Chapter four ~
*Basement Cell 5*
Fleeting lights raced across his line of sight, appearing as blurred fireflies across the expanse of the night sky. He blinked, his eyelids felt heavy, weighed down by the pressure of sleep.
He could have fallen into a deep sleep there on the hard ground, completely unaware of what went on all around. Had it not been for the one who had woken him and dragged him to safety, he would have died there on the street, caught in the crossfire between the soldiers and the rebels.
The sight of a scruffy looking young man a year older than he was, was the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes. That young man was known only as Ryden, the second in command who would later take the place of his brother as the rebel's leader.
The memory so clear began to blur, the image of Ryden and the group faded as the knight woke from his sleep. From the dream he was pulled back into reality, finding himself alone and cold in a dark room where the light of day did not shine.
Held up by chains that dug each of his wrists, he lifted his head as he heard the door opening. Light entered from the other side, coming from the hallway it lit the cell enough for him to take a look around.
As expected there was very little within the cell, save for a mat near the wall and the chains that kept him in place. He glared at the sound of footsteps getting closer, the light from the hall kept him from seeing who it was until they had entered the cell.
*General's chamber; Esthar*
The redhead stood leaning against the glass window the extended from the ceiling to the floor, his shoulder lightly pressed against the glass as he gazed down at the city. Below the streets were quiet, the earlier commotion with the rebels had died out within the hour.
Smoke continued to rise up from where the old theater had stood, high enough for him to see it. He didn't show remorse over what he had done and yet, those were not the eyes of a killer either.
There was something else, clouded by the darkness of his eyes, it would remain unseen. He turned at the sounding of Ultimecia's entrance, watched him storm into his domain with the door slamming shut behind her.
Her temper blazed, she looked ready to kill at a moment's notice. "What have you done?!" Her voice was heard by the guards standing watching outside, "I told you to get rid of the rebels for once and for all! Why are they still alive?!"
"Shut your mouth, woman, Rome wasn't built in a fucking day." He replied calmly, showing little respect for the woman with his choice of words.
"How dare you speak to me that way! I'll have you removed from your possession as a general and demoted to a mere foot soldier if you are not careful!"
The guards heard the room become silent, Ultimecia's shout resounded for a second before it went quiet. The redhead had closed his eyes, raising his hands to massage the sides of his head.
"Rebels are like rats," he explained, "it takes time to find their filthy little nests, and until we find those nests, you're just going to have to shut up and let me do my work."
Ultimecia's glare grew harsh at the words that came from his mouth, each one like a drop of lava that sent her past the point of anger and rage. She wouldn't allow it a moment longer, she couldn't have him disrespecting her like that anymore.
But he was there before she lifted a finger, his ice cold grip already around her throat as he looked into her eyes. His were dark and they were cold, perhaps colder than the feel of his skin.
"Need I remind you of your place?" He spoke as his grip tightened, "You are nothing but a lowsome sorceress, where as I am far more." He leaned in, his warm breath heating the side of her face. He whispered, "If I wanted, I could go back in time and snuff out your existence the same way I snuffed out the lives of countless rebels. Now, don't push me, or I WILL make you regret every word."