Chapter 29
Revealed
"This lying basta-"
"Tino, calm" Mathias held out a hand to stop Tino from tearing Antonio into pieces despite him feeling the same. That Antonio could just stand in front of them looking truly worried made Mathias feel like he was boiling. Lukas took a step forward next to him.
"You can stop acting. We know." Antonios worried expression fell for only a second but was soon back in place with an addition of shock.
"What are you talking about? We don' have time for this, we have to-"
"You were seen. We know it was you." Arthur stepped up next to Lukas "Where are they?" They could all see how the realisation settled within Antonio. For a moment, he only looked shocked but as it changed they all automatically took a step backwards.
"I was seen? Of course I was seen, it was the only thing left to go wrong" He chuckled softly and smiled at them but it wasn't Antonios usual smile. It was too wide and his eyes glowed from something being suppressed for a long time. He tilted his head and stared at them while he unconsciously rubbed at a bandage wrapped around his right hand. "So? What will you do now?" He took a step forward which med the group tense "Attack me? Beat me up maybe? That is impossible since-"
"Where's Emil and Lovino?" Lukas couldn't see it but he felt how Antonio turned and stared towards him. He didn't seem happy at all.
"I don't like when people interru-"
"Where's Emil?" Lukas felt how Mathias reached out a hand in front of him but it took a few seconds to understand that it wasn't to stop him. It was to protect him.
"You…" Lukas almost took a step back at the threatening tone. Almost. "You're just like your brother. Kept on interrupting me all the time, it was really annoying" He chuckled again "Though I don't have to deal with him anymore I guess"
"Wait" Arthur managed to stop Tino, Mathias and Lukas from doing something drastic. They had to get some answers first. "What happened to you Antonio?"
"Antonio?" He seemed confused for a moment "So you don't know?" He smiled even wider "That makes things slightly easier" Mathias watched as Antonio let his eyes wander from person to person until it finally stopped at Arthur. "It's a pity Alfred didn't manage to take care of you"
"So it was you that-"
"Who else would? I'm the only one powerful enough to do it!" He laughed out loud which made Mathias cringe. There was so much madness mixed into the laughter. It stopped quickly and instead Antonio got a very serious expression on his face. He raised his hand towards Arthur and furrowed his brows in concentration. "Guess I'll have to deal with you myself" His hand started glowing.
"Watch out!" Mathias hadn't even taken a step before Alfred zoomed past him and tackled Arthur to the ground. The beam barely missed them as it shot above their heads and hit a lamppost that quickly melted where and fell over with a loud bang. The two nations on the ground stared at it for a moment and processed what would have happened if Alfred hadn't been that fast to react before they both got up. Arthur stared at Antonio that sighed and raised his hand again.
"This time I won't miss"
"I believe you" From within his sleeve, Arthur took out something that seemed like an ordinary stick "Get behind me" The others quickly moved behind him as he lifted the stick. The end was now glowing and, while whispering words the others couldn't understand, Arthur slowly drew a circle. He continued to draw lines within the circle until it created a pattern while Antonio seemed to still be reloading his energy. When Arthur was done he ended by lifting his wand in the air and quickly made a cross over the symbol that suddenly disappeared.
"Arthur? What are you-"
"Just trust me okay?" Francis swallowed nervously but nodded. Antonio lifted his hand towards them again and smiled.
"So you're all gathering in one place?" He chuckled and stared at them though burning eyes. "Don't blame me if I hit someone else than Arthur"
"Get ready!" Arthur crossed his arms and crouched down a little just as Antonio fired. The beam crashed into the shield that seemed to have doubled in size and was suddenly glowing right between them. The nations saw how cracks started forming on it and how the edges started tearing off.
"Arthur?"
"It'll hold!" It felt like a long time but it was only after a few seconds that the beam and the shield cancelled each other out in a blast which threw them all in different directions. Arthur hit the ground hard and felt almost paralysed. He tried to sit up but something hit his chest and forced him back down.
"This was interesting" Antonio pushed down harder with his foot on Arthurs chest "and fortunate" Arthur heard movement around him which meant that the other nations were getting back up. The pressure on his chest increased and it got harder to breathe. "This will be so much easier now" Arthur looked up at the smiling face in front of him just as it twisted in pain. Antonio stepped back while he covered his right hand and groaned.
"Arthur! Are you okay?" Francis reached out a hand that Arthur ignored before he got up again.
"I'm fine" He looked over at Antonio "What happened?" The bandage on his hand was torn and he had markings on his arms that were all slightly bleeding. Francis only pointed at the ground where Matthew was standing on the ground varying from looking suspiciously at Antonio and worryingly at Arthur. Arthur crouched down and patted his head. "Thank you"
"All of you" They watched how Antonio ripped of the bandage. "All of you are so annoying."
"You're outnumbered. You can't win" Yao took a step forward "Where are they?"
"Outnumbered? Sure. But, with both Lukas and Arthur weakened I can surely win"
"What do you mean?" Now it was Lukas wondering "Arthur isn't weakened, right?"
"Well, should I tell them or?" Lukas heard how Antonio moved but, since Mathias didn't, he assumed that he was moving away from them. "What are you down on? 50%? That's why you can't see them despite them calling for your attention, right?"
"Arthur, what is he saying?" Francis grabbed him but Arthur only avoided his eyes "Just tell us!"
"Fine! Just, let go of me!" Arthur felt Antonios victorious smile but tried to ignore it "I can't see magical creatures anymore" He heard how Antonio chuckled.
"And? Come on, don't hold it in now" Arthur cringed but continued.
"I can't see them because my magic is depleted, I can only use half as powerful spells and my energy is drained faster." He sighed "That shield I made shouldn't have stopped the beam, it should've reflected it"
"But why didn't you tell us? That's pretty important information!"
"I just…"
"Isn't it obvious?" Antonio spoke up again and they turned their attention towards him. "You were so happy right?" He took a step forward but the other nations immediately tensed and stepped in front of Arthur. "Please, you'll think differently after you hear this" He smiled but backed away again "You were so happy they were listening, they were depending on you. You had an idea how to fix this and they turned to you for guidance. And still, you put them in danger."
"Stop"
"You're just like me you know, only care about yourself. You want power and you wouldn't hesitate to hurt others to get it. But you're weak. Isn't that why you sent most nations to Vladimir?" He chuckled again while Arthur were covering his ears "You didn't want them to find out that you probably wouldn't be able to break most spells, you tried to push forward the moment they would find out. Find out that you're a fraud!"
"Stop!"
"Do you think they'll listen to you after this? Will trust you? If you by any chance would survive this you would keep living your lonely life without anyone to ever-"
"ENOUGH OF THIS" Out of nowhere, Tino practically flew in and kicked Antonio in the side of his chest which caused him to fly through the air and hit the ground hard. They heard how a few ribs broke in the process and before he could get up, Tino was there again and sent him flying one more time.
"Tino!"
"I'm tired of this! His trying to play with us. All this talking… We're just wasting time! It doesn't matter if Arthur withheld something from us. Now we know and we'll adjust" Before anyone could stop him, Tino had lifted Antonio from the ground in his collar and stared into his eyes with a fury burning within him.
"Now, where's Emil and Lovino?"
.
"Finally! That was pretty exhausting!"
"You weren't the one to carry a person on his back through the ocean you know!"
"Yes I know and I thank you for that" Emil sat on the small beach with Gilbert laying down next to him regaining his breath. They weren't at the harbor where Shade had stolen the boat but it didn't take long for Emil to figure out where they were. He had been in Copenhagen enough times to know that they were about 30 minutes away, if walking, from the hotel. That was too far. "We have to get going"
"We? Kid, I hate to break this to you but, I can't walk." Emil looked down at him and saw a small smile on his lips "I know it might be a shock but please, stay calm"
"Stop it, I get your point" Emil almost smiled back but frowned as he realised that he might have to part with Gilbert. He hated to admit it, but Emil was scared. If he met Shade alone again everything would just repeat. On the other hand, Gilbert would probably not be much of a help right now. Emil sighed, the best thing to do would be leaving Gilbert but… "Hey, Gilbert?"
"Yes?"
"Is it okay if I'll be a little selfish?" Emil watched as Gilbert sat up and looked a bit wondering but still nodded.
"Then, I have an idea"
.
"Tell us now!"
How could this be? Was he really feeling scared?
"You have three seconds before I…"
"No" Shade snapped his fingers which created a shockwave that made Tino drop him and fell to the ground. The wave gave Shade enough time to step away. This was bad, really bad. He measured the group with his eyes. Technically, all of them were a threat but he never would have expected that he would have to look out for the usually calm and caring Tino. Shade winced when he felt the pain spreading from his chest. So this is what real pain feels like.
"You're so screwed and you'll lose real soon, you're so screwed and you'll lose real soon"
"Shut up" Shade only whispered it but Antonio kept on going with his little chant. This was a real problem. Even if neither Lukas nor Arthur could use their magic fully, Shade had used a lot these past few hours. He could feel it throughout his body, his energy had almost drained completely, and the hits he'd received didn't help. There was only one thing left to do.
"Stop him" He heard the shouts as he darted into the forest but tried to focus on running. But he didn't get far. After only a few seconds, a wall suddenly emerged in front of him. A human wall.
"Hello again, Shade"
"How did you? You shouldn't be here!" Ludwig, Ivan, Lovino, Feliciano and Berwald. The five of them stood in a row on the forest path with the exception of Berwald that was being carried by Feliciano with a murderous look on his face. Shade heard how the other group caught up to them and saw how they spread out in a circle around him but his attention was still brought back to Berwald. As he was let down on the ground, Shade almost took a step backwards. Earlier it had seemed like the usual intimidation that he always seemed to radiate had gotten locked away in this child form. Now, it was as if all of it exploded and was let out at the same time.
"Berwald! What happe-"
"Tell me it isn't true" Shade noticed that Mathias was interrupted but couldn't look away as Berwald took a step forward and stared at him.
"W-What is?" Shade clenched his fists. Damn it. He was even stuttering.
"You said…" Berwald paused for a moment before he continued with even more anger in his voice "You said you killed Emil. Tell me it isn't true." Shade had to take a step back.
"When did you-"
"We heard you speaking with Antonio. We hid in the forest" Lovino spoke up but Shade barely noticed. They had heard him, they knew, which meant that…
"No. That can't be" Shade turned towards Lukas that stared at him in shock. Mathias couldn't even say a word and Tino seemed like he wanted to scream. "Berwald did he-"
"I don't know! I just heard him say it!" That's when Shade realised that tears were streaming down Berwalds face. He also realised that this might be his way out. If he could get them off balance… First, he took a deep breath. Then he straightened out his posture to a more intimidating one and finally…
"Yes. Emil is dead."
