I am so sorry for not updating soon. My muse sucks. I have to get a new one. I work on personal works so I sometimes don't have time to write the fan fic. I found myself watching more Huntik and I was like... I need to write this.
And I am sorry, I lied. I cannot promise the POVs to remain constant. This is not Sophie it will take place from Zhalia's POV, so...yeah. Do not kill me. I decided to take this story to more of an intense pace. But I have to update faster!! Oh, and Zhalia does not see Klaus at all during this time even though he is present in the battle. Only Lok has seen him.
Enjoy!
Chapter Ten: Boy, Dying Really Sucked
Zhalia
I wanted to help. I knew that Rassimov couldn't see within the rose colored shield, but it would have been enough for him to think I had betrayed the Organization. Just as long as Klaus wasn't with them I could never betray the Foundation again. That didn't change the fact that I could feel the Organization training kick in. A part of me was always linked to them and as Rassimov fired the dark spells at the shield, I could feel that dark part of me that had been trained and nurtured for years motivate me to walk to the shield. When I got too close, I felt Kevin's tight grip on my arm.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he asked me as he pulled me away from the shield. "You go out there and they will concentrate all their power on getting you back. If they think you've betrayed them, we're gonna have a tough time protecting you."
"Why don't you just hand yourself over?!" one man cried out to me. The shield covered most of the house and the front lawn, and most of us had gathered on the lawn ready to rush to help if any of our seven defenders fell.
"Why don't you shut the fuck up?!" Kevin fired back apparently knowing him. "You guys don't know the fucking story, so stay out of this."
"Kevin, enough!" came a commanding voice.
All of us turned back to see that on the porch, in a wheelchair, was Metz and behind him was one of the Council members from the US, her name bore a title and she was known as Lady Carmen Alyssa. She always wore a dress to my knowledge and was now wearing what would be considered battle gear. The dress was silver and was cut across the legs to allow for her to maneuver in a fight. I admired her when I studied the defenses and the Council of the US.
"My son is out there fighting just to protect her!" Sandra yelled at Metz as she pointed at me, "They wouldn't be here if it weren't for her, and you said they didn't know of this haven. How did they find us so fast then?"
"It is far to accuse Zhalia of betrayal. " Lady Alyssa said quick to my defense. "It can be that there are still spies amongst our ranks."
"Who sold her location to them!" someone was quick to add.
I saw Montehue rise from the crowd. "All right, I've now had enough of this accusation flying everywhere. The Organization is attacking us and all you people can think of is feeding one of ours to the sharks."
"She's not one of us." someone countered.
I shouted to Montehue, "Thank you, but defense is no use. And they're right, I should be out there."
I saw it in his eyes that he wasn't defending me because he liked me. I knew that he was defending me because he and Dante were friends despite their rivalry and he trusted Dante more than me. I moved towards the shields, ready to step out and into the open. But once more, Kevin stopped me and pulled me back again, much to the annoyance of many. "They will kill you if you hand yourself over. It will make you look guilty and Dante will rush to your defense- we will lose him if you go out there. It has to look like a hostage situation if you're gonna get out of there safely."
"Kevin-" I started to object when a scream rose in the air. A scream of protest. I turned to see that Lok and had found himself the target of ten advanced Suits and they had all fired consecutively, and Lok wasn't able to defend himself. He was blown back and landed on the ground- to all appearances looking unconscious.
I saw Sophie rush to his side and cast a shield to defend them.
"Sophie!" I found myself yelling along with LeBlanche and Santiago. Kevin and others kept the three of us from racing out of the shield.
However, our worry was alleviated when Dante flew- literally- to their sides and started firing spells in rapid succession moving like lightning, knocking many to the ground and I guessed some with broken necks. Ian was at their side in a second and I attuned my ears trying to isolate their voices from the other noises. It had become a skill of mine.
"I...get him to... manor...call...healer..." That was Dante.
"No...I...fine..." That was Lok.
"You're not all right..." Sophie argued her voice louder than the others, "Ian, get him to the manor!"
I saw Ian nod and I turned to Kevin, who was watching the same scene, but I doubted he bothered to listen in. "You need to get out there. Ian's coming in with Lok and they need someone."
"I'll go." Montehue volunteered as he approached the shield and left as Lok came into the shield in Ian's arms.
Ian gently laid him against the ground next to his mother, who took his hands and held on to him tightly, whispering motherly things to him.
Cathy threw a glare in my direction and I knew that she was blaming me for this. Hell, I was even blaming myself for this. I couldn't take it anymore. I hated the look of betrayal and blame, especially if they were justly given.
I ran out of the shield before anyone could stop me.
Rassimov spotted me easily...and so did Dante. I caught the surprised look on his face, his amber eyes widened, but soon the surprise faded into a composed battle look. His jaw set as he launched a column of fire at Rassimov who was flying towards me. He was able to knock Rassimov from his flight path and knocked him into a group of Suits.
"No!" I screamed at Dante, staring at him and hoping that he understood as if we had a telepathic bond and I could tell him my thoughts with a single look.
He shook his head in disagreement, and I knew he understood- that somehow, he understood.
"Kevin, take her back!" I heard him shout as he launched himself into the air dodging a series of blasts from near Organization agents.
I felt Kevin's hand on my arm and he pulled me back. I glared at him and he met my angry stare with calm and pleading green eyes, "Zhalia, please, don't make my job harder."
I was about to snap back and say that I was making his job easier when all of a sudden, a black fire struck him in the chest and sent him flying back.
"Kevin." I gasped as he flew through the rose colored shield which I could see since I was there when it was cast. I allowed myself a sigh of relief because at least Kevin was safe. I was going to run and turn myself over when something black and ice cold wrapped around my leg and pulled me down. I screamed because it seared through clothes and touched skin, and it was dragging me back to...
"Rassimov!" Dante yelled as he landed in front of me, something glittering in his hands. It wasn't until the pain disappeared and I was free that I realized Dante was holding a sword and it was all too familiar in appearance.
"The Professor's blade." Rassimov said as Dante helped me to my feet and pushed me behind him like a defenseless person, though I hoped he knew that I was far from that. "Don't you think that's walking too close to the edge, Dante?"
"Call your men down and get the fuck out of here, Rassimov. You know what I'm capable of." Dante hissed, his grip on my arm tightening. He was serious and the tone in his voice was deadly and dark, a Dante that was scaring even me. However, a part of me yearned to know how dangerous that side of Dante really could be.
"Yes, and I would like another demonstration. Let's see how dark you've become." Rassimov teased as he extended a hand alight with black fire as if offering it to Dante as a peace sign. "Has the Hunger started to lash out yet?"
I felt Dante tense. My hand that was on his shoulder felt the muscles in his back get rigid as if preparing for an attack. I knew that Rassimov had hit something in Dante, and guessing by the question, this was a sign that this "Hunger" had lashed out.
"It will manifest itself in more ways. Ways that are vile to you, Dante." Rassimov went on with a smirk, enjoying what his words were doing to Dante. I caught the glimmer of uncertainty in Dante's eyes as he took a glance out of the corners of his eyes to see me. Rassimov went on his words torturing Dante, "You might hurt that Casterwill brat in a sparring round, burn that Lambert boy when trying to teach him how to draw on his energy, a touch on Miss Moon might... get out of control." Those words made Dante shudder slightly and I saw him wince. Thoughts came to mind and I knew exactly what Rassimov wanted Dante to think. "Who knows you might even enjoy it."
That comment made me want to snap back but Dante beat me to the outburst first.
"Shut up!" Dante shouted, "Shut the fuck up!"
Rassimov smirked, and I realized that all the man wanted was a reaction and Dante had given it to him. "You have no idea what is storing up within you, Dante. You have no idea what you can become."
"Dante," I whispered to him, practically at his ear. I was trying to calm him down and pull him from continuing to listen to Rassimov's honey tipped yet acerbic words. The man knew how to be persuasive and he was using the right words on Dante, attacking the right pressure points- his team. "Dante, don't listen to him."
"Zhalia is an Organization agent at heart, Vale. You know that, and yet you couldn't help but snatch her along with the rest of your team in the lab at Vienna." Rassimov continued as he took a step forward causing Dante and me to take a step back.
It seemed that nothing, not even the battle raging around us could interrupt.
"You two already have a bond that will improve if you two willingly come with me. Think of it, Dante, she will never leave your side again. Your abilities, combined will take this world to a new level."
He took a step forward and we took a step back. His gaze shifted to me, now.
"Zhalia, you aren't turning against us for those kids or for any of your former friends in the Foundation. You're too cold-hearted for that." He smiled, "You're throwing away your career for him. You belong with the Organization and if you want him, it's his choice to go with you, but you will never belong in Casterwill's world. No matter how hard you believe you can be. No matter how much you have changed."
His words now gripped me. Was I cold hearted as Lok has said earlier? Was I-
"Zhalia." Dante's whisper brought me back to reality and I caught his amber eyes take a look at me.
"Dante!" Montehue cried as he ran to us. He took all of us by surprise, especially Rassimov. He ran up to us with a Nimblefire spell and leaped into the air as he cried "Dragonfist!"
His punch landed on Rassimov, who had no time to defend or react. He was thrown into the air and dozens of yards away, but something, a dark web wrapped around Dante's torso.
"NO!! I screamed as he flew into the air and was thrown fifty feet into the air and came crashing down. He landed on his feet due to a Featherdrop, but the dark web was still around him and it started glowing. He struggled to free himself, but I knew that the web around the person was virtually indestructable.
I never knew that Rassimov had perfected this spell, and it was the most dangerous I had ever known. It was called a SoulWeb. It would drain the magic from the person, then rip it from their soul to leave them completely mortal without any powers. If the Web remained then lifeforce could be drained away as well.
I ran towards him using a hyperstride to accelerate my steps. Draining magic would painful. My spell wasn't fast enough. I wove through battles, dodged spells that were fired at me, and did my best to help any Huntik operative in need.
Rassimov was at the other end of the web and he regained his stance. "I tried to be gracious and kind, but I'm afraid I'm not a patient man."
I willed myself to go faster.
He muttered something in a different language and soon the battle came to a halt. I heard Dante's scream of agony tear through the air. NO! My mind was racing as my concentration slipped along with the spell. I needed to help him and it was virtually impossible to sever the web through magic. I frantically looked around...and spotted the Professor's sword lying off a distance. Men were running for it, but I wasn't going to let them reach it.
"Nimblefire." I muttered and ran forward racing like fire as I picked up the sword, kicking a man in the face and slicing at the other Suit that came too near. Quickly, I changed direction to launch a speed spell.
Earlier, I had lifted a knife from the armory that we passed on the way down and had hid it in my boot. I slipped that out from its sheath and whispered, "Shadowspeed!"
I raced towards the web that connected Dante to Rassimov and sliced the dark connection, freeing Dante, who fell to his knees, disoriented and exhausted. Meanwhile, my move had thrown Rassimov off balance for a moment. The moment of distraction was all I needed. I flicked my wrist and threw the dagger, aiming for his heart. It flew straight and true but struck him right above the heart, though I think I would have missed anyways since Rassimov had no heart.
He turned to me with beady black eyes that burned a line of fire through me. "You will pay, Zhalia Moon!" he yelled that loud and with vindication that was so sincere it made me shudder. Somehow, I knew that vindication was going to come fast and that he wasn't going to stop it.
"Zhalia, look out!" It was Sophie that had yelled the warning.
I whirled around only to see Shauna land behind me with a black blade in her hand. I thought of a spell, Foreceblast, and extended my hand to blow her back just as she lunged forward. My spell, though I never voiced it aloud, came to life and sent Shauna flying back, soaring over the heads of Suits that were running towards us. But I didn't escape her lunge, she had been too close.
"ZHALIA!" It was Dante and Sophie.
I fell to my knees at took a deep breath.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw that the shield had been cast down and all Seekers for the Foundation were launching powers left and right dispersing the enemy and sending them to the forest that was bordering the street.
I saw Rassimov smile at me before taking off in flight, my dagger still embedded in his shoulder.
Sophie was firing double spells trying to clear her pathway...to me? I found that hard to believe.
I put my hands to the blade that had run me through. It was in my side and I couldn't pull it out, but I knew I was losing a lot of blood because I felt lightheaded.
I saw Caliban being summoned by Dante into the fight. I was surprised to see that he still had the power to summon a Titan after what had just happened to him. Rassimov had cast Dante in the web and it would have rendered him unable to cast any magic and summon any Titan for a while. Was his magical reserve and stamina a result of his month of going MIA.
I could barely hear the crashes of magic colliding as I collapsed to my side, my eyes were losing focus.
"Zhalia!" I heard his voice over me and soon felt his hands frame my face. "Stay with me!"
Was that a tear that I fell on my face? Yes, it was but it was from Sophie who was leaning over me with red eyes. I was glad that she could reach me, too. I wanted to tell her something.
"Zhalia, I'm so sorry." she whispered, "For not believing you were with us. I'm sorry-"
I shook my head as I reached over and took her hand. This was my last chance to say anything, I could feel it. "I'm sorry for what I've done. What I didn't do to save you and Lok- I'm sorry, Sophia, I really am-" I used her full name.
"You can call me Soph." she said as a sob broke through and she squeezed my hand though I don't think she meant to squeeze so hard. " I forgive you for what happened, Zhalia, I-" A sob broke through her lips and she couldn't say anything more.
Even now, her apologies and forgiveness meant something for me. It wasn't just words coming from a teenager.
Dante pulled the blade from my stomach, and I arched my back in pain and cried out.
"I'm sorry," he rasped as he placed his hands on my stomach putting as much pressure as he could. "I'm not going to let you die. I'm not!"
"Dante?!" Sophie asked as she turned frantic eyes towards him. She was scared- because of something... I didn't know what.
He whispered a spell that felt like it was sealing my wounds, as if it was keeping the blood within my body instead of spilling onto the earth.
"Dante," I whispered as I reached up and barely touched his face, my fingers ghosting across his face. My fingers slipped from the sweat that had covered his skin due to the battle. These words couldn't be said at a possible worse time, "I... I-" Was it in my vocabulary to say? Yes. I would say it, for him. "I love...you."
His amber eyes glimmered with something I couldn't recognize and I could see his lips almost curl into a smile, but again it was the worst time for a smile. Not as everything was raging around us.
Rassimov was right, I did betray the Organization for Dante. But as I looked to Sophie and remembered how I hated seeing her and Lok being used for experiments, I realized that Rassimov was wrong. Dante was a main reason, but those kids were nonetheless another. The fact that Sophie forgave me eased my conscience a bit and helped me reconcile with not doing anything to help.
I felt warmth pour from Dante's hands as his eyes locked with mine though I believed any healing was going to come too late.
"I'm not letting you go, Zhalia." he whispered to me, "I love you too much to do that."
He loved me. I smiled, relieved. At least I could die with those words. At least I could leave knowing that someone had forgiven me and that someone loved me. I didn't want to leave, but something was pulling me out of my body.
Boy, dying really sucked.
If you haven't realized by now, some key words at the end are the title of the chapter. In fact the last phrase is the chapter title. Well, please review. And there's let's just say more mature rated chapters coming up next, more Sophie and Lok moments, more POVs from Sophie and Lok, and a devastating secret revealed.
Most likely POV next chapter: Possibly divided between Dante and Lok or Dante and Sophie. If not divided then it could be either one of the three.
I love reviews, but I just love that you took time to read this. Though a five second review saying 'nice' couldn't hurt. XD
-Phoenix ~^~
