A/N: I nearly scared myself today, because just now I remembered that it was Monday. Then I was scared that I'd forgotten to update the story, but came to realize that it hasn't even passed noon yet. The things work does to me. I swear, because I work weekends and thus, never get a 'weekend break', I get caught in the continual loop of school and work and forget the days of the week. Enough of my ramblings though. Thanks to those who continue to read the story and to those of you who who took the time out of your busy schedules to review. It always means a lot to me. Also, I wanted to note that this story has officially hit the 100 reviews mark. Thanks to everyone who made that possible! I was hoping by chapter 20 we'd hit 100 since at chapter 10, we hit 50. Happy 100 reviews everyone, and happy twenty first chapter.
Enjoy,
Orangepotato
ps: A few side notes. I have some stuff that needs to be done, so I won't be able to comment back on the reviews this chapter, but thanks to everyone for those wonderful reviews! They always make my day. Secondly, (and this probably isn't that necessary, but...) there is some heavier language in this chapter, so be aware of it if you're sensitive to curse words. Thanks!
Chapter Twenty One
"Young Lord," an angel spoke, standing in the doorway of Lloyd's room, "Lord Yggdrasill has summoned you.
Lloyd gazed, uninterested, at the angel from his desk. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the man, who left quietly, letting the door slide shut.
On top of all of his problems, now his father wanted to see him? He prayed it wasn't about his mission in Sylvarant. Truthfully, he was too tried to come up with suitable lies. He didn't have a reason why he hadn't located the assassin yet… at least, one that would suit his father's tastes.
Glancing wearily down at the piles of reports on his desk, he absently wondered if he had to do with his assignment in Tethe'alla instead. It'd been awhile since he'd given an update. He was almost done with it, if his father wanted it soon, but with so many other things popping up, the brunette had lost focus on it.
Standing with a sigh, he headed out of his room, making his way through the winding streets of Welgaia to the main warp.
All the while, his thoughts went back to what had happened in Luin, his mind racing.
"You're-" Colette's voice came from nowhere, and the teen turned, shocked to see her standing in the middle of the battle field, undeterred by the death that surrounded her.
"Colette," he whispered, slowly finding his voice, "What are you doing here?"
She answered, "I came to help."
"That's not needed," he responded, sheathing his swords. "It's dangerous here, you should go."
They were quiet for a moment, the crackling of the burning city and the soft moans and pleas for death filled the air. It disturbed the brunette, though it hardly seemed to affect the blonde. If she was bothered by it, it wasn't apparent.
"Lloyd," she took a step forward, a frown tugging at her features, "what are you?" There was nothing incriminating in her words, just curiosity. It almost seemed like she had an answer on her lips, but was waiting for validation.
"Colette, I-"
"Lloyd." His father's voice was brutal, almost like a physical slap in the face. The teen was instantly pulled from his thoughts, his feet having automatically brought him to the place he needed to be. A shot of fear ran through his body and he stifled it.
He was on one knee, head bowed. He figured he must have greeted his father as well, given that the man was already being short with him.
"Yes, father?"
He could feel the tension in the air. It was palpable, almost like he could reach his fingers forward and touch a wall of it.
"I have reports," his father stated, his words barely containing the fury underneath them, "that you were in Luin."
The teen's heart skipped a beat and his blood thickened.
"I was," he managed to get out. Anything else he wanted to say got stuck in his throat. How much information did his father have? Did he believe it?
That was really a stupid question. He wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't believe it. That was the way that the man worked. Lloyd had grown up learning that, yet he found his mind desperately trying to deny the words he knew were coming next.
"Why did you murder an entire Desian battalion?" His words were laced with venom, each syllable penetrating the teen's heart.
Shaking, he tried to take a breath, but he couldn't make his lungs work properly. Instead, he hiccupped, feeling the tears gripping at the back of his throat. God, he was getting himself worked up again.
"Stand."
The teen did as he was ordered but he didn't dare raise his head. He heard his father approach him and instantly felt a sharp sting cross his face as he was struck. Reeling, the teen stumbled back a bit, but his father snatched the collar of his jacket, pulling their faces close.
"Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you," the blonde hissed.
It took every ounce of Lloyd's strength to make eye contact. As his russet eyes met his father's green orbs, he could almost feel the hatred seething from them. It was suffocating and the teen gasped for breath.
"You don't like that, do you?" The man questioned, "Being stared at by me." His eyes narrowed and the brunette felt his heart hammer in his chest. Given his proximity to his father, he knew the man could feel the pounding against his own chest. "I suppose a correction needs to be made."
The leader used his free hand, punching the teen across the jaw.
Lloyd's neck snapped painfully to the side, spots filling his vision for a moment. He didn't get the chance to clear his head, however, because another blow connected painfully with his jaw. Another and another before the man finally struck the brunette, letting him fall to the floor after the hit.
The teen barely caught himself, spitting on the ground. A thick ooze of blood splattered onto the floor and he casted his russet eyes up to his father. He wanted to protest, but he saw the man's expression and felt another chill roll through him.
"Here's the correction," the leader spoke, accenting the last word by kicking the teen in the stomach.
Lloyd collapsed to the ground, coughing. He tried to move away, but another swift kick to his side caught him off guard, flipping him onto his back.
Yggdrasill spoke, his words filled with malice, "You don't like me." He slammed a white clad foot into the brunette's stomach, causing him to grunt. The blonde added a bit of pressure, the teen wheezing out his breaths and trying to remove the man's foot.
"F-father-"
"Silence!" The man shouted, his voice echoing harshly through the throne room. He sounded insane, frighteningly unlike himself, "I thought you couldn't disappoint me, but no, I was wrong."
The words struck deep and the teen felt something rip at his heart. He'd disappointed his father. Hell, he'd taken the man's trust and disregarded it as if it was trash.
"You're a bastard child, that's what you are! You always have been!" The blonde removed his foot, only to swing it down on the brunette's side.
Lloyd gave a yelp of pain, curling in towards the foot and wrapping a protective arm around his stomach. The pain was intense, filling his nerves like fire. He wanted his father to stop, but didn't dare ask. Instead, he just wished he'd disappear, fade into nothingness so that nothing would hurt anymore. But damn it all, he deserved the pain he was going through.
He'd forsaken his own father! He'd let his rage get the better of him down in Luin, slaughtering all of the Desians, members of his father's organizations, for what?
He held back a sob as the man continued, "I showed you compassion, I gave you the love you sought and what do you do? You kill of hundreds of my men for no. reason." He spat his words and the teen shook, "and now, you won't even apologize."
Terror coursed through him, but his voice found his throat, "Father, I'm-"
"I don't want to hear it!" His father's voice powerfully resonated through the air and he purposefully let the place fall silent. The teen felt every muscle in his body vibrate, waiting, but not wanting, to hear what his father had to say next.
In almost a whisper, the leader spoke, "Do you know what's worse than that, though?"
Heart thudding painfully in his chest, Lloyd wasn't even sure he could voice a response. A strong fear washed over him as his father said his next words.
"The fact that you were neglecting your duties and sleeping around with some… some whore!"
The teen felt his heart freeze.
Colette? He knew about Colette?
Terror seized his chest, constricting his lungs further. He couldn't breathe.
Breathe…
But he couldn't, damn it, he couldn't.
"Colette," he whispered.
"Ah, so that's the slut's name."
"Don't say that about her," Lloyd managed, his words weak and small. Yes, he'd screwed up by not honoring his father's wishes, yes, he was a horrible person for killing members of Cruxis, but he'd never regret being with Colette.
"Are you defying me again?"
In a flurry of movement, the teen was being hoisted back into the air, but not by his father. Two angels, expressions passive, held him up by either arm so that he could face the blonde.
"Haven't you defied me enough for your liking?" The suffocating hate was back, seeping into the teen's skin.
"Father, I-I didn't mean-"
"Mean to what? Sleep with a whore and then decimate one of my elite forces?"
"Don't call her that," Lloyd spoke, his words stronger. "What I did with her is none of your business."
His father started laughing, a crazed laugh that chilled the teen to his very bones. Suddenly, the man didn't sound like himself. His melodic voice carried a strange noise to it, like he was speaking from somewhere else, and the brunette couldn't help but shudder.
The man's laughter still echoing through the air, finally, though, suppressed it, deep chuckles taking its place, "it's so similar," he mocked, eyes deranged.
Lloyd wondered if his father had gone crazy, but the man seemed to be in control of himself. He reached a hand out, snatching up the teen's jaw and smirking, a chuckle coiling out from between his lips, "You are so much like him… how did I not see this coming?" It was almost like he was laughing at himself or the situation, but the brunette could tell the sick humor was being used on him.
"Father-" he tried, but was swiftly back handed. His face stung, but he moved nowhere, the angels holding him firmly in place.
"Don't call me that! You don't deserve to be my son, you bastard child. You're just like him," he let out a short laugh, "Just like him!" He pointed an accusing finger at the brunette. "It must be genetic. Disobedience must be genetic!"
Despite everything, the teen wanted his father back. Whatever he was rambling about, he just wanted the man to come back to his senses, "Please-"
Again he was cut off, "Do you live to defy me? I thought I could trust you, but you readily traded my trust. How does it feel, betraying your own father? Betraying me for one night with that bitch!"
The fear that was coursing through the teen's veins quickly became anger, "I said stop it! You don't even know her!"
"I don't have to know her to know her character!" The blonde exploded. He slammed a fist into the teen's stomach and then grabbed his jaw, yanking it up so they could make eye contact, "She's a slut!"
"No she's not!" Why am I defying him again?
"You don't know the first thing about her!"
"Neither do you!" Aren't I a horrible son already?
"I know more than you do, boy!"
"You stay up here all day, you never go to either world, how the hell could you know her more than me!" Why am I trying to make it hard for myself?
"You're a foolish brat!"
"You're a horrible father!" Why do I want to hurt him again?
"This isn't about me; it's about the whore you slept with!"
"Her name's Colette!" Don't I want to be loved?
"I don't care what her name is," he roared, fury like nothing the teen had ever experienced before rolled out of his father's mouth, "She's just like-"
Then he stopped.
It stopped.
Everything did.
The entire room fell silent, the man quickly backed away.
Lloyd's heart was hammering in his chest, anger and terror bubbling at his skin, yet he felt frozen.
Just like?
Just like who?
Then he knew.
His father stood several feet away, his composer coming back, but only slightly. The tenseness in the air made it difficult to breathe, but the teen managed, his words coming out in a vile whisper.
"Just like Anna?"
The leader froze and the teen knew he was right. He was talking about Anna, hell, he was talking about Kratos.
"How do you know about her?" The blonde hissed, eyes drilling into his son's.
Despite all of the feelings that coursed through his body, the teen kept his mouth shut. He knew that was the worst thing he could do, but anger still made its presence known in his body, so he didn't respond, much to his father's disdain.
"Tell me," the blonde took several steps back towards the teen, his eyes deadly. "Tell me where you learned that name."
Lloyd still didn't answer and he watched his father struggled with several thoughts. Finally, the man seemed to make a decision and he moved past the angels, barking an order for them to follow. Without a word, they turned, dragging the brunette with them as they made it through the warp and deep into the inky castle.
It didn't take long for the teen to figure out where they were going.
The familiar black door greeted them and the blonde unlocked it with ease. Not speaking, he strolled through the narrow hallway.
As they got closer, the brunette desperately struggled, "Father, please, I'm sorry, I'll tell you."
His father didn't respond.
"Father," Lloyd tried, "I'll tell you, please, let's turn back!" Desperation filled his words and he struggled to remain calm.
No, he didn't want his father confronting Kratos about this. The man had nothing to do with anything. Sure, the brunette had learned about Anna from him, but the man wasn't responsible. It was Lloyd who'd done everything.
The auburn had been imprisoned for God's sake!
"Father!"
They reached Kratos' cell, shuffling echoing off the walls around them. All of the people had to have heard the teen's cries, and it was obvious they'd retreated to the backs of their cells, hiding from the fury of Yggdrasill.
A hollow, loud ringing echoed through the hall, nailing into the teen's eardrum. He winced at the sound, but was unable to pull away from it.
"Kratos," the blonde spoke, his words dark but congenial.
There was no response and it was apparent his father's mood dropped quickly, "Kratos, answer me, now!" He hammered again at the bars, causing the teen to give a small whimper of pain.
It was too loud. Way to loud.
His father didn't seem to care though. Instead, he pounded away at it some more, his voice rising, "Answer me, Kratos!"
The brunette couldn't help it, he gave out a sharp cry as his father slammed his fist into the metal bars. The sound reverberated through the air and Lloyd felt his chest heave, sobs escaping his lips as a few tears rolled down his face.
It was too loud.
His head hurt, entire body shaking and aching and it was so God damn loud.
"Father, please stop," he tried to keep himself composed, but he was desperate now. He didn't want his father talking to Kratos, he didn't want the man banging on the metal bars… he just wanted to curl up in a ball and forget the world existed.
"Does this bother you?" He slammed his fist into the bars, the metal clash colliding with the teen's eardrum.
"Please," the teen muttered weakly. He felt pathetic. No. He was pathetic. "Please stop, daddy."
"Do you hear that Kratos?" The blonde called into the cell, "Do you hear what you're making me do to him?" He hammered away again, Lloyd gritting his teeth against the sound.
It lasted for a couple of seconds, the leader finally stopping.
Silence permeated the air; the only noise was Lloyd, his breathing short and ragged. Sobs escaped him and he shook violently. He couldn't calm himself down, no matter what he did. Heart still hammering in his chest, blood racing and his entire body numb, all he could do was suck in air, letting it out as he slowly became light headed.
He heard his father growl, "What the hell is wrong with him? Angels."
The two dropped Lloyd instantly, the teen falling to his knees before he could properly catch himself. It wasn't like he minded. Instead, he wrapped his arms around his knees, leaning his head down and rocking.
He just wanted to go away, he just wanted to go away…
A spark ignited and a small fire was created. Slowly, the red flame consumed the darkness, eating it greedily till the cells around them were exposed.
Lloyd glanced up, eyes falling on Kratos' cell.
He took in the sight without a word, though his father gasped and then, finally, let out a string of curses.
There, in the cell, was a filthy mattress to one side, thin dirty blankets scattered over it and tossed among the small space of the prison. It seemed murky and damp, the stale air filtering out as if the light had allowed it access to the hall.
However, the one thing missing was Kratos. The man wasn't there.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Zelos watched the rain fall again, the obese drops splattering themselves on the muddy earth just outside of the patio he was on. He could hear the drum of rain over the tin makeshift roof that had been put up, for 'customer enjoyment' the manager had said. The red head figured, however, that it had little to do with the customers since the only enjoyment he was getting out of was not getting soaked in rain while he stood outside.
He supposed it was a benefit, but still.
Sighing, he leaned against the thick wooden frame of the hotel, letting his blue eyes follow the wash of rain as it littered the ground.
So Lloyd really is a member of Cruxis?
Vaguely, he wondered what that meant for Sheena. He'd noticed the teen's strange behavior towards the dark haired woman. It'd been odd at the time, but now it sent up a giant red flag. He didn't want to think that the brunette was going to try and kill her, but he wasn't naive.
He didn't truly know the capabilities of the teen, though he'd witnessed his magical abilities first hand.
Zelos had never seen that spell preformed, and in fact, he'd never believed it was possible. Many scholars over the centuries argued the fact that light mana could be condensed and used as an attack spell. Sure, smaller spells like Photon and even the powerful Holy Lance were light based, but something like Judgment had almost been dispelled.
How could something used majorly for healing have that deadly of a force behind it?
Well, the red head thought, I suppose all of those old guys are rolling in their graves.
His eyes fell on the horizon, watching the gray clouds spit more rain, as if it was trying to cleanse the earth. It was failing if that was the case, however, because there was still plenty wrong with the world… or worlds, Zelos mused.
Thoughts going back to Lloyd, the Chosen wondered just what else he was hiding. He also wondered if the teen would know more about the two words and their mana siphoning system since Cruxis seemed deeply involved in all of that nonsense. Almost laughably, he wondered if Yuan would tell him.
"It's strange to find you in Hima."
Zelos jumped, giving a small yelp. He turned his gaze to face the man who'd startled him.
"Good God, Yuan, are you trying to kill me?"
The half elf chuckled but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Instead, he looked at the Chosen intently, as if waiting for an answer for his previous statement.
The red head sighed, "A lot of stuff happened in Luin."
"You managed to get some followers, I hope."
"No."
The blue haired man was aggravated, but he was also distracted. He glanced out into the rain, his eyes not seeing, "You'll need to go back there as soon as you can."
"Do you even know what happened there?" Zelos snapped, "It's crazy there right now."
Green eyes glared into the Chosen's blue orbs, "Which is exactly why you must go. People will follow anyone if they're desperate enough. I'm dealing with enough issues; it'd be nice if just one thing went right."
The red head gave the half elf a look, "I know this isn't sympathetic, but I don't rightly care about your needs right now." Yuan seemed as if he was going to retort, but Zelos continued, "Look. I'd be more concerned if I knew what the hell was going on."
"With what?" The man seemed exasperated, like he'd been asked that question a million times before he showed up in Hima.
"About Lloyd. He admitted he's a member of Cruxis. I want to know how high up he is in that order… your order." He glared the half elf down, but the man was equally as determined to keep his secrets.
"Perhaps if you started doing as I said, I'd give you some of the answers you seek."
"We both know that isn't true."
"It's better than wasting your breath now." The half elf moved away from the red head, "Go back to Luin and gain some followers, then I'll answer some of your questions."
With that, he quickly descended the stairs and vanished into the onslaught of rain.
Go back to Luin, the Chosen growled in his head. He'd barely done anything for the blue haired man and he was already sick of working for him. It was probably because he didn't completely understand the situation. He hated being a part of something and not being the one with the upper hand. Instead, he was working under the shadow of a man he knew hardly anything about.
Well, that didn't make his day any better.
With another sigh, he let the rain steal his thoughts so all he had to do was mindlessly watch the water fall.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Colette sat in the lobby of the hotel, curled up on one of the many couches with a book in her hands. Someone had left it on their travels, so the blonde had decided to pick it up and see if it was any good. While some of the characters were less than exciting, the plot itself was thrilling.
She'd gotten about a third of the way through its brittle pages before Sheena came and sat next to her.
"Hey," she spoke, giving a small smile.
The blonde responded in kind, "Hey, how are you feeling?"
Sheena had been asleep in one of the rooms, her injuries bothering her from travelling so far in such a short time.
"I'm fine now, thanks."
A comfortable silence fell between the two of them for a moment, before Colette spoke, "How was Haven?"
"Asleep as well. I think the travel tired her out, but she'll be fine after some sleep."
"That's good. I'm worried about her. I feel like I've caused her so much trouble…"
A small conversation erupted outside the hotel, Zelos' voice, deep and lusty, was easy to make out, however, the person he was talking to either didn't respond or kept their voice hushed. Soon after the red head's muffled words though, there was a higher, yet distinctly male voice that made its way through the thick wood of the inn.
Sheena gave a sigh, "There he goes again. How much do you want to bet he tried to hit on someone?"
Colette giggled, "Does he do that often?"
"Often? I swear, if there isn't a woman around for him to flirt with, he contents himself with inanimate objects." She crossed her arms in a huff.
"He still seems like a nice guy. He's rather fond of you."
The dark haired woman's face flushed and she stuttered out a quick response, "He's only fond of me because I have curves. If I was an ironing board, he'd ignore my existence entirely." After a second, she waved a hand quickly, "Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong with being an ironing board."
It took the blonde a moment to realize what Sheena was talking about. When she did, it was her turn to blush a bit, pink tinting her cheeks, "No, no, it's fine. I mean, I'm fine." She gave a smile.
Sighing, the dark haired woman leaned back against the couch, changing the subject with ease, "Man, I'm tired of this rain!"
"I agree. The weather's horrible."
Colette turned her gaze out the window. At the edge of her vision, she watched Sheena give a nod. After a minute, the dark haired woman spoke, "He's going to be okay, you know."
"Huh?"
"Lloyd. He'll be fine."
Smiling, the blonde gave a slight nod, "I know." She lowered her gaze, staring at the black text in the faded pages of the book. "I'm just worried about him."
"What exactly do you know about him?" Sheena questioned, raising an eyebrow.
Giving a soft laugh, Colette noted the page number and then closed her book up, "Well, I know several things about him, but in reality, I don't think it's that much."
"Do you like him?"
The question caught the blonde off guard. Of course she liked him. Even the idea of being near him made her heart flutter. Everything about him, the way he talked, walked, moved, breathed… it all infatuated her and intrigued her at the same time. He was a mystery yet he gave so much of himself.
A true paradox.
She said as much, letting the dark haired woman soak it in.
"Sounds like you care for him a lot," she responded, her amber eyes soft.
"Well," Colette said, focusing on a few strands of hair she collected between her fingers, "when I'm with him, it just feels right."
Another mutter from Zelos sounded, this time a woman's voice making its way through the wood. The higher boy voice resounded, almost like he was agreeing with the woman said. The red head's voice cooed after that, which made Colette smile a bit. He was such a strange man.
"Is that why," Sheena said, her face a bit red. She focused on picking some of the fabric off of the couch, "Why, you know…"
Colette tiled her head to one side, curious. "Why I what?"
The door to the hotel opened, but both of the women were engrossed in their conversation.
Finally, the dark haired woman managed to get her words out, "Why you slept with him?"
Instant heat covered her face, "Why I slept with Lloyd?"
"Colette?" The voice was distinctively familiar, even with the shocked state it was in, and the blonde felt herself go ridged at the sound. She'd never forget that voice, no matter what.
Turning her head slowly, her blue eyes wide, she stared at the two people who were standing, traumatized, in the middle of the foyer.
Colette stared for only a moment longer, her words finding their way to her lips, "P-Professor, Genis," she gave a hesitant smile, "Um, long time no see."