Utterly Mad

The demon had felt something in the swamp as soon as it had emerged from the ruins of the great gate. Something moving around out there. The thing disrupted the waters and those that slept beneath. The imps brought it whispers of a young female traveling alone outside the city. The demon had been idling, coiled in wait, near the old mile marker indicating some long gone road when it had first sensed her drawing near. Fresh life to drink in. His movements had disturbed not a single thing, living or dead, in the swamp. Not a sound was made by the demon as the aged farm house came into veiw through the pounding rain. She was inside, and it could feel her. Asleep, yes, asleep. Easy prey. Except...  At it's approach, something here flared to life. Runes and images burned into the foundations, hotter and brighter to him than the sun itself. It hissed and recoiled. The touch of the old master was upon this place. It would wait. Such masters had no power over the living. She would leave eventually. Carefully, it coiled its bulk beneath the swamp, out of sight and away from those hot runes, and waited.