Can I finish this chapter? We'll see. Sorry for not posting, I was so sick after my 16 hour day that my manager actually noticed and suggested (several times) that I go home but I stuck through and took an ambien and passed out when I got home XD Tonight is my 2nd dad's bday, so I'll see when I get home if I can finish this…*should sleep* but… XD Wednesday is a day off though, whee!~ I should respond to your reviews, but that takes time and I need to write or it won't get done…And so I ask myself: why am I still blabbering? Shh. I just wanted to explain my horrible absence of a day. Or two. XD And Moony, I shall do at least the C-mas one on Wed. AND TRIX I WANNA SEE THE PIC. Oh damn, I responded to some reviews-ish after all. TO WORK! P.S. *hugglez* XD I should have planned by now what I am about to write, but I haven't…last chapter felt like an ending…but it's not! And I thought about it…and since this is the 'Monsters Within' and this book focused on Oz, first on Gil, third on Alice-ish, maybe I should write a fourth after all around Break/Kevin, his *monster within* XD *likes writing this story and my beautimous stalkers=doesn't want it to end* ;-; XD *a day or so later* Mmm. Well. It's Wednesday. On to finishing! Sorry for the delay…I was still sleeping my life off XD P.S. Raven was there too when Oz came back, I forgot to write his part, but he looked on approvingly for sure. XD I'll try to make this long since I've been so absent. And post to some of my other stories. Maybe. XD And work on Moony's stuff. XD
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"Alice…"
Oz stared down at his contract holder with a lightly pained expression as he brushed a hand against her cool cheek. He couldn't feel her at all and her absence, the loss of her presence and radiance…it was truly like the loss of the sun itself. The warmth and light that he'd become accustomed to were gone.
Behind him, Gilbert stood with his arms crossed as he watched Oz with his own pain. Oz's suffering was a wound to him, and truth be told, if the stupid rabbit weren't dead then…it was best that she be alive and beside Oz, right? More concerning was that Oz hadn't remembered anything…
"So where's Alice?" Oz asked as he glanced curiously at the group around him.
Gilbert looked startled, as did Sharon, and he asked slowly. "You don't…remember?"
Oz blinked. "Remember what? …The last thing I remembered is, ah, well you know how I fixed you…and then you found me.."
"…"
"Oz-kun…is that really all that you remember?" Break asked softly.
"Well…yeah…did something…else happen?" Oz's brow furrowed.
"You lost yourself, Oz Vessalius, and a shattered version of yourself acted in your body until my contractor saved you." Raven spoke with his arms crossed as he gazed expressionlessly at Oz.
"What…wait…contractor?"
"Ah, yes, this is Raven, Oz-kun! Isn't that nice?" Break smiled thinly. "By the by, Duke Barma has chosen to end his…alliance, with the Vessalius household."
Oz took that in for a moment, but there was a more pressing matter than his surprise at Raven or his confusion at Barma. "…And through all of this…I was…"
"You weren't yourself, Oz…" Gilbert said softly, pained for his young master. Why did Oz continually have to end up in these situations…left behind by the world, or tormented by it?
"Break…" Gilbert spoke suddenly and he turned to where the albino man awaited beside a taciturn Raven. "If the stupid rabbit is gone…then…is Oz free from his contract, at least, for now?"
"…I suspect that the incuse will turn whether his contractor has her soul or not…the only difference being that when he falls…it will be alone." Break stated simply and Gilbert's eyes widened.
Oz set a hand against his servant's arm. "It'll be alright, Gil…we'll still think of something, 'kay?" he tried to comfort the other, but he couldn't even offer a false smile as his gaze drifted back to Alice on the bed. Where could her soul have gone, and why? And who would have been strong enough to take it from the Bloody Black Rabbit?
"Shut up already! It's not always about you, blondy…honestly, you're such a pain." Lucero growled, apparently to the air, and Oz looked to him in confusion as Gilbert's eyes widened in mild horror and a wince as he recalled yet again that his ghostly brother was still present. Oz, being the only blonde in the room, blinked.
"…" Oz really couldn't find a response and seeing his gaze, Lucero flushed.
"Not you, O-er, my lord. It's this damned blondy beside me, you can't see him, only I can. That is, not because he's imaginary…it's Vincent Nightray, he's feeling very…spiritual at the moment, if you catch my drift, and none too pleased with it…as he's been very vocal in telling me." he shot an annoyed glance beside him, presumably to Vincent.
"If you would simply put me back into my body, this wouldn't be a problem, now would it?" Vincent stared coolly at Lucero from beside him. All of this emotional play over that filthy rabbit was making him ill. Furthermore, he was tired of his incorporeal state and being ignored…and further still…there was a matter of dealing with the Baskervilles…but thankfully, at the moment, they assumed him dead no doubt…that was a definite advantage. But that wouldn't last long…
"If you would stop being such a selfish prick, it wouldn't be a problem then either." Lucero growled before he eyed Sharon who sat in a chair beside the standing Break. "That is…"
"It's really unpleasant, to watch you moon over that female." Vincent noted from beside Lucero with a faintly curled lip. His patience had worn too thin, his veneer of indifference coolness had subsided, it wasn't as if he could be seen at the moment anyway by anyone other than the magician.
Lucero was unlike himself at the moment as well. His hands still ached with their burns, and Vincent's constant nagging had done little to assuage his pain or lighten his mood. There was also Barma to consider, and the fact that he was certain that the other would seek him out again. There was Sharon. And there was the fact that his clean escape looked further and further away. Yes, he wasn't exactly in top form at the moment.
Oz blinked and looked up at his servant, who had tensed. "Hey, Gil? Is there something…"
"Vincent killed Lottie…he's a…ghost right now, and the magician is going to fix him." he muttered. He still wasn't going to call him 'Lucero', but 'stupid rabbit wanna-be' didn't really suit for a name. He had just been irked before, so for now, 'the magician', was just fine.. "I'll be right back…please wait here." Gilbert didn't want to leave his young master's side, but he didn't want Oz around any more such nonsense right now…nor did he desire Oz to be around Vincent, as usual.
Oz looked between his servant and Lucero before he nodded. He didn't want to be without Gilbert, and with Alice gone, he felt more of a desire to keep Gilbert closer. A spike in his protective nature, as it were, and in his own deep-rooted fears of being alone. But this wasn't something that Gilbert needed comfort on, or for Oz to be pushy on. If Gilbert asked him that way to wait, then it was best that he do so…Vincent was a sore subject for Gilbert… "Okay, Gil. Take your time." he patted his servant's arm and flashed him a smile which Gilbert forced himself to return as he brushed his hand over Oz's a moment before he turned and headed out past Lucero.
Lucero watched the other before he bowed. "Lord Oz, Lady Sharon, the rest of you…" he dismissed himself to a quirk of amusement on Break's lips as he headed to the room where Vincent's body lay.
Lucero walked beside Gilbert in silence before he tilted his gaze up to the other and said. "You should know that Vincent has been rather obsessively spying on you. In case you were wondering." beside him, Vincent scowled and he ignored it.
Gilbert briefly pulled an ill face before he simply shook his head and glanced around as if he might see Vincent himself before he looked ahead. Doubtless Vincent had watched him carefully, he did it even when he wasn't a ghost. And now that he had seen all that he had…what then? And there was Break's warning…
"Gilbert-kun…about Vincent…you should know that there's a high possibility that he is in league with the Baskervilles…"
And yet, he had killed Lottie Baskerville. If he was in league, why kill a prominent member? Furthermore, how had he managed such a feat?
They reached the room and Gilbert entered followed by Lucero. On the bed lay Vincent's body as though it might have been sleeping and he slowly made his way to the bedside where he stared down at the body silently a moment. If Lucero didn't put Vincent's soul back…then he'd-
-No. He couldn't abandon Vincent then…and he wouldn't do that now…but Vincent couldn't stay, Gilbert would make that as clear as he could without outright saying it…not that it wouldn't be obvious anyway…
"Step aside, kid, wouldn't want to mar that pretty face of yours." Lucero chimed as he moved past the other to stand beside the bed.
Gilbert frowned slightly and his eyes fell on Lucero's hands as he lifted them. "They're still burnt…"
"Your point? Necromancy isn't a pretty art like the others. The price I pay is much more visible."
Again with talk of prices. Blood and prices. "Other…magicks?"
"Bingo." Lucero muttered as he closed his eyes and began to concentrate. He wouldn't have to open the gate, but it wasn't going to help his hands, that was for damn sure. "Necromancy…the death arts…there are others. There is much I cannot do, and much that only I can. Now shut up, kid, and watch." he said abruptly and Gilbert huffed slightly.
Lucero's eyes opened and were completely black as he placed a hand on Vincent's body and then placed a hand on Vincent's chest beside him. There was a sizzling sound where Lucero's hand touched Vincent's spirit, but to his credit, Lucero didn't wince as he muttered something under his breath and Vincent began to glow. Slowly, Vincent's form began to dissolve into little bubbles of glowing light that trickled into his waiting body and once the last bubble had entered, Lucero muttered something as Vincent's body glowed brightly a moment before it faded. Lucero closed his eyes and reopened them as his violet eyes, and when he staggered back Gilbert placed his hands on Lucero's shoulders and kept him upright.
Lucero looked up in surprise and tensed a moment before he inclined his head as a gesture of thanks and allowed it, and then tilted his gaze back to Vincent.
There was silence, and then a faint moan pushed it's way past Vincent's lips before his bi-colored eyes opened. "Ugn…big brother…?"
"…I'm here, Vincent." Despite himself, as Lucero pulled away, he moved to Vincent's side and set a hand on Vincent's upper arm, his shoulder more or less. "How do you feel?"
"…I've been better…but…for just being dead…I feel…well." Vincent chuckled lightly as he smiled weakly up at Gilbert and slipped his hand over the top of Gilbert's. The latter ignored the impulse to pull his hand away as Vincent sat up slowly. "I suppose that I should thank you for saving me…" he said as his gaze fell on Lucero.
"Do it and I might just vomit. So save us both the trouble and don't. You wouldn't mean it, and as stated, it'd just make me ill so save your breath. Nightray bastard."
Vincent seemed coolly amused and he was already reverting to his usual mannerisms as he then smiled up at Gilbert. "Are you happy to see me back, big brother?"
Gilbert spoke somewhat stiffly. "Of course, Vincent…but you should get back to the Nightray manor soon…Elliot was worried about you."
Vincent blinked at that before his smile widened. "Is that right…? I wouldn't want to keep little Elly waiting…" he murmured.
There was silence a moment before Lucero tapped an imaginary watch. "So…not that this rather, ah, sappy-less reunion isn't just sweet, really. But the sooner blondy goes buh-bye, the better, and kid here needs to get back to our master…"
"My master." Gilbert growled.
"So stingy. Oh well, what else can one expect from a kid, am I right?"
Gilbert glared faintly, Vincent seemed a cross between amused and a bit irritated himself, and Lucero simply smiled serenely-pleased by this.
Gilbert then turned his gaze back to Vincent. "He's right…I need to return to Oz…I'll send a message for Echo to come for you…"
"Thank you, big brother…you'll visit soon, won't you?"
"…I'll try."
Vincent smiled. "If my big brother says so, then he will…I look forward to it.." he leaned up to press a 'brotherly' kiss to Gilbert's cheek. "Take care, Gil…you know I'd be very sad if anything happened to you…" And perfectly ready to murder the cause of any such 'happening'.
Gilbert accepted the kiss and tried not to look as uncomfortable as he felt. "You too." he replied as he patted Vincent's shoulder and left quickly to return to Oz.
Lucero watched him go before he tilted his head as he looked to Vincent. "Next time, blondy, I might not be around to drag your sorry ass back. But I'll tell you this. If you hurt Oz, or if you hurt the kid, or someone else cares for…"
"Let me guess…you'll kill me?" Vincent drawled.
"No." Lucero said, and Vincent blinked in surprise. "I'll rip your soul from your body and make you wish you were dead. That's not a threat. That's a promise." Lucero said coldly, and for just a brief moment, his eyes flashed black before he inclined his head with a faint smile. "But otherwise, Nightray bastard, I'll leave you be…so be good, alright? Or I'll find you. Now that I've touched your soul, there's nowhere you can hide from me…hope you have a nice recovery, blondy." Lucero chuckled as he flicked his fingers against his head in a parting salute as he left the room.
Vincent stared after him as the memory of what he'd just seen replayed in his mind. He had underestimated Lucero.
And despite himself, he shivered.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
When Gilbert returned to the room, Sharon and Break had gone, only Raven and Oz remained. Oz's hand held onto Alice's as he gazed down at her silently and when Gilbert entered, he looked up with a quiet expression. "I can't feel her at all, Gil…"
"Oz…" Gilbert stared forlornly at his young master a moment before he moved to the other's side and set his hand on Oz's head as he ran his fingers through the other's hair lightly. Oz's hand came up to hold his wrist lightly as emerald eyes met golden ones in silent understanding.
Raven watched the scene in silence. He had no comfort to offer, that wasn't something that he was accustomed to. Raven sat alone in his cage for decades, and it wasn't until the Gilbert, and then the Bellman, reached out to him that he had had contact since a century before when Glen Baskerville had tried to use his powers. Morally, Glen hadn't been suitable, but in all other ways…Glen had had what was necessary to claim him and he had no care for whatever other failings Glen might have had. It wasn't for Raven to care about the affairs of humans, or judge their hearts. Merely to find worthy masters. Those strong enough to wield him. That had been his fate since he had wound up in the Abyss and been transformed, and later claimed for the Baskerville house…
Oz let his gaze rest on Alice a moment before it slid to Raven. "The Bellman…would he…be able to find Alice?"
"…That is difficult to say. But if he knew already, then he would have told you, and if he knows and hasn't, then he won't. Either way, don't count on him to lead you to her." Raven said simply.
"What do you mean 'if he knows-he won't?'." Gilbert demanded. "If he knows then why wouldn't he say?"
"I am correct in this, aren't I, that the Bellman warned you that a time would come when you would be enemies? He has helped you thus far, but don't mistake him for your ally. He acts for his own reasons. Be grateful that he's helped as he has." Raven said as he turned away. "I'm going out for awhile."
"To where? You can't just leave-"
Raven turned back and his dark gaze was chilling. "Are you ordering me back to my cage then, master?" Raven queried, his voice cold.
Gilbert was taken aback and he stared at Raven when Oz piped up. "Nahh, Gil's just worried about Raven! It's okay, you go on ahead. I'll keep Gil out of trouble for you!" Oz smiled brightly at Raven, and to Gilbert's surprise, Raven's expression seemed to soften just slightly but he still waited for Gilbert's-for his master's-response.
"…You can leave if you want." Gilbert finally said, and Raven met his gaze a moment before he inclined his head and took his leave. He hadn't meant to command the other, per se, but having Raven out in the form of a man was unsettling for a number of reasons…could he rely on Raven like this? And how long would they continue this way? Raven would have to return to his form eventually…although that the other had a human form was odd to him…Alice had been alive once, and she had a form. Cheshire had been alive once, and had one as well. No other Chains he'd encountered had one, save the Bellman, but he knew nothing of him. Did that mean that once, Raven had been alive as well?
"Knock, knock." Oz and Gilbert turned as Lucero spoke.
"Lucero…you can find souls, right? Can you find Alice…?" Oz looked to Lucero with a somber expression.
Lucero's own expression sobered as he gave a low bow and spoke formally. "Forgive me, my lord, but I cannot. I would have had to have had a…taste of her soul, if you will, to be able to find it again. Yours, the kid's, and blondy's are all I have from your party. I can tell you that her soul is not in the red realm, and that likely means that her soul is being held somewhere…but beyond that…" he shook his head as he lifted.
"Held somewhere?" Gilbert asked, his brow furrowed.
"If her soul was in the red realm, or rather, limbo as you might know of the world I open with my gate…that I could sense. If she had passed on, her body wouldn't still be so lively, even for a necromancer who can revive a body…it's only animation of dead flesh. But her body lives, and so her soul is still-if only slightly, keeping it alive. She must be in this realm, but held somewhere or else her soul would have already returned or passed on."
"But she's a Chain, she can't…have a soul." Gilbert had been bothered by that since he'd heard that it was supposedly 'missing'.
Lucero shrugged. "I don't know much about Chains and the Abyss. I got a Chain and got trapped for it. I was lucky enough to escape with my life and soul, thanks to you, Lord Oz." he gave a little bow again and Oz seemed a bit uncomfortable for a moment before he asked.
"Why did you contract a Chain…? With your power…you still couldn't fix something?" Oz had never queried that of a contractor before, although he'd wondered to 'Raven' about the flower girl…but Lucero had powers, so what could have been the reason?
A flicker of pain entered Lucero's expression and faded quickly. "Magick isn't a cure-all, my lord. There are some things that no amount of wishing, or magick, can ever change. But I was desperate, and already in line to lose my life and soul so for me…it wasn't so hard a decision."
"To lose…" Oz repeated and Lucero smiled and waved a dismissive hand.
"No need to trouble yourself over my past. We have Alice to save, do we not? As I've said, I will serve you till the end…and it seems that I am unable to do so from a distance any longer…I suspect that if I tried to flee, your rather talented Mr. Break would find me." Lucero said with wry amusement.
Oz eyed Lucero a moment, as did a somewhat troubled-looking Gilbert before Oz looked to Gilbert instead. "If Barma is no longer our ally, I can't ask him…Uncle wouldn't know…the Bellman won't talk…we'll have to find Alice's soul on our own. And if I had to guess…it was the Baskervilles who took her."
"But if it's them…why now, all of the sudden…?" Gilbert asked with a frown.
"Why did they attack you all of the sudden? It seems that they are doing things…differently."
"Even if they do have her… 'soul'…how will we find it?"
"We'll find a way, Gil…we have to." Oz murmured as he looked back at her unmoving form and ran a strand of hair through his fingers with a quiet expression.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"I-I won't tell you anything! The Black Rabbit belongs to Master Glen…" Kieras coughed up more blood.
One gruesome fight later, Gregory had come out the victor with Kieras losing a limb, perhaps an organ or two, and a good deal of blood. Nothing beat an apostle like, hey!, another apostle.
Gregory was crouched over Kieras' midsection as he stared down at the other as he tutted lightly. He was still twisting Kieras' dagger in his own stomach, and thus kept the wound from healing effectively. "You know, I was hoping you'd say that…I need a good warm up." Gregory jerked the blade and cut Kieras' stomach and the man gargled in pain. "The Bloody Black Rabbit's lost her soul, and you know where to find it, Kierry…just tell me, and I'll make all the pain stop…keep this up, and you'll be alive for a nice, agonizingly long time…trust me, I've been more or less asleep for the past century…I'm not going to get tired anytime soon." he chuckled.
"I w-won't speak.." Kieras shut his mouth tightly.
Gregory stared blankly down at the other a split second before he shrugged. "Suit yourself." he said as he lifted the dagger and brought it to Kieras' face. He'd find the Bloody Black Rabbit's soul…and unleash Hell on them.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Barma sat alone in his study, pouring over a few of the latest reports he'd had some of his men gather from here and there. There was no word on those who had managed to attack him, little world on the event at the Nightray manor although he knew well enough what he cared to about that, and then there was the current location of Alice's soul…still unknown.
"Security here is really lacking, you know. For someone like me to get in so easily…"
Barma gave no visible sign of surprise, he simply closed the report he'd been looking into slowly before he turned to face the crimson-robed and hooded Baskerville behind him. "Baskerville." there was distaste in his tone, but the other wasn't discouraged. "To come here of all places…"
"Yes, it is rather…bold, isn't it? But times have changed…sorcery is no longer what it used to be, and with all due respect, you aren't quite…the sorcerer that Lord Arthur was…"
"Surely you haven't come here just to insult me, have you?" Barma had already begun to stretch his awareness in anticipation of calling on Dodo, little use that it would be, if only to use it to attract the proper attention. But the Baskerville's words caused him to pause.
"Lord Rufus Barma…on behalf of the Baskervilles…I have a proposition for you…."
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"…Elliot?"
"Just stay back, Leo." Elliot said through gritted teeth as he clutched his stomach and pulled away from the wall he was leaned against to slam his shoulder against it. The pain helped keep him steady, it helped him to focus his mind.
He shouldn't be alive. But somehow, against all odds, he had rejected his own Chain and survived…but it had cost him. It was as if he'd been torn apart inside, he felt sick, he kept coughing up blood, and his dreams…they were nightmares…
He had hid it the night of the attack on the Nightray manor, but it seemed to have only gotten worse. Thankfully, it seemed that Vincent hadn't told a soul and on that night, had even looked to Elliot for help…but he didn't delude himself. Whatever 'brothersship' that they had formed would mean nothing if Vincent thought that it would benefit Gilbert or himself, Elliot knew that…but for now, while it didn't…he was safe.
For now.
Elliot leaned over and retched…blood.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"Please, Mama, won't you speak with him…?" Sharon looked to her mother pleadingly. If anyone could talk some sense into Duke Barma, it was her mother, the Duchess Sheryl Rainsworth…and Barma's old flame…Barma wasn't a man she liked, not remotely, but for the sake of Alice and the betterment of those who would need their key, Oz and his Black Rabbit…he might be necessary, he was too useful to lose…
"As I've said. I cannot. Rufus is a dear friend, and we never speak of business for just such a reason…we do not interfere with each other in that way…"
"But, Mama-"
"-No. I love you, but I will not do that for you…if you wish it, then you must speak with him yourself…" the Duchess said with a slight incline of her head.
Sharon recognized the light dismissal and sighed before she kissed her mother's cheek. "Thank you, Mama." she left the room with a little curtsy before she took to the hall to find Break. He wouldn't like what she felt that she had to do, but….then again, perhaps it was best not to explain. Not until she had done it, after all, the worst that Barma could say was 'no' was it not?
Sharon had to do something…
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"Will you grant my wish…?"
Break touched a hand to his cheek below the eye he had lost the day he'd vowed to grant the wish of the Will of the Abyss, a wish he had as of yet been unable to grant. He had hated her for so long for taking what little hope he'd had left, but it had been his own fault. Break had been a murderous illegal contractor, and yet instead of withering in the Abyss, he had gotten his wish granted. The Will of the Abyss was not responsible for the way that reality changed because of it, that burden rested solely on Break…as did those many, many people that he and his Chain had killed…
And now Alice had vanished, and left behind a body. As for Oz Vessalius, the vessel for Jack Vessalius, his current status continued to change…
But one thing was certain, both he and Oz were running out of time.
But who would be first?
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
A wide-eyed Reim Lunettes stood with his ear cocked towards the door before him. It wasn't like him to do this, certainly not to his own master, but he didn't have much of a choice. He had come to deliver the latest report to Duke Barma when he'd heard a male voice and paused. When he realized what it was, he had nearly gone in…until he heard Barma reply in turn…but what would he-
A small knife was held against his throat and Reim stiffened as his eyes slid to gaze back as best they could at the sudden attacker. Reim mentally cursed, he had to find a way to correct the situation quickly...Break would kill him if he truly died, after all...
"Didn't yer mum ever teach ya, it ain't nice to spy? Well tha's alright…there're ways 'o punishing the likes 'o you…"
Reim stiffened as he felt the dagger bite into his neck...
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Whoot! Plenty of little cliffhangers. I wanted to make this longer but I'm passing out, tis midnight and I return to Walmart for the next three days. XD But yay for lots of little cliff-hangers to add length…and progress the story…and did I mention that it adds length? XD That Barma thing was totally unexpected. I wonder what his answer was…? XD And what the proposition was…guess we'll see…and if Reim survives…meanwhile poor Elly is suffering…and whatever will Oz/Gil/Lucero doooo? AND WHAT INFORMATION IS THERE ON ALICE? XD P.S. I was going to make Ozberts, but the chocolate chips melted in my car into ooze, so I made a home-made Reeses…a.k.a. melted chocolate+layer of peanut butter on top XD but I should be attempting Ozbert cookies again soon and post a 'how to-fic' starring Gil/Oz and fluffff. Possibly Break-torment if they aren't little kiddies. And if the recipe turns out well. XD GIVE ME LOTS OF LOVE, PEEPS. I'm starved from days without…even if it's mostly my own fault. XD ;-; XDDD