Monsters lie here. . .

They all heard an ear-piercing scream.

Vate's ears feel back, "Shadow?"

Ice clenched her fist, "Dawn! How close are we?"

She pointed at something, "What's that?"

"That'ssss a tree limb. . .Ssssshadow musst have put it there. . ."

"Those. . .those are Snake Vines. . ." Ice pointed out.

"Shadow told me that if you relax you can fall through. . ." Dawn added.

"Let's do this," Ice said, wrapping her wings around her body in preparation to fall through.

"Ice," three voices said at once.

"What?" she turned to them.

"I don't think it's wise for you to be going down their first. Whatever is down there probably knows we are up here," Stratos answered.

"You weight what, 98 lbs?" Celestial asked.

"Mhm, and I am the smallest of our group, making it much easier for me to hide," Ice answered. She turned to Vate, the last of the people who had voiced their complaints. "And your reason for me not going down there?"

Vate hesitated, then he told her. "Ice, I don't want to lose another friend. Milday Master and Shadow are already down there, being tortured. Besides, I will need someone to help me heal them later."

Ice looked at him and knew he wanted her to be safe. "Fine," she sighed. "Commander, I'll take watch to make sure no one comes around."

"I'll go," Dawn said looking at the group.

She wasn't sure, "I can feel for where they are, and I have control over basic elements and strong water control. So under ground would be ideal.

The Commander hesitated, but nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I will follow after you. . . ."

Ice drew her sword as the others prepared to go down into the tunnels. She knew she would be missing the action. She would be missing the epic battle. But, she also knew she would be missing the pain and that was one thing should could miss. Vate was right, he would need her help with healing later on.

She watched the other go over the snake vines and relax, then start to drop into the tunnels. Vate looked over to her before he dropped down, "If you do end up coming down, be careful," he said. She nodded and turned to watch for anyone who may come.

Before going Dawn searched with her mind for something she found it but..she..she couldn't understand it's energy, what it was..it was complex and inhuman, but the entrance seemed clear. Dawn concentrated a moment and feel through. She rolled and stood quickly luck nothing was there. The Commander came through shortly after.

"It's safe." Dawn said to him, "The danger is farther down."

An echo of something dropping to the floor startled them all, It was loud. Something had been dropped and was now being dragged. . .

He nodded, pausing for the others to come down. As soon as everyone was accounted for, The Commander drew a handgun from his coat.
He smiled grimly. "Weapons ready."
The others nodded. Celestial drew a spear, Stratos slid a metal gauntlet, Vate a dagger and a pistol.

"Everyone prepared?" He looked to Dawn for her approval.

Dawn pulled out her dagger and thought a moment. "I'm ready..but this thing...it's not human."

Celestial nodded slowly.
"I was afraid of that. . The again, what human could over power Milady?"
Vate nodded his agreement. "Whatever it is. . . We'll face it for The Circus Master." he added.

The Commander nodded. "After me. . "
The Circus Master's head bobbed up slowly. ". . .Lynnick?" she whispered.
ShadowStep moaned and looked about, coming to face the monster. It chuckled.

"More play things have arrived. . ."

Shadow's head felt dizzy, it had somehow managed to find the same curse her father used on her shoulder a while back. When it dug it talons in her face it had left behind the curse in four places, once on the top of her head, once on the bottom and once on each cheek-bone. She breathed heavily. The wounds were tireing to fight. She had to though, if she could fight it long enough. . .Vate maybe able to save her. . .her head fell down-ward. She was becoming tired.

"Mustin. . .close. . .eyes. . ." Shadow had been whispering to herself.

"Don't leave me, Shadow. Thats an order." The Circus Master pleaded.
ShadowStep turned her head painfully, trying to smile.

"I-i won't. . .Mi--"
She was cut off by The Circus Master's shreik as they monster slashed her across the chest.

"Yes, Little leader. . Scream so your friends will come. . ."

"AYA." The Commader wasn't that far, he suddenly broke into a sprint. Dashing past Dawn to where he heard The Master's cry.

Ice heard the scream and started, but then remembered what she was supposed to be doing.
"Stay out of the fight, Ice," she told herself. "Don't go down there and get yourself hurt. Vate will need you later."

Shadow glanced at the monster,taking a deep breath she shouted as long as possible. "Don't come! It wants you to come! It wants to hurt you!" Shadow felt the pain of the monster's talons in her stomach this time, she had shouted the message one more time before then monster clamped the talon around her mouth.

"Don't you realize that you will die here? That no matter what, you'll be trapped here. . ."

Shadow licked his hand, causeing him to pull back. "I know that. . .I am just willing to do anything to keep them safe! They are my friends. . .My family. . .and nothing will take it away from me!" Her form flickered as she was further weakened.

The group charged into the chamber.

The monster turned to them and let out a evil sounding laugh, "More friends, More friends to play with."

The Commander winced slightly, a Devourer. . . So that is what it had been. . . The young leader raised his gun slowly, aiming for the beast heart. "You are out numbered. Pleassse releassse Milady and Ssshadow immediately." he stated, icily.
The Devourer chuckled.

"Little man. . You have fear in you also. . If not fear pain. . I will find it. ." The moster sprung forward, instead of attacking The Commander it slammed hard into Stratos. Slamming the young man to the ground.

Vate looked around, he had to find them. He saw The Circus Master and Shadow chained in a corner of the room, Shadow had been hurt mutiple times. With the light curse also, the item that had wounded her shoulder was now in 6 different places. It was hard with just one wound. . .but now 6? Vate wondered if he could heal both the Circus Master and Shadow.

"I Trust you Vate. . ." Shadow's words rang out.

Ice heard the commotion below and started pacing.
She must have sheathed and unsheathed her sword a million times.
"Don't do it Ice," she muttered to herself.

Dawn took a deep breath and pulled the Earth up from under the monster attempting to pin him. It knocked it away laughing at her, "Foolish chiled did you really think that could stop me."

It's dark and evil power filled the room shaking Dawn to her core.

Vate watched all this in mute fear, he was creeping silently alnog the wall towards The Circus Master and Shadow.

He had just a bit farther to go. . .
"Come to play, cat boy?"

Vate froze at the Monster's call, slowly her started to move his hand towards his weapon but wouldn't make it that far.
The creature lunged, slamming hard into him. Vate grunted, but raised his leg up to kick back at the beast and spring back.
The Devourer cried out in irritation, whirling to slash and tear back at Vate.

Shadow saw this, "Non!" she cried out. Not even meaning to, her Shadow-Powers had activated. The Shadow reached up and pulled the monster back and threw him on a wall. More shadow's had pulled up and wrapped around him.

"You think Shadow's can contain me?" The monster taunted, lifting his arms easily breaking the shadow's grip on him. He then went over and hurt Shadow again.
"Let's see how far you can last little weakling. . ." He lunged his claws in her stomach again, causeing her to cry out.

"NO!" Dawn cried.

The ground rumbled a bit, She pulled water out of any place she could and formed it around the monster. Like a bubble, but filled with waster.

Water being a more pure element than the darkness it didn't kill the monster but weakened him a small bit. She was able to hold him with it for a short time before it broke out. Giving some of her comrads a chance to harm it with their close combat weapons.

By now, The Commander was at the Circus Master's side. Quickly removing her chains and dragging her to her feet, Celestial took the opening to rush to ShadowStep's side, tearing her bonds away.

"We can't kill it like this, Commander. . It's feeding off our fears. . ."

The Commander nodded knowingly. If only he could--
The beast had torn away by now, preparing to attack Dawn. But she was already moving back, she nodded towards a girl with dark hair who she remembered from her dorm.
"Mirage. . . Have any ideas?"

Mirage nodded, she just needed an opening. . .

Once the spell broke Dawn was left with a feeling of exhaustion, she knew that it was a risk to do another one but she looked a Merge, "I could do one more spell, but you wont have long." Dawn's shoulders slumped a bit and her hair began to fade, looking more normal than it should.

Mirage bit her lip.
"I don't want to ask you to do anything painful. . . B-but. . ."

She winced, hearing Vate cry out as he suffered another blow.
"I'm sorry. . Please help. . "