Chapter 21: The Battle, Win or Lose
Vincent's POV: It took me a while to notice that I was finally awake…from the demon inside of me.
"…Ray…you did it again huh?" I whispered subconsciously. I slowly lifted myself up and puddles of red liquid caught my eyes. I shifted my head to the side.
"R-Ray!" I gasped. Ray was laid on her stomach, with blood streaming from her face and some other places of her body. I couldn't tell where her wounds were. Quickly, I lifted her head up and shook her slightly.
"Hey, wake up! Ray!" I called out to her…but she did not respond. Her breathing was jagged and soft and the blood continued to flow.
"Did…I do that?" I asked myself. Damn it…I can't waste anymore time! With Ray in my arms, I rushed upstairs, out of the basement.
Squall's POV: "Well, if it isn't Squall!" Seymour exclaimed sarcastically. I kept my gun steady, ready to shoot if needed to be.
"Now, it is wrong for little kids to play with guns…you might hurt someone," Seymour smirked playfully.
"Actually, I meant to hurt someone," I replied coldly. Seymour ignored my comeback and looked around the room, first settling his eyes on Rikku and the crowd.
"My…that's quite a lot of people Yuna invited! Why wasn't I invited?" Seymour frowned sarcastically. He shifted his eyes and finally rested them on Tifa. Cloud shifted his feet uncomfortably. Seymour noticed that.
"Oh, do you care for that beautiful girl, Spiky?" He asked Cloud. Tifa narrowed her eyes and scoffed angrily.
"………Stay out of this Tifa," Cloud whispered.
"Tifa is it? What a beautiful name for a beautiful lady," Seymour flirted.
"If you're here to flirt, I suggest you do it some other time," I frowned and pointed my gun at Seymour.
"What good will it do if you shoot me? I've got dozens of men that are ready to take you down," He pointed out.
"Hmm…boys, it looks like Spiky and the stubborn guy have no interest in cooperating! You take care of them and I'll go see the beautiful lady," Seymour gave the order. The gang members readied their guns and pointed them towards Cloud and me.
"…..Tifa…" Cloud whispered.
Ray's POV: I found myself…walking down a street…with no pavement…just dirt. Surrounding me were old, wrecked buildings…ancient buildings with each that seemed to be stained with red….red like blood. I shivered at the sight of the old ruins and continued walking.
"What is this? Why am I here?" I asked myself over and over again. Suddenly, the air became cold and I began to shiver violently. I stood still and examined the area. Everything was dark and the buildings looked ruined as ever. I clenched my fists and bent my knees slightly in a fighting position. Cackles echoed the cold air and dark figures roamed around the ancient structures. The cackles became louder…and the dark figures flew closer until they formed a circle around me. Black cloaks covered their faces and bodies. I clenched my fists tighter…ready to fight.
"Damien…Damien…Damien…" The creatures hissed and chanted.
"Damien!" I gasped and let go of my position and began to frantically search for my father with my eyes. The moment I took one step, the black figures drew closer.
"Who are you!" I demanded.
"Damien…" They continued chanting. Soon, I found myself saying his name…over and over again, against my will.
"You've come, my daughter," Someone whispered from behind me. Damien placed his head on my right shoulder. Color drained from my face and with a battle cry, I flung my right arm to smash his face with the back of my fist, but he dodged it. I simultaneously kicked at his head with my left leg, but he tilted his head to the left, dodging my kick. I swooped down and with my right leg, attempted to trip him from below, but he flipped back a few times, making me look like a complete fool. All he did…was laugh.
"Tell me…do you wish to kill me? Let me see if you have what it takes. Either you win, or you lose."
Tifa's POV: Seymour came closer to me…with an evil intent I'm sure. I hope that Yuna and Tidus can stay concealed…I put my fists up and stepped back once.
"Do you intend to fight me?" He asked.
"Tsk…" I clicked my tongue.
"I'll make a deal with you, if you tell me where Yuna and her boyfriend is, I'll give you the opportunity to go out with me," He smirked. I hope he doesn't really expect me to go out with him because he's going to be very disappointed.
"In your dreams!" I snapped. He frowned and scratched his head.
"How odd…I would think that my charm can attract any woman," He grumbled.
"You're just a criminal," I growled.
"I'm hurt! Criminals are badly shaven men with a smelly odor! How can you call me a criminal?" He gasped and feigned ignorance. I had enough with this playboy! I smashed my fist at his chest and flung him backwards to the ground.
"Ugh!" He groaned. "I despise men like you. The truth is you are just a coward, not even a man!" I insulted him. From the curtain, I could hear a whispered cheer, but was immediately hushed when Seymour got up.
"You are quite the fighter…I never met a woman who could fight before," He grinned.
"That's not for you to be happy about," I frowned. What is he up to now? Is he going to get out his gun? From the corner of my eye, Cloud and Squall kept their positions, not attacking yet. I looked to the left and saw Rikku with her claw, glancing at Seymour and me from time to time, probably worried that he may overcome me…but that's not likely.
"I hate to ruin our time together, but I'm on a tight agenda. Please tell me where those two are or…" Seymour took out his gun and pointed it at my head. Sweat trickled down my face.
Cloud's POV: I held the Kunai Knife steadily and prepared myself for an attack, but I was hesitant to keep my post… Seymour cornered Tifa with a gun! I can't leave Squall, but I can't abandon Tifa! What should I do!
"Now boys, let's shoot these guys down!" On of the gangsters laughed and was just about to pull the trigger, but Squall's quick eye caught the reaction and he pulled his trigger first. The bullet zipped through the air and imbedded itself in a guy's shoulder.
"Gaaah!" He screamed and fell to the ground. All eyes turned to the fallen man, but I used this opportunity to attack. I dashed past the unconscious man and with the knife; I cut down a few guns and felled three men with my quick and powerful blows. Being that I was too close in range for the guns, they pulled out their knives, thrusting it at me, but Squall backed me up with his pistol. Hang on Tifa…I promised that I would save you! I jumped back away from them, so I would have more room to attack.
"Okay Squall…I suppose you can expect a few bullets sticking out of us right?" I smirked.
"Not if we bring them down first," Squall replied with a devilish grin.
"Ha…you make me laugh. Let's hurry…I don't want to leave Tifa alone any longer."
"Sure…once we bring down the ten at the door and the ten behind," Squall chuckled. The rest of the men at the door charged in for an assault, in a desperate attempt to destroy us. Squall and I kept four of the men at bay while the other three slipped past us along with the ten men that were farther away from the entrance.
"Damn…Rikku, you better have gotten stronger!" I shouted and impaled a man in the side.
Tifa's POV: I froze there, under the destructive power of the small weapon and began to devise a plan to turn all this around…but I wonder if that was possible. Cloud and Squall have their hands full at this moment and Rikku is heavily outnumbered.
"Coward…you hold a gun in your hand because you have no chance of winning with fists. Too bad you are only half of a man," I smirked, trying to persuade him from using the gun against me.
"Why you son of a #$!" Seymour hissed and brought the gun closer to my head. I kept a straight, confident face and hoped that I fooled him.
"They should call you King of the Cowards!" I chuckled, which set him over the edge. Immediately he dropped his gun and with solid strength, he charged. Unfortunately for him, I cart wheeled to the right to join Rikku in the fight. I snuck behind a few of the gang members and threw them to the ground, quickly cracking their necks and knocking them out in the process.
"Tifa, I can take the rest of them, thanks! Just worry about the others!" Rikku shouted to me and impaled two guys with her claws, leaving them on the floor gushing with blood. I nodded and quickly waved goodbye and good luck. When I turned around to meet Seymour, he was scrambling for his gun. My senses kicked in and I lunged for the weapon. Both of our hands rested on it and we struggled for control.
"Let go you wench!" Seymour hissed and elbowed me in the side. I flinched slightly, but kept hold still of the gun. Damn it…I have to get a hold of the gun, but it looks like this guy won't give up without a fight. Suddenly, a blood-curling scream filled the air, which caught both of our attention. Cloud and Squall defeated the remaining gangsters that were pestering Rikku. Ha, my work is done! Seeing Cloud alive and well made me happy, but I didn't realize that I foolishly dropped my guard.
"Stupid girl…don't think that this is over!" Seymour laughed. Before I could turn around, a loud shot I heard before I saw nothing else.
Vincent's POV: "What happened! Why are the two of you covered in blood! Why is the girl hurt! Answer me you monster!" My aunt hissed at me, revealing her large and sharp teeth.
"…She..." I couldn't answer her. What will I say? Whatever I say, it will be known that I was the cause of this pain.
"This was the month wasn't it Vincent! Why the hell did you bring the girl here? Did you want her to die?" She screamed.
"I…I…" Words again did not come. "Damn you boy! What will her parents say? What can we do? I can't believe I took you in, the demon son of a worthless demon father!" She hissed. I felt insulted and angry, but knowing my aunt's usual anger, I kept quiet and continued to bandage Ray.
"What if she dies Vincent? Did you bring her here to show her what you are?" She asked me coldly.
"…She…wanted…to heal me of my pain…" I whispered.
"What pain do you speak of? The only one who is hurt is the girl!" She screamed again and wiped the blood off of Ray. I hurt her…I hurt the people I care about…Lucrecia…I loved her so much…yet because of me, I caused her grief and pain which made her take her own life. Now Ray…every time, my claws will tear her apart. I deserve no one…These sins I bear…no one shall bear with me. I can't allow Ray to be part of my life anymore…for it may be I who takes her life next.
Ray's POV: "You can't defeat me child," Damien laughed.
"We'll see…I've fought through everything and won. You can't win," I challenged him. "Oh please! You haven't won! Did you think your little tiny Demon Seal is called a victory? Ha, you've done more harm than good child," Damien chuckled.
"What the hell are you talking about!" I demanded, angry. Dark energy began to gather around Damien, which seems like he is sucking from the black-cloaked men around us.
"The stronger you grow in darkness…the stronger I become," He laughed.
"You lie!" I hissed. "The spell is a great addition you know? It feeds upon the light inside of you to seal the darkness of another! The requirement is blood isn't it? That's the same as giving yourself as a tribute," He explained wickedly.
"No, I won't allow it! You will die now!" I shouted and threw Shuriken at him, which mysteriously appeared at my hands. Damien reflected it with the dark energy. As the Shuriken sped towards my face, I skipped to the side, dodging it.
"As my daughter, you inherit powers far greater than you would imagine. Ha, just as from your worthless mother," He laughed evilly. My veins popped and my eyes grew redder.
"Don't you dare…talk about…my mother…YOU BASTARD!" I screamed.
"Yes…that's it! Grow angrier! Feed me your powers!" He encouraged. My rage made me hear only the sound of my quickened heartbeat. The dark energy that surrounded Damien increased and began to swirl around me.
"…You…I hate you!" I blurted out and charged at him with enhanced speed, but the dark energy repelled my assault and I fell to the ground, scraping my arm.
"Ha…Let me tell you my dear…you will hate me for the rest of your life for this! Oh this is rich!" He laughed and slapped his knee. I lay on the ground with my head tilted up to see his wicked face. What misery does he want to throw on my back now? Damien's eyes lit up and he came closer to me.
"Did you not think it odd that everyone you cared for suddenly disappeared in one or two days? Was it just mere coincidence? No…all this time, I've been planning for the right moment…at the right time to free myself! You see, your birth is they key to my revival!" He laughed and threw his hands in the air.
"In order for me to be resurrected, I needed live sacrifices…and…your so-called family did the trick." He licked his lips. His words struck me hard and I began to shake violently. All the color drained from my face and my eyes shot wide open. He…killed everyone…he destroyed my life…he did it…he did it! The darkness surrounding me increased to twice as much as Damien's. Slowly, I stood up and stared into his eyes, with tears streaming down my face.
"Oh…are you upset?" He mocked.
"….I hate you…I hate you so much that not even my screams will express my anger…die…just die!" I hissed. The blackness that twirled around me formed into an enormous dragon of darkness.
"All my anger…all of my sorrow…feel my wrath and die in HELL!" I roared with the dragon. My eyes turned pure red and my canines grew. All of my fiery rage was put into the dragon and it split the earth. Lava streamed out of the ground and the black-cloaked men disappeared into its depths. The only thing that was on my mind was…kill.