Haunting ground Chapter 13

Said the spider to the fly

The eye sees not itself but a reflection by some other things

-Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

The house of truth wasn't much, by what Ren and Fiona could see it was a large square building. The structure seemed to extend along the coast; he let out a sigh as the waves lapped against the shore. The E shaped building was surrounded by a large rock face making going around next to impossible. Fiona headed up the stairs, noticing Ren holding back, "what's wrong?" Fiona said looking down at him, her eyes followed his; Ren scanned the huge building, from what he could see. "No windows, it's completely isolated." He said Ren looked up at her. Fiona smiled as Ren followed her in. Fiona pulled the arrow that Ren had fired earlier out of the door. She smiled handing it to him, Now that's just wasteful." he notched it just incase. They drew in the massive hall, It was weird; the room looked like what Ren would call the inside of a stomach. They continued forward on the bone floor, Ren went low pulling the arrow to full draw, and headed down a set of steps. All Ren could see where plants and more taxidermy, wolves, grizzly bears and other big game animals. He headed back up Fiona already checking out a second set of stairs. The other lower area was just an empty room, a couple boxes of dynamite was off to the side, "guess they're planning to redecorate." The little joke made them smile.

Back up stairs Fiona stopped at the end of the hall, noticing a tap, she filled up Ren's flask. As Ren and Hewie headed to the left following a weird wall that looked like bones blocking the way, Hewie followed sniffing around gnawing on the bone like pillars; he knelt next to the dog. "Guess they're real. Femur's belonging to some big animal?" Hewie didn't answer. Fiona turned the corner as Ren opened a door. It took Fiona a second to catch up; Ren was standing there waiting for her. "So when we find Lorenzo, what then?" Fiona shrugged, "we go home?" She sounded hopeful, Ren nodded his eyes wondered "What's wrong?" Fiona asked.

Ren shook his head, "just something Riccardo said." Fiona nodded, "do you think if he didn't want to help us. He would have guided us here…" Ren turned to look at her, Fiona realizing how much sense that really made. She sighed, "Guess that dose sound a lot like famous last words… Let's just give him the benefit of the doubt?"

Ren Nodded, "we don't have much of a choice now, do we?" They continued down the hall, Fiona stood at the door on the other end of the tunnel. Her hand was shaking, she was shaking. This could all be a trap, they wanted her and only her, and she had her proof that Ren and Hewie where dispensable. Ren's hand fell on her shoulder, without thinking her other hand came up and rested on his. She slowly pushed the door open and stepped in looking around. To her relief Ren was still behind her. Ren was leering at something in the gloom, "Who's there?" Fiona backed up against the door.

"Poor Fiona, Riccardo put you two through quite a bit. Didn't he, he was always a trouble maker, a bad apple."

Lorenzo came forward, or more like wheeled forward. The man was ancient; his right eye was half closed probably due to a stroke, or mutable strokes. His teeth where decayed, which caused him to make a sucking sound when he breathed.

"You got a lot to answer for, old man," Ren growled. "Don't you mean my boy, your grandfather has a lot to answer for," the old man smiled lightly, Ren felt like he was boring in to his very soul. "He gave up his family life to come here and protect me and my lands." Ren growled "Bull shit!!!" he yelled. "He is also the one who helped Ugo escape with that Wench Ayla." Ren looked over at Fiona. "My Grandfather died, over 30 years ago." Ren growled "Hmm is that what they told you?" Lorenzo smiled. Ren didn't have any answers; Fiona came forward, "what about my dad." Lorenzo smiled again wheeling forward.

"I Aureolus Lorenzo Belli created them both. Riccardo and Ugo, Ren's grandfather, rescued your mother Ayla, when she was injured, so he brought her here to recover. This is where she met Ugo. I of course prohibited them from seeing each other; John eventually helped her escape with Ugo. They stole him away from me." Ren's smiled, "looks like gramps and I have a lot in common." Lorenzo let out a grunt "But then you came along Fiona, My dear sweet Fiona." he smiled again.

"Fate has brought you back to me, and now thanks to Ren you are mine, all mine." Ren frowned "You wish." Lorenzo scowled "I was expecting Riccardo to kill you, but he seemed to gain a kind of fondness for you." He smiled at Ren, "But by killing him you saved me some trouble."

"But I was hoping you both would have finished each other off." Ren smiled, "Sorry about your luck." He began to Roll towards them, "but no matter! She is mine."

No-----! Fiona screamed. Ren charged forward slamming his boot in to the chair, forcing the old mans chair against a large cabinet. Lorenzo let out a curse just as two arrows screamed at him and slammed in to his chair above his shoulders, he looked up the arrows still vibrating. He lowered his arms, Ren training an arrow on him. "No offence, but I don't think you'll be doing much of anything, I also think it is in your best interest to give us away out, Old Man." Ren Growled.

Lorenzo Glared at him, "how dare you." but Ren and Fiona where already out the door.

Fiona hugged herself, "don't worry, we'll find a way out." Ren said, "I promise you, you, me and Hewie ARE getting out of here." that made Fiona smile a bit, but she was wearing her feelings all over. 'I loved my Mom and dad'. She said. She turned and stared at the door, "I really thought he was truly on our side." She noticed Ren look back at her, He looked like he was going to say something, but kept turning his attention to the archways of the hall, and they could sense something alive about the place. The archway looked like it had arms and other human body parts protruding through them. Ren turned as one of the hands reached out and grabbed his arm. "Shit..." but he was cut off as the arm forced him into the wall. Fiona yelled, running to help him but the door behind her opened. She glanced down as Lorenzo pulled himself through the threshold, apparently the atrophy in his legs didn't keep him from crawling around. "Run!" she heard Ren Yell. Lorenzo looked over at him and smiled, he quickly pulled a throwing dagger. But he was out of range.

Fiona turned through a door and in to a dark area and down a flight of steps, it was dark.

She could hear Lorenzo breathing heavily up above. The door across from her was barred, she was trapped, she waited for him to attack, but it never came. "Why Fiona thought spying a torch on the wall. She took the small flame and slowly started up the stairs. Hewie let out a worried whine, Ren was gone. She ran to where he had been, but he was gone. By the look of the arm that had him, it looked like Ren must have broken lose. She smiled and headed slowly down the hall, Hewie kept ahead of her as they headed back out in to the main hall. Hewie began to growl as she heard a light shuffling; she ducked down the stairs, to avoid the old man. It was a lightly lit area. Fiona held the torch high to get a look around. The only thing in the room was the stacked boxes 'TNT', written on them. Fiona looked at the torch and backed away, just then Lorenzo Pulled himself out from behind the crates. She went to Run as Lorenzo let out a burst of speed. Catching her foot Fiona fell forward, Lorenzo pulling himself on top of her. Fiona swung the torch at him, but the old man swiped it away.

"Now My Fiona, my dear sweet Fiona."Fiona felt him caress her cheek, she looked for Hewie but he was nowhere to be seen. So she did the only thing she could do, she brought her leg up as hard as she could, Catching the old man between the legs. He let out a cry as Fiona pushed him off. She quickly scrambled to her feet; Lorenzo snarled but realized she wasn't looking at him. She turned and ran, she looked back in time to see Lorenzo look back, the torch he had knocked away landed near the box of TNT and had caught fire. Fiona heard him scream her name as a massive explosion tore through the room. Fiona felt her self fall back from the force of the blast. As the smoke cleared, she and Hewie descended the stairs. Lorenzo had been crushed by some falling rocks, but the blast had also opened a doorway in to a new hall. Smiling to herself she and Hewie headed back to the main hall to find Ren.

Ren walked on through the gloom, he had managed to pry open the arm holding him. But before he could get away the wall opened up and he was literally tossed in, Ren was sure he had heard an explosion so he headed towards that sound, but the hall ended and lead him in a completely new direction. After what seemed like an eternity his boot crashed in to something, using the torch he had found earlier he picked it up. It was white and round. It was definitely a skull, but as Ren turned it over. He quickly realized that it wasn't human. It had long fangs, two prominent eye sockets, and six smaller ones. Ren dropped it to the ground and continued on. But stopped to the shuffling sound behind him, Ren paused. Nothing moved nothing made a sound. There was a light cackle Ren dropped the torch, and unsheathed his bow backing up, notching one of the explosive shots he continued to back away heading towards a light source. Ren shot a look back, just as the torch was cut out. Agreeing with himself he was being followed, he turned and picked up speed, coming into a small circular room, it was dimly lit. This area was a lot like the catacombs he had seen earlier and more then likely just as old. Ren turned as he heard another hiss; he took aim at the tunnel. A figure dropped from the ceiling. She stood in the hall, seeming afraid of the light. she stood a full foot taller then him, her feet ended in long spider like legs, positioned on her toes, her arms also ended the same way, four long legs protruded from her back, a large bubble seemed to hang between her legs, Ren assumed it was a sort of insect thorax. Two long pinchers extended from the mouth, that Ren assumed was a smile.

She seemed quite pleased with herself. Ren released the arrow at the spider things thorax, it screamed as it was thrown forward; the large bubble was completely destroyed by the explosion. Ren backed up as she screamed in agony being forced in to the light. The ear piecing screeching would put even Daniella to shame. The screaming didn't stop until she was just a burnt husk. "Somehow I don't think that's one of Lorenzo's many love children." Ren turned as a new door was opened, this hall was lit so he headed through, leaving the dead creature behind, but he could hear many more coming to life.

Ren soon found himself running as fast as he could through a hall. He assumed and hoped he was back in the house of truths basement. Ren managed to bust through an old barred door and up a flight of stairs. The new hall he was in looked a lot like the hall that lead to Lorenzo's study. He followed it to a door watching the limbs on the walls carefully. The door way at the end of the hall opened into a large room. A massive stone crusher was positioned on the wall to his right, large machinery to his left. It looked like a small excavation site. "Where is she!?!?" Ren froze and turned, Lorenzo lay there at the door. "Why is it you give off such a strong Azoth?" the old man glanced up at the blue crystal hanging from Ren's neck." Lorenzo Let out a hiss and dragged himself focusing on the small crystal dagger reaching for it, but Ren was quick at Getting out of the mans way. Hoisting him self up on to some boxes. Lorenzo glared up at him. Ren sat there perched like a great Raptor Eyeing it's pray. "Why did you help us? Why did you lead us here?" Ren growled. Lorenzo smiled,

"To Bring Fiona here for my grand transformation." He smiled at Ren, "so judging by the alligator impersonation you haven't found her yet. Riccardo was right. I should have stopped you when I had the chance." Ren said, cursing himself. He looked down "so what will happen to her... when you take her... Azoth." Ren looked back the way he had came, "And what the hell are those things in the lower levels." he looked at him with a confused look. "She will Remain here with me," Lorenzo said coldly. Ren nodded, "you deserve a fate worse then death, for hindering this task," Lorenzo hissed. "Really? Judging by the weird mutated skeletons in your basement, your fates worse them mine." Lorenzo grit his teeth. "When I'm rid of this body, I will see you die slowly." Ren hopped off the boxes glaring down at Lorenzo, he had a slight look of fear in his eyes. "Then it's in my best interest to see you don't leave this room, Alive." Lorenzo smiled "you won't kill me just like that, you have too much heart." he rolled as an arrow struck where he had once been. The old man breathed hard, "How dare you!" he spat.

He crawled forward, grabbing for Ren's Legs Pulling him to the ground; Ren dropped his bow, as Lorenzo wrapped his powerful hands around Ren's neck. But Ren was stronger then Fiona and used his leg to throw the old man up and over. Lorenzo landing on the old rock crusher conveyer belt, Ren coughed as he got to his feet. Lorenzo looked up as the hunter leveled the bow with Lorenzo. "You don't have it in you to kill a man in cold blood; I have done nothing to you." Lorenzo smiled, as Ren turned taking aim at the machinery. "Let's, let fate decide."

Ren released the arrow, there where sparks of electricity, a second passed and there was a loud hum, as the generator roared to life. Lorenzo yelled as the conveyer belt started to move, Ren didn't watch as Lorenzo was pulled in. his scream's where cut off by a brutal crunching sound. "He deserved it Ryu Don't forget that," He said to himself. After the belt had stopped Ren looked at the mess, a key in the bloody heap. Ren picked it up; somehow it had missed being crushed.

Fiona slowly headed back sure she had heard the sound of machinery, she looked passed the rubble, the explosive's made a continent hole, Lorenzo no where to be seen. Hewie let out a light whine, heading on a head. The new hall was similar to the one that lead to Lorenzo's study. Fiona noticed Hewie clawing at a door she slowly opened it. The door opened in to a large room, Fiona smiled. Ren was standing at the other end of the room; she went to run up to him but stopped. She noticed blood pooling from a conveyer belt, she took in a gulp of air, "L… Lorenzo?"

Ren nodded looking his bow over, adjusting a few components. "You ready to get out of here?" Ren said, putting away a small tool. She nodded. Both turned and headed for the doorway.

The new room was a brightly colored room, with teal colored tiles. Hewie sniffed around, Ren looked to his right noticing a strange doorway. Sensing a weird energy coming from it. He placed his hand on the door, it was almost humming, he knocked on it, but it was like an invisible shield was there. Ren turned, "hey Fiona check this out." He watched as Fiona opened a door and stepped inside. Just as the door slammed shut behind her. Ren ran to it, pulling it open. But it only opened to an empty closet. 'Fiona?' Ren silently whimpered.

Fiona spun realizing she was an idiot for going off ahead, she tried the door.

"YOU HAVE BEEN VERY NAUGHTY FIONA, YOU ARE CAUSEING ME MUCH GREIF."

"Who's there?" she yelled. She glanced around the room. She tried the door one more time.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING FIONA?" the voice mocked, "WHERE DO YOU INTEND TO RUN?"

She headed deeper into the room, looking for the source of the voice.

"OH HOW I LOVE THEE, AZOTH!"

Thinking fast she noticed a door on the other side of the room, she ran to it. It opened in to a Closet.

"AHA. LOOKS LIKE A DEAD END, DEAR, HOW... UNFORTUNATE."

Fiona grits her teeth, "stop jerking me around!!!" she yelled imitating Ren's swagger.

"GETTING FLUSTERED I SEE."

She headed back in to the room. Just as a book shelf fell in front of her, she fell back hard.

THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE, EH FIONA. Fiona looked around

"I CAN SEE YOU CLEARLY FROM HERE."

Fiona found her self looking about, "where?"

"YOU SIMPLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND, EVEYTHING I DO IS FOR THE GREAT TRUTH."

"Who are you, let us go" Fiona called out.

"HOW ADORABLE YOU ARE, FIONA, AT LAST! YOU ARE MINE FIONA. HAVE YOU LONGED FOR ME AS I LONG FOR YOU?"

Fiona paused as she heard the door unlock, she ran over to it. It opened but Ren didn't come charging in. a voice called from outside. "Come to me Fiona ...!" she backed away. "Come to me Fiona ...!" Marshaling all her courage she stepped through the door. But now in an entirely different area, "REN!?! HEWIE!?!" The door slowly closing behind her she only glanced back as it locked. "The great Aureolus Belli once said the most valuable thing in this world. Is the great truth."

Human beings...

She stopped as she saw Ren and her mother appear, but only shadows of themselves.

"Human life...

Riccardo and her father appeared next to them. The figures starred at her, but her parents didn't come to comfort her, Riccardo Didn't try to grab her, and Ren made no move to protect her. They just stood there staring off in to nothing.

They are not capable of grasping this truth. We cannot merely sit idle and await the future. We must dedicate our lives' to the realization of the truth."

She looked up at a large mural on the ceiling, she looked back as her mom dad and Ren faded.

"Ah, Fiona... no my Azoth..."

Fiona saw a stair case and a door to her right, the door unlocked and opened slightly.

"Come to me. It pleaded, Come to me... "