Inner Demon

"I am not Pyre.. my name.. is Vanth." ~Vanth introducing herself.

Pyre and Dark spend the next few days repairing the damage the Mage caused in their relationship. Soon their relationship was as strong as if not stronger than before. Their bond is tested again when one of Pyre's contacts informs her of a Circle of Thorns stronghold where several of the mages that held her are residing. Eager for revenge, Pyre easily convinces Dark to join her in slaughtering the lot. The two make a path of destruction throughout the Circle temple, although Pyre becomes more and more enraged at some of the biting comments a few of the mages make. They kill their way to the arch-mage in charge of the temple, who praises the "return of his pet". Blinded by feral fury, Pyre attacks the mage viciously with claws and fire. Seeing that his defeat is at hand, the mage casts a spell with his dying breath that causes Pyre to scream and fall to her knees, clutching her head.

Worried, Dark tries to determine what is wrong with her, but is rebuked. Pyre pleads for the pain to stop and yells that she "can't control it". Abruptly, Pyre falls limp and unconscious. However, before Dark can touch her, she stirs and stands.. and laughs. Except that the voice Dark hears is not the light and musical one of Pyre, but someone else. This other being chuckles that the "insolent mortals" will pay. She bounds off, further into the cave to completely eliminate the Circle mages there, leaving a confused and scared Dark standing alone. After a moment, Dark follows, calling to Pyre and trying to figure out what's wrong. After a few more mages fall to her fire, the being turns and looks at Dark with glowing gold eyes and comments darkly, "I am not Pyre." Fire engulfs her and then dissipates, leaving a morphed Pyre in its place. The being laughs again and bounds off again, calling for the mages to come face her.

Still confused, but remembering how their comrades helped him, Dark frantically calls for help through the Nation's comm. Mareo and Lady Saffron answer his call and come to help. Mareo quickly corners the morphed Pyre and quickly deduces that this being is not the Pyre they know. He calmly questions her for her identity, to which the being responds that her name is Vanth and that Pyre is her unwitting vessel. Pyre suddenly regains control for a moment and falls to her knees. Seeing Mareo in front of her, she begs him to make it stop. Mareo tries to bolster her courage by telling her to be strong and fight off this other mind. Vanth, however, regains control and comments that Pyre seems to harbor "resentment" towards demons. Through more questioning and a few veiled threats from Lady Saffron, Vanth reveals that the spell holding her in Pyre is linked to Pyre's life force. To break it, they would have to extinguish Pyre's life. Reluctant to take this option at the moment, Mareo offers to speak to Pyre and calm her down. Vanth relinquishes control for the moment, allowing Pyre to come forth again.

Shakey and distraught, Pyre pleads for them to get the demon out of her, saying that she can't live with a demon inside of her. Mareo and Lady Saffron tell her that at the moment, it isn't possible. Mareo explains to Pyre that she may have to come to a compromise with Vanth over their shared body. They escort her back to the volcano for more questioning and to determine Vanth's goals. She is left under Dark's supervision while a few more members are gathered. Vanth quickly becomes bored and starts exploring the volcano, and effectively ignoring Dark. Just as she starts considering leaving, Mareo arrives with Jarn, followed soon after by Lady Saffron with Baal'it. Finding them amusing, Vanth reveals a bit more about herself and reveals that she is a neutral without any alternative motives towards them. Under Baal'it's demands, she swears loyalty to Lady Saffron and enters a pact with the lead succubi. While Lady Saffron indicates that they will eventually find a way to separate Vanth and Pyre, they will leave Vanth unharmed for now.