Making A Choice

Seriously, you guys. You need to have someone to rub aloe on you. Everyone needs someone who'll do that in their life.

Judy treating my wounds was about the first good thing to happen to me for a while.

Right after my post yesterday, seconds after I hit "publish", Rakshasa showed up. Behind me.

Which caused me to jump out of my chair and yell "Gah!" It was not one of my finest moments.

In my defense, though, Rakshasa is freaking terrifying. Yeah, from his description, doesn't sound so bad, right? Has the head of a tiger, his hands are monkey paws that are on backwards, tends to wear expensive looking clothes. Has funky blue eyes. Weird, yeah. Creepy, definitely. But not terrifying.

Yeah, right. Y'see, there are things moving under his skin. None of his limbs bend right, and whenever he moves it looks really creepy and exaggerated--or you don't really see him move at all. And, every once in a while, somewhere on his body, an eye just opens, sometimes in the middle of his clothes, before closing and disappearing completely.

That, and there's a palpable aura that something is wrong in the universe whenever he's nearby. That kinda sucks.

"Hello, Mister Ferrian, I do hope I'm not...interrupting anything." He said in a calculating, 'I can kill you right now and not really break a sweat' kinda way. That cat head fits him, because I felt the whole time like a mouse between a tabby's paws.

And, master orator I am, I yelled, "Rakshasa!" At him. I'm such a brilliant criminal mastermind.

"Yes, yes, we've established who I am. Now, on to why I'm here. I know you found out about my plan--well, part of it, at least. Though I may not be giving you enough credit. I'm horrible about underestimating you mortals." He was talking to me now like I was a particularly bright pet. Like he wanted to give me a dog treat. "Now, I've come here not to threaten you...oh, well, that's a lie. I have come here to threaten you, but not explicitly. You see, this plan means a great deal to me. And, while no one who reads your silly little blog can or will do anything about my plan, you can. So, I would like to make a deal." The king of all demons smiled at me. That smile was about ten times worse than Death's Head's. "You do nothing to harm my affairs in becoming leader of this country, and when my legions consume this world in hellfire, you and your loved ones will be spared. However, if you try to get in my way," Rakshasa is a shapeshifter. Did you all know that? Because I was a bit surprised when he started to turn into a large mass of tentacles made of shadows and eyes. "Then I will take that which you love most away from you. Your friends. Your family. And your lover." Then he turned back to his 'normal' self. "Though your sister has proven difficult to kill in the past. I guess I will just have to try harder in the future." He mused to himself. "Oh, and before I go," He started to say.

And then I was on fire.

My body can absorb energy, yes, that's true. But only really energy from this world. Hellfire? Not so much.

He disappeared some time while I was rolling madly on the ground. I can remember every word he told me, because it was, essentially, and implied agreement with the king of demons. And he always keeps his deals.

So, I have to choose. On the one hand, I was alive the last time Rakshasa took over the world and unleashed his hordes upon it. It was a nightmare I never want to see again. On the other hand...Judy...and Eliza...and hell, C.J. and Captain Visigoth and Jack Knife and Mechanor and, damnit, I'd even hate to lose Quizzer, because a villain's gotta have a nemesis.

I'm a villain. We aren't supposed to have the hard, world-shattering decisions.

...maybe I'll be lucky and the Scarlet Sorceress will beat him before this becomes an issue.