Chapter 15: Trapping the King
Romulus didn't know what was going on or even how Deceit was doing this, but he was having a hell of a time even walking through the castle. And making Patton and Logan disappear?! Why was Janus able to control the Imagination like that, he wasn't a creative side. Janus was all about lying and manipulation. It shouldn't even be possible. Letting out an angry shout as he let fly one of the many attacking suits of armor, out the window. It has been a long time since he had been in a battle much like this. With everything attacking him it was hard to find some breathing room.
"Tired already, King?" Janus's voice asked seemingly to echo around the hall.
"Deceit, come out. We can talk about this/" Romulus reasoned, keeping a sharp eye out for anything that was going to attack him.
"Oh, so, its Deceit now. What happened to Janus, hmm?" Janus's voice asked, between sounding amused and sad.
"Come out, and stop acting like a villain and I might consider calling you that again." Romulus hoping that would work.
"No. I don't think I will. After all, this what I am. Did you think I would change my ways just for you. I'm not Virgil you know." Deceit's voice huffed. "Speaking of the little shadowling, come out, come out Virgil." Deceit taunted.
Romulus looked around hyper alert now, had Virgil gotten away. He had to find him. To his left a flash of black and purple burred past, running without stopping down a flight of stairs. "Virgil! Wait!" He called after running to catch the Anxious Side. Poor guy had to be scared out o his mind.
"There he goes! Get the little traitor!" Deceits voice demanded and once again echoing all around. At his command it seemed even more suits of armor were summoned.
Romulus rounded a corner and somehow lost track of Virgil. He never knew the emo was so fast. Entering the door that was standing wide open, looking like it was leading into an even dark looking corridor, after hearing Virgil's shout of panic and Deceit chilling chuckle. "Don't panic Virgil! I'm coming!" He shouted. Dodging every so often as a picture on the walls threw themselves at him. The torches the lit the way seeming to be launching at him like one would expect an arrow. He was so busy deflecting and dodging that he didn't even notice that when he passed by on giant portrait of the Duke, that the picture did not attack him.
Once the corridor was silent the giant picture moved revealing it a door that was hiding a secret room. Deceit peeked out before quietly stepping out and putting the giant picture the manic and smiling Duke back in place, as he was midway switching out of his Virgil appearance and clearing his throat, so to get his voice back to normal. His chest heaving, as he tried to catch his breath, leaning against the wall. Even after all that fighting with the castle and everything it was throwing at him the King was still moving as if it barely fazed him. "Well. He is the embodiment of a child's imagination." He mumbled to himself, so it made since that he would have the energy of one.
"Indeed." Logan's voice ripped a startled hiss from the Deceitful side, who spun around to face off with the Moral and Logical Sides. "By him being the Creativity that ruled Thomas's mind as a child, it would make sense that he act like one. Although I must admit that you are acting a bit too extra yourself, more than normal."
"Yeah! What he said." Patton said, half hidden behind Logan. "You didn't have to take Virgil just because you didn't like what Romulus said."
Deceit crossed his arms and arched a brow at the Moral side. "I didn't take him because of Romulus- Well, maybe I did." He admitted after thinking about it. "Will it at least make you feel better to know that Virgil is unharmed and free to leave whenever he wishes?" He asked.
"Yes." Patton nodded edging out from behind Logan slightly. "Yes it would."
"Good. Now if you don't mind, I will leave you to the go and check up on our little Virgey." He said, turning to leave the two sides.
"Your not curious as to how we came to be here?" Logan asked, fitting Deceit with a knowing look.
"I already know." Deceit said, looking down at the little snake that had been the two Sides guide. The little creature slither up to the Lying side. "Go where Virgil is." He directed and the little snake melted into the wall to go to the dungeons faster. "Now if you'll excuse me." Deceit excused himself so to get there in time to help Virgil.
"Actually, Deceit I would like to ask why, are you are only acting now." Logan asked. "I mean you know your function I don't really understand why it took you so long to respond. Given with how long Thomas has been struggling with ideas, and keeping his schedule, and getting proper sleep. Shouldn't you have acted sooner?"
"I know, how about we all go grab Virgil and Romulus and talk somewhere like the Common Area, on the couch. Eating cookies?" Patton suggested, just wanting to leave the scary castle. "We can try and work things out."
Logan and Deceit both looked at the Heart, before returning to their own conversation. "I have a great idea. You two wait in this little room." He gesture to the hidden room behind the picture. "And I will go to Virgil and Romulus. Like you said, Logan, 'We wouldn't want anything happening to Thomas's heart.' nor his logic."
He and Logan stared at each other silently for a few quick moments. Patton shifting uncomfortable. "Fine. You have ten minutes, then we are coming and everyone will go to the Light Sides Common Area." Logan relented, straightening his glasses. "Come along Patton." He said, holding the picture open for the Moral side to walk in first.
Patton glanced at Deceit with a frown. "Can I give you hug?" He asked. He knew Deceit and Logan had a better grasp on what was going on. And while Romulus had pointed Deceit as the antagonist and the Snake side seemed to act like it. But things were not adding up right. Patton wasn't smart like Logan, but he knew from how Thomas had been feeling lately, that things were not alright. And Patton didn't want to admit it but it all started after his their old friend came back. Whatever Deceit wanted to do, with Romulus and Virgil, Logan seemed okay with it for now, so he would trust Logan's judgment here. However looking at the Snake side, it hurt Patton to see him looking so drained. Whatever, was really happening was hurting not just Thomas, but Virgil and Deceit the worst. "Janus?" He asked again when the Snake side didn't answer. Looking the Side in the eyes, his light brown eyes flashing baby blue and staying that way as he approached slowly.
He just wanted to help. It wasn't just grief that was eating Deceit. Patton knew feelings, and he didn't like what he was seeing, not from Thomas, not from Virgil, and not from Deceit. But Deceit for some reason scared him more than Virgil or Thomas. He looked like he really need a hug now. Patton opened his arms the closer he got to Deceit who still hadn't answered. He wanted to help just a little.
"Pat..." Logan cautioned, obviously knowing what the Moral side was trying to offer. There was a reason Patton like hugging, especially if he knew another Side was hurting. For Patton hugs were his way of reducing the stress, to offer comfort and although Logan will never admit it to the Moral side he had read somewhere that hugs were indeed beneficial in health. From helping to lowering blood pressure, staving off depression, relieving stress, to boosting the levels of dopamine and serotonin which can lift someones mood.
Patton wrapped his arms around the Deceitful side, who seemed to immediately leaned into the hug. Deceit, suddenly felt overwhelmed, but as soon as the Moral Side hugged him, he felt calm. Not like the before when he had hugged in him the Light Side's Common Area. No Patton was offering much more to Deceit right now. Deceit felt all his stress leave him, all his sadness not gone but numb. He felt a bit more energized with all that weight muted. He never knew Patton would give him this type of hug. Not really knowing what he was doing he hugged the Dad side back, gripping the cardigan that always hung around the Dad's neck, blinking as his vision blurred slightly. It felt so good.
Patton smiled when he felt off the tension leave Deceit, and pulled back. The Dad Sides eyes turning back to brown. He couldn't take the hurt away, but he hoped this would help the Snake side to continue without so much weight on his chest.
Deceit let go of his death grip on the cardigan and back away too, looking a little shock, but quickly schooled his features, despite the tears that were leaking from his eyes. His heart felt numb, he didn't feel so exhausted anymore. Was this what the Moral Sides hugs were really like. He still felt but he also didn't. His mind felt slightly more clearer. Without saying another word to Moral and Logical side, he turned to follow in the direction he had sent Romulus.
Once they were safely in the little hidden room, Logan watched as Patton gripped at his own chest, sniffling. "I couldn't make it go away." The Dad side mumbled.
"Make what go away Patton?" Logan asked, always fascinated in learning more about the functions and abilities that they all had.
"The hurt." Patton said, "I tried, but all I could do was numb it. I couldn't heal his heart, Lo. And its already so, so cracked. His emotions, and energy are in turmoil that I couldn't get through and take it all away."
Logan hummed, thinking on everything they knew about Deceit. Other than his functions and his real name. None of them knew much on how the Snake side lived, felt, or needed. The one side that did was now apart of Romulus. And Logan knew that was probably part of the problem. "One part of his job is self- preservation Pat, the chaos that has been happening lately is probably putting a strain on him. Perhaps whatever he, Virgil, Romulus needs to do, will help put everything back into balance including himself."
Patton shook his head, but then took a deep breath, before looking at the Logical Side with a small smile. "Your right Lo. He's probably just overwhelmed." A moment of silence past between them. "We're not really going to stay in here for ten minute, right?" He asked, already not wanting to stay in the room. Too worried now.
"I had planned on it, but if it will make you feel better we only staying here for five minutes." Logan said, checking his watch.
Patton nodded. "Five sounds good."
(Dungeon)
As soon as Virgil seen the miniature glowing snake melt through the wall, and over to him and the large snake in his lap, merging with it. The large snake then removed itself from his lap and rose its head with Virgil hissing and not looking like the docile snake that had been relaxing in Virgil lap moments ago, as it opened its mouth wide showing off long fangs and a forked tongue, moving its head like it was about to strike at Virgil's face, but stopping inches before and snapping its jaws closed, repeating the action. The first couple of times the action made Virgil flinch and let out a successful and real shout of fright with is tempest tongue. It took everything in him not to unfold his hands from behind his back to protect his face. He knew what Deceit said, but it was still and animal snapping sharp fangs at his face.
"Virgil!" Romulus's voice shouted, sounding very close.
Striking, a little too closely for Virgil, the large snake hissed menacingly as it pulled another frighten shout from the Anxious side, it slither ed away and melted into the wall, just as Romulus skidded into the room. Breaths coming out frantically from the slight scare from the snake Virgil had to remind himself to shake the chains that were attached to the shackle cuff hidden behind his back. Deceit said to make it look like he was trapped. "King…." He gasped, eyes racking over Romulus.
The Side looked like he just ran straight through a war. Though Virgil guessed that he wasn't far off. Romulus's clothes were ripped in several places, some burn marks, littered one side of his face and his sleeves. even his cape hadn't been spared. Deceit had most likely been trying to tire that King of Creativity out. Although it looked like the Snake's side wasn't so successful Romulus only looked slightly out of breath. "Everything's going to be okay, Virge." Romulus assured looking around the room, his double bladed spear at the ready. "Where's Deceit?" He asked.
"He left something about Patton and Logan being in the castle." Virgil said, figuring it would be safer to play off the information he knew rather than make something up.
"We'll go get them next." Romulus assured, kneeling in front of the trapped Side. Letting the Double bladed spear disappear for the moment. "Turn around so I can see what I'm working with."
Thinking quick, Virgil let out a choked sob. "I was so scared!" He cried letting his tempest tongue out. Leaning forward only slightly to place his head on Romulus's chest being sure to angle his body where his hands stayed hidden.
Romulus cupped Virgil's Face and brought it close. "My Dark and Stormy Knight. I am here now. Deceit will pay for this transgression."
Virgil let a small smile grace his lips as he seen Deceit enter the room, silently and into the shadows where the other shackle cuff was. Now or never. "King..." He started pushing himself up a little straighter on his knees so their foreheads touched. Romulus's hand never left his face. "That won't be necessary." He said, quickly slapping the shackle around the Kings wrist and jumping to his feet running away from him.
"HUH?! Wait, VIRGIL?!" King Romulus shouted in surprise.
Virgil stopped after short distance; enough that if Romulus tried he could still reach him. "Sorry, but not really." Virgil said, eyes sparking purple making the shadows in the room darken to try and help hide Deceit a better now that Romulus was facing in the Snake direction. "I just always wondered what you would look like in chains." He smirked, holding up the key for the King to see.
"You! You planned this?!" Romulus accused.
Virgil didn't answer him. "What's wrong my King. Do you not like you new jewelry?"
Romulus growled getting to his feet and the double bladed spear back in his hand. "Give me the key Virgil and I won't hurt you." He growled out voice deepening, leveling Virgil with a read and faded green eye. The Anxious side now seeing why Deceit had sped things up. The green eyes was fading faster. But the question was why?
A shiver of went down Virgil's spine at the threat. If King did charge him, there was always the option that he would stab Virgil with the spear. And Virgil rather liked not getting hurt. Letting his shuolders drop in a way they did whenever Patton would scold him, he held the keys out like a child would to a parents. "Fine. It was a stupid idea anyway." He huffed. Romulus still looked pissed as he calmly walked over to Virgil, the hand not trapped in a shackle reaching out as the spear once again vanished.
Just as the hand off could happen Deceit jumped from the shadows that were hiding him, and grabbed hold of the arm of the outreached hand Virgil dropping the key and getting a death grip on the Kings hand, to try and help hold him still so Deceit could trap it. They were fast enough however, for King was stronger and was able not only to shake Virgil off. But landed a rough kick into the Snake Side's midsection, causing Deceit to skid across the room. With the spear being summoned back Virgil, immediately ran further back, near where Deceit had landed. "Shit! Shit!" He cursed.
Deceit felt like the life had just been kicked from him. This wasn't how things were suppose to go.
TBC
A/N: Hey all, so looks like the plan did go so well. I hope you like the Chapter, and I can't wait to hear what you all thought.