Chapter 4
Death's Impatience
Gregor knew where this was. It was black again. Black everywhere. He groaned as he pushed himself off the ground. Not again.
"Your performance seems somewhat… lacking," Death sighed as his wavery form started to solidify. "You have not even found the person using my scythe even when it emits such powerful aura…"
"So, you're just gonna come around and haunt my dreams now?" Gregor scoffed. "I thought I saw the last of you when I stepped through that portal."
"Ah, well." Death seemed embarrassed. "I can come into your dreams and go as I wish. It won't be like this all the time." he waved his smoky hands. "I only came in to inform you that you might want to hurry it up. Time is ticking. Tick tock tick tock, you understand?"
"What?" Gregor rubbed his eyes, still a bit fazed by the sudden darkness. "Why? What's going on?"
"It seems…" Death fumbled with his fingers. "The culprit has grown exponentially stronger. His undead forces have infiltrated Regalia a long time ago and have been living among them. I believe they are called the 'House of D'." Gregor's eyes widened. His meeting with Hazard suddenly flashed back into his mind.
"Are you sure you didn't…Like… die?
"If I was dead, then how can you see me right now, Hazard?"
"It's just that a lot of the people from the House of D have a tattoo that looks just like that… and they were all dead until now…"
Gregor clenched his teeth. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?" he glared at Death, who looked to the ground sheepishly.
"Well, to be completely honest…" he laughed nervously. "I didn't do a thorough examination of the situation until just now. That's why I'm here." He coughed and scratched the back of his head. Gregor didn't speak for a long moment before face-palming. Well, at least he knew where to start now. They were already in Regalia. Probably for not too long considering how uncertainly Hazard talked about them. Was the leader of the House of D the one behind Death's theft?
"Wait, so who is the culprit anyway? You never told me his name." Gregor snapped his head upwards at Death.
"Ah, see. That's another problem." Death coughed again. "I don't know. Tons of dead people were risen and even though the scythe emits a very strong aura, it is snuffled by all the undead out there in Regalia. I cannot pinpoint it to just one person." He sighed. "I do know for sure it is in the possession of this 'House of D' if this helps at all."
"Well, it narrows down the list by, oh I don't know, a couple thousand people." Gregor rolled his eyes. "Can I leave now? I wanna get this over with." He tapped his foot impatiently as Death's eyes seemed to glint in amusement.
"Very well, Warrior. Remember, keep to your promise, and you will be returned safe and sound. Failure is not acceptable." Gregor was going to make a comeback, but his eyes involuntarily shut before he could take a breath.
When he awoke, Gregor was greeted with a sore back and imprints all over his body. Well, that's what he gets for choosing a bench for a bed. He slowly rose from the bench, still groggy from sleep, and examined his surroundings. The park was as peaceful as he left it, serene and still, yet he could make out some sort of commotion going on outside the park somewhere. Curious, he quickly went the fountain and washed his face before twisting his bracelet and heading off. Walking through several streets and neighborhoods, Gregor noticed that not many people were hustling and bustling through the streets like yesterday.
He then noticed that everyone was starting to gather over to a place that looked like a plaza with flower petals and excited voices. The plaza was highly decorated and all the people around started to cheer, jump up and down, and clap ferociously as several people walked into the center of the plaza. Gregor tripped his way over to see what all the commotion was about.
"Oh! So exciting!" squealed a young girl nearby. "The Queen is so pretty!" she sighed in admiration.
The Queen? Gregor's eyes widened. They couldn't be talking about… her? Could they? Gregor's face became distorted with worry.
"Indeed. I never would have believed this day would come." An older man wheezed. "Finally, peace in Regalia!"
Gregor's short steps grew into longer strides as he gently pushed people aside.
"Excuse me," he muttered. "Coming through." What was going on? Was there a truce being held?
"Sorry. Gotta see this." He pushed through as several mice grumbled in annoyance. Finally, he managed to get a good view of what was going on. His heart almost stopped.
At the center of the plaza, there was a large stage decorated with all sorts of flowers, carpets, and ribbons. Luxa stood in the middle of the whole plaza with a stunningly beautiful dress flowing down to her feet. Gregor rubbed his visor and looked again. She looked much older and mature than she was three years ago. Her strikingly silver hair had grown down to her waist and her eyes seemed to produce a harsher color of purple, yet they still had that warm feeling mingling within them. He probably wouldn't have recognized her if she didn't wear her favorite haughty expression on her face. Gregor smiled and his eyes softened. It was the same exact face she used when they first met.
She was quite the sight. He wanted to call out to her, tell her he was here, and apologize profusely for leaving her and the Underland. But he knew that for now, it was not possible. He had a mission to complete. Besides, he can't get too attached. He had a home to get back to. After a while, Gregor finally managed to tear his eyes off Luxa and gazed at the rest of the people standing on the stage. Next to Luxa, Gregor spotted his old mentor – Ripred and couldn't help but burst out in peals of laughter. Ripred's fur at the top of his head was gelled and pulled back. He looked ridiculously foolish and it was evident he was forced to be there, as he was scowling every second and gnashing his teeth constantly.
"Let's get this over with!" Ripred snarled. "I hate ceremonies that last a while. Especially when I am forced to wear such attire!" he snapped.
"Your complaining will certainly not aid the process, Ripred." An older man walked up to the rat. "Be patient. I shall be sure to order a surplus of shrimp with cream sauce just for you." He chuckled.
"I hope you stay your word, Vikus." Ripred sighed and he backed down quietly, fiddling with his gelled hair.
Gregor's eyes lit up in surprise. So Vikus was still around. The old man was still alive and kicking. Suddenly, Vikus stood up and started to raise his hands.
"Now then," Vikus waved his hands for silence. "Let us begin the ceremony. Bring the man and dim the lights!" Vikus ordered.
The plaza's lights fell silent as a man strode up to the platform. He was nicely dressed in some sort clothing that Gregor could only guess was the traditional clothing of Regalia. His hair was neatly combed and he walked with a tall posture that almost seemed obnoxious. As he turned around to face the crowd, he took a huge bow and waved to the crowd with a large smile. Gregor couldn't place it, but he felt like he saw the man before. He looked closer… and nearly gasped out loud. The man's face was almost unrecognizable, but Gregor could never forget the face. He rushed towards the front, no longer caring about the cries of rage and insults that were being thrown at him. He was here. That traitor was here. Gregor eventually managed to make his way to the front of the crowd and took a closer look at his face, desperately hoping that he was mistaken, that it was just a striking similarity. However, fate laughed in his face as Gregor stared at the man now making his way to Luxa. Henry was here.
"Now, if anyone objects to the joining of these two: Queen Luxa of Regalia and… Lord Henry of the House of D, please speak now." Vikus' voice quietly echoed.
The crowd went silent. Gregor's mouth went dry. Lord of House of D? What was going on? Joining? Did that mean Luxa was going to marry this creep? This traitor? Gregor's ears roared. All reason seemed to leave him. His previous thoughts of focusing on the mission and home hid in the farthest corner of his brain. He reached for his scythes and then-
"Gregor. Wait. Let's think about this for a sec!" a voice forced its way into his head. Shocked, Gregor slowly hung his arms by his sides. "Yeah, that's right, big guy. Nice and easy." The voice cooed. "The boss said you had to get the guy who stole his stuff right? Best not to attract attention." The voice continued, sounding quite triumphant.
"Uh.." Gregor stared around stupidly. "Who's talking?"
"Me! Down here!"
"…Where?" Gregor looked around frantically.
"Over…HERE!" Gregor felt a tug on his arm. He looked down at it and found himself looking at the bracelet.
"My bracelet…is talking to me?" Gregor rubbed his hand across the bracelet.
"Hey! Stop that!" the voice growled. "Name's Leonardo. Boss gave me to you so I could give some advice, and my advice right now is to not do what you're thinking."
"Death sent you with this bracelet, huh? Figures. And here I thought he trusted me enough to do his myself." Gregor groaned. "Sorry Mr. Bracelet, but I'm going to have to ignore that advice." He grimaced. "I can't-"
"Call me Leo. And can't what? Watch this marriage?" scoffed Leonardo. "Well too bad! You'll compromise the mission if you don't sit there a be a good boy for now." Suddenly, Vikus' voice caught Gregor's attention.
"Very well, with no further delays, I shall now commence the joining." Vikus turned and clapped his hands twice. A servant immediately came with a platter containing two chalices and bowed as he held it up the platter to Henry and Luxa. Henry took the chalice with a wide grin and looked at Luxa expectantly. The servant then turned the platter to Luxa. She stared it for a moment and for an instant, her face seemed to be full of despair and sadness before turning back to her usual haughty expression. Her fingers laced around the chalice slowly, but surely. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she took hold of the chalice and the servant backed away.
"Lord Henry of the House of D," Vikus' voice boomed throughout the plaza. "With this Joining, do you swear to uphold your oath to keep the residents of the House of D in this land?"
"I do." Henry stated solemnly.
"Do you swear to love and honor Luxa, the Queen of Regalia, in sickness or in health, for the rest of your life?"
"I do."
Vikus then turned to Luxa, who was gripping the chalice so hard her knuckles were turning white.
"Queen Luxa." Vikus seemed to draw out the words, looking a little sad. "Do you swear to love and honor…" Vikus coughed. "Henry, the Lord of the House of D, in sickness or in health, for the rest of your life?"
Luxa seemed to grip the chalice tighter than ever and looked up slowly at a smiling Henry. She fiddled with her fingers before opening her mouth. "I d-"
Suddenly, there was a humongous CRASH! and all three of them flew to the ground.
Gregor had grabbed ahold of his double-sided scythe, jumped high into the air, and landed in right the middle of the platform. He turned slowly and faced Vikus. The crowd gasped in shock and in disbelief as the lone dark soldier slowly rose off the ground and pointed his scythe at Vikus. He breathed deeply before uttering his next two words:
"I object."
Author's Note: So,what do you think? Sorry for taking a while. I had SAT's and whatnot. Again, thanks to those of you who reviewed! I really appreciate it! All you readers out there making yourselves known to me really makes my day! So please, take the time to R and R. :)
