A/N: Wow, twenty chapters completed :D I actually thought this story would only ever get to 20 chapters, but there's been so much to write! Hope you are all happy with what I've been writing. Please R&R- I need to know what you all think and want to know how this story maps out :3 Thank you for the support guys :3
Chapter 21
It had taken forever for Raven to be taken to Lord Abd's castle. They had insisted on giving her time to heal, and even with her shape shifting ability to make the wounds disappear quicker, she couldn't just suddenly walk around with flawless skin. Slowly but surely she faded out all the imperfections of prison life and even edited Ayame's body slightly. The girl had curves but Raven felt more comfortable with her own body shape. Since she had started off as a skeleton she could take that liberty. Now she was in a beautiful white dress and being taken into the foyer to greet this man.
All in all he was pretty good looking. Lord Abd was muscular, his dark blue skin was contrasting sharply with the mohawk of red hair on his head. Raven could see why Azazel said she had demon blood- this man could pass as her twin. His gold earrings were extravagant and his outfit resembled the average jacket here if someone had rolled it around in gold jewels. The problem was he was in a terrible mood, judging by his scowl and the staircase having multiple fires on it. When he finally noticed Raven his face softened, and with a wave the damage of the foyer was repaired.
"Well perhaps not all is lost today if you are joining me my iris." The man flashed his fangs.
"Hello Lord Abd." Raven bowed.
"So docile. Timor you have trained her well." Abd grinned.
Timor bowed low. "I learn from the best."
Abd silently motioned for Raven to take his arm as he led her up the staircase.
"Milord." Raven tried to remember etiquette in this realm. "I've waited a long time to see you."
"Oh? Last time we met, you weren't so keen."
"Well, I was confused back then. Timor had said you did all these horrible things and it had scared me."
"He had?" Abd laughed. "So he's been using you to make himself look like an expert tamer. How very like him. But when we got you from Duke Bile you were certainly feistier."
The two reached a lavish room, with a four posted bed and two sofas dominating the centre of the room. Everything was blue and gold.
"Wow." Raven was impressed.
"So my little iris, are you ready to tell me your name?"
Raven didn't want him to know of Ayame. "Mystique."
Abd laughed loudly. "That does not sound like the name a parent would give."
"My parents didn't realise I'd become so mystical." Raven smiled.
"Well you have personality." Abd smiled. "You've entertained me. There is a room through the door on the left. You may sleep there now."
Raven went into the room. It was a double room with a vanity, clothing space and a wash basin. It was still lavish but not as much as the next room. Falling onto the bed Raven nearly fell asleep right there and then, and if it wasn't for the screams she heard from the master bedroom she might have gotten a decent night's sleep.
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Kurt wasn't improving as much as anyone had hoped. He was toddler like in his actions and any talking had to be done telepathically. Azazel, Sephareith, Kurt, Nils and Balan were all eating breakfast on the terrace. After the rice and soup it was pretty much bread, jams and an assortment of every fruit a person could and couldn't think of. After getting more nalsk tea into Kurt, he was happily picking at lychees whilst the others ate.
"Ugh, where is the meat in this meal?" Nils groaned.
"What meat?" Balan had gotten quite close to Nils.
"Like bacon or eggs or sausages?"
"Oh, we have bacon." Balan smiled.
"Balan, in the human world they eat the flesh of animals. It's not the bacon you are thinking of." Sephareith smiled.
"Wait what?" Nils and Balan gawped at the same time.
"You haven't eaten meat since you've gotten here Nils. We don't keep livestock."
"But yesterday here was beef and at lunch there was chicken and-"
"All vegetable based." Sephareith smiled.
"Why do humans need to eat animal flesh?" Balan asked Sephareith. "I thought they were above the food chain of earth?"
"They are, but corruption and fast food means most humans think it's essential to eat. In the human realm both Azazel and I have eaten meat from animals as part of a meal."
"Fast food?"
"Humans have to cook their meat to eat it and they can't use magik for the most part. Some humans sell the food readymade."
Balan raised his eyebrows. "Surely fruit and vegetables would be quicker?"
"Vegan Demons, that's so funny." Nils laughed. "And you make it seem like humans are below demons, but at least we abolished slavery."
Azazel sighed. "Yes Nils, I don't think we are any better than the humans in that sense. They just eat their slaves, whilst we drag out lavender torture for centuries."
"Actually Azazel, the humans are still enslaving each other, it's just they're turning towards enslaving mutants." Sephareith sighed.
"True, but that is more because they don't understand they are a hybrid of many ancient races."
"You really think mutants would be enslaved?" Nils asked, drinking some tea.
"Everything with the capacity for good has the capacity for evil. If you're scared or don't understand then you can rewrite your conscience to think you are doing good. " Azazel sighed again, helping Kurt reach the thin cakes.
"This is a little in depth for breakfast." Balan smiled. "Nils do you like our bacon?"
"I couldn't tell the difference. Must have been the demon sauce majik."
Sephareith laughed loudly. "Demon sauce majik. You may have a business plan there Nils."
"If you make a debut that is." Balan hinted.
"A debut?"
"Kurt joined our society through a vessel swap, but since you came here willingly you'll have to debut." Sephareith explained. "Basically, we'll have a party and announce you as a prince."
"Sounds cool, but since I'm older will I have to be king?" Nils grabbed a mango.
"No, you'd fight Kurt for the throne."
"Then I'm not interested." Nils shrugged. "What a stupid law."
"The old King made it. His brother was the original King before he murdered him." Sephareith remained detached.
"What sort of monster murders his own brother?" Nils gasped.
Balan shot up. "Let's not jump to conclusions there. Lord Azazel also had a brother you know."
"You had a brother Dad?" the teen's face drained from colour.
"Yes. Prince Seth Avium was the biological son of Old King Bel. I was fostered."
"And you killed him?"
"Let's not talk about this Nils." Azazel's tail flicked out. He wasn't sure if Nils or Balan should know.
Kurt dropped his food, shaking.
"Kurti?" Azazel asked, going into his son's mind.
^Nein.^ He struggled to say. Then he teleported.
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"So what do you think?" Kali asked hopefully.
Her mother was sat at the table, food untouched. Her father was stood nearby, holding a half washed plate. The three often ate together in the kitchen, only using the grander rooms with guests. She had decided to break the news over dinner, but her mother hadn't taken it well.
"Kali." Her father spoke. "You do realise you'll be painting a target on your back if you join the court. Other than the prince you'll be the next biggest target for the assassins. How are we to support this?"
"Your father is right. I can't just let you become another victim." Shiva sighed.
"But any other mother and I would be improba- I would have never gone to school and I would be whoring myself in a few years. How is that fair? Why shouldn't I be the one to speak out?" Kali cried.
"Kali." Shiva snapped. "You are twenty three years old. No one under 300 has been allowed to attend court outside the royal family. That is because you need 300 years of experience to protect yourself, 300 years to learn and experience the world."
"But I have experienced this world. Everyday my skin colour paints a picture to the world- that I'm some sort of whore or slave or something not even considered alive. Why can't you understand how important it is we fight slavery right now, whilst we have a chance?"
"Daughter, we want to fight as much as you do." Kali's father sighed. "But what sort of parent could let their child into the battlefield alone?"
"Well you can't stop me." Kali huffed.
"You're under my roof." Shiva stared.
"I'll move to the royal castle. Azazel extended the invitation."
"Lord Azazel." Her father corrected. "And that's not happening either. We love you and we don't want you running away."
"Father, I'm not the one running. You know Lord Azazel said you were a proud purple man, who would do anything for my mother. I had thought he was telling the truth."
"You're father went through hell Kali. You've never had to serve anyone so don't you dare judge him."
"Father didn't have to go through that hell though, did he? If you've fought so hard to save him, why did you leave court?"
"Because we had you Kali." Shiva sighed. "You cannot be in court without endangering your lavender child. If you are so intent on being a grown up then fine."
"Fine?"
"I will renter court. You can only enter with me if you promise this is truly a cause you wish to risk your life for."
Kali beamed. "It is a cause I will happily die for. Lavenders need to be equal."
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"Mystique." Abd called across the dining table.
"Yes?"
"Tommorow I will be in a meeting at the palace. There is a lunch beforehand, which our ladies have been invited to also. I wish for you to attend, there will be a red dress the girls will bring you."
"Of course, Milord." Raven bobbed her head. Once the man left she got up to leave.
The past few days had been awkward. Either Abd would state he was pleased enough Raven could sleep or he would enter her room. The first time he had done it Raven had been in her bird form, enjoying the night air. From then on she kept finding ways to avoid him at night, most often sleeping as a bird. When he asked her she said she tended to sleepwalk and he'd asked nothing more. Still, she would hear the screams of woman and it made her furious knowing it was her fault. The worst thing was the girls would carry on the next day- the only sign was tear stained cheeks and bandaged legs.
Tommorow at least, she could meet Azazel. She couldn't outright shift until she found out the location of Logan, Ayame and Rouge but she could let him know. It was their best bet without Ayame strong enough to teleport.
She wondered as she often had these days to Kurt. Her son was never a large part of her life, but with all the spare time to think she was forced to admit she loved him- and deeply regretted not being his mother. She knew finding Rouge and raising her was her pathetic attempt at making amends for the son she failed. Rouge had only been hers for a couple of years before Xavier had insisted on taking her, and Mystique had known the brotherhood was not for someone as innocent as Rouge. The girl was already forbidden to touch, and Raven remembered how Eric had convinced her experimenting on Kurt was for the child's benefit. Not even the alcohol she had practically swum in made the twinge of unease pass, and when Azazel had found them her fantasy had shattered. Eric and she had tortured Kurt- there was no other word for it. She hadn't seen, Eric hadn't seen, but they had both still managed to do something they had despised- experimented on a mutant. She was like a weapon-X or HYDRA general, blind to her evils. She was disgusting.
She never wanted to see Kurt hurt again.
That was when the unthinkable happened. Kurt landed at her feet unconscious. Just like that.
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"Azazel please calm down." Sephareith tried for the thousandth time. The man had already teleported around the palace twice over, and Seph had run himself ragged trying to keep up. Eventually Azazel went to pacing the throne room.
"Where could he have gone? Nyx academy? A friend's house? The temple? Somewhere he's not been yet?" Azazel had already felt his instincts bubble, trying to locate his child was the only thing preventing him from losing control.
"Zazel, we will find him. You just need to calm down enough to sense his aura. It is weak, but Kurt can't have teleported far I'm sure."
"He shouldn't have been able to teleport, he can't even think properly right now. He can only eat and react to aura- what if he ends up in the plains?"
"He won't be in the planes Zaezel. Or the swamp or the mountains. He will be nearby, near whichever aura he felt familiar with."
"Point made." Azazel took deep breaths. "He'd have gone to the next most familiar aura, but he's not in the palace. Perhaps with Kali?"
"I'll send Levi to her mansion." Sephareith sent off the orders.
"You know." Nils said suddenly. "Could Kurt have gone back to earth? Surely living there for his whole life he'd have someone familiar to go back to? Maybe his mother?"
"Margali hates him and Raven-" Azazel stopped in his tracks. "Xavier said Raven was in this dimension."
"Yes, but the keepers we sent out said none of the rifts had had any activity. There's no other way to get in without leaving a trace." Sephareith sighed.
"Wait, I have a dimensional hole in my stomach. Maybe there are others like me that let them through?" Nils piped up.
"Teleportation is extremely rare." Seph contemplated. "Only royalty have ever shown signs of the skill."
"So you're saying Azazel, Kurt and I are the only people who can use teleportation?"
"Well, in all honesty Levi and I both can." Then something dawned on Sephareith. "Ayame."
"Seph?" Azazel grabbed his brother's arm in a comforting way. "What's wrong?"
"Ayame can teleport. She was a prodigy. If they had her they could-" Sephareith clutched his head. "Do you think she was forced to teleport them here?"
"If what Xavier had said was true, it is a possibility." Azazel frowned. He cared about his niece just as much as Kurt. They were all family. "There could be another teleporter like Levi though."
"Point made. Just how are we supposed to locate them?"
"We'll have to begin raiding the slave rings we know about." Azazel sighed.
"But so many could be moved or killed." Balan voiced. He was beginning to understand politics.
"I know." Azazel replied. "I know it's a selfish thought but it's very important we get both Kurt and Ayame. Especially Ayame."
"Who is this girl?" Nils asked.
"Your foster cousin. She has, unlike most of you, been trained to use her powers correctly from a young age. She was also a prodigy like Kurt and if she has been captured her powers could be abused."
"Her powers? What about her?"
Sephareith cleared his throat. "We care about Ayame, but her powers are insane sometimes. She could rival Azazel. The problem is she is not physically as strong, so she can be taken advantage of and forced to do something drastic."
"Like what?"
"We wouldn't know." Azazel spoke. "But she could in theory take the energy of Earth and use it to destroy Earth."
"Woah, how?"
"Her lineage gave her a good cocktail of powers." Sephareith tried to sound detached. "But she is also family, and a child."
"Kurt is in no state to use magik, but if someone can access his power he could be as potentially dangerous as Ayame."
"Is this why you stick us in the human world then?" Nils smiled.
Azazel was deadpan. "Yes. Demons know how to turn you into weapons. At least the humans can't manipulate your magik even if their ignorance means you are hunted."
"Wow, it's like picking between a tsunami and an active volcano." Nils sighed.
"More or less." Sephareith smiled sadly.
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Raven hadn't said a word but Abd had still rushed into the room seconds after Kurt had teleported in. She was still in shock not only to see her son randomly appear but to see how pale and ill he looked.
"What were you doing with another man?" Abd glared at her.
"He just sort of appeared out of nowhere. He wasn't even conscious." Raven was still in shock. When Sephareith had said back on Earth how Kurt was ill, she had never thought to this extent.
"Well well." Abd grinned as he got a look of Kurt's face. "It's the crown prince."
"How do you know that?" Raven didn't want this man knowing anything about her son.
"I've seen him in the palace a few times." Abd said faintly. He was busy staring the boy down.
"Lord Abd?" Raven asked.
"You should get some rest. I'll take care of the prince and we'll inform his father."
Raven complied. A single wrong move and Abd could hurt not only Kurt, but also Ayame and Rouge. Things were getting more and more risky.
Abd had Raven sleep in a different room. She was pleasant during the day but at night she was a phantom. It was irritating but also entertaining to Abd. Still, Kurt's arrival had meant something even more momentous: He had one of the Dark Lord's greatest weaknesses delivered on a platter before him.
Still, the boy had not stirred for hours. There was rumour he was ill often, but Abd could not believe the same boy that had gone crazy in the throne room was this pathetic. He began to tap on the child's cheek.
"Awaken." There was no response. Abd slapped him hard. Kurt's eyes flew open and he began to shake violently again.
"What is wrong with you?" Abd was perplexed. Telepathy wasn't his forte, but the child had no barriers around his mind at all. But then again there was no sign of a mind to protect.
The boy did look skinnier than even some of his prisoners though, so Abd tried giving him some water. The child still shook but drank the whole vial.
"Look at me." Abd said. Amazingly he did as he was told.
"So you can hear me, you just can't talk?"
There was no response. "Well, maybe I can persuade you to talk."
He kicked the boy repeatedly in the stomach until the water came back up. Then he took the boy by his hair and threw him back on the floor. He would cry but he was still silent. He even kicked his groin but there was no scream or even a twinge of pain in the child's face.
"This is too weird."Abd shook his head. "Come here."
Kurt did as was said, but Abd got out the syringe anyways.
"Just to make sure you're not a brilliant performer." He said, injecting the liquid into the slender blue neck muscles.
Immediately Kurt fell to the floor. His eyes roamed wildly but there was no other signs of change. Abd didn't really know what to do. It wasn't a matter of breaking him, but more a matter of building him up. But that was something he'd never had to do before. He put the teenager on his bed and went for a whiskey.
A good half an hour and the only thing that had changed was Kurt had a violent fever. Abd knew that it was the drug's doing but the boy wasn't crying out in pain like the others did. Even Abd had tested the drug on himself and had found it unbearable- making it one of his favourite weapons.
It was just silent tears. He climbed up on the bed and undid the boy's shirt. His chest was just as hot as his forehead.
"That's not good." Abd frowned. He was overreacting to the drug. He slid his hand over the boy's chest.
"Nein." Kurt finally cried out. He was in so much pain, but his mind was still silent. Abd could tell Kurt was purely relying on instinct and aura.
"So you do talk." He smiled. He ran his hand over the boy's chest again, letting his nails dig in.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH." Kurt thrashed.
"How odd. Maybe I really did overdose you." He liked to torment but if the victim wasn't even able to understand what was happening it seemed less fun. He moved the boy to his sofa and went to bed himself. He'd figure it out in the morning.
Raven stayed at the windowsill all night, watching Kurt. How was she supposed to get him out safe? Why had Kurt teleported to her? Was something wrong with Azazel? Eventually she knew she needed sleep, and went back to her assigned room at dawn.
Abd wasn't at breakfast, but the maids had insisted on spending the whole morning getting her ready. They had taken a liking to her and Raven felt guilty for the three girls still heavily bandaged. Eventually she stole a second to sneak upstairs.
Kurt was still on the sofa, with a fever. She knew how Kurt overreacted to most drugs and only needed a third of an average dose. She went to stroke his forehead when his eyes flew open. He was only looking ahead- clearly lost in fever. Slowly, Raven stroked his forehead, watching the boy shake and then relax into her hand.
"Vatti." Raven was surprised. Had Azazel done this motion to Kurt? Was he happy under Zae's care?
"What are you doing?" Abd made her jump.
"I-I was looking for you." Raven smiled. "And then the prince was in here. He looks ill."
"Yes, a physician will visit whilst we are at the lunch. What did you want me for?"
"I wanted to know if I looked acceptable for you." Raven let herself press up against Abd's arm.
"You look fine. We should get going."
Leaving Kurt was hard, but Raven needed to warn Azazel quickly. Turned out he was just as arrogant as she remembered, not bothering to show up for the lunch. Everyone ate happily, with Sephareith overseeing the whole thing. It was odd to see his skin green, but Raven was a shape shifter and could see it was clearly Azazel's brother. The man couldn't stop looking at her either. Did he see her face and know it was Ayame?
"Thank you all for coming." Sephareith addressed the crowd. "If the members of court would please gather in the meeting room, the court members' guests may follow me to the gardens."
"I'll be back soon." Abd kissed Raven's hand and departed.
Raven went to follow the others, making small talk until Sephareith had finished his apparent rounds and went to lean against the wall. She walked past him slowly, and he took the hint to follow.
"I hope you have permission to wear that face, shapeshifter." Sephareith began, looking towards the sky.
Raven similarly kept her eyes on the party. "You recognise this face?"
"Neko but blue."
"Actually, that's not 100% wrong. It's Ayame's."
Sephareith actually broke some of the marble railing. Raven could feel the tension for several moments as he contained his rage. Eventually he spoke.
"Is she safe?" He choked out.
"Honesty no, but I have no idea where she's being held. She's with Logan and Rouge."
"Human's I've met?"
"You saw Logan back when Azazel last came looking for answers."
"And how is it you are here Raven?" Azazel had filled his brother in with Raven helping with 'experiments' on Kurt so Seth wasted no sympathy.
"Ayame was able to swap places with me. I'm entertaining Lord Abd."
"I noticed."
"Well, be lucky it's me and not your daughter. She's far too sick to resist this guy."
"Brilliant." Sephareith grumbled. "So they've been beating down her power."
"Yes actually. She's in an underground prison of some sort. Anyways I need Azazel."
"He's in the meeting. That and he's very distracted."
"I suppose he would be, considering Kurt is on the sofa in Abd's bedroom."
Sephareith stared at her. "That's bad. Really really bad."
"Why? Run and get him now!"
"Not from Abd." Sephareith tensed.
"Why?"
"If we rescue just Kurt Abd will kill everyone he owns. Including your friends and the whole lavender population."
"So what are we going to do? I can't leave my children and Ayame in prison."
"The man can heal himself?" Sephareith tried.
"Yes."
"Well Ayame can read aura. She should be able to take some of his ability long enough to escape. Could you get in contact with them?"
"No, I have no idea where they are being held."
Sephareith nodded in acceptance. "As for Kurt, he teleported right at your feet?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Nils was distressing Azazel. Kurt is in a vulnerable condition where he reacts purely to aura. Ayame does this simultaneously as you've noticed. It makes her more emotional and effected by other's feelings. In Kurt's state a person's emotions alone can make or break him."
"What can I do?" Raven asked.
"Don't let Azazel know yet. He'll just charge in for Kurt and Abd wold take the others. Just watch him, try and send positive emotions to him. Once Kurt gets coherent thought convince him to teleport back here. If he runs away Abd can't blame anyone with reason. That will give us the break we need to hack some minds and try to get the others to safety."
"Timor was the name of the jailer."
"Ah, I know of him. He attends court with Abd a lot."
"He's creepy."
"I get the feeling." Sephareith agreed.
"This doesn't mean I'm not pissed at you and Azazel by the way. You just spirited Kurt back here without…. Well anything."
"He did a vessel swap. You've seen a few in our time I'm sure. Azazel could not stop it without his life being in danger first. But the main concern for now is getting everyone out safely."
"How do you feel looking at Ayame's face?" Raven snapped.
"You can't copy her aura, so initially I wanted to kill you for wearing the face of my loved one." Seth was really showing his lineage with the malice he felt. "You should get back."
"Later then." Raven went back to the party.
That was when the court returned from their meeting. It had been rather quick but there was a blue skinned woman and a younger, purple skinned woman stood either side of Azazel in fairly military clothing: Black jackets and loincloths. The man looked absolutely shattered. Still devilishly handsome, but shattered.
He addressed the crowd confidently, but Raven knew he was tired and down.
"I present to you the newest official members of the court. We welcome back Shiva and welcome Kali as our newest member." Everyone applauded.
The purple skinned girl suddenly snapped her head towards Raven. She was sharp, and looked Raven over the same way Sephareith did.
As the members of court began to mingle, the blue skinned woman begun talking to Abd. Apparently she was in on the plan as the purple skinned girl strode straight over to her.
"You're related to Kurt?" Kali asked.
"You know Kurt?"
"We're school friends. Everyone's worried. You've been in contact with him as well."
"Yes." Raven was confused. This kid was talented.
"What's the name of the man that's got him?"
"Abd." There was no point lying.
"Figures, the highest ranking slave trader has him." Kali grumbled. She turned to leave but Raven stopped her.
"Let Sephareith tell Azazel. We have more people than Kurt to rescue."
"I know."
"How?" Raven asked.
Before she could answer Azazel appeared. His face remained fairly static but his anger was evident. Strangely Raven could also detect he was slightly desperate. Was that for Kurt? Or was she imagining things?
"Hello Raven."
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Hello all. I think I've done ok spitting out 3 chapters within a week. Thanks to everyone who's been adding me to their author/story alerts- I feel very loved and you pop up on my mobile and it makes my day :D
Please can I get more reviews? Anything you like or dislike about characters, anything you'd like to see a character do or anything you want to see in the plot. I will take all comments on board.
You guys are my motivation, it's your support that has gotten me to 21 chapters! So thank you x