Thanks to Bloody Amethist and Dark-Princess0923 for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.
Chapter 51: Troubled Times
Phantom Driger blinked. After the flash of light faded, Dea, Kitsune and himself were the only Bitbeasts there. The others had left.
"Desperate times, desperate measures," Kitsune sighed.
She looked over at the unconscious body of Ray, and Phantom Driger was prepared to defend what was his.
"What do you know of Enrique's abduction by the Princes of Hell?" Kitsune asked.
"What makes you think I know?" he asked.
"The fact that, when I mentioned it, you're not surprised."
His eye twitched. Of course, the Trickster would be able to see right through him.
"I saw it happen, that's it," Phantom Driger said. "It was Belphegor, if I'm not mistaken. He said something about needing to 'convince' Oliver."
"So Lucifer is having trouble gaining control," Dea said. "Is that good or bad?"
"Bad," Kitsune said. "The fact that the price should have been demanded after he released us, especially if you consider the number of Bitbeasts released, should have been high. High enough to gain full control over Oliver, without resistance. So, for them to need ways of persuasion…"
"I still don't see how that's bad for us," Dea said.
"If Lucifer was in control, he could limit the others," Kitsune sighed. "He could rein them in. He's unpredictable enough to put his own plans on hold. However, the others have a specific goal in mind, and with Oliver still having control over his humanity, they could blackmail him into helping them, and he might not even realise what he's doing."
"So it's bad," Phantom Driger sighed. "Exactly how bad?"
"The First Horseman rides," Dea sighed.
Phantom Driger froze, before he moved to Ray, slipping back into his body. He was surprised when they didn't stop him. He wasn't about to linger.
"Hold it, kitty," Kitsune said. "You're not getting out of this. And if you flee, I will personally make sure that your curse gets changed to something even more unbearable."
He froze, not liking that at all. He knew that she would be more than capable – and willing – to follow through on her threat.
"I hate you," he said.
"You can prove yourself as something that is beyond what everyone, including Driger, assumed."
…..
"Is he alright?" Judy asked.
On their way to the infirmary, Johnny had passed out, and Spencer had carried him the rest of the way. He was extremely pale, and he was shivering, but when they touched him they would remark on the heat he radiated.
Judy had just heard about it, and had just arrived.
"I don't know," Emily said. "I just wish we knew what the cause was."
"Man," Tyson whined. "It's just one bad thing after another."
…..
When Oliver opened his eyes, he found himself on a soft surface, Enrique hovering over him. When the Italian saw that he was awake, he gave a small smile, laced with worry.
"What happened?" Oliver asked.
Enrique seemed to flinch, and he avoided his friend's eyes.
"You passed out," Enrique said.
Oliver frowned, sitting up.
"Enrique," he said in warning, "you're lying to me."
Enrique took a shaky breath, and looked towards his friend. Oliver inhaled sharply when he saw that there was fear in the blue eyes.
"You lost control," Enrique said. "It was Lucifer."
Oliver felt a lump in his throat.
"Did I do something?" he asked.
"You nearly broke my hand," Enrique said. "But that's not the point. I don't want to see those evil eyes on my best friend's face."
"I'm sorry," Oliver whispered.
"I don't blame you," Enrique said. "I blame…"
They were startled when the door was opened. Lilith stood there, a huge smile on her face.
"Come now, Oliver," she said. "It's time that I showed you to your room."
Oliver didn't move, and Enrique stood protectively in front of him.
"No," Enrique said. "Oliver can stay with me."
Lilith sighed, before she raised her hand and made a swatting motion. Enrique was sent flying, crashing against the far wall.
"Enrique!" Oliver called out.
Lilith raised her hand again, and Enrique was lifted up. Oliver realised that she was using telekinesis on Enrique.
"Are you going to cooperate?" Lilith asked, looking at Oliver.
He nodded his head and stood up. He looked back to see Enrique dropped to the ground. He gave a sad look before he followed the Demon outside. He saw her lock the door, and knew that it would be a while before he could see his friend again.
…..
Phantom Driger stared at Kitsune, not liking what she said.
"I am perfectly happy with the impression they have of me," he said.
"Are you sure, Simulacrum?" Dea asked. "Are you really sure?"
He punched a nearby wall, wincing slightly.
It wasn't his body, so he shouldn't be able to feel any pain.
"Uh oh," Kitsune said. "You felt that, didn't you?"
"And what if I did?" he asked.
"It means that you and Ray are linked in a new way," Kitsune said. "I'm not sure what exactly that means, but you need to be careful with Ray."
He rolled his eyes.
"And what makes you think that I won't?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"You don't know what happened," she said. "When all the Bitbeasts were released, you remained in Ray's body, but when you left, you proved that you are also back to normal. But there must have been something else that happened."
He frowned.
"Like what?"
"Well, we don't know yet, do we?"
"Come on," Dea sighed. "We need to get back to the others."
"Oh no," Phantom Driger said. "That would mean that I need to release my pet, and I'm not going to."
Kitsune's eyes narrowed, and the two glared at each other. Finally, Kitsune sighed.
"Very well," she said, surprising the other two.
"What?" Dea asked.
"We need his cooperation in this," Kitsune said. "And, for now, I will allow you to remain in Ray's body. At least with you there, Ray cannot be harmed by the effects the Horsemen have on the world."
Phantom Driger blinked in surprise before he nodded his head.
He teleported away, no one but him would know where. The other two sighed, hoping to find the others soon enough.
…..
Enrique punched the floor in frustration. Not only could he not keep Oliver safe from the others and with him, but he was once again used to get Oliver to do what they wanted.
It wasn't fair!
He wanted to keep an eye on Oliver, to see if Lucifer showed himself once again. And he figured that being away from them would keep Lucifer away, and might buy them some more time.
He didn't want to think of himself as a damsel in distress, and he didn't want to admit that he needed help, they needed help, to escape, but he couldn't see it happening that he got them out. The Princes had already proven that they're fast and strong, and now that they don't need to be physically close to be able to do something. Enrique wouldn't be able to fight them.
And he knew that Oliver couldn't, because they would just use Enrique to get him back in line.
How did they get in that position?! Why them?
Why couldn't the universe just leave them all alone? Why couldn't the Majestics, the All Starz, the White Tigers, the Demolition Boys and the Bladebreakers just have a bit of normalcy?
He was so absorbed in his rage and his despair that he failed to notice black smoke rising in tendrils from the wall.
…..
Oliver's room looked a lot like Enrique's, except the colour scheme was purple instead of red.
He sighed, lying on the bed. He hoped Enrique was alright, and that Lilith didn't hurt him too much.
Because of him, Enrique was hurt yet again.
His head hurt, and he could hear the dark laughter. He sighed, hoping that sleep would be able to help him.
And he seriously hoped that it wouldn't act as an invitation for Lucifer to take control.
…..
They looked at Johnny with a bit of sadness. He was yet to wake up, and they had no idea what could have caused the malady.
"Kendra," Robert said, looking at the girl, "do you have any idea what's wrong?"
The girl sighed, shaking her head.
"The only thing I know for sure is that it's not natural," she said. "Something caused this to happen."
"Do you think it might have been the Princes of Hell?" Michael asked.
"Perhaps," Kendra sighed. "I really hope Kitsune and Dea get back soon."
Robert nodded, before sighing. He was the only member of the Majestics that wasn't in any sort of trouble. And they weren't just his teammates, but his friends. He had known them for years, and for each of them to be in serious danger…
The sound of coughing caught all of their attentions. They turned to Tyson, who was practically hacking his lungs out. And he might have.
It wasn't long until they realised that he was coughing up blood.
