The End of a Beginning: The Beginning of an End

[Retane]

His hollowed sockets looked on, no emotion showing on the visage of the demonic figure. Where his face should be, there appeared to be only bone. Around it was a mixture of black fire and grey smoke,neither of which strayed beyond the near proximity of the skeletal cranium. He would have looked like the Grimm Reaper, however he wasn't human and his black cowl had been blown off from the pressure of the energy around him.

The fire didn't burn him, no. It wasn't actually real flame, but rather it was a part of him. It was a release and symbiosis of his transcendence of power.

Across from him, under the scrutiny of pupiless eyes, hung another. The figure was half human with muscular olive skin. From the neck up, however, was a light grey fur and the head of a dog. The location where the two textures met was divided by a thick golden chain. The only other garments the jackal was clad in were a golden cloth that was held by a leather belt, and a giant headdress and a blood ruby in its centerpiece.

Behind the ancient being was a materialized black cross that appeared to be engulfed in black flames similiar to that of the skeletal figure only a few feet away. The jackal's arms and legs were bound to the cross in a crucified manner by black chains at his wrists, ankles, knees, and elbows. The neck was also chained to the cross, just at the point where i the jackal hung his head for to long he would choke himself.

His head was hanging loosely.

Off to the side, observing the scene as it played out was a white haired elvish warrior clad in a dark orange cloak. A blade was sheathed on either side of his hip, the the crimson-eyed figure didn't seem to have any intention of using them or intervening.

THe nameless jackal rose his head slowly, his breath heavy and his body worn. He peered at his foe with Heavy eyes, "It wasn't suppose to be like this. You were said to be weaker then me. Yet, here I am, and there you are.

"Why? Why I ask? Why is it that our roles are not reversed? The fate of destiny had deemed it so, yet here we are." The Jackal closed his eyes pondering his own words. He opened them after a few moments, "Why? Who are you? What are you?"