SORRY FOR THE LONG A/N: When I'd first started (written, not posted) this story, Karok hadn't quite come out yet, and after a while it was a bit hard to fit him in no matter how much I adore Karok. Suddenly getting a new team mate while you're on a "secret" mission to Ainle is hard to work with. Though, I've always fancied Karok having a thick, foreign accent for some reason, and I thought scenes of him man-handling Lann would be very funny. Sexy is also very new—oh dear, did I say sexy? I meant Kai—so I am not sure where to put him in either. I figure I should finish this story and then include the two other boys in the next story of the series, Arcanus... if it ever sees the light. But don't worry, I don't plan on suddenly quitting writing Vindictus fiction. It's way too fun.
Also, the rating is officially being bumped up to Mature for adult themes. It irritates me that the "T" rating includes 9-year olds (ORLY? Since when are 9-12 year olds considered Teens, fanfiction-dot-net?). Their rating system change is really stupid, but if I want my story to not be erased, I have to label this according to their definitions of ratings. I'm sad that it won't be shown on the main listing now, which might hurt its publicity, but my hands are tied... :c I am considering finding another site. Any changes will be linked in my profile, if you're curious.
BTW, I actually had written two versions of this chapter, that's why it took so long. The first ver, things got a little too kinky between that pile of bones and our hero... Feeling ashamed of myself, I rewrote it to this one. The ending is really different, you'll see...
†
Dancing with the Prince
It figures that as soon as I step into the main area, a barrier snaps into place. That can't be good...
"Lann? Fiona?" I call out hesitantly when I don't see them. I clutch my staff tightly in front of me as I cautiously move forward.
It is then that I realize the altars have fully extended up and have stopped moving. "Oh gosh no, no!" I shout, looking around wildly. Where is the summon? Has it happened yet? I didn't realize I'd taken so much time... Where are Lann and Fiona? I back away from the altar and search around for anything or anyone.
Suddenly, something comes barrelling out of the sky and knocks me to the ground. Wow. Trust me to be exactly where the summon spawns. Why didn't he arrive near the altars? Why this random spot off to the side? My head swims from being thrown against the ground so violently, and it becomes hard to see straight. A pained groan leaves my lips as I struggle to make the world before my eyes coherent. I must've hit my head hard. That makes this the second concussion I've gotten in Ainle.
While cradling my head on the ground, something sharp traces my side and I startle. Though it's blurry, the image of a man in gold armour is illuminated above me by the flickering flames of the burning surroundings. Who...? His skin is almost as pale as bone, but despite this it appears smooth and his frame filled out unlike the skinny skeletons we've seen so far. On top of a mane of black hair rests a gold crown that shines prominently in a cast of crimson light. His figure looms over my own, casting an ominous shadow.
"After long last, in flesh and blood, I am here."
In flesh and...
"Vam...pire?" I whisper.
A low, booming cackle sends a chill down my spine. "Vampire? You humans have such imaginations. I am the Blood Prince." A hand fists my Blood Silk top and lifts me off the ground. He asks, more like demands, "And who might you be?"
My head still aches, but of course he's still insistent for an answer, though I have none for him. "A sacrifice, perhaps?" He seems to be walking toward the centre of the area, dragging me toward... toward the altar?!
"Not a... sacrifice!" I grit out, seeing my vision start to sharpen in my panic over being killed. But my head feels like it's pounding, making it hard to think.
"Oh? Not a sacrifice. Then..." There is a tug on my short skirt, and I react immediately with a kick to his shin, as futile as it is with my wimpy physical strength. "A whore?"
I cry out as I'm thrown down against the ground. In a flash of anger I clench the hand my staff is held in, only to realize it is not actually there. Glancing to the side, I see it lying mockingly just out of my reach, a metre away.
A weight settles over me before I can make a move for it, pinning my back to the floor. His head lowers to my neck still wrapped with a tattered blood silk scarf, and breathes in my scent. "You're dressed in blood. How... appetizing," he says with much amusement, "Maybe you are a sacrifice."
I haven't given up yet. I'm not about to passively let him do whatever he wants. Using levitation, I've been trying to summon my staff to me. It's a bit difficult however, as I need focus and he seems to touch me wherever he damn well feels like. Feeling desperation spilling over, I beg my staff to move. It finally whips into my outstretched hand, and I immediately point the tip to his face and fireball.
Maybe it isn't the safest move to use in close-quarters, but I figure his body will absorb most if not all of the impact because he's covering me, so even though we are both consequently thrown, he is the one left with burns.
I pull myself onto my feet, not wanting to be trapped in that situation again.
"Filthy whore!" He curses at me. He easily gets back onto his feet, now threateningly brandishing his sword. "Aren't you the least bit curious as to where your comrades are?"
"My..." I gasp. Were they taken prisoner? So I was late? I can feel the panic and fear coursing through me as my mind tries to come up with solutions as to what had happened.
"Where are they? Tell me!" I demand, holding up my staff and focusing my power through it.
"You are quite slow, you know. They arrived here just before you did, and attempted to destroy the altar. Foolish, amusing humans."
I can feel a weight settle in my stomach. They had touched an active component in a magical ritual? This is bad... If they did, who knows where they are. I could try summoning them back, but for that I would need to get close to that altar, and this guy won't let me! Can I... am I really alone in this fight?
°.°.°
Explosions are rocking the area almost successively in this fight. I don't bother using ice, since he is a lot more agile than I am and would render any ice blast/spear a waste of mana. Fireball covers more area and has a higher chance of hitting him. The problem is, he uses them too. At the very least, this means I rarely have to deal with his sword. I am not good with close-quarters combat, considering my low physical prowess. If Lann and Fiona were here, they would definitely be the ones fronting this battle as I supported them, and I would not be constantly running away or using mana amber. I don't even have enough time to swallow any potions.
I shield myself again using amber as I'm hit with a fireball. I'm blasted backwards an impressive distance and crash through some debris lying on the ground. I growl as I exit my shield and break into a run. He's closing the distance fast, his sword ready to run me through my middle. I deflect it away with a barrage of magic arrows, the windy bullets setting it off course into a wall where it winds up embedded quite deeply.
As he goes to retrieve his stuck sword, I charge up another fireball and send it off toward him, dropping right after into a stance in preparation for an ice spear.
It scares the crap out of me when he soon charges right through my fireball, and I prematurely send my ice spear flying. Why do I never manage to finish that move? My bullet of ice cracks and sharp needles hail down at him instead. I breath is laboured from my efforts as he's pelted with them. He falls to his knees with a grunt, not expecting a manoeuvre like that. To be honest, I wasn't either... Oh well, never look a gift horse in the mouth...
Unfortunately, I'm out of stamina from using my mana so much, and I'm panting heavily as I rush forward to finish him while he's down. There is much debris lying around, fragmented and dangerous, so I use that to my advantage. I levitate one to my hand as I rush forward, and with a frustrated roar go for his neck with all my pathetic physical strength combined. Go back to hell where you came from, lecher!
"Not yet, woman."
He grabs my wrist and stops it before it can land, and grapples with me. I should have seen that coming. I'm lucky that he's feeling weak, but I know he'll regain strength faster than I will. In fact, as I think this, he's getting up onto his feet, putting me into a disadvantaged position again. I need another plan...
I smack him in the head with my staff and get some distance. He charges after me, and abruptly I change direction and head back toward him. Startled, he is unprepared as I propel myself forward with flying sparrow and tackle him with mana amber fully protecting me. Exiting the crystal after impact, I discharge an ice blast at his torso and trap him on the ground under a layer of ice. While he's struggling to move his arms, I take this time to run for the altar.
I hear the ice breaking and his sword hacking at the remaining ice on him. Feeling the pressure of this fight, I flood the altar with all my mana and intent full on getting Lann and Fiona back. A blinding light floods the room and two figures drop from the sky a little off from the altar, near the spot the Prince had also spawned. "Lann! Fiona!" I cry to them, waving my hands. "Thank goodness you're all right!"
"Crow!"
"Evie!"
They move to join me, also seeming as relieved as I am. But Lann suddenly startles and unsheathes his swords, dashing toward me. I'm confused until I remember the Blood Prince. I whip around in place only to see the devil's face before mine, followed by a beyond painful feeling that wrenches my gut... The man steps back, slowly sliding his sword out of my middle as I watch in stunned agony. The world is blurring as I fall to my knees.
"...EVIE!" A man's voice yells, but I am not in my right mind and am unable to distinguish it. It sounds absolutely frightening as it growls. "Go back to hell, you bastard!"
Try as I might, I can feel my strength draining in the pool of fluid collecting around me. I close my eyes to prevent the blood from entering them.
Then, I feel nothing.
