AN: Finally! This chapter has been a while in coming. I won't ramble, but I will say my ten year old 17 inch monitor finally kicked the bucket, so now I'm sitting in front of my new Acer 24 inch high def monitor... Last Remnant never looked so good...
For those who didn't notice CHAPTER 13 GOT THE END SCENE ADDED TO, GO LOOK AT THAT BEFORE READING THE NEW CHAPTER!
February 2013 – rewrite complete! (Added a few bits to this, rewrote the first couple of scenes to fit better.)
(Previously)
"David."
The laden tone and lack of formal address automatically had the young Lord schooling his features to impassivity before he turned to address the qsiti. It was the wrong move for Pagus immediately picked up on what it meant. Grave concern with an undercurrent of anger draped the qsiti and David immediately knew this wasn't going to end well.
"I believe you have something to tell me David, and you are going to tell me in exacting detail, starting with why and when young Mr Sykes seems to have been fused with a Remnant."
ooooooooooooooooo
Lying deeply unconscious in a bed, in a private healing room just off the main ward, Rush was totally unaware of what a fuss he had caused with his little light show. He was entirely oblivious to what had happened between David and Pagus or that it resulted in David being forced from the healing wing with the Talisman and Blood Chalice.
That didn't hold any importance at the present moment though. What did matter was that the apprentice healer assigned to monitor his condition was out cold, hanging limply in the grip of the single most feared man on the Continent.
The golden eyed remnant had timed his arrival perfectly, blinking into existence moments after the older more experienced healer had returned to the main ward after two hours of monitoring the unconscious Sykes, leaving in his place the young apprentice. The boy, small for his sixteen years of life hadn't even seen the red garbed man appear, oblivious right up to the blow that stole his consciousness.
It was better that way.
Placing the boy with surprising gentleness across a table in the corner, the Conqueror took the time to thoroughly inspect the healed injuries on Rush, noting the presence of sinuous golden lines in both areas with an almost pleased expression.
Turning back to the apprentice he retrieved him from the table, face blank as he looked down at the soul he held, glowing softly and invisible to all but the Remnants. The warm lavender colour of a truly gentle, kind hearted soul brought the faintest twinge of pity from the solemn man, but he needed the vitality only a young soul possessed.
Laying the young Mitra on the bed he arranged both teens so that Rush was loosely spooning the smaller boy, face buried in the crook of his neck and one arm looped over the apprentice's waist. He did it to make the process as easy and natural as possible, for he wouldn't make the mistake of thinking Rush would ever do this willingly, at least not at this point in time.
Preparations made, he stood at the end of the bed and concentrated, reaching with mind and essence and coaxed the sleeping Remnant's consciousness to the surface. Ceallach felt the groggy mind register the soul beside him, catching the hazy flicker of curiosity, of :warm... Mine?/not Mine?: that he brushed away with long mastered skill.
Keeping Rush in that state of almost sleep was easy, directly due to his exhaustion and the lingering fog of sleep. Intensifying the suppressed feeling of bone deep need was just as simple... and got the desired result with a minimum of fuss.
"::That's it, feel it's strength, that warmth is for you, take it::"
Even if Ceallach hadn't been able to see the slowly diminishing soul, the muffled hum of contentment and Rush's abruptly tightened grip on the boy were obvious enough clues. Regarding the scene his passive expression became marred with a frown. He couldn't help but notice the younger Remnant's apparent gentleness even when half starved.
The child he was consuming wasn't moaning or twitching, barely showing any discomfort even as his essence was siphoned away. Most Remnants when taking whole souls were fast and efficient, while those with a more sadistic streak prolonged the moment for reasons he did not agree with but all had the same outcome. The creature in question inevitably died within hours, some within moments, the strain placed on the body too much to recover from.
In this instance however Ceallach could see the unconscious, instinctive care being used, never stretching or breaking the soul as it was coaxed out, the motion seemingly gentle enough to unravel a spider's web without snapping the silk. It left the oddest impression of comfort and intimacy to a usually straightforward, often brutal act.
There was almost no doubt in Ceallach's mind that the body would survive, which could prove to be inconvenient. He knew in theory that the soul, once it was consumed, drained of it's vital essence and rendered anew could regain enough strength to return, if it's body still lived. That could take decades however and the soul would be as a newborn, empty of all thought and memory which was cruel enough.
The thing that truly bothered him though was the chance of something else taking advantage of the vacant form, which was entirely possible. There was only one practical course of action for him to take.
Features settling to their usual impassivity he watched and waited, resigned to breaking the child's neck once Rush was finished. When there was nothing left to consume Ceallach went to disentangle the living body from Rush's grip, only to pause and turn to the door with narrowed eyes.
Someone was coming.
ooooooooooooooooo
Keeping an eye on the bustling healers, Irina crept in the direction of her brother's sick room. The whole place was still bogged down with burn victims, so most of the healers were too busy to even notice her, thankfully. She wasn't even allowed to help! Which okay, she could understand because burns could be tricky, but she could at least be an extra pair of hands.
For some reason, Pagus hadn't even let her see her brother and told her in no uncertain terms that Rush was to be left alone to rest. She only had a basic idea of what happened, but it was enough to make her worry... The surge of power from Rush had been the strongest she had ever experienced from him and she knew he was tired because she could still feel him, even though she couldn't see him.
On top of that the Conqueror had been there and hurt Rush, all while she was locked inside unable to stop him, courtesy of Emmy. Though to be honest she really doubted her Blessings effectiveness on such a powerful Remnant. In Koenigsdorf she was just lucky he'd been surprised by her interference.
What had made her mind up about sneaking in though was the news that Pagus had ordered Lord David out of his medical ward on the heels of a rather heated argument. Something smelled fishy, and she was going to find out what.
Set apart from the others at the end of a small corridor, the girl nearly reached her brother's room but had to duck into a small storage cupboard just as a young apprentice healer turned the corner, walking past her and into Rush's room.
About five minutes later an older healer emerged, speaking to the young assistant by the sound of it. The sound of a door closing made her perk up, slow footsteps going past her hiding place before abruptly stopping. Taking a chance she cracked the cupboard open just enough to see out before closing it as quickly and quietly as possible. The senior healer was talking to Pagus just a few meters away!
Curious despite the danger of being found Irina eased the door open a fraction and pressed her ear to the crack, listening intently. She listened for a good twenty minutes without hearing anything she could really understand, snippets of medical jargon making little sense without proper context. Straining to hear anything potentially useful she finally caught her brother's name. She couldn't hear the rest of what Pagus said, he was speaking far too quietly but she could make out the senior healer's reply.
"... No Sir, nothing unusual that I could see. He's been sleeping the whole time."
"..."
"No, the marks haven't made any visible progression. I told Tully to get one of us should he even suspect any changes."
"..."
"Yes Sir, I'll be relieving him in an hour."
"..."
"Of course, I won't speak of it to anyone else."
Breathing a sigh of relief when they moved back into the main ward the girl finally gave some attention to the niggling feeling that she was missing something and paled. She could feel the Conqueror nearby, and bolting for her brother's room she could think of only one place he would be.
No longer worried about being quiet she flung the door open and barrelled into the room, hands coming up as her Gift flared into life with a static hiss. The door was caught before it could hit the wall and pushed closed, prompting a squeak as she realised the man was standing right beside it.
Spinning she flung her hands out, gentle blue light bathing the room and its occupants but eliciting a grunt of annoyance from the Conqueror. The light didn't just affect the man before her though; it also drew a small noise of protest from her brother, who then began to rouse from his state of torpor.
Glancing back she let the light extinguish at the look of discomfort on Rush's face, dropping her hands. Looking back at the blonde Remnant by the door, she saw he was just standing with crossed arms, giving her an unimpressed stare. Hurrying over to the bed she reached out to shake Rush awake, yet stopped as the sight fully registered.
Her brother was looking far better than she had expected and was quite literally improving as she watched. Colour was suffusing his skin and shadows fading under his eyes, but the biggest improvement wasn't what she could see but what she could feel. His power had been notably subdued earlier, difficult for her to find whereas now it was practically singing.
Her skin was actually tingling from the rejuvenated pulse of power. That normally ephemeral energy felt deceptively solid, almost like a strong, highly contained air current until it began to settle down again.
The sight of the apprentice beside Rush set alarm bells ringing because she knew, just by looking that something was very wrong with him. The boy looked too pale, too still to just be sleeping despite the slight rise and fall of his chest and she rounded on the Conqueror, feeling shaken though she wasn't sure why.
"What did you do to that boy?!"
The demand was loud enough to finally rouse Rush, the sleepy Remnant rubbing his face as he finally grasped at full consciousness.
"Conqueror, tell me what you did!"
Irina hated the sudden weakness of her knees in the face of those golden eyes. After her escapade in Darken Forest her fear of the man had increased considerably, but she wouldn't let it control her.
Before she could repeat herself the Conqueror strode forward, a small contemptuous sneer on his face. Backing up hastily she ran straight into Rush who, though she hadn't heard him get up was now standing behind her. Putting a hand on her shoulder Rush nudged her back and placed himself between Irina and the Conqueror, the move stopping the man's advance.
Fixing Irina with a gimlet eyed look the Conqueror spoke, the undercurrent of scorn obvious.
"I do not take orders from a petulant child, and though I humoured you in the past my patience is not infinite. What I did was for your 'brother's' benefit and thus no business of yours."
The Conqueror emphasised the word 'brother' as though it had offended him for some reason, a hint of derision in his usually inexpressive voice. At that point Rush spoke up, his voice sounding strained and heavy with something Irina couldn't identify. His words were just as baffling.
"Why is the kid empty? Where's his light?"
The Conqueror's face twisted into something almost resembling regret before smoothing into its signature blank stare.
"You know what happened, even if you thought it was a dream."
A second or two after that Rush flinched as though struck, sinking slowly to the floor bearing a look of utmost horror.
"Rush? Rush what's wrong?!"
She almost missed what the Conqueror said, but she wasn't even sure Rush remembered he was in the room, the teen staring at his hands with something approaching abhorrence.
"I experience no enjoyment in causing you pain, but if you continue with your stubborn refusal to accept all that you are, it will be an inescapable eventuality. Our duty, your duty is too important to be approached with weakness."
The man looked even more grim than usual when he spoke, brows drawing together while he stared at Rush before turning abruptly... and suddenly he was beside the bed on the opposite side, reaching for the apprentice.
That seemed to galvanise Rush, for he lunged across the space in a fraction of a second, "NO!" bursting forth as he recognised the Conqueror's lethal intent. Colliding with the Remnant over such a small distance, the kinetic force generated was barely enough to knock a normal person back, yet it was more the verbal rebuttal that made Ceallach step back with a displeased look before vanishing without a sound.
With the man's abrupt departure seemed to go all of Rush's strength, for he sank to the floor only seconds after the Conqueror's oppressive aura had dispersed. Eyes locked on the boy lying so unnaturally still in the bed, he seemed unaware of Irina kneeling at his side.
"Rush? It's okay now, he's gone..."
He showed no sign of hearing her, face blank while his eyes filled with what Irina could only describe as quiet, twisted horror.
"Rush! Come on, answer me, please?"
Despite repeated attempts Irina could see she wasn't getting through to him, and she was getting anxious.
"Duty? Brother, what did he mean? What did you mean? What... what happened to the apprentice?"
The only reaction she got was Rush's hands tightening into white knuckled fists before relaxing just as quickly. He reminded her of someone who desperately wanted to break down but knew they couldn't, for the sake of the people who relied on them.
That distant, agonised expression pained her, hurt because it meant he was blocking her out, that he thought she couldn't help or understand.
She wouldn't get an answer anytime soon though, because just as she was about to ask again a presence flared to life in the upper floors of the castle. She knew what it was because she'd felt that same power not three hours before, the power of the Gae Bolg.
Rush sensed it too, head snapping up and eyes flashing electric green.
"Kellendros..."
Sparing a lingering glance at Irina, which she just nodded to he got to his feet and shot for the door, barely pausing to wrench it open before he was gone in a blur of green.
ooooooooooooooooo
Standing by the window in his private library, David looked out at the sunset and brooded. The argument with Pagus was at the forefront of his thoughts, busy picking apart the mistakes he had made and how he could have resolved it without losing his temper. That wasn't the only thing he had to worry about however.
Nearly as prominent was the question of how he was to explain to his people the loss of Athlum's second Remnant, mere months after the first?! Also how could he send aid to Royotia now, when so many men had been killed and injured and his cities defence had never been so vital?
Looking down at his hand he clenched his fist around the object he was holding, helpless frustration building as he looked at the glittering red-gold links of the Blood Chalice Remnant. It had been a complete surprise to David that the Remnant had all but fallen from Rush's wrist with Pagus' tug, remembering Irina's failed attempts at coaxing the Remnant off...
David only had a seconds warning, an all too familiar tingle in the air before a curved female form was pressed against his back. Warm breath tickled his ear as he stiffened in shock at the sudden intrusion. He held back a shudder when sharp nails scraped gently at the nape of his neck, catching on his leather choker.
"Hello my pet, not pleased to see me?"
Knowing exactly who and what was at his back, David twisted away from the warped caress, jabbing with an elbow to force her back so he could retreat across the room. His elbow didn't meet soft flesh however, but a hard unforgiving surface that jarred his arm, smooth like marble or metal. Slipping Blood Chalice into his pocket under the guise of shaking out his arm he took a moment to study her appearance, clothed as she now was.
The woman he regarded coldly didn't seem ready for a fight, clad in deep golden silk with a floaty blue chiffon over garment. Her hair was also styled into an elaborate coif, decorated with jewelled combs sporting sapphire, blue topaz and iolite gems.
Despite being in 'enemy territory' her relaxed, lazy posture spoke of total confidence in her superiority. Much as it galled him, David knew she had cause for that confidence.
"Kellendros, I didn't think you would be dropping by so soon. Why are you here?"
Face transforming into a mock pout, the woman waved a finger at him in a scolding gesture, moving forward as he backed away. Like a venomous snake she almost glided across the carpet, all sinuous grace and cold cruel eyes.
"You already know why I'm here, or you think you do."
With a smile flitting about the corner of her mouth she began to circle David, forcing him to turn to keep her in sight.
"You think I'm here to tear into that sweet soul of yours. As much as the notion appeals to me, I don't want to have our game end so soon. So no need to worry, I'm just here for a little torment before you get squirreled away by that green eyed brat. I want to see you suffer before I snuff out your soul. The truth is... strictly speaking I'm not meant to be here, but I saw this as an opportunity not to be missed."
Stopping her circling she examined him with narrowed eyes, gaze lingering on his neck.
"I see you still know your place as a pet, even though you ran to the arms of a new master."
More irritated than fearful David bristled, hating the condescending tone she used.
"No one is the master of me, least of all you Kellendros."
Faking puzzlement she lifted one hand and pointed at him, more specifically at his throat.
"Oh? Why is it that you wear a collar like a common pet then? Why do you wear the mark of ownership on your soul, put there by the pipsqueak Warden?"
Glaring while his face twisted between sorrow and disgust, David nearly hissed the reply, hating her feigned ignorance over such a sensitive subject.
"You know why I wear this choker; you've been lodged in my soul for the past five years, and my father's before that."
Faced with such a juicy topic, she ignored him glossing over the ownership mark in favour of prying open that old wound.
"Mmm, so easily riled. Of course I remember, how could I forget the anger your father felt, the satisfaction at having that little traitor executed for what he did to you. I just love to get under your skin, see that look of pained betrayal whenever you remember it. It nearly broke you at the time, didn't it? Putting your faith in someone, trusting them, then being betrayed so cruelly, and learning that was the plan all along. Simply heartbreaking."
Wiping away a fake tear she revelled in the look of utter fury David was sending her.
Pausing in her emotional torment she tilted her head a little, then looked towards the door.
"It seems a new source of entertainment will be arriving soon, which is quite a relief because I was getting rather peckish…"
Turning her back to David in a display of casual arrogance she flitted over to the closed door, waving a hand almost negligently at the young lord. When the door began to open David tried to move, shout out a warning to whoever was coming, but found himself utterly paralysed, unable to even blink.
He could only watch as a chambermaid stepped across the threshold, surprise briefly registering on her face before she was viciously backhanded across the room. Closing the door with a quiet click, Kellendros sauntered over to the fallen maid, one slipper clad foot pressing down on her throat before she could really cry out.
"Do you like my paralysis? It's not something I can do to anyone else you know, so you should feel honoured."
A mischievous light in her eyes, she pushed a fallen lock of hair behind her ear.
"I'm sure by now you're wondering where that weak excuse for a Remnant you call friend is, as surely he would have felt me, no?"
At those words David felt his blood run cold. She couldn't have done something to Rush, not in a ward full of patients and healers…
"Your face is like an open book, how pathetic. He is fine, in fact he'll be more than fine if my Lord Warden isn't interrupted, mores the pity. He isn't ramming down this door right now because he can't sense me or anything I do so long as I wear these, indeed no Remnant can sense me."
Gesturing to her gilded hair combs she frowned down at the servant, pressing harder when she heard a tiny whimper escape the girl.
"I suppose you wish to know just what my Lord Warden is doing to your friend? He's giving the little brat what he needs to get strong again, probably a sweet young soul or two in case you were wondering. Warden Ceallach is truly too kind hearted, even to traitors. "
Glaring daggers at the woman, no, woman was too kind a word, the she-devil gloating before him, his heart vehemently rejected what she had said, even while his subconscious whispered doubts.
The maid gave a soft confused whimper just then and his attention jumped back to her. She could only be about fourteen, Irina's age, her short dark hair and pale skin only emphasising both the similarity to Rush's sister and the rapidly forming bruise on the side of her face, bright blood leaking from a split lip.
Dragging the girl upright by a hand fisted in her hair, Kellendros took her by the arm and pulled her close, the other hand lifting her chin.
"Hmm, what a drab creature, brown hair, brown eyes, you might as well be a mouse… Yes, a timid little mouse scurrying in dark corners, cleaning up the crumbs. You're nothing compared to my David, my handsome golden boy."
Looking over at David, she endured his furious glare with a smirk.
"Don't get your feathers all ruffled up now, we're not done yet…"
Abruptly turning back to the girl she dug her nails into the soft skin, eliciting a petrified whine.
"Oh dear, it seems I hit it too hard. Mice really are fragile, they bruise far too easily. My, there's even some blood! Let me clean that up for you..."
So saying, Kellendros drew her tongue over the smear of red by the girl's mouth, humming appreciatively. Incensed and disgusted, David could see the pleased glow in the Remnant's eyes as she practically molested the poor maid, scoring more bloody lines on her face before 'cleaning' them.
When the monster actually winked at him, he knew she was taunting him with his own inability to act. He could do nothing but watch in outraged silence while she took her time to ravish the terrified and humiliated girl.
Drawing back halfway through she tilted her head, again acting as though she was listening to a sound he could not hear.
"It seems our time grows short, my Lord Warden has left and your owner is awake. I still have a few minutes though, time enough to finish with thepièce de résistance. It's a little something to remind you of the dangers that come with befriending one of my kind, what hides under that runt's oh so human skin."
Switching her grip from the maid's chin to her throat, Kellendros pressed forward catching the girl in a forceful open mouthed kiss. For a scant second or two the chambermaid didn't react, leaving David to wonder what Kellendros was playing at. He didn't have to wonder for long.
Finally responding, the girl seemed to go mad, body bucking as she tried to get away, hands and feet lashing out at the Remnant in a frenzied display, eyes rolling in pure terror. Kellendros didn't even acknowledge the struggle, immovable as stone. After a few long seconds the girl subsided, limbs twitching slightly as she slowly went limp before being discarded on the floor like a child's doll.
As the Remnant pulled back, David thought he caught a fleeting glimpse of something translucent and misty hanging between the two before it vanished between Kellendros' parted lips. Kellendros, whole face alight with pleasure, swallowed and licked her lips theatrically and David, horrified yet fascinated at the same time, understood.
"Mmm, she was tasty. I do so love it when they try and fight, the struggle makes them that much more appetising. It's truly a shame you could never experience it from my point of view. It really is the best sensation in the world, like drinking ambrosia straight from the divine's chalice. Warm and sweet and trembling in your mouth, like a trapped butterfly, insubstantial as spun sugar and beating like a tiny heart all the way down."
As she said this she trailed one hand from throat to abdomen, caressing the silk of her dress like one would touch a lover. Sashaying over to David she used the same hand to trace his lips and stroke his jaw, repulsing him with the sheer possessiveness he could feel in the touch.
"Well, at least you can sympathise with the poor thing, for if memory serves your 'best friend' nearly devoured you less than a month ago."
Reading his face she smiled, expression devious and smug voice purring with twisted delight.
"Oh yes, I see you remember, as do I. In exquisite detail. I saw all that anxiety, all that mouth watering terror, could practically taste it so thick it was in the air. You claim to trust him now, to love him as a friend, yet I can see deep down you are still terrified. Buried beneath what you think you feel there is fear at the knowledge of what he could do given the opportunity. You are scared of his power, terrified that one day he will turn on you, betray youand a weak Mitra like you could do nothing to stop him."
Feeling sick to his stomach, David listened as she whispered those words into his ear, the warm breath kissing the side of his face making him want to retch. When he clenched his hands in unconscious response to her poisonous words he realised with a sharp breath that he could move!
Wasting no time to wonder why she'd released him he snatched one of the heavy silver candlesticks from the nearby reading table and swung, his whole weight behind the attack. He caught a glimpse of her face, startled and uncomprehending before the heavy silver smashed into the side of her head, jewelled combs breaking under the impact as she was sent stumbling.
Bolting for the door David hoped he'd bought himself enough ti... the thought was cut short when he was grabbed from behind, the candlestick ripped from his grasp and he was thrown across the room. Hitting the tabletop he slid across and off the other side, hip stinging from the impact. Scrambling to his feet he wished vehemently that he'd thought to keep his sword at hand, but after the argument he had been so out of sorts that he'd forgotten to retrieve it from his rooms.
The moment he was standing he found himself frozen once more, head screaming as a spiked vice of pain squeezed around his temples. If he had been able to move it would have brought him to his knees, vision blurring as he felt something wet drip from his nose.
"That... was for being a Very. Bad. Boy David."
Stalking towards him with her hair in disarray Kellendros seemed more than a little ticked off, eyes black pits of anger as she hissed the words. Her voice was no longer the honeyed poison from before, now it sounded more threatening, a dry reptilian rasp interspaced with ominous rumbles.
"I was going to leave you intact from this meeting, but I think you need a more... permanent reminder on how to behave towards your betters."
Up close David could see her eyes really had turned black, an oily film that rippled when she blinked and sent chills down his spine.
"Now, what should I take, hm? A hand maybe? Your tongue? That would preserve your looks but your voice is also something to be enjoyed... and I look forward to making you scream. Decisions, decisions... ah, perfect. It won't even detract from that handsome face too much, especially once you cover the damage... so I think I'll take... this."
From the way she was tracing sharp nails around his right eye David could guess all too well what she meant.
"It has a nice touch of irony to it, taking the eye my patch rested over for so many years. Now how should I do it? I don't want too much scarring after all..."
Breath stilling she abruptly looked at the door, swearing (for the virulence of it could only be a curse) in a strange sibilant tongue.
David could see that with her concentration broken the black quickly receded from her eyes, although a faint sheen remained dulling their colour. He only had a bare moment to note this before she moved behind him, nails digging into the back of his neck a scant second before the door nearly flew off its hinges.
"Dave!"
Seeing Rush burst into the room brought a cool flush of relief for David. He only got a momentary glimpse of the green shrouded teen, still in a patient's gown by the looks of it before things started to move faster than he could register them. In the blink of an eye Kellendros' presence seemed to swell at his back with blistering heat just before the Ex Machina appeared over his shoulder.
Able to see the familiar barrel from the corner of his eye and the light already glowing from its muzzle, David only registered the shot after it was fired. In the same instant Rush moved,a green flash that seemed to collide with the stream of energy even as Kellendros shot again in rapid fire sequence; once, twice, three times more.
ooooooooooooooooo
What David didn't, indeed couldn't see was how Rush reacted. The first shot he deflected with a swipe of his arm, a weaker mirror of what the Conqueror had done in Koenigsdorf. His action sent it flying with some luck, out one of the floor length windows with a tinkle of breaking glass. The second came so close on the heels of the first that he had no chance of hitting it and all he could do was dodge, the doorframe and a large part of the wall behind him demolished in a cascade of splinters, plaster and stone.
Mind working in overdrive Rush had already noted the important details, Kellendros' strength compared to his own and David's recently distressed state, sharpening his focus even further.
For Rush who was seeing as only a Remnant could, David registered as body and soul; flesh, blood, light and emotion as a single indivisible whole. Seeing a threat so close to one of his own, distress, pain and something else visible in David's soul as a deep navy bruise telling him all he needed to know, it was more than enough to incite anger.
Rather than dodge or deflect the last two shots which were so close together they were practically one, Rush hit them head on, cutting straight through like a hot knife through butter. His eyes were glittering shards of green ice as they locked onto their target but Kellendros was already moving by then, leaping back even as he pounced.
Unseen by all but Kellendros as Rush was far too focused to notice, threads of gold flickered over the teen's hands, trailing up fingers stretching to grip and tear and manifesting ethereal claws made all the more dangerous with frozen green power.
ooooooooooooooooo
To David, it went much more quickly. One piercing, thwarted shriek amidst the blur of motion and the flash-bang of power colliding with power and it was over, Kellendros fleeing the same way she arrived. Disoriented, David realised he was on the floor and that he could move at the same time he registered the pain burning in the back of his neck.
The next moment Rush was there, enfolding him in a brief smothering hug before backing off and helping him to sit up, pressing what felt like cloth to the sharp, stinging pain. Reaching up to feel, David abruptly realised what had happened. His leather choker was gone, torn from his neck by razor sharp nails just before Kellendros fled leaving a painful, bloody memento.
Realising Rush hadn't actually said anything yet, not even a concerned murmur David turned and found the teen actively avoiding eye contact, a look of relief, fading anger and utmost shame on his face. The hesitance in his touch was palpable despite the obvious need to check that David was alright. His indecision and posture were just screaming that something was very wrong.
For one brief moment David felt an inordinate amount of relief for his friend's presence, before his condition registered and dread uncoiled in the pit of his stomach.
As much as he desperately didn't want to believe it, David knew what had so upset Rush just by looking at him. He saw the proof that supported Kellendros earlier words in luminous silver green eyes and skin radiant with health. It was a far cry from the pallid, exhausted figure he had left in the healing ward only two hours before, and there was only one awful, unthinkable conclusion.
As much as he wished it was inconceivable, the evidence was staring him in the face and David had to shut his eyes in an attempt to stave off encroaching nausea at the thought.
"Rush...? Oh no... Please tell me you didn't..."
He could see from Rush's reaction that he was correct, a sickened, self loathing expression marring his brimming vitality. His eyes were hollow despite their brightness and he was obviously expecting David to recoil in horror, to react as he had after his first awakening.
Admirably David was able to contain any outward reaction, despite half formed nightmarish scenarios rearing up in the back of his mind, but Rush was still able to catch the flickers of damning horror in his eyes.
"How did it happen?"
Rush flinched and shrunk back as if the words were a physical blow but he did reply, though in a very quiet voice.
"I'm not really sure, I remember thinking it was a dream at first..."
The story spilled out after that in a toneless monologue, as though Rush was afraid he wouldn't be able to continue if he let any emotion leak through. David couldn't help the look that crossed his face when Rush described the... the victim with the words "he was just a kid..." David for his part didn't know what to feel, relief that it didn't seem... no, wasn't a deliberate choice on Rush's end, or dismay that he never realised what he was doing until it was over and done.
Eyes falling on the maid's body, discarded in the corner David was torn from his weighty thoughts by a small, rhythmic movement and to his shock he realised she was still breathing. Hopes raised he wondered if perhaps Kellendros hadn't taken her whole soul, that there might still be a chance that she would wake.
Rush followed his gaze, visibly startled by the sight of the body before he stopped David from getting up with a hesitant touch on his shoulder, face pained and shaking his head.
"I'm sorry Dave but what you're thinking... she won't wake up. There isn't anything there anymore."
Relenting at the soft sorrowful tone David managed to catch Rush's eye and asked very carefully...
"How do you know that? Why do you sound so sure?"
The look of self condemnation in the teen's eyes was easy to see, anguish colouring his next words.
"I can see it. She's empty, just like the kid..."
Prompted by the look on David's face Rush elaborated quietly.
"When I look at a normal person I don't just see them, I see the light inside them. I guess the light is them, because it's different in everyone, different colours and shapes... and depths, if that makes sense. I mean you, you're blue... but not like any one type of blue, you're like all the shades of the sea and the sky combined, though it's not just that. The colours, light, whatever, it's full of shifting tones and currents like a deep river, and if I really try I can kinda take a guess at what you're feeling from the way it looks... and I'm rambling now aren't I?"
This last part was said with clear embarrassment and a hint of despair over his rather poetic explanation.
"What I mean is that I can see when the light... when the soul's gone and... she doesn't have any light left."
Not sure whether he should feel complimented or a bit unnerved by the way Rush looked at him while describing his 'light', David shuffled the thought to the back of his mind for later consideration.
Discomfited by the lost, oddly pleading expression Rush wore David got to his feet, brushing off Rush's concerned hand without a glance. Turning he walked over to the smashed window, staring out at the overcast sky.
Distantly he knew he should be reassuring the teen, not acting so cold but he couldn't help it. He needed a moment to think. The belief, the trust in Rush that David had spend weeks reaffirming had just been severely shaken. He knew if he turned around he would see Rush looking lost and vulnerable, and if he continued his silence that look would change ever so slowly to broken realisation.
It was difficult to spot but David had seen that Rush was, in some ways afraid of his own power, of what he could and now had, done. The teen was very vulnerable to his fear right now, his own reactions in the 'dream experience' that started all this and his mother's betrayal laying the groundwork for such poisonous thoughts.
Sighing quietly David knew he couldn't let this continue, a facade of calm falling over his features. In truth David partially blamed himself for letting Pagus's suspicions goad him into that argument. He should have just told Pagus the truth and thus alerted him to the possible danger of Rush's... condition. It was in the past though and the mistake had been made, so all that was left now was to try to minimise the repercussions.
Sure enough when David turned around Rush was standing awkwardly where he'd left him, confusion and budding dismay inching across his face.
"...David?"
The lack of 'Dave' was very telling, as was the tone he'd used and the slightly hunched shoulders. Moving closer so they were within touching distance David was reminded by that confusion just how young Rush was, not in years but in life experience. Having grown up on an isolated island with a tiny population, it had left him ill equipped to deal with extremely negative emotional reactions. His relatively isolated upbringing resulted in that unbelievable naivety which David had seen from the first moment they met.
Rush was getting nervous with the prolonged silence, expression falling with excruciating slowness as he came to the worst conclusion for David's silence.
With no small touch of shame David remembered his original intentions to exploit and control Rush because of his talisman. Naivety to David then had been little more than a weakness, amusement and irritation in equal measures. Rush however didn't have that ruthlessness and his uncomplicated, friendly, caring personality had been very good for David in the past year.
"Oh, Rush..."
Despite his own insecurities David wouldn't be the one to punish Rush for something he had no control over, for needing what he did. Knowing Rush was too tactile a person for a few words to be enough, David stepped forward and enfolded the shorter teen in a strong hug.
After a brief instant of confused resistance Rush realised what David was saying and melted into the rare gesture with relief. Much of that relief evaporated at what David said next.
"Rush, I know you will likely be reluctant but this secrecy cannot last for much longer. I have to explain to my people why they saw the Conqueror transform the Gae Bolg into a living, breathing woman. Pagus is already convinced you have been fused with a Remnant somehow and that Marina is the cause. Torgal has been acting strangely for the last few days and I believe I know why. Rush..."
Pulling back he put both hands on Rush's shoulders, face grave.
"I need to ask your permission to reveal the truth about you to my generals. I also think it is time to reveal the sentience of Remnants to the people, but I will only do this if you agree. Please think about this Rush, and only give me an answer once you have decided."
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Wow, another chapter done!