Wild Justice
Summary: Valter was out searching for Ephraim and instead found a lone wyvern rider. A dark, scarred past lingers around her and something plagues her. What is she trying to fulfill? ValterxOCxEphraim
Four: The Reaper's Mark
Who-hoo, another chapter! Questions shall be answered and more questions shall rise forth!
MeowSap: Thank you, thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you also checked out my edited chapters like Emblem and saw some improvement, even if a little. I took up on your offer to read the chapter out loud to detect any lurking mistakes and it did help me out on this chapter and the new chapter three. I'll continue on working and editing them and post them when I feel they're good enough. May this chapter be better and more successful than others.
DraculasLover: Thanks. I'm glad you checked this story out even if you never played the games.
Emblem: I used many of your suggestions to fix chapter three and it's already up. I can't guaranty it'll be spanking awesome and error-free but I'm doing the best I can muster, I'm afraid. It's has always been a pleasure to receive reviews from you, they help me improve not only my story but my writing skills as well. I hope this next chapter is better than the rest (and I have feeling that there will be grammar errors that I missed, of course) and you'll enjoy it as always.
A/N: Chapter three went through more editing process and the new edition is up. You don't have to read it; I just did it because I wanted to and for future readers to read a better version of the story.
WARNING: Sexual tension and hints of possible rape are mentioned in this chapter.
Text:
"Speech"
Thoughts
Flashbacks/Lyrics
Disclaimer: If I owned Fire Emblem: TSS, Glen would have survived Valter's attack and you wouldn't be forced to kill Selena and they would join your party just like Duessel. But I don't so that'll never happen.
"He that studieth revenge keepeth his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well."-John Milton/Francis Bacon
"Zecilys, go to the stables! Grab Eroniz and flee to the Rausten court! Tell them what's happening here!"
"I can't just leave you, Father, and everyone else behind! Where's Mother?"
"She's buying us time. I will do the same for you when you escape on Eroniz."
"But who's attacking us? Is it Herthus or Tanalk?"
"It's not them. The enemy is someone far greater then those two houses."
"Then who—"
"Be gone Zecilys! Fly! Don't be seen! Stay clear of archers!"
"But Father—!"
Instead seeing the face of her father her eyes met darkness. Darkness upon darkness. She looked down and discovered she was in a bed inside a dim lighted room. If she was in a room then who brought her here?
"Bad dream?" snickered a voice from the darkness. Zecilys whirled her head to direction of voice, narrowing her eyes at the shadowy figure as if to penetrate the shadows. That voice sounded pretty familiar if she wasn't mistaken.
"I'm in no mood for games, mister," she replied icily, "so I suggest you show yourself." The figure chuckled at her demand.
"You're in no position to be making demands, especially in the condition you're in," the voice replied mockingly. Zecilys frowned, knowing the near fatal situation she was in not too long ago. The poison was strong enough to wipe her out completely. In fact, she was lucky enough to even be alive. Then again, I cheated death before so why not once more?
"So…what do you want from me?"
"What I asked from you before: answers."
"Figures." I had a feeling it was it him…. "I told you once and I'm telling you again, I am no spy for this Abraham—"
"Ephraim."
"—this Ephraim fellow. Satisfied?"
"Not quite. Your word isn't enough to confirm my suspicions."
Of course it isn't, you pig-headed lout! You know that I'm no spy; you just want to toy with me! Isn't that right, General Mooncalf?!
"Then what will be? An oath of truth upon your sword? Long, wasteful hours of unnecessary torture? Questioning my mount about our business? Asking Ephraim himself about me? None of these will satisfy you, General Moonstone, and they never will!" Silence greeted her fiery comment and the figure made neither a sound nor moving an inch. Zecilys wasn't too sure what would happen next.
He'll now probably yell off with my head for "my wretched, twisted tongue" and "lack of respect to superiors". I never really scored high in manners with foreign lordlings and such. I was such a calamity to them….
"Despite your cheek, you managed to call me by my title. Perhaps you do know your place after all," responded the Moonstone dryly and she bristled. Know her place? Who did he think she was anyways?!
"Yet I find it hard to believe a man like you is actually a general. How did you land that? Help from Daddy?" The next thing she knew a hand zapped out from the shadows and pinned her to the wall behind.
"Why you—" He broke off his sentence and tighten his hold around her neck. "It sounds like you need a lesson in manners. I think that can be arranged." The oxygen in her lungs diminished and Zecilys forced herself to gasp for more air. If only he knew how atrocious her manners were he wouldn't bother with it because it would be a waste of time and energy.
"Don't…even…b-bother…." she wheezed, struggling to unlock his grip around her neck. "L-let…go!" Valter narrowed in on the distance between them until they were nose to nose.
"Why should I? This is how I deal with those who dare challenge my authority and strength when my mood is foul." He increased the power in his grip just a little to show her how bad his mood really was. Zecilys struggled under his grasp and used her hands to try to pry his fingers off her neck. Even if he had no intention of killing her Zecilys didn't want to take the chance. This man was indeed dangerous and could easily kill her without hesitating and having no regrets. "I've saved your life, rider, and that means you're indebted to me. I personally would like to see you honor that correctly." He released his hold. With a rapid turn, he exited the room with an eerie majestic grace without saying another word to her. There was a click and footsteps faded away from the door.
Zecilys sighed and sprawled herself on the bed, staring blankly at the dark, plain ceiling. Everything that occurred today and the day before lingered about in her mind and none of them helped her in getting closer to her goal. Her life seemed to be on the line every time and it wouldn't stop there. She could do nothing about it, save for going back to sleep to restore her energy or find a way out of this place. Her right hand traveled subconsciously up to her abdomen, resting itself above her bellybutton. The old wound still was there and she could feel it beneath the thick fabric of her riding outfit. It would always be there, as a reminder of what she must do for the future and haunting her of the past. One part of her wanted to bury the past, to forget while the other wanted to restore it, to revive it. Neither one of those would be accomplished if she didn't succeed in her quest. The quest that was forced upon her shoulders at the ripe age of sixteen. A burden she would bear alone. It was her duty and it would be fulfilled, no matter what.
"So, how is she, Valter?" Valter shot an ill-favored look at Riev, blaming him for disturbing his "alone time". Riev sniggered at the glare as he walked next to the sitting figure of the Moonstone. He knew he would find him here; Valter actually like going to remote areas filled with ruins to relax. Why he did it Riev would never know, but it wasn't like he cared. Like Caellach had said, Valter is Valter.
"She is doing just fine. It's because of her that I'm here. Now scram, you wretched sod!" The insult didn't faze the Blood Beryl at all, he just grinned toothily. He knew by Valter's behavior that the female rider instigated the wyvern knight's hidden dark temper.
"Heh heh heh…. She got on your bad side, didn't she? That doesn't happen very often. Last time someone did that they—"
"—ended up dead. That'll be your fate if you don't leave. Now."
Deciding this conversation would resume another time, Riev warped out ruins and back into the Grado Palace. As he walked back to his chambers, the image of the dying wyvern rider flashed back in his head. He had to say he was certainly surprised when Valter came bursting into his chamber, holding a female in his hands with both of them looking like drowned rats. Riev opened the door to his room, distinctly remembering the scene and their startling discovery with that woman.
"Riev!" Riev turned around rapidly to see Valter and a young woman in his arms. Both were dripping wet and forming a puddle on the ground.
"Got caught up in the weather, I see. I surprised you didn't claim her anyway in the—"
"Stop your yammering, you codfish, and heal her!" snapped Valter and he roughly dumped the woman onto Riev's bed. "She's been fighting your deformed husks for about seven minutes and as result as been poisoned. I need to question her about her presence near the Grado Palace so I can't afford having her dead." The Blood Beryl fished through his bag of staves and pulled out the Restore staff.
"Don't worry, Valter. I'll have her healed in no time. The poison isn't terribly bad, it only just started spreading. Makes my job much easier." Riev said coolly. Aiming the Restore staff at the young woman, Riev concentrated his thoughts and power unto the staff and his client and chanted the needed words to complete the process. A faint green glow trailed out of his staff and to the woman. Her body was soon bathed in a bright, lime green light and disappeared a few seconds later. Her color was coming back already. Now he had to take care of her other injuries.
Riev put the Restore staff aside and examined her wounds closely. Most of them were minor, expect for the cut in her left leg. That was partially deep. Despite that, a Heal staff would do fine. He withdrew the staff out and repeated the exact same process on what he did with the Restore staff only this time he chanted different words. Different staves required different words to make the magic work.
After the healing was complete, Riev inspected her body to make sure he got all her wounds. It was unlikely that he missed any but just to be sure…. After all, you can never be too careful. There was one scar along her left arm, made by an axe no doubt. It was a hideous wound and unfortunately perdurable. Oh well, at least that was the only scar she would bear permanently…wait a minute.
His hand froze instinctively at the woman's upper abdomen and felt the area again. He was sure of it now, a wound was there-a very large one at that-and wasn't done by his children of the dark. He rolled up her shirt midway so he could have a clear view of the scar. Riev didn't hear anything from Valter so it seemed he was controlling himself perfectly. As the scar came into full view, Riev couldn't stop himself from recoiling a few inches away from the female.
"No…. It can't be." he gasped, a lump in throat. He heard of scars like these but never had he seen one with his own two eyes. In fact, he thought they were just myths, children tales, created from the foolish minds of humanity.
"What is it, Riev?" Valter approached him and the woman, puzzled by the bishop's alarm. At the sight of the scar, Valter too, cringed. "What in the Demon King's name is that?" From the pointing to the otherworldly scar and his outburst, Riev knew Valter had no idea what it was.
"That, Valter, is known as the Reaper's Mark. It is the sign that one has not only cheated death through unimaginable odds and slim chances of surviving, but as also seen Death-commonly called the Grim Reaper- himself. It is said that those who bear this mark have been granted inhuman power by the Reaper himself and will activate when the time is right." He kept his eyes fixed straightly at the scar, taking notice of the eyeholes, nose slit, grinning mouth and the head of the scar. The Reaper's Mark resembled a skull, the face and symbol of Death. To have one bear such a mark lying a few inches in front of him was tad bit unnerving.
"How fascinating. So far, she hasn't done anything otherworldly, at least what I saw," the Moonstone stated dryly but Riev could tell he was just as concerned as he was. "What do you plan to do? I'm handling her first; I have some unfinished business with her." The same old evil smirk was back on Riev's face as Valter said those very words. Why was he not surprise?
"I just want us to keep an eye on her, that's all. You can spend as much as you like with her, I have no objections with that." explained Riev, allowing a snigger to escape him as he finished with the last sentence. Valter ignored him and picked the woman up again and headed out for the door. When they were out of his sight, Riev frowned and put his staves away, thinking about what occurred a few moments ago. Now he had someone marked by the Reaper living in same place he was there was no telling what could happen. If they didn't trend prudently they might become corpses.
"Depending how she progresses, I'll debate on whether or not the Master should know about this," he mumbled and warped out of the room to continue his duties.
He wished he could have killed her. Part of him wanted to, for she irritated him to no end and she didn't need to say much to do so. Normally it didn't bother him when someone of inferior rank questioned his authority but that was rare. His subordinates didn't dare to do; they treasured their life too much to have it staked. But along came this wyvern rider and she knew how to push his buttons and get the better of him unknowingly. Marked by the Reaper she may be, but it still didn't erode his annoyance towards her. Nearly choking the life out of her didn't do too much to uplift his mood either.
Bothersome she was she would make an excellent opponent for him. She had the right type of courage he liked; she took risks when needed, knew how hold her own ground, and displayed a spectacular amount of ferocity in battle. The battle with the monsters showed that much how vicious she could fight, with little or no remorse. Valter had to admit it, but her fighting style was similar to his. And if what Riev said about the Reaper's Mark proved to be true, he had to be the first to test out this woman's "inhuman power" if it ever emerges. He needed a good challenge every now and then.
Getting up, Valter headed back to Slivegio, who was enjoying the scenery much more than he was. After dragging his wyvern away from a bush of wild strawberries (Valter never understood why Slivegio liked them, he couldn't eat them anyways), Valter mounted and Slivegio took off into the cloud-free sky, flying to who knows where.
"C'mon, c'mon!" hissed Zecilys at her custom design lockpick, vigorously fiddling with it in hopes that the door would open. Being a wyvern rider and not a thief, Zecilys's homemade lockpick kept the door lock locked and the pick bent sideways. She swore a string of oaths as she tugged it out and flung it aside. That was lockpick number ten. Zecilys glowered bitterly at the door and gave it a good swift kick. It didn't do much expect for rattling the door and make Zecilys feel slightly better. Not much but it was something. "Now what do I do? I can't make a bloody lockpick to save my life and no one's coming in here anytime soon! Errrrrggg…."
She paced up and down the room, racking her brains to think of another plan to escape and if it was done successfully without detection, she could slip away on Eroniz and flee from the Grado Palace. The sooner she got out of this place, the better. Why waste her time around here when she'd done nothing wrong?
Zecilys scanned the room, inspecting its size, structure, and material. The walls were constructed of granite, polished to make it smooth and shiny as a mirror. The room could probably fit a Pegasus and a horse together and looked conspicuous enough to hold a hidden passageway.
It wouldn't hurt trying even though it's highly unlikely for them to put me in a room that contains a secret passageway or two. Then again, they might not know if their castle has any.
So began the grueling process of searching for hidden passageways. First, she tackled the floor, which was made up solid oak wood that was perfect for concealing trapdoors. A good six minutes proved this room was trapdoor-free. The walls came next. Though it seemed impossible for granite walls to have a hidden stairway or passage, Zecilys knew from experience in other castles that stone walls could seclude many things. For example, carcasses. Now that was an abnormal experience I'll never forget. The Wallis family was full of nutjobs, their middle son being the nuttiest. How he managed to stuff those carcasses in there is beyond me.
It wasn't before long when Zecilys was finished with the walls and found nothing. "Back to square one. Hell's fires, this is dull!" Forgetting to be calm, she rampaged through out the room, chucking whatever she could get her hands at the walls, ceilings, anything. The door was no expectation. "Take that! And that! And this! That, that, that, and that!" she cried. The prim, clean room was beginning to resemble a disaster zone. She did all this to vent out all her rage and frustration because it was no thanks to Valter and a fool named Ephraim for getting her locked in this boring chamber. This little rampage would keep her busy, even if it meant trashing the whole entire room. She'll have time to clean up her mess so what's the harm? In a way, it was fun and plus, it worked on her aim and strengthen her arms, if only a little.
Zecilys was too preoccupied in her thoughts and her rampage across the room that she didn't hear footsteps approaching her door and the insert of a key. She didn't hear the doorknob turning as she reached for a pillow and prepared to swing it. By the time she brought her arm back and launched the pillow at the door, it was too late to stop it from crashing into the Moonstone's unprotected face.
Valter always had been alert, always had impressive reflexes when it came to anything. In spite of that, he simply wasn't prepared (nor expecting) to have a pillow slamming into his face at full force. What the— How did this pillow get here?!
"Uh-oh." That…that…wench! That's it, she's dead. I'm turning her into a corpse. Valter flung the pillow out of his face and glowered with extreme loathing at the wyvern rider before him. She had a hand over her mouth, which made her expression hard to read. She was either shocked or terrified, he couldn't tell, but he definitely could detect laughter shinning in those golden orbs of hers.
I'm just going have to wait on transforming her into a corpse. This chit hasn't even answered any of my questions and look what happens. She chucks a pillow at me!
"Enjoying yourself, I see," he stated dangerously, nodding to mess she made. No, scratch that; not mess, apocalypse. Valter wasn't sure whether to be amused or confused. What possessed her to tear the room apart?
"I don't like being cooped up with nothing to do. You could have left me a book or two if I'm supposed to be locked up all day. By the way, when's dinner?" Valter chewed the corner of his mouth to keep his temper at bay; he'd be damned before giving her the satisfaction of enraging him again. If she wanted to play games with him then fine. He'll play along.
"I'll decide what time dinner comes-if there should be any for you. I don't appreciate having pillows whacked at my face." The wyvern rider frowned at his remark. Bending over, she began picking up the tossed items and setting them back in their proper place, ignoring him while she worked. It wasn't quite long when the task was finished and she turned back to face him again, looking a little exasperated with the situation she was currently in.
"Well, General Moonstone, I'm awfully sorry of having your precious face damaged by a mere pillow. If the throw was any harder it would have been disastrous. I'm sure I'd have to call the healers." she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. A muscle in Valter's left cheek twitched, but to his good fortune it went unnoticed.
I can't wait to interrogate answers out that cheeky mouth of hers. She's becoming more and more annoying then I thought. I'll definitely have to pound some of that rebellious streak out of her; it'll be a thorn to my side. And I have enough of those already.
"Not only are you stubborn and infuriating, you're sarcastic as well. Wonderful." He took a step closer to her and she took a step back. He smirked. Good, she was on her toes already. Now he could punish her by having a little fun. "Since you're so bored, let's play a game. I'm going to say something that has to do with you and if it's correct, I take one step closer to you. If it is wrong then I take a step backwards to the door. If I reach the door then I leave, allowing some time to yourself. But if I reach you, you have to answer all my questions—without lying! Understood, girl?"
The female's eyes widen at his offer, her mouth opened slightly. Seeing his sneering grin she shut it instantly and glared daggers at him.
"Why should I? It's a ridiculous game!" she snapped. Valter shrugged his shoulders, pretending to not to care.
"Ridiculous to you, but perhaps you only say that because you're afraid. Afraid to take a challenge?" he replied, hoping she would take the bait he laid out. She did. Her body bristled and the golden orbs flared briefly before the rider maintained her cool, collect posture.
"Alright then. I play this petty game of yours but only under one condition,"
"Oh really? And what is it?"
"Don't call me girl. I'm nineteen and old enough not to be called that. My name is Zecilys. Call me that." Valter chuckled at the venom in her words and nodded. Zecilys it is. Such a lovely name, it suits her quite well.
"Deal. Now let's begin."
"Bring it on."
Oh I will. I'm sure you'll enjoy this game as much as I will. Heh….
"To begin with, you are frustrated with not only me but also with Ephraim, even though you claim you don't know him. Am I correct?" Zecilys nodded soberly and he took a stop forward. It doesn't take a genius to figure of that one. The room proves that much and so does her attitude towards me. "Not only your frustration tore this room up, you were bored as well." Zecilys put her hands on her hips, scowling.
"That's not fair! I told you that! You can't do that!" she protested. Valter shook his head, the smirk still on his face.
"On the contrary, my dear Zecilys, I can. You said nothing about that, you just told me to call you 'Zecilys' and I did. Nowhere in our deal did it prohibit me using what you mentioned in the past. Back to the game, Zecilys. Was I right?"
"What do you think?" came the snarl. The Moonstone advanced again, closing the gap between them fast. This was becoming way more fun than he'd anticipated. All thanks to this girl called Zecilys.
"Moving on. Believing that you are here against your will, you're trying to find a way to escape. In fact, before I came him, you tried unlocking this door several times with a lockpick. Correct?" He didn't even need an answer, her face was enough. Her controlled, stoic face was replaced with astonishment and bewilderment.
"How in Hell's fires did you know that?!" she demanded. Valter suppressed a chuckle at her outburst. She was entertaining him way better than expected. It would seem that this Zecilys character was a box full of surprises, both good and ill alike. And he likes surprises.
"Simple. I observed the room and noticed that interesting pile of twisted metal that sort of have a resemblance to a real lockpick. My, my, someone's anxious to be leaving." he said, wagging a finger in mock scolding. Zecilys scowled down at the pile he mentioned, mumbled a few curses, and focused back to the "game". Valter already had taken his step and was beginning to conjure up another statement.
"You were not born into royalty or any other noble house." A total random statement, yes, but he was having difficulty trying to find statements that he knew for sure that were true. After all he barely knew the gir—Zecilys or anything about her. Except she possessed 'the Reaper's Mark' as Riev called it. He'll use this piece of info for when he'd needed it the most. Right now wouldn't be prudent.
"You're wrong about that, Valter." Valter arched an eyebrow. So she was of noble blood? That was certainly interesting, she hardly acted like any noble he'd ever met. She could be mistaken for a commoner or a mercenary, no doubt. "Believe it or not, I was raised in a noble house many years ago. Take a step back now."
His feet moved a step backwards and stopped. He was only two feet away from her and it would take only a few more steps to reach her. The door was about four feet away and it would take five or six steps to reach it. He'd have to consider his statements with care; if he didn't then he'll be seeing the door in no time.
"I'm waiting, Valter. Are you sure you still want to play?" Zecilys asked, a smug smile on her face. The Moonstone ignored her jeer and went back to his thoughts. If he was going to be saying any more correct statements he should take a good look at Zecilys and see if any of her actions betrayed anything to him. Anything that could give him the upper hand.
Zecilys's face remained placidly composed; hiding all her emotions with such skill Valter knew positively that it wasn't fully self-taught. One might call her face a mask but Valter would disagree. He could see some shadows of emotions lurking about on her fair visage. Finding nothing, he brought himself to her eyes. Her unblinkingly, wildcat eyes. This was where she stored all her emotions without knowledge. This was where he could tell exactly what she was feeling or perhaps, thinking. No matter how hard she tried to make her face blank, her eyes would always remain the same. Nothing could wipe out the life and emotion in those golden orbs. Nothing could rob the glory of those beautiful, defying golden eyes.
Wha—? Wait, wait, what in the fires of Hell did I just think? 'Beautiful'? Forget about it, this is no time to be thinking about it…I have to control her first before coming to that. Back to game; focus on the game… focus….
So what was he supposed to say next? So far as he could think of the Reaper's Mark and he was saving it for the end or if he really need it to save his behind. Valter pondered over the event of Riev's healing of Zecilys and everything that occurred. Aside for the Reaper's Mark she really didn't have any other scars….
No…that wasn't true.
There was another one, sitting in plain few in front of him. Trekking down her lean, muscled arm was a long, jagged gash right in the center of her bicep, stopping a few centimeters past her elbow. Made by an axe, a large one at that, either an iron or steel. Valter had similar scar on his left arm as well, a wound he had gotten in his earlier years, before he took up Duessel's dark lance. Valter wondered how old Zecilys was when she received that scar.
"On your left arm you have a deep gash that was caused by an axe. Is that correct?"
Zecilys glanced down at her left arm. Valter swore he saw a flicker of vulnerability on her face as she stared at the grotesque gash along her arm; perhaps the memory of how she came by that scar was being refreshed. She had to have been quite young to receive a wound like that; she did say she was nineteen.
The young woman lift her head back up, her face once again stoic but Valter saw through the emotionless mask just by watching her eyes. They appeared distant, somewhat spacey. It was as if her mind was in another place while her body and soul were separated.
"You're right again. Take a step forward." She still hadn't lost the firmness in her voice but already Valter detected something else hidden her voice. Fear. Vulnerability. Sorrow. Pain. All veiled by a tough, cold face and a backbone constructed of solid steel. After this, he couldn't wait to pry some answers out of those lips of hers; she certainly will have a diverting story for him to hear. Just a couple more steps and she was his. Once the 'game' was over, her defenses would crumble and he'd have her in the palm of his hand.
He took his step forward and erstwhile had came up with another statement. "You are not a Grado citizen; your accent is not from here." She nodded and he took another step. One more to go. The game was as good as his.
"Can you tell where I come from? Answer it correctly and you win. Think you can do it?"
Cheeky wench…. Still has enough spirit to be cocky when she's in danger of losing? Interesting…she'll be fun to play with after I wrap this game up and get some answers from her.
"I'll take up on your offer. Firstly, you're not from Renais. I spent plenty of time there so I can easily distinguish their accent between others. Carcino's off the list too because there's no royalty among them. So that just leaves Frelia, Jehanna, and Rausten."
Valter had a hard time imagining her being from Frelia; she certainly didn't behave like a regular Frelian. Then again, she was of noble blood and she didn't act like a noble either. He really couldn't tell a Frelian, a Jehannan, or a Raustan apart. It looked like he would just have to guess. A one out of three chances he'd be correct and he wasn't the sort of man to rely on luck on anything. Nothing he could do about it now, he might as well just pick one and hope it was right one.
"Frelia?" He was going to take a chance and go for that one, he had been around Caellach enough to realize Zecilys and the Tiger Eye sounded completely different. Rausten…that was up Riev's department and Valter couldn't care any less about it.
"Close but no cigar. Move on back, Valter." A scowl flashed across his features before he stepped backwards.
Okay, now the game was tiring him and he wanted to get this over with. His taunting mood was evaporating and so was his patience. There was only one way to end this game quickly and he had the winning card in hand.
"I have a proposal, Zecilys. Let's make this the final statement: If, of course, it's correct I win the game. If I'm wrong, you win. Simple as that." Take the bait, take the bait.
"How stupid do you think I am? The only time you'd make a proposal like that is for something you're sure is true!"
Always ready to complicate things? That's fine, I like challenges.
"How do you know that? Would if I'm just getting a little tired of this game and wish to wrap in up with some risk involve? Would if I'm not sure at all if the next statement is accurate? After all, we barely know each other." he suggested casually. She better take the bait now after this, he really couldn't wait to question her any longer. Just accept the offer, accept it, accept it….
"Forget it. Either continue the 'game' the regular way or leave."
That's it.
"I'll have to disagree with you, Zecilys." He advanced towards her while she took a step back, puzzled yet alert. "I tried to be patient with you but you won't listen, won't you? So here's the final statement: On your abdomen you contain a scar, a scar notoriously known as 'The Reaper's Mark'."
He didn't even need to ask he what he said was true, he saw with his own eyes. And for the fact Zecilys's eyes lit up with shock and her mask totally crumbled away, revealing a flabbergasted expression.
"H-how…did y-you know about…it?" she asked softly, defeat mingling in her voice. The Moonstone smirked down at her, pleased with this reaction.
"You'll just have to ask Riev. Now since I won, you have to truthfully answer a couple of questions I have for you." That fired her up again.
"Do not! I didn't agree with your prosperous proposal! I don't have to answer to any of your hebetudinous questions!" Valter made a mental note in his head to ask Riev or Caellach on what the word 'hebetudinous' meant.
"You have no authority to argue with me about that. You're a prisoner and I'm a general here. I think that ends this little squabble."
Zecilys opened her mouth to say something but shut it quickly after a second's worth of thought. She cast her head down at the ground, refusing to look at him. Her damp, slightly tangled turquoise hair dropped over her, hiding her face like a curtain of aqua. Her hands clenched in and out to calm herself down in the situation she was currently in. Valter watched her with curiosity; one minute she looked defeated and angry then the next was silent. He wondered how long it would take her to crack and spill everything to him. Time to find out.
"Are you a spy for Ephraim?" Silence answered him. Irritated, Valter approached her and using his hand, violently jerked her head up to face him. Her amber eyes remained calm and quiet.
Being stubborn as well? I have no time for this.
He slammed her to the wall and dug his thumb into the pressure point near Zecilys's neck. Her eyes widen. A gasp escaped from her lips as he pressed in deeper, eventually drawing blood. The point of his thumb was stained red and he watched the small river of blood trickle down Zecilys's creamy neck, fascinated by contrast between the blood's color and the female's skin. By his hand he felt her muscles tighten by the pain and pressure he applied. He enjoyed watching her squirm under his grasp. He targeted another point and the turquoise rider hissed through clenched teeth, determined not to let loose a scream. Valter chuckled softly. Zecilys shot him a murderous glare and he answered with one of his smirks. That just set her off all over again.
"Is this what you call 'torture'? I've been tortured better than this!" she jeered scathingly.
If only she knew what the Moonstone was capable she would have regret those words as soon as they came out of her mouth. In fact, she wouldn't have said them at all.
Valter's smirk switched to a sadistic grin.
"Really?" he said huskily, closing in the space between them. He nestled their bodies closely to each other and mentally noting how perfectly they fit together. He pressed his body against her own, loving how her breasts were crushed against his chest. Her breathing had quickened-not from the lack of air-but from the predicament she was in. He had her pinned to wall, vulnerable and at his mercy. …And she knew what will happen next.
"You see, dear Zecilys, when it comes to ladies such as yourself, I have a much different method in extracting information from them. And at the same time another part of me gets satisfied. It's killing two birds with one stone." Valter explained to her, dark seduction edged in his words. He never got sick of doing this to every women he claimed at battlefield or at the end of combat. Killing men and claiming women was all he lived for. He did it with no remorse. He was a beast, in heart and soul. And this beast would take this enchanting beauty and make her his.
"Y-you jest…" stammered Zecilys, "Quit f-fooling a-around, it's n-not funny!" Her outburst only increased his craving and Valter leaned forward, his fierce eyes boring into her panicked ones. She immediately twisted her body in hopes to break free from his hold and possibly escape his clutches. Being the master of this game of cat-and-mouse, Valter erstwhile was prepared. He slid his right leg between her own two legs, halting movement from them. With both hands he pinned her two arms at her side, grasping them in a near death grip.
"Does it look like it?" Terror flickered brilliantly in Zecilys's eyes and the Moonstone knew why. She knew what he would do to her if she didn't cooperate. She knew exactly what would happen and there would be no stops. He wouldn't hesitant and she knew it.
"W-wait…. I'll cooperate. Please…don't do it…." He stared hard at her, determining whether her plea was an act or not. He decided to test her to find out more.
"Are you a spy for Renais? Or perhaps Ephraim?" he questioned playfully, loving how defeated his prey sounded. The female rider shook her head.
"I'm a spy for no one. I am just a mercenary. It's the truth…you have believe me." Valter frowned and stared thoughtfully at her.
"Then what were you doing in Grado territory?" he asked skeptically.
"I travel from time to time. It helps me find jobs at a much faster pace." He noticed how deathly calm her voice was again. Apparently she could recover from a mental shock much quicker than normal. Zecilys certainly was intriguing.
Knock. Knock.
Biting back a load of curses, Valter swung his head around to face the door, wishing whoever it was that just disturbed his interrogation an excruciating, agonizing, and painful death upon them.
"Who dares?" he snarled at the door.
"Valter, His Majesty request our presence. You should come." The Moonstone growled, irked by Riev's atrocious timing. He focused his attention back to Zecilys who was just about to wiggle out his hold. She froze instantly as he saw her actions. He had to laugh, this woman really did not know how to quit.
Once again he pressed his body against hers, letting her know who was in control. She tried to squirm but gave up after realizing there was no room to do so. He smirked at her steaming expression.
"I'm sorry, my dear, but duty calls. We'll continue this when I get back." He then leaned over her neck and tenderly licked up all the blood trailing out of her neck, kissing her neck passionately while at it. And as a parting gift, he slammed his mouth into her rosy pink lips and roughly kissed her, tongues and all. After he was satisfied with his handiwork, he withdrew himself completely from her and strode out of the room; but not before stealing a glance at Zecilys.
The female rider remained emotionless but her eyes sparkled with defiance and fire. Valter chortled. Yes, he definitely would have fun with her. Zecilys was one-of-a-kind.
Eroniz burrowed his head in some fresh grass, absorbing in the warmth the ground had. He enjoyed the darkness sleep brought and was about to drift into an even deeper sleep when a sudden blast of light shot him straight in the face. Eroniz growled, bothered by this, and lazily opened the slit of his eyes. Whoever it was that just disturbed his afternoon nap would pay dearly; only Zecilys was allowed to do that! He was just about to open his mouth and unleash a monstrous roar to startle the stranger when a pair of familiar hands reached out and stroked his scaly face.
"Shhhhh…be quiet. Wouldn't want anyone to hear us, would we?" said the enigmatic figure. The light reflected of the intruder's face and Eroniz's sleepy copper eyes went wide and lost its daze. He couldn't believe who was standing right in front of him, looking as calm as a cucumber.
"When we didn't hear from you at first, we though something terrible had befell you." Zecilys smirked at this remark.
"I guess you can say that," she replied, tossing her head back with an eerie laugh. The curly forest green-haired man flinched at the sound and she simpered at his reaction. She loved it how people reacted to her 'unique' cackle. It made her feel she had some sort of power or control over them every time they shivered or flinched at her laugh.
"So, what happened?" demanded the first man who spoke before.
"One of Grado's generals found me. Valter the Moonstone was his name." She was proud on how she masked the bitterness in her voice for him. They really did not how close she came in losing her innocence for their hebetudinous plan. Really, just how did she wind up with them in the first place?
"And?" pressed an older man. Zecilys scowled at him.
"The rest is for you leader. It's for his ears only." She turned her attention back to the first man, looking straight into his sea-blue eyes. "Isn't that right, Ephraim?"
The man Ephraim nodded.
"Follow me."
Here you go, my fellow readers and reviewers! My birthday was two days ago so this is my treat for you all. And what I want for my birthday from you…well, you already know.
I hope the length of this chapter made up for the elongate wait and the cliffy redeems my slowness in updating. I'm not demanding for you to review but I would like to receive some, it helps me know my story is being appreciated and enjoyed. And if any characters were OOC, I'm sorry. Till next time, I bid you all adieu.
P.S. Some of you probably went "WTF?!" when the Grim Reaper was mentioned but hey, it's Magvel and it's not impossible for Mr. Reaper to make his appearance. It's just not probable for some of you. Personally, I believe the 'Reaper's Mark' idea is excessively neat and not hebetudinous at all. Don't worry, the inhuman powers don't make her invincible or indestructible of any source; it just makes her monstrously powerful.
