A/N: Hi, all! Thanks again for the wonderful comments! I'm sorry to say that this story is coming to an end, very, very soon :( I don't mean to break your hearts but there is a possibility that this story will have a sequel? I have no clue! :) Anyway, This chapter is the one that's rated M so yeah, I guess I don't have to say more about it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: The battle had not begun yet it was already over. Crimson streams slid off Lightning's once polished armor of silver now stained with grotesque scars. Waiting for this misery to end, a hand extended out to her welcoming her to a new hell.
Nothing to Lose (Part 4)
Upon nightfall the storms in Valhalla grew violent tearing the shoreline; black sands exploding under the assault of white foam as water rushed into exposed crevasses. Upon the sound of thunder, Caius pushed the door open breaking the silence of Lightning's room. Cold eyes landed on the sleeping warrior, resting by the window unaware of his presence. Her physique, hidden beneath the thin gown illuminated once the moon peered around storm clouds. Locking the door behind him, he removed the sword from his back leaning the monstrosity against the wall. Walking towards the sleeping warrior, he ensured it was no trick. Her reflection showed her eyebrows knitted. Perhaps she ventured through a mystical dream of sorts, encased with happiness and hopes, away from the approaching nightmare. Placing his hands on her, he spun her toward him expecting her to wake up then slap him. Nothing.
Leaning close to her, he whispered, "Time to wake up from reality, dear Lightning. May the dream take you to a world where only nightmares exist."
Carrying her to the mattress, he observed her breathe, bosom rising up and down in rhythm. Holding her chin, he turned her face to the side exposing the grotesque scar mark. Running a hand over it, green magic slipped across the wound, weaving into her skin. Once his finger left her skin, no such mark remained as a reminding Lightning of her defeat. Darkness concealed his expression gazing upon the warrior. Pulling her close to him, her head rested on his shoulder with her hair concealing her face. Hands moved to the back of her neck untying laces; one by one each slid against her skin falling lifeless against her back. Moving a hand to her back, the last ribbon was loosened; a silver item dropped into the palm of his hand.
"Dear Lightning... You will share this realm of eternal solitude with me until death do us part."
Lightning's eyes twitched, slowly coming to after falling asleep, listening to the sounds of the roaring skies. How long was she out? Commanding her limbs to move, they suddenly remained unresponsive. Her body felt bare, cold yet warm in the same time. Sensing a strange aura, Lightning glanced up and met Caius' eyes. She remained still, feeling his hands pin her wrists. On the floor was her gown, tossed in his armor. Slightly startled, she quickly remained calm remembering something extremely important: her plan.
Caius leaned forward and whispered, "You're awake,"
Silence.
"Will you not question what I may do to you?" A hand traced the side of her jaw, finishing its journey on her lips.
Unaffected by his words, Lightning remained unmoved. She figured: if she played along, he would drop his guard. Perhaps it was wishful thinking but it was worth a shot.
"No." Lightning spoke firmly.
"Pity. I was expecting you to plead."
She immediately tensed feeling fingers exploring her physique. She knew all too well if she resisted, his temptations would flare.
"I pity you for being like this," Caius spoke softly, nibbling on her shoulder. "You will never see your sister again."
"…"
"Such a tragedy… she didn't even stand a chance…"
His words stung her like poison. "What are you talking about?"
Caius stroked the side of her body, landing a hand on her waist. Smirking in the darkness, he could not help but feel a sense of victory against Lightning's crumbling defeat.
Leaning dangerously close to her ear, he whispered the words she never wanted to hear. "I killed your sister."
Whipping his arm to the side, Lightning hesitantly moved her eyes to the swirling grey portal showing visuals of Serah, walking alone in a lifeless land. Trees arched over imitating claws and the sand continued to crumble with every taken step. Serah looked left and right for signs of life yet, all she could see was an endless sea of crumbling sand. The skies were grey, the sun did not exist except the wind, blowing away sand into a never ending vortex of nothingness. Lightning focused on black smoke, slithering behind her—
"Serah!" Lightning shouted.
It was too late; blood splattered across the salt sands. Lightning's eyes widened in horror watching Caius effortlessly lifted up Serah impaled deeply on Ragnarok. Ribbons of red slipped around the blade's grooves and dripped off Serah's lifeless arm. Lightning watched in despair Serah's body thrown off the edge of the cliff.
"Your sister did not stand a chance,"
The visions did not cease. One by one, images flashed through portals of her friends succumbing to swift death. Lightning was unable to turn her eyes away from each murder. Fixated on each bloodbath, the corner of her eyes watered unable to erase the memories. The last images was Cocoon; the once utopia in the sky crumbling into dust. Crystal shards exploded across the bruised terrain with blue shards raining from the sky. Red liquid slithered across the dirt landscape with bodies thrown off Cocoon in the thousands if not, millions. Lightning's fingers moved, folding into firm fists. Meeting Caius' eyes, Lightning cursed him to hell! Lightning was about to throw a punch until realizing all too late her right hand was securely bound. Moving blue eyes to her right wrist, she was tightly bound against the black metal bed post. Moving her fingers, she felt the restriction in her muscles. What bothered her more was the cloth which bound her wrists. It was belonged to Caius. Caught within his grasp, Lightning opened her mouth but instead, he muffled her words with his lips.
"What will you do to me, Lightning?" Caius questioned. "On your back and bound to the bed, what will you do? Absolutely nothing."
"Why do you want to murder millions of innocent lives? Why?"
"That is something that does not concern you, Warrior Goddess. But…" Caius lowered his voice. "Murdering your friends or rather, comrades brought me much joy. Knowing you will be the one to ultimately witness their deaths brought me joy."
"You black hearted beast!" Lightning tightened her left hand but she instantly winced; cursing beneath her breath, she remembered when Caius violently crushed her hands along with her wrists. Even if her wrists fully healed, they would not be the same.
Turning his attention to Lightning's left hand, he could not help but throw out a remark she believed he did not know.
"If I'm not mistaken, Lightning, your left hand is weaker than your right, is that so?"
Lightning's eyes widened. It was true; her left hand was much weaker than her right from an accident she had years ago. She remembered it all too well landing awkwardly on her wrist. Since that day she was unable to use her left hand to its full potential. Instead, she focused on casting spells with her left hand as much as it continued to pain her years later. Lightning over the years tried to strengthen her left hand but all attempts failed yet all was not lost; her right hand proved to be extremely versatile in combat.
Lightning narrowed her eyes. "Damn you. Damn you to hell."
Unmoved, Caius pushed her down deeper into the mattress, assaulting her with kisses. Lightning wasn't having any of it! He paid no attention to Lightning's verbal abuses. Gaining control of her once again, his grip tightened around her wrist.
"Keep this up and you will have more than broken hands, Lightning."
Lightning spat in his face.
"Hmph, I chose well… You are worthy of becoming my bride,"
Parting her legs with his fingers, Lightning thrashed violently knowing of his intentions. Delivering a firm kick on his torso, he gripped onto her ankle and slightly twisted it enough for Lightning to cease her thrashing. Biting her lip, she ignored the pain but with another twist, she momentarily stopped.
"My bride, my beautiful bride… The one who will never leave my side."
Her body tensed feeling the intrusion. Snapping her head away, she bit her lip digging her nails into the bed sheet. The sensations rushing through her body were new, one of which she never felt before. It wasn't of pleasure but it was something more. Biting her lip, the pace quickened. She tried moving her legs, even a little yet all her efforts were in vain. Leaning in closer, he positioned her leg over his shoulder.
Placing a kiss on her knee Caius spoke quietly, "May this union remain eternal."
Snatching Lightning's left hand, Caius slipped on a silver black ring. Running a finger over it, inscriptions burned through the ring onto Lightning's flesh. Desperately trying to pull her fingers away, Caius' eyes glowed sealing their bond. Once the spell was complete, Lightning snatched away her fingers desperately pulling on the ring. No matter how much she tugged on it, the ring remained motionless. Gripping her jaw, he forced her to look at him.
"I will never be your bride," Lightning hissed. "I will never love a man such as you. A man who murdered innocents. A man who murdered my family for his selfish needs. Does murdering my family bring joy to you?"
"Perhaps,"
"Monster!"
Lightning growled. Quickly snatching a blade from beneath the pillow, she drove the silver blade through his chest. Panting, she pushed the blade as deep as she could through his black tainted heart. He deserved to die for all the things he committed. Blood trickled down the blade, slipping off the silvery surface. Her eyes remain unmoved from his torso; why was he not dead? Lightning swore her plan would work yet, she never expected Caius to remain motionless. He merely looked down at the embedded blade missing his heart by an inch.
"Your feeble attempts amuse me,"
Caius effortlessly grabbed onto Lightning's hand slowly pulling out the blade from his chest. Lightning did not expect to watch his bloodstained torso heal itself. Twisting the blade out of her grasp, he threw it aside. Embedded deeply into the wall, Lightning was completely defenseless.
"…Why… Why won't you die?"
"You cannot kill me, Warrior Goddess."
The blood on his torso reversed, slithering back into the wound. Lightning's eyes widened in horror witnessing the wound weave shut not leaving a mark in its wake.
"Fiend…" Lightning spoke.
"Now… where were we?"
Maybe this was the first time Lightning tasted absolute fear. Unable to speak, Lightning felt his fingers interlace with hers sealing her fate from this moment onward. Her life would never be the same again as long as time remained frozen in a world where death prevailed over its subjects. Bound to a man she never loved; hell was truly the only way to describe everything.