the not-so great critic69: lols oops, you've found me out :p jk, just haven't gotten there yet.
Scoobycool9 and Luckycool9: Of course totally (hint: I mentioned them in chapter 34!)! Just a matter of getting to there (could that possibly be why we didn't see Shedea last chapter? What's she planning... o_0)
IsSheedaElsa: I love you. You are a genius. But no, no she is not. -_-
So, kind of a short chapter but a rather ominous one at that...
"Concentrate." The deep, creeping voice drawled around her, "Use the hate inside you, feed your anger and your revenge and you'll have it."
Shedea closed her eyes, breathing deep and feeling a sort of fire light in her gut. The body under her whimpered in fear but didn't dare move for fear of the blade against their throat would pierce their skin. Shedea willed the darkness behind her eyes to reach them, and a satisfied feeling spread through her as she heard their pain voice itself.
"Drive him mad, use the knife as much as possible." Maleficent instructed from her place on her throne, around her the warthog like demons that made up her henchmen watched with fascination, Diablo cawed approvingly.
The poor red head cried out in fear, tears welling as the pain in their head matched the pain in their body from the abuse it had suffered at the hands of Shedea's training.
"Destroy him Shedea," Maleficent urged, "Ruin him."
Shedea gripped the hair at the base of his skull and gave a painful yank as the magic in her arm shot him to the other side of the room. Crashing into the bricks he tumbled to the floor like a ragdoll and didn't move. Enjoying herself at this point, envisioning the face of those stupid artists or a certain mouse in place of her current living punching bag she let him have it. To her, when he screamed, they screamed, when they bled profusely from a broken nose or a deep gash from a poison-laced blade, it was them writhing on the stone floor as the poison didn't kill, it lit their veins on fire and confused the brain to the point that cold was hot and up was down.
"Enough." Was what stopped Shedea from slitting his neck, "My henchmen have enough to clean up without the added annoyance of a body. There's still some use in this one."
Shedea released the collection of hair she'd been using to hold him up and stepped back, sheathing the knife in the holder strapped to her leg. She smiled as her teacher descended the stairs to lead her to her room. Leaving the mess she'd created to be cleaned by snorting, screeching demon henchmen. A broken, trembling body lay amongst them, not sure if he were alive or dead, or even able to remember his own name the pain was so great.
Adam lay on the bed beside Belle, using his good hand to gently stroke her graying hair as Jane applied a new compress. Beside her, stood General Shang who looked on as he told his side of the story.
"She proceeded to deteriorate after the visit to the temple. And when we reached the mountain it seemed she used the last of her strength to open that portal."
"Why did you let her?" Adam snapped, taking Belle's lifeless hand and giving it a squeeze, like that could rouse her.
"We didn't!" Shang defended, "It was like she was possessed! She just tapped it and suddenly we were pulled through!"
"You should of pulled her away!"
"We did!"
"Boys!" Jane snapped, "This isn't helping! Take it outside!"
"Sorry..." Adam mumbled, tracing patterns up Belle's cold arm. Shang rolled his eyes and left without another word. It was quiet as Adam and Jane sat there, surrounding an unconscious being. Adam had to wonder how she'd held up. Sure he'd watched her a few times through that mirror... but it wasn't the same as reading the thoughts in her eyes or feeling her laugh as he held her. She'd remember him right? Shedea's magic hadn't totally torn them apart? Swallowing the fear, he laid back, exhaustion overwhelming him.
"She sounds nice." Jane offered, "She'd already passed out by the time we found them crashing through our roof; but she sounds nice."
"She is nice," Adam said, "She's perfect."
Jane smiled, "My father is going to send for a doctor tomorrow who can look at her."
"I don't know if a doctor would help." Adam admitted, "This was magic."
"Then would magic bring her back?"
"I don't know." Adam shrugged before smirking, "Seems like that's the answer to everything isn't it?"
"I don't know." Jane grinned cheekily, standing up, "But I do know that everyone needs a goodnight's rest. Goodnight Adam."
"Goodnight."
The door closed with a creaky click and Adam sat up, pulling Belle into his lap, propping her up on his crossed legs. He played aimlessly with her hair, removing it from the bun it had been pulled so tightly into probably by her. She always wore her hair pulled back even though Adam would wine and beg for her to leave it free flowing. It was so pretty! How could she just hide it away like that?
It didn't matter, Adam reminded himself, all that did matter was she was here, in his arms again. And she was gonna stay that way so help him...
"And so you can see why I've called you all here tonight." Yen Sid said, looking across the long dining table at his comrades of magical beings, "This monster must be stopped before she not only kills everyone, but destroys all of Disney. We've already lost Merlin and Fairy Godmother. We can't afford to lose anyone else!"
"Has Mickey been informed?" Orwen asked.
"Not yet," Yen Sid sighed, "Although with all the commotion happening I don't see how he doesn't already know!"
"My sources say she's taken up with Maleficent!" Flora cried, "And you can sense things are happening! Story's are being thrown out of balance! Unnecessary blood is being shed everywhere!"
"Not only that," Yen said, "But the outside is being effected as well. Characters who've died are missing from their roles, whole movies are ruined. Cinderella, Tangled, and countless others are disappearing because Disney's magic can't adjust the storylines."
"Does anyone suspect?" Orddu wondered.
"Not yet, but it wont last that way for long." Yen sighed, "I see no choice but to take that kind of trip to the Underworld."
"But Yen," Blue frowned, "He's not on our side."
"To hell with sides!" Dallben snapped, "This menace is killing indiscriminately! We have to band together!"
"Tell that to them," The Witch laughed, her pet crow squawking in amusement on her shoulder.
An argument began to break out over a course of action, each voice louder than the last until a wave from Yen Sid's arms and a crashing bang silenced them. Sitting down, Yen sighed as he rubbed a temple with aged fingers.
"I will inform Mickey tonight, and he will decide where to go from there. This is beyond just my realm of control, we need every able bodied being, good or bad, to join together and stop her."
"That's impossible." Merryweather snapped from her seat only to be shushed by Flora and Fauna.
"I know," Yen said with an edge, "So if the ideal can't be reached, we have to at least shoot for it."
The gathering nodded solemnly and with those words the meeting was adjourned.
"To create as much chaos as possible, do you know where you should hit?" Maleficent asked, walking alongside her charge down the dreary stone halls.
"Anywhere and everywhere?"
"No," Maleficent chuckled, "The head. Take out the head of any organization and you virtually cut the knot holding all of the strings together. They tangle and jumble together, the ants scurry without their Queen, and a turkey runs aimlessly. To take out the head, is to ensure a clean victory."
Shedea nodded contemplatively, looking down as Maleficent's hand squeezed her shoulder, "Take out the head, and ensure your victory."