Vezarius Inferno

crystal-mist

Chapter 10

Shun pinned Alice to a wall mercilessly. "Time to die." He said in a husky growl as he bared his fangs and held his over-sized claw positioned at Alice's throat.

She tried inching away from the sharp claw. From his narrow golden eyes Alice could see that he had transformed into a totally different person. No; 'person' wouldn't cut the ferocity in his eyes…He was now transformed into a 'thing', an 'animal, a 'mons- Alice paused those irrational thoughts. She now knew why Shun despised his powers so much…

Alice closed her eyes and gulped as she laid her hand upon Shun's shoulder.

'Shun…snap out of it…Get a hold of yourself.' She was using her telekinesis to reach into Shun's conscience. 'Come on.'

Alice could now feel the stone cold claw against her skin and she used the last reserves of her power to pry into Shun's mind somewhat forcefully.

What she saw baffled her. Utter darkness… There was only a faint bit of light in the distance and it seemed far away, so distant, so unattainably distant. Alice reached out to the light and the closer she got to it, the further it seemed to recede away from her.

Then quite abruptly she found herself face to face with a silver mirror, a beautiful silver mirror with immaculate carvings surrounding its reflecting surface. When she looked into it; another girl stood in the place of her reflection. This other girl had long straight black hair and bright, cheerful golden eyes. Her smile radiated like thousands of rising suns… She looked like a female version of Shun minus the coldness and disdain.

Without warning, a sort of crack appeared on the mirror and in the next millisecond it shattered into millions of shards. Before she knew it Alice found herself being dragged out of Shun's mind brusquely, like a criminal being led to the gallows.

In the next millisecond Alice found her telekinetic mind back inside her original body, about to be killed by Shun.

Abel snickered softly. "Unfortunately I was ordered not to kill you, Alice…Consider it your lucky day." And with that he turned the dial on the remote towards the painted sticker that said 'Off'.

Shun paused, the redness in his eyes dissipated almost immediately and sheer terror flooded his facial features. He was so horrified that he didn't even blush at the proximity of his face to Alice's.

He dropped to his knees with his hands desperately clutching his forehead.

Alice sat down beside him and laid her hand comfortingly on his visibly trembling shoulder. "Back to normal?" she asked, her voice hinted with a tiny tint of fear. "You alright?"

He raised his head and stared at Alice in disbelief. Why was she concerned about him? Blood from the wound on her hand had by now drenched the sleeves of her peach overcoat.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded. "It was strange though. Shun….What just happened back there?"

He almost winced at the thought. He said nothing as he stared at the blood emerging from Alice's arm. Why was she so oblivious of her own pain?

Alice felt sorry seeing the hurt that flared deep in Shun's eyes. "Never mind…" she said. "Right now, we'd better get out of here."

Shun nodded, but instead of standing up he reached over to her and took hold of her hand gingerly. Alice stared at him in awe as he took out some bandages and started dressing up her wound. "I'm sorry…" he muttered, regret burning through his voice.

"It's alright." She muttered with her gaze still fixed upon Shun's face. She didn't like seeing him in this self-pitying state. "I'm alright; seriously it's just a scratch." She said with a reassuring smile.

"It is shameful." muttered Dan with an unhappy grunt. He sat with folded arms with his back on the wall of their newly found hideout.

"We're 'hiding' from our enemies…How pathetic can we be?" agreed Runo.

"Seriously am I the only one with 'common-sense' around here? We absolutely stand no chance out there. The both of you're exhausted. We're teenagers; there're limits!" exclaimed Julie throwing her arms in the air. "You should know when to fight and when to flee."

"Silly policy." snorted Dan.

There was a rustle of bushes. Dan and Runo immediately poised for attack.

"See Julie. You were being too loud. And now you've blown our cover!"

"Don't put the blame on me, you two numbskulls!"

To their relief through the bushes came Mira, Ace and Marucho. Mira had tracked them down with her powers.

"You guys alright?" asked Marucho.

"Yeah, they're just exhausted." said Julie indicating Dan and Runo.

"Pathetic." muttered Ace tauntingly.

"Like you're one to talk." scoffed Mira, lightly pushing him with one finger. The push was weak but it was enough to make the tired Ace loose his balance. He would've dropped to the ground had he not caught onto Mira in time.

"Geez girl, what's your problem?" he exclaimed, steadying himself using Mira's shoulders.

Mira said nothing, she only glared at him. "Get some rest, why don't you?" she muttered low enough so that no one else would hear.

"Since when're you concerned about me again?" he asked with equal fortitude.

She gritted her teeth together. "Never mind; exhaust and kill yourself for all I care."

"I will. Thank you." he muttered glaring back at her. There was absolutely no need for her to be so hostile. All that happened was that tiny little mistake and now she was practically at his throat. It wasn't like he hadn't tried to compromise… He'd had enough of trying to stay on her good side.

He propped down on the ground beside Dan.

"Still fighting?" asked the brunet.

"None of your business." snapped Ace, and then he sighed. "Yeah." He answered Dan's question as he gazed at the blue sky.

"Hm…The both of you are hot-heads, it was bound to happen." said Runo, joining in their conversation.

"As if you're one to talk, miss know-it-all." said Ace with a chuckle. "I guess we'll have to wait for reinforcements."

Runo decided not to clobber Ace for that comment right now, it could wait. She'd have her sweet revenge back at Inferno headquarters. Perhaps a 'deep frozen' lunch or a water bucket on the top of the main lounge door, or… Her mind started hatching plots immediately.

The two boys sweatdropped as they watched Runo snickering to herself whilst rubbing her hands together diabolically.

"Disturbing…." They muttered in unison.

Shun had by now finished bandaging Alice's arm. "Feels much better, thanks." she said raising her arm and moving it around a bit.

Shun looked directly at her face. "Stop smiling…Stop pretending you're not afraid."

"Shun?"

"Stop trying to deceive me…I know it, I'm a monster. I'm an uncontrollable maniac who can fly at you any second….And you…you're terrified of me, aren't you? Admit it!"

"I'm not scared of you." she stated plainly.

"Stop lying."

She took hold of Shun's arm softly. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me… You're really a nice person Shun; although you refuse to let it show."

"You do NOT know that." He yelled. "Don't think that you can-"

Alice cut him short; she was exhausted as it is. "Can we please continue this conversation later?" she spoke, her voice gentle and her face overrode with exhaustion.

Shun grunted, it wasn't one of disapproval, it was one of temporary submission. "Fine." he said as he stood up.

Alice was surprised that Shun actually conceded to her request.She fumbled to her feet; however she was weaker than she'd thought. A sort of dizziness overcame her almost at once, her legs wobbled and her vision started to get blurry. She would've fallen down if it weren't for Shun's arm that held her steady.

Shun stared at her face for a moment as if he were hesitating but then he turned his back to Alice. "Get on." He said stoically.

Alice blinked in amazement. "What?"

"You're in no condition to walk…You'd just stumble all over the place and just slow me down." After saying it, he figured he probably should've been milder-she was so kind to him after all.

Alice sighed. She was stubborn but she possessed enough common sense to know that Shun was right. She couldn't walk much less stand. "Alright then, if it's okay with you."

Shun walked, carrying her piggy-back. Alice was indeed surprised by Shun's current behavior, he'd just been yelling at her a minute ago. To their surprise, no guards intercepted them; they had a peaceful walk- Abel had instructed the guards that it was okay to let them pass.

After a little while Alice felt her eyes getting heavier again. "Hey Shun…" she called out half-sleepily, half-sheepishly. "You mind if I…dozed off for a bit?" she asked doubtfully.

"Hn…"

"I'll take that as a 'No'." she said smiling softly.

"Whatever." He muttered; his cold tone echoing through the hall.

Alice rested her cheek on Shun's shoulder. "Thank you for saving me." She whispered before falling asleep.

Her soft breath fell on his neck as she slept soundly, she was wiped out. Shun stared at her bandaged hand, the one he'd wounded. Would a scar be left behind on her flawless white skin- would it serve as a cruel reminder of the monster that he was?

Dan got up to his feet. "Seriously? We're retreating? What if Alice is going through hell right now? Isn't it up to us to save her?

"Wait…." exclaimed Mira, her eyes widening with surprise. "Alice is moving…She's with another Wexos..And she'd heading this way!"

"Just one Wexos?" Dan exclaimed jumping to his feet immediately. "This is our lucky break."

"Sure." agreed Runo and Ace as they stood up as well.

"Alright then… Let's go." Mira led the way as they made their way through the bushes in Alice's direction.

When she reached near the place Mira stopped dead in her tracks, full of astonishment. The others who couldn't skid to a stop in time bumped into her.
"What's the big idea?" Dan exclaimed and soon he too was at a loss for words.

Shun was walking in their direction carrying a sleeping Alice on his back. The scene was so completely out of sorts, something that none of them wouldn't have predicted even in a few million years.

Dan was exceptionally spell-bound. As he walked over to Shun he couldn't help this sort of sinking feeling set in his heart. How could Shun be stronger than him? "Good work." muttered Dan rather unwillingly. "I'll take her from here." He said indicating Alice. He didn't want Shun carrying her, he still didn't trust the raven-haired boy enough t …Sure, he'd saved her…But still…

"Are you sure you aren't too weak?" Shun asked back.

Dan glared at him. "Don't underestimate me."

Shun's face still held that same unperturbed composure. "We're in enemy territory… Are you not aware of that? Rationality is a necessity for a sane human being."

Dan clenched his fists. He didn't like Shun, not at all.

"Listen you-" he would've continued if not for the sound of a explosion which rung through the air.

"Let's move." urged Julie. And soon the teenagers made their way out of the building. They'd encountered Joe and Baron on the way and were now out of the mansion unscathed; exhausted; but unscathed.

Mission 'Rescue Alice' had undergone completion quite successfully.

Shun had proved that he cared after all, even if only just a bit.

Alice had witnessed the truth behind why Shun despised his powers so.

Ace had mentally declared a war against Mira, no more was he going to take her hostility without having something to say about it.

Marucho had realized not to use his instincts when it came to Ace and Mira's tiff, it would end up in physical strain and damage/impairment.

Presently Dan felt himself experiencing something similar to an emotional dead-lock. Was he to trust Shun? On one hand, he irritated him to no end; he was stuck up, rude, obnoxious and had never a kind thing to say. On the other hand he'd saved Alice, successfully rescuing her from harm's way. On the other hand Alice- she looked so at ease as she clung onto Shun's neck, she seemed to trust him. What was Dan to believe?

Only time could relieve Dan of these suspicions.

That's it for now…

Tell me what you think. I apologize for delays and for any mistakes I might've committed. Seriously, I try to make amends… Uh…Occasionally? :P

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