Walking away from the site of a brutal murder, Circe was deeply troubled. The body, she had been told, had been mutilated and had markings carved into it. That wasn't what disturbed her though, things like this had happened before, by deluded sick people who got their kicks out of desecrating the dead. She had been able to use more, getting close to the body in the form of a cat, she had seen the markings herself. Her teachings had shown her that language before, but had said it was long one from this planet. If the creators of that language had somehow been rediscovered, then the whole world was in some serious trouble.

Flipping through a book later that night, Circe tried focusing enough to finish the research she was attempting. She kept having the feeling that she was missing something very important. She slammed the book shut in frustration, once more looking over the translation in front of her, reading them aloud in a whisper to herself.

"Where there is white magic, there must be black. Where there are creatures of good, there must be creatures of evil. For without one there can not be the other, without darkness there can not be light."

She had read these words somewhere before, and could not help feeling that where was very important to solving the situation she faced now. Closing her eyes, she attempted once more to clear her mind, focusing on those words, trying to remember. Once more the memory she sought eluded her.

Struggling harder to focus her thoughts, a face swam into her mind's eye. The crystal blue eyes were framed by the innocent face and blonde hair of a girl of about eighteen years old. Her light pink lips formed a single word before the vision faded.

"Demos"

Circe started, almost falling out of her chair, soundly banging her knee against her chair. She knew that name well. Demos was one of the founders of Atlantis, as well as a very powerful white warlock. He had created the memory chambers, infusing them with his own essence when he had chosen to finish his earthly journey.

"But what would he have to do with any of this?" The phone ringing brought her out of her thoughts. She picked it up quickly, since the only ones who had this number were the police officers she was working with, unofficially of course.

"There's been another body found Circe, a girl with a single large marking cut into her stomach."

"Shit, a blonde about eighteen right?" Frowning, she knew who it was.

"Yes, she was drained of blood too. Do you want to come look at the body?"

"No Dan, I don't need to. I think I have some," pausing for a moment as a thought hit her like a brick, and continuing in a dazed voice, "leads. I'll call you later."

As soon as the phone receiver landed in the cradle, she vanished.


Stomping and chanting echoed through the huge cavern, smoke obscuring the pale faces of the dancers as their bare forms writhed and spun to the drums. A figure draped in black approached the bloodstained altar, her hands reverently carrying an urn filled with the blood of a very special virgin. Setting the container down on the glyph at the center of the altar, she strode to a podium constructed from hundreds of snake skulls.

Stripping herself as bare as the others, the robe sliding to a heap on the floor at her feet, she raised her hands over her head and clapped them together just once, silencing the chamber completely. The raven haired woman surveyed the coven of witches before her.

"My sisters, it is time" Her black eyes glinting malevolently in the fire light.

Opening a book bound in human flesh, the drums resumed their pounding as the chanting started once more. Whirling and spinning, bare feet striking the rock over and over as the voices grew louder with each circling. As the drums and chanting reached their crescendo, the dancers fell to their knees before the altar, eyes turning to the coven's leader.

Her chest heaving with the power her body had gathered from those before her, she moved her hands in the pattern on the altar, speaking out the words of calling.

"Nous votre cansacre, votre fidele dans la noirceur, appelons notre maitresse et seigneur. Acceptez notre sacrifice de sang, de celui qui vous a tourne parti de notre royaume, de cette forse de rassemblement. Nous prions de vous, Taniya, venez en avant de votre royaume fonce et commandez-nous."

As the words faded, a loud thunderclap resounded through them all, the dancers' foreheads touching the ground before them in supplication. A loud powerful woman's voice echoed to the center of their being.

"I AM BACK!"


Circe quickly caught the vial Merlin dropped at her sudden appearance in his alchemy lab.

"Circe, my dear girl, I really hate when you do that. I am in the middle of a lesson, can you please go wait in the study until I finish?"

"I am afraid not, I do not have the time, this matter is too urgent." Her eyes clouded, swirling with color. She had felt the moment the thin fabric between the material realm and the Abyss tore, and it affected the magic within her. "Taniya has been released back onto this realm Merlin."

Merlin gasped, quickly ushering his student into the library, leaving him there to work on something else, and escorted Circe to his private study. Waving his hands over the room, he sealed it with the magic of a powerful spell, preventing anything discussed inside from being heard in the hallway, and preventing anyone from leaving or entering without being invited.

"You know that I am not able to fight demons Circe, I am too old, my magic may be strong, but my body grows weak. She will come after the WyrmTongue, you know that don't you?"

Circe gravely nodded her head, drumming her fingers irritably on the arm of the chair she sat in. Her mind whirled, remembering things her grandmother had taught her when she was still a small child. She was the only one who could banish her back to the netherworld. She was of Demos's blood, and as such only she had the power to speak the incantation and have it bear any meaning.

"Circe, she has the SpiderBlood sword already. It was stolen from a museum a month ago, but because of the other things stolen I really did not think anything of it. Obviously the other items were only to mislead. If she was truly summoned as you believe, than it means her summoner had the blood of a virgin of the same blood line as you, most likely a distant relative of yours." Merlin rose and walked over to a wall of books, finger running along the covers until he found what he was looking for. "Here, this book has the banishment spell, as well as a spell you will need to speak with Demos himself, only he can help you to fight her. You will also need a binding spell, but I am well aware you already know one of those."

Circe took the book into her hands and held it tightly, nodding and waiting for Merlin to release the room from the spell, before once more vanishing into thin air.

The library was empty when Circe reappeared there, but she didn't care. She was too focused on what she had to do to worry about anything else. Retrieving the correct gem, she entered the memory chambers, seeking a spot in the center. Her mind and body felt the essence of the one who's knowledge and experiences she sought, and she sat there on the floor, where the feeling was the strongest. Opening the book and setting it in front of her, she held out the jewel.

"Demos, mon sang, mon ancêtre, je vous sollicite, viens en avant de au delà du voile et me bénis avec votre sagesse et expérience."

A form of mist and shadow rose before her, swirling shapes danced within the mist. A pair of eyes centering and looking at her, the eyes glowing white with power.

"My child," The voice echoed around her, filling her being with calm and a sense of safety, "You have come to me for help, you are troubled. Tell me, what is needed of me?"

Circe met the eyes floating in the air before her, and told everything she knew. Bobbing, as though in a nodding head, the eyes glowed even brighter at the mention of the demon's name.

"That is indeed troublesome dear child. I will help you however I can, but my mortal form is no more. I can not aid in your physical realm with anything more than words of guidance."

Circe shook her head. "No, Demos, there is a way, but it would mean you would be forever bound to me, even when I cross the veil, your spirit would be bound to mine, unto eternity."

The eyes hovered for long moments, swaying slightly back and forth, before once more bobbing. "If that is what it will take to banish that creature from the mortal sphere once more, than it shall be. Speak the words child, I shall not fight them."

Circe's hands wove over the jewel in front of her, and slowly picked it up. Holding it to her forehead, she softly and strongly spoke the words of power.

"Les spiritueux du voile, puissances de la terre, je vous invite à lier cet esprit à ma forme, pour me bénir avec elle est force et connaissance, pour m'accorder la sagesse et force pour aller en avant et pour se développer dans ma puissance."

As the echo of the last word faded into silence, a glow filled the room growing in it's brightness till it was blinding. The gem melted into Circe's flesh, joining with her body, as the spirit faded into nothingness once more. Circe stood, clasping the book to her chest, feeling the presence of Demos within her mind, a soft soothing presence. It calmed her considerably, and she knew where she had to go to retrieve the WyrmTongue, since no other blade made of mortal hands could damage demon flesh.


Inside the dank dark cavern, two screams echoed, one of rage, one of fear and pain.

"I warned you the price of failure. You will pay it." The head of a man rolled across the floor to the feet of the coven leader while the killer feasted on the hot flesh and blood of the puny mortal.

"Mistress, I bear news. We have learned that the WyrmTongue is in a Museum in New York city. I have sent agents to recover it as you requested."

The hissing voice rose from a shadow in a far corner. "Very good Melissa," The s's rolling from her tongue like a snake hissing out the name. "I need more to eat. Once we have the sword, we can perform the ceremony and summon my army to this realm."

Melissa bowed before her, and grinned evilly. Pushing forward a young woman of about nineteen, and leaving to find more humans for her mistress to feed on.


Circe wandered through the silent halls of the closed museum, her intangible form allowing her to do this without tripping any alarms. Raising her hand and pointing at the security cameras, she blinded them with a spell, and stepped into the room. Hanging from all the walls were a wide variety of swords, some she could feel magic from some of the swords, but her head turned to where she knew the sword she sought hung.

A dark shadow passed over the object in front of her and she whirled, to face the cult member, knowing what she was there for. Grey eyes peered out from a mask covering her face. Dressed in all black, the girl pulled a sword from her back.

Circe dropped her spell, quickly casting a shield spell and grabbing WyrmTongue in her hands, bringing it up in front of her. The girl charged her just as she raised her sword, and Circe countered easily. She was not just spell trained, but battle trained, in the ways of fighters over the centuries. She ducked under the woman's arm, slicing quickly across her back before she turned to face Circe again. Blood soaked into the black fabric, making it even darker. The dimly lit room echoed with the sound of metal striking metal, and the soft grunts of bodies in battle.

After wounding the black clad woman repeatedly, she finally slumped to the floor, panting and bleeding in rivers from the wounds. Circe held the sword to her throat, and whispered into her ear.

"You will live, but only to carry this message. Tell Taniya that she will get the WyrmTongue, I will give it to her myself. Right in her black heart."

Circe vanished, leaving the woman to recover and attempt to leave unnoticed. The guard that checked that room later was shocked to discover the blood coating the floor.

Circe stood in the darkness of the empty field examining the short sword she held in her hand. It was less than 2 feet long, and looked like a snake's tongue cast in silver. It writhed in her grasp, having tasted blood, awakening the magic within it. She frowned a little. This sword was created specifically to summon or destroy demons. It was woven in magics that sought it's victim's heart, be it human or demon. She waved the sword an a practice arc, getting accustomed to the sensation of having a sword move on it's own.

Sitting in the damp grass, she set the sword before her, meditating, preparing herself for the fight ahead of her. Drawing her strength from the environment around her, she allowed herself to leave her body, hovering over herself, and reaching out to feel the area she knew the demon had been summoned into. She found the cave easily, and started walking the paths that led to the deepest bowels of the earth. She felt the black presence of the foul creature, and knew that she would not be able to get her to leave her lair. With a blink of her eyes, she was back within herself.

She stood, sheathing the sword across her back, tightening the straps that held it there. Grabbing her staff in one hand, and a dagger in the other, she cast her defensive spells in preparation for the battle ahead of her. Once more checking herself over, she decided she was ready, and disappeared in a flash of light.

She appeared outside the main entry to the cavern. Looking at the moon, she could see it was midnight, the witching hour. She could feel the black magic emanating from the cave in waves. She uttered a small prayer to the goddess of white magic, asking for her guidance and protection in the task ahead.

Stepping forward, she blasted through a minor spell of warding on the entrance of the cave with a wave of her hand. Three figures emerged from the shadows, trying to ambush her. She whirled, raising her staff and pointing the end of it at the three before her. A beam of brilliant white light shot out of it, disintegrating the women mid-air.

Circe crept forward, her staff glowing blue, dimly lighting the tunnel. As she stepped into the antechamber she was face to face with the coven leader. A cruel smile crossed the beautifully cold face before she launched herself at Circe.

Pulling her dagger out, she raised her staff and struck the woman across her side, knocking her back against the wall. The woman jumped back to her feet, a feral glint in her eyes as she stalked towards her intended victim. Her eyes glowed black as she raised her hands attempting a spell. Circe whipped her hand forward quickly casting a true aim spell as she threw her dagger, watching it sink deep into her chest and bury into her heart.

As Circe walked deeper into the lair of the demon, black fluid flowed from the wound and the body slumped to the floor. A hand raised and cupped the end of her staff, turning out the light. She pulled the sword from it's sheathe as she took the final step into the altar room, and finally stood face to face with the demon.

Coiled on the ground around the hideous podium, a thick snake tail lay, the tip twitching. Green scales glistened in the dim firelight. Circe's eyes measured her opponent, taking in where the belly of a woman met the belly of a serpent. The form that rose above the tail was one of exquisite beauty and cruelty. Deep black eyes met her white ones from the nine foot height she had assumed, trying to intimidate Circe. Circe smirked at her and muttered a spell, her stature growing with each step forward until she matched her foe in height.

"Ahh, the witch dares to challenge me. What makes you think a mere child like you can defeat a high demon like myself?" Her harsh, cruel laughter echoed around them as she brandished her scimitar, which Circe recognized as the SpiderBlood, at her.

"I will defeat you Taniya," Her voice strong with the power within her. "In the name of the white, and of my forefather Demos, my blade will taste your blood, and you will be banished back to the Abyss once more."

With a hiss, the demon darted forward, her sword swinging in a wide arc as she tries to wrap her tail around Circe's ankle. She easily flipped over the tail grabbing at her, her feet connecting with a powerful blow to the demon's chin, staggering her. Trying to move before she recovered, Circe quickly sliced the sword across her chest, drawing thick black blood.

Snarling out in rage and pain, Taniya brought the flat of her blade across her back, quickly bringing her tail up into her ribs, knocking Circe back against the stone altar. Grunting in pain, Circe raised her sword barely in time to block an almost fatal blow, she cast a light spell, blinding the demon long enough for her to regain her feet.

Their swords met once more, the clanging of the metal throwing sparks into the air. Attacking and countering, their dance of life and death went on for what seemed like hours, each striking the other, leaving scores across their flesh. Black ichor and red blood mingling in a puddle on the cold stone floor. Diving under Taniya's sword arm, Circe plunged her sword into her chest, under her ribs. Taniya screamed out in pain wildly swinging her sword, and scoring it deeply across Circe's arm, as the WyrmTongue dug into her flesh, it's tip seeking her heart.

Circe staggered to the altar, ignoring the blood dripping down her arm. She grabbed the demon's symbol, and held it behind her family pendant, holding both out in front of her, between herself and the form writhing on the floor. She gathered the strength she needed, and chanted out into the air.

"L'héritier d'I, du blanc, navire de bon, vous condamnent créature fétide de nouveau à la noirceur qui vous a engendré, nevermore pour marcher la terre, bondissent pour toujours le nehind le joint de Demos, mon forebearer, votre banisher."

The shrieking of thousands of damned souls filled the wind that whipped through the cavern. Circe struggled to stand her ground, as she watched the flesh of the demon melt and flow through the center of her own symbol, returning to the blackness of it's birth. In a blinding flash of light, the two emblems melded into one, the swords clattering to the ground as Circe collapsed. Her voice hoarse, she used the last of her strength to utter two minor spells, and vanished.

Circe woke to see the ceiling of her old bedroom over her head. Her wounds were bandaged and clean, and she ached everywhere. Slipping out of her bed, she padded silently into the living room. Her parents sat there, whispering back and forth in worried voices.

"The blade was coated in poison the healers said. What if she doesn't make it?" Her mother wiped her eyes, stifling sobs behind a handkerchief.

"She's strong dear, she'll make it through. Trust in that."

"I am fine mother." Circe stepped into the room, and took the chair facing her parents. Her mother broke out into a huge smile at seeing her up and around, and quickly went to hug her daughter.

"Thank the gods and goddesses you're all right Circe. The elders have hidden the swords and the seal more securely now. I don't know where, they refused to tell me."

"Good father, I will inquire into it when I am done resting. How badly was I wounded?"

"The healers weren't sure you would make it, the Spider's Blood was imbued with a poison they had never seen before. They thought if you didn't dies of blood loss, you would surely succumb to that."

Circe slowly nodded, and thanked the gods that they had protected her. Over the next few days, the wounds healed totally, not even leaving a scar, shocking all of the healers who had cared for her. While she enjoyed the time with her parents, she soon knew it was time to move on, to seek her next adventure, and one night, as they slept, she vanished.