It's amazing that no one else in the town seems to hear all of this."

"Maybe they do, but they just don't want to do anything about it." Janet sighed as she wearily started casting another flame spell. Brandon shrugged.

"Maybe. You may want to hurry. I think it's safe to say they're almost here again." Brandon drew his rapier as a large shen appeared at the top of the steps and raced down the hall towards the windian. Janet cast her spell at one of the two remaining forms. Another shriek was heard from outside the Inn as the remaining shen continued its charge.

"Wrong one, Janet." Brandon's weapon went up in time to knock away a blow from the shen as it lashed out with one of its claws.

"Look, it's not like these things are labeled, okay?" Janet paced around the room to reach the final pale form. She had just closed her eyes and was preparing herself for her final spell when the sensation of flight over took her. Her eyes shot open in time to see the floor rush away from under her as the demon charged into her, sweeping her from her spot and into the air. Janet let out a loud scream but it was cut off quickly as she felt her spine slam into the window, the sound of glass shattering around her and then the sensation of falling before she finally hit the ground again. She just barely caught a glimpse of the broken window on the second story of the Inn above her before she blacked out.

Lucy was up in an instant. "Janet!" Ray just barely had time to grab her arm before she bolted out the door of the Innkeeper's room.

"She'll be alright Lucy, just wait!"

"No she won't! Something's happened, I know it!" Lucy turned her frantic eyes to Ray. The dragon was startled. He couldn't remember ever seeing Lucy this frightened before. Again he tried to comfort her.

"No, she's just fine. Just wait, it'll be over soon and she'll be okay-" Neither his words nor his grip was enough to keep Lucy there. Before he knew it, she had pulled her way loose from his hand and was rushing up the stairs. Ray was about to head after her when a moan caught his attention. He turned to where the two children where huddled. They were both staring at the Innkeeper who had just begun to stir. Ray sighed loudly to himself. "Well this is just great..."

Brandon was busy doing his best to fight off the remaining demon with his rapier when the sound of Lucy's voice cut through the hallway.

"Holy beam!" The spell barely seemed to register to the demon when it struck. The shen removed its fangs from around Brandon's rapier and turned to face Lucy. Brandon swung out at it again, hoping to catch it off guard, but to no avail. A blast like wind sent the guard slamming into the wall at the end of the hallway and he fell to the ground with a moan. Lucy gave out a startled cry as she glanced from her fallen brother to the advancing demon.

"You will not win this fight." The words came to her mind. Lucy blinked, startled as she registered what she had heard. A voice, but not a voice, something like wind that she had felt in her head, but not really felt, more like heard.

"What?" She stared up at the demon that was now hovering in front of her, its needle fangs bared in a predatory grin as it stared down at her.

"You will not win this fight." Again the words came. The feeling of them sent a chill down her back as she held her gaze at the demon.

"We killed the others, we will kill you too."

"I am not like the others." The demon hissed, its neck craned forward as it brought its face toward Lucy's. Lucy shuddered again as she felt the breath of the shen on her face. It's scent was musty and rancid, like decaying matter. Still, she held her ground.

"Why have you been attacking the children here?"

Lucy jumped as a sound like dry crackling rumbled from the demon. It almost seemed like a chuckle. "Because it is what we are made to do."

"Made to... what? What do you mean?" Her eyes went wide in confusion as she stared up at the demon.

If it was going to answer her, it didn't have time. The demon reared back and screeched as a lightning bolt from Brandon's blade struck its back. With a hiss, it turned and charged at Brandon again. The windian barely had time to prepare for the attack before the demon was on him, its claws raking widely at Brandon. Lucy regained control of herself and hurried down the hallway into the room where the final shen form was standing. The two forms around it were still burning as she prepared herself for her spell. The demon just barely noticed her in the room and had turned to attack when the magical blast stopped it.

"Tornado!" The air in the room kicked up in a swirling motion, causing the fire to dance and jump and swirl with the wind. The flames caught the final form of the shen and sent the demon reeling as the fire engulfed its body. Brandon and Lucy watched quietly as the final demon faded away into the night.