The Trouble with Akbadain.

AU: I just watched the scene where Descole is standing on top of the Akbadain chamber and beneath him there are these arched doorway things. For the sake of this story, those arched doorway things have a wall behind them that is like the one I described in the first chapter. I hope that I didn't make things even more confusing by adding that in ...whoops. Also, sorry about the confusion with the updating. I deleted the chapter again after I posted it :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Professor Layton or any of the characters. I am not making any profit from this story - it is for my own, and hopefully someone else's, enjoyment.

Chapter 4 - Azran Blood.

If it was a method of weakening him more than he already was, it was certainly working.

The room was always cold and dim, meals - if a hunk of bread and half a cup of water could be called a meal - only came once in what Descole assumed was a day, and Reinel himself would appear a few hours after those, always brandishing his manic smirk and the same question: where was the key.

It took a few times for Reinel to ask this question before Descole grew annoyed with the nonexistent key. It was obviously more trouble than it was worth.

"I don't have your stupid key!" he finally burst out with as much energy as he could muster - the drug had seemingly not worn off yet, in fact the effects were worse - the fourth time Reinel asked this. "Just shut up and go look for it yourself."

Reinel surveyed him for a while after he said this. Then, "You should respect your elders. I would have thought that you had been taught that." Descole lifted his chin and said nothing, and Reinel turned on his heel and walked to the door, leaving with the same remark:

"Remember not to hurt yourself. That really wouldn't do."

And Descole was once again cold and alone.

JDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJD JDJD

Reinel had always loved watching people react to his actions, but none so far had been as amusing to watch as Descole.

At first it had been silent shock, then his face had contorted in a mixture of confusion and disgust.

"You're completely sick," the scientist had said, "That's not an Azran power. They weren't that ...destructive."

Reinel had raised an amused eyebrow at this. "How so?"

Descole glared. "Well, how do you think? They wrote music! They buried healing gardens in the earth! They-" he had broken off quite suddenly at this point, and scowled deeply when Reinel had laughed.

"And you say you research such things! I'm disappointed in you, Descole! I'd imagined that you would have tried harder!"

Reinel had left it at that. And over the next few days Descole had become more resigned, seemingly accepting the fact that he was going to die. But Reinel was sure that if he hadn't spiked Descole's food and drink with the drug, he wouldn't be nearly as docile as he was now.

The younger man's hazy, drug induced brain had not yet been able to realise why he was so weak, and if Reinel's plan continued to work, he wouldn't until it was too late. Now, however, Reinel knew that something had changed in Descole - his annoyed response to Reinel's question today had been far too sharp, and Reinel himself was injecting the drug every day - for safety precautions, of course.

His troubled mind didn't let the issue drop for the remainder of the afternoon. He received word just before six that a team of Targent soldiers were being sent down over the edge of the stone floor in the cavern at the Chamber of Akbadain. This made something in his head click.

Azran blood.

He was out of his office in a flash and down one hallway, then another, until he reached the room where Descole was being held. He ignored the bewildered soldier's stuttering as he unlocked the door and crossed the room to where Descole was curled up in the corner. The scientist remained unresponsive until Reinel grabbed his arm and jerked him upright, yanking him forwards and in the direction of the hallway again. Descole stumbled a little at first, almost losing his footing, but regained it quickly and he began trying to shake himself from Reinel's grasp. Targent's leader growled and doubled his pace, pulling Descole forwards again and down the corridor back towards his office.

Descole didn't stop fighting him the whole way, and Reinel's temper was flaring. Once they were both bolted inside his office, he pinned Descole against the wall with a little more force then necessary, able, even through the other man's mask, to see the clarity in his eyes.

"Azran blood!" Reinel spat, "Always so difficult to control! Azran blood!"

He let Descole go with a disgusted sigh, and crossed to the other side of the room, careful to keep the scientist within his line of vision. He noted, with a small amount of pleasure, how wary the other's stance became as he approached the cabinet full of various weapons.

With ultimate care, Reinel selected the small, green stone knife from the top shelf and weighed it in his hands, before turning back to Descole.

JDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJDJD JDJD

It had been three days.

Three days since they had entered the Akbadain ruins, and three days since his master had been captured.

As Raymond had left his side passage, he had almost run smack bang Bronev Reinel himself. It had been a strange encounter, for the Targent leader had seen him, smirked, and said:

"You should be grateful. There's no reason to kill you. And you might like to know that your master is no longer running. The drug has seen to that."

The Reinel had turned and continued up the passage. Raymond had at first felt a wave of shock, then was calmed as he reminded himself in a mutter, "Blood, Raymond, Blood." When he had looked up at where Reinel had been just a few seconds ago, the man had gone.

For a few minutes Raymond stood still as indecision tore at him: Believe Reinel and continue, or go back and look for his master.

But then he thought of the feather boa held loosely in Reinel's hand. An obvious clue as to the truth.

An hour later, he emerged from the doorway of the passage and into the starlit desert, pressing himself against the dark wall as he noticed the Targent soldiers stationed around the chamber's outer edge.

He ran swiftly and silently through the shadows, finally pulling the last two smoke bombs from his pocket, clutching them in his hand before carefully replacing one and climbing to the top of the chamber wall.

There were a lot of startled cries as the soldiers were engulfed in white smoke, coughing and raising the alarm. Very soon the small section of the ruins was swarming with soldiers, but by that time, Raymond had already disappeared.

Miss D: And so that ends that.

Descole: With a bit of a cliffhanger, too. Typical.

Miss D: You're not trying to kill me anymore?

Descole: I still hate you.

Miss D: ...Fine. Again, thanks to those who reviewed! If you can, please do so again! And no, this time you won't be chased around by a sword wielding maniac, don't worry!

Descole: -Mutters darkly-

Miss D: That's all, folks!