A/N: okay, well i'm sorry this took so long but I haven't had much time to work on any of my stories lately. It's a bit of a short chapter but at least it's something. And hurray more Artemis! My lovely tortured, psychotic, insane, and now evil namesake is back. Enjoy and don't forget to read and review.

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Chapter 23

Demonic Encounters

Artemis watched as the sun sank red on the horizon from the ridge overlooking the Army encampment. He chuckled maliciously as he recalled how they were not expecting his visit. In fact they were not even aware of his existence or that he was now in command of them. It promised to be an interesting meeting. Something to take away his boredom after residing at Court in Fynra. Ever since his display with Hogmar he had had nothing to do. The women had stopped pursuing him, though he never really paid any attention to them to begin with. The assassination attempts had also stopped since all the lords were afraid of incurring his wrath.

So he had decided that it was time to come assert his authority over the Army. He was looking forward to confronting the fearsome Skandras general, Wyranz. Battling with Demons was always infinitely more interesting than toying with pathetic humans. Artemis had purposely waited until darkness had fallen for his arrival, when the Demons would be at their strongest. He wanted to make an impression as well as an entrance.

In his human form he turned back to the carriage that was bringing him to the camp. It was black and drawn by a matched pair of black Kelpie stallions. Their fiery red eyes gleamed in the darkness and they stamped impatiently. It suited Artemis to arrive in a carriage drawn by Demons, as it immediately sent the message that he was Master. He stepped into the carriage and the stallions took of at a gallop, as nimble on land as they were in water.

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“Who goes there!” called out the Goblin sentry as the carriage reached the edge of the camp.

“Mage Artemis Darkclaw, to see the General!” one of the Kelpies called back.

“Ummm…How do I know you’re not a spy?” challenged the Goblin.

The Kelpies rolled their red eyes in annoyance and charged past without replying. They galloped right into the middle of camp, heedless of the Demons and Goblins that had to scramble out of the way of their hooves. They came to screeching halt in front of an enormous, cave-like tent. And in front of that tent crouched the fierce Skandras General, Wyranz. He was a mesonoxian obsidian leviathan with blazing red eyes; his draconian head sharply defined by jagged ridges and crowned by two wicked horns that curled forward some type of fiendish bull from the base of the skull where it met his thick, sinuous neck. His massive body was slung on thick, short legs and ended in a heavy tail that was armed with a scelestious blade-like implement at its tip. From his jaws protruded a pair of foot-long yellow-white fangs, which were complemented by black talons on his feet. Bulky, bat-like wings complete with clawed thumbs were folded at his sides; vicious, poisoned spikes protruded from his elbow and hock joints as well as his back, starting behind his head and ending two thirds of the down his tail.

At Wyranz’s side stood a Dytez, its ruby coat glowing faintly in the firelight. This was Dartae, Wyranz’s second in command and Captain of the Dytez aerial unit. Both Demons turned their attention to the carriage that had pulled to a hard stop in front of them. The Kelpies tossed their heads and stamped with irritation while silence fell over the camp. None of the Demons or Goblins expected the human mage who disembarked the carriage with perfect aplomb despite the fierce visages of thousands of Demons and the dread they generated. He glided gracefully across the ground to where the Skandras stood in disbelieving surprise and stopped in front of him.

“I am Artemis Darkclaw, I have come to oversee your operations and make corrections as I see fit.” the mage announced coldly.

Wyranz gave a harsh laugh then regarded the human with his blazing eyes, but the mage did not cringe or shrink away in fear as Wyranz intended. Instead it was the Skandras who broke eye contact, wondering how it was that a human could be so unafraid. What was hidden in those cold, emerald eyes?

“What makes you think I will tolerate a human meddling with my command?” Wyranz snarled menacingly. The strange mage chuckled unpleasantly in response and his emerald eyes locked on Wyranz.

“Fear.” The mage hissed. Wyranz roared with apprehensive laughter. There was something very unsettling about this mage. He cast his eyes over the carriage and the two Kelpies that drew it. They bothered him, those Kelpies. It was not something that humans did. Kelpies were fairly powerful Demons; they did not allow themselves to be used like common mortal horses. This mage should never have been able to control them, let alone harness them to a carriage!

“Come inside, Mage. We will discuss this business in private. Dartae, you will come as well.” Wyranz growled as he turned into the tent.

Once they were inside and safe from prying ears the Skandras rounded on his guest in rage.

“Who sent you here?” he demanded. But the mage ignored him and sat down on a couch by the wall and began idly inspecting his fingernails. “I asked you a question!” the Skandras roared.

“Galarathon; though truthfully I only came because I was bored. Humans are such boring creatures, don’t you agree, General?” Darkclaw replied with a deep sigh. “What don’t tell me you actually thought I was human, Wyranz? I credited you with more brains than that.” he continued, seeing the Demons’ looks of surprise.

“ I do not obey that pathetic human who calls himself a King,” Wyranz snarled.

“ Yes, I know. But you will obey me.” Darkclaw said coldly, his emerald eyes hardening.

“You can not master me. Mage! I am no Kelpie to be harnessed! I am a Skandras, the greatest of all Demons!” rumbled Wyranz, eyes lit with unbridled fury.

“Lovely.” Darkclaw said sardonically. “But you will obey me all the same.”

“Why? What makes you think you can control me?” the General sneered.

“ Because I serve your Master and He bids me to.”

“My Master would send a weakling mage to oversee me!” roared Wyranz.

“I am no mere mage!” hissed Darkclaw, as his pupils became curved slits. Then obsidian wings rose from his back, enveloping him. There was a flash of brilliant emerald light that temporally blinded the two Demons. When their sight returned they were shocked to see before them a full grown Lupir. His jaws were open revealing his pearl white fangs and his retractable talons were unsheathed. His draconian tail thrashed behind him like a huge snake and his emerald eyes blazed with malicious insanity. His mesonoxian black coat gleamed in the emerald glow of the twin fireballs that burned in front of his outstretched wings.

Wyranz bowed his head; his master had found a new Valdreth.

“I am yours to command.” He said quietly

“Much better.” The Lupir said as he extinguished the fireballs. “Much better.”

“With your leave, Lord Darkclaw, shall I assemble a meal?” inquired the quickly adjusted Dartae. Artemis regarded the Dytez with a cold stare before replying. Dartae shivered with dread worse than any Dytez could create.

“Yes, bring me something exotic, I need a change from that bland human fare.” the Lupir said. “Also see to it that my Kelpies are well-taken care of. They would enjoy some fish, you can find some in the river, I believe,” he continued with a sardonic sneer.

“As you wish.” Dartae replied and turned away to complete his task, eager to be rid of the Lupir’s presence.

“Oh and Captain…” Darkclaw called as the Dytez reached the door.

“Yes, my lord?”

“Bring me something alive.”

“Yes, my lord.” He replied. After exiting the tent, Dartae gave an involuntary shudder. Not even Shadow Dragons, the most wicked of Darkness’ creatures, wanted their dinner alive.

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A/N: For anyone who does not already know, a Kelpie is type of water demon that take the form of beautiful horses. There are many tales of Kelpies tempting unwary children or maidens onto their backs and then spiriting them into their resident river or lake and drowning them.