The many golden bangles adorning both her slim wrists jingled merrily with every bouncing step that Kali took. For all that it seemed about to rain; she was in a marvelous mood and, as it appeared, had dressed to show it. Her dress was velvet in a traffic stopping red, with gold stitched into the corset and hem as well as the tight sleeves. The gold torc she always wore encircled her neck and large golden hoops hung from her ears.
But why would she dress up as such, many would ask--though to be honest she could normally be found in similar attire. It was a silly reason, at least to the more normal people, but for reasoning was that the Parmamar Library had finally gotten the book she had asked them for almost three months ago. It has taken so long because, apparently, the author had only put out 10 copies and most of those had been lost or hidden.
And just what book was it?
Hellfire and Sulfur.
It was a book written about demons and demonic magic by a demon himself. Now you may be wondering why Kali would want a book such as that but the thing is, it wasn’t just about their strengths... It also went into detail about demon weaknesses too. And Kali always did like to know other people’s weaknesses.
And so she skipped up the steps of the library, ducking through one of the large oak doors that were already open.
“Miss Tuorkh!”
She turned at the sound of her name, a bright smile gracing her features when she recognized one of the attendants. Yes, she was there enough that they all knew her by name and that she knew theirs as well.
“Anthony, I received a message that said you had it?” She replied to the older man who grinned in reply.
“I left it at the table in the back that you normally sit at.”
“Thank you!” She called, waving to him over her shoulder as she shot down the aisles to one of the back corners and there, sitting on one of the worn wooden tables, was her book.
With a soft squeal, she sat and dragged the large book to her and flipped it open to begin reading.

If she was a full human, she'd probably live her life as a bookworm instead of a traveling warrior. She was eternally fascinated with the lore Arda had to offer; history, magic, races, languages, cultures, combat, deities... she couldn't help herself. Yes, if she wasn't a half-demon, she'd probably have a nice, normal life... 'Normal'... it seems so... impossible...

Sighing, Justice closed her current book, covered in dark brown leather and thick paper, the pages inside scribbled with different sword-fighting techniques, a book she's read around a dozen times, but always liked to retouch on her studies. She's actually read many books in the Parmamar Library that suit her interests to expand her knowledge and abilities, but they weren't enough. Will anything really be enough?

Sighing again, she ran her fingers through her pearly white hair, wondering if she could find anything new to read that might be worthwhile. Her purple eyes turned to a nearby, mousy-looking attendant, softly calling to her to get her attention, "Excuse me, miss. Has the library received any new additions recently? Preferably a book on bestiary or demonology?"

The attendant thought for only a second before sheepishly replying, "I believe one such book arrived today. If I remember correctly it was a very rare one, titled Hellfire and Sulfur. Has all sorts of facts that no one supposedly knows about. But it is in possession of someone else at this time."

This raised Justice's eyebrow, her eyes changing to a mint green, "Who did?"

A little startled from the change in eye color, the assistant responded again, "Uhm, Miss Tuorkh did, she's a regular here in the library. She might still be in the back reading the book."

"Okay, thank you." The half-demon said with a nod before thinking, Who would find interest in such a book? I hope this doesn't spell trouble.

Replacing the books she had to their rightful places, Justice began to stroll to the back of the large library, noticing the volumes upon volumes of books that laid against the walls of the building, realizing how little she actually read when it came to this enormous collection. While gazing at the tall shelves, her leg accidentally kicked a table, making a loud, grinding shift across the floor, startling everyone around her and becoming bombarded by shushing from all angles.

Holding up her hands in amends she whispered to everyone around her, "Sorry, sorry."

Regaining her composure, she eventually made it to the rear of the library, immediately spotting a person of interest, for she stuck out like a sore thumb. Her sightly features amazed Justice to the point where she didn't think she was human just from first glance. Her hair seemed as if it was on fire with its fiery-orange glow and her eyes resembled ember jewels, constantly shimmering as they intently read the book under her nose. And her dress and jewelery... to die for, I haven't worn a getup like that in ages.

Her eyes now a turquoise color, she approached the striking young woman, humbly tapping on her dark tanned arm, finding it curiously warm to the touch, her speech slightly befuddled, "Excuse me, are you Miss Tuorkh? Uhm... that book, I was hoping that I could obtain that book for just awhile? I mean... it would be a great favor to me, more than you would know."

A loud grinding sound startled her out of her focus on the book and Kali’s head snapped up, her narrowed eyes peering around to see where the disturbance was. Once it was determined to be far enough away to not be a problem, she returned to her reading and promptly became totally engrossed in it once more.
It was truly fascinating stuff, especially since it was coming from a demon’s point of view instead of just some random bystander who claimed to know all there was to know. And, of course, they never really did.
A tap on her shoulder drew her out of her thoughts once more and she turned her head, orange brown eyes meeting turquoise ones. Kali bit back the retort that wanted to spew from her mouth, instead choosing to study the creature before her, even as she listened to her request.
‘Average height.. Alright looks though I must say the white hair and turquoise eyes are rather striking’
When the other before her was finally through speaking, one of Kali’s eyebrows rose and she suppressed a snort.
“And why, my dear, would I do that?” She cooed, though a bit of a bite could be heard in her words. “I am in the middle of reading it, as you can obviously see and, therefore, feel no reason to give it to you.. Unless, of course, you would in fact owe me a favor,” she added suddenly, turning in her chair so that she might completely face the woman. “And then I might, MIGHT, be inclined to let you borrow it for a few moments.”
The bangles on her right arm jangled rather loudly as she raised a hand to brush a few stray strands of hair from her face absently.
“Of course, I do wonder what you could possibly need this book for anyway,” Kali murmured a loud, more of an after thought to herself than a true question.

“And why, my dear, would I do that? I am in the middle of reading it, as you can obviously see and, therefore, feel no reason to give it to you.. Unless, of course, you would in fact owe me a favor.” The nerve of this woman! How can anyone be this pompous?! The half-demon tried hard... very hard to repress her show of agitation, but it was so arduous for Justice to deal with these kind of people, and her orange eyes showed it. “And then I might, MIGHT, be inclined to let you borrow it for a few moments.”

It was safe to say that the white-haired wanderer did not like the first impression she received from Miss Tuorkh. This is spelling trouble, but a different kind than I had thought originally. “Of course, I do wonder what you could possibly need this book for anyway.”

The question confused Justice. Why would she want to know? Her eyes turned into an orange-brown, much like those of the female in front of her, as she responded, "I search for a means to kill my... a demon, one with immense potency, and I only hope that the book you're currently reading has a way to do such an act." She crossed her arms, leaning more on one leg, giving more of an "attitude" look, "Now if you let me borrow the book, it is true that I will be in your debt, but I have no time for... sass, Miss Tuorkh, especially from a person with whom I've just met." She hoped she made it clear that she wasn't going to be pushed around, not that easily.

"I search for a means to kill my... a demon, one with immense potency, and I only hope that the book you're currently reading has a way to do such an act... Now if you let me borrow the book, it is true that I will be in your debt, but I have no time for... sass, Miss Tuorkh, especially from a person with whom I've just met."
Kali watched as the woman’s eyes changed first to orange and then to an orange brown as she spoke. Yes, Kali was more interested in her eyes than what she was saying but really, for Kali, that was completely normal. Now this wasn’t to say she wasn’t listening, for she was, it just so happened that she was paying more attention to her eyes.
‘They change with her emotions, I would bet... Definitely not human, well at least not completely so. What is she then, I wonder?’
“I can’t say that we’ve actually ‘met’ considering I don’t know your name and I figure that you only know mine because one of the attendants happened to mention it.” And so she waved away the comment as well as ignored the stance she’d taken. “More than likely, though, yes this book does have what you need but from what I can see, you’d need a powerful magic user to assist you.. And you seem to be more of a warrior.”
Kali paused, looking down at the book to scan the pages as she flipped through them. When she got to the section she sought, the one on weaknesses, she looked back up at the woman.
“However, I suppose I could be nice enough and let you read what you need... but only if you answer a few questions for me. Number one,” here she held up a finger, “What exactly are you. Number two,” a second finger, “Why would you feel the need to kill a demon. Number three,” a third finger, “What demon, in particular are you wanting to kill. And number four,” the fourth finger, “Are you planning on introducing yourself? It is rather rude to approach someone and start talking without introducing yourself first.”

From the way the elegant-looking woman was looking at her, Justice knew her ever changing eyes were betraying her thoughts. It was a feature that was, if anything, antagonistic as it never really helped her cases. But she had to live with it, for better or for worse...

“I can’t say that we’ve actually ‘met’ considering I don’t know your name and I figure that you only know mine because one of the attendants happened to mention it.” The fiery-haired lass stated, waving her hand. “More than likely, though, yes this book does have what you need but from what I can see, you’d need a powerful magic user to assist you.. And you seem to be more of a warrior.”

"I can hold my own when it comes to using magic." The half-demon pronounced with willful royal blue eyes, but it went seemingly unheard as Tuorkh flipped through the book's pages, browsing them with her gleaming eyes.

She looked back up at Justice, “However, I suppose I could be nice enough and let you read what you need... but only if you answer a few questions for me. Number one,” here she held up a finger, “What exactly are you. Number two,” a second finger, “Why would you feel the need to kill a demon. Number three,” a third finger, “What demon, in particular are you wanting to kill. And number four,” the fourth finger, “Are you planning on introducing yourself? It is rather rude to approach someone and start talking without introducing yourself first.”

Now she's interrogating me! Who the hell does she think she is?! Her eyes turned a red-orange before slowly turning violet, It's alright, calm down, just introduce yourself and be done with it.

A kind of fortitude formed through her body, and she politely replied, with some reluctance, "My name is Justice Singail. The demon I wish to execute is... he goes by the name of Valafar. From what I've learned, he is a Balrog, and he killed my mother and wishes to capture me." Sighing and keeping her arms crossed, she added on with a joyless tone, "I hope that satisfies your needs, Miss Tuorkh." Quizzically, she asked back, "And who are you? You don't seem to be much human."

"I can hold my own when it comes to using magic."
Despite what the girl seemed to think, Kali actually had heard her statement but had decided against replying; she’d annoyed her enough for now.
"My name is Justice Singail. The demon I wish to execute is... he goes by the name of Valafar. From what I've learned, he is a Balrog, and he killed my mother and wishes to capture me... I hope that satisfies your needs, Miss Tuorkh. And who are you? You don't seem to be much human."
“Well Miss Justice, I’ve actually heard of Valafar... Not a lot, mind you, but a few things and from those tidbits, I would say he sounds like a very interesting opponent... I’m assuming that you plan on going up against him and his minions and that you want to completely and utterly destroy them?” Kali asked with her tone now blatantly curious.
“I’m Kalinda Ranee Tuorkh. And, in respond to that last comment, it’s because I’m not. I,” here she waved a hand to indicate herself proudly, “Am a fire gensai. Both my grandmother and my great grandfather were fire elementals... I do feel the need to point out that you didn’t satisfy all my ‘needs’. You failed to mention what you were,” she added even as she flipped the book around and pushed it towards the opposite side of the table. Once this action had been accomplished, Kali turned and settled back into her chair comfortably, one of her hands indicating the chair opposite her when she spoke again.
“However, I’m in a good mood so take a seat and start reading. And, before you ask, no you need to sit and read it here, I don't want you wandering off with that book til after I'm done with it."

Her face showed an expression of surprise when Kalinda said she heard of Valafar. Very little surely, but it was more than anyone else would know, mortal and immortal alike. Even Justice didn't know very much about her own father...

"...I’m assuming that you plan on going up against him and his minions and that you want to completely and utterly destroy them?" She asked with a very curious tone. The half-demon merely nodded as she looked away, albeit marginally.

“I’m Kalinda Ranee Tuorkh. And, in response to that last comment, it’s because I’m not. I,” she proudly waved of her hand in front of her body, “am a fire gensai. Both my grandmother and my great grandfather were fire elementals..." This fact amazed Justice, and it showed in her lime green eyes. It was indeed very rare to meet such a being, it's too bad she had an ego about her, "...I do feel the need to point out that you didn’t satisfy all my ‘needs’. You failed to mention what you were.”

What she said was true, but Justice did this on purpose, for she was afraid that her heritage would turn Kalinda hostile, as it did for most people. She was literally chased out of towns for finding out what she was, no matter how courteous or helpful she was. It wasn't fair, but she learned to deal and always tried to avoid the topic whenever possible, but it was tough with her bodily markings and her constantly changing eye color.

“However," The gensai said, pushing the book to the other side of the table and motioning her to sit down, "I’m in a good mood so take a seat and start reading. And, before you ask, no you need to sit and read it here, I don't want you wandering off with that book 'til after I'm done with it."

She certainly varies herself often. One second she's as brazen as a princess, the next she's as generous as a priestess. Justice wasn't sure if they were "warming up" with each other, but she felt like they were at least co-existing. She humbly sat down at the chair across from Kali, "Thank you, Kalinda."

She opened the abnormally large book that was made of hard, reddish-brown leather, its pages as thick and heavy as skin. Just holding it and feeling it with her hands brought a bad impression to Justice, as if it was about to corrupt her very soul... but at least it wasn't written in blood like some necromancy books...

It started with the creation of demons, when Irm'kshrauko created his army to try and impress the God of Darkness, Raku. The half-demon already knew of this in vague detail throughout other scriptures, but this was in more detail, how the first were the most powerful, including Balrogs, but they were rebellious, so very few were conceived and replaced with more loyal, yet weaker, subjects.

Astounded that the author knew at least this much, she flipped through the pages before asking, "How does this author know so much?" The flipping stopped when it landed on a section about Balrogs. Her finger glided along the lines of words, drinking in the details. They did have superior power and their weaknesses were near non-existent... what weaknesses they were was unlisted in the book.

"You're going to be a bastard to kill, aren't you, father." She said quietly under her breath, memories of her mother resurfacing behind her eyes, her hands gripping the book with frustration before releasing it, turning it around towards Kalinda, her arm extended out from her cloak, revealing some demonic markings on her arm, tapping her finger on a sketch of a Balrog as her eyes glowed a light brown, "What do you know of Balrogs, Kalinda? Any weaknesses or even anything about my fa... Valafar?" Noticing her arm was exposed, she took the book back, flipping through the pages, looking for anything else that might be useful, her determination glowing vibrantly.

"Thank you, Kalinda."
Kali replied with a simple nod though, more than likely, this was lost on Justice as her head was now bent over the book. She watched her closely, taking notice of the slight shudder she seemed to give off at having to be in such close contact to an obviously evil book.
She, on the other hand, did not feel the same. For her, this was a pursuit of knowledge and this book, whether evil or otherwise, offered her more insight and wisdom. It would only turn evil if she, herself, committed those evil acts.
Once the girl had finally finished with her examination and had decided to read, Kali began to play with the red gold band around one finger, watching as the soft light from the library made it look as though flames danced across the metal.
"How does this author know so much?"
When the other spoke, she glanced up, both her shoulders lifting in a delicate shrug. “Supposedly, the author is a demon. I am unsure if this is true but, from all the information, it would seem as though it were.”
Of course, Kali realized that Justice hadn’t really been talking to her, rather just voicing a thought but she didn’t care. So she went back to playing with her ring and seemed quite content to do so until a few murmured words caught her attention. She looked up, about to ask her to repeat it when she said something else instead. Her gaze, however, had shifted down from Justice’s face when she pushed the book back to her and she caught sight of the demonic runes. ‘Definitely interesting,’ she thought as she eyed them but then, Justice seemed to realize that they were showing and she brought her arm and, therefore, the book back to her own side of the table.
"What do you know of Balrogs, Kalinda? Any weaknesses or even anything about my fa... Valafar?"
“Balrogs are demons of the fire and darkness. Occasionally, dragons are able to go up against them and defeat them but normally they would lose. Only other beings with strong magical might are able to fight them with a chance of winning, generally... And as to Valafar, I’d heard that he was last seen in the area... In this city, as it would seem. Convenient, no?”

The young-looking half-demon stopped her actions, her gray eyes were full of dread as they slowly looked up to the fire gensai beauty in front of her, "Valafar... is in Lómëdor?" Justice's face was full of worry as she looked to gather her thoughts, speaking them out subconsciously, "That's... he's... it'll take every archmage in the city to try and slay him, and even then... how can he be here? How did he..."

It was like a zap of electricity or a breeze of frigid air on a hot day... a memory from the past sparked in her head. It was decades ago, but she remembered... the village was burnt to a crisp... dead bodies and blood were spread everywhere... one survivor, barely living, told of a man... "Infinitely charming, malevolently insidious, dressed of noble clothes... he killed everyone... a great and terrible beast he was, of shadow and fire..."

"He can transform... I nearly forgot." Justice regretfully said, combing her hand through her white hair. I'm losing my mind... panic and fear are being dumped into my head like pailfuls of water. I have to calm myself; stop being eccentric.

She closed her eyes and with a deep breath, the half-demon calmed down, reopening her eyes slowly. She looked to the young woman in front of her, her eyes suddenly growing wide and turning red, standing up and grabbing the chair she was sitting on, throwing it across the table missing Kalinda by just an inch, shattering the chair against a shadowy figure behind her, knocking it out. Justice unsheathed her sword and held it in a defensive stance, scanning the area around her before noticing that they were surrounded... shadow-like demons hopped and skipped around them like circus entertainers.

An impish voice spoke in the Black Tongue, "Your time has come, Justice. Lord Valafar would like you to accompany him."

Turning to face the hellion "leader", Justice responded in the same language, "Does he truly expect me to succumb to you witless scamps?"

"You dare to disobey your father, half-breed?"

"Always."

"Then we will force you to obey." The "lead" demon shrieked a command to the others, "Kill the gensai, apprehend the half-bre-!" It didn't get to finish its order before Justice gave a clean and hard punch to the demon's formless face, sending it flying across the room, smacking into several shelves of books that toppled onto it. The other imps proceeded to attack to two ladies and Justice brought up her sword, ready to fight.

A twinge of worry went through her as she took in the other woman's dread. Yes, she knew Valafar was a very powerful demon but he was not stupid enough to reak havok so close to the gods. So what was it that was bothering her so?
At Justice's next words, Kali nodded. Yes, she knew that he could transform. She figured this was probably one of this first skills he must have developed. After all, it's rather hard to sneak around as a giant demon.
Kali opened her mouth, ready to reply when Justice's eyes snapped open and she looked at her in confusion, as red so obviously meant anger. Shock fell upon her face when Justice leapt up with chair in hand and threw it, one leg barely missing Kali's head.
Her eyes narrowed, the fire held deep within beginning to burn more fiercely. A second later, when the chair shattered behind her, she realized that it was directed at another, not her.

She remained sitting, however, even as Justice unsheathed her sword and spoke to one of the little demon creatures that had managed to encircle them. Though she didn't understand them, it was obvious the little things wanted to take Justice with them.. and kill herself, Kali realized with a start. Well, that definitely wouldn't do. Not only did she enjoy living, Justice still owed her a favor.
"I'm assuming these things belong to Valafar?" She asked Justice even as she stood, curious though her eyes were still narrowed. Her hand moved beside her, fingers dancing through an complicated pattern and, once the spell was completed, a fire whip burst into life, dangling from her grasp.

{ooc: gah, I'm so sorry about the wait and I feel horrible that I kept telling you I would post on suchinsuch day and never doing it. >.< }

{ooc: It's alright! I'm just glad you posted. ^_^}

The large sword Justice held in her hands cleaved one demon in half before she spun her body, decapitating another. Kalinda's voice echoed in her ears as she did battle, "I'm assuming these things belong to Valafar?"

It was a good question, but Justice doubted it, his father wasn't known to have weaklings under his control, it wasn't his style, "No, they were hired by him. Perhaps promised them something in return." But what? He wasn't one to promise power to unpromising beings, it must've been something else.

A shelf of books came toppling down onto the half-demon and she clumsily yet barely rolled out of the way as it crashed to the ground. The imps who toppled the bookshelf speedily flew towards her and she raised her hand, emitting a quick incantation before a red-purplish ball of fire launched from her hand, striking the demons in a warp of shadow and fire before they vanished without a trace.

Getting back to her feet, her sword was suddenly yanked from her hand by a shadowy tendril and a hellion fled towards her face before she held her arms up to block the attack, but it was a diversion, as another demon rammed into her stomach and another smacked her in the face, sending her crashing through a table. One of the fiend tried to follow up but was met with a furious kick and he flew across the room.

Justice got to her feet once again but was shoved back into a wooden support column and a dark tentacle wrapped around her neck, cutting off the air to her lungs. She grabbed it, trying to break free, but to no avail as a hellion proceeded to bash her in the stomach repeatedly, "You will obey your father, half-breed, or you will suffer!"

"No, they were hired by him. Perhaps promised them something in return."

Kali nodded her understanding, even though she realized the other woman probably wouldn't see her. Her mouth had opened and she was about to reply a loud when one of the small creatures raced at her, it's grimy paws reaching out for her.
She danced back out of its reach easily, swinging her fire whip up as she did so and then lashing out at it. The tip of her whip caught the creature along one cheek, cutting through hide and muscle to leave behind a searing trail. The demon wailed, a hand clutched to its cheek even as it reached out for her again.
Kali aimed for it's wrist this time, and the whip snapped out to slice through skin and tendon. She was about to finish the thing off when she felt claws grab onto her skirt, tearing the fabric and Kali saw red.
She turned about, her narrowed eyes flaming while her face twisted and she snarled.
"Filthy creature, how dare you touch me!"
The free hand that wasn't holding the fire whip snapped out, wrapping itself around the thing's throat and Kali called forth the fire that was within, sending it out through her palm and onto the one she held. It burst into flames and she dropped it.
Hearing a grunt and then words in that odd language, Kali looked over to find Justice pinned to a pillar with a tenticle around her throat while being bashed in the stomach.
"I'm afraid that she owes me a favor, you can't have her," she hissed at the one holding her, wrapping the fire whip around it's throat with a simple flick of her wrist.

She felt her vision fading, her breath escaping her lungs with every slam the demon made to her gut. She couldn't last much longer, she had to do something but she was helpless against the attack. If she was to fail here then all of her efforts will be in vain, she can't give up, not yet. She had a last resort... give into the darkness, become what you hate... no, her humanity was everything to her, she'd rather die than give it up.

It was sudden, but Justice caught eye of it as a whip made of flame wrapped around the throat of the demon pummeling her, yanking it away from her. Feeling her strength returning, she gripped the tendril wrapped around her throat tight with both hands and began to pull in opposite directions, ripping it apart in a messy fashion before grabbing the demon responsible and smacking him across the face, watching him as he flew across the library's wing.

Justice gazed over to where Kali was, and watched her as she fought like a wild fire, staying true to her gensai heritage. She silently thanked her for the assist, noting to herself that she owed her two favors now, and her eyes scanned the library floor, searching for her favored weapon. A demon leaped towards her, its horrendous claws and fangs thirsting for her blood, but she dodged its attack, grabbing a large, splintered wooden stake left behind by one of the chairs and shoved it into its glowing red eye, killing it instantly.

A trio of small imps all decided to tackle the half-demon simultaneously, and as they rolled on the ground, knocking several chairs and tables over, she kicked one of them off and grabbed the other two, knocking their heads together before her eyes caught a gleam of steel within arm's reach: her sword! Quickly rolling to her side, she grabbed her trusted blade and got to her feet, immediately chopping a fiend in half.

Their numbers waned now, only several imps remained, some of which fighting Kali. One of the others gave a call of distress, "Retreat! They are too strong!"

"Oh no you don't!" Justice yelled in return before shouting at her ally, "Don't let them go, Kalinda!" Her hand surged once again with red-purplish fire after a quick chant and a speedy fireball flew from her hand, striking a fleeing demon and erasing it from its pitiful existence.