Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Gi Oh GX. I only own my own characters.
New chapter is finally finished. Decided to try something new here; I hope you enjoy it. And now, without further ado, allow me to present...
Chapter 12: Allure Queen Lv 7
Careless! Stupid! Idiot..!
A string on self reproach mixed with muttered imprecations issued from Alastair's lips as he stormed through the mist, hands clenched in impotent rage. Not that this turn of events was unexpected. He knew exactly who he was up against, and she was not above using living shields to achieve her goals. Given the ransom note which had been left back at the abduction site, a memo which read more like a taunt, he knew that he was now on the right track. His nemesis had extended him a personal invitation, and he'd be blasted if he was going to pass up this meeting.
"OUCH! Mother-"
He gave a little grunt of pain as he tripped over an unseen obstacle. Sprawled on his face, he pondered the uselessness of even continuing. He felt sure that he would be toyed with cruelly before being disposed of. He knew that his former companions were not dead; the message which he had received had been very clear as to that. Whatever that meant, it could not be good. Taken prisoner in the Shadow Realm, what a horrible fate! He shook his head at the thought.
She's getting to you, Master. Do you truly wish for her to gain the upper hand before you even confront her?
Muted greens and pink swirled into a concrete outline as Jinzo manifested. The cyborb gazed down from its towering height at its owner, who bore the expression of a criminal marked for the scaffold. The blue eyes were dull, subdued, empty as they rose to meet gleaming red orbs.
"You know as well as I do how bad the odds are, Jinzo. She holds all the cards, and she knows it. I need to find out what she knows about how to get Sabrina back, and on top of that, now I have to get those people back. There's just no end to this. Everything I touch becomes cursed, contaminated."
The mechanoid folded its arms and pondered these words. Counselling and therapy were not part of its programming. A more accurate description would probably conpare it to an assassin droid. However, this was its Master, and Jinzo had not spent the past decade alongside him without an understanding developing between the two. As a Duel Spirit, he was an anomoly. But then again, Alastair was the same after a fashion.
If you consider the probability that she doesn't know the entire situation, your chances dramatically improve. There is a chance that she only remembers you from your clash five years ago. If that is so, it would behoove you to maintain that illusion until the opportune moment.
While not immediate, the words caused an almost impreceptible straightening of Alatair's shoulders. The faintest ghost of a smile tuggged at his lips as he considered the possibilities. This might work, unless-
"What about the others? If she learns about the duel with Alexis from them, what then? It's not like any average Joe can trigger a Shadow Game."
A price you may have to pay for your folly, Master. You swore not to enage in a duel with anyone, for any reason. Why did you allow the female to provoke you so? In fact, if I may, it seemed like you were provoking her through most of your conversations. Were you hoping to evoke any other reaction?
The boy brought his hand up to massage away a headache; his brow furrowed in deep concentration. Why had he pushed her so hard? Why did he keep antagonizing her?
"I-I'm not sure myself. I know I promised Truesdale that I would keep an eye on her when I got here. But every time I go near her, I.." he searched his memory for a suitable word. "I feel compelled to keep acting this way. Like all my self control goes out the window." He looked down at his hands, like they were contaminated. "It's like I'm an entirely different person."
The green giant pondered this latest development for a long moment. That is a bit disturbing, given what I know of your normal behavior patterns. I've seen your aggression during a duel, but normally you display a level of courtesy and even empathy. This is the first time I've observed such unbridled hostility from you towards another human being. Are you feeling alright, Master?
Alastair shook his head in frustration. "It's not her, I think. I'm sure it has more to do with her brother, Atticus. And that's what puzzles me: I've never even met the guy in my life. Heck, the only reason I even know of him is from what Zane mentioned. But somehow, I feel like I know him better than that. It's not something I can really put into words. I just...know."
And you feel the need to flaunt this knowledge in her face? She still carries the scars from losing her brother for all those years. For you to rub salt in old wounds..you carry a cruel streak, Master. And you agreed with the Truesdale boy about respect for one's opponent. Seems a bit hypocritical-
Alastair cut off the droid with a sharp gesture, forcing it to dematerialize. As he did so, he caught a glimpse of a sparkle. Sabrina's Ring! It still hung around his neck, a reminder of his painful separation from its owner. He sat up, ignoring a deep cut on his face, fresh from his recent fall. He stared at it, allowing pleasant memories associated with it to wash over him. Then came a touch of reality, the fatal day that she vanished. That was it, gone without a trace! Alastair's right hand closed on the circlet, determined to see this matter through to the bitter end. He had already lost enough for one lifetime. He wasn't going to let anyone take people from him again; not if he had anything to say about it.
And here is the heart of darkness. I should have known..
Barely visible in the vague half-light and swirling fog, the massive edifice towered above the otherwise featureless scenery. Obsidian towers and polished metal rails spanning the stone bulwarks rendered this intimidating structure nigh impregnable to a frontal assault. Surrounded on all sides by a wide moat, filled with violet and emerald miasma, approaching the walls was not an option from the ground. Legions of bats and other demonic beasts patrolled the skies and ramparts respectively; an aerial assault was also out of the question. Alastair walked the perimeter, scanning the walls with the care of an enemy commander, seeking a weakness. Windows all appeared to be barred, with openings only wide enough for a bat to get in and out. Walls were impossible to scale, if the alarm was raised he would be overwhelmed in seconds, he couldn't even get over the venomous trench..
"I've not come this far, only to fail now. I refuse to quit here."
The boy looked down at his right hand, still wrapped in bandages. The school nurse had observed these wrappings during his previous visits, but he had passed it off as an injury. No one had seen what lay beneath, what they concealed. Having already willingly discarded the glove, Alastair had weakened his mental defenses. But the power which he obtained in exchange had already gotten him this close to his goal, closer than he had ever come in the two years since he had begun searching. Perhaps a little more..
"No! I won't break down the seal any further unless I have no other choice." His caustic glare was fixed on his treacherous left hand, which had been inching towards the bindings. Time to focus on something else, before I'm tempted again.
His blue eyes returned to studying the fortifications, looking for a way in. But from what he'd seen, the structure was sheer and unbroken. Nothing even remotely resembling a gate, drawbridge or any other means of admittance. This was going nowhere. Frustrated, he pulled out his cards, shuffled through them and extracted one. Holding it aloft, he focused his attention on Spirit Reaper, which promptly appeared. The mini-Death required no instructions, silently becoming incorporeal and transparent, and glided off on reconnaissance duty. Alastair knelt down in a meditative posture.
And now, we wait...
The Mistress of the Keep laced her fingers together while she enjoyed a moment of pure satisfaction, uninterrupted by schemes and intrigue. After all these years, the little prodigal child was coming home, was he?
(A moment before)
The girl glided into the room, soundless as a shadow.
"Mistress, we have intelligence that the boy who hunts you is lurking just outside the walls. One of his guardians was detected scouting the defenses. Shall we send out a search for him?"
The woman's smile etched wider as she pondered this new development.
"No. We've harried him enough for the time being. The time has come to meet with him. Hear what he has to say.."
She broke off as another servant brought her a crystaline chalice containing a dark red fluid.
(End flashback)
A prodigy in his own right, though he failed to grasp his true potential. She'd tried to teach him a lesson, albeit a harsh one, almost five years ago. But rather than taking it to heart, he'd acted like she was wrong in that.
A pity, she reflected. I suppose even the most promising young people are capable of ingratitude at times. But perhaps the years have tought him that which I could not.
She took a delicate sip, savoring the life-giving elixir. Mmmmm. It had been far too long since she had been able to sate her appetite on fare of this quality. The flavor was...exquisite.
And if he cannot be made to serve me, I'll make use of him yet. Camula's fangs gleamed beneath a sadistic smile as she viewed the half-filled glass under the candlelight. He'll come to beg for a death that will never come, as I feed on his life's blood, nurse him back to health, and repeat until he's old and decrepit. Eternal life will be so much fun.
Alastair sighed in annoyance while returning the card to his deck. Spirit Reaper had been unsuccessful in locating a vulnerable point. While not entirely unexpected, it was still small comfort to be proven right about something like this. To be so close and yet so far...
His attention was caught by a distinct speck moving towards his position at great speed. Alastair took a good look, trying to make it out. Airborne unit...moving somewhat erratically..searching for something? He took a few steps back as the thought crossed his mind that he had been discovered and this was an attack. If so, it paid to pick the battlefield, not that the terrain gave him many options. And given how fast his pursuer was closing in, he had to chose fast.
Master, look..
His attention was drawn by Jinzo's psychic warning. Returning his gaze to the target, which he could now make out as a solitary bat, he decided to make a stand right there and await developments. As the rodent drew closer, he perceived a rolled up piece of paper between its claws. It gave a high pitched shriek as it closed in, ensuring that it was noticed.
That's either the worst ambush I've ever seen, unless there's more of them out of sight. But I get the feeling that we're expected, which doesn't make me feel better.
Sure enough, Vampire Bat lowered itself slowly, presenting the scroll without any form of aggression. Alastair cautiously unrolled it and read:
Master Cunningham,
If you are reading this, then this means that you have accepted my invvitation. That is so very kind of you, as I do not often have the opportunity to entertain guests. Thank you ever so much for the opportunity to play the gratious host.
When you are ready, follow this messenger. It will escort you safely inside the estate, and bring you to me. I look forward to seeing you again after so long. Please don't be long.
The Lady of Shadows,
~Camula~
Alastair crushed the angry vitriol which threatened to blaze forth. Getting angry now wasn't going to help, and he'd only be used by his rage. Better to force it down to a cold simmer, he would be able to use it to gain the edge he needed. She held the cards, all of them, and she knew it. From the tone of her letter, she was obviously confident in her superiority. Until he knew more about the entire situation, that fact was not going to change. And he wasn't accomplishing anything by staying out here. He met the beady eyes of the demonic flier with his icy blue ones.
"Lead the way, messenger. Take me to your Lady."
Despite the note stowed safely, Alastair remained on high alert as he followed the aerial envoy. His past experience with the sender left him with no reason to trust her; and hearing the word "entertain" from the likes of her made him uneasy. Since she already held his allies captive, or worse, it wouldn't do to take chances. Despite his trepidation, the trip passed without incident. Alastair made out the shades of the monstrous hordes half hidden in the gloom, sentries of the demonic keep, but they gave him little more than a glance and a sniff before returning to their posts. Alastair was impressed despite himself, Something to be said for loyalty.
Stowing his cards carefully, he approached the massive portals. They stood open; obviously he was expected. They were courteous enough to allow him to enter without having to force his way in. "How conscientious", he thought to himself. He set foot on the stone bridge which materialized before him, spanning the toxic void below. The pillars of the bridge were topped by savage gargoyles, posed in painful and savage likenesses. They were fashioned in such a way that their eyes seemed to follow anyone who ventured past them. With a characteristic shrug, Alastair continued past them. If anyone was watching, let them come out. It wasn't as if he had anything to hide.
Proceeding into the courtyard was interesting to say the least. The whole area was dotted with demonic stone carvings. Some of them carried weapons: swords, axes, lances; all were painfully sharp. Alastair was standing and admiring one, which bore a long, curiously carved blade. It was designed to be slow and heavy, but capable of pulling itself through almost any target through sheer force. An eyebrow went up as he studied the macabre taste of the owner of said establishment. He didn't have time to ponder long…
CLANG!
Alastair whipped around to face the sound. It did not take him long to discover its source. The massive gates had closed, trapping him inside. So she plans to keep me here for a while, he thought with a chuckle. If they hoped to scare him that way, they had another thing coming. After wandering alone in the Shadow Realm for so long, it took more than that to get to him. For example…
"Welcome, little boy! I have been expecting you."
Alastair gave a little start. He turned in the direction of the voice, which he knew all too well. Into his field of vision came a balcony, overlooking the courtyard in which he stood. He was able to make out a female figure standing back in the shadows, looking down at him. Just the sight of her set his teeth on edge.
"You..."
It took all of his self control to maintain a calm front from this distance. She was right there, but even so, she still was at an advantage. He still had to play along, until he got what he needed. Nonetheless, his fists clenched, tight enough to leave muscles shaking and blood stained nails.
"Oh my! Your little fits of temper are going to get you into trouble one of these days."
He decided to ignore the barb. At least until he could restrain his furious tongue. His vision was beginning to distort, and he was filled with a sudden urge to light this woman on fire.
"...one can only hope. But never mind that; I've responded to your invitation. What's this all about?"
"Your manners have certainly not improved since our last meeting. I thought that three years would be enough to teach you some courtesy."
Alastair glowered. Will..not..incinerate...
"I have plenty of courtesy, when I choose to show it. You, however, get no consideration from me whatsoever. Not after our history together."
The woman raised her hands in mock astonishment.
"And here I thought that we had such a healthy relationship in the past."
Alastair's eyes flared with a baleful glow.
"Don't play innocent with me… Camula!"
That last word rang clearly throughout the whole enclosure. The woman lips widened in a sly smile and stepped forward to get a better look at her prey. Dark green hair flowed thickly down her back, one of the bangs hanging low on the forehead. Her dress was a deep crimson, low cut at the top, with high slits on both sides, the better to accentuate her assets. The vampiress' eyes gleamed with malice, while her mouth parted in a disdainful look, revealing the two overly long canines. She nodded in acknowledgement of the name, disregarding the hateful tone in which it was uttered. Alastair continued:
"You remember it all, don't you?"
Camula calmly folded her arm together, looking bored
"Refresh my memory, again. It's been such a long time, and so much has happened in the meantime."
Alastair's voice sunk to a whisper. His eyes shadowed beneath his hair..
"Five years ago. You're right, it has been a long time, since every day has been a living nightmare. You probably thought it funny to introduce a young, ambitious boy to the horrors of the Shadow Games. But that wasn't enough, was it? You just had to play your infamous Illusion Gate spell card. You didn't even give me the courtesy of informing me about the side consequences of using that card. Conveniently forgot that part, huh?" He swiped a hand across his cheeks, which were suddenly wet. "I got home from beating you, only to find my parents dead! You used their souls as the necessary sacrifice penalty, didn't you?!"
Camula yawned.
"The rules of the card state that souls must be sacrificed for it's activation, but it doesn't specify that it must be the owner's soul."
Alastair's shoulders shook with rage.
"You monster! How many have lost those they love while you callously use that Shadow Charm to bend the rules in your favor? How many have been forced to choose between victory against you versus losing those precious to them forever."
"The lives of mere mortals mean nothing to me, little one!"
Alastair swore. He had bottled up these feeling for years, and now he was being mocked for it.
"But that wasn't enough! You even infected my very deck with your dark corruption. I dueled with Sabrina, only to find a friendly duel transform into a deadly Shadow game. She tried to forfeit in order to end it, but ended up losing her soul all the same, having lost the game by default. I dare you to tell me that wasn't your doing!"
Camula's face assumed a look of sadistic pleasure.
"Ah, yes. If I remember correctly, you were quite attached to that girl."
The tears flowed shamelessly from Alastair's eyes. He could not deny it. Camula saw his hesitation and used it. Addressing the despondent figure standing below her, she began:
"Since I'm playing the role of gracious host, and you so kindly accepted my hospitality, I'm feeling merciful this night. As such, assuming I am 'responsible' for the loss of that girl, perhaps I can get her back."
Alastair's head snapped up. She had his full and undivided attention.
"What do you mean?"
"Supposing that it were possible to get her back, how far would you go?"
Here comes a deal with the devil herself..
"…Name your terms, Camula."
"A few duels, nothing more. I've not had the pleasure of watching you perform in years, and eternal life gets so very boring. Duel your way to me, and I'll get her back.
Alastair hesitated. He knew that this vampire was full of tricks, but, on the other hand, she might not be lying. He decided to stall, to give himself time to think.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that if you participate in my dueling tournament, and win, I'll restore her to you."
Alastair's head swam. He put him hand up to his head to try and steady himself. This was a possible once in a lifetime opportunity to get back something that he had thought was lost forever. He had to take it. On the other hand, suppose it was all just a trick. He glared at the other.
"How do I know that I can trust you?"
Camula smiled. The situation was going just as planned. She reached raised a finger to her lips and bit down. She allowed a few drops of blood to fall to the ground while the air around her hissed and sang with power.
"I swear this blood oath to you, Alastair Cunningham. I, Carmilla, Lady of the Night, will fulfill the terms of our agreement to the very end. And may my soul be forfeit should I renege on this vow."
Having finished, she turned her attention to the young man down below.
"There, I've sealed it in blood. Are you satisfied, young man?"
Alastair grudgingly nodded. The woman's leer intensified.
"Oh yes, there is one more thing. The portals to each duel are sealed from the inside and only I can break those. Without my presence and power, you will soon reach an impasse."
"I'm guessing it would be unreasonable to expect you to give me your power. So I just need something of yours to proceed." He looked the woman up and down, appraising. "How about your right hand?"
Camula quirked an eyebrow, and chuckled in amusement.
"And here you are acting like we have nothing in common. You never mentioned that you have such a lovely sense of humor."
She reached down to her deck case, strapped to her thigh. Reaching in, she pulled out a card.
"I'll entrust you with this instead."
Alastair snatched it out of the air. He looked at it and froze.
"What?! You're giving me your Vampire Genesis? Your strongest monster! What's the catch?"
"No catch at all. That's your 'admission pass' if you will. I have every confidence that you'll make it to the end, if you have even a fraction of the skill you displayed the last time we clashed. If we see each other again, return that card, and I, in exchange, will give her back."
"A card for a soul?"
"Precisely."
Alastair looked at the Zombie portrayed on the cards which he still grasped. One look at its face reminded him of who he was dealing with, a monster. Every sense told him that this was not going to end well.
What do I have left to lose?
Against his better judgment, he decided to play her game and see what happened. He had no other leads. And she'd sworn that it was merely a few duels. Once he cleared that hurdle, if she broke her word, the binding oath would do his job for him. He locked eyes with the other, glaring daggers.
"Alright, I'll do it."
Camula clapped enthusiastically.
"Marvelous! When you are ready, proceed through the main doors to meet your first challenger. I will be waiting for you at the top."
Alastair nodded curtly, but pointed at the figure who began to dissolve into shadow.
"If you try any tricks…"
Camula laughed coldly.
"I wouldn't dream of it!"
And with those words, she vanished.
Shadow duelist versus former Shadow Rider. Whew, feel the sparks fly!
It took much longer than I planned to get this chapter finished. After the last two installments, I wanted something to really bring things together before we get into the heart of the story. And I realized that I mislabeled a few chapters, so now I feel stupid. The schedule's been a bit hectic with my impending move back to the States after a 2 year tour abroad. The paperwork and red tape needed for this is a nightmare.
Anyway, please review. I decided to tweak the style of my writing a little bit after reading some works which inspired me. Let me know what you think.
