Hiya, guys! Um, so this is my second chapter! YAY! Okay, I give up... Sorry for taking FOREVER on updating. Dx
You all my stone me if you want. *flops on the grounds waiting for sheer death*
Everything froze. Even Coco's heart skipped a beat... And not in a good way. She didn't dare turn her head to face the voice behind her, only crouched there paralyzed by fear.
The presence by her ear seemed to have vanished, but Coco still didn't move a muscle.
Crickets in the parking lot began to chirp again and Coco could hear the faint hum of the run down street lights.
She began quiver from holding her position for so long.
Coco fell on her butt, giving a huff as she did so. Sitting on the ground, she looked around. No sight of the person who had approached her.
Just as she let her guard down, a masked face appeared only a few inches from her own. Coco screamed.
" Boo..." The person whispered, a mischievous smile curling on the mask's lips.
Coco only screamed more, hiding her face in her hands. The jester let out a laugh.
" Ah ha ha ha! What the simple trick of timing can do to a persons confidence!" He gloated while floating back a couple of feet.
Coco stopped screaming and peered over her fingertips at the strange man.
He was a petite , being only a few inches taller than she was. A black and white mask hid his face, showing a pair of miss matched eyes.
He wore the most peculiar clothes, a jester's poncho with purple and honeyed stripes, a golden, diamond shaped pendant at the bottom of its neck line. A black, long sleeve shirt covered his arms and he wore ebony gloves that had white outlines glowing in the dim light.
His pants were loose fitting and came down to his knees, at the end seams of his pants were knee high black stockings. Curled toed shoes rested on his feet, glowing outlines around them like that of the gloves.
To top it off, he wore a traditional jesters hat, though it was a bit geometric. It was striped just like his poncho and had golden, diamond shaped bells at the tips of the purple segments of his hat.
The soft, yellow glow of the lights made him look rather eerie as the red smirk sat on his face as he floated inches off the ground.
He had an all around insane appearance.
Despite this, Coco looked past the jester at the Dark Prognostics. It was just behind the man on the ground and if she was quick, she might be able to snatch it and make a run for home.
She didn't know who this guy was, where he came from, or how he got here and she didn't want to. She wanted to get the dark book and that was it.
She inched towards the book, reaching just under the jesters legs. Her fingers almost touched the leather cover. A few more centimeters...
Suddenly, the Prognostics was gone, left with a small puff of smoke and empty space in its place.
Coco gasped, confused and upset by its disappearance.
The terrible laugh of the jester echoed around her. Coco put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes. She wanted all this madness to end.
His laugh faded away and he appeared above her, sitting on a thick branch of the birch. A shadow fell across his mask but his golden eye pierced through the darkness along with his smile.
" Now, now, we wouldn't want to be a sneaky little girl would we? A stupid action like that could cause great displeasure, and I doubt you want me to disarrange that beautiful young face of yours..." He smirked.
Coco glared at him with cold hate. She wasn't scared anymore, she was sick of these tricks and had just about enough with his attitude.
She stood up, her eyes never leaving him. Coco's hands balled into fist and she got into a balanced stance in case she needed to defend herself.
" Listen you," Coco growled, pointing at him. " I have no idea who the hell you are or what you are , why you want that book, and why you are in New York in the first place, and I really don't care either! All I care about is getting my book and going home. So if you don't give it to me.." She brought one of her fist into an open palm in a threatening gesture.
The magician looked thoroughly amused, a smug grin on his face. Soon the grin vanished with himself. ( again... )
This time Coco was expecting it when he reappeared behind her.
He pressed his back to her own, his arms outstretched in a blissful manner.
Coco scowled, but did nothing against this action.
" Ah ha ha, how rude of me, not introducing myself." He whispered by her ear. What was with him and being behind people?
The jester moved beside her.
"The master of dimensions..." He cloned, now there were two magicians. One on each side of her.
" The pleaser of crowds..." The clones disappeared in amethyst puffs of smoke, leaving Coco by herself again.
" I am..." His voice echoed softly around her.
" Dimentio!" A new larger puff of smoke exploded in front of her. Small purple and yellow petals flew around the smoke, giving it a more magical effect. The smoke vanished and the jester smiled, giving a little spin.
Coco had to admit, it was quite a little spectacle that he just performed, but she keep a straight face, knowing this opponent was far more than human and couldn't afford to show any weakness.
" You see, my dear, I poses rare powers like no others in any dimension..." He held up a finger, its tip glowing violet. " And to pick a fight with me is like the three hundred Spartans opposing the fifty thousand Persians."
Dimentio shot a small blast at Coco. It hit her arm, burning it.
Coco flinched and held her arm but didn't moan or whine. Instead,she did something Dimentio actually wasn't expecting...
She charged towards him, jumped a few feet in the air, then, mid air, kicked him right in the stomach. A fast, strong, and powerful kick that sent Dimentio staggering.
On impact, the Dark Prognostics flew from the jester's poncho and onto the dark asphalt of the parking lot.
In seconds it was in Coco's hands and her running footsteps could be heard pounding away into the darkness.
" Damn." Dimentio cursed pulling himself together. " I shouldn't have underestimated her in such a fashion... I guarantee I won't make the mistake again."
Looking in the direction Coco choose to flee in, a smirk tugged at the edges of his mouth. His proud bravado and scheming confidence never let him frown on any hopeless looking situation, but instead took everything as a new opportunity for success.
"I promise, foolish girl, this won't be the last time we meet..."
With that, Dimentio laughed and departed with the air of distorted dimensional space.
Coco ran as hard and as fast as she possibly could. Rushing by familiar streets, business buildings, even lamp post and fire hydrants.
She knew this part of town like the back of her hand.
The Dark Prognostics was pressed firmly against her breast, but Coco couldn't feel its sinister pulse for it was overridden by the adrenaline pumping through her.
She came to a tall, modern apartment complex being at least three stories high. Some of its windows lit by late night tenants or just rich old people who can't sleep.
Panting, Coco began her jog up the concrete stairs. More like skipping up the stairs as she jumped two steps at a time.
Finally, she reached the landing of the top floor. She dashed down an open corridor-like balcony until she came to a silver door with the number ' 91' on it.
Coco groaned as she had to search for her keys in her messenger bag.
" Com'on, COM'ON! Where are you?" Coco grumbled as her hand ( not holding the Prognostics) felt over make up containers, dollar bills, and various other things.
The cold metal shape grazed on her palm and instantly Coco pulled out the key and jammed it in the keyhole of the door.
Coco felt relieved already when she heard the satisfying clicks of the unlocking door.
Then, reality ruined that satisfaction.
She stopped turning the key and pulled her hand away from door knob. Emotionally troubled from the previous events, Coco couldn't take much more, and just snapped.
Tears began to fill her lazuli colored eyes as she backed into the cold, thin metal bars or the balcony railing, clutching the Prognostics like a deadly teddy bear.
" I can't go anywhere..." Coco thought, sniffling, wallowing in her own tears. " That jester will be back! No matter where I go he'll find me! HE'LL FIND ME! Those powers he has... I can't even imagine what he can do..."
Her soft, muffled cries echoed down the hall, bouncing off the cold steel and concrete the complex was built of. Above her, the outside light was on, its yellowish glow shining gently on the shuddering figure of Coco.
After minutes of crying, thinking, but mostly crying, Coco lifted her head. Her face was scrunched with determination.
" I won't let Dimentio find me... Never. This book-" She held up the Dark Prognostics, it's dark blood ruby glowing orange in the light." Is what he is after and he will not get it! It's mine, I found it, and it's coming with me, no matter where I go!" Coco whispered her pep talk to herself, raising up from her seat on the floor and moving to the door fearlessly.
She stuffed the Prognostics into her Gir satchel to keep hidden in case one of her family members was up, not wanting to answer questions wasting too valuable time.
Finishing the job she'd started on, Coco twisted the metal doorknob, opening the door slowly so it wouldn't squeak on its hinges. The warmth from her home meet the cold air outside and caused the girl to get goosebumps.
Finally, she took a step inside, bracing herself for anything. For all she knew, Dimentio had done something with her family and was sitting on the couch waiting for her to come home... With that sadistic grin of his...
A shiver passed through Coco's body just remembering it.
A thought somewhere in her conscience muttered something about thinking over the decision to come home after the idea that had just popped into her mind about Dimentio. Coco ignored it.
As she moved further into the living room, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. The colorful glow of a 65 inch plasma bounced onto the opposite wall from where it was. Its volume set to a near hum. Barely any light was present besides that of the TV and a nightlight in the kitchen.
On the leather couch in front TV and coffee table was the slumbering form of Coco's father, his dark hair messy from sleep and work. He slept silently and the noise from the open windows took over the quiet room.
Coco stared at her dad, a tinge of guilt biting at her. She loved her dad. He was there when his so-called 'wife' wasn't. Guilt was taken over by anger as she thought of Sydney, her step-mom.
" Bitch..." Coco sneered to herself, her face twisting a little. " At least if I leave I'll get away from her!"
Coco removed her shoes, knowing that if she did she'd be quieter on the wooden floor in socks. After placing them by the door, she tiptoed through the living room and to the threshold of the hall. Her parents, Nolan's, and her own bedroom along with a bathroom and a half bath where located here.
It was dark, lit only with the outside light of the thin window at the end of the hallway. The outlines of a decorative table underneath the window and doorways to rooms was the most she could make out in the blackness.
What was her angle? Why was she here? To get her brother. Though he was annoying, she knew if she left him here Dimentio would find him, and worse yet, probably use Nolan as blackmail for Coco. Why set herself up when she can eliminate a tactic?
"Never underestimate your opponent..." Coco reminded herself as she felt down the dark hall to her brothers door. For a moment, Coco stuck out her hand to knock, then recoiled it as though something had burned her.
" I can't knock! What was I thinking? It'll not only make noise, but also imply I'm being polite to NOLAN! Nolan! Honestly, I swear this book is making me high or something...!"
Banishing the thought of entering Nolan's room politely, she snuck in like she did her own house, being careful to be as quiet as possible.
As she entered his room, the warm luminescence of a light by his bed made the room a pleasant mandarin shade. The small clicks of plastic buttons on a DSi and irritating, looping music of Nolan's videogame disrupted the rest of the house's silence.
Coco rolled her eyes as her oblivious brother kept playing his game laying on his bed, not noticing Coco until she was at his bedside.
" Up late, aren't we?"
Nolan jumped at his sisters voice, dropping his Dsi on the Legend of Zelda bedspread. He stared up at his sister, fearful at first, then it hardened into an angry glare from the top of his eyes.
" Look who's talking! Did you just get back?" Nolan retorted.
Coco, frustrated already from the time crunch, glared back at her brother. Then she realized anger would get her no where. She needed Nolan to be as cooperative as possible if she wanted him to even step foot out of his room.
With a sigh and a little prayer, Coco softened, letting her voice level lower to a whisper.
" Yeah, but..." She swallowed hard thinking how to start. Her brother stopped glaring at her and had his head cocked to the side like a confused bird.
Judging from the expression on Coco's face, something wasn't right. Nolan became quieter,too.
" Sis...what's wrong? You look like your trying not to choke..."
" I'm not, don't worry, just... I don't know how to start." Coco took a large breath before returning to the statement she had left in the air.
" Something happened. Please, don't ask..." the girl shook her head, looking tired as she brought up the subject. " Just we need to go. Now. If...It might be a matter of life and death!" Coco cried out suddenly. Her face turned red from stress and holding back tears. " Please, Nolan!"
Nolan stared at his sister. He was unreadable and didn't seem to show fright or anger... Though, maybe his silence was from confusion. Coco stared back, eyes begging.
In her whole life she had been confident, a strong woman... Now, she cursed herself for feeling and acting so weak. But when she felt like that on the inside, it was hard to put on a poker face.
" Nolan..." Now her voice was quiet yet firm, she needed to pull herself together. " If you trust me, love me as a sister, you will come with me. It doesn't matter where... Because, we'll protect each other."
Her sibling was still sitting up in his bed, staring at Coco, seeming to be very distant. Finally, biting back a trembling lip, he replied.
" I... I love you, Coco. I don't know what's going on, but it must be important otherwise you wouldn't look so freaked." His lazuli gaze, just as Coco's own, looked up at her, quavering . " I don't know... But.." Nolan bit his lip harder. " I'll come anyways."
Coco was a tad shocked. Though she hoped he'd come, deep inside her, a voice said he'll say no. A genuine smile spread on Coco's face, beaming at her brother.
" Thank you!" She said but returned to be firm, if she lost control now, she'd be back to square one. " Get what you absolutely need, put it in a backpack, and then, quietly, come to my room. I'll be there waiting." Nolan's eyes boggled as his sister bent over to hug him but soon sunk into the hug, sad when she was finished. " Please hurry."
Now that she was done with her brother, she left his room. Closing the door behind her, Coco returned to the dark hallway, moving stealthy down the hall to her own room.
In her room, she saw the bed which beckoned her. Lush with a fluffy black comforter and striped sheets. A down pillow against her heavy head. Coco frowned and pushed sleep out of her mind. She couldn't sleep. Not now.
Luckily for Coco, her room had carpeting, one of the reasons she could play her techno music so loud. However, this time, it prevented her parents to know she was up and about... Running from an almost fictional character.
She walked over to the closet, pulling at least 13 shirts in all off their hangers and onto the floor. Pants soon followed, their denim legs sprawled over the shirts already on the floor.
Returning from the closet, Coco knelt down and started to fold her shirts and pants messily. Pulling her satchel strap over her head, she flipped the bag over, its contains now on the floor with just about everything else. When the Dark Prognostics hit the floor with a thud, she felt something change. Slowly, her head turned to face it. A shudder ran through her body as Coco fought off that urge to touch it. To read it. Mentally slapping herself, Coco fought off the urge to do anything with the creepy book now... But later...
Coco stuffed shirts and pants in her empty satchel, returning to the closet several times to get a favorite necklace, ring, or studded wrist band along with cosmetics and perfumes. Seeing her bag fill up rapidly, Coco realized just how vain she really was, chuckling at how the cloth of her bag bulged from her excessive wardrobe.
While trying to maneuver the Prognostics into the bag with countless clothes,she heard the soft creak of her bedroom door opening.
Coco swore under her breath as the stubborn old book wouldn't fit between jeans and camisoles. Finally, thinking more than just shoving it down, she tore out some clothes she had packed, giving the Prognostics more room.
Just as some muffled steps entered the room, Coco had piled the dislodged clothes back into her bag and hurriedly was velcroing and buttoning its flap.
" Do you really need to bring that much!" Nolan groaned. " Were do you plan to go? A spa resort?"
Coco shot him a glare for disregarding her 'precious' materials. " Don't be smart," She hissed quietly. " I need to pack extra because I'm the one in charge and need to-"
" Be beautiful without a flaw?" Nolan finished her sentence with a sneer.
Coco fumed, but did her best to vent. They couldn't afford to get into a fight now!
Rising to her feet, Coco heaved the heavy satchel onto her shoulder, grunting slightly from the effort. At the same time she went over a list of things in her head. " Money? Check. Clothes? Plenty. Bathroom supplies? Double check..."
Finding everything in order ( well, for being so hurried), Coco looked up to check her brother. Nolan, being young, needed to be looked over well so nothing important was forgotten.
Nolan wore a striped, long sleeve shirt and gray scarf with dark jeans, checkered, beaten up Vans were his footwear. A black satchel ( the reason they both had one was because their step-mom insisted it was 'in style' that year) with the winged Triforce symbol beamed from the bag with its metallic glory. It looked very normal, not packed to the brim like Coco's own.
Walking over to her brother, she opened the flap on his satchel, looking over the contents withen the dark lining.
Quickly she counted five pairs of shirts, varied types of pants, and two pairs of underwear, which made her frown knowing she'd have to be with him for an unknown number of days. Also, his black DSi, almost hidden in the darkness, accompanied by several games, came with him. However, she did nothing against his choices because there was no time and, at least, he packed a hair and tooth brush.
Closing his bag, she patted its approval and moved over to her door, Nolan following behind her.
Opening the door, Coco thought she had been here for a very long time, but she knew she hadn't from looking at the clock on the wall. Only twenty minutes have drug by, like a time warp. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Coco asked Nolan to remove his shoes, which he did without much compliant.
The two siblings snuck through the darkened house, trying their best to be like fabled ninjas. Unfortunately, Nolan had banged into countless things, but they were lucky both their parents were heavy sleepers.
The blue hazy light greeted them from the living room as the TV still played, probably on DVR. Their dad still slept soundlessly on the couch.
Making way to the final door, the door leading outside, Coco slipped on her shoes, not caring her heels were smashing the back of her Converse uncomfortably.
Helping her brother to make a quiet leave, she opened the door just enough for him to squeeze through so the light and air from outside wouldn't come into the living room, risking to wake their father.
Coco gripped the cold knob on the door. Memories of leaving this house flooded her mind. The first day of school, karate class, her baby brother entering the house for the first time wrapped in a soft blanket, running out to play in the Christmas snow...
A single tear slid down her cheek, Coco squeezed her eyes shut to keep from crying. She was leaving, that was final.
Raising her head, she opened the door a crack before glancing over to her sleeping dad. The sting of oncoming tears filled her eyes again.
" Good bye, Dad... And probably, good bye, New York..." Coco thought miserably, bidding maybe her last farewell.
Pulling open the door, Coco quickly slipped out into the night.
Shutting the door silently behind her, she stared out into the dark sky, a single blue star shining just above the glowing skyline. Nolan, waiting a few feet from her, came over and wrapped his arm in her own, sharing his warmth.
" Time to face to the unknown, the ugly, and- The impossible" Coco murmured with now chilled lips into the night air.
…
It was another late night. Hours seemed to pass by like dropping snowflakes, descending slowly and variable with the wind.
The screen of the Mac Notebook seemed to fry Blumiere's eyes and bore into his brain from sitting, unmoving for so long.
He had been, undoubtedly, doing research but as the night went on he began to drift to YouTube, Facebook, and his G-Mail, which his tab was currently browsing.
" Advertisements..." muttered Blumiere, clearly irritated at how they filled his inbox with stuff, like Head-On, that he never used or planned on using.
After deleting a great deal of his messages, he felt rather cramped and stood, stretching his arms which released some of his stiffness.
Blumiere wandered into the small kitchen for a cup of coffee. Even at this late hour, he had cravings for decaf Colombian roast. Plus, it'd give him some well needed energy.
Unfortunately, he would have to make a whole new pot because he didn't make anymore coffee since that morning.
Sleepily, he poured the ground coffee beans into the machine, added some water, and then set the time until the pot would be done. Or, more like, until he'd have to stop waiting some more.
Returning to his laptop in the living room, ( he didn't really want to be in his study) Blumiere fell back into the slim, swiveling desk chair and began to spin around seeing he had nothing else to do, but go to sleep, which he wasn't in the 'mood' for.
As he spun, he suddenly heard a familiar bell ring from the speakers of his computer.
Blumiere ceased his spinning and looked at the laptop's screen which had a new window opened with a small envelope and 'NEW MESSAGE' blinked
underneath it.
Clicking on the link to address his sender, Blumiere gasped at who it was.
Lass Nastasia.
The same same Nastasia who used to be one of his minions.
The same Nastasia who dedicated her life as a secretary to him. The same Nastasia who had fallen in love with the long forgotten count...
Blumiere shuddered as he remembered the short, blue skinned woman.
He didn't want to read the e-mail, God-knows, it might have been some long wanted love letter Nastasia never sent him when he was a villain in that dark castle of his.
He shuddered again. It was a nasty thought.
Then, looking at the facts Blumiere saw Nastasia hadn't sent him an e-mail once since he came to this world. And it wasn't because his other minions and Nastasia didn't know, as soon as Merlon figured it all out he probably told them so they wouldn't worry. No, this e-mail was about something else... But what?
When he opened his official inbox and the read subject of the message, his eyes boggled. His fears reignited. More shudders ran down his spine, making Blumiere more giddy than he already was.
From: .net
Subject: Bad News.
Dear Count, ermm, Blumiere,
Sorry for such a sudden alert, knowing I haven't kept in touch, but you see Merlon doesn't have a computer and he figured it'd be best if I e-mailed you. Less suspicious, kay...
Most of the e-mail was a bit of an over exaggerated greeting. Blumiere scrolled down until something important showed up.
It is a huge threat. Merlon said it could be even more dangerous than when it was in this dimension...
" She must be talking about the Dark Prognostics... I wonder why, now, Merlon is sending a message..." Blumiere thought out loud. It occurred to him, that because of the distance, the energy of the book might have been distorted.
Blumiere, you have to understand this is URGENT. More discoveries have been made. Dreadful ones! Not only is the Prognostics in your dimension...Dimentio...he has escaped the Underwhere...
His heart skipped a beat. He found it hard to breathe. Horrifying memories of the jester filled is mind with twisted smiles and laughs that could shatter reasoning. And now, this mad-hatter, was lose. Any dimension was at the gloved fingertips of Dimentio...
"NO!" exclaimed Blumiere, bursting out of the nightmares of the past. He hadn't bothered to read the rest of the e-mail so upset by it's news but he didn't delete it. He didn't have time.
In a flurry, the office chair spun as Blumiere ran upstairs. He had to tell Timpani, she had to know. And then what? He would get a coat, some money, his iPod, and go. Not a second could be wasted. For all Blumiere knew he might have been too late already...
" Timpani...Timpani...!" Blumiere was sitting on the side of the bed by the sleeping form of his wife shaking her gently to try and wake her. " Timpani please you must get up! It's a matter of the fate of the universe!"
Timpani groaned, but sat up rubbing the sleep from her eyes. " Blumiere, honey, what is it?"
" Listen please... Dimentio..." Timpani's tired face twisted a bit when she heard his name. " He's...escaped...He escaped the Underwhere" At this, all the color in Timpani's face drained away. In the dim light of the room, Blumiere could see her swallow hard.
" I think I already know what you are planning, love..." Timpani whispered.
Blumiere nodded solemnly, not taking his eyes away from her gaze. " I am sorry, truly I am, but I must do what is called of me. You understand that, Timpani, and because of that, our lives will always be difficult." Blumiere tipped his head so Timpani could not see his face. " Forgive me."
His wife grasped his hand, holding it close to her. " I will always be here, waiting to help. I wish your mission to go successfully."
Blumiere pulled her hand towards him, bringing it up to his lips so he could kiss it warmly. " You know my cellphone number, call me if anything happens. I, too, will call. Frequently."
With that, Blumiere stood away from the bed, regret and sad determination covering his face in the darkness. Timpani faced him, sadness also seen on her face.
" I will succeed, Timpani-amore. I promise you this, so sleep well." He smiled and vanished down the stairs, grabbing his needed objects.
Timpani got up from the bed at the sound of the front door shutting and the screen door banging on the door frame.
Gazing out the window, she blew a kiss from behind the glass and lace curtains towards her husband as he got into the blue Scion in the parking space below.
The car started, its headlights shining in the late night. Pulling out of the drive way, the Scion zoomed away down the street. Timpani grew worried, as any wife should, as the sounds of the car faded away.
It was all up to them to save a universe... Timpani thought. What poppycock.
MORE DIMENTIO FOR YA? It better be... :I jk,jk,jk... NO, SERIOUSLY.
Hope you enjoyed! Please review!