Another Xiaolin Showdown fic. Same drill as the other...I don't own Xiaolin Showdown, I loved the show and I am writing purely for enjoyment.
Blood Loss and Delirium
Jack's fingers shook. He wasn't sure if it was due to the cold, loss of blood, or the giggling fit he just broke into. Jack cringed in spite of his laughter. The dim bluish light made his face appear ghostly, or maybe the blood soaking through the fine silk cloth of his dress had made him appear so ghastly. Jack reached in and grabbed the handles of the tray inside the refrigerate cubical. He pulled her body out. A woman. Her once tan skin an ashy gray, she was no longer living, but Jack could tell she had been very beautiful when she was alive. There wasn't a mark on her aside from the long cut down her chest which had been carefully stitched. Jack guessed by the look of it and lack of healing or scar tissue that the injury was acquired postmortem.
Upon her head sat a wilted crown of flowers. Jack touched it and he felt a spark. He gasped. Inside he knew this was just too convenient. Jack wrapped his slender fingers around the viny circle and tugged it gently our of the woman's hair. He felt a warmth flooding his system that he hoped was the magic in the item but was wiling to bet the blood loss was messing with his senses...
...Raimundo kicked off his remaining shoe in anger. He stalked down the darkened hallway slowly. Cautious of the shadows where who knew what may lie beyond. He heard a lilt of someone's voice and turned his head. Someone was laughing. Actually someone was giggling girlishly. Rai sighed in frustration. What was Kimiko doing. He followed the sound and saw a slender figure looking into what resembled an ice box. Rai stepped into the room. He slid in something. It was too dark to see but whatever it was it was dark in color and there was a trail leading to the person. Raimundo watched as the darkened figure opened the door and bluish light flooded the room.
Jack! Jack Spicer. In that dress that had made the Brazilian teen breathe harder just looking at him. Now though his breath caught in his throat as the boy's giggles turned hysterical. Jack looked like a corpse standing there. His skin was like tissue paper and the dress had a dark patch blooming on the side that was clear even in the dim light. The dark trail on the floor was blood.
Jack pulled out a tray where a naked woman lay. It was clear she was deceased. Stunned into inaction the young monk watched as Jack pulled a brown dead flower wreath from the head of the corpse. It started to regenerate, and Raimundo swore he heard the other young man gasp in surprise as the dead flowers bloomed anew.
Jack was cackling now. His head thrown back; Rai could see the tears glistening in his eyes as he began to sink to the floor clutching the wreath to his chest. He couldn't watch this anymore...
...Jack felt his head swimming and he knew he had lost too much blood already but he couldn't help how he felt. He had gotten it right for once. Here was the Circlet of Hegan. In his hands! He could say he did it. Ironically he wouldn't probably last much longer if he didn't get medical attention. Jack fell on his bottom. The floor felt so cold but his body was very tired. He wanted to lay down and rest for a bit. He started to slump forward but his face was stopped inches from the floor as strong arms grabbed his shoulders. Jack yelped as a tiny bit of awareness returned to him. he held the wreath tight to his foam bosom.
"Shh," The one behind him silenced him.
"Rai-mundo?" Jack whispered.
"Yeah," The Brazilian tugged on Jack to stand, but Jack was about as firm as a bowl of warm jell-o.
"I-I can't get up," jack grunted at the other boy's non verbal cue to get up.
"You need to," Raimundo moved his hands under jack's armpits and hoisted him up as gently as he could. Jack screamed in pain as the wound in his side tore, "Jack you're soaked in blood." The tan young man hissed in his ear.
"That...asshole...stabbed...me," Jack explained and winced as his arm was pulled over broad shoulders. Jack's head lulled but he clutched the wreath harder than ever
"God Jack. We have to get you out of here," Rai said in a worried tone of voice.
"No no no," A deep voice crooned behind them. Rai froze as he heard the door shut behind them and a the click of a lock. Raimundo looked behind him.
"My lovely little work in progress isn't leaving here, and as for you..." The man paused long enough to produce a syringe. He pressed the plunger and grinned as liquid squirted from the tip, "You may watch as I enjoy my time with Jack." He approached the two. Raimundo Backed them up. The tray with the dead woman on it rolled back into the freezer. the Brazilian kicked out at the man's hand hitting the syringe away from him. The guy only grinned and whipped out a scalpel
"I can make you bleed instead. If you prefer to die first," Robert slashed at him narrowly missing the shorter man.
Jack blinked at the men stunned. Was Raimundo defending him? It made his heart race which wasn't good since it was probably just pumping out more of his life blood. Jack inhaled and closed his eyes. Without thinking he jammed the vines on his head. He felt the greenery twining securely to his soft pink hair.
"C-circlet of Hegan," He gasped out the name of the item activating it.
Robert was so close to planting his blade deep into the impertinent Latin boy's right eye. But his hit bounced back making the knife slip and graze his cheek. That had never happened. he looked to jack who was wearing the circlet. He growled and reached for the boy. Raimundo angrily grabbed his arm and pushed him away.
"Jack, I'm going to put you here. Just don't move I promise I'll get you out of here as soon as I whip this jerk's keister."
Robert tried again to reach Jack but Rai easily deflected him. Raimundo grinned when he realized that the man's attacks were bouncing off of him.
"Not so tough now are ya," He taunted.
Robert Growled and dived around Raimundo. Rai screamed as the man managed to grab Jack roughly.
"Jack!" Raimundo screamed and tried to attack the man but stopped mere centimeters from hitting Jack in the face. Jack's eyes widened as his throat was grabbed violently.
"B-but! I have the circlet," He managed to cough out.
"You do pretty Jack," Robert Nodded and pulled Jack around using him as a shield, "But, did no one tell you that the crown only protects those who the wearer chooses. The bearer of the crown is still vulnerable. That is why only the wife of the chief would inherit it. she was the most guarded and valued woman in the tribe. Nobody but the chief and her blood relatives were allowed to lay hands on her.
Robert Squeezed Jack's neck as she held him to his chest. Raimundo growled.
Jack swallowed hard, "What are you going to do? Gonna rape me now?"
Robert chuckled, "Not my masterpiece. No, you I was going to decorate and turn into a trophy." Robert pulled a remote from his pocket and on the far wall of the room a large flat screen descended from the ceiling. It flickered on and Jack held in a gag. Vats of Human remains lined a wall, and Skins stretched hanging from the opposite wall. between then was a mannequin in the stages of construction. it looked like a young island woman.
"Taxidermy?" Jack nearly scoffed at the crazed man.
"Carnal pleasure-so base, so undignified. I have my occasional dalliance, but the true beauty of the world deserves a bit of immortality in the form of my dolls. I still have mother to preserve, but I was deferring to you because you are such a rare Jewel. My brother might have wanted you if you were a woman, but believe me if you had been found out by him before me you would have been begging for death long before now. I have enjoyed the chase, but I think its time to end this," Robert's eyes gleamed like the blade in his hand. He seemed to have forgotten Raimundo. Until a fist smashed his nose. Robert screamed and dropped the scalpel. it clattered in the dark floor and the man clutched his nose screaming obscenities. Raimundo grabbed jack and hoisted him over his shoulder. There was little to no time for formalities.
"C'mon lets get out before you bleed to death," Raimundo shouted. Jack only nodded wide eyed and allowed himself to be manhandled despite the pain and embarrassment he couldn't help feeling relieved.
