By : Shawnathan
Chapter : 10 part 2
[A/N : After a lengthy hiatus, and a somewhat inspirational review, I've decided I'm going to try to finish what I've started. That being said, I won't stop writing, and I'll probably return to writing fics like this one at some point as well. This may indeed be just what I need to get excited by this stuff again. I suppose we'll find out though, won't we?]
[Disclaimer : I own nothing. All credit to Disney/Square Enix]
Demyx had finally managed to catch his breath after all the running. Zexion was slumped against the wall, clutching the strange book from before tightly to his chest. Feeling the need for an explanation, Demyx crawled over to his fiance, sliding up next to him without making any sudden movements. "Zexy, I need you to tell me what happened back there. Saix looked like he was in a rage, like he was ready to kill you, or even both of us... I can't tell you how sorry I am for that." Zexion had peeked out from under his hair when Demyx had apologized, and looked as though he were about to protest, but Demyx gestured for him to remain quiet.
"I never thought Saix was capable of that, but... he's clearly changed. He's still my brother, and I still have love for him, but not in the way that he wants. I can only love you that way Zexy." Demyx kissed Zexion's cheek, looking into his eyes reassuringly. "I need to know the truth about what you did to him, and about that book. I love you, Zexy, but there can't be a secret like this between us if we're going to be married."
"Okay." Zexion nodded, and slowly loosened his death grip on the book he still held to his chest. Upon closer inspection, Demyx could see the book was ancient. The black leather was weathered, and was covered with symbols that Demyx didn't recognize, bound by wrought metal of some kind. The spine had a "VI" on it, and the words "Ignes fatui", the only things Demyx did recognize. Zexion sat the book on the ground in front of him, took a deep breath, and spoke.
"This book... I came across it while studying abroad. Something about it drew me to it, and then I started to read. Despite my aptitude for literature, and for language, even I could scarcely decipher it's innermost secrets. It was fascinating." His eyes were closed, but he could feel Demyx brushing the hair from his face, and whispering for him to continue. "This is a spell book, Demyx. I've come to refer to it simply as The Lexicon, but it's true name is The Book of Retribution. It contains the power of illusion, pulling a complex web of false information over the senses of its victims. It's an instrument of vengeance, a weapon that one would use to smite enemies. I..." Zexion's breath caught in his throat, almost choking him, and he had to stop. He was about to admit something to Demyx that he didn't want to, something that could destroy this relationship he had worked so tirelessly to maintain.
"Zexy... I... if this is real, th-" Demyx began, but was cut off. "It is. I can assure you it is. I don't want to talk about my past where this book is concerned, but I will, because I love you Demyx. I love you, and I trust you to believe me." Zexion picked the book up and flipped it open in one hand, Demyx's hand tightly clasped in his other, and then he spoke;
"Ostende mihi faciem tuam, de praeterito"
The same dark smoke from before poured from the book, an ominous feeling hanging in the air. Demyx clung to Zexion, whose face was blank, devoid of any feeling or emotion.
"Fac me audire praeterita"
All of a sudden, they were no longer in Zexion's dorm room on the University campus. They were in a school, but it wasn't a University, it looked more like a high school. Demyx let out a shocked gasp as another Zexion walked by them. Zexion's stony face told him that something wasn't right. "Zexy, what... what is this, where are we?" Demyx's tone clearly gave away that he was scared, but he wasn't sure what else to feel. This was so beyond anything he'd ever seen before, anything he'd ever experienced in his life. Zexion leaned toward him, and whispered "Just watch. We aren't in any danger here, but I need you to see. It's easier this way." Demyx was still frightened, but swallowed his fears and looked on as he was told. He would make it through this; his love for Zexion wasn't going to be put off by anything, not even something this blatantly insane.
The pair of them looked on as the younger Zexion before them walked through the halls of the school, bag slung over one shoulder, headphones in his ears, holding the same book. It didn't take long for Demyx to realize that this Zexion was being followed, and he knew it. Occasionally, young Zexy would peek over his shoulder and check, each time returning his gaze quickly to the floor. The thing that was freaking Demyx out the most was that young Zexy wasn't scared; quite the opposite, actually, he seemed to be purposefully luring the three bully-looking kids that were on his trail. Eventually, young Zexy stepped outside into an abandoned courtyard area that was bereft of anything save for a couple benches, with no back doors or other ways out. The three bullies were smiling, the leader cracking his knuckles menacingly and throwing his black beanie to the ground. The leader spoke, his voice full of cocky attitude and bravado. "Thought you were gonna get away from us, didn't ya? Looks like there's nowhere else for you to run."
They were all laughing, creeping ever closer until young Zexy spoke up. "On the contrary, Seifer. I lured you, and of course you followed. You think that you have the upper hand, but today I am filled with nefarious plots, and dark purpose. You have brought this upon yourself, all of you, for what you've done to me. You deserve this." Seifer spat on the ground, and began to step forward, until young Zexy spoke again. His face was blank, eyes dead, free hand raised as smoke poured from the book.
"Vides omnes sequuntur somnia"
"Diabolus vorabit vos"
Seifer and the other two nameless bullies clutched at their eyes, each screaming, wailing at the top of their lungs. Their faces were contorted into expressions of sheer horror, like they had entirely lost all grip on reality. That wasn't the worst part for Demyx though; he had become scared and looked away, turning his eyes to young Zexy... which was the worst decision he could have made. Young Zexy's face wasn't blank anymore. He wore a sinister smile, and was chuckling to himself as the three continued to wail in despair, waving his hand about as though conducting a symphony visible only to him. It was terrifying. "Zexy, get us out of here now, I can't take it anymore. PLEASE!" Demyx shouted, closing his eyes tightly.
Zexion had hugged him close, and was shushing him, trying to console him. "Demyx, love, open your eyes." Demyx shook his head furiously, flat out refusing. "No, Zexy, I don't ever want to see that again! What even was that!?" Demyx was shaking, his body curled up into a fetal position. Zexion rubbed his back, and whispered to him. "It's gone Demyx. I promise. Seriously, just open your eyes, I made it go away. I swear on my love for you." Slowly, Demyx opened his eyes, and... they were sitting on the floor of Zexion's dorm, like they had never moved.
"Zexy, what... what was that? Please tell me that wasn't you." Demyx pleaded, still recovering from everything that he'd seen. Zexion shook his head, closing the book and throwing it across the room onto his bed. "I can't do that, Demyx. That was me. That is what this book does. Those three used to bully me all the time; they beat me up regularly, stole from me, destroyed expensive rare books, even broke two of my ribs." Demyx was shocked. He thought his childhood had been rough, but clearly Zexion had been through a lot too... still... the laugh, the face, the way he spoke. Zexion continued before Demyx could form a response. "I was at the end of my rope. I had contemplated taking my own life, but alas, never had the courage to do it. I walked around in perpetual state of fear and anxiety, until the day I found The Lexicon. Actually, I think it found me." He cleared his throat, face hidden behind his hair as he soldiered on. "I could feel it calling out to me, begging to show me its secrets, to help me. It spoke to me. When I opened it, it landed me on the page with that spell. It shows my enemies their worst nightmares. The strength of the spell is determined by the will of the caster. I had no idea how to control myself, and... even if I did, I wouldn't have held back on them. They're still alive, but... they're all in facilities now, out of their minds. I may as well have murdered them. The book didn't drive me to do it, but it showed me every step I needed to take to exact revenge upon those that had slighted me... and I did, without hesitation. When I hold that book, I'm not myself anymore; I'm nobody."
Demyx dove forward crying, hugging Zexion so tightly it almost hurt. "Promise me you won't use that book again, Zexion. Even if Saix attacks us. I never want to see that look in your eyes again, do you hear me? My Zexy is better than that. He's a good person." He sobbingly clung to Zexion, wrapping his legs around him. "I'll do whatever you ask of me, even call the cops on Saix, get restraining orders, anything... just promise me I'll never have to see those eyes again."
Zexion was shaking, peeking out meekly from behind his hair. "You mean... after bearing witness to all of that, you still want to be with me?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I just showed you a true vision from my past. I attacked three people. They weren't innocent, but they didn't deserve what I gave them... I took their lives away from them." Demyx placed a hand over Zexion's mouth, straddling him now, and lightly kissed the back of his own hand. "I know what you did, Zexion. I also know what it feels like to be bullied, to be hurt, to feel helpless... I didn't always have a strong brother there to protect me." Demyx felt two streams of tears dripping down over his hand. He had never seen this side of the young professor, but was thankful for it all the same. He pulled his hand away, and wiped the tears away. "I'm still in love with you, Zexy. I still want to marry you. You won't be getting rid of me that easily. Okay?"
Zexion looked up as the hair was brushed from his face again, reaching up to cradle Demyx's cheek in his hand. "Understood. I'm sorry for showing you that, I knew it would scare you, but I couldn't think of any other way to prove it to you... the reality of magic, I mean." They embraced, each drying their tears as best they could. Their thoughts were aligned, each one sighing in relief, but thinking about what had to be done. Measures had to be taken to prevent Saix from attacking them, or someone else that they cared about. Their hands slowly clasped together on either side of them as they faded into a kiss, taking comfort in one another as The Lexicon laid forgotten on the bed.
[A/N: Well, that got rather dark rather quickly, didn't it? What will our heroes do about Saix? Will their love survive this ordeal? Find out next time on Dragonball Z.]