Hey, everyone. I'm SOOOO sorry for the long wait! Please forgive me! I had a really bad writer's block and couldn't decide how to end this chapter, plus my ever chaotic life... --;.
Anyways, I don't own ToS and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
CHAPTER 10
"Lord Pryor will see you now."
Yuna gave a sharp intake of breath. "Pryor? Isn't he the guy that Yuan warned me about?"
The four prisoners found themselves roughly grabbed by angels with blank red eyes, black attire, and feathery black wings.
They were led up a damp, narrow, stone corridor, going through several more before reaching a long, curving staircase. The stairs opened into a large space, much like an entryway in a castle. Once again, they moved up a flight of stairs, then down another stone corridor, wide and warm, with tapestries of silk adorning the walls.
Finally, they reached their destination. A man was sitting in a large room with puffy, comfortable chairs, a fireplace, and various scientific instruments. Savior Stones of all colors glowed quietly on the wall. Miralle gave them a small look of pain. There was something strange about these stones. They seemed to give off the ache of loneliness... but, that wasn't possible, was it? Miralle shook her head and focused on the present.
"Lord Pryor, here are the guests." the lead angel, with an abnormally large, curved nose, informed the lone man.
"Ah, thank you, Captain Breakfield. You're all dismissed." the man, Lord Pryor, looked up. A pair of goggled and a helmet covered his face and a heavy leather apron and gloves were also on his person.
The angels gave a salute and left, silently gliding out.
There was no sound in the room, save for the bubbling of various heating liquids.
"So." Lord Pryor began to take off his goggles and helmet. "I have before me the descendants of the Four Seraphim."
The four glanced at each other. The twins exchanged fleeting worried glances.
"I think you're mistaken, sir." Lucas protested. "Only me and Yuna are descendants of two of the Four Seraphim. Miralle and Roelle are twins, so they could only account for a third Seraphim."
"Really?" Pryor smoothed his stark white hair and opened blood red eyes that pierced the descendants with their glare. He was a reasonably tall man with well defined features. "What if I were to tell you that, while they are descended from a third Seraphim, the third and fourth Seraphim were blood siblings? Using that as logic, you could say that they are descendants of both of them."
The four gave each other a glance that said, "How does that work?"
"Either way, how could you know who we're descended from? We're orphans." Roelle pointed out.
"I took a blood sample when you all arrived here. Anyways, at the present time, am I correct in assuming that none of you have TEBOs or Savior Stones?" Pryor asked, examining his large collection of savior stones.
"Yes, but why?" Miralle replied, a baffled tone evident in her words.
"I will be putting one on each of you. Don't worry, they are for your benefit only. However, if you aren't compatible with any of the ones I have here, then you shall have to go to a different location to make sure it is properly equipped. We shall have to wait and see what happens." Pryor casually added, "And how about your Summon Spirits? Which ones do you have?"
Lucas immediately denied the statement. "We don't have any summon spirits."
"They're pure myth. How could we have something that doesn't exist in modern times?" Roelle crossed his arms across his chest.
Pryor was strangely silent, then quietly breathed, "Don't lie to me." Then he exploded, "DON'T LIE TO ME!"
The teens were flung backwards as he shot some orbs of darkness from his outstretched hands, blood red eyes alight with anger. "I am a half elf! I know when I sense mana! I sensed the presence of a Summon Spirit earlier! So do not mock me!"
"Okay, we apologize. You caught our hands in the cookie jar." Yuna admitted soothingly. "That was me earlier, summoning Wreathe. Shr brought food for us since we didn't know when our next meal would be."
"Wreathe? I've never heard of her. I must investigate further." Pryor thoughtfully muttered. Suddenly, he became cheery and laughed, "Oh, you don't have to worry about starving here, honey. You all are to be treated as the guests of royalty and receive the best treatment possible!"
"Then why were we in that dingy cell with no light whatsoever?" Roelle questioned.
"What? You were in the dungeons?" Pryor seemed genuinely shocked. He scowled, "My people must have screwed up their orders. No mind, I shall discipline them later. For now, I shall show you to your rooms. Please, follow me."
Pryor led them out of the experimentation room and showed them to their lush, rich rooms.
"I hope the clothing and entertainment are to your liking. However, I would like to ask that you go nowhere without an escort. This is for security purposes- never know who's prowling around this place. You may, of course, visit amongst each other. Dinner will be at seven o'clock. I shall see you all then." WIth that, Pryor strode off, leaving four servants in his place.
The servants were serene looking angels, with white feathery wings, soft hair of various colors, and simple blue and white outfits. The thing that stood out the most were their eyes- their eyes were all a hollow blue. Yuna gave a small shudder.
A male servant with red hair approached Yuna and bowed. "Good evening, mistress, I am to be your servant for the duration of your stay. I am known as Raphael."
"I'm pleased to meet you, Raphael. My name is Yuna." Yuna answered.
"Let us examine your room." Raphael opened her door for her.
Yuna nodded and went in, saying quietly to the other teens, "Stay on your guard."
Yuna gazed at her room, impressed in spite of herself. The room was large, with a king-size canopy bed, decorated in the colors of blue and silver. A large mirror stood off to the side, beside a large closet and a silver dresser. There was a large balcony as well that had fallen into disrepair, so she couldn't go out on it. On the wall opposite the mirror and dresser, a stereo rested, along with a television and video game console.
She fell onto the bed and hugged a pillow to her. "You're dismissed, Raphael. I'm going to take a nap."
"As you wish, Mistress Yuna." Raphael glided out and quietly shut the door.
Yuna felt a sinking feeling as she squeezed the pillow tightly. How did this happen to her, Lucas, and the twins? Why did it happen? She missed Gale, Ena, and the others so much.
And... Zenos...
She could count on him to come and find her, she knew... but... she needed his strong presence now.
Yuna began to cry into her pillow softly, heart longing.
Zenos felt his heart give a small wrench.
Yuna.
He puzzled momentarily. How did he know it was Yuna?
"...So, what you're saying is that we can find them by tracking their mana signature?" Caleb quizzed Andrew.
"Yeah." Andrew gave Caleb a small square box with several buttons and a circular scren. "Sheena gave these to me. She said that, while we don't know their personal signature, they will have enough of their Summon Spirits' mana infused within their signature for us to track them down."
"That's great. Now, who's going after who?" Zach interjected.
"Sheena suggested that we put opposites after the other. Opposites attract and the compatible will feel stronger or something like that." Andrew shrugged. He added, "She said that putting Caleb after one of the twins since he's got Shadow should work. Ena will go after the other twin since she's got Verius, who will sense their hearts. Zach should look for Lucas and Gale will go after Yuna."
The group nodded and split up into their search parties. Caleb offered to go after Miralle and Rory and Robyn joined him. Ena and Andrew were left to go after Roelle. Nari and Zach were going to search for Lucas, leaving Zenos, Gale, and Antony with Yuna.
Zelos waved at the groups as they set off on their rheairds."Good luck to all of you! Come back in one piece and with my other two hunnies and the two guys!"
The four groups waved back and set off.
Yuna glanced up from her paper upon hearing someone knock at the door. Raphael opened it and Lucas stepped in, his winged servant waiting outside the door.
"Could I speak to you privately?" Lucas inquired.
"Certainly. Raphael, would you please wait outside?" Yuna requested as she put aside her pen and paper and stood up.
"Of course, Mistress Yuna." Raphael went out and closed the door behind him.
"Have you heard yet?" Lucas asked, crossing his arms.
"I guess not. What is it?" Yuna leaned against her table.
"I'm being sent away."
"What?" Yuna stiffened.
"The twins are, too." Lucas added, sitting in a chair backwards as he faced Yuna.
She shook her head. "This is the first I've heard of it. I suppose that means that I'm staying here."
Lucas sighed and furrowed his brow. "This is such a weird situation. Pryor is very hospitable, but we can't afford to forget that he's holding us hostage for some reason."
Yuna nodded. "It's far too easy to be lulled into a false sense of security and we should also probably remember that our servants, even if they are soulless, are probably fully capable of reporting to Pryor on us."
"Plus, we can't escape anyways- not since Pryor put up those wards three days ago to suppress our Summon Spirits." Lucas grumbled, looking at his sword tattoo on his right index finger with a slight pout.
The door was knocked on again and Raphael opened it with the announcement of, "Miss Miralle and Master Roelle to see you, Mistress Yuna."
"Okay, thank you, Raphael. Please shut the door behind you." Yuna replied as the twins walked in.
The door was shut again and Miralle promptly threw herself on the bed, complaining, "I can't believe we've been stuck here for five days already!"
"And now he's splitting us up." Roelle added glumly, seating himself into a chair backwards as well.
"It's gotta be the Savior Stones. Why does he want them on us so badly?" Miralle asked the two older teens.
"Ya got me." Lucas shrugged.
"I suppose that all we can do is wait for the moment." Yuna sighed.
"Well, we'll find out soon enough." Miralle chirped.
"Mistress Yuna." Raphael opened the door. "Lord Pryor is here to see you."
The four turned to see Pryor, leaning against the frame of the door. He gave an apologetic face. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's time for Lucas, Miralle, and Roelle to leave."
"Didn't think we'd find out this soon, huh, sis?" Roelle gave his sister a glare. She chuckled sheepishly in return.
"Please, bid goodbye to Yuna- you will all be reunited soon enough. I give you my word." Pryor instructed, "Then gather your things and your servants will show you to the place of departure."
The three nodded and turned to Yuna, giving her a hug.
"We'll see each other before you know it!" Miralle and Roelle grinned. "Count on it!"
Lucas gave her a smile. "Be strong, Yuna."
Yuna gave them all a peck on the cheek. As they left the room, looking back at her, she gave them a brilliant smile.
Long after they had left the room and Raphael had taken up his post by the door again, Yuna returned to her bed, where she drew her knees to her chin and rested her head on them. She gave a slight shudder.
"Are you cold, Mistress Yuna? Would you like for me to make a fire?" Raphael asked, blank blue eyes scanning her.
"No. I'm fine, Raphael, thank you." Yuna replied, turning to her own thoughts. Her worst fear had happened. She was isolated from her friends. She was alone in the world now.
"I'm tellin' ya, I feel somethin' pullin at me in this direction!" Zach glared at Nari as he jabbed a finger in the direction of Luin.
"And I'm tellin you, the mana sensor says that way!" Nari motioned the said object wildly in the direction of Hima.
"And who's the sensor set on?" Zach's face was beginning to turn as red as his hair.
Nari glared at the screen, then tapped it. It beeped rapidly, then an arrow on the screen pointed towards Luin.
"Oh."
Zach gave a triumphant grin and climbed on his rheaird again. "We've been looking for four days and they've been gone a week. I hope they're all alright."
"No, they're all dead. Of course they're okay, you idiot!" Nari rolled her eyes as she got on her rheaird and they set off again.
After a few hours and more arguments about random things, the two came across the town of Asgard.
" I vote to stop here and get something to eat. I'm famished." Nari suggested.
"I second that motion." Zach began to talk to his grumbling belly. "Just a little while longer, don't worry."
Nari gave him a horrified look as they touched down onto the ground. "You're psycho!"
"Well, I'm also the one paying for lunch!" he snapped in return.
As the two walked towards the town, Zach felt like he had suddenly been hit by a wave of power. "I sense something really strong here."
Nari checked the mana sensor. "Yeah, looks like Lucas is really close. If he's that little dot, then we're almost right on top of him."
Zach nodded. "We'll keep an eye out. Now, let's go get some grub."
The two walked around and eventually found a restaurant called "Cafe Cloud."
They seated themselves in a booth and Zach fidgeted. "We've got to be on top of him right now! I'm buzzing!"
Nari gave him a strange look, then laughed, "You are buzzing!"
His body was vibrating slightly. Zach glared at her.
"May I take your order?" a waiter came up to their table.
He glided away after taking their order and returned with their drinks. As he left the table the second time, Zach watched him float away and nearly choked on his drink.
"Did you see that?!" Zach demanded, "He's floating!"
Nari glanced at the other waiters and waitresses. "They all are. What's up with this place?"
"This will requires some investigation." Zach nodded sagely. "After lunch, of course."
"Is your stupid stomach all you can think about right now?!" Nari hissed. "What about Lucas?"
"Lucas can't expect us to save him if we are weak from malnutrition." Zach said sensibly.
Nari fell silent, then sighed and admitted, "I suppose I can see where you're coming from."
"Besides, we can ask our waiter, Rellin, who owns the place and such." Zach settled back and sipped his drink.
When Rellin returned with their food, he asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Actually, we were wondering who owned the place- this food rocks!" Nari said after a bite of her burger. She took another enthusiastic bite.
"Ah, I could bring him to you, if you wish. He would be pleased to hear about how you approve of this facility." Rellin offered.
"Sure, man, please bring him to us!" Zach nodded, eating with relish.
Rellin returned within a few moments, bringing with him a young man with orange hair and brown eyes.
"Hey, there. I'm Victor, founder of Cafe Cloud. What can I do for you folks?" he gave them an easy grin.
"This is a top notch restaurant." Zach stated his approval.
"We were kind wondering about Rellin, though. How does he float like that?" Nari asked, obvious impressed.
"Ah, all of the waiters and waitresses here are halflings that have special TEBOs equipped on them to grant them the ability to levitate. It works wonders- I haven't had any broken dishes or food spills ever since they kicked in!" Victor gave a guffaw.
"Wow! That's really cool!" Nari exclaimed. "I also noticed on the sign out front that you have an arcade and a family room. Might we be able to look at those?"
"Honey, if you want a tour of the place, you and your brother are welcome to it!" Victor grinned.
Nari and Zach nearly dropped their act in shock. They glanced at each other and gamely nodded, strained grins on both their faces. "Sure, my brother and I would really appreciate that."
"Then, have Rellin bring y'all to me once you're finished here and I'll give you a tour!" Victor walked off.
Zach and Nari glared at each other. "I didn't think that both of us having red hair would immediately brand us as brother and sister." Zach commented.
"Hey, that's better than being branded as boyfriend and girlfriend, right?" Nari shot back.
"You have a point." Zach blanched.
The two finished their meal, had some dessert, then followed Rellin to Victor's office.
"Mr. Steele? Your tour is here." Rellin announced.
"Thanks, Rellin. You're free to go." Victor appeared at the door.
As Rellin glided away, Victor offered an arm to Nari. "Are we ready for the tour?"
"Of course, Victor. My name is Nari, by the way." Nari gave a seductive smile to him.
"And I'm Zach."
"Wonderful, wonderful. Now, let's begin!" Victor steered them towards the kitchen.
"Well, that afternoon was kinda wasted." Zach grumbled as they were finally released from Victor's clutches.
"Not really. We know Lucas is in there. I'll bet there's a back door in that we can use." Nari smirked.
"Then, let's break in tonight and look for secret passages or whatnot." Zach rubbed his hands together with a cackle.
"Sure. For now, let's get a room." Nari dragged him off towards a hotel.
Weellllllllllll, how was it? Please review and hopefully I'll have another chapter up soon! Don't hold me to it, though. XD
Later!
Ethereal Thoughts