Chapter 6: "The Bloody Baron"
It was odd, at least to Gwendolyn, how emotional the atmosphere in the kitchen felt. She had gone down there to tell her former co-workers of her ascendance to the Queen's side, and the moment they saw her in her new uniform they crowded all around to congratulate her.
"This is so wonderful," one of them exclaimed.
"We're so proud of you," added a second.
"Well done, well done," a third and fourth (twins) chorused. Molly came forward, using her wooden spoon like a staff to break through the sea of white bonnets.
"Give the poor lass some air," she scolded them. "Divvent ye all have work tae be doin'? Be off wi' ye!" As the maids flocked out of the kitchen, all giving farewells and shoulder-pats to their friend, Gwendolyn smiled and straightened her gown. For what felt like a long time, she and Molly just looked at each other. Finally, the old cook returned to her work and broke the tranquillity. She was plucking the feathers from a chicken and dumping them in a bucket outside the door.
"Ah'm not sure how Ah'll find a replacement for ye," she said. She was calm though her eyes said different. She was sad to be losing one of the girls she'd come to look upon as a daughter.
"Oh, Molls…" Gwendolyn began, but she was interrupted when a head with a mop of unkempt, sandy hair and freckled cheeks poked in from the yard.
"I'll miss you too, Blackwood," said Jethro, smiling impishly. "You were the only girl who hasn't fallen for my charms."
"Oh, come now!" Gwendolyn huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "It's not like I'm leaving the country, I'll still see you both!"
"Sure you'll have the time?" the stable-boy smirked. "What with all your fancy new lady friends?"
"Of course, Jethro," said Gwendolyn, walking over and giving him a hug. "Especially you, someone has to teach me how to ride a horse."
"This isn't all fun and games, my girl," Molly warned her, "it's a serious job, an' if ye screw it up f' yerself, I'll be after ye like a hellhound." Gwendolyn was about to respond when the kitchen door opened and Liza entered. Molly shot a warning look at the tall, thin creature, with her perfectly maintained chocolate-coloured hair and thin, arched eyebrows that almost met above her delicate nose.
"Lady Blackwood," she said (both Molly and Jethro had to stifle a chuckle at the honorific) in a much softer and kinder way than when the girl had first met her, "the Queen has requested your presence." Gwendolyn nodded and pulled herself away from Jethro.
"I have to go now," she said, "but I'll see you both again soon." With that, she followed the older girl out of the kitchen. When they were gone, Molly allowed a few salty tears to run down her cheeks, which she dabbed away with her apron.
Seeing this, Jethro batted his eyes at her and said in the best (actually not very good) Scots accent he could muster, "Ooh, Molly, old girl, ye know Ah love it when ye get all emotional like 'at."
"Be off back tae yer stables," she grumbled, taking a half-hearted swing at him, "an' take a scrub while yer at it." Jethro winked and dashed out of the door, pausing for a second on the doorstep to do a happy little spin on one foot. Molly shook her head and went back to preparing the fowl. Whatever was she going to do with that boy? When she heard the cool, serpent-like voice behind her she felt a terrible chill all over.
"Pardon me, miss," it said. Molly spun around to face it, and from the shadows of one corner appeared a tall man with a face like a vulture, dressed all in best black. Robert Cecil clasped his hands together in front of his stomach. "I could not help but notice your attachment to the new lady-in-waiting. Have you known her especially long?"
"Long enough, Mr Cecil," Molly replied. "I look after all my girls as if they were my own. Whissit tae ye?"
"I don't suppose you know whether or not she or any one of your, ah, your girls, likes to duel?" His tone was like velvet, but the old cook was not fooled in the slightest. She knew his kind. She had dealt with them all throughout her life.
"Ah wouldnae know 'bout that," she told him. "This 'duelling,' lark doesnae really grab my interest."
A pause. "Clumsy girl, is she?"
"Sir?"
"The other day," Cecil explained, "during the finals – you at least know about the recent tournament, correct? – she had quite a nasty bruise on her forehead. Do you know how she came by it?"
"Well," Molly looked off to the side and tapped her chin with her spoon thoughtfully, "while Ah do wonder why yer even concerned, sir, she probably jus' walked intae a door. Scatterbrained, that yin, but then, aren't they all at that age? Minds filled wi' thoughts o' rich men an' high society…"
Cecil frowned. He had heard the cook was a tough old cow and it was painfully apparent he was not going to get any more out of her. Perhaps the stable-boy would be more useful. He bid her goodbye and walked towards the door to the yard.
"Dinnae let the door hit ye on the way out, sir," Molly sniped.
"Excuse me?" he glared at her, picking up on the insult.
"Unpredictable hinges," she grinned.
"Of course," he muttered and took his leave of her.
When he reached the stables, Jethro was brushing down one of the younger horses' neck.
"Good boy, Boxer," the boy was whispering in the animal's ear. "Thanks for standing still for once, ya crazy beast." The horse snorted and nuzzled the side of his ear. "Ah…" the boy was about to say something when he caught sight of Cecil. The nobleman gestured for him to come closer with a wag of his index finger.
"You, stable-boy, come here," he said and the youth obliged. "You're Marrack, aren't you? I hope they taught you proper English in Cornwall because I need you to answer some questions for me."
"If you'll excuse my bluntness, Mr Cecil," Jethro replied, "my parents are Cornish but I was raised in the city more or less my whole life. What can I help you with?"
"I saw you talking to Lady Blackwood earlier," said Cecil. "I won't bother going into how inappropriate that is because I'm hoping that means you know her well."
"I know Gwendolyn," Jethro nodded. "She's always been nice to me."
"Nice. Eh, boy?" Cecil wrinkled his nose in disgust. "She must be lacking her olfactory senses, or her sight." At this last part he flicked a lock of the stable-boy's messy hair. "I heard you say she was the only one who could – how did you put it? – resist your charms. While I dread why she's the only one, I have more important questions, such as does she duel?"
"No, sir," said Jethro, holding back his indignity at being insulted so unnecessarily, "aside from Her Majesty, it's not a very lady-like past-time, is it?" Cecil placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and gripped tightly. Jethro winced. It was like being clutched in a blacksmith's iron vice.
"Then tell me this," said the man in black, "why do you think a lowly scullery maid was suddenly granted the position she currently holds? The Blackwood family are wealthy landowners but they are far from nobility."
"Lady Blackwood is a good, reliable woman," Jethro scowled. "She is diligent in her work and is a good friend." Cecil grinned like the Devil when he heard this. His grip on the boy's shoulder tightened.
"And don't you hate that, my young friend?" he sneered. "That she'll always be your friend, and unlike those who simply felt pity for a pungent, inbred little serf, she will never share your bed." That was enough. Jethro's face turned a dark red.
"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" he cried and lunged. Cecil caught the oncoming wrist in his free hand and squeezed it hard. Jethro swallowed the vile discomfort and struggled but it was futile. The man in black was too strong.
"Violence against your betters?" Cecil hissed. "Shame on you." He twisted the boy's arm behind his back – Jethro released a strangled noise – and with the force of a high-powered gun, slammed him into the wooden outer wall of the stable. The horses inside reacted nervously, neighing and kicking their individual stalls. Cecil released Jethro and watched him slide to the ground in a daze.
"I've wasted enough time with you," he growled and kicked the fallen boy in the side. "Rest assured I will find what I'm looking for, and if you try to stop me…well, all the worst for you." He was about to hit him again when he heard a loud fanfare outside the gates of the palace. That could only mean one thing. Their guest had arrived. Cecil dusted himself down and went back inside at a brisk pace. Jethro squirmed in the dirt and reached up to grip the door of one of the stalls – Boxer's actually, the big horse nosed his hand out of worriment – and pulled himself to his knees.
"Damn that bastard," he wheezed. "Have to warn Gwendolyn."
XXX
When Cecil arrived and was allowed entry into the royal bedchamber, the Queen and her six ladies were in the midst of sewing a tapestry of already considerable size. From what he could see, the tapestry displayed a green-skinned knight clad in blue-and-red armour, mounted on a purple horse with a fierce golden mane. In each hand the knight held a deadly crimson lance.
"Interesting colour," one of the ladies murmured. "I wonder if he's from Spain."
"Certainly not," replied another, "my money's on Greek."
"A Greek knight?" a third mused. "He could be. Are all Greeks olive-green?"
"Well, I once heard they were 'olive-skinned'," said the second, "so perhaps that's what it means." Cecil cleared his throat to catch their attention.
"My apologies, Your Majesty," he said, "but the German Duellist Royal has arrived and is waiting in the courtyard."
"Thank you, Mr Cecil," said the Queen, setting down her sewing kit. "I would like you all to accompany me," she addressed her ladies, "except for you, Lady Blackwood. Please go find Sir Douglas MacWood, would you?"
"Gladly, Your Majesty," Gwendolyn curtsied and quickly left the room. Cecil raised an eyebrow at the retreating figure. Yes. There was definitely something about her. He was certain he knew what it was but he had to confirm it. The cook was clever, the stable-boy was useless and his own servant Sebastian was a lost cause. Still, he would uncover the truth, even if he had to tear it out of the little strumpet with his bare hands.
"Let us go now, Mr C.," said the Queen pleasantly.
XXX
The courtyard was bathed in a healthy wave of sunlight. All around the palace, rows of decorative trees shone beautifully. Occasionally a bird would flutter by through the puffy white clouds. A crowd of servants and court-goers were gathered as Elizabeth emerged with Cecil and her five ladies in tow.
"Ah, Your Majesty," said Sir Francis Walsingham, who had been standing by the black carriage at the gates. A pageboy opened its door as Walsingham continued the introduction with a dramatic flourish.
"May I present our esteemed guest, duellist to the royal family of Germany, the noted scholar, sailor, landowner and of course, champion card player, Michel Freiherr von Dijkhuizen."
"What's a Freiherr?" one of the ladies whispered.
"Like a baron," a second replied. Von Dijkhuizen was an absolute giant of a man. He towered over all of them and it was quite a wonder he even fit into the carriage. He wore clothes of fine dark scarlet and gold trim, topped with an elegant cape that was black on the outside and red on the inside. He had pale skin and long but well-manicured nails like claws. His jet black hair hung down to his shoulders and a thin moustache and tidy beard surrounded ruddy lips. His beady eyes were an icy blue.
"W-welcome to England, Freiherr," said the Queen, quite stricken by his inhuman size. Von Dijkhuizen bent down and took her small hand in one of his huge ones and kissed it.
"Ah, you are as lovely as I have heard, Queen Elizabeth," he said in a voice that made even the hairs on the back of Cecil's neck stand on end. "As a gesture of good vill, I have brought a present from my master, Prince Ambros dhe Immortal. I believe he called it his 'veddink present'." He brushed his cape aside to reveal his travelling companion. Against his sheer mass, she was almost a doll. Nobody doubted he could easily carry her in a single pocket of his clothes or that she might sleep under his cape and never be heard from again. She was a little girl of no more than nine or ten years, with the same white visage as her master, with large but emotionless green eyes and long blonde hair tied in an elegant braid. Her clothing was white and pristine, also like a doll's, and she carried a casket of fine polished wood. This she handed to the Queen.
"Thank you," said Elizabeth. "What is your name, my dear?" The girl said nothing.
"You must forgive my young servant," said von Dijkhuizen, "she ist not quite, ah, fluent in English yet, dhough I am doink my best to teach her." He looked down at the girl. "Erzählen Sie ihr Ihren Namen bitte."
She looked back at him, then she turned to the Queen again. Her voice was barely above a weak whisper, "Kreszentia."
"How lovely," said Elizabeth. "You must both be tired from your journey. We can provide refreshment."
"Just for dhe girl," said von Dijkhuizen. He reached into his waistcoat and retrieved a dark red deck case. "I have been vaitink for zhis duel und vould like to get started post-haste."
"I'm sorry, sir," said Walsingham, "but this is quite improper."
"No, Walsy," the Queen shook her head. "This is important, and if the good Freiherr would be more comfortable to get on with it, then I will not argue. Mr C., please go get a Fairy Pin."
"Dhat vill not be necessary," von Dijkhuizen smiled, opening his waistcoat to reveal a brooch pinned to his shirt. It had the same unearthly gemstone, though the band that held it was different. It was forged in such a way that it looked like a serpent swallowing its own tail. "I have come prepared."
"So I see," the Queen nodded. "Very well, we'll go to the throne room immediately. I will be allowing an audience this time, so providing they maintain good behaviour, the palace staff have my permission to take a break from their duties to watch."
"You are very kind, Your Majesty," von Dijkhuizen grinned. The Queen took a step back when she saw two perfect rows of pointed teeth. She had heard of soldiers who filed their teeth to intimidate their enemies and it was certainly working on her. What kind of a beast had Prince Ambros sent to spirit her away in his name?
XXX
Gwendolyn felt anxious. Her opponent, big as he was, was only a small part of it. It was more for all the eyes now resting on them. The Queen sat at her throne with Walsingham to her right, Cecil to her left and the five ladies including Liza sitting neatly on the steps in front of her. She could see Molly (though not Jethro) in the crowd with the maids, and Sebastian was there with Donovan and Arthur, and Lord Whitehawk and Mr Underhill were tucked closer to the back. There were maids and valets and pageboys and members of the court at certain points and it was all quite overwhelming for the poor girl. She adjusted her cap and held out her deck for von Dijkhuizen to cut and shuffle, and he reciprocated. As the sturdy parchment game pieces touched her palm she almost winced at how cold and evil they felt.
"Good luck, sir," she squeaked.
"Und to you, too," he replied. They took their seats and placed their decks in the appropriate spots. Queen Elizabeth stood up and all the conversations ceased.
"Thank you," she said. "Ladies, gentlemen, members of the court, servants and associates alike, this is what the recent tournament has been leading up to. Sir Douglas MacWood will duel the Freiherr von Dijkhuizen. As our guest, he will make the first move."
"If I may, Your Majesty," said von Dijkhuizen. "I vould much rather dhe boy go first."
"Very sporting of you," said Walsingham. "Sir Douglas, the first turn is yours." In the audience, Sebastian flexed his hands, clenching and unclenching rhythmically. Come on, Gwen, he thought, you can win. You've gotten this far, don't lose now.
[Begin Duel: Douglas MacWood vs. Freiherr von Dijkhuizen]
"I'll start by playing my favourite Spell Card," said Gwendolyn as she slapped a card down on the table. "Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen!" The entire audience murmured in excitement as the magic awakened and the throne room was transmogrified into the wonderful Norse temple. "So long as I've no monsters, I can special summon one to the field, and I choose to summon my Dunames Dark Witch (1800/1050)!"
A circle of gold light opened on the red carpet and from it arose a beautiful young woman with deep purple eyes and long hair. She wore white-and-bronze armour, with a winged headdress and two white wings encrusted with large opals.
"And I'll also normal-summon another Fairy, Dunames' sister Dark Valkyria (1800/1050)!" A second young woman materialised beside Dunames. This one was almost exactly like her in appearance, but her skin was a light violet, her eyes were red and her hair was silver. The armour she wore was dark blue and her wings were black with rubies embedded in them. The two monsters glanced at each other and took up combat-ready positions. "It's your move."
"Very vell," von Dijkhuizen nodded and drew. "Fairies are powerful, zhis I understand, for dhey are creatures of the light, but to balance out dheir power is somezink even more all-consuming – dhe darkness. Today, I shall prove that. I vill begin by playink a Spell Card of my own, Call of the Mummy. Much like Valhalla, zhis card allows me to summon a monster vhen my field ist empty, und the monster I choose ist…"
A beautiful black coffin trimmed with gold grew out of the floor. Bloodshot eyes opened up all across its surface and a flock of bats flew down from nowhere, swooping over the box.
A dozen hands formed from twisted, filthy, yellow-white bandages slithered out beneath it and grasped the lid, wrenching it open with a creaking moan. Smoke belched forth.
"Vampire Lord (2000/1500)!"
The smoke dissipated to reveal a tall, slender being dressed in a dark European suit topped by a black-and-red cape much like the duellist's. He had blue skin, faded green hair and amber eyes. The Lord pulled his cape around himself and a long, slimy tongue poked out to lick his lips. Dunames and Valkyria actually recoiled at the sight of their adversary.
"Don't show him your fear," Gwendolyn choked back the crackling of her own nerves.
"Courageous, but also evidence of your foolish pride," said von Dijkhuizen, "for I vill also normal-summon my Darkness Eye (0/1000)." Next to the Vampire Lord appeared a short tree of muscle and blood, and growing from the tree was a giant, hideous eyeball with a blue iris ringed in thick black and three green dots swimming in the depths of its pupil. Little drops of filmy slime plopped from the eyeball to the floor.
"Why would you summon such a weak creature?" asked Gwendolyn in revulsion. "It has no attack power."
"You underestimate my abilities," von Dijkhuizen scolded. "Do not forget I am undefeated in my home-land. I vill also set vone card face-down, und as punishment for your rudeness, my Vampire Lord vill attack Dunames. Now, my creature of dhe night, make her vone of your un-dead harem!" The Vampire Lord threw open its cape and raced towards the Dark Witch with astounding speed, his feet never touching the floor. He wrapped his arms around the unfortunate Fairy and met her terrified gaze with his own. Dunames squirmed in his grasp but that mesmerising stare was just too great, and she became limp in his arms. He parted his lips to reveal a pair of long, glistening fangs.
"Fight back!" Gwendolyn cried. Valkyria moved to try and save her sister just seconds too late. The Vampire Lord sank his fangs into her neck and Dunames became deathly still. Her flesh became the same frozen blue as her captor and her body wilted into so many ashes on the floor. Valkyria roared hate and anguish at the Vampire Lord as he slunk back to his former place. He licked her blood from his lips and hissed in satisfaction.
"Dhere ist vone more detail," said von Dijkhuizen, "since dhe last battle resulted in damage to your Life Points, Vampire Lord's effect allows me to declare vone type of card, und you must zhen discard a card of zhat type to dhe graveyard…und I choose Spell."
"Fine," said Gwendolyn, searching through her deck and placing a card in the graveyard pile. "I'll discard Cestus of Dagla. Don't worry, Valkyria, we'll avenge your sister. It's my move."
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 7800 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 8000]
Gwendolyn drew.
"All right, this is a fairly new type of monster so I'll explain it to you," she said. "Valkyria is what is known as a 'Gemini,' so instead of summoning any more creatures, I can unlock her Gemini power, so here goes. I Gemini-summon Dark Valkyria!" The armoured Fairy crossed her arms, then threw them outward as white flames issued from every pore on her exposed skin. An onyx, coin-shaped medallion appeared hanging from her neck by a chain. The number '300,' was carved into it.
"Valkyria's effect grants her a spell counter, and by removing it I can eliminate one of your monsters, and I target your Vampire Lord."
Valkyria pointed at the bloodsucking monster that had devoured her sister and a single point of light shot out of the medallion. The dark creature attempted to defend himself by pulling his cape across like a shield, but the light simply tore through and pierced his heart. The Vampire Lord clutched his wound and released a strangled cry as he collapsed to the floor and shattered. Valkyria's medallion disappeared in a sizzle of steam.
"Now she'll attack your Darkness Eye," said Gwendolyn. The Fairy flew towards the grotesque body part, the rubies in her wings glowing. As she closed in on the eye, ready to split it like a melon, something burst up from beneath the rug and bounced her away. She landed with a yelp at her master's feet and shook her head before righting herself.
"Sorry, but I activated my face-down card," said von Dijkhuizen. "It vas a Trap Card, Bodach-rocais!" A few people in the audience looked at each other in confusion.
"Bodach-rocais," Gwendolyn mumbled, "it means 'old man of the rooks.' Then you defended with a scarecrow?"
"Das is correct," von Dijkhuizen nodded as a large metal cross made itself visible in front of him. A few oily rags hung off its arms and a battered knight's cuirass and helmet were dumped on top, "und despite its frail appearance, it utterly negates your attack." The crude metal construct disappeared back into the floor.
"I'll end my turn there," said Gwendolyn.
"Zhen it ist my turn," von Dijkhuizen nodded as he drew. When he saw the new card, he smiled dangerously. The rug rippled and parted like water – or blood – as a second black coffin appeared. The lid opened and out came none other than the Vampire Lord. His expression was angry and vengeful as he glared at Valkyria.
"How is that possible?!" growled Gwendolyn. "Valkyria already slew your vampire!"
"Vizh a card effect," said von Dijkhuizen, "und vhen dhat happens, Vampire Lord returns on dhe very next turn. Alas, it vill not be he who eliminates your Valkyria. Dhis is a family affair now…und you vill learn vhy I played my Darkness Eye in attack mode despite it havink no strength. Zhanks to its effect, durink my standby phase, I can summon any monster vizhout tribute, so long as it ist in face-up attack position, und I vill use dhat effect to call upon Patrician of Darkness (2000/1400)!"
A third coffin materialised, opened and out climbed a much larger, older and more ferocious entity. "Patrician of Darkness does not appreciate it vhen his children are vounded, und now you vill face his fazherly rage." The Patrician snarled as two red bat's wings spread out behind him and he lunged at Valkyria. The Fairy screamed as the mighty un-dead pinned her to the floor and tore her throat out, spraying blood all over the Hall of the Fallen's marble columns and walls. Valkyria's eyes rolled back in their sockets as the life faded from her and she was reduced to dust. Gwendolyn tensed, dreading what would happen next.
"Und my Vampire Lord vill attack your Life Points directly!" von Dijkhuizen boomed. The younger demon's body became like mist that rolled along the floor in two paths, rejoining and reasserting behind the duellist. Gwendolyn gasped as he wrapped his arms around her chest and bit down on her neck.
Sebastian tried to sit up but Donovan and Arthur pulled him back down.
"She's in trouble," he hissed at them.
"I know, and we're sorry," Arthur began.
"But we cannot interfere," Donovan finished. "This is her fight." Sebastian groaned and buried his face in his hands.
The Vampire Lord finished drinking and returned to his father's side. The Patrician draped one arm around his son's shoulders and wiped blood from his lips. Gwendolyn slumped in her chair and the room was silent. A minute passed, then she slowly shook her head and flashed a confident smirk at von Dijkhuizen.
"All right, if your scummy little leech has finished his free meal," she taunted, "we'll get on with our match, shall we?"
"Ve shall," von Dijkhuizen nodded, "und since Vampire Lord damaged your Life Points again, I vill choose a Trap Card."
"Done," said Gwendolyn, "I discard Draining Shield to my graveyard."
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 5600 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 8000]
"First, I'll set a card face-down, and with no monsters on my field," said Gwendolyn, "Valhalla goes to work again, and this time I'll use it to call on Tethys, Goddess of Light (2400/1800), and I'll also normal-summon Majestic Ohka (2400/1400)!" In two bursts of power, the robed angel and the tattooed wolf appeared before her. Ohka opened her jaws and breathed out her usual rosy mist to obscure the floor and Tethys filled the temple with such a beautiful and pure light that it made the vampires recoil. Von Dijkhuizen raised his arm to shield his eyes.
"For my first move," Gwendolyn pointed across the field, "Ohka! Turn that Darkness Eye to jelly!" The wolf howled and propelled herself through the air towards the eye.
"A vaste of a move," said von Dijkhuizen. "Activate Trap!" The armoured scarecrow popped up again and Ohka bounced back. The German tittered. "I should have explained, I suppose, but Bodach-rocais is a recurrink Trap card, so it can rise up to defend my eye again und again und again."
"I'd say it vasn't – I mean wasn't – a waste at all actually," replied Gwendolyn. "When Bodach-rocais is used, it has to be re-set, and a Trap cannot be used during the turn it is set, which means you can only use it once per turn!" Von Dijkhuizen winced. "So with that out of the way…Tethys, destroy Darkness Eye with Surging Star!" The goddess held her hands out at arm's length as a star of solid light was generated from the energy in her palms. She started to chant as she raised the star above her head and chucked it with all her might.
"Target control!" cried von Dijkhuizen. The Patrician of Darkness looked stunned, but as the star came closer, he held out his own hands and for a brief second time seemed to freeze. The star changed direction, much to both Gwendolyn and Tethys' surprise, and streaked towards Vampire Lord. The young un-dead looked in horror and confusion at his father before vanishing with a screech of agony. When the explosion subsided, the Patrician hung his head in shame.
"Dhat vas close," said von Dijkhuizen, "but zhankfully my Patrician has dhe ability to redirect your assaults to a different target. At dhe cost of Vampire Lord, Darkness Eye remains on dhe field."
"How…how could you?" Gwendolyn croaked. "You made him give up his own son…" She looked at the forlorn old vampire and offered a meaningful, "I'm so sorry." The Patrician turned and glared with spite at the German.
"How dare you show your fangs to me?" von Dijkhuizen snarled. "Remember that I am dhe master und you are just dhe slave."
"I'll make you pay for treating your followers so callously," Gwendolyn growled angrily, "but for now, there is nothing else I can do, so it's your turn." Ohka, having been summoned without tribute, released a final howl before fading away like an apparition.
Von Dijkhuizen drew and glanced at his hand of cards.
"Vizh Darkness Eye still on dhe field," he began, "I'll use its power to summon dhis monster, Hollow Spirit (1200/1000)." A blue-white will-o'-the-wisp wafted out of the floor and took shape into a tiny girl with teal skin and large, soulless eyes. She wore a dark blue winter coat, a red cravat, and a turquoise woolly hat pulled halfway down across her round face. Despite its strange presence, it could be described as adorable and Gwendolyn had to fight off the urge to drop her cards and cuddle it girlishly. He's up to something, she thought, Tethys could squash that baby monster like an old fruit.
"Dhe crooked smile on your face tells me all," von Dijkhuizen chuckled, "but I'm afraid you vill not find her very desirable after dhis. You see, so long as I have a Zombie monster in my graveyard, Hollow Spirit can deliver 800 points of direct damage to your Life Points once per turn." The little phantom disappeared in a flash and reappeared in front of Gwendolyn, making the female duellist jump in her seat. The spirit plunged both her stubby gloved hands into her chest (pausing to give her a curious look, having found a couple of things she did not expect) and actually gave her heart a squeeze. Gwendolyn gasped as her Life Points went down and the spirit retreated to her former place.
"Hmm…" von Dijkhuizen murmured, having noticed his creature's hesitation, "I vill also place vone card face-down und end my turn."
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 4800 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 7600]
Gwendolyn put one hand over her heart to make sure it was still beating after that move, and thankfully it seemed to have returned to normal. She drew and looked over at her opponent.
"I'll use Tethys' effect," she said. "When I draw a Fairy monster from my deck, I can show it to you in order to draw another. So here's what I just drew - Nova Summoner (1400/800). I draw again, and here is my second card – Bountiful Artemis (1600/1700)." She drew a third card. "This isn't a Fairy, so I won't show you, but I will play it face-down on the field. Next, I'll summon Bountiful Artemis…"
The spot beside Tethys belched sparks as the floating ivory-and-malachite statue appeared beside her, its cape flapping in the breeze blowing through Valhalla's open roof.
"…Attack-"
"I zhink not," von Dijkhuizen interrupted as the statue took flight towards him. "I activate my face-down Trap Card, Red Ghost Moon!"
The sky above turned scarlet and the clouds parted to reveal a pinkish moon, its face scarred and pitted to resemble a laughing skull. The moonlight covered the field and Artemis slowed to a halt.
"Zhe effect of dhis card is vone Zombie monster," he explained, "so I vill discard my Hollow Ghost (2600/0) from my hand to my graveyard, so not only does it immediately end your battle phase, but it adds dhe attack of vone of your monsters to my Life Points, und I choose your Tethys." The moonlight condensed into a single beam that lanced through the goddess of light's chest and out of her back. She shuddered as her attack points were copied, sucked right out of her body. A second beam stabbed through von Dijkhuizen, who inhaled deeply as his Life Points increased drastically.
"Most refreshing," he chuckled. "Anyzhing else?"
"I'll end my turn. Make your move," said Gwendolyn.
"As you vish," the German nodded as he drew another card.
"Hmm…I am content just havink my Hollow Spirit decrease your Life Points even further und end my turn zhere." Gwendolyn cringed as the little spook squeezed her heart again, this time a little harder and without hesitation as she had done before.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 4000 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 10000]
10000 Life Points, thought Gwendolyn, this might take a bit longer than I expected. It's getting hard to breath…I need to get rid of that Hollow Spirit post-haste. Thank goodness I still have my two face-down Trap Cards to hold him off temporarily. She drew and smiled. Good for now.
"I'll use Tethys' special ability again, and the card I just drew is Athena (2600/800). I draw again, and this time my card is Hecatrice (1500/1100)." She drew a third card. "This time I'll play a monster in face-down defence, and now your Red Ghost Moon won't get in the way again, I attack with Tethys! Exorcise Hollow Spirit with Surging Star!" The goddess generated her projectile attack again, this time launching it towards the tiny spectre, who squeaked fearfully and pulled her hat down over her face before the star sliced her to ectoplasmic ribbons. Von Dijkhuizen frowned.
"You may have destroyed Hollow Spirit," he said, "but in doink so you have activated her second effect. Vhen she is destroyed, I can automatically call upon her older sister even from beyond the grave…Hollow Ghost!" Another smoke trail, much larger and potent than the first, appeared before him, filling the temple with the scent of death. A dark blue phantasm emerged from it. She had a long body that coiled into a serpentine tail, arms that were too long to be human and a nose-less face with a lemon slice mouth, scarlet eyes and mad locks of flickering hair. The ghost released a chattering giggle that sounded like pennies jingling in a money box and the temperature seemed to drop several degrees.
"Dhere ist a lot more to our vorld dhen you understand," von Dijkhuizen muttered. "Is it my turn proper yet?"
"Be my guest, sir," Gwendolyn replied. Curses, she was thinking, every time I make a move he twists it to his own advantage. Is there no way I can gain the advantage in this duel?
Von Dijkhuizen drew but did not even bother looking at the new addition to his hand.
"I'll get straight to business," he sneered, "und send my Hollow Ghost into battle vizh Tethys!" The ghost wailed menacingly and sailed towards Tethys. The goddess took a stance to protect herself, though this was ultimately unnecessary. The ghost squealed as a pale field of energy burst up from the ground and caught hold of her.
"Nice try," said Gwendolyn, "but you activated my Draining Shield, which blocks your monster as well as granting me Life Points equal to her attack power."
"It seems you saved yourself from dhe vorst," replied von Dijkhuizen, "but my move vas not a total vaste. Vonce Draining Shield is activated it is sent to your graveyard pile, und that allows Hollow Ghost to deal 600 points of direct damage to your Life Points." The spectre floated over Tethys and coiled around Gwendolyn like a snake, plunging one long-fingered hand into her chest and the other into her stomach. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in a silent gasp as she felt the monster furiously wrench at her insides. The Hollow Ghost released another rattling laugh but did not retract her limbs or return to her master's side and Gwendolyn closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to subside.
Once her organs had realigned themselves Gwendolyn reached for her deck. "It's my move."
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 6000 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 8800]
"My first move is to tribute my face-down monster, Gellenduo (1700/0) in order to summon my Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena (2600/800)!" In a burst of divine magic, a beautiful woman with a statuesque build and long silver hair appeared. She twirled her long caduceus above her head and slammed the end into the floor with an echoing 'bang!'
"Before you say anything," said Gwendolyn as the Freiherr opened his mouth to protest, "it is true that seven-star monsters require two tributes to play, and one of Gellenduo's effects is it counts as two."
"Dhat puts my mind at ease," von Dijkhuizen nodded. "I vould hate to discover I play against a cheater."
"Do not fret about that," Gwendolyn smiled. "The one who taught me to play this game always despised cheaters." In the audience, Sebastian shuffled bashfully at the remark. When Gellenduo was firmly in the graveyard, the Hollow Ghost grinned meanly and began to sink her limbs even deeper into Gwendolyn's body, her chilling aura was like ice in the duellist's veins but she was far from finished.
"Now I'll use Monster Reborn to resurrect…AWK!" she cried as the ghost squeezed her innards as hard as she could. With two cards discarded, the entity was doing double the abuse, even going so far as to lick her victim's cheek with a fat, slick tongue. Gwendolyn snarled at her.
"You didn't let me finish, you scurvy little heathen harlot. Monster Reborn allows me to resurrect a creature from either player's graveyard, and I choose Hollow Spirit!"
Hollow Ghost squawked and quickly released the girl, flying back to her master's side of the field in a panic. Her younger sister materialised between Tethys and Athena and the dark blue of her eldritch form drained to a dull white.
"V…vhy vould you summon her?!" von Dijkhuizen demanded.
"Call it an experiment," Gwendolyn croaked, wiping saliva off her cheek with the back of her sleeve. "You said you needed Hollow Spirit in the graveyard to summon Hollow Ghost, even though you had already discarded her, and that told me there had to be some kind of connection between them, so now I want to see what happens when Hollow Spirit returns to the field…and from the looks of it, I like the result."
"Tricky little vitch," von Dijkhuizen hissed. "Fine, you vorked out my Ghost's veakness. When the Spirit is not in dhe graveyard, she loses all of her attack points, however she still lowers your Life Points vhenever vone of us loses a card."
"I'll just have to remedy that, won't I?" said Gwendolyn, "but first I'll let you squirm a little, Mr Undefeated. Your turn."
Von Dijkhuizen drew, but with nothing in his hand that would be of any use at this point, he passed. He did ponder the real reason his opponent did not attempt to attack. Either she was being too cautious of his Bodach-rocais and Patrician of Darkness' abilities, or she was still disoriented from the internal torture she had just suffered at the literal hands of his Hollow Ghost, who was looking quite sickly now her source of energy was neutralised.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 4800 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 8800]
"I'll use Tethys' ability yet again," Gwendolyn announced, "and the card I just drew is the Agent of Force – Mars (0/0)." She drew a second card and slipped it into her hand. "And next I'll use Athena's special ability. By sending Tethys to the graveyard, I can exchange her for another Fairy…"
Athena held out her caduceus to the goddess of light, who was bathed in a gentle alabaster column and sank into the carpet leaving a trail of blinking stars in her wake. The column parted like curtains, unveiling the monster that now occupied her space.
"…and in this case, I choose Dark Valkyria!"
The dark-armoured girl flapped her wings to disperse the remainder of the magic and glared across at the Patrician of Darkness. The old vampire narrowed his eyes and bared his fangs at her, but the Fairy refused to back down. Athena took a few steps forward and primed the three blades of her caduceus straight at von Dijkhuizen.
"When I summon a Fairy monster to the field through whatever means," Gwendolyn explained, glad to actually get a real shot at her opponent's Life Points, "Athena delivers 600 points of direct damage." The serpent staff extended forward like a released spring as it touched the German duellist's forehead and let out a trickle of blood before returning to normal.
"Since I discarded a card," Gwendolyn continued challengingly, "let your ghastly little ghost do her worst…if she has the guts for it."
"Rest assured, she has more than enough, little boy," von Dijkhuizen growled. How dare he? This little pup, acting so cocksure to the undefeated champion of Germany, it was an outrage. He stared at the pathetic Hollow Ghost with a gaze that bore right into her sleepless soul, and hesitantly floated across the room, coiling around the English duellist again and dipping her hands through. She weakly gripped her target's heart. The Life Point counter did indeed decrease, but all Gwendolyn felt was a light chill.
"That kind of tickled," Gwendolyn murmured to the monster, who shuddered that her formerly agonising technique was reduced to something so trivial.
"I brought Valkyria to the field using a special-summon," the young duellist continued, "so I'll use my normal-summon to activate her Gemini power and grant her vengeance on the monster who felled her before, the Patrician of Darkness!"
The coin-shaped medallion materialised around the girl's neck and once more the thin, purifying beam shot out, this time heading straight for the old vampire, who bowed his head and accepted his fate, having betrayed his own flesh and blood he was willing to die. The beam sliced through him and reduced him to ash (he did not make even a single sound as he was eliminated). The medallion faded and Valkyria's expression relaxed. As the Patrician was sent to the graveyard, the Hollow Ghost sapped at her victim again, and was met with a disapproving glare.
"Do you mind?" Gwendolyn's voice was dangerous. The ghost squeaked fearfully and floated back towards her master as fast as her ectoplasm could carry her. "Oh no you don't, nobody saps my Life Points like that and gets away with it. Athena, banish that appalling apparition!" The goddess of wisdom twirled her staff and aimed it at the phantom, who screamed as it rushed towards her.
"Bodach-rocais!" von Dijkhuizen ordered and the scarecrow literally sprung out of hiding and blocked the blade before vanishing again. Before the Hollow Ghost had time to breathe a sigh of relief, Gwendolyn shook her head and spoke again.
"Valkyria, she's all yours."
The Fairy grinned and punched her fists together as the rubies in her wings and headdress glowed brightly. She took to the air. The ghost screamed again and the two spiralled around each other in a rather comical chase, until Valkyria flew up in front of the ghost, who uttered a jittery, "Uh-oh," before being atomised by a magical assault.
"I think that's enough mindless carnage for one turn," said Gwendolyn. "Now I believe it's time for a change of scenery, sir." She slapped another card down and the entire temple started to shake. Walls crumbled and the wind blew much stronger. The royal throne rose up to the top of a flight of marble stairs, and the duellists now sat on a wide landing between that and another staircase which hung off into the wild blue abyss. The audience stood lining the towering Ancient Greek buildings that clustered together about the magnificent Laputian island.
"Welcome to my Sanctuary in the Sky."
"Very scenic, I'm sure," von Dijkhuizen muttered.
"Be a spoilsport then," Gwendolyn shrugged. "It's your turn now."
"About time," the German grunted as he drew his newest card. "I vill play dhis Spell Card, Card of Sanctity. It allows us both to draw until we have six cards in our cards, und since you already have six it is only beneficial to me." He slipped three cards from the top of his deck and added them to his hand. He quickly perused them before placing one on his table. "I set dhis vone face-down, und now I'll use Darkness Eye's special ability to summon a new monster to my field. Say hello to the very gatekeeper of the Netherworld…"
A crevice between two of the marble paving stones that made up the landing turned an unnatural black and a pair of tiny hands with rotted, colourless skin rose out of it. The hands flexed their fingers, then rested on the stones and pushed them apart, opening a black hole from which danced a ring of naked unholy fire. Something fired out of the hole like a ball from a cannon, landing a short distance from von Dijkhuizen with an almighty 'thump!' The creature was even taller than its giant master and its body was completely round, with four stubby limbs. A manacle with a ball-and-chain was clamped around its right ankle. It wore a dirty, blue-and-white striped one-piece outfit with a zip going from its crotch up to the stump of its neck and a pair of brown boots with flat soles. Its head was a mass of writhing black tendrils, in the middle of which was a pair of beady orange eyes. A low grumble sounded from deep within the new monster.
"…Il Blud (2100/800)!"
Good God, thought Gwendolyn (as well as most of the audience), look at the size of that monstrosity.
"Impressive, yes?" chuckled von Dijkhuizen. "In life, Il Blud vas so cruel dhat he actually revelled in zhe Devil's games und so his soul vas twisted into dhe form you now behold. Il Blud, devour Bountiful Artemis!" The creature rumbled again and the zip on the front of its outfit slid down. A dozen skeleton hands burst out of the nothingness within and attempted to grab the statue.
"Not so fast!" Gwendolyn declared. "I activate my other face-down, the Trap Card Negate Attack!" A small, swirling portal of red, blue and white light opened in front of Artemis and the arms were sucked into it. "I don't think I need to tell you what the effect of Negate Attack is, but suddenly Il Blud doesn't feel as formidable as you made him out to be."
"Ve shall see, little boy," the German snorted. "No duel goes exactly to plan, but vhen Il Blud does land an attack, you vill learn to fear him."
"And before your turn ends," said Gwendolyn, "Bountiful Artemis lets me draw an extra card whenever a Counter Trap is activated." She drew.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 3600 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 6400]
Then drew again.
"First I'll set a monster in face-down defence," she said, "and after that, I'll use Athena's ability to switch Artemis…" The Fairy statue vanished in a heavenly beam, which opened to reveal the goddess of light. "…For Tethys, so Athena slices another 600 off of your Life Points." The goddess of wisdom struck with her caduceus once more, right above the first spot. Von Dijkhuizen wiped the blood from his brow with the back of his sleeve before it could get into his eyes and obscure his vision. "Athena, send his Il Blud back to the depths where it belongs!"
"Not dhis turn," von Dijkhuizen flipped another card and the mad moon above them fired another haunting beam that lanced through the advancing battle maiden's chest, copying her attack strength and adding them to the German's Life Points. A second Red Ghost Moon? Gwendolyn thought. I should have expected that. Stupid mistake.
"I vill discard my Skull Conductor (2000/0) to pay dhe cost of Red Ghost Moon," said von Dijkhuizen, "und end your battle phase right zhere." Gwendolyn frowned and looked at her hand, now overloaded at seven cards. She discarded her Majestic Goryu (2900/1800) as per the limit rule and ended her turn.
"Zhank you," her opponent tittered as he drew, "und by dhe vay, I appreciate dhe lecture on Gemini monsters you gave earlier, but ultimately it was not needed, for you see Il Blud also happens to be a Gemini monster, und I vill use my normal-summon for dhis turn to activate his special power." The monster rumbled again, this time much louder and with a distinct sound of snapping bones and gurgling liquid. "Vith Il Blud fully active, I can resurrect any monster from my hand or, if it suits me, eizher graveyard. I choose my Patrician of Darkness."
Something pulsed in the hellish portal and from it came the old vampire. Blood dripped from his exposed fangs and his eyes glowed with hatred and insanity, a result of his journey through the circles of Dante. He seemed quite out of place on the flying island though the blistering heat from the abyss was quickly raising the temperature all around them.
"Vengeance ist alvays sveet," von Dijkhuizen purred, "und my Patrician vill sip it like fine mead. Tear dhe Dark Valkyria to pieces!" The vampire roared and flung out his wings, pouncing on the dark Fairy again. She tried with all her strength to wrestle him away but the moment he sank his teeth deep into her throat, she crumbled to dust. Gwendolyn grimaced at the gruesome spectacle but was thankful that with their current location, she would suffer no damage from battles involving her signature Fairies.
"Next, Il Blud strikes your face-down card vith the 72 Hands of Hellfire!"
Il Blud's zip opened again and the diseased limbs grew out again, dipping into a marble stone that rippled like water beneath them. They dragged out an orange wreath wrapped in a teal ribbon and pulled it apart. Gwendolyn watched as the fragments of her Nova Summoner flickered out of existence.
"By sending Nova Summoner to the graveyard, you activated its effect," she explained, "which means I can summon another Fairy from my deck. Normally it has to be one with less than 1500 attack points but since my Sanctuary is still active, I can summon this instead…" A white centaur with blue armour decorated by six wings appeared before her. "…My Airknight Parshath (1900/1400)! Go, Athena!" The caduceus made contact a third time.
From his vantage point in the audience, disguised under a fine hooded cloak, Sir Maxwell Wyvern watched with great interest. The three vertical dots on the Freiherr's face reminded him of the Shaolin monks he had met when he travelled to China. More to the point, he was enjoying the duel a lot. Two players at the top of their game were matched right in front of him. He never dreamed that the cards he created just to amuse an ailing child would escalate to such levels of power, at least not in his lifetime. He moved past a couple of people to get a better view. He now stood on the very edge of one of the buildings, the toes of his boots poking out over the open air beneath them.
"I'll set vone card face-down und end my turn," finished von Dijkhuizen. It annoyed him that he was taking damage on his own move, though at the same time it was quite refreshing to fight an opponent of this MacWood's calibre. He was tired of all the weaklings he met. This one was strong, confident, with a firm game-face and a will of steel, if a little eccentric here and there.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 3600 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 7800]
Gwendolyn drew and looked with interest at the card she had just drawn. It had helped her in a previous duel and now she knew it would come to her aid yet again.
"I'll summon Honest (1100/1900)," she announced. A young man with tanned skin and long, beautiful hair appeared beside Athena. He wore a dark blue toga and a silver crown, and two wings of white, yellow, orange and red spread out of his back. He nodded to Athena, who delivered a fourth jab to von Dijkhuizen's forehead.
"Next I'll use Athena to switch Honest for a monster in my graveyard, one that's as bright as yours are dark."
Honest disappeared, and a terrifying bellow filled the sky. All present – humans and monsters alike – felt their nerves crackling as a titanic white-and-gold serpent spiralled down from some heavenly refuge above them.
"Say 'guten tag,' to my Majestic Goryu!"
The serpent bellowed again. Il Blud looked longingly towards the hole he had sprung from while the Patrician used his wings to shield himself from the blinding glare of the magnificent entity. Athena pricked von Dijkhuizen a fifth time and by now the German duellist's face was so twisted in anger and stained with blood he was starting to resemble the monsters he favoured.
"This duel is decided," said Gwendolyn, pointing dramatically across the battlefield. "Go forth, my servants-"
"Before you say a single solitary vord," von Dijkhuizen growled, "I vill activate my face-down Trap Card, Threatening Roar!" The clouds around the Sanctuary swirled into a single black mass. It brought to mind a ferocious animal with eyes like comets and a mane of storms. It was easily as huge as Goryu, and the sound it emitted was like a thousand thunderbolts exploding together. A cold sweat broke out from Gwendolyn's forehead as her creatures crouched uneasily. The clouds dissipated but the damage had already been done.
"Threatening Roar stops you from attacking me dhis turn," sneered von Dijkhuizen.
"In that case I will end my turn," Gwendolyn sighed. Damn him. He has more tricks up his sleeve than an Ipswich tart, and if he gets a chance at my Life Points he could be a lot more costly too.
Sir Maxwell stroked his chin and murmured quietly, "If that boy is not careful, our dear Queen may find herself eating bratwurst for breakfast tomorrow?"
"MacWood won't lose," said the young man standing beside him.
"And what makes you so certain?" asked Sir Maxwell, leaning down so he could speak quietly into the man's ear.
"He's the Duellist Royal," replied Sebastian Blackwood. "I know he won't lose."
"Ah, faith, it's a wonderful thing," Sir Maxwell chuckled.
"I vill begin my turn by usink Darkness Eye's special ability vonce again," said von Dijkhuizen, "und dhis time I summon my lost Vampire Lord's older brozher, Vampire's Curse (2000/800) to dhe field." Another black coffin grew out of the marble landing and was covered by bloodshot eyes. The lid flew open and out clambered an athletic figure with greenish hair combed back into a cluster of spikes. He wore a black suit topped with an armoured chest-plate and shoulder-guards adorned with curved spikes. Two bat's wings hung about him like a cape, hooked at his neck by their claws. He and the Patrician locked eyes as if there were severe bad blood between them. "I'm afraid Curse ist quite avare of vhat happened to his younger brozher, but no matter how his rage burns, he is still just a slave under my power. Next, I utilise Il Blud's Gemini power to revive my Hollow Ghost from beyond dhe grave."
Sparks belched out of the floor and the ghost – still sickly and white as when she was banished – floated into sight.
"But I thought she could only be brought onto the field by the destruction of a Hollow Spirit!" Gwendolyn protested, pointing at the diminutive phantom who occupied her side.
"Only for dhe first time," von Dijkhuizen chuckled. "Since it ist dhe same Hollow Ghost, the cost has been paid…und speakink of Hollow Spirit…Il Blud! Svallow dhat pernicious pipsqueak!" The skeletal hands clutched the Hollow Spirit and dragged her towards their owner's foul body. The little ghost squirmed and struggled uselessly and her sister looked sorrowful at the punishment. With a last wail she disappeared into the nothingness and was sucked into oblivion. There was a sound of bells ringing and the Hollow Ghost stretched out her arms as her strength and colour returned.
"Und now I strike!" von Dijkhuizen boomed. "Hollow Ghost, tear Athena's soul asunder!" The spectre screeched and flew towards Athena. She coiled around the goddess of wisdom and buried her hands deep in her chest just as Athena impaled the grinning ghoul through the head with her caduceus. With a united roar they both vanished in a plume of smoke.
"Dheir attack strengths vere equal," said von Dijkhuizen, "und vhile I lost my Ghost, I no longer have to vorry about Athena's power to lower my Life Points. It gets a little hard to concentrate vith blood runnink over your face."
"I can imagine," replied Gwendolyn.
"Ach! I'm not done yet," the German wagged his finger at her tauntingly. "Vampire's Curse, suck dhe blood from Parshath! Gorge yourself on a centaur's essence!" The vampire was more than happy to oblige, licking his lips in thought of such a delicacy. He lunged towards Parshath, who raised his shield to knock the attacker back. The vampire rebounded off the shield then vaulted into the air, becoming a simple length of black silk until landing, fully reformed, in his target's back. Parshath cried out as the fangs bit into his neck and sucked the life force from him, leaving an empty suit of armour that shattered into tiny particles on the floor. Gwendolyn sighed in relief that she took minimal damage from that round. She was still sweating and desperately wanted to pull her cap off to air her head out but she could not risk everybody discovering her secret.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 2700 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 6200]
Gwendolyn immediately played what she had drawn.
"I use Monster Reincarnation," she said. "By discarding a card from my hand, I can recover Athena from the graveyard." Purple and white shards of light shone out of her increasing pile of discarded cards and a sphere of energy floated out of it, returning to her hand and solidifying into her goddess of wisdom's card.
"Goryu!" she pointed up at the serpent. "Destroy Il Blud with Heavenly Fire!" The monster opened its jaws and a stream of brilliant flames spiralled down towards the infernal gatekeeper.
"Target control!" von Dijkhuizen commanded. The Patrician looked venomously at the son he was far from fond of and pointed a clawed finger at Vampire's Curse. The younger vampire released an angry cry that sounded like, "Damn you!" before the fire burnt him to a crisp.
"Dhey have a…complicated family history," the German duellist chuckled. He fiddled with something on his table and Gwendolyn watched in confusion as his Life Points went down 500 more points than they should have. "You vill see," he smirked at the expression on her face.
"If Goryu cannot attack Il Blud, maybe Tethys can," she frowned. "Surging Star!" The goddess of light launched her attack, but for the third time during that duel, Bodach-rocais popped out of its hiding place and neutralised the attempt. Gwendolyn mentally kicked herself for forgetting. "I'll see a monster in face-down defence and end my turn."
"You vill see why I gave up dhe extra 500 points now," said von Dijkhuizen. "By payink dhat cost I can resurrect my Vampire's Curse, but now his attack strength is 500 points higher zhen before!" The young vampire appeared again, this time with his wings spread at full span and his clawed hands crossed over his chest. "Und I use Il Blud's Gemini power to vonce again bring back my Hollow Ghost!" The blue spectre materialised and released a louder and more cacophonic laugh that set off a ringing in everyone's ears. Von Dijkhuizen flicked his wrist and pointed forward with two fingers, giving a silent and much more flamboyant command to charge. Vampire's Curse glided towards Tethys and lifted her by the throat. The revived un-dead howled with laughter and placed his free hand on her shoulder. There was a wet ripping sound as he tore in two different directions and splashed glistening blood all over the floor, the stairs and the players. As the dead Fairy's torso flopped to the marble like a rag doll, Vampire's Curse held up her head and drank the blood that spilled out into his waiting mouth. As he watched the slaughter, the Patrician crossed his arms and smiled, actually proud to see his progeny develop into such a fine figure of a monster. The Hollow Ghost sailed across the field and disappeared into the floor, rising out at her master's side as the face-down monster was unveiled – a pair of Gellenduo imps who held each other tightly in fear of the bloodshed all around them.
"Not much of a Sanctuary, is it?" von Dijkhuizen hissed delightedly. "Vizh your Life Points dvindling, I'll end my turn zhere…careful now, my Curse, you might spoil your appetite." The vampire looked up towards Gwendolyn and grinned, exposing fangs and gums stained a hideous pink from his feast.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 1500 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 4800]
Gwendolyn did not draw. She sat there silently. Her eyes were watery and her breathing was sharp. She wanted to throw up, by thunder, did she want to throw up. These creatures, these vampires and ghosts and servants of the Devil, were so horrible and cruel, and this Freiherr was a bigger monster than his minions. Her innards throbbed and her throat felt swollen. When she finally decided to pick up her new card, she passed without a second thought. Her thoughts were too jumbled by panic and uncertainty to do anything. Goryu let out a displeased sound.
Von Dijkhuizen sighed. He knew it was too good to be true. Just like all the others, MacWood's spirit had been well and truly broken. He drew, flicked some hair out of his face and prepared to end his opponent's misery. He had done well so far, it was the least he could do in repay for the sport.
"I vill tribute my Hollow Ghost," he said, "und summon anozher Hollow Spirit from my hand." The long spectre disappeared in a cloud of underworld smoke and was replaced with another of the little floating ectoplasmic children. "She vill deal 800 points of direct damage, und according to zhe conditions of Gellenduo – a card I am actually familiar vizh – they are destroyed dhe moment dhis happens." The Hollow Spirit floated towards Gwendolyn and plunged her puny hands into her chest. The girl did not even react. Von Dijkhuizen growled at the absolutely wretched little whelp slumped across from him. He pounded his table and set his hand down. He would give him one more chance to fight back, to prove his journey to the island called England was worth it.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 700 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 4800]
"Don't give up!"
Gwendolyn looked up. Where had that voice come from?
"Don't give up!" it repeated. "Rise up, child! So long as there is a chance, you must fight on!"
She looked at the audience. All those faces; the Queen, Liza, Sebastian, Molly, so many people had confidence in her. She could actually see the power of faith radiating out of every pore on their bodies…and yet, the voice was different, separate from them. Something that was so close but at the same time felt like somebody was outside, looking in through some otherworldly window. A golden eye burned into her mind.
"Fight!" the voice urged. Gwendolyn stared at her deck and she found herself reaching for it. Two fingers touched the top card and she squeezed her eyes shut. Please, she thought, let this be the one… She drew, and her mouth hung open in astonishment. Yes! Yes, this was it! Her back straightened and she faced her opponent with courage renewed.
"I'm going to end this duel in one fell swoop!" she proclaimed.
"Big vords, little boy," said von Dijkhuizen, unable to hide his anticipation. "Can you back dhem up?"
"Just you watch, my friend," she slapped the card to the table, "by paying the cost of one card from my hand, I activate Lightning Vortex, wiping every stinking demon from the face of the field!" The sky around the Sanctuary became jet black and the atmosphere was split by a rain of bolts. The Darkness Eye, Hollow Spirit, Il Blud, Vampire's Curse and Patrician of Darkness released mixed cries of agony as they were obliterated.
"Next I'll summon my second Majestic Ohka to back up Goryu!"
The white wolf appeared beside the larger creature and rosy mist filled the floor, pouring off the edges of the landing and down the stairs like water. Gwendolyn stood up and pointed forward.
"Attack, Majestic monsters!" she commanded. "Finish this!" Ohka went first, pouncing across the field with an angry howl and knocking von Dijkhuizen off his chair as Goryu enveloped him in another burst of holy dragon-fire.
[Gwendolyn's L.P.: 700 / von Dijkhuizen's L.P.: 0]
[End Duel: Winner – Douglas MacWood]
The Sanctuary faded back to the throne room. The spilt blood and ashes and flames dissipated. Gwendolyn, exhausted from the harrowing confrontation, set her cards down and staggered across to where von Dijkhuizen lay. She offered her hand to him with a soft smile on her face.
"Up you get, sir," she offered. The giant's hand wrapped around her own as he got to his feet. Von Dijkhuizen returned her smile.
"Vell done, little champion," he said quietly, placing a hand on the younger duellist's head. "You have von dhe match." The room erupted into cheers and happy song. Hats were tossed in celebration and there was much clapping and stamping of feet. Overwhelmed, Gwendolyn fainted.
Athors note(Hikari): the following cards are not out in Britain or the U.S. Information can be found on the yugioh wiki
Hollow Spirit
Hollow Ghost
Darkness Eye
Red Ghost Moon
Bodach-rocais – is the Scottish name for a scarecrow and in our fic represents the card scrap-iron scarecrow